Page 120 of Tactically Acquired

Something passed between her and Baldy before he exited the vehicle. She left, too, leaving us with Thumper. I watched IRIS get out of the other vehicle with the other team.

“What are they doing?”

“Securing the perimeter,” Thumper answered.

This was all so crazy to me. I still didn’t understand why anyone would want to kidnap me. “If someone really wanted money from us, why didn’t they just threaten us or something?” I mused.

“Because they knew we wouldn’t give in,” Spencer muttered.

“I wouldn’t have. You would have handed over your life savings,” I retorted.

“That’s because I’m not interested in dying young.”

I chuckled at how easily he gave in. “What are you going to do when you meet the love of your life and she’s being held hostage by some crazy guy? Are you going to protect her or run for help?”

He thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. “Probably cry and beg. I think that would be the most effective route.”

“Why’s that?” Thumper asked.

“Because I’d make them uncomfortable. No one likes to see a man cry. The way I figure it, whoever is holding my wife hostage would be so terrified of the man with snot running down his face that he’d let my wife go and run for the hills.”

Thumper grunted in amusement, then shoved his door open. “We’re clear.”

“Thank God. I have to pee,” I muttered, stepping out of the vehicle. I stretched my arms over my head and took in the sprawling landscape around us. At least Ginger lived someplace nice before she died. Although, I doubted she appreciated the gardens very much. She never was one to look at a flower twice unless it was delivered to her dressing room.

Spencer took my hand in his as he led me up the brick path to the front door. Trying to focus on everything around me was already giving me the beginnings of a headache. I liked it better when I had less to take in. But as much as I didn’t care about Clint and his fancy house, I also wanted to know where Ginger lived before she died, and that had me straining my right eye to see everything I could.

“Slider’s watching you,” Spencer whispered.

“Does he look mad?”

“No. He…he looks nervous.”

That was interesting. I wasn’t sure what he had to be nervous about. It wasn’t like I was asking him to meet the in-laws. I snorted to myself as Spencer whispered about the upcoming steps. Even though I could see them coming, the lines were blurred considerably, making it difficult to navigate where to step. I turned my head to the side, pretending to admire the grounds so that if I tripped, it would appear I just wasn’t paying attention.

Spencer was used to this. It was a routine we pulled whenever we were in a new place with people around, watching our every move. But we wouldn’t have to pretend for too muchlonger. This would all be over in a matter of days. Spencer already set up a meeting with the lawyers for tomorrow.

“Audrey, we should talk—” Baldy started.

“What the hell?” Spencer said, sucking in a harsh breath.

I pulled my gaze from Baldy just as I felt Spencer’s hold on me tighten painfully. My eyes flicked to where his hand tightened around mine, and then I heard her voice.

“Audrey? Well, come in. Don’t dawdle outside.”

If the world wasn’t already fuzzy and out of place for me, I would have thought I was about to pass out. The world did seem to tilt slightly, but Spencer had a firm hold on me, and I was pretty sure Baldy reached out and grabbed my arm to steady me.

Closing my eyes, I shook my head slightly, replaying that voice again in my head. It couldn’t be her. It wasn’t possible. But when I opened my eyes, the little bit of her face I saw made it impossible to deny.

“Ginger,” I said, my breath rushing out in a large whoosh.

She laughed. Actually fucking laughed, clapping her hands like this was all so fucking hilarious. “I know. I know. It wasn’t the best way to get you here, but it worked!”

It worked. This was all a ploy, but why? Why the hell would she want to get me over here? She was that desperate to see me that she faked her own death? It didn’t make any sense.

“Maybe we should take this inside,” Baldy muttered, his voice just sliding over me gently. I shivered at his touch on my arm as he guided me inside. I swear to God, it was like I was unable to move on my own. I had two men beside me, both of them moving me forward like I was an invalid.

The thought made laughter bubble up inside me. Hell, that wasn’t too far off. No. No, I was not an invalid. This was an impairment, but it didn’t make me incapable of living life. Crap, I needed to get my shit under control.

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