Page 98 of Believing in a Billionaire
“What was that?” Sierra whispered, her eyes wide.
“I’m not sure, but I’m going to check it out. Stay right here, don’t move.”
“Julia!”
“I said don’t move,” Julia said before she hurried down the hall, peering into rooms as she went.
“Ally?” Julia hissed. She toggled off her speakerphone and pressed her phone to her ear. “Alex, are you still there?”
“Still with you, kid. Any chance of toggling on your camera for a bird’s eye view?”
Julia sucked in a breath as she switched on her video. “So far, nothing much to see. But I thought I heard something.”
She rounded a corner in the hall and continued down it. Light glowed at the end.
“I see lights,” Julia whispered.
“Be careful, Sunshine,” Alex answered.
She inched forward, her heart in her throat. Obscure voices filled the air. “I hear someone talking.”
The corridor spilled into a large, empty space, the light bloomed in the middle, not reaching the corners. She creptforward, hiding behind an iron pillar holding the high ceiling at bay.
As she peered around the pillar, her breath caught her throat. With a trembling hand, she slid the phone around the pillar, capturing the heartbreaking scene on her video call.
She pressed a hand over her mouth to prevent a gasp from escaping her lips.
Tears formed in her eyes, turning the scene blurry. In the center of the room was Kyle, tied to a chair, his head slumped forward. Her heart pounded hard against her ribs as her worst fears materialized before her eyes.
Julia’s mind raced, fear and hope battling within. Were they too late?
CHAPTER 21
GRANT
Grant scrubbed his face as he tried to search for other solutions to raise the capital he needed to lock down control of Harrington Global. Worry for Julia and Sierra clouded his ability to think, though.
He stared down at his phone’s dark display before he snatched it from the desk. He scrolled through his contacts and placed another call to Sierra. She didn’t answer again.
He tightened his grip on the phone before he tried Julia. His call went straight to her voicemail. Frustration ripped through him, and he fired his tumbler across the room, smashing it into the wall. It shattered into pieces as he let a growl escape him.
“I take it the banks aren’t amenable to your request,” Mike’s voice said from the doorway.
Grant flexed his jaw as he glanced up at his security head. “In a word, no. And I’ve got another issue going on at home.”
“Health problem with Mrs. Harrington?” Mike asked as he shuffled into the room.
He shook his head as his phone lit up with a text message. He grabbed it, nearly dropping it from his trembling hands as he tapped to read it.Daddy, stop calling, I’m busy.
He pounded his thumbs against the virtual keyboard as panic rose in him.Where are you? What is going on?
A bubble appeared, indicating her typing a response.We’re in some warehouse on the north side of town.
His stomach clenched.What warehouse? Sierra, call me. I want answers.
She responded quickly, sending a wave of annoyance through him.I don’t know. That Alex guy found it. We’re fine. But I gotta go. Talk later, Daddy!
A second message popped up after that one.Don’t text or call. You’re too distracting.
