Page 146 of Property of Stone
“Oh my God,” she breathed when he was done with his story. She was damn sure he omitted some details, if not most, but she heard enough to know that what Stone did to Vic had poked the nasty bear.
And the bear snapped back.
“Never shoulda left the motherfucker breathin’. Knew it was a mistake. And was proven right.”
“You’re blaming what you did to him on me?”
“You talked me outta doin’ what needed to be done. Shoulda just done it and not told you, then we wouldn’t be in this goddamn mess.”
“Do you have proof he has her?” Maybe this was all a big misunderstanding and all this drama and anger was for nothing.
She could only hope.
“You wanna know how?” he growled, stepping up to her and shoving the cell phone in her face.
The picture on the screen caused her heart to skip a beat and a gasp to slip from her.
Duct tape was wrapped tightly around Sunny’s ankles, securing them to the legs of the chair and her wrists were taped to the chair’s arms. More silver tape covered her mouth. Her cheeks were streaked with tears, her nose and eyes red from crying.
No wonder Stone was pissed. That image would be burned in Taryn’s memory for a long time, if not forever.
She hoped it was Photoshopped but deep down she knewit wasn’t. Taryn found out the hard way that Vic was a vindictive asshole.
If Stone “taught him a lesson,” her ex would want to return it two-fold.
Kidnapping a child would cut any decent parent down at the knees. However, kidnapping the child of your enemy was a deadly mistake.
Stone wouldn’t leave one stone unturned to find his daughter. And when he did find her…
Taryn wouldn’t tell Stone to spare his life again.
Her ex would reap what he sowed.
She prayed that Sunny was found unharmed. The girl would be traumatized, but they could deal with that.
Stone began to pace the short length of the room like a caged tiger.
Taryn could hardly hear her own questions over her pounding heart. “Did he give you a location? Is he demanding anything in exchange for her?”
He paused, stabbed at his phone, then turned it again to show her. The text simply read:My boy for your girl.
Taryn slapped a hand over her mouth. Her temples throbbed and she met Stone’s eyes. Would he sacrifice her son for his daughter?
Stone shook his head and continued to wear a path in the floor. “He ain’t gettin’ Baby Bird. No fuckin’ way. My job’s to protect him. Failed my girl, ain’t failin’ him.”
Taryn closed her eyes in relief for a second, but it was short lived. Vic still had Sunny. She had no idea what lengths her ex would go to get back at her. To get back at Stone. “Did he give you an address for the exchange? Maybe I can go and try to convince him?—”
He spun on her and roared, “The fuck you will!” He closed his eyes and pulled in a breath. When he opened themagain, he said in a more reasonable tone, “Still waitin’ for the fucker to text me where to meet, but you’re not fuckin’ gonna be anywhere near there. This time we’re gonna handle this shit the right way. The only heart that’s gonna be bleedin’ this time is gonna be his when I rip it out of his fuckin’ chest.”
Was he calling her a bleeding heart because she asked him to spare Vic’s life? Wait…
We’re?
As if on cue, she heard the loud rumble of Harleys. She went back over to the window to glance outside.Of course.That was why Stone wasn’t out there searching. He was waiting for his army of bikers to show up. She estimated that almost every member of the Kings filled his driveway. She turned. “The calvary has arrived.”
With a shake of his head, he left the room.
Taryn chewed on her bottom lip and her heart thumped as heavily as his boots rushing down the steps.
