Page 27 of Playing For Keeps
“The information I discovered on my own, I found ways to get it to the department so they would investigate.” Aiden’s tone sounds defeated. “The men who are using the company are sex traffickers.”
That’s all it takes. Jamison’s between Melanie and Aidenbefore anyone sees it coming. He grabs Aiden by the shirt and slams his fist against Aiden’s jaw. Bloody spit flies out of his mouth as his head swings to the side.
Aiden stumbles back, but that doesn’t stop Jamison.
“You fucking put Dori in their hands!” He crashes Aiden to the ground, pounding on him again and again.
Mel gets pushed up against the table. It wobbles and a chair falls over.
Aiden’s taken a brutal beating by the time I reach them. Jamison’s arm goes back for another punch, but I grab it. It’s his injured side, but I don’t think he’s feeling any pain. He’s out of his mind with rage.
“Jamison, stop! If you knock him out, we won’t get anywhere.” I yank him off of Aiden. “Fucking think.”
Jamison staggers to his feet, breathing gusts of hate through his teeth. I can’t say I blame him, but killing Aiden won’t help.
Jamison glares into my eyes. “She’s with sex traffickers, Hunter. Do you think for one second we’ll ever see her again? It doesn’t matter what your fucking mother does. Dori’s exactly what those types of people want. They won’t give her back. Fuck! She’s probably long lost.”
A lump of truth with Jamison’s words lodges in my throat. My body numbs. He’s right. They won’t release Dorothy.
Mel kneels over Aiden and helps him as I try to figure out something that will lead us to Dorothy. This is the worst-case scenario.
My heart races, and I swallow hard. “We’ve got to believe we can find her. And we need Aiden’s help once we do. With your GPS tool, the FBI will be able to organize a rescue attempt.”
Jamison’s face turns purple as he seethes. “Attempt is all we’re guaranteed. That’s if the men she’s with haven’t stripped her of her jewelry. We have nothing if that’s the case.”
I wince and tense. “I understand, Jamison, but we need to work together. You said it yourself.”
“That was before I knew Aiden was helping those fucks.” Jamison spins toward Aiden. “You’re as bad as them for letting your dad use you.”
Aiden sits up with Mel’s help.
“I’m going to get some ice and a towel.” She runs off to the kitchen.
Aiden wipes the corner of his mouth. Dazed, he glances up at Jamison and me. “It didn’t start out that way.”
“What didn’t?” I ask, breathing unevenly.
Aiden staggers to his feet. “When I was young, my dad told me to watch out for you, Jami. I didn’t care if you and Dori were into each other until he started beating me. He hated the thought of you two dating.”
Jamison glares at Aiden. “I would’ve seen marks on you if that were true.”
“Not if I was hiding them.” Aiden holds on to the edge of the table to steady himself. “My dad said if I let you and Dori get together, he would have my head. He forbade you two from having a relationship.”
Jamison throws his hands in the air. “That makes no sense. You know I never would’ve hurt her. You could’ve told him that.”
“Yeah, but my dad has a screw loose. He said if you two got together, Dori would be the one dealing with him, leaving me with no choice. I didn’t want her to endure his abuse.” Aiden sways as he wipes blood from his mouth.
I interject. “You said he got you involved with your family dealings. How did he do that?”
“He was always threatening me about the hell that would follow if I went against him. They were minor warnings in the beginning. They got worse over time, along with the beatings.” Aiden’s expression fills with anguish. “I’ve been working to get out of this situation since the day it started. I don’t want this.”
“Like that matters now. Dori’s in the worst situation possible.” Jamison steps forward, reaching for Aiden again.
I grab him and push him behind me. “Get yourself together, Jamison. We need him.”
Melanie comes back into the room with an ice pack.
She rushes to Aiden and pulls out the chair at the end of the table. “Sit here and put this on your jaw.”
