Page 52 of Ma Belle Marguerite
“What the fuck? Is that who I think it is?” D asks, “I thought she was a blonde?”
Looking closely at the screen, I’m sure. “Yes, that’s Amara.”Why would she want to hurt D? First me, now him?It doesn’t make sense.
We continue to watch the video to see what happened after he got knocked out. Amara and the guy, who looks familiar, get into the car and drive away, leaving D lying on the side of the road.
“Boss, I think that’s the car that was following us when we left the hospital. It just has different plates,” D says to me while staring at the computer screen like it will answer all his questions.
Josh pauses the video and zooms in on the car. D is right. That is the same car.What the hell is going on? Why is nothing making sense? Could this be Bella? It all started once she came back. What am I thinking? She would never do that to me; she’s too much of a kind soul for that.
Josh plays the video back and zooms in on the guy's face who hit D over the head and that’s when it clicks. “I recognize him from the bar the night I got run off the road. He was there with Cole.”
I know he hates me, but would he really betray his own brother like this? “D, call up some guys and have them ready to meet us when we figure out where Cole is taking Bella.” This cannot be a coincidence, Amara and the car must have been a distraction while Cole went and found Bella. How the fuck do these two even know each other well enough to be working together?
“Looking at the last ping on Cole’s phone and the Mustang’s location, it looks like they are headed to your bunker, boss.” Josh turns the screen towards me so I can see what he is telling me for myself.
“Text me if that changes. D, are your keys in the truck?” I turn to see him typing away on his phone. “I’m driving; I don’t need you driving us off the road after that hit to your head.” One car accident is more than enough for this lifetime.
Grunting, he just follows behind me as Josh nods his head at me. He doesn’t have to like it, but he knows I am right.
“Make sure all the men are armed and ready. We cannot take any chances. I want Bella back and unharmed before the kids need to be picked up from school. Actually, send a few guys over to the school too.” Taking a deep breath as I jump in the truck, Icontinue talking mostly to myself, “They already lost one parent. They cannot lose their mom, too.” Bella would never forgive me if I let something happen to the twins. I wouldn’t either.
“We’ll get her back, boss, don’t worry.” D says with a grimace on his face as he looks at his phone.
“I just got her back. I’m not losing her already. If Cole has harmed even a hair on her head, he will die.Brother or not.” I tear out of the driveway on a mission, leaving skid marks on the asphalt. “Nobody touchesMa Belle Margueriteand lives to talk about it.” My voice comes out in a growl that shocks even me.
We make it to the bunker in record time. D may have almost shit himself at one point when he thought I was going to roll the truck taking a corner ‘too fast.’ His words, not mine. He can be such a baby for a big, tough military man. Wait until he finds a woman of his own to love. We’ll see how fast his attitude changes.
I park far enough away that they won’t hear the truck approaching. Surprise will be the key element to making this work.
I cannot see my men around us, but I know that they are here, hiding in the bushes, waiting for my signal. I have my own group of trusted men that I use. I only use my father's men if I need more numbers, which is very rare. In situations like this, I can’trisk someone reporting back to my father things that he doesn't need to know.
As I approach the bunker entrance, I can see the blue of my Mustang peeking through the trees. They are here. I just don’t understand why. What is the purpose of being here?
I see that the doors to the bunker are wide open. So he obviously knows that I will be coming for him—not sure if that is smart or stupid. This makes no sense. He must know I will kill him for this.
I give my men the signal to follow me. I will be the first through the door—not just because it is Bella, but because what kind of leader lets his men lead the way? I willnevershy away. If I expect my men to possibly die fighting for me, then I should be willing to do the same for them.
One of my men taps my shoulder and hands me a spare gun to tuck into my waist band. I nod my thanks to him as we approach the door as silently as possible.
He may be expecting us, but we still have the element of surprise if we play our cards right. I will get Bella back or die trying.
I walk through the door into the entrance and pause. I can hear voices coming from farther in. It’s hard to gauge exactly where they are. It almost sounds like they’re in the secret vault that Cole shouldn’t know about.
I signal to D to go to the right while I go to the left towards the bookcase’s hidden door, and see that it is already open.
I look back to see my men fanned out around the bunker entrance. It isn’t very big, so I can see everyone besides those who are in the back bedrooms.
I get the all-clear signal and move into the hidden room, only to find Bella lying on a cot, naked and unconscious, with a radio playing music beside her. There are some boxes placed around the room that weren’t here before.What made him think hecould do this and get away with it?I’m going to kill him when I get my hands on him!
I quickly block the door so none of my men can come in and see Bella. I’d have to shoot them all here on the spot.
Fuck, I didn’t even check if she was okay.I check her neck for a pulse and feel a strong, steady heartbeat. I can hear her breathing. She is still alive, at least. I just need to wake her once she is decent so we can get her checked out.
“D make sure no one looks in here. If they do, shoot them in the head.” I move quickly to the bedroom to grab a blanket. I need to cover her.
I rush back as fast as I can with a blanket and cover her body enough that I won’t lose any good men today.
“Is one of our medics here?” I yell at no one in particular. I can’t take my eyes off of her sleeping face.
