Page 84 of The Restaurant on Plum Island
“First, we have to get out of these bonds,” Carly pointed out, stalling for time. “Alex, you’re right that trying to cut these cable ties with our hands behind our backs is hard.”
“Shay, get that knife from Carly to me. I can work with the knife she has,” Alex advised.
Shay slid back and took the knife from Carly. “I can try to cut you out, Uncle Alex.”
“Sure,” Alex said. “Come on then.”
Shay slid behind Alex. “Lift your arms some more.”
“If I lift my arms anymore, they’re going to pop out of their sockets,” Alex grumbled.
While the teen cut Alex free Carly turned to him.
“Alex, do you have any idea why Daphne Roses’s family would be involved in this? Specifically, her brother?”
Alex looked at Carly in surprise, his brows furrowing, and shook his head. “Daphne’s brother?” He looked at Carly questioningly. “Why would you think she was involved in this?”
Carly explained about Parker and Daphne, telling them what had happened the previous evening.
“I didn’t even realize Daphne had a brother,” he admitted, pursing his lips. “Why would her brother hate us all so much that he’d kidnap us?”
“Have you or any of your family members been blackmailed recently?” Carly asked.
“Not that I know of.” Alex shrugged. “And I don’t think anyone would have the nerve to blackmail my family.”
“I know a Daphne,” Shay piped up as she managed to cut the band on Alex’s wrist and hand him the knife she slid back between the adults. “She used to visit my mother.”
Shay’s casual mention of knowing Daphne had Carly and Alex stare at the teen in surprise for a few seconds.
Could it be the same Daphne?The warning bells started ringing in Carly’s mind once again as a creepy feeling began to crawl up her spine. Before she could ask Shay to elaborate, the sound of footsteps heralded the arrival of their captors, cutting short any further discussion.
The door opened, Alex put his hand back behind him as if he was still bound, and Carly gasped when Shaun stepped into the room.
“If it’s the same, Daphne,” Shay whispered to Carly, “that’s her brother. My mother told me they were her half-siblings. They have the same mother.”
Carly had guessed the connection before Shaun had stepped into the room. His presence only confirmed the fear that had been simmering in Carly’s mind.
“Shaun?” Carly’s voice was a mixture of disbelief and demand for explanation as her mind reeled and the dots all started to connect. “You’re behind all this?”
The revelation that Shaun was the architect of a plot to destroy Carly’s and Ethan’s lives made her feel sick to her stomach.
“Why are you so surprised?” Shaun looked at her with a gleam in his eyes. “Then again, you always underestimate people and only see the good in them.” He shook his head. “Which is crazy considering your choice of career.” He snorted. “Everyone in showbiz is horrid and would sell their firstborn to get to the top.”
“Unless you have raw talent,” Alex taunted him. “Which Carly has in abundance, and I, for one, think she’s a rare gem for sticking close to who she really is while rising to fame.” His eyes narrowed. “Unlike most other B-rated actors, who have to rise to the top on the coattails of people like her... or blackmail and manipulate their way there.”
“Sticks and stones.” Shaun shrugged Alex’s words off.
“Why are you doing this?” Carly asked, feeling her panic rise as she saw Shaun’s eyes filled with sheer malice.
“Everything in life has a balance, my love,” Shaun explained. “And right now my balance is off, and you and Ethan owe me.”
“What have I taken from you?” Alex slipped into his role as Ethan.
“You’ve taken nothing from me,” Shaun glanced at Alex. “You’re part of me regaining my balance,Alex.”
A chill went down Carly’s spine as she realized what Shaun was saying, especially now that they knew Alex was the one Shaun meant to kidnap.
“Is this about Beth?” Carly shot Shay an apologetic look and froze.
