Page 83 of The Gilded Cuff
“Rachel!” Her scream was too quiet, her voice hoarse as the man ran to his gray van and threw Rachel’s limp body into the back. The tires screeched as he pulled away…
She’d never left that playground. She was trapped with the guilt and the fear, left alone as darkness closed in.
Chapter 20
EMERYLOCKWOOD, THE SOLE SURVIVOR OF A KIDNAPPING THAT OCCURRED TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO WHICH CLAIMED HIS TWIN BROTHER’S LIFE IS ONCE AGAIN THE SOURCE OF NEWS INWESTON,LONGISLAND.RUMORS ABOUND REGARDINGLOCKWOOD’S MEMBERSHIP TO A NEWLY FORMED PRIVATE CLUB ONLONGISLAND.MEMBERSHIPS TOTHEGILDEDCUFFCLUB COST IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS PER YEAR AND STRICT ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS KEEP MOST OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC FROM GETTING INSIDE TO GLIMPSE THE HANDSOME BILLIONAIRE WITH THE TRAGIC PAST.
—New York Times, October 31, 2014
Emery sat in his father’s study chair, slumped over the massive desk. He dug his fingers into his scalp until it hurt. His chest felt as though it was on fire, as if some angry god had thrust his fiery hand deep into Emery’s chest and ripped his beating, bleeding heart out and cast it into the flames. Breath didn’t come easy, and his temples throbbed as he desperately tried to find some balance in his head. Only one thought pierced the gloom: Sophie was gone. The wound she left behind would never heal. Hell, it might kill him now, and he had done it to himself.
He was a fucking asshole and he knew it. He’d just screwed her and sent her packing. He should never have touched her, never gotten close to her. Even hating her, he still loved her, and he’d been cold to her just to have one more second of heaven. He had enjoyed it, been aroused as hell, but it wasn’t the same, not like all of the other times he’d made love to her. Perhaps that was the difference. This time had been sex, just a quick fuck to get her out of his system, but she was deeper under his skin than ever. Already he missed her and wanted her back in his arms so he could apologize.
The door to the study crashed open. Hans was a black silhouette before the light from the hallway.
“Get out, Hans, I need a minute—”
His bodyguard moved fast, throwing a punch so hard that Emery crashed back in the chair and it toppled over. Pain exploded in his jaw. He groaned as he struggled out of the over-turned chair.
“What the hell, Hans?” He wiped a palm over his mouth, tasting blood from his split lip.
“Ms. Ryder just left here in tears…” Hans’s reply was like a wolf’s growl. It would have scared anyone but him.
Emery leapt to his feet. “Good—” Another blow popped his eye and he staggered back into the bookshelves behind him. Several heavy tomes crashed to the ground.
“Stop that!” he snarled, raising his fists in defense. If prepared he knew he could get the drop on Hans. He was the better boxer of the two, but if Hans’s strength was coming from anger, Emery would likely get his ass kicked.
“You’re a real piece of work, Emery. Sophie and Cody were saving you. They were going to tell you about your brother once Wes had found him and made sure he was safe. D’Angelo told Cody he was trying to find Fenn and kill him. If they’d told you, we both know you would have rushed off and gotten both Fenn and yourself killed. Is that what you want?”
Emery lowered his fists a few inches as Hans’s words sank in.
“Why didn’t she tell me?”
His bodyguard’s glare knocked his feet out from under him.
“She loves you and she was only protecting you from yourself. She wanted to tell you, but had to wait until you and Fenn were safe. Whatever you did to her, whatever sins you’ve added to that long list, you’d best get on your knees and pray she’ll forgive you. Now get your shit together and let’s go find her before she gets too far away.”
Emery swallowed hard and followed Hans outside. The party was still in full swing and there was no sign of Sophie in the crowded room. Emery led the way as he and Hans pushed through the mass of dancing people. When they reached the front door Hans pointed to something at the bottom of the steps.
Sophie’s purse lay on the ground, with a spray of blood over it. “Is that—” Emery’s words died on his lips as he reached the purse.
A cell phone, one that he didn’t recognize, was next to the purse. The screen lit up as an unknown number called.
“I’m beginning to hate cell phones.” Emery said as he snatched up the phone and answered the call.
“I’m guessing you’ve discovered my little fib. I couldn’t resist, you see…” Antonio chuckled. The sound brought back horrifying memories, ones he tried to shove back in the dark. Pain and fear always followed that sound.
“Where have you taken her?” His body trembled as adrenaline and rage swept through him in devastating tidal waves, but he forced himself to calm down as he put the phone on speaker. As he listened, he got into the cell’s settings to locate the number and flashed it to Hans. Hans was already on his phone, texting Cody the number on the cell Emery had, no doubt asking if it was possible to put a trace on the call. He waved his hand to tell Emery to keep him talking.
“You don’t need to trace the call,” Antonio said matter-of-factly, as though he knew exactly what they were up to.
Emery glanced around, suddenly wondering if Antonio could see them. But the gardens seemed empty.
“I do need to, because I want to find you and put a bullet through your skull.”
“I was wondering when you’d grow a pair of balls. I thought maybe you’d always be a sniveling little coward like you were when I had you.” The way he said ‘had you’ made Emery’s skin crawl, as though hundreds of spiders trekked along his flesh.
“Name the place and I’ll meet you there. We’ll finish this.”
