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“I’m sorry about Hannah. It’s horrible. Gabe said you heard from Zhao?”
“She called me. She wants Paragon, and she wants to trade Hannah for me. But Gabe won’t let me go.”
Bethany nodded. “Come on out, and let’s talk about it. Gabe’s brothers are here. The one who runs the security company was just telling us he has some insight with how to deal with this. Let’s listen to him.”
“I’m not going near Gabe.”
“Jesus, Lauren.” She narrowed her eyes, annoyed. “He’s just trying to keep you alive. You’re no good to Hannah dead. Let’s go.”
Bethany never minced words, and my sister did need me, so I slunk into the living room behind her clicking heels. I nodded mutely at Gabe and two athletic, good-looking men who must be his brothers, and Kami Robards, Gabe’s attorney.
“Can I get you anything?” Gabe asked me, his voice tight.
“I don’t want anything except my sister back.”
His brothers shot each other a wary look.
“So sorry to hear about Hannah,” the older one said, his tone soothing as he approached me. He was a little shorter than Gabe, powerfully built, with the same dark hair and slightly darker brown eyes. He took my hand. “I’m Levi, Gabe’s older brother. I run Betts Security.” He released me and dropped down next to Gabe on the couch.
The younger one came forward. He was taller than Gabe, with lighter hair, a slightly slimmer build, and hazel eyes. “I’m Asher. The youngest. It’s nice to meet you, Lauren—I just wish it was under better circumstances.” He patted my shoulder and then sank down beside them, forcing me to confront the rugged male beauty of the Betts brothers.
Gabe’s gaze met mine, but he quickly looked away.
“We’re here to help.” Levi leaned forward, his crisp white button-down shirt straining against his chest. “I’ve been involved with multiple hostage situations over the years, in private practice and when I was in the military. We’ll get Hannah home safe.” He turned to Gabe, who appeared to be examining a spot on the floor. “Gabe told me you spoke with Zhao this morning. You’re certain she’s the one who took Hannah?”
“Yes. It was her guards—she basically admitted it.” I swallowed hard. “She wants my company, and she wants to trade Hannah for me.”
Levi nodded. “Gabe mentioned that too.”
“Li Na said that she would only release Hannah if I sell her my company. She wants the technology, the contracts, the equipment, everything,” I explained. “She said she won’t accept anything less.”
“And you’re willing to do that?” Levi asked.
“Absolutely—I don’t think I have a choice. But it’s going to take some time, and t
hat’s a problem,” I said quickly. “I don’t think my sister can handle being a prisoner for long. Li Na agreed to accept me in exchange for Hannah while the sale’s being prepared. But she said I have to show her I’m taking ‘meaningful steps’ in the process before she’ll make the trade—so I have to start getting the documents together.”
“Is that where you left things?” Levi continued to look at me while Gabe studied the floor.
I jutted my chin defiantly. “Yes. I said I would do it.”
“We need to think that through, Lauren, and consider all the options. Li Na isn’t going to let your sister go easily. She’s been chasing you for a while, and she finally has something you want.”
Gabe shot me a heated look. “That’s what I said.”
“What about the FBI?” Kami interjected. “Aren’t they doing anything to get Hannah back?”
Bethany cleared her throat and sat forward a little. “I spoke to Agent Marks on my way here. He said local police are investigating, and the FBI has also opened an investigation. But he said they have no verifiable leads yet.”
“That’s not much of an update,” Gabe said. “He told me the same thing this morning.”
“Li Na was confident they wouldn’t be knocking down her door any time soon,” I said. “She also said that the Chinese authorities wouldn’t touch her. The FBI ran into a dead end connecting her to the guards who held me captive in Menlo Park, and they’ve never linked her to Clive Warren’s death. Our tech guys traced her communication from earlier—it leads to a Russian proxy server. She’s covered her tracks. She’s safe, sitting pretty in her luxury condo on the other side of the globe.”
Bethany turned to Levi. She tucked a strand of platinum hair behind her ear, the enormous diamond-stud earrings she wore reflecting the light, and pursed her perfectly lacquered lips in disapproval. “The FBI will want to talk to you sooner rather than later. Since you’re taking over here, can you at least tell me a little more about your company? How exactly do you operate? Are you licensed? Are you legitimate? I don’t want my client associated with anything illegal.”
“Bethany, let’s worry about that later,” I said, exasperated.
She shrugged her petite shoulders, not backing down. “Let him answer.”
