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“I’m sorry we parted on bad terms last night,” Serena said.
“We didn’t,” Draegan barked, wishing he’d used a little more tact. “I mean, as far as I’m concerned, we’re okay. Nothing has changed.”
She looked guilty then. Those thick lips twisted and twitched something awful. “I wanted to sleep with Bane.”
“I see.” Draegan processed. “Well, did ya?”
“No.”
“Then there’s nothing to talk about.”
“I didn’t screw him, but—”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” he said, placing his fingers over her lips. “Serena, I haven’t been fair to you. From the moment I first saw you, I wanted you. Thing is, you sort of disrupted my plans.”
He could tell by looking at her blank expression, he wasn’t telling her anything she didn’t already know.
“As you might have guessed, I didn’t want to settle down. And I made up my mind from the moment you moved here, I wasn’t going to settle down with anyone—you or anyone else—until I had my fill of other women.”
“That’s good to know.” Her voice held a dash of resentment. “You aren’t telling me anything I didn’t already suspect.”
He jerked at the sound of her bitter tone. “For the record, I didn’t have as much fun sowing my wild oats as I’d first intended.”
“Sorry I messed things up for you.”
“It would seem I messed them up for myself.” He waved his finger at the bay window. Outside, Bane paced back and forth while barking a bunch of orders.
“You didn’t mess up anything,” Serena said. “My feelings for you are as strong today as they were yesterday but you and Bane need to work it out.”
“Work it out?” Draegan couldn’t wait to hear this.
“I’m not letting either one of you go,” she said in a matter of fact tone. “Like I said, you need to work it out and when you do, let me know what you decide. Until then, we need to focus on Markie.”
“I agree.” Draegan hadn’t stopped thinking about Markie since the first photos had been sent. The images showcased the abuse he’d endured. He’d undoubtedly suffered torture, but to what degree was the real question.
Unfortunately, a number of pictures had been sent but the demands had yet to arrive. Given the blank looks on Markie’s face? Draegan was afraid those ransom demands wouldn’t come in anytime soon. They might not arrive at all.
Whoever was holding Markie apparently wanted to make a statement and prove a point. When the assailant was done torturing Markie and tormenting those who loved him, perhaps he’d send a list of demands.
“Let’s just hope Markie can hold on until we find out what his abductor wants.”
“I think you mean who,” Bane said, entering the office then with Mac and Allister on his heels. “Where’s Harley?”
Draegan swung his gaze to Mac. “Is he around?”
“Should be down at the barn by now. We have a couple of trucks coming in around seven.”
“Why do you need Harley?” Allister asked.
“We’ll need all of you,” Bane replied. “Vin Vance is in town. We pulled Markie’s cell phone records. Apparently he’s been talking to Vin for nearly a week. Other than Draegan’s number, Vin’s number was the last number dialed prior to his disappearance.”
“Markie tried to call me and I sent him to voicemail,” Draegan said, wondering if it might have made a difference if he’d picked up when Markie last called.
“Wait a minute, did you say Vin Vance?” Allister stalked Bane. “As in, another Vance weirdo from Vance Holler?”
“None other,” Bane replied, regret strewn through his voice.
“I thought all those Vance bastards tacked on an ‘s’ to their names because they all believed they’re living several simultaneous lives or some weird shit like that?” Mac’s gaze hopped between Bane and Allister before he directed his attention to Draegan. “Did you know they had another brother?”
