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“Got it,” Rhett says. “I’ll be in the library.”
With one last longing glance toward Rhett, Oliver, and Wren, I head toward my office. We’ll only be able to hold Ludo off for so long before he realizes that either we know more than we’re letting on, or we’re incapable of finding Aubrey. The latter is obviously the best choice, but we need to make it look like we have a thorough search planned.
My phone vibrates in my hand, and I check it as I go.
Ludo:A hard drive was also taken from me. If you can find it, I’ll double your payment.
I smirk.Yeah, you’re never getting that drive back, buddy.
Chapter twenty-one
Rhett
Thankfully,Sparrowhassomeinformation on Peter Huxley that proves to be helpful. He has a few legitimate businesses, but it seems like the bulk of his money is in underground gambling. My guess is that’s why Huxley sent two of his men to kidnap Aubrey in Florida. Ludo recently entered into the gambling scene, and Huxley was probably trying to blackmail him out of it.
As for his security, his house has a state-of-the-art system and a handful of guards there at all times. He’s rarely alone, but there’s one opening that looks like the perfect opportunity.
On Mondays, Huxley has a morning at home before eating lunch with his wife. At one o’clock, a car comes to pick him up and take him to his office.
There will already be two people in the car—his driver and his head of security, who’ll give him an update on the events of the previous night. So all we have to do is take them out, get the car to his house on time, and subdue him. It’s around eleven right now, which gives us plenty of time.
After I text with Elliot to iron out the details, Wren walks into the library. She’s dressed in leggings and a sweater, but her cozy outfit does little to disguise how nervous she looks.
“You okay?” I ask from where I’m seated with my laptop in front of me.
She’s playing with a loose thread in her sweater as she comes to stand in front of my desk. “I know you’re busy, but I need to talk to you.”
Shutting my laptop, I stand. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Everything’s perfect. I mean, as perfect as everything can be. But you . . . I . . .” She drops the loose thread and twists her fingers together. “I just need to say something. To you, specifically.”
My pulse picks up, but I keep my expression calm. “Go on.”
Inching closer, she reaches out to take my hand, but then she stops. After staying frozen for a moment, she lets her arm drop back down to her side. “Did you know that when you guys first started coming to the coffee shop, I thought you hated me?”
I frown. “What?”
“You were always so tense. I took your order every time, and you’d barely look me in the eye, so I assumed I’d done something to offend you.”
“No. God, no, I never hated you. You were just . . .”So beautiful. Unattainable. Safe when we were anything but.“Maybe I was intimidated.”
At that, she laughs. “You were intimidated byme?”
My only response is a nod, and her smile drops when she realizes I’m not joking. Her hand twitches at her side, like she’s stopping herself from touching me.
Not a good sign.
“What do you need to tell me?”
“I learned eventually that you didn’t hate me. Obviously.” She laughs nervously. “I’ve learned so much about you. I’ve watched you open up to me even though it tore you up inside. I’ve seen how deeply you care for Ell and Oliver. For . . . for me.”
And that’s when it clicks in my mind where she’s going with this. The one place I was hoping we could avoid a little longer.
“I can’t imagine my life without the three of you,” she says. “Withoutyou,Rhett.”
Dread courses through my veins. I’m not ready for this. Not even close. Doesn’t matter how hard I tried to be.
What if she doesn’t understand?
