Double Bossed Page 14

  Getting the text of her gagged and bound to a bed, passed out from whatever that fucker Jimmy did to her, made him half crazy. She was out there, probably scared and in trouble, and they couldn’t get to her. He felt helpless and every time he thought of the things that could happen to her he wanted to put his fists through a wall.

  “She messed up, man—we all did. We were under the illusion everything had calmed down but we were wrong. That fucker was just biding his time, waiting for us to miss a step and when he got his chance, he took it. He took our girl and now we have to get her back. I can’t live without her—I won’t,” Justin shouted. Jarrod knew his brother and he were on the same page. Whatever it took, they would get Airiana back or die trying.

  Jarrod sat back in his chair, sick and tired of having to go over the same story for the past hour. They were wasting precious time and he was sick of sitting around, talking about what happened and hypothetical situations. Their head of security, Mike Mulligan had been questioning them for what seemed like an eternity and Jarrod was ready to get his team out. The sooner they hit the pavement looking for Airiana, the sooner she would be home, in their arms.

  “While I appreciate your thoroughness Mike, I think it’s time we start talking strategy,” Justin barked from where he paced in the corner of Jarrod’s office. “Our girl is missing, an asshole named Jimmy took her and we want her back. It’s really cut and dry. Just get out there and do your fucking job.” Jarrod had to agree with his brother’s assessment of the situation, although his delivery was a bit cold.

  “What my brother is trying to say is, we’ve been at this for an hour. You should have the information you need to find Airiana. We appreciate you keeping us in the loop,” Jarrod said. He stood and waited for Mike to do the same but he didn’t make a move.

  “How about you two calm the fuck down and let me do my job,” Mike said. Jarrod would have found the whole scene funny under normal circumstances but nothing about Airiana’s abduction was humorous. Mike Mulligan had come highly recommended and had been the head of their security detail for almost two years. There was no way Jarrod would start questioning the guy now but he was anxious to get the ball rolling.

  “What else do you need?” Jarrod diplomatically asked, trying to keep his temper at bay.

  “I need for you both to trust me to do the job you’ve hired me to do. I have faced a hell of a lot worse than this when I was enlisted and I’m sure I will be able to get your girl back. I just need to ask a few more questions,” Mike ordered. Jarrod nodded and sat back down behind his desk. Justin continued to pace the span of windows that covered the entire wall of Jarrod’s office.

  “Fire away,” Jarrod offered, holding his arms wide.

  “How exactly does this Jimmy character know Airiana?” Mike asked.

  Jarrod sighed, hating that he was going to have to spill the ugly truth about Airiana’s time in that God awful foster home. It wasn’t his story to tell but it might be the only way to get her back. “His family housed foster kids and Airiana was one of them,” Jarrod all but whispered.

  “He fucking took advantage of her,” Justin whispered. Mike’s curt nod told him he completely understood Justin’s meaning.

  “I’ll need the address for the family. With any luck, they are still in the same house and might have a lead as to where this Jimmy guy is,” Mike said. He stood and turned to leave the office. “I don’t have to remind either of you to let my team do the heavy lifting here, do I? You need to let me do my job and steer clear of playing the heroes. I’ll find her and she’ll be back here before you know it.”

  Jarrod nodded but made Mike no such promise. He knew if he or Justin got the chance to save their girl, they’d take it and to hell with their own personal safety. Airiana was theirs and he and Justin would do whatever it took to get her back, no matter the cost.

  As soon as Mike left, Justin crossed the room to leave. “I’ve got to get out of this office,” Justin complained. “Call me when you have news,” he ordered and turned to walk out. Jarrod knew his brother was hurting, he just hated that Justin didn’t turn to him. He hoped like hell Mike’s promise came through because he had a feeling if they lost Airiana, he’d lose his brother too.

  Airiana

  Airi drifted between consciousness and a dream state for most of the day. The only way she could tell if it was nighttime or daytime was from the light coming from the room’s only window. It was pitch black when she woke this time and she was relieved she was still alone. The last thing she remembered was Jimmy telling her he was going to go out to tie up a few loose ends. Airi panicked at the thought of those loose ends being her son or the guys but she also knew panicking wouldn’t help her to find a way out of there. She was still so groggy and her head hurt like a son-of-a-bitch, reminding her she must have hit it at some point when Jimmy grabbed her in the alleyway behind the sub shop. Still, the only way she could remain so out of it was if Jimmy had drugged her and she wouldn’t put it past him. She tugged at the handcuffs that bound her to the little metal bed and yelped at the pain that ratcheted through her wrists and down her arms. She stilled, trying to overcome the nausea she felt, willing herself to relax. She wanted to laugh at just how silly that thought was. How in the hell was she supposed to relax when she was being held captive by a mad man? He had killed Cole and probably others and Airi needed to remember she was dealing with a deranged murderer.

  She let her eyes adjust to the darkness, trying to figure out just where it was he was holding her. The uncomfortable bed felt familiar. It was like the countless foster twin beds she was so grateful to sleep in night after night. If not for the families that took her in, she would have been in a group home and the stories she had heard about those were terrifying. She was thankful for every one of the families that took her in—well, except Jimmy’s family. They turned a blind eye while their teenage son did unspeakable things to her. Even when the truth came out, and she proved she was pregnant, they denied the possibility of it being his baby. They had called her disgusting names and accused her of sleeping around, getting pregnant and then framing their son. Airi had felt so alone at that time. Not having anyone believe her or in her was the loneliest, lowest point of her life. It had taken her years to overcome her own insecurities and now, with Jarrod and Justin, she felt as though she had finally found her way.

  Airi focused and concentrated on anything in the room that might give her a clue as to where she was being held. If she ever got her chance to escape, she would take it, and knowing where she was would give her a head start. She blinked against the darkness and realized she recognized the room she was in. If she wasn’t mistaken, it was the room she shared with two other girls while she lived with Jimmy’s family. The thought of him bringing her back to his childhood home made her sick but she’d expect no less from his crazy, twisted, skewed view of their time together.

  She searched the room for anything that might help her but besides her bed and a small dresser, the place looked to be abandoned. There were no toys laying on the floor or clothes strewn across the furniture, as it was when she lived there. Three girls sharing a small room never allowed for things to be kept very tidy. In fact, the closet looked to be completely empty and the thought of the old house being left abandoned frightened her. If Jimmy had taken her to a place no one would think to look for her, what were her chances of escaping? She sobbed into the dark and realized she was completely alone in all of this. No one was there to comfort her, to take care of her or to rescue her. For the first time in almost two years since being found by her sister, Airi felt completely alone. She forgot how much she hated that feeling, especially after telling herself she would never be that girl again.

  When Ivy and her husbands found her, she was a shy, timid, alone and afraid little girl. Airi was pregnant and had nowhere else to turn. When she finally started to get back on her feet, she promised herself and her unborn baby she would never go back to that life—that loneliness, ever. She had to raise
her son and Airi never wanted Milo to look at her with the same damn pity she saw in stranger’s eyes when she told them her story. She wasn’t a victim and she wouldn’t start playing one now.

  Jimmy had made one major miscalculation when he took her in that back alley. He thought he was kidnapping that same scared kid she used to be. He was wrong. She was a strong, capable woman now and she’d die before letting Jimmy just take what he wanted from her. She was going to show him just who she had become and hopefully, find her way back to her guys and Milo.

  Justin

  Justin couldn’t take the silence any longer. He had driven over to Ivy’s place to pick up Milo. He needed to be close to Airi’s son, needing some part of her to help him hold onto the hope she was going to be alright. But, every hour that ticked by made him more worried he was just being an optimistic fool.

  “Hey,” he groused when Holden answered the door. “I need to see Milo,” he admitted. Holden’s smile was forced and he stood out of the doorway, as if ushering Justin into their home.

  “Thanks,” he whispered, stepping into the entryway. Milo was standing by the television, watching some kid’s cartoon and in his own little world. He had no clue his mother might not ever come back to them and Justin wished he could have that same ignorance. The pain of not having Airi close was eating at him, tearing his heart in two.

  “We were taking bets on how long it would take you guys to get here. I bet you’d get here first and well, I lost,” Holden admitted. Justin realized what Holden had just said and looked around the house, knowing Jarrod had beaten him there.

  “So, he’s here then?” Justin asked.

  “Yep, got here about an hour ago,” Holden admitted. “Come on in the kitchen. Jarrod’s talking to Slade and Ivy. Apparently, Ivy might know where that asshole has your girl.” Justin’s world seemed to rev up to full speed.

  “How can Ivy know?” he questioned.

  “Just come in the kitchen,” Holden ordered. Justin grabbed Milo on his way into the bright, cheery kitchen, making him squeal by tickling his belly. God, he missed that kid. Milo patted his face, as if studying him and Justin playfully growled, pretending to eat the toddler’s fingers. Milo yelped and giggled as Justin hugged him to his body.

  “I missed you buddy,” he whispered. Justin found Jarrod sitting in the corner of the room and Justin shot him an apologetic look.

  “Don’t,” Jarrod said. “We’ll talk about you walking out and leaving me alone in all of this later. Right now, I want to hear about Ivy’s theory. You know where our girl is?” Justin didn’t miss the way Ivy’s face lit up when Jarrod referred to her sister as their girl. He wondered if she would be okay with them sharing Airi, even though Ivy lived that lifestyle herself. But, she was never anything but kind to either of them and now was no exception.

  “Well, it’s just an idea—a hunch really,” she started. “But has anyone thought to check the house where Jimmy grew up? After I aged out of the system, they moved Airi to another home, Jimmy’s home. I lost touch with her and wasn’t allowed any further contact or information since she was a minor. Does his family still live in the area?” She looked between him and Jarrod, as if they might have any answers.

  Jarrod cleared his throat and Justin could tell he had gotten some news. “Our head of security called and said he had intel that place was abandoned. The family moved out of town not long after Airi had left them. No one has lived in that house for years.” Justin felt angrier by the second but had to remember Milo wouldn’t understand if he yelled at Jarrod. Having a toddler around had mellowed both of their tempers and he had to keep himself in check since the little guy was watching their every move.

  “Mike called and you didn’t let me know?” Justin asked. He tried to remain as calm as humanly possible but his words still came out as a heated accusation.

  “You stormed out of my office, saying you couldn’t take any more. I’m assuming you also turned your phone off?” Jarrod waited him out while he checked his cell phone.

  “Shit,” Justin grumbled when he realized he had set his phone to silent mode. He didn’t hear the calls or texts that had come through from his brother. “Sorry, man. I must have hit it off when I got into the car. You’re right—I just walked out on you and I’m sorry,” Justin admitted. He felt like a first class ass for bailing on his brother that way. Airi was just as much Jarrod’s and Justin was acting as if he was the only person hurting from losing her.

  “No more running, Justin,” Jarrod ordered. “Whatever happens from here on out, we’re a team.” Justin nodded, knowing his brother was right.

  “Got it,” Justin agreed. Jarrod reached for Milo and the toddler willingly went to him.

  “You know guys,” Slade interrupted, “Just because a building seems empty, doesn’t always mean it is. When I started renovating the club, I had to chase people out of there all the time. It was mostly homeless people just looking for a place to crash for the night but you never know. Maybe he’d think it’s someplace no one would bother to look or maybe he’d just like the poetic justice of returning to the scene of the crime—who knows. It’s worth checking it out though.”

  Jarrod looked at Justin and he could see the resolve in his brother’s face. He thought Slade might be onto something too and there was no fucking way he’d let Jarrod go over to the old house alone.

  “I’m going with you,” Justin said. Jarrod smiled at him and Justin knew he had correctly guessed what his brother was thinking.

  “You know that whole twin mind reading thing really freaks my sister out,” Ivy teased. She took Milo from Jarrod and kissed her nephew’s cheek. “Just find her and bring her home. Milo needs his mom and well, I need her too.” Ivy’s voice broke and Slade and Holden were immediately by her side, comforting her. Watching the three of them together nearly gutted Justin, reminding him what he and his brother had possibly lost—what was taken from them.

  “I’m going with you guys too,” Holden admitted. He looked over to Ivy and Slade and they both nodded, giving him their silent support.

  “Thanks, man,” Justin said. “Call Mike and have him and some of his guys meet us over at the house. I have a feeling Ivy might be on to something,” Justin ordered. Jarrod pulled out his phone and called Mike. Justin hoped like hell they were going to get a break. Not having Airi was tearing him apart minute by minute.

  Airiana

  Airi woke and this time the room was brighter from the sunlight that was filtering in through the curtains that covered the old windows. Her head was feeling a little better and she quickly searched the room for any sign of Jimmy. He never came back the night before and she really needed to use the bathroom and she was starving. A part of her worried something happened to him and he wasn’t coming back. The panic of being chained to the bed and possibly having no one ever find her was terrifying.

  “Hello,” she shouted, hoping someone would be wandering by and hear her but she knew better than that. The house was abandoned and the chance of someone just passing by was slim to none. She shouted a few more times for good measure but her throat was dry and she had to stop shouting when her voice went hoarse.

  The bedroom door burst open and Jimmy walked in, a satisfied smirk on his face. “You called?” She was disgusted with herself for feeling even a twinge of relief at seeing him. But for now, he was her only hope of getting to the bathroom and stretching her aching body.

  “Um, I have to pee,” she whispered. Her voice was raspy from shouting.

  Jimmy looked her body up and down, as if he didn’t believe her and she almost found the whole thing funny. Who would lie about having to pee? Well, someone in her position, perhaps. Airi sighed, “It’s been how many hours since you chained me to this bed? I have to use the bathroom, please,” she begged. Jimmy seemed to enjoy toying with her and she knew she was going to have to lay it all out there for him.

  “Or, I can just pee the bed and then you’ll have to clean everything,” she murmured. He seemed to
consider her threat but finally gave in and pulled the key for the handcuffs from his pocket.

  “Fine,” he conceded. “But if you try anything I’ll knock you out again.” She pasted on her best fake smile and nodded.

  “What exactly did you use on me?” she questioned. “I was out all night,” she lied. She was awake for most of the night figuring out just where he had her stashed but she wouldn’t tell him that. For all Jimmy knew she was still in the dark as to where he had taken her and she wanted to keep it that way. It gave her a fighting chance, knowing where they were and just how to get home from her current location. Jimmy didn’t need to know she knew that.

  “Oh, just a little roofie,” he boasted.

  She gasped, “You mean Rohypnol? As in the date rape drug?” Airi knew she couldn’t be Jimmy’s only conquest and knowing he had that drug in his possession only confirmed her worst fears—Jimmy was a predator.

  “Yeah. It’s good stuff, really. It turns women like you, the ones who don’t want to be good girls and cooperate, into nice, obedient little girls.” She felt sick thinking of how many times he had gone out on the prowl and roofied some poor, unsuspecting woman, only to drag her off to take advantage of her. He was disgusting and deserved to be behind bars.

  Jimmy unlocked her hand cuffs and she sat up, testing to make sure she wasn’t too lightheaded or sick from the after effects of the drug. Airi rubbed the feeling back into her numb arms. The pins and needles sensation quickly followed and hurt like hell but she would never tell Jimmy that. He would take some sick satisfaction in knowing he had caused her pain.