Jim’s entire body went frozen with shock. His sister was gone? What the hell did that mean? He listened as his mother cried on the other end, fear rising inside him.
“Mom, what do you mean she’s gone? Where is she?” For a second, he wondered if Lana had done something crazy, like hop a plane to Africa to help children with AIDS. He could totally see her doing that. Lana’s heart was bigger than a small country, and despite her sweet disposition, she did get stubborn and wild every now and then.
But apparently not now, he realized in dismay, as his mother said, “She’s been kidnapped.”
Jim felt lightheaded. “What?”
He could barely keep up with his mother’s panic-driven words, but he got the gist of it. Lana had disappeared in Paris and was being held hostage by Hank Kelley’s enemies. Relief coursed through him when his mother explained that Hank had spoken to Lana several times, but the relief transformed into rage when she described the DVD and photograph that had been delivered to the ranch.
“But she’s alive,” he ground out, sheer fury coating his throat like sulfuric acid.
“We think so,” his mother said with an anguished whimper. “Cole deduced from the video that she might be in D.C., but we’re not sure. And then last night there were reports of gunfire in a neighborhood near Stanton Park. Federal agents searched every inch of the neighborhood and didn’t find a thing. Jimmy, we don’t know where she is.”
His mother’s distress was like a knife to the heart. He’d always done his best to keep his mom happy, especially since his father didn’t seem interested in doing so, but right now, he felt totally and completely helpless.
“There’s more,” his mother added. “The kidnappers called again, and they want to set up an exchange.”
“Money?”
“No. They want your father. I’ve been trying to get through to you for days now. I don’t know what to do. I don’t trust these people, and I’m beginning to think they’re never going to let my baby go. Nothing about this exchange makes sense, Jimmy.”
“You’re right.”
Everything his mother had just told him succeeded in heightening the anger rolling in his gut. Of course this was about his father. Hank Kelley’s recklessness and insensitivity was always at the root of every problem this family ever encountered.
“Where is Dad now?” he asked coldly.
“Maple Cove. He’s staying with Cole.” Sarah paused. “People are trying to kill him.”
Jim almost muttered “good,” but quickly tamped down the cruel thought. He didn’t want to see his father dead. No matter how much heartache Hank Kelley had caused over the years, he was still Jim’s father.
And, as a dutiful son, he was going to come home and clean up his daddy’s mess.
“Are you at the mansion?” he asked his mother.
“No, I’m staying at Vivienne’s house in Martha’s Vineyard.”
“Good. Stay there. And as of this moment, I’m arranging for a guard to come stay with you.” Before she could protest, he hurried on in a brisk tone. “I’ll fly to Maple Cove tonight. I’ll take care of everything, okay, Mom?”
“Just be careful. Please, promise to take care of yourself.”
“I will.” His jaw hardened. “And don’t worry, I’m going to find Lana and bring her home.”
Among other things…
He decided not to mention that. His mother was distraught enough as it was. No need to worry her further.
But he had no intention of letting this end simply with Lana’s safe return. Because nobody, nobody, was going to kidnap his sister and live to tell about it.
Jim would make sure of that.
Chapter 13
Deacon and Lana reached Cleveland in the late afternoon, and by the time he pulled into the parking lot of the motel, he was dying to get out of the car. Lana’s attempts at making conversation had begun to make him unbelievably uncomfortable. Ever since he’d poured out his life story to her while they lay in bed, he’d tried to keep some distance between them. Kept his responses short, forced himself not to touch her. Yet Lana seemed determined to claw her way through his self-imposed distance.
And he knew why. Somehow she’d convinced herself that he was capable of being a father to this kid. She truly believed they might have some sort of future together.
Deacon knew better, though. Even if he weren’t on the wrong side of the law and would probably be arrested when this was all over, he didn’t belong in Lana’s life. He didn’t belong anywhere.
The motel he’d found was located on the outskirts of the city, near an industrial area where every company name seemed to have the word mega in it. Mega Steel Corporation, Mega Shutters, Megapaint, Inc. Considering the miniscule size of the buildings, mega seemed absurdly hyperbolic.