High Stakes Gamble

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Outside the precinct, Kai opened the passenger door for Aurora and worried when she didn’t protest, probably because she didn’t have the strength. He then went around to the driver’s side and slipped in next to her. “My hotel or your place?”

Weakness painted its picture on her pale face as she answered, her lips hardly moving. “My place. If anyone phones, they might use my home line and I don’t want to miss any calls.”

Kai knew what she referred to but figured that since they hadn’t had a ransom call yet, none would be forthcoming. But then Aurora hadn’t been home since Lily disappeared.

Driving faster than he normally would, they arrived before he could really get twisted over the tortuous thoughts bombarding him.

After he parked in her spot, he guided a silent Aurora to her front door and picked up the keys she dropped after pulling them from her pocket.

Once inside he hit the light switch and guided her toward the living room area. Before they went more than a few steps, her doorbell rang and a man’s voice could be heard calling her name.

Aurora wheeled around and rushed to open the door. “Jeff!”

A very distinguished good-looker scooped her into his arms and came very close to getting himself an extended stay in the hospital, courtesy of a very envious Kai.

A toxic jealousy he could chew began to weave its way throughout Kai’s body. The muscles in his stomach tightened into a fist that punched at his tolerance. He stopped the movement to reach behind for his weapon and instead clenched his fists. So this was his rival, the man no one wanted to talk about.

“I just heard on the news and flew back immediately, Aurora. I’m so gol-darn sorry, Pet.”

Gol-darn…? What a p-ssy! Kai backed away and crossed his arms, his back stiff and his thoughts dangerous.

Aurora burrowed in. Her words were hardly discernible. “Everyone believed Lily had been kidnapped by a member of a notorious Chinese gang. We got him, but he didn’t have her.”

Aurora’s voice sounded husky and so sad that it broke Kai’s heart. He tore his gaze from her and perused the other man. The putz’s shoes alone could cover the cost of all the clothes he wore, plus the numerous blue shirts in his closet that his mom insisted on buying for various presents.

Judging by his appearance, this dude had money and a lot of it. A mean streak surfaced and Kai pictured his fist connecting with the unlined cheeks on the other man’s face. He could already feel the satisfaction until Jeffie turned his way and… and winked. F*ck!

Then the dude extended his hand. “You must be Kai, Lily’s daddy. I’m a good friend of the girls, Jeff Waters.”

At first Kai wanted to pretend not to see the gesture but it didn’t sit well with his conscience to be a jerk. He shook Jeff’s hand, tightening his grip unnecessarily.

Aurora took a few steps back and she looked lighter, happier, less tired. “Jeff, I knew you would come.”

Jeff, not acknowledging Kai’s force, used the same crushed hand to push Aurora’s hair back over her shoulders in an affectionate way and said, “Of course I came. She’s my godchild. And you’re my pal. What can I do? Anything… you know that, right?”

“I do. But it’s all being looked after. We have every officer on her trail; every possible procedure has been set in place.”

Kai wasn’t sure if he liked that Aurora still held onto Waters’ hand; but if his being there would make things any easier for Aurora, he’d swallow the gathering bile and put up with it—and a whole lot more. He didn’t have to like it, but then there was a lot of stuff going on in his life right now he didn’t like.

When her phone interrupted, she moved off to the kitchen to answer it, leaving him alone with the guy.

Waters waved him toward the sofa as if he owned the place and Kai gritted his teeth and let him take the lead. As soon as they were out of Aurora’s sight, the prick turned on him.

“You a*shole! Where the hell have you been? That girl needed you a long time ago. I outta shove your head up your ass for treating her so shabby.”

Okay, now Jeffie was cruisin’… “It’s a long story. And my friend, you don’t deserve a personal report.”

“You’re right. But Aurora does. So for your sake, I hope your defense cuts it. Otherwise you’ll answer to me. She’s my friend and no one messes with the people I care about without learning a lesson.”

Smug bastard! Kai noted that he’d called her a friend, not his

girlfriend or woman. Tension that had tied up his guts started to unravel. He took in a huge breath and relaxed tightened muscles.

“You two are friends?”

“Good friends. Really good friends!” Jeff’s snide grin hit a chord with Kai and it was all he could do not to grind the other’s dimples with his fist. This dude was really pissing him off.

“Don’t push it.” Kai’s temper hated the controls he’d set up.

Suddenly, Jeff turned serious. “What happened? The news report only said that Lily had been taken from the same doctor’s office where the Fulton baby had disappeared.”

Kai took a seat across from where the other man now sat. Leaning forward, he clenched his hands between his knees. As much as he hated telling this dude anything, he supposed the jerk deserved an explanation.

“Aurora took Lily for her checkup. The doctor’s office had rescheduled the one they’d missed when the first kidnapping had occurred. Seems a woman dressed as a nurse cane to take Lily to be weighed. Not expecting any problems, Aurora handed her over. Turns out she wasn’t a nurse and Lily hasn’t been seen since.”

“My God! How horrible for Aurora? She’ll be blaming herself.”

“Yes.”

“Look, I have some influence around Vegas, on both sides of the law. So if you can think of any way money will make a difference, just set it up. Anything!”

Jeff’s imperious attitude assaulted Kai’s pride and he hated that he had to sit and listen. On the other hand, Waters’ message came across clearly. If a ransom was eventually demanded, they had his support. Just because he disliked the man, didn’t mean he wouldn’t use him to save Lily. In this type of situation, he’d negotiate with the devil himself if necessary.

Aurora interrupted Kai’s rambling thoughts as she stepped into the room. Her face appeared even sadder if at all possible.

Kai moved quicker than Jeff and led her to sit down, then sat next to her. “Darlin’ you’re scaring me. Something is wrong.” He didn’t form a question because he knew.

Aurora patted his cheek and he understood it was an automatic gesture done without thought. “It’s wasn’t about Lily. My partner Lisa is in trouble.”

Jeff broke in. “Is she the one you’ve told me about? The gorgeous chatterbox who’s a fiend for athletic activities?”

“Uh huh! She had to go back to Seattle to find her sister, Carly. They always called each other every few days because they’d been planning for her sister and her sister’s little boy Noel to move here—with Lisa. Then Lisa got the flu. Between working double shifts and trying to keep up at the office, almost a week passed without them being in contact or her getting any messages. She tried calling and got nothing. So she flew there. Turns out when she arrived, she found her sister also had the flu and Noel, the child, had been left with a neighbor.”

As she talked, Aurora’s cheeks paled to where her face had no color at all. Kai slid closer and scooped her up on his lap so he could hold her while he massaged her back.

His action caused the man opposite to bristle. But screw him. Aurora was his woman and she needed his warmth and loving arms. Gently, he rubbed her arms and within seconds, she melted against him.

Using his most tender tone, Kai asked, “What happened babe?”

“Her sister’s condition worsened and she passed away yesterday. Lisa is frantic. She desperately wants to come and help us find Lily but she can’t leave just yet until all her sister’s affairs are dealt with. I guess she’ll be bringing Noel, her three-year-old nephew, with her since there’s no other family.”

“And you’re fretting because you can’t be there to support her?” Kai knew his darling.

Aurora dropped her head against his chest. Her sob sounded like a gun blast in the quiet room. “She’s my friend. Of course I’m heartsick.”

Jeff stood and moved to kneel down in front of her. He took her hand and gently caressed the skin. “What can I do?”

“She needs m-money for the funeral. I promised. I wrote her address and her bank account number on the pad in the kitchen. Jeff…” Her big eyes spoke the words she couldn’t.

“She’ll have it. Don’t worry anymore.”

“S-She needs a ride back to Vegas, with her sister’s things and the little boy.”

“I’ll fly down to pick her up tomorrow.”

Kai kept his mouth shut because he had nothing to add. Not an easy feat while another man befriended his girl. He’d give anything to be able to help her with this situation, but leaving Vegas right now was impossible.

Though he couldn’t force a smile to his lips, he dropped the attitude and just nodded when the other man stared a message that quite frankly said “be careful” before he left the room and then the apartment.