Page 90 of Blackmail of a Billionaire

Grant’s eyes went wider at the news. “Shot? James…” The call cut off before he could ask anything further. “James?”

A growled curse escaped his lips as he stared at the dead display before he revived it and placed a call to Max Stirling. The man’s line rang twice before he kicked up. “Mr. Harrington, did you get my report–”

“Max, listen carefully, this is urgent. Sierra and Julia have been kidnapped. We need to find them now. Whatever it takes.”

There was a momentary silence before the man responded. “Yes, of course, Mr. Harrington. What details do we have?”

Grant’s stomach lurched. “None. I don’t…James was shot…he called and told me what happened, that’s all I know.”

“I’ll send someone to meet him at the hospital.”

“I’m heading there, too, then I’ll be home. I want everyone on this. Find them, Max. Now.”

He jabbed at the phone before he leapt from his seat, grabbing his suit jacket from the back and whipping it on.

“Mr. Harrington, heading out?” Evie asked as she scurried back into the office with another set of folders.

“Uh…” Grant froze, the words not coming.

Evie stopped midway through her folder dump, snapping her gaze to him, her usual cheery composure morphing with concern. “Mr. Harrington? What’s wrong?”

“Julia…”

“Has something happened to Mrs. Harrington?”

“Someone kidnapped Julia and Sierra,” he finally choked out.

Evie’s features twisted with shock. “Oh, my word. Go, Mr. Harrington. If you need me to contact the authorities, I can do that.”

“Yes,” Grant said with a nod. “There was so much chaos at the scene…please call them.”

Evie reached across the desk for the phone. “It’s done. Be safe, Mr. Harrington.”

With a curt nod, he raced from the office and punched the elevator button until it opened. The ride down seemed to take forever. He opened his phone, scrolling through his newsfeed. Nothing reported so far. No new information.

When the doors opened, he sprinted to his car and sped through the streets to the hospital. As he waved through traffic, his mind raced, juggling countless possibilities. Who would take Julia and Sierra? Was this a random act or tied to something more sinister? The questions piled, each one weighing heavily on his already strained thoughts.

He skidded to a halt outside the emergency room, a blue of scrubs and flashing lights. Handing his keys to the valet with a shaky hand, he plunged into the frenzied atmosphere of the waiting room, each step heavy with dread.

“James Bennett?” he asked the woman at the desk.

“Mr. Harrington!” James shouted as they wheeled him in from the ambulance.

Grant’s heart pounded as he spotted the bloody bandage slapped against his shoulder. If James looked like this, how did Julia and Sierra fare?

Grant closed the distance between them. “James. How bad is it?”

“Not good. Old van, nondescript. Three masked men, one masked driver. They were gone in seconds–”

Grant offered a slight scoff. “James, you need to focus on yourself at the moment. How bad is your wound?”

“Hurts like hell, sir, but I didn’t get the worst of it. I’m going to ask them to patch me up, and we’ll get right out looking for them.”

“No, James. You need to let them do what they need to to help you. Okay? Max is on this already.”

James shook his head. “I’m sorry, sir.”

“It’s not your fault. Is there anything else you can tell us?”

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