Page 70 of Beautiful Chaos

“I just need to get to a computer.”

I stomped over to Max, clenched my teeth, and growled, “Explain.”

“Okay, before I do you got to know that I have your best interest at heart.” he started and took a couple of steps back before continuing.

“You seemed to be falling for Harper and given her background I just thought maybe putting a tracker in her jewelry was a good idea.” he paused a minute to read my reaction. My eyes widened not because I was upset but because for a moment, I felt a glimmer of hope in finding her before something awful happened to her.

“I just need access to a computer, and as long as she hasn’t removed them, I’ll be able to track her location within minutes,” he finished, his expression unreadable.

We weren’t far from the penthouse, about five miles closer than the office so I picked up my cell and dialed Hector.

* * *

As I pulled into the penthouse, I noticed four of Joseph’s men stationed outside the building. I jumped out of the car the moment we stopped in the parking garage and made my way toward one of them.

“Has she come here?” I rushed out before stopping in front of a tall muscular man. He must’ve been new because I hadn’t seen him before tonight. Joseph mentioned hiring extra hands due to the threats that were made. Thinking ahead.

The guard shook his head with an apologetic look on his face.

“No sir. all is quiet here.”

Max and I got on the elevator and as the doors closed behind us my cell phone pinged with a photo message from an unknown number. I was quick to open it. I considered that Harper might be anywhere and could make a call from somewhere other than her cell phone.

My heart dropped when I saw the picture pop up on my phone.

Harper gagged, with tears streaking her precious face. Her eyes squeezed shut. Her arms were bound above her head where she hung from a butcher hook like a piece of meat. the photo attached to a text that said,

‘Can’t wait to see if she is as much fun as we remember.

My heart throbbed in my chest as fury burned within me. I passed my phone to Max, and his face turned pale.

The elevator doors parted, revealing my empty penthouse. I dashed to my office, hoping I had left the computer on, so we wouldn’t have to waste another second before locating Harper. As I flung the office door open, I froze, taking in the mess on my desk. Looking over the papers, I recognized them as the ones from the file Max had brought over days earlier.

Oh no, dammit Harper…

I turned and shared a look with Max, he must’ve anticipated my thoughts.

“We’re gonna find her brother,” he said reassuringly before walking past me to sit at my desk.

“Can I close out of this?” he asked with his brows furrowed. When I looked up, I saw that emails between Harper and JW were open.

Fuck she saw those too? When we get her back, I have so much explained to do.

A few minutes and a ton of keystrokes passed,

“There, she’s right there.” He pointed at a screen with a grid and a glowing red dot.

I jumped up and turned the monitor so I could see it better.

“What the fuck am I looking at here Max, what is this? give me a location, not a damn puzzle.” I snapped nearly knocking the monitor off the desk.

“Easy asshole. Sit down. I’ll get the coordinates, and we can go get these pieces of shit.” Max retorted. I sat in the chair bouncing my knee when my phone pinged again alerting me of a new message.

‘We are ready to get started unless you are ready to sign over territory and the estates. what happens next is up to you. You have fifteen minutes.’

I slammed my fists down on the mahogany desk so hard the wood cracked like an egg under my hand.

“We need to leave now, Max,” I said sharply. Max didn’t flinch; he was familiar with my temper and how I would lash out to deal with it.

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