Page 62 of Midnight Salvation

“Should we be concerned that people are disappearing?” I asked.

Right on cue, my phone pinged. I swiped it open to find a message from an unknown sender.

We have your fiancée. Five million for her release.

“Are you fucking serious?” I demanded.

Dad’s brow furrowed at my reaction and I pushed my phone across to him. His eyebrows shot up. “Dylan mentioned there had been a disturbance last night, but not that Nicole was missing.”

“Do you seriously expect me to pay five million for a woman I barely know?” I demanded. “No offence, Dad, but I could buy at least five wives for that.”

It was cold but that was the man he raised. Considering I wasn’t supposed to ever know she was my sister until he wanted to make me sick with his revelation, I didn’t have the vested interest that he did in the situation.

“We shouldn’t be too hasty,” Dad said. “Let me try and negotiate with them.”

“Dad.” I blessed him with a scathing glare. “There is no way I’m putting five million on the table for anyone but family. If this was a negotiation for Aaron or Oliver, there would be no issue and the money would be currently ready to transfer.”

I typed on my phone while the three men in front of me furiously whispered.

Me:No thanks. You can keep her.

My phone pinged a few seconds later with a photo of Nicole bound to a chair with tape over her mouth. I passed my phone over and Dad’s eyes widened.

“I think you should call Dylan,” I advised. “Tell him that he has an issue to deal with. I’ll instruct them to contact her father for their ransom.”

Me:The answer is still no. Contact her father.

I deliberately walked to the window so that Dad wouldn’t see my smile when Jordan texted his phone, since technically he was her father. The DNA test was waiting for me this morning. I already had Mum and Dad on file, so the confirmation didn’t take long.

The ancient doorbell sounded in the distance. That would be the guys arriving for the next part of our plan. There was a knock at our door a few minutes later.

Dad’s butler Ivan opened the door. “Sir, Masters Xavier and Jordan are here at the request of Master Ashton.” He never allowed us to grow up, and always referred to us with childish titles.

“Please show them in, Ivan,” I replied.

He glanced to Dad, who waved him away. The guys arrived a few moments later, striding in with their usual air of authority.

“I didn’t realise that this morning would reveal so many surprises,” I said. “This had all been arranged a while ago.”

Jordan handed letters to each of the three men. “As Ash’s legal representative, I am hereby notifying you of a change in the organisation of Blackwood Enterprises. He is now the majority shareholder, and as such, all access to intellectual information from the company belongs to him. All your accounts have been frozen and relevant access will be awarded to you when we ascertain what your role is in the organisation.”

Dad ripped open the letter to scan the details.

“Please don’t try and do anything silly that may end up with you being arrested,” Xavier continued. “Our auditors are already in the company and have backed up all the records pending an assessment of the business infrastructure. If you have any questions, please feel free to email them to our representative who is already in position.”

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” Dad demanded.

“Calling in payment for your debt,” I replied in a calm voice. “You signed that contract. Aaron and Oliver witnessed it, and signed affidavits to that effect.”

“You didn’t sort out my problem,” he accused.

“Didn’t I?” I smiled and slid my hands into my pockets. “Are you willing to bet on that because right now the odds are stacking against you.”

Uncle Eli pushed his chair back and slammed his fists onto the counter. “I will fucking destroy you.”

“Hello, Elijah,” Lucas said as he walked in through the door. “I did promise you that I’d be seeing you soon after you sent your henchman to attack my nephew’s wife.”

“Why is Lucas fucking Black in my house?” Dad demanded. “Get the fuck out!”

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