Page 62 of Capture
“That’s impossible,” Annika said, shaking her head. “She was a police officer. Why would she blackmail him? She was watching our family,” she paused to clear her throat, as her cheeks reddened after saying the word ‘family’. It’s as if she didn’t believe she deserved to have that title anymore. And if it were a month ago, I would’ve agreed with her, but not now.
She continued, “I realized later, after Mr. Kaiser died, that she was the same person who approached me that day. She was all nice and friendly, but when I wouldn’t cave to her demands, she began to threaten to hurt my brother until it got so bad that I started to believe her.
Annika paused to sip her water, “She mentioned knowing who my father was only once, and when I brought it up again, she said I imagined it. But I knew I didn’t because I told Gunner. So, what did she have on Mr. Kaiser to blackmail him with?”
Gunner opened his mouth, then shut because he didn’t have the answer, so I stepped in, “Because she did know who your father was.” I glanced at Gunner again. “She knew him very well.” I paused to take a breath. “She was married to him. And he died in a car crash, and she, Judith, believed it was Lars and Sylvie who organized his death.”
Gunner and Annika’s mouths had dropped open as were their eyes, taking it all in. Perplexed and in awe.
“That was what she blackmailed my dad with?” Gunner exclaimed in surprise. “Did she have evidence?”
“Well, obviously not because he didn’t succumb to her demands,” I explained. “She wanted to expose how her husband died, committed to spending her career destroying the Kaiser empire, was behind Lars’ first arrest many years ago, behind his second arrest two years after, and was behind my arrest three years ago. I suspect we’re going to find out that she was also responsible for Lars’ death.”
“I knew it,” Gunner stamped his foot down.
Ronan’s phone beeped. “I have to get down onto the floor. We’re short in staff,” he said to me, shooting me a sharp look.
“Short in staff?” Annika crowed. “I can help. Please let me help.”
“You’re not old enough to work on the floor,” I reminded her.
She ignored me and opened her bag, dragging out the white polo shirt uniform top. “I hadn’t handed it in to Betty so that I could help in the kitchen.”
“Betty doesn’t work for us anymore,” I told her sternly.
“Ha,” she bit. “Good job. Now, Gunner, you go home and shower because,” she pinched her nose, “you need soap. Then come back, and we can get this functioning at a higher standard.”
“Excuse me?” I was a little put out, but I enjoyed her enthusiasm and bossiness.
Against my wishes, she pulled her top off in front of us, slid on her Savile club polo shirt, then flapped her hands at us to get to work. “Get back to work, you lot. You don’t make money by standing around, watching me get dressed.”
Ronan grinned from ear to ear as it was evident that there was nothing we could do to stop her, even if we wanted to. I let Ronan and Gunner leave the room first, then gently grabbed Annika’s forearm to pull her back.
“I was surprised to see you here,” I whispered.
A breathy chuckle exuded from her delectable mouth, and her eyes sparkled like stars. She bit her bottom lip, shooting me a mischievous look. “So, you left it open deliberately? I wondered that. You don’t seem like someone who would make a major error such as leaving your prisoner’s door open.”
She sighed as grief washed over her face, and she lowered her head, looking at me under her eyelashes.
“Why would I leave? This is my home.” Her voice cracked, and then she swallowed, turning away to hide the emotions behind her eyes. “You three are my family...” She paused again as if it was difficult for her to open up like this. “Aren’t you? Aren’t you my family?”
I nodded and released her arm and let her go to catch up with the other two, as I grabbed her bags to take them back to my apartment, where she was welcome to stay for as long as she liked.
As I stepped toward the door, I paused to reflect on the last few days with Annika locked in this room: the fun we’ve had and my growing fondness for her. I’ll miss Annika not being in here anymore, my pet locked in the room ripe for the picking. She’s happier now.
Her sweet figure appeared at the door after she had gone, and I had a moment to myself. Her smile is vast and beautiful as she leaped toward me, wrapping her arms around my neck, her feet lifting off the ground as she peppered kisses over my cheeks.
“Thank you,” she whispered into my ear, then let go too soon.
As she walked away, that little ass wiggled as she moved. I asked, “For what? What are you thanking me for?”
She glanced back with a tear in her eye, “For believing in me.” Before I had a chance to reply, she vanished from view, and I stood in her room for a few moments to dwell on what she said.It was a cliché, but she became the light to my dark and the joy to my bitterness.
Still with my hands occupied with her bags, I wandered to the viewing room to watch her go by. Ronan appeared first. The responsible, loyal one, not blood-related, but he was family, and I wouldn’t be here without him. Gunner was next with Annika beside him, arm looped in his, chatting away as she scanned the floor as if scrutinizing and planning in her mind what she would change.
She stalled on the empty casino floor as Gunner kept walking forward and glanced up at me, as if she knew I’d be there watching. A gorgeous smile across that face as she flicked me a naughty little, discreet wave, then skipped to catch up with Gunner.
That’s what happiness looked like, and I hoped it only got better for all of us. No one could replace Lars, yet our family seemed complete with Annika returning to us.
