Page 18 of Playing For Keeps
The tone in his voice screams vulnerability. I decide to take the lead because he’s had my back, and no matter what kind of dick he’s been, I love him like a brother.
I purposely relax my stance. “Let me go first.”
Three sets of eyes land on me.
“By all means, Jamison.” Hunter leans forward, resting his forearms on the table. “I’m curious now because seconds ago, you said you have nothing to hide.”
“I’m not hiding anything. What I want to share is just valuable information that will help us once it’s in place.” I glance at Mel.
She smiles, telling me I’m doing the right thing.
“Before I left for Miami, I bought Dori a bracelet.”
Aiden rolls his eyes. I shake my head at his stubbornness and childish behavior. He’d do himself a favor if he got into therapy like Dori. She used to act this same way. If she can change, maybe Aiden can as well.
“Like I was saying, I gave Dori a bracelet. It’s not just any piece of jewelry. It’s one of those emergency devices that has hidden software in it. Dori’s has a rose medallion as the focal point. When she presses the center of the flower, it will send a signal to the monitoring company, giving them her location.”
Aiden jerks his chin at me. “And you’re just now telling?—”
Hunter places his hand on Aiden’s shoulder. “Let Jamison continue.”
“It’s one of those emergency GPS tools. I gave it to Dori and showed her how to use it. If she has it on and she’s able to activate it, we’ll know where she is in a matter of minutes. My security team has been waiting for the signal to come across the monitors, but so far, nothing.” My throat closes.
Dori’s lack of a response isn’t a good sign. Now everyone knows she’s not in a coherent state to activate the device or doesn’t have it anymore.
“That’s great news, Jamison. Why didn’t I think of that?” Hunter rests back in his chair, but then his face pales. “Are you sure it was in working condition?”
I nod. “I had her test it at least four times before I went to Miami. It’s working. At least it was when I left.”
“Well, then. I’m going to hope it is, and we’ll get her location in a matter of time.” Hunter swallows hard. “Is that all you have to add to the conversation?”
“Yes. You know everything else.” I shoot my gaze to Aiden.
He’s the one I want to hear from the most, but he avoids me and faces Hunter.
Hunter takes the cue. “I’ve been keeping information about Isabella from all of you. Aiden, I didn’t tell you she was pregnant because I didn’t want you to cut me out of the plan. I thought if you knew, you would keep me out of the loop like Dorothy does when she’s upset. I couldn’t take that chance.”
“You’re not far off base.” Aiden folds his arms.
Hunter squares his shoulders. “Then I don’t regret my decision. No matter what, I love her and want to help find her. It’s my fault she’s been abducted.”
Aiden tips his chin. “Fair enough, but your mom is the one at fault.”
“The three of us are responsible for this,” I cut in. “If we would’ve trusted her in the first place and told her everything,nothing would’ve gone wrong. Not that I would’ve let you use her as bait, but that’s beside the point.”
Aiden lowers his head.
“I didn’t tell you because I knew you would get in the way,” Hunter says to me. “There was no way around it. Nothing would’ve pulled my mother out of hiding.”
My skin erupts with cold prickles. I rein in wanting to scream and speak as calmly as I can. “How did you know she would be the one to grab Dori? It could’ve been any one of her mob personnel.”
“Call it intuition.” Hunter's expression grows pained. “I met with my mother recently. She said she would take Dorothy out herself if she had to. My mother’s blood runs through me. She said I’m just like her, so I knew if it were me with as much at stake as my mother has in this war, I’d handle it myself to ensure it was done right.”
“What’s at stake for her?” Melanie studies Hunter. “What does she want?”
He squirms in his seat and takes a long, deep breath. “My mother wants to take my son once he’s born. Her husband wants to name him the successor of the French mob. When Jonah and I retire, my son is to take over Efron Worldwide and infiltrate the mob into the casinos.”
Aiden flinches and almost flies over the table, but he stops himself. “You never told me that part. You only said she wanted Dori out of the picture to keep me away from you and your business.”
