Page 49 of The Captive
“Money?”
“No.They want yourfather.I’ve been trying to get through to you for days now.I don’t know what to do.I don’t trust these people, and I’m beginning to think they’re never going to let my baby go.Nothing about this exchange makes sense, Jimmy.”
“You’re right.”
Everything his mother had just told him succeeded in heightening the anger rolling in his gut.Of course this was about his father.Hank Kelley’s recklessness and insensitivity was always at the root of every problem this family ever encountered.
“Where is Dad now?”he asked coldly.
“Maple Cove.He’s staying with Cole.”Sarah paused.“People are trying to kill him.”
Jim almost muttered “good,” but quickly tamped down the cruel thought.He didn’t want to see his father dead.No matter how much heartache Hank Kelley had caused over the years, he was still Jim’s father.
And, as a dutiful son, he was going to come home and clean up his daddy’s mess.
“Are you at the mansion?”he asked his mother.
“No, I’m staying at Vivienne’s house in Martha’s Vineyard.”
“Good.Stay there.And as of this moment, I’m arranging for a guard to come stay with you.”Before she could protest, he hurried on in a brisk tone.“I’ll fly to Maple Cove tonight.I’ll take care of everything, okay, Mom?”
“Just be careful.Please, promise to take care of yourself.”
“I will.”His jaw hardened.“And don’t worry, I’m going to find Lana and bring her home.”
Among other things…
He decided not to mention that.His mother was distraught enough as it was.No need to worry her further.
But he had no intention of letting this end simply with Lana’s safe return.Because nobody,nobody,was going to kidnap his sister and live to tell about it.
Jim would make sure of that.
CHAPTER 13
Deacon and Lana reached Cleveland in the late afternoon, and by the time he pulled into the parking lot of the motel, he was dying to get out of the car.Lana’s attempts at making conversation had begun to make him unbelievably uncomfortable.Ever since he’d poured out his life story to her while they lay in bed, he’d tried to keep some distance between them.Kept his responses short, forced himself not to touch her.Yet Lana seemed determined to claw her way through his self-imposed distance.
And he knew why.Somehow she’d convinced herself that he was capable of being a father to this kid.She truly believed they might have some sort of future together.
Deacon knew better, though.Even if he weren’t on the wrong side of the law and would probably be arrested when this was all over, he didn’t belong in Lana’s life.He didn’t belong anywhere.
The motel he’d found was located on the outskirts of thecity, near an industrial area where every company name seemed to have the wordmegain it.Mega Steel Corporation, Mega Shutters, Megapaint, Inc.Considering the miniscule size of the buildings,megaseemed absurdly hyperbolic.
“Do you think there’s a mega sandwich shop around here?Because I’m mega hungry,” Lana murmured.
His lips twitched.Although she’d claimed in her endless chattering during the six-hour drive that she didn’t have a great sense of humor, he found himself amused by her wry remarks and subtle jokes.He’d had to stifle several chuckles already.That would have defeated the purpose of distance.
“I’ll grab us something from the café I spotted around the corner,” he said.
They entered the motel room, which was as shabby as the one they’d spent last night in.Lana removed the oversize flannel shirt he’d given her, which left her in the oversize sweater that hung past the knees of her snug black track pants.The bloodstained sweater she’d worn yesterday had been tossed out, and since Deacon had neglected to bring her suitcase when they escaped the apartment, she now had no choice but to wear his clothes.
For some reason, the sight of her slender body covered in his shirts brought a strange spark of satisfaction.
Lana’s blue eyes zeroed in on the telephone sitting on the splintered cedar nightstand.“Can I call my parents?”she asked softly.
Regret lined his tone.“I’m afraid not.”
She met his gaze.“Why not?”
