Page 5 of Four Love (Ever and Always 2)

“What do you want us to do?” Ford asked.

“Give them anything they want. Just get her back.” Was that even really a question? Trent lifted his head to see if he was nuts, but Owen and Lorenzo were leveling similar bewildered glares at the phone Trent clutched.

“Look, Trent. It might not be that easy. We have Bronson here.” Brady was talking, but Trent was having a hard time listening. All he could think about was how scared Holly must be, if she was even still alive.

No, he couldn’t allow himself to imagine that she wasn’t or he’d lose it.

“Who?” he mumbled.

“He’s the head of our security team,” Ford explained. “He said you should never negotiate with these sorts of people.”

“I don’t give a fuck!” Trent bellowed. “We have to get her back. Now!”

“We will.” Unlike usual, Josh wasn’t joking around. “In fact, we already sent our jet to pick up a few guys who can help.”

“Who?” Trent hoped he said Superman. Because no one else was going to make him feel better. Holly was in harm’s way, and it was his damn fault. Holy fuck. If anything happened to her…

All because of his father’s fortune.

Trent never should have touched it. And now the only woman he’d ever loved was going to be the one to pay.

“Lucas used to work for the government, in a no-name agency. JRad is a tech genius for the OHPD who does consulting on the side. Jordan is the head of a private security firm specializing in black ops type shit, and Ransom, Sevan, and Levi work for him. They’ve all been in situations worse than this and survived.”

“Worse than this?” Trent was about to lose it. “That isn’t possible.”

“Put it this way, all of them have been through situations where lives of their spouses were at risk and managed to get them back. They understand what you’re going through both from a tactical and emotional perspective.”

“When will they arrive?” Owen asked when Trent was too overwhelmed to do it.

“Ninety minutes,” Brady responded for Team Lawyers. “That’s still well ahead of the deadline set by the blackmailers.”

“When will they give her back? Can we make it sooner?” Lorenzo nearly vibrated with tension from his place beside Trent and Owen.

“The meeting is set for two, but we’ll see what the experts say.” That seemed like an eternity from now. Trent needed a plan B. What if these guys weren’t as good as Ford thought? Or what if the assholes who’d stolen Holly didn’t play by the rules?

“Call the bank. Or whoever the fuck you have to. Get the cash, set it up. If your gang gets here in time to help, fine. But those bastards can have anything they want from me, so long as they release Holly unharmed.”

“I understand.” Ford was grim. “I can’t say I’d feel different if it was Kari in danger.”

“And after we have Holly back, we’ll have a chance to do our worst in return,” Bronson growled in the background.

Owen flexed his bloody fist and Lorenzo bared his teeth in a snarl that should have terrified Trent, yet somehow made him feel better, if only for a moment.

“What are you going to do about Holly’s mom?” Andi asked.

Lorenzo spoke up then. “Nothing. They sedated her when they realized she wasn’t going to remain calmly in bed while her daughter was missing. Hopefully, by the time the drugs wear off, this will be a bad memory.”

Trent squeezed his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “Thank you for your help. I honestly don’t know what we’d do without you guys.”

“It was the least we could do. We feel somewhat responsible given our role in this.Whenyou get her back, you have to tell Holly what’s between you has nothing to do with your dumbass contract anymore.” Cooper groaned. “Hell, we could see that night it was already more than an arranged marriage or we never would have done it.”

“You’re right.” Trent looked first at Owen, then Lorenzo. “It is. It was. It always has been. And as soon as I can, I’m going to make sure Holly understands that too.”

Lorenzo extended his fist, so Trent bumped it before Owen added his own.

They were in this together. All they needed now was for Holly to be returned safely and with her heart still open to theirs.

3

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