Page 86 of The Billionaire's Rival (Bad Boy Billionaires)

The drive into the city felt ten times longer than the drive out had. I kept trying to call Ford. I couldn’t sit still. I was constantly drumming my fingers on the door and tapping my foot, probably making Carl, the guard who was driving me, insane.

Carl hardly said anything the whole trip. He just drove me straight to Montgomery Enterprises’ headquarters, then insisted on going in with me.

I wanted to refuse. The stubbornness in me wanted to do this on my own, but would they even let me in? If someone in Ford’s grandfather’s employ was with me, I’d have a much better chance of getting to Carter.

I tried calling Carter again, but his phone went to voicemail.

“I’ll do the talking,” Carl said.

It took him only seconds to have us on the executive elevator, shooting our way to the top of the building. When the doors opened, we nearly ran into Carter and Miles, who seemed to be headed out. Thank God we’d caught them.

“What are you doing here?” Carter asked when he saw me.

“Take him back home,” Miles told Carl, but true to his word Carl stood his ground.

“He insists he needs to be here, sir.”

“I love Ford.” As I’d guessed those words got everyone’s attention. “And he loves me. I’m not going to leave him. I’m not going to trick him. I’m not going to hurt him. I need to help with this. I need to know that he’s okay.”

“We’re doing everything we can to find him,” Carter said. Miles scowled him, but Carter shook his head. “We’re bringing him in on this.”

Miles sighed. “Alright, you better mean what you say or you’re going to regret it. If you hurt him, I will kill you, then I will bring you back to life and kill you again. Ford has been my friend since we were kids, and I care too much about him to see him hurt again.”

I nodded. “Understood.”

“Ford’s car is parked near his house. We think he must have gone there after he left here,” Carter said. “There are signs of a struggle, and he’s no longer there.”

“So they took him?”

“That’s what it looks like.”

“And no one was watching his house?”

Carter shook his head. “No one knew he was going there. He told us he was headed straight back to his grandparents’ place.”

“Why would he take that risk?”

Miles sighed. “That might be my fault.”

I took a step toward him, but Carter put a hand up. “It’s not your fault, Miles.”

“I told him I didn’t think they would make a direct hit at us, and if they did, I thought they would go for Ben. I’ve had Ben surrounded by security, but I didn’t think Ford was in serious danger. I also thought he would go straight back to Bedford.”

I wanted to be furious with him, but Ford had made the decision to go to his house on his own.

“We’re headed to Ford’s house now to see what we can find.”

“I’m going with you.”

“No.” Miles shook his head. “The last thing Ford would want is for you to be in more danger.”

“I’ll be with you, and they could get to me here.”

“Our security is top notch.”

I didn’t care. “I’m not staying here.”

“I’ll go with you too,” Carl said.

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