Page 123 of Save Her from Me

“And he kills Jackson,” I concluded. “Every other version of what we could do ends up with Jackson hurt. I can’t risk that. I’m going in and hearing him out. It’s not like he can walk away with all of you here. Will you stay? Please?”

With reluctance, people slowly nodded.

Raphael took my arm, slowing me. “I’ll go first.”

I eyed the innocuous entry door and took a shaky breath, my bravado barely holding on. “Let’s do this.”

As Larson had stated, the lock had been left on the catch. We entered Bridgette’s house.

“In the lounge,” Larson called.

We stepped inside.

The man I hadn’t seen since he’d attacked me in a school corridor years ago stood behind Jackson, one hand on his shoulder and the other holding a device to his temple.

“Let’s make this quick,” Larson said. “Sit down.”

Both of us obeyed. I took in Jackson. The cloth tied around his head to gag him. A bruise reddening his jaw.

No blood. Nothing but anger in his eyes. His gaze met mine, and I wanted to cry from imagining the worst but seeing him alive.

“Send your people away,” Larson ordered with a head jerk to the window.

“Why bother? You aren’t walking away from this,” I said on a breath. I’d meant to be calm, but that was an impossibility when faced with Jackson tied to a seat.

“Yes I will. Even if I don’t, he’ll send others.”

There was no confusion over who he meant.

“What did my dad ask you to do?” I said.

“Exactly this. Get you,” he looked between me and Raphael, “both of you together. Your boy here just got in the way. Or maybe I should call him a happy accident.” He held up a phone. “As for the ask, Mr West can tell you himself.”

Dad’s face appeared onscreen. I stiffened, but it was only a video.

“I won’t bore you with the preamble,” Larson said, skipping on.

Dad spoke. “Of Gabriel, I expect nothing. Your life has been made elsewhere, and I respect your choices. After becoming a father, you’ll understand me better, and I expect you’ll see my point of view. Family comes first, always. Even so, your absence in my life presents a problem for me. People notice, competitors particularly. They judge me for not controlling my children. Which brings me to Raphael.”

At my side, my brother stilled, his gaze laser focused on the video.

Dad continued. “By now, you should have finished your flight school exams, am I correct? Congratulations on your undoubted success. You’ve made your old man proud, and I’m glad to see your intelligence came from me, rather than your mother. I regret that I had to find out your prowess by subterfuge, rather than from your own lips, but I’ll let that slide, considering how useful you’re about to become to me.”

Jackson stared at my brother. Horrified, I leaned into Raphael like I could protect him from the threat.

Because Dad had just played his hand.

He’d used Jackson to lure me in, but I wasn’t his objective. It was Raphael all along.

We’d suspected that from the first call, but the knowledge he’d used me and hurt Jackson to get there burned.

Larson darkened the phone, killing the recording. “What your father hasn’t stated is there’s a choice. Raphael, you can return to California and assume a position at your father’s side. You’ll learn the family business and take on more responsibilities as the years pass and his trust in you grows.”

“What’s the other option?” I said.

Larson switched his attention to me. “You come with me and your father finds another way to pay the debt his kids owe him. Oh, and your friend here will accompany us. Your father has a use for him.”

I’d be sold, and Jackson…what? Put into service? Or killed because I’d chosen him.

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