Prologue

A Disingenuous Liberator

Alexander Bennett

“Are you sure this is where you left her?”

Craig’s gaze slid to glare at Bennett. His dark eyes dripped with disdain, but Bennett ignored his provocation. Craig was there to do a job. He and his men would find Bowman’s cabin and retrieve Ella.

Ella.

An image of his daughter appeared in his mind’s eye, her long, blonde hair flicking in the breeze as she offered him a snarky smile. They hadn’t exactly had the best relationship, and he supposed he was at least in part to blame for that. The primary responsibility for their jagged relationship, though, remained with her mother, Susie. She hadn’t even told him she was pregnant, let alone that he’d become a father. When he’d finally met Ella, Susie had made it pretty clear their daughter only needed a daddy for financial backing.

His brow creased at the perturbing memories. Was that why he’d been so willing to offer her as collateral for his outstanding debt? Because he wanted to punish her for not loving him enough?

I’m more messed up than I thought.

“This is the place.” Bennett surveyed the tree, reaching forward and running his digits over the bark. “I carved a mark here, so I’d remember which tree it was.”

He removed his fingers to reveal the poor excuse for the letter ‘B’ he’d scratched into the wood. They’d been searching the forest for hours, but Bennett had known his carving was there somewhere. Naturally, that hadn’t stopped the complaints from the group of mercenaries who were being handsomely paid to accompany him.

“How sweet.” Craig’s attention darted back to the trunk before he turned to address the assembled men. “This is where she was dumped.”

Bennett flinched at Craig’s assessment. He hadn’t ‘dumped’ his daughter there. He’d left her as agreed with Bowman. Somewhere in the murky world that constituted his morality, there was a world of difference.

“Bowman collected her from here,” Bennett clarified as he turned to speak to the men. He couldn’t remember seeing such an ugly group before. No wonder they were paid to kill. They wouldn’t be good for much else.

“He will have taken her back to the place where he stays out here.” He peered around at the lightening sky. Dawn was finally breaking after hours of trekking through the trees in the darkness. “That’s what we need to find.”

“Who is this idiot?” A red-haired guerilla screwed his unpleasant features into a ball as his stare drilled into Craig. “And why is he here?”

“Hey!” Bennett pointed in the jerk’s direction. “You shut your mouth.”

“I don’t know, Johnson. Kenner told me to bring him.” Craig blew out a breath, his unimpressed gaze slipping between the two men. “It’s not up for discussion.”

Bennett glowered at the guy, his gaze narrowing. Yeah. He sent the message with his eyes. You heard him. I’m not up for discussion.

There were plenty of benefits of being Joel Kenner’s friend. Money was definitely one of them, but so was the host of armed soldiers he could produce whenever they were required. That was a useful asset. Sure, he owed Kenner, but he’d been obligated to him and other low-life men for years. That was one of the reasons he was there in the forest in the first place. Being indebted to Bowman had long been a bane.

For the time being, he was stuck with men like Kenner. Especially now that he’d managed to flit away all the money he’d once had. Emotion burned in his throat as he considered all of that lovely cash. Once upon a time, he’d had nine figures in various accounts, and he’d flashed that currency around as easily as water ran from a faucet. But eventually, the wealth had trickled away into virtually nothing and inevitably, that was when Bowman had come calling for his cash.

Typical.

Now, he was broke and there was nothing he could do about it. Sure, he could make more money. It wasn’t difficult, but he couldn’t make a sufficient quantity fast enough to appease Bowman. The criminals and liars he’d spent years associating with were suddenly necessary allies, and if he had to be caught between such dirty rocks and cruel, hard places, then at least his associates were filthy rich. He could revel in the luxury of their money while he made more of his own.

“Let’s move!” Craig, the self-appointed leader of Kenner’s men, lifted his hand and beckoned the private army forward. The unit lurched forward, growling and swearing as they glowered at Bennett.

Bennett counted their heads quickly, concluding that there were twelve in total—more than enough to deal with Tucker Bowman.

He pulled in a breath as the unruly troop moved away from the tree he’d left Ella beneath. His gaze lingered on the trunk one last time before his feet set out after them. Tucker was the reason he was there. He was the reason they were all there.

Kenner had agreed to get his daughter back and pay the money Bennett owed Bowman—for a price. Bennett was in no doubt about that. There was always a price, and where Kenner was concerned, it was likely to be a large and painful one, but Ella was worth it. He’d been wrong to get her involved in this debacle, and if there was a cost to be paid, then he would bear it.

How noble of me.

His concentration flitted to the canopy of trees that hung overhead. Their leaves blocked out most of the growing daylight but framed a small flock of birds that flew above.

“Keep up, Bennett!” Craig hollered from up ahead, his snarling tone ordering Bennett to pay attention. “We’re not coming back for you if you get lost.”

“Screw you,” Bennett muttered, although he picked up his pace, an unspoken part of him realizing Craig was correct.

The morons Kenner paid to kill for him wouldn’t give a damn if he wandered in circles for the rest of the day, and Bennett was self-aware enough to know he wouldn’t survive more than a few hours in the desolate wilderness alone. He should keep up with them. However much he despised their infernal banter, he needed them.

And so did Ella.