Chapter 12

"Sir, an April Johnson here insisting she speaks to Mr. Antwan. I told her he wasn't here, and she wants to speak to one of the Collins."

Putting down the contract, Andre slowly rose to his feet.

"Where is she?"

"Here in the lobby."

"Send her straight to my office."

"Yes, sir."

After hanging up the phone, Andre pushed away from his desk and went to the window to look out. September had rolled in slowly with rain and muggy weather, and even now, the sky was overcast, indicating more rain was in the forecast.

Turning slowly, he nodded to his secretary and felt a jolt at his first look at the woman who had upended his brother's life. She was stunning; that was the first thing he noticed. Her natural curls were brushed back ruthlessly and pinned into an elegant chignon.

She was wearing chic black pants and a tailored white shirt. Her dark brown eyes reminded him so much of his wife that he felt an immediate affinity to her.

"Mr. Collins, I am so sorry to bother you- "

"Please come in. Would you like something to drink?"

"No." She shook her head, her hands twisting the handle of her large tote. "I- I need to see Antwan."

"Have a seat." He ordered, making her want to stamp her feet in frustration.

"I don't want to sit. Please, I need to speak with him as soon as possible."

"I see." Taking his time, he walked over to his desk and sat down. "You haven't spoken to him in more than a week."

Plopping down on one of the chairs, she closed her eyes briefly. Coming here was the most challenging thing she had to face, and seeing the towering glass and brick building had taken her breath away, and that was before she stepped inside.

All the offices were so elegant and understated that it impressed her. But this one was so large that Marvin's office would have fitted into one corner.

"He told you." She stared at the man who looked so much like Antwan that she could feel her heart twisting.

"You broke him, Ms. Johnson."

Her eyes slid away, and she knew what she had come here to say would sound presumptuous.

"You don't understand." She whispered, all hope crashing down. "Where is he?"

Ande shrugged, watching her closely. "I have no idea."

"You must know where he is!" She cried out sharply. "This is a working day- "

"And he has not been performing lately. We sent him home."

"I will go there- "

"He is not at home and not answering his phone."

She stared at the man briefly before burying her face into her hands.

"Ms. Johnson, what is it?"

Dropping her hands from her face, she shook her head, tears shining in her eyes. "It doesn't matter. I must find another way; I should not have come here."

"And yet here you are." The cultured female voice sounded just inside the doorway and had her jumping up. There could be little doubt as to who she was. Angeline Collins had passed on her striking looks to her sons.

"I am sorry. I have to go."

"Please stay. Mother." Andre moved from behind his desk and came forward. "Ms. Johnson was about to tell me what is so urgent."

"No." She shook her head, the tears spilling down her cheeks. "I have to go."

"My dear, you are clearly in distress." Taking her arm, Angeline led her to a buttery-soft sofa on the far corner of the wall. "Let me get you some water."

"I cannot stay. I am sorry I came but had nowhere else to go." Biting her lip, she stared at them. "My daughter has been kidnapped."

Angeline stared at her as she handed her the glass. "You have a daughter."

"Yes, and I did not tell Antwan- "She gulped down the liquid and put away the glass. "I tried to, several times- "

"What about the father?"

Her mouth twisted bitterly. "He never wanted anything to do with her in the first place. I still went to him, trying to appeal to his sense of doing the right thing, and he told me to go to hell. He is a lawyer."

Closing her eyes briefly, she shuddered out a breath. "It's a long, sordid story, and I would instead be saying it to Antwan. I know he probably does not want to have anything to do with me, but I – "

"They are demanding a ransom," Andre added quietly.

"Yes." She whispered.

"How much?"

She dug her fingers into the leather and avoided his eyes.

"Five million."

"And you want us to hand over that money."

Her eyes flew to Angeline's face, expecting scorn, but she saw sympathy, something that brought tears to her eyes again.

"I am sorry- "

"Please stop apologizing," Andre told her firmly. "What are the police saying?"

"That I should allow them to do their jobs. The person who called said I have forty-eight hours."

"The police are not going to sanction what amounts to extortion- "

"I don't care! I just want my daughter back. Please, can you try and get in touch with Antwan- "

"I am right here." The achingly familiar voice had her lurching to her feet, her hungry gaze roving over his beloved face. She felt her knees weakening and wanted to throw herself into his arms.

"Mother, why don't we leave them so Ms. Johnson can fill in Antwan on the details." Taking her arm, he led her out and closed the doors.

"I am sorry." She whispered.

"What's going on?" He stayed where he was, not trusting himself to move any further. He returned to pick up some files and was told she was there looking for him.

"I have a daughter." She whispered.

"I see."

"And she has been kidnapped."

His eyes flickered. "Tell me everything." This time, he came to sit across from her. And she did, leaving nothing out.

"We will help."

She blinked at his unhesitating response and almost cried at how quick he was to help when Chloe's dad had turned her down, and her firm had refused to help.

"Why?" she asked achingly.

"It's a child." He said simply. Moving over to his brother's desk, he called them in.

"The five million can come out of my account- "

"Don't be silly, darling." Angeline chided. "We will not hear of it."

"I will call the bank immediately." Andre offered.

"Thank you," April whispered hoarsely. "I don't know what to say."

"Thanks is enough." Antwan told her brusquely. She realized that he still had not touched her or even come close. He was willing to help, but he was aloof and distant. She had hurt him and come running for help from him how he must despise her.

"Antwan- "

"There is no time." Walking over to his brother's desk, he waited while he finished the call.

"Grant is taking care of the details. We will have the money in an hour."

"Good." Angeline nodded. "My dear, how about we get you something to eat?"

"I have to get back- "

"We will go back with you as soon as we pick up the money from the bank," Antwan told her in an impersonal voice.

"You don't have to. "Her voice petered off at the icy look on his face.

"That wasn't a question." Without waiting for her response, he strode out of the office, with Andre following.

"Sit, please." Angelie gestured to the sofa before walking over to the desk and picking up the phone. Damion, kindly send up food for two to Andre's office. Thank you." Replacing the receiver, she came to sit across from April. "Now, my dear, why don't we catch up?"

April was uncomfortable. The woman was so beautiful and sophisticated that she felt gauche and insignificant. They had taken charge of the situation without batting an eye, and even though she was grateful for the unexpected help, she felt some resentment at the way they stepped into authority mode.

"He hates me." She murmured disconsolately.

"He is hurting. I have to admit that when I first heard you were in our building, I wanted to lash out at you for hurting my baby. And he is my baby, no matter his age. Ever since he met you, he has been going from extreme high to miserably low and this is his lowest."

"I wasn't honest with him."

"Was there a particular reason why not?"

April bit her lip and felt the tears burning the back of her eyes. "I have trust issues. I told him about my dad and his drug overdose, but then I went ahead and fell for a man who was older and a complete asshole. I was only twenty-one, and he dazzled me with his pretty words and charms."

"You used that experience to paint my son."

She dropped her head in shame. "Even though he showed me repeatedly that he was not the same." She blew out a breath and would have said more, but a knock on the door and a man wearing a chef's uniform rolled in the tray.

"We will help ourselves, thanks."

With a nod, he left.

The scent of thinly sliced roast beef permeated the air as soon as Angeline lifted the covers. "I am starving. I was out most of the morning and completely forgot to eat. Go on." She instructed as she shared the food.

"He was Antwan Collins."

"And you thought there was no way he could be interested in someone like you."

Angeline smiled at her look of surprise. "I guarantee my two daughters-in-law thought the same thing." She handed April the plate and napkin. "Antwan is my baby and the most vulnerable of my sons.

He has the most romantic heart and is susceptible to hurt and pain. The children adore him because he loves them and makes time out of his busy schedule to be with them. He would rush home to pick up Marissa from school and take his nephews to swim or play baseball. That's who he is. And when he met you, he fell hard."

"What can I do?"

Angeline shrugged. "That depends on whether you are just here to get our five million dollars."

She looked stung and nodded in understanding. "I deserve that." She sighed. "My main priority is getting my daughter back."

"And then?"

"If he still wants me- "She closed her eyes briefly. "I miss him so much. But he might not forgive me."

"You just sprung it on him that you have a daughter. It might take some time."

"My having a daughter might be why he didn"t want me."

"No, my dear. If you had not listened, Antwan would have loved children and embraced your daughter as his own. But you kept it from him, and that's the problem."

*****

"Want to talk?"

Antwan, who was sprawled in his chair nursing a drink, cocked a brow at him, "No," he said succinctly.

"She is exquisite,"

Antwan continued to sip his drink in silence.

"You are angry."

"What gave it away?" The sarcasm was rife in his voice.

"There is a good reason she did not tell you about her daughter- "He shook his head at his brother's glance. "All right, not a good enough reason. But she might have thought it was."

"It doesn't matter."

"What does that mean?" Andre demanded.

"We don't belong together."

"Cut the crap, you are in love with her."

"On the way of being out of love with her."

"That's pure nonsense, and you know it."

Antwan shrugged. When he had seen her inside his brother's office, he had felt as if he was dreaming. The woman who had plagued his night and tormented his days was there.

He had seen the tears in her eyes and wanted to rush over and take her into his arms. But he had been pressing her to tell him the truth, and she had not done so; instead, she pushed him away.

The phone on his desk started ringing, and he picked it up. "The money is ready." He told his brother.

"Then let's get going."

*****

Of course, the law enforcement officers knew them, if not personally, then by reputation, and April could see them staring at her in speculation. Andre had insisted on accompanying Antwan, and immediately, the two men took over, firing questions and listening to explanations.

"Any leads?" Andre asked; settling in a chair, he pulled up to the table.

"We might have something." Agent Strong said, looking at all of them. "Something the person said had us thinking." She glanced at April. "She knew where you work and your title."

"That's right."

"They also knew that there was a police presence here."

April nodded. "We sent some guys to the school to interview the staff there, but one is missing."

"What do you mean?" Antwan inquired.

"Are you familiar with a woman named Valerie Howard?" she asked April.

"Of course. She is this sweet woman who teaches kindergarten. She is particularly biased towards Chloe- "Her eyes widened. "You can't mean- "

"We are not jumping to any conclusions yet, but we understand she lost a child in a vehicular accident a year ago. Her daughter would have been the same age as yours."

"No." April shook her head. "Valerie loves Chloe; there must be some mistake."

"We tried to contact her, but her phone is off, and she is not at home."

"It can't be her." Sitting next to Antwan, she automatically reached for his hand. Hesitating briefly, he curled his fingers through hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"We are still investigating."

*****

She showed him her daughter's bedroom and a picture.

"She loves pink and lilac."

"So does Marissa." He stared at the laughing child with her head of wild dark brown curls and golden-brown eyes. She was the replica of her beautiful mother. "She is stunning."

"She is." Picking up the pink elephant, she clutched it to her stomach as she stared at him.

"Antwan, I know you are angry- "

"Let's concentrate on getting Chloe back." His expression had turned remote as he put the framed photo on the table. Glancing at his watch, he spoke again. "I am afraid we have to go. We will be in touch."

"Antwan, please."

"I can't," he told her huskily. "I don't know what to say to you, April. And I cannot deal with it now. I am sorry."

She watched him leave before sinking to the edge of her daughter's bed, her body weak and shattered. She had disappointed him, and more than that, she had hurt him terribly. And then she had run to him and his family for help. What the hell kind of person was she? she wondered bitterly.

Pressing the stuffed toy to her cheek, she allowed the tears to fall.

*****

"You found her?" April felt like she had been up for two weeks instead of two days. "Where is she? Where is Chloe?"

"We are bringing her to you now."

"How did you- You know what, just bring her home. Thank you." Flopping back against the cushions, April closed her eyes and drew the first normal breath since her daughter went missing.

Rising unsteadily, she went into her aunt's room and opened the door.

"They found her." She told the woman as she sprang up from the pillows.

"Oh, praise Jesus! Are they on their way back?"

"Yes." April laughed as she rushed over to hug her. It was the first time the two made any physical contact, and it felt awkward. Patting her aunt on the back, she eased away just as there was a knock on the door.

Her daughter came flying into her arms, and April felt as if she would never let her go.

"Mommy, I was not scared."

"You are such a brave little girl."

"Aunt Sylvie." Pulling out of her mother's arms, she hugged her aunt.

"How did you find them?" April asked the detective and agent as they walked into the living room. The other officers packed up the command center, clearing the equipment.

"We followed a lead which led us right to them. Ms. Strong had been suffering from a psychotic break, and using your daughter's trust, she lured her into the vehicle with the promise of getting her ice cream. Her boyfriend saw the chance of getting his payday."

"What's going to happen to Valerie?"

"Kidnapping is a federal offense, but I am certain the judge will consider her frail condition. And the money will be returned to the Collins."

"Thank you so much."

"Just doing our jobs. Take care of your daughter."

"Oh, you can be certain of that."

*****

"Thanks for coming." Stepping back, she made room for him to enter.

"You said you wanted to talk." Antwan waited until she closed and locked the door before following her into the living room.

"I want to thank you and your family for your support. You did it for me when I had no one else to turn to."

"I am happy it turned out the way it did." Instead of sitting, he stood near the window, his hands shoved into the pockets of his ash-gray dress pants. Gone was the fun-loving Antwan she had become accustomed to, and she hated the remote expression on his handsome face.

"Would you like a drink?"

"No, thank you. How is Chloe?"

"She thinks the entire thing is an adventure and is back to her old self," April told him with a laugh.

"The resilience of youth." A slight smile softened his stern lips.

"She is here with me for a week. I took some time off from work, and she will not return to school until then. I don't know what I am doing yet." She fiddled with her robe, her eyes going to his face. "I hurt you- "

"You did."

"And you are upset with me. I want to explain why I did what I did."

He inclined her head and waited for her to go on. "I was twenty-one and foolish. I just left college and went to work at the law firm. He was much older, and I was dazzled by him."

Antwan kept his expression schooled even though jealousy was churning inside his gut.

"He fed me all these lines about wanting to be with me, and I believed him. When I found out I was pregnant, I was understandably scared. But I thought he would stand by me."

"But he didn't."

She shook her head. "He told me to get rid of it."

Antwan's mouth tightened, but he remained silent.

"And then he said he no longer wanted to see me. He had his eyes on the managing partner position and would marry to get it. I was broken and disillusioned, but I had no intention of getting rid of my baby."

She looked at him pleadingly, trying to find some sign of softening, but when she didn't, she took a breath and continued. She owed him an explanation after what he had done for her and Chloe. "I went to my aunt.

We were not especially close, but she took me in, and when the baby was born, she persuaded me to leave her and she would take care of Chloe. I had no choice. I had to work to care for her, and the only way I knew how to get another job was to go back to town."

"You thought I was like him."

His voice was flat, and she flinched at the bleak look on his handsome face.

"No."

"Because I am a lawyer like him."

"I am sorry."

He nodded. "I gave you countless opportunities to come clean with me, and you didn't."

"I was scared!"

"Of me?"

"Of what you made me feel. I panicked when you started talking about love, children, and marriage."

"Because you did not believe me."

"No." She whispered.

"I understand. Are you finished?"

"Yes. Antwan, please, I would like you to forgive me."

"I am not there yet."

Her eyes clouded. "Is it because I have a child? Is that the problem?"

His eyes flickered at that, and his mouth went tight. "Is that what you think of me? I adore children! I went as far as telling you about my niece and how we welcomed her into the family. No, April, it's not that you have a child; you did not trust me enough to tell me you had one. I would have loved your daughter as my own."

What can I do?" she asked pleadingly. "Please tell me what to do."

"I need some time to think. You shut me out, and it almost destroyed me. I was tormented so much that I could not work and could not sleep. I tried taking several women to bed, and I became nauseated at the very idea of it.

You cut me off, and for fricking what? So that you could keep your secret?" Heaving out a breath, he fought for control. "I need time to process."

"And then what?" Her fingers curled into her palms as she stared at him. He looked so lost to him. This remarkable man had been prepared to accept her and her child, but she had pushed him away because of her prejudices. And she loved him so much that her heart was filled with it.

"I don't know." Leaning off the window, he came towards her.

Her heart pounded inside her chest, wondering if he would take her in his arms. Instead, he touched his lips to her forehead and stepped back.

"Take care of that lovely little girl of yours."

She watched in disbelief as he walked out of the room. It was the slamming of the front door that had her moving. Making a split-second decision, she ran out of the room and opened the front door. He was just getting in the car when she caught up with him.

"April?" He had the door open and was about to get into the vehicle.

"No. Damn you, no. I made a mistake, and I apologized for it yesterday. I was hurt, first by my dad and then by that monster I had a baby with. And I was scared." The tears were running down her cheeks, but she did not care. She would do just that if she had to humble herself before him. She would not stand by and have him walk out of her life.

"You said you loved me. Well, it so happens that I love you too. And I need you, Antwan; I need you in my life, and the thought of you walking away is making me insane."

"I just need time- "

"No." Wedging between him and the door, she placed her hands on his chest. "I am scared," She whispered. "Scared of making a fool of myself like before, scared of loving you so much that it hurts – I cannot breathe when I think of you – I am not letting you go. I- "He swallowed the rest of the words as he crushed his mouth to hers.