40. Chapter 40

40

F uck.

Soren rubbed his forehead for the tenth time in as many minutes. He was trying to consider the next move with Vincent, but his mind wouldn't cooperate.

His mind kept drifting back to Ilaria. Seeing the hurt on her face as she walked out. Wishing he could wrap his arms around her, bury himself inside her and not worry about any of his responsibilities.

And when he would catch himself lost in thought about her, he would drag his thoughts back to Vincent. The sooner he caught Vincent, the sooner he could go back to Scotland and forget about Ilaria.

On top of that, the cabin fever was getting to him. It was still light out, so he couldn't do another stakeout at the warehouse. Stakeouts were boring, but at least he felt he was doing something instead of twiddling his thumbs.

Soren got up from the dining room chair in a huff and strode into the kitchen. He yanked open the refrigerator door and then shut it again. He grabbed a glass and filled it with ice and then proceeded to chomp out his restlessness.

Even Rowan and Elowine seemed to be avoiding him, sensing his crappy mood. Elowine was in the basement, watching the cameras. Rowan was surveilling Vincent, texting him earlier that Vincent had gone to the office located on Ilaria's parents' property, and that he was parked down the street. Rowan couldn't see onto the property, with the thick hedges surrounding it, but he could see anyone coming or going.

Soren's mind drifted to Galen. After Ilaria left, he was in no frame of mind to call Galen back to apologize for his insensitive comment. And his disposition today was no better. He shook his head. He was alienating everyone around him.

His phone rang, interrupting his pitiful thought process. It was Galen.

"Hi, Galen." Soren tried to brighten up his voice, but it only sounded forced to his ears. "Is Caelum doing better?"

"Hi, Soren," Galen greeted. "He's at home now, resting. He's taking a forced holiday. He tried to fight me on it, but I said I would fire him if he didn't rest."

"He won't respond to my texts," Soren said. "Did he explain anything about why he wasn't eating or sleeping?"

Galen sighed. "You should talk to him soon. He said he was trying to stay on top of everything while you were in Chicago. He was meeting with the GMs, poring over the financials, trying to find ways to increase revenue. He said he wanted everything to be in top form when you got back."

"Shit," Soren muttered.

"And even though he was sleeping and eating less, he said he felt fine," Galen continued. "Until the panic attack hit him that night. He said it surprised him, that it came out of nowhere."

"He shouldn't be pushing himself like that," Soren said, frowning.

"I think he wanted to prove himself to you," Galen replied gently. "He sees you working so much, so why can't he?"

Soren let out an audible sigh. Looks like he was due for a long conversation with his brother.

"In the meantime, he's resting, Niema, Arick, and I are all checking in with him constantly," Galen said. "So you don't need to worry about him."

Before Soren could respond, he continued. "There's been a break. We've caught the traitor."

Soren sat up, his earlier surliness forgotten. "Who is it?"

"Stuart. He laced last night's dinner with aestrium-x." Galen's voice was deceptively calm.

Icy rage stabbed Soren's chest. Stuart was a mid-level soldier who had been with the MacGregors for a few years. Soren could barely picture him other than he was in his mid-twenties, quiet, and followed directions.

"Arick and Niema were also here for dinner. Your chemical meter caught it. The amount in the food would have been lethal." Galen's voice hitched, his own fury becoming evident.

Soren's hand gripped the kitchen counter. He forced himself to breathe at the close call. "How did you catch him?"

"I've been rotating the guards every night, and I'd find a way to get Magda out of the kitchen for about ten minutes, after the food was prepared, and make sure all the guards knew the kitchen was empty. Then I would stand in view of the outside door to the kitchen." He took an audible breath. "Last night was the first night anyone went into the kitchen."

"Why?" That was the only word he could manage. But Galen understood what he meant.

"He resented us for not helping to fund his brother's business, and his brother later had to shut it down because it wasn't doing well," Galen said. "Apparently the brother is still struggling financially, resorting to alcohol to cope. Stuart blamed us, joined the ranks to get revenge. Vincent used an independent broker who was able to contact all of our lower-level soldiers and ask if anyone wanted to make more money. That's how he connected with Stuart."

"Fuck." The ingenuity of it shocked Soren. This was a lesson for him to shore up his ranks—who he hired and who they talked to. "I'll make this better, Galen."

"I know you will," Galen sighed. "It's not all on you. The security of the team is better than ever with you in charge. But if someone is really motivated, they'll find a way to get inside." He paused. "I underestimated the hatred that Vincent had for me. I underestimated his motivation to act. So this is on me." He sounded more regretful than Soren had ever heard.

"No, it's not on you," Soren said roughly. "You cannot control someone's actions."

"Still, it terrified me that all your siblings were here last night, about to eat with me."

"But they're fine," Soren insisted. "And now you've caught the traitor. I assume he's been taken care of?"

"Yes," Galen responded, "though I didn't prolong it. I'm going soft in my old age."

"Not soft. Wiser."

Galen huffed a laugh.

"Galen, about last night," Soren started. "I'm sorry for what I said. I know you have always treated us like we were your own. It was a shit thing to say."

"Soren, it's okay," Galen reassured him. "I understand how you feel responsible for your siblings. Now let's say no more about it. We have things to do. I'm on my way to Chicago."

"And I need to get Ilaria," Soren said as he grabbed the car keys. Vincent would have heard by now that Stuart was dead, and he needed to get to Ilaria before Vincent did. "Rowan's tailing Vincent as we speak."

"One more thing," Galen added. "Stuart said he wasn't involved in Stefano and Melisande's deaths, that he knew nothing about it. My gut said he was telling the truth."

"Vincent could have worked with the hitman separately," Soren pointed out.

"It's possible." Galen paused. "Vincent's mine, okay? Hold him if the opportunity arises, but he's mine."

"Understood. See you soon."

Soren hung up and immediately called Ilaria, but she didn't pick up. He swore under his breath.

Soren: If you're home, do not open the door for anyone. I'm coming over right now.

"Elowine, let's go," he called down to the basement. "Vincent could be in motion. We need to go get Ilaria."

Elowine immediately bounded up the stairs, and they both ran to the car.

Soren slid into the driver's seat and tore out of the garage. "Call Rowan and find out where Vincent is now."

Elowine pulled out her phone. "Rowan," she said when he picked up. "Where's Vincent now?"

"I'm following his SUV," Rowan reported. "He left the Carosi's about ten minutes ago. Looks to be heading toward the warehouse."

"Is he alone?" Soren jumped in.

"Can't tell. All the windows are blacked out."

"Okay, keep following him," Soren instructed. "Text when he arrives. Vincent could be making a move now. We're on our way to Ilaria's."

"Got it."

Be home, Ilaria.

Soren couldn't explain why, but he just had a bad feeling about Ilaria. She would have at least texted by now.

He parked the car, and they made their way up to Ilaria's floor. He pounded on the door. "Ilaria!"

He didn't give more than a few seconds before he inserted his copy of the key and let himself inside. "Ilaria, you here?"

No answer. Elowine looked in the bedroom and bathroom. "She's not here."

Goddammit.

Soren pulled out his phone and called Noe.

"Mr. MacGregor," Noe greeted. His tone was cool, dismissive.

Soren dispensed with the pleasantries and ignored the tone. "Do you know where Ilaria is?" he demanded, voice tight.

"We texted last night, but I haven't heard from her today." Noe's voice sounded as if he was frowning. "Look, just leave her alone. Haven't you done enough?"

Of course her friends had heard what happened. "She's in danger," Soren growled. Now was not the time to defend his choices. "She's not home. Where might she be?"

"She's in danger?" Noe's voice lost its coolness. "Try the office at her parents' house. I'll try to call her, too."

"Tell her to call me if you reach her."

"I will."

Soren and Elowine rushed back down to the car. As he drove, he continued to dial Ilaria's phone, his chest constricting the longer she wasn't answering.

As he pulled into the entrance to the Carosi's mansion, he immediately spotted Ilaria's car parked in the circular driveway, off to the side of the front door. A second car was parked behind hers.

As he parked, he almost sagged with relief, which was then almost immediately replaced by anger. He took a deep breath. There had to be a perfectly reasonable explanation. Maybe her phone ran out of battery and she couldn't respond.

Soren had never been to the property before, but Ilaria had mentioned early on that the office was a separate building behind the main house. He and Elowine ran around the side of the house and spotted the office building.

As they came toward the office entrance, an older man who Soren assumed to be Silas walked out, a puzzled look on his face, which turned into surprise when he saw Soren.

Silas stopped short. "Soren MacGregor."

Soren nodded grimly. "Are you Silas Williams?"

Silas nodded with a curious look on his face. "Yes. I didn't realize you were in town."

"Is Ilaria inside?" Soren ignored Silas's comment.

"No," Silas replied. Soren's stomach dropped. "That's why I was confused. Her car's here." He led the way back inside the office, with Soren and Elowine following. "I was offsite all day and only got back half an hour ago, and she was already not here."

"Which one's her office?" Soren was already walking toward the back rooms.

"Second door on the right."

Soren paused when he walked into Ilaria's office. It looked as if she had been in the middle of working. Her laptop screen was open. Her bag was tossed into a chair next to the desk.

"Look," Elowine said. She picked up Ilaria's phone that had half slid under the desk. "And her car keys." The keys were laying on the floor by the wall.

"Have you checked the house?" Soren asked Silas.

"Yes, and she's not in there either."

He picked up her phone. He didn't know the code to unlock it, but he saw several missed calls and texts.

Where was she?

Soren turned to Silas. "Have you talked to Vincent today?"

Silas's brows lifted. "Not today. Why?"

Soren's phone beeped.

Rowan: Vincent just arrived at the warehouse.

His heart pounded as dread flooded through him. Could Vincent have taken her? The more he considered the possibility the more likely it seemed.

His phone beeped again.

Unknown: I have Ilaria. Come alone, or I will kill her. 10995 Pinewood St.

Fear gripped his throat. "He has her."

Elowine swore under her breath.

Silas's eyes widened. "Vincent has Ilaria? Why would he have her?"

Even with the dread filling him, Soren could tell that Silas's surprise was genuine.

"Let's go," Soren said to Elowine. They walked to the exit.

"Wait," Silas said with real alarm, following them. "Why does Vincent have Ilaria? What's he going to do?"

Soren turned and pinned Silas with a look. "He's going to kill her unless I show up."

Silas turned pale, fear lighting his pale blue eyes. "Why?" he demanded.

"Did you know anything about what was going on?"

"What is there to know?" Silas raised his voice. "Why would Vincent hurt her?" HIs eyes stood out starkly against his pale face.

Soren searched Silas's face. "I don't have time to explain. Just stay here. We're going to get her back." He turned to leave.

Silas's hand reached out and gripped his forearm. "Please. Don't let anything happen to her."

"I won't."

Soren and Elowine ran back out to the car.

"Have Rowan meet us back at the house. We need a plan."

Elowine pulled out her phone to text Rowan.

Soren's thoughts were racing as they drove back to the safe house. After all the effort he had put in to keep Ilaria safe, Vincent still outsmarted them. The moment they found out about aestrium-x, he should have forbidden her to go back to the office where she could run into Vincent.

But he'd been distracted; a common affliction these days, he realized, clenching his jaw. Between the little fantasy he and Ilaria had lived for a few weeks, Caelum's health scare, and a murderous traitor in their ranks, he had gotten lax.

But he would get Ilaria back; there was no question in his mind. The other half of Vincent's plan—to poison Galen—had already failed. So now Vincent was getting desperate, abducting Ilaria in an attempt to root Soren out. If he couldn't take out Galen, he would take out the next best MacGregor.

But the noose was tightening on Vincent. He had been cocky enough to bring his motives and actions out into the open, declaring war on the MacGregors. And the outcome of that could only work against Vincent, as the MacGregors would rally their might and come down hard on a declared enemy.

Everyone, including Wallace and Murray, met back at the safe house. In the kitchen, Soren sketched out a fairly accurate plan of the warehouse, including entry and exits that they had been able to observe. Rowan also detailed out the guard rotations.

Galen would be landing in a few hours, and he was bringing reinforcements.

Even though they didn't have a view of the inside, he was confident that he and his team would prevail. No one, Soren was certain, matched trained MacGregor soldiers. They ran drills like this constantly, implementing unknowns and uncertainties, to train them to react quickly and accurately. There was no team better to help him rescue Ilaria.

Soren and his soldiers ran through the plan multiple times and then dispersed to get everything in place to execute.

Without a single doubt in his mind, he would have Ilaria back in his arms tonight. And then he would tell her exactly how he felt about her.