CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

BLAKE

It was hard leaving her this morning lying in bed and looking so good. But I promised myself that I would get some work done this morning, so I would have the rest of the day free. I won’t let her sway me today. We’re going to have the conversation with her parents and get everything out in the open.

My brothers and I are on a Zoom call with our scouting team on a prospective bid for a hotel in Hawaii. It’s located in an envious area on the beach. It’ll cost us a lot of money, and we’d be taking a major risk, but the payoff could be great.

I receive a call at the end of the meeting, but I don’t answer, let it go to voicemail. Then I remember it could be Lily. My brothers give me a dirty look, but I have to check. It was Lily who called me. I listen to the message, and I’m not happy. I don’t like her sister meeting her.

I ignore my brothers and walk to the other side of the conference room and dial her number.

"Hey, Blake, I can’t talk long. I’m meeting my sister."

I don’t like this. All of sudden, her sister wants to talk? I don’t trust Violet.

"Where are you?" I ask.

"Starbucks by the apartment."

"I’m on my way. Don’t leave with her."

I’m sure she thinks I’m being weird by telling her not to leave with her sister. I haven’t told anybody much about my short time in the house where I was being held. But I’m sure that I heard a woman’s voice. I’ve never met Violet before, so I’m not sure if it was her or not.

I look over at my brothers because it’s gotten quiet in the room. The Zoom meeting must be over, and both of them are watching me.

"Lily’s sister wants to talk to her. It doesn’t feel right."

I dial her number again, but it keeps ringing. I want to throw my phone across the room   but resist the urge.

I don’t say another word when I leave the room. I don’t realize that my brothers are right behind me until I stop and hit the elevator button.

"What are we going to do?"

I look at Noah when he asks that question.

"I need to get to Starbucks and see what’s going on. Lily isn’t answering her phone. Something isn’t right."

I think walking would be faster than driving. I hurry down the sidewalk with my brothers close by. There aren’t many people out this morning. It’s still too early for the lunch crowd to be out. We are only a block away when I notice Lily ahead of us. She is standing close to another woman, who, I presume, is the sister. It looks like they are headed toward a car. I told her not to go with her sister. What is she doing?

I run to catch up, but I don’t get there in time. I literally stop in front of a taxi and yank the back door open and drag a guy out. My brothers and I hop into the back.

"Follow that blue car!" I yell at the driver.

The guy must realize I’m serious and doesn’t say another word but starts driving. I call the cops to tell them I think Lily has been taken. My brother is on the phone with our security team. They have a tracker in her purse. I put it in there this morning because of the Ted incident.

The cabbie stays on them until we’re out of town. I think we might have lost them until we see them up ahead taking the exit.

"This is going to cost you guys," the driver mutters to us.

"You’ll get paid," my brother assures him.

The cops can’t be far behind. Noah has been relaying our location to them. I remember something about a summer home that Lily loved coming to with her family. Maybe that’s where Violet and she are going.

I call her dad and get the address for the home. I relay this all to the cops and our security team. For some reason, I don’t believe Violet is taking her there for some sisterly time. I think she hates Lily so much that she might actually hurt her. Maybe I’m blowing this all out of proportion, but I don’t think I am.

By the time we arrive, I realize the cops have beaten us here. Four cop cars and an ambulance. All three of us barely wait for the taxi to stop before we are running toward the ambulance. My stomach almost drops. I pray to God that nothing has happened to Lily.

I hurry around the ambulance afraid of what I’m going to see. They have Lily on a stretcher, but she doesn’t look hurt, and there is no blood.

"What’s wrong with her?" I ask the EMT.

"She was given something. We want to give her fluids to flush out whatever was ingested."

I don’t stop them, but I’m not leaving her side until she can tell me what happened. The police have her sister in handcuffs and are putting her into the back of a patrol car.

Justice is served.