Chapter Six

Jack

June 2014

I slide off my ruined button-down shirt and toss it into the fireplace. "Fuck," I grumble as I watched another two-hundred-dollar shirt burn. I've gone through more suits than I care to admit in the past year of searching for my little brother.

Most of the time, I manage to change before I go on a hunt for my brother when I learn of a possible lead, but unfortunately, the traffic ring was on the move, so I had to move quickly. Rushing in, I took off the heads of the bastards who held two dozen boys and girls for sale. As I looked at all the kids, none of them were my brother, but I still called the authorities and took off without a trace. This has been my tenth fucking raid on a child trafficking ring. It's sick as hell, and yet I'm grateful that John hasn't been found there.

Still, I need to find him. All the nanny's ties have come up empty. She changed her name shortly after the kidnapping and attack, but there was no trace of her movement until that time between. She must have planned everything out perfectly, or everything we needed was in that apartment and was blown to pieces, completely lost to the fire.

Changing into a clean suit, I go out to meet with my investors on a new commercial building. "Thank you for joining us, Mr. MacNamara," Franklin Simons says, shaking my hand.

"You're welcome. I'm always looking for good investments."

"Let's take a look at the numbers. I have the report from the inspector, and there aren't any concerns since it's a brand-new construction."

"That's good news." We spend a good two hours talking about the project before heading out to lunch. As I leave the restaurant, I run into my father, who is dining with a random woman younger than me as if he has no cares in the world. It irks the fuck out of me.

He pretends to not notice me with intent, of course, because he wants to sleep with her. She's only after his money, so it's not like he can't pull it off. I plan to interrupt for fun because I hate the bastard.

"Hello, Father. Who is this?" I give her a wicked smile. As if I have any desire in knowing this woman. As far as I'm concerned, she's nothing but trash to be tossed in the dumpster out back for dealing with a man like my father. I have very little respect for gold diggers, and less for ones who fuck with my father.

"You have a son?" she asks, looking up at me with sensual interest.

"Four, actually," I add, pulling up a chair from the table across from them. The patron looks like he wants to say something, but then quickly bites his tongue when he sees me. He clearly understands what's good for him.

"So, what are you doing with my father?"

"Enjoying a nice lunch."

"Son, this is Detective Lopez. She's looking into your brother's case." My father doesn't get the satisfaction he's looking for because I mask my surprise.

"Well, it's a true pleasure to meet you, Ms. Lopez, although I can't say you're that good if you didn't know he had sons."

"I wasn't supposed to reveal my status just yet. Apparently, your father was to keep that quiet so that we could learn who was involved in your brother's abduction."

"I told you, my two oldest would have nothing to do with it."

"None of your sons had anything to do with it," I bark out. "Ian's the one who was worried something was wrong at the estate. He wanted to turn around that morning because he felt the atmosphere had changed. He called me and asked me to check on the property because he was in Vegas on business. It's the reason he had to leave. If his flight wasn't early, he almost canceled it, but the meeting was important."

"When did he call you?"

"He called me as soon as he landed, but I was in a meeting so my assistant let me know when I had a free moment."

"What did he tell you?"

"That it seemed too quiet. There were less guards patrolling, and no one was around in the morning. It almost didn't feel like the property was alive. I told him that we were already out handling business, and maybe John was still in bed so the guards were light for a reason."

"Then what?"

"He asked me to check on it."

"That's it?"

"Yes, why? You can't think my brother had anything to do with it."

"No, I'm guessing the same thing. I saw the footage, and it shows the property looks uneventful. All three of you leave at different times, and nothing happens. No guards are seen throughout the cameras until the time of the explosion."

"What do you mean, no guards are seen?"

"Well, I mean there are a few passing by, but not more than two or three until the attack, and then everyone comes in to fight." That I understood. The men came from their stations after the explosion at the front gate.

"They fought and did their job, but unfortunately my brother and the nanny were still taken." The detective's phone rings and she excuses herself from the table, explaining that she has to take the call. We nod, and she leaves us.

My father leans forward and says, "The nanny had to be involved."

"I think she saved him from the kidnappers, but she never gave up anything before she died," I recall. I haven't forgotten the words that she uttered before my father came in and pulled the trigger.

Of course, he had no idea that she was about to tell me that my brother was alive. All he had was the hate in his heart for the woman and her betrayal. She read the hurt in my eyes, and for a brief moment, we were on the same page.

For an instant, I believed I would get the answers I'd been searching for, only for her to be silenced forever and my brother to remain lost. I couldn't imagine where he was or who had him. The damage that was being inflicted on him scared me. No, it terrified me. I wanted to kill her for letting this happen and yet, I had no recourse, no avenue, and my poor helpless brother was out there in the world with God knew who.

I glare at the man who made any answers impossible to get. "That's because you killed her before we got any information. If you'd given her another minute, I would have had an idea where to find him."

"I was fucking furious. She'd betrayed me, and I lost it. Who knows if he's alive. She would have just lied to us to try and spare her life only to find a way to escape on our way to find John." He had a fair point, and the only reason I hadn't pulled the trigger first was that I needed information that I would have dragged out of the older woman even if I had to torture her all day and night.

This discussion is pointless. I have shed my vitriol over the past year many times, and it has done no good. "What are you doing here anyway?" I ask.

"I heard rumors that the governor is making waves again." Another fuck who I hate as much as my own flesh and blood.

"Maybe stop having a pissing match every time you two encounter each other, and then he wouldn't be digging for shit." I don't need the added problems my father decided to bring when he bumped heads with the governor. The man already has an inflated ego after getting elected illegally. This state is corrupt as fuck, so it's nothing new that he's one step away from being as guilty as us. It's not like he doesn't commit crimes, but he's smooth about keeping it secret. Unlike my father, who wants to just display his mess in the old politician's face like a giant you can't touch me—fuck you.

"I hate the bastard."

I nod, acknowledging the resentment, but not caring because I have more important matters that take precedence. "Understood. I'll investigate his activities and get back to you on it. Is there anything else? I have a meeting to attend that requires my full attention."

"Don't let this slip by. The governor is getting too ballsy and can be a major problem."

"Understood. Now, if you'll excuse me."

I take my leave of my father and do my best to ignore whatever he has to say.

I can't handle his nonsense or even look at his face and not want to break his jaw as I'm still thinking about what happened to my brother. It's his fault, and I want him to pay for my brother's disappearance. For nearly two months, I believed my little brother was dead, and then I learned he was alive. Then, my father killed the only fucking person who could tell me where my brother could be found.

All I want to do is beat his brains in. I pass by his detective as she looks at me with her mouth open. I wonder what she's up to. Something in me screams that she's not really investigating my brother's abduction. My guess is she's working to get at the fucking governor because that's all my father cares about. I'll find out one way or another.

My driver opens the door for me, and I slide into the back of my SUV. Just as he does, my phone rings. "Fuck. Another interruption. Sometimes these things are a nuisance." I take it out of my inner pocket, and it's Giles. I haven't heard from him in a long while. The last time was when I sent the entire crew a picture of my brother and asked them to be on the lookout for anyone trying to claim the small boy as their own.

"What's new, Giles?" He's probably interested in an investment deal.

"It's the strangest thing. I know I haven't seen your family in a long time, and maybe it's out of place, but I'm handling business in Philly right now." He pauses, and that irks me more than it should. After having dealt with my asshole father, I'm just a little on edge.

"And?"

"Well, I know your brother's missing." My heart is in my throat.

"Get to the point, Giles."

"There's a little boy with this woman, and he looks like John. I know little boys look alike at this age, but she called him John, and, well…"

"I need a picture."

"I snapped a quick shot, and I'm sending it now."

"What else?"

"Well, he caught my attention because he threw a fit in the middle of the street." I'm staring at the blurry photo from the shot he captured of the boy who could totally be my brother. It's the woman holding him that draws my attention. She's gorgeous and has spectacular hips. Who the fuck is she? Why does she have my brother?

Pressing my phone to my chest, I slam my hand on the glass and command my driver, "Stop. Turn around and go to the house." We were supposed to head back to the office, but nothing else matters when it comes to John.

"Giles, don't confront them because I don't want them to run, but I want you to find out who is with them and where they're staying."

"Yes, Mr. MacNamara."

"And Giles?"

"Yes?"

"Not a word to anyone. Not even to my family."

"Understood."

"You will be rewarded well if this is my little brother." I get to the house and step out of the vehicle, turning to my driver and head of my personal security, Shamus. "Get ready. We leave in thirty for the airport."

He doesn't ask stupid questions. "Business or pleasure?"

"Both."

"Okay. I'll be back shortly." I nod and step into the house with my phone in hand, calling my brother, Connor. "Connor, I need you to handle the dealing at Warehouse 42 by yourself."

"What happened to you?" Normally it doesn't take two of us to handle a large shipment of guns, but we had other matters to discuss afterward, so I agreed to go with him after I stopped at the office.

"Something's come up. I'm leaving town and won't be back for a bit."

"Anything serious? Anything you need my help with?"

"Not yet. I'll let you know soon. Hold down everything for me. You're my second. I can count on you for anything, right?"

"Always. We're brothers to the end."

"Good. I'll be back soon. I might be calling on you, but until then, I need you to keep tabs on Father and make sure he stays here. If he leaves the compound, let me know instantly."

"Of course. You don't trust him for shit. Does this have to do with John?"

"May be a lead, but I have to be sure, and I don't need that trigger-happy bitch ruining anything."

"I'll keep that fucker here and maybe put a bullet in his head myself if he tries to leave."

"Good. By the way, he was meeting with a detective. A little young piece of ass. She tried to hide that she was cop for some stupid fucking reason, but he was quick to throw it in my face that he was getting help to look for John's kidnappers."

"Interesting. I'll check into it."

"They were interested in Ian."

"I'll be definitely watching out, then."

"Good." I end the call and finish packing a suitcase, and then I call my pilot. "Marty, I need the plane ready and running within the next two hours."

"How many passengers?"

"For the FAA, three. In reality, six. The return flight, we'll change it up. I can't say how long we'll take."

"Where's the destination?"

"Philly."

"Okay. I'll be fueled and ready in an hour." I want to be up in the air within the next two hours. Realistically, an hour isn't possible because of city traffic. It's going to take forever for me to get to the bloody airport. Philly's a short flight away, but it already feels like an eternity. My hand goes to my phone and back to the picture. I zoom in, but it doesn't focus the image any better. He's at an angle and it's been so long since I've seen my little brother, but it's got to be him.

My heart thumps in my chest, pounding erratically. I have to know if it's truly him and who this woman is.

Since I learned that he was alive, I've traveled from town to town, checking shelters, foster homes, and freed little boys from predator dens because I was searching for my brother. Every sick fuck I found in those debauchery dens paid for their sins with the end of my gun or blade. I enjoyed those kills more than anything ever. Each kill was a reminder that someone could be hurting John the same way.

Shamus calls on one of the other guards, Frankie, to drive us to the airport. We ride out to the private tarmac, and I receive another image from Giles of her license plate. I drink a bottle of water. I want a fucking whiskey, but I need a clear head. I don't know what to do with this information because I don't run plates, and I can't call my sources without drawing attention to this woman. I need to be close to her first, or rather, close to John.

We land in Philadelphia around seven at night, and I want to pound on the woman's front door, but I don't have any of her information yet. Giles meets us at the hotel about an hour later.

"What the fuck took you so long?" I question. He knew when we'd be arriving at the airport, so he should have been ready to go. My usual cool, calm demeanor fades when it comes to this pursuit. Knowing that we finally have visual evidence of John, I can't hold back much longer. Every moment feels like an eternity.

"Sorry, I was watching her home to see if there was any additional movement, and then I got a business call that required my attention. I wasn't expecting you so soon."

"No, you're right. Did you get any more details, photos?"

He nods. "Yes, and I dug a little deeper and went into her mailbox while she was taking the kid into the house. Her name is Nora Harrison."

He hands me his phone, and there's a dozen more photos; there's no doubt that the boy in her arms is my little brother. He looks healthy and clings to this woman as if she's his lifeline, so I know he's being taken care of, but that's not the fucking point. She stole him from his family, robbing him of the love and life he deserves for no damn reason. If she wanted a baby so damn bad, I would have gladly put one in her fucking belly.

Whoa, where did that shit come from?

I shake my head and hand the phone over to him. "We need to get him tonight." My face focuses on the photos, wondering where I've seen her before. I don't even know if I have, but there's something familiar about her features. She's beautiful without a doubt, but there's more. I recognize her, although I can't say from where or when.

"I think it's best to wait. Sleep, and then you can strike first thing in the morning. Don't you want to learn more about her before you go in?"

"How am I supposed to do that without alerting her?"

"Do you think she's that sophisticated as to have her name flagged?"

"How about someone watches the house, and we'll pull the records so if she tries to run, we'll be there."

"Sounds good, but I really don't want to wait. I say a four a.m. attack is better."

"A blitz attack?"

"Yeah, but then she's more than likely going to call the police than answer the door."

"True. I don't fucking like any of this." He manages to hold me off to a reasonable hour, but I can't sleep as I wait for any report on this woman. It finally comes in, and I learn a little more about this thief. She's a twenty-four-year-old teacher who isn't married and has no children. No fucking children, so she shouldn't be carrying an obvious child with her.

"Now, it's time to get my brother and deal with this woman." My hand raises, and I pound on the door.