Page 45 of Claimed Gem
I’m going to make him pay for every mark he’s left on her body. Every tear she’s shed in terror.
Every minute he’s abused her, he’s going to pay.
“So, now we get to the good part. What do I want?” Carlos teased him. He moved closer to the video camera and lowered his voice, “I want you to come to the warehouse. Alone. I’ll know if you bring anyone with you. I know you well, Ries. She will pay for your defiance.”
Carlos paused and then pulled his ski mask off, staring directly into the camera. “Just in case you think to tell Chris about our little chat, don’t. I’m monitoring the security comms and I’ll know. You screw up and she dies. Slowly. Your choice. You have one hour.”
The video screen went dark and Ries closed his eyes, desperation threatening to take away the cold calm he needed to get through the next hour. There was no way he was going to let Stephanie die while he lived. He couldn’t imagine a world without her in it.
He would follow Angelo’s directions and hope that the man kept his word.
Otherwise, he and Stephanie were both going to die.
He closed his computer and looked at his watch, realizing the address Carlos had given him for the warehouse was on the other side of the docks, almost a twenty-minute drive from his present location. He left his office, pausing when Chris called his name.
“Hey, Ries. Are you planning on going out today?”
Ries shook his head, “No, I’m going to wait here in case Stephanie comes back.”
“Want me to send the guys out to look for her?”
Ries sighed, seeing an opportunity to get away from the apartment without being seen. “I don’t know what good it will do, but…yes, send them out. Was there something else you wanted?”
Chris nodded, “If you’re not going anywhere, I was wondering if you’d mind if I took an hour torun into town?”
Ries raised a brow, trying not to show how happy Chris’s request made him. “I don’t see why not. I’ll lock the elevator out so no one can come up until you get back.”
“That’ll work. I’ll send the guys out to comb the town.” Chris smiled. “They’ll find her, don’t worry.”
“I won’t,” Ries nodded, feeling the pressure of the moving clock.
As Chris got on the elevator, Ries raced for his bedroom. He opened the safe stored in the top of the closet and withdrew the pistol he kept there. During the shootout he’d used a gun Chris had given him, and while Chris knew he could shoot, Ries wasn’t sure if the head of his security knew he had his own, personal weapon.
He made sure the safety was on and then tucked it into the back of his waistband. He grabbed two extra cartridges, slipped them into his pockets, and made his way back toward the elevator. He’d closed his bedroom door and turned the television on, hoping that would put the housekeeper off if she came looking for him.
It felt strange to be going out on his own. Into danger, without his security team. But it was the only way. For Stephanie.
Ries glanced out the window by the elevator, happy when the last vehicle pulled out of the parking lot. His own private limo and small sports car were the only vehicles left.
He palmed the keys to the Porsche on his way onto the elevator and then got off on the first floor. He took the stairs down to the ground floor and slipped out the side door before the doorman was any wiser.
Ries headed for the warehouse district, arriving a block away from his destination with fifteen minutes to spare. He hated leaving his favorite car in such a crime-ridden area, but Stephanie’s life hung in the balance – and it seemed silly to worry about a car when he might not walk out of here with his life.
He knew he probably wouldn’t survive the next few minutes. But if Stephanie could find a way to get away from Carlos and go for help, his sacrifice would be worth it.
He hoped that Stephanie would use her smarts to save herself and not get any more heroic notions. She was an intelligent woman, but she had a tendency to put others before herself, even to the point of jeopardizing her own health and safety.
He hoped she would understand that he didn’t want that – not this time. That he came here because he’d rather die than see her come to harm. He hoped she’d respect his wishes as he had respected hers.
He made his way toward the warehouse, keeping as close to the buildings as possible in the hopes of avoiding whatever surveillance Carlos might have installed. He glanced at his watch and realized he only had three minutes to get inside before his time was up.
He reached the warehouse’s wide double door, and then paused when he heard voices comingfrom inside.
Voices. Male voices. Carlos wasn’t alone.
Ries steeled himself, straightened his spine, and pulled his gun, removing the safety. He crept through the door and made his way down the center aisle of the building, hearing the voices directly in front of him.
When the voices went quiet, Ries froze. He didn’t want to make a sound and lose the element of surprise.