Page 46

Clark

“I ’m out.” I looked at my cards as we sat in the fancy lounge in the hotel lobby. The Knights pretty much always stayed at Stonefeld hotels, since they were a team sponsor, but this was a really nice one.

It was decorated all fancy and so far I’d seen three giant Christmas trees.

“I’m in.” Vickers glanced at his phone. “How long does it take to eat dinner? I mean, this isn’t awful, but do you know how much a good infant babysitter is per hour?”

Pauley shook his head as he looked at his cards. “Never skimp on the babysitter. Secret to a happy house is a happy spouse. Also, it’s like a fucking five course dinner or something. Okay, I’m in.”

“Nine,” Nia corrected. “It’s a nine course dinner. With a different booze pairing for each dish. Then they have to play their drinking game for presents. We’re going to have to carry them out of here. I’m done.” She put down her cards.

“I’m in,” Tenzin said. “Carry them out? Okay.” He looked happy at the prospect.

Vickers rolled his eyes. “I already saw her over your shoulder once today.”

LeeAnn looked at her phone and started laughing, she was already out. “Tegan says she’s still hungry.”

“Ladybug wants to go out for tacos,” I agreed. “The food looks beautiful, though.”

“How can you be hungry after a nine course meal?” Vickers blinked.

“Tegan’s an alpha military officer and Ladybug can out-eat Carlos in a taco-eating contest,” Jonas said.

“They’re on their present exchange game, so it won’t be that much longer,” Nia added.

Pauly snorted. “Depending on who brought what. Did Gwen bring a speedboat?”

“A tiara from that store with the blue boxes,” I replied.

“Fuck. I was hoping Muriel would get a vacation. She’s going to fight for that fucking tiara,” Vickers chuckled. “Full disclosure, Muriel brought a custom sword. I had no idea their game had such a high price point until that came in the mail. It’s beautiful.”

“Oooh, I hope Gwen gets the sword.” I took a sip of beer. It had been a fun, relaxed night.

“Celine said Verity was bringing a rare plant, and she wants it. Why? We keep killing the plants. In.” JP took a swig of beer and sighed.

“I had no idea there were house plants worth thousands of dollars, until Verity brought one home,” Jonas confessed, taking another wing. “It’s a plant. ”

I’d lost count of how many trays of appetizers we’d been through.

“Oh, they’ve decided to adopt three shelters for Christmas?” Nia said, looking at her phone.

“Not the worst idea that’s come out of one of these parties,” Nakey agreed.

“Muriel’s cosplay club always adopted one for the holidays. Brought a tree, presents and a nice meal, also made sure the shelter had lots of things they needed. We should see if Kylee has some stuff lying around we can sign and give to the kids,” Vickers said.

“That sounds nice. We’ll do whatever they need,” I replied as my phone buzzed.

Gwen

Right now I have a motorcycle, I hope I can keep it.

Oh? That was better than a sword.

Me

I want to ride on the back.

Tenzin

Both of you are wearing body armor.

A growl ripped from Tenzin’s lips. “Who brought the motorcycle?”

LeeAnn laughed. “Tegan.”

“Valya has the sword,” Dimitri said. “In.”

“Verity has a pony?” Jonas looked up from his phone. “I thought they were just bringing purses and shit. What are we doing with a pony?”

“AJ’s sister has a farm,” Tenzin pointed out.

Nia gave everyone a pointed look. “No animals. Who brought the fucking pony?”

“I thought we just couldn’t bring an animal here to the restaurant.” Vaino shrugged. The alpha was a forward and also mated to Miko, our only lady defender.

“I think the no animal rule was mostly to keep Ladybug from bringing something that shouldn't be a pet,” Pauly replied. “Like a lynx.”

“I’d like a falcon,” Carlos said. “I’m out, but Lucky is all in.”

They continued playing. I got another text from Gwen.

Gwen

Stu just called. Boaters called with interest. We could make that work?

What? A team was interested? Amazing.

I looked at Tenzin. "Yes."

“Fuck yes,” Tenzin told me. “Better than Hawai’i.”

“Yeah, that could work,” I agreed. “Quebec would be closer, but I’d take it.” We’d already talked about the mass contract buyouts, which were sending everyone reeling with the free agent deadline looming. We texted her.

Me

Absolutely

Tenzin

Yes

Carlos looked over. “Did someone just offer Mariquita a contract?”

“No contract yet, just interest,” I told them. “Boaters.”

Jonas frowned. “Huh. Curious because that’s the team that drafted Ty.”

“She’s better than Ty,” Nia replied. “People just dismiss her because she’s a beta.”

Gwen must have gone back to the party and gotten involved in the game, because she didn’t text back. Someone entered the hotel and went to the elevators. Clearly in a hurry, he nearly knocked over our server as she brought more snacks. Dimitri scowled at him.

The hand ended with Dimitri winning.

Jonas looked around. “Verity’s asking if Gwen’s down here. I guess she didn’t return to the party and isn’t in the bathrooms?”

“She might still be on the phone with Stu.” I checked her location. “Her phone says she’s still in the building.”

Tenzin nodded. “She tends to stand behind plants when she talks on the phone. After this hand, if she hasn’t turned up, we’ll go find her.”

Dimitri was texting furiously. “I think we should have them wrap up the party.”

“Why?” Pauley looked concerned.

Dimitri held up a hand as the man from earlier came out of the elevator. He stood, like he was going to intercept the stranger, but the man came over to us.

“What. Is. Wrong?” Dimitri demanded, alpha concern and dominance flooding the space.

“Pepper didn’t report in. Snaps has been taken. I already called the family per protocol.” His eyes focused on me, then Tenzin. “I’m only telling you because you actually take care of her, unlike that fucknugget she was with before. Even if you two haven’t found us. Fucknugget never did, either. Few have.”

“What are you talking about?” Tenzin growled.

“Who else has seen you?” Dimitri’s eyebrows rose.

“No one here.” He looked at Tenzin and me. “Before you hit me, I’m the far eyes. Also, we just watch and our parameters get downright impossible sometimes. I will fucking figure out who took her. Whether or not the family shares that is up to them. I’m sure you have your own way of tracking her.” He strode out the door.

“What’s happening?” My chest tightened. It made no sense, but I knew it was bad, given Dimitri’s reaction.

“Party’s over. Go get them, now,” Dimitri growled to the rest of the team.

Yeah, this was very bad. I called Gwen, but there was no answer. Fuck.

Nia stood. “Pauly, Vickers, JP, let’s break up their party. Anyone else can come, but a few people should stay down here in case they’re on the way down.”

Jonas nodded. “Verity is on her way down with Valya.”

“Who was that?” Tenzin looked like he was calling Gwen, too.

Panic coursed through me. Had something happened to Gwen? I didn’t understand what was happening, other than that something wasn’t right.

Dimitri turned to us. “That was one of Gwen’s bodyguards.”

“Gwen has bodyguards? She never told us that? But wouldn’t we notice?” Hurt laced my voice. What? How could that be?

“Gwen doesn’t know she has bodyguards. It is their job to not be noticed.” Dimitri was texting. “I saw one tailing her years ago and cornered him, thinking she was in trouble.”

“You never told us?” Tenzin growled, taking a threatening step closer.

He kept texting. “They asked me not to. They didn’t want her to know. Her family hired them when she returned to New York, after she was taken.”

“Where were they when Austin hurt her?” I frowned. Gwen had bodyguards? It was weird. But someone cared enough to do that.

“Probably outside the building. They’re not with her all the time. They’re there to watch, ” he told us.

“Oh.” I remembered the ambulance was already on the way when I called, and there was a worried bystander. Huh. “Was he telling us that Gwen had been kidnapped ? I still don’t understand what is happening.” Hands shaking, I pulled up her location, trying not to panic, so we could figure this out. “She’s here. Though she’s not answering. Let’s go get her.”

Shit. Kidnapping was the worst thing someone could do to her, considering her trauma. We had to find her.

“Bodyguard? Who exactly is Ladybug? Wait, did you say she’s missing? ” Vickers asked.

“Judging by who her brother married, no one we want to mess with. Let’s get everyone else, while they figure this out,” JP said as they went to the elevator.

“Her phone is here. When was your last text from Gwen, Clark?” Jonas texted someone.

“Like fifteen or twenty minutes?” I checked the timestamp on my phone. “Shit, I should have noticed–”

Jonas’ hand clamped down on my shoulder. “Don’t. Thinking she was on the phone with Stu or at the party was a realistic thought. Are we calling the police and letting them know she’s missing?”

“The police failed her last time.” Tenzin’s brow furrowed.

“Her parents, too. But that could be why they have people watching her? How did we not notice? How did they let her get kidnapped?” I frowned.

“They’re good. It’s their literal job to not be noticed.” Dimitri shrugged. “I only noticed, because I’m me. Someone hired to kidnap probably would notice as well and plan for it.”

“We need to get her. Immediately. She must be so scared. Who’d kidnap Gwen? Wait, do you think it’s the sister of the guy who kidnapped her the first time? She was mean.” I remembered the encounter with her at the ballet. We had to get her now. No question.

“My guess would be that it rhymes with Toilette ,” Dimitri replied.

“They don’t actually rhyme,” Tenzin pointed out.

“That makes sense. Retribution for Austin apologizing. Also, anger at her getting reinstated, considering her getting censured was probably retaliation for Austin turning himself in,” Jonas’s eyes were on the elevator.

“If you know her brother’s numbers, we should reach out. It will be faster if they share their information,” Dimitri said.

The doors of the elevator opened. Verity and Valya came out, both holding presents. Valya’s was very long.

“What is going on? We were having fun,” Valya pouted.

“We think Gwen’s missing.” Jonas’ look grew serious.

“Oh.” Valya swore in Russian and looked at Dimitri. “Find her.”

“We will,” Dimitri promised.

AJ rushed into the lobby with Dean and Grif. They all looked dressed up, like they were on a date.

“Verity, go home with AJ, Dean, and Grif. I’m staying here,” Jonas said.

“Of course, please help find her.” Verity bit her lower lip.

AJ nodded. “Are you calling Charlie?”

“Yes.” Jonas turned to us. “Charlie is my friend who works in intelligence.”

Verity nodded. “Good idea. Dimitri, we’ll take Valya home, or is Carlos taking her?”

“I’m going with you,” Carlos said to me. “You know Gwen would come for us, armed with a hockey stick, ready to break some kneecaps.”

Tenzin nodded. “True.”

“She absolutely would,” I agreed. I looked at AJ, Grif, and Dean. “I hope I didn’t wreck your date.”

“We were about done, anyway. Go find her,” Dean told me. “She needs to know she’s worth saving.”

“Copy that, Captain.” I put my fist over my heart, like I was in a Defender League movie. The urgency in his voice took me aback, but I knew they talked a lot, especially about the whole ‘becoming omega after being raised beta’ thing. I was so glad she had him to talk to.

“What can we do?” Grif added. “If she’s missing, someone should let Kylee know, since Gwen’s one of us.”

“I’ll do it.” Nia joined us. “As much as I’d love to come with you, I’ll have to be ground support. I’ll start a group chat and we can coordinate.”

“Thank you,” I told her. One of the few things I knew about kidnapping was that time was of the essence.

Tegan came running over to us. “Gwen’s missing? I’ll help.”

“Good. Because I only know this shit from the movies, and we need to get to her as quickly as we can,” I replied. Tegan did this for a living.

The need to find Gwen grew by the second. I was grateful to everyone wanting to help, and I was loath to call the police at this point.

“What do we do first?” I asked.

“Find her phone and try to confirm she went missing,” Jonas replied with a look at Tegan, who nodded.

If we had her phone, we could also call Matty or Lenny, though I was fine with getting her myself. Captain Everything saved the universe regularly, I could save Gwen.

“Then we go find Mr. Surveillance Guy. If he won’t share his information, we’ll have my friend Charlie hack it.” Jonas looked at me and Tenzin.

Tenzin held up his phone. “Let’s do this. Dean’s right. Gwen needs to know she’s worth saving. That she has people who care.”

Gwen, hold on, we’re coming for you.

Whoever took her was going to regret it.