Page 49

Gwen

W hile they’d let me pee, it was awkward, and I was tied up and gagged the whole time. Do not recommend. I was unsure if I’d managed to send Mercy my location and I pressed the button again, hoping it would work.

Now, there was a bag over my head as we landed again. It was a short flight, but we could still be anywhere.

Someone picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, adjusting the bag, so it didn’t fall off. I wasn’t sure if he was an alpha or delta, but he smelled of hot rocks. We went down some stairs and I was thrown into a car.

“I know this is uncomfortable, but don’t worry, soon enough you’ll be on your way to your new life,” Mr. Deloitte said. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll be grateful.” Threat laced every word.

It was a punch in the stomach. Why did everyone want me to be grateful for Lucius?

Nevertheless, at some point they had to untie me–and then I’d run.

If I got caught, I’d keep trying. Because I’d never be his. Never. Even if he bit me and force bonded me.

I belonged to my guys. They must be so worried. Right now they were probably reporting me missing, arguing with the police, who'd want to wait a day, because I was a grown beta. If Mercy was around, she’d get her friend to hack the cameras, but that was assuming they hadn’t already deleted the footage.

We drove for a while, then stopped. Once again, Mr. Hot Rocks threw me over his shoulder. It wasn’t fun like when Tenzin did it. I didn’t like being tied up, blindfolded, or gagged, and it was only the hope of being untied and escaping that kept me from panicking. However, it was a good chance to press the beacon again. He put me down, but I was braced by someone.

It was also freezing, since I didn’t have a jacket.

“Oh good, you’re here.” The male voice that approached sounded relieved. “I was afraid you wouldn’t come, and it’s cold.”

It wasn’t Lucius’ voice. But I didn’t relax.

“You don’t know how much this means to me,” the voice continued. “I was absolutely gutted when I was told the girls died, when my dumbass son exploded the lab on purpose, when the house was raided. I… I’m not a bad man, I was just trying to support my family after my pack fell apart. Never did I expect it to end like this. These past few years in prison, knowing my girls were dead, because of my choices, made me reconsider everything. Then to find out one was alive? For you to offer me a chance to start over and be a better dad? It was everything I’d ever hoped for. Thank you.”

There was so much regret and hope in his voice that it made me ache for him. Whoever he was. I had no idea what was going on and my nose was too full of hot rocks to get his scent.

However, I knew that it wasn’t Lucius–or Franny, for that matter.

“Moonbeam, I understood why you hid. Your brother was out of control and made bad choices. You didn’t know who to trust. I just didn’t want you to give up your dreams, just because we were poor after the pack fell apart–though this is absolutely not your fault. It’s mine. I failed you as a father. I appreciate this chance, thank you for even meeting with me. This time, I’ll keep you safe, and we’ll have enough money to live a good life,” he breathed, again, every word dripping with sincerity and remorse.

Poor dude. But what was even happening?

“A car will take you to where a plane is waiting. We’ll take care of your car. The IDs and money will be sent when you’re in international airspace,” Mr. Deloitte said. “Yes, we’ll look and see if your other daughter is alive, too, and find your other son, as long as you stay overseas and lie low.”

“Thank you. Why is she blindfolded? She’s tied up? I know you said she was in trouble, but you didn’t kidnap her, or steal her from jail or something, did you? I want to do this right. Are you okay, Moonbeam? Oh, that dress is pretty. You look cold. Fuck, they stole you from your life?” His voice grew sad. “I don’t want to do that. Can you take the hood off? I’d like to talk to my daughter.”

Finally. While I felt awful for him being fed false hope that his daughter was alive, this wasn’t my dad.

I felt a gun poke into my back, a warning to be good, and the hood was pulled off my head.

“Say hello to daddy,” Mr. Deloitte said.

Blinking, I stared into the shadowed face of a man younger than my dads, but still old enough to have someone my age. He’d blend in at my family gatherings with his dark hair, olive skin, and broad shoulders.

But he wasn’t one of my dads. Or any of my uncles or cousins.

Mr. Deloitte looked quite smug.

The parking lot was dimly lit. There was a building, maybe a warehouse or something, in the background, but not much else. I heard animals, wind, and water? Maybe we were near a little lake? Also, Mr. Hot Rocks wasn’t the only man with Mr. Deloitte. They were all armed, and there were three fancy cars, and one beat up one.

The man approached me, but stopped when Mr. Deloitte put a hand out.

“Are those contacts? Her eyes aren’t hazel. She’s much taller than I remember.” The man gave me a wary look.

“I told you, she intentionally altered her appearance. Who knows what she did besides growth hormones, that and whatever the Omega Center is giving her to appear beta,” Mr. Deloitte said.

While I mentioned the growth hormones to Austin once, what was that about the Center? Unless Desiree mentioned seeing me there, told Windy, who told Austin, who then jumped to his own conclusions.

Agitation filled Mr. Deloitte’s voice. “How many poor Italian ice skating Gabbys are there?”

In the dim light, I tried to see if he looked familiar. Because I knew an ice skating Gabby whose house exploded.

“You said you found my oldest daughter, who I thought was dead.” His voice broke. “I should have known it was too good to be true, when you said she was studying accounting. I know it’s been a few years, but my Gabby hated math. Also in those skating videos her jumps were different.”

That poor man. I wished I knew a code I could blink at him.

There was a sound in the distance, like a plane. Also, cars going by.

The man took a step closer. “I’m not a kidnapper. I don’t want to take the wrong person. Are you sure–”

There was a click of a gun, as Mr. Deloitte produced a pistol. “Take your daughter and be grateful.”

The gun in my back nudged me.

“Okay.” His voice went small. He turned to me. “I never thought I’d see you again. Give your dad a hug and we’ll be on our way.” Arms flew around me, hugging me tight, pulling me from Hot Rocks.

The sound of cars got louder, and Mr. Hot Rocks got on a phone. Mr. Deloitte held a gun on us but turned to talk to one of the others. If I was untied, it might be a good time to run.

“If you’re not my Gabby, I’ll help you,” he muttered in my ear as he untied my gag, but didn’t take it off. “You don’t smell like my Gabby. If you are, I’m so sorry for all this. I thought you were in trouble and needed help.” He worked on my hands, too.

Fuck. Somehow, between Austin and Mr. Deloitte, they’d concluded I was Gabrielle Boniducci. Midwest Gabby.

I was a Gabriell a, thank you very much.

However, that plan could work. I’d go with him on the plane, then call someone to come get me and use the beacon again.

“That’s enough, get in the car. If we get caught, I’m not going down for this trashy little bitch,” Mr. Deloitte growled, waving the gun at us. Mr. Hot Rocks looked antsy.

Tired squealed, and motor-y sounds grew closer. Was someone coming for me? Or had Mr. Boniducci called the police when someone tried to give him his dead daughter and a pile of money?

Either was fine. Fuck, at this point I’d get on the plane with him. He might even remember me.

“Get them in the car, we all need to get out of here,” Mr. Deloitte growled, as everyone sprang into action.

Cars stopped around us. A lot of them. Lights shining. Doors opened and a bunch of people in dark suits got out. With big guns.

“Please tell them I didn’t do this. I don’t want to go to jail.” Mr. Boniducci put his hands up and froze.

“I… I will.” I didn’t want that for him either. It sounded like he was expecting a reunion, not buying me.

I couldn’t make out details, so I had no idea who was coming to our rescue. Police maybe? Clark would call the police.

“Hey, I don’t know if you remember me. I’m Little Gabs. Gabriella Capaldi. I used to skate with Gabby when we were little,” I added. It felt weird using that old name.

Mr. Deloitte grabbed me and I stumbled, since my feet were still tied. Though my hands were loose enough.

“Let go of her, you fucking piece of shit,” a familiar voice roared.

Wait? Was it…

Could it be?

No.

All four of my dads, looking fiercer than I’d ever seen, carrying huge guns, came over to us. Matty and several others, including some cousins, were with him.

My dads were here.

Relief sluiced over me. Not just that I was safe, but because they came for me. How did they find me? I didn’t see my guys, but I hoped they were behind it.

There were a lot of guns. More than when Lenny and company came to get me back at the lake house. While I saw some of my cousins, not everyone was someone I knew, either. But they all looked fierce and the ones not wearing suits had lots of tattoos and muscles.

I didn’t want to think too hard about all that.

“You don’t look like the cops to me. I’d have thought that do-gooder boyfriend of yours would call the cops. Not… whatever this is, which is probably illegal.” Mr. Deloitte smirked.

His arms were around me, tight, his powdery scent cloying. For an old guy, he seemed strong.

“I know you wouldn’t have called the cops.” His eyes narrowed at poor Mr. Boniducci. “If you did? I did nothing wrong.”

“No?” Papa had his gun focused on him.

“Not me. I’m a pillar of the community.” He smirked.

Which meant he had a way to pin this on someone else. Maybe the guy on the plane. Mr. Deloitte didn’t seem to fear all the guns on him. His backup plan might include me as a hostage.

“Dads,” I yelled, as Mr. Deloitte slapped a hand over my mouth.

“He lied to me.” Mr. Boniducci’s hands were still up and terror rolled off him. “I thought she was my Gabby. When I realized she might not be, I was going to help her.”

Mr. Deloitte frowned. “She’s just a piece of trash from some family who were making drugs. This is her father, even if he thinks he’s not.”

Mr. Boniducci flinched.

“She’s ours, now let her go,” Dad demanded.

I bit Mr. Deloitte and his hand left my mouth. Nasty.

“He’s Midwest Gabby’s dad, he was lied to, don’t hurt him,” I blurted, the same time I took my now unfettered hands and whacked Mr. Deloitte in the balls as hard as I could. Take that, you limp-dicked knotwaffle.

I tried to hop away from Mr. Deloitte, falling, but not before Popi dove for me, and shielded me with his body.

“Buttons, I’ve got you,” Popi said as we hit the ground. “I’m going to feel this in the morning, but I’ve got you.”

“That is Gwen Di Rossi, our daughter, ” Papa roared. “How dare you take her, you fucking piece of shit, Deloitte?”

“You came.” My body shuddered, as I curled into Popi, and we laid on the asphalt. For this moment, I was glad. I wasn’t sure how they found me. Even if Mercy had gotten the signal, which I wasn’t sure she did, they would have gotten here quickly.

“Of course we did.” His forehead tapped mine. “We’ll always come for you. I’m so sorry if it didn’t feel like it before. You’re worth saving, you’re worth a war, and jail, and we love you so much.” He made sure I was all untied.

That’s what I needed to hear, and I started to cry, the gravity of everything hitting me.

“Shhh, Buttons, we have you,” Popi soothed as I let him hold me. He was also warm. My jacket was back at the Stonefeld.

“Who… who are you people?” Mr. Deloitte’s voice shook.

“I’m Tomasso Capaldi and I’m your worst nightmare. Oh, did you fuck up messing with my daughter, Deloitte,” Papa growled. “You and that idiot grandson of yours. You couldn’t even figure out who she was.”

“Wow, he’s as dumb as Buttons’ ex-walking dildo. Dumber.” Matty laughed.

“Capaldi, wait, like Vector Transportation?” He sucked in a breath. “Why do you have a problem with us? We’ve done nothing to you. Yet you keep hounding my business.”

“Your fucknut grandsons ran over my baby girl and left the scene. Not to mention that was after everything he did to her,” Dad growled.

While Papa was the head alpha and in charge of the company, you didn’t want to fuck with Dad.

“This was all a misunderstand–” There was a humph sound, like someone hit him.

“It’s okay. He’ll pay and you’re safe,” Popi told me, still holding me down on the ground, blocking me from what was going on. My head buried in his chest as there was yelling and shots were fired. The motor sound got even louder.

Sirens echoed in the distance. Doors slammed and cars drove off.

Was Mr. Deloitte dead? Did I care?

It might be callous, but the answer was no –as long as the dads didn’t go to jail for it. While part of me wanted to be worth going to jail for, I didn’t actually want them imprisoned.

Dad was talking to someone. “I think I remember you from competitions. Certainly I remember Buttons’ midwestern double. Tell me everything.”

“Are you going to stay down there?” Papa asked us.

I peeked out of Popi’s chest. Papa had his hand extended. I took it. “You came.”

It was still hard to believe. It was clearly still night, which meant time-difference aside, not that much time had passed.

Papa pulled Popi up, fondness in his eyes.

“Yes, we came.” He pulled me into his arms and hugged me tight. It had been a very long time since he’d hugged me good.

“Papa.” It turned to a sob. He was the one I always wanted the love and approval from.

Popi held a gun. Also, most of the people were gone, as were some of the cars. The sirens were louder.

“I should stash this.” Popi went over to the car.

“Papa.” Seeing him here hit me even harder than Popi. While Popi was the comfort dad, he was also the fierce dad who'd fuck people up for you. Him coming made sense.

Business dad, not so much. Papa had a reputation to maintain as head of the company, head of the pack. He’d fuck you over, as would Dad, but not fuck people up. Babo would make sure you no longer got invited to things though.

“It’s okay, Buttons.” Papa purred, holding me to him.

The warmth and fatherly love cocooned me like a blanket. I wasn’t sure when that last was. Maybe when Mom died? Or was that Babo? It had been Babo and Popi, mostly purring for me after the kidnapping.

He planted a kiss on my forehead. “We love you, and we’re here. I’m so glad we found you.”

“Me, too. Please don’t hurt Mr. Boniducci, if he really thought he was being reunited with his daughter, who was in trouble, and consented to the reunion,” I blurted.

Papa squeezed my shoulder. “Midwest Gabby. Haven't thought about her in years.”

Dad came over. “The police are here, can you talk to them?”

“I will.” Papa kissed me on the forehead. “We do love you.”

“I know.” I looked around and sure enough, there were several police cars, flashing lights illuminating the darkness.

“Buttons.” Dad wrapped me up in his arms. “I’m so relieved that you’re safe.”

“Me, too. For… for a moment I thought he was giving me to Lucius.” My knees sagged as I leaned into him.

“Honey.” Babo sandwiched me between them. “He can’t hurt you anymore. But that would be very scary.”

“I…” Tears ran down my face.

“I know. They ruined whatever hot date you were on.” Dad flicked my earrings lightly.

Babo nodded. “That dress.”

I gasped. “I don’t know if I won the motorcycle.” Hysterical laughter bubbled from my lips. “Such a silly thing to worry about. I was at a holiday party and we were playing a present swap game. Um, I should call the guys.”

“They were supposed to be here by now.” Dad sighed and checked his phone.

“Wait, what?” Excitement spiked in me.

“Where is she? Where’s Gwen?” Tenzin growled.

“Here. I’m right here.” I ran to him.

Tenzin swept me up, still wearing what he had on earlier. He looked tired. Holding me tight, I buried my face in his shoulder. Safe.

“I’ve got you, Precious, I’ve got you,” he assured me. “You’re safe and I’ve got you.”

My body shook, and he held me tight. “You’re here.”

“I am. Clark too,” He squeezed me tight, squishing my soul back in my body.

“Gwen.” Clark pulled me from him and kissed me long and deep. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“Tesoruccio. You came.” The tears started running again.

Clark’s forehead touched mine. “Always. We will always come for you.”

“We missed the fun?” Lenny asked. “Sorry. Those two had too much fun beating up Austin. They made it all the way to Motor City on their own. Impressive. Also, Buttons, you have weird ass friends. Like the super soldier.”

“Tegan? She’s married to one of the Knights.” I looked around and saw Jonas, Carlos, Dimitri, and Tegan. All still dressed the way they had been, as if they’d left straight from the party.

They came to rescue me? I felt all warm and tingly.

“They wanted to help.” Tenzin continued to hold me tight. “As Carlos said, you’d do the same for any of us.”

Yeah. I would.

They came. My guys. My friends. My dads. They came to rescue me. I really was worth saving. I was loved.

That was the best feeling of all.