Page 54 of Ruthless Desires, Vol. One (Ruthless Desires Series Extended Editions #1)
Rhett
I can’t stop watching the videos.
What’s worse, Elliot receives another one after we land.
I’m not sure whether I should be relieved or concerned that Wren wasn’t fighting in this one. Is it because she’s given up hope? Or because she’s trying to conserve her energy? Either way, we need to get to her now.
“Just let her go,” Elliot says. “Do what you want to us, but leave her out of this.”
This is his third time calling Jordan and the first time the asshole decided to pick up. From the expression on Elliot’s face, the conversation isn’t going well.
Once our plane landed, Elliot and I came directly home. Oliver said he had to check on something and that he’d follow us soon. He wouldn’t tell us where he was going, and I’m not gonna lie, it pissed me off. But he promised he’d be back soon.
As for me, I’ve been doing a couple things. The first is sorting through the residential properties that the Williams family owns. Finn emailed them to Elliot before we even landed, which is way sooner than I was expecting. That’s what happens when you’re friends with powerful people.
In the videos, Wren was in what appeared to be a cellar of some sort. The way it was built looks like it was an older house, so I’m sorting out newer ones. And I’m also flagging the ones that are in less-populated areas. The more secluded a place is, the better a hiding spot it is.
The second thing I’ve been up to is learning more about Jordan. More specifically, his girlfriend. I’d never hurt her—she’s just as innocent in all of this as Wren is—but Jordan doesn’t know that.
“Jordan, please.”
I sigh, watching Elliot pace the length of his office. It’s been years since we’ve felt this helpless, and the strain in Ell’s voice tells me he’s as ready to rip Jordan’s head off as I am.
“Give me the phone,” I say quietly.
Elliot shakes his head, glancing at my laptop screen. No doubt, he knows exactly what I’ve been up to. “Then what do you want, Jordan? You want us to turn ourselves over?” A pause, and then, “No, Jordan, don’t—goddammit.”
My anger only spikes when Elliot slides his phone into his pocket.
“He hung up on you?”
Ell nods. “He said that because we made him wait, he’s going to make us wait. And that he won’t exchange us for her. He won’t stop until all four of us are dead.”
“So we threaten him before he can hurt Wren anymore. All we have to do is send proof that we have the means to kill his girlfriend. I have her address pulled up right here.”
Elliot throws his hands up in exasperation. “And if he decides to retaliate by doing something worse to Wren? What then, Rhett? Christ.”
“We have to do something.”
“We have to be careful,” Elliot says. “Jordan wants revenge. This isn’t your typical hostage situation. He’s not going to give her back in exchange for something. He’s trying to lure us into a trap to kill us all. Although right now he’s unnecessarily drawing things out.”
“Right now, all he’s doing is hurting her,” I shout. “We have to find her, Ell.”
“I know,” he says gently. “We will.”
“But we aren’t,” I grit out. “We’re just sitting here. Doing fucking nothing.”
“No, we’re not.” He points to my laptop. “You’ve gone through the properties?”
“Yes, but—”
“Which ones fit our criteria?”
With a grumble, I pull up the three properties I’ve marked as the ones Jordan is most likely to be hiding Wren at. They’re all in different directions. If splitting up was an option, it wouldn’t be a problem. But Jordan has a lot of resources at his fingertips. There’s no way he won’t be guarding the house. Splitting up could be a deadly mistake.
“We start with this one,” Elliot says, pointing to a house that looks like it’s in the middle of a vineyard. “You get the equipment. I’ll memorize the layout of the house and get Wren a change of warmer clothes. Oh, and can you find Oliver?”
“On it.” I’m already halfway out the door when Elliot stops me.
“Rhett. We can’t just storm the house. We’ll have to take out everyone who’s not inside. And then we’ll need to enter and find her strategically.”
My hands curl into fists. I told Wren I’d burn the world down to find her if I ever needed to, and I fucking meant it. But everything Elliot is saying makes sense. I hate it, but he’s right—about Jordan’s girlfriend, about how we should get her from the house, and about most things in general.
This is a time to exercise caution. The last thing we want is Wren getting caught in the crossfire. And if we barge into the house unprepared, we could get killed before we can get to her.
“I won’t do anything rash,” I say, walking back over to him. I press my lips to his in a short yet reassuring kiss. “I promise.”
With a sigh of relief, he runs his hands down my arms, like he needs the split second of touch to stabilize him. “Thank you.”
With that, we head our separate ways. I call Oliver, but he doesn’t answer. When I check the garage, his car is still gone.
I try calling him again, and then again after a few minutes.
Nothing.
Fuck.
Worst-case scenarios run through my head as I load up Elliot’s SUV. By the time I’m done, I’ve worked myself back into some of my worst memories.
Me peering through a crack in a door, watching Oliver as he claimed to be working alone. The gun pointed at his head. The utter helplessness that almost overwhelmed me in the moment.
Not again. I can’t go through that again.
But apparently, my thoughts aren’t enough to keep reality from crashing in. My phone vibrates in my pocket. As I read the text, my blood runs cold.
“Ell,” I shout, my eyes still glued to my screen. And then I’m running through the house, trying to get to him faster.
Because we can’t waste a single second.