Caught in the Storm (13 page)

“Lucky me,” Kat said dryly.

“Shut up. You don’t want to miss this.”

“Hold on, maybe I should record this so I’ll have it for future reference.”

“Are you done?”

“As soon as I mark it on my calendar.” Kat started to get up when Evie placed her hand on her arm, stopping her.

“Please listen. It would appear I’m the only one who has a problem with you and Jackson. Everyone else has told me to butt out. Then, there was what you said about Anthony. It’s true. Once Anthony came into my life, I couldn’t see anything else but him. I knew it was going to cause problems between Lexi and myself, and I don’t want to say I didn’t care, because I did, it’s just, his pull was stronger. There was nothing that could make me give him up. So, I’m just saying, I understand, I’m sorry, and I’ll try to be nicer.”

“Can I have that last part in writing?” Kat snickered.

“Don’t push it.”

“Is this the part where you two hug? Coz I’d love a picture of that,” Jackson said from the doorway.

“Jerkface.” Evie got up and punched him in the arm as she walked by.

“Love you too, sis.” He smiled as she hissed at him as he walked into the room to take the seat his sister just vacated. “So, want to tell me what happened this morning?”

“No.” Kat turned back to look out the window.

“Okay, well let me tell you what I know. After my sister verbally attacked you and you said what needed to be said, I received a phone call from Grams telling me what happened and maybe we big strong men should get back here.”

Kat’s gut knotted. She knew Jackson loved his grandmother and valued her opinion. “Somehow I don’t think she said the last part.”

“Well, maybe not, but you’ve got to admit it is something she’d say. She just wanted to make sure you were okay, and knew that Lexi would like to have Noah around after all the drama. Plus, she knows her granddaughter and that Anthony is the only one who can really handle her.” He leaned back against the wall and locked his fingers behind his head. “So, it would seem that we weren’t needed. One very strong, sexy woman put my sister in her place.”

Kat shrugged. “I just made a point she couldn’t argue with. No biggie.”

Jackson leaned forward until their faces were inches apart. “It is a biggie and you know it. Do you know how hard it’s been keeping my distance from you? When all I want to do is take you in my arms? Kiss you while I’m buried deep inside of you?”

“We can’t.”

“Yes, we can. There is no reason why we can’t. Everyone knows. Everyone accepts.”

“But I’m broken.” Kat couldn’t help it; her voice cracked.

“No. Even if it takes me the rest of my life, I’m going to prove how perfect you are. Don’t you understand? The only one holding you back is you. Damn it, I love you and I’m not letting you go.”

They sat there staring at each other. Kat could feel their connection, almost as a living thing between the two of them. The air seemed to pulsate in time with their synchronized heartbeats. Everything faded into the background except his face, his scent, his breathing. She needed to taste him. Leaning forward, she gently kissed him with the unspoken words of a promise.

The next day started out the same as any other day. Reading the papers, searching for missing women and making phone calls. They were all getting tired of it, but they knew it had to be done; since something might actually come from one of them. They were trying to step up their efforts, as the Halloween party was just a couple of days away.

“I want to make sure everyone knows their parts for the party. I don’t want anything left to chance,” Jackson said later that morning.

Evie groaned. “Come on, we’ve been over the plan like a dozen times already.”

“Since you feel that way about it, why don’t we make it a couple dozen times?”

“Children,” Evelyne said from the kitchen. “Don’t make me come in there. Jackson is right. Now hush, Evie.”

“Fine.”

When Jackson stuck his tongue out at Evie, she backhanded him in the stomach. He cleared his throat and continued, “Kat and I will hide in the back of Bruno’s SUV to the hotel. Bruno will be going there to check on the event and the room that Noah booked for the night. The lady who is organizing the event, Amber, will meet us in the underground garage where we will all ride up in a private elevator to the presidential suite.”

He paused to pop some fruit into his mouth and take a drink of coffee. “Bruno and I will go through the presidential suite to make sure there are no listening or recording devices. Amber has assured us that no one has rented the presidential suite for the two weeks leading up to the event and she has personally selected the maintenance and cleaning crew that work in the suite. She has also been there with them to oversee what they are doing. Bruno has also visited every building that has a direct line of site to the hotel, especially the presidential suite. As long as Kat and I are careful and stay toward the interior walls, no one will know we are in there.”

Lexi raised her hand. “What about lights? Are you guys going to be there all night in the dark?”

“We can’t risk someone noticing the lights on when no one is supposed to be renting it, not to mention shadows. It will be best if we don’t,” Jackson said.

Lexi looked over at Kat. “Are you going to be okay with that?”

“I’ll be fine. Really. Don’t worry about me.”

“But we do,” Evie said and shrugged when everyone looked at her. “What? Well, we do.”

“It’s only for one night. I can get through it. Please don’t worry about me.”

Jackson wanted her to know that he thought she could do this and wanted to get everyone back on track. “She can do it. Besides, have you seen the size of the bathroom? It’s huge; we can always go in there, close the door, make sure no light spills out from the bottom of the door, and turn the lights on. Maybe I can get her to play strip poker.”

“Men,” Evie said and threw an apple at him.

Jackson caught it easily and took a bite of it. “Women.”

“Let’s just stop this before it goes any further,” Lexi remarked dryly. “I just want to make sure that aside from the strip poker, Kat is really going to be fine with everything.”

“Yes, I will be fine with everything, including the strip poker, because I don’t plan on losing.”

“Go get him, girl,” Evie laughed and gave her a high five. “And if you can somehow lock him out of the room while he’s naked that would be great. He hasn’t had that done to him in years, right Lex?”

“And if you could time it, so the most people possible see him, that would really be wonderful,” Lexi said with a small smile.

“Ha-ha, can we get back to the plan?” Jackson looked up at the ceiling.

“I want to hear more about this. What exactly did you do?” Kat asked as she leaned closer to Lexi.

“No, no, no. We’ve got to go over the plan.”

Lexi patted Kat’s arm, “That’s okay; we’ll talk more, later. There’s so much more to tell.”

“I’ll be sure to take notes.” Kat grinned at Jackson.

“
As
I was saying, Kat and I will spend the night in the suite. Bruno and the security team will be in the suite directly under us. They will monitor final set up for the event and make sure no one attempts to gain access to the presidential suite. Noah and Lexi will arrive at four in the afternoon, and we will all get ready. Lexi and Noah will go down to the party for the dinner. Once dinner is over and Noah has made his speech, they will make sure their table knows that they are going up to their suite so Lexi can change into a different pair of shoes. Once up there, we will switch places. Since the curtains will be closed, they will be able to move about without worrying someone will see them. We’ll dance the night away, and if Jeremy shows up, we’ll catch him. If not, we’ll return to the suite, get a good night’s sleep then come home.”

“Sounds like we’ve got everything covered. What could go wrong?” Noah said.

A couple of hours later, they were still sitting around reminiscing about growing up, when Anthony’s phone rang. Everyone stopped and listened as they noticed his words and tone. As soon as he hung up, Evie was right there.

“What’s going on? Where is he?”

“It would appear that someone matching Jeremy’s description was seen not too far from here coming out of a country club with an older lady.”

“Where,” Kat asked. “How?”

“Just twenty minutes from here. Actually, it is very close to where the event is. We’ve been watching places where rich older women frequent, looks like it might have finally paid off. We’ve got someone trailing them right now.”

“Let’s go.” Jackson jumped up, grabbed his coat and started for the garage.

“Shouldn’t we leave this up to the police?” Lexi asked while rubbing her belly.

“If it turns up that he is Jeremy, the police will be called,” Anthony said. “Besides, since they don’t really believe he’s alive, I’m not sure they would act on this in time.”

Kat caught up to Jackson. “Please be careful.”

“It’s my middle name.”

“Jackson,” Kat pleaded.

He cupped her face in-between his hands. “Because of you I will always be careful.” Quickly he kissed her nose. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

Noah patted her shoulder as he walked by. “We’ll be fine.”

“Famous last words.”

Anthony stopped by her. “We’ll have Bruno with us, not to mention a few other security guards who will be following. You don’t need to worry.”

For the first time, Kat didn’t back away from Anthony coming so close to her. “What if it’s a false lead to get you guys away from here?”

“That’s always a possibility; however, we have more people around the property than anyone watching knows. You are secure here.”

“Kat, I know it’s not your responsibility anymore, but could you keep an eye on Lexi? I’d feel better and not worry about her quite as much while we’re out there looking for Jeremy,” Noah asked.

“Of course. You don’t even have to ask.” Kat shrugged. “Old habits die hard anyway. I spend most of my time making sure she’s okay.”

“Thanks. Let’s get him.”

There was silence after the door slammed behind them. Kat walked over to the window and watched the SUV drive out the gates.

She lost track of how long she stood there, waiting for them to come back when she heard a noise behind her. Evie was already next to Lexi by the time Kat was able to get there. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. Really.” Lexi’s brow furrowed.

“It didn’t sound like nothing. Spill,” Evie said as she rubbed Lexi’s back.

“It’s just a twinge; that’s all. It happens.”

“Martha, can you get us some of that lotion Lexi likes so much please?” Kat looked at Lexi’s wrist in her hand and felt her pulse. She gave Evie a look of worry and stood up to get the bottle from Martha. “Thank you. Now Lexi, why don’t you come over to the couch and put your feet up for a bit.”

“I don’t want to. I’m fine here.”

“No, you’re not, honey. You need to relax.”

“How the hell do you expect me to relax when my husband, the father of my unborn child, is out there chasing down a madman whose whole reason for being is to kill the three of us?” Her breathing started to become erratic.

In a calm, soothing voice, Kat said, “Okay, Lexi, we understand; we’re right there with you. But you have to know this isn’t good for the baby. Right now, you need to concentrate on the little one and you. Noah can take care of himself, besides the fact that Jackson, Anthony and Bruno are with him.” Kat began to massage Lexi’s shoulders.

Evie dropped to her knees in front of Lexi. “Please honey, please. Come over to the couch and lie down. We’ve got that lotion you love so much. I could give you a foot massage; Kat will rub your back. And I bet Martha could whip up some raspberry muffins. Please.”

Martha called from the kitchen, “Already on it. They’ll be ready in about fifteen minutes. Go relax, girl; you know when Noah finds out you got all upset, he’s going to be pissed.”

“Come on, honey.” Evie grabbed Lexi’s hands and helped her up. “I’ll even paint your toenails. I was thinking electric blue. I think I’ve got some at the cottage. I’m sure Sam will go find it.”