In His Power (Beyond Darkness, #1) (7 page)

‘No!’ She cried. ‘Don’t stop, you can’t stop now!’ She wanted to feel the release, she wanted to get rid of the pain, and he was the only one who could do it. ‘Don’t stop!’ She grasped onto him tightly, opened her legs wider and encouraged him to dig deeper into her.

He was hesitant, but the more she demanded of him, the more he gave into it. Soon he was pushing deep into her middle, pounding as hard as he could. London leaned back and let out the most painful sounds, but he didn’t stop, instead he gave harder and harder until he let go into her. Her body let go, and she fell into him, crying and letting all of it out.

He held her tight in his arms. He kept her there until the cries subsided. He didn’t know what else to do. He pulled down her dress and led her back to the couch. They sat down and she fell into his arms. They sat in complete silence. It had been an odd thing, and yet they both felt it had been right.

A few minutes later, London gazed up at him. He smiled gently.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘That wasn’t me.’

‘Don’t be. I understand.’

‘You do?’

‘Yes I do. You’re in a crises, you want your daughter home. Everything has overwhelmed you. This was the best you knew how to cope.’

She nodded, he’d just about summed it up.

‘I’m coming with you,’ she said without looking up again.

‘I don’t think it’s wise.’

‘She’s my daughter. If you find her – ’

‘When we find her.’

‘When you find her, the first person she’ll want to see is me. I’m coming with you. It’s non-negotiable.’

He nodded; he knew that trying to tell her not to come would be a fruitless exercise.

‘Okay, you’re coming.’ He kissed the crown of her head. ‘We leave tomorrow. So you go home and get sorted.’

‘No, I want to stay here. I’ll go in the morning.’

He smiled slightly. ‘Okay. Whatever you want.’ He was smitten. He would do anything for her, he knew that now.

T
he couple sat in the air conditioned office and waited nervously. The man touched his wife’s hand and gave it a little squeeze.

‘Everything will be just fine. We’ve waited this long, and now we know things will be okay.’

‘I hope you’re right. I don’t think I can go through anymore heartbreak.’

The man looked at his wife of seven years. Her blond hair had a few strands of grey, but she still looked as amazing as she had done, the day he met her. He hadn’t changed either. He still had his youthful looks and his lovely eyes. His caramel skin was what made his wife fall for him. She loved the look of him and everything about him. They were a power couple; they had everything going for them, money, looks, the right friends and a family who adored them both. There was only one thing missing from their lives, a child. And they hoped that the meeting would change that.

‘Mr and Mrs Beach, Dimitri will see you now.’ A woman led them to a huge office.

They were greeted by a tall large man in a grey suit, beside him sat Lucia. She was dressed in a black skirt suit with a crisp white shirt. Her brown hair was loose and fell just below her shoulders. She wore a pair of black Gok Wan’s, and looked totally different to the woman Paige had come to know.

‘Please, have a seat.’ Dimitri directed them to the couch at the other end of the spacious office. ‘This is Lucia, she’s the one who has done most of the work.’

Lucia nodded and smiled, and soon they both sat opposite the couple. Lucia placed a folder on the glass table that was between them and opened it. The couple leaned forward and looked at the pictures of the little girl. Mrs Beach touched her chest, and let out a slight whimper.

‘She’s beautiful!’

‘As you can see, she has your eye colour Mrs Beach, and she’s mixed. The child could pass as your own.’

‘Yes she would. Thank you so much, she’s beautiful!’

Lucia smiled. It seemed her work was almost done with Paige, but there would be others. The couple studied the photos for a while. It was a happy moment for them both. Mister Beach looked up at Dimitri.

‘If you have any questions, please ask.’

Mister Beach had a lot of questions, but there was one that kept bugging him. A question he’d asked before, but couldn’t help but ask again. 

‘Is everything above board?’ Mister Beach asked.

Dimitri looked at him calmly and smiled. He knew that this question would come up again and again, and he was well prepared for it.

‘I understand your concerns, Mister Beach. Like I said before, everything is above board. The children that come into our possession are orphans. We’re doing great work for them. When Paige came along, we knew she’d be perfect for you.’ He smiled.

Mister Beach nodded and smiled too. His wife did the same and sniffed as tears of joy ran down her cheeks. She was so happy that she’d be able to finally become a mother. They’d flown in from Finland, and soon they would fly home with their daughter.

‘Thank you for everything,’ said Mister Beach. ‘You’ve made us happy new parents!’

‘It’s a pleasure. I’m just glad you put your trust in our company.’ He beamed and looked at Lucia who nodded in agreement. ‘Now if you just sign the paper work, and we’ll get all the documents ready.’

The couple nodded.

‘You said you’d keep her name, is that right?’

‘Yes, but we’d like to change her surname to Beach.’

‘Yes, we’ve made arrangements for that. Everything will be in order when you pick her up.’ Dimitri stood up.

They stood up too and shook hands.

‘It’s not long now. She’ll soon be yours.’

They were happy; soon they would be proud parents to a beautiful little girl!

****

L
ondon moved about the room taking clothes from the closet and putting them into her suitcase. Portia came to the doorway like she’d always done, since London was a child, when something was wrong.

‘Mum, you don’t have to be here. Go home, go and be with dad,’ she said without turning.

‘Honey, this man is dangerous.’ She stepped into the room. ‘I don’t trust him.’

London turned to her mother. ‘I know you don’t, but I do.’

‘Please, don’t do this.’ Portia begged.

‘Please don’t worry about me. I’m will find my baby, and bring her back!’ She threw in a pair of black jeans. She wasn’t sure how long they would be.

‘There is a better way to do this.’

‘You keep saying that, but so far, that has brought no results. I have to do something. I can’t just sit around and wait.’

‘But what good will it do, to risk your life?’

‘I’m not risking my life.’

‘You are!’

‘Mum. Please. I can’t do this now. I’m leaving in twenty minutes, and there is nothing you can say to stop me.’

Portia gasped. It wasn’t like London to behave this way, but then again, this had never happened to her before.

‘I know you’re worried. But if you were in my shoes, you’d do whatever it took. I know you would.’

Portia stepped down and allowed. There was no point fighting her, it wasn’t going anywhere.

‘Okay,’ she said finally. ‘Please just take care of yourself.’

‘I will mum, I promise.’ She hugged her mother, and then continued to pack.

Twenty minutes later the car arrived to pick her up. Portia watched from the front door as London hopped into the dark mysterious car.

‘Hi,’ she smiled at him.

‘Hi.’ He was equally happy to see her.

There was a strange feeling between them, but the chemistry was great. As the car moved off, he placed his hand gently over hers. A shot of tingles fizzled through her body as he gently rubbed his thumb over the top of her hand.

‘Where are we heading?’ she asked.

‘South America.’

‘What!’ Is that where they’d taken her baby, she couldn’t believe it!

‘I’m afraid so. We tracked down all the private jets that left the day Paige was taken.’

‘Wow.’ She tore up again. ‘My poor baby. There was no way the police would’ve found out, or would they?’

‘Don’t worry, we’ll find her. We’ll get her back I promise. I have a lot of connections over there, and they’ve something for us. I’m hoping it’s a location.’

She nodded.

‘We need to work quickly, things like these are businesses.’

‘What are you saying?’ She wasn’t sure she wanted to know the answer to that.

‘I’m saying that Paige was taken to be...’ He didn’t want to tell her so bluntly.

‘Tell me, I can handle it.’

‘To be sold.’

She gasped. Things spun around her, she couldn’t cope with that thought.

‘Listen to me.’ He took back her hand. It felt familiar and he would do everything in his power to make sure he got Paige back. ‘This is good news.’

‘How is it?’

‘We know she’s still alive. The bad news is that, we don’t know if she’s still in South America or has been taken some place else. But at least we’re onto something.’

London nodded.

‘I promise. I’ll get these bastards!’ He was certain of it.

She leaned onto his shoulder. She hadn’t known him long, but it felt like she’d known him a lifetime. There was something comforting being with him. London felt protected.

He rubbed her shoulder gently. He felt protective over her. He knew that he would break the necks of everyone involved with the kidnapping of Paige. It was in his blood to hunt and kill, and now he had more reason to do so. For a moment he wondered if she understood who he really was. There was dark and light fighting deep down within him. He wanted to share his light with her, but what would happen when she saw his dark side?

‘I need you to listen to me very carefully,’ he said.

London lifted, the tone in his voice made her a little nervous.

‘We’re going into a territory that probably doesn’t abide by the law.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean, these people are ruthless criminals that not even the police can tame.’

‘Okay.’ She wasn’t sure where this was all going.

‘What I’m trying to say is...’ He still couldn’t articulate it. ‘That, we might have to do some things to people to get answers from them.’

‘What kind of things?’

‘Hurtful things, things that will cause them pain.’

She was quiet for a moment.

‘You might not like it, but I must be honest with you from the start.’

She gazed ahead. The car drove onto the private air space and stopped. The feelings of pain, grief and anger had all been balled up into one. The face of her daughter was always on the forefront of her mind.

‘Do whatever you have to,’ she said without shifting her gaze. ‘Whatever it takes!’

His lips curled. ‘I’m glad we’re on the same page.’

She turned to him and smiled only slightly as the driver opened the door.

‘Shall we?’ He held out his hand after he’d stepped out of the car.

London nodded, took his hand, and soon they walked to the waiting private plane.

****

D
etective Gates looked at his mobile phone the moment he stopped the car. This had been the fourth call from that number. He looked at the package to his left that he’d picked up from the post office, and decided which one was more important. He was certain the package was the incriminating evidence Nadine had sent him. The package could wait a few minutes, it would need his undivided attention anyway. He returned the call. A few rings later a woman answered.

‘I have three missed called from this number,’ he said.

‘Yes, detective, it’s Portia Nolan. London’s mother.’

‘Oh yes. What can I do for you?’

‘It’s London.’

‘What about her?’

‘I’m worried she might step into trouble.’

‘Why do you think that?’

‘She’s left with Victor Adamovich.’

‘Left to go where?’ His ears perked up. He’d had a few guys on Victor, no one had mentioned he’d left the county or country.

‘I’m not sure, but London packed to leave with him, something about finding Paige.’

‘Where do you think they’re going?’

‘I’m not sure, but I think they’re leaving the country. He promised to find Paige, so that’s what he’s going to do.’

‘Dam it!’ The words caught him off guard and he quickly apologised to Portia. ‘I’m going to look into this. Try not to worry.’

‘Okay, please just bring my daughter and granddaughter back safely.’

‘I intend to.’ He looked at the package. Now more than ever he could have all the manpower he needed. He was certain there was enough evidence in that package to convince the boss to get more men on Victor. ‘I’ll get back in touch once I’ve found something.’

‘Thank you detective.’ She hung up.

Detective Gates looked at the package. He couldn’t imagine what was inside and couldn’t wait to find out. He picked it up, hopped out of the car and made his way to his flat. He shut the door behind him, headed straight for the kitchen and switched on the kettle. He placed the brown package on the table, and then ripped it open. His heart sunk the moment he pulled out a Littlewoods catalogue.

‘What the fuck!’ He threw the catalogue as far as it would go. ‘Dam it!’ He fumed. He scrolled his phone and rang her number, she picked up on the second ring. ‘Do you think this is a bloody joke?! Did he put you up to this?’ he was livid.

‘I’m sorry, who is this?’ Nadine asked.

‘It’s Detective Gates, you sent me a package, but it’s a fucking catalogue! What the hell!’

‘I’m sorry, I don’t know who you are or how you got this number, please don’t call me again!’ She hung up.

‘Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!’ He threw his phone against the wall and the minute it hit the it he regretted it. But he was so angry, that this had happened to him. Would he ever win over Victor Adamovich?! He was beginning to think not.

****

‘T
here, I’ve done it. Can I get back to my life now?’ Nadine asked one of Victors minions.

‘Phone.’ He held out his hand.

She handed him the mobile.

‘Could you go now, I’ve got things to do.’

‘You’re not getting off that easy,’ he said with a slight smile.

Nadine swallowed back hard.

‘He gave you an amazing life to start over. Money, a new house, but you still felt the need to take him down.’