Reveal (Love & Beyond #2) (14 page)

“Flattery, I like it!”

“Don’t kid yourself, it’s called sarcasm.”

“You have some spunk girl; you really are a cute one, aren’t you. I’ll tell you all about me in due time, we have a lot to catch up on, but for now, let’s leave it at that. Phillip, you know what to do.” He turns away from me, an walks straight over to Sabrina and kneels down and grips her hand. A light sparks in me, as I’m starting realize who he is, no way!

“Hey you, no way it’s you, are you.” And before I can finish my sentence and reveal his name a cloth is forced over my nose and mouth, it’s a strong nasty smell, its antiseptic meets sweet. I cannot breath, I’m trying to break free and shaking my head but I can’t, Phillips grip is too tight. I start to feel week, my strength is stripping away from my body, and my vision has started to go blurry and I start to feel woozy, before I know it, everywhere has gone black and I fall to the ground.

   
Chapter Fifteen

        
 
Jared

What a fucking crazy two weeks, I’m still furious at Danni too. How could she blame it all on me? Suppose I get it, if she never met me, Sabrina would not want to kill her. That is why I’m back in the UK I’ve been trying to track Phillip. He has covered his tracks well.

When I went back to the US, I went to stay at my mums and try to clear my head, then I got the call that Phillip was spotted back around here, so I came back home, only to find a dead end. They keep moving, it is frustrating and now I have no leads to where the hell, the traitor is and it has been a few days, so he could be anywhere. Fucking pussy, you would think he’d man up and face me.

I’ve also been debating whether or not I should go see Danni, she made it perfectly clear she hated me and we both said some horrid things to each other.  I just want to be able to sort it all out. Life is so miserable without her around and you know what makes its worse, she making it so much easier for Sabrina to win. It’s a bloody piss take. I have not heard from her or anything. Oh and to top it all, the magazine needs to be closed down, it’s not been doing well and with Danni and I both MIA it has screwed up. I don’t even think I can save it. So much money went into that project. Plus, it was mine and Danni business together, well started together. It’s like the universe has done a switch and deciding to make my life a living hell. Fuck you universe.

Great, more to add to the mix, I can hear hassle coming from outside my office, which is in my house, so it’s either the security or the maid. I go to open the door but before I could even touch the handle, the door barges open and stomping in with his face looking like he is ready to kill someone, Adam goes straight for me. He grips my top, and slams me to the floor, punching me in the face. My face jerks to the side with the impact of his blow. Ouch, that fucking hurt that fucking prick. That is it; I’m done holding back with this prick.

“Where the fuck is my sister, what have you done with her?” I use all my power and punch him back to get him of me and as he falls backwards he loosen his grip and lets go. He runs towards me, and pounces on top of me and starts to lay straight into me again. His face has blown up red. Andrew, comes running in and grabs him off me. He goes to escort him out.

“Andrew wait, its fine, let him go.” My jaw is throbbing where he decked me. “Are you going to tell me what the fuck all that’s about, Adam? Perhaps without a fist fight.”

“Danni has disappeared, she, nowhere to be found, now where the hell is she? If she’s done a runner, you’re the only person I know she’ll run too.”

“Danni is missing? How long has she been missing for?”

“Two weeks! Where the hell is she, Jared! Stop playing dumb.”

“I honestly don’t know. I have not seen Danni since she chased me away from yours. Could she have gone back to the lake house? That’s where she went last time.”

“I called Diana, she’s not there.” Adam, starts to pace up and down my office, he looks worried. “Andi called the police after a week, it has gone public. Have you not seen the news?” I go put the television on and pop it straight on the news.

“
Danni Shaw is still missing; she disappeared around two weeks ago. Her family plead that if anyone knows anything, please come forward and get in touch with them.”
I look away from the television and turn it off. I don’t want to watch anymore. Not again, Danni.

“This is not good.”

“You think? Now can you use all your resources to find her?”

“Adam, my resources can only get us so far and it’s useless if we have no idea where to start. Now think, can you give me anything to go on, from the last time you saw her?”

“How can I trust you? For all I know, this is to do with your crazy ex bitch, which I do hold you responsible for.” This guy really pisses me of, who the fuck does he think he is.

“You know what Adam, I don’t fucking care what you think, whether you like to think it or not, I’d do nothing to hurt Danni, I love her get the fuck over it. Now if we want to find her you need to stop the fucking erratic behaviour and work with me on this, or is that too complicated for someone as simple as you?”

“What the fuck did you just say to me? Do you want another round?” He comes barging straight in my face.” I push him away from me and Andrew grabs him. “See, you’re nothing without you guards.”

“I don’t need my guards; you want another go, fine Andrew let him go.” As soon as he lets go, I charge for him and we go straight into my desk, brawling, rolling around, blow after blow to each other. I’ve wanted to fuck him up for ages, my rage overflows and I can’t stop.

“Will you two fuck it off.” A voice says. Adam gets of me and turns to see whom it is.

“Mother, what are you doing here?”

“You brought your mum with you? Momma’s boy.”

“Have you not had enough getting your ass kicked?”

“He didn’t bring me, I followed. If you too want to find my daughter, I suggest you both grow up and settle your differences, because if this is all she got for help, then she screwed.”

“With all due respect Ms Shaw, we cannot work together, your son is a maniac.” Adam goes to shout something, before he can. His mother shouts.

“Adam, don’t!”

“Listen, you both need to. The police are useless; it’s up to you guys.”

“Ms Shaw, we don’t even know where to start.”

“I do.”

“Wait what? Mother what do you know?”

“Ok, don’t go of on one, I promised Danni I wouldn’t say

anything. That night when you and her had that blow out, we got talking when Adam went to make us a hot chocolate. She was seeking revenge and she wanted justice for Carl. I told her I would help her and the only way to do that is by going for them one at a time and she needs to get all the information. I may have led her to the conclusion, to go and see Dillon.”

“What!” Adam and I shout.

“Why would you do that, mother? I trusted you; she could’ve got herself hurt.”

“It’s what she wanted; I thought it could help give her some closure, that’s all. She just allowed me back into her life, so I choose to side with her. Look, kick off on me all you like but you are wasting time. You wanted somewhere to start, so start there and hopefully it will send you on the path to finding Danni.”

“Ms Shaw, that was reckless. Danni doesn’t have a clue what she is doing. She grieving for her friend and she cannot hack stuff like this, not right now.”

“He is right mum; I hate the dude, but he has a valid point.”

“Are you two listening to yourselves, Danni is not a little girl and she is capable of doing anything, whether it is reckless or not. If you two could see that and stopped treating her like a little girl, then maybe she would have come too either one of you. You’re both certain that she needs protecting, and can’t protect herself, when really, she can protect herself. She wouldn’t feel the need to prove herself to you both if you would have that faith in her. Now quit lashing out at me and go find my daughter.” Well at least I can see where Danni gets her feisty side from. I cannot believe this, why didn’t she just come to me? I hope she is ok.

“Ok, point taken.” I turn to Adam, still full of rage but trying to suppress the anger because I know his mum is right. We need to work together for Danni’s sake. I hold my hand out to him. “Call it truce for now? We need to work together; killing each other isn’t the answer.” Adam intently stares straight through me, his hands rested on his waste reluctant to shake. This person hates me but you can tell he knows we’re the only option. He grips my hand not taking his glance from mine, and tightly squeezes to try and show me that he’s Alpha. I know that look, that’s my look, I show him the same glare as he does me and I refuse to be the first one to look away.

“Seriously, you two.” Next minute, not only am I smacked on the head but also is Adam, which automatically pulls us away from each other.

“Ouch. What the hell woman.”

“Yeah mum, what the fuck?”

“You two, you need to stop being ridiculous and grow up. It’s like am dealing with children.

“No offense Ms Shaw, you are  not my mother and you really have no clue how to be one, first time I met you was a prime example. Look how terrible you were to your daughter. You think this is how you can try and prove how you know how to be one, after so many years of not being around? Please.” Before I know it, my face has jerked aside with the impact of a slap from her.

“Ouch, ok, I deserved that.”

“Dude, you are such a prick. What the hell did my sister ever see in you?” Adam states,

“How dare you, did your mother never teach you manners and respect? I may have not been a mother back then, but I sure as hell will make up for it now and I will do so until my last breath.”

“You’re right, Mrs. Shaw, I’m sorry, my head is all over the place and I’m worried about Danni. Last time I saw her, I told her I was leaving and not coming back and she told me she hated me. The thought of that being our last words if she..” I cannot bring myself to say the end of the sentence, as it rips my insides apart. “It just can’t end like that.”

“I understand Jared and I can see how much you care for her. You both will find her, but not while you are trying to prove who is the better man. So how about you both just leave now.”

“She’s right, man! We are not going in your limousine. We need to keep a low profile, and been seen in one of them shouts out, look at me, am here, all your attention my way please, kiss my ass. We don’t want that.”

“Sarcasm really, dude?”

“Just because I have to work with you, doesn’t mean I have to change my attitude.” I roll my eyes at his sarcastic outburst. How the hell I’m I suppose to work with this uncooperative, irrational jerk.

“Whatever, I really cannot be arsed with it. Let’s just leave for the prison. Ms Shaw, thank you! I guess I’ll see you soon. Andrew, come on, let’s get this over with.” As we go to head for the door, Adam once again has to open his mouth.

“Wait, you’re bringing your lap dog? No offense, Andrew! I don’t have any beef with you just with your boss.”

“Offense taken!”

“He can’t come with us, Jared! What part of low key do you not understand? Having a guard with you, who they know well, could jeopardize all of this.”

“Look, Adam! I get it; you are worried, Andrew, is trained in everything. He will come in handy. Trust me, I wouldn’t bring him along if I didn’t think he was useful and I would bet Danni life on it.”

“Well you better be right, because if something bad has happened to my sister and she’s in some gutter, I hold you responsible and I’ll make sure that you’ll be joining her.” The sound of the fact that she could be in a gutter somewhere makes every part of my body numb. No, she can’t be, I refuse to believe that.

“We will find her, I promise. Let’s go.” We head to the car and scramble in. Andrew jumps in the driver’s seat and normally I’d sit in the passenger’s seat but as I see Adam scramble in the back, I can see the hurt and worry in his face over his missing sister. So, I decide to sit in the back with him. I don’t know why I’m showing him this level of compassion because this guys a dick. Then at the end of the day, he’s my loves big brother and yes, she may be my heart but he could find out his sister is dead and if that was my sister, I’d crumble, so I can imagine it must be ten times worse for him.

“You’re sitting in the back?” He strangely asks,

“It’s a force of habit; it is going to be a few hours’ drive to get to the prison. We can stop half way if you like.”

“Nah man I just want to get this over with. We’ll stop when we reach our destination.”

“Fair enough!”

“You know, when Danni was younger, she came home one day, her eyes were puffy and you could see she was trying to stop herself from crying. So we did our hot chocolate thing to calm her down, she told me that some lad lashed out at her, with harsh words. He told her that no one loves her and her dad died to get away from her and her mother hates her that much she left them because she couldn’t stand the site of her and her brother and sister only put up with her because they can’t pawn her off to anyone. I was furious and she wasn’t Instead, she said to me that she’s not mad, she feels sorry for that boy and when I asked her why, she told me because he must have a really sad life back at home that makes him act  like that and lash out on me, he just needs help. I couldn’t believe that she said it, some ass lashes out at her and all she wants to do is help him. It made no sense. It just showed how much of a kind, caring, sweet girl she is and thinking about that really pisses me off you know? How can someone like her, go through all this shit, when they are people out there who are dreadful? Why can’t that shit happen to them people that deserve it, and not peanut? It’s horrible and it fucking pisses me off.”

“What happened to the guy who said it to her?”

“Well, Danni may have wanted him to get away with it, but I sure was not. My boys and I, beat the shit out of him. He never hassled Danni again.” He laughs at the memory. I respect that; I’d have probably done the same.

“You guys are pretty close; don’t take this the wrong way, as it’s probably going to sound awful, if you guys are that close and you come across extremely protective over her. Why did you let her stay with that rat Dillon for so long? I mean, obviously something was wrong, because I was at Andi’s and Alex’s wedding and I remember seeing you there, as you gave Andi away but I never seen Danni, she wasn’t there and I would have remembered her face.”