SWNOVELS Acts of Salvation: Chapter 28
It’s the morning after the most amazing sex of my life. I know I’ve said that before, but I swear it just keeps getting better and better.
That paired with that earth-shattering connection we shared, and I feel as if I’m floating on a cloud.
Strolling into the kitchen, I pull open the sleek cabinet door and select a mug. For a bachelor, he sure does have quite the collection. The one I’m picking this morning has antlers à la National Lampoon Christmas Vacation.
I chuckle as I pour steaming black liquid into it. Ren is a walking dichotomy. Here is this strong, intense, and highly domineering man; but dig a little deeper and you see that there’s a kid inside who loves to play and just wants to be loved.
Last night he let me take control, showing me that I have nothing to fear when it comes to him. I couldn’t possibly love that man more.
Speaking of the devil, his shirtless self walks in, positioning himself behind me and kissing me on the cheek.
“Morning, gorgeous. I don’t think I could ever tire of seeing you in my home.”
I gently nudge him in the ribs, playfully correcting him, “Our home.”
He grins, squeezing me tight. “Yes, our home. Speaking of which, when are you wanting to clear out your loft? I can get some of my men together.”
“I was thinking later today. Have you been able to figure out if there’s a loophole in the contract I signed with the Wilson family?”
“Yes, our in-house team got back to me on Friday. He said it’s difficult but doable. I also spoke to Ashely while we were up at the Cape and she said she’d be happy to set up a brunch where you could meet several of her friends, and your future clients.”
My whole body hums with excitement. Everything is falling into place perfectly and I couldn’t ask for a single thing more. For the first time in my life, I feel truly blessed.
“Ugh, I’m so ready to be done with that family. I just wish I could quit right this second, but it’s the weekend and I have no idea where their latest social obligations have landed them.”
“Well I have it on good authority that Woodrow is at his office right now, along with Barbie.” He takes a sip of coffee from my mug, his eyes glittering with challenge.
“Should I be wondering how or why you know this?” I raise a brow and purse my lips—slightly. Let’s not get carried away now, I’m not Blair.
“You don’t want to know. But if you want to be rid of them as bad as you say you do, you should make it down there fairly quickly. Not sure how long they’ll stick around and Blair is away at some plastic surgery retreat.”
I nearly spit out my coffee. “What more could that woman have done? I’m pretty sure every square inch of her body is fake at this point.”
I shake my head as I plant a kiss on my man’s cheek, needing to stand on tiptoe in order to reach my target. “Thanks, babe. We can talk about the how and why of your knowledge later. I have a contract to break!”
Clapping my hands excitedly, I head to the bedroom. Though I wish I could walk out the door this second, it’d probably be a good idea if I put on something other than Ren’s oversized hoodie.
Just as Ren had predicted, Wilson’s flashy yellow hummer is parked in his spot. I make my way into the elevator and punch in the number to his floor. Freedom from the McCreepster, here I come!
The doors slide open and the marble-tiled hallway leads me to the glass doors where Dr. Woodrow Wilson, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, is etched. Hoping to make this the last time I step through them, I push with gusto, a massive smile splayed across my face.
Barbie looks up, surprised to see me. “Cassie, what a delight! What can I do you for?” Her bubbly personality seems dimmed today as if something’s dulled her shine.
My smile turns downward. “Everything okay, hun?”
“Yup. Right as rain. Even better now that you’re here. I’m guessing you came for our coffee date?”
Crap. How can I turn her down after that. I can’t.
“Actually, I came to see the doc, but I’d love to grab some coffee on my way out. Is that cool?”
“Cool as a cucumber.” She shoots me a blinding grin and I finally have the old Barbie back.
“Great! Is it okay if I head back? He’s not with a patient, is he?”
“Nope, go right ahead. Our special client left right before you got in. Lucky you.” She winks before looking down at her files once more.
“Thanks!” I’m practically squealing on my way to McCreeperson’s office. Now that Dad is back at the house and Mom doesn’t need my help, I’m free to hand this man his ass, and I truly couldn’t be happier about it.
Ren
“What the fuck do you mean she’s gone missing?!” I tighten my grip around the phone, making it creak under the pressure. “You’re part of the top security team in the country and you can’t even keep track of one woman?!”
“I’m sorry boss. She was there one moment and gone the next.”
Un-fucking-believable. At least I know her last whereabouts was McCreeperson’s office. No doubt he has her somewhere now. I just need to get to him before he hurts my little angel. There’s no redemption for him. He’s a dead man as far as I’m concerned.
I grab my keys and head down to the floor where my private garage is housed, pulling out the Hennessey Venom. Time is of the essence and every second counts.
I don’t trust the worthless men who were tasked with watching Cass so it’s up to me to scour the scene where she was last seen. I pray I find something that will lead me to her in time. Visions of a lifeless Cassie flash before me and my knees practically buckle.
No. Fuck that. I refuse to live in a world without her. It’s just not going to happen.
Before I know it, I’m swerving around the parking garage attached to the doctor’s building. Thanking God for this beast of a machine that brought me here in record time.
My men are lined up, firing squad style and I don’t blame them. They should be scared. I step out of the car and head straight to them.
“Give me all of the information you have.” I glare, letting them know they’re in no way off the hook for such a royal screwup.
“We lost her when she went into the doctor’s office. She never came out. When we went to check the parking spot reserved for the doctor and his nurse, they were both gone.” The detail lead shifts on his feet as he delivers the information. “There’s a freight elevator reserved for maintenance. We believe she was taken down without our having eyes on her and then driven away. We can’t locate her through her cell. Apparently, it was left behind.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose as he holds up Cassie’s bag. They better pray she’s unharmed or heads will roll.
“Her bag was located in the rear stairwell. We believe it was used to get to another floor and access the freight elevator from there.”
“Have you combed through the doctor’s office? There could be clues as to where he took her.” I bore holes into the lead’s head. He needs to be thankful I don’t have laser vision like some sort of twisted superhero, or he’d be toast.
“We have men up there right now.”
“Not good enough. Too damn slow.” I move past him and head to the office myself. I guess the old adage is true, if you want anything done right, you need to do it yourself.
Busting through the glass doors, I head straight for the hallway that leads me to McCreeperson’s office. I’m about to turn the corner when a scarf in Barbie’s desk area catches my attention.
Wasn’t Cassie wearing that in her hair this morning?
Tugging at the scarf, the drawer it’s caught on pulls open. “Well, fuck me.”
A shrine. A fucking shrine. Dedicated to none other than Dr. McCreeperson. It seems Barbie is a little obsessed. There’s even a badly photoshopped picture of her and the good doc included in the mix. It’s clear to see that the body attached to Barbie’s face is that of Blair, complete with chardonnay in hand.
I radio the men immediately, “Get every known address for Barbie, the doctor’s nurse, and tap into every resource available. We need to get eyes on her ASAP. We find her and we’ll find my Cass.”
My stomach turns. This is somehow worse. At least the doctor held some affection toward my angel. But this psycho bitch is undoubtedly driven by nothing but hate and jealousy. There’s no telling what she’ll do.
Only one thing is certain, if she’s hurt one hair on my baby’s head, there will be hell to pay.