“I want what the boys have,” the muffled voice said.
“What the boys have?” Dad asked. “What is that?”
“They know,” the muffled voice said. “Bring it to the warehouse by the Falls of Heartbreak in 24 hours or Dr. Hillshire will die.”
“What is it that the boys have?” Dad asked. “Be more specific or you can’t get what you want, too. Think about it. Let us know!”
“The boys’ favorite new toy,” the muffled voice said. “Bring it or kiss your shiny new bride good-bye, Triton.” The screen on the television went blank.
Detective Holmes said, “I got a trace of the call. Coming from the Falls.”
“So call the cops on them?” Drake asked, “Like we should have done before?”
“No, deliver what he wants,” Detective Holmes said. “Your shiny new toy. Ring any bells what that could be?”
I looked over at the Twins, and they were thinking the same thing I was. Our new toy was Haven.
The kidnappers wanted Haven.
Fuck. Like we would hand Haven over to them…
Chapter 7
Tristan
“Shit,” Drake said, “He’s not answering.”
“I knew we shouldn’t let Max be alone with Haven,” I said. “He’d take any opportunity to seduce her.”
“We don’t even know if Haven is safe with him. Remember what Megan tried to do to Haven? Sell her off into slavery in some faraway place…no fucking way!” Dillon said.
“I still need him to open the flash drive,” Drake said, “If we ever get a chance to get away from Dad and the detective, I’m going to try to hack it again.”
“Tristan,” Dillon said in the back passenger seat of my Cadillac Escalade. “Where are we going? Dad didn’t explain anything to us, only you. Drake and I still need some details.”
“We have 24 hours to get the kidnappers what they want,” I said. “Less than that now. Dad and Detective Holmes don’t know what the kidnappers are asking for. Thank God. Dad thinks it’s the pricey new condo we bought together near school. It’s our latest largest purchase. How much was it?”
“About $5 million for the largest condo in the new luxury high-rise,” Drake said.
“That sounds significant enough,” Dillon said.
“Dad and Holmes do not know about Haven and us,” I said. “And they would never find out, if I can help it.”
“How would the kidnapper know about Haven and us?” Dillon asked. “Only we know…Max, Megan…”
“Unless someone leaked our secret out,” Drake said.
“Max!” I yelled. “It had to be fucking Max who leaked the secret. He wants Haven for himself…he said he saw her first before she ever came to Heartbreak Falls…before Haven’s mother even met our father. He said he fell for her before she even knew of us.”
“Damn!” Dillon said. “Had we known he was some kind of Haven superstalker, we would never have let her meet him.”
“So,” Drake said, working on his laptop, “You think Max is involved? I know Megan most likely was. She wouldn’t have had Diamond Triton’s diamonds stashed away in a secret compartment in her New York suite.”
“It’s the same kidnapper,” I said. “The one who kidnapped me and killed Mom. We never did find her killer, and now they’re back…kidnapping our new stepmom and now they want Haven…the newest Triton girl.”
“They killed Mom,” Drake said. “A Bradshaw. Why would Max Bradshaw kill a Bradshaw? You are implying he was the one?”
“He would have been your age, Drake,” I said. “About 12 or 13 years old. It couldn’t be Max. But you’re right. Why would a Bradshaw kill a Bradshaw?”
“Damn,” Drake said. “That didn’t work. This flash drive is hack-proof. We definitely need to get Max to open it.”
“Well, we’re here,” I said, “The Bradshaw Mansion. No doubt Max is with Haven, too.” I got out of the Escalade and waited for Dillon and Drake to join me at the front door.
I was about to ring the doorbell when the door swung wide open, as though Max was expecting us.
“Max…” I began but stopped. Max wasn’t the one who opened the door. Roberta, their housekeeper, was standing at the door.
“Is Max here?” I asked. “We need to see him. It’s urgent.”
Roberta shook her head. “No, he left.”
“Did he have Haven with him?” I asked. “My stepsister? Blonde, beautiful …”
Roberta’s eyes lit up, “Oh, Max’s girlfriend. She was here. They were…” she blushed.
That got my heart rate going. They were doing something that made Roberta blush like a schoolgirl? Fuck Max. I knew what that meant.
“She left with Max,” Roberta said. “Max… never smiled so happily. Haven… she’s good for him. Makes him so happy.”
I bet. My blood was boiling. He had probably fucked Haven. Finally scratched that itch he’s had since he first saw her and wanted her. I’ve never felt so possessive and jealous than I did at that moment.
Haven was ours. Not his. And she would never become his, even if he was behind the kidnappings.
“Hey,” Drake said, “Keep it cool. I know that look. I’m boiling mad too.”
“Never should have trusted him with Haven,” Dillon said.
I looked at Roberta, putting on the charm. “You look so pretty today, Roberta, any special occasion?”
She blushed looking at me. No woman could resist my charm when I lay it on. “No, just working.”
“Well you look pretty and happy,” I said.
“Oh Mr. Tristan, you’re just flattering me. Come in. All of you. I baked some cookies for Max, my boy, but he and his girlfriend were in a hurry so they didn’t eat it.”
I looked at the Twins. Then we came into the house.
Roberta led us into the sitting room where we sat down on an ancient leather sofa that probably had been around since Queen Victoria was alive. While Drake and Dillon sat on the sofa, I got up and walked with Roberta to the kitchen. “Let me help you get the cookies,” I said. “You know I just got into cooking and baking myself lately. Haven introduced us to it, and I have taken a special interest in trying to be a somewhat decent cook.”
Roberta laughed.
