Page 9 of Claim Her
Clicking the next photo, I point to a small box with an ‘x’. “Their basement is where they store the artworks, which aren’t all that much, to be honest, but behind those, there’s a door to a vault. It works similar to a bank vault, with a dual control combination lock.”
Jasper runs his fingers through his hair. “No one has ever hidden the victims in a vault before.”
Justin clenches his fist and bangs it lightly on the table. “No. We have reason to believe this houses some of Jackson’s premium stocks.”
Premium stocks. That’s what Jackson called them. Those victims who were so precious and fetched high prices—some were special requests from his equally perverted clients. Even after all these years, it still makes me sick to my stomach. He’s a monster through and through.
“Will we have problems with the local enforcement?” Jameson asks.
Jasper loosens his tie. Meetings like this always make him ill, more so than the rest of us. This is why he’s mostly involved in paperwork, so he doesn’t have to witness everything firsthand. He can sit it out, but he insists on attending these discussions. “No. No problem. I’ve got it. Just do what you do. I’ll take care of the aftermath.”
“The next auction is in six weeks?”
I nod. “10 PM at the Gallery D.”
Jameson turns to Justin. “How many men are you bringing this time?”
“Twenty. A dozen with me inside, eight stationed outside. The extraction team will have another twenty members.”
Jameson checks his tablet and scrolls down before he meets my gaze. “It’s a ‘premium’ location, so the security system will be tight.”
I lift one shoulder. “I don’t expect anything less.”
Jameson nods slowly and smirks. “When all this is over, let’s try our hand at creating a security system like no other, something that not even our baby brother can breach.”
For the first time since we discussed the next operation, Jasper’s face brightens. “In addition to the hotels, we can offer the best security money can buy.” He slides his chair to Justin. “How about it, Jus? Fancy being a celebrity’s bodyguard?”
Justin snorts. “Fuck off. You do it yourself since you’re so good at charming the ladies.”
The earlier tension in the room grows lighter as our discussion shifts to less depressing matters—the construction of our latest hotel building in Asia, the upcoming annual stakeholders meeting, which we know only Jameson and Jasper will attend, and other small stuff.
We don’t acknowledge it anymore, but we all know where our heads are at. We can banter and laugh, but we’re all thinking the same thing—our dear Uncle Jackson is still alive somewhere destroying lives. As long as we don’t find him, he’ll never stop.
It’s up to us to put an end to this.
4
ZARA
Dinner with my parents is always fun. I know several kids don’t like dining with their family as they grow older, but not me. I love my folks, and I enjoy their company.
They’re also the reason why I don’t do casual relationships or hook-ups. I see how they are with each other and wish for something like that for myself.
Throughout dinner, however, my mind kept straying to Alec. Was I just physically attracted to him? Sure. Maybe. But I never had a problem keeping my wits about me when it came to guys. With Alec, it was like I turned into a different person—someone desperate for his attention and touch.
I was so preoccupied with how I behaved around him—even if he didn’t mention it during breakfast the next day—that I didn't notice the number of glasses I had.
When my parents drop me off at the apartment, I’m already swaying sideways. They’re a bit worried, but I assure them I can go up on my own. I don’t want Mom to see the broken elevator because she’ll definitely pack my bags and take me somewhere else … somewhere away from Alec.
Dad offers to take me to my unit, but I refuse. He’s more protective than Mom, and if he sees all the things that need improvement—and there’s a lot—he’ll most likely call the landlord and give a lengthy discussion about how it’s unsafe for a young woman like me.
After some explaining and using my birthday to convince them that I can go up by myself, they finally leave … but only once I call them that I’m inside my apartment.
I’m not. The stairs sway under my feet, and I have to crawl like a hefty reptile, clinging to the handrail as if it’s my lifeline. Thank goodness no one else is around. If Alec sees me like this, I swear I’m moving in the morning. Attraction be damned.
The stairs stretch out before me, and I wonder if the world will ever stop spinning faster and faster. It feels like hours, but at last, I reach my floor. Still clutching onto the handrail, I lift myself to my feet and blink several times.
Everything is still a bit out of focus, but at least it’s just a few doors more and I can finally rest.