Chapter 68: Chapter: 68

NICKLAUS

“Boss, this is not wine. It's blood.”

I suspected as much. I crouch down on my knees, much like Logan, and touch the dark stain on the library carpet with two fingers before rubbing it together.

Even before I took it to my nose, I knew Logan had been right; it was blood. Fuck! I really don't want to imagine the worst, but this might be Andrea's—which means she was hurt.

Rage bubbles inside me with the thought that someone had hurt her. But there was no one I could pummel and release the rage inside me. There would be hell to pay when I found the fucker who touched her. Andrea is mine! Nobody touches what's mine, especially when I've decided to keep her.

It was hard to control the rage inside. But I've got to keep my head calm and my thoughts clear. I grip onto that familiar control I had barely perfected as I walked out of the library in a quick stride and into the hallway with Logan beside me.

“Are you sure you saw Andrea come into the library?” I asked Logan, running my eyes over the empty house. Everyone is at the beach. Only a few of the household help are here. I wonder why Andrea had left the wedding venue.

Last I saw, she was walking with the rest of the bridesmaids to the beach, dressed in that tight ivory dress I wanted to peel off her body before I feast on her. I was on the phone, then on the balcony of my bedroom.

“Yes, boss, I was the one who told her you were inside. She looked kinda troubled and was desperate to find you, but you weren't here then, right?”

“No, I wasn't. I had left the library to see Crow,” I replied before I scrubbed my hand down my face, frustrated. Where the fuck are you, Andrea?

“Fuck! She's not at the beach either. Something is wrong.” I could feel it. Fortunately, I had been ready for this. I just need to get my laptop, and I will get my answers.

“Listen, I want you to bring me my laptop from the car I'd left it with Crow. Meet me in my room and ask Matt to get the car ready. We might be heading out soon.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Logan took off to do as I ordered. I quickly pulled out my phone, typed a text to Alex, then sent it to let him know what's going on and to have someone keep an eye on that bitch.

Me: Is Jules there at the beach?

Alex: Yes

Me: Have you seen Andrea?

Alex: No

Me: Is anyone else missing apart from her?

Alex: No, just you and your guards. Wait, is everything okay?

Me: Andrea's missing. I think something happened to her.

Alex: I'm coming.

Me: No. Stay there and keep an eye on Jules and any fucker who seems suspicious to you.

Alex: Okay, got it.

I was almost to the room when Logan finally caught up with me. He had my laptop in his hands, and together we got into my room. I quickly grabbed the laptop and sat on my bed, then opened it, tapping the keyboard fast. A few seconds later, the camera feed on Andrea's necklace started playing.

Andrea had no idea that all the jewelry on her body was bugged, the bangle had a tracker, the earrings were a voice recorder, and the choker I'd given her had a camera.

The image I saw was of a tile ceiling, likely in a basement. Andrea wasn't moving, which might mean she's unconscious. I could hear no voices or sounds from the voice recorder.

“Logan, let's go. We can't waste any more…” I was about to close the laptop when a sound, a voice—a feminine voice filtered through the voice recorder.

“Wait! Did you hear that?!”

“What boss?” Logan, who was standing behind me, his eyes on the laptop screen, asked, coming closer.

“Shhh!” I lifted my hand to silence him; the voice was so familiar it made my heart pound and ache. I couldn't see the owner of that voice, not until two pale, thin hands reached out and shook Andrea.

“Hey! Wake up. Are you alive? You need to wake the fuck up, now! Oh my God, please don't be dead, please don't be dead.”

I am not an emotional man; in fact, I believe any feelings with the exception of rage and lust are a waste of time and energy.

Feelings make us weak; they make us vulnerable, and even rage and lust can blindside us. It is why I tried so hard to control those utterly useless feelings. I never want to GIVE anyone the power to hurt me.

But when I heard Andrea groan and when she finally sat up, I felt something loosen in my heart. I couldn't see her, but I know she's alive. That's all that really matters. Whatever comes next, we'll take care of it.

The camera on her neck twirled around, making the images around her shaky, before finally settling, and the face I had been searching for for two long years zoomed in.

My heart fucking stopped. Emotions so fucking strong hit me right in my fucking heart with the force of a locomotive. Making my throat tight! And my tongue is thick in my mouth.

Meredith!

Fuck! The voice was Meredith's.

I have found her!

ONE HOUR LATER

I shake my leg impatiently inside the empty garage, waiting for my traitorous brother to come out of the house. I had seen the previously recorded video from Andrea's necklace.

Even after my prediction that someone close might have had a hand in Meredith's kidnapping. I was still surprised to know that I had been right.

Drew, that fucker, since the first time I met him, I knew he was a greedy bastard, but to know that he had a hand in his half-sister's kidnapping? That I had never even imagined. I want to know the reasons why he would do something like that.

Thirty minutes later, a familiar dark-gray Bugatti drove by, with two people inside. I wasn't surprised to see that Jules was with him. Matt waited a few minutes before we reversed out of the garage and into the street behind the Bugatti. Just far enough away from detection but close enough not to lose the chase.

Anticipation and Anger warred within me, violence churned close to the surface, looking for an outlet. But my control held on. I knew it wouldn't last, this facade of coldness and control of today was just that.

I was just too damn angry to let logic rule. I knew it wasn't because Drew had fuck that conniving bitch. I didn't give a fuck about Jules, but rather because the fucker had kidnapped Meredith and now Andrea right under my fucking nose.

The fucker was either too distracted to notice us chasing after him or didn't expect anyone to suspect and follow him. It's probably the latter; overconfidence had made the fucker sloppy. I had deliberately waited so I could have them fuckers all in one place.

Alex, Anthon, and Greg were behind us in a different car. I needed backup to take Andrea and Meredith home. I have my men loyal to me, but these men had a right to mete out justice to the snake who had been lying to them for years.

I was surprised when I realized Andrea was taken back to New York. That too, to Juliette's family mansion.

I wanted to be the one to save them and take them away. But there's no one I would trust to take care of Jules and Drew.

I've been dealing with people much worse than them from an early age. So this is something I must do. I just need to know that Andrea and Meredith are safe, and then I will handle the rest.