Chapter 42

Donovan Pierce’s office was a sprawling building space. Donovan wasn't a stranger to Xander, he’d had run-ins with the older man a few times in the past but nothing major or anything that would constitute bad blood; knowing what John Miller had told him now, Xander could feel his blood boil with rage at just the thought of him.

“Xander,” Donovan said when Xander entered his office. “What brings you here? I was surprised when I was told you…”

“Where is she?” Xander asked, cutting him off.

Donovan was taken aback. “What are you talking about?”

Xander watched him keenly, his eyes roaming through Donovan’s stick-like figure and his gaunt face. “Don't play games with me,”

Donovan’s lips thinned, his silence loud.

“I won't ask twice,” Xander deadpanned.

“I paid two million dollars for her and I am getting my money’s worth. This is not your business…”

“It is my business because you kidnapped my fiancée, Donovan!” Xander barked His eyes widened. “What?”

“You are a sick, disgusting pervert who kidnapped a woman and bought her family’s silence…”

“I paid for her,” Donovan interrupted. “Her father handed her to me in exchange for money, there was no kidnap involved.”

Xander felt the rage ignite in his chest, heating his insides. Disgust coursing his veins. “So you are telling me Kathleen who is engaged to me is with you willingly? You are telling me she left her home, her job, and everything else behind in one night and went with you.”

“Yes!” Donovan snapped. "Maybe she is not as into you as you thought seeing as she's never had your ring in her finger.”

Xander ignored his words. “Once this gets out, you'll be destroyed. I'll make sure your company burns down to the ground and not a single soul works with you ever again.”

The blood drained from his face. “You can't do that,”

“Watch me.”

“You'll never see her. You forget, Blackwood, that I have the upper hand here. I have the woman you want and if you harm me, she suffers.”

Xander clenched his jaw. The bastard was getting on his nerves and he wanted to punch something and he wanted to punch something so hard his fist cracked. But Donovan was right and Xander needed to tread through this carefully, Donovan had Kathleen and right now, getting her back unharmed was his utmost concern. He would destroy the man after.

“Fine. I'll make you a deal, name your price.” Xander said.

A sinister smile lightened Donovan’s expression. “Now that's a smart move I expect from a Blackwood. Does your grandfather know you are here?”

Xander’s fists balled. “That's not what I asked,”

“True,” Donovan nodded. “Well, as you know, I paid her money-grubbing family a significant sum for her. I've also grown quite fond of her and in addition to the resources spent on searching for her for so long and only getting her now, you’d have to consider the money I’ve squandered on her needs…”

Xander cut him off. “I'll give you fifty million dollars. Let her go!”

Surprise flashed in Donovan’s eyes and Xander knew he hadn't been expecting that. As far as he knew, Donovan’s company had seen better days. The Waste Management company was under investigation for its shady dealings and now they were being very careful which in turn was affecting their revenue but Donovan was a perverted bastard and that didn't stop him from squandering money on Kathleen’s family.

Xander couldn't bear to think what was going through her mind now or what Donovan had done to her. She'd only been in his captivity for less than a day but Xander still felt like he was late so he needed to get her out whatever it cost.

“Great!” Donovan said, the excitement obvious in his tone. “She'll be brought to you as soon as the money is paid.”

“Call your men now. I want her in this office in twenty minutes or the deal is over.”

Xander stepped out and proceeded to make calls to Olivia and his financial manager and they made arrangements to send Donovan the money. After one last call to his lawyer, he returned to Donovan's Office and waited.

His phone rang with multiple calls as it had been from his mother’s incessant efforts to reach him but as usual, Xander ignored it. He’d deal with all he’d left behind and the new problems that he'd just brought upon himself when he returned.

Donovan watched him with mocking eyes. “Your fiancée, huh?”

Xander ignored him.

“I wonder what happened to bring a man of your influence in contact with a girl like Kathleen. Is your family in approval of this?”

“Mind your business,” Xander said in a bored tone.

“I see they are not,” he let out a deep, triumphant laugh. “That is interesting. Is that the reason there is nothing on the news about you too?”

“You have just one role and that is to let her go,” Xander said.

Donovan leaned on his table. “I have to commend you for your good taste. She's a…”

“Keep your mouth shut!” Xander exploded.

Genuine fear flickered in Donovan’s eyes just as a knock came from the office door and two men stepped in, Kathleen small, scared, and timid behind them.

Xander felt his heart clench in pain. Her face was pale and she seemed to have shrunk into herself.

Xander shot up from his seat and barreled toward her, she was shocked to see him.

“Xander, what are you doing here?” Her voice was rough like she'd spent her time crying and screaming.

He cupped her face in his palm, his eyes searching hers. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

She shook her head. “How did you know…”

“It doesn't matter,” he said right before pulling her into him fiercely. She began to sob in his arms and Xander felt her pain seep through him like it was his.

He was going to make Donovan regret every second of this. He was going to destroy the man but first, it was time to take the woman he loved home.