“Sarah! Zoe!” Lucas called as he stepped into the house.
He stopped at Reagan’s shop on the way home. The side trip had taken longer than he planned but he hoped Sarah would approve of the results as this was the first event they would attend together since their divorce.
“Sarah?” Lucas paused. The house was definitely too quiet for a three-year-old and a dog.
“Señor?” Ulima asked stepping out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel.
“Where are they?” Lucas asked.
“They already left. Señora didn’t think you were coming.”
“Damn it,” Lucas shook his head spinning around and heading back out the door. He took too long.
“Where’s Sarah and Zoe?” Alan asked when Lucas returned to the car alone.
“They are already gone.”
“Shit.”
“Just go. We’ll catch up with them at the Mixer.”
“Right.”
Lucas was a bundle of nerves as Alan headed across town. There was so much he had to say to Sarah when he saw her he only hoped she would listen. As for Madeline, Lidia and his mother…he would deal with them.
Reaching their destination Lucas was out before the car was completely stopped much to Alan’s surprise and chagrin. Darting past the surprised valet Lucas hurried inside reaching the lounge where the majority of DaLair events took place. Thankfully he was not stopped at the door and stepped inside. His gaze swept the room looking for any glimpse of her.
Nervously Lucas headed in ignoring any who tried to catch his attention. Until he found Sarah and Zoe nothing else mattered. He wasn’t even sure what she was wearing making his task more difficult.
“Daddy!”
Lucas paused turning to the excited voice in time to catch Zoe as she ran toward him. He scooped her up kissing her temple as he held her close. At least one fear was alleviated. His baby was safe.
“Daddy, you’re late!” Zoe declared after their embrace and gave him a disapproving frown.
“I know. I’m sorry.”
“Mommy said you weren’t coming.”
“No. I…I should have called to let you two know I was running late,” Lucas shook his head. “I’m sorry about that.”
“I forgive you…this time. But don’t do that again.”
“Right. Promise.”
“Oh, there you are.”
Lucas turned to see Julius, Macey, Silas and Ruth approaching followed closely by Thomas and Tracy. Silas quickly moved to Ava who had been watching the tender scene between father and daughter with a pleased smile. Both Prescott and DaLair broods watched still swarming around the excited Daisy who barked at the ever-growing crowd.
“Yeah. I made it,” Lucas nodded to them. “Where’s Sarah? I need to talk to her.”
“I’m not sure,” Macey said. “She just stepped aside to talk to your sister.”
“Lidia?” Lucas felt himself go cold. “When?”
“Like five minutes ago,” Ruth said. “We were actually planning to call and ask why you weren’t here but none of us have your number.”
“Shit.” Lucas muttered setting Zoe on her feet.
“Daddy, that’s a bad word,” the three-year-old admonished.
“There you are!” Alan declared catching up. “Next time you want to run off I’m not…”
“Not now, we need to find Sarah!”
“What? What happened?”
“Lidia.”
“Shit,” Alan said.
“We need to split up and cover the entire venue,” Lucas announced.
“Luke, what is the matter?” Julius asked.
“I’ll explain later, please, we have to find her first.”
“Mike, get the team and spread out,” Silas looked toward the security personnel quietly blending in.
“Ah, dad,” Theo stepped forward. “I saw Aunt Sarah.”
“You did? Where?” Lucas asked.
“She went that way,” Theo pointed. “I was going to follow but mom spotted me and told me to not go wandering off.”
“Thanks,” Lucas gave the boy a pat before rushing off in the direction indicated not waiting for the others to follow.
Lucas pushed his way through the crowd not caring if he stepped on any toes. His only thought was to find Sarah as quickly as possible. He was just a few minutes behind but he still wasn’t sure what his sister was planning. Apparently threatening her once was not enough to warn her away. When he caught up with her he would show her how wrong she was.
Finally getting himself free of the crowd Lucas paused to find himself close to the bathrooms as well as the kitchen where servers exited and entered keeping out of the way of their patrons. Where should he go now? Which way? Sarah would never follow Lidia far, certainly not away from public eyes.
Deciding to check the kitchen he paused at a muffled, “N—No!”
* * *
Tears streamed down Sarah’s face as she struggled to push the heavy body off of her. She wouldn’t let anyone take something from her again. She wouldn’t accept that kind of pain again. But her limbs felt heavier and heavier. Her coordination was waning as she struggled against the numbness invading her mind.
“That’s right keep fighting!” James laughed. “It makes the fruit so much sweeter.”
He laughed tugging at his belt. The door suddenly flew open allowing light to fill the dim room again. Irritated at the interruption James yelled, “Hey! Get the fuck out of here, busboy! We’re busy!”
But the light didn’t dim and the door remained open.
“I said—”
Whatever threat James meant to deliver was cut off as he was thrown to the side and rolled onto the floor. Through hazy vision Sarah saw another looming figure descend on her attacker punching him until his face was bloody and a sickening crack sounded when his nose was broken.
She rolled off the sofa crumpling on the floor as she struggled to reach her rescuer but her body wouldn’t obey her commands and the darkness crept in.
“Luke! Stop!”
More figures appeared finally pulling the brawling men apart.
“Luke! You’ll kill him!” Julius said as he and Silas managed to drag Lucas off the nearly unrecognizable James Goodwell, not that Julius had much sympathy for the latter but he also didn’t want Lucas to face murder charges.
Lucas was shaking with fury. The moment he flung open the door and saw the scene in front of him he saw red. Now with Silas and Julius at his side he allowed himself to breathe but that brought him another moment of panic.
“Sarah!”
Shrugging off the others Lucas fell to his knees at her side. She batted his hands away but her motion was jerky and uncoordinated.
“Sarah, it’s me. Look at me. It’s all right. You’re safe,” Lucas gently smoothed her hair from her face letting her see him clearly.
“…L—Luke?”
“That’s right. I’m here. I won’t let him touch you.”
A sob shuddered though her and she practically collapsed into him. He held her close as her body trembled slowly releasing the tension from its fight. Finally he was holding her but there was no sense of accomplishment as the adrenaline continued to coarse through him. If he had been even a few minutes later…
He couldn’t allow himself to think about it.
“Hey, big man,” Julius looked at Silas’s security personnel standing just outside the door alongside Thomas and Alan. “You got a flashlight?”
With a silent nod Mike handed over a slim pen light. Julius nodded gratitude before kneeling beside the pair on the floor. He hesitantly touched Sarah’s shoulder only for her to shudder. Considering what she just went through it was remarkable she handled being surrounded by so many men.
“It’s all right, Sarah. It’s me, Jules. It’s okay.”
She looked at him with unfocused eyes but seemed to recognize him.
“I just want to check something. It won’t hurt,” Julius assured her.
He gently held open her eyes to keep her from blinking as he shined the light into them. She winced but otherwise seemed to be calm. Julius frowned taking the light away.
“Jules?” Silas prompted knowing what he suspected.
“I think she’s been dosed.”
“Dosed?” Lucas repeated. “You mean drugged?”
Julius nodded taking out his phone and selecting a contact, “Yeah…this is Julius DaLair. I need medical transportation at the Baccarat. Park at the service exit near the kitchen. Thanks.”
No sooner did he end that call only to make another, “Doctor Darman? Julius. I have a patient here we think was dosed with an unknown drug. Yeah, I called for a medi-van. They’ll be here in a few minutes. Thanks, doc.”
Lucas looked at him curiously.
“Doctor Darman has been our family’s doctor for years. She’ll be discrete and make sure Sarah has the best care. Promise.”
“Most drugs of this nature are fast-acting and leave the system quickly,” Silas seconded. “If we wait too long we’ll never know what they dosed her with.”
Lucas nodded accepting their reasoning and was grateful for their cooler heads. In truth he could barely think straight except to hold onto Sarah and protect her. His gaze fell on James still unconscious. The rise and fall of the man’s chest alone indicated he was in fact still alive.
“We’ll take care of him,” Julius said. “You just worry about Sarah. All right?”
Lucas nodded.
“Mike, you and the team block off the area and clear a path through the kitchen,” Silas ordered. “We don’t need any rumors starting.”
With a nod Mike disappeared from sight leaving Thomas and Alan watching the scene with concern.
“Alan,” Lucas suddenly came back to himself. “Lidia lured Sarah here and is probably the one who drugged her. I don’t care how you do it, what you have to promise or how much you have to pay…I want the camera footage from tonight. I want proof.”
“On it.” Alan nodded and disappeared on his mission.
Julius looked at his phone as it buzzed alerting him the medical van had arrived. He gave Lucas a reassuring nod. Lucas didn’t feel nearly as optimistic as he carefully gathered Sarah in his arms and stood carrying her bridal-style. She was limp. Her breathing was shallow and she didn’t make a sound.
Apparently whatever they gave her was just as fast-acting as Silas guessed. Maybe the only thing that delayed her succumbing to it was the adrenaline surging through her while she tried to fend off her attacker. Now that she knew she was safe she stopped fighting. At least that was his hope.
“Tom, once Lucas and Sarah are on their way to the hospital let the ladies know what happened. Try not to alarm the kids,” Silas said.
Thomas nodded.
“Zoe,” Lucas suddenly froze. What should he do? He couldn’t leave her there but he also didn’t want her to see her mother like this.
“It’s fine. We’ll take care of Zoe,” Julius patted his shoulder. “We still have some of Lyra’s old clothes. The kids can have a sleepover with her and the puppy.”
Lucas nodded in gratitude. Thomas held the door and directed him to the kitchen before looking back at Silas, “What about you two?”
“We’ll stay here until the police arrive,” Julius answered.
“You called them?” Thomas asked glancing at Silas as he found a heavy-duty flashlight among the stored cleaning supplies.
“Not yet,” Julius said.
Thomas grimaced before pulling the door closed and instructing one of the security team to stay behind and guard the door. No one in or out until Silas gave the word.
Julius stumbled in the now dim light to what appeared to be an old wet bar. Though covered in a thick layer of dust turning on the sink caused a steady stream of water to come out. He also found a switch which turned on an overhead light. Remarkably the bulb was still good. The room was still dark but at least there was some light. Grabbing a mop bucket Julius filled it at the sink. Once it was half full he carried it over to James’s prone form. He looked at Silas to see the other had removed his coat and was rolling up his sleeves.
“You ready?” Julius asked.
“You don’t have to stay,” Silas said.
“As if I would miss this,” Julius replied before dumping the cold water on James’s head.
James woke up sputtering and tried to rise.
“Oh, don’t get up James, relax,” Julius gently forced him down again before taking a seat on the over-turned bucket. “We have so many questions for you.”
James looked from Julius to Silas who quietly smacked his palm with the flashlight.
“James, James, James,” Julius sighed. “I am quite certain the last time I saw you I told you never to show your face to me again. Too bad you weren’t smart enough to listen. So…Now we are going to play a game. Let’s call it: 20 Questions, Russian Roulette style.”
James nervously glanced back at Silas.
“Here’s the rules,” Julius continued. “I’m going to ask a question and you are going to answer. If it’s the truth I’ll ask another. If we detect a lie; however, Silas will break one of your bones…and just for the fun of it, because games are supposed to be fun, we won’t tell you in advance which bone he’ll break. Don’t you just love surprises? I know I do.”
James seemed to try to swallow his nervousness as his darting gaze went from one to the other.
“All right, first question,” Julius said, “let’s start with something easy. James, how many women have you drugged and raped?”
The prone man trembled, whimpering. After a moment Silas cleared his throat drawing Julius’s attention. Following Silas’s gaze Julius noticed the warm pool soaking the floor between James’s legs. The pair shared a disgusted look before Julius turned his attention back to their helpless prisoner.
“…So, more than one, I take it,” Julius said taking out his phone. “James, can I call you Jimmy? Jim-Boy…I want names. Alphabetically, chronologically, height, age…you can pick how you want to list them…but I want all of them. So let’s start…And before you say otherwise…I know you remember. A man like you doesn’t forget and remember there is a time limit to our patience.”
Silas smacked the palm of his hand with the flashlight again as a reminder.
“So…first name.”