Phoenix looks at me with new eyes, seeing the monster that I am.
“Shoot me, Joel. If you think I’m so awful, just shoot me. There is no way I’m going to let you tie me up,” I say. And then I run.
I run until I feel the sting of a bullet in my shoulder.
26
Langston
“What’s the plan to get Siren?” I ask as I walk into Zeke’s house without saying hello.
“We don’t have a plan yet. We don’t have any leads. There has been no ransom, no security feed. We don’t have any current known enemies,” Zeke says.
I could kill Zeke for letting Siren get kidnapped like this. They’ve been married, what—less than a year, and he’s already failed at protecting her.
“You have one job as her husband,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Don’t lecture me, asshole. Why do you think I called you and Enzo?”
I look past Zeke and see Enzo using a laptop on the kitchen counter, already searching for a clue as to where Siren might have been kidnapped.
“Where’s Kai?” I ask.
“She has all the kids in a safehouse with Beckett,” Enzo answers.
“Good, now move and let the master work,” I say, pushing Enzo off the barstool so I can sit behind the computer.
Enzo doesn’t complain. He knows I’m the best behind a computer. I can hack any system, find any missing person.
“Where was Siren last seen?” I ask Zeke.
Zeke runs his hand through his ridiculously long hair while he paces back and forth.
“Zeke!” I growl.
His head snaps to me.
“Focus. Where was Siren last seen?”
“I, uh, I don’t know. She told me she had some errands to run. She told me she would pick up Cayden from the nanny and meet me for dinner.”
“What errands?”
Zeke shrugs. “I don’t know. She didn’t tell me. I didn’t think to ask.”
My eyes flick to Enzo, and we exchange annoyed looks.
I start typing into the computer, searching for Siren’s cell phone.
“Her cell phone is turned off,” I say a second later.
“Where is the nanny’s house?”
“South Beach,” Zeke says.
I start there and then expand my search, but as Zeke said, there is no sign of her at the nanny’s.
I start searching through the main streets of Miami, searching for a sign of her or her car.
“Wait—her car was last seen at the corner of 15th and Drexel,” I say.
Zeke and Enzo both crowd around the computer. We have hope. We are going to be able to find her.
The crank of the garage door fills the silence.
I look from Zeke to Enzo. “Are we expecting anyone else?”
Both men draw their guns in response.
I take a step back from the computer and draw mine as well.
We all aim our guns at the back door as footsteps approach.
The doorknob turns.
And then the door opens.
“Siren,” Zeke exhales, dropping his gun and running to her. He grabs her and takes her in his arms. He squeezes her tightly then quickly looks her over for any injuries. He finds none.
“What’s going on, guys?” Siren asks, stepping further into the room.
Enzo offers her a quick hug. “I need to go tell Kai you’re okay.” And then he walks out the door. He’s a bit rattled, but he doesn’t let anyone see that.
Siren looks to me, and then she runs into my arms. I squeeze her as tightly as Zeke did.
“Don’t do that to me, Ren,” I whisper into her ear, tears threatening at the fear of losing her.
“Do what? Get a flat tire while I was out shopping for my husband and let my phone die? That?”
“Yea, don’t do that. Don’t make me install a tracker in you so I never lose you again.”
She smiles. “You’ll never lose me.”
I nod.
“Can I talk to my wife alone now?” Zeke asks, giving me a grumpy stare.
I roll my eyes. “She might be your wife, but she’s my friend.”
Zeke grabs Siren’s hand, and she winks at me. “Be back soon,” she whispers as Zeke pulls her upstairs to most likely fuck her brains out and remind her she’s his.
I find the liquor cabinet and pour myself a drink before walking outside to the deck that overlooks the beach.
I sit outside, alone for a while with my thoughts. None of them are about Siren, only Liesel.
“Care to tell your best friend what’s on your mind?” Siren asks as she steps outside.
“Worried about you,” I say.
“Liar.” She leans back against the railing, facing me in my chair. “Are you going to tell me the truth, or do I have to beat it out of you?”
I chuckle at that.
“Liesel,” I surrender.
“Oh. What’s new with Liesel? Did Kai tell you that she’s thinking about going on our girl’s trip with us in a week?”
“Liesel’s not going.”
Siren frowns. “Why not?”
“Because I kidnapped her, and I say she’s not going.”
“You what?” Siren exclaims.
“I kidnapped Liesel. I’m holding her hostage. I threatened to kill her.”
“Please tell me this is a joke? That I’m not hearing you correctly?”
“It’s not a joke.”
“What? Why…? I don’t understand.”
“It’s a long story that I’m not going to get into, but she left me no choice.”
“Langston Finn Pearce, you do too have a choice. What the hell? Let her go right now!”
“No.”
“Langston? What is your plan?”
“I’m going to get Liesel to talk, and then I’m going to kill her.”
Siren gasps. “You’re lying. You’re not going to kill Liesel. Aren’t you, like, in love with her?”
I shake my head. “I was never in love with her.”
“Let her go, Langston.”
“No.”
She shoves me hard. “Let. Her. Go.”
“You’re not the boss of me.” I shove her back.
“What the hell is going on out here?” Zeke sticks his head out.
“My best friend is being an ass. Do something about it for me.” Siren throws her hands up.
“What did you do?” Zeke asks.
“I kidnapped Liesel. No big deal. I have everything under control.”
Zeke’s fist comes flying at my face.
I try to deflect, but my reflexes are slow after all the alcohol, and he hits me in the eye.
“Should I punch him again or is once enough?” Zeke asks Siren.
“I don’t know. Do you think kidnapping Liesel and threatening her with death only deserves one punch?” Siren puts her hands on her hips, looking stern.
Zeke punches me again.
“Stop,” I say. “You’ve made your point. And who are you to punch me when you did the same thing to Siren?”
Zeke looks to Siren. “He has a point.”
“It’s still doesn’t make it okay,” Siren says.
“Come on, let’s go to sleep. We can try to talk some sense into him in the morning,” Zeke says, walking back to the door.