Chapter 107
James
Once the cold, hard fact sunk in that Mia Donovan—the young woman to whom he had just recently confessed his love—was kidnapped, James Maxwell became strangely calm, morbidly serious, and utterly dangerous. His eyes and demeanor were dark as he stared off into the quiet street at the telltale signs of a van making its quick escape not too long ago.
Of course, he was certainly in his element now, having suddenly and without warning found himself the prey, which he’d definitely enjoy hunting.
“I’ve assembled the team,” Scott said. “They should arrive soon.”
Eric added, “It shouldn’t take them long.”
James nodded. Then he returned his attention to their surroundings. “We need to thoroughly inspect the road. If the meeting was here, then there should be more evidence. Tire markings.”
Scott nodded. “We’ll wait until the team arrives.”
James agreed. “Now let’s check the surveillance recordings.”
Returning to the house, the Maxwell brothers went through the surveillance records that had captured the happenstances of the past few weeks to gather information. Of course, James had no doubt that Sophie Wilson was involved and the person she was working with was likely Herbert Weston.
The thought that the woman who had been working for him, especially one that had taken care of his daughter, had betrayed him pissed James off. And being James, he wasn’t the type to simply let it go, even if the culprit was indeed a woman. He’d see that she got what she deserved.
In his private study, James and his brothers went through the video clips captured by the numerous surveillance cameras that were set around the perimeter of the estate. The first one they decided to check was the one recording the front gate, which would show various people who went in and out of the house.
Of course, it wasn’t long when it showed a white moving van coming in through the gate, and about half an hour later, it left again, followed by Sophie Wilson’s luxury car. Fast-forwarding the clips to the evening, it later showed Scott and Eric arriving. A little further into the night, it showed the gate opening, and a moment later, the figure of Mia walking out. A few seconds later, she walked out of sight of the camera.
James held his breath as he waited, praying there was more, perhaps Mia walking back. Maybe along with her kidnapper just to confirm who it was. But there was nothing.
Then the clip showed James himself running out through the gate, followed by Scott and Eric.
Finally, Scott said to his brother, “I’ll get my men to look through the surveillance recordings for the last couple of weeks to see if there are any clues.”
James nodded. “Though, I already have a suspicion who it was.”
Eric cocked his head to one side. “Oh? Care to tell us?”
James raked his fingers through his dark hair and said in disgust, “Herbert Weston. Mia’s uncle.”
Eric frowned over this revelation. “Mia’s uncle? What the fuck?”
James nodded in agreement at that statement. “Yeah. What the fuck, all right,” he said. “He’s a fucking sick bastard, Eric. He’s done a lot of shitty stuff to Mia, stuff I can’t imagine done to any woman.” He shook his head in disgust. “Done to a girl, actually. He had been doing it to and her brother since they were children.”
It was Scott’s turn to look disgusted. “Wait. Let me get this straight. You mean this Herbert Weston, Mia’s uncle, he’s been molesting her and Andy?”
James nodded.
Scott could only blink. “Fuck!”
Eric said, “Yeah. Shit like that happens, usually in the dark, and the victims are usually children, which is fucking sick.”
Scott asked, “Did Mia tell you all this?”
James sighed. “I had my men look into her background. I even had Cole tracking him down, knowing he’d come for her. And he did come for her. Fuck, I let my guard down. He struck where I least expected him to.”
Eric asked, “What do you mean?”
James said, “Like I said, I have a suspicion he and Sophie Wilson are working together. Otherwise, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly and without my notice. Sophie asked to meet up with Mia, and now Mia is missing.”
Scott nodded in understanding.
“Though, I need hardcore evidence to confirm that fact,” James said.
“The surveillance recording should aid in that regard,” Eric said.
James said, “Sophie is a smart bitch. She knows where all the cameras are located and knows how to avoid being recorded.”
Eric nodded in agreement. “The men are starting to gather now. They should arrive very soon. We should have a plan of action.”
Scott nodded, a half-smile playing about his lips. “After all, your beloved Mia’s life is on the line.”
It was about half an hour later when a team of private guards and detectives who worked for the Maxwell family arrived at the house. There were twenty special, highly trained guards and five different detectives. Cole, who had been the first to arrive when he’d received the news, stood at the front as they all listened carefully while James explained the situation and their current plan. Once the briefing was done, Cole came up to James.
“It’s my fault, boss.” Cole began. “If only I had caught him earlier, then this wouldn’t have happened. Now Miss Donovan’s life is in danger, and fuck, I… I’m so sorry, boss.”
James, his face hard as a mask, patted the bulky man on the shoulder to show his appreciation. “What’s done is done. Now we need to concentrate on finding Mia.”
He didn’t voice what he was going to do to the bastard Herbert Weston once they had their hands on him. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind what James Maxwell would do. He was going to kill the guy with his own hands because that was what a Maxwell did to those who dared fuck with them.
