Dirty Little Vow (Tyler & Bella Book 3)

TYLER

Bella doesn’t have time for me to be weak right now, which is why I allow myself about three seconds to freak the fuck out, and then it’s all about actions that protect Bella. I run a rough hand through my hair and then check the time on the message, which is now twenty minutes old. That’s way too long for me to feel good about the timeline and what could have happened to her between then and now. Dark thoughts start to form in my mind, and I quash them. They serve no productive purpose. They do not help Bella.

Hoping like hell for an answer, I dial Bella’s phone, only to have it go straight to voicemail, her voice telling me to “leave a message” slices through my body and it might as well be steel on bone. I want to hit something right now, and I have to calm myself the fuck down. Action is what gets Bella back, the right kind of action.

Calm.

Cool.

Calculated.

I don’t even consider calling the cops, who could either trigger the situation and they’ll damn sure slow it down. And while I’m quite clear on Dash’s FBI background, I’m also all too aware of the fact that he will come at this just as emotionally as me, and I’m barely holding my own shit together. I can’t control him and me right now. My man, my fixer, is another story. Thank fuck Dierk is ex-CIA and on my payroll. As a giant plus right about now, I trust him. I screenshot the message from “Oliver” and send it to him.

The timing of my being pulled into that meeting and Bella’s abduction does not sit well. Gavin, I think. He’s behind all of this. I grab my phone on my desk and buzz Sara, my new secretary. “Have security take Gavin McCloud into custody. He’s not to leave until I question him.”

“Understood,” she replies. “I’ll handle it immediately.”

“Once security has him locked down, they need to call me. Then, and only then, have human resources process his exit, per his employment contract termination clause.”

“Understood,” she assures me again. “I’ll update you in five minutes.”

Just like that, we disconnect. And Sara officially earns an “A” for asking absolutely no questions.

My cellphone buzzes with Dierk’s number, and I answer without prelude, “What do you know?”

“Nothing aside from the fact that her phone’s not pinging. The last location she pinged was a few blocks from your offices.”

It’s not the answer I want from him. “I think it’s the Allen family.”

“That’s an easy assumption to make,” he agrees. “Give me a few minutes to look at the camera feed and process where I think we go from here. Have you called her brother?”

“No. He’ll lose his shit.”

“He’s ex-FBI. He’s not going to lose his shit until she’s safe. And as to this being the Allen family? Taking Dash’s sister seems a stupid move. You don’t walk away from that without ensuring the wrong attention for the rest of your life. It’s hard for me to believe the Allen family would be that stupid.”

“And yet, I’m telling you, that’s what they did.”

“Call Dash. Time is critical. Between his resources and mine, we’ll have a better chance of finding her before it’s too late.”

Too late.

Two words that when put together, cut me into tiny pieces inside. “I’m starting with Gavin. I got confronted by the board right as she was taken. It feels connected.”

“And you think he’s behind it?”

“My gut says he is. Security is rounding him up.”

“Which is fine. Talk to him, but call Dash first. I’m hanging up to work. Don’t dismiss me on this, Tyler. Time matters.” He disconnects.

I curse and dial Dash. He answers on the first ring. “What’s up, Tyler?”

“I have a problem. We We have a problem.”

“We?”

“I’ve been digging into the Allen family. They’re—”

“I know who they are. How do they translate to ‘we have a problem’?”

“Hold on. I’m sending you a text.” I remove the phone from my ear and shoot a copy of the text to Dash.

I give him about ten seconds and then say, “You have it?”

He’s remarkably calm as he says, “I have it. What do you know?”

“I think Gavin, my legal counsel, is involved. It’s all connected to my father’s will.”

“Which I’ve heard plenty about. Bella and Allie talk. A lot.”

“I’m aware. I have security taking Gavin into custody with the intent of talking to him.”

“Wait on me. I’m already walking out the door. What else?”

“I have a contractor who’s ex-CIA. He told me he can work with you, and he suggested it was a smart move. Her phone’s not pinging.”

“Text me his number. I’ll be there in five. I need to make a few calls.” He disconnects.

I walk to the credenza on the far wall, pull out a drawer, and remove a gun safe, which is protected by a lock. I type in the code, remove the Glock inside, and load ammo. Thank fuck I’m trained, but my biggest fear right now is not finding Bella or her attackers.

My mind flashes back to just this morning. I’d woken up holding her and just laid there thinking about how lucky I am to have Bella in my life. And how did this become my life, and why did I wait so long to make her mine? We’d made love—not fucked, made love—and then we’d shared some new coffee flavor she’d ordered. She’d watched me in anticipation as I sipped the blend and smiled when I’d approved. Never in my life did I think I’d share little moments like that with a woman and hunger for more. I love Bella like I didn’t know I could love. I should never have opened the can of worms that was the Allen family. I was so damn obsessed over what my father might throw at us that I didn’t think about the danger I was creating for me and anyone I care about. I did this to her. I created this problem.

My gut feeling told me this was coming.

I was right last night.