Everything Started Here With You

And The Kidnapping Stops

"Kidnapping is such a harsh term...I prefer surprise adoption."

-- Unknown

"There she is."

"What's she doing here?"

"Why is she even back in California?"

"Hush. I need to think. Before she gets in that taxi, we need to find a way to grab her."

Asher watched as Sha'Kera took her time walking to the taxi waiting for her in front of the hospital. He had about 15 seconds before she got to it and left. Before anyone could stop him, he sprinted to the taxi and talked the driver into leaving it.

"Thank you, sir. I'll drop it off in front of Walmart." He shut the door just as Sha'Kera got into the car. She told him where she was going, but continued to look down at her phone. The five minutes after they'd passed the hotel she was staying at, she finally looked up and glanced at Asher in the mirror. He winked.

"What the hell are you doing?" she screeched. "Let me out!"

"I just want to talk, Kera. It's nothing personal," Asher assured her. "I lied. It's actually very personal and if Hayden was here too, he'd be in the trunk."

"I'm calling the police."

"Hmm...I don't think they'd care. You see, I'm a police officer. The moment you mention my name, they're going to hang up on you. I'm good at what I do and they're going to believe I'm here to help you before you can tell them I've kidnapped you."

"You evil bastard."

"I like it. Insults are nice."

Sha'Kera looked at her phone like she was going to jump out. Asher locked the doors and watched her eyes widen. He was watching her and watching the road. In less than two minutes they'd be in the middle of four cell towers. Even if she called the police, they'd have no way of figuring out where she was. He felt smart.

"Did Jackson call you back down here?" Asher asked. "Maybe he thinks he needs backup. I'm angry with him. Hope he gets caught and rot in jail."

"I tried to stop him from kidnapping you," Sha'Kera claimed through gritted teeth.

"You didn't try hard enough. Should've beat some sense into him." He pulled the car on the side of the road. "I wouldn't have to do this if you'd warned him about me."

"About you? What could you have done to him?"

"The same thing I'm going to do to you."

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Cameron looked at his watch and sighed. Kathryn was still angry with him for not resting after everything that had happened Monday. He'd told her she needed the rest more than him, but they both ended up ignoring each other's warnings and went out. He was afraid she'd worry too much about him and pass out. Kathryn was a strong woman, she would never put herself and her baby in danger.

Asher crossed his legs and stared at an unconscious Sha'Kera. He had been wondering the entire ride to the hideout why she hadn't fought back. She was a trained spy who'd dared to steal from her best friend and almost succeeded. It was crazy scary how she threw threats around, but never fulfilled them until you least expected it. He was afraid she'd pretend everything was all good until he reminded her of something he'd done.

Jade ran her fingers down Asher's chest and leaned close to his ear. She felt him shudder as she whispered that Lexi would do the same. Her luscious brown hair dropped over his right shoulder as she lightly nipped at Asher's ear. He grabbed one of Jade's hands and kissed it. He hadn't been the one to go after Lexi's friends, but Jade was an exception. She wouldn't be a friend the moment Lexi found out what she had been doing behind her back.

Something that wasn't a secret to his family.

"How hard did you hit the woman?" Cameron asked.

"Sometimes women exaggerate things," Asher muttered. "I wouldn't dare hit her hard enough to knock her out for days."

"It's been two hours."

"I'm sure she's been awake for at least one of them."

Jade chuckled. Of course Sha'Kera had been awake for an hour. It was a part of all spy training. She was too good at it. That was the problem. Jade had seen her eyes open once, but didn't think she'd seen correctly. Now she knew Kera had seen her on Asher like they were dating. Lexi would never believe it even if it was coming from one of her best friends. Jade and Lexi had always been close. Dating exes and crushes were a known fact and prohibited in their friendship. But both of them had done it.

"Sha'Kera," she called out. "I've been watching you this entire time. You can't trick the master."

It took all Sha'Kera had in her not to leap off the couch she was on and strangle Jade. The two women had never liked each other from the beginning. One, Sha'Kera was married to the brother, so it was an unspoken fact that she was the first best friend. Two, Jade had always been by Lexi's side, so it was another unspoken fact that she was the unofficial first best friend. Earning the trust of the woman who could be easily manipulated was proving hard.

Kera opened her eyes to glare at the woman who dared to call herself Lexi's friend. She held secrets not even her family knew about. Sha'Kera sat up and tried to focus on one thing in the room. Asher hadn't hit her hard enough to leave any damage, but it was hard enough to leave her wondering if he'd drugged her afterwards. Maybe he had, maybe he hadn't. No one would ever know.

"Kera, it's not like we're going to murder you," Cameron started. "Though we should. Serves you right for partaking in Jackson's plans. I'm surprised you're even back here."

"It wasn't my choice," Sha'Kera growled.

"Of course not. Jackson always calls the shots, doesn't he? I expected better from you when I moved on. I didn't think you'd allow a lowlife to take charge and ruin the path I left for you."

"What path?"

"Do you really think you're second-in-command because Jackson asked you to?" Cameron shook his head and laughed. "He took the leading position and felt bad."

"What is the point of this?"

"The point?" Asher sighed. "It's not just about you helping Jackson. Lexi's predicament is your fault. She wouldn't have been in the hospital if you hadn't dropped Wayne off at the police station. She would've been out by now if you hadn't dropped Wayne off at the hospital. And she sure wouldn't be in another hospital if you hadn't come back at all."

"You're blaming me for getting her moved? That's why I came back!"

"...You make no sense."

Jade untangled herself from Asher and approached Sha'Kera. The two stared at each other down until Jade pinned Sha'Kera to the couch. Asher was going to stop them, but Cameron made him wait. It wasn't smart to step between two angry women. Cam knew that from experience. He wasn't going to let Asher make the same mistake.

"Whether you know it or not, Kera, everything that's happened to Lexi since her gala was your fault," Jade sneered. "If you hadn't brought your little dogs with you, she wouldn't have overreacted the day after and fainted. Not only did we lose the drive, but she probably passed it on to someone who shouldn't have it."

"...If she hadn't panicked, she wouldn't have had to pass it on to whoever she passed it to. I'm not at fault for something that couldn't be helped." Kera grimaced.

"Don't tell me you're one of those people who believe everything happens for a reason."

"It won't matter if I am."

"It doesn't matter," Cameron cut in. "But I'm tired...so I'm going home. Get comfortable, Kera, because you're not going back to the hotel tonight."

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⚜Author-nim⚜