“Oh course not. She’s about twenty four, maybe five. I’m not a complete idiot.”
It was hard in that moment not to like my kidnapper. He thought I was five or six years younger than I was. He may have been crazy, but he was good for my ego. Oh crap, maybe crazy could rub off on people.
“Good, good.” Duncan said and his face relaxed and slipped back into a smile.
“I called because I need security and I may need Ryder to help with the police. I took her from the hospital—”
“What do you mean you took her from the hospital?” Duncan’s voice was getting louder and his smile vanished again.
This was my chance to get help. “Please help me. My mother is sick and I need to—”
“Carl, what the hell have you done?” Duncan glared.
Carl shot me a quick shut up look, before turning his gaze back to the road. “It’s not that bad. I took her from the employee carpark. She was on the phone to some guy called Brent.” The growl in Carl’s voice was deep as he spat out Brent’s name.
“Oh well, if you took her from the employee car park then everything is good.” The sarcasm was thick in Duncan’s voice and I didn’t miss the roll of his eyes.
“I did.”
“So what, you just picked her up and took her and no one helped or noticed? What about when you left and the boom gate?”
“Yes. She’s mine,” Carl snarled. “And that’s another thing I’ll need your help with. I sped out of the carpark and didn’t stop for the boom gate. It’s broken.”
Then I sank deeper into the twilight zone. Duncan burst into laughter. “Oh God. Hold on Carl. I have to bring Lucas and Albert into the conversation,” Duncan said in-between bouts of laughter.
Carl snarled. I stared at him to see his brows furrowed, his lips thinned, and I bet if it had been quieter I could’ve heard his teeth grinding. Then I saw the screen split into three and two older men joined the conversation. Duncan explained what Carl had done and said to him, to the two men, who looked so similar, I assumed they were family. Before Duncan finished I decided to try one of these men for help.
“Please help. I need you to call the police. I need to get back to the hospital. My mother is sick. Please help me.” Before I could finish, the men were chuckling.
“It finally got him.” One of the new guys said.
The other added, “I hate to be the voice of reason, but what is wrong with her mother? Carl if it’s fatal and she dies your woman may never forgive you for that.”
Yay, a voice that sounded stable. A voice that sounded like he had reason.
“I know Lucas, but Annabelle won’t tell me her last name so I can find out about her mother.” Carl shrugged. “I figure if her mother was dying she’d be a lot more angry and upset with me.”
“Only you brother. Only you.”
The guy I thought was the voice of reason muttered, “You’re right. Women usually aren’t quiet and meek when someone they love is dying and you’re denying them access.”
All three men laughed and I stared at the screen in shock. I assumed that was why I didn’t respond or say anything more. I mean no one sane let guys talk about women like that without saying anything, right? It was either that or I’d caught the crazy bug.
“We’ll help you,” Duncan gasped out as his laughing settled down. “I’ll call Ryder and he’ll help with what he can. I’m sure our security will clean up the rest. Tyson will sort out the hospital.”
“Richard and Mason can send over some security for you. Do you still have Stevenson?”
“Nope. I let him retire a couple of years ago. I didn’t need a guard. I had nothing to guard before now and when I wasn’t at the hospital, I was at my high security house.”
“I’ll talk to Mason and Richard. I know they’ve been training security for us.”
Carl nodded. “Thanks Duncan. I want Annabelle safe and secure. I want to make sure I know where she is at all times.”
Bringing my legs up I hugged my knees. Unease settled in at Carl’s words. I didn’t like the feeling. I needed to stay calm and alert. Listen and take everything in. When the chance came, I would escape. I didn’t like what Carl made me feel, or how I reacted to him. I’d never been normal, but I’d never been anything special either. I thought I was average, but as I sat listening and taking in everything I was beginning to think I was now anything but.
Chapter Two
Carl
I didn’t mean to scare her. I’m sure I terrified her when I threatened to pull over, but I needed her to cooperate and that was all I could think to do.