The Billionaire Bum (13 page)

“Well now,” Nick laughed, “I can certainly see the attraction that Jackson has to you.

That was very lady like.”

He thought this was funny? This was like some kind of a sick game to him.

He pulled my hair back roughly with one hand and locked the other around my waist. I tried to struggle, but I could do nothing except lay limply against him. Kayla was now in my line of sight. She was sneering at me. I don’t think she approved of my position on her boyfriend’s lap.
Well, join the club.
I didn’t like it much either.

“Now Alissa,” he said “you’re going to remain very still and do exactly as I tell you.”

“Let her go, Nick.”

“All in good time, Jackson,” Nick said. “You need to make a few phone calls first.

You’re going to wire five hundred million dollars to the offshore accounts that you see listed there. Distribute the money evenly.”

Kayla handed Jackson a white piece of paper from the industrial desk in the corner.

“You fucking bitch,” he spat at her.

Nick dug the barrel of the gun into my throat, and I let out an involuntary squeak.

“I require your full attention, Jackson,” Nick said calmly, as if he was really in the boardroom processing a negotiation instead of holding a gun to my head. “After you transfer the money, we will be borrowing your private jet. You will see us safely into the air. When I am sure that no one will be disrupting our flight, I will release Alissa back to you.”

“Release her to me how?” Jackson asked.

I couldn’t believe that they were even discussing it. It wouldn’t come to that. He couldn’t pay all that money for me anyway.

I coughed. I felt light headed like I couldn’t get enough air. None of this was making any sense.

I tried to stop when I saw the worry in Jackson’s eyes, but I just couldn’t control it. I was crying and gasping for breath. Nick pushed the gun up under my chin.

“Shut up,” he hissed in my ear.

Oh God. This is what it feels like to die.

Everything after that happened in a blur. Jackson was running full speed towards me. I was falling. My head hit the concrete, and the lights went out.

Jason

“Nick did what?” I said.

I got this crazy call from Ben telling me that Nick was holding Alissa and Jackson hostage. My head was still foggy with sleep, and Shelby was glaring at me for waking her.

I got out of bed and pulled on some clothes. “Yeah, I’ll call the cops. Yeah, calm down.

Where is he headed? Yeah, I have the address for his warehouse. I’ll meet you there.” I hung up the phone. Calling the cops was not something that I was looking forward to. I had a feeling that this was about to get very complicated. I made the call anyway and explained the situation as best I could.

The cop on the phone suddenly got a lot more interested when I mentioned Alissa’s name. He asked me repeatedly if I meant Alissa Allen, Mark Allen’s daughter. I had no idea who her parents were, but I offered that she owned a restaurant, and apparently that was enough information. They were dispatching four officers immediately to the warehouse where we thought that Nick was headed.

I told Shel that I needed to take care of something with Jackson and headed out into the night. I took the Jeep. It was the most versatile vehicle that I had, and God only knew what I would be getting myself into tonight.

Part of me was really hoping that Ben was blowing this whole thing out of proportion. It was always possible, but my gut told me that this was serious. Being the type that showed little emotion, I had never seen him so worked up over anything.

Apparently, Ben had been following Nick, as we’d asked him to, but when Nick parked himself on a bench across the street from the bar where Jackson had been working, Ben had taken the opportunity for a bathroom break. By the time that he had returned from the Wendy’s up the street, Nick had grabbed Alissa and was training a gun on her.

Not seeing a good opportunity to intervene, he’d gotten in his car and was now following them through an industrial part of town. Nick had a warehouse in the area, which I assumed was their intended destination.

When I arrived, I spotted Ben’s car up the street. I parked on the other side of the building and got out. One of the warehouse side doors had been left open, and I could hear shouting inside. The police weren’t here yet. I circled the outside of the building hoping to find another entrance. I didn’t think bursting right into the middle of everything right now was wise. I slipped in through an open loading dock, noting how the security in this place sucked.

I moved along in the dark trying not to trip over anything and alert them to my presence.

Moving behind a stack of boxes, I could get a pretty good view of the situation.

Jackson was facing Nick who had his back to me and was sitting in a chair with someone draped across his lap: Alissa presumably. It looked like he had a gun in his hand, but I couldn’t be sure. Kayla was standing between Jackson and Nick.

I nearly screamed when Ben laid his hand on my shoulder, but I was very glad that I hadn’t.

I was a good twenty steps from Nick’s chair, but I was pretty quick for my size. I thought I could probably run full speed and tackle Nick before Kayla could alert him to my presence. It was a gamble though, especially for Alissa. I didn’t want for her to get hurt in the process.

The sirens in the distance alerted me that it was now or never. Nick was about to be made aware of our presence either way, and I thought that it was safer to try to take him down now.

Who knew what he would do when the cops came in with guns drawn?

Using some of our old football signals, I did my best to explain my plan to Ben with hand gestures, and he seemed to understand. He nodded that he was ready.

I took a step out from the boxes and sprinted to Nick. Kayla saw me about five steps in, but Ben was faster. He lunged at Kayla just as I was reaching Nick.

I went for the gun first, pulling it away from him. It clattered to the floor, but unfortunately, so did Alissa. Jackson was immediately on top of Nick, punching him repeatedly in the face. Alissa was crumpled up on the cement. She was bleeding pretty badly from her head.

“Jackson, get Alissa,” I said.

He looked up at me with wild eyes, not really comprehending. When he looked at her bloody form, he let out a strangled cry and released Nick. He pulled Alissa into his arms and began desperately trying to wake her.

Kayla took off running, but I barely noticed.

Nick was still fighting, also trying to make a break for the door, but I caught him and pinned him to the floor. He was no match for my size.

It had all happened so quickly that I hadn’t heard the cops arrive. They burst in and held everyone in place at gunpoint. They called for an ambulance while Ben and I did most of the explaining. I was afraid that Jackson was in shock. He was rocking back and forth on the floor with Alissa in his arms. In all the years that I’d known him, I had never seen Jackson cry like that. They were both completely covered in her blood.

A few minutes later, both Jackson and Alissa left in the ambulance. I stayed behind to help the police sort everything out.

It took us all a few minutes to realize that Kayla was no longer present. Ben had shoved her out of the way, so that we could get to Nick, but she had taken off running before the cops showed up. My attention had been focused on Nick. The police were mostly concerned with getting Alissa to a hospital. Somehow in the confusion, she had simply disappeared.

The police sent a car out after her, making the assumption that she couldn’t have gone far. I was hopeful that she would turn up.

Alissa

Ouch. Somebody turn out the lights.
I groaned. My head was killing me.

“Alissa?” My angel’s voice. Jackson.

His face came into view blocking the blinding fluorescents. His hair was a disaster. He had a bruised cheek, a cut above his eye that had recently gotten stitches, and a swollen lip. He never looked more perfect. He was okay. We were going to be fine.

“Alissa, can you hear me?”

Yes, Jackson. I hear you.
My mouth was dry; I couldn’t quite talk.

A doctor appeared. “Hello, Miss Allen,” he said. “Can you tell me how you’re feeling?” He shined a pen light in my eyes, and I flinched away. What’s with the lights in this place?

I licked my lips. He turned sideways, and then held a cup of water up to my lips. Much better.

“Jackson,” I breathed. He appeared at my other side and took my hand.

“I’m right here, baby,” he said.

Baby.
I like that. I tried to smile, but it hurt.

The doctor talked for a while. I had a concussion, and numerous bruises, and they had given me something for the pain that was making me feel a little loopy. That was okay. I would recover.

“Alissa!!!” I could hear him from the hallway.

Oh no. Someone had called my dad.
This wasn’t exactly how I planned on having him meet Jackson. I tried to sit up.

“Stay still, Alissa,” Jackson said. “We can move the bed if you want to sit up.”

“Yes, please,” I requested. Jackson found the remote for the bed and lifted my head up so that I could see. My dad barreled into the room in full uniform with his gun at his hip.
Oh great.

“Alissa,” he said, stopping at the foot of the bed. “Are you okay? What happened?” Jackson cleared his throat to get his attention. “Chief Allen? I’m Jackson Hayes,” he said extending his hand. My Dad didn’t shake it. Not good. Jackson lowered his hand, not seeming to be offended.

“Sir, Alissa has been through a lot, and the doctor wants her to rest. I think it would be best if I told you what happened.”

“It’s okay, Jackson,” I said quietly. “I’m fine. I just need a drink.” He brought me the water from the bedside table.

“You sure?” he asked me with concern in his eyes. “I think you should rest.”

“I will in a minute.” Wanting my dad to like Jackson, I wasn’t about to let their first discussion be an argument over my safety.

I started by assuring my dad that I was okay. Then I worked backwards through the story explaining about Nick and Kayla. He already knew most of this. The police had called him en route to the scene. My dad was good friends with several members of the neighboring police force and news traveled fast in the system.

He told me that Nick was in custody. They were still looking for Kayla. Jackson stiffened beside me at the news. Apparently, he didn’t know that Kayla had gotten away.

He wanted to know how I knew Jackson. I sighed. This was going to be interesting.

Settling on the abbreviated version, I told him that I met Jackson at my restaurant. It wasn’t a lie, but I felt guilty about it anyway. I didn’t know what to do. Telling my dad that Jackson was my boyfriend would answer a lot of questions and make the whole thing a lot easier. The problem was, I didn’t really know where I stood with Jackson. We hadn’t quite gotten to that point in our discussion last night.

“I’m dating your daughter, sir,” Jackson said, “or at least I would like to be.” He smiled at me with a silent question in his eyes. I smiled back. Yes!!!

“Yeah, Dad,” I confirmed. ”Um, sorry I didn’t mention it, but you know… it happened kinda’ fast.”

My dad looked Jackson over as if deciding how to pass judgment.

“He’s right, honey. You should be resting.” He came around the bed and kissed me on the forehead. “I’m going to go down to the station and help the guys with the investigation. I’m sure someone will be by later to get a full statement from the two of you. Do you need anything before I go?”

“I’m in good hands,” I said looking at Jackson.

After my dad left, Jackson lowered my bed back down and pulled up a chair beside me.

“I am so sorry, Alissa,” he started. “I’ll never forgive myself for putting you in danger.”

“Shhhh,” I said. “No, Jackson. This wasn’t your fault, and I’ll not listen to you apologize.

Just rest with me.” I tugged on his hand trying to move him closer while I made room for him beside me. He took the hint and climbed onto the bed next to me. He was on top of the blankets, but I could feel the heat from his body through the thin layers. He felt safe and wonderful. He put his arms around me and pressed his lips to my forehead.

“Sleep, Alissa,” he said, and I did.

Jackson

I woke to the most wonderful feeling. Alissa’s head was resting on my chest, and her hair surrounded me. So perfect. I could really get used to this. She was still sleeping peacefully, but a glance at the clock and the presence of a nurse told me that I needed to get up. I had a lot of things to take care of. Untangling myself slowly, and trying to disturb Alissa as little as possible, I slipped out the door.

First, I placed a call to Jason for an update. The press had gotten a hold of the police report, and he was scheduling a press conference for this afternoon to keep them at bay. I was not expected to be present. The plan was to sneak me home in the backseat of a nondescript car to avoid media attention.

I found her doctor and got an update on Alissa’s status. If nothing changed, they planned to keep her until about two in the afternoon. The doctors said she would heal, but they didn’t want her to be alone. It was not wise for someone with a recent concussion to go home to an empty house. I was certainly not complaining. I wanted to take her home with me anyway, but I had a feeling that she was going to fight me on this. I knew she had a business to run, and frankly, so did I. Jason could smooth things over to some degree, but if the media caught up with us, it would be a disaster. I didn’t want to subject Alissa to that.

I made two other calls, one to my personal assistant, Angela, and one to my parents. I had some explaining to do.

Chief Allen returned just before noon. I left the room, making an excuse about wanting lunch, but really thinking that he would appreciate some time alone with her, even if she was still sleeping. When I returned from my self-imposed coffee break they were talking.