The Rebel King (All the King's Men Duet #2) - Kennedy Ryan Page 0,2
the job a lot easier for Lenn and me.”
When Kimba mentions Lennix, I automatically check my phone as I have for the last two days. Still nothing.
“Have you heard from her? Nix, I mean.”
“No, but that’s not unusual when she goes on these service trips. Reception is usually bad and Wi-Fi is spotty. She’ll call when she can.”
“Yeah, of course, you’re right.”
“And Wallace is there with her.”
“Should that make me feel better?” I stand and walk around to lean against the corner of my desk. “That she’s in a jungle with her ex?”
Kimba shifts her bag on her shoulder and levels me with a glance that is half amused, half exasperated. “You’re kidding, right? You know she and Wallace are—”
“I know they used to date. Not fake date like she let me believe this time, but dated for real.”
“That was years ago, and it didn’t last long.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” I shake my head. “Maybe I’m just paranoid. Something feels . . . off.”
When you put yourself in perilous situations often enough, your survival instincts become better honed, and you learn to trust them.
“Well, nothing’s off,” Kimba says. “Believe me. I’ve been through seven of these trips now with Wallace and Lennix. They’re fine. Oh! I have one last thing I forgot to tell you.”
Her phone rings and she glances at the screen. “Just gimme a sec. It’s Viv.”
She answers. “Hey, Viv. I’m in a meeting. Lemme call you right—”
Her brows bunch, but she chuckles. “Damn, V. Slow down. I can’t understand a word you’re saying.”
Kimba’s frown deepens, her expression going from amused to confused to horrified in a matter of seconds. A gulp moves the muscles of her throat and she draws a shaky breath. “Who? Who has Wallace?”
That niggling intuition that’s bothered me for days flares into a full-blown sick feeling. I stride over to stand right beside her. I know I’m too close, crowding her, but I need to hear exactly what’s being said.
“Who has him?” I ask. “Is Lennix okay?”
“I-I . . .” Kimba closes her eyes and presses her hand to her forehead. “V, I don’t understand.”
“Kimba, what the hell? Is Nix okay?”
“Viv, I’m gonna put you on speaker.” Kimba pulls the phone from her ear, taps the screen and turns it face up. “Maxim’s here with me.”
“Maxim, hey.” Vivienne’s wobbly voice comes over speaker. “I’m sorry I’m all over the place. I just . . .” Her voice breaks on a sob.
“Vivienne, can you tell me what’s happened?” I try to keep my voice level. “Who has Wallace? What’s going on?”
“My . . . my parents got a call about an hour ago from CamTech.”
“Who’s that?” I demand.
“It’s the lab Wallace works for,” Kimba says.
“Yeah, they called to say they’d received a video,” Vivienne continues, her breath thinning, distressed.
“What kind of video?” I ask.
“A ransom video,” Vivienne says. “A group in Costa Rica has taken Wallace hostage.”
“And Lennix?” I force the words out. There’s a good chance she wasn’t with him at the time. She may be safe.
God, please let her be safe.
But something in my gut twists like it already knows the answer.
Vivienne’s distress is palpable even over the phone, even before she answers. “They have her, too.”
Rage, frustration, fear—a toxic cocktail of emotions stirs inside of me. I didn’t know you could actually see red, but it’s like someone poured a bucket of blood over my eyes. Bloodlust, murder, vengeance—those things are smeared red all over me.
“Who the fuck has her?”
Kimba’s eyes snap to mine, widening.
“He wears a mask, so we don’t know,” Vivienne says. “The guy on the video is wearing a mask.”
“There’s a video? I need it.” I stride to my open office door. My assistant is at her desk, poring over reports we were discussing before Kimba arrived.
“Jin Lei, get the CEO of . . .” I swivel my head back to Kimba. “What was the name of the company again? CamTech?”
“Uh, yeah,” Kimba says, blinking rapidly, still holding the phone.
“Get the CEO of CamTech on the phone right now,” I tell Jin Lei. “And Grim. Get me Grim. Wherever he is, whatever he’s doing, get his ass on a plane. He can call me from the air for an update, but tell him not to wait.”
“Got it.” Jin Lei nods and picks up her phone.
I cross back to Kimba and Vivienne, still on speaker.
“What else can you tell me?” I ask. “You said they contacted your parents, Viv. Do you know if they’ve contacted Mr. Hunter?”