Along for the Ride

Jason was stunned.

“Jason?” Cal’s voice held a fierce, threatening undertone. His hair was awry, his expression dark with fury.

Jason backed away, his hands raised. “I’ll call Kelly. I’ll get Zoë’s number.”

“Too right you will.” Cal paced over to the window, his back turned.

Jason didn’t blame him. While he dialed and the phone rang out, he cursed himself for not taking action earlier. Kelly shouted down the phone at him when he told her that Georgie was being held somewhere against her will. He didn’t blame her for being unforgiving, either.

“I’ll give you her number, but you better apologize to Zoë ...” she threatened.

“I will. Believe me, I will.” She dictated the number and then finished the call by telling him not to bother coming round to visit her, Frank, and the kids until he had sorted it out. Then she slammed the phone down.

Could he feel any worse?

Cal turned back to him expectantly.

“I’ve got the number. I’ll make sure we get something to pay him off. I’ll go see Zoë now and work something out.”

“I’m not sitting here waiting! Call Greg and get him to meet me. I’m not letting that goon out of my sight until I know Georgie’s safe.”

“Do you think that’s wise?”

“Wise? Don’t you tell me what’s wise and what isn’t.” Cal was fuming.

“You’ve got every right to be angry, but I didn’t ask for any of this.”

Cal’s eyes were blazing. “Yes, you did! This morning you practically admitted this mess had come about because you refused to admit how you felt about Zoë.”

Jason swallowed. That hit him hard. “I’m not denying it, but who are you to criticize? You’ve spent your life avoiding intimacy, surrounding yourself with lovers you keep at arm’s length.”

Cal shook his head. “So I’m a pathetic loser, too. Is that it?”

That hurt, but he deserved it. “You don’t have to be, but I’m afraid you might let the woman you love walk away because you’re always striving for some higher damn purpose in life.”

“That’s not true,” Cal bellowed. “I don’t intend to let her go.”

He meant it. Jason swallowed. They stared each other out, the wall of tension between them slowly crumbling.

“Promise me that you won’t lose her.”

“I won’t.” Cal groaned mightily. “She’s the thing I’ve been looking for. Fuck it, Jason. I’ve got to get her back. I can’t imagine life without her.” He pushed his hands through his hair, his eyes wild.

Jason grabbed him by the shoulder. “We’ll get her back right now. I promise.” He picked up the phone and dialed Greg’s number.

“New plan. Meet with Cal. He’ll stay with you until I bring you something.”

A loud tirade emitted from the receiver.

“I don’t give a toss about your nose. If you don’t agree to it, there will be more than your bloody nose broken.”

He glanced over at where Cal sat on the sofa, his hands clenched into fists against his eyes. While Jason made the arrangements with Greg, he hoped the Austrian wouldn’t lose it, not now, when he needed to remain calm for Georgie’s sake.

“Okay, get gone. He’s agreed to meeting, you but only in a public place and with his men present. He’s suggested the foot of the castle. He’ll be there in half an hour.”

Cal nodded and reached for his jacket.

“Try to avoid hitting him again, until we get Georgie, yes?”