Impulse (Billionaire Secrets 5)

It was then that his phone rang and Simon answered it reluctantly. Maybe a member of Dover’s security staff was calling with news.

“Hello, Simon.” It was the same mocking voice from the video that had played in the ballroom.

“Who the hell are you?” Simon’s entire body stiffened as a blinding, hot rage coursed through him. “What have you done with my father? Where is he?”

“He’s safe,” the man answered. “For now. Very smart of you to avoid the police.”

“You want me to avoid the police?” Simon hated conceding anything to these people, but he had to put aside his rage and ego if he wanted to protect his father. His father meant more to him than his ridiculous pride. If he could choose, he would switch places with his father in a heartbeat. They had spent all these years apart after the fight, and the regret Simon felt over that was almost unbearable. If his father had been part of his life all these years, he might have been able to protect him better.

“No. Talk to the police all you want,” the voice said. “We know that this will make the news. Though, the police can’t help you.”

Something told him that the kidnappers loved the attention they were getting. That was probably why they were so theatrical. They wanted to have an audience for their mayhem.

“What do you want?” Simon demanded as he put the call on speaker phone for Jake to listen in. “What do I have to do to get him back?”

“That’s simple,” the man muttered. “If you want to get your father back in one piece all you have to do is pay the price.”

Chapter 14

Heather slipped back into Simon’s apartment. Talking to her parents hadn’t been easy, but at least now they knew about the kidnapping and would be extra careful. For the time being, they’d stay with Finn while she stayed to support Simon—who seemed to need it from the sound of his raised voice filling the apartment.

She followed the sound of his agitated voice until she found him in the living room, holding his phone. “Prove to me my father’s safe,” Simon was saying, his face red with rage.

Seeing him so out of control made her heart ache for him. Despite his constant need to protect her, Simon was almost always calm and level-headed. His father’s kidnapping was already wearing him down. She could see it in his bloodshot eyes and the sweat forming on his brow. Just the thought of someone taking one of her parents from her sent an icy ripple of fear down her spine. Simon’s pain must have been immeasurable.

“He is safe.” The eerie voice from earlier only amplified her fear.

“I’m Jake Perry, the security head at Dover Inc. I’ll be helping to facilitate this until both parties get what they want. How does that sound?”

“As long as you don’t get in the way of what we want, you’re welcome to stick around, Jake Perry,” the man snarled.

“We want proof,” Jake said firmly. “Solid, irrefutable proof that Onslow is safe. Prove it, then we can talk about a price.”

A pause.

Her heart sank. Damn, she hoped that silence didn’t mean the kidnappers were planning to hurt Onslow. Or worse, already had.

“Fine,” the man muttered. “We’re going to set up a video conference call. Then you can see your father’s still alive.”

The line went dead and a moment later video footage filled the phone screen. Heather inched closer to Simon and peered at the screen as grainy footage of his father played. She gasped when she saw the bloody gash on Onslow’s forehead. A lump formed in her throat as she realized the kidnappers had already hurt him.

“Dad? Can you hear me?” Simon asked. “Are you okay?”

“I...I can hear you,” Onslow choked out. “I’m safe.”

“Where have they taken you?” Jake asked. “Can you figure out where you are?”

“I’m in some kind of basement,” Onslow replied in a thin voice. “I don’t know where it is.”

“How did they get you?” Jake demanded.

Suddenly Onslow let out a terrified grunt as the flash of a blade glinted against his cheek.

“Enough with the questions,” the angry voice sounded off screen. “You have your proof.”

Tears stung her eyes, and no matter how hard she tried to blink them away they rolled down her cheek. She and Onslow hadn’t gotten along, but this was the last thing she had wanted. Seeing him in so much danger was destroying her. Which meant that this was agonizing for Simon.

“No. Damn it, don’t hurt him,” Simon growled. “I’ll get you whatever you want.”