Names

EMERALD

“Emerald!”

I grinned and darted away from the desk that I had been parked at as soon as I made the phone call to Vince.

The second he opened the station door, Tate was shouting, which I completely expected, and I wasted no time running right for him.

As soon as I collided with his body, all the fear I had been refusing to give notice to left me, and I sagged at the sudden loss of tension.

“Why aren’t you at a hospital?” He glared at literally everyone in the station.

“I needed you more,” I said into his chest. “Don’t you dare leave my side again.”

“I should be telling you that.” He sighed and held me tighter.

“And answer your fucking phone next time.” I pushed back just enough to smack him in the chest before pressing my face right back where it was before.

“I’m guessing you’re Ms. Wells’s lawyer?” an officer asked.

“Vince Hyatt. I represent both Ms. Wells and Mr. King,” Vince answered.

“Well, you have a doozy here.” The officer sighed.

“I assumed as much. Is there someplace I can speak with my clients while we wait on an ambulance?”

We were led through the station to an office, and Tate refused to let me go, pulling me down onto his lap and tucking me into his body firmly.

“So, there are a number of questions that need answering, but I’ll hold off on those until after you give your statement.” Vince rubbed his face as he sat down. “And after coffee has been had.”

“You’re going to want to hear this part sooner than later.” I sighed and leaned into Tate more. “I know who took me, and they clearly didn’t plan on letting me go.”

“Who the fuck was it, Shrimp?” Tate growled, his hand tightening on my thigh.

“Well, I don’t know who did the actual dirty work, but the ones behind it? Your father,” I said.

“What?” Vince snapped.

“Bryers, his assistant? Yeah, he was there, and he was quite chatty until his boss came in.” I shuddered.

“Why would he do that?”

“Normally, I’d be more tactful about this, but considering the family dynamic—it’s because he hates you and Devon.

“When Leo sells, he intends to make an offer on enough of it to hold the majority of it, then buy out the rest later since he can’t afford it all at once.” I shook my head.

“He’s quite bitter that he was immediately excluded from the will to inherit the company in the first place.”

“That doesn’t make any sense.” Tate frowned. “He never really had any interest in the company before. Why now?”

“He wants the money.” I looked up at him. “Being the current CEO, you make like six times as much as he gets from the family accounts to live off of.

“Nancy has some pretty expensive habits, and, thanks to you, King Industries is like a piggy bank.”

“He just had to ask.” Tate shook his head.

“You know your father is far too proud for that.” Vince gave him a hard look. “Who else was involved?”

“That’s where it gets…interesting.” I fidgeted, then settled when Tate rubbed my back.

“Nicole had a minor part in hiring the people that did the physical kidnapping, and someone I’m not sure how to feel about helped me get out.”

“Who?”

“My biological father.” I sighed. “Bennett. He wasn’t incredibly forthcoming with information, but he’s undercover, I guess.

“He said it was like he was a cop, but not, so I’m assuming that means bad things for a lot of people.”

“Your… God, I’m going to need a flowchart for this,” Vince groaned.

“Good news is that Leo wasn’t involved in any of it,” I added. “Apparently, Evan knew about the whole thing with Nicole all those years ago.

“So when the part in the will about a clean public image came up, all he had to do was say the right thing and point at Leo. He was just a means to an end.”

“Fuck Leo. And where the hell is the ambulance?” Tate growled and held me closer.

“Okay. So, we’ve got Evan, Nicole, and Bryers,” Vince rubbed his temples. “What was ~his~ part in all of this? Accomplice?”

“As far as I know, yes. He’s the one that did all the leg work for Evan, so I’m willing to bet he’d be the scapegoat if things went south.

“Obviously, they didn’t take into account that I would get away after seeing their faces; otherwise, it very likely would have turned out that way, even with Bennett doing whatever it was he was doing undercover.”

“This is a fucking nightmare,” Vince groaned.

“The nightmare was not knowing where my pregnant wife was,” Tate snapped.

“Not married yet, Treeman,” I smiled and laid my head on his shoulder. “I’m just glad it’s over. I’ve been running on adrenaline and the stubborn will ~not~ to freak the fuck out since this happened.”

I heard the door open and close softly before Tate sighed heavily, and I felt a shudder run through him.

“I was so fucking scared, Emerald. I had no idea what to do and the thought that I might never find you… I’m done with this bullshit,” he stated and gave me a hard squeeze.

“Fuck all of this. I’m done with it. I’m taking you far away from all of it so we can raise our family without this ever happening again.”

“I have no real argument for that.” I closed my eyes. “Good thing the company runs itself, mostly.”

“No. Fuck the company, too. Leo can have it,” he said firmly, and I looked up at him. “I’m not eligible to inherit it anyhow.”

“I was gone for half a day. What the hell happened?” I looked at him, confused.

“I got the truth from Mom. Devon and I aren’t Kings. Not by blood.” He shrugged. “Leo’s the only one of us that is.”

“That… I’m sorry, Tate. I know how much that company means to you.” I frowned.

“It means nothing.” He shook his head. “It’s all nothing. Everything I value most is right here, Emerald, and I’m never risking this again. I love you so much, Shrimp.”

“I love you too, Treeman.” I lay back on his shoulder.

***

“Will you stop pacing? You’re driving me insane,” I muttered, my eyes closed since I’d been sleeping until the nervous energy in the air woke me up.

“What’s taking so long to run a few tests?” Tate hissed and came to sit down and squeeze my hand.

“I suspect the actual tests are quite lengthy.” I smirked and peeked at him, giggling when I saw the scowl on his face. “You’re adorable.”

“What? Go back to sleep, crazy.” He looked at me flatly.

“I’m serious.” I laughed. “And if anyone in this room gets that title, it’s you.”

“I absolutely feel like it right now.” He ran his free hand down his face.

“You look it.” I nodded, and he rolled his eyes. I scooted over on the bed and patted the free space. “Get up here and hold me before I have to have you medicated.”

“Funny,” he muttered but did as I told him anyhow. “Pretty sure there’s a rule about this somewhere.”

“Who cares? I need the emotional support so they can suck it.” I snuggled against him.

“I thought I was the one that needed that.” He snorted.

“Yeah, but I’m the delicate pregnant woman who just went through emotional trauma. Who would say anything about ~me~ needing a good cuddle? Saves your dignity.” I shrugged.

“I don’t give a damn about my dignity. I need to know if our baby is okay.” He huffed.

We sat in the quiet room for a few minutes before I tilted my head back and kissed his neck.

“Are you sure? Blood doesn’t make people a family. You’re still a King,” I said.

“It’s a name that means very little to me, Emerald,” he answered. “Now that I know it never really belonged to me, I feel…free.

“The pressure of holding that name, the expectations that come with it and running such a massive company is all gone for the first time in my life.”

“And the money? Your ass is pretty spoiled, you know,” I teased him.

“I still have my bank accounts and the money Gandy left me in his will that wasn’t tied to the ownership of King Industries.” He chuckled. “My ass will be well taken care of.”

“Thank goodness. It’s a very nice ass. Its well-being is paramount.” I giggled, and his chest rumbled with a soft chuckle. “Do you still want to marry me so fast? Now that the will isn’t an issue.”

“If I thought you’d let me, I’d marry you right now,” he said immediately and with enough conviction to make me giggle again.

“I’m not objecting,” I said, and he jerked before stiffening.

“Fuck this.” He reached over and grabbed the phone from the bedside table.

“What are you doing?”

“Calling the chapel downstairs. I’m not letting you have the chance to take that back.”