Taken: A Kept Novella Read Free Page A

Someday I hope to. But for now I need you to trust me.”
    Though his words were vague, Jordan clung to the promise beneath them. She took a deep breath. The woman, the girl, the bear, the cups … “Okay. I’ll trust you.”
    “Thank you.” His brown eyes searched hers, warmth coming from them. “That means a lot.”
    Good. It should.
    He held a hand toward his living room. “You ready to go?”
    “Sure.”
    She set the drink aside while he tucked his laptop under his arm and led the way to the front door.
    But as they passed the staircase, Jordan couldn’t help looking for the teddy bear and toy cars.
    The staircase was empty.
    ****
    Before dialing his client, he waited until the silver Altima drove by and turned at the intersection.
    “Yes?” the man said, never one for hello .
    “I found him.”
    Something creaked in the background. “Really. What’s his name?”
    “Cameron Winters.”
    “Cameron Winters.” Silence held for a few moments. “Then we’re looking for a Hannah Winters.”
    “That would be my guess.”
    “You found her yet?”
    “No, but I’m on his street and he just left with a woman.”
    “Hannah?” Excitement colored the client’s tone.
    “No. Younger. Darker hair.”
    “Maybe she knows where Hannah is.”
    “Maybe. I wouldn’t know.”
    “You will.”
    “Of course.” That went without saying. He started his engine and followed the path the Altima had taken. “Now that I know his name, I can start looking for her under her maiden name. Give me a few days, and I’ll have more information.”
    “I want it faster than that, Thomas.”
    Impatient, arrogant clients were the worst. “I’ll get the info when I get it, and not before.”
    The man grunted. “Fine. Just… I need to find Hannah.”
    “And we’ll find her. If we have the right man, Winters will lead us to her.”

Chapter Three
    The afternoon could not have gone better.
    Sure, there’d initially been some tension after Jordan saw Anna’s picture and he hadn’t been able to talk about it, but lunch together at her favorite Mexican restaurant eventually fixed that. By the time they left, two hours and one big tip later, it felt like everything was right between them again.
    It felt so right being with Jordan, like she really was the woman he could spend his life with. The woman he could grow old with.
    The woman he could trust Anna and Sophie with.
    When they finally headed to Jordan’s parents’ house, it was almost time for dinner. Dillan and Miska arrived at the same time, and Jordan oohed and ahhed over Miska’s ring.
    Jordan’s other brother, Garrett, was already there, and it seemed to take a good ten minutes to get everyone out of the foyer, what with all the hugs and congratulations and women gushing and everything.
    Shari, Jordan’s mom, had cooked a special meal to celebrate the engagement. Seated at the table next to Jordan and across from Dillan, Cam felt like one of the family. Like a part of one of the best families he knew.
    How much he wanted a life like this.
    After dinner, he hooked his laptop up to the Fosters’ TV and, again, seated himself beside Jordan as they watched the video he’d recorded of the proposal. There wasn’t much audio to speak of since he and Jordan were too far from the couple to pick up sound, but the video had caught little bits of Jordan’s excited whisperings, her barely contained squeal when Dillan had dropped to one knee, and a few deep chuckles from Cam.
    And of course, it had also captured all the romance of a couple getting engaged.
    Cam glanced at Dillan and Miska seated close together on the couch, Dillan’s arm around her, his fingers stroking her shoulder. He couldn’t stop smiling, glancing from time to time at Miska who couldn’t stop watching the rerun of their engagement.
    Across the room, Shari wiped tears from her eyes, and her husband squeezed her hand. Even Garrett, the one who always had a joke for everything, seemed happy with the day’s