Relentless Chase 4 (Troubles Brewing) Read online

  RELENTLESS CHASE 4:

  TROUBLES BREWING

  POSEY PARKS

  License Statement

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please visit your favorite ebook retailer to purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  COPYRIGHT

  Copyright © 2019 by Posey Parks

  Published by Posey Parks Publishing

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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  ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

  Thanks to all my fabulous readers. You all support every book I write.

  It means so much to me.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER ONE

  SEBASTIAN

  Lately, challenging situations have occurred. However, let’s go back to before Bella was born. Sydney no longer shopped at the grocery store where our son was kidnapped. The grocery store was a place she and Caden spent time together, bonding. I’ve only ever gone on one of these trips and she had it all mapped out the second she arrived in the store. Sydney pushed the cart toward produce. She picked up a shiny red apple, flashed it in Caden’s face. He kicked, swung his arms, and smiled up at her. I quickly realized I was there more so as her comfort and look out. Sydney glanced over at me and smirked. I sensed her uneasiness.

  I placed my hand on the small of her back, then swept it toward her left shoulder. Then I decided to stand behind her massaging her shoulders. “Baby, it’s ok. I’m here. I want you and Caden to enjoy your shopping trip.” I whispered in her ear.

  “If you’d like, we can come to the grocery store as a family every Saturday.”

  “No more Saturday’s. It’s too crowded. The days I like to grocery shop are Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s. You can’t come with us because you’ll be at work.”

  Shit. “Sydney, you are right. Once we return home from Seattle, I’ll be back in the office. Until then I can accompany you both while we’re there. Once we move back to L.A., we can make arrangements.”

  “No,” she spat. Worry filled her eyes. “Just do what you said you would do. Protect us.” She ran her hand over Caden’s stomach. “Are you carrying?”

  I snapped my blazer open, revealing the Glock.

  Sydney smiled. “Good me, too.”

  “Where?” My eyes followed her hand.

  “On my hip. I have it hidden beneath my sling bag.” She flashed her Glock.

  “Do you think it would come to that?”

  “Sebastian, I don’t know, but if it ever happens again, I’m ready.”

  My eyes widened with concern.

  “Baby, don’t worry. I’m highly trained.”

  Just when you think you fully have your life back. You come to the realization that you don’t.

  I did what she asked, made her feel safe. I wanted her to enjoy her shopping experience with our little boy. Instead of walking next to them. I kept my distance, scanned the aisles looking for anyone who appeared suspicious. A lady backed up against our cart as she peeped up at the top shelf in front of her.

  “Excuse me Miss. Can you please step aside?”

  She glanced at me. A smile quickly curled her lips. “Sure. The magazine pictures don’t do you justice. You are even more handsome in person.”

  I smiled. “Thank you, ma’am. You have a nice day.”

  Sydney glanced over her shoulder. “Sebastian, sunglasses, and a cap may keep people from staring at you everywhere we go.”

  “You’re right, sweetheart.”

  The more contracts I handled in California the more I was in the media.

  ∞

  By the time we reached our truck I was sweating bullets. I was more comfortable on my last mission with the CIA then in the present moment with my wife and child. Sydney placed Caden into his car seat while I loaded the groceries inside the trunk. Upon climbing into the driver’s seat, I noticed Sydney was buckled in the back seat next to Caden. I glanced over my shoulder. “Sydney, you aren’t riding up front?”

  “No, I’m fine back here.” She smiled.

  I knew the answer before the words fell from her pretty lips. Why did I pretend everything was normal when it wasn’t? Maybe over time she’d relax. Yeah, that was the lie I told myself. Behind the walls of our home Sydney was vibrant and tons of fun. We would sit up some nights and just talk.

  ~

  A couple of weeks had gone by since our grocery trip. Sydney sat in arms-length on the couch, legs folded, sipping a glass of cranberry apple juice. My eyes rested on the beautiful view of the Seattle mountains.

  “Sebastian, what was your favorite game as a child?”

  I ran my hand over my face, embarrassed by the answer to come.

  Slowly my eyes landed on hers. “I played with my basketball hoop set when I was six. It was obsessive.”

  “What was bad about that?”

  “I carried that dirty little nerf basketball that came with the hoop everywhere. It was so bad my brother buried it in the backyard because he was tired of seeing the ball. My mom and dad looked everywhere for it. That was the most traumatizing part of my childhood. I would go to school then come home and climb into bed. I guess Seth felt bad, so he dug up my ball, washed it off and gave it back to me. My mother and father were upset. I couldn’t wrap my little mind around him allowing me to walk around sad for two whole weeks.

  In turn, my parents put him on punishment for two weeks.”

  Her eyes widened. “Gosh, someone still seems a little bitter.”

  I burst into laughter. “Yeah, maybe a little bit.”

  “What about you?” I asked before taking a sip of vodka.

  “My mom, brother, and me were shopping at the mall. My brother thought it was a good time to behave like a big boy and remain in the game store looking at games. I was five and my brother was eight years old. My mother and I made it down to the other end of the mall before we realized Kevin was missing. We freaked out. My mother tracked down a mall cop to assist in finding Kevin. The cop conversed with a fellow officer on his walkie. They said they found him.

  My mother exhaled, finally loosening the grip on my hand. She thanked the officer before we ran down the corridor toward a
well-known department store. My brother stood next to a Jewelry attendant. Just as the attendant was about to ask my brother was, she his mother, he ran clutching her waist tight.

  “I’m sorry,” my brother cried.

  My mother scolded my brother, but not harshly, in a loving way. I think she was just happy she found him.

  Sydney smiled at the memory as she took another sip of her cranberry juice.

  I snaked my arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

  My nose gently massaged along her earlobe. “How about you take Caden on your run tomorrow morning then to the mall? I have a video conference the first half of the day. Later, we can get into some family activities.”

  Sydney pulled back, glaring into my eyes. “You have a problem with us hanging out in the backyard?”

  “No…yes. Baby, you have to leave the subdivision….with Caden at some point. It just feels like you don’t feel safe anywhere anymore.”

  She yanked back from my grip sucking her teeth. “I don’t. We have you to thank for that right?”

  My face instantly heated. I was ticked.

  The baby cried on queue. She didn’t wait for my response. Sydney slammed her glass on the coffee table, then disappeared up the stairs never looking back. Leaning forward, my elbows dropped on my knees as my fingers intermingled my black curly locks.

  Should I go upstairs and confront Sydney while she’s taking care of Caden? Or should I wait? Maybe I should give her a little more time. Nope to stubborn. I hopped up the stairs two at a time, charged down the hall like a raging bull toward our son’s room. The second I hit the doorway; I was paralyzed. Sydney stood in front of the crib holding our son in her arms, kissing his fat cheeks. I observed their side view, instantly turning to mush.

  Her smile was bright. “I’m so happy I have you, little man. I’ll kill anyone who tries to hurt you. You are mommy’s handsome baby! Yeah, you are.” She bounced him up and down, then rocked him.

  Caden’s face lit up as he stared at his mother. I began backing away.

  “I meant what I said, Sebastian.”

  Our eyes met.

  “I will kill anyone.” Her eyes were ominous.

  Stepping forward, I turned my attention to Caden massaging the top of his head.

  My serious eyes moved to hers. “Then it’s best you stick to the backyard with Caden. I wouldn’t want you getting trigger happy while in the company of our son,” I growled.

  Her eyebrows bunched together. “You...”

  I placed my index finger over her plump lips.

  “Don’t say another word. I wouldn’t want you to say something else hurtful you can’t take back.”

  I kissed Caden’s forehead before walking away.

  ~

  I was thoroughly aware the kidnapping of our son was my fault. If Stephanie wasn’t my girlfriend, we wouldn’t have had this problem. Would Sydney continue to hold what happened over my head? Sitting at the bar in the Hyatt hotel, sipping a top shelf Vodka was just what I needed. My focus remained on the highlights of the baseball game I watched from underneath my low baseball cap. I’ve been forced to keep sunglasses and hats in my truck to remain disguised. I didn’t understand how Jacob lived this way every day. I wished Jacob was here. Maybe I’d call him later.

  A woman sat to my left.

  “How’s it going? Looks like you’re having a rough night?”

  I paused, staring back at myself in the mirror behind the bar. “You have no idea.”

  The remaining contents in my glass hit the back of my throat.

  Slamming my glass on the bar, I motioned for the Bartender to bring me another drink. I had no intentions on conversing with the woman.

  “Would you like to talk about what’s going on in your life?”

  I laughed. My eyes fell on the woman. “No.”

  She ran her fingers through her silky, straight, blonde hair. Her blue eyes met my green-eyed gaze. She crossed her long porcelain legs. Fuck, she was my average weakness.

  Turning my attention back to the TV, I continued, sipping my drink.

  “Fine I’ll start. My mother passed away yesterday. I am having a hard time coping.”

  I sighed, glancing her way. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “Thank you.” She fiddled with her glass.

  “Bartender check please.”

  “You’re leaving? she asked.

  “Yes, I’m going up to my room.”

  Her blue eyes roamed my body. “Would you like some company?”

  I held my left hand up. “No thank you. I’m a happily married man.” I stood and tossed a fifty-dollar bill on the bar.

  She toyed with the tiny yellow straw between her lips. “So, this is what happily married looks like. Hmm. I think I’ll pass. One second. Humor me. Mr. Johansen.”

  I removed my baseball cap, running my fingers through my hair. “I guess I don’t need this…” I tossed the cap on the counter. “…if you were able to recognize me.”

  She grinned. “It’s hard not to recognize a sexy man. You never play around, Mr. Johansen?”

  “Only with my beautiful wife Sydney Johansen.”

  A smile curled her red lips. “She is beautiful. Lucky woman.”

  My brow wrinkled.

  “I’m writing the story on you and your wife for the Seattle magazine ‘Life Styles.’ Valarie Skover.” She placed her hand out toward me.

  “It’s nice to meet you.” I shook her hand.

  She dropped her head back in laughter. “The look on your face when you thought I was hitting on you.”

  I knew she was really hitting on me. She would have taken it as far as I would have allowed.

  I smirked and hesitated. “You had the upper hand this evening. You knew what I looked like. Well I guess my wife and I will see you in early July.”

  “Yes, see you then, Mr. Johansen.”

  ~

  My shoulders dropped, and I exhaled. I stood at the oversized window in my hotel room overlooking Seattle. An extra laptop I kept hidden in the secret compartment in my Range Rover was serving as my back up tonight. I chose to drink at the hotel bar in case I had too much to drink, I could just sleep here. This was the same room I stayed in the last time I was here. It held sentimental value.

  No matter how mad I was with Sydney, I’d always make sure my family was safe. Sitting on the sofa I leaned over the coffee table, tapping each room cam on the screen. Caden was asleep in his crib, while Sydney sat in our bed watching TV. I checked the cameras throughout the house and on the grounds. The best course of action should have been having a car service drive me home instead of watching my family on surveillance cameras. I wasn’t buzzing anymore. Maybe I should drive home. I hated sleeping without my wife by my side. I laid in bed fully clothed, the laptop beside me, watching Sydney cradle Caden in her arms in our bed as I dozed off.

  “Click.” My eyes slowly opened to the soft snap. Sydney laid our son in the Lotus play yard. She grabbed the laptop off the bed and sat it on the night stand. Sydney peeled off her sweater, kicked off her shoes, then climbed into bed next to me.

  “Sydney…”

  “Shush. Don’t wake him. We’ll talk tomorrow.”

  She laid her head upon my shoulder, grazing my dick with her knee. Her fingers swept up my shirt, twirling them in my chest hair. I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to caress her face and ass.

  “I’m exhausted,” she whispered, dozing off, snoring.

  I couldn’t even stay mad at her. She bruised my heart, but she told the truth. I brought danger into our lives.

  CHAPTER TWO

  SYDNEY

  At every turn I relive the moment my son was stolen from me.

  The trained assassin was fucking chloroformed. Nursing the lavender tea, I sank into the plush sofa and stared out the window. Tears pooled in my eyes. The sun beamed through the massive living room. It was a beautiful day, but in my head everyday felt like gray clouds and hail pummeling the ground.

&nbs
p; “Sydney.” Her big brown eyes met mine. Her hand grazed the top of mine. “We have to get you out of this slump.

  “Samantha, I know. Thank you for coming on such short notice. I’ll have to thank Jacob for allowing you guys to hang with us for the weekend.” I mustered a smile.

  “You know he’ll be here tonight or tomorrow.”

  We laughed.

  “Yeah, he hates being alone. Sometimes he’ll hang with the guys at the bar while I’m away, but since Sebastian is here, they can bond over whiskey and cigars.” She smiled.

  We slapped hands.

  My face lit up. “True.”

  Holding my legs against my chest with one hand, I sipped my tea with the other. The twins cooed at Caden. Charlotte sat in the far corner of the blanket feeding her baby doll.

  “When you’re ready Sydney, I can help you with your defense tactics. Or Jacob can.”

  “I’d like that.”

  “You can’t continue to take your frustrations out on Sebastian. What the heck was that at the grocery store a couple of weeks ago?”

  I twisted my lips. “I’m trying, Sam. I see that guy everywhere.”