A Highland Wedding

Time's Running Out

Alexei

I was jet-lagged and rumpled as I left the airport. I was hoping that I could find Anna and bring her home with me tonight. I was never letting her go again.

My phone rang and it was a number I didn’t recognize. I was supposed to meet one of my father’s friends here in Italy and from there we were going to head to the last known location of Anna.

“Alexei?” An older man who looked like he was straight out of the Army walked toward me and I was astounded by how tall he was. I was six-foot-three this guy has to be almost six-six.

“Sawyer Keating?” The man smiled and his eyes crinkled in the same way my dad’s did. I was feeling homesick for my father and had a new respect for the man and what he has done.

“Just call me Keats like your dad back in the day.” I nodded and was still gawking at the man; he laughed and pulled me into a giant bone-crushing bear hug.

“Your father had the same reaction when he first met me in the Rangers.” I nodded and he clapped me on the back.

“I appreciate you helping me.” My throat clogged with emotion and the older man nodded and gave me a nod.

“So your father sent the coordinates of Anna’s last known whereabouts. It will take us at least two and a half hours to get there.” My phone rang again and I sighed, it was the same number.

“Could you take this please, I need to freshen up a bit.” Sawyer took the phone and answered it. His eyes went wide and my heart fell into my stomach.

“She’s where? How long ago? Ok, can you text the information to this number I have a person that will meet you there.” Time was standing still; she was in a hospital? What happened?

“I understand, Silva is your name. Thank you so much. My guy will get you and your family out of the city. He will be wearing a Keating security shirt. Thank you again.” Sawyer handed the phone back to me and all I could do was grip it with numb fingers.

“I need to call some of my men, it looks like we have a limited amount of time to get Anna out of trouble. Let me make a call and you grab your bag and freshen up then I will give you the details.” He walked off and started talking on his phone.

How could he just leave me hanging like that? I decided to send Jer a text and sighed as I looked at Mack’s number.

Hitting send, I figured he needed to know at least what I knew. He had to know the results of his actions.

“Did ye find her yet?” I scowled and pulled the phone away from my ear.

“Are you drunk?” I shouldn’t judge him, I really shouldn’t but I can’t help it.

“Aye, I am very drunk. I don’t know how I can live with myself.” Sighing, I scrubbed my hand over my face.

“Look Mackenzie, you and I are going to have a long talk when I get back. Right now we need to focus on getting Anna back and getting Claire put away.” There was a long silence on the other end of the phone and a sob.

Was Gregor Mackenzie crying? This was affecting him more than I thought it was. We were really going to have to sit down and talk this over.

“This is all my fault Alexei. I should never have let Claire back into the picture.”

“Look, we didn’t know Claire was going to end up being a complete sociopath? Stop drinking and sober up.”

“She could have been in that house and burned down with it. What happens if Caleb was in the house? Or even Sinclaire and Eugenia?” He was spiraling out of control and I knew I had to send help.

“Gregor, I’m hanging up. I am sending Daniel and Jer to stay with you for a bit.” There was more sobbing and I was growing more uncomfortable.

“They wouldn’t want to help me. They hate me.” The line went dead and I clenched the phone tensely.

“You ready to go?” Sawyer was all business and I nodded. I could call Daniel and Jer on the way to pick up Anna.

Something was nagging at me and I called my father instead. “Hey Dad, can you and the guys keep an eye on Gregor Mackenzie? He isn’t doing too well and I think he might do something stupid.”

“I will send someone over and will tell Jer and Daniel. I know it isn’t his fault but I still can’t help but feel angry about this.”

“I know Dad. He feels so much guilt and he is drinking himself stupid.” There was the loud chatter of Russian in the background and then Mandarin.

“I need to go; your Bubby is trying to strong-arm the baby from Melina.” I was shocked I wasn’t expecting my grandmother to move in so soon. Then I heard Caleb in the background and then more Russian.

My heart was sad, Anna and I should have been there to greet my grandmother.

“Don’t worry too much Alexei, your grandmother is enjoying every minute of her stay here and she loves Melina. I think she is just happy to have someone to fight with.” I chuckled and my dad laughed as well.

“Ok, thank you, Dad. I need to go now.” We hung up and I followed Sawyer out to the rental car.

When we were settled into the car Sawyer was gripping the steering wheel and his jaw was tense.

“I don’t know who this Claire person is, but she has managed to have Anna committed to a psych ward. We have a small window to get to the hospital before they release her to Claire.” My jaw dropped how could they just release her to the woman who kidnapped her?

“I know that look and I was shocked as well. What I understood from Silva was that Claire was claiming to be Anna’s sister.”

“They believed her?” I couldn’t wrap my mind around this.

“Apparently they did.” Cursing again I wanted to punch something.

“How small is our window?” Sawyer pulled into traffic and we were on our way to the city where Anna was.

“Five hours. I have my men on the job and they are getting the girl Silva and her family out of the city. Anna told them to leave because Claire could target them.”

“Claire is one sick woman how the hell is she managing this?”

“That is the million-dollar question. Better rest up Alexei, I don’t know what we are going to be walking into when we get there.” I knew my father had connections that were less than legal, however, some criminals did in fact have a moral code.

It seems that Claire wasn’t your everyday criminal. She will play by her own rules.