Hot SEAL, April's Fool by Becca Jameson (smart books to read .txt) 📗

gun in his hand around and held it out to Bart. “Know how to use this?”

“Of course.” Bart took it from him. “I’d rather not though. I assume this asshole thought he could coerce you into turning over the shop?”

Cole nodded as he grabbed his phone. “Can you call 911?”

“Yep.” Bart kept the gun aimed at the asshole on the ground while he held up his phone.

Cole grabbed his keys next. “Gotta go. Fucking Chamberlain is holding April against her will.”

Bart’s eyes went wide. “Shit. Yes. Go. I’ve got this.”

“I’ll yell for the rest of the guys to come back this way.” Cole took off running, shouting toward the garage bays as soon as he was outside. “David, get the guys and go to the office.”

David shoved away from the hood he was looking under and took off running toward the office, not waiting for Cole to explain himself further. The other guys saw him run and that’s all they needed to run too—that and the fact that David would never question Cole. All the guys respected him even though he’d been away for ten years.

Cole peeled out of the parking lot as he told his phone to connect him to Rodney.

Luckily, Rodney picked up on the second ring. “Cole. Everything okay?”

“Not even close. Chamberlain is holding April hostage at his home. Sent one of his stooges, guy named Dewey, to steal my dad’s shop from me. I knocked the guy out with a chokehold. Bart called 911. He’s got Dewey’s gun.”

“Fuck,” Rodney muttered. “I’ll make sure a team is on their way to the shop and meet you at Chamberlain’s.”

“Thank you.”

Cole drove way too fast, but this wasn’t the first time he’d hauled ass to get somewhere. Usually away from danger. Usually in a tank. He could easily maneuver an SUV down a few streets.

He got to Chamberlain’s in record time, but he spent all of that time dialing and redialing April, who never answered. Surely the fucking mayor wouldn’t be so stupid as to harm a single hair on April’s head. He’d definitely crossed a line this time. Several of them.

Rodney pulled up to the house at the same time as Cole. Good thing because Cole wasn’t sure he could stay above the law without his friend there to keep him from killing the mayor.

April paced the library in every direction. She’d already checked all the windows. They were too high for her to consider jumping unless she got desperate. She could not believe the mayor would do this. It was so irrational. How the hell did he think he could get away with holding someone hostage for money? Because she had no doubt it wasn’t an accident she was being held against her will at the same time that he’d sent one of his henchmen to extort money from Cole.

Violet had called her father several times and left many messages and texts. She seemed to be as frustrated as April unless it was all a hoax.

“I’m sure this is all a misunderstanding,” Violet said for the tenth time. “After all, my father knows I’m in here with you. He wouldn’t hold anyone against their will. I promise. The door just sticks sometimes. It’s happened before. Once when I was a child—”

April spun toward Violet and held up a hand. “Stop trying to make light of this, Violet. Nothing your father has done lately has been on the up and up. If you’re not aware of his shady dealings, I’m sorry to be the one to inform you, but you need to stop defending him.”

Violet gasped. “What are you talking about?”

April narrowed her gaze at Violet. “Seriously?”

Violet nodded, her eyes wide, though April had no idea if she was pretending to be shocked or genuinely surprised. “If he’s involved in something illegal, I’m not aware of it.”

April set her hands on her hips. “For one thing, he’s extorting money from people to get that strip mall built.”

Violet’s eyes widened farther. “Are you sure?”

“Jesus, yes. Cole is one of them. Your father’s plan is to take the mechanic shop so he can tear it down. He’s used very underhanded means to make that happen.”

Violet shook her head. “Surely, you’re mistaken. Why can’t he just buy the businesses?”

“Because people don’t want to sell them, Violet.” April felt exasperated. “Most of the businesses along those two blocks have been in people’s families for decades. He’s ruining a way of life in order to make a buck. Please tell me you’re not so stupid that you didn’t know this?”

Violet swallowed. Maybe April was getting through to her. “That’s not true. When Daddy talks about the new strip mall, he always points out how much better it will be for the community and how many new jobs will be provided.”

April let out a sarcastic chuckle. “That’s so naïve. The only pockets that will get lined from the new development are your father’s. Many families will have to move away because they’ve lost their businesses. Sure, the strip will create new jobs, but most of them will be part-time, minimum wage. Not the kind of jobs people can earn a living doing.”

“He doesn’t see it that way, I can assure you. But I’ll talk to him. He listens to me,” Violet suggested.

April pointed at the locked door. “You mean like how he’s listening to you right now?”

Violet looked uncharacteristically unsteady as she wandered to one of the armchairs and stared into space. What a Daddy’s girl.

April almost felt sorry for her. Even though she’d always been a nosy, conniving gossip, she didn’t appear to be faking her complete lack of knowledge about her father’s business dealings.

After several minutes of silence, Violet spoke again in her more familiar haughty voice. “Are you back together with Cole?”

April flinched. Did Violet really want to feed the rumor mill in the middle of a crisis? “Seriously? You want to text everyone you know and gossip right now?”

Violet lifted her chin and shook her head. “No. That’s