“I’m glad you’re all right,” he said.
“Thank you.” She made the introductions, and Marcus led them into a private study lined with bookshelves loaded with heavy leather-bound volumes. Marcus sat down behind a wide mahogany desk, and she and Jax sat in dark brown leather chairs across from him.
“Would you like some refreshment? Coffee or a soda, perhaps?”
“We’re fine,” Jax said.
“All right, then.” Marcus focused on Jax. “Tell me what I can do to help you find the men who tried to abduct Mindy last night.”
“First I need to know what you would have done if you had received a ransom demand from the kidnappers. Would you have paid the money for Mindy’s release out of her mother’s trust fund?”
Marcus didn’t hesitate. “No.” He looked at Mindy. “I’m sorry, my dear, my power only extends as far as the distribution of funds for your mother’s care and personal welfare. I could have gone to court and tried to obtain permission to release the funds to the kidnappers, but it would have taken time, and I’m not sure the judge would have granted my petition.”
Mindy shifted in her chair. “Can you think of anyone who might have thought you’d pay the ransom?”
“Very few people know about the trust fund. The settlement wasn’t highly publicized at the time, and it was almost twelve years ago. Whoever tried to kidnap you must be someone you’ve met or dealt with recently. At least that would be my guess.”
“How about you?” Jax asked. “Any new hires, people who recently gained access to the fund?”
“We have a few new employees at the firm but none who have any connection to the trust fund or would have any knowledge of it. Mindy handles the day-to-day business of her mother’s care. She submits a monthly request for the money, and I grant it.”
Interest moved across Jax’s hard features. His stare remained on Marcus. “What if Mindy submitted a request for a few million dollars? Would you be obliged to grant that request?”
Awareness dawned in Marcus’s pale blue eyes. His narrow shoulders straightened beneath his yellow shirt. “As Mindy was a minor at the time of the accident, the terms of the settlement aren’t something we’ve discussed. It simply never came up.” His gaze swung to Mindy. “The fact is, once you reached the age of twenty-one, my dear, you’ve had overriding control of your mother’s funds.”
Surprise rolled through her. “I didn’t know that, but it doesn’t change anything. It’s still Mom’s money.”
“That’s right,” Marcus said.
But Jax’s worried gaze fixed on her face. “You understand what this means?”
“I would never take my mother’s money.”
His features softened. “Under normal circumstances, I know you wouldn’t. But to put it bluntly, those men could have used any means necessary to force you to sign over the money in the trust.”
AFAINTSTORMblew across the city, stirring up leaves and trash on the street. All the way back to the office, Mindy rode in silence. Jax was worried about her.
“Nothing is going to happen to you,” he said as he pulled into the parking lot behind the building. “I won’t let it. You know that, right?”
She turned toward him in the passenger seat. “I know,” she said softly.
He wasn’t sure she believed him. He didn’t like the thought that she might not trust him to take care of her.
He sighed as they walked back into the office. The afternoon was slipping away. Since a fast-food breakfast wasn’t much of a meal, he suggested they head down to Clancy’s, the Irish pub down the block, The Max crew’s favorite hangout.
The wind had died down to a mild, pleasant breeze by the time they arrived. The restaurant wasn’t busy this hour of the day. The lunch crowd was already gone, the after-work, supper and drinking crowds not in until later. The smell of hops and lemon oil greeted them as they walked into an interior that was all dark wood paneling and lots of Irish green. A long bar lined with stools and an old-fashioned carved back bar dominated the room.
Jax led her to one of the wooden booths, and they sat down across from each other. Mindy ordered a bowl of beef barley soup and Jax ordered a corned beef sandwich, but passed on his usual Guinness. Until he knew what was going on, he needed to be at the top of his game. Mindy was his to protect. He’d do everything in his power to keep her safe.
“How’s your lunch?” he asked when he’d finished his sandwich, though Mindy was still eating—or pretending to. The small bowl of soup she’d ordered sat mostly untouched.
“It’s great. I’m just not very hungry.”
He reached across the table and set his hand over hers, felt the smooth warmth of her skin. His attraction to Mindy had always been strong, but knowing what could have happened to her, his protective feelings made the attraction even stronger. Everything about her turned him on—her pretty, girl-next-door face and gorgeous mahogany hair, her sweet smile and always optimistic personality, her petite but womanly figure.
His gaze went to the full swells beneath her silky blouse and his body stirred. He reminded himself she was out of his reach and let go of her hand.
“We’re going to figure this out,” he said. “Until we do, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
