Stranded with My Stepbrother Chapter 167

McKenzie

Will stepped out of the truck with his hands over his head.

“That’s great, Will, but I think there are three lovely ladies still in the truck,” Ike said.

Mom, Dolly, and I looked at each other then got out as well, hands raised.

“Excellent. See how easy things can be when you cooperate, Will?” Ike asked. “Though I do keep having to hammer that lesson home over and over again. Your grades in college do not suggest that you’re a slow learner but….”

“You’ve got us. Now, get Shep help,” Will said.

Ike tapped his chin, stalling.

“IKE!!!” Will snarled.

“Fine, fine. A deal’s a deal.” Ike turned to Horacio, who was hovering nearby. “Send in a medical team.”

Horacio got on his phone immediately.

“Now. Will, ladies. Would you mind following me to that Escalade over there?” Ike asked sweetly.

Another black car.

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. I laughed hysterically. I had to hold my sides, it hurt so badly, but I couldn’t stop.

Ike sighed. “Will, fix it.”

Will lowered his arms and went straight to my side, putting his arms around me. “Hey, love. It’s going to be okay.”

“We don’t lie to each other.” I hiccupped between giggles.

“I’m going to make it okay.” He sounded very determined. Sure of himself.

That made my laughter turn to tears. “Everyone around us just gets hurt.”

Ike rolled his eyes. “Tick-tock, Will.”

“Let’s talk about it in the car,” Will said kindly. He started walking me that way. “Come on.”

Mom and Dolly followed behind.

I felt like a complete idiot, but I couldn’t stop crying. And laughing. And crying. “I’m s-sorry,” I sobbed at them once we were situated in the back of the Escalade.

“It’s all right.” He rocked me gently and kissed my hair. “It’s all been very upsetting. It’s only natural to fall apart sometimes.”

Panic set in once the door swung closed. Ike and Horacio got in front, Horacio in the driver’s seat.

“They’re never going to let us go,” I whispered. I jumped to my door and began tearing at the handle, clawing at it. But the child locks were on.

I couldn’t breathe. I needed to get out.

“McKenzie. McKenzie!” Will grabbed me and held my arms against my sides. “You’re hurting yourself!”

I fought him, screaming, “Let go of me! Let go!”

Mom crawled across the back seat. “McKenzie, you need to calm down.” She took my hands in hers.

I felt a sting and looked down. My hands were bleeding at the tips, and my nails were ragged. The blood brought me down rapidly.

Ike, the asshole, laughed from the front seat. “Let’s go, Horacio. They have it handled.”

Horacio pulled off the side of the road and started toward the highway. I noticed a black sedan pull out in front of us and one behind.

They weren’t taking any chances.

I hiccupped again and leaned into Will. Now that I was calm, I was exhausted. Just exhausted from all of it.

Will pulled me into his lap. “You’re okay, honeybee.”

Mom went back to Dolly, who was looking fierce, but pale. I knew she must be terrified about Shep.

“Ike, you have to keep us updated on Shep’s condition,” Will said as though reading my mind.

“Horacio will keep an eye on his texts. Won’t you, Horacio?” Ike replied.

Horacio just nodded.

“He’s driving,” Will pointed out.

“Phone mount. What century are you living in?” Ike chuckled.

Will frowned.

“In my century, everyone’s supposed to be buckled up. But I’m willing to overlook it today,” Ike added.

“How magnanimous of you,” Will responded bitterly.

I slipped my arms around Will at the very suggestion we might have to be parted, even if it would be just for safety’s sake. I didn’t want to sit even an inch away from him. Not now.

We fell into silence for twenty minutes.

Finally, Dolly couldn’t take it anymore. “Have they called an ambulance?” she demanded.

“We sent in the medical team. Our medical team. It has a surgeon on it,” Ike said. “If your son has a chance, that team will make sure he’s stable and get him to… a facility.”

“One of Grandfather’s facilities,” Will inferred.

“With a medical staff. I think Caleb and Milton will do very well there,” Ike assured him. “Provided Milton survives.”

“He prefers Shep,” I mumbled.

“I’m sure he does.” Ike settled back in his chair.

Will growled. “There has to be some news by now!”

“Ugh. You are so needy.” Ike looked at Horacio. “Well?”

“They’re still working. Lieutenant Stanley Isaacs was apprehended. What do you want us to do with him?” Horacio asked.

“Moose?” I mouthed to Dolly.

Dolly nodded.

“Take him to the facility as well. We don’t kill our friends, now do we, Will?” Ike said.

It was a threat.

“No. We don’t,” Will replied.

“Good man. Getting smarter. You might become worthy of your grandfather’s empire yet!” Ike chortled.

“Joy,” Will grumbled under his breath.

Ike snickered. “I swear it has been the highlight of my life educating you. I’ve never had this much fun!”

“I’m glad someone is.” Will didn’t look resigned. He looked angry.

The fact that he still had spirit left in him after all this gave me hope. I threaded my fingers through his.

“Now, when we get back, there will be the engagement party. Caleb, sadly, does not appear to be in fit condition to attend. We’ll just have to rely on Jacey. We’ve moved the party, of course, from Bran’s home to that of John Anders. He’s such a good friend of your grandfather’s and was happy to help,” Ike said.

“What day?” I asked.

“Tomorrow, of course. It is very fortuitous that we found you in time. Poor John has been making so many preparations,” Ike responded.

“Tomorrow?!” Will gaped.

Ike turned back again. “I thought it best to move up the timeline a bit.”

“Tomorrow didn’t seem a bit early to you?” Will argued.

“Not in the slightest. You two have proven to be quite vexing. Entertaining, but vexing. I’m going to make it so that there is nowhere you can go where you won’t be recognized.” Ike’s tone became flat, menacing.

“So, a well-publicized engagement,” I said.

Ike smiled at me and it gave me the creeps. “Exactly. We’ve gone all out. This will be the engagement event of the century!”

“I see.” Will rubbed the back of my neck. He must have felt my tension. “I guess you think you have us trapped.”

“Pretty sure I do this time. But you’re always welcome to try again. It’s truly exhilarating chasing you,” Ike chuckled.

“I’m going to make you hate me, Ike,” Will said.

Ike just laughed harder. “Oh, Will. I already do.”

“He’s stable enough to transport,” Horacio interrupted.

“Hm? Oh, good. Not out of the woods, but not dead, I’m assuming,” Ike replied.

Dolly let out a long breath. It was then that I saw she was gripping Mom’s hand.

“Yes, that is correct, sir,” Horacio said.

“That’s good news.” Ike scrolled through his phone. “I hope you like truffles.”

“Truffles?” I echoed. “What does that have to do with Shep?”

Ike shook his head. “No, your engagement party. They will be serving truffles.”

“Ike, respectfully, do you think we give a flying fuck about truffles right now?” Will hissed.

“Caviar, then?” Ike replied cheekily.

“When can we see Dad, Shep, and Moose?” I asked, ignoring the engagement party talk.

“You really are poo-pooing all the hard work John and I put into this.” Ike sighed. “And I think it would be best if you weren’t allowed to see them until after the party. No offense, but you do have a history of making trouble, and I thought a little incentive might be in order.” Then he chuckled. “The man actually calls himself ‘Moose’? Where do you pick up these people?”

“Are you making fun of my Moose?” Dolly asked angrily. “While my son might be dying?”

Ike raised an eyebrow at her. “Yes, I think I am. And if I’m very, very lucky, he will die. One less persistent problem I have to deal with.”

“You sonofabitch!” Dolly began crawling over the seat to get to Ike.

Mom grabbed her by the waistband of her pants while Will and I gripped her shoulders. “No, Dolly! This is what he wants!” Will cried.

Indeed, I could see the barrel of a gun poking out from under Horacio’s jacket, even as he placidly pretended to just drive.

“Come on, Dolly. Don’t you want to punish the man responsible for hurting your son?” Ike goaded her.

Dolly let out a scream of frustration and scratched Will’s cheek.

“Hey now. None of that. He has to look presentable tomorrow!” Ike objected.

“Leave her alone!” I yelled at Ike. “Dolly, please. Look at me. Horacio has a gun. He’s going to shoot you if you get any closer. What will Shep do without his mom?”

Dolly took several deep breaths then let Mom drag her back by her pants. She shook with rage, but she wasn’t wild-eyed anymore.

Ike clucked his tongue. “Well, that was disappointing.”

“If you want me to be good, you’re going to have to keep everyone I love alive,” Will said coldly.

Ike gave a disgruntled huff. “No guarantees on Shep.”

“I want to make sure every effort is made for him,” Will pressed on.

“Ugh. Fine. You are such a pain in the ass.” Ike reached in his pocket then handed Will a handkerchief. “You’re bleeding.”

“Whose fault is that?” Will pressed the handkerchief to his cheek.

“It figures Masterson would put someone even crazier than he is in charge of his operations while he’s in prison,” Mom said.

Ike grinned. “Thank you. That’s high praise coming from you.”

Mom grumbled that it wasn’t a compliment, but Ike was still happy.

“So, back to the engagement event. Or maybe we should call it an extravaganza. There will be three chocolate fountains, a very large champagne fountain, six ice sculptures, five four-tiered cakes and one eight-tiered one, and fireworks, of course. We’ve also got six swans to paddle around John’s pond—he had two but more is more—and we’ve got seven five-star Michelin restaurants catering. There will be dancing, of course. There will be too many gifts to do a gift opening right there. Let’s just say you will be writing thank-you cards for a while, McKenzie.” Ike looked very proud of himself. “Oh, and Jacey, as mother of the bride-to-be, you will, of course, be required to be circulating and social as well.”

“Of course,” Mom said quietly, her arms around Dolly.

“What will Dolly be doing?” I asked.

“Whatever she wants. At the estate. She won’t be attending. It’s bad enough we have two hayseeds in attendance. I still don’t know what your grandfather is thinking.” Ike shrugged. “But that’s above my paygrade, I’m afraid.”

“If you could bring yourself to stop insulting my future wife, I’d be greatly appreciative,” Will grunted.

Ike chuckled. “I’ll work on that.”

“Sir?” Horacio said.

“Yes?” Ike replied.

“They’re at the facility. Mr. Pope is being taken into emergency surgery. It’s touch and go, I guess.” Horacio gestured to his phone. “I guess they moved him too soon.”

Ike waved a hand. “They needed to get him out of there regardless.”

Dolly made a strangled sound.

“Also, Mr. Killeen attacked one of the guards,” Horacio said.

“What?!” Ike grabbed Horacio’s phone off the mount. “How?! How could that even happen?!”

“The guard reacted, sir,” Horacio went on, even as Ike was reading it for himself.

“Fuck. FUCK.” Ike slammed the phone back into the mount and closed his eyes.

Mom leaned forward. “What do you mean, the guard ‘reacted’?” Her voice was tight with fear.

My stomach was in hard knots. I clutched Will’s shirt, afraid of the next words out of Ike’s mouth.

“Caleb took a bullet to the heart. He’s in surgery, but he’s not expected to live. Fuck, Mr. Masterson is going to kill me! We broke one of his favorite toys,” Ike complained.

Mom turned absolutely transparent. “Caleb,” she whispered.

Then she passed out in Dolly’s arms.