Read Online The Registry by Shannon Stoker - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shannon Stoker
Tags: Suspense
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driving a cheap convertible. He couldn’t wait to get out of here and back to civilization. He smiled at the thought of never having to return. But as he neared the house, even he had to admit there was some rustic charm to the giant structure. He reminded himself he was taking home the most charming part of it.
Grant liked the idea of having such a sheltered girl as a wife. He planned on keeping her that way. He had met too many young ladies who were far too educated for his tastes. This innocent was just what he was searching for.
As he drew closer to the house, the road changed to pavement and the dust began to settle. Without the cloud of debris Grant noticed some cars in the driveway. They were black SUVs, government cars. He assumed this was why David had requested his company so early. Grant grinned and shook his head. He presumed the cars meant some of his friends had heard of the engagement and wanted to congratulate him or attend the party. He would be quick to oblige their requests.
Throwing the car into park, Grant checked his hair in the mirror and straightened his collar. Now that his proposal had been accepted, he’d decided to dress normally—no more suits. His signature look was a polo shirt, plaid shorts, and sandals. This was not how one would expect a mogul to dress, but Grant didn’t care. He jumped out of the car and made it a step before David was at the front door.
“Good morning, David. How is my bride-to-be?” Grant called out as he neared the house.
“Please, come in and sit down. It’s Mia. She is missing,” David said in a low voice.
I t didn’t take long for Grant to realize the government cars were not driven by his friends. These cars belonged to RAG agents. Grant was much more interested in what they had found than in what David was saying. He thought back to his time in service. He had worked for Military Intelligence and was excellent at his job. He would have been a RAG agent if he hadn’t found his calling in arms dealing.
“ . . . and I’m sure someone took her. Poor girl, she must be so scared; she is so lucky she has you to worry about her.”
“Why don’t you stop insulting my intelligence,” Grant said. “We both know your daughter made a run for it. She didn’t want to marry me.”
David froze, not knowing how to respond.
“And we both know if it gets out that she ran away or I find out she ran away, I can back out of the deal. If you don’t present a bride, I don’t have to buy her. I could break off the engagement this second if I wanted to, and there is nothing you could do.”
Grant stopped and took a sip of water. He enjoyed the confused look on the old man’s face. The fear that his expensive transaction might fall through was apparent.
“So, please stop telling me someone took her, because it doesn’t matter to me one bit. I knew she was headstrong. I just didn’t think she was this brave. I admire her.”
A smile and look of relief crossed David’s face.
“Here is what we are going to do. Effective today, we are going to sign the paperwork. You get your money and I’ll get the legal rights to your daughter. This search becomes my search. I’ll find her and take her to her new home. You will have no rights anymore. You stop worrying about your daughter and let me worry about my wife,” Grant said. His voice was calm and collected.
“What are you going to do if you find her?” David looked concerned.
“This deal is not going to stay on the table for long. I wouldn’t waste your time worrying about situations we both know you don’t care about,” Grant said.
He thought David a stupid man, motivated solely by money. Grant watched him pull out the paperwork and start signing documents. As Grant took the check out from his wallet, he thought about David’s question. He wasn’t sure what he would do to Mia when he found her. Her escape only made her more desirable to him. He was not a man people said no to.
He smiled as David
Grant liked the idea of having such a sheltered girl as a wife. He planned on keeping her that way. He had met too many young ladies who were far too educated for his tastes. This innocent was just what he was searching for.
As he drew closer to the house, the road changed to pavement and the dust began to settle. Without the cloud of debris Grant noticed some cars in the driveway. They were black SUVs, government cars. He assumed this was why David had requested his company so early. Grant grinned and shook his head. He presumed the cars meant some of his friends had heard of the engagement and wanted to congratulate him or attend the party. He would be quick to oblige their requests.
Throwing the car into park, Grant checked his hair in the mirror and straightened his collar. Now that his proposal had been accepted, he’d decided to dress normally—no more suits. His signature look was a polo shirt, plaid shorts, and sandals. This was not how one would expect a mogul to dress, but Grant didn’t care. He jumped out of the car and made it a step before David was at the front door.
“Good morning, David. How is my bride-to-be?” Grant called out as he neared the house.
“Please, come in and sit down. It’s Mia. She is missing,” David said in a low voice.
I t didn’t take long for Grant to realize the government cars were not driven by his friends. These cars belonged to RAG agents. Grant was much more interested in what they had found than in what David was saying. He thought back to his time in service. He had worked for Military Intelligence and was excellent at his job. He would have been a RAG agent if he hadn’t found his calling in arms dealing.
“ . . . and I’m sure someone took her. Poor girl, she must be so scared; she is so lucky she has you to worry about her.”
“Why don’t you stop insulting my intelligence,” Grant said. “We both know your daughter made a run for it. She didn’t want to marry me.”
David froze, not knowing how to respond.
“And we both know if it gets out that she ran away or I find out she ran away, I can back out of the deal. If you don’t present a bride, I don’t have to buy her. I could break off the engagement this second if I wanted to, and there is nothing you could do.”
Grant stopped and took a sip of water. He enjoyed the confused look on the old man’s face. The fear that his expensive transaction might fall through was apparent.
“So, please stop telling me someone took her, because it doesn’t matter to me one bit. I knew she was headstrong. I just didn’t think she was this brave. I admire her.”
A smile and look of relief crossed David’s face.
“Here is what we are going to do. Effective today, we are going to sign the paperwork. You get your money and I’ll get the legal rights to your daughter. This search becomes my search. I’ll find her and take her to her new home. You will have no rights anymore. You stop worrying about your daughter and let me worry about my wife,” Grant said. His voice was calm and collected.
“What are you going to do if you find her?” David looked concerned.
“This deal is not going to stay on the table for long. I wouldn’t waste your time worrying about situations we both know you don’t care about,” Grant said.
He thought David a stupid man, motivated solely by money. Grant watched him pull out the paperwork and start signing documents. As Grant took the check out from his wallet, he thought about David’s question. He wasn’t sure what he would do to Mia when he found her. Her escape only made her more desirable to him. He was not a man people said no to.
He smiled as David
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