Chapter Five #3
Blast him. Well, he would find out that she was different. He would.
****
The Landon boy had ceased yelling a good twenty minutes ago and, more recently, had quit fighting the ropes that tethered him to the bedposts of the elaborately decorated master bedroom in Baylor’s suite.
Alan and Toby sat in armchairs near the window, trying to appear nonchalant about what had just taken place, even as Morgan smiled at all of them.
Baylor particularly had enjoyed humiliating Carl.
The man was good-looking, with his long brown hair and green eyes.
He worked out religiously at a gym whenever he wasn’t gambling and was extremely proud of his virility.
He also had a real aversion to any male touching him, and Baylor certainly had.
It served as a good example to Alan and Toby that Baylor exacted his due when he was not obeyed. He smiled at them now.
“That little demonstration was because Mr. Landon chose to be in a poker game rather than tailing Sophie Cameron the second time the dragon appeared. If I had known of his absence, I’d have been there myself.” Baylor looked around. “Any questions?”
Toby shook his head quickly, his face pale.
No doubt he was remembering some of the special tortures he’d endured in the past. Caldwell looked at him steadily, his hatred smoldering just beneath the surface.
Baylor almost laughed. Caldwell had taken a branding a few months ago rather than be shagged by a couple of Baylor’s bodyguards.
In truth, Baylor admired Caldwell’s standing up to him, although he would never let him know it. “Well?” he asked.
“Nope.” Caldwell answered. “I think everyone here understands you. I disabled the doc’s car and offered to give her a ride home. Your remote webcam is now installed inside her living room.”
Baylor turned to Toby. “And for once, did you get something right the first time?”
Toby gulped, but managed not to look away. “Yes, sir. I gave her the dragon keychain with the GPS chip inside. Anytime she has those keys, we can track her.”
“Good.” Baylor gestured to the bed where Carl was groaning. “See what you saved yourself from?”
“Yes, sir.”
“And you, my pet.” Baylor walked over to Morgan on the small settee and fondled her breasts through the thin material of her low-cut blouse. “You looked a bit glum when you got here. Are you going to tell me you weren’t successful?”
“I got in,” she said. “I’m her Girl Friday now, and the audio bug is under her desk.”
“Then why so glum? You know I reward you well for doing what you’re told.”
Morgan tossed her ebony hair back. “That damn bitch has Michael wrapped around her finger!”
“Forget the damn warlock. I’ll have Caldwell kill him once we find the Sword.”
“No! Don’t harm Michael! He’s—” She stopped, her expression telling Baylor that she knew she had said too much. “Kill the bitch instead.”
“I might.” Baylor shrugged. “We’ve got everything in place.
The next time that dragon is sighted, I am sure Mr. Landon will let me know.
Isn’t that so?” he asked, not turning to look at the man, but he heard the faint, “Yes, sir,” that he needed.
“Caldwell, ingratiate yourself with that idiot Smith. He’s bound to have the second riddle somewhere.
Work on Sophie Cameron, too. You said she likes to fence? Do something with that.”
Caldwell grinned. “Oh, I intend to.”
“No drugs this time. Even though it was Ramsey who messed up your plans with Sara, we don’t know that the warlock didn’t find out about that little incident.”
“No drugs.”
“Good. Toby, get that story published. I may need for you to go back and get more details.” Baylor opened the bedstand drawer and pulled out a business card. “This is an editor who owes me a favor. Call him.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And Morgan. You truly are my eyes and ears in that office. The Cameron woman might have a copy of the riddle. See if you can find it for me, won’t you, sweetness?”
“If it’s there, I’ll find it.”
“If you do, I might even let you play with your warlock boy.” He watched her face light up for a mere fraction of a second before she carefully schooled her expression. Morgan might just make a good pupil of his, after all.
Lucifer’s horns! He needed some humans he could actually trust…
if such a thing could be done. His drug cartels were becoming unruly, fighting amongst themselves and killing too many people.
How many times had he told the warlords that a country would submit to being running by corruption if the common folk didn’t fear for their daily lives?
All the bickering was slowing his profit margin, as well.
The terrorist training camps he sponsored were clamoring for more money and more recruits.
With all the attention on securing the borders, even Baylor was having a hard time of it.
Once the Sword was his, all that would change.
Evil and corruption would rule the world.
Meanwhile, he might just need to have a talk with Lucifer. The white dragon hadn’t answered his call.