Chapter 11 #2
I gave Brogan a hard look, tilting my head so he could see my increasing fury. He nodded, understanding the level I’d reached as he walked closer to our captured guest.
“It’s best if you come clean now,” he said, keeping his tone softer than he had before. “Just tell us the truth. Everything happens for a reason, most of which can be explained. Then you can have your life back.”
Now he was trying to be the reasonable one in the group. God, how horrific this entire situation had become.
Dahlia exhaled but darted a single, tiny look in his direction.
In that split second, I’d seen the connection already building between them.
However, it wasn’t just about his heightened level of testosterone or the fact he looked like a bad boy personified.
There was some recognition. Damn it. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I felt it as well.
“I have nothing to say to any of you except you need to let me go. If you do, I won’t…” She quickly snapped her head away.
That broke the spell of passion. What we’d just shared had been nothing more than a blip in time.
I almost burst into laughter. “You won’t contact the police?
Is that what you were about to say?” It was time to move the situation forward.
I had a bad feeling Alexander’s plans were much darker than they’d ever been before.
We all needed time to think this through.
“You’re going to your room, where you’ll think about everything that’s happened and if you’d like to continue this way. ”
Brogan kept his icy stare on us as I led her out of the room, moving through the long corridor.
I was on edge, barely able to maintain even breathing.
She almost seemed relieved to be led out of the area housing whatever ugly apparatus holding court in the center of the room.
Alexander’s tastes had always been eccentric but purchasing a private island in the middle of the South Pacific had been his craziest idea yet.
And to set it up as a BDSM getaway meant for psychos was not something I wanted to become involved in.
I doubted it would be good for my illustrious career.
I kept my fingers wrapped around her arm as I led her toward her room.
She was stiff, her breathing ragged and she’d fisted both hands, just waiting for an opportunity to get the hell away from me.
When we were just outside the room, she pulled away, the glassiness in her eyes as she glared at me an indication that she’d been crying.
She was one proud girl, her innocence always evident, but the tenacity she’d built around her was like steel armor, impenetrable except to monsters like the three of us.
“You’re an officer of the law. How can you condone any of this? How can you be friends with either one of them? They are…” She shuddered, refusing to finish the sentence.
“Delinquents. Sinners. Bastards. I’m certain you have other words for it, lovely Dahlia, but it begs the question.
Is there a single one of us that hasn’t crossed some line?
Is there a person on this planet who hasn’t felt the bite of rage or the need for revenge, or sadness so intense that you became lost in yourself, incapable of pulling your head out of the sand?
And what about love? Aren’t there millions of people who fall madly in love only to realize they’d been used? What does that make all those people?”
She seemed surprised I’d offered such a ridiculous soliloquy, a slight smile crossing her face for the first time. “You hate him. Alexander. Don’t you?”
Her question was as unexpected as the woman standing in front of me.
I wanted to do several things to her—from turning her over my knees and spanking her tight little bottom for crossing that line, to wrapping my arm around her, protecting her from the evils of this world.
But mostly, I desired more than anything I had in one hell of a long time to pull her into a tight embrace, kissing her perfect rose-colored voluptuous lips as she crushed her beautiful breasts against my chest. Then I wanted to drive my cock so deep inside her, filling her with my seed, that I’d ruin her for all other men.
And then I wanted to start all over again.
What the hell did that make me?
“I’ve learned that there is no place in this world for hate.
” Even my words sounded hollow. Even though they were true, that didn’t mean I didn’t harbor ill feelings for the years I’d spent pretending to be somebody I wasn’t.
I’d wanted to live up to my father’s expectations, excelling in the same field he’d dedicated his life to at the expense of spending time with his family.
And I’d succeeded.
“Then that makes you the biggest fool of all.”
Her words stung, ripping at my heart. I eased her inside, hissing as I scanned the surroundings. I hadn’t paid enough attention to where she’d been taken. While the room itself was opulent, Alexander had taken it upon himself to remove everything but just the basics.
“Am I required to remain naked?” she asked, the rebellious side to her as strong as ever.
I moved toward the closet, opening the door and snarling. Alexander was a true bastard. The single dresser held nothing either. “When you learn to obey, you’ll start to receive additional privileges. Until then, you will stay in the room.”
“No food. No water? That’s inhumane even for assholes like you.”
“I’ll make certain something is brought to you.
” While the three of us were the only guests staying at the facility, there was an entire staff of maintenance workers, housekeepers, cooks, and landscapers who were told to stay out of sight.
Alexander’s production was huge, risky as fuck, but an interesting game.
Even more so than so many of his others had been.
My gut was still telling me that for whatever reason she’d planned all three of our deaths, she wasn’t the person we should be concerned about.
I knew what the others would say, but I had to think like a cop instead of the college kid from the days I’d shoved behind me.
“Why did you send us threats?” I had to know.
It didn’t seem to fit her method of operation.
She’d tried to remain anonymous, her use of disguises a clear indication.
Dahlia seemed genuinely perplexed, her brows furrowing. “What are you talking about?”
After shoving my hands into my pockets, I inched closer.
She immediately backed away.
“Texts sent to all three of us. A simple message that we would pay for our sins. I’m surprised you would announce your plans.”
Her lovely mouth twisted in response. Then she slowly shook her head. “Why would I be so stupid as to provide a single one of you with any indication of what you could expect? Given all the atrocities you performed all those years ago, my guess is that you have several enemies.”
Of all the things she’d spouted off, which were minimal, I believed this one. It would make no sense for a girl who had no business planning one—let alone three—murders to announce herself. “Interesting. How do you know what we did or didn’t do?”
“I have my sources.”
“Of course you do.”
I also believed that she’d been told at least a few stories regarding our antics, tasks performed that often crossed the lines.
“Do you remember anything about last night?” I asked, curious as to her answer.
“Other than you drugging me?” Her chiding answer and defiance faded quickly. “Not really, other than you said it was going to be alright. At least I think you did.”
Maybe it was good she hadn’t remembered the gunfire. “Were you working with anyone else?”
She swallowed twice before answering, the lovely tic on the corner of her mouth driving me crazy. God, I wanted the woman.
“No. I wasn’t. I didn’t tell anyone what I was doing or try and get anyone to help me. Don’t you think they’d call me crazy or try to stop me?” Her eyes were imploring. “I made a mistake, Daniel. That’s all you need to know.”
If she really believed that, then she didn’t understand what she’d gotten herself in the middle of. What I did know was that she was telling the truth, yet I stared at her with uncertainty likely showing in my eyes.
Dahlia looked away immediately, rubbing her fingers across her lips. Fuck. All I could think about was crushing mine over hers, drinking in her sweet essence.
Exasperated, I moved toward the door, stopping and taking several deep breaths.
I heard a slight sound and knew she’d dragged some of the bedding away.
When I turned my head, I captured her essence in a few precious seconds.
She’d never wanted to engage in the activity she’d been pushed into.
She’d been hurt by something or someone.
I didn’t have to be a mind reader to know who that was.
All three of us.
“I really didn’t send the warnings, Daniel. I’m not that stupid. I missed the mark on my use of poisons, but I had everything else correct. I’d learned enough about the three of you to know your weaknesses and I was able to use them against you.”
My laugh was little more than a groan. Great. If we had someone else planning our demise, it was going to be a rocky ride. But she was right. She’d used our dark needs against us. I could only imagine what she’d had planned for me. A part of me still wanted to know. I was a sick, twisted man.
“If you want me to say I’m sorry you didn’t succeed, I won’t do that. Everyone deserves a second chance.” Did I really believe that?
“I’m not so certain,” she whispered. “And I’m not even sure I do.”
Until we identified her secret, there wouldn’t be a single one of us who could rest easily.
I headed out the door and heard her tiny voice, the luminating sound like the sweet kisses of a newborn or the wings of a butterfly.
“Please don’t go, Daniel. I’m afraid.”