Chapter 11 #4
I pressed my palm against the wall of the hallway, my heart thudding rapidly.
What the hell were we doing? More important, who was out to take us down?
I made a promise to myself that not one of us would hurt her.
Yeah, I liked her too, perhaps more than I should or deserved.
A part of me knew I shouldn’t be allowed to have or enjoy anything so precious.
Shit. I was losing part of myself in this twisted game already.
I yanked out my phone, dialing a number.
The man had been an associate for years, a former computer hacker who could get into any system and had numerous times under the direction of the CIA.
“Wow. I didn’t expect your call so soon. I thought you weren’t going back out for another week or so.”
“I need your help, Steven, on a personal matter. Do you think you could locate the business where a burner phone was purchased?” I didn’t know his real name or his location, but it didn’t matter. His services had become invaluable over the years.
“That’s easy, buddy, something you could do with all that fancy equipment at the CIA,” Steven said, laughing.
“I’m currently in a location where I don’t have access to what I need.”
He hesitated then snorted. “I got ya. Send me what you have. It shouldn’t take more than two hours.”
“I appreciate your help. I might have another favor to ask.”
“I owe you plenty. Not a problem.”
At least I could trust the man. He knew better than to cross me or let it slip I’d asked for a favor. I’d owe him, but money meant nothing to me.
As I walked past the goddamn playroom, I noticed Brogan had retreated to the deck, staring out at the massive palm trees. Sighing, I walked inside the room, glaring at the apparatus then heading onto the balcony. I kept my distance, leaning over the railing.
“I don’t like this shit,” he said quietly, angst in his voice.
“Neither do I. She didn’t send the threatening messages. That much I know.”
He turned his head toward me and I didn’t need to look at his face to know he felt the same. “Then who did?”
“That’s what we’re going to find out. I can guarantee it’s someone from our past.”
“Why wait this long to try and destroy us?”
“The big question. Garrison died only three months ago. Maybe that was the catalyst.”
“Or my release.”
“That too. Whatever the case, the real killer will strike when we least expect it,” I said, hating the sound of my own voice. Hollow. No emotion. But anger continued to boil away, churning my insides. “This is supposed to be paradise. Why does it feel like a prison of our own making?”
“Because that’s exactly what it is. Tasting her was nothing but a reminder. I’ve fucked up my entire life.”
I took a deep breath, holding the salty yet sweet air in my lungs before releasing. While the scent was fragrant, it was nothing like the refreshing, powerful fragrance Dahlia carried. “You didn’t beat that man to death just because he accosted a woman. Did you?”
He didn’t react or say anything at first, but I felt the tension in his muscles increase. “As with everything, there’s always another side to the story.”
“Let me give you a piece of advice. Search your memory and your heart. I have a feeling that the reason you reacted the way you did is connected to the recent threats.”
“And Dahlia?”
“She’s the wild card. But we will determine her real identity. Only then can we unravel this bizarre game.”
We both felt Alexander’s presence behind us. I had nothing else to say to the man.
He’d made himself a drink and casually walked onto the deck, easing into one of the chairs like it was his own personal throne, just like he’d done countless times before. “We’re secure here. I hired the best.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re only interested in protecting your own skin, not learning the truth.”
“That’s not true, Daniel, but I can see why you think that. I’m not the arrogant kid you remember. I have goals and values as well as needs. However, no one is allowed to threaten me and get away with it.”
Brogan and I shot each other a look.
There was nothing to say in retort to the man, especially since he wouldn’t listen to anything including logic. I’d made a mistake coming here. That much I did know.
“Do you remember the women we shared?” he asked, an entirely different sound in his voice.
“We did enjoy it.” Brogan’s answer brought a smile to his face.
I wasn’t certain I wanted to have the memories brought to light, but the simple truth was that we had shared some good times together, even making a second ridiculous pact that we’d find the right woman we could all share, enjoy, and keep.
Forever.
“This isn’t college or a bizarre fantasy. This is real life,” I answered.
“Get off your pedestal, Daniel. Just because you’re a CIA agent doesn’t mean you’ve changed entirely. You even found the perfect girl, as you called her. Do you remember her?”
Goddamn Alexander. He had to bring up the most horrific moment of the time we spent together. She’d been an angel, a beautiful creature so innocent that we knew by seducing her, we’d destroyed her.
“Emily,” Brogan whispered, staring off into the sky.
“Emily. She was our everything, the same lightness that Dahlia brings,” Alexander mused.
“And we destroyed her like everything else in our lives. She didn’t deserve what happened to her.” My grip on the railing was so tight that my knuckles were white.
“She regrouped, Daniel. She’s doing fine. She’s a damn doctor with a senator for a husband, for fuck’s sake.” Alexander snorted. “And she enjoyed every minute she spent with us.”
I turned toward him, moving so quickly that he was shocked when I wrapped my hand around his throat, yanking him to his feet. The glass tumbled out of his fingers, shattering against the cold, hard deck. The bastard had checked on her when we were told in no uncertain terms to leave her alone?
He slammed his hands against me, the look in his eyes as wild as every single time he’d issued a hard punch or kicked one of the undeserving recipients of his raw anger and power.
I squeezed, making certain he felt the power of my wrath. When I slammed him against the glass, I could swear I heard a single crack as the pane gave way to the pressure and force.
“Whoa. For fuck’s sake. We can’t be at each other’s throat. That’s not going to accomplish a damn thing,” Brogan advised, flanking my side.
“Do you really think this son of a bitch cares about either one of us?” I snarled. “This is all about him.”
Alexander wheezed but made no attempt to retaliate. When he finally lifted his arms in acquiescence, I hissed then released my hold, taking two giant steps away. I was losing my shit over the past, not the present. How many times had I wanted to beat the crap out of him but never had?
He coughed, rubbing his throat and looking away.
The tension between us was ugly, thick, and suffocating.
“Don’t be angry with Daniel. He’s the only normal one of us.” Alexander moved beside me at the railing. “I checked on Emily over the years, but I honored her wishes and didn’t make contact. I simply made certain her life was where it should be. She forgot all about us.”
“I doubt she could forget. Her parents wouldn’t allow that to happen,” Brogan stated defiantly, which was the truth.
Her parents had ripped her out of school after the girl’s near breakdown.
I’d checked on her as well over the years, almost calling her several times but I’d refused to try to enter her life again.
She deserved better than the three of us.
“It’s in the past.” Or was it? Was the incident coming back to haunt us as well?
As memories resurfaced, images of Emily’s sweet face, I had to face the fact that we’d been in love with her and she with us, but the great university had threatened to kick us out of the program, which would have put a huge stain on our families, ripping some of the power and influence away.
We’d been sent there as a privilege, a school meant to groom the children of the very upper echelon of society.
Mafia families, corporate moguls, politicians.
The waiting list was long, entrance highly selective.
We’d chosen our families instead of the girl we’d pulled into an amazing affair that turned into a tragic love story.
“Dahlia isn’t Emily. However, she is another beautiful soul. We will not destroy her, no matter the reason she attacked us. Period.” My statement would be followed.
“Agreed,” Brogan half whispered.
“As I told you. I have no intention of destroying her,” Alexander added.
“I can’t. No, I won’t. I want her. Not just taking her body.
I want more. I’ve waited my entire life to find the perfect woman who could handle me.
Dahlia is everything. Understand it. Don’t understand it. I don’t give a shit.”
I was dumbfounded at his words. He’d never acted like he’d cared for anyone. Even with Emily, he’d been detached, never showing any real emotion. That was one aspect that had driven Emily away.
Just by giving Brogan a single glance, I could tell he felt the same damn way.
One taste of her and they were convinced the four of us belonged together.
“She’s not a possession, Alexander. She’s a woman with wants and needs.
You can’t be blind enough not to see the pain in her eyes.
We did that to her. Whatever the truths, that’s apparent.
Maybe you don’t give a shit about having it on your conscience, but I do.
” I knew my words had fallen on deaf ears. Jesus. This was getting out of hand.
“Perhaps you’re right. Her hatred has made her fight the desire burning through her like it already has all three of us.
Don’t try and throw your high and mighty bullshit around.
That’s not going to fly. We all know the score.
We are the same, our wants and needs. She belongs to us.
” Alexander had a strange look on his face after issuing the words, an expression I’d never seen before.
Contentment.
The man was out of his mind, but the aching pain in my gut made it difficult to deny. Exhaling, I looked away. “I’ll repeat. She’s not a possession you can decide to steal off a shelf.”
Alexander laughed, the sound dark and bitter. He was used to getting everything he wanted. “You know, I thought about what you said earlier, Daniel. If she didn’t send the threats, then she could be in danger by reason of being here. With us. Still, we need the truth from her.”
“So what’s next, using her? Again?” I demanded. “Fucking her every day until she relents? That’s not like her in case you haven’t noticed.”
“You saw her face. You felt the way her body molded with ours. She was enjoying every moment of sharing raw passion.” Alexander was adamant, clenching his fist as his face flushed red from anger.
“Then she turned away, ashamed she’d enjoyed that moment,” I retorted.
Another full minute of silence flowed between us.
“I don’t plan on using her in the manner you’re thinking.
However, we will seduce her again. Enjoying the carnal passion, the intense need all four of us feel is inevitable.
The thought of indulging again and again is near perfection.
” My God, Alexander was animated, believing every word of the crap he was spouting.
“Why bother trying to make her feel wanted when this is about power? Anger?” I asked, my cock stirring at the thought.
“You’ve missed the point entirely, my friend. Because there isn’t a one of us who want to let her go.” The words hung in the air like a guillotine prepared to fall. The ache for her only increased, the visions crawling through my mind evocative.
Fuck. The man was right.
Alexander moved toward the door, stopping long enough to laugh. “I refuse to be denied. She is the one. Both of you know it.”
“The one?” Brogan asked.
“The one beautiful creature who will finally provide us with salvation.”
He felt the same damn way I did.
His word hung in the air like a noose that had been hanging around my neck for years.
“I’ve had one of my staff provide her with clothes; however, she will remain in her room until we’re ready for her,” he continued. “Perhaps time spent locked away will encourage her to be honest with us.”
“And if not?” Brogan barked.
“Then she will learn what it means to cross an evil man. I’ll handle that myself.”
When he walked inside, a cold chill swept down my spine but there was no doubt that he was falling hard for her.
What the hell was that going to mean for the four of us?