Chapter 5
“Yer fecking crazy.”
“Rudy, it’s for charity,” May said, giving me that look of hers. It said behave or yer gonnae get it.
Taking in a deep breath, I glowered at the people before me. May, Da, his friend from the home country, Patrick, and the members of the foundation that thought this was a good idea.
“They’ve done them in New York and LA. They’ve always been a big hit. It’s a dinner out with the highest bidder. Nothing more.”
“Unless ye get lucky,” Dorian, Patrick’s son, said. The comment got him a swat to the back of the head.
“What in the hell would you know about it?”
“Dammit, love. Yer gonnae rattle me brains.”
“If ye had any brains, ye woulda kept that as an inner thought.” Patrick chuckled. “Don’t ye worry none, Kandyce, me son will behave himself.”
“No shit. Or he’ll be sleeping in the garden.”
“Can ye stay on track, please? I have things to do today other than this,” I grumbled.
As the conversation started back up, I paced.
“We need at least twelve men and women. Straight, gay, we want them all.”
“That isn’t very many. We could manage that,” May responded. “You want old gents too? I’m sure Shannon would be happy to get rid of this one for a night.”
Da huffed, indignant.
I had to chuckle; she wasn’t wrong. “Da, Gran has a point. Mum was ready to skin ye over a chocolate last week.”
“No. This is for ye young studs, not me.”
“Yeah, that’s your reason,” May taunted him.
They had a point; it was for charity. But I had a condition they would have to agree upon.
“If I agree, there is one?—”
There was a commotion from the front reception area. A shout rang out. May was halfway to the door when it flew open. Lori had a wild look on her face. “Sorry, so sorry, Rudy, but you need to get out here, now. It’s Ella.”
“Ella?” What the feck was going on? I ran up the hall and out to the main part of the floor. Ella stood there, a box of what looked to be flowers on the ground at her feet.
“Love, what is it?” I moved closer, pulling her to me. My eyes scanned the floor, and I saw red. Someone had sent her a box of flowers that were dead. Full of some kind of crawler in it.
Without pause, I handed her over to May and moved to the first desk I came to. I hit #9.
“Security.”
“Get me an image of whoever came into my fecking building with a flower box. Now.”
“Uh, yes-yes, sir. Right away.”
I dropped the phone back into the cradle. “Everyone, please pack up and take an early day. Ye will not miss yer hours, just go home so we can sort this shite out. Please.”
“Gavin, get up yer arse up here, now.” Dorian’s voice resembled mine. Angry. Ready for violence.
“Is some sicko acting out?”
“Who would do that?”
“Sweetheart, breathe, Ella. Come on. It will be okay.” May sounded heartbroken.
I was murderous.
“Ella, love, canne you go get yer bag? Ye and Gran are leaving too.”
“I’m n-not going anywhere.” Her voice was dull, lifeless, and yet, full of rage. She held a hand out, the crumbled note sticking out. “He won’t run me off.”
I took it and cursed.
Roses are dead,
The worms will be fed,
I hope you enjoyed her in your bed.
Tomorrow brings something new,
Better watch out,
I’m coming for you.
“That fecking gobshite, arse piece. I’ll kill him. Ye hear me, ye fecking bastard, yer dead.”
“Rudy, get ahold of yerself, for feck sake.” Da took the note and handed it to Patrick.
“Our security team is?—”
“Here. Saoirse texted before you called.” A tall gent bustled in wearing all black followed closely by two others. “There were two flower delivery trucks here within the last half hour. They were in and out within minutes. I assumed they’d dropped packages off at the front desk.”
“Mr. Ferguson,” Jeff, one of the main security team, bustled off the lift, “we did get an image, but it’s blurry; he or she knew to hide their face.”
“They’ve been here before.”
“Cameron, this is me son-in-law, Gavin Thomas. He and his team can look into this for ye. They’re good, real good, at what they do.”
“Aye, appreciate it, old chap.” Da turned to May. “Get yer things, you and the lass are going home.”
“He will not?—”
“Ye are gonnea do as I say, lass. Get yer bag, and let’s get you to safety. I won’t have ye in danger.” Da’s voice was hard, in charge. He would have her carried out if she didn’t go. “Rudy, go with them.”
“I—”
“I said go now, boy. Get yer arse moving. Jeff, get me the feed from the hidden cameras.”
“The what?” I asked.
Da smirked. “Go home, boy. Keep the women safe. We will resume this when I get home. Gavin, could ye please send a car to get me wife? I will call and tell her yer coming.”
“Absolutely. Spider?”
“On it, Cap. Just send me the location, sir. I will get her home safe.”
“Thank ye, my boy.”
I clapped Da on the shoulder and hurried to take Ella’s hand. She and Gran had their bags in hand, and we moved toward the lift.
“Stairs,” the large man with Gavin said, moving before us. I didn’t question him, simply followed.
By the time we made it to the main lobby, there were more men in black, earpieces on and their hands on side arms. I nodded at them as I led the way out of the building. I helped Gran and Ella into the limo and climbed in myself.
“Why is this happening?” May asked, hugging Ella to her side.
“That fecking bastard wants Ella. He can’t have her.”
“How do you know it was him?” Ella asked, her brows tugging together. “And that wasn’t about me.”
“Aye, that nasty bastard had someone?—”
“No,” she snapped. “Did you not read that card? That package was addressed to you, Rudy. Not me.”
“What?”
“They were brought up, and the card was addressed to you.” She sighed. “I opened the card to see who they were from. I dropped the box when I read the note. I didn’t even realize they were,” she waved a hand around, “That note says they’re coming after you!”
“Ella, love,” I said, moving seats to sit on her other side. “No one is going to get me. It’s you I’m worried about.”
“Who have you pissed off lately, Rudy? Could it be someone you had a business falling out with? I can’t recall anything. Your dad hasn’t mentioned it at least.”
“I’m always pissing someone aff. I don’t keep a list.”
“We’ll sort it out. Don’t worry,” May remarked, placing her hand over mine where I held Ella’s.
“It’s been three days and ye still have nothing?”
“Mr. Ferguson, I assure you, we’re covering every base that we can, but there just isn’t much to go on. No prints, no clear shots of the face. We have no choice but to be patient.”
“Patience isn’t something I have a lot of on a good day.”
“I understand, I do, but my hands are tied at the present. We will keep you posted.”
The phone on my desk buzzed. “Aye?”
“Mr. Ferguson, it’s Matteo Reeves, Mr. Allen’s assistant. Could you be so kind as to confirm your fitting for tomorrow?”
“Who is Mr. Allen, and who are you? What fitting?”
I heard pages flipping and his sudden stutter. “S-sorry, sir. I have you on the books for a tux fitting. All of the other auction?—”
“This fecking auction is getting under me skin. I will send you to my assistant; from now on, please deal with her. I go where she tells me.” Without giving him time to say more, I hit the transfer button and sent him to Ella.
I was scanning a document when there was a soft knock on my door.
“What?”
“What crawled in your bonnet?” Ella came in and shut the door behind her.
“Sorry, love. Everything that is happening has my mood in the bin.”
“Okay, but why get so upset over every little thing?” She locked the door, then walked over to my desk. I pushed back in my chair, allowing her to sit in my lap.
“I’m worried.”
“I am too, but our lives do not revolve around crazy people.”
“Yer mighty different this afternoon. What happened to my pissed angel?”
“I had a nice long talk with May and Doctor Reid.” She sighed. “I did this back and forth for years. In the beginning, I had no idea he was an unhinged maniac. I got free of him. If this isn’t him, well, same difference. No more clearing and hiding my head in the sand. You’re too strong of a person to let this undo you.
“Starting today, you and I both are going to go on with life, leaving the negative and shitty behind. Deal?”
“What do I get if I agree?”
“My undying love,” she responded, making her southern accent sweeter all while batting her eyes at me.
“I thought I had that already?”
“I mean, ya do, but I should be enough to turn that frown upside down.” She used her fingers to tickle my chin.
Chuckling, I leaned in and captured her mouth with mine.
“Deal.”
She had a point. After the fiasco with the flowers, we had security around us at all times. And best yet, it was the kind someone wouldn’t see until it was too late.
I would still worry, no matter who was around, I’d just do it silently. She was my everything, and I would be damned if I let someone take her away from me. Pulling back, I ran my hands up her back.
“Good man. Now,” she pursed her lips, “let’s talk about this auction. You still have not agreed even though Cameron says you’re the one doing it.” Her grin made my brow come up.
The phone on my desk buzzed. “Son, I need ye in my office.”
Before I could reply, her hand was over my mouth. My gaze narrowed in on her.
“Cameron, it’s Ella, he’s stepped out for a few minutes. I’m heading back to my desk, is there something?—”
“It can wait, Ella, thank ye. Please send him this way when he’s back.”
“Absolutely.”
When the line was clear, she hit the orange DND button.
“What are ye doing? Why are the turning on the do not disturb button? Won’t that look like I’m in here?”
“No one will think twice. Stop changing the subject. You didn’t tell them yes. Why?”
“I don’t wanna do it. To be up there like a fish at the market.”
“It’s supposed to be a night of fun. And it’s for charity. I’ll be there. We all will be. Please? For me. I promise to bid on you. I think I have a couple hundred in a sock somewhere.”
“Fine. For you, love.” Pressing a kiss to her forehead, I shifted on my chair and stood, scooping her into my arms.
“What are you doing?”
Walking to the couch, I sat down, letting her legs straighten out. “Getting more comfortable. You just gave me a break, and now, I’m keeping ye here with me.”
“Is that so?”
“Aye.” Our mouths met in a heated kiss.
“You have a fitting for your tux in,” she looked at her watch, “an hour. The limo will be waiting.”
“Then I have an hour to spend with you.”
“I have work to do; my boss is kind of a hard ass.”
“Is he now?”
“Oh yes, he might punish me if my work isn’t done on time.”
“I’m sure I could get him to go easy on ye.”
“Maybe I should just give him something else to focus on.” She looked around, then pulled her little cardigan off. She folded it, then slid off my lap and pulled her dress up over her head. She stood before me in a barely-there pair of panties and bra.
“Come here, love.”
“Undress, and don’t let anything get wrinkled.” Her order sent a surge of desire straight to my cock.
She kicked off her shoes and walked back to me. I stood to take my jacket and shirts off, careful to lay them over the closet chair.
She made quick work of my belt and buttons. My trousers and boxers hit the floor; I stepped out of them. She placed them on the chair and pushed me back onto the couch.
“Yer so beautiful.” Her blush had me grinning. I laid on the couch, stroking my cock. “Bring me that pussy.”
She knew what I wanted. Her legs straddled my chest. I pulled her to me and buried my face into her center. I felt her mouth sink down on my length.
The feeling of her wrapped around me, in any way, was pure bliss. She let out a small whimper. “Quiet, love, or I have to stop.” My breath fanned her wet core, causing her to swallow me down further.
Everything faded into a sea of passion until we were spent. It took all of my energy to get cleaned up and dressed.
“Straight home after the appointment.”
“What about your 4:30pm appointment with the Jolen Corp?”
“Push it to tomorrow. We have other plans.”
One look at me and she nodded. “I’ll call them on the way. I’ll go out this way and meet you at the elevator; I have to grab my bag and things.”
I watched her go through the adjacent office door and smiled. I’d really gotten lucky finding her. She really was too good for me.