Next to Never: Shattered Innocence Trilogy

by A. L Long

Dylan was surprised Rade didn’t have his own men at his service. “Really, I guess Rade and Richard are pretty close then?”

  Peter nodded his head. “Yeah, Richard is like a father to Rade.” As the elevator door opened, Dylan thought back to when they had first met and how Rade had told her that his parents were dead. No wonder he was so close to Richard. Dylan still wondered how they died. Rade never went into detail about their deaths.

  When Dylan opened the door to the penthouse, Rade was standing on the other side with his arms crossed leaning against the wall. “Don’t you know how to answer your fucking phone, Dylan?”

  Pushing past him, Dylan responded, “You are not my keeper, Rade.” She wasn’t going to let him control her this time. Grabbing her arm, he spun her around and looked down on her. “What is the matter with you? Are you trying to piss me off?”

  Trying to yank her arm from his hold, Dylan met his eyes. “You have been telling me what to do since I met you. I can take care of myself.” Since Dylan was on a roll, she let it all out. “You won’t do what I ask. I’ve been playing your games long enough. If you won’t take me to The Castle, then I will find someone who will. I’m outta here.”

  Dylan was fuming, but at least she got out what she wanted to say to him. Whipping around, she headed to her room and began gathering her belongings, at least everything that she brought. She didn’t want anything from him. She went as far as to take the clothes she was wearing off and putting on her jeans and a t-shirt.

  Dylan packed all her things in a small overnight bag. Within minutes she was at the front door. Just as she was ready to grab the handle, she remembered she had the keys to the Audi Rade had bought her. Walking back to the kitchen she placed the keys on the counter. Probably a little harder than she should have. Rade was standing by the fireplace with a drink in his hands. Hearing the crash of the keys on the counter, he turned toward her. “Don’t do this, Dylan. Please stay.”

  Dipping her head so Rade wouldn’t be able to see the tears forming in her eyes, Dylan said softly. “I can’t stay here. I can’t have you running my life.”

  Rade felt helpless at her words. His only option was to give in. “I’ll take you.”

  Lifting her head, but still unable to look directly at him, she uttered, “When?”

  Downing the last of his scotch, he gave her what she wanted. “Friday.”

  Having her answer, Dylan nodded and then left the condo.

  *****

  Opening the door to her apartment, Dylan felt her own emptiness inside. Even though she got what she wanted, she didn’t feel like the winner in this game. She saw the way Rade looked when he told her he would take her to the private club. Hopefully, she would be able to finally understand the man she was falling in love with and give him what he needed

  Trying to concentrate on something other than her date with Rade, Dylan went to her kitchen and poured herself a large glass of wine. Just as she was headed to her living room to relax, there was a knock at her door. She wasn’t expecting anyone. She was also concerned security didn’t ring that she had a guest. Walking up to the door, she looked through the peephole and saw Evan standing outside. This would explain why she didn’t get a call from security. The next question was, why he was standing outside her door?

  Unlocking her door, she opened it and looked at Evan. “Hi, I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

  Evan smiled at Dylan as he shyly stuck his hands in his pockets. “I was just going to see if you wanted to grab a bite to eat or something.”

  Dylan didn’t know Evan very well, but when she spoke to him at the café, he seemed like a really nice guy. “It’s kind of late, how about another time?”

  Evan wasn’t ready to give up so quickly. “How about we order something in?”

  Dylan was kind of hungry. She didn’t eat very much for lunch. “Okay,” she said as she backed from the door to let Evan inside. “Do you want some wine?”

  Evan looked back at her, “Sure, what do you feel like eating?”

  Dylan and Evan decide to order Chinese food. Evan knew a really good place he sometimes ordered from. Settling on the couch, Dylan watched as Evan walked over to her. He looked different in his jeans and t-shirt. It wasn’t how he typically dressed. He wasn’t as tall as Rade or as broad, but she could tell he was well built. His features were welcoming too. He looked like the kind of guy you would see helping an old lady across a street or taking in a stray puppy until its home could be found. He was that sweet. Trying desperately to alleviate the awkwardness, Dylan tried to make small talk. “So how are thing at the pub?”

  Evan took a quick sip of his wine before answering. “Really good. It’s a lot different than what I’m used to doing, but it kind of grows on you.”

  Evan heightened Dylan's curiosity. “Really, what are you used to doing?”

  “Well, not only do I have the responsibility of running a pub and grill, I also have a job as a freelance investigator,” Evan explained as he took another sip of wine.

  Dylan wasn’t sure if she even knew what at freelance investigator did. “So what exactly is a freelance investigator?”

  Giving Dylan a slight smile, he began explaining the ins and outs of his job. “I basically do research for high-end corporations. They ask me to investigate their potential investments, and I get the information they request, and they pay me for that information. Plain and simple.”

  Talking with Evan was very enlightening. It felt good for Dylan to finally have a real conversation with a man without feeling intimidated.

  “It’s getting late and I should be going,” Evan declared, making his way from the sofa.

  Dylan wasn’t aware that time had gone by so quickly. When she looked down at her watch, she saw that it was close to midnight, and she had a busy day tomorrow. “Wow, where did the time go? I’m so glad you stopped by. It was really nice.”

  Evan slowly got to his feet and made his way to Dylan’s front door. Dylan followed behind him to wish him a good night. Watching him walk to the door, she had to stop herself from looking at Evan’s backside. Was it wrong for her to think about how great his ass looked in his designer jeans? Knocking her from her thoughts, Evan turned around and ran his hand through his thick blonde hair as he thanked Dylan. “Thank you for the company and conversation. Maybe we can do it again sometime.”

  With that Evan lowered his head and kissed Dylan on the cheek. She could feel the softness of his lips, but she only felt a possible friendship with him. It was nothing like how Rade’s kiss felt against her skin.

  Dylan flashed a quick gaze at him and said, “That would be nice.”

  As Evan exited her apartment, she told him good night and closed the door. Leaning against the closed door, Dylan was trying to gather her thoughts. It seemed like just yesterday she was heartbroken about the loss of Michael. And now, this thing she had with Rade. The last thing she wanted was to get involved with anyone. She felt guilty for not thinking about Michael, whom she loved just a month ago. Now she was in love with another man, whom she didn’t even know. And to top it off, friends with yet another man, who she knew more about in a couple of hours than she did about the man she was intimate with.

  Just as she was getting ready for bed, there was a ping on her cell phone. It was Rade.

  I have made arrangements for you to spend tomorrow afternoon to prepare for our appointment on Friday evening. You have a 2:00 reservation at La Mirage Beauty Spa. Let them know who you are and they will take it from there.

  Even when Dylan wasn’t with Rade, he somehow controlled her. Angry with his controlling behavior, Dylan texted him back.

  I don’t need to spend time at a spa to get ready.

  Within seconds he responded back.

  If you don’t do as I ask, then I will cancel our appointment.

  “Urrr… How could I possibly be in love with a man and hate him at the same time,” Dylan said as she forcefully typed.

  Have it your way, but I am really getting
tired of you controlling everything.

  Done with this silliness. Dylan turned off her phone and slipped into bed.

  *****

  Rade knew he should’ve called Dylan instead of texting her, but when he tried, his effort was useless. His call went directly to voicemail. Rade finished the last of his scotch before he headed to bed. It was after two and he really needed to get some sleep. When Dylan left his penthouse, he didn’t like the way things were left.

  Rade hadn’t been to The Castle for some time. Everything about the place was pure erotic pleasure. Looking at the stone castle from the outside, one would think it was just an old landmark that held the history of an eccentric millionaire who enjoyed lavish things. If you were to research the building, it would tell just that story. Hidden within the walls was a different story. It was a place where every sexual fantasy was found. One on one, two on one, men, women, anything was permissible with consent. Each room more risky than the next. When entering the iron doors, it looked like no more than the lobby of a luxurious European hotel. But as you continued inside, you could feel the thirst for pleasure everywhere. The upper floors of the mansion were reserved for more intimate plays of pleasure, but it’s the dungeons below that fulfill every temptation for the more avid players. Whether it be enjoyed privately or on display for all to see.

  The more Rade thought about the club, the more he regretted his decision to take Dylan there. He was afraid that if he exposed her to this lifestyle, she would see him for who he really was. There was a chance he could lose her. If he was smart, he would walk away from her. The problem was he couldn’t. Not only because she needed his protection, but also because he couldn’t let her go. She consumed his every thought. She was his every need. He could only think about when he would be near her again. When he would feel her again. The softness of her skin next to him as he kissed her tender lips. The taste of her. Her surrendering to him.

  Wrestling with his covers trying to find a comfortable position, Rade was getting nowhere. His mind was going a mile a minute. First, on his feelings for her, and then the break-in, her car, the threats, the chase. The same thoughts spun over and over again in his head. His only choice was to exhaust himself to the point he could do nothing but sleep. Sliding on his shorts, he headed to the gym to relieve some tension.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Dylan was still infuriated by Rade’s demand for her to visit the beauty spa. Going to the spa wasn’t the real problem. She loved going to a spa. It was the constant control he placed on everything she did. Dylan climbed out of bed with a beat to her step. Not even Rade was going to ruin this day. Humming her favorite tune, she made her way to the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee. Knowing it would be a while to brew, she decided to take a shower and get ready for her day. When she got to her bathroom, she smiled at her reflection in the mirror. She was happy with what she saw. She saw a woman who on this day was going to become independent. Today was the day she was going to take hold of her life and not let anyone dictate how she was supposed to live it.

  Ready for the day, Dylan still had a few minutes to enjoy a cup of coffee before she headed out. Picking up her phone, she saw a missed call from Lilly and her dad. It had been a week since she spoke to her dad. She decided to call him first. As the phone began ringing, she could hear a beep. Someone was trying to ring in. She went ahead and ignored it.

  “Hey, pumpkin,” her dad said softly.

  “Hi Daddy. I see that you called. Is everything ok?”

  “Everything is fine, sweetheart. Just wanted to see how my baby was doing?”

  “I’m good. I really like my job. Everything is going really good.” Dylan tried to sound as happy as she could. She didn’t want her dad to know that there was anything wrong. The last thing she wanted was to worry him, especially with the gift threats and the car chase.

  “I’m so glad to hear that sweetheart. I’m so proud of you.”

  There was a slight pause before her dad continued. “I want to come up there and see you. It’s been a while and I really miss you.”

  “When, Daddy?” Dylan was so excited. It had been a while since they’d seen each other.

  “How about in a couple weeks? I could be there a week from Saturday. We could go to dinner and catch a movie or something.”

  Dylan could hear the excitement in her dad’s voice as she said goodbye. She was happy too. This was definitely going to be a great day. Her dad was the only family she had left and she missed him so much. Once her life was on track again, she would need to make it a point to visit him more often. She loved his place in South Carolina. Looking down at her watch, she saw that it was time for her to leave if she wanted to get to work on time. She missed having the car Rade bought her. It would have been more convenient for her, but wanting to be independent was more important and she needed to start doing things for herself. She would just need to take a cab to and from work for a while. Hopefully soon, she would be able to purchase a car that she could actually afford.

  Entering the office, Dylan was glad Miss Hot Lips was away from her desk. The last thing she needed was her smart-ass remarks. Passing Veronica’s office, she gave a quick wave and went to the end of the hall to her own office. Powering up her computer, Dylan remembered the files she came across yesterday with some discrepancies on the invoice totals. Opening the drawer from her desk, she gathered the files she’d been working on the day before. Going through them, she pulled the files she placed tabs on from the stack.

  Dylan picked up her phone and dialed Veronica’s extension. “Hey, do you have a few minutes to go over some files with me?”

  Veronica paused for a moment to check her schedule for her next appointment. “I have about twenty minutes before my next appointment.”

  “Great, I’m on my way.” Dylan picked up the files and went to Veronica’s office. The door was already open so Dylan just went in.

  Dylan placed the files in her lap as she waited for Veronica to finish her call.

  “What do you have, Dylan?” Veronica questioned as she hung up the phone.

  Dylan began explaining what she found. “Veronica, when I was going over these files, I found some inconsistencies on some of the invoice totals. I wanted you to look at the files to see if you also saw them. The invoice totals don’t match with the accounting. It took me a while to see it, but if you look at the dates and amounts, they just don’t add up. There must be at least $250,000 in errors. I’ve marked the areas with a colored tab to show where they don’t line up.”

  Veronica took the files from Dylan. When she opened the file she saw that the accounts files were from accounts that were currently held at Whitaker, Smith, and Associates. Veronica couldn’t understand how Dylan got these files. Northgate didn’t deal with their accounts.

  “I will take a look at them.” Smiling at Dylan so she wouldn’t reveal her concern, Veronica closed the files and placed them to the side of her desk.

  Dylan stood. “Thanks Veronica.” The moment Dylan left her office, Veronica walked to her office door and closed it. Nearly jogging back to her desk, she dialed Rade’s number.

  “RIM Global, this is Gwen.”

  “Hey Gwen, it's Veronica. Is Mr. Matheson available? It’s important.”

  “Let me check,” Gwen told Veronica in a pleasant voice.

  It seemed like hours had passed before she heard Rade’s voice. “Veronica, what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected call?”

  “Rade, I’m not sure if we have a problem, but a couple of files from Whitaker, Smith, and Associates somehow ended on Dylan’s desk,” Veronica explained.

  “How did this happen?” Rade said with disbelief.

  “I don’t know, but that’s only part of it. Dylan reviewed the file and found the discrepancies totaling $250,000. The only blessing is, she didn’t pick up that they were from Whitaker, Smith, and Associates,” Veronica reassured him.

  “Where are the files now?” Rade questioned.

  “They�
�re safe with me.” Veronica affirmed.

  This was the last thing Rade needed to hear today. If Dylan found out Rade was even remotely associated with her supposedly dead scumbag fiancé, he would lose her for good. Veronica didn’t know the whole story with Dylan, but she was well aware of the embezzlement at Whitaker, Smith, and Associates. He was thankful Veronica didn’t ask too many questions and was a trustworthy employee. He needed to make sure there was something extra in her quarterly bonus. He needed to find out how those files made their way into Dylan’s hands.

  *****

  Dylan was looking forward to her spa day, even though Rade had demanded she go. She didn’t understand what the big deal was. Looking at her computer screen, she saw that it was almost 2:00 pm. Gathering her purse and coat, she headed to the elevator so she could catch a cab. Waiting for the elevator, Dylan saw Miss Hot Lips coming down the hall. Turning her body so she wouldn’t have to make eye contact with her, Dylan talked into the silver door. “I am heading out for an appointment. I shouldn’t be long.” She hated the tension between them, but Bianca was a witch with a B. “Yeah, whatever.” Dylan heard as the doors to the elevator opened. She was ready to tell Bianca where she could put her remark, but instead she bit her tongue.

  Peter was waiting for Dylan when she exited the Northgate building. He was leaning against the side of a black Mercedes. When he spotted Dylan, he opened the back passenger door for her to get in. Since she was running a few minutes late, she accepted his offer and climbed into the sedan. Dylan didn’t have to give Peter instructions on where to go. It seemed he already knew. She could see Peter looking in the rearview mirror every so often. Dylan wasn’t sure if he wanted to say something or if he was concerned with someone following them. Dylan looked out the back window just to see if there was anyone following them. It was clear. There were no cars as far as she could see. Turning her gaze back to Peter, she just spit it out. “Peter, if there is something you want to say, just say it.” Peter was stunned by Dylan’s abruptness. It left him speechless. Shaking his head side to side, he looked back at Dylan. “I’m good,” was all he said.