“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I did hire someone.”
“Like hell you did.”
“I hired one of Scott’s men.”
“No, you didn’t. Shall I bring him in? You told me you spoke to him directly. He’ll answer any of your questions.”
George glanced behind her at the door, and then looked at her. “Leana, this isn’t the right time.”
“You’re right,” she said. “For us, our time is up. But one day, if you have a moment of clarity that isn’t bound to your insatiable ego and greed, you’ll understand just how wrong you were to lie to me and how much you’ve failed as a man.”
“Get out.”
“I’m gone,” she said. “Enjoy Pepper’s charms, George. Enjoy all she can do for you.” She reached into her pocket, removed her set of keys to 157 Columbus Circle, and tossed them across the table with such force that they slid past him and fell to the floor. “Opening night for our hotels is days away. I hope you have something massive up your sleeve because I’m going to destroy you.”
He started to come around the table, his face flushed. Sweat shined along the brow of his forehead.
“I told you to get out.”
She turned to leave.
George followed her.
She opened the door and stepped out, but he put his hand on her shoulder and spun her around.
“Let go of me.”
“I did hire someone.”
“Tell that to him. Tell it to Sean. You said you hired one of his men. So, here’s Sean, who says that you didn’t.” She flicked his hand off her shoulder. “Go on. There he is. Try to lie your way out of it now.”
George looked at him but said nothing. Sean Scott was staring straight ahead.
“Did my father hire one of your men?” Leana said to Sean.
“He didn’t.”
She glared at George. “What do you have to say to that?”
He kept his eyes on Sean. “For some reason, he’s lying.”
“That’s all you’ve got?”
“For now. For whatever reason, he’s lying. But I’ll find out why.” His eyes never once left Sean. “You know I will.”
Sean started to walk away.
“Have a great opening night,” Leana said. She looked at Sam. “Let’s go. I’m out of here.”
* * *
At midnight that night, when Leana was in bed with Mario and on the verge of sleep, her cell buzzed, indicating that someone had left her an email. Her construction team was working around the clock at The Park. She sat up in bed, reached for the phone on her bedside table, and looked at the message. It was from her father.
“What’s that?” Mario asked.
“An email from my father.”
He pulled himself up in bed. “What does it say?”
“It says, ‘I’m sending this to you now because it’s late and I know you’re not with Sean Scott. I need you to listen to me now. You’re in danger. Scott and his men aren’t who they appear to be. He’s lying to you. Through him, I hired one of his men. He knows I did, but he won’t take my calls now, so I can’t challenge him on it. I just spoke to Fondaras, who claims he knows nothing about this. He said he will talk to Scott tomorrow, but I don’t trust him, which you already know—I’ve warned you against him from the start. I don’t know why Scott is doing this. Perhaps it’s to make me look like a liar in your eyes, but even that makes no sense to me—yet. You need to listen to me. Something is very wrong here. For some reason, he’s lying to you. I’ve already hired someone to investigate Scott and his men. I’ll be in touch, whether you want me to be or not. Be careful. Tell Mario everything. Maybe he and his father also can look into this. Don’t let our personal history get in the way of this. I’m trying to help you. Something isn’t right, Leana, because I did hire one of Scott’s men. Or, at least I thought I did. You need to trust me on this.’”
She shut off the phone and lowered it into her lap. “What am I to make of that?”
“Why would Sean Scott have any ill intent toward you?”
“Exactly. Anastassios suggested him and his team for me. They’ve been great. I don’t get it.”
“Do you think your father is telling the truth?”
“He confronted Sean. He called him a liar to his face. After that note, I have to at least question this. My father doesn’t reach out like that. He wouldn’t send me some secret message at midnight for no reason.”
“Other than to get you back on the project?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know if that’s it. This is different. He invoked you and your father to help. You’ve got to admit that’s unusual.”
“Agreed.”
“So, what am I to do now?”
“You need to stay here tomorrow.”
“You know I can’t.”
“You’re going to have to for one day. Let me and my brothers look into this. Have Marty Spellman look into it. Stay in touch with Zack via your cell, and work on the hotel from here.”
“Mario—”
“It’s just one day, Leana. Give Marty and me a day. You at least owe your husband that. Now, let me see the phone. I have calls to make.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
Across town, in an industrial-looking building on West Fiftieth Street and Twelfth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen, two men of great power sat opposite each other. A desk was between them, smoke and tension were in the air, utter hatred possessed one of the men to his core, and bodyguards stood along the periphery, guns in hand.
It was past midnight, but past midnight was always when he was summoned to meet this son of a bitch. Past midnight, he was reminded, was a time when few would call him, few would see him; and so past midnight it was, so no one would know that their paths had crossed.
“You’ll never be found out this way,” he was told. “You’ll see. It’s genius.”
Their meetings began five weeks ago, and in those five weeks, he had betrayed her more than he ever had betrayed anyone in his life. He was being used as the catalyst that would end her life. But he was powerless to stop it if he wanted to save his own life, as well as the lives of his sons and daughters.
“If you don’t fall in line, if you don’t do as we say, we will kill your daughters first, then your sons, and then we will kill you. But it won’t be that simple. First, you’ll be shown videos of their deaths; you’ll hear them pleading for their lives; you’ll hear them questioning how you could have let this happen to them over the life of another woman. And then you’ll meet your own death, which will be torturous.”
The day after he told the man to go to hell, that no one challenged him, his youngest daughter was abducted and beaten to such a degree that she was still in the hospital, recuperating. He managed to keep her beating out of the press because he was ordered to do so and because he had the power to do so.
So, now here he was, ready to listen to the next steps that would result in the end of the life of a woman he also considered something of a daughter—Leana Redman.
“The opening night of her hotel,” the man sitting opposite him said. “You and your men are ready to act?”
“We’re ready.”
“What are your plans?”
“I’ve told you my plans.”
“Nothing’s changed?”
“Why would they?”
“Because you’re intimate with her. You have an inside track that the rest of us don’t have, which is why we approached you in the first place. We know she’ll tell you if she changes her plans. And if she does, then your plans will change. They’ll have to.”
“They haven’t.”
“Well, that’s good, Anastassios,” Antonio De Cicco said. “Or should I call you Deadman? Or is it Deadman1? I can never remember.”
Anastassios didn’t answer.
“You don’t see it, but she is a murdering cunt, just like I said she was on her fuckin’ hotel. She is responsible for the death of my Lucia. She’s responsible for taking my g
randchildren’s mother away from them. And now Mario plans to marry her. At my estate. But he won’t, will he? You’re going to take care of that for us, aren’t you? You and the team she hired to protect her. The team you suggested for her. Isn’t that right?”
“That’s right,” Anastassios said. “Just keep your hands off my family. Leave them the hell alone.”
“I have no interest in your family, Anastassios. That is, of course, unless you give me a reason to take an interest, which you won’t, will you? No, I didn’t think so. That’s why you continue to come back. That’s why you’re here now, hoping and praying I don’t fuck up another one of your kids. That’s why you’re going to set it up so that murdering cunt dies.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
Pepper Redman arrived home late, exhilarated and surprisingly energetic given the day she’d had. It was nearly twelve-thirty in the morning and she had just left the Columbus Circle project, of which she now was back in charge.
Miraculously, her cousin had quit, and her uncle had turned the job back over to her control, just as he should have.
“Leana won’t be part of this again?” she asked.
“It’s doubtful.”
“I need a guarantee, Uncle George. I can’t be played as if I’m worth something one day, then worth nothing the next. It isn’t fair. You know how hard I’ve worked for you. Either you want me to finish this job, or you don’t.”
“Finish the job, Pepper, but lose the attitude. You’ve cost me key people because you’re too aggressive. You pissed them off. You need to manage this with a firm hand, not with a bite. Do you understand me?”
“I won’t let you down.”
“I hope that’s true, because if you can sew this up for me, there will be other buildings of similar caliber for you to manage. You’ll leave your mark, but you need to do a better job of handling your staff and crew. That’s your weakest quality. Do something about it and fix it.”
And that’s all Pepper needed to hear. You’ll leave your mark. She would. And she’d be a better manager. She’d do whatever she needed to do to make her dreams of leaving her stamp on this city a reality. That way, it would be easier for her to take over Redman International when her uncle was ready to step down.
Who else was he going to appoint as his successor? Leana? Hardly. But it could happen, which was another reason she was feeling more confident about the decision she made earlier that day about Leana. He’ll turn to me when it’s time for him to retire, just as he would have turned to Celina if she were alive. He’ll have no choice.
She dropped her bag onto the kitchen counter and pulled out her cell. She wanted Parker now. She wanted Parker in her bed and inside of her.
He answered on the second ring. “Pepper,” he said. “Are you OK?”
She needed to continue to act as if she had been threatened, so she stuck to the script. “I’d be better if you were here. Are you free? I mean, if you’re with someone that’s fine, but—”
“I’m not with anyone. I’ve given that up.”
“You’ve given it up?”
“I did. I have enough money. I’m going to find a job that you’ll be proud of. Give me thirty minutes and I’ll be there.”
It was enough time for her to shower, blow out her hair, and make herself as attractive as possible to him. When he arrived, she wore only a red silk robe, and it took him one glance at the desire on her face to know what she had in mind.
With a passion that surprised her, he came into the entryway, shut the door behind him, and crushed his mouth against hers. His hands slipped off the tie that held together her robe, and he shrugged it off her so she was standing naked in front of him.
“You’re so beautiful, Pepper. Every part of you. From your heart and your soul to your incredible body.” He came forward and held her face in his hands. “I’m yours if you want me. I’m finished with the past.”
“Parker—”
“Just give me a chance, Pepper. Just a chance to be with you and to prove to you that I’m the one.”
You’ll never find anyone like him again. You know that, so do something about it. Do it, or lose him.
It was Penelope talking, but this time Pepper listened. She did feel something for Parker. Though he would have to legally change his name from Manny to Parker if she was going to be with him. But that was for another time, a different conversation. Now, she just wanted him.
“Take off your shirt,” she said.
He pulled his shirt over his head, dropped it to the floor, and exposed to her his lightly hairy chest and thickly muscled torso.
“Now, your shoes and pants.”
He removed them and tossed them past her into the room beyond. She stared at him in his underwear, saw his excitement, and became inflamed by it.
“Follow me to the bedroom.”
She turned to move toward it, but was surprised when he spun her around to face him. She looked down, saw his erection, and was thrilled when he pressed her back against the entryway wall.
“You’re not going to be in control all the time, Pepper.”
“You don’t think so?”
“I know so. Turn around. Spread your hands against the wall for support. You’ll need it.”
She did as she was told. She loved it when he was like this. She needed him to be like this more often.
“Lift up your ass for me.”
“Fuck you.”
“Do it.”
“Make me.”
He reached around, took her nipples between his fingers, and squeezed them so hard that she arched her ass back in pleasure and pain. She was expecting him to enter her from behind when, instead, he slapped her hard against her left cheek.
She wanted to cry out in pain, but instead she swallowed it and said, “Is that really all you’ve got, Parker? Really? Because that was pathetic. That was a slap given by some pushover pussy. You can’t slap an ass to save your sorry—”
This time, using the back of his hand, he walloped her right cheek hard enough that he nearly sent her to her knees. She closed her eyes against the pain and knew that this is what she needed. This is what was missing in her life. She now was in control of so many projects and so many people, but she needed to be submissive to someone. A strong man. Someone who wasn’t intimidated by her. Someone who would spank her ass hard, fuck her harder, and not give a damn whether he hurt her in the process. Parker was that man and he didn’t judge her for it. Instead, he seemed to get off on the control, which just made her wetter for him. Again, his hand rained down on her ass. And again. By the fifth time he’d struck her, she was spent. She turned to him with such a sense of urgency that he lifted her into his arms and took her to the bedroom, where he threw her down onto the bed, spread her legs, and pressed his face between them.
“Come on,” she said, writhing. “That’s right, you piece of dog shit. That’s right. Eat me!”
He did, and when he was finished, he stood. Again, she was expecting him to enter her, but again, he surprised her. “Don’t you ever call me a piece of dog shit, Pepper. Ever.”
“Oh, please.”
“Get on your knees.”
She laughed at him. “Now you sound like a little boy trying to be a man. Make me.”
With surprising speed, he reached out, grabbed a handful of her hair, and forced her off the bed. He shoved her down to the floor and made her kneel in front of him. His cock, large and throbbing in front of her, was aching for her mouth.
“Suck it,” he said. “Suck it and swallow it. And don’t worry. It takes me a long time to tire, Pepper. You take my load and I’ll be all over you.”
She did as she was told. She grabbed the base of his cock, put it in her mouth, and started to suck, her head bobbing up and down on it. When he was close, he said, “Your choice, Pepper. I’m coming. Who’s the pussy now? Take it all, or win the title of Biggest Pussy.”
As he shot into the back of her throat, she took it all with a fierceness in her e
yes that burned into his. Still hard, he slid out of her mouth, told her to get back onto the bed, and to open her legs for him.
“You ready for this?” he asked.
Her head was spinning. He’d never been this rough with her.
“I asked if you’re ready for this, Red. Don’t make me ask you again.”
“Fuck you,” she said, and spat in his face when he forced himself inside of her.
* * *
Later, when they were finished and sheathed in sweat, he asked her if she’d like him to leave.
“No,” she said.
“You want me to stay?”
“I want more than that...”
He turned onto his side and looked at her. “What do you want?”
Close the deal, Penelope. He’s the one you’ve always wanted, but never could have. Poor, fat Penelope. Too fat to attract this kind of attention from this kind of stud. Too mousy to stand a chance against the other girls, all thinner and prettier than you. Remember her? You could become her again. You could go back to your old ways and get fat again. Nibbling on pizzas at midnight. Eating cake for lunch. Shoveling through bags of chips like they weren’t going to make them any longer. That’s who you were, and that’s who you could become again. So, now’s your chance. He’s right here. Close the deal, help him find him the job he wants, and have it all.
“You,” she said. “I want you. And if you’re interested, I want you to move in with me.”
He climbed back on top of her with a smile on his face. She smiled back at him, and then leaned up to kiss him.
“What took you so long?” he asked.
“Nerves.”
“No one’s going to threaten you again,” he said.
You’re right, she thought. They’re not. Not after today. Soon, there won’t be anyone left to threaten me.
Park Avenue (Book Six in the Fifth Avenue Series) Page 29