by Layla Frost
This technique took a little more effort when it came to dealing with a board member and his tenacious gossip of a wife, but I’d eventually had success with her. The husband was droning on to Theo, and, try as I might, I couldn’t keep my focus on what he was saying. I felt bad because he really did seem very nice.
That didn’t mean I wasn’t relieved when I heard Theo cut the conversation off, though.
“Harry, it was great to see you. I’m going to take Dahlia to get a drink. I heard there were some signature cocktails created for the event.”
“Oh!” I chimed in when I saw his wife, Barb, open her mouth to protest.
She really is a determined one.
Already knowing she was on the planning board, I put my hand on her arm and leaned in. “That sounds amazing. What a fun idea. I’m sure there are a lot of people anxious to tell you so, too, so we won’t hold you up. Go. Enjoy that well-earned praise.”
Barb’s shoulders went back as she scanned the room. “Yes, I guess we should go. It was a pleasure to meet you.”
Grabbing Theo’s hand, I practically dragged him away.
“You’re going to have to teach me how to do that,” he said as we approached the bar.
“What?”
“The evade and escape routine.”
“People like their egos fed. Focus on them, then when it’s time to leave, make them think it’s their idea.”
“I’ll start doing that.” After the bartender took our orders, Theo tilted his head. “I’m going to use the bathroom, then we’ll take off soon. Okay?”
“Yeah.” I tipped my face up to accept his quick peck.
I stood at the bar, sipping at a weird drink that had too much cranberry. Unable to take anymore, I switched it with Theo’s. It wasn’t much better, but it would do.
“I won’t tell if you don’t,” a voice said from next to me.
Looking over, I saw a man who looked familiar. His hair was a bit too perfect, his capped teeth blindingly white. I knew he was a politician, I just wasn’t sure which one.
He flashed me his practiced, nonthreatening smile, nodding his head toward the bar. “The drink. I won’t tell you switched them.” Holding out his hand, he introduced himself. “Ethan Larson.”
“Senator,” I said, taking his hand for a quick shake before releasing it.
“Ah, so you know who I am.” He looked pleased with that fact, and I figured it would be rude to mention it was because I’d seen him being blasted in the media. “Now I’m wondering who you are. Besides Mr. Amato’s lovely new girlfriend, that is.”
I don’t trust him.
Beyond the usual lack of trust people naturally have toward politicians.
Though it made me cringe on the inside, I gave him a vacant smile and shrug. “That’s about it.”
He seemed happy to believe my lie, leaning on the bar and picking up his drink. “And how is Mr. Amato? Business is good, I hope.”
I shrugged again. “We don’t talk about stuff like that. Too boring.”
That was only a half lie. We didn’t usually delve too deeply into his work because he already spent enough time on it. He liked to focus on me when we were together, even though we did get interrupted by work sometimes.
“He’s a busy man, your boyfriend. His hands seem to be in pots all over the city.” He let the words hang for a moment, his smile fading. “Probably makes it tricky to even know everything he does for a living.”
My eyes narrowed at his choice of words.
He caught the reaction, and smirked. “Ah, so there is a brain in there.” Taking a sip of his drink, he turned from the crowd and leaned closer to me, lowering his voice. “I’ve been trying to get Mr. Amato to let me invest in his company, but he’s not the most… welcoming man around. Since you seem to have him wrapped around your little finger, I’m sure he’d listen to you. I’m a powerful ally to have. Money, exclusive invitations,” he paused before adding, “information. It’s yours.”
I recoiled, confused by why he thought I’d have any influence on Theo’s business. Or why I’d mess with it just to get… whatever. I opened my mouth to let him know so, but Theo beat me to it.
“Something I can help you with, Larson?” he bit out. Usually I’d have been distracted by the veins in his hand as he rubbed his jaw, but the acid in his tone kept my attention.
“Just having a friendly conversation with your lovely girlfriend,” Larson said, all plastic smiles and calculating eyes. “She’s smart, this one. A lot sharper than I think most people probably give her credit for.” There was a warning in his voice I wasn’t understanding. Based on the way Theo tensed, however, he was.
He took a step toward the senator, and I really thought he was going to swing at him. Maybe if we hadn’t been where we were, or if I wasn’t there, he would have. Larson had the good sense to look nervous, the ice clinking in his glass giving away his hand tremor.
“I’ll be in touch,” Theo growled at him before taking my hand and walking away.
“Maybe now I’ll get my meeting,” the senator said to our retreating backs.
Theo whipped around and said something, his voice so low I couldn’t hear. Finishing whatever it was, he turned and we continued our exit.
“What was that about?” I asked.
“Larson is the kind of asshole who gets into politics for the power and the benefits, both of which he abuses. Often. He’s been trying to use his influence to push into my business, but I don’t want him anywhere near me. My resistance has made him even more adamant. I don’t have, nor need, stocks or shareholders. For the other companies, sure. Not my own.”
I nodded. “So he wants to hand over money, have you do the work, and then hand more back to him.”
“Exactly. But, like I said, that’s not how I work. Amaric isn’t publicly traded and doesn’t have a board. It’s Luca and I, and we don’t answer to anyone, which is exactly what I’d have to do if I had shareholders or a board.”
“Amaric is Amato and Ricci, isn’t it?” I said, the meaning of the name suddenly dawning on me.
“Yes. It’s been Luc and me since the beginning, and I’ll be damned if some asshole thinks he can buy into that.”
Walking out into the cool summer night, I saw the outside was almost as busy as the inside. People stood around, chatting and smoking. The sidewalk was busy as groups of people walked to the bars and clubs in the area, and traffic was worse than it had been when we’d been dropped off.
Shaking his head, Theo surmised, “Obviously, he must have thought going through you would get better results.”
“Why?” I asked.
Theo stopped and looked down at me. “Because, about that, he’s right. Everyone knows I love you. That it’s never, ever been like this.” Tucking my hair behind my ear, his fingers skimmed the exposed skin of my neck until they were curled around the back of it. “That I’m addicted. Obsessed.” Lowering his face into mine, he blocked out everything else. His eyes were so dark, his voice a low promise. “There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you, Dahlia.”
My lips parted, my shallow breaths coming out in little pants. Theo’s eyes dropped to my mouth before returning to my eyes as he waited, gauging my reaction.
If I’m supposed to be scared or freaked out by any of that, I’m not.
All I see is another layer of unbreakable material being added to our bond.
“Good,” I whispered. When he grinned, I returned it. “Ready to go home?”
His grin grew wider still, making me pull him down and go up on my tiptoes so I could kiss one of his dimples.
“Yeah,” he said. “Let’s go.”
By the time we reached the curb, Ben and the SUV were waiting. “Mr. Amato. Miss Kincaid. Good evening?”
I rolled my eyes at Ben’s formalness. It’d taken him a while to drop it with me. “Yes, quite pleasant,” I returned, my voice snooty.
Theo just shook his head at both of us, following me into the backseat. Once he sat,
he hauled me up against him so my back was tight against his side, but I was still buckled. His phone dinged a few times.
“Need to answer those?” I asked.
“It’s just Luc.”
I nudged him. “Go ahead. Ben and I will start planning our cake.”
“Cake? Is it going to be as good as those cookies?”
“Better,” I bragged, though I had no clue. But knowing Ben’s skills, I didn’t doubt it.
For the rest of the ride, Ben and I discussed flavor options while Theo answered his messages, chiming in occasionally with his opinion.
Through it all, Theo’s words floated through my head.
‘There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you, Dahlia.’
I let them bury themselves deep in my soul. And, for the first time in forever, I had hope.
Chapter Fourteen
Surrender
Dahlia
“Theo, the cuffs are a little tight,” I said, ending on a moan as he kissed my neck.
“Want me to loosen them?”
I shook my head. “I’m not trying to pull away, so they’re fine.” My answer was met with his own moan.
Layer after layer of dress was pushed aside as Theo tried to get to my pussy.
“I didn’t realize the dress was that poofy,” I said, my frustration and impatience growing in equal measure.
“Almost there.” Theo smiled as he shifted the dress out of the way. Before he could touch me, though, his phone started ringing. Then another phone. And another. Pretty soon, the room was filled with an incessant ringing.
“Just answer!” I yelled, my voice echoing in the suddenly silent room.
Pressing his finger to his lips, Theo shushed me as he held the phone to his ear. I couldn’t hear his whispered conversation even though he was standing right next to me. The longer he spoke, the more distance there was between us.
“Theo, let me up,” I called. I pulled at the handcuffs again, the sharp edges digging into my wrists. “Please, just unlock me!”
But he didn’t seem to hear. Instead, he talked on the phone, watering the plants that formed in the corner. For each one he watered, another three appeared.
“Theo!” I shouted as loudly as I could. “I’m stuck! Let me out!”
But he couldn’t hear me. The plants grew bigger and bigger until I couldn’t see him anymore.
Vines spilled out from one of the large pots near the bed. Growing larger, they snaked their way up the bed, weaving and knotting around the wood. Continuing up, the vines tickled across my exposed skin. The gown was no longer visible, leaving me covered in only leafy green. Reaching my neck, the vines wrapped around, over and over, circling my throat.
I couldn’t breathe.
I was trapped.
Bracing against the pain, I counted to three. Fighting for a lung full of air, I held it as I pulled forward with all my might.
Shooting up easily, I almost fell out of the bed. I gulped down air, my hand running along my bare neck.
“You ‘kay?” Theo asked, his voice rough with sleep.
I nodded before realizing it was pitch black and he couldn’t see me. “Yeah, just a weird dream.”
Flopping back down, I curled to the side. Throwing my leg over Theo’s, I put my head on his chest, the sound of his heart lulling me to sleep. Just as my eyes began to close, I caught sight of the clock.
“Crud.” I rolled away onto my back, kicking off the covers so the cold air could wake up my body. My mind wasn’t going to get any help until I had a cup, or seven, of coffee.
“What’s wrong?” Theo asked, reaching for me.
I dodged his grabby hands. “I’ve got to hop into the shower in two minutes. I hate waking up right before the alarm.”
Theo leaned up and looked at the clock before groaning and covering his eyes. “Being up this early on a Saturday is illegal.”
“I don’t think that’s true.”
“Hrmph,” he muttered. “I’ll ask my lawyers in the morning. The real one, not this middle of the night morning.”
As the alarm began blaring, I pressed the button to turn it off. “I’m only working for a few hours since the weekend opener can’t come in until closer to ten. How about if I borrow the Rover and drive myself, that way you can sleep? Maybe you’ll still be in bed, and I can just crawl in next to you when I get back.”
He reached for me again, but I backed up. I knew how it would go if he pulled me into bed with him. I’d rush around and still be late, even if I’d spend the day with a permanent grin on my face.
“I’m up, gattina. I’ve got things at Amaric that could use my attention. After that, though, I get the rest of the weekend with you.”
“Deal,” I said over my shoulder as I rushed into the bathroom.
···
“What do you want to do?” Theo asked, adding, “With your life. Work. That kind of thing.”
I shifted my attention from the car window to my travel coffee mug to him. “You’ve got to wait until my second cup of coffee before giving me a life crisis. Maybe third.” I pointed outside. “You definitely have to wait until the sun is actually up before expecting me to have a coherent conversation about anything more substantial than how I want my coffee and how sucky mornings are.”
He chuckled. “Noted.”
Sighing, I leaned back and closed my eyes, holding my coffee cup up so I could smell it as I spoke. “Why do you ask?”
“You just don’t seem happy with Java Brew.”
Suspicion poked at my still sleeping brain. “Did Rosa say something to you?”
“No, was she supposed to?”
I shook my head. “I’m not happy,” I admitted. “Wendy, the owner, started seeing a psychic and has been taking his business advice. I already wasn’t happy since a lot of the work falls on me, but at least that meant I was making the decisions. Now Mystic Stones, and, yes, that is his legal name, is running the show from a velvet curtained room he rents in the back of a head shop.”
“So quit,” Theo stated simply, as if it were that easy.
“I can’t. If things had been different, I could’ve maybe quit the café and taken more hours at Weggies. But I couldn’t work with Jerk Bill. It was too toxic. But at least there I had growth opportunities. At Java Brew, I’m stuck. The only way to move up further is to own the place, and that would be worse than what I’m doing now. That’s just a headache I have no interest in, so it isn’t like I envy Wendy and the choices she has to make. I just think she’d have an easier time if she listened to me and not a psychic.”
“So quit,” Theo repeated.
“And what? Sit around all day, reading by the pool?” I meant it to be snarky, but the idea had a lot of appeal. More than it should’ve.
“Yes. Come to work with me and hang out. Help, if you want. What’d you want to be when you were a kid?”
A mom.
Late at night when I was a kid, unable turn off my thoughts, I’d imagine my future life. Long after my real family came to get me, explaining the mistake that’d been made, I’d grow up and have my own kids. A house full of them. And I’d be an amazing mom. Patient and loving. Sometimes strict, but mostly fun. We’d have lots of fun and goof around and be happy.
And they’d never, not even for a second, doubt I loved them and they were wanted.
Not sharing any of this with Theo, I shrugged instead. “I don’t know. I was going to go to Salem State after high school, but even with financial aid and all that, I couldn’t afford to not work. I attended a semester while working nights at Weggies, but I got less sleep than I do now.”
I’d been so exhausted, I felt like I’d never get enough rest again. And, for the most part, I’d been right. It had been nearly impossible to stay up to date with my coursework, bills, and have time to eat and sleep. I’d figured taking a year or two off to work would allow me to save enough money to try again without having to work.
I’d been wrong.
And still exh
austed.
“Move in with me and quit the café,” Theo said casually. “Go back to school. Take some fun classes and find a new hobby. Sit by the pool. Come hang out at the office with me. Work at the office. Hell, find a different job that you actually like. Do whatever you want.”
God, that sounds amazing.
Once again keeping my thoughts to myself, I made a dismissive snort.
I could see Theo looking at me in my peripheral vision, but I pretended not to.
“Think it over,” he said.
I nodded, doubting I’d be able to think of anything else.
We both were lost in our own heads for the rest of the drive, only speaking when Theo pulled up to Java Brew. “Text me when you’re almost done.”
“I will.” Giving him a kiss, I got out, though he didn’t pull away until I was in the building.
Flicking on all the lights, I started the opening routine, a weird ache growing in my gut as I did the same things I’d done nearly every day for more than three years.
Maybe Theo is right.
···
The bell above the door rang, letting me know two things. The obvious was someone had entered the café.
The other was I was an idiot for not locking up after the pastry delivery.
Coming out from the back, I looked around and found the place empty. I wondered if I’d imagined the noise until I glanced to the side and saw someone staring at a painting.
For the second time in the short span, I cursed myself as I felt my pocket only to find it empty. My cell was sitting in my hoodie pocket in the back. Java Brew had a phone line, but the only handset was at the end of the counter closest to the man.
Keeping my eyes on him, I stepped backward.
Before I could take another one, the man called out, “Do you sell the paintings here?”
“We aren’t open for another hour,” I said instead of answering.
“I rather like this one.” There was a familiarity to his voice that I couldn’t place.