Sooner rather than later.
Which meant Bethany Bennett had to die sooner rather than later. The last light switched off, the whole house disappearing into the darkness. He took this time to review what he knew. The first thing was that the property was impenetrable. He had seen the cameras on the fences, had noticed that there were no blind angles to hide. If he wanted Bethany, going in and getting her was the last option. One that would take slightly more firepower than he wielded.
No, the only way to get her was to wait until she left her fortress he decided. But when would that be? He had been watching her for days, waiting for just the right time to make his move and she had only left the estate once. He didn’t have time to wait until the urge to go into town came over her again. He could perpetrate a reason. Drive her out of her home. A fire? A friend in need? He would have to plan carefully. Leave no room for error.
And when he finally did take her life, his position in Hunter’s empire would be cemented.
Chapter 25
The winter sun kissed Bethany’s skin from where she sat on the patio, Jesse beside her. His skin had a sickly pallor as he eyed her stack of pancakes with disgust. She knew his stomach would revolt at the first sign of food to pass his lips but still, friend that he was, sat with her while she enjoyed the joys of breakfast without a hangover.
She took a sip of orange juice and sent him a look of sympathy.
“You look like death warmed over. What on earth compelled you to come knocking on my door last night?”
Did he remember anything at all about last night? She hoped not. Declan’s hostility was something she would rather not apologise for considering she knew he wasn’t the least bit sorry. The gall of the man to treat one of her friends like a criminal—her inebriated friend who was an heir himself to a fortune. Most people would’ve been afraid of pissing off the Copelands but not Declan.
Jesse smiled sheepishly. “I was drunk. I needed some TLC and knew you’d give me some. You always take care of me, Beth.”
“What you need is to lay off the liquor, Jesse. Have you any idea what you’re doing to your liver?”
Jesse rolled his eyes. “Jesus, Beth it’s too early and I’m still too intoxicated for a lecture on living my life right.”
“You won’t have a life if you keep up the way you’re going.”
“Speaking of lives—I dreamt that a guy with a gun patted me down last night.”
Bethany froze. What was the best way to tell him that wasn’t a dream? Fortunately, she didn’t have to as at that precise moment, Declan’s figure blinked in and out through the tree lines as he approached the house from his morning run and perimeter check.
He did it every morning, she’d learned before she usually woke so he could be done in time to escort her around.
“That’s the guy.” Jesse’s mouth dropped open as he studied Declan before turning towards her. “That wasn’t a dream, was it?
“No. I’m so sorry, Jesse believe me. You just kind of startled us and he’s not one you want to sneak up on.”
Jesse sank back in his chair. “He’s a bodyguard, isn’t he? Dad has enough around him I can recognise them on sight.”
“You’re not pissed or anything, are you?”
Jesse looked at her in surprise. “I’d be pissed if he hadn’t vetted me. You mean a lot to me, Beth, it’s almost like I have three sisters, you know?” He went quiet. “So why is he here? It has something to do with Dirk, doesn’t it?”
She knew Jesse didn’t like her father. Why she didn’t know nor did she want to. She’d had enough of learning about her father. A man, she’d been discovering she knew nothing about.
“Son-of-a-bitch! I know all about his dealings with that Hunter dude. It’s been all over the news lately. I don’t know why you put up with this shit, Beth. Just say the word and you and me are out of here.”
Beth’s heart turned over. Jesse so much wanted to be the Knight in Shining Armour and sometimes she was tempted to throw caution to the wind and be his Damsel in Distress but she was always afraid he might take it the wrong way and then there was her father, her very own Dragon of the Keep, determined to imprison her. Okay, it wasn’t as bad as all that. Her father had his reasons and she had a comfortable life.
“Thanks, Jesse, that means a lot to me to know you’re there.”
“Just remember any time.”
Declan’s face cleared of all expression as he reached them. His shirt was damp at his collarbone and under his arms, tiny drops of perspiration clung to his skin and his hair was wet from the vigorous physical activity he’d just participated in. Beth’s gaze dropped to her empty plate and felt gluttonous, the action also hiding the blatant interest and invitation in her eyes.
She was positively wanton. Bethany had never thought of herself as a slave to lust before. Not until Declan turned up in her life and suddenly turned on a switch to her libido. Desire coursed through her bloodstream, her body clenched and unclenched as she mentally stripped Declan of his clothes. Her cheeks heated, remembering her boldness the night before and how badly her little seduction had gone.
Embarrassment threaded through her.
Declan was a dangerous man, perhaps even more dangerous to her than the man who wished her dead. At least she understood her response to him.
Her pulse leapt in her throat like a runaway horse and she could feel her nipples growing hard under her dressing gown. Thankfully it was a cool enough day that warranted extra protection against the elements and Declan’s all-seeing eyes. She would’ve died of embarrassment right then and there if she had just been wearing a shirt. But then the day was still young and that could still happen—especially since she couldn’t stop thinking of Declan in every sexual scenario that she had ever read, several had certain possibilities. She almost groaned aloud and quickly bit her lip to keep from crying out in need, her body thoroughly aroused, dampening her underwear.
“Jesse Copeland, Declan O’Neill.” She struggled to make the introductions and noticed Jesse’s speculative look. “Hungry? There’s plenty of food.” She indicated the tray full of pancakes, bacon, sausages and toast in the centre of the table. Quinn always did cook as if he was feeding an army.
Declan shook his head. “No thanks. I still have some security checks to do.”
Jesse made a tsk tsk sound. “Come on, Declan, how can you say no to a beautiful woman like Beth?”
Bethany snorted, the sound very unladylike. “I’m sure Declan finds that quite easy to do, Jesse. Shall I save you some then, Declan?”
Declan gave her a cool look, one she felt all the way to her toes providing her with some relief from her earlier sexual arousal.
“I’ll be fine.” He turned away towards the house.
When Declan was out of earshot, Jesse turned towards her. “I think he’s jealous.”
Bethany blinked. “Of what?”
“Me.”
As much as she liked to believe Jesse and think of Declan as jealous she knew it wasn’t possible and nothing more than a dream of hers. She was determined to stay in reality; she had already spent most of her life off in la la land believing in silly fairy tales. Ever since her mother had become sick she took solace in the belief that in the morning everything will be better. She scolded herself for being so naive and stupid for when the sun came up, life sucked just as much today as it did the day before.
“Well, how else do you explain his dislike of me? Does he really think me a threat to you? No.” He shook his head and winced in pain. “I’m more of a threat to him.”
Bethany laughed at the image that came to mind. Declan and Jesse squaring off. It was hard not to see who the victor would be.
“You think it’s funny? Come on, Beth wake up. He definitely has something for you.”
She refused to listen to Jesse. This was not one of her romances.
“I’m just a job to Declan, nothing more.”
“You’ve never been good at reading men.”
“I threw myself at him, and he sent me to bed alone.”
Jesse choked on a sip of water. “Bethany Bennett!” He studied her expression and shook his head. “I can’t believe he turned you down.”
“Yes. It’s embarrassing so can you drop it.”
“Aw, Beth I’m not making fun of you, just the dumb bastard who can’t see what he’ll be missing.”
“I suppose the same can be said to me about you.”
“Nah, you’re too good for me. I still stand by my assessment. I’m not so hungover that I can’t see he’s into you. So, if you really want him, you need to make him jealous.”
“How do I do that?”
***
Declan watched through the window of the kitchen at Jesse and Bethany. The boy—the way he thought of Jesse—said something and Bethany laughed. Pain sliced through him like the sharpest blade and he wished it was him who had made her so happy. Bethany positively glowed, her face radiant when she smiled. The fact that she did it rarely made it all the more beautiful and made him feel all the more special when she bestowed it on him. He felt like he had been given the most priceless of gems.
Two hours later he was still fuming over his jealousy. He had already decided Bethany was off-limits and for obvious reason but that still didn’t stop him from wanting her and boy did he want her. Every time he stopped what he was doing and allowed his mind to wander he imaged walking up to Bethany, kissing her senseless before throwing her down on whatever surface was available and burying himself so deep in her that he was a part of her. Then he would get hard and swear at himself for not concentrating at the job at hand.
He tried not to chastise himself too much after all the job was Bethany and she was very distracting. Damn her. She was much too desirable for her own good. No wonder Dirk Bennett never wanted her to leave the estate, he’d be too busy batting away all her suitors to get any work done.
Shaking his head to clear his mind of Bethany, Declan looked up at the camera attached to the fence. He lifted a small hand-held radio to his mouth and spoke with Davies who had agreed to help him run operating checks on all security cameras.
“I’m in position at camera five,” he told Davies who at that very moment was sitting inside Bennett’s office watching the large bank of monitors artfully hidden in the small ‘panic’ room attached to the main office.
He took a step into the camera’s operating section, the motion detector coming alive, the white camera box swivelling around until the lens was directly facing him.
Davies responded via radio. “See you clear as day.”
Satisfied, he moved onto the next section. So far, he had found no fault in Bennett’s external security, Dirk keeping the equipment up to date and regularly checked for faults. It was only the internal system he had a problem with but obviously, Bennett had thought no intruder could possibly breach the property and approach the house so he hadn’t bothered with a properly functional defence. But Declan knew you could never be too careful.
He finished up with his check, taking his time reaching the mansion in hopes of avoiding Beth and her friend. As much as he hated to admit it, the kid was far more suitable for her.
Still, Declan didn’t want him near Bethany. Could Beth already be a notch on Copeland’s bedpost? He’d heard stories about Jesse and none of them favourable. Just because he’d rejected her didn’t mean every other red-blooded man had been so stupid.
Thinking about her lying beneath him, her perfectly manicured fingernails digging into his skin in her ecstasy had him in a rage, a strong need to lash out at everything and everyone.
“I was wondering where you got to.” He swung around to face Bethany so fast the scenery blurred. She gasped and took a step back with a look of uncertainty crossing her face.
Stop being so jumpy. It wasn’t her fault that you had been too busy imaging her in bed with another man that for the first time in over ten years someone had been able to get close to him without him knowing it.
“I was doing my job.” He cursed himself. He breathed in and out slowly, calming the killing rage inside. Torn between wanting to shake her for being out alone and demand her to tell him that she had never shared a bed with Copeland. Both were equally important to him.
“How could I forget.” She kept her distance. She probably didn’t even realise she was hanging somewhat back from him. Some sort of internal self-preservation kicking in.
He glanced over at her. “Your friend gone?”
Bethany nodded as she followed him up the small, almost overgrown path. The growth intentional, giving it an exotic look of the jungle taking over. The effect was quite lovely. But then everything he saw within the property line was beautiful and well sculptured. He slowed down until he was walking side by side with Bethany. Yes, everything was well sculptured.
“Yes, Jesse’s gone. He doesn’t think you like him though.”
He didn’t like Jesse pure and simple. He doubted he would’ve liked the rich boy under any circumstances but even less so since he played a major part in Beth’s life.
Declan ground his teeth together as he realised he was being possessive of Bethany, wanting to keep her for himself. Men hadn’t evolved that much since the caveman days and keeping a woman barefoot and pregnant—while archaic and completely sexist and un-feminist—was a fantasy of some men and Declan was disgusted to find he was one of them.
Thinking about Bethany carrying his child had dormant feelings surge to life and a primitive need to couple and make that image a reality fell over him. He clenched his hands into fists to keep from reaching out to her. He had no doubt that she wouldn’t put up a struggle and knowing that was killing him.
He wasn’t the type of man to take advantage of a woman and it was clear Beth was way out of her depth when it came to the feelings he brought alive in her. She was probably just full of raging hormones and in need of a good tumble. He very much doubted men like Copeland could fully satisfy a woman, they looked too much like the ‘out for their own fulfilment’ types.
“Any reason I should?”
“Any reason you shouldn’t?”
“About a hundred.”
“Right. He’s dangerous. So, it’s not bad enough I have no life but now I have to alienate the little friends I have?”
“No one said life was easy, or fair.”
“No of course not. But does it have to be a losing battle every time?”
“Absolutely.” He tugged on a strand of golden hair. “And nobody likes a whiner.”
“I wasn’t whining.” Her eyes narrowed and his blood began to heat. What was it about women who got angry so easily that you just knew that they would be equally passionate in bed? “I seriously hope you haven’t burned all your energy, because I really want to kick the shit out of you right now.”
He hardened painfully.
“Don’t you worry, I have plenty more.” Maybe too much. He really needed a woman. It was just his dumb luck that he wanted this one.
Chapter 26
Bethany pulled the form-fitting dress up her hips and slid her hands through the armholes. The baby blue silken fabric brought out her blue eyes. She searched her closet for a pair of heels. She contemplated the matter as if it were a national crisis. She was not used to making such decisions. On the few occasions that required her to dress up—mostly for her father’s functions here at the house—Ashley Copeland had come around and chose for her because let’s face it she was hopeless.
Bethany Bennett was not a trendsetter. She preferred comfortable—breathable—clothes and flat shoes that didn’t pinch her feet and turn her ankle every time she walked on the uneven ground. As much as she liked to experience the world outside these walls she had become complacent with her comfortable life within them where she knew the rules and what to expect.
She was scared of tonight and was only joining Jesse at the club to see Ashley who had finally returned home for a brief spell before flying off again on another grand adventure.
This was not a form of long denied rebellion. She told herself although the thought of doing something her father would disapprove of sent excitement coursing through her body mixing with the dread and uncertainty.
She also didn’t want to make Declan’s job harder for him. He was going to have his hands full tonight watching the ever-writhing crowd on the dance floor for potential threats and felt bad, even though he hadn’t made a big deal of her going out and was somewhat proud and strangely encouraging towards her decision to go out. She could tell he would’ve preferred a tiny gathering at a friend’s house or another trip to the salon instead of a raging club but he kept that to himself.
Yes, it was certainly strange. However, she didn’t have a chance to examine his motivation as the man himself appeared just inside her bedroom.
“So, when did you want to leave?”
Bethany chewed on her lip. Fear curling up inside her like a tight fist. She absolutely hated being a duck out of the water. “How about never?”
His eyebrows slanted down. “Are you all right?”
She glanced up from her row of shoes but couldn’t see him from where she was standing. He was obviously giving her some privacy or expecting her to be half undressed. “Besides the nauseousness?”
“Relax you’ll be fine. I’ll protect you.” He stepped closer then stopped remaining just out of sight. “Or is it something other than your life you’re worried about?”
Bethany snatched up a pair of white three-inch heels and slipped them on her feet, giving them a quick cursory look in the mirror.
Good enough.
“Here I know where I stand. I have people I’ve known since I was a kid. I don’t know what to make of out there. It’s scary and I feel as if I’m at their mercy.”
She had been cosseted from a young age, never pushed to socialise with people her own age, had been kept in a protective bubble that allowed so very few people to penetrate. The more she thought about it the more sense it made. If only her father hadn’t been so protective of her, if only he had pushed her out of the nest instead of keeping her there she would be a very different person.
Gilded Cage (Harbour Bay Book 6) Page 13