‘She just said she’ll pay the money, it’s a win-win situation, Mr. Ericson,’ Simon’s voice quivers.
‘Tell me why she should pay you and your boyfriend’s debt?’ He growls low, and I know from experience with Nate, that isn’t good.
‘She’s his sister; the family has money. I don’t have money’ he explains, enthusiastically. ‘Does it matter where the money comes from as long as you get it?’
‘She snort the coke?’ he queries, ‘pocket the money you and your boyfriend made from selling it on the street?’
‘No, but…’ He attempts to excuse his behaviour, but Ericson isn’t having any of it.
‘She lived in another country, had no contact with the weasel for twenty-seven years, I repeat, why should she pay for your cocaine habit?’ Well, he has obviously done his homework, he knows me and my family’s background. ‘Parker paid his price,’ he continues, ‘you gonna pay your debt with your life?’
My body tenses at his words, I didn’t fit together the pieces before, these are Ollie’s murderers. I swallow the lump in my throat and for a moment am sure that it can be heard echoing around the room.
‘No, Mr. Ericson,’ Simon pleads. ‘Ollie had debts, big debts. We were going to pay it back.’
I watch how things transpire with an objectivity that is unnerving. I feel detached from the whole sorry event. Nate and I have an evening to enjoy. Nate! Where the fuck is Nate? Have they harmed him? Bile rises in my throat.
I hear a thudding sound as a fist collides with Simon’s jaw. I glance up to see Mr. Ericson looking down disgustedly at Simon, who was knocked out by the blow. ‘Fucking, snitch,’ he mutters, ‘making me repeat things.’
His gaze returns to mine, and my heart begins to quicken.
‘Miss Parker,’ he allows my name to rumble through his lips. ‘Sophie, may I call you Sophie?’
I nod, my throat tight with anticipation, Mr. Ericson can call me whatever he likes as long as he doesn’t kill me. My body trembles as the shock of the situation hits home.
‘The first problem I have is that I will require you to call your father and retrieve the missing funds,’ he watches as his requests flow through my mind.
‘Okay,’ I clear my throat at the huskiness of my speech, ‘I can do that.’
‘The next problem I have is that you can identify all of us here,’ again, he allows that to penetrate my brain. He notices the moment it does, I tense, raise my gaze to his and my insides tremble. ‘I see you get my problem.’
‘Mr. Ericson,’ I call, ‘I just want to go home to my boyfriend and live my life. I have had a shit life, I want the good that I have recently had a glimpse off, and I’m not referring to that creep assaulting me within that,’ I swallow, ‘I get the money to you, can we then draw a line under all of this? I didn’t even know Ollie was on drugs,’ I confess.
He tilts his head, ‘you found some good in Detective Nathan Austin?’ He asks, ignoring the rest of my plea.
‘Yeah,’ I answer quietly, ‘can you let me have that good?’
‘I can give you good, Sophie, and we won’t need Detective Nathan Austin,’ he professes, softly.
‘See, I’m sure you are a fine man, Mr. Ericson, and I’m sure you can show me good. But you see, I’m in love with Detective Nathan Austin,’ I admit.
‘You see how that gives me an even bigger problem, Sophie?’ He whispers.
I can form no words, my boyfriend being a detective, yeah, I can see how we have an even bigger problem.
‘It doesn’t have to be,’ I finally push out in barely a whisper.
He regards me for a beat, turns and commands, ‘get that piece of shit out of here, make him disappear.’ Fuck, he’s going to kill him. ‘Give me the room,’ he mutters aloud. No one questions his instruction, but immediately the room is clear, all except me, Mr. Ericson and the biggest guy with the piercing blue eyes. ‘You too, Robson,’ he demands, clearly.
Robson’s eyes fall to mine, in warning, before he too leaves the room.
‘Drink?’
‘No thank you,’ I answer, politely.
‘You had a shit life?’ he queries, as he lifts a crystal decanter containing amber liquid, pouring it into a glass that suggests it’s brandy.
‘It could have been worse,’ I proclaim, ‘but it could have been better.’
He nods, ‘I want to spend time with you Sophie, you intrigue me. A woman hasn’t intrigued me in a while. You arrive in a foreign country to lay your estranged brother in the ground after hardly knowing him. Why is that?’
‘He’s all I had. I have wanted a connection to another human being all my life,’ as I speak the words, I realise how true they are.
His eyes move to mine, a softness within their depths. ‘Do you know how incredibly sad that is?’
I nod.
‘I have an intense urge to protect you, Sophie Parker,’ he states. ‘I imagine that’s how you and your detective formed a bond.’
Again, I nod.
‘Come here, Sophie,’ he demands.
My legs like jelly, I stand and walk over to him as he leans against the wooden drinks cabinet, stopping just short of his personal space. My body is trembling inside, but my chin is tilted up stubbornly.
I flinch, as his hand reaches out to my face. He stops mid-air, ‘I already said I wouldn’t hurt you, Sophie,’ he frowns, my actions displeasing him.
I will my body to relax. He continues to move his hand and I hold statue still as he cups my jaw, stroking a thumb down my cheek. ‘So, unbelievably beautiful,’ he whispers, stepping up until he is towering above me, his hand on my cheek.
‘I’m going to demand a kiss, Sophie Parker, in payment of your life.’ He updates me, ‘I want you to call your father, and I will speak to him, to make arrangements for him to pay back your brother’s debt.’ His hand moves around and cups my nape, pulling me against his firmness. My body is tense, and my breathing laboured as our bodies collide. My hands move up to break my fall against his chest. He moulds his body to mine to prevent me from moving either my hands or my body from his. What the fuck is he doing?
‘Once the money is received, and I have your word that you won’t do anything stupid like identifying any of my men, I will reluctantly permit you to return to your detective and give you some of that good you desire so badly. Debt paid.’
‘You will let me go?’ I plead into his grey gaze, ‘I won’t have to look over my shoulder ever again?’
He nods, once. ‘But the kiss has to be worth it Sophie,’ he warns. ‘Otherwise, I will take another and another until you submit to me. One sensational kiss, a small price to pay for your life, wouldn’t you agree?’
‘Yes,’ I nod, enthusiastically, ‘but, can I ask why?’ I ask softly, knowing that this man can probably have any woman he desires with a click of his fingers. He almost has it all, the looks, the mannerisms, but what he doesn’t have is a nine til five job. He is a drug dealer. Some women may get off on the danger of such an alpha male. I would rather wrap myself around my detective, my protector, the good kind of alpha male.
‘Because since you walked into this room, I have been dying to taste those luscious lips,’ he murmurs down, his eyes landing on my mouth. I can hardly breathe at the intensity of his gaze. What the fuck!
‘Don’t get me wrong here I would have no problem in taking back what’s owed to me from your father before disposing of you.’ He confesses, my stomach clenches. ‘But, there’s something in your eyes that has me totally mesmerised. I want you to taste that good you crave so badly, would I rather you taste it with me? Absolutely!’ He breathes out a long breath of air. ‘If I can’t have you, Sophie, I want a taster. You hear me?’
I nod, I can do this, I can pretend for one kiss. Then I’m out of here.
‘You back down on that deal, Sophie, I won’t be feeling so charitable, you understand?’ He warns me.
‘I understand,’ I nod.
‘Let’s call your dad,’ he releases me, and
I almost stumble on my wobbly limbs.
Luke, as he insists I call him, invites me to sit in his leather chair, which is tucked behind his desk and perches on the desk to the side of me. I call the number, from what I presume is a burner phone, my body strung tight and asked to be put through to my father. For a moment I worry that he won’t take my call. When the receptionist informs me, she is connecting me I hand over the phone to Luke, relief flowing through me.
I sit back and listen as his voice turns menacing as he threatens my father with a repeat of Ollie, if he doesn’t comply with his demands. I can’t hear my father’s side of the conversation, but, I realise by the touch of Luke’s eyes to mine that he intends to cough up the funds, again. My body almost physically dissolves as the relief returns and replaces the ice flowing through my veins as they set up an arrangement for a drop off the following day.
‘Seems as if daddy loves you after all,’ Luke states after he ends the call.
‘No,’ I scoff. ‘I warned my father after me came him. He values his existence more than anyone else.’
He assesses me gently. ‘How could that be?’ He murmurs.
I drop my head back tiredly against the back of the chair.
‘Come on, let’s get you home and to bed,’ he announces.
For a split second, I think he is intending on releasing me, so that I can finally get home to Nate. But, it soon becomes apparent that he is referring to his home. I just hope and pray he doesn’t mean to take me to his bed.
For the next hour I detach from my emotions and the surreality of the situation as I am swiftly escorted out of the building and into another shiny black vehicle. We exit via a different section of the underground car park and onto a street to the rear of the property. I am sat in the back of the car with Luke, and there are two men sitting in the front. Thirty minutes into the journey, Luke explains that he is going to blindfold me to prevent me from being able to rediscover our location. I promptly perceive this as a positive, knowing that if he had any intention of getting rid of me, he wouldn’t have bothered.
I lay back in the sudden darkness and begin to concentrate my thoughts on Nate. ‘Did you hurt him?’ I ask, knowing he is looking at me.
‘Not much,’ he assures me. ‘Prevented him from getting where he intended, was all,’ he responds casually.
I nod, at least that’s something.
When we arrive at our destination, the blindfold remains as Luke grasps my hand and talks me out of the car. When I am standing up, disorientated by the darkness, I feel his lips in my ear. ‘I’ve got you,’ he whispers, seductively, guiding me forward with one hand at my hip another holding mine tight.
When my feet hit what feels like tiles signalling our entrance to the building, his hands remove the blindfold. Luke is standing incredibly close as I blink against the brightness.
‘Those fucking eyes, could disarm a man,’ he turns, ‘this way,’ I follow like a puppy.
********
Chapter Fourteen
When Luke shows me into, what I presume is a guest room with an attached bathroom, I begin to relax. Surely he wouldn’t go to all this trouble if he was going to dispose of me. If he wanted to rape me, or murder me, would he care about making me comfortable first? I think not.
I try to look out of the window, but the shutters that cover the glass are locked tight. I jump at a knock on the door. It automatically opens and in walks smiler with my case in tow.
‘Open it!’ He instructs, bluntly.
‘What?’ I gape stupidly towards him.
‘I need to see if there are any electronic devices,’ he explains.
I pull out my iPad and laptop from my case and hand them over to the huge man with the wide smile. ‘I’ll get them back?’
‘That’s up to Mr. Ericson, he wants you showered and downstairs for dinner in thirty minutes. He says to wear something pretty,’ he declares.
‘Err, what constitutes as pretty in Mr. Ericson’s eyes?’ I mutter.
‘Dress and heels,’ he turns and tips up the entire contents of my case onto the bed.
‘Excuse me! Is there any need for that?’ I scold him, grabbing at my new lace underwear purchased in London with Nate in mind.
‘Gotta check,’ his hands move swiftly through my belongings.
‘I assure you, I don’t have anything else,’ I stand with my hands on my hips, providing the tall man a look of ice.
‘Then, you don’t mind if I check,’ he ignores my stance, although his lips twitch slightly.
Once he accepts that there are no means of communication within my luggage, he leaves the room throwing me a cheesy grin along the way. I distinctly hear the click of a lock turning on the opposite side of the doorway and know that, as luxurious as the setting was, it was still a prison.
The shower is divine, after a ten-hour flight with next to zero hours sleep, plus the added stress of being abducted from the airport, I allow the water to cascade over my tired, achy body to soothe my tense muscles. Luke assured me that Nate was okay, probably pissed and worried about me, but he’s alive and in one piece. I have to take his word I have no choice. I let the relief of that knowledge drip through my veins in an attempt to relax me further. Tomorrow, the money will be received, and Nate and I can resume with our envisioned plans for the future. All I have to do is get through tonight, dinner and a night’s sleep in a soft bed, I tell myself.
A niggle in my brain sighs deeply. Somehow I don’t think it’s going to be that easy.
I dress, as instructed, in something pretty, not wishing to upset Luke in any way. As things stand now, I have hope. I fuck it up, and I am history. Luke, has thankfully taken a liking to me and pledges he wants for me to have that piece of good that is Nate. I have to believe that, or I will curl into a ball and die alone in this paradise.
Smiler is waiting for me outside my room. The door is unlocked for my departure. His eyes skim over my black dress and silver strappy heels, and a gleam of appreciation appears in the depth of his gaze.
‘You approve?’ I snap, irritated by his blatant ogling.
‘This way,’ he ignores my snipe, turning down the corridor from which I came not an hour beforehand. He leads me down the stairs to a huge reception room that has a table that could quite easily seat twelve people. At the end of the long wooden table, two place settings have been set with crystal glasses and the finest silver cutlery.
Luke Ericson is standing over a laptop in the corner of the room, but turns to my arrival. He has also changed out of his grey suit into black dress trousers and a starched white shirt, the top two buttons casually open, the sleeves rolled up. He is undeniable stunning.
‘Sophie,’ his voice is as smooth as chocolate. He walks towards me, his eyes appraising me from toe to head. I observe as his eyes flare, his lips tilt, and he shakes his head. ‘You look sensational,’ he comments, his eyes finally reaching mine. ‘An absolute vision of beauty,’ he charms.
‘Thank you,’ I glance around, anywhere but his penetrating glance.
‘Sophie!’ His voice is curt, and I immediately fix my eyes to his in question.
‘When you are in a room with me, you give me the benefit of your full attention,’ he announces. ‘I need to know you are here with me, yeah?’
‘Sorry,’ I mumble, my stomach clenching. I mustn’t piss him off, ‘I’m not very good with compliments,’ I murmur, quietly.
He evaluates my expression before frowning, ‘why the hell not?’
I shrug, uncomfortably.
He steps towards me, and I fight against the urge to step back. I know he won’t like that, so decide to stand perfectly still. His hand cups my nape pulling me against him as he did in his office, I fall against him, and his fingers move to my jaw, lifting it until I am gazing up into his handsome face.
‘How serious are things with the detective?’ He purrs, seductively.
‘I love him,’ I respond, instantly.
‘If you hadn’t met him?’ I know
what he is asking me.
I swallow down the anxiety in my throat and try not say anything to offend him. ‘You know you are easy on the eyes,’ I announce, ‘and as a person, you intrigue me too, Luke,’ I admit. ‘But, I have to tell you, I’m not keen on your career of choice.’
His shoulders move up and down as he chuckles silently, ‘no, I’m probably not the ideal choice for someone’s daughter,’ he provides me a rare smile, which I can’t help but return. His eyes move to my lips and I all but hold my breath. He didn’t inform me of exactly when he was expecting the kiss, I guessed that would happen when he released me, but right now he looked as if he wanted to devour me.
‘Sir,’ a voice interrupts us, Luke releases me from his hold and his face becomes blank as he looks to the interjector.
‘Take a seat, Sophie,’ he points to one of the place settings and strolls out to the door, where a suit is waiting.
They have a conversation as a woman hustles in with a jug of water with quarters of lemons bobbing on the surface, and a bottle of what appears to be champagne in a silver ice bucket, setting them both in between the plates.
Luke returns and takes his seat beside me, and the food begins to arrive. The meal is an a la carte menu that contains numerous courses. I pick at my food, too distracted by my surroundings to enjoy the deliciously prepared feast. Luke asks me about myself as we eat, but I know he already has all the information I provide. I do, however, enjoy the magnificent champagne, which is clearly expensive, the bubbles bursting in my mouth.
‘You like champagne?’ He asks as he tops it up for the third time.
‘I like that champagne,’ I correct him, the haziness it provides blurring the tension of my situation.
‘You should, it’s a good one,’ he notifies me, blandly.
I begin to relax, knowing I should remain alert, but, I also know it is courtesy of the champagne that has gone directly to my head.
‘Tell me about your childhood,’ he commands, not asks.
I tell him about my childhood, he nods and answers in the right places and by the end, I have confided everything about my life, thus far. I refuse to share any information about Nate as that wasn’t his to have. Although, I did confide to him that I had never been in love before I met Nate, and how I had previously felt like there was something wrong with me, a missing gene, perhaps?
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