Fiendish Play

by Angela Richardson

  “Did you do it?” I asked. He wanted me to ask. He wanted me to know what happened. He wouldn’t have just put it out there if he didn’t want me to know.

  “I couldn’t return home if I didn’t,” he stated.

  And there it was written all over his face. Regret. Byron was just as human as the rest of us. And I now had a flicker of understanding for some of his monstrous behavior. Byron must have seen the pity I felt for him in my eyes because his expression was quick to change into a snarl. He didn’t want my pity. Wouldn’t accept it. A son of a Lappell member wouldn’t dare be pitied.

  “James, I didn’t shoot that deer because I was scared I would die out in the freezing cold. I shot that deer because I didn’t want to disappoint my father.” He smirked, shaking his head at himself. “It’s funny. The unspoken bond between a father and son. You know, I thought I’d never be like him, but turns out, I’m exactly like him.” Byron’s eyes then met mine. “You can’t escape that part of you, no matter what you do and where you go. So why fight against it?”

  “That’s sad that you believe that. No one has to turn out like their parents. You can always make different choices. Choose different paths. You don’t have to let your father define you...or your actions.”

  “That’s the thing with fathers James. No matter how much you think you’re not like them…history has a way of repeating itself.”

  It was then I felt truly sorry for Byron. He had given up on himself a long time ago and gone down the same path as his Dad. That was probably why he embraced the Lappell the way he had. It was a way for him to keep his father proud of him. Something he obviously needed and craved. I never knew my real Dad, but my mother had always told me he would have definitely encouraged whatever I wanted to do with my life. And my step-dad is one of the best people I know. If I was anything like my step-dad or my real Dad, it was a blessing, not a hindrance. There is always an exception to the rule.

  Byron took me to a road I hadn’t been on yet. It was south of the town. At least an hour’s drive from my apartment. We arrived at another grand house that was heavily surrounded by security outside the gates. It was yet another mansion. Another party. Just another night with the Lappell.

  I didn’t ask questions. I just followed Byron up to a room where he informed me we were spending the night. There were tuxedos and shoes all laid out waiting for us in the room. Everything was the right size. All fit perfectly.

  After we both dressed, I followed Byron to an elevator. The buttons showed the three top levels of the house but there was also a special gold button under the buttons that said: 1, 2 and 3. I tried to look closer at the gold button. It kind of looked like it had the same image that my lucky coin had. But after Byron pushed it, he stood in front of the buttons, stopping my investigation as we descended the three house levels to another level that was underneath the house.

  “There are a lot of people who want to meet you tonight,” Byron said turning to me now. The elevator dinged and the doors opened. “James Riley,” Byron’s hands went out wide in presentation. “Welcome to our world.”

  We walked out, side by side, to a room filled with suits and sparkly dresses. Older men and beautiful women. Then I saw the tables and the dealers. Blackjack, roulette and poker. A layer of smoke towering above the heads of everyone in the room coming from a corner filled with older men drinking and smoking cigars. The soft sound of jazz music coming from tiny speakers in every corner of the room.

  “What is this?” I asked as I tried to take in as many details of the set-up as I could. Storing all the mental images like I would need them later.

  “It’s an underground casino. But you tell me James. What can you see?”

  My eyes scanned the room, taking it all in. “I see men in business suits and girls in next-to-nothing cocktail dresses.”

  “Well, that’s one way to look at it. But when I see the business suits, I see senators, police commissioners, judges and CEOs. And when I look at those cocktail dresses, I see actresses, models, and heirs to massive fortunes. So you see James, nothing is what it looks like. We are one image on the outside, and much deeper layers within. You need to know that what the Lappell offer is power, money and a life of great opportunity and opulence. You have the potential to get everything your heart desires.”

  “In exchange for what? Because I don’t need any of this,” I said back, not at all impressed by the extravagance.

  “But there is something you do need from us isn’t there? Something you do desire. Because without us, you will never truly have her. Her parents will never let her see you again if you don’t join. Our rules will make sure she goes to another member. One who may not treat her as...nice as you.” His arm went round my shoulder. “So why fight destiny? Because Anais is your destiny, right?”

  “Yes. She is.”

  “Then come and take your rightful place. Embrace what we have to offer.” Byron was grinning again like he was when I found him in my workroom. “Don’t you get that feeling like you’ve belonged all along James...just a little bit?”

  I couldn’t admit it out loud, especially not to Byron, but there was a tiny part of me that felt like this was part of life’s plan. That it was supposed to be. That my newfound destiny was in this world, with her. I don’t know where it came from and why, but something about all this did have a feeling of fate.

  Byron paraded me around the floor like I was his trophy wife. Were all new investments subject to this kind of treatment? I wasn’t sure. But I was introduced to countless faces of high-powered business leaders and elite Lappell members. Rich person after rich person. Fake smiles, curious eyes, and even a hint of amazement and threat. It was all around me. A compilation of power, greed and sex. Old generations teaching and welcoming the new. A whole room filled with secrets and lies. I had to wonder if anyone could possibly escape.

  Byron stopped us near the bar when he caught sight of a gold dress and long red hair that fell down a bare back. He came up behind the woman, stepping right up into her personal space. Her head lifted like she could smell his cologne, and when she turned, her eyes told me she was happy to see who was behind her. They didn’t even say hello. She just stared at Byron’s face, trying to find some words before her eyes darted to me and then back to his. “Who’s this?” Her voice was husky. She sounded older than she looked.

  Byron gestured with his hand for me to get closer. “James, this is Wilhelmina Wickburn. But we all call her Willa. She’s with an elite group over at McLaren.” Byron’s eyes roamed over the tall red-haired beauty that started to circle me curiously. This was the first time I had seen Byron focus on something other than the Lappell or myself since I met him. Perhaps this girl was his weakness.

  “James. James Riley?” she said, still watching me like I was something important. Something challenging. Something she wanted to study.

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve heard a lot about you. I hear you’re,” she paused, glancing quickly to Byron, “an artist.”

  “That’s correct,” I confirmed.

  “Which means you’re good with your hands. Right?” She looked directly at my hands, studying their size.

  “Well…I’ve never had any complaints before.”

  She giggled, but not in a girly way. Her husky tone made her laughter sound almost like a cough. “I bet you haven’t.” She moved round me once more, still in observation mode. “And you’re very handsome too.” She leaned in closer. “But I can tell you already know that about yourself. Right James?”

  What was she trying to do? Her questions told me she was flirting, yet her expression told me that she was being snarky. There was something both deadly and alluring in the way she was acting towards me. I knew right away that she couldn’t be trusted.

  “So do you like to gamble James? I was going to play blackjack for a while over on one of the tables. Care to join me?”

  Byron nudged my back, making the decision for me. “Sure,” I said clearing my throat. �
�I’d hate to offend a lady.” What lady?

  “Good boy.” She mumbled under her breath and walked off, purposely swaying her hips as she lead us out to the floor. Both me and Byron followed Willa to an empty blackjack table. Willa took a seat and patted the empty one next to her. “Come here James.” I went and sat down beside her. Byron stood behind us. Somehow a glass of Scotch had found its way into his hands. Willa’s finger motioned to the man standing behind the table. “Charlie here is the Lappell’s best blackjack dealer. He’ll do his best to try and beat us,” she said as I got comfortable. “I hope you’re a better player than me James...because I play to win.”

  “I don’t think anyone likes to lose,” I said watching the dealer lay out our hands. Now anyone who has a decent mind can learn to count cards. It’s actually pretty simple. This wasn’t my first time in a makeshift casino. French kids like to drink and gamble too you know. So to say that I could easily win at blackjack is something of an understatement for someone like me. But to keep up somewhat friendly relations, I let both Willa and the dealer win a few. It was manners after all and I didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention to myself. What was the point of showing them more of my skills?

  Willa didn’t look impressed as I purposely lost another hand, though I don’t think she realized I was throwing the games. It looked like her expectations were much higher. “It’s funny how people love to gamble, even when they know they’re not going to win,” Willa said watching my chips get taken away by the dealer. The realization now dawning on me that this wasn’t just a game now...it was a challenge by the Lappell. They were always testing for weaknesses.

  “You don’t believe in luck Willa?” I asked watching the cards being dealt once more, counting and knowing what would come next.

  “No...I don’t believe in luck,” Willa stated, losing yet another hand. “Because everyone knows the house always wins.”

  My eyes blinked rapidly for a moment. The fog from the flashback finally gone. My real mind was back at full capacity. If this was a test...if they were trying to intimidate me and scare me and remind me of my place, then I had to make sure they knew where I stood too. I pushed all my chips into the center of the table. My cards were being laid down and I knew exactly what was about to happen. My first card was a king. My second card was an ace.

  “Blackjack!” Charlie yelled across the table. Willa’s eyes went wide with surprise. Byron laughed behind us. He didn’t sound shocked at all.

  “I beg to differ,” I said standing up and off my chair. “See, I don’t believe in luck either Willa. I believe it all depends on who the house is playing against,” I said picking up my newly appointed high stack of winning chips and walking off. I knew the secret couple’s eyes were on my back as I took off across the room, but I was done being Byron’s show-and-tell for the night. I could only play nice for a little while. Playing for fun was one thing. Having to listen to threatening statements laced in double meanings was quite another.

  My mind was now completely back on Anais and tomorrow’s ceremony and wishing that this night would end. I made my way back to the room that I got dressed in with Byron earlier. Once I stepped inside, I finally felt relief that I was alone. I could think clearly again and needed to assess everything before tomorrow. I knew they were holding Anais back from me until the ceremony. Something was very wrong. Byron, Willa, the professor. Everything was rubbing me the wrong way. I laid down on one of the room’s beds and tried to think about getting some sleep. Tomorrow everything was going to change. My life. My future. I tried to call Anais on my cell, but there was no answer. Not that I thought I’d actually get to speak to her. But it felt good trying all the same. I heard the rumbling sound of the rain beat down on the mansion windows as I lay in the dark. “How appropriate,” I thought. A thunderstorm.

  {23}

  Twenty-one years ago…

  LIAM

  There was a thunderstorm and a mysterious phone call. They were the two things I distinctly remember from the night it all changed.

  Delia and I were in a top suite in a high-rise London hotel. I had booked the room under the name Da Vinci. It was supposed to be the best night of my life. The start of a different time for us. A time when we would leave this world behind and concentrate on our time together as one. I was still a chapter president and she was still my elite bed companion, but once she became more, we could at least start a family together and wouldn’t have to hide our relationship any longer. I wanted some kind of semblance of a normal future, even within these walls.

  Delia had agreed to be my wife. My proposal was simple. It didn’t need any makeup. It just needed real honest emotions. The best kind of gift I had to offer. She accepted before I even got the words out of my mouth. She knew what I was about to say. And I was happy she knew. It had always been about our connection. Knowing each other’s thoughts. Finishing each other’s sentences. We were just...in sync. Delia even shed a tear as she slid the art deco ring I had picked from a very old jewelry store, onto her finger. The tear alone was enough to tell me how much it meant to her and that she wanted to be with me forever. I know she thought I had had doubts since...well, since that night. It was nearly a year since the night at the cottage where I had caught Delia red-handed...I mean bloodied handed. I still had no idea whose blood it was and who Joe from New York was. But I had not pressed Delia further for the information. Perhaps she thought I had grown distant and that was why I hadn’t pushed her anymore for the details. But I believed that some secrets in this world weren’t ours to tell. You had to be very careful with what you said. The Lappell often collided with many other groups. The last thing I wanted to do was put Delia at risk by getting her to tell me everything. And I know she wanted to, but in her eyes, I knew it would come at a price. And I didn’t want to know the cost of information that wasn’t mine. So I let it go.

  I shouldn’t have let it go.

  We were making love during that thunderstorm. Her naked body rising and falling on top of mine to the loud boom of the thunder. Flashes of her white skin erotically igniting my eyes during the lightning. Her ring, big and glowing on her hand, made me come faster than I’d ever come before. It wasn’t until afterwards, until we were dressed, having a glass of whiskey, that it all changed.

  The hotel phone in our room rang. I was holding her hand, playing with her engagement ring between my fingers. Our eyes went back and forth between each other and the phone. Both with the exact same question in our faces. Who would be calling us? Because no one knows we are here.

  “Perhaps it’s the front desk about room service or something like that?” Delia said as she crossed the room and stared at the phone, unsure if she should pick it up.

  “You’re probably right,” I said agreeing with her. She picked it up slowly, putting it to her ear, not even giving her name. She held it against her ear for almost a minute. The expression on her face didn’t change. She held the stoic look, not giving anything away. When I think back to that night now, I shouldn’t have been looking at her face, but her body that was trembling. I remember the way her knees twitched and how she rolled her ankles. I only glanced at them for a second, but I should have seen it. It was fear, and nothing was ever going to be the same again.

  She hung up the phone slowly, in the same motion as she picked it up, and then turned to me face to face. “We have to run,” she deadpanned. Before I could even register what she said, she had charged across the room, swiping the drink out of my fingers, and leading me out the door.

  With her holding my wrist tight, we entered the corridor. She looked both ways before whisper yelling to me. “We can’t take the elevator and we can’t take the stairs down. We’ll need to go the roof and climb down from the stairwell there. They’ll meet us a few streets over.”

  “Delia!” I grabbed her hard, spinning her into my chest. “What’s going on?”

  Her hand, the one with the ring, covered the top of my hands. “You need to trust me right now Liam.” Sh
e leaned forward and kissed my lips fast. She was reminding me what we had, and what we were trying to save.

  She then took off towards the door leading up to the roof. We didn’t have time to put shoes on so we were running barefoot inside the stairwell. It hurt my feet to be running like this, like our lives depended on it, but I trusted Delia and what she said.

  The rain hit our faces hard when we burst out onto the hotel’s roof top. Delia scanning the area once more with her eyes looking for something...someone?

  The thunder boomed again, and we both cowered as we ran through the pouring rain to the stairs on the side of the three-hundred-foot-high hotel. They were our only escape. It was all action now. Climbing and climbing. Closer and closer down to the street. A lighting crack caused us to stop momentarily as we gripped the metal stairwell, but that lasted only a few seconds before we kept going. When we finally reached the street, Delia pulled me behind a big industrial bin so we could catch our breath. She wiped her face, but her eyes we on red alert. They kept scanning the street behind us in all directions.

  “You’re really scaring me Delia! What’s going on?” I breathed. Mist coming out from my heated breaths.

  She put her hands on her waist, still inhaling deeply, making sure she had enough air so she could talk.

  “Liam...You know the thing in the papers a few months ago...the tycoon three killings...and the leaking of that information...”

  And just like that, all the safety within the walls of our happiness tumbled down with the mere mention of those two things. A future. Our future. Any possibility of happiness. Gone. The fact she was telling me about it told me she was in way over her head. It was no secret in our circles what happened. I knew exactly what had happened. I was a Lappell president after all. I had been told. In private. In complete secrecy, about what went down. About who killed those three leaders.