Indulge

by E. B. Walters

  No one moved.

  “Go,” he ordered, sounding like a drill sergeant at a boot camp.

  The women grabbed their purses and fled. Jillian didn’t move. Couldn’t. Was it only a few hours ago Lex had told her about his enemy behind bars? His men had beaten up Troy while she’d been busy chugging drinks.

  “Should I call the police?” Jillian asked.

  “No, Jillian,” Troy said. “Lex will deal with these people. Go with the others.”

  He spoke with such authority she obeyed. Faith and the others were waiting at the top of the stairs discussing what had just happened in low voices. Deedee was still on the phone, and Jillian overheard her side of the conversion as they headed downstairs.

  “Yes, Sloan. The bastard said Paul Warwick hired them. We’re leaving. I don’t think anyone wants to stay. Troy is with them. He’s cuffed them and is waiting for you guys to get here. Are you sure about not calling the cops? Okay, fine. Just a second.”

  They were almost on the main floor of the restaurant and were already drawing attention. Deedee caught Jillian’s arm. “Sloan said we shouldn’t leave. It’s not safe out there.”

  “Not safe for who?”

  “You. Me. Them.” She indicated the Fitzgerald women who were walking ahead of them. “Paul Warwick is a sociopath who won’t care who he hurts in his revenge against Lex, my brother, or their friends. Chances are those two upstairs aren’t working alone.”

  A hollow feeling settled on Jillian’s stomach. She glanced down at the women who were now at the foot of the stairs. A man of Lex’s wealth was bound to have enemies, but she would never have imagined someone like this Warwick. If he could hire dancers, he could definitely hire someone to poison her or wait outside for defenseless women and attack them. He hadn’t cared about hurting people at the restaurant. The more Jillian thought about the incident at the Montage, the more she was convinced Warwick was behind it.

  “I’ll tell them,” Jillian said and continued downstairs. “Lex wants us to wait here until he arrives. It’s not safe. Warwick’s people could be waiting for us outside.”

  They didn’t argue. The hostess found them seats in the lounge and brought them drinks. Jillian didn’t want to touch anything alcoholic. She wanted to be sober for the inevitable confrontation between her and Lex.

  Her anger grew as seconds ticked by. The others discussed Warwick, but she didn’t bother to listen. Lex had broken her heart and destroyed her trust tonight. Warwick had merely sent dancers, and there was the poison. If he was as smart as Lex had implied, he should have known that ingesting poison was not dangerous. This could all be a game for him.

  It seemed like forever before there was a commotion at the entrance and Dom appeared looking like a dark angel. He was dressed in his usual black, his hair mussed as though he’d run his fingers through it, and his don’t-fuck-with-me expression plastered on his face. The hostess stayed rooted on the same spot and watched him with a mixture of fascination and wariness. She wasn’t the only one. He drew the attention of the customers, men and women.

  Jillian sat straighter, her eyes moving behind him, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lex. Instead of Lex, Rake followed. Something about the way he scanned the restaurant said he was on a mission and would annihilate anyone standing in his path. The hostess actually took a step back when he glanced at her.

  Like Dom, Rake was dressed in black. Unlike Dom who wore a black trench coat, Rake’s T-shirt hugged his masculine arms and showed off the wicked tattoos on his right arm and the side of his neck. He looked even more threatening than Dom.

  Then they started doing that annoying manly way of conversing, talking from the corner of their mouths without glancing at each other. They looked like they were casing the place and were about to rob it.

  Where the hell was Lex?

  Even as the question flashed through Jillian’s head, Rod and Aiden walked in. The hostess almost looked relieved by their appearance. Her gaze alternated between Aiden and Rod even though the other two Rocks of Gibraltar were right in front of her. No one could ever mistake Aiden for a robber. From his thousand-dollar haircut and tailor-made dinner jacket to his wing-tipped shoes, he exuded wealth. As for Rod, even though his dark hair was as long as Dom’s, the twinkle in his eyes made him approachable.

  Aiden walked around Dom and said something to the hostess. She pointed upstairs, and the four men started toward the stairs.

  What the hell? Why wasn’t Lex with them? He was probably too busy screwing the bimbo in the photographs to come and get her himself, the asshole. The two-timing piece of shit.

  Jillian stood and waved. The men didn’t see her. The Fitzgerald women were talking in whispers behind her, some turning to see the person she was waving at. Deedee was flirting with the bartender and had no idea the cavalry had arrived.

  Jillian placed her fingers in her mouth and whistled, drawing everyone’s attention.

  Dom saw her first, said something to the others, and changed directions. Rod followed him. Rake gave her a weird look and continued upstairs with Aiden. Dom reached her first.

  “Are you okay? Did they touch you?” he asked, eyes searching her face, his expression saying he’d rip the dancers apart if she said yes.

  Jillian shook her head, a little choked up by his concern. The problem was she didn’t want him. She wanted Lex. He was supposed to be her hero, damn it.

  “Where’s Lex?” Jillian asked. “Why is he not here?”

  Dom scowled as though offended by the question. “He has to take care of something. We’ll take you home.”

  “No, you won’t. What is he taking care of that’s so important?”

  “Jillian—”

  “What is he doing, Dom?”

  “We have an emergency at Sloan’s,” he explained, but he couldn’t meet her gaze. He was a terrible liar. A quick glance over her shoulder and she saw the person he was staring at. Aiden. Now there was someone who couldn’t lie to her.

  Aiden reached them and pulled Dom aside. Whatever he told Dom sent him cutting across the restaurant for the stairs, his coat flying behind him. Aiden joined Jillian while Rod continued to flirt with the Fitzgerald women.

  “What’s going on?” Jillian asked.

  “Your assistant, Troy, is an interesting guy. Was he once a cop?”

  Jillian didn’t care. “No, what’s going on with Lex?”

  Something flickered in Aiden’s eyes before he lowered his eyelids. “He’s a bit tied up with some nasty business that needed his attention. Don’t worry, we’ll get you home safely.”

  “No, I’m leaving.” Jillian grabbed her jacket and turned, but Aiden blocked her path.

  “Please, don’t go. Lex insisted you don’t leave without us. The penthouse might not be safe. You know about Warwick, right?”

  She nodded.

  “He is a sick bastard, and there’s nothing he wouldn’t do to hurt Lex. Troy will be downstairs shortly. He’s hurt and might need you.”

  Jillian wanted to say she didn’t care, but she did. Troy was a great guy. She pulled out her phone and tried Lex’s cell. Tied up was he? Nasty business? What was it that only he could take care of? The phone went unanswered. She opened her mouth to tell Aiden that she was going to check on Troy, but he was staring at someone with such a weird expression she turned to see who it was. Jade, Lex’s sister.

  “Do you want to meet her?” Jillian asked and wished she hadn’t. Aiden’s interest in Jade would lead nowhere.

  “I did once.” He exhaled softly. “She was…” A sheepish expression settled on Aiden’s face. “Never mind.”

  Morbid fascination tugged at her. “Was what?”

  Aiden grinned. “Exquisite even then. I wanted to ask her out, but never got the chance.” He threw Jillian another sheepish grin. “Is she married?”

  Jillian was tempted to say no to see what he’d do, but she couldn’t do that to the poor guy just because she was angry at Lex. Jade was very much in love with her husband, a
nd they had two adoring kids—twins. Her son was going to be the ring bearer at her wedding. Her sham of a wedding.

  “Yes,” Jillian said.

  “Is she happy?”

  Jillian sighed. She wanted to get Troy and leave. “Go ask her.”

  “Nah. It’s okay.”

  “Go, please, or you’ll always beat yourself up for not finding out.” She wanted him to stop hovering like a damn bodyguard.

  Aiden frowned. Funny but she hadn’t noticed that with his lean body, blondish-brown hair and pretty smile, he could easily pass for a model.

  “You sure?”

  Men. Even billionaires were insecure. “Yes.”

  He stepped away, tapped Rod’s shoulder and jacked his thumb to indicate upstairs. “Upstairs. They need you.”

  Jillian took advantage of the opportunity and started for the stairs. She’d get Troy and head to her condo. Thank goodness she still had the lease. She got to the foot of the stairs and stopped. Rake was coming downstairs. She could stand most of Lex’s friends, except this one.

  “Ready?” he asked as soon as he reached her side.

  “For what?” she asked with just a little attitude.

  “To leave. Lex is tied up, but…” Rake sighed. “Let’s just go.”

  There was that expression again. Tied up. Maybe he was literally tied up by that bitch while his friends covered for him. Just thinking about it made Jillian’s blood boil. Why should she make it easy for him by leaving?

  “No, I want Lex, Rake. Not you or Dom or Aiden. Lex. Here. Now!”

  Something flashed in his eyes—anger or pity, she couldn’t tell. “Listen. This is not the time to be difficult, Jillian. We have to get out of here.”

  “Then go.” Jillian sat on the nearest empty chair just vacated by a customer. “I’m staying until he gets here. He’s not answering my phone calls, so call him. I bet he’ll answer yours.” They were drawing attention, but she didn’t care.

  Rake squatted, the expression on his face hard to read. “I’m trying to be understanding,” he said, speaking slowly and calmly. “But you are making it very difficult.”

  “Good, because I’m done trying to understand why you’re covering for Lex. I saw the fucking pictures, Rake. I thought you had integrity. Y’all are just a bunch of enablers.”

  His eyebrow shot up. “Pictures?”

  “Of Lex and that fake blonde bitch,” she said, keeping her voice low. He didn’t even act surprised. “And you guys let it happen. I can’t stand looking at any of you right now, let alone talking to you. But I’m going to be a bigger person and take my anger out on Lex. So get him on the phone and tell him to get his ass down here, because I am not going anywhere.”

  Rake’s eyes narrowed, and for one brief moment, she thought he’d snap. “I’ll let you in on a little secret,” he said, sounding slightly amused.

  “Not interested,” she shot back.

  “I have no problem carrying you out of here.”

  “Try it,” Jillian shot back, crossed her arms, and leaned against her seat. Rake stood, and Jillian had a feeling he was actually going to haul her up and sling her over his shoulder.

  “Bloody hell, Rake. Tell her what happened,” Aiden said.

  “No,” Rake snarled. “We’re leaving.”

  “Tell me what?” Jillian asked, her eyes volleying between Aiden and Rake. She stood, her hands fisting when he shot her a look that said he was done playing. “You touch me, and I’ll scream.”

  Aiden chuckled. “Not Gigi, is she?”

  “Screw you, Brit.”

  “Come on, ladies,” Aiden said, chuckling. “The limo is waiting. They’ll join us after she’s done with him.” The women hesitated, but Jillian urged them to go with a wave of her hand. One of them must have asked Aiden something because he said, “Battle of wills. My bet is on Jillian.”

  Faith kept glancing back at them. Rake stared right back at her with narrowed eyes until they left the restaurant. Then he faced Jillian, and something in his eyes sent panic through her.

  “What is it?” she asked in a whisper.

  “Warwick got to Lex, too.”

  Jillian’s stomach dropped. “What do you mean?”

  “Lex was drugged tonight. He’s unconscious, but he’ll be okay. Sloan called a doctor to take a look at him.”

  Jillian didn’t bother to ask why they hadn’t rushed Lex to the hospital. All of the guys valued their privacy to a point where anything that could cause a scandal or affect their businesses was dealt with promptly and secretly.

  “Will you take me…?” Her voice shook to a stop.

  “He’s going to be okay,” Rake repeated, his voice gentle. She’d never heard him speak like that. He was all thorns and no roses. Jillian also noticed that she was gripping his hands. Flushing, she let him go and placed her hands on her lap.

  She swallowed and cleared her throat. “I want to see him, Rake.”

  Rake nodded. “I know. That’s why I wanted you to leave with me.”

  And she’d thought he was being his usual impossible a-hole self. Jillian couldn’t remember getting to her feet, but she realized Rake’s hand was gripping her arm when they reached outside.

  “Wait here,” he said and pulled Aiden aside for a brief talk. Jillian ignored the questions in the eyes of the Fitzgerald women as she said her goodbyes.

  It would have been fun having these amazing women as her in-laws, but after what she’d seen tonight, her marriage to Lex was only going to last long enough to secure his contract with the Japanese company. She didn’t give second chances to cheaters, no matter how hot the sex was or how she felt about them. It wasn’t the first time a man hurt her. She recovered before and would again.

  “Thank you for tonight,” Jillian said, giving each woman a hug. She brushed off their protests that the dancers had spoiled their evening. “No, they didn’t. I had fun, and I’m going to remember this evening for a long time.”

  “I’ll bring everything to the mansion tomorrow evening,” Faith whispered as they hugged. “Aunt Estelle wants us to have a rehearsal, so we’ll all be there with the kids.”

  Her dream wedding was going to be a disaster. It had started on a lie and was now a mockery of everything she’d wanted. All because Lex couldn’t keep it in his pants. Feeling tearful and hating herself for it, Jillian stepped back and watched as the women disappeared into the limo. Only after they left did she turn and face Rake.

  He led her to an SUV. In less than ten minutes, they pulled into Lex’s building. He punched in the code for the elevator, and once inside, he pressed a button and asked, “Jarvis?”

  “I’m here, Mr. Ashworth. Good evening, Ms. Finnegan.”

  Jillian mumbled a response. Who the hell was Jarvis? Probably a security guard. Wait. Did the elevator have a video feed? The things she and Lex had done in this elevator. The cheating, no-good bastard.

  “Taking the chopper back to Mr. Fitzgerald,” Rake said.

  “I figured you would come back, sir.”

  “Is there a video feed in this elevator?” Jillian asked.

  “No, Ms. Finnegan. Just audio, which can be activated. There’s a video feed outside the elevator.”

  Relieved, she ignored the pointed look from Rake. The doors opened to the foyer of the executive floor of Fitz Enterprise. She’d been to Lex’s office once, before she left for Vancouver. The view was amazing. The rooftops of the surrounding buildings reminded her of her Parkour days when she’d free run with her friends, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, running, jumping, and vaulting. Anything to get to the end of the race in the shortest distance possible. She’d joined Parkour trainers to help her deal with the pain and the loss after her mother died. It had made her feel like there was no obstacle she couldn’t overcome. Of course, her father had misunderstood her reasons for doing it and sent her packing to stay with Chris.

  They took the stairs to the helipad. She looked up at Lex’s penthouse. Other than the security lights around th
e pool, it was in total darkness. Her heart squeezed, her thoughts returning to Lex.

  ~*~

  Not wanting to distract Rake, Jillian didn’t speak during the ride. The island came into view. Even though everyone called the place Sloan’s island, his property was on Santa Rosa, an island off the coast of Santa Barbara. Lex never explained how Sloan got his hand on the property, and Jillian never asked.

  The closer they got to the landing, the tenser she became. The helipads were on a stretch of land with sparse vegetation, but the house was nestled among pine trees above them. Lights lit up the steps and the rails.

  “This Warwick guy, what’s his story?” she asked.

  “It’s complicated.”

  “I can do complicated.” It was better than stressing about Lex. “Lex said he was a guy you knew from college, but Deedee implied he’d been a friend and a frat brother. Why can’t you guys stop him from messing with your lives?”

  “Fitz will tell you everything you need to know about Warwick,” Rake said after landing the helicopter. “This way.”

  Jillian wanted to snap at him, but she bit her cheek. Every time she came to this island, something horrible was happening. The first time, Lex had been kidnapped and she’d been too distraught to look around. Tonight, he was unconscious and she needed answers.

  Lights from the mainland winked at her like fallen stars from a distance, and the sounds of waves crashing against the beach were rhythmic and comforting. Too bad she couldn’t be comforted. Every time she thought about Lex and that woman, she wanted to scream or punch something.

  Lights blazed inside and outside the sprawling ranch house, but it was quiet. If there had been a party here, the guests were long gone. Sloan opened the door before they reached it. From the decanter in his hand, he was drowning his sorrows in alcohol. Jillian’s stomach clenched with dread.

  “Is he still unconscious?” she asked.

  He nodded. “The doctor is with him. I’m sorry this happened at my party,” he added.

  “Warwick did this. Not you.” You just supplied the women. Once again, she bit her cheek to stop from saying something she’d later regret.