by Bobbi Romans
Once Slick drug her away, Squire apologized for all the fucktardery that had transpired under his command.
“We’d suspected a mole within our group, but until now, I truly had no idea who’d be working for those monsters.”
“How could you not have noticed what a carrot top bitch you had lurking around?” Beth was clearly still angry and wanting to lash out.
“Red’s been with me since near the start. I’m clueless as to what they offered her to prompt a sudden switching of sides.” Squire genuinely looked flustered and disappointed.
“She had feelings for you.”
They all turned to find Bev standing quietly in the doorway.
“No. Impossible. If she did, she never said a word to me. Never even hinted.” He scratched the top of his head.
“She did. You just never slowed down enough to notice. Never caught how she bent over in front of you, or how she made a point to sit near you each night.”
He shook his head, still clearly not coming to grips with everything he’d missed right before his eyes.
“To hear her say it, you two were friends with benefits,” Bev added.
Damien didn’t miss the accusation and hurt on the other woman’s face. Bev may not believe Red one hundred percent, but she suspected somewhere amid the traitor’s tales lay a bit of truth. When Squire turned away from her, Damien winced. Apparently the truth had reared itself and bit him on his royal ass. Problem Damien had with the man’s lie was the fact Squire’s truth screwed Grace over in bad way.
“None of this gets us any closer to finding Grace. Let me drill the scorned lover,” he said impatiently. Anger made him toss that dig of his own in Squire’s direction. Which earned him a narrowed gaze from the man. A warning. Too bad Damien viewed warnings as challenges, nothing more.
“No. You won’t be able to play dirty enough. The fact she’s a woman will hold you back. I’m the best choice to drill her.” Beth jumped at the chance to question Red again.
“While I appreciate your willingness, I’m putting Bev and Lily in charge.” Squire nodded at Bev, who disappeared he assumed to get whoever Lily was.
“Fine, but we stand in as well. And if we’re not satisfied with what this woman has to say, we step in,” Damien threatened, not at ease with the call, but willing to give them one shot at getting the answers he needed.
“Fair enough. Follow me downstairs to the cellar.” Squire stood and headed for the elevators. Damien stayed in control for the most part, but knowing Demetrius had Grace in his clutches kept him unsettled. Nothing would ease the ache stabbing his heart except having Grace safe in his embrace again.
Even before they’d entered the room, Damien’s sensitive hearing picked up the fast flowing threats launched at that Lily person. Squire opened a massive steel door and a surgical-like room presented itself. Everything in the room was pristine, clean, sparkling, sterling silver.
Dead center of the room, tied to a large chair, sat one very pissed off Red.
“Where is Grace?” Damien may have agreed to hold back, but his need for swift answers overtook the promise.
“Where you will never find her,” Red spat in their direction. Hatred dripped from her every pore.
“Pity for you in that case,” Bev said simply. So softly spoken and unchallenging, Red took the bait.
“And why is that, Bev? If you ask me, more like pity for them.” Red nodded her head in their direction. Damien’s eyes narrowed and though his mind warned against striking a woman, his beast swore no woman sat before him. Only a monster who wished harm against his mate.
“Oh, but I disagree. Know why? Because you were willing to prove your love and where are you now? Sitting here, tied up, and taking the rap. And what did Demetrius do? Forsake your love by having you help him steal the only woman he wants. Loves. Boy that’s gotta sting. I’d be pissed. Livid in fact.” Bev hopped up and slid back on one of the numerous countertops in the room, crossed her legs and continued. “I mean. He loves her, you love him … but unlike Demetrius, you ran around doing all the dirty work. You’re the one who got caught. And where is he? I don’t think anyone’s outside pounding on our front door to get you back. It’s called expendable and is your new title.”
“Fuck you. He’ll come. Just you wait. But unlike Demetrius, will Squire ever come after you? Or will you continue to pine for him from darkened corners? Oh yeah. I’ve watched you, Bev. Seen you drool as he passes by. Recognized the burn from experience, didn’t you? Must really chap your ass Squire spent his nights in my bed, rather than yours.”
Damien grew concerned when the color drained from Bev’s face and he prayed the woman held her shit together. Red had become rattled when Bev was on the attack, and he hoped this woman could continue doing so. Unnerved meant Red might slip up and give away Grace’s or Demetrius’s location.
“Oh priceless. You should see your face. And you,” Red’s attention swiveled toward Squire. “have led her on. Led me on for a while as well. I’ll own my mistakes, but mind you, Demetrius isn’t one of them. You, on the other hand … does Damien know of your special connection with Grace?”
“It’s a private matter between Grace and myself, no other.”
Damien cleared his throat. Squire was dead wrong if he thought anything he had with Grace would be private. Damien’s first priority was getting Grace back safe and sound. But if this man, Squire, thought he wouldn’t be involved in anything going down between Grace and his self … well, he was sorely mistaking.
“Please, Red. Grace has done nothing to you and if you truly love Demetrius, why not help us get her back? Away from him. So he will want and need you again?”
They turned their attention on the mousy girl that until now had remained library quiet.
“I’m sorry, Lily. I really did like you, sweetie, but I can’t do that. What I will say is they are coming after you next. I know how you hate them, so I’m warning you now. I owe you that much.” Red’s eyes softened a tad while she spoke to the girl.
“If you really wanted to help, tell us where the innocent is.” Lily again addressed Red without glancing at any others. “I don’t want to hurt you. Please don’t make me.”
“You? Hurt me? On what planet, halfling?” Red laughed openly, her tussle of red curls shaking as she did.
In less than a second, Red began keening loudly in obvious distress. Her hands bound to the chair gnarled in arthritic proportions and her knees drew inward, an instinct to rock away the pain. She paled, gagging as tears streamed down her face. Her breaths came in short pain-filled pants until finally whatever the hell hit her passed.
“Please answer our questions. I don’t want to have to dig around again.”
Lily had done something. Damien studied the young woman. From all outward appearances, she appeared no older than her late teens or early twenties, was of slim build. For all intents and purposes, not someone who jumped out at you. Until you caught sight of her soulful brown eyes. Therein lay her beauty.
Right now Lily’s eyes filled with unshed tears over what she warned she must do.
“Please, Red. Turn the bad around. Think of another, rather than yourself,” Lily pleaded and Damien gathered she and Red must have been tight at one time.
Red panted so hard her bangs blew up and down off her sweat-covered forehead, leaving a few strands stuck in the dewed mess.
“I can’t. He’ll — kill — me — if I do,” she barely rasped through the radiating pain that seemed to still be assailing her.
“If you don’t, we will,” Damien said, walking over to lean over in front of the woman. His peripheral vision picked up Squire edging closer. Good. The man didn’t know what he’d do, or not do, and that worked to Damien’s advantage. “Unlike the others, I won’t apologize for the pain I inflict. I take care of me and mine, and right now you are the threat to them I intend to neutralize. Be it long and painful or short and sweet. Your call.”
“If you kill me you’ll never find her.�
� Yeah, Red tried for brave, but the stutter in her voice told him she was far from it. Their little rat was reconsidering which side her furry ass was buttered on.
“If you don’t help us, I don’t see I have anything to lose in extinguishing a threat. Do you?” He was nose to nose with her and when she finally braved looking upward and caught his glare, he saw her decision before she even spoke it.
“Don’t lie, Red, I reviewed enough in your mind to know whether you are speaking the truth,” Lily threatened.
“And if they don’t kill you for lying, you will wish they did by the time I get done with you,” Beth promised, inching closer to Red herself.
“In the dark. They have her in the dark.” Red started crying openly. Her entire body shook in defeat and, no doubt, fear.
“What the hell does that mean? In the dark?” Damien growled, shaking the woman so hard her teeth clattered together. “Tell us now, damn you.”
Squire grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him back. “Ease up, friend. She’s already agreed to tell us.” Damien sensed the other man wasn’t the least bit upset that he’d shaken Red, but rather had a good cop, bad cop plan. “Why don’t you wait over there with your friend?” He motioned to where Trick stood.
A slight nod assured him the questioning was far from over. Merely different tactics.
“I’ve told you already. She’s in the dark.” Exhausted, Red glanced at Lily, who nodded her head at Squire that she spoke the truth.
“Where would this dark be exactly?” Squire accepted a damp cloth from Bev and proceeded to wipe the cool comfort across Red’s forehead.
“I never saw but … ”
“But what?”
“Demetrius smelled kinda funny when he got back from dropping her off wherever he’s hiding her.”
“Funny like how?”
“Like death.”
Chapter Fifteen
Grace awoke slowly with a nasty medicinal taste in her mouth. Ugh. She sat up and grabbed her head. Damn, how much did I drink last night? Then remembered, none. She hadn’t even gone out. Damien had been curled around her and she’d been the most relaxed she’d been in weeks.
So how the hell did I end up here? Where was here and why does the weird aroma seem so hauntingly familiar?
The room around her was rather dark and the lounge she lay across covered in crushed velvet. A few moments later her eyesight adjusted to the dim surroundings and her heart stuck in her throat. All around her sat caskets. Some opened, some shut, but all most certainly caskets.
As if that weren’t creepy enough, a light methodic melody played on speakers anchored in the corners of the room.
Standing on wobbly legs, Grace eased her way over to the opened black box and relief soared when she discovered only satin fabric and no dead body. Grabbing the lid to the next one, her heart stuttered as the creaky lid opened. Empty. After verifying all were vacant of new owners, the realization she woke up in a funeral home showroom sank in. How the hell did she go to sleep nestled safe and secure in Damien’s arms, only to awake in this God awful place?
Honestly she didn’t know which was worse. All the coffins or the too clean, too powdery scent. Then the music stopped and everything became deathly silent. Creepy.
“Hello, Grace, I see that you’ve finally awakened. I trust you had a decent sleep.”
Oh fuck a duck. Demetrius.
“Bed was a bit lumpy, but yes. Slept like the dead.” Everything in her to refused to show fear. Yeah, he freaked her the fuck out, but he damn well wasn’t going to know.
“Ah, very good then. I’ve taken the liberty to plan the day for us. First dates are so important. First impressions and all. Don’t you agree?”
She’d agree he was a complete fruitcake. Boy, did she hate that overrated Christmas gift. Not as much as Demetrius though.
“Well, I hadn’t expected you to be too chatty yet. If I may draw your attention to the shelves over in the far corner. Yes, the ones housing the urns. On the third rack you will find several boxes. Consider them gifts to show my affection for you.”
“You know I’m super cranky in the mornings. Look like shit actually. Oh and I suffer terrible flatulence. You should find a better girlfriend. Less gas, more glitter.”
“Enjoy the gifts, Grace. Oh and I expect you dressed and ready within the hour. I’d hate for us to get off on the wrong foot.”
A click resonated around the small room when the speaker shut off. Grace sprang for the only door in the room and tested its strength. Fuck. Solid wood. Taking a few steps backwards, she ran full steam and threw her body into the door. She bounced right off, landing unceremoniously on her ass.
Shit, shit, shit. She massaged her throbbing shoulder and surveyed the door. Not even a damn crack.
Well hell. Sprawled on her ass on the floor wouldn’t help anything. She glanced toward the boxes he mentioned and supposed she should prepare for her meeting with Demetrius. Maybe he really was as stupid as he seemed and she could play this out to her advantage. Convince him she’d had a change in heart. Show some interest in him or his organization.
Before her on the shelf sat numerous elaborately wrapped gifts. She gathered the shiny bowed packages and took a seat back on the lounge she woke up on to carefully peel back the paper as she feared what may be inside. The man was insane. Unwrapping a heart or bloodied hand would gross her out, but she wouldn’t be shocked. Her nail scored under the tape holding the lid down and she held her breath — and her stomach.
Royal blue silken fabric. An elegant dress met her wary gaze. Nervous, yet relieved, she grabbed the next box. A matching pair of stilettos. Had this been Christmas, she’d be cursed at for moving so damn slow. But one couldn’t be too cautious when opening gifts from a lunatic. The other gifts held a sapphire necklace, earrings, and the matching bracelet. She thought herself past any shock. But sadly the final wrapped box held a humdinger.
Thigh highs, a royal blue thong and a matching push-up demi bra. Shudders racked her at thoughts of the pervert picking out lingerie for her. Glancing up at the clock on the wall, she was down to thirty-five minutes before the designated time he’d given her. Crap. Unsure of her choice yet, she paced the room.
Play along with him or look for weapons? Surely there had to be something in the room he’d missed removing or putting up away from her. A small credenza stood over in another corner of the room. Racing over she yanked on the doors, scavenging through each drawer looking for anything that might be used against him.
Argh. Not a damn thing even resembling a weapon.
Each drawer housed literature on the different type of caskets and urns the funeral home offered. Not even a damn pen worthy of jabbing his eyes out turned up.
Guess that answered whether she would play along or fight back. Unless a pillow fight with satin pillows counted, nothing else lay around. She eyed the heel of the stiletto but knew to make the shoe count as a deadly weapon she’d have to get up close and personal and that would be far too risky.
Time to gussy herself up she supposed, fighting but not succeeding in suppressing another shudder at the prospect.
With a heavy sigh, she removed Damien’s shirt, lingering when the fabric passed her nose. The mere scent of her shifter brought tears to her eyes. Even if he’d already begun scouring the earth to find her, she didn’t even recognize where she was confined. Prayed wherever Demetrius took her for the “date” would provide an opportunity for escape. Rubbing the fabric against her cheek one last time, Grace hoped Damien’s unique male scent would linger and piss Demetrius off.
Oh my God. Why didn’t I think of this sooner?
Not wanting to stand around naked, she slipped the dress on. The cool fabric, which normally would have created a luxurious sensation, only created terror as it slid against her naked skin. Once clothed, she brought Damien’s shirt to her face again and breathed in his smell while mentally sending a message.
Damien, I’m being held in a funeral home.
She ran back to the literature drawer. Damn. What company didn’t promote their name on their brochures? Oh. All the pamphlets were from the casket manufacturers and not the actual funeral home. Double damn.
Damien … if you can hear me try to think me something. Concentrate really hard. Damien might not be telepathic, but she was. All he had to do was concentrate on broadcasting his thoughts while thinking of her.
Glancing at the clock again, she realized she was down to twenty minutes before Demetrius arrived. Not wanting to chance dressing in front him, especially putting on the underwear, bra, and thigh highs, she continued sending Damien mental thoughts of her surroundings. The pale blue walls, dark wood furniture and even a possible date the building was constructed Though having seen only the room where she now stood, she had no doubts this building or house was old. Like historical kind of old.
Once she’d wiggled into the under things and slid the sheers into place, she slipped the heels on and waited. Impatient and nervous, she fidgeted with her hands in her lap. Then she got up and paced. Minutes later she returned to the lounger and fidgeted again.
The sound of metal on metal stopped her wiggling and her heart. A key was turning the lock.
Demetrius had arrived and the time for second thoughts long over. She steeled herself to do whatever necessary to survive and prayed with everything in her Damien had received her message. Wasn’t a lot, but she knew her shifter was crafty and had a sense of smell that put a bloodhound’s to shame. He’d find her. He had to.
“I knew the blue would look stunning on you. And the fit. Please stand and do a little turn. Isn’t that what women like, showing off their goods?”
His crass comments disturbed her, but she hadn’t expected anything more from him.
She stood on legs she willed steady and did a slow turn, schooling her face devoid of emotion for when she faced him again.
“Yes. Simply lovely. Are you ready for a day filled with surprises?”