“No, thanks. I’ve got this one.”
Under her instruction, Colton and Chad carried suits and several shoe boxes to the Bentley. “What is it with women and shoes?” Colton asked Chad as they loaded the vehicle.
“My sister told me that shoes complete the outfit.” Chad stacked the boxes. “I told her a beer completes mine.”
Back in Brigit’s bedroom, Colton pulled her aside. “Since you’re leaving your lingerie. I’ll have Zoe get you whatever you need. She’s my personal shopper. Did you meet her?”
“I did, but I’ll purchase my own undergarments. Thanks, though.”
“Should I guess your sizes or do you want to tell me?”
“Are all our conversations going to be this contentious?”
“Only if you disagree with me.”
“Better buckle up, then.” She gave him a little smile. “It’s going to be a bumpy ride.”
Brigit backed her black Escalade out of her garage. Sweaty palms and racing heartbeat aside, she hated leaving her home in shambles, but staying wasn’t an option. As she followed Chad through Georgetown and over Key Bridge into Virginia, she kept glancing in the rearview mirror. The sheer volume of traffic made it impossible to know if she was being followed. Had Vinny Ray escaped prison? And how had he tracked her down?
Six years ago, the abrupt and violent deaths of her parents launched Eve Francesco into a downward spiral. She was confident Vinny Ray would be found guilty, but he got off on a technicality. His drunk driving acquittal gutted her. Drowning in grief, she’d returned to Philadelphia, desperate for comfort from her longtime boyfriend. But when she found him in bed with another woman, his betrayal crushed her. While at Ray’s trial, a hotshot investor named Colton Mitus snatched up her family’s company, then refused to even discuss her future with Francesco. That broke her.
When the need to avenge her parents wouldn’t subside, a straight-laced Eve had dropped off the grid and reemerged in Ray’s hometown an hour outside Philly. While her disguise was extreme, her plan was even more so. She hid her cropped mouse-brown hair beneath a long black wig, threw on glasses, and dressed in provocative clothing that left little to the imagination.
She found the neighborhood watering hole and watched from the safety of her rental car. When Vinny Ray showed up, she followed him inside. He bragged about getting away with murder and acted like a hometown hero. As he celebrated with a round of drinks, she snapped. There was no turning back.
Later that evening, a sloshed Ray invited her to his place. Before leaving the bar, he popped pills and offered her a ride. She’d wanted to kill him on the spot. Instead, she followed, stashed baggies of cocaine in his toilet tank, then tried to make a quick escape. But he demanded sex. In the ensuing struggle, he pulled off her wig and recognized her from the trial.
“I don’t know what you’re up to, but you won’t get away with it.” Ray stumbled and fell. “I’ll hunt you down and when I find you, I’ll slit your fucking throat.”
Police received an anonymous drug tip that resulted in a ten-year prison term for Vinny Ray.
Eve Francesco never returned home to Ohio or to graduate school in Pennsylvania. She just vanished, resurfacing several months later in Washington, D.C. as Brigit Farnay. Her new identity sported new looks and the promise of a new beginning. But somehow, she’d slipped up. Vinny Ray had found her.
Brigit felt sick to her stomach by the time she pulled up to the Mitus compound. A car sped by and she whipped around to see a mom in a minivan. Could someone be watching from behind a bush? Stop, I’m being paranoid.
After they drove through, the wrought iron clanged shut. She was hiding from one enemy by moving in with the other. I’m safe, for now.
She parked next to the Bentley at the fountain, got out and opened the hatch. Several staffers trotted out to carry Brigit’s clothing to the guest room. Yesterday, being at the compound reminded her of a prison cell. Today she couldn’t scurry inside fast enough.
“Brigit, do you golf?” Colton asked.
Vonn transferred Colton’s golf clubs into the trunk of his Mercedes-Maybach as Chad hoisted his from the Bentley.
“On occasion my club makes contact with the ball, but I’m not sure that counts as golf,” Brigit said.
Colton smiled. “Why don’t you join Chad and me? We’re heading out.”
“I’ve already impinged on your day. You two enjoy.”
Taylor returned from taking an armful of Brigit’s clothing upstairs and walked over. “Once you’ve unpacked, I can show you around the mansion and help you get settled in this weekend.”
“Thank you, Taylor,” Colton said.
Taylor smiled sweetly. “Of course. I’m happy Brigit changed her mind.”
Brigit’s heart swelled and her churning guts subsided. “Thank you both.”
He placed his hand on Brigit’s shoulder. “Welcome to your new home.”
Surprisingly, his touch further settled her nerves. Though her fear could easily overwhelm her, she needed to control herself until she was alone. Going forward, she was Mitus Conglomerate’s wealth manager. Just because she’d taken the position under duress didn’t mean she’d slack off. No, she’d roll up her sleeves and dive in.
To Colton’s finances, that is.
Colton removed his hand. “I do have one question. Do you think your new closet is big enough to hold all those shoes?”
Brigit cracked a smile. Maybe her self-imposed prison wasn’t going to be as bad as she thought.
20
Nottambulo
Colton’s phone buzzed as Crockett slid out of the booth in the crowded McLean restaurant. “Order me a coffee and a slab of that chocolate cake if the waiter returns before I do.” Crockett headed toward the restrooms.
Colton’s longtime friend and former Harvard roommate Crockett Wilde was mired in work. Heavy bags hung under his eyes and his short brown hair looked unkempt. Not only was his wireless invention going to turn Francesco into a powerhouse, it was going to make Colton tens of millions. Colton knew to tread lightly. Crockett’s inability to balance work and play was nothing new.
After the server took Colton’s dessert order, he read Taylor’s text. Brigit settled in. Seems okay. A little quiet. Chad, Ryan, Red and I are with her.
Though he’d considered changing his Saturday night plans, he didn’t want to send Brigit mixed messages. His newest employee would receive the same respect and space he gave everyone at Mitus. Problem was, she wasn’t like anyone he’d ever hired. Even so, he had to back off.
Crockett slid into the booth. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Colton slipped his phone into his inside sport coat pocket.
“Bullshit.”
“My new wealth manager starts Monday.”
“Why don’t you look relieved? Did you hire the woman Sethfield recommended?”
“Yeah. She’s smart. And so damn strong-willed.”
The server delivered two coffees, a piece of chocolate cake, and the check. Colton handed his credit card to the server.
“But you don’t like when your financial advisors actually advise you. Will you listen to this one?” Crockett forked cake into his mouth.
Colton smiled. Crockett knew him too well. “Possibly. You know I don’t like giving up control, especially regarding my wealth.” Colton sipped his coffee. “Being around her is energizing and kind of addictive.”
With a smirk, Crockett shook his head. “Ah, shit, you’re attracted to her.”
Maintaining a poker face, Colton took another sip.
“Well, that shouldn’t matter,” Crockett said. “You have that rule about not screwing your wealth manager. Come to think of it, you have a lot of effing rules.”
“She’s gorgeous. I mean really beautiful.”
“Just keep your hands off her.” Crockett pulled out his wallet and tossed his credit card on the table.
“Too late on both accounts.”
Crockett raised his brows. “W
hat does that mean?”
“The first is self-explanatory and the second is because I already paid.”
“You slept with her? Already?”
“It wasn’t like that. It was different. When you meet her, you can tell me if you wouldn’t have done the same thing. Now I have to make damn sure I don’t do it again.”
“Someone needs to put you on a tight leash, Colt.”
Colton laughed. “Maybe so.”
The two men went quiet while Crockett dug into his dessert.
“You sleeping? Getting out at all?” Colton asked. “You look like hell.”
“What are you, my mother?”
“You work too much. What happened to balance?” Colton signed the receipt.
“No balance until I find Sophia.” Crockett sipped his coffee.
Colton’s gut churned for his friend. “Whatever you need. Just say the word.”
“I know, thanks” Crockett eyed Colton’s clothing. “You headed to a kink party?”
“That obvious?”
“Only to me, Darth Vader.” The two men laughed. “Black sport coat, black sweater, black pants. Are your cloak and mask in the car?”
Pushing down a smile, Colton asked, “You dating?”
“No time.”
“I’ll get you a membership to an exclusive sex play club I belonged to before joining the private group. Incognito is a great place to learn about the lifestyle. You deserve a break. Even if it’s just for an hour or two.”
“That’s not my thing, bro.”
“Just check it out. No pressure.”
“All righty. Thanks.”
“Did I tell you Alexandra might be moving back from California?” Colton finished his coffee.
Crockett’s expression brightened. “How is our Goth Girl?”
“It has been a while. Goth Girl is long gone.”
“Give her my best and thanks for dinner.” Crockett tossed his napkin on the table.
The two men left the restaurant. “I’ll talk to you next week,” Colton said in the parking lot.
“Stay out of trouble.” Crockett man-hugged Colton and walked toward his car.
Twenty minutes later, Colton parked in the upscale Potomac, Maryland neighborhood, lifted his black devil masquerade mask from the passenger seat and covered his face. He walked to the front door and buzzed. Within seconds, it opened.
“Nottambulo,” Colton said. The door opened wide enough for Colton to step inside, then shut behind him.
“Hello, Spencer.” Morticia’s face was hidden behind an ornate feathered mask. “You look scrumptious. We should get together.”
“You know I don’t mess around with married women.”
She laughed. “Half the women here are married.”
“Ignorance is bliss.” He tossed her a playful salute and headed toward the lower level.
Trotting downstairs, he wondered how Brigit was doing. But his thoughts were interrupted by the sheer volume of chatter coming from the other side of the closed door.
He stepped into the plush art deco room with its elaborate hand-painted ceiling of Paris nudes in the roaring twenties. Two red velvet lounge chairs were strategically placed in each corner, but the room was too crowded to see the chairs on the far side. The number of guests appeared to have doubled since the last time he was there. What the hell?
Squeezing through the crowd of decked-out, masked partygoers, he headed to the black lacquered bar along the far wall to grab a drink before the show.
With his scotch in hand, he turned and almost bumped into a familiar redhead, her face partially concealed behind her red and white jeweled mask. All he could see was her mouth slicked in a thick coat of bright red lipstick. That’s unappealing. “Hello, Darby.”
Darby was a reliable good time. Her breasts spilled from her low-cut crimson dress and her skin sparkled under a light layer of golden flakes. As much as Colton appreciated the opposite sex he preferred them clothed, so he could undress them himself. But here he didn’t care how the women presented themselves. The end result was always the same.
“Hello, you sexy devil.” Darby smiled. Her front teeth were smeared in red lipstick. “Interested in a threesome?”
“Not my thing.”
“Spencer! Welcome!” Masked as a silver gladiator, Burke shook Colton’s hand. The host’s wavy black hair tumbled onto his shoulders and his open-collared white shirt revealed a tuft of dark chest hair.
“Good to see you, Burke,” Colton said. “What’s with the crowd?”
“Morticia’s idea. She thought our group of sixty-something had gotten too cozy, which I thought was the whole point of these parties.” He rolled his eyes. “Everyone’s verified clean.”
“Anything special tonight?” Colton asked.
“Audience participation.” Burke waggled his eyebrows. “Morticia’s restless. You should hook up with her.”
Colton’s stomach churned. “She’s your wife. Even I have to draw the line somewhere.”
“Wife, shmife.” Burke slapped his back. “Enjoy and thanks for coming.” Burke winked, then launched into the crowd.
Darby squeezed his butt cheek. “Let’s grab two chairs.”
Normally aroused by her touch, Colton felt nothing. “You go ahead.”
The lights dimmed. As guests made their way toward the rows of theater-style seating, the black velvet curtain rose. The king bed was covered in a black sheet with several orange pillows. Colton sunk into the aisle seat, back row.
Burke, still masked, strode on stage and waited for the chatty crowd to quiet down. “Welcome to Burke’s Playroom and our special Halloween celebration. Releasing your inner demons is expected and comes guilt free.” He beamed like a proud papa while the audience applauded. “For new members, the Playroom is always at the ready for you to have your own fun. And you don’t have to wait for the show to end, either.” He pointed to the door in the back. “Now put your hands together and help me welcome the Devil’s Lair.”
As Burke exited the stage, the lights dimmed. Red spotlights shone on the bed while eerie Halloween music played in the background.
Colton sipped his scotch.
From the shadows, a man and a woman stepped on stage. She wore a full-length angel costume and he dressed as the devil with a red cape, black pants and a stiff red tail attached to the back of the pants. She hid her face behind a white mask and he behind a red one.
Devil asked for a female volunteer. Several eager hands shot up. He selected Darby and escorted her center stage. With a quick unzip, her dress fell away. Devil took her hand and slowly spun her around so the audience could see her from all sides. She had large, enhanced breasts and a well-cushioned ass. As soon as Darby faced front again, Angel began kissing and caressing her naked body.
Body type meant little to Colton when he donned a mask. In fact, the more variety, the better. Everything about Burke’s parties fed his need, but tonight he couldn’t engage. His throbbing dick was normally a constant reminder of his pent-up energy. But tonight his penis hadn’t stirred.
After Devil helped Angel remove her dress, she turned toward the audience and rubbed her breasts until her nipples plumped. One hand dipped between her legs and she caressed her clean-shaven pussy. As she continued with her self-pleasuring, Devil guided Darby to the bed. She lay on her back and waited, her chest quickly rising and falling.
He picked up a long feather, a black sash, and a vibrator from the side table and set them on the bed next to Darby. After removing his pants, he climbed on the bed, tied the sash over Darby’s eyes and kissed her. When he whispered in her ear, she bent her legs at the knees and spread them wide.
He rolled on a condom and plunged inside her. Darby cried out, then bucked against his thrusts. Not wanting to be excluded, Angel climbed on the bed and sucked Darby’s engorged nipples. As Devil’s thrusts gained speed, he reached out to stroke, then slap Angel’s ass. A few couples scurried toward the back of the room while the performers’ shrieks
and grunts filled his ears.
Surprisingly, Colton had had enough. He pushed out of his chair, set his unfinished scotch on the tray next to the bar, and walked toward the back of the room. Normally aroused by the erotic shows, he felt restless.
Maybe he needed to have his own fun. He opened the Playroom door and stepped inside, his eyes quickly adjusting to the candlelight. The large room of sofas and beds wouldn’t fill up until after the show, but there were already a handful of masked couples. Most were fucking, but on the nearest sofa, a woman with an elaborate gold mask that covered all but her mouth was sucking a man in a Day of the Dead Venetian masquerade mask. Colton watched, expecting he’d get aroused. Again, nothing.
A naked woman sauntered over, her face partially hidden behind a plumed masquerade mask. She’d clamped a metal handcuff around her wrist, the other cuff dangled from the chain. She grasped his hand. “Fuck me.”
Tugging it away he said, “I can’t stay.”
In frustration, he left the Playroom. He’d never rejected anyone at Burke’s before tonight. What the hell is wrong with me?
As he walked past the living room, unexpected groans and cries pierced the silence. Morticia was screwing a masked pirate on her sofa. Any other time Colton would have stopped to watch, but tonight he didn’t look twice.
The chilly night air was a welcomed contrast to the stuffy party room. Feeling more aggravated than when he’d arrived, he slipped into his vehicle and drove away. Only after turning the corner did he remove his devil mask and place it on the passenger seat. In the red glow of the traffic light, the evil disguise revealed his self-loathing image.
For the first time in his messed-up life, he wasn’t aroused by the live sex show and he had no desire to fuck a masked stranger, either. And he knew damn well why. What he didn’t know was what the hell he was going to do about it.
21
Welcome Aboard
Early Monday light brightened Colton’s man-cave office. He was eager to put Brigit to work. Well, that wasn’t totally true. He was ready to put her to work and eager to take her to bed. The first scenario was about to happen. The second never would.
THE MITUS TOUCH: Book One of The Touch Series Page 12