Dark Steel

by Fable Gray

  But the time we got to Dark Enterprises, the sky was completely overcast and it looked like it was going to rain at any minute. I opened the back door before the car came to a full stop and got out even as Parker was trying to reach for the door. “Miss Patterson? Is everything okay?”

  “I hope so. Thank you, Parker.”

  “Of course.”

  I hurried to the building and tugged my badge out of my pocket just in case. The security guard at the desk recognized me and waved me on, so I don’t even have to stop.

  I arrived at the elevators and pushed buttons on both sides. “Hurry, hurry.”

  One of them dinged and the doors opened. I got inside with a few other people, irritated that I had to stop on their floors on my way up. But it wasn’t long before I was at the top floor and I stepped out. The moment I saw Brittany, I realized how underdressed I was.

  This was the first time I’d been in this office without looking like I belonged here.

  “Royal,” she said with a smile. “Tim said you were coming in today.”

  “I wasn’t supposed to but plans changed. Is Declan in?”

  “He left a few hours ago, but I think he’s supposed to be here soon.”

  I frowned. A few hours? Why had he been gone so long?

  Before I could move, Tim walked out of his office and nodded. “I didn’t expect to see you today.”

  I gave him a patient smile but didn’t explain. “Do you know where Mr. Dark is?”

  He checked his watch. “He had a meeting. I don’t expect he’ll be in until close to two. Anything I can do for you?”

  I shook my head. “No, I’ll wait for him in the office.”

  Dammit. I stepped inside, wishing I could enjoy the view as I usually did but I was too nervous. And now, I was a little worried. It must have been an important meeting if he hadn’t even seen my message and sent something back just to let me know he was okay.

  I walked to his desk, standing in the same spot that he liked to pace. If I closed my eyes, I could picture him wearing one of his sexy dark suits. I could smell his cologne and feel the heat from his skin a moment before he wrapped his arms around me.

  I bit my lip and turned to the desk. When I saw a note near his phone, I paused. There was a name on a sticky note with a time on it. One o’clock. And just below, it said, Johnson. Just that one word, but it made me straighten. Johnson, Maggie’s dad, had worked on the serum with Christopher and he was still good friends with him. It made sense that he might be involved.

  Maybe he was the one Declan had been talking with at his house. But what could he want? The same thing his dad did?

  I still had a strong feeling that Christopher was behind all of it, but how could we find out for sure unless he talked to Declan?

  When I heard the elevator ding outside the door, I straightened. Declan! But then I heard voices, a low one speaking to Brittany. Definitely not Declan.

  I caught a glimpse of his face beyond the door and froze. Shit. Speak of the devil.

  It was Christopher Dark.

  Dammit. What was he doing here? Brittany was in the middle of saying something to him but he strode past to the office. With a gasp, I turned around and raced to the bathroom, praying Christopher wouldn’t see me.

  I already knew how he felt about me knowing Declan’s secret. And I didn’t trust him one bit. The last thing I needed was to run into him here.

  Inside, I closed the door most of the way, leaving it open just enough to peek through and see what was going on in the office.

  Christopher looked dark and dangerous in his sleek black suit. He walked with purpose straight to Declan's desk. Without even trying to be inconspicuous, he started going through the drawers, going through papers, looking for something.

  I released a slow breath. Brittany must not have told him I was in here.

  I remembered the papers we’d copied for my dad with secret information about the serum and who’d worked on it. Was that what Christopher was looking for?

  I opened the door just a little bit more when Christopher moved to the table. He shuffled through the papers there and cursed under his breath.

  And then, like an unwanted and shrill morning alarm, my phone rang. I gasped and yanked it from my pocket, immediately ending the call even though it was from Declan.

  Crap crap crap… There was no way Christopher hadn’t heard that. Squeezing my phone tight in my hand, I opened the door. His eyes were full on me.

  “Miss Patterson,” he said, clear surprise in his voice. “I was told there was no one in the office today.”

  I swallowed and walked further into the room. “Is that why you’re here going through Declan’s things?”

  “It’s still technically my office too.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  Christopher didn’t say anything for a long moment. Then he took a few steps closer. “It's actually a good thing you're here.”

  “Why is that?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. I kept inching closer to the door, hoping he didn’t notice, in case I needed to make a run for it.

  “Because I think it’s time you and I talk.”

  My heart clutched in my chest and my brain screamed at me. Danger!

  “I don’t have anything to say to you without Declan here,” I informed him.

  “You might want to reconsider. It will be better for both of you.”

  “You had somebody following me. I know something is going on.”

  He frowned. “You’re a little too curious for your own good. I’m aware of the cameras you placed all over the building, aware that you’ve been given classified information.”

  My heart clutched. Shit. How did he know about the cameras? And what information was he referring to? Probably all of it, I surmised. Everything Xander and I had been searching for was classified.

  Christopher moved forward another few steps and reached out like he was going to grab my arm. “I suggest you come with me.”

  I knew what I had to do in a split second. I jerked back from him and then turned and ran. Brittany was at the elevator, waiting for it to open, but I brushed passed her and ran inside, while she stared at me in open-mouth shock. I mumbled an apology but slammed my hand on the buttons over and over again until the doors closed. I barely saw the look on Christopher’s face before the doors were sealed and the elevator started moving.

  I had to get out of here. As far away from him as possible, until I knew what I was supposed to do. Then I’d call Declan. Then I would figure it out.

  When I reached the lobby, thankful that no one else had gotten on the elevator, I rushed across the slick floor. When a security guard called my name, I jumped and ran faster.

  I swung open the door in front, nearly hitting a man and knocking coffee out of his hand. But I still didn’t stop. I ran to the curb, barely noticing the raindrops hitting my head and looking for Parker while my breath came out in sharp pants.

  When I glanced back to the building, I saw people moving around inside, two security guards running in my direction. No, no, no…

  “Royal?”

  I whipped my attention away from the building and locked eyes with Randy. “Oh, Randy. I’m so glad you’re here. Where’s your car?”

  He gestured to the black SUV behind him. “Right here.”

  “Good. We have to go. Right now.” I ran straight to the car, grateful he was on my heels. He must have heard the urgency in my voice. We both hopped inside.

  “Lock the doors,” I said, breathless. “And go. Hurry!”

  Randy locked the doors and put his foot on the gas. Two security guards ran across the cement, but they were too slow. And behind them, back at the doors, I could see Christopher Dark with his hands on his hips, watching our car driveway from the building.

  It wouldn’t be hard for them to get another car and come after us. I expected a black car to show up behind us at any moment.

  “Royal,” Randy said. “Are you okay?”

&nb
sp; “I don’t know.”

  “Where do you want me to go?”

  “I don’t know that either, just drive for now. Please.”

  “It seems like whenever you get in my car there's a 50-50 chance that you're running away from something or running to something.”

  I pulled my phone from my pocket. “I know. If I told you what was going on, you probably wouldn’t believe me. I’m so sorry for getting you in this mess.”

  “It’s no problem. It’s my job.”

  “Not to chauffeur me around when I run out of every building like a maniac.”

  “Actually,” he said, his voice amused, “that was one of the things Mr. Dark insisted upon. He said no matter where I saw you or when I saw you, it was my job to do as you instructed. So here I am.”

  “Thank you, Randy. I’m going to make sure you get a huge raise because of this.”

  “Not necessary. Mr. Dark’s already been far more generous than I ever could have hoped for.”

  I gave a tight smile and shifted in my seat, searching for another black car while I pressed the screen of the phone to call Declan. The rain was coming down harder, making it difficult to see.

  He answered immediately. “Royal? Are you okay?”

  “No. Yes. I mean, I don’t know. I was at the office and then your dad was there and he was going through your desk, and then he told me that I had to go with him and so I ran and then—”

  “Wait, where are you?

  “I’m in the car with Randy and—” I gasped.

  “What? What’s wrong, Royal?” Declan demanded.

  “There’s somebody following us,” I said, my voice dropping to a whisper. “I don’t know where to go—”

  He cursed under his breath and then said, “The cabin. I’m closer to the cabin than I am to work. Meet me there. Don’t stop anywhere. Tell Randy not to stop anywhere.”

  “No, he won’t. Randy, go straight to the cabin. Do you remember—”

  “I remember where it is,” he affirmed but kept his eyes on the road. He flicked the windshield wipers so they moved faster, dashing away the water on the glass.

  “Are they still back there?” Declan asked. “Can you see who’s following you?”

  I shifted in my seat again, and the seatbelt pulled against my shoulder. I squinted, trying to peer through the rain. “I don’t…” My stomach dropped when I spotted the black SUV. “Yes,” I said breathlessly. “They’re still back there but I don’t know who’s inside. I think it’s your dad. Do you want me to go somewhere else or—”

  “No,” Declan said firmly, and then cursed under his breath. He murmured a few things away from the phone and I heard a voice respond. I hoped he was already in the car somewhere close by. “No, keep heading to the cabin. We have GPS on all of the cars. I’ll have someone check where you are.”

  I heard him giving more orders and somebody else answering him.

  “Should I let you go?” I asked.

  “Don’t you dare hang up your phone, Royal.”

  “I’m sorry,” I whispered.

  His voice softened in an instant. “No, sweetheart, I’m not mad at you—”

  “No, I mean about the weekend. I just felt like you were shutting me out. And I was upset.”

  “We’ll talk. Once we get to the cabin, we’ll sort all this out and everything will be okay. All right?”

  I nodded to myself, feeling reassured. Until Randy cursed.

  “The rain is getting worse,” he said as he turned onto the highway. “Are they still back there?”

  “Yes.” I was keeping an eye on the car behind us, and they exited to get on the highway as well. The same highway my dad was on when he got in his accident.

  And it was probably the same person following us.

  My stomach swelled with nerves. “Declan—”

  “We've located your position. Hold on, Royal.”

  I squeezed my hand tight on the phone like it was a lifeline. “I’m so sorry, Randy. I didn’t mean to get you into this mess.”

  “It’s not your fault, Miss Patterson. I’m just trying to concentrate.”

  There weren’t many other cars on the road, and the last one that separated us from the black SUV pulled off. The SUV sped up, making me gasp.

  “What?” Declan asked. “Royal—”

  “They’re right behind us,” I told Randy. “Be careful—”

  Words caught in my mouth when the car pulled to the side like it was trying to force us to the other side of the road.

  “Shit,” Randy said, making my gaze jerk to the front of the car. I stared through the windshield and spotted taillights ahead, then heard the unmistakable screech of brakes. One of the cars on the other side of the road was hydroplaning, sliding sideways down his lane and converging into ours.

  “Ran—” I started, but there wasn’t anything he could do.

  He turned the wheel, trying to angle away, but there was a metal guardrail along the side of the road.

  The hydroplaning car slammed into the side of the SUV, smashing both our doors and shattering the windows so that glass rained down on us. I gasped and held my hands up to stop it from hitting my face.

  Then my breath caught when the SUV rammed us from behind. The airbags up front went off and I heard a pained groan from Randy before it all went quiet except for the patter of rain on the rooftop.

  Chapter 35

  The seatbelt was taut against my chest, and when I tried to move, glass crunched all around me.

  The door next to me was smashed in, bowed into the car, and pressing against my arm, which ached vaguely. The seat cushions were ripped from the glass and leaking what looked like stuffing. Foam from inside.

  A face appeared at the window next to me, making me gasp.

  “Royal,” Declan said.

  My gaze swam for a moment and then focused on his. His hair and clothes were wet from the rain, and water was streaming through the broken window. Both mine and Randy’s were shattered.

  Despite the chaos all around us, there was a sweet pinch in my heart at seeing him. Declan was here, which meant everything was okay.

  Declan reached in as far as he could with the other car wedged against us. “Royal, I need you to answer me. I need to know that you’re okay?”

  My mouth opened slowly, but I managed to nod. “Yes, I’m okay. Randy—”

  “I’m here,” he said. “I’m…stuck.”

  In the distance, I heard sirens. It was enough to make me focus, to realize what had happened. We’d been hit by a car coming from the opposite direction, but the SUV that had been following us had smashed us from behind.

  I tried to turn in my seat to see who it was, or if they were hurt, but the seatbelt held me too tight.

  “They’re still back there,” I told Declan, panic rising again.

  “It’s okay,” he soothed, easing back to get a better look at the door and the car against it. “The police are on their way.”

  “Royal,” Randy said from up front. “Are you hurt?”

  “I—” Pain shot down my arm when I tried to lean forward, and I could hardly take a full breath. “I’m okay. Are you?”

  “I hit my head. And this airbag…”

  More water streamed through the window until Declan peered back in.

  “Help Randy,” I said pointing.

  “The car is wedged too tight to get the door open.” He lowered his voice. “I’m going to move it. Just…hold on.”

  I glanced to the other side of the SUV and saw this was probably the best bet. We were stuck between the guardrail and the car.

  Declan glanced behind him, appearing to look around to see who was close by. Then he bent down and shoved the front of the other car, moving it away from ours. It made a horrible screeching sound, but in the blink of an eye, Declan was able to step directly up to my window.

  With wide eyes, I shook my head at him. “Declan,” I whispered, my heart clutching.

  He reached inside and touched my ch
eek. “No one saw me. I’m getting you out of here.”

  I started to shake my head, but then I heard another noise. It sounded like a car door opening. I gasped, trying to turn to see the car behind us. Declan whipped around, putting his body between my door and whoever was stepping out.

  I peered through the window, blinking a few times through the rain before I saw the figure of a man. I expected Declan’s father, but instead, it was a man I didn’t recognize.

  “Johnson,” I heard Declan murmur. His voice was like steel, dark and angry. “You did this?”

  The man grasped his side just as I put the pieces together. It was Maggie’s father, Cole Johnson. He was the one behind this.

  “I can’t let our secret get out,” Johnson said, and then sunk to his knees on the pavement.

  “Don’t you ever come near Royal again, or I will kill you myself.”

  The man slumped against the car, and Declan turned his attention back to me. “It’s okay,” he whispered, touching my cheek again. “It’s over, okay? You’re safe.”

  Behind him, I saw the swirl of lights and the blur of emergency vehicles as they approached.

  I sagged in my seat, trying to calm my racing heart. “Randy? How are you doing up there?” I asked.

  “Well, I’m pretty sure something is broken. Maybe more than one thing? I don’t know. My wife would know, she knows everything,” he mumbled.

  “I think he hit his head,” I told Declan.

  Declan gripped the doorframe, looking like he was going to rip it right off the hinges.

  I shook my head and then closed my eyes when the world spun around me. “I don’t think you should do that…”

  “Did you hit your head?” Declan asked.

  “Excuse me, sir. Were you in one of the vehicles?” a policeman asked. A paramedic stood behind him, trying to push his way through to get to us.

  As they spoke, I leaned back in the seat, grateful Declan hadn’t done anything reckless. The way he looked when he walked up to the car, he could have done anything. He was a man desperate to do what was necessary to get to the woman he loved.

  At that moment, all I could think was how much I needed him. And there were so many things I wanted to tell him, like how much I loved him. I tried to sit forward on the seat, and the seatbelt stopped me again. I gasped at the pain in my chest.