Adam's Apple (Touch of Tantra #1) (11 page)

Kathryn follows Maurice’s retreat to the kitchen. I see her in a heated conversation with Sofia. It's my reputation again.
Before today, I never needed an excuse for my behavior with women, nor did I even want one. I was purely content with the person I was until twenty-four hours ago. Funny how things change.

It's time for me to meet Sofia, my distracter. As I rise and walk toward them, I hear Kathryn speaking in Italian to Sofia, and I wonder how many languages this woman speaks.

"Good evening, Sofia. I'm Adam Kingsley." I hold my hand out in welcome to her. I wait to see her reaction, and I watch as Kathryn nudges her arm and Sofia's hand reaches out to me.

"Mr. Kingsley." Her greeting is laced with contempt as she looks down her nose at me, and I realize that it's most likely a fair judgment on her part; after all, I read the gossip columns, too. I know what they write about me, and it's mostly true, although before I faced this woman in front of me, I usually would've laughed at their reports. But not today. The foreign shift within me is that great. It’s puzzling to me. The sudden change was brought on by something I didn’t initiate. It’s like I’m its target, with no power to stop myself from succumbing to it.

"I had a lovely dinner with Kathryn. The veal was superb." Hoping to sound sincere, I decide to end my accolades. Nothing says fake more than heaping on tons of insincere praise. "Kathryn, are you ready to leave?"

I offer her my arm. "I'm ready, Mr. Kingsley. Goodbye, Sofia. I'll see you in a couple of days for sure." I open the door for her and gratefully lead her outside. I feel like I've been given a reprieve or stay by the governor when I inhale the cool early evening air.

"Well, I think I’ve survived the Italian Inquisition tonight." I place my hand at the small of her back, a possessive move. But I don't care. A man on the sidewalk eyes her up and down, but I glare at him and he hurries away. My body touching hers marks my territory like a hungry wolf. The thought makes me laugh.

"What's so funny?" She looks up at me with a sly smile.

"The man that just walked by looked too long at you and I didn't like it. Have you always had this kind of an effect on men? Wait, don’t answer that, I don’t really want to hear about other men in your life.” Her sly smile turns to one of smug satisfaction.

As I get ready to speak, my phone sounds an alarm. I stop and search its screen. Rarely do I get this alert. A serious or grave problem is the only thing that warrants its action. Only four people have the ability to institute this "Def-con" alert: Tom, Mrs. Carter, Patrick, and of course Peters. The screen shows Tom is the one sending the warning.

I instantly stop and call him on my cell phone.

"Kingsley. Something crazy just happened at the Library Gala." His words rush together as if he can’t get them out fast enough.

"This
better
be something besides a report of some overdue books."

"How does a threat on your life sound? Serious enough?"

“What the hell are you talking about, Tom?” A threat?” I can’t believe what he’s saying to me.

“Yes, but it’s really more than a threat.” He pauses, and I’m getting frustrated. Answers aren’t coming from him fast enough. “I hear traffic in the background. Are you out on the sidewalk or street?”

“Yes, but what does that have to do with this threat?” I question him angrily as I feel my temper starting to build. “Tell me what the fuck is going on.”

Kathryn has been standing at my side during this conversation. She’s biting her lip and anxiously wringing her hands. Her eyes look concerned, a likely result of my angry demeanor. My temper can flare at times. This heated exchange being a clear example.

I’d like to reach out to her, bring her into my arms, and soothe her. Just the thought of me soothing a woman makes me wonder who I am. But I’m not sure how she’d receive such a gesture from me. I feel like there is still so much ground to cover with her before I can get physical. I hope I have the patience to wait, as I’ve never been tested like this before. Adam Kingsley isn’t known for being patient.

Tom’s yelling pulls me back to our conversation. “You need to get inside and fast. Just do what I tell you, Adam. Get off the fucking street. Find a coffee shop. Hell, I don’t care. Just get off the sidewalk.”

“Have you gone crazy? Tell me what’s going on. I’m not moving an inch until you do.” I’m way past frustrated now. He had better start spilling the details to me.

“Damn, you stubborn asshole. It’s Simon. He had a gun and fired it at me. Oh fuck, Adam. It’s beyond belief, really. Get inside now and I’ll tell you more. Fuck, you can probably even watch it on the news. Cameras are everywhere.”

“Shit. Okay, okay.” I look at Kathryn and then glance at the glass front of Sant Ambroeus. “Hold on, Tom.”

I bring the phone down to my side. Kathryn appears confused, and I’m right there with her. I have no idea what the hell I’m going to say to her. Other than we need to get undercover. Completely crazy.

“I’m on the phone with my friend and business partner, Tom. He’s saying a threat was made on my life. He wants us inside, out of open view. Something about our former partner shooting a gun at him.” I point back to Sant Ambroeus’s door. “Let’s go back inside, and then I’ll find out more.”

Kathryn and I hastily walk back to the restaurant. Hopefully, my greeting from the owners will be better this time. I already have enough shit to deal with. Once inside, a confused Maurice approaches us.

“Mr. Kingsley. Is there a problem?”

“Yes, there seems to be problem, and I need your help.” I hurriedly respond with my words running together. “Do you have a back room? Something with a TV?”

“We have an office in the back with a TV. Sofia likes her soaps.” Maurice glances in Sofia’s direction.

“Perfect.” I slow down when I prepare to ask for an invasion into this man’s private office. His feelings for me aren’t stellar already, but I really have no other choice. “Can Kathryn and I use your office for a little while? Door open, of course.”

“Certainly. Anything for Ms. Kathryn.” He motions us to follow him, and we beginning walking behind him. We make our way through the kitchen. The head chef looks up from his preparations and stops chopping an onion, almost dropping his knife. Once we’ve left the kitchen area, Maurice leads us down a short hall with his office situated at the end.

I give Kathryn a reassuring look as we enter the small room, but I don’t think it’s working. Her face has worry written all over it. There’s no
comforting it at present, either. I return my attention to Tom, who’s been waiting on the line for me. Likely going crazy, too.

“Tom. We’re inside now.” I look around the office. A desk. A couple of chairs. A small television with antennas jetting out of the top on a filing cabinet. The office resembles something from the 1960s, like a scene from Mad Men. Kathryn stands close to me. A mere breath keeps us from touching. I’m focusing my eyes on hers. Their blue violet gleam reflects concern for me, and it’s oddly comforting.

“What do you mean,
we
?” Tom asks.

“Kathryn Delcour is with me. We just finished dinner and are now in the back of
the restaurant’s office. I’m switching the phone to speaker so she can hear.” I’ve given him more details on where I am and who I’m with than he’s given to me on this supposed threat. “Now for fuck’s sake tell me what’s going on. From the beginning.”

“While I was on hold waiting for you, Lois and I climbed into a police car. It’s crazy. Completely fucked up.” He’s breathing fast.

“Right From the top,” I tell him.

I hear Tom swallow and take a deep breath. Trying to calm himself before he starts in. “Eddie picked Lois and I up around six thirty tonight for the event. Nothing seemed amiss at all. The usual line-up of sedans and limos as guests were dropped off in front. One by one people exited their cars. Finally it was our turn at the curb. Eddie came around to open the door, and I was sitting on that side so I got out first.” Tom stops and takes another deep breath, but I still don’t know shit.

“Keep going, Tom. My patience is running thin.” My tone carries a distinct reprimand to it.

“Right. Sorry. Just a little overwhelmed. Here’s where the shit hits the fan. As I’m getting out, a gun goes off, and I feel a bullet whiz by my head. It was fucking unreal. Like in the movies. I look to my right and see Simon standing by the back tire. He’s dressed in a black trench coat like some Matrix dude with a pistol in his hand. Pointing at me, Adam. God the look on his face was nothing but sheer hatred. The gun aimed right for me. Thankfully the bullet he fired embedded in the limo in front us. No one was hurt. I could’ve been shot in the head.”

“But something happened when he saw it was me standing there. He appeared shocked and dropped the gun to his side. Lois had climbed out of the car by now and was standing behind me. She only saw the gun at this side. Thank God. But Adam, before he ran off, he said something that has scared the shit out of me.” He stops and I hear him saying something to Lois. I think she’s crying in the background.

“Don’t stop now, Tom,” I practically yell.

“Simon told me he thought it was you inside. He came to event with a gun in hopes of shooting
you
. What he said, Adam, chilled me to the bone. He said, ‘Tell Adam that bullet was for him.”

Listening to Tom, one thing comes to my mind. Am I dreaming? A horrible, awful nightmare. I am at a loss for what to say back to Tom. Stunned, shocked. Nothing makes a bit of sense. Nothing.

“He’s gone mad. Completely snapped,” I say in disbelief.

I just can’t figure out why I’m his target. I’ve been combing my mind since yesterday after I found out about Simon, but I keep coming up empty. I can’t even remember the last unkind word we spoke to one another.

“How’s Lois doing? I can hear her crying in the background. In her condition, this has to be even worse.” Lois’ sobbing doesn’t seem to be subsiding at all.

“She’s shaking like a leaf. If she doesn’t calm down I may take her to the ER. I’m concerned about shock. But no one was hurt by Simon directly.”

“So what happened after he ran off? Did he leave or were the police able to find his crazy ass?” The thought of Simon running free around this city hell-bent on killing me or someone else unsettles me to my core.

Kathryn is now seated in the one chair in the office. I’m sitting on the corner of the desk. But my eyes are solely on Kathryn, and hers are on mine.

“He ran away. Virtually disappeared. No one but Eddie, Lois, and me saw him with the gun. Since he’s left-handed, the black arm of his trench coat and gun were right up against the black of the Escalade. He just blended in. Everyone was busy arriving. Waiting for the real celebrities to show up. Do you have any idea what might have triggered all of this with Simon? Besides the ex-fiancée.”

“I’ve wracked my brain. I can’t think of a thing. As far as I knew everything between Simon and I was okay. We hadn’t talk outside of business in months, but you know that’s not unusual for us. He asked me via email to join him and his fiancé
e Marta for dinner on several occasions. I didn’t go. Had another commitments. But there’s no way something like would make him snap.”

“I’ve been doing the same. Not a single thing comes to mind. It makes me think that when Marta broke the engagement off, he lost it, literally. He’s a wanted man now. Which is unreal. The police are searching everywhere for him. They believe he took the subway from Bryant Park, and there are so many lines and options for him to take from there. No telling where he is now.”

“It seems like all of this is a dream. Is Eddie doing okay? He’s tough on the outside, but I bet this gave him quite the fright?”

“He’s the one that ran and got the police after it all happened. The cops were stationed closer to the red carpet. Celebrity security, I guess. But Eddie was beside himself after he came back with the cops. I sent him on home. The police wanted the SUV left on the scene. They’re sweeping it for prints.”

“I should let you go. Lois needs you more than me. Call me later tonight after everything has settled down. Give her my best.” I truly hope that Lois is all right. I feel partly to blame for this whole situation, even though I have no idea why Simon has me as his target.

“Will do, buddy. But please stay put at this restaurant until Peters gives you the okay to leave. It’s all over the news. Camera crews are littering the streets. What a fucking field day the markets are going have over all this.”

“I don’t even want to think about that right now, and you shouldn’t either. Take care of your wife and the baby.”

“You’re right. I’ll call you later.”

Once the call ends, I look down at my phone’s screen and see scores of missed calls and texts. I heard the numerous beeps signaling an incoming call while I was on the phone with Tom, but I ignored them. I needed to hear from Tom first. He witnessed it. Saw what happened. Thank God nothing worse than a threat to me occurred, but I’m chilled knowing Simon wanted to kill me.

“I need to make a few more calls. Can you bear with me?” I ask Kathryn. Her eyes are big, filled with surprise at what has transpired in my phone conversation with Tom. The shock she’s feeling shows.

“Sure, please. I can’t believe this, Kingsley. Who is this Simon?”

“It’s a long story, but the short version is he’s a man I’ve known since MIT. Four of us guys came to New York City from our graduating class and formed Kings Capital. He was one of those four guys. Tom was one of the others.”

“So he just went off the deep end, then?” Kathryn’s wide eyes and lips making a perfect
‘O’
reflect the bewilderment I feel, too.

“I guess so. I had to fire him yesterday afternoon. The day was a total clusterfuck with the exception of meeting you, of course.” I swear this little comment gets a slight smile out of her. Even in all this tension. “But as bad as yesterday was, this stunt he pulled tonight is beyond belief. Guns, threats, and now he’s a wanted man.”

“I can’t imagine,” Katherine replies. It’s good to have someone to talk to about this whole thing. Unusual, but good.

“Let me make those calls real quick.”

I pull up Peters’ number first. He’ll know what my next move should be. One thing’s for sure, I can’t stay holed up in this office with Kathryn all night. I need a plan of action, and Peters is the guy who specializes in that.

“Fuck, Adam,” Peters yells into the phone. I’ve never heard him this animated before. “Where are you? I’ve been calling, texting, and alerting you via that crazy Def-Con1 warning on your phone.”

“I know what’s going on. Just got off the phone with Tom. He was the first call I took. And since he was an eyewitness, he was also the best one for me to speak with.”

“Okay, you may know what happened, but I want to make sure Simon doesn’t find you. That’s all I’m focusing on right now. And
you didn’t answer my question. Where are you?”

“I had dinner with Kathryn Delcour, and we are sitting in a restaurant’s back office on Madison in the Upper East Side.”

“That’s good. I was concerned you might be at your apartment. You need to stay away from there tonight. Too dangerous. Simon might be headed there next. It’s you he wants to kill, apparently. Do you have any clue why?” Peters asks the golden question. One that Tom and I are clueless about.

“No idea whatsoever. Tom and I batted around the idea that when his fiancée dumped him he lost it. Other than that reason, it’s anyone’s guess.” I am now pacing the tile floor in the tiny office. Taking two strides back and forth in front of the desk is all the room I have for walking off the tension.

“I’ve been after you for two years to get a damn bodyguard. No more fighting me on this. I placed a call to a buddy. He owes me a favor or two. He’s got an ex-Army friend who will fit the bill as a bodyguard for you.” Peters has everything figured out just like I knew he would. It’s what I pay him to do. But hiring a bodyguard is something I’ve refused down every time he’s insisted on it.

“You know why I’ve held off on getting a bodyguard. Even the celebs here in NYC don’t walk around with them.” I despise the thought of having someone with me at all times. Watching over me. Silently judging me. Eddie is the closest person I have to a security. He knows me, my habits, and keeps his opinions to himself. I’ve never once felt condemnation from him over my lifestyle choices. Having someone with me, guarding me 24/7, just seems too much.