Defying Dorian: Bad Boy Billionaire Romance (18 page)

A
fter the debacle
at Tempest’s apartment, I sat in my office at my estate.

“Have you heard anything from Ronan since leaving your message?” Kendrick asked.

I hadn’t been able to sit still since arriving home. Pacing back and forth across my office, I felt like a caged lion. The only thing I wanted to do was hunt and… kill.

I stopped and looked at Kendrick. “No.”

I should’ve kept a more watchful eye on Tempest. I went against my instincts and it had cost me dearly. The ironic part was that even though she was the one I concerned myself with the most, now Ainsley was involved too. I didn’t see that one coming, not by a fucking longshot. My cell phone rang. I nodded towards Kendrick to grab it off my desk and toss it to me.

It was Ronan.

“About fucking time,” I muttered, swiping it on and raising it to my ear.

Yeah, I was still angry, but there was no sense in rehashing the threat I’d made to him when I called earlier. I knew him well enough to know he was just as upset as I was, especially because Ainsley was involved now.

“I’ve got every man I can find working on this,” I began, wasting no time. “That mother fucker has them somewhere in town. Even so, I haven’t turned up shit. There are no eyewitnesses at their last known location, and their phones are turned off. It’s like they are fucking ghosts, Ronan. Tell me you have something.”

He exhaled into the receiver.

“What? What is it?”

“It’s Malcolm… He called me.”

“He what?”

“You heard what I said. He wants the case back. He also said that he doesn’t want you involved under any circumstances and…”

I cut him off. “I don’t give two shits. We are way beyond the point of me not being fucking involved. That guy is delusional if he thinks I’m not coming after him.”

“I get that, Dorian. I get it. Here’s the thing though. You know Malcolm is no idiot. He knows you are coming after him.”

“I don’t care!” I yelled, raking my hand through my hair. “It’s time to deal with this once and for all. Listen, your personal conflicts with him have never been any of my business, but he’s changed all of that now.”

Ronan stayed silent for a few seconds. “I understand. I, um, I’m really sorry that Ainsley and Tempest are caught in the middle of all this.”

“Don’t worry about all of that right now. Apologies aren’t going to do us any good. Tell me what you’re thinking -- how can we find him?”

“I will but…”

I had zero patience and even less time for delays. “But what, man? Let’s get this handled.”

“There’s something I think you ought to see.”

I closed my eyes and shook my head. “What are you talking about? Let’s stay focused on Malcolm.”

“I am, trust me,” he said, forcefulness in his tone. “I’m sending you a text message right now.”

“What the…” I replied.

Ronan interrupted me. “Just look at it. Look at it.”

I pulled the phone away from my face and brought up my text messages. Within seconds, a picture of Ainsley and Tempest popped up. It made me sick to my fucking stomach.

I put Ronan on speakerphone. “Did he do this? Did he send this to you?”

“He did.”

While he answered me, I put my rage on hold for a second and studied the image.
Those wigs.
They looked awfully fucking familiar. Kendrick approached me, and I passed the phone to him. He took it from me, flipping it over. I closed my eyes and wiped my hands down my face.

“Jesus,” he muttered. “Is that… Is that blood on their faces?”

Flipping my eyes open, I glared at him. “It better fucking not be. So help me.”

His comment distracted me but once again the image of the wigs popped into my head. I racked my brain, trying to bring the memory to the surface.

“Where? Where? Where?”

The sound of Ronan’s voice over the speakerphone broke my train of thought.

“Dorian, we don’t have much time. I have to drop the case off. There’s no telling what he will do if I wait too long and…”

I snapped my fingers, looking straight at Kendrick. “Of course! The show! The fucking show!”

He shrugged. “What are you talking about?”

I motioned for him to pass the phone back to me. Taking Ronan off speakerphone, I lifted the phone to my ear again.

“I need you to sit tight. Don’t do anything until you hear back from me. I’ve got a call to make, and it won’t take long.”

I hung up right away.

“What’s going on?” Kendrick asked.

I looked straight at him. “Those wigs… The night I took Ainsley and Tempest to see the show…”

Bringing up Ronan’s text message again, I clicked on the picture and showed it to Kendrick.

“Right there. The wigs in that picture are the same ones that the performers wore.”

“So,” he began, frowning at the same time. “I don’t understand how this is…”

By then, I’d raised the phone to my ear, already making the call I needed.

“You’ll see.” I said to him.

“Dor—” Elliot started, before I cut him off.

“Got a real problem here,” I began, turning towards the window of my office. “This is going to sound like a strange question, but I don’t really have any time to explain right now.”

“Things are pretty strange with you right now, man. Whatever it is, just say it.”

“I need to know where the wardrobe supplies for the show I attended are kept, like
yesterday
.”

He paused. “Hmm, I have no idea. But I can find out for you.”

“Thanks. Thank you.”

“You mind telling me why you need to know so badly?”

“Right now, I can’t get into it, but I promise I’ll tell you everything. You have my word.”

He paused again. “All right, let me make a couple of calls. I’ll get back to you ASAP.”

Hanging up, I stared out the window into the darkness for a few minutes. Somewhere out there were the two most important women in my life. After seeing the picture, it made me sick to think what other twisted shit Malcolm might be up to with them. It took every ounce of restraint I had to stay focused and not let it get to me.

Luckily, my phone rang, distracting me. “That was quick. What do you have for me?”

“I’ve got an address. Big warehouse, out your way.”

Snapping my fingers, I got Kendrick’s attention and motioned for him to bring me a pen. He swiped one off my desk and hustled across the room, passing it to me.

“Okay, I’m ready. Go ahead…”

After getting the address, I hung up.

“They are close by,” I said, dialing Ronan again. “Not more than fifteen minutes away.”

Ronan answered.

“I’ve got the location. Have you heard from Malcolm?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Okay, that’s a good thing. Right now, Malcolm needs to believe you’re going to keep your promise to him. He’s got to think you’re going to deliver the case, and I’m not going to be involved in any part of it.”

Ronan interjected. “Wait a second… You aren’t thinking of going after Malcolm alone, are you?”

I didn’t hesitate. “I don’t see how I have any choice, Ronan. Right now, I’ve got the element of surprise on my side. However, I’ll promise you this. If Malcolm hasn’t harmed either of them, I’ll leave you to deal with him any way you want. On the other hand, if he has, I can’t promise anything about what I’m going to do.”

Ronan exhaled. “As much as I don’t like hearing that, I understand. Would you be willing to wait for me? I can be there in a few hours.”

I shook my head while he finished the end of his sentence. “No, there’s no way. I don’t trust him around either of the women for one second longer than is necessary.”

“Hang on, man, hear me out.” Ronan said, his voice growing louder. “Think for a second. You know this whole thing will have a much higher chance of success if we all get together and plan it out. You have to know your enemy. I know my brother, better than you. I’m telling you right now, he wants the case more than anything. There’s no way he’s going to hurt them.”

For the first time since all this shit started, I stopped to think. The adrenaline raging in my veins calmed long enough for me to listen to Ronan. I took a deep breath, running my fingers through my hair. He had a point. I’d be an idiot not to listen to him.

“Okay,” I began, swallowing my desire for blood. “Once that plane lands, don’t waste any time. Get your ass straight over here.”

“Will do. Thanks for this. You’re making a smart decision.”

“I hope so. I really do.”

After hanging up, I turned and looked at Kendrick.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

I started to walk in the direction of my desk, waving him off. “Go get the security team. I want all of them assembled here as soon as possible, in full tactical gear.”

Kendrick nodded and turned to leave. Still holding the cell phone, I went to put it in my pocket when I felt the ring I’d found at Tempest’s apartment.

Pausing, I pulled it out. “Kendrick.”

He stopped and turned around. I held the ring up in my hand. “Here, come get this. Put it in the safe.”

He walked back over to me and took it without a word, turning again and leaving the office.

Once Kendrick left, I sat down in my chair.

I found myself thinking about Tempest again. Every second I wasn’t preoccupied with finding her, I thought about what it would be like when I finally saw her again.

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I let this happen. I swear nothing like this will ever happen again, not ever. You’re never going to be away from me again, baby.

I couldn’t wait to be with her again, holding her again – inside of her again.

The feelings consumed me.

“
N
ow let
’s smile and look our best. Important guests will be arriving very soon.”

I had no idea how long we’d been in the damn warehouse. It was probably only a couple of hours, but it seemed like weeks. I exchanged glances with Ainsley. She looked as confused as I was about what Malcolm just said.

Important guests?

All I could do was hope he meant Ronan, but I wasn’t optimistic.

I watched Ainsley, studying her. I could tell by her body language she’d begun to lose some of the defiant attitude she had earlier. She started to slump in her chair, her posture drooping.

Following his bizarre comment, Malcolm walked across the room. I watched him until I guessed he was out of earshot. Once he started talking with his men, I turned and looked at Ainsley.

We hadn’t gotten along with each other since well…
ever.
But, in spite of the frostiness of our relationship, I felt like we stood a better chance of getting out of the situation together than apart. Even though I hated to admit it, we needed each other.

“Ainsley,” I said, whispering to her. “Are you okay?”

Ainsley blinked slowly, turning to face me. A hard swallow crept down her throat.

I didn’t like the look of that.

“Malcolm…” she muttered, shaking her head and glancing towards him. “He is up to something. I don’t know what he meant by ‘guests’, but it’s not going to be good. That much I can promise you.”

Once she finished talking, she kept her eyes fixed on Malcolm.

“What about the deal he made with Ronan? To get the case? He’s got to be coming soon, don’t you think? We won’t be here much longer. You just have to think positive.”

She looked at me again, all emotion gone from her expression. “You’re right about one thing. You and I won’t be here much longer. He has no intention of letting us go, no matter what happens between him and Ronan.”

The tone of her voice sounded like she was giving up or something.

“Please don’t talk like that. Everything is going to be okay.”

Ainsley didn’t respond, only motioned with her chin towards Malcolm. He’d started to walk in our direction again. I held my breath while the red haired lunatic headed towards me. I didn’t think people like this actually existed in real life. Once he closed within a few feet of us, he clapped his hands together and rubbed them with eagerness.

“Well,” he said, staring at us. “Are the two of you excited? I know I am!”

I took a quick peek at Ainsley. She’d all but given up, but I hadn’t, not by a mile.

“Excited for what?” I snapped. “You tell us that there are important guests coming and that we should look our best. But here we are tied up, blood on our faces… Not to mention these ridiculous wigs. How are we supposed to look good and for who?”

I expected him to completely lose it, flip out and I don’t know, slap me or whatever. He didn’t. He just stood there, looking at me. It was almost like he considered my response and took it seriously. Once he spoke, my suspicions were confirmed.

“You do have a point. I’ll give you that. Hmm, even so, there is no need to fret. My buyers can spot a true bargain when presented with one.”

He paused and looked in Ainsley’s direction. “I mean, two bargains.”

Buyers? Bargains?

“What are you talking about? What do you mean, ‘buyers’?”

Malcolm looked at me again.

“Oh yes, yes…” he started, inching closer to me. “I forgot to mention… The two of you won’t be staying, not with me anyway. That’s why you’re here, you see. I hadn’t expected to include Ainsley in the transaction but all the better.”

“What?”

He ignored me. “You’re not only very beautiful but also quite inquisitive. It’s too bad that you…”

Before Malcolm could get another word out, one of his henchmen cleared his throat. Malcolm turned and looked towards him. I followed with my eyes and noticed two men walking towards us. I hadn’t seen either one of them before.

They came closer to Malcolm, and I got a better look at them. Middle Eastern maybe? I’d seen their kind plenty in the bar over the years. More money than they could spend. Fending off ass grabbers at the Bellagio was one thing -- this was something completely different.

And then, the realization hit me…

I bolted upright in my chair. Was Malcolm actually
selling us
to these men? My mouth hung open while I watched him greet the two of them, shaking their hands and exchanging kisses on the cheek. When they finished, all three turned and looked at Ainsley and me.

I recoiled, too frozen in my chair to even glance at Ainsley.

The three of them started to walk in our direction. Our would-be buyers chatted with each other in a language I didn’t recognize. The closer they came however, I felt more sure about my suspicions.

Dark skinned, slicked back hair, and wearing more jewelry than I’d ever seen on men, they leered at us. I felt like I always did at the bar, like eye candy. This time, the difference was I couldn’t call my manager if their flirting crossed the line. This time, I had no idea what would happen.

Malcolm pointed at me. “What do you think? She’s lovely, isn’t she? I think you gentlemen will find the price we discussed to be quite fair.”

He stopped talking and gestured in Ainsley’s direction. “Of course, the price I quoted you didn’t include this beauty.”

One of the men turned and looked at Malcolm, frowning. “How much for both?”

Malcolm reached up and rubbed his chin with his thumb and forefinger, considering the question.

“For both of them? Three times the original price seems about right.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Was this seriously happening? It couldn’t be real. It… It wasn’t. In the midst of my growing panic, Malcolm stepped to one side and gestured for the men to approach us.

“Even at this higher price, you won’t find a better deal anywhere. Feel free to fondle the merchandise.”

I felt my eyes widened in their sockets. One of the men walked right up to me. The stench of over applied cologne hit me like a wave of pesticide.

I glared at him. “Get away from me.”

“Hey!” Malcolm yelled. “Shut up.”

Sitting up straight in my seat, I yelled back at him. “No! You lied! You made a promise to Ronan you would turn us over to him.”

To my surprise, before Malcolm could say a word, Ainsley yelled at him also.

“You don’t need their filthy money, Malcolm. Why are you dabbling in the flesh trade? Face Ronan like a man. Keep your sorry word for once in your miserable life!”

Malcolm chuckled, and with a couple of steps forward he positioned himself between the two men. “Excuse us please, gentlemen.”

The men lingered there for a second or two, staring Ainsley and me up and down before at last turning around and walking away. Once they did, Malcolm approached Ainsley, looking down at her with an ominous expression in his eyes.

“You’re a conniving bitch, Ainsley. You always have been. I know exactly what you’re trying to do right now. Normally, I wouldn’t allow comments like that to affect my plans, but in this case, you’ve given me a great idea. Thank you.”

Now what the hell was the psycho doing?

Staring at Malcolm in disbelief, I watched him finish speaking to Ainsley and then reach inside the coat pocket of his suit. His eyes locked on mine and he raised his index finger to his lips while at the same time pulling out a gun with a large silencer attached to the end of it.

Malcolm dropped his finger away from his face, arched an eyebrow at me and again, flashed his wicked grin. Turning his back on me, he moved the hand holding the gun behind him and began to walk towards the Middle Easterners.

“Gentlemen! I’m afraid there’s been a change of plans.”

I couldn’t help myself. I didn’t want to see one more person die, even if it meant saving freaks like this. “He’s got a gun! He’s got a gun!”

It was too late. Before either of them could do anything, Malcolm whipped the gun around in front of his body and with two lethal shots killed both of them.

Holy shit! Holy fucking shit!

Malcolm stood there in silence, the gun hanging at his side before turning around and facing us again. The warehouse went completely quiet, that is, until he started to walk towards us. The sickening sound of his shoes clapping across the floor echoed in my head.

“I want to thank you again, Ainsley,” he said, coming closer to us and putting the gun inside of his jacket once more. “You’re right.
Killing you
in front of Ronan will be far more satisfying than what I had originally had in mind.”

Ainsley didn’t back down. “You sick bastard. Sick, sick fuck.”

Ignoring her, Malcolm looked at me. “Now, I
know
what Ainsley means to Ronan. As for you, I wonder, what are you worth to Dorian?”

“Don’t say anything to him, Tempest,” Ainsley interrupted, anger in her voice. “He’ll twist your words.”

Malcolm glanced at her and then looked towards one of his henchmen, snapping his fingers. The man walked across the room when Malcolm pointed at Ainsley.

“Gag her.”

Ainsley struggled, but it was no use. In seconds, she’d been silenced. Malcolm stood directly over the top of me, staring me down. Soon, he began to walk around my chair, circling it while he talked.

“It’s a shame about your fiancé,” he began, disappearing from sight and stopping behind me. “Todd. Wasn’t it?”

I didn’t answer him. Ainsley’s words of caution stuck in my head. He touched me with his clammy hand on the neck between my ear and shoulder. I flinched, startled by him. He didn’t pull it away, keeping it there while I squirmed.

“I would think,” he began, gliding his fingertips up and down my skin. “Being so close to the man who was responsible for Todd’s death would be difficult to say the least.”

He stopped moving. “It seems strange that you wouldn’t want Dorian dead. Don’t you want revenge?”

I swallowed hard, looking straight ahead, doing my best to control my breathing. His serpent tongue prodded and probed me with venomous words, looking for a vulnerability.

He pulled his fingers away from my neck and wrapped them around my shoulder. I sensed him close in on me until the heat from his mouth beat against my ear. I shivered, fighting to control my growing panic.

“Todd was no great loss,” he said, whispering. “I’ll give you that. But, you don’t seem the least bit upset at the mention of his name. I wonder why that is?”

He pulled away from me and circled around in front of my body. I watched him, never blinking. He stopped, standing directly in front of me. Using his index finger, he pointed at me first, then towards Ainsley and back at me once more.

“Even more curious -- the two of you seem quite close. That’s very unusual. Wouldn’t you agree?”

I finally had enough. Whatever he was going to do, I just wanted him to get it over with. Squashing my fear, I snapped at him.

“I would never agree with anything you have to say. Fuck you.”

He snapped his fingers. “Ahah! That’s it, isn’t it?”

I glared at him. “What is? I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Malcolm squatted down in front of me. He stared into my eyes, his dark empty beads looking right through me.

“You’re
fucking Dorian
, aren’t you?”

It took every ounce of strength I had. Still, I didn’t back down. I didn’t look away. I knew if I did, if I showed any sign of weakness, it would only make him more aggressive and emboldened. I’d already seen him kill without regard. There was no telling what he was capable of doing to me, or Ainsley.

Malcolm didn’t quit. “I’ve seen a lot of fucked up things in my life, Tempest, but fucking your fiancé’s murderer… That’s a whole new level of depravity, isn’t it?”

Clenching my jaw, I straightened my spine. Malcolm stood, a grimy-toothed grin splitting his face in two. “A woman like you… You can’t be trusted.”

Without a word, Malcolm reached inside of his suit pocket and pulled his pistol out in a flash. He lifted it up in front of his face and stared at it before looking at me again.

“I think for Dorian’s sake, I should put an end to this sick, twisted relationship the two of you have. Don’t you agree?”

Before I could say a word, Malcolm shoved the pistol against my forehead, right between my eyes.

“Uhhnnn, nnnnnnn! Nnnnnnnnn!!!” Ainsley cried out, screaming into her gag and stomping her feet at the same time.

My entire body began to quiver -- no,
shake
. There wasn’t a single fiber of my being that didn’t think he’d pull the trigger any second.

Staring at me, he held the gun there, pushing it harder and harder into the flesh of my forehead. I heard the sound of the safety disengage, and taking what I thought would be my last breath, I pinched my eyes shut, squeezing them hard.

Ainsley continued to cry out, each time screaming with all her might. I couldn’t believe I was about to die, that this is how my life would end. I thought about my mom and my dad. My poor father. Hadn’t life been cruel enough to him?

Malcolm pushed harder. I shook. Not knowing if it would be the last image I ever held in my mind, I thought of Dorian, about what we’d shared. It hurt to think of it, more than anything else.

I wanted to hold the feeling in my heart. If it was the last memory I ever had, then so be it. Only, nothing happened. Soon, the pressure of the gun against my head eased. I opened my eyes to see Malcolm stepping back, putting the gun inside of his suit once more.

“I’ve decided I’m not going to let you off that easy,” he said, making my skin crawl with his ghoulish grin. “For that matter, I won’t let Dorian off that easy, either.”