Mikala's Passion (Pulse Series Book 2) (17 page)

The bar ran the full length of one wall, and the once tacky mirrored backdrop was now replaced with a wall of colored bottles lit from behind, modern and bright. All the usual bar paraphernalia was carefully hidden from view, no more glasses and bottles and brewery signage. Dispensers sat out of view under the counter giving a clean professional look. There were no barstools around the bar to cause congestion, now there was a designated area with tall tables and seats on the other side of the room instead. It was perfect and as people congratulated Mikala on the new look with hand shaking and hugs, she noted Mason keeping her in constant sight.

“There was a flower delivery for you, Miss Santino. I put it on your desk in your office.” One of the many servers whispered into Mikala’s ear, she nodded and smiled over to Mason.

It took at least ten minutes to get past the crowd with all the congratulatory hugs, as well as air kisses and high fives she had to do on the way. Once in her office, she spotted the flower box with a pink ribbon sitting on her desk. Mason walked in closing the door behind him.

Mikala brushed her hand over his cheek and laughed, “Did you do this?”

As she proceeded to untie the ribbon Mason stilled her hand with his. “I didn’t send flowers.”

“You didn’t?” she asked, disappointed.

“Sugar, you know I don’t do flower shit. It’s not me.”

He was right, he never gave her flowers. He told her once it was because he considered it giving a gift that was already dead. He did give her a house plant once when she was sick, and as it turned out she managed to kill it in a matter of a few weeks.

Mason moved her aside cautiously lifting the lid away staring into the box. “What’s this?”

Mikala peered over his shoulder and let out a gasp. “I thought that burned up in the fire,” she said, reaching in and pulling out the elongated baby blue shadow box and setting it on her desk.

Mason rested his hand on her shoulder, neither one saying a word.

Chase and Eden had the shadow box custom made for Mikala after she lost Charlie. His sweet little face was pictured in the center, a footprint on the left and a handprint on the right. There was also a hospital bracelet and a silver rattle that was to be Charlie’s gift from Aunt Eden and Uncle Chase, along with his birth announcement which was to appear in every paper Chase could think to submit it. He was going to be an awesome Uncle, he was devastated the most of all their family and friends staying by Mikala’s side for weeks.

There was a note on red paper, carefully tucked to the side. Mason took a tissue from her desk, pulling it free and reading it aloud.

“Enjoy the moment, this too shall pass.

I will let you have Pulse for now.”

“What does
that
mean?” she asked.

“I’m not sure,” he answered, as shocked as she was. “This was in your apartment?” Mason brushed his hand gently over the frame as if it were delicate and fragile and could shatter if he wasn’t careful.

“Chase and Eden gave it to me, it hung over my bed. I thought when I didn’t see it, that it was ruined and got trashed with everything else. I don’t get it.”

“He took it before he set the fire, a keepsake maybe or he took it because it meant something to you. The guys sick.” Mason tried to keep his cool.

Mikala turned to Mason wide eyed. “Mason, do you think he’s here? Could he be here right now watching me?”

Mason ran his hand through his hair and straightened. “I don’t want to scare you, sugar, but yeah he could be. More than likely he made the delivery and left.” He was hoping for the latter, although catching this guy was in her best interest, he didn’t want it to take away from her big night.

“What are we going to do?” she asked, placing the picture frame back in the box.

“We’re going to go back out there and I’m going to tail you. If this fucker is here we’ll catch him on camera, if you notice anyone you’re not familiar with approach you, give me a sign and I’ll take him out.”

“Take him out?”

“I’ll take care of him; pull him off to the side to
talk
that’s all.”

As Mikala reached for the door handle Mason’s giant hand wrapped around her elbow. “Put a smile on your face and act as casual as you can, we don’t want this joker thinking he’s scaring you.”

Scared was the last thing she was. Mikala was fuming that her happiest night was being tainted by this asshole and his unmitigated hatred.  Surely he wasn’t aware of the mantra ‘Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned’ or a woman being relentlessly fucked with.

Mikala narrowed her eyes. “I’m not scared, Mason, I’m pissed. He has invaded my life for the last fucking time!” she announced, swinging open the door with an academy award winning smile. “Jesse, you made it…”

Electro House Music blared through the air, as lights of every color imaginable flashed across the room and people’s voices strived to be heard over the music. Never the one  to enjoy this kind of music Mason did however enjoy watching sexy little things, in tiny little dresses dance enthusiastically to the beat. A less than gentle poke to the ribs pulled his attention back to Mikala’s side as she made her way behind the bar. She handed Mason a bottle of Samuel Adam’s and he watched as she added two shots of Absolute vodka over ice motioning him to the opposite end of the bar. Playing the crowd, she laughed and joked and Mason never took his eyes off of her or anyone who approached her. Whether it was a male or female, he scrutinized them, watching their body language for any signs of aggression, any attempts to get too close.

Mason stood off to the side of the dance floor with Chase who was left holding their drinks, when Eden grabbed Mikala pulling her onto the dance floor. Mason watched her body gyrate to the rhythm of the music, she was in her element lost in the melody. He wished for a moment that they were home and she was lost in him, lost in their quiet rhythm while all he could hear was the sound of her cries as he made her cum.

“It’s good to see them happy again,” Chase said. “You think she liked her surprise?”

Mason’s head spun in Chase’s direction. “You knew, how the fuck? Was it you?” He looked at Chase confused.

“What are you talking about?” Chase asked. “Was what me?”

“What are you talking about?” Mason countered.

“The new sign out front,” Chase’s brows knit together. “Did something go down I should know about?”

“Mik got a delivery. We think her stalker may have been here tonight. He could still be here.”

Chase’s eyes wildly searched the room as if a spotlight was going to suddenly appear and point him out in the crowd of hundreds. All well dressed, no one stood out and certainly no one setting off alarm bells because they didn’t fit in, he turned and scowled at Mason.

“Take a pill I’m on it, every camera is rolling and I have men throughout the place.” Mason said.

“You should take her home,” Chase suggested.

Mason laughed a fully belly roar, patting Chase on the shoulder. “Maybe
you’d
like to make that suggestion to Mik? I’ll call the fucking ambulance to meet you at the door when she’s finished with you.”

Mikala and Eden suddenly stilled on the dance floor, an angry expression on Mikala’s face. Mikala shook her head giving Mason a thumb up signal when he stepped forward. Eden wrapped her arms around Mikala’s neck. Taking her by the hand they walked over to the corner where the DJ was located. The boys followed but kept a distance.

“I’m not leaving. This asshole isn’t driving me away from my own club. I’ve worked most of my life to get to this moment. I put everything I had into this, all my blood, sweat and tears. Every fucking dime I had. This place is my world, without it I have nothing. I’m staying and fighting.” Mikala was sick and tired of being told to hide away every time the going got tough. Like a lioness protecting her cubs, she was determined to protect what was hers. Come hell or high water, no one was making her leave tonight.

“That’s my girl,” Mason said, wrapping a strong arm around her waist, only to have her pull free.

“I’m not your girl, Mason. Quit fucking around,” she snarled, the smile instantly peeling from his face.

“Sorry,” Mason said, dropping his eyes to the floor with a pained guise. “I need to check on something. Chase, keep an eye on things for me?” He walked away before anything could be said.

“That was cruel,” Eden scolded Mikala. “The man is doing everything he can to make things right and this is how you treat him? I hate to say it, Mik, but you’re truly being a bitch. One time when you need him most, you’re going to turn around and he’s going to be gone, just how much shit do you think he’s going to take?”

“I already needed him and he was gone, I got over it and I’ll get over it again!” she yelled, struggling to be heard over the racket and storming off toward her office.

Chase held back when Eden grabbed onto his arm. “Let her go, give her a moment alone. She’s safe in her office, we can watch from here.”

The slam of her office door was barely audible among the background din, but once closed inside the room the noise was muffled to a dull roar. Mikala sat at her desk taking the shadowbox frame from the gift box to look at it. Smiling, she touched her fingers to the picture of the little face, so perfect, so beautiful. Her heart tugged as she fought back a threatening tear.

Totally unaware of her surroundings as she lovingly admired Charlie, she gasped when a shadow draped over the desk from behind. The frame dropped from her hands with a clatter. Attempting to stand, a hand clamped onto her shoulder forcing her to sit with an uncomfortable thud.

“Stay where you are, my love,” the masculine voice whispered. “You like your gift?”

Terror took the sound from her voice before she could make it, compelling her to sit silent.  Remembering Mason telling her to be aware of her surroundings, to always pay attention to the things around her, she immediately regretted this one careless moment that she had let down her guard.

She detected the smell of fine leather and heavily musk scented cologne. The necessity to see who stood at her back caused her to turn her head ever so slightly. Two gloved hands grasped either side of her head holding it in place as he whispered into her ear, “Do not force me to hurt you, my love. I do not want to see any harm come to you.”

She closed her eyes tight. “What do you want?” she choked, through tight vocal cords, as the fear she said she was over, took hold again.

“In time I will have what I want. Cooperate and nothing more need happen.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” she blurted, annoyed at the prim and proper way he spoke.

A British voice would have suited his words more, they seemed almost wrong coming from an American accent. He was trying too hard and it only made him come off phony, bogus. The cleverness he was trying for only made him appear inept.

It was the whispered tone he used that frightened her; it had an eerie darkness clouding it.

His hand closed over her mouth, her nostrils flared to pull in air, the strong smell of his leather glove permeating her nostrils, she felt ill, her stomach nearly heaving.

“Ladies do not talk with such a repellant tongue,” he warned, still talking in a soft but stern whisper.

“Fuck you!” she roared, the moment he removed his hand, only to receive a hard slap against the side of her face. “Asshole!” she roared again, as pain seared her flesh and she attempted to get to her feet quite ready to tear his fool head off.

He held her in a choke hold, cutting off her air supply, her hands desperately clawing at the sleeves covering his forearms. His hateful whisper came with a growl as he spoke, “If the doors to that den of iniquity open, I will make sure that the entire building comes down this time. There will be nothing to repair, nothing to rebuild and if you have to go with it to make that happen…” He touched his lips to her ear, she tried twisting her head away from his touch. “Then so be it.”

He yanked her to her feet, he was strong. She was surprised given that by the feel of his body against her back, he didn’t seem to be much larger that she was. “Get on your knees,” he growled.

Terrifying visions of what he had in mind had her thrashing about like a caged animal, his fist slammed against her kidney taking her breath away. It was useless to fight him; she had no choice but to surrender to her captor dropping down onto her knees. His foot came up between her shoulders shoving her face first to the floor.

He stood with his foot to her cheek and whispered, “Close your eyes my love and stay where you are. You have tonight.” He circled the desk, as the door handle clicked she opened her eyes seeing his fancy Italian leather shoes from under the desks edge. “By the way, it will not take me long to find out where you are living, nowhere will be safe.”

Bravely she mustered up enough nerve to ask him the question she had been asking herself since the first incident. “Why are you doing this?”

He stepped forward. Mikala took a deep painful breath closing her eyes tightly in fear that he would round the desk and hurt her again. He only took a few steps, but she could feel his stare burning into her. She could open her eyes and know what he looked like, but then what would he do, she asked herself, tightening them more.

“Only fair that you know I suppose.” He stood silent for what felt like a lifetime as her face lay against the cold hardwood, the feeling soothing where he had hit her. “You took from me the only thing I ever loved. You simply must pay.”

Disappearing from the room, he was gone as fast as he appeared. Mikala remained on the floor frozen with fear, unable to move.

***

“Who was that?” Eden asked Chase, after a man in a long black trench coat darted from Mikala’s office, disappearing into the crowd.

“I don’t know. I never saw anyone go in,” Chase replied, pulling his phone from his pocket.

Eden watched as he keyed ‘Creeper’ onto the screen and hit send. “Come on,” he said, taking her hand weaving through the crowds to the office door.

Funny enough, Chase knocked before turning the handle to find it locked. As Chase fumbled with his keys, Mason joined them, his face white trying to catch his breath.