by Suzanne Rock
“Good-bye, Deacon.”
Deacon chuckled and left the room, closing the door behind him. Jason let out a long breath as he realized he was alone once more. He didn’t like his brother’s line of questioning. The man was too astute when it came to Ari. The sooner he got rid of his big brother, the better.
Jason pressed a button and picked up the phone on his desk. “Well, well, to what do I owe this pleasure?”
Chapter 9
Ari dragged her suitcase along the cement floor of the Stone Suites parking garage and toward the employee entrance. Along the way, she once again caught sight of Jason’s sports cars. As she slid her gaze over the luxury vehicles and settled on the McLaren, she remembered how wonderful it had felt to ride with Jason out past the city, letting the wind flow through her hair as they sped down the highway. Jason had looked comfortable behind the wheel, and incredibly handsome. She smiled as she remembered how she had manipulated him into letting her drive the car. The calm, cool, and collected persona he showed the world had completely disappeared. It was kind of nice.
Ari slipped through the door and dragged her suitcase down the long hallway to the elevator doors.
“I’ve seen you somewhere before.” A low baritone rose up from behind her as she waited.
Ari jerked around to see a tall, sandy-haired man next to her. At first she thought it was Jason, but the man’s hair was too long, his face too narrow.
“Who are you?”
“A friend.” He took a step closer. “The more interesting question is, who are you?”
“No one.” Ari turned back toward the elevator and silently willed it to hurry.
“Oh, I think that you’re someone, someone very important.”
The elevator doors swung open, and Ari picked up her suitcase.
“Do you always sneak into Stone Suites, Arianna Perconti, or only when your brothers are searching for you?”
She stopped, letting the elevator doors slide closed, and put her suitcase down in the hallway. “What do you want?”
The man smiled in triumph as he took a step closer. “I want to know why my brother would risk so much to be with a spoiled hotel heiress.”
Jason has a brother? He had never told her about a brother before. Arianna was determined not to let her confusion or fear show. She crossed her arms and dragged her gaze over his lithe frame. “You should learn to mind your own business.”
“Oh, but you see, this is my business.” He took another step forward, forcing her to take a step back. “Anything that interests my brother interests me.”
Fear rippled through Ari as she took another step back and bumped into the wall. Glancing around the hall, she noticed that they were alone. “You should talk to him, then.”
“Oh, I did.” He closed the rest of the distance and put his forearm on the wall behind her, next to her head. “I talked to him at some length.” He crouched down until he was at eye level with her. “You see, Jason is aloof and cold, even with his own family.” He slid his finger down the side of her cheek. Ari recoiled and pressed her back harder against the wall. “He prides himself on having control in every aspect of his life, but with you … you have managed to get past his walls.”
“Jason and I are just having fun.”
“Fun.” He tilted his head to the side. “Did you know that I came here looking for a place to stay, and he offered me his hotel, but not his apartment?”
“He didn’t?”
“No, Jason keeps his past and his private life closely guarded. No one can ever enter his apartment except his cleaning staff … and it seems, the younger sister of his strongest competition.” He hooked his finger under her chin and lifted her head to meet his gaze. “What is it about you, Ms. Perconti, that makes my brother forget the principles he grew up with? What is it that causes him to let you in but shut me out?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She tried to jerk her head out of his grasp, but he held firm.
He tilted his head and shifted his gaze to her mouth. “Oh, I think you do.” He leaned forward until only a sliver of air separated their lips. “Yes, you do.” He dropped his hands and took a step back. “You might entertain him now, Ms. Perconti, but blood is thicker than water. Soon, you shall see where his true loyalties lie.”
“Get away from me.” Ari hit the button for the elevator once more as the man adjusted his bomber jacket.
“If you wish to entrap my brother, Ms. Perconti, you better do it quickly. Your time is running out.” He took out his sunglasses and slipped them over his eyes. “Now, if you’ll excuse me. I think I’ll go for a ride.”
Ari watched him go out the side door toward the garage. Within moments, she heard the roar of a motorcycle engine and saw his retreating form drive out of the garage and into the street.
Jason had a brother? Ari blinked as she realized that not only did she not know anything about the guy who had just assaulted her in the hallway, but she knew nothing about Jason’s past. For months she had told him about her family, her charity, and her problems, but he had shared nothing in return.
Sabrina’s words echoed through her head. He’s using you. Ari didn’t want it to be true, but she had to consider the possibility. If Jason thought that he could just use her and then toss her aside, then he had another think coming.
* * *
“You know why I’m calling, Stone,” Leo said.
Jason tightened his grip on the receiver. “I do?”
“Where’s my sister?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m not a fool. I know you have her. Now, send her home where she belongs.”
“Ever consider the possibility that she doesn’t want to go home?”
“That’s ridiculous. Why wouldn’t she want to come home? She can’t possibly want to stay there with you.”
And what was that supposed to mean, that he wasn’t good enough for Ari? Jason tightened his jaw to keep from yelling. Leo was just worried, he told himself. He’d feel the same way if the situation was reversed. “Have you ever listened to her?”
“Of course.”
“I mean really listened to her?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, she doesn’t want to go home because she’s afraid that you’ll control her life.”
“I don’t do that.”
“She doesn’t see it that way.” Jason let out a long breath. “Look, I think she just needs a little time to sort things out.”
“She talked to you, didn’t she?”
“Yes.”
Leo let out a frustrated noise. “What am I doing wrong that she is more comfortable confiding in you than me?”
Jason blinked at the uncharacteristic show of emotion. “Maybe if you had a little more patience.”
Leo snorted. “You don’t have a sister, Stone, do you?”
“No.”
“Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret. They’ll turn you prematurely gray.” After Jason chuckled, Leo continued. “It’s so hard keeping this family together. Sometimes I envy you, Stone.”
“You envy me?”
“You have no one to look after, no one you’re responsible for but yourself. It must be so freeing.”
Jason stared at the phone, not quite believing what he was hearing. For so long he had been jealous of Leo and his large family. Now he was hearing that Leo was jealous of him. It was difficult to wrap his head around the knowledge.
“She loves you, Leo, she just wants to be her own woman.”
Leo sighed. “I know. I just wish I knew how to get out of this mess.”
Jason’s heart softened. He didn’t have a sister, but he had a brother, and he knew how difficult navigating a sibling relationship could be.
“I could try talking to her,” he offered.
“I’d appreciate that, Stone. I just want her home where she belongs.”
“I understand.”
“Anyway, Ari wasn’t t
he only reason why I was calling.”
“It wasn’t?”
“Perconti Enterprises will be pulling out of Asia.”
“But you have so many hotels.”
“I know that you’ve been trying to build a presence there, so I wanted you to have first opportunity to take them. If you want.”
“I—I don’t know what to say. Are you sure?”
“Very. We can no longer afford to be so spread out. We must consolidate our efforts and focus on our image.”
“How much are you looking to get for them?”
“Name your price, Stone, and they’re yours.”
“You’re kidding.”
“I wish I were.”
“Well, I’ll have to have my people look into it.”
“Of course. Just fax over an offer to my offices and I’ll have my team set up the paperwork.”
“No haggling?”
“No haggling.”
“What’s the catch?”
Leo chuckled. “Not everyone is like you,” he said. “Everything doesn’t have to have an angle.”
They said their good-byes, and as Jason hung up the phone, he let out a long breath. Talking to Leo had always required him to be at the top of his game. One slipup, and the Perconti patriarch would eat him alive.
This conversation had been different, however. Leo seemed to have lost a lot of his fight. The long-term potential of expanding his holdings in Asia was too good to pass up. Leo knew this. It was the one place where he held a strong advantage. It must have been why he said it was for sale. He knew that Jason wouldn’t be able to resist.
The deal was perfect, but it felt wrong. Jason lived for the haggling and strategic posturing that often accompanied business transactions. By offering what Jason wanted most and accepting Jason’s ridiculously low price, Leo had managed to take all of the enjoyment out of doing business.
Jason stood up from his desk and walked over to the window as he sorted through all of the information he had learned over the past few days. He wondered what Ari would think of him when he told her that Leo wanted him to purchase part of her family’s empire. Taking future income from her family would be a strain on their relationship, but Ari was also a better businesswoman than her brothers gave her credit for. She’d see that Leo needed the cash in the short term in order to meet his creditors and keep his investors satisfied.
She was a sensible businesswoman, but part of him wondered if she’d have hard feelings from seeing him profit over her family’s loss. The past few weeks had been hard on her and her family, and purchasing these hotels wasn’t going to play out well in the media. He didn’t want her to suffer more than she already had.
Jason shook his head and made a low sound of disgust. Since when did he make a business decision based on the feelings of a woman? Leo wanted him to have these hotels, had practically given them to Jason for free. He’d be a fool not to capitalize on such an opportunity.
Unless … unless Leo had some ulterior motive. Perhaps there was more wrong with those hotels than he’d let on. Perhaps Leo wasn’t giving him an advantage in Asia, but a money pit that would drain his resources and give Leo a chance to build up his holdings in Europe.
The idea was a long shot, but not impossible. Jason would have to question Ari about those hotels.
He started to leave, but noticed the unopened envelope Deacon had given him. His brother had certainly seemed interested in it and the rest of his unopened correspondence. Frowning, Jason grabbed the envelope, ripped it open, and pulled out three thin sheets of paper.
One was a photo of him and Deacon, arguing in the front foyer of his hotel. He immediately dismissed it. The photo had been taken in a public place. It only managed to prove that he had talked to Deacon, not that Deacon was his brother.
The second photo was of him and Ari, eating chicken wings and drinking beer.
Jason’s chest squeezed as he stared at the photo of them together. Ari was smiling at him with those gorgeous lips, and he looked about two seconds away from sweeping the food onto the floor and having sex with her on the tabletop.
Knowing that someone was spying on them at the restaurant made him furious. Jason had specifically chosen that place because it was out of the way. If they couldn’t have a casual meal, then where could they go?
His hand shook as he looked at the third sheet. It wasn’t a photo, but a note. Give us what is precious to us, and we won’t take what’s precious to you. The note wasn’t signed, but it didn’t take a sleuth to figure out who it was from.
Ari. If Jason didn’t give that Vegas loan shark the money, they’d take both Deacon and Ari away from him. He crumpled the three sheets in his hand and tossed them in the trash. He could never tell Ari that they were being watched, and he could never let her out of his sight. Helping Leo get her home would have to wait. Things were far too dangerous.
Hell, he hadn’t seen Ari since leaving her in the parking garage. For all he knew, those bastards could already have her.
Something cold seized Jason’s chest. Determined, he poked his head outside his office.
“Have you seen anyone asking for me?” he asked his assistant, Michaela.
Micki stared up at him over her dark-rimmed glasses. “No, should I have?”
He shook his head. “No matter.” He stepped outside his office and closed the door. “I need to go out for a little while and run an errand. Hold all calls.”
“Yes, Mr. Stone.”
Worried, he made his way to the downstairs foyer, sliding his cell out from his suit jacket pocket.
Where r u? he texted Deacon.
He waited for a response but nothing came. He thought back to those pictures in his office, and the warning they represented.
On my way to a job interview, Deacon finally responded.
Jason let out a sigh of relief. At least his brother was safe. You need to come here, Jason texted back. We need to talk.
Is this about your girlfriend?
Sort of.
I knew she was behind those pictures.
Jason frowned at the screen. What are you talking about?
I knew that she was spying on you for her brothers. Those Percontis would do anything for each other.
Jason blinked at the screen. He had never considered the possibility that Ari might be manipulating him. The idea seemed plausible, especially considering that he was planning on using her as well. Could it be possible that she was behind all of these photographs?
Got to run, bro, Deacon texted. I’ll be by after the interview.
OK.
He tried to clamp down on his rising worry as he stopped in front of the kiosk in the foyer.
“Has anyone been looking for me?” he asked.
“Like who?” a tall, leggy blonde asked. He recognized the woman who had first told him about the envelope yesterday.
“Short woman, dark hair, olive skin…”
The woman thought for a moment. “No, I don’t think so.”
He glanced at her name tag. “Thanks Keira.” He hurried over to the elevators. Where was she?
When the elevator doors opened, Jason fought down his surprise at seeing Ari standing with her suitcase in the corner. “Jason.”
“Ari.” Relief washed over him as he realized she was safe. He went to hug her, but her embrace felt cold and clinical. Reluctantly, he moved away.
“What is it?” He stared at her features, looking for any sign of betrayal. He hated to think that she had visited her brother and told him insider information about Jason’s company, but he had to consider the possibility.
“Did you go to the Palazzo?”
“What? No. I had Camille bring my suitcase to Sabrina’s. I met her there. In fact, I was just going up to the room to get the last of my things before meeting you in the lobby.”
He searched her face. “You met your brothers somewhere else, then.” Leo was using her to learn Stone Suites’ secrets. It was what he would have done, and the onl
y logical explanation for her behaving so oddly.
She frowned up at him. “What are you talking about?”
He was such a fool. He should have seen this day coming when he first saw Ari at that charity event. For months she had been working her way into his heart so that she could learn all about his company, his plans to outplay Leo, and report back to her brother.
Knowing that she had beaten him at his own game made him sick to his stomach. “You went to speak to your brothas and tell them about my stretched finances.” God, he was fucking losing his shit. He knew better than to think with his heart. Business decisions based on emotion were never wise.
“I don’t know anything about your finances. Jason, you’re not making any sense. I did exactly as you asked. I got my suitcase and came right back.”
Jason gripped the railing of the elevator to keep from throttling her. “So you deny that this is some elaborate con designed to steal my customer base?”
“You’re overtired and not thinking clearly,” she said.
“You saw the remodeling—”
“Every hotel undergoes remodeling. It means nothing. What has gotten into you?”
She was right, of course. Ari couldn’t possibly know what they were doing next door. Upgrading the honeymoon suites to install Jacuzzis and Italian marble tubs was only the beginning. Jason was planning on building a giant balcony onto each of the rooms, giving honeymooning couples a panoramic view of Boston Harbor while maintaining privacy. All of the luxuries in each room would be operated by remote control, and the entire system would be hooked up to an internal Wi-Fi so that people could not only check in and out in complete privacy, but they could order room service, extra towels, and kinky movies, all at the press of a button.
The epitome of luxury, privacy, and convenience. To say that Ari’s wedding had inspired the idea would be wrong. Yes, the timing of these renovations had coincided with her wedding, and yes, he’d even fantasized about giving her a personal and private tour of one of the suites, but the decision had been purely business. The honeymoon industry is a multibillion-dollar industry. It only made sense for him to capitalize on it.
He rubbed his brow. God, he was so fucking tired. Accusing Ari of going behind his back proved just how tired he was.
