Crime & Punishment 2: Master Delacroix

by Trista Ann Michaels

  “Don’t know that either, but they usually accompany these latest visions.”

  “These visions?” Daniel asked as he took the empty spot next to him on the couch. “This isn’t the first one?”

  The muscle in Nathan’s cheek jerked. “No.”

  His brother stared at him with concern. “How long?”

  “They started the day I met Connelly.” He narrowed his eyes at his brother. “You arrived that day too.”

  Daniel frowned. “Do you think they might have something to do with either of us?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You don’t see the future, or at least you didn’t used to, so what is this?”

  Nathan sighed in agitation. Even Josh didn’t ask so many damn questions. “I don’t know, Daniel,” he snapped. He sighed and rubbed his hand across his forehead. “I need a drink.”

  “In a minute,” Daniel replied.

  Nathan dropped his hand and glared again at his brother. “Excuse me?”

  Daniel stared angrily back. “What are you seeing?”

  “Why is it so damn important?”

  “You saw blood on your hands. To me that sounds important. What else did you see?”

  Nathan pursed his lips and silently counted to ten. “Tonight that’s all I saw.” He didn’t tell him about someone screaming his name.

  “What about the others?”

  Nathan raised his hand and started to speak, then dropped it to rest on his thigh with a sigh before trying again. “Lots of disjointed images. Darkness, a gun, a flash of light, then the pain.”

  “Pain?”

  Nathan pointed to his head, and Daniel nodded.

  “Sounds to me like someone is shot.”

  Nathan rubbed the back of his neck. He initially thought the same thing. “The visions don’t always work that way. The images might not even be related in time but related to a specific person.”

  “Meaning?”

  “Meaning, the image of the gun and the flash of light may not be the same event. The problem with this is they feel different. I don’t see the future. I never have, but that’s what these feel like. I get the impression it’s an oncoming event that changes slightly with each…play, for lack of a better word. Sort of like a movie trailer, but each one has minor differences.”

  “Do you think you can change what’s coming?” Daniel asked.

  “Maybe. If I can figure out what it is and who it’s connected to.”

  For all Nathan knew, it could be anyone. It just seemed odd to him that it had all started about the same time Daniel and Connelly had arrived.

  “Do me a favor,” Nathan began. “Find John. He’s the tall guy in the tux—the only one with a mustache. Tell him to close up for me. I had a migraine and decided to call it a night.”

  Daniel nodded. “I can help him with that. Just tell me what to do.”

  Nathan shook his head. “John knows what to do. Offer to help and he’ll show you the ropes.”

  Daniel narrowed his eyes. “You’re not driving, are you?”

  “No, I keep a few things in the guesthouse out back. I’ll stay there tonight.”

  What he didn’t tell his brother was that he stayed there most nights. He very seldom went to his downtown condo anymore. It was the one he’d shared with Trish. As much as he hated to, he really needed to sell it and buy another. He needed to move on. It was time. He’d said his good-byes, made his peace with her murder and his guilt. She would always hold a place in his heart, but she was gone, and he needed to continue to live. She would want it that way.

  As he stood, he glanced down at his brother. “I don’t think I ever asked. Where are you staying?”

  “The condo Dad keeps downtown. Why?”

  Nathan gave a small shrug. “Just curious.”

  “I’ll come back and check on you tomorrow.”

  He could hear the worry in Daniel’s voice. Despite all their arguments and misunderstandings, they were brothers, and they both loved the other. They always would.

  “Just make it after ten,” Nathan grumbled as he headed down the hall and out the back door toward the guesthouse.

  * * * *

  Connelly walked into the kitchen feeling tired and strung out. She’d been up until four in the morning typing everything into her computer—her impressions of the club, her emotions, her reactions. She’d masturbated before going to sleep, the whole time picturing Nathan and those intense, seductive eyes.

  He’d been gentle and careful, even going so far as to warn his brother about the wax. His ability to read her was… Well, it was incredibly creepy in a way and, at the same time, so incredibly erotic. She reached for a coffee cup, causing her robe to rub across her still-sensitive nipple. She winced and then practically gasped aloud at the wave of heat that washed over her, making her horny all over again.

  “There you are. Finally,” Peter said as he strolled into the kitchen.

  She smiled at him over her shoulder as she poured coffee into her cup. “Thanks for making fresh coffee.”

  “Not a problem.”

  He sat on one of the stools at the kitchen island and slid his cup across it for her to add coffee. “I figured after last night you would need it. How was it, by the way?”

  She slid his cup back to him and set the carafe on the granite. “I don’t even know where to start. You should see this place, Peter. Red walls, Goth accents, black chandeliers. It screams vampires.”

  Peter chuckled as he lifted his cup to take a sip.

  “People have sex anywhere and everywhere. Women and men are getting spanked, mildly tortured. It’s incredibly hot.”

  “So, did you find someone to ring your bell?” Peter asked with a grin.

  She smiled. “Two, actually.”

  Peter set his cup down. “You didn’t.”

  She laughed and shook her head. “Yes and no. I didn’t have sex, but Master Delacroix and his brother did give me a sampling of a few things. Together.”

  “Like?” Peter asked, rolling his hand for her to continue. “Details, girl. I want details.”

  “Spanking and wax play.”

  Peter’s lips formed a silent O, and his eyes went wide, making Connelly giggle. “You’re going back, right?”

  She winced and stared down at her cup. “I don’t know. It was incredibly hot, and I’ve never in my life had an orgasm like it, but…”

  “Connelly, I think it’s time you moved on. Your husband wouldn’t want you to be alone.”

  “I know, and it’s not that. For the first time in my life, I feel comfortable. I can take care of myself. I can do what I want and not have to adjust my life to someone else’s schedule. Sounds selfish, I know, but Nathan—Master Delacroix—although he was incredibly gorgeous and insanely knowledgeable about how to get a woman off, is also very intimidating and comes with as much baggage as I do. I doubt I could go to the club and not moon after the guy. Even if I tried to sub for someone else, I would always be watching him, wondering. There’s just something about him, and I think it’s best if I don’t go back.”

  Peter sighed, “Connelly, that’s just—”

  “Did you know his fiancée was killed by the same man who attacked me?”

  Peter’s eyes widened in shock. “What?”

  “He was the forensic profiler who came on to the case after my attack. The killer went after his girlfriend because he got too close.”

  “So you have something in common.”

  “I’m not sure the loss of our loves is really what I would want to have in common. I know Marvin wasn’t the love of my life, but I did love him. He was good to me and supportive. We were comfortable. For all I know, she was the love of his life, and I would not want to compete with that ghost. Besides, the man is so damn far out of my league it isn’t even funny. Gorgeous guys never see me as a girlfriend; they see me as a girl friend. Thinking I could never be more to him than a quick fuck is only a road to heartache.”

  Peter gave her a look th
at clearly said he didn’t like her sudden insecurity. Most of the time, she wasn’t insecure. She was a realist. She knew what she was and had accepted it a long time ago. She was pretty, but she was older. Men her age wanted twentysomethings, not late thirties. Nathan looked to be in his forties, but guys who looked like him wanted that young eye candy on their arms.

  As she stared at her coffee, she wondered what his fiancée had looked like. Was she blonde? Brunette? Young? Sighing, she turned and added more coffee to her cup. It was stupid to even go there. Period. It didn’t matter what she’d looked like or what she’d meant to him. They didn’t have a future. She’d gone to the club, gotten what she needed, and now it was time to move on.

  * * * *

  Daniel stood just inside the double doors that led to the playroom and stared at the now empty scenes. The room had been cleaned, the chairs turned upside down onto tabletops, the antique bar polished till it glistened in the early-morning light that shone through the open shutters.

  Last night, the club had been bustling with energy and erotic atmosphere. After spending an evening here, watching the scenes, flirting with the submissives, and even participating in Nathan’s scene, he’d come to the conclusion there was more to this lifestyle than he’d expected.

  He’d really enjoyed the wax play, watching Connelly as she’d reacted to the hot wax hitting her skin. He had a better understanding of why Nathan enjoyed inflicting moderate pain. It was hot as hell.

  He was seriously considering starting one of these in New York. He snorted softly. Wouldn’t that just make his dad proud as punch?

  He heard the back door to the club close and assumed Nathan was finally up and headed to his office. He turned away from the playroom and strolled down the hall. He smiled at Dee as he walked past and into his brother’s office. “Nathan, we need to talk.”

  “Not right now. I have a meeting,” he mumbled as he rummaged through his desk drawer, looking for something. “Dee? Have you seen the keys to the Jag?”

  “Yeah, sweetheart. They’re where you always keep them. On the hook by the door.”

  Nathan sighed and glanced over at the wall. He spotted the keys and scowled.

  “Still have a headache?” Daniel asked.

  “Unfortunately,” Nathan replied as he walked over and angrily snatched the keys from the hook.

  Obviously his brother had gotten little sleep last night.

  “When will you be back?” Daniel asked.

  “Whenever the hell I get back,” Nathan snapped as he left the office and headed down the hall.

  Daniel frowned. Dee had a very concerned look on her face as she watched him leave.

  “I’m worried about him,” she said. “Something’s wrong.”

  “He’s having visions he can’t decipher; plus they’re giving him headaches. I think they’re really starting to freak him out.”

  “That’s not good. The last time he had visions that had this kind of effect on him, it was…”

  “It was what, Dee?” Daniel pushed.

  “It was when he connected with the serial killer. The one who killed Trish.”

  Daniel raised an eyebrow. “He what?”

  Dee frowned. “You didn’t know? He had an empathic connection with the killer. There was a stretch he didn’t sleep for days until he figured out how to block them. Oh, Lord. I hope he’s not picking up on another one.”

  “Yeah,” Daniel said as he leaned against the doorjamb and crossed his arms over his chest. “Do me a favor, Dee. Block out some time on Nathan’s schedule for me.”

  “For what?” she asked.

  “I need to talk to him about Dad.” Although with these visions, Daniel wasn’t sure it was the right time. Unfortunately, time wasn’t something they had a lot of.

  “Daniel. You know your dad is not a subject Nathan likes to—”

  “He’s dying, Dee.”

  Dee sighed. “Oh, dear.”

  “They have to work this out.”

  “Does your father know you’re here?”

  “No. This was mine and Mom’s idea.”

  Dee frowned with worry. “So you don’t even know if your dad wants this.”

  “The man keeps a picture of Nathan in his desk drawer. I caught him looking at it last week with tears in his eyes. When I walked in, he quickly hid it, but I had already seen him through the crack in the side door. I know Dad was an ass, but—”

  “He called Nathan a freak.”

  “I know he did. I was there.”

  “Nathan believes he meant it.”

  “Nathan picked up on an emotion that was felt in the heat of an argument.”

  Dee shook her head. “He’d picked up on that emotion long before then, Daniel. Did he not ever tell you that?”

  Daniel frowned. “No.”

  “Then perhaps the two of you do need to talk.”

  * * * *

  With a tired sigh, Nathan found his brother by the pool stretched out in one of the lounge chairs. Nathan stood over his brother and blocked the sun. Daniel opened his eyes and looked up at him.

  “I owe you an apology,” Nathan said. “I was a bit of an ass this morning.”

  Daniel’s lips twitched. “You were, but apology accepted.”

  Nathan moved to sit in the chair next to his brother. With his elbows resting on his knees, he stared down at his clasped hands. “Why are you here, Daniel?” Nathan raised his gaze and met Daniel’s. “Really?”

  “Dad’s dying. Lung cancer.”

  Nathan drew in a sharp breath.

  “He’s got a few months at most.”

  Nathan lowered his head and rubbed his temples. He wasn’t sure how to take any of this. He and his father always had their differences, but he was still his dad, and deep down, he still loved him. “How’s Mom handling it?”

  “She’s worried about you.”

  Nathan lifted his head. “Me? Why?”

  “She’s afraid Dad’s going to die and you guys still won’t be on speaking terms.”

  With a sigh, Nathan turned and stretched his legs out along the lounge. “Dad has made it more than clear how he feels about me.”

  “I was there the day of the big blowup, but is there something else you’re not telling me?”

  “There was another one after that. I make him uncomfortable. He told me to leave. That’s when I went to the FBI.”

  Daniel frowned. “He told you to leave?”

  Nathan nodded. “Accept it, Daniel. I called Dad on his shit one too many times. Living with me was like living with a lie detector, and he refused to do it any longer. I was interfering in his business and had to go.”

  Daniel scowled. “You’re not serious.”

  “I’m dead serious.”

  “He never said he kicked you out.” Daniel swung his legs around and put his feet on the hot concrete. “He said you left.”

  Nathan didn’t say anything. He wasn’t sure what to say. Even if he went and talked to his dad, what good would it do? As far as Nathan was concerned, their relationship was beyond repair.

  “Considering the man was trying to get Delfy into bed with the mob, does it surprise you?” Nathan murmured. He held his brother’s gaze. “And are you sure he hasn’t done it anyway now that I’m not there to stay one step ahead of him?”

  Daniel’s eyes narrowed. “Surely he wouldn’t be that stupid.”

  With a shrug of his shoulder, Nathan remained silent. Their dad wanted power, and what better way to get that power than to align himself with the mob? It was a miracle he and Daniel had turned out the way they had. It was most likely their mother’s influence that had kept them out of trouble through the years.

  “When you get home, you might want to check the books closely. Make sure Delfy’s not laundering.”

  “I’ll get someone started on that today. I just have to figure out how without alerting Dad. If he has done it, I would want to know now and not later when the Feds come knocking at the door.”

  “
I would have to agree with you on that one,” Nathan replied drily. ”If you find something, let me know. I’ll get you in touch with Josh. You’ll need him.”

  “Wonderful,” Daniel growled.

  Nathan’s lips twitched. “The joys of dealing with dear old Dad.”

  “What if he regretted what was said?” Daniel asked.

  “He might. I know I do, but that isn’t going to change anything. The damage has already been done, and despite the fact I forgave him a long time ago, that doesn’t mean I want to be across the table from him.”

  “You’re stubborn as hell, do you know that?”

  Nathan snorted. “Been told that my whole life. Why would it change now?” He looked over at his brother and the worry that wrinkled his brow. “So I suppose you can go back to New Orleans now, let Mom know. Or I’ll let her know. It would probably be better coming from me anyway.”

  “You’re just itching to get rid of me, aren’t you?”

  Nathan grinned. “Nah. It’s been kind of nice having you around to take my bad moods out on…like when we were kids.”

  Daniel chuckled. “Would you mind if I stuck around for a few more days? This club of yours is interesting.”

  Nathan’s grin widened. “Did the club awaken the Dom inside you?”

  Daniel gave a sideways nod of his head. “Let’s just say I’m intrigued.”

  Nathan’s smile faded. “What about Dad?”

  “Dad and I have made our peace. I just wish I could get the two of you to do the same. If nothing else, Nathan, when the time comes, you should be there for Mom.”

  He nodded in agreement. “I’ll always be there for Mom.”

  Chapter Nine

  Connelly adjusted her sunglasses as she sped down the highway toward the streetlight just ahead. The warm summer sun beat upon her head and shoulders, making her wish she’d remembered to wear sunscreen. Perhaps she shouldn’t have put the top down, but it was such a nice day, she couldn’t resist. After all, what was the point in having a convertible if she never put the top down? The sunburn would fade.

  She yawned and then shook her head, trying to force the fatigue to the back of her mind. She hadn’t slept well last night. She kept thinking about Nathan and the club and fighting how badly she wanted to go back. That spanking and wax play had been like getting a small taste of chocolate. It hadn’t been enough. She wanted more.