by Lola Darling
He starts to move, thrusting easily, carefully.
“I love you.” The words come, low in my ear. “I love you so much.”
Over and over as he thrusts, until we’re moving together and I can’t tell where he ends and I begin. The heat rises again, this time consuming us both, until I break, feeling his shudder as I come apart in his arms.
He settles against me, cradling me in his arms. I feel myself drifting off when Dom’s phone rings.
“Leave it,” I sigh, holding him tightly.
“It might be the hotel.” Grabbing a throw blanket off the bed, he wraps it around his hips and answers the call.
“Uh huh. OK. What does that mean?”
His expression darkens. My heart stops. “Is it Xander?” I whisper, frantic. “Is he OK?”
Dom nods, at me, still talking into his phone. “I can’t talk now. We’ll discuss this later.”
He hangs up, but I can tell something’s wrong. He’s tense and thinking hard.
“Who was that?” I ask.
Dom shakes his head and tries to look reassuring. “Nothing.”
I’m not buying it. Now, I’m worried. “Hey, no more secrets.”
Dom looks conflicted. “That was the police. They’re looking into the accident. Apparently, someone tampered with the brakes on Xander’s car.”
I freeze. “What?”
“They were severed, nearly straight through.” Dom looks grim. “Someone tried to kill you both.”
Chapter Thirty
I insist on heading to the hospital to see Xander. After what we’ve just learned, I need to see he’s OK for myself. Dom doesn’t want me getting out of bed, but I won’t take no for an answer. Soon, we’re heading down the hospital hallway towards his private room.
Flirty laughter greets us as we step inside the door. Xander is sitting up in bed, looking pale and bruised, but he’s got that familiar Rexford smile on his face as he charms his young, attractive nurse.
“It’s terrible you’re not required to wear the little white nurse’s dress anymore.” Xander smirks, leaning in to her. “With the deep neckline and the hem up to here—”
He pauses when he sees us come into the room. “And here comes the party! Join us, please. I’ve been bored as hell on my own. And you know what happens to idle hands.” He winks at the nurse, who blushes.
“Your brother is recovering well,” she tells Dom.
“Sure I am, I’m the model patient.” Xander folds his arms behind his head. “I’ll be back on my feet in no time. Or on my back.” His gesture is exaggeratedly casual, but I catch a wince.
“You don’t need to pretend with us,” I scold him, going to sit by the bed. “You’ve been through hell.”
“And I kept on going,” Xander says, but he lets the smile drop. “And it turns out, I have you to thank for that. The medics say you dragged me out of the car.”
“It was getting kind of toasty in there.” Now it’s my turn to joke. Anything to keep from reliving the nightmare of feeling trapped in the car, desperate to get him out.
“You both were lucky.” Dom’s voice is full of emotion. “It could have been so much worse.”
I shoot him a nervous look. I don’t know how much Xander knows, or what we should tell him. But Xander seems to be filled in. He gives a wry smile.
“Looks like somebody wants one less Rexford on this earth.”
“Do you have any idea who would want to hurt you?” Dom frowns.
“Present company excluded, no idea.”
I inhale sharply, but Dom doesn’t say a word. He’s standing there stiffly, his shuttered expression back. To an outsider – to Xander – it would seem like he doesn’t care about his brother at all. But I know differently. I saw his panic when he thought Xander was hurt. He loves him, but the two of them are too pig-headed and stubborn to say sorry first.
“OK, enough of this!” I exclaim suddenly. “You guys need to bury the hatchet once and for all. And I don’t mean in each other’s back,” I add. I turn to Dom and give him a fierce look. “Xander didn’t come back to steal the hotel out from under you. He just wants to be a part of the family business, too. And Dom would never hurt you,” I add to Xander. “He went out of his mind when he thought you were hurt. He barely left your bedside all night. No matter what else has happened, you guys are brothers. You love each other. So can we please stop fighting like this and just make up?”
There’s silence. For a moment, I think I’ve pushed them too far. These guys are proud. Shit, maybe I’m just making this worse.
Then Dom clears his throat, and slowly approaches the bed. He extends a hand formally. “Thank you for looking after Juliet.”
“Don’t give me that.” Xander rolls his eyes, then pulls Dom down into a hug. They slap each other’s backs gruffly, the way guys do.
I let out a huge sigh of relief.
“Well, isn’t this the happy family?” Lillian’s voice comes from the doorway. She looks amused. “I’m glad you’re all in one piece.”
Dom’s tense expression returns. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I called her.” I say. “Somebody tried to kill Xander and I. We need to figure this out – all of us.”
He scowls. “You’re asking me to trust a woman with Lilian’s track record?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Lillian actually looks offended.
“You set me up to claim half my shares in the Rexford. Who says you don’t want to increase that proportion?”
“Are you seriously accusing me of attempted murder?” Lillian’s voice rises. “I didn’t hire the guy who took pictures of you and Juliet. The tape and pictures arrived anonymously at my office. I’ve no idea who did it.”
“Wait, what?” I frown. “If you didn’t set up the honey trap, then who did?”
“I don’t know!”
There’s a pause as we all process this news. Lillian continues. “Once I saw the evidence, I had to use it. You never let me have anything to do with the hotel before. It was so damn important to you. I figured I’d see what all the fuss was about. Controlling shares aren’t that much fun, honestly.”
Lillian decided she’d try and run a multi-million dollar hotel because she was bored? I remember what she said about Dominic never letting her in. This was her way of seeing inside his private world—maybe a little inside him, too.
“So who did this?” I ask, thinking hard. “They knew it would make Dom crazy, and split him and Xander even further apart.”
“And make Lillian happy,” Xander adds. “And put the future of the Rexford in jeopardy.”
There’s only one person who would stand to gain from all of that.
Dom’s eyes narrow as a slow rage washes over his beautiful face. “Blaine Prescott.”
“You’re right!” I turn to Lillian, recalling the restaurant incident. “Blaine was spitting mad when you turned him down. After you left with Xander, I thought Blaine was going to breathe fire.”
Her face goes pale. “He’s been asking me out forever, but I never took his interest seriously. Even when I was with Dom, he was always hanging around.”
“So he probably thought that once you divorced, the field would be clear.” I think it through. “But nothing changed. And then when he saw you with Xander…” I stop. “Shit. I may have suggested that you and Xander were a thing, after you left. I thought it might help deter Blaine, but…”
Dom places a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “It’s not your fault. A man like that isn’t rational. He’s clearly lost his mind.”
Xander looks grim. “I’ll fucking kill him.”
“Even if it was him, how do we prove it? The police don’t have evidence.” Lillian asks.
“Give me five minutes alone in a room with him, and he’ll talk.” Dom’s face is a mirror of his brother’s rage.
“No.” I tell them both firmly. “Blaine hates you guys, and he’s crazy. You don’t know what he’ll do. He’s already tried
to kill Xander, remember? I’m not having you anywhere near him.”
“Then what?” Dom demands, clearly frustrated.
“We need to trap him into confessing,” I say slowly. “So we can get him brought to justice the right way.”
“Sure,” Lillian rolls her eyes. “He’s just going to tell us everything he’s been doing.”
“Not us,” I realize. “You.”
She blinks.
“You’re the reason he’s been doing all of this.” I see her upset expression, and quickly add, “Not because you asked for any of it. But in his twisted mind, it’s all for you. If anyone’s going to get him to talk, it’ll be you. He probably can’t wait to brag about every evil thing he’s done.”
My mind is going top speed, pulling together a plan that will take that asshole down, and hard. “Call him and make nice on an invitation for drinks at the Rexford. Tell him you’re sorry you turned him down, but you weren’t free to move on. You are now. You’re interested, and you need his help screwing Dominic over.”
“No!” Dom explodes. “I’m not having anyone go near that monster alone.”
“She won’t be alone,” I tell them. “We’ll be right there watching. And we’ll need some kind of recording device, to get the confession on tape…”
“I know a guy,” Xander pipes up.
Dom turns on him. “You can’t seriously agree with this nonsense plan. It’s insanity.”
“And so is letting Blaine walk around another day. Who knows what else he’s planning now his original scheme failed?” Xander’s lips press together determinedly. “And since I’m not much use in this hospital bed right now.”
Lillian gets out her phone. Dom makes to move towards her. “Lillian, I’m ordering you—”
“You don’t get to do that anymore.” Lillian scowls back. “This is my decision, and I won’t let Blaine hurt anyone else because of me.”
Before Dom can stop her, Lillian dials. “Blaine, honey, how are you?” she coos, sweet as honey. “Oh, don’t be silly. I told you, it was just because my schedule was jam-packed. But I’m free for drinks tonight, if you’d like?”
There’s a pause, then she throws in a little giggle. “Can’t wait. See you later!”
She hangs up with a nod. “He’s in.”
I look around. Tonight, it all goes down. We’re going to nail that bastard.
Chapter Thirty-One
Everything is ready.
We’re waiting in a limo outside the Rexford. It’s almost show time and I’m getting more nervous. What if this is a terrible plan, and I’m sending Lillian straight into danger?
“Don’t look so panicked,” she says lightly, as Xander adjusts a tiny recording device hidden in her bra. He insisted on getting released from the hospital for this, but must have reached too far, because she gives his hand a light slap. “Down, boy,” she warns.
He smirks. “Just making sure you’re wired right.”
“Sure you are.”
They’re bantering brightly, but I can tell they’re both nervous. Dom is sitting tense beside me, like he’s about to bolt from the car and slam Blaine against a wall.
“Are you sure it’ll work?” Lillian asks, adjusting the wire.
Xander nods. “My security guy said it was sensitive enough to pick up the barest of whispers. It’s synched into Dom’s extra cell phone, so we’ll be able to hear everything.”
I cringe at the thought of Blaine Prescott getting close enough to me to whisper anything. Poor Lillian. I hope this goes fast, for her sake. I can imagine she’ll need a hot bath and some disinfectant when this is all over.
“Okay, remember to speak clearly.” Dominic reminds her. “Act interested, but not too interested. We don’t want him—”
“For crying out loud, Dominic,” she says sweetly, running a finger down the front of his shirt. “I know how to seduce a man, remember?”
There’s silence. My chest constricts. “Whoops,” she gives me a wink. “Sorry, honey. He’s all yours.”
She grabs her purse and slides out of the limo. Her embroidered blue top is breezy, effectively showing off her spectacular breasts while hiding any sign of the wire. Prescott won’t be able to stay away from her, luckily for us.
We wait a moment, then Dominic and I slip inside and sit in the shadows in the back of the room. There’s a risk Blaine will see us, but Dom wouldn’t take the chance of leaving Lillian alone with him. Lillian is at the bar, waiting. Blaine enters. We see him talking to her, but can’t hear anything.
“Damn it,” Dom scowls. “Why isn’t the mic working?” He looks like he’s about to bolt over there.
“Give her a second.”
Suddenly, the app on his phone lights up and scratchy audio starts to play.
Blaine’s smarmy voice comes through. “Oh my God, you look ah-mazing.”
“Of course I do, but thank you,” she quips lightly. “How’s life at the Prescott group? Tell me it’s not as dull as over here. God, all these meetings. It could drive a girl crazy.”
Blaine chuckles. “I let other people do the boring work. It’s called delegating.”
“You’re so smart. Honestly, I don’t know why Dom runs around when he could just sit back and cash the checks like you.”
I start to relax. “She knows how to handle him.”
“Lillian always had a gift for wrapping men around her little finger.” There’s a faint note of bitterness in Dom’s voice. I look over. He exhales. “It’s in the past,” he says, smiling at me. He takes my hand and brings it to his lips. “Everything worked out the way it was supposed to, my love.”
My heart leaps to hear him say it.
“You mean aside from the crazy stalker guy trying to get us killed,” I point out, smiling.
He chuckles. “Aside from that.”
Dom’s cell phone rings, and he curses when he sees the number. “It’s the Paris financial officer. I’ve been expecting his call.” He pauses, looking back at Lillian and Blaine. They’re still at the bar, and Lillian is flirting up a storm.
“And did you see Bunny and Bex in Aspen last year?”
“Take it,” I tell him. “They’ll be a while.”
“OK. Just keep listening in and call me if something goes down.”
He exits the bar through the back door, and I turn my attention back to Lillian and Blaine. He’s leaning so close to her that I can hear his heavy breathing coming through the wire. Barf. To her credit, Lillian lets him practically drool on her.
“I saw Xander at the hospital today,” she says. Blaine coughs.
“He said the brakes were cut on his little sports car. Honestly, I’m a little sad that someone beat me to it.”
What is she doing? She’s not supposed to push him like this!
“Really?” His voice is neutral, but I detect a spark of interest. Lillian plays it up by tapping his arm with her finger.
“I thought I’d be satisfied when I took Dominic’s shares from him. But then Xander showed up, and I know it’s only a matter of time before I have competition.”
“I thought you and Xander were a thing?”
She laughs. “Please. He’s inconvenient. Both the Rexfords are, wouldn’t you agree?”
I’m fuming over here. She’s supposed to be subtle, not so obvious! What if Blaine figures out this is a ruse?
“Sure, they’re annoying, but I’ll crush them both in time.”
Blaine isn’t taking the bait.
Lillian leans in closer. “I know you sent me the video of Dominic fucking that little intern.”
Holy shit! She’s going for the jugular. Panic curls up inside me, and I desperately wish Dominic would get back. What if she tips Blaine off, if she makes him suspicious?
“Admit it, and let me thank you properly,” Lillian coos.
Oh no. Here comes the seductive charm. Blaine takes both her wrists in his hands and moves so their knees are touching. She looks slightly alarmed, but recovers with a sugar-coated
smile. “When I’m done thanking you, we can talk about getting rid of Xander for good this time.”
“Upstairs.” Blaine slides off his stool. “Let’s continue this conversation in private.”
“You got a room?”
He’s so close to her now, she’s probably drowning in his nasty cologne. “There’s only one way I imagined this evening ending, Lillian. Of course I got a room.”
Ugh.
Lillian gently pulls her hands away from him and remains seated. “It’s a shame to waste good scotch. Would you like another?”
There’s a razor-sharp pause. I imagine the doubt going through Blaine’s head, and we haven’t gotten anything we can use for evidence.
“What’s going on here, Lillian?”
I hear her short, quick breath. She knows, too. Setting down her glass, she smiles tightly and glances my way. My heart flips twice at the pleading in her expression. No, Lillian. Don’t!
“On second thought, a room sounds great.” She loops her hand through his arm. “Lead the way.”
She’s not supposed to leave. I’m torn between finding Dom and following her. In a split second, I decide. I need to see which room they are going into, and then I’ll call Dominic.
I get up and sneak from the shadows. I follow at a distance until I see them approach an elevator. The lobby is mostly deserted, so I maneuver behind the six-foot potted ferns and peek out.
The elevator opens and they step in. But instead of going up, they go down.
To the basement.
Something’s wrong. Shit. I pull out my cellphone and try to call Dom as I hurry to the other elevator and stab the call button. It’s all the way at the top floor, there’s no time to wait. Damn it! I take the stairs instead, hurrying down.
Voicemail. “Pick up, Dom! They’re heading for the basement!”
I hang up and try again, but this time I just get beeps. No reception.
I can’t stop now, not with Lillian alone with Blaine. I keep heading down into the depths of the stairwell. Finally I reach the door to the basement garage and yank it open.
