“Hello Special Agent Argento,” Damien spoke first. Vince didn’t have a problem looking at Damien Tremblay. He was so fucking self-satisfied. “I’m sorry. It appears I lied when I said I didn’t know where the lovely Arianna was.”
Vince took a step toward Damien Tremblay and punched him.
“Vince,” Arianna screamed. Damien stepped back with the blow and released Ari’s hand. Vince took a step forward to hit him again. Arianna heard the men who accompanied Vince draw their guns.
“Argento,” one of them, who looked American, called out to Vince to stop him. Vince pulled back to punch him again, but Arianna jumped between them, shielding Damien.
Vince stopped and stepped back, toward the men he came with. Arianna thought it was because she’d stepped between them. Then she saw the other men drop their guns. She looked into Damien’s eyes. He smiled brightly. She peeked over his shoulder to see the men of the island, at least twenty of them, all holding guns like Damien’s. They were so silent walking over the sand she didn’t hear them approach.
“This doesn’t have to get violent,” Damien said. “This is Arianna’s decision; she stays, or she goes with you. It’s her choice.”
“You kidnapped her,” Vince growled. He didn’t drop his gun. He had it pointed at Damien’s head. “You’re coming with us.”
Arianna gazed at Vince. When she was chained in the hut, sleeping on the grass mat, she thought she’d never see him again. She allowed herself to take him in. He didn’t look at her; his steely gaze zoomed in on Damien.
He and Damien couldn’t look more different. His dark hair blew in the wind off the sea. He wore dark slacks and a white oxford with the sleeves rolled up; his work clothes. His Italian nose flared. He needed to shave. And he’d lost weight. Dark circles framed his dark eyes. She remembered every hill and valley of his body; every indention on his torso. She closed her eyes briefly and remembered the moment he took her virginity. And then she opened them, and his eyes met hers.
“He didn’t kidnap me,” Arianna finally spoke. “I came willingly.”
His eyes grew wide, his jaw clenched. He felt like he did when Damien hit him in the chest, the air around him and inside of him was gone. She’d sucked the air out of his lungs with her words.
“What?” Vince thought maybe he didn’t hear her right. No, he hoped if he asked her to repeat herself, she wouldn’t be able to lie again. To his face. While staring into his eyes.
“I said, I came willingly,” she repeated. Damien’s hand was on her shoulder then. He pulled her into his body.
“Arianna, I saw the video, those men carried you away,” Vince argued.
“It was heat exhaustion, I passed out.” She lied so quickly and easily she shocked herself. “Remember I met him at my graduation? The men said he sent them.”
“You didn’t meet him at your graduation.” Vince’s eyes narrowed.
“Yes, I did. Why are you lying, Vince?” Something was happening. Something he didn’t understand. He felt like he was in an alternate reality.
“Why would you leave the mission to come to him,” Vince countered.
“I told her I needed her for another mission on the island. We had a man who was preying on the children. But by the time she got here the islanders hanged him.” Damien lied just as easily. “It was my fault that I didn’t discuss it with Dutton. But I am the Deputy Secretary.”
Arrogant, cocky, conceited, self-centered, self-important. Vince couldn’t think of enough adjectives to describe the attitude of this man. He was beyond any level of egotistical Vince had ever seen, including himself, and he’d been in the Marines and the FBI where that sort of attitude was a given.
“Yes. That’s what happened,” Arianna nodded as she stared at Vince.
“We will return to Hong Kong, and after my meetings are finished we will return to DC. I will call Dutton as soon as possible to set up a meeting to discuss all this with him.”
Arianna nodded, and took a step into Damien’s body. Vince closed his eyes. He couldn’t look at her with him. He couldn’t. But he knew it would be burned into his memory forever.
“One last question,” Vince said, and returned his stare to Damien. “Why did you lead us to believe you didn’t have her? Why continue to make us think she was kidnapped? Why the secrecy?”
“She called and told you she was fine. You didn’t believe her,” Damien reminded him. “We were instantly attracted to each other at her graduation. We just wanted a few days to find out if it was real, or just a fantasy.” Arianna’s hand covered his on her shoulder. “I know it sounds silly. Who knew love at first sight could really happen?”
Vince wanted to shoot him right between his eyes. But he knew if he did it would be a bloodbath, right there on the beach. He was smart enough to know that the odds were against them, and the islanders had fully automatic Uzis. Maybe if he shot the leader they would give up.
But that would be murder. He didn’t want to be accused of murdering the Deputy Secretary of the DHS. Or did he? His finger twitched on the trigger; one second, two seconds, three seconds. Then he lowered it, and placed it in the holster at his hip. “This is your mess, Tremblay. You’ll have to clean it up.”
He tore his gaze from Damien and took one glance at Arianna, one last glance, before he left her forever. Her soft brown skin, her bright blue eyes, her dark hair blowing around her face dazzled him. She was perfect, and beautiful, and magical, and devious, and lying, and cheating, and conniving. She was a woman, after all. He nodded, then turned and walked back to the pier. The men in his group followed wordlessly.
Chapter Fourteen
“She’s decided to stay with Tremblay,” Vince had to pause twice before all of the words came out.
“I don’t understand what you mean,” Jordan said again.
Vince spent the entire boat ride back to the mainland dreading this conversation. He knew Jordan would take it hard. Hell Vince himself couldn’t believe it, and he watched as it happened. He couldn’t understand why she lied. Was Tremblay blackmailing her? Was he threatening her? Was he such a good lover that Arianna couldn’t help but fall for him?
Whatever happened to make her decide to stay with him, Vince couldn’t look back once he turned away from her. He walked toward the boat and stared out to sea. He fought the tears, but they eventually won. He was ashamed to wipe his eyes in front of the other men. He felt ashamed to be crying for someone who humiliated him that way. He shouldn’t shed one single tear for her. And yet, he did.
When the boat docked at the marina he turned over the guns that the FBI agent had loaned him, and walked aimlessly. He stopped in the first bar he found and had a few beers. The alcohol didn’t help. He knew he would have to call Jordan eventually, so he had another beer and dialed the number.
“Put Sam on the phone,” Vince said. He didn’t want to have to explain it to Jordan.
“No!” Jordan sounded angry. Vince had never heard him angry. “Tell me exactly what happened.”
“What happened is you had Damien Tremblay’s mother killed, and he came along and stole Arianna from ME because of something YOU did,” Vince reminded him. “Arianna is with some psychopath fucking billionaire because YOU don’t know when to stop.”
“He took Arianna from us,” Jordan reminded him.
“No!” Vince shouted. “No, you don’t get to feel that way. You lost that right when you killed his mother. You knew there could be repercussions. You could have just let the justice system handle her. But you couldn’t. You had to play God, and THIS is what you get for it.”
Vince wished he could have this conversation face to face. And then he hoped he’d never have to see Jordan Stewart ever again. If he did, he’d probably wring his scrawny little neck. He’d never been so angry in his life at another human being, not even at his abuser. He was angrier at Jordan. Jordan caused him to lose the one light in his life; the one precious thing he’d ever found. Jordan caused him to lose his soul mate.
&nbs
p; “Put Sam on the phone,” Vince snarled.
Jordan stared at Sam for several minutes, then he looked away. This was his fault. Arianna chose to be with Damien Tremblay, and it was his fault. He stared out into space, trying to process the information.
Sam gently took the phone from Jordan. He didn’t react. He continued to stare. “What happened, Vince?”
“Arianna is staying with Damien Tremblay.” Vince tried to reign in his anger. But it didn’t work.
“I see,” Sam said. But he didn’t see. He looked again at Jordan. He was catatonic. “Jordan’s taking it badly.”
“He can join the fucking crowd,” Vince groaned. “I’m not particularly fucking happy about it myself.”
“When are you coming back to DC?” Sam wondered. It was the first and only thing he could think of to say.
“Can’t wait to have a threesome?” Vince’s emotions were raging. He shouldn’t have said it. But he shrugged and waved his hand to the bartender for another beer.
“Vince, stop thinking about yourself for once in your life. Your friend needs you.”
“He’s my friend, really?” Vince prided himself on his ability to hold his tongue, but not today. “He didn’t tell you that he broke it off with me the day before I left for Singapore?”
“What?” Sam shook his head. The day before they left for Singapore was the day that Sam had sex with Arianna. He knew something was wrong, but he couldn’t figure out what it was at the time. And he didn’t care. All he could think about was fucking Arianna and getting his own spot in the house. He idolized her, worshipped her, and revered her. But he also had grown to genuinely care for Jordan.
“He said he didn’t want to spend time with me and her any longer; that we would share her separately. And the next thing I know, you’re in bed with them.” Vince took a swig of beer, and wiped another tear off his cheek. He didn’t think he had any more left in him.
“You two do whatever you want to do,” Vince said. “When I come back, I’m out of the house for good.”
“Wait,” Sam exclaimed. “I don’t know what Jordan saw in me, but…”
“It wasn’t Jordan’s idea. Arianna mentioned you; said you were good looking. Jordan asked you over to distract her. You were her gift from Jordan.” Vince gulped the beer down. “How do you feel about Jordan now? Still think he’s my friend?”
“Vince,” Sam said, but the line was dead. Vince was gone, and he probably wasn’t coming back. And Sam was stuck with Jordan alone, who was in a stupor.
“Come on,” Sam said as he put Jordan’s phone in his pocket, then grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the chair. “It’s time to get you home.”
Arianna asked for another pineapple juice and rum. Damien waived to Kosum, and she brought the pitcher over and filled Arianna’s cup. Damien nodded, and spoke to her. She made her way into the house.
“Kosum is going in to pack your clothes,” Damien said. They sat beside the pool. Arianna’s feet dangled in the water; she stared into it.
“Fine,” Arianna said automatically.
“You’re not sad, are you,” he wondered. It didn’t matter if she was, really. She’d get over it. She made the right choice, and from this moment on he would do whatever he had to remind her.
“No,” she turned toward him, and smiled. The smile was a little too bright, and it didn’t touch her eyes. “No, I’m not sad.” She took another drink. This was her fourth. He was afraid the rum would make her sick before it eased her pain.
He grazed her cheek with the back of his fingers, then pushed her hair over her ear. “Things are going to change when we get back to reality.” His voice was gentle, soothing. “You get to meet my kids, they’re great. You’ll love my ranch in Canada. I have horses and cows, and a farm. And in the winter we ice skate on the pond in the back.”
“That sound nice,” Arianna responded. “I’ve never been on a horse.”
“Well then, you’re in for a treat,” Damien continued. “And the brownstone in DC is within walking distance of the Smithsonian. And we’ll throw elaborate parties in the apartment in New York, and talk about all our guests behind their backs.” He smiled tenderly.
“Will I like that?” She wondered.
“You’ll love it, I promise.” He kissed her lovingly. “I’m not thinking short term, Arianna. I want to marry you, have kids with you. I want a family with you.”
She forced a smile, because she knew it was the right thing to do. “I want that too.”
“Good,” he nodded. “Good. Now let’s go shower and get you ready for Hong Kong. Do you like to shop?” He asked as they made their way upstairs.
“No, not really,” she said honestly. He joined her in the bathroom, and they undressed together. He stood at the mirror and stared at himself for several moments, flexing his pecs and his biceps.
“I’m so glad you like to work out.” His eyes strayed to her bare ass, then travelled down her legs. “Your body is perfect.”
Once in the shower he showed her how much he liked it. He lathered up his hands and washed her body sensually. She took the soap and did the same. His eyes glazed over when her soapy hands found his cock. He kissed her again. He was an excellent kisser and he enjoyed doing it. Then her legs were wrapped around his waist. They made love under the warm water, and when he came inside her he finally felt free to say, “I love you Arianna.”
“I love you too, Damien,” she lied smoothly.
He kissed her again, and wrapped her up in his arms. “I knew you would.”
When they arrived in Hong Kong Damien smoothly led her to a black suited man who held a placard with his name on it. He handed over her luggage to the driver, and he took it deftly and led them to his limo. When they were in the back he pulled her over onto his lap and held her close. “Do you like it, mon amour?”
“Yes, I like it,” she grinned.
“This is just the beginning, mon petit chou” he promised her. “You can have whatever you want, buy whatever you want. The world is yours.”
What she wanted he couldn’t buy her, but she didn’t say it out loud. “There’s nothing more I could possibly want,” she sighed as she curled into him. He wore a suit, but not like the ones Vince and Jordan wore. It was black and shiny, and fit him perfectly. “Let’s get dinner. What would you like?”
“Spaghetti,” she answered quickly.
“How do you eat spaghetti and stay so thin?” His hand moved to her thigh, right under her sundress. She didn’t have any other dresses, and she could see the disappointment in his eyes when she told him. Still he didn’t complain when he saw her in the soft pink sundress, again.
“It’s not about the calories you eat. It’s about how you burn them off,” she whispered in his ear, and flicked her tongue against his earlobe.
“Do you want to get fucked in the back of the limo, you little slut?” She was shocked for a moment. “I’m just talking dirty to you. You don’t mind do you?”
“No,” she lied again.
“Do you like it,” he asked? “Do you want to be my little whore?”
“Yes,” she nodded, and bit his ear.
“Ohh, I like that,” he said.
They arrived at the restaurant, and ordered. Arianna had eaten her spaghetti with no meat for months, and ordered it that way out of habit. But when their food was brought out, both plates had meat.
“Don’t sit that down in front of her,” Damien snapped. “She ordered no meat. Don’t you speak English?”
“I’m sorry sir,” the waiter said in good but accented English.
“Sorry? Now we have to sit and wait for you to prepare our food again, because I am not going to eat while she waits.” He was just a little too loud, a little too harsh. She felt uncomfortable.
“Damien, it’s fine. I’ll eat it, I’m starving,” she said, and placed her hand on his across the table.
“No, chou. When you want something, you should get it.” His eyes flashed dark green. “We’ll wait.
” Damien continued to complain as they waited, about the waiter, the wine, and anything else he could think of.
The waiter took both plates, and in less than five minutes the manager carried out their meals, corrected. “I’m sorry you had to wait, sir. Does everything look fine now?”
“It looks great thanks,” Damien said sweetly. “How is yours, mon amour?”
“It looks wonderful.” She was a little embarrassed, and looked sheepishly at the manager. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you,” the manager said, and walked away.
“Don’t be embarrassed if you don’t get what you want. It’s not your fault, it’s theirs.” His voice was intense as he chopped his spaghetti. She watched, fascinated, as he cut every noodle into tiny bite sized chunks. She twirled her spaghetti around her fork, and shoved it in her mouth. He looked displeased, but said nothing.
His phone rang while they were still eating, and he said, “Excuse me,” and answered it. Jordan didn’t allow cell phones at the dinner table. They actually had to converse with each other; and they liked it that way.
“No, I told you to schedule the appointment with Dutton for Thursday, not Friday. Now we won’t be able to leave for New York until Friday evening.” He was definitely high strung, she thought. “No, reschedule it. And if he’s not available Thursday reschedule it for next week.” He sighed as he ended the call. “I’m sorry. I’m a very busy man.”
She nodded, and twisted more spaghetti around her fork. “We’re going to New York on Friday?” She was so glad he informed her first.
“Yes, chouchou,” he said with a grin. “I told you I’d give you the world.”
“What about my job?” She wondered.
“You won’t need a job now. I have more than enough money for both of us,” he assured her.
“Of course you do,” she said with a nod. She gripped her napkin in her lap, her fingernails digging into her palms to keep herself quiet.
The Executioner 2: Love, Lies, and Revenge (The Executioner Series) Page 14
