by Aubrey Ross
Mistress
Aubrey Ross
Determined to find her missing niece, Lark Emery follows the clues to Napa Valley. Aidan finds the stunning blonde poking her nose into matters that don’t concern her and decides to use her in his revenge plot against the Burton brothers. He manipulates her perception with erotic dreams and false memories then sets her in the path of Evan Burton.
Evan immediately senses deception in Lark. She’s desirable and willing, but something holds him back. He’s unsettled yet aroused, so he looks into her mind and sees her locked in a passionate embrace with his enemy. Unsure if she is Aidan’s willing spy or another of his victims, Evan takes her to his secluded estate for an erotic interrogation.
Finally convinced of Lark’s innocence, Evan isn’t sure how to protect her without revealing the secrets of his race. His obsessive attraction to her is a complication he can’t afford with a Dark Dichotomy on the loose.
Chapter One
Lark Emery cupped her hands around her eyes and peered through the front window of the small shop. The blinds obscured much of her vision, but the office was obviously deserted.
“Damn it,” she muttered and stepped back from the window. This had been her final lead. The obnoxious woman who ran the escort service in San Francisco had given her this address, swearing the owner of Twilight Limousine Tours had basically purchased Holly.
Lark shuddered as she thought of what her niece must have endured. She’d suspected Holly was in trouble, but Holly kept insisting she had everything under control.
Holly never had her life under control, so Lark had impatiently waited for Holly to ride the downward spiral to the point where she’d accept help. It was a familiar cycle, one Holly had been indulging in since she ran away from home at fifteen.
Through all her misadventures, Holly always kept in touch. She refused to speak with her mother, but Lark had always been more friend than relative. Holly frequently omitted the details of her situation, but she made sure Lark knew she was alive.
A week had gone by without a call and Lark began to worry. When one week became three, Lark packed a bag and drove down from Seattle. She had always tried to support Holly without trying to control her, but enough was enough. She was determined to find her wayward niece and bring her home for good.
“Who are you looking for, honey?” the elderly proprietress of the antique shop next door asked as she swept the sidewalk in front of her store.
“I’m not sure. Is this business still in operation or have they moved on?”
The woman snorted and leaned on the handle of her broom. “Haven’t seen hide nor hair of them since—” she touched a finger to her pursed lips “—last Friday, I believe.”
Lark fished Holly’s picture out of her pocket and handed it to the woman. “Have you ever seen this woman?”
“Sure, that’s Holly. I don’t think Mr. Nicholson treated her very well, but she was a sweet kid.”
“When was the last time you saw her?”
“Two, no more like three weeks by now. She said she was starting the new job, but I don’t think she ever did.”
“What new job? Do you know where she was staying?” Hope stirred up the butterflies in Lark’s stomach. At least she had another lead.
“I don’t know where she was staying, but she’d gotten on with the Burton Brothers winery. She was going to hostess at the tasting room around the corner.”
“I’m really worried about her. If you happen to see her, could you please have her call Lark? She knows the number.”
“Sure enough. You have a wonderful afternoon.”
The afternoon was looking brighter thanks to the talkative woman. Lark left her car parked in front of the abandoned office and headed off in the direction the woman had indicated.
Aidan peeked through the blinds, watching the stunning blonde as she spoke with Widow Bartell. The young woman obviously had more than a passing interest in his office. Who was she and what did she want with him? He’d only ventured back into Napa to get the key to Holly’s apartment. He needed to make sure there was nothing among her possessions that could incriminate him. If he could find some clue to her whereabouts that would be even better, but he’d always been a realist.
Holly was a loose end and Aidan hated loose ends. The Burtons were on high alert both in reality and on the metaphysical plane. He could be patient. He’d had thirty-eight years to plan his revenge. But boredom didn’t suit him. He’d hunt down Holly while he waited for time to lull the Burtons with a false sense of security.
Widow Bartell motioned in the general direction of the Burtons’ tasting room and Aidan narrowed his gaze.
A Burton spy wouldn’t need directions to the tasting room. The only other connection between him and the Burtons was Holly. And he desperately needed to find the worthless whore.
As the blonde made her way down First Street, he sneaked out through the alley. If he hurried, he could reach the sidewalk shortly after she passed by.
“Excuse me,” he called out and she glanced over her shoulder to see who had spoken.
“Are you talking to me?” The wind blew wisps of her golden hair across her face. She had light blue eyes and full red lips. Though at least thirty, she had a wholesome quality about her delicate features.
“I noticed you looking in the window of Twilight Tours. Are you in the market for a limousine ride?”
“Who are you?” She buried her hands in the pockets of her hip-length jacket and searched his face with cautious mistrust.
“My name is Connell.”
“I don’t need a limousine. Thanks, anyway.” She turned to go.
“Wait.” Her arrogance fueled his determination. There was no reason for her to be so cold. “That’s not why I asked. I’d been seeing one of their employees, but three weeks ago she just took off. I’ve about run out of places to look for her. I was hoping you might know something.”
She licked her lips and looked up and down the street. He’d done nothing to make her suspicious. Why was she acting so put out?
“I just got here,” she said. “You might want to ask the woman I was talking with. She seemed to know what was going on.”
“If you’re going to the Burtons’ tasting room, you’re wasting your time.”
Her eyebrows scrunched together and those China-blue eyes narrowed. “Why would you presume that’s where I’m going?”
“If you weren’t looking for a tour, then you’re either looking for Aidan or Holly. Knowing what a bastard Aidan is, my bet’s on Holly.”
She tightened her belt and relaxed a bit. “You’re looking for Holly too?”
“Yes. She’d told me the Burtons had hired her as a hostess, but she never showed up for work. The supervisor called and asked if I knew where Holly was, but I have no idea. I was really hoping this would be the break she was looking for. Anything was better than working for that jerk.”
“Has anyone reported her missing?”
“I filed a report, but the police didn’t seem real interested. There’s no evidence of foul play.”
She scoffed softly and shook her head. “She disappears without a trace and her employer just happens to close up shop a day later. Didn’t that seem suspicious to anyone?”
“Now you understand my frustration. I was on my way to her apartment when I saw you looking in the window. I have a key. We wouldn’t even be breaking the law.” He offered his most charming smile.
“I’m not worried about breaking the law. I think she’s in serious trouble.” She looked at the tasting room across the street then back at him. “Let me see if they’ll tell me anything they wouldn’t tell you.”
He smiled, easily seeing through her ploy. She wanted to verify his story. “No problem. I’ll wait right here.” His story would check out in the tasting room. If she insisted on calling the police, however, he’d have no choice but to shut her up. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to that. He’d rather lure her along than take her by force.
<
br /> The phrase sent his libido into overdrive. She was fresh and innocent, everything Holly was not. He’d been unbearably restless ever since he touched Kendra’s mind. This woman wasn’t a Burton, but she might lessen his frustration for a bit.
He’d seduce her gradually at first. Charm her as they pursued their common goal. Then he’d lock her in the dungeon he’d prepared for Kendra and give full rein to his sexual excess.
If they managed to find Holly in the meantime, so much the better. He’d enjoy punishing her for her betrayal.
Pulling up the hood of his jacket, he turned his back to the tasting room. He didn’t think anyone inside had ever seen Connell. Still, he wasn’t taking any chances.
The blonde returned a few minutes later and he fought back a triumphant smile.
“You’re right. It was a dead end. I’m Lark Emery. Holly’s my niece.”
“Niece? You don’t look old enough to be Holly’s aunt.”
“My sister basically raised me. Holly and I have always been close.” She offered her first genuine smile. “Which direction is her apartment? I don’t know Napa at all. I just drove down from Seattle.”
* * *
The brisk wind buffeting Aidan Nicholson’s face did little to cool his temper. He looked around the parking lot and shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket. The apartment complex had no surveillance, but signs of life were everywhere. It wasn’t as if he were trying to lure Lark down a dark alley. A cluster of children tossed around a ball and the rumble of music came from inside one of the units.
“What’s the problem?” he grumbled, his gaze moving over her lovely face. She was a classic Scandinavian beauty with high cheekbones and the biggest, bluest eyes he’d ever seen. He wanted to watch those eyes cloud with desire and fear as he peeled back layer after layer of her defenses.
“I don’t mean to be rude—” Lark tried to soothe him with a smile “—but in this day and age a woman can’t be too careful.” She sat inside her car, as if the automobile could protect her.
“What exactly do you think I’m going to do to you?” Speaking to her through a half-open window was humiliating. He’d been polite and patient, tried to earn her trust and ease her mind.
“Please don’t take this personally. I can’t help Holly if I become a victim myself.”
The statement made him smile. She had no idea how close she’d stumbled to the truth. He wasn’t directly responsible for Holly’s disappearance, but he was very much involved. And he had every intention of making Lark his next victim.
“All right.” He glanced into the distance as he composed his expression. “We both want to search her apartment. What do you suggest?”
“You have a key.” She crossed her arms over her chest, obviously uncomfortable, despite her precautions. “Why don’t you go first? Take as long as you like. Just leave the door unlocked when you leave.”
“Fine by me.” Arguing with her was a waste of time. He had far more effective ways of getting what he wanted.
He crossed the parking lot without a backward glance. Deep inside him Connell surged, clawing at the confines of sleep state, rebelling against his imprisonment. It had taken many years for Aidan to control his day-dwelling half. At first he’d influenced Connell, coaxing and manipulating him through thoughts and emotions. He no longer bothered with subtleties. He wore Connell like a costume, never allowing his consciousness to fully emerge.
Opening the door with his key, Aidan slipped into the tiny apartment. Holly only slept here when he hadn’t required her services and he seldom did without his obedient whore. Did Lark realize her precious niece had become a prostitute?
He peeked through the blinds, curious to see how long his stubborn prey would keep up this nonsense. This was Napa, not L.A.!
Lark hadn’t moved. She sat in her car, patiently waiting for him to finish his search. Sunlight gleamed in her long blonde hair as she reached for something on the passenger seat. A cell phone. She raised the device toward her face and Aidan tensed. He needed to move fast with this one. She was too damned cautious.
A quick sweep of the apartment revealed nothing of importance. He’d only wanted to make sure there was nothing here that could incriminate him. Lark would be so disappointed when the apartment turned out to be another dead end.
He started for the door when a glossy brochure caught his eye. Nicole Fierbrose was a brilliant young artist who was just starting to build a following. He’d taken Holly to a gallery featuring her creations the last time they’d been in San Francisco. Nicole knew the Burton brothers and he was interested in anyone who had a connection to his enemies. According to the brochure, Nicole was having her first solo exhibition the following Saturday night.
Inspiration swept through Aidan. His biggest challenge had been accessing the Burtons during their nocturnal cycle. They pooled their resources and he was no match for their combined strength. If he had a connection with someone inside their defenses, someone they trusted, perhaps even felt the need to protect… It might restore his best advantage, the element of surprise.
He pictured Lark’s lovely face and voluptuous figure. What hot-blooded male wouldn’t be attracted to her? The exhibition was three days away and he could make sure Lark attended. He would use the next three days to establish a link with her subconscious and shape her perception with dreams and false memories. He’d perfected the skills on Connell, but he had yet to test the full scope of his control on anyone else.
Having her totally at his mercy held undeniable appeal. Still, nothing was more important than repaying the Burtons for the injustices forced upon his family. If postponing his play sessions with Lark would bring him closer to his ultimate goal, he was willing to wait a few days for the pleasure.
* * *
Lark glanced at the front window to Holly’s apartment in time to see the blinds shift back into place. She was being paranoid. The hostess in the wine-tasting room had confirmed Connell’s story. Holly had been hired to work there just as he’d said and she’d failed to show up as scheduled.
Lark wasn’t even sure how long Holly had been missing. They’d lost contact three weeks ago, but this wasn’t the first time Holly had refused to return her calls.
The door opened and Connell emerged. He flipped up his hood as he returned to her car. She had no real reason to mistrust him, but her instincts refused to relax. With a tentative smile plastered on her face, she lowered her window.
“Any luck?” She tried not to sound as foolish as she felt.
“Actually, yes. I found this.” He passed her a trifold brochure.
Their fingers brushed and hot tingles zipped along her arm. The sensation gained intensity as it crossed her shoulder and crawled up the side of her neck. Reality blurred. Pain stabbed into her brain then abruptly diminished. Her temple throbbed and her skin prickled. The brochure slipped from her fingers and she groaned.
“Are you all right?”
Connell’s question echoed through the fog. She tried to speak but a soft moan was the only sound that emerged.
“Lark?” He shook her shoulder and pain flared, burning away the momentary stupor.
Reality refocused with each blink of her eyes until only a faint sense of confusion remained. “That was…weird.”
“What happened?” His gaze bore into hers and he seemed reluctant to let go of her shoulder. “You’re as pale as a ghost.”
“I’m not sure. Sometimes I get lightheaded when I don’t eat.” The excuse sounded ridiculous, but his fingers released and he withdrew his hand.
“You’re feeling better now.”
She nodded, accepting the words as fact. “I feel much better now.”
“Good. Look at the brochure. Isn’t it interesting?”
The brochure had slipped to the floor of her car. She moved both legs to one side so she could reach it. “Who is Nicole Fierbrose? I don’t know much about art.”
“Holly and Nicole… How long has it been since you saw Holly?
She might have changed more than you realize.”
“I know she was working as a call girl, if that’s what you’re getting at.” A knot formed in the pit of her stomach each time she thought about what Holly’s life had become. Holly had always been wild and a bit self-destructive, but Lark refused to give up hope that Holly would ultimately turn things around.
“Nicole was the one who introduced Holly to ‘the life’. They were both determined to get out. Holly was only partially successful, but Nicole made a clean break. It gave Holly hope that she could do the same someday.”
Lark flipped through the brochure, fascinated by the illustrations. “Nicole’s first solo exhibit opens Saturday night.” Lark wanted to go. Everything about the night sounded…interesting.
“This is a joint triumph. Without Holly’s emotional support, Nicole never would have come this far. Holly will rearrange the world to be there to share this night with Nicole.”
“If they’re that close, it’s likely Holly has contacted Nicole already.”
“I’m not so sure.” He sank deeper into the shadow of his hood. “Holly won’t do anything to endanger her friend.”
“Won’t showing up at the exhibition endanger her?”
“Not if she’s one person in a sea of faces. She could make sure Nicole sees her then melt into the crowd. If you ask Nicole about Holly, she’ll likely deny even knowing her. Admitting she knows Holly forces Nicole to acknowledge her past.”
Tapping the folded brochure against her thigh, Lark realized the wisdom in his thinking. But if she couldn’t ask Nicole about Holly, why go to San Francisco at all? “Is it still worth checking out?”
“That’s why I gave you the brochure.”
Shouldn’t she stay in Napa and— A twinge of pain cut off the thought and redirected her thoughts. “Who was the last person to see Holly before she disappeared?”
“Whichever Burton brother interviewed her for the job.”
