But he didn’t.
Sebastian’s shadow arched over him. Behind him, the party and all its sound and occupants, were growing dimmer. They were falling. Further and further away.
In a way, it was just the two of them there. The ringmaster.
And his magic trick.
“Come now, Declan,” Sebastian said, leaning against the wall. “Don’t look so sad.”
Declan looked up to him. Sebastian extended his hand.
There was no audience now.
“Take it.”
Declan took it, and pulled himself up from the floor.
“Why don’t you get changed into something a little more dignified, and we’ll come and talk about your future here.”
Declan took a deep breath. His eyes tilted in one direction.
“What of Maisey?”
“Pardon me?” Sebastian replied.
“Masiey. My friend that’s coming. You’ll leave her alone?”
“That was the deal, wasn’t it?” Sebastian said. “If it makes you feel any better, you can go and wait out the front for her. She should be here soon, after all.”
Declan nodded. He staggered out of the room and into the hallway. On the way to his room he passed several tigers and girls accompanying them. No one paid him any attention. Which was of course, a good sign.
But Declan knew his horrors here were far from over.
CHAPTER TEN
The limousine had come to a stop. Outside the car, Maisey could hear the sound of mechanical gates grinding open. She looked out the tinted window but couldn’t see much other than trees and darkness. Maisey opened her handbag and pulled out her phone again. No calls. No messages. Marshall abandoning her the way he had, had left her feeling shaken. It wasn’t so long ago, she hadn’t even thought she’d need him here for this. But now that he was gone she wasn’t so sure of herself coming here.
But I have to, right?
It’s the only way to find out what happened to Cordelia. The only way to make sure…
The limo started again. It was too late now for second thoughts. Not that Maisey was really having any, but the level of unease saw her doubting herself.
At least Declan will be here. I’ll be safe with him.
He likes me.
So she thought, anyway. He hadn’t exactly come onto her at the wedding, but he’d been her friend there for two hours or so, exploring Bane’s estate, joking around, sharing things about himself. He wasn’t a bad guy. He’d look after her.
If he could…
Declan was there at the door of the car, before she even had a chance to open it. He helped her out and gave her a gentle hug, doing his best to seem pleasant. They were just outside the steps leading up to the establishment behind them, with the glowing neon lights reading Trillionaire Shifter Club.
“You know I wish I was here for a friendly visit,” Maisey murmured. “But there’s a rather extreme circumstance I have to discuss with you. Shall we go inside?”
Declan looked back to the building. Loud music blared within.
“I’d rather we didn’t,” he said. “We have some rather outlandish guests this evening.”
They walked a few paces around the side of the limo, and Maisey was able to see the twenty or so motorcycles parked in the centre of the lawn in five by five formation.
“Marshall mentioned things were a bit rowdy here.”
“Marshall?”
“Yeah, I went to see him before I came here,” Maisey confessed. “He was going to come along too, but we had a fight in the car and he bailed.”
Declan continued to lead her further and further to the side of the premises. He stopped only when they had reached the fence line, and they were deep in the shadows.
“Are you afraid someone is following us?” Maisey asked.
“I’m not sure,” Declan said nervously. He shook his head. “You really shouldn’t have come here.”
“Well, look, I don’t want to be,” Maisey said.
“Right, right. I know.”
“Okay. So – Cordelia was here tonight?”
“That’s correct. Marshall would have told you that.”
“She left with Chill?”
“To go see Bane.”
“So – I need that address. That’s all I need. I would have gotten it off you on the phone, but your phone people wouldn’t put me through to you?”
“Things are complicated here at the moment,” Declan said. “With Bane and Chill gone I can’t keep things under control.”
“Okay, but … can I have the address?”
“Why – what’s the problem?”
“Cordelia rang me and she was being attacked. Someone was bursting in a door or something to get to her.”
“Shit.”
“She wanted me to get the address off you so I can send it to the cops. And they can straighten this whole mess out.”
“Alright,” Declan nodded. “As long as you’re not going there yourself.”
“Why not?”
“Something Sebastian … one of the guests here said. Some people wanted Bane and Chill out of the way so the tigers could take over. I hope it’s not true. But I’ve tried calling both of them and I can’t get through –”
“Do you know the address?”
“It’s inside,” Declan said. “You should get in the car and go home now, and I’ll text you the address which you can then pass on to the police.”
“Why don’t you come with me?”
“Huh?”
“I’ll wait at the car, while you go inside and get the address. Then we’ll both go and sort this mess out together.”
“I wish I could…”
Maisey studied his face. “What’s the matter? You’re not scared are you?”
“No,” Declan whispered. He looked sideways. “I just … don’t want to upset him.”
“Upset who?”
“Sebastian.”
“Who is that again?”
“He’s the alpha tiger, and an ex-member of the club. He can do things … like bad things. If I upset him, then…”
“What?”
Declan took a deep breath. “I’ll follow you then. But you have to go now. I’ll make my own way out somehow. You though, you need to get to safety.”
“Why?” Maisey asked. “Isn’t it safe here?”
“No.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Slash… Come on, Slash, baby, what are you doing over here…? Can’t we go somewhere else…? I want to show you –
Sebastian pushed the girl so hard she went headfirst into a nearby wall and was knocked unconscious. He stepped away from the window and walked through his entertainment floor, without so much as making eye contact with anyone. He went down to the second floor where the bartender was, and signaled to him from the doorway.
“Yes, sir, what is it?”
“Where’s the chauffer?” Sebastian asked. “The one who brought the panda’s girl here?”
“I haven’t seen him,” the bartender replied. “He’s probably outside still. We usually have a car here ready to go at all times.”
“Thank you.”
Sebastian quickly hurried down the wooden stairs and crossed the landing to the entrance.
He stepped outside just as the limo was backing up.
“She’s on her way home,” Declan said walking towards him. “So now I must –”
Sebastian pulled out a pistol and fired a bullet into the wheel of the car. It became stuck in the gravel, sparks flying as the car continued in reverse. It halted a moment, before attempting to accelerate further.
Sebastian stepped forward and fired another shot, this one shattering the passenger window. The car stopped and the driver exited the vehicle.
“Please!” he said, holding up his arms. “Don’t shoot.”
Sebastian aimed the gun at him.
A hand landed firmly on his arm.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Declan snapped.
&nbs
p; Sebastian looked at him and smiled. “Whatever I want.”
He looked down at Declan’s hand on his arm.
Declan slowly took it away.
Sebastian continued down the steps.
“Driver,” he said, advancing. “Driver, would you open the door so the passenger can come out.”
The driver blinked a little. “Right, right. Right.”
He stumbled over to the back passenger door and opened it.
A young, squinting face peered out of it.
“Don’t be alarmed, dear,” Sebastian said. “We’re just having some car trouble.”
“Hey,” Declan said behind him. “We had a deal, Slash. Are you going back on your word?”
“I don’t remember what I said to you,” Sebastian said truthfully. “So it mustn’t have been that important.”
Declan moved round so that he was in the path between him and the girl, whose legs were hanging out of the car.
“Is that him, Declan?” she asked.
Declan glanced at her. “Yes.”
The girl stood up. She placed one arm over the car’s door. “Doesn’t look like much to me. I’m not afraid of him.”
“Did Declan say he was afraid of me?” Sebastian inquired.
“Whatever.”
Sebastian became aware of some chatter behind him. He turned around to see some his men had followed him out here.
“Back inside!” Sebastian roared. “Go on!”
The troops made a sad face or two, before making their way back in.
“Why’d you do that?” Declan asked. “Send them back in?”
“I’ve think you’ve suffered enough embarrassment for one night, Dumbo,” Sebastian said. He advanced forward.
“Don’t,” Declan said, blocking his path.
Sebastian nudged him out of the way.
“I don’t think we’ve been introduced, Miss…?”
“Fuck off,” the girl said.
Sebastian bore his teeth. “Charmed.”
He leaned up against the car next to her. He noticed the pulse in her neck quivering. He noticed her fingers tingling. He could feel her heartbeat pounding.
Declan’s eyes were still on the gun in Sebastian’s hand.
“What do you want?” Declan asked.
“I’m curious,” Sebastian said. “What her breasts look like.”
“Excuse me?” the girl gasped.
She backed away into Declan’s path. He pushed his way in front to shield her.
“It’s a curious thing,” Sebastian said. “Does she have full, rounded nipples? Tiny dark ones? Red? Pink? Beige? Does she have a lot of padding in her bra? Or is that a large breast underneath –”
“Enough,” Declan barked. “I mean it, you son of a bitch.”
“I’ll tell you what’s curious,” Sebastian went on. “How much your life is worth to me, Declan. Whether it’s worth more than my desire to fuck that slut behind you. Because I can see, clearly, I can’t have both. If I really want to fuck her, then you have to die.”
The girl wasn’t even anywhere near Declan now. She was backing right away from both of them. Declan’s face was a frozen shade of pale white. The rings of black still faint around his eyes. Sebastian knew any second now, he was about to shift, and unleash the rage all those years of abuse had built up in him.
Sebastian smiled and walked past him. “Guess you must mean something to me after all. I’ll call you a cab. See the two of you get home alright. And when you’re ready, you can come back here. And we can have a real conversation.”
Sebastian glanced back and saw Declan had fallen to his knees.
The tears flowing from his swollen eyes. The bloodlust radiating out of his hands in frustration.
“Declan!” the girl cried. “Declan, get up!”
Sebastian turned back to the house.
His tiger laughed inside.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Wentworth closed one eye as he zoomed in on Sebastian Sarsgaard’s back. Without hesitating, he fired a silenced shot, and the tiger dropped instantaneously. Wentworth quickly ditched the sniper and leapt down the wall to the Trillionaire Shifter Club’s premises. Both Declan and the unidentified female were on their feet, cautiously approaching Sebastian. Wentworth bounded forward to catch up with them.
The girl shrieked as he appeared.
“Shut up,” Wentworth hissed, waving his pistol at them. “Each take a leg, and drag him round the side.”
As slow as possible, Declan and his girl went to each of Sebastian’s legs and carried out the request. He was exactly as Wentworth hoped: alive and conscious. He gave strangled roar as the pair made eye contact, slashing out with his claws.
Wentworth pointed the pistol at his head. “Behave.”
They were now in the shadows, secluded from the lights out the front. It wasn’t much cover, but it was the best they could do. Wentworth would have to be quick.
“I’m gonna kill you,” Sebastian growled. “Whoever the fuck you are, you’re dead.”
Wentworth crouched down, his eyes on Declan and the girl, backing as far away as possible. He plucked a serrated dagger from his boot and stood back up.
“Every time you tell me a lie, I’m going to stab you,” Wentworth stated. “Do you understand?”
Sebastian spat at him.
Wentworth looked down and saw the slag had missed his boot by centimeters.
“I don’t want to kill you Sebastian, but I will,” Wentworth said. “Same goes for the two of you. Could you please step forward?”
Declan and the girl moved forward a little.
“What’s your name, darling?” Wentworth asked.
The girl’s hands moved around Declan’s. “Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“Maisey.”
“Good. Now, this could get bloody, but no screaming, okay? Promise me.”
“I promise.”
Wentworth bent down to face Sebastian. “Easy now. Remember, you stay calm, you get to live. I’ve been hired to find someone, well a couple of people actually. Friends of yours.”
“Who?”
“You all know them. Bane and Harper. The recently married couple. Now, I’m told they went away on honeymoon together, and they never came back. So where are they?”
“No idea,” Sebastian said.
Wentworth pressed the dagger underneath Sebastian’s nose.
“Are you sure?”
“Stop,” Declan said. “I know where they are.”
Wentworth glared upward. He rose to his feet. “So tell me.”
“The address is inside. I have to get it.”
“Fair enough,” Wentworth said. “Run along then. Maisey stays here of course.”
Declan stepped over Sebastian, till he was standing next to Wentworth.
“I don’t know if you care, but things could get a little complicated with where Bane is.”
“How do you mean?”
“Something’s happened to them. Bane and Harper, I mean. Chill was able to get a hold of them, but something isn’t right. Sebastian said to me … he knew they were being led away from here. That’s why he’s here. To replace them. Take over.”
“Thank you,” Wentworth said. “That is helpful. I’ll see what else I can get out of him. Run along then.”
Declan bowed his head. Then he hurried away.
Wentworth stared down at Sebastian. “What’s he talking about?”
Sebastian tried to sit up. “I don’t know who you are, but it’s going to go bad for you.”
“Oh yeah?”
“You ever heard of a dragon named Synrith?”
Wentworth licked his lips. “Oh yes. He’s a phone call away.”
“What?”
“I know him, dipshit,” Wentworth said. “I’m on his fucking payroll.”
“Bullshit,” Sebastian said. “I’m only here because Synrith sent me. When he finds out what you’ve done –”
Wentworth grabbed a hold of Sebastian and
forced him up against the wall.
He slid the blade along Sebastian’s cheek, drawing blood.
“Does Synrith have Bane and Harper?”
“I don’t know.”
Wentworth kneed him in the gut. “Does he have Bane and Harper?”
“I don’t know!”
Wentworth pushed him back to the ground just as Declan hurried back.
“Here,” he said, handing him the address. “That’s the resort Bane and Harper went to.”
“Thanks,” Wentworth said. He stuffed it in his pocket and looked back at the wounded tiger. “Let them know inside he’s out here before he bleeds to death. After I’m gone.”
“Okay.”
Wentworth stepped away from them and began heading for the wall he’d come from.
“Can I ask you a question?” Declan called after him.
Wentworth stopped and turned around. “What?”
“Why are you trying to find them?”
Wentworth looked away from him. He started walking again.
“Because someone wants them dead.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Maisey put her arms around Declan and kissed his cheek. She took his hand and pressed it against her chest. “This is what ‘I’m going crazy’ feels like.”
“Are you okay?” Declan whispered, touching her face.
Maisey shook her head. “No. What is going on here? Why is everything this fucked up?”
“I don’t know,” Declan said. “I guess … it’s up to us now. To make things right…”
He trailed off and stepped away from her.
“You’ll never make things right,” Sebastian slurred, leaning his back against the wall. “Bane and Chill and Harper and whoever else is probably fucking dead.”
“Don’t say that,” Declan said. “Don’t say what you don’t know is true.”
“I’ll say what I want,” Sebastian replied defiantly. “What are you going to do about it, Dumbo?”
Seizing her anger, Maisey stormed up to the tiger and kicked him in the face.
“Fuck you!” she squealed. “Fucking fuck –”
Declan pulled her off him.
As they back away, it seemed Maisey’s kicks had knocked him out. She was pleased.
Declan: Trillionaire Shifter Club Book Three Page 3
