The Darker Side of Love (A Dark Erotica Boxed Set)

by Tara Crescent

  He had already been to five places including Vancouver - six places if they factored in the fictional trip from Texas. They had just landed in Tennessee and were on their way to the ranch. The ranch? Donovan Corbett was going to a ranch? A dusty, dirty, smelly ranch? How many other places was this quest to find Laci going to take them? If Victor didn’t think Donovan was crazy before, he definitely thought so now.

  When they left Marion’s office, Donovan instructed Victor to drive directly to the airport. It wasn’t until they were airborne that Victor discovered they were on their way to Pennsylvania to meet with Laci’s father. Furthermore, a car and driver would be waiting for them upon their arrival. Victor was no closer to understanding this sudden new development than he was to anything else that had happened, and for someone who usually couldn’t do very much for himself, Donovan had suddenly become extremely self-reliant. He never made his own travel arrangements.

  There was little discussion during the flight, leaving Victor plenty of time to observe his friend and wonder what had brought on this manifestation of contentment, of happy home, marriage and family. He seemed so sure, had such specific details, yet in all the years Victor had worked for him, Donovan had never expressed anything even close to what he had been talking about since returning from Vancouver. Had the life he described always been a secret yearning? Was that why he was so desperate to find it? How had he been able to describe the color of Laci’s eyes so perfectly? It was almost as if he’d actually spent hours looking into them, getting lost in them.

  Whatever had provoked it and pushed his boss over the edge, Victor was pretty certain there were going to be numerous hours spent in psychiatrist’s waiting rooms during the next few months. Considering how hard Donovan was trying to find what didn’t exist, how was the man ever going to let go of the fantasy and face reality?

  The extended silence also gave Victor the opportunity to wonder about his own reality. After years of brief visits, occasional suggestive remarks and quite a few blatant stares, Marion Corbett had finally openly flirted with him. He recalled his earlier statement and - Woo Hoo! - he really was going to end up with the hot cousin.

  He leaned back and allowed his own mind to drift away. The truth was that the picture Donovan had painted sounded pretty damned good. How long had it been since he’d thought about getting married and having a family of his own? Taking care of Donovan and Laci’s kids would be kind of amazing. He loved kids. Hell, he’d been babysitting Donovan for years. The transition would be a snap. He could almost see himself lying on the floor with Jeremy and Matthew, helping to set up those ranch play sets and galloping little plastic horses across pretend meadows or into make-believe barns.

  It all felt so idyllic and perfect. Donovan had dreamed up one hell of an amazing life and Victor wanted to be a part of it, to see the austere and cold Master Donovan Corbett lovingly reading to his son or sitting down to a tea party with his little daughter and a dozen of her best dolls and stuffed animal friends. What a picture!

  Victor shook his head as if to clear his thoughts. Nice as it sounded, he couldn’t permit himself to get caught up in Donovan’s imagination. At the moment, his boss needed him and someone had to stay level-headed. Donovan also needed a dose of honest reality and definitely not someone simply humoring him as he traveled this rather unusual path into some weird, other dimension. Unfortunately, some very hard reality was about to slap Master Donovan and wasn’t that more than a little ironic?

  The car and driver were waiting when the plane landed in Pennsylvania and it was a relatively brief ride to the office of John Grace. How in the hell had Donovan known where to find the man? He actually seemed to believe he’d visited John’s office in the not too distant past. Too bad he was the only one who did believe it.

  Victor had to admire Mr. Grace. He was a little perplexed at receiving the somewhat mysterious call from Donovan Corbett but John was quite cordial and as gracious as his last name. He took time out of his busy day to listen courteously, sympathetically and intently as Donovan explained his dilemma and how he had returned from a trip and discovered his wife and two young children were missing.

  John Grace asked several appropriate questions before he dropped his own bombshell: John didn’t have a daughter named Laci. In fact, John didn’t have any children at all.

  His first marriage had ended in divorce and had not produced any children. When he married again, his second wife had two boys from her previous relationship but John Grace knew nothing about a young woman named Laci Grace Corbett. Why did Donovan seem to be the only one surprised by that fact? Victor would have been willing to bet on it, almost as much as he would have bet on Marion’s hot pink panties.

  Donovan Corbett had tenacity and did his best to convince John that he was mistaken, but John Grace’s responses were too sincere. He was sorry but he didn’t know Laci. She was neither a part of his immediate family nor of his extended family and he simply couldn’t help Mr. Corbett but he wished him well and hoped he was soon reunited with his wife and children. It took every bit of effort Victor could muster to pull Donovan out of the room.

  It was easy to see the uncertainty of the entire situation heavily weighing on his friend and Victor was at a loss as to how he could possibly help Donovan to see the truth. He was a hardworking, serious and solitary individual. He wasn’t a married man. There was no Laci. He wasn’t the father of Matthew and Victoria. There wasn’t a moose, dog, weasel or unicorn anywhere to be found in any of his numerous houses. No matter how much he wanted it to be otherwise, whatever or whoever Donovan was searching for simply didn’t exist.

  And now they were in another car and Victor was driving Donovan to a ranch. As if that wasn’t enough, it was a ranch that he and the nonexistent Laci had visited quite a number of times in the past because she supposedly loved the place. If she was able to persuade Donovan to go within a hundred miles of a ranch, she wasn’t just nonexistent; she was also a damned miracle worker!

  Since leaving John Grace’s office, Donovan had seemed a little depressed, contemplative and lost in his thoughts. Now, as Victor turned the car into the dirt and stone entry, he was surprised to see Donovan suddenly become animated, maybe even excited.

  Once more he was out of the car almost before it stopped and Victor was astonished to see him racing across the yard, completely disregarding the cloud of dust swirling around him, as he headed towards the back of a large, grey, weathered barn. Standing near the car, Victor watched as Donovan flung open a wooden door. Even from a distance, the man’s disappointment was obvious. Again, whatever he had been hoping to find wasn’t there. How much more disappointment could he take?

  “I don’t understand it,” Donovan was saying as he returned to the car. “They’ve turned Laci’s room back into a tack room. Where did they put all her things?”

  “You sure that’s the right place?” Victor asked. “Maybe it’s in one of the other buildings.” He waved his arm indicating the expanse of the ranch. “Everything looks pretty much the same to me.”

  “Yes, I’m sure.” Donovan sounded impatient again. “You knew the story before I did, Victor. You were the one who told me how her parents abandoned her and how she started working here. Why the hell do you think John Grace refused to admit he had a daughter? He’s probably ashamed of how he treated her and he damn well should be. The owners of this place were good to her and converted that room from a tack room to a little apartment so she had a place to live. It wasn’t much but it was clean and she made it very comfortable. Laci and I stayed there every time we came here, in fact, that room was where she kicked me in the balls.”

  “Excuse me?” That statement almost knocked Victor off his feet. How many more surprises were there going to be before this long day was over?

  “It wasn’t her fault. It was just before our first anniversary and Laci and I had a little misunderstanding. You have to remember what happened. It was when Trent shackled himself to me in the sauna.”

&n
bsp; “Donovan, I thought the sauna was in Georgia and I know we’re in Tennessee so how did the sauna get here. Maybe that’s why it wasn’t in Georgia. Damn thing moves all over the place. Could be anywhere. Maybe it missed Trent and went to visit him.”

  “I seem to recall your offer was to assist me, not that you’ve ever been much of an assistant before,” Donovan was growling his annoyance, “so why the hell would I expect you to suddenly become a dependable, wonder assistant now?”

  “Sorry. The whole ball kicking thing just caught me off-guard. Gotta admit, that’s not something I get to see every day. Did I see it? You musta really screwed up to get her that mad at you.”

  “It wasn’t like that, Victor. She didn’t attack me. She came up here and was asleep. I snuck into her room and startled her. She was simply defending herself. Laci made sure there weren’t any permanent injuries. She gave me a tremendous amount of rehab.”

  Victor watched with wide eyes as Donovan actually smiled at his memories. It was probably the first time he’d smiled all day and he was looking suspiciously satisfied. “Rehab?” Victor didn’t try to hide his curiosity. “Exactly what kind of rehab?”

  A voice behind them prevented a response. “Can I help you gentlemen?”

  Donovan and Victor turned to see a man wearing jeans, boots, a plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled above his elbows and a wide-brimmed cowboy hat approaching.

  “You’re the ranch foreman, aren’t you?” Donovan asked. “Do you remember me? Donovan Corbett.” He held his hand out and the two men acknowledged each other. “It’s been a while since I was last here but I’m looking for Laci. Her room used to be over there,” he pointed towards the barn, “but it’s been changed back to a tack room. Which building is she staying in?”

  “Sorry, Mr. Corbett but you must have the wrong spread. That room behind the barn’s been a tack room for as long as I’ve worked here and I don’t know anyone named Laci. I could call around for you and see if she lives on one of the nearby ranches.”

  “No,” Donovan was insistent, “I know it’s this place. She worked here for several years and the owners converted that tack room into a small apartment for her. She won a contest herding cattle and the owners gave her that rock.” Donovan pointed to an uneven and jagged landscape in the far distance. “She took me there a couple of times. We had to ride across that field of wildflowers. She always rides that big, grey horse. Everyone here calls him Ogre but she calls him Prince and she made arrangements to keep Albion here. He’s the white stallion that’s somewhat active in the filly-humping department. He’s sired several foals.” Donovan gazed in the direction he had just been pointing. “Funny but I never noticed how much that formation looks like a tiara. See the way it’s shaped with the tall point in the center? It reminds me of a Prom Queen tiara. That’s very appropriate considering that Laci was a Prom Queen. She still is, as far as I’m concerned. She’ll always be my Prom Queen.” He looked back at the foreman. “I know she hasn’t been here for a while. She just had another baby, a little girl. We’ve brought our son Matthew out here many times and he loves the place. Laci is already teaching him to ride. He’s crazy about Stormy. You know, Prince Ogre’s son.”

  Victor didn’t miss the foreman’s puzzled frown. “Mr. Corbett, I’m not sure what to make of what you just said. I’ve worked here for quite a long time and I don’t know anyone named Laci and no one named Laci has ever worked here.” He nodded to the rock formation. “This ranch property continues for several miles past those rocks but I’m not aware of any contest or of the owner giving any part of this place away as a prize, especially some worthless rock pile. The only reason he hasn’t had the thing blown up is because of the cost. And I’d know if there was a white stallion being boarded here, especially a stud so well liked by our ladies. Sorry, but, there isn’t.”

  “You must be mistaken. I know it was this ranch and I know Laci and I have been here together. I know I rode out to that rock formation. I rode Albion and she rode the growling horse.”

  “Growling horse?” The foreman looked at Victor and Donovan as though he was hoping for some further explanation. “I’m sorry, Mr. Corbett, but I’m a little confused about what exactly you want.”

  “Take a number on that,” Victor muttered under his breath.

  “What I want is to find Laci. I need to find her,” was Donovan’s reply.

  “Mr. Corbett, I know everyone who works on this spread and everyone who visits. I don’t know anyone named Laci and I’ve never seen either of you gentlemen before a few minutes ago. We don’t have a white stallion named Albion offering his services to our female horses. I’m not sure how you know about Ogre although almost everyone in this area knew about him. I know horses, Mr. Corbett and he was a good horse but he was mean and became too dangerous. The owner of this place took him as a favor and hoped to rehabilitate him but it never happened. I used to think Ogre needed just one person he knew he could trust. He’d probably never have stopped being ornery but I think it would have made all the difference for him only that person never came along. He hurt too many of our wranglers and, as much as we hated to, we had to put him down. It’s been a while. I can look up the exact date for you if it’s something you need to know and I’m still willing to call some of the other nearby places to see if they know anyone named Laci but I’m afraid that’s the best I can do for you.”

  Donovan was stunned at the news he’d just heard and Victor took advantage of the opportunity to thank the foreman and usher his boss back to the car. As they pulled away from the ranch, the man in the cowboy hat gave them a wave and a somewhat strange look. Victor waved back and shook his head with more than a little frustration. The look was just one of many strange looks they’d received that day.

  The silence was finally broken when Donovan said, “I can’t believe they euthanized Laci’s horse. She loved that horse and he was disgustingly in love with her. I know he was mean and he hated me but I never had the sense that he was dangerous. He always growled at me but he never would have hurt Laci or Matthew. Never. How am I going to tell her? She’ll be heartbroken.” He was quiet for several minutes and then announced, “We’ll leave for California as soon as they refuel the plane. It should take about three and a half hours to fly into Los Angeles.”

  “Why the hell are we going to California?” Victor demanded to know.

  “Why do you keep asking ridiculous questions?” was the response. “We have to track down Trent. Maybe he’s seen Laci.”

  Victor pulled to the side of the road and turned off the car.

  “What now?” Donovan was angry again. “Hurry up and drive. I want to get to the airport as quickly as possible.”

  “Donovan, stop!” Victor was trying to remain calm. “You have to stop. This can’t go on. You can’t go on. Even if you do manage to find Trent Nichols, why do you think he’s going to know Laci? I don’t know Laci. Marion doesn’t know Laci. John Grace and the guy at the ranch never heard of Laci. You’re the only one, Donovan. You are the only one who knows Laci. Don’t you see? Haven’t you figured out that Laci isn’t real? You need help, Donovan. You can’t keep harassing people and chasing some crazy dream of a life you wish you had. I’ll get you back to Georgia. Marion and I will both be there to help you, to get you whatever help you need. I’ll do whatever I can. I promise.”

  The four words that came out of Master Donovan were low, deep and chilling as ice. “We’re going to California.”

  What was the point of arguing? Considering Donovan’s determination, he probably would get to Trent Nichols but then what? Trent was no more likely to know anything about Laci than anyone else Donovan had spoken to. Where would they be headed after California? An ashram in India? The Serengeti? The lost continent of Atlantis? When was he going to accept the fact that Laci wasn’t real?

  Victor started the car and pulled back onto the road. He didn’t stop until they reached the center of the small town closest to the airport.

  “Now w
hy the hell are you stopping?” Donovan wasn’t in any mood to play games.

  Victor didn’t care. He pulled the key from the ignition and got out of the car. “As usual, you don’t ever think about anyone except yourself. Well, I’ve also been on this trek with you and I happen to be tired, hungry and thirsty. I’ll call ahead and tell them to refuel the plane and then I’m going into that café to get something to eat and something to drink. Join me. Don’t join me. You can walk all the way to California if you think you’ll get there faster. I don’t give a fuck what you do.” The car door slammed.

  Donovan watched Victor stalk away. He heard his own deep sigh being expelled and supposed he was being a little unreasonable but no one, including Victor, seemed to sense the same urgency he felt to find Laci.

  In truth, he was also exhausted but he couldn’t give up. Not yet. He supposed it wouldn’t hurt to take a few minutes and get something to drink. He wouldn’t mind having a cup of strong, black coffee and it would take a while to refuel the jet in preparation for another flight. Victor was a pain in the ass but if he said he’d call and arrange to get the plane ready, he’d do exactly that.

  Donovan got out of the car and walked across the street. He wished Victor’s words would stop echoing in his head: “Haven’t you figured out that Laci isn’t real?” That wasn’t true. Laci was real. She had to be real. They had discovered each other and created a wonderful life and he was going to find her and prove everyone wrong.

  As small towns went, this one seemed pleasant and fairly typical. The street was clustered with a variety of stores and restaurants; people were walking or chatting as they went about their business. He spotted what looked like a crowded coffee shop. That was a good sign. If there were a lot of people the place had to be good and he could use some hot and strong coffee.