It didn’t take me long to piece together the puzzle. Plain as day, she ran from him, from her life there. It just happened to occur after her mother died and her boyfriend was killed.
What Willow doesn’t realize is that you can’t ever run from being who you are.
Chapter Two
Willow
Every day of my life is constantly repetitive. Constantly the same cycle being repeated over again and again. Today I decided to change things up a bit, though. My friend, Marsha talked me into downloading one of those stupid free dating apps, kind of like Tinder, but not quite the same. The men and women on here are definitely looking for more than a quick fuck, but nothing too serious. I don’t think I’m ready for any rings or wedding bells, but it’s a great option to get my feet wet in the meantime.
I take a quick whirl around the bakery, making sure that I don’t see a crumb left in sight and double check that the front windows and door are fingerprint-less. Kids are constantly pressing their dirty little fingers up against the glass, and no matter what I can never seem to keep it clean for long. Multiple times in the day I find myself wiping it down, but that’s just my OCD. My mother did the same thing. I guess I can’t really help it.
It's just passed six in the evening, and I’ve just locked the front door. All of the leftover treats from today will end up going on sale for fifty percent off tomorrow morning, and if they aren’t sold by noon, then I’ll take the leftovers down to the homeless shelter. I even have a program here at the bakery that allows customers to pay it forward in a sense and buy a pastry for a homeless person. Every Saturday I tally up how much was paid for, usually adding a few dozen extra, and take it down for a big drop off. I can’t tell you how happy they are to see me. Sometimes, I don’t just take it down to the shelter, though, I always end up taking a few treats next door for Duncan and his associates.
He moved in a few months ago; a really nice tech guy. He’s helped me a couple times with my own computer problems and even helped me re-vamp the bakery’s website. Delish has a totally new look, and he’s to thank for that. He refused to let me pay him, so I bring him over goodies when they haven’t been bought. He even comes in for eclairs and pastries in the morning as well. Every day like clockwork.
I turn off the lights, box up a few cherry danishes, and quickly run upstairs to change into my dress. I’m going out with a guy named Scott. His profile seemed decent enough, and he didn’t look like a serial killer, so I figured what the hell. Why not give it a go? I haven’t been out on a serious date in years, and that has a lot to do with my past. I don’t know when I’ll be ready for something real, or if I ever will be again. The past has a way of haunting you, even if whatever you’re doing is trying to move on and be the happiest person that you can be.
I change into a sapphire blue, bodycon dress and slide a black army style anorak jacket. It’s light but heavy enough if I get a chill. I slide on a pair of black pumps and walk downstairs, grab the box of danishes, and pull my purse against me, digging in it to find my keys so I can lock the door behind me. Just as I fish for my keys, I can feel his presence around me. If I didn’t know him, he’d give me the chills or make me jump in my place. Hell, sometimes he does. I don’t know what it is about him, but there’s something that tells me Duncan is more than meets the eye.
“Good evening,” I say to him, just as I lock the door, and I hand him the box of goodies. “These were left over. Figured that you and the boys would enjoy dessert tonight.”
He smirks, one that would make most women drop their panties. “If you keep feeding us like this, we’re all going to put on twenty pounds.”
I laugh, “That’s what you said last time. I haven’t seen any of you gain an inch.”
“Because we’re all sweating it out at the gym.” Duncan mutters under his breath.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, curious as to why he’s on my doorstep.
I gather that my question has caught him off guard. “I just wanted to see if you’d like to go grab something for dinner.” His answer shocks me. Does he mean like a date? I contemplate asking him before he answers for me.
“I think it would be good to have a follow up meeting and see if you had any questions regarding the new website. I know last time you were a little confused on the upgrades and security measures that I changed.”
Oh, a business meeting. Duncan takes a good look at me, eyes slowly dissecting my body, or maybe he’s imagining what’s under this dress of mine. “But…you look like you have plans tonight.”
I smile, trying to be the most positive as I can about going out. I haven’t done it in ages and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit nervous about it. “Yeah. I have a date tonight.”
“A date?” he questions, furrowing his brows together.
“Yes. You know, I’m kind of a catch.”
“Someone suddenly became a little cocky.” He chuckles, covering his hand over his mouth as he shakes his head.
“I’m not cocky. I just know my worth. There’s no harm in acknowledging that.”
“Very true.”
A car suddenly comes to a stop, and the sound of brakes being slammed make both Duncan and I look out in the direction of where it came from. Out steps a man….in fact, the man I’m supposed to be going out with tonight. “Scott?” I say, getting a bit nervous. He does not look anything like his profile. This guy must’ve eaten an entire human. Maybe he ate Scott…
“Hey, babycakes. Ready for a wild night? I’ve been craving an eggroll.”
I look over to Duncan, shivering on the inside and wanting to vomit at his racist pick up line. I’m Korean – not fucking Chinese. Bloody Hell. “You might want to get back in your car before I break your legs.”
“No need for that, mate. C’mon in, you can join the fun, and we’ll take turns quenching our cravings later. Bet you’re a girl who loves a good train. Yeah?”
My mouth gapes open in complete shock. I don’t know why because it’s not like I’m the virgin Mary or anything, but damn….I’ve never met someone so crass in my entire life. He’s saying this on the street for pete’s sake.
“Turn around now before I break your legs and then beat you into a bloody pulp for speaking to Willow this way,” Duncan seethes, clenching his jaw and seeing his fists balled up at his sides.
“I appreciate the whole ‘Willow is a damsel in distress’ crap, but I can handle this on my own,” I tell Duncan, rolling my eyes. It’s sweet what he did, but this isn’t the nineteenth century. I’ve been handling assholes my entire life. I can handle Scott, or this cannibalistic worm. Whatever he is. “Fuck off, Scott. There’s a Chinese buffet down the road. Good luck with that ravenous appetite of yours.”
“Guess you’re free for dinner now,” Duncan chuckles lowly under his breath. “In the mood for Chinese?”
I laugh, “Hell no. Take me where you take all the ladies,” I joke, linking my arm with his, we step off onto the street and begin to walk away from Scott who’s cursing and grumbling up a storm.
“I can’t. It’s closed.”
I put the pieces together rather quickly. “Bullshit. You don’t bring any girls to the bakery.”
“No, not talking about the bakery. Someplace different, but I know a nice place nearby. I hope you’re hungry, Willow.”
“Starved.”
Chapter Three
Duncan
I didn’t plan for last night to go the way in did in any sense of the word. I’m here to work for fucks sake, and instead I find myself actually being interested in the woman I’m supposed to be protecting. The only reason I’m here is because Kristof told me to be. He wanted his best man to watch his daughter, closely, but I do wonder if I’m watching her too closely now. I didn’t have to take her out to dinner last night. No, I wanted to do that. It’s making me realize that I’m going to be in deep shit very soon because I can sense how out of hand this is going to get.
That fucking skeezeball made me want to plummet
my fist through his face, in more ways than one. She ended up telling me later on how she signed up for a dating website. I don’t know if it’s the employee in me that disliked it, seeing as how there are obvious threats against her in the first place. Or, if it’s just that I don’t want her dating anyone. Her safety is at risk, which is why I’m here in the first place. Willow just isn’t privy to any of that information yet, and while I hope that she never has to be, I know better. Kristof’s health has been going down the shitter for months now. I can hear it in his voice. I get reports back from my men in London. He’s looking far worse than when I left to come to Melbourne, and it’s only a matter of time.
I know what I’ll have to end up doing to Willow, and no matter how hard I try, nothing will prepare me for that. She has a life here, one that she’s built for herself out of nothing. She isn’t aware that I know far more about her than just any friendly neighbor, but like I said, that will change soon. Kristof is dying, and Willow is his only remaining heir. A bastard child of the Romanian Clans, and the only person who can take over for him after he dies. Personally, I think she ran half way across the world because she wants nothing to do with her father or his lifestyle. I can’t say that I blame her for that, but regardless, this decision isn’t up to her. Her hand will be forced whether she wants the seat or not. If she had any living siblings, then it would be different, then they could take it from her. Unfortunately for Willow, she doesn’t have the luxury of that option. All of her siblings have been slaughtered, and Kristof fears that she’s next.
Harris comes up next to me, “Boss. Domn is on the phone and would like to speak to you.”
I nod and take the phone from his hands. “Domn, it’s unlike you to call Harris instead of me directly.”
I hear a faint sound of coughing in the background. “You aren’t usually so hard to get ahold of, Duncan. I’ve been trying to reach you for the last hour. I need an update on my daughter.”
I run my hand across my face thinking about the night prior and how I let my personal feelings for her cloud the way I conduct myself. “She’s doing very well, her bakery is still successful, and she’s continuing to work all the time.”
“Good. There has been chatter amongst the clan leaders, we’re working on identifying who is behind the killings but as of yet nothing has been definitive. More threats have been made, and not just against Willow. I’ll be frank with you, Duncan. I fear for her safety, and you need to bring her back home soon. Something uneasy is settling inside me, almost like trouble is around the corner.”
“Understood, Sir.” I take a glance up at the security monitors that we have located throughout the bakery, Willow’s apartment and in the street and alleyway surrounding us. That’s when I notice the same van has been sitting across the street from Delish for well over an hour. “I have to go, Domn. I will speak to you again soon with an update.” I hang up on Kristof and turn my head back to Harris. “Have you seen this van before?” I ask, pointing to the screen.
Harris shakes his head from left to right, but Marcos speaks up, “They were parked in the same spot two days ago.”
I furrow my brows together, contemplating. “Did you see any activity? People going to and from the van with equipment, or were they just idling the entire time?”
“Idling.” Marcos is quick with his reply, and I scoff. Bastard knows better. I don’t have to tell him that he should’ve said something to me prior because he already knows. I can wait to rip him a new asshole until later. What I can’t wait on is trying to figure out what kind of threat this is. Like Kristof said, trouble is around the corner.
I stand up from my seat, grab the laptop that I “work” on sometimes next door in the bakery, and look to both Harris and Marcos. “Be prepared for anything. Make sure all exits are clear and that we aren’t sitting ducks. I don’t like this shit one bit, and Kristof just told me unsettling news.” Neither of them are privy to the information that I am, so I’m unable to tell them what I know. They just have to trust me and do their jobs effectively.
I walk out of my building and head directly into Delish. Willow waves her hand from behind the counter. “Hmm. A little odd that you’re here at this hour.”
“Wifi’s down next door. You don’t mind if I take a seat, do you?” I ask her, knowing that she won’t care. My wifi is fine. Willow, on the other hand, isn’t.
“Sure. Let me get you a coffee and something yummy.”
“Willow, you don’t have to do that,” I grumble, rolling my eyes at how sweet the girl is.
“Nonsense. You still won’t let me pay you, so I insist on giving you free food and drinks. Have you had lunch yet?”
I shake my head, “No. Not yet.”
“Perfect. I’ll heat up a fresh meat pie for you.”
I don’t bother arguing with her. She’s one of the most bullheaded women that I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. It’s just a waste of my time and energy.
Willow brings me over a hot coffee along with the promised meat pie soon after. I watch the van from the corner of my eyes closely and as each minute passes us by I become more concerned. I pull my phone out from my pocket and text the boys, informing them to be on standby and to have Kristof’s jet ready to leave at a moment’s notice. I look over to Willow who is smiling, tidying up as she always does, and I can’t help but wonder if she’ll be the same woman when I rip her from this place…or will she turn rabid like a dog?
From the corner of my eye, I can see the van door open, and two men come barreling out. I don’t miss the guns in their hands, and that’s all the confirmation I need to get Willow the hell out of here. “Willow, get out the back door. Now!” I scream at her, shooting up from my seat as I head towards the counter.
She looks at me with confusion across her face. “What? Why?”
I look back to me and see the men making headway, almost at the entrance of the bakery. “Damn it.” I grab onto her shoulder, squeeze and tug her along with me. “I don’t have time to explain everything. I work for your father, and if you don’t come with me, then you’ll be dead in less than five minutes.” I feel her tense up but continue to drag her with me because there is no other option. If she insists on staying behind, then I’ll happily throw her ass in the back of the SUV that Marcos has parked behind the shop. I just hope she doesn’t make me do that. We both make our way out the back door, and the SUV is already running with both Harris and Marcos inside. I open the back door and make sure Willow is in before I jump in behind her and Marcos takes off.
Shit just got real.
Chapter Four
Willow
I cling onto the leather seats as if my own life depends on it. Every memory of the past few months is replaying in my mind like a movie, every conversation I’ve had with him…every single time he’s walked into the bakery. Nothing makes sense right now. Not one damn thing. Duncan just told me that he works for my father, right before he threw me into the back of this SUV that is. I don’t remember much movement or anything directly after. I’m too caught up in my own mind to pay attention to whatever is happening around me.
Closing my eyes tightly, I try not to think about every lie that’s come from his mouth. Or about how much I’m wondering if anything he told me was ever the truth. He works for my father…which means he can’t be trusted. It’s as plain and simple as that.
I want nothing to do with my father. I think that my actions have shown him that. For fucks sake, there’s a reason I flew half way across the world to start a new life of my own. All he ever did was give me grief and agony, and when he wasn’t doing that, others managed to do it for him. I only felt one thing in London.
Loss.
One person can only take so much before they crumble into a million little pieces. Deaths back to back can do that to a person. For once, I gained the courage to move out of the U.K. and to Australia after being accepted into pastry school. It was my one chance out and onto something greater, so I took it and never looked back.<
br />
For some reason I decide to look out of the window, to distract myself from being stuck in my own head and see that we’ve pulled off into a private air strip. I’m so familiar with them but haven’t been to one in years. There wasn’t a need to be at one until now. The only thing in common is that now my father has suddenly decided to re-enter my life in a sense. “I don’t want to go with you,” I inform Duncan, glaring at him like it will change my fate. I know better, though. It won’t do me any good.
He doesn’t say a word, but simply looks at me. It’s odd, how I feel like he wants to let me go but he won’t. Almost as if he doesn’t like the task he’s been given.
“I’m not boarding that plane,” I inform him as sternly as possible.
He chuckles, taking his hand back and running it through his hair. “I don’t give a damn what you say, Willow. Your ass is going to be on that plane one way or another. I’ll fucking tranquilize you if I have to. Do you realize what it is that happened today?”
I search his eyes for answers. It’s been years, of course, I don’t know what happened, but I’m also not dumb. Those people were trying to kill me. I just don’t know why.
Duncan slides his hand around the back of my neck and grips roughly, opening the car door and tugging me out alongside with him. Marcos and Harris both exit the SUV as well and head towards the small plane I see off in the distance. “You’re taking me back to London.” I say it aloud, knowing it to be nothing other than the truth.
“To your father, yes.”
He takes a few steps forward, and I struggle to keep up with his long strides. I decide to stop, not wanting to take any part in this. “I don’t want to go back to him, and that’s that. There’s a reason I left, Duncan. Can’t you understand that?” I look directly into his eyes, searching for something. I’m not really sure what I’m looking for, maybe a shred of the person that I thought I knew.
Anguish Page 27
