Blindfold: The Complete Series Box Set

by M. S. Parker

  My body had shut down on me, and all it knew or understood was sleep.

  If it wasn’t for the fact that I had to pee, I probably would have blissfully ignored the phone indefinitely. I had the kind of brain that let me tune out the things I didn’t need to worry about. A benefit of having grown up in a noisy home. But once my bladder made it known I’d have to get up soon, I slowly and subtly started to drift to wakefulness, even though I ignored even my body’s urgent needs as long as I could.

  A few more minutes.

  I had my face under a pillow and if I could just have a few more minutes…

  Another ring and I yanked the pillow off and lay there, staring up at the ceiling overhead. I wasn’t going to get a few more minutes.

  Then the phone stopped and I sighed at the sudden and welcomed silence.

  After a quick run to the bathroom, I all but dived into bed and hauled my blankets up. I’d been trying to do too much on too little sleep since Isadora had gone missing. I needed the rest.

  Technically, I should have been over at the Lang's house. But Isadora wasn't there. Ash had made it clear that my presence wasn't welcome. I had work that I could do, yes, but I could technically do most of it from here. I didn't think I needed to stress him out more than he already was. I certainly didn't need the added stress of being around him.

  My eyes drifted closed and a dreamy lassitude fell over me. I was hovering in that space between sleep and waking when the damn phone started to ring again, the shrill sound of my landline jarring me back into wakefulness.

  Slowly, I pushed up onto my elbows and stared across the room at the stupid thing.

  Whoever it was, they’d just keep calling and calling…

  The idea didn’t help my voice sound any more pleasant when I finally grabbed it.

  “This had better be important,” I snapped without bothering with a greeting.

  “If it wasn't, do you really think I would've spent forty-five minutes trying to get hold of you?” Ash said his voice cool. There was no doubt it was him. “You sleep like the dead.”

  “I spent two hours making up a final I missed, three hours trying to get my schedule set up for summer session, and then another two hours tutoring some punk who reminded me of you. Except he was ten years younger and a whole hell of lot stupider and he thinks he can be a doctor. At least you didn’t try to do that.” Irritation and lack of sleep tended to have a bad effect on my filter – as in, said filter didn’t work. “And it isn't like I've been sleeping well over the past week. What do you want?”

  There was a pause. “When are you coming over to work?”

  Closing my eyes, I sighed. Was he fucking kidding me? “I’m not. You made it more than clear I’m not wanted there.”

  “You have a job to do. If you want to keep working here once Isadora comes home, I suggest you get your cute ass over here.”

  The threat in his voice made me roll my eyes. “Your sister adores me and she'd have to fire me before my job disappeared and you know it.”

  Wait a minute…had he just called my ass cute?

  “I have news about Isadora. Just get here.” A moment later, the phone slammed so loud, I flinched in reaction.

  Glaring at the handset I still held, I mumbled, “You could have just said that.”

  ***

  I had gotten ready in record time, only bothering with the bare essentials. My hair was still wet when I left the house, and I twined it into a braid once I was on the subway. I didn’t have time to dry it, but if I let it just dry, I’d regret it. The braid was my best bet. If it made me look about sixteen, oh, well. It was better than the pigtails. Those made me look twelve.

  I got to the house on Fifth Avenue in record time and burst inside without knocking. It wasn't until I'd stepped inside that I realized the door had been unlocked.

  And the house was oddly silent.

  None of the staff were around. I paused to look for Doug. The front door seemed kind of naked without him. I called out his name. Only silence echoed back.

  “I gave them the day off,” Ash said from behind me.

  I jumped, spinning around to find him standing right behind me. I’d moved farther into the silent house than I realized.

  “You scared me to death.”

  He lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug.

  I frowned. The normal response to that was an apology.

  He turned and strode into the large salon to the far right of the elegant foyer. I’d been in the room once or twice, but never for more than a minute. To be honest, I didn’t like it. It was informal and uncomfortable and…stiff. Cold, somehow.

  Rather like Ash, I thought.

  “Drink?” He looked up at me from the drink service where he was pouring something for himself.

  “It’s not even two o'clock,” I pointed out.

  “There’s that annoying song…it’s five o’clock somewhere…”

  “You're in an odd mood.”

  “I am.” He tossed back something that glittered amber in the light, and when he turned to me, I caught sight of his eyes. They were the coldest I’d ever seen them. No heat in them at all. Not even anger.

  Slowly, I reached up to rub at my chest. “Please tell me that she hasn’t been…”

  “Still nothing.” He gestured toward a seat. “Please.”

  I didn’t want to. For some reason, all I wanted to do was get out of there. Fast. But I didn't think that was an option. Slowly, I moved over to one of the stiff-backed chairs and sat down. It was as miserable as it looked.

  Ash poured himself another drink and came over to sit down in front of me. He looked like he belonged in that chair.

  I held myself tense, uncertain as to what was going on. He gave me a smile that made my stomach turn. It was cold and brittle.

  “Ash, what’s going–?”

  “Kidnapping, huh? That's your idea of living clean?” He looked at his glass, studying the contents and then tossed it all back before slamming the empty glass down on the table. In a blink, he was in front of me. “Your brother is a fucking kidnapper.”

  “No!” What the hell…who had…no. It didn’t matter, because he was wrong, the story was wrong. Victor had stopped a kidnapping. But nobody wanted to listen to him. He was a thug, a convicted dealer just a couple years out of prison, a few steps up from human trash as far as most people were concerned. He hadn't been charged with anything because there hadn't been any evidence, but the rumors had never gone away, even years later.

  Ash put his hands on the arms of my chair and leaned down so that his face was only inches from mine. “What have you two been planning behind my back, Toni? How did you make it happen? Did you bribe somebody at Winter to help you get close to my sister?”

  “What?” I gaped at him, my head spinning. My heart hammered in my chest; fear an acrid, ugly taste crawling up my throat. “I don't–”

  “I’ve seen the fucking pictures, Toni!”

  Ears ringing from the sheer ferocity of his bellow, I shoved him. He didn’t move. Narrowing my eyes, I leaned back into the seat and brought my feet up. The movement caught him off guard and he didn’t react in time. The double kick sent him stumbling back and I shoved upright. He may have towered over me by more than a foot, but at least I was on my feet now.

  I pointed a finger at him and warned, “Don’t ever try to corner me, Lang.”

  He rubbed at his gut. “How did you do it?” He glared at me.

  “Do what?” I shouted. “I don't know what the fuck you're talking about?!”

  He turned around and grabbed something. A moment later, pictures flew across the room. “Stop the innocent routine. I saw you with him. You’ve met with him more than once.”

  Confused, I looked down…at pictures of Vic and me. We were in the bar in some of them. A few…son of a bitch. He’d had me followed all the way to my parents' house. And it wasn't like before. Not like the time the investigator hadn't been hiding and had just stood around outside; like he'd bee
n confirming that I didn't have some sort of hidden routine. These were close-ups. These were private. Somebody had been looking into the windows of my family's home. I could even place where they must've been standing when the shots had been taken, and it sure as hell hadn't been on public property.

  He’d had me followed. Again. And this time he'd crossed the line.

  Shit. A thought hit me. Vic said he’d had cops following me, but were they cops?

  Or where they Ash’s men? How many did he have?

  I blew out a slow breath, tried to calm myself. He was going through something awful, something I couldn’t imagine. We'd deal with the violation of my privacy later. It didn't mean I still didn't need a moment to reign in my temper.

  “Explain,” he demanded again.

  My hands were shaking with anger and the quaver came through in my voice. I looked up at him. “Explain…you want me to explain?”

  Selecting a photo at random, I turned it and met Ash’s icy gaze. My grasp on my control was tenuous at best.

  “This is Vic and me, having a drink at his favorite bar. We do it two or three times a month.” I scowled at Ash. “I’ll tell you what, your crack-shot investigator isn't worth shit, because if he'd asked around, anyone could tell you that. And sometimes it’s all of us. Me, three of my brothers since Kory can't commute from Michigan. Deacon and Franky sometimes bring their wives. Sometimes I bring whatever guy I’m seeing. Not that any of that is your fucking business!”

  My voice rose with every word, my control slipping, then snapping. I tore the picture in half and grabbed another. My heart felt bruised, shredded, as I saw the image of a Friday night dinner. He’d invaded the sanctity of my parents’ home. Not just my life, but their lives. Reaching up, I traced the edge of my mother’s face. She wasn't completely in the frame since I was the center of the shot, me and Vic, but she was still there.

  “You want a fucking explanation for this? It’s called a family dinner. I’ll be going to one tonight. We do it every Friday evening. Rain or shine. Snow, sleet or hail. It's my family.” The picture fell from numb fingers and I looked at him, suddenly empty. “What else do you want from me?”

  “Tell me where she is. I’ll pay whatever you want. Just tell me where she is.” His voice was so cold.

  I stared at him as it hit me. He wasn’t just lashing out or grasping at straws. He was serious. He thought I had something to do with this. That my family and I…

  For a second, I couldn’t feel anything, couldn’t even think.

  A disgust so thick and all-consuming settled inside me, I thought it might choke me. But I didn’t know who it was directed at. Him…or me.

  I’d had him inside me. Maybe I hadn't exactly been thinking clearly. But I’d liked him. Some parts of him, at least. I'd told myself that after all he'd been through, it was understandable that he'd put up some walls. I'd told myself that, deep down, he was a good guy. I'd counted on my usually accurate insight into people and it had let me down. How could I have taken a man so callow, so selfish inside me? How could I have not seen the sort of man he truly was?

  “You son of a bitch,” I whispered, my voice thick. I started to shake as I stared at him. I’d let him put his hands on me. His mouth. I'd comforted him. “You monstrous, evil son of a bitch.”

  “Cut the shit, Toni!” His green eyes glinted as he glowered at me. Fury practically radiated off him and that only made me angrier. He wasn't the wronged party here.

  We’d hadn't exchanged deep, heartfelt words of longing, but I’d…hell. I liked sex. A lot. But I'd never been flippant about it. I’d always prided myself on my discernment when it came to choosing who would share my bed. How could I have been so wrong?

  He stalked toward me and shot out a hand, grabbing my arm and jerking me close to him. I didn’t even fight. I didn't have it in me. I was still reeling from the betrayal.

  His fingers dug into my arm, leaving bruises as he bit each word off, “Where. Is. She.”

  “I don't know.” I stared into his eyes and it was like looking at a stranger. Sick inside, I said, “I like your sister. I would never hurt her.”

  His fingers tightened, just a little and he tugged me closer until there was less than an inch between our bodies. “That’s your final answer?”

  I just stared up at him. How could he think that of me? Had all of this only been an act?

  “Lieutenant.” His voice, so cool and calm now, sounded out of place.

  I jerked away and surprisingly, he let me go.

  He let me go.

  Spinning around, I half-stumbled at the sight of the cop standing there. Her name escaped me. She slid a look from me to the man at my back. There was a curious look on her face. Later, I’d remember it. Later. Much later.

  “Go on.”

  At first, I thought he was talking to me.

  But then the cop looked at me. “Miss Gallagher, we’d like you to come into the station and answer some questions.”

  “About what?” I demanded as several uniformed officers swarmed me. One of them took my elbow. I jerked away, even though I knew better. Common sense and logic were taking a backseat to all of the shit going through my head.

  “Miss Gallagher,” the lieutenant said, her voice calm. “We just have some routine questions.”

  “Then ask them here,” I said. “I answered questions here before.”

  “Get her out of here!” Ash bellowed.

  I shot him an ugly look.

  When I shifted my attention back to the lieutenant, I caught sight of something in her eyes. Regret.

  She looked from me to Ash and then back at me.

  I knew then that I was in trouble.

  Vic's words came back to me. Money doesn’t talk…it sings….

  I looked around at the cops circling me, surrounding me. My chest tightened and I could barely breathe. Why was this happening? The question had a tinge of hysteria in it. Was I paying for Vic's mistakes? Again. God forgive me…I loved my brother, but I’d paid for his mistakes enough. Too many judged me by the things he had done. And what Ash had thought he knew about Vic…that wasn’t even the truth. My brother had been innocent. Was innocent. And so was I.

  But it looked like that didn't matter to anyone. Who cared if I was some scapegoat because I had a brother who'd done some dumb shit years ago? Nobody, that's who. I didn't have money. My family wasn't important. These cops didn't care if they hurt the people I loved, so long as the ones with money and power got what they wanted. Ash didn't care who got hurt, as long as people did what he told them to do.

  Something inside me snapped, and when the cop to my left touched my elbow, I jerked back.

  His jaw tightened and he gave me a look I knew too well.

  I lifted my chin.

  I was done.

  The entire room went quiet.

  “Miss, you need to get control of yourself and come with me,” he said, his voice flat. He reached out again and I took a step back.

  “Yeah? You’ve yet to give me a reason.” I curled my lip and said, “I know my damn rights. You want to take me somewhere? Tell me what the problem is. What’s the damn evidence against me?”

  He went to catch my arm again and I smacked at his hand.

  “Don't touch me,” I warned. “Unless you have an arrest warrant, don't fucking touch me again.”

  “Toni, for fuck’s sake.” Ash’s snarl barely even registered.

  “That’s it.” It came from the tired-looking brunette at my side.

  When she caught my arm, I acted without thinking. I pivoted and swung, driving my fist into her nose. I heard it crunch, saw the blood spurt out…and then I was thrown to the ground.

  I wished it would've been Ash. And I wished I would've done a lot worse to him than just messing up his nose.

  Chapter 10

  Ash

  I felt sick.

  As Toni was half-dragged out of the salon, I leaned against the bar service and stared at the blood on the carpet. That wa
s going to be hell to get out.

  “Are you okay?”

  Automatically, I started to answer, but when I looked up, I saw that Special Agent Marcum was talking to the cop with the bloody nose.

  “Crazy bitch,” the officer said, her words thick and distorted.

  An instinctive response leaped to my lips and I had to clench my jaw to keep from saying that Toni had warned them not to touch her. It didn't matter what she'd said. They only cared about what she'd done.

  A few moments later, the rest of the NYPD gang had been cleared out by Marcum's two agents. One of her people followed the cops outside, eying the bleeding brunette, but Marcum hadn’t budged from her spot by the door.

  “Why are you here?” I snapped at Marcum. “Don’t you want to horn in on the action?”

  “Sure. When there’s action. But I know guilty and the girl? She isn't guilty.” She hesitated a moment, and then tipped her head at me. “Are you proud of yourself for that set-up, Mr. Lang?” She actually sounded curious.

  “I didn’t do shit,” I bit off. “She’s the one who helped somebody – probably her brother – kidnap my sister.”

  “Like hell she did.” Marcum rolled her eyes and planted her hands on her hips. “If that girl is any kind of criminal, then I’m Lady Gaga. You tried to throw your weight around with me to get to her, and it didn’t work, so you sicced your boys in blue on her.”

  She paused and I just stared at her, refusing to even blink.

  “What did you do, call the mayor?”

  Something in my face must've given me away, though I didn't know what, because Marcum made a disgusted sound.

  “Wow. That’s impressive. I wouldn’t do what you wanted, so you shook your money around and intimidated people into violating that girl's rights.”

  “That’s not–” I snapped my jaw shut as a red flush climbed up my cheeks. This was bullshit. It didn’t matter what my methods had been if I found my sister. Period.

  But the burn of humiliation did nothing to help the anger in my gut at all. I didn’t want to feel like I was in the wrong here. But I kept seeing Toni’s eyes. I couldn’t wipe away the memory of the betrayed look on her face.

  “Just shut up,” I said, shaking my head.