by Brooke Page
He cocked his head to the side, his eyes narrowing slightly. “What would your downfall be?”
I cowered, taken aback by his personal question. “I’m not sure,” I answered softly.
He straightened in his seat, crossing one leg over his knee. “Probably because you don’t have any.”
“How would you know?” I challenged, taking a sip of my water.
“I’m very good at reading people.” His stare became intense, the irises of his eyes becoming bigger with each passing second. It made me feel uncomfortable, as if he were attempting to penetrate into my mind, trying to decode and analyze every thought and decision streaming through it.
I didn’t like it.
“I see you’ve been spending time with Vance,” he pointed out, breaking his trans fixation on me to take a sip of his wine. I was thankful for the change of subject.
My shoulders relaxed and butterflies formed in my stomach. “Yes.”
A grin slipped from behind his wine glass. Setting it down, he licked his lips. “Spending enough time together to be an item?”
“I don’t know,” I mumbled, averting my gaze to the ocean.
He chuckled. “You don’t have to be embarrassed about him. He’s mentioned your name a few times.”
My eyes fluttered back to his. I didn’t think Vance even talked to his father outside of business discussions. From the little bit he disclosed with me, I assumed their relationship was forced, if there was even one at all.
Marcus leaned forward, setting his elbows on the table. “Are you surprised he talks about you?”
I shrugged my shoulders.
“He’s the strong, silent type. Don’t let him fool you, he has a heart. We both do.”
I crossed my arms, squeezing my biceps with my palms. Hearing this from Marcus wasn’t what I wanted, I needed to be hearing it from Vance.
His brows furrowed. “I haven’t upset you, have I?”
I shook my head. “No, you took the words from my mouth. How he’s the silent type. Excuse me, but I need to use the restroom.”
His lip quirked upward on one side of his mouth. “Go ahead. Would you like something besides water? I’ll order one of those pretty drinks with an umbrella.”
Tucking my hair behind my ears, I gave him a subtle smile. “Sure.”
I was light on my feet heading to the bathroom, a chill creeping down my spine the entire walk. Eyes were on me, and the growing discomfort in this situation was becoming more evident. I needed a break to collect my thoughts.
Thankfully, I was the only one in the small restaurant bathroom. I stared at myself in the mirror, my reflection different from what it was a few days ago after being with Vance. My skin was darker from the sun, but my eyes weren’t nearly as bright. I hated how I was letting a man have this effect on me.
My back pocket buzzed, and I reached into it, not sure who would be sending me a text. I doubted it would be Vance. He’d already reached his Rileyum amount of texts for the day.
Marcy: Where did you go? Colt is being an asshole.
I smirked. Honeymoon phase must be over.
I’m eating dinner. I’ll be back to YaYa’s in an hour or so.
Marcy: We need a girl’s night tonight.
Yes we do. Let’s grab a movie and some ice cream when I get back.
Marcy: Sweet. That’ll give me time to ditch Colt. Uh!
I shook my head and smiled. She’d forgive him by the end of the night.
When I put my phone back in my pocket, it rang, and my heartbeat quickened with the name spreading across the screen.
“Hey, Colby.”
“Hi. I hope it’s okay I called.”
Guilt rushed through me. “Don’t ever be unsure about calling me. I should have called you sooner.”
He chuckled on the other side of the phone. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t want to infringe on your time, but it’s good to hear your voice.”
I leaned against the sink, crossing one arm over my stomach. Hearing Colby’s voice brought a sense of security. “Yours, too.” I swallowed. “Have you heard from my mom since you brought her home from the hospital?”
“I’ve been keeping an eye on her, making sure she’s taking the right amount of meds and doing what the doctor instructed.”
A frown formed on my face. “I’m sorry. She’s probably been a real pain in the ass.”
He laughed. “Nothing I can’t handle. She keeps asking about you, wanting to know where you’ve run off too.”
I clenched my jaw. There was only one place I’d escape too, and I’d told her many times. You’d think she’d be able to figure it out. “Thanks for not telling her.”
“Of course. She keeps asking about us, though.” I sensed his smirk. “I told her it was a mystery for everyone.”
I grinned, but dabbed away moisture from my eyes. “You’re too good to me.”
“No, I treat you how you deserve to be treated. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, you’re worth the wait, Lo. Come home when you’re ready.”
The lump of guilt doubled in size in my throat. “Can I call you tonight? I promise we’ll talk more,” I choked. “I’m in the middle of something right now.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
“Bye.” I shoved my phone back in my pocket, fanning my face and taking deep breaths. I needed to get my act together and figure out what was best for me.
Marcus was looking through his phone when I came back to the table.
“Sorry, I had to take a call.” A pink drink was placed in front of me, and a basket with bread rolls were in the middle of the table.
“It’s not a problem. I was catching up on a few things as well.” He eyed the drink in front of me. “I hope you like what I ordered. It was actually Vance’s mom’s favorite drink.”
A smile tugged on my lips when Marcus’s features softened. Vance reacted the same way when he talked about her.
Grabbing the drink, I held it in front of me, stirring it with the straw and dumping the orange slice and strawberry into the mixture. “She must’ve been a wonderful woman.”
Marcus watched me intently. “That she was.”
I smelled the drink, then refrained from taking a sip. “There isn’t any alcohol in this, is there?”
Marcus laughed. “No, sweetheart. I don’t condone under-age drinking, unlike a lot of the bars around here.”
I let out a giggle, feeling silly for thinking a savvy business man like himself would order me an illegal drink. “What’s in it, anyway?”
He sucked in his cheeks, his eyes never leaving mine. “A mixture of fruit juices, most of them fresh squeezed. Let’s see if you can guess.”
Smiling, I tilted the drink to my lips, letting the cool, crisp liquid flow into my mouth. It was citrusy. It was refreshing.
“What’s this called?”
He grinned, then his gaze found the waitress who was headed our way carrying a tray full of food. “The house special. I ordered a few different dishes for us. I hope you don’t mind.”
I took another sip. Man, this drink was delicious. “Works for me.”
The waitress placed the variety of foods in front of us, and my mouth watered. I hadn’t eaten all day, and the various seafood looked divine. Everything between fresh and fried, fancy and greasy combined.
“She’s going to need another drink,” Marcus told the waitress, his eyes finding me again. “Help yourself, Lauren.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. I scooped fried calamari and shrimp on my plate, stuffed mushrooms and freshly caught fish. Marcus only watched me.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” I asked before shoving a shrimp in my mouth.
The smirk forming on his face was different than the ones before. It was shark like, and I should have been afraid of it, but for whatever reason, I didn’t have a care in the world. I bit the shrimp before he answered me back, my senses in overdrive from its crisp, taste of the sea.
“Once I’m do
ne with my glass of wine, but please, go ahead.” He reached for the server, tapping her on the arm before she left. “Would you bring us the check when you get a chance?”
I sucked my finger, taking another sip of the drink, along with a long blink. My worries about Vance, Colby, my mother, were all being washed away with this drink and the amazing food.
“So, about Vancy,” he asked. The mention of his name made me giddy, my skin beginning to tingle. “Are you going to see him tonight?”
I sighed, my eyes fluttering closed, reminiscing about his touch. My thighs began to tingle, and I was ready to hop on a plane and surprise him in California. With my clothes off, lying on his hotel bed with my legs open and ready for him.
I touched my exposed leg, the sensitivity overpowering me. I had to stifle a moan from my lips.
Marcus chuckled, pulling me slightly from my fantasy. “You want to see him tonight, don’t you?”
I squeezed my thighs together. “I haven’t seen him in a while.”
Marcus smirked, then his gaze passed over my head, his grin widening from whatever he was focusing on. I ignored his weird reaction, cramming another piece of battered shrimp in my mouth.
Chapter Eight
Vance
I was sure my blood was pumping at warp speed in an unhealthy way. Lauren going off on her own wasn’t a part of the plan, and my gut was telling me she was in trouble, and I didn’t have a lot of time.
Once I realized what restaurant she was at, my heart sank even more. Marcus had her, it was where he took his clients, and the ache in the pit of my stomach was about to rip me apart. It was forty minutes away, and my wheels wouldn’t turn fast enough. Every scenario ran through my head, and the fear of her little dot on my phone leaving the restaurant and heading north was eating me alive.
Even though I was furious with Colt’s fuck up, he was almost to the restaurant, dropping Marcy off at YaYa’s so he could tail Marcus if necessary, and intervene depending on what he saw. It could get him killed, but at this point, I didn’t fucking care. We wouldn’t be in this situation if he had been doing his job.
My palm found my forehead, rubbing it damn near raw while I raced. I wanted to call her, but I had to stay true to my alibi. I was surprising her, leaving my ‘conference’ early so I could be with her. I only hoped I’d get to explain myself to her.
Finally, I’d made it to the restaurant on the outside of The Shore, my heart slowing when I saw Colt’s car parked by Marcus’s SUV. I sped into the parking spot next to his SUV, rushing out of my truck and peering into the back of Marcus’s seat. I blew out a quick breath, thankful she wasn’t passed out, then sprinted up the steps. I was halted by a big body.
“Mr. Vance, your pops is in a meeting,” Percy announced as he stepped in front of me. “You’ll have to wait out here for him and his client.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Percy, get the fuck out of my way.”
He glared down at me. “Boss says no one’s allowed to interrupt him.”
I poked his chest, a dangerous move I was willing to make, considering he could body slam me in the matter of two seconds. “I’m different. He’s got my Dove in there, now move.”
Percy stood still, and all I wanted to do was throat punch him. I needed to find another way inside. Tossing my sunglasses over my eyes, I ran back to my truck, pacing back and forth, well aware he was watching me. Colt stepped out of his car, walking passed me without acknowledgement. I knew what he was doing, and my graces might come around if he could pull this off and distract the meathead who was guarding the door.
I stood facing the restaurant, keeping my head forward but my eyes cocked to the side to watch Colt interact with Percy. I didn’t know what he was saying, but he was breaking through his thick skin, even getting his white teeth to show against his dark skin. When he threw his head back and laughed at Colt, I bolted to the back side of the restaurant, searching for a different door. Finding where the cooks were having a smoke break, I gave them a nod and flew inside. They didn’t say anything, only began laughing with each other as I plowed through the doorframe. The restaurant was outdated in its décor, servers dressed more elegant than the faded walls. I searched the space, knowing exactly where he was sitting, moving as fast as I could without being noticed by any other of his henchmen who were most likely lurking.
Then I saw the back of her head, her blonde hair gently whisking in the breeze, and my sick-fuck of a father grinning at her as if he were about to eat her whole.
I broadened my shoulders and moved toward them. He was clear in my sight and his snake-like smirk made an appearance when he met my gaze.
“Speaking of the devil.” He smiled, leaning back in his chair and pointing toward me.
I stood behind Lauren, afraid to see her face. I saw the half full glass of the pink drink, and I clenched my jaw and dug my nails into my palms.
“What are you doing here?” He asked, a full-blown smile on his face. “Lauren and I were about to discuss her advancement in our company.” He motioned for me to sit down next to him on the empty seat, but I ignored him.
“Vance?” Lauren’s silky smooth voice whispered. I gulped, lowering my head. I felt her move, and before I knew it, she was on her feet, inches from me, her scent surrounding me. “What are you doing back? I thought… you weren’t coming home until… Friday?”
The speed of her voice was slower, and I could tell she was focusing on each word spewing from her mouth. She was creeping toward me, chest rising. When I touched her forearm to settle her, a hitch came from her breath. I glanced at her. She was biting her lip, her eyelids fluttering closed.
Marcus laughed under his breath.
I ground my teeth, locking my arm around her wrist. “Lauren, I’m going to take you home.”
She giggled, her hand slowly reaching toward my pec. Once she found the cotton of my shirt, she flexed her fingers, and a subtle moan escaped her lips.
I glared at Marcus, then took Lauren’s other hand, cautiously leading her toward the exit.
Marcus stood, straightening his suit and following us.
Lauren’s head rested on my shoulder as she slowly walked along side me. The drug he gave her was kicking in, and she wouldn’t be able to control herself in the matter of minutes.
“Don’t leave yet,” Marcus warned as we breezed passed a chattering Colt and an enthused Percy. Colt’s eyes flickered between Lauren and me, and I could see the color slowly drain from his face. Now maybe he would take his job a little more seriously. He’d never witnessed the potent drug Marcus saved for his Doves.
I wrapped an arm around Lauren’s waist, and she groaned, turning into me before I could open the door to my truck. Her head was tilted upward, her mouth parted and her eyes closed. I held her face with both my hands. “Lauren, you need to listen to me. I want you to sit in the truck. I’ll be back in a minute to take you home.”
Her eyes were slits as they gazed up at me, her hands snaking around my waist, one slipping under my shirt to touch my skin. She shuddered, pressing her body against mine. She was searching for friction.
I grabbed her wrists, putting distance between us. The drug was taking over, and I needed to hurry.
“Don’t leave me,” she whimpered, fighting the space between us. I quickly opened the door, pushing her up and into the seat. Her lips searched for any inch of my skin, her tongue darting out and licking the side of my neck when I buckled her seat belt.
Once she was buckled, I cradled her jaw, trailing my thumb along her bottom lip. “Open your eyes,” I demanded, pulling my thumb away just enough so she couldn’t wrap her succulent lips around it.
She lazily did, the haze in her eyes apparent.
“I’ll be right back,” I promised, then moved my hand, causing her to let out another whimper. I slammed the door, turning to find Marcus smoking a cigar on the sidewalk.
He was smirking. “I’ll follow you to the Cage.”
I stomped toward him. “She’s my
Dove, I’ll decide when she goes,” I growled. “I told you, I didn’t want to do this until I met her buyer.”
He puffed his cigar. “I thought you needed a push.”
I was in his face now. “The only thing I need from you, is to back the fuck off, and let me do my job.”
He held his cigar between his fingers, his eyes narrowing at me. “Watch your tone, son. Don’t forget who’s in charge here.”
“Don’t forget who helps keep it that way,” I sneered. “Let me do my job while you worry about yours. Don’t ever give her that pink shit again.”
I turned on my heels, heading for the driver’s side of my truck.
He called after me in a calm, deathly murmur. “See you tomorrow night.”
Meeting his eyes before I found my seat, I nodded.
My heart hammered when I started the truck and backed out of the parking lot. Marcus’s eyes were now covered with sunglasses, but I knew he was watching me.
Tomorrow night might become more complicated. Now I’d interfered with his plans when typically I sat off to the side and obediently obeyed, but I couldn’t let Lauren go to the Cage, not even for a fraction of a second.
Lauren was squirming in her seat, her eyes closed while she bit her lip. Her hands were pulsing in and out of fists. I wanted to touch her and comfort her, but I knew it would only make it worse. Keeping her at bay until I could get the counter cocktail in her was going to be difficult.
My phone rang in my pocket. It was Colt. “What the fuck did he give her?”
“It’s a drug that intensifies a woman’s hormones to the extreme.”
“So…”
Lauren’s hand found my knee, creeping up my inner thigh. I’d craved her touch, but taking her while she was on this drug was unethical. I grabbed her hand, lacing it between my fingers. She grumbled, struggling against her seatbelt, trying to get closer to me but couldn’t from the restraint.
“So… she’s primed and ready for anyone and anything.”
Colt’s voice was edgy. “I didn’t know there was such a thing.”
“It’s an untested drug and can have severe side effects. I need to get her to my place and give her a counter cocktail.”
