Wicked Dynasty: The Untouchables | Book Two

by Vincent, Callie

  She grinned. “You’ll have to let me know what you find. I can’t help that I’m a little bit intrigued too. They certainly are something to look at, aren’t they?”

  “You can say that again,” I agreed. “I’m really sorry for the way I spoke to you earlier. I’m sorry for the entire temper tantrum. It was so out of line. You raised me better.”

  “Thank you for saying that. We shouldn't have been talking about you like you weren’t in the room either, though. I think we were both just so worked up. We are healing now, and that’s what counts.”

  “You can say that again. So as long as I don’t get juicy or sassy in what I say, I can message them again?”

  “I think that’s okay, go ahead and enjoy the freedom. I’m going to start making arrangements for the campaign.”

  “I’m sure Mr. Klaus will be thrilled with the news,” I muttered.

  “You will have to deal with him at some point, especially before the party. He will be handling the security.”

  I sighed. I knew it was coming, but I still thought it was bullshit. A compromise wasn’t always easy. As much as I wanted to tell Kylan to go sit on a pogo stick, I had to work with him to make my mother happy. I could do nothing but try to make the best of the situation and figure out just who I was going up against. My fingers moved over my phone as the screen jumped to life. Ignoring the messages, I jumped right to the browser and typed in the jerk’s name while my mother poured us coffee.

  “Oh boy,” I said as I scrolled. “Well, they definitely have a history. This should be interesting.”

  “What do you mean?” my mother asked. “Should I find a different company?”

  “No, you’ve already got a contract with them, and like you said, they are the best. I think that everyone can put their little personal differences aside to make this happen.”

  “You’re stalling,” she said. “How about you tell me what you found so fast on that phone of yours?”

  “Alright, well, right off the bat, they’ve all got a sordid history. Do you remember a woman named Bethany? Dakota was engaged to her?”

  “Of course, it was a huge scandal when they broke off the engagement. You were away at boarding school when all that happened, but the president was furious over the matter. I was so proud of Dakota for standing up for himself.”

  My heart warmed. “Well, it looks like Dakota started that relationship as dramatically as he ended it. Bethany was engaged to Kylan Klaus before him. It sounds like there was a little layover in those relationships.”

  “Layover?”

  I blushed. “She was cheating on Kylan with Dakota.”

  “Oh my. That is a little spicy,” she whispered. “You know I never did like that girl. She always seemed like she was trying to climb the social ladder.”

  “Ah, well, it gets better,” I said. “Before Dakota stole Bethany away from Klaus, Dakota was dating his sister.”

  She gasped, “Molly?”

  I nodded, my eyes quickly scanning through one old tabloid after another. There was so much that you could find on the internet. My heart raced as I learned more about Dakota’s past. I knew all about Declan already. We were a little closer in age. We grew up spending time with each other, but Dakota had always been a mystery. The thought of Declan warmed my heart. I missed him so much. I wanted to be wrapped in his arms and slowly nibbling his neck.

  “Damn, those two have a history,” I muttered. “Dakota dated her before Bethany, cheating on her and leaving her for Bethany but then after he broke off the engagement with Bethany, they hooked back up.”

  “Jesus, did he break her heart again?”

  I grinned. “No, they dated for almost two years, but in the end, she crushed him. It’s no wonder he’s got trust issues.”

  “Do I want to know more?” my mother asked.

  “Ha, you know you do.” I gave her a wink. “Alright, so she was pictured about six months in with her ex, a baron with just an insane amount of money and power. She told everyone it was just a solid friendship. A year in, they catch her in a full-on bondage outfit leaving his place. Molly does a little PR. Dakota is noted saying he trusts her.”

  I paused, my heart aching a little as I continued to scan through the news clippings. There were pictures of Dakota walking hand in hand with Molly, the look in his eyes one I’d never seen before. He was utterly in love with her. I’d never seen him look at me like that. Suddenly I disliked her for an entirely different reason. She could take her professional decorum and shove it up her ass. I knew what was coming before I ever continued my search. The next clipping had an image of Dakota alone, looking so devastated it nearly brought me to tears.

  “She cheated on him,” I whispered. “The entire time. She used him then made a mockery of him in London. She didn’t even tell him that they were over before doing a shoot for The Editorial with the baron.”

  “Damn.”

  “So yeah,” I stammered. “There is a bit of history there, but honestly, this was all years ago. I have to believe that those problems have been long buried. Molly is in charge of her father’s firm, and Kylan is a member of that. Dakota and I are happy. I’m not worried about it.”

  “Spoken like a true Adams woman.” My mother grinned. “You know I’m really proud of you for handling this situation. Yes, we had a bit of a speed-bump earlier, but I don’t know many twenty-one-year-old young women who could handle what you do on a daily basis and still be as poised.”

  “Thank you, that means a lot,” I whispered.

  “I’m going to go make plans. Why don’t you give your boys a call? I’m sure they’ll be delighted to hear from you.”

  I smiled at her before she slipped away to her study, coffee in hand. My fingers flew to my phone again as I quickly dialed Derek’s number. I’d thought about calling Declan first, but Derek was the one who would give me the juicy details. I needed to know what the other two already knew and how Dakota was handling everything before speaking with them at the party. It was going to be our only chance to see each other, and I wanted to make it count.

  6

  Dakota

  “This is bullshit. This whole damn thing is just a waste of fucking time. What’s the point in coming up here if we can't spend any time with Audrey alone? Not to mention the invitation was extended to mother and David. I’d like to smack that boy into next week. If you ask me, Klaus should go back to where he came from and let us handle this. What the fuck does that useless shit know about politics? He’s been wrapped in a bubble his whole damn life.”

  “Are you done?” Declan asked. “Because honestly, I’m not real sure I can take you bitching and complaining for the next four hours. If you didn’t want to come, you should have stayed on the beach. No one forced you to be here.”

  “I know that,” I snapped. “Do you really think I’d let you come see her without me?”

  “Well, no, I would hope that you’d be smarter than that, but you never know.” Declan grinned. “Just ease up and try to have a good time. This is our last chance to see her. You really want to blow that?”

  “I’ll keep my mouth shut as long as that worthless piece of shit does the same,” I snapped. “I don’t plan on taking any shit from him, though, none.”

  “Alright big guy,” Declan muttered. “No need to get all worked up again. He’s probably going to be busy working the event anyway. Plus, you know we won't get out without seeing mother.”

  “Good, I’ve got a few choice words for her as well. Let's see how much David remembers when I’ve got my foot shoved twelve inches up his –”

  “Remember, mom and dad don’t know about this, at least not that we can confirm. So far, David hasn’t told them anything. We need to keep things that way.”

  “No one is going to believe that sniveling little rat,” I growled.

  “Unless he has pictures, then it changes everything. Just because Derek didn’t find anything on his phone doesn’t mean he didn’t send it and hide that evidence real
ly fast.”

  Declan sighed and fell silent. It was the same argument we’d been having for eight days. Some variation of the facts always presented itself. We needed to get David alone and get some answers out of him, or else we’d spend eternity living in limbo. The second I’d learned of Kylan Klaus’s involvement with Hazel Adams, I was livid. He was a snake, a cheating man that I had no professional or personal respect for. How did anyone want to work with a man like that?

  “Just try and have a good time for Audrey. She'll be here any minute, and the last thing you want to do is piss her off on her birthday.”

  “If she’d have called either of us, I’d have told her what scum Kylan Klaus is. Instead, she refused to talk to us. What does that tell you?”

  “That her lines being recorded, exactly what we already knew. She told Derek all of that on speaker last week.”

  “Sure,” I hissed. “Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

  Declan glared at me before moving away to a group of acquaintances he knew. Derek stood next to me, chuckling at the exchange between us. I’ve only ever wanted to protect my family and its good name. Yet every time the Klaus family appeared, my world got flipped upside down in the process. I trusted Audrey, and I cared about her more than I’d ever admitted, but Kylan was a trickster. He'd eat her up and break her heart in an instant just to spite me.

  Derek laughed. “You shouldn’t goad him like that. He’s just trying to keep the peace around here. Can you blame him?”

  “Absolutely, he knows about the history I have with Kylan. With him in the picture, who knows what’s going to happen next.”

  “We are going to enjoy this party, spend time with Audrey, and keep things copacetic. I know you’re mad, but right now, she just needs us to be here for her.”

  “Obviously, what the hell do you think I’m doing here?” I grumbled. “I wish they would just get here already, so we can get this over with and get the hell outta here.”

  Derek laughed. “I never thought I’d see you so anxious to get back to vacation.”

  “I’m not,” I snapped. “Is there a reason you’re over here annoying the crap out of me?”

  He shrugged. “I’ve got nothing better to do. Everyone here is over me coming out of the closet already.”

  I laughed at my little brother, feeling slightly at ease for the first time since our arrival back at the capitol. A hushed murmur fell over the partygoers as all eyes turned to the main entrance of Hazel’s estate. My heart skipped as Audrey walked through the door, the burgundy dress she wore clinging to every feature on her body.

  I shuddered as a renewed wave of desire coursed through me. Her eyes found mine, sparks flying as a quick smile played on her perfect red lips. It seemed like an insult to call her stunning or merely beautiful. Audrey was a diamond, and all other women were topaz. When she turned her attention back to the rest of her guests, I felt cheated. She was mine, and I wanted more.

  “I don’t like that look in your eye,” Derek said. “Remember why we’re here and who we’re here for.”

  “I don’t need you mothering me,” I snapped.

  “Hey man, I’m just trying to keep your reputation and spotless criminal record intact.”

  “What the fuck do you think I’m gonna do? Snap Kylan’s neck in front of all these people?”

  “No, I just want you to remember why we’re here when you do see him.”

  Derek’s eyes darted back up to the door. My gaze followed him. Where Audrey had been standing just a couple of minutes before, now Kylan Klaus was in her spot, watching her every move. I didn’t need to meet his eyes to know that he was watching me as well. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks as I glared at him. Derek cleared his throat, my eyes darting over to him with a look that conveyed all of my rage.

  “I hope you plan on controlling that temper,” Derek whispered. “Because Kylan Klaus is headed over to test you.”

  “Son of a bitch,” I hissed.

  “Do you want me to stay?” Derek asked.

  “Not unless you’re going to testify in my favor,” I told him sarcastically.

  Derek chuckled and shook his head as he disappeared into the crowd to find Audrey. I envied him for being able to slip away so easily. Meanwhile, Declan and I had all eyes watching us like a hawk. Kylan looked precisely the same as I remembered him, like a pompous prick that needed a good ass-kicking.

  “You know, when I heard you were tied up in all of this, I have to admit I was a little bit excited. How long has it been, Dakota?”

  “Not nearly long enough. What the hell are you doing here?”

  “I’m here for work,” Kylan said. “I’m sure you know by now that Hazel Adams hired me to clean up your mess. This is starting to become a habit of ours, isn’t it?”

  “Go fuck yourself Kylan, no one wants you here. Not even Audrey. You’d think by now you’d understand how to tell when people don’t want you around.”

  “Do I sense a little bit of tension, Dakota? You know I could have you thrown out of this event in a heartbeat.”

  “Audrey would never allow it,” I snapped. “You better watch your back, Kylan. You might have the Adams woman fooled, but I’ve seen your true colors.”

  Kylan chuckled. “I see your temper hasn’t improved any with age. So, tell me, what are you going to do for three weeks while I’m with your girlfriend?”

  “If you lay a single hand on her –”

  “Save your threats for someone who cares or someone who is intimidated. Last time I checked, I’m winning this one.”

  “That’s always been your problem, Kylan. Not everything is a competition. Audrey isn’t like other women.”

  “Oh, I’m sure,” Kylan snapped. “Otherwise, you’d have already fucked her over for your own gain.”

  I sighed and glared at him. He wasn’t going to let it go, not the past nor the job with Audrey. How one man was able to carry a grudge for so long was beyond me. I’d long ago forgiven Kylan and moved past our history, but he didn’t seem to feel the same. I knew I’d wounded his pride when Bethany and I fell in love all those years ago. It had been so long ago, and neither of us still cared for her, so why was he there? A job was never just a job with Kylan Klaus.

  “I don’t have to stand here and listen to you, and I sure as shit don’t want to. If you aren’t going to back off, then I have no choice but to tell Audrey all about your past.”

  Kylan laughed. “I don’t give two shits what you tell her. I’m not here to make friends with her or anyone else. I’m here to do my job. Or don’t you remember? I was brought in to clean up the mess that you made.”

  “I didn’t make any mess,” I snapped. “If you think you are going to drive us apart by pinning the blame for this anywhere besides on David’s shoulders where it belongs, you are sorely mistaken.”

  “David? I’ve already spoken to him. He seemed properly shocked at the accusation that he would invade Audrey’s privacy like you're accusing him of doing.”

  “Oh, please,” I muttered. “He’s a lying little shit. He is a snake in the grass just like you.”

  “That’s funny because your brother said the same thing about you. He was rather vocal about what you asked him to do. Or are we going to pretend like you didn’t instruct him to take lewd photos of Audrey?”

  “Jesus, are you fucking kidding me? That was weeks ago, and Audrey and I have already resolved it.”

  “Sure,” Kylan said. “If that’s what helps you sleep at night.”

  My mouth snapped shut, my jaw clenching at the turn-around in wordplay. I couldn’t believe that David had spoken with Kylan. It made me question what my mother and father now knew with the Klaus siblings running around. They were a duo of destruction, neatly wrapped up in a package of promises for their clients. The only problem was this time, the client was the mother of the woman I loved. Kylan could claim that he was there for Hazel, but I knew he would never pass up the opportunity to fuck me over.

  “If
you’ll excuse me,” Kylan said as his gaze darted behind me. “I’ve lost eyes on our birthday girl, and I think we both know she can’t be trusted alone in this crowd. Plus, it looks like you’ve got a visitor.”

  “Hello, Dakota,” Molly said. “It’s been a long time.”

  My stomach lurched. “Molly, it's nice to see you. It seems running Klaus Relations has done you well.”

  She smiled. “What can I say? A position of power suits me. I’m just disappointed that I wasted so much time chasing after stupid men instead of laying the groundwork for my future.”

  “Well, I’m sure all the men that you chased appreciated their fifteen minutes of fame between your legs,” I said.

  “I see time hasn’t changed you much,” she hissed. “You’re still as vulgar and politically incorrect as always. It looks like this time you’ve really outdone yourself, though. A ménage? How scandalous.”

  “My private life is none of your business,” I said.

  “Quite the contrary,” she said with a laugh. “Your little tryst has definitely become my business. As a matter of fact, thanks to you and your brother, the vice president may very well be paying for my next vacation home.”

  Everything about Molly was infuriating, from the way she smiled and spoke to how she managed to turn my stomach into knots. There was no denying that she was a gorgeous woman, the sleek black dress that she wore left little to the imagination. Not that I needed my imagination. I could still remember every curve of her body and the soft whispers of love that she’d promised me in the early morning hours of our dalliances. Then, she’d crushed me and my heart like I was nothing.

  At the time, I had assumed it was some sort of revenge orchestrated by her younger brother. Now it was clear that the two of them were still seeking vengeance. I had no doubt that Hazel had called them to help with the situation. Just as I knew that Klaus Relations had leapt at the opportunity to potentially bring down a Hartley. I didn’t need it spelled out for me to understand that they would restore Hazel’s reputation and joyfully destroy mine in the process if the opportunity arose. Declan and I were going to need to be careful from here on out.