Nicole caught up to him in the parking lot. Her stomach flip-flopped. Maybe he was finally fed up with her — angry that she’d blown off his previous advances or that she’d made a scene in front of the record execs. Well, she had plenty to be angry about as well. The fact that Tony had been out on the beach was not something she was going to drop.
Sean opened the limousine door and watched her drop inside. He climbed in next to her and waited for the driver to start the engine. Once the car rumbled to life, he engaged the privacy screen between them and the driver.
Nicole cleared her throat. She wasn’t sure how to approach the subject that burned on the tip of her tongue. “I need to talk to you as well.”
She could read nothing in his eyes. He studied her a moment. “What’s on your mind?”
“Tony.”
He looked a bit confused. “Pardon me?”
“Did you know that Tony and Aaron attacked Molly and me on the beach? I’m wondering if you knew he was there. I’m not going to ignore his violence anymore, Sean. I think it’s time the police were involved.”
Sean’s expression was stony. “Are you sure it was Tony—and who?”
“Aaron. The lead singer of the band.” She retrieved the bottle of pills and shook two into her palm. His gaze followed her hand to her mouth. “And yes, I’m positive.”
“I see. I will have a word with Tony. If it makes any difference, I chose not to hire the band. Not after your reaction to them.”
“My reaction?” A bitter laugh escaped her. “Aaron terrorized me for two years. He got drunk and beat me up. He’s the one who gave me this damned virus. What kind of reaction should I have had?”
He spread his hands wide. “I had no idea, Angel. Had I known you shared a past with him, especially one like that, I would never have hired his band. I’ll take the necessary steps to put a restraining order on him.”
“Not that it does any good, but I’ve already got one.”
“Are the two of you still married?”
“God, no. We went to Vegas, but there was no paperwork or anything to make it legal.”
He sat back and studied her for a moment. “Glad to hear it.”
“What about Tony?”
“Let me take care of it.” Sean loosened his tie and tossed it onto the opposite seat. “In fact, I’ll send him back to L.A. if that makes you happy.”
Had she really expected him to do something about the bully? “That’s not good enough, Sean. He was trying to kill me and Molly.”
“Give me a chance to take care of everything.”
Just like before, she grew lightheaded. Her limbs fell asleep and felt heavy. A shudder ran up her spine. “It’s too late, Sean. He’s gone too far. I’m not going to be scared anymore. I want to be strong. I have to be strong.”
His eyes darkened momentarily. “He’s been with me a very long time. I’d hate to see anything happen to him. I promise he’ll do exactly as I tell him from now on. I’ll take care of it, you’ll see.”
He scooted closer and rested his arm across the back of the seat. Nicole tensed.
“This is a problem, Nicole. I’ve done everything in my power to show you that I care. No matter what I do, you won’t let down your guard.”
She ducked her head to avoid his eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m just not interested in a relationship with you, Sean.”
“I know you’ve been hurt. Let me make all the wrongs right.” His hand stroked through her hair. “Let me be your escape.”
“Sean, I feel weird. Something’s wrong.” It was a chore just to form the words. "Take me home."
“Come here.” His arm dropped onto her shoulders and he pulled her against him. “Let me prove my feelings for you. Let me take care of you.”
Her mind swam and her eyes fluttered shut. “What did you give me?”
Instead of answering, Sean narrowed his eyes and said, “Is Brody Dunn out of your system?”
Nicole was unable to form the words at the back of her tongue.
His expression grew stony. “I refuse to compete for your affection.”
Sean clasped her wrist and brought it to his lips. The tip of his tongue traced the pulse point. “I know you’ve been hurt in the past. I tried to take it slow with you for that reason.”
She rested her head against the smooth leather seat. Her eyelids slid shut. Maybe she needed a power nap. "Look Sean, you're a great boss. I appreciate all that you've done for me, but it would be a mistake for us to date."
He kissed her forehead. “I've tried to convey my interest without being too pushy, but I don’t want to wait anymore. I want more from you."
She peered into his calm gray eyes. His confession sounded so sincere, almost vulnerable. “I just came to talk business.”
“We are.” The car idled to a stop. Sean opened the door and got out. "We need to discuss a few things and I know we won't be disturbed here."
Nicole pulled herself from the car, conscious of the fact that she was stumbling. Vertigo overwhelmed her and she couldn’t focus on anything.
He led her into the kitchen, where he poured them both a glass of pale pink wine. “I have to make a phone call. Make yourself at home.”
Nicole slid onto a barstool and rested her elbows on the center island. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear and stared out at the patio. Her nerves were jittery and unstable.
Her skin was hot to the touch. Pain twisted her spine and jerked her limbs. She fell from the barstool, onto the smooth tiled floor. Fingers that were not human gouged deep ruts into the marble.
"What's happening to me?"
Sean stood in the doorway and sipped from a glass of wine. He wore an amused expression.
"No!" Her spine reassembled itself. Her body bucked forward and the next scream sounded more like a howl. The tile floor bit into her cheek and she lost all knowledge of what happened next.
Chapter Eighteen
Brody dropped his keys on the scuffed table and glanced at the man in his living room. Dave Cervantes had a lot of nerve showing his face around here.
He’d spent the morning at the police station answering their asinine questions. A dumpy man who looked more like a desk jockey questioned him first. Vasquez took over when the guy didn’t get the answers she wanted. They’d cut him loose because they couldn’t stick him with anything. At least not yet.
“What do you want? Is it business or personal?” He and Dave had been friends, but that was a long time ago. Dave had been in the narcotics division and at some point in his career, Stone had swayed him. He was part of the problem that enabled Stone to bring BST into the city while he kept the SDPD blind.
That old nagging guilt surfaced again. He should have known something was up. Every bust he and Vasquez sat up flopped. Dave ran intel and fed Stone their every move. This was, of course, just speculation. Nothing ever stuck to Stone, but Dave had been fired nonetheless. That was no consolation to Brody. The former narcotics agent sold home security systems.
While he wasn’t exactly pleased to find Dave on his doorstep, it wasn’t the worst thing that had happened in the last twenty-four hours. He gestured toward the sofa. Dave declined the offer.
Dave and Brody were around the same age. He was Lycan as well, but that was where their common thread came to an end. Dave was San Diego’s current pack leader. There used to be more than one pack, but Dave had petitioned for them to become one. The rules were broken to accommodate him and Brody suspected Stone had played some part in it. Dave got his wish a year ago. Two of the other leaders disappeared and no one had tried very hard to solve the mystery of where they’d gone.
Brody suspected foul play. He knew the pack would turn on him if he nosed around so he left it alone. It was pack mentality to protect one of their members, regardless of right or wrong, guilt or innocence. The group still tried to recruit Brody on occasion, but he continued turned them down.
He was ravenous, hunger pangs twisted his gut. A rollicking hunt, to feast on t
he flesh of a fresh kill was what he hungered for. He trudged toward the kitchen instead.
The first bite of peanut butter was decadent. He returned only after finishing the sandwich.
Dave pushed away from the door. He brushed shoulder length hair out of his face and his features tightened. Whether it was nerves or annoyance, Brody couldn’t tell.
Brody sank onto the leather couch then stretched his legs beneath the scuffed coffee table. “Are you going to tell me what you want or just stand there?”
“You spent the night in jail?”
Brody placed a sneakered foot on the table and leaned back against the cushions. “Yeah, so? It’s not the first time.”
“Took some balls to break into Stone’s house. What were you looking for? Anything I can help with?”
“Nothing I can’t handle.” The fabric of his shirt reminded him of sandpaper when it scraped his skin.
Dave perched on the rolled arm of the couch and stared at Brody’s bloodstained shirt. He didn’t comment on the bullet hole or the blackened, crusted blood. "What did they get you for this time? Another B and E or assault?”
“Neither.” Mostly, he wanted to take a shower. The need to wash away the memory of last night was a priority. “What do you want, Dave? If you’re gonna ask me to join the pack, I’m not interested.”
“I came to ask a favor.”
He sat up and shook his head. “Not interested in that either.”
“You didn’t even let me ask it.” Dave disappeared into the kitchen. After a moment, the refrigerator whooshed open followed by the rattle of bottles. Dave popped the tops on his way back to the couch. He sat a beer in front of Brody. “Sean Stone challenged me.”
“Still not interested.” Brody leaned forward, swiped the beer from the table and took a deep swig. The revelation didn’t surprise him in the least. It was pretty common for people like Stone to turn on those they’d helped in the past. He might offer condolences, but knew that wasn’t why Dave was here.
The current pack leader studied Brody’s lack of surprise or interest with serious brown eyes. “Did you hear me? He wants to be Alpha.”
Brody sat the beer aside. He rested his elbows on his knees and frowned at his onetime friend. They’d met through Dave’s sister, who Brody had dated for a short while. It hadn’t worked out between them because she’d wanted an average guy, not someone who had tendencies to howl or get hairy. “Why are you so surprised? You had to know he’d turn on you.”
Dave gave him a go-to-hell look. He brought the bottle to his lips and the glass creaked beneath his fingers.
“Did anyone witness his challenge? You could off him, and no one would be the wiser.” Brody allowed his foot to fall from the table. The fact that he even entertained the idea floating around his brain worried him. It was Stone’s fault. Brody had been backed into a corner. Stone’s men set him up for something he hadn’t done and now he was pissed off and needed to retaliate.
“We met this afternoon.” Dave cast a quick glance in Brody’s direction. “He told me in front of the pack. There’s no way I can ignore it.”
“So don’t accept,” Brody hoped Dave didn’t listen to him. To allow Stone to win such a title would be a mistake. “Is it a valid challenge? He isn’t a member of your pack. And even though you’re his puppet, he can’t force you to fight him.”
“I’m going to ignore that remark.” Dave’s russet colored skin flushed scarlet.
“You know it’s true.” He sat the finished bottle aside.
“A challenge doesn’t have to come from within the pack. Anyone who wants the title can compete for it. If you attended pack gatherings, you’d know that. What do you have against it, anyway?”
“Some people need to belong.” He lifted a shoulder. “I don’t. I’m happy alone.”
“You don’t have to be.” Dave looked away. “You’re too independent sometimes.”
Brody laughed. “To anyone else, that might have sounded like a come-on.”
“That’s such a Brody thing to say. Sometimes I miss hanging out with you.” Dave grinned. “But then I remember what an ass you are.”
“What are you going to do about Stone?”
Dave picked at a frayed area on the knee of his jeans. “If it were anyone but him I’d accept. However, if I don’t, I’ll appear weak and lose the pack’s respect. I really need your help, Brody.”
Dave stared at the toes of his boots. Brody laid his head back and fixed a pensive gaze on the ceiling. He might not be part of a pack, but he knew there were certain protocols to follow. A rival could not act upon his desire to take the title until the annual Wild Hunt. They had until Thursday night to figure something out.
“What about your brother?”
Dave looked miserable. “No. There’s no way. I’d forfeit first. He’s not strong enough to beat Stone.” He sat his beer aside and stared at Brody. “I challenge you. It would be an honor if you’d fight me for the title. All you’ve got to do is show up and accept.”
Brody stood and paced the area between the couch and coffee table.
Dave had to draw his booted feet up to keep from being stepped on. “Will you at least think it over? You’ve got a couple days to sleep on it.”
“You’re going to fight both of us?”
Dave stared at the floor, unable to meet his gaze. He ran a hand across the back of the couch. “Just you. As the leader, I can choose who I fight.”
Brody cocked his head and frowned. “I don’t want anything to do with a pack, let alone lead one. Don’t you have to accept all bids for leader?”
“I do.” Dave clasped Brody’s hand and gave it a vigorous shake. “And after you win, Stone will be your problem.”
“That’s if I win. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not functioning at a hundred percent.”
Dave moved toward the door. “Yeah, I did notice. Try not to get your ass kicked between now and Thursday. You need to be in top shape.”
“Whoa, slow down, Dave. I didn’t accept your offer. I don’t want to fight you or Stone. I’m done with him.”
Brody hung his head for a moment. Nothing he did mattered. He’d wasted too much time on his dogged pursuit of Stone. And for what? He’d gotten nothing in return, but a broken ego and more than enough beatings to last a lifetime. To reiterate, he said, “Thanks, Dave, but no.”
“Come on, Brody. You can’t tell me you wouldn’t like to be a part of this—to get a chance at Stone. If you were Alpha, you would gain the respect of the pack. You’d have their protection.”
Where was that protection and loyalty now that their leader needed it? He started to ask, but Dave cut him off.
“Forget just one woman, Brody. You could have as many as you want. The pack and everyone in it would be yours.”
There was just one woman he wanted, but he didn’t expect Dave to understand.
“You could stop Stone from distributing Beast. I know how important that is to you. All you have to do is win.”
Brody realized he couldn’t make Dave understand. “Find someone else. I’m not doing it.”
“Do the right thing.” Dave moved across the room in just a few steps then opened the door. He paused then looked regretful as he glanced over his shoulder. “See you Thursday.”
“No, you won’t.” Brody shut the door and effectively cut off any rebuttals. His stomach burned and his head pounded. Dave’s fight wasn’t his. He didn’t want to be pack leader, nor did he want anything more to do with Sean Stone.
Was his refusal to help Dave an act of cowardice? To fight one adversary was a deadly contest, to take on two in one night was suicide. Especially since the prize was something he had no desire to obtain.
Chapter Nineteen
Raised voices woke her. Nicole opened eyes to find herself in a darkened bedroom that smelled of Sean. She flung the blanket from her body and was relieved to find the only article of clothing missing was her shoes. Despite the almost transformation in Sean
's kitchen, her clothes were intact.
She slipped down the hall, toward the stairs and the source of voices.
“We’ve got another problem.” Tony’s caustic voice carried up the stairs.
Nicole stumbled to a stop, imagining the difficulty Sean might experience when he dealt with his friend. But those words never came.
“Now’s not a good time, Tony. I have company. Plus, you’re supposed to lay low until this thing with Nicole blows over.”
Nicole gritted her teeth. Sean’s idea of taking care of things came nowhere near her own. Especially since it appeared he didn’t plan on doing a damn thing about it.
“Since when do you listen to her?” Tony sounded incredulous. “The bitch is getting in the way. Cut her loose.”
"Not yet, I need her."
“For what? You can fuck any girl you want. What’s so special about her?”
Nicole pressed the heel of her hand against her mouth to keep her breathing in check. Should she ruin the moment by making her presence known or return to the bedroom and wait until Tony left? She took a step in the bedroom’s direction.
The bodyguard said, “For all we know she could be working with him. Have you considered that?”
Nicole’s pulse pounded. She had trouble following the conversation but didn’t dare go downstairs for clarification. The tone of Tony’s voice had grown forceful.
Sean’s answer surprised her. “I’m not finished with her yet.”
“While you were screwing around with your bitch, our shipment was delayed again.” His voice was gruff and angry.
She leaned forward to peer around the banister into the room below. Sean was seated in a plush chair, his profile to her. Tony stood near the couch. Nicole inched forward for a better view of the two men.
“What time is it expected to arrive now?” Sean demanded in an unsympathetic voice. His fingers gripped the upholstery on either side of the chair.
“Thursday.”
Sean stood then paced across the room to the bar. He didn’t fix a drink, but gripped the cold marble countertop instead. “Damn it! That’s the night of the Wild Hunt. Move it to Friday half past midnight.”
Bitter Black Kiss Page 17
