Illicit Proposition by Piper Stone

Chapter 8

Santiago

An accountant.

A freaking accountant had kept evidence against my father for years, Samuel telling me that even he’d been threatened during my years of absence. My father had once trusted the man implicitly, bringing him into the De Leon Empire without hesitation. I remembered Carlos Ramirez from several family celebrations. Hell, the man had been inside our home for one of my birthdays, providing several expensive presents.

Obviously in order to appease my father.

The night of the infamous poker game, the one where my father lost the family crest, I’d watched Carlos. I’d been extremely observant regarding his actions, including the subtle smiles he’d offered the host, the other mafia Don himself, Rafael Perez. He’d believed that his lack of loyalty to my father hadn’t been noticed. However, I’d paid attention to everything and everyone in that room on that horrible night.

And I’d made a list, even though I’d had no idea my father would eventually be murdered. At least Carlos was the last one sitting at the table, other than Rafael. I’d waited until I was able to return fully to Barcelona to handle Carlos in the manner in which he deserved to be treated.

“His only employee has already left for a late lunch.” Diego had arrived safely, prepared to follow through with the last of my plan. “From what one of my associates told me, she was very cooperative in providing information. Granted, that took some coercion as well as the payment you authorized.”

“The records are inside?” I’d taken a chance, allowing Diego to contact an old ‘friend’ of his, a man who could be trusted. His methods of interrogation were as brutal as my own. However, I hadn’t wanted to cause the woman any harm. She was innocent in all of this. Five hundred thousand should go a long way in developing a new life.

“Upstairs. I don’t think Carlos anticipated you’d ever return.”

Laughing, I hoped to keep the same element of surprise.

I tapped on the steering wheel, studying the building I knew far too well. Very little had changed in the years I’d been gone, the turquoise green façade aging badly. I knew exactly how much money Carlos had in his bank account. He could afford any posh location in the city. His choice to remain here was all about keeping a low profile. I also knew that while he attempted to present his business as less than profitable, he lived in an oceanside mansion capable of rivaling the one my parents had purchased.

His main source of income at this point? He’d become the only accountant for the Perez regime, also handling financial aspects for some of Rafael’s top level soldiers. I knew for certain that he’d held onto financial record implicating my father out of fear I’d retaliate.

He had no idea what I was capable of.

“Good. The woman doesn’t deserve my wrath, at least not at this point.” I exited the vehicle, scanning the small street in front of the building. Carlos had maintained ownership in the property likely because of its secluded location. That allowed him to meet with his clients without fear of being detected by the authorities.

After buttoning my jacket, I placed my hand on my gun, chuckling to myself. I could make this very easy, eliminating the man within seconds. I had no intentions of doing so. Carlos was going to suffer just like I knew my father had moments before his death.

Diego trailed behind me as I walked to the entrance, moving inside. There were four rooms in the downstairs location, three more on the second floor where Carlos stored boxes of older client records. While the majority of businesses had shifted to paperless functions, I’d been told two months before that Carlos maintained his functionality in older methods. That had enabled me to develop a decent plan of action. As soon as I walked in, I could tell the information I’d received had been correct.

There were traditional file cabinets lining the front office, stacks of unfiled paperwork lining the tops of every single metal piece. The asshole certainly hadn’t used any of his millions to spruce up the place. The interior was almost exactly like I remembered.

Drab.

I could hear music of some kind coming from the back room. I took a deep breath before heading for Carlos’ office. His door was partially open and the moment I walked inside, I became disgusted from the condition of his office. The man was a pig.

He didn’t notice our arrival at first, concentrating on eating whatever disgusting processed meal he had in front of him. He’d gained at least fifty pounds, the pompous asshole appearing more like a beached whale than the powerful man I remembered. At least that gave me a smile.

“Hello, Carlos.” I kept my voice even, almost no inflection in the tone. This was just a matter of business, even if his betrayal had been far too personal.

He flinched, jerking up his head. There was no recognition in his eyes, at least at first.

“Remember your best friend’s little boy, Sante?” The nickname was likely the only name that people remembered. Everyone had used the shortened version from the time I could remember.

“Sante,” he whispered, complete terror in his voice.

When he shifted his hand, prepared to press the panic button I knew was located until the edge of his desk, I held up my finger, shaking it back and forth while Diego pointed his weapon at the man’s head.

“Of course, I don’t use that name any longer. I prefer using my given name, the one I can be proud of. Santiago De Leon. I suggest you show me both hands, Carlos. I don’t think you’d like for me to have my associate hack them off.”

“Santiago. It’s good to see you,” he managed, darting his eyes from Diego back in my direction.

“I’m certain it isn’t. As a matter of fact, if I were a betting man, I’d say you are utterly petrified. And you should be.” I walked closer, keeping a smile on my face. “After all, this isn’t going to be a pleasant visit. Oh, and don’t worry. We have no intentions of harming the poor woman you’ve never paid more than shit in wages to. You should be ashamed of yourself.”

He swallowed visibly, pushing away from his desk. “What do you want?”

“What do I want? Let me see.” I thought about his question, moving to one of his file cabinets. After jerking open one of the drawers, I tossed handfuls of his files into a pile in the center of the room. “What I want is the reason you betrayed my father.”

“You can’t do that!” he huffed, jerking to a standing position.

“Oh, I assure you that I can do anything I want. And you didn’t answer my question.” I continued yanking out file after file, dumping the contents on top of the others in one huge pile. I’d instructed Diego as his first order of business to bring a gas can to the location, dousing the area surrounding the building. Just in case the man wasn’t cooperative.

“Your father was an asshole. He didn’t give a shit about anyone but himself.”

I stopped short, taking a deep breath then slowly turning my head toward Diego, giving him a nod. “That wasn’t the answer I wanted to receive, Carlos, but par for the course for a pig like yourself.”

Diego wasted no time, grabbing Carlos and dragging him from around his desk, his hand firmly planted around his throat.

“Let go of me,” Carlos insisted.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that. In fact, I’ve waited for a very long time to talk with you about what you did to my father. Now, I know you’re still keeping whatever evidence you waved in front of my father’s face all those years ago. Where is it, Carlos?” There was no need for him to realize I’d already gained that information. Let the man think he had some control.

I turned around to face him, snatching one of the cheap chairs opposite the man’s desk and placing all four metal legs in the pile of debris I’d created.

“You’re out of your mind if you think you’re going to get away with this,” he hissed. “I don’t have anything. That was turned over to the authorities a long time ago.”

“I think that would have also implicated you and your business, Carlos. You’ve enjoyed living off money my father paid you to take care of his business.”

He twisted his mouth and I could see the wheels spinning in his mind.

Sighing, I shook my head. “I can see I’m going to need to use different tactics.” As soon as I’d issued the words, Diego reacted, forcefully pushing Carlos into the chair. My second in command had come prepared, yanking rope from his jacket. Even though Carlos did his best to struggle against what was happening to him, the puffy man was no match for a six-foot-seven-inch brute like Diego. Within two minutes, the illustrious accountant was tied to the chair.

I surveyed the piled I’d created, taking the time to kick it around the legs of the chair. Then I crouched down in front of Carlos, trying my best to curtail my anger. “I’ll ask you one last time. Where is this incriminating evidence you supposedly have against my family?”

There was an odd look in his eyes, as if the man held a secret that he would rather take to his grave than divulge.

Then the man laughed.

I reacted without thinking, standing then smashing my fist against his face. The force was enough that Diego was required to bring the chair upright. While the hard punch soothed my nerves to some degree, even the savage thudding sound as the man’s head hit the floor did little to calm the rage.

I’d known the chances of getting anything out of the man had been slim to nil, but at least I’d given it a good old-fashioned try. Just to see how tight he remained with Perez.

“You’re never going to be able to enjoy your life, Santiago,” Carlos barked.

“Well, I’m enjoying it now. That’s all I care about.” I offered him a cold-blooded smile before pulling one of my favorite weapons into my hand. I’d actually forgotten all about it, the find only after placing my clothes in the closet. I stared at it for a few seconds, twisting the lime green sheath in my hand. I’d begged my father for it so long ago I wasn’t even certain how old I’d been.

Sharpening it earlier had brought back several fond memories, as well as another round of anger. Life shouldn’t have to be like this. So be it.

“You have no idea what Rafael will do to you,” Carlos stated, although his tone was starting to reflect a hint of fear.

“Oh, I think I do, but here’s the good news. Rafael Perez has no idea the kind of man I’ve turned into. I’ve been told more than once that I’ve turned out to be exactly like my father. Maybe that’s true, although there is one distinct difference. I have no issues killing with my bare hands.”

I kept my eyes locked on the man as I removed the serrated knife, twisting it in the limited lighting.

The fear in his eyes shifted to something more substantial.

“Relax, Carlos. I have no intentions of getting bloody this early in the day. However, this particular knife is much more useful than you could understand. You see, when I was a kid, my father sent me off to a brutal camp. He believed I needed to understand all about stern discipline.” I rubbed my jaw, thinking of the experience fondly. “Perhaps I did, but I also managed to learn certain survival skills, which have come in handy over the years. Take this knife, for example. There doesn’t seem to be anything special about it, but if you twist this portion on the end of the handle…” I moved closer in order for Carlos to see what I was doing clearly.

I could tell Diego was searching my eyes, trying to figure out what the hell I was doing. I’d given him almost no details, other than asking him to bring the rope as well as a single additional item.

When I yanked the end off, holding up the small square end, I was able to detect a change in Carlos’ breathing. “I learned a long time ago about the importance of weapon safety. This little baby was a great find.” When I flicked the flint cylinder tube across the blade, the few sparks it issued forced a smile. “As you might understand, I’m no longer the patient boy I once was. I waited long enough to have a discussion with you, as well as all the other members of the group that night. Do you remember the night in question?”

Carlos dragged his tongue across his lips. “Your father was a terrible poker player.”

I laughed, giving Diego another knowing look. He seemed more than curious as to what I was doing. “You’re right. It’s a shame my father had a single weakness. That certainly wasn’t his family. He spent more time working on expanding business as well as with the men he called friends than the three people who loved him the most. At this point, no need to bring back unwanted memories. That’s not going to help the situation or the position that you’re in.”

“If you’re going to kill me, just go ahead and put a bullet in me. Just know there will be retaliation.”

I couldn’t believe the audacity of the asshole. My patience was completely gone, the anger threatening to take over. I refused to allow that to happen. After striking the flint against the blade a few more times, I couldn’t help but exhale. “From what I remember as a kid, it took about ten strikes before I was able to light a fire.” I took long strides toward Diego, giving him a smile.

He finally caught onto what I was planning, handing me the small bottle of lighter fluid I’d asked him to bring. I didn’t waste any time pouring the entire contents over sections of the paper surrounding Carlos, tossing the can by his legs.

The man finally seemed nervous, his entire body shaking.

“I’m not going to lie to you, Carlos. What you did to betray my father is unacceptable. I’ve struggled with fury and depression for years, finally coming to terms with my father and brother’s murder. You should have seen the look of terror on my brother’s face from being forced to watch what was done to my father. Anyway, my acceptance doesn’t make it any easier to fall asleep at night. I knew the only thing I could do was make the people responsible for what happened pay. You and my father had plans on that night. You made certain Perez knew about those plans.”

“No. No! That’s not what happened,” he insisted.

“You were coming to the house for an important meeting, which is why the security system was off.”

The haunted look in Carlos’ eyes was interesting. “You don’t understand.”

“Then why don’t you explain it to me? I will know if you lie to me.”

As I’d suspected, Carlos remained tongue tied.

“It’s just as well. I don’t have time for games. Now, since you’re a betting man, I decided I’d make this as fair as possible. As I mentioned, this small flint usually manages to light within ten strikes. If for some reason it doesn’t, then you get to live. If not, well… But let’s see what happens.”

“Bastard. They should have killed you as well instead of letting you go,” Carlos half whispered.

“That is very true.” I hunkered down, snapping the piece across the blade five times in rapid succession. Nothing happened. I gave a quick look at Carlos, shaking my head. “It might be your lucky day.” I tried twice more, whistling through my teeth. “I should have tested this before I brought it.”

I tried two more strikes.

Then I grinned as I looked the man in the eyes. “I am a man of my word, which is something I can’t say about you. One more try.” I waited for almost ten seconds and kept my eye on him as I placed my hands closer to the loose papers. When the flint didn’t spark, I shook my head and immediately stood. “You must be a very lucky man. Diego will let you go but take this as a warning. If you have anything on my father, anything at all, you’re going to bring it to my house. Am I clear?” I placed the endcap back in its position, shoving the blade into the sheath.

The bastard gave me a slight smile. “Fine. I’ll search my records.”

“You do that.” I immediately headed for the other room, chuckling just before I walked through the doorway. “Oh, hell. What am I saying? I’ve learned the hard way to do what’s necessary.” I tossed the knife toward Diego, giving Carlos another vile look. “See what you can do, Diego. Maybe your touch will be more successful than mine.”

“Absolutely, Mr. De Leon.”

While Diego never called me anything other than by my first name, I knew he was using my given surname on purpose. Nice touch.

I moved outside, leaning against the hood of the car. The afternoon sun seemed a hell of a lot brighter than just a short time earlier. As I yanked out my shades, sliding them on my face, I realized I didn’t have a sense of accomplishment or one of relief. That wasn’t going to happen until Perez was gone.

As I studied the quiet street, I had a strong desire to see Devon. She’d gotten under my skin without even trying. I couldn’t wait to show her off. The thought gave me a smile.

I was surprised there wasn’t a loud boom but when Diego walked out of the building, I knew he’d succeeded. The explosion was only a matter of time given the old oil tank that was still used out back.

“That was creative, my friend,” he said before handing me the knife. “I might have to get one of these.”

I chuckled before shoving the blade into my pocket. “Good luck trying. I don’t even know if the company is still in business. Let’s get out of here. I have a meeting with Samuel before returning to the house.”

“How’s it going with the girl?”

I moved toward the driver’s door, lifting my sunglasses briefly. “Let’s just say she’s challenging.”

“All the best women are.”

“Maybe you’re right about that, Diego, but I’m not willing to go much further.”

Huffing, he reached for the seatbelt. “Uh-huh. By the way, do you think a small bottle of lighter fluid is going to do a damn thing? I only managed to snag a three-gallon can of gasoline. That’s not much.”

“Absolutely. Given the age of the building and the fact construction codes were basically nonexistent, my guess is there will be nothing left when the fire engines arrive. The oil tanker will do its job.”

“You’re one scary man, Santiago.”

I knew my friend was giving me a compliment.

After turning over the engine, I took one last look at the building. While I couldn’t care less about whatever notations Carlos had dared to keep on my father as well as other wealthy clients, the last thing I wanted was to have a member of law enforcement asking questions. However, what was about to occur could send a message to Perez.

I’d driven just a few blocks when I was able to see flames already erupting from the roof. At least I’d accomplished one goal since my arrival.

* * *

I could tell by the look on Samuel’s face that he didn’t approve of my plans. He would need to get used to them. “Just say what’s on your mind, Samuel.” I gave him a hard look after making the statement.

“I don’t like that you’re considering this, Santiago. Not only do you have almost no chance of success, but you’re not a killer,” he insisted before refilling his drink then walking to his office window. “Perez is very powerful, more so than you have any idea about. He’s had dozens of men killed over the last few years just for pissing him off. You’re riding on thin ice as it is by returning home.”

“I don’t scare that easily and you of all people should realize I know exactly what he’s capable of. Remember that I was the one who found my father and brother that night. I was the one who was threatened by Perez himself, the bastard laughing in my face as he gloated over what he’d ordered his men to do.” I sucked in my breath, trying to control my anger.

A few seconds passed, the tension in the room overwhelming.

“Maybe you should be afraid of the fact he will make good on the threat he issued that horrible night. Did you ever think about that? Don’t be hardheaded like your father. He was stupid, irresponsible in his actions after…” He turned away, shaking his head.

“You mean after my mother was murdered. You’re right. My father was hurting, Samuel. Isn’t that something you remember or care about?” I’d raised my voice, anger altering the tone. Huffing, I looked away, but not before catching a glimpse of the man’s face out of the corner of my eye.

I could tell how much stress he was under, which surprised me. The man had always maintained a frosty persona, never allowing anyone to know when he was bothered. At least from what he’d told me over the years, Perez hadn’t bothered him. Maybe there were some things he hadn’t shared with me.

“Of course I cared about your father. He was my best friend, for God’s sake. He was my only son’s godfather. And your mother… God, that woman was one special lady. I knew exactly how much losing her hurt him. I spent hours with him in an attempt to keep him from shoving the barrel of a gun in his mouth. Don’t you dare tell me that I don’t care. Ever.”

The tension remained thick. “Then have some respect.”

“I could say the exact same thing about you. Your father worked his entire life to make certain you didn’t have to live in his world. He wanted you to thrive, never to be burdened by the business that was his decision to enter into. The burden was placed on your brother. I just don’t understand.” He muttered under his breath as he looked away.

“My father never asked what I wanted.”

He closed his eyes, rubbing his forehead. “Because your mother asked him to leave you out of the business. Did you know that?”

Another pang of sorrow sliced through me like a sharp knife. “No, I didn’t know that.”

“Well, she made it clear to your father that you were too… special.”

Special. I was a kid longing for my father’s attention.

“As I mentioned to you earlier, Samuel, this is important to me.”

“It’s a fucking piece of jewelry,” he huffed as he shot me a look. I knew he could tell instantly that he was pushing the boundaries between us.

“As I said. It’s important.” I didn’t want to argue with him any further. There was no point.

Diego appeared uncomfortable, nursing his drink as he waited for the meeting to be over with.

“All right. You do so at your own peril.” Samuel waved his hand as if dismissing me. “All I can do is pray to God that you don’t get yourself killed. I don’t want that. I would never want that for you. You meant the world to your parents.”

I’d never seen Samuel this emotional before. While surprised, I couldn’t allow it to bother me.

“I will ask you this. Are you still dragging the girl into your scheme? That is what you’re doing, right?” His tone continued to be one of admonishment.

“She’s being well paid for her services. I will do everything in my power to protect her.”

“What if that’s not good enough? Did you ever stop to think about what could happen to her? She could wind up dead or in prison. There’s no possible chance the outcome will be a good one. Is that something you want on your conscience?”

“While I appreciate your concern, she will never be in any danger.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “I think you know better. I also believe you need to reevaluate your thoughts on that. Unless you were frank with her, she has no idea what she’ll be required to get in the middle of. That’s not worth any amount of money. At least be honest with her.”

“Duly noted and I’ll consider it.” I took a sip of my drink, shifting my attention to the television that had been playing the entire time since our arrival. When the Breaking News Bulletin flashed across the screen, I walked closer, giving Diego a nod. After he flanked my side, he turned up the volume.

Samuel walked closer seconds later, staring at the screen. “That’s Carlos Ramirez. I’m certain you remember him. Bastard. The man betrayed your father like the others. He completely sold his soul to Perez. Some considered Carlos almost as powerful. Rot in hell, you pig.”

I actually appreciated his hatred for the man.

“Yes, I remember very clearly. He got exactly what was coming to him. And hell is far too good for him.” I shifted away from the television, Samuel trailing close behind.

Samuel smacked his hand around my arm, lifting his head as he darted his eyes back and forth across mine. “What did you do?”

Smirking, I took a deep breath before answering, “What needed to be done.” When I tried to pull away, he tightened his grip.

“What’s happened to you, son? You were a mischievous young man, but you were just full of imagination and intelligence. You were exactly like your mother, so sweet and caring. That’s what your father would talk about almost every time we had a drink together. He’d talk about your antics or something you’d done at school. Hell, he was even proud of the time you almost burned the house down because you loved playing with matches.”

I remained quiet, allowing him to go down memory lane, but this would be the last time. There was no way of getting back what I’d lost.

He laughed, letting me go and taking a step away. “Did you know that your dad realized what you were doing with those matches?”

Sighing, I cocked my head, still remaining silent.

“He made certain that one of the employees would stay outside of the bathroom in case you hurt yourself. The only day you slipped away, that’s when you started the fire, almost burning the bathroom to a crisp. He told me that story for almost two years.” When he took another sip of his drink, I could tell his hand was shaking.

“I’d forgotten about that,” I managed, uncertain where the hell this was going. However, I’d never known my father had any idea of what had gone on in my life, or my mother’s life for that matter. He certainly hadn’t acted as if he’d cared.

He nodded several times, his expression wistful. “Do you remember that knife you begged him for, the one that allowed you to strike a flint? That was your favorite gift that your father ever gave you. God, I wonder what happened to it?”

“I’m not certain, Samuel. That was a long time ago. Things have changed over the years, including what interests me.”

“That’s fine, Santiago. Live your life the way you need to. Just keep in mind that Perez is formidable in every way. He has a vast number of soldiers, spies located almost everywhere. He will learn sooner versus later that you have arrived. Once he does, he will make good on his threat.”

“He can try, Samuel. Meanwhile, I’m going to attend his lavish upcoming masquerade party. Then I’ll know more about what I’m dealing with.”

He immediately walked closer, his eyes narrowing. “Are you out of your mind?”

I gave him a nod of respect before polishing off the drink. “I know what I’m doing, Samuel. I suggest you learn not to underestimate my abilities.”

“My God, Santiago. Maybe I was wrong. You are more savage than your father. Don’t forget that Antonio De Leon’s greed was the ultimate reason for his death.”

Hissing, I took long strides in his direction, resisting reacting violently. “And don’t you forget that my father helped pay for your son’s tuition to college and medical school.”

He sucked in his breath, blinking several times. “That’s not something I could forget.”

“I suggest you also remember who you’re currently working for.” I backed away, slamming my glass down on the man’s desk then heading toward the door. By the time I got outside, I could barely control my anger.

Diego moved beside me facing the opposite direction. He remained quiet for a full minute, but I heard the ragged sound of his breathing.

“Just say it, Diego. Fucking say it.”

“Fine. I think I will. You need to get your head out of your ass. What you want to do is far too risky. Don’t give me bullshit about the crest. I know you better than that. You want nothing more than to piss Perez off before you put a bullet in his brain. That’s called grandstanding. Revenge is one thing, stupidity another. Now you have a woman involved and from the look on your face when I asked about her, you give a damn about her. Don’t try and tell me you don’t. You’re not a good liar, my friend.”

“Drop it, Diego. I’m not on the mood.”

“Yeah? Do you want to throw a punch at me too? Will that make you feel any better?”

When he got in my face, daring to shove me back two feet, I almost allowed my anger to interfere. I knew exactly what he was trying to do. He’d never seen me happy, only always on edge. The second he did it again, I couldn’t stop my reaction, swinging.

For the first time since I could remember, the big man refused to take any crap from me, smashing his hand around my fist.

“Is this something you really want to do?” he asked through clenched teeth.

I refused to back down, glaring him in the eyes. “Back off.”

He shook his head several times, keeping his stance. Then he moved away, holding up his hands before turning around and walking toward the street.

“Where are you going?”

“I’d prefer to walk,” he barked. “I think I need a real drink or five.”

I stared after him, suddenly uncertain of what the hell I was doing. As a laugh bubbled to the surface, I smacked my hands on the car. One thing was certain; I needed to touch her, to feel her.

To hold her.

To fuck her.

And she wouldn’t be allowed to refuse me.

* * *

By the time I made it back to the house, it was almost dark. I was more exhausted than I should be, but perhaps jet lag was finally settling in. At least Samuel had been able to provide significant details regarding Perez’s method of operation as well as his usual habits. Very little had changed with regards to the man’s estate, including where he kept the crest. He’d portioned off a section of the estate for business purposes only, preferring to keep his family life away from his dirty work.

The crest was no exception, still housed in the small library that was almost never used. However, just as I’d mentioned to Devon, it was heavily guarded. Maybe my idea was too grandiose; however, my grandfather had nearly died in order to save the jeweled piece from a fire. It had been the only thing belonging to the man my father had kept.

As I walked inside, the warm glow of lights was more comforting than the night before. I nodded to several of the employees before moving toward the grand living room, flexing my hand. I hadn’t punched anyone in a hell of a long time. An ache had already developed, reminding me that I’d lived a soft life for far too long. That would need to change.

I thought about visiting my father’s office, but that remained far too painful.

As I studied the array of liquors, I realized my head was pounding as well. My thoughts drifted to information I’d heard on the news. It would seem Carlos had built quite a tarnished reputation for himself since my departure, developing a long list of enemies. Given I’d been right about the fire, the police would have dozens of speculations but little to go on during their investigation.

I would never forget the look on Samuel’s face, his eyes more haunted than I’d ever seen them. I would also never be able to get his words or Diego’s out of my mind. Both men were right, but I’d come too far to drop my plans now.

With Devon’s help, the crest would be in my hands in a matter of days.

Exhaling, as I wrapped my hand around the glass, I realized that the last thing I wanted was to see her get hurt in any way. Maybe I was far too callous in my judgment of how this would work. Maybe I simply had no way of caring about anyone else.

I sensed her presence and not just from the lovely fragrance she wore wafting into the room. Every time she was close, electricity sparked between us. I tensed as she walked closer, realizing that no matter my desires, I had no business being near her in the foul mood I was in.

“Would it be all right if I have a drink with you?”

Her question seemed more demure than I was used to. “Of course. What would you like?”

“Whatever you’re having is fine.”

I chuckled; she always had a way of making me smile. I added ice, taking my time before turning around to face her. The look on her face was pensive, as if she didn’t know what to expect from me. Perhaps that was the reason she’d selected a dress that I knew Samuel had provided for her. She looked exquisite, the beautiful black dress highlighting her voluptuous curves perfectly. She’d even styled her hair, the long ringlets adding to her sensuality. My cock was immediately at full attention, fueled by the kind of sadistic desire I’d felt the night before.

It was almost impossible to take my eyes off her. Even the luscious red lipstick she’d selected drew me in, my hunger spiking.

Her face reddened almost instantly, and she darted her eyes away, dragging just the tip of her tongue across her painted lips. “I wasn’t certain about dinner. When you left, you certainly didn’t provide me with any instructions.”

I inched closer until I stood over her. For the first time, I noticed an apprehensive tic in the corner of her mouth. “Do I make you nervous, sweet Devon?”

“You know what? I hate the way you say my name. But that’s not the only thing. You make me infuriated. You drive me insane because you supply answers that are more like riddles for me to solve. You make me want to scream as well as claw your eyes out. I know you value honesty, so there you have it. Is this attire acceptable or would you prefer me to change?”

There wasn’t a muscle in my body that hadn’t twitched, my shaft aching all over again. Losing control with her again wasn’t in my best interest, but the woman had a way of igniting every ember. “Nothing so formal tonight, Devon. In fact, why don’t you talk with the chef about preparing something for you alone? I have business to attend to.”

“You won’t eat?”

“Today was an arduous day.”

She laughed, allowing her gaze to fall to my feet. “Well, unless it’s off limits, I’m certain I can wrangle up a sandwich on my own.” As her eyes slid upward, they locked on a portion of my shirt.

I glanced down, clenching my jaw. I hadn’t noticed the drops of blood. That must have occurred when I’d punched Carlos.

Shaking her head, she finally locked eyes with mine once again. “I can see you’ve had a busy day.”

“Business. That’s what I do, Devon.”

“Beat people? Kill people? I can only imagine what your line of work truly entails.” She tried to back away, but I grabbed her wrist, yanking with enough force she was pulled against my chest. She immediately slammed one hand against me, struggling as she hissed.

“I do what’s necessary. My world is entirely different than yours. I suggest you remember your place.”

“My place. Thank you for constantly reminding me of that, Sir Santiago. Is it possible to take a swim, or do you need armed guards to ensure I don’t run away? Maybe you’d like to chain me to a chair or something.”

The woman pulled out every stop to push my freaking limits. A huge portion of me wanted nothing more than to drag her over my lap, providing another round of harsh discipline. Another part of me wanted to crush my mouth over hers, tasting her sweet nirvana all over again.

Instead, I brushed the tip of my index finger across her cheek, surprised she didn’t recoil. “You are welcome to enjoy the pleasures of anything within the grounds.”

She gripped my hand, turning it until she was able to look directly at my knuckles. “I wonder what the other guy looks like.”

She managed to rile me enough I was the one who jerked my hand away, disgusted with myself. “Go and enjoy the night, Devon. We have a full day of training ahead of us.”

“Training,” she repeated. “That should be fascinating. A swim it is. I would much rather be alone than with a monster.” She abruptly turned, taking quick steps out of the room after placing the untouched drink on the coffee table.

We were oil and water.

Fire and ice.

I folded my fingers, fisting my hand. The monster inside of me wanted to race after her. However, I’d attempt to give her some space.

The drink in my hand seemed heavier than normal. After swirling it continuously for a full minute, I swallowed the majority, realizing my anger had yet to abate. The gnawing in my gut had refused to subside. There were too many questions from years before that had yet to be answered. I also had a nagging feeling another player had been involved in the murders. If I was right, perhaps my open playbook should be changed.

As I stormed back to the bar, filling my glass to the rim, I remembered something my father had told me only days before he’d been killed.

“Remember that you will always have enemies, men who will stop at nothing to drive you into madness. However, the people you need to worry about the most are the ones you thought were your friends.”

I lifted my glass in a salute to my father. He’d been a very wise man.