Dark Thief (The Two Sides of Me Book 2) (15 page)

“Do you give to any charities that are involved in feeding the hungry?” He sets his knife along the edge of his plate very deliberately turning his total attention to me. “I knew you were thinking about waste. Mia, I didn’t become this successful by being irresponsible with money. I was poor once too remember?” “Yes, I do remember, that’s why I ask.” “Well, the answer is yes, many organizations in fact. You will be informed of all of them when we see my lawyer tomorrow.” “Tomorrow? I was really hoping Dr. Carter would be here by then.”

I can’t help but to frown a little and he reaches up to smooth the line between my eyebrows. “We can do both, when is he due to arrive?” “I’m not sure actually, I’ll have to check in with him.” He stills and pauses then returns to eating slightly. “How do you contact him?” He’s jealous and trying to hide it but to me it’s obvious. “I’ll call his office.” “Good.” “Or text him.” I can’t resist, I should but I can’t. I peek at him out of the corner of my eye, his jaw is ticking and his knife is gripped tight. I bust out laughing covering my mouth to prevent more attention being brought our way.

“Something funny, Ms. Galloway?” Through fits of giggles I answer, “Yes Mr. Lawson.” and attempt to collect myself. With raised and expectant eyebrows he regards me waiting for an explanation. “I’m sorry…really. I don’t have his personal phone number Evan, and even if I did it wouldn’t mean anything.” “And that’s funny why?” Smiling lovingly I reach and touch his thigh I’m surprised to find his muscle there rock hard with his strength but also tension. “You’re jealous, unnecessarily of course, but it struck me as very funny I apologize.”

He covers my hand with his on his leg. “I don’t remember things clearly from before the accident Mia but I do know I was a dangerous man and being jealous concerning you is dangerous.” He is deadly serious and my face falls flat not finding this funny anymore. I try to slide my hand out from under his but he grips it hard, too hard. “You’re hurting me.”  My hand is released completely and he pushes his own through his thick dark brown waves in frustration and then suddenly all expressions are gone… “More wine?” He’s trying to reign in his anger and now I realize I’ve pushed a button that’s not to be pushed again. “Yes, please. I’m sorry.” I try again to apologize as he pours a second glass of wine for me.

“I love to hear you laugh, but you are
mine
and the thought of you with another man just made something in me crack. This may be a hard limit for me.” “Hard limit?” I repeat the unfamiliar term and he appears surprised at his use of the words as well. “Something I cannot tolerate. I can’t guarantee what would happen if I saw or knew you were with another man Mia.”  His tone is frigid and extremely convincing. I will not be messing around with this subject anytime soon, no make that ever. “Let’s finish up and head to the club, the show starts soon.”

I look over to check up on my body guards at the table across from us. The four of them couldn’t be more uptight, each taking a turn scanning the room and checking on us, not a single movement in this room unnoticed and no affection or friendliness exchanged. I’d laugh if that hadn’t gone so wrong just moments ago. “Ok, what kind of show?” “You’ll see.” “Strippers?” I ask innocently, the Seattle club looked like a place strippers would perform. “No, not exactly. Just trust me, I think you will like it.” I take a drink of wine and consider chugging it all, I feel like I may need a little buzz before the show.  “You’ll enjoy it, don’t look so apprehensive.” His soft tone has returned, thankfully, and I decide the glass of wine can come with me to the club. 

This version of the Dominus night club is very different from the one in Seattle. The decor has been carried through to the elegant vast room that is spread out before us. Passing through large double doors the ambiance changes, the lighting is completely different. An unearthly red glow rises from the floor around the edge of the club and tiny undulating twinkle lights above cover the low ceiling, moving with a life of their own.

A subdued excitement hangs in the air as members mingle and begin to find their seats in the semi-circle tables that surround a large platform stage in the center of the room.  Cheerful dinner chatter is over and those who have found their spots are leaning close speaking in each other’s ears, touching one another as if they weren’t in public, the music is sensual and slowly rhythmic, intoxicating. “Did you pump something into the air in here?” I ask plastering myself as close to Evans side as possible, this place is beautiful but just creepy enough that I’m on edge. He chuckles and gives me no answer, just squeezes my small hand that’s been swallowed up by his large one since we left the dinner table. “Over here, we can sit with the others, the lights will be going out and I’d like them nearby.” “What do you think’s going to happen?”

He stops his stroll to the front of the stage suddenly and I jerk to a halt as well due to our linked hands. “What?” “Anything can happen, you haven’t accepted that yet have you?” He’s right, I do tend to forget or block out the possibility of anything out of the ordinary happening when things go well for a few days or even hours. I think it’s my natural way of protecting my mind from unpleasantness and also a very dangerous way to avoid dealing with the problems at hand. “You’re right, sorry, I just…” “You just don’t
want
to believe that. I know it’s your way of coping, but it’s a dangerous habit. You need to always be on guard with me Mia, expect the unexpected all the time. Protecting yourself from me and the evils that follow me. I don’t want to scare you, that’s why I avoid talking of it, the last time you thought you were in danger you left me. But we must be realistic and address the fact that I am trouble for you in more than one way, and the man I used to be attracted trouble like a magnet.”

His eyes search mine, darting from one to the other in anticipation of my reaction to his warning. When I give him none, a minuscule trace of panic flashes in his sharp green’s, the sparkling lights overhead reflect there and he dips his head coaxing a response from me. “I know, I do ignore it purposely, it’s foolish, I know.” “I’m doing everything I know how to do to keep you safe Mia, please know that if nothing else.” “I do Evan, don’t worry anymore I’d learn to tolerate 100 body guards if they were necessary.”

Closing his eyes briefly he sighs and then returns to leading me to our table where Isaac, Mr. Saint and the two women are already seated. After brief introductions I learn the women’s names are Lizbeth and Carmen, they are both curt and professional and brief. Well this should be fun. We slide into the comfortable booth positioning Isaac and Saint on the outside openings Evan and I flanked by shadows number three and four. I cross my legs to avoid a repeat of the dinner table heavy petting that occurred earlier and Evan rolls his eyes knowingly but still lays his hand across my thigh.

We settle in and have boring chit chat with the others for nearly fifteen minutes before all the lights go out in the room, every single one and we are plunged into blackness. The music changes and I recognize the slow churn of Massive Attacks Dissolved Girl as a spotlight is turned onto a women near the ceiling wrapped in black silk. She begins a sultry routine of twisting and rolling up and down the long material with the music.

None of this would be out of the ordinary and actually very much like Circque de Soleil but for the fact that the performer was naked, making the routine erotic and raw. Half way through the long performance I sit wide eyed in awe of the strength and muscle tone of the women moving so fluidly until I jump in my seat when she does a drop, the material unrolling her nearly to the floor but catching her with mere inches to spare. I feel Evans warm breath on my neck and an electrical zing shoots up my spine at the combination of his closeness and the performers daring stunt. “You like?” he whispers. “I love.” I reply.

He trails a path of warm kisses from behind my ear where he has swept my hair away following only along my jaw as he had dressed me in a gown that doesn’t allow much skin access, well none actually. I automatically turn to him parting my lips but he doesn’t kiss me on them but alternates the corners with light pecks and presses his forehead to mine. His hand making its way up to my sequin covered breast where he pauses and nudges away from me completely at the exact moment the music stops leaving me wanton and craving him like a drug. Clapping begins and the beautiful brunette scampers off stage into the protection of the dark, her long silky pony tail bobbing against her bare backside.

I have no idea what’s next but I feel trapped and frustrated after that part of the show and Evan’s teasing, paybacks are going to be hell. He’s enjoying building my desire because he knows I’m not comfortable with PDA and believes I won’t make a scene. Next, the pitch black room comes alive with LED lighted hula hoops swirling around more naked bodies. Although, it’s not easy to see much of the women in the dark, only the skin over which the hoop is being rotated is visible but that seems to be what makes it so alluring. Trails of light drag behind the spinning dancers as they flow around the stage in time with the electronic arrangement of music.

It occurs to me then that Evan and I aren’t the only two audience members being whipped into a sex craved frenzy…that’s the obvious expectation of the show. I wonder what the patrons surrounding me are up to in the unlit room, and if no needs are satisfied during the show will everyone clear out and go somewhere where they can be when it’s over? My thought is interrupted by another change on stage. Five LED lit poles rise from the floor of the stage in a circle and dark silhouettes in pairs appear next to each one.

The first performer snakes her body up the pole and begins a routine while the other mirrors it from a lower vantage point, again all nude and lit only by the multicolored lights of the poles. Evan slides his arm behind my waist and pulls me closer to his side and I mentally prepare myself for another onslaught of temptation. But instead of passion I feel the hair on my neck rise and a panic rushing around us.

I feel the table vibrate and everyone around me slides out of the booth leaving me being clutched in Evans painfully tight embrace and alone. “Don’t move. Don’t make a sound.” he whispers in my ear, this time his breath brings dread and not excitement. I sit. I’m quiet. And I feel my body’s reaction to heightened stress and fear, I’m going to faint. Fucking damsel in distress syndrome about to attack me. I don’t need to voice a warning to Evan, he knows what’s happening to me long before I do somehow and I recoil when he brings a hand under my nose producing an ammonia capsule.

My senses are overwhelmed with the sharp smell and I’m brought back immediately from the threatened fainting spell. “Come with me. Now.” I’m pulled out by the waist along the booth until I’m assisted to a standing position, Evan moves in close behind me and I’m aware of Isaac
right
in front of me. He grabs my hand and leads us to the far wall of the club near the bar which has also turned off every light for the stage performance. “What’s going on?” I whisper. I know he said not to speak but anxiety keeps me from obeying.  “Quiet, just move.” he orders pushing me along with more intensity now.

Moments later we have made it to a door that when passing through brings us to a dimly lit very long hallway with doors lining both sides. Quickly Isaac produces a key and opens the first one on our right.  Shoving us inside he leaves and I hear a click from the other side. I do not like this. Not one bit, and I’m not keeping quiet any longer. “What the fuck is going on?!”

I whirl around to find wild angry eyes shooting daggers back at me. I back up until I’m stopped by the door behind me. Shit…who am I dealing with now, and what the hell was Isaac thinking locking me in a room with Evan unprotected?

It takes my eyes a few seconds to adjust to the light in the room.  When they do I look past Evan and the first thing I see is an enormous bed and a camera on a tripod facing that bed. My scrambled mind needs to sort things out. First things first though, what’s going on with Evan? “I’m sorry I raised my voice. Are you ok?” Defusing the situation may not be possible but I’m sure as hell going to try, my life may depend on it. “Sit.” Evan points at the bed and I begin to follow the wall around the edge of the room staying as clear of him as possible but still moving toward the bed as instructed.

“I’m scared.” I admit in a small voice, whoever this is may as well know that I fear him. “That makes it so much better.” A different smirk, nothing like the one I love, twitches at the corner of his mouth. This one is unrecognizable, not like the one that makes my heart beat out of my chest and electrifies my core. No, this expression is that of a reprobate and I’m sure of who has taken control, whether it’s the real Evan, the one who existed before the accident or an exaggerated version of that man it is
not
the Evan I love.

Isaac why? Why on earth would you abandon me here with this monster? I continue on finding the bed with Evan’s wicked eyes on me. I perch anxiously, unsure of his intention or his next move. He begins a leisurely approach that makes me feel like a cornered animal with no escape, because essentially I am. I find my voice and decide to try again but with less attitude. “What’s happening out there Evan? Why were we rushed back here?” I’ve taken him by surprise by speaking again and he halts his pacing, looking conflicted.

“Nothing out of the ordinary little one, I have many enemies. I’ve tortured many people and at times those people actually have loved ones who want revenge, justice you might say. No worries though my pretty, they never get what they want. I always win. And it seems tonight you’ve been offered up as a sacrifice to the Duke, or the Beast as many see fit to call me.”

My blood turns to ice in my veins and I instinctually begin to shrink away from this horrible look alike to the man I love. I scoot away, my heels falling off onto the floor as I dig my heels into the mattress and eventually feel my back pressed against the padded headboard. “What do you mean s…sacrifice?” I squeak. He starts toward me again and my heart plummets. He’s really going to hurt me, I can see it in his eyes, and he’s planning on enjoying every second of it.

“Oh lovely, I’m given playthings all the time in exchange for sparing a life.  Stupid husbands who owe more than they could ever pay back to me will give me a relative to save themselves, sometimes it’s their very own wife.” He laughs and it begins again, I’m on my way out of consciousness. I can’t decide if this is good or bad. My vision tunnels and he seems to stretch far away, my hearing fades and that’s it, I’m out.

For the second time tonight my nose is assaulted with bitter ammonia and I gasp and open my eyes wide to see Evan hovering over me with a bloody lip and black eye. I’m cold and shivering, and I can’t move my arms or legs. It takes me a moment to realize what’s happening, I’m naked and tied to all four corners of the bed and we aren’t alone, letting my head fall to the right where I feel tugging at my wrist I see Isaac working furiously to free me.

I’m lost, what has happened while I’ve been out? I start to collect my wits and assess the scene. Seeing now that this room is much more than a bedroom. More of a torture room with restraints built into the bed frame that are holding me secure, above me are metal tracks with dangling chains and cuffs, what is this place? “Baby, I’m so sorry, are you ok? Are you hurt?” I feel his hands skimming over my bare skin softly searching for injuries but he doesn’t discover any.

Isaac succeeds at releasing my hand and I bring it into my body covering my exposed breasts. I don’t know where to look, at Isaac who is working on my foot now or into Evan’s confused eyes. It’s obvious my soul mate is here with me now but what did his other evil half do to me while I was unconscious? “God baby please, please, please forgive me. I’m so sorry. I don’t remember…I...I…”

Isaac pushes the solid rock of a man, begging for my forgiveness, hard catching him off balance. “Help me get her free Evan, you can apologize later we’ve got to get her out of here before they come back.” Isaac hisses. Evan looks pissed but follows orders and jumps to my other arm. The two men release me and I curl into the fetal position my back to Evan. I tuck my chin to chest and close my eyes tight, this isn’t happening this can’t be happening.  “Get her dress.” Isaac barks and the men shuffle around the room gathering my clothes.

Evan touches my shoulder to encourage me toward him but I flinch and shoot into motion on the opposite side of the bed. I slide off the bed and into Isaacs’s arms. Every muscle in Isaacs’s body freezes and his breathing stops. I look back at Evan across the bed, his eyes are huge, jaw clenched, hands balled into fists at his sides, he’s enraged. “You have to know she would be afraid Evan, you can’t react to this. Remember what you just tried to do to her and get, her, dress!” Isaac shouts. I curl myself into his body tucking my forearms against his chest and burying my face there, he circles my back protectively. 

“That wasn’t me.” “I know Evan but it’s kind of hard for her to sort that out right now and we must get her out of here.” I can’t see but I feel Evan hand my dress to Isaacs hand when he removes it from my back. “Come on honey, let’s get you into your dress ok?” Pushing me back a step gently he holds out the dress for me to step into and I do while flashing Evan looks over my shoulder to make sure he stays at a distance. His eyes reflect an immeasurable torture, it’s absolutely killing him to see another man have his hands on me, and to add salt to the wound his name is scrawled all over my body where he claimed me as his own just hours before.

Except now the autographs are all smeared and smudged in an ironic representation of our relationship. We always start out beautifully written and full of passion and love but inevitably end up streaked and defiled. “What’s happening Isaac? Why did you leave me here? Who are we running from?” I have my hand on his broad shoulder as I step in, he keeps his eyes to the floor only looking at my feet. When it’s necessary for him to stand he looks me directly in the eyes ever the gentleman he refuses to let his gaze roam. I extend my arms into the long sleeves of the gown and he spins me by my shoulders to zip me up. “We don’t have time now, I’ll explain in the car.” Evan is holding my shoes. “It’s ok Mia, he’s ok now. You can trust him.”

Oh no I can’t, I snatch the shoes and slip them on wondering where my bra and panties have gone, oh hell who cares I just want out of this room. Evan goes to the door opening it for us as we file past as always Isaac leads me with Evan bringing up the rear. “This way.” Isaac takes my hand pulling me, forcing me into a trot that hurts my feet in these heels. Suddenly a door is swung open and cold air rushes over me. I gulp it in and wrap my arms around my torso, without my coat the Italian winter wind feels glacial. Not for long though, an unfamiliar limousine pulls up to the curb and a door flies open, Isaac shoves me inside and follows. Evan magically slides in on the opposite side and we pull away with a jolt.

I don’t even have to ask again before Isaac begins. “Mia, there are people here in Milan who have no idea Evan has lost his memory, we worried about one of them learning of our presence tonight and as it turns out they were well founded concerns. I’m so sorry I left you alone. I had to make sure you were safe from them and I didn’t have time to separate the two of you. Mr. Saint was following two men and Lizbeth and Carmen went after three others. I...I...didn’t think. Fuck I can’t believe the horrible timing, I’ve failed you twice and that’s inexcusable.”

I turn my attention to Evan who is staring out the window at the city flying by, elbow propped on the door molding with his chin resting on the back of his hand he is lost in thought. “Evan?” I timidly reach out to bring him back from wherever he is. Turning to me dazed with glassy eyes brimming with tears a little piece of me dies inside. As afraid and apprehensive as I am I realize he is suffering equally. “What happened?” I whisper. “I don’t know Mia, I swear I blacked out and when I realized what was going on I must have…God Mia, I don’t know what I did…will you ever be able to forgive me?”  “Yes.” I answer with no sign of hesitation.

He raises his eyes to mine. “What did you say?” “I said yes, although there is nothing to forgive
you
for, it wasn’t you in that room, and I fainted, I don’t even know what happened.” “Nothing happened Mia.” Isaac interjects sharply, “I found him when he had just finished tying you up. We fought until something shifted and he realized what he’d done.” Evan reaches to touch my shoulder and I do all I can not to flinch at his touch. “Evan, how is your vision?” 

The shoulder touch was directly linked to his loss of vision before and I’m struck with the realization that he may be backsliding again. “Why?” “Just tell me, are you seeing clearly?” A long pause follows the question and I lace my fingers with his on the seat between us to encourage him to answer. “It’s dim, no peripheral vision.” He admits. I reach deep down to the reserves of my ability to clinically and not emotionally assess situations and I begin to voice my summary of the night.

“So we were in danger just showing our faces tonight. And we were almost attacked. Evan you had a set back with your vision and another personality change or black out, whatever. The threat was frightened away and Isaac, you fought with your boss and best friend, knocked some sense back into him and I lost my underwear. Does that sum it up? I alternate looking at the two surprised men. The shock was received exactly the way I had intended it.  We need to move away from the seriousness for a minute so I can regroup. “Right?” I say. “Uh...yea, right.” Isaac responds. “Yes, that’s it.” Evan repeats.  “Ok then, no harm done, we’re all in one piece and going home.

You have some serious explaining to do about that club Mr. Lawson.” I turn my attention from him to Isaac, “And if he can’t remember
you
will fill in the holes, got it?” “Yes Ma’am.” “Ok then. Good.” Evan pinches the bridge of his nose between his eyes and sighs deeply. “You’re amazing.” he mutters. “I know.” I respond, relaxing into the leather seat preparing for the long ride home. 

The dark countryside that I missed seeing on our way to Milan blurs by as we travel back to the house on Lake Como. I keep trying to remember what happened back there. How the hell have I gone from my normal simple life as a single woman and professional nurse, working shifts and relaxing with my friends and family to being autographed head to toe, tied up spread eagle naked and passed out in a sex club in Italy? Fuck, this is insane, I absentmindedly begin to run my hands over my body checking for injuries.  Nope nothing out of order but the action doesn’t go unnoticed and I feel two sets of eyes on me.

The facade I’ve been keeping up is cracking and if I don’t play this right I’ll lose all credibility. I know being strong for Evan is essential to convincing him that he needs treatment and I’m so close I can’t lose my grip now. “Did I hurt you?” I turn to him and his usually sharp green eyes are dark and encompassed in pain. As always, when I see him suffering my heart constricts. “No, of course not.” “You were checking though…” Tiny familiar frown lines appear across his forehead and he reaches for my hand, I grab on tightly. “I was chilly, that’s all.” I’m the shittiest liar. His frown deepens and he obviously doesn’t believe that line of crap but he pulls me close wrapping me in a blanket of pure Evan, his smell, his touch, his warm breath in my ear.

“Don’t lie to me baby, I know you. Sometimes I like to give you the opportunity to be honest. I may not have control of what’s going on in my mind but in yours I stroll effortlessly down your quaint cobbled paths feeling and experiencing exactly what you do.” I don’t respond but let that seed be planted and as it grows it dawns on me that changing anything about Evan’s mind could sever the invisible connection between us. Not only could his old personality return but he could forget me, the magnet could be reversed. His ability to read my mind could be stripped away with the tumor. “You’re worrying again, relax.” He begins to massage my shoulders and I’m instantly limp, my chin falling to my chest I moan forgetting Isaac and Mr. Saint are in the car.

I close my eyes while his strong fingers dig into my neck and shoulders.  This would feel so much better if he were actually touching my skin instead of the sequin covered gown I’m wearing but it is better that I’m covered. When our skin meets my control goes out the window and I’m not sure I’d even care about Isaac or Saint being in the close quarters of this car. “That’s better baby.” he whispers into one ear and then the other “Don’t ever leave me.” “I couldn’t if I wanted to, my life is fed by yours, and without you I’d starve to death.”

Silence falls between us during the trip home, he finishes my neck rub and I cuddle into his side dozing off and on until we pull into the drive of the Lawson Estate. I’m gathered onto Evan’s lap, he swiftly exits the car cradling me in his arms. The cold night air takes my breath away and I think of the beautiful coat I left behind at Dominus. “The coat was real, you wouldn’t want it back. I lied. You looked so beautiful in it though I couldn’t resist.” he admits and pecks me on the forehead smiling while we cross the threshold of the front doors.

“What? I wore poor innocent little animals that were murdered to make a coat?!” I screech. He tightens his embrace and smiles down at me shaking his head. “The things you put up with and are exposed to because of me and
this
is what you choose to be upset about?” He’s right, in the scheme of things this is really not important. “Well I’m glad we left it then.” I pout and slide my fingers around his neck and up his nape into the soft thick waves of his hair. I drop my head back exposing my throat fully aware of where this will lead us.