Graham, Jan - Finding Angel [Wylde Shore] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (64 page)

Adrian had refused to let Samuel leave the organisation. He was too valuable an asset to simply let walk away, far too dangerous a man not to be under Adrian’s control. No one could take care of a threat and cover his tracks more efficiently than Samuel Barnard. Besides, Adrian had told him long ago that being in the organisation was a commitment for life. If Adrian had paid more attention to Samuel’s desire for a quiet life, then things may be quite different today. Samuel may not have compiled the evidence that now threatened to take Adrian down. He may even still be alive, and Adrian wouldn’t have to make the choices he now faced. Friday had seen the first chip fall when Markham had been suspended, and Adrian wondered how long it would take for the domino effect to finally reach him. Already there was talk within the organisation that he should step aside and let someone else take over. Adrian knew that would happen over his dead body.

Adrian sat glumly on the bed. He was dressed and ready to face the day, but he needed to decide what to do about Angel. When he had spoken to her on Wednesday and she had agreed to give him the ledger, he felt sure of his long-term security, happy that he had overcome Samuel’s betrayal. This morning he didn’t even know if he wanted the ledger. Adrian knew the information it contained. After all, he had been instrumental in compiling the damn thing. After a long weekend of reflection, he knew he should have followed his father’s number one rule,
no documentation.
Instead, he had kept documents, trusted Samuel with some of them, and then pushed him to the point of betrayal, possibly destroying his own life in the process.

Adrian’s thoughts fell once again to Angel. He had wanted her to become part of his life on a regular basis because he needed her in his bed. This morning that didn’t seem a feasible option. Last week he had felt that things would continue for him without complication. Over the weekend he realised he was about to enter a war with the state police and possibly his own men. If he was going to fight for survival, then that fight may get very bloody. Angel didn’t need to be witness to that. She had survived enough, especially now that she was free from Samuel’s abuse. The police were no longer interested in perusing her and dragging up her past. She seemed adamant to start over away from the dangers she had lived with for so long. Why should Arian deny someone he loved something they desired so much?

“So that’s the final decision,” he stated as he looked in the mirror and straightened his tie. “I’ll let her go.”

Adrian allowed himself to feel sorrow and regret probably for the first time in his life. Ever since he was a child, he had steeled himself from emotions, knowing they could play no part in the life he was destined to lead. Of course, he had denied himself before, but it had never impacted on him the way this decision was. He travelled to his office under a cloud of sadness. As he walked over to his desk, he stopped to pour himself a glass of single malt whiskey. He sat staring at the glass for a long while. Adrian usually made it a practice never to consume alcohol before midday, but today he decided that even though his clock said it was just after eight in the morning, it had to be lunchtime somewhere in the world.

Angel jumped as the phone rang. Christian and Steve insisted she had to put the call on speaker phone, something she hoped Adrian didn’t notice.

“Hello, Adrian,” Angel said after accepting the call and flicking it to speaker.

“You know I almost expected you not to answer just to aggravate me.” Adrian’s voice held an element of surprise.

“Well, I figure since I broke the last deadline I better keep this one. Besides, I’d hate for you to decide to kill me over a missed call.” Angel felt a little nervous knowing that Christian and Steve were sitting either side of her on the sofa listening to every word and hearing Adrian laugh at her reply.

“I won’t ever decide to kill you again, Angel, and if anyone else ever decides to try it, just let me know so I can take them out before they get to you.” Adrian’s voice was jovial, but Angel thought it was also hinted with regret. “And I do have some news that may make you a very happy woman.”

“I love being happy. Hit me with it.” Angel smiled.

“I’ve decided you can post the ledger to me. I’ll text the address when we finish our call.”

Angel noticed Christian glance over at Steve. They appeared totally surprised by this turn of events but were nonetheless probably thankful for it. However, “surprised” didn’t really describe the look on both men’s faces hearing the next sentence that fell from her mouth.

“Adrian, what’s wrong? I’m worried about you. I mean, I’m happy not to have to travel back up to give you the ledger, but you don’t sound yourself.”

“And again you are the only person I know who would ever ask me that question, let alone notice that there was something wrong. I won’t bore you with my business worries because I don’t want to have the police stalking you once more but
…
” Adrian paused and she heard him chuckle. “It seems the tables have been turned on me. I gave you five days to think, and instead I found myself doing the soul searching.

“I had fully intended to meet you for the ledger and then convince you to stay with me. Selfish I know. Deceitful…definitely. Anyway, as I said the night you happily squirted all over my cock, I would spend every day of my life with you, but I know you don’t want that, so again, I am not even going to ask.”

“Adrian I…”

“No, don’t say anything. You know I can be crabby when people tell me no, and I’m too fragile of heart where you’re concerned to even hear you utter your rejection.”

“You do realise that apart from stating the whole obvious drug lord thing you are actually old enough to be my father?” Angel laughed.

“Yes, I know, but I’ve never been one for worrying about what people might think. And once upon a time I wished I had been your father. You would have had a damned better life with me than you did with that horrible Hazza W. The man was despicable.” Adrian made a shuddering sound as he spoke about Angel’s father before adding. “Of course if you’d like me to be your daddy, I’d be more than happy to let you sit on my lap.”

“Speaking of despicable,” Angel gasped, “I thought you didn’t want to hear me reject you?”

“I don’t, but you can’t blame me for trying. I do have one final thing to say though before I leave you to your new life.”

“And what’s that?” Angel asked.

“I will only ever be a phone call away. If you need me for anything, please ring. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.” Angel knew Adrian was being sincere.

“Thank you, Adrian. I will remember that.”

Angel felt Adrian’s sadness as he ended the call, but she also felt her own sense of relief swamp her. It was finally over. She wanted to laugh with joy and cry with relief. As she threw her arms around Christian, she did both.

Steve walked onto the back deck and lit a cigarette. He was feeling a little shocked at more than just the turn of events with Adrian. Something in the conversation had struck a nerve, and it had nothing to do with statements of love or Angel no longer meeting Adrian in person that had caught his attention.

That was definitely not the Adrian Hastings he had ever dealt with, but it was obviously the Adrian that Angel knew. Steve wandered back inside to the study and called Trevor. He detailed the parts of the call that pertained to the ledger. After all, it was none of Trevor’s business if Adrian had declared his love for Angel. Trevor assumed the change in attitude related to the fact that the police were moving in and Hastings didn’t have time to meet. That assumption suited Steve just fine. The next call Steve made was to Daniel. He not only wanted to let Dan know how Angel was and the outcome of the phone call, but he needed some information. Something Hastings had said sent alarm bells through Steve, and he needed Daniel’s help to resolve it. The call to Daniel’s mobile went to voicemail. Steve left a message. It seemed his question would have to wait.

Steve and Christian dissected the phone call and discussed their relief at the outcome. Angel sat quietly, seemingly in a world of her own thoughts.

“Are you okay, Angel?” Steve asked.

“I never thought he loved me, and now that I know I find it more terrifying than the fact he wanted to kill me. And I realise it doesn’t make sense but I feel a little sad for him.” Angel still had a faraway look in her eye as she spoke.

Steve watched as Angel wandered out of the room. She returned with the ledger and a large envelope. Steve watched as Angel wrote a note and placed the two items into the envelope, addressed it, and walked over to join the two men at the kitchen island.

Steve was keen to go home to Kathy, but he needed to collect his bike in order to get there. After much discussion, he opted to be driven home by Christian and Angel and collect his bike another day. After all, he had left it safely locked up at Angel’s new house. He knew Angel was reluctant to visit the house she had inherited, and Steve understood why. Technically, it was Samuel’s house, and Angel had never taken anything from Samuel in her life.

As Steve opened the door to his home, he knew immediately something wasn’t right. All the inside lights appeared to be on and the alarm hadn’t been enabled. He paused in the foyer, voicing his concern to Christian. The men instructed Angel to wait by the door as they proceeded slowly inside, checking each room as they went. Steve was trying to hide his growing sense of panic. Kathy was so particular about security. She always ensured the alarm was activated when she left the house, and there was no reason to leave the internal lights on during the day. The magazine stand in the lounge room had been knocked over, and magazines spilled across the floor. Kathy’s mobile sat on the kitchen bench. Steve knew Kathy would never leave the house without it. They quietly moved to the bedrooms, checking each one before reaching the main. The door was slightly ajar, and Steve opened it cautiously as he entered. The bed was unmade, and Steve stood motionless as he looked at the red stain on the sheet next to the broken bed lamp.

Steve heard Christian begin to speak to someone and turned around to see him on the phone.

“I need you and the rest of your team to get to Steve Jax’s home with a forensic team ASAP. And inform Trevor Duncan that it appears Steve’s wife has been kidnapped. Yeah, he’s with me, and we’ll be waiting outside.”

Steve stood motionless in the centre of the room. Christian followed his gaze to the wardrobe mirror. Scrawled across the mirror in what Christian assumed was pink lipstick was a message.

Nightmare courtesy of Adrian Hastings.

“It’s not Hastings. He’s not that stupid,” Steve said flatly.

“Yeah, it wasn’t Hastings. This just wasn’t his style,” Christian agreed.

Christian led Steve back through the house to a nervously waiting Angel still standing at the door. Angel walked over to Steve and hugged him as Christian explained what was happening. No sooner had he finished speaking than the street filled with police cars, sirens blazing. It looked like half of headquarters was arriving. Christian glanced over at Angel, who walked with Steve over to the brick fence and made him sit down. Steve remained scarily silent as he sat on the fence holding Angel’s hand. Christian looked around at the chaos. His top team of six stood near him, waiting for instruction, Trevor Duncan was storming up the driveway followed by what looked like every damn drug squad team on duty that day, and the forensic unit was just pulling into the street.

“I understand you’re lead on this, Shore. We won’t tread on any toes, but we aren’t leaving, so where do you want us.”

Trevor had his “don’t fuck with me voice” on, and from the dozen or so drug squad officers glaring toward Christian from behind Trevor, he had no intention of telling them to go away.

Christian briefed his team and Trevor on what had occurred, including the message implicating Adrian Hastings. Trevor was of the same opinion as Steve and him. This wasn’t Hastings’s style, but it didn’t mean there wasn’t a connection. Trevor picked two of his men to work with Christian’s major crime squad. Based on the link to Hastings, Christian thought it was a wise move to have drug squad input. As Christian and Trevor moved toward the drug squad guys, he heard murmurs about Angel’s presence at the scene.