“I’ll have one too,” I said.
He waited for the beer to be delivered and then said, “So what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting? I’m still waiting for what’s mine.”
“You’ll be waiting for a while still.”
His smarmy expression ironed out. “Look, Sinclair. This is no longer a game. I’ve got something of yours.”
“So you keep saying. Those heavies the other night were a classy touch.”
“Your fighting skills have improved since I knocked you around and made you cry like a girl.”
I clenched my fists. “You’ve got a selective memory, Dylan. The last time, it was me who had an imprint of your crooked teeth on my knuckles.”
He smirked back at me.
“I know about that pedophile island. And I know about the cop who you had killed. There’s CCTV footage sitting somewhere safe, should something happen to me.” I paused to study his cold eyes for a reaction. Unsurprisingly, his face remained blank. “Now that wasn’t too bright, was it?” I cocked my head.
“And I know where your pretty artist girl lives. I have instructed a couple of my men, horny little devils that they are, to take her and fuck her senseless and get her to work.”
That gusted cold fear over my spirit. “Along with all the other girls you traffic?”
I thought about Penelope, whose trenchant independence could make her vulnerable. I had to get her out of London.
The next week would be crucial. This cancer—not just for me but for the safety of underage girls as well—had to be removed.
“Two billion, and it all ends here.”
“Oh, so you’ve lowered your price,” I said.
“I’d hate to see a man with such delicate tastes go without.”
“Stop your heavies. Don’t threaten my girlfriend, or else you’ll get nothing.” I had to dangle a carrot before him despite my intention of delivering zero.
“I’ve brought something of yours along today,” he said.
Just as I was about to speak, a figure stepped into the light, his heavily scarred face decrepit and cold eyes bone-chilling.
My brows squeezed. “What are you doing here?”
Fox laughed. “Now, that’s not a nice way to greet your father.”
“He’s not my fucking father. Sir William was my father.”
The vile monster, who I’d once considered my father, sniggered. “You’re my fucking son. I fed you.”
“You fed me nightmares. You attacked my mother. And you’re no fucking father of mine.” I stood up.
“Not so quickly,” he said, taking me by the arm. “You owe me.”
“I owe you nothing.” I shoved him off me.
“I know you killed that fucking priest. The rumors were all over the village. You weren’t convicted out of plain fucking luck. I know the cop that whitewashed that case. His retirement fund’s almost run out. It wouldn’t take much to make him talk.”
“I had nothing to do with that priest.”
His thin lips twisted into an evil grin I recognized well. “You scrub up well. You were always a good-looking boy. Did the lord of Raven Abbey touch you up too?”
Cartilage crunched under my fist. Incited by hatred and revenge for what that bastard did to my mother, I enjoyed it. That punch felt good.
I went to hit him again when chilling steel pricked my neck. I pulled out my pistol and placed my foot over my evil stepfather, who was on the ground, his nose bloodied. Satisfied that he wasn’t going anywhere, I turned and directed the pistol at Fox’s chest.
He dropped the knife.
I spat, “Get out of my fucking life.”
52
* * *
PENELOPE
AS WE DROVE UP the driveway to Raven Abbey, I turned to look at Blake. “I hope you stay long enough to visit your mother. She’ll be sad if you don’t.”
He looked tired. “All in good time. She understands. I speak to her every day. I have some important business to attend to in the city.” He held my hand. “It’s got to be this way for now. A bodyguard’s here to protect you. You must take him with you—just until the article’s released, and Fox is locked up.” He smiled. “I’ll stay tonight, though.”
He jumped out, opened the boot, and removed my luggage.
Although a week at Raven Abbey meant that I could sketch to my heart’s content, I still grappled with withdrawal anxiety.
When we entered Sir William’s former room, it almost felt as though I’d arrived home, in a weird way. That beautiful penthouse suite, with its classical accents, bathed me in delight. But that was with Blake around, kissing every inch of my skin and making love to me as though we were alone in some sensual paradise.
Reality bit hard when Blake introduced me to my bodyguard, who had the adjoining room. Blake had even made me promise not to reveal my whereabouts to Sheldon or Lilly. I pretended I was off to Scotland, which nearly fell apart when Sheldon begged to come along. He had a thing for men in kilts, he’d admitted with a giggle. If only I felt as blithe as that. I found myself suddenly missing those days when I studied shadows for creative reasons, and not out of paranoia.
Blake looked down at his phone. I’ve got to take this.
“Amelia,” he said into his cellphone, walking to the end of the very large room, where I couldn’t hear him.
My jealousy levels were at fever pitch. She was still staying in his guest room. And the fact that he’d be returning to London made my stomach twist in knots.
After finishing the call, he suggested, “Let’s go and have something to eat. The dining room’s lovely at this hour.”
Sulking, I stared down at my feet.
“You said you wished to see the stained glass windows in the afternoon.” He didn’t seem to notice that my emotions were about to explode.
I rose and followed him out, glum and refusing to capitulate to that sexy smile. If anything, I wanted to scream. Silently, I entered the dining room, that, had I been upbeat, I would have gushed over.
When we were seated, Blake touched my hand. “I’m sorry to drag you into my dirty world.
“Mm…” I stared down at my fingers.
He touched my hand. “Penny. There’s only you. You’re the only woman I want. Remember that.”
“But why does she have to stay at your house? Can’t she stay at a hotel with a legion of your men watching over her?”
His lips twitched with amusement. “A legion of my men? You make me sound like Caesar.”
I grinned.
He looked into my eyes. “Amelia has a boyfriend. He’s staying there too.”
I frowned in disbelief. “Really? But isn’t that dangerous?”
He let out a deep breath. “Yeah. I’m not wrapped in the idea. But at least this way, it allays your fears. This article is vital.”
I relaxed all of a sudden.
“I’m not sure having you stay here was the greatest idea, though,” he said, looking around.
Although Blake had suggested Bath or even Scotland, I’d begged to return to Raven Abbey.
“This Dylan Fox doesn’t strike me as too bright, and anyhow, I have my own heavy shadowing me. I love it here. And at least I can visit your mother.”