AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He picks up his phone, aggressively punching in a number, then waits for the call to connect. "The contract for the Harper properties, it's finalized, no?" he barks down the phone, then waits. "Fuck!" he yells. "How did you let this happen? He just had to sign the final papers and it was done!" He listens to the person on the other end of the call, and I can practically see the steam coming from his ears. He's furious, and rightfully so. He just got screwed over by a man he thought he could trust. I'm sure it's an occupational hazard for scum like him. "Find him and get it done," he screams into the phone. There is no way the boys sitting in the room down the hall didn't hear that.
Julian turns to me, disconnecting the call. Dark eyes lock in on me as he glares at me.
I almost can't believe this is the same man I met back in Paris, who seemed so in control, so cool and calm. I have been fooled by so many people this year, but I will never let it happen again. My eyes have been opened, and now I can't unsee everything that was right in front of me. I wait for him to talk, wondering what his next move will be.
"Your father has made one stupid decision after another when it comes to his daughter. He must be getting soft in his old age. He owes me a lot of money on behalf of my father. They might have been friends, so until now I have let it slide with the promise I would be compensated. He knew what would happen if he fucked this up as well," he seethes, every word like a warning or maybe a promise. I'm not surprised to hear his intentions with my father now, it's what I expected. Unlucky for him, it sounds like my father is long gone.
I stand, signaling that this little business meeting he called is over. Without the ownership of my buildings, he has no leg to stand on. "You should probably get in line; you're not the only one who wants him dead. But I guess you have to find him first. He kept who he was from all of us for a very long time. My guess is if he doesn't want to be found, he won't be."
I don't condone any of the things my father has done over the years. It makes me angry to think I am the daughter of a man capable of such violence, but he is still my dad, and no matter how evil he is, I can't ever wish him dead. I just hope he knows what he's doing, because if he is ever found, he will be. "I'll walk you off the premises," I tell Julian, the sweet smile back on my lips.
He stands, cracking his neck as his dark eyes bore right through me, then he follows me through the office to the elevator. "This isn't over,ma belle," he says, way too calmly. I was expecting more of a fight from him. "You don't know who you're dealing with, but your father did. He should have warned you, maybe been man enough to stick around and protect you."
I don't justify his threat with a response. What can he do now? It's over, and he's just bitter things didn't go his way. I press the button for him and the elevator doors open. "Goodbye, Julian."
"You should take the ride with me," he demands, his voice deadly serious. How stupid does he think I am?
"No, thank you."
He has one hand holding the doors open, and with the other, he moves his jacket back, showing me the gun in his waistband. My heartbeat quickens. Part of me always knew it would come to this with him, and it's why I didn't want Heath in that room with us, but I had hoped Julian would walk away with his tail between his legs.
Instead of doing what he says, I take a step back so I can see inside my office where Heath, Brandon, and Kobe are waiting for me. Making eye contact with Heath, I pray by just the look in my eyes he can see things have taken a turn for the worst. They know the drill, we talked about this. Before I can do anything, Julian's hands are on me, pulling me into the elevator with him, my back pressed to his front as he pushes the close button. I see the boys running toward the elevator, but they don't make it in time before the doors are closed on us. Caging me in with him.
"You didn't tell me you have an office full of thugs with you today," he says with an edge of irritation.
"Of course I do, how stupid do you think I am, Julian? I knew you couldn't be trusted."
"And yet, we're still here. Me with all the power and you a delicate little flower under my control where you should be. Maybe Daddy will come out of hiding if he knows his precious little girl is in trouble." He says it as if he is mocking us all.
Somehow, I doubt that, but lucky for me, I don't think I need Daddy protecting me anymore.
HEATH
Iwatchasshewalks Julian out past her office. We could hear their meeting got somewhat heated, but she had it under control. I get up and stand at the door so I can watch her see that piece of shit off her property. It has taken all the restraint I have to stop myself from barging in there and kicking the shit out of him for what he did to her yesterday, the bruises he left on her skin. But I know she needs to do this herself, and I'm not taking that away from her. After what happened between me and her father yesterday, I understand it.
But when I see her look back over her shoulder, fear in her eyes, I know I can't wait another second. "Something's wrong," I call to the others, taking off down the hallway of her office toward the elevator.
Kobe and Brandon follow me. Kobe has his gun drawn already, not caring that we're in the middle of her design studio office, causing Summer and Georgie to scream. Brandon breaks off to look after them, and Kobe and I get to the elevator just in time to see the doors close with her inside, Julian's filthy hands on her. I don't have time to think; I just run for the emergency exit and take the stairs two at a time. He's a dead man. There is no way he will be leaving with her.
"He must be armed," calls Kobe to me, saying what I was already thinking. She wouldn't have gotten in there with him otherwise.
By the time we make it down, the two of them are through the back door, and I can see him running with her through the parking lot. Stopping when he gets to a black Bentley, he fires off a shot toward us while he yells at her to get in his car.
We jump behind another car, ducking out of sight. "Take this," Kobe tells me, handing me one of his guns. "Safety's off, so be fucking careful who you aim it at," he warns me.
"I know how to use a gun," I mutter back, knowing to him I look like a pussy.
"Drop your gun, Julian. You're not getting out of here alive unless you do," Kobe calls to him, trying to take charge of the situation.
Julian laughs. He has Amelia pinned between him and the car. "I have all the control here, boys. You're not going to shoot me while I have a gun pointed at the sweet Amelia." He smiles wickedly, knowing he's right. I would never risk her being shot, and I don't think Kobe would either.
I move slightly so I can see them more clearly. Through the window of the car in front of me I can see Julian has his gun aimed at her head. She is held in place at his front, with his arm wrapped around her. He drops his head to whisper something in her ear, and my blood boils.
"I'm okay, boys, you can back off. He assures me he won't hurt me. We just have to sort this real estate problem out, and he will return me safe and sound. But if you follow us or come after him, he will kill me," Amelia calls to us. Her words are so clear, she doesn't sound scared. But it's what he told her to say, and we can't trust him for shit.
My eyes flick to Kobe who is closing in on them around the side of the car next to them. I can only hope he's on the same page as me. She's not leaving this parking lot with him. Julian keeps the gun pointing toward her as he opens the door and shoves her inside the back seat of the car.
As soon as she's out of sight, Kobe lets off a shot in his direction. It misses, going through the passenger side window of his car. Julian spins around furiously, aiming his gun in Kobe's direction and taking a direct shot.
