Read Enemies and Playmates Online
Authors: Darcia Helle
Enemies and Playmates (6 page)
“So what if we were?”
“I’m interested in how he died.”
“They say suicide.”
“I know what they say,” Jesse said. “But I don’t believe he killed himself. Do you?”
Nyles shifted in his seat, pulled at his cuffs. “I wouldn’t know,” he said. “I wasn’t there.”
“But you know what he was involved in prior to his death.”
“What’s it to you?”
“I want to nail Alex Covington.”
Nyles snickered. “And what makes you think I can help you with that?”
“I know Bellows worked for Covington,” Jesse said. “Intimidation stuff with certain clients, some tampering with evidence.”
Nyles shrugged. Jesse leaned back. He let the silence surround them. Then he said, “He did real well until it came to a certain hit. He screwed that up.”
“What are you getting at?”
“He’d become a liability,” Jesse said. “Covington had him disposed of.”
“And what if he did? What the hell has all this got to do with me?”
“Nothing,” Jesse said. “Except that Danny Bellows was your best friend. And you might like revenge.”
“And what do you get?”
“The same.”
Nyles was silent a moment. “How’d you get your info?”
Jesse shook his head. “Confidential. But it wasn’t all that hard.”
“So what if I help you? That means I’d be next to disappear.”
“Looks like you might be next anyway,” Jesse said. “You apparently screwed up, too. Only you got caught before Covington got to you.”
Nyles’ Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. His eyes were like those of a feral cat. He said, “I want some things in return.”
“For instance?”
“I’ve got a lot of shit from my past working against me here,” Nyles said. “This charge is going to send me over the edge.”
“What is it you want?”
“Get them to cut me a good deal. I want out of this place. Somewhere out of Covington’s reach. Then maybe we’ll talk.”
“No maybes.”
“Okay, let’s say I can give you what you’re looking for. But you don’t get a thing till I get what I want.”
Jesse nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”
5
Alex tapped his Bulgari pen against his desk. He scowled at his visitor as he spoke. “Enlighten me please. What is it again that I am paying you for?”
Dominic Forenzi stretched his muscular legs out in front of him. He stared across the desk at Alex, his expression as blank as always. “I told you I’ll get it done,” he said. “It’s just taking longer than I expected.”
Alex sighed. “And that message I asked you to deliver?”
“Done.”
“It’s comforting to know that my money is not entirely wasted on you, Forenzi.”
Dominic pulled a battered pack of Marlboros from his pocket. Catching Alex’s glare, he was reminded of the no smoking rule. He stuffed the pack back in his pocket. “Ryder doesn’t strike me as the type to scare that easily,” he said.
“Precisely the reason he was initially hired,” Alex said. “However, I was not fully aware of his overly idealistic tendencies.”
“How long you giving him?”
Alex swiveled his chair to the side. The view out the wall of windows behind his desk soothed his nerves. He owned a large piece of the city below. He wanted to own it all. “We need to persuade Ryder to see things my way,” he said. “His skills could be vital to this organization. A few of our lesser skilled employees have caused problems recently. They are simply not competent. And, of course, you know what losing Martin has done to this firm. We have yet to find an adequate replacement. I like Ryder’s ability. His confidence. I’d prefer not to lose him.”
“He’s got a lot of cop friends,” Dominic said.
“I appreciate your observation.” Alex swiveled his chair back to face Dominic. “Your point being?”
“Don’t you think he’s gonna tell these cop friends what’s going on? Something happens to him, he mysteriously disappears, and there’ll be cops crawling down our throats.”
Alex kept his voice calm despite his growing irritation. “A point which I have already taken into consideration. As long as you maintain a reasonable level of intelligence in your behavior, we remain untouchable. If things work out the way I intend, his cop friends, as you put it, will soon be our friends as well. One of the many perks in having Ryder on our team.”
Alex leaned forward. He stared into Dominic’s drooping eye. “Just remember, if you inadvertently give Ryder or anyone associated with him ammunition against me, you will live only long enough to regret that misstep.”
Dominic Forenzi fidgeted with the pack of cigarettes in his pocket. He said, “I won’t make any mistakes.”
“You have work to do,” Alex said by way of dismissal. “Send Suzanne in on your way out.”
Seconds later Suzanne stepped into the office. She’d recently had her hair dyed an even paler blonde than usual. Her shiny lips protruded with collagen. The expertly applied makeup gave her face a flawless appearance. She did a good job of fighting her age but Alex knew better. She no longer held the same sexual allure.
“You wanted to see me?” Suzanne asked.
“Close the door behind you,” Alex said.
Suzanne closed the door softly, then stepped further into the office. She stood with perfect posture, staring at a spot just beyond Alex’s left ear. She rarely met his eyes. Hadn’t for years now.
Alex rose, unhurried, silent. He leaned against his desk and simply gazed at Suzanne for a few minutes before speaking. “Is there something you’d like to tell me?” he finally asked.
Suzanne looked at him with an expression somewhere between confusion and fear. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s a simple enough question.”
“Yes, it is.” Suzanne crossed her arms in front of her, hugging herself. “I don’t believe there’s anything I need to tell you.”
Alex nodded. “I see.”
He waited, letting the silence stretch. A minute passed. Maybe two. Then he said, “I received a phone call last evening. An inquiry.”
Suzanne’s expression slowly changed from confusion to comprehension. She backed up a few inches. Alex smiled as he said, “Are you still sure there’s nothing you’d like to tell me?”
Suzanne shook her head. “I… I’m not sure…”
Alex crossed the room in four purposeful strides. He grabbed a handful of Suzanne’s bleached hair, yanking her head up and back so that she was forced to look him in the eye. He said, “Does the name Maxwell O’Connor mean anything to you?”
“Alex, please…”
“How many other firms have you sent your resume to, Suzanne?”
Alex let go of her hair, touched her shoulder, then allowed his hand to slip down to her breast and linger there. He traced the outline of the lace bra she wore beneath the silk blouse. His voice, tight with anger, was in total contrast with his soft touch. “How do you think it made me feel to hear from O’Connor that my personal secretary had expressed a desire to move to his firm? Do you think I enjoyed the amusement in his voice when he realized that I had no idea you were taking steps to seek new employment?”
Alex slipped his hand beneath Suzanne’s blouse, cupping a lace-covered breast in his hand. He got a sexual charge from her trembling. He wanted her to remember whom she belonged to. Who she would always belong to.
“You know I hate surprises,” Alex murmured. He stepped back, removed his smoke-gray suit jacket. He carefully laid it over one of the leather visitors chairs. Then he walked to the windows and stared out at the city. Silence hung in the room, thick and palpable. He could feel her fear.
Still with his back to her, he said, “I’m disappointed. I thought I could trust you.”
“I’m sorry…” Suzanne’s voice died away with a suppressed sob.
“Are you unhappy here?”
Alex waited. Suzanne sniffled, said nothing. He turned and said, “It’s funny, you know. You came here years ago, a young woman with no experience and big ambitions. You worked hard to make me notice you. You weren’t content with your place with the lawyers I employ.”
Alex swept his arms out wide, his gaze traveling around the room. “This was your priority. Becoming my personal secretary. Do you remember?”
Suzanne nodded. Alex stepped closer. His voice was low and each word cut like a knife. “You didn’t stop there. Even that wasn’t enough for you. Becoming my lover was your true priority, was it not? You all but begged me for it. And I rather enjoyed the game.”
Alex stepped behind Suzanne and pressed close against her trembling body. He breathed in perfume, Romance by Ralph Lauren. His mouth grazed her ear as he spoke. “It seems to me that you now have everything you wanted, everything you asked for. You don’t truly want to leave me now, do you?”
Suzanne tried to step away but Alex grabbed her wrists and held her firm. He pulled her roughly against him. In an absurdly calm voice, he said, “Now, is there something you’d like to tell me?”
“I’m sorry,” Suzanne said. “I just thought…”
“You just thought what?”
“I thought maybe it was time for me to move on.”
Alex shook his head. “And why would you think that?”
Suzanne stood still, trembling, saying nothing. Alex reached around her and turned the lock on the heavy oak door. He said, “I told O’Connor that you’d apparently misunderstood a situation and thought you were being replaced. I then informed him that you were no longer in the market for a change of employment. That message has been circulated throughout the city. You should have learned long ago that the game is played by my rules. And it’s over only when I say so.”
Suzanne stifled a sob. A lone tear slid down her cheek, cutting a trail through her perfectly applied blush. “Please,” she whispered.
“Please what, Suzanne?” When she didn’t reply, Alex said, “I remember a time not so long ago when you used to plead with me to take you to bed. Do you remember?”
Suzanne nodded. “That was years ago. It’s different now.”
“Yes, you’ve grown older, though apparently no wiser.”
Alex smiled, truly enjoying himself. He’d needed an outlet. A few grievous mistakes had occurred. Ryder was creating problems. And his family had been unusually difficult these past few weeks. This was exactly the distraction he’d needed. The perfect outlet for his aggression.
“I suppose I must now remind you of what happens to those who misbehave,” Alex said softly.
Suzanne’s eyes widened. She shook her head back and forth. “No, please…”
As Alex unbuckled his belt, he said, “I suggest you undress. You know the punishment is always easiest when you cooperate.”
6
Lauren, Carrie, and Gina sat in a booth at Murphy’s Pub, sipping frozen daiquiris. Gina had just finished reading the others a love poem that a guy she knew from Boston University had written for her. She wrinkled her nose and said, “Can you believe this drivel?”
“I thought it was a beautiful poem,” Carrie said. “Very romantic.”
“Oh please!” Gina said with a roll of her eyes. “I don’t even want to date him, much less have him write me sappy poetry.”
Carrie laughed. “Just like you to be breaking yet another heart.”
Lauren found herself wishing that Jesse had written her that poem, pledging his undying love for her. But what was she thinking? That was ridiculous. Two dates and she was on the verge of becoming lovesick. And what if he did suddenly profess his love for her? What then?
She thought about him all the time. How could she feel this strongly about a man she barely knew? She hadn’t allowed herself to get this close to any guy she’d dated over periods of months, much less days.
“Hey Lauren,” Gina said. “I hear your dad’s being honored at some fancy banquet tonight.”
Lauren stiffened. “Yeah, how did you know?”
“I heard my parents talking about it,” Gina said.
“What’s he being honored for?” Carrie asked.
Lauren took her straw and poked at the ice cubes in her drink. She said, “Some kind of community involvement thing.”
“You take these things so lightly,” Carrie said.
Gina nodded. “You must get used to it when Alex Covington is your father.”
Lauren took a long swallow of her drink. If they only knew the truth. She said, “It’s not such a big deal. A lot of it is company PR stuff.”
Carrie said, “You know, your dad always looks like he just stepped off a page from GQ. My dad owns one suit that must be at least ten years old.”
“Your dad’s a mechanic,” Lauren said. “He doesn’t need to dress for work.”
“Some people have a natural flare,” Gina said. “I can’t imagine Alex Covington ever wearing a pair of jeans. Not even on his day off.”
“Now that you mention it,” Carrie said, “you’re right. I’ve never seen him in jeans, even when he’s hanging out at home.”