FIFTEEN - Alana

FIFTEEN

Alana

Today I dress in a longer blue skirt with strappy sandals and a pink quartz belt beneath a white tank top and pink cardigan. I'm surprised by the sheer amount of jewelry available to me, but even so, I choose a simple earring and necklace set of aquamarine. It matches the one I wear all the time, and I feel more grounded almost instantly.

It's a feeling I need. Desperately. I spend my morning wandering around the castle trying to find passageways, but once again come up empty. It's quite frustrating, really, since I know there have to be some around here. For some reason, I also can't find Mrs. Pendrake. While I doubt she'll become my ally, I'm going to give it a shot. If I can just find her.

I can't believe Thorn is planning on a forever kidnapping. My shiver runs through my entire body.

I haven't looked at a screen or posted on Aquarius in too long. I wander through the kitchen and glare at the counter. There's no phone in sight. I'm not receiving notifications, and I long for my phone. Sure, I'm probably addicted to social media, like most people, but it's my freaking job. How many users have we lost since my abduction?

Finally, around lunchtime, I dig into the crisper and make myself a sandwich and eat it like a jonesing rabbit before looking out at the rainy day to see Dermot emerge from the moat dressed in full scuba gear with several chunks taken out of his suit.

My heart leaps. Thorn let him live. Then I wince. The poor guy. It looks freezing out there.

For a second, gratitude flings through me. Then fury at the memory of me on my knees begging. I might be afraid of Thorn because I'm not an idiot, but I'm still independent.

So I scramble through the cupboards and find a thermos that I fill to the brim with fresh coffee. Tugging my cardigan closer around my chest, I hurry outside and all but run across the grass to reach the soldier.

"What are you doing out here?" he asks, blood flowing from his earlobe. A myriad of bruises show across his face and neck, and he's moving as if his ribs hurt.

My stomach revolts. "Oh my gosh, did you get bitten?"

"Yeah, I got bitten," he says, shaking his head. "I donna think yer supposed to be out here."

The rain mats my hair to my head. "I know. I just want to say I'm really sorry about the other day." I hand him the thermos.

"What's this?" He looks young and slightly confused.

"It's just coffee. I didn't mean to get you in trouble."

He opens the top of the thermos and takes a big drink. Red infuses his face. "That's okay. I guess it was a smart move to go for the phone, and ya did save my life."

"I thought I could find a way to call for help," I say, "but I almost got you killed."

He gulps and looks toward the cliffs and then back at the pond. "It's okay. All of us need ta be faster to survive in this world, even underwater. And believe me, I'll be faster by the time I'm done with this assignment."

I turn my head to the side and sneeze.

He gestures toward the castle. "You need ta get back inside. I don't want either of us gettin' in trouble."

I agree. I pat his arm. "Thank you for being my friend."

Confusion crosses his face, and I chuckle. Even so, the wind picks up and I have to duck my head as I run back inside and note two men with sledgehammers in their hands. I skid across the marble floor. "What's going on?"

One burly man looks at the other. "We have orders to take out a few of the windows." Without waiting for a response, they turn and walk upstairs to the guest bedroom.

"Why are you taking out windows?" I ask, my heart stuttering. They don't answer, and soon I hear the sound of shattering glass. I can't believe it. Thorn is actually replacing the windows for me? I turn and hustle across the sprawling living room to his study and see that the windows have already been changed to clear glass that look out over the ocean. No more argyle pattern. Why is he being so kind to me?

Which makes me think. I've never reacted to any male the way I do to Thorn, and I also fully understand that we have no future.

But we could have one night. It's my decision, and I'm making it for good reasons. One, to defy my father. He doesn't own me or my choices. Also, just in case I need to marry Cal to save the company, I want one night of passion first. With Thorn. So long as he agrees to let me go afterward.

Not only will that night be memorable, but it will be my choice. Not my father's. I'll never forget the smug look on Cal's face about my virginity.

I'm choosing my first time. Period. And frankly, I deserve one good night of raw, unbelievable, rare passion.

I gulp, wondering if I'm lying to myself. Am I just giving in to the powerful current running between Thorn and me? Do I crave that darkness he promises?

No. Absolutely not. This self-doubt has to go, so I turn and head back into the library. My skin is tingling today, and I know it's because I haven't been online for two days. It's rare that I take any sort of vacation. In fact, when I do travel, I post about the entire experience. Aquarius Social's algorithm requires emotion. We are emotion-based. And without my emotions, I'm sure we're losing subscribers and energy. I have to get my hands on a phone soon. Tomorrow doesn't seem soon enough, but I also don't want to put any more of Thorn's men in peril. I have a sinking feeling that if I steal another phone, that person will die.

Thorn Beathach isn't a man to show mercy twice.

I start reading through books I know we don't have in our own library. There are so many, and I make a small pile of the ones I would like to take with me. Most have to do with different gemstones and crystals, and I'm delighted to find an obscure collection of philosophies from Gaius the Sage, an obscure and uncelebrated genius who lived 2,000 years ago. I only have one volume in my library and hadn't a clue there are more.

Darkness starts to fall and I'm getting bored. Pushing the books to the side, I make my way back to Thorn's office and the beautifully clear windows there. The idea that he did that for me is both confusing and enticing.

I sit at his desk and reach for the remote control to turn on the plasma television. It isn't a phone and I can't post, but at least it's a screen. I scroll through channels until I reach the local news. Not much is going on. More homeless, more drugs, and more people fleeing California.

Sighing, I scroll through channels to a local gossip show that I love. Oh, I shouldn't, but the host is delightful. Emmaline is around eighteen with bright blue lipstick, several nose piercings, and a penchant for hyperbole. I long for popcorn as I sit back and listen to her talk about the several up-and-coming breweries in town that didn't up or come. Several are leaving.

Where in the world is Thorn? I'm tired of my own company. I want his. If I proposition him, will he say yes? No strings, just one night? My thighs warm at the thought.

Emmaline's voice lowers on the screen and I jerk my attention back to her. Her cherub-sweet face falls and she clears her throat. "I do have a report in from the Palo Alto authorities that a body has been found in an alleyway behind the Crux Bar. The face has been beaten beyond recognition, but the victim is a woman in her midtwenties with long curly brown hair. She's dressed in yellow with high-heeled sandals while accessorizing with an aquamarine pendant, and she was raped before being beaten to death."

That's terrible. Nausea filters through me.

Emmaline leans forward. "Now, I know many people dress like Alana Beaumont because she's quite the fashion icon, and I understand that this might be a terrible coincidence. But I have to ask: Has anybody seen Alana since the night of the hushed-up shooting at Martini Money?"

I sit back, my ears heating. Emmaline has good sources, and I'm not surprised she was able to get info on the shooting, even if the main media isn't touching it.

She shakes her head. "I'm just saying. Alana never fails to post at least once a day, and we haven't heard a word. I've reached out to my contacts and nobody is talking." The screen flashes to a picture of me. "Have you seen her?" she asks.

I turn off the television. I'm not dead, but a woman with my characteristics is? I need to get back onto social media. I eat a salad for dinner, wondering where Mrs. Pendrake is hiding. Thorn's employees are invisible, they're that good. Still, it'd be nice to have somebody to chat with as I'm slowly going out of my mind.

So of course, I relive that orgasm from the other night. Sure, I've read about such climaxes in romance novels, but until that moment, I'd thought them exaggerated. Not real.

Thorn is all too real.

Finally, I return to the library to read some more, still wondering what I should do tonight. Besides Thorn. Dancing with the devil has never been my goal, and yet, here I am considering it.

Around nine that evening, I hear heavy footsteps. Both Thorn and Justice walk into the library. There's something off. I can feel it, but I can't see it. "What's going on?" I ask.

"Nothing," Thorn says, his expression inscrutable. He's once again dressed in black slacks, a white button-down shirt, and black suit jacket. All Armani. "Did you have a nice day?"

I look from Justice to Thorn and back. "I did, but I really do need to post something, unless you want Aquarius Social to go under." He doesn't move and my heart sinks. He does want Aquarius Social to fail. I can't let that happen.

He sighs. "Other people can post and explode all of the stars."

Oh. He has no idea I'm the one who charges the crystals. I lift my chin. Why is he continuously underestimating me? It'll be his downfall, I'm sure.

Justice looks at his brother. "Are you going to tell her?" he asks in Gaelic. I try to look curious and not like I know what he said.

"Yes," Thorn replies in the same language. "I'll question her later. You're excused."

Justice pauses and reads the screen of his phone. "A couple of news outlets are reporting her death. Something about a killer in town murdering brunettes."

That didn't take long.

Thorn cocks his head. "That might come in handy. You're excused, Justice." He speaks in English this time.

Justice turns and storms out.

Come in handy? Does he plan to hide me from the entire world? "Why did you just hurt his feelings?" I ask.

Thorn stares at me. "What?"

How can he not see that? "Justice is your brother. He wants in on your life, but you treat him like an employee. It hurts him." I stand.

Thorn looks toward the now vacant doorway before glancing at his watch. "Don't worry about my brother. For now, answer one question. Do you know how to code?"

"No." Heat rises into my face. It's embarrassing that I don't code. Yet another subject I still need to teach myself. "Why?"

He studies me with that intense gaze I can feel beyond this second. "You know that if you try to kill me, I'll retaliate, right?"

My heartrate picks up. "Are you threatening me with death?"

"No. I won't kill you, but you won't be happy. For a long time."

"What in the hell are you talking about?" Sure, I want to kick him in the balls much of the time, but I won't murder him or attempt to do so. That's not me. Plus, I kind of want to get him naked now that I've decided to take my own destiny into hand. "Thorn?" I prod.

"Doesn't matter. Right now, you and I both need sleep. Move. Now."

I tilt my head, too unsettled to sleep. "I need to post something, Thorn. Let me borrow your phone."

His eyes blaze. "Why? Do you think I want to help you feed Aquarius Social? Let me disabuse you of that notion."

I take a step back. "I know we're rivals. But isn't there a sense of balance among the four families?"

"Balance? Who gives a shit about balance?" He scrubs a large hand through his thick hair. "Your father called three times today."

The change in subject throws me. My father was fishing, but at least he's looking for me. "What did he say?"

Thorn's smile holds a hint of cruelty. "Nothing. I didn't answer."

I roll my eyes.

One of Thorn's eyebrows rises. "I saw a post where an influencer named Jackie interviewed you."

I'm getting a headache from the fast switches in topic. "I get interviewed a lot."

"For Malice Media."

"Oh." I think back. "Yeah, I remember. I agreed because I pimped Aquarius Social the whole time." Is this why he's pissed? "That's not out of the ordinary, Thorn."

He's studying me as if he wants to dig right into my head. "Did you have anything to do with the upload of that interview onto my system?"

"Of course not. It wasn't my feed." Duh.

Yeah, he's irritating me, and it's obvious he's in a grumpy mood, but the man oozes sex appeal. I wonder if there's a way to bottle his pheromones and sell them. I'd make a fortune. Even better, what if I could somehow tie them to Aquarius and our user experience?

"Alana?" Thorn's smooth as bourbon voice pulls me from my thoughts.

I jerk. "Sorry. Lost in my own brain." Which always pisses off my father.

"What's twisting around in there?" Thorn asks.

I startle. He's asking about my thoughts? Not angry that I'm daydreaming when he's trying to talk to me? "About a way to bottle your sex appeal and sell it to lonely women." Heck. Happy women would want it, too.

He falls silent, his head cocking slightly. "Sex appeal?"

"Yes." I study him. He's so tall and broad—so strong. Add in the obvious intelligence and whole pissed-off, wounded male vibe, and every female cell in my body explodes. This is beyond wrong, but I don't care. I want the feelings from this night. The experience before I sacrifice myself for the company and my family. This is for me. "Speaking of which, I'm wondering if you'd like to pick up where we left off the night before."

He stills. Not in an obvious way, but more like a shift in the energy that surrounds him. "Are you messing with me?"

"No." I might be reckless sometimes, but I'm not stupid. Or suicidal. "If my father called three times, he has a good indication that I'm here. So I won't be here much longer. I thought that perhaps we could make one good memory." When he just stares at me, those dark eyes burning, I start to babble. "I want my first time to be my choice. You're a good kisser, and I figure you're good at everything else this entails. I'm tired of being a virgin." True story.

He makes a sound like a trapped alley cat.

I continue, afraid he's going to think I've lost my mind. Maybe I have. "You're not afraid of my family, and they can't come after you. You're safe, Thorn."

"Baby, I'm nowhere near safe," he says, clenching his fingers into fists.

Power thrills through me. Feminine power, because I can tell I'm getting to him. Being wanted by a man like Thorn is intoxicating. Even so, I have a functioning brain. "But we do need to discuss the whole obsession thing you admit to having."

"You afraid I'll have you once and become more obsessed?"

"How should I know?" But if his obsession with me feels anything like the demanding urge I feel to get back on social media, or the memory of his mouth on mine going through a loop in my brain, the matter needs to be addressed. "I can't have you trying to kidnap me every time I'm in a bar." My traitorous clit pounds in disagreement.

His nostrils flare and my body braces for attack. "You're misreading me, Alana. I have no plans to take you back."

"I'm a sure thing, Thorn. I just propositioned you. No need to go alpha male on me."

"Just thought you deserve the truth first."

I want to retreat but a sofa bars my way. "Even you can't control the entire world."

"No. Just you." His breath looks frosty.

I frown. "It must be freezing outside. Did you get chilled?"

He nods. Once.

"How about I warm you up?"

Then he's on me.