Chapter 35

She was sitting next to a cold-blooded murderer.

Alexis's mind kept turning to the smile on Dr. Butler's face when he saw Antoine standing at the study door, and then the confusion when he'd raised the gun. His life had ended with a pop. Not the earsplitting rattle of a submachine gun, but a soft pop, as if his life was a small, insignificant thing.

She stared out the town car's window, registering the passing scenery, but not seeing the houses or bursts of moonlit beaches between the elegant homes.

Alexis blocked out the memory of Dr. Butler's face grappling with the hurt and betrayal by the man he'd trusted, and then it twisting in agony as the physical pain overtook him. He'd been too shocked and too weak to even cry out. If she thought about it now, she'd lose it.

"You're finding Garrett's death disturbing," Antoine said and took her hand in his.

She jerked it away. "Don't touch me."

The bruise around her arm throbbed, reminding her of the last time he'd touched her. It kept time with the pounding headache that was slowly building.

"Darling, I intend to do more than hold your hand." He chuckled, pressed a button, and the privacy screen lowered. "Maurice, please find a spot where Dr. Hayes and I can have a private moment to walk the beach."

"Yes, sir," he replied, and the privacy screen rolled back up.

If Antoine thought he could seduce her, he was wrong. She loved Seb with a passion that scared her. Alexis would do whatever was necessary to keep Seb and her friends safe from Antoine, but she would never love the man.

His arrogance was his weakness, and Alexis would find a way to exploit that. It would take time, but she would ferret out all his secrets and somehow pass them on to Shadow Defense.

"You didn't have to kill Dr. Butler," Alexis said, unable to hide the tremor in her voice. "He was already slowly dying."

She clenched her hands so Antoine wouldn't see them shaking. She couldn't break down and grieve, not right now in front of Antoine. There'd be a private moment later when she could feel the deep loss.

Antoine had ripped away the chance for her to make up for lost time with a man she deeply respected. He would pay for what he'd done.

"The Parkinson's. I know." Antoine sighed. He touched a button and what Alexis had thought was an arm rest lowered.

A small mini-bar slid out, dividing the space between the two of them. Antoine unscrewed an amber bottle of liquor and splashed a small amount in a crystal glass. He returned the bottle to its slot, picked up the glass, and tapped the button once more.

Before she could make a snide comment about the need for a drink as the mini-bar retracted, he thrust the glass into her hand.

"I'll pass, thanks," Alexis said, her rejection as cold as ice.

"Drink it, dammit, or I'll shove it down your throat." His voice was harsh, but his face betrayed a hint of pity. "You're shaken and scared, despite trying to convince me otherwise. The past few days have been traumatic."

Alexis took a small sip, not willing to push the man.

Antoine swore under his breath and grabbed the glass out of her hand. He was on top of her before she could move. As big as Seb, Alexis was helpless as he pinned her down.

Her scream drowned in whatever had been in the glass. She gulped the fiery liquid down. Alexis coughed and sputtered as Antoine returned the glass to the mini-bar.

He'd pinched her nose and had forced the alcohol down her throat like a child. Alexis glared at him.

The town car had come to a stop, and Antoine opened his door. "Get out."

The door swung open as she reached for the handle.

"Dr. Hayes," Maurice said and helped her out of the car. While his relaxed manner implied chauffeur, his well-defined body and sharp awareness of their surroundings said body guard.

"Thank you, Maurice." Antoine had regained his composure. "You can take a break while we spend a few minutes on the beach."

Alexis wondered what had angered him as her eyes swept over the stretch of sandy beach sparkling in the moonlight. It was a small space of untouched nature amidst the well-kept, pristine tourist beaches along the Miami coastline.

She took a deep breath of the warm night air. Her headache had receded to a dull ache. Maybe whatever Antoine had poured down her throat had been a good idea.

"Come," Antoine said and led the way down a small path through the grassy bank.

Alexis followed him. She didn't have a choice.

When they reached the sand, she took off her runners. Antoine held his loafers in one hand and extended the other hand to her. She picked up her shoes, one in each hand.

He chuckled and wrapped his arm firmly around her waist. "You really are an unexpected delight."

"I don't find being kidnapped delightful."

"You should be grateful I saw an opportunity. They had planned to kill you."

"Your employers."

Antoine tipped his head back and laughed. "We'll refer to them as my employers. It will be easier, for now."

"He said you worked for powerful people." If Antoine was planning to share, she'd pump as much as possible out of him. There was no telling what would be useful later.

"It's easier when people think I'm a minnow, and not one of the sharks." Antoine drew her closer to the waves gently lapping at the edge of the beach. "Don't make the same mistake. My employers value my opinion and allow me to take care of things as I see fit."

"The incident at Garrett's provided an opportunity." Antoine shook his head. "I made a serious error in judgment. If I hadn't shown up in Garrett's study when I did, we would never have known there was a problem with the second formula. I'd been assured the formula would work. We should have enlisted Garrett's aid right from the start."

Alexis stopped and looked up at him. "Dr. Butler would never have helped you."

"He would have. Everyone has a price, Alexis. Even you." The frown on his face disappeared as fast as it had appeared.

He was referring to their deal.

"Garrett was taking a new drug. The cost at this point makes its availability limited and the few possible side effects attractive. It was keeping the Parkinson's under control and he was getting stronger." Antoine looked out at the sea. "While I manipulated events so I could meet him and ensure he didn't interfere with my employers' plans, I liked the man. We'd developed a friendship of sorts, but I would have told him I was the one who was paying for the drug and would stop paying if he didn't cooperate."

"Nothing personal," Alexis huffed. "Just business."

"My job entails setting things in motion and fixing broken parts," Antoine said, studying her thoughtfully for a moment. "You fix a current problem while providing me with a unique opportunity both personally and professionally."

"You mean I can fix the mistake in the formula."

"Or redo the research. The point of the whole endeavor is to control the spread of the algae, otherwise it won't serve my employers' purpose." He tugged at her waist and they continued to walk along the wet sand. "Personally, I find myself presented with a fascinating opportunity."

Alexis stiffened, causing Antoine to chuckle.

"I'm drawn to you, Alexis, but don't mistake my infatuation with Eric's obsession with Finlay. I like to own beautiful things, and you are beautiful," he smiled. "And useful."

She'd been right. Antoine had been in Paris, watching everything taking place. Given his role to fix things, he must have determined Eric was a liability and had been content to watch things unfold on the sidelines.

"You'll need to quit your current job, of course, but I'm certain you'll find working on correcting the formula and other projects my employers have in mind satisfying. They have more than enough money to supply you with whatever you need to conduct your research. My millions should keep you happy when you aren't working."

"If you have that much money, why would you become involved in something like this?"

"I find being poor..." he paused as he searched for a word. "Uncomfortable."

Alexis stopped and stared at Antoine. A runner dropped to her feet. "You couldn't find another way to increase your fortune?"

He looked at her, clearly amused by her reaction, and snatched the shoe still in her hand before she could react. He slipped it into his suit jacket pocket. "I attended a fundraising event for the foundation you support. Don't take offense, darling. I wrote a cheque, but didn't introduce myself. You've always intrigued me, but quiet and shy isn't my type. You have proved to be a very pleasant surprise."

Antoine bent and picked up the runner at her feet. He knocked the sand out of the shoe and dropped it into his other pocket. He took her hand, intertwining their fingers, as he led her back to the town car. Too dazed to speak, Alexis followed.

He slipped on his loafers, handed her shoes back, and held out a hand to help her keep her balance as she slipped them on. Alexis ignored the hand. She leaned against the town car.

"We'll eat before we pay a friend a visit." Antoine opened the car door and waited for to her to get in.

"I don't think any decent breakfast places are open yet," Alexis said as she sank into the expensive leather seat.

"Darling, you're about to find out what it's like to be insanely wealthy."