CHAPTER SIX
CONNOR
“Hey, my sexy samurai. You gonna feed me or what?” Fallon asked as she sauntered into my office. Is it already four? We normally meet in the lobby and eat together early on Fridays before she went on shift. It gave us time to catch up and make fun of Dulie’s mushy antics.
“We’ve been over this. I’m not a samurai.” I sighed, rubbing my hands over my face as I saved the files for the clusterfuck of a company I’d spent the entire day trying to find a way to save. One hundred and fifty-six years in business, but they hadn’t embraced the times so were becoming obsolete. Restructuring the entire company from the ground up was the only way to keep from closing their doors, and it was going to cost them. But the eighty-six-year-old was willing to invest every last penny he’d ever made back into the dying company to leave the legacy for his grandkids. Having played poker with his grandfather, the company’s founder, I wanted to do all I could to help him see that happen.
“You run around with swords and a bo staff, you’re either Donatello or a samurai,” Fallon surmised, and shrugged before continuing, “Since you’re not green and a turtle, you must be a samurai. Now move that cute ass of yours because I’m suddenly in the mood for hibachi. Let’s motor.”
“It’s useless trying to explain the difference, isn’t it? Okay, crazy lady, let’s feed you before you get hangry.” I grabbed the riding jacket and phone before we headed into the hallway.
“Ms. H, sorry about earlier. I was distracted. Was it something important? Do you want to join us, or maybe you and I can meet for brunch and talk then?” I asked as I locked my office door, only to turn around and find a very confused Ms. H.
“What the hell are you going on about?”
“Before, when you asked if we could get something to eat and talk. Geez, I know you getting old, but it wasn’t even an hour ago, Grandma. Are you feeling okay? When you brought me in the billings report.”
“That wasn’t me, you stooge. That was Nicolette.” She paused, thinking something over before she squinted her eyes dangerously and continued. “What did you say to her?”
I did my best impression of a deer caught in the headlights of a Mac truck as I tried to process the information. It felt like my heart had stopped, and I began to break into a cold sweat. “Lettie, my Lettie asked me to dinner?” was all I could get out in a high-pitched wheeze.
“Yeah, and it sounds like your dumbass not only said no but mistook her for Ms. H. You really screwed the pooch this time. What are you going to do? This is the girl who’s supposed to be your mate, right?” Fallon ever so classily pointed out the obvious. As if I didn’t already feel like a tool.
“I can fix this.” I took a deep, calming breath. “Where is she now?” I asked, glancing at her empty desk.
Ms. H shrugged indifferently. “Said she was sick to her stomach and left about ten minutes ago. Poor thing is probably in the lobby on the way to the bus stop.”
I didn’t think. I just took off for the stairwell.
“Oh, sweet baby Jesus, he's going to Spiderman it down again. God, give me strength. Connor, if you break your damn neck, I’ll have those brothers of yours put you back together so I can kill you myself! Do you hear me, boy?” Fallon’s cackle after Ms. Higgins’s threat was the last thing I heard as I entered the deserted stairwell. Leaping off the landing and over the railing, I jumped down vertically from floor to floor as I made my way to the bottom of the building.
She was sick. How did I not know this? Actually, I knew exactly how. I’d been blocking her all day. Our link had grown, and I could feel her emotions from a room away in my office. Over the last week I’d been working on blocking just enough so I could get some work done, but that day, I guess with being distracted, I closed the link more than I’d meant to.
Fuck. I screwed up so badly.
I hit the lobby and kept moving, opening my senses completely to her now. I got a whisper of her agitation and… self-loathing? Also, she felt resigned. Crap, I hope she wasn’t giving up on me that easily.
Out on the sidewalk, I shielded my eyes from the glare of the setting sun as I tried to find her in the mass of workers making their way home for dinner. Just as I was about to give up hope, I caught her before the bus arrived. A halo of golden blonde curls glowed and bounced with each step she took, and she was only about thirty meters ahead. I was about to call out to her when she was abruptly jerked to the left and into the alley between our building and the next.
My blood froze cold with the kind of dread I’d only felt twice in my very long lifetime. I was already moving, dropping all human pretenses, and at the corner of the building within the next breath when Warren growled into my head.
Connor? Warren, the man of many words.
Con? Are you okay? Falcone’s worry was obvious.
Connor, I know this feeling. Talk to us, where is she? Only Dean would truly understand.
She? Nicolette? Oh, shit, Connor, where are you, brother? Falcone had gone from worried to feeling fearful. It was just like Fal to already have accepted my mate as family. But at that moment in time, his emotions were not helping me maintain control.
Reel it in, Falcone, so he can hold his own shit together— Dean started.
Warren interrupted with, And report the situation.
Only, I was cut off from answering. I peeked around the corner. “What the fuck?” I honestly couldn’t hold back the startled croaked-out whisper. Down the alley, my Nicolette, my glasses-wearing, girlie-girl, Taylor Swift doppelganger was going all “Bad Blood” on some huge jackass. She shocked the shit out of both me and the Jolly Green Jackass when she took two steps up the building and shoved off, slamming into the guy’s side. This was done with just enough force to knock him off-balance, letting her breaking her free and land in a crouch on the ground.
I grabbed at my dick, which needed some major readjustments just in case my suddenly ass-kicking mate actually did need me to rescue her. The raging boner I sported would be a little hard to maneuver.
Connor, you’ve got to answer us. I get you’re calmer, but we never move alone. You know this. Where are you? Shit, Dean was right. They were probably freaked out by now. Yep, even Warren was ready to lose his shit.
Aww, War loves his little bro. Thanks, buddy. I really couldn’t help myself.
Connor, I swear on all that is holy, if you don’t tell us where you are, I will run your favorite graphic tees through my goddamn paper shredder!
Looking down, I lovingly stroked my faded royal blue “I licked it, so it’s mine” T-shirt. Harsh, bro. I’m downstairs at the left corner of the building, but no rush. Apparently, my mate is more superwoman than the simple secretary we thought.
Okay. We’re on the way. Falcone is the closest, down in the library. We’re coming from the offices. Warren now appeased, I felt the three of them back off a little to give me space to concentrate.
“Bastard, that fucking hurt. Nice way to treat your sister.” She sneered as the giant asshole turned enough for me to see his face. Fuck it all. It was Thor from the clown motel night! And he was her brother? I threw my hand to the wall to help keep my feet under me. My mate is one of the Order’s faithful lapdogs? I felt sick. Just the thought she may be one of Kayne’s…. No. I squeezed my eyes tightly. I couldn’t even finish that thought.
“Fucking cow, who you think you’re talking to?” He went to smack her upside the head, but Nicolette was faster, simply moving inches out of his way and using his own momentum to effortlessly flip the huge bastard over.
“You, stupid,” she explained, as I felt Falcone join me. We both adjusted our stance against the wall to make it seem we were waiting for a ride or something. Just killing time.
He got up slowly, watching her the entire time as he dusted the gravel and dirt off before snapping, “Don’t call me stupid.”
“Then don’t call me a cow. What the hell are you doing here anyway, James? How many levels of dumb do you have to be to be on Horsemen property?” Nicolette fired off.
“You’re not answering our calls. Father was already mad, but he’s now angry ’cause you stood up Lord Decay for your lunch date.” James… nope, he would always be Thor... announced, making my already upset stomach twist with disgust. My fists and jaw clenched with rage.
A date. They were supposed to have a date! Over my dead body.
I might not ever be able to look her in the eyes again without revulsion, but I would be damned if I let Kayne have my mate. Falcone laid a calm hand on my back, allowing me to center myself enough to concentrate again. He also let Warren and Dean know what was up. Dean was in the lobby waiting and ready, while Warren was trying to figure out how Thor got so close without tripping his face-recognition software.
“First off, James, mad and angry is the same damn thing. Second, I hate you both. This is no secret. So why the hell would I answer the phone when I know it’s one of you? And third, I couldn’t get away at lunch even if I actually wanted to. I was working. Does no one get this concept?” she lectured, as Thor looked like he had a brain fart on the first sentence and missed the rest. But I didn’t; I also noticed she didn’t deny she had plans with Kayne.
“Don’t matter. Dad says you have to come home and explain yourself.” The nasty smirk he ended with said her explaining was not anywhere on the list of what they had planned for her.
“I can’t leave. Monday, the Thompsons are coming in. They’re the biggest client in the firm. But I won’t be able to access the account information till the file is brought up Monday from a locked vault. That file will have names, account numbers, and access codes. It should bring Horsemen Hedge Funds down and stop the Horsemen’s cash flow indefinitely,” she defended with a straight face. Liar, liar, pants on fire. We had no such meeting or account. She played with that bracelet she wore every day, which I’d noticed she tended to do when nervous or upset.
“Indefinitely?” Thor asked. Geez, how were they related? If they didn’t have the same color hair and eyes, I would totally believe that she was kidnapped as a baby or something.
She sighed. “Yes, indefinitely, for an unlimited or unspecified period of time….” She let out another exasperated sigh. “Forever, you boob! It means forever.” I could feel the amusement emanating from Falcone at finding a kindred logophile. A totally real word. Another useless tidbit from “Famous Falcone’s history lessons.” Lord, help us all.
“Wow, you really are working hard, but you’re still in trouble.” Thor seemed to be struggling with what to do.
“James, this is our big chance to shut them down once and for all. Think of how proud Dad will be, and Lord Decay may even promote you to his second for helping make it all happen,” she coaxed, and I noticed her again playing with the bracelet. “I’ll even call everyone tonight with full updates and my apologies, but I’ll wait to allow you the time to be the first to tell them the good news. How does that sound?”
“You’d do that for me? Like, wait, so I can tell Dad first?” The awe and excitement in the dumb oaf’s voice confirmed that he had just bought that, hook, line, and sinker.
Her relieved smile told me that Nicolette knew it too. “Of course, you’re the oldest. It should be your honor. Thank you for allowing me to complete my task, James.”
Thor puffed out his chest like a proud blond gorilla. “Well, just don’t screw it up. I’ll be back for you on Monday. Be ready, Nicolette.” I ducked back as he turned and moved toward me, out the mouth of the alley and into the crowded sidewalk.
I looked back to see Nicolette leaning against the wall in a slouch, head down, hair covering her face, and purse hanging from her limp arm. My soul screamed for me to comfort her. I could feel the swirl of negative emotions within her, hopelessness being the strongest. I wouldn’t let that sway me; it was time to get the truth from my mate.
I slid around the corner and made myself known, Falcone at my side. “That was quite the show. Nice to know at least your name really is Nicolette.” I expected to startle her. I was disappointed.
She slowly stood straight and faced me. Her head still down, she lifted her glasses and wiped her tear-streaked face. “Tell your other two brothers to meet us in the war room, Conquest. I’m only telling this story once.” She then proceeded past me, around the corner, and headed inside the building with Falcone following.
She knew.
All this time, she knew I was a Horseman, along with my brothers. Fuck! Maybe she even knew that we were mates. And she was collecting information for Kayne. She was a daughter of the Order that made my family’s life a daily hell.
All this time… and she just walked past me without even looking me in the eye.
Coward.