Stolen Heart

chapter 6




Annika Foss sat at her desk, running through some paperwork. It was 10:00pm and the boom of techno music playing out in the club slightly vibrated under her feet. The door opened and Marcus stuck his head in the door. The music amplified by tenfold. It was the reason she had her office soundproofed.

“Hey, boss. Cindi didn’t show up for her shift so I called Tama in to take her spot. Everything else is rolling smoothly tonight.”

Annika looked up at Marcus Grayson. He was her manager and one of the few she could count as a friend. He was also an ex-pat from Vryonas. He helped her run Itch as well as her other enterprises.

“Keep an eye on Tama. I had heard from one of the girls that she has been selling alcohol to some underage customers. All I need right now is for ABC to bust us on that.”

“Will do.” Marcus walked in farther, closing the door behind him. He leaned back against it.

Annika lifted her eyebrows up at him. “What’s up?”

“Just curious how your meeting with Kieran Dunne went last night?”

“It went fine. I got the information I needed.”

“And?”

“He wants me to work a theft job with him.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, but I turned him down.”

“Why? Your price would be high enough to really help out.”

“I know, but it’s just not something I’m interested in right now. Plenty of work to do here.”

“Got it. Well, let me get back to work.”

“Thanks, Marcus. I’m just going to finish up this paperwork and then we have that job to do tonight.”

Marcus nodded his head in understanding. “Sure thing. Good luck tonight but then get some rest, you look like shit.”

Annika gave a loud snort. “You do know how to charm the women, Marcus.”

“I’ll see you later tonight as planned.” Marcus left giving her a wave over his shoulder.

She was glad for the little diversion Marcus had provided. All night she had been trying to concentrate on her paperwork but her mind kept drifting back to Kieran Dunne. More specifically, to the amazing time they had last night.

She truly did intend to get near him just to read his emotions. She got a clear picture while they swayed on the dance floor. But the attraction she felt to him was so overwhelming, she knew she would end up in his bed before the night was over.

Although she had received a good read on his emotions while they were dancing, her empathic abilities were heightened beyond measure during the act of sex. The fact that she took control, leaving Kieran with nothing more than the duty of opening himself up to pleasure, brought his emotions out in a tidal wave that poured over her.

She may not know specific facts about Kieran Dunne, but she had a pretty good picture of his character. Her reading told her that he was honest and loyal. He did not have any malicious intent toward her, but she did sense a level of menace directed at someone or something. After he told her about retrieving the stolen object, she figured that was what the anger was directed at.

She learned a bevy of other things, some useful, others not. He was light hearted in general but would be dangerous when threatened. He was winsome and had a soft spot in his heart for most people, particularly children. And while she was the one that took control in the bedroom that night, she knew that he was a controlling lover on most occasions. Actually, probably on all occasions. She sensed that this was the first time he had let a woman lead him the entire way. It gave her a heady sense of power.

Looking down at an invoice from her beer distributor, she managed ten seconds of concentration then her mind drifted right back to Kieran. Cursing in frustration, Annika stood up from the desk and walked over to a small mini bar set up against the wall. She poured herself a small shot of Wild Turkey.

She wasn’t much of a drinker but once in a blue moon she’d have a shot. Not for what it did to her but she truly enjoyed the taste of bourbon. She loved the burn of it in her stomach and never drank more than one small shot. She didn’t like the way liquor made her feel if she had too much.

Annika took her drink and went to sit on the small loveseat that sat across from her desk. It was very interesting that Kieran would come here to The First Dimension to find her. She wondered how he even knew about her. If she had to bet, Ava Clairmont was behind sending him.

She thought she had met Kieran and his brother, Carrick, many years ago, but the memory was fuzzy. They didn’t really stand out. But she knew Ava well as their families were strong allies. She liked Ava a lot and respected her. It was the only reason she had agreed to meet with Kieran when word came through he was trying to contact her. Otherwise, she would have never given him the time of day.

And now it seems she had given him the time of night too. Her belly warmed up all on its own thinking about the sex they’d had. Kieran was, she thought, the most gorgeous man she had ever seen.

He had the classic good looks and physically perfect bone structure that would send most women swooning. And when his clothes were off? Talk about a work of art. She seriously did not think she could ever get enough of looking at the physical perfection of his body. He was solid and packed with muscle that had rippled beneath her hands. She loved a man that could consume her. Get it together, Annika. You turned down his offer--with good reason--and you will never see him again. Oddly, that thought niggled at Ava.

She really needed to put this out of her mind. Having the original intent of sipping at her bourbon, she took it down in one shot and set the glass aside. Time to get back to the paperwork.

***

Keiran walked into Itch and looked around. Same as last night. Wild music thumping with half naked bodies swarming the dance floor. It was a waving, pulsing mass of people. He walked toward the bar but was caught up short when Marcus stepped in front of him.

“What can I do for you, my man?” Marcus’ voice was friendly enough but there was an underlying tone in it that clearly said they were not friends.

“I need to see Annika.”

“Sorry, but she’s indisposed right now. I can give her a message for you.”

“I don’t think you understand, Marcus.” Kieran stepped forward so they were almost chest to chest. The move was not made in aggression, but so he could get closer and not have to shout over the music.

“I need to see Annika now. If you don’t take me to her, I am immediately leaving here and going to her father to let him know where she is. I know, for a fact, that she has kept her location hidden from him for many years, but I have no qualms about handing her up on a silver platter if you don’t take me to her now.”

Kieran could see a muscle twitching near Marcus’ eye. He could tell the man did not like the threat, but if he gauged him right, he knew he would do anything to protect Annika. He figured his next move would be to either try to kill him to keep his silence, or take him to Annika. Luckily, Marcus nodded curtly and turned his back to walk away. Kieran followed him.

The short trip he had made back to Kestevayne this morning had proven very valuable and Ava had a ton of information to help Kieran. In addition, Ava had a contact in New York that helped. A former citizen of Kestevayne who preferred the hustle and bustle of the city over the quiet life back home. He worked as a police officer now and was able to do a comprehensive background check on Annika that was very eye opening. He had been busy all day today to make sure he could use that information to guarantee Annika’s cooperation.

Marcus led Kieran across the dance floor and down a back hall. Opening a locked door at the end of the hall, Kieran followed him down another short hallway. Marcus stopped at a door, gave a quick knock and stuck his head in.

***

Annika’s head looked up from her paperwork when she heard the knock. She had finally banished Kieran from her head and was making good progress. She saw Marcus stick his head in the door.

“What’s up?”

“You got a visitor, boss.”

Annika grimaced and looked back down to her paperwork. “Sorry, Marcus. I don’t want to see anyone. You handle it.”

“No can do, pretty lady. This one was very convincing. You need to handle it.” And with that, Marcus’ head disappeared. Annika sighed and looked toward the door. Her breath caught when she saw Kieran walk through.

Yup. He was as mouthwatering as she remembered. He was dressed in worn, faded jeans and a long sleeve black t-shirt that looked like a second skin on him. It clearly showed the outline of his chest and stomach muscles. The look on his face clearly said, “Gotcha.” That irritated her for some reason.

“The answer is still no Kieran.”

“Please don’t make me have you eat those words, Annika. I suggest you hear what I have to say first.”

There was a threat in that statement and Annika had a sinking feeling in her stomach. She watched as Kieran walked over to her couch and settled in it gracefully, stretching those long legs out in front of him. He leaned back and clasped his hands behind his head. He looked too relaxed by half.

“How did you even find me?”

“It wasn’t hard. Public records are very easy to access. Plus, after last night, the name of your nightclub made more sense to me.”

Annika didn’t know if that was an offensive statement or not. She decided to be offended. “What the hell does that mean?”

Kieran gave her a lazy grin. “Just that I think you had an itch last night and decided to use me to scratch it.”

Annika gritted her teeth. “I told you why we had sex. It was simply to read your emotions.”

“Whatever. I still need you to help me retrieve The Scepter.”

“The Scepter?”

“The object that was stolen from Ava.”

“So what is so important about this scepter anyway?”

“That’s not important for you to know. What’s important is that I need your help to get it. And there is no doubt that you are going to help me, Annika.”

That was a threat. Annika did not like the way this conversation was going. While she felt completely in control of Kieran this morning, she felt all that supremacy just slip way, like a palm full of water sliding through her fingers. She had a dreadful feeling that he had found some means by which to convince her to help and that made her sick to her stomach.

“Go ahead and tell me why you think I will help you.” Annika hoped her voice sounded strong and sure.

“I’ve come to learn a lot of things about you today, Annika. You are quite the surprise.”

Kieran paused, maybe to see if Annika would react to that statement, but she just stared at him as impassively as she could possibly muster. But her heart was beating as hard as a jack rabbit’s legs.

“It seems you are quite the philanthropist. I never would have guessed.”

Kieran just left that hanging there and said no more.

“Your point,” Annika gritted out.

Kieran laughed. “Okay, I’ll get to the point. Here it is. It seems you have quite an interest in helping people. Not just any people, specifically abused women. I’ve learned that you lead a non-profit agency here in the city called Saving Grace. It is a secret, safe haven for abused women. I’ve also learned, through careful examination of your finances…”

“My finances?” Annika fairly screeched.

Kieran held up his hand to stop her. “Please. Don’t even get offended. Not after what you did last night.” Annika held her tongue.

“As I was saying, your tax returns were quite interesting. It seems you’re the main donor who finances Saving Grace. Looks like after paying yourself a paltry sum of money to rent the crappy apartment above this nightclub, you give all of the profits from Itch to Saving Grace. Which is a considerable amount seeing as how Itch makes you quite a bit of money. And you give it all away. I find you fascinating, Annika Foss.”

Annika felt a buzzing in her head. She was beyond furious that he had delved into her private life. Normally in control of everything, she felt herself spinning. And she still had no clue where he was going with this information. Yes, it was all public record. But the way he related it to her just now was threatening…manipulative.

“I can see you are wondering where I’m going with this,” Kieran said, as if reading her thoughts. The amused grin on his face had melted away and now his eyes glittered with resolve.

“I purchased today the deed to the building that rents to Saving Grace. It’s quite a nice piece of property. I can see why you chose it. If I’m not mistaken, it currently houses 27 women, all abused in some way and hiding for their safety.”

Annika swallowed hard. She realized her hands were gripping the edge of her desk so hard her knuckles were white. She didn’t say anything.

“If you do not help me recover The Scepter, I am going to evict Saving Grace from the property. It would be such a shame to put all of those women out on the street….maybe even force them to return to their abusers.” He paused for effect and saw that Annika had a look of stunned disbelief on her face.

Kieran continued. “Of course, if you help me retrieve The Scepter, I will deed the property over to Saving Grace. It’s paid $3.5 million for it today. That should more than adequately compensate you.”

Kieran didn’t say anything further. He watched Annika to see what she would do. He hoped his threat had hit the mark. It made him sick to actually make that threat but he didn’t have time to negotiate with her. He hoped she did not see through his bluff. He didn’t lie about purchasing the property. He knew Annika was savvy enough to verify that. But he was bluffing about evicting the women of Saving Grace. He would never sink that low. But Annika didn’t need to know that right now.

Annika’s face had turned white and he felt a small pang of guilt. He watched her stand up from the desk.

“You are the most despicable human being I have ever known,” she spat. “That you would threaten and put at risk the lives of innocent women, just to get what you want his beyond...”

Annika stopped in mid-stream and took a deep breath. She was so angry right now that if she had a gun she would have shot him without a further thought. He had found her one weakness and exploited it. She would find a way to make him pay for this. But for now, she was trapped. She could not risk the safety of those women.

Barely containing her fury, Annika walked over to the door and opened it. “I will help you get The Scepter. We can leave tomorrow evening. Now get out.”

“We don’t have time to wait. We need to leave now.”

Annika hoped she wasn’t making a mistake by standing her ground. She had some important business to take care of tonight and tomorrow that she could not forsake. “I have something to do both tonight and tomorrow that is extremely important and cannot wait. If you want me, you will wait for me to leave tomorrow night.” Her words were clipped and forced through clenched teeth.

Kieran appraised Annika. Her face had gone from white to red. Her lovely lavender eyes were flashing at him with pure hate. He definitely did not like that. But whatever business she had was important enough that she was willing to take a risk that Saving Grace could be harmed. Or maybe those empathic readings she had done on him gave away the fact that he couldn’t hurt innocent women. Regardless, it wasn’t worth the argument. Another day wouldn’t matter and it would be interesting to follow her tonight to see what she was up to.

“What exactly do you need to do? Perhaps I can help?”

“That is none of your business and if I needed help, you would be the last person I would ask.”

“Fine by me. Be at my hotel tomorrow evening when you are finished. We can start to make plans and…”

Annika couldn’t control her feelings anymore. “Get. The. F*ck. Out. Now!”

Kieran flinched from the fury pouring from her. He really was going to pay for threatening Saving Grace. He gave her a short nod and walked out the door. He heard it slam behind him. Well, they were off to a lovely start.