“I didn’t know anything. Larry contacted me and said we might have a problem. He told me he gave you some boxes from your father and then you asked him to get you shares so you could attend the shareholders’ meeting. He warned me that we needed to be careful. Larry is the one that had the most to lose. He’s the one that set everything up.”
“So what the fuck has happened to Larry?” Jakob said in an annoyed tone, and we all just looked at each other, our faces a mix of anger, hatred, suspicion, and worry. I felt as if I’d uncovered a huge secret, but it wasn’t satisfying. All it had done was expose a deeper and scarier void of unknown. We’d all thought that we were the main players in this game, but we were all just puppets. Someone else was pulling the strings, and none of us knew who or why.
ten
Jakob and I left David’s house in silence. I sat in the passenger seat and stared out the window as he drove me home, the tension thick in the air. I could hear my own heart beating as I sat there tensely listening to Jakob’s fingers tapping against the steering wheel.
“You’re not going to say anything?” he said finally, and I could feel his eyes on me.
“What am I supposed to say?”
“Maybe you could tell me why you let David put his—”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I turned to Jakob angrily. “Did it look like I let David do anything?”
“Did you tell him no?”
“Not at first,” I acknowledged. “I thought it was you.”
“How could you—”
“I was blindfolded, Jakob, and the letter was from Mattias. I thought it was just some kinky shit you were into.”
“Did you like it?” he growled.
“Did I like what?” My voice rose.
“When he touched you.”
“I’m not talking about this.” I shook my head. “You’re a fucking asshole to even be asking me this shit. What do you think? I was taken advantage of, Jakob.”
“But it’s not the first time that he—”
“Enough, I’m not talking about this. I’m not going to let you make me feel bad for something where I was the victim.”
“I’m sorry.” He banged his fists against the steering wheel. “I should have gotten there quicker.”
“It’s not your fault.” I sighed. “How did you know I was even there?”
“The driver called me.”
“What?”
“He thought I should know. He had a bad feeling about what was going on. He had a feeling David had fooled you.”
“I see.” I looked away, my face feeling warm and angry. “But he didn’t tell me.”
“His loyalty isn’t to you.”
“Obviously not.”
“I’m sorry he did that to you. It kills me to know what he did to you.”
“It kills you for yourself or it kills you for me?”
“I’m just a man, Bianca. I don’t purport to be perfect. I don’t purport to be unselfish. I’ll admit that I’m jealous. I’ll admit that I don’t want another man touching you. And I don’t want you to be in that position again.”
“What are you doing?” I frowned as Jakob drove past my apartment building. “You just passed my building.”
“I know that.”
“I know you know that, stalker.” I glared at him. “Tell me why you drove past it. I want to go home.”
“I’m looking for a parking space.”
“Parking space?” My jaw dropped. “Why? You don’t think I’m going to invite you in, do you?”
“Bianca, we’re not done talking.”
“I’m done talking to you.”
“Bianca, we need to talk. Stop being so obstinate.”
“I’m not being obstinate just because I’m saying you’re not coming into my apartment. There is no way I’m going to let you come in and tell me more lies.”
“I was trying to keep you safe!”
“Safe with lies. Ha.” I laughed bitterly. “Sure you were, and you did a great job. A really great job.”
“I’m sorry I was a jerk.” He pulled over and turned toward me. “I’m sorry.”
“You can’t park here.” I shook my head and looked out the window. “If a cop sees you, you’re going to get a ticket.”
“I don’t care about getting a ticket.” He sighed. “I can’t get you out of my fucking mind.”
“And that’s my fault?”
“I’m not saying it’s your fault. I’m just saying this is confusing.” Jumping out of the car, he hurried over to my side and opened the door.
“What are you doing?” I glared at him. “I told you that you can’t park here.”
“I don’t give a shit. Get out.” He leaned forward and unbuckled my seat belt. “Get out!”
“You’re so bossy.”
“I think that’s what you like.” He smirked as his hand brushed my stomach. He stopped for a second and stared into my eyes. “You need a man to boss you around.”
“Like hell I do.”
“You didn’t seem to mind when we were on the island.”
“That’s because you were providing water and food.”
“And shelter.”
“I wouldn’t consider your body a shelter,” I said smartly, and smiled sweetly.
“Oh, you wouldn’t?” He licked his lips and leaned toward mine. “I definitely found your body to be a shelter. You kept my cock very warm every night.”
I gasped, my face turning red with embarrassment and excitement. “You’re a pig!”