shrugged. “Why should this concern me?”
“You don’t read the newspapers or watch the news, my
friend. The man owns DellCorp. He has enough money and influence to
stir things up, and the more people who know that she’s missing,
the harder it’s going to be.”
“So the man has money and power. Bronte told him she
needed time. He can search all he likes and he won’t find her.”
Roark rubbed his chin. “Now, do what you need to do on your end
with Dell. Tell Crenshaw he’s safe, unless he fucks up again. I
can’t have any screw ups when it comes to Bronte.” Shelby started
to reach for the phone, but Roark lifted a hand to stop him. “I’ll
keep this.”
Shelby sighed and relaxed back into the cushions.
“Where is she now?”
“Locked in her bedroom,” Roark answered.
“Not in your bedroom performing her duties?”
Roark looked at the other man over the rim of his
glass. He took a slow drink and then finally said, “I like women
warm and willing.”
“Meaning you haven’t persuaded her yet? Are you
losing your touch?” Shelby laughed.
“I’m a man of honor.”
“What are you waiting for?” Shelby narrowed his
eyes. “Don’t tell me that you’re allowing the feelings you had for
Ji—”
Roark made a growling sound, and Shelby clamped his
mouth. “I don’t want to talk about her.”
“Come on, Roark. Bronte’s a mere human. Give her the
best night of her life and she’ll be thanking you,” Shelby
snickered, which ground through Roark’s patience.
He wasn’t sure why the man irritated him, but the
tension building in his abdomen spoke volumes about his tolerance.
It wasn’t any of the man’s business or concern what he did with
Bronte. He heard Shelby’s clearing of throat. Roark looked at him.
“Yes?”
Shelby placed palms down on the chair arms and shook
his head. “Fuck the Bitch and get it over with. Then I’ll tie her
back up and send her where she came from.”
The energy changed in the room. Shelby noticed it
also because his eyes widened and his jaw tightened. Roark
considered himself a man with phenomenal tolerance, but when he
lost control, he didn’t take pains of keeping his agitation
undercover. In a dash, he was standing within inches of Shelby,
peering down on the other man in anger. Roark didn’t need to prove
that he was the dominant of the two. Although Shelby had a few
inches on Roark, his strength was matchless. “Your attitude is
stinking up my home, Shelby.”
“I apologize if I said something—”
“Bitch isn’t a very nice name. It’s bad mannered to
degrade the mother of my child and the woman I—” He swallowed the
rest of his words. He had to keep his emotions under wrap. And
where his temper came from, Roark wasn’t sure. Furthermore, he
didn’t know why Shelby was showing lack of respect. They both
understood the importance of Bronte’s role. “I’m not happy how this
has gone down. We’re not savages and we can’t sink to those depths,
no matter how pressing time is or what’s at stake. We can’t forget
what brought us to this situation to begin with.” He backed away
from Shelby, detecting the man’s fear and sweat. “Are we
clear?”
Shelby nodded, his adam’s apple bobbed.
“Definitely.”
“Come now, have another drink and relax” Roark said.
“Then you can tell me more about this Dell. The information could
be very useful.”
An hour later, after Shelby had gone, Roark dialed a
number on his phone. It was answered on the second ring. “Roark
here. I need you to pay a visit to someone. Her name is Fallon
Montreal.”
****
Bronte stretched and smiled, the luxurious satin
sheets felt heavenly against her body. Then she opened her eyes and
remembered where she was. The Roark Prison . Her gut
tightened.
Sitting up, she noticed a blue jay perched on the
outside of the window. She got out of the bed and stared out into
the new day. The sky was bright and the sun filtered into her room,
lifting her mood
“You don’t read the newspapers or watch the news, my
friend. The man owns DellCorp. He has enough money and influence to
stir things up, and the more people who know that she’s missing,
the harder it’s going to be.”
“So the man has money and power. Bronte told him she
needed time. He can search all he likes and he won’t find her.”
Roark rubbed his chin. “Now, do what you need to do on your end
with Dell. Tell Crenshaw he’s safe, unless he fucks up again. I
can’t have any screw ups when it comes to Bronte.” Shelby started
to reach for the phone, but Roark lifted a hand to stop him. “I’ll
keep this.”
Shelby sighed and relaxed back into the cushions.
“Where is she now?”
“Locked in her bedroom,” Roark answered.
“Not in your bedroom performing her duties?”
Roark looked at the other man over the rim of his
glass. He took a slow drink and then finally said, “I like women
warm and willing.”
“Meaning you haven’t persuaded her yet? Are you
losing your touch?” Shelby laughed.
“I’m a man of honor.”
“What are you waiting for?” Shelby narrowed his
eyes. “Don’t tell me that you’re allowing the feelings you had for
Ji—”
Roark made a growling sound, and Shelby clamped his
mouth. “I don’t want to talk about her.”
“Come on, Roark. Bronte’s a mere human. Give her the
best night of her life and she’ll be thanking you,” Shelby
snickered, which ground through Roark’s patience.
He wasn’t sure why the man irritated him, but the
tension building in his abdomen spoke volumes about his tolerance.
It wasn’t any of the man’s business or concern what he did with
Bronte. He heard Shelby’s clearing of throat. Roark looked at him.
“Yes?”
Shelby placed palms down on the chair arms and shook
his head. “Fuck the Bitch and get it over with. Then I’ll tie her
back up and send her where she came from.”
The energy changed in the room. Shelby noticed it
also because his eyes widened and his jaw tightened. Roark
considered himself a man with phenomenal tolerance, but when he
lost control, he didn’t take pains of keeping his agitation
undercover. In a dash, he was standing within inches of Shelby,
peering down on the other man in anger. Roark didn’t need to prove
that he was the dominant of the two. Although Shelby had a few
inches on Roark, his strength was matchless. “Your attitude is
stinking up my home, Shelby.”
“I apologize if I said something—”
“Bitch isn’t a very nice name. It’s bad mannered to
degrade the mother of my child and the woman I—” He swallowed the
rest of his words. He had to keep his emotions under wrap. And
where his temper came from, Roark wasn’t sure. Furthermore, he
didn’t know why Shelby was showing lack of respect. They both
understood the importance of Bronte’s role. “I’m not happy how this
has gone down. We’re not savages and we can’t sink to those depths,
no matter how pressing time is or what’s at stake. We can’t forget
what brought us to this situation to begin with.” He backed away
from Shelby, detecting the man’s fear and sweat. “Are we
clear?”
Shelby nodded, his adam’s apple bobbed.
“Definitely.”
“Come now, have another drink and relax” Roark said.
“Then you can tell me more about this Dell. The information could
be very useful.”
An hour later, after Shelby had gone, Roark dialed a
number on his phone. It was answered on the second ring. “Roark
here. I need you to pay a visit to someone. Her name is Fallon
Montreal.”
****
Bronte stretched and smiled, the luxurious satin
sheets felt heavenly against her body. Then she opened her eyes and
remembered where she was. The Roark Prison . Her gut
tightened.
Sitting up, she noticed a blue jay perched on the
outside of the window. She got out of the bed and stared out into
the new day. The sky was bright and the sun filtered into her room,
lifting her mood
Similar Books
