Leo shook his head. “That’s what I thought, at first. I didn’t like the fact that someone took out the security camera. Those cameras are small. You have to know where they are. And the only vehicle they damaged was yours. Then there was the fire on the street level of the building that houses The Club.”
Julian felt a chill. “I thought the insurance adjuster decided that was an accident.”
“I don’t think so. Maybe on the outside it looks random, but when you put it together, I don’t think so. Did you know that Sally’s house was recently burglarized?”
“No.” No one had told him.
“Yes, about two weeks ago. They didn’t take anything, but they trashed the place, paying special attention to the pictures she had of you. Those were torn up. Luckily, she and Stephen were out at the time. When I talked to Lucas this morning, he mentioned a couple of days ago he’d had his tires slashed. That’s when I finally talked to that damn reporter.”
Julian felt his indignation rise. People he cared about were being targeted, and Leo was talking to a reporter who wanted to do a tabloid piece. “I told you to ignore the reporter. Damn it, Leo. We do not need publicity. Where did you get the number? I told Candice to lose it.”
“Don’t blame Candice. She was perfectly threatening when I asked for the thing. She should really be in leathers, you know. She would make an excellent Domme.”
“Could we stop talking about my secretary’s potential kinks? It disturbs me. If Candice didn’t give you the number, how did you contact the reporter?”
Leo sat back, crossing his arms over his chest. “I know Candice. She’s a good assistant. If she thought you would ever need that number again, she would keep it. All I had to do was search her desk while she was at lunch.”
“You’re fired.” He meant it this time. Leo had gone too far.
Leo sighed, and his eyes rolled. “Yeah, yeah, I’m fired. Well, you’re going to want to do more than fire me when you find out what I did next. Tricia, you can come out now.”
The door that led to the kitchen opened, and a tall, slender woman with large brown eyes walked out. Though Julian could tell she was nervous, she was also resolute.
“Mr. Lodge, my name is Tricia Walker. I need to talk to you.”
Leo’s face had gone stony, as though he expected Julian to punch him. Julian had no intention of doing anything so uncivilized as starting a fight. He had other plans for his now former employee.
“Up,” he commanded, and Danielle hopped off his lap. She sat back down in the chair after Julian rose and stalked to Leo. The reporter he ignored. Leo was the one who had his attention. “You brought a reporter to my friend’s home?”
“I’m not” Tricia began but stopped the minute Julian turned on her.
“I do not require your input. You may leave and be glad that I only intend to see that you never write another word in Dallas again. If you don’t quit your job, I’ll buy the paper and fire you. Choose another city, Miss Walker. You are no longer welcome in mine.” He turned back to Leo. “I have other plans for you, Mr. Meyer. I intend to ruin you on every level. You might want to leave the country.”
“Fine, I’ll leave the country, but not until you’ve heard her out. Damn it, Julian. I’m sick of this. You’ve been more than a mentor to me, but you have no concept of what it means to really be a friend. Maybe because very few people have ever fought for you. Well, guess what, I’m willing to do it. So sit down and shut up. Ruin me later, listen to her now.”
“I want to hear what she has to say,” Danielle said.
Julian turned to her, frowning. “I did not ask your opinion, Danielle.” He glared at Finn. “Nor did I request yours, Finn. This is not a democracy.”
Danielle stood up. “Julian, you’re being stubborn and not looking at the big picture.”
Julian felt all of his buttons being firmly pushed. Between the dream he had the night before, and the chaos of this morning, he was in no mood to deal with a bratty sub. He looked to her for stability, not more uncertainty.
“Am I not, Danielle?” He heard the sarcasm flow. He tried to quell it, but anger had taken over, and a cold tone was all he seemed capable of. This was precisely why he should never have taken a slave without a contract. Danielle should know to never behave as she was behaving now.
“Leo wouldn’t do something to hurt you.”
Julian felt his heart rate tick up, the pressure slowly building. Leo was charming. Leo was younger. Leo probably had a variety of things in common with Danielle and Finn. Though Leo didn’t swing both ways, it didn’t seem to bother Danielle. Danielle seemed to be very taken with the Dom. “You’ll forgive me if I don’t take your advice, Danielle. You’re not exactly worldly. This is between me and my employee.”
“Julian, can’t you just listen to the woman?” Finn asked, exasperation plain in his voice.
“You are both dismissed. Wait for me in our rooms.” He would deal with them later, when he had his anger under control. He would set a proper punishment and decide how to proceed. He wouldn’t touch either of them again sexually until he had a contract in place. A hot anger was starting to build. He needed to get it under control.
“I’m not going anywhere, Julian,” Danielle said. Her blue eyes were almost sad as she looked up at him. “Leo’s right. No one has cared enough to fight with you or for you. I do.”
“Which simply proves how little you know about me. I do not fight. Finn, take Danielle back to our rooms and pack your things.” His gut turned at the thought of sending them away, but he had standards to keep up. He couldn’t, wouldn’t allow them to push him into a corner. If he lost his temper, he could hurt her. He could hurt Finn. He could still remember pushing that woman down the stairs. He’d taken pleasure in doing it. He’d been twelve. What kind of damage could he do to them now?
“Can’t give an inch, can you, Julian?” Leo asked, his voice heavy with disappointment.
Samuel Fleetwood strode back into the room and stared at the reporter. “I don’t give a damn what Julian wants or doesn’t want. Do you know anything about my stepdaughter’s disappearance?”
The reporter’s eyes grew watery. “I hope not, but I wouldn’t put it past him. Since he got out of jail, he’s been a little crazy.”
“Who?” Julian asked. He wanted to get this over with so he could leave. The quicker he put distance between Danielle, Finn, and himself the better. He knew he was being a bit of an ass, but he couldn’t help it. The simple act of her talking to Leo had set him on edge. He had never been so righteously possessive before. Part of him was pushing to leave before they got under his skin. He should walk away now, when it wouldn’t hurt so much. He would walk away before he had a chance to hurt them. The other half knew he was never going to allow them to leave.
“My brother. My brother’s name is Jeremy Walker, and I believe he used to be your lover, Mr. Lodge. I think he’s trying to kill you.”
Finn stared at Julian from across the table. His face was smooth, placid, showing none of the hostility from before, but Finn could sense that his Master was not pleased.
Dani wasn’t happy either, for that matter. She’d kept her head down for the most part as Tricia got to her story. When she bothered to look up, there was a red cast to her eyes that told Finn she was fighting hard not to cry. Finn had to force himself not to put a fist through Julian’s face until he really watched him. He was beginning to understand his lover, and there was no doubt that Julian was his lover. He could still feel the slide of that big cock ramming deep inside him. It had been more than sex, and that was what scared the shit out of Julian. That was what had Julian saying things he shouldn’t.