Black Listed (12 page)

Worried Sawyer would push Chad to call the cops on them, she set a hand on his shoulder. “Sawyer,” she said softly.

He turned his head, his hard gaze going soft as it landed on her. Stepping away from the other man, he released his grip, causing Chad to fall back into the wall of his trailer.

Using the back of his hand, Chad wiped the sweat that had formed above his brows. “I have no knowledge about your brakes.”

“Where were you yesterday afternoon?” Sawyer asked.

Chad answered quickly. Too quickly. “Here.”

Sawyer noticed. “Anyone who could confirm it?”

“Everybody who knows me,” Chad said, spreading his arms out wide. “This is as far as I ever get from my home.”

The meaning behind his statement slowly penetrated.

Sawyer cocked his head. “You're agoraphobic?”

“But you loved to travel,” she said, remembering the train rides they'd spent laughing and kissing. “We went all over the country to those Comic-Cons.”

“Everything turned to shit after you stole my savings,” Chad said, the accusation in his voice. “I hired a prostitute who gave me the clap. I got sued after a patient died on my table. The hospital fired me. I discovered my ex-wife had been cheating on me throughout our entire relationship. And when I lost my temper at the New York Comic-Con and punched out the guy dressed up as Jar Jar Binks, I got banned from every major comic book convention in North America. I guess you could say I had a nervous breakdown. I bought this trailer and decided until my luck turned around, I wasn't leaving.”

“How'd that work out for you?” Sawyer quipped.

Chad glared at Sawyer. “I'm still here, aren't I?”

“You do realize you can't blame her for all of that, don't you?” Sawyer pointed out.

Chad's shoulders sagged as he turned to her. “I was angry for a long time at both you and my ex-wife. Then when I saw you in the newspaper, it all boiled over. I went a little crazy for a couple of weeks.” He put hands out in front of him. “But I'm better now. I still hate you. Don't get me wrong. And if I got word that you died, I can't say I wouldn't throw myself a party to celebrate. But I didn't cut your brakes.”

No matter what Sawyer said, she was responsible for his breakdown. Or at least, she'd played a huge part in it. Her actions had consequences. She'd taken a broken man and had twisted the protruding knife left by his wife deeper into his back. If she had to spend the rest of her life doing it, she'd find a way to right the wrongs and make it up to all of them. Each and every person on that black list.

Sawyer reached into his pocket and handed Chad something that looked awfully similar to a check. “Here.”

“What is this?” Chad asked as he took it.

Sawyer's arm banded around her waist. “It's a check for five million dollars. Cash it. Give it to charity. I don't give a fuck. But you forget you ever knew her, you got me?”

It was as if Sawyer had read her mind. His gesture overwhelmed her, tears of gratitude welling in her eyes. Yes, it was payment to buy Chad's silence, but for her, it was so much more. It freed her from the chains of guilt that burdened her. But although he had the money to do it, she wouldn't allow him to pay off everyone she'd hurt. Somehow, someway, it had to come from her.

“Yeah. Yeah,” Chad said, nodding as he stared in wonder at his check. “I won't breathe a word. We're square.”

“I hope someday you can forgive me,” she said, relieved at the feeling of closure. Perhaps this would allow him to move on with his life, as well.

“Well, this check certainly helps,” Chad said, waving it in front of his face. “Maybe my luck is finally turning around.”

She gave him a small smile. “I hope so.”

He rubbed his hand over his messy hair, his visible excitement over the check suddenly dimming. “Shit, now I feel really bad. I suppose I should come clean. I honestly didn't do anything to your brakes, but it's possible I know who did.” Sighing, he folded the check and stuck it in his back pocket.

He looked directly at her. “I hired a hit man to kill you.”

S
AWYER
'
S FIST FLEW
so fast, she had no chance of stopping him. Taking a hit to the jaw, Chad sailed backward, smacking his head on the trailer. Sawyer's eyes were murderous as he advanced with his fist raised, about to punch Chad again.

“Sawyer! Don't!” Even knowing it was dangerous, she placed herself between the men. Not because she cared about protecting Chad. No, he deserved everything Sawyer gave to him and more. She did it because she was afraid Sawyer would kill him.

Chad curled into himself, his arms protecting his head. “I'm sorry. It was a momentary lapse in judgment.”

Still dark with the threat of violence in them, Sawyer's eyes lasered in on her. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his nostrils flared. Slowly, the anger bled out of him enough for him to regain control. Once he calmed down, she moved aside, allowing him to continue his questioning.

“How could you even afford to hire a hit man?” he asked.

Chad unfurled himself, his hand going to his swollen jaw. “Are you kidding? These days, you can find someone to off someone for a couple hundred bucks. It depends on the level of skill you want. I figured some gangbanger was as good as the next guy.”

“Someone was going to kill me for two hundred dollars?” She wasn't sure if she was more mortified that he'd hired a hit man or that it had only cost him a couple of hundred dollars to do it.

He shrugged, appearing sheepish. “I got a special rate. Two for one. He was going to kill my ex-wife, too. I would have had him kill the bitch who gave me the STD, but I didn't get her name.”

Nausea swept through her. Had he always been this demented? How could she have missed it?

“You don't leave this house,” Sawyer said. “How'd you find the guy?

Chad swallowed hard. “On the web. I read about some site where you could place an ad for a hit man and name your price. I didn't really think it was real, you know? But there it was, out there in cyberspace, where anyone could find it. At first I thought it was some kind of entrapment set up by the Feds, but I figured, why not? What did I have to lose at that point? So I placed the ad, and wouldn't you know it, got three offers the first day.”

“What's his name?” Sawyer asked.

“I never got it.”

Sawyer shook his head. “You paid him?”

“Yeah. Anonymous wire transfer. I only got the routing number and bank account. Not his name.”

“Give it to me.”

Fear crept into Chad's eyes. “I don't have it anymore.”

“E-mails? Anything?” Sawyer's jaw ticked.

“I got rid of any record I had when I changed my mind.” Chad took a step toward his door, as if thinking about bolting. “I thought the cops could track that info, you know?”

She put a hand on Sawyer's chest. Maybe they could get more from Chad if she asked the questions. “How'd you terminate the agreement?”

“We communicated through the website. I wrote him and told him it was off. Asked him for my money back.”

His money. That was his concern?

She suppressed her urge to punch the guy herself. “And what was his response?”

“I didn't get one. I figured he didn't write me back because he didn't want to return the money.” Chad must have realized he was barking up the wrong tree and angled toward Sawyer. “Hey, it's not my fault if he didn't get it. I tried, you know? You're not going to stop payment on the check, are you?”

Sawyer remained calm, his burning anger having turned glacial. “If she dies, I'll not only stop payment, I'll make sure you die a slow, painful death. You get me?”

Chad swallowed hard. “I get you.” He scurried into his house, engaging the locks on his doors.

Obviously, they didn't have to worry about Chad going to the cops. Not unless he wanted to go to prison for a long time.

She followed Sawyer as he stomped to the car. He didn't say anything, but the rage coming off him was palpable. As soon as she got her seat belt on, he gunned it out of the trailer park, a cloud of dirt kicking up behind them.

One of her biggest fears had been realized. Sawyer wouldn't even look at her. Seeing how she'd contributed to the ruin of Chad Winters's life had changed his feelings for her.

A gnawing ache settled in the middle of her chest. Trying to act as if she wasn't dying inside, she decided to talk about what they'd do next to find the person who'd attempted to kill them. “Do you think the guy he hired is behind my condo and the car?”

He gripped the steering wheel so tightly, his knuckles had turned white. “I'm not sure. My gut tells me it was personal for whoever destroyed your condo, and it's not the kind of thing a hit man would've done. The car is another story.”

The ache spread, invading her stomach. “So you're saying there's a possibility that the things were unrelated?”

Still not looking at her, he lifted his cell from the center console, dialed, and put it to his ear. “We can't rule it out.” He paused, waiting for the person on the other end to pick up. “Oz, did you get access to Winters's bank account?”

Wishing she could listen in on the conversation, she watched Sawyer's face, hoping the news on the other end would result in a smile.

His lips remained tight. “I need you to find a wire transfer that went to a hit man he hired in the amount of two hundred.” He grimaced. “No, man, the fucker only paid two hundred dollars total. Trace the account, and call me with the name and address.”

He hung up, not bothering to give her the details of what he had planned. Fury continued to emanate from him as they drove in silence.

Even though the ache had now infiltrated her entire body, she refused to cry. If he was done with her, then there was nothing she could do or say to change his mind. She'd known before their weeklong affair began that it would end. She was no worse off than she'd been before he walked back into her life.

She still had her friends. Her career. Her condo. And now that her brother had returned, she had a family again. So, she might never have children of her own. She was an aunt. She'd just spoil Asa's kids.

She'd survive without Sawyer.

She didn't have a choice.

Staring out the window to keep herself from crying, she noticed they were on the wrong highway. “Where are you going? This isn't the way to the hotel.”

“No. It's not. We're going to Benediction.” Finally, he looked at her. “You good with that?”

Hell yes, she was good with that. Maybe she'd been wrong, and his anger had nothing to do with her. Maybe he needed some time to cool off. The ache she'd been feeling receded, only to be replaced by a much more pleasurable one.

But could she go to Benediction knowing there was a good chance she'd run into her friends?

Except for certain events, Benediction was a members-only club, and from what she'd learned from Danielle, an application, health screening, training, and an interview were necessary to become a member.

“I'm not sure if you're aware, since it was open for the wedding the other night, but Benediction is a members-only club.”

“Logan invited us,” he said. “Apparently, your friend Gracie is in charge of the place while Cole is on his honeymoon, so he didn't think it would be a problem. I spoke with him this morning and set it up.”

Gracie was probably ecstatic that she and Sawyer were coming to the club. But it also meant having to endure a horde of questions from her friend, questions she wasn't sure she even had an answer to.

Sawyer's gaze briefly fell to her lips before returning to the road. “You up for role play?

Her inner thighs tingled. “Yes.”

A small smile tugged at his lips. “Good. Logan reserved a fantasy room for us. I'm not up for gentle tonight. Remember to use your safe word if you need it. Otherwise, expect rough and intense.”

The tingles shot from her thighs to her pussy. “More intense than last night?”

“Last night doesn't even come close to what I've got planned for you,” he said darkly.

She shifted in her seat to ease the budding arousal. What could be more intense than fisting?

The ride to Benediction seemed to take hours, even though only thirty minutes ticked by on the car's clock before they pulled up to the gate at the front of the club's driveway. After they identified themselves through an intercom, the gate opened, and they proceeded up to the house, passing the beautiful trees with leaves that were just beginning to change to a seasonal orange and yellow.

Although she'd spent a good deal of her life hanging around millionaires and even billionaires, she'd never become comfortable with blatant displays of wealth. Sure, mansions were nice, but she could never help thinking that if she misplaced her keys, she'd never find them again.

When she'd been with Sawyer, they'd lived in a spacious penthouse condo overlooking Arizona's Camelback Mountain. But according to what Rachel had said, Sawyer now owned mansions in both Las Vegas and Miami. To him, Benediction was probably just another large house. She couldn't imagine why her husband required not one, but two mansions.

The garden outside Benediction bloomed with gold and russet-toned flowers, the tall stems bent in welcome, and although not yet October, large round pumpkins decorated the porch. A valet took their car for them, and for the first time, she entered the mansion not as Danielle's friend and wedding coordinator, but as a guest of the sex club.

Wearing a neon pink latex dress, the petite Gracie tackled Lisa as soon as she walked through the door, throwing her arms around her and squealing at a pitch that couldn't be good for her vocal cords. Then she grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the closed door that led to the club. “We're staging an intervention,” she informed Lisa, not explaining what she meant before tossing a “We'll have her ready in a half hour for you” to Sawyer over her shoulder.

What the hell was her friend up to? She really didn't want to have to answer her friend's questions. “I wish I could, but I need to go to—”

“Sawyer will be getting the fantasy room ready for your scene.” She led Lisa down the hallway, past the library to the kitchen, and up the private stairs that led to the slave trainees' bedrooms. Gracie, although no longer officially Cole's slave, still lived in the mansion. “We've got a half hour with you, and we're going to make every second of it count.”

“We?” she asked as Gracie flung open her door.

“The girls,” Gracie said as if it was obvious.

And maybe it was.

When she went inside, she wasn't at all surprised to find Rachel and Kate sitting on Gracie's bed. She laughed to herself. The only reason Danielle wasn't there was because she was on her honeymoon. Of course, it also wouldn't surprise Lisa if Gracie patched her into the conversation via Skype.

What did surprise her was seeing Rachel and Kate together. “I thought you two didn't come to Benediction on the same nights?”

Since Logan was Kate's business partner, they both agreed it would be uncomfortable to see the other naked, so they'd worked out some schedule to avoid it.

Taking in the bright and colorful room, Lisa noted it definitely screamed “Gracie.” Although she didn't have much furniture—a bed, a dresser, a nightstand, and of course, a vanity—she'd made sure every piece reflected her enthusiasm and lust for life.

Kate tucked a blonde strand of her hair behind her ear. “I made an exception after getting Rachel's phone call.”

Lisa glared at Rachel. “You told them.”

Rachel threw her hands up in front of her. “I only told them you were married to Sawyer. I didn't tell them anything else.”

The relief was momentary. Rachel hadn't disclosed that she'd taken millions of dollars and then left Sawyer without a word. Apparently, she wanted Lisa to do the honors.

Gracie's almond eyes widened in excitement. “What else? There's more? All this time I thought you'd end up as a sexually repressed spinster with eight cats, and it turns out you were married to a gorgeous kinky billionaire.” She covered her heart with her palm. “I think you're my hero.”

“I don't understand. Why didn't you tell us you were married?” Kate asked. Lisa had been prepared for a cross-examination from her attorney friend, but she heard nothing in Kate's voice that suggested she was anything but curious.

She slid her eyes to Rachel, who nodded her encouragement. If she hadn't judged her, maybe the others wouldn't either.

Wringing her hands, she swallowed. “My name isn't Lisa Smith. It's Annaliese Hunt. Before I moved to Michigan, I was a con artist.”

Gracie giggled. “Right. Good one,” she said smiling. When she realized Lisa wasn't lying, the smile slid from her face.

“I married Sawyer to have access to his bank accounts and stole millions from him before running off one day, leaving behind my wedding ring and collar.”

Gracie's gaze fell to Lisa's bare wedding finger before jumping to her collared neck. She placed a hand on her cocked hip. “You lucky bitch. I can't believe we've been friends this long and you didn't tell us you were kinky.”

Lisa shook her head. Gracie never ceased to amaze her. “I just told you I was a thief, and that's what you're fixated on?”

“We've all done things we're not proud of,” Kate said, getting up from the bed and crossing the room. “But you're not a thief now, are you?”

“No, of course not,” she said vehemently. “But I lied to you.”

Kate tilted her head, a little smile playing on her lips. “You didn't lie. You just didn't share the truth. I think all of us have been guilty of that at some point.”

“Not me,” Gracie said. “I can't lie. I've tried. I can keep a secret, but that's not really lying, is it?” Without taking a breath, she continued. “Because I swear, I'd never tell a soul about you being a kinky ex-con-artist.” She made a motion as if she was crossing her heart and then threw her arms around Lisa in a hug, the force of it knocking Lisa backward. “I'll go to the grave with that secret.”