Текст книги "Harrow Duet"

Автор книги: Scarlett Finn

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Текущая страница: 2 (всего у книги 38 страниц)

Chapter Two

At the Stark mansion, where Trystan lived with his father and brother, there were plenty of trusted staff to run around after the youngest Stark boy, who had never quite managed to grow up. Dax had never intended to find himself in the unofficial role of Trystan’s minder, but he had. While he succeeded in delegating the babysitting duties from time to time, he still had to do it far more than he would ever choose to.

For most of the night he’d been in Trystan’s suite of rooms in the Stark mansion listening to him go on about how much of a bust Vegas was.

‘You’re letting it get to you,’ Dax said, glancing toward the window in Trystan’s private drawing room. ‘It’s been a week, forget about it.’

‘No,’ Trystan said, filling his Scotch tumbler again. ‘That’s what she wants. It snowballs, you know that. My father always taught us—‘

‘Disrespect is the greatest enemy,’ Dax muttered.

Over the years he’d spent cleaning up Trystan’s messes he’d gotten used to how the brat could become fixated, especially when it came to getting his own way. But Dax owed the Stark’s a lot, he wasn’t blood, yet Maurice Stark treated him as kin. Making sure that Trystan didn’t get himself into too much trouble, obvious trouble at least, had become second nature to him, because the kid couldn’t keep his nose clean. He didn’t realise that all the attention he brought on the family affected the family business negatively. The last thing they needed was anyone in law enforcement looking too closely into how the family made their money.

‘Women don’t say no to me, do you know how long it’s been since one turned me down?’

Dax didn’t want to be the one to point out that most of the women in Trystan’s life either wanted to use him for his family connections, or were paid to enjoy Trystan’s company, so of course they weren’t going to say no to him.

‘You should think about settling down,’ Dax said, though it was the furthest thing from his own mind and he was a year older than Trystan.

Trystan snorted, and collapsed into the wingback chair opposite Dax’s. ‘You sound like Mauri, he was saying the same thing to me last night.’

‘It’s not a bad plan,’ Dax said. ‘You get yourself hitched then you’ve got a woman who’ll never say no to you, or disrespect you.’

‘Yeah right, a wife would probably be worse!’

‘Not if you get the right one,’ Dax said, allowing a smile to twist one corner of his lips. ‘And train her right.’

Trystan swirled the liquid then took a long gulp. ‘The only woman I’ll marry is one who’ll let me keep partying.’

‘Who will let you screw around and sample the Stark family product? I’m sure there are plenty of women out there who would put up with that to get a taste of the high life that you can offer.’

‘I don’t want a cheap whore,’ Trystan objected. ‘She’d have to be faithful and obedient. I don’t want some whiny bitch who is on me all the time. She would have to keep her mouth shut while I treat her like shit, but serve me and put out when I’m on a come down.’

He wasn’t asking too much, Dax tried not to shake his head or roll his eyes. ‘Your father would be able to hook you up.’

‘An arranged marriage? I don’t think so,’ Trystan said. ‘But it would get the old man off my back for a while if I knocked up some girl and left her at home to bring up the kids. Dad thinks that kids will straighten me out.’

It was difficult to imagine Trystan with children; he didn’t have much wise, worldly wisdom to pass on. ‘Maybe it will, Maurice has a way of knowing how to solve a problem.’

‘Think I’m a problem?’ Trystan asked, Dax recognised the teasing and when Trystan gazed out of the window, Dax could tell that he was cooking up a scheme.

‘What are you planning?’

‘Maybe I can kill two birds with one stone,’ Trystan said, knocking back the rest of the liquor and standing up. ‘Wait here, I’m going to talk to Mauri, then we’re going to hit the clubs.’

Great. Trystan left the room and Dax closed his eyes. He couldn’t actually be bothered with nightclubs tonight. He’d hoped to have a night to himself so he could pursue his own interests, but Trystan had a way of sensing when Dax was getting fed up with him, and that was usually when he pushed to have Dax spend more time in his company. The guy just couldn’t take the hint, and to say he held a grudge was a massive understatement. Making others unhappy for his own benefit was Trystan’s greatest pleasure and achievement.

Ivy had done the rounds in the town and she got the usual offer of jobs, which was in the strip joints. This was a town that attracted young, beautiful women as though this was the place all of them belonged. The airport and bus station spawned new hopefuls every day. In this world famous city there was no shortage of spritely females in need of money, and that meant there weren’t always enough to go around.

Strip joints could offer her good money, but she hadn’t worked in one for years, because there was no chance of progression. Being there was as good as admitting that you were only as good as the breasts on your body and she didn’t want to simply be employed because god had graced her with a generous pair.

Trudi was harping on about rent because Ivy had used the last of her savings to cover the money that was due now. If she didn’t find some form of employment this week then she would never be able to cover bills next week.

Poring over the newspaper, which was laid out on the coffee table, she circled possibilities and would trek to the payphone on the corner when it was time to begin phoning. Those that she could visit on foot she would, the last thing she was afraid of was a bit of exercise.

Trudi burst into the apartment waving a flyer, which she threw at Ivy, sending it fluttering onto the newspaper she’d been reading. ‘What’s this?’ Ivy asked, picking up the piece of yellow paper and reading an advert for a swingers club. ‘Uh, there’s no way—‘

‘Not that, on the back,’ Trudi said, sitting on the couch at Ivy’s back to tug off her boots. On the back of the flyer was an address, phone number, and another number beneath it.

‘What is this?’

‘I had a client last night and—‘

‘I’m not interested in hooking, Trud—‘

‘I know,’ Trudi tutted. ‘But his boss is looking for a live-in housekeeper, it’s the real deal. I mean I could never put up with that kind of crap, the “yes, sir, no, sir,” stuff. But you could and look at the starting salary!’

‘I don’t know,’ Ivy said, reading the number at the bottom, the salary was attractive. ‘What kind of place is it? Maybe they’ll expect extras, you know? If his employees use your services…’

‘Please,’ Trudi scoffed. ‘Have you ever met a guy in Vegas who doesn’t use sex services? I don’t think so. This is just perfect for you and I would think you should be more grateful that I thought of you.’

Ivy knew that she and Trudi hadn’t seen eye-to-eye much, especially recently, but she didn’t think the woman was so eager to have her out. ‘I guess I could call and see what it’s about. The address isn’t too far so I’d still be in Vegas.’

‘Right,’ Trudi said, standing to begin shedding her clothes as she headed for the bathroom. ‘And Carlos says I could start seeing clients here at home and that would help with the rent. I mean there’s only one bedroom, so it would be cool to live alone, right?’

Trudi didn’t wait for an answer, she went into the bathroom and the shower came on in the next minute. Reading the newspaper adverts again and then the back of the flyer Trudi had brought in, she considered both. Deciding that there was no harm in calling and finding out what was expected of her in the housekeeping role, she gathered up everything she would need and headed out to use the payphone.

Getting a job and more importantly, getting paid, was the only priority right now. The truth was that unless it was linked to something sinister she’d happily take a job where she got paid and got somewhere to live into the bargain. But if it was as good a deal as Trudi thought then there would be several applicants. Hopefully Trudi had given Ivy a bit of an inside edge on the others, she had a personal connection, and got this tip before others knew the job was available.

In the blazing heat, she picked up her pace down the sidewalk determining that the housekeeper call would be the first one she made. She’d have a conversation and do everything that she could to prove she was a hard worker then if all parties were happy she’d get to work. Feeling more optimistic, Ivy felt like she’d caught a bit of a break for the first time in a long time.

Not long after his conversation with Mauri, Trystan had announced that he was taking an extended vacation to Europe. For around two months he would be off this continent, and on hearing the news Dax had sighed in relief. Trystan didn’t pack his own suitcases, there was no need for him to because there was plenty of staff for that, just like there was plenty of money for him to spend as much time overseas as he wanted.

Vegas hadn’t provided Trystan the rest and recuperation he felt that he deserved. Trystan valued his vacation time, so he wouldn’t have it snatched from him because of an altercation with ungrateful Vegas hotel staff. So two weeks after Vegas, a week after their conversation in Trystan’s room, the playboy was on a plane over the Atlantic on his way to party his way across another land mass.

Dax wasn’t going to Europe, work still needed to be done here. So at the moment, he was seated in Maurice Stark’s office in the mansion with others in the Stark’s squad, awaiting instructions. Maurice was Trystan’s father. He had two living sons, Trystan and Brad. Brad, the eldest, followed in daddy’s footsteps and was a chip off the old block when it came to the family business. All Trystan wanted to do was spend the money his father and brother made, he was spoiled, but they seemed ok with that – as long as he stayed out of trouble and didn’t draw attention to them.

Dax had been raised in the Stark family since he was thirteen years old when he had been caught stealing from the old man. He’d been forgiven the slight on the proviso that Dax started working for the Stark’s. Twenty years later and he was still part of Mauri’s crew.

As was usual at the start of the month he and the other dozen privileged guys were seated around in Maurice’s office waiting for updates and instructions. Bruno was Maurice’s right hand man, he was in his late fifties and had worked with Maurice since his grandfather ran the operation. He dispensed with half a dozen of the guys and then Brad came in to update everyone on the next shipment and handed out assignments until Dax was the only one left with Bruno and Brad.

‘What’s going on?’ Dax asked, remaining seated in the high back chair near the double doors of Maurice’s office.

‘We’ve got a special assignment for you, Dax,’ Bruno said, finishing up something at the desk.

Being the unofficial third son, Dax had done everything the old man had ever asked of him and knew more family secrets than Trystan did. So whatever was about to be asked of him, he had no doubts that he would go along with it

‘What is it?’

‘We’re going away together,’ Bruno said. ‘Alone.’

He never worked alone with Bruno, this had to be big. ‘Keep going,’ Dax said.

‘It’s Tryst,’ Brad said, coming over and pulling up a chair opposite him. ‘Dad wants him married and straightened out, he’s getting himself into too many scrapes.’

‘I know that, Trystan told me but do you think there’s a woman alive who can do that? Or that would put up with him? I heard his demands.’

‘We came to a compromise,’ Brad said. ‘He’ll get married if we make sure his pick won’t give him an earache.’

‘He wants to party, sleep around, and carry on as usual,’ Dax said, recalling what had been said in his suite.

‘My father thinks that having kids will show him responsibility,’ Brad said, his tone conveying that he wasn’t as convinced.

‘Where will you find a woman to do that? Put up with a cheater who’ll abuse her? Have his kids and toe the family line by not complaining? You’ll have to pay her a lot.’

‘Not pay, train,’ Bruno said, leaving the desk. He came over and rested a hand on the back of Brad’s chair. ‘Trystan said that you put the idea into his head. He talked to Mauri about it, he’ll get married like Mauri wants him to, if the wife will do what she’s told and when.’

‘If Mauri can’t promise that the girl will do that then Trystan gets out of the marriage?’

‘It’s win-win for Trystan,’ Brad said. ‘I guarantee that’s what my brother is thinking. He thinks that dad will never be able to pull it off.’

‘He wants to humiliate Mauri?’ Dax asked, Mauri didn’t take being made a fool of lightly so Trystan would be on shaky ground if he set the old man up.

‘No,’ Brad said. ‘He just doesn’t want to settle down. If the girl does what she’s told then he gets to order her around and give her grief. If she doesn’t, then he doesn’t have to marry her.’

‘Win-win,’ Dax muttered. ‘So if Trystan is so sure he won’t have to change his ways, why is Mauri pushing for it?’

‘Dad is sure that having kids will change Trystan’s outlook.’

‘So each is sure of their own position,’ Dax said, both father and son were as arrogant as each other.

‘Trystan’s been pissed off for a couple of weeks, you know why,’ Bruno said.

‘Because Vegas didn’t end how he wanted it to,’ Dax said.

‘My father once again had to make calls to our associates in the area to pull Trystan out of a sticky situation. If that girl had gone to the cops—‘

‘I spoke to her,’ Dax said. ‘She wasn’t going to the cops.’

‘Maybe not. But dad likes the reputation he has at GoldSpring and he likes the treatment we get there, it’s why he insists on all of us using the place whenever we’re in Vegas.’

That and Mauri had done some business with the owner in years gone by. ‘It’s a decent place.’

‘Yeah, but Tryst once again drew attention to the family and dad is sick of it.’

‘He told Trystan if it happens again then he’s out, that Mauri will cut him off,’ Bruno said. Mauri was renowned for never making hollow threats and it was one of the first things that Dax had been taught by the old man. Never bluff in life. If you’re playing a hand then you’re either in or out. He would never say anything he didn’t mean.

‘Trystan wouldn’t go quietly,’ Dax said.

‘Dad obviously doesn’t want to do that, which is why they came to the agreement. Trystan will get married.’

‘It was that or start to work for a living, and we knew he would never do that,’ Bruno said, he was privy to all of the family’s comings and goings. There wasn’t a person alive that Mauri trusted, or valued, more than Bruno.

‘The world can see him as something other than the shallow playboy, and maybe we can go a day without having to divert cops or pay off witnesses.’

More often than not it was the other way around, Dax was used to scaring his share of witnesses into amnesia where Trystan was concerned.

‘So he gets married, makes a good show, and the world thinks he’s a decent guy… who doesn’t need to do a hard day’s graft—‘

‘Because he’s so busy providing the family with heirs.’

So not only was he expected to marry, but he was expected to reproduce. ‘And you think you can find a woman to train into putting up with Trystan?’ Dax asked, wanting to end the statement with the phrase, “good luck with that.”

‘We’ve already found her. Trystan picked her out himself, it was another of his terms,’ Bruno said, going to a side door to open it and haul out a blindfolded, gagged, and bound woman. ‘Meet the newest member of the Stark family.’

The dirty, shaking woman wasn’t a stranger to him, and now that he was faced with her he wasn’t wholly surprised. This must have been the scenario that Trystan had cooked up when they were seated in his drawing room, which meant that this was partially his idea. Typical that Trystan should make his demands and then fuck off to another country to have fun while everyone else did the hard work. If he and Bruno were going away, then this woman had to be coming with them, because someone had to make sure she was taught how to stay in line.

He’d recognised her as soon as she was brought out. Trystan had been told to pick a woman and he’d picked her. Dax should have considered this as an option, because Trystan hated to be disrespected more than anything. By refusing Trystan and causing him embarrassment she’d disrespected him in the worst way. Their altercation left him having to make excuses to his father, thus causing him more embarrassment. Now this woman would pay by dedicating the rest of her life to Trystan willingly.

Dax drove the car and Bruno rode in the passenger seat. Their packed bags were in the back of the car because the female was in the trunk. She’d been silent for most of the journey but when she started kicking and moaning Bruno turned up the music on the radio.

Conversation hadn’t been flowing but Bruno was happy to talk to himself, he didn’t really care what Dax said in return, so he didn’t say much. Being away might be good for him, but Dax wasn’t used to doing nothing and he didn’t know how he would enjoy spending his days at the beach house with no possible end in sight. His days were usually filled with checking up on operations and following up leads that Mauri pointed him to about those who needed some extra special persuasion. On his rare night off he did what he enjoyed most. Though his favourite hobby was something that few people understood, it made perfect sense to him.

At least this job gave him the chance to get closer to Bruno. They’d done jobs together before, but Dax had never warmed to the guy. Bruno was too hasty for him, Dax preferred a more patient approach. But there was a chance that this time together would teach him more about Bruno and give them the chance to see things from each other’s perspective.

Bruno had advised Mauri against trusting Dax, and he knew that, though he wasn’t supposed to. So there had always been a quiet, unspoken animosity between the two of them. In recent years Bruno seemed to have lightened up, but was prone to bouts of rage. Dax would keep an eye on that, but wasn’t worried in any way. If he had to defend himself against the guy then he had no concerns that he wouldn’t be able to. The only worry was how he would explain the mess to Mauri if it came to that.

They didn’t journey far because the Stark California beach house was perfect for their requirements. Set on a clifftop with the sea on three sides, the land boundary was walled off, gated, covered by cameras and half a mile from the house meaning they were far from visible from the road.

Dax parked and set to work taking the bags from the backseat while Bruno dealt with the difficult cargo. Bruno was a man to be feared, stories of his escapades were legendary and he made no secret of the lives he’d taken.

Any woman who Bruno was romantically associated with was eventually beaten and as such he’d never been married because the women never stuck around for very long. There were stories of illegitimate children knocking around in various corners of the world, but Dax had never met any of them. Those notorious days of Bruno’s legend were gone. Years of drug and alcohol abuse had left Bruno impotent and slow. Not that anyone brought up those afflictions with the gangster directly; not unless they had a death wish.

Noise of scuffling and muffled screams came from downstairs and Bruno’s rumbling deep voice accompanied it. Dax went into his own ensuite shower room and stripped his clothes off to step under the cool spray. He’d wash off the day then go for a swim in the pool and maybe barbeque afterwards. Bruno loved the grill and Maurice had his crew stock the house before they arrived, so he knew they’d be living in luxury for a while.

Trystan’s European excursion would last sixty days and Dax would be under Bruno’s purview until then while they whipped this woman into shape. Having never done anything specifically like this before Dax would have to follow Bruno’s lead, but he was confident because Bruno had experience in everything.

They did grill steaks in the end, and they drank Scotch while smoking cigars as the sun went down. Sometimes Dax was still surprised that this kid who grew up on the streets, fighting other street kids in a ring for money, had access to such opulence, but he knew he’d earned it.

After the sun had sunk they went to bed. Neither of them had much inclination to spend time making small talk and so the next day was spent by them pursuing their own endeavours until they eventually came together on the couch to watch television.

Twenty-four hours after arriving at the beach house Bruno turned off the TV and sat up. ‘Ok, let’s get started.’

‘What’s the play?’ Dax asked.

‘You just watch and learn, son,’ Bruno said and slapped his knee then headed to the basement door.

The three bedroom property had a basement gym, which Dax always used while he was here. This morning he’d gone down and seen that one corner was walled off with drywall, so he’d figured that this was where their captive was being held. But he hadn’t been interested enough to check it out.

He stayed put, letting Bruno retrieve the woman Dax just listened as they ascended the basement stairs. A gasping scream was obscured by the gag that was still in place over the woman’s mouth when Bruno dragged her into the living room. Her hands were bound and a blindfold obscured her view. The female had her hands secured together at her back, they must have been tied tight because her voluptuous breasts were thrust forward. He could examine her figure as much as he liked, she would never know that he had because a blindfold concealed her view of everything.

She wore torn skinny jeans and a now grey tank top which must have at one time been white. Now it was smeared with black grease, muck, and blood, just like her arms, chest, and face. Blood dried on her hairline, neck and around her nostrils, but the injuries were superficial, just cuts and bruises, she’d taken a beating somewhere but nothing which would cause serious or permanent damage.

Bruno propelled her onto the rug in front of the TV and went around behind her. Dax noticed the chipped red nail polish on the toenails of her bare feet and the tattoo on her foot above her arch.

‘I’m going to take this off and give you some answers, ok?’ Bruno said into her ear and she nodded, huffing out sharp breaths through her nose, which was her only available airway. ‘Keep quiet or it goes back on.’

He took off the blindfold, bindings, and the gag, then came around to sit on the couch. Dax remained static in the corner of the couch, one ankle propped up on his knee and his arms spread along the back and arm.

‘Where am I?’ she croaked, blinking into the bright sun shining through from the floor to ceiling windows behind them.

‘Here’s what’s going on,’ Bruno said, the epitome of cool. ‘All you have to do is what you’re told. Don’t ask questions, just follow our orders and you’ll be treated well, very well.’

The corner of one eye was blackened, both were blood shot, and make-up was smeared under her eyes down her cheeks, but she took the time to examine them both, then fixed on him.

‘I know you,’ she exhaled. ‘You’re the Vegas guy… you were with that pervert.’

‘He is Dax Harrow,’ Bruno said, glancing back. ‘He is your new owner.’

This surprised him as much as it did her, but Dax kept his practiced eyes narrowed, assessing her with apathy as though he did this all the time.

‘My… my—‘

‘Your owner dictates your actions, he tells you what to do and where to go. He makes all of the decisions about your life.’

‘Are you sick?’ she asked, in a surprisingly strong voice. ‘Is this a sick joke? Why would I ever—?’

‘Because if you don’t, you’ll spend more time in our basement. We have all the time in the world and we’ll keep on going with this until we get bored, and you don’t want that to happen. So you choose, do what you’re told and have the good life, or don’t and we’ll leave you down there to die, because you will eventually. So, to see how good you are at this, let’s start with something simple, would you like a drink of water?’

‘Yes,’ she whispered and Dax sensed what it cost her.

‘Sit on the floor,’ Bruno said, and she lowered herself down. When she was there, Bruno took a bottle of mineral water from the cooler next to the couch, pulled off the cap, and handed it to her. She gulped it down. ‘Sip.’

Dax didn’t know how long she’d spent at the Stark mansion in LA, but if she’d been deprived of food and water for a few days her stomach would be weak.

‘Why are you doing this?’ she asked, and looked straight at him. ‘Is this to win favour with your buddy? Where is he? Is he here?’

‘No, he’s not,’ Dax said. ‘But I did warn you that you would be sorry.’

‘He got this in his teeth?’

‘Yes, he did,’ Dax said.

‘He’s crazy. I didn’t go to the cops. I kept my head down and let it go… not that he deserved to get away with what he did to me.’

‘Are you sorry, little girl?’ Dax asked.

‘You’re perverted friend needs help. This isn’t going to solve anything. I’ll press charges, I’ll—‘

‘You don’t need to speak unless you’re spoken to,’ Bruno said.

She began to drink and when she got halfway down the bottle, Bruno took it back and capped it again. ‘See how well that worked? I told you to sit, you complied, and you got a reward.’ Her frown formed slowly. ‘Do you want to eat?’

‘Yes,’ she said in a reflex.

‘Good,’ Bruno said, Dax heard his smile. ‘You’re good at this, what a good girl you are. Take off your shirt.’

‘What?’ she faltered.

‘Just take it off and we’ll feed you.’

‘No, I won’t do that,’ she said. Clambering back to her feet, she stumbled back and caught the entertainment centre to balance herself.

‘One more chance,’ Bruno said. ‘Take it off and we’ll forget all this insubordination.’

‘Go to hell!’

‘Your choice, Bruno said, grabbing hold of her he pulled her back to the hall with the basement door.

The screams lowered in volume as they descended the stairs. Dax reached for the remote and turned on the TV again.