Chapter 12 - Fates, Fins, and Fangs

THE ELEVATOR RIDE SEEMED to take forever, since apparently White lived on the top floor of the massive skyscraper-like tower section of the casino. I rocked on the balls of my feet and tried not to fidget or ask about the weather. Black saved me from my own urge to make awkward small talk. His smooth voice was like we were just enjoying a sunny afternoon at the park, rather than riding a metal box to the lair of a potential mob boss. "How is school going, Miss Troya? You don't have much longer until you get your degree, if I recall correctly?"

I know he was going for something neutral and relaxing. But it had the opposite effect. My shoulders tensed and I dropped back down onto my heels. "It was going fine. Until the nutjob showed up at the hospital today. I may have...gotten myself failed out of the program." I shrugged.

He turned to me, his perfect face creasing in concern. "What do you mean?"

I shrugged. "I might have overreacted to the crazy guy with the envelope."

The elevator stopped and the doors slid open almost soundlessly, revealing a hallway with parquet flooring and a thick, plush red rug. I stepped out and looked around. Maybe it wasn't the Twilight zone. Maybe it was Wonderland. I didn't remember doing drugs today.

Black brushed by me and indicated that I should follow him down the hall to a set of heavy, hand-carved wooden doors. The antique decor was surprising, in a sleek, modern building like this. Black knocked softly on one of the doors, then pulled them open, revealing what must be an office, complete with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that were stuffed full of meticulously organized books. An oversized fireplace and plush couch took up one side of the room. The other side was taken up by a massive mahogany desk and a fancy bar. The desk overlooked the town, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows that took up one wall.

I probably would have gaped at it all a little longer, but my attention went immediately to the man who stood by the fireplace, watching me with eyes so dark they almost seemed black. He was tall and broad shouldered, with a sort of superman figure—broad at the shoulders and lats, tapering to a narrow waist and long legs—that looked amazing in the tailored charcoal suit he wore. I had a hard time looking him in the eyes, for some reason. I always had, the few times he'd spoken to me in passing when he was visiting Gesa.

Squaring my shoulders, I made myself meet those black eyes, trying not to get distracted by the square jaw and high cheekbones. He was stunningly handsome, and he exuded power in a way that just screamed BDSM. But he also scared the living fuck out of me for real. It was all very confusing.

"Good evening, Miss Vindler," he said in a deep, smoky voice. "I understand you have something for me?"

I nodded and Black stepped forward, handing over the envelope. "She was given this at the hospital. I sensed—" he glanced at me briefly, then back to his employer. "I thought it best if I carried it, just in case it contained something...unpleasant."

White's expression didn't change, there was no squint of the eyes or twitch of the lips to betray anything. But somehow, I knew he was angry. "Thank you, Orion. I appreciate your caution." He took the envelope and paced to his desk, waving a hand behind him, toward the couch. "Please make yourself at home, Miss Vindler." His voice seemed to catch on the words, and I wondered just how badly he wanted me out of his hair. Obviously, he wouldn't say it though. He was probably used to dealing with rival businessmen and who knew what other political bullshit. He could fake politeness for one shabby-looking nursing student.

I saved him the trouble of forced politeness. For some reason, his polite treatment was making me want to slap that calm expression right off his stupid face. I crossed my arms and tried to control the sudden, irrational anger. "Actually," I said, as he picked up a shiny, wood-handled letter opener from his desk. "It's been a long day and I know you're super busy and important and all. I just wanted to make sure that got to you. I'm just gonna go home and...."

Black eyes regarded me with a weird expression. I couldn't say what it was. Anger? Curiosity? Confusion? Hurt?

"I understand this is not where you wish to be at present," he said in slow, measured tones. "However, I would ask you to please bear with my company for a little longer. I need to understand what this is all about," he waved the envelope, "and make sure you aren't in any danger."

I glanced between him and his secretary, who was quietly standing by the bar with his gloved hands folded in front of him, looking more like a servant. "Danger? Why would I be in danger?"

White clenched his jaw, and a muscle began to twitch in his cheek. Now that was definitely anger. I'd pissed him off, somehow. Not that I gave a flying fuck. I just wanted to go home, eat a tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream, and go to bed.

Orion moved, drawing my attention to him as White turned away to open the envelope, slicing through the paper with the letter opener more forcefully than necessary. I tensed, but didn't look over my shoulder. No matter how loudly my brain was trying to remind me that letter opener could stab a bitch.

"Would you like a drink, Miss Troya?" Orion said, gesturing at the bar. "Or something to eat?"

I edged closer to the couch. I had been on my feet all day. Finally giving in to the urging of my aching feet, I sank down onto the velvety softness. "Uh. I have to drive home. So, maybe some water?"

He smiled softly and bent to reveal a mini fridge that was cleverly hidden in the bottom of the bar. He paced over to me and handed me a chilled bottle of water. "Please, be at ease." His gloved fingers slid over mine briefly and I shuddered. Then I sank back against the couch cushions, and smothered a yawn, suddenly feeling sleepy as all the tension flowed out of my body.

The letter opener hit the desk and bounced off, when White flung it with a growl. He ran his hands through his thick black hair and turned to glare at me, the light from the fire glinting off them and making them look almost...red. "Tell me how you got this letter," he demanded, prowling over to stand in front of me.

Orion softly stepped closer, his expression full of silent inquiry. White waved the letter at him, but didn't hand it over. "You were right. It was set to trigger when I touched it. But don't worry, I've nullified it." His scowl deepened. "My old...friend apparently knows we are in Ontonagon, and has decided to make life...difficult for us."

Orion's one visible blue eye narrowed, and I was surprised the soft, pretty guy could look so feral. "He may try all he likes. It will be nothing to us."

White raised an eyebrow and pointedly directed his dark gaze toward me. The calm sensation that had washed over me moments before was dwindling. "What's going on?" I asked, my voice wanting to catch in my throat.

When neither of them answered, just shared a weird look, I sat forward, gripping my water bottle against the urge to throw it. "If you've gotten me caught up in something shady, White, I swear—"

He looked down his aquiline nose at me. "Derek."

I blinked up at him, completely sidetracked. "What?"

"Call me Derek, please. When you spit out my last name in that nasty tone, you sound just like your little blond friend. It grates on the nerves."

I raised my eyebrows at him. The fucking nerve. "My little blond friend could kick your ass in a heartbeat," I reminded him. Gesa was bodybuilder, strongman, superwoman levels of strong. He was just a pretty walking suit.

He snorted, looking unamused. "That is irrelevant. Tell me how you came to have this letter," he ordered, waving the crumpled piece of paper.

I stood, and since he was looming over me, the move forced him a step back. I was average height for a woman, maybe even on the tall side. But I still had to look up at him. And it pissed me off. I fisted my hands on my hips. "Do you always order everyone around like they're your flunkies?"

I darted a glance at Orion, hoping he knew I didn't mean to insult him. The secretary had his head bowed again, but this time I swore I saw his lips twitch with a suppressed smile.

White narrowed his eyes at me, refusing to step back any further, which meant I was right up in his space. He smelled like something I was sure I'd never smelled before, but was somehow vaguely familiar—like some weird mixture of woodsmoke and that scent in the air when it snows....

"I apologize if my presence and my manner offend you so much, Miss Vindler," he said softly, his voice dropping to new lows that made the base of my spine tingle. "I am simply concerned for your welfare."

I snorted. "Right. Like you give a crap about some chick you hardly know."

But, I got the impression I wasn't going to be allowed to leave until I told him about the stupid run-in with the crazy guy, so I pushed past him and went to pace by the fireplace. The heat felt so good I almost wanted to curl up on the rug and forget the whole weird day.

I described my encounter with the guy from crazy town, avoiding the part where I hallucinated that he was a weird zombie demon thing. When I finished, I looked over to find White nearly vibrating with rage. "He put his hands on you?" This time, his voice was a flat-out growl.

I crossed my arms over my chest and glared back at him. "Are you deaf? He grabbed my arm. Shook me a little. I'm a big girl, I'll live. Somehow." I rolled my eyes.

He looked away from my gaze, that muscle in his jaw twitching again. Then he seemed to shake off his rage, that calm businessman mask falling back into place. He nodded his head toward me in an almost-bow. "I'm afraid I must attend to an urgent matter." He spun on his heel and strode toward the door, his dark, smoky voice drifting back to us. "Orion, please see that Miss Vindler gets home safely."

I watched the door close behind him, then shook my head. "What an absolute asshole," I muttered.

Orion's gloved fingers hesitantly touched my elbow, barely a brush of contact, but enough to make me all quivery. Apollo's fiery asshole, what was wrong with me lately?

"Please forgive him," the beautiful man said softly, his voice barely more than a whisper. "He is upset that you were endangered. He just....has a difficult time with emotions."

I stared at him. "This has been the weirdest day of my life, hands-down. And now you're telling me that asshole has emotions? That's just one step too far in this fucked up fantasy land."

His expression turned sad, and his stunningly bright blue eye gazed intently at my face, as if searching for something. "Are you certain there wasn't anything else you wanted to share about your encounter tonight?" he asked gently. "Anything at all?"

I shook my head, sudden panic gripping my chest. Did he know I was crazy? "Nope. Nothing."

He let out a soft sigh and pressed his perfect lips together for a moment. "And, after talking with my employer...with Derek...do you feel any...different?"

I blinked at him in confusion. Just what was he asking me? "Um. I feel tired and ready for this damned day to be over."

And I kind of still wanted to equal parts climb the scary mob boss or stab him in his tiny black heart. But neither urge made much sense, so I kept my thoughts to myself.

Orion stepped back, but he still watched me, as if waiting for something. "Things are not always what they seem, Miss Troya. Sometimes our minds play tricks on us, and we only let ourselves see what we want to see. Things may at times seem...strange to you. But please remember, Mr. White will do anything in his power to protect you. No matter the cost to himself."

I opened my mouth to demand to know what the hell that meant. But my stupid brain chose just that minute to start in with the hallucinations again. I blinked rapidly, trying to dispel the weird, ghost-like impression of bat wings that emerged from Orion's back. I shook my head more forcefully, and the vision disappeared.

Orion gazed back at me, his expression filled with that haunting sadness I sensed from him sometimes. "You're right," he said softly. "You've had a long day. I apologize for any inconvenience we've caused you. Let me show you out."

I followed him to the elevator, then through the lobby, surprised when the pretty secretary followed me right through the parking garage and to my car. He held my door open for me, then bent slightly to meet my gaze as I slid into the driver's seat. "I will send you a text with contact information for myself and Mr. White. Please let one of us know the moment anything strange happens, and we'll do whatever it is we can to help." I nodded, even though I had no intention of ever calling them to rescue me, no matter what weird situation I found myself in.

"Oh," he added, "And Miss Troya? Please stay close to your lovers and keep them informed of your whereabouts when you're not at home with them. It's safer that way."

I gaped at him as he straightened and gently closed the car door. Then the pretty lunatic made his way back inside the casino.

How the hell did he know I was sleeping with both of my roommates?