"Are you nervous?" Damon asked when the car screeched to a stop.
Yes.
"No," I stared out the window.
He definitely didn't inherit Alan's taste. The mansion stood in all its majesty and had me gawking at its magnificence. It was hidden deep in the woods, which made it easy to dispose a body.
A hand closed over mine and I turned to Damon. "One hour and we get the hell out of there, I promise."
I had an hour to plant the bugs.
"Okay."
He ran over to my side, and opened the door. He extended his hand with a smile and I grabbed it slowly. Two huge guards stopped us as they brought out metal detectors.
"Excuse me," one said as he scanned my body.
I dug my heels in the concrete, praying the bugs would stay attached to the sole.
"Your arms."
I raised my arms and slightly touched my hairpin, where a mini camera was hidden.
"Clear," he said and stepped aside.
Damon grabbed my hand as we walked into the house. My jaw dropped when I saw the interior. Heads of various animals were hung on the wall, I could tell Alan liked to hunt--animals and humans alike. The stairs in the middle of the room went on forever. A servant walked towards us.
"I'll take your coats," she said.
I removed it and passed it to her.
"You didn't have to come dressed up," Damon said.
He glanced at my blue and smiled. the short puffy gown barely grazed my ankles, and the coral bead design made it pop even more.
I stared at his outfit. He was sporting a pair of jorts and a stretched-out shirt. He looked like a hobo. It was his way of acting out.
"I wanted to impress him," I said.
I needed secret places to hide weapons.
He scoffed. "He's not worth the trouble."
"You made it," Alan smiled when he saw us.
"Thank you for inviting us, Mr. River," I stared at the stuffed animals.
"I-It's a lovely home," I smiled.
I wanted to stuff his head and brandish it on Wes' grave.
"Table's set. Come," he held out his arms.
We followed him quietly into an adjoined room where a woman and a man sat, looking at us. Damon locked his jaw as soon as he saw them.
"Sit," Alan instructed.
"You didn't mention they'd be here," Damon said through gritted teeth.
"I don't exactly like your presence either," the man said.
Niall King, he was Damon's stepbrother. I remembered his picture from the briefing. He was a short man with brown hair and blue eyes. The woman beside him was Sandra King, his mother who was married to Alan for twenty years.
"Great. We agree on something," Damon said.
"Now boys, we have a guest with us. Behave," Sandra started.
Damon laughed without humor. "You're not my mother."
"You watch your mouth," Niall stood up.
"What are you gonna do about it?" Damon stepped up.
"Ooh, spicy," Tara chimed in.
"Quiet," I whispered. I didn't need her commentary.
Niall smirked. He whispered something in Damon's ear and took a step back. Damon's face flushed with rage, his breathing heavy as he stared at Niall.
"What did you say?" he seethed.
Niall shrugged, a smug expression on his face as he stared at Damon. It happened before I could stop it as Damon lunged at him. They hit the ground, Damon on top of him as he rained blows on his face. I stood still, enjoying the fight. If whatever he said made Damon that pissed, then he deserved it.
"Enough!" Alan sent a dish flying over the wall, smashing it into pieces. A piece of glass tore into my skin, and I winced at the pain.
The room fell silent. Alan stared at them in disapproval while Sandra rushed to Niall. She pushed Damon off him and helped her son up. I touched my face gently and glanced at the blood on my hand. Damon's eyes widened in worry when he saw I was injured and ran to me.
"Are you okay?" Damon peered at the glass.
"I'm fine," I removed the chard of glass gently.
"You fucking dick. Look at what you did," Damon glared at Alan.
"Damon, I'm okay," I touched his arm slightly.
"We are leaving," he said and grabbed my hand.
"No."
Not without planting the bugs.
He paused and stared at me.
I stared at Alan. "It was an accident."
I was trying my best to keep from emptying the entire clip--in the gun hidden in my waist--into his brain. "Besides, I am starving."
Every time I saw him, I kept imagining Wes' face as he drew his last breath. I folded my fists.
"Listen to the girl," Alan said.
I smiled tightly. "I need to use the bathroom."
"Of course," Sandra nodded at one of the servants.
"Follow me."
Renaissance paintings decorated the wall, and I paused at the Monalisa painting, my eyes scanning the hallway. I stared at the CCTV on the wall.
"I see you," Tara said.
"Here it is," the servant pointed to the bathroom.
"Thank you."
I shut the door behind me quickly and touched the clear-film comm behind my ear. "Where's his room?"
"Are you okay?" Tara asked.
"Yes. I don't have much time."
"Take the stairs. Go down the hallway, the fourth room to your right," she instructed.
I opened the door quietly and dashed up the stairs.
"Hold on! Someone's coming down."
I cussed under my breath and ran down the stairs quickly. I hid behind a wall and waited until they came into view.
"You're clear."
I ran up the stairs and dashed down the hallway. There was only so much time I could spend cleaning a cut.
"Staff on your right," Tara yelled. I crouched and made my way down the hallway.
"Oh no, someone's coming up the stairs."
I was trapped.
"Shit."
I glanced at the room opposite me. It was my only escape. I opened the door quickly and closed it behind me. I turned round and gasped in surprise. There were blood stains on the wall, the ground and even the ceiling. In the corner of the room, different weapons were arranged according to their sizes. In the middle of the room stood a surgery bed. I touched it, and smelt the detergent. It was used very recently.
I touched my mic. "You getting this?"
"Loud and clear."
I blinked. The hidden camera in the contact lenses were uncomfortable but a necessary evil.
"They do some sick stuff in this room," she was disgusted.
I glanced around the room looking for the perfect spot to hide a camera.
"It's Alan's torture room."
There. The painting. Alan seemed to be a big fan of those. I drilled a tiny hole in the artwork and placed the camera in it quickly.
"Can you see me?" I waved at the camera.
"Yes."
"Okay," I stepped back.
"Hallway's clear."
I set the painting in its original position and closed the door behind me quietly.
"We don't have much time," Tara urged.
I found Alan's room without any more interruptions and pulled a bug from my shoe. His desks would be a huge tell. The books were a good place to hide a bug.
"Niall's upstairs," Tara said.
My heart thumped faster as I hurriedly planted the bug. I ran out of the room and headed down the corridor quickly.
"What are you doing?" a voice made me pause and I turned slowly.
"I got lost," I said.
Niall paused, watching me closely. I folded my hands to keep it from trembling.
"It is a big house," he said after a pause.
"Yeah," I looked around awkwardly. "We should head back."
"How long have you been screwing my brother?"
His question made my blood run cold. Tara was listening and I didn't want her to have any wrong impressions. I glanced at the CCTV across from us.
"What is he talking about?" she asked.
"Excuse me?" I asked, looking offended.
"Oh, don't play coy. Is it for money?" he walked closer. "Fame? Power?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." I played with my ear and discreetly turned off the mic.
"No judgement," he smiled. "I'm just saying you could have gone for the right brother."
I chuckled. "Why would I go for the fake brother when I could have the real one?"
His smile disappeared quickly as he tightened his jaw. "How dare you? You're just a slut who's after money."
"And you're just a weak man who wouldn't have half of what he had if it wasn't for step daddy's money," I smiled sweetly.
Sandra had Niall from her first marriage and was not Alan's biological son. He raised his hand in anger, but I caught it quickly and pulled his arm behind his back. He squealed in pain. I glanced around to make sure no one was looking.
"Let me go," he said.
"Okay," I said and pushed him down the stairs.
I watched him roll down the flight of stairs with a smile. I heard a satisfying crack when his body met with the wall.
I rushed to him quickly. "Are you okay?"
"You-," he grunted in pain. "You pushed me.
I saw Alan approach us from the corner of my eyes.
"I didn't. You fell."
He saw the smile on my face. "You bitch!"
His raised his fists and I closed my eyes.
"Niall!" Alan yelled.
He froze as he stared at Alan.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Alan asked.
I folded myself as I shook in terror. "He fell down the stairs. I tried to help him but-," my voice shook.
Niall stared at me in complete shock. "She pushed me!"
"You never seize to disappoint me," Alan said.
Niall looked from me to Alan, and looked like he was about to cry. I hid my face and smiled as he walked away.
"Are you okay?" Alan asked.
I nodded and stood up. "I'm fine."
"Let's have dinner."
I stared at the back of Alan's head as we slowly approached the others. It'd be quick, a bullet in the head would end the whole thing. My fingers itched as I got closer to him.
No. A quick death would be mercy. I reach for the knife when he turned abruptly.
"How did you guys meet?" he asked.
"Oh, uh, he hired me to be his bodyguard," I pulled down my dress discreetly.
He raised an eyebrow. "How'd that happen?
"Ivy," Damon called.
Niall avoided my gaze as I sat at the table.
"Are you okay?" Damon peered at the cut.
"Yes."
The staff brought out the food and the sounds of cutleries filled the room.
"Ivy was telling me you hired her to be your bodyguard," Alan broke the silence.
Damon ignored him and kept on eating.
"Yes," I chimed in. "I saved him from an attack the other day, and got the job on the spot."
Alan frowned. "An attack?"
Niall shifted in his seat.
"Yes, someone-," I paused when Damon held my hand.
I glanced at him and he shook his head softly.
He didn't want Alan to know.
"What happened?" Alan asked.
Damon refused to answer.
"Son," he called softly and Damon scoffed.
"Son?" he dropped his fork.
"Yes. You are my son," Alan stared at him.
"Since when?" he tightened his jaw.
"You will not speak to your father that way," Alan said.
"I have no father!" the chair scrapped back as he stood up.
"If you're looking for a son," he paused and pointed at Niall. "There you go."
"You're my blood," Alan pointed out.
Damon banged the table. "A sperm donor. That's all you are and it's all you'll ever be."
The silence in the room was deafening. Damon's chest heaved, his breathing loud as he stared at Alan.
"I want you to come back and take over the West," Alan said.
Niall's eyes widened. "Dad!"
Damon scoffed in disbelief. "What?"
"You need power to protect those you love," Alan glanced at me.
"Alan, don't you think-," Sandra's words died in her throat when Alan glared at her.
"Damon's my blood. I'll give Niall a few properties but he's not my son," he glanced at Damon.
"He is."
"I have no interest in taking over the West," Damon said.
Alan peered at him. "Take some time to think about it."
"I have no time to waste thinking about useless things."
He pointed to Niall. "Give it to him," turned to me and said, "We're leaving."
Without another word, he walked away without so much as a look back. I stood up awkwardly.
"Dinner was great. Thank you," I said and ran after him.
I saw him waiting in the car and sighed.
"Are you okay?" I asked softly.
He touched my hand. "Stay with me."
My heart thumped in my chest.
"Please."
I nodded gently. We didn't say a word throughout the ride home. I knew he wasn't in the mood to talk so I didn't pry.
"We're here," the car halted to a stop, and we got off.
"Tonight was interesting," I smiled.
"Come upstairs for tea," he said.
No.
I couldn't.
"I can't."
"Please, Ivy," his eyes held mine.
Those eyes. They were desperate.
"Only for a cup of tea," I relented.
He locked the door behind him and closed the distance between us. His kiss felt familiar, and I kissed him back.
Stop.
I jumped on him and wrapped my legs around his waist as he carried me to the bedroom.
No.
He lowered me on the bed, his arms above his head as he removed his shirt. I'd imagined his body several times as I masturbated in the bathroom, but it was way better than anything I'd imagined. His body was warm and inviting. He bit my lips, asking for entrance.
I shouldn't.
I opened my mouth, and his tongue danced with mine. My fingers trailed down his broad back, till they reached the hem of his pants. I unbuckled his belt and pulled down the zipper.
I can't betray Tony.
He broke the kiss and heaved loudly, trying to catch his breath. His eyes held mine as he pulled down his pants, along with his briefs, leaving him completely naked. I stared at him. All of him. My core throbbed in anticipation.
He smiled and got on top of me.
"You next," he whispered, sending chills down my body.
The weapons.
"Wait!" I yelled.
I pushed him of me and got off quickly.
"Close your eyes," I said.
He tilted his head and I smiled coyly.
"Come on," I urged.
"Fine," he closed his eyes.
I pulled down my dress quickly, and glanced around the room frantically. Seeing nowhere I could stash a weapon quickly, I flung the gun and the knife under the bed. I removed my bra and underwear and stood in front of him naked.
"Okay, open them."
He stared at me softly, his jaw going slack and I smiled.
He pulled me to the bed and got on top of me. His gaze rested on my boobs and he cupped one in his hand.
"You're so beautiful," his warm breath teased my sensitive nipple and I squirmed.
"Tell me to stop," he said, his breath trembling against my skin. He was giving me a way out.
I should take it.
His forefinger and thumb played with my nipple, and I closed my eyes in pleasure.
Don't stop.
His free hand reached under my dress, and a finger slipped in.
Please. Don't stop.
"Damon," I moaned.
"Tell me to stop," he repeated, sliding another finger in.
I pulled him closer. "Don't stop."
I'd reached the point of no return. I'd crossed a line and there was no going back. But something told me it wasn't the end.
It was only the beginning.