The freedom of his bike enveloped me, my pelvis tight against his and my arms wrapped around his waist. Nothing else compared to the two of us driving along the roads together with the streetlights illuminating our world.
Xavier and his buddies owned several businesses worldwide, but it came as a huge shock to discover they were the masterminds behind The Midnight Rooms. Their headquarters was far from the watchful eye of Bartholomew Enterprises.
Jordan stood outside, smoking a cigarette with his back against the wall and his foot braced on it. “Sorry, I knew Ash wouldn’t have his phone on.” His dark gaze fell on me. “Are we needing legal advice tonight?”
“Don’t be a dick. Cas, this is Jay, the grumpy one of our group. Jay, this is Cas, and don’t even try to tell me you don’t know we’re involved.”
A feral grin flashed across Jordan’s lips even as he stamped his cigarette out. “I might have noticed you disappearing into her office a few times and coming back out again very relaxed.”
My cheeks flushed at the fact we’d been so obvious. Just a few days ago, Xavier bent me over my desk and the only reason we weren’t discovered was the fact he had his hand over my mouth when I screamed my release.
Xavier slapped him on the back of his head as he prowled past, the fingers of his other hand tightening on mine as Jordan replied with a dark, husky laugh. The pressure kept me grounded beside him, my nerves muted.
The two men tapped in security codes for the building that heralded flashing lights and a small metal shutter to lift and reveal a palm scanner. My eyes widened at the technology for a simple business premises in a safe part of the city.
“We keep a lot of our tech here,” Xavier explained as we walked in.
The main reception area was decorated in pale grey walls with a darker grey accent on the skirting boards. Canvases of the countryside hung on the walls, adding a splash of colour. Three sofas in dark grey sat against the walls, pointing toward a black reception desk.
Jordan headed straight through doors into the rear of the premises.
“Wait here,” Xavier said, leading me to a sofa. “We just need to check that everything is safe, and it was a false alarm.”
Picking up a magazine, I settled myself while the two men went to check for gremlins in their security system. It was only when I’d finished my magazine that my eyes went to the clock on the wall. My brow creased in concern as I lifted another magazine. A noise at the front door caught my attention when I was halfway through flicking without reading the book in my hands.
The handle turned and four men dressed in black walked in. Their gazes moved around the room and landed on me. A trickle of fear rippled down every vertebra of my back.
“Good evening, we’re looking for Xavier Bartholomew.” The man who spoke was about six-foot six with wide shoulders and muscles that were only achieved through some sort of steroid abuse.
“Maybe you should try again when the premises are open?” I gave him my best professional smile and dropped my gaze back to the magazine in the hope of dismissing him. A long time ago, I learnt that if you made yourself blend into the furniture, you made yourself less threatening.
“Who are you here with?” he persisted, his thick legs coming to stop in front of me.
Bringing my gaze up to his, I peered up at him. My stomach cramped in fear at the dark, penetrating stare of the giant in front of me. “The premises are closed,” I said with more confidence than I felt.
I desperately wished that my phone was in my hand instead of my pocket. I didn’t want to make a sudden movement to draw his attention.
His hand clamped on my arm, elucidating a squeak from me. He dragged me to my feet. “Maybe we should bring you with us,” he snarled.
The hairs on the back of my neck rose, even as I tried to pull my arm away. “Get your hand off me.”
His dark laugh made trepidation knot my stomach. He didn’t let me go, instead, he hauled me through the door Xavier and Jordan had disappeared through. We found Xavier standing in front of large screens, a controller in his hand as he scanned through multiple CCTV units.
His eyes moved to us and widened, before falling to the man’s hand on my arm. “Is there any reason you’re manhandling my girlfriend?”
Considering that it was the first time he’d ever put that title on me, there was part of me that wanted to do a happy dance. That was drowned out by the asshole whose grip on me tightened.
“We didn’t know you have a girlfriend, but this makes our mission easier.”
Xavier’s gaze moved to me in silent question. I was terrified but managed to stand with my head high. The bunching of his jaw was the only indication of his emotion.
“I’d advise you to get your hand off her,” he said calmly as he set the controller down and turned fully to face us.
“Our boss has put a high price on your head. He said your dad should have handed over what he was asked for. Now we’ll just take you as collateral until he sees sense.” The strong aroma of garlic from the man beside me was beginning to make me nauseous.
“You obviously don’t know Dad very well.” Xavier propped his hip against the desk and folded his arms. “When he makes a decision, he doesn’t change his mind. I’m really not that important.”
The growl from the man made my knees weak. “You are his only son.”