No Turning Back Part 20

"I'm Omen," he said. "And you are?"

I decided to try and disguise my voice as much as possible so when I replied, I poured on the southern accent, trying to make it more Designing Women than The Beverly Hillbillies. "They call me Lorelei."

"Ah," he mused, his eyes raking me up and down, "the fatal mermaid siren, luring unwary sailors to their deaths with her irresistible song. It seems fitting.

"Are you here with someone?" he asked, taking a sip of his own drink as he glanced around the room.

I shook my head. "No, but I'm looking for someone." I decided to chance it. Finding Enigma was going to be a needle in a haystack. Maybe if I just asked, someone could point him out.

"Who is that, Lorelei?" he humored me, his eyes dropping to my lips when I nervously wet them.

"Enigma." Kade's eyes narrowed slightly and he didn't answer. I felt myself break out into a cold sweat under his scrutiny. Finally, he moved so he stood beside me.

"Look over there," he said in my ear. "He's standing in the corner by the fireplace, watching you." I looked where he said and felt my blood run cold. Even from a distance, I recognized the frame. Wide shoulders, blond hair, and even the way he stood were all too familiar to me.

It was Blane. My hand started to shake and I hurriedly put down my champagne gla.s.s before I spilled it everywhere. My mind reeled. It couldn't be. Gracie had to have been wrong. I turned and ducked into the nearest path away from him, relieved to see that Kade did not follow.

I walked quickly, my head down, as I tried to regain control of my emotions and think logically about what I'd learned. Both Kade and Blane were here which only emphasized my suspicions that the firm and Blane were in league with the Santini brothers. I sincerely doubted they were here to pick up escorts, though I was at a loss as to what the election fraud software had to do with prost.i.tutes. Gracie had said the man who had been seeing Sheila was code named Enigma, which according to Kade, was Blane.

I wasn't looking where I was going and was brought up short when I collided headlong into someone. Jerking my head up in alarm, I would have stumbled had he not grabbed my upper arms, steadying me. I closed my eyes in relief when I saw it was the man who had called himself Mercury.

"There you are, Lorelei," he said. "I was afraid you'd gotten lost on your way back to me."

And just like that, I realized why he seemed so familiar. It was James, of all people. "I...I'm sorry," I stammered, trying to conceal my surprise. "I got a bit turned around."

"Let's find somewhere private where we can...talk," he said with satisfaction in his voice. I gulped and plastered a smile on my face. I didn't see how I could refuse without making a scene. He didn't seem to know who I was and I couldn't believe I hadn't recognized him earlier. Though, to be fair, it's not like I'd been expecting to actually know anyone here tonight besides Gracie.

He led me through the maze of trees until we came to an empty private alcove. A wide loveseat and a table with a few candles scattered on it occupied the s.p.a.ce. Uneasily, I sat on the couch while he sat close beside me. I decided talking would be better than anything else he might have in mind.

"So how long have you been coming here?" I asked, my voice too breathless for my liking and I tried to steady my nerves.

"A while," he said vaguely, sliding his arm over my shoulders and resuming touching my bare arm.

"Do you see a lot of different women?"

"Not usually," he answered. "I like to find one I really like and stick with her." He pressed his lips to my shoulder and I clenched my fists. I focused on a silver candlestick on the coffee table in front of me, its candle having burned low and the flame flickered out as I watched.

"Maybe I should go," I said, trying to squirm away from him but his arm tightened around me.

"No, don't go," he insisted, mistaking my reluctance. "I'm not with anyone now. The last woman I paid for is no longer with us. I'm looking for someone new. I would be quite, quite content with you." His fingers bit into my shoulder as his mouth moved to my neck. I was so intent on trying to push him away that it took a moment to realize what he had said. When I did, I went utterly still in shock.

"No longer with us?" I repeated dumbly.

"Mmm," he murmured against my skin. "It seems her boyfriend didn't like her...occupation. Jealousy is a powerful emotion, Lorelei."

I didn't know what this meant, but I knew he was talking about Sheila. How Blane fit into this, if they both had been paying for her services, I didn't know yet. But I did know I had to find out more. I slid my hands inside his tuxedo jacket to touch his chest, pretending to be as wrapped up in the moment as he was. James' lips moved to mine. I evaded him so they ended on my cheek.

"What happened to her?" I asked. But before he could answer, we were interrupted.

"Mercury."

I jerked back in surprise. Blane stood in the alcove with us. My heart stuttered, then started to pound.

"Mercury," Blane repeated, and James reluctantly lifted his head from my neck.

"What do you want?" he said snidely. "Can't you see I'm busy?" He made to pull me close and kiss me again, but I quickly turned my head away, pus.h.i.+ng against him. I heard a snarl of anger and then Mercury was lifted bodily from me.

"Patron wants to speak with you," Blane growled at him, giving him a shove out of the alcove. James' eyes shot daggers at him but he left. Then Blane turned to me and I inwardly quaked at the look in his eyes, while trying not to admire how amazing he looked in his tuxedo. The coat was cut perfectly, emphasizing his broad shoulders, and the black mask only served to enhance the green of his eyes and the strong curve of his jaw.

"Lorelei, I believe?" he asked cordially, his tone belying the anger in his eyes, and I nodded. A spark of hope ignited inside me that he didn't recognize me.

"I was told you were looking for me," he said, moving to take Mercury's spot beside me on the couch, his arm draping behind me. The loveseat suddenly felt much smaller than when its previous occupant had been there.

I adopted my accent again when speaking, hurriedly trying to think up an excuse for why I'd been looking for him. "Yes, I was. I was told you might be looking for someone with whom you could spend some...quality...time." I didn't know how well I was pulling off the femme fatale thing, but I was giving it the best I had.

"Are you offering?" he said, his eyes sliding to my mouth and further down to where the curves of my b.r.e.a.s.t.s were revealed by the cut of my dress.

"Perhaps," I said ambiguously, smiling as flirtatiously as I could manage.

"I can be quite demanding," he cautioned, and my breath caught and held as he lowered his head. "And I don't share." This last was a low growl before his lips met mine. My arms lifted to curve around his neck as I buried my fingers in his thick blond hair. His tongue touched my lips and I willingly opened my mouth, sighing with pleasure as he deepened the kiss.

I couldn't think of anything but Blane as he kissed me, his arms wrapping around my waist. His mouth trailed kisses down my neck, and unlike with Mercury, this time I burned. Blane's tongue dipped into my cleavage and I gasped, wanting more. I felt him tug the bodice of my dress down, my b.r.e.a.s.t.s spilling over the top. He groaned and tugged one nipple into his mouth, palming my other breast. I bit my lip to keep from making any noise.

The heat between us grew in intensity as Blane's mouth and tongue traced my skin. His hand drifted under my skirt and between my thighs. I whimpered when I felt his hand slip under my panties and his fingers part my folds to slide inside me. His slick fingers stroked the tight bundle of nerves that set my veins on fire and I parted my legs wider, wanting to feel him inside me.

"G.o.d, Kat, what you do to me," he murmured in a pained voice as his lips reclaimed mine. My eyes flew open. He knew who I was. I tore my mouth from his, struggling against him as his weight pressed me into the couch.

"Let me go, Blane," I hissed, pus.h.i.+ng ineffectually at his shoulders.

"Did you think I wouldn't know it was you?" he whispered in my ear, ignoring my struggles. His hand stroked me again, his fingers leisurely moving in and out of me, and I dug my fingernails into his shoulders. My traitorous body responded to him as more wetness pooled between my legs and my hips lifted to meet his fingers.

"Did you think I wouldn't recognize this body?" he continued, his words slithering inside my ear. "The way your skin tastes, the softness of you against my fingers, the sounds you make when I touch you?"

Bending his head again to my b.r.e.a.s.t.s, he took me in his mouth, his teeth gently tugging on my nipple. Against my will, I gasped again and I felt his mouth curve in a smile. His hand moved fast and sure inside me, stroking me knowingly. I was rapidly losing any will to get away and it made me want to cry in frustration. I couldn't let him do this, not after he'd lied to me, betrayed me and used me.

My arm reached out blindly and my hand fell on the candlestick I'd observed earlier. With a quick motion, and trying not to think too much about what I was about to do, I grabbed it and hit it against the back of Blane's head. He immediately went limp on top of me.

He was heavy and it took some squirming and pus.h.i.+ng before I was able to get out from under him. I hurriedly readjusted my dress and combed my fingers through my hair. Blane still wasn't moving and a niggle of worry made me lean over and press my fingers to the pulse in his neck. Its beat was strong under my fingers and I released a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Grabbing my purse, I knew I had to get out of there. Now.

Chapter Twelve.

I wondered where Gracie was and if I could find her so we could leave. Or, at least, so I could leave.

I made my way as quickly as possible to the two doors through which I'd entered, slipping out in relief when I found them. The two sentries were still there and neither spoke to me. It was eerie and I s.h.i.+vered.

I walked down the hall, turned a corner and stopped abruptly when I saw James standing mere feet away.

"There you are," he said with a smile, walking toward me. "I was just coming back to find you. Let's get to know each other better, shall we?"

He took hold of my elbow, guiding me toward a door. I resisted, trying to pull myself loose.

"Let me go, James," I demanded, then cursed my own stupidity.

He froze. "You know me?" he asked.

I kept my mouth firmly shut this time.

He abruptly pulled me inside a nearby room, closing the door behind us. It was some kind of den or library. A large mahogany desk sat in one corner and an entire wall was covered in shelves filled with books. A curved window ranging from the ceiling to the floor looked out onto the darkened grounds.

James gave me a shove and I stumbled forward, quickly turning so my back wouldn't be toward him. I was wary now, realizing that I was in the presence of the man who had most likely killed Sheila. I recalled how James' moods changed so rapidly, charming and gentle one moment, furiously angry the next, and it struck me how apt his 'Mercury' moniker was.

I knew Blane hadn't done it, no matter what Gracie had said. I may not trust him but I knew he wouldn't have committed the horrendous act I saw that night.

Leisurely taking off his mask, James moved towards me and the smile he wore made a chill run down my spine. As he moved into the light, I was taken aback to see the mask had been hiding a black eye, and with a jolt, I remembered Blane's raw knuckles.

"I think you have some explaining to do," he said quietly.

I shook my head, backing away from him. "I don't know what you're talking about." I was proud that my voice didn't shake. My eyes darted around the room frantically for anything I could use as a weapon.

James stalked me, his eyes taking on that unhinged look that was terrifying. I tried to look for a way past him to escape out the door, but there wasn't a path beyond his reach. I decided to try my luck anyway. Grabbing a stack of books from the shelf, I threw them at him his head and darted past to the door.

I heard him curse and the door was inches away when his hand grabbed hold of my hair. I was brought up short and yelped in pain. He dragged me backward toward him and I was helpless to do anything about it. He ripped the mask off my face and paused before a short, humorless laugh issued from him.

"Kathleen. I must say, you've surprised me. I didn't know this was your sort of thing." Releasing my hair, he turned me to face him, his hands closing with brutal force on my upper arms.

"Why are you here?" he demanded. I raised my face to his and felt anger building inside me. I was tired of being pushed around by James and if he was going to kill me, and I was pretty sure that was on the agenda, then he was going to tell me the truth first.

"I'm here because I wanted to know who killed my friend, Sheila," I said through gritted teeth. "Why did you do it, James?" I asked. "What did she ever do to you that she deserved to be killed like that?"

Whatever he thought I was going to say, that obviously wasn't it. "What are you talking about?" he said, his face creasing in confusion. "Sheila's dead?" His hands loosened slightly on my arms. "They told me that her boyfriend made her quit."

"She was murdered," I said accusingly. I wasn't sure if I believed that this was new information to him. It was too convenient.

"And you think I did it?" he said angrily. "What kind of screwed up f.u.c.k do you think I am, Kathleen?" He shook me roughly.

"The kind of screwed up f.u.c.k who gave me a black eye," I shot back, refusing to be cowed. He abruptly released me as if he'd been burned, stepping away from me slightly.

"I didn't mean to do that," he said roughly. "I was...upset."

"What else do you do when you're upset?" I persisted, pressing my advantage. "Do you slit someone's throat, James? Because that's how I found Sheila."

"I didn't kill her!" he insisted angrily, shoving his fingers through his hair. "I'm running for office, Kathleen. Why would I screw that up by killing someone?"

"I would think that might be exactly why you'd kill her," I replied. James was suddenly in my face again as he grabbed my arms and I winced in pain.

"You can't think that," he said urgently, shaking me again. "You're going to ruin everything. You have to believe me!"

"You're hurting me," I managed to say, trying to pull away from him.

"What's going on here?" We both turned and I sagged in relief to see someone else had entered the room. Another man, mask still intact, stood in the open doorway. James immediately removed his hands from my arms.

"Dad," he said, "it's nothing. Kathleen and I were just having a disagreement." As if I couldn't get any more shocks tonight, I watched as William Gage, Sr., calmly shut the door and walked forward, removing his mask as he did so.

"Good evening, Kathleen," he said cordially.

I nervously acknowledged his greeting with a nod, not knowing what else to do in a strange situation that was becoming even stranger. I wondered, a little hysterically, if the entire firm was here.

"What kind of disagreement?" he asked, turning toward James who was obviously still rattled. He paced the floor, repeatedly pus.h.i.+ng his hand through his hair.

"She thinks I killed Sheila!" he burst out, pointing an accusing finger at me. I didn't say anything.

"Sheila who?" Mr. Gage asked, unperturbed.

"That wh.o.r.e I was with a few weeks ago," James clarified, and before I could think better of it, I'd stridden forward and slapped him.

"Don't call her that," I spat at him. "She was a good friend and just trying to make it the best she could. She didn't deserve to die like she did." James grabbed my arm again, fury in his eyes, and I flinched, expecting a blow. But his father brought him up short.

"James," he said, steel in his voice. "Release her." I waited. After a moment, James reluctantly let me go. I breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly stepping beyond his reach.

"Kathleen," Mr. Gage said politely, "of course James didn't kill that woman. He may be a bully but he's certainly not a murderer."

"Then who did?" I asked him, still not wanting to let go of my suspicions. Mr. Gage smiled and I felt a chill go through me.

"She was collateral damage, my dear. A warning, if you will." My jaw dropped and I stumbled backward, away from him. James appeared to share my shock as he looked at his father in horror.

"What?" I stammered. "A warning for what? But why? I don't understand." I couldn't believe the nice gentleman I'd known and respected as the head of the firm could be behind something so heinous. Mark's suspicion that Sheila had been killed because of him echoed in my ears.

"There are lots of things you don't understand, Kathleen," he said condescendingly. "My son is in a very unique position. About to be elected as District Attorney, as I'm sure you've heard. Sheila's death was necessary to help keep...certain people...in line. People who would try to thwart those plans."

"You killed Sheila and framed Mark," I accused, furious. Mark had been right after all. Sheila's murder had been a message to him. "And then when he didn't do what you wanted, you had him killed, too."

"Of course not," Mr. Gage replied, "Mark committed suicide. The police were quite sure about that."

I swallowed heavily, my mouth suddenly dry. Whereas James was scary because of his lack of control, his father was terrifying because he was so controlled. He told me all this as if he were talking about the weather, the only emotion in his voice was when he allowed his feelings for James to show. And I'd seen enough movies to know what happens when the killer finally confesses. I wasn't going to be allowed to leave the room alive.

"Jimmy!" Mr. Gage called, and the door behind him opened. I sucked in a breath when I saw Jimmy Quicksilver standing there.

"Yes, sir?" he said, taking in the scene in the room with a quick cold glance.

"Jimmy, this lovely lady has been too inquisitive for her own good. Would you be so kind as to...a.s.sist...her from the premises?" Jimmy's eyes flicked to mine and my palms started to sweat.