They all agreed.
“I think this needs to be handled quickly. Over the next couple of days. I don’t want to take the chance that we’ve already alerted Green to her whereabouts.”
****
“What’s her name?” Dominic asked as his fist connected with the priest’s jaw. This was the only source left in his quest to find the girl. He would usually beat up a man of the cloth, but his patience was running out. Besides, this priest had pissed him off one too many times.
“I don’t know who you mean,” the priest mumbled. His eyes were swollen shut, blood dripping out of his lips.
“Let me be clear about this. Either you tell me the name of Valerie Walter’s daughter, or I will start killing every woman and child in your neighbourhood.”
Dominic stood back as one of his goons pulled a young woman into the room. She screamed but shut up as they held a knife to her throat.
“Bodies are piling up because of you. I suggest you give me a name.”
There was the battle. Dominic saw it in the man’s face. The biting of the lip as he weighed up his options. Dominic signalled the man to start bleeding the woman. She screamed as the knife pierced her skin.
“Violet Moore. The woman’s name is Violet Moore.”
Chapter Eighteen
After the night at the club, Cadeon withdrew from her. Something happened that night that Violet wasn’t completely clear on. The way he held her down as he f**ked her hard – Cadeon had unleashed some primitive part of himself. One she imagined he kept locked up inside him. There was no more talk of her joining him at the Club Possession. He wouldn’t allow her to join him at work, either. Her time was spent with Anne and exploring the house, including the grounds around the house. Every time she stopped and thought about his wealth her position within his home always made her nervous. Nothing appeared to have changed with him. The nightmares were back in full force, with the death of her mother plaguing her worse than ever before.
Violet dressed in some jeans and a pink shirt walking down to join Cadeon in the kitchen. She stopped at the doorway and admired his body. The power she’d felt from his very strength had her blushing where she stood. Her pu**y melted as heat swamped her. She wanted him where he stood. She wanted him to lift her up and f**k her in the kitchen. To eat her for breakfast.
“You’ve got to tell her, Cadeon. She deserves to know,” Anne said.
“Do you know how disturbing this is for me? You’re my housekeeper, Anne, and you know more about me than I feel comfortable.”
“You love her. That’s all that matters. Do something before you lose her.” Anne turned her back as Cadeon glared at the older woman. Feeling nervous as she knew it was because of her, Violet was tempted to turn and walk away.
“I’ve got you some toast, Violet, if you want to come and sit down,” Anne said as she’d turned around.
“Yes, I’d love some.” She took the seat next to him, highly aware of him seated so close. She wanted to ask him what they were talking about but knew he wouldn’t tell her. Biting her lip, she accepted the coffee and toast. Nibbling and sipping at her food and drink, she ignored the pulse of awareness between them.
They didn’t speak, which was a first for them as they usually had so much to talk about, or at least Cadeon spoke and she listened. The silence felt uncomfortable for her, as if his was holding something back from her was upsetting her.
When it was time for him to work, she went with him to the door. Cadeon turned and kissed her on the head, leaving to get into his usual lift to work. She hated the thought of staying at home while he went out to work. Since she’d left her mother she’d been working to pay her way. Being a kept woman was a hard life to adapt to. He wouldn’t budge on the situation. Cadeon was determined to have her at home. He no longer wanted her working with him or for him. She spent the morning with Anne in the kitchen as she began to teach her new tricks. Baking had become one of her biggest pleasure in life. She loved losing herself in the cooking of some spread or pie. Anne thought she was a natural at it, too. As they were cleaning away their lunch dishes, the doorbell rang.
For most of her life she was use to ignoring the call of the doorbell and continued to work through the sound.
“What are you doing, honey? Go and answer the door.”
“But it’s not my house,” she said as an excuse.
“You’re the lady of the house. Whoever is at the door tell them to wait or send them packing.”
Violet dried her hands on the pair of jeans she’d taken from her home and went to answer the door.
Turning the lock, she opened the door with a smile on her face, which froze into place as she saw who stood on the doorstep.
Olivia, Cadeon’s ex. The woman who’d been begging him to take her back. The whole situation was new to Violet. She stood staring at the other woman.
“Hello, Violet. I thought we should introduce ourselves.” Olivia moved her hand between them.
Violet shook the hand.
“Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
Should she invite the other woman into the home? She’d been with Cadeon first. Surely that meant she had some right to still be allowed to move over the threshold. Violet moved out of the way and let the woman inside. Olivia moved straight to the sitting room as Anne was coming out of the kitchen.
She closed the door and faced Anne.
“Who is it?” she asked.
“Olivia.”
Anne disappeared straight in after the other woman. Closing her eyes to try to calm her rioting nerves she followed in the direction of the other two women.
“You’re not supposed to be here. You know Mr. Ashwood wouldn’t like your meddling.”
“Meddling? Really, Anne. You haven’t changed a bit. I would like some tea, and seeing as how Violet let me in instead of you, it’s her place to get rid of me, not yours.” The change in the other woman shocked Violet.
Anne turned around and stared at her. What was she supposed to do? She fidgeted on the spot as the older woman stared at her. This situation was out of her depth.
“I guess I’ll go and make some tea.”
Violet watched Anne leave before she took a seat opposite the other woman. “Looks like we won’t have much time to chat. Anne will be phoning her lord and master to come home and protect you from me.”
“I doubt it.”
“There is much you don’t know, but I’m going to set that to right now that I’m here.”