His Word...Discovery ~ Book One in the Trusted Saga ~ (excerpt)

Title : His Word...Discovery

Book One in the Trusted Saga

Release Date : Available now (buy link under "Books" heading)

EXCERPT ...

When I came back through the door of Suzie’s, my mouth opened, ready to fire out questions. The place had been cleared out, and it was just the two of us. Suze was waiting for me with two drinks on the table, neat. It was probably bourbon, which was her usual drink of choice. She obviously had something of importance to tell me, but before I could utter one single word, she held her finger up, and warned me.

“You better have thought of a nicer way to ask, or don’t even open your mouth!” She was still pissed.

“I apologize, Suze. I shouldn’t have spoken to you in that manner. I’m sorry. Kiara had become a sloppy annoyance, and I took it out on you. Forgive me?”

I held my tumbler up, waiting for her to clink, and forgive. She left me hanging, enough to worry me, before she eventually clanked the rim of her glass against it, and took a sip.

“You’re forgiven. But that forgiveness doesn’t mean you don’t still have to ask me nicely!”

I nodded. She was right.

“Would you be so kind as to put me out of my misery, and let me know what happened in that bathroom? Kiara had drunk so much, she was almost useless.”

Suzie took pity on me. Almost.

“Have you even stopped to think that she drank so much so as to mask her nervousness at being out to dinner with you? Not everyone sees you as I do.”

“It was just dinner, for God’s sake!”

“It was dinner with a gorgeous multi-millionaire, who she’s got the hots for.”

She let that one sink in, while she took another drink.

“Okay. I admit it. I took advantage of her knowing she obviously took an interest in me. Are you going to leave me in suspense all night?”

“You better think carefully how you’re going to handle this situation, Levi,” Suzie said gravely. “After knowing what I know, I don’t think it’s wise to use her to gain information about her friend.”

“Are we going to get passed the cryptic stage any time soon?” I couldn’t help the impatience from creeping into my voice.

“Settle down, Gorgeous. I’ll tell you what I know. But you have to promise to tread carefully. I think that little secretary will cause problems for you, and this one you’re interested in.”

“You got some crystal ball you’re consulting without telling me?” I snapped. “Come on, Darling, get to it!”

“Don’t be snippy. I know women. In case it’s escaped your attention, I’m one of them! Women can be very vengeful, Levi.”

“I’ve dealt with my fair share of vengeance.” I’d managed to stay unscathed thus far. It was also the way I intended it to remain. “Suze, come on…you’re killing me here.”

“You’re being very impolite not drinking the beverage I poured for you.”

I picked up the tumbler, and drained it down my throat, before I placed the empty glass on the table. It burned all the way down, until it settled in my stomach, creating a warm glow.

“Please, Suze.” I wasn’t passed begging.

She smiled.

“Seeing as you’ve asked me so nicely---that little Kiara...” I almost laughed out loud at that one. Suzie was five foot nothing, whereas Kiara had to be at least six foot tall. “…has got the hots for you, something bad. To the point that she’s extremely jealous of the attention you’ve been paying her friend at your new club.”

I wanted to strangle her when she paused, and leisurely picked up her tumbler to take another drink. If she didn’t get to the information soon, I thought I would! Instead, I remained silent, and waited.

“They’ve been friends, or more aptly acquaintances, for about four and a half years,” she commented.

“Acquaintances?”

“That’s what I’d call it. She doesn’t appear to be very close to this Angelica, or Samantha, or whatever her name is, so yes, I’d call it an acquaintance. Anyway, apparently, sometime around four years ago, she had a hand in helping this Angelica change her identity to Samantha---I think she said her name was Williams before---but I’m not one hundred per cent sure on that name. She was slurring quite a bit as she was rambling in the bathroom.”

Angelica Williams. Not Samantha Barnes. My stomach knotted.

“Did she happen to inform you why Angelica wanted her identity changed?”

Suzie was not normally hesitant, but she was now. And that made me nervous.

“Angelica had apparently been beaten so badly, it took her months to heal from the incident.”

The rising fury inside me, almost engulfed me.

“Where’s the bottle?”

She pointed to the bar, and I stalked over to retrieve it, before I poured myself a glass. Suzie waited for me to place the glass back on the table, before she continued.

“She changed it so the guy who beat her would have a hell of a lot of trouble tracking her down. The girl became a sort of recluse for quite a while. She’s only been venturing out in the last twelve months, or so. Oh, and another little bit of info for you, she rarely drinks alcohol. Kiara mentioned that when Angelica used to drink with this guy, he sometimes drugged her. I couldn’t quite make sense out of some of the things she was saying. She mentioned needles. You don’t think this girl is a recovering drug addict, or anything, do you? I’d stay far away if that’s what she is.”

Angelica? Was she a recovering drug addict? That wasn’t what my intuition was telling me. There was more to her story. I was sure of it.

“Is there anything you haven’t told me?” I was trying to fit all of these new pieces of information about my mystery girl together in my head.

“Just that this guy who beat her? He’s wealthy.” Tension began to gather in my gut. “Oh, and she kind of likes things sort of different in the bedroom department.”

I felt like I’d been punched in the stomach.

“Different?”

“Yeah, like different than the things you’re into.”

An uneasy feeling settled deep in my guts.

“I won’t go into details,” Suzie said archly as she drained her glass. “I’m sure you understand what I mean.”

“No, woman, I don’t. Why don’t you get on with it?”

“She liked it rough. Really rough. And with lots of partners. Supposedly, it got out of hand, and she wanted to change her identity to get a fresh start. And to get away from her---er---benefactor.”

“Do you have his name?” I asked tightly.

Suzie shook her head.

“That was about the only thing she didn’t tell me. She rambled on about him being known, and that he’s wealthy---loaded, from the way she was talking.”

I thought hard about who I knew amongst Sydney’s elite who could possibly be into such vicious behavior, but no one came to mind. Maybe Angelica had not only changed her name, but her place of residence, as well. Was she from Perth perhaps? Now that I knew her real name, I would set Simon on the trail immediately.

My blood began to simmer. Four years ago Angelica would have only been seventeen, eighteen at the most. She was practically a child. At that age, she could hardly have been a willing participant in that kind of depravity. Where had her parents been? Who was supposed to have been protecting her?

I felt an unexpected sense of tenderness for the girl my aloof, unapproachable siren must have been once upon a time, and my hand clenched around the tumbler in my hand. Now I understood the fear I saw in her eyes.

“Hey now, don’t take it out on my glass! Who is it that you look like you want to kill right now?” Suzie’s voice snapped my attention back.

“I’d like to kill the bastard who took advantage of an innocent girl,” I snarled.

On the one hand, I wanted to kill the son of a bitch. On the other hand, I could think of a more than adequate punishment. Prison might be the better option. I would have to find some way to convince Angelica that I will stand behind her every step of the way, but first I will have to tell her I knew who she was, and how I found out her situation in the first place. Fuck! This was a tricky one.

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