Chapter Five
Finn
It’s been three days since I last saw Olivia and I’m starting to get pissed. I’ve texted her several times, and she hasn’t texted me back once. I’m not sure what the hell is going on in her head, but I’m over the damn games. I spent over two million dollars when I bought her the winery, and she was so shocked the other night. Now she’s not even texting me back? It doesn’t make a bit of sense to me. Whatever she’s doing, she needs to stop. We need to get married and soon because the clock is ticking.
What doesn’t help is the fact Ashton’s been causing problems at home. After I dropped Olivia back off at her house, I got a call from Bourn, my right-hand man back in Corpus Christi, telling me Ashton was found snooping around the office going through files.
But that wasn’t all. Bourn told me my brother had blood stains all over his shirt and was muttering incoherently to himself about bitches needing to learn their place. Ashton kept yammering on about how he wasn’t about to have another person try and take his place. He added how he deserves to be the head of the Brisbane family. Because of this, I ended up heading back to Corpus Christi to deal with this instead of going back to my place in Port Sulphur. I’d like to stay close to Olivia right now, but I need to handle the situation with my brother.
Ashton is unstable and is always looking for a way to make my life a living hell. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out he knows about my engagement to Olivia, which is what started this whole mess. The thing is, I know it’s not the fact I’m engaged to Olivia that bothers him. It’s that he views the DeLancys as the enemy. Then again, he’s so deranged he believes all women are the enemy. They only have one use in his twisted mind, to fuck them, and he murders the women he fucks immediately afterward. Hell, they probably don’t even know what’s coming when they meet him.
Over the years, I’ve found countless women’s bodies on the Brisbane’s properties. I’ve seen them cut, charred, burned, and so much more. One thing I always notice is how their throats are cut, and their nipples are missing. Personally, I think it’s his ‘trademark’, so to speak. Much like how serial killers keep necklaces, hair, or underwear of their victims. There’s been a few women’s bodies I found after my brother took their lives after mutilating. The only reason the FBI or police haven’t found him is because I’ve covered his shit up. I shouldn’t and I know better, but he is still my brother, and for some reason, I want to protect him. Our life hasn’t been easy, and I know he’s killing innocent women. I just wish things were different.
I rest my head against the back of my chair at my desk and buzz my receptionist, asking her to cancel any of my meetings for the rest of the day. I shoot a text to Adam and tell him to get the car ready so we can head for the small airport where I keep my helicopter. I’m done waiting for Olivia to make the next move. I’m going back to New Orleans tonight and we’re going to have a little chat. I don’t care if I’m coming across strongly. I don’t care if I’m making her worry, or whatever I’m doing. We have to keep the ball rolling here because we don’t have much of a choice.
Hell, maybe after we chat, I can finagle her into my bed and make her see I can be a very accommodating man. I’m dying to stick my tongue between those precious folds of hers.
I stand from my chair, straighten my suit jacket, and head for the door. I nod to Dallas, my receptionist, and she looks up at me, giving me a seductive smile. She’s one woman I’d never sink my cock into. Not because she’s unattractive, because she’s more than beautiful. I have a code that I will never break. If one of my people or someone I care about shows interest in someone, I won’t pursue them. In this case, it’s Casen, my third in command, who fancies her.
I’ve told Casen to go for it and take what he wants, but unfortunately, he hasn’t done it yet. If he doesn’t do it soon, the man will probably lose his chance with her.
“Have a good weekend,” I mutter and head for the elevator. My company, Brisbane Intellect, is one of the largest software companies in the world, working with the newest computer programs that are coming out. It’s also a cover-up for where the real money comes in from. The guns we run from Ireland and distribute through America.
Getting to the car, I climb into the backseat and wait for Adam to get in the driver’s seat and head for the helicopter. I pull out my cellphone and call Olivia, getting her voicemail. “I’m on my way to New Orleans, and I’ll be at your house in two hours to pick you up. We’re going out for drinks and to talk. It seems we need to talk about some things. Like the fact you aren’t answering my calls.” I disconnect and slide the phone back into my pocket.
I lean my head back against the seat and close my eyes. It’s been a hard three days. Not only because of dealing with my brother, but one of my men reported some troubling news to me. Some of the local riffraff were seen outside one of the establishments I purchased about a month after my father’s funeral. I wanted my own side project besides the business. I opened a casino and a bar here in Corpus Christi that supplied more jobs for the area. The casino just so happens to be where the riffraff were spotted.
Opening my eyes, I glance down at my hand where my knuckles are busted. I flex my fist, not even bothered by the soreness of them.
By the time we get to the small airport, I’m anxious to get in the air and out to New Orleans. I want to lay my eyes on Olivia. Only another hour to go until I’m in my car, and I need to get a plan together on how to approach this.
* * *
Pulling up in front of the DeLancy house, I put my car in park and get out. I don’t bother turning the car off. It’s hot as hell outside and I’m not getting into a hot ass car only to sweat and be much more uncomfortable.
As I approach the front door, I see the bodyguard douchebag, Mason, standing on the porch talking to another of the guards who watch the house. His eyes come to mine when I step onto the porch and narrow my eyes at him.
I open the screen door and knock. Rémy answers the door for me after only a few moments of waiting.
“Hey, Finn, she’s getting ready. She got your voicemail,” he mutters, taking a step back.
Nodding, I step into the cool inside of their house to wait for her. Rémy offers to get me a drink while I wait, but I decline, not wanting to start drinking yet. The two of us start talking about Diamond Dancers and the bar I opened not too long ago. By the time Olivia joins us, we’re both chuckling. My gaze moves to her, and I get a good look at her and something inside me settles.
“Hey,” she murmurs with a small smile.
“Hey, you ready?” I ask. Taking a step in her direction, I offer her my hand. The other night I noticed she’d get tense if I made a move too quickly. I didn’t ask her why, but I’ve heard the rumors about Olivia. Though I’ve never brought them up. I’ll wait for her to tell me if she’s been through what I’ve heard about.
Olivia nods and takes my offered hand.
I tell Rémy I’ll see him later and guide Olivia out to my car.
The two of us stay silent on the short ride over to the French Quarter and I park on the street. I round the car and take her hand as I open the door to help her out. I know it seems outdated, and she’s more than capable of opening her own doors and closing them, but chivalry is not dead in my eyes.
We head into the small, quaint bar I found and once we’re seated, I clear my throat and speak. “I tried texting you several times over the past three days.” I made sure to ask for a private area on the patio, and thankfully the staff obliged.
Olivia sighs but doesn’t meet my gaze. “I know, and it was shitty of me. I get it,” she mutters and bites her lower lip as the waitress comes to get our drink orders.
She brings our order back not even two minutes later and leaves us again. Meanwhile, Olivia and I haven’t exchanged another word since. The second the waitress is out of view, she speaks up.