Page 71 of Sinful Addiction

Now, I can sense the irony.

Twenty-Nine

Antonio

Lacey agreed that the only option to keep her safe and to avoid any more worry is to stay with Ava.She hasn’t backed down on her decision to kill Reginald herself, but I’m hoping after spending some time with Ava she might change her mind.

I love Lacey’s drive.I don’t want her to lose that.I also want her to understand she won’t be the same person she is now if she follows through.

It’s easier for us men.We flip a switch to shield ourselves from regret, if there ever could be.We may come across as villains, but are we really?In our eyes we’re eliminating a worser evil.We simply don’t think, we act with purpose.

I already know Lacey won’t be able to do that.She may want to punish him for her pain, but he’s not going to disappear.She still has memories.Thoughts.It’s not the right way to help her heal.I’d much rather she be far, far away when his life ends because what I have in mind for his last breath isn’t natural by any means.

She ran when I showed her a fraction of the monster I can be; this would end us.On the other hand, she’ll never forgive me for taking her choice away if I made him disappear without her knowing.I’m at a loss no matter what.

After I left Lacey at the Lamont mansion, I came straight home to continue my own digging, though I found myself reading over the same articles from the last time I was in my home office.I try and try again to comprehend what Darius told me.Memories from that afternoon reemerge, and I can’t do anything to push them away.They’re as vivid as the day it happened.I want so much to forget, but I know somewhere in them is the key to his admission.

On instinct, I go to the cabinet that holds no answers but will ground me in this instance.I pull out a Ka-Bar and inspect its blade.It’s one of many, but this one in particular is my favorite.I need something to keep me busy and stop me from traveling down a road I don’t want to go down.These help enough to keep my demons pacified; however, I have an inkling nothing will suffice.I can only hope and try.I become lost in the visions, focusing on Darius first.I remember him being angry with me for coming into the room, he kept yelling at me to leave, but I couldn’t move my feet.There was distress in his voice, different to all the other times he laid a finger on me or yelled at me.Those times the harshness was aimed at me, but this particular time it wasn’t.He was frightened.I could see it in his eyes.He was frightened of me.I never gave it a second thought because I was too busy taking in the scene behind him while he continued to scream at me to leave and never come back.

I place this knife down and plan to go through every one from my collection when a knock from the door echoes through to my office.I’m glad for the distraction.I don’t know how much longer I would have stayed passive minded before all the knives found new homes in the walls.

Locking the door behind me, I seek out whoever dares to interrupt me.Of course, it isn’t Knox, as he has his own way of getting in and also would call.This person has somehow gotten past reception and found their way up.

I think for one moment it could be Darius coming to find me, but I’m wrong.

“Jordannah.”I’m surprised.“What do you want?”My surprise turns to irritation.I don’t want her here.

“I came to give you a message,” she says with that fucking flirtatious smile.

I gesture for her to come inside, hoping I’m not about to get myself into more trouble, but I can’t risk anyone seeing her.She flicks her long, brunette ponytail at me as she passes then takes a seat on the sofa, eyeing me as I make a drink and sit opposite her.

“What do you want?”I repeat my question from earlier.

“Darius wants you to meet him at an old warehouse by the port after dark tonight.Mr.Lewis will have two bodyguards with him and his chauffeur at another location.He’s planning on torturing you, like you do your victims.”

“I don’t have victims.I have prey.Recipients of their own wrongdoing.I merely make amends,” I correct her.

“Whatever.Moving forward.He wants you to suffer not only for embarrassing him but taking his property.He wants Darius to be the one who puts a bullet through your skull, you know, as a form of payment for releasing Darius for his wrongful sentence.”She sits back, crosses her ankle over her knee, becoming comfortable.“Darius is under strict instructions to bring you in alone.Don’t bring your beefy friends, and especially don’t bring Alexander.If Mr.Lewis sniffs out a rat, he’ll end both of you then come for your little girlfriend.”She smirks.“Your job is to play along.Let him get a punch or two in.Let him tie you to a chair.Whatever.We’ll make sure nothing more happens to you.By the time Mr.Lewis knows he’s being double crossed, he’ll be the one begging for mercy.”

I don’t believe this bitch.“What’s the catch?”

“No catch.Just don’t fuck this up,” she states.

“And why not use an arsenal at my command to ensure my safety?I can have men who are trained for this blend into the surroundings.Why would I trust you and go in blind?”I bite out.I’m not a fool.She’s up to something.

“You don’t have to trust me.Bring someone, see what happens, but don’t blame me when it goes horribly wrong,” she chastises.“All will be resolved soon enough, Tony.The least you can do is trust your brother to make things right.”

I don’t need to hear any more.I stand and walk her to the door.I wish I had another option but for this to work, and be convincing, no one can find out.It’s a risk I have to take.

Jordannah stops in the door arch and passes me a piece of paper over her shoulder.“Memorize the location, then burn it.”

I stare at the address for as long as it takes Jordannah to disappear into the elevator.Once I have the location stored, I do as she says and burn the note paper.

I return to my office, though now I’m preparing for a new scenario.I lose track of time as I prepare for my next move.

Knox brings me out of my trance sometime late evening as I finish putting my collection away; all bar one.I have a special gift for Lacey, one I think she’ll appreciate and hopefully be the diversion I need.

“Have you managed to find anything on Darius and who he’s associated with?”I ask, ignoring his glower.