The Billionaire's Secret: Billionaire Obsession (Tycoon Billionaires Book 5) (11 page)

Jake strolled out to the front of the hotel, glowing inside. It was cold out here, but his body was still warm from the sex – and his heart was full of affection for Astrid. He shook away his sentimental thoughts – he didn’t know what kind of spell she’d put on him, but he was finding it hard to get her out of his head. She was beginning to possess his soul…

He delved in his pocket for his cigarettes, but he paused for a moment and inhaled the fresh air, filling his lungs with the musky aroma that floated around him. It was gloriously dark here – much darker than NYC, and quieter too. Jake stood silently for a moment and enjoyed being enveloped in velvety night.

He sparked up a cigarette, vowing to only smoke half so he could get back to Astrid quickly. His body relaxed as he blew out the smoke, and his mind ran over their pleasant conversation outside the house earlier. He’d never told anyone about the death of his childhood friend before, and he felt lighter for sharing it. Astrid was a kind person, and a good listener.

But, of course, what he’d told her wasn’t really the dark secret that had been holding him back all this time – causing him to isolate his heart; making him feel as if he didn’t deserve love.
That
one was shameful – something he needed to keep a lid on and never reveal it to anyone who cared about him. It was a surefire way to make them leave him forever.

He realized it was like being an onion with ever-decreasing layers of crap that Astrid – or anyone he cared about – would need to fight through. Was he really prepared to put such a sweet woman through all that? And what would she discover once she unraveled him completely? That ‘pure’ version of himself that they’d talked about earlier? Jake was doubtful whether he still existed.

He wondered how she’d react if she discovered his awful secret… He tried to imagine how he could ever even
vocalize
it to her…

‘Astrid, there’s something I need to tell you. You’re not going to like it, but I think it’s stopping me from…’

A noise ahead of him made him look up.

“Hello, Jake.”

It was Emma. She was still wearing her tight-fitting dress, but she’d draped a thick scarf over her shoulders against the chill. The expression on her face suggested she thought she was the epitome of sexual allure. But all Jake could see was a sad young woman who was desperate for attention. He had no plans to give it to her.

“Goodnight, Emma,” he said. He took a drag on his cigarette and threw it on the leaf-strewn ground, then he stepped on it and turned toward the hotel.

She halted behind him and spoke with a mocking tone. “Scared you off, did I?”

He knew he should ignore her. There was a beautiful woman waiting for him in his bed. But this was the equivalent of calling him a coward and his ego wouldn’t let it go…

He turned back. “You don’t scare me. What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you. When we were dancing, I sensed there was an attraction between us. Want to take it further?”

She walked forward and draped her arms around his shoulders. He grasped her wrists and eased her away. “That attraction was in
your
head, Emma.”

Her face flashed with rejected annoyance. “What do you see in Astrid? Everyone knows I’m the more beautiful sister.”

Jake snorted. “Did an enchanted mirror tell you that?”

“Oh… you’re a comedian as well as a hunk.”

She wrapped her arms around him again, managing to curl her fingers across his back like a squid’s tentacles.

He peeled her away. “Looking for somewhere to stick a knife?”

“Just trying to be friendly.”

“Well, I said no.”

She smirked knowingly. “Hmm, maybe
this
will change your mind. I overheard you talking to my sister about how you’re Joseph Quinlan’s brother. I also heard you confess your shameful secret. You killed your friend – what a terrible thing to do.”

Jake suppressed his guilt. “What do you want?”

“I want a night of passion with Joseph. If you can arrange that, I won’t tell anyone your secret.”

Jake burst into laughter. “A night of passion with Joseph? Who the hell do you think you are?”

She tossed back her head and chuckled sinisterly. “I just know what I want.”

Emma stepped forward and pressed herself against him, but Jake decided he’d had enough of this now. He pushed her away forcefully enough to get her off of him. She yelped in pain – as if he’d hit her – which he most definitely hadn’t. She looked up and he saw her eyes welling with tears…
shit
. He definitely hadn’t pushed her that hard… why was she putting this on?

Jake heard a voice from the other side of the street. Morag – the local busybody – was walking past, returning from the dance. “Are you okay, Emma? I saw that. Did he hurt you?”

Emma upped the little girl act. “He hit me, Morag. You saw what happened, right? I think he should leave town. Don’t you?”

Morag nodded curtly. “Yes I do.”

Jake turned away, refusing to be drawn into this bullshit. “Don’t worry; I’m leaving first thing.”

He marched back into the hotel, vowing to make love to Astrid once more, then head back for the anonymity of the city as soon as he could.

Astrid awoke the next morning and stretched snoozily, snuggly nestled in Jake’s arms. She opened her eyes and saw the autumn sunshine streaming in through the gap in the drapes... It was going to be a good day.

She eased her warm body out of his embrace and gazed at him. He looked so peaceful, sleeping. She knew he had issues that he needed to work through, and she had no idea where this was going – possibly nowhere – but right now she liked him, and he liked her.

She smiled as she concocted a plan to wake him up with some coffee – and then perhaps some loving. She wrapped herself up in his discarded shirt, then padded over to open the drapes and let in some light.

Surprise pinned her to the carpet, as her sleepy gaze fell on a group of journalists milling around outside. She quickly shut the drapes and tried to calm her thrashing heart. Who the hell were the press here for? Surely not Jake? His brother was the sought-after famous one, not
this
Quinlan.

She pried open a small gap in the drapes and peeked out. The journalists had seen her, and they were trailing into the hotel – presumably on their way up here.

She glanced at Jake. He was now awake and grinning. “Hey, beautiful.”

Astrid winced. “Er… We’ve got a problem…”

Jake’s expression surged to concern. “What’s wrong?”

“The press are outside. What have you been up to? Something else you haven’t told me?”

He sat up. “No, course not.”

There was a knock at the door. “Mr. Quinlan, news has just broken about your reunion with your brothers. How did you find them again? Is it true you were adopted?”

“Oh fucking great,” Jake said.

Astrid frowned. “How did they find out about that?”

“Your sister threatened to tell them if I didn’t fix her up with Joseph.”

Reality warped around Astrid. “What!”

“Yeah. She was there when I went out for a smoke. I was gonna tell you, but I got a bit distracted.”

Astrid’s body flushed with lust as she remembered all the amazing things they’d done together last night – and all the gorgeous orgasms he’d given her.

She shook herself out of it. “My sister invited the press here?”

“She’s got an evil streak… Not that it was some huge secret that me and Joe are related, but I guess the media love a bit of gossip.”

Astrid opened her mouth to ask if he had a plan, but the journalists knocked again. “If you’d just like to answer a few questions, Mr. Quinlan?”

Jake threw back the covers, pulled on his pants, and ripped open the door. Astrid loitered behind him, confident that he’d send them packing.

“No, I would not like to answer any goddamnn questions. Whatever Emma told you, she had no right to.”

Astrid could see the journalists craning to look inside. The one who was doing all the talking was a balding man in a nylon suit. He spoke with a nasally voice. “And that’s the other thing,” the journalist said. “About Emma. She’s gone missing, and the woman across the road says you were the last person to speak to her. And apparently you were rough with her. The police have been called.” He stuck a microphone in Jake’s face. “Do you have any comments?”

Astrid’s mind churned with worry – had he just said
Emma
had gone missing? But there was no time to think about that right now, because Jake grabbed the journalist by the shirt, making him drop his mic. “Yeah, I do just have one comment,” Jake growled. “Get out of my fucking face, and leave me alone.”

He slammed the door and turned to face Astrid.

“Well handled,” she said.

He smirked sheepishly. “Thanks.”

Panic crept through her body. “Did he say my sister’s gone missing?”

“Yeah. And apparently
I’m
being accused of having something to do with it. I guess we’d better get dressed and find out what’s going on.”

He stepped over and kissed her, cupping her chin and warming her soul. Just for a split-second all was perfect in the universe. But life was happening out there, and they needed to face it. She pulled away. “Yeah, come on, let’s face the music.”

They both dressed quickly, and Astrid felt embarrassed as they squeezed past the gathered journalists who pelted her with questions about what she’d been doing with Jake last night.

“What the hell do you think?” she hissed. “Playing dominoes? Now what’s this about my sister?”

“Don’t speak to them, Astrid,” Jake said, guiding her by the elbow toward the exit. They strode out of the hotel and into the street, where a small crowd of nosy townsfolk had gathered.

Astrid saw her parents talking to the local sheriff – Daniel Kent – probably telling him to go find their daughter without resorting to his usual corruption. Daniel Kent wasn’t an unattractive man, but his unpleasant personality tended to make you quickly forget his good looks. He was wiry but strong, with cropped hair and broad facial features. Astrid rarely saw him smile. He wasn’t someone who she’d expect ever to burst into laughter. His sheriff’s uniform was neatly ironed to the point of looking severe – just like him.

Ever since he’d moved here last year, he’d been trying to get Astrid away from Simon. Not in any magnanimous way – more like two wounded animals fighting over a scrap of meat. She didn’t trust him, and – apparently – neither did Jake.

“That’s your local sheriff?”

“Yeah, why?”

“He’s a total scumbag.”

“Oh, you’ve met him then?”

“I sure have. We grew up in the same town – went to the same school. Then we ended up working together in the NYPD until I got kicked out. I hadn’t realized he’d left too.”

“So you’re old friends?”

He smiled sinisterly. “Not exactly.”

“Then what?”

“Daniel’s the older brother of my childhood friend.”

“What? The one who drowned?”

“Yeah. He’s always blamed me. His nasty comments at the time probably didn’t help to ease my conscience. He’s two years older than me, and he was seventeen when his brother died. He made it clear around school he thought I should’ve been arrested for what happened.”

She placed her hand on his arm. “But you didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I think he was jealous of my friendship with his brother. But anyway, that’s all in past. Let’s see what he’s saying about your sister.”

As they approached, Daniel glanced up from his conversation with Astrid’s parents, and smiled hungrily at her. He did a double-take as his eyes slunk over Jake. “Jacob Valentine, what’s a piece of shit like you doing in a place like this?”

Jake halted in front of him. “It’s Jake Quinlan now.”

Daniel scoffed. “What? Did you get married?”

“No, I found my biological family. Didn’t you hear the news? Apparently it’s all over town.”

“I don’t listen to idle gossip.”

“It never used to stop you.” He turned to speak to Astrid’s parents. “What happened to Emma?”

Her mom fiddled with her necklace. “We’re not sure, Jake. We thought it was best to alert Daniel, but…”

Sally trailed off and shook her head. Astrid knew they didn’t like Daniel any more than she did – they deemed him incompetent – and she thought the same. She sensed there was something her parents weren’t saying in front of him, and she wanted to know what it was. Obviously something to do with Emma’s disappearance.

“Hey,” Astrid said, trying to act casual. “Why don’t we all go back home and grab some coffee? We can talk about it there.”

“Sounds like a good plan,” Daniel said. “I’d love some coffee.”

“Not you, Daniel,” she said. “I meant myself, my parents, and Jake. I’m sure you’ve got some important police work to be doing, huh?”

He glowered at her, but she was too worried about her sister to care about his hurt feelings.

Jake drilled Daniel with his stare. “You alerted the Feds yet?”

Daniel shrugged. “Why would I? Emma’s probably just stayed out all night. I’m sure she’ll be back later.”

“So you’re not going to do anything?” Martin asked, his patience stretching.

“We need to wait twenty-four hours before we can declare her a missing person.”

Astrid opened her mouth to suggest they get away from Daniel – before one of them slapped him for being so uncaring – but Daniel spoke over her, sizing Jake up. “Hey, if you’ve found your biological family, what about that old treasure map you told my sister about that time? The one your
real
old man had?”

Jake kept his cool. He’d dated Daniel’s sister for a while and confided in her about the map just after he’d found out about it himself. “She told you about that? Surely you didn’t believe it – it was just a joke.”

Daniel eyed him up suspiciously. “My sister said you seemed pretty serious about it at the time. You used to go on about how you were gonna find your destiny.”

The nylon-suit journalist called over, “Mr. Quinlan… about your adoption?”

“And what about the disappearance of Emma Lawrence?” Another journalist asked.

Jake ignored them and glared at Daniel. “Don’t you have some work to do? Like keeping the press out of my face?”

Daniel boisterously slapped Jake on the shoulder. “I bet you’ve got that map about your person, huh? What if I got a warrant to search you – I’d find it, right?”

“Fuck off.”

“Jake,” Astrid said. “Don’t lose it in front of the journalists…”

He composed himself, not taking his eyes off Daniel. “So how
is
your sister?”

Daniel rankled. “Just fine. Surely you don’t think she’d still be upset that
you
broke her heart after all this time?”

Jake glanced at Astrid. “I didn’t mean to hurt her. We just weren’t that compatible after all.”

Daniel scowled. “You left town.”

“I was too young to get married. So was she.”

Daniel folded his arms across his chest. “There’s no chance I would’ve ever let you marry my sister. Not after you killed my –”

Jake’s irritation snapped and he launched himself at Daniel, grabbing the front of his uniform. “Shut your fucking mouth. He was my best friend.”

Daniel shoved Jake – freeing himself from his grip. “He was
my
little brother.”

The photographers behind started flashing their cameras excitedly at the scuffle, so Astrid quickly intervened. “Excuse me, but if my sister’s gone missing, don’t you think we should be trying to find her. Not standing around fighting each other and reminiscing about what might’ve been?”

Daniel turned to face her, straightening his tie. “You’re right Astrid.” He pulled out his notebook. “So, Jake, apparently
you
were the last to see Emma – according to Morag. Is that right?”

Jake glanced at Astrid’s mother. “Emma came here last night and tried to… talk to me.  It was around midnight. I told her to go home.”

Daniel smirked at Astrid. “Yeah, apparently you were already entertaining her sister.”

“Now look here,” Martin said. “Your job is to find Emma, not to judge Astrid.”

Daniel laughed. “I’m not judging Astrid – she can do whatever she likes with whoever she wants. But I am judging you, Jake. You’re prime suspect number one and I need to ask you some questions. You wanna do this the hard way, or the easy way?”

Jake leaned toward him. “You know I didn’t do anything to Emma. Astrid will confirm I was with her all last night. So I suggest you either arrest me or back the fuck off.”

Daniel took a step away. “I can’t arrest you
yet
. But I’m sure it’s just a matter of time. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a job to do.”

Daniel turned and strode off down the street.

“Yeah,” Jake said, watching him. “What a pity it won’t involve doing any actual police work.”