Carnal Beginnings: A dark romantic suspense (Carnal Series Book 1) Read online

  “After this, we’ll go look for some shoes and stockings.” Julien grinned at her look of relief.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Adara alternated between floating on a blissful cloud and sinking into purgatory as she slid onto the passenger seat. The trunk-full of purchases represented maps to heaven and hell. Still, she couldn’t wipe the dreamy smile from her face after Julien’s public declaration of his feelings. He had granted her many firsts.

  After the ups and downs of shopping, she’d never been so glad to go to work. Familiar routine would settle her nerves.

  “Thanks for accepting my choices, Adara.”

  In the boutique, Julien had ignored her near nakedness and commented intelligently on each selection she modeled. He discussed not just style but fit and color, always mindful of her physical comfort. She now had a new wardrobe, including thick strings that he called thongs. Fresh air blasted her face when she opened the passenger window in an effort to cool her face.

  Thoughts of returning to her uncle’s house and retrieving her old clothes had instigated several nightmares. Now, she was free of them. The few possessions still there weren’t worth the confrontation.

  “Thank you for the new wardrobe.” She’d chosen the least revealing shirt and comfortable slacks to wear despite the knit top molding to her skin.

  The Crofton firm sprawled on a large, private lot surrounded on three sides by native pines, firs, and hardy oak. Though none other than co-workers would see her dressed so provocatively, the radical changes in her life warranted introspection. She was thankful for the quiet.

  The low rumble in Julien’s chest brought her gaze to see his expression harden as they rounded the curve into the parking lot. Nika’s response picked up where Julien’s left off as she lunged forward between the seats, her snarling and barking filling the air. When the car stopped, she surged forward with front paws on the center console. Her upper lip curled back to expose gleaming white teeth.

  The sudden chill spreading through her belly accompanied the immediate, reflexive abdominal tightening she couldn’t control.

  Infuriated expressions on Tony and Gary’s faces left no room for doubt of their intentions. Each leaned against her car smoking a cigarette.

  Julien issued Nika a protect command with his gaze never leaving his quarry. A feral gleam portrayed anticipation of the confrontation to come.

  “Uncle and cousin, I presume. I’ve been looking forward to asking them a few questions.” Julien cut the engine and dropped the keys in her hand.

  “Um, yes. And they look mad as hell.” Tears fell as she envisioned the dirty fight favored by her family. Julien was ex-Special Forces, but her uncle and cousin were both muscular and determined, if not nearly as tall. “Oh, God.” Nika nuzzled her shoulder.

  “Adara. Look. At. Me.”

  His voice whipped her gaze around to face him. “Please. Can we just drive away?”

  “Adara. We are going into work. You are of age to come and go as you please. They have no legal hold over you. Do you still want your freedom?”

  “Yes.” She had no doubts.

  “Answer this one question before we get out. Do you want to stay with me?”

  “What? Oh, yes. God, yes I do. More than anything.”

  He cupped her cheek before running the pad of his thumb over her lower lip. “God, you are so damn beautiful. I’m the luckiest man alive.”

  Julien got out and ambled around to her side to open her door, never taking his gaze off the two men. Road traffic remained light, the parking lot with only a handful of cars. “Good afternoon, gentlemen.” The last word came out with a sneer.

  A snarl emanated from her cousin.

  The building’s thick plate-glass front wall revealed Nate standing in front of the double doors and watching the scene unfold. Feet spread shoulder-width apart and hands behind his back, he was no less alert than a crouched tiger.

  A sense of impending doom hung like a low cloud waiting to rain equal amounts of shame and contempt to forever stain her spirit with its filthy patina while Julien’s offered hand equaled a gateway to everything she’d wanted, the strength to stand on her own.

  A slight squeak of the seat signaled Nika jumping out to stand beside her.

  The two hulks pushed off her Civic then stalked forward and smiled when Julien stepped to block their path.

  Scant yards separated a past terror and the relative safety of Julien’s car. With a few steps forward, Nika angled her body to stand between Adara and the perceived threat.

  Both men stopped when Adara rested her hand on the dog’s head. “Easy, girl. Lunch isn’t served…yet.”

  “Adara. Get in my car now, girl. You’re in enough trouble as it is. And since when do you dress like a filthy whore? Where did you get those clothes? And where have you been? We’ve been looking all over for you.”

  In his late forties, her uncle was well built, the scar above his right eye a reminder of his penchant for fighting. His face resembled a semi—square, hard, and cold. Her cousin took after his father in appearance as his narrowed eyes assessed his opponent.

  “Adara is staying with me now, guys. You have no hold on her and as such will not be issuing orders any longer. Also, she’ll be speaking with my lawyer shortly, so you won’t have access to her money either.”

  “Adara!” her uncle bellowed. “I haven’t raised you all these years to be cut off now. You owe me, girl. Come here!”

  Bulging eyes above crimson jowls dominated the bull-like features. A muscle in Tony’s jaw twitched as he ground his teeth. Fists at his sides clenched and unclenched. Harsh breathing labored through his rage.

  Adara’s hand tightened in Nika’s fur. “No! You just see me as someone to beat and…no! Just no. I won’t. You’re both sadistic perverts who just want to hurt those that are weaker.” She’d never seen him so angry unless drunk, which always preceded severe punishment.

  “So you want to take up with him?” Quiet until now, Gary swung his full attention to Julien, an incredulous smile widening. “You don’t know who he is. We’ve only given you a taste of what he’ll do.”

  Adara sneered before answering. “I know exactly who he is. I’ve been here six months and seen him with all kinds of people. He does nothing but help them, not hurt them.”

  Turning to her protector, Adara was surprised to see the long blink and flash of uncertainty. “Julien?”

  “Adara.” Julien’s voice calm, even. “I only want to help you.”

  The sun hadn’t climbed to its highest point of the day—her uncle should be somewhat sober, but without getting closer, she couldn’t tell. In the back of her mind she felt doubts rising. She’d always obeyed. If not, matters got out of hand.

  Years of conditioning made her sidle away from Nika. If she didn’t go with them, they would hurt Julien. She always did as they commanded, always. Like a robot, she inched farther sideways. Nika moved to block her path. Julien’s voice snapped her back to the present.

  “Adara. Do. You. Trust. Me?”

  Through her tears, she looked at his profile, knowing he wanted to protect her. “Yes, Julien. I do, but I don’t want to see you hurt.” She prayed he’d escape injury in the moments to come.

  “Do you want to stay with me?” His voice carried strong in the morning stillness.

  “Yes, Julien. I want to live with you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Julien froze, unprepared for the mental jolt blindsiding him. Her family’s presence shook Adara to the core, to the point she’d be unaware of what she’d said. Still, the result pleased him.

  “Well, gentlemen. There you have it. She’s living with me now. Don’t worry about her belongings. Unless she has a specific request, you can discard the clothes.

  “There’s nothing I want from inside that house. I have everything I need.”

  From his peripheral vision, Julien watched Adara straighten her spine while fingering the necklace. Inside, another mystery waited to
be discovered. Though her voice sounded thin and strained, she’d stood her ground.

  Tension built in both the uncle and cousin, stiffening their frames and assessing for a line of attack. The older man’s face displayed the reddened splotches of one who thrived in a bottle. With narrow-set eyes, Tony’s gaze darted between Adara and Julien. His unveiled expression would give away his intentions as soon as a thought crossed his mind.

  Familiar with the type in his line of work, Julien took a slow breath. Before him stood the self-centered, sadistic bastards who crawled out from under their rock with the need to hurt those weaker. Low self-esteem defined the uncle’s rumpled and dirty clothes and sloppy demeanor. His eyes held the dull intelligence of someone who believed Wyle-E-Coyote epitomized the pinnacle of wisdom and intelligence. No doubt, his regular morning companions were memory impairment and a whopping hangover. He’d have no clue that excessive alcohol played monkey in the middle with his intelligence.

  His son, with the same facial expressions and mannerisms, wore cunning as well as intelligence. There was Adara’s biggest threat, the one he’d have to watch in order to keep his girl safe.

  For someone who didn’t do commitments, the possessiveness with Adara clobbered him over the head. The younger man held his stare, a fierce determination that didn’t need drugs or alcohol to lend courage.

  “Adara, back up six paces and stand next to my car, please.” He needed room to maneuver. Without doubt, Nika would deter the cousin once her uncle decided to strike.

  His brother Nate, a hand on the door to the office, caught Julien’s eye over the uncle’s shoulder. Julien shook his head. He didn’t need help with the lowlifes.

  “You think you can just take her? She’s engaged to my son. They’re going to be married tomorrow.” Spittle dribbled down his cheek as the uncle fumed. He wiped his mouth on a dirty shirtsleeve.

  What’s one more stain?

  Adara’s gasp denied knowledge of the plan.

  “Adara? I didn’t know about this. Did you?” If the situation weren’t so disgusting, he might find mild amusement in the circumstance. “I thought most women liked to take time planning their wedding. Did you want to get married?”

  “No! Absolutely not! At least not to him.”

  For a split second, Adara’s comment diverted him—again. The shock of where her thoughts might lie gave him pause. Answers under distraction were honest, simple, and to the point. He’d never contemplated marriage.

  He needed Adara in his life, and thoughts of her future goals changing almost choked him. Once free, she might want a different life. Didn’t most young women dream of marriage? The thought of another man touching her made him crazed.

  Tony charged forward with arms out and head tucked. His gait wobbled slightly despite the widened steps.

  Drunk?

  Combat experience taught him to use the stampeding man’s weight and momentum to advantage. With a last-second sidestep and bracing his stance, he whipped his arm out to clothesline the shorter man.

  Tony arced in the air and landed on his back with a dull thud. The sudden forced exhalation left an invisible trail of alcohol following the movement, dissipating with the slight breeze. It took a minute for the shock of his position to register. The slow shake of his head didn’t appear to bring him clarity of his position. He rubbed his neck and cleared his throat.

  Stepping back, Julien shook his head in disgust. Apparently Gary’s character consisted of more cowardice than rage—he froze at seeing his father down.

  “Now, gentlemen, listen and listen well. Adara is not only living with me, she is under my protection. If I see either of you again, I won’t be inclined to play nice. Understand? She. Is. Mine.” The last ended in a growl.

  Tony looked up from where he lay, eyes still unfocused. “You just want her money, you bastard, but you’ll not get it.”

  “Unlike you, I don’t need her money, however I will make sure she is safe from you and that you’ll never touch a penny of it.” Tony’s wallow on the ground engendered little more than repugnance. As much as Julien wanted to drive home his point, it was neither the time nor the place for the confrontation he had in mind. He wanted the dirtballs completely sober to enjoy what lay in store for them. “Matter of fact, we’re due to speak to her new lawyer in just a bit…”

  “Bastard!” Tony lumbered to his feet, and charged again.

  This time his face met Julien’s fist in an upward swing. The shorter man spun in midair to land on his side. Blood spurted from his nose as curses spouted from his foul mouth. When his hand couldn’t stem the flow of blood, he used the dirty hem of his stained wife-beater.

  Gary prowled forward to kneel by his father’s side. “Papa. This is not the way. Let’s go. There’s nothing more we can do here…now.” The sly gaze drifting sideways to Adara morphed into a promise of retribution. Narrowed eyes and cold smile reaffirmed—there lay the greater threat. Helping his father up, Gary draped the older man’s arm across his shoulders and headed toward their car.

  Watching them go, Julien knew he hadn’t seen the last of them. Next time, they’d take a different approach. Cowards always did.

  Adara rushed to his side, her gaze searching his face even as her hands drifted across his chest, assessing.

  With an arm around her shoulders, he led her to the building with Nika keeping pace.

  Nate opened the door and offered his assessment of the situation. “I wondered if I’d have to come save your sorry ass—like old times.” He clapped Julien on the back before heading to the conference room.

  “Adara, are you okay?”

  “Yes, and so relieved.”

  “Look, I need to speak with my brothers for a bit…”

  “Nika and I will be fine. Maura’s gonna bust if I don’t go over for a meet and greet.” Adara smiled as the shepherd kept pace beside her.

  Now for the smart-ass comments from my siblings.

  Julien headed toward the headache in the making. His brothers were already seated at the conference table. Leaving the door ajar granted a sight line to Adara and Nika.

  “That went well, bro. Glad you didn’t blow it. Would’ve been embarrassing if we’d a had to save your sorry ass.” Nate quipped.

  “The uncle was drunk and the cousin’s a coward.”

  Marc sat beside him before continuing, “It looks like this is Julien’s best chance at getting the girl.”

  “Knock it off, Marc.” At the end of the table, Conner opened his laptop. “You want a report filed, Julien?”

  “No…no need. Our security cameras will be a record.” Julien glanced out the door to the main room. Adara sat at her desk, cooing over Nika, who accepted the attention as her due. Maura’s attention was hesitant, but welcomed by the shepherd.

  “Lot of trouble for a tiny slip of a girl, Julien. Wouldn’t you say?” Marc’s natural inclination to stir the pot arrived on cue. “I know someone who could take her off your hands…”

  “She’s mine, buddy. Try it and lose the appendage of which you’re most fond.”

  “C’mon Julien. You can’t blame him. She’s beautiful, intelligent, kind, everything that pushes his buttons.” Nate leaned back to close the door. “Shall we get started?”

  “Yeah. What do we know about Simmie?” Thick skin and years of practice relegated Marc’s jibes to nuisance level as Julien rubbed the light stubble on his jaw, reviewing his recent encounter. He explained the uncle’s wedding plans that had clearly spooked Adara. Even though she’d known they would try to force her hand in some way, she hadn’t known they’d worked out the details.

  “Simmie Tarrell. Spoiled, rich kid. One charge of assault with intent to rape. Didn’t make it to court, charges were dropped when the victim refused to follow through. Which is why it didn’t show up on a cursory background check. Word is—daddy paid the victim off.” Marc’s look of disgust replicated around the table. “He’s a senior at WSU, major—business. Guess he’s planning to step into his dad’
s shoes.”

  “The father, on the other hand, is a different story.” Conner picked up the trail. “He co-owns Tarrell Pharmaceuticals. Adara’s father carried forty-nine percent of the stock to the day he died. Adara’s shares and power of attorney are held until she turns twenty-one. I haven’t gotten a peek at their books…and can’t without a warrant. The company also has a military tie. Some new drug their R&D department is cooking up has the brass in a frenzy. Even without that, the company is worth millions. Bet they wouldn’t like Miss Adara coming into the picture at this point.”

  “Sounds like a lot of motive, Julien.” Nate shook his head. “And that’s not all. We got the results of the tongue stashed under your windshield wiper—not a match for her friend Graham.” Nate continued, “They got DNA samples from some hair in his brush. But—it did match another male who, according to neighbors, frequents Graham’s house. Apparently Adara’s friend lives alone, but has a significant other stay overnight on a regular basis.”

  “How did they identify the other male?” Julien closed his eyes against the memory of opening the package.

  “His body washed up on the beach three days ago,” Nate replied. “He’d been tortured for some time before they put a bullet between his eyes.”

  “Christ. Related to the serial killer?” Marc asked as the significance took on new meaning.

  “Not sure, but they think so,” Nate murmured.

  “Jesus. Do we know anything about the other murder victims? Are they tied to Adara, even loosely?”

  “Don’t know yet, but I made our buddies in CPD aware of her circumstances. She’s a target, Julien. Whether its coming from family or the Terrell’s, they won’t give up. There’s too much at stake. I didn’t know what she stood to inherit.” Nate rubbed his forehead as he groaned. “Oh, and the blood found in Graham’s house…came from Graham. Police are looking, but haven’t located him yet. Considering the circumstances, I don’t think they will. I’ll bet he’s either part of this, or he’s dead.”