Touched By A Marine (Book 1)

Chapter Five: Death comes to Southampton

“Why does Vlad want to see me?” I asked.

Noah shrugged. “He didn’t say. And I didn’t ask any questions.”

I turned on my heel as I headed up the staircase to the main elevator with Noah right behind me. He stepped in front of me and pushed the call button as we waited patiently. I kept my eyes forward on the silver doors but out of my peripheral vision I could tell that Noah had something on his mind. I relaxed my shoulders a bit as I took a deep breath.

“All right Noah, out with it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can tell when you have something on your mind, that’s troubling you. You’re wondering about what happened last night between me and the client.”

He put his head down. “You know me too well. Yes, I wondered what might’ve happened last night while you were out. I can’t tell you some of the horrible things I imagined of what might have happened to you. I mean, I didn’t sleep at all. I came this close to tracking you down and finding you, just so that I could protect you in case you needed me.”

I reached out to hug him. “Thank you, Noah.”

The elevator dinged and the doors whooshed opened as we stepped inside while Noah pushed the button at the very top of the panel for the penthouse suite. Classical music was being pumped through the tiny black speaker above us and it didn’t take long before I became sick of hearing it. A few minutes later the doors opened again as Noah led the way to Vlad’s desk which was directly facing the elevator. The rich black leather of his chair swung around and in its place was Vlad as he sat with his legs crossed and his hands resting comfortably on both sides of the armrests. He didn’t even bother to risk a glance at Noah as he sent him away, leaving me alone with the man who turned me into what I was today.

“Vlad I—” I began to say before I was interrupted.

“What happened last night?” he asked.

“What do you mean? I was out with a client. You came into my room yesterday morning and personally told me upon request that the client wished for him and I to be alone.”

“That’s not what I’m asking. What I want to know is why you didn’t come home.”

“The client asked me to stay longer. After all, it was you who once said “that it was my job to make the client feel right at home and that whatever he wanted I was supposed to give it to him.” And when he asked me to stay until morning I accepted. Because I thought that was the right thing to do. I mean, that’s what you taught me, isn’t It Vlad? Sex slave 101. Always comply with the client’s requests even after you’ve done your job for the evening.”

He smirked as he rose silently from his seat and came towards me. The seductive smell of his cologne mixed with the scruffy beard on his face made him actually look more attractive. His suit was custom made by a tailor who I only saw once. The jacket was black as was the pants. The dress shirt was white, crisp and clean. And on his right middle finger was one of those championship rings from 1998 most likely the Chicago Bulls. I tried not to tense up when he walked behind me and leaned his face into the crook of my neck for him to smell as he inhaled deeply. His hands slowly slid up my arms as they gripped my shoulders and pulled me closer to him. Reaching up, he cupped the underside of my jaw as he tilted my head to look at him.

“Careful, James, I see you’re still wearing your date.” He said. “I can smell him on you.”

“What are you going to do now?”

“You mean, what are you going to do now. Well I’m very glad that you asked, James. For starters you can follow me over to that couch in the corner over there and take care of me.”