Owning Beauty (Taking Beauty Trilogy 3)

We just needed to talk a little more.

I took a deep breath and flung open the door.

“Oh!” I said, taking a step back. The man standing there was the scariest man I’d ever come face to face with in my life. My heart jumped into my throat. “Can I help you?”

“I’m an old friend of your husband’s,” he said, smiling, flashing a mouthful of gold teeth, his pockmarked face wrinkling into a creepy, strained smile. “He around?”

“No, he’s not,” I said, looking behind him. How the fuck did he get up here? I wondered. “Can I tell him you stopped by?”

My hand was on the door handle, ready to close the door, but he walked in before I could close it.

“I’ll wait,” he said, barreling past me.

“Excuse me?”

“I’ll wait,” he said, turning and flashing me his glittery smile once more. “If you don’t mind.”

“Who are you?” I said, looking back into the empty hallway again. I don’t know what I was looking for. Another human, perhaps. One less terrifying than the individual that had just strolled into our penthouse.

“Name’s Rio Santiago,” he said, holding out a hand to shake. “You’re obviously Mrs. Dalton.”

“Chloe. Yes,” I said, as he grabbed my hand. I cringed when he pressed it to his fat lips. My stomach churned and I pulled it away quickly.

“Nice to meet you, Chloe,” he said, turning towards the terrace and taking in the view. “This place is incredible.”

“Yes,” I agreed. I left the door open and kept my eye on him. Hair stood up on the back of my neck. Suddenly, I remembered I was holding my phone.

I hit the home button and punched in my pass code, and then froze. Who do I call? Bear or 911?

“Why don’t you call Bear and let him know I’m here?” he said. “Maybe he’ll get here a little sooner and I won’t take up any more of your time than necessary.”

“Oh, sure,” I said, nodding, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach.

I called Bear’s phone and it went straight to voice mail.

“Bear, it’s Chloe. I’m at the penthouse. There’s a man here to visit you. Mr. Santiago? Please come home right away, he’s waiting for you. Please call me back.”

I hung up the phone and clutched it in my hand.

The man stood staring at me now, his gaze intense and intimidating.

“How long have you been married to Bear?” he asked.

“Just a few weeks,” I said.

“Oh, newlyweds, is that right?” he smiled. “Isn’t that wonderful?”

“Thank you,” I muttered. “Can I get you a drink?”

I didn’t know what else to do at this point. All I could do was hope Bear got here soon. In the entire time I’d known him, he’d always answered my calls. His phone was never turned off, never went to voice mail. Why in the hell did it have to happen now?

“I would love a drink, Chloe, thank you!” he said, sitting on the couch, his huge frame sinking into the soft leather. “I trust you have tequila?”

“Yes,” I said.

“I’d love a few shots,” he said. “In fact, just bring the whole bottle and come sit with me,” he patted the seat next to him. “We can get to know one another while we’re waiting for your husband.”

I took the bottle over to him and poured a shot, putting the glass and the bottle on the table in front of him.

“Go on, get another glass,” he said. “Unless we’re going to share?” he winked.

“No, I can’t—I don’t drink.”

His eyes shot down to my stomach and his face lit up.

“You’re expecting!” he said. “That dirty dog! He knocked you up already?” His laughter roared through the apartment as he poured another shot and my stomach churned. I looked at the front door, my heart skipping a beat.

Where are you? I thought. Hurry up!

“You know,” I said, trying to muster a smile. “I just remembered. Bear had a long meeting today, that’s probably why he’s not answering. I’ll have him give you a call as soon as he gets home.”

“Nonsense,” he said, pouring his third shot. “I’m happy to wait. Besides, I’m enjoying your company, Chloe. You’re a very lovely woman.”

“Thank you,” I said, biting my tongue, my heart racing.

“I had a lovely woman once,” he said. “Long time ago. She’s gone now, though.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I said.

“It is what it is,” he said. “C’est la vie, you know?”

“Right,” I nodded.

“So, where are you from Chloe? You don’t look like a New Yorker, no offense.”

“I’m from Portland.”

“Oregon?” he asked.

“Yes,” I nodded.

“I heard there’s a pot store and a strip club on every corner in Portland,” he said. “I gotta a few buddies who love that place.”

“I suppose,” I shrugged.

“Sounds like a fun place,” he said, pouring his fourth shot and downing it just as quickly. “You like fun?”

“Yes,” I said, stealing another glance at the door.

“Well, you’d have to being married to Dalton, right?”

“Excuse me?”

“Well, he’s into some kinky stuff, right?”

“I don’t think—.”

“—Don’t be shy! I’ve heard all about him. A little too much, unfortunately.”

“Mr. Santiago,” I said, standing up. “I think maybe you should leave now. I’ll have Bear call you, I promise.”

“Oh, what’s wrong, chicka?” he said, standing up and brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. I shuddered at his touch and stepped back.

“Rio Santiago!” We turned and saw Bear standing by the door.

A wave of relief flooded over me for a minuscule second, but once I saw the look on Bear’s face, I knew something terrible was happening.

“Dalton,” Santiago said, flashing his gilded mouth at Bear. “It’s about time we meet!”

Bear

I almost tackled him as soon as I saw him touch Chloe. But then I saw the gun sticking out of his suit jacket and I froze.

I held out a hand and walked towards him. Standing between him and Chloe, pushing her gently behind me, I faced him.

“Bear Dalton,” he said, his voice a slow drawl as he shook my hand.

“Santiago,” I said, meeting his beady black eyes. “How can I help you?”

“I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time. You’re famous, rich, powerful. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Is that so?” I asked, keeping one eye on his gun. It wasn’t that I was afraid of him, but I was certainly out-armed here. At least at the moment. I had an arsenal of guns, but I kept them locked safely away in a cabinet in the bedroom, never taking them out. I’d only bought them in case of a zombie apocalypse or worse…an armed felon invading my house.

Unfortunately, they were way too far away.

“Chloe, darling,” I turned to her, “could you make me a cup of tea while I

talk to Mr. Santiago?” I reaching down and grabbed her hand, squeezing it firmly, trying to reassure her. Her fingers were trembling and it killed me.

“Of course,” she said, turning and walking towards the kitchen.

“Please, have a seat,” I said to him, sitting across from him. He poured a shot of tequila and offered it to me.

“No thanks,” I shook my head.

“What? You aren’t knocked up too, are you?” I cringed at his words. I didn’t want him even looking at Chloe, much less being near her. I knew what kind of a man he was and now I knew he’d killed my best friend.

Because of me.

But, I stayed cool. Kept my head. Because I knew, without a doubt, that was the only way Chloe and I were going to survive this. I’d called Charlie on the way over, frantically leaving a message. I’d told the door guy to call the cops on my way up.

All I had to do was keep Santiago cool and calm until they arrived.

“So what brings you here?” I smiled.

“Do you remember a woman named Ruby?” he asked.

“Yes,” I nodded.

“Ruby was the love of my life,” he said.

“Ruby was a nice woman,” I said. “I didn’t know her very well.”

“You knew her well enough to fuck her, though, right?”

“What’s your point?”

He stood up, strolling around the room slowly as he looked over the place.

“This is a sweet crib you’ve got, Dalton,” he said. “You’re richer than the Queen of England, aren’t you?”

“I don’t think so,” I replied.

“Ruby was my childhood sweetheart, did you know that?”

“No, I didn’t,” I answered.

“We grew up together, used to play at each other’s houses, that sort of thing. Went to all the same schools. By the time we hit high school, I was in love with her.”

“Is that so?”

“Yep,” he said. “We might have had a good life together, if we weren’t so poor. Poverty makes you do desperate things, did you know that Bear?”

“I’ve heard,” I replied. Fuck this guy, I thought. There are plenty of poor people that don’t turn their girlfriends out.