Crystals (21 page)

“You really can’t be trusted can you?! Here I am,
ready to give you the benefit of the doubt and you disillusion me all over
again. I don’t know about you, but this scenario is all too familiar to me.
Now, shall we try this again?”

Ollie waited for his father’s agreement, but none
came.

“Cat got your sharp tongue, Abbott? If that had been
the case earlier today, your little wife’s neck would still be straight.”

Knowing his comment would get a reaction, he was
pleased when the old man’s head strained towards his wife. Ollie released some
of the pressure he was asserting so his father could look his full.

“Her being gone doesn’t really matter to you, does it?
I mean, you would have probably replaced her soon anyway.”

Abbott now struggled in earnest, his eyes wide with
terror. Ollie loved seeing him this way. In a perverse change of fortune, he
hoped his father experienced some of what he had felt when he had been sent
away from home so soon after his mother left.

“Now that you realize what I’m prepared to do. I’m
going to remove my hand again. Anger me, and you’ll be sorry.”

“You killed her!”

“I had to.”

“You’ve lost your mind!”

“If I have, it’s your fault!”

“Get away from me, Oliver. Leave now and I’ll find a
way to shield you from what you’ve done.”

“Really, Abbott, what is this—fatherly care. From you
who have never given me more than a passing thought throughout my entire life.
Do you know what I think? I believe you’re scared and your assurance of protection
is just a way to save your own neck!”

“You’re wrong!”

“Please, did you forget that you’re the man who took
me away from my mother out of spite, only to discard me in that hellhole you
called a school?”

“Your mother didn’t want you.”

“Oh, I know, I asked her why before I snuffed out her
worthless life. Her answer didn’t satisfy me. Something or other about you
wouldn’t let her take me. Poor woman seems to have forgotten that I was there
when she
voived
next to no objections when you
insisted I stay with you. She didn’t put up a fight, much like my new mother
over there,” he raised his chin in the direction of the dead woman.

“If its money you want, you can have it!”

“Good Lord,” Ollie feigned amazement, “do you actually
have any left? The way your young brides drape themselves in jewels, I wouldn’t
be surprised if you came to me for a handout.”

“Is that what this is about—my spending habits? Are
you afraid there will be nothing left for your inheritance?”

“No, that’s not it at all. My mother left me money in
her will. That I had to dispatch her to get my hands on it, is actually your
fault. Ah, I see you’re finally
hearing
what I’m saying to you.”

“You murdered your mother?”

“For God’s sake, Abbott, keep up.”

“You’re mad!”

“Maybe, but I’m sane enough to know what I’m doing at
this precise moment. I still can’t understand why I didn’t pay you a visit
before now. All I ever wanted was for you to show me a little love. Doesn’t
every child deserve at least that, Abbott?”

“I gave you much more than most children ever have.”

“You’ve despised me my whole life. Even now, with your
worthless existence hanging on the brink of being snuffed out, you can’t even
muster up the lie that might save you.”

“Everything I’ve done in the past has been for your
benefit, to make you the man you are today. I gave you the team for God’s
sake!”

“So, what’s your point?”

“I did that because I knew you would succeed, make
something of yourself. And I was right. You’re the world champion.”

“Yes, I am. But what does that mean to you?” Ollie was
enjoying the spectacle of his father’s fear. However, the old man still refused
to voice the words he had always wanted to hear. Now it was too late. It no
longer mattered.

“I knew you would make a success of it, do something I
never could.”

“Of course you’re right. But you should have said all
that when I called you earlier today. You could have made it right then. Now,
it’s much too late. When you see her, please say hello to Mother for me.”

Despairing hands fisted in his jacket, but Ollie ignored
them. He loved the feeling of holding life and death in his hands. His knee was
back in place on the old man’s chest. And Ollie took nothing but pleasure as he
watched the essence of life slowly fade from Abbott’s eyes, as he pressed down
on his windpipe. Euphoria rushed around his body. His penis lengthened and
hardened.

When the lifeless fingers finally released their hold
on his jacket, he jumped up and hurriedly withdrew a handkerchief from his
pocket. Unzipping his pants, he bit down on his lip as he expelled the evidence
of his pleasure into its silken folds.

~~~

Ollie could think of nothing but the sense of
satisfaction that coursed through his body. If he could have risked it, he
would have called one of his many sexual partners to meet him at his home. But
his feelings of euphoria were still too high.

In his current state, he might well end up playing too
rough and he didn’t want or need anything to distract him from reliving what he
had just done. The sheer bliss at the feelings of his fingers wrapped around
his father’s neck was still too great. That was power. The taking of life with
one’s own hands, to date, was still his ultimate high.

All he had wanted throughout his life was the love of
his parents, but he had never got it. Now, he no longer cared. They were his
past and he wouldn’t change a thing.

Pulling up outside his house, Ollie got out of his car
and locked the door. Whistling a lewd tune, and unable to dowse his euphoria,
he performed a little dance as he made his way inside.

Chapter 18

When Ollie finally drove up to his Chelsea house and
disappeared inside, Shane and Crystal had been waiting for two hours. During
that time, he had rebuffed her every attempt to make conversation.

Finally looking
over at a visibly shivering Crystal, he pushed his rising doubts aside.
Although he hated seeing her like this, he showed her no sympathy.

She shouldn’t have
followed him. That she had chosen to meant she would have to put up with all
the discomforts of the situation. And without a doubt the worse was still
before them.

“This is your last
chance to go home.”

“Not going to
happen.”

“I knew you were
going to say that.”

“Great minds and
all that.”

He ignored her
attempt at a joke. “From now on, do exactly as I say.”

“I’m not a child!”

Shane started his
car, checked his mirror and turned the wheel to pull away from the sidewalk.

“What are you
doing?”

“Leaving!”

“Why?”

“Because I just
told you something and you’re not hearing me. I don’t want you here, Crystal.
And if you won’t listen when it’s just the two of us, then this isn’t going to
happen!”

She grabbed his
arm to gain his attention. “Okay, I’ll do what you say.”

“This isn’t a
joke. I don’t know how he’s going to react to what I’ve done or what I have to
say.”

“What have you
done?”

“Not the time or
the place. Are you going to do what I asked?”

“Yes!”

He had his doubts,
but he also had no choice other than to believe that she would stand by her
word. And more importantly, she would come out of Ollie’s house
unscathed—mentally and physically.

Once they were out
of the car, Shane took her hand and held it tightly in the hope that his touch
gave her some reassurance as they walked to the house.

He ran the
doorbell and maintained eye contact with her until he heard the sound of
approaching footsteps.

“Stay there.”
Pushing her behind his back he waited for Ollie to open the door.

Ollie’s cursory
glance at his watch
was followed
by a look of surprise
at seeing him at close to 4:00 am.

“Shane, what on
earth are you doing here at this ungodly hour?”

“Are you going to
invite me in?”

“Of course?”

“Hello Ollie,”
Crystal greeted him as she stuck her head from behind Shane’s back.

The smile of
greeting that hadn’t quite reached Ollie’s eyes disappeared the moment he saw
her.

Shane was beyond
pissed that her timing
was shit
and that she was crap
at doing what she was told. Making her presence known before they were inside
the house had just weakened their advantage.

Shane breathed an
inaudible sigh of relief when Ollie stepped back and invited them inside.
Keeping her close, he allowed him to lead them into his sitting room.

A side lamp
flashed on followed by three others that cast an unfitting glow of intimacy
around the room. His task completed, Ollie looked over at them and Shane
noticed that all residue of surprise had left his expression. The time it had
taken him to switch on the lights had apparently given him valuable thinking
time.

“You both look
freezing. Would you like some tea?”

“No tea,” Shane
answered for the both of them.

“A whiskey then,”
Ollie suggested. Without waiting for a response, he strode towards the bar.

“Please, sit,
both
of you.”

The sound of
liquid flowing into crystal tumblers didn’t hold Shane’s attention. Since their
first meeting, he had known Ollie wanted something from him. Posh, supposedly
rich boys never took an interest in someone like him unless there was a reason.

Physically
attraction to him and wanting the use of his D.R.S., wasn’t the sum of it.
Ollie was on a quest for personal glory. That in itself was fine with Shane. He
too intended that from now on, his family name, when mentioned, would be for
all the right reasons. However, the difference between them was that Shane
didn’t have to manipulate others to make it happen.

Ollie handed them
their drinks and moved to the middle of the room. Shane pushed Crystal down
into a chair and stood by her side. For the moment, the silence was their
friend. From the stillness, he would get his answers. It began to work. Sweat
broke out on Ollie’s forehead.

Shane still
berated himself that the uncertainty surrounding him after his attack had
allowed this man to take such advantage of him. With all the lies and counter
lies that
had been thrown
his way, he knew he
shouldn’t feel the way he did, but he couldn’t seem to get the word
fool
out of his mind.

“God, I’m so glad
the season’s over,” Ollie said with another false smile. “I have the most
deviant week set up. One girl and two boys. I’d ask you to join me, but I know
you.”

“Do you?”

“What?”

“Do you know really
know me?”

“Of course I do,”
Ollie responded with seeming conviction. “You’re the man who refuses to take
advantage of what everyone is prepared to offer him for free.”

“Meaning?”

“Our status
dictates that we can have free pussy and cock. Oh, sorry, I know you’re not
into cock, but the variety makes my world a much better place.”

“I’ve got no
problem with that. As long as no one else is hurt in the process of you
satisfying your
needs
.”

“For goodness sake
when are you going to lighten up?”

“Do you think
nobody is ever hurt by your choices?”

“Come on Shane,
pussy and cock only requires two things—money or drugs. Let me amend that,” he
said with a self-satisfied laugh, “sometimes they necessitate both. But that’s
alright because I have an abundance of money. Therefore, I can offer both.”

“Well, at least
you do now.”

“Yes, I most
certainly do.”

Shane wasn’t in
the mood for Ollie’s unique brand of gutter humor. He was also in no doubt that
this topic of conversation was a way to show disrespect at Crystal’s presence.

“I suppose I
wasn’t all that clear. What I meant was, until I came along, all you had was a
clapped out racing team, your father’s name, and next to none of his money.
From what I could tell the old man couldn’t stand you. I bet he just gave you
the team so he could get you out of his life.”

Ollie’s jaw
hardened. Finally, he took a seat, crossed his legs and relaxed, swishing his
drink around his glass. “Why are you here?”

“It’s time we
straightened out a few things.”

“You could have
called me or come over at a more decent hour.”

“Yeah, I could
have, yet here I am.”

Sliding forward in
his seat, Ollie rested his elbows on his knees and gave Shane his undivided
attention. “What’s going on?

“Why don’t you
tell me?” Shane asked pleased that the other man had finally dropped his façade
of entertaining unexpected guests.

“Surely this can’t
have anything to do with your failed attempt at taking over my company? If so,
I don’t appreciate you calling at this hour. I will deal with you when I’m good
and ready!”

“Do I look like I
care what you appreciate?”

“Sorry, I seem to
have missed something. Why are you pissed off with me? From where I’m standing,
sorry, sitting—I should be the one exhibiting anger.”

“You talk and act
posh but you’re as stupid as pig shit. So, I’ll give you a few minutes to think
back five years. While you’re at it, make sure you get your story water-tight.”

“I must say, being
back in the company you left behind years ago has been somewhat detrimental to
your speech pattern.”

Ollie was hedging
with his attempts to rile him. And it was working because Shane had to fight
his urge to show him how an east end boy dealt with a pompous ass. Although his
mind raged, nothing showed in his expression. He just allowed the silence to
take hold once again. He wanted the other man to replay all the events of his
treachery in an attempt to find a way out.

Ollie tossed down
the remainder of his drink and rose to his feet. Still ignoring Crystal, he
inclined his head towards his now empty glass. By way of a response, Shane took
Crystal’s tumbler and placed both untouched goblets on the table beside him.
Ollie shrugged and walked back to the bar.

Shane squeezed
Crystal’s shoulder to get her attention. When she looked at him, he shook his
head to indicate that she should stay in her seat. At her nod of understanding,
he balanced his weight, and with light treads followed Ollie without making a
sound.

He had seen
something in the other man’s eyes that he didn’t trust, and he wasn’t about to
take any chances in being caught unawares.

His drink poured,
Ollie turned to find Shane standing directly behind him. A look of surprise
flashed across his face. Ollie’s hand moved through the air and Shane only just
managed to avoid a face full of alcohol.

Crystal gasped,
but Shane didn’t react to the sound, or to the glass that shattered into tiny
crystalline pieces that glistened on the hardwood floor. He finally understood
the expression he had seen in Ollie’s eyes. It was desperation.

After holding in
his anger since he had found out about Ollie’s meddling, for the second time in
his life, Shane completely lost his temper. With deft movements, he twisted one
of Ollie’s hands behind his back and locked him in a chokehold. Suppressing an
almost overriding urge to squeeze until the wheezing man turned blue, he
loosened his grip.

Shane dragged him
forward, and Ollie’s feet scraped along the wooden floor in an attempt to gain
purchase. Coming to a stop in front of a chair, and using more force than
necessary, Shane pushed him backward. As the back of Ollie’s knees touched the
edge of the chair, his body folded and he landed with a gasp.

“Don’t move a
fucking muscle until I say you can!” Shane warned.

“As a friend you
are always welcome in my home. However, since you are bent on behaving as
though I didn’t rip you from the gutters of East London; you can get out!”

“Bloody hell, I’ve
known you all these years and I never realized you had a sense of humor.”

Folding his arms
across his chest, Shane watched the other man with seeming dispassion.

When it became
apparent Shane wasn’t about to leave or take the bait of his insult, Ollie
settled back and crossed his legs in an attempt at nonchalance.

Nothing would have
given him more pleasure than to wipe away the look of smug superiority etched
across the other man’s face. But carrying out his desire wasn’t worth his
exertion. At least not yet.

Once he got the
information he wanted, Ollie would be dead to him. All that remained was
whether that fact would be literal or metaphorical. The way he currently felt,
the first choice wasn’t beyond the realms of possibility.

“You obviously
think you know something for which this treatment is deserved.”

“Yeah, I do. And
it’s what I think that counts. You can make up your mind when I’m done. Either
way, I don’t give a toss!”

“Really, Shane,
such vulgar language.”

“That’s the
difference between us, I speak my mind while you hide behind platitudes of
lies. See, if I wanted to, I could trade banalities with you. But honestly, it
would just be a waste of my time. So, why don’t we start with you telling me
why you wanted me dead?”

Ollie blinked in
rapid succession as heat crept up his neck and seeped into his face. In a
warped way, the look of surprise amused Shane. Deliberately turning his back,
Shane sauntered over and perched on the armrest of Crystal’s chair. Then he
waited. Tension was all around them, so much so he could smell the fear that
emanated from the other man’s pores.

Ollie’s expression
changed, and Shane knew he was finally about to hear the truth.

“I didn’t want you
dead, just scared. Those fools took things too far.”

“What fools?”

“The men I hired
of course!”

“Are you trying to
get on me nerves?” Shane questioned in warning.

“I’ve never seen
you like this. Where did all this coldness come from?”

“You must be
bloody joking! You admit to setting me up and in the next breath you’re asking
why I want to rip your fucking head off! Don’t wind me up—start talking!”

Before he could
stop her, Crystal was out of her seat, retrieved her glass and was heading
towards Ollie. Shane was immediately by her side, but he didn’t attempt to stop
her. She was good and mad and she had every right to be. Since his warning she
had kept her word and her silence. It now seemed that was all about to change.