Merchants with Evil Intent (56 page)

      
And cried to sleep
every night.

      
She lifted her chin in the mirror and put
the finishing touches on her make-up.

      
After appraising herself a final time she
grabbed her keys and coat and headed out the door to the party.

      
Party schmarty.
She wasn’t in the mood.

*
     
*
     
*

      
The drive to Cam’s holiday party was
quiet.

      
Ryan drew a deep breath. “Look, I didn’t
want to like you, but only because I don’t want Camryn to move to Ireland.”
Declan eyed him curiously, causing Ryan to shrug. “I’m a selfish creature and I
love my sister. Having said that, I
do
like you and I know you’re good for her. So, seeing’s how she’s going to freak
if you just walk up to her at the party, I’ll run interference first. Maybe get
her to dance and then you can take over.”

      
“It’s me last chance to get her to
understand. I may have to resort to putting her over me shoulder and taking her
somewhere where we can talk,” Declan laughed. “She’s always callin’ me a
Neanderthal.”

      
“Not sure I’d go that far,” Ryan mumbled,
rolling his eyes.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Everything was set in place. The hotel
room in the boondocks would serve as the backdrop to his plan.

      
Dressed in a cheap tuxedo, he
double-checked his appearance in the posh hotel mirror and patted his pockets,
making sure he didn’t forget the pills. Satisfied he looked the part he strode
to the podium smiling at the hostess.

      
“May I see the guest list?” he asked, a
false smile tugged at his lips.

      
The blonde eyed him suspiciously, “Sure,
just news people and their guests.”

      
He nodded to her, scanning the guest
list. He spotted the O’Mara bitches name immediately. He grinned when he
noticed she was going solo. It would make his task much easier.

*
     
*
     
*

      
The ballroom had been decked out with
mini pine trees, adorned with thick silver and gold satin ribbon.
 
Tiny white lights nestled between branches
twinkled.

      
How Tamara talked her into going
mystified her. She sighed sadly watching the throng of dancers on the floor.
Spotting Tamara and Greg she smiled. Greg looked dashing in his black tuxedo
adorned with a red carnation at the lapel. Tamara looked beautiful in a
bright-red sparkly dress.

      
Camryn looked down at her own dress and
arched an eyebrow. She opted for a hunter green sleeveless dress that glimmered
under the soft light.
 

      
A blonde waitress dressed in a black
skirt and white blouse approached Camryn’s table. “Can I get you a cocktail?”

      
I’d
like five
, Camryn
thought miserably but instead replied, “A cola, please.”
 
The waitress gave a courteous nod and
continued to the next table.

      
A dark haired man approached the table, a
tall crystal glass in his hand. “You requested a cola?” he grinned placing it
in front of her.

      
Her eyebrows furrowed. He wasn’t dressed
like the rest of the staff.

      
He flashed a huge grin and extended his
hand.
 
“I couldn’t help but notice you
from across the room. My name is Geno, Miss O’Mara.”

      
She accepted his hand and it encouraged
him to sit next to her.

      
Eyeing him curiously she noted his hair
was a thick mop of black curls and his eyes were the lightest brown she’d ever
seen, even lighter than Tamara’s. His nose was slightly flattened at the end
and his lips were thin, indistinguishable.

      
She sipped her cola and shook her head.
“I’m sorry, have we met before?”

      
He grinned, flashing white, uneven
teeth.
 
“No, I haven’t had the pleasure,
until now.”

      
“Ah.” She shifted uncomfortably in her
chair. “Do you work at the paper, too?” she prodded.

      
“No, but we work in the same building,”
he replied, looking nervous.

      
Sensing she wasn’t one for conversation
he stood abruptly. “Enjoy your evening.”

      
She exhaled sharply after he left.
He creeped her out.

*
     
*
     
*

      
“Who’s that guy walking away from Cam?”
Greg murmured into Tamara’s ear.

      
She shrugged. “I’ve never seen him.”

      
Greg’s eyes narrowed. “He doesn’t work at
your office?”

      
“Nope.”

      
Greg abruptly stopped dancing with
Tamara. “I’m gonna follow him.”

      
She let out a hard breath. “Greg! You’re
over-reacting! She’s not in danger anymore!”

      
He was torn between staying with her
or
following the guy. Her eyes pleaded with him. His lips
thinned and he relented.

      
Maybe he
was
over-reacting.

*
     
*
     
*

      
He probably looked like a complete idiot
in front of her. The thought angered him.

      
That’s right, drink up, you murdering
little bitch!

      
He’d give her a chance to beg for her
life…something she didn’t extend to Viktor.

*
     
*
     
*

      
She took a sip of cola, her mind turning
to thoughts of Him.

      
She twisted the red linen napkin in her
hands. She reminded herself she was the one who walked out of Murphy’s and
chose not to return his calls.

      
Irritated, she tossed the napkin on the
table and took a long pull from her cola. She had enough of being somewhere she
didn’t want to be and stood to leave. In her haste she abruptly spun into
someone.

*
     
*
     
*

      
“Ryan!” she grinned, surprised.

      
He whistled low and held her at arm’s
length, appraising her outfit.
“Such a waste…you looking so
great and being alone.”

      
She lifted a shoulder, “It is what it is.
What are you doing here and in a tux yet?”

      
“I’m slummin’ tonight,” he joked. “Come
on, let’s dance.”

      
She tugged her hand from his. “Actually
you’re crashing my company party, besides I’m leaving.”

      
“Why? So you can sulk in your apartment?
Not gonna happen sister dear.”

      
She huffed at him, causing him to bend to
look into her eyes. “We’re dancing!”

      
He pulled her to the dance floor and
wrapped his arm around her waist, taking her hand into his. A smug grin tugged
at his lips.

      
She only had cola to drink so why the hell
did she feel so fuzzy, like she’d been drinking? Ah that’s right, Dr. Annie did
say her body would act funny for the next few months.

      
“Ryan, I need to sit. I’m not feeling
well.”

      
She pulled away and stumbled. “Jesus,
Cam! How much did you have to drink?”

      
She shook her head slightly. “I only had
a cola.”

      
He took her to the table and looked at
her. Her skin felt clammy. “I’ll get you a glass of water, okay?”

*
     
*
     
*

      
Declan met Ryan at the bar. “What’s
wrong?”

      
“I dunno. She’s not feeling well. She doesn’t
look well, either,” Ryan frowned.

      
“Too much to drink?”
Declan wondered, looking over the sea of people to keep an eye on her.

      
His face paled. “She’s gone!” Declan
cursed.

      
“Check the ladies room, I’ll check the
lobby,” Ryan muttered.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Greg growled, “That guy is buggin’ Cam
again.”

      
Tamara rolled her eyes. “How do you know
he’s bugging her? Maybe she made a new friend.”

      
He took his eyes off Camryn and looked at
Tamara. “Yeah, right,” he scoffed.

      
When he looked back at Camryn’s table, she
was gone.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Geno’s car was pulled in front, ready for
him.

      
“Who are you?” Camryn moaned.

      
Geno laughed and nodded to the valet.
“Give my girl too many drinks and she forgets who I am.”

      
The valet nodded and grinned and helped
Geno get Camryn into the car.

      
Geno hastily shoved a ten dollar bill
into the kid’s hand and quickly got into the black sedan and pulled away.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Declan felt like an arse standing outside
the ladies room. He couldna go in there! Hesitantly he opened the door. “Camryn
O’Mara?”

      
No response so he closed the door. He
took a deep breath and reached for the door when a gray-haired lady pulled the
door open, a snarl on her face.

      
“E’en ma’am.
Is
there a young woman in there?
Long curly auburn hair?
Green dress?”

      
“No,” she hissed and stomped away.

*
     
*
     
*

      
Not seeing Cam in the lobby, Ryan ran
outside, bumping into Greg.

      
Greg frantically yelled into his cell
phone. “Put a Goddamn APB out! I don’t give a shit! She was out cold and he put
her into his fucking car!”

      
He disconnected the call, running his
hand over the top of his head. “Fuck!”

      
Ryan gasped and paled, “Cam?”

      
“Who was the douche bag she was with?”
Greg growled.

      
“I didn’t see anyone,” Ryan whispered.

      
“That’s just fuckin’ great! Jesus
Christ!” Greg yelled.
“You!
I want info now!” he
yelled, grabbing the valet by the collar.

      
Declan heard a ruckus outside and pushed
past people when he saw Greg and Ryan.

      
He froze momentarily when he saw the
anger in Greg’s face. “What happened?” he nudged Ryan.

      
“Some guy.
Took.
Cam.”

*
     
*
     
*

      
She was so tired all of the sudden. With
all the effort she could muster Camryn opened her eyes and looked at the man
driving. “Who are you? Where are we going?”

      
“Geno.
Orlov,”
he replied smoothly.

      
Camryn’s heart skipped. She grabbed for the
door handle and he pulled her by the hair.

      
“You’re not going anywhere bitch,” he
growled punching her in the side of the head.

*
     
*
     
*

      
“I swear sir, that’s all I know,” the
young valet cried.

      
Greg pushed him away in disgust. Fuck! He
wanted to punch someone. He looked around for options and saw Ryan.
Nah, too easy
.
The
kid would probably piss himself.

      
He saw Declan kneeling on the ground. Now
he
was a possibility. He stomped
towards him and kicked his shoe.
“You!
Did you see the
guy she was with?”