Chapter 24

Letting go of her after giving her a passionate kiss, he stroked her cheek in a tender gesture. “I think we should go back out now, before someone comes looking for us.”

“I need to confess something to you,” she said, staring into his eyes.

“What would that be?”

“The way you came rushing over towards me, pulling out your gun and shielding me with your body, that’s the first time I saw you in action, and I have to admit it kind of turned me on a little.”

“So my baby likes a bad boy. I don’t think that poor man in there would agree with you.” Placing his lips next to her ear, he whispered. “Later, when we’re alone, I’ll show you just how bad I can be.”

She let out a giggle. Her eyes twinkling, she looked up at him and winked. “Maybe this time you’ll bring out the handcuffs.”

“You can count on it,” he said, taking her hand, and they walked back outside.

When they got outside, everything was back to normal. It was like the small disruption didn’t even occur, as people kept drinking and eating and talking.

As soon as the music started, they headed to the dance area. Putting his arms around her waist, they began swaying to the music.

“You’re an amazing dancer,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

“Thanks. My mother actually taught me different types of dances. She used to be a dancer before she married my father, and after I was born, she started giving lessons.

“I know she’s going to like you when she meets you, and so will my father.”

“I’m going to like them too.”

Dexter was pleased how the night was going. So far there were no problems. Claudia was busy playing the perfect hostess and acting like the loving wife to Thomas.

The only problem was Sandy. She took every opportunity to come over and flirt with him whenever Roxie was busy talking to someone or having a dance with another man.

At first he didn’t think that she noticed the attention her so-called friend was giving him, until she heard the two women talking.

She was giving Sandy an earful, telling her if she didn’t knock it off she would be removed from the premises.

From then on, she left him alone and started bothering the other eligible men at the party. He rather liked the jealous side of her. It showed that she really cared for him.

His ex never got jealous. In fact, the last couple of times he went to see her when he was on leave, she would try to push him toward other women.

He never thought anything of it at the time, but later he realized why. Because she was already having an affair herself.

Anyway, he didn’t want to think about her, and why would he? He had the most perfect woman in the world, one who he knew would always be faithful.

***

For some time now, Roxie had been noticing how Sandy kept going over to Dexter, and it was starting to annoy her. So when she got the chance, she went over, turning her around to face her.

“Sandy, I would appreciate it if you would leave him alone.”

“Who?” Sandy asked, trying to look coy.

“You know who. Dexter. He’s my man, and I won’t tolerate you slobbering all over him. I can do one of two things: one, scratch your eyes out; two, have you removed from the property.”

“Come on, Roxie. We’re friends. And I was just having some fun with him.”

“A friend wouldn’t go after her friend’s man.”

“Look, if it makes you feel better, I’ll stay away from him. Just so you know, he keeps turning me down. You’re a very lucky woman. So if I behave, can I stay?”

“All right. But I’ll be keeping my eye on you.”

When Sandy walked away, she turned her head and caught Dexter watching her. She walked over to him and stood before him. “She won’t be bothering you anymore.”

“What did you say to her?”

“That you belong to me, and if she didn’t leave you alone, I would scratch her eyes out. Now if you’ll excuse me, I told Trevor I would have one dance with him.”

He grabbed her arm, pulling her back. “Have fun dancing with that man, but not too much fun. I’ll be watching you.”

He saw the smirk on her face as she turned away. He shook his head, cursing himself for turning into a jealous teenager.

He started walking around, keeping an eye on her as he checked out what everyone else was doing.

“Mr. Sinclair, would you care for a drink?” Douglas asked, holding a tray full of champagne.

He shook his head. “No thanks. I don’t drink when I’m working. Though I wouldn’t mind a club soda.”

“Very well, sir. I’ll have one sent out to you.”

As he was leaving, Dexter stopped him. “Have you seen anyone or anything suspicious?”

“No, sir.”

“Okay, thanks,” he said, and turning, he started walking around. Ten minutes later, a maid came out with his soda and handed it to him. He took the glass and thanked her.

He looked around for Roxie and found her on the dance floor with Carson. He kept watching her. She looked like an angel as she seemed to float across the dance floor.

Moving through the crowd, he just happened to look down, and something caught his eye. Bending down, he picked up a gum wrapper.

His heart began racing when he saw it was a Nicorette wrapper. Holding it, he turned around in a circle, looking at everyone’s mouths to see if any of them were chewing on gum.

He checked to make sure she was dancing, before he started going through the crowd of people, the wrapper still in his hand.

He knew the bastard was here somewhere, but where? he asked himself as he looked around.

Roxie happened to look over and saw the expression on Dexter’s face and knew something was wrong. Excusing herself from the dance with Carson, she went over to him.

He was so busy looking around that he hadn’t noticed she was there, until she touched his arm. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

He looked at her when he felt her hand on his arm. He placed his hands on her shoulders. “I have to get you out of here.”

“Why? What’s going on?”

“I found this on the ground,” he said, showing her what he had in his hand. “He’s here. I just can’t figure out who it is.”

She looked at the wrapper and back at him.

“But I’m sure there are a lot of people who use this kind of gum. It could just be a coincidence,” she said. But seeing the look on his face told her he believed the culprit was here.

One thing she’d learned about him was that his instincts were always right.

“Come with me. I’m getting you out of here now,” he said, taking hold of her arm.

Before they could leave, there was a loud bang, and he pulled out his gun, stepping in front of her, his one hand holding her back.

Then suddenly there was an explosion, and the gazebo blew up. Everyone started screaming and running, causing chaos, as it was ablaze with fire.

Talking in his earpiece, he ushered her inside while telling the other security guards to start checking out the guests.

When he got her inside, they ran into Douglas.

“What’s going on?” he asked, looking over Dexter’s shoulder.

“Someone set the gazebo on fire, and it’s the person who’s after Roxie. Douglas, I need your help now.”

“Anything,” he replied, glancing over at a frightened Roxie.

“I need you to take her somewhere safe until I get back.”

She grabbed his arm, fear making her body shake. “No. You can’t leave me,” she said, tears filling her eyes.

He cupped her face in his hands. “I need to help them put out the fire and then find the bastard. You’ll be safe with Douglas. Stay with him until I come for you.”

He then kissed her long and hard before pulling away. “I love you.”

“Don’t worry, sir. I’ll make sure she’s okay,” Douglas said, nodding his head.

“Here. Take this, just in case,” he said, handing the butler one of his guns.

As he was leaving, he turned back to look at her. He could see how scared she was, and he hated leaving her, but it was better she was hidden away until he caught the man or woman.

“It’s going to be all right. I promise,” he said before rushing back outside.

“Come with me, Miss. I’ll take good care of you.”

Dexter rushed outside and over to the gazebo with the other men and helped to put out the fire. Thomas showed up, tugging on his arm.

“Where’s Roxie? Where’s my baby?” he kept yelling over the roar of the fire and everyone screaming.

“She’s somewhere safe. Now start helping to put this out,” he barked back.

The women all stood back, watching as the men put out the fire. They were all in shock, and some people tried to leave, but Dexter had the guards keeping them there.

He needed to talk to them all and to see if he could figure out who was behind the death threats. Whoever dropped that wrapper would surely have the package in his or her pocket.

There was so much confusion, so much noise as the fire trucks came and people talked, that Dexter didn’t see Chad running toward him until the bucket of water was ripped from his hand.

“Chad, what are you doing here?”

“I tried calling you, but you weren’t picking up.”

“As you can see, I’ve been busy.”

“Damn it, Dexter. You have to listen to me. This is important,” he said, pulling him away from all of the noise. “I know who’s after your girl. It’s the butler.”

“What are you talking about? It can’t be Douglas. He has no reason to want to harm Roxie.”

“It’s him. He’s not who everyone thinks he is. He is the father of the woman that Mr. Greene ran over and killed.”

“No. That’s not possible. That woman’s parents died a long time ago.”

“Yes, her mother and her stepfather died. Her biological father is Douglas, whose real name is Jeff Owens. It’s a long story, and I’ll tell you later. Where is Miss Greene?”

Dexter’s stomach was in knots. He could feel everything spinning around him. Feeling sick to his stomach, he fought to hold the bile from going up to his throat and out of his mouth.

“Oh my God. She’s with him,” he said, placing his hands on Chad’s shoulders and shaking him.

“I handed her over to him to protect her, and I even gave the bastard a gun. Tell your men to go search every inch of this place inside and outside. We’ve got to get to her before he hurts her.”

The two of them rushed inside the house, and the only place Dexter could think of that Douglas would take her was to his own personal room.

When they got there, he didn’t bother to knock. He just kicked the door open. Going into the room, he saw the gum wrappers in Douglas’s wastebasket.

The black gloves that were in the shed outside were lying on his dresser.

“Is there anywhere else he might have taken her?” Chad asked.

“I don’t know, but let’s go check the security cameras. It should show us where they went.”

While the other security guards were checking the house and the outside, the two of them went through the security cameras for the last hour.

There was nothing showing Douglas or Roxie. There was no sign of them leaving the house.

Chad rubbed his chin as he watched the screen. “They’ve got to be here inside the mansion.”

Dexter’s face turned pale. “There is one way out of this mansion that won’t be on the security cameras.”

“Where?”

He looked at Chad. “There’s an underground tunnel under the house that leads out into the forest. He had to have taken her out that way. Follow me,” he said and rushed out with Chad on his heels.