Page 7 of Dirty Empire

“Hazel...if you will,” I gesture to assist her off the yacht.She grips my hand tight as she steps off the boat and onto the dock. I lead her to the awaiting vehicle. Once she’s inside, I narrow my eyes on her.

“Don’t try to run. You have no idea where you are, and I will find you,” my voice takes on a threatening tone, so she knows I’m serious.

Her throat shifts as she swallows before nodding. “I’m not going to run.”

I close the door to the SUV and get back onto the yacht. I check in with my captain and make sure everything is fine to be closed up. Meanwhile, Davis gets onboard to take Hazel’s bags.

“Sir?” Davis says as were about to step back onto the dock. “I found a phone in the bedroom. She must have dropped it.”

He hands it to me, and I turn around and throw it overboard. Miles might be able to track her with it, and I’m not taking any chances. Davis’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second, but he quickly masks his emotions. We reach the SUV, and I slid in next to Hazel. I retrieve my phone and text the house staff with instructions to prepare a room for her. She holds a forlorn look. She’s deep in thought, gazing out the window as we drive. I don’t want to interrupt her, so I leave her alone for the ride home.

Several minutes later, we arrive at my gated entrance. On the twelve-foot high, black iron gates, my initials are etched. “M.S.” I live in an exclusive neighborhood. Just as I like it. The security officer approaches the truck window, waving Davis through the gate. After a few turns, we arrive at the entrance of my mansion. Hazel says nothing. Usually, when I take a woman to my home, they won’t shut up about how beautiful they find the property. I assume that Hazel’s well-accustomed to high-class living. We drive up a winding driveway to the main house’s entrance. The house – a white, three-story, fifteen-thousand square-feet edifice – has dual stairways leading to the porch. A sight to behold. Davis parks at the base of the stairs and exit the SUV. He retrieves Hazel’s bags, and Isabella comes out to greet us. I step out of the vehicle. Hazel does the same before circling the back of the SUV and coming to stand next to me.

“Mr. Stapleton. Ma’am.” Isabella says. “Welcome home. May I see your guest to her quarters?”

I can already tell Isabella is burning with questions. Usually, if I bring a woman home, it's for one night. I wouldn’t need to get a guest room ready for a one-night stand.

“Yes, Isabella, please take Hazel to her room and get her anything she wants,” I reply. I turn to Hazel with a soft expression. “Isabella will help you get settled, and I will be in my office if you need anything.”

Hazel regards me, hesitantly. “Okay.”

I flash her a warm smile. I watch Hazel and Isabella walk into the house. She’s been through a lot. Such a strange situation. I don’t know what I’ve gotten myself into. A naked dark-haired woman with her lover, or whatever he was, and an angry husband. Not like Miles was faithful. I’ve heard about him through the grapevine from colleagues. Now she’s ended up on my boat, interrupting my operation. I have no idea what to think at this stage. I walk inside the house and go straight to my office. It’s located on the first floor. The room has two big windows that face the back of the property so I can see the outdoor pool. The office is decorated with a mix of blues and grays. My interior designer came up with the concept. I don't give a damn at the time, but after working here nearly every day, I’m grateful that it doesn't have a dark and moody feel to it.

Staring at the laptop, I decided to turn my attention onto what matters most. Miles is a cunning and intelligent businessman. On the street, he’s known as an even more ruthless boss. I know I have to secure the compound. I have to focus on what’s real. What is happening now?

Miles knows how to track people. Once he finds out how Hazel left, he’ll come for us. He’s built for war. But so am I. He’s going to need an army to take me down. For sure, he’s going to think I stole his wife. Men like him see women as their possession. It was sick. That is how his sociopathic brain worked. He saw people and materials as his. The self-centered, egotistical tyrant would be hell-bent on taking his “property” back. The guy was about ownership, and Hazel’s no exception.

I grab my phone and send a quick text to Mike. He’s somewhere on the property. It would only take him a few minutes to get to my office. Like clockwork, a knock sounds on the door.

“Come in.”

Mike walks inside. He’s dressed in all black per usual. The holster attached to his pants is visible, like a silent threat. My head of security takes his job seriously because his resume is impressive as fuck. Four years in the military before working in the secret service. I’d tracked him down right before he was about to leave the service.

“Sir?” he asks.

I wave a hand at the chair on the other side of the desk. Mike takes a seat. The lights in the office reflected off his bald head.

“We got a bit of a problem,” I say.

He sits up straight in the chair, always ready for war. “What’s up?”

“The deal with Miles fell through. It turns out he likes to put his hands on his wife.”

Mike raises an eyebrow in confusion. “So, you think he’s going to come after you because you aren’t going to do business with him anymore?”

I shake my head. “No. He’s going to come after us because I took his wife.”

His eyes widen in surprise, but he quickly recovers himself, covering up his astonishment with a cough. I don’t blame him. It’s not like me to be so reckless, especially when I’m trying so hard to get out of the game. Although it’s not really my fault, Hazel jumped on the boat after I told her no.

“I need all the men we have on the grounds and a plan in place. Thanks to me, he has enough firepower to do some real damage if he wants to.”

Mike nods, but I can tell he wants to ask a question. I turn my chair around and grab a glass and a bottle of whiskey. I pour myself two fingers and take a sip before waving at him.

“Go ahead, ask.”

“Why’d you take her?”

I don’t always let my staff speak to me freely, but Mike has been with me for a long time.

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