“You’re the one who destroyed it when you engaged that aircraft on Theo Densen’s orders. I don’t think your grandfathers would play rogue soldier the way you did, would they?”
Dorian swore. “No matter how many companies you take over, no matter how you try to destroy me, you’ll never be me, Xander. You’ll still be a rich guy who got here by being lucky. You want to talk about playing soldier? Isn’t that what your whole company does?”
“Dorian, I have nothing further to say to you. Speak to my lawyer from now on.”
“I didn’t know, Xander. For what it’s worth, I didn’t know there were people out there when Theo asked me to try out the stealth helicopter. I thought that stretch of dessert was empty and he just wanted to see how it flew because he had investors interested in the system. I wasn’t out to kill or hurt anyone.”
“You’re responsible for your toys, Dorian. Where did you get this info from?”
“Is there anything I can do to stop the destruction you have aimed at me?” Dorian’s high pitch hurt Xander’s ears.
“I had men out there trying to rescue a terrified woman, Dorian. Good men, trained men, all former soldiers who served their country and after all that, one man lost his life in a stretch of the desert because you didn’t think to ask enough questions before you hit launch.” His usual control slipped and his voice rang off the walls. “And who told you that I had my own, what was it? ‘Modern courtesan’?”
“Theo. Xander, it was a poor quarter. Theo came to me last summer, telling me he had investors for our new technology. I felt hope for the first time in months. One night we had drinks and there was a picture of Ares in the paper for donating to the hospital, and Theo said a lot of stuff about you. But that’s when he said that you had a personal whore because you were too agoraphobic to leave the house.”
“You believed him;”
“Xander, it was just talk. What does this have to do with Theo wanting me to test out the stealth technology months later?”
“Everything,” Xander said. “Don’t call me again.”
He tossed the phone on the table, shaking his head. Good people made bad decisions. He’d known the Martin Group had had a bad quarter. That was why it was easy to pull off the hostile takeover; their shareholders were eager for a new direction.
And he could see how Dorian got emotionally manipulated by the stronger personality of Theo. Xander pressed play again on the video feed.
He sat forward, pausing as a group of men entered the executive floor. With her shy smile, Gardenia gestured at them, and they put down several boxes. Xander frowned. He hadn’t remembered a delivery that sizeable before.
He had paused the video to try and see a name on their shirts when his phone rang. His mouth went dry, seeing the number flash on his screen.
“Angel.”
“Xander, I...” her voice was breathless and scared, and Xander strode out of the conference room, to the front doors, glancing out the window at the dark street.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I know I shouldn’t call you.”
He closed his eyes against a fresh wave of pain. “You can always call me. No matter what. What’s happening?”
“Logan has been gone for hours. He got a call from Edwin around ten.”
“You’ve been there alone the whole time?” He thought Marrock was smarter than that.
“No, Gabe is here to babysit me. I’m fine Xander. A little shook up, but fine,” she said.
His heart swelled. There she was, offering reassurance and comfort to him. Going through each member of her family he knew about to match to the guy who made the missing police report was going to be his next task.
“So, Ed called at ten, and Logan’s still not back yet?” Xander checked his watch. Ten to one.
“I can’t explain it, Xander, but I heard Edwin through the phone. He sounded unhinged. I can’t get Logan on his cell. It’s silly of me to worry about him and to call you about it, but...”
“No, it isn’t. Where’s Gabe?”
A pause. “I know you probably have a pair of bodyguards watching the perimeter of the condo. The man looked so worn out. I made him soup, dimmed the lights, and he fell asleep. He’s been on the couch for about an hour.”
Xander sighed. He knew that Gabe would be up and ready for action at the slightest sound. He was glad the man was having a few moments of peace. He seemed intent on burning himself out.
“Harper, I’ll check out what’s going on with Logan. Go to bed or try to read. Even take the sleeping pills the doc left for you. I got this.”
