Healing Hark (Doms of Chicago) (6 page)

Keefer shook his head. “No, I didn’t. I can keep looking if you want, but frankly, what we’re looking at here, in my honest opinion, are some rather bizarre coincidences.”

“See? I told you. It was nothing more than incompetence or errors from some of our employees. Nothing dastardly going on.” Corbin joined him at the desk. “Thank you, Mr. Tierney. Our accounting department will send you a check. ”

“Stop.” Bryan glared at Corbin, then spoke directly to Keefer. “Look, I just can’t shake the feeling there’s something going on. Not only did a whole freezer of our new food line get destroyed because of some malfunction in the wiring of the unit, but the hard copy of the enzyme formula for the bread base was mysteriously misplaced for nearly twelve hours. Someone finally found it misfiled in a different cabinet.”  

Corbin’s cheeks reddened as he clenched his fists. “I told you what was going on. It’s Easton’s fault. He’s covering for his staff’s incompetency. And you’re a fool if you keep paying this man to look into a situation that’s nothing more than screw ups you refuse to acknowledge, solely because of your relationship with him. The damned gluten-free line has been a failure since the very beginning. It should’ve been eighty-sixed before it even left the planning stages.” His uncle spun around and stalked toward the door. He glanced over his shoulder to issue one last warning. “Just remember it’s the Board’s money you’re wasting and they won’t take this lightly. Keep beating a dead horse and you won’t have a company to worry about.”

Rubbing his hand over of the back of his neck, Bryan winced as Corbin slammed the door behind him. He looked at his investigator and shrugged his shoulders.

“Hmmm, anger issues, that one.” Keefer shifted. “Are you sure he’s not the one sabotaging you? If I didn’t know better, I’d think he doesn’t fully support your new line.”

Squeezing the bridge of his nose, Bryan sighed. “He’d be behind it a hundred percent if I’d sell it for three times the cost.” Straightening, he rounded his desk. “Don’t worry about him. Just keep your eyes open for me for a bit longer. If nothing else comes up missing or damaged in the next two weeks, we’ll call it off.”

Keefer stood. “You got it.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his khakis. “Same as usual? Daily reports?”

“Yeah, and have Sharonda schedule another meeting for you in two weeks.” Bryan spun around in his chair, his head pounding. He barely heard the door close behind him. He couldn’t get his uncle’s accusations out of his mind. Was Corbin right? Was he turning a blind eye to Easton’s faults just because they were friends?

“Damn. There’s only one way to find out.” Turning back around he reached for the phone on his desk. “Sharonda…have Easton come to my office. I’ve moved our meeting up from later today. And I need those notes ASAP.” Releasing the button, he leaned back in his chair. God, there were days it sucked to be the boss.

“Hey boss, you wanted to see me?”

The male voice had Bryan looking up from papers in front of him. Easton King, the vice president of new products stood in the doorway, casual in his charcoal slacks and hunter green cashmere sweater. In one hand, the other man held an insulated cup of coffee and in the other arm several manila folders. Bryan motioned him to come in before turning his attention back to the protesting plant manager on the other end of the phone.

“Look, enough excuses. I understand equipment breaks down and the employees get sick. It happens but at the moment, I don’t care what the long-term schedules say. The shipment was expected on the promised date. This contract with Kroger’s is one of our longest standing accounts. If you need to shift the orders around to complete it, then do it.” Setting aside the profit-margin analysis report, Bryan growled a good-bye before hanging up the phone. “Please sit, Easton.”

Lowering his fit form into the chair across from Bryan’s desk, Easton set his coffee and folders on the small table between the two chairs. Dark brown eyes met his as he crossed his ankle over the opposite knee. “What’s so important that I had to cancel my daily staff meeting with my department? Did we find out who’s responsible for the damages?”

Bryan shook his head. “No. The investigator’s still drawing blanks. And my uncle’s fighting me every step off the way. He swears it’s either simply human error or more likely complete incompetence on the part of the project’s lead.” Bryan raked his hand through his hair.

Easton stiffened and swore softly. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me! You dragged my ass in here like a kid who fucked up and got sent to the principal’s office because of that asshole? You know the only reason he keeps shoving the blame on me is because he’s still holding a grudge about not getting the project. This is fucking bullshit.”

Bryan stiffened. He’d known Easton would probably not be happy being called to his office in such a manner, but the last thing he needed was the Board claiming he was showing preferential treatment toward his friend. “This has nothing to do with who was assigned to the lead.”

Easton raked his hand through his hair. “Of course it does. Mr. High and Mighty R & D can’t stand the idea that he, for once, didn’t get total control of a new project. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s responsible for the setbacks we’ve experienced. As a research head, he has keys to every lab in the place and…”

Digging his fingers into the arms of his executive style chair, he strove to let Easton vent without losing his own cool. The pressure building all day was only getting worse, and more than anything he wanted to go home to his master – his oasis.
Then he remembered their guest.
Fuck, but even at home there’s no peace
.

As Easton continued to rant about how fucked up the situation was, Bryan drummed his fingers on the arms of his chair. He should’ve expected Easton to be pissed, but had hoped the other man would keep his cool. But as his friend continued to cast accusations, it did nothing more than put the proverbial icing on the cake of an already shitty day. Finally fed up, he smacked his palm on his desk. “Enough!”

At the sharp rap, the words coming out of Easton’s mouth froze as the man stared at him in surprise.

“I’m tired of the god-damned blame game everyone has going on. Here’s what I know for a fact.” He lifted his hand and began to tick off each one on his fingers. “One, I had a meeting with the investigator and my uncle today. Two, even after two weeks of intense supervision, we’re no closer to finding out who the hell is sabotaging us than when we started. And three, I’ve put too much time and effort into seeing this project come to light to tolerate insubordination from the head of my new products line. Especially when I’ve done nothing but defend your ass to the Board ever since I gave you the project.”

Easton glared at him. “So your solution to the mess is to drag me into your office? What’s that going to do, other than piss me off? Which it has. Or is it to save face with the damned Board?” He grabbed the folders off the table. “I’ve told you – my people are clean. Even before the incidents started, Security was monitoring their every move. The sabotage must be coming from outside my department. But if you don’t like the way I’m running it – then bring your ass downstairs and you do it.” Easton surged to his feet to toss the files on the desk in front of Bryan. “Because frankly I’m tired of the interference and inference my people are fucking up your baby. There are the damned reports you requested. I’ve got a department to run and product to see through to completion.”

Finally pushed to the point of no return, the leash on Bryan’s temper snapped. “Move toward that door and you can find another job, Easton.”

Shock crossed his friend’s face and the man gaped at him. “You’d fire me over an unfounded accusation? Un-fucking-believable. Not only am I struggling to bring your dream to life–”

Taking a page from his Master’s book, Bryan forced domination into his tone. The same ‘you will obey or there will be hell to pay’ intonation that always had him dropping to his knees and begging for his master’s forgiveness. “Sit your ass down,
now.”

“Fine.” Easton plopped back into the chair.

“I’ve already had a very trying day. Not only did Diachi move his former lover into my home, but I got a flat tire on the way here, then my god-blessed uncle accused me of showing favoritism. The last thing I need from you at this moment is a damned temper tantrum. You’re supposed to be the head of my new project line, not some punk kid in high school who’s out to do prove he’s better than his rival.”

Easton’s shoulders slumped. “Fuck.” He looked up at Bryan. “I’m sorry. When you inferred it was incompetence on my part, I lost it.” Easton rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m so damned tired of having to prove myself.”

Bryan leaned back in his chair, his sympathetic side coming to the forefront. Suffering from P.T.S.D., his best friend since the second grade hadn’t been able to handle working around the large machinery in the warehouse. The loud sounds had brought flashbacks from Easton’s time in the Middle East and Afghanistan. With no formal training, Easton had worked his way from the mailroom up to his current position. It hadn’t taken Bryan long to realize Easton’s natural talent for coordinating and eye for advertising were being wasted. “I know. You’ve come a long way since the mail room.”

“And I can’t thank you enough for giving a broken down vet a chance.”

Bryan held up a hand. “I don’t want to hear you say that again. You’re not a broken down anything. You’re a valued member of my management team. Which is exactly why you’re going to be my mole. I want you to keep tabs on the investigator I hired.”

“Keep tabs?” A perplexed expression crossed Easton’s face. “You think he might be on someone else’s payroll?”

“There’s a chance.” Bryan squeezed the bridge of his nose in an attempt to hold off the migraine. “I find it hard to believe the guy has found nothing.”
Especially after I found the wires inside the cooler had been cut.

“Of course. I’m not as good as some of the cloak and dagger guys I worked with, but I can run surveillance without getting caught most of the time.”

“Good.” Bryan reached for the folders Easton had tossed on his desk. “I’ll take a look at these and get back to you later.”

Easton rose and headed toward the door, but paused. “Bryan?”

Looking up from the report he’d already been reading, he glanced at his friend. “Yeah?”

“Earlier you said something about Diachi moving in his old lover. Is everything okay?”

He sighed and dropped the file. “Fuck if I know.”

Shutting the door, Easton walked back over to Bryan’s desk and propped his hip on the corner of it. “Want to talk about it? Sometimes it helps to talk to someone not involved. Friend to friend.”

“I…Christ.” He rubbed his palm over his face. “I don’t know where the hell to start.” Bryan slipped from the role of Easton’s boss into the familiar one as his friend. “Before this weekend, I’d have said everything was great. Then we went to the club. Everything was going great. We had a wonderful scene. Master fucked my brains out, but Sunday over brunch he sprung the possibility of his former submissive moving in with us, just temporarily, while his condo was being renovated.”

“Damn.” Easton shifted his weight. “And I take it he arrived today?”

Bryan nodded. “Yeah. This morning and Master wanted me to show him around our home.” Bryan’s shoulders slumped. “I know jealousy isn’t supposed to have a place in my relationship with Diachi, but I can’t help but be nervous.”

Easton cocked his head. “Why? Is he so attractive you think Diachi will stray?”

“It isn’t a matter of straying. Diachi always honors his promises.” He traced the edge of the collar hidden under his shirt and tie. “No, it’s me I’m worried about.”

“Why?”

Because given half a chance and with Master’s permission, I’d show Hark what he’s been missing by denying himself the lifestyle.
But he wasn’t ready to admit that to his friend. “Let’s just leave it at the fact the man is so damned hot, I’d throw myself at him if I wasn’t taken.”

“That hot, huh? But honestly, I don’t think it’ll be an issue in the long run. If he was Diachi’s former submissive, and by your own admission, you can’t get it up unless the man dominates you…”

“He’s a switch.”

Easton’s mouth fell open. “Okay, I see why it probably didn’t work out between him and Diachi, but that isn’t going to make it any easier on you. Why don’t you tell Diachi he makes you nervous, and you’re not comfortable with him in the house? If he wants to help the guy, why not pay for a hotel room? Diachi could certainly afford it.”

Bryan tipped his head back. “I wish it were that simple.”

“Why? Is there more than just renovations going on?”

Bryan nodded. “Yeah. The man lost his master and sub in some accident. Since then he’s been shying away from the lifestyle and anything related to it.” He leaned forward and met Easton’s gaze. “Christ, I wish you could see his eyes. Dark gray and the pain in them – it’s enough to make me want to wrap my arms around him and tell him everything will get better. Particularly after he told me things about Diachi – things from their shared past - and I could see the longing he’s been hiding. Harkahome Akula is hurting and I want nothing more than to fix him.”

Surprise filled Easton’s face. “Hark Akula? Are you talking about a big Native American? Stands about six foot eight and is over three hundred pounds? Light as hell on his feet and talks softly?
That
Hark Akula?”

Bryan thought about it for a moment. If he hadn’t been super aware of the man following him around the house, he wouldn’t have heard him. And Hark had never raised his voice. “Yeah. I think so. Why? Do you know him?”

Easton groaned. “How the hell did you end up with the bogeyman of the special ops as your house guest? The last I heard, he’d retired north of the city.”

“I’m not sure.” Fear sizzled at the base of his spine. “All I know is he lives in a condo Olivia owns and it’s undergoing renovations. Should I be worried he’s going to cut my throat in my sleep?”

Easton shook his head. “No – not in a million years. In the service, Akula was known for taking care of those he considered his own… whether it was his own unit or one he was assigned to protect. Only those idiots with a death wish crossed him. So if he’s living at your house? Well let’s just say I pity the fool who tries to break into your home. They’ll end up on the wrong end of that knife he carries in his boot.”

Bryan relaxed. “Over protective, huh? I imagine that’s why he’s struggling with losing his loved ones.”

Easton nodded. “Over protective doesn’t even cover it. Let me tell you a story. It was during my tour in Korea. Me and my buddy, Anderson, had gone downtown and heard a commotion inside this little ‘soju bar.’ Hearing screams, we pushed through the crowd, only to find Akula taking on four drunken ROK soldiers. They’d cornered one of our new female lieutenants. She’d been there drinking after work, and they’d decided they wanted a piece of her. When she refused, they attacked her. Evidently Hark had been at the back of the bar, drinking by himself, when she screamed. By the time it was all said and done, it took three MPs and the lieutenant to pull him off the last poor bastard who’d thought it’d be a good idea to rape an American female officer. He was the guy with his pants around his ankles and he died right there on the dirty floor of that bar. Hark managed to put three of the fool’s buddies in the hospital before passing out due to blood loss from a knife wound they’d given him.”

Bryan whistled. “Damn.”

Easton sighed. “Yeah. Not saying the asshole hadn’t had it coming but Akula was brutal about it, even though the man hadn’t succeeded in raping her. Later when I asked him in the infirmary why he’d done it, especially when he’d nearly died saving her. He simply told me, no matter what the woman had or hadn’t done, a man who violates a woman that way deserves death. Now if he did that for a woman he barely knew, what do you think he went through when his Master and sub died?”

“Hell,” Bryan whispered as pieces clicked together in his brain. If even half of what Easton had said was true, the situation with Hark was worse than Master had been told.

“Exactly.” Easton stood and gazed down at him. “Hark was dark during the time I knew him and I’m sure he’s even darker now, but if for one second you think there might be a bit of that man left - under all the pain you say you saw, don’t give up on him. The man who nearly gave up his life for a stranger is worth saving.”