Shady Business by Silver MoonAngel @ AI and ASMR
Carley MoonAngel @ FF.Net
--------------------------------------------------------------------
STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIES
--------------------------------------------------------------------
AN: This is the second, EDITED, version of Shady Business. I'm
still going to be writing the first version we all know and love
(well, at least I do) and taking suggestions to revise it and create
this one!
Also, some new elements are going to be introduced, but it will only
prove to enhance it (I hope).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Eight - The Search Begins
--------------------------------------------------------------------
It had been a week since Serena had vanished without a trace;
Darien had been tense and moody, biting anyone's head off for the
slightest of things. Raye lounged on the couch in his study, there
only because he needed some form of support. Sighing, Raye debated
whether to tell him that she had heard from Serena. Watching him
wear a hole in his carpet, Raye barked, "Darien, sit!"
Darien just glared at her, but obeyed nonetheless. Putting
his head in his hands, Darien said, "It's my fault she left. I had
her here and I screwed up."
"No, you fucked up," Raye said with her usual frankness.
Putting an arm around Darien's shoulders, she said, "I wasn't going
to tell you, but what the hell."
Narrowing his eyes into dangerous slits, Darien asked, "Tell
me what?"
"That I talked to Serena," Raye said, a tiny smile playing on
her face.
Darien's spirits lifted. Maybe there would be hope for him
yet. "What did she say? Did she tell you where she was?"
Raye's smile grew; Darien reminded her of a child on Christmas
Eve. "She didn't say much of anything. She just said that she had
moved in with her sister and was waiting to buy a house."
"How many sisters does she have?" Darien asked, pensive and
overwrought.
"Arden Blade was a busy man. He has five daughters, including
Serena, and two sons." Raye wound a stray piece of hair around her
finger. She couldn't tell Darien that what he had did was something
close to what Arden had done with Ilene and Kathleen.
"What are their names and ages?" Darien asked, hoping to
narrow his search.
"The boys are Michael, 30, and Samuel, 22. The girls are
Serena, 26, Nerys, 24, Kieta, 23, Samuel's twin Samantha, 22, and
Carlin, 20. Michael and Serena's mother's name was Shelby Ronal,
the heiress to the Ronal Cruise Line fortune. Nerys, Samuel, and
Samantha's mother's name was Ilene Tsukino, a second-generation
Japanese-American sculptor. Kieta and Carlin's mother's name was
Kathleen McBride, a semi-famous police psychic. Serena makes sure
she visits her half-siblings at least once a year; however, she's
closer to Nerys, Samantha, and Carlin."
Darien stroked the stubble that had grown on his chin; he
hadn't been taking care of himself since Serena had left. "Where do
they live?"
"Michael, Samuel, and Samantha live here in California, Nerys
lives in Florida, Kieta lives in Wyoming, and Carlin lives in
Michigan," Raye shook her head. It was time to distract him. "The
most resent of her out-of-state sisters she saw was Carlin, so it's
least likely she went there." Raye really hated deceiving him, but
it was for his own good. That and it might delay the vision she had
been having lately.
"I think we should visit Kieta first," Darien said with a
weary sigh. He had a sneaky suspicion that Raye was leading him
around by the nose, but he couldn't put his finger on why.
* * *
Serena sat bundled up in her sister Carlin's living room. It
was quite chilly, especially by California standards. "How can you
manage to live here? It's freezing!" It never ceased to amaze her
how fickle Michigan's weather could be.
"But never dull," Carlin said, sitting in a chair across from
Serena. Especially went the best way to beat the weather was to be
with someone warm... "And you're changing the subject. You were
telling me exactly why you ran from a hunk who might have
impregnated you."
Serena sighed at her sister's dancing green eyes. Carlin
could be a little minx when she wanted to and was usually laughing
at you from up her sleeve. "I told you already, Car. He was
kissing some other woman. And a redhead at that."
"I'll let that comment about redheads slide," Carlin scowled
sipping a cup of coffee. Her red hair was her crowning glory and
her most startling feature.
"That stuff'll kill you and stunt your growth," Serena said
gesturing to the cup.
"Too late. I'm going to drink it while I still can. What are
you going to name them?"
"Them?" Serena asked raising an eyebrow.
Carlin swore not quite under her breath. She hadn't meant to
let that little bit of information slip. "I'll answer that
question... soon," Carlin said, deliberately trying to be vague.
"You saw something, didn't you?"
Carlin shrugged. She definitely wasn't going to spill the
beans about anything else. "I'm going to read a book, Rene."
Serena looked at her little sister. She knew something but
wasn't going to tell. "Okay, recommend me something."
A smile broke over Carlin's face. She probably shouldn't do
this, but it was going to happen soon anyway. "Look at a baby name
book." It was priceless to see Serena's jaw drop open, Carlin
wished she had a camera.
"You know what I'm having, don't you wench?" Serena said,
standing and putting her hand on her hips.
Carlin darted up the stairs. When she got to the top, she
yelled down, "Duh!"
* * *
Darien paced back and forth in the airport terminal. His
flight to Wyoming would be boarding in a few minutes. It had taken
him nearly a month to track down Kieta to her small village, but
track her down he did.
"Flight 721 to Cheyenne will be boarding now."
Darien collected his carry-on bag and walked toward the
terminal. If Kieta knew where Serena was, he would get it out of
her. He needed Serena back to make him whole again; even his
business had undergone division since she had left. The part of
Blade, Inc he had managed to take over had been re-taken over by the
remaining part. It seemed like Serena's work, but who knew with the
remaining Blade heirs.
"Sir, your ticket please."
Darien pulled the ticket out and laid it on the counter. He
silently prayed that this wouldn't turn out to be a dead end. He
needed Serena back and wanted to tell her...everything.
"Have a nice flight."
It would be a four-hour drive after he would land in Cheyenne
to Nata. Four more hours to contemplate how dire his situation was.
* * *
Darien drove inside the village limits, surprised at the
amount of snow on the ground. Although his instincts said
otherwise, he hoped Serena was here. He drove to the gas station
and asked for directions. Gathering gazes as he stepped out of his
rental, Darien brushed them off as he walked inside. Going to the
counter he said, "Excuse me. Can you tell me where Kieta McBride
lives?"
A brunette smacking her gum said, "I can tell you where
McBride lives, but it'll be pointless."
Darien gritted his teeth. This girl was getting on his last
nerve very quickly. "Why not?"
The girl grinned at him. He must be one of Ki's old
boyfriends. "She got married two days ago to Tyree MacNealon and
they're honeymooning in the Bahamas until Christmas."
Darien was frustrated. It was just a dead end. Pulling a
business card out of his pocket, he scribbled his home phone number
on it, and said, "Make sure that Kieta gets this when she gets back.
It has to do with her sister Serena." He stormed out and jumped in
the car. In the mood he was in he needed a drive, a very long
drive.
* * *
Serena sat with her forehead pressed against the window. They
had been in the car for nearly an hour now and Serena was starting
to go nuts. Pushing herself up, she looked at Carlin. "Why are we
going again?"
Carlin smiled. The quickest way to get Serena cranky was to
put her in a car. "You're going to see if you are pregnant and I'm
going to get a sonogram."
Serena narrowed her eyes. Carlin had pretty much told her
that she was pregnant when she landed in Toledo. "Why don't you
just tell me?"
"It'd be far much more fun to see the look on your face."
Serena slumped back in the seat. It had been nearly two
months since she left Darien's mansion in California. With a sigh
she asked, "What time's the appointment?"
"Mine's after yours so I get to swallow Lake Michigan while
you get to pee in a cup," Carlin said with a smile.
"Thanks for the visual, but that doesn't explain the time."
Laughing, Carlin answered, "It's at two o'clock."
* * *
"Miss Blade, your results are in," the doctor called into the
waiting room.
Dragging Carlin along, Serena followed the doctor into his
office. Swallowing her nervousness, Serena asked, "Well, am I?"
The doctor motioned her to sit down. Clearing his throat, he
said, "We can't totally be sure unless we have a sonogram but..."
"But what?" This man was going to drive her into the nearest
loony bin. It didn't help that she had almost no patience, but that
was beside the point.
"You have enough 'pregnancy' hormones to sufficiently carry
two fetuses."
"Are you saying I might be having twins?"
"Yes."
Serena felt dizzy and light-headed. Twins... not one, but two
of Darien's children. Serena said, "Merry Christmas to me," and
fainted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
This was one of my favorite chapters--partially because it was the
fastest one written. That and Serena's reaction cracked me up.
Send Q's or C's to: silver_moonangel@yahoo.com
Carley MoonAngel @ FF.Net
--------------------------------------------------------------------
STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIES
--------------------------------------------------------------------
AN: This is the second, EDITED, version of Shady Business. I'm
still going to be writing the first version we all know and love
(well, at least I do) and taking suggestions to revise it and create
this one!
Also, some new elements are going to be introduced, but it will only
prove to enhance it (I hope).
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Eight - The Search Begins
--------------------------------------------------------------------
It had been a week since Serena had vanished without a trace;
Darien had been tense and moody, biting anyone's head off for the
slightest of things. Raye lounged on the couch in his study, there
only because he needed some form of support. Sighing, Raye debated
whether to tell him that she had heard from Serena. Watching him
wear a hole in his carpet, Raye barked, "Darien, sit!"
Darien just glared at her, but obeyed nonetheless. Putting
his head in his hands, Darien said, "It's my fault she left. I had
her here and I screwed up."
"No, you fucked up," Raye said with her usual frankness.
Putting an arm around Darien's shoulders, she said, "I wasn't going
to tell you, but what the hell."
Narrowing his eyes into dangerous slits, Darien asked, "Tell
me what?"
"That I talked to Serena," Raye said, a tiny smile playing on
her face.
Darien's spirits lifted. Maybe there would be hope for him
yet. "What did she say? Did she tell you where she was?"
Raye's smile grew; Darien reminded her of a child on Christmas
Eve. "She didn't say much of anything. She just said that she had
moved in with her sister and was waiting to buy a house."
"How many sisters does she have?" Darien asked, pensive and
overwrought.
"Arden Blade was a busy man. He has five daughters, including
Serena, and two sons." Raye wound a stray piece of hair around her
finger. She couldn't tell Darien that what he had did was something
close to what Arden had done with Ilene and Kathleen.
"What are their names and ages?" Darien asked, hoping to
narrow his search.
"The boys are Michael, 30, and Samuel, 22. The girls are
Serena, 26, Nerys, 24, Kieta, 23, Samuel's twin Samantha, 22, and
Carlin, 20. Michael and Serena's mother's name was Shelby Ronal,
the heiress to the Ronal Cruise Line fortune. Nerys, Samuel, and
Samantha's mother's name was Ilene Tsukino, a second-generation
Japanese-American sculptor. Kieta and Carlin's mother's name was
Kathleen McBride, a semi-famous police psychic. Serena makes sure
she visits her half-siblings at least once a year; however, she's
closer to Nerys, Samantha, and Carlin."
Darien stroked the stubble that had grown on his chin; he
hadn't been taking care of himself since Serena had left. "Where do
they live?"
"Michael, Samuel, and Samantha live here in California, Nerys
lives in Florida, Kieta lives in Wyoming, and Carlin lives in
Michigan," Raye shook her head. It was time to distract him. "The
most resent of her out-of-state sisters she saw was Carlin, so it's
least likely she went there." Raye really hated deceiving him, but
it was for his own good. That and it might delay the vision she had
been having lately.
"I think we should visit Kieta first," Darien said with a
weary sigh. He had a sneaky suspicion that Raye was leading him
around by the nose, but he couldn't put his finger on why.
* * *
Serena sat bundled up in her sister Carlin's living room. It
was quite chilly, especially by California standards. "How can you
manage to live here? It's freezing!" It never ceased to amaze her
how fickle Michigan's weather could be.
"But never dull," Carlin said, sitting in a chair across from
Serena. Especially went the best way to beat the weather was to be
with someone warm... "And you're changing the subject. You were
telling me exactly why you ran from a hunk who might have
impregnated you."
Serena sighed at her sister's dancing green eyes. Carlin
could be a little minx when she wanted to and was usually laughing
at you from up her sleeve. "I told you already, Car. He was
kissing some other woman. And a redhead at that."
"I'll let that comment about redheads slide," Carlin scowled
sipping a cup of coffee. Her red hair was her crowning glory and
her most startling feature.
"That stuff'll kill you and stunt your growth," Serena said
gesturing to the cup.
"Too late. I'm going to drink it while I still can. What are
you going to name them?"
"Them?" Serena asked raising an eyebrow.
Carlin swore not quite under her breath. She hadn't meant to
let that little bit of information slip. "I'll answer that
question... soon," Carlin said, deliberately trying to be vague.
"You saw something, didn't you?"
Carlin shrugged. She definitely wasn't going to spill the
beans about anything else. "I'm going to read a book, Rene."
Serena looked at her little sister. She knew something but
wasn't going to tell. "Okay, recommend me something."
A smile broke over Carlin's face. She probably shouldn't do
this, but it was going to happen soon anyway. "Look at a baby name
book." It was priceless to see Serena's jaw drop open, Carlin
wished she had a camera.
"You know what I'm having, don't you wench?" Serena said,
standing and putting her hand on her hips.
Carlin darted up the stairs. When she got to the top, she
yelled down, "Duh!"
* * *
Darien paced back and forth in the airport terminal. His
flight to Wyoming would be boarding in a few minutes. It had taken
him nearly a month to track down Kieta to her small village, but
track her down he did.
"Flight 721 to Cheyenne will be boarding now."
Darien collected his carry-on bag and walked toward the
terminal. If Kieta knew where Serena was, he would get it out of
her. He needed Serena back to make him whole again; even his
business had undergone division since she had left. The part of
Blade, Inc he had managed to take over had been re-taken over by the
remaining part. It seemed like Serena's work, but who knew with the
remaining Blade heirs.
"Sir, your ticket please."
Darien pulled the ticket out and laid it on the counter. He
silently prayed that this wouldn't turn out to be a dead end. He
needed Serena back and wanted to tell her...everything.
"Have a nice flight."
It would be a four-hour drive after he would land in Cheyenne
to Nata. Four more hours to contemplate how dire his situation was.
* * *
Darien drove inside the village limits, surprised at the
amount of snow on the ground. Although his instincts said
otherwise, he hoped Serena was here. He drove to the gas station
and asked for directions. Gathering gazes as he stepped out of his
rental, Darien brushed them off as he walked inside. Going to the
counter he said, "Excuse me. Can you tell me where Kieta McBride
lives?"
A brunette smacking her gum said, "I can tell you where
McBride lives, but it'll be pointless."
Darien gritted his teeth. This girl was getting on his last
nerve very quickly. "Why not?"
The girl grinned at him. He must be one of Ki's old
boyfriends. "She got married two days ago to Tyree MacNealon and
they're honeymooning in the Bahamas until Christmas."
Darien was frustrated. It was just a dead end. Pulling a
business card out of his pocket, he scribbled his home phone number
on it, and said, "Make sure that Kieta gets this when she gets back.
It has to do with her sister Serena." He stormed out and jumped in
the car. In the mood he was in he needed a drive, a very long
drive.
* * *
Serena sat with her forehead pressed against the window. They
had been in the car for nearly an hour now and Serena was starting
to go nuts. Pushing herself up, she looked at Carlin. "Why are we
going again?"
Carlin smiled. The quickest way to get Serena cranky was to
put her in a car. "You're going to see if you are pregnant and I'm
going to get a sonogram."
Serena narrowed her eyes. Carlin had pretty much told her
that she was pregnant when she landed in Toledo. "Why don't you
just tell me?"
"It'd be far much more fun to see the look on your face."
Serena slumped back in the seat. It had been nearly two
months since she left Darien's mansion in California. With a sigh
she asked, "What time's the appointment?"
"Mine's after yours so I get to swallow Lake Michigan while
you get to pee in a cup," Carlin said with a smile.
"Thanks for the visual, but that doesn't explain the time."
Laughing, Carlin answered, "It's at two o'clock."
* * *
"Miss Blade, your results are in," the doctor called into the
waiting room.
Dragging Carlin along, Serena followed the doctor into his
office. Swallowing her nervousness, Serena asked, "Well, am I?"
The doctor motioned her to sit down. Clearing his throat, he
said, "We can't totally be sure unless we have a sonogram but..."
"But what?" This man was going to drive her into the nearest
loony bin. It didn't help that she had almost no patience, but that
was beside the point.
"You have enough 'pregnancy' hormones to sufficiently carry
two fetuses."
"Are you saying I might be having twins?"
"Yes."
Serena felt dizzy and light-headed. Twins... not one, but two
of Darien's children. Serena said, "Merry Christmas to me," and
fainted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
This was one of my favorite chapters--partially because it was the
fastest one written. That and Serena's reaction cracked me up.
Send Q's or C's to: silver_moonangel@yahoo.com