Chapter 16

A few days later, Poppy was yet to have the much-needed discussion with Luke. With her work, and his busy schedule, there just never seemed to be the right time. It was Saturday afternoon, and she was locking up for the day. She went to clean up her design room while her new store clerk clocked out.

"Do you need some help with the trash?" the cheerful girl with soft pink hair asked.

"No Liza, I got it. You go enjoy your weekend off."

"Thanks, Ms. Ricci. See you Tuesday."

"Ricci? Who? Oh... yeah. See you later."

After she locked up behind her, Poppy watched the girl drive off in her little beater car. "Sweet girl. I hope she stays when she finds out I'm not Claudia. Hell, I hope my customers do too. I let this go on for far too long."

Grabbing the trash can on the way to the back door, she heard a noise in the back storage room.

"Hello? Someone there? We're closed for the day."

Stepping to the back, she noticed the door was ajar and swinging in the wind. She assumed the fierce Chicago winds must have blown open the door, so she didn't think much of it.

Grabbing the last of the trash bags, she headed to the alley to discard them in the dumpster. It was late evening, and the sun was setting, making the back alley a little dark, especially since there was a storm coming in the distance. Typical evening weather for early spring time in the Midwest.

Chucking the bags into the bin, she dusted off her hands and headed back to the building, feeling as if she was being watched.

"Hello? Who's there?" she said again.

Slowly at the end of the dead-end alley, a car pulled in with its headlights on bright, almost blinding her vision. As it crept closer, she noticed all the windows were blacked out. Assuming maybe it was Luke paying her a visit, she started to step closer, when she suddenly remembered she was alone, and he never came in the back entrance on his prior visits.

Hearing the car rev up its engine, she knew she was in trouble. Turning to run into the building, a very large man with a dark hood stood in her way.

"Don't run."

But those words made her do the opposite. The fight or flight instinct took over, but Poppy's direction was misguided. She took off running to the dead end where a wall blocked her path of escape. Quickly, two more men exited the car, all dressed in black with masks over their faces. Screaming for help, there was no one to hear her as the appending storm winds started to pick up.

As the men stalked closer she was frozen in fear, pleading for her safety. "Please don't kill me."

"We're not going to kill you, yet. Our boss wants to have a word with you."

"Boss? I'm not going anywhere with you."

Just as the man reached to grab her, Poppy hauled off and kicked him between the legs before the other two descended on her.

"Let me go!" she screamed before a hand with a cloth went over her mouth.

Trying not to breath in the acidic sweet-smelling odor that was coming from the cloth, she unwillingly choked in its fumes. It wasn't long before it took hold and Poppy drifted off, collapsing into the man's arms.

"Let's go. The boss is waiting. Lock the shop door and grab her things. Make it look clean."

"An overnight bag?"

"Yeah, and her purse. Make it look like she's just leaving for a little trip. That will keep them off the track for a couple of days. She's known to randomly go MIA on occasion, so no one will suspect anything until closer to the wedding."

Putting her in the back seat of the awaiting car, the men waited for their partner to head back out with her bag.

Throwing it in, they jumped in the front seat demanding, "Let's go."

Pulling out of the alley, the car left as stealthy as they came. Driving away as if nothing was afoot. Not far from her shop on the north shore, they pulled through the gate off a historic French Provincial style mansion with a beautiful lake side view. It was dark now and the storm was raging but even in the storm the estate was a sight to behold.

As they pulled into the garage the man who was driving the car stopped to give his men direction before exiting.

"Get her inside. I'll go tell the boss she's here. And keep her quiet if she wakes up. You know how mouthy that bitch is."

***

About half an hour later, Roman was in his spare guest room observing the woman who his men had just kidnapped. Sitting in a corner chair, he ran his thumb over his lip, trying to figure out his next move.

Everything about her was pure beauty, but something about the woman since the night at the opera was different. Her new laid back vintage vibe with a modern elegance, that just seems natural and effortless, wasn't the Claudia he knew. Whatever had made a change in this woman had Roman's interest peaked again and he hated himself for it. He knew she was a viper, and he had no business being so stricken by her. He had been burnt once; he wouldn't let it happen again.

Anton had come back to the room, handing his friend a glass of whiskey in a rock glass. "I thought you could use something to take the edge off."

"Thanks."

Nodding his head toward the lady sleeping in the bed, Anton asked," What are we going to do with her?"

"I haven't figured it out yet. Claudia can't be trusted."

"True. So why are you sitting in here watching her? She's passed out good and it's going to be a while before she wakes up." Hearing Poppy starting to snore, the men chuckled. "See. Out cold and I think she's drooling."

"I'm going to get answers because I believe she knows more than she lets on. I want to know as soon as she wakes up."

Anton went around the large poster bed, watching Poppy sleep, believing it was Claudia. When he looked back to Roman, his friend's eyes were fixed on her. "Bro, don't do it. Don't get caught up with this succubus again. She's trouble."

"What? I'm not doing anything."

"You're staring at her like she's on your next meal plan and you're going to taste every poisonous bite."

Shaking his head, Roman stood, shoving his hands in his pockets. He couldn't get the thought out of his mind that something was off. "Anton, there was something different about her at the opera house. She actually seemed remorseful about Beau's death. It was weird she didn't remember him. I know they only met once, but still."

Picking up a pillow, Anton smacked his best friend in the side of the head.

"Hey! What was that for?"

"Snap out of it! The she-devil's playing games, and you know it. Luke probably told her what to do, expecting you to say something to her that night. He knows you well enough to see that coming a mile away. We were all best friends in college. He knows you pretty well, whether you want to admit it or not."

"I guess you're right. Have the guards watching her twenty-four-seven. I want to know as soon as she wakes so I can get some answers."

"Sounds good. I'll bring her downstairs to your office for interrogation."

"Good idea. I'm going to go call my father and check on Olive and the kids."

As his friend and boss was ready to walk out of the room, Anton stopped him. "I mean it, Roman. We can't trust her."

Looking back at Poppy lying in the bed, Roman nodded in agreement, but something in him said she was different. But how, he had no idea.