Conrad thought he was going nuts. For two weeks now, he kept hearing Toby barking. Tristan had told him it was his hallucination, mistaking other dogs’ barks for Toby’s. This only spurred Conrad even more to want to go to the gallery to see Sakura. Of course, that bloody Ned had decided to avoid them by staying in Los Angeles, so nothing was done about making Sakura come around and let them back into her life.
When he’d suggested they just up and go to see her anyway, Logan had said, “You’ll frighten her with your unpleasant appearance, Conrad. We’ve agreed with Ned not to bother her until he makes her come around.”
Of course, he knew both Sebastian and Darcy had been doing their rounds through Soho, just to get a peek at the gallery, hoping to see Sakura. It was odd lately that Sebastian seemed so chummy about something. He was grinning to himself all the time, which annoyed both Conrad and Darcy equally. When Darcy had asked the brother if he had a secret to share, Sebastian just said, “Just thinking of my conversation with a friend.”
“Bloody hell,” Conrad muttered under his breath, storming into the living area where everyone was getting ready for lunch.
Beth looked up. “What’s bothering you, Master Conrad?”
“Toby. Is it really just me? Didn’t you guys hear the bark?”
Tristan laughed. “Your imagination again.”
“We heard the barks, Conrad. Dog barks along the streets,” Hayden said, turning the page of the newspaper in his hands. “It’s not unusual.”
“Are you sure you’re all right, bro?” Logan put in, looking at Conrad over his bland coffee. “Need to see a doctor or something?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Conrad snapped. He took a seat beside Tristan and changed the subject. “Where’s Nicolas and Sebastian?”
“Nicolas is at the hotel doing some stuff. He’s elbow deep in paperwork, apparently. Sebastian is doing a deal with some new business partner in Brooklyn.”
“Darcy?”
“At his loft,” Hayden said. “He’s dealing with some issue with the art and design for our new game.”
“Seven Knights?”
“Lame,” Tristan said. “Seven Knights.”
“Eight now,” Hayden said. “It was Darcy’s idea. He wants eight now. And don’t you say it’s lame. If it’s lame, it wouldn’t be still selling in the millions.”
“Does it have more moves and weapons?”
“Shitloads,” Hayden replied. “Katanas.”
“Sick!” Conrad laughed. “I love katanas.”
It was then Conrad looked up and saw a white dog run across the length of the courtyard. “Toby!” he shouted, pointing a finger at the window.
The brothers turned to look but didn’t see any dog. Tristan pulled Conrad down to sit again and placed the back of his hand against Conrad’s forehead.
“You’re not sick,” he said, noting his temperature was okay.
Conrad slapped his brother’s hand away. “Who the hell says I’m sick?” He was obviously so upset he shot up and headed out the room in annoyance.
Tristan said, “What did I say?”
Hayden shrugged his shoulders as if to say he didn’t have a clue, and Logan laughed.
Conrad came out into the garden and went about searching for the little culprit who made everyone think he was going mad. There, the barking was getting louder. The corridor? Conrad rushed over to the other side and, taking a deep breath, he jerked the door open.
Woof! Woof! Woof!
Conrad staggered back as he stared wide at the little dog jumping around his feet with excitement. When the shock finally receded, the man bent down to his knees and gathered the pup into his arms.
“Toby?”
Woof! was the reply.
Conrad couldn’t help himself. He laughed and squeezed the white furry canine in his arms. “Toby, how the hell did you get here?”
Another bark came as a reply.
“Conrad, what are you doing there?” Logan called out from the apartment. He even sported a suspicious look on his face.
Conrad turned and shouted, “It’s Toby! I found him.”
“Don’t shit with me, Conrad!” the brother swore loudly.
“Jesus, man, I’m not shitting you. It really is Toby,” Conrad yelled back. To Toby, he said, “See? They don’t believe me. Well, let’s show them. See who’s the one going crazy now! Let’s go, Toby.”
At Toby’s bark of agreement, Conrad turned on his heel and headed back across the garden to the penthouse.
The moment Logan saw Toby at the door, he stared at the dog in shocked surprise and nearly spilled his coffee. Beth, who was carrying two plates of sandwiches, froze in her spot. The sight of the little beast was too much for her to bear, and the plates and food crashed to the floor.
“Shit! It really is Toby!” Logan shouted.
Across the room, Tristan and Hayden came rushing over, perplexed at the sight of the beloved little beast. Toby barked excitedly at the men, pleased he was the center of their attention once again.
Logan stroked the dog and uttered, “But, hell, how? I mean…”
Conrad couldn’t find an answer, either, but he was just happy they got to see Toby once again.
Beth finally got her act together. With legs shaking, she came to Toby and gave the dog a pat. “Oh, it really is Toby. Oh God!” Then tears started brewing in her eyes.
“What about Sakura?” Tristan asked no one in particular.
“Well,” Hayden said, cocking his head to one side as he gazed at the dog closely. “Toby can’t have gotten here by himself. Sakura will have to be close by.” Because his face was only inch from the dog, Toby licked him on the nose, and the man laughed. “Where’s your master, buddy? Why don’t you bring her to us?”
Toby barked excitedly again, in agreement of course.
“Oh, thank God you found him,” came the female voice at the door.
The brothers turned to see Akira standing there, looking as flushed and beautiful as ever. Beside her, looking pissed and stony, was Nicolas.
Akira rushed into the living area and begged for the dog back. Conrad backed away and asked in outrage, “Toby’s with you?” There was a note of an accusation in his voice that Akira didn’t miss.
Akira blinked, confused as to why Conrad looked as though he didn’t want her to touch the dog, as though she were some kind of villain, here to take the dog away for execution.
“Well, of course he is.” She sighed indignantly and continued. “Don’t tell me you think I’ve stolen him like Nicolas did!” She folded her arms across her chest. “Well, I didn’t. Like I said, I’m looking after him for a friend.”
At this, Logan and Tristan looked at each other, confused. Logan asked, “Friend?”
Akira sighed once again. She was about to blurt out it was Sakura when she caught herself on time. The brothers noticed and knew something was up. Could it be that Akira happened to know Sakura? The possibility was indeed interesting, and none of the brothers wanted to just leave it at that. They wanted to find out. Heck! They wanted to see Sakura again, and they’d do anything, even blackmailing this lovely woman, to get what they wanted.
“Please, can you just return Toby to me before—” She halted and turned bright red.
“Before what?” Tristan asked. At that moment, he decided to play the gorgeous flirt he was known for in order to get more information from Akira. He came around, standing so imposingly handsome in front of her. He even gave her a dashing smile that would have made any female melt into him. “Akira-chan?” he asked, his voice smooth and soft like liquid gold. “Who’s your friend?”
Oddly enough, Akira was immunized against Tristan’s charm. She didn’t get infected like most females did. In fact, she wasn’t about to budge. She turned her attention to the youngest brother who was hugging Toby tightly against his chest, as if the dog were very precious to him.
“Please, Conrad,” she said. She also noted he was moving farther away from her. “I would like Toby back.”
The dog barked and rubbed his head against Conrad’s chest. The man stroked him fondly. “He doesn’t want to go just yet.”
Beth nodded in agreement, since she couldn’t find her voice to speak. She was still pretty shocked.
When she saw no one was on her side, Akira chose to turn her attention to the eldest brother. She blasted her anger at the man who had been pestering her since he’d found her car broken down on her way to the vet.
“Nicolas? This is outrageous. If you and your brothers do not give me back Toby, I swear I will phone the police and tell them you’ve kidnapped Sakura’s dog!”
She was still heaving by the time she finished. It was only then she saw the triumphant look on Nicolas’s face, which annoyed the hell out of her. And she realized shit had finally hit the fan.
“Baka!” she muttered and spun around to see both Tristan and Logan sporting a satisfied grin.
Beth looked like she was about to faint. She decided to take a seat. “You boys take care of this. I’m feeling a bit tired all of a sudden.”
Hayden said, “Well, there we go. All sorted.”
Conrad nodded. “Come on, Toby. Let’s return you to your master.”
The dog agreed with a friendly bark. As the brothers walked out the door, Akira called out, “Where are you going?”
“To your apartment,” Conrad said.
“Or would you rather have Sakura come here for the dog?” Nicolas asked, one blond brow rising in a challenge.
Akira held her head high and said, “Go to hell.” With that, she marched out the door, leaving the brothers to follow her.