by C. M. Steele
“I sure as fuck hope that doesn’t include me. You’re my brother.”
“No. It doesn’t, but someone from the inside had to be involved. My suite exterior cameras had been cut off, and any footage to the elevators had been washed.”
“Are you serious?” He stands up and walks over to the sideboard to pour himself a drink. I can see the stress is wearing on him.
“It’s most definitely an inside job.”
“Have you checked everyone’s whereabouts around the time of the attack?”
“I have, but some of the shit could have easily been done while they sat in front of everyone while playing on their phones. Besides, it’s not like I know when someone put that bomb under my bed.”
“Are you sure it’s not coming from her camp?”
“Her brother knows, and I can’t see him trying to hurt her.”
“No, but maybe she’s the one with the stalker. After all, it came out of nowhere, and every single one of your staff knows you wouldn’t have been in bed at ten in the morning. You would have been roaming around like a caged tiger handling whatever it is. So it had to come about that day. Now they’re gone, and there hasn’t been an attack since that morning.”
Fuck, he makes a great point. I’m out of my suite by five every morning and don’t return until eleven most days. I never sleep in, except when it came to Roxanne. Someone expected me to still be in bed with her.
“I suppose that’s a good idea, but honestly, why?” I still can’t see it coming from her people. Do they walk around with C4 ready to destroy some shit? They flew in.
“They could be just as fascinated with her, and you got in the way.” Instantly my mind goes to Cyber because he’s the only one who noticed my attention and has been watching her like a hawk. “I’m going to call her brother. Sit here and let’s see what he says.”
The phone almost goes to voicemail before he picks up. “Hey, what’s up?” he whispers.
“What? Can’t talk?”
“I’m visiting my sister at the bar.”
“The bar?” I snarl.
“Shit. I don’t think we ever told you that she’s a bartender. A kick-ass one at that.” I’m itching inside to head over there and get my woman. This has been a fucking nightmare.
“What?” It’s the fucking first time they tell me my wife is doing manual labor and serving men all damn day and night.
“Are you trying to make me come down there and snatch my woman back up?” I bark out. My head throbs just thinking about Roxanne working with a bunch of drunk, horny men. I’ve spent my life in this business so I know that drunk fuckers will ogle, insult, and try to seduce my woman.
“I’m not yet. Shit’s too damn real for me. So what did you need? Do you have an inkling of who’s behind this?”
“No, but my best friend and business partner, Gavin, gave me an idea.”
“Oh, and?”
“That the threat could be coming from your end. Like someone is after Roxanne.” Honestly, I only think they’re after her to get to me.
“Shit. I hadn’t considered that, and I hope to hell that’s not the case. We have enough of our own problems, but it’s fucking possible. I’m going to keep an eye on anyone looking suspicious. And before you start pointing fingers at my brothers, they all have had a chance to ask my sister out. Not a single one of the Riders has tried. That’s including Cyber, who I’m sure you’re thinking about.”
“Well, you answered my question.” Although taking his word for it isn’t good enough for me.
“Trust me. I watch. Just because it didn’t appear that I noticed you two doesn’t mean I didn’t know. She’s old enough to make her own decisions, and she’s not the type to go after rich guys so I figured there was something between you two.”
Already knowing what’s coming, I say, “Thank you, Anthony.”
“Call me Blade. No one calls me Anthony.” I laugh at his grumble. The asshole should have told me about his sister working in a bar.
“Okay. Thanks, Blade. Now, take care of my woman and get her to quit the fucking bar. I don’t want sick bastards around her.”
It’s this asshole’s turn to let out a chuckle. “Ha. You can tell her that when you come to get her.”
“I fucking will.” Tomorrow is my last PT session, which took longer to get it done because my other injuries took precedence including the damn skull fracture, but I’m coming for her in two days.
I wake up covered in sweat, angry and scared. Someone tried to take my Roxanne from me. She left to be with someone else. I can’t do this anymore. I have to see her. Since I’m not sure who to trust, I book a commercial flight with one of the hotel gift cards, making a note to reimburse it when I get back. Then, I grab my normal cell phone and send a text to Gavin reminding him about our dinner plans.
Taking out the phone Blade sent me last week, I forward all my calls to it. The phone is untraceable and perfect just for this trip. After stashing my old phone inside my safe, I grab the ring inside there and seal it. Five minutes later, I rush out of the hotel with the clothes on my back. I’m in such a hurry that I almost forget my cane. I don’t need it all the time, but it does help when I get tired.
The flight is brutal on my broken body. Fuck, my bones ache as I arrive in Dallas. I stretch while waiting for everyone else to get off. Popping a couple of OTC painkillers, I walk through the expansive airport. I’m halfway there when one of the employees on a golf cart asks if I need a lift. “Thank you. You have no idea what a lifesaver you are.”
“No problem, sir. Where can I drop you off at?”
“The car rental area, please.”
“That’s all you have with you?”
I nod. I look at his name tag and make sure to address him by it. He’s doing me a huge favor. “Yes, Phil. It’s an impromptu trip.” We make the short trip by vehicle to the rental place. He stops as close as possible to let me out.
“Well, I wish you luck.” He tips his hat and shakes my hand.
“Thank you, Phil.” I pull out my wallet to tip him, but he waves it off and leaves me there. It takes about twenty minutes to get a rental, but once it’s all good to go, they bring the car around for me. It’s been so long since I’ve taken a commercial flight, so the hospitality has been wonderful.
I map the drive with the built-in GPS on the car. I have to see my woman, and no one is going to stop me. It takes almost an hour to get there, but I pull up to the bar called Panhandles. It’s the only one in Steeleville, according to Google. My phone buzzes on the passenger seat. I pull it up to see that it’s Magnus. Shit. I hope there’s no problem at the hotel. He’s supposed to be able to handle it. “Boss. You disappeared. You’re not at your mother’s house.” How the fuck did he know that? “Why are you in Steeleville?” What the hell?
“I’ve only been gone four hours,” I inform him—the length of time it took for me to get to the airport and to the bar without stopping for a break. As far as they were all concerned, I was headed for a trip to my mother’s house for the day. Something’s not adding up.
“It’s not safe. You’re still recovering,” he complains.
“I know, but my girl’s not safe either. Someone’s after her, and it’s someone in Steeleville,” I tell him, lying to see what he knows.
“I insist that I come down to meet you.”
“No. You’re supposed to be in charge while I’m gone. Besides, I don’t want any suspicion raised when I take the bastard out.”
“Okay.” Just okay? He hasn’t even asked me who it is. Fuck, please tell me it’s not him. We’ve known each other way too long.
“Wait. How did you know I was down here?” I can’t stop myself from asking.
“Gavin told me before leaving for a meeting with Enrico Gennaro.” A lie. My heart sinks, but at least I have my answer. After all these years.
“Well, I’ll be back soon. Hold down the fort.” I end the call and then send Gavin a text on my burner phone. Pulling into the lo
t next to the bar, I turn off the engine and sigh. Spying my cane on the passenger seat, I debate on whether to take it inside. “No. I don’t want her to see me as weak.” Leaving it there, I exited the car with a grimace. This was going to be a very long night, but at least I’ll have my woman.
When I whip the door open, I spot three different patched-up Riders in the corner, but my eyes go to the bar and there she is. Her dark hair is pinned back with a clip. It’s a little longer than I remember, but she’s so fucking beautiful. Her eyes lift up and she gasps, nearly dropping the glass in her hand. Fuck, months of waiting to see her, and she’s even more beautiful than I remember.
A brute of an older man comes to stand behind my woman. She pats his chest, saying she’s okay, which makes me jealous as fuck, but I take a calming breath and remember that she’s mine. I crook my finger and wag it, summoning Roxanne to me.
She comes from around the bar with a smile on her face, which creates one of my own. But I’m stunned when she cracks me across my face. “Fucking asshole. What are you doing here?”
“I’m taking what’s mine.” Roxanne’s expression changes from anger to fear as she quickly presses her hand to her stomach, and I’m immediately aware of the truth. She’s fucking pregnant. “How long have you known?” I ask. Did she plan on telling me?
“What does it matter?”
“What does it matter?” I roar, seething with pain. She’s everything to me, and this should be a fucking happy moment.
“What the hell is going on here?” I turn and see Blade walk in with another guy. He smirks and shakes his head. “Martín, you finally caved. Take it to the back office.”
“I’m not going anywhere with him.” Roxanne glares at me, then back to her brother as if she’s putting it together. We’re not completely ignorant of each other.
“Rox, please. Just do it, damn it. Boss don’t need you causing a scene in the bar.” I hate how much she despises me, but I planned to fix it. I had to because I couldn’t live without her.
Roxanne huffs, then turns and walks toward the back and I follow. We enter, and I lock the door behind me. “I hate you. Did Cyber tell you about the baby? Is that why you came here?”
Cyber. Always Cyber. I’m about to ring his fucking nerdy, obstructing ass. “The bastard. I’m going to kill him. He didn’t say shit. I’m going to kill him. I knew it. He’s fucking in love with you.”
She crosses her arms and stands with her ass against the desk. Even pissed, she looks perfect. Her eyes give me the death stare I’ve been waiting for, but there’s something more—pain and longing. Something I know so much about. “Ha. At least someone is. Now, I’m not giving up my baby, so you can go back to Vegas and knock up the next sucker.”
“I didn’t come for the baby. In fact, until you put your hand on your belly, I didn’t know,” I tell her, trying to keep my balance even though I ache to pick up where we left off.
“Bullshit. One fucking gesture and you knew? He told you.”
“That son of a bitch didn’t say shit. I work and grew up in Vegas. I can read everyone. Well, almost everyone.” She thinks I’m talking about her, but it’s the fucking supposed friend that did this to me. As soon as I can, I’ll be exacting my revenge. Still, now is not the time. I need my woman, and I need her to understand that I didn’t give up on her.
“Then what are you doing here?” she asks, doing her best to not cry. It kills me to see her this way.
I take a seat in the chair because I left my cane in the rental and my knee isn’t pleased right now, and then I pull her onto my lap where she belongs.
“I told you. I came for what’s mine.” She moves to pull off me, but I bring her back down on me.
“I’m not yours.” She does her best to deny it, but her eyes give her away. She’s hurt and I feel like a prick for that, but her safety mattered more than anything.
“Yes, you are. Nothing and no one is going to get in the way again.”
This time she shoves my hands away and stands, pacing around the room. “Oh, no. I can’t do this. I can’t be pumped up with lies while you seduce me again and then run off. I won’t be used as a fucking toy when you get bored.”
I jump up ignoring the throbbing pain because my heart’s hurting a hell of a lot worse. I can’t let her walk out of my life. “I didn’t use you. I swear with everything that I meant every single word I said and those I didn’t.”
“How am I supposed to believe that? You show up out of nowhere after seven weeks, missing holidays with me. I hoped you show for Valentines day, but I was wrong.”
“I’m here now. Come over here.”
“No. I don’t think that’s a good idea. I’ll still let you see the baby.”
“Let me see our baby? That’s not happening. We’re going to work this out and we’re going to get married.”
“I’m not marrying you because you knocked me up. I bet you’ve left many little Martín’s over the years.” I thrust my hands through my hair, absorbing the stinging pain because it’s better than my chest which wants to explode. I’m not leaving without her. There’s no way in hell that’s happening, but I might need reinforcements.
I stalk toward her, letting my intent be known. She backs away, her ass hitting the desk. Cupping her chin, I hold it firmly as I stare into her teary eyes. “I don’t have any other babies, but this little one.” I place my other hand on her tiny bump. “That night, when your virginity coated my cock, I gave you mine. I’d never been with a woman before. I’d waited. My life isn’t what you think it is and when I saw you I’d known from the start you and I were meant to be. It was for the best that I sent you away even though I didn’t want to.”
“Don’t tell me Blade told you to stay away and you did.” She attempts to move away.
I shake my head and then grab her hand and sit, plopping her bottom onto my lap. Even in pain, my cock throbs for her. “Ha. Your brother may be a crazy, knife-wielding asshole, but he didn’t, and I sure as fuck wouldn’t have stayed away from you no matter what he threatened me with. A lot of shit happened the morning you ran out on me.”
She dips her head and mutters as she stares at her hands. “I had to go. I wasn’t ready to explain…I thought you’d come to me if you really meant those things you said.”
I brush my hand down her perfect, soft cheek and lift her gaze to mine. “I would have. I swear on everything that I possess that I would have come. I’ve been doing my best to get here as soon as humanly possible.”
“It’s a two-hour and forty-six-minute flight.” She crosses her arms over her chest which push her fabulous breast up. I do my best to hold back the growl and lick my lips.
Chuckling, I nod, skimming my fingers over her soft flesh peeking over her top. “Yes, it is, but that morning before I woke you up...” I wink as she blushes arching her breasts to my hands. I love that she still wants me even if she’s mad.
“Don’t try to seduce me.”
“I’m not. I just can’t help myself. It’s been seven long weeks since I possessed you, tasted you, licked, sucked, ate you. Damn, I’m not supposed to be getting horny right now, but I sure as fuck am.”
“Then maybe I should get off your lap.”
“No way in hell. I’ve waited so long to hold you, but I will continue.” I rub her back as I speak. “Well, that morning my operations manager called me and then sent me images of an envelope he received just before six.”
Adjusting myself to reach into my suit jacket, I show her the pictures. One by one, she flips through them and gasps, letting them fall to the floor.
“Those are of me. Of us. Wait? There’s more, isn’t there? Unless you lied about having a wife, this shouldn’t matter. What is it? What aren’t you saying?”
“This.” I pull out the last image of the threat. “Oh my God. Was someone trying to kidnap me?” She bites her lip, letting a tear fall down her cheek. It breaks my heart to see them. I swipe it with my thumb and bring it to my lips.
“I believe that may be the case.”
“You don’t sound sure.”
Using my thumb and forefinger, I tug her bottom lip free from her teeth while rubbing her chin. “My siren, you mean so much to me, but letting you go was the hardest and smartest thing I did. There was ‘an accident’ in our suite right after you left.” I give the air quotes.
“The fire? It wasn’t an electrical fire.” Ah, so she did look it up.
“An explosive tore apart our room.”
“What?” She grabs my suit jacket, clinging to my lapels as tears fall from her eyes. “You were in there, weren’t you?” she asks, pressing her head on my shoulder with her mouth brushing my neck. God, it feels incredible to hold her, even if it’s causing her pain.
“I was. Although I only got to the door before the room exploded, so I’m lucky to be alive.” I rub her back, wishing that we could stay like that, but timing is everything and my phone keeps buzzing in my pocket. “I hate to do this, but I need a word with your brother alone. There’s something he and I need to discuss.”
“I’ll go finish my shift, then.”
“No. No more behind the bar. I’m a jealous man. A man who can’t afford to get into a fight at the moment, but I will. I’ll fight to the death for you, Roxanne.” Her mouth drops down to mine, giving me what I’ve been missing. What starts off gentle intensifies as I skim my hands over her ass, grinding it on my hard cock. I grunt when she grabs my hair.
Quickly, she releases her hold and gasps. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry. Please tell me you’re okay.”
“I’m perfect. I’m in pain, but not for the reason you think.” I roll my hips, holding her down on my shaft. “I missed you so much. You’re everything to me, Roxanne. I promise to make this up to you and our baby.” My hand cradles her tiny bump. “Mine…forever.”
A knock at the door comes, and then in walks Blade and Beast. Roxanne moves to jump off my lap, but I pull her back down, grunting from the pain. “Hey, Martín. I just filled in Beast. Boomer will be here soon. From the looks of it, I need to call in Doc. You shouldn’t have traveled.” I reach out and shake Beast’s hand. It’s his wedding that brought me Roxanne, so he’s cool in my eyes.
