Hale on Earth (Arrangement Series Book 2)

by Francesca Penn

  “In about an hour, I have to get my outfit from my office. I’ll change there.”

  “I’ll be at your office in an hour and will take you to the party. Got it.”

  “Yes, daddy,” I tease him as I put my other hand under the UV light.

  “I’ll give you a genuine reason to call me daddy later tonight,” he warns me then disconnects.

  The nail tech with the big blue eyes and hot pink hair tries to pretend she wasn’t getting Founder kid gossip. By cleaning her area. It’s fine. I’m used to that kind of attention, it’s part of our lives.

  I’m finished quicker than I’d guessed and am now heading to my office. I considered texting Oran to let him know I’m finished early, but opt to wait. Twenty-five minutes isn’t long and he and Jagger drive like racecar drivers with little motivation. I don’t want him to feel like he’s in a hurry.

  The sun is setting, giving the town that dusky glow. It’s peaceful enough to appreciate the quiet street where my office is located. I wanted an office in the middle of everything, but have learned to enjoy being in a less crowded area. Parking is never a problem and the spaces are bigger. I’m glad I purchased it because it was the one thing that couldn’t be taken away from me. If I’d gotten around to renovating the space upstairs, it would have taken me longer to go to Oran.

  Thoughts of my husband always puts me in a pleasant mood. I’m glad their fucked up plan worked. I let myself in and smile at the black dress waiting for me. It’s a nod to the night I’d gone to the club with all my goods on display. The dress still has see-through elements sexy enough to drive Oran wild without him carrying me out again. After re-moisturizing, I slide the floor length sheer and lace dress onto my body while imagining Oran taking it off. It has a high neck with no cleavage but my back and sides are out except for the strap running horizontally in the middle. I’m able to clasp the back, but the neck part will have to wait for Oran. I look down at it, loving how the rest of the dress past my butt is sheer to show off my legs.

  I bend to slide on my shoes when the door chimes. With a quick glance, I see inky hair and a tux.

  “Oran, baby. Clasp the neck part for me.” I wait while he does the clasp but realize something is off. “When did you get new cologne?”

  I look down at the hands that rest on my shoulders. I don’t feel how I feel when Oran touches me. That sick feeling I had returns full force.

  “I didn’t.” Elmer says before his lips connect with my shoulder..

  I’m nervous and disgusted. There are plenty of situations where an older man hitting on me would be flattering. This. Isn’t. One. Of. Them.

  Pivoting, I pull myself out of his hold and paste on a fake smile. According to Criminal Minds, freaking out is the wrong thing to do in the presence of crazy.

  “Elmer! You scared me. Why aren’t you at the mansion for the party?” I’m hoping stalling will give Oran time to arrive.

  Elmer, however, already seems triggered and is not interested in small talk. He has dark circles around his eyes as if he hasn’t been sleeping well.

  “You weren’t supposed to fall in love with him,” he grouses, his fists clenching and unclenching. I remain silent because I’m out of my element. “You were mine. I’d won you. You’re supposed to be my wife.”

  My sick feeling turns into horror. This must be the gritty detail my dad was withholding. I take a step back, but he follows.

  “I was promised to Oran.” Elmer’s frown deepens and I feel this situation slipping out of my control. Damn the ribbons and party supplies. They aren’t helpful in crises. “Okay, let’s get my dad and Oran here and figure it out,” I offer shakily while trying and failing to put space between us.

  “It’s too late!” His bellow makes my lip tremble. “I saw you sucking his dick like a whore.” He grabs me and shakes me as he rants. “All you had to do was wait six months and we could have been together, but you jumped him like the slut you are.”

  “He’s my husband,” I cry. Playing it cool didn’t help, but maybe tears will.

  “He only married you to keep you from me. It was supposed to be our wedding! He knew that. That ungrateful bastard is always trying to spite me.”

  Elmer’s confession hurts. Oran’s one-eighty on his decision to marry me makes sense.

  He’s a sizable man, but I cannot go out like this. “Let me go.” I pump as much steel in my voice as I can.

  “No. Since you ruined our forever, I’m taking what’s mine.”

  I block the kiss to my lips, turning my head fast enough to feel his wet lips on my check. I struggle in his hold, trying to remember some sort of self defense. If I could just get outside.

  Fuck it. The uppercut hurt my hand as much as it hurt his chin, but he let me go. I try to run, but he grabs me again. Swinging around, I chop him in the throat and make him cough. Elmers longer legs have him catching me again to knock me to the ground.

  “You bitch!” He yells in my face, his rage turning his face red.

  “Let me go! I will tell my dad!”

  “Not if you can’t breathe.”

  Speaking of which. He hollers when the heel of my hand connects with his nose. It’s enough to wiggle, but he still has me pinned.

  The asshole rips at my dress. I scream, but his sweaty palm mutes me.

  “We could’ve-” Elmers sentence is interrupted when a black shoe flies over my head and connects with his face.

  Elmer falls backward, and Oran growls, “You’re dead.” In midair as he lunges at him.

  I know a victim should feel relief or some other potent emotion when they’re saved, but I feel rage.

  Hot, irrational rage.

  Chapter 39

  Oran

  The level of fear I felt when I heard Karessa scream from the parking lot fueled my anger when I found my dad on top of her. I think he’s a lot of things, but I didn’t guess this one. If I’d known he’d resort to attacking my wife, I would have beat his ass a long time ago. He clutches his face when I land on top of him, but I don’t give a damn about his pain. I hit him with body blows until he drops his hands then punch him in the nose. If it wasn’t broken before, it is now.

  “You attacked my wife?” I growl at him with another hit.

  “She was mine,” he whimpers underneath me.

  Karessa kicks him in the side before he can respond. She pushes me out of the way and begins attacking him with a mixture of punches and slaps.

  “I’m not a whore, slut, or a bitch,” she rants with her rapid fire hits that I doubt he feels. “Two hours for my hair and makeup just for you to fuck it up!”

  Elmer pushes her away, and she falls back, then I knock his ass out before she tries again. I pick her up. To keep her from attacking.

  “Baby, Baby! He’s out. He cannot hurt you right now.”

  Karessa grabs me and peppers my face with kisses as she tells me how happy she is that I saved her. Suddenly stopping, she pulls back to study me.

  “You married me so he couldn’t.” I nod because it’s obvious my dad told her. I didn’t expect her to throw a right hook that hurt like a bitch. “Your dad being obsessed with me would have been nice to know, Oran!”

  “I thought he was just delusional!” I defend myself as I rub my jaw.

  “Who knew the LeClaires could throw a punch?”

  Karessa and I snap our heads to the side to find Markos relaxing on the wall with his phone in his hand.

  “WorldStar,” he jokes before sobering. “Karessa, the boss wants to talk to you.”

  Karessa grabs the phone to find Ainslee on video call. “Boss?” she exclaims.

  Ainslee ignores the question and starts asking her own. “Are you okay? Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to go to the spa? Asshole jacked up your hair! We’re on the way.”

  Karessa shakes her head. “I’m fine now, a little spooked.” She looks at his unconscious form. “It’s easier knowing he can’t watch me anymore. Please, go to the party for me.”

  My
wife looks at me, preparing to tell me to go as well. “Hell, no. I’m staying with you.”

  “You two kids go have fun, I can take care of pops from here.” Markos pauses when Ainslee speaks.

  “Founders are untouchable unless they revoke their status…”

  “It’s revoked.” I supply with unwavering conviction. “He broke the rules before, but attacking my wife is something he cannot come back from. The LeClaries will not take this lightly. I am the man at the table now.”

  “Very well. Karessa, we will see you tomorrow,” Ainslee tells her then disconnects, not allowing Karessa any wiggle room.

  “Give me the keys. I’ll lock up after we remove him.” Markos orders, all business.

  “Thank you,” she tells him.

  She wraps her arms around him, and squeezes with her head falling on his chest. He stands there with his arms straight and his eyes bulging, looking every bit of what the fuck. He breathes easier when she lets go. Karessa hands over the keys as instructed, then we leave. Her stalk is mad as the tattered dress flows around her body. She’s just gone through a lot but is holding on to her anger. I have to push her through it. I haven’t purposely pissed her off in a long time, but I haven’t forgotten how.

  “What the hell, Trophy? I save you and get punched, then Markos gets all the credit.” She keeps walking towards my SUV so I go for the kill. “Don’t punch me again unless you’re ready to fight.”

  She rounds on me with her attitude high. “Bring it, Hell! I have every right to be mad at you. If you want to fight, I’m down.” She gets in my face and pushes me with her chest. I chuckle and unlock my vehicle.

  “Get in the car. No one fears you.”

  “You started it with your lie.”

  “I didn’t lie. I told you it was none of your business.”

  “Him trying to marry me IS. MY. BUSINESS!”

  I put my hand on my hips and stare at her. She’s glaring at me, her chest rising and falling rapidly like she’s about to Hulk up.

  “What you gonna do about it.”

  She jumps me like a kitten trying to claw out my eyes. I broke up her one-sided fight with Elmer. She needs someone to fight with. If this means getting my baby back, I’ll weather it for now. Her hands are wild as if she’s unsure to punch, slap, or scratch me. She doesn’t land any of it. Trapping her between me and the car, I pull her into a kiss she fights until I slide my tongue into her mouth. She moans then returns the kiss with just as much heat as she was trying to put into fighting. Now her body is torn between fighting and fucking as shown by her bites and hair pulling.

  Opening the passenger door, I push her inside and close the door. It looks like she’s ripping away the rest of the sheer part of her dress to free up her legs. I’ll find out what she’s up to shortly. I climb into the driver’s seat, and she lunges from the other side. I block the butterfly kisses she calls hits, and she growls her frustration from not connecting any of them. I pull her until she’s all the way over into my lap. I fix her so she’s straddling me and can feel my hard dick. Looks like I’ll get that fight/fuck I didn’t get in my office weeks ago.

  “You’re acting like someone looking to get fucked.”

  “You’re acting like someone who wants to get fucked up.”

  “I’m enrolling you into self defense class because this ain’t it, Trophy.”

  Resuming the kiss from outside, I slip my hand under the now mini dress and rip away her thong. Her fighting to push me away turns into clawing at my clothes. I grab her hips and grind her on my dick. She moans but the anger is still dominating. Shoving two fingers in her pussy, I stretch her and rub her wetness all over.

  “This is the only way you’re allowed to fight me.”

  She undoes my belt and zipper like a pro and strokes my dick as she releases it from its cotton restraints.

  “Bring it on,” she challenges me again.

  This time, her tone is less angry and more aroused. I pull her forward and impale her. Her hips take over and her pussy massages me as she rides. I grab her cheeks and pull her into a harsh kiss that has us both panting. I pump my dick into her hard but keep a firm grip on her jaw.

  “Look at me,” I demand harshly and squeeze tighter.

  Her green eyes flame but remain on mine.

  “You’re mine,” I remind her with a hard thrust. “It doesn’t matter how we happened. It’s not changing. I’d planned to marry you, anyway. The outcome would have been the same!”

  I’ve never fucked and argued at the same time. It’s hotter than it should be. The mix of anger and desire is a potent combination that has us fogging up the windows. Her nails bite into my skin through the shirt. I knock her hand away. Eyes wild, Karessa grabs my tie. She reaches to the side and reclines my seat more while wrapping my tie in around her hand.

  “Your turn to listen,” Her wet pussy continues to grind on my dick and her eyes flutter with pleasure as she yanks on my tie. “I don’t enjoy being in the dark. I should have known a long time ago,” Her breath comes out in huffs as her speed increases. The pressure on my tie lessens my air supply. “Withhold nothing from me… even… for my… benefit.” I’m the one losing air, but she sounds breathless.

  The lack of air has me light-headed and cuming hard while Karessa continues to ride me. Grabbing the back of her neck, I squeeze until she lets me go.

  “I don’t do that again, unless you want erotic asphyxiation.”

  “I was trying to real life choke you,” her confession comes out as a hiss.

  Pull her back until her back hits the steering wheel, then switch my hold to her throat.

  “Well, let me show you how it’s done.” I apply pressure to her neck and she claws at my hand while I fuck her hard against the steering wheel. Each thrust activates the horn in a steady rhythm, like my alarm was triggered. Karessa stops fighting when her orgasm hits her hard enough to make her writhe on my dick.

  I fall back in my seat, and she follows, dropping her forehead on my shoulder. She sniffles. The anger and adrenaline let down allows the other emotions to surface.

  “I was so scared, but I held on, trying the stall as much as I could because I knew you were coming. He was so mad about me loving you and what he saw through the window…”

  Her sobbing hurts my heart, but I rub her back and let her vent. Not once did I suspect him to be the peeping tom because I thought his crazy was far more contained. I guess marrying Karessa made Elmer obsess over something else he wasn’t able to get. Now that it’s out, his obsessive personality explains a lot. I should have seen it.

  “I’m sorry. I never imagined he would have taken it this far. I knew he tricked your dad - all he said was a Hale and LeClaire union - and I blocked him for marrying you and fulfilling that union. I didn’t know he was obsessive and would strike out. I’ve seen him do a lot of things, but never something like this. You’re right, I should have told you.”

  I kiss her shoulder. “Don’t do that. Your dad kissed my shoulder. It’s ruined for me right now.”

  I hate him and the fear he’s placed into my wife, but we’ll get back to that.

  “Karessa, I’ll always do everything in my power to keep you safe. I love you with everything I am. Not more hitting, It’s not what we do. I’m not mad at you. I understand as much as I can. I’ve never been attacked. I can’t pretend to know everything going on in your head. I’ll be here for you through it all, but I’m your safe place, not your punching bag.”

  “I’m sorry,” her tears wet my shirt and I continue to run a soothing hand along her body. “I was so angry and my emotions were out of whack.”

  She pops her head up and looks at me imploring. “Will you forgive me?”

  “I forgave you the moment you hit me. Don’t do it again.” I kiss her nose.

  “I won’t. I love you too much to hurt you on purpose.” She kisses along my jaw then sighs. “Take me home, please.”

  I give her another lingering kiss, realizing tonight could hav
e been much worse. I oblige her request.

  Chapter 40

  Two months later

  Karessa

  “I’m out,” Oran grumps.

  “Fold,” Jagger follows.

  Ainslee and I engage in a stare down. Her poker face is much better than the men, but she’s missing that spark she has when she knows her hand is good. Hard to detect, but this is my wheelhouse.

  “All in,” I announce, although my hand is shit.

  They can’t find my tell. When my dad started teaching me poker with the idea that I’d take over the LeClaire seat one day, I learned early to keep my face neutral no matter the hand. My tell is in my toes, but no one ever looks at your toes during a game.

  Ainslee considers showing her hand but folds. I cheer as I collect my chips. Unlike the boys, I had to play poker religiously with my dad then with my sisters once my dad realized that Imala will be his most likely successor. She’s the only one focused on the family business and because of that. She’s a better poker player than him. She’s gonna give these three hell when she and Ainslee take their seats.

  Luckily, Andreas is fine as wine and they won’t have to cross that bridge soon. I don’t know what happened to Elmer. They never told me, and I never asked. Now that is something I don’t mind being in the dark about. Jagger and Oran have their first Founder poker game next week and they will get their asses spanked if they don’t tighten up those tells.

  “I might have to send you in my place. I should’ve played more poker growing up,” Oran grumbles.

  “Same,” Jagger says. “I know what I’ll be doing in my free time. I would try to play with Ainslee’s boys but they’d just report all my tells…”

  I laugh at them. “You two will be fine. Can you imagine the look on our dad’s faces if Ainslee and I walked in there to represent the other families? You two would never live that down.”