by Tory Baker
Slade falls down on top of me, capturing me in his arms, tucking me into his body before he rolls onto his back, taking me with him so I’m on top. We never separate. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, he’s still hard.
“Stay for just a few minutes. I think you sucked the life out of me.” His voice comes out on a sigh.
“There isn’t any other place I’d rather be.” I tuck myself underneath his chin, basking in the scent and feel of him.
My eyes are slowly closing when I hear, “I love you, Trouble.”
“Say that again?” I request, perking up. My head almost knocks his in my effort to see his beautiful molten chocolate brown eyes.
“I love you, Taylor Daniels,” he says.
“I love you, Slade Arnold Chavez,” I tell him my true feelings. I let out a whimper as he flips me over to my back, never breaking our connection. Slade and I reach for each other throughout the night, making love until the early hours of the morning.
Fifteen
Slade
Three Weeks Later
The past three weeks have been quiet. Two more letters have been received, but nothing to make it seem like this guy is escalating. It’s like the crazy stalker took a break, or he’s coming up with something we have no way to prepare for.
Being his devious self, Drake came up with a plan—one that I’m not all that fond of, but the main bait would be me. So, I’m going to entertain his grand scheme. Taylor vetoed it instantly when we told her. If I was going to be bait, then she wanted to be too. No fucking way would I ever allow that.
Which leads me to the point that it’s been quiet, almost too quiet. I’ve rescheduled every appointment I could, making sure Drake, Bridger, or myself could pick up and drop off Taylor. This week though, I’m short staffed. Drake is dragging his ass on the surgery and is instead going to physical therapy four times a week in an attempt to put off surgery. It’s put him in a hell of a mood, and I feel bad for the physical therapist having to deal with him.
Bridger is out of town this week on a personal security detail, letting us all know he’s tired of dealing with a prima donna Rockstar. We’ve had this client before, and Bridger isn’t wrong to gripe.
That leaves me dealing with a Russian diplomat and a meeting that he wouldn’t let me reschedule. I close down my computer, knowing I need to find someone to pick up Taylor. There is no way in hell I’ll allow her to walk out of the courthouse unescorted or get home by herself.
I walk out to the front reception area; Leo didn’t answer my phone call earlier, which means he could either be out or he’s fucking off around here somewhere.
“Kellie, do you know where Leo is?” I ask her.
“He just walked in. Want me to page him up here for you?” she asks.
“Please. I swear that fucker ignores me on purpose,” I grunt and then realize I probably screwed up. She’s a nervous nelly around us on the best of days. “Sorry for my language,” I say as she hangs up the phone.
“No worries. Leo said he’ll be out in just a second.” She returns to her work. That gut feeling that’s had me eating antacids all day today is making its presence known again.
“Hey, Slade.” Leo comes up to the front of the office, placing his hands in his pockets.
“Hey, is there a reason you weren’t answering your phone?” I ask.
“I was out to lunch,” he smarts back. This fucker, if he doesn’t stop screwing around, I’m going to fire him.
“You use a company phone and a company vehicle, you get paid more than others, so you’re not off the clock for fucking lunch. Answer your damn phone next time.”
“Of course.” Something tells me I’m going to regret what I’m about to ask him.
“Leo, can you pick Taylor up from the courthouse for me? I have to meet a client and he won’t budge on rescheduling. He refuses to meet with anyone else or anytime else either.” I shake my head in disgust. This foreign diplomat is like a prickly bear, but one you don’t piss off.
“Sure thing, I don’t have anything planned,” Leo responds. He’s still new to our company. Truth be told, the only reason we hired him on was because Drake’s Mom practically begged us to before he got into too much trouble. Apparently, he was getting in with the wrong crowds even at the age of twenty-two.
“She gets off at five o’clock, but I want you there thirty minutes before. Text me as soon as she’s secure and in the vehicle with you. I know it’s above what we’d normally do, but with this stalker on the loose, we can’t screw it up. Do a sweep of our house, make sure the door is locked, then call me. I can’t stress the importance of this enough.” The stress this brings me has me eating antacids anytime my mind ventures to the situation. The stalker is practically a ghost.
“I’ll take care of it. You worry about not pissing off the client,” he grunts out.
“Don’t take your personal car. Take a company SUV. I’ll text Taylor before my meeting and let her know you’ll be picking her up.”
“Piece of cake,” Leo replies. I’m apprehensive to even have him guard the most precious person in this world to me.
“All right, don’t fuck up.”
“You do one wrong thing and it’s like an atomic bomb,” he replies. One wrong thing my ass, it makes me not even want to give him this task.
“One? Do you really want to go there?” Those are my last words as I turn and walk back to my office.
I close my door, pissed as hell with this guy I’m having to meet. I tried like hell to rearrange the meeting, but unlike Drake’s potential client, this guy is not having it. I wake my computer, making myself useful as I wait for my appointment time.
It doesn’t take me long to confirm the appointment with the client. I was going to cancel it if Leo couldn’t pick up Taylor for me. My next order of business is texting Taylor.
Me: Hey, Trouble. Leo is picking you up today. Be aware of your surroundings. Love you.
Taylor: Hey, okay. I always am. What do you have planned for today?
Me: Meeting a new client.
Taylor: Love you. Come home to me, safely!
I smile to myself. Taylor worrying about me is nothing new; it’s the selflessness in her. The way she gets flustered when Travis doesn’t respond to her emails in a timely manner pisses her off too. I’ve had to tell her time and time again that he’s busy and can’t always be reached. She’d respond with her hand on her hip. “It doesn’t take but one minute to say, ‘I’m okay. I love you, sis.,’ That’s all I’m asking for Slade Arnold Chavez.” Of course, that got me riled up on more than one occasion.
That sinking feeling in my gut comes back, and I hate like hell I don’t have any other options.
The rest of my afternoon goes smoothly. I brought in a suit to wear to the meeting, knowing I need to look professional for this meeting, instead of in my standard black pants and polo. I go into my bathroom, change, grab my stuff, and then head for the front door when Kellie stops me.
“Mr. Chavez, I have a message for you,” she says.
“Kellie, you can call me Slade. What’s the message?”
“It’s from a Travis Daniels. He said wheels up and he’ll be hitting the ground soon,” she replies, blinking.
“Thank you.” I nod and leave. If Travis is coming home unannounced, shit is going down and fast.
Sixteen
Taylor
I’ve been spoiled with Slade taking me to and from work. For the most part, I live at his place. I mean, one weekend we packed everything I would need for the time being. After Slade found my toy drawer, he packed it and all of my undergarments, but any other clothes? It’s like he was struck stupid at the idea that I need actual clothes. I stomped my foot enough to get his attention, so when he picked me up from work one Friday, he came with boxes. We packed up everything I could possibly need or want for the time being, including my wax warmer that he hollered at me for leaving on all day. Guess where that is now? Yep, right by the front door at his house. What can I say?
I’m a creature of habit.
He welcomed me into his home with open arms, said I probably shouldn’t give up my condo just yet. Travis only has a few more months left of his deployment, and Slade wasn’t having him stay with us. The number of places we have had sex alone, from the kitchen counter, the sofa, the dining room table, against the walls… Yeah, we’d have to disinfect the whole house. Not to mention, we haven’t told him we’re dating. That’s a conversation I am not looking forward to, but I know it’ll come sooner rather than later.
It’s almost time for us to shut down shop for the weekend. Slade has been doing Friday night date nights this past month; sometimes it’s dinner and a movie, but more times than not it’s been dinner and dancing. We stay out so late, the both of us come home tipsy, horny, and end the night completely sated from one another. It causes us to sleep half the day away on Saturday. The one new thing he has me doing, begrudgingly, is working out on Sunday mornings. I’m not sure why I ever thought it was a good idea, but seeing Slade smile and reaping the benefits of him cooking afterwards makes me think I reap the rewards.
“Hey, Mike. I’m leaving for the day. Have a great weekend!” I say to my boss through his open door before grabbing my huge purse and throwing my stuff in it.
“You too, Taylor. Great job on catching up on those transcriptions. I know with Chloe out on maternity leave, it left us in a lurch,” my boss says.
“No problem. I can’t wait to see her bundle of joy when she has her.” I peek my head into his office with a smile.
He laughs and returns my smile before I walk out the door. There’s a pep in my step, not because Slade won’t pick me up, but I’m hoping since Leo is picking me up, I can surprise him with the latest lingerie I just ordered. It took an act of God to hide it from him. I almost had it shipped to my office. He looked at me weird when I hopped out of the SUV one day when we came home to hurry up and grab the package. I had to hide it deep in the house so he wouldn’t snoop.
I walk out to the courthouse square and see Eric waving me down. I wave at him, but find it so odd that he’s trying to get my attention. Slade seemed pretty adamant that even if he wasn’t picking me up, not to stop, collect two hundred dollars, just to go, and that’s what I’m doing now. I’m sure some of my colleagues think I’m crazy for ignoring him, but my goal is to get to Leo.
When I walk out to the courthouse steps leading me to the loading station for cars, I don’t see his vehicle there. Slade mentioned one of his employees would always pick me up in one of their company vehicles, but I don’t see one now.
“I was trying to let you know, Leo texted me. He’s running a few minutes late. I told him I’d take you to Slade.” He holds on to my arm, not too tight but enough to let me know something isn’t right.
“Then you won’t have a problem with me calling Slade?” I question. I’m not an idiot. I’m the only person that can truly keep me safe when Slade isn’t around.
“Feel free.” I grab my phone out of my purse, bringing up Slade’s number all while keeping my eye out for one of his vehicles. The phone on the other end rings and rings before going to voicemail, so I leave him a quick message. “Hey, I’m at the courthouse. Call me when you get a chance.” I hang up, then text him.
Me: Eric offered to take me home, but I’m going back to my office. Love you.
“I think I’m going to go back to my office, no offense. I’d just feel more comfortable waiting for him there.”
“No problem. I’ll walk you up and let Slade know where you are if he gets here before Leo.” His hold on the back of my arm never waivers, and I don’t particularly like this feeling at all.
“Sure.” We walk back up the steps, him beside me. I swear the skin on the back of my neck is crawling.
“I’m going to head to the restroom really quickly, then head to my office. Thanks for helping me.” My heartbeat is racing, but I could totally be off the mark.
“Sorry, Taylor. I can’t let you do that.”
I go to yank my arm away, but he grips it tighter. I really want to kick myself in the ass right now. I knew there was something wrong with this bozo.
“Uh, yes, you can. You do realize if something happens to me, Slade is going to kill you!” I raise my voice, hoping someone can hear me in the corridors.
“I doubt that. You’re nothing but a pawn in this game anyway.” With that, he backhands me so hard that I see stars and feel myself falling. My last thought is, at least I got to hear Slade’s voice on his voicemail and tell him I love him through text.
Seventeen
Slade
My meeting ran late. I felt my phone vibrating when it rang, then it vibrated again, letting me know I received a text. I met Alexander Viktor a few doors down from my office. We shook hands after we signed the contract for his personal security while he’ll be in town again next month. He flew in for two days this time and brought his own, but said it was a nightmare and he’d rather deal with me than that process at the airport.
I’m walking back to my office when I open up my phone and listen to Taylor’s voicemail, that sinking feeling coming at me, then I see her text. I open the door and stop dead in my tracks. Travis, Bridger, and Drake are standing there, waiting for me. Kellie’s face is as bright as a tomato; it’s well past closing time so the guys probably asked her to stay put.
“We need to find Taylor, and we need to find her now. How much do you know about Eric from the courthouse?” I don’t bother with pleasantries.
“That’s why I’m here. I knew those letters were too close to home. That motherfucker has a screw loose. Someone dropped a line, letting me know he was pissed he was discharged from the Seals. I didn’t think anything of it until the person who dropped the line mentioned it was a dishonorable discharge. Hell, I have no idea how he was able to get a job at the courthouse with that on his record. Seems like Eric was a bit too heavy with some of the ladies we rescued.” Travis’ eyebrows quirk to let me know to read between the motherfucking lines. He’s standing with his feet spread apart and his arms placed on his chest, and he’s upset.
Well, he can be upset, but I’m mother fucking pissed. “Where the fuck is your brother, Drake?”
“At the local hospital. He was shot, which we got from the CTV. He’s sitting in the operating room. Bullet is lodged in his chest, but the doctor thinks he’ll be fine. Mom’s with him; otherwise, I’d be there, too.” Drake grabs his hands, twisting them together.
“Motherfucker.” That word seems to be something that’s on repeat around here.
“Did you guys call Easton? I had him put a tracker on her phone earlier this month. I know we have some equipment, but Easton has it all,” I ask.
“Yeah, man. We already know where she is. We were just waiting for you to get here,” Bridger says with a twinkle in his eye.
“You and me, when we get Taylor back and she’s safe and sound, your ass is mine,” Travis grunts. I ignore his remark, go to my office and pull out my extra Glock. I make sure I have two extra clips before making my way back up front.
“Kellie, you can lock up and call it a day. It’s late for you to be here anyway.” I nod at Bridger, letting him know I’m not a fool.
“Thank you, Slade. I’ll be saying a prayer for Taylor. If you don’t mind, I’ll go wait at the hospital with Drake’s mom in case she needs anything?” She already has her bag on her shoulder.
“She’d appreciate that. Thank you, Kellie,” Drake says.
“All right, let’s rock and roll. I have a woman to get back, my woman.” I walk out the front door, heading right to my SUV.
I hear Travis growl, but right now he could be on fire and I’d probably ignore him.
“You’re not driving. I am,” Bridger says. I throw the keys at him, slide in the passenger side, while Travis and Drake get in the back.
“Drake, I know you want to be there front and center, but your shoulder isn’t going to allow that. I want you in here on medic in case shit goes sideways
,” I tell him without giving him an option. He nods his agreement. I look at Travis. “We have shit to discuss, and we’ll do that later once Taylor’s safe, but do you have your sniper rifle ready and a way to exit without being seen?”
He lifts it up to show me he’s holding it as if it were his baby and nods. “Yeah, we do, but part of this is my fucking fault. I should have known that cocksucker had a screw loose. He didn’t re-up, said something about being needed stateside. I saw the twitch in his eye, but thought it was all the action he saw overseas. Little did I know that fucker was watching us all. Especially when Taylor was on calls with us and sending us care packages. One of my men let me know after I told him about Taylor that he walked in on Eric one time, and it wasn’t a good thing. I’m sparing you the details because I’m going to kill him, slowly.”
“Not if I get my hands on him first,” I grunt. We’re only in the car for a few minutes when Easton comes over the phone. “Damn, we sure are having fun when we find the woman of our dreams,” he says with a chuckle. “I triangulated her cell phone. This guy is a fucking imbecile, by the way. Then I picked him up on the traffic cameras. I sent Bridger the address. You’re going to want to enter on the north side of the warehouse. There’s a door there and a door up front. You should have a clear vantage point, Travis, up on the catwalk. Anything else y'all need?”
“Keep the cops at bay until everything’s taken care of. I want to get Travis out of there before I have to answer to the cops, and Easton?”
“Yeah?” he asks.
“Thank you for helping. I know you moved away to do your own thing, but I’m thankful as hell to have you in my corner,” I grunt.
