by T M Kelly
“I have no idea.”
“You need to tell Julian.”
“I will.”
“When?”
“Soon.”
26
“Lily,” Candace said, waving me into her office. “This is a lovely surprise.”
It took everything in me to not roll my eyes. “Hi, Candace.” I walked over to the chair directly in front of her desk and sat down. “Thanks for seeing me on such short notice.”
“Of course. It sounded important.”
“Can we cut the pleasantries?”
She sat back in her chair. “I’m not sure what you mean?”
“Candace, you approached me for an exclusive several months back. Why?”
After talking to Charlie about my mom and having no clue what to do, I started thinking about Candace and her involvement. It had been three months since everything went down, and I still had not made a point to go see her. Let’s be real, I was avoiding the conversation.
“Why?” She reached for a pen and started to flip it pack and forth in her fingers. “Well—”
Before she had the chance to continue, I stopped her. “Don’t say it’s because of my family’s last name.”
Candace glanced out the window and sat there for several minutes. She let out a deep sigh and leaned her elbows on the desk. “Your dad said something to me once while we were still dating.”
Now we were getting somewhere. “Something that concerned you?”
“Not at first. Then when I moved to Las Vegas, and I saw he was friends with Julian, things started clicking into place.”
I stood up and walked over to the big bay window. “Was it about my mom?”
Maybe this visit was going to be exactly what I needed. Candace surprised me by standing and walking over beside me. She placed her hand on my arm. “I read you wrong didn’t I, Lily?”
“Well, if you thought I had anything to do with whatever you know. You’re wrong.” I turned my body to face her. “Candace, can I ask you a question off the record?”
“This whole conversation will be off the record.”
“Why did you get suspicious when you saw my dad with Julian? I mean, they’re fighters. They work at the same place and would have to interact sometimes.”
She smiled. “Because it’s known that Julian helps with some stories. He’s an anonymous source for our reporters. Off the record of course.” She winked.
I pretended to zip my lips shut while struggling to stifle a laugh. “I’m sorry. This is all so weird for me.”
“No, it’s okay,” she said, pointing to the small couch. “Let’s sit.”
“So you see Julian who is with my dad and think Julian has switched alliances?”
“Pretty much.”
It all made sense now. Candace thought Fight It Out could be dirty. Which in turn makes me look dirty, especially because of my family history. Wow. Could this life I was dealt get any crazier?
“I just found out by accident about my family. Well, my mom.”
“And your dad,” she said with a look of confusion in her voice.
“Got mixed up with the wrong crowd.”
There was a knock at the door, and a young woman poked her head inside. “Candace. There’s a woman on line two who insists she needs to talk to you immediately.”
“I’m sorry, Lily. Thank you,” she said and stood to go answer the call. “This is Candace.”
She didn’t say anything for the longest time. Her head was bent, and her shoulders were slumped. I watched as her body fell back into the chair. Still silent, she finally glanced toward me with fear etched on every corner of her face.
I jumped up and ran over. Bending my head down to listen to the person on the other end, I could hear it was a woman’s voice coming through.
My mom.
Not thinking, I grabbed the phone from her hand. “Really, Mom.”
The woman went silent for a beat and then cleared her throat. “Is that my Lily Bug?”
I looked down to find the speaker button and hit it. Candace didn’t deserve to be in the dark. She already knew enough of the story. “Where are you?”
“Well, I can’t mention that, sweetie.”
“But you can call and harass the editor-in-chief at MMA Journal?”
“When she starts to bother my girl, yes.”
I looked around the office. Then my mind went to that damn scrambler Julian used. Was this office bugged? Holy shit, did Mom realize how deep Candace was in this story?
Candace was holding a pen. I snatched it from her hand and wrote down, Don’t say anything out loud. I think they can hear us. Her eyes went wide and she nodded.
“You still there, sweetie?”
“Yup.”
“I wish I could’ve had more time with you.”
I leaned against the desk. Where was this conversation going? “Mom, why did you escape?”
“Baby, being locked up is so awful.”
“Yeah, well killing people is worse.”
“That was harsh.”
Candace quietly stood and went to her door. I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but I knew she was getting her assistant. She motioned for me to keep talking.
“I’m sorry,” I said, sitting down in the overstuffed office chair. “Did you leave the country?”
I heard her let out a sigh. “Why do you care so much?”
“Well, you are still my mom.”
“Listen, I feel like I have been on here a little longer than I should. I love you, baby. Don’t forget that.”
“Will I talk to you again?” Not that I cared, but maybe it would keep her on the phone longer.
“Probably not. Goodbye, Lily.”
“Bye, Mom.”
I leaned forward and hung up the phone. Candace leaned on the desk, taking me out of my reverie. “So?”
“Let’s talk.” She nodded her head toward the door. As I stepped closer she placed her hand on the small of my back and we walked out to the front lobby of the newspaper. “Because of what I do, my phones are connected to the security office. He was able grab the part of the conversation.”
“Probably not enough, though.”
“It’s something. Did she tell you where she was at?”
“Nope. She’s smarter than that.” I glanced around, and everyone was doing their own thing. No one knew there was a serial killer on the lose somewhere. “I need to go.” I started to turn but stopped. “I have a proposition.”
“I’m listening.”
27
Julian had been working overtime at the gym the last several weeks. Probably to avoid talking about what had happened in San Francisco. I missed him, though. He had managed to get under my skin and weasel his way into my heart. It probably helped that he was my savior during the whole mom incident.
It was early afternoon, so he was more than likely at the gym. When I pulled into his driveway, I saw his car parked in his normal spot. Weird
I let myself inside and started to make my way up to his bedroom. As I passed the sitting room that had the big comfy couch, I noticed his large frame curled up in the center. He was snoring and my heart melted. I dropped my purse on the coffee table and lay down in front of him. He mumbled something and pulled my body close.
After all we had experienced, it only made sense we were closer now. “Where have you been?” he said beside my ear.
I softly chuckled and wiggled my behind into his growing erection. “It’s a long story.”
“Aren’t they all?” He leaned his head back and stretched his body out. “I came home early to surprise you. Then realized I was all alone.”
I turned to face him and leaned up on my elbow. “I’m sorry. I had to go see Candace.”
“MMA Journal, Candace?”
“Is there another one?”
He tickled my side. “Smart ass. What about?”
“Can we talk about it later?” I needed a few moments free of the shit in my life. “I would rather di
scuss you.”
“Yeah,” he said, bending his head down and biting my nipple with my bra and shirt still on. “What do you have in mind?”
“Oh you know, a little of this”—I slid my hand down in between his legs and cupped my hand around him—“and a little of that.”
He bounced up and was looming over my body. “A little of that, eh?” Taking control, he pushed his erection against my core. My body ignited with need. “Lily.”
My eyes were closed, and I was letting all the feelings rush through me. “Yeah.”
“I think I love you.”
Not expecting his words, I popped my eyes open. “What?”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
What he didn’t realize was, I loved him too. Hell, I didn’t spend two days searching for the perfect dresser for the fun of it. I threw my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. “Say it again.” I wanted to be ready this time.
He laughed at my reaction. “Okay. Lily, I think I love you.”
“Think?” I knew where I stood on the subject, so I needed to be sure he was in it for the long haul.
“I do love you,” he said, bending down to kiss me. “I love you so fucking much.”
“Wow, really? Well, I bet I love you more?”
“Not possible.” He let me down and started to remove my pants.
“I love you more than all the water in the ocean,” I said, reaching forward and tugging his shirt over his head.
“Yeah, well, I love you more than chocolate.”
I burst out laughing. “Not possible?”
“Oh, it’s possible.” He sat back on his legs and helped me lean up to remove my shirt and bra.
“I will top that. I love you more than all the grains of sand in the world.” I was sitting before him in the nude and completely aroused. “But that may change if you don’t remove your pants and boxers soon.”
He burst out laughing, stood up, and threw me over his shoulder. As he made his way up the stairs, his fingers were inching closer to my core. I cried out at his invasion and begged for more. When he reached the bedroom, he let me down so I could help remove the remaining clothes separating us.
I knelt before him and looked up at his beautiful face. “I really do love you, Julian.”
He combed his hands through my hair. “Fuck, I love you so much.”
Reaching up, I unbutton his pants and slid down the zipper. “We’re cheesy as fuck. You know that, right?”
“No one ever has to know.”
“Deal.” I licked my lips and then laced my fingers around the waist band of his boxers and slowly slid them down. His erection sprang free, and I captured it in my mouth immediately. I could hear his breathing increase the moment my tongue touched the tip. Moving my mouth up and down in a slow sensual motion, I could feel my body react. I sucked hard on the tip and then went back to the slow movements.
“Lily, I’m—”
I didn’t stop. I continued my movements, encouraging him to let go. The moment he cried out, I sucked harder, causing his body to collapse beside me. I licked my lips. “Sorry, I was enjoying that a little too much maybe.”
He didn’t say anything at first. Instead, he forced me onto my back and without warning entered me. “Oh, you have nothing to apologize for, baby.”
“Julian.” I wrapped my legs around his body wanting him deeper. “Faster.” As he pounded into me, my body was responding and needed more. “Harder,” I breathed. He obeyed and threw my arms above my head and took control. Then suddenly it was like every amazing emotion running through my body all at one time. The moment the release ended, my body slumped, and I could still feel little aftershocks. “I want more,” I whined.
“That can be arranged,” he teased picking me up to take me to the bed. “Shouldn’t we be working?”
“We are. This would be considered working out.”
“Think we should be a part of society and discuss adult stuff?” Julian said, moving his finger over my nipple. “Or should we protest and just stay here for the rest of the day?”
I kissed his nose and threw the covers back. “We have lots to discuss.” He moaned and threw the pillow over his head. I pulled it off. “Just for a little bit. Then we can hit resume and start right where we left off.”
“Promise.” He pulled me down and captured my lips.
“Promise.” I kissed him one more time and stood up. I threw on a blue silk rob and loosely tied it around my waist. “I’m hungry.” Right before I left the room, I struggled to hold back a laugh. “For food this time.”
Julian had a dream kitchen. The kitchen island alone was the size of my bedroom back at Charlie’s place. Okay, maybe I was exaggerating but still, the thing was huge. He even had a pot filler against the wall at the stove. Someone seriously invented a small faucet at the stove, so you didn’t have to take the extra steps over to the damn kitchen sink. The person was either lazy or a genius; I’m not sure which one.
I pulled open the refrigerator and stood there staring at the food like it would magically make something for me. Julian smacked my ass as he walked by. “We have a shit-ton of food to choose from.”
“I know, but what am I in the mood for right now?”
“That, my dear, is only for you to decide. I don’t know what your tummy wants.” He splayed his hands over my abdomen and pulled me close. “There’s some ground beef. Want pasta with Bolognese sauce?”
I turned my head to look up at him. “You can make that?”
“Are you doubting me?”
“Maybe,” I teased. “Just a little.”
He playfully nipped at my earlobe and reached into the fridge and grabbed the ground beef “Then you need to sit down and prepare to be wowed.”
“Oh, I am so ready for this.” I leaned back and rested my legs on the chair next to me.
“So, you saw Candace, eh?”
“You’re going to be pissed.” He stopped moving the ground beef around in the pan and turned. “Like really pissed.” I wanted to make my point clear.
“So you had sex to ease that emotion?”
“No, I had sex because every time I’m near you I want you.”
“Good answer.” He turned back and continued to brown the meat. “So why will I be super pissed?”
“My mom somehow escaped.” My head was bent as I messed with a frayed piece on my nail when I heard the spoon fall. “That’s the less shitty part of the story.”
He walked over and leaned his hands on the granite countertop. “It gets worse?”
“My lawyer was not doing weekly visits to see Mom.”
“But he told you he would?”
“Right? I said the same thing. His defense was the warden was giving weekly updates for three of the four weeks per month.”
Julian reached for his phone. “The warden. Where did we end up finding this fucking lawyer, a Cracker Jack box?”
“Well, he’s fired now. So there’s that.”
I watched as Julian stepped out of the room. He probably called Otto to see if he had any news. When he walked back in, his face told me everything I needed to know. “She escaped two days ago. Otto suspects it was an inside job.”
“Which would explain why Candace’s office was bugged.”
“What?” Now I was worried he would punch something soon. I removed my legs from the second chair and sat up. “Lily, fuck. Why are you acting like everything’s okay?”
Was I acting that way? I guess after all that had happened, it was hard to shock me anymore. “I’m not acting any way. Plus, I made a deal with Candace.” I knew by the look on his face he was confused. “When I discovered Mom called Candace while I was in the office. Candace and I went somewhere, and I asked her to help me find Mom.”
“Through an article.”
“Well, you aren’t the only one that gets the honor of being an anonymous source.”
“She told you?”
“I kinda forced her to tell me
all that she knew about you.”
“Candace always wants something in return.”
“I have her writing an article exposing my mom. In exchange, I give her an exclusive that only talks about the up-and-coming rising star, Lily Waters.” Suddenly something he said made me curious. “Wait, what did Candace give you for anonymous intel?” I pointed my index finger in his direction. “If you say sex, I will leave and never come back.”
Julian walked around the counter and reached for my hand. “Does she really look like my type?”
“No, but—”
“But nothing. I had to promise to always give them the information first before any other newspaper.”
I let out a deep sigh. “Oh thank God. I was freaking out there for a moment.” He started to poke me all over which only made me laugh. I was grabbing his hands to try and stop him when the doorbell rang. “Expecting anyone?”
28
“My eyes are burning.” Charlie reached over and covered Brooks’s eyes.
“I have a robe on.” I looked down and then over at Charlie who was cracking up.
Brooks separated Charlie’s fingers ever so slightly and shrugged. “Okay, I can deal with that.”
I turned and started heading back into the kitchen. “Well that’s good because I didn’t plan on changing. Especially because your brother is cooking.”
“What did you say?” Brooks said, sounding a little too excited.
There were weird sounds happening behind me, so I turned to find Charlie almost falling as Brooks beelined past her. “Are you okay?” I walked over and reached for her hand. “What are you doing here with Brooks?”
“She begged me to bring her over,” Brooks yelled from the kitchen.
“Thanks man with super-human hearing,” I yelled back to him. This time I whispered. “No really, you both seem chummy.”
“Is that a question?” she said looping her arm in mine.
“Um, yes.”
“Then you would be correct, my love.” She squeezed my arm and kissed my shoulder.
