Caged

by Shanna Ehrlich

  “How will I know what I’m looking for?”

  “You won’t, but if you know us well enough, and I think you do, you’ll be able to tell that most of what you find is bullshit; sloppy work, and my men are not sloppy.”

  “How do you plan to fix it?”

  “I can’t. What’s done is done. I’m not stupid enough to think the dicks working the case will ever believe me. Right now, I’m only thinking about revenge, and I’ll get it, I assure you.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  Reaching into his pocket, Trevor pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to her. She opened it while he explained. “Those are the code names of the top ten associates of the Baller Grims. I’m going to do something that goes against every ethics code I know. I’m going to snitch. If the Feds don’t want an all out war, they will start arresting all people associated with the Baller Grims. I want a full out raid. I want the photos of every man they arrest and I will confirm or deny if they are from that list. If the Feds don’t start moving on this within the week, we’ll be forced to do it ourselves. The Emmo is not about killing innocent people, but as with any war, sometimes they get caught in the crossfire. Consider this my warning.”

  “I can’t say this on-air Ax. Our program director will never allow it. You’re making threats to the government.”

  “I am making threats. I’m threatening them to do something they should have done a long time ago and the people of New York deserve to know. They should know what options I’m presenting. I’m not a terrorist, I’m a businessman, this is just a side of business people don’t usually see. If they don’t want gun fire on their streets, I suggest the people ban together to encourage local police and the FBI to step in. It’s not an outrageous request. If it was a normal Manhattan family who lost their father and the police were doing nothing, the city would be outraged. Well this is my family. I lost my father. I expect something done about it.”

  “Can I keep this list?”

  “Absolutely. Show it on-air if you’d like.”

  “What about the Baller Grims?” she asked, folding the paper. “They’re not going to be happy about this. A war is going to happen no matter what.”

  “Oh I have no doubt. All the more reason for the Feds to step in.”

  “Aren’t you worried they’re going to arrest your men as well?”

  “A necessary sacrifice Ms. Cruz. For the greater good. We’re a little light on men on the inside as it is. This could be a benefit for us.”

  The expression on Kari’s face told him she didn’t like how cavalier he was being. “And what about me? Am I a necessary sacrifice? If I say what you want me to say I’m dead.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. That’s why we’re paying you. We’ll provide security too. You’re no good to us if you’re dead, but if you back out now, I can guarantee you will be.”

  “When do I get the money?”

  “Tonight. It’s being delivered as we speak.”

  Mathews escorted Kari out of the building and Trevor stayed put, hiding in the room and relishing his job well done. Braxton barely stepped in and at times he forgot he was listening at all. Everything went exactly according to plan. Now all he had to do was hope for the same outcome over the next few weeks. Kari was about to go live with her intel and word would surely circulate that Ax was in town. The longer he stayed in New York, the more dangerous it would become. It almost made him miss his old boring life in Arizona. Sure, before he met Braxton he was jobless and broke, but at least he was pretty certain he’d live through the day. These days he wasn’t so sure.

  He also lost all hold on his morals. The job changed him. He could see it in everything he did. No matter what Braxton asked him to do, how wrong it was, he could always find a way to make it justified. Especially when it came to Annie. Braxton loved her. Everything he was doing was because of her, to get the love of his life. How could it be wrong to help with that? So what if he gave Braxton the spare key to her house back when he first arrived. Who cares he switched out her phone, told Braxton every detail he could think of about her life and even got her fired from her job. It was all in the name of love. He was only doing what Braxton asked of him because it was what’s best for Annie. It had nothing to do with the money or the life he was offered. It was all for her. The funny thing is, after you lie to yourself enough, it eventually becomes what you believe.

  “You’re quiet in there,” Braxton interrupted his thoughts. “I don’t want you hiding out in that room. Go out and talk to the men. Find out how things are going. They don’t know who you are. This is perfect. Better than we could have planned.”

  Trevor didn’t respond. His gut told him to stay put, but there was no point in arguing.

  He exited the room, looking both ways down the long corridor. It was all clear. He stepped quietly down the hall, nervous to talk to anyone. He didn’t know what to say, this was off the books.

  He made his way toward the large, open space room and the men were still at it, loading crate after crate of large assault riffles.

  “Hey new guy,” one of the men turned and shouted toward him. “Stop fucking around and come help. You’re not going to learn anything by hiding over there and we don’t have much time left.”

  It was the best introduction he could hope for, and he tentatively ambled forward. “What do I do?”

  “Start sealing up the crates. Those bins over there are full. Screw down the lids.”

  An electric screwdriver sat on a now empty shelf and he began doing as asked, moving from crate to crate. Mathews returned inside, they shared a look, one full of meaning. He understood what Ax was doing.

  After the truck was loaded and they slid the door closed, Trevor wiped his hands on his pants, remembering for the first time he was still in a suit. Did the men really believe he was a new recruit? He was older than most of them and dressed infinitely better. He had a feeling they were on to him. They might not have thought he was Ax, but they weren’t dumb enough to think he wasn’t someone of importance.

  “I want in on the drop,” he told Mathews off to the side. Well, it’s what Braxton forced him to say. Trevor wanted no part in the drop. Getting on a boat with a bunch of killers and sailing out to the middle of nowhere to meet up with more coldblooded killers. No fucking thank you. “I want to be treated like the new recruit they think I am. Do what you need to do to make sure they believe it.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “And one other thing. Consider this classified. You will not report this to any of the superiors above you. All they need to know is you dropped me off at my loft as ordered. Is that understood?”

  “Yes sir.”

  Twenty-Two

  Going out to breakfast wasn’t a normal activity for Annie. It just wasn’t something she had time for. Even when she did have time, there was always something better she could be doing. She could sleep in, clean the house, watch TV, even read a book. But when you lose your job and have exhausted all those efforts, breakfast suddenly becomes the highlight of your day; especially when the man two tables down from you is sexy as hell.

  She took a sip of her coffee, shifting her glance toward him once more. He didn’t seem to notice, was too busy eating, but on her second attempt he caught her; held her stare until she diverted her gaze. She shouldn’t be looking at him. Shouldn’t be having these adulterous thoughts and yet she was, couldn’t help herself.

  Annie adjusted in her chair, re-crossing her legs. She looked back down at her newspaper and pretended to read, pretended to think the news about the new piece of legislature up for a vote in November was the most interesting thing she’d ever had the pleasure of reading.

  “Is this seat taken?” His deep voice asked and she felt her sex squeeze together in anticipation as she looked up.

  “You tell me.”

  “It is now,” he smiled as he took a seat, leaning back casually in his chair, letting his hands rest on his thighs. “I’m Drew.”

  “
Annie.” She told him the truth. Had given up on lying. It only got her into trouble. “Nice to meet you Drew.”

  “Can I buy you breakfast Annie?”

  “You can, but I should probably tell you I’m married.”

  “Ouch,” he feigned a wounded heart. “Where’s your husband?”

  She shrugged. “At work most likely.”

  “Does he normally let his gorgeous wife go to breakfast all alone?”

  “He does these days.”

  “And why’s that?”

  “You’re getting pretty personal here seeing as we just met.”

  “You want to know something personal about me instead?”

  “Sure.”

  Drew leaned in close. Let the back of his hand trail down her forearm while he whispered, “I’m married too,” and then brought his finger down to tap on his titanium ring, pointing it out.

  Annie could barely believe it, he didn’t seem like the married type, not with him out right hitting on her, but it’s not like she could judge. She wasn’t exactly turning down his advances. “Where’s your wife?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “No. I guess it doesn’t.”

  The silence was heavy between them. Drew leaned back in his chair, straightened his tie and relaxed comfortably like he asked to join random women’s breakfast tables on a daily basis.

  Annie didn’t know what to say, didn’t know what to do. For some reason she liked the idea of getting caught. Of talking to another man in broad day light where he could easily see if he knew where to look. It was an adrenalin rush and her heart beat a mile a minute.

  “You know I watch you every time you come in here,” Drew confessed.

  “You do?”

  He nodded. “Same time everyday, like clockwork. You always sit at this same table, always order a coffee and always bring in a newspaper even though you don’t actually read one word. Like you’re just trying to expand your horizons. To see what it feels like.”

  “Maybe I am. Expanding my horizons,” she clarified.

  “Maybe that’s something I can help with.”

  Her curiosity got the best of her. “How so?”

  “I don’t want to come off like a creep when I say this, but you are a very beautiful woman. I’ve seen the way you look at me. You watch me too. This is new for you. I can tell how inexperienced you are, but I can teach you. All you have to do is let me.”

  “Teach me what?”

  “Come find out.”

  Drew stood from his seat and pulled a twenty out of his wallet, tossing it to the table. Annie wanted to be daring, wanted to find out what he was referring to. This was a whole new her. She was no longer playing it safe, hiding from who she really was, but when she didn’t make an effort to stand, he crouched down low to encourage her further.

  “Can I ask you a question Annie?” He didn’t give her time to respond before diving right in. “Have you ever wanted to do something crazy? Something completely out of character that you’ve never done before, just to say you tried.” His eyes darkened as he asked and leaned in closer, letting the stubble of a five o’clock shadow graze against her jaw line.

  Again, she felt it in her core. Was getting wet for this stranger. A brief image of his face between her legs flashed in her mind. What it would feel like to have his rough hairs rubbing against her sensitive folds. For some reason it was all she wanted. Like her pussy had a mind of it’s own and was voting yes, was screaming at her to tell this man yes, I want to do something out of character, because she did, she really did.

  “What are you suggesting?”

  “Me and you. Just one time.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” She played hard to get. It was always her go to. She didn’t know how to play it any other way. Wasn’t the type to just say, yep, let’s go fuck, even if those were the words she was really looking for.

  “I never said it was. Think about it. You’re an innocent girl, right? You’ve never had a one night stand before?”

  She shook her head.

  “One day you’re going to look back and wish you had. Wish you experienced everything life had to offer. I can give that to you now. No one will ever have to find out if you don’t want them to. I’m married, you’re married. There’s no strings attached here.”

  “I can’t,” she told him, but he held a finger to her lips, quieting any further excuses.

  “Let me tell you what you’re going to do,” he lowered his voice. “You’re going to stand from this table, straighten the back of your skirt and walk out of here with me like I’m a gentleman who just picked you up.”

  Annie swallowed, hanging on to his every word.

  “When we get to the door you’re going to stop me. Going to tell me you need to use the restroom before we leave. I’ll let you go. I’ll wait a minute. Then two. Then I’ll wonder where you went. I’ll go find you. I’ll open the door. It’s the ladies room, but I don’t really care. Are you following me so far?”

  “Yes,” she she whispered and absentmindedly bit her lip. She wanted to know what happens at the end of the story.

  “When I walk in the bathroom this apprehension of yours is going to be gone. You’ll reach out a hand and feel for my cock. I’ll already be hard for you. Then I’m going to,” he stopped to think and smirked. “I don’t want to give too much away.”

  Standing he reached out a hand to help her up and escorted her to the front doors.

  Annie waited in the bathroom. She couldn’t believe she was going to do this. How long had it been? A minute? Two? More? Where was he? Was this just a joke? To see if she would go for it? She paced back and forth in front of the stalls, reopening each one to be sure they were empty. She saw him when she turned around from the final stall, leaning casually against the door. His black slacks doing nothing to hide the tent he was currently pitching.

  “Took you long enough.”

  “I was just giving you time to get rid of those nerves. See, they’re all gone.”

  “Nerves can be part of the fun. Maybe I want to be nervous.”

  “Then I’ll make you nervous.”

  He walked toward her slow, letting her anticipate what he was likely to do. When he was mere inches away she reached out her hand, let her palm glide over the large bulge. They hadn’t kissed yet, but somehow touching him felt okay. Less intimate. More carnal. That was all this was. Fucking. She wanted to be fucked, not like she couldn’t get it from Brax, but this was different. A one-night stand. Something she’d never had before.

  Drew pulled a condom from his back pocket, the metallic foil cluing her in to what it was. She hadn’t used a condom in years.

  “Put it on me. Unzip my pants and put it on me.”

  He wasn’t joking about making her nervous. Her hands trembled as she took the condom and went to work on his zipper; pulling it down and then released the button. She pushed the black boxer briefs to his thighs and let him spring free.

  Like she heard of people doing so many times before, she placed the packet between her teeth and tore it open, letting the packaging fall to the floor while she rolled the lubricated rubber down his shaft. She looked up at him when she was finished as if to say now what. She had no clue what to do next. Well she did, but she wanted him to take the lead.

  “Turn around,” he guided her to turn away from him, facing the large mirror above the sink.

  With a hand to her upper back he leaned her forward. Her skirt was appropriate for breakfast, ending mid thigh, but in this position it barely went past her hips. Drew didn’t bother removing her underwear. He simply guided himself to her entrance and hooked the thin fabric out of the way.

  He pushed in slow, just the tip and then pulled out. Again he pushed in slow; a little further this time and then pulled out. On the third try he went all the way, filling her as far as he could and they both let out a groan.

  “Hold on tight Annie.”

  She had nothing to hold on to and reached back, let
ting the fingers of both hands grasp the edge of the counter top.

  He took position by resting his hands on her hips, soft to begin with and then gripped firm. At first he screwed her normal, if you could call a stranger’s dick in you normal, but then he picked up speed, pulling her hips back to meet his forward thrusts. She couldn’t help but moan. He was hitting that delicious spot deep inside.

  Looking up she caught his reflection in the mirror. He was staring at her ass, watching as he entered her over and over again. It made her feel sexy, powerful, even though he had all the power in this position.

  Closing her eyes, she began to concentrate, memorizing what it felt like each time he pressed against her cervix. She could tell he was getting close, his movements becoming jerkier, his cock growing longer than it was when they began. It was almost verging on painful. She let go of the counter to push a hand against him, holding him back just enough to stop the twinge of discomfort. He didn’t let her interference slow him down. His thrusts weren’t as deep, but the pace seemed to pick up and minutes later he was groaning in orgasm. Even with the condom Annie could feel the pressure of his release.

  Standing up she composed herself and watched Drew walk over to one of the stalls to flush the condom away. Holding his tie under his chin, he buttoned his pants on the way back.

  “I gotta get going, but that was fun,” he said with a wink and leaned in to kiss her cheek. “It was nice to meet you.”

  “Yeah, you too. So what happens now? Do we split custody of the restaurant or something?”

  Drew breathed out a soft laugh. “Is that really needed? You couldn’t stand to see me here again? It’s not like we’re a couple breaking up Annie, we just fucked. No big deal.”

  “Oh. I thought since you said it was a one-time thing…”

  “It is. I’m not interested in a mistress. I just wanted to know what you felt like and now I do.”

  “You’re kind of an asshole, you know that?”

  He shrugged. “Think what you want. I’m just telling you the truth. You wanted to know what I felt like too, otherwise what are you doing here? It’s not like we had a deep connection after the ten minutes we spent talking.”