Better (The Change Series Book 2)

by Melanie Jayne

I opened a bottle of wine at dinner. I knew she didn’t drink much or often. I needed to talk to her about the meet Rick set up. I waited until I’d helped her clean up the kitchen, and then I changed the sheets on the bed. I knew she liked that, how I made the effort to make one of her wishes come true.

  I’d just joined her on the sofa in the man cave, when I got a call from Rick.

  “Sorry babe, gotta take this,” I said.

  She waved her hand in a “go on” motion. God, it was great that she didn’t get pissy when I took calls.

  “Tomorrow, ten, at The Red Rocket.” Rick’s voice was tense.

  “He accept the limits on participants?” I meant Vador and his second and me with mine would be only ones to attend.

  “That’s the plan, but I say we bring in everyone.” Rick’s low voice rumbled in my ear.

  “Agreed. Thanks man, go back to your daughter. I’ll arrange the back up.”

  “Copy that.” Rick hung up.

  I dropped my phone onto the coffee table, and I picked up my wine glass. I slowly twirled it a few times before I took a drink.

  “Everything all right?” Layla was watching me closely as if she sensed that something was up.

  “Need to have a talk,” I told her. I watched her eyes go from frightened, to resolute, and finally worried.

  “I know you’re getting a feel for what we do at Limited,” I started.

  She nodded. “I still have a lot to learn, but everybody has been really great dealing with my questions and screw ups.”

  She’d made very few screw ups. Jenn and Rick had both told me I needed to give her more money, because she was doing great and fitting in so well. “A part of my job is to deal with bad people.” I kept my voice soft.

  “You told me that at the beginning,” she said cautiously.

  “This thing with the Cancerberos has gotten out of control.”

  I watched her eyes widen.

  “I put out the word you were under my protection after I brought you here.” I waited until she gave me a nod. “Then the Morenos burned down the house around us. I issued another warning to Vador over the phone. He said he would handle it.”

  She was now biting down on her lip.

  “He hasn’t. So, I had Rick arrange a meeting between me and Mr. Ulloa. A formal face-to-face discussion.”

  Her eyes got even bigger. “Just because of my car? Honey, it isn’t worth making such a big deal over. I mean making this meeting formal and all, isn’t that dangerous?” Her voice shook.

  I weighed my answer carefully.

  “The truth Forde,” she urged.

  I wanted to smile. My woman was strong. “Yeah, there’s a danger factor, but Rick will be there, and I’ll have people around.”

  She asked slowly, “And these people, they’re good at being around?”

  “Yeah, they’re good.” A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. The woman was smart.

  She still looked worried. “Will Mr. Ulloa have people around?”

  “Probably. I would if I were him.”

  She let out a sigh. “You’re doing this for me?”

  “For us,” I said, infusing confidence in my response.

  “I’m so going to owe you.” She flashed a quick smile, and then took the glass from my hand and climbed onto my lap, straddling me.

  “Yeah, you’re going to owe me.” I kissed her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  It was after lunch and clearly everybody knew about the meeting that night. I’d had my fill of inquiring looks and subtle questions. Our people were worried about how I was handling the news. Luckily Zoe called and invited Forde and I to dinner. I jumped at the chance to do something to keep my mind from worrying.

  I headed to the kitchen for a bottle of water and ran into Rick. “When do I get to see Nahla again?”

  His smile was pure sweetness. “I have her the rest of the week, so how about some afternoon?”

  “It’s a date.” I opened the refrigerator door and noted that I needed to restock the water and Red Bull. I grabbed a bottle of water and unscrewed the top as I turned.

  “You know I’ve got Forde’s back on this right?” Rick’s gaze was serious.

  “I know.” I had no doubt Rick would lay down his life for Forde.

  “But you’re still going to worry?”

  “Of course I’m going to worry. That’s a lot of, uh, alpha male bad-assedous in one room.” I shrugged trying to keep things light.

  He grinned. “I love how you continually make up new words containing badass.”

  “Well, since I’m surrounded by it twenty-four seven, I’ve made it my life’s mission,” I said, returning his smile.

  He put his big hand on my shoulder. “We got this Layla.”

  “I know.” I meant it.

  I headed to the boss’s office. I rapped my knuckles on the door frame after sneaking a peak to see if he looked busy.

  “Yeah?” He looked up from his laptop.

  “Got a sec?” I stayed in the doorway. I always waited for him to invite me in. I didn’t want him to think I didn’t respect his position.

  “Sure, and close the door.” He gave me a wary look.

  I did as instructed and moved closer to his desk. I continued standing and leaned my arms on the back of one of his wing chairs in front of it. I’d given him plenty of space today. I wasn’t sure about how, or if, he needed to prepare for the meeting. “Zoe called and invited us over for dinner tonight.” I saw that he was going to say something, so I held up my hand to stop him. “I know you’re going to be busy. I told her I was coming, but if you have a problem with that, I can call her back.”

  He didn’t say anything so I continued. “I didn’t answer for you, and I didn’t tell her much—just that you had a meeting later on tonight. She and Tony agreed I could hang there until you’re done with your business. I figured you’d be okay with me being there since Tony can handle problems.”

  I was proud of myself. I didn’t push him, but I laid it all out.

  He studied me. “Would it make it easier on you to hang with them?”

  I nodded yes.

  “Fine with me.” He shrugged one shoulder.

  I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. “About dinner?”

  “What are they having?” He surprised me by asking.

  “Oh, Tony’s going to grill something. Zoe says he loves to grill.”

  “Then, I’m in.”

  I didn’t know how to bring up the next thing on my mind. I wasn’t sure if I should. Since Forde had told me the meeting was a go, I hadn’t mentioned it.

  “Something else on your mind?” He leaned back in his chair.

  I bit my lip trying to think how to phrase my thoughts. “Maybe.”

  “Not going to try to guess. I’ve got shit to do.” He looked pointedly at his laptop, and then his watch.

  He wasn’t being rude. Well, maybe he was, but I took no offence. He was blunt like that with everyone. “Everybody’s being really nice today, but it’s making me feel weird.”

  He leaned forward, onto his forearms in what I called the “all business” posture. “You look worried. They don’t like it. They care.”

  I started pacing while I worked through that. “I’m not really worried.” I shook my head. “Wait, that’s not quite true. It’s not that I don’t think that you can handle this. I’ve got no doubts about your skills.” I glanced to find that he was watching me like a jungle cat waiting to pounce on prey. “And Rick’s good too, I know that.”

  “Lay, come here,” he said softly. His expression had gone warm.

  I moved tentatively toward him. My heart was pounding in my chest.

  He stood and pushed me back until I was sitting on the side of his desk. His arms were on either side of me, caging me. “Continue.”

  It was harder being so close to him. I knew he didn’t miss anything going on with me. He could read me like
a book. “I’m worried for you.”

  One side of his mouth tilted up. “Because…”

  My throat had gone dry. After clearing it I said, “Because, you’re doing this for me. Because…” When my chest suddenly tightened, I struggled to inhale. “Because, I’m yours.”

  His arms came around me, and I saw something in his gaze change. It was hotter, more focused, and hungry.

  “If things go badly,” My voice was so soft, “it could involve a lot of people. People we care about.” I was thinking about pregnant Zoe and sweet Nahla. “I get that you’re going in there, carrying a lot of responsibilities on your shoulders. I don’t like that it came to this, but I’m proud it’s you who’s taking care of us, of me.”

  He kissed me hard. His embrace was possessive and the kiss was filled with hunger. When we finally came up for air, my man said, “Lay, that’s why you’re mine. You get it, you get it all.” Then he kissed me again. His hands pulled my new rose colored silky blouse from my skirt.

  I moaned as his calloused hands roamed my back. He pulled the blouse over my head and dropped it. Next, he unhooked my bra and then his hands were on my breasts, kneading them roughly, and his lips were on my neck.

  “Need you, Lay.” He said against my skin.

  I ran my hands along his wide shoulders and made a purring sound. God, I loved his rough handling.

  “Naked.” He was pulling me to my feet.

  “Now?” I started to fight off the hands going to the zipper at the back of my skirt.

  “Now,” he growled as he pushed my hands away with authority. He pulled at the zipper, and I turned my hips away.

  “Don’t tear it. I’ll do it,” I said breathily. I wanted this too. I pushed the skirt to the floor, kicking it and my pumps to the side.

  Immediately, his hands were pushing down my panties.

  “I didn’t lock the door.” I glanced at it worriedly.

  “Nobody’s going to come in without my permission.” He pushed the lace below my knees so they dropped to the floor, then put me back on his desk.

  “Forde?” I wasn’t sure about this. It felt exciting and dirty, but I was worried someone would come in.

  “Layla…”

  Something in his voice made me look up at his face.

  “I need you here, right now.” It was an admission from my badass.

  I reached for him and grabbed the waistband of his cargos. “Okay.”

  He pushed me onto my back then bent my legs up. Not the most flattering look or feeling, I have to say, being on the cool glass cover and so exposed.

  “Jesus,” I heard him say before I felt his mouth on me.

  I had never been a big fan of a guy going down on me. I worried about how I smelled, how I tasted, and well, what to do with my hands. It took me a little while to get into it. Forde gave me that time. He liked going down on me; he liked it a lot.

  I had my hands in his hair trying to grind my pussy against his face to drive his magic tongue deeper. I knew I was getting close to coming. I could feel the electricity move through my body. I tried to fight against it, but Forde put a stop to that by smacking my hip hard. God, I loved that bite of pain.

  I felt the burn deep in my belly, and then it spread through my body, like flames took over my veins. I started to moan and he covered my mouth with his hand. God, that was hot.

  “Gotta be quiet babe,” he grunted.

  That made me come harder, and no, I wasn’t quiet.

  My pussy was still pulsing when he drove his cock into me. It was fast and hard. I loved it. I wrapped my legs around his waist and met his thrusts. I covered my own mouth this time as I came.

  Later at the Alessi’s I realized Zoe was right. Tony was a master at the grill. The beef brisket was super tender. Zoe had made blue cheese coleslaw, and when we stopped off at the condo to change, I’d grabbed the ingredients for Rosemary potatoes. I threw that together when we got to their house.

  Zoe and I worked in the kitchen. Well, I kept Zoe seated with her feet up while I moved around at her direction. She didn’t ask a lot of questions, but I could tell she knew something was up. I guess when you’re married to a guy who has worked undercover you learn when to push and when to back off.

  Forde and Tony stayed out on the deck with the grill. Whenever I glanced their way, they looked to be in serious conversation.

  We were finished with dinner and sitting around the table talking, sticking to light, general topics. Forde glanced at his wrist. “This has been great, but I need to get going.”

  My stomach dropped.

  “Tony and I’ll go check on the grille,” Zoe said with an understanding look. Tony strode forward then helped Zoe to her feet. She gave Forde a kiss on the cheek, and then the couple headed back to the grill.

  “So,” I started, trying to sound brave.

  “Zoe’s cool. She doesn’t say much, but she gets it,” Forde said.

  “You don’t need to worry about me. I feel safe here.” I wanted him to focus solely on what was happening tonight.

  “Tony and I talked. He might be doing some work for Limited, nothing dangerous, some consulting, help with planning our more involved activities.” Forde took my hand and pulled me over so that I had to move to his lap or fall on the floor.

  If Tony was going to consult, then he must really be something—like a mega-badass. “That would be good.” I liked the idea of the Alessis having ties with us.

  “Tony’s going to stick close to you tonight. I don’t think there will be a need, but if something happens, you do whatever he tells you. Hear me?”

  I nodded.

  “Even if you’re worried about Zoe, you follow his instructions. He’s got it handled.” Forde was staring intently into my eyes.

  I arched an eyebrow. “I like it that you didn’t call them orders.” I smiled.

  “I’m learning.”

  “I’ll be good, I promise.” I rested my cheek against his cheek. “Promise me you’ll listen to your gut, because I want you to be safe.”

  “Always Lay, always.” And then he kissed me.

  I tried to memorize how it felt, being in his arms.

  I heard footsteps. They were purposely noisy.

  Tony’s gaze went to me. “Don’t mean to intrude, but Zoe’s getting tired, and she wanted to talk to you before she goes to sleep.”

  “I need to go.” Forde’s hold on my waist loosened.

  I climbed off of him and stood. I squeezed his hand. “See ya later.”

  “I’ll call when it’s done.” He squeezed my hand in return.

  As I moved away, I could feel the tears start to come. I didn’t want him to see me cry. Not now.

  “I’ll walk you out.” I heard Tony say as my stomach began to churn.

  ***

  I drove to the prearranged point in a strip mall that was about eight blocks from the Red Rocket. Rick was leaning against his ride. He opened my vehicle’s passenger side door and climbed in.

  In the dim lighting, his teeth were very white against his brown skin. “We’re good to go.”

  “Osi?” His job was to rove tonight.

  “He’s a ghost.” Rick smiled. “But he’s out there, waiting.”

  I had called in all of my staff for tonight’s meeting, except for Layla. Jenn was working from home but she was watching the feed from the surveillance cameras that she’d hacked into earlier in the day. I had three men driving around the area. They were to act as eyes and ears on the street, watching for an increase in traffic or a dramatic decrease. Two of my freelancers were in the parking lot, and I had three more inside posing as customers. Then there was Osi, and God only knew where he was hanging. He would be armed to the max and ready to kill everything in his path.

  I was certain that Vador had the same man and firepower in the general area. These meetings always involved posturing and small talk. It was a dance on the blade of a knife. Everybody was pumped up an
d on edge. Tonight would be more volatile because both Vador and I knew he had a problem within his organization. That was dangerous for him, but more so for me. Men like Vador did not like to have any weakness exposed.

  I pulled into the lot of the bar, turning sharply to the left in order to avoid a crater in the parking lot. The property had seen better days, however it was in what was considered a neutral zone, so it was handy.

  Rick tapped his earpiece, “Jenn, what do you see?”

  “Thank God you guys finally showed, my eyes are so tired. It’s very slow at the good ol’ Red Rocket. We’ve got one bartender, one guy on the door who takes a smoke break every ten minutes. Seven legit patrons and four C-bros inside that I’ve identified. Two in the lot, red pick-up and the suh-weet Charger by the door. No Vador and his entourage yet.”

  “He’ll make us wait fifteen to twenty.” It was nine fifty-eight, and I scanned the lot, marking the two vehicles Jenn had identified.

  “Stay on it, girl,” Rick told her.

  “Yup. And be careful. I’d hate to have to look for a new job.” Jenn ended her transmission.

  “I’m keeping this short.” I cut the engine and pocketed the keys.

  “Short is good.” Rick opened his door and slid out.

  I stood by the side of the SUV and scanned the street and the lot. Satisfied with my guys’ positions, I headed to the door.

  Inside, the stale smell of cigarette smoke and old beer hit me as I caught the bartender’s eye.

  He gave one jerk of his head to the back.

  Rick followed me to the back, our boots making noise on the wood floors. The door to the backroom was open and I went in, leaving Rick to watch the door. I knew Jenn would move one of my men to the alley behind the building.

  I sat and I waited. No fidgeting or checking my phone. I wanted to appear serene, like I was here for just a quick meeting with a local businessman.

  I listened to Jenn count off the minutes in my ear. I’d worn my hair loose to cover the device. Rick wore the hood of his sweatshirt up to cover his.

  Jenn’s voice sounded in my ear. “Vador and Rodriguez pulled up.” I didn’t blink. I went into the part of my brain that I’d discovered in the Army. The darker part of my soul that craved blood. My men knew the bottom line for tonight’s meeting. If I didn’t make it out alive, then they were to kill everybody inside. It was an ugly order. That was okay, because I was doing this to protect the beauty waiting for me to come back to her. I would do this for Layla.