Bailout

by Kimbra Swain

  She moaned as my tongue probed her mouth. She spoke my name which made me press harder into her. We paused for a moment, breathing heavily. Her mouth found my ear. I breathed her name begging for more. Her mouth met mine again. Part of me knew we were getting ourselves worked up without enough time to act. Don't get me wrong. I had plenty of time to fuck her. But not as much as we both needed.

  “Jamey,” she said my name in a way that caused me to hesitate. I stopped kissing her neck and drew back a little to look her in the eye. If she started to panic, I would be able to tell. She actually looked as calm as I'd ever seen.

  I rubbed her cheeks with my thumbs. “What’s wrong?” I dared to ask.

  “I need you to do something for me,” she asked timidly.

  “Anything,” I replied. She slipped her right hand under mine but pushed past my hand until it was around her wrist. I kept my hand flat, refusing to close my hand. “What are you doing?”

  “I know you won't hurt me. I have to be able to fight the attack,” she said.

  “This isn't a good time to test this,” I protested as she pushed against my hand.

  “I can't go in there knowing that I have no control. If something gets out of hand or if he accidentally touches me, I can't fall apart. Please, help me,” she begged.

  “I won't let him touch you,” I said frustrated.

  “Do it, Jamey. Please,” she said.

  I swallowed and locked her in my gaze. Slowly I curled my fingers around her wrist. It felt tiny and fragile. She shuddered but kept focusing on me. Her breathing hitched, but only once.

  Then, she pushed her other wrist into my open hand. I groaned. “Alexa.”

  “I'm okay. You won't hurt me,” she told herself more than me. She nodded that she was ready. Once again carefully wrapped my hand around her delicate wrist. She whispered and shifted her weight but instead of pushing away from me she pressed harder into my body. I watched her struggle with it. Flinching, I started to release her, but she growled. “No, not yet. Kiss me.”

  “It's too much,” I said. A wild look floated through her eyes. Dear God, forgive me. A half step and she was against the wall. My body pressed hard against hers, the rock in my pants pressed against her thigh, our mouths locked together. I almost lost myself in the heat of it. She moaned with my mouth on hers. Frantic and hungry. My hands tightened around her wrists pressing them against the wall.

  She shifted her weight again, and I stopped.

  “Enough?” I asked.

  “Not nearly, but for now, yes,” she said.

  I released her hands which immediately wound their way around my waist. She pressed her cheek to my chest as I ran my hands through her hair. “You okay?”

  “Other than being wound up tighter than a facelift, I'm fine. Thank you, Jamey,” she said.

  “Yes. You are going to owe me. Big time,” I said.

  She pulled away from me and grinned like the devil. “You bring the big; I'll find the time.”

  “Holy shit, woman!” She laughed at me.

  “There's the bathroom if you need it,” she said.

  “No way. If you are going to tease me like that, I'll save it for later,” I said. However, until then, I would be in agony. Sweet agony.

  Twenty-Eight

  ALEXA

  “Lexy, time to go,” Charity shouted in my office. I groaned.

  “Go,” I pointed him toward the door. He looked puzzled. “I need to freshen up.”

  “Oh, well, if you need to change clothes or something, I’m really good with zippers,” he flirted.

  “Out!” I pointed to the door again.

  He clearly still had a bulge in his pants. My body screamed to free it, but time wasn't something we had right then. As the door clicked closed, I heaved a sigh of frustration and pent up lust. I quickly straightened my clothes and brushed my hair which looked sexed up even if we didn't get that far.

  I knew I trusted him enough to fight my trigger with him. Something told me I would need it. A soft voice of intuition weaving cobwebs in my head. Connecting unseen dots. There was more to Abrego’s attack than I knew.

  Stepping out of the small room, he waited for me. It seemed as though the bulge had died down. He caught me looking and laughed. He took my hand, and we breezed out of the office passing a worried Damien, but a grinning Charity.

  “Take care, Alexandra,” Damien said.

  “Pale Horse,” I replied.

  “Love you too,” he said. I turned and blew him a kiss.

  Sebastian waited at the door to the parking deck. “Be useful, Elliot. Stay with her. Take a bullet if you can,” he said.

  “Bastian, I swear. Get your head out of your ass,” I said.

  “I would. I’d rather it be me than her,” Jamey said. Something in Sebastian’s eyes calmed. He knew that Jamey wasn’t lying. I squeezed his hand as we followed Bastian out into the parking deck.

  “No bullets,” she muttered.

  I kissed her on the temple. I hoped there would be none. Sebastian looked like he wanted to punch through me as he caught the intimate touch between us.

  Arturo sat behind the wheel of a bulletproof Mercedes-Maybach Pullman. Sebastian walked to the door allowing me to crawl in. Jamey paced around the back of the car with his eyes alert all around us. Sebastian joined us in the back of the car in the jump seat facing me.

  “Move it, Arturo,” he ordered. He opened a case which was already in the car, handing both of us earpieces. “The area around Shea Cuisine’s Chantilly Room is surrounded. We have 25 men outside the building in various spots. They all know the code word if you need to use it. Inside we have one waiter and two cooks. The manager was very willing to allow us to have people on the inside. I think he’s as nervous as we are having Abrego there.”

  “I imagine so,” I said. “Hopefully we will have a nice lunch and end this the easy way.”

  “Do you have a gun?” Bastian asked Jamey who opened his coat to show him the shoulder rig. I knew he had it on since I’d just had my hands all over him. I couldn’t think about that or I’d be completely distracted.

  “Alexandra, I know you are angrier at me than you ever have been, but you are my sister. I love you with all of my heart. I would do anything to protect you,” he said. “If he so much as flinches the wrong way, I’ll kill him.”

  “Abrego,” I said.

  “Elliot,” he replied.

  “Damn you, Bastian! Jamey is on our side,” I said.

  “I’m on your side,” Jamey corrected.

  “Even better,” I replied.

  “I mean it,” Sebastian said.

  “Fuck off,” I replied. “Abrego and his men. Stop targeting Jamey.”

  He turned his head from me, but his face reddened with anger.

  The tense silence drowned out any other coherent thought. Jamey continued to hold my hand. Sebastian did love me, but he also was an asshole. I squeezed Jamey’s hand one last time and released it. I closed my eyes and focused on the possible conversation with Abrego. What would he want to discuss? Would I allow him to dominate the conversation? I felt the car slow to a stop.

  Sebastian moved to the door lightly touching my hand as he passed me to open it. Jamey exited immediately. My brother offered me his hand as I stood and surveyed the sidewalk and all the outside areas. A habit my brothers taught me. If you have to escape, know as much about your surroundings as possible. I stepped forward as Sebastian and Jamey fell in behind me. A doorman opened the door for us.

  “Reservation for Malone,” I said.

  “We have a party of two listed,” the hostess said staring at my two bodyguards.

  “Yes, Mr. Abrego will be joining me soon,” I replied. “These gentlemen will stand.”

  She looked at both of them and nodded. “Right this way, Miss Malone.” She made her way through the restaurant to a raised seating area past the main dining room. No one was seated in this area. Among the tables, only one in the middle of the area was prepped for din
ing. I sat down as Sebastian positioned himself across from my seat near the windows. I saw Jamey out of the corner of my eye take a position opposite my brother behind my back.

  As I got comfortable in my seat, Mr. Abrego, along with multiple bodyguards arrived. As he approached, I stood in respect of his attendance.

  “Senor Abrego, por favor tome asiento,” I spoke in his native tongue.

  “Senorita Malone, your Spanish is beautiful,” he said. He wore a navy suit with a white shirt and red tie. A red handkerchief peeked from his suit pocket. He had large gold rings on both his hands and a stunning diamond and a gold Rolex watch.

  We sat down together. “Thank you for responding to my request,” I said.

  “When a beautiful woman requests lunch, you oblige her no matter what your differences are,” he smoothly replied.

  “Have you dined here before today?” I asked.

  He smiled, “Yes, many times.”

  The waiter arrived, and Mr. Abrego ordered wine for both of us. A very expensive bottle of merlot. “I hope you do not mind,” he said.

  “Of course not. I love most all wines,” I replied.

  He had four bodyguards with him. Two stood at the door going back to the foyer and entrance. The other two stood in a similar stance to Sebastian and Jamey. Abrego’s eyes rested on Jamey.

  “Mr. Elliot, it is good to see you again,” he said. I didn’t look at Jamey, but I didn’t hear a response. I imagined that he only nodded to Abrego. “Acquiring Bright Technologies was a good move Miss Malone. Unfortunately, Mr. Elliot and I have a deal. I must keep it. You understand business deals, of course.”

  “Of course, I had hoped that we could discuss his terms with you and that you might allow Malone Enterprises to settle up with you,” I replied.

  “It is beneficial to me to continue to pump my goods through his company. It’s extremely profitable. I cannot be persuaded,” he said as the waiter poured wine. He took our order. I requested a light salad, but Mr. Abrego ordered a full meal of Veal cutlets and risotto. “Is that all you are going to eat, Miss Malone?”

  “I’m not very hungry today,” I replied.

  “I like women with meat on their bones,” he smiled. “But you are exquisite.”

  “Thank you, sir. A product of a good bloodline,” I said reminding him who I was in this town. I garnered far more respect than he did. My earpiece kept me abreast of the perimeter outside. All was clear, for now.

  “Indeed. Your parents left quite a legacy. You and your brothers are a force to be reckoned with in this town,” he said. “However, I’m afraid your association with Bright and Mr. Elliot will be your downfall. He made some very bad decisions, and it seems unfair that you have to pay for them.”

  “I’ve made quite a few bad decisions in my day as well. I assure you that Mr. Elliot is paying for them,” I replied.

  He laughed. “Feisty. I love it. I just hope you are getting something personal out of the deal,” he said raising his eyebrows. I was glad I couldn’t see Jamey. Sebastian remained calm, so I assumed that Jamey was allowing it to roll off of him.

  The conversation diverted to local happenings like the past elections and the forthcoming New Year. We discussed the Falcons and some offseason moves that the Braves had made. He ventured into other smaller business deals, in all of which I knew was going on.

  “Impressive. I knew you were good, but I didn’t realize how good,” he said. “If you would like to settle Mr. Elliot’s debt, then I have a proposal for you.”

  I wiped my mouth with my napkin, folding it across my bowl to indicate I was finished eating. “Alright. I’m happy to hear it,” I replied.

  He pulled a velvet box out of his suit coat and laid it on the table. Sebastian’s eyes widened.

  “I am not a romantic man, Miss Malone. However, I do know a good woman when I see one. I think we should join forces. You, of course, would continue to run your company and I would run my operations. However, the combined force of an alliance would make us both very wealthy. We would own Atlanta,” he said sliding the box to me.

  I looked at the box then back to him. At this point, I didn’t want to offend him. However, I was insulted that marriage would be the only way I’d work with him on anything. “Mr. Abrego, may I ask you a question before I answer?”

  “Of course, Alexandra,” he smiled calling me by my first name.

  “Do you truly think that we couldn’t work together unless I put that on my finger? Please look at me as any other businessman in Atlanta. I assure you a marriage proposal does nothing for me. If you would like for us to work together, then propose it as such,” I said.

  “To be honest, I’d heard you were a good fuck. I’d like to cement our relations that way. The ring is a consolation prize,” he grinned. My earpiece fizzed in my ear as I lost connection. Sebastian’s eyes closed, and he drew a deep breath.

  Focusing on Mr. Abrego, I tried to ignore the buzz in my ear. “Sir, I assure you that my business dealings are only pale in comparison to my talents in bed. However, I do not make business deals based on sex.”

  Something evil crossed his face for the first time as he sat across from me. Sebastian put his finger to his ear to ask me if I had heard something on the earpiece. I tapped my right hand twice to indicate no. His teeth clenched.

  “I wish you would reconsider,” Abrego said opening the ring box for me to see the contents. Any other woman would have fallen out of her chair at his feet at the ring it contained. A large cushion cut diamond surrounded by smaller ones. The platinum band was also completely encircled in diamonds.

  It was time to play my hand. “Mr. Abrego, once I realized the ‘mistakes’ that Mr. Elliot made, I wondered what other holdings your outfit had that were vulnerable for a takeover. It didn’t take me long to find numerous shells and small companies that bear your fingerprints. Clearly, they are yours so no one would defy you. I continued to dig finding many other accounts in other cities as well as off-shore accounts.”

  “My network is vast. What of it?” he said.

  I tapped my hand once on the table. He looked at it, then back to me. “I wonder how much money you would lose if a large corporation, someone bigger than Bright, came in and seized those assets?”

  A man came into the dining room which was mostly empty at the moment. He looked at Abrego with wide-eyes. I tapped my finger again on the table. He turned back to look at it.

  “What are you doing?” he growled.

  “Finishing what Mr. Elliot started. I dare you to bully me as you did him. You forget the power that I hold in this town. I abide on the right side of the law book, but I’m not beyond stooping to your level,” I countered as I tapped my finger again.

  “Mr. Abrego, someone is taking over our…” the man cut off as Abrego threw his hand up to silence him. I tapped on the table again.

  “Stop this,” he ordered.

  “I asked you nicely for a deal. Instead, you throw a ring at me as if I were some simpering bitch who would fall for your confidence and money. You are wrong, Mr. Abrego. You are in control of this. All you have to do is sit here and promise to deal with me as you would any other businessman,” I said as I tapped again. The man with the tablet sank down at an empty table running his hand through his hair.

  I’d set up twenty accounts to take over. Each time I tapped my finger, Charity would purchase one of those companies. Sebastian wore a small camera on his lapel so that Charity could see me sitting at the table. However, when I met Sebastian’s’ eyes complete horror looked back at me. Something was wrong.

  “I will not be forced into a deal, Miss Malone,” Mr. Abrego growled at me.

  “Neither will I,” I said tapping the lid shut on the ring.

  “What do you want?” he said.

  “You will stop funneling defective parts through Bright Technologies. If you want to continue to run products, then so be it, but no more defective parts will be accepted. Secondly, you will release Mr. Elliot of all obligati
ons. I will pay you double for the companies that he purchased and liquidated. I will also pay you double for the ones that I’ve done while sitting at this table,” I offered him with a tap.

  “Fuck!” he exclaimed. “He said you were a bitch.”

  “Who said?” I asked smiling. Apparently, I’d made an impression on someone. I tapped again. I would continue to do so until he engaged me with business instead of stalling with tactics. I was unmovable no matter the panic I saw rising in Sebastian’s posture and eyes. He looked ready to pounce.

  “A former colleague of yours that I consulted before this meeting. His description of you was dead on. Down to the last detail,” he said watching my hand.

  I tapped again. “You are stalling, Mr. Abrego. By my calculations, you’ve lost close to fifty million while you avoided my proposal.”

  “A reprieve for one question, please,” he said watching my hand.

  “No,” I replied and tapped.

  “Fuck, Miss Malone! The parts aren’t defective,” he said.

  “I assure you they are,” I said turning my palm over and making a fist. The signal for Javier Salida to initiate the hack.

  “No,” Sebastian mouthed. Crap.

  “Enough,” Abrego said. “I agree to your terms. However, you didn’t negotiate for your life. I hope you realize it is over for you.”

  “Are you threatening me, Mr. Abrego?” I asked tapping again.

  His face turned red. Anger controlled him as he reached across the table, latching on to my wrist. He stood, jerking me to my feet by it. My insides lurched, but I stared him in the face. He looked down at my wrist then at me. Somehow, he knew it should have set me off.

  Sebastian drew his gun pointing it at Abrego. His guards pulled guns pointing them at Sebastian. Abrego’s eyes flicked over my shoulder to where Jamey should be. I felt the warmth of his body in proximity to mine. His outstretched gun came into view over my right shoulder. I felt his breath on my ear.

  The words he whispered in my ear rocked me, “Pale Horse is LeBlanc.”