HERO (The Complete Series)

by Bella Love-Wins

  “Well, maybe the photos of the men you saw are not in there,” he said.

  “Can we just leave?” I asked, frustrated.

  “Let’s see how much more information we can get from Bateman,” Matt answered. “It may help piece things together.”

  “What information can you get from me?” Detective Bateman asked as he re-entered the room. They looked at each other. It was a brief stare-down. There was definitely some history between the two of them.

  “Oh,” Matt said. “Didn’t see you there. Kate doesn’t recognize anyone from your mugshot folder. So we were wondering, do you have any more information to share with us while we’re here? The more information we share, the more we can make sense of all this.”

  “I’ve already given you all I’m able to release,” he answered. “It’s an active investigation.”

  “Well, what if we find out what they want from me?” I asked, tired of skirting around the issue. “It’s clear from the text message that they want something. Why can’t we answer that message, find out what they want, and if they want to meet me, let me go meet them and you guys can do one of your wiretaps things? It could lead you closer to the people that are behind this”

  “Ma’am, we don’t make a practice of putting the public in harm’s way,” the detective admitted.

  “I’m willing to take the risk,” I insisted. “It beats doing nothing, and at least we’ll be doing something to help George and Richard so they...”

  “Ma’am,” the detective raised his hand to stop me mid-sentence. “It’s not an option.”

  “Kate,” Matt started. “The detective is right. And I won’t let you take that risk either.”

  “We have to do something,” I answered, and glared at him. I felt that I was the only one who cared about George and Richard.

  “We’re doing all that we can, ma’am,” the detective said firmly. “Thank you for all the details you provided today. If you remember anything more, please contact me. I’m going to have to end this meeting here. I’ll get back in touch with you as soon as we have new information.” He flipped the switch of the video camera to stop the recording. After he stood up and gathered his files, he held up one hand and motioned to the door. It was definitely a dismissal.

  Matt got up and shook his hand, and led me out into the hall. When we got outside, he kissed my hair. “You did well in there.”

  “I feel I was no help at all,” I answered softly with a sigh.

  “You remembered some key details,” he said. “It’ll help them. For now, don’t worry. They’ll get to the bottom of this. Come on. Let’s go home.” He laced his hand into mine and we walked toward the exit.

  As we approached the front doors, Matt stopped short. I looked over at him and he was frozen in place, looking straight ahead.

  Hero angst.

  “Did you forget something in the interview room?” I asked.

  “No,” he answered. “Look who’s coming into the station.”

  I looked ahead. It was Joy walking in with two older men. “Oh. I wonder why Joy is here. Do you know the men she’s with?”

  “The one on her left is Mr. Carrington, her dad,” he answered. “The other man is their lawyer. He’s from a firm we use as well.” Matt furrowed his eyebrows and there was a distinct grimace on his face. Given their history and Joy’s baggage, I was not looking forward to the interaction either. Matt must have read my mind. “Let me handle this. It’ll be easier if I do the talking.”

  “They’re all yours,” I replied just before we were within earshot of them.

  “Hello Mr. Smith, Mr. Carrington. Joy,” Matt addressed them politely.

  “Compliments of the season, Matt,” said Mr. Carrington as he shook Matt’s hand, and then looked over at me. “Interesting to see you here, Miss...”

  “This is Miss Kate Samuel,” Matt introduced me with such diplomacy. “Kate, this is Mr. Ross Smith, Mr. Douglas Carrington, and I believe you already know Mr. Carrington’s daughter Joy.”

  “I believe I know your parents, Miss Samuel,” he answered wryly. He gave me a haughty and disdainful look, like I was the town trollop.

  “You do?” I asked. I had never met Mr. Carrington before, but it was possible.

  “Certainly,” he answered. “The Samuel Corporation is one of my longstanding trading partners. I’ve known your father for years. Pity he insists on staying out in the middle of nowhere to run his affairs. And how is your dear mother?”

  “I guess she’s fine,” I answered, not wanting to get into the details of my estrangement with him. The conversation was strained enough.

  “Do send her my best wishes during this difficult time. She’s got fight in her, so I know she’ll beat it.”

  I had no idea what he was talking about that my mother could beat. I was tempted to ask, but it made no sense to further extend this uncomfortable chance meeting. “I will. Thank you, Sir,” I answered.

  I nodded at the three, hesitant to partake in any more dialogue. Joy rolled her eyes and folded her arms like a spoiled child. The lawyer nodded politely.

  Mr. Carrington turned back to Matt. “So what brings you down here? Still dealing with the aftermath of that alarming explosion last week, son?”

  “Yes, sir,” Matt answered. “We’re here to help as we were in the building at the time. Hopefully they’re getting closer in their investigation. And what brings you and Joy here?”

  “We’re dealing with a personal matter,” the lawyer interrupted to answer. “We should be going, Mr. Carrington.”

  “Yes we should,” he answered and looked at the time. “Enjoy your day, son. Miss Samuel,” he turned and the three of them went toward the main reception.

  Joy walked with them at first, but turned and approached us again. She tiptoed to whisper in Matt’s ear, but made sure I could hear every word. “You can spend all the time you want with her, but eventually, you’ll have to quit wasting your time and deal with me.”

  Matt stepped away and closer to me. “What do you want now, Joy?”

  “I could think of several things,” she answered seductively, then glanced over at me. She would have to try harder if she wanted to get a rise out of me. I looked on, slightly entertained by her antics.

  “Wow, well isn’t that subtle,” Matt answered. “Now I know I have to deal with you Carringtons for a while, but can you at least try to keep it professional?”

  “We have a score we still need to settle, Matt Lewis,” she replied. She looked over at me and glowered. “Forget that fucking bitch. She’s temporary. Are you ready to score with me now?”

  “I don’t know what your problem is, Joy,” Matt scoffed. “Don’t you understand boundaries?”

  Impending hero rage.

  “Getting a man like you is a long-term seduction,” she answered, and started walking a wide circle around him, her eyes moving up and down his body as she took each step. “It’s like buying an expensive piece of jewelry. It starts with looking, wanting, turning the decision to buy around in my mind. And then, moving closer, brushing past it, making contact, and putting it on. Just to see what it would be like to have it. And when I’m ready, and everything is right, all the waiting will pay off in one intense passionate buy.”

  I looked on in disbelief. She was either really good or really psychotic. Matt’s face was expressionless. He must have seen this side of her before.

  “If you really think that could work on me after all this time, then you are one deluded woman. Kate, let’s go.” He turned and clasped his hand in mine, and we walked away, leaving Joy standing in the hallway.

  “We’ll see how deluded I am in 5 months,” she shouted at us down the hall. “Mark your calendar. Things are about to get real, Matt. Or should I say, Daddy.”

  When we made it outside the station and to the car, Matt raked his fingers through hair. He was visibly agitated. He looked over at his security lead and signaled that we were leaving. He turned back to me and looked apologetic. “Sorr
y you had to see that.”

  “It’s ok. What did she mean by what she said?” I asked.

  “I have no idea,” he answered, and guided me to sit in the limousine. “She says a lot of crazy things all the time. I think she’s lost it. Never mind her, you’ve been through enough. Hey, as we’re here, do you mind if we stop at my office before we go home?”

  “No, I don’t mind,” I answered, still wondering what Joy was talking about.

  “Great. I have to sign some documents, so I may as well get it out of the way now while it’s still so quiet on the roads.” He turned and called out to Ross. “Ross, take us to the 5th Avenue office.”

  “Yes, sir,” he answered and drove out of the police station parking area.

  After that eventful trip to the police station, I needed to clear my head. Joy’s ramblings were unusual, but were the least of my worries. I didn’t think I could just go back to Matt’s place and act like things would be fine. With the exception of my relationship with Matt, I felt I was in complete upheaval. Everything was unravelling. My two kindest friends in New York were missing. One of whom was my boss, so I had no idea whether I still had a next shift, much less a career. Why did I feel I was the only one who cared about them? Had they known what the two had been through before, they would care. They didn’t deserve to be victims again, just for knowing me.

  “What’s wrong?” Matt asked.

  “What do you mean?” I said, distracted with my wallowing in self-pity.

  “Well, you’re silent and you’re frowning more than you were inside.”

  “I think we should be looking for them,” I pressed. “I can’t go to your condo and just sit there.”

  “Kate, despite the text and initial evidence, we don’t know if they’re actually missing yet,” he said. He placed his hand over my shoulder and pulled me close.

  “That’s why we should be looking,” I whined.

  “You’re not thinking straight, Kate,” he said. I could tell he was trying to be patient.

  Hero candor.

  Chapter 5

  We were on 5th Avenue in mere minutes, and Ross stopped the car in front of the Empire State Building.

  “You have an office here?” I asked, craning my neck up through the window to see the giddying heights of the iconic building.

  “Yes, the company’s been in this building for over 40 years. The stories my dad could tell of working here. Have you ever visited?”

  “Never,” l answered, distracted by the building’s impressive height. “I heard it has stunning views of the city.”

  “It does,” he answered. “We have the 79th to the 81st floors. You’ll like it.”

  “I can imagine,” I said as Ross opened my car door to help me get out. Matt and I walked to the main doors with about five of his men in tow. Matt used his key card to enter, as the office entrances were closed to the public on holidays. The hallways were stunning, with marble almost everywhere, and the famous inlaid silhouette of the Empire State itself on the main wall.

  “This is gorgeous,” I remarked. “Too bad I don’t have my phone for a picture of it.”

  “There’ll be lots of time for pictures,” he said. “You’re more than welcome to come by anytime.”

  “It’s a bit of a ritual of mine to always take a picture of famous places the first time I visit,” I said softly. “Well, it was before all this. I’d even snap photos when I was out on my runs.”

  “Let’s use my phone, okay?” he conceded with a smile. “I have a few spare staff phones upstairs, so you can grab one to use in the meantime.”

  “Awesome,” I answered. “Thanks honey.”

  “Now go stand beside that model of the building. It’s a tourist favorite.”

  “I must look like crap right now,” I said, eagerly walking to the corner and smoothing out my hair on the way. “Do I look good?”

  “You look amazing,” he answered, and raised the phone to take a photo. “Smile!”

  I smiled shyly, realizing it was probably the first photo he would take of me. Yes, there were photographers and videographers at his charity ball, but this was him putting me into his phone. I beamed with the symbolic realization.

  “Do you want one with the mosaics on the wall?” he asked.

  “Sure, I’d love one.” After he took it, I thought of how nice it would be to have a picture of us. “Okay, now one with the two of us!”

  “Our first couples’ selfie,” he smiled and stepped beside me to capture us.

  His men shifted in their spots, looking on at us with true professionalism, but probably wishing for a new security assignment.

  When the impromptu photo session concluded, we took the elevator to the 81st floor. A vibrant reception area inspired by classic art-deco details greeted us as we stepped off. The men stayed at the reception as Matt led me down the halls to his spacious corner office on the end. His office looked out on what seemed like all of Manhattan. I was blown away by the spectacular, panoramic show. Skyscraper after skyscraper, condominiums and apartment buildings grew up to the sky, none of them seeming to reach as high as the building we were in. And then, straddling the view were the two channels which extended out in the distance. The Harlem River and the Hudson River seemed to join together just beyond the only buildings that looked like they could compete in height – the two new World Trade Tower buildings. I stood silently and soaked it all in.

  “Nice, huh?” he asked as he walked over to his desk.

  “It’s breathtaking,” I whispered, and walked to the floor to ceiling glass windows. “How do you get any work done in here?”

  “You get used to seeing it after a while, I guess,” he answered, searching his desk drawer, and then taking out what must have been his favorite pen. It had to be, as there was a pen-holder on the desk with at least a few dozen pens inside.

  “I’m not sure I could ever get used to this. It’s stunning. It feels like we’re looking out at the 8 million people of New York City, all going about their lives, just like we are.”

  “It does, doesn’t it?” he said as he signed some hard copy documents in a folder clearly marked ‘For Your Review and Final Approval’.

  “Although I don’t suspect too many of them are worried about a band of criminals who want to see them six feet under.”

  He stood up and walked behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Well I know one thing for sure.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I’m not sure I could get ever get used to being with you.” He tilted his head and pulled my hair aside to kiss my neck ever so gently.

  “Mmmm,” I moaned. I welcomed his embrace, and the heat that rose up in me from his touch. It was a seductive escape from the thought of crazed men after me, and from Joy’s loopy outburst. I leaned back on his firm body, soaking up his warmth and letting his hands roam up to my breasts. I could feel his erection pressing against my back, and it stirred up the longing I had felt when he kissed me in the police station interview room.

  “And I’m not sure I could get used to working in this office if I made love to you right here on my desk,” he whispered.

  “God, I want you so bad, Matt,” I said, and turned to face him. “Take me right here.”

  “Fuck,” he answered in a guttural tone. “I want to taste you and then I want to be inside you, Kate.” He took my hand and stepped back so he could lean on the side of his desk. In no time, he had unzipped my winter coat and pulled my sweater up over my head. I groaned and kissed him as I felt for his jacket zipper and peeled it off him. He kissed me back with a fierceness I had grown to relish. His tongue ravished my mouth, claiming every part of me as he explored. I unbuttoned his shirt as his kiss became more intense. He moved his tongue in a rhythmic assault, giving me a hint as to what his cock would do in short order.

  I reached down to undo his belt and unzip his pants, and he followed suit with my pants until we were both completely naked. He picked me up and turned, and then lowered me on
the edge of the desk. He reached behind me, and with one fluid movement of his arm, he slid every piece of stationary, every document, and even his laptop over to the far end of the large desk. Compared to the silence in the empty office, the sound was deafening when his pen-holder full of pens, an electronic calculator, two framed photographs, and a metal paperweight spilled over the opposite end and crashed down to the floor. “I hope your men didn’t hear that,” I giggled.

  “I don’t give a damn what they hear. I want you right now,” he growled. His eyes darkened with his single-focused, primal need, and I yearned to feel him inside me even more. He lowered me on the desk and stood between my legs, which were hanging off the side. I moaned out loud as he spread my legs and dropped to his knees. His strong hands pulled me to the edge of the desk, positioning me for his impending massacre. He squeezed the top of my thighs and slid his tongue over my already throbbing clit. It felt heavenly. He licked and laved, sending pleasure through my body in splendid waves.

  I lifted my head from the desk to look at him. His head dipped and rose between my legs, and every so often, our eyes would lock, sharing the depth of our carnal desire for more. His tongue never left my aching clit, and I was writhing with every lick. My mound complied with his tongue, and instinctively, I was bucking my hips to feel him as he passed over that spot that drove me wild. I wanted so desperately to feel more of him enter my channel. I spread my legs wider, absorbed in need mixed with pleasure and mounting feral desire.

  “Oh God, Matt, you feel so good,” I whimpered. “I need you to fuck me and make it all better.”

  “Mmmm. You’re so wet, Kate,” he moaned deeply in between his carnal plunder of my clit. “You taste so good, baby.” He continued ravishing my clit with his tongue, and slid two fingers between my lips and deep into my channel. He slid them in and out, finding my g-spot each time. I was buzzing with anticipation of my impending climax, and rocked my hips up to meet his fingers as he buried them into me over and over.

  “I’m coming, Matt,” I squealed, feeling the orgasmic explosion burst from deep in my stomach and sending shudders through my body. He didn’t stop rampaging my pussy there. Instead, he sucked at my juices and attacked my channel harder, making me want his massive flesh inside me. As I quivered, he sent my desire through to a new level of need.