Valentine, Laura - Plenty to Come [Plenty, FL] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Laura Valentine

  “Well, we will see what we can do about that, angel. Chase and I are going to hold you all night long so you feel safe. You will always be safe with us here to take care of you.”

  “You shouldn’t have to take care of me, dammit! You shouldn’t have to keep me safe from anything. Crazy, psycho killers are not supposed to be after me, and I am supposed to be able to take care of myself. I am pissed off, and I want my life back. Don’t you hate this, too? Doesn’t it piss you off that you have to do this? I hate that I have issues, so you must hate this, too.”

  Cassie buried her head in the pillow and groaned, but Zach just pulled her up into his arms and on his lap. She was surprised to see Chase slide in next to him and stroke his hands in circles on her lower back. She felt herself slowly relaxing in their strong, warm arms. Her head fell back onto Chase’s shoulder, and she closed her eyes as she felt some of her tension drain away.

  “We don’t hate this, and we like taking care of you. What we do hate is that you have to go through this again,” said Zach. He nuzzled her neck, and she breathed in his masculine, spicy scent. She really did feel safe when she was with the two of them. She knew they would protect her no matter what.

  She felt Zach lift her and place her between the two of them, tucking her into the nook of his shoulder. Chase cuddled to her back, placing tiny kisses along the back of her neck.

  “Zach and I are here for you, sweetheart. We will always love and protect you. So close those beautiful, blue eyes, and try and get a little sleep. We will be right here if you need us.”

  Cassie closed her eyes as Chase traced hypnotic circles on her stomach, lulling her into a blessedly dreamless sleep.

  Chapter 14

  Danny looked out the window of the farmhouse, sweeping his gaze from left to right looking for any indication that police were in the vicinity. He had found this deserted farmhouse outside of Bourbonnais, and so far, it seemed to be fairly safe. The police would be expecting him to head straight for Florida and Cassandra. It would be safer to hide out here for a few days until they assumed he was out of the state and stopped looking for him. And they would eventually stop looking for him. The state didn’t have enough money to keep a manhunt going for days.

  Luckily, the inhabitants of the farmhouse appeared to have not been gone that long. There was still some nonperishable food in the cabinets and basic furniture in the house. He wouldn’t starve, and he wouldn’t die from exposure. Danny couldn’t help but think that this was all Cassandra’s fault. If he hadn’t had to punish her then he wouldn’t have been arrested and now running from the cops. Sometimes he felt more anger than love for her. He knew that, once he punished her for all that had happened, the anger would fade, and he would just feel love. He loved her more than anyone and anything, and she needed to understand that and appreciate him more. That was really the problem. She didn’t appreciate all he had been through and done for her. He would help her understand that he was the only person that truly loved her and would always take care of her.

  Just a few more days, Cassandra, and we will be together forever.

  * * * *

  Cassie sipped at her coffee and stared out of the kitchen window while Jillian was at the stove making French toast. They didn’t have anywhere to be today. Substitute teachers had taken over their classes, and despite her frustration with the situation, Cassie couldn’t argue that it was the best thing for the kids. She didn’t want them to be in any danger, and anyone around her was probably not safe. Danny would be desperate, and there was no telling what he might do. In the weeks before his arrest, his behavior had escalated, and she had no reason to believe that it would not continue to do so.

  Still, it felt strange to not be at work on a weekday. She felt badly that Zach and Chase were not at their worksite but here watching over her instead. At least Jackson had been able to go to work today. He woke up earlier than all of them and left for the fire station before dawn, leaving a note that he would be back in twenty-four hours. She supposed that she needed to get used to her “new normal.” This was going to be her life until they caught Danny. Jillian’s life, too. She smiled as Jillian flipped French toast onto a plate. Jillian was an awesome cook and was certainly in her element in the guys’ state-of-the-art art kitchen.

  “You need to eat something, Cass.” Jillian had a determined look in her eye.

  “I am not arguing with you. It smells yummy, and not eating isn’t going to get Danny caught and sent back to prison any faster.”

  “Not in the mood to argue, huh? Interesting.”

  “I don’t need to argue with you, Jillie. I have the men to argue with now.” Cassie smirked.

  “Yes, I imagine that all three of you have some pretty interesting arguments. Oh, my phone!” Jillian’s phone was playing that catchy eighties tune again, and she ran to answer it. “Mark! What are you doing calling so early?”

  From Jillian’s tone, Cassie could tell that she was trying to find out how much Mark knew. Was Danny breaking out of prison enough to make the Chicago news?

  “You heard? It’s all over the news up there? Well, isn’t that fan-fucking-tastic. Cassie will be thrilled to hear that Danny is getting even more attention for his antics. No, she and I are both fine. We’re being guarded at Zach and Chase’s home. I swear that we’re safe. These guys and the sheriff aren’t going to let anything happen to us, I promise.”

  Jillian handed the phone out to Cassie as Becca walked into the kitchen with Chase, Zach, and Ryan.

  “He wants to talk to you.”

  “Just put him on speaker phone, Jill. If he wants to yell at me for putting you in danger then it shouldn’t be a secret. Hi, Mark. You mad at me, sweetie?”

  “Hell no! I’m worried about you. You and Jillian. This Trent guy is a loony tune, and there is no telling what he will do this time.” Cassie could hear the worry and concern in Mark’s voice.

  “Mark? This is Sheriff Ryan Parks. I can assure you that we are keeping these ladies safe. They are being guarded twenty-four hours a day until Trent is caught. The entire town is on high alert looking for this guy.”

  “Jillian, do you want me to come down there? I can move some of my surgeries and get another doctor to cover for me. They owe me some favors. I can be there before the end of the day.” Cassie heard Mark talking to someone in the background. “Travis says he can come down, too, sweetheart. We can help guard you girls and make sure you are safe. We’ll catch the first plane to Florida.”

  “No! No, no, no. You are not coming down here to rescue me, Mark. Believe me, the men in this town are more than capable, and the sheriff is a real badass.” Jillian gave Ryan a sidelong look. “Nothing is going to happen to us. We’ll see you at Thanksgiving just as we planned and not a day earlier, brother.”

  Cassie thought she could actually see the sheriff’s chest puff up a little as Jillian described him as a “badass.”

  “Okay, sweetie. But if you need us, don’t hesitate to call. We can be there in hours. In the meantime, call me regularly so Trav and I don’t worry, okay? Can we set a schedule of eight in the morning and evening?”

  “Okay, okay. I will check in regularly. Ummm...Mark? I am afraid to ask, but does Mom know?”

  “You lead a charmed life, little sister. Mom is visiting a friend in Indianapolis and is blissfully unaware that her wayward daughter is in any danger. Let’s hope she stays unaware.”

  Cassie could see Jillian relaxing visibly. Her relationship with her mother could only be described as complicated. “Hey? Is that cutie who was dressed as a nurse there by any chance? Travis and I thought she was gorgeous.”

  All eyes turned to Becca, who had turned a bright shade of tomato red.

  “Yes, she is bro. You want to talk to her?” Jillian was laughing so hard she had trouble answering.

  “Nope. Just wondering. Call me at eight tonight, okay?”

  “Okay, Mark. Talk to you then.”

  * * * *

  Three days later, Jillia
n wanted to scream with boredom. Sheriff Ryan’s estimate of Danny Trent showing up within sixteen hours turned out to be optimistic. Danny had yet to make an appearance, at least where anyone might have seen him. It was as if he had disappeared into thin air. But she knew better. She knew that Danny was out there somewhere just waiting for the right moment. She had only met Danny once. That night when he had come to pick up Cassie on their one and only date. He had looked at her as if he hated her. Jillian had known at that moment that something was wrong with him. He had wanted Cassie all to himself, not sharing any part with anyone.

  “You look lost in thought, Jill.”

  Jillian looked up from staring out the window to Ryan. He really was a handsome man with broad shoulders and square jaw, looking yummy in his blue uniform. He wasn’t as classically beautiful as Jackson, but Ryan had a raw masculinity that got to her every time she saw him. She hadn’t been kidding when she had described him to Mark as a badass.

  “I am so freakin’ bored. Maybe Danny got hit by a truck and isn’t going to make it here.”

  Ryan smiled at Jillian’s attempt at humor as he sat down on the couch next to her. “We can only hope. But until we know for sure, we are keeping you and Cassie safe. A desperate man will do desperate things. There is no telling what he might do to Cassie, or you, for that matter.”

  “He never tried anything with me before, Ryan. And both Cassie and I know how to take care of ourselves.”

  Ryan sighed heavily. She really had given him a hard time the last few days, but he had never lost his patience with her.

  “I can’t take that chance, honey. With you and Cassie safe, I don’t have to worry about you and can concentrate on finding Trent.” He put his arm around her and pulled her close. She didn’t fight him as she would have a few days ago. She wanted—hell, needed—the comfort.

  He rubbed his chin on the top of her head. “When this is all over, the three of us are going to have a talk about our relationship. Let’s get everything out in the open. I heard from Becca that you don’t do relationships, but honestly, honey, you don’t seem like a scaredy-cat to me.”

  She could hear the smile in his voice. He really deserved the truth. There wasn’t any reason to wait to tell him. “I have avoided relationships in the past. My parents had a marriage from hell that was no example of how to be with another human being. But I’m moving past that. I’m not near as scared as I was a few years ago. But the real reason I’m staying away from you and Jackson is simple.” Jillian sat up so she could look Ryan in the eye.

  Ryan arched an eyebrow and rubbed his chin. “And that reason is?”

  Jillian looked at Ryan calmly. “You’re a Dom, Ryan. Jackson, too.”

  She started laughing at the shocked look on Ryan’s face. “I guess you didn’t know that I knew, huh?”

  Ryan dragged his fingers through his brown-blond hair and scowled. Before he could get a word in, Jillian went on. “One of your former girlfriends told me. She said I should know what I was getting into. Although, she was clear that she didn’t mind it and was a more-than-willing participant. She just thought I should know ahead of time. Were you planning on telling me or just springing it on me one night?”

  Ryan’s lips tightened, and she could tell he was not happy. Well, tough. He had wanted to talk about their relationship. Now they were.

  “No, we were not planning on springing it on you. There was no point in bringing it up until we had been out on a few dates and seen if we were all compatible. Then, we would have slowly brought it into the relationship to see if you were comfortable with it. Nothing ever would have happened without your consent. Jack and I believe in Safe, Sane, and Consensual. I suppose you think we are a couple of sickos, huh?”

  Jillian could see that Ryan’s features were tense as he waited for her answer. He was a strong man, but she knew that a rejection from her because of this would hurt him. She didn’t want that. He was a really nice man.

  “No, I don’t think you are sick at all. The fact is, I have a very open mind. My brother and his husband have played at this a little. I just don’t think it’s for me. I don’t think I am submissive at all. You would be disappointed, Ryan. I can’t be your slave twenty-four-seven.”

  Ryan barked in laughter. “First of all, I don’t do twenty-four-seven. I’m only in charge in the bedroom. You can be in charge everywhere else. Secondly, how do you know you are not submissive? I can see the signs, honey. The way you drop your eyes when I use a certain tone of voice, the way your breathing quickens and your pulse beats harder when I give an order and it’s not even to you.”

  Ryan lifted her chin with a finger so that she stared into his beautiful, hazel eyes that were hot with lust. “It takes a really strong woman to submit. Weak women need not apply. It’s in submission that a strong woman, with a man she trusts, can truly be free. I never took you for a coward, Jillian. Before you reject Jackson and me, why don’t you give us a chance? If you decide you’re not submissive at all, well, Jack and I can have, and enjoy, vanilla sex just as much as the next guy. But don’t you think you owe it to yourself to explore this opportunity? Believe me when I tell you that you will find out things about yourself you never knew.”

  Jillian’s heart was pounding as she listened to Ryan talk about submission and freedom. She looked away from those eyes that saw too much. How had he noticed all that?

  “It’s a Dom’s job to notice a sub’s reactions, her emotions.” Jillian looked at him in amazement. “No, I don’t read minds, but all your thoughts are written on your face. Don’t take up professional poker, honey.” Ryan’s tone was gentle and teasing.

  “I am not making any decisions today, Sheriff. But I do see through your not-so-subtle double-dog dare that you threw out there. I stopped taking dares in elementary school.”

  Ryan grinned. “Fair enough. But once this is all over, Jackson and I are coming for you. Be warned.”

  * * * *

  “We want to eat out, Zach.”

  Zach sighed in frustration at Cassie’s hard tone. He tried to keep his own tone even and patient, despite his own frustration that had been building the last forty-eight hours.

  “I know you do. But it is easier to protect you when we are inside the house.”

  “Jillian and I have been stuck in this house for days, barely allowed to go outside. We just want to go into town for some pizza. What could happen with all those people around? Danny never bothered me when others were around.”

  Zach could tell by the tight lines around Cassie’s mouth that she was in a mood and not a happy camper. He didn’t blame her, really. He was going crazy, too, and he had been allowed out of the house a few times in the last couple of days. He didn’t have a chance to reply before Jillian started in.

  “Yeah, we want out of here for a few hours. This is making us crazy. I bet Ryan would let us go.”

  “What would I let you do?” Sheriff Ryan must have heard his name from the kitchen and came to see what was going on.

  Jillian stood up and poked the sheriff in the chest. “We want to go into town for pizza. We have had it.”

  The men exchanged a look that didn’t bode well for them getting out of the house. “No can do, Jill. Listen, we just need to be patient a little longer. Trent will surface soon, and then this will be all over.”

  Cassie and Jillian both rolled their eyes. Cassie noticed Jillian looked ready to explode at the sheriff. She caught Cassie’s eye with an evil grin. Cassie knew that look and always had a healthy fear of it. Jillian was up to no good.

  “Well, if you think it is best, Sheriff.” Jillian appeared to be giving in gracefully but just as quick grabbed a pillow from the couch and knocked the Sheriff right across the face. The Sheriff looked shocked, his brown-blond hair askew. Before he could recover, Jillian threw a pillow to Cassie and smashed him in the head again. The sheriff blinked the shock away, and his eyes narrowed as he gave his own version of an evil grin.

  “So, that’s how this is
going to be? You know, I could have you arrested for assaulting an officer. But I think I will just make you pay myself.” And with that, he grabbed his own cushion from a chair and gave Jillian a gentle swipe. “You better defend yourself, Zach. These women are armed and dangerous.” Zach laughed and grabbed a pillow, too.

  Jillian and Cassie flanked the couch in a zone defense. “I can’t believe he hit a girl, Cassie!”

  The battle was on.

  They spent the next several minutes running around the living room taking swipes at each other. The women hitting the men as hard as they could, and the men taking it easier. They seemed to understand that Cassie and Jillian needed desperately to blow off steam. Ryan cornered Jillian as she ran behind the leather recliner. She feinted left, but he was on to her, and Cassie laughed as Ryan finally grabbed Jillian around the waist and threw her over his massive shoulder. He was so strong, he held her easily as he turned to Cassie.

  “I have a hostage, and I will let her go if you both concede defeat and admit that Zach and I are superior in every way.”

  “Fuck you, Ryan! Don’t say it, Cassie! These Neanderthals don’t get to win!” Jillian’s voice was a little breathless from running around and being hung upside down. Although she did have an excellent view of the sheriff’s very fine ass. Cassie noticed that Jillian didn’t seem to be struggling all that much.

  The sheriff gave Jillian a swat on the ass. “Hush, now. Hostages don’t get to talk, let alone curse.”

  Cassie giggled as a string of expletives came from somewhere near Ryan’s ass. Jillian may not be struggling, but she was pissed.

  Ryan just gave Jillian a few more swats as he held her easily. “What is it going to be, Cassie? I can spank her all night. Are you ready to concede?”

  “Well, Sheriff, if she hangs upside down much longer, her head will explode. So, yes, we concede defeat.”