Being Free (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Lee Rose

  He showed them the pictures of the bank’s exterior and the lobby. He pointed to a big heavy wooden door where they kept the safe deposit boxes. “Anna can say I’m her accountant and I’ll go back to where they keep the safe boxes. Sam and Victor can find places outside to keep an eye out and, Blake, you can handle the front lobby while we are in the back. Hopefully we are undetected, but it’s better to be prepared that Santiago knows we are here.”

  David pulled out some pictures. The first one was of a tall lean man with slicked back, black hair and a thin mustache. He was dressed in an elegant suit and wore a gold ring on his finger.

  “I have to say I’m really hoping the bastard tries something. He caused Anna a lot of pain and deserves payback.”

  Blake angrily pointed out the gold ring on Santiago’s hand. “Anna says he never takes that ring off. She has a mark on her back where he punched her so hard he left the imprint on her.”

  “Bastard,” muttered Sam. “I say we just shoot the bastard and rid the world of him.”

  “I’m with you, bro,” Victor agreed with a shake of his head. “He won’t be mourned long.”

  David sympathized. “He’ll suffer better in prison. I need Anna to give me all the names of his personal guards and Santiago’s daily schedule.”

  “I’ll go see if she is awake,” Blake offered and went into the other room. He hated to wake her. She looked so peaceful and worry free. He leaned down and smoothed her long hair out of her face. She had taken the wig off while they were inside the room.

  He kissed her forehead and whispered, “Baby, it’s time to open those beautiful eyes for me.”

  “Why?” she mumbled, turning over grumpily. “Still tired.”

  Blake laughed and started kissing her cheek and worked his way down to her neck. She moaned but still refused to wake up. He kissed the curve of her shoulder. “In about five minutes I’m going to strip you naked and we’re going to give my brothers a show. They are eager and waiting.”

  Anna gasped and sat up in shock. She looked around and saw the room was empty. She gave Blake a cranky look. “You are a horrible man, Blake.”

  Blake shrugged and kissed her cheek. “Payback for that scene with Jenna, baby.”

  She sat up, put her feet on the ground, and yawned. “Let me wash up and I’ll join you in a minute.”

  * * * *

  Anna joined them a few minutes later, feeling more awake. Blake pulled her onto his lap. David had the pictures spread across the table. She spotted Santiago’s picture and made a rude face and turned it over.

  She looked at the rest of the pictures. She pointed to a thin blond man. “That’s Kyle. He shot Ben.”

  She had to blink back tears and she felt Blake’s hand making soothing motions across her back. She swallowed them back and pointed to a short but husky man. “That’s Bob. He is Santiago’s personal guard and goes everywhere with him. The next man is Jerry and that last man is Jose. He’s my guard. He taught me to shoot and took me to the shooting range.”

  David passed the pictures to Sam and Victor. “Since you two will be outside, keep an eye out for these guys or Santiago, but he’ll be hard to miss. He travels like he is royalty, with a lot of fanfare.”

  “Conceited bastard,” Sam grumbled, making Anna smile.

  “You’re going inside with me, right, David?” she asked fearfully.

  “We’ll make it as quick as possible, going in and out and back here,” David guaranteed her. “Tomorrow is Wednesday. Do you know Santiago’s normal routine for this day?”

  Anna nodded yes. “He has a weekly meeting every Wednesday at one p.m. with his accountant Leroy Anderson. I have never gone with him but I know he’s usually gone at least an hour or more.”

  “Okay, we’ll go to the bank then. If we are lucky, Santiago will be busy across town and we can get in and out quietly,” David said.

  “Just being here in the same city as him makes my stomach hurt. Knowing Santiago and his men are just miles away from us makes me feel scared,” Anna admitted. “I never thought I’d be back here again.”

  “He can’t hurt you, Anna,” Blake assured her. He put her hair back and leaned his chin on her shoulder. He tightened his arms around her waist in a comforting gesture. “Your disguise is good and we’re checked in under my name. Besides, did you see all the guns Sam brought with him? I think he can take Santiago and his men.”

  Sam chuckled and agreed with his brother. Victor didn’t want to be left out either so he told Anna which high-powered sniper rifle he was using and she agreed that they could take Santiago’s men.

  She smiled, feeling warm inside. She was surrounded by men who cared about her safety. She looked at Blake with a pleading look. “Can we go down to the fitness room and work out? Maybe that will help me get rid of some stress.”

  “Sure,” Blake agreed. “I could use a good workout, too.”

  “David is taking us out to dinner. Then we’re going to scout the area near the bank and look for good places to keep a look out. Call us if you see anything suspicious and we’ll be right back here,” Sam assured them.

  Blake nodded and took Anna back to their own room to change clothes. Melody had given her some extra clothes and she smiled when she found a pair of black yoga pants. With a borrowed T-shirt of Blake’s, she was ready to go run a few miles, virtually of course.

  Chapter 13

  David and Anna made their way into the First National Bank. The bank was open and airy inside with lots of windows and natural light. Blake was already inside having gone ahead of them. He pretended to be filling out some papers at the rounded table in the middle of the lobby. .Anna’s hands were shaking nervously, but she clung to David’s arm, feeling better that he was with her. She tried to keep her breathing at an even level so she wouldn’t panic again. Since the safe deposit box was in Ben’s name, David had pulled some strings and got Ben’s death certificate and will naming her next of kin. She had her ID ready and she had put her long black hair up in a bun, hoping to keep her look different without the wig. She wore jeans and a purple T-shirt. She went up to the nearest teller and quietly asked for the manager.

  While she was waiting she took a quick glance around but only a few customers were waiting in line. It was hard not to look at Blake for reassurance but she wasn’t supposed to know him. Anna knew David was alert and also checking out the workers sitting behind the glass walls that made offices. Everyone looked busy and no one was paying any attention to them but Anna wouldn’t be able to relax until they were out of here. The soft relaxing music playing in the background did nothing for her nerves.

  A man in his fifties with a gray suit and glasses came out to greet them. He gave them a friendly smile. “Hello, I am Mr. Williams. How can I help you?”

  David showed him the papers and introduced himself as Anna’s accountant. Mr. Williams looked over the papers and found them to be in order. He led them to the back of the bank behind a wooden door where the safety boxes were located. Different sized numbered boxes lined the wall.

  “Here is box 459.” Mr. Williams pointed to a box on the wall and unlocked it with his key. He turned back to them putting the key in his pocket. “I will let you have your privacy and again, I am sorry about Mr. Matthews.”

  Anna smiled sadly and sniffed. “Thank you for your help, sir.”

  When he was gone, she opened up the box and set it on the table they had set in the middle of the room for the customers to sit down while they viewed their boxes. She took out her personal papers and pictures and put them in her purse. She gave David the papers she had on Santiago and a small cassette that she had recorded while he was on the phone with Benito. While David was busy looking at the papers, she took out the envelope of cash and put it in her purse.

  Now she had the money to disappear if she needed to. She would mourn for Blake, though. She had grown to care deeply for him in such a short time but she also had to make sure Santiago couldn’t get to him.

  “This
is great stuff, Anna. I think my boss will definitely help you,” David said with a relieved smile after he was done looking them over. “Sam won’t be happy with the news,” he joked, hoping to get a smile out of her.

  Anna sighed with relief. “I just want this all to be over, David. I want a normal life if that is even possible. I forgot what normal was.”

  David looked concerned for a minute as he put everything in his brief case. “It’s possible you might have to go to a safe house if you are needed to testify. Since Blake is not your husband, he won’t be allowed to go with you. He might not be happy to let you go. He is a tough son of a bitch but he is also possessive of you, Anna. I know he cares for you. He would never do all this if he didn’t have feelings for you.”

  “I know. I love Blake, too, but I want him and his family safe. That is my number one priority and if my being away from him will achieve that goal, then that is what I have to do. He might get angry but at least he’ll be alive to be angry,” she stated firmly.

  David agreed with her. “Blake won’t like it but you’re right, Anna. The only way for you to get your freedom once and for all is to put Santiago away for good. Let’s get out of here and go to the hotel. I’ll go see my boss and we’ll discuss a safe hideout for you. The sooner the better.”

  Anna was quiet during the ride back to the hotel. She knew she loved Blake but he said he didn’t want to talk about their relationship until this mess was all over. They hadn’t known each other long. He had to care about her a little or he wouldn’t be here with her. He would have handed the responsibility to David and stayed home. She had a lot to think about so she excused herself by saying she needed a nap.

  She woke up to something tickling her neck. She wiggled and tried to swat it away with her hand. She heard Blake chuckle and she opened her eyes. He was giving her an amused glance. “You are so cute when you sleep all snuggled with the pillow. I’m jealous of it.”

  He took the pillow out of her hand and threw it on the floor. “It’s dinner time but first I say we have desert.”

  She looked at him confused, still feeling groggy after her long nap. She sat up and yawned. “You want something sweet right now? Like what? Ice cream sounds good to me.”

  He pulled her until she was sitting on his lap. That’s when she noticed he was totally nude. His erection was rubbing against her ass. “No, I want honey.”

  His green eyes were glittering with desire and he was smiling at her confused expression. She blushed when she finally caught on then she shook her head. “You are so bad, Blake.”

  Blake pulled her shirt off, then her bra. He leaned down and took a nipple into his mouth. She put her hands in his hair and leaned her head back. A soft moan escaped her mouth. She knew she couldn’t be loud with his brothers in the next room so she bit her lip trying to hold the moan in. It was hard when he was feasting on her breasts and making her feel so good.

  “Where is everybody?” she whispered softly, running her hands through his short hair.

  “David is gone somewhere, Vic is in the shower, and Sam is in the lobby talking to Melody on his cell.”

  He laid her across the bed and removed her jeans and panties. “Open wide for me, baby. I’ve been watching you sleep and fantasizing about all the things I wanted to do to you.”

  Anna did as he asked and groaned as soon as she felt his tongue sweeping across her pussy. He opened her folds with his finger, inserting two fingers in and out of her. He found her clit, circling around it with his fingertip, increasing the pressure. He loved hearing all the noises she made when she was excited. He alternated between using his mouth and fingers until she came.

  Anna sat up and pushed him down until he was laying on the bed on his back. She looked down at his hard erection and smiled.

  She straddled his hips and slowly lowered herself onto his hard shaft. She groaned with pleasure and bit her lip. He pulled her down by her long hair to devour her mouth in a deep kiss.

  When he let her go, she was breathing hard. She looked down at him with a sultry smile. “Oh, Blake. I have never felt anything as amazing as being with you. You are so sexy even when you’re grumpy.”

  “I’m never grumpy,” he denied, holding on to her hips as she rode his cock. “How can I be when you make me feel so damn good all the time?”

  She lifted herself up and down a little faster and grinned. “You mean like this?”

  “Oh yeah, baby,” he said softly, looking like he was in pain. “Just like that, Anna.”

  She cupped her breasts with her hands and he licked his lips. She touched the nipple with her fingers, gliding them back and forth across the tip. She smiled at him. “Did I tell you how much I like having you touch my nipples like this but with your tongue?”

  “Tease,” he muttered and gripped her hips a little tighter and she knew he was close to coming. She increased her speed a little.

  Anna felt the now familiar sensation sweeping over her entire body. It felt like waves of fire then she was free-falling again. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back and let the feeling wash over her. She could easily get addicted to making love with this man. “It just gets better and better.”

  Blake groaned and found his own fulfillment. He hugged her tightly against his body, refusing to let her go yet.

  * * * *

  Anna woke up to someone’s hand on her mouth. She panicked and started hitting out, thinking Santiago’s men had found her.

  “Shh, baby, it’s me,” Blake whispered in her ear. He handed her some clothes. “We have company and not the good kind. Vic and Sam are waiting outside the door for us. Hurry.”

  Anna swallowed down her fear Santiago had found her, that bastard. Why couldn’t he just leave her alone and move on? She quickly got dressed, leaving her disguise behind, and followed Blake out of the room. He hung onto her hand so she wouldn’t fall or bump into the furniture. She could hear noises coming from the other room as if they were inside searching.

  Blake slowly opened the room door and stepped out in to the hallway. Sam and Victor each had a gun in their hands and waited. Victor wasn’t smiling and looked just as hard as his two brothers.

  “Luckily I was down the hallway on the phone with Melody. I saw them go in my room first, I went in to Victor’s room and alerted him. Sam said in a hard, cold voice. “That’s when I texted you Blake. By the time they reached Victor’s room we were out here.”

  Anna tried not to feel terrified but it was hard with Santiago’s men looking for her. She didn’t want the Murphy brothers getting caught in the crossfire.

  “David is on his way,” Victor said in a low voice, leading them quickly down the hallway and to the elevator. Blake pushed the elevator button while Sam and Victor watched to make sure no one snuck up behind them. Anna swore it took forever for the elevator to come up to their floor. By now they had to be in the room she shared with Blake and soon they would be out here searching for them. Blake squeezed her hand and he put her in front of him so she could enter first. The door finally opened and they stepped inside.

  Anna heard loud voices yelling behind them. Blake, Sam, and Victor had formed a human wall in front of her so she had to tilt her head to the side and peek out from behind them.

  “Anna Marie, the boss wants you home,” Jose said in a calm voice. “We are not here to harm you.”

  Blake smirked. “Tell your boss too damn bad.”

  She gasped as she saw Kyle pulling out his gun. She held her breath prepared for a hail of bullets to get them but the doors closed and the elevator started moving downward.

  “Oh God,” she whispered, leaning on Blake. “That was too close.”

  Sam and Victor took the safety off their gun in case the men made it down the stairs before they did.

  The doors opened and Blake looked out, turning to the right and to the left. “Clear.”

  They ran past the shocked hotel clerk and out the doors. David pulled up to the curve with his tires squealing. He leaned over
and opened the door. Blake pushed Anna in the front and got in next to her while Sam and Victor jumped in the back. Sam had already let him know what was going on while they waited for Anna and Blake to come out of their room.

  She looked in the rearview mirror and saw Jose and Kyle coming out the hotel doors and getting on a cell phone. No doubt they were reporting to Santiago. Anna shivered and felt Blake’s arms encircle her and pull her close to him. He kissed her head. “Don’t worry, Anna. We’re all okay.”

  “This time,” she whispered.

  Chapter 14

  The next morning they all headed over to the federal building in where David worked. They had spent the night at David’s small apartment.

  Anna had a meeting with David’s boss, Mr. Morrison. She was feeling tense and emotional. She couldn’t help but feel apprehensive. She knew Blake and David were on alert, looking around at their surroundings. Sam and Victor were hidden on top of a building looking down on them to make sure they got into the building safely. After last’s night’s close call, they were taking no chances. The men had been up all night planning the security while she had laid on the couch trying to sleep. Sleep had been impossible.

  Facing Santiago, even in a court room, scared the crap out of her. It was hard to comprehend that she had once loved him and thought he was her dream come true. Instead he had turned out to be her nightmare. She was determined to make him pay for Ben’s death and all the wrong he had done to others. He had no regard for human life, only for how much money he could make. She knew she would have to go to a safe house but she feared never seeing Blake again. She realized her feelings for him ran deep into her heart, but how did he feel about her? She didn’t want Blake to think of her as a burden.

  He had been quiet and stoic all morning, hardly saying a word to anyone. She assumed he was concentrating on keeping them all safe. Not only did he have her to protect, but she knew he worried about his brothers, too. But what if he wanted to get rid of her? What if he decided she was too much trouble and he wanted to be free of her? So many thoughts and emotions were going on inside of her that she felt like her head wanted to explode.