She visibly pales, dropping her gaze and hurrying over to the small desk. My hand itches to grab my gun but I stop myself. Nothing scares an informant more than looking down the barrel of a gun. She hurries back clutching an envelope to her chest like a lifeline.
“Two weeks ago, this turned up at my house. I don’t know if you know who my father is but believe me when I say he isn’t someone you want to mess with. Even if you’re his daughter.”
She passes the envelope to me and I slide the contents out into my palm. There’s a note folded over and a handful of pictures. I lift the first one up, noticing the red tinge to Jessie’s cheeks as she drops down onto the corner of the bed. Each picture shows her and a man, roughly the same age in the throes of passion. So maybe that’s putting it politely.
The woman is being fucked like a whore and judging by the look on her face, she’s loving every minute of it. Not wanting to look like a pervert, I scan the rest of the pictures. Different backgrounds, many different timestamps but it’s the same pair in each one. I glance over to her and raise my eyebrow.
“That’s Raul Deganza. Do you know the name?”
I shake my head and she sighs. “No reason why you would. Let’s just say his family? They are the enemy, or at least that is what I’ve been told my entire life. If my father, or his found out about us, it wouldn’t end well.”
Brain whirling, I unfold the note and immediately feel that tingle.
Secrets are the devil; wouldn’t you say Jessie?
The devil needs to be paid.
I have a job for you… fail me and your father learns the truth.
Wait for my call.
“I have no idea who sent this note, and I don’t know why they targeted me. I went to a motel the next day, waited for instructions and when they came I did what they said.”
My fist clenches around the note. “So you cut the lines on that car and sent my friends off in a deathtrap?”
Her eyes widen in shock. “No! I didn’t know that had been done, I swear. All the message said to do was pick my ID badge up at the front desk, go to this address, which ended up being the venue and go to Miss Taylor’s dressing room. I was told to do whatever was asked of me and leave as soon as I got another text.”
Mulling it over in my head, I read the note again, cursing myself for getting my hands all over it. “And what were you told.”
She sighs and puts her head in her hands. “Lucy is a raging bitch. She shouted at her PA and made her cry, something about a wig and making those beneath her do her bidding. I was so scared being there, I didn’t really listen until she snapped her fingers in my face. ‘Go with her, make sure she doesn’t fuck it up. Oh, and I want a picture of her face when she gets bossed around’. I didn’t know what the hell was going on, but my phone chimed as I hurried after the sniffling woman. The message told me to take the keys off hook twelve and hand them over. I was so confused, but then it all fell into place. A woman with red hair was glaring at the PA, demanding to know why she had to go. She seemed pissed and said she didn’t have a car. Right next to me was a board with keys on it and sure enough, there was a small set on the hook labelled 12. I snatched them up, shoved them into the girl’s hands and ran away. I didn’t make it more than ten meters before I had a message telling me to leave immediately. I’ve been scared to go too far ever since.”
She bursts into tears and I close my eyes, feeling agitated. She’s just another puppet, like Dave. So who the fuck is pulling the strings?
***
It’s nearly 2am by the time I make it back to my hotel. I put Jessie in a taxi and told her to go home, come clean to her family and man the fuck up like an adult. If there had been no secrets in the first place, she wouldn’t have been used. Harsh? Maybe. But I was fucking done with this shit.
I push through the door to my room and lean against the wall, exhaustion slamming into me. It’s an effort to strip out of my clothes but I fumble around in the dark, only bothering to put the bathroom light on to avoid pissing all over the floor. Turning back to the bedroom, I stop short when I see the bed.
There, naked as the day she was born, turned on her side to face me and running a hand over her huge fake tits, is Lucy Taylor.
“I’ve been waiting for you Sefa. I couldn’t wait, the smell of you on your sheets made me so fucking hot. I’ve come twice already…”
Blinking rapidly, my brain-to-mouth filter finally breaks for the day and I slam my fist into the doorframe. “Are you fucking kidding me woman? Get the fuck out of my room!”
She freezes, shock written all over her face. “But, I thought… you were…”
“Thought I was what?” I roar, stomping over to the bed and throwing her discarded clothes at her. “I have a woman, why the fuck would I want you?”
She scrambles out of the bed, face ashen as she frantically puts her clothes back on. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she cries and I force myself to calm down.
“Just leave,” I snarl quietly.
She’s sobbing, her face in her hands and I just want her to get the hell away from me. “I really thought you were interested, I’m sorry Sefa.”
I lean back against the wall, fold my arms over my chest and sigh. “How did you even get in here?”
She looks sheepish. “I told the front desk you had lost your keycard.”
No wonder the pimple faced dick had smirked at me as I walked in. He’s gonna be in for the shock of his life when I get my hands on him.
“I can’t believe I got this so wrong. I’ve been a mess for so long and you’ve been so nice to me. I’m sorry I took it for more than it was.”
She looks so contrite and I just don’t have the energy to shout anymore. “Just… give me the keycard and let’s forget it happened. Apology accepted. But please, for the love of god, just go.”
She gives a small nod and goes to walk by me but stops to press the key into my hand. “It’s been so hard losing Annabelle, I’m still trying to get my head around it all. But that’s no excuse. I really am sorry Sefa, I hope we can still be friends.”
I gesture towards the door, very aware that I’m standing in my hotel room in just my boxers with a woman who isn’t Blue. Come to think of it, not even Ray for that matter. She could ruin everything just by being here. “It’s fine, just keep your clothes on in the future.”
She giggles and I fight the urge to gag. She leans up and presses a kiss to my cheek before she slips from the room and I slam the door shut on her ass straight away, just in case. This day couldn’t get any worse.
Laying on the bed, I grab my phone and pull up a picture of me and Syd.
I miss you, she had said.
Fuck Blue, I miss you too.
Chapter 30
Sydney
Ray and I touch down in Atlanta at the ungodly hour of three in the morning. Getting in when everyone’s asleep is a part of our plan, I just wish I was able to sleep on the stupid plane. I had Ray to my left and Snores McGee to my right. I want a bed and I want it now.
At the front desk we realize we don’t have a room booked yet. It’s been taken care of thus far for the tour, but nobody knows we’re here.
“Um, I’m Iosefa Crosses PA and he seems to have misplaced his keycard. Do you think I can grab a spare and run it up to him?” I smile angelically.
“Busy man.” The teen mumbles under his breath with a smirk, but ultimately hands me the keycard a few seconds later.
As we’re walking towards the elevator, I ask Ray what he was talking about.
“Hell if I know. I need a bed.”
On our ride up, she rests her head on my shoulder as my own is propped up on the wall of the elevator. We’re like the walking dead right now. Completely useless to the world.
I breathe a sigh of relief when the door handle flashes green. After removing the keycard, I make my way into the extremely dark room to find the light from the hallway silhouetting Cross on the couch.
“A perfectly good bed and he slee
ps there? I’m so taking the bed!” Ray quietly marches towards the bedroom in pursuit of catching some Z’s.
I didn’t anticipate Cross taking my breath away when I saw him again. This week has felt like a year yet my heart still races and a warm feeling envelops my body. My feet have a mind of their own when they walk me across the room until I’m standing in front of him. I drop to my knees and run my fingers down his gorgeous face.
His eyes open alert scaring me half to death. I fly back and land on my ass after shoving the coffee table several feet back.
“Damn.” I mutter when a little twinge of pain shoots through my still tender collarbone.
“Shit Syd.” Cross jumps up from the couch and helps me off the floor. “Are you ok? I wasn’t expecting you.”
“You sure weren’t from the smell of your bed.” Ray glares daggers at Cross after she turns the light on.
“It’s not what you think.”
“No, because your bed has the gag inducing smell of a Taylor twin on it. I’d recognize that hideous perfume anywhere. From the strength of it, I’d say she rolled around on the bed a time or two.”
I rip my arm from his grasp feeling foolish for surprising him. Technically we weren’t together, I ended it. But why does the thought of Cross and Lucy Taylor being together completely undo me?
“No Syd.” Cross grabs my hands. “Nothing happened. It was a misunderstanding.”
I search his face looking for anything that might disprove his statement. All I see is sincerity but my brain is still battling my heart.
“What was the misunderstanding? It had to be a hell of a big one for her to end up in your bed.”
“It was. Some wires were crossed. She’s been through a lot the last couple of months.”
“That’s not an explanation.” I’m hurt he won’t tell me the whole story, but maybe I deserve this. “I’m beat. I’ll call down to the front desk and request new sheets. Go back to sleep, me and Ray will flip the mattress.” I walk away but Cross grabs my arm.
“I swear.” Is all he says and I nod in his direction before continuing on to the bedroom.
A half hour later after flipping the mattress and redressing the bed, I still can’t get the smell of that skank out of my nostrils. A million scenarios creep up on me and I hate that I’m doubting Cross even though he swore nothing happened.
“I believe him. He didn’t smell like her.” I whisper to Ray expecting her to be sleeping.
“He wouldn’t cheat on you. I smelt her skank and jumped to conclusions. I get so angry when it comes to Lucy, I can’t help it. I’m sorry I caused problems.”
“No, I love you for having my back.”
I roll over and close my eyes set out to get at least a few hours of shut eye before we have to immerse ourselves in tour life again. Right when I’m on the cusp of sleep, lingering between conscious and asleep, I faintly hear the door to the bedroom open. Footsteps make their way over to me but I’m too tired to react. I know who it is.
The bed dips from his weight and my hair is lifted from my face before I feel his breath at my ear.
“I’ve missed you so much Blue. You have to believe me when I say nothing happened.” With a kiss to my cheek, he leaves me with the deafening silence of the room and scattered thoughts flying around my head.
***
I wake up earlier than I’d like and order room service. I’m starving and I’m sure Ray and Cross are too. They’re both still passed out when I’m opening the door to wheel in the sweet aromas of everything on the breakfast menu. Some of them tripled in order.
“Christ that smells good.” Cross sits up after the door shuts.
“I’m going to eat it all if you aren’t fast, just fair warning.” I laugh starting to lift the lids off the plates.
Warm hands wrap around my belly and I stop my motions of unveiling all the food. I’ve missed his touch so much and having Cross’s arms around me is surreal. Before I even think it through, I turn in his arms and lean up on my tiptoes. I press my lips to his and nearly moan from the contact.
“Home.”
“What?” Cross asks in a mumble with our lips still attached.
I pull back a few inches and stare into his magnificent eyes. “You are home.”
Our lips are crashing together with our tongues tangling immediately after my declaration. I have so much more to say, but this feels right. We deserve this moment before we get to the heavy conversations.
A throat clears on the other side of the room. “If I knew bacon was an aphrodisiac I would have tried it out a long time ago.” Ray chuckles.
Cross and I separate our lips, but he keeps me in his arms. I’m ok with that, I’m not ready for him to let me go.
“Glad to see my sister’s stupidity didn’t ruin a good thing.” Ray winks walking over and plucking a sausage link from a full plate.
“I like a challenge.” Cross leans in and nuzzles his face in my neck. When I feel his tongue licking up my skin I shiver all over.
“I really am hungry.” I whine unable to decide which I need more, food or Cross.
“Me too.” He growls picking me up and walking me towards the bedroom. “Turn on the TV Ray.” He says with his back towards my sister. By the time we reach the bed, I can hear the theme song for Charmed blasting through the room and smile.
Then Cross wipes the smile from my face after he places me on the bed and shows me the plate of bacon in his hands.
“Whatcha got there?” I continue to stare at the delicious strips. I almost start drooling at the site of an exquisite man holding a delicious plate of food.
“I figured we could see just how much of an aphrodisiac bacon is. You know, test the theory.”
“Fuck yes.”
Cross does things with the food I’d never experienced before and now it’s official. I always thought I was a sausage girl, but it has nothing on bacon.
Chapter 31
Cross
“So let’s get this right. You stalked a possible suspect, went to meet with them in an unsecured hotel… and didn’t think for one fucking minute that maybe the rest of us would need to know?”
I sigh and pull Sydney closer into my side, even though she has her arms crossed over her chest and a murderous look on her face. I turn back to Skylar, who is pacing the floor with a snarl on her face as she screams me out.
“It’s not like I wasn’t prepped.”
“Oh,” she cries, throwing her arms in the air. “You were prepped? Well fuck me, how silly of us to overact then you big fucking stupid Samoan.”
“Hey now, no need for name calling,” Marcus laughs as he lounges back on one of the sofas. He rolls his eyes and shoots a smirk in my direction. He gets it, so did Colby. The women however, did not.
“Look, it’s done. She was a lead, I followed it up, end of discussion. It’s not like we have a lot to go on here, every piece of intel counts.”
They can be as pissed as they like but they know it’s true. Besides, I was the only one here, there was no other option. We may not have gleaned much from Jessie Mathews, but at least we know she’s not a threat anymore. She’s a pawn in this game, just like the rest of us.
“I think we need to dig deeper into Lucy Taylor,” Syd pipes up and now it’s me rolling my eyes.
“Let it go, Lucy is harmless. She’s too much of a princess to be a mastermind criminal.”
Sydney pulls away from me scowling. “Quite the little cheerleader these days, aren’t you?”
I rub a hand down my face and stand up. “I’m not doing this. You’re jealous and it’s clouding your judgement. Nothing happened, yes she wanted it to, but I sent her on her way. End of story.”
I stalk back into my bedroom and head to the bathroom. Fuck my life. I could strangle Lucy for putting me in this situation, but the fact that Syd even entertains the idea I would touch another woman, knowing what my history is has my blood boiling. I have never, would never even think about cheating on her, and it fills me with a
n uneasy feeling that she doesn’t trust me.
Washing my hands, I return to my room to see Syd sat on my bed, my phone in her hands. She glances up and offers a small smile. “It was on the arm of the sofa, I didn’t mean to read it, but it was flashing right beside me. I think you may want to take a look.”
There’s an undercurrent in the room that I just can’t fathom as I walk over and take it from her. Unlocking the screen and pulling up the message, my blood boils.
Thanks for last night, it was the most amazing night of my life. I can still smell you, the way your sheets molded to my body as I came apart in your bed. The way you looked at my naked breasts… I’ve never come so hard in my life and it was all because of you Sefa. Don’t worry, I won’t tell Ray-Ann… it can be our little secret.
Right below it is a picture and I immediately want to tear my eyes out. She’s on her knees, holding the camera up high as she juts out her huge tits, her other hand between her legs and working her pussy.
Nausea rolls through me. “Fucking motherfucking bitch,” I snarl, rearing back to throw the phone but Syd steps up to me quickly and snatches it from my hand.
“Don’t. It may come in handy.”
I’m breathing hard, my eyes burning into her unreadable ones. “Blue…”
She holds a hand up to stop me and takes a deep breath. “I need you to tell me exactly what happened here last night Cross. Don’t leave a fucking thing out, not one fucking detail, understand?”
So I do. I relive it all, hating the look on Syd’s face as I tell her everything. When I’m done, she doesn’t say anything and as much as I want to reach out to her, I just don’t know how she will react. Finally, she raises her eyes to meet mine and I’m relieved to see the mask is gone. She’s on fire.
“First, I’m sorry I doubted you. I know it’s not in your DNA to fuck people over.” She gets to her feet and walks over to the bedroom door. “Second, I don’t know what game she’s playing, but from now on, no more of the she’s harmless crap. Clearly, that’s bullshit.”
Deception (A Stalker Novel Book 2) Page 14
