blush (Westbrook Series)

by Mitzi Vaughn

  "The office."

  "I'm going to come over and work on your phone. Maybe we can get a trace on the guy. Go have lunch and I will meet you at your office this evening."

  "Sounds great."

  Missy had been trying to get some work done all morning, but with everything going on she was having trouble keeping her head in the game. She was happy to get her mind off of things when Brandon came to take her to lunch. Maybe a bite to eat would help. They headed to a nearby sushi bar. It was one of Missy's favorite places to eat. She loved the food. The modern fusion decor was beautiful. They had luscious green bamboo and decadent aquariums with the most vibrant fish.

  "Mark called. He's going to come put a device on my phone at the office to record and trace the calls coming in. If the guy calls again, maybe it will help us find him."

  Missy looked everywhere but at Brandon; she was tired. She was having difficulty turning her brain off last night so sleep was pretty much out of the question. Finally she spoke, "Did he say anything else?"

  "He said your mom is in a rehab out of the state. Says she's doing real well."

  Missy's mom had been in and out of several rehabs. She always did great at first, but eventually her demons always take over. "And?"

  "And what?"

  "And...I know he checked out my dad too."

  "Yeah. He is remarried and living in Chicago. He did some time for possession of meth. That seems to be his drug of choice."

  Tears began to well up in Missy's eyes, "Some family huh? A far cry from the loving embrace of Brenda Westbrook."

  "Missy, we are your family. You are my family."

  Missy gave him the most sincere smile that she could muster. "Sorry, guess I'm just having a small pity party."

  "I think you are entitled to a pity party, but I will take care of you so you only get to have a tiny one."

  Chapter 22

  Missy stared at the unknown note on her desk. It had her name on the front cut out of letters from a magazine. Kind of conventional. She hadn't opened it yet. She was waiting on Brandon to come to her office.

  Chloe looked at her with worry, "How do you think he managed to get that in here?"

  "Most of the team was at lunch. It probably wasn't near as tough as you would think."

  Brandon called Mark to let him know what was going on and then went to Missy's office. His blood pressure was boiling. He walked over to her desk and read the note. "This piece of shit better hope I never find him!" Brandon's lips were pressed tightly together and his fists were in a ball. He didn't even notice he was crumpling the note.

  "What does it say?" Chloe asked.

  Missy went over to Brandon and lightly rubbed his arm. She took the note from his hand and read, "Tell your boyfriend I'm not playing. Get me my money or I will bash your head in again. This time I will do it myself. He has twenty-four hours." Missy started to cry. This was all too overwhelming.

  Mark came in wearing street clothes. He didn't want anyone who might be watching to suspect he was a cop. He studied the note, put it into an evidence bag, and then went to Brandon's office to start the phone tap.

  "Next time he calls, get a drop off location. Maybe we can catch him in the act."

  Brandon paced with worry, "Do you really think this guy is going to fall for that? I mean that is the way they do it in every action movie you watch."

  "It might get a plan out of him. He has to have an arrangement for getting the money."

  "Alright. I will see what I can do."

  The next day Missy and Brandon tried to work. Neither of them were able to accomplish anything, so they congregated in Brandon's office waiting for the call. By ten both Chloe and Mark had joined them.

  "What do we do if he gives a drop location?" Missy asked, a bit out of curiosity and trying to pass the time.

  "Have you arranged the money Brandon?"

  "Yes, it's right here." He pointed to a briefcase in the corner of the room.

  "I thought we agreed no money!"

  "Missy it is just in case he looks inside of the case. We don't want him to get irate and hurt anyone. It is mainly ones wrapped in hundreds."

  Missy still seemed agitated so Mark went on, "I don't plan on letting him get away with any of it anyway."

  That seemed to do the trick. She convinced herself it was just part of the plan. Mark really appeared to care about his job. She could tell he knew what he was doing and knew she shouldn't question him.

  At exactly noon, the phone in Brandon's office rang. They all exchanged a glance and Brandon picked up the phone. "Brandon Westbrook." This was the way he always answered his phone.

  "Do you have my money?" The voice was gruff and the man on the other end was obviously trying to disguise himself.

  Brandon quickly put it on speaker so that the others could hear the conversation. "I do. Where would you like for me to meet you with it?"

  "No; not you. I want Little Miss to bring it to Ninth Avenue, in front of her old building. Tell her not to pull any bullshit or I will kill her mother."

  "What time?" Brandon was doing everything he could not to lose his mind on this son of a bitch.

  "Two o'clock." The phone went dead.

  Brandon looked up at Missy and she was as white as a ghost. When Mark saw the concern on Brandon's face, he turned his gaze toward Missy also. "Missy did you recognize the voice?" Mark asked realizing she probably had.

  "Yes. It...It was him, my father."

  "Are you sure?" Chloe questioned coming to Missy's side for support.

  Mark's phone went off so he stepped out to take the call. "Let me see if this is new information."

  "Yes. He always called me Little Miss. I thought it was a cute nickname he had for me until he got hammered one night and told me it really meant little mistake. He said I had ruined his life."

  Brandon fisted his hair. "I am going to.."

  "No Brandon. We have to stay cool." Missy turned to Mark as he walked back into the room. "He said he would kill my mother. I thought she was out of state in a rehab."

  "Missy that call was...your mom disappeared from the rehab this morning. They have searched the entire property."

  Missy started to sob. When she composed herself somewhat, she whimpered, "I guess we better not make any mistakes then."

  Chapter 23

  Missy stood in front of the building she once lived in waiting for her father to appear. She wondered if she would even recognize him. When she saw a white van slowly coming her way, she spotted him in the driver's seat. At that moment, all of the horrible shit he put her through came rushing back.

  Action.

  He pulled up and told her to get in. Oh no! They hadn't planned for this.

  "I want to see mom first." She knew by stalling, the police would have time to respond to the change of plans. They were monitoring the exchange through the microphone under her shirt.

  "Don't fuck with me. Get in the damn car."

  "I will. I promise, but I need to make sure you haven't already killed her." She was unemotional. She had to be.

  Her father pressed a button and the back slider door slowly started opening. Her mother was in the back with her hands tied behind her back, her feet bound, and silver tape on her mouth. Missy could tell she had been crying because she had black makeup running down her face. Missy grimaced at the sight then slowly climbed into the back with her mother.

  "Why are you doing this?"

  "Shut the fuck up!"

  Missy sat in the back trying to soothe her mother who had resumed weeping again. Please let them come and save us. I can't take this much longer. She knew the cops were nearby, but she had already spent as much time as she could stand with her delusional father when she was younger. He had that same familiar angry smirk on his face. His hair was completely gray now and he had wrinkles around his mouth from the years of smoking.

  "Is this all for meth?"

  "I said shut up! You don't know anything about me you little bitch."

/>   "So tell me. I heard you were remarried." Missy thought by talking he might cool down and become more rational. So far it wasn't working.

  "Yes, to Sue. She is a wonderful woman. She just has a small problem, she tries to stop. This money will help though. I always thought you were just a disappointment, but you hooking up with that rich guy really was brilliant."

  Missy could tell he was not completely lucid. He was slurring, which scared her even more since he was driving. He was calming down though. "I'm glad the money will help her. What kind of problem does she have?"

  He visibly became gloomy, "She owes a serious drug dealer in Detroit, but you saved us Little Miss. Now shut up before I come do to you what I did to your mother. You're fucking up my concentration."

  Missy looked back at her mother. She was still whimpering quietly. They had been driving quite a while, and Missy was beginning to worry that Mark had lost sight of them. She had no clue what her dad planned to do with them. "You have your money. Why do you still need us?"

  "This is just a first payment. That bastard is going to pay to get you back. You owe me way more than this for all of the shit you caused in my life. You and your bitch mother." He was much more focused now. Missy knew he had a plan. He was going to hold them hostage until he bled Brandon dry. She worried what her father would do when he realized the money in the briefcase wouldn't even buy him a ticket back to Chicago.

  Missy quickly looked up when the tires started screeching. There was a set of spikes set out and the street was blocked off. Her father tried to stop, but the van hit the spikes and began spinning instead. Missy closed her eyes and braced herself and her mother for the hit. The van stopped, running over a curb and barely missing a building.

  "Get up here." He pulled Missy from the back seat by the hair and got out of the van with the money in one hand and a gun pointed toward Missy in the other. He was struggling to hold on to everything. Missy quickly broke free and began to run. The gun fell to the ground as she made her escape. Dumb ass! He was too drunk to even hold someone hostage correctly. He gave an unsuccessful attempt at trying to escape. Missy saw the police officer that was ducking behind his police vehicle get out and tackle her father as he was stumbling away. Her father didn't put up much of a fight due to his incapacitated state.

  Missy went to the van and began untying her mother who had pretty much blacked out by this point.

  "Oh Missy. Thank God you are okay!" The woman quickly embraced Missy.

  Missy helped her weak mother out of the van and walked her over to where she saw Mark and Brandon. He ran to her side and hugged her like he might never let go.

  "Brandon, this is my mother, Gloria." Brandon reached over and hugged them both.

  "Baby, I am so glad you are okay. I was so worried when he made you get into the vehicle."

  Gloria smiled at her daughter, "She was amazing, so relaxed. Her ability to throw him off was what saved our lives."

  "That's my girl." Brandon placed a kiss on her head.

  "I am just so glad this is over. Mom, why don't we let the EMT check you out and make sure you're not hurt, then we will get you to the house and let you clean up."

  "Okay, but after that I have to get back to the rehabilitation facility. I have been working so hard to get better for you. Seeing you, and how you turned out so strong, only motivates me to want to be the same. I am going to continue to get help and stay sober. I owe you a lot of time and attention. Me being healthy is the only way I can give that to you."

  Missy held her hand and squeezed it tight.

  Chapter 24

  That night in bed, Missy reflected on the events of the day. She thought about how far she had come. Her life had always been filled with loss and disappointment. Her mother was trying to get better and they were going to reconnect. Missy thought maybe her mother had never succeeded in kicking her addiction because no one had faith in her. She promised herself to support her mother. Missy also recalled how far her love life had come. She was living in a penthouse, in bed snuggled up to a wonderful man. Brandon loved her so much. She could see it in his expression every time he looked at her. He had been there for her through some rough times, never wavering. She reached over and rubbed her hand through the hair on Brandon's chest. She leaned up and sprinkled kisses on his cheek and neck. His eyes flew open and he arched one eyebrow at her suggestively.

  "Thank you for being so compassionate with me and everything I have gone through."

  Brandon pulled her in tighter and touched his lips to hers. "We are a team now Missy; you are my life. I definitely wouldn't mind a little appreciation prize though."

  She giggled and climbed on top of him, straddling his body. "So you think you deserve a reward huh?" Missy reached her head down and kissed his neck, licking and nibbling strategically. She had come to know the places that drove him mad. "Is something like this the reward you had in mind?"

  "Mmmm, exactly." He laid back with his eyes closed.

  "What about this?" She made her way down his chest and down the front of his torso, biting his hips softly. All Brandon could do was let out a groan of approval. "Speechless?"

  He nodded his head with a murmur of pleasure. "Well, then I guess we are even. You can't even beg for more, so I assume you feel rewarded enough?" Missy rose to remove herself from him. His hand quickly came up and held her in place.

  "Oh no woman, you're not going anywhere yet."

  She chuckled, and before he could respond, her mouth was around his erection sucking and licking.

  "Oh baby, you are so damn amazing." Brandon ran his fingers through her hair pulling softly. The stimulation only caused her to bob her head quicker. She grazed her teeth softly up the substantial length of his shaft and then again back down. She tickled right underneath his balls and she could feel his body shutter at the touch to the sensitive area. "Missy I am about to come." The words only motivated her to take him in deeper. She wanted him to come, to taste him was pure ecstasy. He moaned releasing himself in her mouth. She held her head still and sucked hard making sure she swallowed every last drop.

  "Was that a big enough reward for you?"

  "Fuck yeah," he said in a breathy mumble. "That was incredible. Now it's your turn."

  He pulled her up and lifted her on top of his still hard penis. He guided her hips thrusting deep into her. Missy moaned with enjoyment. He grabbed both of her breast and began pinching her nipples just hard enough to send shock waves straight down her body. He could feel her beginning to tighten around him. She began moving faster, causing her orgasm to become even stronger. She screeched out with delight as she came. Her body began to vibrate all over. Brandon couldn't control himself any longer. He shot his nectar far into her warm, pulsing body. She could feel the throbbing of his erection and began coming again. "You feel so good. I love you Brandon Westbrook."

  "I love you too Missy. Don't ever scare me the way you did today. If anything were to ever happen to you, I don't know how I would go on."

  She assumed he had been worried, but at this moment she could see the fear on his face. His eyes were glassy and moist. Missy laid there with her head on his chest and listened to his heart beat. They had been through so much.

  He could tell she was thinking about the day and wanted to keep her mind from going there. "Come on. Let's go take a bath." He lifted himself from the bed and carried Missy to the bathroom. The room was like something out of a home decor magazine. She loved relaxing there. It was covered in a pale Italian marble, and the tile floor was all a very dark stone. The bath tub overflowed into the shower like a waterfall. The tub was monstrously sized and jetted.

  He placed her on a chaise lounge he had sitting in the large open area of the room and went to turn on the water. He reached behind him and opened a container of bubble bath that filled the space with the aroma of wild honeysuckle. Once in the tub, she rested in between his legs and closed her eyes as he poured water over her chest. Missy never felt more at peace than when they were t
ogether.

  "My mom and Dayna want to have dinner tomorrow night. Is that okay with you? I really want you to spend some time with my sister. I think the two of you will hit it off."

  "Mmm hmm," Missy could only hum her endorsement.

  He smiled and continued talking, "They want to take you shopping first---you know, really put some fear into you about messing with their baby boy and all."

  Missy smiled widely, "You wish."

  "Yeah. My mom just really loves you and wants you to spend the day with them. I like to think that they adore me so much, they will be grilling you the entire time."

  "You are such a big baby." Missy splashed water onto his face. Brandon immediately went into defense mode and splashed back. They wrestled in the water like kids, splashing and laughing. He enjoyed that she could be so sexy and serious, yet she loved to play and laugh too.

  The next afternoon Brenda and Dayna picked Missy up at the penthouse for a girls day. They had planned the day around spa treatments and shopping.

  "Missy, you have been through so much. I love you darling. Dayna and I wanted to show you by helping you relax for a day." Brenda spoke as she powdered her nose. Missy and Dayna exchanged glances and laughed.

  "So things still hot and heavy with Enrique?" Missy didn't want to talk about everything that had gone on the last few days. She knew just mentioning Enrique's name would change the subject.

  "Oh! He is so wonderful." Brenda's eyes lit up like a teenager in love.

  "He really is nice mom. I am so glad you met him." It was evident that Dayna and her mother were very close. Brandon had told Missy that his mother and sister were pretty much best friends. Being with them reminded her of Nicole. Her big sister was always her best friend too.

  After hours of shopping, and a major dent in her credit card, Missy had four bags of new clothes and shoes. Dayna was a fashion designer so she knew exactly what would look good on Missy. When she walked into the restaurant, Brandon was waiting for them. He laughed when he saw her hands full of shopping bags. "They got to you woman."