by L. P. Dover
My smile vanished and the thought of Chase with his hands on Claire made my blood boil. I wanted to kill him that night; I wanted to rip his head off with my bare hands so I’d never have to see that smirk on his face ever again. Not only would I have done it for her, but for every other female he’d probably terrorized and most likely raped over the years. I knew what Erick’s game was, but even I couldn’t deny the truth in my answer. I would kill anyone that ever tried to hurt Claire in that way.
“I would do more than kill him,” I answered through clenched teeth. “I would make him suffer ungodly amounts of pain before I did him and everyone around a huge favor of wiping his miserable fucking existence off this planet.”
Erick was stunned speechless for a second, his mouth wide open, before bursting out in laughter. “Whoa, that was intense. I guess it’s a shame you’re not going to be fighting him then. I have a lot of people betting on you so bring all that you have to the table. The rougher you play, the more you get paid, understand?”
He held out his hand, and not thinking twice, I shook it. “I understand completely. I’ll be ready.”
Pleased, Erick smiled and nodded his head. “That’s good to hear. I’ll have someone pick you up here tomorrow afternoon at four. Be ready for a tough competition because it’s not going to be easy. If you win you’ll get the sponsorship and the money. All your dreams will come true. Oh yeah, and make sure you come alone. I don’t think you’ll want Claire there.”
Getting to my feet, I checked the clock on the lobby wall and groaned. I’d been gone way longer than expected. “You don’t have to worry about that,” I told him quickly. “Claire’s leaving tomorrow.”
“Oh,” he muttered, pursing his lips. “I figured she would be with you while you were here. I’m sure Wade will be disappointed about that. The whole time Claire’s been in town she’s all he’s been able to talk about. He was really torn up about her not forgiving him for what happened.”
“He’ll get over it,” I snapped. “He doesn’t deserve her forgiveness for what almost happened to her. He can rot in hell for all I care. It was his fault to begin with.”
Erick sneered, his eyes gleaming mischievously. “That’s true, but before I leave I have one more question.” Grinning, he came up to me slowly and lowered his gaze to his hands, pretending to be interested with his fingernails. “So you said you would steal, lie, and even kill for ten million dollars, with one of those being an ultimate sin. However, I’m curious to know if you’d give up something else as well.” He finally looked up at me, lifting a brow with that evil smirk on his face.
I didn’t like the way the conversation had turned, and I certainly didn’t like the excitement in his eyes when he faced me. The more time I spent around the man, the more it felt like he wasn’t even human. He was a complete sociopath with psychopathic tendencies. There were so many people in the world like him it was ridiculous, and they were always the ones to watch out for.
“I don’t think there’s much else I could give up other than my soul,” I replied blandly.
“Oh, I beg to differ. You’d be surprised what one would give up for the taste of money. I’ve known of some who even gave up their own kids for it. So the question is … would you give up the one thing you love the most? The one thing you cherish above all else?”
“How would you even know the answer to that?” I asked.
Erick smirked, lifting a condescending brow. “True, but I have a pretty good guess. I would say it’d have to be that beautiful blonde headed goddess you have waiting for you up in your room, am I right?”
Crossing my arms over my chest, I glared at him and remained silent. I was not going to bring Claire into any of it. When I didn’t answer, his eyes went wide in wonder. “I guess that means your answer would be a no. You would seriously choose a woman over money? This girl must be something really special because Wade said he wouldn’t give her up either.”
Oh fuck no, this couldn’t be happening. If it wasn’t so late I would put Claire on a plane that very minute and get her as far away as possible. They lured in Summer when Austin fought and I knew without a doubt that was going to be the plan for Claire. What was worse was that I knew who I’d be fighting, and if Claire found out …
Erick started to turn and walk away, and I counted down the seconds he would be out that door and away from me before I exploded. He stopped and turned around, his brows furrowed. “You know, I never thought I’d ever see the day where a woman would be worth that much to a man. It baffles me.”
With that last note, he turned on his heel and sauntered away. Before my time was up, I was going to find out who Erick really was, and I was going to put him away, even if it killed me.
By the time I rushed to get the pastries and made it to the elevator, I wasn’t surprised one bit when Claire stormed out, almost bumping into me. “Whoa, what are you doing?” I asked, catching her in my arms.
“I came to find you,” she snapped with her arms crossed over her chest. “You’ve been gone for a really long time, Mason. I know it doesn’t take that long in the café.”
I hated to lie, but I had no choice. Pulling her back into the elevator, I hit the button for our floor and passed her the bag of chocolate pastries. “I’m sorry it took so long, baby. When I was walking to the café a couple of people from the club stopped me while on their way to one of the bars here. I didn’t want to be rude so I talked to them for a bit. Time slipped by me and when I realized how late it was I told them I had to go. I know it’s our last night together and I feel terrible. Do you forgive me?”
Sighing, she glared at me for another minute before looking into the bag. A smile finally splayed across her face when she noticed I got not only two pastries, but four. “Okay, I think I can forgive you now. You better be glad chocolate can heal all wounds.”
“Oh, does it?” I asked, reaching into the bag. “I have plenty of them so let’s see if it helps.” I grabbed one of the pastries and took a huge bite. Claire laughed and grabbed one as well, taking a bite and getting chocolate all over her lips.
Leaning down, I licked the chocolate off her lips and pushed her against the wall of the elevator, pressing my hips against hers. My dick was hard as a rock just imagining how fun it would be to suck chocolate off her nipples and possibly other places if she’d let me. She gazed at me wide-eyed and gasped, “I didn’t think you’d be up for anything tonight after the fight. I was sure you’d be in too much pain.”
Chuckling, I took her finger and dipped it inside the pastry before putting it in my mouth. After I sucked it off, I shook my head and whispered gruffly, “Oh no, baby. I may have gotten my face a little beat up, but there certainly wasn’t any damage to the goods. I’ll be more than happy to show you.”
Once we got into the room, it wasn’t me who showed her … it was the complete opposite. It was an eventful night and I owed it all to the chocolate pastry.
“What are you smiling at?” Mason asked.
“Oh, I’m just wondering what the maids are going to say when they find the bed sheets all covered in chocolate when they clean the room today. I wish I could be a fly on the wall when they find them.”
Mason chuckled, and reached over to hold my hand. We were in the truck and headed for the airport so I could make my ten o’clock flight back to California. I had called Melissa first thing and asked her if her or Brett could come pick me up when I landed. It would be good to get back home, but I didn’t want to go back without Mason. Secretly, I was hoping the truck would break down so I couldn’t make my flight. To get my mind off of leaving, I decided to concentrate on our chocolate rendezvous. Thankfully, it helped … if only for a short while.
Mason bellowed out a laugh and kissed my hand. “I have to admit, last night was very interesting. I think we need to experiment with chocolate a little more when I get back to California. I never thought watching you eat a pastry off my dick would be so fucking hot.”
“It was a first for me, t
oo,” I added, “but I thought it would be interesting. I’m glad you liked it though.”
We had ten minutes left before we reached the airport and the weight of that knowledge hung heavy in the air. “I want you to call me when you land in California, okay?” Mason insisted in all seriousness. “I’ll feel much better when I know you’re home and that you’re safe.”
Nodding, I tried to plaster on a fake smile and complied, “I will. It says my flight should land around two o’clock.”
The airport loomed closer and closer and with each inch of progression I could feel the dread settling like a weight in my stomach. My instincts told me that something wasn’t right, but I couldn’t decipher what it meant or what I should do. Mason slowly crept down the road because up ahead we would have a choice to make. Either park and go in with me or drop me off at the terminal.
“Do you want me to park and walk you to your gate?” he asked softly.
Closing my eyes, I tried to keep the burn behind my lids at bay. I wanted him to walk me in, except it would only add to the agony of saying good-bye. Instead, I released a heavy sigh and shook my head. “Mason, if you don’t mind I want you to drop me off at the terminal. Prolonging all of this is just going to make it harder,” I muttered warily.
Taking a deep breath, he blew it out slowly and murmured, “Okay. If that’s what you want that’s what I’ll do.”
Pulling up to the drop off terminal it was almost like déjà vu staring at me in the face. It reminded me of the time when I was the one who dropped him off at the airport on that fateful day all those months ago. Mason squeezed my hand, and tilted my chin in his direction.
“Come on. I’ll get your bags out of the trunk.”
Once he got them out, he walked me to the door and set them down. Scooping me in his arms, he held me tight and buried his face in my neck. “I love you so fucking much, Claire. I promise I’ll come home to you soon,” he vowed wholeheartedly.
“You better … and I love you, too,” I whispered back.
Breathing him in one last time, I prayed the woodsy smell of his Burberry cologne and the natural male scent of his skin would stay ingrained in my mind while he was gone. I didn’t want to let go, but I only had an hour to get through the gate, check in, and make it to my terminal. Reluctantly, I loosened my hold on him and leaned up to kiss him on the lips. It started off gentle, but then Mason clasped his strong fingers around my neck and held me to him as he deepened the kiss.
“I have to go,” I cried, pulling away.
Nodding quickly, he bent down to pick up my bag, and placed it on my shoulder. With my rolling suitcase in hand, I was ready to go. I smiled at him one more time and kissed him hastily on the cheek before turning to walk away.
“Be careful, Mason,” I called out, keeping my gaze on the approaching door.
“I always am, baby … I always am.”
I didn’t look back, either out of necessity or the fear that I would break down and refuse to leave. I had to keep going. When I made it to the ticket counter there wasn’t that long of a line so I got through it pretty quickly. By the time I sat down to gather my thoughts I had thirty minutes left before departure. They would most likely let us board soon so I checked my emails from my phone and scrolled through Facebook to kill the time. Most of my friends were married or were about to get married while some posted pictures of their newborn children. I didn’t think anyone would want to know my true status update. It would read something like this: I’m sitting in the Las Vegas airport, just being dropped off by the man who dumped me over four months ago who now happens to be the man I’m in love with. He’s an undercover cop on a dangerous mission to figure out why there’s been a string of deaths in the MMA community. Not to mention, he used to be a fighter himself who was undefeated and screwed countless women in celebration to his undefeated wins. I don’t know if he will make it home safe or if he will make it out alive. Please keep me in your prayers.
If I were to post something like that my friends would probably laugh and think it was all a joke. Nothing bad ever happened to them or at least that was what it seemed. I couldn’t be the only one out there with a psychotic family member and a boyfriend who ran to danger instead of away from it.
“First class passengers for Flight 2578 to Sonoma can now proceed to board at this time. I repeat, first class passengers for Flight 2578 to Sonoma can now proceed to board at this time.”
Groaning, I put my phone in my bag and zipped it up as soon as I heard the announcement. People lined up to get on the plane and as I waited for the line to clear, I laid my bag down on the seat beside me and stood up to stretch. I didn’t see the point in rushing to the plane when I was going to have to do more waiting once inside.
After stretching my legs, I turned to reach for my bag that I had placed in the seat and noticed it wasn’t there. “What the hell,” I hissed.
Frantically, I searched around, looking under the chairs and at the people walking around nearby. It would be hard to miss since it was bright pink with white stripes on it. How the hell could I lose it? My bag had my phone in it and everything. I couldn’t leave without it.
Out of the corner of my eye, a flash of pink caught my attention. It was my bag, except it wasn’t just lying on the floor; it was in someone’s hands. The guy holding it let it swing back and forth, no doubt to get my attention and it surely did. I couldn’t tell who he was because of his lowered head and the baseball cap hiding his eyes. What do I do?
The decision was made for me when the guy with my bag started to saunter off still carrying my things. He looked over his shoulder and I could see the telltale sign of a smile when he noticed me following. The last thing I wanted was to follow him outside alone; however, I didn’t get the chance to do that because out of nowhere an arm draped over my shoulder and I yelped in surprise. “Quiet,” a voice hissed in my ear.
Gasping, my breaths came out in rapid pants as I was pulled to a corner and backed into a wall with the hulking frame of none of other than Chase Benfield in front of me, blocking me from view. You have got to be kidding me! Can I not catch a break! He wore a black T-shirt and jeans, and instead of a blue mohawk like he had the last time I saw him it was now raven black to go with his black as coal eyes.
Before I could open my mouth to call for help, he slammed his hand over my lips, growling low, “I’m going to warn you now; if you scream I’ll make sure Mason suffers for every ounce of attention you draw to yourself. I need you quiet and I need you to come with me.”
“What are you talking about? Where’s Mason?” I snapped.
He moved forward so quickly that I hit my head against the wall to get as far away from him as possible. I didn’t get very far.
“Oh, you’ll see him later, sweets. Did he not tell you what’s going on?” Chase asked smugly.
Closing my eyes, I clenched my teeth and sucked in a sharp, angry breath. No, he didn’t tell me. I knew something was going on, that Mason was keeping something from me, but I didn’t expect it to involve me. Thoughts of Summer came to mind, and in that moment it all made sense. That’s why he wanted me to leave, but I didn’t get away fast enough.
“Oh, I can tell by the look on your face that he didn’t,” Chase sneered. “Well this is going to be fun. Are you sure he didn’t tell you about the fight?”
Glaring at him, I pushed my hands against his chest to get some space, but being a wall of muscle he didn’t move. “No,” I hissed through clenched teeth. “He didn’t tell me about the fight.”
Chase guffawed. “You know I bet that’s why he wanted to send you home packing. He’s a smart guy, but I guess not smart enough when he told Erick you were leaving this morning. That just wasn’t going to do because we had plans for you.”
Turning my head, I crossed my arms over my chest, hoping it would get him to back off. He moved back slightly and finally I could breathe again.
“So you followed us here?”
“Yep, and here we are. I’d
say everything worked out perfectly,” he chided. “However, now we need to leave and I need you to come quietly. Can you do that? I don’t want anything bad to happen to Mason before we have our fun.”
I didn’t know what other choice I had other than to go. “Fine,” I said darkly. “Just back up and give me some space. I’ll come quietly if you stop touching me.”
Lifting his hands in the air, he smiled wide and backed up, letting me out of the corner. “As you wish,” he chimed.
Walking side by side, we made it out the doors to the airport and there waiting by the curb was the guy who took my bag, standing by a black Mercedes G500 with dark tinted windows and the backseat door wide open.
“Mason’s going to get the surprise of his life when he sees you tonight. I’m sure he’s going to love seeing you with me,” Chase whispered in my ear, coming around behind me. His fingers grazed across my arm and over my breast right before he grabbed my waist and pushed me forward. Sliding into the backseat, Chase came in behind me and reached around to pull the seatbelt over my chest.
“We have to keep you safe,” he chided tauntingly.
He put his hand on my bare thigh, and I wanted to kick myself in the ass for wearing a pair of shorts. Thank God, it wasn’t a skirt. Either way, I could feel my blood pressure rising by the minute. Inch by inch, he moved his hand up higher on my thigh and being in the position I was in, I reacted out of pure anger. As fast and as hard as I could do it, I elbow struck him in the neck since my reach could only go so far. Immediately, he removed his hand and grabbed his throat, sputtering and gasping for air. Snickering, the driver pulled away from the curb and led us away from the airport.
“So help me God, Chase, if you touch me one more time I’m going to do a lot worse to you than just hitting you over the head with a bottle or a simple elbow strike. Next time you won’t be getting up,” I growled. I tried to put as much force behind my hit as I could muster, but given the fact that he righted himself quickly it must not have been too effective. At least I tried to make a point.
