Ryan: Jagged Edge Series #8 (Alpha-Male Romance Suspense, Military)

by A. L Long

  “Sure thing,” he stated nervously.

  With everyone in the conference room, I began my interrogation. “One question for you: Do you have any idea why Gallo would have my place torn apart?”

  Aaron looked at me with one of those ‘how the fuck would I know’ looks, which told me he hadn’t a clue. “Oh, man. This is bad,” he replied, combing his hands through his greasy hair as he began walking in circles.

  His movement changed as he began heading toward the entrance. Grabbing him by the shirt, I pulled him back. “Where are you going?”

  “I’ve got to get out of here,” he cursed, and he yanked his shoulder back, causing me to lose my grip on his shirt.

  Something set him off for him to take off like that. We needed him in order for our plan to work. Popping my head inside the conference room, I looked to Peter and said, “I’ll be right back.” I needed to get to Aaron before he was gone. Jogging at a fast pace, I reached the entrance and swung the door open to find that Aaron hadn’t gotten very far. Without a car, his only option was to walk, and it was a long way back to the city

  Jogging up beside him, I slowed my pace and began walking with him. I could see the tension flare as he began fidgeting with his cigarette. Grabbing him lightly on the arm, I got his attention, making him slow his pace. When he came to a stop, I asked, “What has you so scared, Aaron?”

  “If Gallo had his men trash your place, that only means he knows who you are, which means your plan is worthless and I’m as good as dead,” he wailed.

  “Come back inside, we will figure this out. We are not going to let this set us back. The plan is good.”

  I was finally able to convince Aaron to come back inside the shop so that we could figure out what to do together. I knew there might be a slight chance that Gallo would find out who I was and who I worked for, but that wasn’t going to stop me from getting the bastard for killing my brother. The possibility of that was very slim, especially since there was no way he could tie the apartment to me since I requested it be placed under a trust that would be sealed until my death. As powerful as Gallo might think he was, he would never be able to get this information, unless he was God.

  As we headed into the conference room, all the guys seemed to be very relaxed. Ash had his feet propped up on the length of the table displaying his black boots that he always wore, while the rest of the guys were just hanging out. My guess was that they were waiting patiently for me to fill them in on what happened back at the apartment. As Aaron took a seat, I began explaining what Charlie and I were greeted with once we opened the door. Trying to get through my explanation, I must have missed something because as quiet as she initially was, Charlie’s voice came across loud and clear. “The cap. What about the cap?”

  The look I gave her was as hard as stone, even though I didn’t mean for it to come off that way. Before I could step in to explain, Peter chimed in, “What cap?”

  “When we got to the apartment, Charlie noticed one of Josh’s ball caps on the floor. She thought it may have been the same one he had at Willow Crossing. I told her she was mistaken and that he had a lot of hats,” I began. “There was no reason for it to be there other than it never left, or unless his ashes miraculously came to life,” I pointed out as I looked over to Charlie who now had her arms crossed at her chest, which by all means was a very nice one at that.

  Without warning, Peter confirmed, “Ryan is right. You must have been mistaken. I saw the coroner take his body and Ryan said goodbye to him at the city morgue.”

  What I was about to say was not exactly the truth. I did go to the city morgue to say my final goodbye, but when I got there someone had inadvertently read the instructions wrong and began the cremation process before I had the chance. I couldn’t bring myself to tell the guys the truth mostly because I fucked up in a big way. Even though it was Josh’s dying wish to be cremated and his ashes scattered out to sea to be with Mom and Dad, I just couldn’t do that. Call me selfish, but I wanted his memory to be a good one, and having his ashes scattered around a tree with a memorial was my way of doing it, but even that got fucked up. So, my only words were, “That’s right.”

  I was glad when the conversation switched back to what was more important, the plan. Taking full rein, Peter began going over the plan. I admired him for everything he had done for us. I knew I could never speak for the other guys, but I don’t know where I would be if it hadn’t been for him. Even while we were serving together, he always managed to take the lead. If there was ever a person I trusted with my life, it was Peter.

  Bringing my focus back to the men in the conference room and the task at hand, Peter laid everything out in detail from the first meeting with Gallo to the exchange of the painting and his capture. Everything had to be perfect to the smallest detail. The last thing we needed was for Gallo to get wind that he was being set up. Everyone had their part to play. Nick’s part was to keep Evelyn occupied, and Aaron would be doing his by calling Gallo within a matter of hours. After that, it was up to me to steal the painting while Nick kept her entertained. I knew that once I was introduced to Gallo, I was going to be watched like a hawk. Every move I made had to be exact, calculating every move to the bitter end. Once the painting was in my hand, the exchange would be set up and the authorities would be notified. The last thing any of us wanted was for the exchange to go bad and Gallo getting away with a priceless piece of art without a trace.

  We all departed the meeting with our customary goodbyes and headed in our separate directions. Charlie and I exited the shop to our new home at the Grand Hyatt Hotel off of 42nd Street. It had been a long and exhausting day and all I could think about was how much my dick was going to enjoy being inside of her. The feel of her soft, creamy skin pressed to mine. Just the thought had me hard, so as soon as we got in the car, I was on a nonstop mission to the paradise that was waiting for me.

  ~****~

  I could see the hotel even though we were still a few blocks away. The dark glass that stretched up the sides of the building was amazing, especially as the flicker of lights beamed against the smooth surface. And the brass lettering on the side of the majestic building gave it an even more regal look. The valet, who was dressed in a black jacket which looked more like that of a matador than anything, was waiting for us as we pulled up. His hair was cut short, and I could see that both ears had been pierced, but he did not present a diamond stud that I was sure had to be removed due to company policy. He also appeared to have a tattoo on his left arm that wasn’t quite hidden beneath the white crisp shirt he was wearing. It was quite obvious that he held his job with dignity and respect by the way he carried himself and greeted the guests that arrived.

  Opening Charlie’s door, he held out his hand to assist her and said respectfully, “Good evening, ma’am. Welcome to the Grand.”

  I didn’t see her reaction, but I was certain she was grinning from ear to ear from just the formal greeting she had received. Opening the door, I got out of the car and walked to the valet that was assisting Charlie. I handed him my keys along with a twenty-dollar bill while another employee was at the trunk unloading our belongings. When our belongings were placed on the stamped concrete entrance, I handed that man a twenty as well. The way I was going, I hoped there were no other services that I would be tipping for.

  Even though I had been to this hotel before, this time would be a welcomed change. The last time I was here was to investigate a theft of valuable jewelry which one of the guests reported missing. I will never forget the dismay on the gentleman’s face when we informed him that his wife left him and took the jewelry with her. Days later, the items showed up at a jewelry store and were exchanged for one necklace that must have cost a fortune. To this day we never did find out what happened between the couple, nor did we tell the man that it was a man’s necklace that was purchased. Needless to say, the divorce was ugly.

  Having a private laugh over the situation that seemed like it happened yesterday, I opened the door
to our suite and stepped to the side while Charlie went inside. “All the comforts of home,” I heard her say as I wheeled our luggage through the door.

  As I looked around, I had to admit that it was more than the comforts of home. For one, I never had a flower in my apartment and secondly, I never had a bottle of champagne with a platter of chocolate-covered strawberries as an appetizer. It was a very nice gesture on the hotel’s part, but this was something you would expect from a honeymoon suite rather than a junior suite.

  Thinking that there must have been some sort of mistake. I walked over to the house phone and dialed guest services. It didn’t take long for someone to greet me. “Good evening, Mr. Hyatt. This is Tina. All of us at the Grand Hyatt would like to congratulate you and Mrs. Hyatt on your nuptials. We are here to serve you any way we can.”

  “We’re good. Just wanted to thank you for the accommodations.” I wasn’t sure what to say except that I should have made our living arrangements myself. Leave it to Chavez to book us the honeymoon suite.

  I didn’t have the heart to tell Charlie exactly why we were getting the royal treatment, especially since she was enjoying the strawberries. Closing the door with my foot, I took our bags to the large master bedroom. Setting the luggage on the bench at the end of the bed, I looked around the room, taking in the white lines of the walls so clean and crisp that they matched the tone of the comforter that was pulled tight on the king-sized bed. Even the furniture was of creams and whites, which were further enhanced by the accent pillows of various hues of the same. Waltzing over to the window, I gazed out the streak-free glass that overlooked the city lights of Manhattan, which had a magical quality from this height.

  Moseying back to the living area, I kicked off my shoes and socks, feeling the softness of the shag area rug broad and flat against the wood floor. Charlie must have had the same idea because her shoes were discarded, revealing her perfectly painted toes. Before taking a seat next to her, I sauntered over to where the champagne was cooling in a shiny silver ice bucket. “Dom Perignon, very posh,” I thought to myself, pressing my thumbs on opposite sides of the cork as I forced it to pop off. The cool fog bellowed from the top, sending a distinct aroma of subdued fruit with a bit of lemon in the mix. Pouring the bubbly liquid into a crystal flute, I watched the bubbles rise rapidly to the surface in twirling little streams. Taking a small sip, my mouth was delighted by the smooth, silky flavor bringing my taste buds to life.

  With a filled champagne glass in each hand, I sauntered over to the leather couch where Charlie was watching my every movement. Taking a seat beside her, I handed her a glass and said, “Cheers,” as I watched her face light up with a perfect smile.

  A small cough escaped her throat, no doubt caused by the bubbles. I tapped lightly on her back until she was able to gain control of her attack. Looking at me in a shy, embarrassed manner, she apologized in a childlike voice, “Sorry. I’ve never had champagne before.”

  I guess I never realized just how living in a small town had its downfalls. From today on, I was going to make sure she experienced everything there was to see in a big city that she would never be able to in a small town. Not that she wouldn’t be able to experience what I was about to show her in a small town, but experiencing this, here, right now, would never compare. Taking the glass from her hand, I set it down on the glass coffee table next to mine. Shifting my body towards hers, I lifted her body onto mine in one swift move so that her ass was pressing against my thighs. Laying her backwards, I snaked my hand between her legs, underneath the hem of her dress. The silky touch of her skin beneath my hand brought life to my cock, making it almost unbearable as it began to pulsate against the fabric of my jeans. Her hand came to my face, stroking my cheek tenderly before circling my neck and pulling my head toward her lips. The taste of champagne still lingered on her lips, intoxicating my senses. Wrapping her in my arms, I held her tightly as I plunged deeper into the depths of her very being. I wasn’t sure what had come over me, but it was like my body was going through withdrawals, needing more of her to satisfy my addiction. With unbridled restraint, my hands were struggling to remove every stitch of clothing that kept me from seeing her beauty.

  Her inability to control her own desire matched mine as she ignored the fact that I was wearing a button-down shirt. She pulled it open, unaware that one by one, the buttons were sent soaring in every direction. In one forward motion, I lifted her from the couch and carried her, embracing her warmth as I walked to the master bedroom. The cream color of the comforter enhanced the sun-kissed softness of her skin as I gently eased her on the bed. There was a soft murmur as her body hit the cool fabric, which caused her back to arch and the small temples of her nipples to extend upward. Captivated by her sheer beauty, I lowered my body and my mouth fell upon the taut bud as it coaxed me to consume it.

  Unable to tame my own desire for this woman, I shed the rest of my clothes, wanting only to feel the heat of her skin pressed to mine. Before I could stop my need to consume her, my shaft was at her entrance, slowly making its way inside her channel. Not even the commands from above could replace what I had felt. My control was taken by the depths of her warmth as she pulled me deeper and deeper inside. She had unlocked something inside me that no other woman could. The beat of my heart quickened and a surge of pleasure exploded through my veins as we found the tempo that bound our bodies together. Releasing my seed deep within her, my body tumbled with a fiery sensation. I could feel the involuntary tremors of her own pleasure coat my member with her sweetness. With her body close to mine, I kissed her lightly on the forehead and watched as she fell asleep. It was then that I realized that God had a plan and that plan was for us to be together.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Charlie

  We only had one day together before Ryan was introduced to Morris Gallo. It didn’t matter how hard Ryan tried to calm my nerves, there was nothing that he could do. I had this tight feeling in my stomach that something bad was going to happen. I could feel Ryan’s arms wrap around me as I stood staring out the window, not giving any thought to the people that looked like little ants making their way through a maze. It was only when Ryan kissed the back of my head that I switched my focus to him. Turning in his arms, I wrapped my arms around his slim waist and pulled him towards me. His scent filled my nostrils as I planted my face in his firm chest.

  All I knew was that I didn’t want this moment to end. I wanted to stay just like this. I wanted time to stand still, and never move forward to tomorrow. I could feel the warmth of his breath against my head as he said, “How about we get out of here?”

  I was ready to do anything. As much as I loved this suite, I was more than ready to escape. Leaving the comfort of his arms, I nodded my head in agreement. “Where are we going?” At that point it really didn’t matter where we went as long as we were together.

  “I want to go back to Willow Crossing. Since that was the place that Josh loved most, I think it’s only right that we find a tree to replace the one that was destroyed.” The way he spoke, I knew this was important to him as he continued. “Peter has already made arrangements to have his plaque replaced, and the other guys are installing additional surveillance cameras around the perimeter of the shop. If anyone so much as touches Josh’s memorial, they will have Jagged Edge to contend with.”

  Heading out, Ryan thought it was best to ask Ash if he could borrow his truck for the day so that he could haul the tree back, should he be fortunate enough to find one. As we drove down Park, I noticed all the business people dressed in pristine suits and dresses. Gawking at how professional they all looked, I wondered what my life would have been like if I hadn’t dropped out of school to help support my parents. So many times, I thought about getting my GED and taking a few college classes on the days that I had off. Just like everything else, something always came up that seemed to be more important than my future, at least where my mom and dad were concerned. A little bit of jealousy sunk in and it was then that I pro
mised myself that I was no longer going to put this off. When this thing with my brother was over and done with, I was going to get my GED and make something of my life.

  ~****~

  After we picked up Ash’s truck we headed out of the city. I had to smile at Ryan as he thumped the steering wheel with his thumbs to the beat of “Can’t Stop The Feeling” playing on the radio. This had been the most I had seen him relaxed for a long time. He actually was even more handsome now than before, if that was at all possible.

  His beautiful browns met mine, accompanied with a shit-eating grin. I knew the minute he said, “Hope you like what you see,” he had caught me staring at him. Personally, I didn’t think it was a stare as much as it was me trying to figure him out.

  “I do. More than you will ever know,” I replied, leaning over the console and giving him a tender, affectionate kiss on the cheek, with a little mischief in my voice that I am sure he picked up by the way his smile lit up his face.

  The ride was a lot shorter than the last time we drove here. It must have been because of the circumstances that made the trip not only shorter time wise, but also more enjoyable. We were both so on edge the first time we drove up that I hadn’t paid attention the beautiful scenery around us. How could I have missed the water flowing from the rock walls that had been carved away in order to make the road? Rolling down my window, I turned the radio down and listened for the sound of the water slapping against the rock wall before it settled into the small stream that was flowing in the opposite direction that we were traveling. The sound reminded me of one of those inspirational CD’s that I heard about on TV that was supposed to relax the mind and ultimately let me forget about all my worries. With the warm breeze on my face and the sound of the water, I didn’t notice that we were almost to the small retreat.