Second Chances (Athena Group Novel Book 1)

by C. W. Stokes

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  “Amanda are you ready to go?” She called out to her daughter. Steven was going to be downstairs any minute to pick her up. Amanda came scurrying out of her room with her backpack and suitcase. “Do you have everything?” she asked her.

  “Yes mom, I do. Steven said he would call when they pulled up downstairs.”

  “OK, I just want to make sure that you have everything you need. I’m going to miss you Manda. I want you to call me every day and before you go to bed, ok?”

  “I will mom; you know that we can’t go a day without talking to each other.” She hugged her and led her to the elevator. She waited in the lobby until Steven and his family pulled up at the curb.

  “You be safe and call me no matter what time it is if you need me.” She looked at her daughter before she hugged her and let her go. Steven got out to help with her bags as she got in the car and drove away.

  She went back upstairs to finish packing her suitcases and leave for the airport. Once she had everything ready she went downstairs to check in with security.

  “Hey Jorge, how are you?” she asked him.

  “I’m doing good Shelby. Ready to take off for Thanksgiving? How’s the baby?”

  “The baby is doing good, growing and thankfully no longer making me sick. Is everything all secure for this next week?”

  “We have all the floors secured and access is limited to the top floors. As soon as you leave all the doors to the building will be locked and won’t open until after the holiday when TAG opens back up.” He told her.

  “Good, Jorge I can always count on you. Do you have any plans for the holiday?”

  “Just going over to my family, eat too much food and watch football. Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?” He winked at her.

  Shelby couldn’t help but laugh at him, “Yes, Yes it is. Ok, I’m out of here. Is the car ready in the garage?”

  “I’m going to escort you to the airport this evening.” He told her.

  “Jorge, you don’t have to do that.”

  “This is a direct order from me.” Liz said from behind her.

  Shelby turned around and Liz was standing there in jeans and a sweater. She looked positively stunning. She walked over and hugged Shelby. “You go and have a good vacation. That’s two in less than six months. Are you going to make a habit of this?” She laughed.

  “You know Liz; this will probably be the last vacation I take for another seventeen years.” She laughed as she patted her belly. She still wasn’t showing, but it wouldn’t be long before the baby bump started to show.

  “Alright, off with you. Enjoy yourself and I’ll see you when you get back. I don't want to hear from you until you are due back in the states. Clear?” She demanded.

  “Yes, Liz it is.” She followed Jorge to the elevator to go down to the garage. He already had the car ready to go. Her bags were placed in the back and she slid into the backseat. She leaned her head back against the head rest and closed her eyes. Jorge had turned on some classical music. She listened to the music as it wrapped itself around her in a cocoon. She always lost herself in the music when she closed her eyes. Her body would slowly relax to the tune as it soothed her soul. She felt the car slowly come to a stop. She looked out and realized they were in the hangar.

  The car pulled up and she got out to retrieve her bags, but Jorge had already beaten her to it. They were being stowed in the plane as she climbed on board and settled in. The attendant came by and offered her a soda with a glass of ice. They always knew what each of the members wanted when they were flying. She fastened her seatbelt and waited for takeoff.

  She flipped through the channels on the television screen looking for something to watch while she was traveling. She finally settled on “Lake House” with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. Why couldn’t life really work like the movies? She slipped off her shoes, curled up in the chair and settled in for the long flight.

  Chapter Twenty Six

  It was strange that she had only been there a few months ago. She walked out onto the balcony of the master bedroom to look out over the ocean. It was still just as beautiful now as it was in the summer. The difference was that no one was around. She was here alone, except for her little one growing inside her. The doctor had assured her that the baby was developing normally and cleared her to travel.

  She couldn’t wait to get downstairs and dig her toes into the sand. As she walked out onto the beach she kicked off her sandals and walked into the rolling waves. The waves were crashing around her thighs as she walked in the water and the water was still crystal clear. She watched as the shells tumbled in the water towards the beach. She kept looking up and down the beach hoping she’d see a runner coming towards her. She dove into the waves and felt the bubbles rushing around her as she swam through the water. Pushing against the ocean floor she jutted up out of the water.

  Max watched her as she swam in the water. She was just as beautiful as the first day that he saw her. The months following the explosion in the club, he had been busy with the bureau and internal affairs. Patricia Young and Douglas Oleg had been executed by Natasha Sokolov. As they were retreating, Petrovsky had walked into the lounge just as Natasha came out of the back room. She saw them as they were backing out of the club and saw Petrovsky enter. Petrovsky threw a grenade towards Natasha, and they were able to exit before it was able to detonate. The hidden room had been set to detonate upon the blast from the grenade essentially destroying all of the evidence.

  Once he and John were able to clear through all the interviews at the bureau he had wanted to contact Shelby. But for once, he was scared that she would reject him. He had hurt her and then disappeared again. She had every right to be angry at him, but he had to do something.

  He called Liz and asked to meet with her. He didn’t want to meet with her at TAG because he knew that Shelby had complete access to the facility. They agreed to meet at a small coffee shop across town.

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  Liz met him with a cool reception when she entered and found him waiting at a table in the back.

  “Thank you Liz for coming.”

  “Max, John stressed to me that I should meet with you. Why, I don’t know. But I am curious why you wanted to talk to me.” She stared at him.

  “How is Shelby?” he asked her.

  She narrowed her eyes. “Why don’t you call her and find out?”

  “I tried to call her the night that I left, but she didn’t answer.”

  “Shelby has been sick, but she is feeling better. She’s getting back into her normal routine.” She gaged his reaction. “So what can I do for you Max?”

  “I am retiring from the bureau. John mentioned that you might be interested in hiring someone for head of security.”

  “I am. But Shelby is the one who is doing the hiring.”

  “Why is she doing the hiring?” She saw his curiosity was piqued.

  “She is going to scale back on some of her responsibilities and focus on the technology side of TAG.” She arched her brow at him as she tapped her fingers against the table. “Max I know that you are good at what you do. John speaks highly of you.” She paused. “I will offer you the job, but you have to tell me what your feelings for Shelby are first.”

  “I love her.” he said simply. He waited with baited breath as she sized him up and thought about those words.

  Shifting in her chair, she pulled out an envelope. “Alright then, here’s a plane ticket to Mexico. Your first assignment will be to go to Progresso and secure the house that I just bought. I believe you are familiar with it.” She smirked.

  He blinked and hesitated, but then he couldn’t control his laughter and excitement at what she had just said.

  There was no more reason for holding back, and now here he was, watching her.

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  The sun was beginning to set and her stomach was rumbling. As she was walking back to the house she thought she saw movement in the house next door. The house that Max
had been staying in was now owned by TAG and Liz assured her that it was vacant. It was probably wishful thinking on her part. She grabbed her towel as she stepped up onto the patio and entered the house. She had bought groceries before she arrived at the house because she didn't plan on leaving the house for any reason once she got there.

  She went upstairs to take a quick shower before fixing dinner. She turned on the shower and undressing she couldn’t help but look at herself in the mirror. She still wasn’t showing a baby bump. She hadn’t with Amanda until she was seven months along. Stepping into the shower she let the water wash off the salt from the ocean and lathered herself with the peppermint body wash that she brought with her. The scent always had a way of soothing her nerves. She hurried up before the water ran out. Quickly she toweled off and wrapped her hair in the towel before she got dressed. She pulled out a cotton dress, pulled it over her head and walked downstairs. She made a sandwich and a small salad that she carried out onto the patio. She forgot her bottle of water so she went back inside, but as she turned she saw a shadow across the sand alley. She stopped to look, but it was gone. Her mind was playing tricks on her. She grabbed her water and sat down to eat.

  He watched as Shelby sat down on the patio to eat her dinner. She looked so sweet and peaceful sitting there in her dress with her hair wrapped in the towel. He was worried that she had seen him when he moved on the patio. He hadn’t turned any of the lights on in the house. He wanted to watch her for a little while before he went over to see her. He watched as she put the bottle of water to her lips and drank. He remembered what her lips felt like against his mouth and on his body.

  She got up with her plate and went back in the house. He started down toward the alley to go knock on the patio door when he saw her come back out. She had taken her hair down from the towel to let it air dry which always made it look wild. She walked down on the beach and stopped just at the edge of the surf. He knew exactly how he was going to approach her.

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  Shelby sat on the beach watching as the waves rolled in. The cool air was blowing through her hair as she hugged her arms around her knees. She laid her head on her arms and listened to the sounds of the ocean.

  Suddenly she felt it, she knew what was happening and with one swift movement she had him flat on his back straddling his torso. There he was the man who had haunted her nights and most of her days. Before she could bring herself to say anything he grabbed her, rolling her over he crushed his mouth against hers. She opened her mouth to protest, but his tongue swooped in and took possession. She gave in wrapping her arms around him and pushed her tongue deep into his mouth dancing with his to the rhythm of the ocean. His mouth moved down her jawline before taking a nip out of her neck as her hands buried in his hair reveling in the feel of it between her fingers. He felt so good. He pushed her dress up to expose her breast and drew her nipple into his mouth. She cried out as they were a tad bit more sensitive these days. Warmth flashed through her body as she felt him nestle between her legs. She could already feel him growing hard as he was nestled against her. He sucked on her nipple as he pushed his hands down to the apex of her thighs. He pushed the material to the side and caressed the folds between.

  She squirmed at the feel of his fingers running across her sensitive nub. He moved his mouth further down and licked that little bundle of nerves that nearly had her tumble over like the ocean waves. She yanked on his head to pull him away before she could go over the edge. She pulled him up and slipped her hands into his shorts to take hold of what she wanted.

  He pushed his shorts down to giving her easy access, and watched as her hand caressed him. He was aching with his need for her and had dreamed of this day and here she was beneath him stroking his hard cock. He brought her head up to him and kissed her mouth while pushing her back into the sand. He nestled himself between her legs as she opened her thighs for him. He raised his head to look down at her. She was perfect, and he loved her. He had to tell her.

  “Shelby” He stroked her hair away from her face. “I love you.” He pushed deep inside in one quick stroke. She grabbed him and moved her mouth over his. She drew him in for a soul searing kiss. Her hips pushed up to grind into his pelvis to bury him deeper into her.

  They watched each other as they moved their bodies in a long time tradition of lovers who were discovering for the first time how they each felt and expressing it in the most intimate and primitive way. Her body was tightening as he pushed in and out of her and just as she saw his eyes dilate she screamed out her climax as it crashed, tumbling down around her. He thrust into her one last time releasing all of the want and need inside her. He wrapped her in his arms as he listened to her breathing. He enjoyed the feel of her in his arms, and he was never letting her go.

  Chapter Twenty Seven

  As they were lying in bed she was stroking the sprinkle of hair across his chest. She would never get enough of him. He grabbed her hand and kissed it. She propped herself on her arm and looked at him. “Max, why are you here?” she asked him.

  “After the explosion, the bureau and internal affairs descended on me. From the moment I walked out of that club until a few weeks ago I haven't had a spare minute to myself. When I finally did I wanted to call you, but then I remembered your face the last night I was at TAG. The night before the raid when I found out about the virus and what you had done. I couldn’t get what you said out of my head. You believe that Hawk had something to do with your sister’s death. I realized that I was wrong and for the first time understood what you meant about the bureau. I advised John that I was leaving as soon as the investigation was complete. Internal affairs and the bureau were satisfied that there was no wrong doing on our parts.” He paused.

  “Why would they think that there was any wrong doing? You, John and Ross are all the most straight laced and above board agents that the bureau could have. I mean it’s not every day that the man you are sleeping with threatens to arrest you if he finds out you’ve done something that was considered illegal.”

  “I know that and you know that Shelby, but the bureau doesn’t. All they saw was a slam dunk case. Within twenty-four hours of the arrest warrants being issued, it was blown to pieces. They don’t believe in coincidences. They found blood evidence outside the back door. They believe that he was injured by one of us. Patricia and Oleg’s bodies were found under all the rubble. Shelby you saved our lives.” He kissed her on the nose.

  “The minute I saw Natasha Sokolov on the screen coming out of the hidden room, I knew that she was going to kill Patricia. Then when I saw you approaching the office as she shot Patricia, my heart stopped. After Petrovsky entered and Tabby took off running towards him all the screens went black. That was the worst feeling in my life. I was afraid I had really lost you this time. I was still angry that you hadn’t trusted me even after what we had shared. But then I remembered how I hadn’t trusted you with the information about Roger, my sister and most importantly about Amanda. I wanted to talk to you about her so many times, but just didn't have the words. I didn't want to let you back in after so many years, but we have always had at least one connection. I didn’t let you in and for that I am truly sorry. I knew in that moment that I loved you.”

  “Loved?” he asked.

  “Love. I love you Max.” she whispered.

  “I’ve already said it, but I’ve heard it doesn’t count during love making. Shelby, I love you.” He rubbed his hand up and down her back lazily.

  Realizing he hadn't answered her question, she cocked her head and looked at him, “Max, why are you here?” she asked

  “I’m here on an assignment. I retired from the bureau and my new job required that I come down here and check on the security of a house.” He watched to see if she understood.

  “You retired? But the bureau has been a part of you your whole life. Why would you leave?” She stopped. “What is your new job and where?” She had so many questions.

  “After the last assignment I realized t
hat I just didn’t have the heart for the bureau any longer. I was tired of seeing the wrong people get set free because of bureaucratic red tape. I kept coming back to what you said that day in your office, and you were right. So after twenty years in law enforcement I retired. It allowed me to find the perfect job. I now work as head of security for a crisis management service.” He smiled at her as he saw her put the puzzles together.

  “Wait! What? You mean to tell me you are TAG’s new head of security?” She gasped.

  “Liz told me that you were cutting back on your time so you could concentrate on the technology part of TAG.” He kissed the palm of her hand. “Why are you cutting back on your hours Shelby? Liz mentioned you had been sick, are you alright?” She saw the concern in his eyes.

  “Yes I’m fine and I decided to concentrate more on the technology of TAG because that’s the part that I like the most. The security is all good and well, but it’s not what I like to do. As for being sick, I had a bout of throwing up and not sleeping well for a month or two, but the doctor assured me that would eventually go away. I finally started feeling better, and that’s when I decided to make some changes.” She watched him to see if he was going to catch onto what she was saying.

  He knew she was holding something back, but he didn’t press the issue. “I never imagined Liz doing a little match making. She’s the one that sent me down here.” He chuckled.

  “Did she say anything else when you had your meeting with her?” She kept waiting for that light bulb to go off.

  “I didn't get a warm reception from her when we met. She asked me what my feelings were for you and I told her that I love you. She took out a plane ticket and handed it to me and told me my first assignment was to come down her during Thanksgiving to secure the new house she had bought.” He pulled back and looked at her. “Shelby, why were you sick? Stomach flues don’t last a couple of months.”