Caged Songbird

by Avery Gale

  Josie had forgotten how much pleasure she used to get from singing until she’d stepped up on the small makeshift stage during Coral and Sage’s wedding reception. Their guests had been as surprised as the bride by her unexpected appearance. The unannounced concert had given her a chance to sing for the pure fun of it. Knowing there wouldn’t be the usual critics in the audience gave her a sense of freedom she hadn’t enjoyed in a long time.

  Knowing her competitors paid men and women to attend her concerts and write scathing reviews of her performances changed the way sang, and she hated it. But the reality was, it was a common practice and one she’d forbidden her own team to participate in.

  She’d rediscovered the joy of singing that night and sharing the stage with Colt opened her eyes to the possibility of duets—something she’d always been resistant to. She’d been hesitant when his family had first insisted he join her, but his first few notes left her speechless. Josie had barely been able to breathe for several seconds, hell, she’d almost missed her cue to join in because she’d been mesmerized by the hypnotizing sound of his voice. Coral said he sang like an angel, and she hadn’t been exaggerating.

  His voice certainly didn’t sound angelic now…it was heavy with desire and roughened by lust. And yet, it still would have made her panties wet…if she’d been wearing any. Like you’ll ever be able to wear panties if he has his way. One of the things she’d learned about Colt Morgan was he had a total lack of respect for expensive lingerie. He’d shredded most of her silk panties during the past few days. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear the man was a major stockholder in Agent Provocateur. Damn it all to hell. those pretty bits of silk and lace are too fucking expensive to land in tatters on the bedroom floor several times a day. Josie didn’t spend money foolishly…except when it came to lingerie. It was her one great weakness, and an obsession Colt seemed determined to curb.

  Colt’s voice alone was threatening to send her over the edge and now that his fingers had joined the party all bets were off. If he thought she was going to be denied this time, he’d better think again. Being reminded that Kip was watching was a double-edged sword…she felt her body flush with both embarrassment and excitement.

  Coral’s observations about Kip’s ability to connect with women was proving to be an understatement in Josie’s opinion. She appreciated his help in bridging the gaps in communication between her and Colt, but his uncanny ability to know what she was thinking was almost unnerving.

  Between one breath and the next her body erupted in a release that literally shattered her ability to think. Nothing existed but the waves of pleasure washing over her. He didn’t give her any time to bask in all those feel-fantastic, let’s dance in ecstasy endorphins before pushing his cock through her sex-swollen tissues and sending her right back to the edge. She felt every bump and ridge of his thick length as it pushed in so deep the tip nudged her cervix making her gasp as a brilliant flash of lightening shot through her sex.

  “You steal my control, songbird. Hell, you steal my mind. All I want to do is fuck you. Sliding deep inside you is the sweetest torture ever invented. Hearing you scream my name ignites an inferno deep in my soul that leaves everything in its path scorched in ashes.” His words were enough to push her over the ledge of another deep ravine filled with nothing but rapture.

  “That’s it, songbird, come for me. Take me to heaven with you, baby.” She had felt his cock swell before he slammed into her one last time. Feeling his hot pulses splashing against her cervix launched her even higher. For several seconds, she was so lost in the kaleidoscope of colors so vivid she was sure they weren’t real flashed all around her making her forget to breathe. When the black dots replaced all those lovely dancing colors in her vision, she came back to Earth pulling in gulping breaths and sending oxygen to her sex-addled brain.

  Colt was draped over her back like a warm blanket, his heart beating presto. Josie groaned mentally when she realized she’d slipped back into the music world without even thinking. There’s your proof…you really do need to get a life.

  “What was that, songbird? I’m having trouble hearing anything over my pounding heart.” She didn’t answer…not because she didn’t want him to know what she’d apparently muttered out loud, but because she simply didn’t have the energy to speak coherently. Hell, she was damned impressed she’d managed to utter a few slurred, unintelligible words. She felt him lift himself off her and immediately felt a shudder move through her, but she wasn’t sure if it was from the brush of cool air wafting over her sweat dampened skin or the loss of their connection.

  Josie had a vague awareness of Kip helping Colt unstrap her from the bench, but that was the last conscious thought she could manage.

  Phoenix stared at the taunting message on the screen and laughed out loud. “Oh, Athena, you have been such a challenge. But we’ll get you now—your sweet ass is going to be ours.” He could barely believe his good fortune. Phoenix had never had a player challenge him the way Athena had.

  She’d mastered every game he’d ever created within days of its release—something no one else had ever done. There were very few possible scenarios to explain her ability to work through the complex levels so quickly—either she was one hell of a hacker or she was a gaming savant. He wasn’t quite sure why he was so determined to uncover Athena’s identity—but it had almost become an obsession.

  For the better part of the past year he’d been trying to track down the enigma calling herself Athena. And for the past few of months he’d had help—damned capable help. Mitch Ames had joined the search after they’d spoken in Texas. Something about her ignited a similar challenge in Mitch, so he’d wanted on board.

  Athena was engaging and funny in their on-line communication, but she’d also remained resistant to answering any question she deemed even the least bit personal no matter how unobtrusive it was. She was witty and smart, but she was also damned paranoid. And of course, the more elusive she was, the more curious he became. Fuck me, if she turns out to be a fifty-year-old fat guy smoking cigarettes and guzzling cheap beer, I’m going to throw myself off a bridge.

  Tapping out a quick message to Mitch outlining this newest turn of events, Phoenix leaned back in his chair and smiled. He’d wait for a response from his friend before closing in on Athena; they were both concerned about spooking her. Phoenix hadn’t waited this long or worked this hard to blow it now just because he’d succumbed to his own impatience.

  Late last night they’d been discussing music for a game he was currently working on, Athena suggested a song he’d never heard of and she’d forwarded a YouTube video as a dissolving link but he’d grabbed it in time and initiated an invisible trace. She’d claimed it was one of her favorite songs, so he hoped she’d access the file again soon.

  Even if she didn’t touch it again he’d get close. With each passing hour he’d be able to close the net a little further. The initial sweep narrowed the location of the computer she was using to the United States and his secondary sweep looked like it was going place her in the Central Time Zone. He rubbed his hands together in his best imitation of Snidely Whiplash before turning back to the game he’d promised his beta testers would be ready by the end of the month. He’d make the deadline if he pulled a couple of all-nighters and the women in his brothers’ lives stopped attracting trouble like some damned super magnet.

  If he didn’t hear from Mitch within twenty-four hours he’d check in with Kyle West to be sure his friend hadn’t been sent to BFE on one of the Wests’ private black ops missions. One thing Phoenix had learned when his brother Brandt was a Navy SEAL, the communication options in bum fuck Egypt were few and far between. Mitch certainly didn’t need the money he made working for the Wests, his family was one of the wealthiest in the U.S. with business interests all over the world.

  Phoenix suspected Mitch took missions more because he believed in the causes than obligation he felt to his employers. Well, that and the thrill satisfied the adrenali
n junkie in him. Phoenix had heard through the grapevine that Mitch’s father was experiencing serious health issues and putting considerable pressure on his son to step in—at least temporarily. He hadn’t talked to Mitch yet, but he hoped his friend wouldn’t be so distracted by the issues with his dad he wouldn’t be able to enjoy the fruits of their months of work. Phoenix understood all too well how disruptive family obligations could be.

  Sitting back up and rolling his chair back to the bank of computers lining the wall, Phoenix laced his fingers together and flexed his wrists before speaking to no one in particular. “I might as well get back to work—if I know Colt, he won’t let Josie out of the playroom until the last fucking minute. I can probably finish this level and still have time to spare before I end up briefing her on the way to town.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Josie looked up from the small, chipped Formica-topped table where she sat across from Todd and Maria and smiled when she saw Tobi West flouncing toward them. The woman was definitely dressed to attract attention, and it was working. There wasn’t a single person in the diner whose attention wasn’t totally focused on her petite, curvy form. Long, blonde hair falling in wavy clouds over her shoulders highlighted her ample breasts and narrow waistline.

  Tobi’s short faded denim skirt and tight shocking pink cropped cashmere sweater would have been enough to light up the small eatery, but the four-inch spike-heeled black leather boots made her look like Tinkerbell dressed up as pixie biker. The contrast to the poised and polished woman Josie had met several hours earlier was startling. Hollywood doesn’t know what they’re missing.

  “Damn, it’s fucking freezing out there.” Looking around, Tobi gave a half-hearted shrug at those who’d raised their eyebrows at badass Tink’s language. Josie wanted to laugh out loud—the minx was hamming it up deliberately, knowing the role she was playing was the perfect excuse to curse like a sailor without any fear of consequences. “This Texas girl isn’t used to this shit—ya know what I’m sayin’? Y’all are tougher than I am, that’s for sure.”

  Josie had barely detected any Texas twang earlier in the day, but Tobi certainly made the accent believable now and was laying it on thick as Vermont molasses in December. Bumping Josie’s hip with her own, Tobi giggled. “Skootch over honey, I’ve gotta get off my feet…these heels are killing me. I know my sugar daddy loves them.” She winked dramatically at Todd whose ears turned crimson. “For obvious reasons. But I have to tell you, working girls aren’t used to being on their feet this much. Ya know what I mean?”

  Tobi sent another flirtatious wink in Todd’s direction, and Josie was tempted to flick water at him just to see if his face—which now matched his ears, was actually hot enough to make the droplets sizzle. “What are you doing in town, Tobi?”

  Josie hoped Todd hadn’t noticed the wobble in her voice as she fought back her laughter. But from the look on her ass hat manager’s face, she didn’t need to worry. He was far too distracted by the way Tobi’s skirt was riding dangerously high up on her thigh to notice anything short of an apocalypse. Tobi had crossed her legs letting one booted foot swing in a wide arc, her skirt inching further up with every move she made. The entire place might well go up in flames if Todd’s face got any hotter.

  “Oh sugar, I was just down the road working, and I drove up to see an old friend here in Pine Creek. I was driving by when I saw you walk in here. Well, hell, what else could I do but turn around and come back to say hello?” Looking like she’d just noticed they weren’t alone, Tobi leaned forward giving Todd a nice view of the tops of her well-displayed breasts, she reached out her hand and waited until he reluctantly dropped his gaze to her hand and grasped it. “Hi, I’m Tobi. Are you all friends of Josie’s? She’s a singer you know…damned good at it too. Lots of hits, people all over the world know about her. Oh hell, I’ll bet you’re already fans aren’t you?”

  Josie wasn’t sure how much longer she would be able to hold back the laughter she felt bubbling up as she watched Tobi play Todd for the idiot he was. Maria was staring, her mouth hanging open, obviously completely fooled by the shtick. And the Oscar goes to…Tobi West! “Tobi, I need to chat with Todd for a second, if you could just hang out for a couple of minutes I’d love to catch up.”

  Tobi waved her bling covered hand flashing enough diamonds to impress even the most skeptical woman in the room. Josie wouldn’t have been surprised to look around and see all the men nodding frantically in agreement that Tobi was worth the price and wondering how they could get a piece of the pie.

  “Oh sure, no problem, honey. I’ll just get myself a big ole cup of coffee. I’m feeling a bit draggy, ya know? Not my usual perky self, but I’ll be re-energized in no time.”

  You could have heard a pin drop as every single person in the diner froze and stared at Tobi in abject horror. She heard a woman at the next table ask the question Josie was sure every other person in the small eatery was thinking. “This is draggy? Oh good Lord, I shudder to think what she’ll be like when she’s energized.”

  Josie needed to get this done before she bit holes in her tongue trying to keep from laughing out loud. Asking Tobi to distract her manager and his heathen hussy had been a stroke of pure genius. Damn she wished she lived closer to Tobi, the woman was a pure delight.

  Colt sat in Brandt’s office across the street from the diner listening to Tobi West play the room like she was competing for an Academy Award. “I leave her with Kent for a couple of days, and this is what happens—every damned time. I swear I’m sending him the next time one of our operatives bails at the last minute.”

  “Dex didn’t bail for God’s sake, you heartless bastard. Mary went into labor. You didn’t expect him to leave the country while his wife was having a baby did you?” Kent shook his head and rolled his eyes at his brother. Turning to Phoenix, he grinned. “You might want to turn down the speakers before Kyle has a stroke. Nobody really knows why he’s so fucking anal about Tobi cursing, but he really has a stick up his ass about it.”

  From what Colt had heard, Kent’s expectations weren’t all that different from Kyle’s, but he was certainly playing the good cop angle for all it was worth. If he had to guess, Colt would go with Kent tagging himself as the understanding one—probably nets him a lot of points with the trash talking little ball of fire, they’re married to.

  Sally had given Phoenix the access code for her small diner’s security cameras saving him the trouble of hacking into the system. It wouldn’t have been that difficult for Phoenix to do, but it would have been extremely difficult for Brandt to ignore. And, as Brandt had pointed out, any information they obtained wouldn’t be admissible as evidence.

  The cameras gave them a clear view of the table where Josie and Tobi sat with Todd Richland and Marie Randall, and the hidden wireless mics provided clear audio. The local judge hadn’t hesitated to sign off on the recordings and Colt hoped like hell they got what they needed.

  The decision to put a recording device in Josie’s small bag and under Tobi’s sweater hadn’t made sense to Colt at first. But, after listening to Brandt’s strategy session with the Wests’ team, he’d understood their reasoning. Colt hadn’t considered the possibility the manager and girlfriend might try to split Josie and Tobi up in a classic divide and conquer move. The number of possible scenarios boggled his mind and he was damned glad they’d pulled in the extra help. If he’d tried to handle this there was a very real possibility he’d have gotten Josie hurt—or worse.

  Kyle West must have sensed his unease because he stepped closer, giving Colt a reassuring smile. “She’s going to be fine. We won’t let anything happen to her.” Colt didn’t answer, hell, what could he say? “And don’t feel bad about underestimating the potential in this mess. This is what we do, hell, it’s what we’ve all done for years. I’m damned impressed by how open you’ve been to our suggestions—you’d be surprised how many men aren’t that smart. Their egos can’t take it, and their women pay the price.”


  “Well, my brothers will be happy to tell you I’m an arrogant bastard, but I’m not stupid. And I damned well won’t endanger Josie to protect my ego.”

  “Good to know. And I want you to consider the fact neither my brother, nor I would have let Tobi help if we weren’t confident in our ability to protect her. And don’t forget, we’ve planned for every contingency we could think of.” Kyle laughed, but there wasn’t a doubt in Colt’s mind the man was dead serious. He’d seen the way the both men watched over Tobi—and, God knew they needed to, the woman was a hot mess.

  “I’m very grateful you’ve let her help. I know Josie was damned relieved she isn’t facing this alone.”

  “Well, I hope she’s still grateful for Tobi’s help when this is all over. There is a reason that small, innocuous looking woman has two Alpha husbands. Damn, she can be a handful, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.” Colt could see the love in the man’s eyes when he spoke about Tobi. She might be a handful, but it was obvious she had both men wrapped around her little fingers.

  Kent West’s voice sounded from behind him, “And we’ll both deny it if you tell her. God help us if she ever finds out how much power she has in this relationship.” Kent and Kyle both chuckled, but Colt had a feeling there was a lot of truth in what they’d said. As they continued discussing alternate and back-up plans Colt was relieved to see Nate and Taz Ledek step through the back door.

  Kyle stepped forward first to shake their hands. “Glad you made it and thanks for coming through the back.”

  “Well, we heard Tobi was wired for sound in the diner, and we didn’t want to take a chance she’d spot us.” Nate’s sly smile reflected his affection for the woman he was pretending to avoid.

  “God only knows what sort of pandemonium she could cause. But damn if you two didn’t find the perfect job for her, fuck me—distraction is one of her best skills.” Taz laughed out loud before adding, “We’re here to make sure she doesn’t get into too much trouble. Life would be downright drab without her around.” And then turning to Colt, he added, “And to make sure your woman keeps singing. I’m a big fan of hers.”