POTTER (The Trident Series Book 2)

by Jaime Lewis

  She adjusted herself on his lap, took a deep breath, and started to explain in detail the day she lost the baby.

  “When I got home, Chaz had been waiting for me and accosted me in the driveway.”

  “All of this for the past three or four months is because of your fucking ex?” Potter asked, appearing peeved.

  She flinched at his outburst, and he reminded himself she wasn’t the enemy. She gave him a wary look but continued. “I never saw him until he grabbed me from behind. He was angry because I didn’t return any of his calls or texts. Things got out of control when he demanded that I take him back. I refused, telling him that he and I were over and that I was seeing someone who made me happy. He had me pinned me against the car. He hit me once in the face before he punched me in the stomach. I fell to the ground, and he took advantage of my position, and forcefully kissed me. I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t fight him back, so I bit his lip to make him stop. He released me, but it also sent him into a fit of rage. He then kicked me before issuing his threats. That’s where he left me lying. Before he got into his car, he told me that I couldn’t escape him and that I wouldn’t belong to anyone else but him. He threatened to kill you and anyone who I told. I knew from the pain in my stomach that I had lost the baby.” She sniffled and wiped her eyes. “I was so happy, Potter, and he took that from me.”

  ◆◆◆

  Once she got everything out, she couldn’t figure out what was going through Potter’s head. The blank expression on his face had several thoughts whirling through her head. Was he angry at her? Did he blame her? Did he not love her anymore? When she looked into his dark eyes, she saw the sadness, but also the fury.

  She placed her hand against his cheek. His jaw was clenched tight. “Potter, tell me what you’re thinking. I can’t read your mind like you SEALs seem to do so well,” She gave him a faint smile, and his lips twitched. “Are you upset with me?”

  He kissed her forehead tenderly, but she could feel his body shaking ever so slightly. “No, baby. I’m not upset with you. I’m pissed off at that son of a bitch who hurt you. He took that happiness from the both of us. Did he know you were pregnant?”

  “No!” God, she could only imagine what that psycho would’ve done to her if he knew she was pregnant.

  He inhaled deeply and then exhaled. “Fuck, Tenley. Why didn’t you just come to me when I got home? Or better yet, why not go to Alex or Derek when it happened? You know they would’ve helped you until I got back.”

  “I was scared, Potter, and I still am. He’s a terrible person. He has gotten himself into some other dealings that I don’t want to be any part of. He had people watching me. Why do you think I’ve been working so much and sleeping at the hospital? When I’m there, he can’t bother me. That’s the main reason I took that volunteer job in Ecuador - to escape him.

  “Yesterday I took my car in for routine maintenance, and the mechanic found a tracking device on the undercarriage. Now I know how those assholes always knew where I was. I’d be at the mall, a restaurant, the grocery store, or merely coming out of work, and they’d be there. On nights when I did go home, I would find a car sitting in front of my house.”

  “Is the device still on your car?”

  “No, the guy removed it, and after I left Bayside last night, I drove to the other side of town and threw it in the woods.”

  “Smart girl.”

  “Potter?”

  “Yeah, Ten?”

  “Would you really have been happy having a baby with me?”

  “Yes, honey. I would’ve, and it is still something I want. With you.” His answer made her all warm and giddy on the inside.

  “I love you, and I’m sorry for not coming to you.”

  He lifted her and adjusted her body, so she straddled him in the chair. He placed his hands on her hips, and her arms went around his neck.

  “I’m sorry you went through all of that by yourself. But, you’re done running and handling this shit alone. I’m right here, okay? We’re a team, and we’ll tackle this together. The team will help, as well as Alex and your mom.”

  She smiled at him with tears in her eyes and nodded her head. She loved this man so much. “Okay, but I need something from you right now.”

  “What’s that, baby? You know I’d give you the world if I could.”

  She gave him a faint smile. She wanted to feel his lips on her. “A kiss. I’ve missed your kisses.”

  He threw his head back and laughed. “I think I can help you out there. And just for the record. I’ve missed your kisses too.”

  He dipped his head and pressed his lips against hers. He ran his tongue along the seam of her lips. She immediately opened, and her tongue clashed with his. What started as a gentle kiss turned carnal in a matter of mere seconds. He couldn’t get enough of her. While his tongue explored every inch of her mouth, his hands slid under her sweatshirt, meeting her soft, smooth skin. Slowly his hands made their way up her ribcage, the tips of his thick fingers brushing the underside of her breasts. He moaned into her mouth when he realized she wasn’t wearing a bra. She pulled back. “Are you okay?” She asked, trying to catch her breath.

  His hand was now cupping her breast. He leaned forward and tweaked her nipple with his fingers, pulling a moan from her and causing her to throw her head back. He gave her a wicked smile.

  “I am, now that you’re here with me.”

  Trying hard to ignore his fingers caressing her breast, she asked, “So how long am I going to be your prisoner?”

  “Hmmm….prisoner? I like the sound of that. You know that interrogation is my specialty, right?” He kissed her neck then nibbled his way up to her jaw until his lips found hers.

  “We’ll just have to put those interrogation skills of yours to the test.”

  “Are you sassing me?” He smiled, lowering his hand to her ass and squeezing firmly.

  She quirked an eyebrow. “Maybe.”

  “As much as I want to take you back to bed, there are a few other things we need to discuss.” He felt the tenseness return to her body and gave her hip a gentle squeeze. “Remember Tenley; today is about honesty.” She looked like a scared little rabbit. Jesus Christ, what else had she been hiding?

  Chapter Thirteen

  Tenley was mentally exhausted after explaining everything to Potter. But on the upside, she felt like a ton of bricks had been lifted from her shoulders. She wasn’t sure what else there was to talk about. But from the serious look Potter was giving her whatever it was couldn’t be good.

  “What else is there to talk about? I’ve told you everything about Chaz and why I’ve been avoiding everyone like the plague.” As the words left her mouth, she remembered she left out the part about Esteban, Chaz’s new business partner, that she had the unfortunate pleasure of meeting. She shivered, remembering how close she came to becoming theirs.

  Then Miguel popped into her head. She needed to tell Potter the truth about what really happened in Ecuador along with what Chaz and Esteban did to her the other night, especially now that she was sure that the two incidences were connected somehow.

  Fuckity, fuck! I’m sorry, Miguel, but I need to protect myself and my family.

  She looked up at Potter. “I swore I wouldn’t tell anyone, but I can’t lie to you.” She lowered her head as she realized how ashamed she felt for lying to not only him but to his entire team, including Derek, who’d been like a father to her most of her life. Not to mention Stitch and Frost, who were her best friends. She felt the tears coming again.

  He lifted her chin with his index finger. When she looked into his eyes, she expected to see anger, but instead, she saw compassion. “No matter how bad it is, you can confide in me.”

  She exhaled and tried her best to dispel the tears threatening to spill. “I lied to you and the guys about where I was in Ecuador,” She watched and waited for the floor to drop, but Potter just sat there with a blank expression. “You don’t seem surprised.” She said to him, sounding ne
rvous.

  “I would’ve been, we all missed it. But Derek didn’t, and he suspected you weren’t telling us the whole truth.”

  “Why didn’t someone say something?”

  “Because Derek said not to. He wanted to let you get back home and sort stuff out. Eventually, he would’ve asked if you hadn’t come forward. He doesn’t doubt your story about being attacked. That much was obvious. What we want to know is where you were.”

  Potter prayed she told him the truth about being at Miguel Dias’ beachfront estate in Esmeraldas, though part of him had hoped that she hadn’t been there.

  She squirmed on his lap, and Potter sensed she was struggling again, so he decided he would help her out.

  “Ten, the person you were with, was his name Miguel?” Her loud gasp and wide-eyes gave him his answer.

  She stuttered, “H-How, did you know?”

  Well shit…How was he going to explain this? She wasn’t privileged to any information about any of their missions. He stroked his jaw as he contemplated how he was going to get himself out of this.

  “Let’s just say we have a mutual friend.”

  She gave him a curious look, and he let out an exasperated sigh. “Without disclosing classified information, your whereabouts happened to come up during a mission.”

  Her eyes shot to his. “The one that you guys were just on a few days ago?” He gave her a blank look, and she got the message as she lowered her eyes. “Oh, sorry. Shouldn’t have asked. I need to remember that.”

  He chuckled and kissed her cheek. “I’m sure it won’t be the last time. Shit, Alex, still forgets sometimes. And damn that woman can interrogate. I’m surprised she hasn’t gotten Ace to fess up on things. Anyways, sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”

  Tenley looked up at Potter. She didn’t want to get Miguel in any type of trouble. “Potter, you have to realize that it was Miguel’s men who saved me from those men who attacked me.” He nodded his head at her statement.

  “It was strange talking with Miguel. I felt like he already knew what I was going to tell him at times. He seems like a very powerful man and one to not pull any punches to get what he wants, but I will say that I never once felt threatened by him while I was in his company. Believe it or not, I actually felt safe.”

  Interesting…so it seems that daddy has been watching his little girl.

  The wind picked up and sent her hair blowing in all directions. Potter pushed the long strands back away from her face and cupped her cheek. He didn’t want to reveal too much information about Miguel until he could talk to Derek, but she needed to know the truth about the man.

  “Honey, have you ever heard of the Onyx organization?”

  She thought about it for a minute, and Potter thought she was so adorable with her forehead crinkled up and eyebrows scrunched together as she was thinking. “That name seems familiar, but I can’t be sure.” She told him.

  “The Onyx organization is one of the world’s largest and most dangerous black market organizations. They deal in all sorts of illegal activities. Drugs, weapons, and gambling, among other things.”

  Tenley knew where Potter was heading with his spiel. “Potter, are you saying that this Miguel guy is involved with this organization? I mean, I knew by the way he was talking about his businesses, as he called them, that they most likely involved some illegal activities.”

  “Tenley, Miguel isn’t just involved with the organization. He is the man in charge of the entire operation.”

  “What?” Tenley covered her mouth in surprise. “Oh shit, Potter. I think I’m deeper into something than I realized. I think I’m being used as a pawn to help Chaz and his so-called new business partner bring down Miguel. Do you think it is possible they know I met with him in Ecuador? Oh god, do you think they assume I’m working with Miguel?” She was rambling and then tried to get off Potter’s lap, but he held her still.

  “Tenley, calm down. What makes you think that?”

  She pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth and gave him a guilty look. “Please don’t be mad at me, okay?”

  He tightened his grip on her. “Tenley, what’d you do?”

  “Well…remember when I called you a few days ago to talk, but you said you were heading out?” Potter nodded. “Well, the next day, I decided that I had had enough of Chaz’s shit, and well…I might have gone to his club to confront him.”

  Potter’s eyes went wide, and his eyebrows jumped. “You did what?”

  “You said you wouldn’t get mad.”

  “I never said that. You only asked me not to.” After she finished explaining everything that happened at the club, Potter ran a hand over his face. Now the bruises on her arms and back all made sense. He took a few deep breaths to try to remain calm. That fucking asshole had put his hands on her twice.

  “Christ, Tenley. Do you realize they could have done whatever they wanted to you? What in the hell were you thinking, going there by yourself?”

  Her lip started to quiver, but he wasn’t going to give in on this. No way. He thought of everything that could’ve happened to her, and those thoughts only made his anger grow. The sound of her sniffles had him turning back to her.

  He grasped her chin and stared deep into her eyes. “Don’t you ever do something like that again, understood?” He hugged her tight to him, and she reciprocated by wrapping her arms around his shoulders and tucking her head under his chin.

  ◆◆◆

  Tenley could hear and feel Potter’s heart beating in his chest. She knew he was upset, and he had a good reason to be. What she did was stupid on her part and could have cost her a lot, including her life.

  She stroked her hand against Potter’s chest. “I’m sorry. You’re one hundred percent right. What I did was stupid and irresponsible. But, you have to understand that when I woke that morning, I felt rejuvenated. Something just clicked, and I told myself that today was the day I was taking my life back. The day I called you, I had planned to tell you everything. But—“

  “But then, I got called up and had to leave,” Potter said, finishing her sentence.

  She glanced up at him. “Yeah. But I don’t hold you responsible for what happened that night. This,” she said, pointing to her bruised cheek, “and my back was my fault. Plain and simple.”

  “No woman deserves to be beaten on.”

  She laid her head back against his chest, and he continued to ask her questions.

  “So, you heard the guy say Miguel’s name?” She could hear the concern in his question.

  “I’m not a hundred percent sure, but I think so. Why?” She started to get a really bad feeling that she was up to her ass in alligators. She lifted her head back up and met his eyes; they had darkened again and were fierce-looking.

  “Tenley, what is Chaz’s new business partner’s name?”

  “Esteban Sanchez.” Potter stilled at her revelation. Holy fucking shit! Now everything was starting to click. Tenley was in the middle of a war between two cartels.

  “We need to call Derek and get him over here.” He told her.

  She sat up straight on his lap. “Why? What’s going on?”

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Tenley, but I can’t say anything else until Derek gets here.” She gave him a worried look.

  “You’re scaring me.”

  He pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her forehead. “Don’t be scared. I won’t let anything happen to you, okay?”

  “Okay,” she whispered, even though she was beyond scared. She didn’t know what was going on, but she knew that whatever it was, she was smack dab in the middle of it.

  “Thank you for not fighting me on this. Everything is going to be okay. Do you trust me?”

  She wanted to believe him, but she had a feeling they were going to stir up the hornet’s nest. On the flip side, she trusted Potter with her life.

  “I trust you.”

  He leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss. “That’s my girl. Let’s call Derek.�
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  Chapter Fourteen

  “What the fuck do you mean you lost her?” Chaz asked the two men he had assigned to follow Tenley. They were all standing in Chaz’s office as he impatiently listened to them explain how they had followed the signal to a dead-end wooded lot in an unpopulated area of town.

  “Exactly what we said. When she left that dump of a bar that she and her friends are always hanging out at, we followed but caught some traffic lights. We started to track the signal, and it led us across town into nothing but a grouping of trees. Honestly, boss, I think she found the device and was messing with us.”

  “Did you check her house?”

  “Yes, and the hospital, and her car wasn’t at either one.”

  “Fuck! Who was she with last night at the bar?”

  “Nobody. She arrived alone and left alone. I think it was a birthday party. She didn’t stay long, maybe fifteen minutes or so. Something happened, and she got all upset and left.”

  Chaz snapped his head up. “Somebody hurt her? Was that fucking SEAL there? The one I showed you a picture of.”

  “We didn’t see him with the group, but it looked like the rest of her friends were all there. Why are you so keyed up on this bitch anyway? You’ve got plenty of women lined up downstairs waiting for you right now. Hell, you’ve already fucked a few of them.”

  Chaz flew across the room in a flash, pinning the man to the wall with his hand to his throat. “You don’t ever talk about Tenley like that. You worry about doing your fucking job.” Chaz’s nostrils flared in anger, and his eyes took on a dark appearance. The man was having difficulty breathing as Chaz squeezed his throat. Finally he nodded in understanding that his boss wasn’t fucking around.

  Chaz released him and stepped back. The guy held his throat and coughed. Chaz didn’t have time for this bullshit. He needed to find her, and when he did, she wasn’t going to like the consequences she would face. He and Esteban were in agreement that Tenley would belong to both of them.