by MINK
I grab some clothes from the closet before heading back to the bed. Why does it feel like there’s a hole in my chest? Hours ago, I’d never felt more connected to another human being. Maybe I’m mixing up love and lust? I must be. I can’t speak for Tiernan when it comes to me, but I know I’m in love with him.
He seemed to understand some deep need I have inside of me that I never knew existed. He pulled it to the surface, showing me things about myself I never knew. That’s the difference between us. I laid myself bare for him, but Tiernan wouldn't even tell me his real name. He doesn’t trust me. Even after everything we experienced together last night. I know it shouldn’t, but that thought cuts me deep.
“What’s wrong, Red?” The sound of his voice breaks me from my thoughts. His fingers come under my chin to tilt it up so that our eyes meet.
“I thought you left.”
“I got you some breakfast. I was going to leave it for you. I was sure I’d worked you well enough throughout the night that you’d be knocked out for at least a few more hours.” He gives me a cocky smile that has me rolling my eyes. “Eat, or I’m going to spank your ass for rolling your eyes at me.” He bends down, dropping a kiss on my lips. “Guess I’ll have to try harder to wear you out next time.”
I reach over and grab the plate of food. “Where’s yours? Or am I feeding you?” I get on my knees to hold up a piece of bacon. He takes a bite of it, then pulls the plate out of my hand and puts it on the nightstand.
“You’re too much of a temptation, Red. I should let you rest.” Even as he says the words, he’s coming down over me. He kisses me deeply before he trails his mouth down my body, heading straight for my sex. The man knows my body all too well. It doesn't take him long to make me come. He doesn't stop there, though. He keeps on devouring me until another orgasm hits me.
My body becomes too sensitive, and I try to wiggle away, but he grips my hips, letting me know I’m not going anywhere.
“I can’t!” My fingers dig into the sheets. “Daddy. Please. I don’t think—” The orgasm blindsides me. Black spots dance in my eyes as my whole body goes limp. I close my eyes as Tiernan pulls me more onto the bed and wraps me in his arms. My whole body hums with pleasure. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to move again, so I don’t even try.
I jerk awake and immediately sit up, realizing that I must have passed out. Again, I don’t see Tiernan anywhere. What the hell? I crawl to the side of the bed and grab my clothes from the floor and start to get dressed. A part of my brain is telling me he did that on purpose. When he came back to the room, he said he thought he knocked me out for longer. So he went and did it again.
I drop my face into my hands. This is my chance. I could get away now. I could leave and take the threat away from here. My heart, too. The longer I spend with Tiernan the more I’m going to keep falling for him and making us into something we’re not. I pull on my hoodie as I make my way out of the room.
I see Aurora and Diego making out like high school kids on the sofa. I’ve never seen a man more in love than Diego. You’d think Aurora put the stars into the sky just for him. I follow the sound of voices toward the kitchen to see Bells and Barrow are fooling around, too. I think Barrow is licking chocolate off her neck.
“Sorry,” I say when Bells sees me.
“Barrow.” She laughs, pushing at his chest.
“I told you I wanted something sweet to eat.”
“You don’t have to go,” Bells says as I turn to leave the kitchen.
“I was looking for Tiernan, actually.” Bells looks to Barrow for an answer.
“Ah. I think he went for a walk around the perimeter, and then he said he was going to hit the gym.”
“Thanks.” I give them a smile as I leave. I jump out of the way when I see Charles carrying Clover over his shoulder. I’m sure he’s heading toward their bedroom. I fight the tears that burn behind my eyes. I’m happy for all of them, but I can’t help but be a little envious of their relationships.
Is Tiernan only with me because I was the last one standing? That same thought comes to me again. He sure as hell hadn’t liked me when I first arrived. I can’t say I blame him since I was technically trespassing on their land, but that’s beside the point. It doesn’t go unnoticed by me that he tends to avoid me unless we’re in the bedroom together.
Even now after everything we’ve done together, he’s still avoiding me. I could understand him having to do a perimeter check, but did he really have to go to the gym? He’s always freaking volunteering to do the check outside. He couldn't for once get someone else to do it? Gah. I sound so freaking clingy.
I return to the bedroom and grab my bag. I run my fingers along the lining, pulling it back to grab the fake passport and ID I had made along with the prepaid cards and cash. I shove everything into my pocket, wishing I still had a phone. I grab my boots and pull them on. It will be the best thing for everyone if I got out of here. It will keep them all safe. It will also keep my heart that way.
I slip out of the bedroom and keep my head down as I walk to the garage. I luckily don’t run into anyone. Once inside with all the vehicles, I spot the keys hanging in the ignition of the snowmobile.
“Bingo.” I dart over toward it, making sure I know where everything is on it before I open the garage door. I grab a helmet and my coat off the rack, and then I hit the garage door opener. Once I hear the door begin to open, I head back to the snowmobile. I put the helmet and my coat on quickly and reach down to turn the key, but I don’t make it.
I let out a scream as my body is lifted off the snowmobile, and the helmet is pulled from my head and tossed away. I drop my head back only to meet Tiernan’s eyes. It’s on the tip of my tongue to sarcastically ask how the gym was, but the look in his eyes has me holding back.
If I thought I’d pissed him off before, then I was fooling myself. Because the look he’s giving me now tells me I hadn’t. I swallow. “Sorry?” I try.
“You’re sorry?” He closes his eyes, shaking his head.
“I’m just leaving. It's time to hit the road, you know,” I try to say casually. “No big deal. Thanks for keeping me safe and all that other stuff. Especially the other stuff.” I try to wiggle out of his hold. He keeps glaring at me. “I wasn't going to steal it. I was just borrowing the snowmobile. I swear.”
“You’re just pissing me off more, Daphne.” Ouch. Why did it sting when he called me by my real name?
“Pissing you off? You’re pissing me off.” I point in his face. “You had your fun with me. It’s time for me to go now.” I keep my words firm. “Think of all the free time you’ll have for the gym and all the security checks you’ll be able to do without having to knock me out first.” I shouldn't have said the last part, but clearly I’m salty.
“Red!” he shouts. I gasp when Tiernan moves. One second we’re standing there and the next I’m on the floor of the garage with Tiernan over me.
“What are you...” I stop talking when I see that he is now holding a gun in his hand. He raises it and fires. I turn my head to see a man in all white drop to his knees just outside the garage. His eyes open wide. Blood drips from the hole in his forehead before he falls forward into the snow.
Tiernan hauls me to my feet and hurries me back to the inner door. He shoves me inside. I grab him, wanting him to come with me.
“Closet,” he orders. “Light on this time.” He grabs me and gives me a hard kiss.
“No,” I say when he pushes me back. “Don’t go out there! They want me.”
“Too fucking bad for them, because you’re already mine.” He slams the door shut. I try and go for the handle, but it won’t open. I hear the sound of more gunfire.
“Panic room.” Bells grabs my arm and starts pulling me along with her. “Clover!” she shouts. Clover comes running out.
“What are we doing?”
“What we were told to do.” When we round the corner that leads to Aurora's room, I stop when I see the wall is open. “In.” Bel
ls pushes me inside. Aurora is already in there. Clover hops in. Bells lets out a low whistle. Leonard slides into the room seconds before the door slams shut.
I look at all the girls in the small panic room. Aurora doesn't look the least bit scared. The only thing that I pray is that I didn't just ruin one of their happily ever afters.
12
Tiernan
We may as well rename the lodge to “Murder Party Central” at this point. I toe the dead assassin. He still has a surprised look on his dumb face. Good. That means the people coming for us have no idea who they’re fucking with. Advantage, us.
“More? What the fuck is all this about?” Charles rushes into the garage with Barrow and Diego on his heels.
“Daphne.” I point to the remains of the drone. “I traced the tech. Purchased from an illegal arms dealer based in Ukraine, then upgraded by a specialty black ops unit in LA.”
“They left a signature?”
“As good as.” I close the garage and wait for the other shoe to drop. Where there’s one, there’s more. “I hacked back as far as I could, worked on it all night and this morning. Looks like two of the men named in Daphne’s article paid for the drone, and I would bet the same assholes are the ones sending mercenaries.”
“How many?” Diego strides to the weapons locker and starts looking over an array of sniper rifles.
“I don’t know yet. But suffice it to say, these guys have plenty of cash, and they want my girl dead.” I grit my teeth at the thought, at the fucking audacity of these shitheads. No one hurts my Daphne. No-fucking-one.
“Plan?” Charles asks. “I mean, other than kill them all?”
“Kill them all, and then Daphne and I are taking a trip to Hollywood.” I strap some weapons to my thighs and around my chest. “These men are going to learn that hurting women is no longer an option.”
Barrow gives me a nod, Diego heads for the stairs, and Charles grips my forearm.
“Let’s kill these motherfuckers, and you go set their bosses straight. But keep your head down,” Charles says.
“They won’t have a chance to rat me out.” I’ll get my hands plenty dirty when it comes to Daphne. But I know what he means, what’s at stake if anyone in the underworld realizes I’m still alive. But I’ll risk it. I have to for Daphne. She needs to know I’ll always back her, always protect her. If she wants to write twenty more exposés on dirty bastards, she should. And she should be able to do it without fear.
A shot rings out. Diego’s already picked off one of the mercenaries.
Charles, Barrow, and I go into motion. We can’t let Diego have all the fun, now can we?
* * *
“I know it’s not exactly your private jet.” I maneuver us above the clouds in a Cessna I rebuilt during my time at the lodge. There’s a small strip near Frozen Falls we use whenever we need quick transport.
“It’s not, but I love it.” She grins as she looks out the windshield.
“Do you? Seemed like you were trying to leave it.”
“No.” She frowns. “I mean, yes. I was going to go so no more trouble would come looking for me at the lodge.”
I shake my head. “Don’t you know that I can handle every bit of trouble that turns up? I handled plenty earlier.” I smile at the memory of outright carnage. I have an ongoing dispute with the guys over who killed the most mercs. It was me, of course, but Diego is trying to claim a sniper shot as his when the guy clearly died from my knife in his back.
She cocks her head. “Why are you smiling like that?”
“No reason.” I clear my throat. “But the point remains, you were trying to sneak off.”
“To keep you safe.”
“Don’t do it again.” I turn to her and take her warm hand. “Promise me.” I can’t put the feeling into words, the sensation of utter shock and loss when I saw her trying to leave.
“You mean …” She raises her brows.
“I mean I want you to stay.” I squeeze her fingers. “Don’t go. Okay, Red?”
She smiles, one that reaches her beautiful eyes and lights up her whole face. Radiant.
“In that case, I won’t. You’ll never be able to get rid of me.”
I pull her hand to my lips and kiss it. “From your lips to St. Peter’s behind.”
She laughs. “I think that’s supposed to be ‘from your lips to God’s ears,’ but I like yours better.”
Have I ever been this happy? The woman I love just promised she’d stay with me, and I have no intention of letting her go. I’d whoop to the treetops if I weren’t already in the clouds.
Her cheeks flushed, her lips still smiling, she grips the stick in front of her and asks slyly, “Can I fly it?”
“Can you?” I arch a brow at her.
She rubs her palms together, then blows in them like she’s about to do a somersault. “I can do it.”
I flip a few switches and let go of the stick. “You have it. Don’t kill us.”
She squeals with pleasure, making my cock act up. “I’m flying!”
I make a mental note to start teaching her to fly once we get back to the lodge. That’s where she’ll be living from now on, after all. She can dig Internet dirt all day long with Wi-Fi. Safe with me and free to write about whatever she wants.
Reaching over, I steady her hand on the stick. “Just keep your eyes on the horizon to stay level. You’re doing great.”
She nods, her eyes wide. “I mean, I’ve played plenty of flight simulators, but this is real.”
“Very.” I can’t help but smile at her, at how happy she is. Even though she knows what this trip is for. “Just keep us steady.”
“Aye aye, Cap’n.” She beams.
I should’ve left her safe and sound at the lodge, but I couldn’t bear to walk away from her. I know everyone there would protect her with their lives, but I guess I’m just a hands-on kinda guy when it comes to Daphne.
“It’s so pretty.” She looks down at the snowy landscape as we head west. “Like a Christmas village.”
I let her fly in peace for an hour, then take back over when we hit some rough air. “Just relax, Red.”
“You know …” She chews her lip. “My parents live there. In LA.”
“I know.” I reach out and take her hand. “I know all about you, Daphne, but there’s a lot you don’t know about me.” Should I be doing this through a headset while we hurtle toward LA? Probably not. Am I going to do it anyway?
“Tell me.” Her eyes are bright in the setting sun.
Why does my voice seem to stick in my throat? She could judge me, hate me, never want to see me again. But she can’t jump out of the plane. So I’m already ahead.
I swallow hard and begin. “A long time ago my name was Max Luciano.”
Even with the engine noise and the slight hum in the headset, I can hear her gasp.
“That’s why you’re so familiar! You’re the cunning capo, the witty wise guy, the—“
“Yeah.” I shrug. “I was. But then I got into some trouble with—“
“The Davincis! I did a story on the whole affair when you disappeared. I mean, it was just in my notebook I kept by my bed before I started a blog, but I knew you weren’t dead! I just had a feeling. Like, oh my God.” She jumps up and down in her seat as much as she can while she’s strapped in. “You’re the missing mobster.”
“So you know all about me, then. You know I’m not a good guy.” It’s an odd sort of relief—I don’t have to tell her all my sins because she already knows most of them.
Her eyes are wide when I meet her gaze again. “The Campanellis—was that you?”
“The brothers?” My mouth goes dry. Where the hell did she find out about that? “Yeah. It was me.”
“I knew it!” she crows. “Why did you kill them, and where are the bodies?”
“They were trafficking children, and”—I smirk—“I’ll never tell.”
“Oh my God!” She jumps up and down again, making the small craft shimmy
just a little. “See? I was right. I drew this huge web in my notebook with all the mafia happenings around you in the years before you disappeared, because I was trying to crack the case. I knew you were good for the Campanelli disappearances, though I didn’t know why. And then you pissed off the Davincis.”
“Yeah.” I rub my jaw at that. “If Nick realizes I still draw breath, I’m toast.” I give her a meaningful look.
Her mouth drops open. “That’s why you’ve been keeping all this from me? You thought I’d rat you out?”
“Well, I thought you might want to break the story that—”
“Are you kidding?” She throws her hands up. “I would never rat you out! Don’t you know I love you?” she yells.
I’m shell-shocked for only a moment, then I release my harness, lean over, and kiss the ever-loving shit out of my woman. “I love you, too, Red. I love you so much.”
At that moment, I don’t need the fucking plane anymore, I could fly to LA with her in my arms with nothing more than the love she’s put in my heart.
13
Daphne
He loves me. It’s all I’ve been able to think about since Tiernan said those words. When the doors to the panic room opened to reveal Tiernan, I’d jumped into his arms. How did I ever think I could run from him? It was a stupid idea. I think I was subconsciously testing Tiernan, because I didn't want to say my feelings out loud. I wanted to see what would happen if I left. If he would track me down and demand I come back. I hadn't gotten very far.
A smile pulls at my lips over the fact I was somewhat obsessed with the story of Max Luciano when all this time it was Tiernan. It makes me believe in soul mates. That on some level my soul knew this man was important to me. So much so that I’d dug up crap on him for a year, writing down every bit of evidence and conjecture in my journal.
