by LK Shaw
“I don’t think —”
“He can come,” Josie interrupted Agent Morgan. “In fact, I insist he be there.”
“I don’t like it.”
Although she was much shorter than either of the agents, Josephine slowly rose to her feet. Her face transformed to an expression I had seen more than once. I called it her “Domme look”. The imperious look had subs, including me, dropping to our knees. I knew who was in charge when Josie pulled out that look.
“I don’t give a shit what you don’t like. You need me. Without the evidence I have, you both would still be scratching your heads trying to get a lead on your Russian guy. With me, you’re already one step closer. Miles comes or I don’t go. Are we clear?”
Both men stared her down, none of them giving an inch. Josephine wouldn’t be intimidated.
With a resigned sigh, they both gave a succinct nod. I could tell neither were happy with her ultimatum, but they were fighting a losing battle and knew it.
“In two days you’ll have the information you want. In the meantime, I have my own plans I need to take care of. So, unless there is anything else you gentlemen need, I’m going home for the day.”
When no one had anything further to add, Josie stood. As she moved past me, she paused and held out her hand. Without hesitation, I rose from my seat and slipped my hand in hers. Together, we exited the office and drove back to her house. Neither of us spoke, but no words needed to be said right now. I helped Josie undress, and I drew my shirt over my head and threw it onto the chair in her room. We climbed into bed, and her warmth seeped into my skin as she pulled herself closer to me. I wrapped my arms around her, breathing in her citrus smell.
Her chest rested against me, and I could feel her heart beating in time with mine. We drew comfort from each other. I didn’t push her to talk to me. We had time to talk once she rested. Soon, her breathing softened and became shallow. I tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and closed my eyes as well, drifting off into oblivion.
My body jerked awake some time later. The room had darkened with the setting sun, but the faintest of light shone through the blinds. Josie remained cemented to my side. She must have sensed I was awake, because she began to stir. Her eyelashes fluttered a time or two before, finally, her brown eyes opened fully and she stared up at me.
“Are you feeling better?”
She covered up a yawn with her fist and stretched slightly. I kept my arousal under control as her breasts arched toward me, the nipples peeking through the sheet. Now wasn’t the time. We needed to talk about what was going to happen over the next couple of days.
“A little. Thank you for letting me sleep.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I have to get Casey away from him. I don’t want her in the house when we’re there. She’s my Achilles heel, and my father knows this. He’ll use her to get to me.”
“What do we need to do, then?”
She drew random designs on my chest while I watched her mind work.
“There’s a cottage. I bought it three years ago. The deed belongs to a consortium that can’t be traced to me. But, it’s my house. I’ve always planned on using it as a safe house for Casey when I was finally able to get her away from my father. We need to get her there where she’ll be safe. And it has to happen tomorrow.”
“How are you thinking of getting her out of your father’s house. You said she was agoraphobic. She’s not going to go willingly.”
That’s the part of Josie’s plan that I knew would hurt her the most. She knew Casey was going to resist, but, in the end, it would be futile. She was leaving that house. It was for her own good.
“I’m going to need to call in a favor.”
“From who?”
“Connor.”
Chapter 37
Once Miles and I rose from bed, I called Connor explaining what I needed. He agreed it was probably the only way. While I sat at my desk in my home office, I hacked into my father’s security system, blocked the signal, and then set up a running loop. That way, if my father checked in on things, nothing would seem amiss. Connor and another member of the company were going to break into my father’s house and get Casey. I wanted desperately to go, because I knew how terrified she would be of strange men practically kidnapping her, but I needed to stay at my computer.
Instead, Bridget, Connor’s fiancée, would be waiting for Casey. It was the best we could do on such short notice. As soon as Casey was out of my father’s house and in a safe place, Bridget was going to call me so I could speak to Casey over the phone. To at least try and assure her that everything was going to be okay.
An hour later, my phone rang. Thank God, it was Bridget’s number.
“Hello.” I was breathless with excitement and anxiousness.
“We have her. Here, you need to speak to her.”
A rustling noise sounded as though the phone were being jostled. Then, the sweetest sound graced my ears. It was Casey’s voice, no matter how soft and scared she sounded. I hated that I’d done that to her.
“Jo—Josie?”
“God, Casey, it’s okay. I promise. Don’t be scared sweetie. Connor and Bridget are my friends. They’re there to help you. To protect you. Please don't be scared.”
“O—Okay.”
The hesitancy in her voice gutted me. She had been such an outgoing, loquacious kid. She’d been a practical joker, always making me laugh. To hear her now almost destroyed me. It only cemented my determination to see Charles Santiago brought down.
“I need you to listen to me. Connor and Bridget are going to take you to a house I bought for you. No one else knows where it is. Dad will never be able to find you. He’ll never be able to hurt you again. I’ll be there soon. I swear.”
As I spoke, I could hear Casey begin to softly sob in the background. Bridget was trying to comfort her. She was breaking my heart.
“Thank you.” Her words were spoken so softly with only the barest hitch. But, she sounded more calm and confident, which was all I cared about. We said our goodbyes with my promise I would see her soon.
Suddenly, the prospect of confronting my father didn’t seem so scary anymore. I removed the looped feed from the security cameras. My father was going to shit a brick when he got home and discovered Casey missing. A small, satisfied, and maybe even devious, smile tipped up my lips.
“What’s that look for?” Miles moved behind me and wrapped me in his warm embrace. I leaned into his hard body and covered his hands with mine.
“Oh, just a little fun thought picturing the look on my father’s face when he realizes he doesn’t have Casey to use against me anymore. He’s going to go ballistic when he can’t find her.”
“You terrify me with your evilness, woman. Remind me never to get on your bad side.”
I pinched his arm, hard, in response.
“Sadist.” Although, Miles laughed when he said it.
“I love you, Miles.”
His kiss brushed the top of my head.
“I love you too, Josephine Bishop. When this is all over, I hope you plan on making an honest man of me.”
Turning in my chair so quickly, I would have toppled over if Miles hadn’t steadied me.
“Are you proposing to me?”
He just shrugged as though the most important conversation in the world wasn’t happening right now. I launched myself into his arms and wrapped my arms and legs around him, peppering kisses all over his face.
“Damn straight I’ll make an honest man of you.”
Like little kids, we raced each other into the bedroom, laughing and giggling the whole way.
After a long night of lovemaking, I woke with a sudden feeling of dread in my stomach. Today was the day. I quietly made my way to the kitchen, careful not to wake Miles. Soon, breakfast sizzled on the stove and the smell of bacon, pancakes, and coffee permeated the air. Fifteen minutes later, Miles came stumbling out of the bedroom wearing only his boxer briefs.
; “I’m sorry I woke you. I woke up and needed something to keep my mind occupied for a little bit.”
His warm arms wrapped around me, and he kissed me softly.
“I couldn’t resist the smells coming out of here.” His stomach growled as if to prove it. He gently pushed me over to my barstool at the island and made me sit while he plated our food and brought it to me.
“Are you ready for this?”
A bark of laughter escaped, and I coughed on my bite of food. “Not even close to ready. There are so many things that could go wrong today. I’m scared out of my damn mind. I’m used to being in control. Everything about today is completely out of my control, and it’s nerve-wracking. I’m trying to quiet my mind and find my center, but it’s so hard to do.”
“What do you need from me, Mistress? I’m here to serve you.”
I looked at Miles with stunned surprise. This was the first time outside of the bedroom he’d ever called me Mistress. It was something he’d only used when we’d played.
“Oh, Miles, thank you. I love you. You know that, right? No matter what happens today, I’ll always love you. I have from that first moment I met you. There’s never been anyone for me but you.”
He set down his fork and circled the island to kneel at my feet. His arms circled me and his head rested on my lap.
“I love you too, Mistress. Whatever you need, I’ll provide it. I’m yours to command.”
“You, Miles. I only need you.”
We remained seated together as I absorbed strength and energy from him. There was no doubt I was going to need it to get through today. Reluctantly, I pulled out of his embrace, and we headed into the bedroom to get ready for the confrontation with my father. Miles walked into the ensuite bathroom and began running the water. Once he’d checked the temperature was right, he pulled me into the shower with him and began washing me.
At first, Miles’ touch was methodical. He directed me under the showerhead to wet my hair. The smell of my citrus shampoo wafted around the steam-filled bathroom as he began lathering my hair. He ran his hands through my hair with my complementary smelling conditioner, massaging my scalp as he went. Once my hair was rinsed, he grabbed the shower gel and sponge and gently began running it up and down my arms. He washed my back next, and when he turned me around to face him, I couldn’t help but notice his cock bobbing at attention.
What had been a comforting feeling, now turned into a needful urgency. I needed Miles’ hands on me, to feel him inside me.
“I need you, Miles.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
He quickly finished washing me and wrapped me in a towel. His hand enfolded mine as he guided me into the bedroom and gently laid me on the bed. He followed immediately behind me to cover my body with his, keeping his weight on his elbows and he stared down into my eyes.
“What do you need from me, Mistress?”
I reached out for his cock and guided it to my center. He gently pushed inside, neither of us breaking eye contact.
“Fuck me, Miles.”
“Anything for you.”
His gentle thrusts deepened, but he maintained a slow and steady rhythm. With each forward motion, he hit that spot inside me. I needed more though. I wrapped my legs around his waist and pushed my hips up to meet his downward thrust, an unspoken command for him to go faster. He understood what I was demanding, and his hips quickened their motion until soon he was pounding into me with a ferocity that had me gasping.
“Yes.” My back arched and the friction of his pelvis moving against my clit had my orgasm building until suddenly, my body tightened like a bowstring and pleasure poured out of me as my climax hit. I shuddered beneath Miles as my body came down from its high.
I leaned up and pulled Miles’ head down for a kiss. I was so utterly in love with this man, it terrified me.
He must have heard the echo of my thoughts as he caressed my face. “I love you.”
He rolled to his side, pulling me with him. I cuddled up against him, slowing my breathing down until I knew no more.
Chapter 38
Miles paced back and forth across Connor’s office as Crocker concealed the microphone in a button on my blouse. There was no video feed, but the audio was coming in loud and clear according to Morgan, who was outside in their rental car listening to our discussion.
Crocker began a recitation of instructions. “We’re going to do recon at your father’s house before you arrive. Monitor any activity surrounding the house and make sure that there are no unexpected surprises. Once you’re inside, try to get your father talking. See if he’ll give up any information about the auction.”
I nodded my understanding.
“Try to get him to reveal anything at all possible. We need to track down Dragomirov.”
“I get it,” I snapped back. They’d been harping all afternoon about trying to get my father to talk. I understood.
Once the wire was in place, we did another sound check to make sure Morgan could still hear everything. After he gave the all clear, Crocker left and they headed to my father’s. While I took a seat on the loveseat, Miles paced. I tried not to fidget as we waited for the call that we were ready to go. An hour later, Connor’s cell rang. He answered it and spoke only briefly, his eyes never leaving mine. He ended the call and said the words I’d been both waiting for and dreading.
“They’re ready.”
Thirty minutes later I sat in my car outside the house I grew up in. A house I hadn’t seen in seven long years. Miles and Webber were situated in Miles’ car across the street three houses down. Agents Morgan and Crocker were on the next street over. Taking a deep breath and knowing that it was now or never, I exited my car and walked up the drive.
My eyes darted side to side as I scanned the area. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I wasn’t sure if my dad was being over or under concerned about me being here. I didn’t bother knocking on the front door. Instead, I opened it and walked in, heading directly to my father’s office. It was his place of power. When I reached the office, the door stood open, and I spied my father sitting at his colossal desk. It had been hand carved and crafted by a custom furniture maker in town. My dad had it specially made when I was seven. I’d always looked upon the desk with awe. Even the dark walnut wood reeked of power.
Cautiously, I entered the office, still keeping an eye out for any unexpected guests. At the sound of my footfalls, my father looked up and a sneer crossed his face.
“The prodigal daughter returns.”
“Where is it?” Hatred poured from my words. I wanted this over and done with so I could move on with my life. Plus, I had no desire to look at this monster any longer than I had to.
“My, aren’t we a little impatient.”
“Cut the crap. I have no more desire to be here than you have for me to be here. Let’s just get on with the exchange and we can move on.”
“I figured you were only coming here to fuck me over so I thought you might need a little incentive to cooperate.”
I stiffened. “What do you mean, ‘incentive’?”
A sinister laughter from my father sent chills down my spine. “Well, here’s the thing. There is no evidence.”
“You son of a bitch. What do you mean, there’s no evidence?”
“I mean there’s no evidence. Edward’s body was disposed of in a way that it can never be retrieved, and the knife you used is sitting in the bottom of a lake right now. Everything else was burned or destroyed. There was no reason for me to keep it around. Although, if I’d known that you would end up betraying me, I would have made sure I had done everything possible to ruin your life.”
My head shook, unsure that I’d heard my father correctly. I stumbled and fell into the chair in disbelief. All this time, wasted. My father could have been punished long ago if only I’d known. I was so stupid. It didn’t matter then. If he didn’t have any information on me, then there was no reason for me to be here. A small smile escaped before I thought about it
.
“I wouldn’t get too excited, Josephine. You forget about the incentive I have to ensure that this exchange still takes place.”
“You have nothing to keep me from turning everything I have over to the Feds, father.”
“I have your sister.”
My small smile widened until it turned to laughter. I laughed harder than I had in years. Laughed until I was almost in tears. I slowly pulled myself together and sat back in the chair, smugness radiating from me.
“I’m afraid that’s where you’re wrong, Charles.”
Now it was his turn to appear puzzled.
“Excuse me?”
His arrogance knew no bounds. “I said you were wrong. You don’t have my sister. If you even bothered to give a shit about Casey, you would have already realized that she’s gone.”
Without a word, he bolted from the room. I heard the pounding of his feet as he raced up the stairs and the desperate note in his voice as he called out for Casey. Elation like nothing I’d ever felt before seeped through every pore. Finally, it was over. I knew it would piss off the Feds that I hadn’t asked the questions they wanted, but it didn’t matter. They would have their evidence, and they could use it as leverage to get my dad to talk. To give up whatever secrets he had. I rose from the chair and walked out of his office. I’d just reached the living room and was steps away from freedom when a roar sounded behind me. I turned and there stood my father. My whole body froze when I saw the gun in his hand.
“You bitch. How dare you come into my home and threaten me.”
“Put the gun down, Dad. You don’t want to do this.” Holy shit, I hope the cavalry showed up quickly.
“Give me the files.” His aim remained steady all the while my heart was about to beat out of my chest.