The Illicit Affairs

by Marí, Brittani

  “Did he?” My words came out harsh. “Did he keep his word and take care of things?”

  She hesitated. “Yes, he did. About a month later, after I had given up hope, I received a package. It had ten thousand dollars inside of it. There wasn’t a letter or anything, but I knew it was from your father.”

  She pressed her back against the door. I heard the sound of voices outside.

  “They kept coming afterward, like clockwork. Every two months, I received ten thousand dollars in cash. It helped keep us comfortable and put you through college.” She lowered her voice. “I even saved enough to purchase the diner when the owners decided to sell.”

  I gasped. “Are you still receiving the money?”

  “Oh, no. It stopped years ago. I would say right after you graduated college. I remember because you sent me a letter telling me you were engaged. You wanted me to know you were doing okay.”

  I remembered when I slipped up and sent the letter. I had wanted to send her an invitation but had decided against it.

  “You told me the money came from a scholarship, Joyce. You also told me your late husband left you a nice life insurance policy.”

  Living with my aunt wasn’t uncomfortable. It was nothing like the life I had before with my parents, but I wanted for nothing.

  She smiled. “Your uncle did leave me a nice insurance policy, but he also died years before you came to live with me. The scholarship wasn’t a lie, either, Mia. It just didn’t cover all of your school. It helped with books and some of your tuition, but only for the first semester. Remember, child, you went to one of the best universities. I would’ve never been able to send you there if it weren’t for the money.”

  “So you’re telling me my father has been alive and contacting you since the day my mother was killed, yet you never thought to mention it? Even when I became an adult? I’m twenty-five years old. I had every right to know about this.”

  She nodded. “You’re right. I should’ve told you, but when I felt it was the right time, you had news for me. You told me you wanted nothing to do with your past. You asked me to let you start over because you could never completely heal if you stayed. You said it was too painful.”

  I just stared at her for a while. I couldn’t argue because it was true—all of it. I wanted to start over. Every day I looked at her was another day without my mother. She had so many of the same mannerisms. The way she used endearments of sweetheart and dear without even knowing it was the same way my mother always had. It was a southern trait that had followed my mother all the way to Houston. However, I was never completely honest with Joyce.

  I left because the idea of being traced back to who I really was scared the shit out of me, and as long as I was around her, it was a possibility I would be found out. The truth about the money from my father proved it. Even with the police suggestion to change my name to prevent whoever killed my mother from finding me, I still knew who I truly was. I was Alyssa Hall, and my past was suddenly starting to catch up with me.

  “I have to go, Joyce. I need some time to process everything. I honestly shouldn’t even be here.”

  She nodded. “Okay, Mia, but admitting you can’t even tell your husband who you really are, the fact you have to cover up lies constantly, isn’t healthy.”

  I refused to argue. “I’m leaving, and you know why withholding the truth from Alek is necessary. Even before my mother’s murder, my father wasn’t a likable man. I would rather keep my distance from that part of my life, if possible.”

  I placed my hand on the doorknob. “Goodbye, Joyce. It was good seeing you, regardless of the circumstances.”

  Her hand quickly covered mine. “Just be careful, dear. I have a feeling this might just be the beginning.”

  ***

  I knew before I entered the iron gates of my home something wasn’t right. I had received several texts from Alek questioning where I was. The truth was, I was too exhausted to care. The news I received from my aunt had thrown me for a loop, and I hadn’t quite figured out how to handle it. The second I had a decent view of the driveway, my heart stopped. There were at least five SUV’s lined up at the front door. The flashing lights of the police vehicle stood out the most. I parked my car, rushing inside the house, my husband’s safety my primary concern.

  “Alek?!” I yelled at the top of my lungs. The thought of losing him was unbearable.

  I turned the corner and walked into the kitchen, nearly running into him. He placed his hands on my shoulders, steading me.

  “Where have you been, Mia?” he asked.

  I smelled the strong aroma of alcohol on his breath. However, the irritation in his voice stood out the most.

  “I just went into the city for my yoga class, then caught up with some old friends.”

  He watched me cautiously, deciding if my explanation was good enough. I finally took a breath when he continued.

  “I’ve texted you several times, Mia.”

  I gave him an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, Alek. I’ve been having issues with my phone. I’ve been meaning to bring it to the store.”

  I could tell he wanted to discuss it more, but he didn’t.

  “What’s going on? Is everything okay? Are you okay? Why is there a police vehicle outside?” I questioned, concerned about what was going on.

  He walked over to the island in the kitchen, swiftly picking up an empty glass. He motioned around the room. There were guards posted in every corner—all armed. I could tell they were planning something.

  “Evidently, someone wants me dead,” he stated calmly.

  I was speechless. I knew my husband had enemies, but what could he have done to cause someone to want to kill him? I grabbed his chin, studying him. I knew when I pulled through the iron gates something was going on, but I never expected the words that spilled from Alek’s mouth.

  “But why? Who would try…”

  He quickly finished his drink, placing it back on the island. I could tell he was aggravated. “I don’t know yet. I’ve hired more security. Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this before the annual 1920s Party.”

  I lowered my voice, wrapping my arms around his waist. It had been so long since we’d been intimate, the gesture didn’t even feel right. “Maybe we should postpone the party and take a vacation—just the two of us. We haven’t done something spontaneous in a long time. Don’t you think we deserve it?”

  He sighed, removing my arms from around his waist. His eyes turned cold. “You know I can’t do that, Mia. My schedule won’t allow it.”

  I stepped away. “You’re right. I’m sorry I asked. I just figured with someone attempting to kill you, you might have a change of heart.” I crossed my arms. “Does this mean I’m in danger?”

  His eyes narrowed. “Of course. If someone is trying to hurt me, the first thing they’ll do is go after my weaknesses.” He cleared his throat. “Regardless of what you may think, you’re extremely important to me. If something happened to you, I don’t know what I would do. Remember, Mia. You are my wife.”

  I swallowed. “I know, Alek.” My response was so low, I could barely hear myself.

  He softly gripped the back of my neck and pulled me close, his eyes searching mine. The only thing I could do was meet his stare. It was cold, but I felt the passion. The heat. I thought he was going to pull me into a kiss, but he pushed away. It was similar to the night I had slept with Wesley. I was reluctant at first, with the idea of sleeping with two men in one night, but Alek was my husband. I wanted to please him.

  After debating with myself, I became excited at the idea of him clearing Wesley from my thoughts and claiming me for himself. The disappointment I felt when he dropped me home instead still weighed on my chest. What had I done wrong to make him pull away from me? What could I do to make him come back?

  I felt being honest about who I truly was would only push him further away. He assumed my concern was due to our safety, but it was so much more. I looked around the kitchen, finally
taking everything in. It was obvious he wasn’t taking any chances. Alek looked over at the bodyguard I met the previous night. The one who had so much to say.

  “Logan is going to be keeping an eye on you. You can continue with your normal routine—nothing changes. However, if there is a threat, he will be beside you immediately. He’s been thoroughly trained to deal with these types of situations.”

  I nodded. “And you? I hope you plan to keep a low profile, Alek. I don’t think walking around like nothing’s wrong is going to discourage whoever tried to hurt you,” I said with obvious concern in my voice.

  He gave me a stern glare. I could tell he didn’t like the idea of me voicing my opinion about the situation. “I appreciate the concern, dear wife, but unfortunately, the only way to draw this person out is by acting like nothing is wrong.”

  I tensed. “Are you serious? This has to be a joke. What if you get hurt? What if this person succeeds in killing you? I care about you, too, Alek. There has to be another way around this.”

  He placed his hands on my shoulders. His massive frame towered over mine. “There isn’t another way, Mia. I would appreciate it if you dropped it. There’s no need to discuss it any further,” he said, leaving little room to continue arguing.

  As his eyes dared me to argue, I felt my body begin to shut down. I wasn’t good at dealing with so many emotions at one time. I granted him the one thing he demanded from me—submissiveness.

  “Okay, just make sure you come home tonight. It would mean a lot with everything that’s happened.”

  His jaw clenched. “I can’t promise you—”

  The deep voice of one of the guards interrupted our conversation. “Mr. Johnson…”

  “I’m speaking with my wife. Give me a—”

  The guard didn’t get the hint. Instead, he motioned Alek to the side, attempting to gain privacy, but I could hear every word he spoke. I pretended not to listen.

  “I looked into Wesley Black’s whereabouts when you were attacked, and it appears he has a solid alibi.”

  This caught my husband’s attention. “I didn’t think he was a threat, but it’s better to cover all your bases to prevent getting blindsided in the end. I’ve seen it happen more times than I can count. What exactly do you consider solid?”

  The guard continued. “I’ve been informed you’re already aware Stinson Black’s youngest son has been arrested. It’s also been brought to my attention the charges have yet to be released.”

  Alek cleared his throat. “No, they haven’t. However, we know Stinson’s connections and power will get him released without a single mark on his record.”

  The guard shrugged. “I highly doubt he can get his son out of this one. He would have to drop some big names to make this go away quietly. I don’t think he would be willing to jeopardize his business dealings for a partial chance of getting his youngest son’s name cleared. He has two more sons to spare.”

  Alek crossed his arms, intrigued. “Why would jeopardizing his business dealing even be necessary?”

  The guard lowered his voice. “A murder charge isn’t something that will go away. It doesn’t matter who you are.”

  Alek cautiously glanced around the room. His eyes zeroed in on mine for a brief second.

  “Do what’s necessary to gain more information about his son’s case. The Blacks are known to be discreet when dealing with those types of situations. I’ve recently come to the assumption someone might have a vendetta against them, as well. Justin Black’s arrest might just be a small part of an impending battle, and I might just have the most valuable asset.”

  Alek excused himself from the conversation and walked toward me. I pretended to fix myself a glass of wine, hoping he didn’t catch on to my eavesdropping. I felt his arms wrap around my waist as I struggled to reach for a glass out of the cabinet. He slowly turned me around to face him. I noticed all the guards begin to leave with the man Alek had just finished speaking with. I knew there was a significant piece of the puzzle I’d missed. He cupped my face in his hands.

  “I can trust you, can’t I, Mia?”

  There were several things he could be referring to. My affair. The lie I had recently told him about meeting up with old friends when I actually went to visit a part of my life he knew nothing about. There were so many possibilities of what could be running through his head; I was scared to speak. However, avoiding the question would only make him suspicious. So I looked into his questioning eyes and lied with ease.

  “Of course, Alek. You’re my husband. I will always be honest with you.”

  After I answered the question, he softly pushed away. It appeared my response only made him angry.

  “Alek?”

  His name lingered in the air. I didn’t know what else to say. I didn’t know what he was thinking, but I could tell he was pissed.

  He grabbed his suit jacket from the back of one of the barstools and started for the door. I began to believe he intended to ignore me, but right before he made it over the threshold, he turned around.

  “Logan will be your bodyguard, Mia. He’s to be with you at all times—discreetly, of course. Nobody else will know he’s with you.”

  After he mentioned his name, Logan walked back into the kitchen. He silently took his post in the corner.

  “I don’t know who’s responsible for all of this, but I do intend to find out,” Alek continued. He paused. “Attempting to shoot a man in the back is cowardly. I prefer whatever battles I’m involved with be face to face.”

  I leaned against the counter for support. Logan was in my peripheral vision and Alek my primary focus. The way my husband spoke to me felt like an accusation. He studied me carefully before leaving.

  “I expect your phone to be working properly by the end of the day, dear wife. My patience is starting to wear thin with your constant excuses.”

  The instant I heard the front door shut, I looked over at my new bodyguard. The look he gave me caught me by surprise. It was a look of knowing.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Wesley

  I TRIED TO RELAX on the short ride to the hotel, but an unanticipated phone call from my father disrupted my partially calm mood.

  “This is Wesley.”

  He didn’t speak immediately. There was at least a good ten seconds of deafening silence.

  “We have a situation, son.”

  I rubbed my temples. It appeared ever since Stinson had shown up at my club, things began to go downhill. I could no longer keep track of all the disruptions in my ordinarily quiet life. I was known for my love of women and partying tendencies, but compared to dealing with Stinson, those things were child’s play.

  “I’m listening.”

  He hesitated before continuing. It seemed whatever the situation was, it was an issue for him. “Someone attempted to kill Alek Johnson this morning. I’ve been informed his assailant was unsuccessful at even causing an injury, but this isn’t a good look for us. Our history with him gives us a motive. Especially with you back in the picture.”

  I clenched my fist. It appeared there was always room for things to get worse. I was granted no mercy.

  “I see. I’m assuming from your sour mood they haven’t identified the assailant yet.”

  He took a deep breath. “No, they have not. However, I’m not exactly the first person they run to with information. I have my connections, but it takes time for the news to get back to me.”

  I figured I might as well break the ice and get to the purpose of his call. “Is this your subtle way of asking me if I set it up?”

  My father hesitated. “I just need to make sure we’re on the same page, son. Sometimes a vendetta against someone needs to be forgotten. I know it isn’t easy to do, but Alek Johnson is someone we need on our side. He’s much more useful to us as a friendly acquaintance than an enemy.”

  I waited for him to finish. I needed to know what he thought of me. What he thought I was capable of.

  “I didn’t arrange it,”
I stated firmly.

  The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds. I looked out the window, waiting for his response. We weren’t far from the hotel.

  “I didn’t think you did, Wesley. I just needed to be sure.”

  He cleared his throat. “Now, since we’ve cleared that up, I should go ahead and inform you that your brother landed at the airport about an hour ago. I need the two of you to be as civil as possible.”

  I gave a short laugh. “I think you should relay the message to Calvin. I don’t think I’m the person with the issue.”

  I could hear him shuffling papers on the other end.

  “I’m quite familiar with the situation, Wesley. I just need you to be the bigger person. You tend to have a way of provoking others, even if you aren’t attempting to.”

  I held my tongue from my father’s perspective on things. We were all entitled to our opinions.

  “There won’t be any problems on my end, if that’s your concern,” I reassured him, leaning forward as the driver pulled in front of the hotel. “I think we have much bigger problems other than the feud between Calvin and I.”

  He took a deep breath. “Yes, son. Unfortunately, we do.”

  ***

  I walked into the crowded hotel and straight toward the elevators. The receptionist who had followed me days before remained behind the front desk. She gave me a quick smile while helping a line of customers.

  “Good afternoon, Mr. Black,” she greeted quickly.

  I smiled back, making my way across the lobby floor. The hotel was surprisingly busy for a weekday, which made my visit all the more stressful. We needed to get a hold of Justin’s situation before things got out of hand. The hotel didn’t need bad publicity. There were too many other hotels around for the news about my brother’s arrest to get to the press. It was in-house for the time being, but it was only a matter of time before word got around. The result could cost the hotel a fortune. Not to mention him being my brother would also put a dent in the club’s profits.