A Twist of Fate

by Donna Raider

  “They have treated us very nicely,” Mika noted as Leah redressed her in the jeans and jacket she had on originally. “They even told us we could spend the night here. Sit on the bed. It is comfortable.”

  “I’d rather stay in our penthouse,” Leah answered, sitting on the bed. “It’s ours.”

  Mika grabbed Leah’s hands and pulled her to her feet. She kissed her slowly and hungrily, letting her know how much she wanted to stay in the dressing room. “We had better go while I still can,” she mumbled against Leah’s lips.

  “Yay!” Yelled Richie as they rejoined the band. “Pay up Emily.” The sheriff pulled a twenty out of her pocket and handed it to her son. “Emily bet me twenty dollars you wouldn’t get back in ten minutes,” Richie said gleefully. “I knew you would.” He didn’t tell them how Emily had gone into detail about why they wouldn’t be on time.

  At lunch, Leah told the boys about the VIP reception after the performance. They were excited. “What about the rest of us,” Emily made a sweeping motion including Samson, Delilah, Amber, and Ruth.

  “I explained the boys could only make an appearance if their security detail is allowed,” Leah smiled. “Of course, you will all be allowed to attend the reception. Each of you will be responsible for a boy. It will be your responsibility to see that boy gets to his hotel room safely. Of course, Mika and I will be responsible for Richie.”

  “I don’t think so,” the sheriff bellowed. “I will personally be responsible for Richie.”

  Richie cringed and looked at Leah for help. Emily had already explained to him how he would make a great wingman. He could get the teenager girls, and she’d get their mothers. He wanted no part of that, but Emily was insistent.

  “I feel Richie would be safer with us,” Leah leveled her deadliest glare at Emily.

  “Okay,” the sheriff growled. “But I don’t agree.”

  Their final performance was even more spectacular than their prior one. Mika and the boys put everything they had into every song. Mika had decided against the leather pants, wearing a pair of skintight jeans instead.

  As the curtain opened, the crowd screamed, and wolf whistled forcing the band to play an instrumental to calm them down so they could hear Mika when she started singing.

  “How did she get those jeans so tight?” Ruth squealed. “I hope they aren’t cutting off the circulation to anything important to you.”

  Leah started to answer when she saw three women helping each other climb over her knights guarding the stage. With a nod of her head, she froze them where they were leaving them to hang on the Knights for the duration of the concert.

  “These people are dangerous,” she yelled to Ruth.

  “But completely understandable,” Ruth grinned. “She’s unbelievably hot, Leah. How do you keep your hands off her?”

  “I don’t,” Leah answered truthfully.

  As she always did, Mika led Leah onto the stage and sang the last song to her. They bowed, slowly backing behind the curtain as it slid closed. Everyone sprinted for the waiting elevator that went to the dressing rooms. The Samson family, Ruth, and Amber were already there.

  “We will meet you at the reception,” Emily glared. “Please try to get there before it is over.”

  As Mika closed and locked the door to the dressing room, Leah threw her against the door, kissing her as if there were no tomorrow. Their hands were all over each other, trying desperately to squelch the burning desire they had for one another. Leah instantly dropped their clothes to the floor and softly moaned as Mika lifted her and put her on the bed. “No foreplay,” Leah moaned. “Just…Oh! My God, Mika.” Her breath left her body. “Baby, baby, yes! You know what I want.” She bit Mika’s shoulder to smother her screams. Mika buried her face in Leah’s neck and hair to muffle her cries as they satisfied their raw lust for each other. Their names were each other’s’ mantra as they tried without success to quench their needs. They wanted to stay in each other’s arms all night but knew they had a responsibility to their son and the boys. They had taken the edge off their desire. They knew they would be back in each other’s arms as soon as they could gracefully extricate themselves from the reception.

  Leah had put on her black panties, bra, and full, black slip. Mika pulled on her black jeans and slipped into a long-sleeve blouse. She left it unbuttoned as she brushed her teeth. Richie knocked on the door, screaming something about an emergency. Leah began crawling across the king size bed to reach the door, as Mika opened the door for their son. Mika was barefoot, wearing nothing but her jeans and unbuttoned blouse. The door was kicked open, and camera flashes lit up the hallway as the paparazzi had a field day with the sexy shot. By the time Mika and her wife made it to the reception, the photo had been sold to an A&E website. It was making its way around the world. It seemed once again, the two were the subject of the night’s viral photo and newsrooms.

  ##

  When Mika and Leah entered the reception, a roar of applause went around the room. Marcus rushed forward to greet them, eager to introduce them to his wealthy patrons. He studied Mika, who was still in her Elvis persona. “You…are you the priest?’

  Mika and Leah nodded. Marcus shook his head.

  “I see you two have already stolen the coverage on tonight’s news and internet sites,” a distinguished-looking man commented as he was introduced to the couple.

  Leah suppressed a blush as she considered what type of photo the paparazzi had taken.

  “Just one of the many reasons we don’t want to be in show business,” Mika grimaced.

  “You have a gorgeous wife,” the gentleman gestured toward Leah. “If I were you, I would certainly keep her out of this rat race and away from the bloodsuckers.”

  Mika nodded then turned to her wife and said, “May I have this dance?”

  Leah smiled and moved gracefully into her arms. Leah had chosen an exquisite evening gown that fit her perfect curves all the way to the floor; Dark red with her signature slit up to mid-thigh.

  As they danced, others kept trying to cut in to dance with her wife. Mika politely refused to relinquish her hold on the dark-haired beauty.

  “Would you like something to drink?” Mika asked as the dance ended and they found a table. Ruth and Richie rushed to join them.

  “Please, baby,” Leah smiled at Mika, eyes glistening.

  “Wow, have you seen all the big shots that are here tonight,” Ruth grinned. “Movie stars, singers, the mayor of New York, even a king of some foreign country. The place is crawling with princes and princesses.”

  Leah nodded. She was watching her wife. Mika had only gotten ten feet away from her when a flaming redhead slipped her arm through Mika’s and tried to drag her in a different direction. As if in quicksand, Mika was engulfed by beautiful women vying for her attention. Leah was okay with the conversation, but when they began to put their hands on her wife, the wicked queen reared her jealous head. She controlled the urge to demonstrate spontaneous combustion on the dozen or so women.

  Leah looked around the room, taking in the heavy drapery that covered the windows and dropped gracefully to the ballroom floor. A lift of her eyebrow and the drapes nearest the crowd of women around her wife burst into flames. The women scattered, screaming as if they were on fire.

  Quick thinking waiters immediately extinguished the fire as Mika continued to the bar for their drinks.

  “Nicely done,” Mika smiled as she placed Leah’s wine on the table in front of her. “I am glad you didn’t burst them into flames.”

  “The thought did cross my mind,” Leah scowled.

  Emily joined them with a wealthy socialite and her teenage daughter in tow. She introduced them to Mika and Richie, nudging Richie to ask the girl to dance.

  Ever the gentleman, Richie invited the girl to dance. “Did you see those curtains burst into flames?” the girl exclaimed as he led her to the floor.

  Richie nodded. He was certain his mother was responsible for the commotion.

 
Emily and the socialite followed the young couple to the dance floor.

  “Looks like Emily has landed a wealthy one,” Ruth commented.

  Sometime after midnight, Leah whispered to Richie that they needed to go. He was more than happy to get back to the hotel and its game room. He rounded up his friends and returned to the table. Everyone but Emily was ready to go to the hotel. It had been a long, strenuous day.

  “Where are you going?” Emily frowned at Richie.

  “We’re ready to go back to the hotel,” Richie shrugged his shoulders.

  “No, we’re not,” Emily glanced sideways at the socialite and her daughter. “Eunice and I thought you and Susan might want to grab a midnight snack at a great place she likes.”

  Richie shot a “help me” look at his mother.

  “It has been a long day,” Leah’s lips smiled, but her eyes were dark and cold as she looked at Emily. “I think Richie needs to go to bed.”

  “Isn’t he, your son,” Eunice questioned Emily. Eunice was certain she could manipulate the blonde. She was equally certain the dark-haired woman wouldn’t give her the time of day.

  “Yes,” Emily glared back at Leah, daring her to contradict her.

  “Please excuse us a moment,” Leah smiled slightly at Eunice and led Emily from the table.

  “What is wrong with you?” Leah hissed once they were out of earshot of the table.

  “Me! What is wrong with you?” Emily growled. “Look, your majesty, you have found your happy ending. Stop interfering with mine.”

  “Stop using my son as date bait,” Leah said angrily.

  “My God, Leah, he’s a teenager.” Emily was shifting from one foot to another. “Let him have some fun.”

  “His idea of fun and your idea of fun are two different things,” a low guttural growled emanated from the queen.

  “Look, just one more hour,” Emily begged. “We’ll have a snack and be in bed by one-thirty. I promise.”

  “I will leave it up to Richie.” Leah locked her eyes with Emily’s. “I promise you, Emily, if anything happens to my son, there will be no place you can hide from my wrath.”

  A shiver ran through the sheriff’s body. God, she is gorgeous , she thought. I still love her so much.

  “Okay, we’re good to go,” Emily grabbed Richie’s arm and dragged him toward the door.

  “Emily,” the word was soft, but it resounded throughout the room.

  “It’s okay, Mom,” Richie smiled weakly.

  “Have him in his room by one-thirty,” Leah reiterated.

  Emily gave her a salute as she ushered her party out the door.

  ##

  Mika knew her wife was still awake. She was wiggling and making little sighing sounds. For the first time, Leah had half-heartedly made love to her, so she knew she was worried. Mika looked at the clock. It was four in the morning. She turned on her night light.

  “Worried about Richie?” she asked as she settled against the headboard, drawing her knees up to provide Leah a backrest. Leah immediately sat up and leaned against Mika’s legs.

  “I should have told him to call me, as soon as he reached his room,” Leah huffed.

  “I know it will wake him,” Mika traced her fingers down Leah’s arm, “but why don’t you call him. Then we all can get some sleep.”

  “I’m calling Emily,” Leah hissed. “I don’t care if I do wake her.”

  The phone rang several times before the sheriff found it. Leah’s ringtone told her this wasn’t a call she would welcome.

  “Jesus, Leah,” Emily whispered into the phone, not wanting to awaken Eunice. “It’s four in the morning.”

  “Is Richie safe in his room?” Leah’s tone was cold and deadly.

  “Of course,” Emily whispered. “I tucked him in myself.”

  Leah breathed a sharp sigh of relief. “Good night, Emily.” She hung up the phone.

  “Everything okay,” Mika leaned forward and kissed her wife’s forehead.

  “Yes,” she smiled, a little embarrassed at being so overprotective of her son.

  “So, you can sleep, now?” Mika asked, concern in her voice.

  “I’d rather make love to…” Mika’s lips cut off her sentence.

  “You need to sleep, honey,” Mika whispered.

  “I need to make up for my pathetic attempt at making love to you earlier.” Leah shifted to place her head on Mika’s breast and stretch out against her body.

  “I’m betting that even your worst lovemaking is better than anyone else’s very best,” Mika chuckled.

  Leah loved the sound of Mika’s easy laughter. It echoed in her chest and vibrated against Leah’s ear.

  “You don’t understand, darling,” Leah smiled as she straddled her wife. “I need to make love to you, for me.”

  ##

  Everyone had agreed to meet in the hotel dining room for breakfast. Leah’s eyes searched the room for her son. The boys in the band were seated at a table with an empty chair.

  “Isaac, where is Richie?” Leah asked anxiously.

  Isaac stared at the woman of his dreams. Words wouldn’t form in his mouth.

  “Isaac,” she said sharply.

  “I…I don’t know, your majesty,” he finally blurted out. “He didn’t come home last night.”

  Mika knew all hell was about to break loose. She caught Leah’s hand. “Honey, let’s find Emily.” She tried to pull her wife from the dining room.

  Leah flicked her wrist. Nothing happened. A second flick of her wrist and a naked Emily appeared in the dining room.

  “Leah, what the hell?” The blonde grabbed a tablecloth and wrapped it around her.

  “Where is my son?” The mayor roared.

  A cold silence fell over the diners as they realized that Richie was missing.

  “He’s…he’s in his room.” Emily croaked. “Why didn’t you summon him instead of me?”

  “I tried,” Leah glowered. “Believe me; you were my second choice.

  “You said you tucked him in. Isaac said he never came to his room last night.” Leah’s rage was building along with her panic.

  Mika moved to touch her. She had no idea what a panicky, infuriated queen would do. Mika’s touch calmed her somewhat.

  “Tell me what happened last night.” Leah was in Emily’s face, teeth and fist clenched. “Don’t lie to me. When was the last time you saw him?”

  “I…I put him in a town car about two this morning,” Emily stuttered. “I told the driver to take Richie straight to the hotel.”

  “You put a thirteen-year-old boy in a car with a stranger at two in the morning? Are you insane or just plain stupid?” Leah was livid. Mika knew she was losing control

  Mika had flashes of Mount Vesuvius erupting in 79 AD. She had a feeling the swath of destruction Leah was capable of would be comparable. She knew she had to get Leah out of the dining room. Mika was thankful when Samson and Amber arrived at her side.

  “I’ve already called the police,” Samson said. “They’re on their way.”

  “Phone call for the Cross family,” a porter moved through the dining room, looking for them.

  “We are the Cross family,” Mika waved the man toward them.

  “Ma’am there is a call for you at the front desk.” The porter led them through the lobby. “The caller said it was an emergency.”

  “Our son is missing,” Mika explained. “Is there somewhere we can take the call in private?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” the porter answered leading them to a small meeting room. A conference phone was in the center of the table.

  Samson led a man toward them. “This is Detective Stanley Carlyle. He’s assigned to our case.”

  Mika nodded and waved the small group into the room. She pushed the button that would bring the call to their conference speakerphone. The porter closed the door.

  “This is Mika Cross, Richie’s mother,” Mika said as calmly as possible.

  “Cross.” The voice on the phone was American.
“Is the boy’s mother there?”

  “Yes,” Leah answered. “I’m here. Do you have news about my son?”

  “I have your son,” the man said casually.

  “Where is he?” Leah was doing a remarkable job of remaining calm.

  “I have a proposition for you,” the man chuckled.

  “What do you want? Just tell us. We want our son back.” Leah blurted out.

  “I thought you might.” The man rattled off a cell phone number. “Is that your number?

  “Yes,” Leah snapped.

  “I will call you on that number in exactly one hour.” The line went dead.

  Mika caught Leah as her knees buckled. She looked at the faces of the people in the room. “Let’s move to our apartment. We’re in the penthouse of Cross Towers, number one,” Mika added for Detective Carlyle’s sake. “Samson, Amber, can you get Levi, Naomi, and Ruth and get everyone headed back home? We have already cleared the bill with the hotel.”

  “We can do that,” Samson nodded amiably. “Anything else we can do?”

  Mika pulled the man aside. “Get Emily out of here. Take her home. No telling what Leah will do if anything happens to Richie.”

  “I understand,” Samson placed a comforting hand on Mika’s back. “Keep us posted.”

  “I will,” the priest agreed.

  ##

  Detective Carlyle had phone-tracing apparatus on Leah’s cell phone within forty-five minutes. He gave Leah instructions on what to say when the man called.

  It seemed to take days for the hour to pass. Finally, Leah’s cell phone rang. She pushed the speaker button so everyone could hear.

  “Mayor Cross,” the man’s voice filled the room. “How are you doing?”

  The detective motioned Leah to keep the man talking. Carlyle already had a deep admiration for the woman. The mayor had nerves of steel and was more beautiful than any woman had a right to be.

  “I will be doing better when I see my son.” Leah’s voice was cold and controlled. “Why don’t you tell me what you want, and we can get this over?”

  “Five million dollars,” the man answered. “I want it in small, unmarked bills. I want you to bring them to me yourself.”

  Buddy, you just signed your death warrant , Mika thought.