by Blue Saffire
“Oh yes, six months,” Vanessa replied and bit her lip.
“Well don’t gage your belly by mine. I’m actually eating for three these days,” Pam laughed.
“Oh my God, you’re having twins?”
“Yes,” Pam nodded. “And right now they are sitting right on my bladder. It was so nice meeting you but if I don’t head inside I will be ruining these shoes.”
Vanessa laughed. “Sorry, see you around,” Vanessa waved and headed off the stairs and over to a car Pam had not noticed.
Pam thought nothing else of it as she truly did need to use the bathroom.
Chapter Fifteen
“Baby, I hear what you are saying Pam. I told you that in a few months things will work themselves out,” Nate sighed.
It had been a long day. Nate had been dealing with threats toward Rita and Marie off and on. He was glad Rita had come to her senses and came back home but there was still a lot going on that needed his attention. Because of the threats he and Bobby still didn’t think it was wise to reveal the family’s secrets.
Today just was not a good day. He had just come out of an important meeting for Hydro, one of the companies he had built and wanted to unload, when his phone rang. Nate frowned at the screen but answered the call anyway.
“Nathaniel Briggs,” he answered the line.
“Hello Mr. Briggs, this is Lisa from club Desire,” the voice on the other end said into the line.
“Yes Lisa, but I’m not sure why you are calling me,” Nate replied.
“Mr. Briggs, I know you have dismissed your membership but,” Lisa cleared her throat. “Ms. Luscious has been insistent that we contact you for her.”
“Well I will be just as insistent that you erase this number from your files and never call me again. I have nothing to say to her or anyone else there. Lose my number,” Nate barked into the phone and hung up.
He was pissed that Vanessa was being so persistent. He had been receiving emails from her in his company account. In all of which he informed her to stop contacting him. He would have to address this sooner or later.
“Nate,” Pam hissed bringing him back to the here and now. “I won’t keep doing this. I know you are hiding something. I can tell when you are. I was willing to give you a break before. My sister was always able to vouch for you in some way.”
Pam placed a hand on her hip. “But now Nate, you have just been disappearing at all times of the night. You are distracted and you are not with Bobby. He has been home in bed with Paige,” Pam yelled.
Nate rubbed a hand down his face. She was right. He had been on top of a few leads concerning the threats against his sister. Sure he could have had someone else on the team handle it but this was too personal for him. It was Marie and Rita.
It didn’t help that a few weeks ago his sister had one of her gut feelings that Marcus was in danger. He and Pam had just walked in the condo and he was about to put it on his woman, but when his father called he was out the door in a flash. Pamela had been more than pissed. He knew he wouldn’t be able to do this for much longer.
“Pam, you know I run a billion dollar empire. Things come up. I have to make sure my business is running properly,” Nate tried the half-truth.
“Nate, when are you going to realize that my bullshit meter is never turned off,” Pam hissed.
“I’m not bullshitting you, Pam. It’s work. When I’m not working I’m with you,” Pam held her hand up to stop him.
“Stop talking Nate. I’m tired. When you have something real to say to me then we can talk,” Pam said turning her back and moving to the bedroom.
Nate threw his head back and blew out a breath. This was not the way he wanted this relationship to go.
~B~
“How are things at home?” Marcus asked with a knowing smile before sipping his drink.
“Need you ask, I know my sister is telling you everything,” Nate snorted.
“If we don’t watch it those women are going to form a gang on us,” Sam chuckled into his glass.
“I’ve been on my best behavior. Rita gets a little twitchy with that trigger finger. She has been out behind the house having target practice with Jasper since the doctor gave her the all clear,” Marcus shook his head thinking about his wife.
“That sounds like my sister,” Nate chuckled shaking his head as well.
“Speaking of Jas, where is he,” Sam inquired.
“Where he is whenever I dismiss him for the night. Chasing after our sister,” Marcus replied.
Sam and Bobby paused in their spots. Sam was the first to speak up. “Well it’s about time,” Sam roared with laughter.
“You knew about this too. Do I just not pay attention around here?” Bobby asked with a sour look on his face.
“Bobby you have had your mind on the firm and Paige since she joined the firm. The only reason the firm gets the attention it does is because Paige works there and you wanted to impress her,” Nate laughed.
“Screw you,” Bobby grumbled with a smirk. He knew Nate was telling the truth.
“But why is he chasing her,” Sam asked tilting his head. “It has always been pretty obvious that Jas had a thing for Marie but I’ve noticed her little looks at him since they were in high school. I’ll tell you one thing. Jasper is a hell of a lot better than that prick she was dating.”
Marcus shrugged and frowned. “Marie is a lot more innocent then we all knew. I think he intimidates her a little, at least from what Rita says.”
“Poor Jas,” Nate chuckled. “He has been trying to get a transfer to be with the girls for years. I don’t know who I feel sorrier for, him or Marie. He is not going to stop until he has her. I haven’t put my tux away. Those two are headed for the aisle if my little cousin can help it.”
“But seriously Nate, I think you and Pam are good together,” Marcus added returning to the original subject.
“You’re right, we could be great together, she drives me insane but I’m crazy about her,” Nate admitted.
“Wow, never thought I’d see the day you slowed down for a woman,” Sam chuckled.
“I second that,” Marcus joined in the laughs.
“What can I say? I’ve never met anyone like Pam. I’d be lying if I said I don’t enjoy all the making up from all the fighting,” Nate laughed and sipped at his own drink.
“Well, all your fighting is starting to show up in my bedroom,” Bobby grumbled. “Paige is very protective of her big sister and I think it is getting worse with the pregnancy.”
“It is definitely getting worse with the pregnancy,” Marcus teased and Bobby narrowed his eyes.
“Yeah, well something has to change soon. I’m not going to be able to keep selling Pam this crap. Before there’ll be no making up,” Nate said looking at Bobby. “We need to make those changes we’ve been talking about sooner rather than later.”
Bobby sighed and rubbed his forehead. He knew his friend was right. “I hear you,” Bobby sighed again finishing his drink and standing to go to the bar to get another. “Both our father’s think this is a good idea and they are in full support.”
“Well then I say we set things in motion,” Nate said.
“You do understand the blowback that can come from this. We have to make this so clean it never comes back to us,” Bobby said.
“I agree,” Marcus said. “We all have a lot more at stake now.”
“I know,” Nate breathed out and ran a hand down his face.
“I think it would be a good idea to bring Black in on this,” Sam suggested.
Both Bobby and Nate looked at each other. It wasn’t that Nate disliked Joe Black or his sons. He was just wary of bringing danger to anyone in the situation. Nate again wondered what business Sam had tied up with the likes of the Blacks and Uri for that matter. Lately Nate was noticing that Sam was building relationships with a unusual crowd. He hoped he knew what he was getting into.
Nate rubbed the back of his neck. They were all right. This had seemed like
a great plan when Bobby had come across the Russian trafficking ring. He and Nate had seen the women, girls and even a few boys that were left behind after the damage of being seen as nothing but goods.
They had been able to help a few once when one of the small time rings had been busted. It was back than about four years ago that Nate started thinking of ways to change the way Briggs security operated. He and Bobby had come up with the idea to offer help to more of the unfortunate individuals being trafficked.
They would train them and give them a new life, but only if they wanted it. It would take time to vet them and make sure they could be trusted. Nonetheless, Nate and Bobby thought it would be a better life than the one they had.
The catch was they wanted to free more of the slaves from a ring Bobby and Black had their eyes on. Black and his sons ran a high profile private investigation firm and did a little bounty hunting from time to time. They had stumbled upon this new operation and knew that they had newer recruits that were either sold into slavery by their parents or offered up themselves to come to America.
They were taking a big chance with this idea but they knew it would solve at least two problems at once. Bobby and Nate didn’t have families when they brought the idea to Sam and Marcus. They had all been on board then just waiting out a decision from James and Thomas.
Now that they had the approval it was time to act. There were lives that could be saved and bettered. These individuals could be the ghosts the family needed to continue the Briggs tradition but at the same time give them all a chance to live a little easier.
Nate would never give up the family business. He lived and breathed it like all Briggs but it was time to make some changes that would allow him to sleep better at night. But Bobby was right this could not come back to them. Nate trusted his team and knew they were the best but he wouldn’t put Pam or his girls in danger.
Nate smiled inside at the thought of his unborn daughters. He needed to do this for them as much as he needed to keep them safe. He could remember not getting to really spend time with his father when James Mairettie was in the height of his career. Nate didn’t want that for his girls. He had built his own empire to make sure he didn’t have to. His family would want for nothing.
He made his decision right then. “Calling Black in may not be a bad idea. He does things outside the box and if we can get him to agree on this I think he would be just the person we need to do this without it leading back to our doors,” Nate relented.
“Trust me, he’ll agree. There is more to the Black family than people know,” Sam said.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you. What is with you and Uri and now you and Black?” Nate asked lifting a brow.
Sam looked at Nate for a long moment. “Long story,” was Sam’s final answer. “I’ll make the call. Get the logistics ready.”
Nate let it go for now. He was content at the moment. He would be able to make things work with Pam if he could slow things down for once.
Chapter Sixteen
“I don’t know how you are doing it Camille,” Pam laughed. The girls had all come over for a girl’s night. “Throwing a baby shower for all four of us, if it was me these heifers would be out of luck.”
“You know you are so wrong,” Paige laughed and chucked a chip at her sister.
“What girl, you know she has her work cut out for her,” Pam chuckled.
Camille gave Pamela a big smile. “It’s not a big deal. Besides, I haven’t been doing it all alone. Marie has been a great help and so have Minnie and Davina.”
“I don’t think I have been that much of a help,” Marie pouted. “Camille is like a machine.”
Paige laughed. “Yeah, she can be aggressive when she has an idea locked in her head.” Paige looked at her friend with warmth in her heart. Her smile faded a little as she watched something pass over Camille’s eyes.
“Well I appreciate it,” Rita said with a glowing smile on her face.
“I just want to thank you for including me,” Ellen said. “I mean it’s my second baby, all the other girls are having their first. You really didn’t have to include me.”
“How could I leave you out, Sweetie,” Camille said softly.
Paige’s focus really honed in on Cam now. Camille was always ready with an upbeat or sassy reply. It was one of the things that had drawn Paige to her. She reminded her of her sister. Something was up.
“You ladies have become really important to me. I never thought I would have so many great women in my life. Paige has been a great friend and now you guys all mean so much to me,” Camille choked out.
“Hey, hey, hey,” Paige said. “What’s going on Cam?”
Camille broke down into sobs. “It’s nothing. I don’t want to ruin the night,” Camille tried to turn off the waterworks, but she had been holding this all in for so long.
“Are you serious,” Ellen scowled. “Something hasn’t been right for a few weeks now. I’ve just been giving you time.”
Since returning from the island Camille and Ellen had become very close, even having play dates for Jess and Camille’s boys. Camille had intentionally been avoiding Paige lately because she knew she would sense something was wrong. She didn’t realize Ellen had learned her so well as well.
“She is right Cam, you are not hiding as well as you think you are,” Pamela said gently.
Camille took a deep breath. “Seth has filed for a divorce. It’s not like I didn’t know this would happen someday but … not like this. I always thought he would leave me for his secretary, but he showed us both. He has some other young girl on the side that he has gotten pregnant and she is insisting he divorce me and marry her to take care of his responsibilities.”
Camille released a bitter laugh. “Like my boys are nothing, as if they are not his responsibilities. You know I don’t care about me. It just rips my heart to pieces that he cares so little for our boys. I know I joke about not caring but those little boys are my world. You know,” Camille shrugged.
“He doesn’t even want any kind of custody,” Camille said just above a whisper. “But that’s not the worst of it all. My father already has list of eligible bachelors that he wants to marry me off to. I won’t do this again. I can’t.”
“Oh God Cam, why haven’t you said anything,” Paige asked first.
“I think I’ve been in shock. Seth doesn’t want the boys but he has threatened to take them and use my affiliation with club Desire to do it if I try to fight him for more than his piece of shit offer,” Camille said as a blush covered her face.
“Are you kidding me,” Paige raged. “That prick gave you the membership.”
“What is club Desire?” Pam asked looking confused.
Marie had the same confused look. It seemed they were the only two in the room that didn’t know. Paige didn’t miss that fact as her face too flamed with embarrassment.
“It’s a private sex club,” Ellen flipped her wrist dismissively.
Marie’s mouth popped open but it was Paige that asked what she was thinking. “And how do you know?”
“How do you think I met my husband,” Ellen said with a coy smile.
“Seriously,” Paige and Pam asked at the same time.
“Yup,” Ellen giggled. “We met in the LA chapter. Sam had brought a potential client along. He heard the guy was into that type of thing. I was there with a friend. I think it was love at first sight.”
“Ellen,” Marie gasped as her face turned red.
Rita throw her head back and laughed. “And this is why Jas should just give up,” Rita chuckled.
“Hush Rita,” Marie hissed as her face turned a deeper shade of red.
Camille sniffled and her face brightened. “Wait, this sounds like something juicy. Come on Marie help me forget my woes,” Camille chirped.
“Oh no, I think we can find something better to cheer you up,” Marie frantically shook her head.
“Oh no you don’t Cam, I know what you are trying to do,” Paige snappe
d. “I want you and whatever Seth’s lawyers have sent to you in my office first thing Monday morning.”
“And this is why I haven’t told you. This could get ugly and you need to spend your time relaxing not being stressed with my problems,” Camille sighed. “Daddy has his lawyers on it.”
“Oh please Cam, this is what I do. If you let your father’s lawyers handle this you will be married off to his first choice for you and he will use this divorce to insure you do it,” Paige folded her arms across her chest.
Camille bit her lip in thought then nodded, “Okay, okay,” she conceded. “Now back to Marie and Jasper. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. What’s up with that Chicca?”
“It’s nothing,” Marie said coyly as her cheeks started to pink all over again.
Just then Marie was saved by the bell. Pam huffed knowing that none of the guys were supposed to be coming by for a few more hours. Pushing out of her chair she started for the door. Her frustration grew as she heard the girls turn back to the subject of this club Desire.
She was curious and surprised her sister knew anything about it. Not so surprised that Camille would know about it and even less surprised that she was a member. However, Ellen definitely caused her to look a little closer at the seemingly reserved woman.
Pam opened the door bringing her attention back to the unexpected interruption. Standing on the other side was the woman from a week ago. Vanessa was it, Pam mused to herself.
“Hi Pam,” the woman bubbled. “I’m so sorry to disturb you but I wouldn’t let my friends throw me a house warming so they brought me all kinds of goodies, fruits and food and things. I just thought I’d share some so it doesn’t go to waste.”
Pam looked at Vanessa’s full hands and remembered she said she was pregnant. Reaching to give her a hand she stepped aside. “Come on in. We actually have plenty of food but there are also four pregnant women in here so I’m sure we can help you out,” Pam said with a smile.
“Oh, I don’t want to intrude. I know you said you like to keep to yourself,” Vanessa protested.