Ember
Page 23
Chest clenched, I reached for her and took possession of her mouth.
“Hmm.” She pulled back. “A very good morning.”
“The best.” I chuckled against her lips. “I think I know a way to make it better, too.”
“Oh?” She crawled over until she was straddling me. “And what’s that?”
“Mind reader,” I growled, gripping her hips with both of my hands.
She threw her head back and sighed. “Yes, well, that’s not my only talent.”
“Believe me,” I growled, “I’m well aware.”
Last night had been an absolute dream — or nightmare, depending on how you looked at it. It had been years since I’d let a girl touch me.
Even knowing that, Bee hadn’t just touched me; she’d stroked, played, and, when that hadn’t satisfied her curiosity, she’d tasted.
I died a thousand deaths.
And lasted all but five seconds with her mouth on me before I’d had to be inside her.
We hadn’t gotten much sleep — and part of the reason had felt desperate, like if we’d spent any of those moments we had together doing anything but kissing, making love, then we were being wasteful. Maybe that was because I’d felt like I’d wasted so much of my life so far.
“Phoenix!” Bee clapped her hands in front of my face then rocked her hips into me. “Focus, man. We’ve only got ten minutes.”
“Bossy.” I reached for her but was slapped away.
“Get your head in the game, son.” She winked. “We have ten minutes before I have to get ready.” She slid her body against mine.
I moaned. “Got it. Ten minutes.”
“Maybe nine now.” She giggled then slid against me again. Bee rubbing her naked body against mine was so damn erotic, I just wanted to sit back and watch, and then she slapped me against the chest, killing the moment. “Dude, we’re running out of time!”
“Did you just call me dude?”
“Yeah, like we’re on a farm, a dude ranch!” She clapped. “Get it? Because I’m on top of you and—”
“Bee…” With a tug and a bit of shifting, I had her flat on her back. “…shut up.”
“But—”
My tongue plunged inside her mouth as I covered her body with mine; our hands gripped each other tightly as I made love to every inch of her, paying special attention to every place, worried I’d missed a spot of skin that hadn’t yet had my lips.
“I like it when you make me shut up.” She tugged me by the hair and damn near drew blood with her teeth when she kissed me. “More.”
“I’ll always give you more.” I rocked into her. “Always.”
“Good.” Her head fell back against the pillows as my movements went from slow and fluid to frenzied. “That’s so good.”
When she hooked her ankles behind me, I lost complete control, forgetting about her pleasure or anything else. I let her grip carry me off the ledge.
“Selfish bastard,” she hissed.
“What?” Horrified I glanced up at her. “Bee, I’m so sorry I—”
“Kidding.” She held up her hands. “But it was worth it to see that look on your face.”
With a growl, I spanked her. Hard. And tilted my head. “We still have five minutes, Bee…”
“So use them.” She wiggled against me. “And make ’em good, Phoenix.”
“I don’t know how to do bad.”
“I know.” She laughed. “Oh, and I love you, just in case you were curious.”
“Good, because when you screamed my name just now, I was afraid your heart wasn’t really in it.”
“Yeah, well, not all screams are created equal.”
I laughed against her neck. “Probably two minutes… shower or make out?”
“Silly boy with his funny options.” She slammed her mouth against mine.
And I spent the next two minutes making both of us forget everything but us… together.
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Heart. Broken.
Bee
“SO…” I GOT OUT of the car and checked my cell. Surprisingly no freak-out texts from the brother. Things were looking up! You know, until I told him that my security guard, family enemy, and his least favorite person was going to be a dad.
Yeah, maybe I should tell Mo first so she could pave the way with lots and lots of sex. Ew. He was my brother, but I was desperate that he be as calm as possible when Phoenix and I sat down with him and gave him the news. I even thought about bringing in a puppy.
Because puppies screamed innocence, and really, who could shoot someone in front of a puppy? A heartless bastard, that’s who.
Oh look! Tex’s name next to that definition in Webster’s. Oh well, I tried.
“So, what?” Phoenix checked his phone and didn’t take off his sunglasses or his jacket.
“Er, we going to class first, or do I get the coffee promised to me beforehand?”
“Coffee.” A voice chirped. “Ah, I forgot how much fun it was to be a little errand boy. Chase, get me coffee. Chase, grab my books.”
Phoenix smirked. “Trace never ordered you around like that.”
“True.” Chase sighed. “I think I may have made that up in my head to make myself feel better about being her security guard. You know, since my balls all but disappeared during that sad, sad time.”
“Chase?” I crossed my arms. “Why are you here?”
“You’re smaller than I remember?” He glanced at Phoenix. “Does she look smaller?”
“Right here,” I sang out, raising my hands.
“No.” Phoenix tapped his chin. “Prettier though. Definitely prettier.”
“Tsk, tsk, don’t let the Cappo hear you say that lest he castrate your parts and feed them to the birds.”
“Bird.” I laughed.
Phoenix glared.
“He loves that word.” Winking, I uncrossed my arms. “No, but seriously, why are you here, Chase?”
“It’s the job, little one.”
“Little one?” I repeated.
“Seriously though, I thought you were tall.” Chase shook his head. “Alright, let’s go coffee you, since clearly your growth is already shot to shit, and then we’ll go to class. I can’t wait to pick on your least favorite students. Don’t tell me who they are; I’ll figure it out then make a cutting motion with my finger and see if they piss themselves.”
Phoenix rolled his eyes. “Sorry, Bee. I have some things I need to do today, so Chase is going to make sure you get to every class on time.”
“And pee during the allotted breaks,” Chase piped up. “But it’s weird that Phoenix actually wrote that down.”
Panicked, I was about to freak out, or say something like, “Don’t leave me!” when Phoenix pulled me into his arms and kissed me, silencing all the worries before I could even voice them.
“Baby—” He kissed me harder. “—you’re safe. Just trust me on this, okay?”
“And…” I had trouble finding my voice. “…you’ll be right back? Tonight? As promised?”
“Yes, yes, and yes.” He kissed my nose. “I love you.”
My eyes watered with tears. Stupid hormones! “Love you too.”
When he released me and stepped back, I expected Chase to charge him or say something smart. Instead his mouth was ajar, and he was looking between us as if we’d just told him we were from Mars and taking him back to our leader.
“Dude…” Chase scratched his head. “…Tex is going to flip his shit… but… I’m happy for you.” He licked his lips and looked down. “I didn’t think… it was… like this.”
“Like what?” Phoenix gripped my hand and kissed each finger.
“Real.” Chase snorted, finally looking up. “I didn’t think it was real.”
“And now?” Phoenix asked, releasing my hand and pulling out his keys. “Now what do you think?”
“I think you better stop looking at her that way before she ends up pregnant.” Chase chuckled. “That’s what I think.”
“Please.” Chase waved him off. “I’m the best bodyguard around.”
“You got shot last time.” Phoenix rolled his eyes. “Just sayin’.”
“Flesh wound, bitch.” Chase gave him the finger. “Just sayin’.”
“Alright, girls.” I clapped my hands. “Can we go now? Before one of you ends up comparing gun sizes?”
“Like it’s a contest,” Chase grumbled.
“Bite me!” Phoenix charged toward him.
Laughing, I pushed at Phoenix’s chest and shoved him toward the car. “Get in, big boy. Apparently, you’ve got work to do.”
“You let her anywhere near your gun, and I end you,” Phoenix called over my shoulder then kissed me possessively.
“You do realize he’s happily married?” I pointed out when he drew back.
“Don’t care.” Phoenix kissed me again, this time harsher. “The man could charm anything with a pulse.”
“Thanks!” Chase called over. “I’ll let my wife know you appreciate my skill.”
“Weirdest conversation ever,” I mumbled. “Go, Phoenix, we’ll be fine, all three of us.”
His face softened. “I’ll miss you both.”
“Go already.”
He kissed me again then shut the door to his car and drove off.
It was hard not to feel his loss like a physical blow to my body. I’d become so used to having him around that his absence next to me felt strange; even when he’d been annoying and cruel to me, he’d still been there.
“Chin up, buttercup.” Chase threw on a pair of sunglasses and popped his knuckles. “You’re with Uncle Chase now.”
“Ew!” I held up my hands. “I’m sure you meant that as a weird sort of familial gesture, but all I felt was the intense need to punch you in the face.”
“Aw, you really are Tex’s sister. I’m so proud. But don’t punch the face. Mil will get pissed. Apparently, only she’s allowed to bruise me.”
“Happen often?”
“More than I’d care to admit.” He laughed.
I’d always liked Chase’s laugh; it was easy, fun, comfortable. It was almost comfortable enough to forget that he was a trained killer, who was also skilled in the art of torture and enjoyed shooting things.
Add that in with his crazy good looks, and a girl felt anything but comfortable around the guy. More like petrified and oddly curious as to how he kept his hair styled so perfect all the time.
“Do you wax?” I asked, once we reached the campus coffee shop.
Chase smirked. “Do I wax? Where did that come from?”
“Up here.” I tapped my head. “Now buy me a coffee and answer the question.”
“Are we talking wax my eyebrows or my…” He grunted. “…ass.”
“You have a hairy ass?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“No, I really wouldn’t. Just curious how you keep…” I pointed at his face. “…all this so perfectly groomed.”
“Aw, shucks, she called me perfect.” He winked at the barista who, in turn, looked ready to choke on her tongue and pass out head first into the milk wand. “Keep the change,” he whispered.
He’d given her a twenty.
“Shameless little whore,” I said under my breath. “Flirting with the coffee lady.”
“She’s fifty.” Chase rolled his eyes. “And has worked at Elite for the past four years, has three grandchildren, can’t afford health insurance — or couldn’t until we hired her — and her social security number is—”
I plugged my ears and winked. “You made your point. You know everything about everyone.”
“Care to play a game?” He gave me his coffee and held out his arm.
I took it and narrowed my eyes. “Ah, doubtful of my skill?”
“Maybe.”
“Name a teacher.”
“Mr. Hibland.”
“Horrible man.” Chase shuddered. “Actually tried to kill his own wife in order to get life insurance. When it was discovered by the university that he tried to spook her horse, we spooked him, cut out his tongue, offered him a lovely salary to teach sign language so we could keep him under our thumb if we need quick cleanup on campus. His social security number changed — after all his wife thinks he’s dead. Oh, and we gave her the life insurance money. Last I heard, she was on her second honeymoon in France.”
My mouth dropped open.
“What?” He shrugged. “Just because they’re teachers here doesn’t mean they’re clean. In fact, we have more dirty teachers than clean ones at Elite, but we like it that way. basically means we can burn down the entire school and they’ll simply nod their heads and ask if we want to burn them as well.”
“Scary.”
Chase took a sip of his coffee. “Not really, but it is necessary.”
“To control everyone and everything?”
“If we don’t...” He stopped walking. “…people get hurt. Therefore, we control, we play puppetmaster, and hopefully, when things go to hell, we’re able to fix them.”
“Huh.” The coffee was warm against my lips as we walked in comfortable silence all the way to my first class. “Do you know what Phoenix is up to?”
He snorted. “Phoenix is all kinds of scary. I’d no sooner ask him than tell Nixon I want a swift kick to the balls. Nixon knows, and that’s enough. Though, if I were a betting man, I’d say it has to do with Sergio.”
I paused. “Why Sergio?”
“Keep your friends close… and your enemies closer.” He flicked my chin with his fingers and led me into the building.
“And you guys think Sergio is our enemy?”
“Think, suspect, ponder...” Chase shrugged. “…regardless, Phoenix is the one that has to figure it out, not us. After all, he’s the only one who truly knows anything about Sergio. The rest of us were left in the dark, thank God.”
“Wait, I don’t understand.”
Chase sighed and rubbed his face with his free hand. “Think of it this way… our family has secrets, lots and lots of secrets. Secrets are like currency in our way of life. But the gatekeeper? That was always Luca. That was why people were so terrified of him. He knew everything. Hell, I still don’t know how the man slept at night. But he made it his life goal to have something on every family, on every individual. The day he died, those secrets made a little transfer — directly into Phoenix’s hands.”
“Doesn’t that put him in danger?” I swallowed the fear that was slowly rising in my throat.
“No, sweetheart.” Chase chuckled. “That makes him a powerful son of a bitch. And the last thing you want to do is piss off a man who finally has something to live for.”
“Huh?”
“You,” Chase whispered. “I’m talking about you.”
CHAPTER FIFTY
Secrets kill.
Phoenix
I DROVE IN TENSE silence, following my GPS until it finally stopped moving. I parked my car across the street and glanced up at the building. Well, shit.
The Federal Building.
A part of me knew.
And that part was wishing like hell I was wrong.
With a loud sigh, I made sure I put both of my guns in the glove box and tossed my sunglasses onto the dash.
The folder sat on the leather seat next to me, mocking me, staring at me. Luca’s handwriting was scrawled across it.
I pulled the note from the top of the pile and read it over again.
Open and proceed only if he’s reactivated. It’s the only way. Be smart. Be safe. You’re a Nicolasi now. Do what needs to be done. Think about it later.
“Ha, easy for you to say, you crazy bastard.” I wiped my face with my hands and slowly got out of the car, locking the door behind me. I glanced up at the building and made my way across the street.
By the time I made it into the building and through the metal detectors, I
was sweating.
A De Lange — the boss of the Nicolasi family — was officially walking into enemy territory.
Had someone told me I’d be walking into the FBI building a year ago, I would have thought they’d meant in cuffs.
Not as a free man.
I took the elevator to the fourth floor.
The doors to the elevator opened. I looked up. Activity blurred around the office — papers flew, phones rang.
But the minute I stepped off the elevator, all activity… simply… stopped.
That was the problem with the government; they took such crap pictures of people that when the feds actually saw me in person, they had to stare a good five seconds before they realized who the hell I was.
Nobody moved a muscle.
I smirked and made my way toward the back office.
Whispering commenced. I had the sudden urge to turn around and say something like “Boo!” But they’d probably mistake it for bomb and use that as a reason to arrest me.
As it was…
I was clean.
As a freaking whistle.
I knew it. They knew it.
I could strip naked and do a little dance, and they’d still have to let me go on grounds that I knew too much.
To the feds, I was too dangerous.
Because what Luca had known — I now knew.
And it could get them shut down.
By the time I made it to Director Smith’s office, the rest of the room started talking again, though it was hushed as if they were afraid to speak too loudly.
I knocked twice.
He looked up.
And paled.
I angled my head. “Care if I come in?”
He opened his mouth, but all that came out was a croak.
“What? No, it’s nice to see you.” He swallowed and moved to stand.
“I’d rather you sit.” I held out my hand. “Don’t give me a reason to shoot your head off and mess up that lovely picture of…” I peered around him. “…Andi, isn’t it? The adopted daughter you planted in Elite? Blond hair… really pretty brown eyes…” I chuckled. “And dying — am I right? From… what is it?” I snapped my fingers. “Leukemia, that’s it.”