The Executioner 2: Love, Lies, and Revenge (The Executioner Series)

by Melissa Silvey

  The Executioner 2:

  Love, Lies, and Revenge

  The Second Book in the

  Executioner Series

  A Novel By

  Melissa Silvey

  Chapter One

  Arianna Becker stood in front of the brass floor mirror. She didn’t really look at herself as much as everything around her. The furnishings were all antique, purchased by Jordan at an estate sell. Behind her sat the queen sized brass bed to match the mirror, between three bay windows covered with silky white sheer curtains. Over those were deep purple velvet curtains that could be pulled for privacy. Everything in the room was girly and delicate. A brass vanity sat near the walk-in closet, and two brass and glass tables to match sat on either side of the bed.

  Jordan picked the house for this bedroom, because he wanted Arianna to have something special. Arianna thought everything about the house was special, from the beautiful porch on the front to the huge fenced yard in the back with a white gazebo and a fish pond. He bought the house as a surprise for Arianna. It was like a fairy-tale come true complete with the round turret style corner that housed Arianna’s bedroom and the sitting room on the next floor that had a round balcony.

  The three of them moved in four months ago. They all three agreed that Arianna and Jordan’s apartments were just not big enough for the three of them, especially Jordan’s bed. His full-size bed was just a bit larger than Arianna’s twin sized bed in her apartment. It hadn’t bothered her for five years prior to meeting her guys, but she knew they needed something different. Vince took up most of Jordan’s bed, leaving Arianna to snuggle up to Vince or Jordan every night. Some nights she slept in her own bedroom next door to Jordan’s apartment just to have breathing room. Most of the time, on those nights, Vince would sleep on her couch. But occasionally Vince and Jordan would share Jordan’s bed alone. And Arianna didn’t mind.

  She had dropped hints about their shared space more than once, but usually they consisted of her asking for a door between their living rooms. So when Jordan offered to take both Vince and Arianna to dinner one evening Arianna eagerly accepted. It was the first evening she’d been allowed to leave the dorms at Quantico and she was happy to be going out. But instead of taking them out to dinner, he drove her to her dream home about twenty miles outside of Quantico. A “For Sale” sign out front claimed the house was sold.

  “Why do you want to get out,” Ari asked as she pointed at the sign.

  So he pulled a key out of his pocket with a purple bow tied around it, and handed it to her. She freaked out and cried and screamed in the empty house for only ten minutes, and then she started to explore every room. Jordan ordered pizza and carried in two bottles of wine and a two-liter of soda that he’d stored away in his trunk. A sign on one of the doors proclaimed the room Arianna’s, in the same careful calligraphy he’d used to address his good-bye note only a few months before. She opened it to find a room that had to be designed for a girl and furnished by Jordan, and she fell in love.

  “Did you know?” Arianna asked Vince as he stood in her doorway and tried not to smile as she acted like she was ten years old again.

  “I had no idea.” Vince tried to make his voice as calm as possible, because inside he was jealous and he refused to show it. He would never be able to give Ari a house located that close to DC, with five bedrooms and seven bathrooms; especially not one that looked like a Victorian doll house. But he was happy if she was happy, he tried to tell himself.

  They each had their own room, their own personal space. Arianna’s was ultra-feminine, and although she put on the front of being some kind of tough guy, she really liked it. Jordan knew somehow exactly what she would want. Jordan’s room was filled with computer equipment and a huge TV. Vince’s room contained a futon and a second-hand bedside table. He refused to give up his apartment in the city even though he hadn’t spent three nights there in the four months they’d lived in the new house and all his clothes were there. And then there was the shared room. Inside was a king sized bed and two tables for their alarm clocks or phones. TV was not allowed, nor was any computer equipment. Inside their room was for them to enjoy each other and to sleep together. Ari didn’t have the same need for her own space in the huge bed, which was what Jordan had hoped for.

  Ari returned her attention from her fascination with her new bedroom to her dress. She could hardly recognize herself in it, but she was expected to wear it. Today she graduated from the FBI training program in Quantico. She didn’t rank first in her class as Jordan had, but she was proud that she made it through; and so were Vince and Jordan. Jordan even paid for her mom Charlotte to fly in from Ohio. She had no idea how her life could be more perfect.

  She heard a knock at her door and called out, “Come in.” She expected it to be her mother, but instead Vince popped his head inside.

  “Wow, you look gorgeous.” He tried to sound airy and sweet, but his naturally raspy voice refused to cooperate. “Look at you, princess.” He walked up behind her slowly like a sleek panther stalking his prey. His dark chocolate eyes still held that emotion she’d first seen in the safe house they shared months ago. He’d helped her make her bed, and she tried to pay attention to anything but his handsome face. He grabbed her wrist and got her attention, and what she saw in his eyes scared her. No man that handsome should have such expressive eyes; it was just too unfair.

  She’d already fallen for Jordan Stewart by then, and tried to fight her attraction to Special Agent Vincenzo Argento. But try as she did, she couldn’t. It worked out eventually for Arianna; Jordan begged Vince to kiss Ari, and that set off a chain of events that brought the three of them into a beautiful, loving relationship. And the sex was incredible.

  He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her against him. She enjoyed the feel of his big body against hers just as much as the first time he curled up around her in the motel in West Virginia. She smiled as she thought of it, the three of them in the cramped room with two full sized beds. There was so much desire between them it was bound to happen eventually. Especially with Vince in the mix, she thought as she rubbed her round bottom against the hard planes of his body.

  Vince was not nearly as tall as Jordan, but not many men were. Vince was about five inches taller than Ari’s five feet seven inches. Jordan was at least four inches taller than Vince. But Vince was huge. He was muscular with absolutely no body fat. He’d lost weight on Jordan’s vegetarian diet, but gained even more lean muscle. He trained with Jordan who, poor thing, had almost no muscle tone before meeting Vince. He’d bulked up nicely in the months since they all lived together. And that made him even hotter.

  “Listen, princess, I know that you’re used to me getting hard whenever you want to take a ride.” She scoffed at his words, but in her mind she smiled. She did love that about him; whenever she wanted him he was ready. Jordan had worked up to the idea of once a day, and he preferred night. Any more than that and he complained. But Arianna woke up between two hot studs, and for some reason she wanted it more in the morning. Vince accommodated her needs passionately. “But if I take you to bed now and give you a good fucking, you’ll have to redo your pretty hair and make-up.” She knew he teased her, and that was fine. He gave her a good fucking earlier in the shower. And she knew if it wasn’t for her graduation, and her mother wasn’t in town, she’d have him in bed with a smile and a crook of her finger. Well, quite possibly even if Charlotte was in town.

  “Vince, are you happy here?” She wondered as their eyes met in the mirror.

  “Princess, I would be happy with you any
where.” And he punctuated his words with a kiss on her neck.

  Jordan entered the room just then, staring at his watch. “We need to leave in five,” he said as he took in Arianna and Vince’s embrace. “You look gorgeous, by the way.”

  “Thanks, I tried really hard today,” Vince said with a grin. He tamed his shoulder length, dark wavy hair into some semblance of a style with mouse and a hairdryer. He wore a dark grey suit with a new light grey shirt and tie that made his skin seem darker. And he had the slightest, perfectly groomed beard. She thought he looked extra manly with the beard.

  “I wasn’t talking about you, beefcake,” Jordan snapped back. “But you do look good.”

  “I know,” Vince grinned.

  “Thank you Jordan,” Arianna sighed as she took Vince’s hand and led him out of her room. She kissed Jordan’s cheek and took his hand too.

  Charlotte waited downstairs, and when she saw Arianna her face shined with pride. “I haven’t seen you look that pretty since you graduated high school. But then again I didn’t see you for nearly six years.” Charlotte had a way of speaking the uncomfortable truths and making them acceptable. Her next comment proved that, when she complained, “I guess I won’t see you in a wedding dress, so this will have to do.”

  As usual, Charlotte made both Jordan and Vince uncomfortable. Jordan swallowed deeply, and Vince exhaled loudly. “Don’t worry. I’m not ready to be a grandmother… yet.” Vince raised a dark eyebrow and practically leered at Arianna, while Jordan blushed and smiled. Charlotte hadn’t seen the trio in months, as Ari was busy with training, so the difference was obvious to her. Arianna knew something was different about Jordan, but couldn’t put her finger on it… Well, besides the buffing up thing.

  He stood a little taller and he wasn’t nearly as shy. He decided to see a counselor, and the scars from his past were mending. Being with Ari and Vince made him more confident. He wasn’t the boy struggling to find his identity, he was a man. Arianna wrapped her arm around him and hugged him as her mother teased her guys. And they walked toward the car just like that, with Charlotte in front of them, and Vince behind them trying not to frown.

  Her graduation went well; she didn’t trip like she was afraid she would. She had her own cheering section which hollered and clapped as she shook hands with the guest speaker: Secretary of Homeland Security Mark Dutton. She wondered what he thought of the Special Ops team he’d put together, but he made it clear when he said, “I’m so glad you completed the course, Agent Becker.” She smiled and waved at her guys as she walked back to take her seat.

  After the ceremony finished Vince ushered everyone over to an area where Secretary Dutton greeted the graduates and their families. Vince wanted to say hello; he was their new boss, after all.

  “I guess we’re nearly ready for our first assignment now that Arianna is an agent,” Vince said as he shook hands with Dutton.

  “I’d like to see you three in the morning. Come to my office at nine am,” Dutton answered with a slight grin. “I’m looking forward to your reaction to your first destination.”

  Arianna smiled and nodded, but she wasn’t really listening. She felt someone watching her, and turned to encounter the enthralling gaze of blue-green eyes. He stood about ten feet from her, and the father of a graduate spoke to him animatedly. But he didn’t listen, he watched Arianna.

  He was totally not her type, and yet so good looking she couldn’t help but stare. He had an ethereal quality about him, almost angelic. His skin was light as porcelain, his hair a blonde that was too light to be natural, and yet his eyebrows were exactly the same color. He appeared boyish with soft round cheeks; but his full lips were set in a stern line, and his eyes held a maturity that belied his youthful face. Was he older than he looked, or younger?

  He certainly seemed as interested in her as she was in him. She blushed from his attention, and those scintillating eyes narrowed.

  “Ari,” Vince said, and she turned toward him. Vince glanced over his shoulder to see who Ari smiled at; and he frowned when he looked back at her. “We’re ready to leave.” Charlotte’s hand was on Jordan’s arm, and he led her toward the door.

  They were a few steps behind the other pair, and Arianna couldn’t help but ask, “Who was that man over there?”

  Vince scoffed at her and said, “Why do you even look at other guys? You already have two macho men in your bed. You don’t need another.” She giggled at that, but she couldn’t resist stealing another glance as she stepped out the door. He continued to watch her as she disappeared.

  Jordan sprang for dinner at Ari’s favorite restaurant after. She could go out in public now, barely, months after her case had disappeared from the news. She still had people approach her, women mostly, to ask for her autograph. She didn’t like the attention, and she especially didn’t like it that people just assumed she was guilty and some kind of hero. Even though she was guilty, and Jordan and Vince both told her she was a hero. One woman approached Ari at their table, and she listened politely to the story of how she had been raped when she was in college just like Ari’s sister had. It bothered her less and less with repetition. Finally Vince turned to stare at the man she was with, and he approached the table and apologized, then gathered the woman away.

  Jordan handed her a gift wrapped in silver paper when they finished eating. “You’ve given me so much already,” Arianna complained. But when she opened it she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed both his cheeks. The diamond pendant was huge to Ari, and made Vince’s gift of diamond earrings seem small in comparison. But as only Ari could she made it all better when she kissed his cheek. “You two are so alike even your gifts match. Did you two go shopping together?”

  He grinned as he pulled her toward him to kiss her mouth. “I have something else for you when we get home.” And when he said it in that tone, with his gravelly voice, goose bumps formed down her arms.

  “I can’t wait,” she whispered. He felt that familiar spark deep inside him that only Ari could ignite, and his eyes glowed with it. She felt the same tension in her body every time he looked at her that way. “So are we having dessert?”

  “How do you eat so much and not gain weight,” her mother wondered as she ordered a piece of chocolate cake. Charlotte was still slender, and Arianna hoped she looked as good as her mother at that age. Once dessert was finished Arianna and Charlotte excused themselves to the powder room. Jordan paid quickly and pushed his chair back to follow after them.

  “I have a bad feeling about something,” Vince stated.

  “What’s wrong?” Jordan remained seated, and gazed at Vince. He seemed thoughtful throughout dinner, and didn’t rise to any of Charlotte’s bait. That wasn’t like Vince at all.

  “Someone watched Arianna as we were leaving earlier,” Vince sighed.

  “I’m not surprised,” Jordan grinned, and light pink color tinged his cheeks. “I live with her and I still find myself watching her sometimes.”

  “It was Damien Tremblay,” Vince said through gritted teeth. It only took a moment for the implication to sink in. Jordan’s light brown eyes fluttered, then closed.

  The women weren’t the only ones who’d noticed a change in Jordan. Vince noticed it too. He cut his hair in a new, manlier style. His glasses were gone completely; he didn’t even wear them to read anymore. And he wore expensive new clothes. Besides that, he spent tons of money on Arianna. And he wasn’t as receptive to Vince’s advances. If Ari wasn’t in bed with them, he didn’t want to have anything to do with Vince. He was different; he’d shot and killed someone, and had someone killed. That changed people. Vince knew that from experience.

  Jordan moved to stand, but Vince placed his hand on the younger man’s forearm. “He’s the new Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, you know that, right?”

  “I know,” Jordan replied as he jerked away from Vince.

  “Just keep an eye on him, okay?” What else could Vince say? I know you killed his mother?

&nb
sp; “I am,” Jordan assured him as he stood. Arianna and Charlotte walked toward them, and Vince tried to forget about all of it as he gazed at Ari. She looked so pretty in her white dress with her dark hair in curls, pulled up in a feminine style. She wore make-up too, which she didn’t often do. She didn’t need it. Even though she rarely wore it, she knew how to apply it.

  She used a smoky grey shadow and dark eyeliner to emphasize her bright blue eyes, and black mascara to make her lashes look impossibly long. Her cheekbones seemed chiseled, and her lips were full and kissably pink. Yes, he knew what Jordan meant. He still stared at her the same way.

  When they returned to the house, and were alone after Charlotte announced that she was tired at 9:30, Vince gave her a secretive grin. “Your other gift is upstairs in your bedroom.”

  Ari smiled brightly and ran up the stairs, followed by Vince. He’d already gathered Jordan out of his office and motioned for him to follow. Jordan seemed engrossed in his work, but he played along anyway.

  Ari seemed confused when she got upstairs and nothing was there. Jordan joined her inside her room, and Vince walked toward the door and locked it. Ari gave him a naughty grin, but Jordan looked upset.

  “What are we doing Vince? I was busy,” Jordan grumbled. Vince pulled two pairs of handcuffs out of his pocket and gazed pointedly at Ari.

  She stared back at him for several moments. Until she finally got his meaning. “I’m not wearing those. No,” Ari quipped. Then she realized why they were in her room, the bars in the headboard of the brass bed would be the perfect place to handcuff someone. “Not me. You should know me better than that.”

  “I thought you’d like having two big, strong men giving you all of the pleasure.” Vince seemed truly disappointed, and looked to Jordan for support.

  “I already get that,” Arianna said with a bit of cockiness. “I don’t need to be handcuffed.”