by Drake, J. L.
“Any word from the guys?” I ask casually.
He nods, setting his empty glass in the sink.
“Checked in this morning; they crossed the border and are heading to the location now.”
“Cole said they check in twice.” I want him to know Cole spoke to me about it, so I showed him I know about the check-ins.
“Yes, they’ll check in again when they’re back at the safe house.” He pauses, watching me. I pretend not to notice then he clears his throat. “Should be around seven our time.” He grabs a few more cookies. “I got to go get some stuff done, I’ll see you later.”
***
The dinner table has a few new faces. I’m assuming they step in when Cole’s group is gone. I notice York takes over Cole’s seat at the head of the table. He can’t possibly be in charge while Cole's away? The thought makes me ill.
“Savi,” York greets me with a superior tone, “meet Two, Three, and Four.” He waves at the new guys at the table.
Two rolls his eyes. “We also have names. I’m Adam, this is Dell and, that is Quinn. Nice to finally meet you; we’ve heard all good things.”
“Yeah like you rocked it at paintball,” Quinn says winking. “Heard Cole was livid though.”
“It was fun.” I grin remembering the rush. “He was pretty upset, but he cooled off.”
“You’re not scared of him are you?” Adam asks, amazed. I don’t want to act like I know about Cole’s background story I know there is a lot more to him than that.
“Of Cole? No, why would I be?”
Adam sits his fork down. “I’ve watched him snap a man’s neck as he strolled by like it was nothing.” I close my eyes at the image. “He’s not exactly warm and fuzzy.”
“I spent seven months with men that made me beg for my next meal and beat me so I could hardly walk, so no, Cole doesn’t scare me at all. He’s been nothing but nice to me.”
“Point taken,” Adam adds quickly. “If it counts, I really like your cookies.”
I laugh, seeing York look a little irritated. I ignore him.
“Thanks. So what is it that you guys normally do?”
“We’re normally traveling and aren’t often at the house,” Dell answers. “So it’s nice to have a break. We step in when Team Blackstone is called out.”
Blackstone…“How often is Blackstone called out?” I ask, sipping my wine.
“Depends, they’re the Alpha team here at Shadows, they handle the high risk stuff and they’re called out, oh, maybe once or twice a month.” Dell takes a swig of beer. “We’re at a level five because of your case. Things are a bit tense along the border. Los Sirvientes Del Diablos are stirring up a lot of dust since you’ve dropped off the radar.”
“I still don’t understand why I’m such a big deal to them, you’d think they’d cut their losses and move on. Christ, it’s just fifty grand!”
“No, Savannah, you’re worth more to them than just fifty grand, I mean they are blackmailing—”
“Dell!” York snaps, making me knock over my empty water glass.
What the hell!
“Sorry, Quinn, ah did you catch the game last night?” Dell tries lamely to change the topic.
“Oh no,” I hold my hand up to York, “you don’t get to shut him up. This case involves me and I get to hear all the details. Dell out with it!”
“Not a word, Dell,” York warns.
“Stop, York,” I hiss, “who are they blackmailing? My father? Lynn? Why? With what?”
Dell shakes his head. “I’m really sorry, Savannah, I shouldn't have said anything—”
“Like hell you shouldn't”
“Savannah, enough.” York stands, placing his hands on the table, staring me down.
I stand, meeting his stare. I can feel my hands vibrating with anger.
“Shut your mouth.”
Abigail suddenly leaves the table.
“Pardon me?” The table grows silent. “Why are you angry? Because Dell’s not trapping me on the patio telling me this?”
His eyes narrow down at me as he clenches his fists.
“Stop, or I’ll make you shut up.” He bites out each word carefully.
I raise my chin feeling my emotions change, I need to pull off a huge lie.
“You. Don’t. Scare. Me,” I say as I hold my eyes steady on his.
“I should.” A few of the guys rise to their feet ready to step in if need be.
I smile sweetly. “You’ll never fill that chair the way he does.” I toss my napkin on the table. “Excuse me, guys.”
I make way down the hallway—my high is quickly being replaced with the fear I said I didn’t have. I look down at my wobbly legs and run smack into something hard. I snap back but I get jolted forward into the arms of the biggest, scariest, tattooed man I’ve ever laid eyes on. His arms are huge; he looks like he bathes in steroids. He is tatted up from his smoothly shaved head to I’m guessing his toes. Holy mother of shit.
“Umm,” is all I could get out before I find my voice. “I really, really hope you’re Mike.” He grins widely.
“Yup.” He helps me steady myself. “I got word York was at you again.”
I roll my eyes at him. “That man hates me. I bet he’d buy me a plane ticket to the American himself if he could get away with it.”
He laughs loudly. “You really get under his skin, and we all love it.” His face goes serious. “Did he threaten you?”
I look down. The last thing I need is this getting back to Cole.
“Look we had words—he’ll cool off, tomorrow’s another day.” I can see him thinking.
“You know Cole can watch the security tapes of the house from where he’s at right?”
“Let’s not give him a reason to lose focus on the job he’s doing, okay?”
He nods his head—seems like he agrees with me on this.
“There’s a radio in the kitchen by the intercom. If you change it to our numbers you can get us directly. Seven is Keith and I’m six. You need us, you call us, deal?”
“Okay, deal, thanks Mike.”
***
The next day I avoid York as much as possible. I hear Cole’s team finally checked in at eleven the night before. I can tell things aren’t going exactly to plan by Keith’s tone when I enter the kitchen this morning. He and Abigail both look stressed, although they assure me everything is fine. I don’t press it.
Abigail and I decide to have dinner in the entertainment room and watch some of our favorite movies.
“So when does your sister arrive?” I ask, stabbing a piece of lettuce with my fork.
“Two days, she’ll be here for Thanksgiving and stay for a few months. That’s pretty normal for her; we’re really close.”
Lynn flashes in my memory. I quickly tuck that emotion aside. “Cole’s parents will be here too and you’ll get to meet his mother, Sue. She’s lovely, warmhearted, and a pretty smart lady. She’s quick and sees a lot.”
“Living here you would have to be,” I joke. “How did you even start working here, Abigail? I mean, it’s not like a position here would be listed in a local employment ad in the newspaper.”
“No, definitely not,” she laughs. “I started working for the Logans when Cole was six. As he got older and didn’t need a nanny anymore they moved me here. I love it, these boys are like the kids I never had.”
“Mark’s your favorite isn’t he?” I ask, knowing I’m right.
“I do have a weak spot for Mark mainly because he and Cole have been best friends for about twenty-three years. Mark’s mother wasn’t around much and his father left when he was born so he always looked at me like a parent.” She sets her plate on the couch and turns to look at me, grinning. “Can you keep a secret?”
“Of course.” I’m excited for a little girl talk.
“Mark met a girl a little while ago. They’ve been talking. Her name is Melanie. She works in town so one day I decided to check her out, you know, make sure she’s good enough for my
boy. Well, I found her working at the coffee shop. She’s tall, slim with red hair—sweet little thing, and I did something.” She stops, giving me a guilty face.
“What did you do?” I can barely wait to find out.
“I introduced myself to her we ended up talking for twenty minutes after her shift and I invited her to Thanksgiving dinner.” She cups her mouth. “He’s going to kill me!”
“Oh my God.” I burst out laughing. “That’s classic! Do you think she’ll show?”
“I do.” She wipes a tear away. “Oh lord, Savi, what do I do?”
“Maybe Mark will invite her and you’ll be off the hook.”
“She did mention he was hinting around—”
“Wait! Back up a second.” I shake my head. “I don’t understand how you are able to invite someone to come here to the house for dinner?”
“Oh no, sorry, Daniel’s best friend, Zack, has a restaurant and bar here in town. They have great food. Plus it’s a huge break for me.”
“Oh, I see. Well maybe we can blame John.” We both burst out laughing. Poor John. He got in some shit too over the paintball game. Guess Mark didn’t take all the blame.
“Perhaps.” Her face shifts expression. “These boys work really hard and they do a lot of the things that average person can’t. Holidays, no matter how big or small, I try to make sure that they are celebrated because they deserve to have some down time to just be themselves.” She raises her eyebrow at me. “I think that’s why I invited Melanie, I want Mark to find someone that he can someday come home to. So I’m just giving him a little push.” She chuckles. “Isn’t that what parents do?”
“I think it’s sweet.” Oh, I just love Abigail, and I can’t wait to meet her sister June.
Chapter Ten
A pounding headache wakes me out of a dead sleep and I crawl out of bed feeling lightheaded. I make my way to the kitchen knowing Abigail has a stash of Advil in her personal cabinet above the stove. I down three and drink two glasses of water then sink into a chair, propping my head on my hands, a movement to my left has me fully alert.
“Well, if it isn’t Savannah Miller, case number 22571,” York mutters, leaning against the wall holding a beer. I immediately get the impression it isn’t his first.
I’m not in the mood for him, so I stand, moving to the hallway, but he slides over, making me change route toward the living room instead.
“You’re pretty quiet now, aren’t you, pretty lady?” He follows behind me then steps in my way I stop trying to go around him and head for the stairs, going down two at a time.
I don’t know where I am going; I just don’t want to be alone with him. I slip into an office, shutting the door behind me, but his shoe stops it from closing and he slams it open. “Oh, Savi, you don’t seem so brave now.”
“Move, York,” I order, raising my chin and squaring my shoulders as he steps toward me at the same time, taking a sip of his beer.
“Or what? You weigh a buck fifty soaking wet. I could blow and you’d fall over.”
I hold up my hands as I feel the desk hit the back of my thighs. “Not so brave when you don’t have your knight here, hey?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I whisper, feeling like an ass. What a stupid line that is.
“So you’re saying that you and Cole aren’t fucking?”
I cringe at his tone.
“Well, that changes things then.” Before I know what is happening he yanks me to him crushing his lips to mine.
Oh yuck! The mix of beer and his cologne nearly brings my dinner up. I push, pound, and kick trying to get him off but he has me pinned. His hands start to roam, Oh shit. I shove my knee up and drive it in his crotch just as I bite down hard on his lower lip, he cries out as he falls backwards. I leap over him and dash for the hallway not getting three feet before his arm snags around my waist slamming me to the wall. Air rushes out of my lungs from the impact.
He grips the top of my arms hard, lifting me off my feet looking angrier than I’ve ever seen him before. Blood drips from his lip, I got him pretty good. “You’re fair game, Savannah, there hasn’t been a woman like you here before, young and real pretty. I rather like it.” His grip tightens on my arms and I can’t help but cry out; it only makes him squeeze tighter. “I think I’m going to claim you as mine.”
Oh, what? Seriously? We hate each other!
“Get your hands off of me,” I cry.
He laughs as he drops me to my feet pressing his erection into my stomach.
“Screw off, York!” I hit his chest hard but he reaches down, ripping my shirt open as he traps my arms at my sides, slowly running his gaze down my body. I am so thankful I wore a bra to bed tonight. He lets go with one hand to undo his belt.
“Stop it! No, York!” I start to cry when I realize he actually intends to follow through. “Please, York, no, don’t do this.”
He is fumbling with the buckle, cursing at me to shut up.
I take the moment and knee him again, hard. This time he falls backward, tumbling into the wall. I run in a full sprint up the stairs across the living room to the other set of stairs in the entryway. I wrap my ripped shirt around me when I get close to the bedrooms and hear Abigail’s door open just as I reach my door. I slam the door, locking it behind me, sliding down to the floor sobbing and out of breath. Unable to think straight, I don’t know what to do. I haven’t been that terrified since I was back in my prison room.
“No,” I hiss squeezing my eyes shut. Not now. I can’t go back there. Stay in the present!
“Savannah,” York whispers from outside my door.
My eyes pop open and heart pounds in my throat.
“Open the door.” He rattles the door knob. “I can hear you breathing.” His voice is oddly calm, considering he has had two hard blows to the crotch. “You know I can pick this lock in a heartbeat.” I scramble off the floor, hopping to my feet and frantically feeling around the wooden panel for the key code. I hear the door handle rattle again. Finally the panel flips down and I punch in the code in 8986 twice before I get it right and the door pops open and I slip into the darkness.
My trembling fingers feel my way around the wall there must be a light switch but I don’t want to chance anyone seeing me. I find the little library room that belongs to Cole’s mother. When the door closes behind me a tiny glow shines from a light in the corner and I flop down on the pillows, curl into a ball, and cry myself to sleep.
***
“Ouch,” I whimper as I roll onto my back, my eyes feel dry and puffy as they adjust to the soft glow. Gold lines make a beautiful Indian pattern along the ceiling. I gasp, realizing I’m not in my room as the memories of last night come rushing back to me. I lift my hands to cover my face and feel the pain in my arms. Looking down at the pair of black and blue hand prints—one on each arm—I can’t believe that I escaped him. Shit! I scramble to stand on shaky legs, my head is fuzzy making me reach trying to let it pass then sneak out of the library. Standing at the door to my room, I put my ear to the door listening to hear if anyone is in there. It sounds clear, so I punch in the code and slip inside.
Everything looks okay. Nothing has been moved, my unmade bed reminding me of what almost happened. My stomach drops when I see the time—ten thirty! Oh God, I hope Abigail hasn’t come up to check on me yet. I rush into the shower after grabbing a blue tank top with a grey sweater that tied in the front. Knowing there will be no blow drying my hair today because of my arms, it will have to dry wavy. I stand in front of my door trying to convince myself to go downstairs and face everyone. I am beyond mortified that someone might see the security tapes. I need to figure something out.
“Good morning, Savannah.” Dell smiles as he reaches for the OJ in the fridge. “Sorry about last night.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, Dell,” I reassure him. “Where is everyone?”
“If you mean, York, he’s been in Cole’s office all morning. I think he’s nursing a hangove
r because he’s hurting today.” He laughs. “Serves him right. He gets such a power trip whenever Cole’s gone.”
Good. I hope his balls are swollen to the size of grapefruits.
“Yeah he sure does,” I mutter. “Hey, do you have any pain medication that’s stronger than Advil?”
He stops mid bite.
“Why, did you hurt yourself?”
I look away not wanting to lie but my arms are really starting to ache.
“Isn’t there any goddamn ice in this place?” York yells from down the hall.
My stomach turns as fear kicks in.
“You know what, never mind.” I head for the stairs and up to my room. Once my door is locked I start to shake. How am I going to live in this house with him? I crawl onto my bed and concentrate on my breathing.
***
“Savi.” Abigail shakes my arm.
“Ouch,” I cry out my eyes pop open seeing her puzzled face.
“Sorry, but it’s time for dinner.”
I roll back over wincing in pain. “I’m not hungry.”
“Savannah Miller,” she whips out her mother tone, “I know for a fact that you haven’t eaten a thing today. I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I will not leave this room unless you are with me.”
I sigh pulling, myself up quickly before she can touch me again.
“Care to share,” she asks as we walk down the hallway her expression questioning.
“Not really,” I whisper, pulling my sweater tighter around me. “Sorry.” I feel badly not being able to share what happened with her but it's still too raw and God knows what she would do.
We walk into the living room to find Dell and Quinn talking to Cole. My stomach jumps; they’re back! Abigail winks as she walks by, oh man, she’s good! But as my excitement rises my nerves do too.
“Hey, you.” Mark leans in giving me a peck on the cheek as he hands me a martini. “You look like you could use something stronger than wine tonight.”
I took a long sip of the heavenly drink.