Being Free (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Lee Rose

  “How long ago was that?” Blake wanted to know.

  Anna had to think for a minute. “Maybe six or seven weeks ago. I took a bus going to Utah. I met a couple of college girls on the bus. I crashed with them for a few days then I bought a used car and I drove and ended up in Colorado, I think. For about three or so weeks I thought I was safe, but Kyle found me and ran me off the road. I got a little banged up and bought this truck. I was hoping to make it to Phoenix and change my look and move on from there.”

  “Make a stand, Anna. Don’t you want your freedom?” Blake suggested. He held on to both her hands as if trying to give her some strength. “I have a buddy in the FBI and he works in that area. Let me contact him and see what he can find out off the record. Maybe he can help.”

  Anna gave his hands a squeeze in silent thanks. It would feel good to have someone in her corner. She was tired of fearing for her life and she didn’t want to spend the rest of her days looking over her shoulder. “Okay but in the meantime what if Santiago sends his men here? A lot of people saw me at the diner and the bar. You know someone called it in by now. Hell, Blondie probably was the first caller.”

  “Blondie?” Victor asked, looking confused.

  Blake chuckled and looked at his brother. “We ran into Jenna at the steakhouse and Anna had a few words for her, pissed her off good.”

  Victor laughed. “Good job, Anna. Jenna is a stuck-up bitch.”

  Blake wrapped his arms around her and she leaned into his chest and closed her eyes. For just this one minute she felt safe and secure. “Trust me, Anna. I’ll protect you.”

  She felt secure with Blake but she also knew Santiago was no easy adversary. Could she take the chance and stay here in Shady Grove? “I’m scared, Blake. Santiago has no honor.”

  “I can fight dirty, too,” Blake assured her, looking grim and scary for a moment. His eyes narrowed in determination and he looked cold and hard.

  Anna looked up at him. “Thank you, Blake. Your offer means a lot to me but we agreed to not get involved with each other. Why would you want to risk your life and help me? I’m just nobody to you.”

  Blake turned to his brother. “Can you call Sam and ask him to go with you to get Anna’s stuff? Check her out of her room but don’t say where she is. Tell him to pack heat.”

  Victor agreed and went outside to make the call, giving them privacy.

  Blake led Anna to the couch and sat with her. “Forget all that stuff I spouted last night. I do care about you, Anna, I can’t help it. I didn’t plan it but the feeling is there. Let’s put the serious discussion of us on the back burner and get you out of this mess. Later we can talk about our own plans.”

  It was so hard to put her trust in Blake. Ben had been her only ally her whole life and now he was dead. What if Blake or Victor got hurt? She’d never forgive herself. But what would it feel like to be free of Santiago once and for all? She could go home or anywhere she wanted. She took a deep breath and let it out. Everything in life was a risk so she just had to take her chances and hope for the best. Even if this didn’t work, she would know Blake had tried and that he cared about her. She knew she had deep feelings for him, too, and she wanted a chance. Santiago had always told her. “Everything in life is a gamble, Anna Marie. Sometimes you win and sometimes you don’t. It’s that simple.”

  That had probably been the only true statement he had said to her.

  She grabbed Blake’s hand and gripped it tightly. God she hoped she was doing the right thing. If she made a mistake they could all die. “Okay.”

  That one word wasn’t loud or full of confidence but Blake was willing to take it. It was a start.

  Chapter 9

  Sam and Victor came with her black duffel bag less than an hour later. She had been on pins and needles worrying about them even though Blake told her Sam was a hell of a shot and Victor could fight his way out of anything.

  Anna was nervous when they finally walked in Blake’s front door but they both looked unharmed. She felt a little more at ease now that they were here. Sam set her bag on the floor carefully and gave her a reassuring smile. Victor must have filled him in on what was going on. “Did you get my guns?”

  “Guns?” Blake asked, looking at her with curiosity.

  “What? I told you I can take care of myself. I know how to shoot. One of my guards taught me how to shoot and I liked it,” she explained. “I practiced at the range a lot.”

  “Yeah, you have some nice pieces, Anna,” Sam admitted then he looked at Blake. “The manager was being nosy when I checked Anna out of her room. He wanted to know if she had a forwarding address and I told him no,” Sam said.

  Victor laughed and corrected his brother. “Sam gave him one of his mean looks and the guy paled and stopped asking questions but chances are he’ll call the sheriff.”

  Blake nodded. “I called Sheriff Wells myself already and explained Anna’s situation. He agreed to hold off on turning any reports in for a few days if people do call the station. I also called David and he is looking into the situation for me.”

  David Samson was an ex-team member of Blake’s and had often come to Shady Grove to visit over the years. He now worked for the FBI in Reno.

  Sam smiled. “He’ll get to the bottom of this that’s for sure. He’s the most stubborn bastard that I know.”

  Blake smiled and agreed. “Thanks for going with Victor, Sam.”

  “No problem. Do you think it will be safe tonight? If not, we can take turns taking watch. I’d feel better myself if we did,” Sam suggested.

  “The Sheriff already said he won’t report to the state police yet. I think we’ll be okay tonight and tomorrow David will tell me more.”

  “I’m heading out then.” Victor leaned down to where Anna was sitting quietly on the couch and kissed her head. “Don’t worry, Anna, okay?

  Anna’s smile was shaky. “Thanks, Victor.”

  Sam nodded at her. “Trust Blake to take care of you, Anna.”

  Anna smiled at Sam as he left, too.

  Blake sat next to her on the couch and pulled her into a hug. “Santiago can’t get here that fast so let’s get a goodnight’s sleep. Tomorrow we’ll talk about our plans but tonight we just relax.”

  He made spaghetti for dinner and Anna added a salad. She teased him because he actually had lettuce and tomatoes in his fridge.

  “Lettuce goes on a sandwich, not as a main dish,” he explained with a smile, swatting her butt playfully. “Your ex must be blind as a bat. You are so sexy that my heart beats too fast around you,” he admitted honestly.

  Anna kissed his cheek as they made dinner side by side. What would it feel like if they could always do things like this together? With Santiago they had always eaten downstairs in his restaurant connected to his casino. “Most women who vacation there are model-thin like your ex, and I don’t fit that bill.”

  Once dinner was done cooking, Blake suggested they eat in the living room and watch a movie. “My mom would never let us boys eat in the living room. She liked sitting at the table and having real conversations but once I moved out this became a habit.”

  “Your poor mom, raising three boys must have been tough,” Anna commented.

  Blake laughed. “Yeah probably but her punishment is pushing us all for daughter-in-laws and grandbabies. My dad is more the mellow type and just leaves us alone.”

  They ate and watched a movie. Anna started yawning before it was over so he led her down a hallway and to his bedroom. He opened the door and turned the light on.

  A large bed was placed in the middle of the room and a dresser and bookshelf lined the wall. No pictures adorned the walls so obviously Blake wasn’t big on decorating she mused to herself.

  “Let’s take a hot shower. That will relax us and help us sleep better,” he suggested

  “Together?” she squeaked. She had never showered with anyone before. It seemed like a really intimate thing to do.

  He gave her a serious look. “Yes, is that
okay? I can close my eyes the whole time we’re in there. Although I have already seen every naked inch of you and licked most of it.”

  That made her laugh. He started stripping his clothes off so she did the same and followed him naked to the bathroom. He turned the spray on to almost hot and they stepped in together. She wet her hair and shampooed it. She watched him grab a washcloth and put soap on it.

  Anna smiled when she remembered her fantasy of him showering. Here was her chance to make it come true. Was she going to just stand there embarrassed at being naked? They had already had sex. She squared her shoulders back bravely and grabbed the cloth from him. She smiled up at him with a sensual look on her face.

  “Let me,” she whispered and started soaping his chest up and down, taking her time as if enjoying her task. He smiled down tenderly at her but left her alone. She did his back and squeezed his perfectly rounded ass cheeks.

  “You do have a perfect butt,” she admitted and heard him chuckle and say thanks.

  She went back around the front and saw his cock was hard and erect and ready for action.

  She kneeled in front of him and looked up. “I want your cock in my mouth.”

  He gave her permission and she opened her mouth eagerly. Her tongue licked his mushroom-tipped head. She swirled her tongue around the length of him all the way to his base and his balls over and over. She felt his hands grabbing her hair tightly and he groaned loudly. “Oh yeah, baby, that is so good.”

  His excitement only fueled her own excitement. She opened wider and sucked him into the depth of her mouth as far as she could. She moaned as he rocked back and forth in and out of her mouth while holding on to her hair. She cupped his balls with her hands and massaged them. His loud moans made her feel so powerful and satisfied that she was giving him pleasure. He had pleasured her last night so now it was her turn. She grabbed onto his thighs to steady herself as his cock went in and out of her mouth until she felt his cum sliding down her throat.

  He immediately pulled her up and hugged her. “You robbed me of all my strength, baby.”

  He soaped up her body and turned her around to do her back. When he stopped and stood still she remembered she had a scar on her upper shoulder blade. He traced the image. “It looks like an S.”

  “It is,” she whispered sadly. “Santiago wears a gold ring with his initial. He hit me and left an imprint. Afterwards he laughed and joked with his guard that it was better than a tattoo.”

  Blake muttered under his breath and rinsed her off. He turned the water off and dried them both off with a towel.

  Once they were back in the bedroom he laid on the bed and pulled her naked body on top of his. He rubbed her back up and down with his fingers making her shiver.

  “I’m sorry for what you went through, Anna but not all men are ruthless assholes. You’re safe here with me.”

  She smiled and rested her head on his chest, feeling his strong heart beat underneath her cheek.

  “I know, Blake.” She felt so many emotions. Desire, but also something deeper. Affection, security, and maybe love. All the thoughts roaming around her head were overwhelming. She had been right the first day she had met him. Blake was dangerous, dangerous to her heart and soul. She had already lost the one person she had loved and depended on, Ben. Could she stand losing Blake, too?

  Chapter 10

  Blake was awakened by the ringing of the phone. Why was there something heavy on him? He opened his still sleepy eyes and realized a naked Anna was lying on top of him, lightly snoring. He smiled smugly. He had worn her out last night. Fear for her safety drove him to be a wild man but she had reveled in every stroke of his hands on her body. She had been right there with him every second of the way as he had made love to her over and over throughout the night. She had been just as hungry for him as he had been for her.

  “Hello?” Blake answered, still groggy. He stroked Anna’s bare back as she started to move a little. She needed her rest.

  “Good morning, lover boy. I thought you woke up at the crack of dawn still?”

  Blake chuckled softly. “It’s good to hear your voice, Dave, my man.”

  He got up slowly so he wouldn’t wake up Anna. He pulled his boxers on and went into the living room. He noticed it was nine a.m. on the clock and was surprised. Anna had worn him out, too.

  “Yeah. Wish I had better news, though,” David said through the phone.

  Blake sobered up. “Tell me.”

  “Santiago Martinez is as dirty as they come. He is wanted for drugs and money laundering. Unfortunately no one ever makes it to testify against him so he walks off scot-free every time. He is bad news, brother.”

  Blake sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. He walked into the kitchen to start the coffeepot. He pulled out the chair from the kitchen table and sat down as the coffee brewed automatically. “Yeah, that is bad news. How about that news bulletin on Anna?”

  “They just have questions. They found Ben Matthews’s body and she is listed as next of kin and when she was nowhere to be found the police thought her dead, too.”

  “She is here with me. She’s been on the run from Santiago for weeks now. I want to help her.” Blake’s voice held determination.

  “Shit, man, you don’t do anything easy do you?” came David’s reply.

  Blake laughed. “That wouldn’t be no fun, man.”

  David laughed and agreed. “How much does she know about his organization?”

  “She’s been with him for three years now so I’d say a lot.” Blake sighed. He had that bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. “Is there any legal way to fix this? She says there isn’t because he has a lot of people on his payroll.”

  “She would have to testify and that is only if she has any useful information. But I won’t lie, it’ll be dangerous. He has money and money talks. She is right about that.”

  Blake looked up and saw Anna entering the room with a yawn. She was dressed in his T-shirt and her eyes were still droopy. She walked right past him and straight to the coffeepot. He smiled with amusement. Did she even see him sitting at the table?

  “I’ll tell you what. I’ll be there in a couple of hours, off the record. Just me visiting my old military buddy and we’ll talk better,” David suggested. “I don’t feel good talking about this at work.”

  Blake watched Anna pouring two cups and bringing one over to him. For some odd reason it touched his heart. “Okay, thanks, David. I’ll owe you big time.”

  He hung up and kissed Anna’s cheek. “Thank you, baby.”

  She nodded and sipped her coffee. She sat down and was quiet for a few minutes. When she finally spoke her voice was still groggy. “Was that your FBI buddy?”

  “Yeah. He’ll be here in a few hours and we’ll see what plan we can come up with. I know you are scared, Anna, but trust me okay? I served with David for years and he is not crooked. Between the two of us we’ll come up with something.”

  She reached across the table and squeezed his hand. Her smile was shaky but there. “Can I take a shower and get dressed?”

  Blake knew she needed to be alone for a few minutes to process all that was going on. He pulled her off the chair and hugged her. She felt good in his arms and he could get used to it. “Sure, baby. Towels are in the closet.”

  He went back into the bedroom and lay on the bed for a minute. He cared about Anna. He could admit that to himself and to her. She had become important to him so quickly. Did that mean he wanted marriage and the whole nine yards? He wasn’t sure yet. Right now he had to concentrate on keeping her alive and helping her get rid of her ex. Then he could sort out his feelings for her. He would wait for David and see what plan they could come up with.

  Anna came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel and nothing else. He was tempted to drag her to the bed and unwrap her like a present but David was coming over and he was sure Sam and Victor would be here, too. He would have a hard time keeping his nosy brothers out of this. If the situation was reverse
d and one of them were in trouble, he would move mountains to help them so he couldn’t blame them.

  She rummaged through her clothes as if she didn’t know what to wear. She looked worried and frustrated.

  “Did you pick out your clothes?” he asked, still lying on the bed.

  Anna looked up from her bag with a surprised look at his question. She had a light blue frilly dress in her hand. “No, Santiago did. Why?”

  “You are always fumbling with your clothes as if you are not comfortable in them.”

  She looked surprised at his observations and agreed. “Santiago liked for me to look sexy at all times. He said he had an image to keep up with. After he made me lose weight, he picked out all these clothes. No jeans or T-shirts were allowed.”

  She unwrapped the towel and was standing unashamedly naked in front of him. He liked watching her dress and could easily imagine starting off his day like this. She slipped on a white lacy thong and a matching bra. She slipped the dress over her head and it landed just above her knees. It was strapless with a lot of little beads decorating the bodice. She turned to the mirror and started brushing the tangles out of her long hair.

  He got up and walked over to where she stood. He kissed her bare shoulder and inhaled the smell of flowery perfume. “Don’t cut your hair, honey. It is beautiful and would be a shame.”

  Anna leaned against him for a second and gave him a misty smile. “One of the good memories I have of my mom is her brushing my long hair when I was little. It’s silly but I think that was why I never cut my hair.”

  They stood there together for a minute just enjoying the peaceful moment and Blake felt like he could do this with her for the next fifty or so years. Just one peaceful moment before the hectic day started. Yeah, with Anna it didn’t seem like such a bad picture. He was liking the idea more and more.

  “I’m going to shower. I’ll only be a few minutes. Don’t answer the door,” he instructed and she nodded and continued to brush her hair.