“Max what are our options here?”
He pours a scotch, “Well, I think we need to play ball until we can figure out who the moles are.”
“You think there is more than one?”
He downs his drink. “Yeah, I do. I think there’s one within the FBI, which is obvious by this file, and I really think there is a leak in your office.”
“Max, take the file and lock it in your office safe. I already have the money ready, but I need some guarantee that this is the only file. Other than you and me, who else has the combination to the safe?”
He shakes his head. “No one and I plan on keeping it that way.” He takes the file and puts it in the safe, locking it up. I can’t believe all this is happening. I gather my stuff and head to Bella’s. I really need my girl right now.
WHEN I GET TO Bella’s, everyone is in the family room watching a movie. I snuggle up to Raven, holding her as close as possible. “What’s the matter, Jax?”
I shake my head. “Nothing, I just need this right now.” She doesn’t press for information, which is good because I’m on overload.
“Jax, did you eat dinner?”
I look into those beautiful eyes, “No.”
She takes my hand, “Okay, come in the kitchen.”
I know I have a look of shock on my face. “Why, Miss Raven, are you going to cook for me?”
She looks offended. “I may not cook, but I’ll have you know that I make the best peanut butter and jelly sandwich this side of the Mississippi!” She swats my arm. Raven pulls out everything she needs to makes me a PB and J and surprises me with a chocolate egg cream.
“Wow, okay, how do you know this is my favorite drink ever?”
“Jax, when you watched the video of Michael and I being held captive, did you wonder what we were laughing about?”
I forgot about that. “Tell you the truth, I barely had time to process everything, but now that you mention it, what were you two laughing at?”
She smiles at me. “You.”
I freeze mid bite of my PB and J. “Excuse me?”
She repeats. “You.”
“I heard you, but I don’t get it. Why were you laughing at me?”
She takes a deep breath to steady her nerves, I think. “Well, I realized that I was the same age as Michael is when I was kidnapped, and I felt I needed to distract him from the situation. First, we talked about his dog and I told him about mine. Then I asked him about television shows, and it was right at that moment he told me that his favorite show is Doctor Who. Needless to say, I could not control my laughter. He told me how the two of you have a ritual of watching the doctor while you eat PB and J, drinking chocolate egg creams, and all while wearing bow ties.”
“Oh.” I give her a shy grin.
She leans in and kisses me. “Yeah, oh.” She puts her head on my shoulder. “So, Jax, are you ready to tell me what’s going on?”
I shake my head, “No, and before you jump all over me, I know you need to know, but I really only have bits and pieces. Right now, I want to block everything but you, out of my head, just for tonight, please.”
“Okay, but tomorrow we talk,” she states, adamantly.
I kiss her, “Okay, it’s not like I’m going to cock heaven tonight, right? I’m just making sure.” This is going to kill me I just know it.
“Well, if everyone goes to sleep early, you might get to visit your happy place.”
I swear my cock has ears because he has just sprung to life! “Sweetheart, maybe we can slip sleeping pills in their drinks? Oh relax, I’m joking.” Okay, maybe I’m not joking but I would never tell her that.
It’s getting late and everyone is getting that end of the day, glazed over, look. Michael carries Junior upstairs. Bella and Mum finally go up, too. Raven curls up into my side, and I realize, there is no way I’m going to the happy place with everyone under the same roof. I want my girl, and I want her screaming. That’s just not going to happen tonight. I look down to break it to her and realize she is out cold. It’s okay. She’s safe in my arms. It’s not cock heaven, but it’s still my happy place.
I
WAIT ALL NIGHT for Erica, and she doesn’t call or show up. This is so fucked up. Finally, I get a text message, telling me to meet her at the coffee house on 52nd street again. When I show up, she is already there waiting. “Duke, you need to calm down.”
I glare at her. “Calm down? You don’t have Max breathing down your fucking neck!”
She starts stroking my arm. “What did Max ask you?”
I’m trying to remember everything, but I’m not cut out for this shit. “He was questioning the second envelope and how it got there. I told him, I wouldn’t know since I wasn’t there. I made sure Jax found it before I got there, just like you said. How did they find the warehouse, Erica? You said they would never find it?” I ramble on. I can’t help it, I’m in panic mode.
She looks pissed off. “Raven had a second cell phone that Jax was making her carry. The crazy motherfucker put a tracking app on the phone.”
I just want this over with. “So what now? We’ve got nothing; no kid and no money.”
“We have something worth a hell of a lot more.”
I swear I’m going to crack soon. “What do we have, because I’m not seeing it?”
She smiles. “We have your sister’s true identity that we are going to sell to the highest bidder.”
I grit my teeth, “I’m too nervous. I’m not cut out for this shit!”
She grabs my arm. “Nonsense, your father is a cold-blooded killer. That same blood is running through your veins!”
I feel bad for Raven, but I can’t let Erica know that. “What about my sister? I read the file. What happens to her through all of this?”
She studies me for a moment. “Up until a couple of days ago, you didn’t even know you had a sister, now you’re worried? I hope whatever happens to her, torments Jax for the rest of his fucking life!” With that, she gets up and walks out. I just sit here, not knowing what to do next.
I WAKE UP IN The same spot I was in when I fell asleep last night, with Raven still curled up next to me. I’d like to enjoy this for a little bit, but then, my cell phone starts vibrating. There’s a text from Max, “Get to my office, stat.” I look at the time and it’s only 6:30 am. I place soft kisses on Raven’s face, when all of a sudden, I feel very hot breath near my head and hear a distinct growl. Oh shit. I’m not an idiot. I stop moving. Raven starts to stir, I tell her that Vito is behind her, very upset, and to please not move.
Raven looks back at Vito, “Hey, big guy, everything’s good. Down.”
He lies down at once. Wow, that dog never listens to me. As a matter of fact the only one he ever listens to is Junior. “I can’t believe how he listens to you, it’s truly amazing.” I sigh.
“Well, I need to jump in the shower and pop over to work for a little bit.”
She smiles at me. “Why don’t you use the shower in my room? I can meet you in there.”
I scoop her up and race up those stairs with only thoughts of the happy place. “Sweetheart, we still need to be really quiet, so no screaming.”
She steps into the shower. She is so beautiful, I could just look at her all day, but there are other priorities. However, cock heaven is at the top of the list! I pull her towards me. “Wrap your legs around my waist.”
She grabs my hair and pulls my head back. Our eyes lock and I slam into her—hard! She kisses me to stifle both of our screams. “Hold on tight, baby, this is going to be hard. I need it to be hard.” I pull back and hit her cervix again and again. I feel myself starting to shake and my cock feels like the head is going to explode! “Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck, Raven! I’m there, are you there?”
I don’t have to wait for her answer—she locks on to my eyes, and it’s the peak just before the fall, the look into her soul. We fall together. I slide down the shower wall with Raven still latched onto my cock. I thank all that’s holy for my girl and coc
k heaven. It really is a very happy place.
WHEN I GET TO Raiders, I head up the back way to Max’s office. “Hey, sorry I took so long.”
He’s fuming. “Sit down, Jax, I have some video to show you, and you're not going to be happy.”
He turns his computer towards me and hits play. I can’t believe what I’m seeing. All I can do is stare at the screen in shock. What the fuck? Erica and Duke, sitting in a coffee shop together.
“Where are they now, Max?”
He takes a deep breath. “I have someone tailing Duke, but I don’t know where Erica went. The security guy thought he should stay on Duke since that was his assignment, however, he e-mailed me the video so I could get a heads up.”
Fuck, this can’t be happening. “I want to rip him from limb to limb, and forget what I want to do to her!”
I look at Max and admire how he remains so calm. “Jax, you need to calm down.”
In one sweep I throw everything off the fucking desk! “Don’t fucking tell me to calm down! This fucker has caused so much trouble and danger, and for what? Money! And that bitch—I should have sent her to prison when I had the chance! Was this all about revenge?”
“Jax, I don’t know, but again, you need to calm down if what I’m suggesting is going to work.”
I take a few calming breaths. “Okay, what’s your plan? It better involve a lot of pain for these two fuckers.”
“We leave Duke in play—let him think we’re idiots. Duke is the low man in all of this. We need to find the leak at the FBI and then we need to figure out what to do about Raven’s family. Jax, I have a feeling that Duke could possibly be the half-brother.”
How the fuck did this get so out of control? “Are you fucking kidding me?”
He shakes his head, “No, I’m not kidding. The background report only said he was adopted and that’s not a crime. His adoption records are sealed and he has no police record, no flags at all. I just think it’s all too neatly wrapped.”
I know he’s right. “Okay, I trust you with my life and the lives of my family. I’ll go along with the plan. What do you want to do about Joseph? Should we tell him about Duke or should we wait?”
I know the answer before I even ask the question. Max plays all his cards close to the vest, always has. “I’m not in a rush to tell anyone anything, Jax. Let’s just sit back. In the meantime, I have my guy following Duke, and I’ll put someone on Erica, as soon as we locate her. I really think she is the key to this mess. Has Marco shown up yet?”
“No, which also seems very strange. First, he was up her arse all the time, and now, he’s nowhere to be found.”
Hmm. “Do you think Joseph might have him stashed away?”
Max begins his ritual of pacing. “Well, Jax, maybe you should meet with Joseph. You don’t have to tell him everything—just enough. I don’t want to you to meet him in your office.”
I stand up to look for my keys in the mess on the floor. “I’ll tell him I’m working from the penthouse.”
“I’m going to give you a small camera device. I want you to film him. Just humor me, Jax. There are things that I’m trained to look for, plus, I’m not emotionally invested like you are.”
Who am I to argue with him? I call Joseph and get back to my place to set everything up.
WHEN JOSEPH GETS TO my place, I pour him a scotch, making sure I keep him in camera range. “Joseph, I’m going to get right to the point, where is Marco?” I spit out.
Joseph stares at me blankly for a moment. “Jax, I have no idea. He hasn’t checked in, and he hasn’t been to his day job, or back to the apartment. We also haven’t heard anything from the kidnappers, have you?”
I watch his every move, trying to read his body language. “Everything has been very quiet, Joseph, almost too quiet.
Have you been able to get the file on the brother from Lansing?”
He looks embarrassed, as he should be. “It seems to be lost.”
If I didn’t need this man right now, I think I would just kick his arse out. “You’re the director of the fucking FBI and you can’t even find a fucking file? I’m really feeling very safe right now!”
He slams his glass down. “Don’t be sarcastic, Jax. I’m doing the best I can. I will keep you in the loop, and you do the same.” With that, he gets up and leaves.
I upload the video to Max before I go to pick up Raven, we need alone time.
I’M HAPPY THAT JACKIE is on her way, I need girlfriend time. As she gets here, I notice she has a guard, too, and I feel so guilty about it.
“Hey, Jackie, I’m so sorry you got dragged into this mess.”
“Don’t worry about it, It’s been interesting for me.”
Hmm. “Oh really. Okay, chocolate, coffee, pastries, and girl talk!” I saw the sparks flying with her and Max. “So this is about Max?”
“Jump right in, Raven.”
“I’ve been hanging out with Jax and his family; they pull no punches,” I giggle. Jackie joins in but then begins to tell me everything that has happened with Max, leading right up to his kiss. “Oh my God, he kissed you, and?”
She throws her hands up, “Nothing. That’s just it, he doesn’t do relationships.”
This man is such a mystery. “Then why kiss you? Maybe he does want a relationship and maybe it’s all new to him.”
She pops another chocolate in her mouth and I have to laugh. She loves chocolate like I love Nutella. “Raven, he’s thirty-eight, I doubt it’s new to him.”
I roll my eyes at her. “That’s not what I meant. Maybe he never had the time for a relationship until now. I can’t believe you were ogling him in the mirror!”
We are both laughing now. “I can’t believe it either, but let me tell you, he has a wickedly, awesome body.”
I put my hand up. “Too much information, girl. I have to look at him every day!”
Jackie gives me a look and I know what’s coming. “Have you heard from Marco?”
I’m fighting the tears of betrayal. “No, not a word. I can’t believe he was being paid by Joseph to look after me.”
I can tell it doesn’t surprise Jackie. “I’m sure he will be showing up soon with his tail between his legs. Are you going to continue to room with him?”
I don’t even know if I want to live in my apartment anymore, but I’m not ready to share that. “At this point, I’m not sure what I’m going to do.”
She pulls me into a big hug. “Well, you can always room with me.”
I thank God I have her. “You really are the best friend anyone could ever ask for, Jackie. Thank you so much.”
She picks up her stuff and pops another chocolate. “No worries, and on that note, I’ve got to run. Let’s try and get together soon.”
I’M GOING CRAZY JUST sitting around here. I decide to take Vito out for a walk—not that I’m alone, some huge guy that I have nicknamed ,“ Tank”, is following me around.
I really need to talk to Marco. I just don’t get it. I understand Joseph wanting to keep me safe and all. Here I thought I did so much on my own yet, I was being monitored the whole time! Add to that, the fact that I have a brother. I just can’t believe that somewhere out there, I have a brother. And this information has been kept from him and me. Suddenly, Vito starts crouching down and lets out a low growl. “It’s okay, boy, there’s nothing there.” He’s probably just jumpy.
Marco steps out from behind the trees just as I turn around. Tank is on Marco in a second. Holy shit. I’m trying to control Vito and stop Tank.
“Vito, heel!” At least he stops. “Tank, it’s okay, please let go of him.”
Marco looks up at me. “Thank you, baby girl.”
I put my hand up, “Please, don’t call me that ever again.” I just stare at him, not really sure where to begin. “Why?” It’s simple, but it’s all I can manage at the moment.
“I was young, with great computer skills, when Joseph recruited me. It was supposed to be real simple—just keep an eye on you and re
port to him over the years. I never expected to become friends with you, let alone, be roommates. I found myself getting in deeper and deeper, until there really was no way out. I was going to back away when you started going out with your ex, but then that relationship went terribly wrong, and I realized, I couldn’t leave you. I thought with Jax, you had a chance at a real relationship, but then everything just got so fucked up.”
All I can do is cry. “Do you know where my brother is?”
He shakes his head, “No, I never knew anything about that. I was only there to watch over you. Raven, you have to believe me, I would never hurt you. I love you like a sister.”
We start walking back towards the house. I see Jax coming towards us and he seems really mad. He grabs Marco by the shirt, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing here?”
“Look, Jax, I came here, in good faith, to make a mends with Raven.”
“Good faith? Make amends?” Jax yells. “Do you realize how fucked up everything really is? Your and Joseph’s lies have put Raven and Junior’s lives in danger!” He reaches back, and in a flash, Jax takes one swing and Marco goes down.
“Jax! Was that really necessary?” I yelp.
He turns to Tank. “You’re fired! You let this man—who is a potential threat—get close to Raven. He could have also gotten to Junior. Get the fuck out of my sight, and take this piece of shit with you!”
Tank picks Marco up and drags him away. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m not a crazy man. I did what was necessary to protect you. I understand you wanted to talk to Marco, but I told you, I wanted to be there when you did.”
I’m staring at him in disbelief. “I don’t understand why you needed to be there. Tank was there and so was Vito. It’s not like he was going to kidnap me or hurt me anymore than he already has, so why the need to be there?”
He growls, “Another threat has come through. I’m not saying anything to Joseph or Marco. At this point, the only one I know we can trust is, Max. That’s why I wanted to be there.”
The Unraveling of Raven (The Unraveled Trilogy Book 1) Page 16