I nearly jump out of the bed. “I thought you were asleep.”
He sighs, “I figured that. I’ve been up for about an hour.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wasn’t going to deny you your fun.”
I kiss one of his scars, “You have so many scars.”
He’s stroking my back, “Does it bother you?”
“It bothers me that someone would do that to such a beautiful body, I never want to see you hurt.” He doesn’t say anything more about the scars and so, I just drop it.
“How are you feeling this morning? Are you sore?” He brings his hand to my face, palming my cheek. I look down, sheepishly. “Hey, don’t ever hide anything from me, talk to me.”
I look back up at him, “This is all new for me, not just the sex, but the intimacy—I’ve never experienced it before. To answer your question, though, I’m not too sore.”
He takes a deep breath, “Did you like last night? Was it what you expected?”
“Okay, I have to tell you, I only know what I have read. I only have one girlfriend, Raven, and it’s not something we talk about. She only had one boyfriend, and he was abusive, so there really isn’t much to draw on.”
He looks at me. “Why do you have no other friends?”
I shrug, “My dad’s work, and the constant security was a problem. By the age of sixteen I had already finished high school. We were always moving, so I was home-schooled. I could have skipped a year in college, but I wanted to enjoy the entire experience. Raven was my roommate in college. The other girls where either intimidated by the security or thought I was their personal cash cow. It’s a sad way to grow up, but unfortunately, reality. Can I ask you a question?”
He pushes my hair behind my ear and runs his hand down my back. “Always, you might not like the answer, but you can always ask.”
“You said you don’t do relationships. So what is this?” I ask nervously.
“I honestly don’t know. I never expected you to blow into my life and turn it upside down. I just want to get all of this stuff with Vincent behind us, and then let’s see where the rest leads us, okay?”
“Yes, thank you for your honesty. It’s what I always need. I hate sugar coating the problems.”
He smiles, “Okay, well then let me tell you, we have a couple of hours before we need to leave, so I think we need to stop talking and I need to be buried deep inside you.”
Just like that, we are done talking. He is all over me, and I love it.
M
AX AND JACKIE ARE waiting in the living room with Jax while I finish getting ready. I’m nervous about what I’ll find in the safety deposit box, but I have to do this, not just for me but also for my mother. As I step into the living room, I notice Jackie and Max are holding hands, and he’s not letting her go. She looks at me, and I’m seeing something very different today than yesterday, and it hits me. Oh my God, she took the plunge! I wish I had time for us to just have a girl day, but we have to go. As I walk up to her, she blushes, and I have to stifle a laugh. If Jax noticed anything, he would never say. “Okay, everyone, I’m ready. Thanks for coming with us, Jackie, I could use the support.”
She hugs me, “Later,.” she whispers near my ear. Of course, Max has to drive us. Even Bo is getting used to his driving.
Jax is the banks best customer, so they’re opening up early for us. After giving the manager all the proper paperwork, he takes me into a windowless room and puts the box on the table.
“Jax, will you please stay with me?”
He pulls me close, “Of course, sweetheart.”
When I open the box, there is a VHS tape, some photos, two letters—one addressed to me, and one to my mother. There is some jewelry that appears to be very old. Maybe the letter will explain whose it was. “Jax, I don’t have anything to play this on, do you?”
He takes the tape, “Let's stop by the office, and I can have Tony transfer it to a DVD.”
As we head to the office, everyone is quiet and then Jax just starts to laugh. We’re all looking at him. As I’m about to ask him what’s so funny, Max starts to laugh too.
Jackie and I shrug at each other. “Okay, both of you, what is so funny?”
Jax turns to me, “You’re going to finally meet Mrs. Osla.”
Jackie’s eyes get really wide and fear seeps in. “Jackie, by the look on your face, I take it you met her already?”
She gasps, “Raven, she is unexplainable, and good luck understanding anything she says. I speak six languages, and I don’t understand a word of what she calls English.”
“Wow, Jackie, I never knew you spoke so many languages.” Jax says, sounding intrigued.
She smiles, “My father is Swedish and my mother is Japanese. We had to move around a lot, so it was more for survival purposes that I learned them. Once you master one, it kind of becomes a little easier.”
RAVEN LOOKS OVER AT me with fire in her eyes. “You see, Jax, this is what I mean, we don’t know anything about each other.” She crosses her arms. Oh fuck, here come the tears again, I can’t wait till she sees the fucking doctor today. “Do you know that I speak other languages?”
All right, she got me on this one. Now, how the fuck am I going to get out of this mess? “I was too busy wrapped up in your beautiful body to even think about anything else, sweetheart.”
Then I hit her with the Jaxson smile. That should do it, but she just rolls her eyes.
“Really, Jax, that’s all you can say? Je vous jure que vous pensez que vous pouvez juste me donner ce beau sourire et tout ira bien!” He’s just looking at me and not saying a word. I wonder if he even knows what I said. “I said, I swear you think you can just give me that beautiful smile and all will be well!”
“Je suis dur. I speak some French, sweetheart. Oh, look, we’re here. Out you go.”
Jackie and I get hysterical, laughing. “This isn’t over, Jax, not by a long shot.”
Jackie leans over. “Jax, no matter what you say, you’re fucked, so just take it like a man.”
Max starts laughing. I grab Max’s arm,“Keep laughing, Max, I’ll get even just wait—Mrs. Osla.” That’s all I have to say. Everyone shuts up knowing how Max fears her. The rest of the ride up the private elevator is silent.
“Wait, Jax, is that Mick?”
Everyone smiles, “Oh, yeah, something good happened while you were gone. Mick now heads up security for the building, and he moved into his new apartment.”
Oh fuck, here come the tears. “Jax, just when I think I couldn’t love you more.” She runs up to Mick and hugs him. His face lights up.
“Raven, I’m so happy that you’re back and safe. We all missed you.”
“I’m happy for you, Mick, that you’re working and have a warm place to live.”
He takes a deep breath, “I owe it to you, Raven. You believed in me, when no one else did.”
She shakes her head, “No, Mick, you believed in yourself. I just helped you to see it.”
He hugs her as we head to the elevators.
“Max, is the office clear?” I ask.
“Yeah, Tony swept it right before we got here.”
As we walk into the office, Mrs. Osla is following behind us, giving Max a hard time about Tony making a mess of things. Boy, he really fears her. I’m about to laugh, and she turns on me. Oh crap.
“JAXSON, HOW DO YOU expect me to keep things in order if you don’t check in on a regular basis? I don’t mind running things in your absence, but a wee bit of help now and then. Have you called your mother today?”
Tony comes barrelling in, and before he can speak she’s on him too. “Young man, have you no manners? I told you that you must learn to knock. Now go back out and try again!”
Oh, my God, he goes out the door and knocks!
“Jaxson, Tony needs to see you. Is that acceptable?” Jax bites his lip to control his laughter, I’m assuming.
“Yes, ma’am, but let me introduce you to Miss Raven
Anderson, my beautiful girl.”
She smiles. “About time you showed some manners, Jaxson. Pleasure to finally meet you, and I’m glad you’re back safe. Maybe now you can get him to cooperate with me. Can I get you some tea, Miss Anderson?”
I nod. “Yes, thank you, and it’s Raven, please.”
Just like that, she is gone and all heads turn towards me. “Why is everyone looking at me?”
Tony steps up. “Can I get the VHS tape, please? And I don’t know how you did it, but you need to work here full-time.”
As I hand him the tape, I ask “Did what?”
“Tame the Shrew,” he mumbles.
“Give me a half hour and I will have this transferred for you. Welcome back.”
“Tony, I want to thank you for everything you did to help find me. I will be forever in your debt.”
RAVEN HUGS HIM AND I swear I want to get all cavemen on the poor guy!
Mrs. Osla comes in with tea. She gives me all the business that I need to address. “Max, any new leads on Vincent’s whereabouts?”
“Yeah, Tony is following the money trail. Since the guy only had so much liquid cash, I figure he would have to eventually move something and he has.”
“Okay where is he?”
“He just got to a Miami compound that is owned by a top drug lord. He came by way of Cuba. I’ll be leaving shortly. I’m taking the plane and a couple of DEA agents with me to pick him up. You stick with the girls, and I added another female guard for Jackie.”
“Why am I not going with you to Miami?”
He gives me a look and it hits me, he wants to know that Jackie is safe, and he will only be comfortable with me.
“I get it, Max. Never mind, I’ll stay and watch the girls, but you be careful.”
HE PICKS UP HIS keys. “Jackie, walk with me to the elevator, please.”
I’m scared for him. “Max, I’m worried about you. Do you have to go?”
“Yes, but you need to promise me that you will do everything Jax says, and you will not ditch your detail.”
I take a deep breath, “I promise.”
He takes my hand, “Come here, babe.” He pulls me into his arms. He gives me the most sensual kiss, and I almost forget where we are. The elevator opens, and just like that, he’s gone. I stare at the doors. My heartaches and I lose it. It hits me that I might never see Max again. I crumble into a ball on the floor, the fear and the angst over the last few months comes to the top and the dam of tears breaks open. Jax lifts me onto the sofa and Raven holds me.
Jax starts pacing. “Raven, what should we do for her?”
She shakes her head, “Nothing.”
“What the fuck do you mean, nothing? I can’t sit here and watch her cry.”
“Sometimes the only thing we can do, is nothing. We’re here for her, and we will be no matter what. Max is smart and strong and, by your own omission, very skilled. We need to have faith that he will be okay.”
Jax is stroking his chin and pacing. Neither is a good sign. “We need to go, Raven. You have a doctor’s appointment, and, Jackie, you’re coming with us—no arguments!”
I DON’T KNOW WHY I’m nervous, but my emotions have been all over the place, lately. I’m sure it’s probably pregnancy hormones. As I look around the waiting room, I’m totally embarrassed. There are more security guards than patients.
“Don’t. They’re doing their job, and I will not make them wait outside. While we are in the exam room, Jackie, you will not leave this room,” Jax says, flipping through a magazine.
“Wow Raven, is he always like this?” she asks.
I roll my eyes. “You don’t know the half of it.”
The nurse comes out to get us, and looks at the scene in the waiting room but says nothing. The doctor finally comes in, and I’m happy that it’s a female doctor. Knowing Jax. I’m sure he is happy too. “Hello, Raven, I’m Dr. Leanne and I will be your OB throughout the remainder of your pregnancy. Looking at your chart, I see you had a rough start with morning sickness and then a gunshot. I hope all the drama is now behind us. I’m going to do an exam, and then an ultrasound. We’ll get you started on prenatal care. Have you decided on what type of birth you want?” She hits me with all of this information, like it’s a race to see how quickly she can freak me out.
By the look on Jax’s face, I don’t think he was impressed with that presentation, either, and I swear I think he’s going to flip out on the doctor. I know he is trying, but he doesn’t take orders from anyone, except maybe his mom. “Dr. Leanne, Raven, and I want a healthy child and a calm delivery, so you need to do your job to make that happen.”
I’m about to apologize for him, but Dr. Leanne laughs. “Don’t worry, Raven. I’m used to first-time fathers, they don’t scare me.”
The nurse is back with an ultrasound machine and Jax watches without saying a word as she sets everything up. “What type of ultrasound is this?” he asks when the doctor starts and the picture pops up on the screen.
“It’s a 2D machine , since Raven has been through so much already, I just want to make sure everything is on track.”
I’m holding Jax’s hand, and I realize I have a death grip on it. He starts rubbing the inside of my wrist, and I instantly relax.
“Do you want to know the sex?” The doctor asks.
I shake my head. “I don’t. What about you, Jax?”
He shakes his head. “No, I just want to know that everyone is healthy. Gender doesn’t matter to me.”
“I will note on your chart that you want to be surprised.”
The sight of this baby just hanging out, all safe and warm, is beautiful. “Okay, everything is great and right on track. You’re due the first week of August, and you need to think about what type of birth you want. The nurse will give you all the information when you leave. You need to put on a few pounds. You’re a little to lean for my liking. I’m giving you prenatal vitamins, and I suggest you take them with some crackers.”
“What about travel, and will my mood swings get any better?”
Her expression when she responds is compassionate. “I don’t see a problem with travel and as far as mood swings. Honestly, they won’t get better. I’ll see you in four weeks for a check-up.”
After she leaves, Jax turns to me, “Where exactly do you think you’re going?”
“I would like to see my mother,” I answer quietly.
“Raven, I’m not going to yell and demand. I told you as soon as it’s safe, I’ll have your mother brought to a facility in Manhattan.” He pinches the bridge of his nose. Seems like he’s trying anything to not freak out on me.
My eyes fill up, and I’m trying not to cry. “What if it’s never safe, then what? I have been without my mother for twenty years. Don’t I deserve to have her in my life again?”
He pulls me into his arms, “You’re thinking of a mother that you had twenty years ago. She’s not that same person anymore.”
I finish getting dressed. “Don’t you think I know that, Jax. This is just so fucked up.”
“Don’t curse, the baby will hear you.”
Is he out of his mind? “Jax, let’s get Jackie and go home.” I know I’m mumbling under my breath how crazy this man is.
We head back to the tower, each of us lost in our own thoughts.“Jackie, I moved your stuff into the guest room in my place until Max gets back.” Jax finally breaks the silence. Her tears start to fall, and silence is back again. I know Jax is worried about Max. I can see it all over his face. He keeps checking his phone, but it is silent. All we can do now is pray.
I HATE THAT I had to leave Jackie, but I need to do this. I can’t leave it to anyone else. Six of my own men and four DEA agents just to bring in one man, but I know how vicious he really is. I’m sure we will be met with resistance and it doesn’t matter that we are also working with the local agencies—anyone can be bought. As we approach the compound, I can see it’s heavily guarded. I have everyone on the ground in place, and we will be c
oming in by air. The Coast Guard is also on alert. “I want him alive, if possible.”
“Sir, we are over the target, are you ready?”
That’s my cue. I jump. The compound is large, but I went over the blue prints, so I know where everything is. There is a lot of gunfire, smoke, and confusion. I keep my target in my head and nothing else—that’s how I’ll stay alive. I search room by room until I get to the wine cellar. I hear him before I see him. He’s yelling in Italian for transport by air, telling them he’ll be coming out the other side. I enter the room and he’s gone.
Fuck. Think, Max. As I start my usual pace, I realize there has to be a tunnel. I find it behind a wine rack. The race is on. I can hear him running, and I’m pretty sure he hears me closing in. As I round the corner, he’s looking right at me—his gun aimed at my head.
“Game over.”
We both pull the trigger and everything goes black.
To be continued…
Coming November 2014
Darkness into Dawn
IT’S A COLD WINTER day in New York City, but the sun is shining. I decide to take the ladies out for a bite to eat while I wait to hear from Max. I’m very distracted, and I know it’s because I have to wait for Max’s call. I’m not good at waiting, but I have no choice. I just push my food around the plate while Raven and Jackie are talking about our baby. I want to get married before the baby comes, but I haven’t broached that subject yet; it seems I can’t get anything right lately with Raven. As I look around the restaurant, I realize we must look ridiculous, sitting here with six security guards and a dog, but what the fuck do I care? I would have a hundred security guards if it meant they were safe. As the waiter comes with the dessert menu, my phone chirps with a text from Tony to call him stat.
The Unraveling of Raven (The Unraveled Trilogy Book 1) Page 28