by Tara Rose
“Yeah. I guess you’re right.”
Jeff glanced around. “Why don’t you pack some things and come home with me or Taj? Stay with us this week, at least. Can you do that?”
She nodded. “Yes. Yes, I can. I think that’s a good idea. Should I let my staff know I’ll be gone for a while?”
“Call Sallyanne and ask her to deal with it,” said Taj. “It’s about time you put yourself first for a change. You have a competent staff. They won’t let anything fall apart.”
“Yeah. You’re right. They won’t.” She glanced around for her phone, then spotted it on the end table. Taj handed it to her, and she called Sallyanne, asking for the rest of the week off, and asking her to let her staff know.
“I’ll take care of it. Are you all right?” That was the most sincere that Alaina had ever heard Sallyanne sound, which immediately made her suspicious. She trusted Taj and Jeff, but it would be a long time before she trusted her boss.
“I will be.”
“Asa was looking for Taj and Jeff. Are they with you?”
She handed the phone to Jeff. “Sallyanne said Asa is looking for you and Taj.”
Jeff looked annoyed, then put the phone on speaker so they all could hear the call. “What is it now, Sallyanne?”
“Asa got his warrant. The cops are at Alex’s condo right now. He texted me and asked me to do something, but I ignored it.”
Alaina glanced from Jeff to Taj, unsure what to say. She was stunned. “Did IT figure out whether the e-mail came from him?” She didn’t care if Sallyanne knew they were all listening.
“Yes.” That was when she realized that Sallyanne’s voice shook. “It took them all of half an hour. They called me shortly after you left the office, and after they contacted Asa and Tim. Alex sent it from his home computer.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything. But I have some things to take care of today, starting with putting Alex’s things out on my front lawn.”
“So he’s been staying with you as well?” asked Jeff.
“Off and on. More on than off. A lot of his shit is at my place. I told Asa that, and I gave them permission to search my house, too. It might help save my job when they realize I had nothing to do with this.”
“Get over there,” said Jeff. “Just go. You don’t want to give Asa any reason to suspect you were in on this. Alaina’s staff can handle her work without you there, and the rest of your AVPs are just as competent.”
“All right. That’s a good idea. I’m going now.”
She disconnected the call, and Alaina just stared at her phone. “She really didn’t know. Either that or she’s a good actor.”
“She’s not. She didn’t know. He lied to her, too.”
“Do you think she’ll lose her job?”
Jeff shrugged. “I don’t know. But at least Alex can’t send anymore e-mails. This nightmare is over for you, hon.”
Alaina leaned against Taj, hoping that Jeff was right. When she finally rose, she packed another bag, including the clothes she needed to wash from the weekend, and then gave her neighbor a key. “She has nothing else to do,” Alaina explained to Jeff and Taj. “She’s a retired secretary from back when they had a secretarial pool in the complex. She’ll keep an eye on things for me.”
“Speaking of keys,” he said, as they climbed into his Jeep, “Taj and I think it would be a good idea if we each had one to your condo, just in case.”
“That is a good idea. Be right back.” She sprinted back inside and pulled out two spare keys from the desk drawer, then gave each of them one before they sped up the hill toward Jeff’s house. Alaina breathed in the scent of flowers, hoping like hell that this nightmare was truly over. She loved her job, and if she lost it, she’d have no source of income. At least, none that would enable her to stay in her condo. She’d have to leave the island. She’d have to leave Jeff and Taj.
She couldn’t do that. Not now. Not after everything they’d shared. She wanted to be with them forever. She had to stay. This had to be over. It had to be.
* * * *
Taj and Jeff prepared dinner together while Alaina took a nap. They’d talked her into it because she truly did look exhausted, and also because they needed time to talk about everything alone. “I wish we’d hear from your sister or Asa, or someone.”
“We will. Sallyanne’s text said that Alex was in the jail overnight at least, waiting for the DA to decide what to do. They just started at her house when she texted. She promised to call me tonight to let me know what, if anything they found.”
“She could lose her job, too.”
“I know. But I can only extend my sympathy to her so far. She knew that Alex and Alaina had a past relationship, and she tried to get her fired.”
“But she didn’t know what he’d done to Alaina.”
“True.”
Taj didn’t like Sallyanne one bit, and couldn’t muster up too much sympathy for her either, but she had stepped up today when she’d needed to. He had to give her that much. And the shock and revulsion on her face this afternoon when she’d realized how Alex had played her as well had been real.
But where did that leave Alaina? Would Asa can them both, just to be rid of the whole mess? He was that kind of a man, and he and Jeff both knew that. Tim might be able to save Sallyanne’s job, but there was no one to intervene for Alaina except him and Jeff. Would Asa listen to them?
“How could such a perfect weekend turn to such shit?”
Taj nodded. “I know. I had more fun the past few days with her than I’ve had in my entire fucking life.”
Jeff snorted. “No kidding.” He smiled. “You know what my favorite part was?”
“The sex?”
He shot a Taj a droll look. “Aside from that, genius. I loved the look on her face yesterday when she found the necklace. You know she wanted it, and badly. But she held back from saying so, even after we started talking about collars, because she’s trying so hard to do as we asked. I was as proud as a goddam peacock.”
Taj chuckled. “Yeah. Me, too. That was really amazing to watch.” He chopped up the rest of onions, and then glanced at the clock. “How much time before this concoction is done?”
“This concoction, as you put it, is my own recipe. You’ve never tasted chicken like this. Admit it. I hope Alaina likes it.”
“Dude, calm down. She’ll love it.” Taj washed his hands. “Lend me your Jeep. I’m going downtown for a minute.”
“Why? What did we forget?”
“Nothing, genius. I’m buying the necklace.”
Jeff frowned. “It’s too soon. Wait until this is resolved at least. She won’t—”
“I didn’t mean give it to her today. But shit like that doesn’t last long. This way we’ll have it when things settle down and we ask her officially.”
Jeff tossed him the Jeep keys. “Good idea.”
“I know.” Taj smiled. “I’m a fucking genius.”
He had an ulterior motive for going into town. After he bought the necklace, he drove past the condo complex where Alex lived, watching for a few moments. There was nothing to see, but it took every ounce of willpower not to break into Alex’s condo and have a look around himself. He hadn’t had many dealings with the cops on this island personally, except for one of the sergeants, but he knew that most of them were in Asa’s back pocket. However, it wasn’t Asa who worried him.
Where was Tim’s heart in all this? Would he side with Sallyanne now against Alex because she’d been hurt as well, or had Sallyanne pulled a fast one on all of them once again? Granted, the look on her face earlier had been genuine. But once she got over the initial shock and had a while to think about things, would she change her mind and beg her uncle to save Alex, no matter what?
Sallyanne hadn’t had many men in her life. She was an attractive woman, but her personality left a lot to be desired. Alex had probably spent more time with her than anyone, and she might be too muc
h in love, or at least in lust, to turn her back on him. Taj wouldn’t feel secure about any of this until it was truly over and Alex could no longer hurt Alaina.
He finally left and drove over to Sallyanne’s house, which wasn’t far from his and Jeff’s. The cops were still there. Three squad cars were parked on her lawn and in her driveway, and most of her neighbors were standing outside, watching and talking. Taj left before anyone recognized him.
At least she hadn’t lied about that part. But he felt uneasy and he didn’t like that. Something was still out there, waiting to hurt Alaina. He needed to figure out what—or who—it was, and silence it once and for all. He would cut off an arm before he’d watch her get hurt any further.
Chapter Fifteen
Alaina felt much better once she woke from her nap, and when she smelled the aroma of baked chicken, mushrooms, and cheddar cheese, she washed her face, then joined Taj and Jeff in the kitchen.
“Ah, right on time.” Taj kissed her, then led her out onto the deck. “We’ve prepared a feast.”
She smiled as she shook her head. “Wow. Thank you.” They’d lit candles, there was a bottle of wine, and the chicken dish looked and smelled incredible When she tasted it, she moaned. “This is wonderful.”
“Don’t do that,” said Jeff. “You sound like you’re about to come. I can’t eat with my dick rock hard.”
Alaina couldn’t help but laugh. “Aren’t you guys sore?”
“Yes,” they said together, forcing more laughter from her.
“What’s your point?” asked Taj.
“My point is I’m amazed by both of you. I don’t know how you do it.” She put down her fork. “And I don’t just mean the sex, although that is out-of-this-world fabulous. I mean everything. You make me feel like the sexiest, most special woman on the planet.”
“You are,” said Taj, quietly. “To both of us. We’re not going to let anything happen to you.”
“And you’re stuck with us,” said Jeff. “So you might as well accept that now.”
She finished her meal, feeling like everything was going to work out all right. And since she hadn’t had that belief since before finding the e-mail this morning, it sent a sensation through her body similar to being covered with a warm blanket on a cold, blustery day.
“Being a Dom isn’t about punishing you, or fucking you until none of us can walk,” said Jeff. “It’s about protecting you. Cherishing you. Making sure your needs are met, and that you receive what you need, not just what you want.”
“We told you that we want all of you,” said Taj. “Not just the good parts. This affects us, too. And we aren’t going to let Alex, or Sallyanne if we find out she’s involved, get away with it.”
An icy cold tremor slid down Alaina’s spine. “I thought Sallyanne was just as much of a victim here?”
A quick shadow of doubt passed over Taj’s face, but it was so quick she might have imagined it. “I hope you’re right. But until we find out exactly what happened, and whether or not Alex has customer addresses in his possession, I’m not discounting anything or anyone.”
She nodded. That made sense. Sallyanne had done an about-face today, but that didn’t exonerate her.
They were on dessert when his and Taj’s cell phones rang at the same time. She put down her fork and tried to stay calm as each man answered.
Jeff’s call was from Asa, and Taj’s was from someone whose name she didn’t know. He addressed the man as Santos, and then it clicked. He was a sergeant with the Louisiana State Police, who maintained an office on the island. They had jurisdiction here, and Alaina had heard rumors when she’d first arrived that Asa owned the cops, as well as most of the court officials. But since it had never personally affected her, she’d had no reason to give it much thought. She didn’t have a criminal background, and it was unlikely she ever would.
But now, she rose from the table and went back inside to sit on the sofa and hug her knees while the guys talked. Asa was powerful. That much she’d always known. But up until this second, she’d never really thought about how he could ruin her, too, if he decided she wasn’t worth keeping around. At the very least, she’d have to leave the island to find a job. What had seemed like the end of a long, nightmarish day only moments ago now felt like her very future would be decided by of the outcomes of these two phone calls.
The guys finally came back inside. Taj took a seat next to her, and Jeff pulled over a chair, just as they’d both done in her condo earlier. Taj spoke first. “Do you know who Santos Augustine is?”
She nodded. “Police sergeant.”
“He and I go way back. They didn’t find anything in Sallyanne’s house that gave them cause for concern. Clothes and things like a spare toothbrush, shampoo, and stuff like that. They also don’t think she knew about the e-mail, or the pictures. But they did take her personal computer for now. They’re going to go over it in the police lab.”
She swallowed hard. Sallyanne hadn’t screwed them. At least, it didn’t look like she had. That was good.
“They have Alex’s computer as well,” said Jeff. “And on a quick search before they took it away, they found stored names and addresses of thousands of Phoebe’s Playthings customers, but no e-mails that were sent to any of them.”
“Fuck…”
Jeff took her hands. “Did you hear me, hon? He had not sent any e-mails to them. The only e-mail he sent was the one you saw this morning. And he had one waiting to be sent.”
“To whom?” She felt like she was going to puke.
“To you,” said Taj. “He was going to try and blackmail you.”
“What?” She tried to jump up but the guys both moved closer. Taj placed an arm around her shoulders. “It’s all right. This is over. He will not get his computer back, and he did not hack into the computers at work.”
“That’s right,” said Jeff. “Asa said IT found that the e-mail came from an anonymous account he’d set up on his home computer. He has no access to our system at work.”
“Santos said he was most likely waiting to see what we all did with the e-mail this morning,” said Taj. “Then he was going to send you the second e-mail, threatening to send the pictures to your customers if you didn’t give him money.”
She shook her head, trying to absorb what they’d just told her. “How much money?”
Jeff sighed. “You would have had to go to Asa and Tim. Ten million dollars.”
Alaina didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Alex had a mean streak. She certainly had found that out the hard way. But she’d had no idea he was batshit crazy and had held a grudge for years. How the hell could she ever have stayed with him for as long as she had? Why the hell hadn’t she seen this side of him back then?
“What else did they find in his house?” Weapons? Nerve gas? Was he a terrorist, too?
“That was it,” said Jeff. “But at least now we know. And we know that Sallyanne was clueless about how deeply this went, or to what lengths he would go.”
“Why? I mean why me? Why would he do this? It was so long ago.”
Jeff shrugged. “Why do people do anything? The important thing is that you’re safe now. He can’t hurt you anymore. And the e-mail only went to the six of us. It’s deleted from the computers at work, and Alex will be spending time in jail.”
She snorted. “Yeah. On the island.”
Taj shook his head. “Only until the police are done going through his computer and Sallyanne’s. Santos said Asa wants him gone, so Santos will make that happen.”
“I couldn’t have dealt with any of this without your support. Thank you.”
Taj pulled her close. “I told you we’d protect you.”
They had. And they would from now on. It was really and truly over.
* * * *
During the next two weeks, Alaina watched Sallyanne as carefully as Taj and Jeff did. She still micromanaged everything Alaina did, but with Alex gone from the shipping department, no disastrous mistakes were made on order
s. Everything at work went back to a smooth routine, just as if the e-mail had never been sent. But each time Alaina turned on her computer, or had an alert that a new e-mail had arrived, her pulse raced for a second or two. How long would that continue?
The guys went back to texting her all day long. They ate lunch together almost every day outside, on the lake shore, and she spent the night with them at either Jeff or Taj’s house. She’d overcome her hesitancy about being inside Taj’s house. A decades-old curse no longer seemed as formidable after what she’d faced with that e-mail.
She still forgot what they had made a standing rule and often asked them questions about what they were going to do, where they were going to go, or what was going to happen, but she usually caught herself before it got too far. They still punished her, but nothing as severe as that first time since she was so aware of it and stopped herself each time.
Alaina loved every second of her time with them, no matter what they did. She was so in love with both of them, but she hadn’t said that yet. She desperately wanted to, and there were so many times that she whispered it in the dark once she knew they were asleep, that sometimes she was certain they’d heard her anyway. She was still so afraid to trust in what felt right, deep in her soul. If it backfired, she’d be devastated.
At the end of the second week, she was feeling uneasy both from the coming storm, and from her frustration that nothing had happened with Alex’s prosecution. The last they’d heard, he was still cooling his heels in a jail cell, while Asa pushed for a theft of company property charge.
Alex had used one of his daily phone calls to contact a hotshot attorney in New Orleans, and the man had flown onto the island the next day. He was now threatening to take Alex’s case to the press if they didn’t release him. Santos and the DA were loyal to Asa, and had been pushing for stronger convictions, but Taj and Jeff explained to her that all Alex had really done wrong was take home sensitive information, and send pornography in an e-mail.
The problem with the petty theft charge was that no one at Phoebe’s Playthings could agree on the value of the addresses and names Alex had taken, and that meant he could serve as little as six months in jail and be fined no more than one thousand dollars. Asa thought that was nothing more than a slap on the wrist for Alex, as well as a slap in the face for the company.