by Blue Saffire
Jas shrugs. “I haven’t thought about that outside of what I do for Briggs,” Jas answers.
“Well, that is a start. Is there anything you love about working for Briggs Security that you can adapt to something you want to do for yourself?” Marie says to get Jas to ponder the question.
Jas presses his lips and thinks it over. Jas’s training has provided him with a long laundry list of skills. Skills such as weapons training, search and rescue, knowledge of handling a number of different forms of transportation, – planes, helicopters, motors cycles, and cars –, it was the hand to hand combat and sharp shooting that he enjoyed most. He wouldn’t be telling Marie that little piece of information.
“I guess you could say that I have really enjoyed training the new recruits,” Jas shrugs.
“Okay, so what can you do that would allow you to use that skill to build something of your own?”
Jas searches Marie’s face as he thinks her question over. Once again training the new recruits had allowed him to do a lot of hand to hand combat and some weapons training. He had trained at least two new snipers that were doing really great.
A smile pulls at Jas’s lips as an idea hits him. As a Briggs, it was natural to dream and think big. Jas’s brain starts to work overtime putting a plan in motion. Marie smiles to herself knowing her man well. The sparkle in his eyes and the clear expression on his face tells all she needs to know.
Jas places a big kiss to her forehead and then her lips. “Thanks, Baby. I know exactly what I have to do.”
“You are welcome, Boss. I guess that name really is starting to suit you,” Marie smiles coyly.
Jas buries his face in her neck and growls into her skin. When he feels the car come to a stop, he looks up out of the window. Placing one last peck on her lips, he lifts Marie and places her back into her seat.
“We’re home,” he says with a panty-melting smile.
Chapter 25
“Hello,” Olivia calls out into her apartment after being startled awake.
There should have been two guards in her apartment. She had decided to sleep in a little later this morning. After finally getting the all clear to return to her condo she spent the evening before catching up on what she had missed. There were tons of emails and messages she had to return.
She returned all of the emails and made notes to take care of the messages later this afternoon. She was exhausted by the time she dragged her body to bed. It only took her head hitting the pillow for her to pass out. She was too tired to worry about the two men that were there to watch over her or to think about who could have been in her condo in the first place.
Damon had called to inform her that he was on his way back. Olivia had smoothed things over for him, taking full responsibility for letting him take off without checking in. Damon was very apologetic. He had become like a big brother to her and she knew he had been livid with the news of someone being in her space.
The hairs on the back of Olivia’s neck start to rise as no one responds back to her call. Her heart starts to pound in her chest while she mentally chides herself for rushing back here. She could feel the bile rising in her throat.
She creeps out into the living room area silently. Her eyes scan the room nervously as her pulse races. This is where she last saw the two guards that had taken the night shift. She couldn’t remember their names because she had tried to pretend they weren’t there.
Now she wished she had paid more attention to everything they tried to tell her. She wasn’t sure if they had told her that they would be leaving the condo for rounds or something. Just as Olivia goes to turn for her bedroom again to find her phone, something hard and cold presses into her back. She can feel the cold steel biting through her silk camisole, sending a chill down her spine.
“Hello, Beautiful,” a heavy, husky voice rings close to her ear.
Olivia closes her eyes with dread and recognition. She would know that cold voice anywhere. The question now was, what in the world did he want and why was he here holding a gun to her back? Better yet, how in the hell did he get in pass her security and the new system that was put in for her.
“Christian?” Olivia asks knowing it is him but stalling for time to think of her next move.
“Ah, so you do remember me, you little cunt,” he snarls in her ear with his putrid breath.
Olivia fights down the urge to gag and remains stock still. She didn’t think that screaming or making a run for it was the best idea. He could very well shoot her before she got very far or before her voice was heard and help arrived.
Christian nudges her forward with his gun still lodged in her back. Olivia starts to pray. At thirty-nine, she was finally happy with her life. Her business was taking off; she was finally interested in a man she thought was right for her, despite their differences and the fact they had yet to meet face to face.
She had plans for her future and they were falling into place. How could this be happening and why? She hadn’t seen Christian in years. He ended things, although she had planned to do so herself. He was too possessive and would have these outbursts when she refused to submit to his sadistic side. Olivia enjoyed a good scene, but she knew her limits. She was not into the brand of pain Christian liked to deal out.
His views on bondage and domination tainted the beauty and the art of it all. She would never get involved with a man like him ever again. She had learned too late that he never wanted to learn the art, which was the service she offered when she signed up on the site that introduced them.
“Sit,” Christian barks at her as he shoves her over to a chair. It is then that she notices the older dark haired guard tied up and unconscious in the corner with blood leaking from his head.
Olivia’s face pales and she hurriedly sits in the chair as to not raise his ire. Once in the chair, Olivia comes face to face with the man she hadn’t seen in over three years. His eyes are crazy looking despite the designer suit he is dressed in. His black hair is combed neatly in place on one side, but the other side looks as if his fingers have raked through it a number of times.
His thin lips are drawn tight as his crazy eyes roam over her with dark intentions. Christian snorts at whatever thoughts have run through his head as he reaches into his pocket and retrieves two pairs of cuffs. He tosses the heavy cuffs into Olivia’s lap.
Olivia bites back a yelp of pain, knowing he would enjoy that. She was sure she would end up with a bruise on her legs from where the cuffs landed. She balls her fist on her lap so that he would not see her hands trembling in fear. She’d never had a gun trained on her and now that she could see the menacing weapon she could feel the tears prick the backs of her eyes. Olivia being Olivia, she would not let one tear fall.
“I don’t want to restrain you yet. They are just a reminder that if you give me any shit, I will cuff your ass and spend hours punishing you for disobeying me,” Christian growls with a sinister grin. “Do we understand each other?”
“Yes,” Olivia replies, fighting off a shudder.
With that Christian starts to pace. Olivia watches him closely weighing her options for escape. It is when his phone buzzes and he starts to frantically text that she halts her plans. Until this point, she had thought that he was working alone. This changes things.
Olivia wasn’t sure how many hours went by. She was starting to get hungry and she had to pee. Christian was still pacing and would stop every now and again to glare at her with a wealth of hate. If she could just get to her phone, she could send for help.
“Christian, I have to use the restroom,” Olivia says softly.
His head snaps in her direction and his eyes narrow. He stands silently for a few long seconds before he replies. He licks his lips as his eyes roam over her silk cami and pajama shorts. Olivia couldn’t help but feel naked before him.
She couldn’t believe she actually had a relationship with him. What had she been thinking? At the time she thought he would be a distraction from her feelings for Jasper. Boy ha
d she been wrong.
“Let’s go,” he clips out.
Olivia finally pushes the offensive cuffs from her lap and follows Christian towards her bedroom. Her breath catches in her throat. It was now confirmed that Christian had been the one to break in a few days ago. They had broken up way before she ever bought this place he shouldn’t have known his way around.
He turns to her with a knowing smile on his lips and waves her forward into the room. Once inside she looks out the corner of her eyes to see her phone on the nightstand. She would not pass it on the way to the bathroom. Cursing under her breath, Olivia starts to think of plan B.
Christian shoves her toward the bathroom. “Hurry up,” he snaps.
Olivia rushes into the bathroom and quickly finishes her business while scanning the bathroom for a weapon or something. With a heavy sigh, she curses herself for being a neat freak. Taking one last look around she washes her hands and brushes her teeth, anything to stall a bit.
Christian starts banging on the door impatiently. “Let’s go bitch. It’s time,” he snarls through the heavy door.
Olivia looks around to see if there is somewhere she could hide and not get shot if he started to shoot through the door. It could buy her time and signal for help. Olivia huffs out a breath as she assesses that she would not have a safe place to hide in the massive open bathroom. She would most likely be shot or cut by shattered glass if he were to dare to shoot his way in.
Olivia presses her lips as he starts to bang again. Olivia being five six, Christian towers over her by only about two inches, but his solid, stocky build made her question trying to fight him off. Olivia opens the door and Christians hand shoots out right away.
Before she can think he has his hand wrapped in her hair and is dragging her from the room. Olivia stumbles behind him trying not to lose her footing. If he pulls any harder, she was sure he would snatch her weave right from its tracks. Christian flings her into the same chair as before.
“It’s time we get down to business. I want you to call that little piece of shit you were fucking,” Christian bends to hiss in her face.
Olivia’s brows wrinkle as he holds her phone out under her nose. Shit, she thought. She needed the phone, but she didn’t need his attention on it. She is confused as to who he is referring to. Olivia hadn’t taken a lover since she walked away from Jasper.
“W-what are you talking about,” Olivia murmurs.
“I have it all on tape, you and that piece of shit, you and that sweet piece of ass. I even have photos of you and that little slut he holds so dear. I wonder what he would think about what you and his little slut have been up to,” he chuckles sinisterly. “I’ve sent those dirty little secrets on a little trip. If you don’t make this call, I will have no choice, but to let them reach their destination.”
“Oh my God,” Olivia gasps.
Realization hits, this is about Jasper. Olivia is a bit stunned. She always knew he was behind those pictures that were sent to Marie. She just thought he did it to be an ass because of his suspicions of her relationship with Jasper. Now, from the look in his eyes, she knew she should have given it more attention.
She had shrugged his actions off when she found out why Marie was pissed at Jasper. At that point, she and Christian had broken up and hadn’t had contact for over a year or two. Olivia can suddenly feel her blood boiling.
“You will call your little boyfriend and have him and his new slut, wire me fifty million dollars,” Christian growls into Olivia’s face.
“Is that all you want,” Olivia scoffs. “I’ll wire you the money right now. I don’t understand why you are doing this. We have been over for years now.”
Christian frowns bitterly. “You wouldn’t understand, you filthy slut. Don’t worry, you will be wiring the same amount, but your lover will pay the price as well. I want his entire family and that slut to know what he has done, what he is into,” he spits.
“Is this because of your pride? Because you found out, I was sleeping with him. I tried to tell you then that it meant nothing. It was no different than the way we met,” Olivia tries as she looks into the barrel of his gun praying she will make it through this.
Right now her main priority was to keep Jasper safe. She worked through her thoughts of what to do as Christian stood seething before her holding his gun and her phone. He wants her to call Jasper now.
Olivia couldn’t do it not without knowing if she could warn Jasper. Olivia’s mind starts to race with a plan. It was clear Christian had no idea who he was really dealing with. It was something she learned about him when she tried to train him. He was resourceful but never thorough. She would have to use this to her advantage. She smiles on the inside.
“That’s bullshit and we both know it. I saw the way you looked at him. I still see the longing in your eyes, even when he doesn’t want you. Stop stalling! I told you, I already have the video on their way to all the right people. Either you call him now or this is going to blow up in your faces in a bigger way, Baroness,” he snarls the title with such disdain, bitterness, and loathing.
It was clear to Olivia that Christian had not uncovered everything there is to know about Jasper. She hadn’t introduced him to Jasper as her bodyguard. Olivia was still a little miffed and mystified on how he found out about the young man’s affections for the pretty grey-eyed brunette Jasper loved so deeply.
However, this lack of knowledge would work in her favor. She could see in his eyes that if she didn’t make this call reputations would be the last thing she would have to think about. As an innocent Marie flashes in her mind, Olivia can only think of stopping those tapes.
The poor girl would be mortified. Jasper would get over what could be in those pictures and on those tapes, but there was no telling how Marie’s family would respond. The young couple should be happy and focused on getting married, not whatever this psycho has planned. She slumps her shoulders knowing that right now she just really needs some help.
“Okay,” Olivia murmurs holding her hand out for the phone with a wary look on her face.
Christian shoves the phone into her hand with a triumphant smile. “Put it on speaker,” he commands.
Olivia shivers inside as she thinks of what she could be bringing her two young friends into. Something tells her that this is not as simple as it seems. With her heart in her throat, she makes a decision that she hopes will save them all.
Chapter 26
While sending texts to all the ladies, Marie sits in the middle of Jasper’s bed in panties and a tank top, she was looking through some bridal magazines her mother sent over. Rita was waiting for Marcus to get out of the shower so she could head over to Jas’s place. Jas had rolled his eyes and went for the shower when Marie and Rita started to excitedly make plans for the wedding.
Marie is so engrossed in her phone and the magazine on her lap that she hadn’t even heard the shower cut off in the ensuite bathroom. When the bathroom door opens and the steam comes rushing out, she lifts her head with a smile to tell Jas what she had accomplished so far.
Her smile turns into open mouthed awe as Jas stands before her in nothing but a towel. His blonde hair wet, falling into his sparkling green eyes. His bare chest broad, hairless, smooth, rippling with muscles, and dripping with drops of water. Pure hot, mouthwatering perfection is what stands before her.
Marie reaches to wipe the drool from the side of her mouth and sighs like a school girl at the thought of planning a wedding to marry this sexy man. Jas was hot in high school and back when they were sneaking around, but this man standing before her is scorching. It doesn’t hurt that he is looking at her with hooded eyes.
Jas lifts a brow and gives her a sexy smirk. “You look hungry, Baby,” Jas’s deep voice rumbles as his towel tents. Marie can see his cock twitch beneath the terry cloth making her mouth water.
“I... we,” Marie bites her lip as she has a major brain fart. There is so much lust running through her veins she is sure she can smell her own ar
ousal.
Jas starts to stalk toward the bed with a wolfish grin. Just as his first knee hits the bed, his phone starts to ring on the nightstand. Jas groans knowing he can’t ignore it now that he is back home.
He redirects toward the phone and frowns when he sees Olivia’s phone number. His mind goes to the way she sounded earlier and he quickly answers. The line is silent at first after he says hello.
“Hello,” he repeats.
“Oh, um, hey Jas,” Olivia says into the line and Jas sits up straight.
Olivia never calls him Jas. She once told him when you call someone by their given name without shortening it, you are showing respect. Pet names are for endearment, but given names are for substance and regard. Jas knew something was wrong right away.
“Hey Liv,” Jas replies back to show his understanding that something isn’t right on her end. He had been surprised to hear Marie call her the name, but he knew Olivia must have allowed it to gain Marie’s trust in an intimate way.
“I have a request from an old friend of ours. You are to wire fifty million into his account,” Olivia says nervously.
Jas snorts. “And why the fuck would I do that? Better yet, where the fuck am I supposed to get that amount of money from,” Jas hisses.
“You will do it because I have a gun trained on one of your sluts. Right now as we speak I have videos and photos of that other little slut of yours on the way to both of your families. They are also on the way to a few reporters that would love a scandal on the Briggs and Mairettie family,” Christian’s voice comes snarling through the phone.
Jas’s grip on the phone tightens to the point that his fingers go white. Marie scoots closer to him, sensing something is seriously wrong. She places a hand on his back and Jas turns to look at her.
“Let’s say I believe you. Where am I getting this money from to wire to you,” Jas hisses back.
“Oh, you should believe me. Ask your little slut about the text she has just received,” Christian chuckles. At the same time, Jas watches as Marie lifts her phone to look at it and her face goes pale.