I hated that for her. The idea of someone laying a hand on her made me murderous.
“That doesn’t mean I have to add to it.”
“No, but Mom’s dating an FBI guy. And my dad has money and influence. I’m not saying that will keep me safe. It will probably put a larger target on my back. But I can’t run scared. I’m connected to these people for the rest of my life. You leaving me isn’t going to make my life safer.”
“Full disclosure. I know your mom’s boyfriend. He isn’t going to put in a good word for me with her. She’ll probably hate me on sight.”
“He’s sleeping with her, not me or you. I don’t care what he thinks.”
“You have to give me a few weeks to try to figure things out.”
She shoved at my shoulders and I let her.
“A few weeks?” I shook my head yes. “You promise you’ll come back to me.” Again, I silently agreed. “I need you to say it, Gavin, because I won’t let you break my heart.”
“I promise, I won’t break your heart, not intentionally.” She glared at me. “I’m sure I’ll say the wrong things and piss you off one day not meaning to.”
I drew her to me and pressed my head to her heart. She combed her fingers through my hair. I let my hands drop from her waist to grab her sweet ass.
She giggled. “None of that. I have to be out by eleven.”
She explained everything her father told her. The part about her uncle pissed me off. I could excuse the fact that he had no idea she was family. But the idea he’d made her feel uncomfortable infuriated me. She had to talk me into leaving. I wanted to stay and introduce myself. I didn’t give a shit whose son he was.
Packing turned out easy because she’d only come with clothes.
“I wasn’t sure where I’d be living and what I needed. I knew I would have roommates. So I waited. And this place had everything.”
“Do you want the food?”
We’d finished the pizza she’d had delivered last night.
“We can leave the milk. I don’t think it’ll last the drive back. But I’ll take this other stuff. I’m not sure what will be in the house.”
The house. Her dad had bought her a house in Georgetown. Though he’d bought it when she was a kid, houses there had to run in the millions.
Good thing this building had a garage. I ended up walking the few blocks to get my truck and used the keycard from a swanky leather-bound welcome package to park on the lower level to bring her suitcase, a couple of bags of food, and the orchids I’d bought her.
She’d gotten a call and when she hung up, some of her good mood was gone.
“Is everything okay?”
She sighed. “Yeah, that was Misha, the human resources manager. She was really happy to tell me my services were no longer needed.”
I’d gotten the whole story that her dad had concocted.
“She doesn’t like you or something. Who can’t like you?”
She smiled. “Well, it turns out her niece is filling my position. So that’s probably why she didn’t like me. Still, she wasn’t happy I was being transferred.”
“Well it’s not like you’ll see her again.”
“True.”
“Tunes?”
That brought out my girl’s grin. I turned up the music and held out my hand as we drove back to D.C. I didn’t let on, but I was still worried as shit about any of the family finding out about her. No matter what she said, the family would use her to get me to do their dirty deeds.
When we pulled onto M Street it was jammed. We turned up a side street and another before we drove past her impressive house.
Again my thoughts turned to worry. I couldn’t imagine her being used as a pawn like my mother. That was never going to happen again.
39
megan
While I loved the house, the French-style architecture at least, Gavin was in love with the car. Dad was all about green. Everyone at the company drove an electric or hybrid car subsidized by them. The car I’d found in my garage hadn’t been released to the public. It was an all-electric Tesla two-seater, which looked more like a sports car. I wasn’t sure how he thought I’d be inconspicuous in it. Through text, he argued that there were others and not to sweat it.
The garage at the office had spots to charge the cars while you were inside. It was convenient and not paying for gas would come in handy. Especially when I now lived in a nearly six-thousand-square-foot house. I wasn’t sure I could pay the utility bills for it. I’d taken a cut in pay when I was transferred. Another thing my father apologized for. I think he felt bad, that’s why he wanted me to keep the car. My very first car, I should say. I had a driver’s license, but never had my own car.
It was weird driving home to my house in my car. I was amazed every day I did so. The place had old-world charm on the outside, but on the inside it was modern from the basement to the top floor. It reminded me a lot of the corporate apartment I’d stayed in. Clearly my father was a minimalist.
The garage wasn’t attached, so after I parked, I strolled through the backyard, passing a lap pool. Inside, I climbed the floating stairs to the fourth floor and the master suite. Though if I ever felt lazy, there was an elevator. Talk about crazy.
I fell on the huge bed and stared at the sea urchin-looking light fixture. If I even considered staying here, I would have to change some of the décor. While I could appreciate the clean lines of the few furniture pieces, it lacked warmth.
I took my phone out and read through the text message chain I had with Gavin at lunch. I missed him so much and didn’t know how I could make it a couple of weeks when it had only been a few days.
When my phone buzzed, I nearly dropped it.
“Hey you, you scared me.”
Gavin’s deep voice rumbled over the line. “Let me in, I’m out back.”
I hopped up and ran in socks, which became comical. I’d nearly slipped down the rail-less stairs trying to get to the back door on the first level. He had the code for the garage, but there had only been one key to get in the main house.
He swept me in his arms when I opened the door. We didn’t talk. We kissed until we were both breathless. He set me down on the island, reminding me of our time in New York.
“Don’t get ideas, Angel.” He held up a bag I hadn’t noticed. “I’m cooking for you tonight.”
“What if I’m not hungry?”
“I’d think you were lying to me because we both know you haven’t had dinner yet.”
I poked my lip out. He grinned and gave me a quick kiss.
“You’re mean,” I joked as he searched for whatever tools he needed to make this mystery meal.
He straightened, which was too bad—his ass was worth more than the house in my estimation.
“Don’t worry. If you’re a good girl and eat all your food, I’ll let you suck me off.”
Though he’d said it straight-faced, I knew he was teasing me.
“Sounds like a win-win for you.”
He shrugged and came over to plant his arms on either side of me. “No one ever said life was fair.”
I licked my lips before taking liberties with his mouth.
“Don’t worry; I plan to make you scream my name all night long. I hope your boss will excuse your sleepiness,” he said.
“My boss is awesome.”
Samantha wasn’t Kelly, whom I missed, but she was bubbly and full of enthusiasm. She listened to my ideas, even the crazy ones when the team had taken me for drinks after work.
“What about you? Are you going to contact that guy from Boeing?” I asked.
Though according to him we couldn’t see each other, we talked every night. I asked more questions than I had before about his life now that he was open about telling me.
“You know I can’t. I’d need a security clearance. No way I’d pass.”
He hadn’t directly done anything bad from what I could tell. I knew he was guilty by association, but what did that make me? Could I
be arrested for not contacting the police about a known criminal, my uncle? I wasn’t sure and didn’t care. Gavin was a good man and I hated he limited himself to fishing when he could offer the world so much more and he wanted to.
“I can’t believe you cook.”
That hadn’t come up in our conversations.
He came over and whispered in my ear, “I can do a lot of things, Angel.”
He nibbled there, causing me to squirm before he went back to fill up a large pot with water.
“What are you cooking me?”
He smiled when he turned, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“A favorite of mine and my mom. Lasagna.”
I wanted to take away his pain and didn’t know how.
“Your mom’s Italian, right?” He nodded. “And your dad is Russian.” He agreed again. “So can you cook Russian food, too?”
He moved by me again and started pulling drawers open, shifting my legs from where they dangled until he found the utensils.
“We’ll work up to a traditional Russian dish. For now, you’ll love my lasagna.”
I wanted to say, how could I not when I love you? I still hadn’t said it yet. But it seemed like the wrong moment. His head was remembering a mother long gone. And selfishly, I wanted the moment to be about us when I told him. Though he had to know how I felt.
Did he?
Gavin
We ate. We fucked. I made love to her with my mouth, my dick, and my words. Still she hadn’t said she loved me.
My phone chimed and I had to roll away from her to get it from the nightstand.
The text was short and to the point. I sighed. I moved back and kissed her cheek.
“Angel, I have to go.”
I didn’t want to wake her up, but leaving in the middle of the night without saying something felt like what you did after banging a chick you didn’t want to see again. It was a dick move I wasn’t willing to do to her.
“Do you have to go home?”
“You’re my home.”
Her smile clarified other things for me too. I kissed her softly, unable to resist. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for this girl.
“Will you be back?”
“Not tonight. But I promise to see you soon. Go back to sleep; you’ll need your rest for when I see you again.”
She rolled to her side and I drew the covers over her.
I left out the back door. When I opened the garage, Agent Davies stood by a car parked in the middle of the alley.
“What? You have a tracking device on my truck now?”
Davies strode up and jabbed my chest with two fingers.
“Imagine my surprise when I came to check on my girlfriend’s daughter and I see your truck pull around the corner. I follow and watch as you park in the garage.”
Shit, this was the last thing I needed. I had to be somewhere.
“And you’ve been waiting here this whole time. You like to watch or something?”
“Fuck you, and you keep your dick away from Megan. She’s worth more than ten of you.”
I resisted the urge to punch him because he was right. If Megan knew why I had to leave her in the middle of the night, would she want me?
“I don’t have time for your shit today.”
“Really, then I guess you wouldn’t want to know they arrested your dad.”
“What?” I slammed him against the side of the garage.
“It wasn’t me.”
I let him go and got in my truck. I broke all the speed laws I could driving home. The house was dark when I got there.
“You’re late.”
Bear stepped out of the shadow in my kitchen. I didn’t want to think about the reasons or how he’d gotten in our house.
“We have to do this another time. My dad—”
“Is locked up? Why do you think I contacted you?”
Fuck. If he knew, Dad was in danger. They’ll think he’s a loose end.
“The boss needs him, until he starts talking to the Feds.”
He handed me a card. “This is your one shot.”
He pulled out a gun and I stepped back. He laughed.
“Take it,” he said, holding it out to me.
I didn’t trust the guy. His hand was gloved. For all I knew, it was a setup and as soon as my fingerprints got on it, the cops would be here to arrest me for a murder I hadn’t committed.
He wasn’t going to leave without giving it to me. I used the bottom of my shirt to take it from him.
“Smart kid. Now go to that address and kill everyone inside.”
I wasn’t exactly surprised. He’d given me a gun.
“Why?”
“An obstacle that needs to be removed. That’s all you need to know. Time to earn your stripes, pretty boy,” he said.
“And if I don’t do it?”
I knew the answer, but I needed him to say it.
“Your father dies and you die. And your mom would have died for nothing.”
My fist curled. I wanted to use the gun on him.
“Don’t talk about my mom.”
“Yeah, well, your mom made a bad choice. I told her as much. She could have been with me, but she chose him over me. I warned her about his habits. I even gave her a chance to change her mind when his debts piled up. But she spit on my offer, said she was pregnant. I told her someone would die. She asked me not to kill you. Boss had use for your dad.”
My hand shook. “I have to see my dad first.”
“Fine. It’s got to be done by tomorrow night.”
40
gavin
Glass separated me and my dad.
“What are you doing?” I asked him through the phone.
“What I should have done years ago. You were supposed to stay in New York and live your life. But you’re back and they think they can use you. I can’t let that happen.”
“Dad, don’t do anything. I can figure this out,” I pleaded.
“The guy called me.”
I paused, not knowing what he was talking about.
“What guy?”
“The one that works with Boeing. He still wants you. If I do this, you can have the life I squandered and marry a girl one day.”
That alarmed me. I hadn’t told him about Megan.
“Don’t look surprised. I hope to have grandkids one day.”
If Dad knew about her, so could others.
“Jimmy came by.”
He said nothing, but I could see the tremble in his hand.
“He’s worried about your safety.” I let that sink in. Dad and I had perfected the art of saying nothing, but saying everything. “He thinks I won’t be able to live with you in there.”
Though his mouth was shut, the muscles in his cheek twitched.
“He’s right. How could I live leaving you in here?”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m an old man. I’m safe where I am.”
Had he made a deal?
“Sounds like a death sentence. Look, just let me take care of things.”
I left with his promise not to do anything for at least twenty-four hours. The next thing I did was call my best friend.
“Gavin, my man,” Tade said.
“I need you to do me a favor,” I said, and explained.
“You’re in love with her.”
“Yes.”
“Well, it’s about time.”
He was wrong about that. The timing for everything was wrong.
“If shit goes south, make sure she’s okay and tell her…”
“You know, maybe I could talk to my dad.”
“Which one?” I asked, not quite pulling off a laugh.
“Both, they have connections.”
“I need to do this part on my own. I just hope one day she’ll forgive me.”
“Are you going to tell me all of it?”
“Not if I can help it.”
Tade sounded resigned. “Because the less I know, the better.”
I c
huckled. “Exactly.”
Before the night was over, I made two more calls.
Megan
When I hadn’t heard from Gavin by lunch the next day, I got worried. By that night, I was stir crazy. He hadn’t returned any of my calls or texts.
I paced the floor, continuing to look at my screen like I’d missed a text from him and if I looked one more time I’d find it.
“Reagan, I’m worried.”
He’d left mysteriously in the middle of the night and I hadn’t heard from him since. He’d gotten a call or message from someone. And he was trying to figure a way out of his situation. Had they hurt him?
“You should come. Besides, I haven’t seen you in forever. And like I told you before, Tade said he spoke to him and he was coming over later.”
She’d said that when I first called, but hearing it again helped calm me a little.
“Do you know when he talked to him?”
Part of me wanted to hear that they’d spoken within the hour. The other part would be so pissed that he hadn’t bothered to call me.
“I don’t know, honestly. I’m sure he’s fine.”
I wasn’t, but I wouldn’t share his secrets with even my best friend.
“I hope so,” I said with a heavy heart.
If he’d been hurt in any way because I’d pressured him to choose me, I would hate myself forever.
“Please say you’ll come. I’m only here for the weekend and I miss you like crazy.”
She’d moved up north. When I’d lived in New York, we were closer. Now that I’m back in the D.C. area, it was even more impossible for us to hang out without a lot of planning.
“What made you come down?”
I hoped switching topic might help my frayed nerves.
“Duh, I wanted to see you,” she said.
What a shit friend I was being. Like it was all about me. And truthfully, being there may help distract me more. And she sounded so happy.
“Okay, fine. I’ll come over.”
“Have you eaten?” she asked.
I’d had a quick breakfast and that was it. I hadn’t been able to eat because I was too worried and my stomach was in knots.
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