“I think you and I should do a camp out soon.”
“I can get a tent!” His eyes went wide. “That’s what we can do when we get back home. We can get online and buy a tent and a bunch of camping supplies and go to Big Bear maybe next weekend.”
“Or just rent a cabin up there,” she said with a smile. “Arsen, camping can be rough. A lot of work.”
“I don’t care. I want to have you all alone in a tent in the woods. Now that sounds romantic.” He kissed the side of her head and an old woman who was passing them in the aisle looked at them.
“How sweet you are, young man,” she commented as she passed them.
Steele smiled back at the woman. “He is very sweet, mam.”
The woman’s eyes ran over Arsen. “You’re one lucky girl.”
“I am,” Steele agreed.
Arsen chuckled and gave her another kiss on the cheek this time.
“I’m the lucky one.”
The older woman sighed and walked on by. Steele shook her head.
“Who knew this sweet man was under all that arrogance?”
“I wouldn’t say I was arrogant, Steele. Maybe closed off, but not arrogant,” he said as he threw a bag of hotdog buns in the basket.
“You were definitely arrogant. And I’m sure you still will be when it’s called for. You’ll need to be when you talk to Allen.” Steele pulled a bag of marshmallows off the shelf and placed it in the basket, picking up the buns and putting them in a safer position so they wouldn’t be squished.
“Let’s leave Allen and all that crap out of this evening’s conversation, please.” He held up a can of chili. “Chili with the hotdogs?”
“Yes! Oh, let’s get some corn chips and cheese and make chili pies too. We can just totally pig out on this junk. Tonight only though, then back to eating right I promise,” she said as she grabbed a bag of the chips.
“Of course, Steele. Back to the rules tomorrow. If that’s what you want.” He pulled her to his side again, holding her by the waist.
They went past a couple of young women who were looking at the wine. Steele asked, “Should we pick up some wine, Arsen?”
One of the women’s head spun to look at him.
“Oh! It’s you!” she said in surprise. “Do you remember me?”
He blinked and shook his head. “Should I?”
The young brunette put her hand over her mouth then said, “Oh, sorry. This must be your new sub. Sorry.” She turned away.
“Who are you?” Steele said with a tense tone.
The woman didn’t turn back and Steele pulled her by the shoulder.
“I’m no one. I thought he was someone else. Sorry.” Her cheeks were red and she wouldn’t look up.
Arsen pulled at Steele. “Come on, Baby. She was mistaken. You’re embarrassing her.”
Steele allowed him to move them along, but she looked back at the woman and she knew they knew each other from the club. She looked at Arsen.
“You don’t want to admit you know her?”
“Can’t say I do know her, Steele. I have no idea what her name is. So, I don’t know her.” He went around the corner and pulled out a gallon of milk. “Since we’re going all out, I think I want to make milkshakes. You pick, vanilla or chocolate.”
“Which do you prefer, Arsen? And tell the truth,” she said as she glared at him.
“I like strawberry. If you must know. But most don’t, so you can choose.” He placed the milk in the basket and moved on.
“I happen to like strawberry too. But you didn’t get what I was saying,” she said as she took a half gallon of strawberry ice cream from the freezer.
“I got it, Steele. I’m just not doing that with you today. It’s been too good of a day to argue. I have a checkered past. You are well aware of that. Now please stow the attitude and forget about that little encounter. I just remembered why I don’t do grocery stores.”
Will my past forever haunt me?
Part Nine: For Love
ARSEN
As Arsen emerged from the bedroom, wearing a dark blue Armani suit and ready to go to work, seeking out Allen and making him confess, he smelled the wonderful scent of fresh coffee and bacon. A smile crossed his handsome face.
Then it turned quickly into a frown as he heard a man’s voice coming from the kitchen. It was Tanner Goldstein’s, and he had not been invited.
As he stepped into the kitchen, he found Steele wearing an apron over one of the new dresses he’d ordered her. She was pulling biscuits from the oven as Tanner sat at the table, drinking coffee and reading some paper he must’ve brought with him.
Neither noticed Arsen as Steele said, “He should be right out, Tanner.”
“Ummm. About that, Steele. What exactly is going on here?” Tanner put the cup of coffee down and looked at her. Waiting for her answer.
Steele fidgeted with the pan of biscuits and Arsen knew she was trying to think of what to say. He made his presence known.
“Good morning, Tanner. Did I miss a phone call or something?”
Tanner stood and shook Arsen’s hand.
“Not at all. I just got an early start this morning and thought I’d stop by. We really need to get working on our defense, Arsen.”
Steele turned and seemed nervous as she placed the food on the table. “When the doorman called up to say Tanner was here I was already getting your breakfast ready, so I invited Tanner for breakfast, Mr. Sloan. I hope you don’t mind.”
Arsen cocked his eyebrow. So she was going to act as if they weren’t together. He went along.
“Of course, it’s fine, Miss Gannon.” Arsen looked at Tanner. “I’m keeping her, Tanner. Hope you don’t mind. I’ll be using her as my intern.”
Steele’s eyes lit up. He tried hard not to smile with her obvious delight. He’d not even offered her the position, but as it flited through his mind, he blurted it out and there it was. She’d be his new intern, among other things.
He saw her smiling as she moved around the kitchen and poured them all glasses of orange juice. Arsen took a seat at the table as did Tanner.
“I’ve been visited by Anne Sinclair, Tanner. She seems to think the police are against me. What do you think I can do about that?”
The buzzer sounded off and Arsen gave Steele a nod.
“Can you answer that?”
She rushed off to answer the doorman’s call and when she came back she told him, “A Detective Fontaine is on her way up to see you, Mr. Sloan.”
He frowned and knew Steele was going to have a hard time handling the flirting the woman was most likely going to do. His voice was laced with sarcasm, “Great.”
“A new detective, I see,” Tanner said as he tapped his finger on the table top. “When were you going to let me in on that, Arsen?”
He shrugged and took a sip of his coffee and wished it was a nice glass of Scotch instead. The day was starting out pretty crappy.
“Miss Gannon, can you please meet the officer at the elevator and see her in here? Please ask her to join us for breakfast as well.”
Steele ran off to do as he’d requested and Tanner leaned in close to Arsen. “Not ready to let me in on what the hell really is going on between you two?”
“She’s my assistant. I think she’ll learn the most this way.” Arsen picked up a biscuit and began buttering it.
“What else are you teaching her, Master Sloan?” Tanner’s eyes stared into his with a penetrating gaze which told Arsen he was pulling nothing over on the man.
“None of your business. I’m breaking no laws and that’s all that matters.” Arsen stood up when Steele came back into the dining area of the large kitchen. She wore a frown as she looked at him.
The reason why, he already knew. Detective Fontaine followed behind her. A foot taller, and wearing a very nice dress herself, her long legs ran out from under a red dress and her heels were a shiny black.
Fontaine’s long blonde hair flowed over her shoulders and Arsen knew Steele
was not happy about him leaving out how attractive the detective was.
Tanner stood too and offered his hand to the woman.
“I’m Mr. Sloan’s attorney, Tanner Goldstein. You are the new detective on his case, I see.”
She shook his hand and Arsen moved to pull a chair out for her.
“Good morning, Detective Fontaine. Did my assistant offer for you to join us this morning? She made a nice breakfast.”
The woman nodded and Steele put another place setting down in front of the chair Arsen had pulled out for the woman. Her arm brushed his as she moved back after setting it down and he looked at her, catching the glare she gave him.
There will most definitely be an argument later!
After the detective sat down, Arsen pulled out another chair.
“Miss Gannon, if you will please take your seat, we can get on with this.”
She sat down in the chair and his hand moved over her shoulder lightly, trying to diffuse some of her obvious anger. He sat down next to her and pressed the side of his leg to hers underneath the table where no one could see.
Fontaine’s light blue eyes went back and forth between them.
“Your assistant comes to make you breakfast, Arsen?”
Steele’s head snapped up.
“Mr. Sloan to you!”
Arsen’s eyes went wide, and he tapped the top of her hand with his.
“That’s quite alright, Miss Gannon. She can call me by my first name.”
Steele clenched her jaw and said, “I apologize, ma’am. I had no idea he allowed you to call him that.” Her eyes stayed on the table in front of her and Arsen sighed as he knew what was going to come later.
Tanner cleared his throat and said, “Have you found anything new on the case, Detective?”
She looked at Tanner and pulled a paper from her purse. Then laid it on the table.
“We’re about to go search Arsen’s playroom at Club Fierce. I’d love for you gentlemen to join us.”
“Of course, we will,” Tanner said then took a sip of coffee.
Steele’s hand ran over the top of Arsen’s leg under the table and she looked at him. With a whisper, she asked, “Are you okay?”
He took her hand in his under the table and gave it a squeeze. He wasn’t okay. Not even remotely, but he was trying to hang on to his fear.
Allen White was on his mind and he wanted to get to the man first thing, but those plans were going to have to be postponed. And Arsen found his appetite was gone.
Going back into the place wasn’t a thing he wanted to do. It was a place he was trying desperately to leave behind him, but it just kept coming back to haunt him, over and over again.
“I’d like to see the autopsy reports on all three victims,” Arsen said, making Tanner and the detective stop eating and look at him.
Then Tanner said, “I have the reports, Arsen.”
Arsen cocked his head at his attorney.
“And how long have you had them, Tanner?” His tone was stern and riddled with aggravation.
“A week.” Tanner took a bite of his jelly filled biscuit and Arsen had to stifle a growl.
“I’d like to have seen them. Can you tell me if there was anything unusual about them?” he asked.
“No, they all died of asphyxiation.” Tanner looked at the detective. “Isn’t that right?”
She gave a nod.
“There’s just the one common thread. Your hand prints around their necks.” Her eyes moved to Steele. “Those women seemed to like that sort of thing, Miss Gannon. Do you?”
Steele jerked her head up to look at the woman. “What I like is none of your concern.”
Fontaine’s eyes flew to Arsen’s.
“Feisty one, isn’t she? Tell me, Arsen. Are you finding her difficult to train?”
Arsen’s tone stayed flat.
“Steele needs no training. She is her own person and I respect that about her.” He gave Steele’s knee a little squeeze.
Tanner cleared his throat to ease the tension.
“So, when should we go?”
“Right now,” the detective said as she got up. “I’m finished with breakfast. Thank you for the hospitality.”
Steele got up and began to pick up the dishes. Arsen took his plate to the sink, following her.
“You’re coming with us. I’ll have the maid come clean things up.”
She turned and looked at him with surprise.
“You have a maid?”
He nodded.
“An older woman who lives in the building. I let her off this last week, because of you, but I’m getting her to start back up.”
Steele looked around him to be sure the others had left the kitchen.
“The book, though. It had all kinds of housework in there.”
He smiled and tweaked her nose.
“I know it did. It seems I could’ve put all kinds of crazy things in it and you still would’ve agreed to it.”
She sighed.
“You aren’t taking me seriously about this, are you?”
“Let’s don’t argue. Come on, we need to go. Remember, you’ve never been to this place.” He looked back to make sure no one was watching then looked back at Steele and placed a little kiss on her lips. Leaning in, he whispered, “I love you. Thank you for making breakfast. It was delicious.”
She smiled.
“I love you too, And you’re welcome, Arsen. You’re also in a lot of trouble for not telling me how gorgeous that woman was.”
“I know.” He placed his hand at the small of her back and ushered her towards the living room where the others waited. “Maybe I’ll let you cuff me next time.”
She giggled a little, and he playfully swatted her ass before they got into the living room.
All four of them walked into the elevator. It was a bit cramped and Steele was pressed next to Arsen’s side. The detective to his other side was close as well.
Detective Fontaine leaned closer, whispering, “If there’s anything you’d like to admit before we go through all this trouble, now would be an excellent time to do that, Arsen. I could slip you into my car and we could make a little stop at my apartment before we got to the station. If you know what I mean.”
Steele’s hand threaded into his and she gave it a squeeze.
“Nothing to admit and not interested, Fontaine.”
Steele released his hand before they walked off the elevator. His hand touched the small of her back, urging her to walk in front of him. He could feel her heart pounding and knew she was going to cut into him as soon as she found herself alone with him.
“Miss Gannon and I will go in my car and lead the way.” Arsen made his way with Steele to where Paul was waiting for them.
“Good morning,” Paul said with a grim look on his face. “Looks like you’ve already had quite a morning, boss.”
“Yes, I have. To add to the fun, you’ll be leading the other two cars to Club Fierce. This should be so much fucking fun!” Arsen held Steele’s hand as she slid into the car.
He slid in next to her as Paul closed the door.
Her beautiful face was pale as she turned to look at him. Before she could open her mouth to start what he knew was an argument that would affect his already sour mood, he pulled her to him and kissed her hard.
Her arguing could be done later. Right now he might be taken in if they found any reason to when they looked around his private room at the club.
Arsen released her from his kiss.
“I need you, right now, Baby. Get rid of the panties.”
She quickly did as he said. Arsen felt his body begin to shake, his eye twitch and the fear of going to prison and never having what he knew he could have with Steele filled him.
GWEN
The sound of birds chirping woke Gwen up as she had fallen asleep high up on the beam in the abandoned warehouse. Then the sound of a car starting made her sit up.
She listened like her life depended on it because it
did. The car sounded like it was pulling away from the area and she quickly put the ladder down. Then climbed down off the beam near the ceiling she’d hid on many hours earlier.
Running to the door, she pulled it open only a little and found the back of Allen’s car moving down the steep road, away from the buildings. He’d see her if she followed.
She wrapped the towel around her tightly and made her way back to the building she’d been held in. To get her clothes back on and find a way out of there was all she could think about doing.
As she made her way into the building, she was pretty sure she’d been kept in, she saw a small table. On top of it were three syringes filled with some type of drug. She grabbed them and took them with her.
Allen would not be using those to aid him in killing anyone. She quickly found the room she had been in and her clothes were lying in a pile right where she’d been made to take them off.
She pulled them on, but she still had no shoes on as she didn’t have any on when Allen took her from her apartment. Making sure to take the syringes with her, she headed out to find a way out of the place.
To be able to see all around, she went and got the ladder from the other building and took it outside. Leaning it up on the side of the building, she climbed up and got on the roof.
A small ledge ran around it and after she emptied the three syringes, she left them up on the roof. After doing that, she looked around and found her only chance of escape was through the water. She’d have to swim around to get out and then it looked like she’d have to walk through some very tall grass to make it to the road which looked pretty desolate.
She climbed down and knew she had to try no matter how hard it looked to be. After a little prayer, she set off towards the water.
STEELE
His need for her was obvious as she moved to sit on his lap, facing him as he sat on the leather seat of the Suburban. Arsen’s body was quivering and his eye was twitching.
She had no comforting words. There was no way of knowing what was about to happen. They were on their way with the police to his private room at the BDSM club and anything could happen.
Hacked For Love & The Dom's Songbird: A Billionaire Romance Collection Page 68