by Sam Crescent
Friends brought you down. They fucked with you, betrayed you, turned their back on you. He’d learned long ago to never allow himself to get close to anyone.
He made his way toward the door, about to leave, when the sound of a cell phone ringing echoed around the apartment.
At first, he was going to leave it, but then he followed the sound.
The cell phone lay in the sink. Picking it up, he pressed accept call, and placed it against his ear.
“So, you found me,” the raspy voice said.
Caleb couldn’t recall the voice and that only served to piss him off. “What do you want?”
“You to feel pain. To suffer. To know what it’s like to lose everything you want.”
Caleb laughed. “You already took care of the only person I care about.” Pain exploded in his chest as he thought about his sister. Damn, he couldn’t bring himself to even mention her name.
It made him weak, he knew that, but he didn’t care.
“Oh, really, because I can see a really pretty brunette.”
Caleb tensed.
“She’s not your usual sort. You prefer whores who will spread their legs for anyone and everyone. This one, she’s sweet. I bet you’re going to destroy her.”
“You stay the fuck away from her.”
A chuckle. “The boy as well. I took his mother, I may as well take his life. It’ll be a lot of fun for you to walk in a room while I fucked Grace for you. Getting her nice and ready for you and slit her throat.”
Caleb tensed up, the anger turning into a rage he’d never experienced before.
“Who the fuck are you? Are you that much of a coward you’ll go to innocents rather than come to me?”
“Oh, so you think me taking from you makes me weak. All you’ve ever done, Caleb, is take. You take and take, not caring who you fuck up in the process. I’ve been watching you for a long time. I’m a patient man. I know what I want and what I have to do to take you out. Are you ready for what I can do to you?”
“Yeah, and like a fucking pussy, you’re not even coming to face me, are you? No, you’re just running and hiding like a little bitch.” Caleb spun in a circle around the apartment, but rather than linger, he made his way out of the door, going down the steps, and outside of the building.
“You think I need to face you? I can look you in the face whenever I want to.” He chuckled. “Goodbye, Caleb.”
Caleb was already in his car and across the street when the top floor of the apartment where he’d stood moments earlier exploded.
The bastard hadn’t hung up.
He heard his breathing.
It sounded like the bastard was masturbating.
“Guess again, prick. I suggest you run because I’m coming for you, whether you like it or not.”
Turning over the ignition, he tossed his cell phone to his guard, who caught it. He didn’t speak. His men knew their orders. He took men with him, but they were really there for show. The only person he did trust was himself.
Only ever himself.
Angry, pissed off, he pushed his foot on the gas and made his way home. He nearly crashed through the front door, bringing the car to an abrupt stop before he climbed out, rushing up the steps, and slamming into the house.
Caleb went straight to the kitchen, then to the library, followed by the games room.
“Where the fuck are Grace and James?” he asked, passing a guard. He tensed up, looking at the man, wondering if he’d been the one who he’d been on the phone with.
“She’s outside.”
His voice was too deep to be the man.
Without looking back, he made his way outside. Grace and James were outside in the snow. They were both wrapped up.
Her smile twisted his gut.
Going to James, he picked up his nephew and stormed across the house, returning to the kitchen. Grace followed him here.
“Caleb, what the hell? What are you doing?”
He put James on the floor. “Don’t you ever go outside again without someone there to protect you both. Do you understand me?”
“Caleb, you’re scaring him.”
“He should be scared. Do you know what kind of evil lurks outside?” He growled into her face.
Grace stood in front of James. “He’s three years old.”
James started to cry.
“He was playing in the snow and you scared him. I don’t know what your problem is, but you stay back until you’ve got yourself under control.”
“Don’t forget who you work for. I can have you removed from here so fucking fast.”
Rather than shrink away, she stepped close to him. “Then do it, Caleb, but be warned, you will not hear the last of me.”
She bent down, picked James up, and the two left, not going outside, but heading deeper into the house.
Rage rushed through him, and he slammed his fist against the door. The wood splintered, but it didn’t give him any satisfaction. He’d just pissed off his woman.
After running fingers through his hair, he reached out, gripping the edge of the counter. In the back of his mind, he imagined his sister tutting at him.
“Get a grip, Caleb. You’re looking like a crazy person.”
He was crazy right now. An enemy he didn’t fucking know had declared war, and it was up to him to save them all. He’d seen firsthand what this prick had done to his sister, and given the chance, there was no doubt in his mind Grace and James would follow. He didn’t want either to feel that kind of pain, but if he didn’t do something about it, they would.
He stood and he made his way through the house, going toward his office. Collapsing into his chair, he held the cell phone up.
It was an old phone.
A burner.
There would be no information here.
Unless…
He opened a bag, put the cell phone inside, and then called up his guy. So far, this mystery man had been able to cover his tracks, but no one was perfect for long. He’d fuck up, and Caleb couldn’t wait for that moment. Once he did, he would make him pay. Until then, he was going to have to wait, to be patient, and also make it up to Grace. She didn’t deserve his anger.
She’d gotten under his skin, and that was a dangerous place to be.
Chapter Ten
James didn’t go to sleep straight away that night. He was too afraid of his uncle being angry with him. Finally, after a nice hot chocolate, a movie, and some good food, James took his nap. She waited to make sure he was sound asleep before going to find Caleb.
Leaving the bedroom, but keeping the monitor in her hand, she found him in the office, typing away at his computer. The sight of him took her breath away.
She hadn’t seen him working like this before, and it was somewhat odd to see him now.
He looked up and immediately stopped.
“Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?” she asked.
“You need to consider your and James’s safety in everything you do.”
“You think I don’t?”
“No!” He yelled the word and then sat back.
“Caleb, what the hell? James was terrified. He was worried his uncle would come and shout at him for going to sleep.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m not.” She stomped her foot. “Talk to me. Let me help you.”
“I don’t need your help.”
“Clearly you do, because it’s not normal to barge into a room or a yard and stop people from having fun.”
Caleb stood, his chair rolling back until it crashed against the wall. She tensed up, not knowing what the hell to think as he put his hands on the flat of the table. “You don’t have a fucking clue what you’re talking about, Grace. So shut up and go to your room.”
Any other time, she’d have burst into tears and ran away. She didn’t like to be yelled at, and Caleb was annoying her. He wasn’t going to do this and get away with it.
Storming up to his desk, she put her hands flat on the desk. “
No. You don’t get to speak to me like that.”
“I own you, Grace. You will do as you’re told.”
She burst out laughing. “Wow, you really think that, don’t you? You don’t own me.”
“Really? Then tell me why you’re working for me. Why you’re not back in your shitty apartment, helping everyone else but yourself? Why you’re not going into debt, huh? I took you, and like every other woman, you’re just doing the best you can. I’m surprised you’re not bargaining money out of this. After all, I’m fucking you for the—” He didn’t get to finish as she slapped him in the face.
She drew in a breath, shocked by how enraged she’d become. Tears filled her eyes because she hated violence. “Don’t ever call or refer to me as a whore. How dare you! You’re right, you did take me, and this wasn’t a choice, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with you. I’m not with you for any other reason than because I want to be.” She shook her head and stepped back. “I have never given you a reason to talk to me like that.”
Staring at the door, all she wanted was the sanctity of being alone. She moved toward it.
“Don’t leave,” he said.
She froze with her hand on the doorknob, ready to leave. If she had any sense, she’d leave right now.
“Grace.” He sighed and she glanced behind her to see he stood with his palms still flat on the desk. “Don’t leave. I … I have a lot to deal with. Not that it’s any excuse. It’s not. Far from it.” He ran a hand down his face. “You know my sister was murdered.”
She nodded. Pressing her back against the door, she watched as he moved around the desk and sat down on the edge.
“I never found the man responsible. He’s the one who shot this house up. Organized it at least. The men I captured didn’t have a fucking clue who he was either.” He laughed. “I thought I had him today. I went to his apartment, but it wasn’t him.”
“It wasn’t?”
“No.”
“Then what was it?” she asked.
“An empty apartment with a single cell phone. I talked to him. That was it. I got to talk to him, and he threatened you and James.”
She gasped, putting a hand in front of her mouth. “No.”
“Yes. He threatened to rape you and to kill James.”
She saw how he gripped the edge of the desk. Rather than stay at the door, she moved toward him. He opened his thighs and she stepped between. “I won’t let anything happen to him.”
“Grace, with all due respect, I can’t find this man, and you know who I am. What chance do you think you have?”
“I may look weak, but I’m here, aren’t I? I’m still fighting to live another day, and if anyone even tries to hurt James, I’ll fucking hurt them.”
He chuckled and she did as well. “You sound cute when you cuss.”
“I wasn’t going for cute.” She cupped his face, running her thumb across his lips then sliding her hands into his hair. “You don’t have to worry about me, or about James.”
He cupped her hips, pulling her even closer.
Sex was the last thing on her mind, but with how he glided the tips of his fingers down her arm, it made her think about how good it would be to have him inside her.
“It’s my responsibility to take care of you both, and it’s what I’m going to do. No questions asked.” He moved his hands to cup her ass and she gasped. “You’re so very sensitive.”
She closed her eyes as he pressed his face against her neck, breathing her in. “Fuck, you smell good.”
“I’m still angry at you.”
“Then still be angry at me. I don’t care. What I want, though, is you naked.”
“Caleb?”
He nipped at her neck and any protest left her. He set her pulse racing as he slowly pushed his fingers beneath the band of her jeans and started to lower them. He didn’t get far as the moment they met her hips, they weren’t moving anywhere. Caleb let out a growl, but he clearly wasn’t a man to be deterred as he began to work the button and zipper to finally get the fabric over her hips, forcing them down until it pooled on the floor.
“There, that’s better.” He cupped between her thighs, touching her through her panties, and she moaned his name.
He swallowed her cries as he pushed her panties between her slit, pressing against her slit. She knew she should fight him some more. He was using sex to distract her, but right now, she didn’t care. Let him use sex. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her.
“Are you wet for me?” He nudged her panties out of the way and his finger slid inside her.
She gasped his name.
“You’re wet, but you’re not soaking, and that’s exactly how I want you.” He got off the desk and made her stand, legs wide. He tore her panties from her body. That wasn’t a surprise to her. He always seemed to be trying to get her naked. She couldn’t complain, not really. She wanted him naked. “Tell me if you want me to stop, baby.”
“No, I don’t want you to.” He pushed two fingers inside her at her response, making her cry out and moan.
“Fuck!” She screamed the word and he laughed.
“Yeah, that’s right, baby.” He added a third finger, stretching her. With his other hand, he rubbed her clit. The pleasure should be the last thing on her mind, and yet, she couldn’t stop the need consuming her. “That’s it. I want you to come all over my fingers and when you do, I’m going to fuck you so good. You’re going to love it.” In and out, he fucked her, taking her to the edge until she couldn’t focus.
She didn’t want to come, but he threw her over the edge into a mind-blowing release. Grace didn’t have to wait long as he stepped behind her. She didn’t know when he’d gotten his pants released, but as he slid inside her, she whimpered his name, begging him for more.
He fucked her harder. She had no choice but to hold on to the edge of the desk as he took her.
Caleb wrapped her hair around his fist and he took her harder. She chanted his name, feeling each hard pulse as he took her. She loved it, and he tightened his grip on her hips, using her body to take his own pleasure as well, blowing her mind.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she said.
The moment she came again, Caleb followed her, his cock pulsing within her, shooting wave upon wave of cum deep within her.
****
The following day, Grace and James had forgiven him. Caleb opted to work from home, and he spent his time at his computer, researching every single fucking employee who worked for him. He scrolled through each person, glancing over their charts.
Grace came into his office with a sandwich just after lunchtime.
“James is napping. What are you doing?” she asked, looking at his computer.
“I’m seeing if there is any indication these men would betray me.” He leaned back as impatience swamped him.
“No luck?”
“Whoever this son of a bitch is, he’s close. I know he is. The way he talked about you, about James, that kind of shit shouldn’t be known.”
She frowned. “Isn’t there a missing person’s report about me?” she asked.
He looked over at her. “Grace, baby, I quit on your behalf. Paid up your rent. You had no long-term friends who’d even notice you were gone.”
“But, I volunteered, like everywhere.”
“I know and guess what, those places are so busy this time of year, they won’t even recognize you’re gone.”
“Wow, you know how to make a girl feel totally unwanted.”
Guilt swamped him. These emotions weren’t healthy and they were unwanted. Pushing away from the desk, he held his arms open, inviting her to come and sit on his lap. “Just because no one else would care doesn’t mean I wouldn’t have noticed.”
“Caleb, you’re the one who took me.”
“And if I wasn’t, I’d have fought to get you back.”
She rolled her eyes. “That doesn’t count.”
“Sure, it does.” He kissed her cheek, getting her comfortabl
e on his lap. Glancing back at the screen, he scrolled down the page.
“When was the last time this was updated?” she asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I’ve never seen him or him. And there are at least five guys who are not even on this list.”
This made Caleb tense as he turned toward her. “Excuse me?”
She frowned. “I thought you were in control of everything.”
Caleb didn’t like what he felt. There was no way in hell five guys could make it onto his property without his knowledge. Leaning past her, he picked up his cell phone, dialing his head of security. “I want you to tell me how many new men you’ve had sent to my house for protection.”
“None. You want to vet everyone that arrived, remember? I’ve got the names and contacts, but I don’t have anyone else. I haven’t hired anyone new since before the shooting, Caleb.”
Staring at the screen, Caleb gritted his teeth. Right under his nose after all this time. “I want you to alert your men to the code for an intruder. Make them aware there are enemies on site and to be alert.” He put the phone down, getting to his feet.
“Caleb, what’s going on?” she asked.
“I want you to go to James’s room. Behind his closet there is a doorway, go to it. Seal yourself in.” He gave her the code.
“What? The man who wants to kill you? He’s in the house?”
“Not for fucking long.” Caleb opened his drawer, pulling out his gun and some ammunition.
Grace covered her mouth and he saw tears in her eyes.
“I need you to take care of yourself and James. You cannot alert anyone to what we know.”
She nodded, but he saw the fear in her eyes. Pulling her close, he kissed her lips. “I need you to do this for me.”
“Don’t die, Caleb.”
“I won’t die so long as you do as you’re told. Can you do that?”
She nodded again.
“Good. I’m so sorry.” He kissed her again. Grabbing her arm, he marched her toward the door. “I’ve had enough of you. For fuck’s sake. Get out of my sight.” He threw her out of his office.
She fell to the floor, and he wanted to help her, but instead, he played his role. “Make sure she doesn’t come to my office again.” He snapped his fingers, hearing Grace sob. Closing his door, he counted to twenty as he went to grab his gun.