Vindication: Of Demons & Stones: Tri-Stone Trilogy, Book Three

by Anne L. Parks

  Small victory. When I first started dating Alex, everyone in the house was an employee and would only refer to Alex as Mr. Stone. Slowly but surely, I've been able to change the atmosphere in the house. Now we are a completely unconventional family. Thomas remains on edge around Alex, but I'm pretty sure he thinks of me as his older sister. He is my shadow, and I trust him completely. He would have to be dead before he let anything happen to me.

  "So, tell me how everything went. Jake told us Ryan and Paul have a son, and that he had an exciting entrance into the world," Maggie says.

  Alex and Jake come in from the garage carrying our bags. "That's an understatement," Alex says. "Did you tell them the most exciting news?" He glances over at me.

  I shake my head.

  Maggie places a huge stack of pancakes on a plate and hands it to Thomas. "Do tell."

  Alex picks up the coffee carafe, fills his cup, and tops off mine. "They named the baby after Kylie," he says.

  "I thought it was a boy," Thomas says around a mouthful of pancake.

  "They're calling him Kyle," I say.

  Maggie beams. "What a wonderful thing to do. I hope you have lots of pictures."

  I nod at her. "Ryan said to tell you he will send you an email with some of them in the next day or two. But I have a few." I pull my phone out of my pocket and open the photo album app.

  "And how are the new parents handling life with a newborn?" Maggie asks.

  "We only saw them briefly this morning," Alex says, and chuckles. "But they didn't look as if they got much sleep last night."

  I take the plate of pancakes Maggie hands me, and add a couple of pieces of bacon. Joining Thomas at the breakfast bar, I drizzle syrup over my considerably shorter stack. "Gloria is staying with them for a few nights until they get the hang of things."

  Alex pops a piece of bacon ins mouth. "I told her I'd pay big money for a video of Paul the first time he changes a diaper."

  Jake laughs. "That would be worth gold."

  "Can you imagine how long we would be able to hold that over him?" Alex says.

  "It would be blackmail worthy for years to come," Jake responds.

  Alex's phone buzzes, and he checks the caller ID. "Finally," he mutters, and presses the answer button. "Jerry, do you have the financials from Bent Corp?" He stops beside me, and kisses the side of my head before walking out of the kitchen. "They promised those numbers two days ago. Tell them they have twenty-fours hours—"

  The door to the study closes with a reverberation.

  "Glad I'm not Jerry," Thomas says, shoving a couple of pieces of bacon in his mouth.

  "Glad I'm not the CFO of Bent Corp," I respond.

  Jake tips his coffee cup towards me and nods in agreement. "By the way, I found something that belongs to you, Kylie." He recharges his coffee, and glances back at me. "Follow me—it's in the security office."

  What on earth could he have of mine? My mind races through possibilities. Have I been missing anything lately?

  I slide from the stool, deposit my plate in the sink, and walk down the hall with Jake. The security office is off the hallway that leads to the home gym. Across the hall are the guest rooms, with a view of the grounds and the bay.

  I've only been in Jake's office a couple of times. It takes up almost an entire wing of the sprawling residence. TV screens cover three of the four walls, with a built in desk underneath them in a giant 'U'. Across from the screens is a sitting area with a leather couch in front of a large TV. Video game boxes and controls litter the coffee table. Thomas's gaming chair, the one I got him for Christmas, is front and center.

  The door to the suite where Thomas sleeps is to the left of the TV. Stairs lead up to Jake's private, second floor apartment. I've never been in it, but my former legal assistant—and Jake's girlfriend—Lisa, says it's really nice, for a bachelor pad.

  Jake opens a desk drawer and pulls something from the back. A black box sits in the middle of his palm. I stare at it for a moment, not sure why Jake is giving this to me.

  "I found it under the seat of the SUV in Colorado."

  I gasp. "Alex's ring?" I figured Ringleader had snatched it during the kidnapping. I take the box from Jake’s hand and lift the top. Inside is the titanium ring, exactly the way I remember it. I look into Jake's face. Tears sting the backs of my eyes. "I don't know what to say? Thanks just doesn't seem adequate."

  "I know you put a lot of thought into making sure it conveyed your love for Alex, and I wanted to make sure you had the chance to give it to him."

  Jake, you old softie. The man was as tough as nails, rarely showed emotion unless it was disapproval—usually aimed at me and my decisions. But here he was, showing me his romantic side.

  I glance back at the ring. Running my finger over the top of it, a cold shiver of trepidation runs through me. "Do you think it was an omen that I was kidnapped right after I picked this up?"

  Jake's quiet. I glance up at him. His lips purse into a thin white line. And there is that look of disapproval I know and love.

  "No, Kylie. I think it was just bad luck."

  Leave it to Jake to say it like it is.

  I smile and nod. "Thanks, Jake."

  Now what?

  I hadn't thought about another wedding band for Alex since the kidnapping. Not even when my wedding ring was returned. So many other issues popped up that demanded attention. Wedding bands fell off the list of priorities when the threat of retaliation from James came to light.

  I have the ring now. I want Alex to have it, but how do I give it to him?

  Shutting the bedroom door, I sit on the edge of the bed and open the ring box. The dark titanium shines, I remove it from its velvet bed, and tilt it so that I can read the engraving.

  Always. Forever.

  The two words that we've said to each other from damn near the start of our relationship. So much has happened since we first met on the side of the road. We've had our ups and downs, that's the way relationships go. But in the short amount of time, we've dealt with things most couples never have to deal with in a lifetime. Hell, some may never deal with a singular event that has rocked us in the past few months, let alone the cumulative crazy we have dealt with.

  We made mistakes. We argued, fought, broke up. But we always found our way back. And we learned from each other. Learned how to treat each other, and how to be treated. There has always been a connection between us that we couldn't explain. Didn't need to be explained. We learned that, too. All we really needed to understand was that it was strong enough to see us through whatever challenges we faced. It would always be there. Forever.

  Still not sure of how I want to present the ring to Alex, I slip it back inside the box, and push it to the far corner of the drawer in my bedside table. I'll know when the time is right.

  Fatigue sweeps over me, and I yawn. The past couple of days have been long and draining, physically and emotionally. Laying my head on Alex's pillow, I inhale the rich woodsy, spice scent that is all his own. The idea that I will always share this bed with him, will forever have his scent around me, and can breathe him in tantalizes and calms me. The juxtaposition is so very Alex to his core. He is my aromatherapy, attacking my senses and igniting a wide array of sensation within me.

  I close my eyes, hug his pillow tightly against me, and drift off to sleep.

  * * *

  I open my eyes and roll over to check the time on the clock sitting on my bedside table. One-thirty in the afternoon. Swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, I sit up, and wait for my head to stop spinning. The remnants of the concussion linger, but are minor enough and barely bother me anymore.

  The nap had done what I needed it to do—reenergize me so I can get some things accomplished today. I've been away from work for so long, I wonder if I'll be able to spend an entire day at the office. Not that I have an office. Not a functioning one, anyway. My former boss, and mentor, Jack, offered me office space in one of the buildings he owns. Situated a couple of blocks fr
om the courthouse, the space is perfect for my sole practice. I hired a contractor to move some walls around and upgrade the bathrooms and break room. But my crazy ass life got in the way, and there hasn't been any real work done in a few weeks.

  I consider going into the library to check emails. Alex added a desk and a couple of chairs to the space so I have my own private home office. I glance at the bedside table drawer. Alex's ring is in there. I fell asleep before I figured out how I want to give it to him. Seems a bit ridiculous. I want him to have a wedding band of his own—that represents the love and commitment we share. Instead of being on his finger where it should be, it's sitting in a drawer.

  I open the drawer and retrieve the ring box. For some reason, I pop the top open to make sure the ring is still in there. I stand and slip the ring into the front pocket of my jeans. Padding down the hallway, I stop in front of Alex's study, and knock. The door swings open immediately, Jake standing on the other side of it.

  "Hey," I say, looking back and forth between Jake and Alex, who is sitting behind his desk. "Am I interrupting?"

  "Nope," Jake says, and waves me through the door. "We're done."

  Alex smiles at me, and then looks over my shoulder at Jake. "Let me know the status."

  Jake nods and walks out.

  "Anything important I should know about?" I ask.

  Alex shakes his head. "No, minor issue at the moment. If it turns into more, I'll fill you in."

  This is still such a new area for us. In the past, Alex would do his best to keep things from me. He claimed it was to protect me, but all too often, it created a Grand Canyon size divide between us. But that's all in the past.

  I saunter over to him. His eyes mirror the smile on his face. The closer I get, the more heavy-lidded they become. Dark with desire. He moves his desk chair back and makes room for me. I stand in front of him, and lean back against his desk.

  "I have something for you," I say, reaching into my pocket.

  His eyes widen. "Yes, you do." His gaze sweeps over my body.

  Heat floods my extremities and makes a beeline to my core. Damn, the man can turn me on with just a look.

  "Not that—at least not yet." I reach for his hand, and work his father's wedding band off. I slip the titanium band on his finger, and slide it to the end.

  Alex lifts his hand to look at the ring. "You got me a wedding band?"

  I nod. My breath quickens, and my hands are clammy. "Do you like it?"

  He's silent for a moment, and gazes up at me. "Baby, I love it." He stands and gathers me against his chest. "I love you."

  I pull back enough to look into his eyes. "I love you, too."

  Placing his finger under my chin, he lifts it, and presses his lips against mine.

  Grasping the front of his shirt in my hands, I wrap my legs around his waist. Moving some papers to the side, he lays me down on his desk. His hands run under my shirt and cover my breasts.

  I let out a long, low sigh.

  Lifting my shirt, he frees my breast from my bra. His lips are around my nipple, sucking it hard in his mouth, the tip of his tongue pressing against the hard nub. Running my hands over his shoulders and up his neck, I plunge my fingers into his hair. I arch my back, needing to feel close to him.

  Digging my heels into his ass, I push his midsection against mine. His erection hits me between my legs, and heat surges to my core.

  "Babe, I want you inside me," I say, dropping my head back.

  He releases my nipple, and looks into my eyes. Deep, story blue greets me, and sets my body on fire.

  "Lift your hips for me," he says, and pushes my yoga pants down my legs and deposits them on the floor next to the desk. Running a finger along my hot folds, he pushes it inside me, stroking me so slowly I want to scream. "Oh, baby, so wet…I love how wet you get for me."

  I lift my head as Alex takes a step back, his finger still sliding in and out of me. He peers down at his hand between my legs, and the look on his face is complete adoration. I feel another finger push inside of me, and his tempo increases.

  My breaths are coming in short pants as my climax builds. He dips his head down, his lips pressing against the hard nub at the apex between my legs. I writhe, my body nearing the point of no return, and I cry out his name as he pushes me over the edge.

  My body still humming, Alex unbuttons his jeans, and lowers his pants. The tip of his erection presses against my opening. My arms go over my head, and I grasp the edge of the desk as Alex thrusts inside of me. His body is moving so fast in and out of me, my muscles clench tightly around him.

  "Oh, Christ, Kylie," Alex mutters, his fingers digging into my ass. Plunging deeper inside, his thrust harder, he hits the tight bundle of nerves that drive me over the edge again. Alex groans, his body shuddering, before he places his arms on either side of me and rests his head on my chest.

  "I…" I say, my heavy breathing not making the art of speaking easy at the moment, " should give you gifts…more often."

  Alex chuckles, and he lightly kisses the skin just under my breasts. "You're my gift, baby."

  Not romantic, my ass.

  Twenty

  The morning light shining through the windows coaxes my eyes open. The sun is casting an orange glow over the bay. Waking up every morning to this view is almost as good as waking up to the man snuggled in close behind me. He stirs, and I feel his hand swipe my hair off my shoulders and his lips pressing against my skin. Warmth flows through me.

  "Good morning," Alex says, his voice still groggy with sleep.

  I roll over and face him. "Good morning. What time did you finally come to bed last night?"

  "Way too late—or early—depending on how you want to look at it. I haven't been asleep very long, let's just put it that way."

  "Did everything work out? You were pretty stressed last night."

  Alex caresses my face, and looks back and forth between my eyes. "Yeah, everything is going to be fine now." He continues to gaze into my eyes as if he's searching for an answer to a question he hasn't asked.

  My chest clenches. Something’s not right. What's going? "You're sure?"

  He blinks a couple of times, as if coming out of a dream or a trance. A smile spreads across his face, erasing the stress. "I'm sorry, just got lost in thought. I wasn't sure I had sent an email off before I came to bed. Nothing to worry about."

  I exhale, but tension sits on my shoulders like a hundred pound weight. We have a deal—no secrets—and I have no reason to believe he isn't sticking to his word. Maybe I'm still getting used to him keeping me in the loop, and on guard in case he fails. That's not fair to him.

  I roll onto my back, and stretch. "I'm in desperate need of coffee. Why don't you get a couple more hours of sleep?"

  "I'm awake now. Might as well get up."

  I scowl, which elicits a smile and a kiss. "I promise to take a nap this afternoon, if I need one."

  I stand and pull a sweater on over my tank top. Alex follows me to the kitchen, grabbing two mugs from the cabinet. I fill both, and hand one to him. Jake and Thomas are finishing up breakfast. I swear Thomas is a bottomless pit. The amount of food that man can put away is astonishing.

  Jake's phone buzzes. He looks at the screen, and answers the call. He listens and eventually says, "I'll buzz you through." Ending the call, he looks at Alex, all humor erased from his face. "The police are here. They received an anonymous call of suspicious activity at the boathouse. They want to check it out."

  Adrenaline surges through my veins. "Suspicious activity? As in what?"

  "They didn't give specifics, just that someone called it in."

  "Either of you, or the rest of the security team, been down at the boathouse lately?" I ask.

  "Not that I know of," Jake says, and looks at Thomas for confirmation. "No one has said anything to us."

  Apprehension crawls up my spine. "Who would have a view of the boathouse?"

  Jake slowly swings his head back and forth, and stares at no
thing. "None of the neighbors are close enough, and they wouldn't be able to see the boathouse anyway. It'd have to be someone on the water."

  I cross my arms over my chest. None of this makes sense. "It's February. Who the hell is going to be boating in forty degree weather?"

  Alex steps closer to me. "I don't like this. Something doesn't feel right."

  "I agree." Red flags are flying all over the place. "I'm going to demand they get a search warrant."

  "Can they get one?" Alex asks.

  "Probably, but it'll give us time to take a look at the boathouse while they get it. Jake and Thomas need to head down there now. You and I will stall the police up here."

  "Why not just wait for them to leave to get the warrant?" Alex asks, setting his mug on the counter.

  "They'll call one of the other officers, or a detective, to get the warrant while these guys camp out at the boathouse until it gets here. We won't be able to get in."

  Thomas stands by the back door, waiting for Jake as the doorbell rings.

  I point to Thomas and Jake. "Put gloves on—both of you—and don't touch anything that isn't absolutely necessary."

  I wait until they are out the door before I turn and walk into the foyer behind Alex.

  Two uniformed officers are on the veranda. "Are you Alex Stone?" The shorter of the two asks Alex.

  "Yes, how can I help you, Officer?"

  "Mind if we come in?"

  Alex steps aside, and gestures for them to enter.

  "Hi, I'm Kylie Stone." I shake hands with both men. "What can we do for you?"

  "Yes, ma'am, we had an anonymous call about suspicious activity at your boathouse, and we'd like to check it out."

  "Suspicious activity? Anything more specific than that?" There is no way cops would bother with a call that vague.

  The officers exchange a glance. "I'm not at liberty to provide specifics at this time."

  "Then you are going to have get a warrant to search the property."

  The officer reaches inside his coat, and pulls out a piece of paper. Unfolding it he hands it to me.