by Alice Ward
I nodded and tossed the duffle bag into the back of my white rental car. “I think so.”
“Did you get enough sleep? Are you sure you’re okay to drive?”
“I’ll be fine, Kennedy. I promise.”
“Okay. Text me when you get there and let me know you’re safe.”
The man cleared his throat and Kennedy suddenly remembered his presence. She turned to him to make introductions.
“John, this is Lauren Reynolds.”
John? That has to be a coincidence.
“Lauren, this is John Rogers. He’s the head of the team that’ll be taking care of you in Malibu.”
My heart raced, but I didn’t let on. I extended my hand and looked our guardian angel in the eyes. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You as well, ma’am. I’ll be following you from a safe distance. The rest of the team will meet us there.”
“Sounds good.” I wrapped Kennedy in a hug, thanked her one last time, and then climbed behind the wheel. I hadn’t reached the driveway when my phone rang. I answered, already knowing who was on the other end.
“Great job back there,” John told me. “We’re heading to Seattle. From there, you will take a series of planes to your final destination. You’re going to have a long trip. We’re sending you the wrong direction more than once to ensure no one follows you.”
“I understand,” I assured him.
Long trip turned out to be the understatement of the century. I lost count of how many private jets I boarded and the number of time zones I crossed. I saw Ireland, Shanghai, the Netherlands, and Croatia. Each time my plane touched down, I prayed my journey was over. And each time, I was politely led off of one jet and onto another. Three days into the trip, I started to think I wasn’t actually going anywhere, but destined to spend the rest of my life being shuffled from one airport to another. But when the eighth jet of my journey touched down in a large green field, I was greeted with a sight that made my heart soar. Asher was waiting for me at the end of the runway.
I impatiently waited for the pilot to emerge from the cockpit and open the jet door. He seemed to sense my anxiety and quickly lowered the small staircase. I raced to the ground and into my husband’s arms. The moment we touched, we both started to cry.
“I’ve missed you so much,” he said, covering my face with kisses.
“I missed you too. I can’t believe I’m finally here.”
The pilot descended the stairs and passed my duffle bag to Asher. He slung the strap over his shoulder and put his other arm around me.
“Our bungalow is just a short walk from here,” he explained. He turned toward the beach I’d spotted from the air.
“Where exactly are we?” I asked.
“We’re on a small Polynesian called Tonga. It’s actually a series of about a hundred islands. This is one of the smaller ones.”
“I’ve never heard of it.”
“Most people haven’t. That’s one of the reasons we’re safe here.”
“And your dad is here as well?”
He nodded. “Yes, but we have our own bungalow. I know I’ve already said this, but I’m so glad you’re here. I know I have a lot of explaining to do.”
I sighed and wove my fingers through his. “You know, I spent most of the trip thinking about all of the things I was going to say to you once I got here. I had so many questions. But now that we’re together, I can’t remember a single one of them. I’m just so relieved to be together.”
“I don’t deserve you,” he observed with a sigh of his own.
“Yet, here I am,” I teased.
We stepped out of the tree line and the beach appeared in front of us. The sand was dotted with small, straw thatched bungalows and colorful umbrellas. There wasn’t another soul in sight.
“Do we have the entire beach to ourselves?”
Asher nodded. “We rented all of the bungalows on this side of the island.”
“Didn’t that set off some red flags?”
“People come here for privacy. The couple who owns the place didn’t bat an eye. This is definitely the type of place where he who has the cash makes the rules… this is the one I’ve been staying in.”
He turned toward the nearest bungalow and I followed him through the door.
“It’s nothing fancy,” he warned. “But we have everything we need.”
“It’s perfect,” I insisted. I scanned the room while he put my bag in the small closet.
Three bungalows would have fit on our terrace back home. But the room was cheerful and comfortable, with a queen size bed, a small television, and tropical island décor.
Asher opened the refrigerator and offered me a Red Stripe. I accepted and took a long, refreshing drink before taking a seat on the foot of the bed. Asher sat down beside me and put a hand on my thigh.
“Lauren, I am so sorry. I feel like every time I try to fix things, I just mess them up worse. Leaving the country without you, being away from you for so long… it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I can’t believe you’re actually here. And I’m ready to tell you everything.”
I turned to face him and threw my arms around his neck. I covered his lips with mine, finally taking the kiss I’d been craving for so long. Asher hesitated for a moment and then wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me back with equal abandon. I crawled into his lap and tugged my t-shirt over my head.
Asher dove for my cleavage, nuzzling his face between my breasts. He rested his head against me and squeezed my hips in his hands. “Are you sure?” he whispered. “We can talk first, if you want.”
“I want to talk,” I told him, fighting with the buttons of his incredibly tacky floral button up.
To hell with the shirt. It was probably the only thing he could find. It’s certainly better than a prison jumpsuit, but it’s nothing I want to see again.
I grabbed both sides of his collar and tugged, tearing the shirt open. The cheap plastic buttons scattered to the floor and Asher’s breaths came in short gasps as his cock hardened beneath me.
“It doesn’t feel like you want to talk. Unless you’re getting me worked up as some form of torture. Which I admit, I deserve.”
I climbed out of his lap, stood in front of him, and stripped out of the rest of my clothes.
“I do want to talk,” I said again. “But not right now. And I have no intentions of torturing you. I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t already forgiven you. We have plenty of time to talk. Right now, all I want to do is make love to my husband.”
I dropped to my knees and unbuttoned Asher’s shorts. He lifted his hips and I slipped my hands beneath his waistband, sliding the shorts and boxers to the floor. I took his smooth, hot cock in my hand and stroked it lightly.
Asher let out a deep breath and fell back against the bed. I pushed his legs open and let my loose hair fall across his thighs as I took him into my mouth.
“I don’t deserve this,” he confessed with a sigh.
“Stop talking,” I insisted. I rolled my tongue around the head of his cock and then down his shaft. I wanted to thrill and tease him, but I couldn’t delay my own satisfaction for another second. I climbed onto the bed and straddled him, impaling myself on his long, thick rod. I gushed wet the moment he entered me.
“Oh God, baby, I’ve missed you,” I moaned, rocking my hips from side to side.
“This is not the kind of reunion I was expecting,” he confessed with a dumb grin.
I planted my knees on the mattress and slowly rose off of his cock. I held myself there with just the tip inside me.
“Do you want me to stop?” I teased, still moving my hips.
“God, no,” he groaned.
I lowered myself slowly and then rose again fast, over and over again until my legs gave out beneath me. My head fell to Asher’s chest as the waves of my orgasm overtook me.
Asher stilled himself inside me and planted a passionate kiss on my lips. “Do you need a break?”
“Are yo
u kidding me?” I laughed. “We were in the middle of our honeymoon when you left. The way I see it, we have some serious catching up to do.”
I climbed off of him and lay stomach down on the bed.
“I like the way you think, Mrs. Reynolds,” he replied with a smile.
Asher moved behind me and lifted me to my knees. He slid in slowly and then lowered me to the bed again, hovering just above me and holding his weight with his arms.
He brushed his lips across my neck and shoulders as he rocked in and out of me. I shifted my weight to one hip and lifted the other slightly off the mattress. Asher slipped his hand beneath me and found my magic button with his fingers. He nibbled at my earlobe as he moved inside me and against me, and I knew it was just a matter of moments before I came again.
I pushed my thighs together and tightened my pussy like a hot, wet vice.
“Oh… God,” Asher moaned, pushing into me harder. I bucked against him and he erupted inside me. He came in waves, thrusting wildly as he filled me. He gave me a quick, stinging slap on the ass, sending me over the edge. I came with a loud growl and collapsed onto the mattress.
Asher slipped out of me and crawled out of the bed. He fetched a towel and a bottle of water and then rejoined me, pulling me into his arms.
“I wasn’t sure that would ever happen again,” he confessed, struggling to regain his breath.
“There was never a doubt in my mind,” I replied with a smile.
His face softened and he stared down at me with love in his eyes. “Do you really mean that?”
“There were times I wondered if I’d ever see you again,” I admitted. “But when the doubt crept in, I kept my promise. I looked at this ring and remembered the promises you made when you put it on my finger.”
“Do you have any idea how much I love you?”
“I have a pretty good idea,” I said with a yawn.
Asher ran a light hand up and down my back and kissed the top of my head. “Okay, start with the questions. I know they must be driving you crazy.”
I yawned again, fighting to keep my eyes open. “I want to know everything that’s happened since the day you were taken to Atwater. But first, I think I need to sleep.”
***
A few hours later, I woke to the sounds of Asher’s gentle snores. A soft breeze blew through the open windows of our bungalow and moonlight cast shadows across the room. I was still in Asher’s arms, our bare skin stuck together by the humid tropical air. I rolled over and he stirred beside me.
“Are you awake?” he whispered, reaching for the glass of water on the bedside table.
“I’m awake. I’m kind of hungry,” I confessed.
“Well then let me feed you,” he insisted.
Asher rolled out of bed and made his way to the small kitchenette that took up one wall of the single room bungalow. He opened the refrigerator and pulled out a platter of cold cuts and tropical fruit. He carried it to the bed and sat it in front of me, then went back to the fridge for white wine. He curled up beside me on the bed, pulled the cork, and took a drink straight from the bottle before offering it to me. I popped a slice of mango into my mouth and washed it down with a long sip.
“Ready to catch each other up on life?” I asked, eager to finally learn Asher’s latest secrets.
He nodded. “Would you mind going first? I’ve been desperate for news from home.”
I shifted nervously on the mattress. There was so much bad news to tell and I didn’t know where to start. I also had no idea how much he already knew.
“Hasn’t anyone kept you up to date with the investigation?” I asked, my voice full of hesitation.
Asher shook his head. “John’s the only person other than you that I’ve been in contact with. And he’s been no help at all when it comes to the news. He said I needed to concentrate on clearing my name instead of worrying about who’s saying what. But the look on your face tells me something serious has happened.”
“A few serious things have happened,” I agreed. “To be honest, I’m not sure where to start.”
“Start from the day Dad and I escaped and work your way to now,” he suggested.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly, bracing myself for Asher to flip out. “I was at the bed and breakfast visiting my parents when Kennedy called to tell me you’d escaped. She didn’t want to tell me over the phone, but I threatened to turn on the news if she didn’t. Then, she warned me that Jackson hadn’t been able to get in touch with my security team. FBI agents were on their way to the house and all I could focus on was getting home. I was too upset to drive, so Dad insisted on taking me. We were about three miles from the farmhouse when Rachel crawled out of my trunk with a pistol.”
Asher’s eyes widened and a strawberry fell from his hand. “She did what?”
I nodded. “She was crazier than I’d ever seen her. She kept talking about how she used to be your everything until I showed up and ruined her life. It was clear that she was planning to kill us. She mentioned she’d already dug my grave. The cops found the hole the next day.”
“Is this how you got hurt?” he growled.
I nodded again. “Yes, but I promise it doesn’t feel as bad as it looks. And everything worked out in the end. I was wearing a surveillance necklace Jackson gave me. It had a tiny camera, a tiny microphone, and a GPS tracking chip. I was able to record Rachel’s entire confession and Kennedy was able to tell the police where to find us.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t panic and shoot you both when she saw the cop cars.”
“She was unconscious by the time the police showed up. Dad wrecked the car on purpose. You should have seen him. He spun us into a tree, right on Rachel’s side of the car. She was knocked out on impact. She spent a few days in the hospital and then she was transferred to a state mental facility for evaluation. The court hasn’t ruled on whether or not she’s fit to stand trial. But Kennedy said the fact that two different experts ruling she was sane less than a month ago should work in our favor,” I explained.
“I hate that you were in danger. When I think about what could have happened to you if you’d been alone in the car with that monster… I can’t believe I ever thought she was my friend. I swear if I’d known back then what I know now, I’d have let Miguel and his friends get rid of her when they had the chance.”
“You don’t mean that,” I insisted.
“The hell I don’t. Was your dad hurt?”
“He’s got a nasty case of whiplash and lots of cuts and bruises. All three of us went to the hospital in ambulances. But he didn’t have to stay. I had a mild concussion on top of the broken ribs, so they kept me overnight. Once I was released, we all just kind of holed up in the house and tried to stay out of the spotlight.”
“You told me over the phone that the press was out of control. How bad did it get?”
“As bad as it possibly could. I think everyone you’ve ever laid eyes on has given an interview with one network or another. They’re all basically saying the same thing: you’re guilty and anyone who’s surprised by it is a blind fool who should have seen your true character all along. I won’t lie. It’s been difficult to watch. Kennedy finally made me turn off the television.”
“I’m glad she’s been watching over you. Is that the worst of it?”
I shook my head. “No… the company, Asher. The feds have seized it. They froze all of the accounts and cleared the building. The SEC is doing an audit and the FBI is still investigating the smuggling accusations.”
Asher clenched his jaw and balled his hand into a fist. He took a deep breath and relaxed them both.
“They won’t find anything,” he assured me. “Nothing that doesn’t trace back to Rachel, at least.”
I shifted my weight again and he narrowed his eyes.
“What is it, Lauren? What are you holding back?”
“They’ve already found something that doesn’t trace back to Rachel. I’m so sorry, baby. It looks like Brian has bee
n embezzling too. He hasn’t been arrested yet. But Kennedy said it’s only a matter of time.”
He took another deep breath and blew it out loud and slow. “That’s definitely not something I ever expected to hear. I trusted Brian. But if he’s been stealing from the company, I’m glad the feds have caught on. As for the rest of it, I’m devastated that this has leaked over into the company. I built that place from the ground up and I’m not going to let Rachel, the feds, or the Chavez family run it into the ground. Now I’m even more motivated to take care of business and get back to our real lives.”
I nodded and cleared my throat. “That’s all the news from home. Can you fill me in on your end now?”
He nodded back at me and took another long drink of the wine. “I was pissed when the warden put me in Dad’s cell. But he was overjoyed. I found out later that he’d called in some favors to get me assigned to his room. The first thing he did was try to hug me, and I punched him in the face.”
“But things obviously calmed down between the two of you.”
“I’m not sure I’d use the word calm in regards to any of this. He hit me back, but then helped me from the floor to my cot. He sat down and started explaining himself and I lost the desire to beat the shit out of him.”
“What did he tell you?”
“Now I’m the one who doesn’t know where to start,” he replied with a light, nervous laugh. He ate a small piece of ham and then finally continued.
“Dad explained that he’d had me put in his cell because my life was in danger. Atwater is full of people who are connected to the family and there was a price on my head for killing Luis. The guards knew all about this, but some of them are on the Chavez payroll so that didn’t help us much. But Dad wasn’t too worried, because he had a plan.
“I’d always been told Dad volunteered to take the rap for Luis. But that wasn’t the case. Luis blackmailed him into taking the fall.”
“What did he use as leverage?”
“Me,” he answered with a sad smile. “Turns out, Dad’s been keeping quite the family secret. He is a family secret.”
I narrowed my brow in confusion. “I’m not sure I’m following you.”