by Brooke Page
I’d keep this little meeting to myself for now. Making him mad while he was away for business wasn’t something I wanted to do.
Tossing my phone into my purse, I ran my fingers through my hair and left Vance’s office, meeting Marcus in the center of the shop.
“I’ve locked the front door. We can head out the back.” He motioned for me to lead the way. Marcus bolted the door once we were both out, then held his arm out for me to take while walking down the steps. It was a sweet gesture, but I preferred the handrail. He didn’t take offense to it, only smiled and followed me down the steps.
A large man stepped out of the SUV Marcus came in, startling me to step backward.
Marcus quickly took a step in front of me, holding his arm out to the massive man. “I don’t think she’ll harm me,” he joked, then turned back to me. “Don’t mind Percy, he’s really good at his job.”
I couldn’t peel my eyes from the man. I’m sure he wasn’t dangerous, but he reminded me of one of the men my mother contacted when she needed a fix. Marcus watched me intently, then turned back to Percy. “Why don’t you wait for Colt to come back, let him know Lauren is with me?”
Marcus was perceptive, realizing I was apprehensive getting in a car with a man I didn’t know. It made me more at ease knowing he was aware and wanted to make me comfortable.
Percy nodded, stepping out of the way. Marcus turned and gave me a reassuring smile, setting his hand on my lower back and guiding me to the car. “They never let me drive.” He grinned. “Makes me feel way more important than I am.”
He closed my car door and swiftly went to the driver side, Percy throwing him the keys in the process.
“I know a great place on the water.” Marcus started the SUV and pulled out of the parking lot. He threw me a relaxed grin, causing my body to relax.
Why was Vance so angry with his father? He was being a perfect gentleman toward me.
Chapter Six
Vance
I’d convinced Abby to see me three of the four days I’d been away from Lauren. Progress was going perfectly. She was getting accustom to being around me, relaxing and feeling at ease. She was even a touch flirty today while we were at the tiny zoo, hidden inside the touristy city.
“Thanks for keeping me company this weekend.” She tossed a handful of food pellets to the fish swimming in the pond below us while we stood on a bridge. “I haven’t had any positive interactions with men since I’ve moved. To be honest, I haven’t had any positive interactions with anyone.”
I laughed. “What? Your co-worker isn’t friendly?”
Her eyes widened, then she realized I was joking and laughed. “She’s crazy. I think she sleeps with a different guy every night.”
I continued laughing, pushing away the creepy shiver running up my spine, remembering how she attacked me when I went looking for Abby. “She’s forward, that’s for sure.”
Abby grinned at me over her shoulder. “I heard she was forward with you.” Her eyes focused back on the pound. “Are you planning on seeing her again?”
My brows furrowed. “What? My only interactions involving that crazy bitch have been trying to get her to let you take a break or give me your phone number.”
The soft smile turned into a frown. “She told me she slept with you in the back office.”
My stomach tightened, recalling her trying to rip my clothes off and shove her tongue down my throat. “Definitely not what happened.”
She tossed more food down to the fish. “What you do with your life is your choice, I don’t judge.”
I tapped her forearm, wanting her to meet me eye to eye. She glanced at my hand then her faded blue eyes found mine. “I shut her down when she forced herself on me. I’m not interested in women like her.”
A warm flush crossed her cheeks, a smile tugging on her lips. “What type of women are you interested in?”
I smirked as if I had confidence, but trembled inside. I wanted Lauren, but I had to make Abby believe otherwise.
My eyes raked over her body, being sure to take my time so she’d notice.
She shuffled on her feet, her legs pressing together. She tugged her t-shirt down further over her jean shorts with one hand while the other ran through her blonde hair as I examined her.
Leaning into her, I murmured, “You.”
She licked her lips and tilted her head. Every muscle in my body tensed when I stared at her mouth, my heart pounding as if it were pulling me away and back to whom I should be spending my time with. Abby was setting herself up for me to kiss her.
Sweat formed on the back of my neck, and my nerves kicked in when her eyes fluttered closed. Vance, just fucking kiss her. It won’t mean anything. How else are you going to bring her to the Cage?
I swallowed back the lump of guilt in my throat. This was so damn difficult, and I didn’t know if I could live with myself for kissing a woman other than Lauren.
Abby remained still, her eyes closed and her side pressed against mine while we leaned on the railing of the bridge.
Stop being a fucking pussy, my brain goaded. Lauren will never know, not like you have a future with her anyway, you’re too fucked up.
My chest tightened, and I touched my nose to hers. If I kissed Abby, I’d be remorseful, but if I didn’t, she might think I wasn’t into her… Which I wasn’t, but then she wouldn’t hang out with me, and I wouldn’t be able to get her to the Cage.
My phone chirped in my pocket, startling both of us. Abby shied away, and I had never been so thankful for the interruption.
“You can check your phone,” she squeaked, throwing another clump of pellets to the water.
I dug in my pocket, fishing out my phone. A picture was on the screen, and my eyes practically bugged out of my head.
Lauren’s luscious body was on the screen. She was on her stomach, her behind on full display from her yellow bathing suit bottoms revealing her perfect globes. I wanted to sink my teeth into her soft skin, then run my tongue along the crease between her thigh and ass. Her slender waist was the perfect length, and I wished there was another picture of her front. I recognized the bathing suit now, it was new from the shop, and I’d get an eyeful of cleavage from the tiny scraps of fabric. I gawked at the photo, temporarily forgetting where I was and who I was with. Abby wasn’t even looking my way, and actually had traveled to the other side of the bridge.
I could have sworn they were supposed to be at the shop for the majority of the day according to the itinerary. Anxiety filled me. I pulled out my burner phone, the one with the tracking device on Colt’s phone and on Lauren’s bracelet.
Mother Fucker.
Keeping an eye on Abby, I shoved the burner phone in my back pocket then typed back to Lauren. She responded instantly, but didn’t answer my question.
“I’ve got to make a call, I’ll be right back,” I coughed, hoping to mask my frustration.
I swiped through my phone, tapping the number and bringing it to my ear.
“Hey, boss.”
“Why the fuck are you not with Lauren?” I growled.
“What are you talking…?” His voice trailed, and I could hear him rustling around.
“I’ll be with you in a moment,” Colt muffled away from the phone. He must have been working with a customer.
“They were just here!” His voice was frantic.
“I got a picture from Lauren of them on a beach across from the Shop. Go get her!” I snapped.
I hung up the phone, pacing back and forth, debating what to text Lauren. I didn’t want her to think I was worried or mad, so I figured the best bet was to not text her, but to keep my eyes glued to the little red dots on the screen, cursing Colt’s to move faster until it was on top of Lauren’s.
“I give him one fucking job,” I muttered. Colt’s dot hadn’t moved, and I swore I was going to shoot him.
I swiped his number again. “Why haven’t you moved?” I barked into the phone.
“I had to get people out of
the shop! I’m on my way out there now,” he grumbled back. I could tell he was irritated with me. The beach across the street wasn’t far, but Lauren being out of sight wasn’t okay. Marcus was watching her, waiting to swoop in and take her the first moment he could.
“Is everything okay?” Abby’s sweet voice startled me.
I held my phone so the screen was out of view. “Business issues.”
Her brows furrowed with concern. “Anything I can do to help?”
I shot her a grin, hoping it would hide my frantic state. “That’s kind of you to offer, but I’m not sure there’s anything you can do.”
“If you need to leave, I understand.” Her gaze found the ground. “I’ve been taking up a lot of your time the past few days.”
I should have taken her face in my hands and told her I loved spending time with her and she wasn’t a burden to me, but I couldn’t play the part, not right now. Not when Lauren was by herself on the beach with Marcus lurking who knows where.
“I’ve enjoyed our time together.” I gave her a wink then glanced down at my phone. “I hope we get to hang out again.”
“I’d like too,” she whispered, taking a step toward me, entering my space. She was batting her eyelashes and staring at my mouth again. I squeezed my phone in my hand, willing it to ring and tell me Lauren was safe.
She reached for my free hand, linking our fingers together. More sweat formed on my forehead and the back of my neck, watching the red dot move at a molasses pace in the direction of Lauren.
Damn it, Colt, get to her.
“You still want to hang out on Friday?” She asked.
I looked up from my phone to find her only a few inches from my face, the hand clutching my phone being the only thing between us.
I couldn’t focus. “What did you say?”
She smiled, but it didn’t match her eyes. “You’re distracted, it’s okay. I was asking about Friday?”
Putting my phone to my side, I nodded. “I’m sorry, but yes, I made reservations,” I jiggled my phone in her direction. “You better not bail on me.”
Her eyes brightened along with her smile. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
She squeezed my hand, and fighting my discomfort, I squeezed back. I glanced down at my phone again, thankful Colt’s dot was on top of Lauren’s. I let out a sigh of relief, then my heart pounded when Lauren’s name popped up on my phone with a text message.
I instantly dropped my hand from Abby’s, taking a step backward to read it. “I’m sorry, I need to answer this.”
Abby smiled, then tucked her hair behind her ears and turned back toward the bridge.
Lauren: Hey- sorry. That was Marcy. We’re at the beach across from the Surf Shop. I didn’t know she took the photo. Not a fan of this swimsuit.
She wasn’t a fan of the swimsuit? It gave me a halfie, and I was planning on making her wear it again when it was only the two of us.
Ok.
I checked the screen with the tracker devices, noticing the dots were still against each other.
Is Colt with you?
Lauren: Yes. I wish it were you.
My eyes scrunched closed and my throat tightened. I wanted to be with her, escape and devote all of my time to the only woman who had caught my infatuation, but I couldn’t. Not yet.
Abby was standing awkwardly by a post with her hands in her pockets.
The hatred inside my heart was causing me to be an asshole to both of them. She lifted her hand, giving me a shy wave, her brows crinkled as she bit her lip. I swallowed, strolling back to her. Colt was with Lauren, and she would be safe now.
“Crisis averted?” She asked.
I smiled. “I think so. Come on. Let’s go see the rest of the zoo.”
She giggled. “I don’t think there’s much to see.”
“Yeah, it’s pretty tiny, but if you want, we can hold a baby kangaroo.”
Her smile broadened. “You can do that here?”
I chuckled. “Yes. One of the few attractions they have to offer.”
She rubbed her hands together in excitement. “I can’t wait.”
I led the way to the kangaroo exhibit, thankful her mind was on something other than trying to kiss me. I kept checking my phone, making sure Colt and Lauren were still next to each other.
“Are you going to hold one?” she asked as we waited in line.
“Nah, I’ll take your picture, though.”
She tilted her head and arched a brow. “I would’ve thought you’d be all about it.”
“Why is that?”
She shrugged her shoulders and played with the zipper on her purse. “You seem to be kind of… soft.”
I held my hand to my chest as if I were offended. “Soft?”
She grinned, her gaze not meeting mine. “Yes, you must have a big heart.”
Oh, only if she knew.
“Maybe when I’m with good people.” There was some truth to that. I was as soft as Egyptian sheets when I was around Lauren.
“And then you do that.”
“What?”
She touched my arm. “Say the right thing to make a girl go all mushy inside.”
I smiled, but died inside. I was doing my job, and she was falling for me. She’d hate me in a few days when she was drugged and used to help capture my dickhead of a father.
“You deserve to feel special, Abby.”
She rested her head on my shoulder while we waited, and I had to close my eyes and pretend she was Lauren.
Thankfully, her time to hold the kangaroo came quickly, and she separated herself from me. I needed the space. She sat down like the worker instructed, cooing at the little kangaroo inside of a bag as content as could be when placed in her lap.
I held up my phone to take a photo, getting her to smile was easy with a kangaroo in her lap. I took a few pictures, then brought my phone back. I couldn’t help but open up the tracking device to see Lauren’s little dot again while Abby was distracted.
My eyes bugged out when I saw she was at the shop, while Colt was still on the beach.
What the hell? Was it lagging? I told him to stay with her. My hand shook as I held the phone, my heart pounding rapidly with fear. It had to have been wrong.
I stepped out of the area where Abby held the kangaroo to call Colt.
It rang four times, and I was already cursing at him in my head.
“What?” he snapped.
I narrowed my eyes. “Are you with Lauren?”
All I could hear was wind, and Marcy bitching, then Colt cursing. “Where the fuck did Lauren go?”
My stomach dropped as I grasped my phone. “Damn it, Colt!”
I pulled the phone from my ear, and to my horror, Lauren wasn’t even at the shop anymore, she was heading west on the strip, opposite of YaYa’s, and not at a walking pace.
“Marcy, where the hell did she go?” Colt shouted in the background.
I hung up on him, my hands finding my knees. The wind felt like it was knocked out of me, and I had to focus on breathing so I could get in the car and find her.
“Are you okay?” Abby asked, her brows furrowing with concern. She was done holding the animal and set a hand on my shoulder.
I stood tall from her touch and cleared my throat. “I’m sorry, I need to go. I’ll call you later.”
“Okay, let me know if you need anything,” she yelled as I sprinted toward the exit, nearly knocking over a family gawking at a wandering peacock. A few other exotic birds scattered as I flew passed them.
My breath was heavy and my arm went ridged when I unlocked the door to the beat up car. Keeping my eyes glued on the phone, my mind terrified me from where it strayed to, and was even more horrified for who she might be with. By the direction she was going, my fears were most likely right. The monster had captured her, and I needed to hightail it before he’d fill her with his venom.
Chapter Seven
Lauren
“So, what brings such a bright young woman
like you to The Shore?” Marcus asked. We were sitting at a table for two on the side facing the ocean. The beach in the horizon was empty, only groups of seagulls swarming around and perusing the sand.
I shrugged my shoulders. “Needed to get away.”
“You stay with Contraras, right?”
I nodded. “She’s my best friend’s grandmother.”
He smiled. “Which grandchild? She has a few.”
“Marcy. Do you know them well?”
His lip quirked upward. “I do. YaYa is one of a kind. She’s very special.”
I’d never heard YaYa talk about Marcus except for the time she was scolding Vance, telling him his father was no good for this town. Uneasiness swept through me as I relived the memory. She’d be furious with me if she knew I was voluntarily sitting across from him.
“She doesn’t speak highly of me I’m sure,” he laughed. “I was young when we met, did some stupid things. I’m a lot older and a lot more intelligent now. Take anything she says with a grain of salt.”
“What happened?” I blurted.
His lips formed a straight line, and I regretted asking the moment it slipped. I covered my mouth while my eyes went wide. “I’m sorry, I don’t always think before I speak.”
His smile returned. “Don’t be sorry.” He rubbed the stem of his wine glass between his fingers. “Let’s just say, I broke someone’s heart who was close to her, and rightfully so, she hasn’t been able to forgive me.”
I believed he had broken a few hearts in his early days, and probably still could do a number on a woman’s emotions. Vance had the same capabilities as his father.
“She can be stubborn. That’s where Marcy gets it.”
He smirked. “I think every woman in the Contraras family is born with an attitude.”
“I guess we all have our downfalls.”