by Eileen Green
Gerard, the security guard who was speaking with Thomas, was one of Shane’s. Shane provided the security for the Tiger’s Lair. There was one guard in the mornings and overnight, while three were required in the afternoon and evenings while the club was open for play. Two were stationed at the front desk, helping to check people in and one was situated in the security office where all the monitors were situated.
Shane knew the man was nervous, most likely worried that Shane would lay into him. There was nothing to be nervous about. The man trying to get in had been detoured, but when Gerard had tried to chase him down, the man had given him the slip and had gotten away. This wasn’t Gerard’s fault. Shane would have to speak with the man in the morning when Shane had calmed down.
After thinking for a few moments, he looked at Alex and Jackson. He ran his hand through his hair and then swallowed his pride. “Sorry, guys. I’ve been on edge ever since I found out Clara was in danger.”
Both men before him chuckled slightly. Alex spoke for both of them. “It’s understandable, Beast. We would be in the same state as you if it was our women.”
Jackson had been through a similar situation with Abigail when a cartel guy came after him and Abigail a while back. It had been a residual from their SEAL days, and Jackson had killed the guy’s brother during an op. The man wanted revenge. In fact, they still weren’t safe. None of them really were.
“Shane!” he heard his name called. Looking over to Tate who was standing at the door to the office, he could see the man wave at him. Hopefully, this friend had some news for him. “Alex, you too!” Tate said.
Interesting development.
Curiosity reigning, Shane made his way over to the billionaire with Alex and Jackson hot on his trail. They followed Tate into Alex’s office, and to Shane’s surprise, Jeffery Chambers was sitting in one of the chairs before Alex’s opposing desk. The man looked up as the four men entered, concern plastered on his face.
There was a bit of resemblance to Clara. They had the same mouth, ears, and freckles on the cheeks.
Jeffrey stood and looked to Tate who began the introductions. “Shane Owens, this is Senator Jeffrey Chambers. Jeffrey, this is the man I was talking to you about. He is Clara’s…” Tate looked at Shane, his eyebrow raised.
Shane offered his right hand. “Boyfriend. I’m one of Clara’s boyfriends. It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Chambers.”
Jeffrey’s dark brown brows rose high when Shane had indicated he was one of Clara’s boyfriends. Shane knew it was going to be a difficult subject, especially since the man was a politician, although Jeffrey regained himself quickly.
“It’s nice to meet you. Call me Jeffrey,” he said as he shook Shane’s hand. “Is Clara all right?”
“She’s pretty shaken up right now. It’s been a rough week for her – well, actually, a rough year.” Shane moved to sit in the chair next to Jeffrey. Alex took his seat behind his desk, and Jackson perched himself on the edge of the desk. “She just found out her adoptive parents were murdered. Someone cut the brake lines on her car where she could have died, has sent her two threatening notes, and now the same man who apparently stole the arson investigator’s files on the fire apparently tried to gain access to this building this evening. So, I’d say she’s holding up pretty well.”
“I don’t understand what this has to do with me.” Jeffrey was nervous as he spoke. He looked over at Tate who was sitting on the couch. “Tate just told me to get here as quick as possible. I ditched the Governor’s Ball to be here.”
Shane moved his chair so that he could see Tate as well as Alex. Jeffrey followed suit. Once they were situated, Tate spoke. “I’ve known Jeffrey for a few years now. We met at a charity event my mother was putting on. We became friends. Shane, when you told me earlier you thought that Clara’s misfortunes were tied to Jeffrey somehow, I knew I needed to get him here. I trust him, Shane. I know he wouldn’t hurt someone, especially his sister.”
“You knew about Clara,” Shane stated.
“Like I said when we spoke yesterday, I did. My father confessed his affair on his deathbed. We, my mother and I have looked for Clara. However, when we went to South Korea, we found out her mother had died, and she had been sent to an orphanage. We were told she had been adopted, but the records had been destroyed. After that, there was no sense continuing the search.” Jeffrey sounded defeated. “I had no idea where she was until Tate told me on the phone.”
There was a long pause, and then realization spread on the senator’s face. “You think I tried to get rid of her because of my position!”
The feeling of being a cad simmered in Shane. He wanted to believe the man, but the letters pointed in his direction. Shane looked at Alex. “Get Gerard in here. He has the picture.”
Jackson rushed from the room. The mood in the room was somber as they waited. Shane was trying to hold in his anger, for he really wanted to believe the man next to him wasn’t a killer.
It wasn’t long before Jackson returned with a visibly worried Gerard. Tall, about six feet, short red hair, and muscular, the man looked terrified when he caught Shane’s gaze. Shane would need to talk to the man about his job, but that would have to wait.
In Gerard’s hand was a photo. Shane gently took the eight-by-ten picture from his employee so as not to scare the man further and handed the paper to Jeffrey.
A gasp escaped Jeffrey when he looked at the photo. His tanned face went pale while his hands shook. “That fucking prick!” he exclaimed. “I knew he didn’t want Clara to be a part of my life, but I never imagined him capable of what has happened to her!”
“Who is he?” Shane and Tate asked in unison.
“My right-hand man. My confidant. My campaign manager. My friend.” The last two words were said in a whisper. Jeffrey looked defeated. He cleared his throat. “His father was my father’s campaign manager and friend. He had told dad that he shouldn’t look for Clara either. Thomas and I have been friends since high school. I can’t believe he…”
Shane felt for the man. He had just had the rug pulled out from under him, the shock rendering him speechless. “I’m sorry, man. I truly am,” Shane offered. “But, he’s out there somewhere, and Clara is still in danger. My friends here are still in danger.”
As if in a trance, Jeffrey pulled his cell phone out of the inside jacket pocket. He hit a couple of buttons and then raised the phone to his ear. Shane could hear the phone ringing for the volume was high. He heard when the call connected.
“Thomas, something has come up. I need you to meet me at…” Jeffrey looked at Shane and then Tate. Tate whispered the address, and ten a.m. Jeffrey repeated the information and Shane could hear Thomas on the other end ask why. “I am going to spend a few days with my friend Tate Hawkins, and I need to go over some staff changes with you. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He hadn’t given Thomas time to respond to that bit of information when he hung up. They had all night to plan the devious man’s takedown, and Shane prayed they would be able to do so without any further bloodshed.
* * * *
Clara couldn’t stop shaking. She had had such a wonderful evening with Shane and Jeremy solidifying their relationship. She never imagined it would all fall apart so quickly.
Abigail, Emma, and Missy were sitting with her at one of the bistro tables near the small kitchen the club had for serving snacks and drinks. She still felt cold despite the fact that the ladies had covered her with aftercare blankets.
Shane was with the owner of the club and that super-rich guy, and Jeremy had disappeared with Abigail’s other man. A security guard stood in front of the doors that led to the lobby, a post Shane had assigned the man.
Euphoria had shrouded Clara after she, Shane, and Jeremy had made love for the third time in the privacy room. She felt as if she could have floated downstairs when they were ready to leave, but when the trio had reached the bottom step, Alex and Jackson were waiting for them. Both of their expressions tight, their sta
nces pure military. Something was very wrong.
Fear replaced her euphoria in a nanosecond while Shane’s demeanor changed to that of a soldier. Jeremy, who was a bit love-punch-drunk also, straightened up and became serious. Although he was a submissive, outside a scene, he was all man. He had opted to stay with Clara, one as protection, and two as support.
“It’s going to be all right, honey,” Missy tried to convince her. “Your man is in security. They’ll figure all this out.”
Jeremy appeared with Tinker, Abigail’s other man. “Come on, sweetheart,” Jeremy said as he gathered Clara into his arms. “It looks like we’re going to be staying here tonight. We’re going to go upstairs so you can rest.”
“I’ve made up the guest suite,” Tinker said as he looked at Abigail. “I’ve also got some soup and sandwiches ready. I’m sure everyone could use a bite to eat.”
Clara laid her head on Jeremy’s chest as he carried her to the lobby doors and then through them to the elevator doors. As they waited a few moments for the trolley to arrive, the voices that carried out of the office area, lowered as if to keep from being heard.
Abigail, Missy, and Tinker had followed them to the elevator as Clara’s own little squad of protection. However, Clara felt guilty that she was the reason they weren’t with their partners.
Once they were upstairs, Clara was surprised at the penthouse floor. The elevator exited out into a large room, dimly lit. The walls were painted with a stripe of a blue that looked like a blue Clara had seen in the Grand Prismatic Spring she had seen on her trip to Yellowstone when she was younger. White complimented above the blue, and a thin stripe of brownish-orange such as one of the outer rings of the springs separated the two main colors.
A turquoise love seat sat along one wall while two chairs sat opposite in the brownish-orange color that was on a small stripe of paint. A round table sat in the middle of the room with a beautiful crystal vase on it filled with a myriad of wildflowers.
Clara thought at first this was their living room, but then Tinker opened the double doors across the room that were opposite the elevator door. The man entered and flipped a switch, the room inside illuminating.
Jeremy carried Clara inside, and she found they were standing inside a beautifully decorated living room. Abigail and Missy followed them and sat on a couch opposite of where Jeremy set Clara, each couch a white leather. The room dressed in whites and blues would have been cold looking, but knickknacks, paintings, pillows, and rugs helped soften the tones in complimenting hues. Windows offered a fantastic view of the city, and Clara briefly wondered if those were the ones Abigail was punished for earlier for being on a tall ladder.
“What does everyone want to drink?” Tinker asked quietly as if he was afraid to disrupt the somberness of the room.
“I’ll have some of your delicious sweet tea, babe,” Abigail said.
The others requested the same. Clara wanted something heavier to cloud her mind a bit but knew she should stay in the here and now as she had already had a few sips of the whiskey proffered earlier. She requested the sweet tea also.
Conversation went on around her, yet her mind was on the meeting downstairs. If this involved her, she wanted to know. She had nearly died and had two threatening letters, and she felt as if she should be involved in any decisions that were made for her safety, yet she knew Shane wanted her safe and sound.
Soon, everything was becoming fuzzy as the exhaustion of the physical part of her evening was taking over. She could swear she could taste a bit of alcohol in her drink also, but she wasn’t a tea drinker and thought perhaps it was just part of the tea. It wasn’t long before she felt herself being jostled around and the next thing she knew, Shane was waking her.
“Good morning, angel,” he said softly as he kissed her cheek and then her lips. When he lifted, he smiled down lovingly. “I have a surprise for you.”
All sleep left her immediately. Moving her hand over to her other side, she found Jeremy wasn’t with them. “Where’s Jeremy?”
“He’s helping Tinker with an early breakfast. I’ve been watching over you, waiting for you to wake.”
“Oh,” she said, guilt taking over a bit. “What time is it?”
“It’s about five a.m.,” Shane responded as he gazed at her. She sat up, bringing the sheet with her to cover her breasts.
Shane’s brow lifted questionably at her action. “In the future, there will be no hiding your body from me, or Jeremy. What you have is ours to see, touch, and love, and the same goes for our bodies for you, except when we are in a scene.”
She nodded. “Sorry.”
“There’s a lot to learn, pet. I know you can’t learn it all or remember it all this early in the relationship. I have patience. But I’ll remind you.”
His hand was rubbing up and down her arm as he spoke, her girly parts beginning to wake up. Of course, whenever Shane or Jeremy looked at her, those parts perked up. They both had that effect on her.
Reaching up, she touched his cheek. “You look worried.”
A sad sigh sounded from Shane. “I am worried about you, angel, along with Jeremy. Plus, all the people here in the club.”
“What happened?” she asked, guilt filling her. No one would be in danger if it wasn’t for her and she knew something was going on because of the hour.
Shane pushed himself up from the bed and extended his hand. Accepting it, she let him help her up. He spoke as he did so.
“We’ll get to all that, but I want you to see your surprise. Now, go shower and come out when you’re ready. But just remember, breakfast will be waiting, so don’t be too long.”
Clara stood on her tiptoes, wrapped her hand around the back of Shane’s neck, and pulled him down to her. She pressed her lips on his before she made her way into the bathroom that was attached to the bedroom.
Starting the water, she stepped inside and let the water wash some of her trepidations away along with the lovemaking from the previous night.
* * * *
The aromas in the penthouse were assailing Jeremy’s nose. His stomach was growling for he hadn’t eaten the night before as he, Shane, and Clara were going to grab a bite on the way home from the club. However, there was a churning in his stomach about what Shane wasn’t telling him.
A glance across the open space from the dining room to the living room had Jeremy trying to size up the tall, thin man with dark brown hair. Jeremy suspected the man was Clara’s brother for there was a slight resemblance especially in the face, but Jeremy would wait until introductions were made. Shane had disappeared down the hall to wake Clara, and Jeremy was certain once she arrived, shit was going to hit the fan.
Additional leaves needed to be added to the table to accommodate everyone which is what Jeremy was doing. The open dining room had a round dark walnut table, and with the extra leaves, it would be an oblong which could probably fit ten people easily.
Abigail was setting out silverware on the matching buffet off to the side of the table. Plates had already been stacked there, and soon, the food Tinker and Jackson were making would find their way also.
Movement from the hallway caught Jeremy’s attention. Shane entered, his presence large and imposing, drawing nearly everyone’s attention. It pleased Jeremy that the women ogled him even though they were in relationships. Jeremy and Clara were two lucky people to get someone as handsome and well-built like Shane.
Shane moved over to the couch set-up in the living room, a monstrous sectional that overlooked the window where downtown Denver could be seen. Jeremy knew that a fifty-inch flat-screen TV sat behind the abstract art piece that hung on the wall which could be seen from the couch also.
Jeremy tried to keep his eye on the job he was doing and also on Shane. Shane looked at Jeremy, a small smile touching his lips. He then waved Jeremy over. Since he was finished with the task asked of him, Jeremy made his way over.
The stranger looked up at him, curiosity in his light brown eyes. Shane threw h
is arm around Jeremy’s shoulders and looked at the man on the couch. “Jeffrey Chambers, this is my partner, Jeremy Swenson. Jeremy, this is Clara’s brother.”
Jeremy noticed Jeffrey hadn’t batted an eye when Shane had shown his affection. Stepping forward, Jeremy offered his right hand in which Jeffrey accepted and shook. “It’s nice to meet you, sir,” Jeremy said before he moved back next to Shane.
“So, you two are together also?” Jeffrey inquired quietly.
Shane moved to sit on the big square glass and metal coffee table. Jeremy was leery of its sturdiness, so he opted to sit on the couch.
“Yes. We are. And”—Shane held up a hand, although his tone of voice indicated he wasn’t offended by the question—“Clara is all right with it.”
“I glad. I may not know her, but I’m glad she is happy. I can only imagine what she must have gone through as a child. I know the orphanages in other countries can be rough on kids. I was happy to learn she had been adopted.” Jeffrey seemed calm even though Jeremy knew Shane had already told the man about the danger Clara was in.
“From what I understand, her parents were very loving. She feels bad that they were murdered because of her.” Shane leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I want to take Mallory down, Jeffrey, and I don’t care if he lives.”
Jeffrey followed Shane’s body language. “I feel the same way. He may have been a friend all these years, but now that I think about certain situations, I know that he has done some unsavory things to get me elected. A politician’s life is scrutinized with a fine-toothed comb, and I’m surprised there weren’t questions before. I will have to rethink my future.”
“Don’t be hasty, Jeffrey,” Alex said as he came around the sectional holding a tray of four coffee mugs. “Your stance on many positions didn’t come from that asswipe. I’ve read up on your college days and your career after that. You’ll be good for the country.”