Rewards of Bravery

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  “Exactly, Montana, but who was looking? That’s what the feds are trying to figure out.

  “So where are the fucking files with this information?” Benny O. asked Clover.

  “He said at the office. That there are two blue boxes of files. There’s a key in an envelope with the name of the safe and number and location. Says you could bribe these men big time. There’s a foreign guy with sick money and another guy with millions.”

  “Hmmm, well, I guess it all depends on whether or not Sam lied about those files and where they are.”

  “How do you want to do this?”

  “Breaking into that place, taking a chance getting caught is for amateurs. We have to have someone that works there or can get in there undetected, to see if those boxes are even there.”

  “He told me exactly where they are. All we need to do is get someone in there,” Clover said to him.

  “Before we do that, let’s look into the two men he gave you. Find out what we can on them and if they’re worth as much as Sam says they are. Otherwise, you can go back to the hospital and finish the job.”

  Isla carried one box at a time into the office. She placed the two blue boxes back in the storage room where Sam had left them.

  “Anything of use in there? Please don’t tell me more stolen money from us?” Hagerty asked her.

  She chuckled. “No, sir, just regular files. Old ones from when he first started working here.”

  “Thank God. So, I heard things went great with Bart.”

  “Yes, he was so nice and very thorough as an accountant. I don’t think you’ll have anything to worry about. It was perfect.”

  “Thank God, because that investment was most of my savings.”

  “Well, I can tell you right now that it was a great investment, Hagerty. You’ll make that money back and a hell of a lot more.”

  “Sure you don’t want that job? You only have to travel there once a quarter to go over the books in person. I’ll pay you extra for that,” he said, and she laughed.

  “I thought you wanted to hire someone closer to that location.”

  “I did, but perfection is better than convenience sometimes, and you’re thorough. Bart even said so.”

  “Well, it wasn’t a bad drive.”

  “Excellent. I can even have the lawyers write up a contract so it’s legit.”

  She chuckled.

  “Oh, so I don’t forget, I’m leaving early tomorrow.”

  “Yes, Randy mentioned that. A birthday celebration?” he asked and eyed her over.

  “Yes.”

  “Any special plans?” he asked.

  “Hanging out with friends and my boyfriends.”

  “Ahh, boyfriends. I should have known. The military guy was one of them?” he asked.

  “Yes, that’s Ortley, he’s a drill sergeant.”

  “Wow, impressive. Why don’t you take the day?”

  “No, that isn’t necessary.”

  “You can. You’ve been doing so much and staying late too. Take the day, enjoy it, maybe hit the spa before you hit the bars,” he said and winked.

  “No hitting bars for me, but the spa sounds perfect.”

  Randy came out of the office. “I have perfect timing then,” Randy said and walked over and handed her a gift and a card.

  “What’s this?”

  “Happy birthday from all of us,” Hagerty said, and the rest of the staff began to sing “Happy Birthday.”

  She smiled and opened the box to find a specialized nameplate for her desk, along with a pen set. She then opened the card, and inside was a gift certificate for the spa in Central Valley.

  “Oh my God, thank you so much,” she said and hugged Hagerty and then Randy, and they laughed and smiled, and she hugged the others as well.

  “I would call right now and schedule that appointment. I hear they book up quickly, but if you ask for Diane, she will get you in. She’s an old friend of mine,” Hagerty told her.

  “I will, right now,” she said, and they headed back to work, and she went to her desk and texted the guys. She told them about the gifts and took pictures, but she didn’t tell them she had off tomorrow for her birthday. She would save that surprise for later.

  “A spa certificate?” Presley said to Curren.

  “If she wasn’t working, we could have flown her out to that place for the weekend in California,” Curren said as he looked at his laptop.

  Presley laughed. “You do remember her response to you this morning when you told her you were paying off her bills and college loan?” Presley asked.

  Curren didn’t even glance up from the laptop. “I recall her begging for mercy, calling out our names, and accepting our rules, which include taking care of her in every way. She forgets that, and she’ll get another spanking.”

  Presley laughed. “This ought to be interesting.”

  “What is that?” he asked, looking up.

  “You and Isla banging heads.”

  “We don’t bang heads. She just needs to learn rules and that I’m in charge.”

  “You would do anything for her, just as we all would. You’re stubborn, older, and set in your ways.”

  “And you aren’t? I do believe you just ordered her several new outfits for her as well as lingerie. So who is set in their ways and possessive?”

  Presley snickered and then smiled. “This is incredible. God, Curren, she’s only turning twenty-four? I feel like I’m robbing the fucking cradle, yet the thought of her with anyone else just burns me inside.” He glanced at his watch. “When is she leaving? I thought if she got done early with that accountant that she would head home.”

  “Text her,” Curren said and went back to typing.

  Presley sent Isla a text message, and a few seconds later, his cell phone rang.

  “Hello?”

  “I’m in the car so I can’t text you.”

  “What are you doing?”

  “Heading home. I’m going to meet York at the boutique in town. Are you and Curren still working until later?”

  “We’re not doing much, but what do you mean meeting York in town? When did you make plans with her?”

  “Oh, on my way back to the office from that meeting. She called to say hello. We haven’t hung out in a while, and well, she didn’t want to wait until tomorrow night at Harper’s to see me for my birthday. Also, I want to get something nice to wear, and she’s looking too.”

  “Okay, well, will you be here for dinner?”

  “What time?”

  “Five?”

  “Six?” she asked.

  He chuckled. “It’s three o’clock, Isla.”

  “And we are going shopping and catching up.”

  “You can’t catch up with York tomorrow night at Harper’s?” he asked and laughed.

  “Nope. See you at six. Love you.”

  “Love you too.” He ended the call, and Curren narrowed his eyes at him.

  “What is she doing?”

  “Meeting York in town, going shopping for an outfit to wear for tomorrow night.”

  “Hmm, she didn’t mention that.”

  “Curren, we can’t control her life and every aspect of it. She’ll feel suffocated.”

  “So you’re okay with her not running this by us? You think she’ll be safe?”

  “I feel fine about it. This relationship is unique, and the last thing we need to do is make her feel controlled and like an object. God knows the woman will not accept that. You and I will get an earful.”

  “Maybe, but then we’ll be making love to her together, and she’ll accept our orders.”

  Presley chuckled. “I have never seen you like this.”

  “Like what?”

  “So possessive and protective.”

  “She’s our woman, ours. No other man has ever gotten to make love to her. To possess her body. We did. The four of us, and that connection we all felt when we were making love together, over and over again, was fucking insane. I knew in that mom
ent that I was never going to be the same man again. Never. That’s why I’m so possessive and protective of her. If anyone dares to try to hurt a hair on her head, they’re dead.”

  “Agreed, but I’m a little disappointed about her meeting York and shopping.”

  “Why? Because you didn’t know and she just planned it without discussing it with is?”

  “No, Curren, because I bought her some really nice things, including this sexy dress that looks more like lingerie than a dress. With her body, she’ll look incredible.”

  “And you wanted her to wear that in public, where other men can admire what’s ours?”

  “We’d be so close to her, guarding her, men could only get a glance but not close enough to touch or enjoy.”

  “We definitely need to talk to her about making plans without us knowing,” Curren said.

  “Agreed.”

  “There’s no key or envelope with a key in those blue boxes.”

  “Are you sure, honey? You double-checked?” Clover asked.

  “Yes. What’s going on, Clover? Please don’t tell me you’re involved with Sam and what he did.”

  “I’m not. It’s just that the key is to a safe-deposit box that contains some information my boss needs. However, some of the documents are sort of questionable, and if they get into the hands of the wrong people, it could cause my boss some unnecessary trouble.”

  “So illegal stuff?”

  “Honey, come on now, you know I can’t say.”

  She exhaled. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt. I know your kind of work.”

  “And you know it turns you on when I show you some of my restraining moves.”

  She snorted. “Haven’t seen you in a while.”

  “A month, and for good reason. I’ve been doing jobs out of town and have to travel. You find me that key, or a possible location, and we’ll meet up and spend some quality time together. You know, working on those moves.”

  She was quiet, and Clover had a feeling that she knew something.

  “I’m not sure, and I don’t want her to get hurt. She’s a nice person.”

  “Who are you talking about?”

  “The accountant that found the information on Sam and how he was stealing money from the agency. She took the boxes home with her last week and then brought them back.”

  “What?”

  “She told Hagerty that there wasn’t anything in them.”

  “Maybe she has the key?”

  “Why would she keep it? She wouldn’t know what it was for.”

  “No, she wouldn’t, but she could have held onto it or maybe planned on giving it to the cops.”

  “Hmm, what should I do then? Ask her about it? Maybe pretend it was for something I needed. The safe in the back?”

  “No. You’ll only incriminate yourself if things go south. Fucking Sam. He caused all this.”

  “Well, don’t hurt her. She doesn’t know about any of this. She was just doing her job, and she’s good at it.”

  “Do me a favor and send me her address.”

  “Clover?”

  “Do it, and as long as she isn’t there, she won’t get hurt.”

  “They’re worth millions, and the deal this guy Flora did with the Egyptian, Kabin, is worth millions as well. What do you have on that key and the files?” he asked Clover.

  “I just got off the phone with my contact. The accountant took the boxes home. She returned them today, but the key isn’t inside.”

  “She took it? Why would she take it?”

  “Maybe the key wasn’t even in there.”

  “Maybe it was, and she is holding onto it to give to the cops.”

  “I’ll look for it. As soon as it’s safe, I’ll get into her place and find it.”

  “Fuck.”

  Isla hugged York good-bye before they headed to their cars. Montana drove up in the patrol car before she even reached her jeep.

  “Hey, gorgeous.”

  She smiled as he got out of the car. She unlocked her doors and placed the bags in the back seat, including a dress for tomorrow night and something sexy for this evening. She turned around as she spoke to him. “How is work?”

  He smiled and looked her over. “Much better that I only have an hour left,” he said and pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She kissed him right back, and they heard a few whistles, and she stepped back and chuckled but laid her head against his chest. He slid his palm to her ass and her back. “I can’t wait to get off work and spend the night with you.”

  “I can’t either.”

  He leaned back and looked at his watch. “You better get moving. You’re going to be late, and from my understanding, Curren and Presley were a little upset about these plans you made and how you didn’t inform them first.”

  She scrunched her eyes at him. “Inform them or ask their permission?” she asked with attitude.

  He chuckled. “Oh boy, I hope I don’t miss this.”

  “Miss what?” she asked.

  He gave her ass a slap. “The showdown.” He winked. “See you shortly.”

  He got back into his car and she got into her jeep, wondering what he meant. As she thought about his words and thought about Curren and Presley’s personalities, she knew exactly what Montana meant. Curren and Presley were used to being in charge and giving orders. She wasn’t afraid of them, but instead, for some crazy reason she was aroused by defying them in some way. Maybe because the end result was their passionate lovemaking, and the way they restrained her or thrust into her while spanking her ass. She giggled and felt her cheeks warm. Who would have thought she would like that?

  God, she was so in love with them. It made her think back to weeks ago when she kept pushing Ortley and Montana away. She thought she needed more time to heal. Felt like she had to prove something to herself. Then she met Curren and Presley, and oh boy, were they intimidating and seasoned. Their attitudes were hard to digest, and the fact that they accused her of being some sort of spy got her goat going good. She chuckled. Things cleared up quickly. That whole situation was behind her anyway, and she was making money, enjoying the job, and had no problem driving the hour and working for Hagerty on a private contract basis. She could pay her student loans off quickly. As she thought about that, she thought about the argument with Curren. Boy, was he bossy.

  She pulled into her driveway and got all her shopping out. She headed inside and locked the doors and walked into her bedroom. As she placed everything down and hung up the dresses, she walked back by her desk and saw the small envelope on the floor right where the blue box of files had been.