“That’s almost three billion dollars, right? She must have hidden it,” Nate says. “Before she was arrested, she made a big deal about having legitimate money making her wealthy, and her illegal activities made her powerful.”
We’re all quiet for a moment.
“Does the FBI have any idea where her illegitimate money is?” I ask.
“No one has said anything to us,” Mason says. “What did they talk to you about?”
I groan. “Six hours of depositions. What didn’t they talk to me about? Honestly, I’m not sure they’ve even cleared me as a suspect.” I look at Nate in a panic. Does he think I might be a suspect?
“They’re grasping at straws,” he assures me. “I wish Walker was heading this up. Although they’d figured out it was Viviana about a year before they told us. I think it was something she did while in Montana at Landon’s place.”
“That’s my old place,” I tell him. “I miss the ranch. I need to look for a new property.” I sigh. “What are we going to do?”
“Well, I think if you don’t go out and talk to your boyfriend soon, he’s going to come in here and take us all down,” Jim says with a smile in his voice.
“I don’t think he’s totally figured out who I am,” I confess. “I haven’t told him, and I’m not sure what he’s put together. I don’t think he’s been doing any research.”
“That must be refreshing,” Nate says.
“We’ll see,” I say. “I do have some baggage.”
Nate snorts. “I have baggage. You have a healthy bank account.”
Mason sighs. “Anyone over thirty has baggage. But as Caroline says, it’s a matter of whether it’s carry-on or needs to go under the plane. Yours is easily still carry-on.”
“Maybe.” I look again at the website up on Nate’s monitors. “Let me know what Gage reports. I’ll have my team develop a patch immediately.”
“We’ll have to get Cora Perry from FBI Cybercrimes involved, and they can hopefully shut the website down,” Mason says.
Jim nods, and I let myself out of the room and go in search of Axel. When I see him, he’s talking to Nolan Ryan, and I have to stop and gather myself. I need to say hello, not hyperventilate.
Chapter 16
Axel
I must have walked by Nate’s home office about eight times. Mia is in there with Jim Adelson, Mason Sullivan, and Nate. What are they all doing? Are they investors in her business? Her Flirt website up on the computer screen… What is the deal?
I’m feeling a little nervous, and I’m getting my second drink when Nolan Ryan approaches me. That doesn’t help my nerves much.
“Hi. I’m Nolan Ryan,” he says.
I smile. “Great to meet a legend.” We shake hands. “I’m Axel Remington, Jeremy Hamilton’s agent.”
“That’s what I thought.” He shakes his head. “That kid is only seventeen. I didn’t have that kind of control at that age, nor did I have his composure.”
“I don’t think he set out to break your records,” I tell him. “He’s really good at looking at each pitch individually.”
Ryan nods. “That’s what I mean about composure. I’m thrilled I was able to see him break his own record today, on top of a perfect game. That game will be replayed for decades on sports highlights. Thanks for flying me out.”
“I think between sharing this game with you and his parents, he’s having the best day of his life.”
“I’ll bet he has quite a few more great ones ahead of him.”
As I nod, I see Mia, finally out of the office, and I reach my hand out to her so she knows she can approach. “Mr. Ryan, this is my girlfriend, Mia Couture,” I tell him as she comes to my side.
“Please call me Nolan, and it’s very nice to meet you.”
Mia smiles, her eyes a little wider than usual. “I’m a huge fan. You were one of the first players I followed when I was young. I found baseball by accident. I was a math nerd at a very early age. I love how the two intersect.”
He crosses his arms and grins. “They certainly do.”
We make small talk about his flight out and his plans with his wife while in San Francisco until Jeremy brings his parents over.
“Mom, Dad, I want you to meet Mia Couture. She’s been in the news lately, but she’s really wonderful.”
I smile and curse myself silently for not being better informed. Alana’s timing was not great, and there will be no more avoiding current events for Jeremy’s sake. He’s clearly not missed anything. Now I just feel like a dummy. Mia lets go of my hand, and I immediately want it back.
“We actually sat together during the game up in the owners’ box,” she says.
“You knew they were here?” Jeremy’s eyes narrow, and he turns toward me. “Why didn’t you tell me they were coming?”
I raise my hands in defense. “I didn’t know until after you left for the game with Bryan. Your parents surprised all of us.”
“I need to find them a hotel for the weekend,” Jeremy says. “Do you think Kelly in your office can help?”
Nate walks up. “I can do you one better. You have a guest room in the guest house, so you can have friends—or family, in this case—come and stay the night.”
“Oh. You don’t mind?” Jeremy looks at him wide-eyed.
“Not at all.”
Mia and Nolan Ryan step away as Nate tells Jeremy more about where he’ll be living. When I turn to follow, I hear her giving the Ryans advice on places to see and restaurants to sample. I move back to her side as she takes her phone from her pocket.
“I have a good friend who runs a car service and is a great tour guide,” she says. “Can I set that up for you?”
Nolan’s wife, Ruth, nods. “That would be great. We’ve been here before, but we’ve always managed on our own or spent our time at the ballpark.”
“Then I think it’s time you get the full tour,” Mia says with a smile. “Where are you staying, and when are you flying home?”
“Mr. Lancaster has us at the Fairmont, and we’re flying home Sunday evening.”
“That’s plenty of time. Let me call my friend. I’ll be right back.”
Mia steps away, and the Ryans are approached by one of the minority-stake owners. I take the opportunity to find myself a spot on the couch. They’re still chatting when Mia returns a few minutes later with a piece of paper. Doing her best not to interrupt, she hands it to Ruth.
“Thank you. This is very kind of you,” Ruth says, turning away to talk with Mia.
“I think you’ll like Fernando,” Mia tells her. “He’s an eighth-generation native of San Francisco. He knows this city and the surrounding areas better than anyone I’ve ever known. He can come pick you up here this evening, or you can meet him in the morning.”
Ruth looks down at the paper Mia gave her.
“I’ve also included my name and phone number in case you get lost or need any help.”
“You’re lovely. Thank you so much.” Ruth looks down. “I’m going to call Fernando. I think we can head out in about an hour or so.” Ruth steps away, and Mia comes over to join me on the couch. We’re able to talk to one another for the first time in hours.
I turn to her. “Listen, I feel foolish. I evidently have no idea what’s been all over the news. I’ve been so absorbed in Jeremy, and then this morning my sister called me from a police station in the northeast of Australia in tears, so I’m flying her home right now. I’m sorry I’m not better informed. What’s going on?”
Mia sighs. “It’s the case I told you about—the woman who killed Nate’s wife. I was deposed the day before yesterday, and some of my testimony was leaked to the press. They’ve been pretty vigilant about tracking me since then.”
“Is that what you guys were talking about in the office?”
She shakes her head. “No, that’s another new wrinkle in my life.”
She tells me how she learned about her website being pirated and what they’re doing to try to figure it out.
I shake my head. “Damn. If it isn’t one thing, it’s something else.” I imagine how I’d feel if someone tried to take Jeremy away from me after I did all the work to get him to the Prospectors.
“It’s been crazy for a while, and there’s probably more we should discuss,” Mia says with a sigh. “But I’m hoping things will slow down pretty soon.”
I lean in, and her smell is driving me crazy. I just want to be with her. “Why don’t we head back to your place?” I suggest. “Seems like you might enjoy not being part of a crowd for a while.”
She nods. “I would like that. Peter will have to drive me.”
“I can run home and get SoBe, if that’s okay.”
“That would be great.”
Chapter 17
Mia
As Peter and I approach my house, there isn’t much activity from the press, so hopefully Jeremy’s feats today have pushed me off the tabloid news. I’m glad Jeremy’s staying out at Nate’s now. Nate and Jim have the estate locked down. I know he’ll be safe.
I pour myself a glass of wine and try to temper my excitement. It doesn’t seem like Axel knows much about me that I haven’t told him myself. I can tell he feels dumb about it, but it’s amazing that he hasn’t been Googling me in his off hours. That can’t be just because he’s so busy, right? Maybe he doesn’t care about all that… He’s seen my home, he knows about Diamond Analytics, and we met at a Flirt event, so he has a general picture of my life and lifestyle. It’s truly refreshing that he doesn’t need to tell me how important he is, how much money he has, or where he vacations. Nor has he talked to me about funding a startup. Part of me wants to put it all out there, just so I can stop worrying about it, but this has been a wonderful day, and I’m not about to ruin it. We’re just dating and getting to know each other, and that’s kind of fantastic. I really think this might go somewhere.
When Axel rings the bell, I open the door, trying not to seem too eager. SoBe bounds in and nearly beats me with his tail.
Axel blushes. “I brought an overnight bag, but if you prefer we not stay, I get it.”
“No, I’d love for you to stay.” I walk into my living room. “Can I offer you a drink?”
“I’ll take a bourbon with ice, if you have it.”
I smile. “That’s easy. If you’re going to get into a bunch of fancy juices or mixers, I might have to get them delivered.”
“I’m not that high maintenance.”
Once I bring him his drink, we sit down on the couch and he puts his arm around me. I curl in.
He chuckles. “Well, you say that now, but you haven’t met my family. In less than twelve hours, I will have four boys under age seven living in my house.”
“What happened to bring your family back to the States so suddenly?”
Axel spends the next half hour telling me about how his sister got to Australia and why he’s flying her home last minute.
I’m amazed at his generosity and support for her. “She’s so lucky you can do that. Not a lot of people would.”
“My parents weren’t supportive of her relationship with Marco at first. But now they want her to stick it out no matter what. That’s placed a lot of pressure on her with Marco struggling to stay on the professional surfing tour. I want her to make the choices that are right for her. But I’d do anything for her—which you may have to remind me when I have four kids running crazy at my house.”
I move closer. “You’re so sexy when you say things like that.”
He leans in and kisses me softly. “You’re pretty sexy yourself. Maybe we can go upstairs and enjoy being sexy together while naked.”
I stand and lead him upstairs to my bedroom.
“You look very uncomfortable in your clothes…” I tell him.
“What are you thinking?” His eyes roam over me.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about you, and I thought I might take advantage of you tonight.”
Axel smiles and there’s a twinkle in his eyes. “You want to be in charge?”
“Would that bother you?” I ask. My eyes go to his crotch and my mouth falls open slightly.
Axel unzips his pants and lets them drop to his ankles. He’s wearing boxer shorts, and his cock fills them nicely, growing long and thick. He steps out of his pants and stands before me.
“I usually prefer to be in charge.” He looks me up and down. “But you can have a turn.”
I reach down and unzip my capris. He watches me carefully. I reach in with both hands and slowly slide the pants down my legs. I’m wearing lacy bikini underwear that shows off my ass, just for him.
I bend over to pull my feet out of my pants. His cock twitches as he’s riveted to my every move. “You’re still wearing your shirt,” I challenge.
“Maybe I need some help.”
I step forward and begin unbuttoning his shirt. As I open it, my hands splay across his hard torso, sliding up seductively to push the shirt over his shoulders.
Shivering with anticipation, I step back and reach for the hem of my sweater. Once I pull it over my head, I stand in front of him in a matching bra of fine lace.
Axel’s eyes move to my breasts, and my nipples pebble.
“Good,” he says softly. He pulls down the waistband of his shorts with two hands, and I bite my lip in anticipation. He makes it slow and dramatic—one inch at a time until he’s revealed himself fully.
“And you?” he asks.
I stare at his cock, slowly pulling down the straps of my bra. The lacy cups are loose now, barely containing me as I reach around my back with one hand, trying to unclasp my bra.
“Can I help?” Axel asks valiantly, and I turn my back to him.
He moves behind me. “You’re so unbelievably gorgeous.” He plants a kiss on my shoulder and unfastens my bra, and sliding the straps off my arms and gliding his fingers softly over my skin. Then he reaches for my panties, sliding his finger along the edge before moving them down over my ass and legs.
I place his hand on my breast. He pulls and kneads my nipple until it’s erect and hard. He then takes it into his mouth, sucking and stroking with his tongue. My legs become weak, and I almost collapse as he snakes his arm around me and his cock presses between my legs. My heart pounds.
I guide him to the bed, and he slips his fingers into my folds. The warm wetness of my sex aches for his touch. “God, that feels so good.” I reach for his long, hard cock and caress him with luxurious strokes.
He penetrates me with his fingers, working that magic spot inside. It doesn’t take long before my channel clamps down. I groan.
“You’re so fucking tight right now. I can’t wait to feel my cock pushing inside you,” Axel grits. Suddenly, he pulls his fingers out and grabs my wrist. “I don’t want you to come yet, and I certainly don’t want to come.”
We’ve been lost in the moment. We’re both breathing hard.
He sits up. “I need to get a condom.”
“I’ve had the shot, and I’m clean,” I counter.
Axel stares at me, and after a moment I doubt my suggestion. “It’s okay if you don’t know or if you’d prefer to stick with condoms,” I tell him.
He smiles. “I’ve never had sex without a condom.”
“Whatever you want.”
“I haven’t slept with anyone since I met you, but, uh, I haven’t been checked in a while either, so before we go without a condom, why don’t I get us a clean bill of health?”
I nod. Is it me, or does he seem a little relieved?
“You’re so fucking sexy.” He kisses my neck, and I coo with pleasure. He kisses my shoulders and the space along my collarbones. His hands glide over my skin, taking it slow. I’ve never felt anything so soft.
I touch every inch of his back and his shoulders, his arms and hair. But my hands always seem to gravitate to his ass. I cup his cheeks—caressing, holding, and squeezing them. He pulls himself toward me, just grazing my center, teasing.
He scrambles out of bed and
grabs the condom from his pocket. When he hands me the packet, I rip it open, and before I roll it on, I lock eyes with him and take his large, bulbous head into my mouth.
“I need to be inside you,” he growls.
I roll the condom on, and he climbs between my legs. He rubs his tip along my slit and then into the folds. “Just let me know if this is too much.”
“Fuck me,” I mewl.
He pushes inside and lets my body adjust. Axel groans. “It’s like a wet, warm fist squeezing my cock.” He lowers himself into me, and I gasp.
Somehow he rolls us over so I’m on top. He reaches between us and strums as he watches me slowly raise and lower myself, moving in slow motion, my mouth open. Each time, I press him in a bit deeper.
He rolls my nipples, and when it seems he can’t take my slow pace any longer, he holds my hips and presses into me, rotating his hips and stroking me with his cock.
I moan with pleasure, rocking my head from side to side, my long hair swinging. I raise my arms over my head and roll back and forth on top of him, rubbing myself against his hard shaft for that perfect friction. Axel continues to push himself in and out of me, going deeper each time.
He quickens the pace of his thrusts, and soon he’s slamming his pelvis into me. I moan with every push, my breasts bouncing as Axel pummels me.
“That feels amazing,” I gasp. “Right there. Don’t stop.” I climb higher and higher to my pinnacle. Then every muscle in my body freezes, and I moan so loudly they probably hear me out on the boardwalk.
Finally, my orgasm subsides, and I collapse against his chest. Axel slowly strokes me, taking his cock all the way out and pushing all the way in. After a moment, I come back to life and move my body with his. We’re in unison.
Suddenly, as if possessed, Axel flips me over on my back. In an instant, he’s on top. My eyes widen.
“I’m in total control now,” he growls.
I surrender to him without reservation.
Champagne Brunch: The Stiletto Sisters Series Page 17