Love and Truth

by FRANCES, KAREN

  “Yes.” I release the bed sheet from my fingers and fold my arms across my body.

  “Are you okay?” he asks.

  “Yes, but nervous.”

  “You have no reason to be nervous, especially not with me.”

  I’m not sure why I’m so nervous. After all, it was me who instigated this. I’ve set the pace, which I knew I would have to. I take a deep, steady breath and keep my eyes on my man as he completely undresses. I lower the bed sheets. “Now we’re even,” I say.

  “Oh, I don’t know about that. You always have me at a disadvantage.” He pulls the rest of the sheets from the bed, unceremoniously throwing them on the floor. I cry out as the cold air hits my body. “Cold?” he asks with a laugh, his eyes lingering on my breasts.

  I can’t lie so I choose to remain silent.

  He shakes the smirk from his face as he slides onto the bed beside me. His body is close to mine. I turn on my side, giving me the perfect view of my man. I press my mouth to his and kiss him as passionately as I can, showing him that I’m ready for more. Our eyes are open, and he stares into mine, trying to second guess if I’m about to change my mind. I smile with a slight shake of my head and return to doing what I want, and that is showing him how much I need this connection between us. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and pull him closer to me.

  His reaction is bittersweet as he glides his tongue along my bottom lip before pushing inside my mouth. Seems I’m not the only one needing this. I leisurely move one arm and trail my fingers slowly southward. I bite the corner of his mouth as I feel what I’ve been looking for. Taking him, I slowly run my hand up and down his length. Every nerve ending is standing to attention as I hear him groan, my grip firmly around his erection as I continue to pleasure him. Warmth spreads through my body at an alarming rate. All this from just a kiss.

  Without warning, he pushes me flat on the bed, almost jumping on top of me like a sex-starved boy, his arms straining on the bed beside my shoulders, caging me in. Doesn’t he know I’m not going anywhere? I’m exactly where I want to be. He leans in and kisses me, much slower and softer than before. My hand relaxes on the bed. He smiles and I now know why he changed positions; he couldn’t stand much more. He wants to be in control.

  Handing over control of my body to Jack McKenzie comes as easily as breathing to me. I don’t even have to think about it.

  He thrusts his hips seductively towards me. My legs are no longer an obstruction between us. I gasp as our bodies connect with a passion that’s rising quickly, our mouths fully immersed and lost in the other’s. My eyes close and I’m losing myself to the warmth that is spreading through my blood.

  His hand trails over my breast and downwards. I moan at his touch, feeling out of control at the sensations that are sweeping through me. Yes, this is what I want, but there’s a tiny part of me that is internally pleading with myself to slow this down. Because I don’t want these feelings and emotions to leave me.

  I’m whole when I’m with him.

  I’m just me.

  Maria DeLuca.

  Not Maria Fraser. Not the little woman who put on a brave face for the world to see. Not someone who never felt equal to her husband. Jack allows me to be me. I don’t stop kissing him. I can’t, not even when I feel tears fill my eyes. These aren’t tears of sadness; quite the opposite.

  I grab his shoulders and cling to him, pulling him closer until his body is covering mine. His thrusts gain momentum. Passion ignites through my body at an alarming rate. And I’m close. So damn close. Opening my eyes, I move my hands, taking hold of his face. His eyes open, and he studies me for a moment, concern etched around his eyes when he sees my tears. I offer him a smile.

  He continues thrusting against me. My small moans grow louder around us. I can’t think. I can only feel. I watch him as he watches me and we both fall apart loudly together.

  We’re both breathing heavily, but Jack still manages to kiss me softly over and over. After a few minutes, he rolls to his side, pulling me with him. His eyes search mine; I’m not sure what he’s looking for, but he must’ve found it because the smile on his face is wide. “What?”

  “I’m just feeling pretty lucky right now. Do you have any idea how happy you make me?” he asks, pushing a strand of my hair off my face.

  “I have an idea, Detective, because you make me equally as happy.”

  “I care about two things in my life and both of them revolve around you.”

  “Is that so?” I run my finger along his lips before kissing him softly. “What are those?”

  “Firstly, making you happy. Secondly, keeping you safe. And I promise you I’ll do both every day of my life.”

  “What have I done to deserve you?”

  I know I’ve asked the question out loud instead of in my head when he replies. “I’m the lucky one,” he says, pulling me closer to him.

  He lies flat on his back with his arm around my shoulder and I tuck my body tight against his, relishing in the warmth from his skin.

  “Sleep tight,” he says as I settle my head on his chest.

  “Buonanotte amore mio. Sogni d’ora.”

  This is how it should be between a couple in love. And tonight has just made me realise how much I love him.

  I’m in love with Jack McKenzie and I’m hoping that’s enough to keep us together during what I’m sure is going to be a turbulent few weeks, or even months.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Jack

  I’ve smiled all night long, even in my sleep. I know I have, and I can’t help it. ‘Buonanotta amore mio. Sogni d’roro.’ Goodnight, my love. Sweet dreams. Yes, I had to Google her Italian words to me and I’m sure my face lit up enough to brighten our darkened bedroom. It’s no longer my bedroom, it’s ours.

  She does love me, and I don’t care that she hasn’t told me to my face. I know she will once she’s ready. All that matters to me is the love we share. There’s a deep bond between us, holding us together. One that can’t be broken.

  I’m standing at the side of the bed, watching her, apprehensive that I need to wake her because I need to get to work. Joe is already downstairs, sitting in the kitchen, having a cup of tea. He looks almost as at home in my house as Maria does. I think he and I will be friends long after everything settles down. Or at least I hope so.

  She looks so peaceful and rested, but I can’t leave without telling her. “Maria? Maria, sweetheart, wake up.” I sit down on the bed beside her and kiss her forehead.

  She stirs beside me, her eyelashes fluttering, and her eyes slowly open and then close again.

  “Maria, please. I need to get to work.”

  She opens her eyes and pulls herself up into a sitting position. “Really?”

  “Yes. I’d stay here with you if I could.”

  She sighs heavily, her eyes taking in the fact that I’m dressed for work. “I wish you could. I presume Joe is here?”

  “Yes, but I know you have things to do, work-wise, so I’m sure you won’t miss me.” She pouts, actually pouts, and I have to stop myself laughing. It’s highly amusing and she looks so fucking cute right now. She’s still naked, and God, it would be so easy to strip and climb back into bed with her.

  “Yes. I’m going over to Exquisite today then I’ll be in Crave tonight.”

  “I was going to say I could come over and keep you company at Exquisite, but I’m more interested in why you don’t want to go to Crave.” I heard the change in her tone of voice.

  “Something has been troubling me about a few members of the staff, including the manager. Joe has been trying to keep an eye on it for me, but with everything going on, I feel there’s stuff going on within the walls that I don’t know about.”

  “I’m sure everything is okay,” I say, rubbing her arm in what I hope is a comforting way.

  “I’m not sure and it has me worried. Crave is the one place I want to keep. There’s never been any doubt about that, but I have this awful feeling about it.”


  “Why don’t you just sack the staff and hire new ones?”

  “It’s not as simple as that. They’re all under contract. Contracts that my name is on. Crave was always in my name so I can’t justify sacking the staff because Tony is gone. If it was his name on all the paperwork it would make things so much easier.”

  “I’m sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “No. Just be awake when I come back here after I leave the club.”

  “So, you’re coming back here to stay?” It’s what I want, but I thought with her being back at Crave, she would stay at the flat. I know things are moving quickly between us, but I don’t want to waste any more time. I’d love to have her move in here permanently, but it might be too much for her. She might think I’m rushing this next step in our relationship, although for me, it feels like the next natural progression.

  “I should’ve asked if that was okay first,” she says, her voice now lower, and her eyes fall to the bed.

  I reach up and tilt her chin, ensuring we have eye contact. “I want you here. All the time if you’ll stay. Now, promise me you’ll keep Joe with you. No giving him the slip, and any problems, one of you call me.”

  There. I’ve given her an indication of what I want, so when I do ask her to move in with me, it won’t come as a great surprise.

  “I promise,” she says. I lean forward and kiss her soft lips before standing. “I’ll miss you.”

  “You’ll be too busy to miss me,” I say with a wink before leaving the bedroom.

  I walk downstairs, with thoughts of Crave firmly in my head, and straight into the kitchen, where Joe is still sitting at the table drinking tea and eating a biscuit. “Joe, should I be worried about Crave?”

  He looks up and glances behind me to see if Maria is there. “I’m not sure. Something feels off with the club and it’s bugging the life out of me that I can’t put my finger on it.”

  “Do you want me to do some digging?” I ask.

  “If it can be done on an unofficial basis, then yes.”

  “Okay. Can you send me a list of all the staff names? Addresses would be good, but not essential. I can still run a background check without them.”

  “What about Maria?”

  “I think we keep it from her just now. She seems worried enough and I’ve not even told her the identity of the body yesterday.”

  “Who?”

  “Ross Jamieson.”

  “Fucking hell!” Joe puts down both the biscuit and the tea. He stares at me, shaking his head. “That motherfucker needs to be taken out. He’s getting close. But why young Ross? He wasn’t a bad kid. He tried to keep out of trouble.”

  “Maybe that was the problem. He wasn’t conforming to the Jamieson way of life. I don’t know the reason behind these murders. They all seem meaningless to me.”

  “They mean something. We just don’t know what, yet.”

  “I’d better go. Take care of her, and anything suspicious, you call me.”

  “I know the drill.”

  I nod, acknowledging him before turning and walking away, leaving the comfort of my home. But most importantly, leaving Maria behind.

  My day is now full of uncertainty, and it’s not because of what might go down on the streets of the city. All of a sudden, I’m scared, and not for myself. Emotions are running high and that’s to be expected, but all these feelings are alien to me. I know I should try to blot out what I’m feeling to concentrate on my job, but with Joe on edge about the club, I’m right to be concerned.

  I get in my car, start the engine, and with a quick glance at my house, I put my foot down on the accelerator and speed away.

  * * *

  “Please, someone tell me we’re getting somewhere?” I call out, entering the main investigation room where most of my officers are gathered. No one looks directly at me, all heads go down quickly, and I have my fucking answer.

  Unbelievable.

  I storm toward my office, slamming the door shut behind me, and slump into my seat. Glasgow gangland wars are going to be the death of me. Everything at the moment seems so fucking pointless. When there’s trouble on the streets it’s usually between two rival gangs. That I can sometimes understand, but not this. Pete is killing his own men and his family, but why?

  Staring at the paperwork Jenny had placed on my desk, I sigh heavily. I know who is committing the murders, and he knows I know, I just can’t prove it. I need evidence and fast, and then I need to find Pete Jamieson and bring him in.

  There has to be something we’re missing. I start with the papers on my desk and begin reading each one. I’m at the last pile on my desk when something catches my eyes. A brown envelope with my name handwritten on the front of it. I open it carefully, removing the contents. Photographs spill out onto the table before me.

  That fucker.

  Picture after picture of Maria out shopping yesterday with Joe. In them, she looks so carefree, but unknown to her, she has a fucking stalker. Joe was right. Pete is getting close. This is too fucking close. I’m going to kill Pete Jamieson.

  I press the button on the phone. “Jenny, get Craig in my office now,” I bark at her.

  “Right away, sir.”

  I’m studying the pictures that are now laid out on my desk when the door opens. I don’t lift my head. “Shut the fucking door,” I snap.

  “What’s going on?” Craig asks, sitting in the chair in front of my desk.

  “He’s stalking her.” I slide the pictures across the desk. “He’s coming for me so he can get her.”

  “Where did you get these?” Craig asks after looking through them.

  “They were in this envelope on my desk.”

  The quizzical look on his face is asking the question that I should’ve asked. How the hell did these get into the station? Who delivered them?

  “What the fuck do I do?” I ask him. “He’s made this personal.”

  “Come on, Jack. It was always personal from Pete’s point of view. He wants Maria, that’s obvious now that we’ve put pieces of the puzzle together. And now he wants you to know that he’s watching her, but I think he was hoping someone else would open this envelope first.”

  I lean on the desk, rubbing my hands over my face. He’s playing me. He’s showing me that he’s still in control. “What the hell can I do?”

  “We just need to find one piece. One bit of evidence to connect him to any of the murders and then we have him.”

  “We should have him now for what he did to Maria.” Something else he’s getting away with because we can’t find him. He’s not a fucking magician. He shouldn’t just be able to disappear without a trace.

  “I’ll get every available officer on that today.”

  “Thanks.”

  “We’ll get him,” Craig says, handing me back the pictures. “Now, put these in a safe place so they don’t fall into the wrong hands.”

  “I hope so.”

  Now there are a few questions I’m asking myself. One, should I take this to the super and tell him about me and Maria? I shake that thought quickly from my head. The other is, should I tell Maria about these or keep it quiet for the time being? I don’t want her on edge. Well, not any more than she already is.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Maria

  “I can’t get my head around any of this fucking paperwork,” I say, throwing the papers across the desk. I’m sitting in the office of Exquisite with James opposite me, and Joe is hovering around looking concerned at yet another outburst from me today.

  “Isn’t that what I’m paid to do?” asks James.

  “Yes. But tell me in plain English.”

  “Crave is yours and I know you’ve been trying hard to keep an eye on things, but there’s still too much money going through the bank which isn’t on your set of accounts.”

  “So, someone is still putting money through. But why and who for?”

  “There must be someone within the club who is working for Pete. It’s the only
reasonable explanation.”

  Pete! Everything in my damn life comes back to that fucking man.

  I sigh heavily, already thinking I know who it is. “The club manager?” He’s the only person it can be. Joe nods his head, agreeing with me. We’ve both been suspicious of him lately. “What do I do?”

  “We have to be smart and deal with this quickly because you don’t want to risk an investigation into money laundering. The police would shut down all your businesses without hesitation and we can do without that.”

  I rub my head. Can this day get any worse? I’m sure it can. This is all I need. How would I explain this to Jack? If there was an investigation, I couldn’t ask him to keep quiet; it would put his job on the line. More than it already is.

  “Okay, and what about here? Am I able to sell it as a going concern or can I just offload it?”

  “Maria, I don’t want you to rush into making hasty decisions,” James says, looking at the files before him. “This club makes money.”

  “James, I couldn’t give a fuck about the money it makes. I honestly couldn’t care if you told me right now that I’d be broke if I gave it up. I’m happy to give it up.” Any doubts I had about letting Exquisite go are long gone. I just want a simple life, and if I keep Exquisite, my life will be anything but simple.

  “Maria, you’ll never be broke. But we do have some…” My phone ringing on the desk stops James talking. The name lit up on the screen has my heart racing. And here I thought, or had hoped, I wouldn’t hear from him again. Joe is by my side and reaches out to answer but I stop him, choosing to answer myself.

  Taking a deep breath, I smile. “Mr McGovern,” I say, my eyes on James. He and Joe both remain silent, eyes on me watching, waiting. I switch my phone to speaker so they can both hear the conversation.

  “Maria, I hope you’re well after your recent hospital stay. How are you? I wanted to reach out to you before now but wasn’t sure of how you would react.” His voice is calm and even, and dare I say it, he actually sounds sincere.