Grayson
“So, several months ago, when I had you run a check on Emmalin and Tyler, you overlooked this one tiny, yet significant, detail of information. Care to explain?”
Jack straightened in his chair. “My investigation was based solely on Emmalin. Because the stepbrother didn’t live with them, his name never came up in my search. In fact, it still doesn’t. It’s almost as if he’s been wiped away. The interesting part is any information on him seems to have been cleaned up recently.”
“Recently?”
Jack nodded. “Recently. So he’s definitely not working alone. I don’t think he’s smart enough to do it himself. Think of the clothes he wore when he was ‘Michael Leaks’. Someone gave them to him.”
I looked down at the manila envelope on my desk and thought how I wanted to wipe him away. “What are our options?”
“Right now, nothing. We could file a report with the police, but it would be futile. They would probably file a restraining order, but I’m not sure how much good that would do you. Right now, he’s technically not doing anything to her, other than sending some threatening text messages.”
I slammed my fist on the desk. “He attacked her. Twice!”
“I understand that, Grayson, but you and I both know there’s no proof. He made sure of that. And the second time…we still don’t have clear answers on that either.”
“So we just sit here and wait? That’s what you’re telling me.” I twirled the ice in my glass.
“It’s your safest bet, for now.”
“You’re giving me all the answers I don’t want to hear, Jack. What about the one where there’s a bullet in his head.”
“Not yet. We need to know what we’re up against first, and if he has alliances. There’s no way he walked into Tesh and got those pictures himself. Someone gave them to him.”
I nodded and leaned back in my chair.
After Jack left, I went looking for Emmalin. She was always in the same place. The library. This time, she was huddled in the window seat, not reading, just staring out the window at the world below.
“How are you feeling?”
She nodded. “Better. Still embarrassed over last night, freaking out at your club.”
I frowned. “That wasn’t your fault, Emmalin. You were in a dangerous situation.”
“How’s Isabella?”
“She’s fine. As far as she knows, she was just dancing with a random guy. We checked the feed and that was it. I had Chace make sure she got home, without revealing much detail, other than that you didn’t feel good.”
“I need to talk to her. I’m not being fair to her. Or Tyler.”
“Did Tyler know? Did he know you had a stepbrother?”
“No. Carson wasn’t around much for Tyler to have known, and I didn’t tell him. They took him away so fast after…” Her voice trailed off. “I bet you didn’t sign up for this, did you?” She let out a small laugh. “You probably didn’t think it would be like this when you signed up to be with me, did you? If you need an out, I totally understand, because I would probably take it if I were you. My life is bat shit fucked up crazy.”
I sat down next to her and gritted my teeth. “You’re right, I didn’t sign up for this.” Her eyes shot up to meet mine, and she nervously swallowed as she gave me a slight nod. “None of this is normal. But you didn’t sign up for it either, Emmalin. You didn’t sign up for your mother to get brain cancer and die, and leave you all alone with a monster that raped you every night. You didn’t sign up for Tyler to take the blame for you, because he didn’t want to see you hurt any more than you already were. You also didn’t sign up for a sadistic fuck like your stepbrother to come waltzing back into your life to turn all of your white roses into shit. But I did sign up for the fact that I fell in love with you on day one, and I said back then that you’re mine, and I’m saying it now. You’re mine. There is no out.”
Her breathing picked up as her eyes pierced mine. I slowly removed the blanket that was covering her and she pulled me closer to her. I captured her mouth with mine. I dragged her hand down to cup me. “You feel that? That’s what you do to me. You make me so fucking hard. No one has ever made me so hard it hurts if I’m not inside you.” She squeezed, and I let out a groan and ripped the fabric of her dress. Her fucking clothes were always in my way. I paused at her lace bra and panty matching set. Fuck. She really is trying to make me a feral beast. She reached behind her and unclasped the bra. I guess that was my hint not to rip it. I watched as her breasts spilled out, and I quickly latched on to a nipple. She arched into my mouth, and I needed more of her.
I quickly pulled my shirt over my head and my jeans down. I slid her so she was half sitting, half laying, and spread her wide, with one knee elevated. She bit her bottom lip as she looked up at me, almost in a daring way. She trailed one of her hands down her belly to tease her clit and the other hand to tug at her nipple. I slammed into her hard and she gasped. “Fucking vixen likes to tease?” I leaned down and tugged her other nipple between my teeth.
“I want to watch you make yourself come.”
I swear to fuck she grew wetter just then. My cock was glistening. I watched as she slowly circled her clit. When I pulled out, she reached up and scissored my shaft, and I about fucking lost it. I didn’t know where the fuck she was learning this from, but I didn’t want her to stop. She teased her clit faster and moaned. I felt my balls tightening, and the sight of her fingers circling her wet nub had me close. She arched her back and screamed out, as I watched her pussy clench down on my cock. I spread her legs wider as I slammed into her, before finally exploding and collapsing on top of her. I guided her hand into my mouth and sucked gently.
“Fuck. The things you do to me.” I pulled her closer. “I love you,” I whispered against her. Damn, the fuck was she doing to me. Months ago, I wouldn’t have said that so freely. Now I’m sitting here acting like I can’t go a day without saying it, and making sure she believes me when I say it. I can hear Chace now. ‘You’re pussy-whipped.’ As long as it’s her pussy, then I guess I’m fine with it. Then again, he’s one to talk. Asshole. I let out a low laugh.
“What are you laughing about?”
“Hmm? Oh, just thinking about Chace.”
“Thinking about Chace, after we just had sex? Yep, I always knew there was something going on between the two of you.”
I pinched her and she yelped. “I need to run a few places today. Will you be okay by yourself? Promise me, if you go anywhere, anywhere at all, to let me know, and take either Hawkins or Heather with you?” She gave me a small sigh before nodding. “I mean it, Emmalin. I’m not taking your safety lightly. I’m not having anything happen to you.”
“And I’m not having anything happen to you either,” she countered. She grabbed me and kissed me as if her life depended on that very kiss. I pulled back and studied her expression. I wish she could tell me the things she still couldn’t.
I pulled outside of Tesh an hour later. It’s been awhile since I was here. In fact, the last time I was drunk off my ass and someone other than Emmalin showed up in my room that night. I vowed never to come back. A promise I made to myself. Yet, here I was, staring up at the building that looked like a regular house, but I knew what was underneath it. The blackest of souls entered in this building, but they came out the happiest.
I didn’t need this place, yet I still had a membership. I walked up the stairs. Since it was still daylight, no one was at the front, so a code was needed to enter. I cleared my throat and leaned into the speaker.
“Mandrake423.”
I watched the light blink the approved seven times, which is what I had it programmed for. Once the barrier clicks, I remove my key to unlock the door, letting myself in. I drop money in the tip jar for Juno like I always did if she wasn’t here then made my way down the corridor. Just because it was quiet upstairs, didn’t mean it was quiet downstairs.
“Do my eyes fucking deceive me?”
I stopped in my tracks. I didn’t bother turning around. The undertone from the thick Russian accent said it all, and it brought back memories.
“I figured with the sweet pussy you had at home, there was no reason for you to be here anymore. That leash must be longer than I thought. Unless you’re willing to share? You know, for old times’ sake?”
I slowly turned, hands clenched. “That was a long time ago, different life. I’m a changed man, you would say.” I looked down at his submissive on the ground. He held her leash tight. He stepped closer to me and she remained in place. “Tell me, Mandrake, do you miss it? The thrill that you use to thrive from? Getting off from the screams, and having the most intense orgasms of your life. So intense you were practically sucked dry. Then you got back up, and did it all over again with someone new. Do you miss it, comrade?
I looked back down at his submissive. Her eyes were downcast. Except for her collar, she was completely bare. She was a stunning beauty before me, but she wasn’t Emmalin. No one was. “I’ll let you borrow her.” He held up her leash. “To do as you wish, whatever pleases you.”
She looked up at me for the first time and smiled seductively. I took a step back and shook my head. “She’s beautiful, but I must decline. I’m taken.”
He tskd. “Pity.” Then to her he ordered, “Leave us be and crawl away; I want to watch you.” He laughed as she dutifully did so.
I turned to Ruska. “I was hoping to run into you here.”
He smiled before downing the rest of his drink. “Oh yeah? And why is that?”
I smiled candidly and said the one word that would shake him. “Primrose.”
He faltered, drink still in mid-air. “My office.”
After shutting the doors, he immediately shut the blinds, and made a point to set out not one, not two, but three guns on the desk. He cocked an eyebrow at me, and motioned for me to sit down.
"As you can imagine, when someone walks into my house, and says the word 'Primrose', I don't take it lightly.” He cracked his neck.
"Neither do I. Especially when they put my wife in danger."
He paused. "I wasn't aware you married, since I didn't receive an invite." He sat slowly in his overly huge leather chair that lightly creaked. I imagined from all the proclivities he received in it.
"Not yet. I haven't asked. But it shouldn't be a secret at Tesh that she's mine, and I plan to make her my wife."
Ruska's eyes glittered as he looked me over. "Skipping the collar and going straight for the stone. Never thought I would see the day. My early congrats. And may I add, don't fuck it up." I rolled my eyes.
"Now, onto this Primrose situation."
I retrieved the envelope from my inner breast pocket. "These pictures were delivered to Emmalin a few weeks ago." I watched as he carefully looked them over.
"And you think these are from Tesh?"
I shook my head. "I don't think. I'm sure of it. They were stolen. There's a traitor in your mix. If someone is watching me, they could surely be watching anyone else. Threatening to expose."
"And who do you think it is?"
I leaned back in my chair, knee crossed. "I have my suspicion. One in particular comes to mind. I don't have proof. Yet. That's where I need your help." I sighed before continuing, "Emmalin was attacked in Florida, and again shortly thereafter." I laid down another picture. "By this man."
Ruska, studied the picture a moment before smirking. "You're allowing him to walk around? What's the first rule as a dominant, Mandrake? Take care of your submissive. Don't tell me you're becoming a failure. Maybe Emmalin would be better suited in other hands. Hands of someone that wouldn't allow such a disgrace, let alone two attacks."
"Don't you dare chide me, Ruska. You, of all people, know better than that. You want to make idle threats, then let’s go there. How's your wife? Still fucking sultans?"
His smile diminished. I always aimed when I brought up his wife leaving him for a fucking sultan. The ultimate blow. I pointed to the picture. "I'm not your enemy. He is. Are you going to help or not?" His eyes narrowed. He opened his drawer and pulled out two Cubans, handing me one. After lighting his, he leaned back in his chair.
“Tell me more about this enemy that’s betrayed us. And then I’ll tell you all the ways that person will suffer before I finally see his brains splattered on my beautiful Persian rug.”
I watched as he blew a perfect ring of smoke. He was small but a deadly motherfucker. “I have a name in mind. Dale Ferguson.”
Two hours later, and slightly inebriated, I walked in the apartment. Russians can fucking drink. I took a deep breath, hoping I could smell Emmalin’s lavender scent and scope out where she was. Nothing. I checked my watch. Fuck, was it really after two in the morning? I walked in the bedroom, and Emmalin was laying down, fast asleep, the TV still on with some infomercial about the world’s best nonstick pan. I stripped and got into bed behind her. She mumbled something about needing the pan, and I silently laughed. “I’ll get you a million pans.” I pulled her tighter to me. As long as she was with me, I could keep her safe. Ruska was right. I was doing a shitty job of protecting her. I failed her, not once, but twice. Fuck, now that I think about it, more than that. I’ve done nothing but fail at protecting her. I wasn’t going to let that happen again.