CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

—Bella—

 

Tuesday: Meet at the Plaza Hotel for a walkthrough.

I stared at my schedule. My mind had been in auto-mode. My days were filled with monotony, nothing random, nothing intriguing, and nothing worth getting excited over. But this… this was the one thing that I had to hope for. Unfortunately, I hadn’t heard from Megan for weeks and really had no idea if I was going to see her today or not.

Jax had been absent the last two days, so I decided I’d go and hope for the best. Megan or no Megan, I’d go and do what I had promised I would.

I finished my coffee and leaned back against the chair. When my head rose, Jax was there. His suit-clad body loomed over me, watching.

“Where are you going?”

I drew a deep breath in and out. I wouldn’t be a prisoner any longer, it was ridiculous. “I have a walkthrough at the hotel today.” I stood firm, I wasn’t firm, though. I was losing my identity a little each day.

“I have a surprise for you, Bella,”

“Oh?” Last time he had a surprise we ended up in a death trap flying to New York. I narrowed my gaze.

A smirk peeked from his lips. “Mickie,” he called to his trusted right-hand.

Mickie stepped into the kitchen and then another man followed. Tony. “Oh my gosh,” I ran and jumped into his arms. He was warm and smelled of home. My head sunk into his chest, and his arms wrapped around me instinctively. I hadn’t seen Tony in months. I hadn’t been home in months either, and now I felt at home. Mickie cleared his throat. I raised my head and looked up at Tony. “What are you doing here?”

“The boss brought me in as your protection.” My heart beat fiercely.

My eyes followed to Jax seeing him adjust his cufflinks then his jacket. “I suggest you don’t make me regret my decision.” He walked away and out of the kitchen.

“You and Dominic are going to protect me?”

He nodded. “I’m glad you’re okay, kid.”

“What about Detroit and everyone there?”

He shrugged. “They’ll be alright.”

My eyes fell to my watch seeing it was nearly time for me to leave. I tugged him in the direction of Alessandra and introduced them.

Once everyone had been properly introduced, Tony and I left the Penthouse and headed down the elevator where he held my hand like old times. I smiled, unable to contain my excitement for my friend’s presence.

Our drive was only twenty minutes before we arrived at the hotel. I approached the main desk unsure of where to go. “Excuse me,” I asked a short red haired man. “I am supposed to meet someone to do a walkthrough for the cancer Gala.”

The man whose name-tag read Fred picked up the phone. “Ms...?”

“Mrs. Moretti,” I answered quickly scanning across the counter.

His eyes raised in shock. “Of course, my apologies ma’am. “Jessica, Mrs. Moretti is here for a walkthrough concerning the CCG. Of course, right away.” He placed the receiver on its cradle then rounded the counter approaching Tony and me. His hand reached for mine then pulled away. “Umm…yes, this way.” The man was nice but so nervous. Did he know who I was? Surely, he didn’t know. I hadn’t considered that anyone would know me by the name Moretti, but I hadn’t considered that this was Jax’s territory and who knew what kind of hell he’d created in Chicago.

I stepped alongside Fred wearing my three-inch heels and pencil skirt. I suddenly felt vulnerable in that moment. I hadn’t wished for anyone to know me here. I wanted a chance for something new, something more. I chose to hold my head high as we approached the large wooden doors that I assumed held the ballroom.

“Jessica,” Fred said nervously, “Mrs. Moretti,”

“Hello.” I smiled. I turned for a moment seeing Tony there, and I instantly felt relaxed. “I was supposed to meet someone here.”

“Yes, of course, Megan should be arriving anytime now. Shall we?”

Megan hadn’t answered my calls or text since the shooting, and I wondered why she’d been so evasive.

The room was large, open, and empty. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling every few feet. “The tables will be placed according to Megan’s specifications and a stage will be built over there.” She pointed toward the wall along the right side of the room.

“So sorry I’m late.” Megan approached from behind.

“Hi!” I turned seeing her flushed.

She drew in a deep breath while adjusting her bag. “Hello. Gosh, I’m so sorry I haven’t been in contact with you. I had an unexpected trip out of town that took my attention.” She seemed sincere.

“I hope all is well,” I offered.

“Of course, it was just time-consuming.”

Megan and I finished the walkthrough while reviewing the placement of the tables and stage. We would have an emcee and a live band on the stage as well as the items that would be up for auction.

***

Tony and I grabbed lunch at a little restaurant catching up on everything I’d missed back home. He made it seem as though I hadn’t missed anything at all, but I knew there had probably been a lot.

I opted for a big juicy cheeseburger and fries. I never ate like that, but since Tony ordered it I thought what the hell. I dipped my fry into the ketchup and popped into in my mouth.

“Are you gonna be here a while?”

He shrugged. “The boss said he wants me around… to keep you safe.” He chewed on his fry.

“I wonder what changed his mind.” Jax hadn’t been keen on anyone from my past being near me, and that made me question a lot of things. Was he being protective? Did he have his own agenda?

“I don’t know.”

“Well, I just think it’s strange that you’re here. One minute I’m not allowed to speak to you, and the next you’re my security detail.” I raised a brow.

“You think too much, Bella. Let it go and be happy. And the boss, he’s good to you?”

I looked at Tony from under my lashes while chewing my food before I spoke. “He’s okay.” I shrugged.

“He doesn’t force anything, right?”

“Tony!” I hissed. “Please give a girl some credit, will ya.”

“You’re like my sister, Bells, if I didn’t ask, your father would come back from the dead and kill me.” A heart ping stabbed me. My father would’ve never let anyone hurt me. I refused to be seen as weak, so I brushed it off and smiled. “Yeah, he’s good to me. He took me to the opera.”

“No shit.” He stretched his facial features, impressed. “That’s cool.”

“So how about you and Emily?” I wiggled my brows and smiled.

“Damn woman, eat another fry would ya?” He was flustered.

I leaned in, planning to give him a hard time when someone cleared their throat.

I quickly took my gaze to the left and saw a tall man wearing a white T-shirt, jeans, and leather jacket. He wore a goatee and his head was shaved. Another man stood closely behind him, watching their surroundings. Goosebumps peppered my flesh with warning that this guy wasn’t good. Tony’s foot nudged mine with his own warning.

“Can I help you?” Tony asked. I heard a click and knew it was Tony’s gun. He’d have no problem taking this guy out in a restaurant filled with witnesses to protect me, and that’s when I knew exactly why Jax had brought Tony here. He must’ve also known Tony was loyal to the death.

“You can’t help anybody; I have a message for your husband. Tell him we’re watching him and every move him and his crew make.” The man spoke with a light Russian accent mixed with a little Jersey.

I wanted to say something, anything. Who did this guy think he was coming at a woman like that? I remained quiet and bit my tongue.

“We are watching you too, Isabella. We see every move you make. It would be such a shame if you were hurt in the crossfire, wouldn’t it?”

Suddenly the man’s body lurched forward then dropped to the ground. I looked at Tony in shock, but he was on his feet quickly with the barrel of his gun positioned on the forehead of the other man. He spared no time in pulling the trigger. Two lifeless bodies lay at our feet in a pool of crimson blood. The silencer he had on his gun prevented anyone from hearing what had happened. Tony pulled my arm and quickly walked us out.

My heart raced in my chest. I could hear my heart thump viciously in my ears as the adrenaline began to overtake me and my thoughts. “What the fuck did you do that for?”

“Bella, shut up!” he yelled as he pushed me into the car. He climbed inside then pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed a number. “Boss, there’s been an incident.” He drew in a deep breath as he sped us away. He spoke to Jax telling him about the Russian, what he’d done, and why. By the end of the call Tony seemed nervous but unexpectedly calmer than he should have been or, at least, calmer than I was.

The men had been shot in the head and left to bleed out all over the floor. No one seemed to notice before we left, but they would soon and if there were cameras we’d surely go to prison for a long time.

“Can I speak now?”

“What?”

“What are we going to do?”

He snorted. “You’re not going to do anything except keep your yap shut and let the boss handle this shit.” Oh, how I hadn’t missed his loving ways. Just like a brother.

“What if they had cameras? We could go to prison, Tony.”

“Nah, we’re good; don’t stress. The boss will take care of it. He’s already got a crew on the way, and they’ll deal with it. Just forget what you saw and everything will be good.”

“Wow, Tony, you didn’t even think you just acted.” I admired that about him.

“At the end of the day, you do what you have to do. No one threatens the boss’ wife and walks away.”

“What if you hadn’t killed them?”

His head turned in my direction, his eyes looking up through his lashes. “What do you think?”

“Ah, okay I understand.”

“But that’s not why I did it. How dare that Russian fuck threaten a woman. I’d kill every last one of ‘em.”

“No need in starting a bloodbath.” I slipped on my sunglasses.

“Bella, what you saw in that restaurant was just the beginning. Shit is about to get bad really quick.”

“Fantastic—” I sighed, “—and the Gala is Friday.”

“Don’t get your hopes set on going anywhere for a while.”

Another sigh left my lips. This life sucked in so many ways. I’d continue being a prisoner.

 

—Jax—

 

I didn’t know who I wanted to kill first. Anyone that got in my way was going to die, so I guessed it didn’t matter who went first. The Bratva went to my wife. They actually walked up to her and threatened her. Tony shot the fuckers, but now they’d retaliate with all they had. That only meant we’d have to kill them a lot faster than originally planned, but I was cool with that.

My phone rang. “Yeah?”

“Boss, I spoke with the owner. No one saw nothing’, all’s good.”

“Deliver ‘em and make it clear no one goes near my wife.” Anger sizzled my blood.

“You got it, boss.” I disconnected the call.

Mickie entered my office holdin’ a grim look. “What is it?” I growled.

“You told me to come in.”

“Yeah.” I rubbed the two-day stubble on my face. “The Bratva approached Bella at a restaurant, and Tony took care of ‘em at the fuckin’ table.”

“That good or bad?” Mickie knew this could go either way.

I gave him a what-the-fuck look.

“Just makin’ sure, boss.” He raised his hands with caution. “What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to prepare for war.” War meant many things to all people, but in the familia it meant that members of our family would die. Blood would be shed on both sides of the line. During a war there was also the likely hood that someone would screw up and get caught. Causin’ worry that someone would rat. A war was bad on every level.

“Consider it done.” I knew without a doubt I could trust Mickie, but even he couldn’t guarantee anything now.

“I’m gonna need Sal here.”

“Boss? I thought?”

“You thought what?”

“Nothin’, boss, consider it done. I’ll have him here in a few hours.”

I nodded. “We need to lock up tight, don’t want the boogie man getting’ in.” In the familia— at least in the family I ran—we wouldn’t go into a man’s home and hurt the women and children to seek revenge or make someone pay. But the Bratva, specifically Orlov, he would do that and more. I don’t see any reason in hurtin’ women and children. That gets me nowhere and quite frankly my moral compass doesn’t tick at that angle. I’m just not that fuckin’ sick. Bella and Alessandra are my responsibility, and therefore I must ensure they’re safe and protection no matter the cost. “How the fuck are you gettin’ anything done if you’re still standing in my fucking office?” I snapped.

“Yes, boss.” Mickie left without another word.

I picked up my phone to call Tony lettin’ it ring once before Bella walked into my office. Her long dark hair fell over her shoulders, her chest full, lips plump, hips curvy. She closed the door behind her as she entered fully.

“Jax.” Emotion sat at the tip of her tongue.

I stood, rounded my desk, and crossed my office. She was still as she watched me. I leaned in and reached behind her turning the lock on the door.

“What are you doing?” I didn’t answer as my hands slid across her arms. Her eyes closed and I knew she enjoyed my touch.

My dick was hard for her. I needed to be inside of her; I needed to taste her. I swept her long dark hair away from her neck and sunk my lips onto her smooth, soft flesh. She shuddered, and then I grabbed her into my arms turning her around to face away from me. I needed to take her rough. I needed to dominate her body. I needed release.

I walked her to my desk pushing the chair out of our way. I placed my hand on her back pressing her down. I lifted her skirt revealing red lace panties and full hips that begged to be held in my hands.

“Jax...”

“Shh.” I kneeled down running my tongue along the seam of her panties.

“Ahh—” she moaned, and her breath relaxed under my touch with her face pressed into the mahogany desk.

My hand slid along her ass grabbing the flesh into my palm. Bella had put a spell on me, even if I refused to admit it before. My fingers slid her panties to the side as I leaned into to taste her. Her body jerked as my tongue swept across her opening. She was wet and great satisfaction overcame me. My dick was hard and needed escape. I stood, one hand held at Bella’s ass as I released my pants. My dick begged for what was to come.

I spread her ass cheeks sliding into her hot, wet pussy, pushing deep while I gripped her hips. She moaned and gripped the desk for support. I shoved in and out of her hard and with fierce control. She tightened against me as my dick pulled out. She wanted me as much as I wanted her. Her ass pressed out into my body as she relished the feeling. Her gasps were hushed, and I knew she was holding back. I could feel her writhe beneath me as she slowly began lettin’ go.

Feelin’ her under me sated me. I knew she was safe while I protected her. This body was safe but her heart… I could make no promises.

Harder she pushed into my thrust, our skin smacked echoing throughout my office. This hadn’t been romantic but rather dirty. Her orgasm came and she cried out begging me to fuck her harder. My dick slammed into her over and over until she relaxed from the explosion that overtook her body. My orgasm came moments after hers. I was unable to suppress it after feeling her tighten against me.

I came hard shoving into her over and over, my fingers pressed into her flesh. The cum shot inside of her more violently than I had ever remembered it before.

I collapsed onto her body as I caught my breath.

“Jax?”

“Yeah?”

“I can’t breathe,” she giggled, I jumped back pulling her with me. “Did you approve?” she mocked me.

“I did.” I smiled and traced my thumb across her full lips.

She had me, and I needed to fight that.

“What now?”

I didn’t have an answer for her. I didn’t know what was next. “Work.”

“Of course.” She twisted her sexy ass and slid her skirt down her hips while she watched me. Her cheeks were flushed and her hair was messy. It was very obvious she had been thoroughly fucked. “What are we going to do about the Russians?”

“We? We aren’t gonna do a damn thing. I’m gonna see to it that they’re dealt with.”

“Yeah, you’re doing a bang-up job so far.” She smirked sarcastically.

“If anyone else ever spoke to me like that I’d gut them.”

“So gut me. What’s stopping you?” Her arms crossed her chest.

We had literally just fucked and already we were arguing. I ran my hand through my hair in frustration. This woman was gonna be the death of me. I drew in a deep breath. “You’re a woman, Bella, you know there’s nothin’ you can do.”

“I almost forgot, I’m all tits and ass. Lord knows I couldn’t possibly handle anything man related.” She stepped in front of me. “Isn’t that right, husband?” Her hand reached for my dick that was back in my pants and squeezed.

“Shit!” I winced.

She smirked and left my office.