Colby
“The whole Eminem collection you have stashed in your wardrobe, I want that too,” Marcus rambles from the driver’s seat.
“Would you fucking give it up already?”
“No fucking way man,” he laughs, pulling up at a red light and awarding me with a sinister grin. “I want dibs on all your shit before your cousin gets in the way. I’m still pissed you’re leaving the Millennium Falcon to that bastard.”
“That bastard is 9 years old.”
He waves me off in a ‘I don’t give a crap’ fashion. Sighing, I settle back against the soft leather seat and shut my eyes for a few minutes. Not that there was any chance of me sleeping. Marcus would make damn sure of that.
The second I told my team about the newest case, I had been the subject of constant ridicule. Apparently, there was a pool going as to whether I would even make it back from this trip or just be classed as another missing person. They all expected Briella to kill me, well Marcus did anyway. Not that the rest of my team had any idea what was going on with me and my so called best friend, but nothing breeds gossip like an office environment.
Of course, my friend and partner in the seat next to me made every effort to fan the flames as often as possible.
“I wonder how much pain the human body can go through before it gives up?”
I shoot him a glare, but he carries on obliviously. He’s convinced this is a bad idea and has tried to talk me out of it since the beginning. He likes Bri a lot but even he can see that the woman has been all but planning my funeral.
“It’s gonna be fine. The worst that could happen, she doesn’t speak to me at all. She isn’t going to kill me or maim me, that’s just wishful fucking thinking asshole.”
At least I hope not.
In less than an hour, I would be firmly ensconced on a private jet and heading to the Caribbean. It was somewhere I had always wanted to go so this was the thrill of a life time for me. Even though, of course, we would be working pretty much around the clock.
I still couldn’t believe F.T. Private Investigators had landed themselves with such a high-profile case. Truthfully, I was envious. And more than a little concerned at how this was going to play out.
“Look, I know I’ve been joking around but tell me. What do you actually hope to gain from all this?”
I watch the world go by on a sigh. “What, the case?” I ask, knowing full well that wasn’t what he meant at all.
“Fine, don’t tell me.”
My hands scrub up and down my face as I think about how to answer that question. I don’t really know what I want. I know I can’t stand the thought that I had hurt her. I know that I miss her. I also know that I’m still in no way ready for a relationship with anyone. The fact that my cock still gets excited every time I see a set of legs is proof of that.
Doesn’t stop me wanting to find a way to pull her close though. Last month I saw some guy hitting on her in Starbucks. The fucker had put his hand on her shoulder and leant into her as they talked… I wanted to rip his fucking arm off. This was not normal behavior for me, I recognized it, and I didn’t fucking like it.
I was jealous. But I wasn’t sure if I was jealous because some bastard was trying to get in Briella’s panties, or because he made my best friend smile. I was seriously tapped in the head these days.
“I just want her to talk to me without the attitude,” I finally answer. “Maybe get back to the way things used to be.”
And wouldn’t that be simpler. Back in the days where I didn’t sink my cock into the heavenly depths of her perfect pussy. Part of me would be relieved to lose that memory while the other part would mourn for it. Like I said, I was a little insane these days, had been since that taser loving bitch had phoned me with this crazy assignment and not so subtly inferred that Bri would have no choice but to acknowledge me. She was the devil. Which she had proven when I approached Marcus’s car 30 minutes ago and found Skylar perched on the hood.
“Well well, if it isn’t the chuckle brothers,” she said, looking at her nails as if she was bored.
I stalked right up to her and gave her my most charming smile. “Good morning sweetheart, you’re looking gorgeous as always.”
Her eyes rolled dramatically as she slid from the car. “Cut the crap Maitland, I just want to make sure you know exactly what is and isn’t expected from you on this assignment.”
Marcus coughed beside me trying to hide his amusement and Skylar turned those steely eyes in his direction. Marcus unabashedly roamed his eyes over her impressive figure, all the while keeping a smirk on his face.
“I’d be happy to discuss the operation with you babe,” he drawled. “Over dinner? A little wine? Perhaps a little oral?”
Oh god, she was gonna kick his ass. I waited for the claws to come out but Sky simply appraised him, a thoughtful look on her face.
“Hmmm, you do look like my type,” she tapped a finger against her lip and smiled sinisterly.
“Aren’t you a lesbian?” Marcus asked, confusion knocking his cocky demeanor.
“Yep, and you’re a whiny little bitch. Match made in heaven.”
He turned all kinds of shades of red and I burst out laughing. He stalked off to the driver’s side and got in, slamming the door in his wake.
“That was mean,” I chuckled.
Skylar shrugged and fixed me with her intense stare again. “Whatever. Now listen to me Maitland, I’m not in the habit of repeating myself. I wanted you on this case with Briella because I genuinely believe you’re the best. I trust you to have her back and I know you have the skills to see the job through. But Colby, if you fuck with her heart I swear to god, they’ll never find your body.”
I crossed my heart and grinned but the anxiousness in her expression had me stopping short. She was concerned for her friend. I loved that about her. Possibly the only thing I DID like about the hard ass bitch in front of me. She loved Briella and as much as this had all been her idea, she was now having second thoughts.
“I have no intention of hurting Bri, I promise you that. I will be professional with every aspect of this case, give it 110% just like I would for any case. As far as my relationship with Bri…”
“You don’t have a relationship with Bri anymore Colby. You made sure of that when you shouted out the witch’s name.”
I blew out a noisy breath and glanced to the clouds above. “I hear you. But I want to make amends.”
She dropped her head to her chest and crossed her arms defensively. “She’s gonna kill me for this.”
I laughed and gave her a pat on the head. “Not if she kills me first.”
We pull up to Logan airport, forcing me back to reality, and make our way to a side gate that leads us straight out onto the airfield. This never gets old. It was such a rush to avoid the crazy terminal and roll up to the waiting aircraft. Finding the correct bay is easy and I breathe a sigh of relief when I see that the jet itself is plain and generic to look at. I’d been fighting with the thought that Mayor Stephenson was just egotistical enough to plaster his name all over the fucking thing. That would have blown our cover right from the word go.
“Don’t forget to feed yourself asshole,” I yell as I make my way up the metal staircase to board the jet.
“What, no kiss goodbye baby?” Marcus calls in his best girlie voice.
I laugh and turn just in time for him to blow me a kiss and shoot off a wink to a very shocked looking flight attendant. I wave a one finger salute and drop through the doorway, anticipation burning in my chest.
The interior is everything I would expect from someone like the Mayor. He has an over the top manner that I don’t care for. I’ve watched him for the last two years while he took control of the city and I didn’t like what I saw. Oh, he was a man for the people, or at least that was what his cabinet led you to believe. But I had seen what the man behind the camera was really like and he wasn’t someone I wanted any involvement with. Yet here I was.
Turning, I nearly faceplant at the sight that greets me. The hostess, who kindly introduces herself as Monique, is dressed in the tiniest uniform I have ever seen. The skirt is so short, she only has to walk and I can tell you what color her underwear is. Dark blue, in case you were wondering. But that’s nothing compared to the shirt. Now I’m no genius, but I’m sure that the cotton is meant to meet in the middle and the buttons do up… nope, not the case here.
This is a fucking disaster, I muse as Monique flashes me what can only be described as a pornstar worthy smile and roves her eyes all over me. What the hell is up with this shit? Is she some kind of hooker? Does the Mayor keep her on staff just to give out party favors? Oh fuck, is this the pleasure plane?
She advances and I take the opportunity to deter the eager beaver. “I would love a scotch. Make it two please Monique. Oh, and here, can you stow my bag for me please doll.”
She looks utterly bewildered as I thrust my small case into her arms and take a seat. I chuckle to myself and start revising all the research my team had gathered into the resort we were staying at. I had to hand it to the Mayor’s wife, she definitely picked a wicked place to have an illicit affair if, of course, that was what she was doing.
The hotel looks beautiful in itself but the huts we would be staying in were right there on their own secluded section of beach. It was the perfect setup, not too many eyes around to get in our way, but enough that we would blend in as guests. I had everything ready, schematics of the hotel and surrounding areas, all I needed now was the equipment.
Which would be here any minute….
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
I smiled. Show time.