Run to You
Brenda and Roark lived the “Happily Ever After” part of the fairy tale. He’d rescued her from the bad guys, swept her off to his home, and loved her like a madman. Brenda was in heaven, until she went to visit her dying aunt and disappeared. Roark, his brothers and the men of 3X Construction race against time to find the woman Roark refuses to live without.
This book is a part of the Men of 3X CONStruction series. Although it can be read as a stand- alone book, the reading is more enjoyable when the other books in the series are read first. Visit the men of 3X construction website for updates and free reads.
www.menof3XCONStruction.com
Other Books by Erosa Knowles:
Secrets
Special Forces
Nikki’s Challenge
The Ultimate Breed
Have I Told You Lately?*
Ready for Love*
Where There’s Smoke*
Not This Time*
Run to You *
* denotes Men of 3X CONStruction series
Run to You,
Copyright November 2011, Knowles, Erosa
Smashwords Edition
All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the original purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in form without prior written permission from Erosa Knowles or Sitting Bull Publications, LLC
ISBN 978-1-937334-12-3
Printed in the United States of America
Published by Sitting Bull Publications, LLC
This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Chapter 1
Morning sunlight tickled Brenda’s forehead. Her arm lay over her eyes in a vain attempt to stay hidden in the shadows of her dream. A grin tugged on her lips as she rolled over and snuggled into the warmth of Roark’s loose embrace. For so many years, she’d wanted one thing, for someone to love her just like in the fairy tales. Although life was no dream, dreams did come true. Roark starred as her prince, rescuing her from her lowest point, and then taking her away from her problems to his castle. Brenda grinned at her mental ramblings. The idea of Roark sweeping her into a dashing romance warmed her heart. She, Brenda Washington, was Lady of his castle.
Slowly, in protest of the rising sun, her eyes opened, and her heart warmed at the sight of her lover lying asleep. Thick straight hair, a mixture of browns, reds, and gold, covered part of his forehead and sculpted cheek. Whenever he smiled, a dimple winked in his right cheek. Normally, men and dimples didn’t mix, but his worked, softening his masculine features. Dark eyebrows slashed over widely-spaced sherry-colored eyes. Eyes that softened in pleasure and spit nails in anger. The cleft in his chin reminded her of Ben Affleck, a modern day Cary Grant.
The part of his face that always captured her attention, made her knees weak and panties wet, were his lips. Full, firm, and a nice dusky red color. The thought of nibbling on his lips and slipping her tongue into the warmth of his mouth, sent a shaft of arousal through her.
As she listened to his even breathing, she relaxed, secure in the knowledge that this was where she wanted to be. Taking care of this man, his home, and building a future with him blanketed her with a sense of purpose and well-being.
There were days when fear wracked her body. Visions of waking to discover her life was a sham, a cruel joke, and it shook her to the core. But when she looked into Roark’s eyes and saw his caring, compassion, and what she wanted to believe was love, she realized she’d won the lottery. Whatever it took, she'd make sure Roark never regretted bringing her into his life and home.
Shifting her thighs to make contact with his, she licked her lips as his eyes opened in slow motion, followed with a naughty grin. She winked and he returned the gesture.
“Mornin’ sunshine.” His voice held remnants of sleep.
Brenda giggled and settled closer. Wide, rough palms smoothed her outer thigh, sending tingles of pleasure up her spine. Inhaling deeply, his natural male scent curled inside her heart, and teased her nostrils, beckoning her to play. After six months of living together, her heart still raced whenever he touched her.
“Sleep good?” he asked, his lips next to her ear. His eyes roamed over her face, and then pulled the sheet down to gaze at her naked breasts.
“Um hmm,” she moaned as his hand moved up her thigh and cupped her breast. Her body had been on low simmer since she woke, but as he pulled her taut nipple, heat flowed to her core.
“You smell good.” He breathed deep and long.
She smiled as his fingertips tweaked her other nipple. “You always say that,” she chuckled, although she was pleased her diligence in taking better care of herself had paid off.
“Because it's true.” His hand moved into her hair and massaged her scalp, a major weakness for her. He bent forward, brushing his lips against her forehead, triggering a tremor that shot through her body. Eager for him, she rubbed against his morning hardness. The sun wasn’t the only thing rising. A wicked sigh escaped his mouth as he pressed forward, his thick erection staking its claim on her ass. Intoxicated by his touch, she turned toward him as soft lips grazed her ear. His arm tightened around her waist. Gentle nips on her earlobe sent zings of pleasure between her legs.
“Roark.” Inherent in her husky voice was a plead for more. Indistinct words of pleasure escaped her mouth as his fingertips tapped against her wet entrance. Without thought, her legs spread, allowing him the greater access they both craved. Eyes closed, she joined him as they journeyed to a place where nothing mattered, a world of their making. Each sojourn bound their souls tighter.
The man knew how to make her scream, and right now, an opera worthy performance seemed likely. “You're ready for me,” he said, a smug note in his tone.
If she could move, she'd smack him for stating the obvious. Luckily, he didn't expect an answer. Instead, he pulled up her leg, and slid into her warmth. Her muscles tightened around him in welcome. He groaned and laid his forehead on top of hers.
Nothing compared to the way he made her feel. It was like coming home. For a moment she basked in the sense of fulfillment as they lay, content, connected.
“Love me,” Brenda whispered into the quiet of the room. He pulled her closer to him, rubbing her stomach.
Months ago, when she’d first said those words, he’d tensed. Now, he understood she couldn't say the more vulgar term. What she did with him wasn’t fucking. Not the way her heart reacted whenever he was near, or whenever he touched her, or whenever he loved her. For her, they made love, always had.
“Whatever my lady desires.”
He started with smooth, gentle strokes. He always started their morning love-fest this way. The beat of her heart picked up, anticipating the next phase. In a few moments he'd become more aggressive. Then, he’d hit his groove and take it up another level. That's when she’d be transported to a realm he’d created for her alone. There was no thought or conversation. Their bodies communicated sublime pleasure, yoking them together in a way she couldn’t explain and didn’t bother to try. Quite simply, the man freed her from some unknown prison deep within herself. He pistoned into her, his hips flexing, pounding. She lost focus as her orgasm erupted and flung her past reason into a pool of bliss. Stiffening as the sensations spiraled and tightened; she released herself to his care, knowing they’d make the crossing together. Gasping for air, waves of pleasure rolled through her, leaving her shaking. Hearing his shout of passion, she tightened her vaginal walls to give him an extra jolt of satisfaction. He shuddered as his hand tightened on her toned thigh in appreciation. It was a moment before either of them could talk.
Chest heaving, she rolled to her stomach as he slipped from between her thighs. His palm stroked her ass, providing comfort and keeping them physically connected. She sighed, enjoying her early morning post-coital glow. Slumberous, she wondered if she had time for a nap before starting her day. A stinging slap on her butt made her jump. Turning around, her eyes squinted as Roark left the bed. Watching his tight ass flex as he walked away erased the glare she’d meant to send him. This was one view she never tired of seeing. The man had a perfect body and delicious cheeks. And for this space in time, he was all hers. Fingers crossed, he’d be hers for a lot longer.
“What’re you doing today?” He asked, pulling clothes from the closet. Roark stood two or three inches over six feet; his wide muscular chest and thick arms were football-player worthy. Seriously, the man could compete with the best of them. It never failed to amaze her how graceful he was for such a big man. His clothes always fit just right, accentuating his physique. His thick mahogany colored hair stuck out all over his head, but after he finished dressing he’d look as though he just stepped out of the pages of GQ.
“I have some class work, and then some things I need to take care of around here,” she answered in her best neutral tone.
One of the reasons she would always love this man was his encouragement that she finish college. Even though her classes were with an online university, she felt a sense of accomplishment from getting her education back on track.
A knot formed in her throat; she was so happy, it scared her. She had a good man who appreciated her, she was on track to complete her education, and she had a safe place to live. Goosebumps rippled over her skin when her thoughts skipped sideways. An irrational spike of fear touched her, as though her situation wasn't real, as though it were a simple fairy tale. Pushing back the scalding panic, she swallowed hard while picking at lint on the sheet.
Roark frowned. “What do you plan to do here? I told you not to worry about cleaning and stuff, I have someone who comes in and takes care of that.”
“Pfft.” She dashed under the cover, cutting him off. This was an old argument between them. For some reason he didn’t, or wouldn’t, understand her need to contribute something, anything. She didn’t work and had no money to pay even a portion of the rent or buy groceries. And despite his argument that he’d invited her to live with him, she didn’t want to feel like she was a guest. This meant she couldn’t just lie around and do nothing.
Besides, she enjoyed taking care of him. Cooking his meals, washing and folding his clothes, and making sure things were comfortable when he came home. It fed her fantasy of her as Lady of the Castle. Of course, the sex was the crème de la crème and she’d offer herself to him on the dining room table, legs up, complete with an apple in her mouth, to make sure he didn’t stop giving it to her on a regular basis. A woman had needs, and Roark met every one of them.
“I feel like baking. I want to try a recipe I found last week.” Pushing the covers back, she rose up on her elbows so she could watch him in the bathroom mirror. His sexy silhouette in the shower tempted her to join him. Experience had taught her he’d love her company, and would blow her mind with his creative flexibility. However, some days her voyeuristic nature came out, and she just liked to watch the byplay of his muscles on his arms, chest, stomach, and long legs. Sometimes, when they had time, he’d allow her to touch him all over with the pads of her fingers.
He grinned as he walked out the shower drying his hair, and then his chest. “Get an eyeful?”
At ease with his teasing, she whirled her fingers around, signaling for him to turn. He complied, giving her a better view. Releasing a loud whistle, she licked her lips and rubbed her stomach. “Um, um, um. That’s a serious side of beef right there.” She rolled to the side when he threw the towel at her. “I want that ass.” She deepened her voice, mocking him. Recently, he’d been hinting for anal sex.
“I want your ass.” He turned and gazed at her, his eyes turned dark as they swept over her nude body from head to toe. “One day, I’mma get it.”
Heat, like a warm wind, blew across her skin at his determined look. Swallowing hard, she pulled the sheet up her waist slowly. “We’ll see,” she said feeling bashful all of a sudden. She might start the teasing, but he always seemed to finish it.
He smirked and winked. “I want to take you out to dinner tonight, so don’t cook.”
Shyness forgotten, she squealed as she jumped up. “Really? Where?”
He shook his head and pulled on a pair of dark dress pants. “We go out every week, and you still get excited.” Pouting, she slapped his chest.
“Ow.” He leaned back, caught her hand and placed a kiss in the middle of it before releasing it to finish dressing. She shrugged and sat on the side of the bed, waiting for him to finish.
“We've had Italian, Mexican, Chinese, and what else?’ He glanced at her. She unknowingly enticed him as she sat with her legs crossed and the sheet draped haphazardly across her thighs as she tried to remember all the places they’d gone.
“Eeep.” The startled sound escaped her mouth. Her hands flew to his shoulders for stabilization when he dropped to his knees, snatched away the sheet, and pulled her, naked and willing, towards him. His face dipped between her legs and kissed her crotch. Watching him stirred a fluttering sensation in her chest. They didn’t talk about feelings, she wasn’t exactly sure how he felt about her, but she knew this man had her heart locked up tight.
His tongue teased her, and despite their vigorous romp a few minutes ago, her body reacted to the need stamped on his face. Within seconds, she ached in places only he could assuage. A deep-seated hunger roared to life as he stroked her dripping pussy.
“I don’t really care where we go, I just want to take you somewhere. Maybe go see a movie before or do some dancing after.” He glanced up at her, his eyes twinkling at her quick breaths. Unable to talk and not willing to be teased, she scooted backward.
He pulled her forward. “I just need a snack to tide me over until tonight.” He pulled her legs apart and licked her clit again.
Her breath hitched. Frozen by her need, she couldn’t move. Roark pushed her back and lifted her ass. “You won’t deny me that, will you?” He kissed her crotch again.
“N-n-nooo.”Her eyes rolled back, her head thrashed as he licked, suckled and finger-fucked her. Over the past months, he’d become adept at mastering her body. He knew exactly where and how to touch her body to make her cum. Within minutes, she shuddered under the force of her orgasm while he continued licking and lapping up her juices.
After Roark finished dressing, he kissed her good-bye. Inert, her hand flopped to the bed in a semi-wave goodbye as she fell asleep. Man, what a way to start the day.
****
Brenda closed the oven with her hip and placed the pan of walnut-filled brownies on the counter-top. The warmth of the kitchen, coupled with the aromatic smell of chocolate, filled her with a sense of completeness. She’d taken a chance moving in with Roark, the man had been a stranger of sorts, but the attraction between them had been immediate and bone deep. She was no psychic and didn’t claim God had told her he was safe, but somehow, she knew he’d be good for her. Turns out, she was good for him, too. They meshed.
The melodic sounds of Jennifer Hudson blared from her cell. Wiping her hands on a paper towel before grabbing her phone, she grimaced at the mess she’d made in the sink.
“Hello.” She ran the water to clean the bowls and utensils without glancing at the caller ID.
“Hey, how’s it going? I figured I’d call you, since you’re too busy getting laid to call your girl.”
Brenda laughed. “Don’t start. I didn’t want to bother you. I know you’re planning your wedding and everything.”She knew that wouldn’t fly and wasn’t surprised when Denise called her on it.
“Riiiiight. Last I checked, you were in my wedding. But I’d never know since you haven’t returned my calls or emails with your shoe size. Don’t get mad at me if you’re wearing boats walking down the aisle. All you had to do was send me the damn size! I know you ain’t had no real loving in a while, but Bren, it’s been six whole months. You gotta let your cat breathe girl, give her a break. Take her for a walk or something. You can’t be on that pole all the time!”
Laughing, Brenda collapsed onto a chair. Denise had saved her sanity on more than one occasion with her wacky humor. They’d met in college their first year and had hit it off immediately. The night Denise met her fiancé Irish, better known as Red, who was also Roark’s older brother, the two of them had been in the club hanging out. She’d been happy Denise had given Red a chance, and despite a bunch of challenges, the two were finally getting married after eight years and two beautiful little girls.
“I know, but damn, the man is seriously fine. I can’t help myself.” Brenda took the brownies out of the pan and placed them on a plate.
“If he’s anything like his brother, and no, I don’t want to know if he is, then I understand why it’s hard to come up for air. Shit, they ruin you for anybody else. Can’t many men flip and then floss you with one hand. To be so big, they’re flexible as hell.”
Brenda wondered what Denise and Red got into. “Flip, floss? Girl, you got a kinky side to be a preacher’s kid.”
Denise laughed. “After eight years with an O’Connor male, I’m doing good to only be into kink. You remember Red’s brothers, the twins?”
Brenda snorted. “Hell, yeah. Fine, but I can’t imagine the stuff they get into. Bondage and spanking.” Although she enjoyed the love taps Roark gave her, she wasn’t sure if she’d be interested in more. Shrugging off the visual, she remembered Roark’s older twin brothers. The men lived an alternative lifestyle in a huge house near the Pennsylvanian mountains. Denise had told her they had servants and were seriously into BDSM.
“Well, they’re in the wedding and everyone’s waiting to see who they bring to the wedding.”
“Everyone?” she asked, her tone dry. Denise had a dramatic flair. Brenda doubted anyone cared who the twins brought to the wedding, certainly not Red, Roark or their older brother.
“Don’t you want to know?”
“No. I don’t know them that well. It doesn’t matter to me.”
“Well, it might if you and Roark are next.” Twins forgotten, Brenda’s heart tripped at Denise’s words. Had Roark said anything to Red? Everyone knew Red couldn’t hold water, if he knew something he would’ve told Denise.
“We’re not there yet.” She spoke softly, with a hint of inquiry in her voice. It wouldn’t pay to be too eager for information, even though her heart beat a fast melody in her chest.
“But you want to be, don’t you?” Brenda could imagine the sly look on Denise’s face, fishing for information.
“Who wouldn’t? Roark is…he’s perfect.” She ended the last word on a whispery sigh, taken up with the wonder of their relationship. The men in her past took her for granted, worse, she allowed it. For some reason, whenever she tried to break up with the dead-beats she’d dated, a switch would flip in her mind, she’d become terrified of being left alone. Worse was the obsession that if she didn’t go along, put up with the bullshit, she’d have nobody.
“No man is perfect.” Denise’s swift correction sounded harsh, shattering her bubble.
Grumbling, she slumped in the chair at the table, her mood soured. “I know he’s not perfect, he’s human. I meant he’s perfect for me. I really like him.”
“I know.” Denise dragged out the two words, making them sound like some part of a chorus. “Everybody knows you like him. Hell, even the twins know how much you like their Uncle Roark. Question, what’re you going to do about it? Where do you see this going?”
Oh no, Brenda groaned, straightening and then placing her forehead on the tabletop in dismay. Detective Denise was on the prowl. She glanced at the clock and released a breath. Denise should be picking up the twins in another hour. All she had to do was stall, change the subject, or create a nuclear bomb. Her chances of achieving any of those things had similar odds of success.
Nil. Nada. Zero.
Her tone light, Brenda took the plunge and answered. “It’s only been six months. Trying to plan a future might jinx what we have. I wanna enjoy each day to the fullest without thinking long term. That way, I get to be with him without stressing about tomorrow. It’s good. I’m enjoying this time, getting to know him better. We get along great. He appreciates everything I do, cook, or decorate. He’s neat, smart, and always considers what I want to do. Like I said, we’re just taking our time, learning one another.” Nerves frayed from the question, her rambling answers came out choppy, disjointed. Why couldn’t she just say none of your business? Because she knew her friend was asking out of genuine concern, that’s why. She needed to butch up and deal with the discussion.
“You love him.”
Brenda’s eyes widened a bit, her mouth opened and closed in silence. Since it was a statement, she didn’t respond. Not that Denise gave her an opportunity before barreling on.
“I can tell you love him. Roark’s a good man. At least you won’t be spending your Mondays trying to get bail money to get him out of jail for being stupid over the weekend, or picking him up from the hospital because he got into a fight.”
“Stop!” Brenda’s voice rose. Her heart slammed against her chest, her jaw flexed in and out. The haze of her remembered anger and embarrassment had her teetering on the precipice of despair. She’d promised herself she’d never make that particular journey ever again. Yet if Denise was right, she’d stepped into it again.
A few deep breaths helped stop the rage from consuming her. Teeth gritted, she lashed out. “You’re my girl, and I know you mean well. I understand my past is a part of who I am; I want to believe I endured those experiences and came out better for it. But I don’t reminisce on hard-ass lessons learned. What I want to build with Roark is clean and separate from that time in my life. I cannot afford to draw parallels; there are none because I was different then.” She exhaled. Her head throbbed as she beat the memories back into their cage and put it away in a dark corner of her mind. “I don’t talk about it. Okay?”
“I’m sorry, Bren. Zip it, lock it, and put it in my pocket.” Denise’s low voice thrummed with pain and humility.
The tension ebbed as Brenda laughed. “You’re spending too much time at the twins’ school.”
“I know.” Denise chuckled. “I’m happy for you. Believe that. It’s definitely your turn to laugh in the sunshine. You’re one of the nicest people I know. Beautiful inside and out, Roark’s lucky to have you.”
Brenda closed her eyes as they filled with tears. Her heart lurched at Denise’s words. If anyone knew the hell she’d gone through with Bruce, aka Tex, her girlfriend did.
“Thanks.” She sniffed. “Now tell me what I need to do to make sure my shoes are right for the wedding, because I’m not wearing any boo-boo shoes down the aisle.”
Chapter 2
Roark drove to his office, whistling some off-key tune he’d heard on the radio the day before. If he had to give an accounting for his upbeat mood, he’d be hard-pressed to pinpoint one particular thing. Especially when all thoughts led to the beautiful sexy woman living in his home. Brenda Washington. Several months ago, he’d rescued Brenda from some bullies looking to hurt her because she’d warned Denise about some trouble about to go down. It’d been a good tip. Denise had gone looking for Red so they could leave, but found him lying on the floor instead, shot.
The moment Roark laid eyes on Brenda in the restaurant; her eyes wide with terror, his life had changed. He’d been hard-pressed not to push the blade further into the crotch of the asshole who’d placed that look on her face and threatened her in his presence. She had looked at him with a wealth of gratitude, and surprisingly enough, female interest. Her large doe-shaped eyes had spoken of her loneliness, and her apprehension at involving Denise in her troubles. From that moment, he made it his goal to erase the former and eradicate the latter.
After a few weeks with his Nubian goddess, he’d recognized the truth. Without trying, she’d enslaved his heart. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to make her smile. After discovering she’d lost her home, he’d moved quickly to ensconce her in his world by inviting her to live with him. The woman was his. They connected on so many levels, he wondered if he’d ever been serious about a woman before.
Brenda understood him in ways that should’ve taken years, instead of months for her to know. Too many of his friends had settled for half-baked romances and later regretted rushing to the altar. He’d dated more than his share of women, but he’d never wanted to share his home with anyone before. There were lots of things in his past he’d change if he could, but he couldn’t, so he made the best of his life. Each day cemented his decision to share the rest of his life with Brenda.
Minutes later, he pulled into a parking spot at the three-storied office building his brothers owned. He and his partner, Benjamin, aka Ben, owned an investment company on the second floor. They’d been roommates in college. After graduation, they'd worked at competing banks and investment firms for a few years to gain a little polish before finally deciding to open their own company. Things were rocky at first, but after a few years, they had built up a solid client base and reached some of their benchmarks. After nodding to the security guard at the entry desk, Roark accessed the elevator to his office floor.
“Good morning, Jeff.” He nodded to one of his researchers as he headed to his office. He planned to accomplish quite a lot today. High on his list was putting the final changes on a surprise trip to the Cayman Islands with Brenda. The travel agent had sent over the final documents yesterday and he planned to spring it on her tonight at dinner. In less than ten days, they’d be laying in the sunshine on the beach, sipping wine; the perfect setting to speak his heart and ask her to share his life.
****
“Hey,” Benjamin said, walking in his office later that day. “It’s past time to grab a bite to eat, you interested?”
Roark nodded as he shut down his computer. “Sounds good, give me a minute.” He’d made decent headway into his to-do list and felt comfortable giving his eyes a break.
His partner nodded at the vacation brochures sitting on Roark's desk, and sat in the stuffed chair near the desk. “Have you told her yet?”
“No. Tonight, at dinner.” Standing, Roark checked his pocket for his keys and wallet. Satisfied, he walked toward the door. Benjamin stood and followed him out. They waited silently at the elevator, watching the activity on the floor. Roark enjoyed the busy atmosphere of his firm; it added to the illusion that things were constantly being done. For the most part, he was correct. They ran a productive company.
The elevator doors opened. Roark was surprised to see Blaine and Donald, his older brothers, inside. Although they owned the building, it was uncommon to see them together at work. Donald’s law practice took up the first floor; and Blaine, a financial analyst, occupied the third floor.
“Hey, guys.” Roark smiled and reached out to Blaine, who grabbed him in a bear hug, while nodding at Ben.
“Good to see you, lil' bro,” Blaine teased, slapping him on his back.
“Younger, not little-ler,” Roark corrected automatically as he grabbed Donald in an embrace. All three men were the same height. The twins might have been a tad heavier, but not by much, at least that was Roark’s opinion.
“Definitely not smaller.” Blaine slapped his back and nodded to Ben as the elevator doors closed.
“Where you guys heading?” Roark asked, genuinely glad to see his brothers. The last time he’d seen them had been right after they'd returned from the escapade dealing with Red in Michigan. Hell, that’d been a long time.
“Thought we’d grab a bite to eat. We were on our way to get you since we hadn’t seen you in a while.” Donald paused after glancing at Ben. “Are you heading to a business deal or something?”
Roark laughed. He knew Ben was curious about his brothers, and he had asked a few questions about their lifestyle. Obviously Donald’s keen eye, which served him well as an attorney, had picked up something about Ben. Shrugging it off, he answered since Ben remained quiet.
“Just a late lunch, I got busy and forgot to eat. Where are you guys going?” He figured they’d eat together and catch up. Being the boss had its perks, especially when it came to taking long lunch breaks.
“Delmonico’s. I’m hungry for something more substantial.” Blaine looked at Ben. “What about you, Ben. You ready for something more?”
Roark stiffened, picking up on the undercurrents, but remained quiet. Ben was a grown man and if his reddening face was any indication, he understood the conversation just fine.
They all exited the elevator and headed toward the exit. Ben looked through the glass doors as he answered.“I’m not sure. But I think I’ll have something light. I have plans for later tonight.”
Blaine nodded.
Donald smiled.
Roark sensed something major had just happened, but was clueless to the particulars. In college, Ben had experimented a lot with his sexuality and was open to most things. They’d had only one discussion on sex. Roark had made it clear he was interested in women only, pain did nothing for him, games were a waste of time, and he couldn’t imagine a relationship with more than one female at a time.
****
Donald patted his lips with the red cloth napkin, then placed it across his plate. “That was good. Nothing beats a well-seasoned steak cooked to perfection.” He patted his trim waistline.
Blaine smiled, but remained silent as he placed his napkin on his plate as well. He’d eaten every bit of a large portion of grilled salmon and vegetables.
Roark was glad they'd come into town; the atmosphere at the restaurant was soothing and the food excellent. He refused Donald’s offer of a beer or a glass of wine, since he planned to return to work. The beef medallions were excellent as always. “Thanks, this was a good idea.” He patted his mouth with the cloth napkin before laying it on his empty plate.
“When are you leaving for Michigan?” Blaine asked, looking at Roark.
“I’m not sure. I think a few days after we come back from the Cayman Islands. Brenda made the reservations, so I’ll have to check.” He ignored Donald’s raised brow and took a sip of his iced water.
“Brenda? Denise’s friend from Michigan? From the restaurant?” Blaine asked.
Roark nodded before meeting his brother’s eyes. “Yeah, that’s her.”
“She’s still here?” Donald asked, his eyes wide.
“Obviously.” Roark said in his driest tone. Both men watched him; he could hear the questions rumbling through their minds. If they asked him anything, he’d have been surprised. They didn’t.
Ben broke the silence. “My steak was a little tough. I think next time I’ll have it medium rare rather than well-done.” All eyes turned to him as he wiped his mouth with his napkin.
Roark grinned. One of the reasons they got along so well was Ben knew when to charge and when to retreat. He also knew how serious Roark was about Brenda, and how nervous he was about being so serious so soon.
“I think we’re flying out three days before the wedding. Since ma has got us doing some running around for her and daddy, we’re getting out of here early so we can have a little down time.” Blaine canted his head toward Donald, who nodded in agreement before speaking.
“She’s so excited about one of us getting married, I think she’d shoot the sheriff if anything happened to stop her wedding.” Donald snorted and glanced at Roark, his face a mask of disbelief. “She actually calls it her wedding.”
Blaine picked up the sentence. “Denise just allows her to add anything she wants. This was supposed to be a small affair, but since mama took over, it’s turned into a major pain in the ass.” Blaine shook his head in misery. He glanced at Roark. “How much did she hit you up for?”
Confused, Roark stared at him. “Who?”
Both Donald and Blaine straightened, glaring at his confused face. “Mama. How much did she hit you up for the wedding?”
“Red’s wedding?” The conversation had flipped from Brenda to the wedding, to paying for the wedding. He didn’t grasp what they were talking about. They nodded. “Nothing,” he said, confused. Why would his mama ask him for money to pay for his younger brother’s wedding? If she’d asked, it wouldn’t have been a problem. But she hadn’t.
“What the hell?” Blaine whispered.
Donald’s hand raked through his thick dark hair, yanking the ends as his lips pressed together in a tight line. He looked at Blaine. For a moment, Roark thought they were communicating mentally or something. When they burst out laughing, he gave the possibility a lot more consideration.
“At least she’s backed off trying to get us to the altar,” Blaine said in a relieved tone.
“Yeah, could’ve been worse,” Donald agreed as he picked up his beer.
“What?” Roark asked. “What did mama do?” Still out of the loop.
Blaine chuckled as he leaned forward. “Between the two of us,” he pointed to his twin, “ma hit us up for about twenty grand to help pay for the things she felt Denise and Red should have in their wedding. Never mind the fact Red is sitting on a damn nest egg, she decided the wedding would be her gift to the couple.”
“Which means we're paying for it.” Donald nodded.
“What about Frank? Did he help?” Roark asked, surprised he hadn’t heard about any of this. He’d make sure to call his mom after he returned to his office.
Donald shrugged. “It’s possible. Last time I talked to him he’d taken some time off.” He paused dramatically. His eyes twinkled. “Personal time.”
Roark choked on his water. “Whhhat?”Frank never took personal time unless it was for relatives. What had been going on in his family? No one kept him updated with the latest news. “Did you say Frank, my oldest brother, took personal time off from his job? His company. His baby.”
Donald nodded. A smile split his face as he looked at Blaine. The two weren’t identical, although you could definitely tell they were brothers.
“Must be something in the water.” Blaine stared at Roark.
“Ma didn’t ask me for money for the wedding,” Roark said quickly avoiding Blaine’s gaze. His brother waved off the comment.
“No biggie, as long as she’s not hounding us about getting married it’s worth it. But now I’m wondering if she’s made you her target.” Blaine’s fingertips tapped the table-top as if he were weighing something. “Has she met Brenda?”
Roark nodded slowly. “Remember we flew Denise, Brenda, and Ross’s lady to mom’s while we handled things in Michigan.” His eyes flew to Blaine and then Donald, cringing at the pity in their depths. Although he planned a future with Brenda, he wasn’t up for outside meddling. His mama was a one-woman crusader whose mission in life was to see her sons happy. In her world that meant 'Married with Kids.'
“You don’t think....”
The twins nodded.
“But I haven’t said anything....”
“Mama knows everything. I bet she hasn’t been bugging you about coming home for a visit, has she?” Blaine asked in a knowing tone.
Roark’s heart raced as he realized the woman who’d birthed him was behaving completely out of character. Normally, she called him weekly for an update on his life. He’d been so engrossed with Brenda, he hadn’t noticed they hadn’t talked in at least two months. And that was not the way his mama operated.
“No.” He wet his lips. “Actually, I haven’t talked to her in a couple of months.” He glanced at his brothers who shook their heads.
“You know better than that.” Donald chuckled. “Even taking our money, she still manages to get her calls in. Nope, l’il brother, mama has you in her sites as her next project. She’s giving you time to get used to the idea of having a woman around full time…”
“Getting the hang of married life.” Blaine finished. “Be prepared for a talk at the wedding. If mama hasn’t interfered by now, it means she approves of Brenda and wants you to make it work.” Standing, Blaine clasped Roark’s shoulder. “Don’t fuck it up. As far as ma’s concerned, Brenda’s her daughter-in-law.”
“But, but how?” He hated how his voice shook at the implications. He and Brenda hadn’t even said the L word to each other yet. And even though he was sure of his feelings for her, he wasn’t sure of hers for him.
Donald stood and looked down at him. “How many women have you lived with?”
Roark frowned. “None until now.”
“Bingo. That means she’s special. Remember when daddy told us how he knew mama was special, the one for him.”
Thunderstruck, Roark could only nod.
“Well, welcome to their world. Mama believes in that. The fact that you haven’t shown this kind of interest in any other woman tilted the scales. You say you’re taking her away on a trip? And that she made the reservations for the wedding?”
“Yeah, but she’s in the wedding. That doesn’t prove anything.” Roark tried to defend his actions, although with each word he saw exactly how his relationship with Brenda must look to his mom. He’d never been seriously involved with a woman before and no one had ever stayed in his home past a day or two. He valued his space and independence too much. Yet, he’d invited her to stay with him just a few days after meeting her.
“Did she use your credit card to pay for the reservations, or her own?” Donald dropped the question into the silence. Ben stood, threw some bills down and walked to the door, leaving the three brothers alone at the table.
“Does it matter?” Roark asked, watching as his brothers summed up the situation.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Donald said, placing some bills next to the check. “I want you to be happy. Brenda makes you happy, that’s great.”
Blaine shrugged as he stuck his hands in his pockets after glancing at the check. “It only matters in the grand scheme of things. No man lets a casual interest use his credit cards, or live with him for months at a time. Looking at you, I’d say you're content, possibly happy. That’s a good thing. Go for it. Just don’t be surprised that people on the outside are watching and expecting certain things from your actions. Despite what you think, your actions scream even when your mouth’s silent. If you don’t plan to be with this woman long term, then know you’re in for a battle,” he paused with a grin, “from mama.”
Roark stood and smiled, although it felt brittle on his face. No one liked being pushed and that’s how he felt. “For the record, I really like her.”
Blaine slapped his back. “I figured that.”
“I mean a lot.” He stared stubbornly at the twins. For a moment no one spoke.
Donald broke the silence. “Good to know and congratulations.”
“Congratulations?” Roark frowned at the word. This talking in circles tired him.
“Yeah, finding the right one for you and falling in love is rare.” Blaine added, walking slightly ahead.
Roark wondered at the wistfulness in his brother’s voice. “Thanks for the heads up about ma, I completely missed that. I need to prepare Brenda. I don’t want her to run.” The three men laughed as they reached the door.
Chapter 3
The cavernous room smelled like rotten cabbage and old cheese. Tex and his men searched through rows of both opened and unopened boxes, tossing some to the side in their frustration. The tip he’d received had assured him his product had been stored in this warehouse that whoever was stealing music compact disks and new movie releases on DVD’s didn’t stop with just those two profitable items. Tex knocked aside boxes containing new text books, new baby clothes, items still in plastic, and cases of new shoes in all styles and sizes. He had no idea how they kept up with their entire inventory and after tonight, it wouldn’t matter.
“Tex!” He looked up and saw Hector, one of his men, pointing to an open box on the floor. Sweeping his heavy black trench coat to the side, he strode in that direction. Anger raced through him when he saw the five missing cases of new music CDs and one case of movie DVDs. Those boxes had sent him and his men scurrying to comb the streets before his boss returned to town. Some asshole would definitely feel the bite of his rage for this infraction.
Silently, they removed the six cases from the warehouse and loaded them into one of their black SUVs in the side alley. Tex sent two of his men to return the merchandise to their warehouse, and to stand guard until he and the other six men returned. It would never be enough to tell Rafe, his boss and partner of sorts, that they had recovered the stolen merchandise; he’d also need to explain why it wouldn’t happen again.
Fanning out around the large space, his men took positions. Tex planned his line of attack as he waited in the darkened building for the thieves to return so he could render his own brand of justice. It was critical that this breach never happen again.
Sitting in one of only three chairs in the warehouse, Tex eyed the rows of unwieldy merchandise and wondered how someone had managed to steal from him. Anyone in his tightly-held group of electronic engineers could have broken the rules and said something to someone. But everyone who worked with him downloading and copying music or movies received a percentage of the profits; he couldn’t see them cutting off the source of their own money. Cracking his knuckles, his eyes slid to a darkened corner of the room. He thought he’d heard a sound. Another footfall. Using hand signals, he ordered his men to surround him and the group trying to sneak up on them. He could hear it was more than one. His brow furrowed deeply as he sat forward in his seat, his pistol in his hand.
“I’m not sure what they expected, but it wasn’t what they got.” The female voice sounded familiar, Tex listened harder as the voices came closer. The metal door scraped open, a second later the lights blinked a few times and then remained on.
“It didn’t matter anyway. We got this.” A masculine voice spoke. There was some laughter and the thud of the door closing. Tension coiled within him at the coming confrontation. Tex trusted his men to disarm anyone before things got too hot. The footfalls walked away from him, and then they split up. He could hear their voices, but couldn’t make out their words.
Frustrated because things weren’t going to plan, he moved to stand, then hesitated when he felt the cold metal of a gun pressed against his neck.
“Don’t move.” The husky, yet feminine voice came from behind him, pressing the weapon into his jugular. “Take his gun.”
A short, Hispanic female walked in front of him, dark eyes flashing as she moved to pull the gun from his hand. He refused to let go, and instead reached out in a flash, grabbed the small woman, and pointed his gun at her head. From behind him, he heard the startled gasp of the woman holding the gun on him. Still holding her gun against his neck, she slowly moved into his line of vision.
“Tex?” she whispered, her light brown eyes wide with fear. Red-faced, she lowered her gun under his unwavering glare. “What?...what are you doing here?”
“Shut the fuck up,” he growled at the woman he hated most in the world. His stomach clenched as rage boiled fast and furious in his gut. Memories of the havoc this bitch had caused him and the one woman he’d ever loved flew unchecked through his mind. He gut-checked his ire and focused on Anna, his ex-girlfriend’s sister. The tiny woman in his arms scratched at his arms for release, trying to burrow beneath his coat with her nails. “Tell this wildcat to stop before I snap her neck.” The seriousness of his tone caused both women to look at him, panic soaring in their eyes. The Hispanic woman whimpered as a shudder wracked her frame.
Loud voices grabbed his attention. He watched the calculating gleam reach Anna’s eyes as she realized he wasn’t alone.
“Please try something,” he deadpanned, pointing his gun at her chest. “I couldn’t do it before, but I’ll damn sure put a bullet in your lying ass now and burn this shit to the ground. It’ll be weeks before they identify your ass.” A sweet calm came over him as her eyes widened and then squinted in anger. Finally, after all these years, he’d have his revenge on one of the people who’d made his life hell.
“Tex?” one of his men yelled. Voices rose, asking questions.
“Over here.” He signaled for Anna to sit on one of the boxes near his feet. She rolled her eyes and plopped down on the cardboard. A moment later, four men and two women were corralled into the small area where he held court. He released the pint-sized Latina, pushing her toward Anna. His brow rose at the intimate manner in which Anna held and stroked the smaller woman.
“Which way did you come in?” Tex asked Anna. She rolled her eyes at him. He grinned and looked at Hector. “Take her. Make her show you how she came up behind me. I want every access point covered in this bitch.”
Hector, a huge Asian-Hispanic male looked at Anna, his grin feral as he stepped in her direction. The pint-size Latina launched herself in Hector’s direction. He sidestepped her and she landed in a heap on top of two of her teammates. The cocking sound of guns stopped all action except Hector’s. With one hand, he lifted a fighting Anna from where she'd scooted between two large containers as Hector came toward her. She pulled her hand back, and swung. Hector caught her fist mid-air and squeezed.
“If you hit him, he will hit you back. You fight, he’ll fight. As long as you do as he tells you, you won’t get hurt…not too bad anyway.” Tex enjoyed the fear that leapt into Anna’s eyes before she banked it. Bullies always came up against someone bigger and badder than them eventually.
Tex smirked as Hector stalked off with a still-kicking Anna under his arm. His smirk turned into a full-fledged grin at the tell-tale sound of flesh smacking flesh. An ass whooping was long overdue for that bitch, she’d hurt others without thinking twice.
Refocusing on business, he sent two of his men to secure the exits they knew about. The remaining three men took positions around the small group as Tex asked his questions.
“Merchandise was stolen from my warehouse two days ago, I found it here. I want to know how it got here.” His eyes hardened as he looked into the face of each person in the small group. There had to be more people involved, there was too much stuff in this warehouse for this small band to handle.
“What’d you lose?” A dark-complexioned man, possibly of Indian descent, asked as he pushed up his glasses.
Jaw clenched, fist balled, Tex glared at him. “I didn’t lose a damn thing. Some asshole stole cases of music CDs and DVDs from my warehouse.”
A gasp rent the silence.
He swiveled to locate the owner of the sound. The small Latina’s face had reddened to the color of a cherry tomato. When he looked at her, she turned away, keeping her gaze leveled at the concrete floor.
“Now that you know what I lost, somebody’d better start talking.” He infused a thread of deadly intent into his voice as he stood, legs braced apart, the pistol in his right hand lowered for the moment. The more he thought of the bold move to enter his domain and steal his shit, the madder he became. “Let me see if I understand this, you muthafuckers don’t plan to explain why my shit was all up in your place?” His voice lowered as his fury rose. Heart slamming against his chest, his left fist clenched and unclenched. He raised his pistol.
“No!” The Indian-looking guy glanced at his comrades before speaking fast. “You don’t understand how this works. We,” he pointed to the others around him, “don’t know the owners. We come in, catalog the stuff, put it in the computer, and then we leave. That's all. I’ve never been here during the day and have no idea where the stuff comes from or where it goes when it leaves here. We come in and count. That’s it, I swear.” His voice had risen to a pleading quality. Tex looked at the motley crew. The women’s eyes were filled with tears, a couple of the guys' eyes were as well. The small Latina still hadn’t looked at him.
“Who’s the night-time supervisor?” he demanded, tired of wasting time. He needed to get back to his warehouse and make sure things were straight.
Before anyone could speak, the Latina’s eyes flashed at him. “I am.” The look she gave everyone else dared them to contradict her. He had a feeling that’s exactly what would happen if he talked to them one by one.
Tex pointed to the large, black female sitting behind the woman who’d just spoke. “Come here.” Her eyes widened in fear, but she pushed herself up and moved in his direction. The entire time the smaller woman’s eyes threw daggers at him. He waved his men to tighten the circle as he walked a few feet away.
When he was sure they couldn’t be overheard, he asked, “How’d my shit get here?”
Her lips trembled and tears rolled down her dark cheeks. She brushed at them while trying to speak. “I don’t know.” Her words were so warbled, he barely made them out. She licked her thick lips. “I…I never saw CDs or DVDs. We, we don’t usually see those.” Tex thought back, the cases had been sealed until he'd had his men open them. He half-listened as she told him how she'd only taken the job for extra money.
“Who’s your supervisor?” He cut off her rambling.
Her eyes blinked in surprise. “Anna,” she whispered.
Inwardly, he smiled. The tension in his back eased, he could legitimately deal with Anna in a manner his boss would approve. Someone would pay for what happened tonight. He knew, without asking, Anna was aware the CDs were in the building. She probably had no idea who they belonged to, but that was beside the point.
“Who owns this company?”
The woman looked at him with a blank expression.
“The name on your pay check? Who pays you?” He glanced at the group behind her, irritated that this was taking so long.
She swallowed so hard, he thought she’d gag. When she spoke, her eyes filled with rebellious tears. “We get paid in cash.”
Damn. He turned and strode back to the group, intent on calling one of the males when a weeping Anna and grinning Hector returned. The moment Hector released Anna, she hastened to her group. The large woman he’d just interviewed returned as well.
Tex met Hector halfway.
“There was a side door we missed.” Hector spoke in a lowered voice, his back to the others. Tex watched Anna and the Latina spitfire. There was definitely something going on between those two. “I secured it and found the office. Nice set up, a bit tedious if you ask me, too much overhead. Everyone’s paid in cash, no one knows who owns the set-up. She claims she got the job through a friend, but doesn’t know much more.”
“She’s lying,” Tex said with absolute certainty. “What I need to know is how she got our shit over here. Is there a threat we need to deal with?”
Hector shrugged before turning, his gaze cold. “She and the small one will have more answers. I can take them to the office and find out what we need to know.”
Tex was tempted to allow Hector to use his form of interrogation on his nemesis. A euphoric feeling filled him at the thought of her broken and beaten. A similar image of Brenda flashed in his mind. He stiffened.
“You okay?” Hector stepped in front of him.
It took him a moment to focus, to rein in the horrible pictures polluting his psyche. Taking a deep breath, he reassessed the situation. First off, he had no idea who they were dealing with. One thing for sure, this was no small-time operation. Secondly, he needed to know the mechanics of the breech in his own operation. He assumed the only person in this room who might be able to answer that question was Anna. But he couldn’t take any chances and overlook the other employees.
“I’m good.” He waved off the big guy’s concern. “I want you to take each person into the office and ask them who owns this joint, how they get paid, and what exactly they do.”
Hector’s brow rose in question.
“I don’t want to torch the building without knowing who we’re dealing with.”
Hector nodded and stepped to the side.
“Another thing, I don’t think they know a lot, so no violence unless it’s provoked. They’ll be interviewed again by whoever owns this place, make sure you say we just want to know who stole our shit and move on.”
Finally, Hector understood the sensitivity of the situation and strode away to take the next person to the back.
Tex and his people were within their rights to ask questions and reclaim their shit. But not to mess over staff or destroy merchandise that wasn’t theirs, at least not without knowing who or how big the operation was. Cash pay-outs, computerized databases, no heavy management, constant movement of merchandise; he was beginning to think this whole operation was too organized to be small.
Tex watched Anna lean heavily on the smaller woman as Hector walked off with the Indian male. Pointing to the other black female, Tex motioned for her to follow him. He took her to where he’d interviewed the first woman. It didn’t surprise him that her answers were similar to the first woman. He and Hector finished at the same time and took the next two males. Anna’s lips tightened as she watched him, and then Hector, leave the room. Within twenty minutes, they were finished interrogating everyone except Anna’s friend. Hector pulled the small dynamo off Anna and bodily carried her to the back. Anna had jumped up to defend the woman, but sat back when one of his men pointed his gun at her.
Time passed and Tex still didn’t know how his merchandise had magically moved from his secure warehouse to this place. He locked glares with Anna. She’d always been jealous of her younger sister and had gone out of her way to make Brenda miserable. His fist clenched with the need for retribution, not just for tonight, but for all of the nights he’d suffered because of this woman’s lies and deceit. Thankfully, Brenda had stopped believing her sister and came to the realization of just how evil the bitch was. But the cost had been high, they’d still lost their son. His hackles rose again at the memory; his fists balled tighter. Anger suffused him again as he remembered her interference. Anna blanched at the look, possibly hate, that must’ve covered his face, and turned away.
Footsteps and light weeping sounds broke him out of the vicious funk enveloping him. Out the corner of his eye, he watched the small woman run to Anna, who held her tight, as a mother would a child. Was it possible? He searched his memory and couldn’t remember her having any children that could be this age. Staring at the reunion between the two women, Tex waited for Hector to give him his take on the situation.