Caged Page 2

  Braxton toyed with the idea of letting her go. Even though they just had mind blowing sex, he still held his reservations, but he couldn’t keep her up in his loft forever. He had to trust her, something he wanted, but didn’t come easy. “Okay. Have Greg take you, then meet me for lunch at one. I’ll text him the address. It’s a place I’ve thought about taking you a couple times.”

  “You’ve thought of taking me to lunch? How charming and innocent of you,” she teased.

  “You have no idea B. I’m not always an asshole. I’ll show you.”

  “I’m looking forward to it.”

  Giving him a peck on the lips she made her way out of the room as he followed down the stairs. When she got to the bottom she turned back to him. “Are you ever going to give me my panties back?”

  “Nope,” he smiled. “I’ll be keeping those.”

  “You’re just going to let me go out there without underwear?”

  “Yes,” he walked down the last two steps and took her hand, escorting her to the elevator. “You’ll never want anyone near that pussy again since you’ve had me. I’m not worried about it,” he shrugged and smacked her butt, pushing her forward and copping a feel at the same time.

  “You’re pretty conceited you know that?”

  “Not conceited, just confident.” His lips curved up in a smile but just as quickly faded to something serious. “And if anyone ever touched you, or vice versa, I’d kill them. So there’s that.” The door shut on his words. He should have left out the killing part, but it was the truth after all and that’s what their whole relationship was about. It’s what he told her from the start. All he ever wanted was the truth and someone he could trust. That’s what he gave to her and expected the same in return.

  Braxton turned around to go back upstairs, but stopped short when he noticed something shiny on the ground. Looking down he saw two coins: a quarter and a penny, both tails up and bent to reach for them, remembering where they came from. Her purse. She’d dropped it when they first came in, too eager to care, and when he came back downstairs he found it, the contents spilled, including her phone. That’s when he remembered the text message and what it said. The name typed out on the screen that gave him question. Annie.

  Annie exited the building and Greg was already waiting at the curb. She walked toward the black SUV and he jumped out of the driver’s seat, running around to open the back passenger door. She thanked him before he closed her inside and rounded the vehicle to return to the driver’s chair, putting the SUV in drive and pulling out into traffic.

  “Where to?”

  “The hotel. Back to the hotel.”

  Annie looked out the window as they drove off, memorizing Brax’s building. She’d never see it again, and if everything went as planned, she’d never see him either. She was glad he conceded and let her leave, especially after trying to sneak out. For a minute there she didn’t think it would happen. Brax was always intense and domineering, but he went a little over the top with the warehouse thing, and the scary part was, she believed him. She was his property now. He never told her direct, but she knew it was true. Ever since he explained his life story. He warned her. I don’t think you understand what asking these questions will do… Can I trust you?... You’ll never tell a soul… Swear to me… You’re mine. She should have known there was no going back, but the psychologist in her was dying for information. She wanted the details. Wanted to know what made him tick. She was a stupid girl. He gave her an out and she should have accepted. Instead, she told him her secret and he told her his. Defying him, leaving him, were no longer options; at least not options he would support. He had eyes all over the city. She would have to be very careful or there was a good chance she would end up in that warehouse.

  With her phone still in hand, she clicked the side button to see what time it was and noticed three missed calls and five new text messages, all from Trevor. He was surely pissed at her for not letting him know where she was.

  Opening her text message app, she scrolled up and read the first one.

  Trevor Barker:

  Call me back Annie. I just woke up and you’re not here. Kinda worried. 2:56 AM

  With Braxton. Safe. Don’t wait up. 3:02 AM

  Huh. She didn’t remember receiving a text from Trevor, or replying to one, and thought it was odd she called Brax by his full name. They weren’t drinking. She was stone cold sober all night. How could she have forgot about these texts?

  Her stomach suddenly dropped at the realization of what happened. She didn’t forget. Brax must have sent the text. He would have seen Trevor call her Annie. Fuck.

  Her heart raced in her chest and she quickly scanned over the rest of the messages to see if there were any other responses on her behalf.

  I just woke up next to one of the sexiest men ever and my ass fucking hurts. #winning. Sorry. TMI? 9:15 AM

  From your lack of response I’ll assume you’re in bed with your man too. I hope he’s doing dirty stuff to you. You better give me all the details later.

  Did you call to book a new flight? Or are we staying ;)

  Seriously, WTF???! Stop fucking so you can take 2 seconds to txt me back.

  Call me back now! I’m fucking freaking out. 11:22 AM

  She wanted to call Trevor, her entire being ached to talk to her best friend, to tell him what happened, but she was in the car with Greg. She knew where his alliance was, and it wasn’t with her. He probably reported back to Brax how many times she blinked while in the car. She considered texting Trevor, letting him know to get their shit packed so they could leave as soon as possible, but then thought better. Were there cameras in the car? Could he see her right then? It wasn’t something she’d put past Brax. Not taking any chances she sent Trevor a friendly, innocent text instead.

  Hey. Sorry. I was, um, busy. LOL. On my way back now. We need to talk. 11:42am

  Greg dropped Annie off in front of the Carlyle and she thanked him for the ride. As the doorman held open the door for her, she knew she looked a complete mess, but kept her head held high. If she was pretending to stay in New York with Brax, she needed to look the part. There was surely someone watching.

  Waiting for the elevator felt like an eternity and she actively tried to stand still, pretending like she wasn’t nervous as hell. Her wait only reminded her of what Brax said when she was on her way out. If anyone ever touched you or vice versa, I’d kill them. Under normal circumstances, this could be brushed off as a jealous man’s threat. Just words with no promise behind them, but nothing Brax said were just words. It took her all week to grasp what a dangerous man he was, and even still, she didn’t believe he would ever hurt her. Not really. Tie her up in a warehouse, sure, but he wouldn’t kill her. Maybe that’s why she wasn’t terrified by what she had to do. She had a false sense of confidence everything would be okay.

  When she finally reached their room the door was open, Trevor and Stetson ending a kiss as she walked up.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow,” Trevor stated as Stetson left, nodding toward Annie on his way down the hall. “Get in here,” he pulled on the side of her dress and dragged her inside, letting the door slowly shut behind them. “So tell me everything. Is his dick as big as he is?”

  She had to force out a laugh. “Bigger.”

  “And?” he probed. “What else? I need details!”

  “Details huh? Like how we fucked on the hood of his car, in his entryway, the bedroom, up against a door. Those sort of details?”

  “Attagirl, now we’re talking. How are you even walking right now?”

  “Very carefully.” And that was the truth. “What about you? Lots of kinky sex?”

  “You know it. I caught and batted,” he winked and Annie laughed whole-heartedly. She was glad her friend was having fun. “You know I’ve never been the monogamous type, but that man makes me want to be. It’s never been that good. Never,” he reiterated, shocked by the truth of his words.

  “I had coffee brought up,” he
gestured to a white, wheeled table in the center of the living room. “Figured you might need some.”

  “I do. God how I do.” She walked over and poured herself a cup, mixing in creamer and a packet of Splenda. “I’m surprised you aren’t more angry. You seemed pretty worried in your text.”

  “Nah,” he shrugged. I knew you were with Braxton. He’s a good guy. I was more frustrated that you were ignoring my texts.”

  “I wasn’t ignoring them. My phone was on silent. I didn’t see them until I got in the car.”

  “Well there you go then. No harm, no foul. It’s not a big deal. Besides, I had someone else here to keep me company. We got in a little fight before dinner last night and spent the rest of the night making up. Angry sex first, then make up sex, then morning sex, shower sex, couch sex. Seriously we probably christened this entire damn place.”

  “So what you’re telling me right now is don’t touch anything?”

  “Exactly.”

  “How about this chair,” she pointed to a bar stool. “Is this okay?”

  “Debatable, but I think it’s fine.”

  “I guess I’ll take my chances.”

  Annie hopped up on the stool and set her purse on the counter. Trevor sat in the stool next to her. Something was off with him, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. She expected him to be more upset by the whole situation. He was the one against it in the first place. Maybe it was all the sex messing with his mind. Whatever though, it was working in her favor. It made what she had to tell him that much easier. “I need to tell you something.”

  “Okay. Shoot.”

  “I’m staying here. With Brax. I know you’re going to try and talk me out of it, but don’t. This is what I want. I know it hasn’t been that long, but I love him.”

  Trevor took in a big breath before speaking. “I had a feeling that was what you were going to tell me, and honestly baby girl, if he makes you happy, then stay. I know things have been rough back home so I’m not going to try and talk you out of it. I’ve been seriously thinking about staying myself. It’s not like I have anything to go back to. No job, shitty apartment. If I could afford it, it might be better here.”

  “You’re going to stay too?” she questioned, not expecting that response. “So what. You’re just going to go home, pack up your stuff and move out here? Who are you going to stay with until you can get a job and afford your own place?”

  “I don’t know,” he shrugged. “Stetson? You and Brax? Why do you sound like you’re trying to talk me out of this? If you’re here, I’ll be here.”

  “I’m not talking you out of it. It was just a question. You can stay with us. Of course you can, but you’ll have to deal with hearing us all hours of the night.”

  “I’ll just consider it payback for all those nights in college you had to endure listening to me.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” she smiled and hopped off the stool. “Let’s go get packed. Checkout’s in fifteen minutes. I think you should go back today. That way you can get everything taken care of you need to and then come back out here with me.”

  “Wait. You’re not going back with me? Not even to get the rest of your things?”

  “No,” she shook her head. “I can get new things. I don’t want to go back. I’m not ready for that. Plus, Brax would never let me go without him and that would just make things worse.”

  Annie didn’t have much to pack, she was only in the room for a couple hours and a part of her was disappointed she missed out on the opportunity. She’d never stay in a room like this again.

  Kneeling down to zip up her large black case she saw the Chanel purse Brax had bought her wedged in the corner. Feeling nostalgic she tugged it out and admired its beauty. White alligator skin and diamonds forming the two Cs. It was a two hundred and fifty thousand dollar purse, she’d looked it up, and he had his driver buy it like he was picking up a cheap bag from Walmart. Something that would do for the moment, but could be replaced just as easy. She knew it was wrong, but she wanted to keep it, as a reminder of him.

  Inside the purse was a new iPhone, something else he bought for her, but she wouldn’t be keeping that; iPhones could be tracked. Taking the phone out of the purse, she set it at the top of the suitcase and then switched her old purse’s contents into the new one.

  “You ready?” Trevor called up to her from down the stairs and she hurried to zip up the case.

  Using his laptop, Braxton listened in to the whole conversation between Bethany and Trevor. The bugs he had his men place after reserving the room picked up everything, some of which he wished he could un-hear, but then when she told Trevor she was staying, it was all worth it. He had his back up plan in place if she made the wrong choice, but was relieved to hear it wouldn’t be needed.

  His body relaxed into the leather rolling chair and he closed the laptop. He didn’t need to hear anymore. Didn’t want to infringe on their private conversation more than he had to.

  Braxton left his office to get a shower and stood under the spray, leisurely enjoying the feel. Life was good. He had everything he ever dreamed. Bethany was never part of that dream, but now he couldn’t imagine a world without her. He thought about all the things he was going to change for her, how he was going to give her what she deserved. He didn’t want her living this dangerous life with him, but he couldn’t exactly give it up. What he could do is step down, let Benny run the Emmo while he focused on his personal business and would only be called upon when needed. It’s what Michael does. Why couldn’t he? Of course Cole would never go for the idea. Something needed to be done about him. Braxton was second in line and if something happened to Cole, an accidental death of sorts, he would be the one to call all the shots. It’d be easy enough; he had the money and connections to make it happen.

  Braxton let the idea roll around in his mind. Could he go through with it? Killing your own father isn’t something you take lightly, but if it’s best for Bethany and their relationship, there was nothing to think about. In fact, this wasn’t the first time he’d had this thought. When he worried there was a chance he would have to go to Michigan with her and Cole said no, he imagined it then too. How it could happen. How no one would ever find out he was the orchestrator.

  Stepping out of the shower he dried off before dressing in jeans and a black button down rolled up to the elbows. He pulled back his dark wet hair, and secured it with a band behind his neck with a few strands falling forward into his face. He really needed a haircut.

  His intercom buzzed as he was adjusting the stray strands and he walked over to answer. “Yes?” he asked, pressing the small button to allow conversation between him and the front desk.

  “Sir your mail has arrived. Would you like me to bring it up?”

  “Yes Ronald, that would be great.”

  Ronald arrived in the elevator not one minute later, handing over three envelopes before descending back down to the lobby. Two of the envelopes were junk, but the third, he knew exactly what it was; the return sender marked BNY Mellon. He was going to give it to her at lunch. She’d never have to think about money again.

  Opening the envelope, he placed the debit card in his wallet for safe keeping right before his phone rang. “Benny. My man. I haven’t turned on the news this morning, but I assume everything was taken care of last night? The police didn’t find the body?”

  “No sir. It was a clean job. We were out before they even came close.”

  “Good. I know it was sloppy and impulsive, and you weren’t happy about it, but I had my reasons for killing him.”

  “You don’t need to explain it to me Ax. I was shocked, not unhappy, and it’s not my place to judge.”

  “That’s what I like about you Benny. You’re going to be in my position one day, you know that? Maybe sooner than you think.”

  “Why? You goin’ somewhere?”

  “Maybe Benny. Maybe. I’ll tell you everything when we meet tomorrow, but be at the Carlyle by five instead. I plan on taking
my girl to dinner.”

  Annie had Greg drop them at the airport. She left her luggage in the back to keep up the charade and told him to circle around until she called him to pick her back up. Her excuse, which also happened to be the truth, was that she needed to buy Trevor a plane ticket back home. He couldn’t afford it on his own, and after her run in with the detectives the last time they tried to fly home, she figured she owed it to him, especially since he had to give up his buddy pass to stay behind with her.

  She kept waiting for Greg to question why she needed to go in with him, why she couldn’t make the ticket arrangements online from her phone, but he never did. Maybe he figured she wanted to go inside to say bye to her friend. Or maybe he didn’t tell Brax everything as she assumed. If he did, she’d never be allowed inside, at least not without Brax.

  They walked up to the ticket counter, the line only three people deep.

  “I’m going to miss you Annie. I’ll be back as soon as I can. I just need to give notice with my landlord and pack up my shit. Two weeks tops.”

  “You’re not going to miss me. I’m coming with you.”

  “What? What are you talking about? You said you were staying. I thought that’s what you wanted?”

  “I just said that because he’d never let me go otherwise. He knows everything Trevor. Everyone is on his payroll. Everywhere I’ve gone he knows about. I couldn’t risk telling you until we were here.”

  “You sound like a crazy person right now, you know that? Are you just getting cold feet? Why wouldn’t you want to stay?”

  “Why does it sound like you’re trying to talk me into staying? Two days ago you told me I was stupid for considering it, which I never did by the way, and now you suddenly want me to. What ever happened to you just wanting me to be happy?”

  “I do just want you happy. This week in New York is the first time I’ve seen you happy since…” he trailed off. She knew what he meant. He didn’t need to explain further.