Chapter 21
“Jade…” I answer the video call immediately.
“Do you know who the hell Vincent Maggio is?” Her words tumble over each other in her rush to get them out.
Vinny’s name spilling from her lips stops my feet in their tracks, and my heart races in my chest. “Where did you hear that name?”
“I’m the one asking questions. Do you know who it is?” The desperation in her voice makes my stomach twist.
I sigh through my nose as my shoulders fall. “Yes, and he’s someone you need to stay far away from.”
The bark of laughter that comes from her contains zero humor. It’s born from sheer panic. “Well, that would have been great to know sooner.”
My eyes widen slightly. “What the hell does that mean? What happened?”
She smirks, but again, it holds no humor. Her voice turns sarcastically enthusiastic with a higher pitch. “Elliott wants to bring him into my business. For us to be partners.” She spits the word partner from her mouth like it’s poison despite the sarcasm dripping from her tone through everything else. “Doesn’t that sound just great?”
All faked amusement falls from her face as a scowl takes over, her nostrils flaring as she stares daggers into me across the screen. I can’t tell if she’s mad at me or just pissed in general, but I hate it either way.
What in the actual fuck?
Moore must be getting desperate if he’s straight up going to Jade and her father to work a business deal involving the likes of Vinny Maggio.
“What do I do?” she asks, the anger fading as desperation moves in.
“Stall him until I can get the proof we need. Vinny is bad fucking news, Jade. I’m working the case from the inside, but I don’t have what we need yet.”
“How much longer do you need? Because honestly, I’m losing my mind over here. I have to go wedding dress shopping tomorrow! Tomorrow! And now this shit. I can’t believe he went straight to my father with some half-baked plan to partner with a trucking business!”
I turn towards the street, looking back at my car as I realize this is a conversation better had in private than out here on the street. Moore should be in the appointment that’s on his schedule today for more than an hour, but I sure as hell don’t want to take any chances. He’s been rather unpredictable at times.
I head back to the car and slide into the driver’s seat before I answer her. “Are you by yourself?” I want to make sure no one can overhear us.
“Of course. I’m at my apartment. I told Heather I wasn’t feeling well, and I was going to work from home for the rest of the day. After this morning, all I want to do is break something, put a hole through a wall, or better yet, through Elliott’s face,” she huffs out.
I chuckle at the image of Jade sucker punching Elliott Moore. I would pay to see that. Jade standing over a writhing Moore who’s crunched up on the floor from pain and holding a bloody nose. I have no doubt that’s how it would go down, too, because the guy is a bitch if I’ve ever seen one.
“Don’t laugh. This is serious.”
The reminder instantly sobers my thoughts. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll see you in ten.”
“What?” she says with surprise, her eyes widening.
“See you soon,” is all I say before I end the video call.
If the asshole doesn’t make any sudden moves, Moore will be preoccupied for more than an hour, and this conversation is better had in person. At least, that’s what I try to convince myself of as I race to her apartment that’s just blocks away.
The door swings open with Jade standing just beyond the threshold in loose sweatpants and a plain t-shirt. My eyes zero in on the hole just below the collar of the shirt, and my pulse skips as I take in the rest of her.
If I thought Jade in a dress suit with a slit running up her thigh and stilettos was my kryptonite, I was dead ass wrong. Jade in old baggy sweats and a t-shirt is what is going to make my heart pound and my dick stand at attention.
“Do you want to come in or are you just going to stand there and stare at me?” she asks when I say nothing.
She isn’t wrong about me staring. I can’t seem to take my eyes off her. She’s gorgeous with her bare face and her hair tossed on top of her head in a messy bun. She looks like she’s ready to cozy up a fireplace and spend a night in. It’s a look I never thought I would see on her.
It’s my new favorite Jade.
“I’d definitely like to come in.” I finally find my voice. “We need to talk.”
She swings the door open and gestures for me to enter. I walk past her and take in the wide entry way that opens to a massive living room with floor to ceiling windows showcasing the city. It’s just like her office.
It’s huge and extravagant but also homey and cozy. I don’t even know how that’s possible, but it seems to match its owner to a T. A woman full of contradictions.
I’m starting to wonder if I know the real Jade at all.
I walk over to the sofa to take a seat but pause, turning my head to take in the view instead. It’s breathtaking but not as breathtaking as the woman who follows me into the living room.
She snickers. “Why don’t you make yourself at home?”
I smirk and continue to explore the space around me. There are pictures everywhere of Jade and her father. There’s an older picture of a woman who looks exactly like Jade holding a little girl. That must be her mother.
There are a few other photos of Jade and another woman scattered around the space. They seem close and somewhat related with the same color hair, but the other woman’s stature is different, and her eyes are hazel, not blue like Jade’s.
“That’s Bridgette. My cousin and my best friend.”
“Ah, I thought I detected a resemblance. The other is your mother?” I ask.
A look that’s a mix of love and sadness crosses her face as she pauses a moment before finally nodding. “Yes, I’m the baby in that picture. It’s one of my favorites. I don’t have many pictures of the two of us together since she passed when I was very young. I cherish the ones I have.”
“She’s beautiful. I can see where her daughter gets it from.” I finally look over at Jade and find her eyes intently watching me. They dilate when our gazes connect.
“Thank you,” she says as she tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear. I itch to push it back for her, to be able to touch her smooth skin and feel her intake of breath.
It’s silent for a moment as the two of us take each other in. Our eyes wander over each other’s faces. It feels as though the room fills with intense heat, a pulsing radiation that’s almost tangible.
My cell phone rings, breaking the tension so quickly that we both jerk in response to the unwanted intrusion. My eyes disconnect from hers, and I almost feel dizzy from the loss. I immediately want to reestablish the connection, but I force myself to look at the caller ID.
Donovan.
He’ll have to wait because I came here for a reason, and it wasn’t just to eye fuck her from across the room. No, I came here because I can no longer keep her in the dark.
At least, not about some of it. I need to be careful about what I tell her. I send Donovan’s call to voice mail as I finally take a seat on the couch, leaning forward to put my elbows on my knees. She picks up a pillow and takes a seat next to me, laying the pillow in her lap like it might comfort her.
I twist to face her, still leaning forward. The position change has my body moving closer to hers, but I’m careful to stay out of reach. I don’t trust myself not to reach out and touch her.
“I need you to stay far away from Vincent Maggio.” My stomach flips, and I start to feel sick from the thought of her being anywhere near him. The guy is bad fucking news.
“Well, I originally had plans to invite him over for tea and cookies, but I guess I’ll have to cancel that now.” She sighs with exasperation and shakes her head. “Of course, I don’t plan to go anywhere near him. I need to know who this guy is and why the hell Elliott wants to partner with him.”
She stands from the couch, throwing a pillow that she had in her lap back down where she was seated. She’s obviously aggravated and for good reason.
Here goes nothing.
“I haven’t exactly nailed down how high up in the syndicate Vinny is, but it’s pretty far up there. He’s responsible for more than eighty percent of the drugs that are on the streets right now. Not to mention he has a mile-long rap sheet of other very illegal and very dangerous activities.”
I told myself I wouldn’t tell her the details until I had enough on Vinny to ensure he couldn’t come after her or Dunn, but I won’t risk keeping her in the dark anymore.
It no longer makes sense to. She needs to know exactly what she’s dealing with here.
Her mouth falls open, then closes with an audible snap. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
“I wish I was.” It’s only been within the past few days that I’ve figured out just how high up the food chain Vinny is. He’s basically the boss for the whole west coast and maybe even further.
“How do you know this?” she asks as her face morphs into concern.
Concern I think might be for me. At least, I hope.
I prepare myself to tell her the next part, unsure how she’ll take it. I clear my throat since it feels like an invisible force has a death grip on it.
“I found a way in. I’m supposed to do a job for him, and I’m using it has the cover I need to tie a direct link from him to Elliott.”
Her concern turns into downright worry, her brows furrowing as she takes in what I just said. “What do you mean you found an ‘in’?”
I search her eyes as I continue. “He needs something I hope I can supply.” I keep my answers as brief as possible. The more she knows, the more she’ll worry, and that worry can lead to rash decisions.
Especially in her case since she’s one hell of a hot head. Personally, I find it sexy as hell, but in a situation like this, it would be dangerous.
Hell, I’ve probably already said too much, but I can’t seem to stop the answers from flowing when she asks a question.
Her eyebrows pull together even tighter in the cutest scowl as she paces the space between the couches and the floor to ceiling windows. I itch to pull her in close and try to ease the worry that’s encapsulating her body right now.
There’s this overwhelming desire to comfort her.
Where the hell is that coming from?
“Is it illegal?” she asks.
“Not if I can help it, but I’m not above doing what I need to do to get you out of this.” I don’t even have to think about my answer. At this point, I’m pretty sure I would do just about anything to help her. I can’t watch her marry another man.
Her eyes widen, and she stops pacing.
“Why?” she breathes out.
I swallow, unsure if I should give her a real answer here. However, before I can stop myself, my lips start moving. “Because I can’t stand the thought of you marrying another man.”
Every time I’ve pictured it in my mind, my brain replaces Elliott with me. This woman I couldn’t stand when I first met her has slowly wormed her way into my subconscious.
It’s fucking confusing.
“I don’t want to marry him.”
Her head tilts back as she stares at the ceiling before her eyes come back to me. The connection sends a zap down my spine. An electric pulse hums just below the surface of my skin.
“Good.” It comes out as an almost guttural growl as it leaves my lips. I like her answer entirely too much.
A small smile plays at the corner of her lips.
“Why do I like your reaction so damn much, Colin?”
She seems just as loose-lipped as I am right now, neither of us able to stop ourselves from blurting out things we shouldn’t say. Something about this moment feels freeing. Like I could tell her my deepest, darkest secrets, and she would take them to her grave.
It feels like a connection that’s potent and heavy.
Her eyes dilate as she watches me, and my groin reacts to the look of pure and undiluted desire in them. I lean back on the couch, placing both arms on the back and widening my legs leaving a Jade-sized hole between them.
I want her to walk over from those fucking windows and kneel in front of me. I want to strip her bare in more ways than one and make her scream my name.
She watches my movements carefully.
“The same reason that I like yours right now.” My eyes crawl over every damn inch of her body, starting at her bare feet and climbing. I make sure she can see me do it, too.
I want her to know how much I fucking want her. How much my body craves to touch hers in every way she’ll let me.
“What do you want?” Her voice is low and throaty.
“You,” I say simply. Because that’s all I want at this moment. Her, open and bare.
Her eyes lavishly explore me as she makes her way over to where I sit on the couch.
Without me saying a word, she kneels before me in the space I made for her. It’s a fucking wet dream come true. My cock swells, pushing against the denim jeans I have on.
She watches my face closely then asks, “Is this what you want?”
I reach out to wrap my finger around a strand of long blonde hair that’s made its way free of her ponytail. I pull gently on the strand before pushing it back behind her ear.
Is this what I want? Yes and no.
Yes, because this is exactly what I’ve dreamed about for weeks now. No, because it isn’t enough. Those dreams had her spread out before me, naked and panting for a release only I can give her.
“Almost,” I say as I lean forward and catch her by surprise.
My lips touch hers, and that zap I felt earlier rings throughout my entire body, starting at the crown of my head and working its way down. When it hits my cock, the feeling is so powerful it’s almost painful.
Holy hell.
Her lips open for mine without hesitation as her hands climb up my thighs, inching toward my groin at a slow, steady pace. My tongue darts out to taste hers, and when it connects, the most beautiful and perfect moan leaves her mouth.
My fingers curl around the back of her head, pulling her into me as much as humanly possible. I want to run my hands over every curve of this woman’s body. To inhale every breath she releases as I caress every inch of her flawless skin.
My body craves her in a way I’ve never felt before.
It’s intoxicating and scary as fuck. The fear of what this means, of why I’m having such a powerful response to her, fades into the background as her hand connects with the tip of my cock.
She circles it several times through the fabric before pulling back, her hand sliding back down my thigh.
My fingers tighten in her hair, arching her neck back as my lips break away from hers.
“Don’t start something you don’t plan to finish, princess.”
She smirks and slides her hand back up. Instead of toying with the tip through my jeans, she grips the shaft tightly around the denim.
“I don’t plan on it, pretty boy.”
That’s when all hell breaks loose. Our lips connect in fiery passion. It’s almost violent. Each of us fights the other for dominance. I scoot forward, releasing her hair from my hands as my palms skate down her back to her ass. I tightly grip each side, but instead of lingering, I decide to do something even better.
My hands keep going until they’re safely planted under each ass cheek, and then I lift. She comes willingly into my lap as her thighs land on each side of mine.
Her pussy straddles my cock, and I groan at the contact.
“Fucking perfect, princess.”
She grabs my hair and tilts my head back just like I did to her moments before. She leans forward, her mouth coming down to the base of my neck, right above my right collarbone.
I feel the first wet touch of her tongue as she places her lips on my throat before she pulls my skin into her mouth. I laugh a little, but the chuckle quickly turns into a groan when she sucks harder and grinds down on my wanting and waiting cock.
Ohhh, damn does that feel good.
Her grinding movements turn into slow circles as she continues to suck and lick her way up my neck. One of my hands knead her ass as the other comes up to play with her breasts. One light squeeze makes her quicken her circular movements. When she finally breaks away from my neck, she comes back to kiss my lips.
My fingers toy and pluck at her right breast, playing with as much of her nipple as I can.
I want these damn clothes off. I want to feel her beautiful, perfect breast in my palm—skin to skin.
I make the move to start pulling her shirt up when my phone rings again. We continue kissing as both of us try to ignore the annoying intrusion. We’re successful when the phone finally stops ringing, only to immediately start up again.
Dammit!
If I didn’t think it might be something important, I would throw the damn thing against the wall. Unfortunately, I can’t ignore it any longer, not when whoever is calling is trying very hard to get in touch with me.
There are too many things in play right now—shit I can’t just ignore.
I break the kiss, both of us panting heavily. My cock is throbbing so hard it feels like it’s ready to explode.
“One second. I need to see who this is.”
She slides back like she plans to stand, but my hands reach forward and grab her around the hips.
“No.” My one word brings her to a stop, and she settles back down on to my lap.
I have no intention of stopping, not if I can fucking help it.
I look at my phone, and my heart sinks in disappointment before it then races at the thought of what this could be about.
I answer. “You have something?” I ask in a rush.
Jade’s eyebrows come together in confusion, but she doesn’t try to get up again.
It’s the call I’ve been waiting for.