Chapter Sixteen
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ALEX
Fuck me. That was unbelievable. Who would have thought the hottest sex of my life would be with my little pixie of a nanny?
She giggles into my shoulder as I continue catching my breath, so I prop myself up to get a good look at her face. It's flushed and damp, as I’m sure mine is, and it’s the most gorgeous sight I’ve ever seen. Her eyes are soft, her full pink lips tipped up in a dreamy smile. Damn, she’s gorgeous. And she’s mine.
“What’s so funny?” I ask.
She grins. “I was just thinking what an absolutely terrible nanny I am.” She laughs, and I can’t help chuckling in return.
“I’d have to argue with you on that.” I let my eyes drop down to her tits. She smacks my shoulder.
“Shut up. I mean, I should be tidying up or planning what to do with the kids when they get home from camp, but instead, I’m in bed with their dad!”
“Do you see me complaining?” I drop to her side and run my hand over her stomach and up to cup one of her breasts.
She rolls to face me, and a yawn overtakes her mouth, making me inwardly swell with pride that I’ve tired her out so thoroughly. She covers her mouth and groans. “Damn, I think you did me in. And I still have loads to do before the boys come home.”
“What do you need to do? I’m sure it can wait.”
Her expression clouds momentarily before clearing. “I have some stuff to do around the house, and I have to make it to the bank before I pick up the boys.” Her smile is now a bit forced, and my gut churns.
I have an excellent guess as to the purpose of this trip to the bank, and it makes my blood boil. She’s withdrawing money for that damn brother of hers. I send her a stern look, tempted to bring it up but stopping when she sighs and graces me with a genuine smile. I reach up to cup her cheek.
“I’ll be right back.” I rise off the bed and head for the bathroom to take care of the condom and wash up. A brief glance in the mirror reveals an expression I haven’t seen in ages, maybe never. Contentment.
I nod at my reflection and return to my girl. My girl who is now fast asleep, gloriously naked, on top of my bed.
My GPS signals for me to take a right at the next cross street. Dusk is beginning to settle, and I’m hoping to get this done quickly so I can get back to Addison and the boys. I picked them up from camp, and when I left again, DeeDee was preparing dinner as all three boys sprawled out in front of the TV, exhausted from their afternoon of running around on the soccer field. I didn’t mention Addison’s whereabouts, and DeeDee didn’t ask. There’s a reason she’s been with us for so long.
Junk cars and odd bits of trash line the dirt roads of the trailer park with few streetlamps to illuminate them. I can’t picture Addison in this neighborhood, with her cheerfulness and brilliance against this colorless backdrop.
It took one phone call to Gary to get Addison’s home address. Lot number 388 is at the end of the third row. A rusted-out beige dwelling sits on it, a wiry young man lounging on a lawn chair in front as he takes a pull on his cigarette and eyes my Rover suspiciously. The brother, I surmise.
I park close, not willing to let my vehicle out of my sight in this area. I unfold myself from the driver’s seat and lock the door behind me, the loud beep echoing off the trailers around us.
The guy I assume is Addison’s brother begins bouncing his knees, growing tense at my appearance. “I think you took a wrong turn or something. I can give you directions for a few bucks.” He looks behind him toward the closed storm door before taking another drag on his cigarette and letting the smoke stream from his nose like a malnourished dragon. I take a step closer and see the moment recognition dawns. “Shit!” He straightens, cigarette forgotten. “You’re Alex Noble. What the fuck are you doing around here?”
I ignore his question and pose one of my own. “Is this Addison Moore’s house?” The kid’s head jerks back in surprise, and he casts another nervous look at the door behind him.
“Uh, yeah, she’s my sister. But she’s not here. How do you even know her?” His voice has lowered.
“Not important. What’s your name?” I close the distance between us, my shoes kicking up dust.
“Vince,” he says, finally attempting some manners and rising to his feet.
“Are you the asshole thief, or is there another brother?”
He’s momentarily taken aback, but then his mouth curls in a snarl, and his tone turns defensive. Well, he and his sister have one thing in common—they both wear their every emotion on their faces. “Who the hell do you think you are?”
“I’m the guy who’s gonna save your ass in about thirty seconds if you play your cards right and shut the fuck up.”
He obeys and begins to pace in front of the lawn chair. I move closer, placing myself between him and the trailer door, essentially leaving him no escape.
“Your sister tells me you got your family caught in the middle of a shitstorm you can’t figure your way out of.”
He at least has the grace to look a bit embarrassed before blurting out, “It’s none of your goddamn business. We’re handling it.”
“You mean Addison is handling it.”
“Dude, how do you even know her—or any of this?” He pats his pockets, probably looking for more cigarettes.
I ignore the question again. “This is the part where you listen real close, got that, Vince?”
He nods, glancing again at the door behind me. Does he think I’m here to steal from him or something? I want to laugh at the thought. Then I realize maybe he doesn’t want his mother seeing me. Hell, it’s possible she isn’t even aware of the situation her idiot kid got them into.
“You take my number and this money. You use the money to pay the next installment to whatever asshole you got yourself mixed up with. You use the number when you need more. I’ll determine whether you get more or not. Me . Not Addison. You lose her number unless you’re calling to wish her a happy fuckin’ birthday. You got me?”
He nods, wide-eyed. “I got you.”
“Well, what do we have here?” a deep voice startles me from behind. I turn quickly, my hand halfway out of my pocket with the envelope of cash I brought.
I don’t even get a good look before I hear what sounds like a car back-firing and everything goes black.