19. Chapter 19
Frankie
Evan was lying. Frankie wasn’t sure how she knew, but she did. There was no way they’d broken into her office in hopes she’d walk in. In fact, she’d be willing to bet they had broken in on the assumption that she wouldn’t . That everyone working would be too busy to notice.
“What were you doing in my office, little thief?” Frankie wondered, pocketing her keys as she got out of her Audi and headed into the gym.
She had combed her office after Evan had left, yet found nothing unusual.
Knowing what she did about them, Frankie wouldn’t be surprised if Evan had broken into her filing cabinet or desk.
But what were they looking for? If Frankie had any sense whatsoever, she’d have fired Evan on the spot.
They had a snooping problem that needed to be kicked to the curb, and fast. It would be a lot easier if Frankie weren’t so damn captivated by the little shit.
“Hey, Frankie,” Courtney greeted as Frankie set her bag on the bench in the changing room. The younger woman’s skin was flushed and sweaty, evidence of how hard she’d worked during her kickboxing class. “How’s business?”
Frankie hesitated. How was her business?
In the last two months, the pub hadn’t yet recovered from the ruined batches of microbrew, the walk-in cooler had broken down twice, she’d been slapped with a health and safety citation and shut down for a day, and— “Good, same as always. How about you?” The lie came easily.
Frankie wasn’t one to talk shop with acquaintances, especially not to the COO of Cairn’s Corp, an internationally leading investment and acquisitions company.
“Good, same as always.” Courtney pushed an auburn curl off her cheek and smirked. “So, question for you. Ever heard of a stunning woman named Kelsey? She’s a Domme in the community.”
“I have. She and her sub are lovely. Why do you ask?” Frankie checked her watch. Her class should start piling into the change rooms any minute.
“Aren’t they? I had the pleasure of meeting them both the other day.” Courtney shouldered her bag, glanced around the space, and lowered her voice. “Kelsey invited Lex and me to a kink party she’s putting on this weekend. Have you ever been?”
“I haven’t, but I’ve been to some others in the past. Was Kris not invited too?
I’ve been away from the scene for a while, but as I recall, the parties are inclusive to everyone in the kink community.
” Frankie knew a little of Courtney’s partners, though she’d only met Lexi once when they’d come into the pub.
A breathy laugh escaped Courtney, and she shook her head.
Behind her, Rachel and Patricia entered the room.
They were chatting with one another, so only Frankie heard Courtney’s reply.
“Crowds and a bunch of dominants in one space would not be good for him, trust me. Considering his shitty past, I count myself lucky that he lets me dominate him sometimes.”
Unbeknownst to her, the constant guarded look in Evan’s eyes came to mind. From what little Courtney had told her about her boyfriend, Kris had the same jaded personality as Evan. My little thief. Warmth blossomed in her chest. “Be patient. Who knows? Maybe he’ll come around.”
“Mm-hmm, maybe.” Courtney nodded, a small grin appearing, as if she were contemplating it. “Anyway, take care and say hello to Coy for me.” Frankie opened her mouth to correct the assumption that McCoy was still with her, but Courtney was already rushing out.
A few others trickled into the room, and once Frankie changed into her tank and sweats and headed out to the dojo, she noticed a handful of other familiar faces waiting.
“Evening, everyone,” she greeted warmly.
Her gaze landed on a lone figure standing a few feet away.
“Toni, three classes in a row. That’s a record. Great job.”
Ninety minutes later, Frankie was driving back to work with Evan situated deeply in her thoughts.
Beyond the flurry of new feelings that came with a crush, there was an underlying worry that lingered like a bad cold.
Who was Evan really , and why had they come to Vancouver to get a job at the pub of all places?
What did they truly want from Frankie? The chemistry was there, but something about Frankie scared them.
It was time to give her old partner on the force a call. Hopefully, Sean could uncover some answers.
The following morning in her office, Frankie stared in shock at the pictures Sean had sent over. A much younger Evan stared back at her, their chin-length blonde hair unruly. Mismatched eyes, same stubborn set in their chin, but who they stood next to was the real kicker.
Caleb fucking Deroche. The man she’d had nightmares about for at least the first week after the incident.
Side by side, Frankie could only vaguely make out the similarities between siblings.
Evan had the same hook to their nose, but perhaps it only meant that Caleb had also broken his nose a time or two.
But then there was the familiar way they postured and walked.
Caleb had been a good seven years older than Evan, and, judging by the public records Sean had accessed for Frankie, they’d had different fathers.
That at least could explain why I never put two and two together after I saw Evan’s license . Caleb Deroche … and Evan Landry .
“Fuck my life.” Frankie reached up to pinch the bridge of her nose.
Her stomach rolled incessantly, a side effect of the predicament she now faced.
And poor Evan. Had they always known she was responsible?
How long had they planned to continue the cloak-and-dagger stuff before acting on the real reason they’d come to Vancouver?
Frankie would be na?ve if she believed for one second Evan showed up with plans to “talk things out”.
No, that wasn’t her little thief at all.
Evan lashed out, using unconventional means of revenge, and did a shit poor job of it.
Frankie’s eyes widened. It was like a bulb had come on, shedding light on questions that had dumbfounded her for two months.
The ruined batches, the walk-in breaking …
all of it. “It was them all along. Fucking with my business.” But why ?
Why not just kill her and get it over with?
As soon as the thought was out, Frankie already knew.
For the same reason she couldn’t think of anyone else since Evan had introduced themself over a glass of her whiskey.
The attraction and emotional chemistry Frankie felt, Evan felt it too.
Knock, knock.
Frankie’s gaze flew to her office door, as she half expected it to be open and for Evan to have heard the whole thing, but no. It was exactly as she’d left it. She heaved a sigh. “Yes?”
The door opened wide enough for Evan’s handsome face to appear. “Everyone’s heading out for the night. Can I do anything else for you?”
Talk about a loaded question. Frankie studied what she could see of Evan, her stomach dipping low like it often did when she was around them.
Sean might have successfully uncovered their true identity, yet Evan was still someone Frankie was dying to know in a profound way.
And not just sexually as her sub, but emotionally, intellectually.
She wanted … no, needed to know just how far Evan would take things.
Were they caught in the middle like she was?
For the right price, could they give up their revenge?
“Help me lock up, then we can go home together.”
“Home,” Evan slowly echoed like they were trying the word out for the first time.
Their face grew tense, making Evan look much older than their twenty-four years.
Frankie dropped her gaze and cleared her throat, ignoring the pang of guilt trying desperately to resurface.
What’s done is done. Now that she knew who Evan was, it didn’t change the past. Wishing she hadn’t needed to pull the trigger wouldn’t bring Caleb back.
But did it have to be me in that alley?
“So, I’ve noticed you and Sloane are less touchy-feely since the staff party,” Frankie said as they walked to the front entrance.
Sure enough, as they reached the bar, only Sloane remained.
She was pulling on her jacket, her headphones covering her ears, which coincidentally was the perfect cover to Frankie’s question.
“There goes that incredible skill of deduction again.” Evan shot Frankie a wry look, teasing, by the slight smirk they held.
Frankie took a deep breath, her nostrils flaring as she caught Evan’s scent underneath the kitchen odors still clinging to them. The soft, woodsy odor somehow made both her heart and pussy flutter.
“We’ll need to discuss that sharp tongue of yours, and how it fits into this relationship.” Frankie sent Evan her best pointed look, a grin threatening to break forth when Evan’s cheeks flushed.
“Oh, hey, you’re still here.” Sloane pulled her headphones off and smiled in Evan’s direction, completely disregarding that Frankie was present as well.
The urge to grip Evan’s hand and shield them from Sloane’s clutches was intense, so much that her fingers tingled even as her body subconsciously moved closer to Evan.
“Evan was waiting for me to finish up,” Frankie interjected before Evan could. She pulled the door open. “Have a good night, Sloane. Thanks for the hard work this shift.”
“ Every shift,” Sloane drawled, glancing between her and Evan before rolling her eyes. “Remember what I said about marking your territory? Prime example, Mommy Frankie. I told you I’d back off. No need to go around pissing.”
“Actually, she prefers ‘Daddy’.” Evan was teasing, but Frankie couldn’t deny the heady rush she felt at the witty declaration. The swift spark of desire made her stomach tighten and heat flood her pussy.
Well fuck, new kink anyone?