Chapter Twenty-Nine - Joshua
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Joshua
Before I even open my eyes, I feel her beside me.
Elise moved away from me in the night but subconsciously placed her hand on my chest, and I’m glad she’s not awake to feel how fast my heart is beating. Her thick hair is splayed across the pillow, and her usually expressive features are peaceful.
It had always been my plan to return in time for her birthday, but getting everything in order so I could work from here took longer than I’d hoped.
I’m sure Elise wasn’t expecting me to know about her birthday, or maybe in the craziness that her life has become, she forgot about it altogether. Either way, I intend to use the occasion as an opportunity to show her that I can make her happy.
She stirs beside me, and after a glance at the clock, I decide it’s time to start the day.
I press a light kiss on her forehead. “Time to wake up, Princess.”
She groans, turning away from me.
“Come on, we have a big day.”
“Let me sleep,” she grumbles.
“You’ve slept long enough. It’s almost nine,” I say, sitting up against the headboard.
When she looks at me, it’s the same expression she wore the morning we woke up together at the base, like she’s memorizing my every feature as if I’ll disappear at any moment.
Well, I’m not going anywhere.
“How did you sleep last night?”
Her lips pull into a small smile. “No nightmares.”
She sleeps better with me. After everything that’s happened between us, I have the power to give her peaceful sleep.
Damn. That feels good.
“Guess I’m sleeping here from now on.”
“If I don’t kick you out for waking me up too early.”
“Don’t be dramatic. You’re going to want to get up and get ready. We’re going out today,” I tell her, awaiting her reaction.
“Outside?”
I shake my head. “Out in public.”
Her eyes double in size, and she rises to sit. “Like public, public? With real people?”
I nod. “We leave at ten-thirty.”
“To go where?”
“You’ll see,” I say and wait for the question.
“You’re not afraid I’ll run away?”
There it is.
“Well”—my hand falls to her waist, and I rub lazy circles there—“the way I see it, we made a deal. You stay for a month, and I let you choose what you do from there. If, for some reason, you did decide to run, you’d be breaking your end of the deal, which would entitle me to break mine.
As long as you intend to uphold your end of the bargain, I see no reason why we can’t enjoy a day out. ”
A small hand rests over mine. “I’m not going to run.”
My chest tightens at her words, and I wish it were as easy as believing them, but I can’t—not after what I’ve seen.
Elise is a horrible liar, so I know she means what she says, but words don’t mean much in the face of opportunity. Still, I can’t keep her trapped in here forever.
Ryder’s words from last night still ring as clear as a bell.
Are you going to take away everything that makes her happy aside from you? That’ll only make her resent you.
I hate it when he’s right.
Forty-five minutes later, I walk into my office, where Ryder and the capos are already seated.
I take the seat behind my desk. “Is everything at the warehouse in place?”
Alec nods. “We’re the only ones with access to that area.”
“Good. That stays top-level security only.” I turn to Donovan. “I’ll be out with Elise today, and I want our four best guys on security. Definitely Finn and Luke, but you can pick the others.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Kade, any word on who gave Elise the note?”
He shakes his head. “I’m still working on it. The footage is gone, so I’ve just been taking testimonies.”
“Don’t stop until you find something.”
“Sir, the best place to start would be talking to Elise.”
“She stays out of this.”
Kade lifts a placating hand. “I’m just saying, she may recognize one of our men—”
“She stays out of this,” I repeat. “End of conversation.”
He nods, knowing better than to push.
Of course, he’s right. Elise is the best person to help us locate the traitor, but after her panic attacks and breakdowns, I’ve decided to leave her out of it completely. She needs more time to heal.
“That’s all for now. We’ll be back late afternoon. Don, have the guys you’re sending come to my office in twenty minutes.” Don nods, and everyone stands from their chairs.
“Ryder, stay.”
The door swings shut, leaving Ryder and me alone. His posture is rigid, and I’m sure he’s still mad about last night.
Well, I am too.
“You’re staying here today. I want a list of candidates for the vacant capo position, but put Warren in charge of the recruits for the time being.”
“I take it this means you’re not sending me back to the base?”
“Take it as a warning. I respect that you’re protective of Elise, but she’s mine. When I give an order, I need to be able to trust that you’re going to follow it. Otherwise, I won’t let you near her. Don’t let what happened last night happen again, understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
Half an hour later, the men running security for our outing leave my office, and I hear Elise’s soft voice among the guys. Though I can’t make out what she’s saying, she doesn’t sound happy, and I wonder what she’s found to be upset about now.
Lucky me.
As expected, it’s only moments later that I watch her approach the office door through the security camera. When she reaches out, she hesitates before knocking, second-guessing whatever it is she wants to talk to me about.
She must decide it’s worth it because, after a deep breath, she knocks on the door.
“Come in,” I call.
She enters the room, and any sign of her wariness is gone. If it weren’t for the fact that I watched her demeanor change from the footage, I wouldn’t know that she’s definitely up to something.
Her eyes wander up and down my body, and I don’t hide my satisfied smile as I let my eyes do the same to her.
Her light jeans and a gray tank top cling to her body perfectly, but it makes me look overdressed in my black slacks and white button-up.
Her limited clothing options are certainly less than ideal.
“Ready to leave?” I ask her.
“Can we talk first?”
“About?”
She approaches the desk. “I want Ryder to come with us today.”
So, that’s what this is about.
My jaw ticks, but that’s the only sign of my frustration. “Ryder has work to do here.”
Elise takes one slow step after the other around my desk, trailing her hand along the oak wood as she does. The motion is mesmerizing, almost… seductive.
“Surely he can do it later, right?”
I eye her warily. “Unfortunately not.”
She looks up at me through thick lashes. “Come on, Joshua. It’s my birthday.”
“I’ve already selected the men who are joining us today. Ryder is staying here.”
She takes the final step so she’s directly in front of me and places one hand on my chest. “Would it be so difficult to make the arrangements?”
“You’re playing with fire, Princess,” I warn. “Careful, or you’ll get burned.”
She feigns innocence. “I’m only asking for my friend to come along, that’s all.”
She reaches her other hand to my chest, but I grab hold of her wrists in one hand before it makes contact and use my other to wrap around her waist, lifting her to the desk. Once she’s situated between my legs, I place my arms on either side of her, effectively trapping her there.
“I think I’ve made my decision clear, have I not?”
She lifts her arms, and I think she’s about to push me away, but her arms wrap around my neck as she absentmindedly plays with my hair.
Damn, that feels good.
“I think I’ve made my preference clear, have I not?”
I hold her taunting glare for a long moment, equally annoyed and proud that she doesn’t cower or flinch away.
“Ryder can come but only as security,” I relent, straightening when she drops her arms.
“Thank you!” she says, face lighting up as she leans in and kisses me.
I deepen the kiss, taking her bottom lip between my teeth and biting down just hard enough that Elise squeaks in surprise.
When I pull back, her face is bright red with a growing blush. “What was that for?”
“Teasing me,” I tell her. “And it was generous. It wouldn’t be wise for you to do it again, understood?”
She curls her lip in, poorly suppressing a smile. “Understood.”
“Could you send Ryder in?” I ask as she hops off the desk.
“Sure,” she chimes, closing the door behind her.
Ryder walks in only a minute later. “What can I do for you?”
I curse myself for being unable to deny Elise anything.
“You’re coming as security today.”
He nods. “She’s almost as stubborn as her father.”
He’s damn right about that.
I take a deep breath, knowing before I even open my mouth that Ryder isn’t going to like what I’m about to tell him.
“I just met with the soldiers coming today, and there are a few things you need to know before we go.”
We’re twenty minutes into our drive, and Elise hasn’t said a single word. At first, I thought she was just tired, but as we approach civilization, she begins fiddling with the hem of her shirt.
I rest one hand on her thigh. “You okay?”
“Overwhelmed.”
There’s a twinge of guilt at the fact that something as mundane as driving through town overwhelms her after so long in isolation. Fortunately for me, my guilt is greatly outweighed by the satisfaction of having her here with me.
“Where are we?” she asks suddenly.
“Where do you think we are?”
“California,” she says without missing a beat. “I just can’t figure out which part.”
Perceptive little Elise.
“The house is a few miles outside Redding,” I tell her.
“Why do you have a place this far north? Your closest base is in Sacramento.”
I’m starting to realize that I haven’t given Elise enough credit. She continues to surprise me.
“I bought the house a few months after Marsollo’s death when I was negotiating terms with the capos who kept his name. It made a good halfway point, so I come up now and then to meet with them.”
“So, when you told me you’d come to Milwaukee from California, you weren’t lying.”