Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
BELLAMY
“I swear to God, if you don’t put me down right now, I’ll use my fingernails and stab your brain out!”
The screaming tore me from sleep into the lucid reality of unfamiliar surroundings. I blinked a few times, finally remembering I was in Adam’s office at the casino. How my feet became propped up on a sleeping Mercer’s lap and my head wound up in Ace’s lap was beyond me. When did Ace even get here? He looked down at me, his sleepy eyes telling me that the screaming woke him, too.
“That’s it! I will sever your head with my bare hands. Don’t think I can, big boy?” The screeching continued. “Don’t laugh at me. I’m stronger than I look.”
“Guess naptime is over.” Ace’s voice was rough, but his fingers were gentle as they toyed with the strands of my hair.
“I guess so.” I sighed. I didn’t want it to be over. In fact, I was perfectly content here in Ace’s lap. He never let me see this gentle, intimate side of him, and I knew I shouldn’t encourage it, but the talk of sharing was always at the back of my mind, making me wonder what if. What if I just took what a part of me wanted?
“I swear to God, I’m a witch, and I can make you stub your toe on every fucking corner you pass for the rest of your life.” The familiar voice nagged at me, and I sat up. I spotted Hannah slung over the shoulder of Max as he walked through the open office door. She spotted me. “Oh, hi Bella boo. Good to see you.” My friend's voice was syrupy sweet before turning hard again. “If you don’t put me down now, I’m biting you. You’ve had enough warnings.”
Drew rubbed his arm. “She’ll do it too.”
“She’s fucking possessed.” Max pitched her forward, dropping her into a chair in front of Adam’s desk.
Adam looked on, amused. His eyes sparkled as he watched my friend. I stood, the blanket falling to the floor as I walked toward my friend, excitement bubbling from seeing her for the first time in what seemed like forever. When I got close, Drew stepped between us, ready to guard me from Hannah. My Hannah. My sweet best friend.
“Hannah wouldn’t hurt a fly. Let me by,” I demanded.
Drew held up an arm with teeth marks. “No.”
“Let her by,” Adam ordered, not giving his friend an ounce of sympathy. “I’m sure our little Belle can manage the piranha just fine.”
Drew lowered his voice, mocking his boss, “I’m sure our little Belle can manage the biggest threat in the room with ease.”
Adam’s chest shook with silent laughter, but didn’t dispute that my best friend was a little unhinged. To be fair, she wasn’t always like this. But I imagine being carried in by a stranger to an office you’d not seen was a little scary. It was nice to know that if the situation was dire, she wouldn’t go down without a fight.
When Drew moved out of the way, I rushed forward, flinging my arms around my friend and squeezing her tight. Fuck, it was good to see her.
She pulled back. “Are you kidnapped too?”
I looked over at my guards, glaring, and only getting a shoulder shrug in return. “Kidnapped?”
“We asked her to come, and she refused,” Max explained.
“They did not ask me to come.” Hannah rolled her eyes. “I believe what he said was, ‘Is your name Hannah?’ and when I confirmed, he said, ‘Come with me.’ I guess fuck off and leave me alone wasn’t the correct response because next thing I know, these jerks are tossing me into the back seat of an SUV. They child locked me. They fucking child locked me like I was five.”
“You act five,” Drew tossed in.
“She threatened to run the second we put her down.” Max backed up his friend.
“Boys,” Mercer barked, and they both looked like he just told them no dessert. “Act like gentlemen.”
They turned their attention to Adam. “She left us no choice.”
Adam bit his lip while he tried not to laugh. I’d seen these grown men fight on the lawn during downtime. I heard they had expert aim and could shoot nearly anything. Yet here they were, afraid of a five-foot-three blonde with an attitude problem.
“We’d like to offer you a job,” Adam announced as Ace and Mercer approached, flanking the chair that my friend had pulled me over to share with her.
I wasn’t sure how my husband thought the offer would go, but judging by the look on his face, he wasn’t expecting a rejection. “No.”
Adam blinked a few times, clearly not used to the word. “Excuse me?”
“I said no. I don’t want your job. What I want is to rescue my kidnapped friend over here and take her home.” She turned to me. “Does your husband know some goon has you?”
This was probably the highlight of my day. Possibly my week. Maybe even my year. I would never let my serious, mostly grumpy, demanding husband live this down. I nodded my head slowly before I sighed. “That goon belongs to me. He’s my husband.” His chest puffed up with my declaration of ownership. Then I added, “All the goons are mine.”
Her face pulled. “All. That’s a lot of sausages for one girl. Kind of selfish, too.”
Mercer stifled a laugh, and Ace’s lip twitched just the slightest. “Well, Drew and Max are my guards. They are?—“
“I know who they are. Brutes.” She looked side to side. “Three is still a bit…”
At her wiggling of her brows, I changed the subject. “Adam has a job opening, and I recommended you.”
“Adam would be baby daddy over there behind the desk?”
Before I could respond, he cut in, not denying it. “Yes.”
I hadn’t told her the truth, though I was tempted to so many times. She hadn’t even known I was marrying into the Accardo family. If she had, I’m sure she’d have freaked out. She knew the rumors. She worked in shady establishments. She heard things, learned things, and ignored things for her own good. I kept my secrets safe from her to protect her, not like she needed protecting. But if she had known who I was marrying, known I carried the child of a monster, well… I knew her enough to know she wouldn’t hold back her thoughts on the matter. And those thoughts, they would be spewed to the careless men wielding guns. The enemy I almost called family.
“And the trusted sidekicks?” Hannah tilted her head right and left, gesturing to Ace and Mercer.
“Mine,” I stated, and I didn’t know why because obviously nothing was official, but it felt right to say it.
She whistled low. “I bet slumber parties at your house are happening.”
“Hannah,” I hissed.
“Well, it’s true.” She turned her attention to Adam while her hand went to my stomach, stroking it. Adam’s eyes locked on the motion. The tiniest bit of jealousy flaring to life in them. “What makes you think I want this job you’re offering? I love my current employer.”
Max snorted. “No one loves your current employer. Davis is an ass and you know it. He stiffs everyone on their tips, feels you up, and charges every little thing out of your paycheck. He’s scum.”
She didn’t dispute it. “The customers are nice.”
“Pretty sure some slime ball with unwashed hands, who was day drinking, tried to put money down your shirt like you were a stripper when I walked in,” Drew pointed out.
“Jealous it wasn’t you?”
Adam cleared his throat. “The job is triple your current pay, plus benefits.”
“Did you say benefits?” Hannah’s curiosity was piqued.
“Four days a week. Every other weekend. Plus, free access to the facility's gym and spa.”
“F-F- Facility?” She stuttered, trying to process it all. He was giving her the best possible deal, and I knew it was because she was special to me.
“That’s right. The resort is opening in two weeks. Our lead barkeep quit unexpectedly. We want you. You pick any remaining staff you still need. First job is the dedication gala in a week.”
Her mouth opened, and closed, then opened and hung open. “The resort?”
“Yes, ma’am. Do we have a deal?” Adam leaned forward, the leather of his chair squeaking.
“The resort,” she echoed, clearly in shock.
“Is it a deal?” he asked more forcefully.
“Yes… no.”
“No?” He laughed and raised a brow.
“I would like to negotiate.” Her leg jiggled up and down, giving away her nerves.
“Negotiate?” Ace laughed. “I can promise you won’t get a better deal than this. I handle most hirings, and from a business standpoint, he could hire someone nearly two-thirds cheaper, offer facility access without benefits, and fill the spot easily.”
Hannah’s head whipped to the side, glaring at Ace. “He could, and if this was just about a job, I’m positive he would have. But you have my best friend, and that’s influential on his offer. I’ll work three weekends a month instead of two, if visitations are negotiated.”
Adam smiled, looking like a shark about to attack. He placed an elbow on his desk. “Done.”
Hannah put her hand up for a high five, and I raised mine to meet hers. “Yesss.”
“Oh, and Hannah?”
She glanced back to my husband. “Yes?”
“Visitations would have happened either way. She needs someone other than us to keep her entertained. You negotiated your way out of a weekend.”
Realization hit her hard, and she cursed. “Fuck.”
I rested my head on her shoulder. “I’m worth it, aren’t I?”
“Your husband is?—“
“Your new boss,” he reminded her.
“Generous.” Though I suspected the word prior was way less kind.
“Max, Drew. Take her to her apartment and see what arrangements will need to be made for her relocation,” Adam ordered, and Hannah stiffened.
“Excuse me?”
“Your relocation,” Adam repeated the word like it was obvious.
“Relocating wasn’t in the agreement.”
“You want to hang out with Belle? I want to keep her safe. It’s that simple. Either you move into the cottage at the back of our property, or you work around our schedules to visit. Note that we are busy men. We don’t have time for many games.”
“It’s just that …” She fiddled with the armrest of the chair, drawing circles with her finger. “My apartment is rent controlled, you know. And to move?—“
“One bedroom, full kitchen, washer and dryer on site,” Adam listed off.
“Why wasn’t I offered one of those?” I mumbled.
“They were full,” Mercer provided.
“They aren’t now,” I pouted.
“Oh, they are, but someone is about to be relocated.” Mercer looked over his shoulder at his two friends, and I knew just who he was thinking.
“On site?” She breathed in awe.
“Rent-free.”
“I might pass out,” Hannah stated.
“I’m sure Max can carry you if you’re feeling weak.”
“I’d rather not,” he huffed.
“Is he married?” Hannah whispered to me, while fanning her face and eyeing my husband. I knew she was teasing.
I wiggled my finger with the ring in front of her. “I think so.”
“Smartasses.” Adam leaned back in his chair. “Move in the day before the gala. That should give you enough time to get your things in order. No need to pack; we’ll send men. It was nice meeting you, Hannah. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like a word alone with my wife.”
Hannah’s eyes met mine, and I nodded. It had been the first time I’d seen her in a few months, and I understood her nervousness. But if Adam said he was going to move her close, I believed him. He’d always do what was in the best interest of our family. Our? Was that right? Was that what we were?
“It’s fine,” I whispered, tilting my head close to hers. “Mercer knows of the best donut place. Maybe I could convince him to grab us some donuts and we can catch up once you're settled.”
“And Mercer is one of these hot muscles?” She wiggled her head from side to side, reminding me I’d never properly introduced them.
“To the right,” I mumbled as I stood.
She followed my lead, standing and pretending to stretch her arms over her head so she could look over at him. She bobbed her head a few times. “Nice.” Her head turned as she stretched her arms again, looking toward Ace. “Double nice.”
“We’ll walk you to the parking garage,” Mercer offered, already walking toward the door. He held it open, waiting for Hannah to walk through before Drew and Max followed. Ace closed the rear of the group. And right before he shut the door, he gifted me with a wink.
And then we were alone.
I avoided looking at Adam as I strolled around his office, feeling the weight of his eyes burrowing into me. I touched every book on his shelves, though there were none that interested me. I spun the decorative globe, avoiding him as it tilted and turned, coming to a slow stop. Then I passed behind him, gazing at the photos on his shelf.
When the silence grew too heavy, I picked up a picture of three boys. “Is this you with Mercer and Ace?”
He didn’t have to spin around to know what I was referring to. He continued writing something down as he spoke. “We met when we were just into our teen years. Tossed into the same group home. We have shit backgrounds, Bellamy, and I can’t change that. But I promise we’ll be more to our family than we ever had.”
“We’ll,” I whispered under my breath.
“You said they were yours,” he reminded me as he stood.
I had, in a moment of weakness and confusion, worried if I didn’t claim them, then my best friend would. “Hannah is more bold than I am. If she set her eyes on them…”
“Then she would have what’s yours.” He was closer now. I could feel him behind me, looming over my frame. His breath fanning against my neck made me hyper aware of our proximity. He was right, of course. I didn’t want her to have what was mine. And they were mine now, I guess. In some sort of way, even if it was only platonic. Was it platonic? I kissed Mercer moments after Adam’s mouth devoured me, and I liked it. I liked it a lot.
“Yes,” I admitted, then took a step away, glancing at the objects and frames, which had to have some meaning to him to be positioned in his private space.
“You don’t like to share,” he observed, and no shit, I didn’t. I may have entered this marriage unwillingly, but I was in it and I’d grown attached.
“Do you?” I looked over my shoulder at him as I took another step along the shelf.
“I think you know the answer to that, Belle.” He ran his finger over the wood shelf. “I am selfish. I share nothing but what I willingly give.”
“Like me.”
“It’s optional. But even that I don’t give completely. There is a part of you that’s only mine. I’d share you so that you’re always protected and want for nothing. But there is a part of you that will always belong to me. Admit it.”
I suspected there would be a lot of parts that always belonged to this man, but I wouldn’t admit it. Instead, I continued looking at his books, objects, frames, until one caught my eye. I reached up on my toes, allowing myself to grasp it. I pulled it down, looking at the image of a young Ace and Adam with a woman slightly younger.
“They look a lot alike.” I paused for a moment, taking in the woman who Adam loved. It was the first picture I had seen of her, and a part of me was jealous of what they shared, even knowing they’d never share it again.
“They do,” he confirmed. “Sometimes I forget I have that picture in here. Ace put it there years ago. It was his favorite. When Elizabeth was still alive, life was simple, and I didn’t have such an ugly mug.”
“You’re still handsome, you know.” And he was. I wouldn’t lie about that. When I first joined them, his icy demeanor and scarred body scared me. But now that I knew him, I knew it was an act. He’d never hurt me. His coldness was a way to protect himself. When I allowed myself to look at him now, I appreciated the soft edges and hard lines, finding them both equally attractive.
“Flattering. But I disagree.” He reached for the frame, removing it from my hand, staring at the image like he was lost in thought.
“I’m sorry,” I spoke softly.
“Sometimes I forget Ace lost someone, too. That I wasn’t the only one who had pain. I used to think I died then, that my life had ended and I’d be a shell of who I once was for as long as I lived.”
“Used to?”
“I’m trying to change, be better, live more.” He looked down at me as he reached up, putting the frame back where I took it from. “Have patience with me. It’s a big change.”
“I…“ I bit down on my lip hard, afraid to speak and working up the courage I needed to say what was on my mind.
“What? You what, little Belle?”
“I don’t want to be a replacement,” I confessed, knowing the confession was selfish. He lost his wife, the love of his life, and I was worried about being second best.
“Replacement?” His brow pulled in confusion. “Is that what you think?”
“Isn’t it true?”
“No one could replace Elizabeth,” he confessed, and though I expected it, my heart still sank. But then he continued, “And no one could replace you. She was from the past. You are the present. They are different times in my life, and neither mean more or less than the other. And I’m sorry, I truly am because I haven’t done the best job of showing you that. But I’m trying, and there are days I’ll still struggle. You understand, don’t you?”
His hand wrapped around me as he pulled me back to his chest. His palm rested against my stomach. “I think so.”
“These shelves are my past, but my future…” He turned me around, letting me see a snapshot he had taken of me without knowing that was propped up on his desk. “My future is never behind me, and always before me.”
The faintest of flutters danced through me. “You have my picture.”
“I do.” His palm moved in a slow circle. “You let her touch you.”
I knew what he was referring to. I didn’t need to ask. But Hannah was my best friend; her touch was familiar as my own. We’d been friends for far too long to not be comfortable with each other. “Jealous?”
“Yes,” he admitted.
“I’ve never told you no.”
“You’ve never told me yes, either.” He had a point.
“You’re touching me now,” I reminded him.
“And I think I’m obsessed.” He rested his chin on my hair. “You’re changing. He’s growing.”
“She is.” I smirked, knowing his mind was already made up on the gender.
“I want more.” His fingers clenched against my skin.
“I’m sorry, what?” I tilted my head to look at him.
“More kids. More babies.” His gaze dropped to where his hand rested on the bump of my stomach. “I like this look.”
Another flutter. “You know, I believe in the smutty book world, the heroine would accuse the hero of having some sort of a breeding kink.”
He chuckled. The vibration did things to my body that had my toes curling. “Are you shaming me?”
“I’d never.”
“Then that’s a yes?” I swallowed hard at his question, then wondered if he could hear my gulp.
“Adam…”
The knock at the door had me jumping. Seconds later, Ace had the door pushed open, interrupting the first genuine moment I’d had with my husband in… ever.
Ace cleared his throat. “I thought I’d let you know we’d got word that Accardo’s incoming shipment had sunk. Perfect timing with the surprise warehouse raid.”
I gasped. Fear curled around my stomach. But Adam only held me tighter as he smiled sinisterly. “Excellent. Make the next arrangement. And have the car pulled up to the elevator. We’re leaving early today.”
“Will do.”
The door shut as Adam pulled away, walking to his desk to collect his things. “It’s a good day, Belle. A good fucking day.”