20. Blakely
“Harder.”Em shouts.
It’s my first time back in the dojo since the attack. It has been a few weeks, and Bailey gave me the all-clear to go back to training without pushing it too hard. Those are her words, not mine.
I missed the sensation of the mat beneath my feet, but right now, I feel like I’m going to die from exhaustion.
“Are you kidding me?” My lungs are burning as the words leave my mouth.
“Even my five-year-old niece hits harder than you.”
“You don’t even have a niece.” I try to speak.
“Figures.” She rolls her eyes at me.
I hit and hit hard. I know her arse will hit the mat before she even touches it.
“Ouch. My arse,” she complains.
“Seriously? You ask me to hit harder, and when I do, you complain?” I ask, my breath ragged. Damn, it feels good, but it doesn’t help my burning lungs.
I hear chuckles behind me.
“Are you okay, baby girl?” Cailean asks her, still laughing as she gives him the middle finger.
“You did good. Let’s take a break,” she says as she moves to retrieve her bottle of water. I do the same, finishing it in one gulp.
“Okay, my turn,” says Cailean, taking Em’s place. “You ready for me, Angel?”
“Bring it on.”
I take my position, and my hands instinctively shield my face. I know him well, and based on his fighting habits, I’m pretty sure he’s going to come straight for my head. And bingo, he does.
Training with Cailean feels like a choreographed dance routine. We know each other, which doesn’t make it easy because we know when and where to expect the next blow. I wait patiently for the perfect opportunity to strike. Suddenly, I see my chance and deliver a powerful kick to his stomach. As he doubles over, I swiftly pivot and grab hold of his legs.
“Shit. I thought you had no strength left,” he says.
I let out a laugh, feeling the rush of adrenaline coursing through my veins.
“Oh, but I’m very resourceful.”
He lunges for my legs, but I dodge to the side and strike him in the stomach once more. The sound of his laboured breathing accompanies the ‘woof’ that escapes his lips. I am so confident that I have caught him that I fail to anticipate his next move. Without any warning, I find myself in the same position Em was in earlier, on my arse. I take the hand he offers, and he pulls me up with ease. I can’t help but smile at his low chuckle.
“Well done, wee one. But you need to stay focused.”
My heart races as I grasp his hand tightly. A growl comes to my ear, and I turn my head to see where it’s coming from.
“Do you have a death wish?” asks Aidan, looking with murderous eyes at Cailean. I shake my head as Cailean raises both his hands in the air.
“Seriously, you need to stop the stalking.” He comes closer to me and kisses the hell out of me with no regard for the people in the room.
That’s new.
We never talked about our relationship or what we are, and that’s the first time he’s shown any sign of affection in public.
“What was that?” I ask, my chest heaving as I try to catch my breath.
The question I want to ask about why he’s even here doesn’t leave my lips. I had let him know that I’d be returning to my training. And I had a feeling he would find a way to come here.
“Good morning, beautiful.” As he speaks, he turns to Cailean, who looks up at him expectantly. “If you hurt her ever again, I won’t hesitate despite her requests.”
“Stop the macho bullshit, would you? It’s my first time back training. Obviously, I’ll finish on the floor.”
“Maybe, but you need to take it easy.” With a fluid motion, he lifts his hand in the air. “I didn’t say you can’t fight. I saw you with Tim, and hell, I felt your hits on my skin. You’re more than capable. But you’re still in recovery, even if you’re feeling better. I can’t just stop worrying about you, okay?” I nod because even if I’m pissed off at him, that was sweet.
“We’re done for the day, kids,” shouts Em. She gestures towards Aidan and informs him. “Tonight, it’s girls’ night. You had her to yourself for weeks. It’s our turn now.” He furrows his brows and shoots her a disapproving glance. “Don’t look at me that way. You have no say in the matter.”
“Very well. But if she’s not in my bed tonight, I’ll come get her,” he says back. She glares at him, daggers in her eyes, “You can give me your murderous eyes all you want. That’s my price.”
“Done,” she agrees.
Am I invisible? Because it feels like I am.
“I’m right here in case you forgot,” I say, my voice dripping with annoyance.
“We know, honey bun.” Em brushes me off, heading towards the changing room without another word.
I spent part of my afternoon trying to work on some cases without any interest. As I gaze out my office window at the lush greenery, Emilie’s words from a few weeks ago replay in my mind. She is right. I don’t enjoy working for a big corporation that doesn’t want the same things as me. But I don’t want to leave the firm and let Emilie go back to France alone. Call it selfishness, but I need her in my life. I inhale deeply before walking towards Caleb’s office, feeling a sense of anticipation in my chest.
“Knock, knock,” I say, leaning on the door. Dressed in his usual black shirt and slacks, he sits behind his desk, his elbow casually resting on the edge.
Adjusting his position in the chair, he says, “Blakely. What can I do for you?”
“Do you have a minute?” He gestures for me to sit in the chair in front of him, and I oblige. “I… I was thinking. I don’t think I’ll be going back to Paris.” My confession catches him off guard, and his expression turns to one of surprise.
“Is that so? Can I ask you why?” He pauses, “Is it because of my son?” I shake my head.
“No, it’s not because of him. I have found more enjoyment in working here in the past few weeks than I have in years, and that’s the reason. Don’t get me wrong. There was a time when I found my work incredibly rewarding.”
“But it’s not the same anymore,” he finishes for me.
“No. It’s not.” I let out a deep sigh and settle myself more comfortably into the chair. “I guess I don’t want the same things anymore.”
“You know you can still work with me, right? My offer still stands.” Caleb has been persistently urging me to come work for him officially for years. I always refused until now. But this time feels different.
“With you? Not for you?”
“You heard it right. With me. We both know you won’t take orders from me, so why don’t we call it a partnership? You’d be relieving me of the lawyer that you hired for me, who has been a source of frustration, and handle their duties yourself. You and Emilie, of course.” I look at him sceptically, unsure if he is being serious or not.
“So, you’re asking me to take on the responsibilities of multiple individuals? By myself?” The mere idea is absurd.
Laughing, he replies, “You’re accomplishing more than they could ever dream of. This would be a piece of cake for you. They rely on you to finish the job, no matter what the circumstances may be. I’m not saying they are incompetent, but they’re not you. So what do you think? You already have your office here,” he states. “You’d have the freedom to make any changes you desire, and in return, we can provide Emilie with a more spacious office.” I let out an involuntary sigh, surprised by the sudden release of tension.
“Alright then. Let’s just keep this between us for now. We’re still working on tracking the Snakes and the Italians. I don’t want anyone to know until we’ve eliminated them.”
He nods his head, ready to speak. “I’m having Matteo followed. I still can’t believe that piece of shit is trying to take me down.”
“Is he still working for you?”
“He is. I’m giving him false information for now, waiting to see what he’ll do with it.” He retrieves something from his cluttered desk and carefully pulls out an envelope. “We received this yesterday. An invitation for a gala.” I look at him, surprised. No one told me anything about it. I knew they”d be receiving it, but I didn’t know it already arrived. He must have noticed my puzzled expression because he quickly adds, “Aidan doesn’t even know yet. I was biding my time after everything that happened.” I nod.
“When is it?”
“Tomorrow evening.” I can’t help but stare at him with wide, astonished eyes.
“Tomorrow evening? What the hell?”
“They must have planned to shock us so that we wouldn’t have time to prepare our team. But thanks to your mole, my team is ready. I had to make some adjustments because of Fusco, but we are ready.”
“Okay. I need to inform my team. Can you send me the location?”
“Will do.” Just as I’m about to exit, he calls out to me, and I turn around.
“Blakely. I’m happy you’re staying. You’re making the right decision. I know you still resent me regarding what happened in the past, but please believe me when I say that I had no other choice but to keep you safe. You mean the world to both my son and your brother. They will do everything in their power to keep you safe. I’ve seen my son go through hell since he lost you. He deserves to be happy. Eight years later, that boy is still madly in love with you and would kill anyone who tries to hurt you. Don’t throw away that kind of love. Take the advice of an old man.”
I can only nod, my throat tight with the emotions his words have stirred up.
“Thank you.”
“What the hell is this colour?” As I glance down, I notice that my toenails are painted a vibrant shade of pink. PINK. Em laughs beside me. I’m going to kill her. She knows I hate this colour.
We’ve been chatting and eating for an hour now. Eilidh and Isla are here along with Em. Bailey texted me, letting me know she had an emergency at the hospital and is on her way back now.
“It’s pink,” Em says nonchalantly and shrugs her shoulders as if it was the most mundane thing in the world. Seriously, I’m going to kill her.
“I know it’s pink. Why are my toenails painted pink?”
“Because pink is pretty. I can’t paint them black, even though it would match your soul.” The girls giggle.
“Haha. Very funny,” I say, trying not to move the freshly painted nails.
“Don’t be a mood killer. It’s a pretty colour. Maybe you need more gin. It will help with your grumpy mood.”
“On it,” I hear Isla say, already in the kitchen. She comes back with more gin and lemonade because, apparently, that’s the best way to drink it. I’m more of a wine and whisky kinda girl, but gin will do.
“Soooo,” says Isla once she’s back from the kitchen. I look at her, waiting for more, but she doesn’t provide any additional information.
“So what?” I ask her, accepting the glass she hands me.
“What is going on between you and Aidan?” she questions as she sits next to me.
“Aye, what’s going on?” joins Eilidh. “I’ve been dying to know.”
Emilie takes a sip from her glass, hiding her smile as she joins them. “Aye, Blakely. What is happening between you two?” Cheeky bitch. She knows exactly what’s happening.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” My eyes glance at the window.
“Bullshit,” says Isla. “What was the kiss at the dojo about then?”
Damn him and his new affinity for PDA. I know what it was. That wasn’t an innocent kiss. No. It was a statement for everyone around that I am his. Alpha-hole.
With a heavy sigh, I resign myself to the fact that there is no way out of this. “We haven’t established what this is yet.”
“So, let me get this straight,” says Eilidh, crossing her legs. “You have been living with him for weeks. He’s all alpha with you. You’re sleeping together. But you’re not together? I’m sorry, but I don’t understand. I’ll be happy to take him off your hands and make a meal out of him. I mean, look at him with his green eyes and six-pack. He looks like an Adonis.” I give her a nasty glare, showing her exactly what will happen if she tries to make a move on him, which makes her laugh.
“Yeah, I gathered as much.” She lifts her hands in the air as a sign of peace and speaks.
“I don’t know what we are, okay? I’m just trying not to think about it right now.”
That’s a lie, and they know it. I’ve been in love with him my whole life. He was this sweet boy, always making sure I wasn’t bullied at school or putting aside his ego when we were playing trivia quizzes together. I always felt special because of him. Which is, when you think about it, strange. Although he is older, he never showed any romantic interest in me before I turned 18. I was completely unaware of his feelings towards me. I was this annoyingly curvy girl without an ounce of confidence. I’m still a curvy girl, but I’ve come to appreciate my body, and it has boosted my confidence levels in all areas of my life. It’s crazy to think that such a small thing could cause so much change. He proved by killing for me he’ll do anything for me.
Am I forgiving him too fast? Maybe. But there’s not enough time in life to spend wasting it on futile things. Am I going to tell him? Nope. I’ll make him grovel a bit more.
I reach for my phone, hoping to find a message from my sister waiting for me. That’s strange. She should have been home an hour ago.
“Do any of you have a message from Bai?” With a synchronised movement, they all check their phones and shake their heads.
“No, nothing. Shouldn’t she be home by now?” Isla asks.
Em sees the worry on my face because she adds. “She was probably delayed by something at the hospital.”
Dialling her number, it rings and rings before I hear the familiar beep of the voicemail greeting. I try a second time and still nothing. A feeling of unease settles in the pit of my stomach. She always picks up when I call her. Like Aisla. The girls are looking at me, waiting for anything.
“Nothing.” As the door opens, I feel a wave of relief wash over me, but it quickly dissipates when I see Scott entering the flat.
“What’s happening?” he asks, seeing our faces.
“Have you heard from Bailey?” His eyebrows furrow in confusion as he looks at me.
“No. I thought you were supposed to have a girls’ night?”
“And yet, you’re here,” retorts Emilie, her glass in her hand.
“I live here,” he replies back smugly.
Something is wrong. I can feel sweat dripping down my spine.
“Have you tried calling her?” Without skipping a beat, Scott pulls out his phone and begins messaging someone as he speaks.
“I did. Scott, she always answers my calls. She texted me to let me know she was on her way home. That was over an hour ago. The hospital is a 15-minute drive from here.” He mutters curses under his breath as the front door opens once more.
“What’s happening?” asks Aidan, entering the flat with Caleb hot on his heels. Aidan’s eyes lock onto mine as he charges forward while Caleb’s gaze burns with fury.
“Something’s wrong. Bailey was supposed to be here over an hour ago, and she isn’t answering her phone. Aidan, that has always been our rule with Aisla, Bai, and me.” By his glare, I know he remembers my phone call telling him that Aisla never came to the café or picked up her phone.
My phone buzzes incessantly, and without bothering to check the caller ID, I answer.
My attempt to say “Hello“ is foiled by Jonas’ interruption.
“She’s here. They took her.” My heart seems to skip a beat, and my hands shake involuntarily. “Don’t do anything stupid. They won’t touch her until the gala tomorrow.” The line goes silent, cutting off the conversation abruptly. I look at it in disbelief.
“Allo. JONAS?” I can taste the bile rising in my throat, and I know I’m going to be sick. I can’t breathe.
The voices echo around me from all directions, making it hard to pinpoint their origin.
“What’s happening?”
“Who was it?”
“Blake.”
My thoughts are jumbled, and I feel dizzy. My lungs feel as if someone is trying to press them together. I’m startled as I sense someone coming closer to me, their fingers gently brushing against my skin.
“Breathe, Tink. Look at me.” I concentrate on the sound of his breathing, trying to block out the noises around us. “That’s it. Breathe. Follow my breaths.” He takes my hands and places them on his chest. As I take deep breaths, my respiration becomes slower and more controlled, and my vision clears.
He shouts something to someone that I can’t comprehend, and soon enough, I have a glass of water in front of me.
Did I have a panic attack?
“You started having a panic attack,” Aidan confirms. Setting me down on the sofa, he wraps his arms around me, creating a cosy cocoon. “You okay?” I nod.
“That was Jonas. They have her. Aidan, they have my sister.” The sound of curses fills the air.
“Who’s Jonas?” asks my brother. Tears stream down my face as I gaze at him.
“One of my guys.” I turn towards the girls. “He said not to do anything stupid and to wait until tomorrow.”
Caleb nods, while Scott and Aidan ask at the same time.
“What’s tomorrow?”
As Caleb speaks to them, my mind races with different scenarios on how to get her out of there and what their motive was for taking her. Why? She doesn’t have a direct link with the Prestons except through Scott. My breath catches in my throat as I blurt out. “They wanted me. They think they have me.” As they all turn their attention to me, I can see the confusion on their faces, so I elaborate. “She doesn’t have any connection to you guys. The only one is me. Through Caleb and through you.” I say as I turn towards Aidan. I see their minds racing a million miles per minute.
“So what? Are we really attending their gala tomorrow without any idea about what they want?” Scott asks Aidan.
“We need a plan. This changes everything,” Aidan answers.
I quickly type out a message to Cailean, my fingers tapping frantically on the screen as I inform him of the latest news. “Jonas was clear. We don’t do anything until tomorrow. He specified that they won’t touch her until then. I notified my team, and they’re working on it. We’re going to the gala tomorrow. Get her out of there and take care of them afterwards.”
“You’re not going,” orders Aidan. I’m staring at him directly in the eyes without hesitation.
“I beg your pardon? There is no way I am going to stay here and wait for you to come back when my sister was the one who got kidnapped instead of me. I have the knowledge and the ability to fight, and I am more than capable of defending myself. I don’t need your approval to do as I please,” I state defiantly.
The look on his face makes it seem like he could breathe fire through his nostrils. Good. We’re on the same page.
“You’re still valuable to them if they’re willing to take someone else instead of you.”
In the light, the silver of his holstered gun sparkles, leaving me no choice but to act. Retrieving it without him having time to react, I point the gun directly at his face. I feel a sense of power and control over the situation with the gun in my hand.
“I think that answers your question,” exclaims Caleb, amused.
“What the fuck was that move?” asks Scott while the girls cheer me on.
Aidan’s eyes widen with a hint of amazement, as if he is seeing me for the first time. “How?”
“I told you she wasn’t the girl you once knew.” The amusement in Caleb’s voice is still evident.
Putting a hand on his gun, Aidan leans closer to me. “Babe, I’ll be damned if I let you put yourself in danger.”
“I never ask you anythi?—”
“But… you’re right.” I feel his breath on my face as his forehead touches mine. “I won’t cage you. You’re more than capable of holding your own. We’re working as a team. I’ll have your back.”
“And I’ll have yours,” I finish.
I observe him furrow his brow as he pulls his phone out of his pocket. “What is it?” I ask.
“Kore. He just sent a text message,” he says as he shows us.
Unknown number
You’re welcome. Kore
The message contains not only the names and numbers of all the gala attendees but also blueprints of the vast mansion where the gala is scheduled to take place tomorrow.
“I need to call Tim.” That’s all I say before walking to Bai’s bedroom.