Chapter 23 Mine
chapter Twenty-three
Mine
Nico
I’m going to have to buy Mason a bottle of his favorite bourbon for suggesting this vacation. Tiffany and I have completely reconnected over the last five days. We’ve bonded more here than we did in the entire first year of our marriage.
We talk a lot more now. Nothing too heavy about my past. I think she is trying to be respectful, given that the subject is touchy.
Our conversation focuses mostly on our son, her designs, my hotels and future endeavors, and anything that comes to mind, really.
This trip was worth the time away from my business.
However, this vacation didn’t come without its own issues.
As much as the trip has revamped my relationship with my wife, shit has been going insane back home.
Another hotel had a small electrical fire.
Again, the fast action of the hotel employees kept the fire contained and kept the damage minimal.
A pipe bomb was left near the gate to our home.
Whoever did it knew the rotation of the guards and left it during the shift change.
The car they drove was a dead end, and the cameras couldn’t pick up anything but a black skull mask.
The bastard even turned to smile at the camera, knowing we couldn’t see shit.
If that wasn’t enough, another crate of those missing guns was confiscated by the police. This time during a random traffic stop. I’ve been dealing with shit the entire time we’ve been here.
For the most part, I’ve been able to manage everything from the island.
But yesterday I had to come to the mainland for a face-to-face meeting with my PR team.
Basille Hotels and Resorts are starting to get a bad rep.
We are known for luxury and safety. None of the shit that has happened lately screams safe.
Staring out of the window, my gaze once again focuses on my wife.
From the moment she walked down the stairs in that orange bathing suit, I haven’t been able to focus on anything else.
Her body is a fucking work of art. The way the waning sun shines down on her dark brown skin makes it look as if there is gold woven underneath the deep color.
She’s sitting on the edge of the pool, her back to me, her head tossed back and her legs dangling in the water.
Her long, thin braids are up in a topknot on top of her head.
A combination of water from the pool and sweat from the heat drips down her back.
I watch the trail, envious of the way it touches her body. I’m fucking obsessed with my wife.
Today we were staying in. Last night, our first night here, we went out dancing and bar hopping. Tonight, I was focused on spending all my time with just her.
The villa I rented for the few nights we stayed on the mainland is right on the beach. It’s not as secluded as the private island we own but still has enough privacy so that we wouldn’t be disturbed.
The entire back of the house is one large retractable glass wall. Stepping out of the house, there is a large patio area with ample seating and the perfect view of the sandy beach and ocean. At the edge of the patio is an infinity pool.
Ghost’s approaching footsteps have me turning to face him.
“Just got off the phone with Grant. They found the captain.”
Relief washes over me. We’ve been trying to locate the captain of that cargo ship since the first container of crates went missing.
“That’s good. Have they questioned him yet?”
Ghost stuffs his hands in his pockets and shakes his head. “They can’t. They’d need to find his head for that.”
What the fuck? I turn away from him while running my hand through my hair. The heat in my veins immediately grows hotter. My anger is coiling in my stomach like vines. The urge to destroy this got damn villa is strong. But knowing Tiffany is right outside the glass doors quickly settles my rage.
Ghost continues giving me a full recap. “Looks like someone was cleaning up their mess, leaving no loose ends. They found his body in a cheap motel.”
Lifting my head, our gazes connect. “That doesn’t make sense. If he fucked me over after how much I was paying him, it means someone had to double that money. Why the hell would he be holed up in a cheap motel? Did they find any money?”
“Grant said the hotel was desolate. Nothing in it but trash and junk food. Looks like he was running and hiding. I think he was being blackmailed.”
That would make sense. My first thought was that he was hiding from me, but the lack of money doesn’t add up.
He had to know that I was going to ask questions.
The first shipping container that went missing was alarming, but I didn’t immediately suspect him.
It wasn’t until everyone else was cleared that I questioned his involvement.
He went missing before I could ask him anything.
Placing my hands behind my back, I pace.
“Let’s go back to all his connections. I know we’ve had eyes on his girlfriend for a while.
Pull her into the warehouse along with his brother.
They may not have known where he was, but they might know something.
Either they have the money or he told them who he was running from.
Now that we have a dead body to show them, it may loosen their lips. ”
I have no remorse for the captain. I’ve been working with him for years, but his disloyalty has soured our relationship. If he was in trouble, he should’ve come to me. Instead, he went behind my back and sold my stuff.
Ghost nods, folding his arms over his chest. “I’ll let Grant know. They can start.”
“No. We can handle it. I’ll cut the trip short and head back…” His laughter cuts me off. “What the fuck is so funny?”
“Lux said you’d say that. He told me to tell you to keep your ass here and take care of your wife. He doesn’t want to see you for another nine days.”
I swear Mason thinks he’s everybody’s fucking father.
“Fine,” I sigh. “I still want to handle this myself. Tell Grant to collect the girlfriend and brother and hold them, but we won’t make a move until I touch down.”
“Got it. I’ll let him know to….” Ghost words die as he stares at something behind me.
I spin around to see what has his attention and nearly swallow my fucking tongue. Tiffany is standing by the pool; the water is cascading down her body, and that damn bathing suit is riding up her ass. One side is wedged in between her cheeks. My finger twitches at my side to pull it out for her.
However, it isn’t my wife’s gorgeous body that has Ghost’s attention. It’s the two unknown men talking to her while eye-fucking her. One of which is standing too damn close.
My feet are moving in that direction before I can even tell them to move.
“Shit, someone is about to die,” Ghost laughs behind me.
I slide the glass door open to find my wife laughing at something one of them said.
“I’m going to have to get you tickets,” the tallest male says. “Get you out to a game.”
“That’s nice of you. I’m sure my hus….”
“What’s going on?”
The tallest guy looks up at me when I speak. He quickly sizes me up, his gaze raking over my swim trunks and bare chest. The way he grins and looks back at Tiffany tells me he doesn’t take me as a threat.
“Oh, babe.” Tiff turns around to speak to me.
Both men’s gazes drop to my wife’s ass and then widen. The tallest one bites down on his bottom lip.
“These guys are renting the villa next to ours. They play football for the Alabama Bobcats.”
They looked like athletes. Both tall and bulky.
“Yeah, we were telling your girlfriend…”
“Wife,” I correct. I reach out for Tiffany, and she comes willingly, fitting right up against me. I wrap my arm possessively around her waist and drop a kiss on her neck.
Both men look at my arm on my wife’s hip and smirk. When the tallest one makes eye contact with me again, I see the approval in his gaze. I didn’t need his fucking approval; I know my wife is a fucking beauty.
“We were telling her we were having a small gathering tonight and wanted to invite you two over.”
Even though he’s not downright eye-fucking Tiffany anymore, his gaze still lingers on her entirely too long.
“I appreciate the offer, gentlemen, but we will skip the party. You fellas enjoy your night.”
Both men nod respectfully before turning and walking away. I stare at their retreating backs as they walk down the steps of my patio and back onto the beach.
The sound of her laughter draws my attention away from the men. I look at her and place a kiss on her lips.
“What’s so funny?”
“You. How did you assume I didn’t want to go to their party?” She lifts a playful eyebrow at me. “Being around all those big, rich, handsome athletes sounds like a girl’s dream.”
Her teasing tone earns her a smack on her ass.
“I have no problem ruining careers behind you, Tiffany Liane Basille. Don’t make me fuck up the Bobcats season.”
Her laughter is light and free. She deserved this.
“You wouldn’t dare.”
I don’t even reply to that. I just looked at her with a raised brow. She knows damn well I mean what I say.
“Boss, I’m heading out for the night,” Ghost says behind me. I don’t turn to look at him. Ghost wasn’t actually leaving. He was going to his side of the villa. He was letting me know I wouldn’t see him for the rest of the night unless I called for him.
“Night, Julian,” Tiffany sings waving at Ghost behind me.
Ever since I told her what Ghost’s real name was, she has refused to call him anything else.
“Ugh. Goodnight, Ms. B.”
My second hates that she calls him by his first name, but he would never say anything to her. I listen for the glass door to open and shut behind him.
Lifting my wife off her feet, I spin her around. She wraps her legs around my waist and squeals. I place kisses on her chin and then work my way up to her lips. She scrapes her nails through the short hair at the back of my neck.
“I’ve been fighting to keep my hands off you since you came down in this bathing suit.”