Chapter 23
Isaac
Jules and Serena have been gossiping for the last hour since we’ve been home. I didn’t want to deprive Serena of her girl's date, but I was not going to allow her to stay at Jules’. She needs protection, and I can’t do that just from outside of a building.
No. She needs to be here with me, with my security system.
All of my weapons are here too, minus the gun that I always carry with me. Hell, if it were up to me, I would chain her up in my basement if it meant she were to stay safe.
About five minutes after we left the woods, I noticed the biker following us. I don’t know who the fucker was, but I am damn sure going to find out. Putting my girl in danger was a big mistake for him.
For now, I will just have to endure the girl time. The selfish part of me didn’t want to share her at all. I was going to tell Jules that she wasn’t going to make it tonight. But when I heard the disappointment in her voice, I couldn’t say no.
My Little Firecracker will always get what she wants.
And right now, that is a bowl of ice cream. I am in the kitchen scooping the dessert into bowls when my phone goes off.
I check the text and smile. That’s something that I will have to revisit later when I’m alone. I don’t want Serena to know what I’m up to.
Not yet.
Pocketing my cell, I grab the tray that has the two bowls of Tonight Dough ice cream, two glasses of wine and head to the living room. When I hear the girls talking, I stop and hide myself in the doorway.
“Okay, so tell me… is he…” Jules trails off. “I mean was I right in assuming he has big dick energy?”
“Jules!” I already know Serena’s cheeks are bright red.
“Serena! You can’t keep a girl waiting in suspense like this. You finally get dicked down like you deserve and I need all of the deets. Like NOW.”
“Jules, be quiet! Isaac will hear you.” Serena whispers.
“Oh pish posh. Now spill it bitch.” I hear the cushions of the couch shift under her, making me only assume she is adjusting herself to get closer.
“Okay, okay.” Serena giggles. “He is… huge. Girl… I was afraid he was going to split me in half.” The girls burst out into a fit of laughter and I smirk. She takes me so well too. I debate making my presence known, but I admit, my curiosity has gotten the better of me.
“Okay... okay… okay...” Jules huffs out between laughs. “But in all seriousness babe, I am so happy for you. It’s about time your vanilla ass got to experience a taste of the whips and chains life. What have you guys done so far?”
“About that…” I hear Serena get up from wherever she is sitting and then sit on the couch next to Jules. I strain my ears to hear what she’s saying, but I can’t quite make it out.
“Oh girl, there is so much to discover. You haven’t even scratched the surface.” Jules answers. “I’m dying to know. Is there anything you’ve been wanting to try?”
“Honestly, I read once in one of my dark romance novels about the girl getting fucked in all three places at the same time…” It sounds like Serena places a pillow over her face.
I’m happy to indulge in all her fantasies, but wanting three guys at once is never going to happen. I don’t share what’s mine. But I’m pretty sure I can get creative and come up with something to satisfy her needs.
“And you want to try it? You dirty bird. It’s actually pretty great though, not going to lie.” I’m not surprised. She’s given me the impression that she likes to have a little fun. Which is fine. But don’t fucking encourage Serena to try it.
It doesn’t matter anyway, because I’ll be damned if that happens.
“No! No judgement here, but I’ve never been interested in having more than one guy.” That’s my girl. “But I’m not going to lie. It definitely intrigued me.” Don’t worry my Little Firecracker, I’ll make it happen for you one way or another.
The ice cream is starting to melt, so I clear my throat and step around the doorframe.
“Alright ladies. I’ve got some ice cream and wine.
Popcorn is available upon request.” I set the tray down on the table in front of them.
I don’t miss the way Jules’ eyes wander and linger below my belt before moving to the tray.
The girls share a glance and then giggle. Pretending like I don’t know what they are laughing about, I arch a brow. “What’s so funny?”
“Oh nothing.” Serena grabs a wine glass and brings it to her lips. A glint in her eyes when she meets mine. I meet her playful gaze back with a heated one of my own.
Have your fun baby, because later it is my turn.
“I will be up in my office if you need anything. Jules can stay in the guest bedroom upstairs.” I lean down and kiss the top of her head. “I will see you in bed later.”
Jules smirks and takes a bite of ice cream. “Thank you for letting me stay here tonight by the way. Hope I’m not imposing.” She drags the spoon from her mouth and wiggles her eyebrows at Serena.
Serena gives her a knock it off glare and then smiles up at me. Leaving the girls on the couch, I retreat upstairs and lock myself in my office. Sitting behind my desk, I open my laptop and then call the number that texted me earlier, putting it on speaker. He answers on the first ring.
“Moreno, what’s up man?”
“You texted me dumbass, so you tell me.”
“Oh shit, that’s right.” He laughs and I can hear him adjusting himself in his seat.
I pinch the bridge of my nose between my fingers and groan. “Come on Theo, I don’t have all night. You said you had some information for me.”
“Patience young grasshopper, I’m getting it pulled up as we speak so I can send it to you.” There’s typing in the background and then my laptop chimes.
Setting my phone on my desk next to my laptop, I open the email from Theo and see there’s an attachment. It’s a blurry CCTV clip of a gas station dated earlier today. “What am I looking at Theo?”
“So unfortunately, this was all I could scrounge up when you asked me to do some digging. I looked at nearby gas stations, stores, etcetera. This was the only gas station that caught anything.” A wrapper crinkles in my ear.
“After I worked my magic, I was left with this.” He smacks his lips and presses another key on his keyboard.
A few seconds later, I receive another email. It’s the same clip but enhanced. I’m still wondering what I’m looking at, when about a minute and a half in, I see it.
The biker from earlier pulls up to the pump and gets off to pump his gas. Inserting the nozzle into the tank, he pulls out his phone, opening his messaging app. I strain my eyes trying to make out the words.
“Theo.”
“Already on it. I’ve been working on video enhancements, but I’m not sure I’m going to be able to get it clear enough to read.”
“Even with your Theo magic ?” I groan, using his own phrase with him.
“Sad to say buddy boy, but even with my magic, it is looking unlikely.”
I slam my laptop shut. “Then what good does this video do for me Theo? All it does is show me he was at a gas station near our location.”
“Ahhh, but that is where you’re wrong mon amie . If you didn’t have a stick so far up your ass right now, you would notice that the bike itself is rare. I’m working on tracking down the buyer as we speak.”
“Just text me when you have something I can work with Theo.” Before he can respond, I press the red button on my phone.
I run my hands down my face and lean back in my chair. I’m no closer to finding out who was on the bike than I was five minutes ago.
Why were we followed in the first place? Is there any connection with the guy from the club? Right now, I have more questions than answers, but I will do everything in my power to get them. I can’t afford to let anything slip through the cracks.
Anything that can potentially put Serena in danger.
I am deep in thought when the door of my office creeps open and Serena pokes her head through.
“Isaac?” she says softly.
“Yes Mi Vida?” I love the sound of my name coming from her lips.
“Is everything… okay?” Her brows crease with worry. She enters the room fully and closes the door behind her, leaning against it when it shuts.
I sigh and stand up from my chair. Serena is my life now. She is terrified, and it is my job to make sure that she feels safe. What good am I if I can’t protect her?
I couldn’t protect my parents when I was younger, and now they are gone. And my world would cease to exist without her in it. Losing her is not an option.
I failed them, I can’t fail her too.
We could help thousands of women, and it will never make up for what I did. I just stood there, watching the life drain from my parents' eyes while they laid in a pool of their own blood.
But Serena? I will dedicate my life to protecting her.
Standing in front of her, I gently take her face in my hands. Her pretty eyes look up at me, waiting for an answer. “Yes baby. Everything is okay.” I kiss her forehead and she sighs.
“Are you sure? I mean, we were in a high-speed chase not even three hours ago. I can’t help but feel like they were after me, and I am starting to get a little scared.” She chews on her bottom lip and looks to the floor.
I arch an eyebrow. Why does she think he was after her? My gut says she’s right, but I don’t know for sure yet. Hell, he could have been connected to one of the men I’ve offed in the last few months while hunting down the boss in charge of the local trafficking ring for Cole.
The list is long.
“Why would you think that?” Looking into her eyes, I get the sense that there is something she isn’t telling me.
“Well...” Serena shifts on her feet. She’s nervous. “The night Tyler attacked me, he said something that I can’t get out of my head.”
“And that was?” I ask her through gritted teeth.
“He said that he was protecting me.” She murmurs. My jaw tightens. Protecting her? He sure had a fucked-up way of doing so. And protecting her from what exactly?
“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner, Serena?” I am trying not to be angry with her, but her withholding this information could have put her in more danger. And I don’t want her to feel like she can’t come to me when she needs to.
She pulls away from me. “Not sure if you’ve noticed, but we’ve been a little busy.” She snaps defensively. “And how was I supposed to know?”
She’s not wrong. And we haven’t exactly spoken much about the attack. I don’t even know exactly what happened that night. I keep hoping she opens up and tells me, but I don’t want to push her.
I take a deep breath and grab her hand, pulling her into me.
My hand holds the back of her head against my chest, my other hand on the small of her back.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. Thank you for telling me now.
You’ve got nothing to worry about. Go back downstairs and spend time with Jules, I’m sure she’s going crazy by herself. ”
Serena giggles. “She probably thinks I came up here for a quickie.”
I pull her away from me and look down at her, a smile now on her beautiful face. “Oh? Well, it’s not too late to make that happen.”
She hits my chest playfully and then raises up on her tip toes to kiss my cheek. Walking towards the door, I grab her hand and spin her around, closing the space between us, tangling my fist in her hair. My lips crash down on hers and she moans.
I release her and spin her back around, slapping her ass as she opens the door and walks away. Serena lets out a giggle and disappears down the hall. I hear Jules shouting up the stairs, but I can’t make out the words.
Whatever it was though, makes Serena gasp and they both start laughing.
My email alerts from behind me. I close the door and sit behind my desk again, opening my laptop. This better be what I need. Opening my email from Theo, I see only a name.
Motherfucker.