Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
MERCER
“Calm the hell down,” I growled, watching Bellamy squirm in the seat next to me.
“Are you sure? Adam won’t get mad?” She wrung her fingers together in her lap, looking adorably nervous.
“He’ll not be mad at you,” I promised. Me, on the other hand, he’ll be handing me my balls in a jar by the end of the day, but I was okay with that. The girl was going stir crazy, and if we were going into the office every day, why the hell couldn’t she join us? I had Drew and Max trailing us, plus a few others in their own car. We were a caravan of protection. She was safe.
“He’s going to be furious,” she stated again, probably for the hundredth time.
“No.” I shook my head. “Grab your sex book and let's go. We can’t stay in the parking garage forever.”
Embarrassment flitted over her features, but she was quick to hide it. “It’s not a sex book.”
I loved riling her up. “Then where are that man’s clothes?”
“I’m sure he has pants on.”
“I don’t know. My imagination tells me otherwise,” I pushed, knowing damn well that was the intent of the cover.
“Your imagination must be sex starved.” Her eyes widened as she spoke, as if she hadn’t intended to say such a thing.
“That observation would be correct.” I laughed before pulling open my door and hopping out. After shutting it, I jogged around to Bellamy’s door and pulled it open. I offered her my hand. “Your escort, little girl.”
Her eyes rolled so hard, but she reached out and took my hand. When she was out, I didn’t let her go. Her fingers felt good in mine, like she belonged here. “Thank you.”
Her voice was soft, and I squeezed her hand. “Don’t forget your smut.”
She reached down and grabbed her book before taking the paperback and smacking my arm. “It’s not smut.”
“Oh?” I quirked a brow up as I shut her door, setting the alarm. “Please, let’s hear the plot.”
I guided her toward the elevator, keeping her body tucked close. She looked down at the book for a moment. “You know what? You’re right, it's smut.”
A laugh burst out of me. “No. You’re not getting out of it that easily. I need more.”
I held my keycard up to the private elevator, opening the doors. Once inside, I scanned my card, entered my pin number, and the doors shut. “What about Max and Drew?”
“They’ll catch the next one. This elevator goes directly to Adam’s office floor. It’s safe.” I looked down at her. Her big green eyes tilted up to watch me. Without thinking, I let my free hand come up and rub against her chin. “Let’s hear the plot, baby. No more changing subjects.”
She looked to the side for a moment before she animatedly went into the plot of a book about a group of vampires who fell for a human and, somehow, along the way, added a wolf king and an ogre to the mix. Turns out she wasn’t human after all, but part of an old prophecy that had plagued the family for generations.
She just finished giving me the cliff notes to the book when the elevator door opened. “But there is smut, right?”
She blew out a breath that fanned a piece of hair out of her eyes. “Yes. Okay. There is smut.” I didn’t need to gloat that I was correct. My face said it all. “Stop looking like that!”
I stepped out first, tugging her after me. “What? You don’t like my face?”
“If you’re fishing for compliments, you aren’t getting one from me.” She huffed, “You knew what you were doing.”
“I swear I didn’t.” I crossed my heart. Shit, if that action had power, I’d be dead, but I loved riling her up and picking on her a little. We walked down the short hall that came out to Adam’s secretary desk. Janie was sitting at her computer, typing away. “Good afternoon, Janie.”
Her head snapped my direction, and a smile formed. “Mercer.”
“Janie, have you met Bellamy? Adam’s wife.” Her eyes widened and her chair nearly tipped as she stood.
Without warning, the woman rounded her desk, arms wide, folding Bellamy in a hug. “Oh, my gosh. It’s such a pleasure to meet you. Such a special woman to tame the beast.” She laughed, not realizing just how true that statement was.
Before Bellamy could offer more than a hello, I stepped in. “Janie, that beast in there doesn’t know I brought his wife here. He can get a little temperamental, and I know he hasn’t eaten yet. Mind ordering us in something?”
“Of course. Anything. Any restrictions?” She addressed Bellamy, and for the first time, Bellamy’s blooming body registered to her. Janie’s hand went to her mouth in shock. “Oh my! Adam didn’t mention he had a child on the way. How exciting! Nothing with cold cuts or raw fish, I assume. Any aversions?”
“Only to commitments,” I mumbled, earning me a slight stomp on my foot from Bellamy. “Anything that’s approved for pregnant women should be fine, Janie. She’s not really picky. Just send a wide spread to choose from.”
“Understood.”
I took a few steps toward Adam’s office. “Oh, and Janie. You’re my favorite.”
I beamed at the lady old enough to be my mother, had my mother not sunk into a pit of despair and drugs. “Mercer, get out of here. I know you’re just laying it on thick because you’re getting what you want. Run along now. I’m sure Adam will love seeing his wife.”
“I might die. But yeah, I’ll take his wife to him.”
Janie just shook her head. “So dramatic.”
She clearly didn’t know the Adam I knew. She was well aware of business Adam, and not the killer Adam. As we approached his office door, Bellamy leaned into my arm, gripping it as she whispered, “Well, she seemed nice.”
I looked down at her, leaning in a little. “She’s a viper. Don’t let the old bag fool you.”
The punch Bellamy gifted me didn’t hurt at all, but I played it up, rubbing my biceps. “Ouch. Does your husband know you’re abusive?” I mumbled.
“Given my family background, I’m sure he’s suspected as much.”
I placed a hand on her lower back, using my other to open the door. When I ushered her in, Adam was on the phone, his back to us, and after I closed the door, we waited for him to finish up. There were no secrets in our business between us. so I knew he wouldn’t care that we just walked in. He would, however, be furious that Bellamy was standing in his office and not in the comfort of our home.
“The gala is in less than a week,” he growled. “The opening of the resort is a week after that. How are we supposed to train someone? You promised me you’ve had this handled from the start, Steven.”
There was a pause, and Adam was becoming angrier by the second. His shoulder tensed, and I knew Steven would not like what he was about to hear. After a few deep breaths, Adam shouted, “If I don’t have a head bartender by this afternoon, Steven — a qualified, trained, and certified bartender — you’re fired. Do you hear me?”
Beats of silence suffocated the room before Adam hung up and tossed his phone roughly onto the nearby chair. Beside me, Bellamy’s hands clamped together nervously, clearly unsettled by Adam’s anger. But before I could reassure her, she swallowed hard and spoke. “Hannah is a certified bartender.”
Adam whirled around so fast it was a shock he didn’t pull something. His eyes blazed for a moment before they settled on her and cooled. “Belle? What are you doing here?”
I appreciated the moment of solidarity when she didn’t bother throwing me under the bus. “I wanted out of the house. It’s not Mercer’s fault. I begged him until he caved. I have Max and Drew here too.”
“And half the property’s staff,” I added, hoping I wouldn’t die today.
“You should have called. I would have come home.” Yeah, except the girl never called or texted us about anything.
“I wanted to come here.” Her posture straightened. “We have lunch coming. Have you eaten?”
He looked tired, resigned. He waited for a few moments to answer her. With a sigh, he finally confirmed what I already knew. “No.”
“Good.”
I guided her further into the room as her wide eyes looked around. It was a massive office. Probably bigger than most apartments. Seeing as Adam spent a lot of time here since the company formed, the size made sense. I pointed to a door in the corner. “Bathroom is through there. Drinks are in that fridge under the bar, and I’m placing you right here on the couch.”
I stopped in front of the couch and pushed down on her shoulders until she sat. “This is nice.”
“He shouldn’t have brought you here,” Adam continued, displeased, as if that would change the actions.
“But he did, and here I am. I won’t get in your way. I brought a book.” She held up her book, displaying the smutty looking cover.
Adam fought the amusement. “Ah, educational reading, I see.”
“I’m just working my way through the library is all.” She beamed. “Thanks again for that.”
“Stop thanking me, Belle.” He sat at his desk, addressing me next. “We’re down our head barkeep. She was scheduled to open the resort. She ran the team for the pre-opening gala. Fucking Steven. I knew I shouldn’t depend on him, but I thought he could do one thing right.”
“Want Ace to take care of him?” I questioned as I sat beside Bellamy, spreading my legs.
Adam was quiet for a moment, mulling it over. “He’s hit his three strikes. Have Ace bring him in.”
“Sweet.” Glee flooded me at the thought of the fun I’d get to have this evening. It had been a few weeks since I had someone in the basement, and mostly, I didn’t mind. The distraction of Bellamy was more than enough to satisfy me. But blood and death called to me and begged me to answer. Who was I to deny it? “Are we taking Bellamy to the gala?” I asked as I shot Ace a message. I was curious about what Adam had planned. The gala was a big deal. All the city officials would be there.
After shaking his head, he explained, “It will be a long night.”
Bellamy put down her book, her wide eyes pleading. “Please. I’m tired of being a prisoner.”
“You’re not a prisoner, Belle.”
“Am I not?” She raised a brow in question. “Everything I do is guarded, and I can never leave your property. Today is the first time I’ve left in weeks.”
“It’s for protection,” Adam growled.
“It’s stifling,” she shot back.
He looked at me to back him up, but she was right. “It is stifling. Look, the event is safe. We’ve got guards. Every city official will be there. She’ll be fine.”
God, I hoped so. If she wasn’t, I would only have myself to blame.
“Mercer and Ace will stay beside me the whole time,” she promised. “I won’t let go of them.”
“And if I wanted to be at your side instead?” Adam questioned.
She swallowed hard under the intensity of his stare. “I just thought?—“
“That I had more important things to do? Belle, there is nothing more important than you.” Her eyes softened at his declaration. “Your protection is my top priority.”
“Take me, please. I’ll be safe,” she begged, her eyes so sultry that they begged me to cross boundaries and shove my cock between her pillowy little lips.
Adam growled, before finally relenting. “You are not to leave our sides, do you understand? You have to pee; you’re taking us with you. We’ll have someone drop off some gown options.” He looked upward like God could protect him from the might of a little woman who easily controlled him. “Don’t make me regret it.”
“I won’t, promise.”
He looked skeptical but moved on. “We need to vet people for the position. It’s clear that Steven won’t be coming through for us.”
“Not by the time Ace gets through with him. Never should have hired him,” I pointed out.
“I owed a favor,” he reminded me. Nothing good ever came from a favor, but I understood his need to repay it.
“Lesson learned, I guess.” I leaned back against the plush couch as a knock radiated through the room.
“Come in,” Adam ordered as Janie pushed open the door, a bag of food and a tray of drinks in hand.
“Food’s here.” She walked to the coffee table and placed it down in front of us. “I got lemonade for you. Caffeine is bad for the baby.”
Bellamy smiled and rubbed the bump of her stomach. “Thank you.”
I shooed Janie away when she tried to unload the bags. “I’ve got it. Thank you.”
With her hands folded primly in front of her, she turned to Adam. “If there isn’t anything else?”
“Go eat lunch. We’ve got it handled. Use the company card.”
She nodded. “Thank you, sir.”
When the door shut, Bellamy smirked. “Thank you for lunch. Sir.”
“Smartass,” he mumbled, but came to her side, leaned down, and placed a kiss on her forehead before he sat. “I didn’t want you to leave the house, but I’m glad you’re here. Are you planning to stay the rest of the day?”
“If you don’t mind.” She wagged her book. “I like the change in scenery.”
He took out a plate and piled on a calzone, adding a heaping helping of the side salad, before handing her the plate. “Eat up. I have a little work to finish and then I’ll take you home.”
She took a huge bite, moaning around the cheesy mouth full. After chewing it, and swallowing, she spoke again. “Hannah is a bartender.”
“Excuse me?” Adam asked before taking a bite of his food.
“My best friend. Maybe she can help.”
He finished his bite of food before speaking again. “I forgot about her.”
He took out his phone, sending off a text asking Max and Drew to bring in the girl, then he continued on with his meal. The conversation flowed well enough, and even though Adam pretended like he was angry she was here, I suspected she was exactly what he needed to see. Ironic, since he spent so much of the first weeks of her living with us pretending like he had no interest at all.
He finished up his food, then went back to work, leaving her to curl up with a book on the couch. One blanket later and her eyes were drifting closed in a peaceful sleep, and before I realized it was happening, I was joining her.