Chapter EighteenIan
Chapter Eighteen
Ian
The moment we pull through our family estate, I feel a semblance of peace. I have her perfectly safe, or at least as safe as I can until the bastard is killed. It’s been on my mind for weeks, but this is the first time she isn’t protected by her father, and now she’s clearly tied to me. Yes, we’re not married yet, but the news has spread by now that in one month, Calista will be my wife.
“Ian, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong.”
“You’re lying to me, and I don’t like it,” she says, clamping down on her lips, tempering her words.
“I’m just a little on edge. As you’re aware, my father is still out there, and he hasn’t made his move since the attack on me. There has been no hints on his whereabouts since then, and it’s a bit unnerving now that we’ve made things official.”
“Is this the reason you didn’t contact me?”
“Of course. I wasn’t strong enough to protect you. If I let on that you were mine, he would have attacked. Yes, your father had his men locked on at all times, but the risk was too great for my piece of mind. I hired a few guards to stay on the periphery and keep track, but no one my father was acquainted with, so he wouldn’t have been aware that they were working for me.”
“How are you doing now?”
“I’m healed. My strength and agility are nearly one hundred, so don’t worry. I won’t let him get to you. You’re safe here.”
“I’m going to be heading back to school and work.”
“I know, and you’ll be taking a team of guards with you. You know that, right?”
“Yes. I understand, but they’ll have to stay at a distance. When they finally accept me back, I doubt they’ll allow the guards in the hospital, following me around like guard dogs.”
I pause, thinking about what she’s saying. I can’t process what she’s saying because it’s a bit overwhelming. “Maybe we need to pause going back to med school until we find and deal with him.”
“Are you serious?” she huffs, twisting her face in pure anger.
“I am. Look at what he did to me, Calista.” She stares at me and nods, tears welling in her eyes. “I don’t want to hold you back. I know this isn’t what you want. Please don’t cry.”
She swipes away the tears with the back of her hand. “I’m not crying about that. He tried to kill you. His own son.”
“I’m not his son.”
“Yes, but he raised you, and he felt nothing. He had no problem taking you out. I’ll do my best to wait for you.”
“I love you, Calista.”
“I love you, too. I love you so much, Ian.” I carry her up to our bedroom and show her how much I appreciate her understanding and devotion.
****
Three days of bliss in our home, and I’m back to business. There is no more hanging around, pleasing my woman. I have to handle issues both for the family and in Vegas. I spend the morning on calls with Callahan at the hotel. “The numbers look good. We’re up twenty-one million dollars, and there are no problems. How is the recovery?”
“I’m moving along smoothly. I’m getting married soon.”
“Do you plan on having the ceremony here?”
“I’ll have to check with my bride, but that might be fun. We spoke to her parents about a date, but she’s planning it with her mother. The location is up to them. We’re still hunting that bastard father of mine.”
“Yeah, no sight of him here. Our people definitely have been looking for him. Trust me when I say if he crosses any of our borders, he’ll be caught.”
“I want him found.”
“Have you considered tossing him some bait?”
“No, he’s not above killing the bait.”
“True.”
“When do you need me there?”
“I’m holding a budget and security meeting in two weeks.”
“Mark it on my calendar, and I’ll be there.”
“Good. I’d like you to be there to go over the changes Montenegro has in mind.”
“No problem. He and I have already been discussing his ideas, but I’d like to see them in action before approving them.”
“Excellent. I need to get back on the floor. I’ll see you in two weeks.”
“Great talking to you.” I end the call and then get out of my chair. It’s time to meet with Jack.
“How is it?”
“How is what?” I ask him as I step into his house.
“Leaving her for the day.”
“Hard, but I know it has to be done and the sooner I get shit handled, the sooner I get to hold her. Any news on the asshole?”
“Yes. He was spotted near our waterfront property.”
“What? What the hell was he doing there?”
“Scoping it out. Guess who he was spotted with?”
“The fucking detective?”
“Yes.”
“I had a feeling that bitch was helping him from the start. Nothing about her seemed legit, especially since she’d been working with that piece of shit.”
“I couldn’t agree more. She’s not a real detective. I’ve dug deeper, and she’d been kicked off the police force for misconduct—something hard to do in the CPD; the dumb cunt isn’t even a PI. She’s carrying false credentials and if she’s located with them, we’ll get her tossed for impersonating an officer, so maybe she’ll give us his location.”
“That works for me. I’d love to kill her too. She was driving the getaway vehicle that night. I’m sure of it.”
“Me too, but we can wait for the right time.”
“Now, we have had problems on the docks lately. Maybe it’s because you haven’t been there to hold down the fort or because people are testing our strength, but we have had several stolen shipments. I’m heading over today. Do you want to accompany me to find out who the thief is and deal with it?”
“Sounds good to me.” We drive out to the docks in the middle of the evening as the sun is close to setting. We lie back and watch two rows back from our usual spot and wait as someone we know well talks to the delivery crew. He sets up the trailers, and they begin loading the trucks that aren’t ours. “Isn’t that interesting. I swore we gave that fuck a chance to move on without facing our wrath, and now the bastard crossed us again.”
“Let’s get this shit over with.” We speed over in front of the truck and then hop out of the vehicle. “It seems we have a problem, Espinoza.”
“Whoa, whoa. I…I…” He whips out his gun, but he’s too fucking slow, and my fist is in his face before he can get it past his waist. I send him on his ass, and his gun lands on the ground. The two men in the truck jump out and Jack, Johnny, and two of our men have guns on them.
“Hold up, fuckos. Don’t even think of making a move.”
They have their arms up in the air. “We don’t have anything to do with it,” the driver says. Suddenly, Espinoza tries to move, so I kick him in the ribs. I hear those fuckers crack, and I smile. Damn, it’s good to be back. I go to town, beating the shit out of this lying sack of shit. We find out where our goods are, and the drivers get it back in order to survive another day.
They return a fraction of our goods. The rest of our merchandise Espinoza has already sold off before they were aware since they are only a local father-and-son delivery company. They have no ties to organizations like ours, hence the reason they got mixed up in the business without realizing it. No one else would be stupid enough to cross us.
By the time I return home, it’s three in the morning. Calista is asleep in our bed, and I slip in beside her. I wrap my arms around her and a soft moan escapes her lips.
“I missed you, Ian,” she whispers.
“I’m sorry, baby. We had more problems than I expected today. Tomorrow won’t be the same.”
I’m wrong. The rest of the next two weeks are full of issues that leave me with one thing after another that keeps us busy, leaving Calista at home. She is only able to travel between the two other houses on the estate. She doesn’t care for Jack for the most part, so she visits Claudia, playing with the dog or helping her while she bakes.
My alarm goes off at eight in the morning after we make love and shower. She’s standing in the middle of our bedroom almost completely dressed for the day, while I’m in my boxers and sliding on my socks at the edge of the bed. I check the alarm and groan, slamming my eyes shut.
“What is it?” she asks, taking the towel out of her hair. Her light pink tank top hugs her large breasts and lifts them up, making me want to tug that damn top down. Then those yoga pants form around her sensual ass and thighs, stiffening my cock like I wasn’t in her tight body half an hour ago. Still, a pressing matter stands in front of us that I forgot to mention.
“Sweetheart, I’m sorry that things have been crazy. I have to travel to Vegas.”
“What? You’re heading to Vegas. I’ve told Maggie to tell them I can’t come back yet. I need to sit back and be a good little missus while you go off doing God knows what with God knows who.” She slams her hands down on at her sides.
“Callie, don’t. Don’t think like that. I own a hotel and casino. I have several meetings and security matters to handle.”
“Is that all you have plans for?”
I pull her into my arms and spin her over on my knee, and with a quick action, I pull down her yoga pants and my hand lands on her ass. “Don’t even accuse me of betraying you. I love and live for you. Even when I had no idea that I’d see you again, it’s the only reason I tried to survive.” I pop her ass one more time before pulling up her panties and pants. Lifting her to sit right on my thigh, I kiss her lips hard and then pull back. “Now, what I was going to say was that I need you packed because you’re coming with me.”
“You want me with you?”
“Of course. Do you think I can spend the night away from you?”
“You come home late almost every night.”
“It’s not the same motherfucking thing. I still come home and wrap you up in my arms, Calista. Don’t test me. Get your ass packed so we can travel and deal with business, and so I can make love to you in Vegas.” She throws her arms around me, sending me backwards, and I laugh.
“Be careful, or we won’t have time for packing.”
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Did you not want to take me?”
“That’s not it. I just forgot about going and I got the reminder about it, so we both need to get our asses moving. Now, get your pretty ass up and stop being so paranoid. I love you. We’re in this together. Soon you’ll be Calista MacNamara.”
“I can’t wait.” She hops off me and runs to her closet to dig out her suitcases that we brought back with us. It doesn’t take either of us long to pack. About two hours later, we’re in the SUV and Jack’s escorting us to the airport.
“Let me know if you have any issues. I don’t like you going with the current situation.”
“I’m fine there. The surveillance in Vegas is ridiculous. If that pussy shows up, he’ll be marked before he gets ten steps off the plane.”
“That doesn’t mean I don’t worry. You’re my brother.”
“I know. You all stay safe. Remember, he’s not above killing all of you either. Mom was the only thing stopping him back then.”
“No, I think it was the excuse he used. We’re his blood—it’s the only thing holding him back. Push comes to shove, I think he’ll choose his life over ours, but no, he’s not going to come directly for us. You and John are his goals, but I won’t let that happen and neither will Saunders.”
“Are you softening on him?”
“I still might hate the bastard, but he loved Mom and it’s clear he cares for both of you.” That’s true. My real father calls me four times a week just to see how I’m doing. He sees John once a week because that’s what Jack allows, or that’s what he can spare since he’s extremely busy.
“I’ve always liked the governor,” Calista says, giving Jack a glare.
“Yes, well, he didn’t try to kill you.”
“Yeah, and he isn’t an asshole to me either,” she bites out.
“Well, I’m an asshole to everyone.”
“I’m surprised you managed to get such a sweet woman.”
“He forced her to marry him.”
“Explains everything,” she scoffs.
“She loves me.”
Calista rolls her eyes. “An asshole and delusional as well,” she adds.
“Keep it up, and I’ll tell your parents that you and Ian married in Vegas, even slip them some doctored wedding certificates.”
“You wouldn’t,” she gasps.
“Try this asshole.”
“Wow, you’re an evil one.”
“I just know how to deal with little brats.” He looks at me and says, “You have a lot to handle with this one. At least mine is sweet.”
“She’s sweet in other places,” I say, causing Calista to slap my arm and blush prettily. She’s silent for the rest of the ride. We arrive at the airport and pull onto the private tarmac. She gasps when we pull up to the jet.
“We’re taking a private plane for just the two of us?”
“Yes. Jack said we could use his jet.”
“Oh.”
“It’s okay. He’s still a dick sometimes.”
“He is, isn’t he?” She giggles.
“He likes you, but he has trust issues, and protecting Nora and John has been his priority. When he first met you, it bothered him. After he realized that we didn’t have a beef with your family, he was fine. You hated him, not the other way around.”
“Oh. Well, maybe I’ll be nicer. Maybe.” She winks.
All week in Vegas she follows alongside me as I work, learning the ins and outs of my security job at the hotel and casino. She meets with the others, and I try to hold back the natural jealousy I feel as each man finds her insanely beautiful.
“Are you ready to fly home, Calista?”
“Yes. I need to talk to you.”
“About what?”
“I want to go back to school.” I’ve had a feeling this was going to happen.
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Yes. I’ve been reminded how often I’ve left you alone, or where I’ve had to leave you with my guards. You could easily be doing what you wanted. You don’t need to be in that school or program if you don’t want to be, but if it’s the one you want, please call your friend and set things up, and when we get home, you can go from there.”
“The guards would have to be held back.”
“They would. You’d have trackers on you, and you can’t tell anyone.”
“Of course, my love.”
“I’ll do anything to make you happy as long as you’re safe, Calista,” I whisper, kissing her lips repeatedly.
“Thank you so much,” she says, throwing her arms around my neck. “When do we have to leave?”
“We have a few hours,” I say.
“Let’s make the most of our time,” she says, and we do. I have her screaming my name over and over again.