Branded (Strand Brothers Series Book 1) (4 page)

Again with the half-smile—
Dear Lord—
he replied, “Marry me.”

“Excuse me? Look, this is the twenty-first century. A woman doesn’t get married because some asshole threatens her. Come on! That’s just absurd.”

Well, that did it. Now he was furious. He stood up so fast I thought he was going to knock over the sofa and me with it. Then he began to pace while he growled, “I’m fully aware of the century, Aimee. The point is, that ‘asshole’ can wreak havoc on your life like you’ve never seen. You cannot ignore him and hope he’ll go away. You need protection, and I can provide it. It’s really that simple,” he apprised.

Now I was angry. “First off, don’t talk down to me. I’m not a child. I’m obviously aware he can ruin my life. That was why I had agreed to stay with him in the first place. I have plenty of money to hire my own protection. I damned sure don’t need
your
help, Mr. Strand.”

He grabbed my upper arms. “Yes, Ms. Taylor, you do
need
me.”

“You know what…Piss off!” I broke free of his grasp and marched over to the elevator to push the call button. The door opened immediately.

I heard Nik bellow, “Aimee. Get your ass back in here, now!”

As the doors slid closed, I flipped him off. Just who did that man think
he
was? I would figure this out myself. I was sick and tired of these powerful, commanding men telling me what to do with my life. They could all go to hell.

*****

Once I reached the lobby, I had the doorman call me a cab. A short time later, I arrived at my apartment building and went straight to Renée’s. I didn’t want to be alone, and, quite frankly, I needed some girl time. She opened the door in her pj’s with her sleep mask pushed up on her forehead. “Hey, girl. What’s up?”

“I’ll tell you in the morning,” I proclaimed. “Can I crash on the couch?”

“Of course you can,” she replied.

As I made myself comfy, she gave me a huge hug. “It’ll all work out for the best, Aims. You’ll see.”

I scoffed, “No, Rens. It won’t. But I don’t wanna talk ‘bout it now. I love you.”

She shook her head. “Silly girl, you need to have some faith. I love you, too. Sweet dreams,” she called as she padded towards her bedroom.

All night, I tossed and turned. Everything that’d happened in the last twenty-four hours replayed through mind. “Have faith,” Renée had said. She really had no idea how fucked up my life truly was. Worst part, it was my own doing. Life really did suck.

Chapter Three

Nik

Holy hell. Was she that delusional? Caleb was one mean son-of-a-bitch. I should know. I’d had him in and out of my life for almost twenty years now. Fate had apparently decided that yet another woman was to be the object of both of our affections—or obsession, depending on how you’d like to look at it.
No, I refuse to revisit the past.
So, what to do with a problem like Aimee? I was beginning to see she was fiercely independent. Not that I didn’t understand. I had been doing things my way for quite some time. I wouldn’t take kindly to someone deciding to take control over my life; therefore, I couldn’t blame her. Problem was, I had to have control of anything and anyone involved in my life. Whether she liked it or not, I fully intended for her to be very engaged. She needed my protection, and I had the means to provide it tenfold. However I wasn’t a fool. Aimee would not capitulate easily. No, I fully expected a challenge—one that I had every intention of rising to. She really had no idea whom she was up against.

I poured myself another two fingers of Courvoisier and sat down in front of the fire, contemplating my next move. The idea of marriage terrified me, and, honestly, I wasn’t cut out for intimacy. Yet I had to have Aimee close. It didn’t make sense to even me, so how did I convey it to her? 
Fuck. What was I doing? I cannot marry again.
I furiously stood, threw the glass at the rock fireplace and then stormed into my home office.

I grabbed the phone and punched the numbers so hard on the keypad I was surprised it didn’t crack. A deep timbre voice answered, “Hello.”

“Get over here, now,” I ordered.

“Why, Nik, so nice of you to call,” he mocked.

My brother thought he was funny. “Shut the hell up, Alex.”

He chuckled, “I’ll be there shortly.”

I slammed the handset back into its cradle and then sat there staring out the window. As memories tried to resurface, I shoved them back into their box inside my mind. I would not allow myself to go there.
I refuse!

A short while later, Alex sauntered into the room. “To what do I owe this pleasure, brother dear?”

“Sit,” I commanded.

He smirked. “Domineering as always, I see.”

“I didn’t call you here to bust my chops.” I clarified, “I need some advice.”

He sarcastically replied, “Awesome. How may I assist the almighty Nik Strand?”

“Fuck you,” I said with no heat. My brother knew how much his opinion mattered to me.

He laughed, “No, thanks. I’m really not into that sort of thing. Besides, incest is illegal,” he pointed out.

“Hardy har har. You’re so damn funny,” I sardonically proclaimed.

“I do my best.” He ran his hand through is hair. “What’s going on, Nik?”

“I met a woman.”

His brow arched. “Well, that’s not so surprising. Considering, you don’t date the same one twice.”

“I don’t date, period,” I asserted.

“Yes, I know.” His look betrayed his concern for me.

“Here’s the thing, Alex.” I leaned forward and steepled my fingers in front of my mouth. “She’s engaged.”

“Not like that has ever been a deterrent to you before.”

“True.” I added, “But there’s more.”

“Do tell.”

Such a smartass.
“She’s engaged to Reynolds.” I held my hand up to silence him. “It’s being forced on her, Alex. She in no way wants anything to do with him.”

“Then, why?” I could see the confusion in his eyes, not to mention the worry etched in his face. Caleb was bad news for me, and Alex knew it.

I took a deep breath before I explained, “He’s threatening her.”

“Ah, hell!”

“Now, you understand?”

He pushed back from the desk and stood. Then he began to pace. “This is bad, Nik. Really bad.”

“You don’t think I know that? Why do you suppose you’re here in the middle of the night?”

“Oh, I know you’re fully aware of just how fucked up this is. Question is, what’re you planning to do about it?”

“Hence, the reason I called you.”

“You want legal advice?” he inquired.

I countered, “Is there anything she can do legally?”

He shrugged. “Depends.”

My ire was up. “Expound, please.”

He shook his head. “Did he actually threaten her? Or was it perceived? If actual, was it verbal or written?”

“What the…? Look man, I need your expertise, not your legal mumbo jumbo.”

He had the audacity to laugh. I growled. He sobered up and deadpanned, “I’m not trying to be difficult.”

“Point taken. Then, let’s assume all of the above. What can she do about it?”

“If verbal, file a police report. If written, again, file a report with the note. If perceived, she’s shit out of luck. Gut instinct does not hold up in a court room.”

I ran my hand through my hair out of pure frustration. “You and I both know that a woman’s sixth sense is spot on nine times out of ten.”

“True,” he agreed. “Yet, it still won’t hold up. What do you think you can do for her?”

I grumbled, “I offered to marry her myself.”

“Say, what?!” he passionately exclaimed.

I sighed heavily and then elucidated, “I can provide ‘round the clock protection for her. Although I highly doubt she will consent to it.”

“Why not? She seems to understand that Caleb’s trouble.”

“Yes. But she doesn’t see the complete danger involved. Get this…she thinks he’ll only go after her reputation, career, family and friends. She has no concept that
she’s
the one in danger.”

“While I get that he’ll take whatever means possible to get her to comply with him, how would her reputation matter?”

Dammit all. Here goes nothing.
“She’s a call-girl.”

“Is this a joke, Nik?”

I laughed with no humor. “I wish.”

“Fuck me.” He ran his hand along the side of his jaw. “She’s in way over her head.”

I couldn’t put into words how much I appreciated that my brother didn’t even bat an eye at the fact I just shared Aimee was a prostitute. This was one of the many reasons why I loved him so much. He also understood that Senator Caleb Reynolds had a notorious reputation for “bringing prostitutes to justice,” as he liked to call it. It was just
this
side of legal what he’d been known to do with ladies of that profession. For years we’ve been waiting for him to make a mistake, because truth be told, I had a gut feeling there was more to it than what we knew. And he was good, damn good, at covering his tracks. “Yeah, you could say that.”

“Marriage, Nik? Can you even do that again?”

“I don’t know. But I can’t see another solution.” I implored, “Can you?”

There was a pregnant pause before he finally sighed and shook his head. “No. I’m sorry, I don’t see another alternative. I wish to hell I did, for your sake.”

I bowed my head in defeat. “Me too, little brother.” I lifted my head and made eye contact with him. “Me, too.”

Alex stood and began pacing. “What if I help? What if E helps out as well? With your connections, surely you could round up some bad MOFOs. There must be another way, Nik.”

While I appreciated his faith in me, and our youngest brother, E, I didn’t see that as enough of a diversion for Reynolds to keep his distance from Aimee. Plus, he comprehended my issue with marriage. Damn it all to hell, what was I going to do? My emotions must have played across my face—something I normally didn’t let happen unless I trusted you—because he suddenly clasped my shoulder and proclaimed, “Talk about a serious case of history repeating itself.”

I nodded and affirmed, “Got that right, brother.”

“Do you think…?”

I cut him off.  “Don’t,” I growled.

Surprised by my abruptness, he assuaged, “Hey. I didn’t mean to bring
her
up. Sorry.”

The
“her”
he referred to was my late wife, Rachel.
Shit. Fuck. Damn…I can’t think about her. Not now. Not ever.
Some things needed to stay buried. I ran both of my hands through my hair. Even though I still loved Rachel, I was exigently drawn to Aimee. There was no explanation for why. It just was. Something elemental existed between us, as if my body recognized hers, though I didn’t recall ever meeting her before tonight. Still…? I appeased, “’S alright, Alex.”

“No, it’s not. I’m truly sorry.”

I squeezed his shoulder. “Change the subject. Please.”

He quirked a brow. “You still haven’t dealt with it, have you?”

“Shut up, Alex.”

“Fine,” he reconciled. “As for this mess with…?”

“Aimee,” I provided.

“Ah, yes. Aimee. If you really don’t think all three of us can keep her safe, then you’re right, marriage is your only solution.”

When I answered, “Let’s try it your way first,” I surprised myself.

His jaw dropped in shock. “Are you actually saying I’m right?”

I grumbled, “Don’t let it go to your head.” I poured another drink and slammed it back in one hard swallow.

He stepped towards me with his hand out for my glass. “How many of these have you had?”

“Don’t start,” I cautioned.

“I’m not,” he hedged. “Why don’t you go lie down for a while? Get some rest. Maybe things won’t look so bad later this morning.”

“Can’t hurt,” I conceded.

After that, I left the room.

As I made my way down the hall, I stripped off my clothing. My mind was in turmoil. One thing was for sure, I was willing to avoid marriage if possible. Although, the thoughts of Aimee writhing beneath my straining body were something I couldn’t seem to keep at bay. No matter the outcome, I
wanted
her.

And what I wanted—I got.

Chapter Four

Aimee

I crept out of Renée’s place, as quietly as I could, and froze when I saw the mountain of a man leaning against the wall next to my apartment door. I thought Nik was huge until I laid eyes on this guy. If I’d ever wondered what Goliath from the Bible must have looked like, there was no longer a question in my mind—this was him. To say I felt tiny would’ve been a monstrous understatement. All of a sudden, approaching my place didn’t seem like a good idea. I turned and beat feet back to Renée’s.

Once I slammed the door, she yelled, “Aims?”

“Yeah,” I confirmed, “It’s me.”

As she shuffled into the living room, she exclaimed, “What the?!”

“Sorry. I didn’t…I mean…Crap,” I stammered.

She padded into the kitchen. “Hold that thought. If I have to play detective here, I need caffeine.”

There was no way I could answer at the moment. I joined her for a much needed cup of coffee. When I reached for a mug, I hoped that my trembling hands didn’t give me away. Lucky for me she was still half-asleep and grumpy; therefore, she hadn’t noticed until she spun around to grab the milk. “Hey. What’s goin’ on? You’re shaking.”

Double crap.
I explained the strange man standing outside my apartment. Her stride was purposeful as she headed out the door. Then I heard her in the hall as she interrogated, “Who the hell are you?”

That was Renée. She wasn’t afraid of anything. Ever. Which most of the time, seriously worried me; however, at that moment, I was grateful for her fearlessness. A rumble answered, “Who’s askin’?”

“Why should I tell you anything?” she shot back.

“Ditto,”
Goliath
retaliated.

She huffed, “Look, buddy. Why are you standin’ out here in front of my best friend’s apartment at freaking eight thirty in the morning? Either you’ve been hired to be here, or you’re up to no good. Which is it?”