His Wicked Pleasure (14 page)

              Turning towards the door, she leaned against it and sighed loudly. She’d done it; no one was the wiser about her escapades today. Locking it, she took a step back and bumped into something large and solid. She lost her balance and fell against...Declan!

              “You have some serious explaining to do,” growled Declan. He was furious that she had snuck out and had been worried for hours as he waited for her. “In a disguise as well! This aught to be good.”

              Attempting to calm her heavy breathing, Kristie took a step back in an attempt to put as much distance between them as possible. “Declan? How, how’d you get upstairs? In my bedroom?”

              Declan counted in his head to three, doing his best to keep his anger in check. Turning around with the fierceness of a lion, he growled, “I walked.”

              “You can’t be here,” said Kristie nervously. Every cell in her body was alive with nerves as her heartbeat soared. “You need to go. Now!”

              Choosing to ignore her, Declan took a few steps and turned on Kristie’s bedroom light. The moment his dark eyes met her emerald green ones, he paused. Every fiber of his being wanted her in every way, shape, and form. Fighting the urge to lift her up and toss her onto her big, beautiful, girly bed, he folded his arms across his chest and asked between gritted teeth, “Where were you and why didn’t you take your phone with you?”

              Looking at Declan standing there in a tight gray shirt perfectly molded to his skin caused her heart to skip a beat. Placing her offending crutches against the wall, she made her way over to her bed and sat down. She lifted her chin in defiance and said, “I decided I needed to get out and went to grab a bite to eat. Now you know and now you can leave.”

              Declan shifted his position, his eyes narrowed at the dismissal in her voice. He leaned casually against the wall as he took in Kristie’s appearance. Rubbing his jaw with his right hand, he replied, “So let me get this straight. You went to get something to eat but had enough sense to wear something extremely sexy and, to add to this charade, a dark-haired wig. Hmm. Interesting. Very interesting.”

              Kristie lifted her injured leg onto the bed and grimaced while taking off her shoe. Tossing it onto the floor, she groaned for a moment then carefully pulled off her dark wig and tossed it onto her nightstand. Slowly bringing her eyes to meet Declan’s, she asked, “Do you not approve of my dark wig?”

              “I don’t approve of you leaving the house without letting someone know,” said Declan. He crossed the room and he captured her injured leg in his hand, careful not to touch the sensitive injury or wrench it. He examined the swelling that was clear in her ankle. He looked up at her, “You are aware that someone attempted to kill you not too long ago. Correct?”

              “Please, G.I. Joe,” said Kristie pulling out bobby pins and fluffing out her hair. She ignored the way his touches made her skin break out in goose bumps. “Maybe it was a silly idea but I needed time for me. Maybe someone didn’t mean to shoot at me; maybe it was just an accident. But, regardless, I want everyone to relax and leave me alone. I’m done hiding out and done with disguises.”

              Just as Declan was about to speak, the door banged open causing them both to jump as Lorie barged in. Seeing Lorie’s cheeks heat up from embarrassment, Lorie paused for a moment, walked over to Kristie and handed her an ice pack. In an odd voice, she said, “Ice your ankle, elevate it, and don’t forget to wrap it before you go to bed.”

              “Thank you,” said Kristie frowning.

              “I have to get back downstairs. Apparently my ass wasn’t chewed out enough by our brothers. Now it’s Paul’s turn.”

              “Ouch,” said Kristie rubbing her behind. “I know that feeling it seems.”

              “Don’t do stupid things and you’ll both have your behinds intact,” said Declan in a voice that brooked no argument. “At what point did either one of you stop and think that perhaps it was a stupid idea.”

              “Stupid idea?” asked Kristie in a horrified voice. “Eating food and spending time with the girls was not a stupid idea and it was something long overdue.”

              “Easy Barbie Doll,” said Declan as he sat on the edge of the bed. “You’re skating on very thin ice right about now.”

The door slowly opened and they watched as Paul slipped inside and glared at Lorie. Kristie rolled her eyes, “What is this? Grand Central Station?”

Taking a breath, Paul ignored Kristie and took in Kristie’s bedroom with the understated beauty and elegance. For a moment, he felt like he had been transported in time into the chamber of a princess or queen.

Huge, white, antique furniture with gold accents adorned various areas in her spacious bedroom. In the center of her room was a large white and gold canopy bed, with iridescent material covering all four corners. White rose floral vines draped perfectly around the entire canopy and gave it an enchanted look.

Realizing all eyes were on him, Paul shook himself and moved straight over to Lorie and said, “Woman, you’re taking too long and my patience has worn thin.”

“That’s it,” said Kristie standing up and cringing in pain. Closing her eyes, she managed to push past the pain and take a few steps near her sister where she leaned on her. “Brutus and Popeye get back to wherever it is you go at night and leave us alone. We didn’t do anything wrong and we came straight home. Next time I’ll make sure we do something worthy of this ‘me Tarzan, you Jane’ nonsense.”

Lorie looked at her sister with her mouth open. Finally able to find her voice, Lorie said, “Who are you and what have you done with my sister?”

“It’s still me. I’m just tired of all these rules. I know that something bad happened, I’m not stupid but I have never hid from problems. I wouldn’t run a successful company if I did. Besides, I want to live a little and enjoy life and I can’t do that if I hide out in my bedroom.” Kristie took a few steps and found her way blocked by the two giant men in her bedroom. They were staring at her with a strange combination of awe and frustration.

Glancing over her shoulder at her sister, she cried, “Um. A little help here.”

Lorie reached around Paul to help her sister but was tossed over Paul’s shoulder instead. “Put me down,” she shrieked as the two of them exited Kristie’s bedroom— one shrieking the other striding.

Kristie took a few steps and attempted to zig but, instead, she zagged and ended up doubled over in pain. Feeling her body lifted in the air seconds before it was placed on her bed, Kristie let out a groan but relaxed the moment Declan’s body laid alongside her.

“There. Isn’t this so much better?” asked Declan while kicking off his shoes. Once finished, he moved a bunch of fluffy, designer pillows from Kristie’s bed and placed them at the bottom of the bed for her leg to be elevated.

“Thank you,” said Kristie letting herself relax a little. “How much longer is this stupid ankle going to be swollen and ugly?”

Placing the ice pack on the swollen ankle, Declan looked up at Kristie and said, “I’m not a doctor, but I’m guessing about another three weeks. He did say it would be four to six weeks but, from the looks of it, you have aggravated it.”

“Ugh. This just sucks. The moment my ankle is better, I’m wearing the highest heels I own...I may even go out and buy even taller ones.”

              Sliding alongside her, Declan wrapped his arms around Kristie and said, “Next time you want to go out, just let someone know. No one is saying you’re a prisoner, we just want you to be safe.”

              Not wanting to hear anymore about it, Kristie looked at Declan with a smile and said in a seductive voice, “Kiss me G.I. Joe. I’ve missed you.”

~*~*~*~

              The following morning, Kristie woke up and found a single white rose next to her pillow with a note tied to it. Picking it up, she read the message, ‘
Good morning Barbie Doll. Hope you have a great day. See you tonight at six. Miss you, xx Declan’

              Walking over to her dresser, Kristie opened up her journal and placed the note inside. She grabbed a vase and placed the rose in it before she started getting ready for her busy day. With a smile on her face¸ she hobbled downstairs and straight outside to her waiting car service.

              Deciding for a change of scenery, Kristie was going to spend the day at Rossi Electronics and work on a few reports for her uncle. The moment the car pulled up to the huge brick building, Kristie got out and was instantly helped by her brother Benny.

              “Hey there. You slumming today?” he asked with a goofy grin on his face.

              “Not at all. I’m just going to plant myself in the personnel office and get that report done for Uncle Frank.”

              “I thought Daniella was handling that,” said Benny. His eyes filled with concern as he looked at Kristie and held the door open for her.

              “She got caught up with another project,” said Kristie with a grin. “But I’m pretty sure she just forgot.”

              “Typical,” said Benny leading Kristie to the elevator. “You should have told me you were coming here today, I would have driven you.”

              “I didn’t even think of it,” said Kristie getting out of the elevator slowly.

              “You’re getting better at those crutches.”

              “I didn’t have a choice. I had the therapist work with me for an hour straight,” said Kristie as she blew her bangs out of her eyes. “It was a long hour. Never want to see these things again once I’m able to walk again.”

              “Here,” said Benny ushering his sister into the huge, personnel office. “I’ll come and get you for lunch. Have fun.”

              “Thanks,” said Kristie. She watched from her seat as Benny made his way across the hall to his own office and then she turned to the desk. There was a lot of paperwork to do but she wanted to send Declan a text before she lost herself in the pile.

              ‘
Good morning G.I. Joe. Thank you for the beautiful rose. Xx Barbie Doll.’

              ‘Good morning. You’re very welcome. Xx Declan.’

              ‘I’m not in my office today. I’m at Rossi Electronics working on a report for my uncle.’

              ‘Good for you. He’ll be happy about that. :D’

              ‘
Talk to you later xoxo.’

              ‘xo.’

              Kristie logged into the system and searched through the files until she found the ones she needed. She quickly lost herself in the work.

              “Miss Rossi,” said a feminine voice after a soft knock.

              “Yes. Come in,” called Kristie while she transferred the files onto a flash drive.

              “Hi. These came for you,” said the middle-aged woman who walked into the office with a smile. She was carrying a large bouquet of flowers. “I’d say someone has excellent taste.”

              “Thank you Lydia,” replied Kristie with a smile. The moment the office door was closed, Kristie searched for the card and smiled.

              ‘
Something special for my someone special. Love, G.I. Joe xx.’

              Feeling extremely sexy, Kristie took a selfie alongside her beautiful, white roses and captioned, ‘
Thank you for these beauties. Hope this brightens your day.’

             
‘Woman, it should be illegal to be that sexy during work hours.’

              ‘Flattery will get you everywhere G.I. Joe.’

              ‘Can’t wait to see you. Might get there early just because.’

              ‘Oh my. I can’t wait for my sexy G.I. Joe kisses.’

              ‘xoxo.’

Chapter Thirteen

              “Come on Kristie. Hurry up or you’ll be late,” Lorie called from her bedroom door. “Today’s the day! It’s been six weeks to the day with those horrid crutches.”

              “I know,” said Kristie slipping on a pair of flats. “I think I’m all healed but we shall see.”

              “Don’t get your hopes up about wearing heels yet, Kristie. What if you trip and reinjure that ankle? It’s summer; wear flip-flops.”

              “Um. Hello. We do not wear flip-flops in the office. Not happening.”

              Lorie looked at her feet and smiled, “Whoopsie. Let me run to my room and change my shoes. Give me a second.”

              Kristie stood outside and raised her face to the sun. It was a beautiful, summer morning in mid-June. Lost in thought, she never heard anyone approach.

              “Good morning beautiful.”

              Turning towards the sound of the sexy voice, Kristie couldn’t help but smile. “Good morning G.I. Joe.”

              Breathing in the warm, summer air with a hint of fresh cut grass and wild flowers, Declan noticed the team of landscapers positioned around her yard and said, “I hope your brothers are home. There are too many people scattered around for my liking.”

              “Always so serious,” said Kristie accepting a kiss from him. “You really need to relax. The ‘almost’ accident is ages ago. Let it go.”

              “He’ll never let it go,” said Paul as he walked up holding a huge arrangement of flowers.

              “Lorie is going to be so happy when she sees you,” said Kristie laughing as she held the front door open for them. “Tell Lorie I’ll take myself to the doctor’s today. You two enjoy.”

              “Barbie Doll,” said Declan in a serious voice.

              “Yes.”

              “You know the rules. No one in your family goes anywhere alone. Do I make myself clear?”

              “Blah, blah, blah,” mimicked Kristie while making a bunch of odd faces. The moment Declan turned around, Kristie smiled. “Yes. I understand the rules.”

              “Good. I’ll see you when you get home,” said Declan walking over to Benny, where they shook hands.

              Lorie came out with a huge smile. “Ready Barbie Doll?”

              “I am,” said Kristie wiggling her brows. “So. What’s with the big goofy grin?”

              “Did you see those flowers?” asked Lorie while driving down the driveway towards the street.

              “See them? How could I miss them?”

              “How are you doing with the ninety days?” Lorie flashed her a grin, which quickly turned to a grimace, “I’m suffering.”

              “I, for one, hate it but I’m doing it.” Kristie groaned as she thought about all the nights where she laid in Declan’s arms but couldn’t be fulfilled physically. She never thought that she would ache for someone as much as she did for Declan. “I want both of us to work for it so that when we do finally have relations, it’s amazing.”

              “Ewww. I can’t believe you just said relations. Gross. Yuck,” said Lorie, as she made fake gagging sounds.

              “Did it turn you off?” asked Kristie while moving forward and turning on the radio.

              “Yes. It turned my stomach sour.”

              “Good,” said Kristie. She exercised her ankle while Lorie drove. “Um. Do you know why our guys are at the house right now?”

              “I was just wondering that same thing myself,” said Lorie. “Call Daniella; see what she knows.”

             
‘Hey Daniella.’

              ‘Hi. I thought you had a doctors appointment today,’
replied Daniella in a curious tone.

             
‘I’m heading there now.’

              ‘Oh good. Hopefully you’ll be free of those dreaded crutches. What a menace you are with them.

              ‘Ha, ha. Very funny sister dear,’
laughed Kristie. Still wanting answers, she ventured,
‘Do you know what’s going on back at the house? I just watched Declan and Paul meet with our brothers.’

              ‘I’m not exactly sure,’
Daniella replied in a curious voice.
‘I overheard Sean talking to his brother William last night about meeting at our house this morning. I’ll see if I can find anything out and get back to you. Either way, we’ll all find out tonight when we get home.’

              ‘That would be great,’
Kristie replied in an optimistic voice.
‘I’ll talk to you later.’

              “What?” asked Lorie in an overly anxious voice. “Don’t keep me in suspense. What the heck is going on?”

              “Everyone is at our house right now having some kind of meeting. They plan on filling us in once we get home,” said Kristie as worry ran through her. For a moment, she wanted to turn around and cancel her appointment.             

“Oh no. I don’t like the sound of that,” said Lorie. She glanced at Kristie with concern before she returned her attention to the road.

~*~*~*~

              Declan went over everything with Benny, Jason, Billy, and Daniella several times before he reiterated it again to Sean and his brother, William. “I need all of us to be on the same page. The girls have no idea how serious this matter really is. Once I cross-referenced certain names, a bunch of flags went off,” said Declan in a matter-of-fact tone.

              “These are the faces of possible threats,” said Paul while he pulled up a dossier containing a few different Rossi employees.

              “Shit,” said Benny rubbing the tension in the back of his neck. “This freaking ass-hat has pages and pages of different criminal activity. How did we miss this?”

              “Don’t blame yourselves,” said Declan patting Benny on the back. “These people are professionals. They change their names, come up with everything and anything they need at any given moment, and are constantly changing their personality to gain trust. They are chameleons and can fool just about everyone.”

              “I’ve never seen some of these people. Are you sure they work for us?” asked Billy as he stared at the screen keenly.