Stolen: A Bad Boy Romance (5 page)

Chapter Five

Kathryn

The last thing I wanted was to step into my brother's home and see his family. To have to listen to him tell me how angry he was with me. How worried he was.

I had to fight with myself every damn day I was gone, knowing he was the only person who really gave a shit about my comings and goings.

To think about him worried about me.

Of course, he sent someone out there after me.

Still, I was there standing outside his condo door with Janson's arm locked with mine.

I assumed it was to keep me from running.

Pretty sure I was correct.

"Janson, I see you brought the wayward sister." Greyson looked at me, but he didn't make an effort to hug me or yell. His eyes were just vacant.

I swallowed hard. He was angry as hell.

"What are you doing, Greyson? Let them in." I could hear Joanna's warm voice from across the condo. It sounded like she was in the kitchen.

Greyson opened the door wide for us, and we filed in one at a time, but his eyes never left me.

He was clearly furious.

"Hello, so good to see you," Joanna said as she walked out into the living room.

I only had one word to describe her. Huge. I saw her entire belly before I even saw her, the bulge making my eyes go wide.

She just laughed at me.

"I see you have met your nephew, and trust me, it's not nearly as bad seeing it from your angle as it is every day when I wake up. I always wonder if I am going to topple over." She smiled wide and grabbed me in for a hug.

It was awkward, but we managed. "I'm so glad that you are safe. All Greyson has done is worry."

"Thanks," I said as I brushed off my awkwardness.

"I made a small ham dinner; I hope you don't mind. I'm starting to learn how to cook, and I have a big family meal coming up with your mom. I want to get all of the recipes down by then." Motherhood suited her. She was glowing, her face rosy as she smiled at me.

"Sure, not a problem."

"You want to come help? I need someone to set the table and chat with."

I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I wasn't going to have to sit there awkwardly with Janson and my brother.

"Sure, I think I can do that." I would do anything for a reprieve from the two of them.

"Great," she pulled me into the kitchen. "So, tell me all about Chicago. I've only been there once, for a conference," she said as she sat me down at the table and handed me a bowl.

"You mind making the salad? It's just some greens, veggies and a light vinaigrette. It shouldn't be too much."

"Chicago? Well, it was good." I could tell by one look from her that it wasn't going to be enough. "I mean, I got to play my violin every day. For once, I didn't have to cave to anyone's expectations. No school, no pressure."

"Yeah, but it can't all be like that, right?"

"No, my friends started summer session at the end of June, and things kind of... devolved."

She nodded. "I know what you mean. I was due a week ago, but now the doctor thinks the conception date was off. I swear this little bugger is never going to come out. But they say he is healthy."

A nephew. I had a nephew. I mean, I knew that. We all knew that, but it didn't seem real. Not until I was looking at her engorged stomach.

"But you are still up and moving around, cooking a big dinner," I said.

"Yeah, because it's the only thing that can keep my mind off it. I've been cooking up a storm. And baking. I'm not allowed to take cookies into the factory anymore. They already have a stockpile in the break room." She shrugged and smiled. "But I have two pies for tonight."

I nodded. "Does it hurt?"

"Sometimes. He kicks. A lot. And for a while we weren't sure if he was going to turn or not, but now he's exactly as he should be and we are just waiting." She shrugged. "But sleep is hard, and Grey is barely getting any. Especially with you gone. He'll sleep better knowing you are home."

And awkward silence fell over us. She was trying to show me how worried he was, but I had already known.

I just didn't want to think about it. So I closed my mouth and worked on the salad. "I think it's done," I said finally, double checking all of the ingredients.

"Great, go ahead and put it on the table, and I'll call the boys." She stood up, but the way she wobbled only made me stand.

"Don't worry, I'll do it," I said as I turned and walked out of the room. They were both in the living room with drinks in their hands.

"Dinner is ready," I said as quickly as I could, but as I turned, a hand grabbed my arm.

At first I thought it was Janson, and all the hairs stood on the back of my neck, but when I realized it was my brother, fear coursed through me.

He'd never been like Dad, but I was always afraid.

"I'm glad you are home," he said as he pulled me into a hug. "But I swear to god, if you ever do anything to endanger yourself like that again, I'll kill you." He chuckled. Who was this man and what had he done with my brother?

"No, he won't," Joanna said from the kitchen. "He just won't sleep."

"Fine, I won't kill you, but it'll be worse than having to hide out in an old safe house."

I crossed my arms. "How long is that going to be for?" I asked.

"Depends on you. Are you going to run off on me?" Janson asked. He looked at Greyson, who seemed only to understand what he was saying.

But something was going on between them.

I didn't answer. It wouldn't be fair to lie.

"Exactly. Now eat your meal." He pushed me towards the kitchen table, and I walked, trying not to be angry.

But I couldn't help but shift my gaze between Greyson and Janson. What were the two talking about? There was obviously something going on there.

Janson

It's not every day your best friend threatens your life. But mine just did.

"Keep her safe or I will kill you." Those were the words that came out of his mouth, and I could tell he meant them. He cared about his family so much that I didn't doubt a single thing that came out of his mouth.

I still didn't expect to hear anything so grave from him.

"You know I always take my job seriously. Every order you give, I follow." It was the only way I could think to change the subject, and it had worked. He knew I was trustworthy. Knew I would do exactly as he asked.

Still, the way he looked at me let me know that if he ever found out about Kathryn and me, I would be toast. I had to make a decision. Take the risk or stop it now.

I could stop it now, at least I hoped.

But as I looked at her, as I watched her walk towards Joanna and sit down, I doubted that was actually the case.

I couldn't forget the feel of her skin or the way she captured all my attention.

I needed to.

But I couldn't.

"Earth to Janson," Joanna said as she held the potatoes, staring at me. "You going to come sit and eat or just stare at the food all day?"

"Sorry, I was just thinking about some responsibilities I need to fulfill," I said as I sat down. "I haven't been to my place in a few days."

"Well, swing by on your way back to the safe house," Greyson said as he stabbed his salad with a fork.

"You sure that's a good idea?" I asked. Bringing her into my condo? I didn't know about that.

"Yeah, why not? I'd have her stay there if I wasn't worried my dad would come snooping around at any time." Greyson said. "But I think she'll be fine for a few hours."

I was more worried about what I'd do to her if I brought her back to my place. It was almost too much temptation.

But an order was an order.

"All right, I'll do that."

"Why are we so worried about Dad?" she asked.

I could feel the fear prickling the back of my spine. Didn't she know?

"Kathryn, you left. You abandoned the family. Do you understand what that means to him?" Greyson asked. He slammed his drink down on the table just a little too hard.

"No, I mean, I figured he would barely notice." She shrugged. "He never seemed to have much time for me anyway, always so busy with his business." Kat bit her lip. She always did that when she was lying. Had since she was an unruly teen. Both Greyson and I registered it.

"You are a traitor in his eyes. He'll see you punished. Not killed, but it'll fucking hurt. I need to work on him to get him to calm down."

She swallowed, and I watched her go white as a sheet. "Like, will he-"

"You don't want to finish that question. I've put a lot on the line just to go and get you," Greyson explained.

"Yes, but she's family," Joanna said. "Why don't we worry about that later? My ham is getting cold."

James Fitzgerald was a monster. He would send someone, someone like the Butcher, after his own daughter.

We all knew the truth.

We were just dancing around it.

Kathryn

"This is your place?" I asked as I looked over it. I'd expected something different than the industrial brick-walled condominium that stood before me. It looked like something out of a movie or a TV show. So pristine it couldn't possibly be real.

"Yeah, this is my place. What do you think?"

"It's rather... sterile." My brother had a fancy condo, but it wasn't so industrial as it was contemporary and it looked lived in. The addition of baby furniture added to that appeal, I guess.

"What do you mean?" His face fell. "I have a cleaning lady come every other day."

"Right, it's clean. Too clean. Do you actually live here?"

"I'm not home much," he admitted and shrugged.

"So why are we here?" I asked.

"I have some things I need to pick up," he said.

I walked to a set of large industrial style windows, the kind with many panes, and looked out over the city. It wasn't a harbor view. No, this looked out over homes and through the hills. We were a good bit north of the inner harbor. It was so different that it almost felt like an entirely different world.

"Why this place?" I asked. "It looks like it was an old factory."

"It was a mill, actually. They used to make textiles here. I own the building. One of my investments. A long time ago, when immigrants were first coming over, my great-grandmother, who was only twelve, got a job here. She worked here until she died, and my grandmother worked here when she was old enough. My mom moved to Glenburnie when she married my dad, but this place. It's a part of my history. So, when it came up on the market, I knew I had to turn it into something." He shrugged. "I figured it was the kind of building that would appeal to young professionals. A bohemian experience at a bourgeoisie price point."

I'd never realized that he was more than just the mob, that he had his own businesses and side projects.

"You're able to do that?"

"What? Yeah, almost all of us have our own properties and fledgling businesses. Your brother owns half of Glenburnie, your father the other half. Well, I own some, too." He winked at me. "Investment properties and hedge funds. Got to make our money somehow."

Somewhere along the line I forgot that it wasn't all stolen from other businesses.

I wasn't sure if it was the moonlight, or if it was this new discovery, but I looked at him differently. He wasn't just some scoundrel in my eyes anymore, but he had legitimacy. That only made him sexier.

I hadn't made a mistake. I knew I hadn't. I walked across the space between us and looked up at him. "Tell me you are more than just a murderer," I said.

He furrowed his brow and looked down into my eyes. "Is that what you think of me?" he asked.

"I don't want to, but I know too much," I answered. I knew the way they worked. The way the operated. I'd seen it with my own eyes. With my father.

The images in my head haunted me.

"Kathryn, you have to know that we are more than just the family business. You have to know that." He stared at me intently then reached up and threaded his finger through my hair. "We do what we do to protect the people we love."

"You do what you do because it is profitable," I countered. But my argument fell on deaf ears. He was staring at me so intently. "I know how dangerous you are."

"And you still seduced me," he said, a small smile on his face. No, it was a smirk. He was a smug bastard. I still wanted to kiss him.

"This is dangerous," I said as I looked into his eyes. He knew exactly what I was talking about. This entire thing, all of it. It could lead to so much pain.

"Does that mean you don't want it?" he asked. He already knew the answer to that question. It was written all over my face.

So, he bent down and made the decision for me. He kissed me hard, his arms wrapping around my torso and pulling me to him.

I folded immediately. I'd started this, and I knew that there was no way to stop it now. We both had a lot to lose if we got caught, but I didn't care. I wanted him.

"Janson," I murmured as I broke our kiss. He wasn't having it, though. He swooped down for another. This time, I wrapped my arms around his neck and I let him take me there. I was hungry for him. It had been several days of just doing what I was told. Of making sure that I was the girl everyone wanted me to be. But when he kissed me, when he saw me, and I mean really saw me, it was then that I felt free.

He'd been so cold and distant, I'd thought he changed his mind.

"I don't think this is a good idea, and I don't care," he finally said. "I have to have you. My way."

What that meant, I wasn't sure, but I knew when he started pulling off my shirt that it was happening here and now. I didn't resist, though. Instead, I went along for the ride, pulling his jacket off and working on the buttons.

"You have no idea what you are getting into," he said.

"You keep saying that, but I don’t know if I believe it." I grinned and stepped out of my heels. It felt good to lose a few inches and realize the true height of him. He was hulking over me.

It was intimidating, but a part of me got a real charge out of it. I liked to think of how strong he was, and how in control he was. I wanted to give it all over to him.

He had me out of my blouse and skirt, and I was wearing nothing but my panties and bra.

"Come with me."

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Does it matter?" he answered as we walked through his kitchen and out the back door onto the rooftop deck.

It was gorgeous. We could see the entire cityscape from here.

But it was also so exposed.

"Janson," I said as I turned towards the door.

"No one can see you here, but I want you. Under the moonlight."

"But what if they can?"

"So what? They get a free show. I want you out here in the summer night." He pulled me back into him. "I want to experience all of you. Don't make me tie you to the guard rail so I can have my way with you."

"You wouldn't," I said as I sucked in a breath, but I had to admit, it was an intriguing idea.

"Oh, but I would," he said as he kissed down my jaw and to my neck, where he nibbled. I still had a small bruise in that exact spot from his bites.