Keeping You: KJ Elite Inc. (32 page)

“I’m fine.” I reassure him, whispering in his ear.

He gives my hand a squeeze and settles back rubbing a thumb over my hand.

“Why are we here?” Mike asked Bryant.

That’s a good question.

“We have a mutual acquaintance. He’d like us all to be on the same page now. Said he’ll be here at four, on the dot. Did you get the info you were looking for?” He asked, raising a brow.

“Yeah, we got it. Why not just tell us yourself?” Peyton said.

“Cloak and dagger is so much more interesting, isn’t it?”

No one was amused.

“I’ve got enough on my plate as it is; I didn’t need to worry about taking him out right now and we may need him later on, so in a tight little cell is exactly where he should be. But mostly I just wanted to get Alice alone, again.” Bryant grinned and I bit my cheek to keep myself from smiling back at him. It was just like him.

Peyton released my hand and wrapped his arm around my shoulders possessively. His misplaced affection is only benefiting me right now, so I don’t argue or cause a fuss. One quick peek at my watch tells me it is 0359. Moment of truth.

A knock at the door cuts through the awkward silence and glaring at one another, only to create a whole new level of tension in the environment.

Mike answers the door and my jaw drops. I’m not the only one.

Each and every single person was stunned silent.

“Good. While you try to find your tongues and then think of the questions you’ve just got to start shouting at me, I’ll try to cover what I can. What I know you need to know, right now.”

He walked into the room and grabbed a bar stool before pouring himself four fingers of Jim. Then took a long gulp before he cleared his throat and smiled at everyone.

“I have been with the FBI since just out of college. They called me Nolan, No for short because I took down every terrorist plot or bad guys plan with a steadfastness that made them all breathless. It’s a gift. My biggest case to date is of Jamie Wright. Marcus popped up on my radar when I found a burning car and two unidentifiable females tied to the seats. He was the obvious choice but after doing my footwork and gathering background information on him, I realized there was something much larger than murder going on in his circle. For 10 years I followed his every step. He didn’t so much as wipe his ass that I didn’t know about it. My family was told that I was in the military, serving my country and I was, just not how they thought. When we got the tip-off that Marcus was ready to move on with his plans, out of country, we knew we had to get Jamie out. I had been following Jamie as closely as I could without blowing my cover and sending Marcus into hiding with her. There, unfortunately, wasn’t anything I could about her living situation until we were ready to take him down. It is and was difficult to handle but I knew I was going to help her in the long run.

“The fire was completely unexpected. We knew he would have a backup plan but burning an entire building down with hundreds of men, women and children in it…we didn’t think he had it in him. Having taken Jamie out before we took him down was a bad decision because when we knew he escaped alive, we also knew he would not give up on her. From the moment she left that building, every person in her life was an agent or a certified guardian. That girl was more protected than the first daughter.

“I always kept tabs on her and continued tracking Marcus. We lost him for a few years, always a few steps behind. Staying in the projects was a cover for him because he had already established plenty of contacts to be well enough known in the game. When you live in the ghetto, no one is going to give you a second look for a massive, international, multi-million dollar smuggling ring. His petty pimping out of the building was just like child’s play for him; something to keep him preoccupied while he built his empire.

“The reason we are all here tonight, is because the cover is blown. All of it. Mine, Bryant’s, my teams. The operation isn’t a failure yet, but it changes how we are going to handle this. Word out is that he is arriving in Miami this afternoon but he is smarter than I’d like. Money talks and he’s got plenty of it, so we have to maintain eyes on him at every single step in his movements.

I need yall in on this working with me, not against me and that means working with Bryant as well. His team is not compromised with Jay out. That idiot was a pawn in all of this. Marcus knows that Jay was planted and will be looking for his head. Calling Preach was a good idea. They’ll tuck him away in a nice little vacation suite underground for the rest of his years.”

He finishes, takes a long pull of his drink finishing that off too, and then lights up a Marlboro.

* * *

On the outside, I’m collected. Mostly. On the inside though, I’m freaking the fuck out. What the shit is happening right now. Did someone slip me some peyote or ecstasy? Am I asleep? Involuntarily, a shiver racks my body and I shake my head to make sure I’m actually seeing, what I’m actually seeing.

“The.fuck.”

“Ditto.” Luke mutters.

“Does…Is…What…Huh?”

I’ve almost never been speechless before. Especially stupid speechless.

“Jamie doesn’t know. She thinks she knows, but she doesn’t know she thinks she knows. As for your mother, no. She does not know and I would appreciate it if she didn’t find out. Not like this.”

“Dad?
You’re
Nolan?”

“Nolan’s your dad?” Bryant asked, mildly amused.

I looked to the only other person who was affected by Nolan’s web of lies and operation.

“Paulie, you knew?”

“I didn’t know until I got here and Mike introduced us.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Well, for one, I didn’t know yous guys knew Jamie and because he told me to keep my mouth shut.”

“I think I’m having an aneurysm.”

Tommy laughed half-heartedly and slapped my back.

“You and me, both, brother.”

“This is really a conversation we should be having back at HQ.” Mike said.

His steely expression didn’t change but we all knew it was blowing his mind, too.

“Wait, is that where Noah came from?” Luke asked.

Dad laughed and took a drag from his second cigarette.

“I was an idiot once and had signed something Nolan. Just finished catching up on a couple months’ worth of paperwork and your mom had me sign a card. When I realized what I had written, she just laughed it off and suggested Noah for our next bundle of joy.” He pointed at me, “You were two months away and we hadn’t found a name yet. The nickname was easy when I saw your personality was exactly like mine in this job.”

“Terrific.”

“We couldn’t bring this to Betty because Jamie would probably find out and so would ma. This was easier and safer for everyone because someone probably would have shot Bryant.”

Luke said in answer to Mike’s statement.

“Still thinkin’ about it.” Baby and I said simultaneously.

She grinned at me and I elbowed her.

“Alright, so what’s the plan?” Charlie asked, finally speaking.

* * *

It gets old waking up alone every time I fall asleep with Noah. But I can’t even complain because I know he’s working on really important stuff, like keeping me alive and un-enslaved.

My body is strangely warm and it takes a second to realize I’m being smothered by Diesel. Shoving him off of me is nearly impossible.

“Diesel. It’s too hot. Get up, boy.”

He whines but eventually rolls over.

“Good boy.”

“You’re going to spoil him and make him lose all of his training if you don’t use commands.” Noah says from the other room.

“Diesel, attack.” I command jokingly. “You’re here?” I try to fight the giddy squeal that comes out, but it’s hopeless.

“I’m here. I didn’t want to wake you up again.”

“Noah, what’s wrong?”

“What makes you think there’s something wrong, Jamie?”

His head pops up from the other side of the couch and he stares at me.

The sheet fell and I’m sitting here naked. He wanted me like this, so this is how he gets me.

“You’re not calling me ‘sugar’.”

Noah’s face softens and he comes over to me, pulling me up into his chest. 

“Take a shower with me?”

I nod and we move into the bathroom where he starts the water.

“I’ve got to leave today and handle some things.”

The tone with which he says it is depressing like he’s saying, “We need to talk”

“Okay. Is everyone else going, too?”

He strips and pulls me into the tub-shower with him.

“Almost everyone.”

The water is hot, turning his skin red, as steam fills the bathroom quickly.

“Should I be worried?” I ask him, growing really nervous.

This isn’t like Noah. He’s always upfront with me and doesn’t lie or beat around the bush.

“Jamie…”

“Sugar.” I demand.

“Jamie.” He says pointedly, causing my insides to do a painful somersault. “Marcus is going to be headed to town and we are going to cut him off at the pass. I don’t want you to worry about anything. I’m going to take care of him.”

He lightly grips my chin and forces me to look at him.

“Do you hear me? He won’t touch you. He won’t even look at you again.”

I swallow and nod.

“Will you kill him this time?”

This isn’t one of my curious questions, this is a request. I want him dead like I’ve never wanted or needed anything in my life before. A world with him in it is a world I don’t, I won’t, I can’t live in.

“I swear to you, on all that I am, Jamie, Marcus will not walk away from this.”

“Okay.” I trust him with every fiber of my being. “Make love to me, Noah Kane.”

“Always.” He whispers before taking my lips in desperation.

Two hours later, Noah has sufficiently loved on every part of my body with some to spare. I’ve never felt so complete or satisfied or… in love.”

“Noah?”

He turns his face to me, still trying to control his breathing and grins. “Yes, sugar?”

“You like blue, way too much and you’re crazy for loving me. I wanted to hate your dog, but now he’s ours and I don’t want him out of my sight. You were a Valentine’s day baby born on November 12
th
and you were class clown four years running in high school. You make me blush, you make me cringe, you make me happy and you hurt anyone that makes me sad. If there ever comes a day you tire of me, I’ll die inside. I love you more than anyone has ever loved a person before and no matter what demons there are hiding in your mind, I will be here to try and fight them with you, for you. I love you. How’s that?”

“Tit for tat is always appreciated, sug. Especially tit.”

Noah wraps me up and kisses me like the end of a cheesy rom-com. I’m breathless, sated, and loved. There is no better feeling.

Luke knocks on the door and hollers for Noah to strap up.

What I wouldn’t give for just one more hour in his arms before they have to go fight my battle.

He crawls out of bed and starts pulling his clothes on. Diesel whines, knowing, and Noah scratches his ears before telling him to come lay with me and stick to me like glue.

“We may not be back for a long while yet. Don’t sweat it, okay? I’ll call when it’s all clear. Oh, I almost forgot.” He starts patting his pants and shirt pockets before pulling something out of his chest pocket.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not really giving you an easy out. Hell, I’m not giving you an out at all. I know I said I would wait but I’m not letting you go, sugar. You’ve never been anyone else’s but mine.” He bends at the waist and kisses me on the lips before reaching for my hand and sliding a generous sized teardrop diamond on my hand. I’d guess around 3 carats. I’ve been around a lot of jewelry but none have ever been so valuable.

“When did you even find the time to go get this?” I’m always asking the wrong questions, saying the wrong thing.

“Actually, I have to give all the credit to Ma and fate. I swore I’d never get married, but Ma recycled a few hideous family heirlooms and made rings for each of her sons so that when the time came, they’d hold real value. If I went ring shopping, this is the exact ring I would have picked out for you, so I believe it was all meant to be from the beginning of time.”

“I would like to believe that. It makes the suffering easier; worth it.”

His smile grows impossibly larger and he laughs, “I guess that’s as good a yes as I’m gonna get right now.”

It’s then that the perfect thing to say, hits me. “I’ll give you my answer when you come home to me.” Cheesy, yes. But that’s us.

“You just better be ready for me, sugar, because we are not going to be getting any sleep.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”