The Drazen World: Torn (Kindle Worlds Novella) (Torn #1) (3 page)

              “Haylee, it’s like she’s turned into another person.  I mean, Christ, she about dislocated my shoulder during the last contraction.  I had to get away from her before she did some real damage.”  He sounds like he’s beginning to hyperventilate.

              I laugh out loud.  “I’m sure you’re just over reacting.”  It can’t be that bad.

              “No, she threatened to cut my dick off if I ever came near her again with it.”  His voice cracks in terror.

              “Oh
—
OH!  OH GOD!   ROY!  SHIT!  Where the fuck is he!  I’m not doing this shit myself!”  Heather sounds nothing like her normal self.

              “See what I mean, Haylee.  She blames me for this.”  His voice is panicked. 

              I’ve never seen, or heard Roy panic, even on the job, and believe me we’ve been in some pretty tight spots out in the field.

              “Well it kind of is your fault.”  I chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

              “Oh for Christ sakes, not you too!”  He snaps, he sounds exhausted.

              “Calm down, I’m just kidding.  I know it takes two, but to her, right now you’re the enemy.  Just wait until that sweet little bundle of joy is placed in her arms, then you’ll be her hero.”  I choke on the last words. 
Why am I getting emotional?
  I don’t think I’ll ever have children, hell I can’t even stay in a lasting relationship. 

              “Well, I hope you’re right.”  He whispers into the phone. 

              “Is that HayLEEEEE!  Oh FUCK!”  Heathers voice raises to an uncanny screech.

              “Tell her I said to hang in there.”  I wish I could be there to help them both through this.  It sounds like they both need someone level headed right now.

              “She says to hang in there sweet pea.”  Roy’s voice sounds sickening sweet and scared shitless.

              “Tell her to fuck off!  When she has her first kid I’m gonna tell her the same fucking thing.  AH God!  Tell her she can have you!”  Her screams are interrupted by the sounds of her rhythmic breathing.

              “Oh wow,” my head jerks back from the phone.  For the first time in this conversation I’m actually afraid for Roy.

              “See what I mean.”  His voices cracks.  “She’s possessed.”

              “Roy, she’s not possessed, she’s just having a baby.  It’ll be okay, I promise.”  I try my best to reassure him.

              He sighs loudly. In my minds eye I can see him running his hand through his short military cut hair.  “Yea I know.”

              “Will you call me when it happens?  Day or Night.  I don’t care.”  My voice softens.

              “Of course. You want me to call you on your burner phone?”

              “Yea.”  When working a case we always carry a burner phone, we never use our personal phones.  “Just remember, it’s Faith Winters, not Haylee Nichols.”

              “You got it.”  There’s an uneasy pause.  I know my partner well, and I know he wants to say something else.

              “Roy?  What is it?”  I wait patiently for him to answer.

              “Haylee?”  His voice fills with concern.

              “Yea, I’m here.”  I reassure him I’m listening.

              “Be careful.  You’re family to Heather and me.”  I swear I hear his voice crack again.

              “I will be.  Hell, I’m in no danger at all, it’s just Johnathan Drazen we’re talking about.”

              “I know who we’re talking about, I’ve read all about the asshole. There’s rumors, people talk.  Just be careful.”  His voice turns stern.

              I know the rumors Roy is talking about.  The man not only has the reputation for being a manwhore, he also has the reputation for liking his sex a little rough.  “I’ve got this Roy.  I’ve never had an issue before, I…”

              “This is Johnathan Drazen we’re talking about.  Be careful.”  He cuts me off to make his point.

              “I know.  I will.”  I try to keep a soft tone.  He doesn’t need any more drama in his life right now.

              “Promise?”  I hear the relief flood though his voice.

              “I promise.  No one’s getting under my skin, except that new arrival you have coming.”  My voice sparkles with delight.  Roy and Heather had asked me to be the God Mother to their new arrival.  I think sometimes I’m just as excited about the baby as they are.

              “Okay.  I gotta run.  Heather and I love you, Haylee.”  There’s a warmth to his voice that always makes me feel better.

              I swallow back the lump that’s formed in the back of my throat.  They’re family.  “I love you both too.”  I whisper.  “Please give Heather and the new baby a kiss and hug for me.  I wish I could be there…”  My voice falls off.

              “We know Haylee.  Just watch out for Drazen.”  His voice is demanding but gentle.

              I roll my eyes, he had to get one last warning in.  “Will do.  Talk to you soon!”

              I hit ‘end’ and sit there quietly absorbing the conversation.  Roy and Heather have become my family.  I met Roy when I joined the FBI, we joined at the same time.  I met Heather through Roy, they were already engaged and we hit it off from the start.  I’m so damn lucky, there are some wives that hate their husbands’ partners, but not Heather.  She knows I would never cross that line.  I haven’t dated in about a year, don’t want to either.  After what Xander did, I’m done with commitment forever. 

              
Faith

             
Shit,
I quickly slip my feet into my grey pumps. 
Dammit, I’m running late. 
Of all the days to be running late this is the worst.  Today, is the first day Johnathan Drazen will be in the office. 
Crap,
I wanted to be early and make a good impression.  In business the early bird gets the worm.  If you’re late, you
are
the worm.

              Stuffing my briefcase with the extra research I did, I grab my coffee mug and keys.  Racing for the door I turn to take one last look.  Safe locked
—
check.  Everything in its place
—
check.  Turning I race out the door, locking it and pivoting toward the staircase.  Without warning, I slam into a firm chest, my purse spilling and my coffee mug dropping to the floor. 

              “OH!”  I squeal, totally taken by surprise.  Normally I’m so careful.  I always check out my surrounds, today I was careless and slammed into…  “Holy. Shit.”  I absentmindedly whisper as my eyes roam the dark haired, brown eyed god standing in front of me.  The scent of fresh cut pine fills the air, reminding me of Christmas when I was a child.  Hints of clove and cigarette smoke linger in the air, heightening the already disarming aroma that has aroused my hormones and made my body crave a taste.
God he smells edible.

              “Scusa?”  He chuckles openly, his eyes dancing with mutual interest.

             
Oh God.  I said that out loud.
  “God, I’m so sorry.”  I gracefully drop to my knees, gathering the contents of my bag.  “I should have been watching where I was going.”

              “No problem.”  He squats in front of me, handing me my hairbrush.  “Are you alright?”  His words trip off his tongue with an alluring accent.

              Our fingers connect as I take the brush from his strong masculine hands.  “I’m fine, more embarrassed than anything else.” A warmth spreads through my body, pooling between my legs as his eyes take me in.  “I’m Faith by the way.”

              My eyes travel up his lethal body as he stands, stretching to full height. 
Christ, he has to be more than six feet tall.
  I straighten, feeling self-conscious in front of his perfection.

              “Tony,” he nods, flashing me a sexy smile.  Before I can grab my bag, his strong fingers wrap around the handle, “come on, I’ll help you out.”

              “Ah, hang on.”  My eyes roam the floor searching for my coffee mug.  Spotting it, I walk over to the wall, bending to grab it off the floor.  My skin warms, I can feel his eyes on my ass.  Snatching the mug off the floor I turn, grinning as my eyebrows wiggle with delight. “Got it.”

              “Let me buy you a new cup?  The least I can do.”  His beautiful eyes shimmer with promise, as his sinfully full lips slowly curl into a sexy grin.

              “Screw top.” I wiggle my eyebrows, “it’s like an adult tippy cup for coffee.”

              Disappointment flickers over his gorgeous face.  “Another time then?”

              “Um - sure.”  My skin begins to tingle under his heated gaze. 
Did he just ask me out?

              He turns, ushering me toward the stairs.  We both stop in the middle of the staircase, reaching for my car keys at the same time.  His large, warm hand engulfs mine.  My nerve endings flare to life, his skin is rough in all the right places.  His fingers flex gently into my hand, sending jolts of pleasure raging through my system.  “Allow me.”  He cocks his head to the side, nodding toward our hands.

              “Oh.  Okay.”  I release my keys, and with a finger twirl they disappear in the palm of his hand. 
Lucky keys.

              He unlocks the security door, holding it open like a true gentleman.  “Thank you.”  I nod, throwing him a sweet smile. 
What the hell is wrong with me?

              His dark eyes intently roam the lot, “which one is you?”

              I point to the dark grey Mazda, CX-3.  “There.”

              We silently walk toward my SUV, the air between us crackling with possibility.  Out of nowhere, tires straining against the cement, one of the matching black Lexus sedans from last night pulls into a spot on the other side of the lot.

              “Stupido,” Tony mumbles under his breath.  I don’t think I was supposed to hear that.

              My eyes watch intently, wondering who’s driving the sedan. 
His wife?

             
The driver’s side door fly’s open, and out steps a good looking man with a young baby face and bow-lips. Air silently escapes my lungs that I didn’t even know I was holding. 
Not his wife,
I inwardly grin. 

              Baby face rips his sunglass off, his eyes zeroing in on Tony and me.  “You on your way out Tony?”  His thick Italian accent stands out.

              “Yeah Paulie, but stay, I need to talk to you.”  Tony’s expression darkens, his voice is laced with displeasure.

              I stop abruptly, not wanting to intrude.  “Thank you.  You go on, I can take it from here.”  I reach for my bag, purposely brushing fingers with him again.  Butterflies igniting in a flurry, hammering against my chest.  I stand, waiting, as his eyes roam my face.  “Um.  I’m gonna need my keys.  Please.”  I throw him my sweet sexy smile.

              “Ah yes.  Keys.”  He gently places my keys in the palm of my hand, pressing our hands together.

              My body tingles, as his eyes eat me alive.  “Thank you
—
again sorry, for
—
well you know.”  I point to the building.  God, I have to get out of here before I make a fool out of myself

              “My pleasure.”  His deep, sin filled voice is laced with intention.  I watch as his full lips part, revealing the sexiest smile I’ve ever seen. 
For the love of God. 
I swear, even the angles above start fluttering their wings with excitement.

              “Okay, I’ll just
—
go
—
now.”  I turn, hitting the key fob, my SUV chirping to life.  Plopping my purse and briefcase in the back seat, I climb in and start the SUV. 
How old am I? 
I grab my sunglasses, sliding them over my eyes.  “Holy hell, what just happened?”  I flip on the air, cranking the fan to high.

              Backing out of my parking spot, I admire my neighbor from behind my sunglasses.  His dress slacks are made to fit, showing off his slim hips and tight ass.  His broad shoulders fill out his suit jacket perfectly. 
Sweet Jesus
, I have an Italian God living across the hall.  I pull out of the lot and head to work.  My mind shifting gears, bracing myself for the day to come.

              I’ve been at work now for three hours, and – nothing.  My eyes flicker around my bland cubical, I’m starting to get worried.  If I lose this job, the bureau will miss a perfect opportunity to get close to Johnathan Drazen and his business operations. 

              Loud banging and steel ripping echoes from all directions.  So far everything I’ve read about Johnathan Drazen is true.  When I pulled into the hotel parking lot, the larger than life ‘Hotel Escapade’ sign had already been taken down.  Construction workers had ascended on the building like a colony of hungry ants on a french fry. The upper and lower floors were being gutted, and employees were being fired and thrown away like yesterday’s lunch. 

              My eyes scan my cubical, I really don’t have much to pack.  Instant soup, extra tampons and an extra pair of stocking, that’s it. 
How pathetic. 
My eyes snap to the loan picture that rests on my desk, nestled between the phone and my computer.  It’s the only thing in this cubical that means anything to me.  I pluck the picture off the desk, running my fingers over the faces of my two best friends
—
Roy and Heather. 

              Laughter softly escapes my lips as I eye the picture. Roy, Heather and I are all dressed in Hawaiian get ups. We’re grinning like loons, with fruity drinks clutched in our hands.  We’re all obviously drunk.  A warm sensation floods my chest, I got a call from Roy at three-forty-seven this morning.  His voice cracking with emotion, announcing the arrival of his son.  Heather and the baby are doing great, both were sleeping at the time.  I chuckle to myself, Roy informed me he still has his most valued body part intact.

              I’m startled back to the present by the abrupt tapping on the steel frame of my cubical.  My eyes snaps to the doorway landing on a tall, slender brunette who’s dressed to the nines. 
Who the hell is this chick? 
“Yes?  Can I help you?”  I try to hide my annoyance with a fake smile.

              “Mr. Drazen would like to meet with you in fifteen minutes.”  Her voice is loaded with hints of high society and old money.

              “Oh.”  My eyebrows arch upward.  She must be his personal secretary, or god only know what else.  My eyes snap to the clock then back to her.  “Okay.”  My voice is low and firm.

              “He’s taking his meetings in the old executive suite.”  Her botox lips pout, attempting a smile.

             
Old executive suite? 
My mouth forms a perfect ‘O’ as I realize she means my bosses office.  Or, I should say, my
former
boss’s office.  “Thank you.”  I smile a fake smile, trying to play nice.  I can’t afford to make enemies this early in the game.

              Without another word, she turns and disappears down the hall. 
What the hell was that? 

              My nerves explode, and adrenaline starts coursing through my body. 
Game time. 
This is what I’ve been waiting for for the past eight months. 

              I reach down, pulling my bottom desk drawer open.  Just in case, I slip the picture in my bag.  My fingers search, grabbing my travel cosmetic case.  Sliding the zipper open, I grab the mirror and lipgloss.  Flipping the mirror open, I slide the wand loaded with a light pink gloss across my full lips, rolling them to spread the glossy color evenly.  I carefully take the tip of my pinky finger and run it along the corners of my mouth, removing the extra color. I don’t want to look like a freaking clown.  Checking the rest of my makeup, I look made up to perfection.  Sexy, in a professional understated way.  Snapping my mirror closed, and screwing my lipgloss shut, I drop both back into my makeup case.  I toss the case into my purse, kicking the drawer closed with the toe of my shoe. 

              I take a deep calming breath.  I stand, running both my hands down my grey pencil skirt to smooth out the wrinkles.  Lightly I pull on the cuffs of my silk sleeves and fixing my collar.  Looking down, I unbutton another button of my blouse, giving the appearance of cleavage without being obvious.  I’m sure Mr. Drazen will notice, I grin. 

             
Well here goes nothing.  Please don’t let me get fired.

              My heels thud quietly against the carpet as I make my way toward the large dark wood door at the end of the hall. My eyes flicker to the dirty outline where my boss’s nameplate used to hang. 
I feel nothing, I hated that asshole anyway.

              Stopping in front of the door, I take a deep breath.  I stand up straight, throwing my shoulders back and my chest out.  I’m about to come face to face with
the
Johnathan Drazen. 
He will not get under my skin.
  Slowly I release the air from my lungs, knocking firmly on the door. 

              Almost immediately a thick masculine voice resonates through the solid wood door.  “Come in.”

              Inhaling abruptly, then letting the air out slow, I turn the knob and push the door open.  My heels fall silent against the plush carpeting covering the floor. 

              My eyes scan the room, immediately landing on the man I’ve worked hard to finally get close to.  Even with his back to me, I’d know Johnathan Drazen anywhere.  His red, disheveled hair is longer than in the photo, falling below his ears but curling just above the collar of his dress shirt.  My eyes roam his body, appreciating his broad shoulders and tight waist.  The light scent of his cologne drifts through the air, need flooding between my legs. 
Damn, what the hell.

              “The paintings go next.”  His low commanding voice fills the room, making the air crackle with anticipation.

             
What did he say? 
I cock my head to the side.  “Excuse me?” 
What the hell is he talking about?

              I watch as his head snaps up, clearly not anticipating to hear my voice.  Turning abruptly, his eyes take me in.  “Sorry. You must be…”  He reaches down, flipping open the top folder.  A sexy smirk flickers across his lips.  “Ah yes.  Mrs. Winters.”

              Nothing could have prepared me for what was standing in front of me.  The sheer magnitude of this man’s power and sex appeal has me mentally dropping to my knees. His brilliant green eyes eat me alive, traveling from my face to my chest, then down to my calves.  My breath hitches in the back of my throat when his bright green eyes lock with mine. 
Holy Fuck,
the magnetic pull between us is so palpable my body starts to vibrate
.  Those eyes. 
His emerald eyes dance with the erotic dreams that women fantasize about.  My eyes quickly scan his body, realizing he’s capable of fulfilling each and every one of those fantasies.