Piece by Piece (Riggins Brothers 2)

He turns and lifts me into his arms, pressing my back against the wall. “Having you here means everything to me. You mean everything to me,” he says, kissing my bare shoulder. “I love you, Layla.”

“I love you too.” His lips find mine, and I open for him, giving him all of me. When he slides into me, I sigh, relishing the feel of our connection. Slowly, he makes love to me in the shower. It’s as if he’s memorizing every touch, every sensation. It’s intimate, and as my orgasm crashes over me, I can’t help but think that my heart also feels as though it’s bursting—not from pleasure, but from love for this man.

“Stay here. Don’t even bother getting dressed,” Owen says, leaving the room with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist.

Grabbing the hairdryer, I dry my hair enough that it’s not dripping wet and pull it up on top of my head in a messy bun. I’m turning off the bathroom light when he comes back into the room carrying dinner and a couple of bottles of beer.

“Dinner in bed?”

“Now you’re speaking my language.” I smile at him. He looks less stressed after our lovemaking, and I’m glad I could offer him that. He’s done so much for me. I want to be the one he can turn to, the one who can turn a shit day into one that’s not so bad.

We devour dinner and snuggle up to watch a movie. I think we make it maybe fifteen minutes before we’re making out like teenagers, and Owen hovers over me, making love to me for the second time tonight.* * *It’s only Thursday, and this work week has been long. I’m ready for this weekend. Owen and I are going car shopping. He insists I can drive one of his, but I want my own. I’ve saved all of my money from working here since Owen barely lets me pay for anything. This is something that I want to do on my own. To say that I’m excited is an understatement.

The office is quiet again today. Royce and Owen begrudgingly agreed to another meeting for the company they were trying to buy. The owner called begging. Apparently, he was playing hardball. When Royce told him they were done, the reality of his situation hit him, and he begged them to reconsider. This time they took Grant with them. Something about power in numbers.

My desk phone rings. “Riggins Enterprises, this is Layla.” Once again, nothing but heavy breathing, and I’ve had enough. “Look, I don’t know why you keep choosing this number to harass, but this is a business. We don’t have time for the games.”

“You never were much fun,” a raspy voice that I would recognize in a crowded room replies.

“W-Who is this?” I ask, hoping I’m wrong.

“What? You don’t even recognize the sound of your mother’s voice?”

“M-Mom. H-How did you find me?”

She laughs. It’s a haunting sound. “Oh, come on. Did you really think that you just left town and I didn’t know where you were? Oh, no, my darling daughter. I’ve been watching you for years. In fact, you’ve been making me money, but we can get into that later.”

“What do you mean? How have I been making you money?” I can hear the panic in my voice. I would have been happy if I had lived the rest of my life never hearing her voice ever again.

“Now, now, I can’t be giving away all of my secrets.” She laughs. “At least not until you give me what I want.”

“What are you talking about? If you’ve been following me like you claim to be, you would know that I don’t have anything. Nothing. I don’t even have a car.”

“You’re right, you don’t, but that man of yours does.”

My heart drops to my toes. “No.”

“No? I didn’t even tell you what I wanted yet.”

“It doesn’t matter. I won’t let you touch him or his family. They’re good people. They don’t need evil like you in their lives.”

“Silly girl, they already have me in their life. They have you. You are a part of me, little girl. Don’t forget that.”

I shiver at her calling me “little girl.” It’s what she always called me. I don’t know why she bothered to name me Layla. She never used my name. Never.

“Now, like I was saying, I know you don’t have a pot to piss in, but you’ve done well for yourself. Finding a man with money. I taught you well.”

“It’s not like that. I love him.”

“Oh, I’m sure you do. That’s why you’re going to do what I tell you. I want a million dollars. Cash. You have one week to get it to me, or else.”

“No.” I push the words past my lips. “I won’t use him like that.”