“You’re being cruel and that’s because you’re in pain. You think I don’t know pain? You think I don’t know loneliness? I get it.”
“Fuck off, Grace.”
She clenched her hands into fists but rather than leave, she wrapped her arms around him, not letting him push her away. He could throw all his verbal temper tantrums. She didn’t care. She wasn’t going to let him down like so many others had. He wasn’t on his own, not with her.
Holding on to him, she refused to let him go.
“Grace?”
“I’ve got you. I’m here.”
He didn’t cry, nor did he push her away. Instead, he pressed a delicate kiss to her shoulder, and that was all she needed.
****
Christmas came by in a daze. Caleb was there to help James celebrate. When it came time to remember his mother, though, Caleb was silent. He couldn’t say a prayer. No matter what Grace said, there was blood on his hands for that one accident. As for Grace, he didn’t fucking know what to do with her.
She was like this beacon of light.
The sex was out of this world and no matter what he tried to tease or dirty her up with, she held her own. He also loved watching her thrive under his tutelage. Seeing her come was one of his favorite pastimes. Even with his men close by to listen or watch, he brought out the devil in her, and in return, she did something to him that he wasn’t entirely sure of.
He was determined to get rid of her before the New Year. Only that came and went. At midnight, she was the person he kissed and saw into the new year.
The whole of January came and went, and before long, it was Valentine’s Day. Again, he intended to send her back to the life she had before. He didn’t. Instead, he took her out to a fancy restaurant. They had a delicious meal and afterward, he took her to a motel. He’d hired a babysitter to take over for James, who had been thriving with Grace’s constant care. There were times he did find himself jealous. His work pulled him away from her and he didn’t always have the luxury to spend as much time with her as he wanted.
She hadn’t run when he gave her the chance. At the restaurant, she hadn’t even tried to get a waiter to help her.
Grace was proving to be difficult to be disappointed in.
Now, as he sat in his office, staring across his desk at two police officers over an incident in one of his clubs, Grace entered with a platter full of cookies and coffee. He hadn’t sent for her, but he’d told one of his men to get the drinks. He didn’t like having cops in his home, but this was one of those times he could truly test Grace. If she failed, he’d have to take drastic steps.
His gut twisted as she offered a smile.
“Thank you,” one of the cops said. His name was Owen, and out of the two, he was the one on his staff. The other one, Brian, was not.
Caleb glared at him. “Sweetheart, I’d like to introduce you to Owen and Brian. They’re investigating an incident that was reported in one of my clubs.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, you mean the drug one you told me about?”
He had in fact told her what had gone down in one of his clubs. Some asshole had been peddling another’s product and it had resulted in a few ODs. It had pissed him off as the finger of blame had been pointed at him. He didn’t deal the kind of shit that killed people, but no one would listen.
Owen had called to warn him that they were investigating and he was the next person they intended to contact. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise to him. Most people seemed to want to screw him over. He was always the bad guy. The beast, as most people called him. Sure, he had connections in drug peddling and guns, but so far, no one had died on his watch from the drugs.
“Do you want to make a statement?” Brian asked.
Grace frowned. “Why would I want to make a statement?”
“You know, we had a woman come in the station lately. She claimed she wanted to make a missing person’s report. What did you say your name was again?”
“Why does it matter? I’m not lost.” Grace moved behind him, her hands going to his shoulders and massaging out the tension.
Caleb waited for her to take the opportunity that was opening up.
Brian pulled out his notepad, flicking back a few pages. “Grace Page. She was suggested to be missing.”
“I’m not missing,” Grace said. She leaned down and brushed her lips across his ear. “I’m going to take care of James. Enjoy.”