Last night, he shaved off his scruff before he made love to me slowly, apologizing for the pain I'd endured. This morning, he emerged from the bathroom dressed in his signature white button up and black slacks. His hair was combed and styled to perfection, and his jaw seemed more defined—sharper. Perhaps it was from the weight he had lost during my absence, but his body was still toned.
He went to the field office early this morning for a meeting with John Alex.
Yesterday, General Garner decided to make an appearance…
Yesterday. St. Louis field office.
“You fucking bastard!” I shouted as James and I entered his office.
His abuser stood by the windows, hands in his pockets as his eyes scanned over the city. My city. My home.
My feet began moving towards him as an anger I'd never known took hold of me. This man beat James as a child. What kind of father did that to his child?
James’ arm banded around my waist, his chest hitting my back. “Calm yourself,” he whispered sternly.
“At least you know how to keep your woman in line, son. You learned that from me,” his father mused, turning to face us, as his eyes trailed down the length of my body slowly. “Seems you have better taste than I did.”
In the next second, I was behind James, hearing the familiar sound of a gun being loaded. “Another word about her or my mother, I’ll put a bullet in your mouth,” my agent growled.
“I only came to offer an olive branch, son. Put the gun away, and let’s talk like men.”
“The last time we talked like men, you pushed me down a staircase and nearly killed me,” James deadpanned. I moved back to his side, glaring at this monster.
His father smiled and gestured to James’ desk. “Your career is impressive. You were a fine soldier, and from what I’ve heard, an amazing agent. You're serving your country well, James.”
“Buttering me up won’t get you anywhere near that list.”
The smile on the general’s face fell, morphing into a snarl. “You don’t want to go down this path, boy.”
“Because you're on it, Dad?” James sneered, stepping closer to him, his gun still raised.
What?
His father was on Casey’s list?
A lump of disgust formed in my throat. I looked at James, my heart aching for him as he snarled at his father.
“You made a mistake coming here, thinking I would strike a deal with you. Your king is dead. Your skin trade profits are being drained from your bank accounts as we speak. Oh, and your golf buddies? You know, the ones who like little girls?” James took another step forward, and I wanted to vomit. “Their homes are being raided. Their campaign managers are being investigated, and their voters…” My lover chuckled darkly, lowering his gun.
“This will be on national news tomorrow morning.”
The general snapped. “You fuck—”
I stepped forward and yanked the gun from James’ grasp. I pointed it, and the man stopped, his forehead against the end of the barrel. “Touch one hair on James’ head, and I will shoot your dick off,” I hissed, dropping my aim and pointing it at his uniform covered crotch.
Present Day. St. Louis field office.
“Princess.”
I blinked and looked up to find dark eyes. “Hi,” I said weakly.
He stroked my cheek. “Disappeared on me for a second there,” he murmured, watching his finger trail my jaw and down my neck.
“Just thinking about yesterday.”
“I didn’t like that he saw you,” he admitted.
“Well, I didn’t like the fact that he thought —”
