Page 20

Rhys

O n the way downstairs I call Scott, and he’s waiting in the Escalade at the curb by the time I make it outside. Jade is in the backseat, and the rear of the vehicle is stuffed with boxes and duffel bags bulging at the seams.

“I’ve got everything you’ll need,” Scott assures me as he shuts the door after loading my boxes.

“Thanks, Scott,” I tell him as Jade takes my hand. “Do you know if Theo, Crystal, and Austin got what they’ll need from the office?”

“Yes, they did,” he says. “And whatever is missing, we can have Mackenzie deliver where it needs to be.”

“Okay, great. I’m sorry this is so hurried.” I shake my head. “I feel completely scrambled.”

“That’s just the nature of this business,” Scott says as he pulls into downtown traffic.

I try to breathe and focus on Jade’s hand in mine on the ride to the airport. There’s not much else I can do right now. But then I have a thought. Perhaps there’s a way to use this journey for something good.

I call Jim to touch base. I explain that we’re en route to the airport and that I’ve told Mackenzie where we’re going, but not anyone else. “But I was thinking about seeing Justin’s family in Denver on our way into town. I won’t give his mother a lot of details, but I haven’t seen her in a while, and I know she’s struggling. Does that sound okay to you?”

“Umm…” Jim pauses a moment. “I don’t think that will be an issue. You can tell the pilot it’s okay. We’ve been in touch with Gina pretty consistently, and I’m sure she’d love a visit. Spreading you guys out was our priority. Let’s keep the circle small on why you’re in Beaver Creek, though. I have a big team in Denver, and they’ll be able to keep up with you, but make sure you’re aware of your surroundings and don’t be talking a lot about where you are as you interact with people.”

“Okay. Thanks, Jim. Sounds good.”

Once we arrive at the airport, I step away as they load our things onto the Allerton family plane. It’s a Boeing 747, so there’s plenty of room.

I dial Gina Aldo, Justin’s mother.

“Hello? Rhys?” she answers. “Do you have news?”

“I’m sorry. We don’t know anything yet. But I’m coming through Denver this afternoon, and I thought I might take you and Graham, and Brandon and Patrice, if they’re around, out for dinner. Anywhere you want to go.”

“Of course. We’d love to see you. But I can cook for us.”

“Whatever you feel comfortable with. I’ll have a huge crew with me, though, and I’m bringing a new girlfriend.”

“That’s fantastic! What’s her name?”

“Jade. I think you’ll like her a lot.”

“I can’t wait.”

“Okay. We’re leaving San Francisco now. I’ll check with the crew, but I think we’re going to land at Centennial Airport, and with the time change we should get there by four?”

“I can’t wait to see you,” Gina says.

“I’ll be in touch again soon,” I tell her as we disconnect.

One thing that’s worried all of us is that since Justin disappeared, he hasn’t spoken to his mother. He used to talk to her weekly. They were close. Since he’s reached out to some of us, I was hoping by now he’d been in touch with her too. But it didn’t sound like that’s the case.

I talk to our pilot and ask for small reroute to Denver for a few hours’ layover. Then I speak with Scott and ask him to arrange a car for us at the private plane airport and request a bouquet to take with me to Gina’s.

Once things are settled, I join Jade, who has already boarded the plane. The Allerton Mining 747 is luxury personified. The light gray leather captain’s chairs each have their own tablet for viewing. There’s a staff of four flight attendants, and one is a personal chef, ready to make whatever we desire for lunch.

I take my seat and reach for Jade’s hand. “Justin’s from Denver. I thought we’d stop by and see his family. His mother has been such a mess since he went missing.”

“I can only imagine. If you prefer, I can wait on the plane during the stop.”

“What? No, of course not. I told her we could have dinner, and I was bringing my new girlfriend. Is that okay?”

Jade grins. “I like the sound of that.”

After a few minutes, the pilot confirms the route change, and I text Mackenzie to arrange dinner—catered or somewhere local, depending on Gina’s preference.

Once we’re airborne, I spend the flight trying to deal with incoming email and keeping track of the changes in my schedule. Soon enough, we’re descending into Denver, the city a sprawling grid of streets below us.

A nondescript sedan awaits us when we land, its driver anonymous behind darkened windows. We slip inside, and the vehicle glides away with Scott and another member of his team in tow. Why can I never remember that guy’s name?

With the late-afternoon traffic, it takes us an hour to get to our destination. When we arrive at the address I have for them, the Aldos’ home is stunning. Justin used to call it a ‘Denver square’ they popped the top on, but it faces a beautiful park, with downtown to the north and the Rockies to the west.

The car has barely stopped when Gina is running out the door to meet us. “Rhys!” she gushes. She holds me tight before jumping away. “I’m so rude. This must be Jade.”

Jade extends her hand, and Gina walks right into a hug. “I’m so excited to meet you.” When she steps back, she turns to me. “Mackenzie has food arriving shortly. I went with barbecue. Does that sound okay?”

I nod. “I’m from Kansas City. You know barbecue is the way to my heart.”

“Mackenzie didn’t know if anyone was vegetarian, so we’ve got lots of side dishes that are meat free.”

“I love barbecue,” Jade assures her. “And I’ve not found a good place in the Bay Area. So this will be a treat.”

“Justin always says he can’t find good Mexican food, so we do that when he comes to town.” She laughs weakly, but her eyes cloud over at the mention of her missing son.

Graham steps out of the house and comes out to join us. “This is my husband, Graham,” Gina tells Jade.

Graham extends his hand. “So nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too.”

“Let’s go inside,” Gina suggests.

As we enter, she opens her arms to the living room. “This is the coolest room in the house. Please make yourself comfortable.”

I love the dry heat of Colorado. So much better than the humidity I grew up with in Kansas City.

“Any news about Justin?” Gina says as soon as we’re seated.

“I was hoping you’d have news. Have you heard from him? He’s taken to leaving voicemails for Crystal and now me.”

Graham reaches for Gina’s hand, and her eyes fill with tears. “No, he hasn’t called us. Why not?”

Her words stir something raw in me, a guilt that’s been festering since the day Justin vanished. I think of my mother, our hollow and very rare phone calls that feel more like obligations than connections. Maybe Justin feels the same way—trapped by the weight of expectations, too far gone to come back. But Gina’s not like my mother. Her love is real, unwavering. Yet it hasn’t been enough to bring him home.

Crap. I hate that I’ve upset her. I truly believed he’d reach out to his mother. “I don’t know. I still don’t understand why he’s gone.”

“He used to call every Sunday, without fail,” Gina says, her voice breaking. “Even when he was traveling, he’d find the time. I just don’t understand why he’s stopped.”

“Maybe he’s protecting you,” I suggest gently.

Her gaze sharpens. “From what? From whom? If he’s in trouble, he knows we’d do anything to help him. Why won’t he let us?”

I shake my head. “We’re all working on figuring that out,” I assure her. “Listen, I’m traveling because last night someone broke in at Crystal’s house, and our security thinks we should get out of the area for a while. I promise we’re on top of this, doing everything we can so Justin will come home.”

“Please,” Gina pleads, her hands clasped. “If you talk to him, tell him I need to hear from him. I just want to know he’s safe.”

“Of course,” I promise. “Maybe you should email him. We know he’s reading his email, and lately, he’s responded here and there. Just keep in mind that his messages are being monitored right now, so what you say to him is read by many.”

She nods. “Crystal told me she was emailing him. I tried that early on, but he never replied. After a while it just seemed to make his absence more pronounced.” She sighs and forces a smile. “But maybe I can try again.”

I nod, trying to find the words to soothe her. We’re interrupted when dinner arrives, and for a time that gives all of us a task and something new to focus on.

When it’s all laid out, I’m stunned by the amount of food. There are pork ribs, sausage, brisket, and chicken, all smothered in rich and tangy Kansas City barbecue sauce. There’s also macaroni and cheese, a green salad, corn on the cob, and several other dishes, but my plate is overflowing, so I can’t even look at anything else.

We sit around the dinner table, and Gina asks about EnergiFusion, so I give her the latest report—our new CFO, a reliable sodium-ion supply. Then she asks Jade what she does, and Jade explains her ceramics business.

Gina shakes her head. “How in the world did you two meet?”

I look at Jade. That’s her story to tell.

She seems to think it over for a moment, and then she tells the story of throwing herself into my car with great relish.

By the end Gina is laughing so hard she’s crying. “I love that!” she says. “What a way to begin.”

We make an attempt at the desserts, but for the most part, we’re just stuffed. Gina and Graham will have plenty of meals left over after this feast. We stay a while longer, offering what little consolation we can, but as the night deepens and the world outside quiets, I can sense that security is ready for us to move on.

“I just miss him so much,” Gina says quietly as we say goodbye.

I swallow hard, feeling the depth of her pain.

Jade nods. “He loves you very much,” she tells Gina. “There must be a reason.”

Gina clutches Jade’s hand. “I just… I just want to hear his voice again.”

I step closer. “We’re going to get him home.”

The sun has disappeared as we finally leave the Aldos’ home. The shadows lengthen, and the stars begin their nightly vigil as we drive back to the airport.

“The crew went on to Eagle,” Scott tells us once we’re back on the road. “And the team has delivered your things to the house in Beaver Creek. We have a helicopter waiting to carry you to up into the mountains.”

I nod, grateful that he’s taken care of everything.

In no time, we’re back at the airport, and the world tilts beneath us as we lift off, in a helicopter this time. Through the window, the Rocky Mountains sprawl beneath us.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Jade whispers, her breath warm against my ear.

“Hauntingly so,” I reply, pressing my forehead against the cool glass, watching the mountains recede into the night. It’s a reminder of how small our troubles are against the vastness of the world.

An hour and a half after takeoff, we land softly on the helo pad at Beaver Creek airport. A car’s headlights pierce through the dark night as it pulls alongside the helicopter. Despite it being the height of summer, the evening air is cool, and we move quickly into the waiting car.

The driver closes the door behind us and pulls away from the small airport. Jade’s hand finds mine as we set off toward her sister’s place. “I couldn’t tell you in the helicopter, but thank you for introducing me to your friend’s mom. I can tell Justin is a great guy, based on his family.”

“I just wish I knew why he hasn’t reached out to his mother. You saw how broken up she is. She’s more upset than Crystal.”

Jade nods. “I think that’s a testament to the difference in a relationship between a mother and son, and a wife and husband.”

She could be right, but all those relationships are complicated. I can’t remember the last time I spoke to my mother. But I should reach out to Teagan and let her know what’s going on.

“Almost there,” Jade says, her voice weary.

It’s been a long couple of days. We wind through the village, its quaint houses huddled together like old friends sharing secrets. Jade points out a bakery, a corner store, and a string of tiny art galleries that glimmer with the soft glow of lamplight. Then we turn onto a gravel path.

“Here we are,” she announces a few minutes later as we pull up to a stately home that looks like it’s made of giant Lincoln Logs, nestled among towering pines. I can’t imagine a better sanctuary, far removed from the world we’ve left behind.

Security has done most of the work for us, so after we unpack and settle in, Jade and I sit together in the living room in front of a gas fireplace. I know there’s a team around, keeping a watchful eye, but they’ve melted into the shadows, giving us the illusion of privacy.

“This is lovely,” I tell her, trying to focus on the positive.

“I love this place and come here whenever I can.” Jade smiles. “Alexis has always had a knack for making any space feel like home.”

My thoughts drift to Gina’s raw sorrow, to the way she clung to hope and memories. And then, like an unwanted shadow, my grief creeps in, whispering reminders of loss and pain.

“Seeing Gina today…it brought back some stuff about my family,” I tell her.

I can see Jade processing this, her expression softening with empathy. Her thumb traces circles on the back of my hand, and she leans into me, her presence a balm to the raw edges of my soul. “Rhys,” she whispers, “both of us come from screwed-up families. But look at us now, finding our way forward, finding solace in one another.”

She wraps her arms around me, and I let myself be held. I’m not alone with my ghosts. Jade’s here, and together, we’re more than the sum of our broken parts.

After a few minutes, Jade’s touch blossoms into a spark against my skin, a flame that catches and spreads, burning away the chill of memories. She moves with a fluid grace to position herself over me. The soft glow from the fireplace dances across her face, casting shadows that play in the hollows of her cheeks and the curves of her body.

Her hair falls around us like a curtain, sandy blonde strands brushing against my chest as she leans down to kiss me. Aa kiss that’s both a promise and an escape. It’s a gentle brush at first, but it deepens quickly, fueled by the raw honesty we’ve just shared.

I can feel the warmth of her thighs as she straddles me. My breath hitches as she peels off her sweater, revealing a sheer lace bra that does nothing to hide her hardened nipples beneath. The sight is intoxicating; I reach around to unhook the strap, and it falls away. I’m entranced by her beauty in the firelight.

“Rhys,” she whispers, a command veiled within my name.

A primal urge courses through me. I play with her nipples, and she arches into my touch, a soft moan on her lips. The sound sends shivers down my spine, igniting a hunger within me.

She’s everything. So amazing. So much more than I knew was possible. It overwhelms me in a rush. But even as I yearn to tell her I love her, fear holds me back. It’s too soon, too much. We’re already dealing with so many things. What if she changes her mind about this?

Then her hands are on me, unbuttoning my shirt, teasing the pierced nipple beneath. Her touch is fire, and I am steel—hard and unyielding. “Jade,” I groan.

With a swift motion, she flips us over, her movements fluid and sure. Her pants are gone in an instant, discarded somewhere beyond my field of vision, and I’m painfully aware of how wet she is. It’s a sensation that drives me wild, makes me want to taste her, to worship her with my mouth, but she shakes her head.

“Not tonight, Rhys. I have other plans for you,” she says, a devilish glint in her eyes.

“Anything,” I rasp, desperate.

“Lose the clothes. Lie back.”

I strip down, muscles tensing in anticipation, and spread out on the soft rug, watching her every move. Soon, she stands before me, a goddess in the firelight, and I’m ready to surrender to her every whim.

She joins me on the rug. “Condom,” Jade breathes against my lips.

I reach for my wallet with a hand that trembles with sheer, unbridled desire. The foil packet feels like salvation as I press it into her eager palm. She takes it from me with a smirk of triumph and rolls it onto my aching hardness. Descending onto me with a groan that echoes my own, she envelops me in warmth, in wetness, her satisfaction vibrating through the space between us.

“Slow down,” she commands gently when I try to guide her rhythm. Her hips sway above me with a measured cadence, each movement drawing a deep growl from my throat. “I’m in charge now, Rhys. Just feel how you stretch me, how you fill me up.”

“God, Jade,” I rasp, gripping her hips, thumbs pressing into the soft flesh as she rides me. “You make me…” My words trail off, lost in the haze of pleasure as she tells me how good I feel inside her, how much she wants me.

Every slow slide is an exercise in restraint. She’s got me teetering on the edge of madness. And then, my control snaps.

I can’t take this torturous pace any longer. I flip her beneath me, and her laughter rings out, clear and bright, the sound of it more intoxicating than any liquor. I drive into her with an urgency that borders on desperation, needing to feel her shatter around me.

“Ah, Rhys!” Jade cries, her inner walls clamping, holding me captive in the most exquisite way. I’m locked within her, immobile, every muscle tensed as I pour adoration into each thrust.

“Fuck, you’re beautiful,” I pant, watching the firelight dance in her eyes. “I want running away here to be about exploring you…every single desire.”

“Show me,” she challenges with a wicked grin, rolling over onto her knees obediently.

“You shouldn’t tease me,” I reprimand. I spank her once, hard. The sting of it sending a shockwave through both of us. Her response is immediate, her pussy clenching around me as I pound into her from behind, relentless. “That’s it,” I tell her. “Take my cock.”

“No one has ever fucked me like you do.” She groans.

“And no one ever will.” Again, my hand comes down hard on her ass cheek, and I take a moment to admire the pink handprint.

She’s balancing on one hand with the other strumming her clit. “I’m so close…”

She gasps, and with a surge of determination, I push my thumb into her ass, taking her over the brink. Her climax triggers mine, a powerful rush that obliterates thought, leaving only the raw pulse of connection as we come apart and then back together, entwined in the flickering shadows of our mountain sanctuary.