Page 20 of Splintered Security (Aspen & Evergreen #2)
rise and shine
Anni
I wake almost stiflingly hot, wrapped up with Ren.
I don’t even get how we’re tangled, except that I have one thigh thrown over his lower half, intertwined with one of his strong legs.
The hair there scratches and tickles in an almost abrasive way, especially to the skin of my upper thighs. It’s distracting and erotic.
I move my position just enough for it to rasp against my skin, as I snake an arm over Ren’s wide chest. I could so easily climb over him right now, sink down on his cock, and sate this yawing hunger. I could finish what we started yesterday morning.
I can only imagine with his girth, his length, that I would feel him all day until I could have him again tonight. Wetness pools between my legs, and I wiggle, trying to ease the building need. Would it be wrong to touch him, to stroke him? I need to relieve this ache.
The clock reads three thirteen as Ren lets out a quiet snore .
I want him. God, how I want him, but I let him sleep. He didn’t get much last night. I’ll try again in the morning.
Famous last words.
Ren
I wake before my alarm and stare down at the woman in my arms. Like every morning, except yesterday, she’s curled into me, her head using my biceps as a pillow. One naked leg is entwined with mine and, fuck me, if I can’t smell her arousal.
I want her. Everything about me wants everything about her, especially my cock. It takes “rise and shine” to a whole new meaning. But this needs to be her call. Not because she’s scared or in danger. Not because she’s forced to or has no other option.
I’m no saint. I’m sure as fuck no prude. But I won’t take this decision from her.
Only once. It takes only once to betray that trust.
Only once to destroy what we’re building.
Only once to burn our relationship to the ground.
We’ll talk about it tonight. I’ll be lucky not to spend all day thinking about it while sporting a semi.
A light on my phone blinks .
Fuck my life.
Literally.
I could be fucking my wife. Instead, I’m getting railed by everything and everyone else.
I slide out of bed, taking a few moments to stare at her chocolate hair spread all over the pillows. Her slim shoulders rise and fall, and her creamy skin begs for my kiss or my marks.
I’ll lose my mind if I have to remember the face she makes when she comes, smell her in my nostrils, taste her on my tongue, and not be able to sink into the heaven her body offers.
Tonight.
“What did you find?” I sit across from Christian in his home office.
Two years of these meetings. Two years of his orders. Two years of his employ.
“Rosen was tied up with a gang—an MC—out of Pueblo.”
I school my features, giving away nothing.
“It wasn’t long, but long enough that he got in deep and had some debts. He bailed on his obligations, if you can call it that, and moved to Denver. That was fourteen months ago. His mother told authorities he was always running from a ghost, but she thought he’d finally managed to outrun it. ”
“But why last week? Why at work in public? You don’t make that kind of splash with that potential for collateral damage to not collect.”
“DPD has no leads. We may never know, but I’m still digging.”
“I’ll do the same. I grew up in Pueblo.”
“I know.” His eyes level on me.
“Let me see what I can uncover. I’ll make a trip down this week.”
Christian’s eyes narrow.
“Get me everything you have,” I continue.
“Appreciate it. Now onto other business.”
I lift a hand. “Before we do, let’s discuss background checks.”
His brows lift, but he offers a hand in a “go on” gesture.
I can’t help but think that it’s not just me anymore. Everything I do now ripples to my wife. Anywhere she goes, anyone she visits, every place I frequent… all of it needs to be safer, more secure.
“We didn’t know Rosen’s past. I didn’t and, if you did, you didn’t say.”
He shakes his head. “No, I didn’t.”
“I assumed. If he got in, as tight as we hold security with you and your family, we need a more rigorous background check process. The hiring practices need to go from strenuous to… more. ”
He nods.
“Think HR can get new backgrounds on everyone?”
He tips his head in thought.
“What’s changed?”
“Besides a bomb leveling the building I was standing in?”
“Point taken. What do you suggest?”
“I have a Marine buddy I know from my time in Pakistan who’s in the private sector now. Let me ask him what he recommends.”
“Perfect.”
“Though, a wine bar shouldn’t need military security for their sommeliers.” I offer, leaning back in my chair.
“No real sommelier will ping on that check. Besides, I’ll do it for all of Barone Holdings, not just the hospitality division. And I’m willing to pay…”
I don’t respond. With his level of fortune, he can afford to do a thousand dollars’ worth of research on a twenty-one-dollar-an-hour hostess. It’s a waste, but not if I want to take my wife for a fancy dinner.
We discuss a few things regarding his wife, Ayla, and her family. He has some concerns about safety. Neither of us need to worry about Liam Murphy—as far as what he can get himself out of. It’s what he gets himself into that could be a problem.
Then again, he saved my ass already this week, so I’ll have his six regardless .
By the time we’re done with all of our business, the sun is high in the sky. I’m hungry for more than just lunch as I head home.
Me: I need some advice. Do you have some time to talk?
Matt: Give me ten. Are you okay?
Me: Yeah. Employment shit.
Matt: Are you looking to get into operations? I might know of something.
Me: Not right now. But I’ll always listen.
Matt: Call you in ten.
I’m in the car on the road when the phone rings.
“Gallo.”
“Ren?” Anni’s voice is tentative.
“Yeah, Sunshine.”
“Your mom’s here.”
I grip the steering wheel and roll on the gas to get to the interstate. “I’m heading home now. Are you okay? Want lunch?”
“I’m not hungry.” The boldness she had yesterday has diminished.
“You didn’t answer if you’re okay.”
“I know. ”
“Because…?”
Her voice changes in the receiver. “Yes, Mrs. Gallo. Ren’s on his way.” But to me she adds, “You’ll see.”
“Anni?”
“Yeah?”
“Need to know you’re okay, baby.”
“I will be. See you soon.” She disconnects, and I’m left wondering what fresh hell this Monday just dropped in our laps.
When my phone rings again, I answer without checking. “Yeah, Sunshine?”
A long pause is followed by a deep rumbling laugh. “Not used to being called Sunshine, but I can dig it.”
“Shut the fuck up, Morris. How the hell have you been?”
“I can’t complain. DC is good. Life is good, except for being downgraded from Sunshine to Morris in four seconds flat. A man needs a little ego stroke now and then.” His laugh continues, but he’s no joke. The man is talented. And smart. Anyone who underestimates him proves themselves to be a fool.
“Your ego is fine.”
“You wound me. How are you? Long time no talk.”
“Life is… complicated. But good. Still in Colorado. You should come out sometime.”
“I’ll certainly consider it. What’s going on that you texted? ”
“I need to increase security for my employees and my employer. If money were no object, what’s the best military-grade background check I could buy?”
“Legally? I’ll dig into it. Not so legally? I have a chick on my team who is a badass hacker. It may not be wholly ethical, but if you need that level of dirt, you’re not dealing with people who deserve any level of privacy anyway.”
“Good to know. Definitely need to know the legal one. I may need the other for some personal business.”
“That sounds more like it. Anything I can do?”
“Unless you can aim from DC and hit someone in the Rockies, then not today.”
“I’m good, but maybe not that good.”
“What you lack in ability, you make up for in self-confidence.”
“I can’t help it, Gallo. When you’ve got it, you’ve got it. And I’ve got it in spades.”
“What’s that old line about writing checks your ego can’t cash?”
“I’m CashApp. Only old farts keep checks.”
I turn onto my street. “I’m home and have a situation. Get back to me on the background check, and I’ll get back to you on the hacker.”
“Later.”
My phone vibrates just as I’m throwing the SUV in park.
Matt: {Marissa Torres’s contact}
I give it a thumbs up and slam the door behind me as I walk into whatever chaos awaits me.