[Charlotte]I don’t dare say his name. I know who it is. There is no mistaking the velvet timbre of his voice. He could say my name across a crowded room and I'd know it. I hold the receiver close to my face and wish I could be holding him instead. Micah McKaine. My lover, my fiance, my devil. He says he's on his way. I am both excited and terrified at the idea of seeing him again so soon. When I left him behind in San Francisco he was connected to machines clinging to life. I don't know what miracle he called in to be on an airplane headed my way, but I worry that he is making a terrible mistake. He's still so weak. Does he want to risk coming into the lion's den?“I miss you, Juni, but you really shouldn't call me here. I'm busy settling into my new job.” I hope he understands what I’m trying to do. I am sure the room is bugged. I'm pretty sure the phone itself is still safe since he hasn't had an opportunity to switch it out or be alone with it. That doesn't mean he hasn't got ot
[Charlotte]The rude sound of an alarm wakes me from a lovely dream. As I pull my head out of the covers, I see that all the lights in the house are flashing while a high-pitched wailing sound vibrates off the walls. "What is going on," I kick myself out of bed, throw on my one safe, clean dress, and grab my shoes. Is it a fire, or an earthquake? Some other kind of emergency.As soon as I enter the main room, the noise and lights come to a complete stop, the hotel room returning to its regular calm state. Whatever emergency required that level of alarm must have passed.Sensing I am up and about, the suite greets me in a frighteningly friendly manner. "Good Morning, Ms. Monroe. How may we serve your needs during your stay?""What the hell was all that noise," I hold my head, my eyes burning with exhaustion. "Torture?""Your alarm clock, miss. Mr. McAllister will be expecting you at brunch in about an hour. Shall I call hair and makeup?"I look at my reflection and groan. I look like I
[Charlotte]"I'm sorry, I don't think I heard you correctly?" I look over at McAllister. "Mr. McAllister, I'm supposed to be your liaison, not the CEO. I don't know anything about running a multi-billion dollar company." "Oh, I disagree, Ms. Monroe," he gives me one of his signature smiles. "Besides, who else can I trust? Andy is out of the picture and McKaine will be gone in just a few short weeks. But let's discuss this over brunch, shall we? I don't know about you, but I think better with a full stomach." "So you trust me now," I raise my eyebrow as the doors to the elevators open. "I trust you to act as I expect you to act," he smirks. "Nothing more, nothing less.""You know what," he smiles again. "Skip brunch. Why don't you and Riggs find you a new place and go shopping and tonight, I'll meet you for dinner and drinks."There is something about the way he says this that makes me uneasy, but I do not feel I can refuse his offer without drawing suspicion. "That sounds lovely,"
[Charlotte]I leap into his arms, pulling him into me, breathing his scent mixed with the smell of cooking grease and soap. As he wraps his arms around me, I start to cry. It has only been a day, not even 24 hours, and I missed him so much."Shhhh Cher," he coos as he holds me closer. "I'm here mon petite ange.""How are you here? You were dying when I left you! I came here to seek revenge, you foolish man." I pull him closer to me, so tight I can feel his heart beating against mine. "Miracles and medicine," he laughs, but it ends in a cough. He's still not well, he's just hiding it for my sake.I want to wrap myself in him. I want to forget the world exists and keep me with him always. But I can't. For all I know we are being watched right this minute. Or listened to. None of this is safe. Turning slowly in his arms I face Riggs, my security detail, hired by McAllister. He rolls his sleeve back a little bit more and shows me a small, golden chrysanthemum mixed with cherry blossoms
[Charlotte] The Masumoto Riggs family owns the entire building and rents out their rooms at a fair rate to travelers and locals alike. "Free Breakfast every morning," he includes as he takes us down the hall to my new room. "McAllister told me to help you find a suitable place. I can think of no place with better security than here." Kenji then informs me that every member of his family, including Stephanie, has several years of martial arts experience and that all of his sisters also have additional education in surveillance, robotics, and other beneficial trades. "Any bugs McAllister put on us died about a block back," he informed me. "We like to keep private matters private." I pulled out my phone. It was also dead. Frowning I hold it up to him. He laughs and pulls out a new one. "This one is a family phone. McAllister's bugs won't work, and my sister Allison designed the case. It protects the phone from EMPs." His family has electrical magnetic pulse devices set up in var
[Charlotte]After Micah and I had our little homecoming, he let me know that he would be sharing this apartment with me while I stayed here in Portland.When I told him that might get us both in trouble, that it was too dangerous, and that McAllister could be watching both of us he informed me "There is no way I'm letting you out of my sight.""Fine!" I shouted. "Just don't get me killed!""I promised I wouldn't let you go in alone and I meant it. Either myself or someone I trust will be with you everywhere you go. I don't trust that bastard alone with you."While I appreciate his loving support, I also wonder if part of him is not so worried about what the enemy will do, but what I will do unsupervised. He says I'm his equal in all ways, but this possessive controlling side which I first found attractive is starting to remind me a bit too much of Andy. When I said something along these lines his face fell and I saw disappointment there for the first time in a long time. When I left h
[Charlotte]McAllister is waiting for me at a small table in a back room of sorts.It is blocked from view with three walls, with the fourth wall facing a stage, more like an oversized private stall. There are other similar stalls lining the room. I take a seat next to him. Kenji stands behind me, watching our backs. I wait for McAllister to talk. I want to hear what his explanation is for bringing me to a place like this. A place where someone like me isn't an equal, but entertainment. "I understand your confusion, Ms. Monroe, as to why we are meeting here" he grins widely at my discomfort as I watch scantly clad women deliver drinks to sleazy-looking men with too few inhibitions. They fondle the girls, giving them tips for their trouble and I find my stomach lurching when I discover that many of them are only wearing garter belts and no panties, their mounds on full display every time they bend over. I see one man slide his hand between a pert brunette's legs. She doesn't say any
"A different arrangement?" It takes all of my effort not to cringe. I look towards the stage avoiding eye contact. McAllister bends towards me to move a single strand of hair from my face to behind my ear. As he does he touches me lightly on the sensitive part of my neck. "As I mentioned before, I don't like to touch. I don't like to touch anyone. You'll never have to worry about me trying to seduce you, Ms. Monroe. I am not interested in physical intercourse with another person." What could he possibly want instead, a peep show? And why does it have to be me?"Briggs," he addresses Kenji over his shoulder. He stands to attention. "Please take care of the item I discussed with you a moment ago while I speak with Ms. Monroe." He nods and bows out of the stall, off to do whatever it is McAllister demands, leaving me alone with him. Micah had promised I'd never truly be alone, so I have to assume that somewhere, out there, someone else is watching over me, someone I cannot see. Tryi
[Charlotte]I don't remember much after that moment when I first attacked McAllister. I was lost in the moment, avenging my fallen friend, making sure that he didn't get up ever again. And then I felt a sting on my back and a rush of heat. I fell to the ground and the rest faded into nothing. When I woke up in the hospital two days later and Juni was by my side, I thought I must be dead. But I wasn't. She isn't dead, and neither am I. An hour or so later, Micah arrives in the room smelling clean and looking tidy, his arms full of dozens of chrysanthemums in shades of gold and white. "A gift, from the Masumotos, " he explains as he sets them down next to my bed. Juni kisses me on the cheek and says she'll see me later as she leaves Micah and me alone. "The girls are fine," he says as he takes a seat, "And as you can see, so is Juni. Everyone is safe."I nod. It's all starting to feel like a bad dream. A nightmare I didn't think I'd wake from. "Was it ever Juni in that room?" I ask
[Micah][Earlier that evening]Stepping out of my car, I am flanked by my crew as together we walk straight into the dragon's den. Our enemy, McAllister, is going down tonight. We aren't alone as we approach the landing. It seems that McAllister called in all of the faction heads to attend his VIP event. Even the current head of the Skeleton Crew is here, Bones LeRoux bringing full Louisiana flair, from his checkered suit to his ivory-topped cane. Mobs bosses and gang leaders from across the country all gathered in one place. McAllister is planning something. Something big. Maybe this wasn't just about MMK Industries. Does McAllister have plans for a global expansion? "Nah," I say to myself, realizing the truth. "He's just trying to show off." Roger, standing next to me, nods in agreement. For a man who is outwardly plain and prefers to remain unnoticed, he does have a way of making himself showy when he needs to. As soon as we pass the threshold to his mansion, the drab exterior
[Charlotte]The flight over was grim. We are not going to Portland on holiday--it is a rescue mission. Micah and I stayed next to one another, but I couldn't cuddle in his arms the way I'd prefer. We both had to be generals of this little rag-tag army of ours. I have my girls, my Blue Diamonds, and he has his Angels and his soldiers, his troops on the ground. There would be time for snuggling later. If we all survive this. And if we don't, I guess we'll have to find each other in the next life. As soon as we land we'll be going our separate ways. He'll be taking his people to the Tattooed Walls. We'd be McAllister's guests in one of his hotels.Our time went by much too quickly. It felt like a blink Holding my hand, we disembarked together, Micah refusing to let go of me until he had no other choice. Waiting on the tarmac were two cars heading in different directions. If all goes well, we'll be back here tonight, on our way home.And if it doesn't...Using our intertwined hands as
[Micah]I do not like this plan of Charlotte's. It is too dangerous. She is putting too much at risk, even surrounded by her Blue Diamonds. As part of the plan she made with McAllister, she and her girls will be providing "entertainment" for him and a few choice guests. "A private, intimate party for only the very best customers." Just the thought of her in a room with his kind of people makes my heart race and my vision blur with fear and anger."I'm counting on you to make the most of the time we give you," Charlotte demands, holding my face between her hands as she looks me dead in the eyes. "My girls and I can take whatever he dishes out, don't you worry about us. He isn't going to expect that a bunch of strippers are also cold-blooded assassins. But we are only the distraction. We need you and your boys to get us out of there safe."I think she is underestimating him, which is why I need to make sure my part of the plan goes flawlessly. As soon as we touch down, I kiss my beau
[Charlotte]My blood is still boiling after seeing what that bastard did to his own daughter. It is ten times worse than any humiliation that I ever faced by Andy's hand, and it is her father pulling the strings. Did he make her watch Kenji suffer too? Was she in the room when her father's men cut off his ear? We're going to save Sasha and Kenji. And then we're going to burn it all down. But how do we slay this sick dragon? Micah wants to go in full guns blazing, the Masumoto clan at his back. Grandma Masumoto is down for this plan, angry that her favorite grandson has been captured and so thoroughly disrespected. She's already called the cousins in Yokohama. They'll be flying directly to Portland and arriving tomorrow morning. I have another, more subtle plan, one that I hope will distract McAllister enough for Micah to be successful in our little coup.Pitching my idea to him, he tenses. "I don't like this, Mon Ange. I don't want to put you in that demon's grasp." "You'll be ju
[Charlotte]"Can you sign for this?" A smiling young man approached the main desk. I was passing through and our receptionist, Claire, handed it to me. Sasha was out today, so I took the package. Weirdly, she didn't call in, but knowing Kenji's plans for her last night, I'm sure they're still busy "resting" in bed this morning. I can already imagine the wedding. She'll be such a beautiful bride. After thanking Claire, I see that it is made out to Mr. and Mrs. McKaine. Rubbing my finger across the postmark, I can't help but glow. We're really married. It's still so hard to believe, even though I wake up next to him every morning snuggled into his warmth after a night of endless lovemaking. You'd think learning I am pregnant with his twins would cool his ardor--mission accomplished! He's so virile he succeeded in knocking me up twice over. But no, if anything he's even more passionate, even more determined to show me his love every day. "You are so beautiful," he likes to tell me eac
[Sasha]My father has never been a gentle man. Nor has he ever shown compassion to anyone, not true compassion. Not even to his daughter. I grew up knowing that I am not blood-related, that he picked me from a selection of surrogates pregnant with children they didn't want. He didn't want to leave his physical legacy in the world. I was just something for him to control and mold. Love wasn't part of the deal.To be honest, I don't know if he's capable of such a complex emotion. Or any true emotions. He wears masks that people find believable to convince him that he is interested in them and that he cares about anything they have to say, but it is all an act. Just another part of his carefully curated self-image. Just like me--just another prop to make him more "likable" and "relatable." Most children turn to their parents when they need comfort. I never had that instinct, or more precisely, I was never allowed to develop that kind of attachment. The only people who were with me cons
[Charlotte]Humming to myself, I walk to the break room, take a slice of some "welcome home cake," that the office had presented to us this morning, and grab a nice cup of coffee. The cake tastes amazing. I've hardly been able to keep anything down lately and my body needs the calories. Apparently, this baby likes sugar because I am able to eat the entire piece without even the smallest touch of indigestion. Taking a sip of my coffee to cut the sweetness, I start to choke. Fighting back the urge to vomit, I force myself to keep it all down. Fine, no coffee. My girls gave me similar trouble. They didn't like any caffeinated beverages. I couldn't even drink a cup of green tea. "Babies suck," I look at my coffee sadly as I text Micah to let him know our appointment is in 45 minutes. "Meet me in the garage in 10 minutes," I text as a follow-up. Tossing my coffee, I groan. I could have used that jolt of energy.I don't even make it to the elevator before Micah has his hand around my wa
[Charlotte]Things are different when I come into the office the next day. My morning starts normally enough. Micah is already off for his day, gone in early to take care of some "urgent business," and I'm to come in a bit later after dropping off the girls at their new school. My new driver, Agnes, is the latest addition to the Blue Diamonds, and like Roger is to Micah, she will be my constant companion and driver. "Ma'am, we're here," she announces in a tight, southern drawl. "Are you ready, or do you need me to make another circuit?""I'm ready," I give her my sunniest smile even though on the inside my stomach is churning--although I'm not sure if it's about this or something else, something more important. Thankfully Sasha is already in my new office, typing a report when I enter. I know she's McAllister's daughter and I shouldn't trust her, but Kenji loves her, and that's good enough for me. I trust his judgment and his family's legendary ability to judge a person's inner cha