Reed (Allen Securities) (9 page)

Reed tucked himself away quickly and walked over to the door to open it. She sank onto the couch and peered around him. The open door revealed a hulking man that stared pointedly at her. Her narrow gaze fixed on his frumpy close and wild hair.

She stared intently at the hard lines of his face. The jagged scar was a stark reminder of the kind of people they dealt with. But it was his eyes that really drew her. He took in everything but said so little. A chill swept through her as she continued to stare.

Reed turned back to her.

“I’ve got to deal with this.” His eyes searched her own. Emotion clouded his face for a brief moment, and Olivia couldn’t help but hope he didn’t want to leave.

She nodded to him and blushed. Despite what they had just done, she wanted more. Everything in her wanted him to shut the door and take her on the floor with the passion she seen before. Her pussy clenched with need at the thought.

Her head popped up at the sound of the door closing. With a sigh, she leaned back against the couch and tried to gain some level of control.

Chapter Eight

Olivia jolted upright. She had been listening to the gentle rumble of the two men in the hall as they talked, but this not talking. The shouting could clearly be heard through the door and likely everyone in the vicinity.

She walked over to the door to see what was happening but stopped when her name was mentioned.

“Olivia had nothing to do with this,” he shouted.

“Then what was she doing there?” The other man didn’t shout, but the menace was clear. He did not like her.

“She works at the library,” Reed said. “It’s clear her brother just picked a place he knew.”

“Or picked a place where she could help if needed?” The sneer was evident, even with the closed door.

“With what weapon? The woman stood with me during the whole exchange. If anything had happened I would have been right there.”

“And how did you know she didn’t have a weapon?”

Olivia’s breath hitched in her throat. She knew how had known. The way she had been pinned to him, there wasn’t a thing on her he hadn’t been able to feel. She could feel the heat bloom on her cheeks at the realization.

“I was holding her back from danger,” he said quietly.

“I’m sure you were,” the other man said.

“Now, Ryder, this is bullshit.” Reed’s voice rose again.

“You know what’s bullshit? Having a woman with the connections she does and a rap sheet like hers at your house. Did you read her juvenile record?”

“No,” Reed said quietly. “And you shouldn’t have either.”

“Well one of us has to have some common sense,” Ryder spat out. “I’m doing everything in my power to protect you and instead I find you fucking her in the office. This is Niki all over again.”

“Now wait just a—” Reed stopped mid-sentence as Olivia threw the door open.

“That. Is. It.” Olivia shook as she pointed to Ryder. “I’ve heard about enough from you. What I choose to do with Reed is none of your damn business and neither is my criminal record.”

Anger coursed through her as she stared at the two surprised men. Crossing her hand over her chest, she hid her shaking hands.

“But since I can’t seem to get past it, let’s relive one of the worst days of my life.” She narrowed her eyes at Ryder. The surprise was still etched into his face.

“You don’t have to,” Reed started.

Olivia held up her hand to silence him.

“It’s fine. I’m sure it would come up one way or another.” She sighed. This was not how she wanted to spend her evening.

Looking over the rail, she could see that all eyes below were turned to them. It was no surprise really. With the shouting from the two men and then her outburst, she was just glad they weren’t trying to break up a fight. She looked between the two. With their height and size, they were fairly evenly matched. A fight between them would likely take more than a few men to put it to a stop.

She nodded to the door. “Let’s go inside.”

Reed followed her in with concern. This was not what he was expecting. She guarded her past so well. It was strange that she would share this with him and his brother.

He lowered himself next to her on the couch and glanced between her and Ryder, who had pulled over the chair at the desk. His brother gave him another scowl, and Reed sighed. It had been this way since Niki, and he really didn’t have anything to say about it. Ryder had been right, and if he had listened to him, he might not have the scar on his face or the ones under that he refused to show.

“I was young when she first started using me,” Olivia said, her quiet voice breaking his thoughts. “At first it was simple stuff. Collecting door to do, lying to the social worker.” Her glassy eyes looked into his, and he itched to hold her.

She cleared her throat and continued. “Then as I got older, they jobs got more elaborate and serious. We had moved on to lifting wallets and breaking into houses.”

Reed watched as she twisted the hands in her lap. It was obvious this was hard for her. “I didn’t have a choice. Mom,” Olivia sneered as she talked, “she didn’t beat us, but her boyfriends certainly didn’t have any trouble with that.”

She turned her hard stare on Ryder. It was surprising to Reed to see his brother, hard and silent type, being pinned by such a small woman.

“It’s amazing what a person can endure when they have no choice.” She paused and held his eyes. “But then that’s not in the report. Is it?”

Ryder swallowed and glanced to the side.

Olivia turned to look at Reed again.

“I was thirteen and Ben just six. The latest boyfriend was a real piece of work. Slept all day and woke up still drunk from the day before.” She swallowed hard. Reed reached out and took her hand. “This day was no different. I used to make Ben sleep in the attic space in his closet, but Shane wanted none of that. He started tossing everything out in order to yank him down.”

“Where was your mother?” Reed spat as rage worked through him.

Olivia laughed bitterly. “Out buying more whisky.”

Reed gripped his knee hard as he tried to calm himself.

“I screamed at him to stop and tried to pull him away. Instead he lost his balance and landed hard on top of me. I was so glad to have pulled him away that I didn’t even notice the situation I was in.”

He looked over to his brother who shared his sickened look. His stomach rolled as she spoke.

“When I felt his hand slip under my shirt I fought with everything I had,” She cast her eyes down as if caught in a trance. “I was able to wiggle away slightly, the whole time his disgusting hands moving over my body. Just as he reached the button on my pants, my hand reached something solid.”

Her haunted eyes found his and stared at him unblinking.

“I hit him as hard and as many times as I could. When he stopped moving I rolled him off and stood over him shaking. I had just beaten him to death with the cordless phone.”

Olivia drew in a shaky breath.

“I washed off my hand and made the call to the police with the phone I had just used.”

“Sounds pretty cut and dry.” Ryder’s low rumble startled them both. “Is there something you aren’t telling us?”

Reed glared daggers at his brother.

“You’re right,” Olivia said. Reed turned wide eyed to her. “It should have been open and shut but that damn phone. I don’t know if the DA just wanted a notch under their belt or what, but there was lots of talk on why I didn’t just call the police.”

“That’s horse shit!” Reed ran an angry hand through his hair.

“My mom didn’t help in all this. She was pissed and refused to believe that Shane had nearly raped me.” Olivia took in a deep breath and seemed to calm. “It worked out in the end. I was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. The judge kept it juvenile and sentenced me to probation. With the probation officer keeping a close eye, I wasn’t much use to my mom. By the time I was fifteen, she had all but moved out. I took care of Ben and tried to keep him out of her life as much as I could.” She sighed loudly. “Apparently not well enough though.”

Reed looked over to Ryder and raised a brow. No matter how much an ass his brother could be, there was no way he’d find fault with a story like that. Ryder nodded his head toward the door. Reed squeezed Olivia’s hand and got up to walk Ryder out.

When he opened the door, Ryder strolled through and stopped on the other side.

“I know it seems like I’m being an ass, but she’s still bad news to get involved with,” Ryder said. He looked anywhere but at Reed.

“We’re not involved,” Reed said firmly.

“Sure didn’t seem that way earlier.” Ryder’s mouth formed a hard line.

The men froze when the tones of a phone cut through the office.

“Ben!” Olivia practically shouted into the phone. Relief hit her so hard, tears trickled down her face. “Where are you? Are you all right?”

The phone was quiet for a moment before he spoke. “I’m glad to hear your voice, sis. Are you alone?”

Olivia looked over to the two men stalking her way.

“No.”

Reed scowled at her, likely guessing the question. He might be the best thing since sliced bread, but she didn’t trust him as far as Ben was concerned.

“The big guy from the library?”

“Yes. He’s been looking after me.” She couldn’t help the irritation that crept into her voice.

Reed placed a gentle hand on her arm. She looked up tried to judge his position. There was something he wanted from Ben. Something all these men wanted from him, and right now, Reed was his best chance.

“I’m sorry,” Ben said. His soft voice broke a piece of her.

“I know,” she sighed. “What were you thinking?”

“I want a better life.” He paused. “For both of us.”

“Wasn’t I doing that?” Olivia turned her back to Reed. Her tears threatened to turn into a waterfall.

“You deserve better than that,” he said with conviction. “I was just trying to do better for us. If it weren’t for that weasel Neil.”

“I’m with you there.” She gritted her teeth at the memory of the last time she’d seen Neil. “Oh well, it doesn’t matter. Tell me where you are so we can pick you up.”

Olivia strained to hear her brother on the other end of the phone. The silence echoed in her head.

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea,” he said finally.

“What do you mean?” She nearly choked thinking about him out there on his own. “You can’t be serious. Ben, these people are serious about finding you.”

The quick glance to Reed’s face was only proof of this. Several bruises still dotted his face, and she was certain the one on his side was even worse than yesterday.

She jumped when Reed placed his hand in front of her. He stared expectantly at the phone in her hand.

“Uh, Reed wants to talk to you.” She didn’t bother listening and placed the phone in his large hand. It would have been comical to see such a large man with the glittery pink phone if she wasn’t so on edge. Someone had to talk sense into him, and this was about the only option she saw.

Reed took the phone through the door into the hall, and Olivia snorted.

“He’ll get this sorted out,” Ryder said from his position in the chair.

Olivia wanted to throw things. Of course he’d get it sorted it out, but she sure as hell was tired of being in the dark on everything. Something was going to have to change. If she was in this for the long haul, then someone needed to start telling her what was going on.

Reed walked back in with phone in hand.

“We’re meeting him tomorrow night at the pier.” Reed turned to her. “He wants to see you.”

“What’s in those documents?” Olivia watched as Reed sealed himself off from her.

“Something you shouldn’t know about,” he said.

“Oh and why is that?” Olivia crossed her arms.

“It’s too dangerous,” Ryder chimed in.

“Oh like I’m not already in danger?” She tapped her foot in annoyance. “Mob thugs trashed my apartment, and I was left to die in a burning warehouse.”

“It’s not the same.” Reed sighed. “Let’s talk about it tomorrow. Can you take her home?” Reed turned to Ryder.

Olivia pointed a long finger at him. “This isn’t over.”

“I figured that.” He rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Olivia grabbed her things and stopped at the uneaten lasagna.

“What a waste,” she said as she wrapped it up.

“We were busy.” Reed locked eyes with her. The passion from earlier ignited her veins. “See you later.”

Her core fluttered at the thought. “Yeah,” she said breathlessly.

Chapter Nine

Reed woke with a start. Someone was moving around downstairs. It had been late when he had come home. He’d barely stripped out of his jean and shirt to put on shorts before his head hit the pillow, despite the unknown woman sleeping beside him.

He jumped out of bed as the fog of sleep started to lift and stilled when a male voice cut through the house. His heart raced when he noticed Olivia was already out of bed.

Without thinking, he raced down to the kitchen.

Cage, Meg and Olivia sat at the table sipping coffee. Reed relaxed once he spotted her.

“What the hell is going on here?” he barked.

“We’re just having coffee,” Olivia said. “Would you like a cup?”

He looked down to see her smiling face. It was something he could get used to. He nodded for the coffee.

After pulling out a cup from the cupboard, she walked around like she had been doing it for ages.

When she sat very close, he jumped at her nearness. Her fingers lightly grazed the larger bruise on his side. It was already feeling much better than yesterday but still tender to the touch. He moved slightly out of reach until she pinned him with a hard stare.

“Hold still,” she said and went back to the gentle poking.

Reed looked up when he heard Cage and Meg snicker. He glared at them. This was so unlike him. No one told him what to do. It was usually his place to give the orders, and when he did, they were followed. This woman pushed him to the absolute limit on just about anything.

Her breath skimmed the skin of his stomach, and he had to start doing multiplication in his head, so he wouldn’t think about how close she was to other parts of his body. Maybe it hadn’t been such a great idea to sit down with nothing but a pair of shorts on.