Chapter 10

Chapter Ten

THERON

“What are you telling me? I would like a touch more information,” I demand.

My body is hot, and my skin breaks out in a sweat. I press my lips together and wait for him to explain to me exactly what the fuck happened. Because I can’t imagine Emmie is doing something so deceiving. Sure, she’s manipulative, but I didn’t think it went past her personal need for attention.

Now I’m wondering who the fuck I’ve been… well… fucking…

There is a moment of silence. He watches me before he clears his throat. “I don’t know exactly what’s going on, but Asher asked another guy if he knew when Ravet would be arriving. They said he would be in town in five days, and he was expecting the shipment to be ready.”

“Shipment?” Hale asks.

“Shipment,” Merrick confirms. “I don’t know if this shipment is drugs or teenage boys.”

His words cause my spine to straighten. “Is that club a front?” Vaughn asks. “What do we know about it?”

“I think it is,” Merrick whispers. “I think that it is exactly what it is. This is a front. I’m just not sure what exactly for. Boys or drugs. But what I do know is that your girl is involved.”

I smirk. “My girl?” I ask. “Let’s not get it fucked up,” I say. “I fuck her, but she is not mine.”

“No,” Boden growls. “She is yours, and you’re going to make sure that she stays that way until we figure out just how involved she and her father are in this shit.”

Ignoring Boden, I focus my attention on Merrick. “How is Emmie involved?” I demand.

Merrick chuckles. “I went back through the footage when I heard his name and figured out who the fuck Asher Grant was to her. And lo and behold, Emmie was in that club the other day.”

“What did she say?” I grind out.

He shakes his head. “Nothing much, but she talked to her father. They were in a discussion, and she smiled and kissed him on the cheek. It was in the bar area, so I couldn’t make out the conversation.”

“The other owners?” I ask.

I can’t focus on Emmie and her father right now. I need the bigger picture. All the bigger pictures, the size of the goddamn world big.

“So far, I can’t find anything much on them other than one owns the art gallery where Emmie works.”

Everything that is coming to light is so very interesting, but right now, I’m not getting much other than coincidences. Big ones, but only those. How would Emmie know who I am? My past has been scrubbed. All of ours has.

And if it’s Ravet or perhaps her father who told her, then there are other issues we have, not just this woman. This meeting was important, but we still don’t know a hell of a lot, and that worries me.

“So, you’re telling me that I have to pretend nothing is wrong for the next five days?” I ask.

Merrick shrugs a shoulder, his gaze lifting to meet mine. “Until something else is said, I got nothing to add. You know everything I know.”

“Maybe one of us can watch her?” Grayson suggests.

The men are quiet, and as much as I want to protest, I’m not sure I can. Fuck this shit, all of it. I cannot believe this is happening. It’s not even that I give a shit about Emmie because I honestly don’t. It’s the fact that she might know more about me than I want her to. Than I’ve allowed her to. I have a big fucking problem with that shit.

“I’ll do it,” I grind out. “I will stay on her every goddamn move.”

I can sense all the men sharing glances with one another, but I ignore them because I don’t give a shit what they think.

“You don’t think you’re too close to this?” Merrick asks.

Biting the inside of my lip, I think about telling him to shut the fuck up, but I don’t. Instead, I shake my head once slowly. “I’d have to feel something for her to be close to it. I fuck her, but that’s all. If she’s using me, manipulating me for more than just sex, then I want to fucking know. I will not let this cunt get away with a goddamn thing.”

“Fair enough,” Merrick murmurs.

And the next plan is in place.

That being me taken off surveillance room rotation and following Emmie’s every fucking move, which means fucking her—a lot. Damn, the bad luck. We break, and before I go back to Emmie’s, I make my way home and check in on my place and, secretly, Lucille.

LUCILLE

“Tell me you love me, Theron,” I whisper. I don’t dare say the words too loud for fear of waking him up.

Theron sleeps so soundly sometimes. It’s the only time that I can really look at him when I can tell him how I truly feel. There are nights when he’s restless when he’s plagued by nightmares. He doesn’t tell me what they’re about. He never does. But tonight is a good night, and I can’t stop staring at him.

Reaching out, I start to touch the side of his face, but when he lets out a heavy sigh, my hand retracts quickly. He grunts, rolling away from me, and I lie back on my pillow, staring at the ceiling.

I don’t think he’s ever going to tell me he loves me or anything else romantic like that. I’m this person he wants to be around. I’m good for sleeping beside and being inside of, but nothing more than that.

“What?” Theron asks, turning his head slightly to look over his shoulder at me.

“Nothing,” I lie.

He hums, rolling over, and without another word, his arm wraps around my waist as he pulls me against his side, then beneath him. His mouth slants to the side, his tongue slipping inside as he tastes me.

Fingers travel down my side before they slip between my thighs. Theron breaks the kiss, nibbling on my bottom lip before he shifts his head and his lips are just below my earlobe. He sucks on my flesh, and my entire body breaks out into goose bumps. Then he pushes up slightly, and I feel his length press against my center.

Sucking in a breath, I hold it as I wait for his intrusion. I’m ready for him. But he doesn’t move his hips. Instead, he lifts his head, and his eyes find mine.

“Theron?” I ask on an exhale.

His lips twitch into a smirk. “Tell me you’re mine,” he softly demands.

“You know that I am,” I breathe.

He gently slips just the head of his cock inside of me but nothing else. It burns slightly, but almost instantly, it feels so good that I start to pant with anticipation of his entire length’s intrusion.

I want it.

“You’re mine,” I say.

My voice is on edge because that’s exactly how I feel. I could come right this second. It wouldn’t take much at all. Theron doesn’t move, though. He stays where he is, just the head of his cock penetrating me and nothing else.

I almost wrap my arms around him and pull his body toward me so that he sinks deep into my body, but I don’t. He wouldn’t like that. Theron is very much a man who needs control. Lots of control, and I am more than willing to give that to him.

He chuckles, nipping my bottom lip as he inches inside of me just a little more before he stops again, his eyes focused on mine, his lips curved up into a smirk. Lifting my hands, I cup his cheeks, and I do something that is probably the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life, past, present, and likely future as well.

“I love you more than I could even express, Theron Henderson. You’re everything to me,” I whisper.

His entire body jerks, his eyes widen, and without another word, he sinks the rest of the way inside of me. Tears fill my eyes at my mistake. It’s not a lie, it’s how I feel because I do love him. I’m just sorry that I said it out loud. Clearly, it was the wrong move.

Theron moves inside of me, just as expertly as he always has, but there is a distance, along with a deafening silence between us. I try not to overthink it, and thankfully, my body allows my mind to forget as I climb higher and higher, my orgasm clouding my thoughts as it consumes my body.

When Theron comes, it’s with a roar that fills the room before his lips touch my forehead, and then he’s gone. I watch as he climbs out of bed and walks toward the bathroom. I want to call out to him that I didn’t mean it, but it would be a lie.

I meant it.

Every word.

I love him with everything that I am.

I’m not sure how long he stays in the bathroom, but when he returns to bed, I hold my breath, waiting for him to say something. His lips touch the side of my throat as his arms slide around me, and he tugs me backward against his chest.

Theron lets out a heavy sigh before he murmurs against my neck. It’s something that is unintelligible, and I almost ask for clarification, but I decide that I don’t want to know. Instead, I close my eyes and hope that this can blow over. I won’t ever say it again, not unless he says it first. That is something that I can promise.

Lying in bed, I suck in a breath as I stare at the ceiling. I can’t believe that I thought of that moment. The time that I told Theron I loved him. He didn’t say it back, and I didn’t expect him to answer, either.

It was the beginning of our end.

A mixture of sadness flows through me. I’m hot, tired, and frustrated . Kicking off my blankets, my heart slams against my chest. I don’t know what to do, but I feel like I need to do something.

Maybe it’s because I watched Theron get a blow job tonight, and I’m already sexually frustrated, or maybe it’s because I know that there is something happening with him, with Emmie, and I can’t do anything to stop it.

Maybe it’s because I don’t want him to feel anything for anyone but me. I’m the one he should be with. I’m the one who should be giving him blow jobs. Not her. Not anyone else. Me. I’m the only one who should be on their knees for him.

Even if I somehow was able to tell Theron that Emmie is shady as hell, I’m not sure he would believe me or even really care. I have zero concrete evidence that she’s doing anything wrong other than being a manipulative bitch, and I’m pretty sure he already knows that part.

Flinging the covers off my body, I sit up before I throw my legs over the bed and stand up. Walking toward the kitchen, I pour myself a glass of water before I walk over to the window that stares out at dark nothingness. I wonder what the hell I’m going to do.

Emmie isn’t who she claims to be, but I just don’t know what she is yet. I’m not sure if I will ever figure it out, either. There are puzzle pieces that I don’t think I’ll ever get pieced together.

There’s nothing I can say to convince Theron of anything, and if I try, I’m just going to look like a jealous asshole. Granted, that’s exactly what I am. But I don’t want him to know that, at least not yet.

Bringing my glass to my lips, I take a long drink, then let out a snort. This is the stupidest shit I’ve ever done, but at the same time, I feel like it’s the only thing I can do. It’s beyond jealousy now. It’s a need to get to the bottom of all of this.

I have to know who this bitch is.

Making my way back to the bedroom, I set my water glass down on my nightstand and crawl back into bed. Rolling onto my side, I stare at the wall. I spend the rest of the evening and early morning categorizing everything that I’ve found out.

I’m not sure what the hell I’ve found out. I know it’s something, but I’m missing the main components. I just don’t know what they are, and it’s pissing me off. Sitting up again, I lean against the headboard and stare straight ahead.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I get dressed and grab my keys as I head out of the house. I can’t toss and turn any longer. I need to do something. Making my way toward my car, I sink down in the driver’s seat and start the engine.

I don’t know where I’m going, but when my car stops moving, I’m in front of Emmie’s place. Her blinds are open as usual, and I don’t expect it, but I see Theron walk into the room. He leans against the doorjamb, and my whole body shivers at the sight of him.

Every single part of that man is effortlessly sexy—every single aspect. I’ve never met anyone like that before or after him.

Taking my phone out of my pocket, I check my email, and I’m surprised to see I’ve got another email about Emmie’s father, Asher Grant. One that is a bit more in-depth, which causes me to pause.

Asher Grant used to work for a company that was into acquisitions. It doesn’t say much else, just that it was named Pointe Industries. And that is also very much a shell company.

Another one.

What the actual fuck is going on here?

How many shell companies do these people need? That makes me think of one thing and one thing only—illegal activities. But what illegal activities? I have no damn clue.

It makes me even more curious about this because if she’s involved with any illegal activities, wouldn’t Theron know about it? I can’t imagine he would get involved with someone who he doesn’t know anything about, especially in his industry.

Flicking my gaze back to the window, I wince at the sight. They’re both naked and kissing. I hate that her lips are on his.

That’s so damn intimate.

I can’t sit here and watch them fuck. I also just can’t sit here anymore and watch them do anything. It’s starting to really mess with my head. I don’t have him, and right now, he clearly likes her more than I initially thought.

Which means I’m going to have to work a little harder than I anticipated. I have to tell Theron that there is something very wrong with this girl and the relationship they have. I’m also going to have to step up my game in making myself very obvious in Emmie’s life.

Driving back home, I decide to gather my notes and visit Theron sometime tomorrow, at least after I’ve watched Emmie a little more. There is no other way around it. I have to tell him what little I know and hope he doesn’t think I’m absolutely crazy.

He probably will. So will Emmie. I don’t care. This girl has given me bad vibes since the moment I laid eyes on her. It’s now time to ramp up… well… everything. I’m hoping to have this bitch long gone in a matter of days.

Once I’m home, I make myself a cup of coffee, letting it cool while I take a shower. I find my best jeans, the ones that make my ass look amazing and lifted. On top, I slip on an off-the-shoulder top that is tight and stops at my waist.

As I drink my coffee, I think about what I’m going to say when I walk into Theron’s office. What am I going to do if he doesn’t believe me? A million things could happen, but I know that I must do this. If I don’t, it will bother me, and I’ll never be able to forget about it. So, there is really no way for me to move forward with anything until I get this handled.

And handled it will be.

One way or another. Even if Theron doesn’t believe me, even if he tells me that what I found is nothing, even if he tells me to get the fuck out of his office, whatever the case may be, he will know about it, and then I can focus on ruining Emmie. Because no matter what Theron says, I will ruin her. I like absolutely nothing about that woman.