Cravings (12 page)

Chapter 25

J
ennifer lifted the scarf to her face. “It even smells like Maeve.”

She spoke with such wistfulness that a lump formed in the center of Sasha's chest. She wished she had a friend like that—someone who would risk so much to try to find her if she'd gone missing. Pure love. She found herself with a whole new respect for Jennifer. True, she was a major pain in the ass, but you could not ask for a better friend. Sasha had only a few friends—her cocaine relationship was the most nourished, followed by Paul, now gone.

“Do you think she could have been in this room?” Jennifer asked.

Sasha shrugged. “Either that or they took it from her and it somehow ended up here. Or maybe she left it here. There's so much junk here. Maybe we should look around. Maybe we'll find something else of hers.”

Jennifer stood, setting the scarf on the bed. Half of her face was lit by the bright light of the lamp and Sasha glimpsed a look of resolve she'd never witnessed in another person. She began to rifle through the things in the room. Towels. Piles of them. Sheets. Clothing.

“Anything familiar?” Sasha asked.

“Nothing yet,” Jennifer replied. “But that scarf. I know it's hers.”

“So Mozingo must know something,” Sasha said, refolding the towels and sheets Jennifer rummaged through. “He sat right there and lied to the officer and to his wife.”

“Humph,”
Jennifer said. “Men will do that.”

“Don't I know it. Only I am usually the thing they are lying about,” Sasha said, smiling. “I hated that. But a girl's gotta make a living.”

“Some of us don't lie on our back to do it,” Jennifer said with a sharp tone.

“Stop judging me,” Sasha said, rubbing her head. “Besides, I didn't lie on my back much at all.”

Jennifer dropped the last towel on the floor. “Oh really? What did you do then?”

“I told you. I was a dominatrix, a paid one. I beat the shit out of them in every way you can imagine.” Now that got Jennifer's attention.

“And you got paid to do that?”

“Thousands,” Sasha replied.

“Shit, I could do that,” Jennifer said, grinning. “I know a few men I'd like to beat the shit out of.”

The door swung open and Sanj sauntered in with the detective. They explained the situation to him.

“Interesting,” D'Amico said. “Mozingo thinks he's above the law. Always has. I wasn't buying his story. But now I have proof that he must know something—if this is indeed her scarf.”

“What next?” Sanj asked.

The detective thought a moment. “I think we're going to have to get a search warrant together. And let's keep this bit of evidence to ourselves.”

He slid his cell phone out of his pocket and walked off to another part of the room. They heard him ask for the warrant to be delivered, pronto.

“If she's here, I want to find her,” Jennifer said.

“It's a huge estate. She could be anywhere,” Sasha said.

“If we're lucky, she's somewhere in this house,” the detective said. “The property is extensive, with caves and waterfalls. It extends deep in the forest, places where nobody really lives anymore. A search could take . . . weeks, maybe.”

“Weeks?” Jennifer said, shrill.

Sasha shivered. The thought of Maeve being held by Snake was almost too much to bear. “This man, this Snake. You know him?”

She nodded. “Yes. His real name is Sam Everidge.”

The detective whistled.

“You've heard of him?” Sanj asked.

“He's a very wealthy casino owner. Owns a chain of them all over the world. Big rap sheet. Always gets off any charge levied.”

“That's him,” Sasha said.

“And, um, how did you know the man?”

Sasha told him her story, leaving him almost speechless.

“I'm certain he means to kill me, and I know he'd kill Maeve. I've seen him kill others and not blink an eye.”

“That makes you an accessory to murder,” the detective pointed out.

“Oh, Detective, I've been an accessory to just about every crime you could think of.”

He tilted his head and grinned. “Okay then. Just so we are clear about that. Right?”

Sanj moved closer to her and put his arm around her. A protective gesture. Something exchanged between them as their eyes met.

“Let's get back to Maeve, shall we?” Jennifer said. “I hate to be a bitch and all, but Maeve has been kidnapped by this guy who you say kills people. And we are all standing around with our thumbs up our asses.”

“I have a team on the way,” the detective said. “We are going to search the entire house and the property. So stand down, lady.”

“Look—” Jennifer began.

“We have to follow protocol,” he interrupted. “And if you continue to be a problem I'll lock you up just to get you out of the way.”

Jennifer stood in front of the detective, almost chin to chin. “I'm the most valuable person to your investigation in this room. I discovered the scarf and knew it was Maeve's. I know this woman.”

“And I know the man,” Sasha said. But he didn't look at her.

Detective D'Amico suddenly appeared charmed. Was that a spark of attraction? Sasha always knew when a man wanted her. But this man wanted Jennifer. As Jennifer stood right in front of his face and lifted her chin, the chemistry between them was visible to everybody in the room.

The detective stepped back. Jennifer watched as his eyes casually swept over her.

His phone buzzed. “Yes, send them in. And bring Mozingo to me.”

Chapter 26

“T
his is absurd,” Jennifer said as they were being escorted off the grounds of the plantation.

“I quite agree,” Sasha said.

“Ladies, listen,” Sanj said. “We need to abide by their laws and cooperate. At least until my man gets here and can make some sense of this.”

“Good thing he's coming. I don't trust these locals, ” Jennifer said.

“D'Amico is obviously not local,” Sasha said.

“But he works for them,” Jennifer responded. “And he's an arrogant SOB.”

“I thought he was nice. He seemed like he liked you,” Sasha said.

Jennifer beamed. “Of course. But it means nothing to me.”

Sanj slid his arm around Sasha. In the back of a police car, Sasha's imagination flashed on handcuffs. Silver shiny ones wrapped around Sanj's chestnut-brown skin. What would he think of her if he knew she fantasized about cuffing him to the bed and spanking his beautiful ass?

“You look devilish. What are you thinking?” he whispered.

“Trust me,” she said. “You don't want to know.”

An eyebrow lifted. “Yes, I think I do,” he said.

She grinned. “We need to find Maeve . . .”

“Yes, but in the meantime—”

“You need to clear your mind?” she said and laughed.

“What's so funny?” Jennifer spun around from the front seat to ask.

Sanj cleared his throat. “Nothing. Never mind.”

Jennifer turned back around.

 

Each one of them went to their separate condos, much to Sasha's and Sanj's chagrin. A private guard was posted outside their condos, and they were ordered to stay in their separate places. Jennifer's condo was farther away, but Sanj and Sasha's were across from one another.

“I'm sorry,” Sanj mouthed to her before he slipped into his condo.

Me, too, Sasha thought. How could they even be thinking about sex at a time like this? Humans were funny animals. In the midst of danger, of grief, or almost any strong emotion, they still wanted to screw. Was it the adrenaline rush? The comfort of skin on skin while the world went to hell?

Before Sanj, Sasha had not had intercourse in years—since Paul died. And even then, only sporadically. Paul wanted to be collared, wanted to be her submissive permanently. She would have done anything for him. She was very protective of him—even as he continued to want more and more pain and kink from her.

The more successful he became as a chef in the public eye, the more submissive he became to her behind closed doors. She was only too happy to oblige. She began to tingle at the thought of sex with Paul.

Sasha lit a chocolate-scented candle next to her bathtub, then slipped into the water. She closed her eyes and remembered the last time they were together. He had told her he was leaving his wife. He wanted to live with her, for her to quit working for Sam. He would take care of her, he said—which is when the trouble between Sam and Paul began.

She choked back a sob as her body began to relax in the warm bubbly water. He was gone and she needed to move on. Sanj helped. But she knew she could never rely on anybody to help her get over Paul. This healing was hers to do alone.

She opened her eyes and looked out over the dark sky. The water sparkled from the moonlight and lights from some of the condos were turned on. Was that Sanj's condo? A light
there
. A movement. Oh my. There he was, looking out the window in her direction, with unmistakable interest and longing on his face. A tilt of his head. Could he see her in the candlelight?

Sasha lifted herself out of the water and stood naked, facing Sanj, who leaned forward and grinned. Sasha had the perfect view of him. She dripped water, so she reached for a towel, leaned over, and lifted her leg to the tub, allowing her breasts to rest on her thighs. She took the towel—thick, cocoa-colored, and soft—and started at her feet and wiped her legs, ever so slowly. Her senses popped. She loved how he watched her. Had no idea it could be so titillating. She wrapped the towel around her body and reached for the chocolate-scented oil. She turned her back on Sanj as the towel slid from her body.

She splashed the oil all over herself and rubbed it in with long, sweeping swipes of her hand. Her own hand. And he watched her.

What was happening to her? Fallow parts of her emerged. First, allowing herself the pleasure of a lover, and now feeling the soft, spreading warmth of her own hands and the unmistakable wetness between her thighs. Could anybody else see her? She didn't think so. The condos consisted of weird modern angles and tropical landscaping—certainly it was a fluke she and Sanj saw one another.

Should she?

She could not remember the last time she'd pleasured herself—not simply as a way to excite a lover or client as a show. Men loved it. She'd not even had the desire for it.

But his eyes were on her. Something about him. Something about his stance as he watched her.

She sat on the edge of the sink and found herself.

Chapter 27

S
anj wanted to do more than see her. He wanted to feel her writhing beneath him, on top of him, everywhere. He didn't know where these emotions came from. He wanted to grovel at her feet, submit to her in every way.
An Indian man does not grovel to women.

“Get ahold of yourself, man,” he said to himself. A security guard was right outside the door. They'd asked that they not leave their condos until morning. Well, not really asked, more like ordered. Sanj thought they were suspects and were certain the police were doing background checks on all of them. Hell. Soon they would know who he was—and things would take on a different tone completely. It always did.

Her skin glowed in the candlelight. Too dark to see everything. A breast in the flickering shard of light. The rounded mound of her ass in another slice of light. Then her hand moving between her thighs. Her head dropping back; a strand of wet dark hair falling on her shoulder. Her hand moving faster in circular motions.

Then her face coming close to the window. Blowing out the candle.

He stood watching the dark window as if somehow he could will himself across the walk and into her arms. He felt himself hard and pressing against his trousers. Damn, not again. He was a walking boner these days—this harked back to his teenage years.

His phone buzzed. “Yes,” he said.

“I'm here,” Josh said. “Where are you?”

Sanj gave him the condo number and told him to be prepared for questioning by the guard.

“They have you under surveillance?”

“Calling it protection,” Sanj said.

“Okay, no harm in that, I guess. Be right there,” Josh said. Good old Josh. Always watching out for Sanj.

Within a few minutes he was standing at the door and answering questions about who he was and so on. Finally, with all the identification shown, the man was finally let in.

“What a fucking mess,” Josh said. “Have you heard from the kidnapper again?”

“Yes, I know what he wants—and he's not getting it,” Sanj said, and explained.

“Look, this Sasha? She's a criminal,” Josh said, scratching his beard.

“I know. But she is trying to start a new life.”

“Sanj, man, you've got to stop this bleeding-heart crap,” Josh said. “She's a pro. She's probably up to no good. So let's say she wants to start a new life. And she means it. The recidivism rate for prostitutes is ridiculous. She has no other skills. She's a coke head. She'll be back to turning tricks in no time.”

Sanj ignored Josh, hoping to make him squirm a bit. He walked into the kitchen. “Can I get you a drink?”

“Any beer in the fridge?”

Sanj smiled and handed him a bottle. They sat down on the couch.

“I know what you are saying is true. I was suspicious of her when we met in Ecuador. But she was in trouble and I helped her out. Then it turned out she was searching for Maeve. I think Maeve thought very highly of her. I trust her instincts.”

“Aw, c'mon. Maeve is a bleeding heart too,” Josh said after swilling another drink. “I've seen it so often.”

“Well. It's not just Maeve,” Sanj said with some hesitation. “I really like her.”

“What?” Josh said, slamming his beer on the table.

“Now wait—”

“Now you wait, Sanj. What are you saying? Are you fucking her? Are you in a relationship with this woman?”

Sanj didn't answer him. After all, he paid Josh; he didn't have to tell him shit. But Josh was more than an employee, he was a longtime friend.

“Fuck,” Josh said. “I told you not to get involved with Jennifer and look what happened.”

“I know,” Sanj said. “Look, it's different with Sasha.”

“What are you going to do, marry her?” He sneered and took a swig of beer.

“We've just met. And you know it's very complicated in my situation. I can't just marry anyone,” he said. “I'm aware of that.”

“Look, if you're, ya know, sleeping with her, it's one thing. But it sounds like you like her. I don't want to have to pick you up from another heartbreak,” he said, meeting his eyes. “Sir.”

He made it sound like Sanj had so many women. Had he?

“So back to Maeve and the fact we don't trade a woman for a woman and deal with a criminal in such a manner.”

“Then we need to find her. Do you think she could be on the estate?”

“It's a possibility,” Sanj said. “It's also possible, of course, that they were here and are long gone. They could be anywhere in the world.”

“But they found her scarf here. She was at least here that we know of. Any other clues?”

“Jennifer has a journal that Maeve was keeping. Would you like to see it?”

Josh looked out the window with a look of subdued rage. Sanj knew his expressions by now. “Jennifer is here?”

“Didn't I tell you?”

He shook his head. “I don't think you did, boss.”

“She met us in Ecuador and came along. She's looking for Maeve, of course.”

Josh grinned. “You have your ex-fiancée and the woman you are sleeping with now, um, sort of together?”

“Sort of.”

“Only you, Sanj,” Josh said and slapped his knee, and laughed uproariously.

“Okay, okay. Calm down,” Sanj said, trying not to smile. “So do you want to see Jennifer tonight or tomorrow?”

“I'd prefer not to see her at all,” he said with a serious tone.