Dominated: The Enforcers 2 (The Enforcers Series) (22 page)

“Drake, look! It’s snowing! Big fat fluffy snowflakes too!”

Drake returned from seeing his men to the elevator and curled his arms around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. He smiled and kissed her temple.

“I see that, Angel. Does that complete your Christmas, then?”

She turned in his arms and looped her arms up and around his neck. “You complete my Christmas, Drake. I can live without snow. I can’t live without you.”

He kissed her slow and sweet, his tongue stroking the depths of her mouth.

“Come sit on the sofa and let me go get my gifts for you.”

Excitement raced through her veins and she was nearly jittering as she returned to the couch. Flashing a knowing smile in her direction, he disappeared into the bedroom only to return a short time later with several wrapped packages. He laid them under the tree and then went back for more. But when he walked back in the direction of the bedroom a third time, her mouth fell open.

“Drake! How many presents did you buy me?” she asked, appalled at the mound of presents piled under the tree.

He grinned as he dumped the third load under the tree and then set off again for the bedroom. She was going to kill him. She didn’t need all this stuff! But, remembering his reaction before when she’d resisted the gifts he’d bought for her, she silenced her objections, refusing to ruin the holiday for him. If he enjoyed buying her things, she wouldn’t deprive him of that pleasure.

Finally, after the fourth trip, he returned to the sofa and held out his hand to her. She let him pull her up from the couch and lead her toward the tree, where they both sat on the floor. Oh, this was going to be so much fun.

They took turns opening gifts, each expressing the sentiment behind each one. Drake looked honestly pleased by what she’d chosen for him, and she hadn’t realized just how nervous she’d been over his reaction until she saw that he truly loved everything she’d picked out.

The whole unwrapping-gifts thing seemed to bemuse and befuddle him in turns. Her heart clenched thinking about the fact that no one had ever likely given him a Christmas present, a birthday present or any kind of present for that matter. If she had her way, she’d give him happiness and joy for the rest of her days.

They’d opened the last of the gifts, or so she’d thought. As she started to get up to start picking up the wrapping paper that lay in shreds all around them, he caught her hand and tugged her back down, only this time, he positioned her in his lap with one arm curled securely around her.

“I have one more present for you,” he said in a husky voice.

“Oh, Drake, you shouldn’t have,” she said helplessly. “I think you bought the contents of one entire department store already!”

He handed her a medium-sized perfectly square and artfully wrapped gift with a huge bow made from satin ribbon. It was almost too beautiful to open.

“Go ahead,” he urged. “Open it.”

With shaking hands, she reverently removed the ribbon and bow and then tore off the paper. When she opened the box, yet another box lay inside. She pulled it out and then proceeded to open it. When she saw the small jeweler’s box inside the second box, her breath caught, refusing to expel from her contracted lungs.

Her fingers glanced clumsily off the top of the box as she tried to get it open. Finally, Drake helped her by flipping the top up to reveal a gorgeous, huge diamond solitaire ring. She glanced hastily at him, her eyes wide with question. She wasn’t jumping to any conclusions and potentially humiliating herself, but oh God, she couldn’t breathe!

He took the ring from the box and then proceeded to slide it on the ring finger of her left hand. Her vision blurred with tears and her nostrils flared as she fought to maintain control of her raging emotions.

Then he cupped her chin with his hand and looked intently into her eyes.

“Will you marry me, Angel?” he asked solemnly. “Will you be mine, legally, for the rest of our lives?”

“Oh, Drake,” she said on a shaky breath. “Are you sure? You really want to marry me?”

“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” he vowed. “You are the only woman I’ve ever wanted—or will ever want—to marry me. To have my children. To grow old with me. Say yes, Angel. I don’t want to wait. I want you to be mine in every way possible so the world knows you’re mine.”

She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely, her heart beating insanely fast, so fast she was lightheaded.

“Yes! Oh my God, yes! I love you so much, Drake. I’ll never love anyone but you. There is nothing more that I’d love than to be your wife and to have your children. I want an entire houseful,” she said wistfully. “How many do you want?”

He smiled, his eyes filling with absolute satisfaction. He looked . . . happy.

“I’ll give you as many children as you want, Angel. With you as their mother, I’ll never have to worry about our children having the kind of childhood I did.” He hesitated, his eyes dimming for a brief second. Then he looked back at her, his expression so fierce and . . . loving . . . that it took her breath away. “Before you, I would have said that I’d never marry. Never have children. The risk was too great. I never wanted any child of mine to have the same kind of mother I had. One who would have aborted me if it weren’t for the benefits she would receive for having me.
But then I met you and everything changed. I didn’t know women like you existed,” he said with awe and reverence. “But thank God they do. And thank God I found you.”

“Oh, Drake,” she repeated for the third time that evening. It seemed like they were the only two words she was capable of saying. “You’ve made me so very happy. You are a living reminder that dreams really do come true. You’ve made all mine come true. How could I not love you? How could I not marry you? How could I want any man but you to father my children?”

“How about we go to bed and practice making one of those babies,” he said, a wicked gleam in his eyes. “I wanted to exchange gifts tonight because I wanted to spend our first Christmas together in bed, making love with the knowledge that as soon as I can arrange it, you’ll be mine in every possible way in the eyes of God and man.”

“I don’t think you need any practice in that area whatsoever,” she said with a sultry smile. “But I’m completely on board with a trial run. You know, just to make sure that when we do decide to make a child, we do it right.”

“So let’s see the ring,” Maddox said when he entered the apartment with Silas accompanying him. “Swear to God, Drake has kept you under tight wraps ever since he popped the question at Christmas. I was beginning to wonder if we’d ever see you again until he finally told us you were coming to the club to celebrate New Year’s Eve with us.”

Evangeline blushed, but her smile was from ear to ear as she extended her hand so the other men could see the enormous diamond glittering on her finger. The stone was so huge and likely so exorbitantly expensive that she lived in fear of losing it. So she never took it off. Ever.

Maddox whistled in appreciation. “Drake knows how to do it up right when he finally takes the plunge. Never thought I’d see the day, but damn, here you are. The future Mrs. Drake Donovan.”

“Congratulations, doll,” Silas said in his quiet tone.

“Thank you both,” she said, offering each an affectionate hug. “Are y’all ready to go? I admit, after being holed up for the last week here with Drake, I’m getting a little stir-crazy. I’m ready to get out and actually see people!”

Maddox chuckled. “Your ride awaits, my lady. And may I say how
amazing you look tonight. I’m tempted to go make you change now because once Drake takes one look at you, he’s likely going to make me turn around and bring you right back home.”

Silas’s lips compressed to prevent his laughter from escaping, but he ruefully acknowledged that Maddox was quite likely right.

“He bought the damn thing, so he can just suck it up while I wear it,” she grumbled.

“I can see why he bought it,” Silas observed. “But somehow I think he had himself in mind when he bought it for you. And not half a dozen other men who certainly appreciate a beautiful woman when they see one.”

“Let’s go before one of you does decide to make me go change,” she said in exasperation.

Dusk had fallen by the time the car carrying Evangeline, Maddox and Silas arrived at the club. They passed by the front entrance, where despite the cold and the flurries swirling in the air, a long line extended down the block to wrap around the building going down the next street.

“Wow, it looks crazy busy,” she exclaimed.

“It’s the club’s biggest night of the year,” Maddox replied. “And it does get pretty crazy. Drake always hires extra muscle and eyes for New Year’s Eve.”

She made a face. “Reminds me of the first night I came here.”

Silas reached over to squeeze her hand. “Don’t even think about that tonight. Tonight is your night to shine and have fun.”

She smiled at him. “Oh, don’t worry. I don’t have a single regret about that night other than I wasn’t the one who punched Eddie in the face. That would have been the only thing that made it better. It’s the night I met Drake.”

Maddox grinned. “Very true. And I have to say, sweetheart, that night ranks pretty high on my list as well.”

They parked in the back next to Drake’s sleek car, and Silas helped her out before positioning her solidly between the two men as they
entered the building. They were greeted by several of Drake’s employees as they passed on their way to Drake’s office. Knowing that Drake had likely already zeroed in on her presence, she smiled broadly and blew a kiss in the general direction of his office.

Beside her, Maddox chuckled. “You’re such a little tease.”

“Moi?”
she asked innocently.

“You’re good for him,” Silas said in a serious tone.

Her eyebrows went up but she said nothing as they rode the elevator up. When the doors opened, she was assailed by a sense of déjà vu. She was brought back to the very first time she’d ridden this elevator, terrified and embarrassed beyond words only to be confronted by the force of nature that was Drake Donovan.

She sighed happily. So much had changed since then. Who would have ever guessed that the woman who’d walked so hesitantly into Impulse that first time would be coming back as Drake’s future wife?

Before they’d taken three steps, Drake materialized at her side, his expression comical as he took in her dress.

“Jesus. I didn’t exactly intend for you to wear the dress here,” he choked out.

She turned in a slow circle, her hands out, palms up. “You don’t like it?” she asked.

“You know damn well I like it,” he growled. “What I don’t like is all of my men seeing you in the damn thing.”

“We’ll suffer through it somehow,” Justice drawled from behind him.

“Oh, I’m sure you will,” Drake muttered.

Then he dropped a kiss on Evangeline’s lips. “I missed you,” he said where only she could hear.

Delight fizzed in her veins like a shaken-up soda.

“I missed you too,” she said huskily.

Then she turned to the others. “Where’s the champagne? Surely you can’t have a New Year’s Eve party without champagne?”

“Allow me,” Jax said, stepping up with a fluted glass of bubbly champagne.

Drake guided her back to his desk, where he sat in his chair and then promptly pulled her down to sit in his lap. She relaxed against him and sipped at the delicious drink.

“So who’s going to dance with me tonight?” she asked mischievously.

Drake’s hand tightened at her waist. “I’ll be the only damn man you dance with.”

“Oh, come on, Drake,” she pouted. “Surely you’ll let them all have a dance with me at our wedding.”

His gaze softened even as fire ignited in his eyes. “They get one minute apiece at the reception.”

“You’re so generous, man,” Zander drawled. “You’re taking the prettiest and sweetest woman in the entire damn city off the market and you give us one minute to dance with her. Nice.”

“Shut up or you lose her cooking as well,” Drake said with a scowl.

“Consider me shutting up right now,” Zander said, holding his hands up in surrender.

For the next few hours, the office held a festive air as they refilled Evangeline’s champagne glass until she had a full-out buzz going. She laughed, smiled and made jokes over the stupidest stuff, but the men didn’t seem to mind at all. Drake grinned the entire time, even going as far as to tell her what a cute drunk she was.

“I am not drunk!” she gasped.

Maddox snickered. “Don’t bet on that, sweetheart. You’re buzzing pretty good right now, I’d say.”

Her eyes narrowed but the problem was, when she did so, Maddox sprouted into three of him. Deciding not to share that particular piece of information with him, she instead ignored him.

“Hey, countdown is on,” Hartley announced. “Thirty seconds to midnight.”

Evangeline seized Drake’s hand and sent him a dazzling smile. “This is going to be the best year ever,” she whispered.

His eyes glittered and he cupped her face, drawing her down into a long, deep kiss.

Behind them, the guys started counting. “Eight, seven, six, five . . .”

They got all the way down to one and the dance floor below them erupted at the precise moment the doors to Drake’s office exploded inward and men carrying assault rifles, yelling for everyone to get down, poured through the entrance.

Drake surged up from his chair, pushing Evangeline behind him just as two guns were pointed at his head.

“Get down!” one of the men barked. “NYPD! We have a warrant to search the premises.”

“What the fuck?” Drake snarled.

Evangeline had to clamp a hand over her mouth to keep from screaming, but when two of the men went for Drake, who hadn’t obeyed their command to get down, she launched herself at them, spitting fury.

“You stay away from him!” she shrieked. “What are you doing to him? You can’t barge onto his private property, point guns at him and then manhandle him like this!”

Silas and Maddox were both being subdued but not easily. And when one of the cops went for Evangeline, Drake erupted in fury, but it was another cop, the apparent leader, who halted everyone in their tracks.

“Leave her alone,” the cop barked. “She’s with us. She’s legit. Leave her and take care of the rest.”

The cop let go of Evangeline’s arm, causing her to stumble back, her alcohol-fuzzed brain trying to make sense of what the cop had just said. Dear God, he made it sound like . . . Oh God, he’d actually
implied
 . . . No. She would not allow this to happen. She would not let Drake ever think she had any part in this.

She watched in horror as each of his men was cuffed and made to lie
facedown on the floor while she just stood there, untouched or bothered by any of the officers. What the hell did they think they were doing? Was this her payback for refusing to help them bring Drake down? They implicated her anyway? Why? What purpose could they possibly have for fucking her over so horribly? Did they hate Drake that much? That they’d seek to take everything he cared about away from him?

No, Drake would never believe them. He wouldn’t. He believed in her. But one pleading look in his direction found his gaze on her, smoldering with rage and betrayal. He looked right through her, like she was nothing. Like she was the worst sort of person in the world.

In her fury, she launched herself at the nearest officer. “Stop this!” she screamed. “Get out! I’m calling his lawyer right now. Swear to God we’ll sue your asses. Every single goddamn one of you!”

“Back off,” one of the cops told her in an icy voice. “We have a legal warrant to search the Impulse offices of one Drake Donovan and to confiscate anything we feel may aid us in our investigation.”

“Bullshit!” she yelled. “I’ll have your fucking badge!”

She was so furious that she was screaming words that would have her mother washing her mouth out with soap for a year. But she didn’t care. She was fighting for her life here. Oh God, Drake hated her. It was there for everyone to see in his eyes as he coldly stared her down.

For an excruciating hour, they tossed the entire contents of Drake’s office while Evangeline stood there sobbing. She’d never felt so helpless in her life as she stood there watching her life slowly drain away.

Evidently frustrated with their efforts to find whatever it was they were looking for, the lead officer called a halt to the search. They uncuffed Drake and all his men and then advised Drake not to leave the city any time in the next several days and that they would be contacting him for further questioning once they’d analyzed all the evidence against him.

That was the most ridiculous, trumped-up thing Evangeline had ever heard of. She might not have a law degree, but this wasn’t the way the
police conducted an investigation. They didn’t barge in with a search warrant and then tip their hand when they found nothing and basically tell Drake exactly what their plans were. Did they think he was stupid? Unless . . . it was all a plan to get Drake to do something stupid. Like panic and make a mistake and lead them right to whatever it was they were searching for.

If that was the best plan they could come up with to take Drake down, they were incompetent idiots. He would never fall for something this absurd. It was like freaking amateur hour. And she was supposed to feel safe with guys like these protecting the city she lived in?

As the police filed out the door, leaving the shattered remnants of it behind, Evangeline launched herself across the room and against Drake’s chest, horrified at the humiliating treatment he’d been subjected to at their hands.

Tears streamed down her face as she stared up into Drake’s cold one. “Oh my God, Drake, what did they want?”

“You tell me,” he said in a frigid tone.

He roughly shoved her away from him, causing her to trip and stumble in the heels she wore. She would have gone down, but Silas caught her. He steadied her on her feet, a look of grave concern on his face.

“Are you all right, Evangeline?” he asked, worry evident in his tone.

Silas’s actions served to only piss Drake off even further.

“Get out,” Drake said flatly. “Get the hell out. So help me God, if I ever see your face again, I’ll have you thrown out and I’ll serve a restraining order against you so that you can’t come within a hundred yards of me.
Ever.
”

“Drake!” she cried, numbness invading her. Coldness overtaking her skin, her blood, her heart. “Oh God, Drake, don’t do this. Please. You have to listen to me. I know you’re upset right now, but you have to see this whole thing was a ridiculous setup. Can’t you see that?”

“Setup? Yes, I suppose you could say that’s exactly what it was,” he
said bitterly. “You played the part very well, Evangeline. You’re to be congratulated. Did it give you an extra sense of victory to know you’d gotten further than any woman ever had before?”

“That’s enough, goddamn it, Drake,” Maddox swore violently.

Drake turned on his man. “You stay the fuck out of this. All of you.” Then he turned back to Evangeline, so much hatred shining in his eyes that she realized the futility of her ever thinking he could love her. “The price of betrayal is everything,” he said, his voice growing colder with every single word. “I want you out and I don’t ever want you near my apartment, the club, any of my businesses, and Evangeline, you don’t want to know what happens to people who don’t heed my instructions.”

His voice had dropped to a dangerously low level, but she was beyond caring, beyond pride. If she lost him, she lost everything anyway. What did it matter if she had nothing else?

She went to her knees in front of him, her eyes begging him to listen to her. To believe in her.

“Drake, please, you have to listen to me. I have never betrayed you,” she said softly, painfully. “Not once. I have always had faith in you. I’ve always believed in you. I’ve never questioned you. And now I’m asking for the same from you. I’m begging you to trust me. To believe in me until I have a chance to prove I had nothing to do with this.”

Drake flinched. Silas and Maddox winced, their eyes brimming with sympathy—and anger, fully directed at Drake.

“I’m on my knees, Drake, and I swore to never allow myself the humiliation I felt the night you degraded me in our apartment, but right now, I have no pride. I have nothing if you don’t believe in me. Please say you’ll believe in me. Just this once, Drake. I swear you’ll never have cause to question me again.”