The UN Series Complete Box Set (69 page)

“Thank you,” I say, paying for our new sheets and comforter. I bought everything new, from curtains to throw pillows and even a few rugs that match the new comforter.

“Thank you,” the cashier says cheerfully. “Have a great day.”

I throw all of my sacks into the cart and push it out of the store. As I make my way to the back of the parking lot, I notice that there is broken glass on the ground next to Nadia. I look up to see that more than half the back window is knocked out.

What the hell?

I get closer to the truck. I pull out my cell and dial Slade’s number as my eyes scan the parking lot.

“Come on,” I say as I listen to it ring and ring.

“Hello?” I hear a woman’s voice on the other end. I freeze for a second until I realize I know that voice. Rose.

“Rose. Is Slade there?” I say in a rush.

“Samantha. He’s in a meeting right now. Is there something I can do for you?” she asks nicely.

“Someone broke into the truck.” I scan the parking lot again. Do you ever have a feeling that someone is watching you? I have that feeling right now and it’s very unsettling.

“Oh no. Are you alright?” she asks with worry in her voice.

“Yes. I was shopping, and then just came out to find the truck had been broken into.”

“Let me get him for you, Samantha.” I walk over to the driver’s side door and try to open it. I frown when I find it still locked. I try the back driver’s side door.

Same.

If someone broke in through the back, wouldn’t they just open one of the doors to get out?

Rose gets my attention as she speaks on the other end of the line.

“Mr. Long, Samantha is on the line for you.” I feel bad for worrying her. You can tell by her voice that I have scared her.

“Tell her I’ll call her back in twenty minutes.” I hear Slade’s voice. He, on the other hand, must be preoccupied and not notice the concern she has.

“It’s an emergency.”

I look around again as I hear nothing but silence, still not seeing anyone.

“Angel,” Slade barks into my ear, “is everything okay?”

“Slade, I was just walking out of a store and found that someone has knocked out the back window of the truck.”

“What do you mean knocked it out? And where are you?”

“I mean it’s shattered. Like someone hit it with a baseball bat and knocked the entire thing out. But I’ve tried the doors and they’re locked.” I pull the keys out of my jacket pocket and go to unlock them.

“Don’t unlock them,” he practically shouts. “I’m on my way. Do you hear me, Angel? Do not get in the truck.”

I roll my eyes as I rub my hands on my arms. “It’s not like its eighty degrees outside, Slade.” It’s been cold the last week.

“Go back inside the store. I’m on my way.” I tell him where I’m at before hanging up the phone. I look around one last time before making my way back toward the store.

*****

Within fifteen minutes, I see Slade’s car pull into the parking lot. He pulls up next to Nadia and I watch him and Micah get out. I grab the shopping cart and walk out to meet them.

“The police are on their way,” he says as soon as he spots me.

“What can they do?” So far they haven’t done shit with the break-in.

“You need to file a report.” He looks down at my bags then back up to me. “What were you doing here anyway?”

I gesture to the shopping cart. “Shopping,” I say, obviously.

“For what?”

“I bought some new sheets and stuff for the bedroom.”

“You shouldn’t be out shopping.”

“So now I can’t even leave the house?”

“I would say that’s the best thing until all this is sorted out.” He then turns around and starts talking to Micah.

I once again roll my eyes. Great, now he is going to have me on house arrest because some idiot felt like breaking into our truck.

“Where are the keys?”

I pull them out of my purse and hand them to Slade. “Go stand by my car.” He nods over to his CTS.

I look over to it and then back to him. “Why do you want me—”

“Angel,” he snaps, “just go stand by my car.”

I let out a puff of air before I storm off. I watch as he and Micah get into the truck and start going through it.

They climb out of the truck and Slade calls over to me, “Did you see anyone else in the parking lot?”

I shake my head, walking back over to them. “No. I looked around the parking lot as soon as I saw the glass.”

“Well, they had to have climbed into the back of the truck to knock out this window,” Micah says, looking at the broken window. “The truck is too tall to hit it from standing beside it.”

Hmm. I hadn’t thought of that.

“Did anyone know you were out shopping?” Micah asks.

Why does that matter? “I didn’t even know you were out shopping.” Slade shoots me an accusatory glare. “Why didn’t you set the alarm to the house when you left?”

I shrug, not wanting to answer that question. “Holly knew. I spoke with her earlier.”

Slade throws his hands up in the air. “Did you notice anyone following you from the house?” he asks as he rubs the back of his neck.

“No.” I frown. “This has nothing to do with the house and the break-in,” I say, looking back and forth between them.

“Just how do you know that?” Slade snaps, taking a step toward me.

“Hang on,” Micah says calmly, “we don’t know anything yet.” He looks at Slade.

Slade turns and speaks to him in a hushed tone and I am unable to hear what he is saying.

“Hey,” I say, getting his attention, “what are you whispering about?”

Slade starts to speak, but Micah interrupts him. “There are the police.”

For what feels like the hundredth time in the past few weeks, I explain to the police what happened, which wasn’t much since I didn’t see anything. They asked me the same questions that Slade had just asked, along with several more.

“Is anything missing out of the truck?” the officer asks looking over at Slade.

“Micah and I looked through it. Everything seems to be in place.”

The officer nods. “That is not uncommon. In a parking lot like this the thieves usually get spooked before they get the chance to get their hands on what they want.”

They tell Slade they will be in touch soon before they get in their police car and drive away.

Slade turns to me. “I’m going to let Micah drive the truck home.”

I nod and start walking over to his car. “Why couldn’t I drive the truck home?” I question once he gets in.

“It’s not safe,” he says, keeping his eyes on the windshield as we pull out of the parking lot.

I stare down at my hands as they sit in my lap. Why do I feel like I did something wrong? “Are you mad at me?” I ask quietly.

He lets out a long breath. “I want to know why you were out shopping by yourself.”

“Why is it so wrong that I went shopping?”

“Because someone is after you,” he snaps.

“No one is after me. Even the cop said it could be a coincidence.”

“That cop doesn’t know. He was guessing,”

“Then why did you even call them if they can’t help us?” I demand.

He doesn’t answer as he pulls into the driveway. I don’t even bother waiting for him to turn the car off before I jump out and storm into the house.

I grab myself a bottle of water out of the kitchen. I can hear Slade and Micah speaking in the garage, but once again, I can’t make out what they are saying.

I walk over to the door leading out to the garage quietly, trying to overhear their conversation, when the door swings open causing me to jump back.

Slade walks in carrying the bags that I had left in the car. He hands them over to me, and then heads toward our bedroom. I follow him.

I enter the bedroom to find him standing at the end of our bed. He looks over at me with a frown on his face. “What did you do with all of the sheets?”

I bite my bottom lip nervously, as I confess, “I threw them away.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Because I thought it was time for new ones. If you don’t like them, I can return them and get something else.”

He gives me a small smile and moves in front of me. He reaches up, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “I love them.”

I smile back at him, hoping that this takes his mind off of what happened to Nadia. “You haven’t even seen them.” I give him a little laugh.

“You picked them out, I’m sure they are beautiful.” He laughs. “And very girly.”

“I kept you in mind while I was shopping.”

He pulls me closer, wrapping his arms around my waist. He lowers his head down to mine and I lift up, throwing my arms around his neck.

“Why don’t you try on your Halloween outfit on for me?” His breath falls on my neck, making me shiver.

“No. You only have to wait two more days,” I whisper, “but I do have something else I can try on for you.”

He pulls away from me and falls onto the bed. He lies on his side and props his head up with one hand. “What are you waiting for?” he prompts, cocking an eyebrow.

I laugh as I turn and walk into our closet. I pull out my Frederick’s bag that I had hidden in the back of the closet from my shopping trip with Holly last weekend.

I slip on the bright pink lace thong that has silver rhinestones on it. I then pull out the matching corset and begin to fasten the hooks together, starting from the bottom working my way up. Once I finish, I step into the black heels that he bought me for my birthday. I know how much they terrify him, but they are sexy as hell and add a little darkness to the outfit since it is so bright.

I open the closet door and stand in the doorway looking into the bedroom. I frown when I don’t see him. I scan the room a couple of times and take a step out into the bedroom.

I stand there for a few seconds until I hear his voice coming from his office. I make my way down the hallway and stop at his office door. He’s leaning over his desk as he writes something down.

“I can do that. I’m not returning to the office today, but I will be in first thing in the morning,” he says into the phone. “Yes, we will discuss the complications of that first thing in the morning.”

I smile as he nods to himself while the person on the other end of the line speaks to him.

“Absolutely, sir.” He pulls it away from his ear and hangs up, releasing a sigh. He then sits back in his chair with his eyes closed as he exhales another sigh.

I walk into the office and go to stand behind him. I lean down to his ear and whisper. “Why so stressed, baby?”

He jumps and I let out a little laugh, wrapping my arms around his neck. “You scared me.” He chuckles to himself.

“Well, I stood in front of you for two minutes and you never even saw me,” I whisper quietly.

He reaches up and places his hands over mine. “Sorry, Angel. I just have a lot on my mind.”

I stand back and spin his chair around. I smile when he sees my outfit. His eyes look me up and down before they land on my chest. I will admit those babies are pushed up so high they practically touch my chin.

“You like?” I cup my breasts and run my hands slowly down my corset.

“I love,” he says in awe. His eyes are now following my hands.

I lean over placing my hands on his thighs. I look down to see his dick bulging behind his zipper.

He reaches up, grabbing the back of my neck. He pulls my lips toward his so fast I almost lose my balance. His kiss is hard, his lips stealing my breath as his tongue invades my mouth. I lean into him, letting him have whatever he wants. I want him to bend me over his desk, rip my panties off and fuck me right here.

He pulls away as his cell rings. I stand up, inhaling deeply and pulling my corset down as he turns his chair so he can answer his phone.

“Hello?” he asks, clearing his throat.

“This is he.” He pauses. “Yes, Mr. Noland. I spoke to your son just a few minutes ago. I told him we would go over his case first thing in the morning.”

I walk around his desk to try to get his attention. His glances up at me and then looks back down to his desk as he picks up a pen. “Yes, that is what I said. I will need to know the names of all the parties involved.” He looks up at me and it’s like he forgets he’s on the phone. His eyes lock on mine and I can see the desire. He wants to crawl over his desk and pin me to the floor. He wants to take me just the way I like it.

“Huh?” he says with those blue eyes still on mine.

He shakes his head and looks back down to his desk as he snaps out of it. “One moment, Mr. Noland,” he says pulling the phone away from his ear, cupping one hand over the speaker.

“I need to take this call, Angel. I’ll be in the bedroom as soon as I’m done.” He then places the phone back to his ear and picks up his pen.

I let out a breath and turn around. I walk into our bedroom, and take off my shoes followed by corset, throwing it onto the floor by the bed. I then pick up the sack that has the new sheets and take it to the laundry room to wash them.