A_Dom_Is_Forever Read online

  “You would fit in just nicely. You’re an incredibly likable woman, Avery. Have you ever wondered why you haven’t found friends here?”

  She wasn’t especially good socially. She often felt awkward and out of place. Her twenties had been one long hospital room stay. She could talk to doctors and sling medical jargon around all day long, but she was a little lost when it came to small talk. She liked sci-fi movies and romance novels, two things assured to put a blank look on most people’s faces.

  But she was more confident now. She had Adam and Jake, and most of all she had Lee. And now she had Simon. And she’d been assured that she would likely find friends at the club Lee was taking her to. He’d laughed a little and said subs liked to stick together.

  “I think I’ve been a little standoffish.” She hadn’t really tried. She’d asked a couple of the women if they wanted to have lunch, and when they couldn’t she’d given up. Why had she done that? Why had she gone into her shell? Because getting close to someone meant deciding just how much to tell them. Because what the hell was she supposed to say if they asked about her past? “But I’m done with that now. I’m going to be more in the present.”

  It had been easy to view this as a transitory job so she didn’t have to open herself up, so she never had to talk about Maddie. It was easy to be friendly with people on the street because they wouldn’t really become part of her life. Even Thomas was easy. He liked to talk about business and news and sports. He rarely delved into truly personal subjects. He could talk with her for hours, but he didn’t ask her pesky personal questions.

  God, was that why she’d been so comfortable with him?

  “You’re not standoffish, love,” Simon said with a wary little frown. “It was made clear to many people that they should keep their distance.”

  “By who? Who wouldn’t want me to make friends?” That didn’t make any sense.

  Simon nodded toward Thomas’s door. “He was subtle about it, but I understood. We were supposed to be hands off.”

  “Why would he do that?” One of the things he’d been insistent on was that she would meet new people and see the world.

  And he’d asked her to stay with him in his town house. Oh, he’d offered her a separate room, of course, but he’d asked her to stay. It was only when she’d made it clear she would need her own place that he offered her the place by Liverpool station, but he’d been a bit grumpy about it.

  Was Thomas trying to be more than her friend? “I’m sure you just misunderstood, but it doesn’t matter. I’m here for a little while, and I’m going to enjoy it.”

  “That boyfriend seems to be good for you.” Simon pushed off the desk. “And let me know if you find out anything about our missing files.”

  She nodded. She was going to look tomorrow while Thomas was out meeting his mysterious friend. The man had never come to the office, but he seemed to be close to Thomas.

  Thomas’s door opened, and there was a pained expression on his face as he stood in the doorway, cane in hand. “Avery, you’re here. I was wondering if you were going to come back to work or if I’d lost you.”

  He looked like he hadn’t been taking care of himself. Guilt rode her hard. She’d been diving into her relationship with Lee, and Thomas had been faltering. No matter what he’d said to the staff, he’d helped her in a huge way, and she couldn’t pay that back. He’d given her a chance when no one else had, and they were connected by tragedy. They both knew what it meant to lose a loved one. She’d lost so much, and he’d lost his brother.

  “I’m here.” She stood up and grabbed her laptop. “I told you I would be back for the monthly board meeting.”

  “It’s being pushed back. Dubai needs a couple of hours to get their numbers together. They had a last-minute donor pull out, and it’s changed the budget. Apparently the sheik of some tiny country needs his two million now to put down a coup.” He sighed. “We have to completely rethink the Congo shipment. In addition to losing the donor, we have to deal with the fact that the grain we planned on purchasing is more expensive than promised. Something about a goddamn drought. I need this shipment to go through, Avery.”

  Yes, that would make him crabby. She’d picked a hell of a time to use her vacation. “It’s okay. If it’s a few weeks late, it will still get there.”

  His face turned a brutal shade of red. “It will not be late. If it’s late, someone’s fucking head is going to roll. Do you understand me?”

  It was the first time she’d heard him curse, and she took a step back. He’d always been gentle around her. She’d heard rumors that he could be nasty, but she’d discounted them. She didn’t question the fact that the man who stood in front of her now could be ruthless.

  “Absolutely,” Simon said smoothly. “I’ll get some of the American liaisons on the phone. We’ll find the grain or the money, I promise. This is for the Congo shipment, correct? I heard we had a big donation coming through. A bloke named Lachlan Bates, I heard. We can use that money to buy the grain.”

  A blank expression went across Thomas’s face. He took a long breath, and then he was his sunny self again. “Sorry, dear. I’m in a little pain. My legs are aching today. Weston, you’re a legal advisor. Don’t worry about this. I’ll get Monica on it. The Bates donation might not go through. I’m looking into it.”

  “Of course, sir.” Simon nodded and sent her a small stare before he left the office.

  “I’ll go talk to Monica myself.” Maybe it was a good sign that he was letting himself be real around her. She could handle a little bad temper. The look on his face had been another thing entirely. He’d been righteously angry, but she had to try to calm him down.

  “Avery, I’m sorry.” He leaned against the door. “I didn’t mean to yell at you. It’s been difficult to get about on my own. I think you understand that.”

  She’d struggled for years. Again, guilt welled. “Yes, I understand. I’m sorry. I just wanted a few days to myself.”

  “But you weren’t by yourself, were you?”

  There was no way to miss the rebuke in his voice. She wasn’t going to feel guilty about Lee. “I was with my boyfriend.”

  “He’s an American, right? A tourist?”

  “He’s here for a little while.”

  He hobbled over to her desk. “I hate this. I hate that he’s using you.”

  “He’s not using me. He’s dating me.”

  “He’s not going to stay around,” Thomas said, frowning again. “Are you going back to America with him?”

  “No.” Lee hadn’t even mentioned when he was going back, much less invited her to come along.

  “Is he coming to Dubai with us? Are you coming to Dubai at all? I would like to know if you’re going to leave me high and dry.” He struggled with his cane, walking back into his office, leaving the door open for her to follow.

  She had tried not to think about it. She had a good job. It paid well, and she believed in it. And he had a job back in the States that he never really talked about, but she understood it was his company. He couldn’t just leave it behind. It was too quick to make decisions.

  She’d started out wanting a few weeks with him, but now she knew damn well she wanted more and she couldn’t ask for it. She’d known him for a week. She couldn’t ask him to make lifetime decisions based on a few days. “I’m going to Dubai.”

  Unless Lee asked her not to and then she would most likely give up the best job she’d ever had for the chance to be with him. She was so dumb, but she knew she would regret not trying. She could forgive herself if it all imploded, but not if she didn’t try. Her stupid, hopeful heart wouldn’t shut down no matter what bad stuff happened.

  “I’m glad to hear that because I would hate to think I had to go alone.” He sat down behind his desk, the cane leaning against the wood. “I’m going to see some doctors in Dubai. They think they might be able to help me with my legs.”

  “That’s wonderful.” She knew how much it could change a life. Her ph
one vibrated in her pocket.

  “I just care about you. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”

  She pulled the cell out, glancing down. Her mother-in-law. Her heart sped up a little. Brandon’s mom. She hadn’t called in two years. Avery had tried everything to get the woman to talk to her.

  “Someone important?” Thomas asked.

  “I need to take it. Is it okay?” What if something was wrong? Or what if she finally wanted to talk? What time was it back in the States?

  He nodded. “Of course, but I need you with me at that meeting. We’ll order in lunch.”

  Damn it. Lee was going to be upset, but she had to work. She hated to admit it, but while she felt very comfortable with Lee, the truth of the matter was he would likely go back to the States and she would go to Dubai. “I’ll be there.”

  She walked out of the office and immediately answered her phone. “Lydia? Is that you?”

  Her hands were shaking.

  “Look you little bitch, I told you not to contact us ever again. What do you not understand about that? Did you think sending us that magazine article would change the fact that Brandon and Madison are dead?”

  The words lashed at her. “What are you talking about?”

  “I don’t care what she’s doing. Do you understand? I want her dead. I want my son back. You’re a traitor. You’re a goddamn traitor, and I want you dead, too!” Her mother-in-law, once so sweet, sounded monstrous. “I hate you. I hate you. You killed them, didn’t you? You wanted it.”

  The phone dropped from her hand, nausea rolling in her stomach. Tears threatened, but she was at work. She couldn’t break down now. She couldn’t cry. She had to stay strong.

  “Avery, dear? Are you all right?” Thomas stood in the doorway, his eyes on her. There was an anticipatory look in his eyes as though he was waiting to see if she would break down.

  She couldn’t. Not here. This was her little slice of hell, and she wouldn’t bring anyone else into it. She picked up the phone and quickly turned it off. She couldn’t help the way her voice shook. “It’s fine.”

  “I can see plainly that it’s not.” Thomas made his way to her faster than she would have expected. He put a hand on her shoulder. “What was that about?”

  Avery shook her head. “I’m not exactly sure. It was Lydia.”

  His face softened, his hand stroking her shoulder. “It sounded as though she was a bit upset.”

  Her whole body felt weak. “She said something about a magazine article. I don’t know what she was talking about. She said I sent it to her. But, I didn’t send her anything.” A deep weariness threatened to invade her. Would this never end? She’d made a choice that seemed positive, but had caused a complete disconnect between her and the only family she had left. Even her aunt had taken her in-laws’ side.

  “From what you’ve told me, she’s a bit lost, dear. She could have seen an article that reminded her about Brandon and got it in her head that you sent it her way. She’s not someone you can get back, Avery. I know you want a family, but she’s never going to forgive you.”

  She wished he would stop talking. He wasn’t saying anything she didn’t know. “I just thought she would come around someday.”

  “No. She won’t. Most people wouldn’t understand what you did. They would see it as a complete betrayal of your husband and your child. It’s why you shouldn’t talk about it. I understand, but most other people won’t. Your in-laws prove it.” He was close, his body brushing against hers as he pulled her close. “I’m the one who accepts you, Avery. I’m your friend. I’m so sorry you got that call.”

  She let him hug her. He really had seemed like her only friend for so long. When she’d first taken the job and they’d been in New York, she’d thrown her whole being into her work. Brian had died shortly afterward and she’d stuck close to Thomas, two stunned victims alone on a seemingly endless sea.

  She sniffled a little.

  “It’s all right, Avery.” Thomas’s hands smoothed across her back. “I can take care of you.”

  His voice was deeper than before, and she could feel the heat of his breath on her neck. A little shiver went through her. She didn’t like being so close. It felt different than before. It felt more intimate, and she wasn’t sure she liked it. Maybe it came from being with Lee, but she suddenly didn’t want to be so close to Thomas.

  “Sir, I needed to talk to you,” a masculine voice interrupted.

  Thomas’s head came up, and there was a little snarl on his face. It was gone so quickly she wondered if she’d actually seen it. “Malcolm, this had better be important.”

  “I wouldn’t interrupt you if it wasn’t.” Malcolm was the head of Thomas’s security. Standing at a massive six foot four, Malcolm was a bit of an enigma. He rarely talked, and he disappeared for long stretches of time. Thomas almost always had a bodyguard around, but Malcolm was the only one who really scared her.

  Thomas stepped back, reaching for his cane again. “I’ll see you in an hour or so, dear. Please order some lunch for everyone. Use my card.”

  He stepped into his office, Malcolm closing the door behind him, and she was alone again.

  She wanted Lee. She wanted to call him and tell him to come and get her, and she would just go with him anywhere he wanted to go.

  And he would ask why and she would have to admit what she’d done. Would he understand? Or would he be like her in-laws and find it to be a betrayal? She wasn’t sure she could risk it.

  In the end, she picked up her phone and took the coward’s way out. She texted him explaining that she couldn’t meet him for lunch.

  Her phone rang almost immediately. Lee. She couldn’t talk to him right now. She would break down. She texted again. In meeting. Can’t talk.

  That’s twenty, love. Don’t think I’ll forget. Pick you up at five.

  Twenty. He was going to spank her. She would get upset at the injustice, but just for a moment he’d taken her mind off her trouble.

  Yeah, she’d take a spanking for that.

  With her hands still shaking, she sat down and got back to work.

  * * * *

  Molina tossed his cane away with an angry crash.

  He hated that cane. It had been necessary for the last several years. He needed it to keep up his pretense, but how he loathed being seen as weak and vulnerable. He should be able to force Avery to her knees, to spread her legs and make her scream, but no, he had to play the pussy role.

  One day she would know exactly how strong he was.

  “Careful, boss, someone might come running in.” Malcolm’s voice was perfectly bland as though he hadn’t interrupted something intimate. The idiot had the worst timing. She’d been soft in his arms. She’d been ready to accept his lips on hers, and Malcolm had ruined everything. She’d been horrified at her mother-in-law’s call. It had been exactly as he’d planned. Now she would compose herself. Now she would gather that seemingly endless supply of optimism around her like armor.

  “Give me one good reason I don’t fire you this instant.” And by fire, he really meant find a bloody gun and take Malcolm’s head off. That might start to calm him down.

  If Malcolm was affected by his harsh tone, he didn’t show it. His face was blank and smooth as always as he took the seat in front of Molina’s desk. “You said you wanted an update on Lee Donnelly. I thought I would give you one.”

  “Do you have a picture of the bastard’s face yet?” Molina tossed his body into his chair and then winced at the nasty pain. He was hard, but then being around her always made him hard. The thought of all that innocence for the taking had his fists clenching.

  “No, I haven’t. It’s a little worrisome. It’s like the bastard knows what he’s doing.” Malcolm laid a folder in front of him. He opened it and pulled out four photographs. Not a single one of them had a good shot of Donnelly’s face. He was tall and well built, with broad shoulders and arms that looked like they had seen the inside of a gym on a regular basis. “He alway
s wears a baseball cap and tends to keep his head down. He makes sure she walks on the inside. Do you see how he always takes the street side?”

  Polite asshole. Unfortunately, he also always seemed to be looking Avery’s way so most of the shots were of the side of his head. Avery, on the other hand, was in almost every shot, her face shining up. She held on to her new boyfriend, her eyes constantly looking at him. She looked happy where she always looked so lost and sad before.

  He realized in that moment it was her misery that attracted him. She fought so valiantly against it. It was interesting to watch her flail and fight and pretend that her life was all right.

  She’d been so brave, and he wondered what could make her cower in fear.

  He wanted to be the one who finally broke her. And he wouldn’t let this nasty fuck change that.

  “Take him out.”

  “Boss, he moves quite well for a civilian.” Malcolm frowned. On him it was practically a cry for help.

  “MI6? He can’t be CIA. Nelson ran the trace on him,” Molina argued.

  “And there was nothing in his background that made Nelson worry. But I look at him and I think he’s dangerous.” Malcolm sat back, his eyes on the pictures. “I’ve also had the feeling I’m being followed. I can’t catch the bastard, though. I don’t like it.”

  Molina sighed. Malcolm was being a worried old woman. “We’ve known since two weeks after we hired Weston that MI6 was watching. It’s not news. They’re desperate. They know they don’t have a thing on us, and time is running out. They’re just trying to justify their continued existence. They won’t find anything. I have the files and they’re in code.”

  “Codes can be broken.”

  “Surely they can. Especially when they look like codes.” He was getting too old to argue. “I want Donnelly dead.”

  Malcolm’s eyes held his for a brief moment before he assented. “All right, but I should remind you that you had a plan concerning Avery Charles and it would be smart to follow it.”