The Christmas Vow (Hallelujah Crossing)

Chapter 8

“ I don’t know how you even thought that I wouldn’t know exactly where you were the entire time. It’s bad enough you can’t even lose weight to be pretty so I could use you to leverage some favors, but now you go off slumming with a man who is the brother of the piece of shit you decided to befriend.”

Rayla didn’t speak, it wasn’t only not required, her father, the senator, wanted her to listen. Not voice an opinion.

She perched on the edge of the copper brown leather square arm accent chair in her father’s office. The opulence of his home office made her stomach revolt. The money he could have spent on something worthwhile instead of posing for photos to help his political career.

In passing she’d heard how comfortable the chairs were but as she’d never been allowed to lean back in one and simply enjoy it, she would have to take the gossip for gospel. Even now, over twenty-five, she still wanted to hide when he began one of his tirades.

Darius Jamal Hunter stood six foot two inches in his socked feet. When he’d been in college, he’d played football and boxed. Both sports had given him a physique he’d kept on maintaining as he got older. Pitch black eyes that never looked at her in love, at least she couldn’t recall them doing so.

He was a magician, made people see one thing on the outside of the home, when he was in office but behind closed doors, she knew the side of him the public never had to witness.

“Your mother used to have hopes for you. Not high, because look at you, you’re a slob, but some. She’d wanted you to be able to mingle at parties and help further our cause and our place in the history of this country. But you’re so selfish all you can do is fuck it up.”

He pushed to his feet, large strong hands braced on the shiny oak desk that had to weigh a few hundred pounds. The intricate detail had always impressed her but she’d never been allowed to get close enough to actually take the time to see what it was like.

“Do you have anything to say for yourself?” He shook his head. “Of course you don’t. Tell me right now where that boy is hiding.”

The darkness in his tone sent spears of ice up her spine. Still, it wasn’t anything she’d not gone through all her years growing up. Not giving any outward sign of the fear coursing through her as his anger rose, she blinked once.

“I was supposed to meet him at Hallelujah Crossing but your men retrieved me before I could make the connection.”

He narrowed his eyes on her and walked around the desk, his white shirt stark against nearly coal black skin. The sleeves struggled to contain his arms. The tailored four button vest fell perfectly against his toned torso. His suit coat was hanging on the tree in the corner of the room. Reclining against the top, he hooked his ankles, bringing her attention down to the large feet which were encased in brown shoes.

“They said you were having sex with his brother.”

Ryker.

Fuck, even thinking about him and his touch sent her body into overdrive. The deep voice as he praised her for giving him what he wanted, for taking his cock so well, for coming when he commanded. She swallowed and fought with everything inside her not to squirm at the memory.

“Did they lie?”

“No.” She wouldn’t be shamed for taking her pleasure when she could have it. Lord knew if her father could find some asshole to marry her just to get in his good graces, he would do so. All she was to this man was a commodity.

His wide nostrils flared and she struggled to remain relaxed. It wouldn’t hurt as much if she didn’t tense up prior.

“He could ruin me.”

Whatever he has on you is your own fault. “I don’t know where he is.” Tone calm and modulated. Just what she was hoping for. She held no illusions about her old man. He had mistresses and didn’t bother hiding them from his wife. To be fair, her mother had men of her own.

Nothing about what they had was attractive to her. Rayla longed for something true. Something real. Not simply for ratings or votes.

She wanted Ryker and the emotions he evoked in her. But even he had used her for her father’s connection. To protect his brother, it appeared, but still. She was the casualty and frankly she was tired of being one.

“I know you’re disappointed in my behavior, Father and I would apologize but we know it won’t matter.” He rose from the desk and stepped toward her. “I have to get going, I’m heading to Alabama.”

That stopped him. “Why do you think I’ll let you go to Alabama?”

“I have a job at DarkStrike Security.”

He uncrossed his arms and settled back, palms against the desktop once more. “Xavier Strauss’ company?”

“Yes sir.”

She could see his mind working on how this could benefit him and she didn’t care. Hell, she would beg for one in the mailroom if it would get her out of here.

“I’m supposed to start in the middle of August.”

“And you were in that Podunk town for what?”

“Meeting him there to wrap up the final details.” She figured there would be photos of her talking to him that her father would be able to get his hands on, and if she knew him, he would be looking.

His smile predatory as he walked toward her. “Guess you should be getting packed.”

“Yes sir.”

He moved by her and she sighed, relaxing a tiny bit. The blow was unexpected, she’d made the mistake of thinking she was in the clear. It knocked her out of the chair, pain blooming up from her ribs, the site of the strike, and into the hardwood floor.

“Find out what happens if you cross me again. You’ll be lucky to wake up.” He bent over her. “A child in a coma is a great heart tugging vote getter.” Then he was gone.

And she welcomed the swarming darkness.

Hello darkness, my old friend…isn’t that how it goes?

Late August wasn’t an ideal time to hang out in Birmingham, Alabama but it had taken her that long to make her way there. She’d been a prisoner in her father’s home, not being seen by any of the other family members. Rayla had no doubt they knew she was in residence but they weren’t risking her father’s wrath by speaking to her.

They’d drunk the Kool-Aid.

Luckily, in college, she’d managed to get her own account set up, strictly online and using her middle name she had plenty of money in there to get settled. She’d left her bag at a hotel and stood outside the tall building which housed Xavier’s business, gearing up to walk inside and ask a man she knew in passing to give her a job.

Women in tight business suits and men in powersuits moved by her with a confidence she no longer had. Somehow she felt a shell of the person she used to be. After all her years of swimming in the political shark infested waters, she felt like chum. Uneasy and frightened.

Not a pleasant feeling to be sure.

Lifting her head, she took a final deep breath and walked to the door and across the pristine white, gray, and emerald tile floor. She paused at the desk and looked at the woman seated there, her blonde hair gathered up in some fancy twist, her prominent cheekbones, on display.

“Good morning,” she said with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Morning. I was hoping to schedule an appointment with Mr. Strauss.”

Blue eyes drifted over her as she typed on the keyboard. “Is he expecting you?”

“No, that’s why I said I would like to schedule an appointment.”

Her phone range and Rayla took a fortifying breath as the woman answered. She gazed around the lobby pleased it welcomed visitors instead of giving off a sterile vibe.

“Mr. Strauss will have an opening in three weeks.”

Of course.

She nodded. “I’ll take it.” What was another setback in the long line of them she had experienced?

“Morning Ms. Aviso,” a deep voice rolled around her.

“Mr. Keefe.”

Rayla knew that name and when the man moved by her she knew she’d been spot on, it was Xavier’s business partner, Darien Keefe.

He stepped into the elevator and smiled at her before allowing the doors to slid closed. Before they could shut fully, he pushed a tanned hand in and cocked his head to the left as he glanced at her. “Ms. Hunter?”

“Yes sir?”

“Come up with me. I know Xavier would love to see you.”

Her feet didn’t listen and he beckoned to her twice before she could convince them to move toward him. He remained silent as she edged by him into the elevator car. The door slid shut and they were on the move.

Darian touched his ear. “Yeah, I got her, we’re on our way.” A warm smile. “He’s been waiting on you to show up.”

She scrunched her forehead before smoothing it out. The silver door glided open without a sound and Darian gestured for her to preceded him.

It dangled on the tip of her tongue to ask how he knew and why this man had been waiting on her, but she found the wherewithal to keep the question contained. A man stepped into view and rested a shoulder against the wall.

Xavier.

Dressed in a three-piece, much like her father did, this one also fit him as her father’s did him. However, unlike with her father, seeing this man didn’t send fissures of fear through her that she would be injured. Her ribs still hurt.

Dark blue pinstripe and he wore the suitcoat with two buttons done. A small smile curled up the sides of his mouth and his sea green eyes weren’t as hard as she recalled them being when she’d seen him in DC.

“Ms. Hunter.” A little nod. “So glad you decided to come by.”

Darian squeezed her arm. “See you around, Ms. Hunter. Xavier,” he said with a nod as he walked down the hallway Xavier had come from.

“I appreciate you taking the time but your person at the front desk said your next appointment isn’t until three more weeks, so how is it exactly you have been waiting for me?”

“Your father called me a few weeks ago thanking me for,” his lips flattened, “taking pity on you and giving you a job.”

Of course he had. Embarrassed beyond belief, she dipped her head to look at the gray and emerald swirled carpet beneath her feet.

“Make no mistake, Ms. Hunter. I didn’t get to become a billionaire by wasting my time so I’m not sure what pity I am taking but if you’d like to follow me into my office, we’ll start going over your job requirements.”

She jerked her head up. “You…you are okay with me working here?”

A rare smile. “I’m aware of what you went to school for, Ms. Hunter. Plus, my wife really likes you so yes, come along.”

Her sharp breath of excitement hurt her still recovering ribs and she struggled to hide her wince. From the narrowing of his gaze, he caught the move.

“Seems like your boyfriend was right and you do need protection.” He pivoted and strode off down the hall.

My boyfriend?

“I don’t have time to waste, Ms. Hunter. Come along.”

She followed even as her mind raced to make sense of what had just happened.

αβ

“Just what the fuck were you thinking was going to happen when you took photos of that crime family? The Abdulov family? Really? Are you fucking stupid?” Hands clenching and unclenching for the simple reason he would kill his brother if he touched him a single time as rage thrummed through his veins.

“Of course not. But what I was thinking is that I was doing my job as an investigative reporter!” Tyler’s face was flushed with his own ramped up emotional state.

“And Rayla? You what, thought it would be funny to get her in their sights?”

Shock exploded over his sibling’s face. “What? God no. I would never do something like that to her.” He squared up to his brother. “Is that what you told her? Is that why she’s not answering my calls?”

“She’s not exactly taking any calls from me either, Tyler. How close are you anyway?”

There went his jealousy again. He couldn’t stop it any more than he could stop the next sunrise.

Tyler narrowed his gaze. “Why? What’s it to you?”

“She calls you Grant.” He spat the accusation. Tyler had never let anyone call him by that name, claiming he despised it. All sorts of reasons he would allow Rayla to address him in such a manner raced before him.

And I hate every single fucking one of them.

Tyler opened and shut his mouth a few times before a pensive look crossed his face. One thick black eyebrow rose as he canted his head to the left.

“Holy shit! You like her. Something happened between the two of you in Hallelujah Crossing because you’re pining after her like a lovesick boy.” Tyler shifted his weight crossing his arms over his chest.

Ryker had to admit his younger brother was no longer that much smaller than him and could probably do some damage if they got into it. Not that it mattered, he wasn’t about to back down if his brother had something to say.

“Rayla is my safe space and I’m hers. Were friends, close friends, who share almost everything with one another and have zero expectations of family names and connections of people we know.” He inched closer getting right up in the Ryker’s face. “And I will fucking bury you if you hurt her.”

While he appreciated his brother didn’t press him for the more intimate details of his relationship with Rayla, he still couldn’t deny the jealousy burning through him like a living flame at the thought of their closeness. Shrugging, he arched his own eyebrow and held his brother’s glare.

“What happened between us is our business. But I can tell you she’s not your safe space anymore. She’s mine.”

“And yet, you’ve not been in contact with her either. Are you sure she is still yours?”

“I have no problems killing you dropping your body somewhere.”

Tyler grinned and just like that the tension between them dissolved like the mist underneath the morning sun. His brother clapped him on the shoulder with a nod.

“I like her for you, Ryker. Truly.”

“She’s gonna be your sister-in-law I’m glad you approve.”

Tyler chuckled even as he shook his head. “So it’s like that?”

“Damn straight it is.”

Five hours later he along with Tyler, Preston, who he’d served with as a PJ but now worked with another group wrapped up their meeting. They were Macsen “Mac” Williams, Jason “Snake” La Rue, and Aidrian “Hondo” O’Shea who were members of a protection agency named Tungsten Protective Services.

“We can definitely put a protection on your woman,” Aidrian said his Irish lilt a mix of confusing and yet soothing as he hooked his arms behind his perfectly smooth bald black head. “My question is do you want her to know it, given where she is working? It’s going to be hard for us to be near her all day if she’s to be kept in the dark.”

The other men nodded and Tyler took a deep breath.

“She’s not a fan of being protected. She grew up in DC political circles, having someone watching her all the time is one of her least favorite things in the world.”

“Excuse me.” The interruption came in a soft, slow drawl from Jason “Snake” La Rue. He leaned forward, resting muscular arms on the table, nudging the now empty containers which had held Chinese food toward the middle of the table. “You,” he pointed at Ryker, “say she’s your woman but you,” he jabbed a finger in Tyler’s direction, “keep providing more intimate details of her. Who’s woman is she?”

“Mine,” Ryker growled. “Does it matter?”

“Only if you both are demanding updates and giving suggestions. We don’t have the time to waste going back and forth between the two of you. Not if she’s a target of the Abdulov Family.”

He appreciated the blunt speak. And deep down he knew the man spoke nothing but the truth. It was a waste of resources to try and handle both him and Tyler.

Preston looked at him and shifted in his seat. “Ryker will be fine. He’s like the rest of us with our women. He’s hardheaded, stubborn with a possessive and protective streak deeper than the Mariana Trench. In the end, he wants her safe, so he’ll not make it more difficult for us.”

“Good.” Aidrian rapped his knuckles on the tabletop. The sparkle of his wedding band was something Ryker longed for on his own finger, with a match on Rayla’s. “Let’s get this plan in action, wrap it up, have a wedding, and recruit a new member.” He shot a pointed look to Ryker.

His phone rang and without addressing Aidrian’s comment, he answered, “Ryker.”

“You shouldn’t leave your woman alone like that.” The same computerized voice that had taunted him before poured through the phone. Without thought, he put it on speaker and set the phone on the table.

The other four men instantly fell silent but Aidrian was on his phone typing far faster than Ryker would have thought possible.

“What makes you think I’ve left her alone?”

Disembodied laughter. “Please, I know you’re not even in the same state as she is. I hope you said your farewells. She’s not making it to the end of the day.”

The phone cut off as he pushed up from the chair.

“Sit down.” Aidrian’s tone cut through the haze surrounding his brain.

“No offense, former Ensign O’Shea but you’re not my CO nor my boss.”

Aidrian cut black eyes at him before tipping his head in a silent command. “When a sentence is started with ‘no offense’ there is plenty to be taken. I have someone tracing the call and another reaching out to where your woman is.” He took a quick glance at his short, square nails. “And I’ll be your boss soon enough, once you join Tungsten.”

Slowly, as if he were molasses in winter, Ryker lowered himself to the chair. “Is she okay?”

He needed to lay eyes on her. And hands. Lips. Tongue. Dick.

Being out in Virginia wasn’t going to accomplish his goal. Not when she was in Alabama.

Surrounded by southern men who may not be as stupid as the idiots in DC who looked by her beauty and soul.

He wasn’t used to being sidelined but here he was. Not in the action. Depending on others to help him. Across the table Preston gave him an understanding smile.

“Got it.” Hondo rose and the rest of the table followed suit. “Wheels up in ten.” He walked off, everyone aside from Preston following after him.

“What the fuck is going on?”

Preston smacked him on the shoulder. “Change in plans. The family is moving now. We’re going to get your woman. Let’s go.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Unless you don’t want to be part of this.”

The private jet was nice, he couldn’t ignore that. But he was antsy. This was worse than any mission he’d ever participated in prior. Never once had he been so out of sorts prior to plummeting out of plane.

But this, sitting on this private jet flying a shortish distance had him wrapped up in knots.

I hate it.

More than that though, he hated the thought of her being in danger.

They landed in Birmingham and disembarked before climbing into two waiting black SUVs. He climbed in with Mac, who was at the wheel, Preston who rode shotgun while he sat in the back.

They went one way, the other SUV with Aidrian and Jason went another.

“How did this get put together so fast?” He leaned forward and glanced through the seats.

“Five hours is a bit longer than usual for Tungsten,” Mac said, expertly driving through Birmingham traffic like he did it every day. “Preston gave us a heads up when he talked to Cade and Harrier about hiring you on.”

Cutting a glance to his friend, who merely shrugged. “You’re out, I’m out and I found a second home with them. You need that too.” When they screeched to a halt outside a towering building, he reached for the door.

Preston glared at him. “You, fucking stay out of the way. You’re not cleared to carry and I’m not entirely sure you’re covered by Tungsten yet.”

“Let’s go.” Mac shot him a grin, blue eyes twinkling despite the seriousness of the situation. His reddish brown hair cut short to his skull and he sported a few days growth of scruff on his face. “He’s covered.”