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Using his one good hand, he reached over and placed a finger under her chin. “Then let this be the first between Cainan Wagner and AnnieMarie Dunning.

  Cainan’s lips captured hers with a relentless need to show her just how deep his feelings were. Her lips parted allowing his tongue to slowly taste the sweetness he knew was there. But a taste wasn’t enough. He needed to leave his mark. To let her know, in this moment, he was claiming her as his. His hand moved to her neck, bringing her mouth securely to his. Holding her in place to allow him to devour every nook and cranny he could touch. The tantalizing pleasure he received from her response, caused him to stick his tongue deeper into her mouth, sucking, stroking, pleasuring with every breath he had. Pulling her body closer to him, he could feel her nipples hardening through her blouse. Her arms circled his neck, pressing her body against his, causing his desire to rise to a state he couldn’t control nor did he want to. Stimulating his arousal which he knew she had to feel. Throbbing against his zipper, demanding he either do something about it or bring this torture to an end. This was AnnieMarie, Hep’s daughter, he made his mind remember. But damn if his dick was complying. It knew what it wanted and he was having a hard time telling it to stop. Then he found himself laying back on the roof, pulling her body completely on top of his stretched out body. His one good hand, holding her firm behind, tight against him, to make sure she knew how much he wanted her. This kiss, this was the first kiss with no secrets, no hidden agenda, just the raw need he had for her.

  AnnieMarie moaned. Now, she had him in the position she needed to deliver her message. Her hands traveled down his body to the fly of his pants. She rubbed against the swollen thickness of his manhood just to let him know she was aware. There was another moan. Was that her or was that him? Didn’t matter, she had control of this moment in her hands and she was not going to waste it. She lowered his zipper to allow him some breathing room. He broke the kiss.

  “AnnieMarie,” he groaned. “We need to get off the roof.”

  “I’ve played on this roof all my life,” She smiled down at him with mischievous eyes. “I’m just going to let you swing for a minute to see which way the wind blows.” She eased her way down his body, then lowered the top of his briefs, allowing his thick, beautifully structured hardness to spring free. Her mouth watered at the sight of his erection, and the knowledge that she’d caused it. “Well, right here under the stars, I’m claiming this as mine.” She laid between his legs as if she was preparing to enjoy a scrumptious meal. She kissed the tip of him and smiled in delight as it jumped.

  “AnnieMarie.”

  “I’m busy Cainan. Lay back and relax. I think it’s the least you can do for me.” Her hand circled his penis and gently began stroking it as if it was a piece of clay to be molded to her specifications. His thick veins throbbed in her hands. The thickness of the veins made her mouth water in anticipation. She licked her lips and said. “Here we go baby.”

  Her mouth covered the tip of him. She loved the taste, the scent of him as her mouth pulled away. She adjusted her position to take more of him into her mouth. Rising a little, she dove back in, bobbing her head up and down, her tongue licking, her lips pulling, her hands massaging his balls, all beneath the stars. She felt his fingers on her head, holding her in place as he called out her name. Yes, that was exactly the response she wanted. He needed to know that this, magnificent dick of his, belonged to her. She could feel him still swelling in her mouth. The heat of him increasing, the throbbing getting out of control. Yes she even felt him trying to pull her head away. But this dick right here, was hers, and she wanted everything that came with it. He jerked up causing the tip of him to hit the back of her throat, she sucked and he exploded. Taking every drop he released, her lips tightened around him, sucking all he had to give. Then she slowly, eased her mouth from him. She looked down at his face, to see him staring at her with a look of pure pleasure. She smiled, then used the back of her hand to wipe her mouth. Rolling to the side, she stood, and stepped back inside the room.

  Cainan’s body was sprawled out on the roof with his dick pointing up to the stars. He could not move. He couldn’t think. The vision of his AnnieMarie’s head bobbing between his thighs under the stars had been ingrained in his mind. Giuliani himself, could come in and shoot him and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to stop him. AnnieMarie had drained him of his mental ability to move, much less protect himself. On a damn roof, surrounded by stars, her mouth had mesmerized him. He was branded for life.

  Still trying to catch his breath, his head was lying on the seal of the window. He looked up to see her angelic face above him. Not a hair was out of place. She had replenished her lipstick and was looking down at him. Her hands cupped his face as she gently kissed his lips.

  “I understand we will not be together until this trial is over. I want to make certain you understand what and who is waiting for you. Stay alive Cainan Scott Wagner.” And with that she was gone.

  AnnieMarie picked up her purse then walked to the elevator. She pushed the button, stepped inside then took one last look at her work. She smiled as she noticed Cainan still hadn’t moved. “Mission accomplished,” she said as the elevator doors closed.

  CHAPTER 7

  Richard Dewberry was determined to win back the confidence of the board. The system glitch had cost them dearly in the markets. Not only had they slipped to the number two slot in the rankings, they were literally tied with Dunning Bank & Trust. How in the hell had that happened was the board’s question. One of the members mentioned that they took a downturn when Jonathan Michael left the team and strongly suggested or better yet ordered him to get Michael back. Richard declined, indicating he believed Jonathan Michael caused the system glitch in an effort to have an impact on the market. He accused the man of manipulating the system to ascend Dunning up in the rankings.

  Michael’s return to London was the perfect opportunity to request the authorities to investigate the man. Proof wasn’t needed in the financial world. Just the mere accusation of improprieties was enough to keep investors at bay. Until a few moments ago, his plan was working. The damn PR person at Dunning called his bluff. The news outlet in the UK picked up on the simple request and was now demanding he provide the media with proof of his accusation. To make matters worse the authorities were now asking for documentation as well. And now, this morning, the man, himself, Jonathan Michael appeared at the board meeting with his attorney, Grace Dunning.

  “We are here to offer my assistance with your system.” Jonathan said to the members. “As you know, I am now the Vice President at Dunning Bank & Trust. However, our attorney, Ms. Dunning, has assured me there will be no consequences incurred on my behalf if I assist you with the system installed here.”

  “We have no desire to compete with Phase International in a negative manner. With that in mind, we are willing to do what Mr. Dewberry is not, prove our position. It does us no good to move up in the rankings with questions on how we achieved such a feat,” Grace stated. “We have always worked with integrity and honor throughout our long history. We have no desire to taint that reputation. Mr. Michael will be here for the day. He is offering to take a look at the system he installed for Phase to ensure it has not been tampered with. It will have to be in the next few hours.”

  “Bloody hell, you will,” Richard barked out. “What would prevent you from destroying evidence of your tampering with our system.”

  “Richard.”

  Jonathan spoke in that same calm voice that irked him for almost twenty years. As much as he tried Richard could never raise Jonathan’s temper.

  “The system I installed here at Phase over five years ago, never failed. It never went down, we never as much as had a blip in our system until I left. While I was here, there were alerts in place to notify my team of any system malfunction,” he sat up. “I do not know who you have over IT since my departure, but it could be the bloke simply cocked-up.”

  “For one moment do you believe, that you, a man
of colour is the best in the field? I think not.”

  Jonathan stood. “Either accept my offer or shut your gob.”

  Grace stood. “I will take it a step further. The offer for assistance is rescinded.” She pulled a document from her briefcase. “One more word from your gob, Mr. Dewberry and this defamation of character lawsuit will be filed directly against you.” She glanced around the room. “If Phase International allows this behavior from one of its top administrators to continue, your entity will be added to the lawsuit. Good day, gentlemen.” She walked out of the room with Jonathan in tow. “He is an ass. How did you work for that man for so many years?”

  Jonathan pushed the elevator button. “Dewberry is an arsehole, that is for certain. But he is a dangerous arse. We need to cut his legs from beneath him.”

  “I say we go home and leave this episode behind us,” Grace said as she stepped into the elevator.

  “Never leave your enemy on the battle field to fight another day,” Jonathan stated. “I say we turn his most dangerous weapon into our best asset.” He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. “Jack o’boy, I have an offer that will change your bloody life. Interested?”

  An hour later Jack O’Donnell and his wife sat on the Dunning’s private jet at Heathrow Airport. They were having tea and croissants as they prepared for their flight.

  “Thank you for joining us,” Jonathan smiled as he sat his tea cup down. “I requested to speak with both of you because what I am about to offer will impact your family. Since this is likely my last trip here for a while it is the only opportunity I will have to speak with you together. Mrs. O’Donnell, your husband Jack and I worked together at Phase International. Though our paths rarely crossed, I am quite familiar with his security work. You are from Connecticut, if I’m not mistaken.”

  “Yes, I am.” Mrs. O’Donnell glanced at her husband as she responded.

  Jonathan smiled. “Have you ever thought of moving back to the states?”

  Jack’s eyebrow raised as Jonathan smiled from one O’Donnell to the other.

  Three hours later, the Dunning private jet was on its way back to the states. Richard Dewberry was anxiously pacing his office, when Jack finally appeared.

  “Where in the bloody hell have you been? I summoned you over four and a half hours ago.”

  “My wife and I were having lunch,” Jack replied.

  “The hell with your wife, I have work for you. I need you to use your contacts in the states to mock up dirt on Jonathan Michael.”

  Jack pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and placed it on Dewberry’s desk.

  “What is this?” Dewberry snatched the document up.

  “My notice to tell you to kiss my arse,” Jack said, turned, then walked out of Richard Dewberry’s office.

  Richard blurted a number of colorful words at the man who he pulled from the rubble and gave a life to. How dare he quit on him, just when he needed him the most. The board had given him an ultimatum. Get Jonathan Michael back on with Phase or his days were numbered. Richard slumped into his chair behind his desk. He had to bring Michael down. It was the only hope he had in saving his own sorry arse. He needed Jonathan Michael at his beck and call. Without Jack to do his dirty work, he would have to put his trust into lesser men and he hated working with imbeciles.

  Some kind of way he had to make Jonathan crawl back to Phase. He had to muck up his reputation before he got too entrenched in the Dunnings. Hell if the gossip was right he was about to marry the Dunning woman. She appeared to be strong willed, if her performance at the board meeting was any indication. Now he needed another weak link.

  According to Jack, Walker Dunning was the weakest link in the Dunning clan and now he was dead. Killed by his own son’s mother. Richard sat up. Walker Dunning has a son. He pulled out the last report Jack had given him on the Dunning situation. The son’s mother was being charged with Hepburn Dunning’s murder. There had to be a few mixed feelings about that load of poppycock. He wondered if the son was as weak as the father? With all that was happening, Richard knew he could not reach out to the young man directly. He needed an intermediary. There was a woman at Dunning, Jonathan was communicating with. He searched through the file again.

  “Ah yes, Elaine Jacobson,” Richard sat back and smiled. He wondered if she was still with the bank. “Easy to determine.”

  “Mr. Dewberry,” his secretary walked into the office. “I have a Mr. Barker Michael asking to speak with you.”

  “No one by that name comes to mind.”

  “He said it is regarding his son Jonathan. I advised him Jonathan was no longer with us, but he insists on speaking with you.”

  “Jonathan’s father?” Richard questioned.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Put him through.” Richard replied, then sat back as a scheme began to develop in his mind.

  $ $ $

  Wrapped in Jonathan’s arms, Grace had dosed off mid-way of the eight hour flight back to Virginia. Her eyes opened to find him still on his computer working.

  “Are you still working on that program to clear any residue from Phase’s system?”

  “No, I completed that an hour ago. Now I am designing a program to keep Jack loyal.”

  Grace frowned up at him. “How can you keep a person loyal? Either they are or they aren’t.”

  He smiled down at the beautiful face, with bright eyes staring up at him. “Loyalty breeds loyalty. I need Jack to know I have his back in all things. What I am doing here is checking on how Dewberry will retaliate against Jack for resigning his position. His usual mode of operation is to come after family members who can influence the person he wants to harm. For Jack that would be his wife, Emily and his daughter. Protecting Jack was simple. Dewberry keeps all of his records in a secure file on his personal computer. I made that file disappear.”

  “So there is no record of anything Jack has done in the past for Phase that Dewberry can use against him.”

  “Exactly,” Jonathan smirked. “In fact, I am going to turn that file over to Jack as proof of my loyalty to our new arrangement with him.”

  “Your offer was very generous.”

  “If I am going to keep him on the right side of the law, his compensation has to match or greatly improve from being on the wrong side of the law. I believe Jack is a good man who had to travel to the dark side to provide for his family. Once Dewberry gave him a taste of the champagne life, he had his hooks in the chap. My offer gives Jack the opportunity to become a good guy in the eyes of his wife and daughter. He no longer has to hide his real occupation from them.”

  “How do you know you can trust him?”

  Jonathan thought, “He never told Dewberry about my sabotage of his banking accounts. During the accusations, the authorities detaining me gave him the perfect opportunity to speak out about the actions I took against him. He never did. That was when I knew Jack could be trusted.”

  “How are you going to use Jack?” Grace asked.

  “Strictly as security for my family. Now that Mum is in the states and I have you in my life, I need someone I trust to head up our security team. I believe Jack is that man.”

  “His wife seems to be excited at the thought of moving back to the states.”

  “Sydney has been gathering information on Jack and his family since our first encounter. She picked up on Emily’s desire to move closer to her family now that their daughter is getting older. I used that information to convince Jack this was a good move.”

  “You are a damn good man, Jonathan Michael. Will you marry me?”

  “I distinctly remember asking you to marry me,” Jonathan closed the computer, pushed it aside, then pulled Grace into his lap. “Pick a date. Name the place.”

  Grace laughed. “I don’t want to overshadow Myles and Chrystina,” she said as she straddled him, but I also do not want to wait much longer.”

  “I surrender all my love to you on any day you set. How do you want to become my wife?”
r />   “I want a big wedding with all the trimmings,” Grace threw her arms in the air. “I want to invite the world so they all can see, just how much I love you.”

  Jonathan smiled. “I think your mother will need a little time to plan something that large.”

  She cupped his face with her hands. “I’ve waited ten years for you. I want to become Mrs. Jonathan Michael before Dewberry locks your ass behind bars.”

  They laughed as their lips met and the kiss carried them to the point of no return.

  $ $ $

  “Get out of Virginia. Come back to Jersey, now.” Johnnie ordered.

  “No,” Pauley replied. “I have the man who is trying to take our family down in my crossfire. I am not leaving until I have his blood.”

  “You are on Russian mob territory. They will cut the balls off every man we have just to prove a point, Pauley. This thing hanging over us has weakened the organization. Our resources are thin. We cannot battle with the Russians.”

  “We have Bolton’s head for bringing this man into our family. Now we have the chance to stop him before he reaches the courthouse and you want me to pull out. No need worrying about the Russians cutting our balls out if we don’t have any. I’m staying until I can present his head on a platter to you.”

  “This isn’t about me. You fucked up. You allowed this man access to information about our organization no one outside of the family should have ever laid eyes on. Your pride is bruised. I get it. But you have to think smart. You have to play the long game.”

  “I’m fighting for our family’s future. What are you fighting for?”

  “Your life,” Johnnie ordered. “Come home. We will handle Wagner on our turf.”

  CHAPTER 8

  A single black SUV pulled in front of the Pavel & Sons Real Estate building and stopped.

  “Are we certain Nikolai is inside?”

  “Yes.”

  “Very well.”

  Jerome Morgan got out of the vehicle then walked to the passenger side door and opened it.