Page 78 of Unspoken Promises

That, I can do.

But even with a sealed record I don’t like there’s any crack open to this father of hers finding her. Fuck, it pained me to see her like that. She pulled herself together well, admitting she was being used for evil deeds. What on earth could she have been used for?

At GhostEye, we’re seeing drug trade, human trafficking, and other illegal activity become more and more digital. I suppose any criminal organization would benefit from a talent like hers. A metallic taste coats my mouth.

I’ll work on getting Ava’s identity documents but I can’t stop there. I have to find him and make him pay. I’ll steal his freedom as he’s stolen hers. She had very few details, and I didn’t want to press through all the emotion, not now. But I will and I’ll bring her father to justice as well as her so-called uncle.

I’ve begun investigations with fewer details. And I’ll devote a lifetime to it if I have to.

For the love of all that is holy, what the fuck happened tonight? I expected Ava’s reason for running to come to a head but I didn’t think we’d get so close to hergivingme head.

I’m down hard for the woman.

Fortunately, she agreed to stay without me even asking twice.

It isn’t easy to tuck her up in my guest room and not sneak in there to finish what we started, but there’s no way in hell I can screw her like this is some ordinary fuck. Not only do I genuinely have feelings for her, and I know she’s agrown woman with plenty of pent-up need coursing through her veins by now, but she deserves to feel what good sex is all about. And that isn’t some quick passion fuck.

Though I’m sure that, too, would have been fire with her.

As I lie awake in bed, I still feel the steamy heat of her cotton panties on my fingers, and if I can’t slip open the door across the hall, I’ll have to slip my hand under the cover. My dick is already rock-hard just imagining the silky feel of her insides squeezing my fingers, imagining the way I would have finger-fucked her until she was dripping wet. Her hair would have fallen over those beautiful shoulders, and I would have peeled down one of her spaghetti straps until the gorgeous teardrop of her swollen breast was in my mouth.

I pump myself harder, thinking about aroused she was. It was an inferno between her legs, I could smell her even, and I know… I could have slid my cock right into her, absolutely buried myself. I stroke my dick, running my hand up and down the length of it, I dream of her curves, her tits bouncing, her pussy lips spread around my dick, and my shaft disappearing inside.

I get even harder at the thought of her beneath me, and suddenly I want to defy the laws of physics; I want to be inside her, to feast on her pussy and to kiss her at the same time.

My lip curls as I hold back a groan, pumping harder than ever until my balls tighten and hot cum spills over the edge of my hand.

It’s a good thing I got that out of the way before tomorrow night.

Or being a gentleman would have been out of the question.

Of all days tohave to meet up with Rio in the Silicon Valley office and be away from Echo Valley, this is not the one I would have chosen, and at the same time, I can’t start initiating the court order without telling my brother. I’ll be using our connections. The request, even though it will come from Ava, will still somehow be associated with GhostEye.

All this, and I didn’t want to leave Ava behind. I woke up this morning still unable to shake her haunted gaze when she stared at her cell phone last night. She escaped captivity, she’s safe with us, but something in my bones tells me I’m missing something.

I asked Ava to work in our on-site offices and told Santi to keep an eye on her. Ava allowed me to tell him her story, so I know he’ll be diligent.

Rio has been staying near the offices for the past couple of days, our big investor, Thad, has been spending time in San Francisco, enjoying what he calls meetings and Rio calls distractions. In any case, my brother can’t work, entertain Thad, and get to and from Echo Valley, so he’s been holed up at a hotel, and I ask to meet him at the restaurant instead of the offices where there may be prying ears.

Hell, these hacks and Ava’s thoughts about an inside job have me thinking everything could be bugged. Now that I’ve heard her story, it’s as if danger is lurking in every corner. Shit is flying from every direction now, and much as I hate the city, Rio and I need to connect.

I’m already seated at the restaurant underneath a hotelRio is more comfortable in than I am. He’s gotten used to the high-end life. I have not, and don’t plan on it.

Rio drops into the chair opposite; he undoes the top button of his dress shirt he keeps safely pinned to conceal his tattoos. Neither he nor Santi thought much about how they’d be perceived in the future, despite our parents making it clear we’d be judged.

My parents were right. The world has become more accepting for sure, but humans are hardwired to make snap judgments. It’s a survival mechanism that’s been there since the dawn of man. Judgment is inescapable. Hate is not. Though right now, thinking about what I have to tell Rio about Ava, both are coursing through my veins.

Rio rolls up his sleeves, another place that remains covered when investors are around, no matter how hot it is outside.

He drinks some water that’s already on the table. “You must have some mighty bad news to come up to the city and meet me at this place.”

“That, and I have to do some shopping.”

Rio cocks his eyebrow, and rightfully so. I do not like shopping and definitely not in actual stores.

A server comes over, and Rio orders without even looking at the menu; in fact, he doesn’t even glance at the server, he’s staring me dead in the eye. “Ribeye, medium, garlic mash and greens, please.”

The server takes Rio’s menu. “And you, sir?”

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