Page 89 of Free to Run
A feeling of unease spreads through me. My future is wrapped in thousand-thread-count sheets. I want to spend the day solidifying the promises we whispered in the dark. I want to figure out how we’re going to make the complexity of being an hour apart work on a day-to-day basis. Nothing has ever held more appeal than stripping off my clothes and crawling in next to the woman I love.
The absolute last thing I want to do is to go into the office.
But like I told Caleb last night, we haven’t shown our faces because of Melody in months. We need to stop being absentee owners of Hudson.
It’s time to go.
Walking over to the side of the bed, I brush Alison’s hair away from her face. Her smile grows wider. “Hmm. Time for me to wake up already?”
“Were you planning on running before heading home?” I trail my lips along her jaw.
“Yes. I want to feel what it’s like here in the city.” Sleepy blue eyes roam over my face. “I figure there are nights we’re going to want to be here instead of the farm.”
I lean down and kiss her. “You figure correctly. I have to go, love.”
Alison shifts in bed, putting her perfect breasts on display, and I groan. “Maybe I’ll see you later.”
“Drop by if you can before you leave the city.” I kiss her languidly before I stand and make my way to the door.
“Keene?” I poke my head back inside. “I love you.” Even in the shadows of my condo, Alison’s words light the deepest part of me.
Sending her a smirk, I wink at her before I head out the door.
If I had known it would be the last time I’d be able to speak to her for the foreseeable future, I would never have left without her knowing exactly how much I loved her.
* * *
A short while later,I make it to our office near Rockefeller Center. Taking the elevator up to the executive floor, I greet a few employees who enter and exit on the elevator. I get off to find Caleb and my admin, Tony, huddled together. Tony’s holding an ice bag to the side of his head. All it takes is one look at Caleb’s face for me to know shit has hit the fan and is splattered across the office walls.
The feeling of unease has spread to complete dread as I approach the two men.
“What is it?” I ask without preamble.
“Brace, brother,” Caleb says. His fury and disgust are palpable. “Crazy landed in your office after she clocked Tony in the parking lot for his key card.”
Melody? Here? Panic flows through my veins. “Alison’s supposed to be coming by before she leaves the city. Fuck!” I explode.
“Then I suggest you deal with her quickly. Because when I checked the feed, she was lying naked on your desk.” Caleb is pissed. “And I don’t take it you finally told Alison about what was going on?” He gauges my reaction, and I have the good grace to flush. “Yeah, I didn’t think so. That lunatic isn’t leaving unless her ass is dragged out by cops or she gets the fucking she’s been asking for.”
I hand my briefcase to Caleb. “You’re going to monitor and record everything?”
He nods.
I turn to Tony. “Cops have been called to pick her up for violating the restraining order?”
Tony nods. “They just needed you to be in the office, Keene. I’ll go down and escort them when they arrive.”
I take a deep breath. “No one lets Alison in, understood?”
Caleb mutters, “Boy, did you fuck this up. You should’ve told her.”
“Do you think I don’t realize that right about now?” I roar. “What the hell am I supposed to do?”
“Fix it, Keene. Get us the hell out of this mess.” Caleb storms off to his office and slams the door.
I look at Tony, who nods at me and sits down behind the desk. I take a deep breath before crossing to my office door. Opening it the narrowest amount, I slide in. Inside, I find Melody laid out on my couch beneath the portrait of my sister and me. Her fingers are sliding in and out of her cunt, juices dripping. I’m repulsed and can’t hide my look of disgust. A snarl comes from deep inside. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Hello, lover. I thought it was time for us to play since I got your note yesterday. You’ve been a bad boy, Keene,” Melody purrs.
