Kahlen Aymes - Angel After Dark

“Baby, I gotta go or I’ll never leave. So, I’ll see you in five days. Keep the phone handy.”

He opened the door and her hands fell from his body.

Angel found herself feeling stunned and bereft when the door closed, and she leaned back against the wood, the cold wood a stark contrast to his warm flesh. “Five days…”

She moved into the kitchen and began to clean up the remnants of the meal, forgotten for the past three and a half hours, thoughts of Alex rampant in her mind. She smiled in spite of herself. Her mind knew he was dangerous. More than dangerous, but damn it, he was funny and sexy and brilliant. Lethal. Surely, she’d suffer in the end but it felt so good, it was hard to deny.

The buzzer to her apartment sounded, startling Angel out of her contemplation, and she hurried to the door, anticipating Alex.

“Hey, you. Back already?” she asked with a smile. “I knew you couldn’t stay away.”

“Dr. Hemming?” a deep voice rasped. It wasn’t Alex and Angel was startled, jumping slightly in her skin.

“Yes?” she spoke into the speaker and then released the button for the response.

“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll be wise about your comments on Tuesday. Mr. Swanson can be a reasonable man, with reasonable people. We know where you live. And now, your boyfriend, too.”

Angel’s heart fell to her stomach, thudding heavily, and heat flooding her skin at a record pace.

Alex thrummed his hand on the top of his knee, waiting impatiently for Cole outside his apartment. The neighborhood was nice, but not used to limousines, and certainly not the caliber that Alex or his parents lived in. Neither Alex, nor his father, was inclined to provide more to Cole without the benefit of some sort of contribution to the business.

He glanced at his watch impatiently and finally pulled out his phone.

“Yeah?” Cole’s groggy voice pissed Alex off. His mouth settled into a thin line.

“Cole, for Christ’s sake! I’m waiting. Get your ass out here. Now! I’m late for my flight.”

There was rustling and the clank of a belt on the other end of the line as Cole crawled out of bed and threw on some clothes. “Where you going, again? What time is it?”

“Just get the hell out here. We’ll talk on the way to O’Hare.” Alex shut off his phone and shoved it in the breast pocket of his suit. The sun had been up for three hours, bright in the sky, but the limo’s dark windows made his expensive sunglasses unnecessary. He pulled them off and flung them on the leather seat beside him.

After another ten minutes, Cole’s unkempt form slid into the seat directly across from Alex as the driver closed the door behind him. Shaking his head in dismay, Alex watched his brother shove a Cubs baseball cap onto his uncombed head.

“Who dresses you, Cole? Have some respect for yourself and for the family. Jesus. Think about what you represent!”

Cole scowled at his younger brother. “Get off your high horse, Alex. Who the fuck do you think you are, getting me out of bed at the crack of dawn?”

“Apparently, I’m your fucking boss. And my high horse, as you put it, needs a good polishing. Dad asked me to straighten your ass out, but this is it. After this, I’m done.”

“Fuck you, Alex. Daddy’s little favorite. It makes me want to puke.”

“You think you can go through life banging bimbos and relying on others to pay for everything you do? Get your head out of your ass. Life isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. At some point, you have to grow some balls and take some responsibility.”

Cole had the grace to flush and look out the window as the limo pulled out of his complex. “I’m not a suit. I have no desire to be Dad’s clone. Besides… he’s got one already.”

“If you don’t want to be a part of Avery, then tell Dad, so he’ll get off my ass. But get a goddamn job.”

Cole sighed and twisted his ball cap around. “What does Dad want me to do?”

Alex leaned back in the seat and watched Cole fidget. “It’s my call. He suggested mergers and acquisitions, but I have something else in mind. Since it’s not in the office, maybe you can stomach it.”

Cole’s brows lifted slightly. “What does it involve?” His tone was bored and uninterested.

“Supposedly, a local businessman is neck-deep in a rape case. It’s all hush-hush. I want to know who it is.”

“I don’t get it. Why do you give a fuck?”

Alex’s jaw shot forward and he stiffened slightly. He couldn’t admit the truth to his brother because he hadn’t fully accepted it himself. “Just find out. Get Bancroft to help you, if needed, but do it before I get back from Spain.”

The limo pulled up to the terminal, and the driver proceeded to unload Alex’s bag to the curb as the two men slid out. Passengers and airport workers glanced at them, taking in the stark contrast between Alex’s polished black suit and vibrant silk tie to Cole’s wrinkled khaki shorts and rumpled white T-shirt.

Alex replaced the sunglasses in one smooth motion and straightened the cuffs of his shirt under his jacket. As always, his dress and demeanor was impeccable and polished.

Cole studied his brother carefully; certain that the hard tone in his voice went deeper than he was letting on. “What’s the real reason, dude?”

Alex picked up his briefcase as the larger bag was checked at the curb.

“If this asshole is as shady as I believe him to be, there are holes in his business dealings, too. Find out everything. Who he is, what he owns, his relationships, who he employs, who his lawyers are… I want his weaknesses. Get it all. If you need money, Mrs. Dane is instructed to provide whatever is necessary, but not for bullshit, Cole, just this assignment.”

Two flight attendants making their way inside glanced in Alex’s direction, clearly interested. The corners of his mouth lifted in a wry smile. He noticed the shapely legs on one of them, but his interest was minimal.

“Hellloooo, ladies,” Cole said, lifting his hand in a wave.

The women visibly grimaced as they looked him over. “Eww,” one said softly, raising a hand to whisper rapidly to her friend. Cole was a good-looking guy when he gave a shit.

Alex flashed a snow-white grin in Cole’s direction. “See? Now don’t you wish you had at least showered?” He laughed.

“Hey!” Cole called after the women as they disappeared through the double doors.

“You don’t live in the hood, so dress appropriately, please,” Alex admonished.

“Well, you smell like a girl.”

A smile broke at his brother’s smart-ass remark. Despite their disagreements, they were still good friends.

“I need you to focus. This is very important, so no whoring around this week,” Alex added as he turned away, trying to squash his grin.

Cole’s face crinkled in protest and groaned. “Why?”

“Because I said so,” Alex insisted, handing a twenty to the baggage claim attendant.

“No pussy for you then, either. Fair’s fair!” Cole retorted loudly, not caring where he was or who overheard. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his khaki shorts.

“Nice. Your eloquence slays me,” Alex mocked dryly, but laughing despite himself as he left the curb and turned to walk into the terminal. His thoughts flashed to long silken strands wrapped around his fist and a soft, luscious mouth wild beneath his own, the scent of vanilla and muskiness, and fiery heat wrapped tightly around his cock. Angel.

He was astonished that, on this occasion, he was definitely on-board with that restriction.

Definitely no pussy.

* * *

Angry. Apprehensive. Worried. Violated. Scared. All words that described the feelings flooding through Angel and she couldn’t ignore any of them. So many emotions convoluted the situation and how she was able to deal with it.

After last evening’s surprise visitor, Angel had contacted building security hoping that the attendant could describe him or that he was on lobby cameras. No such luck. All that could be seen was a black fedora as the man kept his head lowered. He was medium height and husky. Not much to go on besides he had the most hideous voice she’d ever heard.

And now we know where your boyfriend lives, too.

It ran through her brain again. What would Alex think? He’d laugh at the label. He was no one’s boyfriend, but he’d be pissed that someone would be throwing threats around. Shivers rushed over the skin of her arms, causing goose bumps to break out under the navy blue Christian Dior suit. Despite his declaration of taking it slow, and her protests to letting it happen, Angel sighed at the inevitable. She liked him. A lot. Her first instinct was to pick up the phone after that asshole buzzed her apartment and call Alex. She didn’t. He had enough on his plate, and telling Alex would be too much like admitting they were something.

Angel walked through the polished glass doors that led into the government office building across from the courthouse, her high heels clacking loudly on the marble floors. It had been several weeks since Angel spoke with Kenneth, but she needed his advice; he knew the case, even if he wasn’t working on it personally. That fact allowed him to speak to her about it, off the record.

“Dr. Hemming! How nice to see you! Is Mr. Gant expecting you?” Ken’s assistant popped her head up from her computer screen. She was fresh and pretty, a law student on internship with the firm.

Pain shot through her lower lip as she bit it too hard. “Um, no, Carrie. Is he busy?”

“He has court in about an hour, but it’s only an arraignment, so he should be available.”

“I should have called first. Please extend my apologies.” Angel paced back and forth in front of the desk, uncharacteristic of her usually cool demeanor. The minutes ticked by until a smiling Kenneth came out to greet her.

“Angel! You look gorgeous.”

Angel felt the wet warmth of his partially open mouth as he bent to kiss her cheek and his hand lingered as he ran it down her arm. Kenneth was an attractive man. Bright blue eyes, well-kept blond hair, and clean-shaven. He wasn’t as tall as Alex and his muscles less defined. He was thinner, less broad through the shoulders. Angel shook herself out of the comparison.

Kenneth ushered her into his office and closed the door behind them. Despite the high-powered position he held, his office was sparse, the furniture dated and cluttered with papers. Angel’s brow crooked in sarcastic bewilderment.

“I don’t get how you can win so many cases, given your disorganization. How do you find anything?”

Kenneth smiled as she settled into one of the hard, wooden chairs and he went around the desk. “Ah! I love my chaos. I know where everything is.”

“I bet your assistant wants to shoot herself.”

“So, what do I owe the pleasure? You haven’t been around much lately.” Kenneth’s softly spoken words were loaded with hidden meaning. He knew it. She did, too.

“Yeah. Really busy. The radio show and everything.”

“Yes, I heard it once or twice.” He threw a pen down on his desk and shuffled some papers out of the way. “Stupid people.”

Angel flushed and her back stiffened. He just didn’t get it. He never did. “Everyone has problems, Kenneth. Even you,” she said pointedly.

“Pfft. My biggest problem is when I get to see you. I’ve missed you.”

“You’re seeing me now,” Angel dismissed, not wanting to get into the discussion of why they were no longer having sex. “And, it’s me with the problem. I need your advice.”

Kenneth leaned back in his chair and studied the beautiful woman in front of him. She was elegant and composed, her dark tresses smoothed back in a professional chignon that her manicured hand reached up to check, make-up perfect. “What’s this about? Swanson?”

Angel’s eyes widened in surprise. “How’d you know?”

He shrugged and began to roll down the sleeves of his white dress shirt and tighten the red and grey tie in preparation for his court appearance. “The guy’s scum. Everyone knows he’s guilty as sin, but it only matters what we can prove. That’s where little wonder-Angel comes in.”

“Wonder-Angel? I can’t prove a damn thing as it stands now. The tests aren’t infallible, and I can’t manufacture answers. The only thing I can think to do is tell him the files got deleted and we need to re-administer them. He cheats the tests, but maybe if we rattle his cage and make him think we’re fishing, he’ll crack.”