Wicked Redemption (Dark Book 2) Read online

  “Nancy, would you excuse me for a moment? I need to step out.”

  She nodded as I flew out of the room. Racing to the ladies’ room, I scarcely made it before vomiting.

  As I cleaned myself up, I wondered what it could be. Was it something I had eaten? Was it just the flu?

  Wiping my mouth with a paper towel, I composed myself the best I could to finish the meeting with Nancy.

  When I came back to the meeting room, she was gone.

  “Mrs. Gladdenfield, what happened to Nancy?”

  She looked flustered.

  “She left a few hours ago, Amber.”

  What?

  “No, she was just here. I went to the restroom and just came back.”

  Mrs. Gladdenfield’s eyes widened. Her face went pale.

  “No, Amber, you went to the restroom for a few minutes. Then you came back and finished the meeting. Nancy left around 11:30.”

  No, no, no. That wasn’t right. Poor woman. She was getting on in her years. Perhaps I should talk to Ash about it. If she was this confused, she may be booking appointments incorrectly causing all kinds of problems.

  “It’s 2:30 now, Amber,” she said quietly.

  That wasn’t possible. I had gone to the restroom and was sick, but that was only for a few moments.

  “I’ve got the signed paperwork you handed me right here.” She held out the documents which clearly had my name as well as Nancy’s on the bottom.

  What the hell?

  I nearly fainted as I realized what this meant. How could I be missing two hours of time? I had no recollection of seeing Nancy again.

  But clearly I had.

  “Amber, honey, you’ve been through so much. Why don’t you go home for the afternoon? Your appointments are over for the day.”

  Her kindly, motherly tone annoyed me. It felt like she was placating me.

  “I’m fine, Mrs. Gladdenfield. I’m going into my office now. No calls please.”

  As I sat down at my desk, I went through the documents Nancy and I had signed. Everything looked great. Nothing out of the ordinary.

  Then why couldn’t remember it?

  Rubbing my temples, I leaned back in the chair. I missed Ash being here. I just wanted to go home to him.

  5

  Ash

  Sitting in the bed I was beginning to hate, I waited for Amber. I hated just sitting around. I was ready to go back to work. Fucking doctor’s orders were ridiculous. How was I supposed to run my company sitting in a fucking bed all day?

  Suddenly, the door creaked open.

  “Amber?”

  One long leg slipped through the cracked door wearing a white stocking and stiletto heel. God, her legs were amazing.

  Then, the rest of her appeared wearing a short, white nurse’s outfit. Her tits were busting out the top of the dress. She wore a white lacy garter belt and stockings. Her long honey blonde hair was loose and flowing down her shoulders. She even wore a nurse’s cap and a stethoscope.

  “Hey, handsome, time for your check up.”

  Smiling, I held my hand out to her.

  “Please do, Nurse. I’ve been in pain all day.”

  “Do tell, Mr. Blackthorne. You’ve been a very sick man.” I loved the accent she was affecting. It was all breathy and sexy like Marilyn Monroe.

  “Let me take your pulse.”

  She bent over pressing her tits in my face as she pretended to take my pulse.

  “Heart rate is a bit fast. What could be causing that?”

  “I wonder.” I smirked reaching up to grab her tits.

  “Ah-ah, Mr. Blackthorne, you can’t just grab me like that.” She pouted.

  “Who says, Nurse?”

  “I do.”

  Grabbing her wrists, I pulled her down to me.

  “It hurts, Nurse, right here.” I placed her hand on my throbbing cock.

  “Really? Whatever should I do about that?”

  “Whatever you feel like.”

  Amber walked over to the window and pulled the curtains closed. Then she turned the lights on low.

  “Ready, Mr. Blackthorne?”

  Slowly, she rocked her hips back and forth. She had no music playing, but I paid no mind. Keeping her eyes locked on mine, she unzipped the tight little dress letting it fall to the ground.

  God, she was beautiful. I stared in awe of her body.

  I craved her. I wanted every inch of her.

  But she wasn’t done. She kept swaying back and forth jiggling her tits at me. She was still wearing the garters and stockings and no panties which drove me wild. She turned around and bent over placing her hands on the floor.

  Her pussy was shining wet and spread open. I could smell her sweetness. My cock raged at me.

  Charging off the bed, I caught her about the waist and took her straight to the floor. My mouth hungrily sought hers as my hands ran over her body. She purred in my ear as I began running my tongue over her flesh. She tasted salty sweet as I traced a line from her neck to her nipples. Gently, I rolled her nipples between my teeth daring to bite a bit harder each time. She squealed as my fingers found her dripping wet. Slipping my finger deep inside her pussy, she gripped me tightly. I felt my cock began to drip with precome as I ached to just thrust myself inside her.

  Still, I wanted to savor the moment a bit longer before I did what I’d been longing to do.

  Pulling her up to her hands and knees, I ran my hand over her firm ass. Then, I drew back to smack it as hard as I could. She cried out and shuddered.

  “Ash!”

  “It’s Sir to you, princess.”

  Again, I brought my hand down on her sweet flesh relishing in the smacking sound it made. As I pulled my hand away, I noticed the bright red imprint of my hand.

  “Please, Sir, I’m ready.” She begged pushing her pussy towards me.

  “Not yet,” I growled.

  “You need to learn how to wait properly, princess. Then, and only then, will I give your greedy pussy what it craves.”

  I pulled her back by her hips to tease her clit with my cock. Over and over I traced the tip of my cock ever so lightly across her throbbing pussy. I could feel her clit swell as I touched my cock to it. She was so wet it was all I could do to keep from sinking deep inside her.

  Just as I was about to overrule myself and give in to temptation, the door flew open.

  “What the fuck?” I demanded spinning around to see Gloria standing there.

  “I’m sorry, Mr. Blackthorne, but there’s an urgent call for you.”

  “For God’s sake, who the hell is it?”

  Gloria turned away to let me shield our nudity.

  “It’s someone named Ayden. He said he must speak with you.”

  “Ayden! Tell him to give me a minute.”

  “I’m so sorry, Mr. Blackthorne, but he’s called ten times. I’ve told him to leave you alone while you recover.” Gloria tried to explain. Her face was bright red with embarrassment.

  “Just give us a minute, please.”

  Amber pulled on one of my shirts as I grabbed a pair of shorts.

  “What nerve for him to call you, Ash.” Amber looked disgusted.

  I nodded my agreement.

  “I can’t believe he did either. What the hell couldn’t wait?”

  Opening the door, I called to Gloria.

  “Get his number and I’ll call on my cell.”

  “As you wish.”

  In a flash, she came back and handed me a slip of paper.

  “I didn’t mean to disturb you.” She looked down.

  “It’s fine, Gloria.”

  Clutching the piece of paper, I dialed the number.

  “Ash! I’m sorry to bother you. Your maid wouldn’t give me any information.”

  “Why the fuck are you calling me, Ayden? Haven’t you done enough?”

  His voice sounded frantic.

  “It’s the cops, Ash. Did you tell them anything? They came to my apartment last night.”

  I si
ghed.

  “No, Ayden, I didn’t. I figured it was up to me and you to work this out between us.”

  “Are you sure? I could go back to prison if they find out. I’m on parole.”

  “I know that, Ayden. Look, you fucking stabbed me. I’m still recovering.”

  “That was an accident, Ash, you know that. I’m sorry, so sorry. I don’t want to cause trouble anymore.”

  “Where are you at, Ayden?”

  He hesitated a moment as if debating whether or not he should trust me.

  “I’m in hiding.”

  “Where? Are you still in New York?”

  “I’m in the area. Why?”

  “We need to talk soon. A friend of my father’s, I mean, our father’s came to see me today. He shared some interesting news with me. Apparently, our father came to see you in prison?”

  His voice dropped an octave as if he was with someone and didn’t want them to hear.

  “Yes, he did. Ash, I agree. I want to talk to you. That’s all I ever wanted. Could we meet sometime?”

  I sighed looking at Amber. She had her arms crossed over her breasts.

  “Yes. Perhaps you could come out to my house in the Hamptons.”

  He was quiet a moment.

  “I could. Text me the address.”

  “I can do that. I’m not sure when as I’m still in recovery no thanks to you.” I didn’t hide the irritation in my voice. It was crazy to see him, I thought. But then again, I felt I owed it to my father to find out what exactly he wanted from our family.

  “That’s fine, Ash. Look, please, just don’t tell the cops anything. The media has been following me and I’m terrified they’re going name me as the guy who stabbed you.”

  “You are the guy who stabbed me, Ayden.”

  His voice became manic.

  “I know, I know, I know. But they don’t know, Ash. Just you and Amber know. I didn’t mean to. You don’t have to be scared of me.”

  I laughed.

  “I’m not. I never was. Don’t think I won’t be armed when you come. I won’t let you stab me a second time.”

  Ayden was quiet.

  “I wouldn’t, Ash. You’re my brother even if you don’t believe that.”

  “I do believe you, Ayden.” I replied quietly.

  Silence on the other end. I thought he was stunned that I agreed with him.

  “What changed your mind, Ash?”

  “Ayden, I don’t feel like talking right now. When I’m ready, I’ll text you the day and time to meet me. Until then, don’t worry about the cops. I haven’t said shit to them and neither has Amber.”

  “Thank you, Ash.”

  “One more thing-don’t ever contact Amber again. If I hear you’ve come near her, I won’t hesitate to turn you in.”

  “Understood.”

  “Ayden, I just have one question for you right now. How is Debra your mother too? I mean, she left when I was seven. I don’t remember her being pregnant.”

  Ayden sighed.

  “Apparently, she was. I was born February 1, 1983. She left our father in the summer of 1982, right?”

  “Yes,” I replied.

  “I guess she was pregnant when she left. Maybe she didn’t know. Maybe she did. I don’t really know.”

  Letting that sink in, I bid him farewell for the moment.

  Clicking the phone off, I walked over to Amber and slipped my arms around her.

  “Kind of killed the mood, didn’t he?” I whispered.

  She nodded.

  “I just don’t want him around me right now, Ash.”

  “I know, baby.”

  “Can we just go to bed now?” She shivered in my arms.

  “Of course.”

  I nuzzled her my face in her silky sweet smelling blonde hair.

  As she fell asleep in my arms, I wondered how much more trouble Ayden would bring. I also wondered just how many secrets my father had kept from me. I needed to find out before I talked to Ayden.

  6

  Ayden

  I had to face up to the fact that every instinct I’d ever had in my life had been wrong. Every decision had been wrong. From running away as a kid to all the terrible things I did to Amber to stabbing my own brother. All the results of my lust for vengeance.

  Gazing up at the towering church, I admired the beauty of the architecture. This was an old church. It had been here for many years. I hadn’t been raised Catholic. From what I knew of my father, he had been Protestant. My mom had taken me to a Baptist church a few times as a kid for vacation bible school in the summer. I only enjoyed that because of the free cookies.

  Wrapping my hand around the door handle, I turned it slowly as if I expected to be struck by lightning walking into a church. The church looked empty. My footsteps echoed throughout the old building. The stained glass windows depicted various biblical scenes. I walked by the rows of pews until I came to the front of the church. There were several burning candles there on an altar in front of a huge crucifix.

  I didn’t know what to do. Everything I knew about Catholicism came from television. I fell to my knees in front of the altar. Tears soaked my face as I prayed inside my head. I had no idea if God could hear me or not.

  I just wanted Him to know I was sorry for all the terrible things I’d done from drugs to theft to stalking and terrorizing Amber to stabbing my brother.

  As I was praying, a man appeared by my side. I nearly shouted with fright. I didn’t know anyone would be here.

  “Hey, man. Are you looking for Confession today?”

  Wasn’t that what I had been doing?

  I looked him up and down. He was wearing a pair of jeans that were tattered at the ankles. His jeans sagged off his backside. His dark hair was longer than average and shaggy. He sure didn’t look like he belonged in a church. In fact, with his black long sleeved t-shirt and red rimmed eyes he looked a bit like a junkie.

  “What does that mean?” I stood up and faced him.

  “I take it this is your first time in a Catholic church?”

  I nodded. I guess it was that obvious.

  “It just means that you go into that little booth over there and confess your sins.”

  That seemed strange to me, but then again, I hadn’t been inside a church in years.

  “After that, then what?”

  “That depends on you and the Good Lord.”

  I thought about what he said. It would feel good to simply confess everything I’d done out loud to someone who didn’t know me.

  “So what do I need to do?” I ran my hands through my hair nervously. I wasn’t sure I wanted to spill everything to this random guy.

  “You look like you’ve been through a lot.” He glanced down at my track marks. I jerked my sleeves down over them.

  “That obvious, huh?” I tried to laugh.

  He shook his head.

  “No need for that.” He pulled up his sleeve to reveal arms terribly scarred from track marks.

  “Wow, I didn’t think I’d be welcome here with those.”

  “Everyone’s welcome here. Let’s just have a seat over there.” He gestured for me to follow him over to a pew on the far right.

  “So, why don’t you start by telling me your name?”

  “Ayden.”

  “Ayden, I’m Marcus. Nice to meet you.” We shook hands.

  “So, Marcus, what now?”

  He sat down crossing his ankle over his knee. He ran his hands through his stringy black hair.

  Upon closer inspection, he looked a bit Goth like a younger Marilyn Manson. The thought of Marilyn Manson inside a Catholic church made me laugh out loud.

  “Tell me what brought you here today, Ayden. People usually come here for a reason.”

  I nodded looking up at the huge cross on the wall. The image of Christ was so realistic it frightened me.

  “I need a miracle, Marcus. I’ve wasted my whole fucking life. I’ve hurt so many people, I’ve lost people…” My voice broke off as I ch
oked with sobs.

  “I hear you, Ayden. And more importantly, He hears you too.” He nodded at the cross.

  “Huh?”

  “I don’t mean the statue. I mean He’s everywhere. He knows you, He hears you, and He cares about you.”

  “Really?” I was skeptical. Why would God care about a loser like me?

  “Yep. He does. So, Ayden, just what’s hurting you so bad you came in here today?”

  I looked into his eyes. Even though they were somewhat bloodshot, I felt like I could trust him.

  I spread my hands wide.

  “Everything. I left my abusive mom when I was a kid. I lived on the streets for a few years, stealing, shooting heroin. And I met a girl. She was amazing.” I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing down my face.

  He nodded for me to continue.

  “She OD’d on heroin. After she died, I tried killing myself. Then, I got my shit together to go into the Navy. I found out who my real father was. I busted my ass getting a business degree to impress him. I came to New York and got a great job. I went to meet him. He…he didn’t want me. Denied me.”

  Marcus patted me on the shoulder.

  “That sucks, man. I bet that hurt.”

  I nodded wiping my eyes on my sleeve.

  “It did. I went off the rails then. Got back on drugs. Mostly just snorting coke, but sometimes I shot up. I met a gorgeous woman and we started dating. Only after we dated a few times did I figure out she was my long lost brother’s secretary.”

  “Oh, wow.” His eyes widened.

  “So, our relationship took a bit of a strange turn. I became involved in heavy S & M.”

  He looked confused.

  “I mean I was her Dom. I liked having her submit to me, hearing her cry.”

  “Well, if it’s consensual…” He began.

  I cut him off.

  “Initially, it was, but I got to where I ignored her safe word. All I wanted to do was possess her, own her, and control her. Eventually, she left me.”

  “Understandable.”

  I sighed deeply looking down at my hands.

  “I didn’t handle that too well. I stalked her. I broke into her house and assaulted her.” I looked down in shame.

  “That’s not good.”