"You promised no police! Do you know a cop was just here?" It's Cora's voice, I suppose.

A frown deepens on Red's face as we exchange a fleeting glance, but our collective curiosity makes us patient enough to listen more attentively.

"What cop? And what the hell did he want?" Now it's clearly Derek.

"What else? It's about Anne! Apparently the case is still on, since clearly your crazy plan to frame your stepmom didn't work! I'm warming you, Derek, if this—"

"Alright, alright, can you just shut up for a minute, woman? First, you don't get to threaten me for anything, are we clear? I'm holding your damn career so just shut the fuck up! I'm already having a handful right now to bear with hysteric women! And second, if the cops find out about anything, it's you who's going to sleep in the gutters. I didn't forge the evidence—you and your pals did."

"It was your orders! You put me into this and don't think I'll let you go loose, Derek! I'm not a pawn to be played around and you should know that better by now! If they find out that your dear mother was at Anne's house the day she died, who do you think they'll go after, huh?"

What the fuck! Elena was there? My eyes broaden in shock and I blink several times at Red.

"Don't you dare mention her name!" Derek thunders.

"And don't you dare threaten me, Derek! Just a basic reminder—I work for your father, not for you. I don't know why you're so obsessed with everything he possesses, but I refuse to be any part of your family war!"

Obsession? Family war? What is she talking about? I gulp.

"Fine! I get it. And fuck, Cora, I'm not obsessed with anyone! Be very careful of what you say."

"Ugh, please, Derek. Do you think I give a damn about your emotional drama or your personal desires? I just want to focus on this project and nothing else!"

"Okay! I said I got it!" Derek recoils, but he doesn't seem to press further on his objections regarding Cora's innuendo. "So, what did that cop ask you exactly? I fucking hope you didn't mention—"

"I'm not stupid to mention anything. However, I can't promise how long that will stay," Cora answers. "Keep the police out of my way because it won't be good for you if they keep poking their noses."

"For both of us, Cora. Don't be oblivious that you can't escape me." Derek sighs heavily. "Did you get the cop's name? I'll look into it."

"Someone named Richard Mathews? I'm not so sure, but he's some hunky blonde with blue eyes and . . ."

"That's me, ladies and gentlemen," Luca brags.

"We know!" Red and I snap, unready to shred our focus.

"What? I'm just saying that the freaky scientist has a great taste, c'mon," Luca replies but none of us pay attention to him.

The rest of the recording turns out to be nothing of much interest, except the fact that Derek is controlling Cora as though he's got some leverage on her. But she's not a pushover either, which makes their relationship very interesting, despite the odds.

Luca clicks a button. "Now that's it. Juicy, wasn't it?"

Thoughtful, I cross my arms on my chest and recline back.

"So Elena was there. Does that mean the person Derek has been trying to protect was his mother and not himself?" Red stands up slowly, seemingly engrossed in the assumption game. "Could it be that Elena is the one who—"

"Killed Anne? Yes, now I can't think of anyone else but her!" I flap.

I'm so angry right now.

"No, let's not get ahead of ourselves, because it just mentioned that she was there. It doesn't necessarily mean she's the murderer." Red's suggestion earns him a distasteful scoff from me. "What?" he asks warily.

I rise up stiffly and reply, "Nothing. I just hope you're not the president of her fan club now."

"Woah, woah, woah!" Luca blurts out a gasp of shock.

"What are you talking about?" Red snorts.

That everyone has people to protect them through everything, but I'm always caught up in their mess.

"Don't mind me. I'm just a crazy bitch who can just go to jail for other people's crimes. No biggie," I reply, my heart bruised again from the fact that my husband was willing to sacrifice me for his other family.

But I still think Elena can be the murderer because she has a motive. Anne screwed both Patrick and Derek, which can't be a venial act for her as a mother and ex-wife who's still insanely in love with Patrick.

"Where are you going?" Red asks when I suddenly kick the chair out of my way, my wit dispersed.

"Over there!" I theatrically point at the couch. "I'm going to take a nap and maybe simmer down before I completely lose my mind. But don't worry, I told you I'll be as calm as possible so I'm not gonna go all ballistic and kill someone for real this time."

They both give me a shocked look.

I pull in a cleansing breath. So what if I'm officially a crazy woman now? I'm so tired of everyone covering up for other people's sins and throwing the blame on me. I'm sure Patrick knew about everything, and yet he claimed he loved me. Fuck them all.

And I really hate him now.

I curl up on the couch, drowning in my pain and sorrow. I feel like I'm always the garbage for misfortunes, and no one seems genuine enough to care. But no, I refuse to reach the bottom of anger and self pity. So I close my eyes and try to sleep.

"Mia? Mia, wake up." Thick and gentle voice harasses me some moments later.

I stir and turn, inhaling some air. Warm blanket feels soft over me, but I know this is not my bed, and neither is Red's. I wake up and the pair of calm golden irises regard me. It's Red, squatted right next to me.

"Hey." He runs his fingers through my hair, a gentle smile on his face. "I should take you home now. Are you feeling alright?"

I sigh. "I'm not fine. And I don't want to go home, either. I just want to be with you tonight, but I know you're going to say that we can't—"

"I won't say a word," he interrupts. I blink at him, confused. "We'll go to my place if that's what you want." He smiles indulgently while stroking my cheek as if I'm a little puppy with tender fur.

I flush. He can be surprising.

"What about your renown risk talk?" My voice is crunchy and I want to sleep more, but a smile betrays my amusement.

"You're worth every risk I can possibly take, baby. I just want to protect you against any danger if I can," he replies automatically, sincerity lacing his voice.

My heart erupts like a blast of sparks on the fourth of July. I lean forward and wrap my arms around his large frame. "As long as you're here, I'll always be fine."

I mean it. I feel it.

He hugs me back and kisses my hair so passionately, then my lips when we pull back, and then stares deeply into my eyes before smoothly muttering, "I love you."

My whole body gets weak, like a downpour in the hot dessert. It's still so new to hear him say those magical words and it constantly does things to me. But the feeling is laxative.

Smiling, I whisper, "I love you, too. Now take me home . . . That way we can catch up from where we stopped."

Laughter reverberates through his chest. He stares at me for a good while, studying me patiently. I burn under his scrutiny but the ferocious hot desires plummet in my blood. I inhale sharply when he pads a thumb on my bottom lip, then he kisses me slowly.

After a minute he stands up, brings my heels and handbag, ready to go.

It's already dark outside, the air sultry and cold. I shiver, waiting for Red to bring his infamous Jeep Wrangler. Much to my surprise, it's a huge motorbike that pulls over, followed by Red who takes off his helmet and brings another to me.

Wow!

"You didn't bring your car?" I ask him, astounded.

"No. I'm afraid the pretty little madam will have to ride in style tonight." He grins, putting the helmet over my head. I wince back, dodging his attempt with a chuckle. "What? Luca can call you that and I can't?"

"Of course you can't!" Now I laugh heartily while shuffling my hair. His brighter demeanor makes me feel at ease, all the anger purged to the unknown. "Okay, let's ride in style."

I say goodbye to Luca and it appears I'm gonna be a regular here. I sit comfortably on the bike, right behind Red with a black helmet on my head..

"Ready?" he asks, the engine roaring proudly.

I hold him tightly. "Ready."

Portland had never looked as beautiful as it does tonight. Shiny and big, neon billboards everywhere. I feel like Mrs. Tom Cruz as Red speeds on the road, an exhilarating breeze unleashing the adrenaline spike through me.

Life can still be good.

Two hours later I throw myself in bed after stuffing my tummy with countless pieces of banana and yogurt—my teeny tiny demand imposed on Red before we arrived home. I return mom's call and she snaps, sounding worried enough to send a patrol car for me.

"I'm fine, Mom. I'm at Red's so I'll see you tomorrow?" I'm still ashamed to admit my affair, but she is the last person I'm inclined to hide things from.

She'll forever be my confidante.

"Oh? Still it doesn't justify you giving me a heart attack, Mia Vera! But fine, be careful," she says, and at the same moment Red pops from the bathroom.

"I will. Goodnight, Mom." I rise up and kneel, drawing my man toward me with a wild smile.

Red strides closer and halts next to the bed, right where I can easily access his bare chest, or his towel-draped bottom, the ridges of tense muscles, and the goddamn six and extra packs. How hot! A sultry tingle runs through me like the exciting coolness of an ice on a burning skin.

"You seem excited and we haven't even started." His gaze stalks my face with a ghost of a smirk, and off to my bare breasts—as I'm only wearing the underwear I left from my last visit here. "Is it me, or you sexual appetite is shockingly increasing lately?"

Bastard. I choke a laugh.

"Are you complaining?" I trail my finger over his chest, from his sternum to his belly button. He flexes a bit, but he doesn't move. Smiling, I gaze up at him and say, "Don't Tell me you can't keep up. Have you lost your touch?"

"You gotta be kidding me." He laughs cynically as he glances away for a second.

When his gaze returns, he simply pulls my hair into a fist, lifts my chin up, and powerfully encloses my mouth with his, and kisses me roughly. I chorus several growls, my body weak enough to be pushed easily, and in a blink he's on top of me, fondling my breasts until my nipples harden like pebbles.

"Wow." I giggle, panting in a startled manner as his palms cup my breasts.

Trapped between his thighs, I pant heavily, my head tipped aside to enjoy the feel of his unrelenting tongue gliding on my skin, sucking every tender part. And when he tries to reach my vagina wall I rise up a bit and flip him over. He stays under me and the domme in me resurfaces.

"I'm in charge now," I say. He laughs gently, pretending to be stoic, but I feel his heart rate increasing. "And you're mine, sugar. Only mine."

"Hhhm," he grunts in approval.

I waste no time giving him the payback. I flap his towel and grip his already pointed cock. Fuck me! My breath quickens as I behold it closer, still magnificently big. He folds one arm behind his head, smiling wickedly as though he's challenging me for the sexual dual.

Challenge accepted!

Stroking him feels like an appetizer before a meal. His facial reaction is priceless, and to enjoy the moment I lean over and kiss his abs. As expected, he sucks his tummy in and—bullseye! It's one of his weak buttons that I've learned to press. And when I suck the tip of his shaft, he grunts almost painfully.

But I know it's pure, undiluted pleasure.

So I sit straight, shift my hair to one side, and take him fully until the back of my throat, from gentle to moderate, and off to something fast and merciless. He flexes his hips, pushing me deeper, begging me to go on. My inner slut feels emboldened as I play with his balls, pulling off to tease his length.

"Fuck, Mia!" He presses his hand over my head as if he's driving me, except that I'm the one driving him.

He grunts and calls my name infinitely, and each time he does it I suck him deeper. But before he approaches his climax, his body overly tense and out of control, I edge away swiftly and reclaim his lips. Automatically he anchors me into his arms, and we kiss each other as if we're leapt by longing.

"You're seriously a ticking bomb!" he roars with a smile as I sit on him slowly, gently letting his cock into my wet sex. "Oh fuck, Mia."

I whine a sharp moan as he fills me, but I can't grow tired of him. Ever. Like a cowgirl on a horse, I ride him slowly to his masculine climax that mingles with my shocking orgasm that leaves me all sweaty.

The AC cools my body when I fall flat beside him, catching my breath. He pulls me closer so I fall asleep held in his arms, only to wake up with his tongue between my legs so early in the morning.

"Red!" I giggle. "What are you doing?"

"What I must do before we go to work," he replies coolly, my legs resting over his shoulders. "Oh, and I forgot to mention last night. You're mine, too, and I haven't lost my touch either. Now, shall we?"