More Layers: Book Two Layers Series (16 page)

“No. None.”

“I don’t think this has anything to do with what’s happening in the UK. I think it’s personal.”

“Personal?”

“I don’t want to say any more until I get all the facts. In the meantime, you, Sam, and Gram have extra security.”

“It’s never going to end, is it?”

“I think things will settle down once you’ve been at the helm longer, but it’s a different world today. People feel they have the right to more access even when they don’t. And when people feel this way, things can get out of control.”

“Well, I trust you to keep us safe.”

“Thank you, Lex.”

I walk him to the door.

“Goodnight, Lee.”

“If you need anything I’m a phone call away, and Kevin, is parked out front. I’ll call you when I get more information.”

“Okay.”

“Goodnight, Lex.”

* * *

I kick off my custom made Manolo Blahniks and carry them up the stairs.

I check in on the boys and head toward the master bedroom. Jaxson must have gotten permission to spend the night or he would have met me downstairs. I’m tempted to check in on him, but the temptation only lasts a second.

I open my bedroom door and head toward the dressing area.

“Did you fuck him?”

I jump. “God, Jaxson! What the hell are you doing? You all but scared the pee out of me. Don’t ever sneak up on a pregnant woman.”

“I wasn’t sneaking, I’m sitting.”

Whatever. “What are you doing in here—sitting in the dark? What are you doing in my room?”

“Did you fuck him?”

“What?”

“You heard me. Did you fuck him!” he hisses-out.

I flip on a light.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

He stands and walks toward me. “I asked you a question, and I’m not leaving until I get an answer.”

“Suit yourself. I’m going to take off this dress, finish peeing, get in the shower, and then go to bed.”

He follows me into the walk-in dressing area. He sits on a bench and I proceed to remove my clothing. When I’m done I walk past him (in all my naked glory) and into the bathroom. I pee, wash my hands, remove my makeup, put on a shower cap then step into my hunormous shower with twelve well-placed jets.

I wash, then stand in front of one particular strategically placed jet for a...minute or two then turn off the water and step out. When I reach for a towel it’s handed to me.

I frown, but I take it. “Thanks.”

“How come you look so thin?”

I continue to ignore him. I dry off, lotion up, and walk back to the dressing area. I find a pair of comfortable boys shorts and my prized vintage
Nirvana In-Utero
tee and put them on.

I flip off the light and walk toward my bed with Jaxson in tow.

I turn just before I get to the bed and he crashes into me. “Christ, Jaxson—got space?”

“Sorry. Are you okay?”

I rub my forehead. “I’m fine. I’m tired. Please go to your room, or better yet, go home.”

“I’m spending the night.”

“Okay. Then the guest bedroom at the ‘far’ end of the hall awaits.”

“Not until you answer my question.”

I take several steps away and fold my arms over my chest. “Go to hell.”

He steps into my space. “Not until you answer my question.”

“I’m not going to answer your question because it’s none of your goddamn business who I fuck.”

He steps closer.

“Jaxson, I’m not doing this with you. I’m tired, and I’m going to bed.”

“Are you tired because you’ve been fucking all night?”

“I’m tired because I’ve been up for nearly twenty-four hours.”

He moves further into my space.

I push him away. “Back off, Ryan.”

“Answer me, damn you. Did you fuck him? Yes or no?”

“No. I didn’t fuck him.”

“You’ve never fucked him?”

“Jaxson.”

“Yes or no!”

“Yes! I’ve fucked him. I fucked him hard and he fuckin’ fucked me harder. Then he came hard and I came even harder. It that what you want?”

“When?”

“What the hell is your problem?”

“Answer me. When?”

“Have you been drinking?”

“What? No, I’ve never been more sober.”

“Maybe you should drink then.”

He presses against me.

“Ryan, back off. You’re angry.”

He laughs. “Angry! I’m way past angry. Now answer my question. When?”

“Seriously? That’s none of your business.”

“You’re wrong about that, my dear. It’s very much my business. You...you’re mine and everything you do is my business.”

“Yours? You’re delusional. I’m not yours—I’m not anyone’s.”

“Alexia, I’m not going to ask you again. When did you fuck him?”

“Fuck you. Now back off.”

“Are you in love with him?”

“What the hell?”

“Alexia, answer me or so help me I’ll...”

“You’ll what? Backhand me?”

He steps away “Fuck!” he yells as his right fist connects with plaster.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

“Holy shit!” he yells as he grabs his hand. “That’s not sheetrock. Why is that not sheetrock?”

“You stupid man.” I take his hand and survey the damage. His knuckles are bloody and swollen, but I don’t think they’re broken.

I press down on them just to make sure.

“Shit! That hurts.”

“Serves you right, dickbrain. This is an old townhouse—plaster over brick. You stupid asshat, come with me.”

He follows me into the bathroom.

I get out a first aid kit. “Sit your idiot ass on the toilet.”

I remove what I need from the kit.

“Jaxson...what’s going on?”

He shakes his head.

“This isn’t us, Jaxson. We don’t threaten each other and hit walls. You do anything like this around me again; you’ll never see your sons. And I’m not kidding. You get me, Mr. Ryan?”

He frowns. “I get you.”

I cleanse his knuckles while he hisses and moans. Men are pain wusses. God did the right thing when she gave women the vagina.

“Alex was a thrower.”

“Your dad?”

“Yeah. He specialized in lamps but he’d throw just about anything: bottles, books, plates, shoes. My parents fought all the time. God...if you think our relationship is a never-ending roller coaster; theirs was a never-ending tilt-a-whirl. No ups and downs, just a constant nauseating circle. Karen used to take Sam and me to the park when they got ‘into it.’“

I pause in retrospect. “We went to the park a lot. But, on my eighth birthday everything changed.”

“What happened?”

“One of my favorite things to do as a kid was ride the subway. Karen used to pick someone out of the mass of riders, and make up a story about them. Some stories were funny or weird, and others were sad and depressing. It was her way of teaching me about life and life lessons.”

“You loved her didn’t you?”

I pause. “She...she was my everything.”

“What happened to her?”

“She died from breast cancer.”

“I’m sorry.”

So am I. I continue on with my story. “On my eighth birthday she made me a subway-car cake, in honor of our many subway adventures. It took her all day to make, and it was crazy-awesome. She even made little passengers out of marzipan. After my birthday dinner, right before we were about to cut my cake, mom and dad got ‘into it.’ I don’t’ remember what they were fighting about. It was probably about my mother’s work. My dad always accused her of having affairs with her co-workers or clients. I don’t think she ever did, but he hated the fact that she was beautiful and smart, and men noticed. He let his jealousy rule him.”

I give Jaxson a knowing look, and then continue. “They flung ugly, hurtful words at each other, and when words began to fail my dad, he picked up cake plates and flung them against the wall. When he ran out of plates he picked up my cake and it went flying. I never liked my dad, but at that moment my dislike turned into hatred. I got up, stood in front of him...and it just came out. I called him a son-of-a-motherfucker, cock-sucking-asshole. Then I went flying against the wall. Motherfucker broke my collarbone.”

“Oh my God, Lex.”

“Wait. I’m not even to the best part. Mom stood and looked at me on the floor and then in a calm, cold, controlled voice, told the motherfucker to turn around. He turned and faced her, then her forehead made contact with his nose. While dad was crying out about his now-broken nose, she stomped on his foot, then elbowed him in the chest.”

“Holy shit.”

“Wait, not done yet. While he was hunched over, she turned and executed the most incredible side kick I’d even seen. He went flying and hit the buffet. Then she walked over to where he was lying and said in that same calm, cold voice, ‘If you every touch my daughter again, I’ll kill you. If you ever pick up anything in my presence and throw it, I’ll kill you. If you ever yell at me in front of my daughters, I’ll kill you. Do you get me, Mr. Grant?’“

“Fuck me.”

“That’s what I said.”

“So, you’re comparing me to your dad?”

“No. I’m warning you. My mother taught me how to head butt and side kick.”

“Did she teach you how to nail a guy in the nuts?”

“No. That was self-taught.”

“I’d never lay a hand on you in anger.”

“Good to know. But if you ever tried, I’d bring you down. And then I would call Lee to finish you off.”

I finishing cleaning his knuckles and begin to bandage them.

“I told you in Vegas that I’d had a brief relationship.”

“Calvin?”

“Yes. I haven’t fucked anyone since. I can’t be with another man in that way when a part of you is inside me.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me?”

“Because it’s none of your business and...I wished I could. I wish I could not want and need you like my next breath.”

“Baby.”

“Don’t you baby me, Ryan. The way you’ve been acting and treating me...it hurts. I think you, and most everyone else, forgets that I’m just a woman. I’m a CEO with power and responsibilities and I have status and wealth. But underneath all those layers is a shy, vulnerable, confused girl that has wants and needs like all girls. I’m a Grant and I was raised to show no fear or emotions. ‘Buck the hell up’ is the Grant motto, but I can’t buck it up all the time. Jaxson, you can’t say and act like you want me and...not want me. You’re married to another woman and you let me go.”

I finish giving my first aid and put things away.

“Your hand will hurt for a couple of days, but you’ll be fine. I’m tired; Jaxson, and I need to get some rest. Lee will be calling me in a few hours and I want to have a clear head.”

He stands and moves his hand. “Thank you.”

“Next time, think before you punch.”

“Is it okay if I stay in the guest room? I don’t feel like dealing with Mia at this hour.”

I laugh. “I bet you don’t.”

We walk from the bathroom. I head for my bed and he heads for the door.

“I don’t know how early you will be leaving, but we have extra security. So when you do leave, don’t be alarmed if they approach you or ask you about your schedule.”

He stops. “Why the extra security?”

“Someone has been tailing me, that’s all we know.”

“What do you mean ‘tailing’ you?”

“Following me, watching me. Lee’s working on it.”

“You don’t know who it is?”

“We don’t know anything yet. I haven’t had any work-related threats since we moved here. He thinks it might be personal.”

“Personal?”

“It’s a guess.”

“I’ve changed my mind about staying. I’ll call you later.”

“Oh...okay.”

He rushes off.

What the hell?

THE PLOT THICKENS

JAXSON

“You should have called first,” Lee comments.

“And give her a chance to say no? I don’t think so.”

I put my bags down and punch in the gate code. It buzzes and opens. I step aside and let Lee pass me, and then pick up the bags and follow. When we reach the main door I put them down again, get out my key card and slide it into the lock. I then punch in yet another code. The lock releases and I press the bell and knock.

“Lex, it’s me.”

“And me,” Lee adds.

A minute later the door opens.

“What are you two doing here?”

She steps aside and we step in. I pass her and walk through the living area and place my two suitcases near the bottom of the staircase. Lee puts his two big boxes next to my bags.

“What’s all this?” she asks me.

“I’m moving in.”

“What?”

I look at Lee and he shakes his head. He’s angry with me.

“Would someone please tell me what’s going on?”

“Ask Mr. Genius,” Lee says and walks into the kitchen.

Lex watches Lee leave the room. “Jaxson, what the hell is going on?”

“Don’t worry about him, he’ll get over it.”

“No I won’t!” Lee yells from the kitchen.

“What do you mean you’re moving in?”

“It’s over, I’m leaving Mia.”

“What?”

Lee returns to the front room with two beers and hands me one. “You better sit down, Alexia,” he says.

“Are the boys in bed?”

She gives me a “duh” look. The same look the boys give me all the time.

“Carrie?”

“She’s stuck in Chicago. Airport is closed.”

“Nor’easter. It will be hitting us next,” Lee comments.

She closes her laptop, sits on the sofa, and Lee and I sit in the two opposing chairs.

I look at Lee and he rolls his eyes. He’s not going to make this any easier for me, and I don’t blame him.

“You’d better start at the beginning,” he says.

I nod and then I look at Lex. “After Nick and Jules’ wedding I was taken.”

“Taken?”

“I wanted to see you that night. I didn’t want to wait until you got moved and settled. I’d been thinking of nothing but you since we’d...” I look at Lee.

“Oh, please. Now you two want to spare me the details.”

Lex frowns at him and shakes her head. “Go ahead.”

“I told Mia I was going down to the casino to play blackjack for a couple of hours. So I left her in the room and caught a cab in front of the hotel. I told the driver to take me to the Four Seasons. When we pulled out onto the Strip he turned in the wrong direction. When I questioned him he said he got mixed up and would make a U-turn as soon as possible and wouldn’t charge me for the extra time. I decided to take advantage of the extra down time and I check my e-mail. I’d gotten so engrossed that I didn’t realize we’d stopped in a vacant lot. Before I could ask him what was going on, the doors on both sides of the cab opened and two men in ski masks jumped in.”