Chapter 38

Kavanagh Media in the few short months with Agnes Kavanagh at the helm was very profitable. The shareholders were happy with their investments, employees were grateful to have a job, and the CEO and owner was frustrated beyond belief! She ran the company with steadfast competence however she was not a satisfied woman. Her heart still cried out for revenge against the man she believed was responsible for the death of her daughter.

Every well thought out, well implemented plan had gone awry. Agnes swore that Balitrane had a guardian angel from hell protecting him. She went after his businesses and failed, she tried blacklisting him in the European Society Pages of her magazines and newspapers but that had blown up in her face when a few society grand dames went to her competitors and proclaimed Balitrane the damn near second coming touting his humanitarian endeavors. She was at her wit's end to find a way to bring this man down. She wanted to punish him, make him feel the pain she felt every day waking up and knowing that her daughter was no more. This need consumed her to the point that she ignored her other child. Ethan had not spoken to his mother in over three months.

Sitting at her desk, Agnes stared at the phone willing it to ring. She had hired a freaking team of private investigators to ferret out proof that this man was dangerous. She broadcasted to the world that this man practiced BDSM thinking that this fact alone would ruin him socially and in business, however, the public only shrugged their shoulders. Without any moral outrage, which Agnes expected that avenue dried up. Since she had no actual proof such as testimony or photographs, not even the gossip sites would report on it! Somewhere, someone had to have something on this man! Even with all his money, he couldn't buy off everyone or bury all his dark secrets. She spun her chair around and went to the window to look upon Seattle. "Damn it all." She said aloud. "There has to be something! Anything!" She then had an "a-ha" moment! How did Carlos Balitrane make all that money? He didn't come from a wealthy family. He was born and raised in Seattle to immigrant parents that made a decent living and would be considered high middle class, but he was no means a trust-fund baby! She stood above her desk digging around in piles of paper that dealt with Carlos Balitrane. She picked up an old paper that had an ad wanting someone to do yardwork and the contact was Elena Lincoln. She had seen this before in the paperwork that was given to her about Elena when she was about to go to trial. She dug around some more to find the same old paper that had the same ad circled in faded red ink. This paper had been in an old forgotten trunk that belonged to the Balitrane family. Agnes had bought the trunk at auction when the elderly couple decided to move out of their two-story modest home in one of the lesser known neighborhoods of Seattle. She was always going to restore the old traveling trunk, but never got around to it. When she learned that Kate had taken up with Carlos Balitrane, who was much older than her daughter, the forgotten trunk was brought to mind. She greedily went through the old trunk and found this paper among other old newspapers. She passed it by not giving it much thought until this moment.

Agnes sat down in her chair and sighed heavily. "Was Balitrane one of Elena's boys?" She looked at both papers. Was there a connection between Carlos and Elena's sex trafficking ring? That evil gleam returned to her eye. If she could prove that Carlos had benefitted from business with Elena, she could have charges brought up against him. If she played this correctly, the man she blamed for her daughter's death would be in prison! "But, I have to get him back into the United States." Agnes reached for her cell phone and hit one button. "Yeah, it's me. Listen, don't ask any questions, but I need to speak to someone who is in prison. Can you help a friend out?"

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Seven months pregnant! Ana stood in front of her full length mirror and examined her body. She was getting huge! Her baby sat high and made it hard to breath at times, and her back was so sore. She didn't remember being so sore with Teddy. This pregnancy had its differences with more morning sickness, swollen feet and a strange craving for peanuts in orange Jello! Since her feet had swollen her OB/GYN suggested not so much salt, so she gave up the roasted peanuts and replaced them with organic, sugar-free, no salt-added peanut butter. Christian would turn and leave the room if he saw her eating this concoction in fear that he would lose his stomach! Ana would only laugh at him and eat some more!

Christian stood at their closet door watching her as she gently caressed her belly. She was truly beautiful! She glowed with her pregnancy. "So, are you going to Mom's dressed in the "Emperor's New Clothes"?"

"Oh, ha-ha, very funny." She smiled when the baby kicked her hand. "She's awake. She must want more peanut butter and Jello." A giggle escaped as her handsome turned green. "I think I will wear a dress. You pick the color, will you?"

He shoved himself off the door jam and fingered through her great collection of designer maternity clothes that he insisted that she needed. "How about this one?" He presented a sapphire colored dress with an empress waistline and a sapphire lace duster. "I like this."

"It will be perfect." She gave him smile then went to her lingerie drawers to find a matching maternity bra and panties. She shivered in excitement when she felt her husband's hands gently caress her belly. She bit her lip trying to control her libido. If he kept touching her, they would be late for the Sunday dinner with the Greys because she would demand that he make love to her on the floor of their closet! "Christian."

"Yes, sweetie." His hand traveled up to her breast which were heavy. Her nipples were already hard. "Do you need me to suck on these delicious nipples?"

"Fuck," She moaned as she dropped her now discarded lingerie and turned in his arms. "Yes, Christian…suck on me. Suck me off!"

Those grey eyes sparkled with promise. "You want me to suck you off." She nodded. "You want me to make you cum."

"Yes, damn it!"

He pulled her close and his hand gave her a light swat on her ass. She moaned then pushed onto his leg trying to get friction on her clit. "Watch your language." He whispered huskily. "Now, answer me nicely, do you want me to suck on your nipples or your sweet pussy? How does milady want to cum?"

She groaned her agony. Her body burned for him. This wasn't a want…this was a need! A desperate need! She would burn in sexual need if he didn't put out the fires he started in her. "However, you want me to cum." She breathed heavily. "Please, Christian…I'm on fire."

"Shhh, milady." He picked her up and sat her on the built in two-drawer dresser. He spread her legs then knelt down between her thighs. He gently caressed her nether lips with his nose. "You smell like heaven, my heaven." He looked up and saw that his little wife was in agony. Her eyes were dark with desire. She was panting with need. He gave her smile then began his gentle assault on her sweet pussy. Hearing her moan drove his own want. As he licked, sucked and gently nipped at her, he was unzipping his trousers and snaking them and his grey jockey shorts down to reveal his already hard cock. Ana felt that tingling, wonderful electric charge race through her body. She didn't try to fight it and she climaxed on her husband's tongue then ground herself into his face. "Oh, baby…you are so fine." He stood up and pulled her onto her feet, turned her around and bent her over. "Watch in the mirror, Ana. Watch as I fuck you." He slide into her making those big blue eyes of hers even larger. He mouth formed a perfect "O" as she felt his cock fill her completely. "Feel me, baby?"

"Oh, yes, Christian…you're so big!" She cried out as he pulled out and pushed back into her slowly. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head as he swirled his hips as he withdrew and swirled again as he claimed her once more. "Ohhhhh…." She couldn't think. The words dissolved into the pleasure that he gave her. She was liquid desire being poured out and he was the basin that held her close, cherished her, and loved her.

Christian gritted his teeth and held back his own release to please her more. He kept thinking how hot, soft, wet, and tight she was enveloping his shaft. Her muscles constricted and relaxed in time with his movements so he felt every movement they shared together. "C'mon, baby…give it to me."

His voice enticed her over the edge and she willingly fell into the abyss of wild sexual release. Every pore of her body exploded, her heart raced wildly and she could feel her husband throb inside her. "Christian!" She exclaimed. The room was spinning and she felt her essence being lifted from her body. For millisecond she was floating over Christian and her physical self and could see but still feel that special union between two souls. Her vaporous essence caught the eye of her physical self through the mirror, then a light burst filled the room and the two beings once again were one. "Oh, my god! Oh…" Her arms gave out and she let herself down onto the top of the dresser to feel the cool wood against her cheek. Her body trembled when she heard Christian call her name and then the warmth of his body filled her. "Never fails to amaze me." She whispered not knowing or caring if he heard her.

"You amaze me, my love." He pushed her hair away from her neck and began to nibble. "You are so damn sexy. I can't help but want to make love to you."

"I feel the same." She whispered all of a sudden feeling tired. She thought she could close her eyes for just a moment to catch her breath and then she would be able to get ready to go to Bellevue, but the moment her eyelids closed, she was asleep draped over the dresser with her husband still inside her.

"Babe?" Christian then heard her delicate lady snore and knew she was sound asleep. Carefully he withdrew, picked her up and carried her back to their bed. With all the gentleness that he had, he placed her on the bed and used her favorite throw to cover her up. He watched as she snuggled deep into their bed. Her cheeks were pink and her lovely wine colored lips pouted in sleep. His eyes took in all the beauty that was his wife. Her hair was shiny and longer than usual, her skin softer than silk was the color of peaches and cream and her bump. Their child slept under her heart. He reached out and caressed his child inside the womb. "You little girl will be so cherished, just like your mother is."

Dinner was held up and Elliot was not a bit happy. His stomach was growling and he had a small headache. He was waiting for Christian and Ana on the front entrance to hurriedly them into the house and down the hall into the dining room. He gave Ana a big kiss on her cheek as he twirled her about in his usual way of greeting and then turned to his brother. "'Bout damn time you got here. A person could starve waiting on your lazy ass!"

"I am so sorry that you didn't get to start on another free meal from Mom and Dad." Christian spouted back. "Why don't you get laid, Elliot, or has the Seattle women finally caught on to your games?"

"Why don't you go take a long walk off a short plank?"

Ana had to laugh as the siblings bantered back and forth. She then suddenly stopped which caught Christian's attention. She softly massage her belly as if she was calming down the baby. "She was kicking the heck out of me." Ana explained to the white faced open mouthed Neanderthals that stood before her. "She's going to play soccer, I just know it." With that she walked into the house leaving the brothers to follow her.

Grace was the first to greet Ana as she entered the dining room. As usual, Grace was the standard of beauty and taste. She wore flowing gray silk pants with an Asian inspired silk top with pink and red peonies embroidered on the front. The color was perfect on her with her complexion. She looked fresh and well rested. The two women hugged over Ana's extended tummy. "Oh, my sweet girl, you are so lovely. How are you feeling after your nap? Christian called and asked us to hold dinner for a bit because you had fallen asleep." Grace hugged her once again. "Are you working too hard? Maybe, it's time to cut back…"

"Gracie, let the girl catch her breath." Carrick said as he hugged his daughter-in-law. "I am so glad that you and Christian came today. We don't see you either of you enough."

"Dad, we had lunch with you yesterday at Mile High." Christian offered shaking his head. His family were completely "ga-ga" over his wife and child, and speaking of his child, he looked about for Teddy. "Um, Father, where is my son?"

"Teddy got to eat earlier." Elliot responded as he sat at the table. "It seems that he didn't have to wait for dinner. So he is taking a nap."

"You don't look any leaner for being late for a meal." Ana teased as she sat next to Grace on the opposite side of the table. "But, I do apologize for us being late." She smiled up at Christian who had seated her like the gentleman his Mama had taught him to be. She turned back to Grace. "Thank you for watching him last night. We had a delightful time at the opera."

"Oh, not a problem at all, Ana. We loved having Teddy. He's such a good boy." The grandma in Grace gushed. "I'm glad you and Christian were able to use our tickets. It would have been a shame to let them go to waste."

"Yeah, it would be such a waste to not see a fat lady with horns sing." Elliot offered.

"You are such a redneck hick." Christian said with a snort. "We enjoyed the opera, so thank you Mom and Dad for the tickets. Besides, I got to show off my beautiful wife and we had a lovely time dining at Six Seven." He held her hand on top of the table. Grace gave her husband a wink and Carrick could only grin. Elliot frowned and growled. He wanted a meal and none of this high-brow talk of opera.

"Can we eat now?" Elliot asked.

"Mia hasn't come down yet?" Grace said just realizing that she had not seen her daughter this day. Mia had slept in and missed going to church with her parents. "Carrick, have you spoken to or seen Mia?"

'No, dear. I've been with you all morning." He gave her wink and a sly smile. Christian averted his eyes and looked to his wife who was stifling a giggle. It was very evident that the older Greys were doing the same as the younger Greys.

"Oh, God," Elliot moaned. "First, I starve because someone had to be late…."

"Oh, Elliot, I am so sorry I fell asleep." Ana said seriously, then laughed right at him. "NOT!"

Elliot ignored her. He knew better than to get into a word scuffle with his sister-in-law. She would eat him alive. "Now, we are waiting on Mia….is she even here? And now Dad is hinting that he had his wicked way with Mom. This is too much for me!" He scooted his chair back and stood.

"And, just where are you going?" Grace asked very amused by her older son's attitude.

"I am going into the kitchen and get something to eat."

"I don't think so. You will sit down and be served. Goodness, Elliot you act like I never taught you any manners." Grace replied coolly. She pursed her lips in that way of hers that the children and Carrick knew that they had pushed her far enough. "We will go ahead and eat. I am sure Ana needs some nourishment."

Elliot rolled his eyes. "I needed nourishment over an hour ago." He mumbled under his breath which got him a smack on the back of his head from Carrick. "Ouch…Dad! That hurt."

"Get over it." Carrick said as the staff brought the food to the table then stepped back for Carrick to offer the prayer. The platter of sliced beef with mushrooms was passed about then the rest of the meal in a clockwise direction starting with Grace. The staff kept the glasses full and replaced bowls and platters when they were empty.

In the middle of the meal, Mia made her appearance. She was dressed in jeans and a hoodie. Her hair was left undone and uncombed. She wore no makeup. She sat in her usual place beside Elliot with her head down. She didn't acknowledge anyone or ask for any food.

"Hello to you, Sis." Elliot said with a smirk. "Hung over?"

"No." Her voice was low and full of emotion. Ana, being shorter than Mia had a good view of her sister-in-law's face. She could see the faint blue of a bruise.

"Mia?" Ana asked softly. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I just overslept."

Ana's protection mode went into overdrive. Something was not kosher! "Mia, look at me." Ana demanded. The family was getting a taste of CEO Ana Grey. Mia kept her head down. "I said, LOOK … AT… ME." Slowly Mia Grey lifted her head and her hair fell away from her face to reveal a bruise from her jaw up the right side of her face. She also had a split lip and a black eye. Someone had beat the daylights out of her! "Oh, my god, Mia! What happened?" Ana started to get up but Christian held her back when Elliot popped up out of his seat. He picked Mia up and studied her face. His own face went red then purple with rage.

"Who did this?" Elliot's voice was raspy and hard. The need to thrash whoever did this to his little sister raged through his body and soul. Grace was also up out of her chair and wanting to examine her daughter. Elliot sat his sister back in her chair so their Mom could take a look at her. Carrick had left to get Grace's medical bag and was standing next to her when she started to ask for her bag.

"Thank you, darling." Grace said with tears in her eyes.

For once, Christian was staying cool, calm, and collected. He wasn't bellowing or on his phone threatening to fire whoever was in charge of Mia's security for last night. He held his wife's hand which kept him calm. His eyes told what was really going on inside of him. He was contemplating the death of whoever hurt his sister. It would be a slow, painful death!

"Mia, sweetheart, tell me what happened." Grace said as she cleaned the split lip.

"I was in a car wreck last night." She started but Elliot interrupted with a cough and a "bullshit" comment. "It's true, I was a passenger and Lily was driving…" That got a groan from both Grey brothers. "She ran a red light and another car hit us. Lily was hurt the most…the car hit her side."

"Why didn't you tell me this when you got home last night?" Grace asked furious with her daughter. "You need ex-rays?"

"Mom, I've already been to the hospital and they already did ex-rays. I'm fine, really. Just a bit roughed up."

"If you did indeed have a car accident, why do you have a hand print on your face? Someone slapped you. I can see it, Mia…so don't fucking lie to me!" Christian's voice a bit louder and he was teetering on the edge of losing his temper.

"Christian, please?" Ana patted his hand. "You know how your mother does not like your swearing, especially at the table." She turned back to Mia who was even paler than she was when she entered the room. "How did the rape kit come out?"

"I wasn't raped!" Mia cried out when Grace caught her breath and her hand went over her heart. "I wasn't…" She broke down in tears and fell into her mother's arms.

Elliot stood behind his sister's chair clinching his fists. Someone was going to get hurt … badly!

Mia was carried to her bed by Elliot who then stood back and watched their mother give the girl a sedative. He needed answers! "Mom, do you think … she … I can't even say it."

"I don't know, Elliot." Grace whispered feeling helpless.

Christian was waiting for Elliot outside Mia's room with a look of concern mixed with anger on his handsome face. "How is she?"

"Mom gave her a sedative to calm her down." Elliot answered as he leaned against the wall. "So, what happened? I know you know already. I can tell by your expression."

"She wasn't raped but she was assaulted. The rape kit came back negative and her medical records from last night show no signs of rape or any kind of sexual activity."

"And, there's more, I know there is."

"She was with Lily and Lily was last night's driver, but there wasn't any wreck. Lily and our little sister went to a very hardcore BDSM club and according to the police report, things got out of hand."

"The police were called in?" Elliot asked now getting even more worried.

"Yeah, they were called in. The girls were dressed very provocatively and one of the Doms got a little too upset when these two girls called him an asshole because he demanded that they submit to him. He thought they were hookers or subs looking for a new Dom."

"Okay, so what happened? Why does she look like she went five round with Holyfield?"

"The man was told by security to leave since this was the fourth or fifth time he had been disciplined for approaching a woman without respect. He was thrown out. According to my sources, Mia was uncomfortable and wanted to leave, but Lily didn't want to go yet, but Mia threaten to call one of her brothers. Lily decided she better leave. They were walking to Lily's car when the same man from the club accosted them. Mia put up a fight but Lily went down. I guess our little sister put a beating on him before he finally got a punch in. As she went down, the bouncers came to her or one could say to the man's rescue, then the police arrived. Our little sister was taken downtown and questioned on the suspension that she had assaulted that man. When the police reviewed the security tapes and talked to the staff, Mia was cut loose. Lily is still in the hospital."

Elliot couldn't help but be proud of his little sister. "So those karate lessons finally paid off." He plunged his big fists down into his trouser pockets. He still wanted to go and beat the daylights out of that bastard for touching his sister. "So who is this creep?"

Christian looked down at his phone where he had information stored. "Lockhart Davidson, son of Jeremy and Madeline Lockhart Davidson. He goes by Lock and he is 29 years old and has been in the lifestyle for ten years. He's not considered a good Dom and most women will not participate in the lifestyle with him."

"How in the hell do you find this stuff out?"

"Taylor." Christian answered, "And don't ask me how he does it so quick! I have no idea and I don't ask."

"And, her CPO? Where was he?" Elliot motioned for Christian to walk with him.

"Our little sister gave him the slip." Christian pulled his hand through his hair, a habit of his when feeling frustrated or out of control. "Taylor has already dealt with it. She will have a new CPO by this evening." Christian looked behind him to make sure that they were alone. "Lock Davidson is still in jail. His parents will not bail him out."

"Fine, I will bail his little ass out then kick it all the way to hell!" Elliot fumed.

"When the Davidson's found out who their son accosted and who her family was, they refuse to lift a finger." Christian and Elliot came to the steps. "He can't bail himself out since it's the weekend and the banks are closed and of course, his is a Davidson and he can't be seen using a bail bondsman!"

"Beats on girls and is a fucking snob!" Elliot wanted to punch someone or something. He walked down a few steps in front of his brother then stopped and turned to his sibling. "Wait a fuckin' minute! How are you so calm? Here I am about to explode wanting to kill that little prick and you stand there all cool, calm, and collected."

"Elliot, I've always been more mature than you." Christian declared drily. "And, that little prick, as you call him, isn't worth going to jail over, especially when my wife is two months from delivering." Christian gave that evil smile that frightened the hardest businessmen in the world. "Besides, I have plans for Davidson. By the time I am done with him ..."

Elliot own smile turned devilish as he considered his brother. If he knew his brother, Lock Davidson will have nothing left to his name but his name. "Christian, remind me never to really piss you off." They continued down the staircase that was the grand ornament in the grand foyer. "How in the hell did our little sister end up in a BDSM club?"

"Lily. It seems Lily got an invitation to try out the club."

Elliot growled his dislike of Mia's friend. To him she was a two-faced little bitch that was using his sister to try to bag either him or Christian. Elliot felt his stomach turn as just the thought of being close to that witch, let alone fucking her. And, marriage! Oh, hell no! That had been her plan, to get knocked up by one of the Grey Brothers and live the good life. The one problem with Lily's plan was that neither brother found her remotely attractive and had no qualms of telling her so!

The brothers made their way down the hall into their father's home office. Christian was a bit shocked to find his wife sitting at Carrick's desk with her cell to her ear. Carrick was sitting in one of the leather club chairs before her. Christian sat next to his Dad.

"Gee, Dad, did my wife take over your office?"

"She is a force to be reckoned with. God forbid if she ever really gets pissed off." Carrick admired this young woman. "In the last half-hour, she has managed to get the footage of the incident at that club, and if I heard her correctly, she has bought the club and I think she is going to have it destroyed!" Carrick lowered his voice. "She kinda scares me a bit on how calm she is even though I know she is more than angry." Carrick was grateful that she had volunteered to run this interference for him. His emotions were too close to the surface and he was about to lose his world-famous composure.

"She is her father's daughter. Have you ever seen Ray ever get mad?" Christian shook his head no to answer for his father. "And, you never will. Ray gets even, never mad." Both men looked to the brunette sitting before them. She was giving orders like a drill sergeant on the obstacle course.

"Actually, son…she sounds like you." Carrick softly replied. "She's just prettier!"

Ana tapped her phone off and noticed that she had three men staring at her. "I had a friend take care of certain paperwork pertaining to this incident. I got some of the story suppressed and out of the official record such as Mia being under suspicion of assault. I couldn't keep her name out of the rest of the incident since he is being charged with assault. I also got in touch with an associate that works for Seattle Nooz and called in a favor. They won't even report on this incident. However, Agnes Kavanagh is running with it."

"It will be on the front page of the Seattle Times." Elliot said knowing that Agnes Kavanagh was even worse than her ex-husband when sniffing after a story. If she thought there was something deliciously scandalous about any of the Greys or those in their circle, she was like a shark smelling blood in the water. What she couldn't find, she had no problem making shit up! "This is not good. Mia Grey in a BDSM club!"

"I don't see why it should be a problem, Elliot. Mia is of age. This is a private club that requires membership or an invitation to attend. It is a legitimate business and all its licensing is up to date. However, after tomorrow it will be a big empty building." She gave her husband a smile. "It is already being dismantled as we speak. It will be a blank canvas ready for a new business." She came to her feet slowly since her center of gravity was off keel. "I wonder if there is another piece of that cake. I'm a little hungry."

Elliot had to smile at his sister-in-law. She was pretty, sweet, smart, and dangerous. She was perfect for Christian and this family. "You know, I could use a piece of cake also." He stood and offered his arm. "Shall we?"

"Why thank you, kind sir." She batted her eyelashes like a simpering southern belle and took his arm.

Elliot looked over his shoulder at his father and brother. "And, don't you dare tell Mom that I can be a gentleman. You will ruin my reputation." This brought laughter from everyone.

Carrick stood up and looked about his office. When he first came in here he was upset and angry. Even though he was a lawyer and must be free of stereotypical assumptions, he could not be rational when this incident pertained to his daughter. He was grateful that Ana had followed him in here and took over. It was as if she read his mind and knew what had to be done. Squelch the story and try to keep Mia out of the papers! Now he felt relieved. "C'mon, son, let's go have some cake before that boy eats it all."