Page 33 of Unveiled

Chapter Seventeen

She chose not to analyze the level of comfort she got from Rush’s presence or her desperate need for the contact he willingly provided. She let his body heat flow into her, relaxing as much as possible in the type of situation they were discussing.

Tatum laid her head down to his shoulder where his scent invaded all her senses, bathing her in a certain calmness. Pushing away thoughts of the future, she focused on the information being shared.

“Anyway, without going into details, Dale was looking for, um, someone to solve a problem he had.”

The gasp rocketed air into her lungs almost painfully. She’d known it, their words that night all but confirmed it, but somehow it still caught her off guard. One lingering question haunted her.

“Why?”

Why did her parents die? For what? What could be worth her parent’s life? The only answer she could come up with was nothing. Not a damn thing in this world was worth her parent’s lives.

“That is the million-dollar question. Nothing solid enough to share yet, but we have some info coming in later tonight. This will be a lot easier if we flip Cyrus. We put an end to Dale’s shit in no time and you can get your life back while we deal with his father.”

Charlie was back in front of them, this time sitting on the coffee table. She took Tatum’s hands in hers. It felt good to have someone care for her the way Charlie and Mark. . .and Rush did. “Hon, we’re going to get them, one way or another. But, and I hate this part, you might have to live with that question. It may never be answered to your satisfaction, or even at all. But I promise you, by this time tomorrow, you’ll never have to deal with Dale again. By next month at the latest, Cyrus will go down, too. Soon, neither one of these men will be a threat to you in any way, and you’ll have what’s rightfully yours.”

Some of Charlie’s words offered a little comfort, while others offered none whatsoever. Tatum wasn’t sure she could carry on with her life not knowing. Even if Dale and Cyrus paid for their crimes, would it be enough for her? She didn’t think so. There had to be a reason Dale did what he did. The man never did anything that didn’t benefit him in some way, shape, or form. He was methodical like that. Her parent’s deaths meant something. Not just to her, they meant something to Dale, too. But what?

Mark’s voice pulled her out of her own head. “We have some more information coming that should give us at least enough to bluff our way into strong arming Cyrus to, at the very least, not shield Dale. If we’re lucky, he’ll work with us to protect his name.”

Tatum almost knocked Charlie back on the coffee table as she bolted up off of Rush’s lap. “But what if you spook them and they close ranks?” The thought of that scared her.

Rush stood and pulled her hands apart, taking them in his. “It’s a possibility, I won’t lie to you, but we always have a Plan B.”

Tatum needed his comfort, but she couldn’t accept it right now. If she did, her anger would recede and she’d settle. Pulling her hands from his, she wrapped her arms around herself. The look of hurt in his eyes stung, but she was in a downward spiral. The need for self-preservation kicked in. If she let him be her comfort, she’d use it as a crutch and never get answers. No, she needed to be strong on her own sometimes, and this felt like one of those times.

“Does Plan B include me being committed to a mental hospital? Because that sounds like the plan on their end. If you spook Cyrus, he might just follow through with it.”

“Babes.” Rush took her in his arms despite her being wrapped around herself. “That’s never going to happen. We can prove you were here at the time he claims you were getting married, and the time he claims you were on a trip and went missing. It will never come to that, see? Even if we don’t flush out his darkest secret, Cyrus will not stick to that lie. He’ll not die on that hill, he has too much to lose, I guarantee it.”

It wasn’t enough for Tatum. “He still said all those things in the press and to God knows who else to make people think I’m unstable. Even if you get Dale, that perception of me will be out there as long as Cyrus is credible.”

A look passed between the other three people in the room. One she wasn’t privy to or could even interpret. It was like they had information she didn’t. Of course, she’d said she didn’t want details, but still, she needed some reassurance.

“We will get Cyrus, the entirety of Cole Security is working on it. He will get his and get discredited. I’m just saying, it may not happen right away because what we are uncovering about him is bigger than just Dale, forged wills, and stolen businesses. So, while we could take him down for those things right away, don’t be disappointed if he’s left in play while we work on the long game. The promise stands; he will not be a threat to you past next month, even if it seems like he is walking around unscathed.”

There was more to the words Mark didn’t say than to the words he did. Cyrus was a big deal, and they would handle him. What she heard was, Cyrus is a little step to a bigger target and if he was around, it was only at their grace so they could take down others. Tatum could respect that, but that still left a gaping hole in her future. What did her parents die for?

Dale had no reason to share that information, especially if his dad bailed on him. He loved to brag, but more than that, he loved to lord power over others, especially her. If Mark, Charlie, Rush, or anyone else at Cole thought he’d tell them why, even with a gun to his head, they were wrong.

The only way to ensure she got that closure was to get it herself.

Unwrapping her hands from her own body, she wound them around Rush. She wanted to connect with him considering he may want nothing to do with her after tomorrow.

She had less than a day to get the closure she needed before they went in, guns blazing on whatever plan they had. Just one more night with Rush. . .touching, loving. She stretched up with her lips and Rush met her halfway. Losing herself in his kiss was heaven.

“Ahem. We’re going to head out. And leave you two alone.” Charlie said as she gathered her things. They ended the kiss and walked their guests to the door. It felt so domestic.

Mark kissed her cheek. “I promise we got this. Don’t stress another minute over it.” He clapped Rush on the back. “Cole at noon. Well meet with Cyrus and head over to pay Dale a visit right after that.” Rush nodded once and Tatum swallowed hard. Tomorrow afternoon they’d meet with Cyrus. Meaning Dale would know within minutes that something was up. That left her very little time to get some answers from Dale before he shut down.

That was a worry for tomorrow. Tonight, she wanted to be with the man she truly and deeply loved. Because by tomorrow afternoon, he may hate her.

The door had barely clicked into place and the lock snicked down before Rush was violently kissing her against the back of the front door. There was little doubt in her mind that Mark and Charlie heard everything transpiring between them. They both fell prey to a frantic need for each other for different reasons.

“God, I want you, Tatum.” Rush thrust against her stomach to emphasize his point. “I couldn’t wait for them to leave.” He gave her little time to respond, diving back into their kiss like it was the last time. Did he feel a shift in her and just not know what it was? Tatum hadn’t meant to show any outward signs, but had she?

All thought got flung from her head when Rush tossed her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She didn’t mind too much because it was a hell of a view. By the time he set her on her feet, they were beside his bed. Their clothes went sailing. She wouldn’t be surprised if her bra ended up across county lines as frantically as she sent it flying.

Rush reached forward and kneaded her breast. A hiss escaped her lips with the searing heat of his touch. There was no telling who dragged who down to the mattress or who brought their bodies together, but the minute Rush was inside her, time stood still. Nothing moved except for their bodies slamming into each other. Their sounds were reduced to grunts and groans.

Tatum was blinded by passion, but she wanted more, deeper. Rush allowed her to roll them until she straddled him. Hugging his hips with her knees, she set a frantic pace. One he seemed all too happy to indulge her with. The grip he had on her hips was bruising in the most delicious way. Rush pulled her forward and pushed her back in time with their thrusting. Tatum’s heart wanted to make love slow and sweet, but her body had other plans.

An orgasm rocketed through her. It was so unexpected, her scream caught in her throat and she struggled to breathe. That had never happened before. Tatum had never had an orgasm without external stimulation. As she was coming down, Rush stiffened below her, thrust deep, and spilled his body into hers, setting off mini shock-waves through her already pulsing body.

When she could breathe again, she collapsed onto his chest as he lay sprawled out, softening inside her body. Neither spoke, just laid there for God knows how long until Rush slipped from her body and she rolled off of him. He curled around her, kissing her neck and shoulders softly as they dozed off to sleep. Under the influence of the sandman, she dreamed Rush asked her to stay with him forever.

It was her own guilty conscience hitting where it hurt. The other possibility was something she wished for but couldn’t live with, knowing what she was going to do. Rush would see it as a betrayal and in his mind, it would be, but in hers, it wasn’t, not like that. She had to ask Dale why, she had to know. He would never tell them, especially after they had him over a barrel. Maybe, just maybe, he would tell her, especially if she offered up what he wanted most. She was willing to sacrifice the funeral home if it meant getting answers.

---