**Fallon**
It was a long flight back to Missouri, once we arrived, my car pulled around and Joe loaded our bags into the trunk. He took his seat in the front.
“Fallon, so good to see you!” Randy, my parents’ driver, called out from the front seat.
“Hey, Randy, good to see you too.” I gave him a big smile and put the screen up between us. I needed to figure out a few things.
Once we arrived at my parents house, I opened the door to find a young woman who I had never seen wave me down. “Excuse me, Miss, this is a private residence!” She yelled at me. I cocked my head and narrowed my eyes at her.
“Excuse me? And you are?” I asked her, my parents were always hiring new help for whatever reason.
“I’m Riddley, the new housekeeper.” She said almost excitedly.
“Well, Riddley, I am Fallon, one of the owners of the house. I will need a room prepared for my security detail and expect dinner by 8.” It was already 6 but I was starving.
“Oh, oh gosh, I am so sorry Ms. Martin! I will get the room prepared and dinner ready.”
“Thank you, Riddley.” I said as I walked towards my old room. It had not changed. I turned on the light and was happy that everything was where it always was. Joe placed my bags on the bed. “You can wait in here until your room is ready or you can search the house for future reference.” I told him. He opted to check the house out.
“Well, I’ll be god dammed!” I heard from the door. I smiled at that familiar voice.
“Miles, I missed you so much!” He pulled me into an embrace. “How are you, how is Claire?” He smiled and took a step back. I still had him and Claire on my PayScale.
“I am good. Claire is good, she is working in the den.” I could feel that Miles was still upset with me.
“Miles.” He stopped and turned around to me. “I’m really sorry about New England.” I hung my head. “It was the only thing to do to ensure the people I care about would remain safe. I had to make a deal and go back with him so he wouldn’t start hurting the people I love.”
“I know, Fallon. James updated us after you left. It still hurt to see you go back to him, but I understand. Just remember, we are here for your safety and I will do anything to ensure you remain safe. Just trust me.”
I gave him a smile and mouthed ‘thank you’ to him before heading for the den. Claire had been working on my internet face of business. She did all of the social media and books for the clubs remotely.
“Claire.” I said from the doorway. She turned around and gave me a small smile.
“Hi, Fallon.” She stood up and I walked quickly over to her pulling her into a hug.
“Please, please, please forgive me.” I stammered into her ear. Claire was one of my best friends, I had so few friends these days.
“Fallon, it’s okay, I understand. I know it was a hard decision for you but we have all been so worried about you.” She pulled back and wiped the tear from my cheek. “How are you, how is the baby?” She said, looking behind me for a stroller.
I hung my head and sat down on the lounge sofa. She sat next to me, and I told her everything from the moment I left New England.
She held my hand and we cried together.
I woke early the next morning, around 4am. Fuck. I hated when I couldn’t sleep. I decided to go for a swim, it was one of my favorite stress relief mechanisms.
I put on my robe and headed for the pool room. I decided to only turn the pool and spa lights on. The water was warm on my naked skin as I waded into the shallow end. I did a few laps before pulling my knees up and floating on my back.
After I floated for awhile, I decided to go sit in the spa. When getting out of the water, I heard the door close. I turned around quickly, trying to cover my body.
My fear quickly lifted when I saw, him. James.
“You scared the shit out of me!” I yelled at him. He was walking slowly over to me.
“I always liked watching you jump while naked.” He gave me a wicked smirk. Once he made it over to me, he pulled me in close, digging his nose in my neck. “God, I missed you.” He hissed into my skin.
I held onto him tight. James was one of the few people who made me embrace myself and my body, I was not nervous around him. He started to remove his clothes. I took a step back, turning around to get into the hot tub.
I couldn’t betray Maximo. My chest ached even considering it. James joined me in the spa, sitting right next to me. He put his arm around my shoulder and held me tight. “Miles called me when you got back into town. How long are you going to be?”
“I don’t know. Maximo said I needed to leave until it was safe again, he didn’t give me any other information so I really don’t know. But it’s fine, I have some things I need to get done while I’m home.” I gave him a small smile, resting my head on his shoulder. “How was New Orleans with Ali?” I asked him, changing the subject.
“It is good, Ali’s flat below your penthouse is finally finished and her daughter is loving the school you picked out. She is making lots of friends. I bought a 20,000sq foot property on the water with access to the river and bay, and it is very private. I figured we’d get a few boats and trucks and use it as a wash…” I listened as he talked business, I missed this. Being in charge and involved with the business, considering this is my business.
I heard the door close again. I figured it was the cleaning crew. I heard a throat clear and I quickly turned around to see Joe, pissed. “Fallon, let’s go.” He said quickly, picking up my robe. “You need to get ready, we leave for Chicago in 2 hours.”
I gave James a quick kiss on the cheek before getting out of the water, Joe was a gentleman, not looking at me as I walked over to him, his eyes were only on James. “He is one of my oldest friends, Joe. His safety and companionship means more to me than anything.”
“More than your wedding vows?” He shot back. I turned to him, slapping him across his face.
“You do not speak to me like that, ever. You work for Maximo, if you want to go back to Mexico, go, but while here we play by my rules.” I was shouting with my finger in his face. Joe knew better than to answer, he simply seethed while escorting me back to my room.
I got in the shower and let the water wash over my body. I washed my hair and body with vanilla scented soap, James’s favorite.
When I finished in the shower, I dried my hair and straightened it. I hated my natural hair color, I need to schedule a hair appointment while in Chicago, Amber has the best stylist. I applied a smoky eye, light face make up, lashes, and a red lip. I walked into my closet, oh how I missed my clothes, my designer shoes, dresses, bags, and jewelry.
I opted for a tight, thigh length, off white dress with gold jewelry and gold pumps. I packed a bag of clothes for the trip and grabbed my phone off the side table. Still no message or phone call from Maximo. Whatever.
I grabbed my bags, and we were out the door.