Steele Hearts Redemption (2 page)

“Tess, I’ll only be gone for a week, maybe
two at the most,” I replied soothingly, hoping if there’s a God
somewhere he’ll help me out a little before the waterworks
began.

“But why do you need to go to California,”
she whined.

The only good thing I had going right now was
that she was so worked up about me leaving that she did not
question me on my alleged suspension.

“It’s just something I have to do Tess. I
promise you would not even know I’m gone.”

“Fine, but promise me you’ll call at least
once a day.”

I quickly promised her I would, grateful I
wasn’t subjected to the tears.

“I’ll know you’re gone sis even if it’s just
for a short time and I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too Tess.”

It felt good knowing I had someone who cared
for and loved me unconditionally. My own mother and sister were
monsters who only showed any kind of interest in me when they
needed something and for far too long it was only my step-dad and
me. When he died shortly after I found Tessa, after years of
searching for her, I felt the loneliness creeping in, until Tessa
and Connor suggested I move to New York to be closer to them.
Leaving Chicago and my life there behind was a decision I will
never regret, because, regardless of the constant shitcloud
hovering over my life, my home will always be with the people I
love.

“Where’s my beautiful wife?” I heard Connor
shouting from somewhere further in the penthouse.

“I’m in the living room baby,” Tessa shouted
back.

These two could not keep their hands or eyes
off each other, even for just a minute, which might explain why
Tessa got pregnant shortly after they were married. Connor appeared
bearing gifts for his beautifully pregnant wife, mouthwatering
blueberry muffins. Tessa’s eyes brightened at the sight of her
husband but the gleeful squeals that escaped her mouth at the sight
of the muffins were just pathetic. In between mouthfuls of muffins
and slapping my hands away after my many attempts to commandeer a
muffin for myself she updated Connor on my trip, who was now
looking at me with the same intense blue eyes as Gabriel.

“Tess, honey, Rebecca has breakfast laid out
if you’re still hungry,” Connor informed her after she devoured the
muffins.

Tessa always had the appetite of a truck
driver and even more so now that she was pregnant and eating for
two, which, miraculously, never affected her beautiful figure. The
slight baby-bump that she now carried only enhanced her beauty.
Quickly springing off the sofa, she made a beeline towards the
kitchen with Connor’s eyes fixated on her. With Tessa out of the
room, Connor turned his attention towards me.

“Ally, may I speak to you in my office for a
few minutes please?” he asked.

I nodded, followed him to his home office and
made myself comfortable in a chair at his desk.

He took the chair opposite me before
asking,

“Al, you know I love you as much as I love my
brothers right?”

He didn’t have to ask that. I knew he did,
which made me curious as to where this conversation was going. I
nodded.

“Okay, good, so forgive me for prying, but I
want to know why you lied to Tess.”

I stared at him, openmouthed, trying to
quickly formulate a lie in my head but he pressed on before I could
think of anything to say.

“I know you’re not going to California for
work. I know this because I know you were cut loose by the
FBI.”

God, was there anything that could be kept
secret in this family.

“How did you find out and does Tess
know?”

“Sterling’s contact told him. He thought you
got a shitty deal and no I didn’t tell Tess. I figured you’d tell
her when you thought the time was right. As far as I know no one
else knows.”

“Your dad knows. He didn’t say anything to me
as yet but from what

I found out he’s trying to get me
reinstated.”

“So what’s really going on Ally?” Connor
asked, his sharp eyes focused on me.

“I am going to California but it’s really to
help out a friend with a small problem,” I answered as honestly as
I could.

“I’m sorry but I can’t tell you anything
else.”

“Does this small problem happens to involve
my brother?” he asked.

Very perceptive Mr. Steele, I thought to
myself, but I promised Gabriel I wouldn’t say anything to anyone
about his problem so I kept my mouth shut and shook my head.

“I see,” was all he said as he picked up his
phone and dialed.

This could not be good.

Switching to speakerphone, I heard the groggy
voice that answered,

“Connor is there a reason why you’re calling
me and interrupting my beauty sleep?”

“You don’t need any more beauty sleep Gabe,
you’re pretty enough.”

“That’s the nicest thing anyone has said to
me today. Did someone get up on the wrong side of the bed or did
your beautiful wife finally come to her senses and kick you out of
that bed?”

“Gabriel I have Ally with me here and you’re
on speaker.”

Silence, and after a couple more seconds of
silence he finally said,

“Hey Ally.”

“Hi Gabriel.”

“Okay now that that’s out of the way I’m
going to ask both of you, why is Ally going to California?”

“I’m not going to see him.”

“She’s not coming to see me.”

“I have no idea why she’s coming to
California.”

“Why would he know why I’m going to
California?”

We both answered, simultaneously.

“Okay, enough, both of you,” Connor
roared.

“Gabriel you’re not a very good liar, never
was, not even over the phone. I knew something was wrong when I
spoke to you last week so don’t even deny it and Ally, you’re even
worst that he is and you’re sitting across from me so I could tell,
now, whatever trouble is brewing I want to know about it. NOW! This
family does not need anymore shit raining down on it.”

Gabriel and I both remained silent, me more
so because I didn’t know how much Gabriel wanted Connor to know.
When he finally spoke, Gabriel told Connor everything he told me
during our midnight call and more.

“Connor I didn’t want you guys to worry and I
have every confidence in Ally to know she’s going to get to the
bottom of this whole mess.”

“I am confident she will Gabe, but I want
both of your promises, now, if this shit gets out of hand you’re
going to let me know and only then will I step in. Also, I want to
be kept updated on everything that happens and under no
circumstances is Tess to find out about this. Got it?”

We both agreed to the controlling
billionaire’s demands and after he was reassured repeatedly we were
going to be cautious he subsequently hung up.

*************

“Did Ally leave?” Connor asked as soon as I
entered his office.

“Yep, Sterling had Brett take her to the
airport,” I replied, climbing onto his lap and making myself
comfortable.

“Good, Tess, still sad she left?”

“No, I’m fine,” I replied while twiddling his
tie.

“So you want to tell me why she’s really
going to California?” I asked, noting the surprised look that
overcame his face.

“What do you mean Hun, she said she was going
for work didn’t she?”

“Mmmhmm…Did I ever tell you your mom once
told me you had a tell whenever you’re lying? Your left eye
twitches ever so slightly. It’s so faint you have to be almost
nose-to-nose with someone for they to notice it. Just like now. So
again Mr. I Can’t Lie To My Wife To Save My Delicious Ass, what’s
the real reason for Ally’s trip to California?”

“Tess...baby…I don’t know…”

“Did she really think I bought that crap
about her going for work? I maybe four months pregnant but I sure
as hell don’t have pregnancy brain, yet, anyway. I know her
suspension wasn’t lifted, because if it was I’d be the first person
she’d tell and I know almost everyone she knows is in either
Chicago or New York. Which leaves two possible scenarios,” I
rambled on while Connor continued to stare at me, this time with an
indulgent look on his face.

“She’s following a lead on Alexis. However,
wait, if she was you wouldn’t let her go alone, Sterling would have
people go with her which brings me to my second scenario which I
know is the correct one. She’s going to be with Gabriel.”

I knew I nailed it when I saw the slight arch
to his eyebrows.

“And why would you think that?” he asked
coyly.

“Oh my darling husband, you may be a
brilliant business man but I, my love, I know people. It all
started right after our engagement party. Yes, we were all
distracted when Bethany tried to kill us both but Ally started
going out of her way since then to avoid Gabriel. I finally asked
him about it on the day of our wedding but he clammed up like….like
ahhh….like ammm…”

“Like what Tess?”

“Hmmm, like a virgin staring at a ten inch
dick.”

I felt his body shaking, heard the gaggling
noises coming from his throat, and gently rubbed his back as he
attempted to lean forward.

“You okay babe?”

“Yes,” he squeaked, “Please… continue.”

“Yes, as I was saying he clammed up, but even
though he did not admit it he did not deny it either. He simply
said it was none of my business and whatever was going on was
between him and Ally was their business, which led me to the
conclusion that something was definitely going on and now she’s
going to California to be with him.” I took a deep breath.

“Tess, maybe you should stay out of
this.”

“I intend to baby…. as long as they realize
they belong together, get married and have babies like we’re
doing.”

“Honey I think you’re spending too much time
with my mom and Mrs. Montgomery. Matchmaking never ends well.
Promise me you’ll stay out of this.”

I knew he was right. If they were meant to be
together it will happen. I fought my feelings for Connor but in the
end when I did give in I gained a new perspective on life and love.
He became my world and I’ve learnt no amount of obstacles that
we’re constantly faced with was every going to change that.

Ugh, but admitting to him he was right was so
hard, he already had an ego the size of China.

“You’re right,” I admitted, “but I promise
you, I love your brother but if he hurts her I’m going to have to
unleash my ninja skills and kick his ass,” I swore with utmost
conviction.

“That’s fair my little ninja warrior. Now how
about before we go to the office you give me a little demonstration
on that whole virgin staring at a ten inch dick reference you made
before,” he snickered as his fingers began to nimbly unbutton my
blouse and his lips began to trail kisses on the side of my neck
before traveling to mouth and capturing my lips with his.

**********

I’ve always enjoyed flying, taking the time,
especially if I was coming back from an assignment to catch up on
my sleep or simply relax while I traveled through the clouds. Today
however, I wanted to find the nearest exit, open it, jump and
freefall through the skies before I hit the ground with a
splat.

Okay, so maybe the anxiety of seeing Gabriel
and spending an uncertain amount of time with him had something to
with my foul mood but the screaming baby a couple of rows ahead and
the constant chatter of the two old ladies behind me was certainly
not helping. Did the entire plane need to know that this was their
first trip to California or that they were hoping to meet most of
the hundreds of actors they were randomly naming? I fidgeted once
again earning a nasty frown from the middle-aged man sitting next
to me. That could have something to do with the fact that I ignored
his constant attempts at small talk especially when I saw him not
so subtly slip the wedding band from his finger when he saw me
approaching the seat next to him. He was definitely a douche and my
disdain was as subtle as him slipping off his wedding band was.

Giving up any pretense of ever getting
comfortable and trying to stop wiggling my butt on my seat as if I
had ants crawling in my pants and chewing on ass I threw back my
head back on my head rest and closed my eyes.

My mind began to chase images of Gabriel and
I couldn’t help but reflect on how a career minded FBI agent ended
up one night in the arms of America’s hottest movie star.

***********

The call came in to the FBI office, where I
was stationed, one cold Wednesday morning. A hostage situation, at
a steel mill in the industrial section of Chicago. The team I was
part of quickly geared up and headed out to the location. When we
arrived, the place was already swarming with law enforcement. We
were quickly briefed on the situation; the General Manager was
holding two executives, a twenty-six year old female and a
32-year-old male, from New York hostage in a conference room. There
was a gunshot at one point and there was reason to believe that the
male was shot. After my team took control of the situation, we were
introduced to billionaire Connor Steele, owner of the steel mill
and I have to admit my eyes did linger a tad bit longer on him,
appreciating for a moment the fine specimen of man he was. From him
we learnt that the female executive, Tessa Matthews, was in fact
his executive assistant, who, while conducting an audit on the mill
in New York found some discrepancies in the accounting which led to
the discovery of over five million dollars missing and the male
executive, John Lucas, was actually her bodyguard. They were in
Chicago to gather more evidence of the thief before Mr. Steele took
charge of the situation. After the eventual release of Lucas and
hours of agonizing wait, the situation finally ended with the
General Manager putting a gun to his head and taking his own life.
The speed at which Mr. Steele left the room after that gunshot
confirmed my suspicion that Ms. Matthews meant more to him than
just an employee.