Protector: City of Sin Read online

  “It can be if you want it to be, Mr. Carter.”

  “Ah, you were able to make it!” A voice to my left broke the spell and made us both turn our heads. “Mr. Carter, thank you for coming out today.” Frank Berkley shook Beckett’s hand, then looked at me. “My apologies, am I interrupting?”

  “Not at all,” I said. “I have everything I need. Thank you, Chief Berkley, and it was nice to see you again Mr. Carter.”

  “And you as well, Miss James.”

  I turned and walked away as the men fell into conversation. Beckett’s generous contributions to the LVPD made him an important man in the eyes of the police force and it made sense that the new chief would be putting in some face-time with a key donor. Now that I had everything I needed for my article I left the building and headed back to the office.

  Writing had always come easy for me; I was a shy child and wouldn’t exactly describe myself as an outgoing person. Talking is a performance, and the script usually depends on the situation. I always felt like I was about to say the wrong thing. But when I’m able to sit quietly and focus on the words, it’s like I can make sense of the world. For today’s article, I had all the pieces of the puzzle. I just needed to assemble them in a way that painted a complete picture. I wanted to give details of Frank Berkley’s background then layer in the challenges and priorities outlined at his press conference.

  When I finally had an article I was happy with, I selected one of the best photos I had taken, then sent everything to my editor for review prior to publication. With my work done for the day, I looked across the office and saw my friend and coworker Seth typing. He was leaning forward, his eyes narrowed in concentration. I knew him well enough to recognize that expression as his “almost done” face whenever he gave his work a final once over. I gathered my things and headed in his direction, leaning against his desk.

  “What’re you working on?” I asked him.

  “Just finishing an athlete profile from an interview I did today,” he replied, his eyes not leaving the screen as he typed. “Almost… and… done!” He sent it off then turned to face me. “I’m starving, want to grab a bite to eat?”

  “Sure, in the mood for anything specific?” I asked.

  “How about Italian? Florence Cafe makes an amazing stone oven pizza. I could really go for that right now.”

  “I wouldn’t say no to pizza, let’s go.”

  Seth powered down his computer and we walked together towards the exit, out onto the busy street where we headed down the sun-baked strip. The restaurant was already bustling with tourists and the after-work crowd when we got there, but luckily they had a table available for us. We followed the hostess to a booth in the corner where she handed us menus.

  “Do you want to split a pizza?” I asked Seth as I scanned the page.

  “Works for me. The sausage and pepperoni sounds good.”

  “It does,” I agreed, closing my menu and putting it down. “Done.”

  Our waitress came by, a young blonde woman with an easy smile and bright eyes. Her nails were painted a gorgeous shade of emerald green. She stood close to Seth and beamed at him, her cheeks flushing as she asked him what he wanted. Seth had this effect on women, he was attractive in a disarming way. I thought that being around him was like watching waves crash on the beach. It was a comfortable, hypnotic feeling that rippled through you and pulled you in deeper the longer you looked. I couldn’t understand how he was still single.

  “We’re going to split the sausage and pepperoni,” he told her, “and I’ll have a Corona.”

  “Corona for me too,” I told her.

  “You got it,” she replied giving Seth a quick wink. She turned and walked away, swaying her hips as she headed for the kitchen.

  “She’s totally into you,” I told him once we were alone.

  Seth shrugged. “She’s just being polite, she works for tips.”

  “Oh come on, you’re too modest. By the way, didn’t you have a second date this weekend with that girl you met online? Laura was it?”

  “Lana,” Seth corrected. “And yeah, I did, but I don’t think there’s going to be a third date.”

  “Oh? Why not?”

  He sighed and ran a hand through his hair, pausing. A classic Seth stall tactic.

  “We have nothing in common,” he said finally. “And besides, she’s a flight attendant. She’s always traveling for work. I want to date someone I can see regularly, just stay in with, eat takeout and watch a movie. It would be too complicated dating someone who was always gone.”

  “I can see how that would be hard,” I agreed. Our drinks were dropped off and we pushed the juicy lime wedges down, tapped our bottles together, then took a sip. The beer was cool and refreshing against my tongue, deliciously smooth with the slight tang of citrus.

  “So, are things still going well with the guy you can’t tell me about?” Seth asked, looking down at the lime bobbing through the clear glass and not at me. I hated keeping secrets from him, but I had to. I promised Beckett.

  I nodded. “At first it was strange keeping our relationship private, but it works for us. I’m happy Seth, I promise. No regrets about my situation.”

  “You’ve got to admit though, it’s kind of weird. I mean are you okay with the fact that he’ll never meet your friends or your-” he stopped himself just in time, but I knew where he was going and it stung.

  “My family?” I finished the sentence. The words were heavy. As soon as I said them out loud I could feel their weight in the air around me and in my heart. “I have no family, Seth. And as for meeting my friends, all I need is for you to understand this is what I need right now, and that I’m okay with it. I need you to be okay with it too.”

  “I’m trying,” Seth sighed. “You’re such an amazing woman, I care about you, I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “And I want you to focus less on my love life and more on yours,” I teased, taking another sip of my beer.

  He chuckled. “It’s hard when yours is so mysterious and mine is abysmal.”

  “You’ll find the right person, it just takes time and a bit of luck.” Suddenly I had a great idea and my eyes widened. I reached my hand across the table. “Give me your phone.”

  He eyed me suspiciously. “Why?”

  “I’m going to pick three people from the dating app you’re on, and you have to ask them out. Maybe you’re just picking the wrong women and need someone who knows you to help break you out of your rut.”

  He groaned. “No, no way, Ella.”

  I got up and moved to his side of the booth, then reached out my hand expectantly, waiting, not backing down. He stood his ground but faced with my unwavering determination he finally sighed and passed me his phone. I opened the app and grinned triumphantly as I started to look through his profile, reveling in my new role as matchmaker.

  “What have I got to lose, other than my dignity, right?” Seth told me as he shook his head.

  “Nothing to lose, and who knows, maybe everything to gain,” I replied as I swiped from profile to profile. There were so many choices, I understood how dating technology could feel overwhelming.

  An attractive woman with dark hair and a genuine smile caught my eye. She was an assistant professor in the city and liked sports. The combination of bookish and athletics was perfect for Seth! I clicked to match with her and started to type out a message while Seth watched me warily.

  I may not be able to go on normal dates, my relationship with Beckett was anything but conventional, but I knew what my friend needed and I was sure that I could help him. At the end of the day, everyone needs love. To know that no matter who you are or what you’ve done, you matter to someone. To know that you are cherished.

  2

  Beckett

  I watched Ella walk away until she was lost in the press conference crowd and disappeared from my sight. My hand twitched briefly at my side, a reflex. Whenever she was near me I wanted to touch her, to pull her soft body firmly
against mine and kiss her deeply. Ella was mine, and I was hers, but we agreed it was for the best to keep things between us private. Not only because of the public attention dating me would bring; if it ever came out I was the notorious Vegas Phantom anyone connected with me would become a target. Ella was precious to me, and I would never risk her safety.

  I turned my attention to Frank Berkley, our new chief of police. He had a face that was both kind and gruff - as if he could switch between good cop and bad cop with ease. He had a web of thick lines around his eyes and solemn lips that didn’t seem to smile easily. Berkley was a serious man, and from what I knew about him, he had seen his fair share of tragedy during his time on the police force. He had seen past the warm glow of the city lights into its darkness; we both had that in common.

  “I appreciate you coming today Mr. Carter, and for your generous contributions to our department. Taxpayer dollars don’t stretch nearly as far as we need them to these days.”

  “I’m sure under your direction the LVPD will continue to do great work for this city,” I nodded and gave him a slight smile. He didn’t return it. He opened his mouth to speak, closed it, then seemed to change his mind once more and cleared his throat.

  “Mr. Carter, you don’t remember me, do you?”

  I paused, staring at his face. Studying his eyes, his jaw, and hairline. Now that he mentioned it he did seem familiar, but I just couldn’t place him. I met a lot of people.

  “I’m sorry, I can’t recall.”

  Frank chewed on his mustache a moment, hesitating.

  “No need to apologize. It was a long time ago, you were going through so much, I’m not surprised you don’t remember me. I was the first officer on the scene that night when your parents… when they died.”

  I kept my composure, but inside I was reeling. Breathe, I reminded myself. Breathe, and stay calm.

  “It was a cold night,” he continued. “Absolute tragedy. I put my coat on you and took you back to the station, waited with you until your grandmother came to take you home. I think about that night often. You never should have had to go through that.”

  My heart started beating faster, my fists clenched at my sides. It all came rushing back to me, like scenes from a horror movie burned into my subconscious. Frank Berkley’s face looking down at mine, only he was twenty years younger. Guiding me into a squad car. Sitting with me at the station. I was taller than him now, but back then he seemed so big and strong to a frightened child. He had shown me kindness in my darkest moment.

  “I remember now,” I told him finally, my voice quieter than I wanted it to be.

  “I want you to know the fact that we never solved the case has always nagged at me. I never let it go. Now that Marco Venetti has been implicated, I hope you finally have some closure Mr. Carter.”

  Frank placed a hand on my shoulder, looking into my eyes. For such a serious man it seemed as friendly of a gesture as he was capable of.

  “It doesn’t bring them back.” I tried to keep my voice steady. Standing here now, him looking at me with that pitying gaze, I suddenly felt weak. As if I was once again a child suffering through the violent death of his parents. I didn’t like feeling this way and resented him for bringing all of this back to the surface. Frank sighed.

  “No. No, it doesn’t.” Someone called for him and he looked over his shoulder. “Mr. Carter, I need to go. But here is my card if you ever want to talk.”

  I took the card from his hand and nodded, then watched as he walked away to speak with someone who was eager to get his attention. I slipped Chief Berkley’s card inside my suit jacket, then left the building and got into my car.

  It was only a fifteen-minute drive to my office where I needed to pop in and pick up a package of documents, then I could head home for the evening. The entire drive my attention was split between watching the road and dwelling on the interaction I had with Berkley. How did I not remember him? I usually had a photographic memory and that night was burned into my mind. But then again he’s changed quite a bit over the years. We both have.

  After pulling into my parking space, I headed up the elevator to the top floor. As I approached the front desk, the receptionist jumped up and walked swiftly over to me.

  “Good afternoon Mr. Carter, I tried to reach you earlier. Did you get my email or voicemail?”

  “I had my phone on silent and haven’t checked my messages yet. What is it?” I continued walking towards my office, she kept pace beside me.

  “It’s about your personal assistant, Jessica. It seems there’s been an accident and she’s in the hospital.”

  I froze. “Is she okay?”

  “She’ll need surgery and will be out recovering for at least a month. But she’ll be okay, thank God.”

  My immediate relief at Jessica’s life not being in danger now moved to concern about what this meant for me. Jessica was responsible for keeping so many aspects of my life running smoothly, how would I manage without her for a month?

  “Don’t worry, Mr. Carter,” she said, reading my mind. “I’ve already contacted a temp agency and they’ve sent someone over. She’s at Jessica’s desk outside your office getting acquainted with your schedule.”

  “I’ll go speak with her now. I want a bouquet of flowers sent to Jessica’s hospital room, I don’t care what they cost. Any tests or medical bills that aren’t covered make sure the hospital bills me directly. Let Jessica know I hope for a speedy recovery and not to worry about her position. It will be here for her whenever she is ready and able to return to work.”

  “Right away, Mr. Carter.”

  The receptionist went back behind the front desk and I walked towards my office. Sure enough, there was a young woman with her hair tied up flipping through the files left on Jessica’s desk. She noticed me approaching and made eye contact.

  “Can I help you?” she asked.

  “I understand you’re my new assistant?”

  She jumped to her feet and nodded, suddenly very alert.

  “I’m sorry,” she stammered, a blush spreading across her cheeks. “I’m April, the temp agency sent me. You’re Mr. Carter? I didn’t expect you to be so… young.”

  “Come into my office, we’ll quickly go over how I like my schedule to be run. Everything else you can pick up by reviewing Jessica’s notes.”

  April grabbed a notepad and pen. Her heels clicked against the tile as she followed me into my office then she took a seat across from my desk. She smoothed her red skirt then crossed her legs, the hem sliding up giving a quick flash of thigh as she angled her body towards me. She was dressed to impress, but if she was hoping to catch my eye she was going to be disappointed.

  “Jessica manages both my work life and a number of aspects of my personal life. You need to confirm my housecleaner’s schedule and payment, she comes every morning around ten. She no longer comes on the weekends. My dry cleaning needs to be picked up Friday and delivered Sunday. I’m not in the office every day, but when I do come in I may ask you to get me coffee, or to order my meals. I take my coffee black. There are a few menus in Jessica’s top drawer from the places I like to eat.”

  April nodded, jotting down notes quickly.

  “It’s important that my calendar is always kept up to date with meetings I need to be in attendance for. I check my calendar by six every morning, so the next day’s schedule should be done before you leave the office for the day. If there are events or requests from other departments for my time, those will be sent to you to coordinate as well. I take organization very seriously, and expect my agenda to reflect that.”

  “Of course, Mr. Carter,” April nodded. She uncrossed and recrossed her long legs while she moved the pen over paper.

  “You’re sure to get a number of calls every day asking for me,” I continued. “I always want my calls screened. Take a message and email it to me, I’ll take it from there by either calling them back or asking you to follow up on my behalf. Never give anyone my personal cell phone number, b
ut you will have it if you need to contact me and I will need yours. I may at some point text you to assist me with something we haven’t covered today.”

  “Whatever you need, Mr. Carter,” April smiled sweetly at me.

  “Thank you. I suggest you spend the remainder of your day reviewing Jessica’s files and my schedule.”

  She nodded and stood up.

  “Can I get you anything right now Mr. Carter? A coffee? Or… anything?”

  I shook my head. “I just came in to pick up a few files then I’ll be leaving. But thank you.”

  April lingered a moment as she clutched the notepad to her chest, turned slowly, then walked out my office door. She had a wicked little body, and the way she looked at me I had no doubt she would let me fuck her senseless if I wanted to. The old Beckett Carter would have seduced and conquered her like the ruthless hunter I am. But the new Beckett Carter, while still driven by instinct, wanted to conquer only one woman. She was my addiction, and no one else could give me the fix I craved. Ella James, my perfect little temptress and the only person who knew both sides of me. The businessman and the beast. Just thinking about her lips, her soft body and the gasping sounds she made as she came was enough to get me hard.

  I cleared my throat, retrieved the files that had been left for me on my desk. I flipped through the pages, making sure everything was there. The documents seemed to be in order, with colored tabs where I needed to sign to finalize each deal. I would take them home, review everything, then drop the package off for legal later in the week.

  I headed out of my office, nodded at April, then made my way back towards the elevators.

  “I’ve ordered a bouquet,” the receptionist informed me as I passed by. “Pastel orchids. They’ll be delivered to Jessica today.”

  “Thank you.”

  I pressed the button and got into the elevator, leaving the office and heading back to my car. I felt fortunate to make my own hours, to have the resources I did. Running Carter Enterprises and living my double life was not always easy, but I was managing well enough. Beyond that, my solitary life had turned a corner. I had found someone wonderful. Someone that I wanted to make happy, the way she brought happiness into my life. I let my mind wander as I drove, and by the time I arrived home an idea had come into my head that made me grin. I headed into my penthouse, shrugged out of my jacket and took out my cell phone to make a call.