Claiming Red: The O'Connell Family Read online

  I sat with my head leaning against the headrest trying to calm my racing heart. After all the lies, could this be real?

  “The thing is this thing between us is going to heat up and I want to know if my age bothers you.” He wouldn’t rest until he got an answer.

  “No, your bossy ass attitude does.” I enjoyed the way he looked all mad and annoyed with me. I guess I just like pissing him off. A point for me.

  “You better get used to it, Red, because this is the way I am and I am not changing.” What an ass. “You have already met Claire. Now, we are going to meet my family.”

  “Don’t you think this is a little fast?” He shrugged and pulled out of the parking space.

  “Maybe, but I am not going to let you go on a date with another man, or for Williams to end up in your bed together again.”

  “Brady and I haven’t been together, like that. He is a good guy and my friend.” The smile that marked his face was devious as he intertwined his hand with mine. Then he pulled it to his lips for a sweet little kiss that sent chills up my spine and that damn tingle back in my cooch.

  “That’s good baby; that’s real good.” We got to the salon like he was in a rush. Then the little pixie, Claire, looked shocked to see me, but smiled and jumped in the back.

  “Why hello Samantha. It so nice to see you again, so soon.” She turned to her brother, and leaned on his headrest. “So… this is where you needed to go. Why didn’t you tell me that you already asked her out when you grilled me for details about her?” I looked at her then him and tried not to laugh. So, he was digging for details, no wonder she was so talkative.

  “Claire, why the fuck are you such a brat? And get your ass off the back of my seat.” His face had reddened in embarrassment. Good, I am not alone.

  “He didn’t ask me out. He told me.” I decided to be nice.

  “No, I sure as hell didn’t ask her. As far as I’m concerned, babe, you were coming, one way or another.” The fucker gave me a knowing smirk before he turned to look at the road again; so he knew I came.

  He wasn’t done ranting about us. “Women! You are all going to drive me fucking crazy.”

  “Ooh, you better not let mom hear you potty mouth.” I guess Claire liked poking the bear. I really like her.

  “Do me a favor Claire. Shut up. See babe, this is what I have to deal with, so your ass with that attitude should be nothing.”

  “Sam, I would take that as a challenge.” I smiled wickedly at her, but inside I was nervous as fuck. The bulldozer over there was caressing my hand and I could barely breathe.

  “By the way, Sam, I love the dress. Totally fab!”

  “My mom picked it out for my date with Antonio.” I could feel the tension when I mentioned Antonio. Did he know him or was it because I was supposed to go out with someone else. I just had a crazy thought and I hope that it is not true. Could my mom have talked him to taking me out, instead? Antonio cancelled tomorrow’s date, just before Rick showed up tonight. Just thinking of the possibility had me pissed. I pulled my hand from his. I didn’t need his fake affection.

  He turned and looked at me harshly, grabbed my hand again, and said a harsh whisper, “Don’t ever do that again.” At once I felt two things, fear and excitement. Fear of the unknown desire and emotions running through me and excitement at his anger; it really was turning me on. I hoped I wasn’t a closet submissive. Nope, I couldn’t be, I don’t really like pain.

  I was meeting his family. What the heck? We just met and here I am meeting the O’Connell family, one of the wealthiest families in the state. I am used to meeting wealthy people, my parents used to take me to functions all the time. At the time I didn’t know I was on the seller’s block. It was that night that I found out. This was different too, because I wasn’t just another guest. I was his date. Like Brady had told me, I need to let it go and move on.

  We pulled up to their mansion on the outskirts of town. I was about to open the door when he shook his head and said, “No”. He turned to Claire, and tilted his head to tell her to get out. She jumped out the back and ran in the house, with a smile on her face.

  “Look babe, you don’t have to be nervous.” I tried to front like I wasn’t freaked out, but he read me like a book. “Don’t deny it. I can feel it; your pulse is racing. They are just like everyone else, just with more money. I will say this, you are the first woman I have ever brought home. So, they may go a little crazy, making correct assumptions about us.” Wow, he didn’t have a slow button. Great, add to the pressure why don’t you? I didn’t tell him it sure as hell wasn’t his family driving me bananas it was him.

  He kissed my hand, then helped me out of the truck. All the sudden I was hit with fear that they wouldn’t like me. His father was a successful business man that practically ran this town. His mother was a skilled lawyer, but took a case here and there. Rumor has it, it was because he didn’t like her working, and I am a teenage girl, who works at the mall, with parents who were willing to sell me to some old guy.

  Overall the night went well, but I had moments of anxiety when the father looked at me with suspicion. I was tempted to say something, because I have very little tolerance for assholes, but his mom was glowing when she looked at Rick and me together. Plus Rick always seemed to be touching me, whether it was rubbing my back, or holding my hand under the table at dinner.

  It was right after dinner that his father asked to speak with on a business matter that couldn’t wait. I had a feeling it wasn’t a business matter, but a personal matter, concerning yours truly. We all had a good time talking, his brother was a cool and another handsome fool. He looked a hell of a lot like Rick, but there was something about Rick that called to me. I had seen throughout the whole night that Rick looked ready to fight with his brother because he was talking to me. Silly, did he think I would just jump from one guy to another? So far, Rick was the only man to have gotten a real strong reaction (both good and bad) out of me. Yes, I found a lot of guys attractive, but I hadn’t wanted more.

  Chapter 5: Rick

  I knew Claire had already told them about her, but they were still shocked that I actually brought Samantha home with me. Everything was going well until my brother arrived. Ethan was four years younger than me, but we were practically twins, in appearance. The boy even had grown in the last few months, filling out in the muscle department.

  For some reason, I didn’t like the way Samantha and Ethan were getting along. He seemed like a better catch. I knew it was just insecurity talking because she seemed to talk to him a lot more than she did me. She was making me doubt my ability with the ladies. I needed to reel that shit in. I was a catch and a half and any woman would be lucky to be with me, but I wasn’t sure Red saw it that way. To her, I was just a handsome pompous ass, but I wanted to be her world, as she was fast becoming mine.

  My dad called me into his study for a little conversation. I knew it had to do with my girl. Business my ass; I saw the way he looked at her all night.

  “Son, do you know who you brought into my house?” I had never gotten angry at my father, but right now I was very close to knocking his ass out with that snide and rude comment.

  “Son, that young woman was to be your uncle’s wife.” I looked at him like had fucking lost his mind. He had already poured me a drink and handed that shit to me; which I downed in one fucking gulp.

  “What the fuck? That is the biggest bullshit I ever heard. She’s just about to turn eighteen.” He sat down in the chair across from me. I just couldn’t wrap my head around that ridiculousness.

  “Last year I had gone to see your uncle when he was sick. I had seen the contract from the Lakes to him promising her to him in exchange for two-hundred thousand dollars. At first I thought he was buying a horse, but I saw her name on their and knew that wasn’t a horses name. I asked him about it and he told me what had happened. When he went to go meet her, she had run away. The thing is son, he hasn’t found her yet and he already gave them the money. He sa
id that he had to wait until she was eighteen before he could claim Samantha, herself, or whack her parents” My father rubbed his head in agitation.

  “The fuck he is, she is mine. I will give him the two-hundred thousand back, but hell if he is getting her.”

  “Are you sure her parents didn’t scope you out and are using you for their next target. They would know that family is everything to John and that he wouldn’t come after you, personally.”

  “No dad. I forced her to come here with me, tonight. You are not going to tell him, right?”

  “Of course not, but I think you need to get her away from here. If he finds out he may just try and steal her from you before her birthday. I don’t know if he was more pissed about the money or the girl. She is a very lovely girl.”

  “Yes she is.” I rubbed my forehead.

  “Son, the thing is, I don’t think your uncle was the only one. I don’t know what she actually knows about it, but there could be big trouble ahead.” I now knew why Travis was here. When a FBI is living under a supposed name with a minor at the time, it had to be an undercover operation. I have to give him a call because I am taking her away and didn’t want them on my ass.

  Chapter 6: Travis

  This of all days has been crazy as fuck. Little Samantha was doing well, coming out of her shell. I hated to let her talk to her mother, but I didn’t want to blow my cover, and we still didn’t have the evidence we needed to nail them. The only way to get the coconuts was to shake the tree. I don’t think Rhonda knew that she was taking her daughter to the salon of one of the O’Connell family members. There was nothing illegal going on with that part of the family, but it was still too close for comfort, especially for Rhonda.

  I had gone to pick her up and the cute little stylist made me want to get my hair cut too, and a lot more than that. I had sent her mother packing by mentioning that the O’Connell’s owned the place. She only came inside to see the end result and pay for the service. I wasn’t going to have her setting her daughter up. I knew Antonio and he wasn’t interested in buying a woman. He didn’t need to, but he was interested in beautiful women. So when he’d seen a picture of her he was happy to go out with her. They had just used that to their advantage. I don’t know what it was, but I felt like something was going to happen. I went to go and meet with my partners and give my parents a call. I had to lie to Sam and it was getting to me. She was a sweet girl and everyone seemed to be lying to her, I didn’t want to hurt her too.

  I was gone for an hour and had text Sam to see if she wanted me to bring anything back for dinner. When she text she was out, I texted her for details. Sam on a date with none other than Rick O’Connell. This could be really bad. He didn’t like me very much ever since I had been a part of the team that investigated him and his father’s dealings. They were clean, but he had hated me by the time the investigation had ended. I looked at the tracker I had on her phone and saw that they were at the O’Connell mansion.

  I arrived at the O’Connell family mansion and I was nervous as fuck. I didn’t think anything was going to happen, but I still texted her. She responded that Rick had shown up and asked her to on a date and so far, so good.

  Now, all I could think about was Claire O’ Connell. During the investigation, I only saw a picture of her and she had never been interviewed because she had been a child at the time. She had grown up, not much in height, but she was every bit of woman, now. I sat outside their gates at a distance when my phone rang.

  “Williams.”

  “Hey Travis, this is Rick O’ Connell. Or should I say hey Brady? Does she know that you’re a Fed?” Oh, fuck, he made me. Shit, I had my doubts about his innocence, and now she could be in danger.

  “No she doesn’t. You better not hurt her.”

  “I am not going to hurt her. I am not a thug, no matter what you think of my family. Now, my uncle is a different fucking story, I can’t vouch for him. I learned a lot about her and her family today. I know my uncle is looking for her.”

  “Is that why you are with her?” I hoped to hell he wasn’t going to try and get involved with this investigation.

  “I am with her because I want to be. Now I don’t know if my father has anyone here that is loyal to my uncle, but my father just warned me of my uncle’s continued interest.”

  “Don’t tell her about me. I have a feeling things are going to start going down soon.”

  “I won’t, but I want you to know that I am willing to do anything to protect her.”

  “Why? You two just met? Is it love at first sight?” I was laughing at him on the outside but I wasn’t so sure that it wasn’t a real thing. What I was feeling for his sister wasn’t normal.

  “I don’t know what it is, but I know what it’s not.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah, it’s none of your business.” I walked right into that one, the fucking asshole. What if I told him the same thing about his sister? I bet my ass would be laid out.

  “Whatever you prick. What is your plan?”

  “I think it is time I took a vacation and so, you know my fiancé is taking it with me.”

  “Fiancé? Since when?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The guy was rumored to be a playboy and all of the sudden he was interested in marrying the same woman that his uncle had paid to marry. I was going to keep an eye on them.

  “Well not yet, but in my opinion it’s a done deal. She’ll come around.” He sounded certain, we’ll see. I wasn’t her brother, I was just asked to make sure that other fucker and the other possible buyers stayed unaware of her whereabouts. I hoped her parents weren’t that stupid to give out her location to anyone, but it wasn’t looking too good. The rumor was that when she was eighteen they could claim her. Now that she is a few days away, they are going to want their due.

  Chapter 7: Rick

  He had poured us both a drink and this time I took my time drinking it. I had to get a plan together. Greece was looking like the place to go. I already had the ring, I just needed the right time. But the way I was looking at it, it may be better to rush the wedding. They could claim her if she was already married. Fuck it sucks not knowing who the other buyers, if any were. I had to call Roger.

  “Roger, how many influxes were there.”

  “Three.” Shit one was one too many, but I at least knew who that one buyer was.

  “Okay, I need you to get more information. Make sure no one knows who’s asking okay? I want names.”

  “It will be hard, but I will try and get back to you as soon as possible.” I hung up with a heavy sigh.

  “I won’t ask you anything about the conversation, but I do have to ask you something.” I waited for the question that I knew was coming.

  “Are you sure about her? I mean, are you really sure?” I had the same symptoms, he had when he met my mother.

  “Absolutely. I felt it the moment she looked up at me in her baseball cap.” The thought of anyone trying to harm her made me want to kill a fucker.

  “Baseball cap? Really?” He knew me, the women I dated didn’t leave the house without makeup on, hair done and dressed to the nines. So, I told him about this morning. It was only this morning? Wow, my world changed in a matter of hours.

  “I still remember the first time I saw your mother. It was a done deal too. She didn’t know what hit her. I ran all over her and wouldn’t take no for an answer. She was a young law student and didn’t want to give up her future for me. It took her awhile to realize that I wasn’t going to give up. Her family wanted nothing to do with me and my family and their illegal history. So, I proved to them that although ruthless in business, I was no criminal. I have never been happier.”

  “You have told us that story for years. It happened with Grandpa too, why not with uncle?”

  “Because he was too stubborn and prideful when he was young. He had killed a guy because the guy owed him money. The guy’s brother came out for revenge. One day he and Sheila, the woman who was the one, went ou
t driving. She had paid for his stupidity. They were both shot repeatedly. Since then, he has grown harder and more ruthless than anyone could imagine.” I could understand that the pain would be unbearable to have lived through and I was going to do everything I could to make sure I didn’t have to. She was my world now, so I would do anything to keep her safe.

  “I have to make some arrangements, but I plan to take her away for a few days. I am going to get her, now.” We walked out to join the rest of the family. I looked at my woman and she was smiling at something my mom had said and turned to us. That smile warmed my heart, and I would do anything to keep it there. Just as I sat down next to her and gave her a peck on the cheek, my phone buzzed; it was Travis:

  Get her out. His car just pulled up.

  Fuck. I looked up at my dad and shook my head. “Hey Red, it’s time to go.” I hugged my mother and sister and shook my brother’s hand.

  In walked one of the maids and she said, “Mrs. O’Connell, Mr. O’Connell’s brother is here.”

  “Tell my brother I am coming right now.” After the maid left the room, I pulled Red behind me as I heard my uncle say that he knew the way.

  “Go out through the study, son.” He patted my shoulder, “I love you, son.” I nodded. Red’s eyes bulged, her hand squeezed mine tighter. She knew his voice; I wonder what else she knew. I dragged her out as I heard my father say to my family, “She was never here, understand?”

  Chapter 8: Samantha

  He is dragging me through the house and out the back. He hurried me into the garage and into his truck. I was trying not to freak out. I remembered that voice. It was the one my mom had spoken to that day, the grey-haired old man, who was supposed to be my date.

  What the fuck was going on?! He had drove out quietly and with the lights off. Once we had gotten out of the gate and down the street, he turned the lights on. It was two miles into our drive when he stopped and sent a text to someone.