With that handled, Tony shot Darren—who was legit close to freaking out now, based on the tone and tenor of texts he’d sent Tony—an e-mail that he’d arranged that, the info of who and where to send the PO to, and to be prepared to have their travel department issue a return plane ticket for Jim for Friday morning. Meanwhile, Darren, after spending half of a rambling e-mail begging Tony to try to work with the guy, had also included their HR procedures in an attachment, and CC’d the HR rep in charge of his department.

  Several balls rolling—check.

  Before he headed back into the new data center, he checked his personal cell, found a text from Ethan’s personal cell that they hadn’t found Christine yet, and a text from Shay.

  Love You and miss You, Sir. Heading into meeting.

  That had been sent only twenty minutes earlier, while he was talking to the colo people.

  Dammit.

  Otherwise, he might have been able to talk to her for a few minutes.

  Miss you, too, pet. You’re My good girl. Love you very much.

  After responding to the text from Ethan, Tony headed inside.

  Motherfucker.

  * * * *

  Tony did manage to get them out of the data center and back to the hotel by seven local time.

  Ethan had texted him again an hour earlier that there was still no word about Christine. Tony asked him to please call him as soon as he knew, even if it was in the middle of the night, and Ethan assured him he would.

  Meanwhile, Tony picked up dinner from a deli just down the block from the hotel and took it back to his room to call Shayla. He didn’t want to eat with Jim, and if Jim wanted to go out, he’d have to call an Uber or rent a car himself. Asher had rented the car in Tony’s name, and they only needed the one. Good thing, too.

  Last thing they needed was Jim getting in an accident while drunk or high.

  Tony settled in front of his personal laptop and called up a video chat screen through Skype.

  Shayla answered quickly, a smile on her face. “Hi, Sir.”

  “Hey, sweetheart.” He pulled the lid off his container of pasta e fagioli. “Sorry, just got back. Haven’t even had a shower yet.”

  “Sorry, Sir.”

  “No, this is fine. I can eat dinner and talk to my beautiful pet.”

  She gave him another smile. And, yes, she was naked, and wearing her cuffs and collar.

  Except…he wasn’t even remotely in the mood for sex, video chat or real. Not after the day he’d had, and as exhausted as he felt.

  “Miss you, Sir.”

  “Miss you, too, baby. Damn, it’s been a long day. I can’t convince my body to follow Denver time. Sorry I’m not in a very sexy mood.”

  “It’s okay, Sir. I understand. I’m just happy I get to talk to you.”

  “How’s the babies…”

  And like that, he spent forty-five minutes chatting with Shay while he ate. By the time he finished eating and ended the video chat to go take a shower, he felt ready to collapse.

  Except as he lay there in bed and stared at the ceiling, he couldn’t stop thinking about Christine’s letter. He would tell Shay about all of this when there was something to tell her. It wasn’t managing her, it was him not having the energy to keep track of juggling more balls in the air than he could handle.

  Who knows? They might find her safe.

  Then again, pigs could fly and the Tooth Fairy might be real, too.

  * * * *

  Tony’s Wednesday morning didn’t start much better than Tuesday had, except his body let him sleep until six local time.

  A text from Ethan—no updates.

  A good-morning text from Shayla—she was heading straight to a meeting up in St. Pete, state officials holding some committee meeting that covered part of what she was writing about.

  That meant while he could call her, he didn’t want to distract her from trying to find her way around St. Pete when she’d never been to that particular building before.

  Tony opted to call Darren, who was already at work, based on e-mails he was seeing fly about a sev2 incident that had hit overnight.

  “Good morning from the Mile-High City.”

  “Did you fire him yet?”

  “I will tomorrow night. Please have his ticket set up for Friday morning. I’ll take him to the airport and then go back to work. We’ll be at a point where I can work by myself until I get the extra help Monday.”

  “You sure he’s using?”

  “Yep. The attitude he gave me yesterday morning was the last straw.” Tony detailed all the issues he’d been having with the guy.

  “Dammit.” Darren sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. It’s a violation. HR said you’re covered. If he wants to protest, he can march himself to a lab Friday afternoon after he returns to Tampa, go with one of our Loss Prevention guys and get drug tested.”

  “Yeah, he won’t do that. He’s been buying since about our third day here. There’s an edibles place literally down the street from the hotel. Five-minute walk.”

  “Dammit.”

  “Yeah. So, hey. Make sure when HR posts our IT jobs for Denver that they emphasize in the postings it’s a zero-tolerance workplace, or good luck getting anyone to pass a drug test.”

  “I will. How are the…”

  The next twenty minutes were spent catching Darren up, all info that Darren was happy to hear, because he was heading into a meeting shortly where he knew he’d be asked for a status report.

  And he swore he’d go to bat for Tony.

  And, yes, Darren assured him he sent out the PO for the not two, but three temps. And he would have the colo manager forward Tony the info for the extra person.

  Okay, so he’s not a total asshole.

  At least by the time Tony made it down to breakfast, he wasn’t feeling quite so…murdery.

  I need to give someone a good beating.

  Hell, it’d been at least a week—no, two, come to think of it, before he’d flown out to Denver that he and Shay had played.

  So. Going on the better part of two months.

  That was unheard of, for them.

  Sigh.

  Even if they didn’t do heavy, full-on scenes every week, he’d pull her over his lap for a Saturday morning foreplay spanking, or a quick bare-handed spanking at night before making love and going to sleep. Something.

  Jim was only ten minutes late this morning, but his eyes looked red and bloodshot.

  Tony opted to keep his mouth shut and get through until tomorrow night.

  Meanwhile, he’d try not to think about the sound of Dennis choking back sobs, or of the words contained in the images of Christine’s letter to him that he’d saved in the photos section of his phone.

  Chapter Six

  Thursday had been tense, Jim apparently sensing something was coming down the pike. When Tony drove them back to the hotel Thursday evening, he dropped the bomb.

  And Jim had…well, gone off.

  To the point that when Tony handed him the confirmation number and flight information for his ticket back to Tampa, and told him he’d drive him to the airport in the morning, Jim said not to bother before storming off into the hotel.

  Okay, then.

  Fine with him, because it meant he could sleep in late.

  He stopped by the front desk to tell them they’d be dropping Jim’s room as of tomorrow, but to keep his.

  At least he slept damn good.

  Until Friday morning, when Tony was startled awake by his personal phone ringing a little after five-thirty Denver time.

  Not Shayla’s ringtone.

  He reached for it, didn’t even bother looking at the screen, and answered, his voice still thick with sleep. “Daniels.”

  He knew what this would be about.

  “Hey, it’s Ethan,” he softly said, like he was trying to keep from being overheard. “We just found her.”

  “Where?”

  “Myakka City, Manatee County. In the Chance Reserve, Coker Prairie Tract. State-contracted nuisance pig hunter found her and called it in. I just got here. Detective who caught it’s a friend of mine and called me.” He sighed. “Haven’t called her family yet. We’re still officially confirming it’s her…”

  “But it’s her.”

  “Yeah. ID on her. Haven’t found her car yet. They have deputies circling the property. Just like you said. She was sitting against a tree, facing west across a marshland. She’d walked off a trail and picked a spot. Hunter’s dogs found her. If it hadn’t been for that, she might have sat here for…a while. I’m waiting for their ME to get here, but they’re busy and short-handed, so it’ll be a while.”

  Tony sighed. “Shot herself?”

  “Yeah. Same make and model handgun she had the box for.” He paused. “I’m sorry.”

  “Yeah, me, too. Please text me after you make contact with Dennis. I want to talk to him.”

  “Okay. Will do.”

  Ethan ended the call and Tony stared at his phone.

  Fuck.

  He got up and used the bathroom, then climbed back into bed. Less than thirty minutes later, Ethan texted him.

  By the time Tony was ready to get up an hour later, his personal cell rang again.

  Dennis.

  Taking a deep breath, he answered. “Hey.”

  The man choked back heartbreaking sobs. “They found her this morning.” He started sobbing his way through details Tony already knew, but he didn’t stop him, didn’t interrupt.

  “I’m so sorry,” Tony said when Dennis finished.

  “We…we’re going to have her funeral Sunday afternoon. I already talked to the pastor. We’d like you to come, if you can. I mean, I know you weren’t—”

  “What time, and where?” he gently asked. Tony jotted the info down on the room’s hotel stationery notepad. “Okay. May I bring my wife, or would you rather—”

  “Yeah. Please. I’m sorry. I mean, if it’s too weird for you to—”

  “No, I’ll be there. How’s your parents?”

  “They’re…devastated. I think Mom was in denial. Dad’s…Dad.”

  Tony softly snorted. “Yeah. I’m really sorry, Dennis. I’d hoped they’d find her okay.”

  “Me, too. We’ll see you Sunday.”

  “Yeah.” He ended the call and sat there for a moment before he called Darren.

  “How’d it go last night?”

  “Shitty. I need a plane ticket home to Tampa. Today.”

  “What?”

  Tony sighed. “I’ve had a death in the family.”

  * * * *

  Tony waited until he’d made it through security and was sitting at his gate to text Shayla.

  Can you talk, pet?

  She called him seconds later. “Hello, Sir. Lunch break?”

  “No, unfortunately.” There wasn’t any easy way through it except through it. He quickly outlined the events from Dennis e-mailing him until that morning. “Dennis asked if we can go to the funeral on Sunday. I’m sorry I didn’t say anything to you about this sooner, pet, but I really didn’t have anything to tell you until now.”

  She went quiet for a moment. “Oh.”

  “Will you go with me?”

  “Yes, Sir. Of course I will.”

  “Thank you, pet. I’m sorry.”

  “Why are you apologizing?”

  “Because I know that’s not exactly the homecoming you were hoping for.” Stick…and carrot. “But I’m not flying back out until late Tuesday afternoon.”

  “Really?”

  “Really. I was thinking we could go to Venture Saturday night, if you’d like to.”

  “I can take Monday and Tuesday off! I don’t have a meeting to cover until Wednesday.”

  He closed his eyes. “That would be amazing, pet. Thank you.”

  Now her tone sounded more animated, enough that the headache trying to start behind his eyes eased just a hair.

  My pet is happy.

  He listened to her talk for a moment until she finally took a break. “Can you pick me up from the airport tonight?”

  “Tonight? Oh!” Now she really sounded happy, and, yes, he might have done that deliberately. “What time?”

  “My flight arrives at almost six Tampa time. I’ll text you the info.”

  “I might be a little late.”

  “That’s okay. I haven’t eaten yet today. I didn’t have time. I had to rearrange my vendor crew and everything. We can eat there at the airport.”

  “I’ll be there as soon as I can, Sir.”

  “Looking forward to it.” They called for boarding for his flight. “And, pet?”

  “Yes, Sir?”

  “I love you so much, sweetheart. I can’t wait to see you.”

  “I can’t wait to see you, either, Sir!”

  He ended the call and hauled himself to his feet to queue to board. At least he could do his laundry at home that weekend, instead of having to do them in the hotel’s machine or taking them to a cleaner. He’d checked out of the hotel and brought everything with him, but had already reserved a new room for himself for Tuesday on.

  I can’t wait to get home.

  * * * *

  Shayla hoped it didn’t make her a horrible person that she totally let the news that Tony was coming home and would stay until Tuesday eclipse the fact that they were going to a funeral.

  Yay!

  She bounced up out of her chair and to her boss’ office to let him know she was going to need two days off.

  Not a problem, fortunately. Sunshine Attitudes magazine was just one part of the business, which also included a graphic arts house and other related services. It wasn’t like the Plain Dealer, where she’d have to get someone to cover a regular beat for her.

  The series she was working on would last another couple of months, at least, but she was enjoying it despite the grueling research and coma-inducing boredom of some of the meetings. It was gratifying to receive e-mails from lawmakers who’d been following what she was doing and commending her for distilling complex subject matter, accurately, into plain English that people could understand.

  And we can go to the club tomorrow! Yay!

  She’d had lunch a couple of times with Jenny, Leah, and Loren, and had dinner a few times with some other friends, but Tilly was usually out of town lately.

  Plus she hadn’t felt like going to the club or the munches without Tony, even though she had his permission to go, and she knew she was perfectly safe going alone.

  The point was, she didn’t want to go without him.

  Adulting sucks.

  It was kind of tempting to stay home tomorrow night and just nest with him, except he probably wanted to go himself. If he hadn’t, he would have flat-out said so.

  Even better, she was able to wrap things up early enough she could skate out the door in time to beat the worst of rush-hour traffic and park in a space in the short-term terminal parking garage at TIA minutes before his plane was due to land. She left her purse and laptop locked in the trunk of her car and hurried over to the elevators that would take her to the main terminal.

  While she waited, she fought the urge to bounce on her feet.

  He’s coming home!

  She resisted the urge to also reach over and repeatedly punch the down button.

  Finally, an elevator arrived and she unabashedly ran over to duck in so she didn’t have to wait for another one. The main terminal was busy as heck, but she quickly found an arrivals board, found out his plane was on the ground at the gate, and made her way over to where the airside shuttle monorail would pull in.

  She fingered the heart-shaped locket on her necklace, her day collar.

  That was one thing she never forgot to wear.

  And she might have let out an audible squee when, three monorail arrivals later, he finally stepped out of the car, his laptop case over his shoulder and pulling a carryon bag.

  He looked up, his green gaze immediately locking with hers. She realized she was sniffling back tears as she ran over to him as soon as he stepped out of the exit chute and out of the way so they could hug. It took every ounce of will she had not to drop to her knees in front of him and give him their greeting.

  He held her tightly. “It’s okay, baby. I’m home. I’m sorry it’s been so long.”

  “I love you so much, Sir.”

  “I love you, too, pet.” He kissed her, one hand reaching up to firmly cup the back of her neck and melting her, the other splayed against her lower back.

  Closing her eyes, she held on tightly, savoring this, him, melting totally against his body.

  Finally, he ended their kiss only to hold her again. “Give me just a minute, baby,” he whispered. “I needed this. I needed you.”

  “I needed you, too, Sir.”

  She couldn’t imagine a time where she would never not need him. Yes, she was an independent person, had lived on her own.

  But ever since being married to Tony, she hadn’t wanted to be alone, had never known how good it could be with another person.

  When he finally let out a deep breath and looked down into her eyes, she spotted how weary he seemed, the dark circles under his eyes. “Luggage, Sir?”

  “Yeah. Baggage claim. Let’s dump it in the car and come back for food. I’m working on a headache. Do you have anything with you?”

  “Yes, Sir. In my purse in the car.”

  “Okay. Good.” He leaned in for one more quick kiss, followed by a tired smile. “Love you, pet.”

  “Love you, too, Sir.”

  Chapter Seven

  Twenty minutes later, they’d retrieved Tony’s bags, had stowed them in the trunk of Shayla’s car, and were seated in a booth in a restaurant in the terminal. He’d also taken three ibuprofen and looked even more exhausted than he had when he’d stepped into her arms right off the monorail.

  “We don’t need to go to Venture tomorrow night, Sir,” she softly said to keep from being overheard. “I don’t mind staying home.”

  He reached across the table and held her hand. “Let’s play it by ear. I need a break and would really like to go.”