Conquering Jude Read Online Free PDF Page B

confused and disgusted with his body. He needed answers, but the woman who he knew could provide them had effectively kicked him out of her life. The words Carlos had said while treating his wrists echoed through his head.
    “ I know your need to submit is confusing you, so if you ever need to talk, I’m here.” Carlos glanced up at him, his brown eyes sympathetic. “I’ve been there, Jude.” He put the finishing touches on Jude’s wrists. “I’m sorry but this is the last time I’m allowed to let you in. You’ve been banned from Olivia’s.”
    * * * *
    Pulling up in front of his downtown office, Jude exited his truck and trudged towards the front door. The sun was barely peaking over the horizon as he slid the key into the lock. His mind was still in turmoil over his response to his punishment. He desperately wanted – no needed - to talk to Olivia. But he was banned from her life because of his own stupidity. He cursed his temper once more. One of these days I’ll learn to control my fucking temper. Thank God Mistress Olivia knew how to handle me. I could’ve seriously hurt her if she hadn’t had me restrained.
    “Mr. Larson?”
    He damn near jumped out of his skin at the feminine voice. For a brief second, he’d hoped it was Olivia, but the accent was wrong. Instead of the Croatian one he longed to hear, it was a snappy Bronx accent. He spun around to find his new night security guard approaching him. Between her dark uniform and even darker skin, he hadn’t spotted her when he’d first arrived. Her long multi-hued braids were pulled back from her face in a high pony-tail. If he hadn’t been the one to hire her, he’d never have guessed she was nearing forty. She doesn’t look a day over twenty-five.
    When he’d found out she had an impressive military background but had given up her cushy job in the private security sector of upscale New York to follow her younger sister here, he’d hired her, despite her youthful appearance. Family was important to Jude. Now if only I could remember her damn name.
    “Good morning…” He searched his memory for her name. It started with an R, I think. Ruby, Reese, ahhh… “…Reba?”
    “It’s Rena.” She smiled up at him. “You were close, Boss. I’m getting ready to go off-duty but when I saw you, I figured I’d give you the nightly report. I usually give it to,” her nose wrinkled with distaste. “. . . Mr. Levough.”
    Jude wanted to give a chuckle at her tone and probably would’ve if he hadn’t been so distracted. For whatever reason, Rena and Jackson got along as well as oil and water.
    “Sure, no problem. Follow me.” He held open the door and motioned her to follow him into the inner offices. Deactivating the alarm, he entered his inner sanctuary. Even as he tossed his jacket over the coat tree in the corner, he scanned the room for any discrepancies. After assuring himself nothing was out of place, he finally turned to face the young woman standing behind him.
    With her clipboard in hand, she was patiently waiting for him. Her stillness but alert nature made him thankful he’d hired her. “All right, Rena, let me have it.” Clicking on the industrial-sized coffee maker in the corner, he leaned against the counter as he waited.
    “Sure thing, Boss. All in all it was a fairly quiet night. I did my hourly rounds at quarter after the hour. Other than a young woman by the name of…” She glanced down at the clipboard. “…Suzette Ralston, who approached the gate at zero three-thirty eight.” She flipped up the paper on her clipboard. “She left this envelope for you, with a request for you to call her.” Holding it out to him, she stepped closer.
    Surprised, Jude took it from her. “Damn, I haven’t heard from Suzette since…” he scratched his chin. “…it’s got to have been five, no six years.”
    “Seemed like a nice enough woman for a white girl, Boss, even if I thought it was a bit odd she showed up here so early. She