The Devil You Know

by Morgan James

  Three heads swiveled in his direction then just as quickly resumed what they were doing. He approached Doyle’s desk and propped a hip on the corner.

  “Hey, man, I need a favor.”

  “What’s up?”

  “I need you to run a couple names for me. See what you can pull on both. I want full history.” Blake turned to Jason and handed him the dossiers on both Greg Andrews and Dr. Johnathan Martin.

  “Anything in particular I need to look for?”

  “That one”—he motioned to Andrews’s file—“is a disgruntled ex-patient of Victoria’s. See if there’s any history of violence, and put some priority on it if you don’t mind. When Victoria’s friend was killed years ago, the guy had introduced himself as Marc. See if there’s any possibility that Andrews could’ve been in the vicinity at the time of the murder. He may have used an alias, or he may have changed his name since then. Whoever broke into Victoria’s house left behind a hunting knife. Maybe you can do some checking to see if he’s purchased anything recently. According to the police report, the blade appears to be the same one used in the Henderson murder a couple weeks ago, too. There’s a good chance he may be tied into all this somehow.

  “And him...” He flicked Martin’s folder. “He’s a giant pain in the ass who’s in love with my girlfriend. I need a reason to punch him in the throat.”

  Jason nodded his understanding. “Fair enough.”

  Blake couldn’t quite dispel his uneasiness, and there was a heavy feeling in the air, almost tangible in its intensity. Something bad was going to happen—he could feel it. He’d been at the QSG office most of the day chasing leads, but he was still no closer to finding the answer. Victoria had called earlier to let him know she was going to see a friend, then they would meet back at her house.

  They’d been trading back and forth over the last few days, spending most of their time at his house with a night at her place in between. With his stint at her building almost complete, he wanted her to feel comfortable both places in case he needed to be away from her. She’d insisted she’d be fine staying home alone today, so he’d reluctantly kissed her goodbye and come in to catch up on some work. Something had been nagging at him all day, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what exactly was bothering him.

  He and Victoria had discussed their relationship concerns over the last few days and he hoped he’d soothed some of her fears. He hesitated to come right out and tell her exactly how he felt—that she could be the one. His mom had called a couple nights ago and he’d told her all about Victoria. Talk about weddings and babies aside, his mom was eager to meet the woman who’d captured his heart. He told his mother he was planning to bring his girlfriend home for a visit, and the excitement in her voice had been palpable. There was only one reason he would bring a woman home. She planned on getting his sisters together, too, get everyone in the same house for the weekend. He wasn’t quite sure that Victoria was ready for so many Lawsons at once, but he had no doubt she’d pass any test they threw at her. She was naturally sweet and personable, and he knew his family would fall in love with her the second they met her.

  As for him, well, he was almost there. He was eager to put all of this craziness behind them, toss the killer behind bars so they could move on with their lives in a more normal capacity. He could see himself beside her fifteen years down the road, a couple kids in tow. They’d sip their coffee side-by-side each morning in comfortable silence, reading the newspaper—or whatever electronic version they had by then—and just enjoy each other’s company. Oh, he knew they’d have some ups and downs, but he was looking forward to every moment with her, good and bad.

  He couldn’t wait to tell her and anticipation zinged through him. He glanced at Jason. “I’m taking off. Shoot me what you find?”

  “No problem.” The other man didn’t bother to look away from the computer screen as his fingers flew across the keyboard.

  Blake waved to Vince and Con, who were helping to set up a desk for their newest addition. Clay Thompson, another former Ranger, was scheduled to join them the following week, and his twin brother, Cole, was due shortly after. Blake had seen Xander around once or twice, but with everything going on with Victoria, he hadn’t had much of a chance to get to know him. From what he’d heard, though, the other man had his hands full with a woman of his own.

  Con had been busy pulling strings and making connections, and inquiries and odd jobs were beginning to trickle in. Clay would be teaching a series of self-defense classes and holding firearms qualifications for the local PD at the gun range downtown at the end of the month. Vince had picked up the position working detail on the local singer Con had originally offered Blake. He hadn’t asked how things were going, but from the perpetually agitated look on the man’s face, it probably wasn’t good.

  A string of burglaries had cropped up around the city and the PD had contacted Con to see if they could dig up some more information. Apparently the thieves were targeting wealthy homes or smaller business that lacked security, then holding an internet auction each week to net the highest bid for the stolen items. The problem was, the IP address was never the same, and the signal bounced off of several towers before finally landing at its final destination. The person—or group—knew what they were doing, and Jason so far hadn’t been able to get a good hold on the hacker’s method. But Blake knew he would—it was only a matter of time. The next auction was set up for Friday night and Jason would be at it again, doing his best to pinpoint the thieves’ location.

  Blake pushed open the door and squinted in the waning sunlight before slipping his sunglasses into place. He headed for his car, then changed direction and strode to the corner market to grab a few things for dinner.

  As he drove toward Victoria’s place, he contemplated the layout of her subdivision. It was well-designed, as far as security went, with an eight-foot metal fence surrounding the entire property. While the black metal was more decorative than daunting, it at least provided a sense of security. It would deter most people from trying to climb it, especially since the subdivision itself was surrounded on two sides by a natural preservation.

  He turned his car onto the main thoroughfare and stopped at the gate—another added boon. The gates here were reinforced, and cameras were posted on each side to survey traffic. Although the gatehouse was patrolled during daylight hours, he figured it would be easy enough for someone to slip by, especially in the dark. But they would have to either scale the fence or bypass the gate—or tag along on foot behind a vehicle entering the premises.

  Blake pursed his lips. What if he was overthinking things? He tapped in the code Victoria had given him and watched as the gate swung inward. He pulled through and kept an eye on the rearview mirror, counting the seconds until it closed. Plenty of time to make it through if someone was close enough, but there wasn’t much to use for cover. A few decorative trees and shrubs dotted the entrance, but nothing of substance. Someone sneaking through on foot would be fairly obvious.

  He dug in his back pocket and pulled out his phone. Tapping the recently dialed number, he waited for the call to connect.

  “Dallas Police, Tenth Precinct.”

  “Hey, Angie, it’s Blake Lawson.” He’d spoken with the officer a couple of times over the last few days and already recognized her voice.

  “Hey, honey,” her syrupy voice drawled. “What can I do for ya?”

  “Is Sanchez free?”

  Angie was silent for a beat before responding. “He’s interviewing someone right now. I can have him call when they’re finished.”

  “Maybe you can help me.” Blake turned into Victoria’s driveway and cut the engine. “Are you able to tell me if the footage from the gatehouse at Victoria’s subdivision has been reviewed?”

  “I don’t think so, but I can find out.”

  Anger churned in his gut and he tamped it down. They were doing the best they could with limited information and resources, and a B&E was probably pretty low on thei
r priority list. Didn’t mean he couldn’t help them along a bit. “Let me know for sure, please. I’ve been thinking...”

  Blake told Angie what was he was looking for and she hung up with a promise to call him later. He climbed from the truck and entered the house using the spare key Victoria had given him a couple days ago when they’d been assessing the damage and fixing up her place. He took a quick look around to make sure that everything was in place. Even though he’d upgraded her security system and changed the code, it was better to err on the side of caution. Finding nothing out of the ordinary, he made his way to the kitchen and set the grocery bags on the counter.

  He tapped the oven to start preheating and unwrapped the salmon he’d picked up after work. A few minutes later, he popped it inside to broil while he cut and steamed the broccoli. It wasn’t gourmet, but he hoped she’d at least appreciate the gesture. He was coming to enjoy these nights with her more and more. Maybe he could renovate his little house and flip it, stay with Victoria until they found something better suited for a family. Her house was nice, but it was small and he’d still prefer a little more privacy. Once they had kids, it’d be nice to have a big back yard for them to play in. And a nice garage for him to tinker around with some stuff.

  He hadn’t said anything to Victoria yet, skittish as she was, but he was already looking years down the road. He was ready to put down roots and start a family. Victoria was home for him; he didn’t need to look anywhere else. He’d spent a good portion of his twenties and early thirties having fun. Now it was time to settle down. And he couldn’t imagine doing it with anyone but her.

  VICTORIA PUSHED OPEN the front door and was immediately assaulted by the savory smell wafting from the kitchen. She closed the door behind her and flipped the lock before kicking off her shoes. On silent feet, she padded down the hallway toward the kitchen. Blake stood at the stove, his back to her, and she took a moment to appreciate the view.

  The sight of him in her kitchen sent a little jolt through her. What kind of man would take care of her the way he had, make dinner like it was something they’d done for years instead of days if he was planning to leave her?

  Blake turned and caught her gaze, a warm smile spreading over his face. “Hey, beautiful. Did you have a good time?”

  Before Victoria even realized she’d taken a step, she was across the kitchen and in his arms.

  “Whoa, sweetheart. Is everything okay?”

  She shook her head against his chest. “I need you.”

  He pulled back and stared at her for a moment before nodding once. Reaching behind him, he flipped off the burner and turned off the oven, then scooped her into his arms. He headed toward the stairs, pausing only briefly to check the lock on the front door, then carried her up to her room.

  He set her on her feet beside the bed and settled his hands low on her hips. “You sure?”

  She nodded, unable to form words. Her hand snaked out and pulled the hem of his polo from his waistband, and she eagerly slid her hands underneath. His skin was hot against hers, and she ached to feel every inch of him pressed against her. She pushed the material of the shirt higher and he reached behind his head to draw it up and off, then dropped it to the floor at her feet.

  She silently perused him, the need for words superfluous. The language between their bodies was all the communication they needed. She stretched out her arms and laid her palms on his chest, tracing the contours of the thick muscles over his pecs and down his ribs. He shuddered slightly under her touch as her hands moved to his waistband and slipped the belt free of its buckle before popping the button fly on his black TDUs. Blake stood motionless—watching her, allowing her to take control—and power rushed through her. She shoved the pants down his legs and he stood gloriously naked in front of her, a wall of solid muscle.

  A smile tipped up the corners of her mouth as she placed a hand in the middle of his chest and pushed him backward onto the bed. He allowed himself to fall but pulled her with him, drawing her up the length of his body. His mouth found hers and she gave in to the passion of his kiss, letting it sweep her far away from reality. Blake’s fingers delved into her hair and it tumbled down around them as he pulled the pins free, shrouding them like a silken curtain. She lifted her head, and her eyes roved Blake’s face, absorbing each tiny detail and committing it to memory. Passion rocketed through her body as his hands slid down her back and settled at the flare of her hips.

  A sudden heat overwhelmed her, and she sat up abruptly, already tugging at her clothes. She fisted her hands in the hem of her shirt and drew it up her body and over her head. Blake’s hands followed the fabric, gliding over the exposed skin of her stomach. His touch scorched her as he ventured upward and cupped her breasts in his large palms. His hands followed the band around to her back and unhooked the clasp of her bra, then drew the straps down her arms. She pulled her arms free and tossed flung it to the side, not caring where it landed. Her head fell back on a silent moan as the coarse pads of his thumbs brushed the sensitive peaks.

  He rolled her under him, mouth locked on hers, and his fingers deftly popped the snap on her jeans. Hooking his fingers in the waistband, he drew them down her legs and dropped them to the floor. He kissed his way down her body, tongue darting out to taste her, and she arched off the bed. Her body burned with need, and she shifted restlessly beneath him.

  His eyes dropped to the tiny scrap of lace hugging her hips and a slow smile spread over his face. Dipping his head, he nipped at her, catching the fabric between his teeth and drawing it down her legs. With a soft whisper, her panties were added to the ever-growing pile of clothes beside the bed. His gaze skated over her body before meeting her eyes again, and she was filled with an overwhelming need to feel him against her. She pulled on his shoulders, bringing him back up to her, and she kissed him with wild abandon. The hair of his beard tickled her lips and cheeks, and she smiled against his lips. He pulled back to study her, his eyebrows drawing together, and she couldn’t contain the grin that spread over her face. He rolled to his back when she gave him a playful shove, and she perused his body for a moment before shyly straddling his waist.

  She’d wanted to do this before but hadn’t had the nerve. They’d made love several times over the last few nights, but it had been tentative and sweet, Blake taking extra care to make sure he wasn’t hurting her. Once she’d gotten over the initial pain and soreness, she was eager to explore. Lifting up on her knees, she positioned herself over him and slid onto his waiting cock. Blake grimaced as she enveloped him and she froze in place, afraid she’d hurt him.

  Blake opened his eyes and caught her stare. He fisted one hand in her hair, and his hips surged upward, urging her to continue. She braced herself against him chest and lifted herself up and down, the delicious friction igniting a fire deep within her. A scorching heat swept over her body, consuming in its intensity. She came on a silent scream, speckles of light dancing before her eyes as she hurtled over the edge. His cock swelled, and he came just moments later, holding her close to his chest and letting out a ragged groan as he emptied himself deep inside her.

  She nestled her nose against the crook of his neck, breathing in his masculine scent. One hand swept over her back and she snuggled closer.

  Blake turned his head to the side and brushed a kiss over her forehead. “You okay, sweetheart?”

  She tilted her head up and smiled. “Better than okay.” Her stomach rumbled and she let out a rueful laugh. “Sorry I messed up your dinner plans.”

  His arms tightened around her waist, his chin brushing her temple as he shook his head. “I’ll take this over dinner any day.”

  “I’ll bet you would,” she laughed, pushing herself to a sitting position. “But I’m kind of hungry now, too.”

  She slid from the bed and tugged on her robe, tying the sash tightly around her waist. Sticky wetness coated the inside of her thighs, and her face flamed. She’d been on birth control for years to regulate her period, but this was the f
irst time they’d made love without a condom. She knew Blake was clean—he’d told her so last week after they first made love. The pill wasn’t foolproof, though. What if, someday, she got pregnant? The thought of carrying a child—Blake’s child—was both terrifying and exhilarating.

  Her gaze darted to Blake who lay reclined on the bed, hands tucked behind his head, a vague smile on his face as he watched her every move.

  Her cheeks burned with embarrassment. “Stop looking at me like that.”

  “Like what?” His expression was the epitome of innocence, and she rolled her eyes.

  “That. You examine me like some specimen under a microscope.”

  He lifted one shoulder. “I like looking at you.” He rolled off the bed and stood nude in front of her. “Are you okay with that?”

  She nodded jerkily, her gaze fixed on his chest. She watched as his hand lifted and hooked beneath her chin, raising her eyes to meet his own.

  “In fact, seeing you like this makes me hungry for a hell of a lot more than the salmon I picked up for dinner.” She sucked in a quick breath, swaying slightly toward him, and he chuckled. “C’mon, babe. Let’s get some food first. We’ll need the energy.”

  He tugged on his clothes and followed her downstairs to the kitchen. “Not sure how this is going to taste now,” he warned. “I hope it won’t be too bad reheated.”

  She glanced toward the table and saw the jar candle flickering softly, surrounded by her good china. A single rose lay on her plate. “Looks like you had this all planned out. Sorry I ruined it.”

  “Hey.” He closed the oven and pulled her into his arms. “No apologies. I just wanted to do something nice for you. You deserve it.”

  She melted against him as he brushed a kiss over her lips. After today’s argument with Johnathan, she needed the physical reassurance from Blake. There was no way he could be as bad as Johnathan said.

  Blake released her with a wink. “I have to admit, though, I did have an ulterior motive.”