Naked Vengeance

by Sophia Rae

  “How dare you say that to me? Do you think I haven’t thought of this poor child? Do you think I haven’t thought of the fact if I am pregnant I have absolutely nothing to offer a baby? I don’t even have a real job anymore and, thanks to you, I don’t even have the fake job.”

  Nick held his ground. “I won’t apologize for what I did.”

  “You might not apologize to me, but you will go back to the club tomorrow and apologize to Hank and tell him you were drunk, high or just plain stupid. I don’t care. I will finish what I started. I’ve come too far, Nick. I’ve sacrificed too much to give up now.”

  Nick grabbed her by the arms. “Don’t you think your father would want you to back off if there’s a chance you’re carrying a child?”

  “How would you know what my father wanted?” she retorted.

  The lie came too easily to Nick. “I wouldn’t, but I can’t imagine any parent wanting their child in danger if they can help it.”

  Tears formed in her eyes. “I’m doing this for my father. Don’t you get it? Yes, I care about those girls, but all this started because he knew something illegal was going on. Nobody had gone missing when he was on the case, but he knew someone was running an illegal prostitution ring out of that club.

  “The stakes are just higher now that women are missing. There’s more to fight for.”

  “Then let me and Grady and the FBI handle it,” Nick begged. “That Max guy I told you about has somehow gained entrance to Roman’s estate. That access alone could blow this case wide open.”

  Eve swatted at a tear as it trickled down her pale cheek. “Fine. I can finish this on my own, I started that way.”

  Guilt lay heavy on Nick’s heart. He wanted to tell her about the night her father died. He wanted her to know he was supposed to help, but he’d been sidetracked by one of “Roman’s girls”. Of course, at the time, he didn’t know Roman was in charge.

  “If you want to help Grady, there’s the door.” Eve thumbed behind her.

  He glanced at the door, then back at Eve, who didn’t bother to wipe away the steady stream of tears.

  She’d finally done it. She’d finally broken down and he had no one to blame but himself. He’d officially shattered her.

  “I don’t want you hurt anymore,” he whispered. “Don’t you get it?”

  “Don’t you see that it would be worth it to me to get hurt, even die, if I knew my father’s murderer got what was coming to him?”

  Nick exploded. “Why do you have such devotion to him? He hadn’t seen you in five years and all of a sudden you want to die for this man.”

  She cocked her head to the side. “How did you know I hadn’t seen him in five years?”

  Shit. “You told me.”

  “I don’t remember telling you.”

  “Then Grady did,” he said quickly. “I don’t know where I heard it, the point is I don’t want you involved here anymore.”

  Eve crossed her arms over her chest. “It’s too bad you don’t have say-so over my life. I will do this, with or without you. I think you know me well enough by now to know I won’t back down.”

  That was the bitch of it. She would not stop until the end. Hadn’t Grady told him that in the beginning? At the time Nick hadn’t cared…now he cared too much.

  “So, what will it be?” she asked. “Are you in it with me or are you going to work with Grady on your own?”

  “What if I tell Grady you could be pregnant?”

  Eve threw her arms in the air and crossed to the door, yanking it open. “Get out. Just get out and don’t come back. If you can’t have an adult conversation without acting like a tattling toddler, then just get the hell away from me.”

  Tear tracks stained her cheeks; her eyes, however, were dry and full of anger.

  Slowly, Nick moved toward her. He took Eve’s hand from the knob and shut the door, securing it with the chain. With his hands on her shoulders, he eased her back against the door.

  “Look at me,” he whispered, inches from her face. “Look me in the eye and tell me what you see.”

  Her damp eyes came up to his and softened. She immediately looked down to his chest.

  “You saw it, didn’t you?” he asked.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Nick cupped her chin and tilted her face up. “Yes, you do. You’re not a coward, Eve. Tell me what you saw.”

  “No.”

  “I see it in your eyes, too.” He moved his hand along her cheek, rubbing her smooth skin with his thumb. “When you don’t think I’m paying attention, I’ve seen it. I know you don’t want to admit it, maybe you haven’t even admitted it to yourself, but I know the feelings are there.”

  “Don’t tell me what I feel,” she pleaded.

  Nick trailed his fingers along her slender neck, along the curve of her tank. “Fine, I’ll tell you what I feel. I care about you more than any other woman I’ve ever known. I’ve never felt this need to protect someone and strangle someone all at the same time. If that’s love, then I guess I’m in love with you.”

  Tears welled in her eyes, spilling over. The warm wetness tickled his hand.

  “Don’t tell me that just because you think I’m pregnant,” she cried. “I don’t want pity love.”

  Nick seized her trembling lips with his. The familiar mouth opened to him with a warm welcome touch, only now it was different. This woman actually held the purpose of his life, baby or no baby.

  When her body relaxed into his, Nick wrapped his arms around her and moved away from the door. He walked backwards, never breaking contact with her.

  The back of his knees hit the edge of the bed and he pulled back slightly.

  “Let me make love to you, Eve.”

  “Yes,” she moaned, her eyes still closed.

  “Tell me first.”

  Her lids fluttered open. “Tell you what?”

  “How you feel.”

  An easy smile formed on her swollen, pink lips. “I love you, Nick.”

  Nothing had ever made him feel more like a man than those sweet words from Eve’s lips.

  He reclaimed her mouth as he sat down on the bed. Her legs came around to straddle his thighs, her arms encircled his neck. At this moment, Nick couldn’t think of anything better than being enveloped by Eve’s tempting body, knowing in a matter of minutes he would feel her skin against his.

  Eve moaned as she wiggled against him. Her rounded breasts raked against his chest, causing his cock to twitch with anticipation.

  She broke from the kiss long enough to pull her tank over her head. When she came back to his lips, Nick took it upon himself to unhook her bra and free the mounds his hands ached to touch.

  Another groan escaped her lips as Nick rubbed her pebbled nipples. One second he had his hands where he wanted them, the next second they were empty.

  Eve jumped off his lap and made quick work of the snap and zipper on her jean shorts. Not one to waste a prime opportunity, Nick stood before her and did the same.

  Within moments they were both naked, panting and falling back onto the bed, laughing. Hands roamed, mouths savaged.

  Nick took his time with her, wanting this moment to last. Wanting their first time “making love” to be more than just sex.

  Eve followed Nick’s lead. With the lights still on, he could savor each part of her perfect body. The curve of her hip, the swell of her breast, smooth legs that led to dainty feet.

  Each part of Eve deserved to be treasured. Nick did just that all through the night. In return, she showed him her feelings, using no words at all.

  The look in her eyes, the touch of her hand across his heated skin; it all came together in such a way, Nick knew this woman would be in his life for a long time to come.

  Funny how that realization didn’t scare him anymore.

  ***

  Allison whirled around when the bedroom door opened. She’d been daydreaming as she looked out the French doors, wondering if she would truly ex
perience fresh air again or feel a soft breeze across her face.

  Now her heartbeat quickened when Max stepped through the doorway. Once inside, he smiled at her as he clicked the lock into place.

  “How are you?” he asked.

  Allison still couldn’t believe this guy actually existed. He was simply beautiful, not to mention a true gentleman. He’d made good on his promise and visited. With today being the second day, she hoped it would be her last in this hellhole.

  “I’m fine,” she replied.

  Max took cautious steps toward her, never taking his eyes off her face. “You look tired. Is everything okay? Other than the obvious.”

  Allison nodded. “I just want all this to be over.”

  “Me, too.”

  When he came to stand within inches of her, Allison had to look up to see his handsome face. A woman could get lost in those innocent baby blues. If that didn’t get her, his soft, good ol’ boy smile would.

  “I feel like this is a dream,” she murmured.

  “Why is that?”

  She studied his face. He seemed so interested in her. Not her boobs or the rest of her curvy body, but her. The sincerity in his voice almost brought her to tears.

  Could this guy really care what happened to her?

  “I’m afraid I’ll wake up and you’ll be gone,” she replied. “I’m scared I’ll be stuck here forever…or worse. I’ll be sold and no one will find me.”

  “You will get out of here, Allison. It won’t be long now.”

  She offered him a warm smile, knowing he wouldn’t lie to her. For some reason, she trusted him. Trust had never come easy to her, but this guy had hers one hundred percent.

  She trusted the look in his eyes. She trusted the warmth of his smile. Most of all, she trusted each word that slid from his mouth.

  She jumped when Max’s fingers trailed up her arm.

  “What’s this?” he asked, bending down to look closer.

  Allison closed her eyes for a second, humiliated. “Bruises.”

  Those soft eyes turned hard as ice as they lifted back to her face. “From what?”

  She shrugged. “It’s no big deal. They’re just small bruises.”

  “They look like fingerprints,” he said between gritted teeth.

  Allison turned back around to look out the French doors again. Why did this nice man have to witness the most shameful part of her life?

  “Did Roman do this?”

  Without turning around, she nodded. “Sometimes he gets a little rough.”

  “This has happened before?”

  “Yeah,” Allison whispered, on the verge of tears.

  The sexual torture and disgrace she’d been put through was not a topic of conversation she wanted to discuss. She wanted to forget it had happened. All of it.

  She wanted her life back. No matter how bad she’d thought her life was before, she’d take it back in a heartbeat in exchange for this living nightmare.

  “Has he done more than bruise you?”

  Allison turned back to him as she willed her tears away. “Max, don’t.”

  Concern etched each and every feature of his face. His brows drew together, his lips thinned, jaw clenched.

  “Don’t pity me,” she demanded. “I couldn’t stand it. Just help me get out.”

  Max nodded, swallowed. “I’ll do more than that. I’ll kill him if he puts his fucking hands on you again.”

  Allison’s heart swelled at his declaration. The tone of his voice held truth and promises. She had no doubt he would follow through on the threat.

  In an answer to her earlier question… Yes, he did care about what happened to her.

  Why?

  ***

  Nick sat at the foot of the bed; across from him, Grady leaned against the wall. With Eve in the shower, and out of earshot, Nick had to talk quick.

  “I don’t think she should be doing this anymore,” Nick stressed for the umpteenth time.

  Grady shook his head. “Look, I can see your personal feelings are getting in the way, but I can assure you, she can handle herself.”

  “What makes you so sure?”

  “Trust me.”

  Nick sighed. “If anything happens to her, you’re responsible.”

  “Nothing will happen to her,” Grady said.

  “Can you tell me what happened to her parents? Did she ever tell you why they split?”

  Grady shrugged. “Did she say anything?”

  “No, I haven’t asked. I’m just trying to figure out why she feels the need to please her father when he’s dead. She talks about always wanting him to be proud of her.”

  Grady nodded as if he understood. “That’s true. I knew Eve when her father was still alive. She…made some choices he wasn’t happy with when she became an independent adult. Certain dreams of hers were not the same ones Roger had for his only little girl.”

  Nick rested his palms on his knees. “Like what?”

  “She can tell you that. All I know is Roger and his ex split up when Eve was little. Eve’s mom had a problem with alcohol and a string of boyfriends. For some unknown reason, the judge in the custody case gave the mom full rights and Roger had very few.

  “The fact he was a cop didn’t carry much weight. To my understanding, Roger left Virginia and moved down here. He joined the force and tried to start a new life. He tried on several occasions to gain custody of Eve.”

  Nick couldn’t imagine an innocent Eve being tossed about between feuding parents and court dates.

  “When Eve turned eighteen,” Grady continued, “she came to visit her father. She told him what she intended to do with her life. He wasn’t happy, they argued quite a bit. Eve always wanted to be with her father, but her mother wouldn’t bring her down here. The way I was told, Eve asked to live with him, but it never happened.”

  “What on earth did Eve want to do that was so upsetting to Roger?”

  Grady hesitated. “It’s not my place to say.”

  “I only worked with him a couple of months,” Nick said. “He mentioned he had a daughter, but that was it. He said they hadn’t spoken in a long time, but that he wanted to make up with her.”

  Grady shoved his hands in his black trousers. “He would’ve, too. Roger was a good guy.”

  Nick nodded. He’d gotten that impression in the short time he and Roger had worked together. The man had been a tough cop, a perfectionist when it came to the job. He went above and beyond his duties. In the end, it had cost him his life.

  “You’re going to have to tell her sometime,” Grady said.

  “I know.”

  “Soon.”

  Nick sighed, dropping his head between his hunched shoulders. “How do I tell her? How can I tell the woman I’ve fallen in love with that it was my fault her father died?”

  “What?”

  Nick’s head jerked back up at Eve’s soft, shocked voice. She stood just outside the bathroom, wearing a pair of gray cotton shorts and a white tank. Her damp hair clung to her porcelain skin. It reminded him of the time he’d broken into her apartment.

  “Eve,” Nick said coming to his feet.

  She held up a hand. “Did you say it was your fault my father died?”

  Grady pushed off the wall. “I’m going to go make a call.”

  Neither Nick nor Eve noticed their friend slip out the door.

  “Nick?”

  “Sit down, Eve.”

  He motioned to the bed, but she didn’t budge. God, he’d put that look in her eyes again. Mistrust, anger, fear, resentment. Loneliness.

  Dammit, why did he continue to hurt the woman he claimed to love so much?

  “I knew your father,” Nick began.

  Eve leaned against the wall, he assumed for support. Her face held questions only he could answer, but he feared the truth would drive her out of his arms for good.

  “Grady and I were in the Marines together. He was just leaving as I was coming in, but we bonded quickly. When he left, he joined t
he FBI. After I served a few years, I became a cop, but that didn’t last long. I wanted to be my own boss, so I started working for myself as a bodyguard, private investigator, snitch. You name it.”

  Nick shoved his hands into his denim pockets. It was either that or grab Eve and beg her forgiveness before he even got to the end of his sad, pathetic story.

  “Grady and your father had worked together some on training assignments at Quantico.”

  Eve nodded. “My father went through the academy, but decided he wanted to be a cop instead. I have no idea why.”

  “Well, when the time came for Roger to work this prostitution thing, there were no girls missing. But we knew the owner, who we now know is Roman, was practically selling girls out of the back room for a ton of money.”

  Eve finally made a move to sit on the bed. She didn’t, however, look him in the eye. Not once since he’d started his story.

  “I got a call from Roger telling me he and his partner were going to the club. They thought they could get enough information to bust it. I was on my way, but I got sidetracked.”

  God, this was the tough part.

  Nick leaned against the wall opposite Eve and looked down at her while he spoke. He’d give anything if she’d just look up at him.

  “I was getting ready to go into the club when a dancer came out. She approached me, tried to get me to take her somewhere so she could show me a good time. She said I didn’t have to pay her so long as her boss didn’t find out.”

  Nick watched as Eve picked at her fingernails.

  “She was all over me, and I hate admitting this, but I wasn’t exactly turning her away. I knew I was there for a sting, but I thought I could get some information from this girl.

  “That’s when I heard shots in the back alley.”

  Eve’s hands came up to shield her face. When a sniffle escaped her, it felt as if someone had reached into his chest and squeezed his heart.

  “I ran around the side of the building,” Nick went on to explain. “The only thing I saw was Roger.”

  Red-rimmed eyes full of unshed tears looked up. “Was he already dead?”

  Shaking his head, he swallowed the lump in his throat. “No. I ran over to him. It was bad and I knew he wouldn’t make it. He kept trying to tell me something. Finally he said, ‘Rom’.”