Ruthless Bastard

by Kennedy, Stacey

  “Which, let me guess, are all incredibly successful?”

  Rhett nodded. “When you take out the competition, what else could happen?”

  “Dirty bastards,” Asher growled.

  Rhett rubbed at his eyes again. At the moment, he had no way forward, and he hated that, feeling the exhaustion settle in deep. He’d slept only four hours on the break room’s couch after Bernie left this morning, until the shift change woke him up. “Where’s Boone?” He should be there. This was his sister’s case, and ever since this afternoon, he’d vanished.

  “Had to go somewhere,” Asher said.

  “That somewhere has nothing to do with the Wild Dogs, right?” Rhett was on edge. He could only imagine how Boone felt.

  Asher shook his head. “He had to do something with Peyton. Not sure what, but for right now, things are stable. Go be with Kinsley, and we can start fresh in the morning. We don’t have a jumping gun to work off of. Everything’s in the works. We need to go home. We need to sleep.”

  Rhett agreed with a nod, feeling the heaviness of his eyelids. “Good plan.”

  He flicked off his monitor and rose, shoving his chair underneath his desk, as Asher said, “Besides, there’s something wrong about someone spending this much time working on their birthday.”

  “You know I hate my birthday,” Rhett commented.

  Asher snorted, rising. “Yeah, I know. Where’s Kinsley?”

  “Back at her place with Hank,” Rhett reported. “He’s waiting for me to pick her up.”

  “Better hurry,” Asher said with a sly smile. “We all know how much the chief likes waiting.”

  Asher headed for the door, and before Rhett could decide if he was making a mistake, he said, “I heard the baby’s heartbeat today.”

  Slowly, Asher turned around, eyebrows raised. “Did you?”

  “Yeah.”

  A long pause. “And how was that?”

  Rhett hesitated, trying to put into words what that moment had been like for him. He never thought he’d have children. He never wanted them. But something shifted at the sound of that steady heartbeat, a realization that maybe what Rhett had been missing were things he didn’t know existed. That strong, regular rhythm belonged to his child, a part of him. And when he looked at Kinsley, lying there, smiling so brightly, he hadn’t felt edgy; he’d felt completely solid and secure.

  At Rhett’s silence, Asher gave him a warm smile and offered, “The best birthday gift you ever could have got?”

  Of course, Asher had the words. “Yeah, buddy, exactly that.”

  Chapter 15

  A few minutes past seven that night, Kinsley slid the curtain aside and glanced out the window, finding her driveway still empty. If growing up around cops had taught her anything, it was not to let the job or the danger or anything else get in the way of important days. Because if you did, there would be no celebrations. Ever. Even when a case needed to be investigated and became top priority, it had to be put aside for a couple hours on special days. Family mattered. And Kinsley had learned a long time ago after her mother left, that no matter what, family, at times, had to come first.

  After her midwife appointment, she’d spent all day on the telephone, calling people she’d never met before. And all those people now stood in her living room. Out of any in their inner circle, she had the biggest space for parties, which was why they usually held them at her place. Rhett had a lot of military buddies, she’d come to discover. Boone told her about the guy who fixed her bar, and then she got more names after that. And even more names as the calls continued. Until suddenly her house was full of men.

  While she finished up preparing some food, she’d spent a good hour on the phone with Rhett’s mom. Obviously, he’d sprung the news on them today, and somehow that didn’t surprise her. Something had changed in him today. Some dark part lightened, became less heavy. Rhett’s mom wanted all the details, and by the end of the call, Kinsley was smiling ear to ear. His parents were excited. Rhett was happy. Maybe all this was actually going to work out.

  A light flashed by the window and she hurried to peek out again, finding Rhett’s truck now in the driveway. “Ooh, he’s here. Quiet.”

  The loud chatter behind her went silent.

  Sure, Rhett was going to hate this. He hated every birthday, but no one ever listened to his broodiness; they celebrated his birthday anyway. But this year was different, and she wanted it to feel different too. For him.

  The door suddenly swung open and Rhett walked in.

  “Surprise!” rang out in the room.

  Rhett dropped his head and shook it, but when he lifted his gaze again, it locked on Kinsley. The smile he gave her made her heart skip.

  “You’re lucky I didn’t shoot anyone,” he said to her, igniting laughter from his friends. He shoved his keys into his pocket and walked right up to her, grabbing her hand and tugging her close. “You behind this?”

  Those dark eyes were full of a warmth she never thought she’d reach. “Of course I am,” she said, leaning up and giving him a quick kiss. “But before you give me trouble, just know that I asked everyone to donate whatever they could to Sailor’s instead of buying you a present since I knew you’d prefer that.”

  Surprise widened his eyes. He glanced over her shoulder, probably at Theo before looking at her again. Warmth spiraled through her, touching places that she never really thought could be touched with Rhett around. “Thank you for that, Kinsley,” he said.

  “You’re welcome.” She smiled.

  He dropped his chin and kissed her again before backing away, but he kept her hand in his. She gave him a little shove toward his friends. “Now go have fun. I’ve got your favorite kind of whiskey.”

  He headed toward his friends, including Boone and Asher, and she glimpsed a different side of Rhett than the one she usually saw most days. He seemed lighter, freer, more comfortable, while they all congratulated him about the baby. It occurred to her then that this was Rhett not just surviving but living. The soldier. The friend. And a little part of her heart hurt, wishing he always felt this at ease.

  She sensed someone watching her and looked around to find Remy staring right at her. Kinsley smiled, trying to hide her emotions. Remy didn’t smile back. Instead, she came over as the guys around Rhett began razzing him with jokes and manly hugs.

  Remy said, “Men are so…”

  “Loud?” Kinsley offered.

  “Yeah, loud,” Remy agreed with a smile.

  Peyton brought her cake in from the kitchen and set it down on the table next to the cooler full of beers. Kinsley was sure that she’d tried to make a gun cake, but hilariously, it looked like a penis. “And rough,” Peyton added. “Why do they hug like that? It looks painful.”

  Kinsley fought her laughter. She couldn’t wait until Rhett saw the cake.

  Before she could think up a reply, there was a knock on the door. Kinsley answered it, expecting more of Rhett’s military buddies. Instead, she found six women, all of whom looked like they’d left a strip club to come there. None of them had winter coats on, holding them in their arms instead, showing off their perfect bodies, perfect breasts, perfect everything in their skintight minidresses.

  “Hey,” a stunning brunette with big blue eyes surrounded by dark makeup said. “Is this Rhett’s party?”

  “Um, yes,” Kinsley said. “Sorry, but who invited you?”

  “Hey, Suz,” one of Rhett’s military buddies called.

  Dammit. Not strippers. She had no reason to shut the door in their face.

  The woman gave Kinsley a quick grin, and then hastily ignored her, sauntering into the house with her friends in tow. Kinsley became their coat rack as the women handed her their outer garments. Then they were gone, on their gorgeous high heels, strutting toward the men.

  “Geeze, that was rude,” Peyton said, taking the coats from Kinsley. “I’ll put them in the kitchen.”

  “Okay, thanks.” Kinsley forced a smile.

  But
that smile died as the brunette threw her arms around Rhett from behind and hugged him very intimately. In such a way that it became very clear they had been together before. She followed that woman’s hand as she slowly ran it down his arm in a familiar way like she’d traced those muscles before. The lust-filled smile she gave him. The way her breast pressed against him when Rhett turned, his hand sliding over her back before dropping. Kinsley stared at his face as he realized Kinsley wasn’t the one hugging him.

  “You okay?”

  Kinsley’s stomach churned with hot jealousy. The same jealousy that she had felt every time she saw Rhett leaving with a woman. One that broke her every damn time. She forced another smile at Remy. “Yup, totally fine. You?”

  Remy gave her a lopsided smile. “I’m great, but I’m also not the one swallowing my emotions.”

  “It’s okay.” She glanced in Rhett’s direction again as he maneuvered his way out of the woman’s hold and stepped back. And yet the woman only looked more determined. It occurred to Kinsley in that moment that Rhett could, in fact, be with that woman if he wanted to. They weren’t exclusive. She actually didn’t know what they were doing. All of which seemed fine until she was presented with the reality that Rhett was gorgeous, and women wanted him. “I’m okay,” she repeated, not even believing herself.

  Remy’s eyes turned sad. “Okay, well, what can I help you with?”

  Kinsley needed to get out there. Just to breathe and not cry in front of everyone. Damn these pregnancy emotions. She forced her voice out from her tight throat. “Wanna start bringing out the food? I need to pee.”

  “Kinsley,” Remy said softly.

  She couldn’t reply. Her chin trembled as she turned away and booked it upstairs to the bathroom. She shut the door and locked it, dropping her head back against the wood, unable to stop the tears.

  A sudden knock came at the door. “Just a minute.”

  The knock came again. Remy could be persistent when she knew Kinsley was sad. She unlocked the door and opened it. “Remy, I—”

  Rhett arched an eyebrow. “No one should look that sad at a birthday party.”

  “I’m fine. I’m just pregnant and emotional.” She moved to the sink and turned on the tap, dabbing cold water onto her hot cheeks.

  Rhett shut and locked the bathroom door behind him then closed in at her back. He pressed his hands against the sink, trapping her. His chin rested on her shoulder. “Are you threatened by that woman downstairs?” he asked.

  “No,” Kinsley lied, staring at him through the mirror. “I’m just holding in my vomit from watching Ms. Perfect hanging off you.”

  His mouth twitched. “What would you rather I had done when she hugged me?”

  “Drop-kicked her,” Kinsley said. “You’re good at that. I’ve seen you.”

  He chuckled. “I’d go to jail for drop-kicking her.”

  Well, she didn’t want that. She drew in a long, deep breath, staring at him through the mirror. Hard. “Have you slept with her?”

  His expression went flat. He had his emotions very much in check. “Yes.”

  “Do you still want her?”

  “No.” His gaze fell to her lips through the mirror. “I want you.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You have to say that.”

  “Why?”

  “Because my knee is primed and ready to take you down to the ground, and you know it.”

  He laughed aloud now and took her by the hips, turning her toward him. He gave her a leveled look. “I guess I’ll have to show you then that you’re all I’m thinking about now. The only woman I want.” He thrust his fingers into her hair and his mouth sealed hers in a kiss that turned her head to mush.

  But then the kiss went to an entirely different place. His lips slid to her neck and he nipped at her flesh, proving he was only getting started. When he reached for the top of her stretchy maternity jeggings, she broke the kiss with a loud gasp. “Everyone is out there.”

  “You had better be quiet then,” he murmured against her nape, grabbing the jeggings and yanking. As he pulled them down, he went onto one knee.

  She looked down at him. “But—”

  “I want you, Kinsley.” He kissed the top of her thigh then grinned pure sex up at her. “Stop talking and let me have you.”

  Oh, dear Lord…her mind went blank to anything but the pleasure of the first stroke of his tongue against her hot flesh. The tickle he gave there, followed by the deep press against her clit. She shuddered, threading her hands into his hair, not caring about anything but having more. She tried to spread her legs, bringing him in deeper, but her jeggings held her ankles together, allowing only a little space between them. But in that space, Rhett had managed to slide a finger up inside her that began moving with his perfect licks against her sensitive skin.

  He flicked, swirled, nibbled, and sucked, and soon, she was gripping the edge of the sink, mindless to anything but him and the way he touched her so perfectly. Like he knew just how to make her body his. She was all but putty in his hands when she began moaning softly, grinding her hips into the pleasure.

  His finger moved faster, harder. His teeth gently hugged her clit while he sucked deeply, sending her up on her tiptoes. And with a final look down at Rhett between her legs, a fantasy she’d imagined for years, she dropped her head back and came against his mouth with a quiet shudder, only a soft moan spilling from her lips.

  When the shuddering eased, he slowly withdrew his fingers. She finally opened her eyes, finding Rhett’s wild with desire. “Just you, Kinsley,” he said, giving her inner thigh a kiss, then he pulled her jeggings up over her hips. “Only you.”

  * * *

  The screaming deafened Rhett’s ears. Fear and horror, the sound was one he’d never heard before. One he didn’t believe anyone should hear. Rhett moved swiftly through the warehouse and bodies dropped as he fired off rounds. “Clear to the south,” he said.

  “Clear to the west,” Matthews added.

  “Move east,” Elliott roared. “We’re under heavy fire.” The gunfire echoed through the warehouse that the CIA had discovered housed a chemical weapon.

  Rhett and the three men behind him turned, heading down the hallway. They’d studied this building. He knew in a few short minutes he’d get to Elliott’s location. A door to the right opened and an enemy appeared. Rhett squeezed the trigger of his assault weapon and the person fell. Rhett kept his breath steady, his stride quick but guarded. Two shots sounded behind him. Lester or Michaelson had handled the threats behind them.

  When they rounded the corner, Rhett spotted Elliott and his three-man team set up behind a wall, keeping safe from the rapid gunfire coming their way. Rhett shot out the window and then pulled the trigger, removing the danger to his men.

  “Breathe.”

  Rhett bolted upright, his heart hammering. Kinsley was on her knees next to him, gently placing her hand on his trembling shoulder.

  “Breathe, Rhett,” she repeated softly.

  Slowly, he exhaled, realizing that she’d turned on the lamp on the night table. Judging by the concern on her face, he must have been yelling in his dream.

  “Fuck,” he exclaimed, running his hands through his hair. He shifted to sit on the side of the bed, pressing his feet against the worn floor, grounding himself.

  Kinsley moved in closer and kissed his shoulder. Once…then again…and he felt the sweat slicking his flesh.

  Many minutes went by. Rhett’s heart was still beating fast, thundering in his ears. A run or a shower helped usually, but he couldn’t find the strength to get up and leave her.

  Apparently, she’d realized that. “Come lie with me,” she eventually said.

  He had to force himself to glance back at her over his shoulder. Why would anyone sign up for this? Men were supposed to be strong, not haunted with nightmares that woke them up in the middle of the night, obviously scaring those around them. And yet…and yet, there she was offering him a place to land.

  She p
ulled on his arm a little, her warmth calling to him. “Come. Please.”

  Needing her, he went then, and lay down on his back. She snuggled into him, resting her cheek against his heaving, sweaty chest, and he wrapped his arms around her tight. She pressed her hand to his heart, obviously feeling the thundering beat of his. He exhaled slowly, trying to calm down. Show her that he was fine. That she didn’t need to worry.

  “Can you tell me about the dream?”

  He shut his eyes. “You don’t want to hear about this shit.”

  Heady warmth filled the space, invading all his cold spots, and yet her voice firmed. “I’m strong enough to take this on. Please don’t insult me by thinking otherwise.”

  He shut his eyes, battling his way back from the dream. “It’s not about you being strong enough. It’s that I don’t want you to know this shit, Kinsley.”

  “But it’s you,” she said in an instant. “It’s what you went through.” She snuggled even closer, bringing all that warmth up against him, and said, “It won’t make me think different of you.”

  “It will,” he told her straight.

  She pushed up. “No, Rhett, it won’t.”

  He could feel her hard stare on him and was unsurprised when he opened his eyes to find the sternness in hers. Christ, her strength blew his mind. He gave her a little smile and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Always such a fierce warrior ready to take on any fight.”

  “Not any fight,” she countered. “This fight.”

  He felt her sweet affection sweep around him and settle into spots he thought long dead. He drew in a deep breath and blew it out slowly before he addressed her again. “You think my nightmares are the problem here, don’t you?”

  She cocked her head. “Aren’t they?”

  He waited for his chest to tighten, for his throat to squeeze, leaving him unable to voice his thoughts. But that’s not what happened. The words fell easily from his lips. “It’s when I wake up that I find hard.” She was frozen, unnaturally still, clearly absorbing each of his words as he went on. “When I dream, life is familiar. The rush. The missions I’m given. The hunt and the chase. I know that life. I live and breathe it. But when I wake up, in a comfortable bed, in warmth and safety, I don’t even know what I’m looking at anymore, and it’s jarring.”