HIS Choice (H.I.S. #2)

by Sheila Kell

  She rubbed her wrists. “Thank you.”

  Rushing into the grungy bathroom, she closed and locked the door. A strong urine smell knocked her back. She pinched her burning nose. Why couldn’t men aim in the toilet?

  She looked around. Dang it all to hell and back! No window.

  At least she could find a weapon of some sort. Maybe a razor blade to cut the ropes. Her hope skipped at the empty medicine chest.

  She took advantage of the bathroom break. Who knew when she’d have another one? There wasn’t even soap to wash her hands or towels to dry them.

  The rapping on the door startled her. “Long enough.”

  She could rush him. He wouldn’t be prepared for that. She opened the door and put everything she had into it. All she did was bounce off of him. He roughly grabbed her arms.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  She let out an exasperated sigh of despair. This had possibly been her last chance before AJ walked into their trap while attempting to rescue her.

  He shoved her back to the chair and proceeded to cuff and tie her up.

  “How long are you going to keep me here?” Could she never shut off her need to ask questions? No. It calmed her, centered her. Something she needed. Besides, it’s not like it’d hurt any. They planned to kill her anyway. Maybe she’d learn something that could aid in escape.

  “Don’t know. You have to ask Alex. This is his party.”

  “So, Alex is your boss?” Could she create dissention amongst the ranks? If she did, she’d try to sway him to her side so he’d release her.

  He chuckled. “Naw. I’m just helping out.”

  “Why are you helping him?”

  Her babysitter studied her intently. “You’re that journalist aren’t you?”

  She nodded. “That’s me. What do you do for Magic Shop?”

  He leered at her. “None of your business.”

  “Have you ever met the Magician?”

  He shook his head. “Of course not. I’m not important enough.”

  “Doesn’t that bother you? Not knowing who you work for?”

  “I work for Jimmy. That’s who I work for. The rest are just names.”

  Ah ha. Another dealer. “Jimmy let you off the street to watch me?”

  He smiled. “You’re smart. Nah, Jimmy doesn’t know I’m here. Alex wouldn’t get to be in charge if he did.”

  So much for gaining his assistance. They would kill her after AJ exchanged himself for her. No, he’d rescue her, not give in. He’d know they lied about letting her live. She had to keep telling herself that. It didn’t stop her from trying to work the knot on the back of the chair. Dumbass tied it right by her hands making it easier to grab.

  * * * * *

  AJ returned to an empty room. Horrible possibilities of what happened to Megan flooded his mind. They all ended with him holding her, blood running through his hands, watching her gasp her last breath.

  He had to find her.

  Dammit! It’d taken him longer to get back than he’d planned. He had no idea how long she’d been gone.

  With fear expanding in his chest, he answered the ringing burner phone.

  “It’s Javier.”

  “What do you have for me?” Javier Marshall was his informant that had found the safe houses for escaped convicts. Although he hadn’t been aware of their purpose.

  “There’s talk on the street to get a message to you. They’ve got your girl.”

  AJ breathed a sigh of relief. She’s alive. He curled and uncurled his fist in his empty hand. “What’s the rest of the message?”

  “Harrison House.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Something about her fate’s in your hands.”

  “Thanks, man.” He ended the call and hurled the phone across the room barely registering it smashing into small pieces.

  Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

  Pinching the bridge of his nose between his shaking thumb and forefinger, he dropped his head and took a deep breath. He had to calm down so he could think rationally. He wouldn’t turn himself over to them because they still wouldn’t release her. His only hope was that she remained alive until he rescued her.

  He closed his eyes and developed a plan. He wouldn’t rush in unprepared. Surveillance time. He would save her. He’d promised to keep her alive. He needed her alive.

  AJ suited up in black cargo pants, a black turtleneck sweater and his tactical vest then picked up the black bag of toys he’d brought back with him.

  Even though it was only a few blocks, he drove the Buick he’d stolen earlier to better conceal himself while he observed Harrison House, a piece of shit house on an almost deserted street.

  They’d expect him to attempt a rescue so he’d have to be smarter. This actually wouldn’t be too hard with the nimrod enforcers.

  The street was lined with cars, but not many people traversed up and down it. The bright sun, uninhibited by clouds, melted most of the snow from the sidewalks. The sound of crunching snow under his boots could be a problem.

  Searching for the best path, AJ caught Trey leaving the house with a heated look on his face. Alex must be leading the show and not sharing the credit with his partner.

  Surprisingly Damian never showed.

  AJ had seen no one else coming or going so he had no idea how many people were already in the house, how many he’d be up against. No matter. He’d take care of as many as he needed to get his little dove back. He rubbed his hand over his left breast.

  He couldn’t examine his feelings for her at the moment.

  He settled in for the long wait.

  Dusk turned to darkness. He’d go in when they were most likely sleeping. They’d best not have harmed her or put their hands on her. She was his.

  A tall man with a hood pulled over his face walked toward him. He turned off the dome light and unlocked the car.

  “It’s about time you made it.”

  “I’m sorry we weren’t here to keep her out of trouble.”

  His heart felt for his brother. Jesse had placed all of the blame on himself when it belonged on AJ’s shoulders.

  “Don’t worry. It wasn’t your responsibility. What’ve you got?”

  “There’s too much information about you on the street.”

  Damn GPS. Too many people saw him.

  “Devon thinks he’s found most of the money. It’s just a matter of whatever the hell he does to find out who owns it. He said he didn’t need much more time. That’s how confident he was about it.”

  AJ nodded. “Good. Dev will come through. Anything on Jake?”

  “No. Speaking of brothers,” Jesse cleared his throat, “I told the twins, and they’re on their way home, pissed at you.”

  AJ shrugged. “They’ll get over it.” He constantly pissed his brothers off or disappointed them in one way or another. How would this be any different?

  “Those two?” His brother chuckled. “Are we talking about the same Matt and Brad?”

  AJ nodded to the house. “I don’t think Alex or Trey told anyone she’s here. There aren’t enough men waiting for me.”

  “I’m here for backup.”

  He shook his head. “No, Jess. This will be easy.” Plus, he couldn’t put his family in any more danger.

  * * * * *

  Alex returned with a bulky man Megan recognized as Trey, the final enforcer if AJ had been correct. She’d estimate him in his early twenties, tall with broad shoulders. This group was younger than she’d imagined would be charged with murdering people for a crime boss.

  The two men argued over her still being alive. Trey said there was no reason to keep her alive as AJ would turn himself over to them in hopes of saving her. Thank goodness Alex didn’t want her dead yet.

  Her heart twisted. He kept her ali
ve so AJ would be forced to watch her die. Trey called Alex stupid and stormed out of the house. They didn’t know it, but AJ would rescue her, not fall into their stupid plan.

  At around dinnertime two men arrived with bags of food. They ate hamburgers and French fries in front of her. Once they’d finished, Alex and Jermaine left.

  So the two new guys were the night shift. They weren’t a chatty lot. She couldn’t even get their names out of them. At least, they untied her and let her eat.

  Stuck in the chair for the night, she gritted her teeth at how comfortable they looked lounging in the chair and on the couch.

  Eventually she heard snoring from the man on the couch. The man in the chair sat wide awake, blindly changing channels on the small television.

  She kept nodding off, jerking awake every time her head dropped to her chest. She had to stay awake. AJ would come. It would be tonight. He wouldn’t leave her here.

  Her head fell to her chest. She didn’t wake this time.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Based on the number of men that trekked in and out of the house, there were at least two men with Megan. Two were easy. If all went well, no one would get hurt, and AJ would have her back.

  He reached into the bag and retrieved a lock pick kit and a few other items. The beating of his heart sky-rocketed. He took two slow, deep breaths to calm it.

  No more waiting.

  The empty, quiet street greeted him. He’d witnessed Alex setting his trap which consisted of him hiding around the corner. Idiot.

  AJ planned his path to avoid the pockets of snow and any possible noise. Ducking down, staying behind the line of cars, he made his way, slowly, to the enforcer hoping Trey hadn’t decided to set his own trap.

  He peered around the corner. Are you fucking kidding me? A hooker hitting on Alex?

  “Get the fuck out of here. I’m busy.” The man’s angry voice floated to AJ.

  “Come on, baby. I need one trick tonight, or I’m in big trouble. We can do a quickie, right here against the wall.”

  Glancing around the corner again, AJ considered his options, but then realized the woman looked familiar.

  Alex howled, convulsed and dropped to the ground.

  AJ walked around the corner. “Why hello, Kate.”

  She threw her hands on her hips. “What’s this I hear you planned to do this alone?”

  “Now’s not the time.” He removed Alex’s weapons and cell phone, dropping them in a pocket of his cargo pants.

  At the unmistakable metal-v-metal sound of a bullet sliding into the chamber of a handgun, he swung around. “Kate, you are not…”

  “Hands up, you two.”

  His heart skipped a beat. Fuck! Trey.

  The clatter of both tasers bouncing on the sidewalk pushed a sense of foreboding through AJ’s veins. Dammit. He should’ve expected this asshole, no matter his demeanor when he’d left earlier.

  “The Magician is going to be happy with me for catching you and the girl. Who’s this?” He tilted his head to Kate.

  “Look man. I just came here for some action and this yahoo tried to get me like he did the other guy.” She lipped her lips seductively. “I only pulled mine in self-defense. Can I go now? I have to find a John tonight.”

  “Turn real slow and head around the corner. Don’t tempt me. I’m low enough to put a bullet in your back.”

  AJ faced him, shadows playing across the man’s face. “Why can’t you let her go? She’ll run and no one will ever hear from her again.” Where the fuck is Jesse? He would never let Kate do this alone.

  Trey laughed. “You expect me to fucking believe that?”

  AJ could take him, but the bullet in the chamber could end up in Kate. The enforcer planned to kill him anyway. He’d put himself between the gun and Kate. He wouldn’t go down without a fight.

  He shifted his weight, preparing to spring when Trey jerked and screamed.

  He dropped to the ground, and Jesse appeared from the darkness. “I love these things. Dev had been right to add them to our kits.” He grinned, holding a taser. “Much quieter than gunfire.”

  Kate narrowed her eyes. “Where the hell have you been?”

  His brother reached for his wife. “Sweetheart, you know I had to hide around the block.”

  Their lips touched briefly and the slight pull in his heart brought Megan’s face to the forefront of his mind.

  “Thanks, Jess.” There weren’t enough words to thank his brother for saving his life. This time he’d freely admit he’d needed him and, sure enough, Jesse had been there.

  “Well, we figured you’d need backup, no matter what you said.”

  Alex moaned and moved.

  Kate dropped a knee in his back and removed flex-cuffs from her jacket pocket. “I’ve got these two. Go ahead. I’ll be along shortly.”

  AJ smiled. His old partner hadn’t lost her touch. He nodded and the two men cautiously turned the corner. Good Lord, Alex was more than an idiot. He’d either left the front light off at the house, or it didn’t have a light bulb.

  AJ slipped up the stairs, and Jesse turned to face the street. He put his ear to the door. Blessed silence. At three in the morning, he’d expected nothing less.

  Someone having his back stopped the slight trembling of his hands, as he went to work on the lock. In less than thirty seconds, he’d silently opened the door six inches.

  Peering in, he made a sweep of the room. The two guards slept in the living room to his right. A soft glow of the television illuminated the area with the sound of porn filling the air. He turned and gestured to Jesse using hand signals his brothers had taught him from their time in Special Forces.

  Quietly sliding into the house, he searched for Megan. She sat on his left, tied to a chair, her chin on her chest. Even in the dim light, the darkening bruise across her cheek was visible. His blood boiled. He wanted to kill the bastards but immediately tamped down his anger. He needed control.

  He pulled weapons from his pocket and soundlessly moved to the living room where he angled himself between the two men, raised both arms and pushed the buttons on two tasers.

  Both men jumped. He only needed them out of commission for a short period of time.

  * * * * *

  Megan jerked awake to a man’s scream, a high pitched, almost feminine sound. Her heart pounded. Oh God. What’s happening?

  She searched the room, and her gaze locked on AJ. Her fierce warrior aimed something at her babysitters. He came for her like she knew he would.

  Jesse entered with a handgun and moved swiftly through the house.

  When her baby-sitters stopped twitching, her hero disarmed each of them, flipped one and cuffed him before searching their pockets. Kate slipped in and did the same to the other man. His brother returned to the room, nodded and moved to the door.

  AJ rushed to her and dropped to his knees. His right hand cupped her cheek, his thumb lightly caressing it. Tingling in her muscles flowed from his touch all of the way to her toes.

  “Are you all right, my little dove?” he asked in a strained voice.

  “I knew you’d come for me.” She smiled at him, love and gratitude for him surged inside of her. Yes, she’d actually fallen in love with him. She probably had been for a while, but this solidified it. After all they had been through, even with his undercover lie, she trusted him wholeheartedly. He wouldn’t cheat on her. He’d love and cherish her and their children. They both worked odd hours so they’d have to figure out something with their jobs when they had little ones.

  His job. Could she deal with him living like this? Going undercover and risking his life on a daily basis? A shiver drilled down her spine. She’d rather be with him than without. He’d explained to her the danger in the business his brothers owned. Maybe Kate could help her. If nothing else, she’d find out how she held herself
together when her husband went on a job.

  Great plan. When to speak with her was another matter altogether.

  He cut the ropes tying her to the chair. “There’s no way I’d leave you with these bastards.” He pulled something from the pocket he’d added the items from her babysitters. The click of handcuffs unlocking put her into action.

  She rose and launched herself into his arms, squeezing tight.

  After a minute, he pulled back, tipped her chin up and examined her cheek. “Who hurt you, my little dove?” he asked softly.

  The emotions in his eyes flickered from concern to anger. “Alex hit me when I wouldn’t tell him where you were.”

  He leaned down and brushed a light kiss on her cheek.

  “It’s time for you to leave,” Jesse stated.

  “I owe you.”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll collect.”

  “Let’s move.” AJ took her hand and led her out of her temporary prison. He hustled her down the street to a beat up Buick. She didn’t even question the new car. Didn’t care as long as it helped them escape.

  “Get in. We don’t have time to waste.”

  “Thank you.” The words, I love you, stuck in her throat.

  He reached over and took her hand in his. “Anything for you.” He threaded his fingers through hers and held tight.

  * * * * *

  They entered the new room AJ had rented, hoping he and Megan wouldn’t have to move again.

  Reaching out, he crushed her against him. The adrenaline still hot in his veins battled the surge of relief that he’d rescued her. He needed her. Needed to feel that she was truly alive.

  After her experience, what she’d need was him to soothe her, calm her fears and reassure her that he’d protect her with everything he had.

  Instead, his mouth swooped down on hers, possessively, demanding. A rumbling groan erupted from deep within, their kiss now a brutal clash of lips and tongues.

  His manhood burned to be inside her. Deeper than ever before. And he needed her now.

  He impatiently tugged at her zipper.