Vegas Series: Six-book Boxed Set (Hot Romance & Powerful Suspense)

by Mimi Barbour

  Later that evening, after an emergency meeting for all staff, Cory ranted for those in his office who felt the same anger and disappointment revealed on his expressive face. No one minded his deafening tone. “I can’t believe that after all the time we’ve spent on this case, we’ve got zilch, nada, zero.”

  Ham kicked in sarcastically. “But don’t forget, Boss: we helped the Feds look good! That outta count for something.”

  “Fuck them! Let ‘em do their own work.”

  Aurora spoke up. “Yeah, well just so you know, they got Min Chang to give up what she’d gathered on her brothers and there’s enough there to put them away for a good long time.” Aurora had to add in her two cents. Somehow, it had made things a little better for her so maybe it would soothe the savage males.

  Kai sauntered into the room, a new bandage peeking out of the opened top buttons on his torn and bloody, blue plaid shirt. “I’ve rounded up the troops and told them to pass out the word. Lily’s still missing and we need to get organized.” He leaned his hip against Cory’s desk and turned to Aurora.

  “Did you call Big Mike? I couldn’t find his number.”

  She looked at him and noticed new pain lines on his unsmiling face. “I called in every marker I could think of.” She pushed her hair to the back and forced herself to let it go and not pull it out by the roots. Every normal sensation of foreboding had become heightened now. It wasn’t possible to shove it back anymore.

  Trepidation grew in her gut. She didn’t know how she could last another minute without visiting the bathroom once again to hurl. Leaning forward in her chair, she held her face in hands and hoped no one else saw them trembling.

  Ham cleared his throat and then added, “I put Lily’s photograph out over every media outlet I could think of. Plus, her kidnapping is on all the radio stations. We’ve alerted law enforcement agencies so they’ll all start investigations in their areas. Everyone is talking about our precious little angel.”

  Kai slapped his hands on his knees adding, “And all the crazies will be calling in with wild stories from alien abduction to psychics who’ve had some kind of weird epiphany. A story like this just stirs them up.”

  Cory piped up. “Whatever! Follow up on every one of them. We know that the woman who took Lily most likely still has her. Since she apparently didn’t work for the Chang-Lee’s, it’s reasonable to assume that she has other reasons for wanting the child, maybe personal ones.”

  Ham added. “Considering all the media flashing Lily’s photo everywhere, this chick must be smart enough to pass under the radar.”

  Aurora knew that many of the missing children who disappeared without a trace were probably taken by ordinary individuals. They got away with their crime because of that very ordinariness.

  Her memories of the female to whom she’d handed over her child had no discerning characteristics that she remembered at least nothing that had tweaked her cop instincts.

  In fact, it was the complete opposite. When leaving her mom’s arms Lily had started to fuss but the other woman had soothed her perfectly and she’d settled right down. All Aurora could figure was she must have sensed security.

  The annoyingly mild hum she’d had in her head since earlier when she’d realized Lily wasn’t among the babies found in the trailer, continued. Concentrating as hard as she could didn’t help. The hint her mind tried to convey wouldn’t break loose. Ever since she’d realized Lily hadn’t been kidnapped by the Chang-Lee gang, the aggravation had haunted her.

  A sob broke loose and all heads turned in her direction. She covered her mouth but it was too late. The pity she read drove the hidden tears to show themselves.

  “Aurora you’re exhausted and no good to me in this shape. You too, Kai. You take Aurora home, and if you have to force a sleeping pill into her, you have my permission.” Cory’s voice held no give. “The rest of us will work the phones through the night and if anything pops we’ll call you. Debbie’s left Eric with a friend and she’ll be coming in to take your place. In the meantime, there’s nothing you can do that we can’t.”

  “Sleeping pills? What the hell? No way I’m leaving.” Aurora spit the words through tight lips.

  Cory rose to tower over her. “None of your bullshit, Rory. You two have been on the job long enough. You’re done! If you don’t care about yourself, look at our hero here. He’s a mess. Now get outta here both of you before I lock you up for obstructing justice.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Outside the precinct, Kai opened the passenger door for Aurora and worried when she didn’t protest, probably because she didn’t have the strength. He then went around to the driver’s side and slipped in next to her. “My hotel or your place?”

  Weakness painted its picture on her pale face as she answered, her lips hardly moving. “My place. If anyone phones, they might use my home line and I don’t want to miss any calls.”

  Kai knew what she referred to but figured that since they hadn’t had a ransom call yet, none would be forthcoming. On the other hand, Aurora hadn’t been home since Lily disappeared.

  Driving faster than he normally would, they arrived before he could really get twisted over the tortuous thoughts bombarding him. After he parked in her spot, he guided a silent Aurora to her front door and picked up the keys she dropped after pulling them from her pocket.

  Once inside he hit the light switch and guided her toward the living room area. Before they went more than a few steps, her doorbell rang and a man’s voice could be heard calling her name.

  Aurora wheeled around and rushed to open the door. “Jeff!”

  A very distinguished good-looker scooped her into his arms and came very close to getting himself an extended stay in the hospital, courtesy of a very envious Kai.

  A toxic jealousy he could chew began to weave its way throughout Kai’s body. The muscles in his stomach tightened into a fist that punched at his tolerance. He stopped the movement to reach behind for his weapon and instead clenched his fists. So this was his rival, the man no one wanted to talk about.

  “I just heard on the news and flew back immediately, Aurora. I’m so gol-darn sorry, Pet.”

  Gol-darn…? What a pussy! Kai backed away and crossed his arms, his back stiff and his thoughts dangerous.

  Aurora burrowed in. Her words were hardly discernible. “Everyone believed Lily had been kidnapped by a member of a notorious Chinese gang. We got him, but he didn’t have her.”

  Aurora’s voice sounded husky and so sad that it broke Kai’s heart. He tore his gaze from her and perused the other man. The putz’s shoes alone could cover the cost of all the clothes he wore, plus the numerous blue shirts in his closet that his mom insisted on buying for various presents.

  Judging by his appearance, this dude had money and a lot of it. A mean streak surfaced and Kai pictured his fist connecting with the unlined cheeks on the other man’s face. He could already feel the satisfaction until Jeffie turned his way and winked. Fuck!

  Then the dude extended his hand. “You must be Kai, Lily’s daddy. I’m a good friend of the girls, Jeff Waters.”

  At first Kai wanted to pretend not to see the gesture but it didn’t sit well with his conscience to be a jerk. He shook Jeff’s hand, tightening his grip unnecessarily.

  Aurora took a few steps back and she looked lighter, happier, less tired. “Jeff, I knew you would come.”

  Jeff, not acknowledging Kai’s force, used the same crushed hand to push Aurora’s hair back over her shoulders in an affectionate way and said, “Of course I came. She’s my godchild and you’re my pal. What can I do? Anything… you know that, right?”

  “I do. But it’s all being looked after. We have every officer on her trail; every possible procedure has been set in place.”

  Kai wasn’t sure if he liked that Aurora still held onto Waters’ hand but if his being there would make things any easier for Aurora, he’d swallow the gathering bile and put up with it and a whole lot more. He didn’t have to like it
, but then there was a lot of stuff going on in his life right now he didn’t like.

  When her phone interrupted, she moved off to the kitchen to answer it, leaving him alone with the guy.

  Waters waved him toward the sofa as if he owned the place and Kai gritted his teeth and let him take the lead. As soon as they were out of Aurora’s sight, the prick turned on him.

  “You asshole! Where the hell have you been? That girl needed you a long time ago. I outta shove your head up your ass for treating her so shabby.”

  Okay, now Jeffie was cruisin’. “It’s a long story. And my friend, you don’t deserve a personal report.”

  “You’re right. But Aurora does. So for your sake, I hope your defense cuts it. Otherwise you’ll answer to me. She’s my friend and no one messes with the people I care about without learning a lesson.”

  Smug bastard! Kai noted that he’d called her a friend, not his

  girlfriend or woman. Tension that had tied up his guts started to unravel. He took in a huge breath and relaxed tightened muscles.

  “You two are friends?”

  “Good friends. Really good friends!” Jeff’s snide grin hit a chord with Kai and it was all he could do not to grind the other’s dimples with his fist. This dude was really pissing him off.

  “Don’t push it.” Kai’s temper hated the controls he’d set up.

  Suddenly, Jeff turned serious. “What happened? The news report only said that Lily had been taken from the same doctor’s office where the Fulton baby had disappeared.”

  Kai took a seat across from where the other man now sat. Leaning forward, he clenched his hands between his knees. As much as he hated telling this dude anything, he supposed the jerk deserved an explanation.

  “Aurora took Lily for her checkup. The doctor’s office had rescheduled the one they’d missed when the first kidnapping had occurred. Seems a woman dressed as a nurse cane to take Lily to be weighed. Not expecting any problems, Aurora handed her over. Turns out she wasn’t a nurse and Lily hasn’t been seen since.”

  “My God! How horrible for Aurora? She’ll be blaming herself.”

  “Yes.”

  “Look, I have some influence around Vegas, on both sides of the law. So if you can think of any way money will make a difference, just set it up. Anything!”

  Jeff’s imperious attitude assaulted Kai’s pride and he hated that he had to sit and listen. On the other hand, Waters’ message came across clearly. If a ransom was eventually demanded, they had his support. Just because he disliked the man, didn’t mean he wouldn’t use him to save Lily. In this type of situation, he’d negotiate with the devil himself if necessary.

  Aurora interrupted Kai’s rambling thoughts as she stepped into the room. Her face appeared even sadder if at all possible.

  Kai moved quicker than Jeff and led her to sit down, then sat next to her. “Darlin’ you’re scaring me. Something is wrong.” He didn’t form a question because he knew.

  Aurora patted his cheek and he understood it was an automatic gesture done without thought. “It’s wasn’t about Lily. My partner Lisa is in trouble.”

  Jeff broke in. “Is she the one you’ve told me about? The gorgeous chatterbox who’s a fiend for athletic activities?”

  “Uh huh! She had to go back to Seattle to find her sister, Carly. They always called each other every few days because they’d been planning for her sister and her sister’s little boy Noel to move in with Lisa. Then Lisa got the flu. Between working double shifts and trying to keep up at the office, almost a week passed without them being in contact or her getting any messages. She tried calling and got nothing. So she flew there. Turns out when she arrived, she found her sister also had the flu and Noel, the child, had been left with a neighbor.”

  As she talked, Aurora’s cheeks paled to where her face had no color at all. Kai slid closer and scooped her up on his lap so he could hold her while he massaged her back.

  His action caused the man opposite to bristle but screw him. Aurora was his woman and she needed his warmth and loving arms. Gently, he rubbed her arms and within seconds, she melted against him.

  Using his most tender tone, Kai asked, “What happened babe?”

  “Her sister’s condition worsened and she passed away yesterday. Lisa is frantic. She desperately wants to come and help us find Lily but she can’t leave just yet until all her sister’s affairs are dealt with. I guess she’ll be bringing Noel, her three-year-old nephew, with her since there’s no other family.”

  “And you’re fretting because you can’t be there to support her?” Kai knew his darling.

  Aurora dropped her head against his chest. Her sob sounded like a gun blast in the quiet room. “She’s my friend. Of course I’m heartsick.”

  Jeff stood and moved to kneel down in front of her. He took her hand and gently caressed the skin. “What can I do?”

  “She needs m-money for the funeral. I promised. I wrote her address and her bank account number on the pad in the kitchen. Jeff…” Her big eyes spoke the words she couldn’t.

  “She’ll have it. Don’t worry anymore.”

  “S-She needs a ride back to Vegas, with her sister’s things and the little boy.”

  “I’ll fly down to pick her up tomorrow.”

  Kai kept his mouth shut because he had nothing to add. Not an easy feat while another man befriended his girl. He’d give anything to be able to help her with this situation, but leaving Vegas right now was impossible.

  Though he couldn’t force a smile to his lips, he dropped the attitude and just nodded when the other man stared a message that quite frankly said “be careful” before he left the room and then the apartment.

  Chapter Thirty

  Once Jeff left, Aurora knew she should leave the sanctity of Kai’s arms but she just couldn’t. Weak from being emotionally overloaded, she nestled closer and let the tide of relief wash over her.

  She couldn’t have survived these last few days without this man near. His constant glances full of tenderness and messages of caring were all that kept her from falling completely apart. And from losing her mind so completely she might not be able to come back.

  All the anger she’d nursed over the previous months had faded to unimportant and inconsequential. His arms mattered. His softly whispered words of encouragement mattered. And the flutterings of heat starting low in her stomach began to matter.

  Oh God. Was she a skank, thinking of sex when only ice surrounded her heart? Fear had replaced her humanity and a strange blankness had taken over and corrupted her brain. Could she exist without any kind of natural emotions? Could passion kick-start her core? Help her recover?

  Did she want to? The fear had become unbearable, all those horrible feelings that tied her into a mess of knots to where she couldn’t act like herself, or even think.

  What if she let everything go? Experienced the magic he’d given her once before. Maybe it would help her sleep, give her some peace from the ghastly pain that tore and gouged and ripped her raw.

  Purposely she moved her behind against his thighs and felt his instant response. She angled her head to let his roving lips move closer to the skin on her neck.

  His hesitation spoke volumes. It had been understood that he’d only been comforting her. But right now she didn’t want comfort. She wanted hot, hard sex. Forgetfulness beckoned and tempted. If she could release this heartache for even a short while, it would be worth tomorrow’s remonstrations and guilt.

  Her words came out husky, the yearning obvious. “Wanna have sex with me?”

  He held her away from him, his hands crushing her shoulders. “I can’t ever have sex with you, Darlin’. You should know that.”

  When she thrust away from him, he grabbed her back roughly. “Between us, it’ll always be making love. You want plain, ordinary sex? I’m not your man. If you want me to love every beautiful, precious inch of you then just you nod and I’ll take care of everything.”

  She searched his eyes, those slante
d big blue beauties that had been her downfall from the first time they looked her way. Full of passion, his sultry stare worked its enchantment. Shivers began low forcing her to clench her leg muscles and jiggle to release the pressure.

  “You’re killing me here.” His words sounded ragged and his uneven breathing a sign of how she’d affected him.

  Other than a groan bitten off, her gallant idiot did nothing to try and affect her decision. All he did was wait patiently, the muscles in his jaw working, his eyes now narrowed to try and hide his powerful hunger. He couldn’t fool her. She suffered from the exact same longing.

  Her hands seemed to reach for his beautiful face of their own accord. She ran her fingers through the long hair. “I’ve been a bit busy lately baby, but I swear I’ll shave the shit off first moment I get.”

  She smiled. Couldn’t help herself. The cheeky devil always had the ability to get to her. She moved her lips close to his and whispered, “Make love to me.” Then she lowered her mouth to his and gave over control.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Gently, Kai lifted her and went to stand. Damned if his Sir Galahad act would work since he had no muscle power left. His shoulder and chest screamed their reluctance to be abused once again and he had no choice but to obey. So much for impressing her with my macho act.

  He lowered her and put his forehead against hers. “Can you give this pitiful weakling a hand up?”

  Gracefully she rose, making him feel like an old man. Smiling, she reached down to pull him to his feet making his heart flip upside down from her loving manner.

  “Silly ass! You’re hurt because you pulled that stunt with the truck. You could have been killed.” Her voice was soft but the hardness in her eyes let him know she hadn’t liked him in danger.

  Darned heart flipped again.

  He found it hard to breathe. Could it be she still had feelings for him? Maybe even give him another chance? She seemed to accept his declaration of making love and not having sex. Did it mean she felt the same, or was she merely irredeemably lonely?