by A. C. Mason
She shrugged. “I guess Rowley doesn’t have the hang-ups you do.”
“Luckily, you’ve found a more evolved individual than I could ever be. Was your husband more open? From what I know of the French, they are.”
Was he making a point, or did he want to make her feel bad? “Though our sex life was diverse and playful, Jean had a jealous streak in him.”
“Why didn’t you two start a family when you first married, before the deterioration got worse?”
“When we moved to the United States, he took the job at Georgetown and he was busy. Being a foreigner, he had a lot of proving of himself to do. Given my condition, if I’d been very ill during the pregnancy, he wouldn’t have been able to take off a lot of time. Time slipped away on us and then the accident happened.” Her entire life had been turned on its head. “He was crossing the road, the driver didn’t have time to stop and killed him. Not on impact. He died in the ambulance. A hit and run.”
“They don’t know who did it?” He gripped the steering wheel even tighter.
“The authorities claim not to. Though, I’ve been contacted by the lawyer of someone who claims to be the driver.” A flush of anger rushed over her.
“If they are, do you want to find out? What happened, I mean?”
“God, no.”
“Why not?” He raised his voice.
“What’s with you? Are you trying to push my buttons? First about Rowley, and now about Jean. Are you picking a fight, so you don’t have to do the second donation?”
He shook his head. “If I’d changed my mind, I’d let you know. I’m just curious about your reasons for keeping away from the individual claiming to be the driver. I’m not trying to coax a reaction out of you. Since you said the person couldn’t have stopped, but also used the word killed, which implies intent.”
“Intention or not, the person took the life of the only person who ever really loved me. My hopes and dreams were dashed, and up until now, the possibility of having a child of my own. I hate whoever killed him.” She didn’t care if that made her a bad person. “I can’t bear to know he or she lives–free. If I saw them, I don’t know what I would do.” Leera clutched her purse tightly. “The individual’s tried to contact me, lure me by saying that Jean left parting words to me. Those words can only make me hate whoever it is more. Doesn’t the person get, I won’t give them peace of mind? I’m not okay. They ruined my life.” Tears streamed down her cheeks to beneath her chin. She wiped her face.
“I didn’t want to upset you–stir up your anger toward them.”
Anger was too soft a word for how she felt. “I wish the person had left me alone.”
Vaihan swallowed, eyes fixed on the road ahead. “I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t mean to go on about it. I’ve been bottling up how I feel about the driver. Each time it comes up, everyone reminds me about how horrible the individual must feel and how it was an accident. The truth is, I hope the driver is hurting every day for taking Jean from me.”
“There is no way you could find to forgive this person? Anger can only eat you up.”
“I pray that they feel every ounce of the hatred I have for them. I’m not a kind enough human being to forgive them. The law may have determined the hit and run was an accident, but fleeing the scene is illegal. If I did contact the individual, it would be with the sole purpose of making them pay.”
He pulled the car over across the street from where he’d picked her up. “I’ll see you on the twenty-second at the same time as today?”
“Yes. Please don’t call or message my cell. If Rowley found your information on there, I wouldn’t hear the end of it. I’ll get a prepaid cell and let you know it’s me if I need to make any changes.”
“Sure, whatever works best for you.”
Leera got out of the vehicle.
“Please, be safe,” he said.
The wind forced the door shut, and she hustled to the subway station.
Chapter 38
Rowley sat in the recliner across from Devin, fist pulsating. The wall would need fixing.
“Hopefully you got that out of your system.” Devin stared out the window at the vacant street.
“For now.” Rowley exhaled the negative energy.
“If you feel it flaring up, we can always do some Tai Chi.”
“Good plan.” Another reason why Devin was important to him. “It does help me get in touch with my delicate side.”
The door opened and Leera waltzed in as if nothing happened.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Rowley jumped to his feet.
“Out.” She shrugged and placed her purse on the coffee table.
“Out? Strange, I wasn’t aware... Where?” He marched over to her. “Did you go to it?”
“It?” she widened her eyes.
“Don’t play me for stupid.” He squeezed his fist closed. He refused to lose his cool again, as he didn’t know what he might do to her. Graceful movements like Wave Hands in Clouds would relax him.
“I’m not. I didn’t go see Vaihan, if that is what you are asking.” She opened her jacket. Nor would the sight of her curves distract him from his interrogation. “I thought about going to a Z-Luv club, but decided against it.”
If she was working to upset him, she’d succeeded. “Why would you go to one of those filthy places?” Did he now need to worry she’d be slipping out to get the drug?
“For a hit.” She sighed. “But I kept wandering the streets until my feet were sore. I went to a diner and drank coffee.”
“Why did you empty out the milk and send Devin out for more?” He’d brought some home at her request last night.
“I’m not a child. I don’t want to be watched over all the time. If you don’t trust me, why are you with me, Rowley?” She placed a hand on her hip.
She’d deceived them. Why was he the one being portrayed as the bad guy? “I’ve seen how potent the pull of this drug is. People have done extreme things to get access to the sources. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
“It’s not fair for you to put Devin in the role of babysitter.” Eyes sparking with anger, she pointed at Devin.
“That reminds me. Didn’t he tell you to stay in the car last night, when he went to help the others?” For all he knew, Wyatt’s people were retaliating for his dismemberment. He needed her to follow instructions.
“I’m not a child, Rowley, and you should know me well enough to know I’m not going to be pushed around.”
Devin sat in the corner without interfering. Nothing had happened between them while they were together. If it had, Devin would be interjecting in defense of her.
“I’m not trying to push you around,” Rowley said, and gathered her into his arms. “I was scared that something might have happened to you. For all I knew, the CPD took you in for questioning.”
“I’m sorry I worried you. But I needed time to myself. I lived on my own nearly a year.” She molded herself to his form and slipped her hands down to his cock.
He groaned. No denying, he was easy when it came to her. “We all have some adjusting to do.” He needed to have her. “Devin, come here.”
Devin rose from the seat and leaned on the wall next to them.
“I want you to apologize for not listening to him last night and taking off on him today.” Rowley met her searching gaze.
“What?” Her eyelids narrowed.
Easy didn’t mean soft. “You heard me.” He couldn’t let her get away with pulling stunts that put her life in danger.
She turned toward Devin and lifted her gaze to his. “I should have listened to you last night. Neither should I have left without at least saying where I was going. I’m sorry. However, if the two of you weren’t trying to control everything I do and everywhere I go, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Devin’s jaw muscles contracted. “Fair enough, but that’s Rowley’s call, not mine.”
“With the attitude you added in at the end, tha
t didn’t come off like an apology,” Rowley said. “Reminds me of a young woman I met a long time ago.” This was a refreshing change for him, to see a glimpse of her feisty side.
“I don’t want to be treated like child.” Leera cocked her head.
“Simple, then don’t act like one.” He could only hope this signaled a return of the Lee-lee he’d once known. “Did the two of you manage to talk out our arrangement before all hell broke loose?”
“We did discuss it.” Devin leaned sideways against the door.
“And?”
“We started to talk things over and I was telling him–” She broke off.
“She was telling me how important you are to her and how she’d do anything to make you happy, but she struggles to understand how her sleeping with another man brought you pleasure.” Devin crossed his arms.
Not a good sign. Rowley pulled her to his chest. “Oh, Lee-lee, that’s the thing. I know you wouldn’t do this for anyone but me. You have no idea what that means to me.” The excitement knowing she submitted to the encounter to please him brought him joy.
“Will there be others? How many?” She hid her face in his shoulder.
There were two people he cared deeply for and both stood in the room. “Hell, no.” He stroked her back. “Devin is important to me, just as you are.”
“I don’t know what that means.” She wiped her tears in his shirt.
“In time, I hope you’ll feel a connection toward him the way I do.” He pushed her curls from her face. “Are things resolved enough between the two of you, that we can pick up where we left off the other night?”
Rowley was in the mood to play.
Chapter 39
The possibility was very real that Vaihan would strangle Barton with his bare hands. Given he was already in a shitload of trouble, what could one dead federal agent mean to him?
Human females danced to his left. Midday could be busy at Safe Haven. Housewives would come in for hit of Z-Luv before the hubby and kids got home. The chubby couch sitters, as Dominique dubbed them. These females were built like tanks. Not one of them did a single thing for him–probably not their husbands either. He still was unable to get erect when not with Leera.
Barton marched through the entranceway in a purple velvet suit.
Vaihan got up and moved to one of the side rooms. Better he not kill him in front of witnesses.
Barton followed him.
Once inside the room, he slipped to the side, against the wall. When Barton stepped in, he closed the door. Vaihan formed a first and met the man’s face before the asshole had a moment to think.
Barton stumbled to the floor, held up his forearm to protect his face. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” Blood soiled his cheek and the corner of his mouth.
At least he’d had the good sense to only hit him lightly. “You’d better answer my next questions honestly.” Vaihan paced, rubbing Barton’s blood off the surface of his knuckles.
“You hit me before you even asked anything.” Barton wiped his fingers over his lips and looked at them.
“I wanted to be clear, that I’m not going to hold back if you fuck with me.” He wouldn’t let a small thing like assaulting or killing a federal agent get in his way. Not today.
“What do you want to know?” Barton pushed himself back and propped his body against the seat behind him.
“How long have you known that Leera is the wife of the man I killed?” Could the feds have killed his lawyer Ralph to keep the information he’d uncovered buried until it was too late? If they had, it was his fault the man was dead. But what reason would the feds have? Something much bigger was at play, and he was hip-deep in shit.
“Since day one.” Barton removed his hat. “As long as she isn’t aware, it should have no bearing on the case.”
The man was fucking insane. “No bearing on the case?”
“Exactly. Irrelevant to the work we’ve asked you to do. Unless she finds out. Then you may have a difficult time performing your duties. But so far, you haven’t impressed me with your skills.”
“You are insane.” Actually, that was an insult to people who’d lost their minds.
“It was a calculated risk. As far as I can tell, you haven't developed feelings for the widow. Otherwise you’d have compromised the investigation. Unless you’re saying you do have feelings for her?” Barton got up and took a seat in the large red leather chair.
Vaihan shook his head. Why would he go and do something silly like that? He was so deep into Leera, he didn’t know up from down.
“I knew you wouldn’t. Do you know how I’m certain of that?” He arched his eyebrow.
“No.” But he was interested in the man’s deductive abilities. Did two plus fucking two add up to four in his warped brain?
“Because you left her scared and ripe for the picking, after she derailed your career. Rowley took real good care of her that night, when he took her home from the hospital.” He smiled. “Let’s have a listen to the audio.” Barton pulled out his BlackBerry from his holster.
The feds had the location of where she was staying bugged. Part of him didn’t want to hear how well another man cared for his woman...his love. Yet, he was unable to tell Barton not to play the audio.
“I’ve nearly got it.” Barton scrolled through emails. “Here we go...” He clicked.
From the speaker came static.
“I’ll make sure this time that no other man will want you when I’m done.” Rowley’s tone held sexual hunger mixed with anger. The man was threatening her.
Vaihan didn’t like where the man seemed to be going with his comment. Would he hurt her? He claimed to love her. Leera hadn’t said anything about him abusing her. But would she tell him, given what had happened between them?
Rustling fabric. “Rowley.” Leera sniffled. “Stop.”
What the hell was he doing to her? Vaihan swallowed, as he slowed his breathing to hear what human ears wouldn’t pick up from the audio.
Movement and deep breathing. “What do you want me to stop? My need to have you or you wanting me?” Mattress springs creaked. Huffing and puffing. Fabric tore. Skin smacked skin. She gave a gasp laced with fear. A thump was followed by a bang.
“Why are you doing this?” Leera’s voice shook.
Vaihan held his breath, as tension crushed his chest.
“You’re mine.” Rowley’s voice rose. “I need to remind you of why you’d promised to love me forever.”
Leera whimpered. A zipper being undone echoed.
“What is this, some predatory male marking thing?” she screamed.
Rowley spat, then groaned. “I’m reclaiming what’s mine, Lee-lee, you.”
A wet fleshy sound followed, and it wasn’t hard to deduce he’d parted the folds of her sex. “Get off me!” she screamed.
Silence.
She never let on. How was he to have known? And what choice did he have? Rowley may hurt her but he couldn’t kill her, at least, not without intending to. But the poison in his body could kill her if he didn’t watch her like hawk.
“She is an assignment, that is all. The fact that she’s the wife of the man you killed doesn’t change that. No matter what misplaced guilt you carry over the events of that night.”
Even if he could never be with Leera, he had to help her escape Rowley.
“You’re right, of course.” No matter how she’d hurt him, she didn’t deserve the situation she was in. The feds didn’t care about her. She lay between them and getting their man. Collateral damage and expendable. But not to him, she wasn’t. From her behavior, she was headed down the road that women took who ended up dead in garbage bins in alleys.
If Barton had McKie’s place bugged, why did he need him to get close to Peter? What was he looking for? As he’d suspected from the beginning, something wasn’t adding up with Barton.
Chapter 40
Leera stretched against the male behind her and moaned. Now her t-shirt and panties were the barrier
between her skin and the hands resting on her hips. Last night had been less uneasy. Slower. She’d also known what to expect.
“I need to head out,” Rowley said.
She opened her eyes.
He squatted next to the bed, dressed for the outdoors in his overcoat, his gaze fixed beyond her. “Bring Leera with you to the warehouse for a late lunch in my office.”
“Sure.” Devin pulled her close, tucked her body into him. He pressed his morning glory to her butt.
Heat pulsed between her thighs. She was becoming as bad as the two of them.
Rowley crushed her mouth with his, need in his kiss. “Lee-lee, you were incredible last night.” With a smile, he dropped a peck on her forehead, rose and left.
The front door slammed shut.
Last night bought her Brownie points. For what reason, she didn’t know the answer. Nor could she spend time trying to figure it out. The man wasn’t easy to understand. And her job was to sleep with him, not provide a report on how he ticked. She was beginning to wonder if she was a distraction or a Trojan horse.
“If you’re hungry, I can make you breakfast.” Devin got out of bed, his semierect cock curved to his leg.
With Rowley gone, she didn’t feel right seeing him naked. Especially given what she’d said the other night and how he’d reacted. Silly on her part, maybe. Okay, more than silly. She rolled onto her back and stared at the unevenly plastered ceiling. Her body ached in places she didn’t know existed from the positions they’d bent her into to fill her with both of them. Moisture rushed between her thighs.
“Can’t seem to bring yourself to look at me when he isn’t here? Are you that afraid of your attraction to me?” He chuckled warmly.
Was that what she feared, or was it what he wanted from her? “No.” What did he want from her? Sex... Or something else? Something she wasn’t able to give.
“What, then?” He cocked an eyebrow.
It didn’t matter. “Why didn’t you tell Rowley about what I said to you in the car?”
He huffed and sat at the edge of the bed with his back to her. A black Celtic Cross tattoo started at his hairline, ended vertically at his ass and stretched horizontally from one shoulder tip to the other. She wanted to trace the edges with her finger.