Re/Leased (Doms of the FBI Book 5)

by Michele Zurlo

  “Tell me,” he said. “What’s the most dangerous job you’ve ever done?”

  “Sir, I’d rather not discuss that right now.”

  He sat up, putting inches between them, and she put her hands back on her knees in the proper position. “I insist, Sugar. That’s an order.”

  She debated. The job had involved sweet-talking her way into a smuggler’s bed. She’d distracted him while setting the stage for Summer and her to return and rob him. Their father had been livid when he’d found out about it, even though Autumn had left out the part about seducing a target. It was likely that David had done similar things. In his line of work, sometimes a honeypot angle was the best one. He’d been upset all the times she’d abbreviated the truth, so that wasn’t an option right now. Finally, she asked, “What’s the punishment if I don’t?”

  “I’d love to confine you to this room, but I know you too well to think you’d stay.” He went to stand in front of the window. “No punishment. I want you to trust me enough to tell me everything, so I’ll wait until you’re ready.”

  Oh—he didn’t play fair, but he had a point. She was afraid he’d judge her harshly. “Miami. Summer and I robbed a drug smuggler’s safe. I seduced him to get inside and set it up so that we could break in the next day when he had a deal scheduled. It was a cash business, and it ended up being a huge score. We got away with almost a half million.”

  He’d turned away from the window, and he watched her with an impassive expression. At least he was listening.

  “He had a crew, armed with automatic weapons, and a compound that was reputed to be impossible to penetrate. It was a challenge, a dangerous one, but we did it. We got in and out without being detected.” And it hadn’t been easy. Timing guard routes, dealing with unexpected smoking breaks—they all seemed to be smokers—and overcoming various electronic security measures had taken planning, precision, cunning, and a quick reaction to wrenches that were inevitably thrown into every plan.

  “That’s a significant haul. What happened to the money?”

  She pressed her lips together. “We gave it to Dad in exchange for letting us settle down and have normal lives. We’d hoped it would be enough. He was always chasing that one big job that would set him up for life.”

  “And you were the good daughter who wanted to take care of him.” He exhaled hard. “Sugar, did he tell you that was a dumbass move?”

  “Yeah, but he was proud of us, so we ignored the rest. But, Sir, the point is that I can do this. You can count on me. I don’t panic, and I don’t crack under pressure.”

  He hauled her up by the arms and devoured her with a ravenous kiss. She hadn’t known a man could move that fast. Melting against him, she submitted to his strength and the assault of passion. He needed this from her, and she gladly gave everything.

  Suddenly he ripped himself away and held her at arm’s length. “Sugar, if you get in trouble, there’s no safeword. These people won’t play around. I don’t like the idea of you being in danger.”

  “Sir, I’m not crazy about the idea of you being in danger, either. But I understand and accept who you are. You need to do the same with me.” He’d struggled with that the whole time, but mostly because she had kept pieces of herself from him. She waited, giving him the time he needed to come to terms with the fact that she wasn’t a delicate flower who needed to be sheltered from the big, bad world.

  After forever, he nodded. “Okay. I can do this.” He repeated it twice, and she knew he was trying to convince himself. “You can do this. We can do this together. For fuck’s sake, let’s get started before I change my mind, handcuff you to the bedpost, and wait for Dean and Jesse to get here.” His phone rang before he could say more. For once, he didn’t turn away to take a call, and that demonstrated the extent to which he’d accepted Autumn’s place in this mission. He put the phone on speaker.

  The reception unclear, Jesse’s voice crackled on the other end. “They disappeared in Atlanta. Neither of them caught a connecting flight. We searched the boarding footage for every flight.”

  David frowned. “How could they disappear?”

  “They left the airport.” Autumn thought about how she might vanish if she’d scored a huge haul. “They probably took a shuttle to a car rental place.”

  “They’d need ID to rent a car.” The tap of the keyboard, ironically, came through clearer than Jesse’s voice.

  “They didn’t rent a car,” Autumn said. “They went somewhere nearby, probably a hotel or restaurant, and used the bathroom to change their looks. Stephanie’s hair was pretty long, so I bet she cut it and changed the color. Her partner either shaved his head or dyed his hair. Or they have wigs. If they’re smart, they significantly changed their style of dress, though it wouldn’t stand out in their surroundings. They don’t want to be memorable.”

  David stared at her. “Jesse probably thought of that already.”

  “Some of it, yeah,” Jesse agreed. “They could have taken a cab or bus, or they could have stolen a car. I can hack surveillance for the area surrounding the airport, but those aren’t networked systems. I’ll have to hack each individual server. Even with Malcolm’s help, it’ll take days.”

  “Then we’ll have to draw them out.” Autumn unzipped her suitcase while David scratched his head.

  “How, exactly, do you think you’re going to accomplish that? We have no idea where they are or where they’re going.” Thoughts flashed behind David’s eyes, darkening them to almost black. She knew he was trying to think of a plan that didn’t involve her too much or put her in imminent danger.

  “We know where their bank is, and we know they haven’t claimed the accounts yet. They set them up remotely, so there’s no picture or anything on file. Start at the bank. Follow the money.” She slipped her hand into his. “You have the account numbers, right?”

  David gripped her hand. “Yes, but I don’t see what checking the balance will do. The bank works with numbers only—no names or addresses, and the phone number we found led to a burner cell.”

  “I see where you’re going.” Jesse’s connection cut in and out, making it difficult to follow him. “I can hack their system to change the personal information and security questions. You can claim the money and run. It’ll clear Autumn, and you can return the money to your father.”

  “Not quite.” Autumn didn’t actually care about returning the money to Mr. Calder. She wanted Stephanie’s head on a platter, and she wouldn’t mind a side dish made from her boyfriend. “I want to spend it to draw them out. For whatever reason, they’re waiting to claim the money and start their new lives. I want to find out the names they’re using and post my picture on the account. I want them to know I’m spending their money.”

  David sputtered. “We are not using you as bait.”

  Jesse coughed discreetly. “That’s pretty much why she went with you, man.”

  He sprang to his feet and loomed over the phone, which might have been intimidating if Jesse had been able to see him. Then again, probably not. Jesse knew David too well to find him intimidating. “She was supposed to deliver the element of surprise while I physically subdued them.”

  “This’ll be more fun.” Autumn grabbed his arm. “Let’s go shopping, David. Let’s spend your dad’s money. Not only will we draw out the bad guys, but you’ll be able to passive-aggressively get back at your dad. They will be surprised, and you’ll still get to whack them over the head with a big stick.” Given the tension running through his body, that method might not be enough to exorcise all his pent-up energy. “Or you can kick their asses, and I can hit them over the head with a big stick. We should probably pick up a big stick while we’re out.”

  Her strategy worked. Some of the tension eased, and he laughed. “Jess? Use my standard answers to the security questions.”

  “Sure thing. Only one problem.”

  From the way he scrunched his face, David had expected smooth sailing. “What’s that?”

  “We c
an only hack the bank from inside.”

  It had to be easier than that. “You can’t access it remotely or send them a virus that will let you in?”

  Jesse chuckled. “In the real world, viruses have to be tailor made for a specific purpose, and they can take months or years to write. And the systems for the bank we need are on a local network. I’d need physical access to their server. The fastest and easiest way in is to use a terminal in the bank like we did last time. It looks like Marlene needs a date.”

  David wilted a little. Autumn eyed him suspiciously. “Who is Marlene?”

  “A woman who works at the bank.” He gestured to the phone. “She likes Jesse.”

  Static sounded louder and then it leveled off. “I can keep her out of the way while you sneak into the bank and change the information. But that leads to another problem.”

  This one, Autumn had realized as well. “Someone at the bank—probably Marlene—may recognize David if we go in together to claim the money. With the amount we’re getting, someone in charge will want to meet with us. I’ll have to claim the money with Dean.”

  David pursed his lips. “I don’t love this idea.”

  She slid her hand up his arm. He wasn’t going to love any idea that included her or put her in the line of fire. “But it’s a good plan.”

  He couldn’t argue with that. “Fill Dean in, and we’ll see you guys when you get here.”

  The call ended, and Autumn looked up at David. “You have standard answers to security questions? That’s not exactly a wise strategy.”

  “I don’t use them for my personal accounts. We all have basic protocols and code words we use that come in handy in situations like this.” He offered his arm. “Let’s do some recon. I’ve been here before, and I want to show you escape routes.”

  “Most men would just want to take a stroll through the neighborhood with their girlfriend. This is so much more romantic.” She put her arm through his. “Lead the way, Sir.”

  “I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic, or if you really mean it.”

  She laughed. “Probably a little of both. I never go anywhere without planning an escape route. I kind of like that your mind operates the same way. It makes me feel less freakish.”

  He scowled. “You’re not a freak.”

  “Or I’m merely your kind of freak. I’ll take it.” They reached the street. Afternoon sunshine blinded Autumn. She put her hand up to shield her eyes. Scanning the street turned up a few options for dealing with that problem.

  He turned her in the opposite direction. “You’re going to need a new outfit for your debut tomorrow.” Wearing dress pants and a blue striped shirt, his only concession to the heat was to choose short sleeves, and he’d left his tie off. Dashing and handsome, he cut a fine figure. Her clothing, however, didn’t quite scream “I heart designer labels.” With a sly grin, he steered her toward a boutique. “I’m going to love dressing you up.”

  They went into an upscale boutique. The young woman working the sales floor ignored Autumn, but she took note of David. “Good afternoon, sir. I’m Bella. Can I help you find anything in particular?”

  David scanned the racks. In seconds, he’d chosen a stylish, scoop-necked dress with green accents. He held it up to her. “It’ll bring out your eyes, Sugar.” He nodded to Bella. “She’ll need to try this on.”

  Autumn followed the salesgirl into the fitting room. She generally avoided stores like this unless she was going to use a five-finger discount. Of course, David frowned on stealing and they couldn’t chance being arrested before they could commit fraud and identity theft, so she didn’t entertain the thought for long. Bella flashed one of those smiles that revealed more contempt than anything else. Autumn made sure her response matched. The uppity hussy hightailed it out of there.

  “I like it,” David said as she modeled for him, desire and approval turning his irises caramel. He adjusted the bodice, though it didn’t need it, and he ran his fingertip along the edge of the dress where it exposed the swell of her breast. His delicate caress sparked a longing that traveled straight to her pussy. She gasped, and the small noise captured his attention.

  He slid his hand up, fanning out his fingers and skimming them along the back of her neck to tilt her head back. Then his lips claimed hers, devouring them as he pressed her back to the mirror. Autumn was ready to throw caution to the wind when a loud throat-clearing interrupted them. David released her slowly.

  Three shades of red stained Bella’s face. “Would you like me to ring that up for you?”

  David looked Autumn up and down. “She’ll need shoes and a hat, one with a floppy brim to keep the sun out of her eyes.”

  She appreciated that David had noticed her need, but she’d hoped for sunglasses. It was easier to case a place if people couldn’t see her eyes. “How about sunglasses instead?”

  “You’ll have both. And matching underthings.” He gave Bella the correct sizes for her bra and panties.

  “That’s not necessary, Sir.”

  He lifted a brow. “I’m all for you going commando, but not tomorrow. If something should happen, I’ll want your modesty preserved.”

  What did he think was going to happen in a bank? She laughed. “Right. Because if my dress flies up while they’re checking my ID, we’ll want everyone to know that I color coordinated my panties with the rest of my outfit.”

  “I could get you a red dress,” he suggested. “And then I can spank your ass to match.”

  The idea of a spanking made her need new panties anyway. A half step put her against his chest. “We have plenty of time before your buddies get here, Sir. If you need some stress relief, I’d be happy to donate my bottom to the cause.”

  He kissed her hard, a furious press that promised she’d be donating more than just her bottom tonight. “I want to spoil you.” He wound his hand in her hair and closed his fist, pulling her hair in just the right way. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking you get a say in the matter.”

  This was the fun-loving man with whom she’d played games at the play party that first night. She loved when he was like this, so she let the matter lie. A lock of hair had fallen over his forehead. He was overdue for a haircut. She coaxed it back into place, loving the fact that she alone had the right to touch him like this.

  Bella returned with a pale green silk bra and matching panties. David held them up, looking from the clothing to Autumn and back again. “I’m going to have to see these on you.” He followed her and Bella back to the changing room, and when Bella tried to take the items to hang them inside, David held them out of reach. “I’ll handle this. Why don’t you go lay out a selection of hats on the sales counter?”

  Inside the cubicle, Autumn lifted a brow at the speed with which David dispatched the sales girl. “You’re going to watch me change?”

  He latched the door. “I’m going to help, Sugar.” With a devilish grin, he motioned for her to turn around. “I’ll get your zipper.”

  “There is no zipper.” The dress had short sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. Still, she turned around and lifted her arms. If he wanted to undress her, she wasn’t going to argue.

  He didn’t disappoint. She felt his hands glide over her waist and hips, stroking down her legs until he reached the hem that fell to just above her knees. Then he lifted the soft fabric up and over her head, baring her to him. Due to the thin straps, she’d ditched her bra, and so she stood there in her panties while he returned the dress to the hanger. “Take off your panties.”

  She thought he might make a move, but he merely exchanged her panties for the pale green pair and matching bra. He helped her with the bra, latching it into place and reaching into the cups to adjust her girls. She stood in front of the mirror now, and he remained behind her. He teased her with his nearness and the almost-touch of his chest against her back. Her nipples pebbled, and gooseflesh traveled down her arms and across her abdomen.

  “Are you cold?” He traced his fingertips down he
r arms and hips.

  “No, but I could use some warming anyway.”

  He turned her to face him, and his fingers continued their gentle trek over her flesh. Desire turned his eyes to that lusty caramel hue, and his eyelids had fallen to half-mast. She wanted so badly to kiss him, but she’d surrendered herself to his mastery, and so she waited for his permission.

  Silently, he touched her, his palms gliding over her exposed skin, eliciting soft gasps as he woke up every nerve ending in her body. He even knelt down to touch her legs until they trembled. Only then did he remove her panties. He stood, opening the fly of his pants as he did so. She wanted to touch the full erection that sprang free, but he lifted her so swiftly that she could only grab his shoulders for balance and wrap her legs around his waist. And then he was inside her, and his tongue plunged into her mouth to gag them both.

  The mirror was cold against her back, a counterbalance to the heat coiling in her core. David pumped his hips, his cock sliding in and out with slow inches. He’d fucked her harder and faster, but this slow inferno threatened to take her to a peak she hadn’t yet visited. He fisted her hair at the nape and pulled as he silenced her with his mouth on hers.

  That didn’t entirely stop noises from escaping, and David wasn’t exactly quiet either. She came first, the climax exploding over her. Seconds later, his orgasm detonated, and he buried his face in her neck as he cried out.

  They both trembled as he withdrew his cock and set her back on her feet. He held her for a few precious moments as their wits returned.

  “So,” she said. “I guess you like the bra, but not the panties?”

  He chuckled. “They’ll do.”

  They emerged from the fitting room holding hands. Bella blushed as she rang up their purchases, and none of the other salespersons would meet their eyes.