His hands are gently running up and down my back and his nose is buried deep in my hair. He’s taking deep breaths and I can feel my body relaxing against his. I can feel the heat and desire emanating off him, oozing into me.
“Stay,” he says. The more he speaks, the harder it is. The tears are welling up in my eyes and my mind’s shutting down. “Please,” he whispers. I lean into him. He pushes me away slightly and cups my face with his hands to stare straight in my eyes. “I want you to stay with me.” His voice is so soft. A tear escapes and he wipes it with the pad of his thumb.
“I can’t,” is all I manage to choke out.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath in through my nose and let it out slowly through my mouth. “I can’t,” I say again, but this time it’s a whisper. It’s a struggle and I’m fighting with myself but I straighten up and rise from the bed. I gather my clothes and put them on and walk out his bedroom door. I thought leaving him in Salt Lake City was hard, this is impossible, gut wrenching, but I have no choice.
I need to go. I get my bag from the kitchen and run out to my car. I try to leave before Ben can stop me, because I know I can’t stay with him, no matter how much I want to. I’m in my BMW and backing out of the driveway when I see Ben run out the door toward my car. He’s wearing only jeans with no shirt. I take off down the street as fast as I can.
I look in the rear-view expecting to see Ben jump in his car to follow me. He’s doesn’t, though. He’s standing in his driveway kicking at something on the ground and his hands are on his head.
Once I stop looking at Ben, I see a new, dark, sports car speeding toward me.
I’ve slowed down so I can see the tags on the vehicle and get a trace on them. He’s hanging back just enough so I can’t make out the numbers or letters. I assume its Simon, the cable salesman from yesterday, but I’ve been around long enough to know he certainly isn’t a salesman. I’m grateful he’s after me and not Ben.
Which can only mean one thing, the thirty-six million bounty is still on my head. Which, of course, means there’s a new boss over at Hunter, Inc. Just one more complication for me to deal with.
My burner phone’s ringing non-stop, there are text messages coming through and numerous voicemails. I can’t think about or deal with Ben at this moment. I need to get a look at the tags and if I can’t do that, I need to get rid of the car following me.
I turn down some streets, knowing the roads from when I used to live here with Dad. Some tricky turns and some careful moves, ensure the dark car’s now nowhere near me and I manage to get back to my cabin. I can only think that the dark sports car will head back to Ben’s house to wait for me. I’ll need to plan this person’s demise.
I get into the cabin, run a security check and see nothing’s been breached. I take my burner phone out and find Ben’s tried calling me eight times, left me two voicemail messages and four text messages. The theme to the voicemails and the texts all match.
Baby girl, please come back - B
I want us to talk - B
Baby, last night was the best night of my life and all I want to do is hold you in my arms - B
I think I love you - B
That last text message sends me over the edge. I start crying and I can’t stop myself. The tears become sobs and tears fall down my face. I find myself slumped on the floor at exactly the spot I read the text message.
How is this possible? My body is out of control and my mask has let me down completely. I’m shaking and flushed. I can’t rein in my emotions.
I think I’ve fallen in love with him, too. No, I know I’ve fallen in love with him. What do I do now? My mind drifts back to the amazing night we spent together just hours earlier and I recall every kiss and every emotion that flowed through our touches. My hands are on the back of my neck and my eyes are closed as I replay that amazing, loving night in my mind.
My eyes pop open and my mask is back in place.
I have a job to do.
If I kill Ben, I’ll also make sure I take out the people who put a target on his back. They are after this wonderful man who clearly doesn’t have a bad bone in his body. So I’ll find them, every last one of the fuckers, and kill them too. Starting with dark sports car guy.
First, I call Agent to find out what he knows. I know it’s not thirty-six hours yet but I’m under the gun now and I’m more determined to kill every fucker who wants to mess with Ben.
“Agent, information required.”
“Employer Anthony Mancini. No information yet on Ethan Martelli. ETA twelve hours. No other information has been presented.” The call’s disconnected.
Shit, Anthony Mancini. I know who he is. Mob boss. Drug lord. Prostitution. Human trafficking. Arms dealer. There’s not much Anthony Mancini isn’t into. He’s got the eastern U. S. covered for every illegal operation there is. He goes everywhere with a small army attached to him.
He’ll be harder to get to than Roman Murphy was. But he’s not impossible. He’ll be on a par with that President I took out a few years back. I push Anthony Mancini to the back of my mind for the time being, because I have dark sports car guy I need to handle and…Ben, with his declarations of love.
I call Ben and he answers on the second ring.
“Baby girl, we need to talk.”
“Fantastic greeting, Ben. Yes, you’re right, we do need to talk. Can we meet for lunch?” My tone’s short and almost pissed off. I’m not sure how pissed off I am with Ben yet.
“I’m sorry, I was afraid I scared you off. Of course we can meet for lunch. How about Mamma’s? I know you like their food and I like having you all to myself. But I need to go to the station first. I need to have my weapon inspected and signed off that I haven’t let off a round while on vacation.”
“I didn’t know police did that. But if that’s what you need to do then do it and I’ll meet you at Mamma’s at noon.”
“It’s something I started when I became Chief of Police because I don’t want our officers thinking it’s okay to discharge their service weapons for any unofficial reason.” He says with an authority in his voice he must use when he’s on duty. I like it when he speaks like that. It’s a turn-on.
“Okay then. I’ll see you at noon.” I’m becoming hot under the collar as he’s talking about guns with his powerful police voice.
“Looking forward to it, sweetheart.”
I do some research on Anthony Mancini and find he’s been married for thirty-one years. His wife’s name is Gabriella. They have two sons. One died almost eleven years ago in a “gun-related” incident, and the other one’s still alive. I find the name of the son who died, but I can’t find anything on the other son. I look up at the clock and it is flashing violently at me, telling me it’s 11:00 already.
I get ready and head into town. No doubt Ethan Martelli’s still tracking me, but I take a different route to Mamma’s just in case he’s waiting where he pulled me over last time. I get there at 11:50 and see Ben waiting for me inside.
Mamma’s is very quiet today, other than Ben, myself, and the staff, there are no other patrons. Ben’s sitting at a table in the back. As I approach the door, Ben jumps up and comes to open it for me. I’m not even two steps inside when his lips find mine. He’s kissing me slowly and passionately, pouring all his unspoken words into that one embrace in the middle of Mamma’s.
I hear someone clearing their throat and don’t care. I kiss Ben with the same raw passion he’s showing me. When we break free his beautiful, deep blue eyes are heavily lidded with love.
“Thank you for coming to lunch today, Anna.” He guides me to our table and his hand goes to the small of my back.
“As if I’d miss it.” I smile at him and weave our fingers together. We sit at the table just holding each other’s hand and looking into each other’s eyes.
I don’t even see Plastic Tammy, standing there staring at us with her mouth wide open, until the menus hit the table. “That kiss was damn sexy,” she mutters as she tu
rns her back on us to leave.
A laugh escapes from my chest and I raise an eyebrow to Ben. “Apparently that was sexy,” I say and slowly bite my lower lip.
“You have got to stop doing that. It’s hard not jumping up and taking you right here.” I can see he’s struggling, as I consider the concept.
“Anyway, let’s order first.”
Ben understands what I’m saying and leans in over the table and says quietly so Plastic Tammy can’t hear us, “Does that mean you’ll let me take you right here after we order?”
“No, it means I’m damned hungry.” I wink at him and I bite my lower lip again.
Ben shakes his head but his face lights up in a carefree smile.
Plastic Tammy’s approaching the table to get our order when everything stops. Time literally stands still. That familiar feeling of a serpent bite is all over my body. The hairs on the back of my neck stand and I know danger’s here, right now. My Glock is in my bag. I’m reaching for it as I look to see where the danger’s coming from. It all happens in less than a second.
Plastic Tammy is on the floor with a bullet in her heart, I’m leaping for my bag and Ben has his gun out.
I look to the door and see dark sports car guy, also known as Simon the cable guy, holding a G-22 with a silencer screwed on the end of it. He points the gun at me but is shot dead before he gets the round off.
Ben has discharged his weapon and is standing tall with his shoulders back and a menacing look on his face. His features are hard and his eyes are narrowed, his jaw tightly clenched. He stands his full six-foot two-inches tall, and nothing escapes his gaze.
I carefully close my bag and stand to assess the situation. It appears we have two dead people. One’s Plastic Tammy, and the other is Simon the cable guy.
I can’t question him now so I don’t know why or who sent him. But I’m thinking it’s all about that bounty on my head, damn it.
“Baby girl, are you okay?” Ben’s voice is soft as one hand reaches out to grab mine and pull me to him, his other hand still elevated, pointing the gun toward the door in case there’s any further threat to us.
“Of course, Ben. This is just so…” I trail off not knowing what I can safely say so I don’t reveal my true identity to him.
Ben’s eyes dart over me evaluating my demeanor. He’s in full alpha male protector mode. He slowly lowers his weapon once he’s satisfied there’s not another threat. My eyes are trained differently than Ben’s. I’m inspecting everywhere. Ben sweeps me up in a hug and doesn’t let me go.
“I’m sorry you were part of this. I need to call it in.”
As both our bodies relax into one another we hear the sound of the sirens. Maybe the chef or one of the other staff called it in. But Ben’s not letting me go. I turn to look at Plastic Tammy and actually feel regret that she’s lying on the floor not four feet from me, dead. Other than being an idiot she really didn’t do anything to me that would make me wish her dead.
Ben’s hands are running all over my body, in one hand he still has his gun. The feel of his hands and the gun caressing over my body is sensational.
“Don’t look, beautiful. Seeing a dead body for the first time’s very traumatizing. That image will stay with you forever.” If only he knew this was not my first dead body, and it won’t be my last.
At that moment the police come through the front door with weapons drawn. The first in the door is Ethan Martelli. I watch him as he looks at the scene. He sees Simon the cable guy on the floor in front of him with two bullet wounds to his chest, he sees Plastic Tammy lying four feet behind Ben and myself and his eyes dart to me.
He sees how Ben and I are entwined but his eyes are purely on me. He looks over his shoulder and he sees my car out in front. His eyes dart back to me and a small, furious look crosses his features.
He knows I’ve removed the tracking device he had fitted on my car. My face reflects this. The small smile and knowing look in my eyes. The hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention and the serpent-bite feeling’s made its appearance again.
Game on, Ethan Martelli.
“What happened here, Ben?” Ethan’s asking questions, but directing them to Ben only.
“Anna and I were just about to order when that guy busted in, killed the waitress, and then aimed at us. Luckily we were the only patrons in here because it could’ve been messy. Anna ducked behind the chair and I had my gun on me from this morning, so I neutralized him.” Ben has let go of the hug he was giving me but his hand is still tightly holding on to mine.
Thank God he thought I was trying to get cover, and didn’t realize I was going for my Glock.
“I’ll take Anna back to the station so we can get her statement,” Ethan says to Ben. It appears Ethan’s satisfied with a couple of sentences from Ben but wants to get me away from Ben.
That queasy feeling in my stomach starts to strengthen. Not a good idea for me to be alone with Ethan Martelli, because either he or I will end up dead, and it’s most likely going to be him. But the plus side is I should be able to find out more information from him.
“I can drive myself Ethan. I’ll meet you at the police station.”
“Are you in shock? It’s probably not a good idea for you to drive, Anna.” Ben’s eyes are worried as he’s looking at me. Yes, that’s right. I have a part to play until the very end.
“Of course, Ben. Would you mind driving me?”
“I can’t, I need to stay here and oversee the scene. Go with Ethan; he’ll take care of you.” I’m sure he will.
I lean in and give Ben a kiss, and he responds by bringing his arms around my waist and holding me to him.
“Come and get me when you’re done,” I whisper as I look into Ben’s hypnotic, deep blue orbs.
Ethan’s waiting for me at the front door of the restaurant. He’s emotionless, but I know he’s dying to find out as much as he can about me.
I leave Ben’s side and grab my bag, starting toward Ethan. Once outside, Ethan eyes me up and down but says nothing. He’s two steps in front of me and stops abruptly, he turns to face my BMW and says, “Nice car.” This is his way of telling me he knows I’ve taken his GPS device off it.
“I know. Someone messed with it a few days ago, but rest assured, Ethan, I take my safety very seriously.” Yes, this is a game I enjoy playing.
Ethan snickers and leads me to his police cruiser. He opens the back door for me, and I stop. “Sorry Ethan, I didn’t realize you’re arresting me.”
“You’re not under arrest; you’re just coming to the Police Station to fill in your statement.”
I sidestep him and get in the front passenger seat. My bag’s at my side, between the door and my body and I’ve positioned my Glock so I can get to it easily. Ethan comes around the front and slides into the driver’s seat.
“Anna, what were you doing there with Ben?”
“Having lunch.”
“Have you been seeing a lot of Ben?” He leaves Mamma’s and heads toward the station.
“Really, Ethan? You have me in the car all alone with no listening devices and you’re asking me if I’ve been seeing a lot of Ben? I thought a man of your caliber would be asking me questions you know I won’t answer once we’re at the police station. Of course, that’s if you’re taking me to the police station. But you do know that’s where you’re expected to take me, and I’m sure if we don’t show within a reasonable time Ben will come looking for me. I do believe all the police cars are fitted with tracking devices, aren’t they? Ever seen a tracking device Ethan? They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. I may have seen some in my day. So I go back to my original question …really Ethan?” I’m taunting him.
Ethan’s knuckles are white from gripping the wheel so tightly. He’s furious, it’s all over his face. I can see he’s working hard to control his urges to either yell at me or hit me.
“Who are you, Anna Moore?”
“Such a boring question.”
“What question
would you suggest I ask?” His nostrils are flaring in response to my taunting.
“Gee, Ethan, I’m not the police officer. I don’t think I should be doing your job.”
“What are you doing here in St. Cloud?” His questions are rapid.
“Buying a house,” I answer just as quickly.
“What are you doing with Ben?”
“Enjoying myself.”
“What brought you to St. Cloud?”
“Wanting to buy a house.”
“Where do you live?”
“Ethan, really, back to this? Didn’t you do a background check on me?” My question’s rhetorical because we both know he has.
“Fuck, you’re really pissing me off, lady.” He slams on the brakes and pulls over to the side of the road. He’s just about to get out of the car when my phone rings. It’s the burner phone. I answer it before Ethan has a chance to get it out of my hand.
“Hi, baby. Ethan’s just pulled over for a moment. I’m sure we’ll be at the station within the next five minutes. How’s it going there?” I give Ben everything he needs to know and Ethan’s face is fierce with anger.
“Why has Ethan pulled over?” Ben asks, sounding worried.
“I’m not sure. Here, speak to Ethan.”
I hand the phone over and Ethan takes it, smoothly saying, “Hi, Ben. I thought I hit an animal.” His voice says one thing but his eyes say something different. “Yes, Ben.” And with that he snaps my phone shut, but keeps it. I smile to myself knowing I’ve gotten under his skin.
“So, Anna, you’re just about to tell me everything I need to know about you. Because it’s occurred to you I did a back ground check on you and there’s fuck-all information on you. I think you know that, of course, and I think that’s what you want people to see when they search for you. But I fucking know you’re lying about everything. I know you’re not who you say you are.” His anger is almost uncontrollable. This is fun.
The HiT Series Page 10