by Amy McKinley
Need and desire consumed me, and any internal battle to slow things down went up in flames. When his tongue teased the seam of my mouth, I opened for him. He slanted his lips over mine, urgency guiding both of our reactions. Tingles spread from his touch, and I tangled my tongue with his. He applied gentle pressure on the back of my neck to draw me closer, and I flattened myself against him, moaning at the contact. With each ridge, dip, and swell of muscle, I had to fight the small amount of awareness I had not to squirm against him.
I’d never imagined a kiss like that in my wildest dreams—all-consuming, uninhibited, and passionate.
Pinpricks of sand hit our lower legs, followed by the giggle of children, and with reluctance, we parted. We both breathed heavily as the world filtered back in, and I hurried to put some distance between us. Desire swirled in his gaze, and I swayed closer, wanting to fall back into his more-than-capable embrace.
I pressed my fingers to my swollen lips, where I could still feel him, missing his touch already. And I made a decision. I could be alone like my aunt, or I could trust once more, risking my heart and possibly much more. Because I knew from that kiss that if I wasn’t careful, I could lose myself in him.
10
Riley
Work was a blur in more ways than one. I couldn’t stop thinking about spending time with Xander at the beach the day before… or that kiss. It was a good thing I was done for the day and almost home.
I tripped going up the second-floor stairs. My arm shot out, gripping the railing to prevent an unfortunate face-plant. Laughing, I shook my head, grateful that no one witnessed that stellar moment. I jogged up the rest of the way, in too good a mood to let anything get to me.
If only I could have hung onto that feeling.
I rounded the corner and skidded to a stop. My gaze locked on my apartment door, and I froze. It was open. My heart thudded inside my chest, echoing in my ears. The first time the door had been shut, but not this time. It wasn’t a coincidence. I refused to believe that.
Terror crawled over my skin like a thousand fire ants. With hands that shook, I pulled my cell phone from my pocket and pressed 9-1-1. When the operator came on the line, I told her what had happened, where I was, and that I didn’t feel safe going in there. She told me to leave the building and wait for the officer outside. It would only be a matter of minutes, she said, as an officer a few blocks away was responding.
I flew down the stairs as if someone was on my heels. The entire way, I fought the urge to look over my shoulder. Tears streamed down my face, and I swiped them away then burst through the entrance doors. Air sawed in and out of my lungs, and once outside, I let myself look behind me. No one was there.
Time passed slowly, and I didn’t ease my tight grip on my phone until the awaited police car rolled to a stop in front of me, the word “police” clear on the side. I took a half step forward then jolted to a standstill, unsure of what I should do. Wait for them to come to me? Probably. I shoved my phone into my pocket and clasped my hands tightly together to still the tremor.
The squad car door opened, and a uniformed officer got out then rounded the front of the vehicle and stood before me. I had enough sense to register how attractive he was but little else. Nothing mattered. I wanted—no, needed—to feel safe. On the heels of that thought came Xander and the urge to call him. Even after such a short time knowing him, I’d latched on to the ease with which he took charge and how safe I felt near him. But with the hot cop in front of me, I forced myself to release my hands from the tight fists I’d been making.
He flashed identification, and I caught something military on there in my hasty glance. It was odd, but in the moment, I didn’t really care. I needed help.
“I’m Jaxon. Are you the one who called in the break-in?”
“Yes.” I stuck my hand out to him, surprised by how much he looked like Xander. Maybe this is his brother. “Riley. I live on the third floor.”
“Are you all right?”
I nodded. “Just nervous.” Mentally, I shook my head at the way my thoughts were ping-ponging.
Jaxon smiled. “That’s understandable.” His lips curved into a smile that I was sure was meant to put me at ease. It didn’t work, though. I was incredibly stressed, and I wasn’t sure what waited for me when I entered my apartment.
“Let’s go take a look.” I let him know that the elevator was ancient, and instead, we climbed the stairs together in silence, which I preferred. I had to quicken my pace to match his longer legs. When we got to my door, which still stood ajar, he turned to me. “Wait here for a minute while I do a sweep inside to make sure no one is there.”
I nodded and tucked myself against the wall by the side of my door. He didn’t have to tell me twice. There was no way I would go in there. If someone was waiting… I shuddered at the thought of what could have happened.
A few minutes passed before he came out and gave me the all-clear and instructions not to touch anything. I walked the apartment with him by my side, checking to see whether anything was missing or stood out to me as significant.
When I came to my bedroom and found my clothes strewn about, slashed, I swayed on my feet. He grasped my elbow and assured me that it would be all right. A detective was on the way, along with a photographer.
Will it be okay? I hoped so. Again, Charles and his quick temper flashed briefly in my mind, but I kept it to myself. I was confident that he wouldn’t have destroyed my clothes or anything else. It wasn’t how he operated.
As it was Sunday and likely that the other residents could have seen something, the officer had one of his team go door-to-door and question them. The lock had been tampered with, and he roused the landlord to change it while he waited. It was good that Jaxon was there, but I also wanted everyone to leave so I could fall apart without witnesses. My growing feeling of vulnerability and the sense that something bad was coming were like monkeys on my back. Thankfully, my wine was intact. I planned on having a large glass or maybe the whole bottle once they cleared out.
Soon after we entered, a team came in and processed the break-in. What felt like horrific days had only been hours. Jaxon motioned for me to move to the side of the room with him. I followed then leaned up against the wall.
“Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”
“That’s fine.” I shoved my hands into the back pockets of my jeans, not knowing what to do with them.
“Were you home when the break-in occurred?”
What? “Um, no. I came home from work, and the door was open.” I decided it was best to withhold that the door had been unlocked the other day. He was giving me a standoffish vibe, and I didn’t want to deal with the same accusations that it was my fault that Charles had leveled.
“Did you go into your apartment when you first learned it was tampered with?” His dark eyes had intensified, and that same sense of security I felt with Xander washed over me, just without the instant attraction. They had to be related.
“No. I called 9-1-1, and the operator instructed me to wait for you outside.”
“Does anyone live with you or have keys to your apartment?”
Thank God I never gave Charles a key. That was one thing I didn’t need to worry about. “No. I live alone, and no one has access other than the landlord.” I wanted to head off more of the questions. “I know I locked the door behind me when I left for work at five this morning. No windows were open or unlocked.”
He nodded, and I was struck again by how much he reminded me of Xander. Not a bad thing at all.
“Did you notice anyone different in the building or driving away when you came outside?”
“No.” I shifted then tightly clasped my hands once more to stop my nervous movements.
“Any salespeople or contractors in the last couple of days?”
“No.”
“Is this the first time this has happened? And do you have any idea who may have broken in?”
Charles crossed my mind, but that would ha
ve been too weird. It wasn’t something he was capable of. Nor did I want to draw attention to him and risk his career, no matter how upset with him I was on a personal level. Having the police question him, possibly on campus, wouldn’t be a good scenario. “No.” Besides, he would have been in class while I was working. I dismissed the passing thought. It wouldn’t have been possible. I didn’t want to lie, though. “It was open one other time, but nothing was missing or disturbed. It’s possible that I forgot to lock the door.”
Nothing appeared to be missing, but the crime felt very personal, and Jaxon was concerned, asking if there was someone I could stay with. Ava was married, and I didn’t think she was a possibility as she traveled a lot, and I didn’t want to be alone with her husband. I thought of Xander and the island, but I barely knew him. Instead, I convinced myself that I would be fine alone—I hope.
11
Xander
I stood with Tyler just outside of the burger joint where we’d had lunch. We were both frustrated with how Daryl was running things. Our unit was tight, and the recent deaths and changes in leadership were taking a toll.
“Are you coming out to the island to give me a hand with the reno?” I didn’t need the help, but I wanted to keep him close. I was worried about him—about all of us. The problems and ambushes we’d encountered made things feel unstable. I couldn’t lose my brothers. My chest got tight any time I thought about how I’d had Kyle in a fireman’s carry after he’d been hit hardest from the blast. When I’d first gotten him over my shoulder, he’d been alive—barely. By the time we’d made it back to the extraction point, he wasn’t.
“Not until later. Besides, aren’t you trying to get your girl there?” His grin widened, and he leaned against the brick wall of the restaurant.
Riley—yeah, I wanted her there with me. She invaded my thoughts all too often. She wasn’t native to Hawaii, but she had similar hair, long and dark, hypnotizing whiskey-colored eyes, full, pouty lips, and a long, lean body with just the right curves. I always wanted her.
“Hey, isn’t that Mark?” Ty turned his head as two guys left the mosque across the way.
“Looks like him.” The guy he was with triggered my instincts, none of them good. He was close to the same height as Mark, with the same dark wavy hair and similar facial features. The difference was in the way he moved, the hardened gaze when he spotted us, and the way he pushed in toward Mark to mumble something that wouldn’t carry.
Ty raised his hand and shouted across the street.
Mark noticed us then said goodbye to his friend, who turned and went back inside. Mark jogged across the street to us. “Did you eat there?” He indicated the restaurant behind us. “I love that place.”
“Yeah, it’s great.” Ty sounded distracted, but his eyes were sharp. “Who was that guy you were talking to?”
“Nasir.” Mark flashed a wide smile. “Turns out we’re related. How crazy is that?”
“Very,” Ty replied.
I let my brother pursue it without intervening. He usually had an angle and filed data away for when it was needed.
“I met him through Anna.” Even when he shrugged, he couldn’t diminish how obviously happy he was, how content. “I wanted to meet up with you, so this works out well. Anna hasn’t noticed anything, but she’s concerned about how things went in Colombia.” A flash of pain briefly crossed his features before he masked it. “She and Kyle were close, so she’s invested too.”
“We’ll get to the bottom of it.” Ty went to punch his arm but pulled back at the last second, turning it into a light tap. “I’ve got to head out. Glad to see things are going well for you. Later, Mark.”
We said our goodbyes, then Ty and I headed to my truck so I could drop him back at base. We didn’t speak until we were inside with the doors closed. “That was painful.”
“No shit. Kyle was a major problem for Mark.” Ty snapped his seat belt in place. “With both of them on the lookout for a money trail or any communications that’ll help us figure this out, we should hear something.”
I hoped so, and before it was too late.
Riley
Brushstrokes of deep red, pink, and orange painted the sky and reflected across the shifting ocean as the sun’s fiery orb sank below the horizon. The beauty soothed my troubled soul, the gentle breeze promised change, and the wine lulled me into a semblance of calm after the meltdown I’d had when the last officer left my apartment.
Through swollen, irritated eyes, I followed the path of a night heron as it dove at a sharp angle then broke the surface of the water, emerging with its prey in its mouth. I felt like that unlucky fish, waiting for the next unexpected attack, which I hoped with everything in me wouldn’t come. But superstitions were hard to shake, and for me, things always happened in threes—sometimes double that.
There were only two weeks left of classes and then graduation. I took another sip of my cabernet, enjoying how its warm spice danced over my tongue. When life was so unstable, it was easier to appreciate the little things like a gorgeous sunset, a beautiful night, and good wine. I’d thought, with Charles, that I’d found that elusive security and partnership I’d craved since having to move in with my aunt all those years ago. I had been so wrong. I pursed my lips and glanced at the beach not far from my apartment as a couple walked hand in hand, the woman’s musical laughter reaching my ears. I longed for what they appeared to have.
Chimes sounded from my phone, and I jolted as the noise pierced my semi-relaxed state, causing several drops of red to splash over my pink pajama pants. Scowling, I brushed at them, making the situation worse. Ignoring the stain for a minute, I set my wine on the end table and picked up my phone. I swiped at the answer button to accept the call after seeing that it was Ava.
I forced a lightness to my voice when I heard hers, as I desperately wanted to pretend everything was normal. She wasn’t buying it, especially when an unwelcome tremor stole into my greeting.
“What happened?” Ava demanded.
When she used that tone, I knew there was no pretending everything was fine. She would hound me until I spilled the details. Resigned, I recounted what had happened that afternoon, down to the torn clothes and none of the neighbors seeing or hearing anything unusual.
“Are you all right?”
I pushed my hair back from my face, giving her question a little bit of thought. “Yes.” I was shaken up, but I wasn’t physically hurt.
“I can cut my trip short, come home early, and stay with you. I could be there by tomorrow morning.”
My heart swelled at her offer. “Thank you, but I’ll be fine.” And I would be. Whatever was happening would not break me. That had happened a long time ago, and I’d picked up the pieces that were salvageable and was stronger for it.
She launched another inquisition to ensure I was indeed okay, and then we chatted for a few more minutes. It was good to hear her voice, and I laughed at the awkward situation she’d found herself in when the head of the convention center caught her geeking out in sweats with her hair a mess, reading her favorite book. It wasn’t the professional image she tended to portray. I needed to get a copy of that book. She swore by the author, C. Marx, and if anything could ruffle Ava’s immaculate appearance, I wanted to check it out too.
I was laughing at another story she shared when someone pounded on the door to my apartment.
“Are you expecting anyone?” Ava’s sharp words added to my spiked anxiety.
“No,” I whispered. “Maybe I should ignore them. They’ll go away.”
“I think you should answer it.”
“What? Why?” I could hear her tapping a pen on a hard surface.
“I’ll be listening with you, and if it’s anyone threatening, I’ll call the police immediately. Plus, they won’t try anything while you’re on the phone.”
I wasn’t so sure about that, but I got up and made my way to the door anyway. Even so, I wasn’t going to open it without knowing who was there first. “Who�
��s there?”
“It’s me, Riley. Open up.”
I rested my head against the door as both relief and aggravation washed over me. What is Charles doing here?
“Well?” Ava asked.
I’d forgotten she was on the phone. “It’s Charles. I’ll let you go, but thanks for being there for me, Aves.”
“Pfff. As if I wouldn’t be. And why are you letting him in? I thought you kicked him to the curb and were dating the hottie instead.”
I grinned at her descriptions. “Yes to both, but I’m taking things slow. I’ll find out what Charles wants then get rid of him.” A small part of me was still suspicious, and I wanted to see his reaction in case he had been the one responsible for breaking in.
“Stay strong.”
“Most definitely.” I said goodbye and hung up before opening the door for Charles. I stepped back, and he walked in. I’d already picked up the mess, stuffed the slashed clothes into a garbage bag, and tossed it in the dumpster, where I wouldn’t have to be reminded of them again.
I shut the door and crossed my arms. “What are you doing here?”
He pivoted and faced me, his appearance disheveled. There were bags under his eyes. He looked tired. “I came so we could talk about what’s going on with you. So we can fix things.”
Why won’t he take no for an answer? Using the element of surprise, I asked the only question I cared about. “Did you break into my apartment?”
His head jerked back as if I’d slapped him. “This again? Why would I do that? And when would I have time to, if it was even in the realm of possibilities, which it isn’t because that’s idiotic.” He shook his head. “This is so typic—”