But then he walks over to me and cups my face gently in his large, warm hands. “I’ve fallen for you. You’re under my skin. You’re mine, and I’m not letting you go. Do you understand me, Gia? You’re mine. I don’t share.”
Nodding my head, I go back into his arms and hold on tight. “I love you, Hunter. It was breaking my heart thinking that you didn’t want me.”
He laughs. “Haven’t I just shown you how much I want you. God, Babe, I don’t have the strength to walk away from you. I’m going to have to go into the office to sort paperwork out, but you’re coming with me. Unless it’s an assignment, you come with me everywhere.” He kisses me on my forehead. “This is what I meant when I said we need to talk. I want you with me Gia, and I’m too damn old to live with your father so we need to find somewhere else, and fast. Somewhere that has security.”
I start laughing. “You really are serious? You want me.”
“Woman, you are seriously going to piss me off if you don’t start believing I’m fucking in love with you.”
Hunter slams his lips down onto mine, and when I open my lips, he slips his tongue between and savors my taste.
“I’m going to be sharing your bed until we find somewhere, and this time there will be nothing innocent about it,” he says.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Turn the page for the story to continue with Hunter…
HUNTER
13
12 months later
Hunter
I close my eyes and pray that the asshole beneath my hidden position on the fire escape finishes soon otherwise this alley is going to get crowded. Hearing Lex through my earpiece, breathing heavily before he gives in, laughing his ass off at my predicament makes me want to curse.
Asshole!
“I’m jealous, Alpha1, you have a first class seat to the porn show and you’re not watching? What the hell is wrong with you?” Lex complains in my ear, followed by Derek’s dime, “He has a sexy woman already, he doesn’t need to watch.”
“Fucker!” I hiss, really wanting to tell them to go fuck themselves, but I’m not going to be the one to screw this surveillance. Once it’s over Derek’s face is going to become one with my fist. No one ever, talks about my wife, Gia. He shouldn’t have even mentioned her over the Coms unit. No personal information or names to be used. The fact that Derek even noticed Gia pisses me the fuck off though.
“Alpha1,” Colin growls from the dark surveillance van tracking all movement in the alley. No doubt they’re getting a show from the couple under my position. “Get them out of there.”
Is he fucking kidding me?
I glare in the direction of one of the cameras and shake my head, holding out the fingers on one hand. With the moaning and the breathy ‘oh baby’ crap that’s coming out of the guys mouth he’s about to blow his load, thank fuck!
Then with gasps and moans, I brave looking beneath me, and witness their completion before all movement ceases. The guy has his face planted in the neck of the woman but his hands continue to massage her huge breasts and then his hips start moving again.
“Are you fucking kidding me,” Colin yells down the earpiece. “Alpha1,” he hisses, his temper barely restrained, “Break. It. Up. Now.”
Fuck!
Looking at the high heavens, I pray for a miracle, but none are coming my way as the thrusting beneath me picks up pace.
“Where the fuck does he get that stamina?” Lex mumbles, and I’m not sure if he remembers he’s on a communication unit with the rest of us.
There’s chuckling over the waves before another growl of, “Alpha1,” pierces our eardrums.
While more jesting at Lex’s comment carries on, all I can think about is the fact that Gia is going to get a good laugh out of all this when I tell her.
Shaking my head, I unfurl my large frame from my hidden position, and consider how I’m going to get down without terrifying them both or risk being seen from the street. Rolling my eyes, there’s only one quick way down so I grab hold of the railing and spring over, landing silently behind the bare thrusting ass of the guy.
Standing to my full height, I quickly glance up and down the dark alley and then clear my throat.
Thrust. Grunt. “Oh, fuck.” Slap. Grunt. “I’m going to come.”
As the woman starts moaning and jerking in his arms, I clear my throat louder and think why me when the asshole turns, his cock hard as fuck, coming all over his dropped jeans.
The woman is still clueless as to my presence but the man yanks his jeans up before he turns and yanks the woman’s dress down to cover her ass. “Cover up,” he hisses, before turning her around.
She notices me, pauses, and takes her time covering her ample chest. “You like what you see?”
“I do,” Lex whispers through the coms.
I cover up my whispered, “Asshole,” with a cough behind my hand. “You need to get out of here.”
Taking the woman by her arm, I escort them over to the opposite building, shoving them inside. “They’re your problem now,” I hiss at two DEA agents. They haven’t commented but I heard their amusement loud and clear.
Checking for signs of movement, I dash back to the fire escape and reaching high, pull myself up and clear just as the sound of two cars coming down the alley hits my ear drums. Quickly taking cover in the shadows, I tune out the chatter in my ear and wait, knowing that the other agents who are out here with me have switched back into professionals. Then Colin’s sharp, “Silent,” stops all chatter, and now only warnings or commands will be spoken.
Adrenaline thrums through my body as the cars stop five feet in front of the fire escape. The silence can sometimes be deafening.
A large heavily armed man straightens from the lead vehicle. He’s built like a sumo wrestler and I’m betting he likes to use his brawn to do his bosses dirty work. Joe Abatangelo. The asshole I first became acquainted with back in Lexington when the fucker had something to do with the kidnapping of Rosie McKenzie. Not only that, but he had been due to appear before my wife’s father, Jarrod Carrington, in the high court in Houston for numerous counts of drug and human trafficking charges—he of course had escaped and the guard who’d helped him, had been found dead.
So thanks to an informant we where hopefully in the right place at the right time, freezing our asses off in Dallas to put the bastard behind bars once and for all and the more of his men that happened to be taken into custody with him the better.
The thing is that being in this alley doesn’t feel right to me. Abatangelo has never been known for doing grunt work before so why would he do it now? Something doesn’t add up and when Sumo does a one-eighty I’m pretty sure his gaze briefly skims over my location. The man seems to glance at every known location that an agent is using for cover.
Keeping my silence, I find that I’m not sure of the next move to make. By Sumo’s actions I’m fairly certain that we’ve been led on a wild-goose chase and keeping my temper in check is getting near impossible.
The insistent buzzing in my ear is driving me crazy, and then the orders come through, “Alpha1, stay in position.” That’s all I really hear as Colin continues giving orders to the agents on the ground and the sharpshooters on the roof. Then silence follows, which isn’t unusual but something feels off to me, and I’m not referring to the bad guys beneath me.
Because why the fuck would I be asked to effectively stand down when I’m one of the lead agents? It makes no sense and pisses me off. But before any ‘move in’ orders come through Sumo gets back into the car as though he has all day and slowly pulls down the alley and then out to the street.
“What the fuck?” I hiss while my eyes stay glued to the idling vehicle.
The fear in my belly increases and then when I witness agents slowly moving in toward the remaining vehicle it hits me that I’ve been completely left out of whatever is now taking place.
Unease slithers down my spine as Lex reaches for the drivers’ door
, but he stops suddenly when there’s a shout of, “No,” from within the vehicle. My head snaps to the window as my eyes desperately search for a view of the woman. But then Lex slowly glances up to me, and I know with that look that my whole world is about to fall apart.
14
Gia
Tonight has got to be the most terrifying night of my life, and considering I’ve been kidnapped and shot in the past, that’s definitely saying something.
I’d been at home putting together our evening meal when a man who could probably crush my skull with only one of his hands had appeared. In seconds he had me subdued, telling me that my father would die unless I did exactly what was asked.
How I’d managed to keep the vehicle on the road when he’d told me I had to drive it without deviating off course was a damn miracle. My only problem now as tears stream down my face is for me to wonder if I climb from the vehicle will it explode? I have no idea what they wanted from my father or even if they really did have him. My confusion deepens when armed men wearing black jackets and ball caps with either DEA or US Marshal in large letters across the front, slowly approach.
One agent that I recognize, but can’t name in my panic, reaches for the door but my frantic waving and screamed, “No,” stops him cold as his eyes meet mine before he looks above him.
I try to peer out of the window to see what has his attention and then the person I love most in the world comes into my line of sight and the fragile hold on my emotions breaks free as I start to sob.
Hunter jumps down from the fire escape and after exchanging words with his friend tries to conceal how terrified he is, which he obviously doesn’t succeed at. My hand reaches up and rests against the window while my husband crouches down and covers my hand on his side of the window.
“We’re going to get you out of here,” he drops his head, hiding his emotions from me—I know him well—before he meets my gaze. “What did he wire, Gia? Did you see what he did?”
I shake my head, my lips quivering while I try to put a lid on my fear for now, to help him get me free. “I didn’t see all of what he did, but he said if I open the door the car would explode.”
Hunter nods and his eyes search mine while he lets me see all the love that he has for me. I put my face to the door and press a kiss to the window. “I love you,” I barely whisper through my tears.
His fist clench as he whispers, “You are not saying goodbye to me, Gia. This is not goodbye…Fuck!” His head bows but shoots up when his friend whispers something to him.
“Get the seatbelt off, Gia.” I blink but I completely trust him so I quickly remove the belt, and the next thing the doors are yanked open and Hunter has me in his arms as everyone races to safety.
Hunter crouches down behind a dumpster seconds after the dark and silent night is lit up with a thunderous explosion followed by orange flames and the smell of burning fuel.
My body starts to shake and then big wracking sobs take over. Hunter whispers how much he loves me and other soothing words as he holds me close. It takes time but my sobs slowly ebb and I realize that Hunter now sits on the ground with me curled on his lap, a blanket thrown over us. After rubbing a tissue over my face, I lift my head and meet the red swollen eyes of the man who holds my heart in his hands. I reach up with my cold hands and covering the scruff on his cheeks, bring his lips to mine. Our whisper of a kiss as he inhales me into his lungs is more precious to me than anything else.
“I thought I was never going to see you again,” I admit and watch him swallow back his own anguish.
“I would have been with you, Gia. I wasn’t going to leave you alone.” He crushes me against his chest and when I turn and straddle him, I’m so close that I’m sure he’s trying to drag me inside of him. “We have confirmation that your dad is fine. He hasn’t had any trouble but Julian is on his way to make sure it stays that way.”
Nodding, I stay buried in his neck. “I never want to leave your arms again,” I whisper softly across his skin.
“God, I can’t believe I’m holding you,” Hunter mumbles. “We’re going away, Gia. I refuse to risk your life.”
“You’ll be with me, right? You’re not sending me to some safe house, alone?”
“I said we. No way in hell am I leaving you alone again,” he admits, roughly. “You’ll be sick of me,” he jokes, trying to comfort me.
“No chance, buster.” I sit back on his legs and caress his face with my eyes before my fingers reach out and trace along his lips. They move across his cheekbones and the bump of his nose before I run my fingers along his eyebrows. With my thumbs resting at the side of his eyes, I brush my fingers through his dark hair and holding him steady, I seal my lips to his. Our kiss starts off gentle and loving but soon it becomes heated with longing and relief that we’re both still alive.
A throat being cleared rather loudly behind me helps to clear the lust from my brain. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and bury my face into his neck. One of his hands continues to hold me tightly to him on my back and the other cups the back of my head.
“Gia is in his sights because of me, and her father. I’m not risking him getting his hands on her again.” Hunter nudges me closer. “I’m taking her away and until the bastard is apprehended I don’t want anyone to know where we are.”
The man he’s talking with sighs. “I don’t like the idea of you being out there alone without any chance of back up, Hunter.”
I recognize that voice. “Uncle Colin?” I lift my head and find my uncle behind me, using his walking stick more strongly than usual.
He holds his hand out, helping me up and then I’m wrapped in a warm bear hug. “I’m glad you’re safe, munchkin.”
I smile at his affection for me that he’s used since I was born.
When I glance at Hunter he’s watching me closely, so I wrap an arm around his waist and sigh when his arm puts me tightly against his side.
“You know where I’m taking her.” Hunter holds Colin’s gaze and then when Colin seems to understand the silent message, Hunter adds, “We’re leaving now and will buy anything we need on the way.”
“You have cash?”
“Enough,” Hunter replies. “How did you know about Gia?”
“Abatangelo called me directly to let me know—taunt me because he knows of my connection to Gia. I knew I had to leave you out of the initial approach. I couldn’t risk it as I’m sure you’re well aware of by now.”
Hunter nods as his body quivers. I move in front of him and wrap myself around his body for a tight albeit brief hug before he has us on the move.
“Stay against me, honey.” His words tell me that he’s using himself as a human shield to protect me. I also know that it’s pointless arguing with him. I’ve tried before and my husband can be stubborn when it comes to my safety.
Once we’re in another vehicle and leaving the city, I point out, “Your life is worth the same to me as mine is to you.” He grunts in response, so I add, “I thought you should know as you don’t seem to.”
He glances at me before he sighs and his hands clench around the wheel. “Right now, I’m trying to hold it together. That asshole had you and tried to kill you. I want to rip his heart out with my bare hands for coming after the woman I can’t live without… So, if I’m being overbearing, I’m sorry. I love you and want nothing more than to make love to you before I hold you in my arms all night long. Before I do that I need to be as far away from the city as possible…and for the record, I know you think our lives are worth the same.” He smiles softly once his rant is over.
I fold my arms against my chest and the next thing I know I’m softly crying, and Hunter’s cursing.
He tugs me into his side and stays quiet while I continue with the water works. I’m not usually a crier, but I’m not usually promised with never seeing my husband again either. When the tears finally stop, I ask, “Why do you think they did what they did tonight? I mean my father hasn’t had any trouble and all the horrid man d
id was make me follow him and rig the car on a timer to blow.”
“God, don’t remind me.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just trying to understand what’s really going on here, because other than making us run, what’s been accomplished by what happened earlier?”
“You have a point and I’ll think more on it once we’re at the cabin.”
I frown. “What cabin?”
He quickly glances at me offering a wicked grin. “You’ll see.”
15
Hunter
Gia sleeps softly in my arms while I haven’t been able to drift off. The thought that she could have been permanently taken from me earlier is weighing heavily on my mind. I’m furious that I hadn’t been home to protect her, and I’m terrified that one day someone might succeed in taking her from me.
Nuzzling into the hair at the nape of her neck, I inhale her light scent into my lungs and feel my heart turn over. This woman, my wife, means more to me than I ever thought possible, and if she weren’t so tired I’d have been making love to her all night long.
But the stress of the evening and then the long drive had completely knocked her out, and she hadn’t even stirred when I’d carried her into the bedroom, or when I’d stripped her so that she’d be more comfortable.
My mind won’t shut down as I try and decide what to do to not only keep her safe, but to get the asshole responsible back behind bars where he belongs. Colin has promised to come up with a plan and I know he’s trying to get permission from his bosses so that Julian can officially work for them on this case. Julian has always been there for me and he’s one of the only men I’d trust with my life, and Gia’s too. Hopefully it won’t come to that with whatever planning is going on.
My eyes begin to close and that’s when Gia mumbles in her sleep as she turns in my arms. I let my hand caress down her back to the sweet curve of her bottom, pulling her completely into me. I’m no longer tired as her breasts press into my chest and my cock slides between her thighs to lay snug against her warm pussy. I tug her leg over my hip and slowly rock, enjoying the slow building heat throughout my body. When Gia reaches behind me and digs her short nails into my ass my dick turns to granite.
Lawful: Gia ~ Hunter ~ Julian ~ Jarrod Page 8