Gia gets on her hands and knees while I try to think if I noticed Carrie without both earrings.
“I can’t see anything,” Gia admits, climbing to her feet.
“I’m really sorry,” Carrie says. “I didn’t think anything of them.”
“It’s not your fault,” Gia offers while I’m not too sure about that.
“You had both when you arrived here…when Julian took you upstairs you only had one. That means it’s here somewhere.” I run my hands through my hair and hold Gia’s gaze.
I hate seeing her worry and the last thing I ever wanted was to bring her into my world, but that’s what has happened. I really hate that.
She intertwines our fingers together. “It’s going to be okay.” She reaches up and places a sweet kiss to my lips, and hovers there. “I love you,” she whispers.
I cup her face. “The last thing I want is for you to be anywhere that they can get to you.”
Julian interrupts our moment. “No sign of the damn thing, but it could be anywhere.” He stands with his hands on his hips.
My arm goes around Gia. “I’m getting Gia out of here.”
“I’m not leaving.” Gia gives me a pleading look. “I don’t want to be away from you…and don’t tell me you plan on staying with me. I know you too well. You’d take me some place safe and come back here and wait. That’s not happening.” She buries her face in my chest, the wetness from her tears seeps through my shirt. “Please Hunter. I need you safe too,” she adds, softly.
“This is all my fault,” Carrie sobs into her hands, dropping her forehead to the table.
I want to reassure her that it isn’t, and deep down I know it isn’t her fault, but I can’t get the words out because we brought her to the house and now Gia’s safety is compromised.
“It’s not your fault,” Julian snaps in anger, lifting his eyes to the ceiling.
“We need to get Gia to some place safe before we worry about this house being compromised,” Jarrod says. “Plus, she’s been here since last night so they’ll know where she is by now…and they would’ve known that this is my home before you even met Carrie.”
“God, I hate it when you’re right.” I usher Gia into a chair at the table. “Stay put while I go and check something with Julian.”
She opens her mouth to disagree and I seal it shut with my lips. “Please, Gia. I won’t leave you. I promise.” I kiss her forehead and nod my head for Julian to follow me.
22
Gia
“Wait!” Carrie shouts, lifting eyes full of tears to look at Hunter and Julian. “They made me do it.”
My blood runs cold at her words…she can’t mean… “You made everything up?”
She rapidly shakes her head as Hunter and Julian slowly approaches.
“Tell us,” I ask. “Please, Carrie. Why would you lie when they can help you?”
“They threatened my sister’s life.” She cries. “They said if I didn’t do exactly as they said that they’d ship her out of the country and I’d never see her again. They discovered your friend was telling you things so they took his fourteen-year-old daughter. They’re evil and I’ll do anything to save my sister. I figured if I did everything that they said that I could tell you the truth and you’d help get her free, except,” she cries some more and eventually calms down, “I didn’t know how to tell you the truth after I’d already lied to you.” She then quickly adds, “I only lied about the way I got to you and what was said. Everything I told you about my sister and what I’ve been through is the truth…Oh, God. You don’t think they have a voice thingy? You know so that they hear what we’re saying?” She cries.
“Nothing would work inside the house, right Dad?” I add, looking at my father for confirmation.
He nods his head. “After what happened to Gia, Hunter had a friend install a new security system and part of that means that any transmitters get scrambled as soon as they’re carried through the front door.”
“That’s good right?” Carrie asks.
I sense Hunter trying to control his temper and I know a lot of that is because of my safety, and because Carrie has lied to him. Watching him, I move closer and wrap my arms around his waist. “Think about it,” I plead, holding his gaze, “he knows that we’re in town—that I’m sure of. If anyone wants to know then it’s easy to find out my father’s address. So really, they don’t know anything that they didn’t before.”
Julian sighs. “She’s right.”
“Let’s get back to your sister.” Hunter looks at Carrie. “Do you know where she is?”
I move toward the fridge and grab some sausage and eggs because we’re all going to need something to eat, so I might as well get the lunch started.
“I don’t know. They used Facetime to show me that she was still alive… She begged me to help her.”
I glance at Carrie and a tear slips down her face before I move my gaze to my husband.
He’s still angry at what she did, and I know him as he tries to accept why Carrie lied to him. If she hasn’t compromised my safety then he’d be more accepting. That I do know.
Catching my gaze across the kitchen, Hunter winks at me causing delight to bubble up inside of me as I turn and quickly lay the sausages on the large griddle. I beat the eggs in a large jug, shoving it in the microwave to scramble. I smile at my father as he sets the bread up ready to be toasted.
Although I don’t like the reason why we’re back at my old home with my father, I’m glad that we’re here because I miss him. We talk and maybe exchange a text or two daily, but it isn’t the same as being in the same room.
After mixing the eggs one final time, I walk over to my dad and wrap my arms around his waist, sighing against his chest when he holds me tight. He kisses the top of my head, and whispers, “Are you all right?”
“Mmm, as long as the most important people in my life are, then I am.”
“It isn’t just us out there trying to put a stop to him,” my father whispers. “Colin has men working around the clock as well as the Feds.”
“I know.” I sigh. “It just feels like we’re the only ones, you know?”
“I do know.” Dad kisses my forehead before putting me at arms length. “Let’s get the breakfast plated up.”
We do just that and I take my seat next to Hunter. Carrie eats better than she did the night before and I have a feeling that has more to do with the fact that she’s finally admitted the truth to us.
“What are we going to do now?” I ask once Hunter and Julian have cleared their plates.
“We’re going to give Carrie over to Colin who has protection set up for her, and I’m going to ask him for backup around here,” Hunter answers. “Then, we’re going to put more pressure on the street to find him.”
“Earring,” Julian says, drawing all eyes to himself.
“What about it?” Hunter queries.
“We’re still missing one.” Julian stares at Carrie who looks nervous.
“Carrie? Did you tell us everything?” I ask, a bad feeling settles into the pit of my stomach.
“Parker,” she whispers.
I quickly glance at Julian and see real fear on his face. “What?” he says the word sounding lethal.
“I’m sorry. It’s in Parker’s bag.” Carrie starts crying again, and this time I’m sure it’s out of fear of Julian than about anything she’s done.
Julian pushes back from the table sending his chair flying backwards, and when he leans on the kitchen table, both of his fists are clenched as his head dips to his chest.
He breathes deeply and finally looks at a terrified Carrie. “If anything happens to her, I’m turning you back over to them.” He turns and heads out of the kitchen with Hunter close on his tail.
Turn the page for the story to continue in Julian…
JULIAN
23
Julian
Heading toward the front door to go after Parker, Hunter grabs ahold of my arm, lost in my temper, I sw
ing for him, but luckily he dodges my fist. I close my eyes and try to rein in my emotion, trying not to think about what that bitch, Carrie, has done.
“I’m coming with you,” Hunter adds in a voice that means he won’t be swayed otherwise.
I snap my eyes open and meet his. “I’m sorry.” I exhale in frustration. “I appreciate the backup, but I’d feel better if you stayed here and made sure Gia is okay.” Hunter opens his mouth to protest. “Don’t Hunter. You know I’m right. She certainly can’t come with us, and even though her father is here, your head would be here with her… I’ll call if I need help.”
Hunter laughs. “You won’t call.”
I smirk. “Know me too well, huh?”
He nods.
“Look, with a bit of luck I’m going to find Parker and bring her back here whether she wants to come or not.” He shrugs. “If I need to use force then I will, but she’s going to be safe even if she never talks to me again.”
Hunter holds my gaze. “Go… If you’re not back in an hour, I’m coming after you.”
“I can live with that.” With one last look at Hunter, I head out, and minutes later I’m speeding toward Parker’s house.
The stubborn woman had gotten under my skin from the moment we’d met when I appeared to help Hunter protect Gia, over twelve months ago now. I tried to put her out of my mind because of the difference in our ages, but this time around she’d wiggled her way into my heart, which was proving damn inconvenient for the both of us.
And because I’m an asshole, I let her go—a damn big mistake that I hoped to hell I don’t live to regret.
Parker was a damn stubborn woman and I’ve lost count the amount of times she’s teased the fuck out of me with what comes out of her mouth or the way she walks. When she really smiles and it’s a smile meant for me, my heart would pound and the need to grab on to her and never let her go would take hold.
At first I’d used the excuse of our ages being the reason why we couldn’t be together, but then when I’d come back this time, I’d used the excuse of the job. I do need my head in the game, which is why I’d said what I did. Except, my head is on her even though we haven’t been together, and my concentration is shot to hell.
She’ll listen this time, and if she won’t then she’s going to be coming with me either way.
Ten minutes later, I’m pulling on to her street. It’s in a nice neighborhood, lots of color from the well-tended gardens. No one around, but that doesn’t mean that no one is home. Slowing the truck, I follow the numbers and finally pull into the driveway of Parker’s parents.
Their house is a large two-story structure and looks like a plantation house from within the Deep South. Even the rockers on the front porch remind me of when I used to stay with my grandparents during summer vacation. My best summers had been spent there and there’d been so many places to discover.
“You going to stand there all day,” Parker drawls, bringing my attention round to her.
My eyes focus on the delicious woman who currently leans against the doorjamb. Her dark curls are pinned haphazardly on the top of her head, her arms are folded together in front of her, pushing up her ample chest, and those legs…the things that dreams are made of.
I whistle and send her a smirk as I move closer. I shove my shades to the top of my head, and smile when she straightens.
With mere inches between us, I reach out and yank the clip from her hair. The growl that escapes from between my lips at the sight of her silky hair tumbling down would be embarrassing if I wasn’t so enthralled.
“What are you doing?” she asks in a tight voice, her nerves getting the better of her when the tip of her tongue slips between her lips as I softly touch a loose curl.
“I’ve come to take you back to Jarrod’s place so that I know you’re safe,” I admit, my eyes not leaving the curl that’s wrapped around my finger.
She snatches her hair away and stomps into the house, the long curls brushing her ass.
“I take it that’s my invitation to enter?” I drawl, following behind.
She suddenly turns and stumbles in the process. I leap and grab her arm to keep her on her feet.
“What the hell is your problem,” she snaps, yanking her arm free. “One minute you don’t give a shit and want me out of the way, and the next, you’re knocking me around.”
Narrowing my eyes, I slowly back her into the wall, my body holding her in place. “I have never, nor will I ever, knock you around,” I hiss, my face inches from hers.
I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want this woman. She’s too young and sweet and innocent to be dragged into my world of danger and sometimes death. I’m away more than I’m home, but recently the one constant in my life has been Parker. Beautiful Parker with her long dark hair, delicious curves, breasts made for a man’s mouth, and legs to wrap around his waist while he makes love to her hard and fast, slow and seductive. “Fuck this,” I snarl.
My hands hold Parker’s head in place as I finally give in to the want that I have for this beautiful woman and capture her lips with mine. The kiss is hard and punishing, but it soon turns into slow, deep, long, kisses that are made to turn a person inside out. The feel of her hands as they slip through my short hair cause goose bumps to race across my skin, and the feel of her returning the hottest kiss I’ve ever exchanged with anyone has me hard as rock behind my zipper.
Parker clings onto my shoulders before she hooks a leg over my hip. Grabbing her bottom, I haul her up so that she ends up completely wrapped around me while my cock aches to be buried in her warm, wet pussy.
Breaking from the kiss, I breathe heavily, nuzzling down her neck to her collarbone before I make my way back up to her plump lips. I hover just barely a breath away and hold her gaze. “Tell me no,” I growl. “I need you to be the one to push me away because I’m no longer strong enough.”
She cups my cheeks in her small hands, our foreheads together. “No.” She moistens her lips with the tip of her tongue that makes me crazy. “I’ve spent nights imagining you holding me close while you’re buried so deeply inside of me, and when you’ve given me your intense stares, I imagine you with your head buried between my thighs.” She smiles because I’m left speechless with desire strongly thrumming through my blood at the pictures she’s just painted of us together.
She laughs. “You want to know what I imagine when you’re standing close telling me to stay away from you, to stop teasing you, to find someone else? I imagine that in the middle of your angry lecture, that I drop to my knees in front of you and before you can even register what I’m doing, I have your jeans open and your cock in my hands. My tongue slides against the dripping crown, licking up all your precum before I suck you inside my mouth. I bring you to your knees when I suck every last drop of release from you.” She licks her lips and I’m seconds away from blowing my load in my jeans.
“Fuck me, Julian.”
Give me fucking strength!
Parker shimmies out of my arms and quickly removes her shorts and panties, her hands reach for my zipper, but I quickly knock them away. “God, you touch my cock and I’ll come.”
I make quick work, shoving them down my hips and smile when she gasps at the first look at my dick. I’m heavily swollen with precum soaking the crown, and I sure as fuck didn’t lie to her when I said that I’d come with one touch from her.
Grabbing her under the arms, I lift her up against the wall, trying to calm the fuck down, but again, she has full control.
“Inside me. Now Julian. Don’t make me beg…I’m on the pill and healthy as a horse.”
Fuck!
“I’m healthy and as horny as a fucking teenager.” I grab my dick and silently curse when the wetness of her surrounds me the deeper she sinks onto me. Her core pulses and sucks my cock, sending fireworks shooting along my dick and out the slit while the volcano in my balls starts to gear up to detonate.
I hold her hips to prevent her from moving. “I need a minute,”
I admit and bury my face in her neck.
Her hands rub my shoulders and her nails dig into the back of my neck, causing my dick to surge…her core throbs around me, her wetness soaking me, and as I slowly pull out to the tip, I thrust back in and come. I release harder than ever before, and when Parker starts to moan and gasp, her sheath convulsing around me, I swear I see fucking stars as she sucks more and more from my out of control body.
She collapses over me, her head resting on my shoulder as small after shocks rock us both. “At last, I know what it’s like to have you inside of me,” Parker whispers. “I don’t need to dream anymore because I know, and if you think I’m going to let you regret what we’ve just done, I’m just going to have to keep reminding you of how good we are together.”
I laugh. What else does she expect me to do? “You are going to be the death of me.”
She kisses my neck before settling in to nibble on my earlobe. “I hope not.”
She clenches around me, I growl in response. “You are driving me insane.” I slowly rock against her, my dick hard as fuck and ready for round two.
My forehead thunks against the wall while I desperately try and get myself back in control because having Parker surrounding me after wanting her for so damn long has me wound up.
I lift my head and meet her gaze. “As much as I want to stay like this, and carry on, we can’t. I need to get you back to Jarrod’s place so that I know you’re safe. We stay any longer then Hunter’s going to be here checking on us.”
Parker holds my gaze. “Will you promise me something?”
“If I can.”
“Promise me that you won’t go back to ignoring me.” She covers my mouth with a hand. “The only time you’d really pay me any attention was when I made a comment directed at you. I can’t go back to that. I don’t expect all your attention, but it would be nice to get some form of acknowledgement.” Her eyes look sad, and I realize that in trying to protect myself, I’ve badly hurt her.
Lawful: Gia ~ Hunter ~ Julian ~ Jarrod Page 12