Abbey nodded. He pressed a kiss to her temple then continued.
“We leave first thing in the morning.”
“For London.”
“For New York City.”
Abbey lifted her tear-filled eyes to him. “Why there?”
“Robert and I speculated about where their next move will be. They are targeting important places in my life. New York City is the next logical choice.”
“What happened there?”
“You, my sweet love.”
Her smile grew wider. Sloan couldn’t help but kiss her again. His fingers wandered up her abdomen toward the curve of her breasts. She let go a shuddering breath as he gently pinched the pink bud through her black T-shirt.
His lips wandered her neck, feasting on the soft flesh. Abbey wrapped her arms around his shoulders, pressing tight against him. She scrambled up his lap until her legs were wrapped around his waist. The tip of his cock poked against her through his cargo pants. He reached between them to release the fly of his pants and tug down his briefs. His fingers tugged her cotton panties aside. He groaned. She was already wet.
Abbey wiggled against his hips until his tip was just inside her. With a soft sigh, she impaled herself on him. She rocked against him, the thrust quick and shallow. It was all their clothes would allow. Her tight warmth drove him mad. He needed release. He needed to be deep inside her.
She groaned as she bounced on his lap. Sloan gripped the hem of her shirt. “Breasts. Now. I need to taste them.”
Abbey mindlessly tugged the shirt over her head, then took off her bra. She buried her fingers into his hair. He gripped her hips tight as he ground against her. He caught a nipple with his teeth and sucked hard.
“S-s-Sloan,” she gasped as she sunk deep onto his cock, trembling as she gasped. He felt her squeeze his cock tight as she released. Sloan bit his lip. He wasn’t ready. Her eyes fluttered sleepily as she came down from her orgasm.
Sloan arched his hips, driving himself as deep as their clothes would allow. She frowned. “You haven’t yet?”
“Nay, luv.” He reached beside him for a pillow and plopped it next to his hip. Then he lifted her off him. “Lose the panties. Screw that. Get naked. Lean on the pillow. Ass in the air, please.”
Abbey undressed, dropping her panties on the floor. She laid face down on the mattress and clutched the pillow to her breasts. Sloan positioned himself behind her. He caressed her hips as he pulled her close against his still covered thighs. He buried herself in her warm wetness.
“Sloan,” she moaned in surrender.
His eyes wandered over her butt, her slim back, the swell of her breasts against the pillow. Her whimpers and moans filled the bedroom. He shook as his groin tightened. He sped up his thrusts, each one deeper and stronger. Catching her hazel eyes watching him sent him over the edge. He roared as the release blazed through him. He could barely stay up on his knees. The pleasure nearly dropped him to the mattress. He crumpled onto the bed as he gathered her to him, tucking her against his body. He groaned as she wiggled her ass against him to keep him buried inside her.
“Incredible, luv. You’re incredible,” Sloan murmured against her neck before he weaved a path of kisses against it.
“You were amazing,” she replied with a sigh.
Abbey arched her neck back to kiss him. They were peppered with sleepy yawns. He pulled away from her and kissed her cheek. “Let me get comfortable for bed. Then you’ll be back in my arms and I expect more of your kisses.”
“Uh-huh,” she murmured as she yawned again.
Sloan slipped into the bathroom to shed his clothes. He crossed the bedroom to the empty spot in the bed. The moonlight glowed against her sleeping face. He crawled into bed beside her and pressed a kiss to her lips. She instinctively curved her body against his bare flesh. He hissed in response. They had only a few hours to regain their energy. At this point if he had his way, they wouldn’t be sleeping.
»»•««
Ame struggled her eyes open as she heard shuffling beside her. She didn’t know how long she had been asleep. Somehow, while she slept, her hands were freed. She still felt the sticky adhesive strip on her lips. She tugged it off. Raising her head, she found Dakota pushing himself to sit. He too must have fallen asleep. She shook her head to dispel the haze her nap left her in.
“Hello, Amelia.”
Ame turned slowly toward the deep Irish brogue. Crouched beside her cage was a man the same age as her grandfather. His near black hair was streaked with silver. His ice blue eyes, chiseled face and custom designer suit looked almost identical to her father.
“Do I know you?” she murmured.
“No. But I know you. You look like your aunt Maggie.”
Ame frowned at him. “I look like my mom.”
“Her too. You are a beautiful combination of the two.”
“How do you know my mom and aunt?”
“I have never met your mother. I knew your aunt many years ago.”
Ame’s eyes grew wide. “You’re the Butcher.”
“I am.”
“My dad will stop you,” she hissed.
“Oh, precious one. I hope he does. I can’t wait to meet the infamous Sloan O’Riley.”
The Butcher stood and turned to Oliver and his men waiting in the shadows. “Take care of them. I think I made it abundantly clear to you, Oliver, what I would do to you if these two children were harmed. Dakota is her friend. She cares deeply for him. You are to treat him as you do Amelia.”
“Yes, sir.” Oliver snapped his fingers sending Chad and Sam flying. They brought sandwiches and bottles of water, slipping them through the bars to Ame and Dakota.
The Butcher slowly paced the floor. “Where are the O’Riley’s?”
“They flew from Prague to Paris. I don’t know why. They haven’t left Paris yet.”
“Sloan hates Prague. He made some unfortunate choices to provide for his mother and sister there.” The Butcher’s voice cracked with emotion. “He’s a good man.” He turned to Ame and Dakota. “Eat up. There’s more if you wish. Oliver, when they are finished I want them up and walking around. They need to stretch their legs.”
“Yes, sir. Chad, go track the O’Riley’s. Kids, up and at it.”
Oliver unlocked Ame’s cell as Sam freed Dakota. Holding on tight to their arms, the two men escorted them around the warehouse. Ame moaned gratefully as the muscles in her legs unknotted. Chad’s voice called them back.
“Sir, the O’Riley’s have left Paris,” Chad reported.
The Butcher turned to Ame and bowed low. “And this is where I take my leave from you, precious one.” He rose and glared at Oliver. “I’ve made the arrangements to move the children to Belfast. I will meet you there tomorrow night. The end game will play out there.”
“Yes, sir. We’ll all be on our way tomorrow morning.”
“Good.”
The Butcher nodded then strode from the room. Oliver shoved Ame into the cage and locked the door after her. Sam did the same with Dakota. The three men disappeared into the shadows without a word.
Dakota slumped against the bars as he unwrapped his sandwich. “Do you know that guy?
“I’ve never met him. He seems to know my dad.” Ame bit into her sandwich and chewed fast.
“Ame, he looks like your dad. The Butcher is just an older version of him.”
“This is creepy.”
“I agree. We need to go home.”
They suddenly were silent as the voices in the other room grew louder. Ame took another bite of her sandwich as she listened.
“I see him. He’s on his phone watching the building. There’s another car sitting on the corner,” Oliver announced.
“How the hell did Scotland Yard find the warehouse?” Sam demanded.
“Sloan dated the head of security at Buckingham Palace,” the Butcher answered. “They must have contacted her. There’s no way to stop them. They will find the photo and the cages before Sloan and Abbey
do. This entire mission is now compromised.”
“We’ll find a way to fix it, sir,” Oliver assured.
“Get it done.”
Ame heard the scuffling of feet grow louder. She looked down as she felt Dakota’s fingers curl around hers between the bars. Minutes later Oliver, Sam and Chad raced into the room.
“Get your hand in your own cage or I’ll rip it off,” Oliver warned as he ripped open the door of Ame’s cell. “I don’t have time for your crap right now. I have a problem to deal with. We need to go. You need to be shut up.”
He pulled Ame out and snaked a strong arm around her waist. Instinctively she struggled against him. Dakota shouted violently at Oliver not to hurt her, standing the best he could in the small confines and rattling at the bars to get free. Chad and Sam slapped him back.
The three men tied her hands and taped her mouth closed. She landed on the floor of her cell with her back to the door. As much as she squirmed she couldn’t see the scene unfold behind her. All she could hear was the scuffling of feet and a barrage of curse words. It wasn’t long before a bound and gagged Dakota was lying across from her. It was the last thing she saw before the lights were flipped off leaving them in the dark.
Chapter Nine
Abbey paced the floor of the penthouse, her arms wrapped tight around herself. Sloan couldn’t help but smirk. She always walked the same spot when she was anxious. He was surprised after so many years she hadn’t worn a path. He gazed at her lovingly. For days she had been dressed in black for their operation. It was refreshing to see her dressed in a pale blue T-shirt and a pair of blue jeans, especially in this place they knew as their sanctuary away from the world.
“They said they’d call,” Abbey muttered.
“They had to have just arrived, luv,” Sloan consoled as he sat back in his favorite leather armchair. “Plus they have Scotland Yard to contend with.”
“And if Scotland Yard confiscates our clues?”
“Heidi will get it for us. Please don’t worry.”
The knock on the double glass doors made her jump. She scrambled for her nonexistent weapon. Sloan shook his head, amused, as he stood and crossed the room to the foyer. “It’s just your Da and Liam, sweetheart. Please, relax.”
Sloan opened the door with a smile to greet the two older gentlemen. Each was dressed entirely in black. Gordon looked at Sloan. “Any news yet?”
“They’re just arriving,” Sloan reported.
At the sound of Gordon’s voice, Abbey stopped dead in her tracks. She scurried across the penthouse to him and threw her arms around his neck. “Dad,” was all she could squeak out.
He hugged her tight. “It’s all right, little one. We’re almost there. We’ll get the children back.”
Sloan let a small smile slip. They had traveled across the world together to search for Ame and Dakota. Abbey held back her fear and remained strong for the most part. Once Gordon walked through the door, however, she sought comfort. They had a relationship stronger than some biological fathers had with their daughters. I am so glad they’ve got that bond now.
As she let go of her stepfather to hug Liam, Gordon strode to Sloan with a grin on his face. He leaned close so only Sloan could hear him. “When we find Ame, you’ll understand. It’s a father/daughter thing. A girl’s Da can fix everything, even when she’s a grown woman. I’m blessed to be that lass’s stepfather.”
“Aye. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to that moment,” Sloan agreed.
He was torn from his thoughts by the ringing of his phone. He answered it. “Sloan.”
“We were dead on,” Robert announced, his triumphant grin tangible over the cell.
“They’re in New York City?”
“According to the photos we found, yes.”
“But where?”
“Logan is snapping pictures of them and sending them to Abbey.”
Sloan looked up to his wife, her eyes full on anticipation. He lowered the cell and mouthed to her. “Check your phone.” He returned to his call. “Did you have difficulty?”
“We had Scotland Yard swarming the place. It took ten minutes and Heidi’s intervention to get the photos. By the way, she sends her love to you and Abbey.”
“Fantastic.” Sloan looked up to find Abbey at his side staring at the screen of her cell phone. He peered over her shoulder.
“There’s two of them,” she told him as she flipped from one to the other. One was of him exiting Barker’s diner where Abbey had worked so many years ago. The other was of them dancing, deep in a passionate kiss, in the bar the night of Gordon’s birthday, the night they had first made love. Abbey ran a finger over the image of herself in the white sundress with tiny flowers. “The Butcher was in the bar that night.”
“This has to end,” Sloan spat.
“Sloan, where are we going?” Gordon questioned.
He stared at the phone as Abbey flipped slowly from one to the other. “Neither of them are Manhattan. It has to do with my relationship with Abbey. There’s no relevance to the location of the bar. The other is Barker’s Diner.” He nearly dropped the phone from his ear. “Brownsville. They’re in Brownsville.”
“What do you want us to do?” Robert asked.
“Stay there. If you fly here, Oliver will be tipped off,” Sloan directed. “I need traffic camera images from Bartholomew, particularly around the community center where Barker’s Diner once stood.”
“Will do. We’ll stay in touch. Talk to you later.” Robert’s voice disappeared as the line went dead.
Sloan stuffed the phone in his pocket and smiled at Abbey. “We’ve got them. Let’s go change so we can go get our daughter.”
She lifted herself on her tiptoes to kiss him. “Sounds like a great idea to me.”
The couple flew up the “L” shaped staircase to their bedroom. Sloan couldn’t stop himself from watching her strip her clothes off until she was just in her bra and panties. Age was a blessing to her. She still looked like the twenty-something lass he fell so deeply for. A yearning inside him made him want to wrap his arms around her and lead her to their bed. He had been inside her just the night before but he needed more. Much more. His phone jolted him out of his lust.
“Now what?” he barked.
“You wanted traffic camera footage,” Bartholomew defended.
“Right. Did you find them?”
“Of course. Those warehouses that we used to pass on the way to get Abbey. Those ones on the same street as her apartment building. Remember them?”
“Of course.”
“That’s where they are right now. I’m settled in the car watching the cameras refresh until you get there.”
“We’re on the way.”
“Good luck.”
“Thanks.”
Sloan hung up the call to find Abbey completely changed. She grinned. “Come on, slowpoke. What’s taking so long?”
“I’m locating the needle in the haystack. Give me a moment.”
He expected her to hurry past him to wait with Gordon and Liam. Instead she sunk onto the soft mattress of their bed. “All right. Now change. We have places to be.”
He chuckled as he undid the fly of his jeans and kicked them off. She moaned as her eyes focused on his body. I’m not the only one who wants more intimacy, I see. His lips turned up in a sinfully sensual smirk as he tore his T-shirt off over his head then passed close to her.
“Where are you going?” Abbey stammered, her breath ragged. Her eyes locked on his boxer briefs.
“My cargo pants are dirty, luv,” he purred. “I have a clean pair in the dresser.”
“Uh huh.” Her tongue absentmindedly skimmed her lower lip.
“Abigail.”
“Yes.”
Sloan pointed toward the staircase. “Go downstairs with your Da and Liam.”
“Why?”
“Because our baby girl needs us. And if you continue to sit there and tease me, our mission might as well be scrapped bec
ause we won’t leave for hours.”
Abbey sighed then laughed. “You’re right. I’ll be downstairs.”
“See you in a moment.” Sloan watched as she disappeared down the staircase then pulled his clean pants and shirt from the drawer. He yanked each item onto his body, being careful to fasten his jeans around his aching arousal. Jogging down the stairs he found the others already arming themselves. He slipped his own guns into their holsters and grabbed his rifle. Together they headed to the elevator, locking the penthouse doors behind them.
The atmosphere was electric in the silent SUV. Sloan stared straight ahead as he pulled himself into his past, drawing energy from the wars he endured, the battles he fought. He could hear Abbey fidget beside him. The lass was like a sugared-up chihuahua right before a fight. Reaching over, he laid a large hand on her knee to still her. It didn’t help.
Liam pulled around the corner and turned the vehicle off. He pointed to the warehouse a block further. A white van was parked outside. The dilapidated, hulking beast of a building that Abbey used to live in loomed ahead. “Right there, lads and lasses. Abbey, there is a fire escape leading to the roof. According to schematics, there are catwalks overhead.”
“I know, Liam. I used to walk past here every day,” she murmured.
“Are we ready?”
“Let’s do this,” Sloan growled as he slowly popped open his door. Abbey sprung out of hers and disappeared into the night without a sound. He waited for Liam and Gordon to flank him before they pressed themselves into the shadows cast by the walls surrounding them. Slowly they crouched their way to the lone open door. Glancing inside, he found no one nearby. One by one the men slipped inside the building.
He took a moment to take in the surroundings. The building was the size of roughly half a football field and definitely as wide. There were boxes and large diesel motors piled on the cement floor. The only way to pass was across a wood plank floor. Between the cracks of the boards they could see a pit of some kind. This must have been a garage. On the opposite side at least one hundred feet away, in front of a line of windows that led to offices, sat two metal cages.
Family Ties Page 11