by S R Mitchell
He thought about last night and smiled. All the little orbs that appeared when she came were a turn on.
He’d made her moan and enjoy what he offered without sex, and it was nice to fall asleep in her arms.
“Oh, look what the cat dragged in,” smiled Brenda, “and just in time.”
The women turned and looked at Brock, who stood still now on the stairs behind them.
“Well,” muttered Betty, “anyone up for some hot tea?”
“Seriously?” asked Margret. “Right now? You ask that right now?”
“Just trying to break the tension,” Betty muttered back.
“Well, we don’t have time for that,” answered Brenda. “They’re going to have to make a move.”
“What is all the arguing about?” sounded a male voice from the top of the stairs. Everyone looked up to see David and Trent in sweatpants and t-shirts, obviously just out of bed, heading down the stairs as well.
“Good,” said Brenda as she headed off toward the kitchen. She made quick work of the coffeepot and soon everyone sat at the table with a steaming cup of coffee in their hands.
“I thought you said we were wasting time,” stated a perturbed Margret.
“Yes,” smiled Brenda, “so what’s a few minutes to make coffee?” she asked, tossing a box of blueberry muffins onto the middle of the table.
“Okay,” ordered Margret, “spill your beans, Brenda.”
Allie looked to see if Trent and David were watching, but they were quietly digging into the muffins. Spotting her favorite scented candle in the middle of the table—pumpkin spice—Allie couldn’t resist. She slid her hand forward and touched the candle’s wick, quickly bringing it to orangey life. Aunt Margret, Betty, and Brenda, just stared at her while Brock kissed her cheek and David and Trent shoved muffins into their open mouths.
“Allie, seriously,” chided Aunt Margret.
“You need to leave,” Brenda stated, getting the attention she needed from Brock and Allie, along with David and Trent.
“Excuse me?” muttered Brock.
“You need to leave,” Brenda repeated. “That’s why I came over. I will not pretend to understand how my gift always works,” she paused, “but I know that whoever is after you is going to be headed this way, and for Margret’s safety, you need to not be here. Betty and I will stay here with her.”
“How do you know she’ll be safe?” asked Brock.
“I could see it in my head. There was a man and he was not all too happy. If you‘re not here when he shows up, then she can use her—“ Brenda looked at Margret—“great use of words to convince him that you haven’t been here. He will leave this house well enough alone.”
“You only saw one person?” asked Brock.
“Yes,” Brenda answered, “but that doesn’t mean anything. He’s just the one the vision was focused around.”
“It wasn’t my intention to bring danger here,” Brock stated.
“We know that,” Betty smiled.
“Where else would you have gone?” retorted Margret, “and what’s family for than to help and protect each other?”
“I got the feeling that this is bigger than you think,” Brenda continued, bringing Brock’s attention back to her. “The man in the vision is an enemy and was very persistent. I got an urgent—almost panicked—feeling from him to find you.”
“Who the hell did you piss off?” mumbled Trent.
“A lot of people,” Brock answered, “but as of late I’ve had a pretty good track record going for the opposite.”
“Yeah, until the Channey job,” mumbled Trent.
“I took care of that—am taking care of that,” Brock responded. “Plus, that client doesn’t have the balls to carry out a hit.” Everyone looked at him. “Because that’s what this is, and I’m the target.”
“And now Allie,” replied Brenda. “If your two friends help you out, add them to the list.”
“Did you get anything else from your…” Brock paused, “…vision?”
“No,” Brenda shook her head. “It’s weird how they work sometimes.”
Brock looked around the table, thinking. David and Trent were forces to reckon with and having them along made him feel better about the odds, but he hated to bring them into this. He also felt very protective over Allie.
“We can head to the safe house,” Brock said, breaking the silence that had fallen over the table. “Now that David and Trent are here, we have better transportation. Once there, we can try and figure out who the hell is behind this and what our next move will be.”
“So, what do we do with my truck?” Allie asked from where she sat beside Brock. “If they see it, they’ll know we’re here.”
“We’ll take care of it,” answered Trent and David almost simultaneously.
Brock nodded his head. “Be quick about it and meet me in the front.”
Everyone quickly moved from the table, feeling a sense of urgency. It felt as if the clock had suddenly started ticking and they were running out of time.
Chapter 12
“Hit the switch,” Brock mumbled as they slipped into the safe house. It wasn’t more than one large room covered in old wood paneling with a red brick fireplace and a large brown couch and love seat, round dining table, and a small kitchenette. Off to the back were a bathroom and a bedroom.
Brock looked around. He’d spent more than one night here when he’d worked missions—before his father had died. He was younger then, and at the time, he’d thought it a good idea to get experience on this side of the company and exactly what was expected and needed when it came to his men in the field.
Trent shook his head and reached for the switch on the wall. He flicked it up and down, but nothing happened. “Shit,” he muttered.
“What?” Brock asked as he turned toward where Trent stood not too far from the door. He could see him messing with the light switch. “I’ll go around back and get some firewood.”
“No, I’ll go get it,” countered David.
Allie watched David head out a side door by the fridge on the opposite wall and looked around the open space, taking in the room..
She smiled as Brock came to sit beside her on the couch. “So what do we do now?” she asked him quietly, drawing his attention her way.
A girl could get lost in the silvery-blue of his eyes and strong features.
He was such a handsome man, she thought, looking at how his clothes fit so nicely over his muscles. He didn’t answer her, but she could see he was thinking of something to say. Maybe he didn’t want to worry her.
Her fingers itched to touch him and she debated for a moment before moving closer to him. She couldn’t explain the feelings growing inside of her after only knowing him a short time, but she knew she’d never felt anything like it. It was thrilling.
Allie didn’t have a chance to move an inch as he slid across the couch closer to her, their legs touching. Allie smiled.
He looked at the beautiful woman beside him with her blonde waves that seemed to frame her heart-shaped face and nose perfectly. Her intense knowing green eyes were looking him over, and it stirred his blood. He reached out and pushed a stray strand of hair away from her cheek as his finger caressed her skin. He couldn’t help but to steal a quick kiss.
Allie’s full, soft lips on his felt like he was coming up for air after a long emotional drought, and he needed more. He deepened the kiss without thinking, his body taking over, and his need driving him.
Allie moaned as he devoured her mouth and heat pooled in her belly. He pushed at her lips until she opened for him and he deepened the kiss. They were getting lost in each other until they heard a noise behind them and an object landed on them. They drew apart to see dish towels strewn about. Trent must have thrown the dish towels at them.
It worked. Heat rushed to Allie’s face as she adjusted herself on the couch. She cleared her throat. “Um, so, what do we do now?”
“There’s a bedroom in the back,” Brock smile
d and then laughed as Allie’s eyes grew wide. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled, “I touch you and you make me crazy.”
Allie smiled back at him. “I like how you make me feel, too,” she responded, “but I mean about this—“ She waved her hand in the air. “—the situation we’re in.”
Brock took a breath to calm his beating heart. “We need to make a few phone calls, dig for information, and figure out who’s behind this so we can plan our next move. Trent’s already putting a call through to a few connections for me.”
Allie turned to see Trent pacing the kitchen. He looked tense and formidable. He was just as muscular as Brock but shorter by several inches with short brown hair and brown eyes. “He looks tense,” Allie muttered. She watched as Trent finished the call and headed their way. She pulled her black coat tighter around her body against the cold in the room and adjusted her position on the old couch.
Trent sat on the love seat and looked to Brock.
“You can talk in front of her,” Brock answered looking from Allie to Trent. “She’s in this with us.”
Trent shook his head. “There’ve been several strange calls to the office asking if you were in and that it is to do with important business.”
“Well,” Brock answered, “I get weird calls all the time from potential new clients.”
“They’re blocked numbers, will leave no information to return contact, and just hang up once they‘re informed that you’re either currently busy or out of the office,” Trent stated. “They’re trying to track you. I think this is bigger than we thought. Also, we asked Jax to run by your place just to check it out yesterday and stay under the radar. It’s been ransacked.”
Brock sat forward with his elbows resting on his knees and his hands clasped. “They were looking for something…or hoping I was there.”
“Or both,” Trent retorted. “Jax said your office was seriously fucked up.”
“My files,” he mumbled, “my client files. If they were after my confidential client files and business files, they wouldn’t have found them.”
Suddenly Trent’s phone rang again. He pulled it from his pocket and quickly flipped it open, looking at Brock the entire time. His side of the conversation was short, but his look intensified. Allie looked at the men and couldn’t help the feeling of unease that was rising inside her even though she knew they were capable of protecting her.
“Well?” Brock asked, breaking the silence as Trent slid his phone back into his pocket.
“It was Jax,” Trent answered. “I asked him to ask your uncle some questions for me. Thought it wouldn’t be as obvious that we were snooping if Jax asked. He couldn’t get in touch with him. Apparently, he’s been out the last few days and his next in command has taken over his duties until he gets back. What’s up with your damn uncle being out lately?”
“I don’t know, but this is shitty timing,” Brock muttered.
“You don’t think—“ Trent began, but was interrupted as David burst through the door.
They all turned to see David enter the back door. His clothes were dusted with snow and he carried not one piece of firewood. He , quickly walked in their direction. “Someone has been here snooping. We have to go. The location has been compromised and may not be safe.”
Brock stood up. “Explain,” he demanded with an edge to his voice.
“The pile of firewood was gone and when I started looking around, I found tracks,” David answered. “Some are older by a few days, but some are fresh. They lead around to the side of the house and back out to the tree line entering the woods.”
“Shit,” spat Brock.
“Yeah,” agreed David.
“Did you hear that?” asked Trent as he turned his head slightly.
“Hear what?” asked Allie as she watched the men cock their heads to the side.
“David, did you see anything around the door when you were headed back in?” asked Brock in an urgent tone as he suddenly stood.
“Dammit!” David exclaimed as he began to run from the door.
Trent and Brock were on the move as Allie was whisked up from the couch by Brock and tossed in front of him.
The men dove and Brock covered Allie with his large body as an explosion rent through the air on the far side of the house were David had just stood, sending shards of wood and debris through the space.
They laid still on the cold floor as the men listened to their surroundings. Then Brock was all but yelling for their asses to get out of the house. As they moved through the front door, a second explosion tore through the house not far from them.
Allie felt a sharp pain and then heat radiate from her leg and Brock’s strong arms picked her up and ran with her tightly held to his chest.
“Shit,” cursed Brock as he loaded Allie into the truck and he jumped inside next to her.
“Who the fuck would know about the safe house?” Trent asked as he climbed into the front passenger side as David took hold of the wheel. “I thought only certain individuals within the company knew about this place.”
Brock closed his eyes and breathed, trying to calm down. He held a rag to Allie’s bleeding leg.
“Well, apparently, someone figured it out,” Brock hissed, “and we walked into a damn trap.” He looked down at Allie and her beautiful green eyes gazed back at him. In those eyes, he saw fear as well as strength. “You’re hurt.”
“It will be okay,” she reassured him, “it’s just a scratch.”
“The hell it is,” he countered. “I looked at it.”
Allie knew Brock didn’t understand so she’d have to show him. She smiled up at him and then put her hand above the small scratch on the top of his hand. He watched her with curious eyes. When Allie moved her hand away mere seconds later, the small scratch was gone. She continued to move over a few scratches along his neck and jawline until each one was gone.
“How did you—” Brock started to ask, but Allie quickly shushed him and mouthed the word ‘magic.’ Brock shook his head then leaned down to kiss her gently on the lips. “You fucking amaze me, woman,” he whispered.
Allie smiled. It warmed her heart to hear him say that. They could have been blown to pieces but they were alive and it made Allie feel bold. What ifs ran through her mind and the knowledge that this wasn’t over yet and anything could happen was all too real.
She reached her hand around Brock’s neck and pulled him down to her and boldly placed her lips on his. His masculine scent engulfed her senses and she thought how much she really wanted this man, how much she was beginning to truly care for him in such a short time. It felt crazy, invigorating, thrilling, and too good to be true. She’d never felt this strongly for a man, especially this fast.
Her body was constantly drawn to him, begging to be closer to him. Right now, she gave in, feeling the heat of his body seep into hers.
Allie felt the heat of his hand on the bare flesh of her side as he deepened the kiss and she opened to him. She weaved her fingers into his hair pulling him closer, and it seemed everything around them disappeared.
Allie knew that her leg was healing with the extra energy being generated between Brock and herself without having to truly focus her magic on her own injury.
“Can you guys wait and get a room?” David asked, breaking through their lusty fog-filled brains.
“Yeah, boss,” Trent added, “we’re trying to drive here and make sure people aren’t trying to kill us and the sounds of whimpers and moans from the back seat aren’t helping.”
“Don’t say that shit,” David reprimanded, acting offended, “you’ll embarrass the boss man.”
“Embarrass, my ass,” Trent chuckled. “we just almost died and now he gets to make out in the back seat.”
“Don’t look at me, dude,” David joked and they both laughed.
“Shut the hell up, you two,” Brock growled from the back, seeing the bloom on Allie’s face.
Allie pulled away from Brock and blushed deeply. His eyes were dark with lust—wi
th need for her—and Allie smiled bigger. She liked knowing that she was the one to put that smoky look in his eyes. He was so handsome.
“Don’t be embarrassed,” Brock whispered against her ear as he gently nipped her earlobe and placed light kisses along Allie’s neck.
Those little kisses sent shivers down her spine and she sighed as her eyes closed as she savored the sensation.
“Said get a room,” David repeated and then laughed. “Pretty sure the back seat of my truck with company is not the place, boss.”
Trent agreed, laughing. “Yeah, you need more room to stretch out and give it a hundred percent.”
“Shut up and drive,” retorted Brock as a lopsided smile broke across his face. “She can’t help that she wants me,” he mumbled, looking at Allie.
“O-oh,” Allie said, swatting at him and adjusting herself in his lap only to freeze.
“Yeah,” Brock mumbled against her ear, “that’s your fault, you little vixen, and if I were you, I’d stop moving before I take things further.”
Allie listened and froze where she was, his hardness pressed against her bottom.
“Um, where exactly are we headed?” Allie asked.
“Well,” answered David, “my place would probably be a feasible option. My apartment being on the edge of the city might benefit us.”
“No one is following at all,” Trent interjected. “It’s just odd and unsettling. It was definitely a trap.”
“With the size of the explosion, I think it’s safe to say they aimed to hurt someone,” David grumbled.
Allie looked at Brock. “Why does he live on the outskirts?”
“He doesn’t like all the noise of the city,” Brock said, answering Allie’s quizzical look. “Let’s do it,” Brock said directly to David.
“Well, good,” David smiled. “I’m already headed that way; so glad we all agree.”
“Smart ass,” retorted Brock as he pulled Allie more comfortably into his lap.
By the time they reached David’s apartment building, her leg was healed.
~*~