by Sheila Kell
“Yeah. I’m kind of in a bind. I need information. I’m looking for the Magician or where I can find him.”
“Since when did you jump back to the top? I thought you wanted to take down every level of Magic Shop before you got to him?”
“You know my plan was for him all along. I just had to start at the bottom because it was all I had.”
“Well, if this helps, I heard a rumor he’s pissed with Damian. The one you got a picture of offing those guys. That was bitchin’.”
“Thanks. Would you try to find out where I can find the man? This is important.”
“He’s got a hit out on you. Why are you trying to find him? Do you have a death wish or something?”
Why did everyone keep asking her that? “It’s because he has a hit on me that I want to find him, besides you know he had my brother killed.”
He sighed. “Okay. I’ll see what I can do.”
“I’ll take anything you can find out.”
“Will do.”
“Thanks, Raven.”
She disconnected the call and looked at AJ. “The boss is pissed at Damian.”
AJ’s eyes remained focused on the television. “Of course he is but Damian can’t help us find what we need because he’s probably in hiding. You did plaster his photo across the front page of your newspaper.”
“Don’t you think it’s time we share information? It might help us get closer to finding him.” She crossed her fingers behind her back. Please. Please.
“Not yet. I’m sure you don’t have anything I can use.”
Dang him for being right. He knew all about them. She didn’t have a story if she couldn’t get more information. “Why won’t you share with me?”
“Because, you’ll use the information to write an article that broadens the bull’s-eye on your back. And, we’d probably lose our chance.”
She would write about it. That’s what she did. “I’m not worried about me. People have a right to know what’s happening on the streets of Baltimore.” She sighed. “But, for the sake of our investigation, I might not write it. Yet.”
He’d tried to put his foot down on her writing articles. No way would she listen to him on her work. She knew her articles would help them. He just didn’t see it.
“Finished with your calls? I have more to make.”
He wouldn’t budge on sharing. She’d keep at it. She needed what he knew about the organization. “No. I have another call to make. Can’t you use your other phone?”
He gave her a look that had her rolling her eyes. “Okay, I’ll be quick.”
She called Tyrone and learned that since things got screwed up the big boss might personally get involved.
Maybe her witnessing Damian killing Hank would bring out the boss. That was the best news she’d heard.
She needed to call Kristen before AJ changed his mind. She dialed the newsroom.
“Michaels.”
“Hello, Kristen.”
“Megan! Where are you? Are you safe?”
“I’m safe.”
“Good Good. Your article is a hit. Our sales are through the roof.”
Elation filled Megan. The more people knew what happens in Magic Shop the better. “Thanks for the front page exposure.”
“The story deserved it. What’s next? What do you have on the Magician?”
“Nothing. But I’m not giving up. I have my sources on it.”
“Well, being on the run could negatively impact writing stories. I don’t expect anything out of you. I considered yesterday a bonus.”
“I’ll find something. Just give me time.”
“Megan, come in and let’s get you to the FBI. They’ve been driving me nuts.”
Megan’s hands shook at the thought of the feds tracking her down. “If you tell them we talked, we won’t be able to anymore.”
“I understand. Oh, that bastard Marcus called to see if I’d heard from you. He sounded truly worried.”
Megan tightened her grip on the phone. “Ignore him.”
“Done. I don’t like you on the run by yourself.”
She wished she could tell her not to worry, that she was with AJ. “How’s the team?”
“Worried about you. Tell me where you are, and I’ll drive you personally to the FBI office.”
“Sorry, Kristen. I don’t trust them.”
She had to end the call before she slipped and told Kristen everything. “I have to go. You can reach me at this number for a day or two.” She rattled off the number, not knowing when AJ would change out the phones.
“Wait! Victoria wants to speak with you.”
“Hey, Megan, I can tell you’re in a hurry so I’ll be quick. I’ve tracked the ownership of the building the brothel is in to a dummy corporation owned by another dummy corporation. I still haven’t seen anyone important or that matches the men in your photos. I’ve heard a rumor of another brothel that I’m checking out tonight. Maybe I’ll have more luck there.
“Call me when you have more time, and we can compare notes over the phone or in person, whichever works best for you.”
Maybe Victoria could find something at the other location. Anything that could help them finish this. “Thanks, Victoria. I’ll call when I can.”
She ended her call and handed AJ the cell phone. “It’s all yours.”
* * * * *
“What? You look like you’re a kid waiting to sit in Santa’s lap,” AJ said.
A chuckle burst from her. “We might be drawing him out.”
“That’s what we want. If we disrupt things enough, he’ll have to come out and fix it himself.” That thought gave him an idea for part of his new plan.
“Rumor is he’s pissed.”
“I don’t doubt it. You made one of his advisors’ crimes public. Plus, we’re both still alive.”
She smiled at him. “You probably sent Damian to the hospital.”
“I’m sure he’s long gone. Now, let me finish up with my informants.”
He called Javier and received the same answers.
When he finished his last call he walked over to Megan. She had papers and photographs spread out on the desk with a determined look on her face. “Looking for another story?” he asked jokingly.
“No. I’m just looking at these photos. I snapped a lot while I walked the streets. Especially when someone didn’t look like they fitted in. I’m sure there’s something in them. Someone important. My sources haven’t seen any of my recent photos to help me identify anyone.”
He peered over her shoulder and almost choked on his water. She had a photo of Jimmy, Carl and Paul, a street boss and two advisors. He picked up the photo, curious as to where she’d captured them together.
Having a photo of Jimmy and Carl was bad enough. Prison escapees don’t like their photo taken. But Paul was the Magician’s most secret advisor. Only a handful of people knew about him.
If they knew she had a photo of the bosses, they’d double their efforts to find her before she realized it and published it.
“Do you know those men?” she asked softly.
“Yes.”
“I had to get their photo. They didn’t belong. Who are they?”
He set the photo down and moved to his bed. “Don’t you think it’s time you told me why you’re so ferocious with this?”
Her shoulders stiffened. She slid the photos back into her laptop bag. “I’m an investigative reporter. I investigate. This needed investigating.”
“Are you sure it had nothing to do with your brother’s disappearance last month?”
Her head whipped around so fast he wouldn’t be surprised if she had whiplash. “What do you know about that?”
“Just what I’ve heard. He worked at the same newspaper as you. I’m guessing since you’re so far from home, you moved here to be close to him.” He paused and assessed her. “He was investigating Magic Shop when he disappeared, and they secretly took credit.”
Slowly, she asked, “Were you inv
olved in his disappearance?”
“No.” He wished he could give her an answer to soothe her pain.
“Were you there when he disappeared or did you hear about it?” she asked hopefully.
“I heard he found out something he shouldn’t have.” Kevin overheard Tim, Ted and Paul discussing past prison breaks and where the latest escapees had been relocated to.
Why they left the other reporter alone, the one digging into the prostitution ring baffled him. It might be because she hadn’t reported anything like Megan. But she had recently stumbled across one of the brothels. A brothel filled with trafficked women. He’d have Jesse take care of that also.
Sadness overshadowed her expression. “But he never shared anything with me.”
He sighed. Pain radiated from her eyes. He didn’t like seeing her this way. “Maybe he was trying to protect you. Maybe he didn’t have time to share.”
They didn’t give Kevin enough time to go to the police or FBI with what he’d found out. He was taken care of immediately, before he had an opportunity to speak with anyone.
He watched the tears slip down her face and couldn’t stand it. He rose and walked to her, offering his hand. She accepted it and stood. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her tight against him. He pressed kisses against her silky hair, his hands rubbing up and down her back in an attempt to soothe her. He inhaled the pomegranate scent of her hair and smiled.
Tightening her hold, she tucked her face in closer to him. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. You can use my shoulder anytime, my little dove.”
She pulled her head back and looked up at him. All he could do was fixate on those beautiful, wet, dark blue eyes holding him captive. He witnessed sadness and pain in them and wanted to take it away.
He brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, slowly lowered his head and gently covered her mouth with his. He didn’t want to stop. She tasted so Goddamn sweet.
Raising his head, he looked into her eyes again and saw the blue darken even deeper as desire flickered and finally held on.
His jeans tightened as his cock swelled. “What about Trent?” he asked in a raspy voice.
“What about him?” Confusion marred her features.
“I won’t take a friend’s girlfriend, but you tempt me something fierce, Megan.”
“Trent and I aren’t together.”
Relief thundered in his heart, and he smiled. “Good.”
AJ raised his hands to either side of her face, and his lips descended to meet hers. His mouth covered hers hungrily, their tongues tangling, exploring. With only a kiss, sparks of pleasure wound their way to his loins.
She slid her hands up his chest and wound her arms around his neck, pulled herself closer and sighed against his mouth. Her breasts rubbed against his chest, the feel of them elicited a low growl from deep in his throat. This woman had no idea what she did to him, how much he craved her.
His hands left her face, slowly traveling up and down her sides reaching the hem of her sweater and tugging it up. She didn’t protest. Instead she stepped back and raised her arms.
His heart pounded. “Beautiful,” he murmured.
He reached for her breast, his thumb lightly circling her rosy, puckered nipple. He watched goose bumps form on her body. She closed her eyes and a soft whimper escaped, making naked desire flood his veins.
“Megan, I won’t stop unless you tell me now.”
Holding his heated gaze, she whispered, “Don’t.”
They stepped to his bed and he gently eased her down onto the mattress.
His body sizzled as she watched him remove his weapons and pull his sweatshirt over his head. He lay down beside her and stretched out on his side, turning to her.
She reached a hand up to touch his chest with feather-light strokes around his bruising. He closed his eyes and sighed. The cool brush of her fingers set his chest to tingling instead of the pain her touch should’ve caused.
She gasped. “It’s a dove. What does it say?”
Damn. She’d made out his tattoo from beneath the mess covering his chest. He didn’t wish to discuss it now.
His mouth landed on hers for a deep, scorching kiss where the heat level increased as she met his fire with her own. He burned deep for her, wanted to engulf himself in her essence, fan the flames, let it reach its hottest, and then help it explode.
His lips left hers and kissed a trail down her ivory, silky body, stopping to play at her neck, nipping it playfully. She leaned her head, giving him full access to his playground.
He spent another minute playing before his mouth made a path to her breast. His tongue slowly circled her areola, the rosy peaks instantly firmed. He flicked her nipple with his tongue, teased the taut bud and then tugged on it with his teeth.
Her hands stilled in his hair and her breath released in long surrendering moans. His cock almost busted through his jeans at the sensual sound. An urgent need to fuck her hard and fast battled a need to bask in a slow, sensual bout of sex, not rushing things like before.
Right then he decided she would stay with him. That’d give him plenty of time to fulfill his fantasies with her. But he needed to get his stiff manhood inside her velvety heat now.
His mouth left her breast and recaptured her lips. Those glorious tasting lips. His hands slid across her soft belly over the new goose bumps forming under his touch. He tugged at the waistband of her jeans. “I want to taste you this time.”
Her hands left his hair and moved eagerly down his stomach. His blood pumped faster. She unbuttoned his jeans, reached in and released him. His breath rushed out at the blessed relief from confinement, and finally being held in Megan’s hand which held him tight, slowly moving up and down. He groaned. He’d embarrass himself if she kept up the movement.
“I don’t want to wait that long. I want you now.” She moved provocatively against him. His little dove wasn’t a timid lover. He thanked his lucky stars for that. He liked her fire.
“I want you too, but I want to take my time with you.”
His mouth left hers trailing damp, heated kisses down her body, taking his time with each one, listening to her soft whimpers. He looked up from her stomach and smiled at her watching him. He moved lower, the musky scent of her arousal calling to him.
Arriving at her the top of jeans, he reached for the zipper, slowly releasing it, teasing her, drawing things out, ensuring they both enjoyed it, that they both exploded from the fireball building inside them. He smiled, his arousal increasing when she lifted her hips to aid him in removing her jeans. It appeared she felt the same madness that drove them into this sexual stupor.
He kissed what he knew was a hairless mound through her panties, eager to taste her, to feel her come with his tongue on her clit and his fingers inside her.
She exhaled a ragged breath.
A cell phone rang.
Fuck! He couldn’t ignore it but the caller had best have a damn good reason for calling him now.
He jumped from the bed and answered the call.
“Get out now!”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Get dressed! We’re leaving,” AJ ordered, pushing his cock back into his jeans and then reaching for his sweatshirt.
With the urgency in his voice, Megan knew. They’d been found. She jumped up and scrambled into her jeans and sweater, bypassing her bra. There was no time to get back into that contraption. Plus her hands shook too much to even attempt the clasps.
“Grab your bags.” He checked his weapons, tossing his holsters in his bag.
It must be worse than she thought if he didn’t take the time to put them on. Fear returned, carrying the trembling and the racing heartbeat with it. She hated it. Hated she couldn’t remain fearless like AJ.
He quickly tossed the Kevlar vest over her. “You ready? We have to move.” He turned and peeked out the curtain.
She picked up her bags, thankful she’d followed his direction to keep everything ready to go.
She’d have unpacked and would now be leaving with only the clothes on her back. It showed her how much she needed him to stay alive. She held her gun. “I’m ready.”
“Let’s go. You stick with me no matter what.”
She watched his eyes roam over the areas outside the door with his weapon in front of him before he opened it fully.
He led her in a hurried pace, constantly scanning the area. She barely kept up with him. She’d drop her bags and run if she had to. He was the only one who knew what they were doing.
The trunk popped open as they approached. Thank you for fancy car remotes. They dumped their bags and hurriedly jumped in the car. AJ had the car moving almost before they closed the doors.
“How did they find us?” she asked in a shaky voice, her heart attempting to break out of her chest, with the intensely hard, fast hammering. She kept glancing around expecting to find gunmen standing behind them pointing a weapon at her and AJ. She squeezed her eyes shut at the thought.
“I’m not sure. We’ll think about that later. Keep your head down.”
She didn’t question. She did as he commanded. Magic Shop had found them. How could they have tracked them? Had someone seen them when they went out? What about using the phones? Couldn’t they triangulate or something like that? Oh no. She’d used the Internet. Wasn’t that how criminals were captured on the crime shows?
How long before they stopped the manhunt for them? Would it ever stop? Would they ever be safe? She knew the answer but didn’t like it. A ragged, nervous breath escaped her.
He turned right out of the parking lot and swore. “Buckle up.”
It took her trembling hands several tries before she locked the mechanism into place.
“Get back down.”
She held on as AJ turned a corner and his tires squealed from their increasing rate of speed. He pulled out a phone.
“I need help now!”
She swallowed the bile rising in her throat. They were being chased.
Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.
Would these men shoot at them out in the open on the street? What kind of help did AJ ask for? Would it be in time? She hated having nothing but questions and no one to answer them.
She squeezed her eyes closed tightly and fisted her hands. They would survive this. He would save them, and she’d do whatever it took to aid him.