HIS Choice: An H.I.S. Novel (H.I.S. series Book 2)

by Sheila Kell

  Several metallic tings frightened her. Oh. My. God! Did they just shoot at them? Panic jetted through her body.

  “Shit! Goddamn fuckers!”

  She turned her head and peeked up at him. “Did they…Did they just shoot at us?”

  He checked the rear view mirror. “Don’t worry about it. Just keep your head down.”

  Several unexpected turns tossed her back and forth until her seatbelt snapped her back each time. It had been several minutes and he hadn’t shaken them. The one bit of enlightening news was that they hadn’t been shot at again.

  Police sirens burst into her thoughts. No! No! No!

  “AJ, slow down! The police will catch us.” What was wrong with him? Did he plan to go on a high speed chase like some crazies who want publicity?

  He reached a hand over and rubbed her back. She wanted to lift her head and rush into his arms while he told her everything would be okay.

  “Trust me.”

  The sound of the sirens slowly faded, and AJ slowed.

  “You may sit up now.”

  She jerked up and craned her neck to look out the back window. “Where are they? Did you outrun them?”

  He laughed. “No. I’d say they’re explaining the weapons they’re carrying to two police officers.”

  “Was that the help you asked for?”

  He turned and smiled at her, warming her heart. That half-smile and wink melted her insides. She basically fell into a puddle around him.

  “Never underestimate the power of the Hamilton brothers.”

  * * * * *

  Thank you, Blade, for saving our asses!

  AJ released a long, heavy sigh. The adrenaline spike had ended but his muscles remained tight, ready for action. He owed his informant. Big time.

  “Do you…” Megan asked in a shaky breath, “Do you think they tracked us because I used my laptop?”

  “I don’t know. Did you use your email? Open any of them?”

  She nodded. “I opened a message from Kristen and one from my mom. I was quick in my responses then I went off-line.”

  He clenched his jaw until the muscles ached. He couldn’t catch a fucking break. He didn’t know if that led the enforcers to them or not. They’d left the room a couple of times and may have been spotted. Too many things could’ve been the cause of them being found. He knew they’d been there too long. He had to get on the ball. It wasn’t just his life at stake anymore.

  Why she trusted him with her life was beyond him. Their first meeting had not been pleasant. Hold that. There’d been part of it that had been real pleasant. Shit. He’d fucked her without a condom. What the hell had come over him? He’d never been so careless. She drove him to madness.

  He’d have to speak with her about it. He hoped she took some form of birth control because he couldn’t become a father. Not right now.

  Who the fuck was he kidding? There could be no happy ending for the two of them. She had no idea what would happen when this ended. But dammit, he liked her. He liked being around her. He wanted to fuck her from here to Sunday and back.

  He looked over at his passenger. She stared straight ahead. The fear in her eyes had subsided. She couldn’t fool him. She tried to put on a brave front but failed miserably. She still trembled slightly, and she kept wringing her hands in her lap.

  He didn’t know what to do to ease her fear. She should be afraid. That had been too close a call. They’d been caught with their pants down, literally.

  He had to be ready for anything. He couldn’t do that if he had his cock buried deep inside of her. Fuck! That image launched the rush of blood to his now twitchy cock. What was it about this woman that had him losing control?

  No matter how much he wanted her, he had to remain alert at all times which meant no sex. Hell. Who was he kidding? He’d be buried balls deep inside her as soon as she allowed him.

  He ached to reach out and run his fingers through her hair. The next hotel took them well out of Magic Shop’s territory. It’d be safer to spend time playing a little slap and tickle.

  Once he was certain they weren’t being followed he turned toward I-695.

  “Where are we going?” she asked.

  He chuckled and wished he hadn’t. He needed her magic hands softly touching his chest, taking away the remnants of pain. He mentally shook his head and cleared his throat. “Are you always planning to ask me that?”

  She looked at him and crossed her arms under her breasts. It emphasized her braless state and made his mouth water. Damn. She tempted him even when she wasn’t trying.

  “Why wouldn’t I? Why would you keep it a secret? It’s not like I’m going to tell anyone.”

  He merged onto the interstate and sighed. She had a valid point. “We’re moving to Elliott City. There’s a Residence Inn we’ll stay at. It has a kitchenette, so our only risk is purchasing groceries.

  “We need to lay low a few more days. It’s too risky for either of us on the streets and that’s where we’ll get what we need.”

  He knew the risks of heading back out, but he needed to pay the bastard back for shooting at him and Megan. Someone had to know about the next prison break or more about the Magician. He would find the right person.

  “That could take us forever. Since our sources haven’t found him before, what makes you think they’ll find him now?”

  “I really don’t think they will. It’s like you said. We’ve disrupted things, and we’re going to find a way to disrupt things even more. He’ll come out to fix the problems. When he does, we’ll be there.”

  She unfolded her arms. “You mean we are going out there? I thought you just said it wasn’t safe.”

  For thinking it wasn’t safe, she sure had a lot of excitement at the prospect of being out. Her determination to unmask the crime boss appeared to have once again overridden her fear. Not what he needed right now. She tended to act foolishly in her pursuit. He’d spend as much time keeping her out of trouble as he would tracking his prey.

  “We’re not going just yet. Be patient, my little dove. I have a plan.”

  “Do you plan to share it with me?”

  “Not yet.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him and jerked back facing front, her back stiff as a board.

  He’d made her angry, but he couldn’t share. She had no patience. Nor could she keep things out of print. If angry kept her safe then so be it.

  Having her with him had changed everything. He’d had a direct attack planned that would no longer work now that she’d become involved. He’d devised a new one where she would play an important role. A part she would love.

  She turned to him and broke the silence. “I’m writing an article about being on the run and our experiences so far.”

  Dammit! Fucking journalists and their need to write about every-fucking-thing. Writing calmed and excited her at the same time. She needed it. This article wouldn’t be a direct attack on Magic Shop’s business, but it would be a slap in the face. It could get things slowly rolling in the direction he needed. She had a good idea.

  “As long as you don’t give away our location or mention me.”

  “But it won’t be a story without you. I can be general and not describe you. It could be as if you were one of my bodyguards who survived. I promise.”

  He sighed. There’d be no use arguing with her over this point. She had determination written all over her face. “Okay. As long as I read and approve your article first.” He’d make sure she didn’t accidentally give anything away. Didn’t help them realize he was the one protecting her. They needed to think him long gone so he could sneak up on them.

  She smiled. “Thank you. Oh, is it safe for me to get online to send the article?”

  He grunted. “You won’t be using your laptop anymore. I’ll set you up safely later today on a different one. We’re making a few changes. You’re not using your email. You can’t even check it. We’ll set you up with a new email address each time you send an article. You won’t u
se the same one twice.”

  He reached over, opened his hand, palm up, fingers spread, waiting. His heart did a little flip-flop when she quickly laced her fingers through his.

  He merged onto I-70 West and knew their relationship had changed.

  * * * * *

  Megan’s excitement over their new hotel room with the yellow sofa they lounged on, gave him a deep down joy that had been buried too long. The room resembled a small one bedroom apartment with a closet-sized kitchen, a dining table with four chairs, a desk and most importantly, a queen bed behind a closed door. The heavy, white, down comforter on the bed called to him to dive deep under it with her.

  He needed to start things in motion, and he needed to keep his hands off of Megan. He pulled the encrypted phone from his pocket, dialed, stood and then paced.

  “Hey, AJ.”

  “They fucking found us.”

  Silence greeted him from the other end of the line.

  “If it hadn’t been for one of my informants, we’d be dead.”

  Devon sighed. “This has gone too far. Wait until Brad, Matt and the team returns.”

  “Is the ride ready?”

  “It’s there with the toys.”

  The toys he expected included several burner phones, a laptop with a secure connection, binoculars, night vision goggles, slap-on GPS trackers, bugs, weapons and more, some of which would be illegal to use. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem. Anything else I can do to help?”

  “Finding me the Magician would be helpful.”

  His brother laughed. “Wouldn’t this be much easier if I knew? I wouldn’t have to worry about whether you’ll stay alive. I would like to have a beer with you again at some point. And, I’m sure Dad would too.”

  Their father, Alexander Blake Hamilton, was a U.S. Senator. Their mother died eighteen years ago. He’d still made time for each child, building strong bonds between them. He would chew AJ out if he knew what his son had involved himself in.

  “First of all, you don’t drink anymore. Second, I will stay alive.”

  A deep chuckle floated from the receiver. “I’m glad to hear it. I like having you around.”

  “How’s it been finding the money?”

  He had allowed himself to ask for Devon’s help in searching for the money. He’d always found any assets he sought. AJ didn’t consider it really asking his brothers for help. It was different asking for help from Dev instead of Jesse. Devon stayed behind a computer. No one admitted it, but he was the backbone of H.I.S.

  “Slow. I’m putting in time when I’m not needed by the boys. I will say that Lawrence is good. But, I’m better. I just need a little time.”

  Lawrence Mann laundered the organization’s money. They thought he was their deepest secret. Ha. That’d been the easiest information to come by. The man may be good hiding money. He sucked at keeping it a secret.

  “Keep at it. I want him and his money.” Once they bled the crime boss’s accounts dry, there would be no money for his criminal defense. No money for bribes. People would turn their backs on him.

  AJ grinned. That was only the beginning of what he had planned for that fucker.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “Do you think the FBI is looking for me? Do you think they believe I’m dead?” The only people who knew for certain Megan was alive were the ones attempting to kill them, their sources, and a few close friends. Her friends wanted her safe, and Magic Shop wouldn’t publicize their screw-up.

  It was possible the police assumed she’d been killed by Magic Shop, her body disposed of where they’d never find it. Unless Trent had spoken with them. Somehow she doubted that. Would she and AJ run from the FBI if they located them?

  “I think they’re still looking for you,” AJ answered confidently.

  The burner cell phone rang. Megan looked over AJ’s shoulder as he pulled it from his pocket.

  “That’s for me.” She snatched it from him, noting the angry looked that magically appeared on his face.

  “Hi, Kristen,” she said happily. A talk with her boss was just what she needed.

  “I called to check on you.”

  She craved to tell her everything but heeded AJ’s advice. Magic Shop might know they were together but no one else needed to know for sure. Except his family. “I’m fine. I’m glad you called. I want to write an article on my experiences on the run.”

  “Kyle’s already covering your story.”

  “No. This is different. I think you’ll like it. But it needs to come from me not through Kyle.” She swallowed and continued, “Kristen, I’ve had help so it’s two people on the run, and we were almost caught today.”

  AJ observed her closely. His scrutiny almost unraveled her. The hard jaw and even harder eyes reminded her of when they’d first run into each other. She turned her back to him to avoid another shiver inching down her spine.

  “You’ve got someone with you? Who?”

  “That’s not important. Trust me on the article.”

  Kristen sighed. “Get it to me, and I’ll consider it.”

  She smiled. This would be the article of articles. “You won’t regret it.”

  “Think about letting me come get you.”

  She had to lie. “I’ll think about it.”

  “Victoria said she’d get in touch with you soon. I gave her this number since I knew you’d want her information as quickly as possible.”

  Megan ended the call.

  Oh, AJ will be pissed when he finds out. Victoria was the only one on the street right now. There had to be some way to tie it all together. Surely the prostitution belonged to the Magician. How had he been able to keep all of this secret for so long?

  Maybe he wouldn’t have kept it all so secret if he didn’t have people disappear so quickly. Had Kevin overheard the boss’s name? Was that what ended his life? She couldn’t let it end hers. She promised Kevin she’d do this.

  “Are you sure it was smart to tell her about me?”

  She nodded. “Yeah. She doesn’t know it’s you.”

  He stood. “Let’s get the grocery shopping out of the way.”

  Again, they stocked up for a few days. She didn’t say anything when he added a box of condoms to their cart. He wanted to finish what they started and so did she.

  They climbed into an SUV instead of the Honda. She shook her head. Of course it was black.

  “Is this your SUV?” she asked.

  He nodded. “It is now.”

  “Won’t they know it’s yours?”

  “Don’t worry, my little dove.”

  The vehicle waiting meant he really had planned their next move. She knew his friend, Devon, provided this for them, and she was thankful.

  The pressure on her chest lightened. They no longer had to worry about the police stopping them for a stolen vehicle.

  AJ opened the back of the SUV and grabbed a laptop bag and another cell phone. Ample weapons and black bags holding who knew what filled the back of the vehicle. Did they really need all of that? Devon was definitely a bad influence on AJ.

  * * * * *

  Back in the hotel room, AJ opened the new phone and dialed.

  “Thanks, man. How’d you find out they were coming after me?” He paced the room. He couldn’t sit still, nervous energy consumed him.

  “I was trying to get your info, and I ended up near your enforcer buds. I figured if you were found, they’d be the ones to go after you. So I stayed a bit.”

  Blade had good instincts. “What happened?”

  “I saw Trey getting’ in the SUV, yelling at Alex that they had you. I called you as soon as I could. I couldn’t just run off. Someone would remember that when you got away.”

  Trey Holt and Alex Childs were the only two enforcers Damian had left in his employ. He’d killed Hank. AJ had killed Joe. And of course, AJ’s employment had been terminated by a bullet in the chest.

  “You’re right. It
was tight, but we made it. Have you heard anything else?”

  “Damian’s just getting up and around. He looks like shit. He didn’t even jump in the truck with them. You’d think he’d want to be the one to take you down since you shot him.”

  AJ smiled. He wished he would have killed the bastard. But, making him look foolish would also work in his favor. “Anything else?”

  “They’re focused on the girl, that reporter. They’ve got a hard-on for her. She’s a priority target.”

  Shit! He’d hoped they’d think she was out of state and concentrate on him. “Thanks again.”

  “You owe me.”

  Megan looked at him after he ended the call. “Did you learn anything?”

  He walked to the refrigerator and picked up a bottle of water to give him a minute to think. He couldn’t tell her she was their priority. He needed her fearful of their situation not frightened shitless.

  “He told me how he found out they were coming.” He took a drink of water considering what else he should share. “Damian’s back on the street.”

  “I’m surprised he isn’t dead for letting you get away.”

  AJ shook his head. “He’s too important. He’s also alive because he needs to clean up his mess.” He gestured with his finger between the two of them. “Us. After that, who knows what will happen to him.”

  “I don’t approve of murder. Although, I so wish you’d killed him.” Goose bumps prickled her skin at the thought of AJ engaged with this man again.

  The encrypted cell phone rang. Damn. They were in contact with too many people. He had to put a stop to some of it.

  “Yeah?”

  “I heard you had a close call,” Todd said.

  He took a long drink of water. How the fuck had it spread around so quickly? He glanced at his watch. Yeah, it’d be about time others found out. “We did.”

  “I still can’t believe you’re staying to track down that bastard. I don’t want to go to your funeral.”

  “Don’t worry about me.” Did he really need Todd? Even though he wanted to do this by himself, he might. Arthur had been right in that point.

  “Is the girl okay?”