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

by Sheila Kell

  At around dinnertime two men arrived with bags of food. They ate hamburgers and French fries in front of her. Once they’d finished, Alex and Jermaine left.

  So the two new guys were the night shift. They weren’t a chatty lot. She couldn’t even get their names out of them. At least, they untied her and let her eat.

  Stuck in the chair for the night, she gritted her teeth at how comfortable they looked lounging in the chair and on the couch.

  Eventually she heard snoring from the man on the couch. The man in the chair sat wide awake, blindly changing channels on the small television.

  She kept nodding off, jerking awake every time her head dropped to her chest. She had to stay awake. AJ would come. It would be tonight. He wouldn’t leave her here.

  Her head fell to her chest. She didn’t wake this time.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Based on the number of men that trekked in and out of the house, there were at least two men with Megan. Two were easy. If all went well, no one would get hurt, and AJ would have her back.

  He reached into the bag and retrieved a lock pick kit and a few other items. The beating of his heart sky-rocketed. He took two slow, deep breaths to calm it.

  No more waiting.

  The empty, quiet street greeted him. He’d witnessed Alex setting his trap which consisted of him hiding around the corner. Idiot.

  AJ planned his path to avoid the pockets of snow and any possible noise. Ducking down, staying behind the line of cars, he made his way, slowly, to the enforcer hoping Trey hadn’t decided to set his own trap.

  He peered around the corner. Are you fucking kidding me? A hooker hitting on Alex?

  “Get the fuck out of here. I’m busy.” The man’s angry voice floated to AJ.

  “Come on, baby. I need one trick tonight, or I’m in big trouble. We can do a quickie, right here against the wall.”

  Glancing around the corner again, AJ considered his options, but then realized the woman looked familiar.

  Alex howled, convulsed and dropped to the ground.

  AJ walked around the corner. “Why hello, Kate.”

  She threw her hands on her hips. “What’s this I hear you planned to do this alone?”

  “Now’s not the time.” He removed Alex’s weapons and cell phone, dropping them in a pocket of his cargo pants.

  At the unmistakable metal-v-metal sound of a bullet sliding into the chamber of a handgun, he swung around. “Kate, you are not…”

  “Hands up, you two.”

  His heart skipped a beat. Fuck! Trey.

  The clatter of both tasers bouncing on the sidewalk pushed a sense of foreboding through AJ’s veins. Dammit. He should’ve expected this asshole, no matter his demeanor when he’d left earlier.

  “The Magician is going to be happy with me for catching you and the girl. Who’s this?” He tilted his head to Kate.

  “Look man. I just came here for some action and this yahoo tried to get me like he did the other guy.” She lipped her lips seductively. “I only pulled mine in self-defense. Can I go now? I have to find a John tonight.”

  “Turn real slow and head around the corner. Don’t tempt me. I’m low enough to put a bullet in your back.”

  AJ faced him, shadows playing across the man’s face. “Why can’t you let her go? She’ll run and no one will ever hear from her again.” Where the fuck is Jesse? He would never let Kate do this alone.

  Trey laughed. “You expect me to fucking believe that?”

  AJ could take him, but the bullet in the chamber could end up in Kate. The enforcer planned to kill him anyway. He’d put himself between the gun and Kate. He wouldn’t go down without a fight.

  He shifted his weight, preparing to spring when Trey jerked and screamed.

  He dropped to the ground, and Jesse appeared from the darkness. “I love these things. Dev had been right to add them to our kits.” He grinned, holding a taser. “Much quieter than gunfire.”

  Kate narrowed her eyes. “Where the hell have you been?”

  His brother reached for his wife. “Sweetheart, you know I had to hide around the block.”

  Their lips touched briefly and the slight pull in his heart brought Megan’s face to the forefront of his mind.

  “Thanks, Jess.” There weren’t enough words to thank his brother for saving his life. This time he’d freely admit he’d needed him and, sure enough, Jesse had been there.

  “Well, we figured you’d need backup, no matter what you said.”

  Alex moaned and moved.

  Kate dropped a knee in his back and removed flex-cuffs from her jacket pocket. “I’ve got these two. Go ahead. I’ll be along shortly.”

  AJ smiled. His old partner hadn’t lost her touch. He nodded and the two men cautiously turned the corner. Good Lord, Alex was more than an idiot. He’d either left the front light off at the house, or it didn’t have a light bulb.

  AJ slipped up the stairs, and Jesse turned to face the street. He put his ear to the door. Blessed silence. At three in the morning, he’d expected nothing less.

  Someone having his back stopped the slight trembling of his hands, as he went to work on the lock. In less than thirty seconds, he’d silently opened the door six inches.

  Peering in, he made a sweep of the room. The two guards slept in the living room to his right. A soft glow of the television illuminated the area with the sound of porn filling the air. He turned and gestured to Jesse using hand signals his brothers had taught him from their time in Special Forces.

  Quietly sliding into the house, he searched for Megan. She sat on his left, tied to a chair, her chin on her chest. Even in the dim light, the darkening bruise across her cheek was visible. His blood boiled. He wanted to kill the bastards but immediately tamped down his anger. He needed control.

  He pulled weapons from his pocket and soundlessly moved to the living room where he angled himself between the two men, raised both arms and pushed the buttons on two tasers.

  Both men jumped. He only needed them out of commission for a short period of time.

  * * * * *

  Megan jerked awake to a man’s scream, a high pitched, almost feminine sound. Her heart pounded. Oh God. What’s happening?

  She searched the room, and her gaze locked on AJ. Her fierce warrior aimed something at her babysitters. He came for her like she knew he would.

  Jesse entered with a handgun and moved swiftly through the house.

  When her baby-sitters stopped twitching, her hero disarmed each of them, flipped one and cuffed him before searching their pockets. Kate slipped in and did the same to the other man. His brother returned to the room, nodded and moved to the door.

  AJ rushed to her and dropped to his knees. His right hand cupped her cheek, his thumb lightly caressing it. Tingling in her muscles flowed from his touch all of the way to her toes.

  “Are you all right, my little dove?” he asked in a strained voice.

  “I knew you’d come for me.” She smiled at him, love and gratitude for him surged inside of her. Yes, she’d actually fallen in love with him. She probably had been for a while, but this solidified it. After all they had been through, even with his undercover lie, she trusted him wholeheartedly. He wouldn’t cheat on her. He’d love and cherish her and their children. They both worked odd hours so they’d have to figure out something with their jobs when they had little ones.

  His job. Could she deal with him living like this? Going undercover and risking his life on a daily basis? A shiver drilled down her spine. She’d rather be with him than without. He’d explained to her the danger in the business his brothers owned. Maybe Kate could help her. If nothing else, she’d find out how she held herself together when her husband went on a job.

  Great plan. When to speak with her was another matter altogether.

  He cut the ropes tying her to the chair. “There’s no way I’d leave you with these bastards.” He pulled something from the pocket he’d added the items from her babysitters. The click of
handcuffs unlocking put her into action.

  She rose and launched herself into his arms, squeezing tight.

  After a minute, he pulled back, tipped her chin up and examined her cheek. “Who hurt you, my little dove?” he asked softly.

  The emotions in his eyes flickered from concern to anger. “Alex hit me when I wouldn’t tell him where you were.”

  He leaned down and brushed a light kiss on her cheek.

  “It’s time for you to leave,” Jesse stated.

  “I owe you.”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll collect.”

  “Let’s move.” AJ took her hand and led her out of her temporary prison. He hustled her down the street to a beat up Buick. She didn’t even question the new car. Didn’t care as long as it helped them escape.

  “Get in. We don’t have time to waste.”

  “Thank you.” The words, I love you, stuck in her throat.

  He reached over and took her hand in his. “Anything for you.” He threaded his fingers through hers and held tight.

  * * * * *

  They entered the new room AJ had rented, hoping he and Megan wouldn’t have to move again.

  Reaching out, he crushed her against him. The adrenaline still hot in his veins battled the surge of relief that he’d rescued her. He needed her. Needed to feel that she was truly alive.

  After her experience, what she’d need was him to soothe her, calm her fears and reassure her that he’d protect her with everything he had.

  Instead, his mouth swooped down on hers, possessively, demanding. A rumbling groan erupted from deep within, their kiss now a brutal clash of lips and tongues.

  His manhood burned to be inside her. Deeper than ever before. And he needed her now.

  He impatiently tugged at her zipper.

  She stepped back. “Let me.” In mere moments she’d shed her pants and reached to remove her jacket and sweater.

  He ripped off his jacket, body armor and shirt and then roughly pulled her to him, one hand behind her head, possessively, not willing to let her go.

  She reached for his pants opened and released him. Her hand wrapped around his hard member. Every nerve ending in his body sizzled.

  A primal growl ripped from his body. He turned her around and lightly pushed her forward until her hands rested on the edge of the bed. He touched her only long enough to find her hot, wet, ready.

  Pushing his pants down, he positioned himself, grasped her hips and filled her in a swift thrust, stilled and gritted his teeth at the pleasure threatening to erupt from his cock surrounded by her heat.

  He moved, his thighs slapped hard against her, thrust after thrust. Each one harder, faster and pushing him deeper into a slippery friction snatching away his fears, allowing him to focus only on her and the fact she was alive and with him.

  Keeping his hands on her hips, holding her while he stroked in and out, he leaned forward and spread kisses on her back. Between his tongue and wet kisses, he felt Megan quiver and heard her moan, dropping her head down.

  This would be quick, and he couldn’t help it this time. He couldn’t hold back. That fear and excitement of the evening ballooned in him, ready to pop at any moment. Feeling her tight around him was what he’d needed. Now he needed for them to burst into a euphoric state.

  Releasing one hand, he moved it around and staged on assault on her clitoris. She moaned and pushed her heat closer into his hand. He gave her tight friction, adapted to each of her moves and soft, erotic sounds.

  Between kisses on her back, AJ murmured, “You feel so good, so right, my little dove.”

  Sweat broke out on his brow. His cock was ready to explode. He set his jaw tight in an attempt to hold off his orgasm until she came. But damn being this deep inside her, with his balls slapping her, he had to fight harder than ever.

  She arched her back, her breathing frantic.

  “Let go, Megan.”

  She cried out his name in a hoarse voice, her body trembled, her legs weakening, almost buckling.

  Her sweet sound of ecstasy ruptured the last of his resolve. His balls grew tight. He drove into her once more before pulling out. Semen from deep inside him exploded in hot, wet spurts on her back.

  She collapsed forward. His legs threatening to give out on him, he dropped beside her.

  Holy shit! He willed his muscles to work but hated for the pleasure that claimed them to disappear.

  He turned his head to her. “Are you okay?” Had he been too rough with her?

  She smiled and murmured, “Perfect.”

  He stood, went to the bathroom and returned with a cloth to clean her back. Shit. He’d forgotten.

  He cleared his throat. “Megan, the first time we…uh…we didn’t use protection.”

  “Don’t worry. We’re okay.”

  “Does that mean we don’t have to use protection? I’m clean.”

  She turned to sit on the edge of the bed. “I am too. Is that what you want?”

  He tossed the towel on the floor and gathered her in his arms. “I’d like that very much.” He kissed her on her nose. “Come on. It’s well past time for us to sleep.”

  Lying in each other’s arms, she whispered, “I’m sorry, AJ.”

  He placed a finger under her chin and tilted it until their eyes met. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I’m sorry I didn’t think to tell you that Jesse had left, and no one was keeping watch.”

  “Oh. I forgot. Tyrone has something big for me. He won’t know what to think when I didn’t show up. I have to call him.”

  AJ caught her as she attempted to launch herself from the bed and pulled her back to him. “Megan, it’s almost five in the morning. I think he’d prefer you call him at a normal time.” He kissed the top of her head.

  “Now. We both need to get some sleep. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.” He wanted her again. Blood had already surged to his growing erection. But, she’d been through too much. They both needed rest more than they needed more sex.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  “Okay, this is our first real foray into public together. We need to find out when the next prison break will occur. Any other information is a bonus. I want you to keep your scarf up over your face and your hat pulled low.”

  AJ’s stress had his gut twisted. After what happened with Alex, AJ didn’t feel as safe as he’d like taking Megan with him. Thankfully, Kate had their back today.

  He’d wasted his breath attempting to convince Megan to remain in their room with Kate while he hurriedly sought out what they needed. Wow. He’d thought she had fire before. She refused to stay put stating this was also her revenge. Then a flutter whipped through his heart when she’d worried if she kept his sister-in-law, no one would have his back.

  To have someone as unique as Megan with him forever would be a dream come true. No matter how much he loved her, they’d be separated once this was over. His boss would see to it. Loved her? What the fuck?

  Yes, he loved her with a fierceness that ripped his heart apart knowing their future.

  “Okay. No one will see anything but my eyes. Will that work?” She pulled her hat down to her brow and pulled her scarf to her nose. Her beautiful blue eyes twinkled playfully.

  He conducted one final check on her Kevlar vest before he zipped her jacket. She readily agreed to keep her handgun and a phone in her pockets. Although she didn’t like that he said the phone was in case they were separated.

  “Let’s go. We should arrive just in time to meet with your source.”

  They approached a nervous Tyrone, shuffling his feet, his eyes darting around and his hands stuffed in his thick Baltimore Ravens’ jacket. When he noticed AJ, she thought he’d bolt.

  “Who’s he?” her source asked.

  “He’s okay. He has the same goal as I do. You said you have something for me.”

  He looked anxiously at AJ before turning to her. “They have a big buy coming in a few days.”

  What the fuck? How had Byron, the DEA agent on the ta
sk force been unaware of this information?

  Uh oh. She had that look he’d come to know all too well. That joyful, I’m going to do something that will get me in trouble and make your life harder, AJ, look.

  “That’s awesome! How confident are you about this?”

  “Very.”

  She hugged the man. The green-eyed monster ripped forth.

  “Bye, Tyrone. Thank you, again.”

  “Keep your head down,” AJ growled.

  He had to speak with Byron about this. A thought occurred to AJ. He pulled the secure phone from his pocket. Sure enough he’d missed a call when he’d been rescuing Megan.

  “This is good isn’t it?” she asked.

  He kicked a chunk of ice that hadn’t melted in the sunny, warmer weather today. “If it’s accurate, it would be extremely helpful. What the agent had to use for our plan had been weak.”

  They silently continued down the street. She hadn’t asked it yet, but he knew what the next question from her mouth would be. She’d be sorely disappointed with his answer, but she’d remain alive.

  He decided to head it off. “You’re not going to watch the buy.” He cringed at the dictatorial tone of his voice.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. This is too good for me to pass up.”

  “We need this bust,” he said watching her tense. “You know we need him pissed off at each of his advisors for screwing things up and losing a shipment is far better than what we’d planned for Carl.”

  “I thought you didn’t want to catch him or Jimmy. How can you avoid it?”

  He shook his head. “They’re paranoid bastards. They send someone else to their buys, someone expendable. No one has the balls to cheat the Magician. It keeps the two of them out of it. Keeps their hands clean.”

  “Well, I still want to witness it.”

  “Not happening. DEA won’t allow it. I won’t allow it.” He put his foot down. She would listen and obey him this time.

  She stopped and jammed her hands on her hips. “Won’t allow it? Who do you think you are?”

  He stopped. “Megan, it’s not safe. There could be gunfire.”