by Mia Dymond
Bri’s nerves shook at the following silence, fear thick in the small space.
Melissa finally spoke. “You realize what’s happening, right Bri?”
Although she really wanted to deny her conclusion, she couldn’t. Not when they all knew the truth. “I do and I promise Jake will get us out of this.”
“Jake?” Sunny asked.
“Detective Rawlings.”
“A friend of yours?”
“Uh, yeah.”
“A close friend?”
Bri bit her lip to prepare an answer when heavy footsteps penetrated the silence. Angry male voices and the sound of firecrackers filled the silence.
“Get down!” Bri shoved both women to the floor. Since she couldn’t use anything for a weapon, she plastered herself to one wall, ready to kick and claw at whoever entered. More heavy footsteps and loud popping noises filled the air. Her stomach sank. Gunshots.
The door creaked open, urging her to action. With adrenaline behind her, she kicked out a foot – just to have it grabbed in mid-air.
“Don’t move!”
Bri balanced on one leg, relieved by the sound of a certain bossy, overbearing voice. “Jake?”
He released her foot only to yank her into his arms. “Holy hell, Bri.”
She could barely breathe through the rump roasts he called biceps. “I’m fine.”
He growled and squeezed harder while she heard voices she assumed to belong to federal agents who entered and directed Sunny and Melissa out of the room.
“I’m thinking he’s a really close friend,” Sunny drawled on her way out.
“Jake, you’re suffocating me.” Bri managed to free herself from his hold by sliding her head down and out of his arms.
“You need a leash.”
“Funny.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
She shuddered when a cocky grin split his lips and she knew immediately what would happen next. A normal cop would remove the hostages to a safe room for briefing by professional agents, but she knew good and well he would brief her personally.
He pushed the door closed. “You have something to say to me?”
“Like what?” She crossed both arms over her chest.
“You know what.”
“No, I don’t think I do.”
“Sure about that?”
“Yes, I believe so.”
He stepped closer and cupped her chin in his hand. “I think you have something else to say, Bri.”
She spun her bracelet and wet her lips, puzzled when she heard a faint beeping sound. “Do you hear that noise?”
He reached into his pocket, palmed his phone, and punched a button. The room fell silent. “What noise?”
She narrowed her eyes. “You bugged me.”
“You always bug me.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She moved her hands over her bra then down the seams of her shorts. “Where, Jake?”
“You keep that up and I’m liable to forget anything about this conversation.”
“Where, Jake?!”
His low chuckle did little to relieve her panic. God, for all she knew he shot it beneath her skin in the heat of passion. Not that she would’ve noticed – the man had very talented fingers – but it still would’ve severely pissed her off.
“Relax.” He reached for her wrist and released the catch on her bracelet until it fell into his palm. “It’s in the back of the watch.”
She paused for several seconds, waiting for anger to push her to feed him her fist. Yet, anger wasn’t exactly the emotion in charge.
“Thank you,” she said finally.
“You’re welcome.” He shoved the bracelet into his pocket with his phone. “What else?”
“I’m sorry.”
“For?”
“Shaking my ass to bait a kidnapper.”
“And?”
She stepped closer, wrapped both hands around his neck, bent one leg at the knee and rested it on his left lip. “And I promise to only shake it for law-abiding men.”
“Bri,” he growled.
“Okay, okay, Detective, only for you.”
“Glad you see my point.” He lowered his head and placed his lips against hers in a slow, easy massage. A small whimper escaped her as she molded her body to his, desperate to feel the love between them.
“However,” he said as he lifted his head, “I have some things to discuss with Majors.”
She moved her arms to circle his midsection, her fingers tracing the indention of muscle in his back. “Jake, none of my sequins are missing.”
“Fine.” He couldn’t stop the grin that separated his lips. “He’s lucky. This time.”
“I love you, Detective Rawlings.”
“I love you too, Dr. Miller.” He pulled her close and rested his chin atop her head. “Even if you are positively criminal.”
EPILOGUE
Mace stood outside the two-way mirror of the interrogation room and watched Lombardy flop like a fish out of water. Sorry bastard had no choice; the evidence was so strong in this case, he’d never see the light of day.
“You done here, Turner?”
He pulled his gaze from the window and onto Detective Jackson Stewart who now stood beside him. “Yeah, he’s pretty much cooked.”
“Got another case for you.”
Mace ran a hand across the top of his head. He’d hoped for at least a couple hours nap before completing the mounds of paperwork on Lombardy’s case. Now that wouldn’t happen.
“Lay it on me.”
“Got a report of a stiff.”
Mace swallowed hard. Never a good thing when someone reported a stiff. Especially when he was assigned to the case. “Where?”
The other detective glanced at the piece of paper in his hand. “Cascade Glen Townhouses, Unit 24.”
Mace frowned, not sure he heard Stewart correctly. “Did you say Unit 24?”
“Yeah. You know the tenant?”
Sheer panic surrounded his body as the blood left his face. His knees nearly buckled and his nerves began to tremble. “I know her,” he said finally.
“Her?”
“Dara Hamilton.”
Maybe it was his imagination or maybe he just wasn’t seeing clearly, but suddenly Jackson’s complexion held a green tint. “Oh man, the stiff’s a female.”
###
Other books by Mia Dymond:
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It all began with a sixth shot of Tequila ... Independent, carefree Annessa Dupree doesn’t realize her talent for attracting trouble until she witnesses a wedding day murder and is forced to run home to hide. Sheriff Casey McIntyre has loved Annessa since the tender age of twelve, trouble and all. Hell-bent on mending past differences, he must save her life while he earns her trust.
***
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Table of Contents
Title Page
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
EPILOGUE