Pledging to Die (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 11)

by Morgan Kelley

He couldn’t let that happen.

  Her mouth aggressively drank from his, teasing him with promise of what she could offer him if he just let go.

  When the towel fell from his hips, and her hand stroked him, Brody nearly wanted to weep from the pleasure of it all.

  This was heaven.

  “Sweetheart,” he whispered when she dropped to her knees and took him in her mouth.

  The heat shot through him.

  “Jesus,” he hissed, unable to look away. Her head bobbed as she took him in and out of her mouth.

  Just as he was about to pull her to the bed to bury himself in her body, there was a knock at the door.

  “Shit!” he whispered, pulling her to her feet. Brody looked around, and then shoved a grinning Johanna into the closet.

  Grabbing the towel, he wrapped it around his waist and prayed that the person at the door wouldn’t notice he was hard and flushed.

  “Yeah?” he said, looking around the door.

  There stood Sutton.

  “Hey! What’s up?”

  “Nothing,” Brody replied, trying not to breath too hard. The last thing he needed was for Joey to be found there.

  “The FBI is on its way. Are you sticking around?” he asked.

  “Hell no! I told you that bitch is scary. I’m going to head to class, unless you want me to stay.”

  “Arman thinks it’s best you head out. Honestly, he’s afraid you’re going to slip up and spill it. Please don’t tell him I said that.”

  Brody had been right. Here was the weakest link. “I won’t say shit. You know your secret is safe with me. I’ll get dressed and head to the commons. I can grab a coffee there.”

  Yeah, and have Joey meet him.

  “Great!”

  When Sutton walked away, he closed and locked the door. Immediately, he pulled open the closet to find a smiling Joey. She was leaning against the wall and sniffing his sweater.

  “Did I mention how great you smell?”

  “Are you insane?” he asked, knowing that she was in danger there.

  “I’d like to point out that you’re supposed to trap me in your room. Isn’t that’s the plan? You’re supposed to try and get into my panties,” she stated, keeping her voice low.

  He pulled her back into his arms, so he could whisper in her ear. Actually, he wanted to feel and smell her.

  Who was he kidding?

  Brody wanted her rubbing against him.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked, praying she’d say sex. If there was a God in heaven, that would be her answer.

  Joey stared into his sweet blue eyes. She was there because he was her partner. If she said that, he’d get all macho on her. So, she went with plan B.

  Reaching into her pants pocket, she pulled out the balled up plaid boxers. “You left something in my room.”

  He stared at them, a big grin on his face. “Maybe I was marking my territory.”

  Johanna kissed him softly on the lips. “You don’t have to mark anything. I don’t want anyone but you, Brody. I’ve found happiness.”

  His heart kicked in his chest.

  Thankfully, so had he.

  “You have to get the hell out of here,” he ordered, pointing at the window. “I’d walk you out the door, but then I’d have to explain how you got in here. They’re in the living room, waiting for Elizabeth.”

  “Can’t we watch? That’s always fun. When she emasculates idiots, it turns me on.”

  Jesus!

  She was making it damn hard on him.

  “No, we definitely can’t stay, but I’ll meet you in the commons for some coffee, and maybe you can sit in my lap.”

  She grinned. “Maybe I can do something else with your lap,” she teased.

  He swallowed.

  Yes, this was definitely his own personal heaven.

  Hesitant Johanna was gone, and in her place was playful Joey. This was freaking amazing.

  “Hell yes, to that,” he stated, grabbing his boxers. “Now go,” he said, patting her on the jean clad ass. “And don’t fall!”

  She winked at him as she climbed out and onto the ledge toward the trellis. “You’re bossy. Oddly, that turns me on.”

  With that, he watched her climb down to safety. When she disappeared around the corner, he dressed as fast as possible. He didn't want her wandering the campus alone, even during the day.

  Then again, the five creeps were downstairs waiting for judgment day.

  She should be safe.

  Right?

  * * * B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x * * *

  It was time.

  After pulling up to the fraternal den of iniquity, Elizabeth was ready to take control of the situation. All of this was weighing on her shoulders, and setting off her gut instinct.

  She needed to get more information, and hopefully this interview would do it.

  When she knocked on the door, Nels was the one who opened it for them, and he stood there like a sentinel at the gate.

  If that was supposed to intimidate her, they were way off target. Callen immediately stepped up, staring the man down, until he wavered and escorted them in.

  They were Feds, and they did badass in their sleep. This man-child had nothing on them. She had a brute in her back pocket too.

  “Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to meet with us,” she stated, feigning fake politeness. Honestly, she didn't give a rat’s ass if they wanted her there or not.

  She needed to look around.

  “We didn't have a choice, but I did call my father who advised me to cooperate, since I have nothing to do with the killings.”

  There it was.

  Three seconds in, and Arman was already dropping the judge card.

  This dickwad would be well aware she’d done her homework. After all, they’d discussed this in the class.

  Preparation was key.

  “We’re here, because whether you like to admit it or not, something is happening here at this house. First, you have three victims who partied here, and then they’re killed. One victim is missing after leaving the festivities, and now we turn up another woman, who was seen here with some of you, and she was murdered in your shed.”

  “Technically, it’s maintenance’s shed. Maybe one of the groundskeepers was getting their kink on,” he corrected. “I don’t cut grass here, or at home. We have people who do that for us,” Arman said, looking at Callen and Ethan.

  It was meant to rile her up.

  He’d studied his prey, and she didn't doubt that he’d read the online stories where she lost it when people insulted Native Americans.

  Well, two could play at this game.

  She’d be calm.

  Dead calm.

  “I can’t tell you how happy I am that your family is stimulating the economy by hiring people. Good for you. Now we’ll get down to business, if you’re done.”

  He stared at her, almost challenging her.

  “I really only have one question. Why is someone trying to frame you?” she asked, switching it up.

  He looked surprised that she didn't think he was the killer. He’d been prepared for her to come in guns blazing, and she wasn’t.

  Well shit!

  This wasn’t what he expected. “Maybe they’re jealous. I do tend to make men angry. The ladies, well, they love me.”

  If he thought she was going to bite at that, he was a fool. Again, she ignored him. “At first, I thought you were behind this, but now being here, I see it’s not you.”

  He leaned forward curiously. “Why’s that?”

  “You don’t have it in you, Arman. You surround yourself with patsies who’ll sacrifice themselves for you, but you’d never get your manicure dirty. You don’t have the balls to pick up a knife and kill anyone. I bet you’d puke if I took you into autopsy. No, you’re not smart enough to do the deed. Someone’s setting you up.”

  Ethan watched as his wife used psychology to screw with them. Arman needed his ego stroked, an
d she was doing the opposite. She was telling him he was basically impotent. If she wanted to break him, this would be it.

  His woman was genius, and that was so very hot.

  This boy didn't know what he was up against.

  “Yeah, I really thought it was you. The drugs, the killing, and the hiding the bodies, but you aren’t smart enough to do it. In fact, I’ve seen your grades. If your daddy wasn’t a judge, you’d be making fries at the local place. Well, that would mean handling basic tasks, and I’m doubtful you could do that. You know…since you’re always busy stroking your own ego.”

  He got red.

  Then, before he could say anything, she turned the tables on them again.

  “Now, Nels, he’s strong enough to hurt those women, and Hervey has a history of drug dealing. They could do it, but you… not going to happen. You’re too weak. Maybe they’re trying to frame you.”

  He looked outraged.

  And scared.

  Elizabeth was introducing her favorite technique—paranoia. It could break the biggest bad asses. Already, Arman was glancing back and forth between the men.

  Obviously, he wasn’t the only one who could do some research.

  “Someone here is trying to take you down,” she offered, planting the seeds of doubt. Her hope was that his paranoia, if he was guilty, would get to him. If he wanted to be given credit, this would drive him insane.

  “So, who here is drugging the women?”

  Sutton spoke up, defending their frat. “It’s not us. You’re out of your mind.”

  She grinned. “Am I? Yeah, I wouldn’t bet on that. You see, we found proof that someone is whipping up some sexed up cocktail to get some action. I just need to prove who, and I’ll be shutting down this case.”

  Arman got back in control. “This is a college. We party. It’s not our fault if a bunch of women are shooting up and getting killed. We’re just here to have fun. If you went to college, you’d know that.”

  She laughed. “Yeah, the difference between where I went to college and this place is that my school was Ivy League. I was a little more worried about actually passing.”

  It shut him up.

  He also screwed up.

  It was funny, but no one mentioned shooting up drugs, but he’d just threw that out there. In colleges, the most common drug was a ruffie. The fact that he went with a needle, especially after what Chris Leonard had just found, was surprising.

  Yeah, this clown was up to something.

  And he was an idiot to believe that he could out think them, especially her. This wasn’t her first day on the job.

  “Where do you take these girls to party?” she asked.

  “I don’t know what you mean,” he stated. “Last I looked, it’s a free country. If a girl wants to ride my dick, I’m not obligated to give her a drug test beforehand. This is a college campus. Newsflash…there’s a drug problem.”

  She stared at him.

  “Women are freaks. They like more than one dick. That’s why the sorority girls keep coming back for more. I bet you’d like more than one dick too. How about we go upstairs, and I’ll show you what I can do for you?”

  She laughed even when the men beside her tensed. “Yeah, that would be the best thirty seconds of my life, I’m sure. If you’re having to line up to have sex with a woman, here’s a clue… you’re bad in bed.”

  The men all glared.

  “We fucked them, yes, but then we sent them on their merry way. This is a frat house full of testosterone. Sex is going to happen. Don’t be a hater, babe.”

  Arman winked lecherously at her as if he was trying to throw her off guard.

  “Oh, I have a feeling that I’m not the only one who hates you,” she stated. “Let’s go back to focusing on the issue at hand, and not your tiny little dicks. What’s in your basement?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “If you want to look, you can,” Arman offered. “In fact, one of the guys will escort you down. Who tickles your fancy?” he stated, now moving on to needling the men beside her.

  Elizabeth knew his game. He couldn’t piss her off, so he was going to make the men pay. Well, she wasn’t worried. “Afraid I’ll kick your ass, Arman? Yeah, send one of the men you like protecting you. Sacrifice the weak sheep for the strong one. Eventually, that’s going to get old and someone’s going to turn on you.”

  They all looked around.

  None of the men liked what she was implying.

  “I’ll wait here,” Ethan said, getting up to offer Elizabeth a hand. He gave his brother the look.

  Someone was on protection duty.

  She and Callen followed Nels to the doorway. When he stopped, she stared up at him. He was once more giving her the most intimidating look he could muster, and it wasn’t the least bit scary.

  “He’d sacrifice you in a heartbeat,” she added, twisting the screws a little bit more. He may be big, but everyone had a sense of self-preservation. There was no doubt in her mind that if she could get the men scared, they’d cave one by one.

  If she could turn one, they’d sing like some frightened canaries.

  “Follow me,” he stated, ignoring what she said.

  When they got to the bottom of the stairs, he hit the switch, flooding the room light.

  “As you can see, we come down her to play games. There’s a well-used foosball table, our billiards table, and even where we play video games. Happy?” he asked.

  Just as suspected, they’d cleaned the room up. The place was spotless, and that gave more away than they realized. This was a frat house. There wasn’t even a wayward beer can.

  Yeah, someone was setting a scene.

  That was interesting.

  Now Elizabeth had to figure out if they were playing a game with her too, or just being a bunch of horny college kids. Either way, the drug issue was going to be the best way to get them into custody.

  She’d have to use that angle, and go from there. While that was something that the sheriff should handle, Elizabeth was hoping to link it to her case.

  When she was done walking the room, she stopped in front of the pool table.

  God!

  She’d love to run a black light over it. She’d bet good money that while they’d cleaned up the sex related things, they’d left the trace of bodily fluids, and maybe even blood.

  This room would tell Merry one hell of a story.

  She knew it. The only things that stood in her way were a judge and state representative.

  “Are you ready?” Nels asked, pointing back upstairs. “We cooperated. Maybe you should just look somewhere else for a killer. We’re not behind this,” he stated. “Arman is innocent.”

  She was beginning to believe that not all of them were.

  Yet, something was here.

  She could feel it.

  Back upstairs, they found Ethan sitting silently on the couch, watching his prey. Garrick Tran looked nervous, and he was going to be their weakest link.

  They only had to separate the sheep from the herd.

  It would be their best shot.

  When Elizabeth came in, Ethan got to his feet. He brushed off his pricy suit, giving Arman a look. While the man was trying to get to him, making him feel less than human because of his ethnicity, it wouldn’t work.

  Not now.

  Not ever.

  “Well, babe? Are you happy? This is just a normal frat.”

  She smiled almost sweetly. “I hope it gave you really happy memories,” she stated. “It’s closing down.”

  That wiped the smug off their faces, and fast.

  “Oh, did you think the university would let you keep it open?” she laughed. “You may think you’re smart, Arman, but I’ve been doing this longer. I may not have proof yet, but by the time it’s over, you’re going to be staying in a tiny room with only one window. I may not be able to get a tech team in here while you live here, but once the university relocates you, since they own this building, I only need their permission.”
>
  He looked freaked out. “I’m not staying in a fucking dorm.”

  She laughed as they walked out.

  That wasn’t the tiny room she was talking about. Yeah, he wasn’t a genius at all. Now it was time to figure out if he could pull off a crime, and why he’d want organs.

  She was locked in on him.

  By the time it was over, he was going to be crying.

  Like a little boy.

  Chapter Eleven

  He saw her across the commons leaning against a tree. In her hand, Johanna was holding two coffees, and it took him back to every day at work.

  This was their morning ritual.

  They’d get coffee and take a few minutes to talk before heading into FBI West to do their thing.

  It was so…peaceful.

  Brody couldn’t wait to do this every day with her. Sure, they’d have issues if anyone suspected they were a couple, but he could fake it at work. As long as when they went home, she was his.

  That’s all that would matter.

  He wanted the personal life that he’d always dreamed of, and the girl across the quad was the one.

  He was pretty damn sure of it.

  All he had to do is make sure she understood that this was the road they were traveling—together.

  As he approached, Brody knew when she saw him. The smile on her face said it all. It was so welcoming, that he nearly wanted to weep in happiness. So much had changed over the last few days, and he couldn’t believe his good fortune.

  Joey wanted him just as much.

  “Good morning,” she teased, knowing she’d left him all riled up when she slipped out of his frat house.

  He laughed. “Yeah, it is now. I get to see the most beautiful woman in the world,” he stated, staring into her brown eyes. They were so deep and captivating that he nearly got lost in them.

  “You’re a dork,” she stated as she was furiously blushing.

  “I can’t help it, Joey. You bring it out in me.”

  He led her to a shady spot under the tree, and when they sat, they leaned against the trunk. It gave them a great view of the commons, and the path that came from the frat house. Brody knew he still needed to keep alert while they were on duty.

  “You know that you’re mean, right?” he said, enjoying the way her shoulder touched his arm. There was a little tickle of electricity where skin met skin.