Stripped Defenseless

by Lia Slater

  “Bye, love.” She blew him a kiss. “Take off now, and I won’t mention this to anyone else.”

  Jax hit his hand against the steering wheel. “You’re gonna regret this, Luce,” he slurred.

  “We’ll see.” She smiled, jumped out of the truck, and waited as Jax started up the engine and drove back down the hill he had quietly driven up not long ago.

  * * * * *

  Ava looked up at Zack who had murder in his eyes. This was it. But she refused to give him one tear. That was one element he didn’t have control over.

  And, luckily, next to her, Poppy was dry as the desert. Her sight was fixated on the briefcase that had fallen onto the floor beside the couch.

  “Why don’t you let Poppy go?” Ava asked. “She doesn’t have anything to do with this.”

  “Why don’t you shut the hell up?” Zack bumped the barrel against her forehead. “This isn’t a negotiation. This is me teaching you a lesson.” Sweat poured down his temples onto his cheeks.

  “Then do it,” she whispered. “Shoot me.” Don’t give him control. Don’t let him have the last word.

  “Not so fast,” he said in a jarringly calm voice. “I think I’d like to have a little fun before we end this.”

  Ava gulped as bile rose in her throat. Just the thought of being touched by him again was revolting.

  “You like that idea, I see. Get up on your feet or your friend dies.”

  Reluctantly, Ava stood.

  “Take off your clothes.”

  “Let Poppy leave first.”

  “Shy? That’s so cute. And here I thought you were a dirty little girl.” He shook his head. “Get out, Poppy.”

  “I can stay,” Poppy said, still staring at the case.

  “I said get out!”

  Slowly, Poppy stood and headed toward the front door.

  “Okay.” Zack sneered down at Ava. “Undress.”

  Nauseous and lightheaded, she tugged her shirt off, exposing her bare breasts to her worst enemy. It was both humiliating and infuriating. How had she ever trusted this man enough to allow him to make love to her? Enough to move in with him and entertain the thought of spending the rest of her life with him?

  “Very nice.” Zack kneeled in front of her, pointing one gun at her head while the other jammed against her nipple. “Too bad Gavin’s not around to see this. I’d think he’d appreciate a nice show. What did you do? Knock him unconscious out there?”

  She clenched her mouth shut. Clearly, Zack knew enough about Kade’s vulnerable situation. He must have watched from the back door.

  Zack shrugged. “Okay. No talking. Just action. Where’s his bedroom? I don’t think he’d mind too much if we used it, do you? So I can show you what you’ve been missing.”

  “He’ll kill you,” Ava said. “He loves me, and if you touch me, he’ll hunt you down and murder your ass.”

  “Then I guess I’ll have to take a trip to that old shed out there when I’m done with you and get rid of that little problem.”

  “No!” Tears burned her eyes. She should’ve kept her mouth shut.

  “Well, I guess I found out what your weakness is.” He smiled wickedly. “Get in the bedroom, or I’ll kill him first.”

  * * * * *

  Poppy watched through the window as they disappeared into what could only be the bedroom. Finally. Now, she could get her money.

  And then steal a car because that prick Jax was nowhere in sight.

  She reopened the front door and tiptoed inside. The sound of Ava quietly sobbing stunned Poppy. Not good. What was he going to do to her? Well, besides kill her, obviously. The man was a lunatic.

  Through the crack in the door, she could see Ava peeling down her jeans. Poppy had seen Ava’s body a million times before but never trembling with fear.

  There had to be some way to stop him. Ava wasn’t the best of friends, but there was a connection there. They’d both been abused by the hands of a dickhead, and Poppy couldn’t simply watch it happen again.

  Before she could take one step toward the bedroom, a large rough hand covered mouth, and gathered her against his body.

  She jerked forward, but he held her close. “Shhh. It’s me. Kade,” he whispered into her ear. “I’m going to save her. Just get out quietly, okay?”

  Poppy nodded her head. Thank God. Now, she could take the money without feeling guilty.

  * * * * *

  Kade gripped the gun in his hands. Moreno was going down. The sound of Ava crying was the clincher.

  Kade’s eyes were heavy and his body was sluggish, but there wasn’t a damn thing that could keep him from saving her from that fuckup.

  To hell with his career. Who cared if he’d end up in prison for murdering Senator Wadsley’s minion? Just as long as Ava was safe, like he promised her she would be.

  As Kade watched Poppy run out the door with his truck keys and the briefcase full of money, he didn’t even bother flinching. None of it mattered.

  Just save Ava.

  He stepped quietly against the wooden floor, being careful to remember which boards creaked and which didn’t. If Moreno knew he was out here, that would be the end of it.

  Never let them see you coming.

  Never let them see you care. It was too late for that. Nothing was cut and dried anymore. Not when his heart was filled with love.

  “Lay down on the bed.” Moreno’s voice jabbed at Kade’s gut. Son of a bitch.

  One shot. That’s all it was going to take. You can do it, Gavin.

  * * * * *

  Ava took her time climbing onto the bed she’d shared with Kade not too long ago. How stupid had she been for threatening Zack? For giving him a reason to potentially kill the man she loved?

  Another uncontrollable sob escaped. She couldn’t let it happen. “I’ll do anything you ask if you just leave him alone, okay? He won’t find you. He won’t care. I promise.”

  Zack laughed and moved on top of her, shoving the gun into her belly. “Why would anyone care about you? You’re a stripper who used to scoop up dog crap for a living. You’re nothing. You’re worthless.”

  She covered her breasts with her hands and clenched her legs shut. How could she have ever cared for this man? How had she not seen the signs? Controlling? Possessive? The ultimate charmer? The classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

  “Open up for daddy,” he said with a sneer and skimmed the gun down the outside of her thigh. “I’ll admit I’m almost convinced to keep you around just to make good use of your body. I could find a nice little hiding place for you. Keep you locked away.”

  The cold steel ran up her hip, leaving a painful path.

  “I’d rather die than to be touched by you.”

  Zack’s dark, ominous eyes met hers. “Is that so?” He lifted the gun to strike her.

  “Moreno!” Kade shouted from what seemed to be not far behind Zack. “Drop the goddamn gun.”

  Ava’s heart fleeted with joy. He was wide awake and alive. And aiming the gun at Zack’s head!

  A slow, devious smirk peaked Zack’s lips as he kept his eyes on her. “There you are, Gavin. Is sleepy time over with?” He repositioned his aim toward her heart.

  “For me it is. Drop your weapon, or I’ll put you down for a permanent nap.”

  “That’s a clever remark from such an idiotic man. To think I almost lost all hope for you.”

  Kade visibly gulped and met Ava’s eyes. His expression radiated both fury and fear. “Go ahead and get dressed, Ava. You’re not his prisoner anymore.”

  She attempted to rise, but the hard steel dug into her skin, forcing her back down.

  “She’s not going anywhere!” Zack shouted. “This was my property long before you put your filthy hands all over it. I decide her fate. Not you.”

  “You’re pathetic, Moreno. She doesn’t belong to you, and she doesn’t want you. It’s over.”

  Zack’s face reddened, and his eyes grew wide as he spoke to Kade but kept his cold stare on Ava. “It’s o
ver when I say it is. Does she know what kind of man you are, Gavin? Does she realize how many other people you’ve kidnapped for me and so many others? ’Cause I really think she should get a grasp on who she’s been fucking before she meets her maker.”

  “Ava,” Kade said calmly, gently. “I’m not that man anymore.”

  “I know.” Ava breathed out, uncontrollable tears running down her temple. “I love you.”

  “Bullshit!” Zack brought his gun up to her face and jammed it into her cheek.

  She winced and instinctively swiped it away, giving her enough time to drop to the ground out of his range. With her breath caught in her throat, she hugged the wooden floor and waited to hear a gunshot.

  Nothing.

  Turning her head, she could see across the floor to the other side of the bed. Kade’s feet were planted firmly at the end. Why hadn’t he shot him?

  “Stay down, sweetheart.” Kade’s voice was solemn and careful.

  The mattress springs creaked, and Ava could see Zack’s feet touch the ground on the other side of the bed. “Yes, sweetheart,” Zack mimicked as if it were a dirty word, “Stay put. You won’t want to witness me shooting a hole in your lover’s head.”

  * * * * *

  A dozen or so cop cars passed Poppy on the way down the hill with their sirens blaring. Boy, was she glad she’d gotten out of that mess unharmed. And with the money. She smiled and patted the black leather case that lay on the seat beside her. She’d been smart enough to grab Kade’s keys before she left. Thank the lord Mr. Blue Eyes had been preoccupied.

  Bright headlights pulled up behind her out of nowhere and tailed her closely. What now? Whoever it was swerved into the other lane and sped up until it was side by side with her.

  She looked over and saw him. Jax. He rolled down his window and started yelling for her to pull over. In any other situation, she would’ve been more than happy to obey the wishes of a fine man like him. But not today. Not when there was a chance she’d lose half, if not all, of her money to him. This was her future, her destiny. She’d traveled far and had guns pointed to all parts of her body to get the shiny briefcase that sat beside her, and she wasn’t giving it up that easily.

  But how was she going to lose him?

  She pressed the button to roll the passenger window down. “Go away!” She shoved her foot down on the accelerator.

  He fell back for only a moment but then caught up. Poppy glanced over to see him shaking his head and looking as if he wanted to murder her in cold blood. Screw that. If speeding up wouldn’t do the trick then—

  She hit the brakes but the truck wouldn’t stop. It slipped across the icy, slick road and swerved to and fro. Jax’s truck disappeared out of sight, and then she saw it behind her. She punched on the brake pedal again but had lost all control. The back end slid around to the front, and suddenly Jax’s headlights were in front of her. He veered off to the side and barely missed her.

  But it didn’t matter. She kept spinning. Her heartbeat pounded in her chest. It was over. This was it. Oh, God. Mama help me.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Why Kade had chosen that particular moment to freeze was beyond him. Ava had gotten out of the way. It was the perfect time to shoot the fucker right in the back of the head, but now it was too late.

  What the hell had happened?

  He’d killed more than a few men in battle. Faceless men speaking a foreign language he didn’t understand. Men who weren’t connected to people who could put him away for life, leaving him helpless to protect the woman he loved. Men who weren’t standing in the bedroom of his very own home.

  It was too complicated.

  And now Zack Moreno stood before him, gun drawn.

  Kade kept his aim straight as Zack edged his way to the bedroom door. “You planning on going somewhere?” Kade asked him.

  “Just for now. But I’ll be back to get what I want. And I’m sure your cousin will be more than helpful.”

  “Can’t let you go if you say shit like that.” Although Kade knew it was true, unfortunately. What would it take for Jax to gain a heart? Just as Kade had in only the past few days.

  Love? Yeah, right. Jax wasn’t capable of it.

  “Then I’ll kill you both now.” Zack swept his aim past Kade to where Ava now stood.

  Her face was pale, and her cheeks were moist with tears.

  Oh, fuck.

  “Shoot, Gavin.” Lucy’s husky voice called out from behind.

  “Who the fuck is that?” Moreno jerked his gun back away from Ava.

  Now or never, Kade. Get your shit together and save the woman you love. He steadied his aim and pulled the trigger. A familiar cracking sound split through his eardrums as the gun went off in his hands.

  Zack fell to his knees, then dropped face-forward, onto the hard floor. A bullet hole centered perfectly through his heart. Too bad the son of a bitch didn’t have one.

  Kade dropped the gun to his side and fisted his other hand shut. The sight of all the blood on the floor brought back too many vivid memories and made him woozy. But at least it wasn’t Ava’s blood. No, he’d saved her life, just like he’d promised.

  He’d protected her. She was alive.

  Thank God.

  Lucy breezed by him with a half a dozen armed police officers backing her up.

  “Miss me?” She smiled and patted his cheek.

  Cops swarmed the room, taking Moreno’s pulse, confirming his death.

  Stunned with relief, Kade sat back on his bed and handed Lucy’s gun to the men in blue. He looked over at Ava who had thrown on one of his white dress shirts and was now climbing across the bed to get to him. Her face was ashen, her cheeks were stained with tears, and her eyes were bloodshot.

  But she was okay. And her soft, tentative smile calmed his jumbled nerves in the otherwise chaotic room. He’d killed a man and was most likely headed to prison, but when she looked at him like he was her hero, anything seemed possible. If only for a moment.

  She flung her leg around him, straddled his lap and clung tightly to his neck. “I love you,” she whispered into his ear. “God, I love you.”

  Kade felt the rest of the ice melt from his heart. He enfolded her in his arms and gathered her as close as possible. “You have no idea how sweet that sounds.” He pressed his lips to her moist cheek. “I love you, too. Forever.”

  “Sorry to break this up,” Lucy said from the doorway. Kade and Ava both looked up at her as she flashed an FBI badge at them. Who the hell was this woman? She smiled her crimson smile and cocked her head. “But we’re going to have to take you both in for questioning.”

  Kade tightened his grip around Ava’s waist. “In a minute. Give us some time.” He had a bad feeling about what was to come and didn’t want to let go of the best thing that ever happened to him. Not yet.

  “Afraid we don’t have time, Mr. Gavin,” Lucy said, blandly. “We’ve got a crime scene here.” She gestured toward two of the detectives. “Boys, take her into the station, would you?”

  The men reached for Ava, but Kade held a hand out. “I said wait.”

  “What’s going on?” Ava’s deep blue eyes searched his face. “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, it’s fine.” God, he hoped so. “I just wanted to kiss you good-bye before you go.”

  “Why can’t you come with me?” she asked him and then looked up at Lucy. “We’ll go together and straighten this all up.”

  “Miss Lureau,” Lucy began with in an annoyed tone. “We’re going to read Mr. Gavin his rights, and you’re going to the station. Put up a fight, and we’ll read you yours as well.”

  Kade drew out a breath. It was obvious Lucy had been undercover all this time. Shit.

  Ava caressed his jaw with her tiny hands and looked into his eyes. “What are they talking about? You didn’t do anything. Zack did.”

  “It’s okay,” he said, as calmly as possible. “I’ll handle this.” Whatever it takes. He kissed her lips and watched helplessly as
the policemen grabbed her from his arms. “No matter what happens, don’t forget I love you, okay?”

  Her mouth fell open and her eyes narrowed with bewilderment. They had her by her arms, forcing her out of the room.

  “Don’t forget!” he yelled again and then dropped his head into his hands. It was time to face the music.

  * * * * *

  Jax pulled back and watched as the truck in front of him lost all control and slammed into the ditch on the side of the road. Hell, all he wanted to do was get the goddamn money, not kill the feisty little tramp.

  He eased his truck to a complete stop and slid out, waiting to see if there was any movement in the wreckage. He wouldn’t be surprised if the woman tried to run off through the snow with the case in hand. She was a complete nutcase as far as Jax could tell. Adorably sexy, but crazy.

  The truck had dropped rear first into the ditch. The cab stuck out a couple of feet from the road. He pulled himself up and opened the passenger side door. Inside, Poppy was slumped over. Her eyes were closed.

  He slid into the seat, threw the briefcase to the floor, and checked her pulse. Steady. Good. She’s not dead. And there wasn’t any blood to be seen. She must have just passed out. Not that he cared. Why would he? She was just another woman, and as far as he was concerned women were nothing but trouble.

  Jax skimmed his fingers down the lining of his jacket, which still covered her body. He took in the sight of her full breasts. Plump with rosy nipples. He had forced himself not to check her out earlier when she’d practically shoved them in his face. But now there was something so appetizing about her.

  It was impressive how she’d taken on Moreno and come out with the case full of money. He hadn’t counted on her coming out alive at all. But she had and here she was. Right in front of him. Breathing. Her chest expanding while her ample breasts rose and fell.

  The urge to feel her soft skin overwhelmed him, and he reached out and caressed her supple flesh. Her eyes fluttered open, catching him in the act. But she didn’t stop him.

  Instead, she grinned. “You didn’t take the money,” she whispered.

  “No,” he said, only then remembering why he’d tracked her down to begin with.