Act of Blood (An FBI/Romance Thriller ~ Book 16)

by Kelley, Morgan

  It consumed him.

  Here was the proof.

  He was more worried about his looks than how other people saw him.

  Well, that was about to change.

  He was next to die.

  This man would be found quickly, and likely minutes after his death. Yes, he would suffer, but not nearly as much as the first man.

  His fate was sealed, too, and it was time.

  As the man did his laps, his killer waited in the wings with a chain, one of his own exercise weights, and all the time in the world.

  Yes, this would be fun.

  It was time to play God with someone who had never suffered a day in his life.

  As he began moving toward the shallow end of the pool, it became clear that the show was about to begin. He was done with his swim, and it was going to be the last thing he ever did.

  It was time.

  Creeping toward him as he climbed out, the man was so ignorant to anyone around him that he didn’t see what was coming. He didn’t even realize that a stranger approached.

  “Marta, I’ll have my coffee now,” he said. “Then we can sit down and have breakfast if you’re hungry,” he offered.

  There was no answer.

  When he turned, he realized he’d made a mistake.

  “What are you…?”

  He didn’t get to finish.

  He was out of time.

  Before the rest of the words could escape his mouth, the weight slammed into his face, and he fell backward onto the tile pool deck.

  His body made a sick thud as his head bounced off the tile. It was the sound of flesh and skull meeting something harder. It spoke of what was to come.

  This was nothing.

  It was about to get far worse.

  As he was momentarily dazed, it was time to move. There wouldn’t be time to dilly-dally. This was dangerous, and it had to be done right.

  The thick chain was wrapped around his neck as he struggled to breathe. The weight was attached, then the lock, and finally, he was shoved into the pool near the deep end.

  His arms flailed.

  His body struggled as it sunk deeper.

  All the while, the killer watched in amusement from the shadows of the lovely patio.

  His struggles brought entertainment. It was better than getting a ticket to a show. It was sick, sad, and perverse all at once, and it was glorious.

  Yeah, he deserved that.

  Dropping his calling card, it was time to leave. Now that the scene was set, they would work it out.

  “We wouldn’t want Marta to find me here. What would the poor girl do?”

  There was snickering as the killer made an escape. All the while, there was joy.

  This was turning into quite the production.

  It was Oscar worthy.

  It would make all involved a star.

  Now it was time to plan for number three. It was time to mix it up and find the next worthy person for this comedy of errors.

  The fun just kept coming.

  One death at a time.

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

  Georgetown

  Friday

  It was a chaotic week.

  Boone Savage had his hands full at work. The killing of the rich always had the attention of the rest of the world. It was simply one of those things.

  When a poor man perished, it went unnoticed.

  When the wealthy went down, it was often called a travesty.

  He didn’t get it.

  A life was a life, and they should be weighed the same, right?

  Not one bit.

  Maybe it was simply his life, his upbringing, or his culture that made him respect everything around him.

  The birds.

  The food he consumed.

  His woman.

  Life was precious, and as a cop, he knew it.

  Now that he was living up North, the days were getting chillier and the winter was coming. It was inevitable. He was going to have to adjust to the cold hard facts.

  Boone wasn’t quite sure how he was going to handle what was coming. He’d been born in Louisiana, and that’s where he spent all of his days. Their idea of cold weather gear was an umbrella.

  Now…

  Yeah, snow freaked him out.

  As he stood in the shower, getting ready for work, he wasn’t only thinking about the fluffy white shit.

  No, he had other things on his mind.

  Mostly…Meredith Peyton.

  She was downstairs making their coffee before they each had to go their separate ways. Only he was finding it harder and harder to leave her side. Every day, he had to leave her at the FBI building, he was worried that he was going to get a call.

  It scared him.

  No, it made him want to do irrational things that would get his ass kicked.

  The mother of his child was in danger, and he knew it. He could feel it in the air. Maybe it was the spirits warning him of what was to come, or maybe it was his cop gut.

  The energy was off.

  How was he supposed to fight that? What exactly did one do to ensure your woman was safe when fate had already written out your story?

  Boone was a big believer in the universe putting it out there, but now that he had Merry in his life, he didn’t like the idea that something could happen to her.

  How would he accept that?

  He couldn’t.

  He wouldn’t.

  Instead, he was forced to keep looking over their shoulders as he worried about the what ifs.

  Today, he was going to ensure she was safe as much as he could. It was going to start with driving Merry to work and finding their neighbors.

  Agents Madden and Seaton lived right next door, and hopefully, she could get a ride home with them. At least he’d know she was safe.

  Protected.

  Not alone.

  Maybe it was a little over the edge, but Boone didn’t care. He wasn’t going to risk the woman he loved. In fact, if the agents were busy, then he was going to see if Merry would stay at the Hoover building until he got out of work.

  That would make him one happy camper. Locked inside the big glass building, she would be safe.

  That was all he needed.

  Boone would battle the rest, but he had to get a little leverage against the asshole stalking her.

  Hopefully, he could convince Merry to do just that.

  As he stepped out of the water, he could feel her there. He didn’t even have to look over to know the woman he loved was watching him.

  “Cher, you should have come sooner. We could have showered together,” he teased.

  Merry laughed. “I’m pretty sure you mean molestation of a pregnant woman—not shower.”

  “Don’t judge me because I’m a lecherous man, cher.”

  He glanced over and his heart skipped in his chest. There stood the most beautiful woman in the world. From her dark black hair to the violet eyes, he’d never find anyone who touched his heart on a deeper level.

  Meredith Peyton rocked his world.

  Here was his everything, and she was having his child. It had been two weeks since moving to Georgetown to follow her, and he didn’t regret it at all. The time with her was worth leaving his home, ditching his comfortable job, and saying goodbye to his family.

  She was his family now, and he was at peace with it.

  “I love you.”

  The second he said it, her heart skipped in her chest. Merry knew that Boone meant it. The man was an enigma to her, and she loved every second of it. The more she tried to figure him out, the more she found to love.

  He was gentle.

  He was sweet.

  He was incredibly smart.

  Boone Savage was a mystery wrapped in a sexy Native covering, and she would die loving him.

  He was her heart.

  “I love you, too, Boone.”

  When he opened his arms, she didn’t hesitate. Before him, she would have been skitt
ish. After withstanding years of abuse, this man had healed her heart. The second she touched him, she was at peace.

  That’s how she knew.

  It was the key to opening her heart. There was something so peaceful about Boone. He took her anxiety down to nothing, and considering the situation—that was a freaking miracle.

  “Hello, mother of my child,” he whispered, right before he kissed her on the lips.

  That soft touch of mouths did so much for both of them. There was happiness, harmony, and peace.

  Merry melted against him, trapping the life they’d created between them. As of yet, no one else knew. They were keeping this pregnancy a secret for a while.

  It wasn’t because she didn’t want to celebrate the miracle with her co-workers, but it was mostly because she was still scared of what may happen to her.

  Derek Zanders had been around.

  He’d left proof.

  A busted out car window.

  A dead cat.

  Some roses that had a scary note attached.

  He wanted her to know that he was watching, and that freaked her right out. Boone was wearing the target, and she knew it. If that man found out she was pregnant with Boone’s child, she’d also be in even more danger.

  The whole thing scared her.

  When he released her mouth, he was concerned. “You’re tense, cher. What’s going on in that mind of yours? Tell me how to make it better for you.”

  “Him.”

  It was all she had to say.

  That one word told the tale. They were both worked up over it, and it was coming to a head. Boone and Merry could feel it. Being in law enforcement, they saw the signs. Derek Zanders was a loose cannon, and he was aimed at them.

  “Yeah, I’m thinking about him too.”

  “Boone.”

  He stopped her.

  There was no doubt what she was thinking. “No, Merry, I’m not running from him. If he comes at me, I will kill him. I won’t let him hurt you. You’re mine, and we’re having a child. I have to protect my family.”

  “Please tell me you aren’t looking forward to it.”

  Oh, he was.

  Boone wanted to put a bullet in the man’s head. If not for tormenting them, but for the abuse he’d done to Merry for all those years.

  He wanted to break him in pieces and feed him to an alligator.

  Was it wrong since he was a cop?

  Yes.

  But would he protect his woman and child?

  In a freaking heartbeat.

  She buried her face in his neck to breathe in his scent. It was what she needed to stay calm.

  He was what she needed.

  “Okay, Boone.”

  He relaxed too. There was always an underlying fear that Merry would run—not from him—but to protect him. Then he’d have to chase.

  He’d found the woman he was meant to be with, and there was no way he was giving her up.

  Never.

  In.

  A.

  Million.

  Years.

  “I’ll drop you off at work today, and I want you to hang out there until I get off. I have a case we’re working, so I’m likely going to be working late. The only way I want you to leave is if it’s with Broderick and Johanna.”

  His tone said it all.

  While Merry had been abused by a controlling man, Boone’s voice only held concern. He wouldn’t hurt her. He was desperately trying to protect her.

  “I’ll wait for you there. Will you pick me up?” she asked.

  He relaxed. “You know I will. I’ll even bring you a cupcake for my sweet girl.”

  She grinned.

  Then the fear crept in.

  “Cher.”

  “Will you wear a vest, Boone?” she asked. “Please tell me you’ll keep your Kevlar on all day. Better yet, take mine. FBI gear is much better than that cop crap. I can get more at the office.”

  He touched her cheek.

  “Yes, I’ll wear your gear, cher. I’ll enjoy having your scent all over me.”

  Boone knew it was useless even to bother suiting up. Derek had been a cop. If he was going to ambush Boone, it was going to be with a head shot. There was no doubt in his mind.

  His body wouldn’t even be touched. Only he wasn’t going there with Merry. Why freak her out?

  “Promise?” she asked, staring up into his eyes.

  “Yes, cher. I will.”

  She relaxed.

  “Tonight, can we…?”

  Merry didn’t know how to ask this. Just the idea that she wanted to learn more about his religion made her feel like an idiot. This was all new to her, but she wanted him safe and protected.

  She was a scientist and she felt stupid asking.

  Still…

  It gave her hope, and in this situation, that helped her stay calm.

  Boone knew what flustered her most. It wasn’t work, and it wasn’t sex. It was going to be his religion.

  “We can practice more, cher. I’d love to share more of Voodoo with you. I think you’ll like the calming spell. It’ll help you balance the energies. I’ll pick up an offering for us before I come get you.”

  She nuzzled his cheek.

  He simply knew her better than anyone else ever had. The man was astute and her soul mate.

  “Before you, Boone, my life was colorless. Thank you for loving me the way you do. No…thank you for loving us.” She placed her hand over their child.

  He lifted her chin to stare into her beautiful eyes, and it stole his breath. “You’re my treasure. I’ll keep you both safe.”

  Yeah, or die trying. Boone wouldn’t let Merry get hurt. He wasn’t about to let Derek touch her.

  She was his.

  Merry was his other half, and he’d die to protect them. It was his duty.

  He gently kissed her on the tip of the nose. “I promise, Meredith.”

  She believed him.

  Over the last two weeks, he’d done just that. When they had their first argument, she braced for the worst, only it never came.

  Boone never raised his hand to her.

  He didn’t yell.

  He didn’t freak out.

  He simply explained why he was upset, and she got it. They were both stressed out. There was a nutjob hunting her, and because of that, him now too.

  “I should get dressed.”

  Merry rubbed against him. “Yes, you should.” Only she had other things on her mind. Most of the time, the fantasies made her want to do wild and crazy things with him.

  Maybe it was his hair.

  Maybe it was the sexy tan.

  Hell!

  It might be the southern drawl.

  “Want to be late for work?” he asked hopefully. “I can make sure it’s worth your while.”

  “No.”

  Despite his disappointment, he wouldn’t force her. Merry deserved to have a say in everything.

  She touched his cheek. “No, I can’t be late, so you better make it fast.”

  That made him smile.

  His beautiful gardenia was the bright spot in his day. He couldn’t wait to take her home for the holidays to meet his family.

  Boone was going to marry this girl.

  Right after he killed Derek Zanders for hurting her.

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

  Derek was a smart man.

  He’d been a damn good cop at one time, and he’d had the accolades to prove it.

  In fact, he’d been the best on the force.

  That stupid bitch had gotten him fired for no good reason, and for that alone, he was going to hurt her. When he got his hands on Meredith Peyton, he was going to rip her hair out clump by clump, drag her around by her pathetic limp body, and kick the shit out of her with his boots.

  Yeah, he was done playing. She was going to suffer like she’d never suffered before.

  Yes, he had a temper.

  So?

  It helped him do his job.

&
nbsp; She should have known that, but she didn’t get it at all. He had to look at horrible things all day long, and it would make him angry. If she was a decent woman, she’d know that and understand that sometimes, he had to be mad.

  Sometimes, he had to hurt those around him to release that pent up anger. If she wasn’t an idiot, useless, and pathetic, she wouldn’t be the one he hurt.

  Only she was the one he knocked around because she didn’t do anything right. She didn’t know how to cook, her housekeeping skills were subpar, and she didn’t put him first.

  He’d been the man of the house.

  It was her job to be there for him.

  She’d failed.

  That pissed him off.

  Still, it didn’t matter.

  She tossed him away as if he was trash, and then she lied and got him fired.

  He’d never hurt her.

  Well, not when she didn’t deserve it. That didn’t make it abuse. That made it training. Like any dog, you had to break the stupid bitch of her bad habits.

  Yes, he slapped her around a few times, but the clumsy whore had it coming. She couldn’t do anything right. Here, he’d wanted to marry her, give her a husband, and she turned her nose up at him, and for some scumbag Indian.

  Well, he couldn’t accept that.

  It was so damn wrong.

  He was the laughing stock of his police force. When the FBI intervened, and Merry’s boss got him fired, he knew there was only one thing to do.

  He had to kill her.

  Then he’d kill himself.

  Oh, they’d be together forever.

  She didn’t have a choice.

  He was the man, and he was going to make sure that everyone knew it.

  Including that worthless slut.

  Chapter One

  Adams Morgan

  Local Coffee shop

  Callen Whitefox loved this part of DC. When he came down to Adams Morgan, to meet with his publicist and literary agent, he loved taking in the cultural backdrop. It was big city meets small town, and he enjoyed being there. It was a cultural oasis in the middle of a mega city.

  Being Native American had its downfalls, and the biggest one was when he and his brother were in a room, they were often the odd men out. They were giant Natives in a sea of Caucasians.