Retribution Boxed Set (Books One and Two)

by Stark, Cindy

  “I still couldn’t have told you.”

  “So, you’re going to sit there and say you have to follow the rules, when clearly you’ve broken many of them?”

  He pulled into his garage and shut off the engine. When he turned to her, harsh lines etched the corners of his eyes. “Besides the guys in our organization, you are the one person I would think who could understand why we do what we do. Your life was threatened, and yet you have to go to court to defend yourself. Every day, I try to ensure that criminals are properly punished through the justice system. It’s a great system. But it doesn’t always work. What then? Is it okay that child molesters run free so they can shatter some other child’s life? Is it okay for a man to beat his wife and then walk away to continue his life while hers has been taken, not only from her, but from those who loved her?”

  His personal pain became more evident with each word he spoke, and each word was like a bullet to her heart. The man next to her was trying to do the best he could for those around him. He was willing to sacrifice his livelihood, even his freedom to protect people.

  She’d had no right to judge him. “You’re a hero,” she whispered.

  “Shit,” he hissed under his breath and looked away. “I’m no fucking hero.” He got out of the car and slammed the door.

  She hurried after him, but couldn’t catch up before he walked into his room and shut the door. He’d purposefully put space between them, like she’d always put physical or emotional distance between her and the people who should have loved her but didn’t.

  She’d always wished her parents would have come after her, would have apologized and let her know they’d cared. They hadn’t. She wouldn’t make the same mistake.

  She opened his door and walked in.

  He’d removed his shirt and had it balled in his hands when he whirled on her, a dangerous look on his face.

  “Sam,” she said in a gentle voice.

  “You need to leave.” It was obvious he was fighting his emotions and wanted to be left alone, but she couldn’t. Not without speaking her heart.

  She stepped closer. He sent her a warning look, but she didn’t back away. “I’m sorry. I was judging you by the same standards as my parents, as Paul, but it’s very obvious you’re a higher caliber person.” She reached out to touch his shoulder. Before she made contact, he snatched her wrist out of the air, backing her up against the wall.

  “I’m not a goddamn saint, Janie. Quit acting like I am.”

  She swallowed. The strength of him made her tremble even though she knew without a doubt he’d never hurt her. “You are though,” she said in a lowered voice. “You put your life on the line for so many. For me.”

  That seemed to add to his misery. “I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for me. I’m the most selfish bastard you’ll ever come across. I killed the man who killed my sister because I couldn’t live on the same planet as him. I’m helping you, going after Castell, because I want you. For me. I’m doing it for me.”

  A swift shiver encompassed her. “I don’t believe you.” She’d seen his heart, and there was nothing he could do to erase it.

  He stared at her with a hard look, as though his rigid gaze could force her to change her mind. Instead of backing away, she slipped a hand behind his neck and pulled him to her.

  His lips touched hers, and it unleashed the beast. He pinned her against the wall, his mouth ravaging hers with rough and desperate kisses.

  Heat exploded through her, intense and raw.

  She gripped his shoulders, knowing her nails dug into his flesh, but her baser instincts had taken over, and she couldn’t stop.

  A low growl erupted from his throat, and he scooped her up and carried her to his bed.

  The next minute was filled with frantic grabs and tugs in an effort to remove their clothes. He quickly sheathed himself in a condom as she kissed his neck. Then he tossed her back on the bed, his eyes wild. She felt the same way. She didn’t know if it was her brush with death, but she needed him, needed to reaffirm she was alive.

  She cradled him as he sank into her depths, a whimper escaping her when he filled her. The sensation of him inside her quieted her desperate need. It seemed to have done the same for him as well.

  Instead of moving, he remained buried inside her. He lifted onto his arms and stared into her eyes with an intense, searing gaze. She wrapped her legs around him in an effort to reassure him, knowing she’d die if he suddenly pulled back.

  “It’s okay, Sam.”

  “Janie…” he whispered.

  She reached up and caressed his cheek, ran her thumb across his bottom lip.

  “I can’t lose you.”

  She shook her head, overcome by emotion.

  “Ever.”

  His admission stunned her. She’d known he cared about her, but… “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying the moment you walked into my life all those months ago, I knew I would never be the same. I need you, Janie. I need you like this.” He moved slowly, and she shivered from the friction he created inside her.

  She wanted him, too. But she also needed more than only a physical relationship. Could she dare hope for more? “It’s just sex, Sam.”

  “No, it’s more than that.”

  She couldn’t speak. His argument ripped open the scars she’d held from previous relationships, leaving her raw. She’d tried to keep herself protected, but he’d flayed her far too easily.

  “You know it is.”

  Was it? And if it was more than sex, did he mean love? Or something less?

  He hadn’t said love…

  Or was this another instance of her overlooking his faults and making his attraction to her seem like it had more depth than it really did. How could she know for certain?

  It seemed an impossible task to figure out. Instead of answering him, she pulled him down to her and kissed him. He tasted so good. His hard body covering hers felt incredibly right, so she put her efforts into living in the moment.

  He resisted ever so slightly, and she knew he wanted a response. But the only answer she had for him right now was this. She moved beneath him, letting him slip from her before she pulled him back in.

  He closed his eyes for a quick moment, but when he opened them again, a passion-infused haze covered them, and she knew she’d won a moment’s reprieve.

  Chapter Twenty

  A song burst from Sam’s phone, bringing him wide awake. He reached for his cell and turned off the alarm. It was rare that he’d been in such a deep sleep that his alarm startled him, but it had today.

  He fell back on his pillow, giving his brain a chance to wake. Images of the previous night flashed into his memory like a movie, and he turned, reaching for Janie. Cold sheets were the only thing he found on her side of the bed.

  Disappointment echoed through his heart. He’d known he’d botched his attempt at telling her he loved her the previous day, but he’d had too many damned emotions wreaking havoc with his thoughts. He should have just said it, plain and simple. But there’d been something in her eyes that had held him back, and he certainly didn’t want to scare her off.

  And then she’d kissed him…and loved him…and he couldn’t think beyond burying himself inside her. Over and over, until the sun set, until dawn crept toward the horizon.

  Fucking idiot, he was.

  He rolled from bed and crossed the hall to her room. Her door stood firmly shut. He tried the handle. Locked.

  Shit.

  Was she pissed? She hadn’t seemed angry last night. In fact, she’d been the one to initiate several rounds of love-making between them.

  Maybe she needed some space. They’d both been through an emotional ordeal, her more so than him. He wasn’t the one who’d been shot at.

  He hesitated a moment longer, wanting to knock on her door, but it was too early in the morning. He could wait until she’d had enough sleep before he attempted to let her know how he felt. Maybe she needed time to consider wh
at he’d said, time to see if she felt as strongly.

  He’d give her a day.

  * * *

  “The Mustang belongs to a guy named Christian Monroe.” Clark’s voice came across the line in hushed tones. “The address on record is the Caora Dubh bar, downtown.”

  Paul leaned farther back in his desk chair. “I’ve heard of the place, but who the hell is Christian Monroe and how does Janie know him?”

  “No idea. You’ve got the information, so I guess you can figure it out.”

  “Yeah.” Ideas rushed through him like high-quality cocaine.

  “It’s a simple enough check.”

  “Thanks, man. I appreciate that.”

  “You can show your appreciation by taking care of business. The sooner you get things handled, the sooner Hardy will get off my back.”

  “Is he breathing on you, too?”

  “Fuck, like a dragon.” The cop’s voice sounded weary. “I can only do so much before people get suspicious, but he’s ordered me to help you. Threatened that if I don’t he’ll expose me.”

  “He’s a vicious bastard. If I didn’t make so much money off him…” He stopped. It was pointless to consider alternatives because there were none. “We’ve got to get things in place, because he won’t move until all bases are covered. I think he thinks I’m a weak link, and this shit with Janie ain’t helping. She hasn’t talked so far, and I’m wondering if she will.”

  “You can’t take that chance. He won’t take that chance.”

  “I know it. She could cause the whole organization major problems.” He couldn’t forget his personal vendetta as well. He just wished his involvement with Hardy wasn’t hinged on Janie’s death. He wanted his payback, and he’d get it, but it ate at him that his personal life had made a mess out of his business.

  “Yeah. You gotta take her out.” He paused for a moment. “You need more help, let me know.”

  * * *

  Sam walked through the door at the end of his work day, finding the house filled with wonderful smells. On the surface, things seemed okay. Janie cooked for the three of them, and they talked, even laughed with each other.

  But underneath, things were churning. Sam had forgiven Christian for losing Janie, but tension still separated them. Janie bore the guilt of watching Christian hobble on crutches. Worse, Sam and Janie hadn’t shared so much as a kiss during the week since he’d tried to share his feelings.

  Something had to give, or the three of them wouldn’t survive the close quarters much longer.

  Instead of heading in to change his clothes like he’d done every other day after getting home, he walked into the kitchen to find Janie stirring what looked like some kind of dressing, maybe for a salad.

  She glanced up and smiled, but it wasn’t the soul-wrenching, gut-kicking smile that he missed. “Hey,” she said.

  He didn’t answer. He kept his gaze trained on her as he swiftly closed the distance between them. As he neared, she raised her brows, and he knew that she knew she was his target.

  He took her shoulders and kissed her until she dropped her whisk in the bowl and kissed him back. When he pulled away, they were both breathless.

  “What was that for?” she asked, her tongue darting across her bottom lip.

  “Because I love you.” There. He’d said it.

  She stared at him as though incapable of processing what he’d just said.

  “Did you hear me?”

  “Yes,” she said softly. She watched him a moment longer before breaking eye contact and picking up her whisk again.

  Shit. Had he made a huge mistake? She still seemed stunned. Or freaked out. Or something. Damn it. “This isn’t working. Let me start over.” He kissed her again. “Did you like that?”

  She seemed surprised. “Yes.”

  Good thing. “Do you like me?”

  A smile twitched at her lips. “Yes.”

  Relief washed over him. “I can work with that. I’m going to change before dinner.” As he left her standing in the kitchen, his heart swelled with possibility.

  * * *

  Janie took a sip of wine and placed her glass on the dining table, smiling at a joke Christian had told her and Sam. Things were better. Sam had blown away whatever cloud had been hanging over them the past few days, and she couldn’t be more grateful.

  “Since I cooked, Sam gets to do the dishes.” She grinned at his groan.

  “What about Christian?” he complained.

  “He took a bullet for me,” she teased, and Christian nodded.

  “I won’t go into all the reasons that’s messed up,” Sam said, obviously enjoying their company. “Instead, I’m going to sit here for a minute and…” He lifted his glass. “To beautiful women and good friends. May we never take them for granted.”

  Christian laughed with her, but before they could clink glasses, Sam’s phone rang. He’d left it sitting on the table next to his plate, and the ringing drew all of their gazes.

  “Speaking of beautiful women,” Christian said. “Who’s she?”

  Janie recognized the image of her attorney on Sam’s cell phone screen, and just like that, her carefree evening evaporated. She looked to Sam. Awkwardness instantly filled the space between them.

  “Eliana Conway. Janie’s attorney.” Sam hesitated, then snatched his phone. “Hello?”

  Janie kept her gaze trained on Sam, wondering if it was a social call or something else. Neither sat very well with her.

  He studied her in return, listening intently to whatever Eliana was telling him. “Really.” Disdain echoed in his voice. “I’m having a hard time believing that. What was the basis? He blinked and looked away.

  Janie stared harder at him, wanting to re-establish the connection, needing to be able to look into his eyes to gauge what Eliana might be saying.

  Sam listened a moment longer, then nodded. “Thank you for keeping me updated.” Another pause. “Umm…” He flashed a look at Janie and quickly looked away again. “Things are a bit hectic for me right now. I’ll have to get back to you later.”

  Eliana had asked him out. There was no doubt in her mind. And Sam hadn’t told her no. He hadn’t said yes, but he hadn’t said no.

  That stung more than she cared to admit.

  Sam turned off his phone and pocketed it. He heaved a sigh before he caught her gaze again. “Good news and bad news.” He glanced at Christian and then back to her.

  Her stomach churned, and she braced herself for what was to come.

  “Paul pled guilty to a lesser degree. You won’t have to testify.”

  Fifty pounds of stress slipped from her, and she smiled. “That’s…really? She couldn’t picture Paul admitting guilt for anything. “How long will he be in jail? She could, like, walk free on the streets again. His incarceration would be her freedom.

  “He didn’t get jail time.”

  “What? Christian nearly exploded out of his seat.

  Janie grabbed her stomach as a sharp, nauseating feeling gripped her. “Why not? This couldn’t be right.

  “As I mentioned to Janie before, he has a fairly clean record. No previous assault charges, and I guess the D.A. felt it would be hard to prove intent.”

  “That’s bullshit,” Christian said.

  “Always is,” Sam said to his friend. Then he met Janie’s gaze and took her hand. “I’m so sorry.”

  She blinked back her emotion, wondering if she’d ever catch a break where Paul was concerned. “I need to leave and get out of Portland.”

  “No,” he said gently.

  “Then I need to fight back. I can’t sit here any longer and wonder how long it will be before he finds me.” She gave both men a leveled look. “It’s only a matter of time. If he didn’t get jail time, then there’s nothing to keep him from coming after me.”

  “That’s not going to happen.” Angry undertones echoed from Sam’s words. “He might have escaped jail this time, but I’m not finished yet. Hell, I’ve barely begun.”

>   She started to shake her head, but he cut her off.

  “Damn it, Janie. I’m not going to turn you over to him. If you tell Eliana where you are, she’ll have to give up the information, and they’ll serve you immediately with a summons. It will cost us time and take away our options. He wants you, but he’s not going to get you.” Sam turned to Christian. “I think it’s time we take this into our own hands.”

  His statement pounded a spike of fear into her heart. “And do what? Kill him? That’s the only way he’s going to leave me alone.”

  “If that’s what it takes.” Sam’s chair grated angry against the kitchen tile as he stood and started piling dishes.

  She stood, too. “You’re not going to kill someone on my behalf. I won’t let you.”

  He met her gaze, his irises turning to sharp obsidian. “This is what we do, Janie. We protect the innocent when the justice system fails.”

  Christian nodded his head in agreement.

  She looked from Sam’s determined gaze to Christian’s serious one. “You’re both crazy. This is against the law.” She focused on Sam. “You are the law.”

  Christian finally stood as though he needed to join forces with his friend. “We don’t go looking to kill people, Janie. We’re not that savage. But we will stop him. You will be safe.”

  “If Paul ends up dead, it will be because of his own actions, not any of ours,” Sam added.

  Her heart pounded in erratic beats. She couldn’t let them do this. “Then how will you deal with him?”

  Sam shrugged. “In a case like this, the best way is to get his cohorts to turn against him. They can take him out if they want. If nothing else, he’ll be too busy defending himself to come after you.”

  The tension in her eased a bit. That didn’t sound so bad. “How do you do that?”

  “We have ways,” Christian said.

  “Why didn’t you do that in the first place?”

  Sam took the plate from her hand. “Because it’s better if the justice system can handle criminals. Less risky for us, and we can focus on the really bad ones.”

  And do what they needed to do. Her thoughts echoed Sam’s previous statement. “But you’d kill him if you had to.”