Avenging Kiss (Savage Security Book 2)

by Karen Tjebben

  Hazeem started the engine and moved the car to a different street. He didn’t want anyone who’d seen the vehicle during the night to see him get out. Besides, he didn’t want any of Logan’s neighbors to be able to recognize him.

  He parked on a side street and eased the driver-side door closed, hoping not to alert anyone with the slamming of a door. The neighborhood was nice, a lot nicer than the bombed out sections of the cities that Logan had destroyed. Thinking about the destruction turned Hazeem’s blood to fire. Entire neighborhoods had been destroyed, leaving women and children homeless. The victim count was too high to accurately calculate. That was why he was here, for the victims. He needed to focus, or his emotions would fuck up his mission.

  Hazeem eyed Logan’s house as he strolled down the sidewalk. It was a simple ranch style. The red bricks gave it the appearance of being put together with Legos. A garage was on the right side of the house, and trimmed bushes lined the front. There were no annual flowers decorating the flower bed, but perennial plants dotted the beds and offered a variety of colors and textures.

  Hazeem walked past a neighboring house that sat on the corner and turned down the sidewalk. Once to the back of the houses, he made his way through the wooded backyards to Logan’s house.

  From behind, it was obvious that the house was bigger than it looked from the front. A walk-out basement made up another level of the house, and a large screened-in porch protruded from the back. A black fence lined the perimeter of the backyard, an obvious concession for the big dog. It certainly wouldn’t keep people out. Gripping the bars, Hazeem hauled himself over the fence. Then he strolled casually thru the yard.

  He froze when he saw the security camera nestled under the eaves beside the door that led into the house from the backyard. Shit! He should have expected this. His heart beat faster. Was this camera motion-activated, or did it record continuously? Had he triggered it by getting too close to the house? Had he just ruined his own op by walking straight into the sights of ‘Big Brother’?

  Carefully, he stepped backwards and turned. He wanted to peer over his shoulder for another glance at the house, but he wouldn’t risk the camera capturing his image. He’d have to rely on his partner to gather more information.

  6

  Logan brushed his hand through his wet black hair as he stood in front of the bathroom mirror. The shower had felt great after the run. Mojo sat at his feet, his eyes trained on his master while his tongue lolled out of his mouth.

  Squirting the shaving gel into the palm of his hand, Logan rubbed it evenly onto his face. For the most part, he took after his dad. He was taller than most Japanese men, hitting right around six foot, and he easily built muscle mass when he worked out. His skin tone and facial structure leaned heavily towards his mother’s Japanese heritage, while the wave and thickness of his hair was clearly from his father’s European heritage.

  He shaved and rinsed his face, grabbed the scented aftershave and patted it over his skin. Leaning back, he checked the counter. A few drops of water beaded on the marble, so he rubbed his washcloth over the spots and perused the counter again. This time it passed inspection. Everything was in its place.

  The beginning twinges of hunger prickled his stomach. “Okay, Mojo,” he started, looking down at the dog. “You hold down the fort while I get us some grub.”

  Mojo followed Logan down the hallway. With a quick rub behind the dog’s ears, Logan armed the security system and opened the door to the garage. He closed the door behind him and looked up at the camera that covered the garage area. He’d installed the security cameras himself. The job took him less than a day, but provided daily protection. No one would make it into his house without his knowledge.

  Logan tapped his fingers on the steering wheel in time with the music as he drove the few miles to the grocery store. It was nice having the store so close to home and work. Grocery shopping was part of his Sunday ritual. He’d stop occasionally during the week when he needed to, but he was pretty good about buying everything he needed on Sundays. He tried not to ruin his weeknights wandering through grocery store aisles.

  He pulled a shopping cart free from the row of carts and pushed it into the fresh foods section. He needed to refill the crisper and fruit bin in his fridge. Fresh veggies were the hardest items to buy. They didn’t always make it to the next weekend before they went limp, started to grow suspicious spots, or give off offensive smells.

  When he finished in the fresh foods section, he angled his way towards the bakery. Different breads lined the shelves. He looked for his favorite healthy wheat bread, but it wasn’t there. So he settled on a different brand’s wheat bread and hoped that it would be just as good.

  He pushed his cart around an endcap and started down another aisle. He stopped suddenly when he saw her, the woman from the bar. She looked just as good standing in the aisle in yoga pants as she had last night in her dress. She held jars of spaghetti sauce and was clearly debating between the brands.

  Was it kismet that she stood in his grocery store the day after spotting her at the bar? He inhaled and worked out his plan as he approached.

  “That one has a stronger garlic flavor.” Logan pointed to one of the jars in her hands. “The other one’s sweeter.”

  Aditya turned her head to look over her shoulder at the man talking to her about pasta sauce. She liked what she saw. “Really?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. She didn’t hide that she was checking him out. She made it obvious as her eyes raked over his body. He was cute, and he probably knew it. He had that ‘guy next door’ look about him, but his body was clearly more fit than the average Joe. “How lucky for me that I ran into a spaghetti sauce connoisseur.”

  Her smile and the flirty lilt in her voice nearly undid him. She was flirting back. He could work with that. “Logan Murphy.” He held out his hand, and when her feminine fingers smoothed across his, his manhood took notice.

  “Aditya Chopra,” she replied. She held up the jar in her left hand and waved it. “Garlic can be so off-putting.” She set the jar back on the shelf and eyed him again. “I prefer sweet and smooth.” She knew her lips eased into a natural smile. Spending time with this man could end up being very pleasurable.

  Sweet and smooth, that was exactly how he saw her. She didn’t hide her sweet curves, and Logan had a feeling she’d be smooth under his touch. “I think I saw you last night.” Had she noticed him?

  “At The Grill House?” she asked. Her eyebrows rose in recognition. “I thought you looked familiar.” She rested one arm on the shopping cart and took a more relaxed stance.

  “A few men offered to buy you a drink, but you refused,” he stated. He was determined to find out if she was dating someone before he got too invested in this flirtation.

  Her eyes sparkled as she understood his statement for what it was. A fishing expedition. “I was supposed to meet a friend, but he never showed,” she said with a shrug. A smart woman lets a man think she has other potential suitors. It activated some sort of primal need in men to hunt and claim what they wanted.

  Logan wanted to sink his hands into the dark spiraling curls that hung below her shoulders and press his lips against hers. Her beauty mysteriously called to him, like some siren captivating unsuspecting men. He’d watched her all night at The Grill House. He wasn’t going to waste this opportunity. “If you’re hungry, I make lasagna that will melt in your mouth.” He knew he’d melt in her mouth.

  Her lips curved into a smile as her dark brown eyes shimmered with playfulness. “Lasagna, huh?” She inhaled deeply and caught his subtle glance at her chest. She knew she was smaller than a lot of women, but a man had never not enjoyed being with her. She understood that how one used their assets was more important than size. Some men used their manhood like battering rams, endlessly pounding furiously against a woman’s most tender spot. Sex with those men was the worst. That tender area could only take so much friction before discomfort settled in. How that wasn’t obvious was a mystery to her.
She preferred the smooth glide of a firm cock caressing her, teasing and tempting her towards release.

  “So,” she began, “I could bring a salad,” she paused and one side of her lips rose in a tempting smile, “or dessert?”

  Logan liked the way she said dessert. Like it was something filled with possibilities that she planned to savor and enjoy. “Either would be fine.”

  “Hmm,” she eyed him as she nibbled on her lip. “I don’t make a habit of going to strange men’s homes.”

  “Then you’re in luck. I’m not strange.” He casually shrugged his shoulders. “You can text my address to a BFF if that makes you more comfortable.” Was that the phrase women used? “That way she’ll know where you are. I promise… I’m safe.” He pressed his hand to his chest.

  “Said the spider to the fly.” She set the jar of sauce in her cart. “Curious though,” she already knew that she’d go, but she still wanted to flirt a little to see his reaction. “What makes you so sure that you’ll be safe with me?” She cocked her head to the side and maintained eye contact.

  He knew far too well how a tiny woman could destroy a man. There was no sufficient armor to protect the heart. “I have a feeling you’re worth the risk.”

  She knew she’d hooked him. She’d caught him shamelessly staring the night before. She was great at dangling the bait and waiting for a bite. She opened her purse and took out her phone. “Put your information into my contacts list. I’ll forward it to my friend.” She opened the contacts screen and opened the page for him to input his information. “What time should I come?” She looked into his eyes. They were interesting. Maybe the most interesting eyes she’d studied before. Various shades of brown swirled through his irises with hints of green. They also flashed with positivity, yet she still recognized the hint of danger and mystery that haunted the caramel brown eyes.

  As he took the phone, his heart beat a little faster. How many other men’s contact information had she saved on her phone? He knew that didn’t matter. He had plenty of names and numbers in his phone. Everyone had a past, and there was no way a woman as beautiful as her didn’t have a past.

  His fingers flew over the screen as he saved his information. He hadn’t cooked for a woman in a long time. He normally met them somewhere for dinner before he brought them into his home. “Does noon work for you?” He handed her the phone. He really didn’t want to wait until dinner time. He wanted to start whatever they’d have as soon as possible.

  “Noon is perfect,” she replied and dropped the phone back into her purse. That would give her enough time to freshen up. “I’ll see you then,” she called over her shoulder as she walked away.

  Logan watched her disappear around the endcap. Now he had to finish grocery shopping without looking like he was stalking her through the store as he made his way through the aisles. He also needed to buy lasagna, three types of cheeses, and garlic bread. He paused at that. She’d said garlic could be off-putting. If they hit it off, there may be kissing… or more. He was hoping for more. Of course if they both ate the garlic bread, then they wouldn’t taste it on each other. This was the reason he didn’t cook for women very often. There was too much to think about. Give him the cut-and-dried logic and algorithms needed to run computers. Those he could figure out. Women, on the other hand, were much harder creatures to understand.

  7

  When the doorbell rang, Logan looked around the room. Everything was neat and put away. He was usually organized and tidy, so it hadn’t taken long to get the house presentable. Walking to the front door, he opened it and smiled at Aditya. Her long curls hung over her shoulders, and her dark eyes were highlighted with the perfect amount of make-up. He was glad she hadn’t put on too much. Sometimes it looked as if women were dressed for a costume party with the amount of eyeshadow and eyeliner they used. He appreciated a woman’s natural beauty.

  “Welcome,” he said, grabbing Mojo by the collar. “Please come in.” He motioned with his hand for her to enter. “Don’t worry. He won’t hurt you. Mojo, down,” he commanded. The husky sat, and his tail thumped hard against the floor.

  She walked cautiously into the house. Big dogs scared her. She’d seen blood spurt from throats with a well-placed bite. Collecting her nerves, she pasted on a smile as she held up a glass dish covered with aluminum foil. “I brought dessert,” she said, her voice friendly and her eyes bright. “It’s nothing fancy, just brownies.” A plastic grocery bag hung from her arm. “And ice cream,” she added lightly, raising her arm so the bag swayed.

  If she were honest, she was a little nervous. The beginning moments of her relationships with men were the most critical. She needed to lay the right foundation in order to work her magic, which also meant that she needed to read the man’s character quickly. Sometimes she had to walk away if she didn’t think she could handle the man. It wouldn’t take long for her to figure out which group Logan belong in.

  “A perfect combination. I love chocolate and ice cream.” He stepped closer and brought her toward him. Wrapping one arm around her, he pulled her into a hug and breathed her in. Her perfume was subtle, a light floral scent. He liked it and wouldn’t mind smelling it on her as he buried his nose in her hair.

  Keeping her arms around him, she leaned back so she could look into his face. She could tell by his eyes that he wanted to kiss her, but it was too early for that. She wanted him to work a little harder for her treats. “It smells great in here.” She pulled out of his embrace and looked around. The entry way opened to what would typically be thought of as the family room. A sofa and recliner faced a large television that hung on the wall. The room led into the kitchen.

  “Thanks.” He took the brownie dish and ice cream from her. “Follow me. I just took the lasagna out. We can let it set for a few minutes.”

  “Perfect.” She followed him and scoped out the house as they made their way to the kitchen. She liked that everything was neat. No unidentifiable stains on the furniture or carpet popped out at her. She hated slobs. It amazed her how many men thought that a woman didn’t mind getting naked in a pigsty. It always creeped her out, not knowing what the sticky substance or stains were that seemed to cover slobs’ homes, and then when her body made contact with the grime, it made her skin crawl. No, from the looks of things, she’d have no problem getting comfortable on Logan’s furniture.

  “Would you like some red wine?” Logan opened the cupboard and looked over his shoulder at Aditya. He loved her smile. Her beautiful face brightened, and her full lips curved to reveal perfectly white teeth.

  She stood beside the island and watched Logan as the dog sat by the refrigerator. “Wine at noon?” she asked with a smile. “Why not? It’s Sunday.” She playfully shrugged her shoulders and leaned against the island, resting one hand on top of the cool granite as she took in the kitchen. She liked it. The counters and stainless steel appliances were wiped down and free of finger prints. The simple farmhouse table had all the chairs pushed in. And the island was free of clutter. It was clear that Logan had a little OCD going on. That wasn’t too much of a surprise. His type usually did.

  He grabbed two wine glasses and set them on the island beside the bottle. “I don’t usually start this early, but since this is my main meal of the day,” he popped the cork and poured the wine, “I’m willing to share a little wine with a beautiful woman.” He couldn’t help but smile. She did it for him. Although she was petite, she was perfectly proportioned. When they’d hugged, her head fit nicely against his chest.

  He also hoped the wine would help loosen her up a little. She seemed nervous. Her eyes shifted constantly, as if she were cataloguing her surroundings. He’d caught her studying the room as they walked to the kitchen. Was she looking for a quick exit?

  He usually knew the women better before he brought them to his home. In all honesty, he was surprised by how many women went home with men they didn’t know. Maybe that was a casualty of his job. He knew how dangerous men could be, and most women were power
less against the man they trusted. He’d always warned his sister to know a man better before she put herself in his ‘home field’ advantage.

  “The lasagna smells great.” Aditya inhaled deeply. “Is that garlic I smell too?”

  Logan turned to show her the garlic bread sitting on the stove top. “Do you like garlic bread? I don’t have to bake it.” He was glad he’d waited to warm it up. He wanted it nice and hot when they ate it.

  “I love garlic bread. It’s one of my favorite foods.” She licked her lips in anticipation. “Who doesn’t love massive amounts of butter seeping into their bread?” she teased.

  “I like how you think.” Logan opened the oven door and the baking sheet screeched as it slid against the metal oven shelf.

  Logan picked up his wine glass and pointed with it to her glass. She took the hint and picked up her wine. “To new friends,” Logan said.

  “To new friends,” she repeated, tapping her glass against his. She liked him. It would be hard not to. He had looks, manners, and was obviously intelligent. She’d been with intelligent men before, but she often found that they frequently lacked social skills. Logan didn’t seem to be missing anything. But she couldn’t forget his unforgivable flaw. He was a killer. Pure and simple.

  The conversation flowed easily as they ate. They covered numerous topics, and there were no lulls to the conversation. Logan loved hearing about her childhood. She’d lived in India for most of her youth, but her parents moved the family to the States the summer before she entered junior high school. She didn’t have an accent, which was why he hadn’t expected that she’d ever lived in India. She sounded like most second generation Indians. But once he found out that she’d graduated from an Ivy League school with a computer science degree, he decided that he was in love. Their discussion turned to the advancements in technology and cybersecurity.