by B. B. Hamel
“Don’t move, bitch,” he said.
Then gunshots rang out. I shrank back against the wall, terror rolling through me. I looked down at myself, but I wasn’t shot. I looked back up as the man collapsed, red blooming along his chest.
Emory was standing there, his face grim, smoke curling from his weapon.
“Upstairs,” he ordered me.
“What’s happening?” another voice called from the other room. Emory moved fast, staying low. He moved toward the kitchen just as the man came around the corner and stumbled over the first body.
Emory knocked his gun away and cracked him in the skull. The man stumbled back and Emory went at him, punching him in the throat, the chest, and the stomach. The man toppled back and Emory was on him, disarming him with incredible speed.
The man began to struggle, pushing back against Emory, but Emory was clearly stronger. I watched as Emory took his knife and slid it across the man’s neck, killing him the same way he’d killed the first one.
Slowly, Emory rocked back up to his feet, drawing up to his full height. I stared at him, afraid but also impressed, as he looked toward me.
“I asked you to stay upstairs,” he said.
“Sorry,” I answered dumbly, barely able to think.
He looked at my parents. “Go upstairs with Tara now,” he said. “I’ll take care of this.” They hesitated, staring at him. “Go,” he said more gently. “It’s over.”
Relief washed over me. It was over. Just like that, Emory had taken out three men, two with just a knife. There had been barely any noise, except for the gunshots.
My parents moved out from under the table and quickly came upstairs. Dad grabbed me and pulled me along. The last thing I saw before we went back into the nursery was Emory looking down at the bodies, his face twisted into a mask of rage.
The three of us sat in a stunned silence in the nursery. I held Mason close against my chest. There were no noises from downstairs except for the front door opening and closing once.
Mom and Dad weren’t speaking, and I couldn’t break the heavy tension. I simply held Mason close against me, fear rolling through my skin. I couldn’t begin to come to grips with what I had seen.
I’d known what Emory had been saying was true. I’d known I was in danger. But it didn’t really seem real until I saw a bearded man with a gun standing in my kitchen. Watching Emory take the men down with seeming ease only made it all that much more intense.
He wasn’t making any of it up. I’d never really doubted it, but now there was no more room for questions.
I was in serious danger, and so was my family.
After maybe fifteen or twenty minutes, I heard the sound of feet softly moving down the hall. I felt a spike of fear as the door slowly opened.
Emory looked in at us. His face had softened a lot since I’d last seen him.
“It’s okay,” he said. “I know what you just witnessed was horrible, but the men are gone.”
“I’m sorry,” Dad said first. “I’m sorry I didn’t believe you.”
“It’s okay. I’m just glad I was here.”
I stood up. “What’s going to happen now?” I asked.
“Are we calling the police?” Mom added.
“No,” he said. “We are disposing of the bodies. I called my commanding officer already, and he’s sending a more thorough cleanup team.”
“What does that mean?” Dad asked.
“Men will be here soon to scrub your house of blood.”
We were silent for a second as that sank in.
“I know this is a lot to handle,” he said, “but there’s one last thing. Tara, we have to leave town.”
“What?”
“There’s a safe house in Indianapolis. It used to be run by the CIA. My CO tells me that we can use it.”
“I can’t leave my parents,” I said.
“They’re safe here. The Network doesn’t want or care about them. Plus, Cooper and a few others will stay here to watch over them.”
“No, Emory,” I said firmly. “They come or I stay.”
“Honey,” Dad said gently, putting his hand on my arm. “Honey, listen to me. You have to do what he says.”
“Emory knows what he’s doing,” Mom said.
“But I can’t just leave you here.”
“You can and you will,” Dad said. “You’re the one in danger. When the men first came inside, the only thing they wanted to know was where you were.”
“It’s true,” Mom said. “He said they wouldn’t hurt us if they could have you.”
“We didn’t tell them,” Dad added.
“You two did amazing,” Emory said. “But, Tara, we need to leave.”
“When?”
“Right now.”
I stood there, unmoving, staring at my parents.
How could I just turn away and run? After what had happened? I felt responsible for this. I had brought these terrorists into their house. It was my fault for insisting that Emory bring me back to the house to check up on them.
But if they were right, I would be doing more harm than good by staying. If we left, the terrorists would follow us.
“Okay,” I said softly. “Only because I think it would be worse if I stayed.”
“Thank you,” Dad said.
“Come on. We need to get moving.” Emory turned to leave.
“Wait. We need to get Mason’s things.”
Mom and Dad went into motion. They quickly packed what I’d need while Emory watched, his eyes intense. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but he radiated a calmness that made me feel more secure.
He knew what he was doing. Even if this situation seemed absolutely insane, Emory was in control. He’d taken those men out when they broke into the house. He was going to keep us safe. I just had to trust him.
The four of us went back downstairs and packed the car. This time, I didn’t make any jokes about it.
“Are you sure they’re going to be okay?” I asked Emory as my dad finished putting Mason into his car seat.
“I promise,” he said. “Cooper or someone else will be here twenty-four seven until this is over.”
“Where was Cooper this time?”
“He was sweeping the area. He would have been here if I hadn’t been.”
I nodded. “I’m afraid, Emory.”
“I know, but you’re with me.” He grinned. “No terrorist motherfucker is going to touch you while I’m around.”
My parents finished getting us packed and turned toward us. I could feel tears pressing at my throat, so I just threw my arms around my dad and hugged him.
“I’ll see you soon, sweetie,” he said.
I nodded and moved to my mom, hugging her.
When I was finished, they moved away from the car. I could see the fear in their eyes, but I couldn’t let it get to me. I couldn’t stop, couldn’t slow down.
I’d seen what could happen to us. I’d seen what Emory had had to do as he ran the knife across that man’s throat.
We got into the car, he roared the engine to life, and we sped off.
14
Emory
As I drove back toward the hotel, my adrenaline seethed through my veins, lighting me on fire.
I kept seeing my blade running across that fucking scumbag’s throat in my mind’s eye again and again. He could have done some serious fucking damage with that rifle, but I was better, faster. The men had training—I was sure of that now—but not enough.
I wasn’t sure how they got in. But as soon as I heard the distinctive click of an ammo clip being shoved into a rifle’s body, I knew what was happening. I’d moved downstairs fast, sneaking through their sight lines, and taken them off one by one.
And the damn girl didn’t stay in the nursery like I told her to. That made me angry that she’d put herself in danger. She almost got herself killed, but fortunately I got the drop on that guy.
She saw the truth though. She saw what was really happening, and s
he couldn’t deny it anymore.
The Network was here, and they were fucking serious.
I headed back toward the hotel. I could see the exhaustion rolling off Tara’s body.
“We’re going to stay at the hotel for today,” I said. “We’ll leave tonight.”
“What? Why?”
“They’ll expect us to leave soon,” I said. “We’re going to throw them off our trail. Travis is already running counter-surveillance for us, so hopefully he can trip Omar enough that we can get away cleanly.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we’re going to hold tight and make a run for it when it gets dark out.”
“Okay,” she said softly. “You’re the expert here.”
We were silent for a few minutes as I drove fast back toward the parking lot. I pulled in and found a spot near the back of the lot, close to the emergency exit. I killed the engine and turned to her.
“I need to say something.”
“Okay.” Her mouth was slightly open, and she looked so fucking sexy.
“You need to listen to me,” I said. “From now on. If I tell you to run, you run. If I tell you to hide, you hide. Okay?”
“Okay,” she said. “I will.”
“Good.” I opened my door. “Come on. Bring only what you need for the next few hours.”
She got out and grabbed Mason and a single bag. I took the bag and Mason from her, and we headed back inside.
I couldn’t begin to guess what was happening inside her head. She’d just witnessed three men getting killed, which wasn’t something many people saw in their life. At least Mason wasn’t old enough to ever remember any of this.
We got inside the hotel and up to the room. I unlocked it and we went inside.
The place was just as I left it. I’d doubted that Omar would make a move on the hotel room, and I was right. I placed Mason down still in his car seat on the couch and looked at Tara.
“Come on,” I said. “You should have a drink.”
“I don’t know,” she said. “I’m still on edge.”
“It’ll calm you down.” I went over to the bar and poured two glasses of whisky. “Drink.”
She took it and sipped and then made a face. “I’m not a fan.”
“Doesn’t matter.” I knocked mine back. “Drink.”
She drank it and shook her head, making a face. “Ugh, man, that’s gross.”
“You get used to it.”
“Not sure I want to.” She handed me the glass. I put hers down and poured myself another.
“Are you okay?” I asked her.
“I guess. As okay as I can be.”
“You did good.”
“I thought you were pissed that I disobeyed your orders.”
I smirked at her. “I want you to obey me, but I’m just happy you got through it.”
“I’m obeying your orders when it comes to our lives,” she clarified, “and that’s it.”
“Oh, we’ll see about that, princess. I’m sure you’ll be begging for more orders soon enough.”
“I don’t think so.”
“When that skin is under my tongue, sweating and moaning, you’ll do what I say and you’ll beg for more.”
She gaped at me for a second and then shook her head. “I’m going to try and get Mason down for a nap.”
“Think you can?”
“He normally naps around now, so we’ll see.”
She walked hurried over to him, pulled him from the car seat, and carried him back into the bedroom.
I watched her go, grinning slightly to myself. There was nothing I wanted more after killing a man than pussy, and from the way she had just looked at me, I suspected she was thinking the same thing
After a second glass of whisky and about a half hour, she emerged from the bedroom.
“How is he?” I asked.
She sat down next to me, legs curled underneath her. “Asleep finally.”
“Seems like a good kid.”
“Yeah, he is pretty good.” She sighed, shaking her head. “I’m just afraid of what this will do to him.”
“Nothing,” I said. “Nothing will happen to him. I promise.”
She bit her lip, looking at me. I felt my blood pulse hard in my veins. “How can you say that after today?”
“They got lucky,” I said softly, “but you saw what I’m capable of.” I moved closer to her on the couch. “I won’t let any lesser man touch you or Mason. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”
“Emory,” she said, matching my tone. “I’m afraid.”
“Of course you are. You’d be insane not to be.”
“But I trust you. I don’t know why, but I do.”
I grinned at her. “It’s because you know what I can do.” I felt my cock hardening as I stared at her lips.
“You don’t sound like you’re talking about fighting anymore,” she said.
“I’m not. You know what I can do to your body. You trust me because you know I can have complete control.”
“I don’t know.”
“You know.” I moved closer to her, our faces inches apart.
“Make me understand.”
I reached out and took her hair gently and tipped her head back. She gasped as I kissed her neck. “I can make you do a lot of things, princess.”
“Prove it, Emory.”
I pressed my lips hard against her mouth, kissing her deep and rough. She gave in to me right away, kissing me back, wrapping her arms around me. I held her hair as I kissed her, my whole body tingling and lightning hot, my cock hard as fuck and straining to get out of my pants.
“We have to be quiet,” she said as I kissed her neck again, my hands roaming her body.
“Tell yourself that,” I said. “You’re the one that’s going to be moaning my name.”
“Emory,” she gasped as I kissed her neck, my hands slipping down between her legs.
“Exactly, princess. Fuck, I’ve been thinking about this pussy for so long.” I rubbed her over her shorts and she tensed her arms.
“Is this a good idea?” she asked.
“This is the best idea I’ve ever had.” I rocked back and kissed her hard again. She pressed her body against mine, moving her hips against my hand as I worked her.
I pulled back and quickly unbuttoned her shorts and then pulled them off. I loved the way they slid over her legs, revealing these fucking sexy panties. I got her shorts off and then pressed myself against her, my hand working her soaking, useless panties.
“Shit,” she gasped. “I’m so fucking wet.”
“You’re damn right you are.” I pressed my hand underneath her panties, finding her soaked clit. “Absolutely dripping fucking wet. I knew you were practically begging for my cock.”
I began to work her clit, moving in soft circles as she moaned into my mouth. We kissed like that, tongues touching, fire lancing down my veins, my cock hard as fuck as I worked her clit with my skilled hands.
She moved her hips against me, clearly losing herself. Every fucking move she made drove me wild, made me harder. She had no fucking clue how sexy she was with every moan, every motion. I pressed my fingers deep inside her and she tipped her head back.
“Oh fuck, Emory,” she gasped. I kissed down her neck and throat. “How do you make me feel so good?”
“You have a body built for fucking sex,” I whispered. “This tight, wet cunt is begging for it. You just needed a man who knew what he was doing.”
I moved my hands out and quickly pulled off her shirt. She threw herself at me, kissing me hard. Her hands fumbled with my belt, pulling it open. She pulled my jeans open and I helped her pull them off.
She pressed herself on top of me, straddling me on the couch, her soaking cunt rubbing up against my fucking hard cock as she kissed me. She moaned, working her hips, rolling herself along my hard length. I grabbed her full ass and slapped it, loving that sweet thing. I reached around and pressed my hand down her panties again, fin
ding her clit, and began to work her.
She kissed me harder, moaning as I worked her. She moved her hips in time to my hands while she gripped the back of the couch. I kissed down her neck and unhooked her bra with my free hand.
“I remember,” I said softly, “how incredible you taste. Do you remember?”
“How could I forget?”
I grabbed her hips and pushed her off me, laying her down along the couch. I grinned up at her as I slid her panties off, revealing that perfect little pussy.
“Fuck,” I said. “Spread those legs, girl. I want that cunt. I want to suck that clit until you can’t think.”
“Emory,” she gaped as I pressed her legs open and began to lick her pussy bottom to top.
I began to suck and lick her clit, working her with my tongue, loving the taste of her cunt. Every inch of her drove me wild as I reached up and felt her breasts. She pulled her bra off and tossed it onto the floor as I teased her nipples and slipped my tongue inside her.
“Oh my god, Emory,” she moaned. “Holy shit. I don’t know how you make me feel this way.”
I smirked as I kept eating her and moved one hand down to slip a finger deep inside her. I sucked and licked her clit like that, pushing it deep inside her. Tara’s whole body tensed and writhed as I worked her.
It made my cock fucking hard as hell watching her body get worked and fucked like that. She loved it and could barely hold herself back as she said my name over and over again.
I slowly licked her whole length, bottom to top, and then sucked her clit. She groaned, feeling her breasts, and I pulled back.
“Emory,” she moaned. “Don’t stop.”
“Fuck, I want that pussy, girl,” I said, fire flowing through my brain.
I stood and she sat up. I grabbed a condom from the wallet in my jeans as she got onto her knees in front of me and slowly pulled my boxer-briefs down.
“Fuck, nothing sexier than you down on your knees in front of me,” I said. “You like that fucking cock, girl?”
She took my thick cock in her hand, slowly stroking it, biting her lip. “I forgot how big you are,” she said. “I can’t believe you fit this in me last time.”