His eyes widened then narrowed. She had his attention.
“You’ve been mine from the start. You just weren’t ready to admit it.” A small groan escaped as he brushed her belly with the backs of his fingers.
“Sustained, counselor. Move it along.” Twisting her hips side to side, Abby nibbled on her lip, wondering how long she could hold out.
“You’ve delayed the inevitable. There’s a penalty involved here.” The grin declared it would be enjoyable. He moved her hand sliding toward her mound away, pinning it against the bed.
When he leaned in to blow lightly on the black curls, she knew he’d keep her on the edge as long as he could stand it. Releasing her wrist allowed him to focus his attention where she wanted.
“I’ll pay the fine later.” The feel of his hair sifting through her fingers didn’t satisfy the hunger burning low in her belly. “You know, when I was in the—underground—I fantasized about running my fingers through your hair. It kept me focused.”
Royden sucked in a breath. “Not the direction I want your thoughts to travel.”
In the next instant, he’d settled his body over hers, keeping the bulk of his weight on his elbows. The small circles he sketched over her forehead and cheeks preceded him leaning in to brush his lips over hers before skimming over her jaw and neck. The taste of him, so achingly familiar yet new, fueled the desperate hunger that set her body to flame with each brush of his lips and each nip of her tender flesh.
Gentle at first, the kisses became urgent, filled with all the fire of their combined souls. She gripped his head and pulled him tight, twining her legs around his waist. He tasted like champagne and heat, all male with a twist of urgency.
Transformation from slow and gentle to needy and raw sent her thoughts spiraling out of control. “Make me yours forever, Royden.”
“You’ve always been mine.”
She’d wasted so much time, not understanding the outside world could never break their bond. Their union would endure through pleasure and pain, hardship and success. It provided the base on which they’d make their stand for all time.
His hunger matched her own desire to join them body and soul, one unit for eternity. The nudge at her entrance seared her with his heat until he thrust inside to the hilt.
“Ahh, I can feel all of you.” She’d never felt so full. Each pulse of his length in her sheath tightened her muscles until she wanted to scream.
“Open your eyes, sweetheart. Look at me.” Single beads of moisture leaked from the corners of his eyes, yet he didn’t speak.
In his gaze, she saw their future, destined but not yet written. The kiss of his unspoken vow warmed her heart, surrounding her in a cocoon of love and protection. He would give his last breath for her.
Each slow stroke allowed her to cherish his exquisite scorching heat. She imagined tiny ridges sliding along her channel, gripping him until he swelled to the point of pleasure-pain.
Her legs locked at his low back provided leverage to pull him tighter, deeper with each of his harsh exhalations. He slid one hand under her hips, pulling her snug with each forward thrust and controlling the pace, slow and steady.
Powerful slabs of muscle defined the angles of his body, honed by years of exercise and self-discipline. He used every skill in his sensual arsenal to bring her pleasure, one thrust at a time.
The brush of his warm breath caressed her neck, his silent determination to go slow driving her to new heights of sexual awareness. To have all that power aimed at bringing her pleasure fueled her need to return it ten-fold. Every touch, every breath, every glide was the sweetest agony ever experienced.
“I love you, Royden. I always will.” Murmured words lingered between them, his like confession so erotically charged that her spine arched as pleasure fogged her mind and blocked all thought. Her body spiraled up so fast and wound so tight, the orgasm took her by surprise.
He took her scream with a kiss and subsequent low groan, her name on his lips.
His own release came with a stillness, a groan, then his body collapsing on top of her. She relished the weight pressing her into the mattress. Hers, for all time.
Cuddled tight during the aftermath, Abby let her thoughts drift. “You went slow to drive me nuts. The talk was to keep me on track.”
“I went slow because I wanted to commit every inch of your body to mind and soul. I want us joined so tight that nothing can ever separate us.”
It was a bad time to bring it up, but now that her body was sated, her mind wouldn’t stop. “Do you think she’s out there, now?”
“Don’t know, but we’ll find her. According to your brothers, Jenna hasn’t contacted either of your colleagues or Credlin.”
“She wouldn’t dare contact Mitzie. Hell, I bet both Lexi and Katt are digitally monitoring every move they all make.” Abby smiled at the thought of her hacking friends on the prowl. With even the smallest shred of evidence, they’d be relentless.
“We’ll find her.”
“I don’t want her killed. With all the charges we can bring, she’ll get either a lethal injection or life without parole. I want her to live a long life—behind bars.”
“I’d vote for the needle. But right now, I’d like to talk about our formal ceremony.”
“Ah, yes.” She couldn’t hold in the sigh as he brushed his fingers over her shoulder and down to mold her breast.
“I’m game for whatever my bride would like.”
“I’d love to have it here, in your backyard. We could invite family and close friends, make it a celebration no one will forget.”
“I hear the and in there.”
“Well...”
Chapter Thirty
“Abby. I don’t like leaving the house, not for a second.” Royden briefly closed his eyes, searching inward for the calm to prevent him from crushing her to his chest. Stubborn woman wouldn’t see sense if it bit her in the ass.
“Royden, we discussed this. We both want this to end. I don’t want to start our new life with a death threat hanging over my head.” Abby gently scraped the dinner plates and put them in the dishwasher. “You’ve spent two days at home. You need to go to work to keep up appearances.”
“I’d rather start back on day shift.”
They’d spent the morning in bed, planning on him working the evening shift. “I should have taken another day off. It’s customary to get three, you know.”
“Yes, for immediate family. But according to public knowledge, we’re not married. Actually, we still aren’t. Not legally. The paperwork hasn’t been filed. Two days is all you get.”
“She may have fled the state.”
“Without knowing she’d succeeded? No funerals, no news release, and Ethan said the floor nurse taking care of the trooper answered a call from his sister.”
“Yeah, I know. He doesn’t have any siblings. His security is tight. He is safe.”
“So am I. You know I’m a good shot. I have your backup gun. I know who I’m looking for now. The shades are down, and I won’t answer the door. We have video surveillance on all corners of the house. No one is getting to me.”
“Abby, it’s not that I don’t trust you... I’d feel better if you had a dog here, too.” Royden wrapped his arms around her and nudged her closer. “I don’t trust that devious, conniving, bitch.”
“You know at least two of my brothers are out there, somewhere.” A vague motion indicated the woods. “And having either Matt or Lexi’s dog here would raise all kinds of red flags. Besides, dogs have to go out occasionally.
“Caden and Lucas are out there this evening. Matt had to practically tie Kathryn down to keep her from joining them.”
“As a private investigator, she’s seen her share of adventure, but I don’t want her involved here. If Jenna is out there and you don’t go to work, she’ll know this is a trap.”
Royden sighed. “I’ve got jeans and a shirt in the car. As soon as I get down the road, I’ll park at the abandoned mill, chan
ge, and work my way back through the woods. You keep your phone with you every second. If you don’t answer, I’ll call in every cop within a thirty-mile radius.”
“Got it. Now put on your solemn face before you go.”
He filled her request without difficulty. Adapting a long expression wasn’t an issue.
The McAllisters had insisted on one of the brothers staying in the house, but Abby vetoed the idea from the beginning.
Once in the car, he took a deep breath. He didn’t have to fake the dread in his heart or the worry that levered his shoulders down. His cell rang as soon as he turned out of his driveway. “Matt?”
“Yeah. Caden’s on the south side on the hill. Vantage point is good.”
“Where’s Lucas?”
“Skimming up the east side. When you get set up on the west, tap your com.”
In discussing the terrain with his partners, they’d determined the north yielded the highest likelihood for an intruder’s approach. He wanted to be the one who strangled Carrigan’s sibling. He finally saw how protecting family trumped upholding the law. He’d never contemplated murder before, but it now stood forefront in his mind.
“Got it.” Royden no sooner finished than the line disconnected. “Huh. Typical McAllister.”
It seemed eternity passed quicker than it took for him to change and sneak back through the woods. Each little snapping branch or rustling leaf stilled his progress. Though he hadn’t experienced survival training like the McAllisters, he was every bit as motivated.
The full moon would hamper their progress if they needed to cross open ground to the house, but in the woods, sparse natural beams highlighted his journey.
When finally in place, he tapped his com, relieved to hear the response. No one would break radio silence unless necessary.
He was no stranger to stakeouts yet had never been on one so personal. The consequences for failure were untenable.
Inside, Abby would be straightening the house, doing anything that didn’t make noise. In the back of her mind, she’d probably drawn up a list of requirements for her new practice, decided on a general location, and staffed it with appropriate help.
Several hours passed with unseasonably pleasant weather offering small biting insects an opportunity for a warm meal. He’d forgotten to bring bug spray and wouldn’t risk the noise of smacking them. Instead, he brushed them away with as little movement as possible. The McAllisters would laugh.
The occasional update from Matt, located down the road in his truck, kept them up to date. When his voice broke the silence just before midnight, the news didn’t surprise him.
“Guys, listen up. Lexi texted me. Carrigan just made a call about two hours ago to a burner phone. She got the number and triangulated the signal to a derelict motel on the outskirts of town. Jenna’s still in the area.”
Royden’s thoughts centered on Abby and pulling remnants of the puzzle together. The whole charade boiled down to a bizarre sibling rivalry. He couldn’t imagine the twisted upbringing that spit out such gnarled minds.
A branch snapped in the distance off to the north. The single sound could come from a passing deer or smaller animal.
Breath froze in his chest. Lightning hummed along his nerves, bringing his thoughts to hyper-alertness. He’d set up deep enough in the woods to allow for movement when spotting his quarry, yet close enough he could get to Abby should their prey slip through their fingers.
It didn’t take long before another small snap focused his attention on a small movement. Minutes passed as the form took shape. Small, wearing dark jacket and pants with a matching balaclava. The size suggested a woman’s presence.
From the distance, he took note of the outline and the way she moved. Cautious yet confident.
He tapped his mic three times to indicate a presence in his location. Since Abby was safe inside and either Lucas or Caden would signal Matt to call her, he waited and gave the intruder time to approach his house.
Blood roared in his ears, the pulse a drumbeat in his head. He had a chance to end the threat, once and for all. Recognition of the freedom stretching ahead of them sharpened his focus and determination to end Carrigan’s sibling.
As he prepared to stand and maneuver at an angle to intercept, he noticed more activity twenty yards behind her. The second intruder was large, moved in a quieter fashion as if well trained.
If they were together, their spacing made no sense.
Royden tapped his mic again, leery of moving and spooking the second uninvited guest. Emerging briars and thorns were too thick in his section to determine which, if either, carried a weapon, so he assumed they were both armed.
He kept his motions small and quiet, maintaining line of sight with the second trespasser. It galled the hell out of him to lose track of the woman in favor of tailing the one assumed to be a man, judging by the size.
A flurry of motion.
A woman’s muffled shriek.
They’re not working together. Who was the second outsider?
The sound of a woman’s low verbal abuse quickened his step. Lucas and Caden were closing in but couldn’t have intercepted her so soon.
The voices grew louder, allowing him to piecemeal the conversation together. The name Phyllis Rollison rang a bell. Credlin?
The CEO didn’t strike him as the type to do his own wet-work, yet grief forged new paths of expression in each person. The urge to kill both Carrigan and his sister edged out rational thought.
Royden drew his gun and closed the distance.
His path, created by either deer or something larger, permitted him to step within shooting distance, each target well within sight. Still, he waited to see how the scene played out.
“You picked the wrong woman and child to kill.” The male stood behind her, towering over her smaller frame, and pulling her hands behind her back. A light clink resembled the snapping of handcuffs.
“You’re not a cop.”
“You’re right about that. And frankly, with what I’m getting paid and what you’ve done, I don’t give a damn what he does with you. Anyone who kills a kid deserves whatever happens. Hell, I intend to help and still have a clear conscience.”
“Credlin hired you? I can pay you double to walk away.”
“Crazy harridan. There’s not enough money in the universe to make me look the other way. I have something that’s alien to your nature. It’s called a conscience.”
“Freeze. Both of you.” Royden strode forward with his gun trained on the male. “Who are you?”
The man’s shoulders tightened, and he slowly turned his head. “Doesn’t matter, Patterson. This thing was going to kill your woman.”
“Which is why we’ve been awaiting her arrival.” Royden stepped forward but kept five feet between them.
“We?” The male intruder looked around.
“Yeah. We.” Caden maneuvered from behind a tight grouping of trees. “What’cha got, Royden. Two for one?”
“No. I suspect this is one of Credlin’s hires. Isn’t that so?” Royden faced the dark-haired male wearing a brown baseball cap.
The larger man remained silent.
“Sonofabitch. All this and someone else snatches her right under our noses? That’s embarrassing.” Caden shouldered his gun. “Should we give him the same treatment we planned for her?”
“I’m a licensed private investigator. You can search me and find that much.”
“You’re also trespassing.” Lucas joined them, stepping closer to the female. “So, you’re the bitch who tried to kill my sister.” Over his shoulder he asked the larger man, “What’s your name?”
“You can call me—just Jake.”
“Well, Just Jake. This is your lucky day. I think it’s a good night to take a walk. Don’t you? As much as I’d like to know what your boss intends for this one,” Caden nodded toward Jenna, “I’d rather see her behind bars than to wonder if she made it to the bottom of the river. And by the way, you have totally screwed my p
lans for the night.”
“I say, let him have her.” Luc shrugged a shoulder.
Royden recognized Luc’s controlled rage. “Not now, Lucas. We have other issues to deal with.” Jake’s presence equaled a dash of cold water.
“What issues. I don’t see any problem.” Gently, Caden edged the investigator back and smiled. “Excuse me, I need to take a look at these.” Pointing to the cuffs, he continued, “Hey, Luc, Royden, take a look at these. They’re different.” His smile coincided with a nod at the investigator, then toward the faint trail back to the road.
Royden stepped forward but didn’t fully turn his back on Jake. “What?”
Lucas smiled and urged Royden closer, positioning himself between Royden and the PI. “Royden, have you ever seen anything like them before?” A slight chuckle gave up the ruse.
“Guys, you can’t let the man go. We’re cops.” Royden rolled his shoulders and pivoted to chastise the elder McAllister. From his peripheral vision, he noticed Jake had disappeared. “Great, guys. Just great.”
“Hey, we have what we need.” Feigning surprise, Caden added. “Oh damn. The second one got away.”
“It’s not like you weren’t planning to put a bullet in her brain, Lucas.” Caden nodded to Royden. “For that matter, I know damn well what you were planning. Now, you can’t.”
“Dammit, Caden. If she ever gets out...” Royden began.
“Then we’ll deal with her our way and without witnesses. We know who she is, we can track her.” Lucas turned to the woman and pulled off her mask. “As for you, I’d say you’re getting off easy.”
“You guys have such a McAllister way of doing things.” Royden grumbled.
“We’re not cops. That’s why it’s us out here and not Matt and Billy.” Caden smirked and held his hand up for his brother’s reluctant high five.
“I still think we should’ve let Just Jake take her back to Credlin. Might’ve been interesting to know exactly how it ended,” Luc grumbled.
“So, it didn’t dawn on you to let the world know we caught her until we had a witness.” Royden sighed. If he’d have had his choice, Jenna would be dead. And Abby would never forgive me.
McAllister Justice Series Box Set Page 51
