Fallon's Revenge (Fated Lives Series Book 4)

by Kelly Moore

  Thorn nods in agreement. “Okay, then. We’ll keep him out of it as long as possible.”

  “What’s the plan?” Remington asks, looking over his shoulder.

  “As soon as we have her men, we’ll go after her.”

  “You don’t think she’ll hurt Captain Rebel, do you?” Tate’s brows are in a straight line.

  “No. In her sick way, she loves him and finally has what she wants. A second chance with him. She’s hoping he’ll fall in love with her.” My words get lodged in my throat. “It appears he may have already done that.”

  We all put our heads together and delve into the computer, tracking Nina’s movements. She’s good, but her downfall was thinking I didn’t catch her passwords as she plugged them into the different sites.

  Thorn’s men call as soon as they have access. They’ve made it through all the firewalls she put up but the very last one. “It appears she’s recently changed the password on this one.” Denied flashes on the screen.

  I pace around the room. As sophisticated as Nina is, she’s still a woman. “Try, I love Derrick.”

  He types it in, and we gain entry into all Nina’s records. We study them for the next several hours.

  “Look at this,” Tate says. “She recently started trafficking again.”

  “That bitch!” Thorn yells.

  “I have the names of the men on her team.” Remington jumps from his chair and grabs the pad of paper. “Names and addresses included.” He hands it to Thorn.

  “I’ll call Commander Lukas to send a team to each one of them. In the meantime, I want you”—he points to Remington—“and Tate to come with me. We’re going to meet with the FBI and move in to take down her trafficking ring.”

  “What do you want me to do?” Theo juts out his chin.

  “You’re to stay here and protect Fallon and Rebel.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Within minutes, I’m left standing alone in the war room with Fiona. I reach out and place my hand on her baby bump. “I’m so happy for the two of you. Please don’t be angry with Theo for not telling you.”

  “I’m not angry. I’m just so glad you’re back.”

  I step closer to her and whisper. “There is one other thing I didn’t tell them.”

  Her eyes widen. “What’s that?”

  “I have a two-year-old daughter named Lily.”

  “The little girl Theo kept from going into the pool.” Realization sets in her eyes.

  “Yes. Please don’t tell the men.”

  “Why don’t you want them to know? They can help protect her.”

  “I don’t want Rebel to hear it from anyone else but me. Not that he’ll understand.”

  “I promise not to say a word.”

  “Thank you.”

  Chapter 16

  Rebel

  I fucking hate the taste of her, I pound my fist on the bathroom sink. For the briefest of moments, there’s a familiar scent floating in the air. “Fallon,” I whisper to myself, then turn off the running water. I’m losing my mind because it’s playing tricks on me. It’s my punishment for what I’m about to do.

  Grabbing my cane, before I walk out, I inhale deeply one last time. Bullet is sitting outside the door, waiting for me. He barks twice and moves to the left. “What is it, boy?” I follow him and see something lying on the ground by the trees. “Bring it here,” I command him.

  He runs, picks it up, and lays it at my feet. I bend down to pick it up. “Military-grade binoculars.” Shit. Lawson. That means he’s seen Nina. Which means I’m going to have to move up my timetable. He’ll tell the men, and they’ll kill her. I’ll never find out where Fallon and Sean are hiding.

  Limping my way through the sand, Bullet follows. “Stay, boy.” He sits. Nina has found a large piece of driftwood and pulled it over by the fire.

  “Sorry I took so long. This cane is crap in the sand.”

  “It’s alright. I saved you a spot.” She smiles and pats a place next to her for me to sit.

  Placing my cane against the large rock behind us, I open the blanket and sit beside her, covering our laps. “You’re still cold,” I say, wrapping my arm around her shoulder as she snuggles into me.

  “I’m better now that you’re back.” She kisses my lips.

  Her bitter taste is consuming my mouth, making it hard to focus. You have to do this, I coach myself. I envision Fallon and mingle my tongue with hers.

  When we pull apart, she splays her hand on my cheek. “I love the way you kiss me,” she says breathlessly.

  Her hand moves down my chest, to my abs, then rests on the zipper of my jeans. “I’d like to take you up on your offer from last night.”

  I look around. “Here?”

  “No one is paying any attention to the two of us.” Her lips find my neck.

  I have to do this. Slipping my hand to her shoulder, I run it down to her thigh, just under the hem of her dress. I can feel her smile against my skin.

  The Nina I know hated public displays of affection. I’m going to call her bluff. As soon as a couple is within a hundred feet of us, I move the blanket, kneeling in the sand between her legs. Placing both my hands on either side of her face, I slip my tongue in her mouth, kissing her deeply. I drop one hand to her breast, and she moans.

  “Derrick.”

  I yank her dress up to her white lacy panties. “I want you,” I force the words out of my throat, wanting to gag on them.

  “Derrick,” she says again and pushes her hands against my chest. “Maybe we should wait until we’re inside.”

  I rub my lips together and stand. Holding out my hand, she takes it but pulls me down beside her. “I’m not ready to go back yet. I’m enjoying the fire you built.”

  I chuckle. “Okay.”

  “Have you ever thought about leaving this place?” She snuggles closer into my side to the point of becoming a second skin.

  “Where did that come from?”

  “I don’t know. I think I’ve fallen for you, but this isn’t the life for me.”

  “You don’t like the West Coast?”

  “It’s a nice place to visit, but there’s a big world out there and so much more to see.” She tugs the blanket up over her shoulder.

  “I know you told me you're from Washington.”

  “Yes, but that’s not where I live.”

  “Where do you live, Nina?”

  “Anywhere I want.”

  “A lady of mystery.” I need to keep her talking.

  “Not really. I’m tired of living a lonely life.”

  “Why would a gorgeous woman like you ever be lonely?”

  “I told you I’ve only loved one man, and you remind me so much of him.”

  “He had an ugly mug and a bum leg too?” I laugh.

  “If you could leave this place, where would you go?” She squats in front of me.

  “Somewhere warm.” I laugh. “I haven’t given it much thought. I grew up here.”

  “We could go somewhere tropical.”

  “Did you have something specific in mind?”

  “There’s a beautiful island off the coast of Miami. Or we could go to Fiji.”

  Is that where she’s hiding Fallon and Sean? “I’d love to go with you.”

  “Really?” She jumps up and claps her hands like a small child. Very unlike Nina. “When can you be ready to go?”

  “I don’t know. A couple of days at most.”

  “How about tomorrow?”

  “Maybe.” I shrug.

  She bends down and kisses me again. “You’ve made me the happiest woman on the planet. Can we go back to your place now?” She smacks her lips together.

  I get up and throw sand on the fire, putting it out. She hands me my cane, and we walk arm in arm through the beach sand. I’ve got to find a way out of this. My stomach rolls with the thought of having sex with her.

  She’s nuzzled into my side until Bullet starts barking. Looking toward Lawson’s place, he drives up in his silve
r sports car. I feel Nina tense. “You know, I’ll have to take a rain check on coming inside. I’ve got some phone calls to make to be ready to leave tomorrow.” She places a quick kiss to my cheek.

  “Okay.” I’m so fucking relieved. She runs down the path before Lawson sees her.

  “Hey, man. You out for some fresh air?” Lawson yells down to me.

  “Yes.”

  “Do you want some company?”

  “No, I’m good. I’m going to go wash the sand off.” I go inside and fix myself a much-needed drink. I’ve got to get my hands on her phone to see who she’s been talking to. I’ll sneak inside her motel room tonight while she sleeps. There’s no way in hell I want to go anywhere with her unless I have no other choice. She won’t take me to them. I can only hope she’ll slip up.

  I feed Bullet and make a plan for tonight. I’m distracted when my phone rings. “What’s up, Theo.”

  He speaks in a hushed voice. “I need to talk to you. Are you at home?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can you meet me halfway at the old barbecue stand?”

  I glance at my watch. “Sure. I’ll be there in thirty minutes.”

  “Same here.” He disconnects.

  I wonder what’s up with him. Did Lawson call him about Nina? If Lawson was the one with the binoculars, why didn’t he say something when he saw me? Maybe it was Honor.

  I grab my keys and skate out before I’m seen by either one of them. Thirty minutes later, I’m pulling up to the old run-down barbecue joint halfway between the coast and Portland. Theo is parked and leaning on his Jeep. He comes toward me as soon as he sees me, opening the passenger side door, getting inside.

  “Thanks for meeting me.” He glances around the parking lot.

  “You expecting someone else?”

  “Look, I know you don’t remember, but I need you to try really hard to focus on what I’m going to tell you.”

  “I’ll give it a shot.” I shrug.

  “I’ve shown you the pictures of Nina. Someone told me you were on the beach with her today.”

  “So what if I was? I’m a grown man and can see whoever I want.” Damn it. Whoever had the binoculars told him.

  “Have you not listened to me all the times I’ve said she’s dangerous?” he yells.

  “The woman you’ve described is not the woman I know.”

  “She’s a conniving bitch!”

  “You can get out of my car!” I snarl. He’s going to ruin everything.

  “I’m sorry.” He raises his hands. “But you have to know who you’re dealing with. Remember me telling you that you lead Thorn, Remington, Honor, Tate, and myself as a SEAL team leader?”

  “You’ve reminded me multiple times.”

  “We are going to find her and kill her.”

  “I think you need to leave. Now!”

  “God, why can’t you just fucking trust me?” He gets out, slamming the door. He walks a few feet away then comes around to my side, tapping on my window.

  I let it down. “There’s one more thing.” He looks around again. “Fallon.”

  I have to hold back from asking him what happened to her. “The other brunette you’ve told me about?”

  “Yes. She’s here. She’s the one who saw you on the beach with Nina.”

  My gut freezes. Her binoculars. Was she in my house? Is that why her scent was in the air? I still have to stay focused. I don’t want Nina dead until I know Fallon and Sean will be safe. “I’ve moved on.” I roll up my window and back out. Fear and anger are boiling up inside me. I have to get to Nina’s phone before my men make their move. My men. They’re going to hate me for what I’ve put them through.

  Part of me wants to turn this vehicle around and race straight for Fallon. If I do, Nina will slip between my fingers again, and the nightmare will never be over. I’ll go to her room tonight, grab her phone, and slit her throat.

  I drive like a maniac back to my house. Honor waves when she sees me getting out. They must not know, or they’d be barricading me inside. Quickly changing into dark clothing, I tuck my gun in the belt of my pants. As soon as it’s dark, I head out, down the path, across the road to the motel.

  There’s one dim light on the outside of the building, shining down on the stairs. Nina is talking on the phone as she gets out of her car and goes to her room. I take my gun out and cock it back, placing a bullet in the chamber. I get up to move, and another vehicle parks. I stand stock-still when Fallon gets out of the car. Her name is lodged in my throat. I want to scream it at the top of my lungs but refrain. She walks the stairs and opens the door to the same room her scent was coming from the first night I followed Nina here. It was her. I was that close to Fallon and didn’t know it. Some fucking SEAL I am. I’ve been so tied up with Nina, I didn’t follow my senses.

  Nina will have to wait. I slip back into the darkness. When enough time has passed, I tiptoe up the stairs, careful not to make a noise with the end of my cane. I rest it against the wall by Fallon’s door. It’s completely dark inside. I take out a tool from my wallet and pick the lock. Quietly, I slowly open the door. I turn on the flashlight on my phone and keep it pointed downward.

  Fallon is sound asleep in the middle of the bed. I step closer and hear her soft puffs of air. Her dark hair is spread on the pillow, and she looks like heaven to me. She’s wearing a white t-shirt, and I can see her nipples protruding. She’s beautiful. My hand aches to touch her skin. Getting on my knees, I get as close to her as I possibly can. She moves, and I still. She curls in a ball, facing me. I swear I hear my name leave her lips.

  I want to kiss her so badly.

  Her eyes pop open, and I quickly cover her mouth and lie on top of her before she can scream. Her eyes are wide. I run my nose along her cheek. “Fallon,” I say in a whisper.

  She tries to wiggle free, saying something muffled behind my hand. “Stay still and be quiet, or she’ll hear you.”

  Her brows draw together. I pick up one finger at a time from her mouth. “Rebel.”

  I kiss her frantically, never wanting to stop.

  “Wait.” She pushes my shoulders. “You know who I am?” Her eyes search mine, and they are filled with confusion.

  “Yes.”

  “But I thought…Theo thinks…”

  “What I wanted him to think, to draw Nina out.”

  It surprises me when anger fills the small lines around her eyes. “I saw you kissing her.”

  “It was part of my plan. Now that you’re back, plans have changed. I can kill her now.”

  “No, you can’t.” Her anger changes to fear.

  “I know she’s your sister, but she…”

  “That has nothing to do with it. You can’t kill her until Sean and his girlfriend are safe. She has orders to kill all of us if something happens to her.”

  I get off her and sit on the side of the bed. She moves beside me. “Where is Sean?”

  “In the Virgin Islands, at least that’s where I left him. He’s safe for now. Thorn has a lead on the men who work for her. A SEAL team and the FBI are on their way to take them down. We can’t make a move until we know all of them are in custody.”

  “Her phone. She’s been calling someone, giving them orders. I need to get my hands on it. Wait. My men knew you were here before me?”

  “Yes. I asked them not to tell you.”

  I let out a growl of frustration.

  Fallon’s hand runs along my thigh. “God, I’ve missed you.”

  I place my fingertips on her jawline. “I’ve missed you too. There’s not been a day that’s gone by that I haven’t thought of you.”

  “The accident, was it real?”

  “Yes.”

  “Theo said you were next to dead. How did you come up with this plan of amnesia?”

  “When I woke up from surgery, I couldn’t speak, my mouth was so dry. The only thing I remember from that day was Lauryn leaning down, talking in my ear. She told me if I ever wanted to catch Nina, now was the time
to put a plan in motion.”

  “It was her idea! That’s why she was telling me it would all be okay.”

  I nod. “It was so difficult not to slip up. There were so many times I wanted to give up the charade. She encouraged me to continue. Her plan worked. Nina revealed herself a few days ago.”

  “You kissed her,” she says.

  “I hated every minute of it.” I angle my body toward her. “You were in my shower.”

  “Yes. I wanted so badly to show myself to you, but I thought you’d kill a stranger in your house.”

  I lean my forehead to hers. “Even if I really had amnesia, I’d always remember you.”

  “I thought you’d hate me for the way I left on our wedding day.”

  “I was angry, but I never hated you. I figured Nina had gotten to you. The thing that was the hardest was that you left with my brother. Why Sean?”

  “She told me I could take one person with me, and she’d never harm him. He was so vulnerable after losing his hearing. I knew I could help him through it.”

  “He has a girlfriend?”

  “Yes. Her name is Ember. He’s learned to adapt very well. He owns a tiki bar.”

  “Does he hate me?”

  “What? No.” She shakes her head.

  “What happened to him was all my fault.”

  “He doesn’t blame you. He blames Nina.”

  “Still, if it wasn’t for me, none of this would’ve happened.”

  “If it wasn’t for Nina, I would’ve never met you, and that, I’ll never regret.” She crashes her mouth to mine.

  She tastes so damn sweet. “I don’t want to do this in this rathole.” I pull back. “Not here.”

  She licks her lips. “Okay, we can go back to your place.” She stands.

  “As much as I want that, we can’t. Nina has to be out of our lives once and for all. I hate the thought of touching you, and then you going into hiding again. It will break me. This time tomorrow, Nina will be out of our lives for good.” I walk toward the door. “You can’t stay here either. Nina is two doors down from you.”

  “What?” She jumps to her feet. “She’s staying in this shithole?” She slightly moves the dusty curtain and looks out, seeing nothing but darkness.