The air smelled faintly of cigarette smoke and Zack noticed the glowing embers of a butt rested on the gravel next to Jones’s shoes. Traffic was light on Douglas’s main strip, G Street—if you could call it traffic. Car lights flashed by occasionally and a nearby traffic light glowed green, then yellow, then red in the night.
After Zack had confirmed Jones’s identity, Zack verbally identified himself and Torres.
“Travers says you have information on the missing cattle,” Zack said as they got down to business.
“Good profits to be made,” Jones drawled in a distinctly Texan accent. “About a fourth of those stolen are driven across the line—only the breeds of cattle that’ll blend in better with Mexican cattle than Black Angus.”
Zack studied Jones’s hazel eyes. If it weren’t for the gut sensation that ate at Zack’s consciousness, Jones could have been any good ol’ boy.
“The other three-quarters of the cattle stolen?” Zack asked. “What’s being done with them?”
Jones braced his hands behind him on the shiny hood of the Nissan. “Another quarter—all Black Angus—are being sold to ranchers in Texas and New Mexico. Prime stock with papers to go along with them.”
Of course. The theft of Sky’s pedigree papers and the theft of papers from other ranchers according to the USDA Inspector. “So the last half?” Zack asked, trying to keep the hardness out of his tone.
“Processed.” Jones smiled and he looked like they could be chatting at a barbeque. “It’s easier to smuggle into Mexico than a live herd. Roasts, steaks, hamburger, even sides of beef are being taken into southern Mexico. Beef is being sold at top dollar since mad cow disease wiped out lower Mexico’s herds.”
“You’re not telling us a lot more than we already figured out,” Zack said as he shifted his stance. “What I need to know is where the hell that beef is being processed, who’s heading the operation, and where we can track them down.”
“That info comes with a little higher price.” Jones held out his hand. “In advance.”
Zack narrowed his gaze but dug out his wallet that held his creds and pulled out the wad of cash that had been approved for this transaction—money for information. Zack didn’t place it into Jones’s palm, though.
“You’re holding back, man.” Zack kept the cash close to his chest. “I want some hard facts.”
“San Bernardino Valley.” Jones’s expression tensed and hardened. “Look for an abandoned ranch.”
“Care to narrow that down a little?” Zack clenched the cash in his fist. “You’re talking about some pretty big territory.”
The informant drew out a pack of cigarettes, shook one out, and put the pack away. Zack’s body ached with the need to get this over with.
Jones lit the end of the cigarette, which glowed orange-yellow in the night. He tucked the lighter into his pant pocket before taking a long drag, then blowing smoke out in a cloud.
“I don’t have time to fuck around, Jones.” Zack began stuffing the wad of cash back into his pocket.
The informant regarded him for a moment. “Not far from the border, a couple miles west of Slaughter Ranch, you’ll find what you’re looking for.” Jones took another pull on his cigarette before flicking ashes onto the gravel and dirt at his feet. “You’ve got a nice surprise in store, too.”
Zack had a hard time keeping his irritation with Jones from showing. “Well, why don’t you keep us in fucking suspense all night long.”
Jones’s pleasant expression faded into a scowl. “Listen, Agent Hunter, I gave you a hell of a lot to go on. Don’t push me, or—”
Zack raised an eyebrow. “Are you threatening me?”
“Shit, no.” Jones’s scowl deepened. “I gave you enough to get your job done. The rest is up to you.”
“I want to know what this surprise is.”
The corner of Jones’s mouth curved as he flicked more glowing ashes onto the dirt. “Someone close to your operation is in on it. Real close.”
Hair on the back of Zack’s nape prickled. “Care to give me a name?”
Jones shrugged. “If I did, it would cost you a hell of a lot more than you’re paying me now.”
Zack gave Torres a sharp nod. Zack eyed Jones steadily as Torres stepped in front of Zack and handed Jones a receipt for the cash, along with a pen.
Jones put the paper on the rooftop of his Nissan, scrawled his signature across it, and shoved the receipt back at Torres along with the pen.
“Counted the cash before I left, the agreed amount,” Zack said as he handed the money to Jones.
“Fuck you,” Jones said as he pocketed the money and strode to the driver’s side of the Nissan.
“That went just great,” Zack grumbled while he watched the Nissan’s taillights as the vehicle’s wheels spun in the gravel. The car pulled out of the driveway and onto G Street.
Torres didn’t look concerned. “Agent Travers said Jones gets a little pissy sometimes. But he’ll jump at the cash and he’s completely reliable. Never had a case where his information didn’t pan out in one way or another.”
“Gotta pay for that snazzy ride somehow,” Zack said as he opened the driver’s side door of the SUV. “Now to see if his information is worth shit.”
And who the hell is involved that’s close to the operation.
Even though it was late, as soon as they returned to the office— what had long ago been dubbed the “house”—Zack and Torres got to work.
Thank God their dipshit group supervisor had left for the day. Zack didn’t think he could deal with Denning right now.
They pored over the aerial maps of a section of the San Bernardino Valley just east of Douglas and west of Slaughter Ranch.
The junior agent glanced up at Zack. “Looks like a few places have potential. It would take us a week to set up surveillance on all of them.”
Zack shook his head. “We’re looking for easy access to the border between this area and Mexico Highway Two.” He pointed to a location on the map. “This acreage is damn close to the border, and significant herds of cattle could be held here for sale or processing, too.
“If you look close,” Zack continued, “you’ll see an awful lot of dark spots clumped together that are possibly cattle.” Zack circled the area with his forefinger. “And here are two buildings large enough to handle meat packaging. We’ll have to do a search to find out who owns that property.”
Torres nodded, his expression thoughtful and assessing. One of the things Zack liked about Torres was how sharp the junior agent was and how fast he learned.
“Here we have what looks like a ranch with plenty of rangeland and what appears to be several buildings.” Zack touched another place on the map. “One of which could be used to handle meat packaging, too.” Zack glanced at the agent. “The property belongs to a well-known and well-respected rancher, Chuck Markson.”
“Markson,” Torres said. “Targeting him won’t go over well if he’s innocent. The man’s got some serious clout in these parts.
“Hold on,” Torres continued. He turned his attention to his large-screen computer monitor and his fingers worked like lightning as he maneuvered his way through a database. He leaned back and tapped his fingers on his desk. “The other ranch is currently listed as being in foreclosure.” He looked at Zack with a shrewd expression. “No one should even be there.”
“We’ll still need surveillance on both locations.” Zack studied the map, zeroing in on the tiny spots he suspected were numerous cattle that should be off grazing and not penned. His gut told him he was right on. “Since we’re looking at desert rangeland, our boys are going to have to use any method possible to gather intel and stay out of sight.”
“I want to be in on it.” Torres pressed his finger on the ranch supposedly in foreclosure. “Starting with this one. We’ll use spotting scopes, take a few photos, license plates of people coming and going, and run the tags.”
Zack slapped him on the back. “In the morning I’ll conta
ct Billingsly at the USDA,” Zack continued. “I’ll find out if Mark- son has a USDA permit to process cattle at his location, and if there’s any kind of permit on the other suspected location.”
Zack tapped his fingers on the map. “I’ll get ahold of Sheriff Wayland, too.”
Chapter 21
Wednesday, Sky studied her reflection in her bedroom mirror and the revealing red dress she was wearing. “Maybe I should wear something else.” She shook her head and grinned. “This dress says exactly what I want. Take me, baby.’ ”
Sky ran the brush through her hair, the copper waves falling wildly around her face and shoulders. For the thousandth time, Sky wondered if she had made a mistake in agreeing to a relationship with Zack. As much as a part of her wished for something more permanent, her heart held back from giving away too much of herself.
Zack had called earlier in the day and asked her out again. He’d sounded tired, but his voice was deep and sexy, a low timbre that traveled straight to her core.
This was crazy. But she had to admit after what happened last night with Hector she needed to get out and forget about everything for a while. And Zack would certainly make sure she didn’t have time to think about anything but the two of them for tonight.
Sky took her purse off her vanity table and clutched it to her at the same time Zack’s voice rumbled, “Hi, sweetheart.”
With a yelp, Sky whirled toward the door. Heat flooded her as her eyes locked with Zack’s.
“No one answered when I knocked, so I let myself in.” He was leaning against the door frame, his arms folded across his broad chest, and his gaze focused intently on her. His sensual smile and smoldering gray eyes made her stomach flutter. He was wearing his black Stetson, an ivory western dress shirt with pearl snaps, snug jeans, and boots. And damn if she didn’t want to eat him up whole.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said in a husky murmur as he looked her up and down again.
For some reason Sky’s hands shook as she gripped her purse. God, was she nervous? She managed a smile. “Let me grab my sandals.”
She went to her closet and picked out a pair of sandals that matched her little red dress. “I’ll get these on and then Fm ready.”
Was she ever ready.
Zack moved so close that she could feel his heat radiating through her. “Let me.”
The heat in her belly traveled down between her thighs as she bit the inside of her lip. Before she could respond, he maneuvered her onto the edge of her bed, and knelt in front of her.
He rested his hands on both sides of her hips, his mouth so close to hers that she could feel the warmth of his breath on her lips. Blood rushed in her ears and her throat went dry.
His eyes slowly traveled down her dress, and her gaze followed his. From her nipples puckering the front of the dress, to her flat belly, down to the garters exposed below the hem of her dress that had hiked up almost to her hips.
Slowly, he slid one finger from one hip, over the exposed skin above the garter, and onto the sheer stocking. Sky gulped, her chest rising and falling as her breathing grew more rapid.
Continuing on down at that maddening pace, Zack trailed his finger over her knee, down her shin to her ankle. He caught her heel in his hand, tracing the ball of her foot, and then raised it to his mouth.
She gasped as he ran his tongue along her arch. The feel of him through her sheer stockings was incredibly erotic.
He nipped at her big toe, then sucked on it, and she thought she was going to climax from the feel of her toe in his warm mouth. She whimpered when he pulled away and he slipped the sandal onto her foot.
Zack let her foot slide out of his grasp, then tugged the other sandal out of her hand. The movement startled her. She’d been so intent on what he was doing, she’d forgotten that she was holding it.
Smiling, he ran his fingers down her other leg until he reached her stockinged foot. He caressed it as he had the other, with his tongue and his mouth, and then slid the sandal on. When he was finished, he brought his gaze to her face.
Nudging her knees apart, Zack moved between her legs and forced her back so that she was partially reclining and bracing her arms on the bed behind her. He pressed against her until the bulge in his jeans was tight against the crotch of her red thong. His face was an inch from hers, yet he made no move to kiss her. He ground his cock harder against her folds, spreading her thighs wider.
Sky moaned as he nuzzled her neck, the feel of his stubble against her skin lighting a fire inside her.
Just as she was about to beg him to take her, he drew away. “I made reservations in Bisbee. We’d better leave if we’re going to make it on time.”
Surprised and disappointed, Sky only nodded. She wanted him bad. And she wanted him now.
Zack held his hand against the small of Sky’s bare back as the hostess led them to an isolated corner of the restaurant.
This time, the cell phone was off. He’d even left the damn thing in his car. Let the rustlers take all the cattle in the county. He had a shitload of work to do tomorrow. Tonight, his attention belonged to Sky.
Her skin felt hot against his fingertips, and he yearned to peel her clothes off and slide his cock into her.
Right on the restaurant floor.
It had been one incredible feat of self-control to not take her the moment he got to her house. But he didn’t want her thinking this was only about sex, even though that’s all she seemed to want from him.
As they walked across the plush burgundy carpet and through the maze of mauve-draped tables, he wondered what it would take to get Sky to trust him again.
A single candle flickered at the center of the table, barely giving enough light to see by. The restaurant was busy, but the way their table was hidden from view in the corner, they might as well have been alone. Which was just fine with Zack.
Sky set her purse and jacket down on a free chair, then tried to keep that scrap of a red dress from climbing up as Zack seated her.
Let it climb, sweetheart. Let it climb.
He sat in the chair closest to her, so close that his leg pressed against hers. “Don’t worry about your dress,” Zack whispered in her ear. “It’s so dark no one can see, and the table blocks the view.”
His gaze roamed over her, and then he added, “From everyone but me, that is.”
“If you say so.” Sky gave him a wicked smile and stopped trying to pull her dress down. Instead, she wiggled and let her dress hike up to the tops of her thighs.
Zack’s cock had an immediate reaction to the sight of those garters, and he was real glad the hostess couldn’t see either one of their laps.
The hostess handed them each a menu and told them their waiter would be there soon.
Color rose in Sky’s cheeks as Zack studied her. “Why are you staring at me?” she said in a hushed voice.
“You’re so damn beautiful.” He reached under the table and squeezed her fingers as her features turned even more pink. “I can’t stop looking at you.”
Sky brought her fingers to her throat and he wondered if the rest of her was as flushed as her face.
A ponytailed waiter interrupted them and Sky requested a white zinfandel. Zack ordered a beer and the shrimp appetizer. A moment after the waiter left, a busboy placed glasses of iced water in front of Sky and Zack.
“Romantic.” Sky glanced around the restaurant, picked up her glass, and sipped her iced water.
“Uh-huh.” Zack’s mind was mush and he could hardly take his eyes off her.
Sky’s scent of rain and orange blossoms enveloped him, sharpening his senses. Her thick hair fell in a copper wave over her shoulders, resting on the tops of her breasts. Candlelight reflected in her eyes and her lips were glossy and slightly parted.
The thought of what she could do with those lips damn near made Zack groan aloud.
Before the waiter returned with their drinks, Sky glanced at her menu. Zack flicked his gaze over the specials, hardly able to concentrate, and
practically chose the first thing he saw.
After the waiter brought their drinks and took their orders for their main course, he left them alone and vanished again into the restaurant’s darkness. Zack found himself wishing the guy would stay away. At least long enough for him to steal a kiss from Sky. Or two.
To hell with the waiter.
Sky picked up her glass of white zin and smiled. Through the crystal wineglass he saw her tongue press against the rim, the rose wine rolling over her lips. Mesmerized, he watched her throat as she swallowed.
He swallowed, too. His throat was so dry he didn’t think he could have spoken a word.
Forcing himself to move, Zack picked up his draft and downed half the glass before letting himself look at Sky again.
The sensual play continued until the smell of grilled shrimp alerted Zack that the waiter had brought the plate of appetizers they’d ordered. Sky picked up a shrimp and peeled off the tail. Then she held the piece between her thumb and forefinger and placed it in front of Zack’s lips.
“Open up,” she murmured, and slipped the shrimp into his mouth when he did. Zack sucked her fingers as she withdrew them and he felt the slight tremor of her hand.
“The taste of you was the best part,” he said before he picked out a shrimp. Her eyes focused on him and she parted her lips. As he put the shrimp into her mouth, she caressed his fingers with butterfly strokes of her tongue.
Just from what Sky was doing with that incredible tongue, Zack’s cock was so hard his eyes almost watered.
She brought another shrimp to his mouth and his gaze strayed to her breasts. He suckled her fingertips like he wanted to be doing to her large nipples. Slow, lazy strokes and then harder, applying slight suction.
Too soon, or maybe not soon enough, the shrimp were gone. Sky licked her own fingers as she stared at him, the candlelight reflecting desire in her green eyes.
The waiter arrived with their meals, but they barely noticed.
Zack had never had a meal that was a sexual experience like this one. Every bite Sky took made him feel as if she was thinking about going down on his cock, licking her tongue along his length, and swallowing his come.
Zack (Armed and Dangerous Book 1) Page 16
