“What about your brothers? One of them may want to run the Whitfield Industries.”
“There’s a good possibility Sen will stay.” He tilted his head. “I don’t plan to literally and legally merge the companies. Sen can run what’s left of Whitfield Industries and Damien head the legal aspects of Tally Holdings.”
“What about Ethan?”
“He hates anything to do with the old man, including the businesses. The only reason he stuck around and helped was for me and Sen. We stick together until everyone is okay. Anyway, he has a cousin from his mom’s side who’s been asking him to join his business in Nashville. I expect he’d take him up on the offer in the next year or so, if not sooner.”
“What will I do?” Her tone soft, she felt a little unsure of what her future held. With the way Mac had changed her, and the way she’d lived her life the last few years, she wasn’t fit for an office job.
Was he planning to go off to his private island and leave her behind? Probably run around on the beach nude with a bevy of beautiful native girls? What would become of her? She turned her head, not wanting him to see the fear in her eyes. She was always afraid of becoming the old cat lady of Marystown. As she didn’t own a cat, or any pet for that matter, she knew she was being silly.
She wanted him to want her without her having to beg. She could beat off the women, but it wouldn’t solve her problem. He had to need her for her.
A broad hand cupped her cheek.
“Baby, you’ll go with me. You’re mine now. Fuck, I even married you.” His gruff voice brought her gaze up to his. “Besides, you’re damn good at sucking my cock, and I haven’t tried out that ass yet.” She could tell he had spoken the crass words in an attempt to lighten the mood.
Her smile refused to stay hidden. Waves of electricity shot straight to her pussy. The man had a filthy mouth. She loved it.
He kissed the tip of her nose.
“You want to go with me?” he asked with a smirky, crooked grin on his face.
Afraid she would start crying—what was it about this man that made her so emotional?—she merely nodded. Could he see all the hope and desire in her eyes? Did he understand what she was unable to express?
She loved him with all her being. But she didn’t want to be a burden. She’d been one to her family until Mac had taken her under his wing. She never wanted to depend on anyone else to take care of her, especially the only man she’d ever loved.
When the time came, if he still wanted her, she would go without any regrets and be whatever he wanted.
If he didn’t, well, she could do many things. Oh, hell. Maybe she’d buy a kitten. But nothing would make her happier than being with Jake.
She’d rather buy handcuffs and try them out on Jake. A good way to make sure he didn’t change his mind and leave her behind.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jake leaned over and eyed the cryptic text from Sen.
For the last two days, he’d been waiting for his brothers to get their act together and return home. Ethan had called yesterday to say he and Karma were tracking down information in Nashville. They had been followed by Rat Boy, but they were able to lose him and would be in touch when they could. Why in the hell was the manager of Scene 69 involved with their personal business? And what in the hell was Rat Boy up to?
As Jake and his brothers’ phones had tracking devices, he’d checked on Ethan a couple of hours earlier. The blue dot had slowly moved along Broadway in Nashville. The son of a bitch probably had stopped in Tootsie’s and gotten drunk instead of doing his job.
Now he had a text from Sen with only a few words: wound, hiding, cabin, later. His cell phone was completely turned off or destroyed. No way to track. Ethan was right. They needed to place a tracking chip on their bodies.
What the hell? Was Sen somewhere bleeding to death and a year from now he would find his body? The northern area of Alabama had miles upon miles of rivers with rental cabins along the shore.
“Tick!” Jake stared at his ceiling.
“Yeah, boss?”
“Get six of the boys together out front in twenty minutes.”
He wanted to go with them, but Luc had texted an hour before, saying he had info on the burnt body. Plus by nightfall, Special Agent Carleton would drop off all of the evidence the FBI had on the Marystown murders, as they referred to them now. She’d pleaded for another forty-eight hours to provide the information she owed him. He had to say, he’d taken pleasure in her begging. It suited his needs, anyway. There was so much going on, he hadn’t felt like dealing with her.
So there he was, setting up a search party despite the possibility of angering his middle brother. Who knew what they would interrupt? If Sen hadn’t been wounded, he wouldn’t worry so much. Sending the men was merely a precaution. Otherwise, no matter who was coming by the house, he’d be on the road searching for his brother.
“What are you hollering about?” Angel glided in.
He loved watching her move. Those long legs encased in leather. She moved as if she was on the prowl, so cool and dangerous. To think of it, he’d never seen her break a sweat. Well, except during sex.
Jake stretched out a knee and reached down to adjust his hardening dick. The woman loved to play games in the bedroom. Experimenting never flustered her. Her sexuality had been bottled up for a long time. She loved to read the dirtiest books he’d ever come across and possessed the kinkiest collection of porn videos. Fucking-A, he benefited.
“Sen texted that he’s hurt and then his phone went black. The tracking isn’t working. Cell is dead.”
Her eyebrows had lifted when he said tracking.
“Do you have something on me?” Her eyes narrowed.
Yeah. He liked it when she went all badass on him. No threat there. He was a bigger badass, and she knew who the master was in their relationship.
“Yes.” He refused to say more. Let her guess where.
She pulled out her cell phone from her backpack. A simple flip, she thumbed off the back protective shell. On the other side was a small chip. She shot a furious look his way.
“I would suggest you leave it there. There’s one on mine. I’ve already downloaded the app on your phone. When we’re alone tonight, I’ll show you how it works. Your brother has a tracker on his phone, too.”
Her wrinkled forehead smoothed out. Damn, she was too easy. Maybe because she thinks the same way he did. It was a little frightening how they could read each other’s thoughts. Marriage shouldn’t be so effortless. If not for the murders and outside forces trying move in on the businesses, life would be pretty good.
Damn. Was he already pussy-whipped?
Nah. Never. But he enjoyed that beautiful pussy. And he loved teasing her with his cock.
Though he didn’t have the time, he couldn’t resist pushing away from his desk and scooting down in his chair a little and crossing one ankle over his knee.
Her gaze zeroed on the bulge beneath his zipper and then she looked away. In seconds, she stared again. She was so easy.
“In a few minutes, I’m going to brief the men on Sen’s disappearance. I want you to be there with me. You okay with that?” Hell, he loved it when she stared at his crotch no matter how much she fought it.
The silence stretched out a few seconds. His dick lengthened, nudging toward his belt. She blinked, frowned, and looked up.
No way could he hold back a grin.
“See something more interesting?”
She opened her mouth and then as if reconsidering the consequences, she snapped it shut. Instead of looking repentant, she sashayed around the desk.
“Angel?” He held his breath as she kneeled and lightly pushed at his foot until both were flat on the floor. His knees parted as she moved between them and unbuckled his belt. The soft clicking of the zipper filled the room.
“Angel?” he asked again. He had no plans to stop her, but wanted to know what she was thinking.
“I figured if you’re going to fla
unt it, I’ll bring it out to play.” She shoved his flap to the side and clasped his dick.
Then her hot mouth swallowed him.
“For fuck sakes!” He arched his back and pumped. “You make the sexiest sounds when you’re sucking on me.” The humming and slurping was enough to drive him over the edge. He fisted her hair and held her as he shot down her throat.
“That’s it. You’re such a good girl.” He released her and smoothed her hair.
She fell back, panting and grinning big. “And you’re a good boy. Ten-second wonder.” Her tongue swiped at her bottom lip as if she wanted to savor his taste.
He groaned. “Girl, you’re going to be the death of me. I show you tonight how long I can last and see how you like it.”
As he tucked his dick into his pants and zipped up, he looked her over.
“Come here,” he ordered and patted his thigh.
“This isn’t the bedroom.” Her cheeks reddened.
He laughed. “I want you to sit on my lap. Don’t be such a pussy.”
“Considering how much you love my pussy, I think that’s a good thing.”
“Keep that smart mouth going, and I’ll haul you off upstairs and tear up your butt good,” he said, biting the side of his mouth to keep from chuckling. He loved her sass.
The flash of hunger in her eyes matched his desire to see her ass naked and red.
With that natural grace of hers, she rose to her feet and gingerly sat on his lap. His gaze almost even with hers reminded him of how tall she was for a woman.
He checked out her clothes. The lightweight T-shirt she wore beneath a thin leather jacket, instead of a forbidden-in-public corset, revealed her stiff nipples, even through her bra. She probably enjoyed sucking him off almost as much as he did having her do it.
“Take off your jacket and shirt,” he ordered. His voice husky with anticipation.
“Yes, sir.” Her pretty green eyes glittered. Yeah, she loved it when he took over. She immediately did what he said.
“Now don’t move,” he warned.
She held herself still. Fuck, she was made for him.
He unclipped her plain white bra and slipped it down her arms and away. He unsnapped her pants and pushed the zipper down. His mouth covered one perky nipple as his hand dove between her legs, thrusting a finger into her heat. She gasped from the duo sensations.
“Yes, sir!”
He chuckled.
Moisture lubricated his path up to her clit. A hard and needy elongated pebble. Maybe she’d trained it to sit up and take notice after all of the practice she gave it over the years. As he drew circles around the bundle of nerves, he sucked her tit, nipping and tugging after each strong pull. She bowed her body and squealed between gritted teeth.
Her sweet pussy undulated, and this time she didn’t hold back.
“Jake, oh, Jaaake!” Her hips lifted, pushing her pelvis to his hand.
He released her breast and gave her nipple one last lick.
“I’m glad you understand I’m the only one who can get you off like that. You’re mine and no one else’s. Got me?”
Those soft green eyes hidden beneath heavy eyelids stared at him with satisfaction as she nodded. Her body was limp in his hold. He savored having her so sweet and giving in his arms. He cradled her to his chest and kissed her temple.
Jake shuffled through the file Quinn had just handed him. Ignoring the older man for a few seconds, he scanned the sheets inside.
“So two of his fingers were missing?” Jake’s gut turned with the thought of the torture Matt had endured.
“Yeah. They looked to be a clean cut. Whoever did it knew what they were doing,” Quinn said as he paced in front of Jake’s desk.
“And you’re sure it’s Matt?”
“Yep. Dr. Kelly had been his family’s dentist for years. He confirmed the dental records matched the body’s.” Quinn continued to walk back and forth, every few steps he looked over at Jake as if he wanted to ask a question.
“What’s got you so antsy?” Jake looked up from the paper in frustration. The man had to know he wouldn’t let it out that Quinn had leaked the autopsy report.
“Have you seen Tessa lately?”
“Your daughter?”
Quinn gave a clipped nod.
“I haven’t seen her since Christmas when I came by and left your bonus.” Nothing was done for a Whitfield without a price. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“She left a note a couple days ago saying she patched up your brother, and he needed her help again.” Quinn stopped and glared. “I called her several times without an answer and checked her home. No one’s there. I told you to keep him away from her.”
Quinn never cared for Sen. Jake wasn’t sure the why of it, but tried to steer his brother clear of the funeral director and his daughter.
“He disappeared a few days ago, and yesterday I received a message from him saying he’d been wounded. For the last year, he’s stayed away from her, but you’ve got to know if he’s hurt, he’d go by your place to get patched up. Listen. Do you think your daughter was there when he showed up? Did she mention where he was going?”
“That’s just it. I haven’t heard from her since she left the note. If your brother has done anything to her, I’ll have him thrown in jail for statutory rape.”
“Quinn, even I know that Tessa is old enough to give consent. So that’s not an option.”
The older man smoothed thin strands of hair over his balding pate.
“Right. Damn, it feels like she just turned fifteen last year.”
He wasn’t surprised by the man not knowing his own daughter’s age. Hell, Dick Whitfield never remembered his sons’ birthdates and often got their names mixed up.
“Hey, you were bragging a couple years ago that she’d changed from nursing to mortuary science. So she has to be what, twenty-two?”
“She’ll be twenty-one next month. She’s doing great in her classes, and she almost finished with the apprenticeship. My assistant embalmer agrees with me, that she’s doing great. Of course, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. How did the time go by so fast?” The bewildered, wild-eyed look on Quinn’s face cooled Jake’s temper. He didn’t need an irate father getting in the middle of whatever was going on with his brother.
“If she’s with Sen, I promise she’s safe. He needed some medical care. She’s helping him. You taught her well.”
“Right. You’re right. You know I don’t really have anything against the boy. I just wanted more for her. Away from Marystown.” Quinn headed toward the door. “Let me know if you hear anything.”
Twenty-nine was nowhere near a boy, but Quinn believed anyone under forty to be a kid. And wanted more? Yeah. Only those after money believed a Whitfield was a worthy catch.
“Everything will be fine. I’ve got my men out searching for Sen now. I’ll tell them to be on the lookout for Tessa, too.”
“That will be good. Thanks,” Quinn said before closing the door on his way out.
No more than five minutes passed before he received a call from the gate of Special Agent Carleton’s arrival. He didn’t worry what his men thought about his receiving an FBI agent. Considering how his father had many government officials on his payroll, he recently being dropping hints that the agent was on his.
A knock on the door brought him around his desk, waiting for her entrance. Not as a sign of respect; the woman didn’t invoke those feelings. He barely tolerated her. But he knew how to play the game. At the moment, he needed her to believe she had an upper hand.
“Come in.”
Tick opened the door and stood to the side. Alex strolled by him. Dressed in her usual navy blue jacket and pants with white shirt, she looked a little ruffled. Probably frustrated at the beefed-up security.
She could be annoyed all she wanted. Without a briefcase or papers in hand, his anger rose with every second that passed.
“Where’s the evidence?” he asked as soon as Tick walked out and cl
osed the door.
“Hello to you, too. Is that any way to treat a partner?”
“We ain’t fucking partners. You’re the devil I have to deal with until I accomplish my goals.” He closed his mouth without spilling his end game.
Instead of making her mad, she tilted up one corner of her lips.
“The devil you know, heh?” As she did in the hotel room, she looked around, taking in the expensive art and heavy oak pieces left over from the old man’s taste. “I wouldn’t have pegged you as the type to do the classics in decorating your office.” Without waiting for a comment, she added, “I figured you would be all glass and chrome with maybe a few whips on the wall.”
That last stroked his interest, and he hoped without showing any expression on his face. Who had been talking to her? Someone not too close as they had the wrong brother. Jake preferred the hands-on approach.
“Why do you not have the information you promised me?”
“Where’s your lovely new wife? I heard she throws a mean knife.”
What the fuck? Someone was blabbing big time. Then it came to him and made sense. Teddy Bear or Rat Boy. What was she doing talking with them?
“You’re wasting my time. You have the documents I wanted or not?”
She narrowed her eyes. Her shoulders slumped, but her jaw remained rigid. He won the battle of wills this time. Her attempt to infuriate him failed.
“Okay, okay.” She slung the large purse off her shoulder and drew out a file. It wasn’t thick. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on it. It wouldn’t take much paper to type a name or two. That was all he needed. Who was responsible for his old man’s death?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
In front of a Sand City restaurant, staring blindly out of the driver’s side window of Mac’s old truck, Angel smiled. Her index finger rubbed her wedding band.
The last few mornings, waking in bed with Jake was nothing but a fantasy come true. Earlier, when she walked out of the en suite bathroom, the light behind her spotlighted the man sprawled over the mattress. Her heart almost stopped from the decadent view. The top sheet draped off the side revealed a muscular back, lean hips with taut buttocks perfect for squeezing. Powerful thighs any ball player would be proud of topped off long calves and feet. He groaned, and her gaze shot up. Her face warmed at the thought of being caught staring, but one eye partially covered by thick, blond-tipped strands remained closed. His hair stuck out in the way only men looked sexy. Brawny arms half hidden beneath the pillow he hugged reminded her of how he held her at night. Tight and shielded. The bristles on his jaw highlighted the overall impact of a dangerous man resting.
Jake: A Southern Crime Family Novel Page 17
