by Jen Talty
Declan figured she’d be promoted quickly.
And that thought reminded him that she was pregnant and only a couple months away from a desk job. He worried that might make her stir-crazy, but it would only be temporary, and he wasn’t going to be the kind of husband—wow, did he just think that?
Well, he wouldn’t be the man that stood in the way of his woman’s dreams.
“Abe says there are five armed men at every access point of the house, and one on the roof,” Mozart said. “We don’t know what’s inside, however, I suspect we will soon.”
“We need to take out the man on top first,” Brodie said. “And that’s not going to be easy. He’s got one hell of a view of the property up there.”
“Actually, if we create a diversion on the water, that will draw everyone’s attention there, and we can come in from the back and flank them,” Ace said, rubbing his chin.
“Becca and I will create the diversion.” Declan didn’t want Becca anywhere near this crazy plan, but he knew she wouldn’t stay behind, and he wouldn’t say anything about her being pregnant in front of their crew. However, he would plead with her once they were alone.
If they were ever alone.
“Brodie and I will come in from the east,” Ace said with authority. “Abe and Wolf from the west.”
“Zach, you take the back of the house. I don’t think they’ll take a man off that post even with a diversion,” Brodie said.
“Once their men are on the move, I’ll flank to the front and enter from the main door,” Garret said.
“I think we have a solid plan,” Ace said. “Zach and Garret, why don’t you two go relieve Abe and Wolf, so they can get an hour of shut-eye before we spring into action.”
“Sure thing, Captain,” Garret said as he jumped to a standing position. Garret might be the tallest member of the crew at six four.
“I think we need to go in earlier,” Zach said. Half the time, everyone called him ‘Runt.’ At five nine, he was definitely the shortest, with the exception of Becca, who was perfect at five eight.
“We stick with five in the morning, unless you get wind they are on the move earlier,” Brodie said.
“I agree,” Becca said. Her leg pressed against Declan’s on the sofa. It was a subtle gesture of affection.
He resisted the urge to pull her close. He knew she’d push away with their co-workers in the same room and worse, she’d be mad at him.
“Keep your comms on,” Ace said.
“Will do.” Garret pushed open the door, and Zach followed him out. They were good men, and Declan was grateful to have them involved in this mission.
Ace pushed from the wall and stepped closer to the sofa. “This is a good plan. We’ll nail these bastards and bring your sister home.”
“I can’t tell you what it means to me that you and everyone else came,” Becca said.
“We take care of our own,” Brodie said as he slapped Ace on the back. “Let’s leave these two lovebirds alone.”
Becca coughed.
Declan followed suit.
Brodie and Ace’s laughter echoed down the hall, even after they slammed the door shut.
“I didn’t say anything about us, I swear.” Declan shifted, pulling her into his lap.
Her arms looped over his shoulders and her hand went right through his hair. “Brodie overheard me talking to Harper a few weeks ago.”
“Do they know about the—”
She covered his mouth with her palm. “No. I told you I just found out right before my mom called about Trish. I was just confiding in Harper about the fact we slept together, and you acted like a jerk afterward.”
“I’m going to be apologizing for that for the rest of my life, aren’t I?”
She dropped her forehead to his and closed her eyes. “No. I understand why. But I feel like you’re only wanting to get back with me because of the baby.”
“I’m sorry that’s how you feel, but it’s not true. I told you I wanted us to date before you dropped the bomb.”
“Are you sure you weren’t just being supportive and trying to be there for me when I told you Trish was missing?”
“Open your eyes.” He cupped her face as her lashes fluttered. “I have a confession to make.”
“What’s that?”
“There was no big get-together planned the other night at my place. I only invited you, and I was going to make homemade pizza and wings and try to seduce you with my witty charm. And if that didn’t work, I was going to grovel on my hands and knees for a second chance.”
“Seriously?”
He smiled at the way she bit down on her lower lip, her eyes wide with surprise, a touch of desire, and a twinge of doubt.
Doubt he’d put there.
He picked her up and carried her across the room to the bed, laying her down gently, propping the pillows up behind her head before resting next to her sweet body. “I wasn’t lying when I said our friendship means everything to me, only we go way deeper than that.”
“You’re irresistible when you get like this,” she said.
He sprawled his hand over her tight belly, fanning his thumb gently before scooting down and lifting up her shirt, dabbing kisses on her warm skin. It was hard to believe that his baby was growing inside her.
“What are you doing?” she asked as her stomach quivered with a giggle.
He snapped his head up. “We have a couple of hours to kill, and no one is going to bother us.”
“These walls are paper-thin. I can hear the television in the next room.”
“Okay.” He sat up, searching for the remote, and flipped the TV on, not caring about what was playing. “So, they will hear our television, and we’ll just be quiet.” He whipped his shirt off, tossing it to the floor.
She had crossed her ankles and put her hands behind her head. Seductive and gorgeous weren’t even close to how she looked smiling up at him with lust filling her ocean orbs.
“I can be quiet, but can you? I mean, you made this—”
He quickly shoved his tongue in her mouth. He really didn’t want to be reminded of his near-howl of a month ago. He hadn’t made that noise since the first time he’d had sex. It had built up in his throat, getting caught as he held his breath, trying to hold on to the moment for as long as he could.
It hadn’t lasted nearly long enough the first time.
Or with her.
He hoped his performance would be a tad better the second time around.
He wiggled her out of her shirt and bra like a horny teenager, their lips constantly finding each other in wild passion. He wanted to slow it down. To make it less desperate.
But holy hell was he in desperate need to be inside her.
Then she flipped him on his back, straddling him, staring at him with a wicked smile.
“Whoa,” he mused as her tongue darted out of her mouth and down his chest, over his tight, sensitive nipple. He hissed.
That only made her do it again.
And again.
Her fingers glided down his stomach, and she easily popped open the button to his jeans. Before he could even think to protest, her hand firmly circled him, stroking slowly, as she teased the tip with her tongue.
His toes curled as he pushed her hair to the side and watched as he disappeared into her hot mouth.
“Becca,” he said in a breathy moan.
She glanced up at him, lapping at the tip, letting her teeth graze his sensitive skin.
“Oh, my, God,” he whispered. “You’re driving me mad here.”
Her lips quivered into a smile before her eyelids closed and she took all of him, gliding up and down, her hand following, adding more pressure.
He’d explode right there if he didn’t stop her and catch his breath.
Tugging at her hair, he kicked his pants to the floor and then swiftly removed hers. “My turn,” he whispered.
“Oh yeah,” she said, rolling to her back, but she misjudged where she was on the bed and
she flopped herself right off. “Fuck,” she mumbled as she hit the floor with a thud.
He tried not to laugh, but he couldn’t help it.
“Are you okay?” He gave her a hand and pulled her into his arms.
“Just totally embarrassed.” She brushed back her hair that had fallen over her flushed face. “Only I would fall out of bed in the middle of sex.”
“I adore your klutziness,” he said, tracing his forefinger across her lips, down her collarbone, and over her nipples.
He watched them tighten and pucker with the pleasure he brought them. Her breathing labored, and she arched her back.
Losing himself in her body, he tried to kiss every inch of her before settling between her legs. She tasted liked bottled up ocean air and honeysuckle. Her scent was more intoxicating than the strongest whiskey. He’d never stop wanting to please her in every way. He wanted to be the icing on her cake. As cheesy as it sounded, he wanted to complete her. To be her other half. His better half. To be the one man she could rely on for everything, but especially he wanted to be the man she thought of before she went to bed at night, and the first thing she thought of in the morning.
Lord knew she was all he could think about.
“So beautiful,” he said against her. Her fingers threaded in his hair, pulling him closer. Her hips rolled with his touch.
Her soft moans grew louder and deeper. She tossed her head back and forth, her nails digging into his scalp.
“Declan,” she cried out, probably a little too loudly.
But he loved hearing his name tumble out of her mouth as she was on the verge of climaxing.
He licked, and sucked, and teased, wanting to make her scream her passion. But she covered her face with a pillow and muffled the sweet sounds.
Her body jerked and twitched as he kissed his way across her stomach, tossing the pillow aside, pressing his erection against her.
“Oh, God, yes,” she begged, wrapping her legs around his waist, guiding him deep inside.
He groaned.
“This might get loud.” He covered her mouth with a ferocious kiss, hoping that would silence them both, but with every thrust, the headboard hit the wall. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” he whispered, pulling her lower on the bed.
“If they didn’t hear me before, they sure as hell heard that.” She buried her head in his neck, grinding her hips.
But again, the damn headboard thumped against the wall.
“Fuck the bed,” he said as he stood, lifting her with him, keeping their bodies joined.
“What the hell?” She gripped his shoulders, staring at him, her ankles locked behind his back.
“If I didn’t know Ace and Brodie were in the other room, I wouldn’t give a shit about the Goddamned banging, but holy hell, it’s a buzzkill.”
“Maybe this will help,” she whispered in his ear as she raised her body up, then lowered it.
“Oh yeah.” He sat down on the chair in front of the desk. “I like this position better anyway.”
“Me too,” she mused, rolling her hips and arching her back, giving him full access to her round breasts.
He suckled and pinched them while he flexed his feet, trying to maintain control. He focused on her body, and how to please it, hoping he’d be able to give her another orgasm before he erupted like a horny teenager.
The sounds of her moans bounced off the walls and tickled his ears like the wind while sailing across the ocean. He gripped her hips, holding tight, gritting his teeth, but it wasn’t going to stop the low, deep growl that vibrated from his throat.
“Declan,” she said in a breathy pant as she clamped down around him, her body shaking with release.
“Becca,” he whispered. “Beautiful Becca.” He kissed her neck as she dropped her head to his shoulder.
They held each other for a long moment, his hands running up and down her back, fingers drawing over her spine. He didn’t want to let her go.
Knock! Knock!
“Declan? Becca?” Brodie called as the wood rattled.
“Open that door and you’re a dead man walking,” Declan yelled.
Becca leapt from his lap, tripping over something, and her naked body hit the floor with a thud.
“Shit,” she mumbled.
He quickly pulled her upright. “You okay?”
The door rattled.
“Hang on, asshole,” Declan yelled, holding her by the shoulders, staring into her wide eyes. “You better go get dressed before he comes in but try not to trip.”
“Now who’s the asshole?” She kissed his cheek, then turned and raced around the room for her clothes, tossing his at him.
He laughed, hiking up his pants. “Ready?”
“No but go ahead.”
Declan ran a hand through his hair, but it was hopeless. The entire room smelled of sex. He twisted the lock, then opened the door. “What is it?”
“We tried calling you both,” Brodie said with his hands on his hips. “Something’s going on down at the house. We need to move now.”
Chapter 12
Becca hunched down behind Declan in the woods on the east side of the house. Their entire plan had changed since a large van showed up. The team they had assembled flanked out around the perimeter, but hid in the woods, not wanting to risk being seen. She adjusted her earpiece. Ace had said no chatter unless necessary.
The silence was making her nuts.
“Look,” Declan said, pointing toward the back of the house where the van was parked. The door had been pushed open, and two men stood at attention with weapons.
“Over there,” she said. “They took the guard from the front of the house.”
Declan tapped his ear. “Garret and Zach, the front door is unmanned.”
The sound of a rock hitting the roof echoed in the night. The man on top of the house turned toward the sound.
Becca held her breath as Zach raced across the yard. He pressed his back against the wall and peeked inside.
“Front room is clear,” Zach said. “Wait. I see movement.”
“What is it?” Becca asked, her heart racing so fast she figured everyone could hear it thump over the comms system.
“Girls. Not sure how many, but they are bringing them up from the basement.”
“Fuck, they’re moving them,” Declan said.
“Should we call that FBI agent?” she whispered. “Bo Ingalls.”
“Text him.” Declan handed her his phone.
“Zach, can you tell if the girls are handcuffed or restrained in any way?”
“I can,” Ace’s voice crackled over the system. “And yes. They are. And there is one girl wearing a plain, blue dress.”
“That’s got to be Trish,” Becca said, excitement building in her stomach. She fumbled with Declan’s phone.
“Anyone have the Rossini boys in their sights? Or his uncle?”
“The boys are here, but no sign of Anthony,” Mozart said. “He wasn’t at his home either.”
“He’s here somewhere,” Declan mumbled.
“What should I tell Bo?” She held the phone in her trembling hands. Fighting fires came naturally, but a stake out, not so much. Her cells burned her body and it felt like her entire body trembled with nervous energy. Her sister’s safety was at stake and while she knew these men would do whatever it too, so many things could go wrong.
“Tell him we have intel on kidnapped girls and give him the location.”
“Then what?” She stared at Declan with horror-filled eyes. “We’re not going to wait for them to come? You’re not going to let them just drive out of here?”
“That’s exactly what we’re going to do,” Declan said. “We’ve got a license plate and we can follow.”
“Keep the chatter down,” Ace commanded. “And Declan is right.”
“Like fucking hell,” she mumbled, tossing the phone at Declan. It bounced off his shoulder, then hit the ground. She scanned the area, searching for a way to the van. If she
slashed the tires, that would buy them some time.
The tree line of the woods circled the house, with one small clearing across the driveway. The man on the roof stood at the front, facing the water, but he would make his rounds soon enough. If she were going to do this, it had to be now.
“I’m not waiting.”
Declan grabbed her by the arm. “Yeah, you are. And that’s an order.”
“This isn’t a sanctioned op nor are we at work. Listen, all I need to do is get to the van and slash a—”
“Becca,” Brodie interrupted. “I’m closer. I’ll go.”
“Wait,” Abe said. “That will be the first thing they see, and then they will know we’re here. We can’t risk that.”
Out of the corner of Becca’s eyes, she saw a second man on the roof. He hadn’t been there before. He pointed in her direction. “We’ve got a different problem,” she said, taking out the binoculars. She focused on the second man when she felt cold metal against her temple and the click of a revolver. “Who do we have here?” a man’s voice asked.
“Put the gun down,” Declan stood, but the man backhanded him with the butt of his weapon.
He groaned, falling to the ground like a dead fish.
The man grabbed her by the hair and yanked out her earpiece, tossing it to the ground and stepping on it. “Who are you?” the man demanded.
She recognized him as Anthony Rossini.
“Becca Knowles and you’ve got my sister down there.” She straightened her spine, determined to hold her ground. Her team would have heard Declan before he was knocked out, and she knew they’d soon have a plan.
Only she wouldn’t be privy to it, which sucked.
“You’re a little older than we normally deal in, but my clients always like a good sister fantasy.”
She swallowed, hearing the sound of boots crunching against the tall grass. She held her breath, waiting to see someone from her team, but her lungs quickly deflated when the men turned out to be part of Rossini’s gang. They lifted Declan to his feet and started dragging him across the clearing. He groaned but was still unconscious.
“Move, honey.” Rossini pressed his gun against her back.
