“Fuck,” Dale said, his face pale. “Fuck.” Padme followed him out the ambulance. Dale put his head in his hands and then screamed. “Fuck!”
Padme sat down on one of the benches outside and felt herself grow numb. Chaley had been murdered, and their safe house was blown. Enver had been spirited away – and now, she felt, she didn’t know if she could trust the people who had taken him. She remembered the note under Chaley’s body, and now, Padme pulled it out of her pocket, wincing at the blood that soaked the paper. She smoothed it out and read it.
Dale rubbed his hands on his head. “So, they know where we were keeping Enver. Someone must have blabbed…but who the hell else knew apart from a very few of us? They knew about the house!”
Padme looked up at him, her face pale and she held up the note. “And they know about me.”
Dale took the note from her and Padme watched as his eyes widened as he read the message on the paper.
Next time, we’ll gut your pretty Indian girlfriend.
Padme sat in Henry’s office. It had been two days since the murder, two days since she’d seen or spoken to Enver. After they had read the note, Dale had pleaded with her to tell Henry about the threat.
“You don’t have to say anything about your relationship with Enver. Just, take this threat seriously. If what happened to Chaley ever happened to you…I could not live with it, Pad. Neither could Enver.”
So, she was here, waiting for Henry to tell her what her next steps were. She had decided she would tell him everything, take her punishment. Ask if she could be put with Enver.
“Well,” Henry came into the room, shutting it behind him. “I guess we now have two people to protect. The threat on that note was very real, Padme, the Ingles won’t think twice about killing you to get to Enver Toscano.”
“How did they know about us? I mean, Dale and I being Mr. Toscano’s protection detail?”
Henry’s face was stern. “We are looking into it – believe me, when I find them…” He sighed. “So, assuming that you don’t want off this case, I propose we take you to the same safe house as Toscano. You’ll keep your badge and gun, but for all intents and purposes, you’ll be a protectee also.”
Padme sighed. “The babysitter being babysat.”
Henry’s mouth hitched up in a smile. “Suck it up. Mr. Toscano’s lawyer tells me he thinks his client will only be questioned for one more day. After that…”
“After that what? We just let him walk into a viper’s nest? They will kill him on sight, whether he’s testified or not. They can’t stop that now, but Freddy Ingles won’t just let it lie.”
Henry sat back in his chair, studying her. “We’ve offered Mr. Toscano witness protection, but he says he doesn’t want it. Rumor has it, he’s in love with a woman here in Seattle. You know anything about that?”
Padme prayed she didn’t flush as she kept a blank expression. “No, sir, the protectee hasn’t mentioned anything.”
Henry’s eyes never left hers. “I only ask because I know you and Mr. Toscano seem friendly.”
Padme nodded. “I would say that, sir, within the confines of our roles, of course.”
“Of course.”
He didn’t believe her, she could tell, but she was too deep in the lie now. Jesus, she really had laid it on the line for this man, hadn’t she? “Is Mr. Toscano safe where he is?”
Henry nodded. “He is. We told him about his assistant, and he’s obviously very upset. He asked if you – or Agent Fortuna – were hurt and we told him you were fine. So, what I think would be best, is if you pack a bag and we’ll relocate you to where Mr. Toscano is. He obviously trusts you, Padme, and in his position, that’s not an easy thing to do.”
“Will Dale come with me?”
Henry hesitated. “Agent Fortuna is being reassigned.”
Padme was shocked. “Why? He did nothing wrong.”
“I know that, Padme.” Henry’s voice was kind. “He asked to be reassigned. Said he felt guilty for not protecting you.”
“No!” Padme was distressed. “I’m fine, nothing happened to me. Chief, please, don’t punish him for nothing. It wasn’t his job to protect me.”
“Calm down, Agent. Go, talk to him but he seemed pretty set. If he changes his mind, of course, let me know.”
Padme sought Dale out immediately. He was eating a bowl of ramen in the mess. She sat down opposite him and glared at him until he looked up. He gave a resigned sigh. “You heard.”
“What the hell, Dale?”
Dale glanced around the room, making sure they weren’t overheard and leaned closer. “They know we’re a team. Maybe, by being separate, I can throw them off the track.”
Padme rocked back. “You are not putting yourself up as bait. No freaking way, Dale, no. I’m not some fragile little woman you have to save, Captain America.”
Dale rolled his eyes. “Putting aside the fact that I would take a bullet for you any day, Pad, I’m not that much of a Neanderthal. I’m talking about we work together, play cat and mouse with them until someone slips up. Then we’ve got them, even if we have to take them down one operative at a time.”
“We do not know who we are dealing with, Dale, or how many of them there are. And someone,” she hissed, lowering her voice, “is on the inside, I know it.”
“Paranoia, much?”
“How the fuck else did they find the safe house?” Padme felt tears in her eyes. “How else did they kill Chaley?”
Dale studied her for a long time. “Pad…do you think I ever want to see you like that? Do you honestly not know how much you mean to me?”
She looked up sharply, misunderstanding him and he laughed. “Slow your roll, I meant as a sister. A best friend.”
Padme relaxed. “Good. I love you too, Daleywhaley.”
“A hell-no to that nickname.”
Padme grinned, the banter cheering her. “So, Daleywhaley, what’s the plan?”
Dale laughed, shaking his head. “Pain in the ass-woman. Well, first thing, you do as Henry is telling you and get your ass over to Enver. He needs you right now – in every way.” He waggled his eyebrows, but Padme shook her head at him.
“I lied to Henry, told him nothing is going on.”
“Well, it isn’t, is it? Not during the investigation, anyway.”
Padme blushed, and Dale’s eye widened. “You didn’t?”
“Once,” she admitted, “when everyone was asleep.”
Dale considered and smiled mischievously. “Nicely done, Kaur.”
She giggled but told him to shut up. “I cannot believe I risked everything for a jump.”
“Except it was more than that, right?” His voice was soft now. “You’ve fallen for him.”
Padme hesitated and then nodded. “Maybe I should quit.”
Dale made a siren sound. “Emergency, call the Sisterhood, emergency.” He intoned it like a robot and Padme started to laugh at him and then couldn’t stop until they were both crying.
“You are such a loser,” she said, wiping her eyes.
“Yeah, but I’m your best loser,” he said smugly, and she grinned.
“Yeah, you are. Give me a high-five.”
All the way to the safehouse, going through so many detours and diversions she lost count, Padme practiced her ‘Greeting the Protectee’ reaction.
Hello again, Mr. Toscano, good to see you safe and well.
Mr. Toscano, hello, good to see you.
God, Enver, I love you so much, get your clothes off right now…
Her lips twitched with a grin. No, that last one really wouldn’t be appropriate – despite it being…. true. Shit. She loved him. No, no that wasn’t possible, she’d known him for a month. But everything in her body said it was true. She loved Enver Toscano. She closed her eyes and pictured him now, his crooked smile that changed his face from many to boyish, that dark beard, those green eyes, that golden tanned skin. The feel of his lips against hers, on her nipples, on her clit. Jesus, stop, she
told herself, but then she couldn’t stop the memory of his huge ramrod-hard cock plunging into her swollen and wet cunt over and over and over…
When they arrived at the new safe house, Padme kept all her feelings inside her as she nodded to the security guard. “Mr. Toscano is in his study, Agent. Far end of the corridor as you go in.”
“Thank you.” She made to move then stopped. “Is Mr. Dedalus here, agent?”
“No, Ma’am, just Mr. Toscano.”
“Thank you.” She said again, and then, her heart in her mouth, she walked to the study and knocked. “Come in.”
She opened the door and saw him. Dressed in a sweater and blue jeans, he looked up from behind the desk, and the smile that spread across his face made her knees weak. Without a word, he got up, and with two long strides, he took her in his arms and kissed her. Padme, lost in his embrace, heard him lock the door behind her. A beat, then they were tearing at each other’s clothes, desperate to feel each other’s skin against their own. Enver lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he plunged into her, pushing her back against the wall as they fucked. Padme was glad the wall was concrete and not wood as Enver slammed his lips into her over and over, his cock reaming her into a delirious state of pleasure.
“I love you,” she gasped, not caring if he got freaked out. “I love you so much, Enver Toscano…”
“Ti amo, ti amo, ti amo,” he whispered with real feeling, with tears in his eyes. “I love you too, il mia amore.”
He made her come again and again as they clawed, and bit, and sucked at each other’s bodies. Nothing existed in the world for them at that moment, just the joining of their bodies, the gaze of their eyes. Enver laid her on the desk, stroking the length of her body from her throat, cupping her breasts, down to her belly, then he dropped to his knees and buried his head between her legs, sucking and teasing at her clit until she was moaning and coming again.
They caught their breaths, kissing and listening for anyone who might be close, then, grinning up at him, Padme took his already hard cock into her mouth and teased him, hollowing out her cheeks as she sucked at him, massaging his balls with her hand, hearing his groans and him saying her name over and over. He tried to draw out as he was close but she shook her head, and he came in her mouth, swallowing him down.
“God, Padme…Padme…ti amo…” He lifted her into his arms and kissed her, his green eyes soft with love. “When I heard those gun shots, I thought I’d lost you. I tried to get out of the helicopter, but they took off. I was screaming at them – I’m afraid I cursed them out.”
Padme chuckled, smoothing his hair back from his face. “And I’m glad they ignored you.” Her smile faded. “I’m sorry about Chaley. Such a sweet girl.”
Enver’s eyes were full of pain, and he nodded. “And they would not let me see her, or call her parents.” He set Padme down on her feet, and they got dressed. “Come sit with me, darling.”
He unlocked the door in case anyone got suspicious and opened the window to let some fresh air in. He sat next to Padme and took her hand. “I cannot imagine what it must have been like to find her like that.”
Padme sighed. “Yes, you can. The same people who killed Max and Julia murdered Chaley.”
“Henry told me there was a note with Chaley’s body? What did it say?”
Padme felt cold inside. They hadn’t told him about the threat to her. Good. Good, that was for the best because otherwise, he would send her away. “Just making sure you got the message. Forensics took care of it, I really didn’t read much of it.”
Enver seemed happy about that. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. “I’m sorry you had to go through that. Mio Dio…I am crazy for dragging you into this world. I am selfish.”
Padme kissed his cheek. “You didn’t drag me anywhere, I came willingly. It’s you and me now, whether it’s publicly known or not. I’ve said it before – I’d take a bullet for you.”
“And I’m going to ask you to stop saying that because it makes me want to break down.” But he said it with a smile on his face. He leaned his forehead against hers. “I don’t think the F.B.I. knows what to do with me. Once my testimony is over, I’m cut loose.”
Padme shook her head. “No…look, they’re offering witness protection. Take it.”
Enver’s smile faded. “They won’t let me see you again. That’s not an option. Look, it’s not as if I haven’t got the resources to disappear from public life on my own recognisance.”
“But why should you have to?” Padme felt a little hysterical. “It isn’t fair.”
He swept his hand through her hair and held her face in his hands. “Who said life had to be fair? As long as I have you, nothing else matters.”
“You’ll always have me.”
“Good.”
There was a knock at the door, and they moved apart, trying to look as casual as possible as one of the security guards, Sean, came in.
“Agent Kaur, we haven’t met, I’m Sean Gray, head of security here.”
Padme stood and shook the man’s hand. “Good to meet you. We should sit down and discuss Mr. Toscano’s protection while he’s here – I understand you’ve been working in shifts?”
Sea Gray gave her a bemused look. “We should also discuss your protection too, Agent Kaur.”
Oh, damn it. Padme could feel Enver’s stare. “I’m good, as long as Mr. Toscano is good.”
Sean nodded. “That’s fair enough, but we have specific orders to protect the both of you because of the threats.”
“Someone threatened Agent Kaur?” Enver’s voice was hard.
Padme glared at Sean, who finally caught on. “It’s standard procedure when a protectee’s safe house is compromised to then protect the lead agents.” It was a weak lie, but Padme was grateful for him trying.
Sean made his excuses, obviously embarrassed and left them alone. Padme could feel the weight of Enver’s stare as she turned to face him.
“Cara mia,” she saw him barely contain his anger, “we’re going to sit down, and you’re going to tell me exactly what the fuck is going on.”
Padme lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling. She’d escaped here after she and Enver had their very first argument, Enver furious that she’d lied about the threats to her safety. She’d shot back that she was a big girl and could look after herself. Enver had lost it then, and Padme realized just how scared he was of losing her.
“Do you know what they did to Julia?” He had raged at her, “I do. I saw the photos…they gutted her, Padme. They cut her baby from her and killed them both. In front of Max. Look what they did to Chaley. Do you think they won’t do it to you? Mio Dio, Padme, mio Dio…”
Eventually, she had left him to fume and came to find a bedroom to lie down in. Should she have told him about the threats?
Probably. Padme sighed and grabbed her cell phone and dialed the number of the only person she could talk to about this.
“Hey, cutie.”
“Hey, D. Can you talk?”
“Sure,” Dale sounded out of breath, “It’ll give me an excuse to stop working out. How’s the love nest?”
“Not very loving. Enver found out about the note.”
“Uh-oh. I assume he didn’t take it well.”
Padme sighed. “No, he freaked on me. We’re taking some time out right now.”
Dale was still catching his breath. “You can’t really blame him, after what’s happened. Hell, I don’t want anything to happen to you either. None of us do.”
Padme was quiet for a moment. “He told me he loved me.”
“Well now,” Dale’s voice softened, “of course he does.”
Padme felt tearful. “What a fucking mess this all is.”
“Yup, princess, it is. Have you discussed what you’re going to do after his testimony ends?”
“He won’t go into witness protection because of me. God, Dale, if he gets killed because of me…”
“You see? Don’t be
too hard on him when you feel the same way. Do you love him?”
“Very much.”
“Then go makeup with him. We’ll figure out what happens. It’s not like he doesn’t have the money to disappear – the question is – do you want to disappear with him, give up everything you’ve worked for, all your friends, family?”
Padme let a few silent tears fall. “That’s just it, Dale…I don’t know.”
Later, there was a soft knock at her door, and Enver came in. He sat down on her bed, gazing down at her with pain in his eyes. Padme half-smiled at him. Enver slid his hand under her t-shirt and stroked her belly, circling her navel with his thumb, before pushing her t-shirt up, over her head. Padme sat up and kissed him as he freed her breasts from her bra and caressed them. Slowly, they undressed each other, and then Enver gathered to him.
“Ti amo,” he murmured as his lips trailing across her neck. Padme wrapped her legs around his waist, feeling his diamond-hard cock nudge against her sex. Enver teased her with the tip of it before plunging it into her. God, when they were like this, Padme knew she would give up everything for this, for him. Their lovemaking became more intense, their eyes locked on each other as they fucked, their panting synchronized as his cock plowed ever deeper into her swollen, wet cunt. Padme moaned as it hit every one of the sensitive nerve endings inside her, his mouth finding hers as their pace quickened.
“My beautiful Padme, my love, il mia amore…” His low, sensual voice made her skin vibrate with pleasure, and now his mouth was on her nipple, sucking, biting, teasing. Padme gasped through a shattering orgasm, her body shuddering and liquefying as she came and when she felt his cock jerking, pumping creamy cum deep into her belly, she tightened her legs around him, not wanting him to withdraw.
“Can we stay like this forever?” She whispered, and Enver nodded.
“We can, Principessa, we absolutely can. But it would mean leaving everyone and everything you know. Can you do that, Padme? Can you really do that?”
His Sweet Torment: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance Page 4
