by Sheila Kell
“This is our last night together. We won’t waste a moment of it.” He needed to savor the feel and taste of her. It had to last for a lifetime.
“Then stop talking and make love to me.” She smiled seductively, tears wet on her face.
They relieved themselves of their clothing and tumbled on the bed, ready for each other, ready to be one.
A silent consent passed through them to bypass foreplay.
AJ held himself above Megan. “Look at me, my little dove,” he said in a gravelly voice. “I want to remember.”
He entered her slowly, his strokes slow and deep, her liquid heat enveloping him. Their two hearts beating as one. He trembled with his need to stamp his memory on her. To make every moment count for both their lives.
Soft, loving kisses passed between them along with deep gazes into each other’s eyes. Love, loss and pain slid over her eyes.
He flipped over, placing her on top. They didn’t speak, both lost in the sensual feelings of being together. They explored each other’s bodies leaving emotion-filled imprints that would last a lifetime.
He gritted his teeth, holding onto the pleasure, holding back his release. Sex with others would never be the same. He belonged inside her.
They surrendered completely to the fire, passion and love that flowed between them.
She shifted their rhythm, a moan of ecstasy slipping from her lips, a sheen of sweat covered her flushed body sending a tremor thundering through him.
As she climaxed, she whispered her love for him. He bit his tongue to prevent himself from returning the sentiment when he came deep inside her, shuddering with bliss.
She would remain in his heart, soul and mind.
He’d never anticipated his life would change when he’d been sent to threaten a pesky reporter.
An unchallenged tear escaped down his cheek.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
The day had finally arrived. The day for Kevin. The day for her family. They would have justice. Tiny pinpricks scurried across Megan’s neck and down her spine. Everything had to proceed as planned today. This could be their only opportunity.
Earlier, she’d argued with AJ and his brothers about her and Victoria’s participation. This was both of their stories. They’d both dug into it and brought valuable information to light. They’d both helped make this plan a success. They’d share credit for the article naming the Magician so it stood to reason they should also be included in person this time.
The men didn’t agree. They kept talking about security, blah, blah. She’d follow AJ’s orders this time to prevent herself from ending up in the situations she had recently. This was the most dangerous thing she’d done to date. His brothers reluctantly backed down after AJ stood up for her, reminding them it wasn’t their decision to make.
Then he and his brothers battled about how things would be handled. He wanted to do this without them, but Jesse said AJ had no choice. The problem had been that he refused to provide them with the location of the meeting. Her heart skipped a beat. She understood his need to catch the crime boss, but why did he have to push his brothers away at this stage? They needed them.
Things became heated and words were spoken they’d each come to regret, and his brother slammed the door on his way out, calling AJ a few names she wouldn’t repeat. She worried that his family relationship might be irreparable.
She’d never expected his brothers to leave AJ to handle this by himself. But they had. It felt like when they’d first started. Just the two of them. He’d returned to the broken man she’d first met.
The man who still lived in anguish, caring nothing for himself, who had to do things alone, and the one who had broken her heart.
After today she’d never see him again or feel the safety and love in his arms. She’d miss that tingling through her nerves when he looked at her with lust in his eyes.
Her life, while it’ll be new, would be over. She’d never recover from this heartache. How would she put the thousands of shards of her heart back together?
She had to push those thoughts to later. Before they parted ways, they had to finish this, and today was the day.
At least the weather cooperated. The beautiful blue sky lit with the blazing sun, small clouds drifting swiftly though the air which meant no snow. Most of it from the last storm had transformed into water running over the streets and lawns. Large piles of the icy mess remained on the sides of the road and parking lots where they’d been plowed.
“Why didn’t you let your brothers help us? We could use it. You can’t handle them all.”
He’d said that only one of the men at the meeting would be armed. That’d be Damian. The man who had ruined her life.
“Megan, my little dove, quit worrying. I can handle this. My only concern is that you’ll be there. I know we have to part, but I don’t want to see anything happen to you.” AJ pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head.
And she’d never let anything happen to him. She’d be his backup if needed.
They arrived forty minutes early to meet Victoria and find their hiding places. With the entryway plowed, they didn’t have to trek through the two feet of snow behind the warehouse. Megan kept looking over her shoulder, certain his brothers had secretly followed. No cars appeared.
She took a calming breath. Luck was with them. Today would be successful. At the warehouse, they had large piles of snow, pallets and stacks of scrap metal to hide behind. She and Victoria hid together behind a snow bank.
Moving to a different spot, AJ walked behind the building to keep foot prints from showing in the piled snow.
Before he walked away, he moved close to her and touched her lips softly with his. “I’m not happy about you being here. You promised to do what I said. I want you to promise that no matter what, you’ll stay put.”
What did he mean by no matter what? A slight trembling grabbed her body and let loose. “I promise.” If he thought she’d stay hidden if his life was in jeopardy, he didn’t know her very well.
The pain in his eyes overwhelmed her. Reaching up, he removed his glove and lightly stroked her cheek with his palm. She leaned into it.
Victoria cleared her throat. “Sorry to interrupt but I’d like to hide before someone shows up and decides to shoot us.”
He hugged Megan tight and whispered, “Trust me, my little dove.”
He turned from her, and her blood turned to ice. What did he have planned that he hadn’t shared? Whatever it was, she’d be there backing him up.
She and Victoria settled down to wait, brainstorming on how to pull the story together. Victoria had a sharp mind. The two of them worked well together. They had wanted to split up, but AJ had refused, saying it would be easier for him if he had to worry about only one spot.
“I could sneak to that pile closer to AJ without his knowing,” Victoria said. “It’s a small stack, but I can sit instead of crouch.”
If anyone moved closer it would be Megan. And there was no way she’d sneak there without AJ knowing. “No. Let’s just stay put. Do you have your phone ready?”
“My recording app is open.”
“Great. I’ll get photos. Either you or AJ will hear what’s happening and be able to record it. We’ll get what we need for our article and finally catch this evil man.”
“I wish Kevin was here,” Victoria said wistfully. “He wanted to break this story.”
Megan dropped her head and closed her eyes. Victoria had had a crush on her brother. Thinking of him saddened and angered Megan. The Magician would pay.
After AJ arrested him and the marshals arrived, the ones he’d purposefully told the wrong time so he could handle it alone, she would walk out and face the man who took something precious from her and her family. She felt the gun in her pocket. No, she wouldn’t kill him, no matter how much she’d like to do so.
She wished she’d had the phone number for that FBI director guy or Kate. Megan would have ensured someone was here. The more s
he thought about it, the more she worried. Great, heart palpitations to deal with on top of everything else.
The first vehicle arrived, and her pulse raced. “I hope they don’t check behind these things.”
Victoria waved her hand. “Your man said he’d keep us safe. He’s kept you alive so I trust him. Look here comes two more.”
Knowing someone else trusted AJ warmed Megan’s heart. He’d die before he allowed someone to hurt her. The thought sent a shiver snaking down her spine. He would not die.
They expected all of the bosses. AJ had best be right about only Damian carrying. Otherwise, she might shoot AJ herself.
It was time this mystery was solved. The Magician had kept his identity secret for too long. Kristen had reminded her that as a journalist she had to remain open-minded. It was a long shot, but the Magician could be a ‘she’ and not a ‘he’.
Of course they parked near AJ. He knew they would which was why he hid her back here. But he’d share the recording.
Kevin, it will finally end today. I just wish it would bring you back.
She peeked around the snow as the occupants exited their vehicles. She snapped photos. She’d seen a photo of everyone except Lawrence, and well, the big boss. She moved from person to person. She reached one face and gasped. It couldn’t be. That couldn’t be the Magician.
* * * * *
Anger and hatred rolled through AJ’s stomach. This son of a bitch had attempted to kill the woman he loved. There would be no mercy.
He turned on the recorder Devon had provided. Sitting still long enough to collect incriminating evidence would be difficult. His hands itched to slap cuffs on the no longer illusive crime boss.
Ah. An extra had arrived. He’d been right about him. Thank God he hadn’t trusted him with any information.
“What the fuck is going on? Can’t you control your business?” the Magician yelled. “With the exception of Lawrence, you’re all lucky I haven’t put a bullet in you. Thank God, my money is safe.”
Lawrence stood taller.
AJ caught himself from laughing out loud. Right now Devon was draining all of the Magician’s accounts in the U.S. and abroad. Lawrence wouldn’t be standing tall much longer.
A finger pointed at Damian. “You let two people slip through your fingers. They have been making our lives hell. Why are they still alive?”
The chief enforcer shuffled his feet, his hands shoved in the pockets of his jacket. “We’re doing everything that we can. Since you can’t get the information, we have to rely on the word on the street. Every time we’ve located where they were staying, they’d moved by the time we got there. We’re going to catch them though.”
“You’d best because I can’t find out where they’re staying from Megan or my contacts. We can’t afford any more of their trouble. I want more people looking for them, people ready to pull the trigger.”
The Magician turned to Carl. “And how the fuck did you lose a shipment, Jimmy and twenty dealers?”
The man blustered. “We usually get a tip when the DEA is planning a raid. We didn’t get it this time. We never expected they’d hit the dealers so hard.”
“We pay well, but there are times when you won’t get a heads up. You need to have a plan to keep my money and product where it belongs. If you think you can’t do it, then I can find someone else.”
“No, I can handle it,” Carl said nervously. “I’m working on getting business back to normal.”
“You’d best. You’re lucky you didn’t get picked up when Jimmy did. I’d bet they know your true identity by now.”
Carl shrugged. “Maybe they’re not that smart.”
The Magician shot him a scathing look. “They’re both smart. With an FBI agent and an investigative reporter out there, you’d best watch your back.”
“I already am,” Carl responded.
The Magician turned to Paul. “How the hell did you lose your entire team and an escapee? You’re supposed to be the best there is, you fucked up with Denzel and now this one. What the fuck happened?”
AJ could almost feel the heat radiating off the crime boss.
“I think they got to Tony. I thought he’d just skipped out on us. He kept talking about a girl back home. It didn’t occur to me that one of my own would be used against us.”
Oh boy. This kept getting better. How the hell had these assholes been so successful? They were idiots.
“You lost an employee and didn’t think to amend your plans? Didn’t think that your mission might be in jeopardy? Are you taking our product or something because going ahead was the most fucked up decision you’ve ever made? And they had to have collected the info on all of the escapees from you. With the exception of me, no one else has all of that data. We fucking lost our entire setup.”
Paul hung his head, his fists at his side.
The Magician looked at Erin. “I don’t even want to hear it from you. You never should have hired the Richards brothers as pimps.”
Men shuffled and looked anywhere else except at their boss. “Here’s what we’re going to do. We will focus all of our energy in finding those two problem-makers, and then we’re getting back to business.”
“Problem,” a voice whispered.
* * * * *
“Get up.” Megan turned with her finger to her lips for quiet and froze. Her heart skipped a beat. She looked into the barrel of a gun.
“I said get up,” Victoria said.
Fear sent a shiver surging through Megan, leaving her body shaking. She took a deep breath and attempted to speak over the pounding of her heart in her ears. She swallowed and forced out her words, “Victoria, what are you doing?”
The journalist stood. “Get up and put your hands up. I know you have a gun in your pocket. Reach for it and you die.”
Megan did as told. This couldn’t be happening. It wasn’t part of the plan. Did AJ have a backup plan? She should’ve pushed him to use his brothers. The marshals. Yes. When would they arrive? Would it be in time to save them?
Victoria removed Megan’s gun, taking away her hope of fighting back. She could take the woman but not the rest of the men. How could she have been so wrong about someone she called her friend? What had changed Victoria? She’d work just as hard as Megan to get to this point. “Now move. The boss is waiting for you.”
She walked on wobbly legs. They had told Victoria everything. That meant AJ’s plan had been exposed, which meant they knew he was here.
“Honey, look what I have here.” Victoria smiled and walked to the group.
Revulsion burned the back of Megan’s throat and curdled in her stomach.
“Well, well. I knew if we put out the bait, you wouldn’t be able to pass up watching this meeting, thinking you could capture me. That’s why Victoria was on the story. To keep an eye on your brother and then you.”
Oh God. They had been set up. They’d been lured here to die.
The Magician smiled, and it sent a cold chill through her. “It’s good to see you, Megan. But someone is missing from the party. Where is your boyfriend? Where is AJ hiding?”
Victoria pointed to where he hid.
Megan looked around the group. Detective Cooper walked up to her, pointing his weapon, relieving Victoria. He was supposed to be a good guy. Megan had trusted him.
“We have your girlfriend. Come out, AJ, or we’ll shoot her. Do you want her death on your conscience?”
Silence. She held her breath. What would he do?
AJ slowly walked from behind the metal pile with his hands up, his Beretta hanging from his fingers, his gaze on her. Damian moved forward to retrieve the weapon. He searched AJ and removed his backup weapon and handed it to his boss.
Despair gripped her as all hope fled. What chance did they have now?
His gaze moved to the Magician. “You must be Marcus Bryant, Megan’s ex-fiancé.”
“You don’t seem surprised.”
AJ casually strolled to Megan’s side, turning to her, his
gaze holding her captive with an expression she couldn’t read. He shifted. “My brothers and I unraveled it piece by piece until we had the final piece – you. You and this bunch you call leaders did little things wrong here and there. Nothing noticeably incriminating by itself but put them all together…” His voice trailed off.
A hard, evil glare from her ex met the eyes of each man present.
“It struck me as odd that you kept after Megan, when I heard you had a new fiancée. I didn’t know it was Victoria. Good job on keeping that secret.”
AJ had known who it was and hadn’t told her? A spike of anger fought its way through her fear. How could he have not told her? They were a team. After everything, he still hadn’t trusted her.
Too many competing emotions swirled through her. This bit of news took last place compared to what they currently dealt with. Staying alive took first, and AJ’s demeanor worried her. How could he be so calm in the face of death? Did he really think he could overpower these men by himself?
Marcus pulled Victoria closer, leaned down and brushed a kiss to her lips. “We’re leaving after we dispose of you. We’ll be enjoying drinks on the beach in some remote island.”
AJ lowered his hands. “Well, about that. We knew you lived beyond your means so we dug hard and found your money here and in offshore accounts.”
Marcus turned and glared at Lawrence who hunched his shoulders and stuffed his hands in his jeans’ pockets.
“Of course, we weren’t sure if you were just another layer or actually the Magician. But, you screwed up with the hospital.”
“Oh yeah. How’s that?”
“You sent Todd. He’s been under surveillance for months now. He called and gave you the specifics of my guards. Not only did he use his FBI phone, he called you on your personal cell.” AJ grinned and shrugged his shoulders. “It’s hard to find good help these days.”
“How’d you know he was mine?”
“When I kept him in the dark, we had successful raids against you. Plus, he talks too much when he’s drunk.”
Marcus’s expressive, dark eyebrows rose in query. “And Allan?”
AJ shrugged. “I suspected him after Megan was shot at.” He grimaced. “The first time. You really should’ve taught them how to hide bribe money better. Allan and Todd gave us the stepping stones to your fortune.”
