No Greater Hell (Lost and Found, Inc. Book 4)

by Jerrie Alexander

  “I really have to go. When I hear from Holly, I will be sure she calls.”

  “Thank you for stopping by,” the older woman said.

  “Sure thing.” He walked toward the door. He removed his gun from under his jacket, turned, and then put a bullet in each of their chests. Just to ensure they weren’t alive, he put one in each of their brains.

  He pushed open the bedroom door to find a small child of maybe six years old asleep on the bed. She didn’t stir as he conducted his search, stopping to pick up a stack of journals. He tucked them under his arm. He aimed at the curly brown hair, his finger on the silenced gun’s trigger, and then he remembered his brother at that age. Ivan pulled the door closed behind him, leaving the sleeping child alive. For Angel.

  Ivan’s contact called with Holly’s address just as he drove out of the complex. He got directions and made his way to the freeway. This was turning into a productive outing.

  ****

  The sun had barely peeked over the horizon when Jake and Daisy stepped out of the house onto the back porch and walked to the barn. Once inside the barn’s office, tucked into the back corner of the wooden building, he prepared the small coffeepot he kept on top of his filing cabinet. Daisy padded over to the bed of old saddle pads he’d made for her and plopped down.

  He propped his feet on the corner desk just like his uncle had done for years and enjoyed the peace and solitude of morning while the aroma of the brewing coffee filled the small room.

  He checked his email, filled his mug, and started his daily walk. So attuned to his routine, the horses had already moved to the front of their stalls for their daily ear scratch. He set his mug on a bale of hay and began his first chore of the day. He fed the horses their grain, always starting with Duchess first.

  He hung the empty bucket on a large hook in the feed room, then headed back toward the office. He bent to pick up his mug, and a headache hit out of nowhere. He sat on a bale of hay stacked next to Duchess’s stall, dropped his head into his hands, covering his eyes. Pictures flashed as if he were watching a slideshow. They were just snippets. The helicopter crash in Afghanistan played in his mind in slow motion. A deafening explosion roared through his head. Jake didn’t relish the pain, but he didn’t want the memories to stop. These were pieces of his past; random snapshots of his history flowed nonstop.

  “Jake?” Small hands grasped his shoulders. Holly knelt in front of him, so close her scent wrapped around him.

  “I’m good.” He pulled his hands from his eyes, lifted his head, and then looked into concerned blue eyes.

  “What happened?” Worry lines creased her forehead, tempting him to rub them away.

  “A few memories confirmed some of the things I’ve been told. The explosion of my helo was more vivid than was described to me after the operation.” A flash of understanding crossed her face. “Of course, you’ve heard all this before.”

  “But not from you.” A slight smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “Don’t you think it’s good to remember?”

  “I never want to forget that I let them down.” His heart squeezed. “Sixteen men died in my care. They trusted me.”

  “You had no control over what happened. It was a dangerous mission. Everyone on board knew the helicopter could be shot down at any minute.”

  “I’ve got work to do.” She was telling the truth, but he didn’t want to listen.

  “Are you sure?” Cool fingers found the vein in his throat. “Jake, your heart rate is elevated. Let’s take a break.” He opened his mouth to tell her to drop the subject, but she leaned closer. Her hair was loose this morning, and it fell in waves over her shoulders, stopping just at the tip of her breasts. His body reacted instantly to her nearness.

  “Yeah.” He started to stand, but thought better of it. The wrong move and his erection would be right in her face.

  “Are you dizzy?”

  “No.” Jake shrugged away from her and willed his erection away.

  “Then why did you sit back down?”

  “Leave it alone.” Jake stood and pushed past her. He took long strides trying to get to the office. Putting a desk between them was the only way to keep his hands off her. Her rapid footsteps behind him meant she hadn’t taken the hint. He had barely made it inside when she slammed the door behind her. The click of the lock turned him to face her. “Please, Holly.”

  “You’re going to stop running from me today.”

  Then she was in front of him, lifting up and kissing him. Her mouth covered his with an enthusiasm that almost buckled his knees. Her hands dug into his hair, dragging him closer.

  All the previous talks he’d had with himself, all the warnings that somebody’s heart would be crushed, left his thoughts faster than the tornado had moved through. He wrapped his arms around her, pressing her breasts against his. The passion that had been building since the day she’d touched his arm outside the makeshift clinic finally spilled over the dam.

  Holly moaned, pushing the last shred of his resistance from his mind. Her hands slid under his shirt. She stroked his skin, digging in with her fingers while holding him closer.

  Jake reluctantly broke contact with her mouth. “Be sure you know what you’re doing. The last thing I want is to hurt you again.”

  “No more fighting,” she whispered into his lips. “This may not be forever, but it’s what I want for now.”

  Wrapping a handful of her hair around his hand, he tilted her head back and kissed her neck, working his way with his tongue to her neck and the corner of her mouth. He leaned back and studied her beautiful face for a minute.

  “You’re sure?”

  “Yes.” Her voice was soft but steady as she dug her fingers into his back. “Don’t think for a minute that I can’t handle my emotions. I want you to make love to me. Right now. Right here.” She nodded toward the desk.

  “I have a better idea.” Pushing her backward, he unlocked the door, scooped her up, and walked to the last stall on the aisle. Empty and clean, with its high walls and a fresh bed of straw on the floor, it offered all the privacy they needed. He put her down, grabbed a clean horse blanket, and tossed it on the hay.

  “Have you done this before?” She looked around the stall.

  “Never. You up for it?” he challenged.

  “Of course, I am.” Her gaze dropped to his bulging erection. “Looks like you are too.”

  She laughed, pushed the gate closed, snapped the lock, and then turned into his arms. He pushed her far enough away from him to pull her shirt over her head. With one hand, he unhooked her bra.

  “My God, you are beautiful.” Her breasts fit perfectly in his hands. Dark rose nipples were beaded in anticipation. He dipped his head and pulled her into his mouth.

  Jake moved from one breast to the other, tasting her and enjoying her soft moans. She tugged his shirt from his jeans. He reached to help, but she caught his hands and moved them to his sides.

  “Wait,” she whispered. “Let me and don’t move.”

  “I have one thing to say.” He leaned down and captured her mouth.

  “What’s that?”

  “Hurry.”

  Her eyes sparkled as she slowly started the process of undoing his buttons one at a time. “I don’t think so. I waited a long time for this.”

  Leaving his hands at his sides where she’d placed them was going to be a true test of his will. She kissed the hollow in his neck, driving him wild as her lips trailed down his chest behind each opened button.

  “Ever heard of payback?” He lost his words when she unhooked his belt and unsnapped his jeans.

  “Damn boots.”

  “Does that mean I can move?”

  “Yes.” She rolled her eyes. “I think you’d better.”

  Her eyes never left his body while he toed off his boots. Before she could stop him, his jeans and underwear were on the floor.

  She licked her lips and trailed her fingers down his chest to his abs, leaving a trail of fire behind h
er. “You are perfect.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far.” He pulled her closer and wasted no time adding her clothes to the pile on the ground.

  Jake lifted her breasts in the palms of his hands and leaned over, pulling one nipple into his mouth. He switched to the other side, marveling at her response.

  Her breathing became labored, “Jake,” she moaned.

  He knelt on the hay and helped Holly lie down on the blanket. She reached for him but he caught her hand. No taking chances, because he had only just started pleasuring her.

  “I’m in no hurry.” He kissed her lips, her cheeks, and slowly worked his way down her neck.

  His lips journeyed, his tongue tasting her skin with small flicks. Nobody knew what would happen tomorrow, but today he would memorize every soft, curvy line of her body. Softly, gently, he kissed his way to her breasts. God, he loved how responsive she was to his touch. One more moan and he’d be in serious trouble. He stopped his trip downward at her belly button, where he circled it and drew patterns.

  Her hips lifted. Accepting the invitation, he slid between her legs. His thumbs spread her so every delicate inch was exposed. He tasted her with a long draw of his tongue, lavishing her with attention, driving her higher.

  “Please.” The word rolled off her tongue, needy and pleading. He’d treasure the sound for the rest of his life.

  The softness of her plea engulfed him, filling an empty place with a warm feeling. One he’d never dealt with before. He reluctantly released her and grabbed a condom from his wallet.

  “Let me. You’ll take too long,” she said.

  “No. If you touch me, everything may be over too soon.”

  He covered himself under her watchful eye. He leaned over and kissed her, using his tongue to delve into the soft heat of her mouth, wanting her to remember their time together with love. Jake nudged her thighs farther apart and cupped her breasts, rubbing the hard nipples with his thumbs. “I’m going to enjoy watching you come.”

  Reaching under her hips, he elevated her slightly and inserted just the tip of his erection. Her gaze never left his as he entered her with a quick plunge.

  “Oh, yes.” Her eyes flashed wide. In that instant, Jake knew he’d found home.

  He penetrated deep into her heat, moving in and out, repeating the process until she grabbed his shoulders and pulled him down to her as she murmured.

  “Now…with me...”

  He slid his hand between them and pressed circles on her most sensitive of places. Her eyes locked on his and she met him thrust for thrust. The honesty of her passion pushed him over. They reached the pinnacle together, her calling out his name while he emptied himself to the rhythm of her spasms.

  An era later, or so it seemed, Jake rolled to his side, bringing her with him to lie on his shoulder. Neither spoke. He’d never regret making love with her. She’d given all of herself with complete trust and honesty. Neither of them knew what the future might hold, but for this perfect moment they were together as one.

  Holly broke the silence by laughing. It was infectious and Jake joined her.

  “That was amazing.” She walked her fingers across his chest.

  “Yes, it was.”

  “I have a question.”

  “Ask away.” He rolled to his side and propped up on his elbow.

  Color rushed up her cheeks. “Never mind.”

  “Don’t go bashful on me now. Not after what just happened.”

  She opened her mouth but closed it.

  “Don’t hold back. We’re lying naked on a blanket in a horse stall. There’s no reason to feel awkward,” Jake said, rolling her nipple between his fingers.

  “I’m glad we made love. So many times, I’ve wondered how it would be. Have you ever wondered what having sex with me would be like?”

  Jake weighed his answer carefully. She’d used the words having sex instead of making love. “I’d have to be blind and crazy not to fantasize about you.”

  “That’s not exactly an answer. I’ve thought about it many times.”

  “Well, you aren’t wondering any longer.” No way was he confessing that watching the passion in her eyes was the most erotic thing he’d ever seen. Or that being inside her felt as if that’s where he belonged. Or that those feelings scared the hell out of him.

  Should they talk about how dangerous their actions could be? What would happen when the killer was caught and this was over? One or both would suffer damage when they parted ways, and that was one thing he was sure would happen. She had a life and a rewarding profession in the city. Sure, he had the ranch, but how much joy would it bring him without her?

  She leaned over him and kissed the tip of his nose. “You seem to bring out the animal in me.”

  “Good thing I like animals.” Jake reluctantly pulled himself away from Holly and stood. “If Alice sticks to her routine, she’ll be here soon, bringing me a cup of coffee.”

  “I’m up.” Holly scrambled to her feet. “Her catching us acting like two teenagers in heat is not something I want to happen.”

  The two of them dressed quickly. He would have preferred to spend the day right there in the stall but that couldn’t happen. Jake dragged his hand through his unruly hair, thinking again that a haircut was in order. He turned Holly around and picked a few pieces of hay from her hair.

  “Does it look like a nest of eagles moved in?” She patted her head as if trying to get a feel for the mess they’d created.

  “Hmm.” He leaned back and inspected her. “More like the eagles moved out.” He pulled a few more sprigs out.

  “We’ve gone completely nuts.” Her laughter echoed off the walls. She pulled on her blouse. “Out of our freaking minds.”

  Jake closed the gap between them. He pulled her into his arms. “The possibility of getting caught excites you, doesn’t it?”

  “You know better.” She pretended to be offended but didn’t pull away from him. “Look, you confuse me. Sometimes, I think you hate that I’m here. Other times, I think you might actually like me. Can we start again?”

  He kissed her, and she joined him. It was truth time. “I don’t hate you. And since we’re being honest, this may not have been the smartest thing we’ve done in a while. When this is over, putting it in the past may be difficult.”

  She studied him as if searching for something. “I don’t believe in holding on to the past. Let’s deal with that when it happens. Okay?”

  “I better get busy. Alice comes down and I haven’t hauled hay to the cattle, she’ll want to know what’s kept me.” He could accept her deal. This thing between them would end and probably not well.

  Jake grabbed the horse blanket, threw it across the stall gate, and walked to the four-wheeler. He backed it up, hooked on the utility trailer, and then started loading bales of hay.

  “Better you tell her than let her guess.” Holly stepped up and sat in the passenger seat. “I’m a guest and don’t want her to think I’m hiding something.”

  He tossed the last bale onto the trailer and turned to Holly. “Tell her what?”

  She blanched like he’d slapped her. He wanted to reach for her but didn’t. He wanted to tell her that nothing made him happier than being buried inside her, but he couldn’t.

  He called Daisy to get on, then he slid behind the steering wheel. Holly scooted over to make room for the dog.

  “I said I’d pull my weight, so I’ll help.”

  Jake drove out of the barn and met Alice on the walk. He slowed the four-wheeler. “Good morning. I’m taking my helper with me to spread the hay.”

  “It looks like you’ve already put her to work.” She pointed at Holly. “You’ve got hay in your hair.” Alice passed him a mug of coffee. “Sorry, I should’ve brought two cups. Jake, you share with Holly.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He drove toward the back pasture as fast as he could without dumping the hay.

  CHAPTER 18

  Ivan waited until midnight to search Holly’s apartment.
His flashlight exposed an odd picture of her existence. The women he knew had flowers and girly shit all over the place, but every room at Holly’s was barren. The drawers had underwear in them, but they were all plain beige or white, nothing to tempt a man into her bed. The clothes in her closet consisted of a few casual outfits, and an assortment of ordinary jeans and blouses. The bulk of her apparel consisted of nurse’s uniforms and work shoes. If she had a life outside that hospital, he saw no signs of it. He picked up a few paperback romance novels and thumbed through the pages but found no notes or telephone numbers. Odd that she kept few keepsakes.

  He left her apartment no smarter than when he’d arrived. Once inside his car, he removed his rubber gloves and drove back to his hotel.

  He sat in the easy chair, wondering if he’d missed something in Suzanne’s stack of journals. The biggest point of interest he’d found was that Holly Hoffman had survived being kidnapped and almost killed. A background check on her had provided him with a number of media articles. She had friends who had rescued her. Maybe that’s why she lived as if she were in the witness protection program. Had the Lost and Found people helped her disappear?

  If she’d burrowed underground hoping he would go away, she was wrong.

  Decisions had to be made. Calling in outside help was risky, but clearly, it had become necessary. The journals had produced names, names that needed to be checked out.

  His cell buzzed. Ivan answered on the first ring. “You have news?”

  “You’re brother’s body has been recovered. He’s on his way to Soto Funeral Home as you directed.”

  “Thank you. No troubles?”

  “Things got a little messy, but we cleaned it up.”

  “How messy?”

  “It’s nothing to worry about.”

  “How fucking messy?”

  “Your brother wasn’t at the morgue in Connersville. It was overloaded with bodies of people killed by the tornadoes. The night attendant looked up the address, and the boys drove over to Monroe County and picked him up.”

  “But you left no witnesses?”

  “None breathing.”

  “Good. I’ll send you enough money to cover expenses.”