Stakeout

by Karen Raines

  Then I walk away and back towards my crew to discuss what we’re going to do. Because like it or not, we’re all a team for the time being and I need to stop acting like a brat.

  I know I’m fucked when I get back to the clearing and see Colby. Staring right at me. Completely pissed off.

  Ugh, I better get this over with.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Colby

  “Now, just so we’re all on the same page, can you get me and Cross up to speed,” Marcus begins as soon as the girls wander off.

  I stare after Briella and contemplate whether the need to strangle her right now is overshadowing my lust for her ass. As she walks, she gives it a little extra sway. My cock and my head are at war.

  “You’ve read the intel, I doubt there’s much more I can tell you…”

  “He means the sex dumbass.” Cross laughs, slapping me on the shoulder as he pushes past me into the cabin.

  I turned a narrow gaze on Marcus. “I ain’t telling you shit.”

  He jumps up from our bed, yes ours because Bri will be getting her sexy ass back in that bed ASAP, and strides over. “But you always tell us. We need to know if this is a one-way trip or if we can take a ride on the Briella pussy express.”

  Rage like I have never experienced floods my veins and quicker than I can process, I have Marcus in a chokehold, pressed up against the cabin. “Fucking keep your hands off,” I growl menacingly.

  He’s turning a light shade of blue, but I’m not about to let go until he gives the nod. Fucker needs to learn some boundaries.

  “Jesus Maitland, let the schmuck go,” Cross sighs from his position under the desk. He’s busy checking all the connections and doesn’t bat an eyelid that one of his friends is dangerously close to killing the other one.

  I drop my hands and back away slowly, keeping my eyes on the sputtering asshole. “Fucking hell. What was that?”

  I take a step closer. “You need another reminder?”

  He holds his hands up. “No, I think I got the message. Briella’s pussy is a no go.”

  “Marcus…”

  He darts out of the way and chuckles when I stumble into the dresser. “Okay, okay. I get it. Shit. You lost your sense of humor now that you’re a chained man?”

  So it would seem, I thought to myself. We spend the next hour or so setting up some new tech that Cross managed to sneak into the cabin. He’s cagey about explaining what it’s for. Or should I say, he explained, and I didn’t understand a word he said. Cross is a serious nerd, but without the glasses and pasty skin. Or the pocket protector. In fact, standing at over six feet tall, built like a linebacker and looking every inch the typical surfing Samoan, nobody dared call him a nerd to his face. Except for Marcus.

  We finally crash for the night, the cabin filling quickly with the sound of Marcus’s snores. Cross has a pair of headphones on and I mentally high five him for his forward thinking.

  The bed is too big, too fucking empty without Briella next to me. How had it all gone to shit so fast? I toss and turn for what feels like forever, until my brain finally gives up and shuts down.

  Groaning groggily, my eyes open all too soon, the early morning light filtering through the windows as proof that I did in fact survive the night without my girl. I didn’t fucking like it though, this shit was being sorted. Today.

  My phone chimes on the bedside table and I groan inwardly when I see it’s Skylar. “If this is you giving me shit about Bri…”

  “She’s gone to meet Calvin. Alone.”

  “She fucking what?” I explode, slamming through the cabin door and running down the path. “Where?”

  “All I heard was clearing. Does that mean anything to you?”

  Growling, I pick up the pace and sprint for the one near the path I had followed Colm on. “I’m gonna kill her.”

  “Go for it, saves me a job,” Skylar grumbles. “I’m surprised you’re not chewing my ass out about letting her go alone.”

  Rounding the corner, I see a couple having a romantic breakfast picnic in the clearing but no sign of Briella. “Nobody ‘lets’ Briella do anything.”

  “True,” she sighs. “Have you got eyes?”

  Frustrated, I back track and make a run for the other spot we had found on our first day here. “No. How much of a head start did she have?”

  “About two minutes. The length of time it took me to wrestle my phone out of Chantel’s hands.”

  Grimacing, I fly into the grassy knoll and search. “She isn’t here. They must have gone somewhere.”

  “Stay there, I’ll get a team out looking.”

  “Be smart Sky.”

  “Pssh whatever Maitland,” she laughs. I was about to end the call when she spoke my name again. “Maitland? Keep her safe yeah?”

  “Oh, she’s safe from everybody but me at this point,” I snarl.

  I drop the call and pace the area, contemplating the best way to handle Briella when she comes back through. I can’t remember a time when I had felt so wound up. She’s going to be the death of me. An age passes, or at least if feels like one, before she breaks through the palm trees and stops dead. The look on her face betrays her worry as she takes me in. Smart girl.

  “I can explain…”

  “Stop right fucking there,” I growl. Now, she looks like she wants to argue, but wisely choses to keep quiet. “We’re a team on this case Briella. When you don’t consider your team, that’s a fucking issue. We had no eyes on you, no wire, and no back up. How fucking inconsiderate, not to mention dangerous, was that?”

  Whatever she was expecting me to say, it wasn’t that judging by the widening of her eyes. She had obviously forgotten that this was about more than just a case now. We had our colleagues with us, and I wasn’t about to let her bruised ego get in the way of their safety.

  “I didn’t mean to cause problems, there was no time to react.”

  Getting up in her face, I tower over her and let her see just how fucking pissed I am. “There is always fucking time. Don’t ever put yourself, or this team in that position again. You might be the lead on this, but not for my guys, you hear me?”

  She backs away from me, a hurt look on her face. “That isn’t fair. I only met with him for a few minutes. I would never put anyone in danger. This is all because you know I’m pissed at you.”

  With a dark chuckle, I turn to walk away. “I’m not getting into this. You have no reason to be pissed at me Bri, get over it. But this little stunt. That I’m pissed at.”

  She rushes in front of me, cutting off my exit. “This is bullshit! You’re just reacting to the fact there’s no more sex. Don’t try your high and mighty shit on me.”

  “Or just fucking maybe, I didn’t want my girlfriend to end up swimming with the fishes.”

  Her face blanches. “What? Back up a second…”

  “Or,” I continue, incensed that she would think so little of me. “I wanted you to trust me to be your backup, like I would trust you.”

  She steps forward, looking perplexed. “Colby…”

  “You know, this is exactly why I avoided this falling in love shit. It makes you fucking crazy.”

  She launches herself at me, arms wrapping around my neck, lips mashing up to mine. I don’t hold her, don’t kiss her back but it’s not like I have much control over my traitorous dick. I wasn’t about to give into the little fucker though. She has some serious begging to do. She breaks away, seconds before I give in. My fingers are itching to grab her. They’re fucking traitors too.

  “I’m sorry. You’re right.”

  Tutting, I raise a hand ready to make a grab for her. “Don’t let your pride get you hurt Bri, or your team hurt.”

  She nods her head solemnly. “I know that, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again.”

  That is as much of an apology as my body needs. My hand snakes up and pushes the hair back from her face. “I love you Briella but try that shit again and I’m chaining you to the cabin. And not in a fun way.”
>
  She gasps, her eyes widening. “You love me?”

  “Oh yeah, you’ve fucked me right up woman. I love you,” I whisper.

  Her eyes glisten as she gazes up at me with all the depth that I had seen on that drunken night months ago. “I love you too, Colby.”

  I drop a kiss to her lips. “Of course you do. I’m hot.”

  ***

  Cross double checks the audio panic buttons for the fifth time before declaring them good to go. “You’re all set. The feed is sound activated. It will pick up voice patterns that don’t match yours and Briella’s and we’ll be alerted immediately. It is also triggered by movement. The cameras are aimed at the windows and the door, that’s it.” He smiles without saying anything. I know what he’s getting at and I’m grateful. The last thing I need is paranoia that Marcus is watching Bri like a perv.

  Bri was still a little shell-shocked when I dragged her ass back to the cabin, and being the bastard that I am, I enjoyed it. I had been this close to pinning her against a palm tree and banging her brains out, but she needed to digest our new positions. Not only that, I knew everyone wanted to add their thoughts to her recklessness today. She almost rolled her eyes at her friends and Marcus, but when Cross gave her a quiet talking to, she paid attention. Fuck knows what he said to her, but she had glanced back at me thoughtfully and then hugged him.

  They can pack that shit in already.

  Once everyone was on the same page, we unanimously decide that the five of them are going to have to bunk together so we can keep up appearances. My cock is very happy about this turn of events. Skylar and Marcus exchange strange looks, Chantel nods like a good little soldier but Sydney and Cross? Now that is interesting. True to his quiet nature, Cross barely acknowledges the change but Sydney looks ready to bolt.

  “I’m sorry you guys are going to be cramped,” I offer as we walk them to the door, finally. I’m lying, I don’t give a shit.

  Marcus slaps me on the back and stalks past. Skylar watches after him and sighs deeply. “We don’t have a choice, especially if Colm is likely to start sniffing around here.”

  Throwing her a bone since she hasn’t flayed my balls yet, I whisper in her ear. “If he pisses you off, call him Snuggle Bum. It’s his mom’s pet name for him.”

  She bursts out laughing and practically skips down the path. Yeah, he’s going to kill me.

  I watch as they disappear down the path and then shut the door on the world. It’s been a long fucking day and I’m more than ready to fall into bed and die for a few hours. Briella sits on the bed, leaning back on her hands and in a world of her own. She doesn’t flinch when I sink down beside her and throw myself back on the sheets.

  My eyes are just starting to droop when she speaks softly. “Cross said you had run out of here in a frenzy earlier.”

  “I did.”

  She falls back next to me and turns onto her side. That wayward lock of brown curl that always ends up covering her left eye is being a menace and without thinking, I reach to tuck it behind her ear. She grabs my hand and presses it to her face. “You didn’t even take your gun.”

  No, I hadn’t. Rookie mistake, but it wouldn’t have mattered anyway. I would have torn a man limb from limb to get to Bri.

  She leans in close. “Are we really going to do this?”

  “We’re already doing it.”

  “While we’re here,” she mimics.

  I roll onto my side so I can face her better. “Your words, not mine. I fully intended to kidnap your ass if you tried to run once we got back home.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “Crazy for you.”

  “Oh my god,” she laughs. “That’s fucking pathetic!”

  “Fine,” I grumble.

  I flip her onto her back and dive on top, making sure I press the goods right into the Promised Land. Her eyes widen and hit that deeper chocolate shade that I know means she wants my dick. I’m getting good at reading my girl. “I love you, I want you… and my cock fucking needs you. Is that more like it?”

  A huge grin, sassy and sexy and 100% pure Bri pulls at her plump lips. “Well, why didn’t you say so?”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Briella

  “You guys sicken me.”

  I laugh when Syd comes through my ear piece. What does she expect? That I’m not going to hold my boyfriend/undercover husband’s hand?

  “Fuck off.”

  “Yup, he’s gone soft. Probably in more places than one.” One of the guys says in the same ear.

  “Shut the fuck up, only talk when we need you.” Colby growls.

  “Someone obviously didn’t get any sleep last night.”

  I roll my eyes and check my surroundings. We knew from my talk with Calvin, that Colm had feelers out on the island to figure out where we were staying. You know, for an invite to his little shindig tonight. Apparently, it’s way bigger than that because we’ve heard Nadia raving about it and what to wear for hours. We heard a few tourists talking about it too.

  We couldn’t have him or one of his lackey’s knocking down our door with all the surveillance equipment, so we figured we’d put ourselves in his line of sight to eliminate that step. Easy, considering he showed up at Nadia’s earlier. Colby turned the sound down and told me when I could look again. Just another of the many reasons I fell in love with him. The plus to their little romp being that it gave us time to get out on the island enough to get noticed.

  We’re trying to figure out why he hasn’t pulled the camera’s down yet. He knows they’re there, Calvin confirmed it. Maybe he wants the “Mayor” who he’s convinced they belong to, to keep watching him screw his wife? The possibilities are endless.

  I’m pulled from my thoughts when my arm is pulled and I’m pressed up against the outside of a local breakfast café before Colby’s lips are pressed against my neck. Then I feel his warm breath at my ear.

  “He’s spotted us.” He continues to lick and suck my neck.

  “Stop that or I won’t be able to form a coherent sentence.” A little moan escapes my lips and I hear him groan.

  “Fuck, my dicks about to bust through my pants. You can’t make noises like that when we’re working.”

  “And now I have a boner…any of you ladies… ow!” We hear Marcus say through our ear pieces.

  “Well, what a surprise, just the two people I was looking for.” I put on my game face before squeezing Colby’s bicep to move.

  “Wow, what a coincidence. It’s nice to see you again Mr. O’Leary.”

  “Please, call me Colm. I’ve been trying to hunt you two down. I wanted to personally invite you to my party tonight. The whole island will be there!” He laughs as only powerful men can. “The party won’t be complete unless you guys are there.”

  “Wouldn’t miss it.” I give him a sugar sweet smile and look up at Colby. He has a similar smile plastered on his face as he nods in confirmation. Looking back at Colm one more time, I have a weird feeling of nostalgia. Crazy feelings threaten to explode when I notice we have the same nose, the same dimple in our right cheek. I want to make him suffer after what he did to my mother, what he put her through. I want no part of this man yet I have no choice. Did my mother notice the similarities day in and out when she was trying to heal?

  I must be staring a bit too long when Colby pinches my ass to get my attention.

  “We’ll be there.”

  Colm gives us the rest of the information on where the party is before leaving. Not that we didn’t already know. Nothing seemed weird or out of place with him other than a few lingering glances my way. But I guess you wouldn’t want to be up front about illegal activity with two people you barely know. It’s not like I was expecting him to announce the party was a diversion for a shipment of new sex slaves to get dropped off.

  The thought makes me sick to my stomach. It also drives a determination in me to get this job done. To figure out what’s really happening to aid these helpless women taken against their will. />
  As a team we discussed the option of calling in the local police. Let them know what’s going on because this is a lot bigger than the seven of us. That plan was squashed real fast when we saw Colm grabbing some lunch with the head of the police force. They are obviously in his pocket and therefore clearly cannot be trusted.

  My phone starts ringing, and I look down to see the Mayor’s name on my phone. Colby sees it too and curses under his breath. We haven’t heard from him since that briefing a couple days ago and it was wishful thinking that we could figure this all out before he was bugging me for more information. Luckily, we prepared for this situation.

  “Mayor Stephenson, what a pleasant surprise.” I roll my eyes at Colby.

  “What the fuck am I paying you for? You’re supposed to be the best and I’ve gotten jack shit from you thus far.”

  He’s bullshit, I mouth to Colby.

  “You paid me to find out if and with who your wife was screwing on the side. We delivered that to you on day two. How is that me not doing my job?”

  “Don’t get smart with me Briella, I’m a powerful man…”

  “Did you just hang up on him?” Colby asks mystified.

  “It appears so.” I laugh unable to believe I’ve done it too.

  “I’m pretty sure yessing him to death and reassuring him everything is on the up and up isn’t hanging up the fucking phone.”

  Okay, so Colby’s mad at my actions. But this will help in the long run.

  “He needs us, I’m playing the game. Wait for it…” And on cue my phone rings again and I don’t pick it up until the fourth ring. I need to make him sweat. Let him know he’s not the puppet master.

  “Hello.”

  “Listen, I’m under a lot of stress. Can you at least give me a report?”

  “Yes, she’s been with that man from the second day every night and we have it all on a USB drive. As soon as we get back, we’ll have a meeting and hand over the evidence.”

  “The Irish mob boss?”