Still, she didn’t have a choice now, and at least she’d be able to see with her own eyes that Piper was okay. “So are we waiting for them? Or are they going to meet us down there?”
“If you’re ready, let’s get going. I gave them the address of one of the truck stops in the area, so we’ll all meet there in about two hours. We’ll start the search from there.” She started toward the door, but he held up a hand to stop her. “Keep in mind, we’re trying to be discreet so we don’t have to involve the Hillsboro police or the sheriff’s department since we’re outside my jurisdiction. And unless the ATF agents agree to make any statements on the record, nothing that goes down tonight is fair game for a story.”
Sterling crossed her arms and stared him down. “Listen, if this turns into a big break, I’m not making any promises. But I’m not going to endanger anyone, especially my sister, by breaking news that doesn’t need to be broadcast. So stop worrying.”
“Then let’s go.” Alvarez started toward his police-issue unmarked car, Sterling on his tail. He shook his head. He had to count on the recommendation to get into the FBI now because this decision was definitely going to get him fired.
Chapter Fourteen
Patty watched Alec as he rushed around her apartment, gathering his clothes and getting dressed. “Why won’t you tell me where you’re going or let me go with you?”
“It’s too dangerous, Patty. I need you to stay here for now.”
“Then tell me where the hell you’re going at least so I understand.” She knew she was pissing him off, but at this point, she was desperate. Alec had become more and distant from her, not to mention angrier over the last couple of days. More so since Jace had disappeared. She understood he was feeling betrayed, but that didn’t excuse his violent moods.
Rounding on her, he leaned over, his nose inches from hers, a threatening look in his eyes. She cowered slightly, quivering at this confrontation. “I’m going hunting, and not for deer. Jace is going to ruin everything if the cops get to him before I do. I have to stop him, and that means I have to do whatever it takes to shut him up for good.”
She’d never seen him like this, and the wild look in his eyes frightened her. “You’re going to kill him, aren’t you? But he’s been like a son to you!”
Alec erupted in a rage, bellowing at the top of his lungs. “Son? My son would never turn his back on me like this. I’m going to teach that son of a bitch what happens when you turn on family. He’s done.”
Tearing up, Patty shook her head. “Please don’t, Alec. You’re scaring me.” She hesitantly reached out and touched his arm. He flinched so she pulled back quickly. “Please...I love you.”
“Then stay out of this if you know what’s good for you,” he growled. Without another word, he stormed out, leaving Patty alone and trembling. She couldn’t just sit here and let the man she loved go to prison for murder, nor could she let him hurt Jace. He had been like family to her, too. She wanted to call him to warn him, but if Alec found out, she was afraid of what he would do. She could only hope that Jace knew Alec well enough to know what was coming and prepare for it.
* * *
Showered and relaxed, Piper stared at herself in the mirror, her wet hair hanging limply around her face, which appeared a little haggard and tired. She wore a black tank top and a pair of jeans. She wasn’t sure why she cared about what she looked like at a time like this, considering she’d plodded through her own apartment fresh out of bed, not even taking the time to comb her hair. At the same time, she hadn’t slept in the same room with him up until now, and she sure as hell hadn’t seriously pondered sharing the same bed.
But her body sizzled at the idea of stretching out beneath him and wrapping her legs around his back as he pressed down on top of her.
Shivering as the thought produced a reaction between her thighs, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, forcing herself to open the bathroom door.
She found Jace seated on the edge of the furthest bed, wearing nothing but his pajama pants, and as he looked up at her, there was a fire in his eyes. He held out a hand and she went to him, stepping between his knees and letting him run his hands up her back, under her shirt, over the skin that was already tingling and begging for him.
“Hi, baby.” he whispered, a low rasp that was primal and fierce.
He raised his face to hers and she leaned down to brush her lips against his mouth, lips trembling, her pulse quickening as he pulled her down for a deeper, more passionate kiss.
She fell into him, and he welcomed her against his muscular chest. Jace’s body flooded with desperate need, his groin straining, his shaft hardening painfully with his desire for her. He needed to feel her in his hands, hear the beat of her heart.
Piper was soft, ready. He pulled his hands from behind her and cupped her breasts, massaging them until she sighed and gasped. He engulfed her in his strength and warmth, leaving her breathless, giving her a safe haven in which she could forget everything but the passion between them.
His lips were now against her ear, his tongue brushing over her lobe, sweeping down the side of her beck. She cried out as his teeth nipped at her sensitive skin, and he lifted her into his arms, pulling her onto him until she was lying on top of his chest
“You’re so beautiful.”
Cupping the back of her head, he forced her to look into his eyes, wanting her to see how much he meant it. He refused to lower his gaze until he was certain she understood, and then with one swift motion he shifted her onto her back, pressing his body down onto her, his chest hard and firm against her soft curves.
His lips settled on hers once again, this time harder and with more intensity. She had no doubt that he wanted her more than he ever wanted anything, and his passion and desire both frightened and thrilled her. She felt her pussy pulse, sharp contractions forcing heat between her thighs, leaving her soaking wet.
She raked her fingernails down his bare back, the taut muscles tensing and relaxing beneath her touch in an erotic, sensual way that made her hot. His mouth remained on hers, kissing her roughly, his tongue lashing out, his teeth nipping at her lips and chin.
She felt his fingers make their way down to her stomach as he pulled her tank top up, lifting it over her head and throwing it to the side. Groaning, he licked his lips as he lowered his face to her swollen breasts. Piper’s clit pulsed with a powerful need that made her squirm beneath him. She wanted to squeeze her thighs together, to gain some sort of release from the torture of his touch.
His mouth devoured one breast, then the other as his tongue swept over the sensitive nub, suckling her the light pink tip before moving to the other. She wanted him to take her hard and fast, to strip her down, tear off her clothes so her naked body could absorb the heat of his desire. Her pussy was slick, ready. As if reading her mind, he pressed his cock between the vee of her thighs and she cried out when she felt his heat against hers even through the cloth that separated them.
She was warm, inviting, and she wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer against her body so his erection was nestled in the juncture between her thighs. It made him hiss in pleasure, and he growled with his desperation to be inside her. But he wanted to savor every moment, every taste, every touch. He refused to rush this, wanting to draw it out as long as possible.
Turning her head to the side, Piper broke their kiss, drawing him back down to her hard and ready peaks. He took one nipple in his mouth and she cried out as he suckled and licked with a force and hunger that nearly sent her over the edge, using one hand to pinch and roll the other nipple, creating a heady, pleasurable sensation. She arched her back, the intense sensuality washing over her and she held him close to her, meeting his thrusts.
When his fingers made their way between her legs and she felt her zipper being pulled down, she could only close her eyes in anticipation. He quickly pulled her jeans down her legs until she was naked and within seconds he was back on top of her. She moaned at the feel of his
broad, naked chest and stomach lowering to hers and when he planted his lips on her throat, she cried out his name, an overload of sensations flooding her senses.
His fingers were instantly between her legs, stroking her folds, feeling her hot juices trickle down his knuckles.
“You’re so hot...so tight,” he rasped, his lips at her cheek, lips caressing her skin. “God, baby...I can’t wait to be inside of you.”
She couldn’t hold back the cry that was torn from her lips that twisted into a soft mewl, nor could she stop her pussy from vibrating as he curled his fingers inside of her. She exploded with a blinding force, electric flares of wild pleasure whipping through her body, overwhelming her senses.
Watching her climax nearly sent Jace over the edge. She was so hot, so sexy, and when she let go it was almost too much. He ached to taste her sweetness, to feel his tongue lapping at her wetness.
Suddenly, every touch was more intense, every breath more violent and heated, every lick or kiss more torturous than the last. She was so hot, her skin creamy and smooth but alive and responsive as he tried to take in every inch of her with his eyes, hands, and lips. He drew a line from her stomach up between the swells of her breasts, over the soft spot of her throat and up to her mouth, where he captured her in another heated kiss, driving her over the peak of ecstasy with every touch.
Desperate to feel him inside of her, Piper wrapped her legs tighter around his waist, desperate to feel him pump into her. Jace responded, gripping her hips as he bore down on her, the tip of his cock teasing her clit, running between her soft, wet folds.
He pushed her knees apart, forcing her to spread her legs wide as the throbbing head of his cock moved closer to her entrance.
“Jace...please,” she begged, and he knew she was more than ready.
He buried himself inside of her, thrusting against her fiercely, fully, and a cry tore from her lips. The heat radiated through her body, causing her to spasm with possessive need. She could barely breathe.
The meeting of their bodies was hard and furious, the connection a fierce, primal desire that burned her tender flesh, leaving her helpless and vulnerable.
“Fuck me. Oh God, please.”
She was delirious with pleasure as Jace’s cock buried itself inside of her, his muscular frame glistening with sweat as he relentlessly rocked against her pussy.
Clinging to her like she was his very last breath of life, he drove deep inside, filling her to the hilt. Piper shivered beneath him, moaning and wrapping her arms tight around his neck, holding on for dear life.
He found a steady, hard rhythm and maintained it, sliding in and out of her tight, wet cunt in slow, methodical movements, deliberate and fulfilling, and he could feel her responding to his movements, the sensations agonizing. Pumping faster and harder, he nuzzled his face into the crook of her neck, breathing in her feminine scent, a mix of honey and vanilla.
The shuttling pleasure ravaged her body in a savage storm of desire until she could barely see or breathe. When Jace placed his hands on her cheeks, looking deep into her eyes as his cock filled her completely, she found herself struggling to find her way out of the blinding maze of pure ecstasy that he led her into. A flurry of emotions hit her and she wanted to scream and cry at the same time. Her body felt weightless, her resolve breaking into a million pieces as she lost all control, allowing herself to be his fully...completely.
“I love you, Jace,” she cried out as his lips pressed down on hers, the liquid heat of his mouth spilling into her, his cock filling her with long, hard strokes. He paused for only a moment, his stormy grey eyes studying her face, drinking her in, and when he found his safe harbor he held on tight, unleashing his release deep inside of her with one last desperate thrust.
He growled her name, his breath sharp and heavy, roaring with pleasure as he filled her with his seed. Piper reveled in the intensity of the explosion, feeling the deep quake of love and passion erupting inside of her, and tears of happiness and relief spilled from her eyes.
“I love you, too...” he whispered hoarsely, his chest rising and falling in deep, steady breaths. He rested gently above her, his head on her chest, his cock still nestled inside her, and listened to her heart beating wildly for him.
Piper ran her nails lightly over his shoulders up to the back of his neck, then through his hair, up and down, raising goose bumps on his sweat-soaked skin. She smiled, basking in the afterglow and wishing they could just stay like this, safe and protected, away from the danger.
Jace shifted, lying on his back next to her, pulling her close to him. She let him embrace her for a few moments before reaching up and placing a sweet gentle kiss on his cheek.
It didn’t take long before she felt Jace’s breathing go steady and she knew he was sleeping. The sound made her own eyelids grow heavy, and she followed him into dreamland.
* * *
“I told you not to come here!” Ron bit out at Alec as he sat down at the bar alongside him. Not only had he wanted to collect the reward from Alec, but there was no telling what he might do when he came face to face with Jace. Ron didn’t think Jace was armed, but he didn’t know for sure and didn’t want to take chances.
Alec downed a shot of tequila, and Ron could tell it wasn’t his first tonight. “Shut your mouth, Ron. I don’t answer to you. I’ve got more than one bullet, you know. I wouldn’t mind using one of them on you.”
Ron knew he wasn’t bluffing. The man had become unpredictable in recent months, and while Ron would continue to follow him until he reaped his own reward, he couldn’t wait for the day when Alec was a distant memory.
“Just think this through and take it easy. He’s not alone, which means either you have a witness, or you have to take care of an innocent woman at the same time.”
“I don’t care who he’s with, Ron. This will be finished once and for all.” He ordered and downed another shot, making Ron wince. “You can stay or go, but don’t get in my way.” He slapped a twenty on the counter and stormed out of the place, leaving a bitter taste in Ron’s mouth as he swallowed past the bile rising in his throat. This wasn’t going to end well, and as he paid his tab and stepped outside into the night, he growled. Alec was nowhere to be seen, but pulling into the parking lot across the street were four individuals, three of which looked very much like law enforcement. And they were headed his way.
What the hell did he do now?
* * *
Sterling recognized the insignia on the jacket the man wore, but if she knew anything about her sister, this wasn’t the guy Piper had run off with. At least, she hoped the girl had better sense. This man looked like a thug. Grabbing Alvarez’s arm as they walked side by side in front of the federal agents, she leaned over and whispered, “He’s in the club.”
With a nod, Alvarez quickened his steps, moving ahead of the others, heading straight for the man.
“Sir, could I speak with you a moment?” He held up a badge and saw the fleeting thought of running on his face, but to the man’s credit, he didn’t move.
“Sure, officer. What can I do for you?” His voice was hesitant, unsure.
“I’m Sergeant Alvarez with the Dallas P.D., and I’m looking for a man I think you may know. Jace Dawson. Have you seen him recently?”
The man’s eyes darted around the group as the others approached, and he appeared quite nervous. “What is this about?”
“Sir, that’s police business. Do you know where he is or not?” He faced the man down while Morris and Resner flanked him, menacing looks on their faces.
Swallowing nervously, the guy shifted from one foot to the other. Finally, he seemed to slump. “Listen, I came here to stop someone from going after him. So if you’re here to do something other than arrest Dawson, you might want to get across the street, because there’s an angry, drunk man about to storm into his motel room and kill him and his old lady.”
Almost feeling Sterling’s panic rising, Alvarez placed a hand on her shoulder to keep her calm
and still. “What is your name, sir?”
“Ron...Ron Rickman. But you want Alec Stone, who is on the verge of shooting two people, probably in the head, right across the street.”
Alvarez wasn’t stupid; he knew the man was throwing the heat off himself. At the same time, he knew the agents had already moved over to the motel in preparation. Nodding, he told Ron, “I want you to stay right here in the back of my police car until I get back to you. Do you understand? You’re not under arrest. I just want to ask you a few questions.”
“Yeah, okay...sure.” Ron replied, looking away.
Morris and Resner were already headed across the street, running as quickly as they could. Holding up his hands as if in surrender, Ron followed Alvarez to the car, climbed into the back, and waited.
“Stay back,” Alvarez called to Sterling.
But there was no way she was staying behind. “That’s my sister in there. I’m coming with you.” She was across the street just behind him before he could stop her, and she was adamant as she stayed right on his heels even as Morris and Resner positioned themselves outside the door in front of the bikes, prepared to shoot.
* * *
A loud thud had Jace on his feet in a heartbeat, wide awake and staring into the eyes of his former best friend, barely recognizable as Alec’s face fell into harsh, angry lines. The man chuckled with a sinister smile.
“Well, well, well. If it’s not the narc I’ve been hunting down.” His eyes cut to where Piper lay, the covers pulled erratically around her to cover herself, her eyes wide in the face of a gun pointed at Jace. “And his sweet new piece of ass.”
Jace held his hands up to show he wasn’t armed. “Look, Alec...I haven’t sold anyone out or betrayed anyone. If you leave now, all I want is out, and you can keep the money for yourself. I just want to walk away and have nothing else to do with the gun-running.”
Riding Danger (BBW Biker Romance) Page 8
