Hunted

by Sharon C. Cooper

  “Any news on the investigation?” Laz asked, changing the subject and referring to Whitney’s accident.

  “Not much. I called Ashton earlier to see if he could dig around for me. The police department handling the investigation is not very big. I don’t know how long it’s going to take to get more details.

  “What I know so far is that they found an envelope on her containing five hundred dollars in cash. Though they probably think she was into something shady, I’m assuming that was payment for an assignment. She didn’t carry cash like that around, and she was meeting with a client that morning.”

  When Whitney first mentioned doing P.I. work, Myles didn’t like the idea and told her so. She insisted that she was very careful in choosing assignments, and so far, she hadn’t had any problems. He hoped the accident was just that—an accident—but his twisted mind always took thoughts farther.

  What if the car crash had something to do with the case she was working on? Or a past case?

  Myles shook the thought free. They weren’t with the Agency anymore. He didn’t have to view every situation as a possible threat the way he had while with the CIA. He needed to wait until the cops knew more instead of jumping to conclusions.

  “She looked bad,” Myles said, more to himself than to Laz. “Her face was bruised. The medical examiner said the bruises were from the airbag and shattered glass from the windshield. I’ve seen my share of dead bodies, but this…”

  “Damn. I can’t imagine. I’m sure it had to be rough.” Laz was about to shove a forkful of beans and rice into his mouth but stopped. “Since you have Ashton digging for information for you, do you think the crash was more than just an accident?”

  “You know how we are. Of course, the thought crossed my mind. So far, no one seems to think foul play was involved. Or they’re just not saying.”

  Laz went back to eating. “It’s an active investigation. They can’t share much yet. Do you know if the detectives talked to the client she met with?” he asked between bites.

  Myles shook his head. “That police department is small and moving at a snail’s pace. I’m not sure if they even have detectives on the case or just police officers.”

  “You don’t have to worry about that. Either way, they’ll still operate like a larger department. Their officers should be capable of doing a proper investigation.”

  “I hope so. Anyway, last I heard, they hadn’t spoken with the client, and they’re not sure where Whitney was coming from.”

  Laz nodded. “Ashton will get answers. If not, I’ll make some phone calls.”

  “I appreciate that.”

  The patio door swung open, and Kenton Bailey stepped out, carrying Hamilton’s one-year-old son as well as Arielle. The kids looked even tinier than they were in the big guy’s arms. Well over six feet tall and as wide as a door frame, Kenton was one of the biggest guys on their team.

  “Laz, I think one of these belongs to you,” Kenton said as he crossed the patio. The moment the little girl saw her father, she started fussing and wiggling to get out of Kenton’s hold.

  “Hey, baby girl,” Laz cooed, scooping her into his arms and immediately going into baby talk.

  Myles chuckled. As big and bad as his friend was, he was like mush when it came to Journey and Arielle. Some days it was amazing to watch how gentle and low-key he was with his girls. Any other time, he was like a fearless warrior daring anyone to step to him the wrong way.

  But maybe that’s how they all appeared to each other because, like Laz, there was nothing Myles wouldn’t do for those he loved.

  “It still blows my mind that he has a kid,” Kenton said of Laz, who was pretty much ignoring them now that his baby had his full attention.

  Myles stood with his half-full bottle of beer and grabbed Laz’s empty plate. “Scary, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, it is, and she’s so darn cute.”

  Arielle had Journey’s darker skin tone, but everything else, including the hazel-greenish eyes, stubbornness, and head full of hair with streaks of blonde, were all Laz.

  “I feel for any little boy who tries to step to her.” Kenton laughed and repositioned Hamilton’s son in his arms when he started fussing.

  “That’s not going to be a problem because I’m planning to teach her how to chase little knuckleheaded boys away,” Laz piped in. “Ain’t that right, angel face?” Arielle shrieked as if understanding what he was saying. “She also won’t be allowed to date until she’s thirty,” Laz said with a straight face, ignoring the way Myles and Kenton were laughing.

  “Well, I figured if Laz can take care of a kid, then I’ll have nothing to worry about when Egypt and I start a family.”

  Myles had a feeling that was going to be sooner than later. Egypt loved kids. She’d had a rough childhood after witnessing a murder, and her turbulent adult life wasn’t much better. With no family, Egypt had commented often about her and Kenton having at least three kids, and the big guy was all for keeping his wife happy.

  Myles headed to the door of the house. “Pretty soon, these parties are going to turn into events where the kids outnumber the adults.”

  “Heck, at the rate Mason and London are pumping out kids, we’re almost at that point,” Laz cracked, and they all re-entered the house laughing.

  Despite the events of the last couple of days, Myles was beginning to feel better about his situation. Geneva had been right. It was good to be around friends.

  After tossing Laz’s paper plate in a nearby trash can, Myles lifted his beer bottle but stopped inches from his lips. His heart kicked inside his chest, and heat soared through his body.

  It never failed. The sight of Geneva always got his motor running, even now. At first, all he saw were her long legs encased in thigh-high boots, but then the rest of her luscious body came into view.

  Damn, the woman was fine.

  She reached the bottom step, and their gazes connected. Geneva had the power to make him forget that they were surrounded by people. Everything about her made her stand out from any other woman, but it was her self-confidence that really made her shine.

  She headed his way. Her long strides ate up the space between them, and it was like everything and everybody disappeared. Lust radiated in her gorgeous eyes, and something so sensually intense passed between them.

  Myles slammed back the rest of his beer and set the bottle on the bar before meeting her halfway. He gently grabbed hold of her hand and guided her away from the main area and prying eyes. Geneva didn’t speak, nor did she protest as they headed to the back of the basement where no one was hanging out.

  Oh yeah. They were definitely picking up where they left off because right now, Myles needed her like an addict needed his next hit.

  And there was no better time than the present to check out the closest bathroom.

  Chapter Twelve

  When Geneva decided to go in search of Myles, she didn’t really have a plan. But the moment she made it to the middle of the staircase and laid eyes on him, she knew she had to have him.

  Once inside the brightly lit bathroom, Myles backed her to the locked door and covered her mouth with his. Their sweet kiss quickly spiraled out of control, and each lap of his tongue had Geneva craving for more. In no time, their heavy breathing filled the bathroom, and her desire for him multiplied.

  God, she wanted him. All night she had wanted them to have some alone time. It wasn’t even just about getting intimate with Myles. Geneva also wanted to make sure he was doing all right.

  But now that he was kissing her senseless, thoughts of offering him comfort flew from her mind. In its place were naughty thoughts of how good it was going to feel when he was buried deep inside of her.

  From day one, they’d had an intense sexual connection that could only be described as unbelievable. The more time they spent together, learning each other’s body, the harder it was to control her need to be near him.

  Tonight was no different. It was mind-blowing how the intensit
y of their kisses could go from zero to sixty in a heartbeat. Their hands were pawing at each other as moans of pleasure ricocheted through the room. Myles ground his hard body against hers, and the heady scent of his cologne turned her on even more, sending her senses reeling.

  Geneva tore her mouth from his. “Myles. I want you,” she panted. “Now.”

  He chuckled and eased her away from the door to a nearby wall. “You’re so impatient.”

  His lips grazed her cheek and worked their way down, kissing, sucking, and nipping at her neck. He was bound to leave a mark, but Geneva didn’t care. He was right. She was impatient compared to his ability to take his time in whatever he was doing. Sometimes slow and thorough was a good thing, but right now, her body was on fire for him. She wanted this quickie to be hard and fast.

  While he peppered her skin with kisses, his hands traveled along her body, skimming down her sides until they glided over her hips. He didn’t stop there, and Geneva’s pulse amped up when he reached under the hem of her dress.

  “Damn, you’re so wet,” Myles said gruffly against her lips before lifting his head. “I can’t wait to be inside of you.”

  “Yeah, me too. So hurry up.”

  Geneva unfastened his belt. Next was his zipper. When he kept torturing her with feathery kisses along her neck while he palmed her ass, she had to take matters into her own hands. Literally.

  She slid her hand down his pants and gently cupped his package. Caressing, squeezing, she loved the way she could make him moan. Gliding her hand up and down his length, she increased the pressure, eliciting a curse from him.

  “Okay. Okay. Gen, you’re going to make me come,” he gritted between clenched teeth and stilled her hand. Once he caught his breath, he guided her hand out of his pants. “Take your panties off,” he choked out and fumbled for his wallet to grab a condom.

  Geneva shimmied out of her panties and kicked them to the side. Their gazes bore into each other as he ripped open the foil packet with his teeth and quickly sheathed himself. Within seconds, Myles’s mouth was covering hers again, and he kissed her with an eagerness that rivaled hers.

  Geneva was suddenly glad she had her tall boots on. Their bodies were lined up, and she was at the perfect height for him to enter her in one smooth move.

  Which he did.

  “Oh, yes,” she breathed against his mouth, her arms tightened around his neck as he drove in and out of her like a man possessed.

  He was giving her exactly what she wanted, what she needed. Her heart pounded harder and faster with each thrust as he pushed her closer to her release. She pulled her mouth from his as their passionate moans mingled.

  “Myles,” she whimpered, her breaths coming in short spurts.

  When the pressure inside of her started growing to explosive proportions, Geneva dug her nails into his shoulders. She was barely hanging on. She was so close. So…

  “Myles!”

  He quickly covered her mouth with his, drowning out her scream of passion. Heat rippled beneath her skin, and an orgasm spiraled through her body, sending her tumbling over the edge.

  Myles gripped her butt tighter as he pumped his hips faster, going deeper with each thrust. Geneva held on for the ride until he lost it and groaned his release. Collapsing against her, he pressed her against the wall. Aftershocks shook his body, which ultimately shook her since her head was on his shoulder. She was bone-weary, struggling to breathe but basking in the intensity of what they’d just experienced.

  She loved quickies.

  Still panting, Myles brushed a kiss against her cheek and rested his forehead against the wall over her shoulder. They stood like that for the longest time, neither saying a word as their heart rates slowly went back to normal.

  “I will never get enough of you,” he said quietly against her ear and gathered her into an embrace.

  “Me either,” Geneva agreed and placed a kiss against his skin that was damp with perspiration.

  “But next time I have you, it will be in a bed. I’m getting too old for quickies in the bathroom.”

  Geneva laughed, then sighed with contentment. She didn’t care where they made love as long as they were together.

  *

  A short while later, after they were cleaned up and had pulled themselves together, Myles kissed Geneva long and hard. They were still in the bathroom, and he could honestly say that he had never met a woman like her.

  Yes, the sex was off the charts, but it was more than that. It had everything to do with the way she made him feel—and not just physically. Geneva reached something deep inside of him. Something that had never been touched by another, and it made him want her in every way a man could want a woman.

  “How about we grab Collin and then head out?” he said with his hand on one of her hips and the other braced against the wall behind her. He wasn’t ready to call it a night with her, but he wanted to get Collin into bed before it got too late.

  Thinking about his son, Myles didn’t know how he would juggle being a single dad and dating. He wasn’t sure he could pull it off. Who would’ve thought he’d ever be in this predicament?

  Dating. Such a foreign concept, but if Myles was honest with himself, he was looking forward to spending more time with Geneva. He just had to figure out how to do that without sacrificing his time with Collin. He’d always had a keen respect for single parents, especially after being raised by one. He just never thought he’d be one.

  “That sounds good, but I’m not ready to go home yet,” Geneva said.

  Myles nodded. “Yeah, and I’m not ready to take you home, but—”

  “But we need to think of Collin. I get it,” she said, offering a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ve never been with a man who had a child, Myles. I don’t know how this works, and before you say anything, I know this is new for you, too.”

  Myles cupped her face between his hands and stared into her eyes. He brushed the pads of his thumbs over her soft cheeks. “I’m sorry. I know you didn’t ask for any of this. If you want to take a step back, I’ll understand. It’ll be hard to let you walk away, but—”

  “That’s not what I want. We said we’d give dating a try, and that’s what we’re going to do.” She covered his hands with hers. “But first, how about we figure out how to get out of this bathroom without drawing too much attention to ourselves.”

  Myles chuckled. “Good point.”

  He eased the door open, glad to see there was no one hanging out in the short hallway. They left the bathroom hand in hand and strolled into the central area of the basement. The first person they saw was Ashton.

  The detective glanced up from piling food onto a plate. His gaze met Myles’s, then bounced to Geneva before returning to him. His left eyebrow inched up. “I was wondering where you were since I saw your car outside,” he said, humor in his voice.

  Ashton didn’t miss much. By the amusement in his eyes, it was safe to say he knew exactly what they’d been up to. Then his expression turned serious.

  “You got a minute for us to talk?” he asked Myles and set his plate on the table.

  Myles immediately went on alert. He didn’t know what his friend found out about the car crash, but his taut expression said it wasn’t good.

  Geneva squeezed Myles’s hand. “I’ll go and check on Collin. Come find us when you’re ready to leave.”

  He nodded and watched her head up the stairs. “What’s up?” he asked Ashton.

  “I heard back from my contact at the police station in Macon.”

  Myles shoved his hands into the front pocket of his pants and braced himself. “And?”

  “And it was more than a car crash. Whitney’s brake line was tampered with. The accident is being ruled a homicide.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Myles stood frozen. Even if he thought about the possibility of her car crash being something more, he wasn’t prepared for this news. Whitney was dead, and someone killed her.

  How? Why? Quest
ions rattled around in his head as he tried to wrap his mind around it all.

  “Homicide,” he said quietly and ran a shaky hand over his mouth and down his chin.

  Her brake line was tampered with.

  This couldn’t be. Whitney was the sweetest person he knew. Who would want to kill her?

  “Are they sure?” he asked Ashton, already knowing the answer but still trying to come to terms with the information.

  “Positive. The line wasn’t cut all the way through, but enough to lose most of the brake fluid.”

  “Damn.”

  Murdered.

  Someone killed her. No matter how he said the words in his mind, they meant the same thing. She was dead and had died at the hands of someone. Someone he planned to hunt down and make suffer.

  “The detectives on the case are gonna want to talk to you.”

  Myles reared back. “Me? Why?”

  “Standard procedure. Now that the accident is being ruled a homicide, they’re going to question everyone who was close to her. As well as those she’s been recently in contact with, including the client she met with that morning. They talked to her about an hour ago.”

  “What did she say?”

  Ashton glanced around, then nodded for Myles to follow him to the back of the basement. It was an area near the hallway that led to the bathroom that he and Geneva had just vacated. Considering how much fun Myles had with Geneva, it was being overshadowed by this revelation.

  “I know it goes without saying, but this conversation stays between us,” Ashton said. He held up his hand when Myles started to speak. “This is an active investigation. It’s okay to share some of the details with Atlanta’s Finest if needed, but that’s it. No one else.”

  Myles nodded. He trusted his team more than anyone and knew they’d use discretion once he asked for their help, which he definitely planned to do. They were all well connected, each with specific skills needed to find Whitney’s killer. Assuming the cops didn’t find the person first.

  As he studied Ashton’s solemn expression, a sense of foreboding stirred inside of Myles’s gut. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so on edge.