Up in Smoke

by Tessa Bailey

  Her elbows stopped supporting her and she fell back, boneless, onto the table. “Yes, Connor.”

  When his face loomed inches above her, she had to catch her breath. So fierce. So male. “Do you have any needs I haven’t satisfied? Do you need to be taken again? Are you hungry?”

  She couldn’t move her head to shake it. “I’m satisfied,” she whispered.

  He nodded once. “To bed.” Somehow she found the energy to roll off the table onto her feet. Her hands automatically went to her skirt to pull it down from where it had become bunched around her waist, but Connor made a sharp sound. “Leave it up.”

  Sending him a confused look, Erin started walking toward her bedroom. Any second now, she would drop like a stone and he was acting arrogant enough without witnessing it. “’night, baby.”

  Connor muttered something under his breath and strode into his bedroom. A moment later, he walked out holding a pair of handcuffs. Her spine snapped straight. She was sure as hell awake now. “W-what are you doing?”

  Without answering her, he entered her bedroom and lay down on her bed. Maintaining eye contact with her, he snapped one side of the handcuffs onto his wrist. The other side, he connected to a wooden slat in her bed frame. “We sleep together,” he explained. “And I can’t trap you like this.”

  Gratefulness. She’d only felt it a few times in her life. Once when that inmate had given her the Marlins baseball cap. Again when Derek had given her a chance at a life in Chicago. It didn’t compare to this feeling. It was so extreme, she wilted, exhaustion overtaking her once more. Her head swam, making it impossible to come up with the right words, so she crawled into bed and snuggled into his warm side, secure in the knowledge that she couldn’t be held down or kept stationary. She was free to enjoy this. Enjoy him.

  “I’m really glad we were both early to the first meeting,” she murmured against his skin.

  “It wouldn’t have mattered. It would have been the same outcome,” Connor returned. “Go to sleep, Erin.”

  “Bossy.” He was wrong, she decided. Everything they did, every action and reaction, mattered with people like them. As his breathing evened, a tiny spark of doubt caught her just before she joined him in sleep. She’d been reacting on impulse, on the need to survive for so long, without a thought for another person. No one had mattered enough to hinder her actions until now. How would she react next time a threat arose and her instinct shouted at her to run? How would he react? With this job, with her past, she would eventually face danger, be it her stepfather or something unseen. Would this bond that strengthened with each passing day end up being her Achilles’ heel? Or worse, his?

  Chapter Sixteen

  Connor took the headset Derek handed him and slung it around his neck. Early that morning, while still in bed with Erin, he’d gotten a phone call from the captain requesting his presence at the meeting spot. Austin had gotten restless being sidelined and come up with a plan to make himself useful. Unfortunately, that plan required more than one person present and since Bowen and Sera were getting married that afternoon, that meant he’d had to leave Erin naked in bed. It didn’t help matters that she’d stared at his morning wood like it was a gift from God as he grudgingly dressed himself in jeans and a T-shirt.

  On his way out the door, she’d gotten a phone call of her own. Sera wanting to know if she’d come over and help her get ready for the impromptu wedding. He’d leaned against the front door and watched the multitude of emotions flit across her sleep-softened features. Flustered surprise, self-consciousness, irritation. He’d had to drag himself out the door or he would have kissed her right back into bed. Spent the afternoon seeing what other expressions he could put on her face, starting with rapture.

  Goddamn, she made him feel things. He’d always been dominant in the bedroom, but last night had been on a whole different level. She’d unearthed something primitive inside him, something so intense it had almost been alarming. But he wouldn’t bury it again for anything in the world. No, he wanted to cultivate it and see how far she’d let him go. As she’d lain on the kitchen table beneath him, body slick with sweat, he’d felt taken over. Feed her, comfort her, care for her. Commands inside his head that had no known origin, but there they were, begging to be obeyed. It felt like a homecoming. Like she’d fit something together inside him that had been detached. Now it was electrified, bringing him to life.

  “There some reason you’re growling at me, Bannon?”

  It took Connor a moment to focus on Derek where he sat in the van beside him. They were parked two blocks away from Maxwell Stark’s office, waiting for Austin’s voice to come through their headsets. “I didn’t eat breakfast,” he finally answered.

  “Right.” Derek tossed him a PowerBar, cleared his throat a little uncomfortably. “It doesn’t get easier leaving them in the morning. Believe me, I know.”

  Considering how the captain had reacted when they’d simply shaken hands with Ginger, Connor was a little surprised he’d brought up something so personal about their relationship. Although he suspected Derek was a control freak and wanted to be aware of the inner workings of his squad more than anything. “Yeah, well. It’s even worse when it’s fucking Austin that drags me out of bed. Explain to me again how he came up with this idea?”

  Derek hit two keys on his laptop and crossed his arms. “Polly was able to get Stark’s meeting schedule for this afternoon. He’s meeting with a corporation looking to set up shop in town, but without some red tape being eliminated, it would cost them a lot of time and money. All Austin’s research, by the way. Turns out he’s not as useless as you thought.” He put the headset to his ears a moment and listened before lowering them again. “Austin had a hunch there would be a bribe offered at the meeting. So we called and rescheduled for first thing in the morning.”

  “But instead of the CEO, Austin is going to walk in.”

  “And offer the bribe,” Derek confirmed. “I thought it might be too risky. If he fails, we could tip off Stark that we’re watching him. So I had Polly eliminate the risk.”

  Conner raised an eyebrow. “How?”

  “Put a freeze on their corporate bank accounts.” Derek’s lips twitched. “The real meeting will never take place, at least not until they get through Polly’s firewall. So Stark won’t get spooked when CEO number two walks in at the original time this afternoon.”

  A crackle came through the headphones, but no voices. “What happens if they call to cancel?”

  “Polly intercepts it. She’s got their phone lines rerouting until noon, when the meeting is scheduled. They don’t have a high call volume, so it shouldn’t seem too out of the ordinary.”

  “Austin posing as a CEO. Polly hacking into bank accounts. All before breakfast.” He chuckled under his breath. “Some group you’ve assembled here.”

  Derek turned serious. “My city. My family’s city. I’ll protect it no matter what it takes or who it pisses off.”

  Connor didn’t give a response because it didn’t require one. He understood that mentality all too well. Every member of the squad had something they were protecting, be it a secret or a loved one. He wondered if the captain knew he wasn’t so different from a ragtag group of criminals.

  Derek snatched a two-way radio off his belt and spoke briskly into it. “All units hold your positions. Stand by for further instructions.”

  “You’ve got uniforms ready to move on this?”

  “Why do you think you’re here? If Stark takes the bribe, I’ll have to go in and make the arrest, bring him downtown.” He tossed Connor a second radio. “That puts you in command of three units. I’m sure his office is under orders to shred evidence if something like this happens. You’ll see to it that they don’t.”

  “And that no one leaves with a laptop or safe strapped to their back.”

  “Right.”

  It felt good, falling back into this pattern. No bullshitting or second-guessing, just getting the job done. It reminded him what it felt li
ke to be part of a team. Until now, he hadn’t realized he missed it or even gave a shit one way or another. Apparently he did. Having someone put their faith in him for something more than a money drop or gang retaliation. Maybe this was more than a job. Maybe he belonged here. Doing this.

  Just then, Austin’s voice crackled to life over Connor’s headphones. He exchanged a nod with Derek and placed them over his ears. Gone was the slight British flavor to Austin’s voice, replaced with a distinct Texas twang. If Connor didn’t know who he was listening to, he wouldn’t have believed it was the con himself.

  He recognized the second voice as Stark’s based on the audio file Derek had played for them in the second squad meeting. “Good morning, Mr. Caster. Can Evelyn get you a drink?”

  “Nothing for me, thanks. I don’t drink while the sun is up and I only trust Texas tap water.” He laughed deep and hearty, voice completely unrecognizable. The sound of hands clasping could be heard, likely from a handshake. A heavy thud followed, metal on wood. A briefcase being set down. “How do you breathe inside all this concrete? I tell you, after K-Worth is up and running, I’m hiring a manager and visiting once a year. No, sir. City life ain’t for me.”

  A smooth laugh from Stark. “I don’t know how to breathe anywhere else, nor do I intend to learn. Chicago is where it all happens. And none of it happens without me.” A groan from a leather chair. “Which is why you’re here, Mr. Caster. Correct?”

  “You don’t waste time, do you?”

  An amused hum. “This isn’t Texas.”

  “Fair enough. We’ll get down to brass tacks and you can get back to sucking smog.”

  Stark didn’t reply.

  “Now, currently the commercial space we have rented to house the first Chicago K-Worth shares parking with three other department stores. And that just ain’t enough.” Connor tried not to look impressed. Obviously he hadn’t given Austin enough credit. The guy had done his homework. “I know how you city people work, carrying shopping home on trains or, hell, walking. But we want our customers going home with more than they can carry in one of them ‘go green’ tote bags. For that they need cars. Cars need parking.”

  “What are you asking for, Mr. Caster?”

  Another rumbling laugh. “I’m getting there.” A chair creaked, signaling that someone had come to their feet. “There is a huge lot running along the east side of the property. We were hoping to purchase it to use as a private lot, but we’ve run into some zoning issues. Apparently it was created for the sole use of the affordable housing across the street.”

  “Well.” A pen tapped against wood. “Finally something I can help you with.”

  “I knew I came to the right place. Shall we discuss terms?”

  A long pause. “Why don’t you show me what’s in the briefcase?”

  Derek leaned forward in his seat to eye the laptop. Looking satisfied that the exchange was definitely being recorded, his shoulders remained tense. They were potentially seconds away from getting their man, only a few days into the job. What would the ramifications of that be? Would they continue to work together or be split up? His head started to ache at the idea of Erin or him being asked to go somewhere else. No. No, that wouldn’t happen. This wasn’t a temporary gig. They’d been assured of that.

  Relax, man.

  Both of them flinched when a loud crash traveled through the headphones, followed by a high-pitched squeal. “Daddy!”

  Connor and Derek exchanged an uneasy glance. Obviously this hadn’t been part of the plan.

  When Stark spoke again, his voice had changed completely, going from darkly cultured to bright and enthusiastic. “Kiddo. What are you doing here? Where’s Berta?”

  “I am here.” An elderly, Russian-tinged voice. “She wanted to say hello before school. Threatened to hold breath unless we stopped car.”

  “Well. Stubbornness runs in the family, I guess.” Footsteps ran across carpeted floor. “But you’ve interrupted an important meeting. Next time, you’ll listen to Berta. Understood?”

  “Yes, Dad-dy,” the child replied in a singsongy voice.

  “This is Mr. Caster. Say hello.”

  “Hello!”

  Connor frowned when Austin stayed silent. Seconds ticked by before he finally spoke. “N-nice to meet you.” His Texas accent had slipped slightly, making Derek’s head fall forward. Something had thrown Austin off in there. The kid? “I, uh…just remembered I’m needed back at the K-Worth site. We’ll pick this up tomorrow.”

  Two chairs rolled back. “That’s not necessary. They were just leaving.” Stark’s voice had gone smooth once more. Maybe even with a hint of suspicion. “I usually only have her on the weekends, so this doesn’t happen often.”

  “No need to explain. I have to, um…” Heavier footsteps sounded on the floor. Austin’s phony accent was back in place, but he sounded almost desperate to get out of there. “I’ll call to reschedule.”

  “Fucking hell,” Derek muttered. “We had him.”

  They heard a ding and realized Austin must have been entering an elevator. A second later, a door rolled and silence reigned. “I’m a bastard, but I won’t have him arrested in front of his daughter,” Austin said, his cultured tone clipped. “Not going to happen.”

  Static rushed in Connor’s ears, telling him Austin must have ripped off the wire he’d been wearing. Derek removed his headphones and let them drop to the van floor.

  “This is what I get for putting together a group of wild cards.”

  “You don’t sound too upset,” Connor observed, slinging his own headphones around his neck.

  Derek said nothing, just removed his wallet from his back pocket. He took out a picture of a little girl who looked to be about two years old, holding a kitten close to her chest. He’d only met Ginger briefly, but this child was the image of her, even if she had a touch of Derek’s shrewdness in her eyes.

  “Some things are sacred,” Derek said, before climbing into the driver’s seat and pulling away from the curb. “Drop you off at the courthouse?”

  “You’re not coming to the wedding?”

  “Jesus, no. Can’t give you assholes the impression that I give a shit.”

  A smile tugged at Connor’s mouth. “Fair enough.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Erin paced the lobby of the courthouse, waiting for Connor to show. The security guard operating the metal detector kept sending Erin nervous glances over her shoulder. Although she couldn’t figure out why since the woman had confiscated both of her knives. Knives she would be getting back as soon as Sera and Bowen exchanged their vows upstairs.

  This morning, she’d been wary of Sera’s request to accompany her to the courthouse. What did she want from her? Was she going to make her hold flowers or some shit? But hanging out with Sera had turned out to be surprisingly…easy. She didn’t force Erin to make conversation, nor had she looked at her weird when she asked to take the bus. After her first stint in Dade, she’d spent a lot of time sitting in the back row of a Catholic church down the street from where she was staying. There’d been no expectation for her to participate in the masses. She could just sit and watch, inhale the incense, make use of the air-conditioning. That’s what being with Sera felt like. Cool comfort. It didn’t surprise Erin that Bowen didn’t want to wait another second to marry her. When they’d shown up to the courthouse, Sera in a white sundress, he’d looked like he’d just been granted eternal life.

  There had been a moment where she’d felt a tinge of jealousy. Not over the couple. Not because she wanted to be the one getting married. No, it had come when they touched. She wanted that. Wanted Connor to be able to touch her without thinking. Just a natural slide of his hands along her skin without fear or pain. She wanted so badly to give that to him.

  As if her thoughts had made him appear¸ Connor strode into the courthouse. Her pulse started beating double time, her stomach muscles tightening. Good Lord, the man was a fucking panty dropper. She’d only been away from him
for a few hours and it felt like years since she’d experienced his presence. In jeans and a fitted gray T-shirt that molded to his muscles like her hands itched to do, he personified confidence and authority. Hot, rugged male. His gaze connected with hers immediately and darkened. She thought back to that morning when he’d dressed in the early morning light, his abs flexing as he pulled the shirt over his head. His erection barely contained by his boxers. She’d never been one to beg for anything, but she’d been seconds from offering him her mouth. Pleading for the privilege of sucking him off.

  Conner shook his head at her with a sexy half smile on his face, as if he could read her thoughts across the room. He stopped at the metal detector and walked through after the security guard beckoned him forward. When the woman grabbed her wand and instructed him to raise his hands in the air, something ugly reared its head deep inside her. The detector hadn’t even beeped. There was no reason for the personal service. When the woman smiled at Connor and ran a hand down her ponytail, Erin propelled herself forward, boots echoing on the polished marble.

  Erin hissed as she drew even with the guard. “If you’re done feeling up my boyfriend, I’d love a turn. We were in a rush this morning.”

  The guard dropped the wand, letting it dangle near her thigh. “Did you just hiss at me?”

  Erin hissed again.

  “Okay.” Connor stepped between them, winking down at her. “We should go. Don’t want to keep the clerk waiting.”

  Appreciation spread in her belly like honey. He hadn’t chided her for her behavior or apologized to the woman on her behalf. Instead he’d given the impression they were on their way to get married, appeasing her jealousy in one fell swoop. “That’s right.” She sauntered toward the elevator. “There’s vows to be exchanged. Rings to put on fingers. Shit like that.”