Yeah, when it came to Cordelia, Rogue didn’t. His future wife just walked out the door on someone else’s arm.
And he didn’t like it.
At all.
* * * H U N T E R * * *
When Taz looked at his watch, he knew it was time. The people were beginning to arrive at the illegal gambling party, and he was raking in the dough.
At the door, he left his bouncer, and he checked out for a little while. He wanted to see if Chesky was on the up and up, and he wanted to see if this was going to work.
He wanted to expand, and he couldn’t help but see dollar signs. That was his ONLY goal in life.
He’d tried to make it by sleeping with a wealthy woman once, but that had been boring.
She was straight and narrow, and his path needed to zig and zag. He couldn’t help it. Tasunke had always lived on the dark side of life.
It was how he rolled.
Give him a big score any day, and he was happy. When he could see his rewards, or get a payday, he was in his glory.
That’s why he’d hooked up with Rosemary.
She was fun.
She was making money.
The only person who ruined it was Chesky. He and Rosemary had a past, and the man tended to get possessive. Taz tried to tell her he was insane, but she didn’t listen.
Well, if she bailed on New Orleans, more power to her. He wasn’t ready to let the city go. He wanted to make it there, and then move on to bigger and better scores.
So, he’d meet with him.
“I’ll be back in ninety. Keep the money flowing, and call if there’s a problem,” he said, patting his bouncer on the shoulder.
“On it, boss.”
With that, Taz slipped out, a fully loaded gun in his pocket and a mission in mind.
It was time to increase his bankroll or kill Chesky.
The outcome was still up in the air.
* * * H U N T E R * * *
Outside Private
Gambling Party
Gamble parked the vehicle, and they were ready to go. He tucked his gun under the seat of the car, knowing that they were likely patting people down. He could see, from where they were parked, that there was a big beast of a man checking people as they stepped into the door.
“Well, let’s get this done,” he stated.
“Okay,” she offered. “What do I call you?” Cordelia asked. “You know…as cover?”
“Honey, you can call me anything you want.”
She laughed.
“Are you trying to get killed?” she asked, hearing Rogue lose it in the earpiece tucked securely in place. He was cursing.
“Sam. Let’s keep it easy. I’m Sam, and you’re Kitty.”
She could do that.
“Don’t leave my side,” Gamble stated. “I need to scan the room so they can get faces to run on the FBI software, but I also can’t lose you—or was I supposed to not lose that jewelry. I can’t remember.”
They both listened to Rogue curse even more.
It made Gamble smile.
“Oh, yeah, the girl. Don’t lose the girl.”
She snorted.
“Calm down, Rogue,” she said. “You’re going to have a stroke. I’ve worked undercover before. I can pull this off.”
Gamble hopped out of the Mercedes and walked around to the other side of the car. Helping Cordelia out, he wrapped his arm around her waist.
“I’m going to treat you like my piece of ass, so forgive me in advance,” he stated.
“Just do the job,” she said, again as Rogue protested.
They could see the other stolen vehicle down the block, and they knew Rogue and Dakota were watching them.
“Let’s go,” Gamble stated.
At the door, they got ready.
“Sam, I don’t want to gamble. Let’s go shopping instead,” she muttered, loud enough that the bouncer would hear them. “You got all that dough! I want a new purse.”
“Honey, I said later.”
“But Sam…”
He stared at her.
“Shut the fuck up, look pretty, and stop talking. You’re irritating me,” he said, slapping her on the ass.
“Sorry, Sam,” she said, pouting.
“Invite?” the bouncer stated.
“Right here,” he stated, pulling out the paper that Rogue had gotten them. It had a barcode on it, and he held his breath as the man stared at it.
Instead of saying anything, the man scanned it, and then read the display.
“Two to play. Have fun.”
They both headed in.
“Sorry about hitting you on the ass,” Gamble stated. “I had to make it look good.”
She laughed, leaning into his body as they moved into the crowd.
“I’m good. Just get us in and out. I can take a spanking.”
There was choking over their earbuds. It was clear Rogue hadn’t expected that and had been drinking something.
It made Cordelia smile.
Pushy men pissed her off. For some reason, a bossy, jealous Rogue got her hot and bothered.
“Holy shit!” Gamble stated.
“What?” Dakota asked over the earpiece.
“It’s so freaking crowded in here. We have to have two hundred people already here,” he muttered.
“Just scan.”
Gamble did just that. They scanned the area, and he made sure to focus on each person’s face as Cordelia watched their backs.
When she bumped into some man, his hand went to her ass, and she brushed it away.
“Asshole…he just felt me up,” she muttered, not looking back.
“I hope you aren’t talking about Gamble,” Rogue stated over the earpiece.
“It wasn’t me,” he stated.
Gamble kept moving, but this time he pulled Cordelia into his body to keep her safe. Rogue was seconds from losing his mind.
“I don’t see Chesky or Taz in here,” he stated.
Then he got an idea.
Stopping someone serving booze, he pulled out a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill.
“I have a question.”
“Yeah?” the woman asked, tucking the money between her tits. “What?”
“I was supposed to meet someone named Taz. Can you show me where he is?”
Rogue and Dakota held their breaths.
Cordelia too.
“Sugar, he stepped out to do some business. He’s left the building.”
Well, shit.
“How about Chesky? He was meeting us.”
She shook her head.
“Chesky isn’t coming tonight.”
And there it was.
“Thanks, baby,” he said, pulling Cordelia through the crowd. When they were clear of the woman, he spoke loud enough for the mic in her jewelry to pick him up. He was facing her, and he had Cordelia against his body.
To anyone else, it would look like they were about to make out.
“He’s not here. Advise.”
“Scan and bail,” Dakota stated. “We’ll see if we can check those people for anyone who might be in on this. Storm can do a visual tomorrow.”
He didn’t like that idea, but Gamble understood why.
She was the only one who could ID Carter.
Shit!
Why hadn’t he asked the woman about him? Then again, that would be three names, and it might alert someone.
A waitress headed their way.
Gamble pulled Cordelia’s mouth to his and kissed her until the woman passed.
“Jesus!” Rogue stated. “Why did that sound like her mic was rubbing against something! It was static and loud.”
“Sorry, we were making out.”
“WHAT?”
Cordelia laughed.
“Is this your gum, Sam?”
Rogue was going to have a stroke.
“He’s dead,” he stated. “I’m going to kill him.”
The man found that amusing until he saw the waitress talking to someone, and then pointing his w
ay.
“Oh, shit, we have to go!” he stated, scanning toward them so the cameras would pick it up. “I think we’ve been made or asking two questions was pushing it,” he said, pulling Cordelia into the crowd of people leaning on the gambling tables.
He pulled her into the group of people, and then toward the door.
“Get out,” Dakota stated. “We’ll pick you up. Leave the car and gun. We can’t risk it.”
“On our way.”
At the door, they tried to get past the bouncer.
“Uh, yeah, we need you to wait,” he said, putting his arm up. “We want to talk to you.”
The man shoved Gamble against the wall, and Cordelia knew they needed to move.
She slammed her foot down on his toes, the heel of her shoe going into them. Then, when he gasped in pain, she kneed him in the balls, and then punched him in the face.
The man went down.
And they raced out.
Dakota pulled up and they hopped into the back of the vehicle and it tore away.
As they took the corner, Rogue glanced back at them.
“What happened?” he asked.
“No clue. I asked about Chesky and Taz, and the waitress was alerted.”
Rogue was glad they were out of there.
“He must not use that name and told anyone to be suspicious if it came up.”
Well, that was good to know…NOW.
“Let’s get home.”
Gamble pulled off the glasses and handed them back to Rogue. “Uh, we need to stop first.”
“For?”
“I promised Storm gumbo. She hasn’t been eating.”
Her name shut down any outrage. They were willing to do what it took for the woman.
“Where?” Dakota asked.
He gave him the address.
“I like gumbo,” stated Cordelia.
“Well, Kitty, I’ll get you some too,” Gamble stated, winking at her.
“He’s a dead man,” Rogue stated.
And Dakota laughed.
Oh, someone had it bad.
Real bad.
* * * H U N T E R * * *
Four Twenty-Five
Chartres Street
When they returned home, they’d planned on a meal together of the spicy gumbo filled with Gulf seafood goodies, but Storm had escaped to her room. Stella and Sarah told them that she was struggling and had a panic attack.
No one blamed her, so Gamble took some of the gumbo and headed upstairs.
After they finished up, they knew they might as well turn in for the night. With Storm rattled, they didn’t need to look at the footage. Taz and Chesky weren’t there, and honestly, they couldn’t ID Carter Foley without her.
So, they would wait.
Finishing up the food, Sarah and Dakota headed up to bed while Zayn and Stella offered to take the first watch on the house. It left Rogue alone with Cordelia.
He’d been quiet the whole time they were eating.
“Your family is pretty awesome,” she stated, as they washed the dishes and put them away. “I really like all of them. Zayn was a challenge a first, but I think I get him.”
He laughed.
Rogue was tied in knots, but he was trying to play it cool. What he wanted was to throw her onto the counter and take her. He was stirred up from the job they’d done, and the fact that her mouth had been touching Gambles.
Oh, and his slap on her ass.
He was borderline insane.
“He’s a challenge for everyone. When I first met him a few weeks ago, he held me at gunpoint.”
She stared at him.
“Yeah, he’s trigger happy.”
“No, I was just surprised that you’ve only known him that long. You all have a deep connection. You can see it. It’s like you’ve known each other forever.”
Honestly, it felt like that.
“I guess.”
“Are you worked up about something?” she asked, standing there in her dress and heels.
“Yes.”
“What?” she asked. “If you don’t want me to stay, I can catch a cab home.”
He laughed outrageously.
Cordelia watched him.
“Well?”
“If I even begin to articulate what’s on my mind…”
“Tell me.”
“Cordelia.”
“Rogue, if you can’t be open with me, how will we work as anything?”
She had a point.
Rogue told her about Charlotte’s mother and father being Rosemary and Chesky. He reminded her that his daughter was that hideous bloodline and that she was in danger.
“I’ll protect her. Bring her here and I’ll stay with her nonstop until you find him.”
His heart flipped.
“My mother might be in danger too. Earlier, we stopped getting job offers. Zayn and I both had no contacts. Something is coming, and we don’t know if it was Charlotte before she died putting the word out, or Danforth doing it. Hell! It could have been Chesky too.”
She understood.
“I’ll hang with Grace. She’s fun, and I think I can keep her busy.”
“Your job.”
She stopped him.
“My job is to protect and serve. I have vacation time. I can call my boss and tell him I’m taking it. I don’t care if there are cases coming up. Boone can take them.”
She sent a text to her boss and waited.
Immediately, she got her reply.
‘Stop by my place tomorrow. I’m off. I’ll get that update, and you’re on vacation.’
She showed it to him.
“Done. I’ll head there tomorrow and then I’ll even swing by your mother’s home and get them. They’ll be safe with me.”
He was relaxed in that moment.
This was more than just her being a cop.
“Can two people meet and fall in love so quickly?” he asked, catching her off guard.
“Yes. I believe in love at first sight. You don’t?” Cordelia asked, holding her breath.
“If I were to ask you to marry me, one day, would you?” he asked. “I’m a criminal, and you’re a cop. I’m asking for a very curious friend.”
She laughed.
“Well, let’s see…?”
He looked so handsome standing there.
Moving closer, she placed her body against his. In her heels, she was mouth-to-mouth with him.
Rouge’s heart thumped in his chest.
“Mr. Ravenscroft, you’re a very sexy man,” she teased, finding his ear with her teeth.
He shook.
“Cordy, I have very little control tonight.”
Even better.
“What are you going to do about it?” she asked, biting his earlobe.
He moaned.
It was when she shoved him, that he felt that tenuous thread of control getting ready to snap.
His body was poised to lose it.
Rogue was on the edge.
“Kitty loves a sexy man,” she stated. “Oh, look. Here’s one.”
“God! I love you with that insane wig,” he muttered, even more attracted to her.
“Voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir ?” she purred, rubbing against him. “No cuffs this time. I like my hands free.”
He swallowed.
Everyone in New Orleans who spoke the littlest bit of French knew what she’d asked.
Yes, yes, he did want to have sex with her.
No.
He wanted something more.
He wanted to fuck.
Rogue didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. He was on Cordelia so fast, she actually gasped. He ripped the front of her dress open, bearing her breasts and shocking her. The glittery broach caught his eye.
It marked her.
She was wearing his things.
“Kitty, welcome to my world,” he stated, grabbing her so roughly that she was trapped against him.
Then he tossed her over his shoulder, walked her through th
e living room, up the stairs, and to the next floor where his room was.
At the door, he kicked it open and then locked it.
When he placed her on her feet, she backed up. Rogue began stripping out of his clothing. He pulled them off and stalked her across the room.
“When he slapped your ass, I wanted to be the one doing that,” he admitted. “I never want anyone’s hands on you but mine.”
She tripped on a heel, as she backed up.
He grabbed her wrist to steady her. “I will always have you,” he said, leaving that there.
Did he mean that he’d always catch her?
Or have her—have her?
She honestly didn’t care. All she wanted was him to take her. As his shirt came off, the heat in the room went up so much she felt warm.
“Then he kissed what’s mine. You’re mine, Cordelia. I will never let another man touch those lips again. Tonight, you’re mine.”
He dropped his pants and kicked them off.
Cordelia couldn’t help but admire his body. That made her wet. Well, this whole display of masculine behavior was enough to make her want to beg.
Then she did what she wanted.
She dropped to her knees and grabbed his erection.
Rogue nearly came from that and that alone. She was on her knees, and her breasts were out.
He had to take a deep breath, and so did she right before she took him in her mouth.
He moaned.
“Kitty,” he whispered.
And now he knew why Dakota liked having Bunny around. This was not Cordelia behavior, and he could get used to this.
She blew him.
Hard.
As she worked him in and out of her mouth, he struggled to stay on his feet. As she was about to end him, he pulled her off his dick, forced her to her feet, and ravaged what was left of that dress.
Rogue destroyed it.
As he ripped it from her body, he saw she was bare beneath.
“Jesus, I’m glad I didn’t know,” he muttered, shoving her onto the bed.
Cordelia couldn’t breathe.
The man before her was so wild she could barely contain her giddiness.
“I was a bad Kitty,” she said. “Punish me.”
Oh, he would.
Last time, he made her cum so many times to heal her. Now he would take her to heal him.
Absolution: The Hunter Mercenary Series (Book Two) Page 53
