No Good Dead (Bad to Be Good #1)

by Dana Volney

  She wrapped her hands around his neck, held him close, and kissed him with urgency. He didn’t try to hold himself back. She needed the comfort … and so did he. He needed to feel like his world wasn’t a mess. He wanted to experience that purely euphoric feeling that only she brought him. He craved it. Craved her.

  His palms dropped to her hips, digging his fingertips into the soft flesh, his need for her escaping in a moan emanating from the back of his throat. By the way she was kissing him, she wanted him just as much. He didn’t want to think about why; he already knew she was using him to live in the moment and quell her fears. And, dammit, he was going to let her because now he needed his own reassurances.

  His hands strayed to her back, hugging her into him, encompassing her. He slid one palm up to her neck, cradling her face, then lifted her with the other. She wrapped her long legs around him. Right here, right now.

  Their kisses grew fevered, both trying to take from the other and return just as hard, each one messier than the next. The space time continuum existed no more. It was only the two of them, communicating through touch. Surges of energy bounced off of every nerve ending in his body. He wanted her hard and fast and she wasn’t doing anything to slow him down.

  “Able,” she uttered between heavy breaths.

  He didn’t need any more prompting. He twirled them around and moved swiftly to the couch. He tucked his hands under the hem of her shirt, trailing his thumb up her ribs until he cupped her breast.

  Their lips nipped and bit and their tongues collided. She fumbled with the button on his jeans. He pulled back, one knee between her legs on the cushion. His cock throbbed to be free and find a home in her slick pussy. Her eyelids were heavy as she undid her jeans button. He let his pants fall over his ass and, with both hands, yanked hers down, helping her get one leg out.

  He was back above her, skin to skin, in an instant. He took his cock in his hand and teased her folds, her body writhing beneath him. He kissed her hard, and her hands were on his back, smoothing down and grabbing his ass. He thrust into her wetness and a moan floated off her lips as her hips arched into him.

  More.

  Teagan’s perfect lips hadn’t left his mind since the first time she’d planted them on him. There was innocence in her eyes, but nothing pure about the way she used her lips or fucked.

  He licked up the side of her neck, and her fingertips dug deeper into his ass as he slid in and out of her wetness. Each time harder. Lust, pure fucking lust, took over.

  “God, Able.” His name sounded labored from her lips. Moist, warm, inviting lips. Her entire body was at his disposal.

  He growled at her non-nakedness. He wanted to lick around her nipple and suck it until she came.

  Her low, drawn out groan brought down his defenses, his carefully crafted control gone. He pressed his lips to hers and coaxed her mouth open. Pressed hard into her in every way. He kept their skin together, linking them in every way he could.

  “Teagan,” he breathed her name between their kisses as he swooped his hand to her neck and held her tightly. For a moment no air replaced her name.

  Their rhythm was fast and dirty. Her body tensed below him. She was going to come soon. Shit yes, he wanted to feel her muscles spasm around him. He bit into her shoulder.

  He had to hear his name on her lips again. Hear her moan it as she came.

  “Able,” she whispered into his ear before biting his lobe and pulling down.

  Her head dug back into the cushion, her neck on full display. He kissed his way back up her creamy neck. They crashed into each other over and over; she shuddered and he lost all control and was two seconds behind her. His body took over as his mind shut down.

  Chapter Eight

  “Able, do you have your comm in?” Samson’s voice came through loud and clear.

  “Yes,” he said and peeked at Teagan, who was consumed by her window and the passing buildings.

  They’d not said much after their romp in the office. They hadn’t had to—they both knew what it was: adults blowing off steam. He liked her style though, and he certainly didn’t mind being the person she could ride to figure out her issues in life. He didn’t mind at all.

  “Sabene cut Teagan’s comm; she doesn’t need to hear this before the meet up.”

  Able pressed his lips together and kept his eyes on the road. This wasn’t going to be good news. He glanced in the rearview mirror again to make sure he didn’t have a tail.

  “Agent Wheeler is dead.”

  Fuck. Definitely something that would rattle Teagan. She’d just become emboldened again, a glimpse of how she’d been in the alley the first night he’d laid eyes on her. They didn’t have time for another quickie before the meeting if she unraveled from this news. They needed the Teagan who had spoken to Hume earlier.

  “Rife is up at the hospital now. So far it doesn’t line up. Yeah, Wheeler was in bad shape and touch and go for the most part, but Rife says there’s an injection mark between his fingers that shouldn’t be there. It stinks of a pro making it appear as though Wheeler had a heart attack. And, in the guy’s condition, who would question it?”

  “Cleaning up more loose ends.” He’d lowered his voice and glimpsed at Teagan again, but she didn’t move or acknowledge he was speaking.

  “I don’t know if this meeting is a good idea, bro. They could come at her hard.”

  “That’s why we’re there. We need to flush out Rodney.”

  “Yeah, I get it. But if this girl dies … ” Able knew Samson understood Teagan’s role, but bringing in an amateur to play this level of a game was a risky move.

  “She won’t.” She couldn’t. He’d not forgive himself—he’d talked her into the meeting. Fucked her into submission actually. Promised her he would keep her safe. If that assurance turned out to be false, it would be a long road coming back. He liked Teagan. She was a nice person with a killer body and moves that could make him come just thinking about them. He had no delusions about a future with her. Or any woman for that matter. He was a lone wolf.

  With the FBI agent dead, the only one able to clear Teagan’s name completely was either Hume or, in some twisted way, Rodney. Only Rodney wasn’t going to live long enough to make any sort of official statement if Able or any of them got a chance to put a bullet between his eyes. They couldn’t take a chance by letting him live—he was too dangerous. The photos that Sabene had taken off of the city server before they’d been deleted were a step, but they wouldn’t hold up. Not in court. They could be said to be doctored since the original didn’t exist any longer. A good lawyer could fight, but the Bureau would go after her with everything they had until they were satisfied retribution had been carried out for their agent.

  Able couldn’t risk getting caught up in that fight, and it was unlikely that any of the team would want that type of heat breathing down their necks when they all worked very hard to keep a legit record in the system. No file was a good file. He knew for a fact that Sabene had cleared records for more than one of them in the past, but a current investigation was different. And he hated killing law enforcement when they were just doing their jobs. In fact, he’d long since made a rule against it in the assassin’s code he chose to live by.

  He pulled the non-descript car they were in to the side of the road three blocks away from the park by the Potomac. He kept an extra car parked in a lot close to his office for instances just like this. His Hummer was way too flashy for work meetings.

  “What are you doing?” Teagan wrinkled her brow, the sharpness back in her gaze.

  “You have to drive in from here. I’m going to join the others. He’ll be suspicious if he doesn’t see you approach in a vehicle.”

  “How will he know?”

  “He will.” Because the park and its entrance were being staked out like it was full of gold.

  Able opened his door and slid out of the seat.

  “Okay.” If she understood his meaning, she didn’t show any fear about Hume lying t
o her.

  She scooted over into the driver’s seat, put on her seat belt then put both hands on the steering wheel. He wanted to kiss her and tell her she was going to do great. But he didn’t. He didn’t want her mind—or his—to be on anything other than the task at hand.

  He slammed her door and watched as she drove off toward the park entrance.

  A rush of adrenaline covered his body. He was used to the feeling of battle. Because that’s exactly what this was, only he wasn’t on the front line. He didn’t stop a scowl from reaching his eyes. He would much rather be the one out in the open. Teagan was competent and all, but she didn’t have experience in this shit. She didn’t know this underside of the world. How unpredictable and evil people could be. She looked like someone who gave others the benefit of the doubt.

  He was not.

  Dammit. He hadn’t cared about anyone in a long time. He didn’t really know how to do it. She was smart. She could handle herself. But what if something happened to her? No. He couldn’t think about that right now. Right now he had to rely on his training. On Samson and the others’ judgment. They all wanted the same thing, basically.

  “She’s on her way in. Be on your toes.” The implied message being that whoever let him down was going to be immediately relieved of the need to breathe.

  He took off toward the river and the location Sabene had texted him. Sabene had to set up at the closest coffee shop for the fastest internet. Milo and Claire were milling around in the far end of the park, posing as tourists, and Able was headed to Samson, who had eyes on the spot where Teagan would be arriving at shortly.

  He jogged there, perfectly aware how out of place he looked running in a button-down and jeans. If there was another way he would’ve preferred not to be conspicuous, but there wasn’t. Missing the meeting was non-negotiable.

  Samson had the firepower and binoculars already set up, prepared just in case they could take Rodney and Hume out all in one meet. Teagan just had to hold it together and not give them away. Or get killed.

  * * *

  Teagan cleared her throat to make sure her voice was stable as she stepped out of the tan Oldsmobile. “Can you see me?”

  “Yes.” Able’s reassurance washed over her from the top of her head to her toes.

  She took a deep breath, rubbed her lips together, and shut the door with force. “Do I look like I could cut a bitch?”

  Bursts of laughter, both male and female, came through on the earbud Able insisted she wear. Able with his washboard abs, arms that were strong and comforting, and moves that she wanted to experience again. And again. Leaving out the part where her life was in danger would be nice. Although it was probably the threat that was making her so forward. She’d never come on to a guy before in her life. She was rather getting used to screwing him when her adrenaline level started to rise.

  “You got this, girl,” Sabene said between fits of giggles.

  Teagan squared her shoulders as she approached Hugh Hume. Her sister’s killer. Her gaze narrowed, all traces of humor gone. She could’ve stolen Able’s gun and shot this bastard right where he stood. Why hadn’t she thought of that until now? So what if she got shot at after Hume fell over? Wouldn’t be the first time. If he were dead, at least she’d die knowing he wasn’t needing oxygen either. Able was a killer, and he still seemed to do fine in life. She might sleep better knowing the reason her sister was dead had received what was coming to him.

  Jail was too good for this shithole bastard.

  Able wanted to get the people Hume had hired because that’s who was after him and his team. But she wanted only Hume, and he was right in front of her in an expensive black suit, looking all important.

  Murderer.

  She wanted him exposed so badly, it was hard to swallow her hatred for him and pretend she could be bought off. She stopped about five feet away. Any closer and it would be too tempting to lunge at him and scratch his eyes out.

  “I see you came alone.” Hugh stuck his hands in his pockets. His black sunglasses prevented her from looking into his eyes.

  “As did you.” She gripped her bag strap that pushed against her chest. She was having a hard time breathing. Be strong. You can do this.

  Tabitha. She was doing this for Tabitha.

  “Let’s see it,” Hugh demanded.

  The sun was high in the clear blue sky. There were a few bundled people running the path along the river and a couple picnicking on a bench under a tree. “You think I’m a big enough idiot to bring it with me?” She snorted a laugh. “I said that I put steps in place for my own protection, and I meant it.”

  Hugh smirked. She should’ve worn cool shades, too, so he couldn’t see the flare of anger she surely didn’t cover fast enough.

  She lifted her hands, palms face up, and looked around. “You think this looks safe? You’ve got to be kidding me if you think I don’t know you brought back up.” She was done playing around. Able might not know, but she understood exactly what was going on and who she was dealing with.

  “All right, young lady.” He glanced around. “Then why are we here? What makes you think I won’t report you to the authorities for stealing government secrets?”

  “Because you wouldn’t be thrilled for the government to be aware of the information I have. I expect you know that or you wouldn’t have tried to kill both me and Agent Wheeler.” She lobbed him a softball, hoping Sabene was recording like she’d promised.

  “How do I even know you have what you say you have?”

  “Three years ago you sold a shipment of RPGs to a faction of ISIS that directly ended up in at least thirty soldiers’ deaths. American soldiers. I don’t even know how many died in other countries because of your reckless behavior.” Her skin heated and an ache started in her fingers from her grip on her bag.

  “Pull back, Wyatt. He gets the point.” Able’s even tone stopped her from telling the bastard about her sister.

  “That proves nothing. Mere conjecture.” His snugness was akin to a politician who thought he had the election locked up.

  “I have everything. Names, dates, countries, inventory list. Going back for years. I’ve even gone so far as to cross reference incidences in those countries and our corresponding troops.” Tabitha had done that work, and it was only for the area she was stationed in, but if she’d put it together, surely the government could fill in the rest. “I’m sure your weapon sales could be tracked to attacks by the insurgents you sold them to.”

  “I’m willing to deal, admitting to nothing, only because I don’t want your slanderous information to go any further.” It was almost like he was expecting to be recorded.

  “It’s not slander if it’s true.”

  “I don’t take well to blackmail.”

  “I don’t take well to being framed for attempted murder.” Yeah, this was going nowhere. What she really wanted to tell him was that there were bullets all around the park with his name on them. In a perfect world, she would threaten him and then watch as a little red dot opened up in his forehead and his eyes rolled back in his head. Oh God, she was turning into a hateful woman.

  “I want the drive tonight,” he demanded.

  “No.” She shook her head. She had to buy time for the gang to track the people they needed. And there was the little matter of her not actually having the information.

  “Now see here, I thought we were getting along so well.”

  “I want half now, and in two days I’ll give you the drive for the other half. I need time to put travel arrangements together,” she lied as she held out the piece of paper Sabene had given her with a figure and bank account information written in blue ink. “If I don’t have half in two hours, I go straight to the authorities and you won’t be able to get to me before they see all of it. I might even get really spiteful and send a copy to a couple of reporters while I’m at it.”

  Hugh didn’t miss a beat. “Very well.”

  That agreement came fast. Too fast. Or maybe that’s how
blackmail deals usually went down. This was her first one.

  “After our deal is done, I’ll retain a copy, just in case you decide to pull something else.” She knew she’d gotten everything she came for, but she wanted to egg him on. This felt too anti-climactic. She wanted to see him upset, shed a tear, something that showed this was hurting him. He’d shattered her life and taken her sister’s—she wanted him to feel some of that same pain.

  He nodded and started walking in the opposite direction she’d arrived. “Two days, Ms. Wyatt. I’d advise you to stick to this deal.”

  She watched him stroll away in loafers that probably cost as much as her ransom demand.

  Swiveling on her heels, she headed straight for the car. “Where are you guys? Did you get what you need?”

  Because she sure as shit hadn’t.

  Chapter Nine

  Able scanned the area through binoculars as Teagan wrapped up her meet with Hume. “Anyone have eyes on Rodney?” He and Samson were up on the hills in a grouping of trees. There weren’t a lot of options to stay hidden.

  “All clear here.” Claire was out of sight way on the other end of the park.

  The man and woman on the park bench stood the moment Hume turned his back on Teagan.

  Shit. He’d really thought Rodney would show.

  “Head straight to the car and back to the office,” he ordered Teagan. He needed to see if the couple followed. “I’ll ride with Samson.”

  The woman headed up the same path as Teagan and clutched the straps of her shoulder bag while the guy in the ball cap started to flank them to the right. Able’s pulse kicked up.

  He sent a quick text to Sabene to shut off Teagan’s ability to hear them but keep it so that he could still hear Teagan.

  “See that?” he said to Samson as he ticked his head toward the woman. “Fifty yards out.”

  “Yep. Let’s go.”