Lonely is the Night

by Stephanie Tyler

  “The DA in charge of the case?”

  “She wasn’t available.” Reid handed her photographs and her hands shook as she stared down at them. They were brutal. And they were just what she needed to snap her mind back to reality, along with his harsh words.

  “Benji told his friends where and when they could find her alone in her apartment. They killed the bodyguard too.”

  She’d been mourning for a kid who wasn’t a kid anymore—he’d been a young man who’d made horrible choices, who knew right from wrong and chose wrong multiple times. “Dammit,” she whispered, but suddenly, she didn’t have the strength for anything more. Tears filled her eyes and she wished she had those drugs again so she didn’t have to feel. And that had never been her style.

  His voice softened a little, but he was still firm, wasn’t going to let her go the self-pity route. “Grier, come on. You still have a part to play in this. You’ll make it right.”

  “You already made the decision for me.”

  “I called the new DA to let him know that his witness is dead, but the U.S. Marshal watching him isn’t. People are worried about you, okay?”

  “The guy I met isn’t one of the men on trial.”

  “Yeah, I know. You think he’s the real owner? And what, paying the other two to take the fall?”

  “They might even be out of the country by now. Everyone’s been so distracted by Benji’s disappearance …” She trailed off as Reid nodded. “They’re gone, right?”

  “Looks like they bribed the security team hired to watch them. The prosecutor’s in jail on contempt charges because he’s not talking.”

  “So I’m it then?”

  “You and me, yeah. We can both testify.”

  “And then what? WITSEC?”

  “I don’t need WITSEC for the work I do. But you …” He trailed off, not wanting to say what was on both their minds.

  If she testified, it was likely the end of her career. She’d be too high profile, and the judge wouldn’t allow for closed-circuit testimony in a case like this. Even if it were allowed … well, there was a good chance Grier would be outed anyway. She’d be a target. And that wouldn’t make her very good at her job, which was to protect others.

  “They know who I am. They’re going to be after me either way.” She lay back on the bed, propped on pillows so her ribs wouldn’t hurt as badly. The pills were starting to take effect, blurring the lines of pain into something more tolerable. Taking the edge off her mood as well.

  She wasn’t exactly laughing, but she couldn’t think much either. At least not clearly.

  It had to be the reason she sat back up, pulled Reid toward her and kissed him.

  It was just like she remembered—maybe even better. It was a soft kiss, but he opened to her even though he didn’t make a move to touch her. She didn’t want to stop but wasn’t ready for it to segue into something more. And the way her body was responding, she was ready to throw him to the bed and crawl onto him, pain be damned.

  Her hands twisted in his hair and she moaned against his mouth as he teased her tongue with his. Frustrated because she wanted his hands on her, she pulled back. She didn’t know what to say and he waited, patiently, as she twisted in the wind.

  “I’ve been thinking about that for a long time,” she admitted.

  “You’re drugged to the gills.”

  “It’s the only way I’d admit it, yes.”

  He gave her a lopsided grin. “I’ve been worried about you.”

  “You’re worried about me? With the jobs you do?”

  He nodded seriously. “You seem to attract trouble. And coming from me, that’s saying something.”

  “I’ve had more than my fair share lately,” she agreed. “But have you noticed that’s all happened since I’ve met you?”

  “You were the one who followed me, if I recall correctly.”

  “And you thought I was a hooker!”

  He laughed at that. “I knew you weren’t. I just said it to piss you off. And see, it worked.”

  She kissed him again, a quick kiss but with no less heat. She wanted to blame the drugs, but it was Reid. It had always been Reid.

  “I admit to calling you a hooker to piss you off and you kiss me? You’re not like any other woman I’ve ever met, Grier.”

  “That better be a compliment.”

  He stroked the side of her cheek with his fingers. “Bet your ass it is.”

  “You missed me too.”

  “Yes.”

  “I couldn’t come to the wedding.”

  “I get that. Could’ve called, though.”

  “I know your number by heart.”

  “I like you all drugged up.”

  “Don’t get used to it.” She had to get to safer ground in this conversation. “How’s Kell?”

  “Happy. In love.”

  “I’m assuming with Teddie?”

  “Yeah. She and Kell are living together on the property that our friend Mace owns. The whole group pretty much is at this point. Building separate houses but sticking close together. Makes things easier when we have to leave for jobs to know that everyone’s within range.” He shifted on the bed so he could see her face. “I have no regrets about anything, Grier. I want you to know that.”

  “I have some,” she started. “But not the kind you think. I should’ve told you the plan. The look on your face …”

  She sat up too fast as the look flashed in front of her eyes, because she didn’t want him to see her. Couldn’t look at him and admit what a shitty thing it’d been.

  “So why do it?”

  I didn’t think you’d care. It was my job. Protocol. All truths, but none would cover Reid’s question sufficiently enough. All she could do was reach out and touch his biceps with her palms.

  This time, he kissed her and for the first time in all of this, she realized how much trouble she was in. She was in far more danger with Reid and his kisses than with anything else going on.

  She couldn’t help but give in. Reid’s mouth was hot, his tongue talented and the tension that had radiated between them threatened to turn explosive. And as much as she hurt, she was willing to be in pain if it meant having Reid close. Not angry.

  They were better off not talking. This was where they excelled, she told herself, although that wasn’t entirely true.

  His fingers skimmed her rib cage so carefully, his fingers settling on her breasts, his thumbnail scraping a nipple lightly in that oh so perfect way he had. She held his biceps tightly so she wouldn’t make a sudden move and jolt her ribs, but she did let out a long moan as his mouth moved from mouth to breast, covering her nipple through the thin cotton tank she wore. The wet of his mouth and the fabric increased her sensitivity and alternately made her want to beg for that mouth on her skin. But he wouldn’t be rushed—had always taken his time with her, no matter how ready to come she was.

  She’d spent many a night longing for these touches. Dreaming about them. Now she would revel in them and let herself forget everything but the man in front of her. She surrendered, the way she’d wanted to for months. The way she did in her dreams since she’d been separated from Reid.

  But he wasn’t going to make it easy on her even as he drove her crazy.

  He dragged the cotton tank up with his teeth so he could play with her bared nipples, pushed himself gently between her legs and she was trapped by his big body. She shifted a little on the mattress, but it was too soft. She could do nothing but remain there as his hand ghosted up her inner thigh toward her sex. At the first touch, she dug her hands into the blankets and tried to remember to breathe. The way his fingers and mouth alternately teased was enough to push her over the edge and oh, how she wanted that …

  He pulled his mouth away.

  “You never called,” he reminded her as his fingers played along her sex. He pushed one slowly inside and then slid a second alongside of it.

  She gasped as he opened her, his thumb working magic along the tight bundle
of nerves that threatened to push her over the edge far too soon. “I wanted to …”

  “Really?” He sounded unconvinced. He leaned forward to tug a nipple lightly between his teeth, flicked it with his tongue a few times and the sensation jumped right to her groin. And then he pulled back and his fingers stilled and she wanted more. Needed more.

  “Reid, please.”

  “You wanted to call me. You had my number. Why didn’t I hear from you?”

  His fingers played again for a few blissful seconds and then stopped again, frustrating her enough to blurt out, “I was scared.”

  He stared at her for a long minute. “Good enough.”

  He moved forward again to mouth her nipple and she sighed as he sucked it, hard, then soft then hard again until her blood thrummed.

  When he pulled away, he murmured, “Stay still. Don’t want to hurt you.”

  It would be hard to not move but the novelty of staying perfectly still while in the throes of pleasure made her insides quiver. Her thighs trembled as he splayed them, and while he kept his hands firmly on her hips, he moved his mouth to her sex.

  She tightened her body in response and then released her muscles, and suddenly, pain was no longer an issue. His tongue worked her sensitive flesh and it wouldn’t take much. She’d been ready to come for him from the first touch. Now she watched Reid watching her, and yes, it was the hottest thing since last year, when being with Reid had also been the best sex of her life.

  The best everything.

  At that thought, her climax exploded through her like a wave crashing her body into a rolling, floating ball of sensation. She floated along with it for who knew how long, until she shook off the haze slightly and found Reid covering her, telling her to sleep.

  She reached out to grab his wrist. “So fast.”

  “Your orgasm?” he asked, and she laughed, pointed between them and said, “No, this.”

  “Funny, I was just thinking it was taking a long time.”

  “You’re better than a pain pill,” she told him in response.

  “I’ll have that put on my business cards.”

  “You could have quite a nice side business.” But her stomach knotted at the thought of Reid with others.

  He didn’t answer that question, but he did lean over and kiss her again. “I never wanted to be anyone’s source of pain management until you came along.”

  He was so honest with her, and she with him. From the start, they’d been able to talk to each other, to lay out secrets. She didn’t know why, but it meant something. Enough that she’d worried that she’d screwed everything up between them for good.

  She had to change the subject before she said things that it was too soon to say. “How long are we staying here?”

  “Just tonight. Tomorrow, we’ll find a car waiting for us and it’ll take us to the place we’ll hide until we see just how bad things are.”

  “As long as you’re being optimistic about it.”

  Chapter Nine

  Grier lost the battle with sleep as he watched. He supposed that, for Grier, who let logic rule her, the way their relationship had come about was fast. But fast had been the way Reid lived, the way he preferred it to be and now that the word relationship was on his radar, he accepted it the way he had all the twists and turns of his life.

  He eased his own aching body into the chair near the bed and assessed the plan. Dylan and Kell were coming here. Vivi was working to clear Grier and Jack and had been instructed to do so by any means necessary. And he and Grier were headed to New Orleans.

  In the Army, he’d learned early on to ignore aches and pains because it was all about survival. He’d been in that mode for so long, he didn’t recognize anything else.

  Maybe it was time to change that a little, he thought as he dialed Dylan’s number and moved into the other room where he could still watch Grier without waking her.

  “How’s Grier?” was the first thing Dylan asked, and Reid almost couldn’t speak, he was so surprised. Dylan had a way of doing that, especially just when you thought you knew him well.

  “She’s asleep. She kicked some fighter’s ass,” Reid said.

  “That’s awesome,” Dylan said, his tone now heavy with sarcasm. “What about the witness?”

  “He died in the ring. She’s upset.” Dylan was silent, so he continued, “I talked to Jack.”

  “So did I. He’s in jail.”

  “Shit.”

  “Yeah, shit,” Dylan echoed. “And I checked in with local law enforcement and the prosecutor’s office. And it’s not good.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “The five-hundred-thousand-dollar deposit Grier received right before Benji was taken. Jack had the same one in his account.”

  Reid didn’t say anything. Couldn’t. He saw red, his throat tightened and he was afraid if he let his temper win, he could destroy half this room. Finally he got himself together and managed, “Why?”

  “Because they’re going to teach her a lesson. Make her life hell. Make an example out of her. If she doesn’t get prosecuted, they’ll find her and kill her. This way, she’s a wanted woman and not eligible for WITSEC. They’ve got her boxed into a corner. Ditto for Jack.”

  “They’ve been planning this.”

  “They’ve had four months of continuances,” Dylan agreed. “These men didn’t get to where they are by being stupid. And there was no sign of them or Benji’s body when the police got to the site.”

  “Which means the body’s going to show up somewhere that implicates Grier.”

  “I’m guessing something with her fingerprints is going to end up near his body as well.”

  “Which can be explained away easily.”

  “But not the money in the account.”

  “It’s all circumstantial.”

  “There’s video of her fighting,” Dylan interrupted. “They’ll say she was in on the whole thing. This past deposit’s just the tip of the iceberg. There’s an offshore account in her name as well. And her retirement papers were put in a month ago.”

  Reid stilled at that. Willed himself not to look over at the sleeping Grier.

  She was keeping shit from him again. Nothing had changed except the time and place. “I need a car to get us out of here.”

  “Call Kell.”

  Dylan hung up before Reid could argue. He sat staring at his phone for several minutes before he did so.

  “Hey, Kell.” Dead silence. “Oh, come on, man. Don’t do this to me now.”

  “I’m going to kick your ass when I see you.”

  “Someone already did.”

  “Yeah?” Kell’s interest peaked. “Send me some pictures so I can gloat.”

  “If I do that, will you get me a car?”

  “There are roadblocks. They’re searching cars.”

  “Shit.”

  Kell sighed. “I’ve got you covered. It’s parked in the back lot, keys under the mat. You’ll have to ditch it and get something new once you get out of state.”

  “What color?”

  “Red and white. With flashy lights.”

  He looked out the window and spotted the ambulance. “Thanks, Kell.”

  “I want to see bruises, or I’m telling you, we’re fighting” was Kell’s response before he hung up.

  *

  When Grier woke with a start, her stomach was growling, and it took her several moments before processing where she was and what had happened. And once reality smacked her fully awake, she moved to get out of bed, stifling the groan she was sure would bring Reid running.

  He was in the other room on the phone but he was talking low and the TV volume was turned up. Making plans, she supposed as she caught sight of the hair-coloring kit.

  He looked up and saw her. She held up the kit and pointed to the bathroom and he nodded, said, “I’ll order room service.”

  “Okay, thanks.”

  It was weird. After what had happened between them last night, all the s
pace between them was disconcerting.

  Had she really expected to wake up next to him, head on his chest, with everything solved? She definitely would’ve preferred that over this tension that made her head ache. She took some ibuprofen and went to shower and fix her hair. Since it was short, it would be an easy process and she followed the directions and rinsed it out in a long, hot shower that helped her get moving with slightly less pain.

  All the bruises were darker now, but she was breathing a little easier. She toweled off gently, taking care not to disturb the stitches. He’d even left her Saran Wrap to cover them in the shower.

  But he wasn’t anywhere near her.

  Finally, she forced herself to look in the mirror. The color was nice. Maybe Teddie or one of the other women Reid lived and worked with did it because this was a pretty, buttery blond with lots of highlights. With the short cut that was surprisingly good, save for a few places she fixed now with scissors, the whole look actually worked.

  She was an entirely new person. She only wished she felt like one. But the old Grier was still here—impatient. Law abiding. Wanting to always do the right thing.

  God, she annoyed herself.

  She heard a knock on the door, staying out of sight until she heard Reid accept the room service and then click the door closed again. She’d forgotten to bring clothes in there with her and so she walked out holding the towel to search in the bag. She found jeans and a shirt, underwear and bra too, and she dressed quickly and went into the other room, unable to resist the smell of food.

  She hadn’t even checked her watch, but judging by the food, it was well past morning. She glanced at the window and saw it was dark again. “Guess I really slept.”

  He nodded, passed her a plate along the table, where they sat across from each other in relative silence. He didn’t mention her hair at all.

  He’d gotten her steak and potatoes, with a salad and rolls and dessert and it all looked really good.

  She dug in, because she needed the sustenance. Eventually, one of them would break the ice.

  It turned out to be him, but it made the ice completely crack beneath her feet when he said, “I hear you’re retiring.”