Wind Storm (The Gathering Storm Book 3)

by Marlow Kelly

  Lucy paced to the large window overlooking the square, her steps slow and deliberate. “I have techs tracking the family’s phones and watching all highway cameras looking for the Volvo. I also have someone checking their financials for any hotel, restaurant, or rental service. If they stop for a fucking pee, we’ll know about it.”

  “What do you want us to do?” asked the goon with the broken hand. Ethan thought his name was Ludlow but didn’t care enough to check.

  She wheeled around to face him, her gaze cold and hard. “Be ready. The minute they ping on the radar, you will be called in to apprehend them.”

  “All four?” asked the thug with the bad ribs.

  She rolled her eyes before she shouted, “No, I want you to leave them to roam around the state! Keep the women and kill Papin and the father.”

  Ethan didn’t like interrupting her when she was in a rage, but he needed clarification. “I thought you wanted me to play with Papin and figure out what he knows.”

  Her cheeks flushed, but she didn’t scream. “Change of plan. Kill him. If you want to slice Papin, that’s fine with me, but don’t touch the mother and sister. They’ll go in my stable.”

  The hair on the back of Ethan’s neck prickled.

  “Stable?” Ludlow asked.

  For the first time, Ethan was grateful for the presence of the two idiots. He’d wanted to ask the question, but self-preservation had stopped him.

  Lucy shrugged. “I have a hotel on the east side where I keep a small group of women for business purposes. Two attractive native American women will make a nice addition. If you’re really good and don’t screw it up, I might let you spend an hour there as a bonus.”

  Ethan had no intention of taking Lucy up on her offer. Killing Papin and indulging in his need to see skin split wasn’t a problem, but he had never raped anyone. He was a killer, pure and simple. Now he had a problem because he had no intention of handing over the mom and sister to be raped every day for years. No one deserved that. He’d kill them before he’d allow that to happen. He wouldn’t play with them. He’d simply slip his blade between their ribs and into their heart. They’d be dead in seconds. It would be kinder than Lucy’s plan.

  “You may go.” Lucy waved them away.

  He’d missed her instructions but figured they were in a holding pattern, waiting for Papin’s family to ping some geek’s radar.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Nadie tried to keep the conversation going around the dinner table but eventually gave up. Sinclair was grateful when they fell into silence. They weren’t on some family get-together where they could celebrate and plan activities for the following day. They were being hunted.

  They’d eaten in silence for five minutes when Nadie started up again. “Have you thought about what Grandma Pelle said?”

  This wouldn’t be good. Michael hated being pressured into doing…anything. And talking about Grandma Pelle meant he would have to talk about their situation.

  Sinclair rose and started to clear the dishes, not wanting to get involved in the conversation. Milo and Ava shared a here-we-go-again look and went outside, presumably to work on the dugout.

  “You’re unemployed. Finding those women would make a difference to our community.” Nadie thumped the table.

  Michael leaned forward. “I agree, but I’m not in a position to do anything. None of us are. We need to lay low and figure out what our next step should be.”

  “You have a plan.” Sinclair dumped the dirty plates in the sink to soak and sat beside him. “What do you have in mind?”

  Sinclair hadn’t wanted to eavesdrop on their discussion, but she could tell by the determination in his voice that he’d made a decision.

  He scrunched up his face. “You’re not going to like it.”

  “Tell us anyway.” With the flat of her hand, Nadie brushed at imaginary crumbs on the table.

  “When I was working undercover at PDE, I came across a group called the Syndicate that—”

  “Are trying to kill us. Yes, I gathered,” Nadie said. “Cut to the chase.”

  “I think I may have planted malware that started all this, but I can’t be sure. I need to go back inside. First, I have to find out why they came after us now, and I also need to be able to track how much they know about us. That way we can stay ahead of them and make informed decisions about what to do next.”

  Nadie sprang to her feet. “No, as your mother, I forbid it.”

  “Forbid it?” Michael stood, matching her posture. “Mom, I’m in my thirties. I get that—”

  “No, you don’t get anything. You ran away, then you joined the army, and after that you were a federal agent, always putting yourself in harm’s way. Did you ever once think about anyone but yourself?”

  “He is thinking about you.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Sinclair regretted it. While Nadie and Michael faced each other like prize fighters in the ring, she was still sitting and had no intention of taking sides.

  Nadie scowled down at her. “What do you know about it?”

  “You’re right, I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like to be a mother—always wondering if your son is going to come home safe. But remember what happened last night.” She couldn’t believe it had only been twenty-four hours since she’d been attacked. “They will come again, and the next time we might not be that lucky.”

  “But I thought we were safe here.” Nadie slumped into her seat.

  “No, we’re not.” Michael gentled his tone as he dragged his chair closer and sat. “We can’t stay. People know we’re here. It’s only a matter of time before word gets out.”

  Sinclair cleared her throat. “Are you sure you have to go back to PDE? Isn’t there a way you could do this remotely?”

  He shook his head. “No, as I said before, they have an independent system. The only way to access it is from a unit on the fifth floor.”

  Sinclair groaned. “I should come with you.”

  “That’s not a good idea. We’d be too conspicuous. I’m a native and you have a bruised face. Trust me, a woman with a black eye stands out.”

  “Ava’s very good with makeup. She can fix it so no one will notice.” Nadie stared her son down. “And if you care for me at all, you’ll bring her along as backup,” Nadie decreed.

  Michael sighed. “Okay. If it’ll make you happy.”

  Nadie’s ability to guilt her son into agreeing to her demands was impressive.

  Despite the seriousness of their situation, Sinclair couldn’t help but smile. “So, what’s the plan?”

  “I was thinking we could go in as janitorial staff. When I was undercover, I paid a couple of guys to lose their IDs. That should get us into the building and past any security guards we encounter. After that, we’ll be winging it.”

  Sinclair gave him a look which, hopefully, suggested he was out of his mind. “Winging it? I don’t think so.”

  He placed his elbow on the table and rested his chin on his hand. He looked shockingly gorgeous. It wasn’t fair that a man could be so handsome and so smart at the same time. Someone with his looks should have the brains of a rabbit. And the same could be said about his mind. Anyone as intelligent as him should have warts on his face or some other affliction to make him hideous.

  “It’s been nine months,” he said, bringing her thoughts back to the subject at hand. “I have no idea if they’ve upgraded their computer system, or they might have updated their security. Everything could have changed since Marshall’s death.”

  “In that case, you’d better talk me through all the details you remember, and we need to come up with a step-by-step plan of what you want to do once we get in.”

  ****

  Sinclair stepped out of the shower, and after brushing her hair and applying a cheap moisturizer, she slipped Michael’s T-shirt over her head. The inflammation on her lip had subsided. A small nick was the only evidence she’d been punched. The swelling around her eye had gone down a bit, but the bruise w
as now purple in the center with green edges. “Very attractive,” she said aloud to her reflection.

  It was the end of another grueling day. Although it hadn’t been as hellacious as yesterday, it had still been fraught with emotion and uncertainty.

  They had gone over their scheme to enter PDE until the specifics were burned into her brain. They had no idea if they would acquire the information they needed or if they would even get away unscathed. As far as she was concerned, in the dictionary, under the definition of risky, there should be a picture of the pair of them walking into PDE.

  After tomorrow, one way or another, everything would change. Even if they managed to access the secret server and figure out what Lucy Portman had planned, they would probably have to change their identity and move.

  Which meant she would be living in close quarters with Michael’s family for the foreseeable future. That thought scared her more than the idea of going into PDE. They were nice people, but she was used to having her own space and wasn’t sure how well she would adapt.

  “What are you thinking about?” Michael stood at the door to the bathroom, looking as stunning as ever. He was wearing a pair of jeans and no shirt. Her fingers ached with the need to touch his chest.

  “I was wondering if your family like me.” Great, now she sounded needy. “I mean, we’re going to be together for God knows how long. I’ve lived alone for years. And Ava can be…”

  “Difficult?” He raised an eyebrow.

  “Sometimes she’s nice and then—”

  “She has a hissy fit out of nowhere and you have no idea what you did wrong.”

  She stared at him. “She’s like that with you, too?”

  He met her gaze. “It’s not you. She’s like that with everyone. It’s a family trait. I was difficult at that age. In fact, I ran away because my mom met Milo. I mean, he’s a good guy, and I was a selfish shit.”

  She felt burned under his laser-focus, as though her skin was too tight. “You get along now, though?”

  He stepped closer, invading her personal space. He took the towel from her hands and rubbed the ends of her wet hair. His unique scent surrounded her, the same combination of soap and musk. He must’ve showered in the main cabin. “Oh, yeah, we’re good and have been for years. Give her time. She’ll grow out of it. You don’t have to worry. My family love you because you stand up to me.”

  “Doesn’t everyone?”

  He gave her a lopsided grin that warmed her insides. “I’m good at getting my own way.”

  “Since when?” She stared at their reflection in the mirror. It was getting hard to concentrate, especially when he smiled like that. There was something predatory about him. It wasn’t anything overt. But every single inch of her was aware of him, waiting and ready. It was as if her body had already decided her next course of action. Her nipples were puckered, rubbing against the soft cotton fabric of his T-shirt.

  He leaned in close so his breath warmed her neck. “Since forever. I’m smart, remember?”

  Her whole body responded, as if she had been dormant on a molecular level and was now coming out of hibernation. “I thought we both agreed you’re a moron when it comes to people.”

  Dear God, she had no idea how she managed to form the words, and she wasn’t sure she could do it again.

  He laughed, and her resistance vanished.

  She ripped the towel out of his hands and threw it aside. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him into her embrace.

  He reciprocated. His bare chest rubbed against her tender breasts. She caressed his arms, relishing in the sensation of his warm skin under her fingertips. Her exploration continued, but when she reached his shoulders, she stopped. There was a dip in his left shoulder. It marked the spot where he had broken the bone. She remembered him flying over the car and hitting the pavement. He could have died. She’d almost lost him. She kissed the dent. “Does it hurt?”

  He smiled, aligning their hips and backing her up to the bathroom counter. It was the most wanton move she’d ever experienced. He pressed against her, his erection nudging her in a silent promise of things to come. “There are other places that hurt more.”

  She laughed, but was silenced when his lips slanted over hers and she was lost in a world where nothing existed except her physical need to be held by him. She slipped her tongue inside his mouth so it wound around his. He groaned and rubbed his hand over her bare behind.

  He pulled back. “There’s something I should tell you.”

  This couldn’t be good. She stepped out of his embrace and pushed past him, walking into the other room, preparing herself for an emotional blow. “What?”

  “I’m not sure how good I’ll be. I haven’t… It’s just…”

  “What are you trying to say?”

  “I broke my pelvis.”

  She spun around and pointed at his groin. “Are you saying you can’t…?” Then realized she was being rude and lowered her hand.

  “No.” He closed the gap between them. “It all works. I’m just not sure…”

  Controlling her exasperation required a superhuman effort. “Not sure about what?”

  Color rose high in his cheeks. “Endurance might be a factor. I’m not sure how strong my hip muscles are and if they can…” His fisted hand pumped the air. “Go for the necessary length of time.”

  She smiled, more out of relief than anything else. “You don’t have to worry about that. I like to be on top.”

  He swallowed and gave her another of those slow, sexy smiles.

  She reached out and ran the tip of her finger over his nipple and was gratified to see it respond. Then she leaned forward and licked it.

  He shivered. “Fuck.”

  She unzipped his jeans and pushed them down, taking his underwear with them. His erection sprang free. She wrapped her right hand around it, enjoying the smooth feel of his length. He stood with his arms clamped by his sides and his jaw clenched, allowing her scrutiny. She ran her free hand over his form, caressing his round, firm buttocks, his flat abdomen and, lastly, his testicles.

  He bent and nibbled her neck below her ear, sending quivers of need cascading through her. “I can’t keep this up. If we’re going to—"

  She kissed him, ending his talk with her tongue. There was no need for conversation. She broke the kiss and put a hand to his chest, moving him backward until he hit the bed and lay down. She was hot, ready, and could feel the moisture gathering at the apex of her thighs. She straddled him and grinned.

  He smiled back. “I don’t understand you.”

  She rested her hands on his shoulders and leaned closer. “Do you understand this? Her mouth slanted over his again. Each time she kissed him, every tiny part of her came alive, as though they were being shot with electricity. She drew back and yanked her T-shirt over her head.

  She lowered herself down onto his penis, taking the tip in and then easing up and off. Then she sunk down onto him again, teasing him. She repeated the motion, taking him a little deeper each time until she was impaled by him, filled by his engorged cock.

  She set a steady rhythm, leaning back, pinching her areolas with her fingertips.

  He jack-knifed into a sitting position and sucked her nipple into his mouth. A cascade of sensations invaded her, as though there was an imaginary conduit running from her nipple to her sex.

  She bounced harder, increasing her speed as every cell in her body cried out for more. She was close to the edge. There was no way she could slow down. She pushed him down. The distance allowed her to play with her clitoris.

  He brushed her hand aside and took over. He found the exact spot for maximum satisfaction. Using his thumb, he traced small circles, applying just the right pressure and tempo.

  Oh, God. She leaned forward, placed her hands on the mattress for support, and increased the speed.

  He held her hips as she raced to the edge of the abyss, pumping him, demanding fulfillment. There was a flash of white light behind her eyes, a
nd she was lost as she was overtaken by throbbing waves of pleasure.

  As the effects of her orgasm slowed, he grabbed her hips and flipped them so she was beneath him. She hooked her legs around his lower back, ensuring him access as he pounded into her.

  Her sex was too sensitive, her nerve endings too raw. Her vagina clamped around him as she came for the second time. This was too much, too intense. She thought she might fly apart. She heard someone screaming his name, and then there was nothing except the light and the throbbing waves of pleasure as they rolled over her again.

  She lay in the darkness. His body covered her as his cock softened inside her. How could she be so stupid to think that she could have sex with him and not be affected? He had always been important to her, and making love had only deepened her feelings toward him. They shared a bond, but just because she believed that, it didn’t mean he experienced the same connection. He was a good, but flawed, man whose rational mind controlled his actions whereas she operated out of love and allegiance. Hers was an emotional response to an irrational world. And she had to wonder if he could ever love her the way she needed.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Michael traced Sinclair’s spine, enjoying her smooth, satiny skin. She lay with her head resting on his shoulder, so she was tucked into his side. The light from the bathroom illuminated the room. Strands of her hair were strung across her face, the ends moist from their exertion. Her eyes were closed. He didn’t know if she was genuinely resting or if she was faking to avoid talking to him. That thought bothered him. He hadn’t planned on having sex with her. Yes, he’d wanted it, but she’d instigated it. He didn’t want her to have any regrets. “I’m gonna go on record and say this was a good idea.”