His breath rushed out.
“You said you called Donnelley to come and take care of Quinlan. Did the two of them talk alone?” she asked.
The throbbing in his temples got worse.
“Did they, Max?”
“I can’t remember.” Oh, but he wanted to remember.
“I was coming to your place, and the reason I was there…” Her hands balled into fists. “Beth Dunlap didn’t commit suicide.
The ME said that both of her wrists were cut so deeply that the tendons were severed. She would’ve had no control over her
fingers. That means she wouldn’t have been able to hold the knife, much less manage to slice her other wrist open.”
Someone else had slashed her.
“The room was staged to make it look like she’d gone crazy, wrecked the place, and then killed herself. But the wounds don’t
match with that scenario, and the techs found drops of her blood in the hallway.”
No.
He knew where this was going.
“The splatter angle indicates she was standing up, maybe trying to flee.”
And someone had dragged her back into that room and killed her.
“Your brother was at the scene when we arrived.”
His eyes closed for a moment.
“Max, your stepbrother told us that he’d just arrived back at the house, but two men from the bomb squad swear that when they
checked out his car…”
Max opened his eyes and stared at her.
“His hood wasn’t warm. If he’d just arrived, it would still have been hot.”
Dammit.
“When Frank died,” she continued, “Quinlan stood to gain a fortune.”
Max shook his head. No, no, there
had
to be another explanation. All those other men, the wounds on Quinlan’s body… “He was
cut
, slashed all over. His hand—”
“Sometimes, you’ll do anything if the end reward is important enough.” She gazed into his eyes, and a soft sigh escaped her.
“There’s something else you should know. We found unidentified blood in the alley where Veronica James was killed.”
“And you think it’s Quinlan’s.”
The faintest of nods. “Your brother refused to give us a DNA sample when he was in the FBI office.”
Quinlan’s words seemed to echo in his head.
What’s it like to kill a man?
It was sure starting to look like little brother already knew.
“We have an APB out for him now, and for Donnelley. Until we find them,” she exhaled, “you’re under 24–7 FBI protection. You
and the surviving victim, Curtis Weatherly.”
“You really think they’re going to come after me?” They—who were
they
? Some nameless assholes? Or his brother and Donnelley?
“I think we got lucky at your place. And I think we need to be ready for anything.”
Guess “anything” included his stepbrother trying to kill him.
• • •
“Thanks for working with us on this one Lake,” Hyde said, staring at the agent who’d left his job at the SSD just weeks before.
Even before Kenton had turned in his request for a transfer, Hyde had known what the man planned. Kenton’s heart hadn’t been
with the SSD any longer.
Special Agent Kenton Lake inclined his head toward Hyde. “Don’t think I had a real choice.”
Hyde let a brief lift curve his lips. “You didn’t.”
“Figured as much.” Kenton paused. “What else do you need?” Kenton had already talked to the press more than a few times over
the last couple of days.
“We’ve got a press conference scheduled in two hours. I need you to satisfy the reporters and keep them out of my way.”
Kenton nodded. Hyde knew he had been thoroughly reviewing the case files. “You got a suspect?” Kenton asked.
“Two.” He tossed him the files.
Kenton whistled when he saw the names. “You want me to say this on the air?”
“I want you to let the bastards know we’re coming. Label them as people of interest, not suspects.” Hyde knew how to play
the game. He’d been doing it for years.
“People that should be approached with extreme caution, right?” Kenton asked.
Hyde nodded. “And we could use another man in the field on this one. Sam… she’s protecting a witness.” He saw the surprise
on Kenton’s face.
Kenton closed the files. “Then she’s back to full duty?”
Hyde remembered the fierce glint that he’d seen in
Sam’s eyes last night. He wouldn’t have been able to drag her away from Ridgeway. Finally, that spine of steel. He’d been
waiting for it to show. “She’s back.” And stronger than he’d ever seen her before.
“Talk to Monica. Get her to brief you on the profile she’s worked up on the two suspects,” he told Kenton, because they
were
suspects. Not damn “persons of interest.” Sometimes covering your ass could be such a pain.
“Yes, sir.”
Hyde hesitated. “And I hear… congratulations are in order.”
A wide smile split Kenton’s face. “They are.”
“You work fast.” The guy hadn’t been married long, but… “You’ll be a good father.”
“Sir, I’m scared as all hell.”
That brought a laugh from Hyde. “You should be.”
Kenton rose. “That’s not really what I was hoping to hear.” But a grin softened his face as he hurried off to find Monica.
Hyde’s gaze slipped to the frame on his desk. Such a beautiful smile there. One he only saw in pictures now. In memories that
faded too fast. “You should be,” he whispered again, the laughter gone.
Because Kenton knew, like he did, that there was evil in the world. Evil that waited to steal away the light and the moments
of joy.
Hyde’s fingers slid over the edge of the frame. They hadn’t found Heather’s body, and he knew they never would. His daughter
would never be coming home.
Sam took Max to her place. Techs were still working at his apartment as they searched for evidence.
Two guards were stationed at her door—agents from the Violent Crimes Division who’d been sent over as backup. She knew a similar
team was watching Weatherly. Ramirez had been relieved, and he was back to following leads on Donnelley.
The door shut behind them with a soft click. Sam cleared her throat. “You can make yourself at home.” Max hadn’t spoken on
the ride over, just seemed lost in thought. “I’ve got plenty of food in the fridge, so I can make some lunch….”
“I’m not hungry for food.”
She put her gun on the table and met his gaze. “Max.”
He shook his head. “Everything’s gone to hell, hasn’t it?”
Yes.
“Quinlan’s not answering his cell; the cops can’t find him.” He shook his head. “It’s a waiting game, and it’s driving me
crazy.”
The waiting was hell, but what was coming—it would be even worse. She took off her coat then walked toward him.
But his scorching look froze her mid-stride. “I’m not in an easy mood, baby,” he warned.
Had she asked for easy? Ever?
“I need you,” Max said gruffly, “so damn bad, but—”
She kept walking. When she reached him, Sam put her fingers against his lips. “I need you, too.” More than she could say.
Sam was desperate for him. She needed to feel him against her, in her, needed to be certain he was safe. Alive.
Hers again.
Because that was how she thought of him.
Mine.
Her hands went to the top of his jeans. His eyes never left her face. She caught the button, popped it free, and lowered his
zipper with a soft hiss.
“Samantha…”
His cock spilled into her hand. Long, thick, and heavy with arousal. Her fingers wrapped around him, then squeezed tight.
She worked his flesh, one long, hard pump, from base to tip.
So warm and hard.
She eased onto her knees before him and took the head of his erection into her mouth.
“
Fuck!
” His shaft jerked at the touch of her tongue.
Salty. Rich. She licked the pre-cum on his cock.
Didn’t think I’d have him again. So scared.
Her mouth widened, and she took him in deeper. Her hand slid down her body and pressed against the hard ache of need between
her legs.
Wanted him. Always want him.
His hands tangled in her hair. “
You’re so… beautiful…”
He growled.
Her cheeks hollowed as she sucked him. She wanted to feel his control shatter as he came for her.
Her hand pressed harder against her sex. Her mouth tightened around him, and his cock swelled even more in her mouth.
“
No!
”
His growl had her pulling back. Max’s eyes glittered down at her. “Told you, baby,” his voice was so gravelly, so rough, “I
wasn’t feeling easy.” His hands moved to her shoulders, and he pushed her back, down onto the thick carpet.
Max yanked off her jeans and panties, taking her shoes
with them, and he tossed everything into a pile in the corner. His hands—with slightly callused, rough fingers—closed around
her thighs, and he spread her legs as he opened her wide to him.
“You’re wet for me.” Hunger and dark lust flavored the words.
One touch, and she’d been wet. Just as he was hard for her. She twisted beneath him, needing more. “Come inside me
now
.”
“I get my turn first.” His stubble pricked her thighs as he moved in closer. His breath blew against the light covering of
hair that shielded her sex. Max’s fingers slid up, parted her folds, and found her clit.
Her breath choked out.
There.
Then his mouth was on her. Those lips, that tongue, licking, sucking, making the need tighten and the hunger flare so hot.
Her hips slammed up against his mouth, and her nails raked his back. She wasn’t feeling easy, either.
Desperate.
Max’s tongue drove into her sex. She came against his mouth. A hot, hard explosion. And he kept licking her.
Her eyes squeezed shut as the waves of release blasted her. So good,
so good
, but not enough. “Max…” Her lashes lifted.
His head rose at her throaty cry. His gaze—the pupils so big his eyes looked black—locked on her face. He licked his lips,
and she knew he still tasted her.
He grabbed for his wallet and took out a condom. She rose onto her knees, wanting to help him, but he had his cock sheathed
in seconds. Then he ordered, “Get on your knees.”
The sensual command had her breath heaving out.
Not easy.
Sam’s hands slapped against the floor. Her gaze hit the brown carpet as she brought her knees down, lifting her ass.
“You’re fucking…” his fingers trailed over her ass and down to her cleft, “perfect.”
No, she wasn’t. Far from it.
His cock nudged at the entrance to her body. The head probed against her opening. Sam’s fingers dug into the carpet.
Not easy.
The first hard plunge had her gasping, then driving her hips back against Max as she tried to take more of him.
More.
His hand circled her hip, then slid over to push at the front of her sensitive flesh. His thumb rubbed her sex even as he
retreated, then thrust deeper, harder, into her.
She arched, turning her head, and he was there, rising with her. His mouth took hers even as his hands and cock took her body.
His tongue thrust deep, and his cock retreated.
Thrust, withdraw.
Again and again.
A second release swelled closer. Her hips rocked against him, the rhythm wild and too fast. She was so wet that her cream
coated him.
Another thrust. One that rocked her entire body, and she came, exploding around him, on a wave of white-hot pleasure that
stole her breath.
Max shuddered behind her, around her, in her. Her name tore from his lips, and his cock surged inside of her as he erupted.
When Sam’s breathing slowed down, when her heart stopped racing, he still filled her.
Her knees ached. Her sex quivered, and her throat seemed bone-dry.
Not easy. But exactly what she’d wanted.
“
Mine.
” And when she heard the whisper, she wasn’t sure if it had been hers, or his.
Sam and Max watched the press conference together. Max’s arms were loose around her, but she felt the tension that hit his
body when Kenton announced Quinlan’s name.
“
Dammit.
”
Sam turned toward him, barely hearing Kenton’s words now. She knew that Hyde had called Kenton back in on the case so the
guy could soothe the reporters. When it came to the press, Kenton had a perfect touch.
Kenton had left the SSD after he’d fallen hard for Lora Spade, a firefighter he’d met during the hunt for a serial arsonist.
They’d both almost died, but in the end, they’d come through hell, stronger.
Together.
Kenton had left the SSD to be with her.
What would it be like to have someone love you so much he’d sacrifice everything?
“How did this happen?” Max demanded. “Quinlan—shit, there has to be an explanation.” He pushed away from her and shoved to
his feet. “I’m not just going to sit here while he’s hunted down.”
“Max, wait!” But he was already heading for the door. Sam hurried after him. “You don’t even know where to look!”
He glanced back at her. “
Everyone
is hunting him. If he did this—” a deep, gulping breath, “don’t you think somebody might shoot first and question him later?
Don’t you?
”
If Quinlan came out armed, yes.
“I can get him to turn himself in. Whatever’s happened, whatever twisted mess he’s involved in,
I can help him
.”
Sam could only shake her head. Max was willing to risk everything for Quinlan. Family—a bond that wouldn’t break.
“What if you can’t?” She grabbed his arm and held on tight. “They tried to
kill
you, don’t you understand that? The dose they gave you—”
“
Donnelley
gave me—”
“Was too strong!” She nearly shouted at him, her fingers digging into his. “Your heart nearly stopped beating! Jesus, Max,
you almost died! If I hadn’t found you and got you to the hospital…” No, no, she wouldn’t go there,
wouldn’t.
“They left you to die.”
His body stiffened. “All along, every damn step of the way, you’ve suspected him, haven’t you?”
Not always. “He had a lot of debt. He knew all the victims.”