The Enforcer (Men Who Thrill Book 1) (9 page)

I loved this woman.

And I would have to leave her.

“I thought you were in jail. How did you get here?” she asked. Her voice was wary, tired-sounding, but she didn’t seem afraid, a fact for which I was grateful.

“April…” I said, my tone uncharacteristically uncertain.

Her eyes flashed, hard little points of anger that speared me.

“Don’t!” she said. “Don’t you dare!”

She advanced toward me, her anger fading a bit into a pained expression that twisted my heart.

“I trusted you. Thought that maybe…” Her tone went wistful, but then she stood straight. “And it was all a lie!”

“It wasn’t, April. Not all of it.”

“You’re a criminal. You hurt people. You could have hurt me!”

“Never!” I said, closing the distance between us and she looked up at me, a sheen of tears clouding her eyes. I couldn’t stop myself from reaching out to her. I rested my hands on her face and swiped each tear away as it fell.

“I would never hurt you, April. Not ever.”

“Why should I believe you? I don’t even know you,” she said, voice cold and hard.

The words ripped at me, more than they should have, more than was fair after what she had gone through. But they did nonetheless, and before I could stop to think, I had sealed my lips to hers. She went rigid, and then softened, opening her mouth to me. I snaked my tongue inside taking the advantage. I kissed her with all the emotion I could muster, wishing that even a fraction of the feeling I felt for her would be conveyed.

“You know me, April,” I said, my voice in ragged and lost. “You know me,” I repeated, letting my hands trail down her shoulders to cup her breasts. “You know me.”

As I spoke, I let my sons trail across her nipples, which stood at rigid attention. Whatever had happened, whatever lies I and Shaughnessy might have told her, that was undeniable. And if this was the only way that I could show her the truth of our connection, of the feelings that I felt for her, I would.

So I did.

I cupped her breasts, tugging at her nipples as I pushed her back toward the door. She leaned against the solid wood frame, and though she didn’t speak, her eyes had gone heavy and now shone with anger or hurt and the most potent desire. She felt it too. A fact that was confirmed when, after opening her jeans and lowering them to the floor, I traced my fingers along her slit, and found her slick with desire.

“You know me.”

I toyed with her clit, but she didn’t speak and tried valiantly to suppress her moan. I watch the emotion as it played out on her face, her need battling with her hurt. And I saw the exact moment when need won over. Her muscles went lax, and she rested against the door fully, opening herself to me, but refusing to meet my gaze.

I couldn’t accept that, wouldn’t let her put a wall between us, wouldn’t let her pretend that what was happening between us wasn’t real. Somehow I knew that if she didn’t look at me, she would try to convince herself that the emotions flowing between us were less potent, less deep than this moment conveyed. And I wouldn’t let that happen.

I lifted her, and, she tightened her legs around my waist and pulled me closer, and though the movement was likely unconscious, it only solidified my resolve. Without more delay, I unbuckled my pants and released my cock to stand at attention, and then I pushed it against her slick opening.

“Look, April,” I said, my voice as hard as my cock. “Look!”

Her eyes flew open, and she turned her eyes down. Once her gaze was on the place where our bodies would be joined, I pushed into her with one hard thrust, the sight of my cock disappearing between her folds making both of us groan. But this time, there was no gentleness, no tenderness, only the frenzy of need that compelled me to be with her one last time. I regretted there was no opportunity for a technique, but her hard, feral grunts made me think that she felt the intensity as well.

As I thrust into her, we both kept our eyes glued to the spot where we were connected and, and I watched, as did she, as my cock disappeared inside of her and reemerged, the skin slick and glistening with her juices.

I took her roughly, without relenting, and after several hard thrusts, I pushed back, wedging her body between mine and the door. With each pump of my hips, she cried out, that, the sound of my harsh, heavy pants, and the sound of our pelvic bones hitting each other’s the only noise in the room.

Her pussy, warm, wet, tight cradled my cock the same way her thighs cradled my waist, and she looped her arms around my neck, her fingers digging into the muscles of my back as she gave herself to me. Her walls clamped down on me tight, and she shuddered as she came on a long sigh, her pussy fluttering around me as cream flowed from her.

Yet I continued, didn’t yet want this to end, and she came again, her breaths hard and fast, her grip on my shoulders growing tighter as each moment passed.

Soon, far too soon, I felt the pressure of my impending release, and imagined filling her with my seed. For a fleeting moment, a picture of her rounded with my child, the only chance I might have to leave a legacy in this world filtered through my mind. But then I wondered what would be worse: not having that tie to her, or not being around to see it? And in the last moment, despite how much I wanted to fill her with my cum, I pulled out of her, and came, spraying her mound with spurt after spurt of cum.

Reluctantly, I released my hold on her hips and let her lower her legs to the ground, though I didn’t move away. She kneeled slightly, head bumping against my chest as she reached down and pulled up her pants, avoiding my gaze the entire time.

I didn’t know what to do, what to say, was powerless to stop the wall that I could feel her rebuilding between us as each moment passed.

“You should go,” she finally said, her voice strong, though I could hear the tears.

I lifted my hands up and cradled her face, unmoving into she finally looked at me. I held her gaze with my own, tried to memorize every inch of her face. And then I stroked my thumbs across her cheekbones.

“I love you, April,” I said.

And then I left.

Chapter Twelve

A cautious man, or smart one, would beat a hasty retreat, but I was neither, not anymore. And besides, I could run and hide, but I’d never have a life, not without her, so going to jail was a risk I was willing to take. Accounts had to be settled.

I went to see my boss. He was unreadable, as always.

“Thanks. Should I ask how you do that?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know what you mean. People rely on computers so much these days. Mistakes can happen any time.”

“Seems they can,” I said.

He chuckled lightly, and then went silent, his professional exterior returning.

“I have to finish this,” I said.

I didn’t need to expand, he knew exactly what us talking about.

“Make sure it’s not messy,” was his only response.

I nodded. I wanted to be messy, very messy, but I respected him enough to comply with the request. He was the one who had to deal with the fallout.

“And the woman?”

I raised a brow. I’d never mentioned April to anyone.

“I wouldn’t be boss for very long if I didn’t know everyone’s secrets,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Will you watch out for her?”

He nodded.

“You could take her with you,” he said

I shook my head. “We’re not all as lucky as you.”

It was his turn to nod. “I’ll take care of her. You take care of yourself.”

I nodded again and then left, headed for my last stop.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

Shaughnessy was smart enough, or scared enough, not to return to his home. I probably shouldn’t have either, the police could have been watching his house, but something told me that Shaughnessy was more afraid of being revealed for the corrupt bastard that he was than of what I would do to him. It was a miscalculation, one that he would pay for with his life, but I was happy for it. Rather I would be, once I found him.

He’d taken everything from me, the only thing that mattered, April. I’d been playing with borrowed time, but to have him invade her home, threaten her, was something I couldn’t abide. I knew the risks, had chosen this life, but she hadn’t. He’d brought her in, and for that he would pay. I searched high and low, roaring through every place Shaughnessy might feel comfortable enough to lay his head, but I didn’t find him. I caught snippets of the news where they talked about some error that had released dangerous criminals into the street, so I kept a low profile, but the police presence didn’t feel more enhanced. Probably Shaughnessy’s doing as well.

By the next night I was almost out of options. I’d looked everywhere I could think of, talked to everyone I could think of, but I was no closer to finding him. And as I walked swiftly, my frustration building, a thought occurred to me. I stopped, stood still in the middle of the sidewalk as my mind swirled with the possibility. He couldn’t be, but I wouldn’t put anything past him. A sickening feeling building in my stomach, I changed direction and ran, praying I reached her before he did.

Chapter Thirteen

I was too late.

The restaurant was lit as it always was, and I could clearly see Shaughnessy standing there talking to April. Her face was tense, but Shaughnessy didn’t seem to be threatening her. Most likely, he was telling her all about me and my evil deeds, explaining that she should call him if she saw me, that I had friends in the police and that he was the only person she could trust. I moved faster when he grabbed her hand, the need to break the contact between them spurring me on and making me toss caution to the wind.

I threw open the restaurant door, and it slammed against the wall. Shaughnessy and April jumped, startled and staring at me as I stood in the door frame.

Shaughnessy stood between me and April, and when I looked at her I saw the fear that had her eyes alight. It reminded me of the robbery, except now it was me she was afraid of.

“It’s okay, April. I’ll protect you,” Shaughnessy said, his tone brimming with bravado.

The fucker thought he had me, and he was probably right. I couldn’t do anything with April here, didn’t know how he’d respond. And the way his hand hovered at his holster made me nervous. Not for myself, but for her. Shaughnessy would snuff her life without a second thought, and I couldn’t do anything that would put her further at risk.

“Stay right there, big boy,” he said, smirking at me with a gleam of satisfaction in his eyes. “The cavalry is on the way,” he said.

He drew his gun, but didn’t cock. I suspected it was mostly for show, that he knew I wouldn’t respond and he was taking advantage. It wasn’t enough for him that I’d be going to prison for the rest of my life; he wanted to rub it in.

“Never thought it would happen, did you?” He said.

I didn’t respond. Couldn’t. Wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. But that didn’t stop him. “Oh yes, it’s a great day for justice in the city. Right, April?” he said turning toward her slightly. “I’m cleaning up the streets single-handedly,” he boasted with a little chuckle.

Anger flared in my blood warring with the hopelessness I felt. It shouldn’t end like this. I knew I’d never come to a good end, had he dared hope for such, but like this, at Shaughnessy’s hand, my last sight of April wide-eyed with terror and fear and not the passion and affection I so loved seeing? I was reaping what I’d sown. And it hurt like a bitch.

“Your boss is going to love this,” Shaughnessy said, his voice taking on a spiteful tone. April wouldn’t understand the subtext, but I did completely.

“I’m getting a promotion out of this for sure,” he said.

“Probably two,” I said unable to keep the words inside.

That had Shaughnessy outright laughing. “Probably,” he said.

He relaxed his wrist a bit, taking the gun off me, seemingly confident that I wouldn’t make a move.

“I have so looked forward to this day,” he said. “And I’m just happy that April here will be around to witness it. Just think, after all these years of terror –”

She moved so fast I hadn’t seen her. But the crash of the coffeepot against Shaughnessy’s head, followed by his screams as the scalding liquid ran down his face and into his eyes, were a shock to my ears. He flailed around wildly turning toward April, gun in his hand. I took the moment to strike, rushing forward and tackling him to the ground. His head bounced off the gleaming hard floor, and in an instant he went still, his grip releasing the gun, which clanged against the floor beside him.

I looked up at April, her eyes still bright with fear, and I reached out to her. I expected her to recoil, but it didn’t hurt any less when she did. She was probably in shock, so like she had been that first time, but so different. She had been a fantasy then, and while her pain had called to me, it was nothing compared to now. I knew the real her, not some image I’d concocted in my mind, and she was beyond anything I could have imagined. I’d saved her that day, when she hadn’t known me and it hadn’t really mattered, but now that I did know her, knew that the reality of her was better than anything I could have dreamed, the sight of fear in her eyes was unbearable.

“Is he…?”

“No. Not yet,” I said.

Her words shocked me into action. I pulled Shaughnessy’s phone from his pocket and slid the gun away from his hands, and then quickly placed a call.

“The cavalry is on the way,” I said after I’d made the call.

April stared at me, the fear that had been on her face receding, much to my relief.

“Your cavalry?” she asked, voice trembling.

“My cavalry,” I said.

She didn’t speak, but when down I glimpsed down at her hands and noticed that they weren’t trembling. I looked back at her face and watched her as she watched me, neither of us seeming to know what to do.

“How did you know?” I finally asked.

She turned her eyes to the floor. “The gun. I’d recognize it anywhere.”

I followed the path of her gaze to the ridiculous-looking weapon. I should’ve noticed it sooner, but I hadn’t, too busy lamenting the loss of April and the life that I’d foolishly allowed myself to believe we might have