Текст книги "Unlawful Desire "

Автор книги: Chelle Bliss

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Текущая страница: 10 (всего у книги 15 страниц)

Chapter 15

Found

“So let me get this straight,” Thomas said, leaning forward in his chair after I’d explained to him and James what happened last night. “He’s a retired cop.”

“Yeah, and?”

“He wants to find this person, and what?” He tapped his pen against the desktop and stopped while he waited for an answer.

“He thinks we can be faster than the cops. He’s kind of a scary dude.”

Thomas shrugged as his lips twisted. “Sounds like my kind of guy.”

“I’m so in.” James clapped his hands together.

“Why do I have a sinking feeling?”

“Does Georgia know?” Thomas asked, tossing the pen off to the side and straightening his back.

I shook my head and pinched the bridge of my nose. “No.”

“Fuck me. I see a clusterfuck in your near future, my friend.” James slapped me on the back and laughed.

“Thanks, guys,” I said, dragging my hands down my face. “You sure know how to make me feel better.”

“What’s going on?” Morgan asked, sticking his head in the office.

“Frisco is going rogue,” James replied, leaning back and glancing at Morgan upside down.

“I’m in.” Morgan strolled in and took a seat. “Whose ass needs to be kicked?”

“We have a partial plate, the make, model, and color, and we know the car has body damage,” Thomas told him, typing furiously on his computer.

“I’ll get right on it.”

The printer started to spit out copies, and Thomas reached back and retrieved a couple of sheets. “Here’s the info. I want all hands on deck to find the person responsible for the accident.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I said, although I didn’t mean it. We were that kind of company. Having each other’s backs was what we did.

James waved his hand. “It’s done.”

Bear walked into the room. “Did I miss the party?”

“We have a perp to find.”

“Who?” Bear took a seat on the couch.

“The fucker that ran Frisco’s girl off the road.”

“I’ll call Tank.” Bear grabbed his phone from his pocket. “He can put out some feelers to his auto repair buddies in the area.”

“Smart,” I said, wishing I’d thought of it first.

Typically, I knew exactly how to handle a situation, but this hit too close to home. My mind was spinning, reeling from the enormity of almost losing Georgia.

I needed to remember my training and separate myself from the situation in order to focus. The ability to step outside of myself and complete a task was what made me a great soldier. There was a new enemy, and I’d do everything in my power to hunt him down and make him pay for what he did to Georgia.

“Let’s meet in the conference room in one hour to share what we’ve found,” Thomas told everyone and handed me the stack of papers with the details I’d given.

I passed them off to James, since I had the information memorized. “Sounds good.”

“On it.” Morgan grabbed the paper and headed for the door.

“Yo, Tank.” Bear walked out into the hallway. “I have something I need you to look into.”

“Should I feel guilty?” I stopped in the doorway and turned to face James and Thomas.

“Fuck no,” they responded in unison.

“I’d do the same thing if someone ran Izzy off the road and left the scene of the accident.”

“I have this feeling I can’t shake,” I admitted, rubbing the back of my neck.

“It’s not the cops you’re worried about, it’s Georgia.” Thomas shook his head.

“Go relax and let us call our contacts to get a list of possible suspects,” James told me.

I sighed and nodded before heading to my office. When I sat down, I didn’t turn on my computer right away. All I wanted to do was to lie down and take a nap. The prior evening had been stressful, and I hadn’t slept as well or as long as I’d hoped.

As I stifled a yawn, I moved the mouse and then took my phone out of my pocket as I waited for the computer to start. During the meeting in Thomas’ office, I’d received a text but ignored it.

Georgia: You better come back for me!

I laughed as I read the message.

Me: I’ll be there. I swear!

James had said to relax, but I couldn’t. Everything in me felt tense. Georgia must’ve been as restless as I was, because she continued messaging me.

Georgia: She wants me to be Betty fuckin’ Crocker.

Me: Cook me something good.

Georgia: Oh, go fuck yourself.

Me: I may have to.

Georgia: You have a greedy cock.

Me: Says the girl with the greedy pussy.

Georgia: I’ll talk to it tonight.

Me: Your pussy?

Georgia: You’ll never get any more pussy unless you tell me what my father wants.

I set my phone on the desk and checked my email. I felt behind and out of touch, since I’d been so focused on Georgia that I’d ignored my work. Typically, I’d check multiple times a day to make sure I didn’t have a client waiting for a response. But that had been the last thing on my mind lately.

“I got news!” Bear yelled from the hallway. “Conference room!”

I hopped up from my chair, holding my chest because his voice had scared the crap out of me, and followed him down the hallway. He sat down, waiting for everyone else to arrive before he spoke.

“Good news?” I asked.

He nodded and motioned toward the door. Bear had always been a friend. Most days I wanted to punch him in the face, but he always had my back. Always. There wasn’t a moment in my life that I couldn’t ask him for a favor or worry that he’d say no.

“What’s the word?” Thomas asked when he sat down.

“Tank found the car.”

My mouth dropped open. Fuck, that only took twenty minutes. “Already?” I asked.

Bear nodded with a shit-eating grin on his face. “Dumbass brought his car to Tank’s place, so it wasn’t that hard.”

“When?”

“This morning. The front end had been smashed in. Dude made some bullshit excuse about hitting a deer and needed it fixed as soon as possible.”

“Is the guy there?” I asked, tapping my foot on the floor.

“Nope. Tank has to call him with a quote.”

“I’m on it.” I picked up my phone.

“You want help with this guy?” Thomas asked with a gleam in his eye.

I shook my head. “Let her dad and me handle it.”

“Fuck.” He slammed his hand on the conference table.

“Let us help,” James pleaded, motioning around the table.

“No,” I told them and narrowed my eyes. “I don’t know what we’re getting ourselves into, but you guys should stay out of it.”

Morgan rubbed his chin and studied me intently. “Why?”

“If shit goes bad, I don’t want anyone else on the hook for shit that is all my fault.”

“Your fault?” Sam asked with furrowed brow. “How is it your fault?” The guys must’ve filled him in with their version of the events before I arrived.

I put my hands up, trying to silence their grumbling. “She wouldn’t have been driving if it weren’t for me fucking shit up.”

James leaned back in the chair and sighed. “Now you’re talking crazy.”

Rising from the chair, I leaned over the back and looked around at my friends. “It’s my burden to deal with.”

Morgan stood and rested his hand on my shoulder. “Dude, you’re an idiot.”

I dragged my eyes to him. “Thanks, man.”

“You know we’re all down for a good ass-kicking.” He gave my shoulder a hard squeeze.

I nodded. “I’ll call you if we need backup. Good?”

“Let me do some digging on the guy. Let’s see what we find out before you and Rambo head into more trouble than you can handle.”

“I don’t think I can get him to back down. Her dad is pretty intent on handling shit himself.”

“Buy me an hour, and I’ll dig up everything I can. Don’t call her father yet.”

“Fine,” I said, hanging my head and staring at the floor, thinking about how this would all play out.

As I started to walk out of the conference room, Thomas said, “Frisco, wait to see what Morgan finds before you turn down our offer.”

I nodded with a sigh before I walked to Morgan’s office. “Hey,” I said as I poked my head into his office. “Can you text me the info when you get it?”

He glanced at me, giving me a warm smile. “Sure, buddy. I’ll text you whatever I find.”

“I need to get Georgia.”

“Understood,” he said, shooing me away with one hand.

Without saying goodbye, I headed to my office and grabbed my keys.

“Frisco,” James called out just as my hand touched the door handle. “Thomas and I want in. It’s fine if you don’t want the other guys, but we’re coming with you.”

I turned around slowly. “Why?”

James crossed his arms over his chest. “Because we look out for each other.”

“Is that the only reason?”

“I don’t need one,” he replied with his mouth set in a firm line. “That’s what friends do.”

“I’ll call you,” I told him as I spun around, pushed open the door, and headed to Georgia’s parents’ house.

As I drove, I decided I’d tell Georgia. She deserved to know. I didn’t think it would change anything. Her father didn’t seem like the type of man who would let anyone, especially his daughter, tell him what he could or couldn’t do.

All I knew was that whatever he decided, I’d have to have his back. If I wanted the man to be on my side, I’d have to stand by his.

Chapter 16

Decisions

After I pushed back from the table, I rubbed my stomach. “That was fantastic. Thank you for all the hard work.”

Mrs. Phillips blushed. “I just whipped it up. It’s nothing.”

Georgia rolled her eyes as she tossed her napkin on the table. “She lies.”

I clasped Georgia’s hand in mine. “Doesn’t matter, babe.”

“So, how was work?” Mr. Phillips asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Good. I got a lot done.”

“That’s good.” Georgia ran her thumb along my hand. “Can we go soon? I’m tired and want to sleep in my own bed.”

“Before you do that, can I have a word with you, Frisco?”

Georgia’s eyes narrowed, focusing on me. She knew something was up. My woman was smart.

“Sure.” My eyes never left hers. “Give me a minute to talk to your dad.”

She leaned forward, bringing her mouth to my ear. “You’re gonna tell me what’s going on in the car, got me?”

I swallowed hard, trying to rid my mouth of the sandy feeling that had settled on my tongue. “Yep.”

The chair Mr. Phillips had been sitting in scraped against the wood floor as he stood. “Let’s talk in my office,” he said, standing above me, casting a shadow.

“Be back.” I gave her a kiss on the cheek.

Even though my back was to her, I could feel her eyes on me as I walked out of the kitchen and followed her father to his office.

“What did you find out?” he asked as he closed the door.

“The guy brought his car to my buddy’s garage to be fixed.”

His eyes widened as he sat down behind his desk. “That’s convenient.”

“I couldn’t make this shit up if I tried.”

“What else?” he asked, resting his elbow on the desk and placing his index finger against his lips. “Who is he?”

I reached into my pocket for my phone and checked my email. During dinner, I’d felt my phone vibrate, alerting me that I had a new email, but I hadn’t bothered to look until now.

“Morgan, my colleague at ALFA, looked him up.” I scrolled down the email, reading through the message. With every new bit of information, my hands grew sweatier and my heart pounded just a little harder.

“What does it say?” His tone was sharp.

“Here.” I held my phone out to him. “It’ll be easier than explaining everything.”

He grabbed the phone from my hand and studied the email. Morgan had dug up all kinds of shit on the person responsible for hitting Georgia.

The man wasn’t an angel. He had a record a mile long, in fact. The hit-and-run wasn’t even the most damning thing on his record. Recently he’d been released from prison and was currently on parole. Obviously, incarceration hadn’t taught him anything, but I’d be happy to give him a prison yard beat-down to further his education.

“I fuckin’ know this piece of shit,” Mr. Phillips barked out without looking up. “I can’t believe this.” He dropped the phone onto the desk, letting it wobble before it stilled. “Fuck.”

My eyebrows rose at the twist of fate. “You do?”

He gritted his teeth and I heard him growl. “I arrested this asshole years ago.”

“Maybe you should step back, then.” My hands coiled into fists on my lap. I’d been angry at the prick for what he did to Georgia, but now I wanted to make him pay for every bad deed he’d ever done.

Someday he’d kill someone without remorse. He could’ve killed Georgia if I hadn’t been there. I shook the thought from my head. “Let us handle it.”

“There’s no way I’m letting you go without me.” He bared his teeth at me.

“Listen,” I said, flexing my fists and trying to relieve some of the anger I could feel clawing at my insides. “What’s your plan?”

He blew out a hard breath. “I haven’t thought it all through. I want the bastard to pay. That shit I know.”

I stood and began to pace in front of his desk. “I’ll get a few punches in before we drop him at the door of the police station.”

He cocked an eyebrow at me with a smug grin. “Is that what you’ve decided to do? Maybe I want more.”

I froze and studied him. “You want the bastard dead?” I asked, my voice laced with shock. I’d never thought about killing the man. All I wanted to do was beat on him so badly that he felt the same fear I did when I saw him coming right for Georgia.

Mr. Phillips slammed his hands down on his desk. “Fuck,” he said, letting out a long breath. “I don’t want that on my conscience or yours.”

I nodded, trying to keep calm. Last night when the man had run her off the road, I might have choked the life out of him if I’d been able to get my hands on him. My anger hit a point I hadn’t felt since leaving the service.

“You need to stand down and let me handle this,” I told him, rubbing the back of my neck.

“But I can help.”

“No!” I roared, wincing as soon as I heard my own voice. “I appreciate your need to help, Mr. Phillips, but this has to be done on my terms. The guys and I will handle it.”

“But—”

I held out my hand. “No. I’ve. Got. It.”

His nostrils flared as he stared at me with narrow eyes and a red face. “Fine.”

I picked up my phone from his desk and texted Thomas.

Me: We’re on tonight @ 11.

“You better not fuck this up.” Mr. Phillips spun around in his chair.

“I think I can handle him.”

Thomas: I’ll gather the guys. Meet at the office at 10:30. City’s in too.

I glanced down at my phone, swallowing down the lump that had formed in my throat. I’d have to come up with a reason to leave Georgia tonight without her wanting to kick me in the balls.

“I swear to God, Frisco, if I didn’t dislike you already, going easy on this douchebag will ensure my distaste for you will last a lifetime.” He rubbed his face with his right hand and pinned me with his glare. “Fuck this up, and I’ll make sure Georgia hates you.”

I placed my fists on the desk and leaned over it, hovering above Mr. Phillips. “I won’t fuck it up. Georgia’s mine, and no one fucks with my girl.” I seethed as my chest heaved and my stomach twisted.

“’Bout fuckin’ time you say that.” The brief smile he gave me quickly disappeared.

I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breath. “I will handle this and protect Georgia. You’re being relieved of that duty. Don’t think about getting between her and me. It won’t end well,” I warned him.

He nodded, twisting his lips as if he approved. “Call me when it’s done. I won’t sleep until I know.”

“Fine.” I pushed myself up and squared my shoulders. “It’ll be done tonight.”

Without any need for further conversation, I walked into the kitchen to find a very pissed off Georgia.

“Ready to go, babe?”

She rubbed her hands together and stared, but she didn’t reply. I could almost see the wheels inside her head spinning as she tried to figure out what her father and I had cooking.

I stood in front of her and held her gaze. “G?”

“Yeah, I’m ready.”

“So soon?” Rosie asked, wiping her hands on a dishtowel. “I had dessert ready.”

Georgia held her hand out to me. “Maybe another time, Mom.”

I helped her up and handed her the crutches. “I’ll take a rain check, Mrs. Phillips.”

“Where’s my dad?” Georgia asked, glancing over my shoulder.

“He’s in his office.” I smiled the best fake smile I could muster under the situation.

“Thanks for everything, Mom.” Georgia kissed her mother on the cheek before stalking off toward the door, still wobbly on the crutches. I had to fight the urge to jump in and carry her. “Let’s go, Frisco. We have some talking to do,” she called out over her shoulder.

Mrs. Phillips gave me a sympathetic smile as she waved goodbye. “Georgia,” I called out as she tried to go down the stairs, hopping on one foot without holding on.

“I got this!” she yelled before her body started to fall forward, teetering back and forth as if on a balance beam.

Before she could fall, I grabbed her by the waist and steadied her. “Jesus,” I muttered, pulling her body against mine. “Can’t you wait for me to help you?”

“I’m a big girl, Frisco. I don’t need anyone’s help.”

I looked up at the cloudy sky and cursed under my breath. “We have to talk,” I told her and lifted her foot off the ground, stalking to the car with her in my arms like a rag doll.

She held the crutches against her chest, letting them swing as I carried her. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”

When we made it to the car, I set her down on her good leg and used her waist to turn her body to face me. “Georgia, I can’t explain everything. Just know that I would do anything to protect you.”

“Anything?” she asked, quirking an eyebrow and challenging me.

“Anything.”

She leaned back against the car door and crossed her arms over her chest. “Then whatever my dad has cookin’, I want you to ignore.”

My head recoiled and my mouth dropped open. I stared at her for a beat before finally closing my mouth. “I don’t know what you think he wants to do, but—”

“Don’t lie,” she said.

“I’m not lying.” I took a step closer and invaded her space. Reaching out, I ran my finger along her cheek, relishing the feel of her skin against mine. “Listen, your father and I have very different ideas about how things should be handled, but I’ll take care of it.”

She glanced up and stared off into space. “That’s what I’m afraid of,” she grumbled, and her lip began to quiver.

“Hey.” I cradled her face in my hands, bringing my lips against hers. “No one is going to die, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Her eyes darted to mine and narrowed into tiny slits. “But that doesn’t mean you aren’t going after the guy.”

I nodded, knowing I had been busted a long time ago. “I won’t say that I won’t get a few licks in, but he’ll survive the beating that’s coming his way and be arrested before the night’s out.”

“Why do you have to hit him?” she murmured against my lips, staring at me with tear-filled eyes.

“Because he hurt you.” I tightened the hold I had on her face.

“It was an accident, Frisco,” she muttered, my name sounding like a curse coming from her lips.

“He’s not a good guy, Georgia.”

She backed away, and my lips instantly missed her touch. “Take me home.”

I nodded, unlatched the door behind her, and helped her inside. It wouldn’t be an easy sell. I knew where her fear came from. She worried that things would get out of hand and that something would happen to me. It was the same fear that had gripped me last night.

As I drove, Georgia stared out the window and didn’t speak a word. The silence was deafening. Georgia never seemed the type to hold her tongue, but I didn’t dare push her.

When we arrived at her place, she exited the car and headed toward her front door. I watched through the window, shocked by her stubbornness and hating that she was pissed at me.

Before she could open the door, I jogged to her side and took the keys from her hand. “Let me.”

“I don’t think you should come in,” she said, yanking the keys out of my grip.

My body recoiled, feeling the blow of her words as if she’d hit me. “You can’t mean that.”

She bowed her head as her hand with the keys dropped to her side. “I just don’t know. I guess I don’t know you as well as I thought I did.”

I put my arm around her waist, holding her body flush against mine. “I’m still me.”

“But-t-t,” she said, her body shaking in my arms, “you’re going to hurt someone because of me.”

“Because of him,” I corrected her, brushing my lips against her face. “He did this.”

“Why not let the police handle this?”

“He has a rap sheet longer than your arm, Georgia.” I peppered kisses down her jawline, finding the spot I loved most on her neck. “Would City do the same if someone had run Sunshine off the road?”

She tipped her head back as her breathing quickened. “Maybe.”

“Men want to protect what’s theirs,” I told her and sank my teeth gently into her skin. “You are mine.”

Her body shivered in my arms. “Yes,” she moaned, angling her head to the side and giving me more access.

I licked her flesh, feeling her pulse beat under my tongue. “I’ll protect you until my last breath, Georgia.”

“Lie down and hold me for a little while.” Her voice was airy and filled with want.

I nodded because, hell, there wasn’t anything I wanted more in the world than to hold her in my arms.

After taking the key from her hand and unlocking the door, I scooped her into my arms and carried her inside. Letting the crutches drop to the floor, she kissed me as I kicked the door closed.