Gabriella enters the kitchen a few minutes after Moon leaves. I'm still standing beside the sink daydreaming about the kiss. She clucks her tongue when she sees that the dishes have been put away.She avoids my eyes as her gaze travels around the kitchen. "Thank you, Gabriella, for what you did today."She turns and her expression isn't nearly as tight-lipped as usual. "The Señora is poison."I agree with her but don't say so. I change the subject after a conciliatory smile. "Moon told me you're cooking a special dinner tonight." Her eyes go back to the hard look I'm accustomed to. I hold up my hand. "No, I have no intention of asking to help. I truthfully can't cook to save my life." She expels a breath and I continue. "I need to borrow some basic makeup and a curling iron and hoped you could help me."Pity shows in her expression. She doesn't think there's much to be done about the bruises on my face. I would agree if she said as much. She opens a drawer, removes a pad and pencil
I unplug the curling iron and collect the makeup. It's much more than I asked for, and the brand is something you would purchase from an upscale department store. I've never worn much in the way of makeup, so I'm not even sure what to do with most of it.Gabriella knocks at the door and enters with a young woman possibly in her late teens or early twenties behind her. "My niece, Guadalupe, will attend you." Gabriella speaks to Guadalupe in Spanish and they both pick up a bag while I grab the dress. I'm in one of Moon's bathrobes wearing the halter bra and a thong that was hidden by the bra. I almost overlooked the string thing. There will be no lines in the dress, but it's as if I'm wearing nothing in the way of panties at all. There is no doubt that Gabriella wishes me to seduce her employer, and I'm not sure why. Or, why she would think that hadn't happened yet. We have been sleeping in the same bed.She leads us down the hall and enters the room where I stayed the first time I was
My stomach is a tight ball of nerves as I walk down the staircase. Moon is waiting below and watches me descend. He was wearing a suit when he left the house today. He has obviously changed into another one. It's black and sleek, and I catch my breath at how incredible he looks. It's not only how he looks. It's the power he holds by the way he stands. The intense expression on his face, and damn-his eyes.I stare at Moon like he is the most scrumptious piece of candy on earth. His expression says something entirely different. He's looking at me like the predator he is and I'm prey. My belly flip-flops and my knees go weak. He places his hand out and I take it because if I don't, there's a good chance I'll fall.I pull in a breath and try to regain my equilibrium. His gaze travels to my breasts. I can feel the heat rise over my chest to my neck and up into my cheeks. Moon is the combination of every sexual fantasy I've ever had. I'm burning with need. His appreciative gaze tells me I'
Fucking. God. Christ. I want this man. I'm shaking with urgency and at the same time I want him to go teasingly slow. His lips touch my skin right above my pussy. I moan and grind my foot even harder into the table. He pushes my knee outward and kisses lower. His mouth is warm and wet and driving me wild. His tongue strokes and I lift my foot off the table. His hand clamps down on it and forces it back. His husky laugh sends more warmth across my pussy. If he does it again, I'll come.My desire is jacked through the roof. Moon's only just begun this slow, torturous seduction, but our sexual dance has been going on for days, and I'm insane with need. He lifts up from my inner thighs and moves over me so his mouth is at the neckline of my dress.No, no, no. I need him back. Down. There. I need him tasting me and doing more wickedly wondrous things to me. He has no intention of giving me what I want. I read the message in his eyes when he looks up. He's in control. He pulls aside one si
A proper fuck as opposed to a table fuck, I guess. My cheeks heat at the thought. "If I shower, my makeup will come off and my bruises will ruin the mood." I'm not really teasing.His lips slide over my cheek. "You're beautiful, but I prefer you without all the makeup even if the bruises show. You're strong and a fighter. That turns me the fuck on, baby." He walks out of the dining room to the stairs. I want to object that I'm too heavy, but he's powerful and I want to feel his strength. A man who will take me as I am and who isn't intimidated by my assertiveness is a rarity.We shower and wash each other. It turns into a steamy soapy skin on soapy skin mind-blowing orgasm for me. I want to taste him and the shower is the perfect opportunity. He's the only man I know who says no to a blow job."I want to fuck you in my bed," he tells me as he turns off the water and leads me to the bed. The house is cool but our bodies warm. We fall on the bed still wet without taking time to dry. I
My apartment is cramped, hot, and lonely. I guess it's always been this way, I just never noticed it like I do now. I turn the thermostat to its normal I'm home setting. After staying at Moon's, the heat is unbearable within an hour.I check through my messages, glad that the cell phone from my car was waiting in the rental. Three missed calls from Terry, one from Brenda, and one from my dad. Crap. I forgot about calling my mother. I make the call. My mother is a wonderful person, but she has her moments. This is one of them. She talks my ear off for an hour while I swelter. I finally tell her I have other calls to make and need to get to work. She disapproves of my job and doesn't ask specifics. She disapproved of law enforcement too. I've come to terms with it, and maybe one day my mother will realize that a boring eight to five job is not my thing. I call Brenda next."Hey, girl, you had us worried," she says as soon as I identify myself. "Terry was planning to call in a missin
I carefully slide behind the hot steering wheel. With even more care, I gingerly put my seatbelt on. I pull out of the parking lot and notice one of Moon's black Caddies across the street. It pulls out and follows me.I take a few turns and enter the I-17 on-ramp. The Caddy stays a safe distance behind me until I take the Peoria turnoff and head into Ghetto Center. That's not actually the mall's name, it's just what it's known as. Off the road that circles the mall there's a large store that's been vacant for years. It went out of business ages ago and no one ever moved in. This isn't the nicest neighborhood. I drive into the parking lot. The Caddy pulls up beside me and Moon opens the back door. Gomez is driving and he isn't looking at me.I pop the locks and Moon opens the passenger door."What the fuck are you doing?" he asks before he shifts his body inside. He's not wearing a jacket and he's a bit more disheveled than I'm accustomed to.I'm more than ready for this macho thug
After obtaining a new rental, I purchase camo shorts, a green tank top, baseball cap, water bottle, and field glasses. Of course, I have all this back at my apartment. Being followed by Moon or his thugs is not part of the plan. The tables have turned.I know the area around Moon's home. I end up parked two streets over and hike until I find a place to sit and watch. The sun beats down on me and I do my best to conserve the water. I don't know if Moon is home. If he is, I'm following him. If not, I'll stay in a hotel and come back tomorrow.The sun finally begins setting and a spectacular array of light washes across the horizon. Arizona sunsets are to die for. I smile at the thought. Following Moon could get me killed. It's the whole sick cop humor thing. I'll appreciate this sunset like it's my last.About an hour later, one of the Cadillacs pulls out. I have no idea if Moon's in it and that doesn't matter. I know my plan could take a few days before it pays off. I stand up from w
I stayed with Mr. Loche for two hours. When I came back to the cabin, Father Andrews and Madison were cooking dinner together in the kitchen. She was laughing and he was telling her that anyone can learn to cook, it just takes practice. I don't add my two cents that the meal Mrs. Loche prepared would have been safer. I word it a little more carefully, "Please don't encourage her. Gabriella will throw a fit if Madison moves in on her territory." They stop what they're doing and I receive my first genuine smile from Madison that I've seen in weeks."It's a simple lasagna. Mak can make it when you're here at the cabin. Even I wouldn't do anything to piss off Gabriella." He cringes with great exaggeration and Madison laughs.She looks at him with a huge smile. "You didn't tell me you know Gabriella.""I know her daughter. I've heard all the stories from her and I'm terrified of her mother."I walk to my wife and wrap my arms around her from behind. She leans into me and places her hands on
It's three more days before our guest arrives. I'm actually tongue-tide when Moon introduces me to Father Andrews. He's American but lives in Mexico and drove all this way to return a favor he owed my husband. He's younger than a priest has a right to be and he's too damn good looking for his job. I place him in his early thirties. It's strange because he looks oddly familiar even though I'm sure I've never met him.The three of us walk into the living room where Mrs. Loche put out cucumber sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies. Father Andrews's eyes light up. "I haven't eaten since breakfast and these look delicious," he says while filling a plate.Moon doesn't sit with us. "Mr. Loche and I are working on a new garden and clearing some land. I'll be next door if you need me." He leans down and places his lips on mine for a short kiss. It actually embarrasses me because Father Andrews is watching. Moon taps me under the chin in understanding because of the heat traveling up my neck and
With revenge motivating me, dealing with what happened was easier. The need for blood became a driving force that allowed me to put my thoughts and feelings on hold. Now my feelings, doubt, and shame overshadow everything. My mind is a dark hole with a smoky mist that Moon stands in to beckon me out. His hand is there. I can almost touch it, but my fingers slide away, a millimeter short, and the darkness covers me once more.Sleep is the worst. Nightmares make me toss and turn throughout the night. Most center around blood on my hands. They drip the red, congealed mess onto everything I touch and when I open my eyes it's still there. Or so the dream goes.I find it strange that I don't dream about what Fernandez did to me. It's his laughter, though, that wakes me night after night. Moon is always there to comfort me during those horrible hours. He pulls me close to his body when I give the slightest gasp. I breathe in his scent and fill my lungs with his strength. Until I fall asleep a
Part of my heart-stopping fury recedes when I pull Madison back into my arms. Her entire body is shaking and she's still clutching the knife I handed her. Alex takes it from her hand after I scoop her into my arms and cradle her against my chest. I breathe in the scent of her hair and try to gain more control.This woman is everything. She's the reason I wake up in the morning. Everything I hold dear is wrapped up in her. Cori meets my eyes and she tips her head in acknowledgement. When she turns away, Duke is standing behind her. He pulls her into his arms and walks her toward the front room. He stops when Goose is dragged closer by one of Dax's men and places himself between Cori and Duke. Duke casually pulls his gun and fires, striking him between the eyes. Goose blankly stares at the ceiling by the time the sound of the gunshot fades from the room. Cori spits on Goose's body before Duke leads her forward. Alex gives orders to clean up the bloody mess."Please take me home," Madison
She steps forward and Fernandez spins and tries throwing a punch at my head but misses. He moves quickly even with a bullet through the foot and gets between Cori and Sofia's rifle. Melina takes the opportunity to bring her gun down on the back of his head. He stumbles and I kick the tibial pressure point in his good leg. He drops and I kick Celina's gun away from him. She grabs it and aims it at him as he wiggles around like a flopping fish. I hand Melina my gun and slam down into his back with my cuffs primed. I practically pull his arms from their sockets in order to secure his hands behind his back while he's stunned."Help me get him up on the kitchen island and I'll cut off his fucking clothes." We drag him back to the kitchen minus Celina who stays at her post, which is the front door. He struggles but it's not enough for four women on a mission.The sick feeling in my stomach stays and I turn slightly and rub tears from my eyes. Not a minute has gone by that I haven't thought a
We park a half mile from the home. Melina and I run up the street, carrying the post driver between us because it's so damn heavy, and check out the property. Like the house he kept me and Cori in, this one is away from other homes and on a nice sized piece of property. The desert foliage on the north side of the area gives us a good vantage point to see the back door. I call Celina."Send Cori north to our location. The front door is on the south side of the house and you'll have about twenty-five yards from the truck to the door. Sofia will be your driver and leave as soon as you're inside. She'll park and meet us. We'll come through the back five minutes after you enter." We covered all of this in the car, but it helps me to go over the plan out loud again. "Give Cori ten minutes to get in place before Sofia drops you off.""Cori just took off. We're set," Celina says before ending the call.After Cori meets us, we stay low and wait for Sofia to text me that Celina is in the house.
Alex brings the car to the front. Austin jumps into the back and I take the passenger seat. I told the men to put Gabriella in our safe room until everything settles. She can cuss them out in Spanish, I don't have time. Sirens can be heard in the distance and we need to be completely clear of the house before they hit the street that leads to my private road.I've also notified additional men to meet us at the warehouse. As soon as we have Fernandez's location, we'll be moving out quickly. It suddenly occurs to me that Dax is totally out of the loop, so I dial his cell."You're fucking kidding me," he practically yells when I tell him his wife ran over a man and picked up the women. "I'm on my way." Another call comes in and I look at the display. It's Caleb."Start heading here with reinforcements," I tell Dax quickly. "I'll call as soon as we have a location. It won't be long."The man in the trunk is moaning loudly. There are metal plates over the taillights and nothing he can do to
Madison is up to something. The strange feeling persisted while she dressed and then at breakfast. Sending her off to the service without me was nearly impossible. The fact is, I need to get my head out of my ass and take care of Fernandez once and for all. The thought of him taking Madison again is eating me alive.While she's at EE, I can focus on what it takes to keep everyone safe. The Frontera Cartel is out of the picture and now we can focus on one man. I have everyone but our outside security in the conference room. Austin joins us too."How do we bring him out in the open without risking one of our women as bait?" I ask the men. It didn't matter how much Madison complained, there was no way I would give into her plan.I've never reached my current level of frustration as we debate the best scenarios. Alex hasn't said a word since entering the meeting, which surprises me. When I look at him, his eyes are on the door leading to the hallway."What has you worried?" I ask him when
The women with Celina give whoops and atta-girl shouts. I can't help smiling. "We'll be another thirty minutes. There's a building supply store not far from you and I need you to pick up two metal fence post drivers." I never worked Cave Creek as a cop, but one of the officers lived there and loved having barbeques, so I'm familiar with the area."We're on it. Meet us in the parking lot."I disconnect the call and decide to join Cori in the front. I wiggle between the seats and then lean back and exhale after I attach my seatbelt. "I'm worried Moon could beat us there."Cori puts her foot on the gas and shoots forward on the freeway. The 51 is one of the lighter trafficked freeways if you're not driving it during rush hour and we're pushing the witching hour. It's the most direct route from central Phoenix to the north valley and we're in luck because it's wide open. If that luck continues, highway patrol won't have units in the vicinity.We make it to the building supply store in twen