Riley sucked in a sharp breath.
Charlie took off, searching the bedroom and bathroom for Liza’s cat, something he always did when Josh came to feed Salem.
The cat screeched before she ran out of the bedroom with Charlie chasing her.
Normally, Josh would tell Charlie to leave Salem alone, but he was too dumbfounded at how trashed the living room and kitchen were. Furniture was turned upside down, and kitchen drawers were left opened, along with the cabinet doors.
Riley scraped a hand over her forehead. “I don’t understand.”
Josh didn’t either. Then he remembered something. “Back at Liza’s office when Taylor asked if you knew the men that paid Liza a visit yesterday, you said you didn’t. But I agreed with Taylor that you turned white. What didn’t you tell us?” He’d meant to probe more when they were in the car, but he’d been deep in thought, praying nothing had happened to his cousin.
Riley stepped over a lamp then settled at the window that overlooked the bay. Liza lived in a swanky neighborhood in San Fran where views of the Golden Gate Bridge poked out above the marine layer in the distance. She hugged herself. “Did Liza fill you in on her former employer in Boston?”
Josh sidled up to her. “Yes. She worked for Stefano Moretti.” When Liza had filled him in on what had gone down, Josh had done some digging on the Internet. The family had been in the news quite frequently because of their ties to the cartel and other illegal business dealings. “The FBI raided the joint but didn’t find anything to hold her boss on.” Josh couldn’t say he was surprised about her employer. His time as a SEAL had taught him that corruption was everywhere.
Riley let out a nervous laugh. “Before I left to come out here, the news was reporting that Stefano Moretti was arrested for tax evasion and money laundering.”
“And you think that has something to do with Liza?”
She shrugged.
Cars passed by below, and whitecaps crested on the surface of the bay beyond the traffic.
“Let’s say for the sake of argument that you’re right,” Josh said, hoping beyond hope that Liza wasn’t entwined in any mafia business. “Why would the Boston mafia track down Liza? She left them, and from what I understand from Liza, she had no blowback or interaction with the Moretti family after she quit.”
Riley puffed out her rosy cheeks, her straight black hair hanging freely. Josh liked her hair down, but he preferred the updo style, which showed her long, smooth neck. “Call it a hunch. Maybe Moretti wants to be sure no employee, past or present, testifies against him. The FBI put Liza through the wringer.”
“But she told the Feds she hadn’t seen or had knowledge of any illegal activity.”
“Unless she did and didn’t tell us,” Riley said.
At that thought, Josh’s stomach churned like a bad day at sea, and he’d had a few of those during his time as a SEAL.
He scanned the room. Charlie was lying down next to Salem. Or rather Salem was nestled into Charlie’s belly.
Josh rubbed two fingers across his chin. “Given how this place has been ransacked, I’m guessing someone thinks Liza has something of value.” Whether any of this was related to the mafia in Boston or not, he wasn’t sure.
Tears clouded Riley’s gray eyes.
Josh gently grabbed her shoulders and bent his head slightly. “Hey.” He tipped up her chin with the pad of his finger. “We’ll find her.”
Riley sniffled then threw her arms around him. “I’m scared.”
Closing his eyes, Josh rubbed her back. It had been too long since he’d had a woman in his arms, and it felt amazing. He eased back, holding her face in between his palms. Her skin was silky and smooth.
She studied him, her gaze roaming back and forth and up and down.
The only body part Josh had in his scope was her lips—plump, pink, and so very kissable. The mess around them disappeared, and the only thing he could focus on was to kiss her or not to kiss her.If I do, will she slap me? Should I ask permission first?A gentleman always asks first.Dad had always counseled Josh on women. “Son, when it comes to women, treat them with respect. And never assume she wants the same thing you do.”
But Josh didn’t have to think at all when Riley pressed her lips to his so softly and tentatively, he swore he was imagining it. Magic came to mind. In that moment, he felt as if he was in a fairy tale and she’d cast a spell on him, because he couldn’t move. All he could think about was her and him and the magic they could make.
She jumped away. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to kiss you. I’m so emotional right now.”
Josh touched his lips, which were on fire along with his body.
She wasn’t getting away that easily. He tugged her to him. “You don’t need to be sorry.” He combed his fingers through one side of her hair until his hand rested on her neck.
Her gray eyes met his green ones as she sucked in her bottom lip, an act that was so darn sexy that it made every cell in him come alive.
