I approached the board and studied it. “This one, I remember it was around my birthday. I remember my mom planned this huge party, but we couldn’t get a hold of him.”
“Okay.”
“Um…” I followed the trail. “This one, he claimed he had a conference in Billings and couldn’t be disturbed. We thought he was working. All the others, no clue. My father wasn’t a very forthcoming man with his time.”
Tarek stared at the timeline. “Your father has pissed off a drug cartel. We don’t really know how. But from what you’ve told me about his penchant for different women and secrets, I’m going to go out on a line in assuming he either slept with the boss’ woman or messed with is product.”
“Product? Do you mean drugs.”
“Yes.”
“Well.” I rubbed my palms into my thighs. “I’ve never seen my father high or anything like that. Then again, I’m beginning to realize I don’t know him at all, so who knows?”
Silence.
“Ellie, what you did for Kujo and Maia…”
“It was the least I could do.” I swallowed the rising lump in my throat. “Maia means something to you. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. The last thing I need right now is for her to get hurt because of me.”
“Maia can take care of herself.”
“I’m aware of that.” I said it a little too harshly and immediately caught myself. “I’m hungry. Are you hungry?”
He sighed. “There’s some stew on the stove and rice in the cooker. Help yourself.”
I all but ran from the room. It was bad enough I was having nightmares about him letting me die to save Maia. I didn’t need to hear him praise her bad-assfantasticnesstoo.
I knew he could never forgive me. But that didn’t stop me from wanting.
Cobra
Seeingthe Crazies in front of me heading into Big Timber always grounded me. They overpowered every feeling I had, leaving me free, leaving me with a new appreciation of things in the world greater than me.
I had been battling my emotions and the lustful thoughts Ellie sent through me. They weren’t her fault, yet I had spent most of the ride angry at her for making me want her. I couldn’t do anything about what I had raging through me—I didn’t want to let Malik down or disappoint my parents.
Besides, I was still angry at her and I could have gone right on feeling as if she caused the end of my world had the Protectors not guilted me into helping her. Then again, I could have transferred her case to Maia, or called in one of my guys, like Grim to handle it. As a matter of fact, I should have done one of those alternatives. I wouldn’t have to be around her, and my life could have gone on being mine.
But I hadn’t and it was too late to turn back. Keeping her safe was the right thing to do and my parents would kick my ass if I hadn’t done what was right.
I sighed.
Having her so close forced me to face the fact I wanted to feel the sharp bite of her nails in my flesh. I wanted to listen to her breath speed up and feel it wash over my skin. I wanted to spank her, to pull her hair.
I wanted to fuck her life she deserved.
It wasn’t easy pushing those thoughts from my mind or keeping them from making me hard. The thought of being unprofessional wrapped its way around them and the battle continued. I was a cop and my duty to Ellie Sargent was to keep her safe, find her father and put the bad guys either in their graves or a six by eight cell.
Once that was over, I’d go back to my life and let her go on with hers. Maybe I should take Grim up on his offer to set me up. He’d tried for a few years and I always declined. After a while, he stopped offering.
I glanced over at her to the way her hair fluttered in the wind and wondered if it would smell like roses or some other delicious scent I couldn’t resist. I wondered if she liked her men forceful and strong or gentle.
I sighed.
The thoughts plagued me until I parked behind a local diner sitting beside an abandoned house. The last time we parked in the open, we had a sniper taking pot-shots at us. I wasn’t about to take any chances. Without looking over at her, I climbed from the front seat of the car and stretched my back.
“You okay?” Ellie asked.
“Fine.” I told her. “My back’s been throbbing a little, that’s all.”
