He smiled, kissed me, turned me toward the door and tapped me on the ass. “Go. Wash.”
“You don’t have to say it, Tarek.” I disobeyed to kiss him deeply. “But I know the answer.”
He grinned and I walked from the room feeling as if I could do anything. I swung my hips, knowing fully well he was watching. For as long as I’d been an adult, I couldn’t remember feeling so sexy.
I followed his instructions and dropped my clothes in. Since the load was small, I dug through his dirty laundry basket, found a few of his shirts and a blanket to make it a full load and set up the machine. Once it was going, I hurried back up to where he was and sat in his lap.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
He kissed my shoulder while pointing things out to me on the screen. “We’ve gone through all the properties we know Otis owns or have been tied to. All of them except this one.”
“The club.”
He nodded. “It has cameras everywhere. So far, Swede and I were trying to find blind-spots.”
“Blind-spots?” I asked thoughtfully. “You mean where the cameras can’t reach?”
“Yes.” He pointed. “See this camera here? Well it covers this entire area. This one, comes in to cover the rest of this area here—and here.”
“Wow—he is hella paranoid.”
“True, but just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you.”
I sighed. “Then how do we get in to see if Otis is there? Maybe we should just let it go.”
“Can’t.” Tarek lifted me from his lap, rose and set me on the chair. “I know men like Otis. You and Lilo will never be safe until he’s either six feet under or in a prison cell. He’s going to keep coming and I’m not backing down until I get him first.”
“Tarek…”’
“I know you’re scared—but in the end, your safety and Lilo’s…plus my family.” Tarek’s voice cracked. “I’m not losing anyone, got that?”
I nodded. His family was in danger now because of me. I shouldn’t be talking him out of hunting Otis. But I didn’t want to lose him—sure, it was selfish, but I loved this man.
“I’m sorry. I’ll do whatever it takes to help.”
Tarek kissed my head. “How about I take you back up—”
The doorbell rang and I sighed. He checked before opening the door and soon the home was filled with Grim’s deep voice and Maia laughing at both cops.
“Hey, Ellie,” Maia said. “How are you?”
“Good—considering.” I replied.
She nodded. “Can I borrow you for a second?”
I looked over to where Grim was patting Tarek’s shoulder. The two of them seemed so close, a kind of friendship I realized I was lacking in my life. Sadness like never before ran through me and I nodded and followed Maia up to one of the guest bedrooms.
I sat on the edge of the bed and Maia leaned her back to the wall after dropping her trench coat on the other end of the bed. She crossed her ankles and I couldn’t help noticing the gun on her hip.
“How are you really doing?” Maia asked. “I know you don’t want to worry Tarek.”
“I’m okay. He’s talking to me again.” I admitted. “But I’m tired, Maia. I’m physically, emotionally, sexually—frustrated. Things aren’t moving as fast as I’d like with Tarek. I want to build something with him, and Otis-fucking-Valentina is an asshole!”
“Yeah, these investigations can take a while,” Maia said. “Especially when there’s an international component. So, things are getting better between you and the King, then?”
I nodded. “I figured if I was going to get my man, I had to start taking responsibilities for my actions. So, I signed out of the hospital and came to face the music.”
“That’s a very good foundation.”
