“That makes two of us.And don’t apologize for my stupidity.I’m the one who’s supposed to wear the damn thing, so it’s my responsibility.”Pulling her into his arms, he coaxed her into lying next to him, then touched his lips to the top of her head.“I’m clean, sweetheart.I had my routine blood work for the military a few weeks ago, and it’s been quite a while since I’ve been with anyone else.”
She rested her head on his shoulder.“I’ve always used protection, and it’s been a very long time for me too.But what happens if ...if ...”She let the end of her thought hang between them.
His fingers lifted her chin until her gaze met his.“If I just got you pregnant, we’ll deal with it.I promise.I would never run from my responsibilities.”
“I know.I just don’t want you to think I did this on purpose.”
“I’m more at fault than you are, Moriah.I was obviously thinking with the wrong head.”He chuckled and let her go for a moment so he could pull his jeans back up from around his knees.Turning on his side, he settled her into a spooning position, tucking her tight against him.“Think you can get through the rest of the night without any more nightmares.”
Moriah nodded, her hair brushing against his cheek.“I think so.”
“Good.”Relaxing against each other, they eased back into a satisfying and comfortable sleep.
Chapter20
Leo Simmons shifted restlessly in the back of the stolen black Ford Explorer.They’d picked it up from one of Hernandez’s chop shops before leaving Chicago—this time, they were heading to Elizabeth City, North Carolina.The dashboard VIN had been changed along with the plates, so they shouldn’t have any problem in case they were stopped by the police—as long as the cops weren’t suspicious of anything and gave the vehicle a closer look.And why should they?Leo and Adrian’s two goons in the front seats were just three buddies heading to North Carolina for a little vacation and maybe some fishing at the Outer Banks.He only hoped they caught the “Big One” so Adrian would get off his back.It wasn’t his fault Susan’s bitch of a sister had taken the gun and money.He just hoped she still had them in her possession.They had been on the road for over four hours, and he was anxious to finish this whole mess to get off Hernandez’s shit list.
Back at his girlfriend’s apartment, he’d killed her mother first.Before he put a bullet in Susan and her brat, she revealed her sister had taken the bag to work.Then, the sniveling whore had begged for their lives—like he would let her live after all the trouble she’d caused him.Unfortunately, Leo had killed her and the kid before he remembered to ask where her fucking sister worked.Dennis had been so pissed and called him every name in the book before breaking his nose with one punch.
Tossing an empty bottle of Mountain Dew into the rear of the SUV, he kicked the back of the front passenger seat.“How much fucking longer?”
Goon Two, as Leo thought of him, threw a folded-up newspaper in his direction.“About eight more hours.Read the paper—that is, if you know how to read.”
The two assholes snickered at the lame insult while Leo glowered at the backs of their heads.He wasn’t stupid enough to start a fight with them since they both outweighed him by a good fifty pounds—he knew his limits.
Fucking jackasses.
It was after three o’clock in the morning when they finally arrived in Elizabeth City and found a local no-tell motel.They got their requested rooms at the office—two adjoining, ground-floor units around the back of the bi-level establishment.Goons One and Two took the end room and left Leo the other, which was fine with him.He would rather have made the trip with a few of his own men, but Adrian insisted on sending those two assholes to ensure there were no further screw-ups.Leo figured the best way to get back in favor with the drug lord was to do things his way for now.It didn’t matter who did the dirty work with him as long as they got the job done.
Flopping down on the bed, he used the remote to turn on the television and shoved another pillow behind his head.Pulling out some rolling papers and a dime bag of primo pot, he quickly made a joint.It would help him get the sleep he needed for a few hours before they searched for Investigator Malone.Once they found him, they planned on tailing him for a bit, and, hopefully, it wouldn’t be long until he led them straight to the fucking bitch and the all-important duffel bag.
Blinking the sleep from her eyes, Moriah awoke in KC’s comforting embrace.A glance at the bedside clock told her it was a little after eight in the morning.She rolled over carefully to get a better look at his face without waking him.The penetrating hazel eyes she loved were behind closed lids, his long, black lashes fanning his cheeks.A lock of his dark-brown hair had fallen across his brow, and she fought the urge to brush it back into place.His hair was even longer now than it had been when they’d first met.God, had it just been a week ago?So much had changed since then.
She’d been ablahin bed with men before, but now, in KC’s arms, she felt sexually powerful with a passion she had never known.And she was one hundred percent positive she was safe with him.No matter what happened from this point on, he would be beside her all the way.
“I love you,” she whispered, placing her hand on his chest.
She was startled when his eyes flew open, and he rumbled, “I love you, too, sweetheart.”
Staring into his eyes, she knew it was true.She loved him with all her heart, and he loved her in return.Closing the distance between them, she kissed him.No more words were needed as they lost themselves in each other’s touch and made love again, blocking out the danger she was in, if only for a short while.
An hour later, they emerged from the bedroom after taking a luxurious and entertaining shower for two.At first, Moriah was embarrassed when KC joined her in the small stall.She had never taken a shower with a man before but quickly discovered she never wanted to shower without KC again.
After soaping up her body, he had taken her up against the cool tiled wall as the warm water beat down on them.She had hung on for dear life as he fucked her like a man possessed.When they’d toweled each other off afterward, she’d been shocked to see where her nails had made bright red scratch marks across his back.Worried she’d hurt him, an apology had tumbled from her lips, but then giddiness had taken hold of her when he told her he liked the fact she had branded him, even though the marks would eventually fade.
As they walked hand-in-hand to the living room, they found Sean at his computer with a cup of coffee in his hand.“Uncle Dan is on his way with bagels and stuff.He got old man Turner to watch the store for the day and already met with Sheriff Griffin, bringing him up to speed on the situation.The sheriff will tell his deputies to keep their eyes out for Illinois plates and anyone who looks out of place wandering around town.He’s also assigning an extra deputy to patrol Whisper, just in case, and said to call him if we need anything.”
Whisper was part of Dare County, and Sheriff Griffin had lived in the town all his life, so he ensured his hometown was safe and secure.At least two deputies could always be found driving around the tiny town at any given time, and the residents appreciated his efforts to keep them safe.
Brian Malone strolled to his assigned, unmarked car with a black duffel bag containing his personal equipment in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.After Sean had filled him in with the updated information on the murder of Moriah’s family from the DEA, Brian had gone to work a little early this morning and had a meeting with his supervisor.With the DEA’s confirmation that Moriah wasn’t a suspect and there were dirty cops in the Chicago Police Department, Captain Culpepper agreed it was in the best interest of everyone involved to keep her location a secret.They would follow the DEA’s lead for now.
In the meantime, Brian had a few cases of his own he needed to run down a few leads on.Climbing into the unmarked unit, he settled in and pulled out of the parking lot, still mulling over everything that had happened over the past two days.
Shit.
KC had really stepped in it this time.They’d all had their share of problems over the years, but this one was a fucking doozy.And all because of a woman.Go figure.The Malone brothers were notorious chick-magnets, he couldn’t deny that.They’d been blessed with their mother’s good looks and their father’s physique.None of them had lacked dates since their teenage years, but they each had avoided long-lasting attachments and complicated relationships until now.
KC had it bad for Moriah.They may have gotten off to a rocky start, but Brian was convinced if they could clean up this fucking mess she was involved in, the two of them might have a chance.
