Page 35 of Love Above Law

She looks beautiful.

Ignoring the cold, I settle behind her and wrap her body in my embrace. "Why are you standing out here? It's freezing."

"Look at that sunrise," she exclaims. "The orange and purple hues with the little hints of blue sky." Leyna presses her body back against mine. "It wasn't enough to admire its beauty through the glass."

I look out at the sun peeking over the bay and let her observation sink in. It feels like the start of something. "Come on," I lead her back inside. Setting her down on the sofa, I go to the kitchen, fix her a cup of coffee, and take it to her. "This will warm you up. I need to jump in the shower. Have breakfast with me before I leave?" Her eyes roam my body. Brazen, she doesn't hide it. "Eyes up here, beautiful." Her response is to continue her ogling as she sips her coffee before peering over the rim of her cup at me.

Soon.

Seeming to read my mind, Leyna holds my stare—almost daring me to make a move. The sexual tension between us is so strong I start to feel the effects physically. Needing that shower to put out the flames—possibly a cold one, I leave the living room.

I planned to make breakfast for Leyna before leaving for work, but by the time I walk out of the bathroom the smell of bacon hits me and the sounds of music fills the apartment. Wasting no time, I dress and make my way to the kitchen. Stopping mid-stride, I take in the sight before me. Leyna's flipping pancakes on the cast iron griddle, still wearing the oversized clothes she had on earlier, and her long hair piled in a loose bun on top of her head as her hips move to the beat of the song playing. Pulling a barstool away from the counter, I sit, and watch amused by her dancing until the song ends.

Turning the stove off, Leyna places the pancakes on a platter alongside some fruit, and the bacon strips then turns toward the refrigerator. Startled, she clutches her chest. "Jesus," Leyna gasps. "I didn't hear you come in. You ready to eat?" she continues with retrieving the orange juice from the refrigerator.

Getting up from my chair I tell her, "sit, and I'll bring the food." I place the food down in front of us and take my seat next to her. "What's your plan for today?" I get back up and fix myself a cup of coffee.

"Not sure. Maybe sightseeing?" Leyna spreads strawberry jam on top of her pancake. "I'm so tired of doing nothing. The apartment is nice and all, but I'm also sick of just sitting around. I noticed there are a few museums not far from here. I figured I could call an uber and spend some of my day getting to know my new home," she takes a bite.

Leaning forward, I take my wallet from my back pocket. Flipping it open I hand her some cash. "I have my own money, Lex," she states. I give her a look. She is so stubborn. Relenting she takes it from me. "Use it however you want. Go shopping, get your hair and nails done—whatever makes you happy."

Thirty minutes later I check my watch. "Shit, I have to go." Pushing myself from the counter I stand, place my dishes down in the sink and walk to the door to grab my jacket and keys.

"Want anything specific for dinner tonight?" Leyna asks. I'm going to have to increase my workouts because the woman can cook.

"You're not cooking tonight," I shrug on my coat. Leyna swivels the stool around and looks at me. "I'm taking you to dinner." Walking back to the kitchen, I place myself between her parted legs as her head tilts back making eye contact with me.

"A date?" she questions in a hopeful tone.

I brush away the hair that has fallen across her face. "Will you have dinner with me tonight?" I return the same hopefulness.

Her response is simple and delivered with a beautiful smile. "Okay." Leaning down, I kiss her forehead. "I'll see you later, beautiful."

A few hours later, Kai and I are on the road heading to meet with the family of the young woman killed. Hopefully, they can give us some clues as to the people the victim knew and could have been with the night or morning of her murder. We spent the morning going over all the details collected so far on the other two homicide cases involving similarities to this one. It's not hard to miss them either. All three women are within the same age range in their early twenties. The resemblance they have to one another is uncanny; all three women are brown haired, green-eyed, tan complexion, and have the same body build. They have yet to determine our third victim's timeline for the day, which is where we are heading now. What we do know about the other two cases is that their bodies were found in the downtown Seattle area within a few blocks of each other three nights apart.

"Heard Leyna bagged the job," Kai remarks.

"Yeah, she's excited," I tell him.

"You finally on board with her working there?"

"As long as the men keep their hands to themselves." I tell Kai, then start thinking about the barely there little red dresses Dare's female employees wear.

Kai laughs. "She'll be fine."

We roll up to a small brick home located in a modest middle-class neighborhood forty minutes outside of Seattle. Getting out of the car, we make our way up the sidewalk leading to the front porch of the home. We knock a few times before an older gray-haired gentleman answers the door. "Can I help you?"

"Yes, sir. Kai and I show our badges. "I'm agent Taylor and this Agent Kekoa. You mind answering a few questions for us?" The man's eyes dart between Kai and me. I take in his appearance. Even though he seems to be holding it together stress mares his face and his eyes are bloodshot. Stepping to the side, he invites us into his home. We follow him into the living room of the house where a few other family members are sitting.

"You mind telling me why the FBI is here to investigate my daughter's murder?" he demands.

"FBI?" the petite brown-haired woman questions.

"Agents this is my wife, Rachael," he takes a seat on the couch next to her.

"You mind?" I asked making a gesture to sit in a chair nearby. He nods. "Bethany was found on government property. For those reasons and a few others is why the FBI is heading the investigation." He looks to his wife.

"What do you need to know?" he asks.