Page 41 of Blood Money

When he heard the door firmly shut, he brushed his teeth in the kitchen sink, then shucked his shirt and slacks and lay on the sofa. The backlit dial on his watch said ten o’clock, but he couldn’t sleep.

The memory of Alex’s son exhibiting such unabashed affection made him smile. He hardly knew Nicky, but somehow the little guy had charmed his way into Gray’s heart. Making sure Nicky was safe was his number-one priority.

Then there was Alex.

Tough though it was, he had to focus on maintaining case integrity by not tainting any of his actions. His only job where Alex Romano was concerned was to get the evidence he needed to nail the Pyramid—and keep Alex and her son safe in the process. Then he would end all association with her.

Gray punched his pillow. He seriously doubted he’d get a wink of shut-eye tonight.

…

Alex jerked upright. Beside her on the nightstand, her cell phone shrilled.

The room was still cloaked in darkness, but the phone’s screen lit up the adjacent wall. She grabbed the phone. Her heart pounded. One look at the number on the digital display and her pulse went from fast to light speed. She didn’t recognize the number. Which could only mean one thing.

It was them.

She lunged for the light switch on the table lamp. Her hands shook as she fumbled for the digital recorder Gray had given her. Thank God she’d put it on her nightstand before going to bed. She stuck the earpiece into her ear, pushed the tiny red button on the recorder, took a deep breath, and answered the call.

“H—hello?” Her voice sounded breathy, panicked.

“It’s time to pay your debt,” the now-familiar female voice said. “Friday at noon. Bring the files to the corner of Sutphin Boulevard and 119th Avenue, South Jamaica, Queens.”

God, this is really happening.

Alex startled as Gray appeared in front of her. He made a circling motion with his finger, indicating she should continue talking.

“This Friday?” she repeated, her eyes locked onto Gray’s. “I don’t know if I can get them by then.”

“Do you love your son?” The accented voice held a discernible tinge of annoyance.

Alex clenched her teeth to keep from screaming. The touch of Gray’s hand on her bare shoulder was the only thing keeping her grounded, but even he couldn’t contain the firestorm brewing in her head.

“You bitch,” she hissed. “If you touch my son…if you so much as look at him, I’ll rip you apart with my bare hands.”

Feminine laughter came over the phone. “You are in no position to make threats. This Friday. Come alone, or else…”

The phone beeped in Alex’s ear, indicating the call had been disconnected. Gray pried the phone from her rigid fingers and set it on the nightstand. Next, his hands were on her shoulders. He was saying something to her, but all she heard was that bitch’s threat to hurt Nicky repeating in her brain.

Alex began to shake. Suddenly cold, she wrapped her arms around herself. All she had on was a short silk lavender sheath that went with her matching robe. Ironically, it occurred to her these garments were the only things Nicky’s father had given her that she’d kept. Everything else, she’d tossed long ago.

Gray pulled her against something solid and warm—his bare chest. Soothing hands stroked her back. Knowing she shouldn’t, Alex slid her arms around him, gripping his back, urging him to hold her closer. Which he did. The immense comfort was overwhelming in its intensity. It felt so right. He felt so right.

Steely muscles flexed beneath her fingers. Her cheek rested against his firm pectoral muscle. The remnants of his clean, fresh aftershave came to her, and she breathed him in. With his hands still gently stroking her back through the ultra-thin silk material, her shaking began to ease.

“It’ll be okay,” Gray murmured, his lips against the side of her head. “You did good.”

“I was so angry,” she whispered, then pulled away. Tears nearly spilled out. Determined to be strong, she blinked them back. “That bitch threatened my baby.”

He clenched his jaw. “And one day she’ll pay for that.”

Shudders racked her body and suddenly Gray’s lips were on her forehead, her cheeks, easing her anxiety as nothing else could. In some deep recess of her brain, she knew that’s all it was, but she could no sooner have pushed him away than she could stop breathing. He was what she needed, and right now she needed him more than ever.

Wearing nothing but her sheath and equally thin silk panties, Alex felt his erection pressed firmly against her belly and realized the only clothing he wore was skin-tight boxer briefs. And he was hard. For her.

Last week when he’d kissed her she’d thought her body was alive, but that was nothing compared to this. Fire blossomed in her core, and she pushed her hips forward, intensifying the contact. Wanting, no—needing—to be closer.

Hot, electrifying currents shot through her, eliciting a moan as his lips found hers. The kiss was gentle at first, his lips warm, molding to hers. Gray wrapped one arm around her back, his hand gripping her ass, pulling her even tighter against him.