Chapter 16
Sometimes the darkest creatures have the purest hearts. ~The Big Bad Wolf
Axel
Once we’ve driven around the corner, I pull to the curb, no longer able to hold back the laughter bubbling inside me. “I can’t believe you tugged down your ex-husband’s bathing suit.”
The sun shines through the front window and brightens the tops of her red cheeks as she giggles. “I wish I had a picture to post on all my social media accounts. Did you see the surprise on his face? Best moment ever.”
Wiping the joy from her eyes, she sobers. “He’ll probably use this incident to prove I’m an unworthy mother the next time he sues me for custody.”
“If he did, he’d expose his tiny pecker to the world. Believe me, babe, that is the last thing he will want.”
The snort she lets out is so darn cute, I lean over and kiss her. It was meant to be a congratulatory meeting of mouths. Contrary to my intentions, the simmering heat ignites us into flames. She grabs the back of my head, and I groan. My addiction to her flows through my bloodstream, and I deepen the kiss, uncaring how a group of collegiates wolf-whistle as they walk by. By any standards, our public display of affection is PG-13. The image of her splayed out on my bed with my face between her legs is anything but.
When we break for air, her swollen lips widen into a grin. “I’ve been waiting for you to do this since you took me in your kitchen. What took you so long?”
Cock throbbing, I recall how I promised myself not to seduce her. “It’s complicated.”
“Why? Are you married?” The hurt on her face makes me wish I could reboot our relationship.
“No, nothing like that.” How do I explain? My boss told me to fuck her, and because of it, I cannot. “You’re at a vulnerable point in your life.”
Her soft, plump lips purse. “I’m a lot stronger than most people think.”
“Agreed. Once this is over, I am going to lay you down and make love to you until you’re sore in places you didn’t know existed. First, we need to plug your project’s leak. Are you willing to speak with Henry again?”
“Uh, yeah. Okay.” Her lackluster response and sudden pallor give me pause. Was my boss right? Is she the one who has been selling secrets to our enemies? It hardly seems possible, and yet, I wouldn’t be the first FBI agent to be led astray by a gorgeous, seemingly na?ve woman.
“I’m counting on you to get him to confess.” I pray she does. Otherwise, she’s in for a helluva ride.
Because of beach traffic, the drive to the hospital takes over an hour. After I stop at the front desk, the woman purses her lips and hands us visitor’s passes.
Gwen reaches for my hand in the elevator, and the sweet gesture affects me almost as much as the earlier kiss. I would ponder this phenomenon more, but we’ve arrived at our destination.
The guard, already alerted to our presence, demands to see my badge. With formalities over, my lovely suspect rushes into her friend’s room. “How are you?”
A pang of jealousy hits me as she throws her arms around his chest and kisses the heavyset man’s cheek. “Fine, but can you believe they put me on a fucking diet?”
Henry twists toward the door and scowls. “What the fuck, Gwen. You brought the Feds again?”
“Ah, this is Special Agent Wulf. You can trust him. Tell him what you know.” She catches his eye and gives him a tiny shake of the head. Holy shit. She’s in on it.
“A pleasure to meet you.” Playing my cards close to the vest, I hold out my hand.
When the kid refuses to shake, I take it back. “What were all the burner phones for?”
“No idea what you’re talking about.” Like the last time he was questioned and lied, his heart races.
The alarms summon a nurse, who ushers us out the door. I got what I came for, so don’t make a scene. Under the blue, fluorescent lights, we walk down the long hallway, giving me time to regain my composure.
Now, in the lobby, Little Miss Mata Hari taps my shoulder. “Perhaps I only thought I saw a weapon. What if Henry had a real cardiac arrest? I mean, he is heavy and never exercises…”
“What about the Canadian? The threatening texts?” My patience for her lies has ended.
Unaware of my simmering anger, she rambles on as we exit the hospital. “Well, the suited guy, Bordeau right? He could’ve had a traditional gun. I can’t be certain.”
Once we’re belted up, I give her one more chance to speak the fucking truth. “Why do I feel there’s something you’re not telling me?”
The sly woman squeezes my upper fly. “Can we talk about it back at my apartment?”
As I’m about to pull the car over and take her over my knee, my boss calls. “Did you get anywhere?”
“Hey, bro. No can do this week, sorry.” Turning the volume down, I place the phone to my left ear and fake a smile.
Stillman lowers his voice to a hiss. “Time’s up. Arrest her and bookher today.”
Shit. Not only did I fail her, but I also screwed up my assignment. “Understood. I’ll bring chips and salsa. Better bring an extra wad of cash because I’m feeling lucky. Can we change the date to Thursday?”
“Fine. Five more days, Agent Wulf, but only because we have no other leads.”
“Agreed. See you then.” After I hang up, I turn to McGee and shrug.
“Poker night.” An hour ago, I would’ve felt guilty lying to her. Now, not so much.
While I consider my next moves, she smiles and cups my junk. “I’m surprised anyone plays with you. You’ve got a poker face like one of those stone men on Easter Island.”
I squeeze her traitorous hand and wink. “You sure, babe?”
If it’s seduction she wants, I will give it to her.
Blushing, she nods and swallows hard. “Yeah, if you do.”
Hell, if she only knew what I wanted, she’d jump from this moving car and run. I’m consumed by the need to bring her to the edge of orgasm, beg, and confess to every sin she’s ever committed.
Clueless to the danger, she directs me to her motel. Outside, on the second floor’s cement landing, she reaches into her purse and retrieves the motel’s plastic key ring. When she opens the door, cool, moldy air containing a hint of freshener wets my face.
Scrunching up her nose, she collapses on the bed. “Home sweet home.”
Turning sideways, I inch by her mattress and open the miniature refrigerator in the Lilliputian one-room efficiency.
Having recently visited her ex’s luxurious summer home on the beach block, my fists clench. Clearly, their divorce was not equitable.
“There’s boxed wine or water in the fridge. I need a shower.” She stands, yawns, and strides to the bathroom.
Alone, I check cabinets, find a glass, and pour the cheap chardonnay to the halfway point.
Once she returns to my side, I put the cup in her hand and cross my arms over my chest. “Time to fess up, sweetheart.”
“I have nothing to-”
“Drop the act, Gwen. I know you’ve been lying to me. My team has been checking your bank accounts and your online activity. Everything will be much easier if you confess to selling state secrets.”
She gulps down the whole glass of wine, pours another, and closes her eyes. For a moment, I wonder if she fell asleep.
Then, those huge brown orbs laser focus on mine. “You need to understand. I was doing it for the rest of my team. I figured if they thought they were getting what they needed from me, they would leave everyone else alone.”
My face remains impassive. I’ve heard plenty of confessions in my time, and almost always, the perpetrator tries to play the hero. I’m not buying it. At the same time, my heart bleeds for her. Dammit. I want to believe her. Neverhave I had such conflicting emotions, and I wonder how the fuck I got here.
“They wanted blueprints, documents, so I gave them enough to think I was on the level. I sent them phony intel. They’ll be going down the wrong path for years.”
“Jesus.” I whistle through my teeth. She’s ballsy, I’ll give her that much. “Let me make sure I understand. You’ve been feeding our adversaries false information?”
She nods. “And I can prove it.”
“Why the fuck didn’t you tell anyone?” I never shout, but every man has a breaking point, and she has brought me to the brink of it.
“They threatened my kid! They watch my every move. What would you have me do?” Her brown eyes narrow.
When I think of all the ways her plan could’ve gone south, my stomach churns. “I should arrest you for pure stupidity.” Before I can ask, who the fuck is this‘they’ she speaks of, she digs her nails into my shoulders.
“Don’t you see? They”ll pursue another team member if you take me out of play. You don’t know how strong they are. How much intel they appear to have. We can use what I’ve done to our advantage.” She pushes my hand away while I pick up my phone to make a call. “Please, no. You can’t say anything to anybody. They will know. They will follow you. They have drones in the sky. All of our phones are tapped. It’s my actions, and only mine, which have protected everyone. If their focus is on me, they’ll leave the rest of my team alone.”
“Except for Henry.” I can’t think when she touches me. Grimacing, I lift her by the waist, and after setting her down two feet away, she finishes the second glass of wine.
“They must’ve figured out I was feeding them false intel and used him as an example.” She plops her ass on the bed while I tower over her.
“Fine. Explain your plan, and don’t skip any details, dammit.”