Chapter Three #2
It didn’t take long for Sophia to fall asleep. She looked adorable, snuggled up in the corner of the sofa with the blanket pulled up tight to her chin. The gauze bandage on her arm was still dry, which I took to be a good sign. The bleeding had stopped.
I picked up my phone and texted Rattler.
I wanted a couple of prospects over here watching the house.
Sophia didn’t think the kidnappers knew where to find her, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
He replied within minutes, which meant whatever business Ace had pulled him for was done.
He promised to send a couple of guys over ASAP.
I got up as quietly as possible and carried the tea tray back to the kitchen.
Sophia’s house was cozy and inviting. I liked it.
The kitchen had a small island in the middle, and French doors leading out to a patio.
I did a quick security loop of the house, checking to make sure all the doors were locked and the curtains were closed.
If anyone was out there, I didn’t want them to be able to see the inside layout.
Hopefully the sight of my bike parked under the carport would deter any would-be bad guys from thinking Sophia was alone and an easy target. If not, I’d take care of them, but Sophia didn’t need any more drama tonight.
I considered carrying Sophia up to her bedroom, but I wasn’t sure how sound a sleeper she was. She looked comfortable where she was, so I decided to leave her alone.
Loading the dating website she’d accessed earlier on my phone, I browsed for a while, using the login details I’d saved from her earlier.
It looked like a legit site. Lots of lonely guys and gals looking to hook up.
If George and crew were using it to target women, it was unlikely the admins knew about it.
Maybe Shadow could dig a little deeper. I needed to let Ace know what was going on, though.
As Prez, it would be his call as to whether or not Riptide got involved.
I sent him a quick text. Moments later, my phone rang.
I moved to the kitchen before answering so as not to disturb Sophia.
“You think it’s the human trafficking ring our buddies in the bureau have been looking for?” Ace didn’t waste any time on small talk.
“Kind of light on details so far, but it looks like a possibility.” I leaned against the counter. “Thought maybe Shadow could dig a little deeper into the dating app Sophia was targeted from.”
“Sophia is the woman you and Rattler rescued?”
“Yeah. I’m staying with her tonight, just in case. She called a friend but they aren’t available tonight, and she doesn’t want to involve family.”
There was a pause on the other end of the line. “She okay with you being there?”
“Yeah. She seems to trust me. Feisty thing, but this shook her up.”
“Understandable. Rattler mentioned she took a fall from the vehicle. She okay, or do you need Joker to come look at her?”
“She’s got some road rash on one arm, but she seems to be okay other than that. If it looks worse in the morning we can reevaluate.”
“Fair enough. Did she report this to the cops?”
“No. Seems to have some hesitation about trusting them. Told her to sleep on it and see how she felt in the morning.”
“Good instincts. Intel from our friends in the FBI is that there might be some kind of payoff going on. Tips aren’t being acted on fast enough.
Could be one rogue cop, or the whole department.
Or maybe just a coincidence. Impossible to tell, but I’d be careful if I were her. Do they know where to find her?”
“She doesn’t think so.” I paused. “Maybe contacting the cops is a bad idea. If she reports the incident, anyone on the force will know who she is and where to find her.”
“Good point. Think you can talk her out of reporting?”
I snorted. “She’s not keen on the idea, so yeah. Pretty sure I can do that.”
“I’ll get Shadow to investigate the dating app. I’ll have him do a background check on her as well. Can you send him any info you have?’
“No problem. I’ll do that as soon as we’re done.”
“Good. And, Deuce?”
“Yeah?”
“Be careful. I don’t like the looks of this on the heels of that murder Emma witnessed a couple months back. Don’t have anything solid, but it feels connected.”
“Roger that.” I had the same feeling.
I pocketed my phone and wandered back into the living room. Sophia hadn’t moved. If I left her sleeping where she was, she was going to wake up stiff and sore. I could either rouse her and tell her to go to bed, or I could just carry her up and tuck her in.
The temptation to hold her in my arms won out. I slipped upstairs and folded the sheets on her bed back so I could place her in it, then went back down.
She let out a soft moan when I picked her up, turning to snuggle in tight against me.
I’m no saint. My cock rose with alacrity, straining against the rough material of my jeans.
Note to self. Don’t go commando if Sophia’s around .
It was all I could do to just carry her up the stairs and lay her on her bed. My body wanted me to snuggle up with her, but sanity prevailed. I’d promised to behave myself.
Sucks to be a guy who always keeps his promises.
I slid the housecoat off her shoulders and tossed it onto the chair in the corner of the room. She was wearing a set of flannel pajamas with kittens cavorting all over them. First time I’d ever been jealous of a bunch of kittens.
I pulled the bedding up to her chin. Her brow wrinkled, and she let out a little whimper. I wondered if it was because she missed the feel of my arms holding her safe. She tossed and turned restlessly for a few moments before settling back down to sleep.
When had I become such a wuss? After my old lady bailed on me, I’d vowed to be a love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of guy.
I made sure the women I bedded had no expectations beyond a mutually agreeable roll in the hay, but with Sophia I felt something different.
I barely knew her, yet she intrigued me.
I found myself wanting more than just a casual roll in the hay.
I padded downstairs, making one last sweep of the ground floor for security.
Satisfied nothing was amiss, I unbuckled my holster and hung my gun over the edge of the coffee table within easy reach of the sofa.
I tossed a pillow and a blanket on the sofa and stretched out.
My feet hung over the edge, but I’d certainly slept in much worse places.
The movie had ended long ago, and I turned the television off.
Setting my phone on vibrate, I tucked it under the corner of the pillow so it would wake me without disturbing Sophia if anyone called before morning. Tiny and Thor were on perimeter guard and they’d alert me if anything needed my attention.
I closed my eyes and slowed my breathing. One thing I’d learned in the SEALs was to snatch whatever small pockets of sleep I could in the midst of battle.
This felt like the start of a battle, and I intended to be victorious.