Chapter 9 #2
While her gut told her to move back to her car, immediately calling this in, she decided otherwise.
This could garner her a suspension, if not termination, but if she wanted to catch Wrath Constantino, rigorous and entirely different methods were going to have to be used.
Every step with precision, she moved closer to the door, listening again. Nothing had changed.
She placed her hand on the edge, pushing.
When the rollers creaked, sticking, she cringed and held back.
A few seconds later she tried again, opening just enough to be able to slip inside.
As her eyes adjusted to the light, she followed protocol as she walked around the perimeter.
There were no outward signs of recent activity.
Noticing a set of stairs, she used caution as she advanced, step after step, her eyes constantly moving.
Her nerves were on edge, her palms sweating as she gripped the cold steel of her gun.
Everything about this screamed of a setup, but who could have gotten to Harry?
Her CI had clandestine ties at best to the FBI, let alone to her as the handler. For anyone to have found out meant…
Her hackles raised, she stopped on the landing, blinking in order to focus.
The staircase had led to what appeared to be the main floor.
Only the light of the moon streaming in through the wall-to-wall windows highlighted the interior.
The living room was empty, but she gathered a scent, a fragrance that she couldn’t place.
Where was this coming from? She stood in the middle of the room, turning in a full circle, identifying areas of the house.
The kitchen. The scent had to be coming from the kitchen.
The almost sickeningly sweet combination of flowers gave her chills.
Lavender and roses. She held her breath as she walked in the direction of the fragrance.
The gleaming appliances and austere environment made the room seem cold, uninviting given the shadows created by the moon.
A slight ticking noise drew her attention and while she knew the source, the refrigerator, she took a deep breath, the sound rattled. A few steps in and she froze.
A candle was lit, sitting smack in the middle of the island.
From where she stood, the flickering flame gave an ominous appearance to the entire space.
Sophia was terrified, goosebumps popping along her arms. A quick wipe of perspiration from her brow and she inched along the far counter, creeping closer until she was only a foot away from the candle.
There was a note, the writing bold and beautifully written.
Another step and she had the note in her hand.
No. No! Her fingers numb, the thin paper slipped out of her hands, fluttering to the counter in slow motion. The words, her words were staring back at her.
Submission…
The word lingers in my mouth, creating tingles dancing throughout my body.
She backed away, taking short and calculated steps. Every concept she’d learned and all the training she’d had forced her into a difficult understanding.
She’d been played.
Again.
Every portion of her body quivered, her pussy clenching even as a rush of blinding rage entered her system.
She hated the man, longed to see him dead.
Then why had her body betrayed her for the nth time, driving her into a state of madness?
She kept her finger on the trigger, her mind reeling. “Clever.”
“We meet again,” he chuckled. “I’m no more clever than you are, sweetheart. You’ve been on a vendetta to hunt me down for months.”
The masculine voice was deep, the sensual baritone floating all around her. Sophia spun around, aiming the gun at chest level. “What. The. Hell.” He was in the shadows, the perpetrator, the man who’d purposely led her here. And there wasn’t a single doubt in her mind who he was.
Wrath.
He’d found her blog. He’d located her CI. He’d secured private information about her.
“I suggest you come out with your hands up,” she stated, keeping the tremor out of her voice.
The brusque chuckle sent shivers down her spine. He took two steps, inching closer yet keeping his face hidden by the darkness. “I don’t really think you want to kill me, Sophia. In fact, I believe you’re curious about me, just as you were before.”
“Curious about a cold-blooded murderer killing innocent people? Only in the sense of how to capture you. Let me see your hands.” Her entire body was rigid, her heart racing.
“Innocent? That’s where you’re wrong. There were distinct reasons for every one of the people I killed. They were all monsters.”
“You have to be out of your mind,” she huffed.
“Do you know how many drugs were prevented from entering your precious United States given my last… contract?”
The way his lust-filled voice swept through her kept her stunned, her heart racing. “He was also a human being. What about Stephen Wallace?”
Wrath snorted. “Wallace appeared like a boy scout on paper, but he was in discussions with the Russians regarding his security system. If the software had gone online, the entire world would have known the brutality of the KGB within days. I did the Americans a favor.”
A small part of her wanted to believe him, but she knew the asshole would say anything to get himself out of this, as well as to earn her trust once again.
That was never going to happen.
“How did you find him?” she asked, uncertain she wanted to hear the answer.
He smiled. “I have various methods I use. It’s amazing what people will tell you.”
Her mind floated back to the possibility of an informant.
The leak would have to come from an individual on Mr. Wallace’s protection team.
Now that he’d all but confirmed this, her first call after arresting Wrath would be to the director.
He’d have a field day hunting down the person who betrayed the sanctity of the FBI.
“Did I tell you during the time we spent together that I’m an expert marksman? The best in my class. I suggest you follow my orders and come out here with your hands up,” Sophia directed.
The hesitation and silence were daunting as fuck, driving her adrenaline to an even higher level.
Finally, Wrath took two long strides forward, his hands in the air.
Now she could see the smirk on his face, could sense he was mocking her.
When he took another step closer, far too close, she recoiled and knew he’d homed in on the fact her hands were shaking.
His eyes seemed to be shining, illuminating the sexy lines created by his smile.
Even the way strands of hair fell across his forehead gave him an alluring appearance.
My God, she was thinking of this man as attractive after all the lies. What the fuck was wrong with her?
But he is…
She ignored the inner voice, cocking her head and giving him a nasty glare.
His hands were in the air and he turned in a complete circle, the move smooth and easy. “As you can see, I mean you no harm. In fact, I’m thrilled to see you again. You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.” His eyes fell to the locket, his nostrils flaring.
Dear God, he sounded sincere. Even his eyes had a look of honesty. She reacted, fingering the necklace, visions rushing into the back of her mind. The BDSM club. Dinner by the beach. Wine. Spanking. Hot sex.
No. No! She wasn’t going to fall for this crap again.
“And you’re wearing the necklace, a product of a fantasy, or was it just a game, sweet Sophia? Either way, it appears you’ve thought of me often. By chance, have you purchased a Golden Retriever yet?”
“Cut the bullshit.”
“Have you thought about me late at night, the electricity we shared? Can you not feel it now tingling through your body?” Wrath narrowed his eyes, allowing his heated gaze to sweep up and down.
“What is the old adage about fooling me twice? Not going to happen again, Wrath. Just cut the crap. Your days of basking in wealth have been terminated.”
He exhaled, his expression darkening.
“Come closer,” she demanded. Reaching out, she struggled to find a light.
“To your left,” he said then chuckled. “The light. Isn’t that what you’re looking for?”
Hissing, she flicked the switch. White light cascaded throughout the kitchen. Swallowing, she took a decided step closer. Wearing a cerulean blue silk shirt and gray trousers, everything about his sexiness was unassuming.
“I’m certain you’re going to want to pat me down for weapons, Agent Waters.”
She wanted nothing more than to wipe the asinine grin off his face.
As he turned again, she concentrated on the contour of his ass, his long legs then closed the distance, the gun still in one hand as she patted him down.
“I assure you that all my weaponry is in another room.” He darted a look over his shoulder. “No hidden swords or knives.”
The scent of him was captivating, musky, and almost intoxicating. She was forced to hold her breath until she was finished. She stepped to her original position, fighting raw emotions. The same tingling of electricity returned with a vengeance. “Why the cat and mouse games?”
Wrath faced her, tilting his head as he gave her a once-over. “You’d look far more beautiful in a dress, vibrant in color, accentuating your voluptuous body. I remember the way you looked in the casino. Captivating. Then our time in South Beach, magnifico.”
“Did you enjoy taking Officer Renier’s life, pretending to be him?”
Wrath’s eyes narrowed. “I do what must be done, sweet Sophia. Even poor Pierre had certain proclivities that were quite disgusting. I did everyone a favor.”
The audacity of this man was unbelievable. “Turn the fuck around and place your hands behind your head. You’re under arrest…” She gave the usual words, the basics of being able to take him in legally, but she had no comprehension of the words she’d spoken.
And he made no attempt to follow her commands.
Exhaling, he walked toward one of the cabinets, opening the door.