Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
“I thought I’d be going to the police station to be fingerprinted.” Melody frowned as she peered down at the small black box on Victor’s kitchen countertop.
The fingers of her left hand were currently pressed to the surface of that box, a green screen.
“Aw, you figured you’d do the old ink and stamping routine, huh?
” Hunter carefully guided her fingers. He’d already taken scans of her other hand.
“Got to move with the times. Digital scans are one hell of a lot faster. The device is transportable, and I happened to know an agency in town that had one readily available.” He released her hand.
“I’ve been trained on the scanner before.
My, uh, boss Declan Flynn actually helped to create the tech.
And when I say the results are fast, I mean it. ”
Victor hadn’t said a word during the screening.
He’d mostly been trying to get his ass back under control.
When he’d had Melody pinned between him and the wall, he’d nearly gone feral.
To have her back—back in his arms, her mouth beneath his, her body rubbing against him as she moaned in desire—talk about a dream come true.
Hell, yes, he’d gone over the edge. He’d wanted to strip her. Take her right there.
Had he thought that kissing her might stir her memories? Honestly, no. Things just would not be that easy. He got that. Nothing in his life had ever been easy.
As for fucking her…
Yes. Absolutely. I want to fuck her until neither of us can move.
But did he think fucking her would stir her memories?
No. It would feel helluva good, though, and he could one hundred percent make her understand that he could give her more pleasure than anyone else ever would. He knew exactly what she liked. What drove her wild. What made her shudder and quake and beg for more.
She dated some asshole this past year? While he’d been ripping the world apart, she’d been—
“You gonna give me her old fingerprint cards? And I am assuming those are the old ink and paper version?” Hunter thrust back his shoulders. “I’ll take them to my contact. Get the old material scanned and get your comparison points ASAP with this new scan.”
Without a word, Victor reached for the backpack he’d slung onto the barstool earlier.
He pulled out the manila file. Carefully leafed through the report and only handed Hunter the fingerprints.
He would be reading that full report later.
Something about the report bothered him.
Why the hell did you hold onto it for so long, Sebastian?
“Am I going to do a DNA test, too?” Melody asked.
“Not with me, you’re not.” Hunter’s quick reply.
“But I’m sure Victor can snap his fingers and get that done for you.
Pretty much when Victor says jump, I’m realizing everyone rushes to do his bidding.
He and Declan are a hell of a lot alike in that regard.
Most folks seem scared as hell of them, and fear tends to be one powerful motivator. ”
Declan Flynn was a tech billionaire. He was also known as one of the most dangerous and secretive individuals in the world.
Describing Declan as Hunter’s boss, though, that was not exactly true.
Sure, Hunter did still provide security work for the tech mogul, but from what Victor had uncovered, the two men were best friends, closer to brothers than anything else.
Hunter carried all of Declan’s dark secrets.
In return, the story went that, once upon a time, Declan had saved Hunter’s life.
“Why are people afraid of Victor?” Melody asked.
“Because he’s a tough, unforgiving sonofabitch.
” An instant response from Hunter. “Traits I always look for in new friends.” He packed up his scanner.
“All done. I’ll get back with you both as soon as I have the results, but I figure the way Victor is dead set on keeping you close, we can assume those results will come back as a positive match. ”
“She’s my Melody.” Did the possessive my slide out? Yes, it did. Because she might not be wearing his ring any longer, but she was his.
Hunter grunted. “Figured that was the way of it. I contacted Memphis and let him know about the development with the abandoned pickup truck. Do I need to take care of guards for her or are you already on top of things?”
“Already have guards scheduled to start tomorrow. They’ll be her shadow whenever she isn’t by my side.”
Melody’s mouth dropped open, only to hurriedly shut. “By your side? Look, it’s not as if I’m going to move into your house.”
Wasn’t she?
“You’re going to help me, and I appreciate your help. The help that you are both giving me,” she hurried to say as her gaze swept over to Hunter, then back to Victor. “But I’m not expecting you to upend your life for me.”
What did she think his life had been like for the last year? Upended didn’t even come close to describing things.
But her lush lips firmed. “I’m not going to wreck your life.”
Cute. Again, his life had been utterly wrecked when she left.
How can I get her to marry me? Preferably within the next twenty-four hours. Because when he called her his Melody, he’d love the legal ties to prove that point.
Except, yeah, getting her to marry him was like a pipe dream right now.
Then again, becoming a billionaire had been a pipe dream for a poor kid who’d grown up in an Alabama trailer park.
A kid who’d lost his dad to a factory accident at six and then been dumped by his mom on an extended relative less than six months later.
He’d grown up on hand-me-downs and hand-outs.
But he’d worked his ass off, made deals with more than a few devils over the years, and he’d clawed his way to the ownership of Mage Industries.
He didn’t give up on his dreams.
Not ever.
No matter what he had to do in order to achieve those dreams.
“And, uh, can someone please tell me just who is Memphis? And why did we update him about the pickup truck?”
Victor and Hunter shared a long look. It was Victor who responded. “You know I’m working with the Ice Breakers.”
“Yes.” She motioned toward Hunter. “Got that.”
“Memphis Camden is an integral part of the team,” Hunter explained.
“Guy has been training me pretty much from day one. Former bounty hunter, tough as nails bastard. Never gives up. Freaking pit bull. The only thing he loves more than danger is his wife and family. You should see the guy with his baby girl. Talk about obsessed.” A faint laugh.
One that slowly faded. “Memphis is doing the back-end work on this case. While he’s pulling strings behind the scenes, I’m front and center on field work. You are not alone, Melody.”
A soft sigh escaped her. Relief? Baby, I will never let you be alone again.
“The team is fully engaged on your case. We’re gonna find answers for you.”
Regarding those answers—they could take time.
While they found the truth, he couldn’t allow her to be unprotected.
He’d lose the last bit of his mind if that was the case.
“The person who took you hasn’t been caught, Melody.
” Was his voice level? Victor figured it mostly was.
A little rough around the edges, but, then again, he was rough around the edges.
Always would be. “And considering you were shot at so very recently, do you seriously want to stay alone, or would you prefer to stay in my house with state-of-the-art security and with extra guards who will keep an eye on you so that you can stay safe and protected?” Victor crossed his arms over his chest and waited for her reply.
“Okay, right.” Melody cleared her throat. “When you put it that way…I’ll go with the state-of-the-art security option, thanks very much.”
He’d thought so.
“But I’m not sleeping with you,” she added in a quick rush.
Hunter whistled. “This so does not feel like a me conversation.”
It wasn’t.
“I don’t care how good of a kisser you are,” Melody continued determinedly to Victor even as her cheeks pinkened. “I’m not jumping into bed with you.”
Why not? You’ve been there plenty of times before.
“Out of curiosity…” Hunter ambled closer toward the kitchen door, his bag gripped in his left hand. “Am I going to be getting my handcuffs back anytime soon?”
“Nope.” Victor’s immediate reply. He slung the backpack over one shoulder.
Melody sucked in a breath. “You are not cuffing me.”
“Ahem. You know what? Keep the cuffs,” Hunter offered. “Consider them an early Christmas gift.” He headed down the hallway. “Jeez, this place could sure as hell use some Christmas spirit.” His voice drifted back to them. “And I thought my rental was bad.”
Victor held Melody’s gaze a moment longer.
“You are not cuffing me,” she said flatly.
“Oh, come on, baby. Not like it would be the first time.”
She gasped.
He followed Hunter. The guy had almost reached the front door. Hunter’s hand reached out for the doorknob, but he turned back. “You know I’m staying close, if you need me.”
Check, he knew Hunter wasn’t leaving town anytime soon. “Thanks.” He dropped the backpack onto the foyer floor, setting it next to the small entranceway table.
Hunter nodded. His stare swept beyond Victor, to Melody. “I’m glad you’re back,” he told her. “Not all the cases I’ve been working end this way. Usually, I’m watching families try to pick up the pieces after they’ve buried the dead.”
“I’m not ready to be buried yet.” Her clear voice.
“I can see that.” With his left hand, Hunter waved to indicate the foyer. The whole house. “Since you’re not, why don’t you try bringing some life back into this place? Sure as hell could use it.” Then he slipped away.
Victor locked the door behind him.
“Am I going to get a DNA test?”