Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
S iv tightened her hands on Ryder’s broad shoulders, the tiles cool behind her back. She moaned, feeling her orgasm swelling, bearing down on her.
He gripped her hips, driving his cock inside her as the water washed over them.
“Get there, Siv,” he growled.
“ Harder ,” she panted.
His mouth took hers and she felt the edge of his teeth. His powerful body kept thrusting in her and she knew she was about to come.
“God,” she breathed against his mouth.
“Come, babe. Come .”
She was full of him, his cock stretching her, and sensation crashed over her. She cried out, feeling everything inside her body spasming.
“Fuck, I can feel you coming on my cock.”
Siv gripped him, her eyes closing as she rode the wave of intense pleasure. The world contracted to just her and Ryder.
Then she felt his next heavy thrust. He kept his cock buried deep as he grunted through his climax, jetting inside her.
She dragged in a shuddering breath, pressing her face to his wet hair. She pressed her lips to his temple, tasting his skin. She breathed him in, the essence of Ryder. She listened to the sound of his deep, uneven breaths, then trailed her hand across his shoulder.
He made a sound, his mouth finding hers.
“Morning shower sex with my wife rocks,” he said.
She shivered. “No complaints here.”
Ryder finally set her down, then slapped her ass. “I’ll deal with this condom, then make coffee. I’m guessing you want some.”
“You guessed right.”
She watched through the glass as he swiped a towel across his sculpted chest, then wrapped the towel around his lean hips. He sauntered out of the bathroom.
Siv dipped her head under the water. She was getting in way too deep with him. All her defenses were long gone. Whatever Ryder wanted, she’d have a hard time telling him no.
The case comes first, Siv. Deal with Trelaskin and the Fosters, then worry about your love life after.
Just the thought of the L word had her flicking off the shower and getting out.
Whatever happened, she knew she could trust Ryder. If he was done with her, he wouldn’t lie or cheat, he’d tell her. Her heart squeezed.
Work . She had to get to work.
Two hours later, she was sitting at the table with a now-cold mug of half-finished coffee and a stiff neck.
Siv clicked on a picture of Christian and Caroline’s Palo Alto estate. It was gorgeous—lots of natural stone, and valley views. The article was a spread for some magazine, and the glossy pair were posing inside the huge, renovated kitchen.
“Look at this place,” Siv muttered.
Ryder frowned at the polished photos. “Isn’t it weird that two adult siblings live together?”
“Yes. And in such a big place. The estate is thirteen acres and costs a cool fifty million.”
“Nice.”
“Fraud pays.” Siv clicked through some photos. One showed Caroline in a lab coat.
Siv froze.
The woman was leaning against a gleaming, stainless-steel workbench.
“Wait. This is a picture of Caroline in an area that it says she’s outfitting as a private lab. She says ‘I still like to get my hands dirty. I love the challenge of creating drugs that can help and heal and save lives.’”
Ryder stiffened. “Shit, they have a lab in their home.”
“I saw renovation invoices for the place somewhere.” Siv tapped madly. “I glanced over them yesterday.”
The first lot of invoices was for the kitchen renovation. There was one for flooring. Landscaping.
Then she saw it.
“Ryder, look .” She pointed at the screen. There were invoices for lab workbenches, fridges, lab equipment, a high-tech sprinkler system.
He made a sound. “They have a lab in the basement of their fucking house.”
Siv scanned the invoices again. “It definitely looks like it.”
He clicked the keyboard, then swiveled. “Look at this article.”
It showed Caroline, younger, less polished. She was grinning. She was in a lab and holding a test tube.
“Lab work was her thing,” Siv said.
“She could be doing the work on Trelaskin herself.”
“They need it to work, or they lose everything.” Siv turned. “We need to get into their Palo Alto estate.”
Ryder yanked her in for a quick kiss. “I’ll make more coffee and then let’s make a plan.”
A few moments later, he brought up all the information they had on the estate.
“They have a lot of cameras.” Ryder tapped a finger on the table. “Security guards, but the place they’re using doesn’t have a great reputation. The guards have no prior skills, and are only given a five-week training course.”
“Let’s call Vander and Ace.” Siv made the call.
Moments later, her boss, Ace, and Saxon appeared on screen.
“We found the Foster’s lab,” she told them.
Ace leaned forward. “Where?”
“At their home. The fancy Palo Alto estate. They had a lab put in the basement during renovations.”
Ace eyes widened. “Makes sense. Nice work.”
Siv inclined her head and looked at Vander. “They have some security, but Ryder tells me the guards aren’t from a top-notch outfit.”
“Arma Services,” Ryder said.
“They’re not a top-notch anything,” Vander agreed.
“Pulling up the camera system now.” Ace clicked on his tablet. “Mediocre system and easy to crack.”
“Any cameras in the lab?” Siv asked.
The tech guru shook his head. He lifted his tablet and tapped. “Looks like the Fosters are out today. They’re scheduled to attend a luncheon at Stanford.”
“Siv, Ryder, we’ll meet you at the estate,” Vander said. “You two will need to make sure you don’t have a tail.”
“We think they’ve lost interest, but I’ll make sure of it,” Siv said.
“All right,” Vander said. “We’ll bring gear. See you soon.”
As soon as the call ended, Ryder rose. She felt his tension and it made her nervous.
“You can’t lose it,” she said. “You have to stick to the plan.”
He gave her a curt nod. “I’ve got my anger locked down.” He blew out a breath. “This is it. I can feel it. We’ll finally get all the details on how Robbie died. And make the Fosters pay.”
Siv gripped his arms. “Yes, but you need to stay focused. Don’t let the emotions drive you.” She didn’t want to see him get hurt.
He gave her a lopsided smile. “Worried about me, my Norwegian flower?”
She rolled her eyes, but she was. This man had worked his way deep under her skin. He meant something to her.
Ryder cupped her cheek. “I promised not to go off half-cocked, Siv.” He stroked her skin. “We’re going to stop Trelaskin from hurting anyone else, and make sure the Fosters end up behind bars. Then we’ll come home and celebrate. Naked. With a bottle of something.”
She smiled. “Do you ever not think about sex?”
He kissed her. “Not since I saw you stalking across the dance floor.”
Her heart flip-flopped. The look of desire on his face scorched her, but she watched him close it down. His face turned serious, and she saw the courageous medic who’d gone into combat so many times to save others.
A man who would risk it all for a homeless veteran who’d been his friend.
The man Siv was falling for.
She locked her feelings down and dragged air into her tight chest. She needed to follow her own advice, and not let her emotions drive her.
She needed to keep Ryder safe, and get the job done.
* * *
Siv drove their cover car—a sweet, little Mercedes C class registered to Stella Peters. They pulled out onto the street, and Ryder discreetly scanned around and checked the mirrors.
No sign of a tail.
Clearly the Fosters had decided that Ryan and Stella were legit investors.
“I’ll drive around a bit, then head to Palo Alto,” Siv said.
They were both wearing cargo pants and T-shirts. Ready to sneak into the Foster’s estate.
Ryder looked in the side mirror and frowned. “Change lanes.”
Siv didn’t hesitate or question, just shifted lanes. He watched the silver sedan three cars back do the same.
“You see them?” he said.
She checked the rearview mirror. “I see them.” She smiled. “But we won’t for long.”
She took the next corner fast and Ryder was pushed back in his seat. She didn’t make it obvious that they were onto their tail. She didn’t break the speed limit, but she showed her skills as she took several more turns, changed lanes, and drove them through a narrow alley.
“Do you see them?” she said.
“Hell, no. Because my woman is a badass, and can lose a tail in her sleep.”
She glanced at him. “Your woman?”
“Yep. You got a problem with that?”
She rolled her eyes. “So cocky.”
“I think you like my cockiness.” He winked.
Siv laughed. God, he loved that sound. He wanted to make her laugh more often.
It was a sound he wanted to listen to for the rest of his life.
His hands clenched. Shit . She was it for him. He wanted to marry her, put babies in her belly one day, if she wanted them. He wanted to sleep beside her, make love with her, hear her laugh every day. He was in love with Siv Pedersen. Of course, he was.
Ryder swallowed. Focus. For now, Robbie needed him, but when this job was over, he was going to spend some time convincing Siv Pedersen to take a chance on him.
He was going to make her happy.
They hit the highway south, then finally reached Palo Alto. Instead of heading into the city, they veered west toward the hills.
“The Foster’s estate is in Portola Valley,” he said. “A thirty-two-thousand-square-foot residence with mountain and valley views.”
Siv followed the directions to the meeting place, and found two X6s waiting for them on a small, tree-lined, side road. Saxon, Rhys, Cam, and Vander stood by the vehicles. The men were all in black cargos, with black ballistic vests pulled over their shirts.
Siv pulled up. Ryder got out and nodded at the men. He gave his brother a fist bump.
“Good work, you two.” Vander handed over vests and weapons.
As Siv pulled her vest on and checked her Glock 19, Ryder fought not to get hard. Yes, his woman being a badass did it for him.
He pulled his own vest on and tightened it, feeling a faint twinge from his bruises. He checked his Glock and then slid it into the holster on his belt.
He looked at Vander. “What’s the plan?”