Chapter 7
7
T he alarm blares through the room, its piercing tone cutting through the tension between Alicia and me. I jump to my feet, instinctively reaching for my weapon while checking the cameras.
“False alarm,” I tell Alicia while pressing the button that shuts the alarm off.
A few seconds later, the door bursts open and Ice strides in. “We’ve got a situation.”
“What’s going on?”
“Ghost has been digging into Alicia’s case.” He nods toward her. “And he’s uncovered something interesting.”
“What did he find?”Aliciaasks, hope lighting up her beautiful features.
“Look on your phone,” Brian says. “Ghost’s sent you some interesting footage.”
I do as he asks and soon enough, I’m watching security camera footage of a young man entering what seems to be the branch of a fancy bank. “Is this David Blackwell?” I askAlicia,showing her the screen. “That’s her boss’ son,” I explain to Ice.
“Yeah, it’s him, but wait…” Her voice changes. She fights tearswhen sheadds,“It’s not the right bank.”
“That’s just a detail,” Ice answers.“It’s enough for a reasonable doubt since in that bank he’s wired money in the name of the receptionist.”
“He did the same thing to Hilda? Can we prove it?” Alicia asks anxiously.
“Yep, we can because this time, the idiot felt so confident he could pull this off that he opened those accounts and transferred the money with a computer connected to his home modem. A few days later he went to this branch to move some money to another account.”
My jaw tightens as the pieces fall into place.
“Son of a bitch,” I mutter, anger rising. “He did set you up.”
Alicia slumps onto the couch, her hands trembling as she takes in the evidence.
“I can never thank you enough,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “I would never have found that on my own.”
I sink down beside her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We’ve got proof now. You’re in the clear.”
Relief washes over her face, and she leans into my touch, seeking comfort.
It feels like the most natural thing in the world. All my blood flies south, but I can’t think about my jeans being too tight—Ice clears his throat, reminding us of his presence.
“So, our next moves,” he says, his tone all business. “Ghost is working on tracing the money that just left the new account, but we need to move fast before Blackwell Junior catches wind of what we know.”
“I don’t think it’s David we need to worry about,” I say. “According to Alicia, he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer.”
“You’re saying he’s working with someone else?”
I turn to Alicia and ask, “You said he played poker every single night, right?”
Alicia nods.
“Are you sure he only plays with his friends?”
“I see where you’re going with that,” Ice says. “You’re thinking he got invited to more serious tables and got scammed.”
“Yeah, and the scammers would be the ones who had helped him set up this mess and hired some goons?”
“That would make sense,” Alicia chimes in.
“Okay then, I’ll ask Ghost to look into that too,” Ice says. “We’ll tie up all the loose ends while you baby-sit the lady.”
“You mean you’re going to keep me here?” Alicia asks.
“Yeah, and then when the coast is clear, we’ll bring you back to justice.”
“But, but…”
IgnoringAlicia, my boss presses on the alarm button that gives him 30 seconds to leave the place and slips out. She shivers beside me, and I pull her closer, offering reassurance I can.
“You’re safe now,” I murmur, my lips brushing against her forehead. “I’ve got your back.”
A few hours ago, I didn’t even know this woman and right this second, I can’t think of anything more important than ensuring her safety and clearing her name.
The tension between us is incredible but we manage to spend the day not acting on it. We talka lot, laugh a little, cook lunch, binge-watch a series, prepare dinner.
But as the day ends, as we pull out the sofa bed we need to share for the night, I find it impossible not to deny the magnetic pull drawing me closer to Alicia. Her eyes are wide, filled with a mix of fear and desire. I lean in, my heart pounding as our lips meet in a light kiss.
Alicia’s body melts into mine, her fingers tangling in my hair as our kiss becomes more passionate. The world around us fades away, and all that matters is the connection between us. I trace my hands down her back, pulling her even closer.
Suddenly, Alicia breaks away, her breath coming in short gasps. “We can’t do this.”
“Why not?” I ask,but I don’t care about what she says. She can’t deny how much she wants me. Her voice is filled with longing.
“Because… because… it’s complicated,” she stammers, taking a step back.
I take a deep breath and try to regain my composure. “You’re right.”
Alicia nods, her eyes filled with relief. “Thank you,” she says softly.
We stand there for a moment, the tension between us still thick in the air. Then, without warning, Alicia grabs my hand and pulls me toward the sofa.
“Why do you have to be such a gentleman?” she asks with a mischievous grin.
That’s when I decide to let my desire for her overwhelm any rational thoughts.
Alicia pushes me onto the bed, her lips finding mine once again. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her on top of me.
Our clothes come off in a frenzy, and soon we’re tangled on top of the sheets, our bodies pressed together. Alicia’s skin is soft and warm, and I can’t get enough of her. I explore every inch of her body, my hands tracing the curves of her hips and the softness of her breasts. My fingers dance across her skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.
Alicia moans softly as I kiss her neck, my lips trailing down to her collarbone. She arches her back, pressing herself closer to me as I continue my exploration. I can feel her desire building, and I know I won’t be able to hold back much longer. Her eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, we just stare at each other, the only sound our heavy breathing.
With a growl, I roll us over, pinning Alicia beneath me. She looks up at me with hooded eyes, her lips parted in anticipation. I enter her slowly, savoring the feeling of our bodies connected. The warmth of her skin envelops me, and I feel like I’m home.
Alicia gasps as I move, her hips rising to meet mine. We find a rhythm, our bodies moving in perfect harmony. I can feel the tension building inside me, and I know I’m close to the edge. Alicia’s hands grasp my shoulders, her nails digging into my skin as she urges me on.
With one final thrust, I release my pent-up desire, my body shuddering with pleasure. Alicia follows suit, her own orgasm washing over her as she cries out my name. The sound sends shivers down my spine, and I feel my heart racing in my chest.
We lie there for a moment, our bodies entwined as we catch our breath. Then, with a sigh, Alicia rolls over, her back pressed against my chest. I wrap my arms around her, holding her close as we drift off to sleep. The world outside fades away, and all that’s left is the two of us, lost in our own little bubble of bliss.
When I wake up, Alicia is gone. I sit up, my heart racing as I scan the room. Then, I hear the sound of water running in the bathroom. I let out a sigh of relief and lie back down, my mind racing with thoughts of what just happened.
As I lie there, lost in thought, the bathroom door opens. Alicia emerges, a towel wrapped around her body. She smiles at me shyly before climbing back into bed.
I pull her to me, my arms wrapped tightly around her. Right now, all that matters is the feeling of her body pressed against mine.
We both drift off to sleep once again.