Chapter 21 #2
Or as if I’d done something terribly wrong.
Before I reached the window, Maverick was right beside me, pulling me into his arms. “Calm down. You need to stop beating yourself up. You are not to blame for this. That motherfucking son of a bitch is playing a dangerous game.”
“Yes, he’s baiting us. And I’m not beating myself up, but I am to blame.
I’m the reason one girl is dead and another taken.
Me.” While I tried to pull away, he refused to allow it, easing me even closer.
Close enough I placed my palms on his chest. I don’t know if I needed space or air, but the intimate moment seemed twisted in my mind.
Or maybe I was just twisted in my thinking.
“You are blaming yourself and I won’t tolerate that. This is about a fucking sick individual who enjoys playing games with people’s lives. It’s going to stop.”
“How can you be so certain?”
“Because I intend to be a part of making that occur. This motherfucker will go down one way or another.”
I clung to him, more terrified than I’d been before, not because of my own personal safety, but because the monster was toying with me. Toying with us.
“I don’t think I can do this, Maverick. I’m not strong enough to go through another damn nightmare.”
Every time he cupped my face, the entire world around us faded away. This time was no exception. The music easily heard through the walls and closed door drifted into silence. The din of conversations was gone. There was only the two of us and a special moment shared.
Maybe for all the wrong reasons, but I’d never felt so close to someone before.
Or so in need of being with them, by their side. Our connection was no longer about only passion, but something much darker. Stronger. He’d been my savior all those years ago and he was doing it again.
Only this time, he was saving more than just my body.
He was saving my heart. How? By wrapping it up in a tidy little bow, now in the pocket of the man who knew everything about me. All the good and bad. Had I fallen in love with the man? Maybe. What I knew for certain was that I doubted I could spend the rest of my life without him.
“You’re the strongest person I know. Now, I’m going to make a few calls as I said and find out what the hell is going on.
You’re going to take a few deep breaths and enjoy the party.
We can’t do anything right now and you’re safe here.
” He offered a smile as he did every time I was stressed, but I could tell by the darkness in his eyes he was as disturbed as I was.
Perhaps more so.
Safe. Would I ever feel safe again?
Leaning against him, my breathing remained labored even as he brushed his thumb back and forth across my cheek. The lightness of his touch was as powerful as the rugged moments when the passion exploded between us.
He lowered his head, slowly shaking it. “You are breathtaking, Alexia. We’ll get through this. Together.” When his lips touched mine, I allowed myself to be a little lost with him as my savior because I knew in my heart he would do everything in his power to protect me.
I adored the man and everything about him. He had a way of making me feel as if I was the most special person on the planet. As he crushed his lips against mine, shoving aside the gentle moment, I slipped one arm around his neck.
The kiss was the perfect depiction of everything we shared together, a need that transcended everything else. All the tingling sensations brought flames of heat tickling my skin, pushing my core to the molten point.
As soon as he pushed me against the wall, the quiet moment of intimacy turned to something else altogether. Yes, the hunger was as powerful as it had ever been, the need bridging all aspects of danger and desire. Maybe it was crazy the way I hungered for the man, especially now.
Perhaps because he was the very reason I was allowed to enjoy my life at all.
He pushed my head back, dragging his tongue from one side of my jaw to the other. Unable to help myself, I unfastened two buttons on his shirt until the hole was big enough for me to slip my hand through. Somehow, the touch of his heated skin grounded me.
His growl was heavy and hot, the sound floating around us. He knew exactly how to drive me crazy. The mischievous side of me took over and I wrapped one leg around him, pulling him even closer as I stroked his chest.
Even after the sharp rap on the door, we didn’t budge. Maybe neither one of us had the mental capacity to remember that we were attending a party and we weren’t the only two people in the building.
What I didn’t expect was for the unwanted visitor to open the door before we had any time to react. Or to hide our passion. I still had my hand in Maverick’s shirt when the door was flung open.
Not only did my boss walk inside, but also a man I’d never seen before.
“I thought I’d find you here,” Betty said after clearing her throat and giving me her most motherly look.
After pulling my hand free, I curled my fingers and very slowly lowered my leg.
“Sorry to interrupt, but it’s time to head to the participation room. I wanted to introduce you to one of our board members.”
“Shit,” Maverick huffed, disengaging himself from me. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Jesus. Maverick.” The man walked closer, stopping shy of closing the distance when he finally realized what we’d been doing. “Same old Maverick.” He threw his hand out while I glanced at Betty, who was positively beaming.
“Timothy Chambers, as I live and breathe. I’d forgotten after you quit the FBI you went to law school.”
Timothy shook Maverick’s hand. “Yeah, the background was excellent but I couldn’t take the cases any longer. I’ve been paying attention to your career. Seems like you did alright for yourself. I bet making millions of dollars is much better than dealing with asshole criminals.”
The two men laughed.
“Anything is better than that. I enjoy what I do. I didn’t know you worked here.”
Timothy shrugged. “I’m on the board. I work out of my office in either Jacksonville or Ft. Myers. I took my father’s place years ago as a fledging board member. He had a penchant for caring about victims. Betty had been kind enough to show me the ropes.”
“We’re running behind, Timothy. Don’t forget we have announcements to make.” As soon as Betty touched his arm, he bristled, but then laughed.
“You’re right, sweet Betty. We came to find Alexia.
I haven’t met you yet, but from everything I’ve heard about your work, I am thoroughly impressed.
If you ever want to consider moving from Miami, I might have a job for you.
” As soon as he took my hand, I stiffened and there was absolutely no reason why.
Maybe because at this point, I didn’t trust anyone.
“Thank you. I enjoy working here and have no plans on leaving.”
“Can’t blame a guy for trying. And Maverick, you’ll need to tell me all about how you know this woman.”
“All in due time.” Maverick was his typical possessive self, keeping his hand on the small of my back.
“Come on, Alexia,” Betty offered. “Why don’t we head downstairs. Almost everyone is waiting. We’ll allow these two old friends to talk.”
“Go on,” Maverick said to me. From where he stood, only I could see his eyes. His gaze was pointed.
I squeezed his arm, offering a heated look in return, unable to put aside the worry about when the killer would strike next.
Why did I have a terrible feeling we were in a losing battle?
My instinct told me the killer wanted me and no one else. He’d made that perfectly clear.
Maybe it was time to give him what he wanted.