Chapter 30
Pressing the earpiece in her ear, Jemma whispered a command, and her phone dialed the Proteus team. She slipped silently along the hallway and ducked into the first open door. A massive library opened before her. Walls lined with bookshelves, oversized leather couches grouped in sets, and a traditional wood desk diagonal in the corner.
This was the part of her work at the DEA that she loved the most—the pulse of danger, the intoxicating rush of adrenaline, the thrill of not knowing if she’d get caught or get away. They played a high-stakes game, balancing on the razor’s edge. In moments like these, with her heart pounding and senses heightened, Jemma felt most alive.
She glanced over her shoulder and was satisfied that no one had seen or followed her.
“What do you need?” Lenny’s voice was all business.
“Cell phone copy.” Jemma lifted her phone from her purse and placed it on the desk next to Eddie’s. Time was of the essence. Eddie was beaten and bruised, but he’d start looking for his phone soon. “Bluetooth paired. Phone is password protected with possible encryption.”
“Affirmative. Stand by,” Lenny said. The Proteus cyber-intelligence team was skilled at remote log-in and transfers from phones found in the field. Within five minutes or less, they’d make a copy of Eddie’s phone. Jemma would find a way to discard it where Eddie could find it, none the wiser. She hoped there was some information on the device about the route details Eddie wanted from Dante. The cartel had intricate routes that kept law enforcement from tracking drugs shipped through their network. Any communication about shipping routes could be the break they need to build the Continuing Criminal Enterprise case against El Sombro.
The line was quiet, ratcheting up her nerves. “ETA?”
Lenny grunted in response. “The security on this phone is at the highest level. It’s going to take us some time to get into it. Is this El Sombro’s?”
“No. It’s Eddie Baez’s. We have reason to believe there could be route information for the drugs El Sombro plans to start routing through the Dajabon clinic.”
“Route information would be invaluable. We could bust the first shipment and get details on how El Sombro operates to find others,” Lenny said. “Get ready to stall. We’re working as fast as possible, but this encryption is brutal.”
“Noted,” Jemma replied, growing more antsy as the seconds ticked. There was nothing for her to do but wait. Waiting was a problem. Her thoughts wandered when she was waiting. These days, when her mind wandered, it always ended up in one place—thoughts of Rocco.
Jemma kicked herself for admitting how much she’d missed Rocco while he was away this week. The man got under her skin like no man ever had. He was the ying to her yang. Her short fuse and impatience were balanced by his calm, easy-going attitude. Her seriousness and rule-following were tempered by his humor and risk-taking. Not to mention, he was drop-dead gorgeous. A man of who knew how many women’s dreams.
But somehow, he only had eyes for her.
And despite herself, she wanted it that way.
Especially after he’d given her the best orgasm of her life.
She closed her eyes and could almost feel the sensation of his tongue swiping across her clit?—
“Any luck?” Rocco asked.
Jemma squealed, then jumped and turned to face him. Her face burned from embarrassment even though there was no way he could know what she’d been thinking.
“Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”
“I thought a super agent like you would have eyes in the back of her head,” Rocco taunted with a sexy smile. “What if I was Vance or Dante coming to bust you for what you’re doing right now?”
“You’re right.” Jemma placed her phone on mute. “Heavy encryption on the phone makes it harder for the team to get in and copy the contents. Where are the fighters right now?”
“Dante is on the balcony cooling off.” Rocco stopped within a couple of feet of her. The sexy scent of his cologne wafted in the air. Her inner core clenched, flooded with desire. She took a step back, not trusting herself with him so close.
“Eddie’s being looked at by one of Vance’s ladies, who happened to be a registered nurse. Go figure.”
“But you’re a doctor.”
“He made it clear he didn’t want my help,” Rocco said, a hint of hurt flashing in his eyes.
Rocco had told Jemma about his past with Eddie. He’d tried to get through to him when he was younger and help him see there were options for a smart kid like him outside of the gang. She could only imagine how he was feeling, watching Eddie transcend into a full-fledged drug lord, even if on a smaller scale.
“And where do they think you are?”
“Checking on my beautiful date. Making sure she isn’t too upset by the brutality of the fight.”
Lenny’s voice crackled in her ear. “Close but need more time. Are you in danger of being discovered?”
Jemma unmuted her earpiece. “No. Keep at it.” She put the call back on mute. “Any idea what route details Eddie wants from Dante?”
“No, but my guess is likely the same as yours. Something to do with the new drug shipments to the clinic. Dante doesn’t trust Eddie and won’t help him get engrained within El Sombro’s organization.”
“Maybe we can use that to our advantage,” Jemma said, then caught sight of a shadow lurking in the open doorway.
Someone was outside the room. She had no idea how long the person had been there. How much they might have heard, but she had to do something to distract them from coming inside. Lenny needed more time to make a copy of Eddie’s phone, and she had to stall.
There was only one thing she could think to do.
And that was all Rocco’s fault.
He started it, and she was going to finish it.
“There’s more we can use to our advantage,” she lowered her voice to a sensual timber. “Like this empty room.”
Rocco’s eyebrow raised, and his eyes smoldered.
She grabbed his hand, then turned in his arms, pressing it through the slit in her dress onto her bare thigh. She hadn’t worn any underwear due to the tight fit of the dress. She supposed that would come in handy now.
Rocco’s hand moved slowly up her hip.
“Fuck,” Rocco said, tension in his words, as he discovered her secret.
Jemma stared ahead at the glass doors covering the bookshelves behind the desk. She could see the person still hovering in the shadows.
Taking a step back, she leaned against Rocco, pressing her ass against his erection as his hand caressed her skin and found a place between her thighs.
“You’re so fucking wet,” Rocco whispered against her neck. “You want to do this? Now?” He asked the question as he unbuttoned his pants with his free hand and slid the zipper down.
“Why not?” Jemma said. “We have time.”
She glanced at the phone. Lenny and the team had cracked the encryption. Lines of code blurred on the screen as the copying began. It wouldn’t be long now.
Rocco’s fingertips stroked between her thighs, rubbing against her soaked clit. His shallow breath was hot on her neck as his body pressed tight against her.
“You want it like this?” His words husky. “From behind?”
“Is that one of your fantasies?” Jemma asked, her excitement ratcheting higher.
“You’re killing me, Jemma.” He trailed kisses along her neck. “Are you sure?”
“If you ask me that one more time, I’m going to?—”
Rocco pressed his hand against her back, bending her over the desk. His hands were rough as he yanked the sides of her dress up to her waist. His mouth peppered her shoulder with kisses. He pressed his leg between hers, spreading her wider to give him better access to her aching clit.
”Rocco...” she whimpered, shifting the phones until they were hidden, pressed between the desk and her chest. The gentle rubbing of his fingers against her clit sent waves of pleasure coursing through her, and she bit her lower lip to keep from moaning out loud. His touch was electric, and it was all she could do not to give in too soon.
Eyes trained on the reflection in the glass, the shadow moved further into view of the open doorway. She almost cursed as she recognized the man watching them—Vance Neville. The one person they needed to keep from discovering what they were up to.
Rocco’s tongue flicked out and traced the sensitive skin behind her ear before dancing along the side of her neck. Jemma gasped at the sensation. She felt every inch of him against her, his hardness rubbing between her ass cheeks.
She wanted to be filled entirely by him.
His mouth hovered over her ear. His warm breath against her already flushed skin. When Rocco spoke, his words arrested her. “Are we being watched?”
“Yes …” Jemma moaned.
Rocco grunted and stiffened. She could feel a coolness wafting from him that dampened the mood. His mouth brushed over her ear as he said, “Is that the only reason why you’re doing … this?”
He waited for her to respond.
Her mind cycled through everything she could say until she settled on the truth. This situation was the only way she’d allow herself to indulge in what she wanted from him. What she’d always wanted from him. “I want you so fucking bad. I need you … now.”