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There was such kinetic energy between us that every nerve was standing on end, every rapid beat of my heart pulsing in my neck. The moment he captured my mouth, a moan slipped past my lips. He’d risked his life to save mine, but he wasn’t a good man. He was a killer, a monster, and someone I should be terrified of.
But for all the years I’d wondered about the boy who’d saved me, curious as to the man he’d become, I never believed I’d see him again. Was this coincidence serendipity? Or was there an aspect of malice involved? The kiss was a powerful draw, the way he slipped his arm around me completely possessive. While I believed every word of his commitment to keeping me safe, I wasn’t worried about the savage criminals who’d taken a life but about the man determined to make me his possession.
His heart was hammering against his chest, his cock throbbing between my legs. I was blindly eager to feel the powerful heat of his muscular body against mine, my damp panties a clear indication of just how much I wanted him. More than I could admit to myself. As he swept his tongue inside my mouth, there was a sense of urgency in his passionate kiss, as if we needed to lose ourselves in each other, finding solace in the other’s arms. I wanted to fall into the sweet moment of being with him, finding my long-lost hero.
But the nagging in the back of my mind refused to go away. This wasn’t a beautiful fairytale but a toxic nightmare that had a chance of dragging us both into the bowels of hell. I couldn’t allow that to happen, not after everything I’d been through.
As soon as he broke the kiss, I shoved him away with everything I had, pressing the back of my hand across my mouth to hold in the strangled moans as I raced from the balcony into the room. More suffocated than before, I threw open the door leading to the ship’s corridor. But I wanted one last look, one additional moment to see the man I’d fallen in love with years before, refusing to admit it to myself for fear of it ruining the rest of my life. When I tipped my head, a sharp exhale rushed up from my throat.
Diego remained on the balcony, both hands clasped around the iron railing, his profile showing his expression of despair.
And anger.
I raced down the corridor, not worried that he’d follow, but fearful I’d lose my resolve. We were two different people from those kids in the past. As I neared the end of the hallway, heading for one of the posh salons, I was forced to stop short. Basking in the glow of his power sat Judge Sam Callum, the same one who’d denied the warrant, who’d acted as if I was a fool for thinking Diego Santos was anything but a decent human being.
And one of his companions was a California senator, a man who’d just announced his bid to run for election to become the president of the United States. Even worse was that neither man was with their wives, the two women hanging all over them young and gorgeous, but it was obvious what was happening.
In those few seconds of being captured in yet another strange moment of fantasy, the judge turned his head, locking eyes with mine. There was no doubt the man’s earlier warning had been a threat.
What in the hell was going on and who could I trust any longer?
Hours had passed.
Hours of worry and frustration.
Of wretched questions with no answers.
And hours of wanting to see him, touch him.
Fuck him.
I’d done my best to disappear for a little while, lucky that I’d had the forethought of bringing my iPad with me that morning. I’d hunkered down in a library then a coffee shop far away from my office or any of the spots I frequented. I was sick inside, doing what I could to research the Death Squad and Carlos and his nephew. I’d also labored over the information I’d found on Diego and Dante Santos, studying the various reports and magazine articles, the best dressed lists and bachelor of the year mentions in everything from People Magazine to Explore San Diego Magazine.
The two men were stars, twins who’d grown up in entirely different worlds yet had been drawn together by Dante’s need for revenge. I found it curious that Diego had disappeared for weeks several years before, only to return more powerful than when he’d left. There was a dark story shared between brothers, which made their closeness odd. At this point, everything had a surreal aura surrounding it. I glanced out the window of the small coffee shop, trying to make sense of everything I’d read.
Given the time of day, I almost had the place to myself, the television set on the opposite wall keeping me company. While customers came and went, I remained absorbed in my discoveries, even going as far as buying paper and pen from a dollar store so I could make notes.
I’d ignored calls, refused to pay attention to texts, but the one thing I couldn’t miss was the meeting with the mayor. Not if I wanted to keep my job anyway. He and the judge were good buddies, growing up together in California of all states, both taking early retirement only to reshape their careers and lives. There was something between them that wasn’t on the up and up. My instinct told me that. And whatever it was could explode, tearing the town apart.
Let alone what could happen to me.
I’d heard rumors over the years the two men were well connected, both having powerful friends. I also had an inkling at least a few of the city councilmembers were in their dangerous alliance, truly running every aspect of the city. What was I missing and how had I not seen what was happening in my new hometown? Maybe Sitka had never really been home to me because I’d been running from something all my life. I’d been damaged, vulnerable in several ways.
Had I been hired because of that?
I had too many conspiracy theories strangling every concept of common sense but there was something evil going on.
The ruthless men had never lorded their wealth over me or their all-controlling attitudes regarding the small town, but I’d felt it from the moment I’d arrived. There was no doubt they’d hired an outsider on purpose. What terrified me was that they controlled so much of the town and the people, including the livelihood of so many. As I glanced out the window again, I could swear I was being watched, as if there were eyes everywhere.
Of course the two men had friends everywhere, but they also had their share of people who hated them. I’d learned early on their control had long fingers into the majority of Alaska. What I hadn’t known or paid any attention to was the fact they still held so much control in California.
Now, with the senator vying to be the next president, I doubted there was a single coincidence. That made the feeling I had for Diego that much worse, creating a sickening feeling in the pit of my stomach.
What I’d found in the darkest reaches of social media was that some of those connections, the ones that had funded campaigns and possibly padded their posh lifestyle, were quite possibly cartel or syndicate related.
Was I stretching the reality, trying to make the reason for the murder and the unsaid threats into a neat box? Or were the powerful men certain I’d follow their lead like a sheep being led to slaughter?
I laughed, the sound more bitter than ever and pushed my cold cup of coffee away. I was jittery enough, especially since I still had no idea who I could trust. Even Kathleen had acted strange, more so than I was used to her being. She’d arrived in a cloud of murkiness herself. Oh, God. I’d ripped open Pandora’s Box finding rats and other ruthless creatures inside.
