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She took a deep breath, hoping to get away without him noticing she was fighting tears. He’d read too much into that, want to know why. If she did, she could always tell him she’d miss Jason. That was the truth.
“Good night, Trey.” She couldn’t bring herself to say goodbye.
Trey reached out and gently pulled her into a hug. “Promise me you’ll be careful tomorrow,” he said, his voice sounding muffled and far away.
“I promise.” She held herself stiffly, afraid to release into his warmth, afraid she’d never want to exit his embrace, terrified she’d raise her chin and beg for her good-night kiss. She closed her eyes telling herself she could get through this. She’d certainly gotten through worse.
He released her and ran a gentle hand down her cheek, staring into her face with eyes that spoke of loneliness and regrets.
“Thank you, Kelly.”
“For what?” she whispered.
“For being you.” He kissed her then, his lips meeting hers with a brief feather light touch. But his face remained close, his breath hot on her chin. She had the distinct impression he wanted to say something. And then his mouth was on hers again, kissing her as if he didn’t want to let her go, pressing his body into hers. She couldn’t help but lean into him and slide her arms around his waist. Yes, this was what she wanted, what she needed.
But when she heard moans of pleasure rumbling in her throat, she pulled back, a hand to her lips, knowing those little noises gave her away as surely as a signed confession. Their gazes locked and understanding passed between them. Yes, he did want to make love to her.
But it would be the last time. There’d never be anything else but one more night of mind-blowing passion, and that wouldn’t be enough. Not for her anyway. Still, she hesitated for a moment, tempted, wanting to open his shirt and place her cheek against his bare chest and feel his heart race, even if it would be the dumbest thing she’d ever done.
No way. This parting was already too hard.
Without saying a word, she turned and fled to the safety of her room. Trey didn’t follow her.
* * *
“ADAM CHANDLER, THIS is the FBI.” Ballard’s voice boomed into the quiet dawn. “You are surrounded. Come out with your hands up.”
Crouched behind an FBI vehicle, gun drawn, her heart racing, Kelly waited with dozens of FBI agents for a response to Ballard’s demand. Everyone focused on a one-story concrete block home with peeling paint and a blue tarp suspended over one section of the roof. A rusted truck sat in the front yard full of weeds growing higher than the truck’s bumper.
Ballard raised the microphone to his mouth and repeated his instructions, his amplified voice sounding loud, yet thin and grainy, through the speakers.
Still no response. Kelly shifted her weight. What was Chandler doing inside that house? Not taking her focus from the front door, she raised a shoulder and brushed sweat from her cheek. The early morning was cool, but she was beyond excited.
Ballard raised his microphone again.
A barrage of gunshots exploded out a front window before he could speak. Definitely an automatic weapon. Ballard cursed.
“Anybody hit?” he yelled.
Kelly held her breath, but everyone was okay. Now what? If this were her department’s op, they’d use a negotiator and try to talk Chandler down.
“Make the call,” Ballard ordered a woman at his side.
So the FBI followed the same protocol. Kelly exhaled roughly and lowered her weapon, as did the other agents. Likely they were in for a long morning.
Two hours later, Ballard summoned Kelly and introduced her to Agent Alexa Nardi, a striking woman who looked to be of Indian descent, maybe forty years of age, the FBI negotiator.
“Agent Nardi has initiated communication with a gentleman inside that structure who claims to be Caleb Chandler, Adam’s cousin,” Ballard said. “The morning you rescued the Wentworth kid, did you learn the name of Chandler’s associate?”
“Yes,” Kelly said. “Caleb.”
“Caleb insists Adam isn’t in the house, that he left in the middle of the night,” Ballard said.
“Could they have gotten a warning?” Kelly asked.
“Good question,” Ballard said.
