AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A mammoth man with muscles on top of muscles walks into the cabin dressed in a pair of dress pants and a crisp white shirt. “Watering that stuff down is an exceptionally good idea. The brew from Europe is strong, but that’s the way everyone who drinks it around here likes it.”
He extends a hand. “I’m Cole. I was working when you boarded. Nice to see you again,” he says.
I shake his hand in greeting. “Likewise.”
“There’s a quiche in the refrigerator that tastes amazing as long as you like spinach and lots of cheese,” Cole tells me, reaching down to pull it out.
“It’s my lucky day because I love them both!” I reply. Eating a large piece of sugar-laden pie and foregoing a well-balanced meal the night before has my stomach growling for sustenance.
He unwraps the clear plastic from the pie pan and cuts two slices for himself and places one on my plate. “We’ll throw these in the microwave for a few minutes and a gourmet meal we shall have,” Cole replies, smiling widely at me.
I gesture toward the fruit bowl. “Do you mind?”
“Help yourself to anything you see. If it’s not labeled, it belongs to anyone and everyone,” Cole informs, waiting for my plate to heat before placing it in front of me and putting his own into the microwave and setting the time.
“We should land soon, about forty minutes, right?” I ask.
“Yep, almost exactly,” Cole answers as I peel a banana to add to my plate. Nick chooses that moment to walk in from the security cabin.
I point my finger at him. “There you are, you scoundrel. You didn’t say a word last night about that madman coming anywhere near the apartment, and you knew the entire time we were talking. And poor Allie, she has to sleep on one of those hospital beds after a long night of trauma. What gives?”
I was half-kidding, but he’s clearly not amused, and there are telling signs under his darkened eyes. “Let’s just say the night didn’t go as intended. There was a murder around the block from where the team last saw Darwin. I talked to the police off the record, and they suspect him but can’t prove a damn thing, just like the other women he’s suspected of killing. It just doesn’t add up, but Allie’s safe at the hospital, and the team is working around the clock to get this locked up,” Nick replies, pouring himself a straight cup of the coffee.
“You sure you don’t want to rest before you slam that coffee? You haven’t slept all night, man,” Cole says.
“I’ll sleep later. First, we find this fucker,” Nick replies, stalking back into the security cabin. Cole’s eyes go wide, and then his lips turn up in a grin.
“What’s so funny?”
“That man doesn’t usually rile; nothing gets him worked up.”
“This Darwin guy, he’s really bad news, Cole.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s bothering us all that our trafficking division thinks he may be responsible for more than twenty missing women in the New York area alone. Nick’s pushing the team hard to find a connection to the syndicate, but I don’t think that’s all that’s bothering him. He and I have dealt with worse. I think this one’s hitting him on a personal level, though. He’s usually all good humor and shit. Something or someone’s got him all hot and bothered.”
A smile slowly breaks over my entire face because I may just know who that someone is. A feisty charge nurse who hasn’t had a boyfriend—a real boyfriend—in such an exceptionally long time. I know she sneaks off to the BDSM club and may scene with a few of the regulars from time to time, but nothing permanent. At the club, it can be on Allie’s terms, no questions asked and no expectations when done.
“What’s the smile all about?”
I shrug. “Just a hunch; that’s all.”
He narrows his eyes at me and gives me a smirk, but then the pilot announces that we’ll soon be landing. I chug down the last of my drink and head to my seat. Cole tells me to buckle up and takes his coffee and plate of breakfast back to the security cabin.
The jet lands smoothly, gliding over the runway with precision and control, and we’re soon parked outside of the private area for VIPs. Nick and Cole come out of the security cabin and open the door. The Italian sun is shining brightly and feels like a warm blanket on my skin as we walk down the ramp, clear ourselves through customs, and head to the limo that is already waiting on the tarmac.
I expect any moment for Sheldon to open a door, get out, and greet me, but instead, the security team reaches the black limo and opens the door. I try to hide my very real disappointment. I’m sure there’s a good reason he wasn’t able to come himself, but he could have at least sent me a text to let me know he’s not coming.
Nick touches my shoulder. “Earth to Alexis. I think your ride is here.” He gestures with his head to a sleek black and silver sports car pulling up behind the limo. My heart picks up its pace, and I breathe deep, trying to keep the smile that threatens to break my face in two from doing exactly that.
Sheldon steps out of the car, and I watch every single move, swallowing my growing anticipation as he strides toward me in his signature black suit, the one that fits his tall, athletic body and shows off those incredibly broad shoulders perfectly. My center tingles with growing excitement. God, this man is off-the-charts hot, and his deep brown eyes are smoldering, keeping mine captured with his own. My cheeks burn from the magnetism between us, which is something I’ve never experienced. Even if last night hadn’t happened, he must sense how much he turns me on.
Sheldon reaches us in a few more short strides and pulls me toward him, placing an arm casually around my waist as he extends a hand to Nick, who has his usual broad smile pasted on his face. “Thanks for bringing Alexis to Italy,” Sheldon greets.
“My pleasure. You two have fun now, and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” Nick replies as he slides into the back seat of the limo and the crew speeds off.
I try to dial back the blush flaming my cheeks. I have no idea what to say to this man, but he makes what could be awkward easy. “Come on, Lex, we’ll talk in the car,” Sheldon says to me, stroking my cheek before placing his hand on the small of my back, guiding me to his car, and getting me tucked into the passenger seat before he slides into the driver’s seat and revs the engine.
“I’ve never seen such an extraordinary car. What’s the name of it?”
