A Little Harmless Submission 6 (17 page)

He glanced at Micah. “Thanks. And she’ll need a ride home if I can’t get away.”

Micah nodded. “It might give her a chance to get chatted up with you gone. You tend to give off the ‘pit bull guarding the henhouse’ feeling around her.”

He sighed. “Just make sure she’s safe.”

He glanced one more time at her. She smiled at him and waved, giving the idea that she was just a tourist there for fun for anyone watching. Then he turned and left, his mind on the work ahead, but his worries on the woman he had just left behind.

· · · · ·

“Anyone sitting here,” a deep, Australian accented voice said from beside her. She turned and at first couldn’t think.

A tall, blond god stood beside her. His skin was dark, as if he spent a lot of time out in the sun. He had one of those strong jaws, and from what she could see, a body that would make a nun want to sin. His icy blue eyes were oddly mesmerizing. Good lord, what did they do? Go out and find every hot nationality there was in the world and bring one guy into Rough ‘n Ready from each continent?

“Miss?”

She shook her head. “Sorry. Not used to the time change even after close to a week. Seat’s free.”

He nodded and slipped onto the stool.

“Drinking water?”

She nodded.

“Planning on a little play?”

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “No, since my date is gone.”

“Doesn’t mean you can’t have a little bit of fun before he returns.”

She couldn’t believe his audacity, but when she turned to face him, she couldn’t help but return the smile he offered her. He was gorgeous, that’s for sure, and definitely dangerous. But he had one of those little boy smiles that told you he got just what he wanted from women.

“I have a feeling Rome wouldn’t be too happy.”

“Hmm.”

“Hey, Eli, back on the island for a bit?” Dee asked.

He smiled at her. “Yeah. Just the weekend.”

“You flew all the way here from Australia for the weekend?” Maria asked.

He laughed. “No, love. I live on the Big Island.”

She nodded and took a sip of water.

“I’ll take a soda, Dee.” His eyes twinkled as he settled his elbows on the bar. “You’re looking especially fine this evening.”

Dee laughed and shook her head. “I thought you learned last time not to flirt with me.”

“No one will ever tell me that flirting with a woman is dangerous.”

“Maria, meet Elias St John.”

“Nice to meet you, Maria. Did you just move here?”

She shook her head. “Just visiting.”

Dee gave St John his change. “Thanks, love. Have you seen Isabella? I was supposed to meet up with her tonight.”

Dee frowned. “Bella Sullivan?”

He nodded.

“No, sorry.”

She moved down the bar to a new customer.

“So, we’re both drinking non-alcoholic beverages and are free for the evening.”

She laughed. “First of all, Rome got called to work, so I’m not really free for the evening. You were chatting me up before you even knew your date had left you out to dry.”

A flash of something she couldn’t discern brightened his eyes before he tamped down on it. It had been hot and lethal. She knew without a doubt this was a man you didn’t mess with. He might let everyone think he was just a laid back kind of guy, but he wasn’t. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that this man could be deadly when he wanted to be.

“It’s odd, that.”

“That she stood you up?” she asked lightly. He nodded. “Happens all the time.”

He threw his head back and laughed. People turned and looked at them.

“Sorry, that was a right good joke. Yes, it happens to other people, not me.”

“Let me guess? No one ever calls you modest?”

“Nope. But then, I don’t see a reason to.”

His gaze stuck on someone behind her. She turned around and noticed a tall brunette watching them. He refocused on Maria. “So I take it the answer is still no?”

She nodded.

“Well, I’m off for the hunt.”

The way he said it sent a chill of ice slicing through her blood. She fought the shiver that sliced through her at the words. With considerable effort, she summoned up a smile.

“Have fun.”

He offered her that boyish grin. “I always do, love.”

He sauntered off, his gaze on the rather tall woman with the long, dark hair.

“He’s not in here that much. He runs a ranch on the Big Island.”

She glanced at Dee and nodded. “There was just something there that bothered me.”

“What?”

She shrugged. “Not sure. I’ll check him out, though. Shouldn’t be too hard to find stuff on him.”

“As I live and breathe, Maria Callahan in Rough ‘n Ready.”

She turned toward the deep, southern voice and swallowed. Her old lover, Malachai Dupree, stood inches behind her, a big smile on his face.

Well, crap. Now she really
was
in trouble.

Chapter Twelve

By the time Rome made it to the scene, something prickled at the base of Rome’s spine. There was something wrong. As he made his way up the walkway to the house, he realized it was early in the evening. None of the other killings happened this early. It was usually the dead of night that they found the victim. This was a residence in a pretty decent part of Honolulu. That fact alone had his gut churning.

When he walked up to the crime scene, he was greeted by a patrol officer. Rome showed his badge.

“Detective Carino.”

The young officer nodded. “She was found by her mother.”

He glanced over at a sobbing woman. A female officer was talking to her. Rome had a really strong gut feeling this wasn’t The Dom. It felt wrong, very wrong. Just the fact that the woman had been found in her home should have been the biggest clue. Their killer liked to dump them in the worst parts of town to humiliate them. The moment he walked in, he realized he’d been right. The living room was filled with blood. It was splattered over the walls. The smell of it tinged the air.

“Do you know why I was called?” he asked.

The officer shrugged. “When it was called in, your name was attached to it. Someone did it.”

Rome nodded as he saw Detective Sawyer walking up the drive.

“Carino, what are you doing here?”

“My name was attached to it for some reason.”

Sawyer frowned. “I have no idea why. We know the ex did this. Or we think he did.”

He nodded and started back to his car. Then he stopped and looked back at the house.

“What was the woman’s name?”

“Sara Michaels.”

He knew the name, knew she was a member of the club, but knew that for once, this was a coincidence.

Still, something nagged the back of his mind, something he knew he was missing again. He was back in his car and dialing Maria’s number before he even realized it was now a reflex. Done with work, call Maria.

“Hey, was it one?” she asked before even saying hello. Just hearing her voice had his nerves settling, his worries dissolving.

“No, apparently the woman was in a bad situation with her ex. He’s their prime suspect. Are you still at the club?”

“No. I’m on my way back to the house.”

“Okay, I’ll head back to Honolulu—”

“No, I’m on my way to your house. Malach is taking me there.”

He paused. The name was familiar, but it wasn’t someone he knew directly. Then it hit him, Malachai Dupree, Chris’ brother. He’d met him at Jocelyn and Kai’s wedding. “Why didn’t you wait for me?”

There was a beat of silence. “I know Malachai. Personally.”

Shit, an old boyfriend? Of all things. And that was suspicious. “He found you?”

“We ran into each other. I thought it best to get away from the club to explain so we didn’t blow my cover.”

“Okay, be there in a few.”

“Bye, Rome.”

He was irritated, he thought as he drove up Like Like Highway. Worse, he knew why. She was breeching protocol. It was completely out of character for her, and it could endanger the mission. And all because of some damned ex-boyfriend. A Navy Seal ex-boyfriend, in fact. Damned if that didn’t piss him off.

When he had been introduced to Malachai at the wedding, he’d seemed a nice enough guy. Women had been slobbering on him, but that was normal for a Seal. The thought that he had been one of Maria’s ex-lovers had Rome grinding his teeth. She didn’t mention she knew Dupree. It wasn’t like they had long conversations about their old lovers, but with the connection, Rome wondered why she didn’t say anything.

He pulled back from the idea of trying to kill a Seal, a man trained to kill with his bare hands. But the thing that was starting to bother him was that Maria had a past. He knew she wasn’t that experienced, and he never looked down on a woman for her past. But right now, he wanted to beat the holy living hell out of Dupree.

It was worse than when they ran into Jack a few days ago. Now he could feel the slap of anger mixed in with the jealousy. What the hell was he doing? He wasn’t a Dom that expected his sub not to have male friends or a past. And he never expected to control their every movement. That wasn’t a Dom/sub relationship in his mind. That was a slave/owner and so not his thing.

Still, there was a part of him who thought maybe that was what he should be doing. He should demand that she not have any contact with any men. Which would make both of their jobs difficult and enough to scare the hell out of him.

Irritated with himself and with the woman causing these feelings, Rome punched the gas and sped home. The sooner he saw her, the better he would feel.

· · · · ·

“So, you’re here working the case?” Malachai asked.

She nodded. “Yeah, I talked them into letting me come over.”

He snorted. “Like that was a hard decision. You’re one of the best agents they have in their DC office. And that has nothing to do with your father.”

“Tell some of them that. But this way I think I’ll prove them all wrong.”

Malachai frowned. “I don’t like it though. Putting yourself out there as bait? Not good. You’re sure this Carino guy is good?”

She gave him a sardonic smile. “Do you think I’d work with him if he wasn’t?”

He chuckled. “You have before.”

She shrugged. “I trust him. Plus he has good cop instincts.”

Mal opened his mouth, but the flash of lights told her that Rome had made it back. The door opened just a few moments later.

“Hey, Maria.” He walked straight to her and pulled her in for a thoroughly devastating kiss. It was quick, hot, and it made everything in her body pulse.

“Hey, yourself,” she said, when she gained her sense. “Mal, this is Rome Carino. Rome this is—“

“We met at Jocelyn’s wedding,” Rome said as he tucked her close to him. She frowned at him and fought the urge to wiggle away. Something about his expression told her that he wouldn’t like it, and he definitely would make a scene.

“Yeah, I remember now. You’re the cop who was in charge of May’s case.”

Rome nodded. Neither of them said anything. Rome kept her locked next to him, and Mal crossed his arms over his massive chest. The testosterone in the room rose to dangerous levels. It was so high there was a good chance she might pass out from it.

“Mal is on leave.”

“And just happened to stop by the club?”

The suspicion in Rome’s voice had her face turning red. She leaned closer and whispered, “Behave.”

He squeezed her.

“Yeah, I did. I wanted to say hi to Micah. Plus I have a membership, via my family connection.”

“Have you been in Atlanta recently?”

Mal’s easygoing smile dissolved, and Maria knew there would be a fight unless she stepped in.

“No, Mal was on a mission overseas. All hush-hush. So he’s not a suspect.”

“Did you check it out?”

The growl that rumbled from Mal’s chest meant that someone was going to end up with a broken nose.

“Romeo Carino, if you don’t behave, I’ll make you regret it.”

For a second there was a stunned silence in the kitchen.

“Romeo?” Mal asked, then he chuckled. It turned into a belly laugh.

“And you’re not much better, Malachai Fredrick Dupree. You behave, or I’ll tell people you get seasick.”

She was satisfied to see his smile dissolve.

He gave her a dark frown. “You promised not to tell anyone.”

“Yeah, well, you’re both being immature. Stop it.”

She crossed her arms and gave them both her meanest stare. Mal chuckled, and Rome ignored her.

“Now that you’re here, I’ll go. And don’t worry, I’ll keep your cover. Don’t have much time here anyway. Just three days before I have to be back.”

“I’ll walk you out.”

She could tell from Rome’s expression that he wanted to tell her not to, but she gave him a look that let him know he would regret it.

“Thanks for seeing Maria home.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, the trained FBI agent needed to be seen home.”

He said nothing else as she walked Mal back out to his rental.

“So you’re not just on the job.”

The statement was said in a way that had her temper rising. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

His mouth kicked up on one corner. “Nothing.”

“You know a lot of people get involved while undercover. We are both free agents in that realm, so I don’t see a problem. Besides, we have to keep up the appearance that we’re involved.”

Malachai said nothing as he studied her. She wasn’t much different. She tended to study people, watch their reactions to what was being said, to get a feel of what people were thinking. Her father had taught her how to do it years ago, and she knew Mal had training in it.

“Stop. You’re not on some fucking mission.”

He snorted. “Yeah? Well, I must have upset you if you’re cussing. The only time you cuss is when you drink and when you’re losing at chess.”

She growled.

“Oh, and now you sound like your boyfriend in there.”

“He’s not my boyfriend.”

That was a silly term, and one she wasn’t ready for. Truthfully, she’d never really used that term before, so it sounded odd to her.

“Why not? He was sure acting like it in there. And although I can’t see out of the back of my head, I can feel him watching us.”