Collision Force (21 page)

“Where’s Bella?” she asked. Tears cascaded down her cheeks.

Pete appeared at her side with a tissue box. Natalie snatched one, but did nothing more than hold it. “We’ll find her,” Andi’s partner said.

“How could this have happened?” Natalie asked through a new sob.

Andi stared. What could she say?

“I got this, partner. Go be with Ethan and Cole,” Pete whispered in the vicinity of her ear.

She nodded numbly and watched Pete gently guide her neighbour into the living room and sit her down on the loveseat. He dragged the ottoman from the other side of the room and took a seat in front of her. Their low tones didn’t carry, but Natalie’s crying did. Andi winced.

The cops in the room said their farewells and ‘call if you need us’ to Cole and the cavalry outside started to recede, but the weight of the world settled itself on Andi’s chest.

Ethan was in Cole’s arms again. Emotions swirled in her head and heart. She ignored a shiver as a wave of guilt over Bella fought the rightness of her son and the man together.

“
Stop,
this is not your fault,” Cole whispered, pulling her to his side with his free arm.

“I never said it was.” Since when did he know her so well?

“It’s written all over your face,” he answered, a smile playing at his lips. He squeezed her against his side.

Cole held Andi and Ethan tight to him, dropping a kiss on her cheek. “We’ll get her back. I promise.” His tone held conviction.

She looked into his steel eyes and nodded, throat constricting, mouth dry, leaving unsaid,
Yes, but in what condition?

When Ethan reached for her, she grabbed his small hand and clung to it.

Chapter Eighteen

Carlo tied the girl’s hands behind her back in the dimness of the office at the rear of the warehouse. The same warehouse where he’d killed Gains and Reese. Blacked out windows offered no light, but he could manage with the lantern he’d got at Wal-Mart.

And if she didn’t shut her goddamn mouth, he was going to gag the pretty little bitch. She whimpered when he yanked the ropes tighter.

“What do you want from me?” she demanded, her attractive mouth a hard line. Her dark eyes shot daggers at him.

Carlo smirked. “Your sweet ass.”

He whipped her around and yanked her close, leaning down and pressing his lips to hers.

She yelped and tried to squirm away from him, but he jerked the rope and she froze, her breasts pushing into his chest. Small and firm, they needed a good squeeze.

“Don’t touch me,” she spat.

Chuckling, Carlo took a step back and pressed her into the chair, intentionally brushing her chest with both hands.

The girl gasped and bit her plump bottom lip. Her eyes were shiny as they caught the lantern light. He’d scared her.
Good.

“Are you a virgin?”

She glared at him again.
Damn,
was the little bitch bipolar?

“Excuse me?” she asked.

Carlo looped ropes around her calves and ankles, securing her to the chair and flashing a smile as he straightened. He tugged his shirt in place and ran a hand through his dark hair, propping his ass on the nearest desk top.

“Just a question.” He shrugged.

Her eyes narrowed, but she said nothing.

With a growl, Carlo flew off the desk and gripped her face, digging his fingers into her jaw. She tried to shake him off by jerking back and forth, but he squeezed until tears welled again. He tilted her cheeks up, studying her.

Maybe he wouldn’t care either way. He’d always liked the feisty ones. Sinking into her sweet body would be worth the loss of money if he’d be the one to pop her cherry. Her lips had hinted at her innocent flavour. Perhaps he should give it another go.

Carlo had time before Caselli’s reinforcements were supposed to arrive.

“Have you ever had a real man? Blondie doesn’t count.”

Her eyes widened and she averted her gaze. A tremble racked her slender frame when he rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip. Tears cascaded silently down her cheeks, wetting his fingertips.

When he released her, she looked away, head hung low, dark hair curtaining her face. “How do you know about Matt?”

“So loverboy’s name is Matt. Has
Matt
ever parted your thighs?”

She didn’t look at him, but her face reddened and she shivered.

“Tell me the truth.” Carlo tapped her shoulder. “Things will go easier for you.”

“I’m a virgin.” She met his gaze head on. “He
respects
me.”

Carlo threw his head back and laughed. “Only because he’s burying his cock in someone else’s sweet pussy.”

The girl gasped and he laughed harder. He caressed her cheek, but she yanked away from his hand.

“Oh, the things I could teach you if I had time.”

“No.” The whispered word was punctuated by the frantic shake of her head.

Grinning, Carlo cocked his head to the side. “You don’t get to pick, baby.”

Her shoulders slumped and she bit her bottom lip. “Are you going to rape me? Is that what you want?”

“Unfortunately your virtue is safe from me…for now.”

Breath exiting on a whoosh, she stared at him. “Then…why? What do you want?”

“What’s your name, sweetness?” he asked, ignoring her question.

She glared. The spunk was back and his cock twitched. “Don’t call me that,” she snapped.

“I’ll call you whatever I want.” Carlo leant down, tapping her nose with his fingertip. He flashed a smile as he read the disgust in her eyes. “You’re the one tied to a chair in this scenario, or did you forget?”

She set her jaw in a firm line. God, she was a hot little thing.

“Bella. My name is Bella.”

Carlo grinned. “Figures. Fitting.”

“Huh?”

“Do you know what your name means in Italian, sweetness?” He ran two fingers from her temple to her cheek.

Damn
, he could barely keep his hands to himself. He needed to get laid.

Bella nodded, but Carlo spoke anyway. “Beautiful. It means beautiful, and that’s just what you are.”

“Don’t touch me,” she ordered, but her voice shook.

Carlo wiped her tears away with both hands, but Bella winced. “Aw, c’mon. I won’t hurt you. Don’t believe me?”

He continued his caresses down her neck, shoulder and arm as it curved around the back of the chair, but her tremors only increased.

He scowled. “Listen,
Bella
, relax, or I’ll give you something to cry about.”

Her dark eyes widened and Carlo leaned close, their noses almost touching. “Please don’t hurt me,” she whispered.

“Do what I tell you when the time comes, and you got nothing to worry about.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll see.” Carlo caressed her face. Her lip trembled, and he was torn between the hard-on his zipper was biting into and smacking some sense into her. But bruises damaged value, and this one was worth a shitload.

After bending over, he quickly undid the ropes containing her legs and feet, pulling her from the chair into his arms. She froze, uncertainty etched in her expression as he ran his hands over her long silky hair. “
Bella
Bella.” Continuing to whisper to her in Italian did nothing to relax her in his hold, though her arms were still bound. But Carlo wasn’t stupid enough to free them. The girl was still a firecracker.

He pulled her mouth up to his, claiming her forcibly. She fought him, wriggling, but he tightened his hold on her face, forcing her lips open and shoving his tongue inside. Damn, she was sweet, innocence palpable.

Could he keep her? Dangling her in front of Lucas would still get him to come after her. Bruno could still have the FBI agent, and Carlo could leave
with
the girl. If he could weasel enough money away from Caselli, it could work. Teeth sank into his tongue, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth with the sharp agony. Carlo yanked his mouth away with a loud curse as her knee shot up. Hands on her upper arms, he tilted his hips just in time to save his boys, but her jab landed upper thigh, jarring his injured side as well as the bullet-ridden leg. Breathing was a struggle as pain radiated and he fought doubling over.

“Fuck.
Fuck
,” he muttered through clenched teeth.

She slipped from his grip and spat. “Asshole.”

As pain took over his form, he didn’t have a retort ready as she darted from the office and into the darkened warehouse.

“Son of a bitch,” he growled as he straightened, taking one deep breath, then another. Forcing himself to get it together, he reached for his gun.

Where the hell did she think she was going?

* * * *

“I don’t need back-up, Liv. I have a whole PD. I was just letting you know what’s going on,” Cole said into his cell, pacing her living room.

Andi’s eyes tracked him, her stomach in knots. Five hours and nothing, and now it was almost ten.

Maldonado had Bella. No telling what he was doing to her.

Don’t think about it. Be a cop. Handle this.

Pete had taken Natalie next door, along with Ethan. Her friend had told her taking him would give her something to do. With the excitement, he’d been up way past his bedtime. Her partner had kept them both calm, but that was just Pete. Her little boy had even flashed a smile or two. He’d be fine—kids were resilient. Irony swirled around in her brain. How many times had she reassured parents with that phrase?

Chief Martin had SWAT on standby, so they would be ready at the drop of a hat as soon as Maldonado called—if he called. Despite Cole’s assurance, Andi had doubts.

“I’ll get him, Liv. You’ve just gotta trust me. I
know
Maldonado. He’ll call. He won’t be able to resist the lure. I’d bet money he promised me to Caselli. I know how his mind works.”

Andi couldn’t make out what his supervisor was saying, but she heard the even hum of her voice. Cole’s shoulders slumped and she stared. What now?

“I don’t need another agent butting around in my case.” He paused. “Partner? Hell no, I don’t need a partner. I don’t
want
a partner. This case is mine.”

She swallowed hard. It was a reminder of her place. She was his lover, but he was
stuck
working with her. Despite the progress they’d made, the fact that they worked well together, he would still rather be a solo act.

It shouldn’t have been a shocker, but it smarted. She’d been working her ass off on this case. She wanted Maldonado as bad as he did. Worse, now that the asshole had Bella.

“I don’t have an hour and a half to wait for her.” He shook his head, scowling. “Fine. But I’m telling you right now if I get a call, I’m acting. I’m not waiting around for
anyone
, even Agent Dawson.” He paused again. “No, Liv.”

Her answer was a hard, raised voice. Andi still couldn’t make out the words, but the threat in her tone was clear.

“Then I guess you’ll do what you need to do, and so will I. Goodbye, Olivia.” Cole ended the call cursing under his breath.

She didn’t bother asking if everything was all right. “Who’s Agent Dawson?”

“She’s a transfer to my office, out of the Dallas office, so she’s still local here. Liv wants to send her over, because evidently, we’ll be
working
together when I get back. My new partner.” The scowl on his face matched his tone.

Her heart started to race. What if Cole ended up getting along with this woman like
they
got along? What if he took her as a lover? Was it routine for him when working with a female?

Andi jolted, sitting up straighter. What was she doing?

She needed to be focused on Bella, not…what…losing Cole? She was going to lose him when the case was over anyway.

It wasn’t like they’d talked about their relationship. Was it even a relationship? They were just having sex. She winced. That made it…nothing. It was so far from
nothing,
Andi didn’t have the right words. She’d spent the last week and a half in his arms and wouldn’t have changed a thing about it.

Cole’s jaw was tight and his fists clenched as he continued to pace in front of her fireplace, but he was still the most appealing man she’d ever seen. She wanted to comfort him, assure him it would somehow be okay. She had to believe that to get her through. But she needed him to believe it, too.

She wanted him. To be with him, near him. Always.

Oh, shit. I love him.

The realisation hit like a ton of bricks and she almost toppled off the couch.

His gaze found hers and he came towards her. “You okay?”

“Yeah, just worried about Bella.”

“I know. I am too. But he won’t kill her.” He plopped down on the ottoman and grabbed her hand. “Listen…is she a virgin?”

She gasped. “I don’t know. Why?”

Cole winced. “Virgins go for more. So, if she is, he probably won’t rape her.” He squeezed her hand.

“Oh, God,” she whispered, crushing her eyes shut and taking a deep breath.

This was Bella they were talking about, not some unknown girl that Andi would have had empathy for as a police officer. This was her little sister in all but blood. A child she’d seen grow up from age seven.

“I know,” Cole whispered. “We have to be realistic.”

She met his gaze and nodded. “I know. I really do.”

“We’ll get her back.”

“Matt’s her first boyfriend. She told me the other day she thinks she loves him, but I don’t know if they’re having sex,” Andi said. “And I don’t know if Natalie would know. They have a pretty open relationship, but I’m not sure a seventeen-year-old girl would announce that kinda thing to her mom.”

He nodded. “He’ll call me.”

As if on cue, his cell phone hopped down the coffee table as it vibrated. Caller ID flashed
Unknown Number.

Pete appeared in the living room at the same time, standing over them.

Cole swished his thumb across the touch screen and activated the speaker. “Lucas,” he barked.

The laughter that greeted them was maniacal. Andi’s stomach twisted.