Evanesce (The Darkness #2) (16 page)

“Okay you two, spill. You both have had some sort of training. I saw the way you canvassed the area for tracks, scanned the perimeter like pros. Hell, you’re almost as good as me.” He held up a hand at Theo’s big grin. “I said almost, don’t get too excited. Were you in the military or something?”

“Not the military, exactly,” Theo evaded. His short, colorful history with similar lines of work wasn’t one he liked to reminisce about. The memories were still too fresh.

“My training comes from learning more about my specialty,” Gabe spoke up. “I spent time with some ex-military, ex-cons, anyone that was willing to help me enhance my skills. No sense in being an expert shot if some asshole sneaks up and shoots me in the back of the head,” he explained. “Theo here,” he jerked his thumb at his best friend, “You’ll never get the full story out of him. I still don’t know all the details.”

Brady processed their answers for a few minutes. “Well, I feel a lot better about you two covering my back now that I know that you aren’t complete pansies,” he laughed at them.

Theo scoffed. “We’re the pansies?” He looked at Gabe. “This from the guy that was too shy and nervous to find the courage to talk to Lesley Loose Legs back when we were fourteen.”

“Now, that’s not what happened,” Brady began, raising his voice to be heard over their laughter. “She was older, and experienced. I had to really be sure of my angle before I approached her. And besides—” He cut himself off when they heard the sound of tires grinding on the dirt.

“Let me do the talking,” Brady ordered when the late model sedan pulled to a stop and a man climbed out. Gabe and Theo grumbled, but reluctantly agreed. Brady walked forward and greeted the man and the two spoke in low tones for quite a while.

Gabe and Theo waited impatiently in the silence, annoyed at being kept on the sidelines. Just as they decided to approach the other two man, Brady clapped him on the back and led him forward.

Gabe studied the stranger as Brady introduced him. “Guys, this is Ben Westin. Ben, this is Theo Barrington and Gabe Thornton.” Ben was a tall and lanky man with a thin build. His dark hair was trimmed short, but still managed to somehow stick up in tufts around his ears. He had piercing green eyes and a long straight nose. Gabe got the impression he was much more intelligent than he let on in a first meeting.

“Good to meet you,” Gabe greeted him as they all shook hands. “Brady fill you in?”

Ben nodded and sighed. “Yeah, he gave me some background. Sounds like a hell of a mess.”

Theo rubbed his hands through his hair, anxious to get some answers. “What can you tell us that might be helpful? Have you seen these types of cases before in your days under—um,” he looked at Brady, unsure it was appropriate to continue his train of thought. At Brady’s slight nod, he finished. “Your days undercover in the Black Market?”

“Unfortunately, I have. Newborn infants are a gold mine, each can be worth upwards of 5-6 thousand dollars. More if they know the parentage,” Ben explained. His confirmation was not shocking to any of them, he only confirmed what they already knew.

“In your experience, would the mothers be sold as well?” Gabe asked. Ben shifted, uncomfortable.

“I’m not going to sugar-coat this for you guys, it won’t do you any good to have false hope when it comes to dealing with the people that buy and sell on something as sinister as the Black Market. No, the mothers would not be sold unless there was a slavery master interested. In cases with pregnancy, there is a low interest rate in the mother and an extremely high one in the child. The mother is usually disposed of after providing them with the product they desire.”

There was a few minutes of silence while everyone let Ben’s information sink in. It was not the news they wanted to hear. The thought of all those women just being killed, it was unimaginable.

“One more question, Ben,” Brady stepped in this time. “What’s your gut feeling on this? Are we dealing with someone from the Market arranging these kidnappings? Or is it more likely that they have hired an outside source to take care of that part for them?”

“Without a doubt in my mind, I will tell you that they have hired someone. These people…they like to keep their hands as clean as they can. They acquire the product, they secure the buyer and make the transaction happen. That’s it, that’s the extent of their involvement. For you to have as many missing women and children as you do in your small town—well that’s too much heat for them to get involved in. They prefer much less attention on them and their dealings. It seems to me that this town has been picked for a reason.” Ben finished his explanation and looked at his watch. “I should get going, I don’t want to be missed.”

“Of course, Ben. And thanks for meeting with us, you’ve given us a lot to think about. I owe you one,” Brady told him. Theo and Gabe moved forward and shook hands with him in thanks.

Ben gave them a grim smile and headed back to his car. Pausing with one leg in and one leg out of the door, he called back to them. “I really am sorry you’re dealing with all this. Hope it works out and you can shut this thing down.”

“Thanks, Ben.” Waiting until his car had disappeared down the lane, Brady turned back to Gabe and Theo. Gabe was the first to speak.

“Well, that pretty much confirms our suspicions. But what do we do with that information? We still don’t have any leads,” he pointed out.

Brady was thoughtful for a moment. “Actually, Ben gave us a very big lead. We know now that there is someone interested in this town for a reason. That they have been hired by the Black Market to acquire these infants for sale. So who is interested in Norton Springs…and why? We need to start running big name criminals and see what their origins are. Let’s dig a little deeper into who may have left here in the last few years and may have the resources to carry out these acts. These guys are pros…they’ve done crime before.”

“I’ll grab Quinn and start going through records at Town Hall, there may be something in Norton Springs past that’s connected somehow. Your sister is a whiz at research,” he told Gabe. Gabe laughed, “She’s all yours, dude. I’ll be glad to know you’re keeping an eye on her.”

“Nora and I can talk to my parents, some of the locals, see if they remember seeing anything the night of the abductions or if they know of anyone that left town in a bitter way,” Gabe offered.

“That’s a good start, guys. I’ll run like crimes and see if I can get a few names to pop,” Brady told them.

“We’re coming for you, you fucker.” Gabe stated what they were all thinking. With the three of them working together, they had a good shot at shutting this kidnapping ring down for good.

A
light trail
of kisses up her left arm woke Nora from a peaceful slumber. Laying perfectly still, she feigned sleep, curious to see what Gabe would do next. When he reached her shoulder, he moved her thick black hair to the side with a gentle hand and suckled lightly on her neck. The scruff from the stubble on his chin tickled her, causing her to shiver.

“I know you’re awake, baby,” he whispered, seeking out her tender earlobe to nip at.

Nora rolled over onto her back and let out a soft moan. “Oh, Ricardo, don’t stop. That feels amazing,” she teased.

Gabe bit her ear in response to her joke. “You little vixen, don’t make me turn you over my knee,” he warned. His words sent a thrill of excitement through Nora. Picturing herself splayed across his lap while he smacked her bottom, was highly erotic. Desire awakened in her swiftly as she pictured the scene, and she slid a hand down Gabe’s chiselled abs, over her dark tattoos and into his pajama bottoms.

“Maybe you need punishing, Mr. Thornton. I believe I made it very clear that you’re to sleep in the guest room,” she wrapped her hands around his hard cock and squeezed gently. “And this, most definitely is not the guest room.”

“Your pussy was calling to me, baby. I dreamed of you, could smell your scent in my sleep. Hear those little noises that you make when I do this.” He reached between them and pinched her aching clit eliciting a low moan of pleasure from Nora’s lips. “Why dream about it when I could come in here and have the real thing,” he finished, kissing her hard on the mouth.

Nora sucked Gabe’s upper lip into her mouth and suckled, all while rubbing the tip of his cock with her thumb. He pulsed beneath her, trying to fuck her hand. Pulling his mouth away, he groaned. “Fuck, Nora. You’re gonna be the death of me, baby.” He tugged her hands up above her head and swept her nightgown up and over her head. Staring down at her, his mouth went dry. “You are so fucking beautiful. So damn sexy,” he told her, lowering his head to draw one of her taut nipples into his mouth.

Arching her back to give him better access, Nora buried her hands into his hair. He was so strong, she felt so small in his arms; yet so protected. They had loved and lost each other, but finding their way back was a blissful torture she was thriving in. Instead of getting back what they once had, they were building something entirely new. A new, bright future. Instead of him always being the one in control, she was asserting some of her own, and she fucking loved it.

Gabe had switched to her other breast and his right hand was travelling down over her smooth stomach to tease her dripping pussy. “Jesus fuck, you’re so wet and hot. You want my cock, don’t you baby?”

Nora sat up and pushed him back in response. Climbing up his body she hovered just over his face. “I need you to taste me, Gabe,” she panted. With a growl, Gabe snatched her hips and crashed her down onto his face, his tongue plunging inside her. Nora let out a shocked breath at the sudden sensation, gyrating her hips over his tongue as he continued fucking her with his mouth.

Gabe moved his hands to cup her ass pulling her even farther down onto his face. “So fucking tasty. More,” he mumbled. His hand travelled back and then two fingers were inside her as he sucked her clit into his mouth at a furious pace. Nora let out a yell as she exploded, unable to stop grinding until wave after wave of pleasure subsided. Gabe wiped at his chin and grinned at her. “Fucking fantastic, Nora.”

Nora’s body felt like water, her orgasm had been so intense all her bones were weightless. Sliding down Gabe’s body, she positioned herself over his cock and sent him a wink. “Hope you aren’t tired yet, Mr. Thornton…if you are, I can always see if Ricardo is occupied.” Her words got just the reaction she was looking for. Gabe was on her in a second, flipping her across his lap.

“Warned you,” he said, moments before his hand came down her ass cheeks in a stinging smack. “Oh!” Nora cried out. It hurt for a second, but quickly turned to a dull throb. Gabe kept up his pace, her cheeks turning a light pink from his ministrations. Moisture pooled between Nora’s legs, her arousal evident.

Gabe had never been so turned on, the little grunts Nora was making as he spanked her were so fucking hot, he was ready to come all over her stomach, without even being inside her sweet pussy.

Sitting her up, he pulled her legs around her waist. “Need to be in you, Nora. I’m not gonna last long, baby.” Nora nodded, trying to catch her breath. Her ass was smarting but her pussy was like an Olympian vaulter trying to launch itself onto Gabe’s cock. Lifting her hips, Gabe thrust inside her, filling her until he was balls deep. Their pace started slow, Gabe reveling in the feel of her tight pussy gripping his cock. Nora wasn’t having any of that though, she pushed on his shoulders and rose up and down, gaining speed as she fucked him.

Gabe slipped his hands under her ass cheeks to protect them from landing hard on his thighs which would irritate her tender skin. Looking down at him, their eyes met and the spark was a jolt to the system. She loved this man, this infuriating, moronic, stupid sexy man. He was made for her, her match in every way. Her heart constricted in her chest and tears sprang to her eyes. The intensity of her emotions nearly knocked her over. Gabe captured her lips in a sweet kiss, pouring all the emotion he felt for her into it.

Nora’s orgasm came from nowhere. A slow eruption rather that stole her breath as she clenched and released, clenched and released. Gabe soon followed, spilling his hot cum into her, both of them moaning into each other’s mouths.

Rolling over onto their backs, Nora cuddled into Gabe’s arms. Basking in the afterglow, she traced lazy circles on his chest with the tip of her finger. Gabe really was a changed man, he’d grown up in his time away into a man she could trust. Of course, there was still his mouth to be dealt with.

“Beat that, Ricardo.”

*     *     *