Fatal Exposure (16 page)

The ceiling above spun as she climaxed, abrupt and potent.

Kade groaned and fell onto her, his body slick with sweat, sliding against hers. All Ava could think of doing was holding him close. She ran her hands over his broad back and kissed his cheek as he breathed heavily against her ear.

A few minutes passed before he finally met her blurred gaze, but he didn’t say a word. Instead, he rose, pulled the spent condom off and threw it onto the floor. He stashed himself back into his pants and buttoned up.

“I’m going to get rid of him,” he mumbled, pointing his thumb to the now closed door. “Stay here.”

Ava nodded, grasping at her thighs that panged with gratification.

How was she ever going to say good-bye to Kade Gavin?

Chapter Nine

Kade dressed before leaving Ava sprawled out on his bed. Bits of her hair were drenched in perspiration and clinging to her rosy-cheeked face. Beautiful, as always. But goddamn her for letting Jax touch her like he did.

Watching the woman he loved being groped, especially by a man as unscrupulous and undeserving as Jax, had driven him to the brink of insanity. Sure, for the past few years, Kade hadn’t been much better, but he was going to change that. He was going to become a good, moral man. For Ava. He just needed to convince her of his loyalty and love so she’d stay to witness the change. Maybe then she could grow to love him, too.

He closed the door behind him and spotted Jax sitting in the same chair, staring at the computer equipment that had been concealed by the roll top desk...but wasn’t any longer.

“You’ve got a nice setup here.” Jax nodded toward the bedroom. “I’m jealous.” He stood and walked to the desk and let a finger brush against the screen. “Listen, I know you probably hate my guts, but I’m only looking out for you.”

Kade clenched his fists. That was bullshit. Jax Cullen might have been his blood relative, but he was not his friend. They were competitors, with unresolved grudges tracing back to their childhood. Not to mention, Jax was the spitting image of Kade’s

father. “It’s time for you to go,” he said through his gritted jaw.

“Don’t get mixed up with this girl.” Jax looked at Kade pointedly. “Moreno wants her dead. You know that, right?”

“That’s not going to happen.” Kade took the few steps to close the distance between them. “Not on my watch.”

Jax shrugged his shoulders and exhaled a breath. “No one’s going to hire you after this crap you’re pulling. You could end it. Just apologize to Moreno. He’s a fair man. I bet he’d still pay you.”

“I don’t care about the fucking money,” Kade said in a low voice and took another step forward with his arms crossed. “And I’m not going to let anything happen to Ava.”

Jax shook his head, making Kade want to knock it off his shoulders. Of course the guy didn’t get it. He’d never been in love with anyone but himself. And with his attitude, he never would.

“You’re being a complete moron, cuz,” Jax said.

“But if you want me to stick around and help out, just say the word.”

Ha. Kade couldn’t and wouldn’t trust the man, not after all they’d been through. “No thanks.”

“All right.” Jax stepped back and then headed for the door. “Good luck then. You’re going to need it.” After gripping the handle, he sent Kade a look of warning. “You might want to find out why Moreno wants her head on a platter.” He shrugged. “Before you give up your entire life for a woman who’s willing to leave with a guy like me.”

“I’ll take care of it.” Kade attempted to sound confident, but Jax’s words had struck a chord. Finding out exactly why Moreno was after Ava was

top priority if Kade planned on resolving this without any fatalities.

****

Poppy tried to keep her heavy eyes open as she lay comfortably in the very back seat of Zack’s SUV. Maybe she’d purchase one of these after she got her money. It was damn cozy.

Zack hummed along to a Frank Sinatra song from the front seat. The music wasn’t helping her stay alert either. She turned onto her belly and ran her fingers across the lush black carpet on the floor. Very nice. She could get used to stuff like this. It was much nicer than her dirty old car. Stains everywhere. Torn upholstery. Fast food wrappers all over.A cell phone rang, and Zack answered. “Moreno speaking.”

Poppy turned back around and listened intently.

“Like I said before, Gavin, I don’t need to tell you shit. You’re screwing with me, and it’s pissing me off.”

Ooh, this was getting interesting, but who wasGavin
? She tried to remember if she’d heard Kade’s last name. It had to be him.

“No, fuck you,” Zack yelled. “I’m going to kill the cheating bitch, and if I find out you’ve touched her, I’m going to kill you, too. You got that?”

Shit. This guy was nuts.

Poppy peeked over the seat to see the side of his bright red face. He slammed his hand onto the steering wheel, and she ducked back down.

“Listen,” his voice lowered. “I’ll give you another chance, Gavin. I know how manipulating that little whore can be, and she obviously has your balls in a

sling, so all you got to do is—hello?
Hello
?

Motherfucker hung up on me,” he yelled. Poppy heard a swish, a crack, and then a thunk on the floor. He’d thrown something at the window, and she was pretty damn sure it was his cell phone.
What a freak.

She was really going to have to be careful getting that briefcase away from him.

The speaker beside her head started blaring
TheBest Is Yet to Come
as the SUV lurched forward, accelerating.

Good. The sooner she got to the next destination, the better. She got cozy on her side and plopped her arm over her ear to block out the deafening music. Maybe a little nap to pass the time wouldn’t hurt.

****

The overhead lights in the kitchen spotlighted Kade as he slammed the cell phone on the counter. Ava stood in the shadows of the wood-burning fireplace, against the bedroom door watching him. She’d heard everything and was horrified.

“Are my ears deceiving me or did you just call the man who wants to kill me and ask for a reason?”

she asked through the dusk-darkened room. Slowly, Kade looked in her direction. His mouth was pursed and his forehead crinkled. “I need to know, Ava.”

“So you asked
him
? Do you think I’d lie to you?”

“No. That’s not it.” He shook his head and closed the distance between them.

Before he could reach her, Ava put her hand up, making him stop an arm’s length away.

His clear blue gaze swept over her as she stood there wearing one of his flannel shirts, buttoned up

only half way. She’d been in a hurry to run into his arms after she heard Jax leave but then was shocked when she heard the phone call.

“I didn’t think you’d tell me,” he said. “You haven’t exactly been happy with me.”

“I just let you make love to me,” she said and pointed at him, poking him in the chest with her finger.

“After you asked Jax to take you with him.”

Another sting of guilt ripped through her, and Ava dropped her arm, allowing Kade to step forward. Her anger fizzled with him so near, his strong presence much like a sedative. He caressed her cheek as she stared up at him. Flickers of light from the fire danced across his ruggedly handsome face. Always so serious.

Ava wanted to make him smile. She could imagine making that her life’s goal and never growing bored of it.

The reality was spending more time with Kade wasn’t an option. Not if she wanted to survive. And damn him for putting her in a situation that jeopardized her right to live. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

“Can we call it even?” A half a grin peaked the corner of his gorgeous lips. His fingers dragged her hair back and then slid down between her breasts.
Why did he have to be so tempting
? She nodded, mindless under his watchful gaze.

“So tell me what happened, Ava? Why does Moreno want you?”

With her hand in his, she followed Kade to the couch in front of the warm fire. She had no desire to rehash the memories of Zack, but she would rather

Kade hear the story from her than from the devil himself.

He sat down at the edge of the brown leather sofa and drew Ava next to him. His concerned and caring expression gave her some comfort but not nearly enough.

“Tell me,” he said in his deep husky voice. “You can tell me anything. I’ll understand.”

God, she hoped so. “I thought he was a normal guy at first,” she started. “We went out on dates. He brought me jewelry and flowers all the time. I didn’t need that stuff, but I thought it was sweet. Know what I mean?”

He nodded. “Go on.”

She took a breath. “I moved in with him and started noticing things. Especially when he was campaigning for Senator Wadsley. Zack would be talking on the phone to someone and then just become this different person, threatening and harassing.”

Shaken, she looked up at Kade. His entire focus was on her, so she continued. “One day I asked him who he was talking to and he flipped out. He said it wasn’t my business and to stay out of it or I’d be sorry.”

Kade’s eyes narrowed. “Then what happened?”

“I didn’t want to stick around to see what happened next, so I started packing my bags.” Ava pressed her hand to her flushed forehead. It had beaded up with perspiration. After all this time, the very thought of Zack still terrified her. “But before I could leave, he pushed me against the wall...and beat me unconscious,” she said, closing with a whisper.

Talking about that day was humiliating. To relive it all in her thoughts turned her stomach. How had she not seen it coming? It was the same question she’d asked of the many women who’d sought shelter and safety at the battered women’s shelter where she volunteered. She’d wanted them all to believe they could survive and be strong enough to fight back. But now she knew how terrifying physical abuse really was. Enough to force her to run and hide.

Kade gathered her onto his lap and held her, taking her by surprise. His solid arms were comforting as she leaned into his embrace.

“Zack promised to hunt me down and kill me if I left, Kade. He said he’d find me no matter where I go. Now, do you understand why I can’t sit around here waiting for him?”

“You can’t run forever.” He loosened his hold on her, and Ava looked into his unresponsive eyes. How could he still want her to stay after what she’d just told him? How could he not comprehend how frightened she was?

“You have to trust me, baby. I know you’re scared, but you have to believe me when I say it’s for the best that we handle Moreno in person.”

No. No way. She wanted to scream at him, but she held her tongue. Trying to reason with him was pointless. Her body shivered as she stared up at his stubborn expression. This was the man Zack hired to find her. No matter what her heart was saying, she was going to have to force herself to listen to her head. How could she rely on a man who had drugged and kidnapped her for money?

She couldn’t. She needed to get out and away as soon as possible. But how?

“Talk to me, baby,” Kade said. “Tell me you’ll trust me.”

Ava forced her mouth into a grin. “Okay,” she lied.

****

Poppy awakened after a slapping sting made contact with the cheek Jarred had already bruised. Her eyes fluttered open to see Zack straddling her body, leaning over her with a malicious smirk. Darkness surrounded them, but the moonlight shone on half of his face.

“You snore when you sleep,” he said. “Did you know that?”

Oh, shit. She tried to sit up but was immediately greeted with a gun to her forehead.
Her
gun, goddamn it.

Zack chuckled and pulled the trigger back.

“What the hell were you thinking, you little whore?”

“The house on Bluebird Street,” she said as clearly as possible with her trembling lips. “I want it.”

Shaking his head, he pulled the gun down her sore cheek, skimming it along her tender skin. “I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.” The cold steel ran down her neck to her bare breast. “But what you have here,” he nudged the barrel against her nipple, “makes up for what you lack,” he quickly brought the gun up to her forehead again and tapped it against her skull, “here.”

“Fuck you,” she belted out. If Poppy Q. Smith was going to die, she’d do it with style.

“Honestly, I’d love to fuck you, but I’ve got business to tend to. A woman who just happens to look a lot like you is waiting for me, and I don’t have the time or energy to screw you both.” He backed off.

Poppy sat up and clenched her jacket shut. Her eyes located the briefcase resting in between the two front seats.

“Get out,” he ordered. “And don’t even think about touching that money, or I’ll put a bullet through that pretty head of yours.”

She climbed over the seat and felt the barrel on her bottom as she did.
Dickhead
.
Pervert
.
Son of abitch
. She’d get that fucking briefcase from him if it was the last thing she did.