HIS Choice: An H.I.S. Novel (H.I.S. series Book 2) (19 page)

Their father, Alexander Blake Hamilton, was a U.S. Senator. Their mother died eighteen years ago. He’d still made time for each child, building strong bonds between them. He would chew AJ out if he knew what his son had involved
himself in.

“First of all, you don’t drink anymore. Second, I will
stay alive.”

A deep chuckle floated from the receiver. “I’m glad to hear it. I like having
you around.”

“How’s it been finding
the money?”

He had allowed himself to ask for Devon’s help in searching for the money. He’d always found any assets he sought. AJ didn’t consider it really asking his brothers for help. It was different asking for help from Dev instead of Jesse. Devon stayed behind a computer. No one admitted it, but he was the backbone of H.I.S.

“Slow. I’m putting in time when I’m not needed by the boys. I will say that Lawrence is good. But, I’m better. I just need a
little time.”

Lawrence Mann laundered the organization’s money. They thought he was their deepest secret. Ha. That’d been the easiest information to come by. The man may be good hiding money. He sucked at keeping it
a secret.

“Keep at it. I want him and his money.” Once they bled the crime boss’s accounts dry, there would be no money for his criminal defense. No money for bribes. People would turn their backs
on him.

AJ grinned. That was only the beginning of what he had planned for
that fucker.

“Do you think the FBI is looking for me? Do you think they believe I’m dead?” The only people who knew for certain Megan was alive were the ones attempting to kill them, their sources, and a few close friends. Her friends wanted her safe, and Magic Shop wouldn’t publicize their screw-up.

It was possible the police assumed she’d been killed by Magic Shop, her body disposed of where they’d never find it. Unless Trent had spoken with them. Somehow she doubted that. Would she and AJ run from the FBI if they
located them?

“I think they’re still looking for you,” AJ
answered confidently.

The burner cell phone rang. Megan looked over AJ’s shoulder as he pulled it from
his pocket.

“That’s for me.” She snatched it from him, noting the angry looked that magically appeared on
his face.

“Hi, Kristen,” she said happily. A talk with her boss was just what
she needed.

“I called to check
on you.”

She craved to tell her everything but heeded AJ’s advice. Magic Shop might know they were together but no one else needed to know for sure. Except his family. “I’m fine. I’m glad you called. I want to write an article on my experiences on
the run.”

“Kyle’s already covering
your story.”

“No. This is different. I think you’ll like it. But it needs to come from me not through Kyle.” She swallowed and continued, “Kristen, I’ve had help so it’s two people on the run, and we were almost
caught today.”

AJ observed her closely. His scrutiny almost unraveled her. The hard jaw and even harder eyes reminded her of when they’d first run into each other. She turned her back to him to avoid another shiver inching down
her spine.

“You’ve got someone with you? Who?”

“That’s not important. Trust me on
the article.”

Kristen sighed. “Get it to me, and I’ll
consider it.”

She smiled. This would be the article of articles. “You won’t
regret it.”

“Think about letting me come
get you.”

She had to lie. “I’ll think
about it.”

“Victoria said she’d get in touch with you soon. I gave her this number since I knew you’d want her information as quickly
as possible.”

Megan ended
the call.

Oh, AJ will be pissed when he finds out. Victoria was the only one on the street right now. There had to be some way to tie it all together. Surely the prostitution belonged to the Magician. How had he been able to keep all of this secret for
so long?

Maybe he wouldn’t have kept it all so secret if he didn’t have people disappear so quickly. Had Kevin overheard the boss’s name? Was that what ended his life? She couldn’t let it end hers. She promised Kevin she’d
do this.

“Are you sure it was smart to tell her
about me?”

She nodded. “Yeah. She doesn’t know it’
s you.”

He stood. “Let’s get the grocery shopping out of
the way.”

Again, they stocked up for a few days. She didn’t say anything when he added a box of condoms to their cart. He wanted to finish what they started and so
did she.

They climbed into an SUV instead of the Honda. She shook her head. Of course it
was black.

“Is this your SUV?”
she asked.

He nodded. “It
is now.”

“Won’t they know it’
s yours?”

“Don’t worry, my
little dove.”

The vehicle waiting meant he really had planned their next move. She knew his friend, Devon, provided this for them, and she
was thankful.

The pressure on her chest lightened. They no longer had to worry about the police stopping them for a
stolen vehicle.

AJ opened the back of the SUV and grabbed a laptop bag and another cell phone. Ample weapons and black bags holding who knew what filled the back of the vehicle. Did they really need all of that? Devon was definitely a bad influence
on AJ.

* * * * *

Back in the hotel room, AJ opened the new phone
and dialed.

“Thanks, man. How’d you find out they were coming after me?” He paced the room. He couldn’t sit still, nervous energy
consumed him.

“I was trying to get your info, and I ended up near your enforcer buds. I figured if you were found, they’d be the ones to go after you. So I stayed
a bit.”

Blade had good instincts. “
What happened?”

“I saw Trey getting’ in the SUV, yelling at Alex that they had you. I called you as soon as I could. I couldn’t just run off. Someone would remember that when you
got away.”

Trey Holt and Alex Childs were the only two enforcers Damian had left in his employ. He’d killed Hank. AJ had killed Joe. And of course, AJ’s employment had been terminated by a bullet in
the chest.

“You’re right. It was tight, but we made it. Have you heard
anything else?”

“Damian’s just getting up and around. He looks like shit. He didn’t even jump in the truck with them. You’d think he’d want to be the one to take you down since you
shot him.”

AJ smiled. He wished he would have killed the bastard. But, making him look foolish would also work in his favor. “Anything else?”

“They’re focused on the girl, that reporter. They’ve got a hard-on for her. She’s a
priority target.”

Shit! He’d hoped they’d think she was out of state and concentrate on him. “
Thanks again.”

“You
owe me.”

Megan looked at him after he ended the call. “Did you learn anything?”

He walked to the refrigerator and picked up a bottle of water to give him a minute to think. He couldn’t tell her she was their priority. He needed her fearful of their situation not
frightened shitless.

“He told me how he found out they were coming.” He took a drink of water considering what else he should share. “Damian’s back on
the street.”

“I’m surprised he isn’t dead for letting you
get away.”

AJ shook his head. “He’s too important. He’s also alive because he needs to clean up his mess.” He gestured with his finger between the two of them. “Us. After that, who knows what will happen
to him.”

“I don’t approve of murder. Although, I so wish you’d killed him.” Goose bumps prickled her skin at the thought of AJ engaged with this
man again.

The encrypted cell phone rang. Damn. They were in contact with too many people. He had to put a stop to some
of it.

“Yeah?”

“I heard you had a close call,”
Todd said.

He took a long drink of water. How the fuck had it spread around so quickly? He glanced at his watch. Yeah, it’d be about time others found out. “
We did.”

“I still can’t believe you’re staying to track down that bastard. I don’t want to go to
your funeral.”

“Don’t worry about me.” Did he really need Todd? Even though he wanted to do this by himself, he might. Arthur had been right in
that point.

“Is the
girl okay?”

“Yeah.” AJ didn’t appreciate Todd’s interest in Megan even knowing it was straight up curiosity. He had no right to allow jealous to grab him. Shit! He pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. He didn’t need this
right now.

“Did you find a good place
to hide?”

“Yeah.” No one except his brothers would know where they were this time. He doubted Arthur told anyone but one could never be too careful that someone hadn’t
overheard him.

“Are you going to tell me? It’d be good if someone knew where you were in case something happens and the girl
needs protecting.”

“No,” AJ
said flatly.

“All right. You know I’m here if you need me. Megan’s fiancé, Marcus, is making a ruckus about the FBI finding her. He does have some pull with them. He’s golfing buddies with a couple of high ranking people. He wants her found and
brought in.”

“Ex-fiancé,” AJ said through
clenched teeth.

Todd laughed. “That’s not what he’s
supposedly saying.”

“I’m getting off
the phone.”

“Okay. Keep
yourself alive.”

“Yeah,” he said ending
the call.

Before he put the secure phone in his pocket, the old burner phone rang. What the fuck? He had to get rid of it. He’d held onto it for
long enough.

He hesitated at the blocked number. It went against his rules to answer a call when he didn’t know the caller, but Megan had provided her sources
this number.

“Hello,”
he snarled.

“Can I talk to Megan?” the male caller
asked nervously.

He walked over to the couch and handed her the cell phone. She sat with her legs folded underneath her. She looked calm and relaxed. His little dove. His heart warmed. He wanted to keep her this way. Keep the enthusiasm he’d witnessed in
her alive.

He’d always been protective of women but something with Megan made him dig deeper into that role. Deeper than when his partner’s life had been threatened, and he hadn’t thought that possible. Keeping her with him could be the most colossal mistake of his life. He needed her for his new plan, but if she wasn’t with him, he wouldn’t need a new plan. He’d have already pushed things to
the limit.

Letting his dick lead him could only cause problems. Put their lives at a greater risk. Yet he couldn’t ignore the sexual awareness between them. He needed to feel alive before he slinked back to his world. Remembering their time together would keep him warm in his lonely bed for a
long time.

He continued to question himself. Was he doing the right thing? He purposely put them far enough away so they wouldn’t have to worry about another
close call.

She wanted him as much as he wanted her. He’d heard her breath hitch when they accidentally touched hands. He’d seen the change in her eyes when they neared each other. Would she get the wrong idea? Think it meant more than it did? He couldn’t give her more than the here and now. Would it be enough
for her?

* * * * *

Megan gave him a questioning look before accepting the phone. “Hello.”

“It’
s Raven.”

Her pulse spiked in excitement. He had information. “What’s up?” She straightened out her legs and leapt from
the couch.

“They know that you’re with that enforcer dude, the one who’s supposed to be dead. They also know you colored your hair and have passed the word around to everyone to keep an eye out
for you.”

She closed her eyes. They’d left the box of color in the trash. This was bad. AJ said not to worry, but how could
she not?

She cleared her throat in an attempt to strengthen her voice. “Thanks.
Anything else?”

“Nothing that would help you. The streets are quiet. Everyone is scared of what’s gonna happen since there’ve been so many fuck-ups.”

“That’s good
to know.”

“That’s all
I got.”

“I appreciate it, Raven. Thanks
for calling.”

“Anything for you, sweetheart.”

She smiled and gave him the new burner phone number. “Bye.”

He ended the call
without responding.

She took a deep breath and then walked to AJ. She returned the phone and sat beside him on the couch she’d
earlier vacated.

From his usual position of a remote in hand and his focus on the TV, he asked, “What’s good
to know?”

“They know I’m with you and that I colored
my hair.”

He shrugged. “We kind of
figured that.”

Dang his nonchalance. Didn’t they have the advantage when they thought the two were traveling separately? Wouldn’t it be harder to hide now? She swallowed. She had to trust him. She had no
other choice.

“Raven says everyone is scared of what’s expected to happen since they didn’t
kill us.”

AJ finally looked at her. “It’ll pass after a
few days.”

“Good. I hate that my sources have to worry. I don’t want them
found out.”

“Care to share your sources?” he asked as one
eyebrow rose.

Maybe now was the time. Her spirits lifted. “Not unless you share yours.” Her lips curved into
a smile.

“Not a chance, my little dove.” A sexy grin spread across
his face.

She shrugged, rose, and walked toward the kitchen. She cooked chicken, broccoli and wild rice for dinner. Cooking helped keep her mind off of what would happen later. She had no doubts. She wanted this. Wanted how his touch sent goose bumps over her flesh. Wanted how his touch set her core on fire. Wanted how his kiss made the rest of the world fade away to only the two
of them.

No, she wouldn’t pass up
the opportunity.

She ignored the little pull at her brain reminding her of two main reasons for not sleeping with him. They’d be together for a while, and they’d inevitably get close. Could she keep her heart from getting involved? Well, she had to. He was someone who lived in a different world than she did. Someone who might be arrested at the end of this or worse yet, die. A chill gripped her spine in its
frozen descent.

No matter what happened, he’d leave her. They didn’t fit together except in bed. Her cheeks warmed thinking about it. She wasn’t embarrassed about any of their sexual activity. She did regret they had been interrupted. She’d been ready for him to slide inside her. Ready for him to give her the pleasure his touch promised. The pleasure he’d
already delivered.