Pledging to Die (An FBI/Romance Thriller Book 11) (21 page)

He had to do what was ordered.

There was no choice.

Tonight, he’d watch for one of those easy party girls. There was a damn good chance that they’d wander his way. Then when they did, he’d swoop in, knock her out, and then get her the hell out of sight.

There was a place he could take her.

It would be safe.

Once he got her there, he could take his time, make sure he wasn’t sloppy, and even taste a little bit of the forbidden fruit. He didn't get to touch the last one. She was a rush job, and he’d nearly been caught. That damn sorority girl nearly saw him, and that couldn’t happen again.

So, he’d be careful.

Restrain her.

Use her.

And then take what he wanted.

It was the perfect plan, and when it was all done, he’d dump her body.

He took a deep breath.

It was settled.

Tonight was the night.

Chapter Seven

Well, she survived.

At first, it wasn’t easy getting a room full of college kids to relate to her, but when she whipped out stories about cases they’d closed, it happened. Nothing mesmerized an impressionable college student like the macabre tales of the FBI. Peppered with Ethan’s psych profiles, and how they ended, Elizabeth had them eating out of the palm of her hand.

For a while there, she was worried, but then the tides changed. They began asking her questions, raising their hands, and laughing along. All in all, it was an interesting ninety minutes.

But it wasn’t over yet.

Now, it was time for question and answers. Elizabeth had been to college, and she recalled this part of guest speakers. No one ever asked any because they were eager to get the hell out of there. Who wanted class to run over?

She was in the clear.

Then she saw him stand.

Oh, he was a cocky little bastard.

“Yes?” she said, leaning against the desk that she’d used as her crutch at the beginning of the lecture.

“So, after all this, you’re telling us that profilers can make or break a case. That without them, you’re an idiot.”

There was a hushed gasp.

Oh, she was ready for him. This was exactly what Ethan had suspected. Arman Smithfield was going to have one hell of an ego. He was going to be insulted that they were on his turf, and he wouldn’t be shy about letting them know it.

He believed himself uncatchable.

Well, he was wrong. Every criminal could be caught. You simply needed the right bait.

Elizabeth let the insult go, because this wasn’t the time or the place to have a battle of wits with a man-child. She walked across the auditorium-like room to be closer to her prey.

“Honestly, profilers and a good investigator only get you so far. There’s one more thing that gets the job done.”

“What’s that?”

“The criminal plays a major role. You see, they think they’re infallible. They go into this believing they’ll never get caught. That’s where stupidity comes into play. We’re just doing our jobs, but the criminal, he’s weaving one hell of a trail for us to follow.”

“So, if I was a criminal, you think I’d be stupid enough to get caught?” Arman stated.

“I wouldn’t be so rude to call you stupid, but I would say you’re arrogant. Most killers are. If you were, and let’s just use you as an example—killing someone—you’d let your ego get in the way. You’d think you were smarter, sneakier, and better than say…me. That’s where you’d be wrong. Whereas you’re only working one angle killing people, I’ve seen thousands of potential killers. I can analyze it with the help of my profiler.”

He stood there, saying nothing.

“I’d use forensics, my team, and when I had your DNA, I’d have enough to lock you in a cage for a very long time.”

Arman looked nervous.

“I’d use everything I have to track you. We employ very pricy computer systems where I could trace your very breath. You’d begin to get nervous, and eventually, I’d scare you. Instead of focusing on your killing, you’d be looking over your shoulder for me.”

She moved back across the room.

“When you least expected it, that’s when I’d close the net and have you. When the arrogant killer gets sloppy, because the pressure is on, that’s when we’ve won. You can liken the FBI to a spider. We’re patient, and when we’re ready, we strike. So, to answer your question, no, it isn't always the profiler who gets it done. Sometimes it’s the simple act of watching, waiting, and knowing when to swoop in and scoop the criminal up.”

He sat down.

“In life, there are spiders and there are flies. If you find yourself on the wrong side of the law, you’re not the one running the show. You’re the prey, and before long, you’ll be dinner. One screw up, and the FBI will be all over you.”

“I see,” he said.

Professor Levitz moved to the floor. “Thank you all for coming to this class,” he said, getting ready to release the students. “Remember, your papers are due next week, and I won’t be issuing extensions, so get them done. If you need to see me, or David, we have office hours most evenings.”

Everyone stood, heading out. Elizabeth watched Arman and Nels as they headed for the door. When he turned, she still watched him.

It was amusing.

He thought he could intimidate, and all he’d done is rattle his own cage.

It was priceless.

Glancing over, she saw her two agents leaving together. They, too, looked entertained. What Arman didn't realize was there was one big spider, and lots of little ones just waiting for him to screw up.

Hopefully, she’d put the fear of God in him, and he’d start making mistakes. If she could push him to his limit, they might just find a trail.

She hoped.

Someone was going to be twisted up in knots and shaken until something fell loose.

The FBI was playing their own little game.

And they really liked to win.

       
         
* * *
  B l a c k h a w k - W h i t e f o x   * * *

Callen had made it there in good time.

While he waited for Elizabeth, he lounged against the side of their personal vehicle. The big black Escalade stood out in the parking lot, especially with him leaning against it. In his white polo, beat up jeans and boots, he didn't look like someone who belonged on the college campus.

In fact, even when he’d gotten his degree, he never fit in. Now, here he was, waiting for his woman after she taught a class. That was funny as hell.

If someone had told Callen that one day, he’d be married to a woman that he and his brother shared, that he’d also be a Fed, and happy to settle down, he would have slapped them silly.

But it was all true.

He was in his glory.

As he leaned there with his sunglasses on, reflecting the sun and blocking his eyes, he watched everyone walk past him. There were young men out trying to impress the ladies, and girls giggling and traveling in packs.

It was amusing.

Being that young seemed like eons ago, and yet he knew how they felt. Whenever he saw Elizabeth, he wanted to whip off his shirt and act like some young stud in heat.

When the next pack of girls passed by, making a comment about him and his body, Callen had to stifle a laugh. He was amused. A part of him was glad the opposite sex found him hot, but not for the obvious reason. It wasn’t about vanity or his ego. It was simply for Elizabeth. 

He worked out for her. Callen wanted his woman to always find pleasure in his body. While he may have had sex with far too many women, not worried about the consequences, she mattered.

Their time together was precious.

It was all about love and respect.

Oh, and to be able to keep up with his brother on their morning runs.

While he was touched that the girls milling around were checking him out, his package was meant for only one woman.

Then he saw her.

Callen actually had to brace his hand on the hood of the Escalade, or he might fall over. He couldn’t believe it was her. Yes, he’d seen her dressed up before, but each time caught him off balance. She was wearing some tight skirt, the sexy shirt open at her throat, but that wasn’t what caught his eyes. First was the hair, tightly knotted at the back of her neck, giving her a staunch look, and then there were the glasses.

When the holy hell did she start wearing them?

It had to be recent. He was pretty damn sure he would have noticed them perched sexily on her nose.

Callen had to blink a few times just to make sure it wasn’t his imagination. His Elizabeth looked like some sexy librarian coming down the stairs.

It wasn’t lost on him that the men moving around her kept looking back, checking out her ass and long, lean legs in the heels and skirt.

When some college boy whistled, she turned her head to look back at him, and her laughter was clearly heard.

Callen’s heart thumped in his chest.

When the man at her side put his hand on her arm, almost affectionately, the tight ball of lust and jealousy began growing in his gut. The last thing he wanted to see was his woman smiling at another man as he touched her.

Instinctually, it fired everything in his body. The urge to do something so caveman-like filled him.

The lust built as Callen thought back to the week that he’d had to endure without touching, tasting, or devouring Elizabeth. It may not seem long, but he was still trying to recover from her being away, and the long weeks after she’d given birth. Now, all he wanted was to drop to his knees to begin worshiping her from the toes up.

As she moved closer, he watched her wave goodbye to the older man. When she turned in his direction, he pulled off his sunglasses.

“Need a ride, angel?”

The second she heard his voice, it was like an animal sensing its mate. She responded, a smile on her face, signaling all the thoughts racing through her mind.

“Callen James!” she exclaimed, rushing toward him.

When he opened his arms, Elizabeth crashed into him. When her mouth found his, the kiss was something of legend. Everything else fell away, and Callen was able to let himself drift in the way she felt against his body. Her briefcase fell to the ground as her hands wove their way into his brown hair, refusing to let go.

“Oh, Lyzee,” he murmured as she kissed him like it had been years. His body immediately tightened as that lusty wash of heat flowed through him.

“My love,” she replied, right before diving back in.

It took everything he had not to toss her into the vehicle, and rush them to the nearest quiet spot.

God!

He loved reuniting with his woman.

When some college kid shouted for them to get a room, that’s when Callen decided he needed to get this show on the road. Already, she was grinding against his erection with her hip. That was his sign that it wouldn’t take much to get her naked.

He needed to face the facts.

Callen was easy, and he wouldn’t say no.

Pulling away, he stared into her eyes. “Hello, beautiful. Where have you been all my life?”

She licked her lips, savoring the taste of Callen’s peppermint gum. In fact, it was now in her mouth. Blowing a bubble, she thought about an answer. “It seems I’ve been taking care of your children.”

“Oh, yeah. Aren’t I the lucky one? If you’re done with my gum, can I have it back?” he asked. Actually, he just wanted her mouth on his again. He could always dig up more gum.

“Sure thing.” With that, she kissed him.

The swap of gum heated his body. It was something two young lovers might do, and it made Callen crazy.

And she knew it.

“I missed you, sexy,” she stated, refusing to let go. Elizabeth was more than okay with public displays of affection, and out of the two men, Callen wouldn’t be bothered by it either. “What brings you here? Are you just wandering around, trying to pick up women?”

He laughed. “I only ever want to pick up one woman. Besides, Ethan sent me. He’s tied up with the university president. Then he wants us to meet for lunch.”

Elizabeth had something else in mind for a pre-lunch appetizer.

Him.

She couldn’t wait to get her hands, and mouth, on the man before her. “Well, then you’ll have to keep me busy until then,” she said, bending over to pick up her briefcase.

Callen watched the simple action and his blood pressure shot up. The curve of her ass, the way her waist nipped in, and those glasses.

“Are they just decoration?” he asked, when she stood. “Do you really need them to see, or is this some ploy to make me horny twenty-four-seven?”

“No, I’m getting old. They’re here to stay.”

He laughed. “Hallelujah.”

She ran her fingers down his tan cheek. “You’re out of control.”

Oh, she had no idea how close he was to doing something so very insane. He was starting to question how much trouble he could get in if he tried to get her naked on a college campus.

Yeah, he was pretty far gone.

When he opened the door for her, he held out his hand to help her in. That simple touch shot little licks of electricity through his body, reminding him that he wanted her in the worst way.

“We should go,” she said, when he stood in the door simply staring at her.

He snapped out of it. “Yeah, we should. We have time. Do you want to grab a coffee and talk?” he suggested.

She simply stared at him when he got into the vehicle. Oh, they weren’t going to talk. Elizabeth had something else in mind. She was on an adrenaline high from lecturing. Seeing Callen in his tight fitting jeans and shirt, made her want to push him over the edge.