“That’s not what we need analyzed,” Erik assures him.
Relief washes over Thomas’ face and his jovial smile returns, crinkling the corners of his eyes. The twinkle in them is so out of place for Raina’s current cloud of darkness. He resembles St. Nick, even without the beard depicted in the children’s book her mother used to read her. Thomas is a kind, gentle man, and Raina likes him for that, but every time she sees him, she’s reminded of the legendary Santa Claus and her mother, for that, she loves him.
“What’ve you got for me?” Thomas asks, shaking his boot and knocking it against the leg of the table to free the glass from its sole.
Erik places his arm around Raina’s shoulder. She scoots closer to him, needing the warmth of his body to stave off the coldness permeating through her. Kas shows Thomas the pictures, telling him to send a team to their home to dust for prints, check for fibers, and everything else the forensics techs do to trap a perp.
“These were put in your mailbox at your home?” Thomas asks, the jovial smile disappearing as his gaze shifts to Raina then back to Kas.
Kas nods, appreciating Thomas’ concern. “Have them check the security cameras on the deck.”
“I thought of that, but they’re not angled to the end of the drive,” Raina mentions as she pensively chews her bottom lip.
“No, but they are angled to the side yard and at the neighbor’s house.”
It only takes Raina half a second to follow, “That’s brilliant.”
“I have my moments too, darlin’,” he winks, trying to ease her.
“What does you stalking your neighbor’s house have to do with anything?” Erik asks, not following their privileged knowledge.
“I’m not stalking his house, he asked me to watch his home while he travels, which is most of the time. He’s also a huge environmentalist, almost the entire perimeter of his house is glass.”
“The reflection may show something useful. Not bad, Pierce,” Erik proclaims.
“It’s called investigating. Not everything can be found on a screen.”
Erik tsks, “What do you think we’re going to use to analyze your footage and the reflections?”
Thomas laughs, “Gentleman, there’s no need to compare lengths here.”
A miniscule smile manages to curve the tips of Raina’s lips at their friendly banter. Any outsider would cringe at their jabs, thinking them cold-hearted, perhaps even without a soul, hearing them joke in the midst of the depraving circumstances. They wouldn’t understand that they have to separate themselves, keep an emotional distance, or they very well might lose their souls. Raina shudders; she hasn’t yet figured out the coveted trick of separation.
Kas glances at Raina, and his eyes darken as he pulls her close to him, wrapping her protectively in his arms, “You’re going with Chase as soon as he gets here.”
“Why?”
The look he gives her is meant to be comforting, not the scathing intensity Raina experiences. “He knows where we live, where
you
live. You’re right, he’s made this personal. I’m taking that element out.”
“What do you mean by you’re ‘taking that
element
out’?”
The look in her scorching glare shows he’s in for a fight. Cursing under his breath, he squares his jaw, not willing to back down on this, his decision firmly made, “I’m pulling you off the case.”
The angry flame burning bright jade is unbridled. It takes everything in her not to go off on him in front of Erik and Thomas. Taking several seconds to calm her desire to tell him that there’s not a chance in hell she’s being removed from this case, she shifts her gaze back to the table. She knows that poor girl’s blood is on her hands, purchased with her money, beaten to spite and provoke her, and killed to make a point . . . to her.
This is beyond personal; it’s intimate, in the most desecrated way. Evan Parker has proven he’s untouchable and she isn’t. She’s hell-bent to shake his unattainable arrogant ass, shredding him to mere scraps of his profane existence. She decides that, if he wants her, she will give him easy access and won’t allow him to hurt anyone else to rattle her cage.
This
game
is
over!
“I need her name. I want to know everything about her,” Raina demands, slipping into a chair, working furiously at pulling up their security system.
Kas pulls the chair backwards, “Did you hear what I said?”
“Every word,” she counters, her determined gaze every bit as unrelenting as his.
Erik clears his throat, and Thomas quickly gathers the evidence, backing out of the room before he’s caught in the impending crossfire.
The shrill ring of Kas’ cell interrupts whatever was to be said next, and he answers gruffly as Raina returns to the screen in front of her, pulling up the recorded footage. Erik’s eyes dart back and forth a few times before deciding to join her team and taking a seat next to her, beginning the download to his computer.
Raina pays particular attention to Kas’ conversation, bristling at the plans being made for her to stay with Chase for a while. When she hears him saying that they will meet him at his office in twenty minutes, she quickly ignites into a flaming ball of kerosene and almost explodes.
Erik lays his hand on her arm, “You know, maybe it’s not such a bad idea.”
Jerking her arm away from him, she seethes, “For who exactly?”
“Let’s go, Raina,” Kas states calmly, almost apologetically, causing her anger to begin to subside involuntarily.
Frank knocks on the door with Austin directly behind him, “Boss, we’ve got something you need to see.”
Kas nods at Frank before brushing a soft kiss against the top of Raina’s head, “Get your things, sweetheart.”
Everything in her is rebelling, demanding a fight, but it’s not the place to have it out with him in front of his agents. Giving one last look at Erik, she grabs her equipment.
“Rain, wait,” Erik calls after her as he takes her elbow, pulling her towards him. “You know I’ve got your back, girl, I always have and always will, even when that means telling you things you don’t want to hear.”
Raina tries to hold on to her anger, but their concern eats away at it unremittingly. She remains silent, not knowing what to say. Giving an ambivalent smile, she follows Kas out the door.
“We have an image of a partial plate that belongs to the same make of car as Senator Wakely’s near the motel where Lawson’s team recovered a group of girls a few weeks ago. The time matches to the same time frame that one of the girls gave Lawson,” Frank tells Kas before they leave.
“Get it to Erik, maybe he can work with the image to get more of the plate.”
“Sure, boss,” Frank states, sending the file to Erik’s e-mail.
“I’ll be back later. Check in with the agents who were following Wakely. This doesn’t feel right, I still believe Wakely’s not involved, but just in case, I want his every move monitored. Tell them that it’s imperative they keep it discreet,” he commands, not willing to take any chances even though his gut tells him Prizrak is sending them in circles.
Kas slips his hand over Raina’s, his fingers intertwining her long, slim fingers through his powerful ones. More of her anger dissolves as he walks her out of the agency.
The ride to Chase’s office is void of communication, spoken anyway; the unspoken commentary is chokingly thick. Kas lets the jeep’s engine idle for a moment when they arrive. Raina keeps her eyes straight ahead. Hearing her husband’s frustrated sigh, she finally turns. “Why don’t you just bubble wrap me, then lock me up?”
“That’s mature, Rain,” Kas responds quietly.
“Mature? Sorry, but I don’t care about being
mature
at the moment. In fact, the only thing I care about right now is taking Evan Parker down,” she spits out angrily.
“It’s too dangerous to keep you on this case. You saw what he’s done, I—,” Kas pauses, swallowing hard, “I won’t allow you to be involved in something this risky.”
Raina knows Kas is acting out of love, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s asking, no, demanding, that she turn her back and walk away. That’s just something she can’t do. Raina opens the door and slides out, making sure to slam it loudly behind her.
That
wasn’t
mature
either,
Pierce,
I
dare
you
to
say
something
about
that!
Stepping inside the door, Raina storms down the hall, stopping just around the corner and leaning against the wall. Her sense of emotional equilibrium is completely askew. Nothing is the way it should be. The rapid beat of her heart flutters uncontrollably, and her cheeks flush. Closing her eyes, she tries to take a deep breath, but it hurts her chest. Images of the dead girl mock her, making her want to scream.
Why?
Why
did
he
have
to
hurt
her?
Kill
her?
A tear slides down her cheek, and she furiously swipes it away, wondering why Parker, and all of the other monsters out there, ever hurt anyone.
Kas rounds the corner, stopping in front of Raina. Feeling his breath against her cheek soothes her, but she doesn’t want to be soothed. “This isn’t your fault, sweetheart.”
Raina’s eyes remain closed, angry that Kas can read her mind, angry that he’s demanding her off the case, angry at herself for not being able to get Parker, and mad as hell
at
Parker. Kas’ touch calms her, so she pulls away, ignoring the disapproving grunt from her husband.
“There’s nothing you could’ve done to stop him,” Kas assures her, rubbing his fingers across her cheek.
Finally opening her eyes, they are pleading, “Don’t comfort me, Kas, please. Just let me help you get him.”
His hand drops, and Raina misses the touch immensely. The look in his eyes says it all, and she pushes past him, relieved that only they and Chase are in the building, she couldn’t take having to make polite, pointless chitchat with anyone in her current state.
“Raina, wait.”
Choosing to ignore him again, she knocks on the frame of Chase’s door, entering at his warm smile.
“Hey, how are you holding up?” Chase asks as he walks towards her.
Kas steps behind Raina. How she tenses doesn’t go unnoticed by either of the men. They share a look, and Chase leans against his desk, focusing on Raina.
“What? Are you siding with him, too?” she almost whispers.
“I’m not siding with anyone, Raina,” he explains.
Raina waits, surprised that Chase isn’t adding anything else to his statement. His psychological analysis of every situation is usually a lot more involved than that.
“It doesn’t matter whose side he’s on, darlin’,” Kas interjects softly, placing his hands on Raina’s shoulders.
It’s her turn to study Chase. He’s being too quiet, too not in their business, which is atypical, at best. “He’s on my side,” she blurts out, shocked at the small victory.
The angry flush on Kas’ face confirms her conclusion. “Like I said, it doesn’t matter whose side he’s on, Raina, you’re off the case,” Kas declares, not so softly this time.
Jutting her chin out defiantly, she glares at Kas, “I know I haven’t been able to track Parker yet, but I will, you just have to give me a little more time.”
“This has nothing to do with your abilities,” Kas states, then rakes his hand roughly through his short, dark curls, “no, that’s not true. It has everything to do with your abilities, which is why I’m pulling you. We’re getting close,
you’re
getting close, and he knows that, which is pissing him off. I don’t like what he does when he’s pissed off!”
Chase stands and steps in between them, fruitlessly trying to act as a calming barrier.
“I don’t either, but my not being on the case isn’t going to stop him from trafficking. It won’t stop him from hurting other girls! I have to help,” Raina argues.
Kas’ dark eyes are molten as he shakes his head, turning away from her.
“Kas, I-,” she begins before he cuts her off.
“You’re off this case now, Raina.”
“No!”
Kas turns, his look fierce. “That wasn’t a request, that’s an order!” he barks.
“You have no legitimate reason to order me off this case,” she barks back.
“I’ll order you however I damn well please, Raina, I’m your superior.”
“Kas,” Chase warns, but Raina steps forward, pushing him out of the way.
“You’re not ordering me as my superior, you’re trying to order me as my husband. You’re crossing a line.”
“I’ll cross every line from here to China and back if I have to!”
“Then you better start walking,” she practically hisses, “maybe by the time you get back, you’ll have your head out of your butt!”
Chase doesn’t even try to intervene; they are beyond the ability to calm down at the moment. He grabs his keys, closing the door behind him and walks to the waiting area, pouring the last bit of coffee into a cup. Sighing, he sits on the comfortable, plush chair and leans his head back as he closes his eyes at the sound of their heated argument carrying loudly down the hall, despite the closed door.
“What is it going to take for you to understand how dangerous Parker is?”
“I have seen exactly how dangerous he is, Kas, that’s why I can’t back down,” Raina responds, lowering her voice in a futile attempt to lower her anger.
Kas wants to shake some sense into her, his glare spits fire, boring straight into her, but she doesn’t retreat. Jutting her chin out further and crossing her arms defiantly, she takes a step towards him, making him perfectly aware of her intentions of standing her ground. Kas grabs Raina’s arms in both hands and, in one swift movement, yanks her towards him, pressing her body tightly against his as he maintains his firm grasp, “Don’t push me on this, don’t force me to have to make you walk away! Dammit, can’t you understand that I can’t lose you, Rain?”
Some of the fiery jade embers fade, “Don’t you see? You will lose me if I turn my back on those girls, if I let Evan win. If that happens, a part of me will die. There’s no way I could ever be the same knowing that I deserted them and walked away because I was scared, or because you’re scared.” Raina’s eyes pierce his, the desperate plea killing him, “I’m not trying to hurt you, I swear, but I can’t be who I am if I turn my back on them. Please, Kas . . . don’t make me do this.”
He witnesses the fight leave her eyes, replaced by tears she is trying so hard to keep from falling. He’s ready to explode from the emotional riptide erupting through him, and he lets her go, turning around to try to regain some composure. The blazing fire has rekindled in her eyes when he turns back, her obvious unrelenting resolve burning brightly.
“I’m sorry, Kas, but I’m not backing down, I can’t.”
He opens his mouth to yell at her, scream at her, to try to get her to understand, but he grabs her again instead, his hot mouth covering hers. His fear and anger fuel his passion as he wraps his hand around her head and pushes her against the wall, his sweltering mouth never leaving her lips. He desperately wants to make her obey him, make her yield to his authority just this once; the danger of her being harmed is far too real. He doesn’t trust his mouth right now; he’s too close to demanding her obedience in words way too heated for her to hear.
His body responds violently to her scorching touch as she returns the kiss breathlessly, frantically. The wildfire raging inside her eyes becomes twofold. He can tell that she wants him right now just as much as he wants her. It’s obvious that, even in her most furious state, her body is craving his, and he gives her what she wants, yanking at her clothing as he rips her shirt over her head. Raina tugs at his belt buckle, her mouth searing against the skin of his neck as she thrusts his jeans down, her foot taking over as she pushes them all the way off of him. In her fevered frenzy, she digs her fingers into his back as he tears his own shirt off. Her teeth graze his shoulder as she almost ruptures from the need to have him inside of her.
Kas’ mouth is everywhere, the wet heat delivering sweet torture to her very needy body. His tongue slides over her delectable, creamy ivory skin, searing every part of her. He doesn’t have to see if she’s ready for him, he knows, and he thrusts inside, causing a heated, exquisite pleasure-filled gasp leave his wife’s tempestuous lips. His hands are pressed firmly against the wall, on either side of her head, and her arms and legs are wrapped around him like he’s her only saving grace on earth. She feels every delicious inch of him as he continues to drive into her, hedonistic chills spiral through her at the intensity.
Raina pushes hard against his chest, barely budging him as he tears his mouth away from her flushed skin. His eyes trail over her face, searching for clues as to what she wants. Her lips curve into a smile as she pushes against him again. He obliges this time, quickly walking backwards as she leads him to the chair and pushes him down before crawling on top of his lap.
A groan rumbles up his throat as the sensation overtakes him with every rise and drop of her pleasing body. She grinds against him, and he grabs her waist, holding on for dear life as she delivers sweet torture. His mouth finds her breasts as she rides him. Her head tilts back, and her mouth opens as a gasp fills the air when his fingers find her every time she lowers onto him.
Her senses are so overloaded with the raw vehemence of their heated, animalistic need to relieve the fear, relieve the pain of all that has happened, she barely feels his hands grabbing her, carrying her and laying her down on the desk as he fills her with his primal stake of claim. She gives back as much as he delivers, letting him know that she is his, in every way.
The groan that escapes Kas is guttural as he can’t seem to get close enough to her, despite his hard drives leaving her writhing in pure bliss. His body almost convulses from the gratifying sensations her bewitching body delivers, casting a hefty spell, healing him, provoking him, enslaving and empowering him all at once. Her hips swivel, and he feels he can’t possibly take anymore of her intoxicating, talented sensuality. Pride bursts through his veins at how she is his and only his, her body an expert study from
his
touch.
Raina pushes him off of her, desperately needing to give him the same overpowering euphoria he unabashedly gives her. She kicks his leg out from underneath him and a mischievous smile spreads across her sprightly lips as she knocks him off balance in his crazed-sex distraction. She tackles him before straddling him as she takes control of the high thrill, exhilarating ride. The desire blazing in his eyes fuels her, and she is about to take him to ecstasy when he switches gears.
Kas wraps his arm around Raina’s waist, effortlessly lifting her, then bending her over the arm of the couch as he cockily smirks at how he will be the one delivering pure, fulfilling satisfaction first, refusing to yield to her stubbornness. Her loud cries of knee-weakening pleasure send him over the edge with her and his body collapses on top of hers as his own robust release drains him. Their hearts pound as he lays on top of her back, his fingers leaving wakes of tantalizing chills in the aftermath of their lovemaking.
Neither one moves, basking in the sweat slickened feel of their skin intertwined. The only noise is their heavy breathing and the soft ticking of the grandfather clock tucked majestically into the corner. Kas brushes his lips across her back, licking the sweet, salty sheen left on his lips, “You taste good.”
Raina laughs, softly at first, then heartily, “You drive me crazy, completely insane, Pierce, you know that?”
“Yeah, I know,” he replies proudly, ignoring how she intended her words to have a double meaning. “Turnabout is fair play, you know.”
“Yeah, I know.”
Now it’s his turn to laugh. He stands, starting to slip out of her, and she groans, “Don’t go, not yet.”
“I have to be crushing you, darlin’.”
“It’s worth it.”
He gives her one more hard thrust, swelling at her shocked cry, “Do you have any idea how much I love you, woman!”
“Yes. I do.”
They dress quietly, staring at each other. Raina bites her tongue, praying he changes his mind, terrified that her disobedience will do irreparable damage if he doesn’t. Her tortured state is starkly evident, and Kas can’t take the pain he is causing her.