Weston (14 page)

B
rute lumbered out into the living room, stretched his massive legs, saw Rocki, and whined. As Rocki moved forward and hugged the dog, Tony locked the door and waited to set the alarm. Proud of the fight Rocki won today, he reluctantly left her to open the sliding door into the backyard.

He wanted everything secured for the rest of the night, because he wasn’t planning to get out of bed until morning. “Come on, Brute. Let’s go outside.”

The dog remained in the front of the house.

“Brute. Come,” he said.

Rocki brought Brute into the kitchen and pointed to the door. “Go potty.”

His dog trotted toward him, paused, looked back at Rocki, and then gazed up at Tony before walking out onto the patio. He shook his head. The message was clear. Brute’s concern over Rocki’s tender hold on her emotions was even apparent to the dog.

“Got her covered, buddy,” he whispered.

Tony stood with the door open, watching Rocki carefully. She gazed outside, deep in thought, probably over what had gone down in that boardroom at the academy. His job as a private investigator distanced him from the governing force she worked under and allowed him to see what was happening. She struggled with what she’d done. She’d turned in a shield, and guilt lay heavy on her shoulders.

“Sweetheart?”

Her gaze came to him. “Hmm?”

“You did the right thing.”

She nodded. “I should probably call my mom.”

He strode over and handed her his cell. “The number for their hotel is in there. You can make the call and give her the news. Your mom will want to know that you’re all right. Tell her to let my dad know he can bring everyone home.”

She leaned up on tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Thanks, gorgeous.”

The tension eased from his shoulders as she walked out of the room. He could get used to her being here, looking up at him, and talking to him in that soft voice she uses when they’re alone.

After letting Brute inside, he set the alarm then checked in on Rocki in the living room to make sure she was doing all right. The one-sided conversation he caught was intense and heartbreaking. He left her to finish her call in privacy. No matter the age, a daughter needed her mom when dealing with a crisis.

In the meantime, he kicked the dirty clothes scattered around his bedroom into a pile, and then went into the bathroom and started the water flowing in the tub. Brute watched him from the doorway.

“Come on, buddy. Let’s go find you a treat.” He walked out of the bedroom and into the spare room down the hall.

On the top shelf of the closet, he removed one of the massive chew bones he kept out of Brute’s reach and tossed it on the bed. Brute jumped on the mattress and went to town, working on the ends, happy to have a little attention. Tony sat down and gave him a big scratch behind his floppy ears.

“Won’t be long before I’ll be able to spend more time with you, take you for a run and let you ride to the garage with me on the weekends,” he said. “The deal with Rocki will be over soon; until then Rocki’s going to need me for a little bit longer.”

Brute looked up, seemed to study the empty doorway as if hearing Rocki’s name reminded him that she was in the other room alone, and then went back to chewing. He gave the dog a final pat and left to check the water level in the tub.

After shutting off the faucet, he met Rocki coming into the bedroom. He held out his hand, and she walked to him. Red-rimmed eyes gazed at him and she sniffled.

“Everything okay with your mom?” he asked.

“Yeah.” She kicked off her heels. “I tried to talk her into waiting until tomorrow to fly home, but Mom wanted to leave right away. Your dad was calling for tickets as I said good-bye.”

“She’s worried. My dad probably knew she wouldn’t relax until she could see you for herself and know that you’re okay.”

She stepped away and sat on the bed. “I know. I’ve always tried to protect her from what happens at work. Going undercover and dealing with Archer afterward, well, I think she’s realized how dangerous my job can be and she’s scared for me.”

“You’re a detective. A damn good one,” he whispered. “You can’t protect her forever.”

Her gaze snapped to him in the middle of taking off her bracelet. “I know that. I’ve even taken her to self-defense classes and the firing range, so she could protect herself when I’m not around. It’s just…she’s my mom and she seems to think there’s only good in the world. I don’t want to shatter her illusion. I kind of want to keep her that way.”

“I get that, sweetheart.” He pulled the hem of her dress up. “And, I want to keep you happy, so you’re going to get undressed and let me give you a bath.”

“A bath, Weston?” She laughed.

He stilled. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, I don’t know.” She lifted her butt off the mattress and let him sweep her dress over her head. “Maybe it’s because you’re the strongest, most bullheaded man with the sexiest smile, the biggest—”

“Dick?” He grinned.

She snorted. “That too. But, I was going to say the biggest shoulders I’ve ever slept on. And now you’re seducing me by giving me a bath, and”—she glanced at him—“I think I might be falling in love with you, Weston.”

“Say it again, but drop the Weston.” He hooked her waist and dragged her naked body against him.

Her arms wrapped around his neck. “I’m falling in love with you, Tony.”

“About damn time, sweetheart.” He scooped her up, and cradled her in his arms.

Tony carried her into the bathroom and put her in the bathtub. She sank to her shoulders into the water and closed her eyes. He stood ogling and thinking how beautiful and irresistible he found her.

“No bubbles?” She peeked up at him before closing her eyes again.

Shit. Girls like bubbles. Right. I can do bubbles.

He scoured the bathroom cabinets, and the only thing he could find was a half-empty bottle of Brute’s flea and tick shampoo. He held the container toward the light, squinting at the writing on the side of the bottle when soft laughter drew his attention back to Rocki.

“I don’t think so,” she said.

He frowned. “It’s nontoxic.”

She laughed, and he threw the bottle into the sink. Without thinking, he shucked off his clothes. He might not be able to give her bubbles and candlelight, but he’d give her his attention.

Rocki’s eyes came open when he stepped into the water. He grinned at the look of shock replaced by curiosity. A hiss came out between his clenched teeth as he sank down into the hot water, sending a wave over the rim of the tub onto the floor.

“You’re going to get your floor soaking wet,” she said.

He ignored the mess. “It’ll be fine. We can throw our towels down when we’re done.”

She leaned forward, turning, and slid into the spot between his legs, resting her back against his front. “You’re crazy, brilliant, and really big to share a bath with, you know.”

“Lift your feet out of the tub,” he whispered. “Maybe I’ll remodel the bathroom. Bigger would be good.”

She scooted down until the water touched her ears and lifted her feet. He palmed the top of her head and dunked her under the surface.

She came up sputtering. “Real classy, Weston.”

“Hang on. It’ll get better.”

He grabbed the shampoo bottle—the human kind—and squirted a good-sized dollop in her hair. Her body softened and she let her head fall back on his chest. He used the tips of his fingers and massaged her scalp. Lather grew and he flicked his hands in front of her, sending a spray of bubbles on top of the water. He could do bubbles.

She laughed softly. “Perfect.”

He spread the length of her hair out on the water, taking care to shampoo each strand. The blackness in her hair darkened with the water, and he diligently separated a strand. He’d never been this intimate with a woman before…never had one stay over, much less run a bath and bathe her before. He smiled, contentment washing over him. He loved having Rocki in his life.

She slowed him down, and made him appreciate the beauty that came along with having a woman in the house. Everything she did fascinated him.

He was a wash-and-shake-dry guy. Rocki styled hers, spending hardly any time, and came away looking ball-achingly gorgeous. A natural beauty, she could slap on a baseball hat and he’d still want her.

A low, feminine moan filled the bathroom. His body hardened and he bent his neck to kiss her wet forehead. “Good?”

“Wonderful,” she mumbled.

“Close your eyes.” He worked the shampoo around her face. “Hold your breath.”

He warned her this time and she went under the water on her own. He used his hands and quickly worked the soap out of her hair. When she came up for air, he realized that in his hurry to get in the tub and get naked, he’d forgotten the towels.

“Scoot up, sweetheart. I need to get us some towels.”

She rubbed her hands over her face, turned, and blinked rapidly up at him. “You’re kidding.”

“No. I forgot to set some out,” he said.

She rolled her eyes. “You have a lot to learn about women.”

Before he could ask her what she was talking about, she pulled herself to her feet, flipped the stopper lever to open, and turned on the shower. From his spot below her, he eyed her body until a faceful of spray shot down on him.

She grabbed his hand. “On your feet, big guy. Let me show you how women like to wash, because we never stop at only a bath and call it good. We like to wash off with clean water.”

He proceeded to stand there and watch her put conditioner in her hair. He groaned, rubbing his abdomen as her head went back, exposing her slim neck, her breasts thrust higher. He laid his hands on her hips, riveted by the water drops rolling all over her.

“Hold out your hands,” she said.

He shook his head. “Don’t want to.”

“Oh, trust me.” She dropped her gaze to his chest. “You’ll like this part.”

She removed his hand, placed a bar of soap in his grasp, and gave him instructions to work up a good lather. When she deemed the job done, she raised her arms, and whispered for him to wash her.

It didn’t take him long to learn he really loved how women took showers. He’d have to remember the rules. Shower after bath. Shampoo before conditioner. Soap on hands.

By the time he’d soaped up her legs, spent a considerable amount of time between her thighs and lower stomach, he was breathing hard and sporting an even harder erection. Rocki eyed him sleepily and planted her own soapy hands on his chest. He stood still, letting her spread the bubbles over his body. Pleasure and pain mingled as his cock hardened. When she lowered her hand, he grabbed her wrist, stopping her.

“Can’t wait,” he murmured, finishing the job of washing himself, spraying off under the water in record time. “That’s how guys shower.”

She laughed. “Dually noted.”

He opened the glass sliding door, lunged out of the tub, and retrieved two towels, handing one to Rocki. After giving himself a few swipes to dry off, he flung the towel to the corner of the bathroom and led Rocki into the bedroom.

“Tony, my hair.” She dragged her feet. “I need to comb the snarls out while it’s wet.

“Leave it. I love snarls on you, sweetheart.” He grasped her hips and lifted upward.

She screamed in surprise, threw her legs around his hips, and locked her hands behind his neck. Then he fell backward, holding her to him as his back hit the bed and Rocki landed square on top of him, where he wanted her.

“I want to be inside of you.” He skimmed his hands up her thighs and watched her take his hardness in her hand before lowering herself on his length.

He groaned at the erotic sight, the warmth, and her body squeezing him. He raised his hands to her breasts. His thumbs honed in on her nipples, tweaking, rolling, and rubbing. He could die in the plushness of her breasts alone. The perfect shape more than filled his hands, and her hard nipples tempted him to taste her.

Even though he wanted to slow down, spend more attention on her, he knew Rocki was too tired for a drawn-out evening, no matter how much her beautiful brown eyes said differently. He wanted to relax her, not wear her out more. Despite the lax jaw, the heated gaze, he was struggling to keep the pace to please her.

He flipped her over and took top position, burying his mouth in her neck. “Hold on, sweetheart. We’re going fast and big.”

Then he fulfilled his promise.

She gasped when he cut off her next breath with a kiss. She quivered underneath him as he thrust. He muttered against her lips, “Unbelievable.”

“Oh God…” Her rapid breaths caressed his cheek. Her hand came up to dive into his hair, holding him close.

“That’s it, sweetheart.” His voice rumbled through his body as he fought for control. “Take it all.”

Never had he met a woman who reached in, grabbed his soul, and flourished every bit of her attention toward him, even when her own life was blowing up around her. One look and he wanted her. One touch and he wanted to possess her body. One whisper of her soft voice and he wanted to keep her forever.

She arched beneath him, her fingernails biting into his scalp. He rocked the bed, taking her higher until she shuddered, squeezing the life out of him. He buried himself to the root as pleasure consumed his entire body, curling his toes.

Unable to support his weight any longer, he rolled to the side, taking her with him. He tucked her under his chin, his hand possessively planted on her hip. And still he wanted her as close as he could get her.

Several minutes went by before Rocki had fallen asleep and he slipped out of her embrace to shut off the lights. Then he stalked back to the bed, dragging the covers over them both.

Rocki snuggled close. “Tony?”

“Go to sleep,” he whispered. “Everything’s okay.”

She gave him a contented sigh. “Okay, gorgeous,” she whispered back.

He closed his eyes, but couldn’t stop the smile that came to his lips. Finally, they could concentrate on them, and move forward.

A
loud knock at the front door startled Rocki. She squealed, staring bug-eyed at Tony underneath her. It was six o’clock in the morning. Who visited that early?

Tony gripped her waist and set her beside him on the floor. He tossed her the shirt he’d removed only moments ago. She shoved her arms in the sleeves, grabbed her shorts off the floor, dressed, and stood. She grabbed Tony as he walked across the living room. “Wait. Your belt.”

He stopped and buckled, tucking in his T-shirt. “Do me a favor and hand me my pistol.”

In a split second, he went from ravishing her to being seriously cool. She stepped over to the end table, flipped the safety off, and handed him the weapon. “It’s live.”

“Thanks.” He kissed her quick and stalked to the door. Looking through the peephole, he said, “It’s Hanara.”

“What could he want?” she whispered, slipping her finger though the belt loop at the back of his jeans.

He glanced down at her. “I don’t know, but I guess we’re going to find out.”

For her supervisor to show up at Tony’s house, out of his jurisdiction, was highly unusual when he could’ve called her phone. Tony opened the door and she stepped out from behind him.

“Detective,” Tony said.

“Weston.” Detective Hanara removed his hat and stepped inside. He turned his attention to Rocki. “I wanted to stop by and let you both know we were unsuccessful in locating Detective Marcelli. As of now, we have a warrant out for his arrest and every patrol officer on the lookout for him.”

She stepped away and leaned into the back of the couch. “Have you talked to his wife?”

Detective Hanara nodded. “Yes, we talked to her late last night while we searched his house. We’ve asked her to come in for questioning this morning. A patrol car is picking her up at ten o’clock. She’s let us know that her lawyer will be with her.”

“I thought you’d get him as he went off duty last night.” She pressed her hand to her forehead. “Where would he go?”

“That’s the million-dollar question. Considering his contacts and the accusations, he could be hiding out or have flown the country. His evasion to our call doesn’t reflect positively on the case building around him.” Detective Hanara turned to Tony. “I wanted to come by personally and update you. It might be a wise decision to play it safe and stay together. Not only is Marcelli accused of breaking federal law, we’re assuming he’s dangerous until we bring him in. That’s off the record, mind you.”

“Sure,” Tony murmured.

This couldn’t be happening. Even though the evidence damned Gino to life in prison, she thought the bureau could jump on Gino before he became aware of the situation. She ground her teeth together. Somehow, he had someone on the inside, but who?

Every time she turned around, she found more disappointment and illusions. She wanted him to pay. He’d not only broken the law, but also used her and their friendship.

She stood between Marcelli and time in prison, removal of his badge, and his dirty business. She rubbed her arm, working out the goose bumps. Of course he’d want to remove his one and only threat. With her out of the picture, Gino could destroy the evidence.

It would be her accusations against his experience, seniority, and past record. She hung her head and closed her eyes. They had to catch him.

Another loud
bang
jolted her out of her thoughts. She whipped her gaze toward Tony. He moved around Detective Hanara and checked the peephole.

“Jesus…” He opened the door.

A harried Pauline with her makeup smeared and hair in a mess entered with a frazzled and angry Caleb. Rocki moved toward Tony’s mom, concerned over the tears trailing down her cheeks unchecked.

“Are you okay? Did you get in an accident?” She grabbed Pauline’s hand.

Pauline shook her head, unable to look at her. Caleb’s voice boomed. “We came right from the airport. You”—he swung his arm at his son—“need to come quick.”

“Slow down, Dad.” Tony eyed both his parents. “Tell me what’s going on.”

Caleb gazed at Rocki and his face softened. Rocki’s heart pounded, a sinking feeling landing in her stomach. Something bad had happened.

“Oh my God. Where’s my mom?” she said.

“We’re not sure.” Caleb shook his head. “We went to claim our luggage at the carousel at the airport and Mary needed to use the restroom. Since things had cooled off, Mary said she’d be all right going by herself and suggested we go ahead to retrieve our baggage and she’d meet us there. Honest, the bathroom doors were in sight the whole time and I thought she’d be safe. This is my fault.”

“What happened?” Tony asked.

“Ten minutes went by and Mary never returned to us at luggage pickup. Pauline went to the bathroom looking for her.” Caleb gazed intently at Tony.

“Please.” Rocki’s throat tightened. “Where is she?”

“Gone.” Caleb threw his hands to the side of him in frustration. “We looked everywhere, and when we couldn’t find her, we reported her missing with airport security and came right here. Tony’s house was closer than going to the police department, and we knew he could find her. The damn airport personnel wanted us to wait twenty-four hours to report her as missing.”

Rocki walked across the room. “I need to go.” She whirled around. “It’s either Darrell or Gino. I know it.”

“Rocki, let’s think for a second.” Tony took her by the elbow until his back was to the others. “Darrell would be stupid to go after you now that he knows the heat is off him and aimed at Marcelli. He wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize his freedom.”

She frowned. “Then it’s Gino.”

“Yeah,” he said. “I’d bet everything on him.”

She stepped around Tony and hurried to the others. “I’m going after Marcelli.”

Detective Hanara cussed under his breath. “Detective Bangli, I understand you have a personal vend—”

“It’s my mother. I want a missing person report filed immediately with the bureau.” She turned to Tony. “Will the guys at the body shop help us?”

“Absolutely. I’ll call them now.” Tony removed his cell phone from his pocket.

Rocki turned to Detective Hanara. “I’m asking permission to use all resources.”

Hanara smacked his hat against his thigh. “Detective…”

“Sir, after what I’ve gone through the last four months and considering we’re dealing with one of our own, I believe I’m owed this favor. Do not pull me off the case,” she said.

Department rules favored anyone close or related to a suspect staying off the case. However, nobody would stop her from finding her mom. Although she’d prefer to keep her badge while looking for Mary, she’d set it down in a heartbeat to save her mother.

“Fine.” Hanara moved toward the door. “Mr. and Mrs. Weston could you step outside? We’ll fill out a report and get Ms. Bangli into the system. I’ll need to know everything that happened.”

Brute barked and trotted to Rocki’s side. She sank her fingers into his fur. If there was one person who didn’t deserve to go through a kidnapping, it was her mother. She probably had no idea that her life was in danger. God, she should’ve insisted her mom learn the whole truth of what was going down when they sent her to Hawaii. Mary had no idea what kind of people Rocki investigated on a daily basis or what could happen if she fell into the hands of those kinds of people.

“The guys are on their way.” Tony held her gaze. “How are you holding up?”

She squared her shoulders. “Fine.”

His gaze softened and he held out his hand, beckoning her to come to him. She shook her head and stayed where she was, because if she allowed herself to depend on someone else, if she allowed him to take care of her, she’d use him as an excuse to fall apart.

She swallowed down the useless feelings threatening to consume her. “She’s my mom.”

“I know.” Tony watched her from the other side of the room. “We’ll find her. She’ll be okay. Just hang in there a little longer, until we can get a plan together. It’s no use going off half-cocked, running on fear.”

Twenty minutes later, Tony sequestered his parents in the kitchen with strict orders not to move. Kage, Garrett, and Lance joined Tony and Rocki in the living room. The body shop team opened laptops on the coffee table, made phone calls, and discussed the next plan in quick succession.

She half listened as she filled another magazine clip and stuck Tony’s pistol into the back of her jeans. She’d find her mother, even if she had to hunt Marcelli down herself.

“Without knowing who works the other side for Marcelli, it’ll be tough to find out where he’s hiding.” Garrett tapped the keys on the laptop. “Are there others on the force who would help him do his dirty work?”

“I don’t…” She cupped her elbows in her hands. “No. I wouldn’t think anyone would help him, but I honestly don’t know anymore.”

The security and trust she always felt while working with some of the best officers in the state was missing this morning. She rubbed her arms, chilled. Who was she supposed to trust?

Soon, every person—from the public to the secretaries to the police chief—would question her integrity. Her defensiveness regarding the situation would label her a troublemaker. She’d heard the warnings for years. Law enforcement officials stayed clean and backed one another. She was not only bringing down one high-profile person within the department, but maybe others before the case closed.

Lance hooked a USB wire from his cell phone to Garrett’s laptop. “There were no passengers who purchased tickets last night or this morning who flew out of the Bay City airport between four a.m. and now. Thankfully, BCA is not a normal flight path, and there was only one plane scheduled to leave during that time, headed toward Los Angeles. Again, no walk-on passengers. We’re checking the Portland airport now.”

The front door crashed open. Rocki jolted, going for her gun. Out of her peripheral vision, all the boys lunged to their feet, brandishing their weapons.

A ticked-off Janie stood in the doorway. “Kage Archer. How dare you leave me at the garage when Rocki needs me?”

Sabrina pushed passed Janie and marched straight toward Garrett. “Yeah. What were you thinking? When a girl’s mother is kidnapped, that girl needs her girlfriends, not a bunch of hotheaded boys who won’t think of how she’s holding up.”

Garrett holstered his pistol. “How the hell did you know where we were?”

“I picked the lock at headquarters, shut off the alarm before you’d get a call, and hacked into the main computer to pull up the last recorded phone call you received.” Sabrina rocked forward on her toes. “You can yell at me later. Right now, Rocki needs us.”

Garrett stalked toward the door. “I swear, I’m going to—”

“Wait.” Rocki inhaled, closing her eyes briefly. “As much as I appreciate you two coming to help me, can we concentrate on the situation? Please? This is my mother.”

“Kitchen, girls.” Tony held his arm out and motioned with his head. “Keep my parents company for a few minutes. Then you can talk with Rocki.”

Janie squeezed Rocki’s hand. Sabrina kissed her cheek. She nodded at them, touched by their concern. When they were out of the room, she sank down on the arm of the couch.

Lance cleared his throat. “Any other suggestions?”

“We’re walking into this blind.” Tony stared down at the floor. “Who do we have as an informant that we can use? Think of those we brought in during the last six months on drug charges, and posted bail.”

“Gene Baker. Maybe Slim…What’s his real name? Steve?” Kage leaned forward. “A better choice would be to go directly to the one who knows everything.”

“Who?” Rocki gazed between Kage and Tony. “Whoever it is, I’m in. Let’s make contact. We’re running out of time.”

“No…” Tony ran his hand through his hair. “Not yet. That’s our last resort.”

She unclutched her arms and walked toward Tony. “Why not?”

“Because I’m talking about going to my uncle,” Kage said. “We don’t normally deal with him.”

“No, that’s brilliant!” She fumbled in her pocket for her phone. “I still have his number programmed in my phone. I’ll call him now. If anyone knows where Marcelli would hide, it’s Darrell.”

Tony caught her wrist, stopping her from dialing. “Darrell doesn’t do anything without asking for something in return. You’re in a safe position. Once he handed the evidence on Marcelli over to you, he wiped his vendetta clean. You’re even…His mark on you means nothing if you remain silent. If you ask for his help, you’ll owe him, and I won’t allow you to put yourself anywhere under his control.”

“Tony, it’s my mom. I’ll deal with Darrell after I get her away from Gino and she’s safe. Until then, I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she stays alive.” Rocki lifted her chin. “This is one thing I won’t let you talk me out of doing.”

His mouth tightened and he stared at her. She glared in return. Just because she’d slept with him didn’t give him the right to run the search for her mom. She called the shots.

Kage stood. “I’ll do it.”

“What?” Tony swiveled his gaze to Kage. “I can’t believe you’d—”

“Rocki’s your woman. I’d do it for Janie…no difference.” Kage walked to the front window, putting his back to the room, and used his phone.

“Fucking hell,” Tony mumbled. “I owe you. Don’t forget it.”

Kage shook his head, completely ignoring Tony. Rocki leaned toward Tony and asked, “Do you think Darrell will tell him?”

“Do not talk,” he said.

“Tony, you have to—”

“Rocki, so help me, if you don’t give me a minute…” He gripped her shoulders. “You have no idea what Kage is doing for me. Not for you, not for himself, but for me.”

“I don’t understand,” she said.

Tony tightened his hold on her. “I know, but trust me. Kage doesn’t involve himself in his uncle’s business. At all. Ever.”

“What’s going to happen?”

“He’ll owe Darrell. At what price, though…I have no idea.” Tony dropped his hands.

She caught his sleeve and stopped him from walking away. “I’ll pay him back. I swear. I’ll talk to Darrell and transfer the debt off Kage to me.”

Tony heaved a sigh and hooked her neck, pulling her closer. “We’ll figure this all out, don’t worry.”