Protective Custody Read online

  He took a swig of antacid. Setting it down hard on the metal desk, he shivered at the chalky taste. “Please don’t cry. I hate it when you cry.”

  “But I’m scared, Eddie. What are we gonna do?”

  He ticked off a mental list of his accounts receivable. His two biggest clients had outstanding bills due in the next couple of days. “We’ll get a cash advance on one of the credit cards. Coral Gables Savings. That one has the lowest rate.”

  “Oh, Eddie Bear. You literally saved my life.” More crying.

  “Don’t, kitten, please.”

  “I’m so lucky to have such a wonderful man like you. What did I do to deserve you?” She sniffled loudly.

  Despite himself, he grinned. “It’s not what you did, but what you’ll do tonight when I get home.”

  After a long pause, she said, “Oh. I get it. Sure. I’ll think of something fun. Gotta run now.”

  He disconnected and shoved the bottle of antacid back into his drawer. Checking his calendar, he groaned. He’d promised to keep an eye on Will’s girl’s house today. Pushing away from the desk, he grabbed the slip of paper where he’d scrawled the address. He headed to his car, anticipating a long, boring day. No problem. Will had insisted on paying for the time. So he would.

  He arrived at the site in less than ten minutes. Scanning the area, he found a perfect spot to park under the shade of a sprawling oak tree. He reclined his seat and yawned. Worry over his financial situation had kept him from getting much sleep the past few nights. Veronica, however, had slept beside him like a carefree angel.

  He opened the cooler on the seat next to him and took out the iced latte he’d picked up on the way over. A strong blast of caffeine would do him good. After downing half the drink, he settled in.

  Less than an hour later he noticed a black SUV driving slowly past the house. Hadn’t Will mentioned that a similar vehicle had run the girl off the road yesterday? He picked up his tablet and checked his notes.

  Yep. Black SUV. He raised his binoculars and copied the tag number. The SUV parked in a vacant lot a few houses down. A dark-haired man climbed out, looked around, then headed to Megan’s house.

  Ed reached for his camera, then zoomed in before snapping a few shots, but he was at the wrong angle to capture the guy’s face. The man circled the house and disappeared. Ed checked his weapon and set his phone to silent. He eased his car door open and got out, quietly as he could. Seconds later, when a sanitation truck rolled into the neighborhood, he shoved his door closed, grateful for the noise.

  He started after the man, keeping his eyes and ears focused. The grass muted his footsteps as he rounded the wood-framed building. He stayed close to the wall and fingered his gun, ready to draw it without hesitation.

  A dark figure came into view. Definitely the same guy from the SUV, only now he was wearing a black ski mask. Ed drew his weapon and crept closer. The man had his hands cupped over a window. No denying he was up to no good.

  Ed lifted his gun higher and took another step closer. The outline of what might be a pocketknife protruded from the man’s back pocket. “Put your hands in the air,” he commanded in his deepest cop voice. “My gun’s trained on your head, and I have a twitchy trigger finger.”

  The man didn’t move.

  “Now!”

  Slowly the man raised his arms in the air. Ed eliminated the distance between them, then pulled the knife from the guy’s pocket. He shoved it into his jacket. Then he yanked off the ski mask and threw it on the ground before taking a step back. “Now turn around. Real easy.”

  But the man didn’t budge. “I don’t remember hearing you say you were a cop.”

  Something about the man’s voice sounded familiar. Probably just his imagination. “Nope. You didn’t. But it doesn’t look like you’re in any position to split hairs, if you know what I mean. Now turn the fuck around.”

  “I’m a rich man. I assume you’re a neighborhood-watch volunteer or a security guard. I’m willing to pay you well, in cash, if you walk away and pretend this never happened.”

  Ed snickered. “Funny. I haven’t encountered a whole lot of rich thieves. ’Course, I have met my share of politicians, so maybe that’s not entirely true. Face me before I blow your head off.”

  The man turned around, and Ed gasped.

  ***

  Will slid closer to Megan on the bed and drew in a breath of her vanilla scent. He snuggled against her back and set his arm on her hip. The contours of her body fit so perfectly with his. She squirmed closer, and his cock stirred.

  I’m completely hopeless.

  They’d made love less than an hour ago, and already he wanted her again. He reached for her breast, which fit his hand as if they were two pieces of the same puzzle. But if she’d seen it that way, she never would have left him. He had no right to think about forever. She needed a man who could always protect her.

  Her breath hitched when he lightly pinched her nipple. “I thought we were taking a nap.”

  He held back a laugh. “Who said that?”

  “You did.”

  “Oh yeah.” He strummed her peaked point.

  She wriggled against him. “Will!”

  He kissed the skin behind her ear. “I didn’t hear a no.”

  A soft chuckle.

  “Since there are apparently no objections, I move that we mess around again.” He rolled her onto her back and hovered over her on his hands and knees. His pulse quickened with need as he stared down at her luscious body—that flawless caramel skin and those sparkling amber eyes, the ripe breasts with nipples as stiff as pencil erasers. He lowered his head and plucked one, circled his tongue around it.

  She arched her back and moaned. God, he yearned to hear that sound every day for the rest of his life. He laved her breast, savored the irresistible salty-sweet taste of her skin. For so long he’d dreamed about her body, sure he’d never touch it again. He ought to memorize every inch of her.

  He trailed kisses along her breastbone, over her shoulder and her neck and up to her cheek. Then he brushed his lips over hers. She opened her mouth to him, and he feasted on her tongue.

  She parted her legs almost imperceptibly, but he noticed. He stroked his hand down her belly and rested it on her mound. She sighed into his mouth and lifted her hips higher, seeking his touch.

  He broke the kiss, and she opened her eyes, silently questioning him. “Tell me what it is you want.” More than anything, he yearned to please her.

  A rosy flush crept up her neck and over her face. She averted her gaze.

  “Say it.”

  She chewed at the corner of her lips. Was she purposely avoiding his eyes?

  “Megan.”

  Finally she looked at him.

  “What do you want me to do?” He moved his hand away, and she whimpered.

  She’d always been shy about such requests, but the few times he’d made her say them aloud, he could tell she found it as hot as he did.

  “Well?”

  “I want you to touch me.” She pursed her lips.

  He moved onto his side and propped himself on one elbow. “Show me how.”

  She widened her eyes and gulped. “You mean…”

  He nodded, took her wrist and set her hand on the dark thatch of hair between her legs. “Show me what feels good.”

  She hesitated at first, then slowly started rubbing herself. Her hips rocked, and she shut her eyes. He watched her intently, enthralled with the incredibly erotic view.

  She slid her fingers along her pussy, gyrated her pelvis. Her movements gradually sped up. He shifted to get a better view. If memory served him, she loved for him to eat her after she came. He intended to please her in every way he could.

  Her moans grew louder, hungrier. When her climax came, she cried out in familiar strains. Before she could recover, he settled his hands on her inner thighs and dragged his tongue along her furls, tasting her thick cream. She bucked and sighed. He licked her swollen nub, and she gasped. Holding
on to her legs, he tested her entrance and found it slick with her juices. He drove his tongue deep.

  Megan plowed her fingers through his hair as she twisted and shouted her delight, as if her orgasm had never ended or had started all over again.

  His cock was so hard, so heavy with need. He needed to fuck her. He raised his head and captured her gaze. “Tell me how you want it, baby.”

  “Hard. I want you to fuck me hard. Right now.” She reached to the nightstand for a condom. The second he’d sheathed himself, he rolled her onto her stomach. She lifted onto her hands and knees. He grinned into the mirror over the headboard. Gave him a great view of her face, as well as the rest of her.

  He looked at her engorged bud—a flower for him to pluck—and couldn’t resist one last lick. She quivered and gasped. He couldn’t wait to slide into her drenched pussy. Grasping her hips, he eased into her entrance.

  Primitive lust filled him. He thrust deeper but restrained from stroking as hard as he wanted, so he didn’t hurt her.

  Holy God, she felt so good and tight. She let go a deliciously desperate whimper and pushed against him—all the encouragement he needed. Surrendering to his desire, he pumped into her, fast and hard, digging his fingers into her skin.

  Her cries grew louder, more demanding. He plunged deep inside her, buried himself to his balls. She contracted around him, squeezing his cock with blissful pressure.

  Grabbing fistfuls of the sheets, she rocked against him and ground her hips into his. “Oh God, Will. That…feels…so good. I’m…I’m…coming.” Her screams filled the small room with electrifying carnal energy. She writhed in pleasure, quivering and shaking and moaning.

  Her satisfaction was more of an aphrodisiac than anything he could have imagined. His balls tightened with building pressure, hotter and hotter. His control shredded, and he exploded in a blinding orgasm. Throbbing and pulsing with ecstasy, he stroked a few more times, then leaned over her back, completely spent and blissed out.

  She squeezed him with her inner muscles, extending his pleasure with every contraction. He circled his arms around to cup her breasts. Strumming her erect nipples, he grinned when she shuddered. The musky scent of their lovemaking filled his head as he lay her on her back.

  Kissing her skin, he tasted the salty sheen of sweat that slicked her entire body. He wished she were the woman he’d make love to for the rest of his life. But he loved her too much to trust himself with her future.

  ***

  A shiver rolled over Ed’s skin when he came face-to-face with his best client. Heavy silence filled the steamy air. “What the fuck, John?”

  The other man pointed to Ed’s gun. “Lower that damn thing, would you?”

  “I don’t think so. You want to tell me what you’re doing before I call the cops?” Ed racked his brain to make sense of the scene. Why would someone like John Jarity break into Megan’s house? Jarity stared at the gun. “Can I at least put my arms down?”

  Ed scratched his head. He thought about the business Jarity threw his way. Security guards for his pawnshops, gift stores and warehouses. Christ, the guy was his single biggest client. Without Jarity’s account, no way would he be able to make his bills. Not to mention all the extra cash he’d need to take care of Veronica’s debts.

  He looked Jarity over. Could he possibly be the monster who’d come after Will’s girl? Reconciling the violent criminal with the man he’d known for more than five years seemed impossible. “You can lower your arms, but keep your hands where I can see ’em.”

  Jarity put his arms at his sides. “Look, Ed, let’s discuss this.”

  “Tell me you’re not the guy who tried to kill Megan Jackson.” Ed had never been a religious man, but he said a silent prayer that this was all some big misunderstanding. If he put Jarity away, it’d be like pounding a nail into his own coffin.

  “Kill her? Shit, no.” His smile radiated about as much warmth as a witch’s tit.

  “Then what the hell are you doing here?” He motioned toward the ski mask. “And why were you wearing that and peeking in her windows?”

  Another chuckle. “It’s not what it looks like. Things are often not what they appear, don’t you think? Like your wife, Veronica.”

  Ed’s blood ran cold. He held his breath a moment, trying to figure out why Jarity had mentioned Veronica, how he’d even known her name. Could she be having an affair with this piece of shit? No. No way. Veronica would never… Shit, he couldn’t even think such a thought without getting sick to his stomach.

  He pointed his gun at Jarity’s crotch. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  Jarity raised his hands in surrender. “No, no. Calm down. I can see in your eyes what you’re thinking. I only know her on a professional basis.”

  “A professional basis?” He thought about Jarity’s various businesses. Maybe she’d been a customer in one of his gift shops. But Jarity never worked those stores himself.

  “Yeah. She’s pawned jewelry, lots of it. Keeps coming in with more and more stuff. A diamond tennis bracelet, a cocktail ring with diamonds and sapphires.”

  His throat closed. He’d given Veronica a tennis bracelet for her birthday in August and the cocktail ring for Valentine’s Day. “I happened to be there when she pawned the jewelry. I caught her name on the paperwork and asked if there was any relation. She said she was your wife, and she begged me not to tell you. I looked up her records and found she’d pawned a bunch of other stuff, mostly expensive jewelry. I’m sorry.” The mocking glint in his eyes didn’t jibe with the sympathy in his words. “Look, if you two have some financial problems, maybe I can help.”

  No! I never took a bribe in twenty-five years of law enforcement. Never even considered it.

  But what choice did he have? Jarity was a rich man. He could make all Veronica’s debts go away. He gritted his teeth. “What do you want, Jarity?”

  That slimy smile widened. “Just a mutually beneficial agreement. One that will put a nice chunk of cash into your pocket.”

  Ed holstered his weapon, then scrubbed a hand over his face. “I need a hundred grand.” Might as well start big.

  Jarity didn’t flinch. “I can do that. But you’re going to have to do something for me.”

  The hair on the back of his neck prickled. “Tell me something first. Was it you who murdered that young girl?”

  “No. It wasn’t like that. It was an accident.”

  Ed’s stomach turned. “An accident, huh?”

  “I swear it was. She fell and hit her head. But she was an illegal who my brother brought into the country. She died instantly. Wasn’t like I could have saved her if I’d brought her to a hospital or anything. So why condemn my brother to prison time?” He took a step toward him, but Ed backed away.

  He didn’t want to be any closer to the piece of shit than he had to.

  “Look, I had problems with a woman. You can relate, right?”

  Hot shame raced through his body. “Yeah, so what of it?”

  “My point is, we all do things for pussy. Am I right?” Jarity set a hand on Ed’s shoulder, but he shook it off. “I give you a lot of business. Unless I’m wrong, I’m probably one of your biggest clients. And I want it to stay that way. I’m sure you do too.”

  If Jarity pulled his business, it would put Ed’s firm under. Much as he hated to admit it, he needed the bastard.

  “All I want is a small favor. I want to know where Megan is, because I don’t think she’s planning to come back here anytime soon, is she?”

  He shook his head. “They’re staying at a rental cottage.” He couldn’t meet Jarity’s gaze or he’d be sick.

  “Good, good. I’ll need an address.” He took a business card out of his pocket and flipped it over. “Got something to write with?”

  Ed handed him a pen. “What are you going to do?”

  “I just want to let her know she should keep her mouth shut. I swear that’s all. Trust me.” He grinned, all snake-oil charm.

 
Ed looked Jarity in the eyes, wondering if the guy was being truthful. His instincts were rarely wrong, but maybe this time they were. He hoped. “And you’ll give me the money and keep contracting my company’s services. With, say, a ten-percent increase.”

  “You drive a hard bargain, Ed, but you’ve got yourself a deal.” He started to offer his hand but quickly dropped it. “How do I know you won’t screw me out of the money?” He didn’t trust Jarity any more than he would a twenty-dollar whore.

  “I’m hurt. Give me a little credit. If I screw you, you go to the cops. I’m not a fool.”

  Ed lifted an eyebrow. “You’ll have to do better than that.”

  “Look, I’ve got about a thousand bucks on me. Would you accept it as a small down payment? It’ll take me a few days to gather the rest of the cash.”

  “I want half of it by Monday. The rest by Wednesday.” He held out his hand. “Give me that thousand.”

  Jarity took a diamond-studded bill clip from his pocket, then counted out nine hundred bucks and set it in Ed’s palm. “There’s one other thing.”

  Did the asshole want his blood? “What?” He stashed the money in his jacket.

  Jarity retrieved his ski mask and shoved it in his back pocket. “Just a question. Do you plan to confront your wife?” There was that smug grin again.

  “Why do you want to know?” If that bastard made one crack about Veronica, he’d shoot his balls off.

  “Just trying to do you a favor. I can have the manager at the pawnshop call me if she shows up again.”

  The thought of keeping tabs on his wife twisted his insides into knots, but obviously Veronica was keeping secrets from him. And what the hell was she doing with the money she got from pawning her jewelry? “Yeah, sure.”

  “We have a deal, then.” This time Jarity did offer his hand.

  Reluctantly Ed shook it. Jarity’s skin was cold and clammy, exactly how he’d imagined. He’d have to break out that hand sanitizer he kept in the glove box. In fact, maybe he’d use the whole bottle. On second thought, he’d need a bathtub full of disinfectant to wipe the stench from his skin.