Operation Love, page 13
She reached into Casanova’s pocket and tugged his cell phone from his jeans. She held it up so he could swipe his finger. He had four missed text messages. She hit the notification and smiled. The kids were piled together on a huge sectional, all making funny faces as they took selfies.
Grim shifted on Casanova’s lap and took a selfie of them. “Now make a face.”
She snapped a second photo and sent the pictures back to the kids.
The phone buzzed with a message. Jay had sent four eggplants. She shook her head and tossed the cellphone to the empty seat on the couch. “Thank you.”
“For what?” Casanova asked.
“For giving me a second chance.” She pressed her body against his. He was taller than her but, on the couch, she didn’t have to go on her tiptoes to capture a kiss. His lips claimed her mouth.
He tightened his arms around her waist and hoisted her up with him. She wrapped her legs around his torso and his hardness pressed against her core. His lips crashed against hers as he walked down the dark hall to her bedroom.
“Fuck, I can’t get enough of your sweet mouth.” Casanova groaned as he ripped his lips from her, but she needed him more than her next breath.
“How about you let me wrap my lips around your hard cock?”
They’d only slept together twice, and she hadn’t got to taste him yet. She wiggled in his arms until he loosened his grip on her ass and her legs slid to the ground. He kissed the sensitive skin under her ear as she worked the button of his jeans open. She pulled the zipper down, and his jeans fell. He kicked them to the side. Her knees hit the plush carpet as she knelt. She slid her hands over his cock.
Their eyes connected as she leaned forward and licked the pre-cum from the tip of his member.
“Fuck,” he hissed, but she didn’t stop. She wrapped her lips around him and bobbed her head forward.
His fingers tangled in her hair. “Slower.”
She swirled her tongue and took him out of her mouth. “Did I do it wrong?”
“Fuck, no. Your mouth feels so good. I almost lost control. One night, I’ll fuck your mouth and come deep inside your throat, but tonight I want to be in your pussy.”
Her sex throbbed. She snaked her finger down her pants and leaned forward.
“Damn, it’s hot as fuck to see you with your hand down your pants. I can’t hold back any longer.” He gripped her under the arms and pulled her to her feet. His heated gaze raked over her body.
“I wasn’t done,” she grumbled as she grabbed the front of his shirt. She pulled his lips back to her own. His tongue pushed passed her teeth, and he kissed her with more passion than she’d ever experienced before.
Her center boiled with need, and while she loved kissing Casanova, she wanted to feel more. She broke their kiss and glanced up into his eyes.
“Casanova, please… I need more. I want more.”
“Strip.” Casanova pulled his shirt over his head and sat on the bed.
She shimmied out of her pants and tossed her shirt to the side.
“Turn around and slowly take those sexy black panties down,” he said.
Her heartbeat was against her chest, and she spun toward the door. She bent and shook her ass as she looped her fingers around the side of the material and pulled down her panties.
“Come over here and straddle my legs.”
She glided over to the bed, and he pulled her into his lap. His lips collided with hers, and they breathed heavily. She moaned into his kiss and stuck her hand between them, palming his hard cock.
He flipped her onto the expensive sheets and spread her legs. The only light on was from the nightlight in the bathroom, and he smiled devilishly. He lined his cock up at her entrance and slowly pushed himself into her.
She moaned, digging her nails into the sheets.
Casanova picked up the pace. As his thrusts increased, he hissed in pleasure. “Fuck, I missed your pussy.”
She’d missed his touch for the past month. The only person she could blame for not being with Casanova was herself. She dipped her hand between them and played with her clit as he drilled into her. Tiny shockwaves flooded through her body every so often, and her pussy tightened around his dick.
He trailed kisses up her neck and nipped her ear. “I can’t wait until we try for our own family. I wasn’t joking when I said I wanted to get married soon.”
She tried to concentrate on his words, but her body was so close to the edge she would agree to anything. “Yes.”
He grabbed onto her hips and dug his fingers into her flesh. He used her hips to hold on to her while he rammed into her deeper than he had all night. His hand snaked between them, and he pressed his finger to her clit. “Let me hear you scream.”
“I’m so close,” Her eyes started to roll to the back of her head. “Jared!”
She screamed his name as her orgasm rushed through her, and Casanova thrust harder inside her. He cussed and groaned as his own release found him, and she rolled her hips against him, wanting every last drop of his seed.
They both lay there, in silence, her heart beating against her chest. Each time they were together, she felt closer to him. He was her future, and she couldn’t wait to experience it with him.
Casanova rolled to the side and pulled her against his chest. “We’ll rest for a little bit, and then I’ll help you pack.”
“Pack?”
He moved her hair to the side and placed a kiss on the back of her neck. “Yes, you’re coming home with me tonight. I’m not spending another night away from you.”
She’d heard he got a new house, but nothing about it. Each time any of her friends tried to bring Casanova up, she would change the subject. “Don’t you think we should talk to your siblings first?”
“No, we can tell them over breakfast, then you can start whatever plans you want for the wedding. I’m not kidding, Grim. One month is all you get.” He pressed his hand against her stomach. “I want to start our family, and if we want ten kids, we better start soon.”
She barked out a laugh. “Ten? We would need a mansion.”
“Have one. Jay bought me a ridiculously large house. It will take some time to get used to the thought that my brother is extremely rich. I still see him as the kid on the streets.”
“Just because we have room doesn’t mean ten kids. Let’s start with one and go from there.”
His fingers glided down her side and ran through her wet folds. “I think we should try one more time tonight.”
She couldn’t agree more.
“God, I love you,” she moaned.
“You’re my everything.”
17
Epilogue - Grim
Thirty days later
Grim pulled out of the mall parking lot and turned toward the highway. Everyone seemed to forget Grim was a trained CIA officer who had spent years watching body language. First, the girls got her up at the crack of dawn to go get mani-pedis. Jasmin insisted they do a dress-up day. The six-year-old didn’t only have Casanova wrapped around her finger; Grim could never say no to her either.
They dragged her to the mall where they bought a dress, and then Jena thought they’d done so much, why not get their hair done.
“Okay, how about we stop and get some food? We’ve run around all day and not eaten a thing.”
Jena glanced at her phone. “Why don’t we make something at home? We’re not that far out. Or we can order food in.”
Yep, something was up. The girls loved to eat out.
“I was thinking we go to Marco’s,” Grim said.
“Marco’s!” Jasmin repeated from her booster seat. Jena glared at her little sister.
“I’m getting tired. Can we just go home?”
Grim raised a brow, but she went back to her cell phone. She couldn’t figure out what the hell was up as she drove them home.
The street leading to their house was lined with cars. The closer they got to the house, the more cars she spotted.
“Is anyone going to tell me what is going on?”
Jena smiled at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“How about you, Jasmin? Want to fill me in?”
Jasmin ran her fingers over her lips like she was zipping them shut and tossed the key over her shoulder.
Casanova had left before she got up to go for a run with Drake. They did it a few times a week. She preferred to sleep until the last minute and run during her lunch break.
She pulled into the driveway, and Casanova was in the front yard. The damn man had a suit on. He was sexy in jeans and a t-shirt, but the suit? Fuck.
He sauntered over to the car and opened the driver-side door. The two girls scurried away before Grim could stop them.
Grim eyed him. “Want to tell me why we are throwing a party?”
“I gave you thirty days.”
She racked her brain, and then everything clicked. “You want to get married today? But my parents.”
He placed a gentle kiss on her lips. “Are in the back yard. Along with your friends and family. All you have to do is agree, and we can walk into the back yard, and you will be mine forever.”
She was already his. A piece of paper wouldn’t change how she felt, but she wanted to be his wife. Every venue she’d called didn’t have dates for months. The courthouse had crossed her mind, but she wanted her friends and family at her wedding.
“My sister?”
Casanova winced. “Sorry. I tried. I got the rest of your family and your brother.”
She wished her sister would be there on her special day, but she couldn’t hold off marrying the man she loved because of Sarah. “Let’s do this.”
Lucas Caldwell
Music thumped from the speaker near his table. Grim and Casanova were married, and the team was having a blast at the reception. But Lucas hated that Willa wasn’t there. Lucas glanced at his cell phone for the hundredth time. She hadn’t texted back, and her tracking device hadn’t moved from its location. They’d discussed the wedding, but with the short notice, she couldn’t get out of her obligation. She wouldn’t tell him what the job was, which worried the hell out of him. They talked every day, and he’d flown a couple of times to Chicago to see her, and she’d come to California.
Their relationship hadn’t moved past kissing. He didn’t want to rush anything, but she always checked in.
“This seat taken?” Xavier asked.
“Go ahead. Willa’s working in Chicago.”
“How are you doing?”
Lucas set his phone down and turned to his boss. “Fine.”
Xavier sipped his drink. The music had started, and kids ran around on the dance floor.
Lucas’s time at Rogue Mercenaries had showed him a different side of people. Nobody he worked with would stab him in the back. Willa made him wonder if he could love someone. Every time his life would feel somewhat normal, a train would plow through. Normally, his parents were the drivers of that train.
“Saw the headline this morning,” Xavier said.
His father planned to run for governor of California. Lucas didn’t bother reading the article. When he saw it, he figured that was the reason his mother had tried to call him, but he’d ignored her and would continue to do so. She’d done it to him for years when he’d needed his mom, and he was thousands of miles away.
Molly, his sister, ran the family empire. Dad had pulled back a few years ago from the company and dabbled in politics. He’d run for city commission and got a seat.
“Probably a way to cut taxes for the company.” Lucas shrugged, not caring what his family did. He wanted to know why Willa hadn’t called or texted.
His cell phone vibrated on the table. Willa’s name appeared, and he let out a sigh. “Sorry, boss, I have to reply.”
“She’s a little strange, but a good one. Don’t let her get away.” Xavier stood up and left.
Lucas tapped the notification and her message popped up.
Willa: Hey!
Lucas: I’ve been worried about you. I thought you wanted to FaceTime during the wedding.
Willa: I did...You know that job I thought was cool, and you said no.
He closed his eyes and hoped like hell she’d ignored the job offer from the mob boss.
Lucas: Please tell me it’s not the one for the mob.
Willa: He laughed when I asked if he worked for the mob. So, I agreed. It was supposed to be one job.
Lucas: So, are you done? Why not come visit for the weekend?
Willa: That’s the problem. They asked me to figure out the books. Easy math. I finished in no time. Except they didn’t like what I found.
Lucas: What did you find?
Willa: Someone was embezzling. I can figure out the numbers, but I don’t know how to figure out who.
Lucas: Tell them and walk away.
Willa: I tried. Then they did this.
His stomach turned as he waited for her to text him whatever the hell they had done. A picture came through, and his heart stopped. Willa had taken a selfie. She was on her couch, but she had a vest strapped to her body with a seven-hour countdown timer.
Lucas: That better be fake.
Willa: No. And I don’t think I can figure this out alone. They have guards outside my house.
Lucas jumped up from his chair and was striding toward his boss. He needed the jet and Drake.
Lucas: But they let you text me?
Willa: I found one of my old cell phones and connected it to my neighbor’s Wi-Fi.
Lucas: I’m on my way.
Willa: Hurry, Lucas. I’m scared.
* * *
Grab Operation Desire - Lucas and Willa’s book is up for preorder!
Grab Operation Protect - Xavier and McKenzie book is up for preorder!
Grab Operation Stealth - Drake and Phoebe book is up for preorder!
Grab Operation Devotion - Doc and Sara book is up for preorder!
Go to https://BookHip.com/XNVRPTR to grab a free book and sign up for Linzi Baxter’s newsletter.
Pursuing Phoenix
“He’s out.” Kat sighed into the phone.
Those two words changed my life. Again. My phone shook in my hand. “Are you sure?” Maybe Kat’s person on the inside received the wrong name. Greg was a common name, right? That’s what happened. No way my ex-husband was released from jail. He hadn’t even gone to trial yet.
Kat let out another sigh. “Lily, we’re looking into how he got released.” She was quiet for a second. “Antonio is one hundred percent certain Greg is no longer in jail.” Antonio was Kat’s husband and the owner of a mercenary company in Ft. Lauderdale.
I heard the muffled voices of Kat and Antonio as they discussed my situation, while pacing in front of my floor-to-ceiling windows and contemplating the rain falling like sheets outside. The weather here in Houston wasn’t much different from that of Ft. Lauderdale, both cities were known for their wet, humid climates. Tommy and I just finished unpacking from our cross country move and now it looked like we’d have to do it again. “I don’t know where to go.”
“You stay right where you are. Abe is staying in Houston until we figure out where your ex is. He’s one of Antonio’s top bodyguards and instead of you putting Tommy into daycare like you planned, Abe will watch him while you’re at work. Nova Satellite Security has Neal’s technology running through the building, plus they have security guards at the entrance. I’ll talk to Jacob tonight and make sure nobody gets into his building unannounced.”
I leaned my hip against the kitchen counter and gazed out into the dark night. “What do you mean, you don’t know where he is? Doesn’t he have to go to a halfway house or report where he’s living?”
“The only information we’ve received so far is that one of the officers who worked on the case contaminated some of the evidence. We’re told the evidence was thrown out, and Greg’s lawyer got him released and the charges dropped. Antonio has a call in to find out what evidence could’ve been contaminated. The story we got doesn’t add up. The main part was your testimony along with your photos. When we find out, you’ll be the first to know.”
The bruise on my face from his fist last week still hurt, and I wondered what more evidence they needed. “He’s going to come for me. This time, when he finds me, he’s going to kill me, Kat. I need to get Tommy out of here.”
I owed everything to Kat Ross. When we met, she was a volunteer at the Women’s Shelter in Ft. Lauderdale. Each day, she would help me study for my GED, helped me learn how to use a computer and talk with Tommy. The day she wrapped her arms around me, gave me a hug, and I flinched under her contact, our friendship changed. It wasn’t the hug from Kat that made me flinch. It was when she touched the bruise along my side. Greg had been upset— he’d lost yet another job, and instead of trying to find a new one, he took what little money we had left and hit the bars. When he finally came home, he was plastered and blaming me for him losing his job. He used me as a punching bag, only stopping when I passed out yet again from his rough hands choking me.
Each day, Kat and I talked about our lives. When she tried talking me into leaving Greg, I was scared—nobody would be able to stop him. But Kat confided in me that she was a retired assassin for the CIA and married to Antonio Ross, one of the richest men in the world. I burst out laughing when she told me she’d been an assassin, but when she didn’t laugh back, I started to wonder if it was true. She told me stories about her work for the agency, and when I started to hang out with her outside of the shelter, I learned she’d killed a few men who’d hurt the women at the Ross Women’s Outreach Center. Kat’s husband tried to stop her from taking matters into her own hands, but she was protective of the women she loved, and Kat kept her gators happy by feeding them the bodies.
Kat’s voice broke through the fog in my brain. “He’s not going to find you. I won’t let that happen. Just trust me. Please, Lily, stay in Houston and start your new job tomorrow. If—and I mean if—we think he’s heading your way, I’ll let you know.”
