Mine to Keep: Protection Series Book 4, page 27
A shaky breath pushed through my tight lips as I raised a hand. Time seemed to still, my hand hovering as if the world held a collective breath, waiting to find out what would happen next.
Breaking the spell, I rapped a single knuckle against the wooden door. The knock seemed to reverberate through my body, zapping every nerve seizing my lungs.
“You’ve got this, baby,” Charlie said over the line. “We’re here. You’re not in this alone.”
How he knew I needed his voice, those words of encouragement in that exact moment, I didn’t know, but it worked. Just hearing him, knowing he was waiting close by, released the grip my fear had over my entire body.
A thump from the other side had me leaning closer, angling an ear, hoping to hear more. I didn’t realize how close I’d leaned in until the door swung open.
Stumbling back a step, I gasped and instinctively went for the gun hidden in my purse, but I stopped before I showed my hand. Straightening, I forced a smile, hoping he couldn’t see through my fake confidence. I took a moment to check out the man of the hour holding the door wide open.
Shiny black shoes freshly polished, black slacks that emphasized his muscular legs and thighs. A crisp white dress shirt, all buttons undone, showing off his defined pecs and—
“You’re early.” My gaze shot to his. Was that anger in his tone? “I’m not ready.”
“I’m always early,” I said in response. “Excited?”
“Was that a question or a statement, Rhyan?” Bryson asked, sounding just as tense as the man in front of me.
The man’s lips pressed into a thin line as he stared me down. Not much taller than me, maybe an inch or two, but with the heels, we were eye level. Thick black hair, perfectly styled. Dark scruff covered his cheeks, giving him an edge, but something behind his stony stare made my heart hitch.
And not in a good way.
No, there was pent-up aggression lingering there, the same hidden anger.
Lies. So many lies hid behind his nearly black eyes.
Something wasn’t right.
“Right, come on in. I’m almost ready. You will be punished for this, however.”
“Yay.”
Yep. I said, “Yay.”
The man’s frown deepened. Shit, I was fucking this up, and I wasn’t even over the damn threshold.
“That’s what I was hoping for,” I added in what I hoped was a seductive tone.
The lines along his forehead eased as he nodded and stepped to the side, gesturing for me to enter.
To enter a strange man’s hotel room.
Holy crap, this is really happening.
“All you have to say is your code word,” Charlie’s voice rumbled in my ear. “and we’ll have two officers there in five seconds. They’re waiting in the stairwell for our command.”
My knees buckled with the first step toward my impending doom, but I caught myself before falling face-first. With an embarrassed chuckle, I slipped around the man and stepped into the room. Inside, I shifted to the right and sealed my back to the wall, keeping my clutch tight between both hands.
“Grab a drink. I’ll only be a few minutes.” With that, he disappeared behind another door, slamming it shut.
Releasing the breath I was holding, I shook out one hand, then the other to calm my frayed nerves. Now was not the time to freak out and clam up. This, me being alone, was a perfect opportunity to find the evidence needed to arrest the guy.
Rocking forward, I popped off the wall, forcing myself to move toward the wall of windows. A small fully stocked bar cart sat along the wall near a cozy sitting space, complete with two low-back chairs and a love seat centered before a TV, a large glass coffee table sitting in the middle.
Thick purple curtains hung along either side of the windows, tied back with a black sash, allowing the glittering lights of the city to shimmer through. Rain pattered against the tinted glass, barely making a sound.
Shifting to the bedroom area of this small efficiency-style hotel room, I swallowed hard, my wide eyes glued to the massive king-size bed. Thick, imposing posts stood sentry at each corner of the dark mahogany frame, the headboard and footboard made of the same stained wood. The smooth black duvet was folded back, revealing silk crimson sheets beneath.
It was what was on top of the sheets that had me gulping: black leather cuffs, secured to the bedposts by a thin cord.
“What’s going on, Rhyan? We can basically hear you freaking out,” Bryson said through the earpiece.
“Kinky cuffs,” I whispered through my labored breaths. “On the bed.”
“You won’t let it get that far though, will you?” Charlie said with a snarl in his tone. “Don’t let that derail you. Focus on finding evidence to get you out of there now.”
Right. I nodded even though they couldn’t see and tore my freaked-out gaze from the bondage equipment to the empty bedside table. Forcing my legs to work, I kept one eye on the still-closed door he’d disappeared behind while I tiptoed closer to the other side of the bed.
I trailed a fingertip along the silk duvet, shivering a little at the luxurious feel.
“I want silk sheets,” I muttered under my breath, totally forgetting about the two listening.
“I can make that happen,” Charlie purred.
“I was never a fan,” Bryson cut in. “Too slippery, always fucked with my leverage.”
“TMI, friend, TMI,” Charlie said with a chuckle.
A small smile crept up my face despite my surroundings and nerves.
Easing around the footboard, I poked the black leather cuff with a single finger. Hard, sturdy leather with belt-type notches to secure the binding. The inside looked to be lined with fake fur to make it more comfortable for the one wearing it.
I turned in a slow circle, taking in the entire room, looking for… who the hell knew.
Frustrated, I blew out a breath and sat on the edge of the bed facing what I assumed was the bathroom, waiting for him to emerge. I swiped both clammy palms down my dress, the motion drawing my gaze to the bedside table near my knees.
I leaned forward, heart hammering, and reached for the gold-embossed handle, wrapping my fingers around the small knob. Glancing from the side table to the door, I eased the drawer open. Grimacing at the sound of something shifting inside, I held a breath, listening for any sign he’d heard the noise too.
Slowly, lower lip gripped between my teeth, I eased it open wide to peek inside.
All the blood drained from my face, my head turning dizzy as I gaped at the syringe resting in the drawer.
I swallowed hard, trying to find the words to alert Charlie and Bryson—hell, to alert anyone. But nothing came out. The room spun as I fought to remember how to breathe.
“Rhyan, what’s going on?” Charlie asked, slightly panicked.
“Him,” I wheezed at the same time the bathroom door swung open. “It’s him.”
The man, our unsub, looked from me to the opened bedside drawer. “What are you doing?” he roared and stormed closer, slamming the drawer shut.
I lunged to the side with a pitiful cry when he grabbed for my hands.
Shouts vibrated from the earpiece, but I didn’t understand a single word. Blood thundered in my ears, his grip tight around both my wrists.
“Get on the damn bed, now,” he ordered an inch from my face. Minty fresh breath brushed across my hot cheeks. “You’ll pay for being so damn nosy.”
My red hair whipped from side to side from my violent head shake.
“I said get on the fucking bed,” he shouted. With a hard shove, I slid along the silk sheets to the center of the bed.
“Stop,” I shouted, twisting, stretching for my clutch lying near the foot of the bed.
“Don’t worry, you’ll like it. They always do.” His scowl smoothed into a sinister grin. Near-black eyes raked a long look up and down my body. His brow lifted as I fumbled with the edge of my purse closure, fingertips sliding along the edge. With a laugh, he flung out a massive hand, knocking it away from my fingers. It landed on the floor with a loud thump.
“I will kill him if he touches you,” Charlie roared in my ear. “Fuck this. I’m going up there.”
The next second, a forceful pound vibrated the door. He paused, brows dipping. He considered the door, then me.
“Don’t move. I’ll deal with you in a second.”
Hard fucking pass.
His open shirt billowed as he turned to investigate the interruption, and I forced my trembling body into action. Scurrying across the sheets on hands and knees, I slipped off the bed, my shoulder slamming to the hard floor.
Five feet were all that lay between me and the weapon lying hidden in my purse. Teeth sunk into my lower lip, I stretched an arm along the floor, the tip of a single finger grazed the smooth black leather.
One more inch.
“What in the hell are you—” He started toward me, a flash of concern overtaking the earlier anger. Another pounding knock cut him off, turning his attention back to the door. “For fuck’s sake. Who the hell is it? If it’s your husband, tonight is off, sweetheart.”
With a grunt, I hauled myself that last inch, dragging my panic frozen lower half forward until I snatched the purse. With my shaking fingers, it took three tries to work the simple snap. A strangled whimper of relief scratched up my dry throat when my fingers wrapped around the grip of my Glock.
The door swung open.
Rolling to my back, arms extended, I aimed the barrel at the man’s back as he inched into the room, hands raised in surrender. Two plain-clothed officers edged inside, both brandishing their guns as well.
“What the hell is this about?” The man’s voice trembled as he eyed the two men. “You called the cops on me?” He shot a hateful glare over his shoulder, only for it to morph into shock when he took in my gun.
“I am the cops. FBI. Hands behind your head.”
“FB… what the actual hell is going on here? All this is consensual—”
“They consented to their murder, did they?” Charlie’s deep voice rumbled through the room seconds before he stormed inside. His eyes frantically searched until he found me on the floor.
“Murder? What the—”
“Read him his rights and then take him downtown for questioning,” Charlie ordered the officers without taking his eyes off me. “We’ll gather the evidence here and bring it to the station when we’re done.”
A round of “Yes, sirs” was lost to the man’s frantic questions and pleas of not knowing what the hell was going on. Those shouts continued in the hall until the stairs’ heavy metal door slammed shut, cutting him off.
“Rhyan,” Charlie choked out daring a step closer. “You can lower the gun now, baby.”
I responded with a stiff nod but couldn’t get my contracted muscles to obey.
Charlie’s tight features softened. Keeping out of the line of fire should I accidentally pull the trigger, he shuffled around the room. His knees entered my periphery as he squatted beside my head. A firm hand wrapped around one wrist, while the other tipped the gun barrel down. He coaxed my grip free, and the gun slid easily out of my clasped hands.
Immediately, both arms plummeted to the ground, the muscles completely spent. A shoulder-shaking sob erupted from my throat. Slapping a hand over my lips, I tried to shove it down.
Charlie set the gun on the hotel room floor, stood without a word, and scooped me into his arms. The room swayed as he carried me to the small sitting area I’d admired a few minutes prior.
“Shh, baby, I got you. You’re safe,” he murmured in my ear.
“I’m turning off Rhyan’s mic now,” Bryson said in my ear. “I don’t need to hear this. I’ll join the two officers in escorting the suspect into custody. Good work tonight, Rhyan. Glad you’re okay.”
I nodded, my head popping Charlie’s chin. Eager to be done with all the things on my body, I dipped a hand inside my dress. Plucking off the small mic hooked on the center of my bra, I shifted my fingers, digging into my bra for the tracker that had pressed uncomfortably into my skin since I placed it there earlier.
Charlie took both from me, tucking the small devices away somewhere I couldn’t see.
“You okay?” he asked, smoothing a hand over my head.
“Yeah,” I croaked. “Just in shock, I think.”
“Did he…?” His hold tightened around me.
“No, just—” I shifted to search his tight blue eyes. “It doesn’t matter. I’m fine, just shaken up.” Closing both eyes, I inhaled through my nose and blew it out slowly. “Let’s gather the cuffs in case our victims’ DNA can be found on them. The insides are lined with faux fur. There’s no way to clean those and remove all trace evidence.”
Opening my lids, I offered Charlie a weak grin.
“I’m good now.” Remembering we were on the job, I tapped his forearm until his hold loosened enough for me to slip off his lap. Standing, I smoothed the slightly wrinkled dress down my thighs and wiped my face of the few rogue tears. “The syringe I saw is in the nightstand. Did you bring an evidence baggie?”
A lock of dark hair shifted across his forehead with a slight head shake. “I’ll go down and grab some.”
“We need various sizes,” I said as he walked to the door. “And gloves too, please. I’ll hang out here until you get back.”
He paused at the closed door, brows furrowed as he took me in. “You’ll be all right alone?”
I knelt to the floor, knees popping, to retrieve my discarded gun. Slipping it back into my purse, I patted the side with a smirk.
“I’ll be fine. Go, so we can get this done sooner than later. I’d like to be out of here before midnight.”
With a final concerned glance, he disappeared around the doorframe.
Blowing out a heavy breath, I spun in a slow circle, taking in the room for the second time that night.
I did it. We did it. Now all we had to do was gather the incriminating evidence and be done.
The corners of my lips dipped, and a shiver of unease slipped down my spine.
The evidence pointed to him being our unsub. Even his background fit with our profile. But if we caught him, then why was there a nagging sense that we were still missing something in this frustrating case?
Something big.
25
RHYAN
An hour into evidence collecting, I ditched the heels, moving around the room barefoot while depositing various items into clear bags. After hour two, I commandeered a hair tie from a female officer, securing my long hair into a messy bun. Now approaching hour three, I was exhausted and over it. Though lingering jitters from the night’s events had my fingers trembling, making the bags annoying as hell to secure.
Eyes dry, contacts burning, and seeing double from exhaustion, it was enough for me to finally tap out.
“Would you be okay with finishing up here?” I asked the officer assisting Charlie and me with carrying the filled bags to the van where another officer waited, securing the evidence for transport to the station.
“Got a hot date?” she joked, not looking up from where she wrote on the baggie in her hand.
A tingling sensation tickled my fingertips. I shook them out to get the feeling back. “No, I just…. Tonight was a lot, and I need to walk it off. Clear my head, you know?”
Maybe figure out why the hell all this felt so wrong.
“In those things?” She peeked over the clear plastic and eyed my discarded heels.
“I’m used to it.” Tossing the Sharpie to the bed, I stripped off the black latex gloves, shoving them into the trash bag by the door. Conforming cool leather molded around my feet as I slipped on one heel, then the other. “I buy those insoles that help cushion the balls of your feel. When Charlie comes back from the van, tell him I’ll meet him at the station after I change into something more appropriate.”
“Will do. Be safe.”
I raised my heavy clutch in a goodbye wave.
“Thanks for your help tonight. Have a good one.”
At the elevator, I pressed the Down button and waited. At the same time the ding signaling the elevator’s arrival pierced the quiet, Charlie appeared at the end of the hall, having come up the stairwell.
“Where are you going?” he asked, long strides quickly closing the distance between us.
“I need some fresh air.” The doors whooshed open. When I stepped inside, the feeling of déjà vu engulfed me, making my tired head spin. “And to change out of this getup.”
A hand thrust against the door as it slowly closed, shoving it back open. “Want me to come with you?”
“No, but thank you. I just need a few minutes to myself. I think the fresh night air, now that it’s done raining, will be exactly what I need to calm down.”
“It’s midnight.”
Leaning forward, I placed a soft kiss on his dark scruff-covered cheek.
“I won’t turn into a pumpkin.”
“I’m more worried about you walking the streets at this hour alone than you turning into a vegetable.”
I smiled slightly. “Fun fact, they’re actually a fruit.”
“Stop distracting me.”
“I’m fine, Charlie. I’ve walked downtown streets at this hour or later before and have been okay so far. We have our guy in custody, I’m carrying, and I’m only walking a few blocks to the hotel.”
An alarm squealed from the door being held open.
I gave Charlie a soft two-finger push against his chest, and he retreated a step, his hand slipping from the door.
“You have your phone?”
“Yes, Dad.”
That concerned expression morphed into something heated.
“If you’re into daddy play, we’ll have to explore that later, baby.”
A wide smile split my face. “Can’t wait.”
The doors slid shut, the alarm silencing, though the high-pitched sound still seemed to reverberate in my ears. Slouching back against the elevator, I grinned at the ceiling.
