Swing of Death, page 14
“Mmm, you still didn’t say. Why become a coroner?” He kissed the top of her head and nibbled on her earlobe.
“The dead need someone to speak for them.” She rolled her head against his chest. “What are you doing to me?”
He began to press kisses down her neck. “Showing you my congratulations for how well you danced today.”
Molly’s legs grew weak. His touch was making her crazy. She couldn’t think. “Ethan.”
“What?” He held her in place.
She felt something different. There was something raw, primal in his eyes. He lowered his head and lifted her in his arms, seizing her mouth in a soul-stealing kiss. His tongue swept inside.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he began to carry her through his home, up a flight of stairs and into his bedroom. After he dropped her to her feet, she heard a click as he locked the door.
Slipping his hand in hers, he pulled her through his bedroom and into the attached bathroom, his mouth continuing to devour hers. He broke the kiss and turned on the faucet in the shower. The spray was hot and steamy. “Take your clothes off,” he demanded.
She removed her clothing. Steam wrapped around them as his eyes burned through her. She placed reverent kisses across his clothed chest. She slipped her hands beneath the hem of his shirt before lifting it over his head. He was now naked from the waist up.
Ethan undid his fly and dropped his pants, kicking them free. He pressed her against the shower wall. Her body shivered despite the steam. Water cascaded over her face as she met his gaze.
Her fingers ran over the sinews of muscles defining his chest as her tongue circled each nipple, bringing them to points. Ethan tipped his head under the shower and swallowed a moan.
He grabbed the soap. After lathering his hands, he ran them over her. Sliding one between her legs, he groaned. She knew he found moisture not related to the shower.
One finger ran over her swollen lips. She mewled as he teased her nub. Slowly, he pressed first one and then a second finger inside her core. He curled them, one finger tapping the sweet internal rise. The orgasm ripped through her, and he swallowed her scream with a kiss. Gently, he fingered her as she came down off her cloud.
He had a possessive look in his eyes. “Molly.”
Every cell in her body burned. “Ethan, please.”
He cupped her bottom and lifted her up. Her legs wrapped around him, her chin resting in the hollow of his neck as his fingers teased her opening. Her breathing and pulse raced. He muttered something unintelligible and lined up his cock, sliding into her to his hilt.
His eyes glazed over as he pounded into her. The fingers of one hand reached between them and pinched her clit. Molly’s orgasm detonated, taking her over the edge with him. “That’s my dove. My Molly.”
Panting, Molly swiped the wet hair off his face. My Molly. Did he say that? Did he mean that? Was it just a guy thing?
His cock softened, and he slipped from her body. He wrapped his arms around her. “My dove.” He kissed the top of her head. Turning so the spray didn’t hit her face, he lifted her chin to meet his eyes. “Molly, I’m forty-five years old. I say what I mean and mean what I say. You are MINE.” He rested his cheek on her head.
“Ethan, I have all these feelings. I’m so confused. I need some time.” She shivered, this time from the cold.
He turned off the water and pulled a bath sheet from the rack by the shower. He wrapped her in it and led her to the bedroom. After yanking open a dresser drawer, he handed her a tee shirt. “I’ll ask Joanne for an outfit for you in the morning.”
Molly wanted to cry. He was mad at her. She dried off and turned her back to him before she put the shirt on. She realized how dumb she was being, trying to shield her nudity. They’d had sex in the shower.
When she turned back, he was gone. She heard him cleaning up the bathroom.
She was sitting on the corner of the bed when he returned. “Ethan?”
“I’m sorry I pushed you.” He sat beside her, his expression caring. “You’re the first woman who’s ever made me feel this way.” He hugged her gently, then pulled back to look into her eyes. “I need you to know that I’m falling for you, deeply. I want us to be more than what we are now. I’d like us to build something together. You take all the time you need to think about it, but I want you to know where I stand and how much you mean to me.” He hugged her.
“Thank you.” She leaned into him and caressed his cheek. “I hate to say this, but I need to go to work in the morning.”
Ethan got up and walked to a desk in the corner of his bedroom. He unplugged his laptop and brought it over to the bed. He sat leaning against the headboard and patted the space beside him.
Seventeen
Marcus stood in the dimly lit warehouse, his breath heavy with anticipation as he surveyed the scene before him. The cameras, his only witnesses, now lay dormant, their prying eyes no longer a threat. With a swift motion, he slid open the door, revealing the array of captives bound and gagged within.
Carefully, he approached each woman, removing their restraints one by one. Their eyes, filled with a mixture of fear and desperation, pleaded silently for mercy as he offered them water and a protein bar. Sarah carried a waste bucket to the bathroom, her movements constrained by the narrow passages.
One voice dared to speak out. A woman, her voice trembling with fear, begged Marcus to release her. In an instant, the darkness within him came to the surface, his eyes turning black. With a swift and merciless blow, he struck her across the face, sending her crashing to the ground.
Marcus's heart beat rapidly with delight as he cornered the woman. The terror in her eyes fueled his sadistic joy, igniting a deepening pleasure within him. He felt a rush of power as he raised his fist, just the anticipation of the impact sending shivers down his spine.
Each blow landed with a sickening thud, her cries of pain only amplifying his euphoria. Marcus relished every moment, every whimper, every desperate plea for mercy. His laughter echoed through the room, a chilling testament to the monstrous joy he found in her suffering.
The sickening sound of bones breaking filled the room as Marcus's steel-toed boots delivered blow after blow. He noticed Adeline, Ethan’s dance partner, closing her eyes and turning away as he stomped on the woman's throat, extinguishing the last bit of life within her.
He gave a chilling warning to the remaining captives: “Fight and this will happen to you too.”
Marcus fed them their meager rations before disposing of the lifeless body. After wrapping it in a bag, he carried it out of the warehouse and into the cold night. An annoying journey awaited him as he drove for miles, navigating winding roads and treacherous terrain until, finally, he reached his destination.
With a callous shove, he sent the body tumbling down a snowy hillside, leaving it to be swallowed up by the darkness. The evidence hidden from prying eyes, Marcus returned home, his façade of normalcy unshaken as he logged into his computer.
In the digital world, he made contact with his associates in Miami and New York, orchestrating the next stage of the operation. The captives would be split up and transported to Miami and Pennsylvania, concealed within shipping containers bound for cargo ships in New York and Miami. When they arrived on a tiny island off Brazil called Damona Reef, their fate would be dictated by his associates.
Ethan sat cross-legged on the bed, his laptop teetering on his pajama-covered lap. The sight of him, so intent and vulnerable, tugged at something deep within Molly. His hand found hers, the warmth of his touch sending a shiver through her. It grounded her, anchored her in this moment. She squeezed back, letting him know she was there.
“I need to speak with my aunt,” he murmured, urgency lacing his voice.
Molly’s heart skipped a beat. She nodded, keeping her gaze steady on his face, waiting for him to continue.
“But before I do, I need to ask you a favor.” His words hung heavy in the air.
Molly arched a brow, curiosity sparking in her chest. What could he possibly need from her that was this serious? She searched his eyes, trying to read the thoughts swirling behind them.
Ethan took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling as if he were preparing for a dive into deep waters.
“You want to let Joanne stay in her home where she's comfortable,” she guessed. “And instead of moving into a safe house, you want to move in with me.”
His fingers tightened around hers, the connection between them palpable. “Molly,” he began, “I wish that was the only favor.”
Her breath caught in her throat. There was more? She searched his face, worry mingling with curiosity.
“Yes, I would like Joanne and my aunt to stay here in their home. And, yes, I would like to move in with you. But not because I'm looking for a friends-with-benefits situation.”
Molly's heart thudded in her chest. She could feel his vulnerability. Concern and curiosity danced in her eyes as she listened.
“I feel like I have no choice. I need an undercover partner,” Ethan confessed. “These missing women... I've confirmed the working theory that they disappeared from the convention. And others who disappeared were taken from the dance world.”
He took another moment. “You are an incredible person, Molly. Smart, sexy, and a phenomenal dancer,” he said, warmth creeping into his voice. “And now, I'm asking you to put yourself in danger and help me bring this ring down.” He tried to inject some humor, “My one FBI colleague is pregnant, and the other moves as if she has two lead feet.”
She giggled until she looked at Ethan’s face. The air between them crackled with tension as Ethan laid bare the truth of his intentions. “I'm selfish, but I need you, Molly,” he confessed, his gaze locked with hers, his heart laid bare before her.
Molly ran her hands through her hair, a gesture of fear and uncertainty. “God, Ethan,” she whispered, her voice tinged with apprehension. “Of course I'll help you. But I have a job. An important job. I have to go to work. And this has to be cleared through the proper channels.”
“I know,” he said gently, reaching out to grasp her hand in his. Every time their connection broke, he grabbed her again. “And I don't want you to jeopardize your job. In fact, my plan is for us to continue working.”
He explained his strategy, his voice steady and sure. “I'll continue teaching at the dance studio.” His eyes met hers with unwavering determination. “And you'll maintain your position at the ME's office.”
Molly stared at the blank TV hanging on the wall.
Ethan's next words snapped her out of her daydream, drawing her attention back to him. “I've already qualified for the Grand Prix series,” he continued, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice. “And in light of Adeline being missing, you'll step in as my partner.”
Molly's hand rubbed over her heart. “I’m not good enough to compete alongside you on such a grand stage.”
He lifted her hand to his lips. “Of course you are.” He tucked his chin and cocked his head. “You’ll have to take a short leave of absence. We'll fly to Miami for the next competition,” Ethan explained, his voice tight. “Then New York, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, a new chapter in our quest for answers.”
Molly nodded, her eyes glazing over.
Ethan's next question brought her crashing back to reality. “Are you up-to-date on your shots?” he broached the subject of travel safety. It was a sobering reminder of the dangers that awaited them beyond South Dakota.
Molly swallowed hard as she met Ethan's gaze with unwavering determination. “I'll get them. I’ll get the permission and put in for the time off. I have plenty of leave time,” she replied firmly, her voice steady. She rubbed a hand over her gurgling stomach. “Whatever it takes, Ethan. We'll bring them home.”
Molly watched Ethan leave the room to speak to Aunt Marie and check on Joanne. She took advantage of the opportunity to make a phone call, her fingers flying as she dialed her sister Isobel's number. With a quick conference call, she brought her other sisters, Liv, Sophie, and Ruth, into the conversation, their voices mingling in a flurry of questions and concerns.
Molly held up a hand, not realizing they couldn’t see her, shushing them gently as she spoke. “I don't have a lot of time,” she said, her tone urgent. “Listen, Isobel, I need you to know... I did it… with Ethan Hayes.”
A hush fell over the line, a rare moment of silence in the sisterly chatter. Then, as if on cue, they all burst into questions.
“Wait, you did what?” Liv’s voice came through first, tinged with shock.
“How was it? Did you feel safe?” Sophie added, her tone laced with concern.
“And did you enjoy it?” Ruth's bluntness cut through, no-nonsense as always.
Molly took a deep breath, steadying herself. She could picture them all, hanging on her every word. “I did,” she began, her voice unwavering. “I felt safe, and I enjoyed it. Ethan... he’s incredible. The way he touches me.”
“And?” Isobel pressed, impatience evident. “What else?”
The comradery of her sisters returned to her sexual experience with Ethan. Only Isobel knew it was her first time.
“There's more, isn’t there?” Ruth stopped the conversation, her intuition sharp as ever.
Molly hesitated for a heartbeat, then plunged ahead. “And get this—he’s also Ethan Haven.”
The line erupted in gasps and exclamations.
“Ethan Haven?” Isobel practically shouted. “The Ethan Haven?”
“The dance genius?” Liv's voice was incredulous. “No way.”
Ruth let out a low whistle. “Molly, you’ve hit the jackpot.”
“It’s not about that,” Molly insisted, a defensive edge to her voice. “It's not about his fame or his money. It’s about how he makes me feel. He’s sexy, real, kind... He’s everything I didn’t know I needed.”
“Wow,” Isobel breathed, “you’re really serious about him.”
“I am,” Molly admitted, the truth of it settling deep within her. “I really am.”
Liv, a police detective, chimed in, her voice stern, “Mol, is Haven a cover name?”
“No, he’s danced for years using it as a stage name, but now…” She exhaled heavily.
She could hear the worry in her sisters' voices as they questioned her, each one more frantic than the last. Liv, ever the detective, wanted details about the investigation, while Sophie's concern focused on the potential dangers Molly might face. Ruth, the lawyer, sought assurances about legal protections.
“Molly, are you sure about this?” Liv's voice crackled through the phone, laced with worry. “This sounds incredibly dangerous. Ethan is putting you at risk.”
“I know, Liv, but I want to do it.” Molly’s voice was steady despite the fear that tore at her insides. “I can't just stand by and do nothing. These women... one of them is Ethan’s dance partner. She’s married with kids.”
Sophie's voice chimed in next, her tone filled with worry. “But what if something happens to you? What if you get hurt?”
“We'll be careful, Sophie. And I have Ethan by my side. We'll watch out for each other.”
Ruth's voice cut through the air, sharp and pragmatic. “What about legal protections? Have you thought about the potential consequences if you're caught? You’ll be in foreign countries.”
Molly nodded, even though Ruth couldn't see her. “He’s FBI. He’s done this before. I’m just his dance partner. We're going to bring them down,” she declared. “Ethan and I are going to dance our way into their world and tear it apart from the inside out.”
Ethan walked into his home office and slammed his fist on the desk. “How did this happen?” He felt overwhelmed by his failure. He called Susan.
“Adeline was taken right in front of us, and we missed it.” He didn’t even say hello.
“We'll figure this out, Ethan. Let's focus on what we know.”
“Focus?! How can I focus when my dance partner has been kidnapped, and we don't have a clue who did it?”
“Take a breath, Ethan. We've got people on it. I have a team pulling video off the cameras on sites outside the convention center,” she tried to soothe him.
Ethan took deep breaths, trying to regain his composure. “Fine, but I need answers, and I need them now.” He ran his hands through his hair. “It was a kidnapping, right under my nose, at the convention center. Cameras mysteriously failed, those flat tires on multiple vehicles in the parking lot, the missing dancers from Saturday—this was meticulously planned. Any leads on them?”
“Local law enforcement is trying to track down if the women from Saturday are actually missing. Most were not local.”
“Shit. Do we know anything about the missing women? My gut tells me Molly was also a target.”
“Why?” Susan worried.
“She was my dance partner. She had a flat tire.” He pinched the bridge of his nose as he continued to pace. “I’m moving away from my sister, but I want eyes on my home. My Aunt Marie lives with Joanne. I want protection for them.”
“Molly's flat tire incident on Saturday night and dancing with you makes her vulnerable. We need to secure her before they strike again,” Susan said.
“Good. Organize a team to ensure Molly's safety. I’ll be living with her. Gather every piece of intel we have on Adeline's disappearance.”
“Hmm. You and Molly Everhart?” Susan turned the conversation.
“Eyes on my sister and Molly,” Ethan growled.
Susan blew out a breath. “I'm on it. Ethan, I understand you're upset, but we need to focus. We'll get to the bottom of this.”
“Upset doesn't even begin to cover it. But damn right we need to act fast. Lives are at stake here.” He’d never forgive himself if something terrible happened to Adeline or any more women.
