Fatal Exposure (20 page)

Her churning belly caused her mouth to water. She gulped but couldn’t think. Couldn’t breathe. It was as if Zack had taken her wits and thrown them into the dying flames of the fireplace. His thumb rubbed against her lips. “I’m very disappointed in you, Ava. I hear you’ve been a naughty girl. Taking off your clothes for money?” He smirked. “Fucking my employee?”

“He quits,” she whispered and swallowed down the bile rising in her throat.

“Nobody quits me. Not Gavin. Not you. No one. You understand that?”

The barrel prodded harder against her head.

“Get down on your knees.” He kicked the pistol underneath the couch and out of her reach.

“Go to hell.” She had a better chance standing than bowing at his pathetic feet. She’d given enough pieces of herself to this man.

Zack shook his head and grasped the hair at the base of her skull, slamming her body down. Her knees gave way, and she fell to the floor.

“You always did have a big fucking mouth. I thought I had beaten that out of you.”

Her forehead was pressed firmly against her bent knees. She couldn’t move. He had a tight grip, keeping her under control. Anger pushed past the fear, and she flailed her arms, attempting to either free herself or knock the gun out of his hands. But neither worked. He lifted her up by her hair and threw her onto the couch. Her head hit something hard, and she turned to see a black briefcase.

****

Poppy zipped up her jacket all the way when Jax returned to the truck empty-handed after searching Zack’s SUV. They had parked behind it, close enough to the cabin to walk but far enough away so whoever was inside couldn’t hear the engine.

“I can’t believe he took it in with him,” Poppy said. “It’s like it’s his second dick or something.”

Jax glared at her. “Are you going to do this or not?”

“Of course. All I have to do is sneak in and quietly—who’s that?” She watched a tall brunette slip through the shadows and scoop up a black cat.

“Shit. What is she doing here?”

The woman glanced their way and then headed toward the back of the cabin.

“That’s Lucy Quinn. She’s a friend of Kade’s, and she’s one of us.”

“One of us? What the hell are you people anyway?”

“Don’t worry about it. Just get the money before she does so we can get out of here.” Jax handed Poppy the gun, and she clenched it in her hands.

“Okay. Here goes nothin′.”

****

Ava sat up on the couch and shot Zack her best glare.

He didn’t seem impressed as he chuckled and waved the gun at her. “I can’t believe I was ever attracted to a whore like you. You see that case beside you? That thing is filled with cash. Do you know why?”

“‘Cause you’re a pussy who couldn’t catch me on your own?” She snapped and then bit into her tongue. It wasn’t exactly a good idea to antagonize a madman with a gun, but she couldn’t help herself. Zack Moreno was an ass.

His face reddened as he moved closer, straightening the gun. “Wrong answer, bitch.” He shot a hole in the couch beside her head. Her breath caught in her throat, too frightened to move.

“That money spells revenge,” Zack said. “Did you think I was going to just let you run out of my life?” He raised his voice. “I warned you, Ava. People don’t leave me. I leave them.”

The sound of the gunshot and the smell of the burnt leather forced Ava to realize this situation was completely out of her control. “So what do want?

What do you want me to say?” she asked out of desperation.

“You can’t say a goddamn thing. It’s too late for you. You could’ve been my wife, but you fucked up. And now I have to make good on my promise.” He held the gun pointed directly between her eyes.

But the sound of the front door opening distracted him.

****

Still in a daze, Kade heard the sound of a sharp slap and felt a stinging sensation on his cheek. It repeated over and again until he finally forced his eyes open to see what or who was causing it. Lucy was sitting on him, constricting his airway and bringing her hand up to strike him again. He tried to grab her arm but couldn’t move. “Get off,” he managed to croak out just as her hand made contact again.

“Finally,” she whispered loudly and swiveled to his side. “What the hell are you doing out here? Your target’s in danger.”

Ava
. “Where is she?” He lifted his throbbing head and attempted to gather his wits.

“Thank God the cat led me to you. The woman’s inside with Moreno. I just heard a gunshot, but I don’t know whose gun it was.”

“What? A gunshot?” Blood pulsed against his temples, and he forced himself to sit up. “I need to get to her.” He prayed it wasn’t too late. The whole situation had blown up in their faces, and it was entirely his fault. How had he expected Ava to trust him if he hadn’t given her a reason to?

“Where’s your gun, Kade?” Lucy asked. “How many times have I told you to always carry it with you?” She stood and held out her hand.

“I know.” He accepted her help and slowly stood up on wobbly legs. “I fucked up. But I need to save her. Let me borrow yours.”

“No way in hell.”

“Please. You have to help me out. I can’t lose her.” Kade took in the way her hard eyes softened as he spoke. “I’m in love with her.”

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.” She reached inside her jacket and pulled out a black pistol with a pink handle. “If you lose my gun, I’ll kill you.”

Kade took it from her. “Thank you, Luce. I owe you.”She shrugged and grinned with those beautifully-painted lips. The woman was a knockout, he couldn’t deny. Why he hadn’t fallen for her was a mystery. All he knew was how much he desired Ava, the one woman who ignited him from the inside out.

“I’m sorry about us,” he whispered as he gripped the gun.

She rolled her big brown eyes. “
Please
. You weren’t even that good. Just go get your woman. I’ll take care of the problem out front.”

“What problem?”

“Jax Cullen. He’s probably got his eye on Moreno’s money. I’ll get rid of him.”

Kade nodded and headed back to the cabin, watching Lucy sprint away in the other direction.

****

“Poppy?” Ava narrowed her eyes at the blonde as she walked in with a gun pointed toward Zack.

“What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to collect. That man owes me.”

“I can’t believe this shit.” Zack laughed. “How the fuck did you find me?”

They knew each other
? Ava watched on, confused and relieved at the same time. “Shoot him, Poppy,”

she urged and jumped over the couch to stand next to her friend.

The gun shook in Poppy’s hand, but there was a determination in her eyes that gave Ava hope. This wasn’t the same woman she had known at the strip club. No, this was someone strong and unyielding. Someone on a mission.

“Shoot him before he shoots you.”

“Shut up!” Zack yelled. “Neither one of you bitches is going to take me down. I’m the goddamn man here.” He rushed at Poppy before Ava could blink.

Poppy shot. And missed, hitting the wall behind him. He grabbed the gun from her hand before she could shoot again and lifted his arm to strike her.
No
. Ava jumped on his back, attempting to save her friend from the familiar assault. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck and squeezed as hard as she could.

But he was too strong. Zack grabbed Ava from behind and heaved her toward Poppy, sending them both to the ground. With fury in his eyes, he held Poppy’s gun in one hand and his in the other. One pointed at each woman.

Chapter Twelve

Jax was giving Poppy two more seconds before going in after the money himself. The more he contemplated, the better the idea sounded. Why he had ever thought that petite-sized whore would have a chance against Moreno was a mystery. Time to get the job done right. He reached under his seat and pulled out his backup gun.

The sound of his passenger door opening forced him to aim it at whatever unlucky son of a bitch was on the other side.

Lucy’s red-painted nails gripped the door handle as she lifted herself into the cab. “Long time, no see,”

she said, with her signature dazzling smile. Ever since Jax had first laid eyes on the woman, he’d wanted to rip that condescending grin off her face by jamming his tongue down her throat and his cock up her pussy. She was a good PI. Too good. In fact, she routinely turned down the assignments Jax and Kade were more than happy to take.

So what the hell was she doing here?

“Why the sour face, Cullen? I thought you liked me.” She scooted up close. Her short skirt bunched up, showing him the inside of her thigh. Jax dropped his gun to nudge the barrel against the creamy skin of her blushed cheek. “There’s a huge difference between liking a woman and wanting to fuck her brains out. I didn’t realize you were so naïve.”

Her arched brow rose as she crooked her neck and licked the tip of his gun with her pink, slick tongue. “You know this is more exciting than frightening for me, right?”

His cock hardened. “Really? You like it rough, eh? Have you ever had one of these inside of you?”

“Fully loaded,” she said with a smirk.

He licked his lips. The woman was surely up to no good, but who the fuck cared? He had a few moments to waste. And if she tried anything, she was going to get a hole in her head.

“I bet you’ve never had a man like me inside you.” He grabbed her hand and rammed it against his hard erection.

She rubbed against it. “No, I don’t think I have.”

“Do you want it?”

“Why don’t you tell me?” She guided his free hand under her skirt to the heat between her legs. Jax grinned. Having Lucy Quinn in a screaming orgasm under his control was a fantasy he’d played over in his head more than a few times. “We should get together sometime. I can show you what it’s like to be fucked by a real man.”

“Why not now?” She slid her leg over his lap and straddled him. “Just a quickie to take the edge off while we wait to see how all this Moreno business plays out.”

Jax’s mind and cock went into overdrive. She was so close. He could take her right now. She leaned in and pressed her soft red lips to his. Her delicate tongue slid out and edged into his mouth, driving him crazy.

He jammed her skirt up to her waist to see the red lace thong she had on underneath. He slipped his finger in the crotch and tugged hard, ripping it

open. She moaned and he grabbed her ass, confining her wet pussy against the stiffness in his jeans. She crushed her lips to his again and purred into his mouth as she shifted her pelvis against him.

“You’re so much better than Kade.”

Damn right. He thrust his tongue into her mouth and let her suck on it.

“Mmm,” she moaned.

And then she bit down.

Fuck. Jax pushed her away and attempted to get hold of his gun. But it was no longer in his grasp. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Lucy had it aimed at his head and was now hurrying her way toward the passenger door. “Sorry, Cullen. But this isn’t your mission, and it’s time for you to move on.”

“Bitch,” he growled. His throbbing tongue wouldn’t allow him to tell her what he really thought. Who ever made her the goddamn PI police?

“Bye, love.” She blew him a kiss. “Take off now, and I won’t mention this to anyone else.”

Jax hit his hand against the steering wheel.

“You’re gonna regret this, Luce,” he slurred.

“We’ll see.” She smiled, jumped out of the truck, and waited as Jax started up the engine and drove back down the hill he had quietly driven up not long ago.

****

Ava looked up at Zack who had murder in his eyes. This was it. But she refused to give him one tear. That was one element he didn’t have control over.

And, luckily, next to her, Poppy was dry as the desert. Her sight was fixated on the briefcase that had fallen onto the floor beside the couch.

“Why don’t you let Poppy go?” Ava asked. “She doesn’t have anything to do with this.”

“Why don’t you shut the hell up?” Zack bumped the barrel against her forehead. “This isn’t a negotiation. This is me teaching you a lesson.” Sweat poured down his temples onto his cheeks.

“Then do it,” she whispered. “Shoot me.”
Don’tgive him control
.
Don’t let him have the last word.

“Not so fast,” he said in a jarringly calm voice. “I think I’d like to have a little fun before we end this.”

Ava gulped as bile rose in her throat. Just the thought of being touched by him again was revolting.

“You like that idea, I see. Get up on your feet or your friend dies.”

Reluctantly, Ava stood.

“Take off your clothes.”

“Let Poppy leave first.”

“Shy? That’s so cute. And here I thought you were a dirty little girl.” He shook his head. “Get out, Poppy.”

“I can stay,” Poppy said, still staring at the case.