Texas Takedown (17 page)

It had been a long time since he'd had sex, but no one had ever had that effect on him.

Dylan was all about control and yet he was constantly on the edge of losing it with Samantha. She drove her tongue in his mouth and he started a slow pump, not wanting to rush, even though his body already begged for release.

Her fingers dug into his back and he thrust harder, faster.

She tightened around him and the tsunami started building. Her hips moved against his, matching his stride. Urgency roared through him.

Faster.

Harder.

Deeper.

This woman, her body, drove him to the brink. He held on for as long as he could, making sure she was satisfied first.

The second he felt her muscles clamp around him, he knew. He pumped inside her sweet heat.

He gave a guttural groan, and his release shattered inside her. And so did he.

“I love you,” he whispered quietly into her neck as a thousand tiny bombs exploded inside his body all at once.

* * *

S
AMANTHA
 
LEANED
 
AGAINST
 
the mirror, heaving, her body still tingling. She could've sworn she'd heard Dylan tell her he loved her, but that couldn't be right and she didn't want to ruin this moment of absolute bliss a second before she had to by overanalyzing things.

In a minute, they'd need to untangle their bodies and sort out their next move.

But for now, just for this second, she needed to feel him inside her, skin to skin, his warm breath surrounding her.

They both stayed perfectly still in that flawless moment for longer than she could count.

“Are you hungry?” She moved first, and it was most likely out of self-preservation.

“I am now,” he said, nuzzling into her hair, his arms tightening around her waist.

His voice did all kinds of crazy things to her insides.

“Good. I can whip up something to eat while you shower.” She started to peel his arms off her.

“Do you really have to go?” He almost sounded hurt. Now she really was hearing things. Or making things up. Because not only was that the best sex of her life but she'd fallen deeper into the hole of loving him, needing him.

And that was going to hurt like hell once this ordeal was behind them and they returned to their normal lives.

It didn't help that he was already kissing her neck and her body was melting under his touch.

Way to be strong, Samantha.

And the truth was she didn't want to be resilient with Dylan. She wanted to be vulnerable with him and just feel.

“No. But stay here much longer and I can't be held responsible for my actions,” she shot back playfully, echoing his earlier sentiment.

“Me, either.” He leaned his head back enough to look at her, his sharp green eyes taking her in. And there was a promise in those words he didn't quite look ready to deliver on.

He pressed a kiss to her temples, her nose, her lips. “This changes things. You know that, right?”

“What does that mean, exactly?”

“I'm not sure yet.” He kissed her again, tenderly this time, and her heart filled with love.

And none of that meant anything until they got her father and Dylan's daughter back alive.

“I'm going to rinse off. Want to join me?”

There was an adorable twinkle to his normally intense eyes.

She should make an excuse and retreat to the kitchen, but looking at him naked and sexy...how could she?

Samantha nodded.

He took her hand and led her into the shower.

Chapter Seventeen

Samantha hadn't been home in days. Having Dylan there made it feel complete, which was dangerous thinking. She pulled bread from the freezer and warmed a few pieces in the microwave. There wasn't much around except fixings for BLTs and tomato soup. It would have to do.

The water turned off in the bathroom.

“I put out clean boxers and jeans for you,” she said from the kitchen.

Dylan walked into the room holding out the items.

“Whose are these?” He didn't look impressed.

“Trevor's. Why? You look about the same size.”

“Oh. Okay.” He disappeared down the hall.

What was that about? Then it dawned on her. Dylan must've thought that they belonged to a boyfriend who'd left them over.

Was that jealousy she'd seen in his eyes? More important, why did that make her feel so happy?

Dylan returned a few moments later wearing the items. The Metallica T-shirt fit snugly.

“I can't say that I agree with your brother's taste in music, but at least the shirt fits well enough.” Dylan walked up behind her until his chest was flush with her back and wrapped his arms around her. He kissed her at the base of her neck, and it sent warmth running down her body, pooling between her thighs. “Mmm. You smell nice.”

“So do you.” She closed her eyes.

“How are you feeling? Are you tired?” His erection pressed against her, sending want spreading through her.

“Not too tired.”

“Good. I wanted to test out your bed.”

“I've never had four orgasms in an hour before.”

“Well, you've never had sex with me,” he said, grazing her ear with his teeth. He caught the lobe and bit ever so slightly.

Damn, this man did crazy things to her body.

“So there's even more? I really am impressed now.” She set down the tomato she held before turning around to face him. She looped her arms around his neck.

He picked her up and took her to bed, where they made love slowly, sweetly.

* * *

“W
E
 
SHOULD
 
EAT
 
and check in with the others,” Dylan said.

“I'll get dressed.” She made a move to get up.

“Not so fast.” He caught her and tugged her back into his arms, where he was all warmth and strength.

She kissed him and she honestly couldn't remember the last time she'd felt so happy. Nothing about their current situation should have made her feel safe, and yet she felt just that. Her warning bells sounded and she needed to put a little space between them. “We probably shouldn't get too comfortable.”

He looked a little hurt by the barb but he didn't immediately say anything. He just loosened his grip so she could get up.

When he strolled into the kitchen five minutes later, she had everything heated and ready to go. Thank heaven for microwaves.

They ate in silence but Dylan had returned to his heavier thoughts. She could see it in the worry lines in his face, in the heaviness in his eyes.

After finishing up the snack and doing dishes, Dylan motioned for her to sit by him on the couch. She snuggled up against him and closed her eyes. She had never felt so close to another person, so comforted as when Dylan's arms were wrapped around her.

That was the thing she remembered thinking before waking with a jolt.

The sun was already up, peeking through the crack in the closed curtains.

“Dylan?” She glanced around. No sign of him. She listened, hoping to hear water running in the bathroom.

The place was quiet.

She scrambled to her feet and checked every room.

Had he just left without her?

Her heart pounded in her chest at the thought of not knowing what was happening. It was eight o'clock in the morning, so the meet-up wasn't for another four hours.

The door handle jiggled and Samantha's back tensed, fear coursing through her. She dropped down behind the couch and grabbed the metal candlestick on the side table. If she needed to defend herself, she would fight to the end.

It was as if the air had stilled from the tension racking her body.

Footsteps fell closer and she tightened her fingers around the makeshift weapon.

“Samantha?” Dylan's voice was like a rain shower in a drought, bringing nourishment to parched land.

“Right here.” She popped to her feet.

“I went out for breakfast and to survey the area.” He was in an athletic stance, his weapon drawn. He lowered it the second his eyes made contact with hers.

“When I woke and you weren't there, I was afraid you'd gone without me.” She set the candlestick down and rushed into his arms.

He tucked his gun into his waistband and set the bag of food down in time to hold her.

“I wouldn't just disappear on you. Believe me, I thought about it, but how could you ever trust me if I did that?” Dylan asked, then kissed her forehead.

Despite all the craziness going on, his reassurance brought a sense of calm over her.

“You don't want me anywhere near the meet-up and I get that. I do.” She looked straight into his eyes. “Here's the thing. I have to be there. Maybe not with you, exactly, but I need to be near.”

“Absolutely not.” Dylan shook his head for emphasis.

“Hear me out.”

He nodded but one look in those green eyes said he was reluctant to agree. She searched for the right words to convince him.

“I'd like nothing more than to be able to put this whole ordeal behind us. And believe me when I say I want to be alive to see it. I know what's at risk here and I take that very seriously. My fear is that if I'm not nearby and this whole thing goes south, the two people we love most will suffer the consequences.”

“I can't allow anything to happen to you,” he said, his eyes pleading. “You don't understand how deeply I mean those words.”

“But I'll be safe.”

“I can't guarantee that. If they get a clean shot, they'll kill you. Once you're taken care of, they'll do the same thing to your father. The entire trail leading back to Alcorn would be erased and my daughter will be killed in the process.”

“There is no other choice. If I'm not there, Maribel and my father will be killed anyway.” She stood her ground. “I'll take whatever risk is necessary if it means getting my father and Maribel back. I don't see any other way around it.”

“What if I can't agree to this? Would you do it anyway?”

“This won't be over until the man behind these crimes is locked behind bars forever. You need me. They have to see me.” She paused, waiting for a response. When none came, she added, “Do you have a better plan?”

“Send in someone for you. Make them believe it's you. Lure Alcorn to the drop and then take our families back.”

“Fine. I'll stay with Brody and Rebecca. But you have to let me be there. I'm just as vulnerable here alone as I would be with you guys.”

He didn't voice an argument but she could see the battle going on inside his head. She could also tell that she was getting to him.

She pressed up on tiptoe and kissed him. “We can finish this, figure out what
this
is when my father and Maribel are safe again.”

He blew out a breath and held her tighter, his arms looped around her waist. He pressed his forehead to hers. “I meant it when I said nothing can happen to you or my daughter, Samantha. I couldn't survive losing either one of you.”

* * *

D
YLAN
 
WENT
 
OVER
 
the mission in his head for the fiftieth time in the past half hour. There were three roads that merged at the fork, the meet-up spot, so they formed three teams aside from Dylan's. Each team would stake out a road. If they had an opportunity to intercept the “packages,” they would.

If the package made it to the drop, then their friend Lisa would stand in for Samantha. Lisa would ride with Dylan. If Alcorn and his men got too close, they'd easily see that they were being tricked.

Samantha would be in another car with Brody and his team, and Rebecca would ride with Dawson. Ryan was on his own but all teams would be in constant contact.

Minutes ticked by like hours until it was time to trade Samantha for Lisa.

Dylan and his companion waited at the place where all roads merged.

The only comfort was that Dylan knew everything was being recorded on video, so even if the situation went to hell, Alcorn wouldn't get away with it. His operation would be shut down and he'd spend the rest of his life in jail.

Of course, Dylan preferred to have Maribel home, Samantha and her father safe and Alcorn in prison.

At the site, noon came and went and Dylan had a sinking feeling in his chest that Alcorn had outsmarted them. He and Lisa stayed put and waited anyway.

Twenty minutes later, word arrived from Ryan that he could confirm a car with a car seat and young child in the back had just passed him.

A few minutes and Maribel would be close enough to grab.

After what felt like an eternity had passed, Dylan's phone rang. He could see by the number that it was Brody.

“They got her,” Brody said breathlessly.

“Who?” But Dylan already knew the answer to that question. His entire world caved in all at once and his knees buckled.

“Samantha. They got her. I'm so sorry, man. We headed over to assist Ryan and they came up like a swarm around us. There had to be at least a half dozen of them.”

Dylan couldn't breathe. His entire world crumbled around him. Lisa was beside him, trying to comfort him, but there were no words that could take away this pain. He'd lost the two people he loved most in the world.

“They came from every direction. I shot at least one of them but they snatched her. I couldn't shoot again without possibly hitting her. There was nothing I could do, man. I'm so sorry.” Brody's voice relayed his anguish better than his words.

“Where are you?” Dylan popped to his feet.

“I'm on Benton Road.”

“Which way did they go?” he asked, but he already knew, because if they went north, they'd cross paths with him. No way would Alcorn allow it.

“South. Away from town.” Brody paused, heaving into the phone. “They shot out my tires so I couldn't follow.”

Dylan had been so close to Maribel, so close to bringing her home. He glanced in the backseat at her stuffed animal, Rofurt. Agony bore down on him, cutting him to the core. His phone beeped. He had another call. “I gotta go. I'll pick you up.”

He was already in his SUV, barreling toward Brody's drop spot.

Dylan one-handed the phone while watching the road and answered the next call with Bluetooth.

“I've got eyes on a vehicle heading toward County Road 83.” Jorge's voice was rife with fresh adrenaline. “I saw Maribel in the car. She's okay.”

For now.
Dylan knew they'd use her to get away. As soon as they were clear, they'd dispose of her and Samantha's father. Samantha didn't have long, either.

“That's toward Alcorn's private airstrip. We can't let him leave with them,” Dylan said.

“Let me call the feds, bro. Tell them what's going on.”

“Okay. I'm heading there myself, though.” Dylan ended the call before Jorge tried to talk him out of it. His friend would only be wasting his breath anyway.

Dylan spotted Brody running on the side of the road. Dylan roared toward his friend and stopped quickly.

Brody hopped into the backseat. Lisa, who had been quiet up to now, filled Brody in. He pulled his weapon and replaced the clip. “Let's get those sons of bitches.”

With the exchange a total disaster, Dylan prayed they'd get there in time. He had to be a good ten minutes behind Alcorn but if he made it to his plane, it would be all over. He could illegally hop over the border in hours and disappear until he bought the judge or influenced a congressman to give him pardon.

Samantha would be dead. Maribel would be...

Just as Dylan feared all hope was lost, he saw an older man running toward the road while holding a little girl. In fact...that was not just any child...it was Maribel. Dylan's heart could have exploded for how much joy he felt.

He angled the SUV toward the pair and pulled close to them. The old man held Maribel protectively as he turned toward the woods.

Dylan put the SUV in Park and hopped out.

“Mr. Turner. It's Dylan,” he shouted, running toward the man holding his little angel.

Maribel turned at the sound of his voice.

“Da-da!” She smiled and cried at the same time.

Dylan held out his arms and she practically flew into them. There were no words to describe how good it felt to hold his daughter again.

Keenly aware Samantha was still missing, Dylan turned to Mr. Turner. “We need to go. I have a tip on where they're taking Samantha.”

The old man looked as though he'd aged ten years since Dylan had last seen him. Worry for a child, no matter how old, would do that to any parent.

“Thank you.” Mr. Turner limped toward the SUV.

“Here. Lean on me.” Dylan offered his shoulder.

At the vehicle, he climbed into the backseat with Brody's help.

“You drive,” Dylan said to Brody, unable to let go of Maribel. He placed her in her safety seat and buckled her in, holding on to her the whole time. Her grip around him was viselike. He gave her Rofurt and her
Brave
doll and she immediately hugged them both to her chest.

Dylan was all too conscious of the danger of taking this group toward Alcorn. He had Mr. Turner and Maribel. It was a calculated risk he had to take in order to save Samantha.

“How did you get away from them?” Dylan asked Mr. Turner as Lisa phoned Ryan and filled him in.

“I wouldn't have without Samantha. They were trying to put us into one car when she got hold of someone's gun. She shot two of Alcorn's men before they subdued her. One had a beard and the other one was a redhead. The second one had a brother there, as well.”