Thunder opened one eye and then quickly closed it as early morning sunlight beaming through the bedroom window speared his eyeball. He silently groaned at the thought of leaving his soft, warm cocoon and just as quickly decided that would be a very bad decision. Liv stirred beside him, her amazing ass stroking the length of his cock in the process. The eager soldier immediately stood at attention and gave her an impatient poke. Yeah, leaving the bed would be a terrible idea.
“What time is it?” she murmured.
He buried his lips in the crook of her neck and moved one hand to cup a very full, very naked breast. “Early.”
He moved his fingers to circle her nipple and then closed them in a quick pinch.
“Mmm.”
His cock twitched as she rolled to her back and arched into his touch, allowing him full access to both breasts and any other treasure he wanted to hunt. He took full advantage and lowered his head to wrap his lips around the now peaked nipple. His scalp tingled as her fingers burrowed in his hair and squeezed the roots while she forced his head closer to her breast. He took great care to give her exactly what she wanted, circling his tongue around the pebbled flesh and then pinning it between his lips and sucking hard.
“Yesss,” she hissed as she pulled his short strands of hair.
His cock jumped again as he moved to suckle the other breast and he cursed the reaction. Would the urge to take her ever subside to the point he could enjoy her first? Hell, yeah – even if he had to put the damn thing on a leash.
She moaned again and then he felt the pressure against his scalp lessen. In the next instant, her fingers wrapped his cock.
His eyes flew open and he found himself in a quandary – should be unwrap her hold or thrust hard into the warmth?
He lifted his head from her breast and moved his gaze downward, hoping the sight of the situation might aid his decision. Instead, he began to sweat bullets at what he saw. Not only did she have his eager cock fisted, her legs were parted and her opposite hand rested between them with her fingers rubbing her clit.
A smirk split his lips as he moved a hand over hers to stall the motion. “Nuh-huh, sweetheart.” She gave a small moan whimper as he moved her hands to the side and replaced it with his. “Let me make it better.”
His finger slid over the wet flesh as he worked it in small circles and then pressed hard against the hot button in the center. Her hips lifted into his assault, moving his finger to the spot she wanted them. Desperate to push her further, he left his thumb pressed against her clit and inserted two fingers inside her body. He moved in and out in a slow, easy rhythm while her swollen muscles sucked hard on the digits.
“You’re ready aren’t you, baby?”
“Yes,” she answered while fire burned in the depths of her gaze and her grip tightened on his cock. “I want you, Thunder.”
He quieted his fingers, removed them from her body, reached down to loosen her hold, and then gave her a smirk while his cock screamed from the loss of her touch. “I kinda need this to finish.”
While she lay primed and ready, he braced himself above her and positioned himself between her legs. “Do I need to warn Anna?”
She frowned. “About what?”
“Your vocals. I don’t particularly want her barging in here when you scream.”
“I’ll try to control myself.” She rolled her eyes and then grinned. “But first, you’ve got to give me a reason.”
Without further hesitation, he pushed his greedy cock inside her body while his eyes crossed in sheer satisfaction.
He placed a quick kiss to her lips. “I’m hanging by a thread, baby.”
“I’m ready.” She slipped her hands through his arms and squeezed both cheeks of his ass as she lifted her hips. “Hard and fast, soldier.”
Never one to question an order, he began a feverish thrust while her inner muscles squeezed him like a vise.
“Right there,” she panted. “Oh God, right there!”
He shortened his strokes and speared his fingers into the sides of her hair. “Give it to me, Liv.”
Small, needy whimpers left her lips while she smashed her hips against him and writhed beneath. Her stiffened nipples caressed his chest with every one of her hard, quick breaths until finally, she released a low groan and her inner muscles gave his cock one final, good hard suck. An electric shock began at the base of his spine and traveled upward until it finally sparked and seeped to every nerve in his body. His cock gave one final scream as he relinquished control and erupted inside her.
Holy God, he’d died and gone to Heaven.
He lay atop her, basking in the feel of her body milking his cock until she gave one final, soft sigh and lowered her hips. He placed a kiss against her forehead and then rolled next to her. Immediately, she snuggled up against his side.
“For the record,” she said softly as she drew circles on his stomach with one fingernail, “I had a reason to scream.”
He chuckled, insanely satisfied by her admission. Not that he’d ever admit it, but when her body closed around him, he’d wanted to scream at the top of his lungs.
“Good morning.” She placed a kiss to his right bicep.
He moved a hand to the curve of her hip. “Yes, it is.”
He released a satisfied sigh, content to stay next to her forever when an annoying buzz from his cell phone on the bedside table broke the tender moment.
“Perfect timing,” he drawled as he reached for the device, read Rebel’s number, and then connected the call.
“Captain, I’ve got action.”
He sat straight up in bed. “Where?”
“He took the bait. The email was sent from the port.”
“Same message?”
“No. He’s one pissed off individual now.”
“Are you at the office?”
“Yeah, we’re all here. In fact, we’re already betting on why you’re not.”
He bit back a smirk, this time not bothered in the least that he was the subject of his team’s wager. “Give me fifteen minutes.”
“What’s wrong?” Liv sat up next to him as he disconnected.
“Another email.”
“Wonderful,” she mumbled. “Who now?”
“He emailed one of the addresses we planted.”
“This is actually good, right? You’ll be able to trace it to the source.”
“Maybe.”
He nodded slowly in silence, intent on keeping the information to himself as long as possible. Except as usual, she saw right through his stall tactic.
“There’s more,” she said without question.
“He sent a different message.”
She ran one hand across her forehead. “Lay it on me, Thunder.”
“I have no idea what he sent this time.” He placed a hard kiss against her lips and then rolled out of bed and headed for the shower. “But I need you to stay put until I do.”
Exactly fifteen minutes later, he entered Alpha Four headquarters where Rebel met him just inside the door.
“Show me.”
He followed Rebel back to the conference room where Chaos and Ace stood around the projector screen. Immediately, his gaze zeroed in on the words.
BACK OFF OR SHE’S DEAD
His blood boiled beneath his skin as facts lined up in his brain. “Somebody’s watching.”
“Yeah,” Rebel agreed, “and obviously we’re close to discovery.”
Chaos palmed his cell phone. “We have to stash them. When and where?”
“Now,” he said over his shoulder as he moved his gaze to his teammate. “At Kat’s spa. Let’s move. Call Brighton on the way and have them delivered.”
Thunder left the building with his team while rage burnt his gut and question marks assaulted his brain. The perp was obviously aware of his association with Liv which meant that the thought that someone used her to get to him had some merit. And, now that Rebel confirmed the email was sent from the port, his money was on Montez as the culprit. The madman had no other choice than to act personally; Alpha Four had proven too strong for his henchmen.
But who was the actual target?
True, Liv’s reputation had been attacked but other than the cryptic email messages, no one had been threatened or harmed.
Until now. The sick jerk had them right where he wanted them.
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. If dead was what Montez wanted, dead was exactly what he’d get.
***
Liv snuggled deeper into the depths of her Pepto-Bismol-pink, terry cloth robe and glanced at her friends one at a time, each of them dressed in matching pink attire. Personally, she welcomed spa days at Kat’s spa, Relax and Renu, with open arms. As usual, all of them reclined like lazy bums in the peaceful confines of the atmosphere, free from everyday stress and worry. The only difference in today’s adventure was the addition of Anna, who appeared to embrace her vegetative state as boldly as the rest of them.
Liv released a soft sigh and rolled her head to the left to focus on Kat. “You’re my hero.”
“Nah.” Her friend smirked. “You just love me for my masseuse.”
“Don’t ever fire him.”
Anna giggled from her other side. “Did Thunder tell you about his one and only massage?”
“No.” Extremely curious, Liv turned to face the other woman.
“He didn’t? Maybe I shouldn’t tell you.”
“You know you want to,” Kat drawled.
“I do.” Anna sat forward and grinned like the cat that swallowed the canary. “But save it for ammunition, okay?”
Sophie crossed her heart with her index finger. “We promise.”
“The day of my senior prom, my mom made a spa appointment for me which included a full body massage. Thunder, being the overprotective brute he is, insisted I needed an escort.”
Carley snorted. “To the spa?”
“I know, right?” Anna continued. “Our mother, however, has a very unique skill for dealing with my brother and agreed he should tag along. So, he did.”
Liv suddenly realized where Anna’s story was headed and giggled. “Oh, no.”
“Thunder had no idea about the no-street-clothes rule and since he wouldn’t let me go alone, he looked like the Abominable Snowman in the white fuzzy robe and matching slippers.”
Laughter erupted from the group.
“Wait, there’s more,” Anna wheezed. “He was a pretty good sport when Alex, the stacked, blonde, blue-eyed female technician asked him to lie beneath the sheet on the table, but when Alex, the six-foot, re-headed, male masseuse took her place, suddenly Thunder wasn’t quite so agreeable. He couldn’t get back into that robe fast enough.”
Carley dabbed the corners of her eyes with her fingertips. “I really want to meet your mother.”
“I really want to torture Thunder with that.” Kat’s emerald green gaze sparkled as she spoke.
“Believe me, I do.” Anna sat back against her chaise and shrugged. “He has no choice but to take it.”
Anna’s story warmed Liv’s heart, not only with the obvious love between brother and sister, but with the discovery of a whole new side of Thunder. Although she knew it was hidden inside him somewhere, it was refreshing to find that big, burly, do-things-my-way solder had a soft, gentle side. A delicious tingle climbed her spine at the thought of the discovery she made the previous night. Not only did he show her soft and gentle, but she learned several new things about him. Like the certain spot low on his tight abdomen where he was ticklish, for example. And the tattoo … that image inked so smoothly on his skin it was forever burnt in her brain.
“Liv.”
She heard Kat’s voice and moved her gaze to see that her friend now swatted her left elbow. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Care to share?”
“Thunder has a tattoo,” she murmured.
“King Know-It-All,” Anna drawled. “He’s proud of that thing.”
Carley tilted her head to one side. “It’s a king?”
“No.” Liv quickly reeled in her wayward thoughts. “A crown.”
Sophie smirked. “Appropriate.”
“Ace’s wizard is magic,” Carley mumbled.
“We know.” Kat rolled her eyes. “Love birds.”
Sophie lifted one hand studied her nails. “Um Kat, I seem to recall you saying something about a new respect for fire-breathing creatures.”
“I do.” Kat grinned. “Just like you do for your knight in shining armor.”
“Oh, geez.” Anna pinched the bridge of her nose. “I really need to enlighten you guys.”
Liv laughed without effort. “Wanna know where Thunder’s tattoo is located?”
“I don’t know, Liv.” Sophie frowned. “Some secrets are best kept.”
Anna lowered her hand from her nose and smirked. “I’ve seen it, if that gives you any indication.”
“Seriously, Anna.” Liv crossed her arms over her chest. “Have those four men changed any over the years?”
“Not as long as I’ve known them. Rebel has always been the cool head of the group and Chaos, the hothead. Ace is somewhere right down the middle, a combination of hot and cold, and Thunder, well, he’s all of the above.” She gave a full, bright smile. “And I know exactly how to push his buttons.”
From observation, Liv thought that to be true. Yet, whether she wanted to admit it or not, Anna shared bits of her brother’s personality.
“You won’t find four men more real,” Anna continued. “They do everything to excess – live, love, work, and play.”
Kat raised an eyebrow. “Love?”
“They’re men of honor.” Anna didn’t bat an eyelash as she answered. “If any one of them uses the L word, he means it. You’re doomed – you’ll never escape.” She looked directly at her. “Especially you.”
“Thank you, Anna.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” the other woman mumbled. “You may want to strangle me later.”
“I’m so glad we did this.” Liv leaned back against her chair. “I needed a reprieve.”
Sophie sighed. “It is the best place to be on lockdown, huh? Maybe now that the lunatic took the bait, Alpha Four will find him.”
“As usual, I’m in the dark.” Anna released a hard sigh. “But they didn’t hesitate to lock me down.”
“We don’t know much either except what I discovered firsthand, but I’ll fill you in.” Liv took a few minutes to bring Anna up to speed, not only on her predicament but the other women’s, as well. “I have a feeling you were going to be grounded with us all along.”
Kat crossed her ankles. “This creep just keeps popping up. Hopefully they can take him out for good this time.”
“My mom will freak out.” Anna shook her head. “This is one time I’m not going to rat my brother out.”
Liv reached to grasp her forearm. “He won’t let anything happen to us. Besides, I’ll bet she already knows.”
“Okay girls, enough about the demented goon.” Kat stood and nodded with her head at the door. “Who’s up for a swim?”
***
Thunder led his three teammates into the main office of the Everglade Springs Port, hopeful that their visit would provide Intel to put the whole case to rest. Although it appeared they had finally caught a break, he worked to keep his optimism in line.
“Who are we meeting?” he asked Rebel.
“Dominic Rositti, Chairman of the Board. I called him right after I called you.”
He moved his gaze around the area while they waited, relieved that the whole set-up had been re-worked since the last time they cased the place. The sparsely furnished office contained only three empty, white, plastic chairs and a fake plastic palm tree in one corner. A chest-high counter divided the room in half, behind which a young blonde woman sat to greet patrons.
She gave Rebel a sultry smile and then batted her eyelashes several times before she picked up the nearby phone, spoke into the receiver, and then hung up.
“Mr. Rositti will be with you shortly.”
Ace palmed his cell phone. “The Wi-Fi signal in the parking lot is just as strong as in here.”
“I’m guessing the range is just as significant all over the property.” Chaos braced himself on one hip against the wall. “That much probably hasn’t changed from the last time we were here.”
Thunder moved his gaze to Chaos and then Ace, burnt by the fire deep within the depths of the gazes that both men returned. No one really wanted to be here; the port had been bad news for all of them.
Before he could issue his agreement, a man with olive-colored skin who wore a three-piece suit and brightly shined shoes entered the waiting area through a side door.
“Good afternoon.” He extended a hand. “I am Dominic Rositti.”
Thunder returned the gesture. “Beck Raines.” He quickly introduced his team. “Thank you for meeting us so quickly.”
“Of course. Please, follow me.”
They followed Rositti back through the side door and finally into an inner room lined with security cameras. Thunder wasted no time with niceties.
“As Lt. Caldwell explained, our client received a threat on her life across the port’s network approximately an hour ago. We’d like to investigate the activity.”
Rositti nodded. “Certainly.”
“I’ll need to look at the network first,” Rebel said. “Where is your server located?”
“In the office next to this one.” Rositti opened the door. “Follow me.”
Thunder shifted his weight from one hip to the other as he waited for Rebel to investigate. If fate was finally in their corner, it wouldn’t take long for him to discover what they probably already knew.
“No sense checking out the exterior,” Chaos said. “We know the layout like the back of our hands.”
Ace gestured at the monitors, each broadcasting a picture of a designated area of the port. “Looks like we can see everything we need to in here.”
Thunder silently agreed, relieved that they wouldn’t have to go far to do Recon. Time was ticking; they needed answers – and fast.
Rebel suddenly appeared in the doorway. “It’s a match. Same IP as all the others.”
“I’ve arranged for you to view the security footage for the time you requested,” Rositti said from behind Rebel. “The conference room is just down the hallway.”
Once they crowded around a lone computer monitor, Rebel cued the disc and Thunder clenched his jaw in concentration.
C’mon you sonuvabitch, show your ugly mug.
“Holy hell,” Rebel murmured, “we’ve got something.”
Thunder narrowed his gaze. True to Rebel’s word, the picture on the screen blew the lid right off the investigation.
“Sonuvabitch, that’s one of Liv’s limousines.”
Rebel punched keys. “’I’ve tried all three angles. I can’t get a visual on the driver.”
“Pop the disc.” For the first time since insanity threated to prevail, Thunder knew they had the sucker by the balls. “Liv has all the information we need.”
He turned to Rositti. “We’ll need to take the disc with us.”
“It’s yours. The activity is backed up to the server.”
Rebel ejected the smoking gun and nodded at the chairman. “Thank you for your cooperation.”
“You are most welcome. Please let me know if I can do anything further.”
Adrenaline raced through his veins as he clenched his jaw and nearly sprinted out of the port office and back to his truck. The sound of marching combat boots beating against the pavement behind him told him that the other men were close.
He stopped at his truck and pressed the remote to unlock the doors while he continued to process the newfound evidence.
“You’re not convinced,” Rebel said from behind him.
He shook his head. “It’s almost too convenient.”
“She only employs two drivers.” Ace tilted his head to one side and then the other, as if weighing options. “Wouldn’t be difficult to isolate them.”
Chaos leaned against the hood. “A limo isn’t exactly camouflage.”
He agreed. The only explanation he could come up with for that was that the driver hoped hiding in plain sight would pay off. And, there was an even bigger problem with that theory.
“We don’t know for sure that the driver accessed the network.”
“True,” Chaos agreed, “but it’s a monumental coincidence that we intercepted a hit at the exact time that bus parked within reach of this network.”
Rebel frowned. “Brighton’s phone doesn’t match the IP.”
“Brighton’s off the list.” He issued the comment with absolute certainty. He would never had trusted the retired cop with Liv’s wellbeing if he wasn’t absolutely certain.
Chaos folded his arms across his chest. “That leaves Wilson.”
“His IP doesn’t match either.”
Leave it to Rebel to play devil’s advocate, but he wasn’t swayed. “He’s using a different device.”
“Even if he locked up his personal phone in Liv’s safe, accessing a network isn’t difficult.” Ace released a long breath. “Between tablets, e-readers, and laptops the Internet is readily available. Liv would have to do a body search to be sure and even then, he may be able to slide by.”
Rebel tilted his head to one side. “Motive?”
“Who the hell knows?” Thunder ran a hand over his jaw. “At least it’s a crumb.” He motioned for the other men to enter the truck. “Maybe the trail leads somewhere this time.”
Thunder drove the distance to Relax and Renu, hopeful that Liv could provide some insight into the situation. He released a hard breath, still frustrated as hell. As desperate as he was for answers, his trigger finger itched and if he were honest, explanations were a technicality at this point. Normally he gave severe consideration to taking a life but this sick freak issued a threat he wouldn’t ignore.
Once he parked the truck in front of the spa, he took a brief pause to enter the code to unlock the door into his cell phone and then glanced at Chaos.
“Text Kat to tell her I’ve unlocked.”
All four men entered the building seconds later and followed the sound of feminine giggles to the pool area. Thunder took one look at Liv dressed in her green bikini and darn near swallowed his tongue. She sat on the edge of the pool with her feet dangled in the water and her arms braced on each side of her body, creating a valley of cleavage that tempted him like the devil.
He watched in silent agony as one lone water droplet fell from the base of her neck and slid into that smooth, deep valley. He licked his lips while his cock tapped his zipper, urging him to forget all about the lunatics of the world and dive into the pool, dragging her along for the ride of her life.
“Tuck your tongue back into your mouth, Big Brother,” Anna drawled from a nearby lounger.
Not in the least bit embarrassed, he smirked and offered Liv a hand. She stood and he gave her hand a squeeze while he gestured at an empty chair with his free hand.
“We have news.”
He swallowed a groan when she grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her middle. Damn towel. The other three women followed suit.
He squatted next to her chair. “Who’s driving today?”
“I don’t have any appointments, but Chuck is on call. Why?”
“Rebel intercepted an email sent from the port. Long story short, when we pulled the security footage your limo was parked out front.”
“Chuck is behind all this?”
“Apparently so.”
“Why?”
“We don’t know yet.”
“I’ll call him. I can get to the bottom of it.”
“No.”
She frowned. “I know Chuck. Once I confront him, he’ll roll over.”
“Maybe, but the message was different this time.”
“How so?”
“He threatened your life, Liv.”
“I don’t understand. How did he even know you would receive the email?”
“He didn’t but it really didn’t matter. Anyone who received such a cryptic message would immediately approach you. He banked on the fact that you would make the correct interpretation.”
“Because Wilson is behind it,” Ace continued, “he knows you hired help and he’s probably kept a close eye on you.”
“I still don’t know why he would do it. He didn’t ask for money or anything.”
“That doesn’t mean he won’t.” Rebel shrugged. “The kid obviously has crazy computer skills. He may just be getting started.”
Chaos nodded. “We’ve got to confront him when he least expects it.”
“Well, I think we can do that.” He detected a slight shakiness in her voice. “I got several hits on your profile. As soon as you view a few photographs, I’ll set up a meeting and we’ll plan from there.”
“No.”
She frowned. “I know you said you didn’t really want to participate, but – “
“We won’t plan anything. I don’t want you anywhere near when this goes down.”
She opened her mouth and he quickly pressed two fingers against her lips. “Don’t fight me on this.”
Amazingly, she stood silent and he hoped she understood that his directive had nothing to do with power or control and that this was not the time to draw a line in the sand. Although he was thankful, he also knew it would be short-lived. She tilted her head to one side and he waited while her beautiful brain continued to mentally analyze the situation.
In his opinion, his motive was a no-brainer. He was a natural born protector. Add that to his years of military service and his unyielding dedication to chasing evil from the world and his attitude was fairly clear to understand. Except this time, there was more to the story.
“Come here.” He stood and then took her hand as she did the same. “If something ever happened to you, I’d never be the same man.”
His heart jumped as he cupped her face in the palm of his hands and then he prepared to totally blow her away.
“I love you.”
For half a second he wondered if she would respond. He had no regrets; he issued the sentiment directly from his heart and hopefully she had every intention of returning it.
“I love you too, Captain.”
His lips split into a grin right before he moved his hands to her hips, eased her closer, and then placed his lips against hers. Her eyes closed as he took her lips in an erotic massage while she released a small, soft whimper. She pressed her palms against his chest and he was pretty sure his heart beat a jungle rhythm against them.
“Uh, Captain?”
At the sound of Ace’s voice, her eyes opened and she gently pushed away from the warmth of his embrace. He moved his gaze onto the other man. At least Ace had the decency to look apologetic by the interruption.
“Sorry,” he mumbled, “but our window of opportunity is closing.”
For a short second, he considered tabling the whole nasty discussion. Screw opportunity. He just declared his love for the one woman who managed to wrap him around her tiny finger, not to mention that he’d done it in front of his team. Yeah, in a perfect world opportunity could blow him.
But not now. He’d die before he allowed anyone to harm Liv.
“How do you want to play this?” Chaos prompted.
He took one of Liv’s hands and tangled their fingers. “Carefully.”
“Actually, her suggestion makes sense.”
He turned his gaze back to Chaos and glared. “Did you not hear my very loud no?”
“Just hear me out, Captain. If we send you on a date, we have a pretty good chance at an ambush. It would be a helluva lot easier to confront him on our terms, not his.”
Common sense told him that his friend spoke the absolute truth. And yes, he preferred an ambush. However, there was the minute possibility that things may not go as predicted and this time that scared the hell out of him. So, he’d compromise.
“I’ll go. Alone.”
Liv shook her head. “No, you can’t.”
“Then we find an alternative.”
“It’s in my contract,” she persisted. “I need to be present at the initial meeting in case there’s a problem.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Problem?”
“In the event your date runs down the block screaming in fear,” Kat drawled.
“Has that ever happened?”
“Well …” Liv bit her bottom lip.
“Seriously?”
She giggled. “No, not to that extent. There have been couples who didn’t jive. No one is left stranded if I tag along.”
He hesitated, mostly for effect. Even he realized that arguing with reason was worthless. “If I agree,” he said finally, “I need your assurance that everyone involved will follow the plan.”
She bit her bottom lip and his still-very-observant-and-interested cock jumped again. Damn, he had it bad. Desperation pushed him even harder to make her understand his need to eliminate this madman.
“How much do we need to involve your date?”
He flinched. Date. Right. “Not much. In fact, if we make a few changes to your method, we should be successful at taking him down without drawing too much attention.”
“What about us?” Sophie glanced at her husband.
Rebel smirked. “You know the drill.”
“I don’t.” Anna crossed one leg over the other.
Carley released a hard breath. “We stay on lockdown. And take it from one who knows, there’s no way around it.”
“You really believe Chuck is involved?” Liv rubbed a hand across her forehead.
“We do,” Ace answered.
She dropped her hand, released a soft sigh, and squared her shoulders. “Give me a few minutes to dress and then we’ll talk strategy.”