Except, she’d survived.
She’d made it back to the coastal town, but Whitney didn’t remember the last six months of her life. A very significant amount of time that she’d spent…being the lover of Ramsey Hyde.
At the mention of Whitney, Ramsey’s face changed. A subtle change, at first. A tightening around his mouth. His eyes. A hardening of his jaw. A hollowing of his cheekbones. His eyes glittered with a barely banked fury. “You’ll want to watch yourself,” he advised Imari in a voice that had gone low and lethal. “And you’ll want to make sure you stay the hell away from her. She had nothing to do with my life.”
“Are you threatening me?” Imari seethed.
He put his hands on his hips. “I’m actually wondering…why the hell are you still on my property? You keep lingering like this—staying where you are not wanted—and I just might have to call the cops on you.”
Imari stormed away. All of the other FBI agents fell in line quickly. Tires screeched as the SUVs flew from the lot. They were definitely not worried about making a loud exit.
No one spoke until the SUVs were gone.
“They probably bugged your place,” Ali finally said.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to do a sweep.” Ramsey still had his hands on his hips. His gaze was focused on the road—where the SUVS had been.
“How the hell did you get them to pull back?” Odin demanded.
Ramsey turned to stare at him. “Obviously, they realized they had the wrong man. I’m not a criminal. I’m an upstanding, respectable member of society.” He turned and strode for the bar.
Then he stopped. “Ali…”
She tensed.
“If I find anything, I will let you know.”
Relief hit her with the force of a punch. Ramsey didn’t say anything else. Just headed into his place.
Ali’s cheeks puffed up before she blew out a long breath. “That was certainly…a lot.” She rolled back her shoulders. “Why did they let him go? Why did they let us all go?”
Odin’s stare was thoughtful. “Because someone with a lot of power told them to back the hell off.”
“Yes,” Ali whispered. “That’s what I was afraid of.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Where in the hell have you been?” Jinx bounded down the beach house’s steps and rushed toward Ali.
She lifted her eyebrows and slammed the door of Odin’s Jeep behind her. “Well, hello, to you, too, sunshine.”
He hurried forward and curled his hands around her arms. She could feel the angry tension snaking through him. Jinx glared at Odin. “You were supposed to keep watch on her.”
“He did,” Ali assured Jinx before Odin could respond. “He was with me every single moment.” Okay, fine, nearly every single moment. He’d stayed outside while she had her private chat with Ramsey. “Want to tell me why you’re so growly?”
“Because you’re being hunted by some psycho bastard. And you just headed out for some kind of merry-ass jaunt.”
“Hardly merry,” she grumbled. “If you must know—and, FYI, try asking nicely next time, it works so well—I was at Ramsey’s bar. Odin and I were there for a friendly chat when a swarm of FBI agents rolled up. I’ll give you two guesses as to who was leading that swarm.”
A muscle jerked along his jawline.
“No guesses?” That was very un-Jinx-like. Maybe he was worried about his brother. “It was Imari, but don’t worry, she had to let Ramsey go. Somebody with a whole lot of power must have called her and told her to back the hell off.”
“You were with Ramsey?” Each word rumbled.
A nod. “Got cuffed and nearly pushed into one of the FBI’s delightful SUVs.”
“They cuffed you?”
Not like it was the first time. But she bit that back. She hadn’t walked fully down that path with Jinx, not yet. The painful past reveal would have to come soon. Yet…
She hated to do it. Because she rather liked the way Jinx looked at her. Like he wanted to rip her clothes off and have wild, passionate sex with her. Like he…just wanted her.
He was having to clean up his brother’s mess due to Ramsey’s criminal activities. She didn’t…Ali never wanted Jinx to think of her as another problem he had to handle.
But doesn’t he have to handle your mess right now? Didn’t you bring your troubles to his door?
“Odin…” Jinx flickered a glance his way. “I’ve got her.”
Uh, so, that was—
“Bye,” from Odin. Simple. Short. His Jeep cranked, and she heard him drive away.
Ali stood there, staring up at Jinx. The waves were pounding. The scent of the ocean teased her nose. The beach appeared empty around them. The other house on the beach still appeared completely shutdown.
We’re alone.
Jinx’s fingers tightened on her arms. “Why did you go see Ramsey?”
“Because you and I both know that he’s using every connection he has in order to find out who sabotaged your ride.”
Jinx’s brow furrowed. “I don’t think that.”
“Sure you do.” She backed up, pulling out of his hold. “It’s what you would do. If someone came after your brother, you wouldn’t rest until you stopped the guy.” She tilted her head as she studied him. “Ramsey is family. No one comes before family.”
Jinx glanced toward the thundering surf. “Come walk with me.”
A walk along a gorgeous beach? Sure, count her in. She kicked away her shoes.
His hand reached for hers.
“Is this part of our setup routine?” Ali asked as she leaned toward him. “You think someone is watching us take a romantic walk along the beach?”
“It’s not romantic.”
They walked toward the wave line. She watched the waves slide up on the beach, then retreat in a beautiful dance.
“If it was romantic, I’d stop to kiss you,” he added, voice roughening.
She let the waves roll over her toes. Her body brushed against his. He still hadn’t told her if this bit was part of the setup, and Ali found that she didn’t care. She just liked being with him. “Why don’t you kiss me?”
His gaze fell to her mouth.
“Better idea,” Ali decided. Her feet pushed against the wet sand as she rose to her toes. “I’ll kiss you.” Her mouth brushed over his. He might not think this walk was particularly romantic, but she did. She thought walking with him along the shore, holding Jinx’s hand, and kissing Jinx as the waves tickled her feet…it was the most romantic walk of her life.
She kept the kiss brief. Sensual but short. And as she started to pull back—
“No.”
Her lashes lifted.
“Don’t stop, sweets,” he rasped, eyes gleaming. “And believe me, I don’t give a fuck who is watching. I want your mouth.” Then he took it.
His lips pressed to hers. Her mouth was open and eager, and his tongue thrust inside. He let go of her hand, and his fingers moved to curl around her hips. He hauled her closer so that she was flush against his body. The hard length of his arousal pressed against her, and a moan slipped from her throat.