Racing the Tide Read online

  She reached out on impulse, covering the back of his hand resting, unclenched at the moment, on the steering wheel.

  “How about we make a pact. No harm intended.”

  “For real?” She watched his eyes open wider with surprise. His other hand came down over the top of hers, trapping it against the wheel, sending her senses reeling. “I’d like that. Never trusted a woman to have my back before.”

  “Never?” Gabby was shocked. “Not even when you took your wedding vows?”

  His eyes closed. He pulled his hands away and didn’t supply an answer.

  Way to go, Gabby. Why don’t you just dig it all up again. She must be shakier than she realized, not keeping a lid on that for now.

  “Cole—”

  “Gabrielle, please. Let’s just keep our minds focused on business. Okay?” His expression tightened.

  “Sure, I’m sorry.” She pretended to pull a zipper across her mouth, hoping to draw a smile, reclaim that moment of brevity from earlier. Not to be. He took up a small white bud and pressed it into place in his ear canal, not looking her way.

  Damn, at this rate, I’ll never get to fully scratch this annoying itch. And it was annoying her, beyond all reason that she wanted to fuck Cole again, especially after his having opened up to her, trusted her, and now she couldn’t control her raging hormones. They just needed to go to bed again and that would solve the problem, right?

  She pressed the heel of her hand to her head. A tension headache loomed.

  “You okay?” Cole asked.

  “Yeah, fine.”

  Her phone buzzed, interrupting. Celine.

  “Hey, what’s up?” Gabby asked, focused on the steady stream of passersby, glancing over at the alleyway. So far, no one had exited the back of Chang’s and the van remained parked.

  “Just checking in. How’s it going?”

  “Peachy.”

  “That bad, eh? Just wanted to be sure you’re okay. Can I bring you anything? I’m in the area.”

  “No, I’m fine. Best to stay away.”

  “Talkative today, aren’t we?” Her sister knew her too well.

  “Yeah, well, trying to make lemonade here.” She closed her eyes for a second, the throbbing in her temples increasing.

  Celine snorted. “Good luck with that. Text me if you need anything.”

  “Thanks.”

  Cole looked over at her, but made no comment as she ended the call. Her nerves were frayed from the stress. A new partner with so much baggage was daunting. But to also be ridiculously attracted wasn’t helping one iota. And she had to keep it together. For Sara’s sake. Please, just let this case be blown wide open, she prayed, and we bring her home. Soon.

  Chapter Six

  Cole tried in vain to keep his mind off having Gabby so close in the confines of the truck, giving off a fragrance that would test the restraint of a saint. Opening up to her had reduced his stress, made him feel closer to her. Something he had to be careful of. He was no good for her. Instead, he tried to focus on the wisdom of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, and the importance of foreknowledge, that the gaining of it through the five types of spies, no matter the cost, was essential. And if it carried with it the hope of carrying false tidings to the enemy, so much the better. Keeping Chang in the dark was their best chance of getting Sara back. Being where they weren’t expected. And once they knew her exact location, he’d set the rest of his plan in action. As always, he tried to foresee every eventuality, every possible scenario ahead of time, and prepare in the hopes that one of the routes would lead to success.

  The cops had come and gone with nothing changing, even after a careful search of the van.

  He glanced over at Gabby from time to time as they waited, suspended in time. The heightened sense of continual readiness was beginning to take its toll on Gabby—that was obvious by the drooping of her eyelids as she rubbed at them furiously.

  “Hey, beautiful, how you doing?” he asked. It was long past the time they could have left for the night, but she had insisted on staying there, not wanting to miss anything.

  She licked her lips and his eyes followed the action. Fucking hard, so close and yet so far. He couldn’t from staring at their deep pink plushness. It was everything he could do not to jump on top of her right there and fuck everything else going on. Could fate have landed him in a more difficult situation? Someone must be laughing their ass off at his expense right now somewhere in the vast universe.

  Unbearable. He took a breath, forcing the image of Gabby naked and underneath him out of his brain. She had been so willing earlier, so wet and giving of herself. God, to be inside her once more would be worth any risk.

  “I’m okay. We could sleep in shifts. Stay the night,” she said, yawning to make her point.

  “No, we’re calling it a night. The second team has arrived. They don’t need us to stay. You need to refresh yourself, sleep. Take a shower, eat, do whatever you require.”

  “Okay.”

  Cole breathed a sigh of relief and sped away from the curb. He pulled up in front of her townhouse a short while later.

  “Want to come up? Have a drink?” she asked, without looking at him. She was fidgeting in her seat as she asked, her eyes focused somewhere else. Then she turned those baby blues eyes on him and gave him a smoldering glance from underneath thick lashes.

  He should say no, keep her at arm’s length. But instead other words formed and dropped from his mouth as if it had disconnected from his brain and reconnected with a more vital area—his cock. “A drink sounds good.”

  * * * *

  Chang pursed his thin lips and narrowed his coal-black eyes in thought when the two brazen police officers strode right through his front door, right into the middle of a special clan supper, too. He ran his hand over his shiny black hair, making sure it was still in place. He tugged at his whiskers, wondering if he should try to darken them or shave, now that his beard was threaded with gray. He glanced back at the men who were looking around with curiosity clear in their expressions, there for some annoying purpose. Have these men no honor? He gave a sideways glance at Tommy, signaled with a finger to his nose. He watched his nephew scurry away while he kept the cops in his peripheral vision as he always did with all who entered his domicile, waiting for them to make the first move. Did this have something to do with what had happened earlier? The guy asking about their business interests at the docks? It was not often law enforcement crossed his doorstep and he would prefer it stayed that way.

  He held his first grandchild on his lap, feeding her bits of sweet rice cake, enjoying how her golden-brown fawn-like eyes followed his every move as he fed her the honey-laced treat from his fingertips. He ignored the small looks of chagrin his wife, Missy Lin Flowers, kept directing his way, regarding him as the usurper of motherly authority. The mother didn’t want her daughter, Jennifer, fed anything made from honey. Most natural thing in the world, bees make it, full of minerals and vitamins, good for a child. Bah, if not seeing that, some women were too quick to leave the ancient ways behind. Should have the guidance of an arranged marriage like his parents did for him. None of this falling in love first. You fall in love later, after a proper partner is chosen. What was good for generations of Changs was still good enough.

  The two blue-uniformed men wormed their way through the Chang clan packing the restaurant, the jangling of the officers’ handcuffs, radios, guns, batons and flashlight on their black leather belts heard even above the riotous laughter and conversations of so many relatives. The Chang clan was growing each year as more marriages and babies came along, a fact Chang was very proud of. As usual, he commanded from the back table pushed against the wall so no one could creep up on him unnoticed. Best place to oversee operations. He handed the toddler over to her mother as the men stopped in front of him. All three of them watched the red-gowned woman with the white orchid pinned to the bodice sweep her daughter away to a far table, fussing over the child, wiping the sticky grains of rice away f
rom her rosebud lips.

  “Beautiful child,” one office said with a nod at Jennifer, not so happy on her mother’s lap as she began to fuss about, wanting more treats. Her little fingers clutched at thin air, signaling her need.

  “Yes, what can I do for you, officers?” Chang asked with careful politeness, gesturing for them to sit. No point in making new enemies. He now had plenty of room at the table as family members melted away.

  “You are registered as the owner of the van out back. We need to see your license and registration. Would you mind getting those things and accompanying us outside?”

  “Would you care for refreshments first? Food? Drink?” he asked. He prayed Tommy had managed to finish the unloading, hiding the explosives where they could not be found, not by an outsider who did not know Chinatown’s underground network.

  “No, we’ve fine. We’re here on official business. There’s been an anonymous tip that we need to investigate.”

  “Officers, are you familiar with the wisdom of Confucius?” he asked, walking the two men through the back of the café and into the alley behind. The van was parked with its back end up against the building and he stopped in front of it, turning around to watch their reactions.

  “Confucius? He was Chinese, right?” one asked, scratching the back of his neck with a big meaty paw of a hand. Both men dwarfed Chang, towering over him, the blue mantle of authority leeching out of every pore.

  “Yes, Chinese, most correct. He was a very wise man of vision. Lived long time ago. ‘If you see what is right and fail to act on it, you lack courage’. You men, you practice and honor his teachings every day, going out into the world with the courage to act on what you know to be right. Very honorable.”

  Chang patted himself on the back for coming up with the right compliment for the occasion. Confucius had words of wisdom for all people, all the time. He narrowed his eyes, picturing his nephew, unhappy with something he’d seen in Tommy’s eyes a few times of late when Tommy had thought he wasn’t being observed. Boy had too much ambition for one so young. May need his wings clipped, learn new respect for his elders. Maybe Vu was right? Nephew not respecting the old ways.

  “Well, good, we do what we can to serve the people. Now, if you would just show us your papers?”

  “Yes, yes, I have my license right here. Papers are in the glove box.” Chang pulled out his black leather wallet and slid out his license. He handed it over. The man checked it, pursing his lips as he read the pertinent details. Chang knew what it contained. Photo ID of a man of average height and weight, but what was not listed was his unusually high IQ of 147. Too bad. Very impressive number. The other officer strode by him and up to the panel side window, using his hands cupped to his face to allow him to peer inside. Chang watched him, listening to his boots crunch on the gravel of the parking lot. A noisy man, never catch anyone unaware like that.

  “Who drives the van? Anyone other than you?” the other officer who took his license asked, checking the date stamp on it to see if it was still valid. It was. One thing Chang knew, don’t give them a reason to pull him over. More than one idiot had been taken down and had numerous offenses added on for drug possession, etc., just because of a broken tail light or an outdated license. Stupid fools. Not catch him like that. Did no one think to watch that new television show, Live PD, showing how stupid most criminals were? No wonder cops caught them. Chang felt nothing but contempt for such imbecile behavior. Deserved to get caught.

  “Many drivers. All employees have access to it, to haul supplies for the business.”

  “You have the keys on you?”

  Chang pulled the extra key fob from his black dress pants pocket and pressed the unlock mechanism. He went to open the glove box himself.

  “No, I’ll do that. Step aside,” the police officer said, waving him away.

  His breathing sped up, though he would allow none of it to show, just waited for the cop to check it out. Was the gun gone as instructed? Nephew would be in deep shit if not. Have wings clipped for certain.

  “Well, it all seems in order,” the lawman said after giving the papers a thorough check and calling the number in over his radio attached to his shoulder, checking with dispatch if the van number matched with the registration. “Mind if we look inside?” If they were asking, then they had not spotted evidence so far. If they had, he’d be in cuffs and they would be searching his pockets. Chang took a satisfied breath. Tommy had finished in time.

  “No problem, go right ahead. Chang always stay on right side of law,” he said with a grand sweeping gesture of his arm. The officers just grunted and got down to work. Inspecting every square inch of the van, but coming up empty. So sad. Chang hid a satisfied smile, mentally thanking Vu for the heads up. Now he had bigger fish to fry as he turned his mind to the latest intel. Things were getting heated in Chinatown, enemies closing in all direction. Time for Chang to send his own message.

  * * * *

  Day Four: 1:13 a.m.

  What am I doing? This is not going to stop at one drink. But the words had come unheeded from her mouth and she could not take them back. Hell, truth be told, she wanted this to happen again. Wanted to forget everything for a precious bit of time. Loose herself in the moment. She was too discombobulated with lust from having to sit by Cole for hours on end, body twitching with desire. Well, at least between the over-the-top action parts of the day. Just a couple of uninterrupted hours—that’s all I ask. Maybe then I can get this incessant lust to go away. Focus just on the job.

  “What’s your poison?” she asked, unlocking the front door.

  “Uh, anything really.” He cleared his throat, his warm brown eyes locking glances with her, smoldering passion obvious in the dark depths.

  “I got it all thanks to all the parties lately. Celine just loves to entertain. Every kind of alcohol—”

  He interrupted. “Yeah, you got it all, beautiful. The whole package. Everything a man could possibly want.” What was there to say to that? She remembered to pull the door closed behind them. Her body began trembling at the sudden realization they were locking out the world, if only for a short while, making even that simple action difficult. His eyes became more intense as their gaze met again, the smoldering in their depths leaving her breathless. He towered above her, their height differences more obvious this close. Too close. And he smelled too good as she took a steadying breath, flooding her body with his scent.

  He reached down and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the action tender, the look in his eyes so hungry she swallowed. Hard. Was she locking in the big bad wolf? The one who would eat her alive? She drew a shaky breath. Then she was lost as he pulled her into his arms, claiming her. His kiss. Nothing about it gentle and soft. But so much more. She was more than willing, letting him push his way inside her mouth. His tongue was warm as it twined with hers, stroked hers. Tantalized. Made her flood with wetness.

  His big capable hands all over her were not nearly enough. She needed him elsewhere, everywhere. Right this instant. Fire erupted, charging every cell, every muscle with excitement. With lust. Heat poured onto the surface of her skin, driven by the blood coursing through her. She felt flushed and awestruck by the dizzying sensation, her knees turning to rubber.

  She slid her hands down the solid powerful muscles of his back, feeling the smoothness and warmth of his skin as he pressed into her, claiming her mouth, her neck, her breasts as he jerked her top up, exposing her white lace bra.

  Heat unfurled between her legs, inside the walls of her pussy the throbbing accelerated. Became frantic. She breathed in the scent of their mutual arousal, the length and breadth of his cock against her thigh mesmerizing, its immense size making her shaky as it pressed heavily. I want him inside me. Now.

  The ache grew. He grasped one nipple with his lips, then the other, sucking on them hard right through the thin lace. Intense clenching pulsed rhythmically in her belly, firing off hot thrills to chase through her blood, scalding her even more. She
was about to come. The sensation made her gasp aloud, and he stopped for a moment. No. Don’t stop.

  “We shouldn’t be doing this. I can’t offer you anything. I’m no good for you. No good for any woman.”

  “No, that’s not true. I want this. I want you. Right now, Cole, that’s all that matters. And who says it has to be anything more than what we want right now, right this minute? We’re both past the age of consent.” She was breathless with need, desperate to convince him to continue, her mind racing at the thought of not having this man, right here, right now.

  She looked up and caught the indecision in his eyes. She reached for his hand. “Come, I’m taking you to bed. If we don’t do something about this lust, so help me God, I’m going to go crazy here. Earlier, at the cemetery, that was just a quickie to keep us from exploding—you know, scratch the itch. I want everything now. I want to experience all of you.”

  He tightened his fingers around hers. “I want that too.” His voice shook, endearing him to her even further as she led him from the room, down the hall and into her bedroom.

  Not even bothering to pull back the covers, she tossed her phone onto the night stand and pulled him toward her, pressed herself tight up against him, wanting to be with him more than she had ever imagined possible. Like she always thought it should be. A desire to be with a man beyond all reason. Beyond all doubt. Like Tristan and Iseult had drunk from the cup of love. For her, it had to be overwhelming—if it was right.

  As if in a trance, she pulled away and stripped the damp clothes from her overheated body, watching as he did the same. A warrior’s body emerged, heavy muscles corded under a golden tan, a huge cock proud and ready. The dreamlike state continued as he pressed up against her, his need for her as obvious as her need for him. His mouth on hers. His hands on her body, so tight his fingers pressed into her flesh almost painful. He ravaged her mouth, scalding, tasting of blood and salt and fear.