Absolution: The Hunter Mercenary Series (Book Two) Read online

“That, Sherlock Holmes, is my bank account. Go ahead, look through it.”

  “What’s the trick?” she asked, knowing there had to be one. No one did shit like this.

  This time, he stood.

  This time, he was beyond angry.

  “You should go,” he said. “I tried. I have nothing left to give. I didn’t kill her.”

  He dropped his napkin onto the table and began walking away. She cut him off.

  “Stop.”

  “Why?” he asked. “Why bother? You’ve determined I’m guilty of something, so be it. You can try and prove it, and you can address everything with my attorney. Get out, Detective Harding. Just get out. Leave me alone!”

  She grabbed his arm, and he spun, catching her off guard again. This time, he had her by the arms, and she was up on her toes.

  “What?” he hissed.

  She stared into his eyes and did the stupidest thing ever. Cordelia closed the gap and gave him a kiss. It was soft, gentle, and it soothed the savage beast.

  He relaxed, releasing her arms.

  He instead let her move at her pace. When she’d finished calming him with her mouth, she pulled away.

  “I’m sorry. You’re right. I came in here to get you to confess, and if you didn’t do it, you didn’t do it.”

  He could barely breathe.

  Rogue’s heart was thundering in his chest. He couldn’t believe she had kissed him.

  “Show me the account, we’ll call it a questioning, and we’ll finish up dinner.”

  He blinked.

  “Really?”

  “Again, I can tell when someone is lying. You’re not lying to me.”

  He wasn’t. While he should, he wasn’t. He was trusting a cop, and it was surely going to go wrong. His kind of people didn’t trust her kind of people. Rogue also didn’t expect the gentleness.

  That was foreign to him.

  Apparently, someone liked half-breeds.

  “Dinner?” she asked. “I was enjoying my steak. It’s really good. Thank you for inviting me in. It was cold outside.”

  He didn’t know what to say.

  She was acting…normal.

  Heading back to the table, he pushed her chair in again, and she didn’t think it was an act. He was definitely being a gentleman.

  It was…nice.

  It was clear that his mother had raised him to be polite, gentle, and kind. Well, she earned bonus points for that.

  All hail Grace Ravenscroft.

  Cordelia picked up the phone and scrolled to the date in question. There, in his records, was a debit for exactly what he said there would be on Christmas Eve. He’d paid for a round of drinks.

  Cordelia placed his phone on the table, put the napkin back in her lap, and picked up her fork.

  “Okay, so tell me about this chef because he can cook. This steak is crazy good.”

  She flipped topics so fast, he didn’t know what to say. One minute she was working and the next…

  “I met him at this dive joint while I was working. He was flipping burgers and trying to get back on his feet.”

  “That was nice of you.”

  He laughed.

  “What?”

  “He makes the best burgers in the world. I wasn’t being nice. I wanted his delicious cooking all to myself. Let’s call it what it is.”

  She found that amusing. He wasn’t even lying about that. It said a lot about the man.

  “Well, we all have to eat.”

  She continued eating her steak. What he liked most was she was actually enjoying it. The switch had definitely flipped, and she was being herself.

  “So, Mr. Ravenscroft…”

  He stopped her.

  “Rogue. Your mouth was touching mine. I think first names are appropriate.”

  She smiled at him. After all, he did have a point, didn’t he? She’d crossed a line and kissed him.

  “Well, then Rogue it is.”

  “May I use your first name?” he asked politely.

  “Are you always polite?”

  “Most of the time. It takes a lot to make me angry. You are really good at pissing me off.”

  She grinned.

  “That makes me a good cop. Call it a prerequisite for the job.”

  He wasn’t buying it.

  “You’re evading, Detective. What should I call you?” he asked again, keeping his fingers crossed on his lap. It was silly, but she made him want to do incredibly insane things.

  Like invite a homicide cop into his criminal den of iniquity.

  “Cordelia is fine.”

  He took a bite of his steak.

  “If I tell you that’s a pretty name, will you get mad?” he asked.

  She laughed.

  “No.”

  “It’s a pretty name.”

  “Rogue is…”

  He pointed at her wine glass. “Would you like some wine?” he asked. “I should have asked earlier.”

  “I’m working.”

  He stared at her.

  “On second thought, I don’t kiss people when I’m working, so, yes, I’ll have a glass. But only one. I have to drive home, and while I’m a cop, I’d like to be alive tomorrow.”

  He understood, but he couldn’t help but wonder if she’d lose control, let down her hair, and be wild.

  Rogue’s dick twitched again.

  Oh, what wouldn’t he give to trap her there with him? What wouldn’t he give to have her beside him tonight? When she kissed him, his body came to life. The last three years, he’d been barely alive. He’d been hurting.

  Lost.

  Alone.

  What he wanted to do was get her drunk and take her to his bed to see what she’d be like trapped beneath him. What he would do was be a gentleman.

  Rogue poured a glass for each of them.

  “To your case, Detective. I hope you find your killer.”

  “I need to ask one more question, and I hope you don’t get mad.”

  “Ask.”

  “Do you know who killed Charlotte?”

  “No.”

  Yes, he lied and held his breath. The entire time, he stared into her eyes and didn’t look away. A liar would look down, or away. Unfortunately for her, she’d studied those techniques too. Rogue used them to evade the police.

  This wasn’t his first interrogation.

  Cordelia watched him, and then she seemed to relax at his answer.

  “This wine is nice. I had a long day. Following you around is exhausting.”

  He laughed.

  “I’ve been trapped inside wondering if you’d ring my bell or make me drag you in here.”

  Cordelia clinked her glass off of his.

  “Well, I won’t darken your door tomorrow,” she promised. “You were open and forthright, and I have nothing more to ask you.”

  “So, this is the end, huh?” he asked, as he held his wine glass. He couldn’t help but be incredibly disappointed, and glad at the same time.

  She was dangerous to him.

  Rogue knew it.

  “Yep. You’re free of me, Rogue. Thank you for your help. I appreciate you allowing me to look inside your life.”

  His gut twisted.

  He didn’t want it to be the end.

  Rogue wanted more. Like a rich man, he wanted all.

  Joey came in and placed cheesecake in front of both of them. “I’m going to clean up and head out, Rogue.”

  “Okay,” he stated, still not looking away from the detective. She was smiling and calm, and he was anything but that. She was done with him, and he’d never be her focus again.

  She’d kissed him and was going to walk.

  Well, that was a twist he didn’t see coming.

  When Joey was gone, he sipped his wine and watched her eat cheesecake.

  “So why are you a detective?” he asked. “Why did you pick this as your profession?” he asked, trying to make that connection with her as quickly as possible.

  He didn’t have much time.


  She was going to leave and never look back.

  “I like solving things. Why do you do your investment shit?”

  He laughed.

  She was his total opposite.

  She was brash, and he was going to miss it.

  “To answer that, it’s simple. It’s because I’m good at it. I’m good with numbers, and I do own a few businesses.”

  She looked around.

  “Oh, I bet.”

  “Family money. It is what it is,” he stated. “What’s your family like? Tell me all about your family secrets, and I’ll tell you about mine. I had a crazy cat lady aunt…”

  He stopped.

  The smiles were gone.

  In fact, the ice was back, and he almost shivered at the look she was giving him.

  “They’re dead to me,” she said, placing her napkin on the table and standing.

  “Did I say something?” he asked. “I wasn’t trying to offend you, Cordelia.”

  “I should go. Thank you for your time, your honesty, and the information. Good luck with your daughter, and your business ventures.”

  She headed out of the dining room, and he followed behind her, befuddled.

  “I’m sorry,” he stated.

  “It’s okay. It’s time for me to go. I have work early tomorrow. I’m sure I’ll have five more dead body cases by dawn. May I have my coat?”

  He went to the closet and pulled it out.

  “I’ll walk you to your car.”

  “That’s okay.”

  “I don’t mind,” he offered, trying to backtrack what he’d done to make her race away. He’d flipped out, and she stayed. He asked about her family, and she was running.

  He held her coat, and he pulled on his own when she was in hers. Outside, the rain was icy, and he was worried about her.

  “I can get you a ride home, and you can pick up your car tomorrow.”

  “Department vehicle. I have to get it back.”

  At the gate, he faced her.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “For?”

  “Whatever I asked that offended you. I didn’t mean to upset you, Cordelia.”

  “It’s fine,” she stated, blowing into her hands.

  Rogue pulled his gloves out of his pocket and handed them to her. “It’s a long ride home. Your hands will stay warm.”

  She didn’t know what to think.

  Cordelia was attracted to him, but the second he found out about her family, yeah…no. His mother didn’t like Charlotte, well, she wouldn’t like the daughter of a druggie whore and prison-lifer.

  What was she doing?

  She was a cop.

  Cordelia went to hand them back.

  “Please. Maybe if I see you again, we can get a drink or maybe…”

  She stopped him.

  “I can’t. Sorry.”

  Cordelia put on the gloves simply to give her an opportunity to look away from him. His eyes were hard to stare into when she had secrets too.

  “Are these fur inside?”

  “Yes, they’re rabbit. I’m still part Native, and we like to use all of the animal.”

  She wiggled her fingers.

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. If you’re ever in the neighborhood, feel free to ring the bell,” he said, as she opened the car door.

  God!

  He’d give away so much of his fortune to have her do just that.

  “Sure.”

  Rogue watched as the door closed, and then he stepped back as she pulled away. He watched her drive off, and the entire time, all he could think was it was definitely for the best.

  She was bad for him.

  Already, he wanted to chase her down, spill his guts, and protect her.

  He had to let her go, despite what he was feeling.

  Or he was screwed.

  * * * H U N T E R * * *

  Four Twenty-Five

  Chartres Street

  Monday

  Late

  Sarah and Dakota finally got enough food into Storm. It wasn’t easy. Carter Foley had treated her like an animal and programmed her to expect the worst.

  With a few hours, some kindness, and calm, she was eating and trying to fight off the sickness of withdrawal.

  Most importantly, they treated her like a human being. They wanted her to know that she was more than the slave she’d been relegated to, and it was working.

  She wasn’t fearing Dakota.

  She was bonding with Sarah.

  As the night progressed, they didn’t ask about her captivity. In the end, that helped more. Storm relaxed around them.

  It gave them hope that she would eventually be okay.

  Now she was in bed sleeping down the hall where Sarah could get to her if she needed someone.

  It was like having a new child. They expected nightmares and terror when she had them.

  As for them, something was up. Sarah was pacing, and Dakota knew something was very wrong. She’d been way too quiet, and she wasn’t a pacing kind of girl.

  Sarah just said what she was thinking.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, looking over his notes for tomorrow’s debriefing with the woman.

  “I need a favor.”

  “What?” he asked, curious as to what she’d ask for at that moment.

  “No, I need two.”

  “Okay, shoot.”

  “One, be patient with me if I piss you off.”

  He laughed.

  “I’ll have you know I’m the most patient person in this house. I’ll direct you to the holes in the walls. Those are exhibit A and B when it comes to Zayn’s control.”

  She didn’t laugh.

  That worried him.

  Sarah always laughed.

  ALWAYS.

  “Okay, what gives?”

  She was worried, but she was mostly worried about the woman down the hall.

  “She told us she doesn’t have a family.”

  He watched her.

  “And?”

  “Well, when she’s debriefed, where is she going to go?” she asked.

  He opened his mouth, but she cut him off.

  “She had a house and a car, but after a year, they are likely gone. She had a life, and it’s gone, Dak. We can’t send her out there and let her struggle. She needs someone to care. The FBI…they dropped the ball.”

  “Sarah, they didn’t. They didn’t know the one agent was working both sides. It’s on him, and he’s dead. Marshall Cameron made the choice to do this.”

  Yeah, and he got the easy way out.

  “Can we keep her?” she asked.

  “Sarah, she’s not a pet. She’s a person. We can’t just make a decision…”

  “I’ve never had sisters. When I saw her body and saw what she lived through, she became mine.”

  He let out a long breath.

  “You can’t make it personal. Once you make it personal, it’s going to be an issue.”

  That irritated her.

  He was the KING of making it personal.

  “Oh, okay, so we can stop looking for Bonnie then since your new motto is ‘don’t make it personal’.”

  He stared at her.

  Wow.

  He hadn’t been expecting that.

  AT ALL.

  “Touché. Do as I say, not as I do.”

  “She needs a family. I think we would be good for her. If she asks, please let her stay. I know she’s all kinds of angry and damaged, but she needs someone to care about her. We have to be those people. She needs us.”

  How could he be angry about that?

  “Sarah Valley, you have a huge heart,” he finally stated. “I have never met anyone quite like you. You fought for me, and now you’re fighting for her.”

  “Please, Dak. Please.”

  “I’ll talk to the team. That’s all I can do. This has to be a decision that Rogue and Zayn make too. I lead this bunch, but I’m not the one who makes all of the decisions. We are a team.”r />
  She wiped her eyes with the back of her hands.

  “Okay.”

  “Come here, honey.”

  Sarah crossed to him, and she stared up into his eyes. She loved the warm brown color. It made her feel happy, safe, and all of the things women should feel.

  “You’re my heart, Sarah.”

  The pain ebbed away, and Dakota wanted to give her more. So, he did.

  Pulling her into him, he tugged her mouth against his. The kiss he offered, gave her that safe place to hide. She needed a sanctuary.

  He would be it.

  Dakota knew that she’d need him to get through all of the things that were troubling her.

  “You’re my soul,” she said back when the kiss was broken.

  His arms came around her, offering so much peace as he simply held her until she was stronger.

  “Are you okay now?” he asked.

  “Yeah, but I could be better.”

  “Oh, how?”

  She smiled.

  Then found his mouth again with her own.

  Slowly, Sarah’s hands moved down his polo, until they found the bottom. She wanted to see him naked, and then he would distract her.

  Only breaking the kiss momentarily, Sarah pulled his shirt from his body as she moved even closer to him.

  “I love you,” she said, moving her mouth back to his. There was a hole in her heart for the woman down the hall, and only her Dakota could make it right.

  She believed in him.

  She trusted him.

  Dakota was the calm in the storm.

  Breaking the kiss, he stared into her eyes. “I’ll help you patch her back up, and I’ll promise not to get angry with you.”

  She smiled.

  That was what she needed.

  HIM.

  Sarah never loved anyone more than she did him, and she never would. She knew fate had given them a second chance, and she wouldn’t risk it.

  They were meant to be.

  “Let me heal you, Sarah,” he offered, wanting his girl to be happy. Well, that and she was rubbing against him. Dakota was easy.

  Easy in temperament.

  Easy in offering friendship.

  Easy in bed.

  She stepped back and began stripping. Only, she wasn’t alone. Dakota was hurriedly pulling off what was left of his clothes.

  When they were both naked, and much like the wild, stormy weather outside, they crashed back into each other—hands and mouths—wildly trying to find that pleasure.