The Ex Assignment (Rogue Protectors Book 1) Read online

  When she got to her bedroom, she unbuckled her holster and deposited her gun in the nightstand drawer, then she checked messages from Division.

  Nada. They were leaving her alone, but that wouldn’t last. Declan’s involvement was going to raise a lot of questions and she was already trying to formulate a cover up in her head if Internal Affairs got involved.

  But first, she needed a shower.

  She grabbed her robe and a change of underwear and headed to the bathroom. There, she let the hot spray wash away the grit of the day. As she mulled over the many questions she had for ex-husband number one, she found herself getting more and more pissed at him. Why couldn’t he leave well enough alone? Why dig up the past and subject them to this emotional torture? Hadn’t they gone through enough?

  Why did he walk back into her life when she needed to concentrate on the biggest case of her career?

  At least they got Ortega and it was looking more like he put the hit on Peter as well. It was too soon to jump to conclusions, though. She’d rarely stepped inside Peter’s Beverly Hills mansion so it might be difficult to positively ID any of the items in the crime lord’s possession. She’d hate to bring Theo into this, so she’d let Nadia do her magic first. And if that laptop was confirmed to be Peter’s? She closed her eyes as the synapses in her brain fired wildly. She was off the case and she had plenty on her plate to manage. First of all, sleep. The shower relaxed her muscles and she could almost fall asleep on her feet.

  After toweling herself dry and donning a robe, she wrapped a towel around her head and exited the bathroom.

  And stopped in her tracks.

  Declan was sitting on her bed, back against the headboard. His hair was wet and he was wearing a tee and athletic shorts. How long had she been in the shower?

  “Glad to see you didn’t drown.”

  “Ha ha,” Gabby said with more candor than she intended. She glanced at her door. “Did you just break into my room?”

  He nodded at the set of keys by the nightstand. “Not a break in if I have those.”

  “Having the keys doesn’t give you the right to go through a locked door without permission.” She instinctively tightened the belt of her robe, drawing Declan’s intent gaze to the action. “What do you want?”

  “Thought you wanted to talk. Explain my presence at the raid.”

  “You bring all kinds of trouble, don’t you, Declan Roarke?”

  He swung his legs to the floor, surged up and stalked toward her, erasing any smidgen of personal space. “And you take too many risks.”

  “You make it sound as if I was reckless. I wasn’t. I was simply investigating the clinic. I had backup.”

  “And the cartel guys just happened to drive up?”

  Despite her resolve not to mention his suspicious appearance at the clinic, she blurted out. “How about you? How do you explain your presence there?”

  “I was in the neighborhood.”

  This pissed her off. “Damn you, Roarke. You get to know my business, but you get to keep all yours?”

  “Don’t turn this back on me.” His voice became deceptively low, a sign that he was about to lose his temper, but Gabby had already gone through several cycles of that emotion on her own and she was beyond caring.

  “It has everything to do with you!” she fumed. “You interfered in a police operation. The captain could have you arrested.”

  “After I helped you guys beat back the cartel soldiers?” Declan’s head reared back incredulously.

  “That’s not the point!”

  “Well, kindly explain the point.”

  “If you got hurt, can you imagine what hell Division would answer for?”

  “Fucking hell, Gab, glad to know that your division’s welfare is more important than my damned life,” he derided.

  “That’s not fair. Stop twisting my words!” God! He was infuriating, and she had the strongest compulsion to stomp her foot. “Clearly this is not the time to discuss this.”

  “This is the perfect time to discuss this.” His face darkened to the color of rosewood, the vein in his neck apparent.

  “I don’t think so.” Gabby pivoted away, indicating the end of this discussion. “Kindly leave and lock the door behind you,” she threw over her shoulder.

  She didn’t manage one step toward the bathroom when fingers gripped her bicep and swung her back. Somehow, she expected this and something inside her snapped.

  Yes, she was prepared as she gripped the wrist of the hand that was holding her, but she’d underestimated her ex-husband. Declan quickly had both her wrists manacled behind her back, and her breasts were slammed into a wall of muscle.

  “I’m not some damned patrol officer you can order about,” he said, eyes glittering ominously.

  “Let me go,” she gritted out.

  “Or what, Detective?” he taunted. “You gonna arrest me?”

  She struggled. But when it came to brute force, Declan was superior in strength, and he was holding her in a way that limited her movements and that angered her even more. They wrestled against each other, tightly entwined. Gabby thought she heard him groan as she strained against his body, her robe coming loose, one flap falling off her shoulder. The towel fell off her head, hair spilling out in wet curls around her face.

  Suddenly he let go, stepping back, taking her in. The fury in his eyes morphed into that familiar heated lust and the area between her legs pulsed wet heat.

  “Fuck this,” he muttered, moving forward and grabbing both sides of her face, his mouth crashed down on hers, sparking every nerve ending in her body.

  She gasped. His tongue took advantage and dipped in. Every hard part of his body molded to her softness, and she was spun, backed against the bed, and they fell on the mattress. Declan continued to kiss her feverishly. His hands roaming the contours of her body with desperation, fingers seeking the heat between her thighs and he stroked her wet folds, eliciting a moan from her.

  A choked sound came from the back of his throat as he continued his exploration, one hand coming up, cupping a breast, squeezing, thumb flicking a nipple, and her whole body ignited.

  He broke the kiss only to continue down her chin, her neck, and then lower. Wetness circled a nipple and Gabby couldn’t help arching up for more. Meanwhile a finger entered her, sliding in and out.

  “You’re begging for me right here,” Declan murmured as he continued to pump his fingers into her sex as his mouth moved down to her belly.

  Her fingers dug into the sheets, legs thrashing in anticipation. His tongue hit her core and jolted her spine. She grabbed his head to stop him.

  “Dec, we shouldn’t.” Her voice came out breathless.

  His answer was to lick her harder and faster. His tongue speared her entrance, causing her thighs to squeeze his head. Another moan escaped her mouth as heat built in her pelvis and she was squirming for that release … and then.

  Pounding on the door.

  The delicious lashing of his tongue stopped, and Dec’s head came up as he glanced in the direction of the interruption.

  “Roarke in there?”

  Theo.

  “I’m going to kill that kid,” Declan growled softly.

  A sheen of sweat bloomed over her skin as mortification hit her. Gabby scrambled to a sitting position, glaring at Declan between her spread thighs, their position a testament to how far the situation had gotten.

  “Now what?” she whispered in panic, eyes wide.

  “What do you want, kid?” Dec called out.

  “Have to talk to you about tomorrow’s plans.”

  “Tell Levi. I’m not your security anymore.”

  “What?”

  “Go ask Levi.”

  Gabby already gathered her robe and was getting off the bed when Declan stopped her.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.

  “What are you doing in there with my sister?” Theo continued talking through the door.

  “Declan will be o
ut in a minute!” Gabby called.

  “What are you guys doing in there?” the teenager insisted.

  “That kid isn’t fucking serious,” Declan muttered. “Come here.” He pulled Gabby toward him and gave her a quick kiss. “We’re not finished.”

  “Oh, yes, we are,” Gabby returned. “We can’t do this.”

  “Roarke? Are you coming out?” Theo wasn’t going anywhere.

  “Fucking kid.” Declan got off the bed and stalked toward the door, ignoring Gabby’s What do you think you’re doing?

  He opened it a crack to speak to her brother. “Be with you in a minute. Go wait in the living room or be prepared to hear things you’d rather not.”

  Theo made a gagging sound, but Gabby heard his footsteps filter away and made a dash for the bathroom, but Dec caught her around the waist.

  “Dec!”

  “Where do you think you’re going?”

  Gabby tipped her head toward the rumpled sheets. “That shouldn’t have happened.”

  “That’s what you think? ‘Coz I seem to remember you moaning and pushing that pussy against my mouth.”

  Her cheeks were on fire. “Don’t be crass.”

  “Crass? You liked my dirty mouth, remember?” He surveyed her up and down. “I don’t think LA has turned you into a nun.”

  “Don’t be hateful.”

  The mocking in his eyes died and his gaze dropped to the floor. “We still haven’t talked about how to address my presence at the raid.”

  “Consultant.”

  His gaze snapped back to hers and a dark brow rose. “Of what?”

  “I’ll figure something out or you can think of something.”

  “I’ll run it by Levi and Kade.”

  “Not Mr. G?”

  A slow smile broke through his face. “Can’t get anything by you, can I, Angel?”

  “I’d like to see you try.” She took a step toward the bathroom and nodded to the door. “Better see what Theo wants before he comes back … Dad.”

  At his pained face, Gabby laughed. “I’m glad I have you to pawn him off to.”

  “He doesn’t like me much,” he said it with a self-deprecating twist to his mouth, but there was a flash of frustration on his face.

  Gabby didn’t know why she did it, but she couldn’t help bumping his shoulder gently with a fist. “He’ll come around.”

  Declan sighed. “Not sure about that.” He smiled at her. “He likes you though.”

  Gabby didn’t deny it, remembering Theo’s concern when she came home. “Does it bother you?”

  His brows furrowed. “Not at all. In fact …” his words trailed off.

  She cocked her head, waiting for him to elaborate.

  He shook his head as if changing his mind. “You’re right. He’ll come around.” There was something in his eyes that communicated ‘later’ and there was a reluctance in his gait as he headed to her door. He exited the room without looking back.

  “And that’s that,” Gabby said to the wall, but an uneasiness coiled in her gut. Declan wanted to tell her something but changed his mind. All signs pointed that it was about Theo and she was either too tired to press him, or she was just plain chicken shit to talk about it.

  13

  Gabby slept like the dead for twelve hours. She woke up more refreshed than she’d ever been. This wasn’t new. She’d have days where she’d operate with a buzz followed by days she’d walk around like a zombie and that was when she knew a recharge was needed. Which was why she blocked everything from her mind except the need for sleep. If she didn’t, she’d be useless to everyone.

  Her stomach grumbled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten before bed. Exiting her bedroom, she headed to the kitchen and noticed light flickering in the darkness, most likely from the television. She had an idea who it was. She’d been a teenager once.

  Theo sat in the middle of a sectional sofa with earphones on, eyes focused on the screen with his hands on a gaming controller. She wondered if she should just return to her bedroom, but she was really hungry, and she’d be damned if she’d tiptoe around her brother for three months. Might as well establish a comfortable coexistence—“comfortable” being a relative term.

  His eyes flicked briefly in her direction.

  “Feeling better?” he asked, still riveted on the screen.

  “Like a champ.” She shrugged. “Concussion feels like a memory.” Turning her attention to the TV, she asked, “Whatcha playing?”

  “Call of Duty.” He paused the game and gave her his full attention, yanking off his headphones. “You know how to play?”

  Gabby shook her head. “Not really. That’s Kelso’s territory.” She pointed to the kitchen. “Going to grab something to eat. Want anything?”

  In the dim light of the living room, Theo’s face was shadowed, his eyes dark, but they were studying her. “If I say I do, are you going to eat with me or retreat to the bedroom?”

  “I was planning to eat with you. Bring something here. So we could kick back and chat.” Gabby frowned. “Got a problem with that?”

  “Nah … figured you would.” Theo cocked his head. “I believe there’s some of that mac and cheese left. Your Captain … Mitchell?”

  “Yes?”

  “His wife dropped by with some fried chicken.” His teeth flashed briefly. “Sorry. We ate it all.”

  Gabby chuckled as she made her way to the kitchen. “Guess that’s expected with teenagers in the house.”

  From her peripheral vision, she saw her brother rise from the couch and follow her to the kitchen. The under-cabinet lights were on, so she didn’t have to fumble her way toward it. She flicked on the main switch and flooded the area with light. She took out the lone aluminum pan in the fridge and set it on the counter, and took a peek at the mac and cheese. “You guys did put a dent in this. There’s probably two cups of mac and cheese left in here.” She wondered why no one transferred it into a smaller container instead of squeezing the aluminum pan in the refrigerator. “You want this?”

  Theo shrugged. “What will you eat?”

  She glanced back into the depths of the fridge and saw some Chinese takeout containers. Her empty stomach roiled. Nope. Not at four in the morning. She spotted a few apples in the produce drawer and her mouth watered, hoping the rest of the ingredients were handy.

  Grabbing the fruit, she walked over to the pantry.

  “That’s not gonna hold you.” The teenager informed her.

  “No shit,” she said. Her eyes fell on the whole-grain bread and peanut butter. “Hallelujah.” She turned to Theo, a triumphant smile on her face. “I’m good with this.”

  Her brother looked at her doubtfully. “That’ll be enough?”

  “Carbs, protein, and fat,” she declared. “Perfect balance.”

  Theo rubbed the stubble on his jaw, still not looking too impressed. “Mind if I try it with you?”

  Gabby hitched her shoulders, indicating she didn’t mind, while Theo put the mac and cheese back in the fridge.

  A few minutes later, she had arranged several pieces of bread smeared with the organic peanut butter from the farmer’s market. Then she topped them off with slices of apple. She ordered Theo to make some coffee—a no brainer— since one corner of the kitchen was a barista’s dream coffee station with a setting that made a carafe of coffee at the touch of the button.

  The click-clack of the coffee maker graduated to the loud grinding of coffee beans. Gabby wondered if they would wake up Declan or Levi, but maybe the cinder block walls were a good insulation against the noise. She barely heard anything from the outside when she was in her bedroom, which was good and bad, considering the situation.

  “I don’t think I saw Emma today,” Gabby remarked as she walked over to the living room holding her platter of peanut-butter apple sandwiches.

  “She didn’t have any lines to rehearse,” Theo mumbled, setting the coffee and a carton of milk on the coffee table. “Crap. Mugs.”

  Gabby switched
on a lampshade and sat, eyeing her creation. Not waiting for Theo, she took a slice and started munching. Funny how something as simple as a peanut butter toast was imminently satisfying when you hadn’t eaten for eighteen hours. Her brother returned and poured the brew into a mug and handed her the milk. When she was done, he poured his own then he sat down beside her and grabbed a piece of bread, eyeing it suspiciously before taking a bite, then another.

  “Well?” Gabby asked when he polished off his first slice.

  He went for another one and shrugged. “It’s okay.”

  When Gabby didn’t say anything, he smirked. “What? It’s nothing special. It’s peanut butter and bread.”

  “Such appreciation,” she mocked and helped herself to another one.

  “Kidding,” he chuckled. “It’s good. Okay?”

  They ate together in silence. After Gabby satisfied her gnawing hunger pangs and got more energized by the dose of caffeine, she asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be laying off those video games?”

  “I’m fine, Mom.” As soon as the words came out of his mouth, a stricken look came over his face. “Sorry. You must hate Claudette. If it’s any consolation, I call her Claudette or Mother.” He looked away. “I kinda get your dislike for me. You’re not even really my sister and Peter kept forcing me on you to make a relationship.

  “I know you and Dad had issues,” he continued. “Claudette made it sound like you were a bad influence on me, which by the way is one of the reasons why she and I don’t get along. At first, I believed her, but then the few times Dad talked about you, there was regret in his voice.”

  “He talked about me?”

  Theo gave a sad smile. It pained him still to talk about Peter no matter how much he tried to hide behind a mask of teenage arrogance. “He did. He was very proud of Dead Futures. We watched it together, you know. When I was ten.”

  “You did?” she whispered, emotions for her father she thought she’d never feel again formed a lump in her throat. She released a deep breath as the first wave of grief she was waiting for swelled. She pinched the corners of her eyes.