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“I mean Charmaine disappeared earlier today.”

It felt as if a hammer had been smashed into my head. “How the fuck did that happen?”

“I don’t know all the details. She’d been in DC testifying at a grand jury hearing.”

“And you didn’t fucking protect her?” I was furious. I knew where the grand jury hearings were held and the area was highly protected. How in the hell had unauthorized assassins entered the building without alarm buzzers going off? Not possible.

Unless someone forgot to do their job.

“It’s not my place or my job, Maddox. You know that. The US Marshals had her transported safely, her travel itinerary unknown to all but a few people. She made it to the courtroom, which was locked down. She went to the restroom and that’s when she disappeared.”

“My God. What is it, amateur hour? There must be videos of where she went and who took her. For fuck’s sake. There are cameras every goddamn place. Every courthouse. Every public location. Where the fuck is she?”

I was yelling into the phone, pacing the floor as my fury only increased.

“Calm down, Maddox. The authorities are doing everything in their power to find out what happened.”

“Yeah? Well, just like my gut told me not to trust the bastards before, I’m telling you right now they had something to do with this. And if I find out they did, no one will be able to stop me.”

“Don’t fucking go off halfcocked. Just don’t do it. There are other things being done to find out what happened.”

“Why don’t you start with Alfaro? Huh? What about him?”

“I don’t know, Maddox. I swear to God. I’m not privy to certain information.”

“You expect me to believe that bullshit? You and whatever this secret thinktank is, you and the participants know a hell of a lot more.”

He sighed. “I wanted you to be aware.”

Now I laughed. “I’m glad you did. I’m going to fucking take care of this myself. “

“Maddox. No. That’s not why I?—”

I ended the call, tossing my phone onto the kitchen table. I slammed my hands on the table and leaned over. Catching my breath might be necessary, but right now, all I wanted to do was to beat the shit out of someone.

Yeah. Let one of those motherfuckers come to the door. He certainly wouldn’t like the condition he’d be in when he left.

Rearing back, I knew one thing I wouldn’t do was hang around and wait for news. Time was of the essence, although she could already be on a plane for El Salvador or worse. At this point, there were too many people on the list to know for certain who might be the person behind her kidnapping.

How could the fuckers be so stupid?

I turned around and immediately my anger got the best of me. I raked my arm across the counter, tossing the shit to the floor. What the hell did I care? I didn’t have anyone to clean up the mess for.

I’d leave tonight. Randy could take care of the ranch just like he’d done before. He knew what the hell he was doing.

I took long strides into my office, yanking out two duffle bags.

In the months since I’d returned from the extraction, I’d added to my collection of weapons.

I threw open the closet and unlocked the specialized gun cabinet I’d had made.

As soon as I opened both doors, a light turned on over my preferred rifles and handguns.

After selecting several, I moved to the explosives, adding to the collection in the bags. All I needed were a few items of clothing and I’d hit the road.

If all went well, I’d arrive in DC in less than two hours.

I headed to the stairs, dropping the bags at the bottom.

The knock on the door was as unexpected as the goddamn phone call had been.

I stared at the door for almost ten seconds before heading toward where I’d left my Glock.

With it in one hand, I carefully moved toward the door.

I didn’t bother looking out the window. Whoever was on my doorstep was unwanted.

I threw it open, immediately pulling the weapon into both hands.

“Maddox.”

The sound of the soft voice pushed me into a slight haze.

I turned on the light while holding my breath.

“Charmaine.” Her hair was entirely different, both in cut and color.

Yet there was no mistaking her beautiful face or the plump lips that I’d enjoyed ravaging.

With her wearing jeans and a heavy sweater, at first glance across the room, I might not have recognized her, but the electricity we shared would have given her away.

She was clinging to a computer bag, her purse slung over her shoulder. And she looked completely lost.

She nodded, trying to smile as she stared me in the eyes. “I hope you don’t mind me just stopping by. You did give me your address. I needed to talk to you. I needed to see you. I just… I just needed you.”

I glanced around her into the driveway. There were no other vehicles in sight. “How did you get here?”

“I hired an Uber from Winchester.”

“Winchester?” How in the hell did she get there?

“I rented a car in DC, but figured every rental car had a GPS, so I dropped it in Winchester.”

Laughing softly, I shook my head. “Smart. Did anyone follow the driver?”

“No. I was very careful. The driver dropped me off a half mile down the road. I headed into the woods and waited before I came to your door. Just to make certain there were no issues.”

What was really going on? She’d escaped on her own. What the hell was she trying to do, get herself killed?

“You are one bad woman. You took a huge risk.” I pulled her purse and bag from her hand, putting both on the floor. She didn’t object, but her body remained tense as she searched my eyes as if looking for assurances that coming here was acceptable.

Fuck, yes.

“I know I did, but I couldn’t stay away,” she added, obviously nervous. “I trust you. I know you won’t allow anything to happen to me.”

“Damn it, Char. Let’s get you inside.”

“Please. Just hold me.”

The haze was lifted. I slipped my arm around her waist, dragging her against me as I pulled us both into the house.

The need to touch and kiss her was overwhelming. All the emotions I’d experienced came rushing to the surface. I was crazed with desire, the need more intense than I could remember feeling.

As soon as I’d pulled her into safety, I captured her mouth, immediately thrusting my tongue inside. We both struggled to close the door, barely able to do so. I pulled her jacket off, dumping it on the floor, longing to feel the heat of her body.

I spun her around, pushing her against the wall and crushing my weight against her. The feeling of just having her close, of being able to inhale her sweet perfume was intoxicating as hell.

She rolled her arms around my neck, pulling her body even more tightly against mine. I dominated her tongue as I’d done before, but it was as if I was tasting her for the first time.

With my heart hammering in my chest, I realized just how lucky it was having her inside my home.

And how dangerous.

There were questions that needed answers, but right now, none of that mattered.

I picked her up off her feet and she immediately wrapped her legs around my hips.

As I carried her through the living room, the high was maintained.

I’d never thought I’d see her again and here she was in the flesh and blood.

I carried her in front of the fire, easing her down and breaking the kiss.

Without uttering a word, I dragged my tongue from one side of her jaw to the other while she moaned.

Her eyes were closed, her body finally starting to relax in my hold.

After nipping on her earlobe, I bit her neck.

Maybe I was hoping by marking her she’d truly be mine.

When she finally pushed me away, she darted her eyes back and forth across mine. “I’ve missed you.”

“You have, huh? How much?” My cock was already throbbing, shoved against the tight confines of my jeans.

Her smile becoming wider, she cupped my face, tickling my beard with her fingers. “How could I not miss this face?” She pulled at my shirt, yanking the edge from my jeans. I allowed her to take control, rolling the material over my head and pitching it aside.

With the hunger only increasing, I used both hands, grabbing her by the sweater and pulling her forward. “You had me worried.”

“I can handle myself. I told you that.”

“Uh-huh. You just think you can.” I ripped off her sweater, taking another deep breath.

She was even more beautiful than I’d remembered, every inch of her skin shimmering.

I immediately cupped both breasts, rolling my thumbs back and forth across her nipples.

They were already hard and almost instantly her breath turned shallow.

I bit down on one through the lace, longing to rip the material. She laughed, the sound filled with nervous energy. As I tugged both sides away, exposing her hardened buds, she let off a strangled moan.

“I’ve missed this.”

Her words fueled the already roaring fire.

Could she have any idea how many nights I’d thought about the passion we’d shared?

Could she know how lonely it had felt without having her near, even when giving me shit?

She couldn’t understand she was the first woman to remind me that being alive was special.

The woman had become the air I’d breathed and without it, I’d simply existed.

She pursed her soft lips and reached for my belt. As we’d experienced before, the need was building, our longing to touch and taste overpowering everything else.

We struggled with each other, yanking clothes and pulling off shoes until we were finally able to press our naked bodies against one another.

She was hot to the touch, but it was the way the tips of her fingers caressed my skin that created a firestorm.

The desire to be inside of her was overpowering.

Yet I needed to taste her. All of her. As soon as I dropped to my knees, she threw her head back and fisted my hair.

“What are you doing?” she mewed.