Page 19

The Following Day

Through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the penthouse suite, I watched Santari cut through the private pool’s water with smooth strokes.

The morning sun caught the droplets that flew from her arms, making them sparkle against her rich mahogany skin.

My need to keep her close hadn’t diminished since the warehouse but watching her move with such freedom, eased the tightness in my chest.

The laptop screen glowed with information about Aaron—the man who’d helped us find her.

His file painted a mundane picture: He was a mid-level staffer at Santari and Storm’s university, married for fifteen years, and had two kids in private school.

Nothing about his portfolio explained his connection to professional killers.

My fingers tapped the keyboard as I dug deeper. Bank records showed regular deposits from shell companies. Each one led to another dead end, but the pattern was clear. Someone with resources was covering their tracks.

Santari emerged from the pool with water streaming down her curves. The sight of her wrapped in a towel made my dick throb, but business had to come first.

She entered and disappeared around a corner, then strolled to my side minutes later, dressed in a strapless shirt and mini skirt.

“I’m going to make a quick run,” she said, kissing my face then turning to slip away. I grabbed her ass and pulled her back to me.

“Where are you going?”

Her mouth curved into a sexy smile, and her tongue touched the corner of her mouth.

“To the store a few floors down.”

“Tell me what you need, and I’ll have them bring it up.”

“That’s just the thing, my love, I want to go myself.”

I stood up. “Okay. Let’s go to the store.”

She placed her hands on my chest. “Nooo. Sit down, please, and finish doing what you were doing.”

I stared at her inquisitively. “Should I be concerned that you want time away from me?”

She gawked, her eyes rising. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m just going to the store. It won’t take me long.” She frowned. “Is security not tight in your hotel?”

“You know it is.”

“And can you see every move I make even from this spot you’re in?”

“That’s not the point.”

“Actually, it is.”

“When I found out you were kidnapped, I punched Storm in his jaw for taking his eyes off you.”

She gasped and took a step back, but I leaned forward, locking her between the counter.

“That means if I take my eyes off you, and something happens to you, I’ll have to let him return the favor – and not only is that shit never happening, but I won’t let anything happen to you on my watch. Do you understand, Santari?”

She framed my face with her hands and kissed my lips.

“It was not his fault. Please don’t fight like that again.”

“It was a rare occurrence.”

“You know that hurts me to hear, right?”

My brows dipped. “How do you think I hurt to find out unknown enemies had captured you?”

She swallowed and nodded. “I understand.”

“Trust me, you don’t. The last thing I was thinking about was hurting Storm. Besides, he’s a big boy. He can handle himself.”

A saddened expression filled her eyes. “You guys aren’t supposed to be fighting. You…”

“Calm down.” I pressed my forehead against hers, closed my eyes, and reopened them. “We would never hurt each other intentionally. I had a moment. That’s it. I only told you so you’ll understand that neither I, nor Storm, or Cruz can lose you again.”

“No one can get to me here, so why are you worried?”

I inhaled a deep breath, my nostrils flaring. “Fifteen minutes.”

She kissed my lips and quickly left the suite. I switched to the security monitors and followed her progress to the elevator, and then the store.

My phone buzzed, and I glanced at the screen lying face up in the corner next to the laptop.

Storm sent his latest intel on Aaron’s movements.

Aaron had the same routine every day. He went to work, returned home, and had occasional stops at a coffee shop.

There was nothing suspicious. But men like him didn’t help kidnappers out of nowhere.

Someone had leverage on him or something worth hiding.

The elevator dinged, and Santari emerged with grocery bags from the store downstairs. The sight of her doing something so ordinary while I was searching for the people responsible for taking her was what normal living with us was like. I took the bags off her hands and sat them on the counter.

“See, it didn’t take me long, did it?” She said, putting away groceries.

I growled, and her soft laugh aroused me. “Someone went through a lot of trouble to hide their tracks.” I clicked through more records. “The guy who assisted us in finding you is just the surface.”

She approached me, sliding her hands over my shoulders. “You’ll find them.”

“I already have.” I pulled up Aaron’s address, memorizing the layout. “Tonight.”

Her fingers dug into my muscles. “Want company?”

“No. This requires... finesse.”

She laughed, the sound risqué and ravenous. “Since when have you done anything with finesse?”

I drew her hand to my mouth. My teeth pinched her palm as I bit. “Since I need information more than blood. For now.”

Santari got cozy on the couch, reading a book while I pieced together fragments of data. Hours passed when the Miami sunset spilled through our window in shades of fire. This was perfect timing for what I was about to do.

I changed into dark clothes and checked my weapons. No guns tonight. Those were too loud for a family neighborhood, and I only used my silencer for more intense situations. But my knife was sharp, and my hands were enough for the rest.

“Be careful,” Santari said as I headed for the door.

I paused, drinking in the sight of her. The woman who’d killed her first man smiled through the blood. Who’d walked into the darkness and welcomed her change naturally set my soul on fire.

“You mean the other guy, right?”

She pursed her lips, tossed her book, left the couch, and ran to me, jumping into my arms. Our mouths crashed together, and I inhaled her tongue as heat moved straight to my dick.

“Santari…”

“I said be careful.”

I sucked off her lips. “I will.”

She gyrated, and I squeezed her ass, slapped it, then sat her down on her feet. “Change of plans. Get your things. I’m taking you home.”

She frowned. “I am home.”

I smirked. “Your other home – The Omega House.”

Her eyes brightened. “Okay.” She rushed to grab her purse, and we left.

At The Omega House, Santari entered with a tune on her lips. I turned my lips up and whistled. Storm was the first to enter the living room from the kitchen. With his hands behind his back, he strolled to Santari and produced a bouquet of red and black roses.

“For me?” Santari crooned, taking the roses and sticking her face in the petals.

“Forever only you.”

Her face darkened from a blush, and distant footsteps took my attention to Cruz when he entered with an apple in his hand.

He glanced from me to Santari and back to me with a scowl.

“Where the fuck are you going?”

“Damn, nigga, where’s your fuckin’ fruit basket or some shit for Santari? Instead of being like Storm and bringing gifts, you come in here questioning a real nigga.”

“Motherfucker.” He glared at me. “I got this. You ain’t got to worry about that. Where the fuck are you going? Don’t bullshit me.”

“I’m not going to kill motherfuckers so calm the fuck down. I’ve got a lead. I’ll be back. Keep your eyes on my Goddess.”

“Nigga, I’m going with you.”

I glared at him. “Do you really wanna fight? Cause I’m not arguing with you.”

“Damn, it’s like that?”

Storm dropped his head back. “Isn’t it obvious Titan wants you to stay here with Santari because he doesn’t believe I can keep her safe?”

Santari’s eyes widened, and she looked at me. “You don’t believe that do you, baby?”

My nostrils flared, and I pointed at Cruz. “See what you’ve done.” I turned to leave.

“Titan.”

I paused with one foot out the door and looked back at Storm.

“I promised it would never happen on my watch again, didn’t I?”

“Storm, Cruz, Santari, listen… time is of the essence. I’ve got to do this now. No one is blaming anyone for shit. Just… stay together, aight?”

Santari strolled to me, her eyes searching mine as if looking for answers.

“I’m fine.”

“I know.”

“Nothing’s going to happen to me again.”

I gritted my teeth and spoke through them. “I know.”

“Do you? You seem worried, and I want you to relax.”

I faced her. “I will relax when the person responsible for taking you, murdering Rev, and trying to pick us off one by one is dead.” I peered at her. “You understand me, lover?”

She sucked in a breath. “If you’re going to kill someone, take Cruz with you.”

“Thank you!” Cruz shouted.

“Y’all are driving me crazy.” I left the house and jumped in my Range, pulling away from the curb before Cruz could jump in my passenger seat.

The Miami night cloaked me in darkness, and I blended with the shadows as I drove to Aaron’s suburban home. A soccer mom minivan was in the driveway. A basketball hoop hung over the garage. This nigga was living the American fucking dream – or at least he pretended to be.

I parked three blocks away and approached on foot. I would’ve taken the Solar Beam, but the engine would wake the entire neighborhood.

The security system was basic—a standard issue from some corporate provider. It was child’s play to bypass, and the back door’s lock took seconds to pick.

Inside, the house was dark except for the soft glow of nightlights.

Family photos lined the walls—Aaron with his wife and kids.

Their smiling faces taunted the violence that had brought me here.

While children were off limits, I would leave their father’s head on the kitchen table for them to find if he didn’t give me what I came for.

Movement in the kitchen took my attention to a shape outlined against the fridge’s light.

Aaron.

I stayed in the shadows, watching him pour a glass of water. When he closed the fridge, he saw my reflection in the back door’s window.