HIS Choice: An H.I.S. Novel (H.I.S. series Book 2) (21 page)

The winds howled outside, the snow blew in all directions. The quiet, cozy hotel room provided AJ and Megan with a short reprieve from reality. Looking out the window, he took note of every vehicle that departed and arrived during the night. He didn’t see them, but he knew his brother and sister-in-law took turns watching the hotel, providing them with an extra level
of security.

That had been the only reason he’d allowed himself and Megan the sexual diversion. He wouldn’t put her life at risk just to get some. Even if that some came
from her.

He needed to be out there. On the streets. Not holed up here with a woman who had the girl next door look during the day, but was a tigress at night. The perfect combination in
his book.

The air crackled the moment she stepped into the room. Her light, fruity scented perfume drifted his way, and he felt himself stir. Damn. Normally he would have tired of a woman already. This had to be the shittiest time in his life to be attracted to a good woman. A woman he could see a life with, but could never
have it.

More weight added itself to his already heavy heart. But she was his
for now.

“I really like this hair color. It’
s fun.”

He didn’t turn around. “It looks good on you. But so did your natural color.” Hell, with her, blonde or auburn worked for him. He imagined anything would work. As long it
was hers.

“Is it okay to use the laundry room? Everything I have is dirty. I’ve already worn this sweater
and jeans.”

The thought of her with no underwear shot desire to his already aching groin. “As long as I’m with you.” A snapshot of taking her on top of the washing machine flashed in his mind. He dropped his head and sighed. They had to
leave soon.

“Okay. Where’s
the newspaper?”

He turned and pointed to the desk, waiting to see her face. Her excitement and joy when she saw her article on the front page brought short bursts of lightness to his
dark world.

The public loved her. Her story would excite them and then have them fearing for her life. She bumped herself back to the main story on the
national news.

Reading the article, she absently picked up the cup he’d placed before her and took a drink, her eyes never leaving
the newspaper.

He chuckled.

“I can’t believe it. Front page again, above the fold.” She turned that bright smile his way. Something shifted inside him. If only things could have been different.
If only.

“You’re big news, my little dove. Of course, they’d put your message on the front page. They love you and are happy you’
re alive.”

She frowned. “I don’t know what I’ll do next. My sources haven’t found
anything new.”

“How about some breakfast? Scrambled eggs
and bacon?”

“You don’t have to cook. I can
do it.”

He removed the items from the refrigerator and set them on the counter. “You cook lunch and dinner. It’s the least that I
can do.”

He didn’t understand why he hadn’t told her that he could help with her next article. He couldn’t wrap his mind around why he worried what Magic Shop would do to her if she wrote any more. They were already trying to kill her. And with her tenacity, keeping her alive will be harder than he
ever imagined.

Guilt settled in his stomach. His selfishness of keeping her with him could mean her life. He would do everything he could to protect her. She deserved that
from him.

“Breakfast is ready,” he called
to her.

She sauntered to the table and sat. “Mm, this looks good.
Thank you.”

He cleared his throat. “It’s time for me to help you with
Magic Shop.”

Megan gasped and looked at him. “Really?”

AJ stopped his fork midway to his mouth. “Yeah. Really.”

“Oh my God! You probably know so much.” She almost bounced out of the chair
with excitement.

Making her happy drove a rush of warmth unlike any he’d ever known through his veins creating a lightheadedness that relaxed his muscles beginning with his head and sliding down to his toes. This woman caused more emotions in him then he
thought possible.

“I can’t wait to hear what information you have.” She pushed her plate away. “Do you know
the bosses?”

She started to rise from
the table.

“Sit and eat,” he commanded. “We’ll talk when we’
re finished.”

She pulled her plate back to her and pushed her eggs around. He held back a smile. Patience was not one of
her virtues.

“What made you change
your mind?”

He swallowed and thought for a moment about how to explain it to her without her overzealousness taking flight. “It’s time to begin disrupting his business.” She’d only have small stuff to work with until it was time to initiate
his plan.

“You know the police won’t do anything
about them.”

“You of all people should know the power of the press. With enough coverage and pressure, they’ll have to do something. They won’t take the Magician down. But that’s okay, we will.” He’d resolved himself to a ‘we’ instead of an ‘I’.

“Yes, we will”
She nodded.

He pushed the lump blocking his throat down. He had to try. “Megan, I’m not sure the payment for doing this is worth avenging your brother. If you’re on the street, there’s a chance they’ll kill you. Being dead won’t help you find your brother’s killer. I can do this alone. I can still take you to my brother’s home where it’
s safe.”

She jumped up from the table and knocked over her chair, the sound ricocheting around the hotel room. “Are you kidding me? I may have started this for my brother, but I’m doing this for me now. They tried to kill me, AJ! They are still trying to kill me. There’s no way I’m walking away. If you don’t want me with you, then let me
know now.”

Oh, he wanted her with him. He studied her. He had to take her with him to keep her safe. She’d never make it on her own. She’d already proven that when she hadn’t listened to him about reporting what she’d witnessed to
the police.

“Okay then. Let’s
get started.”

Megan spread her photos and notes over the
clean table.

“Tell me what you know,”
he urged.

“I spent most of the last month getting information from my sources. They’re not part of Magic Shop, so information was limited. They gave me names and helped me understand how things on the drug side were run. I thought I could expose the head of the organization straight away. I just can’t fathom that no one knows who he is. I wonder if even his bosses know who
he is.”

She glanced at him as if gauging his reaction. “Anyway, it wasn’t until recently that I realized I had to start one layer at a time, beginning with the street dealers while Victoria tackled the prostitution side. We’ve yet to find
an overlap.”

The thought of her in that neighborhood, especially at night, without protection, shot a ball of anger surging forward. “Do you know how dangerous that was? Walking around was one thing, but they wouldn’t have hesitated to kill you had they caught you
taking pictures.”

Megan huffed. “I can take a photo without someone knowing it. No one
bothered me.”

“That’s because they were told to avoid you. They wanted to stay out of the newspaper. It’s the same with the other reporter except she’s not running around snapping pictures and printing articles. She’s just
being nosy.”

“Humph. Well, I know they layer things. I received a tip from a source and found Keyshawn dealing in the open. By the way, he’s not very happy
with me.”

AJ chuckled. “Of course, he’s not. You put him out of business for a while. If he’s not selling, he’s not getting paid. He had to hide out from the police too. Even corrupt police officers will arrest street dealers from time to time, to make it look like they’re doing something. Street dealers
are expendable.”

She rolled her eyes. “He called me with a
death threat.”

AJ’s back snapped straight. “What do you mean death threat? Why didn’t you tell me about it?” He knew Keyshawn had been pissed, but AJ hadn’t expected him to take it that far. Dealers weren’t supposed to touch reporters. That was a job only
for enforcers.

“I did tell you when you came to my house that I had a death threat. I just never said who it was from. And it could have been the councilman’s office. It doesn’t matter now since we’re on the run for our
lives anyway.”

Valid point. What the hell kind of profession did she have? Did all reporters live with
death threats?

“I’m sorry. I didn’t pay attention. My mind had been diverted to other things.” He flashed a half-smile and
a wink.

Pink crept up her neck to her cheeks. So
damn adorable.

Shifting in the chair, she took a minute before responding. “Well, good riddance to him. I know his boss is Jimmy, but I haven’t been able to locate him. I thought following the dealer might lead me to him, but then you got to Keyshawn and, well,
you know.”

He’d stood there while Hank delivered Magic Shop punishment. Things began sliding downhill for her from there. His visit, her observing a murder, his kidnapping her, her being shot at. She couldn’t say she hadn’t had a few
interesting days.

She frowned. “My sources couldn’t help me
find him.”

“Unless they’re a dealer, they probably wouldn’t know where to find him. He’s good at keeping a low profile.” He cleared his throat. “Jimmy is an escaped convict. His real name is Hugh Brown. He paid to be broken out of a New Mexico prison a few
years ago.”

Her hand covered her mouth on a gasp. “What? An escaped convict. Why hasn’t anyone
arrested him?”

It always sounded so easy. Just arrest him. Little did
she know.

“After the initial prison break, the convict’s photo is plastered on the news, but the story eventually fades and people forget. Plus, Jimmy is far away from home and under the Magician’s protection so even if anyone suspected he was Hugh Brown, they wouldn’t open their mouths
about it.”

“How do you know all
of this?”

“I make it my business to know everything about those I’m
working with.”

“This would bring him off the street and get him arrested. We should call the FBI or the U.S. marshals and let them know that he’
s here.”

“That’s the plan. We need him for our plan so that means you can’t print this story, yet. Otherwise, we’ll never find him when we need him. We’re not ready for him to get
picked up.”

“What is
our plan?”

“Later.” He hated to flatten the hope floating in her eyes but it had to
be done.

“Dang it, AJ! You said you’d share
with me.”

Angry yet not cursing made her the most precious woman in his eyes. “I am. Just not our plan yet. We’ll go through that
soon enough.”

Wheels turned but he couldn’t figure out where her thoughts were headed. Too many expressions flashed across
her face.

Surprising him, she nodded. “May I at least expose him as part of the drug ring? I won’t use
his photo.”

He sighed. He knew she’d have a tough time handling this. “Not yet. He could go underground. I want him arrested when the right time comes. Now, what else do
you know?”

She narrowed her eyes and him before she turned back to the table. “At first I thought the Magician might be a policeman, but now I’m
not sure.”

AJ raised an eyebrow. “What makes you
say that?”

“Well, why stay in a dangerous job if you’re wealthy
and powerful?”

“The rush? The power? Remember firemen who become arsonists? There are many reasons he
might stay.”

“Yeah. Well, I think he’s
a businessman.”

“Interesting. What else do
you know?”

“That’s about it. I told you I hadn’t been working
it long.”

He held his hands up. “That’
s okay.”

“I have these photos.” She gestured to the ones scattered on the table.

“You have many dealers here.” He picked up a photo and whistled. “You did well, Megan. This is a top man. Carl Smith runs the entire drug ring. He’s an escaped convict also. His real name is George Savage, escaped from Nevada. The crime boss has a soft spot for
escaped convicts.”

“Is that a photo of him?” She attempted to snatch the photo
from him.

“He’s right here with Jimmy.” AJ set the photo on the table and turned it to face her. It was the same photo he’d seen earlier with three bosses. He pointed
out Carl.

She bit her
bottom lip.

That made him want to take it in his mouth and…He cleared his throat to halt his
wayward thoughts.

“Do you know who the third
man is?”

He shrugged. “I have a hunch.” Of course he knew but refused to tell her at this point. Paul White is the boss of the prison break team. If AJ told her, she’d connect
the dots.

“How will we find out who he is?” She picked up the photo. “This is one of the photos my contacts haven’t seen. They might be able to help. Oh, do you think he’s the one that runs prostitution? I showed it to Victoria but she hadn’t seen any of them. She took copies to her sources though. Just
in case.”