HIS Choice: An H.I.S. Novel (H.I.S. series Book 2) (22 page)

Shit. This Victoria had best watch her back if she shows that photo around. “First, you need to tell your friend to keep that photo secret. If she shows it around she’ll be in the same situation as
you are.”

Megan’s eyes widened and
she nodded.

“I think my informants should see the photos first.” Only a handful of people knew Paul and his standing in the organization. They weren’t people on the street but one of her damned sources already knew too much. Who’s to say he might by chance know about this boss? No. He couldn’t know about the prison escapes, or he’d have already informed Megan. Paul had best not frequent
the brothels.

“But we have to see them in order to show these
to them.”

“Remember I said at some point we would hit the street. That time is
almost here.”

Her eyes glittered with apprehension. It speared his
busted heart.

“Do you think we can do it and
stay alive?”

He sure hoped so. “I’ll keep you safe.”

Safe or not, he had to get on the streets if he wanted to end this and busting up the next prison break was an important part of his plan. He needed the Magician angry with all of his advisors at once and AJ only had one shot at getting
to Paul.

Based on what AJ had learned, the organization’s boss handled problems with his advisors face-to-face. Damian thought he’d been impressing AJ by telling him that he knew the boss and various little things that had been stored away. If they could fuck things up enough, the Magician would call several meetings or one large one with his advisors. According to the ex-chief enforcer, that was the only time they saw their boss. Didn’t matter. AJ would be there whether it was one or
many meetings.

“So, basically I have no story. We have to keep our information quiet in order to bring them to justice later. This sucks.” She crossed her arms across
her chest.

He smiled. Was that a pout? No, but it got his blood running faster.

“You do have something. You have two enforcers with a dealer in action. Get the enforcers’ names and photos out and we cripple them. It’ll take away some of the heat off our backs” He grinned. “They are a little understaffed
right now.”

She straightened. “Oh. Are they the ones after us? What about others?”

“Yeah, they’re the ones after us. There are rules for Magic Shop and one is that Damian and his group take care of problems. Anyone taking it upon themselves is dealt
with harshly.”

AJ picked up another photo and handed it
to her.

Looking at the photo, she smiled proudly. “I have them in several photos. They just hung out a lot so I
disregarded them.”

“I have an informant who observed them to be the last people seen with Carlos Martinez, the dealer who disappeared two weeks ago. They were also the last people seen with Treyvon Stewart, who disappeared last week.” AJ shrugged. “Disappearances happen all of the time for one reason or another. One may have nothing to do with the other, but you can have people start to question things while doing us
a favor.”

She beamed at him. Good. He’d provided her with enough to hold her over until it became time to tear those
assholes apart.

“You have other dealers in there you can expose. The more you break these little things the next couple of days, the better.” He shifted through the photos and pointed at several people providing her with
their names.

“What about for Victoria? Would any of these
help her?”

He shook his head. “No, and I only have a little information on that front to help her start poking the bear also. We’ll need her for everything to work, but I don’t want you sharing anything with her except what she needs for
her story.”

“But we’ll need to bring our
stories together.”

AJ stood, pulled the phone from his pocket and handed it to her. “And you will. When the times comes. You can use the burner phone to confirm anything with your sources. You’ll have to trust me on what my sources know. Let them have the new number and return it to me when you’
re done.”

She absentmindedly nodded. She’d already started dialing. He’d lose her for most of the
day now.

* * * * *

“Are you sure you want to bring her
down there?”

“I don’t have much choice. If I’m going to do this, I have to get out there. I can’t leave her alone either.” AJ had been reviewing his plan with Jesse, soliciting his feedback. AJ hid in the bathroom so Megan wouldn’t
overhear him.

“I think it’s risky, very risky. I’m not sure I’d do it, even with Kate. Listen, baby brother, things don’t look good. I’ve used every FBI contact I can and the answer is still the same. You must make a choice. Turn her over to the FBI or become wanted for kidnapping a material witness in a major murder investigation. If you can get here, I can buy time until we solve this. I’d hate to see you as
a fugitive.”

He pushed the shower curtain aside and sat on the side of the bathtub. “I don’t have a choice, Jess. You know as well as I do there are dirty agents in the FBI. Besides, she won’t go. And don’t think for a moment she’d sit still if you had her. I’d wager I’d see her on the street within
a day.”

Jesse chuckled. “Oh ye of little faith. Seriously, must you do this right now? Can’t you wait until the team is here? We’ll
help you.”

“Would you wait if the fucker tried to have you or
Kate killed?”

Silence reached him from the other end of
the line.

“That’s what
I thought.”

“Okay. Since you’ve made your choice, make sure to keep her safe. She’s innocent in
all this.”

AJ didn’t need to be reminded of that. It stood in the forefront of his mind. “
I will.”

“It’s your game, AJ, but don’t forget I’m here when you need me. Todd let me know he’s available to help protect you until the boys come home. I know you trust them. Do you want him
to help?”

AJ wiped his hand over his face. “Now that I’ll be a wanted man, I’d rather my friends not get involved. No one needs to go to jail
helping me.”

Jesse cleared his throat. “AJ, I don’t like this, but I understand why you think you must do it. I still encourage you to wait. Let us help you more than we are able to now. We
love you.”

A large lump formed in his throat. He hadn’t heard his brother say that in years. Sure he knew Jesse loved him, but to hear him actually say it made things too final. No, AJ would do this. When his brothers returned, he’d work with them. But he would not wait and let that fucker squirm out of this. “Thanks for understanding.” He couldn’t bring himself to say he loved them. What
a pussy!

“You’ll have whatever you need when you need it. Dev’s found an account. It’s only one but you know Dev, it won’t take long to find the rest and tie
them back.”

AJ smiled. “I’d best go. She’ll be finished
writing soon.”

“Don’t let her interfere and distract you. It could mean both of your deaths. Oh, and no cherries and
whipped cream.”

AJ laughed. “I can’t
promise that.”

His brother wouldn’t let him forget the night Jesse had walked in on him and Stephanie. He’d just opened the jar of cherries to top his whipped cream coated dessert sitting on his table when his brother walked into the house. AJ had lost track of time. For Christmas his brothers supplied him with cherries, whipped cream and a watch with
an alarm.

At least Jesse didn’t lecture him about getting involved with Megan while protecting her. Jesse could no longer push that rule since he’d broken it with his new
wife Kate.

AJ sighed. Again, things were different
with Megan.

She glided toward him as he exited the bathroom. “I’m finished. Did you want to read it before I
send it?”

Her excitement tugged at his heart strings. His
little dove.

“I’d love to read it.” He grinned back at her and smacked her on the ass as he strode to
the desk.

“Hey.” Megan’s rubbed a hand over her butt cheek but a smile grew on
her face.

She immediately drew the reader into her story and the desire to continue didn’t stop with that great opening paragraph. Pride streamed around his heart at
her talent.

With Alex and Trey exposed, they’d be out of the picture for a little while. Hopefully long enough to not meet them on the streets. And she hadn’t mentioned Jimmy. That had to be
killing her.

“It’s another good article.”
AJ stood.

“It’s not a front page story, but I’m happy
with it.”

“It should get good placement. Which photo are
you sending?”

She picked up the photo he’d suggested. “
This one.”

“Good. That’ll also take another dealer off the streets. A few more and Jimmy will have to step up. He won’t be hard to find then.”

“This is going to work out. Let me send this so we can do laundry.”

* * * * *

Megan stepped out of the bathroom wearing
flannel pajamas.

“What the hell are
you wearing?”

She glanced down at her clothing, and then back to his lust-filled eyes. “PJs.”

“Well get those things off and get over here.” He flipped opened the covers on the bed exposing his
naked body.

She tilted her head and raised her eyebrows. The fun AJ had stayed around. Time to play. “But I thought after what we did in the shower earlier you’d be done for the night,”
she cooed.

Him taking her from behind in the shower while she leaned against the wall, water spraying over her, may have been quick, but it had been explosive. How could he be ready for another
round already?

A growl reached her ears. “My little dove, don’t make me come
get you.”

“Just give me a moment, I’ll be there.” Displaying what she hoped was a sultry, seductive look, she reached for the bottom button of her shirt and ever-so-slowly unbuttoned it. She made a show out of slowly licking her lips. She reached for the next button on
her top.

Before she could unbutton it, he stood
before her.

She giggled. Actually giggled. “What’s
the problem?”

That turn-her-to-putty grin spread across his face. “Enough.” He ripped her shirt open, buttons dropped on the carpeted floor. “I hope it wasn’t
a favorite.”

Her lips parted in surprise, her sharp intake of breath bounced around the bedroom walls, setting her pulse rate into overdrive. AJ kept things interesting and fun, in and out
of bed.

She threw her arms around his neck and pulled herself close. “And what if it was? Will you buy
me another?”

His lips hovered over hers, his words whispered on her lips, “The hotel room has a
sewing kit.”

Before she could laugh, his lips crashed down on hers, frantic and hungry. She opened to him and their tongues fought for control. Their battle sent pleasure skipping across the nerves throughout her body, centering between her thighs, throbbing
and wet.

“You still have too many
clothes on.”

Within moments he’d
stripped her.

Dropping to his knees, his hands slid over the curve of her bottom, his lips kissing her stomach, leaving a trail of warm goose bumps in
their wake.

Threading her fingers through his hair, she opened her legs for him, her head falling back against
the wall.

The torturous strokes of his hot, wet, velvety tongue between her thighs pulled a soft cry of his name from her lips when she came. The room disappeared around her, leaving weightlessness and bliss in its wake. Her legs weakened, and she’d have fallen if AJ hadn’t picked her up and carried her to
the bed.

Still reveling in her climax, she hadn’t noticed him leave her for protection. She didn’t protest as he slid her to the edge of the bed, put a pillow beneath her backside, pulled her legs up his chest, her feet resting on his shoulders. She purred deep in her throat, anticipation pulsing through her. Ah. The
Mermaid position.

He guided himself against her throbbing heat and eased inside her. His deep reach set another cresting wave of excitement racing through
her body.

Each stroke, each kiss he placed on her ankles and calves, reached all of the way to her soul, breaking into the fence she’d built around
her heart.

“You are so fucking beautiful,” he managed to say between his
erratic breaths.

She slid her hands over a shimmer of sweat on her flushed skin, stopping to caress her breasts, her thumbs blindly circling the sensitive little buds before she pinched them between
her fingers.

His strangled groan told her she’d achieved the desired result. His eyes locked on
her hands.

“Ready for Sexy Scissors?” he asked with
raised eyebrows.

This man knew more positions than she’d thought possible. She smiled as he promised to buy her a Kama Sutra book. That set up hope they’d continue to try positions after this
was over.

He slowly crossed her legs in front of him, and she involuntarily squeezed around him, so tight his groan sounded painful. Closing her thighs send erotic pleasure drifting
through her.

He uncrossed her legs and opened them wide, shoving in deeper. He generated delicious pleasure with the changes in each movement. Her hips moved of their own volition to take every inch until she felt his sack resting
against her.