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2024-10-29 19:42:56Sean first lay the dog comforter down over the couch and then let Phoenix inside, with a command to stay. He heard the water start to run in the shower and felt his cock lurch.
Close one.He’d almost said something like, “I wish I could come home to this picture every night,” or some such shit. Something he would have regretted as sure as he was a fucking US military soldier. And what right did he have to go say or do something like that? He couldn’t offer her anything except some endless nights of fucks and blowjobs. He’d never had to say dumb crap like that with any of his other girlfriends to get into their pants.Except it wasn’t Tori’s pants he really wanted. Well, yes, he did want to fuck her six ways to sunrise, to be perfectly honest, but he wanted her to want to be there. In that split second, he fantasized that Tori felt she belonged to him.It was dangerous territory. Why couldn’t he just fuck her so hard she wouldn’
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Risen To The Top CHAPTER 143
***“Aaron, I think we should cancel the dinner tonight,” Rachel said as she stepped out of the shower. Morning sunlight poured through the picture window in their bedroom. Dr. Hoades was shaving in his shorts.“Can’t do that, Rachel. Dole says we go about our lives just like normal. I go to the office. But you stay here, or if you go back to the house, you get help, or have Lib—”Dr. Hoades turned and strode across the bedroom, opened up the door to the living room and stepped inside, noting the opened door to the other bedroom. Her bedroom that had not been slept in.He stormed back into the bathroom. “She didn’t come back last night.”“No, of course not. She’s with him, like the letter said.”“The letter said she’d be back later,” Dr. Hoades answered.“The letter said she was with HIM and I think she’s safer there than over here with us, if you want the truth. Aaron,” she droppe
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 144
Sean had to get back to his Team and let them know what he was up to. He left Tori and her mother to go shopping in downtown new York while he rode his scooter over to Duke’s apartment.He knocked twice on the front door and didn’t wait for an answer before he tried to open it. It was locked.“Duke?” he knocked louder. The soldier’s truck was in the parking lot, so he knew the Team guy was home.Duke appeared at the doorway in his shorts and a sleeveless tank top. The security chain was still affixed so the door was only open a few inches.“You picked a helluva time to come showing up at my door.” Duke whispered.“Why, you getting a nooner? I thought you dated—”The door slammed, then Duke walked outside and closed the metal door behind him. A pair of shiny silver handcuffs dangled from one wrist. “Asshole, I’m paying by the hour, get my drift?”Sean shook his head with renewe
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 145
Tori was looking down at her shoes when Sean grabbed one of her hands and led her over towards Dr. Hoades at the bar. Two men in tuxedos were in a heated conversation. She recognized them as colleagues of her father’s. Sean was interested and nudged her to within earshot.“You can’t just take them out of the home without knowing where they’ll go. Foster care isn’t always the answer,” one man scoffed.“I don’t have time to interview all the potential homes. That’s not my job,” the other answered.“Maybe His Highness could donate some of his considerable salary to bankroll another part-time position. It’s the least he could do. He’s getting all the awards and plaques. That way he could earn them.”Tori saw the other man’s eyes grow wide as her father positioned himself behind the man who just spoke.“I gather I didn’t have your vote, then, Donald.” Dr. Hoades said to the back of the man’s head. Donald jump
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 146
Detective Ryan Dole watched the crowd from a corner in the ballroom, back in the shadows. These people always made him nervous. Movers and shakers and people who could end his career with a phone call, and nothing the union could do would save him because they were in bed with them, too.He’d watched Tori dance with the guy she was definitely involved with. It didn’t take a detective’s eye to see the comfortable way in which their bodies glided across the dance floor. She was a gushing young bride, if he wasn’t mistaken. He’d have to talk to them again about cavorting with someone who was a suspect. He thought he’d made himself pretty clear earlier.Hormones.He’d seen girls fall for these soldiers before. His sister had been one of them. Thought she’d snagged a soldier, but in the end he’d been killed in Afghanistan. She was left with a broken heart and a little girl she had to raise on her own.The soldier married h
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 147
The guests were leaving the grand ballroom. Sean noticed Dole as he filed out between Rachel and Tori. He gave the detective a nod but no smile. He knew part of the reason Dole was there was to watch him interact with the Hoades family.Everyone trying to play psychiatrist. Get inside my head. He saw the man disappear behind a potted plant and then reappear before they made it out on the driveway at valet parking.“Where’s Aaron?” Dole asked Rachel.“Oh, he’s back there talking to a friend. He’ll be along. Asked us to get the car.”Dole gave a brief nod of recognition and then spoke to Rachel again, ignoring Tori and Sean. “Might I have a word with the two of you ladies? No offense, Sean.”Of course I take fucking offense. He wondered what Dole was up to.“I’ll go get your father, “ Sean said to Tori as he kissed the top of her head and removed his arm from around her waist.H
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 148
Tori was trying to concentrate on a television program her mother was watching, but she found herself daydreaming, and hoping Sean would want to spend the night. She knew he’d have to get back to take care of phoenix. She’d left her dress and stockings on. So had her mother.Both women stood when they heard the key card and then watched the door open. Dr. Hoades looked tired, coming over to give his wife a hug. Sean gave a boyish grin to Tori.Thank God. All is well.At least they appeared to be getting along, and that was a huge relief. Sean had his shirt unbuttoned, and the back of his hair was mussed a bit, as if he’d been rubbing it. The dark blue of his suit matched his dusk-colored eyes. She could watch him forever, how he walked with that free-flowing style of a world-class athlete, slight hip movement and flat stomach muscles. And the best of all, he was walking straight to her, eyes fixed on her mouth.That’s
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 149
Sean stopped by the McLaren and retrieved phoenix, who wasn’t used to riding in Duke’s truck, and he had to help the dog up and into the second seat. As planned, Sean stopped by the Hotel Del and picked up Tori, who needed some things at the house. Rachel had also given her a list of things to bring back for her and her dad.Tori was dressed in mid-calf capris and a stretchy peach top that showed off all the parts Sean liked the best. But he preferred to not have to feel or look through stretchy cotton and lace, even though it was enticing as hell. He was hoping somehow they’d be able to get lucky over at the house, but he didn’t want to push Tori into anything about which she felt uncomfortable.“Dad told me you guys really had bonded last night in the bar,” she ventured. “Must have been pretty important. Neither my mother nor I could get him to say two words about it.”Sean made a note that this was a good sign, and he trusted th
Risen To The Top CHAPTER 150
Tori slammed the door and dug in her purse for the front door keys. phoenix was taking a long pee on her mother’s flowers in the front yard. Sean stood watch, searching up and down the street, his duty bag slung over one shoulder, hands in his front pockets.“All clear?” Tori yelled out to him.Sean put his finger to his mouth, but nodded. phoenix followed him as the three of them entered the foyer. Sean spotted an open sliding glass door to the patio from the kitchen.“I don’t like that at all,” he said to her. “Stick with me. We’d better check things out first.”Tori came up behind him and embraced him from the rear. “I have no intention of going anywhere.”They looked through the kitchen windows to the back yard and, other than the sprinklers running, nothing appeared out of place. They locked the slider and then tried all the windows downstairs. Sean made sure the plywood covering the broken window in her dad’
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- Risen To The Top
CHAPTER 181
Evelyn came awake slowly. Painfully. A sharp ache pulsed inside her head and made her wince as she tried to open her eyes. What? She was facedown over an animal, no saddle. The animal’s spine dug into her hips and stomach.Her hands were bound. The lack of blood flow and frigid temps meant they were like ice blocks on the ends of her arms. Dammit, what if she had frostbite and was too far gone to even know it? She wriggled her fingers, and the returning blood made her gasp. She kept moving, tried to wriggle her legs but they were also bound. The struggle shifted her center of gravity until she was in danger of toppling upside-down beneath the animal and being trampled. Hell. Who’d done this to her? What did they want?The smell of musty fur was overpowering, making her throat heave as her stomach rebelled.“I’m going to be sick.” The contents of her stomach splashed against the gray talus that the horse was working hard to cross. D
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CHAPTER 180
They’d followed the spoor for two hours but ground sign was disappearing as dust swirled in the wind. Duke was torn. Did he keep following the unknown originator of these tracks or go back to base camp and regroup. Base camp was calling his name but he wasn’t sure whether that was because Evelyn had destroyed his objectivity or because it was the smartest thing to do.Hell, right now he was going in circles.“Let’s mark this GPS position and head back,” he said to Sri luc quietly. The sound of horses hooves drumming against solid earth made him glance in the direction of the biologists’ camp. The student—Ivan—came flying into view, coat open and flapping in time to the rhythm of the horse.“What the feck?” They’d all rendezvoused at the snare where the tracks had been spotted, but he’d sent Ivan and the local man back to camp on horseback an hour ago. He hadn’t liked the idea of Evelyn being alone, although she’d managed without hi
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CHAPTER 179
He split them into three groups.“Can’t I go with the doc?” Lucas moaned. He might have the reputation of being the ladies’ man of the Mountain Troop, but after what Duke had been thinking five minutes earlier while trying not to kiss Evelyn Cox’s lips, legs, and everything in between, maybe he was a frickin’ ladies’ man too.He wanted her and he’d let his eyes tell her exactly how much he wanted her.What was he thinking? There was a time and a place for that sort of thing and this wasn’t it.“No.” He kept his voice light. None of them were here to get laid. “You’re with Sri luc. Jordan you go with the Great Dane. I’m with the doc.” He gave them a firm smile that told them this wasn’t up for debate. “We’ll get the biologists to give us a demo how to tranq and release the Polar bears before we head out. I want hourly radio checks.” He nodded to the men. “It might be a couple of days until the other guys get here. I’m
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CHAPTER 178
When she woke she was staring straight into the startling cobalt eyes of Officer Robert Duke. He looked like he’d wait all day for her to wake up.“I must be dreaming,” she croaked.He held out a mug of black tea.“Definitely dreaming.” She sat up, took it, and sipped. The warm liquid eased her dry throat. “Thanks. What time is it?”“0600.” His voice rolled over her. She blinked groggily. There was enough of a burr in his accent to make his voice very sexy and she figured he was laying on the charm this morning.His face was scrubbed and clean-shaven. She found herself studying his features. The vivid eyes shaded by thick brows, the cheeks scraped smooth, the jaw firm and obstinate, his nose too flat to be conventionally handsome. Yet the combination stirred up her insides like hot coals. She fought the urge run her fingers through his short blond hair. He was tall and lean and he looked really, really g
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CHAPTER 177
Evelyn shoved back the yurt flap. Mikado flung up his hands in surprise and gave a nervous laugh. “You’re back. You scared me.”“There’s a lot of that going around.”He smiled at her, brown eyes twinkling. “Ivan was worried when the horse came back without you, but I told him you be okay.”Mikado had more faith in her than she did. He returned to whatever he was doing with the cubs.She strode to the computer and opened her email and read the message. Christ, the Trust really had forbidden her to release the animals. She inhaled deeply and tried to calm the rage that continued to burn inside. They thought she was overreacting and had no proof, and in the next sentence they told her it was too dangerous for her and Ivan to go after a guy with a gun. Ivan came slowly into the tent. She didn’t know if he was scared or angry. He had a right to be both.“Did you reply to this email?” She was vibrating with em
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CHAPTER 176
For fuck’s sake. He spat in the dirt. Great. He’d spent his whole life fighting against scumbag terrorists and what happened? He ended up accused of being exactly the same sort of nutcase by someone he was trying to help. It stung. He wasn’t about to let her know that.“That’s right, love. That’s why they pay me the big bucks, so let’s move it.” He maneuvered her in front of him. “Step where the trooper steps if you want to keep your legs.” He let her walk a few paces ahead and spoke into his comms. “Jordan and Lucas, keep a low profile as we head back to the RV. See if this bastard’s hiding somewhere and decides to follow us.”They both acknowledged with radio clicks and he followed Evelyn through the bush and along the rocky path. The old guy must be damn good or damn lucky to have spotted them near that other collar. He must have night vision equipment to move so swiftly at night too. Or he had insider information.Duke moved cl
- Risen To The Top
CHAPTER 175
The midday sun beat harshly on this patch of barren rock, melting the inch of snow that had fallen during the morning. The woman beside him had finally stopped wriggling and fallen asleep a couple of hours ago. His team was in position and they’d been on stag duty while he caught a quick nap. Now he was wide awake and refreshed, but so far, nothing yet.What had made Vladimir jores turn his back on his former homeland? What made him defect to fight on the side of people who got their kicks out of brutalizing innocent civilians?Duke understood terrorists better than anyone this side of a suicide vest. He’d grown up with them, would probably have become one himself if not for the tragic death of his sister. That was the family business, right alongside farming. Being immersed in that indoctrinated shit from a young age meant he understood how people born into it found it hard to break free. It was so ingrained, so fecking normal. Talk about brainwashing. H
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CHAPTER 174
How many years had it been since she’d held hands with a guy? A soldier? A shiver brushed over her skin like a ghost from the past.It felt strange. As if she’d been transported back in time. And yet, here she was, relying on the strength of those long, strong, foreign fingers to guide her safely through the night. Adjusting her footing in response to subtle pressure changes, tuning her body to match his. Trusting a man she’d just met. Relying on a man, period.It wasn’t something she did.It wasn’t who she was.She believed in saving things, in using data to make her point, not violence. But data wasn’t going to save her Polar bears from their current predicament. Her fingers tightened involuntarily and he slowed to match her pace. The guy was fit, not even breathing heavily, despite everything they’d been through and how many miles they’d walked. She was fit too, she ran and worked out, but exhaustion was making her
- Risen To The Top
CHAPTER 173
As Evelyn lay down, her mind kept wavering back to years ago when she was still a child.When her grandfather was still the minister of ammunition, their family had been good friends with the Connery family so they always stood by each other.Her grandfather had hated L.j corporation because they and Connery corporation were rivals.They each made weapons for governments and L.j corporation were beginning to outsell Connery corporation.She remembered the old Mr Connery coming to visit her grandfather and the two of them talking in hushtones about the issues.During that period, a heated rivalry had begun and it all came to its peak one cold night, years ago.she remembered it clearly.Her mind went back through the years, reliving the moment.“Come away from there, Evelyn. Quickly now.”Evelyn knew better than to argue with her mother, but sh
