Lucky Streak (Lucky 2)

His gut burned with acid as he thought about what he’d just seen. Amber and King Bobby, sitting there, drinking beer and shooting the shit. About him? Marshall’s blood fired up at the thought and anger pulsed through him at her betrayal.

There was no other explanation. No other reason why King Bobby would be laughing with Marshall’s ex-partner unless Amber had given the King the information he needed to come after Marshall. If Amber had handed over the names of his close friends and associates, it was only a matter of time before someone slipped up and betrayed him.

He couldn’t remain out of sight forever. King Bobby would find him eventually.

Damn Amber, anyway. She was his partner. His woman. They’d belonged together and now she’d turned on him. And why? For that cop husband of hers she’d known for less than one week. Well, he hadn’t looked happy finding her with King Bobby, either, but she hadn’t protested when the guy put his hands on her and dragged her out of the diner.

Last time Marshall had seen her, Amber Rose had warned him not to touch her ever again. As if he was scum. When he finally got her alone, she’d see the difference between a pansy-ass cop and a real man.

And Marshall would make sure it was a lesson she’d never forget.

NOW THAT MIKE had Amber by his side, he vacillated between being furious at her for leaving the house, and being overcome with relief that King Bobby hadn’t hurt her.

He didn’t say one word on the car ride back to his father’s place. He needed to calm down first and, typical of Amber, she understood his anger and remained silent. Unfortunately, by the time he parked the car in front of the house, his tension and frustration hadn’t eased.

Once inside, he found a note on the entryway table from Clara. He read her neat handwriting with Amber glancing over his shoulder, her fragrant, arousing, now-familiar scent seeping into his pores, magnifying every emotion he felt for her, both good and bad.

He was wired.

Tense.

On edge.

The note stated that Clara and Edward had gone to town, looking for store space and for dinner. The craziness of it all didn’t escape him. Mike couldn’t begin to figure his father out and at the moment, he didn’t care to try. He was solely focused on his wife and the fact that they were alone.

He slowly turned to face her. Her sunglasses were still perched on her delicate nose, her baseball cap askew on her head, and she stared at him intently with those beautiful, knowing eyes.

“Mike—”

“I came home and you weren’t here,” he interrupted her. “No one knew where you’d gone.” He’d never been so bone-chilling scared in his life.

“I know, and I’m sorry.”

“And then I find you breaking bread with the man, forging agreements, making promises—”

She winced at his description. “You have to know that I would never turn Marshall over to King Bobby. I only said that to keep the guy happy. Not that I think I’ll ever hear from Marshall again, but I wouldn’t give him up to King Bobby.” She wrinkled her nose in thought. “Even if he deserves to be taught a lesson. Heaven knows I’ve learned one,” she said quickly.

“Right now, I don’t give a damn about what happens to Marshall.” But he did understand what she was trying to convey. She was attempting to distance herself from her past and the people in it. She wanted him to believe she’d changed, that she understood the error of her past actions and the type of people she’d associated with.

“Amber, do you realize how lucky you are? The man could have killed you. Or worse,” Mike said through clenched teeth.

“What’s worse than killing…me…Oh…” Her voice trailed off and she turned pale, the blood draining from her face.

She suddenly understood all the things that had gone through Mike’s mind when he realized she left his father’s house. Assault, rape, heaven only knew what else. He’d seen a lot in his years on the force.

She swallowed hard. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen. That I took off. I didn’t mean to blatantly go against you, but I was going stark raving mad doing nothing for days on end. I’m a proactive person, Mike. I’ve been taking care of myself for years and I’ve never had anyone to rely on before, nobody else to consider before I acted.”

“If he’d gotten you alone—” This time his blood chilled at the thought.

She reached out and placed a warm hand on his arm. “He didn’t. I knew better. I didn’t even know he was in Stewart until I saw him in the diner window. And then I realized I had a choice. I could keep r

unning…or I could face him and put this mess behind me. I chose a public place where he couldn’t hurt me. I was smart, I swear.”

He ground his teeth so hard his jaw hurt. Pride in her bravery warred with lingering fear for her safety. He couldn’t listen to her rushed rambling for another minute without feeling for himself that she was safe.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her hard against him, covering her lips with his. She melted into him, wrapping her arms around his neck, kissing him back.

Everything next happened in a blur, thanks to the blood rushing through his head—and to other body parts. He devoured her with his mouth, relief that she was home safe firing up his blood along with her eager, hot response.