Bad Boy Savior (Bad Boy 4)

"It's your decision. Now, when you get to Alexandria, I don't want you to come to the cabin right away. Let us do our work. Go get yourself a hotel room. Call me when you get in town. I'll be at my office in Washington. You got the number. You can show up about half an hour after I let you know we're in."

I nodded, my nerves all primed and ready, the way I used to be while waiting for action in Iraq or Afghanistan. Waiting was the hardest part when you were at war. The long hours of calm were deceptive. Suddenly, all hell would break loose and the bullets would be flying, explosions, fire, shouts and screams. Your adrenaline pumped like crazy but you stayed calm and just acted. No real fear. Just determination to act.

Stay frosty.

It wa

s hard to stay frosty when what I really wanted to do was go to Spencer and plow his face in, but I had to. Couldn't lose control. That would help no one and accomplish nothing. The cops would go in and find the stuff I did and that would be that. I was sure that Spencer didn't have enough time to go to the cabin and clear it out, and besides, I'd alerted the cops right away about what I found and they'd have someone watching the cabin just in case.

"I'll get a hotel room and call you. I gotta get back to Boston as soon as I can. I got an empire to run," I said sarcastically.

"Yeah," Millar said. "Watch your six."

At that, we parted and I drove to my apartment and crashed for a few hours so I'd be fresh for the op at the cabin. I slept for about six hours, falling asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow. Once I woke, I had a quick shower, packed a bag, then went to the gym to make sure things were on track with the daily cash.

After I was finished looking over the books and receipts, I drove to the airport and purchased my ticket for flight to Washington, went through security, and sat in the United first class lounge and did some work on my laptop.

As I sat waiting for my flight, I thought about Celia and what was happening between us. When I first considered using Celia as my fuck toy to repay Graham's debt, I felt guilty. My mind went there immediately – I couldn't help it. Part of me thought I was a total asshole to use my money to take advantage of her but another part relished the idea. I tried to tell myself that it meant nothing – that she meant nothing to me besides a good, easy fuck – but even I knew that was a lie.

The fact was that Celia had always inhabited a part of my mind since that night she gave me her virginity, and I'd always felt a mix of desire for her and anger that she threw me over for Greg – and for Spencer's money.

Now, it felt like she was warming up to me. Our recent night together, when she came to me on her own, suggested that the walls between us were breaking down. That maybe she wanted me as a man, aside from being the one to pay back her brother's debt and protect her.

I was glad to be able to pay back Graham's debt. I was glad to be able to protect her. Most of all, I wanted her to want me.

As much as I wanted her.

Chapter 5

Hunter

The flight was uneventful, and I arrived in D.C. only fifteen minutes late due to a hold on the tarmac in Boston. I sat in an alcove in the lounge and called Millar at his D.C. FBI office, getting his admin person.

"Hunter Saint for Special Agent Millar."

An admin connected me and Millar came on the line.

"So, you're just in time," he said. In the background, I heard papers shuffling and muted conversation. "The team's getting ready and we'll be going out to the cabin in about thirty minutes. You can meet me there in an hour. I need time to get things set up before I want to bring you in."

"Will do."

"Oh, and Hunter? Keep it quiet that you're here and what we're doing. We don't want anyone to know we're going in. Gotta try to keep our advantage so no one goes in and removes the evidence."

"Don't worry. I understand the need for secrecy."

I hung up and felt invigorated now that something was going to happen. I was certain that investigators would find more than enough to arrest Spencer. There were tapes of him doing illegal stuff to barely pubescent girls. He was going down and for Spencer, all that was left was the crying. He was such a worm, I was sure he'd try to escape. Part of me hoped he'd run and get caught at the airport, trying to buy a one-way ticket to some third-world country where he wouldn't get shipped back to face charges in the US. I wanted to sit in the stands and watch his trial, see him cringe when they brought out evidence of his perversion. Knowing Spencer, he'd plead to some lesser charges and minimize the public exposure of his crimes.

Then, he'd go to jail and live out the rest of his miserable life in protective custody. Someone like Spencer would not do well in prison. He'd sent away too many bad guys for him to be safe. Besides, even criminals hated pedophiles.

I had a quick shower to revive myself, and considered calling Celia to let her know I was going to be out of town for a few days, but I didn't want to have to lie about what I was doing. I also didn’t want to bother her, considering she'd probably be busy with her studies. Instead, I texted George, letting him know instead.

HUNTER: I'll be in Alexandria for a couple of days, checking out that matter I told you about. Stuff is going to go down soon and I want to be here to watch. Let Celia know I'm going to be away for a while and won't be in contact. How is she?

RUSKIE5: Celia is fine. She was studying all morning. She ask about you but I tell her you went to office to do some work.

HUNTER: Good. I'll let you know when I'm coming back.

RUSKIE5: Roger that.