Kiss Me Harder: Unbreakable Series Read online

  “Why would she trust us?” Will questions.

  “You make her trust you. How you do that is up to you.” She pauses. “Look into her inner circle. Pick the weakest link. Frame them. Show her. Make her think you see her as the victim, not a perpetrator. She’ll play little woman, pretend like she’s not behind it all, and you’ll use that against her.”

  “You didn’t come up with this just now.” Hayes raises his brows.

  “We had a plan. You interrupted it, but we adapt. Now you can do the legwork while we focus on digging into everything else, since you’ve so kindly agreed to babysit.”

  August looks at me with an expression that’s a little stunned, and I hide a smirk. We told him that she’s a little something different, and I guess now he believes us.

  “Well, this has been productive.” Hayes stands. “I guess we need to get started.”

  Everyone stands and says terse goodbyes, and I talk to Kane for a little bit about the other players that I missed when I was upstairs. Lightwell is just one piece of the puzzle, but it’s good that she’s not a large one. If we do this right, methodically, I can get the real answers I need about Shadi and they can get their justice for their grievances.

  Naja goes to pass me, but I grab her arm gently, stopping her.

  “Have dinner with me.”

  “Have you lost a few brain cells while we talked?”

  “One meal won’t kill you. You might even enjoy yourself.”

  “Name a time and place.”

  I almost don’t register what she says, because I wasn’t expecting it to be so easy.

  “Carina’s. Seven.” It’s a fusion place with good food and private seating, relaxed with a good atmosphere.

  “Fine. Don’t be late.” She walks away, and I stand there for a bit, wondering if that’s the same woman that busted my lip the other night. Maybe teasing her with that shower was enough to mellow her a little bit.

  Trev comes up beside me and I glance at him.

  “She just agreed to go on a date with me.”

  He doesn’t say anything, then he steps in front of me, a closed-off look on his face.

  “Tread carefully, alright? I don’t know your relationship, but just…she’s tough, but she’s not as invincible as she seems.”

  “Are you ever going to share what’s really at stake here for all of you?”

  He shakes his head. “Just know that it’s as important to us as it is to you. We’re committed the same way, if not more. This has been a long time coming.”

  “I like her. This isn’t just about a quick lay. Be honest with me, because you’ve known her longer than I have. Am I wasting my time?” I didn’t set out to ask anyone else about her, but I’d be stupid not to because these people are family to her. You don’t trust someone with your life the way they’ve had to and not get extremely close.

  “Well, you don’t seem like you’re the type to give up easily. If you mean what you say about really being into her, just…keep at it. The nature of what we do, what we’ve done, you try to keep as little connection as possible. She’ll push you away, so be prepared to fight.”

  “I can do that.” We do the bro hug, clapping hands in the middle before a quick embrace. “Thanks for the insight.”

  “I’ll be the first one in line to cut your balls off if you fuck up. Remember that,” he says in my ear, pulling back and giving me a peaceful smile. “Nice to see you again, though. Come back and see us sometime.”

  * * *

  After an hour of waiting at Carina’s, telling myself that maybe she’s just running a little late, I have to laugh and accept that I’ve been stood up.

  I knew it was too easy.

  Calling the unsaved number in my phone, I’m not surprised that she picks up on the first ring.

  “How’s your dinner?” she greets me.

  “A little solitary, but it’s fine. Any specific lesson you want me to take from this?”

  “Something about being left high and dry that just rubs you wrong, doesn’t it?”

  I chuckle, signaling for the check for the wine and small appetizers I ordered while I’ve been waiting.

  “That’s completely within your control.”

  “How do you figure that?”

  “I told you what I wanted. When you give it to me, we can move forward.”

  “Well, hold your breath, okay?” she shoots back.

  “I’m a patient man, Naja.”

  “I don’t need you, specifically. I’m sure I can find someone else.”

  “You do whatever you need to do.” Because I know it’s going to piss her off and it’s something I enjoy these days, I hang up and silence the phone when the number pops up again.

  She’s off-balance, and whether she realizes it or not, that puts me that much closer to success. Naja’s stubborn, strong, and there’s a lot I don’t know about her. I know I feel a pull to her like I’ve never felt with anyone else.

  Keeping her off-kilter is what I have to do for her to give me a chance.

  I just hope she doesn’t end up cutting off my dick before we get on a good page.

  9

  Naja

  I finish my video call just as the door to my room opens and Kane pops his head in.

  “We’ve got a problem.”

  Wonderful, my favorite words to hear.

  I slide off the bed and follow him downstairs where Bali and Trev are standing at the kitchen bar with a phone on speaker.

  “I can’t understand you if you’re crying, Risa,” Bali says softly, drumming her fingers on the countertop like she does when she’s agitated. “Come on, mija, you’ve got to help me help you.”

  “He’s lost it,” the young woman sniffs, steadying her voice. “He’s talking about not being able to trust anyone, no one’s allowed to leave the compound, he’s got a mole. What if he knows it’s me? What am I going to do?” The fear is clear in her voice, and I hate to hear it.

  I got close to Risa when I embedded myself with the Delanos, the crime family my parents got inadvertently wrapped up with; and she’s a sweet kid. She’s the daughter of Francis’s live-in housekeeper. When I staged the fire to look like I died in it, along with those files from my parents, I had to stop contact with her, but I made sure she had Bali’s information.

  They’ve been communicating here and there with anything that Risa could get to us without jeopardizing her own safety. We knew we’d have to take care of Francis for good eventually, and I guess that time has come. We wanted to get the bigger fish out of the way, but if the trash has to be taken out now? I’ll do so gladly.

  I can’t stand the pompous fucker anyway, and he’s definitely at the top of my shit list for messing with my family’s safety.

  “We’re coming to get you, Risa, okay? Just be cool. Sleep, stay in your room, do something that keeps you out of his crosshairs. We need a day.”

  We have to get down to Florida from DC.

  “Okay,” she whispers. “You promise you’ll be here?”

  “Lo prometo. I promise.” Bali ends the call, pushing her reading glasses up on her nose.

  “This is bad timing.” I rub a hand over my forehead, thoughts racing.

  “I was bored just having chill time at home anyway,” Kane deadpans. “You still have the real drives?”

  “Yeah, you think we should call it in? Grab Risa and let the feds pick the rest of them up?”

  “That’d be the easiest, probably. I know Risa had some more audio to give us, and we would like to see what’s on it before we share.”

  “Your boy know you still plan on hiding shit from him?” That question comes from a faux innocent Bali.

  “He wants justice. I want revenge. We’re not going to be on the same page about what needs to be done, so a few half-truths have to be told.”

  “I might’ve slipped a tracking device on him,” Trev speaks up. “Forgot to mention that. Pretty sure I know where they have the senator.”

  “I knew ther
e was a reason we keep you around.” Kane claps him on the back, laughing.

  “When did you put something on him?”

  “We had a little talk about a certain stubborn woman. I pinned it on his belt since I remember him wearing that same one last year. It’s probably a favorite, so he’s more likely to wear it to more places.”

  It’s that type of observation that makes him good at his job. I choose to ignore the comment about me being a stubborn woman.

  “Okay, so we go in, secure Risa, cause a little havoc the authorities will have to take an interest in and drop a line to the bureau.”

  “The bureau. It’ll get to Elias since it was his task force, and there’ll be a trail that holds water for the charges. This needs to be it for that family, so we can’t do our usual.”

  “It’s so odd making it a point not to be invisible.” Bali shudders. “Let’s hop to it, team. We’ve got a crisis to create.”

  * * *

  I don’t need Francis knowing I’m still alive just yet, so I run communications with Trev and let Bali and Kane do the weapons trade.

  Francis had a shipment of illegal weapons coming in that we might’ve intercepted, then secured the sellers for the FBI and taken their place.

  Does the FBI know we’re about to give them such a gift? No, because then they would try to take over before we carry out the rest of what we need to do. We have the very pissed off and bruised men tied up in a safe place.

  They can pick up the pieces after, not before. Elias and his people are a few hours behind us, and if we get in and out—we don’t even need to cross paths.

  That thought alone brightens my night considerably.

  “They’re in.” Through the camera on Bali’s glasses, we see the gates open after Kane confirms who they are. The weapons dealers never confirmed who was coming, which is really stupid on Francis’s part, so we had a little leeway. Bali will play timid lackey to Kane’s bad boy.

  They go through a security check and get checked for bugs. Francis thinks he’s big fish and is way too big for his damn britches. If he was as much of a catch as our big targets, he’d know about the sophisticated equipment that’s available and he’d protect himself accordingly.

  His false sense of security makes this the easiest mission we’ve ever run. There are five other people in the room they’re shown to, including Francis. Two of his security guys, his right-hand man and cousin, Giovanni, and a woman I don’t know. It must be his flavor of the week.

  You would think that knowing how formidable his mother was, he would realize how deadly a woman can be. Instead, he believes we’re not a threat to him, and it’s another one of his biggest weaknesses.

  He’s just weak, period. That sums it up.

  Right on cue, Bali asks where the powder room is, giving a little too much information intentionally and citing feminine problems. Francis makes a face of disgust and nods to the woman lounging on the couch. She totters on her heels and leads Bali out of the room as Kane flips open the large container and starts laying weapons on the table for Francis’s perusal.

  That’s my cue to get onto the property and get Risa from Bali, so she can go back to Kane without any suspicions. She just needs to send me their location. We didn’t tell Risa we were coming because she didn’t need to act any differently.

  “See ya soon, kid.”

  I make sure my earpiece is in and my weapons are secure, opening the doors of the van and closing them behind me. I round the van and stop short, my eye twitching.

  “Fancy seeing you here.” Elias smiles big, waving on the big-ass SWAT team members behind him. They head towards the gates in their tac gear. He’s in his FBI jacket today, that obnoxious one with big yellow letters printed on the back.

  I could kill him right now, I really could. My hand finds its way to my gun and I think about kneecapping him just for the hell of it.

  “You’re becoming more trouble than you’re worth,” I hiss, gritting my teeth. “Your guys better not touch Bali and Kane, I fucking swear.” I click on my earpiece. “Bali, don’t bother going back. Get Risa and go out the window as planned.”

  She doesn’t question me, just gives me her affirmative and clicks off.

  “Don’t tell me you’re not happy to see me.”

  “You’re not supposed to be here yet.”

  “Traffic was light.” He crowds me and I step back.

  “I still get to punch Francis in his smug face; that doesn’t change because you’re here now.”

  “Usually I don’t condone violence, but he did have someone beat up your sister’s boyfriend, so I guess I can let it slide today.”

  “I was telling you. I don’t need your permission for a damned thing.”

  “Well, you have it.” His lips tip up and I’m wishing I could punch him instead of Francis. Now I’m going to break the little bitch’s jaw because of my extra anger. Sorry, not sorry.

  “Get Risa and Bali from the back of the house. Don’t arrest any of my people. I’m getting back in this van before I do something that you’re going to regret.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” I turn on my heel, but he’s not finished. “Wait.”

  I swing around, frustrated. “Look, you rea—”

  He drags me to him and slams his mouth on mine in a kiss that I know will probably leave my lips swollen. It’s rough and it’s possessive. I clutch his jacket and he digs his fingers into my hair, angling his mouth to kiss me harder and deeper than I thought possible.

  “Now I’m done.” He pulls back, eyes glittering with the same need that I’m sure is reflected in my face. With one last reproachful nip with his teeth, he turns and walks away and I bang my fist into the side of the van.

  “FUUCCKKKK!” I whisper yell at the dark sky, yanking the van doors open. Trev gives me a pitying look, shaking his head. He had to hear everything through our link.

  “I don’t want to be around for your final clash.”

  “I don’t either.” I mumble, crossing my arms and trying not to pout. We’ve still got video and audio and I watch Bali and Risa make it safely out. Kane, Bali, and Risa hop into the SUV we brought and I wait outside, staying away from the people mulling around.

  Eventually, Hayes rounds the side of the van with a seething and handcuffed Francis, whose eyes widen to an almost comical size when he sees me. He immediately starts trying to tug away in earnest, but Will comes up and they hold him fast.

  “Hey, Frankie, old pal. Remember me?”

  10

  Elias

  “Your hand’s bruised.” I pick up Naja’s hand, looking at her knuckles, but she snatches it away.

  “It’s fine. I don’t know what kind of game you’re playing, but I’m over it.”

  We’re back at the warehouse loft, and my guys brought over pizza to celebrate shutting down Delano. Naja and I are in the kitchen, grabbing drinks.

  It feels like the first almost normal circumstance we’ve been in.

  “I’m not playing a game.”

  “What do you call all this teasing you’ve been doing without following through, then?” She throws ice into cups, jaw tight. She’s cute when she’s pissed off, which seems to be almost every time I see her. At this point, I’ve never heard her genuinely laugh before.

  We’ll get there, as soon as she drops the uncaring front she puts on. Maybe if I just wanted to fuck her again, I’d put us both out of our misery.

  I want more than that, and I’ll go to bed rock-hard every night until she lets me in.

  “Showing you what you’re keeping from both of us.” I cage her against the counter, inhaling the slightly spicy scent of whatever she’s wearing. It’s a little dark. Nothing flowery for her.

  “You’re a grown-ass man. I’m not keeping you from anything.”

  “Did you find someone else?” I ask, even though I know the answer. The important thing is that she says it.

  She doesn’t say anything, just puts more ice into the cups and uncaps the large bottle of C
oca-Cola. When she sets it back down, I stay her hand on the bottle, freezing both of us.

  “Say the words,” I demand softly in her ear. “Out loud. Did. You. Find. Someone. Else?”

  “Maybe I did,” she says, fingers tightening under mine on the neck of the bottle.

  “Tell me how he touched you, then.”

  “That’s crass.”

  “Is it?” I muse. “Did he take care of you the way he should’ve? Did he trail his mouth over every inch of your body until you begged him for mercy? Did you make him kneel for you or did you wrap his hand around your throat, too?”

  “Shut up,” she snaps.

  “Fine.” I move my hands to the counter and brush my lips over the line of her neck. Putting a hand on her throat, I tug on her earlobe with my teeth, since I can’t use my mouth to speak.

  “Uh, are we gonna get drinks anytime soon?” Bali’s amused voice comes from behind me and I stroke my fingers over Naja’s throat one last time before I step away.

  “Sure.” I grab the cups that are already filled and pass them to Bali and Kane who comes to help. When they’re gone, I hold Naja’s eyes and decide it’s time I lay everything on the table. “We need to talk. Let’s try to minimize the injuries this time.”

  “I’ll think about it.” She leaves with her own drink and I wonder for a quick second if I’ve lost my mind. Surely, there are easier women to be interested in out there. I know for a fact there are, but here I am.

  Will comes and grabs another slice of pizza, glancing at me.

  “If you’re wondering if you’re out of your damned mind, I can confirm that yes, you are.”

  “Thanks for the support, Will. I appreciate it.”

  He gives me an unapologetic grin. “Always, brother. Always.”