Page 54 of Strike Fast

“Nah. What’s the point?”

Autumn couldn’t help but struggle as the first man passed her over to the second. He carried her to the new car and lowered her into the trunk. She tried to scream for help but the tape muffled her voice. No matter how she kicked and screamed, the man’s grip didn’t loosen. He didn’t say a word to her as he closed the lid, locking her inside. She thrashed and wiggled around, tears streaming down her cheeks, but it was no use. The first man had tied her too tightly.

Then a door shut and the engine started. A moment later the car began moving. Taking her farther away from her parents, and anyone else that might help her.

Autumn sagged on the musty carpet inside the trunk and cried, wishing with all her might that her daddy would come with his team and rescue her. Shoot the bad man who had her and get her out of this trunk.

Daddy, where are you? Please find me.

****

Reid hadn’t expected to doze off, but he must have, because the next thing he knew his eyes snapped open in the semi-darkness of his bedroom, his heart in his throat and his pulse pounding out of control in his ears.

Autumn. He’d dreamed of her trapped in a dark place, alone, crying out for him.

Fuck.

He swallowed hard and rolled away from Tess, who was curled on her side next to him, sound asleep. He’d lain awake for a long time, staring at the ceiling with her warm weight settled against him while her breathing slowed and she slipped into a deep sleep. Feeling guilty as hell for being safe and warm in the face of what his daughter was going through at that same moment, and yet pitifully grateful for Tess’s soothing presence.

Sitting up, he swung his legs over the side of the bed and ran a shaky hand over his face. Was his daughter still alive? Had the dream meant something? A glance at the clock showed he’d only been asleep for about twenty minutes.

“Reid?”

He stiffened, didn’t speak as Tess shifted over and set a hand on his back.

“You okay?” she murmured.

No, he was the furthest thing from okay. He was going out of his mind.

Without a word, Tess scooted closer and pressed her soft body against his back. She wound her arms around his chest, resting her cheek on the top of his spine. He was so keyed up he almost shrugged her off and shoved from the bed, but she didn’t deserve his anger and frustration. She was just trying to help.

Right now, though, he was walking a dangerous line. A volatile mix of emotions churned inside him, a raging storm he couldn’t escape. And in that moment, that’s exactly what he craved—an escape. A distraction. More than he’d ever craved alcohol. And Tess was unwittingly placing herself directly in the line of fire.

“Can I do anything?” she asked, gently rubbing one hand over his chest in comforting little circles. But instead of calming him, her touch blended with the chaotic rush of adrenaline and fear roaring through his veins. The darkness was a living thing inside him, searching for an outlet.

Not trusting his ability to contain it, Reid reached up and locked his hand around her wrist, stilling the gentle movement, trying to think of an answer to her question.Yes. Make me forget. Get me out of my head, even if it’s just for a little while. Please.

The desperate plea was like a scream in his head, filling his throat, his mouth, until he all but choked on it.

Tess cuddled in even closer, turned her face into his nape and pressed a kiss to his overheated skin.

Reid closed his eyes and forced air into his aching lungs, banishing the hellish image of Autumn’s frightened face and focusing instead on the dark undercurrent of desire heating his blood. Tess was soft and warm along his back, her clean, pear scent wrapping around him. Easing the constriction in his ribcage even as she made the fire burn hotter.

The weight of her breasts nestled against his back as she shifted, her lips brushing along the oversensitive skin at the side of his neck. He sucked in a breath as heat exploded throughout his body, pooling between his legs. His cock surged, swelling until it strained the front of his jeans. Aching for her touch.

“Tess,” he choked out, his voice a warning rasp. She had no idea what she was doing to him. How on edge he was.

“I’m right here,” she whispered back, gliding her lips up to his jaw, to the edge of his mouth. Willingly offering herself to him. A sacrificial lamb to slake the hunger of the beast raging inside him.

The beast snapped its chain.

Releasing her wrist, Reid spun around and captured her face in his hands. In the faint light coming into the bedroom from the hallway, he caught the flare of surprise in her eyes, and the darkening of desire.

And when she lowered her lashes and leaned forward to press her lips to his, he was lost.

Reid gripped handfuls of her silky hair and slanted his mouth across hers, unleashing his inner demons, desperation driving him.

Tess gasped softly at his ravenous hunger but didn’t pull away, pushing the softness of her breasts to his chest as he plundered her mouth with his tongue. His body was like an exposed high voltage line, every single brush of her against him sending electricity racing along his nerve endings.

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