Page 14 of Unlawful Seduction

“Have a good nap, buddy. You earned it.” I headed into my office, sitting down on the chair and staring at the blackened computer screen. The house and grounds were completely wired, the security tight, but as I did every time I left and returned, I checked the cameras to ensure there hadn’t been any breach.

Not likely given the time that had passed, but old habits died hard.

They also kept me alive.

I shifted from one camera to another, checking thoroughly before turning off the system. With as much firepower as I had, I could stay holed up and protected for years. I shook my head from the thought. How long had it been since I’d had friends or spent time with family? Hell, I was beginning to wonder.

And women? I might as well have sworn off being with a woman, it had been that long. It wasn’t from lack of desire or anger at some horrible relationship in the past. I simply wasn’t interested in creating attention or potentially placing anyone in harm’s way.

I lifted my glass, twisting the cheap crystal in the yellow light, almost able to create prisms. I had to admit, with a woman like Mallory, I could drop my resolve if only for a single night.

As I sat back in my chair, swiveling it back and forth, very filthy thoughts drifted into my mind. They were images, dirty ones that could fuel both the loneliness and the yearning to be close to a beautiful woman. I shouldn’t be surprised Mallory had brought out so many mixed emotions and needs. After all, she was by far the most beautiful woman I’d seen in years. Hell, maybe a decade.

Suddenly, Jax sauntered into the room, huffing as he peered up at me. When I did nothing but lift a single eyebrow, he huffed again and moved behind the desk, placing his head on my lap.

“What’s wrong, buddy? Growing bored with just the two of us?”

Woof.

“Yeah, I get it. I wish I could change things.” I stroked his head, rubbing the rough pad of my thumb up and down his nose. He was such a beautiful boy, pure white in color with eyes that were easily able to melt the hearts of anyone he came in contact with. “But for right now, you’re stuck with me. Okay?”

He lifted his head, his look full of questions. I knew he’d been trying to figure me out since the day I’d rescued him. That had been a dark day, the evidence of the pup’s horrible abuse clearly evident. The vet I’d found had recommended I put the boy down. I’d laughed and told him money wasn’t the object. So eight thousand dollars and change later, Jax had been on the road to recovery.

We’d been inseparable ever since.

A single whimper escaped his muzzle and instead of lying down on the dog’s bed I’d placed in this room like every other one, he nestled right there. My boy was refusing to leave my side. While Jax was the master of detecting the early signs of danger, I sensed tonight he simply needed to be close.

Likely because he’d had an up close and personal interaction with a female. He was all male. I chuckled and took another gulp of my drink. I was also all male, which was why my cock had been driven savagely against the zipper of my jeans.

A strange sense of foreboding drifted into me, which prompted me to pull up a file I kept locked down on the computer. The notification I’d had a new private and secure email had arrived while dealing with Mallory’s dead battery. Staying connected to the man I’d been friends with for almost ten years was the single indulgence I allowed to my past. Anything else would be considered reckless.

At least Mike was trustworthy. He also had the same type of connections I’d had prior to erasing my past life. The information and recommendations he’d supplied over the last few years had been worth every penny I’d spent on his attorney’s fees.

By maintaining a watchful eye on the woman I’d helped over a year before, I’d placed both their lives in a precarious position. But I refused to shirk my responsibilities.

Mike hadn’t seemed bothered in the least. He was a tough dude. Another reason I liked him.

The thought of continuing to provide assistance was perhaps the most ridiculous aspect of my continued shadowing of Tessa and her son, but I’d changed her life, offering her a fresh start. Not that she’d had a choice. Death or leave town. I knew which one I would have chosen. Even with the money I’d provided, she’d found it tough to create something from nothing.

The email from the private eye Mike had hired was succinct, the address he’d sent it from one he’d change at the beginning of the month as he always did. Meanwhile, mine was completely secured, a little trick I’d learned from my uncle who’d been a born and bred military man.

Subject Line: Subject Located

Body of Email: Subject located and secured. No compromises.

There was no need for additional information. The woman formerly known as Theresa had moved to a small but beautiful town more than halfway across the country. She’d done a good job of blending into society, working as a waitress for a populardiner. From what I could tell, she made decent money, but when I’d found her after month two, I’d started sending some additional funds.

They arrived in her bank account with no notification, no indication of where the money had come from. I pulled up the photographs he’d also sent, rubbing my jaw as I glanced from one to the other. Mike handled the majority of transfers, although I oversaw everything. Trust was difficult for me, even though Mike knew if he betrayed me, I’d rip out his heart with my fingers.

Tessa had altered her looks, changed their names as I’d demanded and with her new identification in place, no one should ever learn she was alive. The pictures at least showed her smiling, her little boy growing into a fine-looking kid.

The only bad thing was that he had his father’s eyes. There was no denying the connection. That was something I had no control over. Plus, the bastard who’d ordered the hit was decaying in his casket six feet under. His protégé was in another cemetery along with a half dozen of his soldiers.

The last photograph showed Tessa with her son and a new puppy. I stole a quick glance to Jax. She’d made an excellent choice of breeds, German Shepherds loyal and extremely protective of their humans.

I lingered over the photographs for a few minutes as I finished my drink. Then as always, I destroyed the photos and the email. Keeping any scrap of evidence was dangerous.

It was time for another drink and maybe I’d toss some canned beef stew into a pan. Sure, it was stereotypical of mountain man style living, but I wasn’t living here to impress anyone.My house. My rules. Fuck anyone who didn’t like or appreciate them.

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