Page 50 of Deadly Threat
Mia’s face pinched, and Malachi could tell she felt sorry for the woman. “I appreciate that. I’ll put in a good word for you with the parole board when it’s time.”
After the call, Mia stood and shook out her arms. Malachi rubbed her back and the others resumed their seats, all talking at once.
Malachi motioned to Caleb. “Tell them about the Komosu and the pet shop.”
His twin rattled off the details and theory they’d discussed. Harris assigned Sam to get as many law enforcement officers investigating those places as possible.
“I want to enact Thomas’s plan,” Mia said abruptly.
Malachi gripped her arm. “No way.”
Harris agreed. “Not an option.” He glared at Mia when she protested and she made a frustrated noise in the back of her throat, but gave up. He glanced at Malachi. “Take her home. I’ll call once we have any leads.”
Twenty-Two
Mia refused to speak to Malachi on the drive to her apartment. He didn’t like being in the cold zone and her freezing him out, but she held firm, the cloudy night as dark as her mood.
Was this their first fight?
Once they were in the door, Ladybug and Taz were happy to see her. She greeted both animals in return with kisses. She’d missed Ladybug’s pill time, so she gave each of them an extra helping of food, tucking the medicine into the dog’s favorite treat to disguise it. Ladybug woofed up the snack with gusto, and then spit out the pill.
“Ladybug,” Mia scolded. “You have to take your medicine.”
Malachi went to the fridge and found a loaf of bread, laughing under his breath. She wanted to kick him, but stood back as he retrieved the pill and wrapped a partial slice around it. He bent and offered it to Ladybug coaxing her to take it. Mia was even more aggravated when her dog gobbled it down.
“Traitor,” she muttered, then rounded on Malachi. “We’re well past the ideal window to find a missing person. Dozens of leads, but not one points directly at a location for Amber. Please let me talk to Thomas and—”
He grabbed her up and kissed her.
She resisted, pressing her hands against his chest, but with no real force. It felt good to be in his arms, to feel his lips on hers. Even though she tried to continue arguing in between him taking her lips and then her neck, she finally began the descent into the bliss he always brought. “You play…dirty,” she murmured against his mouth.
“I play to win,” he countered.
He continued to kiss her into submission, as he moved them into her room. As he was undoing her bra, he said, “If you’re too pissed for this, just say so.”
He was so deadpan, she wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic or serious. She smacked his arm. “Take your pants off and get into bed.”
For the next hour, he made her a very happy woman, and eventually they fell asleep, her spooning into him.
When she woke, it was daybreak, and the smell of coffee teased her nose. She was satisfyingly achy all over from his lovemaking.
She took a moment to simply stretch and listen to the homey sounds of him in her space, talking to Ladybug and rustling in the cupboards. Slowly, she rose, going to the bathroom to relieve herself and splash water on her face. When she came out, she found him at the kitchen table with Ladybug at his feet.
Every inch of the tabletop was covered. A map of the city, lists that Sam and Bobby had provided last night, his cell, and several colored pens. He was marking things on the map and talking to Caleb on speakerphone.
Tying her robe’s sash, she leaned down and greeted him with a kiss. He smiled warmly at her. She got a cup of coffee and sat across from him, eyeing the papers.
“Thanks, bro,” he said to Caleb. “We’ll be at the office soon. Have Josie call those media outlets for me.” He disconnected.
“Media outlets?” Mia raised a questioning brow.
“A plan of mine.”
Ladybug wanted up in her lap, so she lifted her and motioned at the map. “What’s all this?”
He rubbed a hand across his eyes, taking a sip. “I’m tired of hoping the Feds find Amber. Time for me to do what I do best.”
She gave him a cheeky grin. “Make love to me?”
