Page 18 of Fighting for Mallory

“About snake cults. I didn’t know another angle to try. Locating Mercado’s and Tino’s family members seems impossible.”

“What spooked you?”

“Reading about human sacrifices and immortality. It sounds too unlikely, especially since there isn’t any real evidence.”

“Mallory, people disappear every day and are never seen or heard from again. Sometimes we find their remains, and there are signs of ritualistic murder. We blame it on serial killers, but it’s possible there are cults operating in the shadows.”

The kettle whistled, startling them. Luca made two cups of tea and carried them to the kitchen table. Mallory wrapped her hands around the mug. The warmth seeped into her cold skin.

“I have a theory. What if the women disappearing from CIW are being sacrificed, not trafficked? Think about it, Mal. Judge Cohen remanded all of you there without a second thought. Without due process. Three of the women fit the profile. Alone. No family or community ties. The drug overdoses could be part of it, too.”

Now her hands trembled, and she set down the mug before it slipped from her grasp. “What does Judge Cohen get from it? Money? Some kind of perverse satisfaction in ridding society of undesirables? And is it possible Captain Valentin stumbled into it?”

“It makes a sick sort of sense. You found Valentin’s murderers, Mallory. This organization isn’t invulnerable or infallible. We killed some of them yesterday. I think we’ve stirred the pit of vipers.”

“They’ll be coming after us.”

“Count on it.”

“Did Tex have any information to share?”

“Not yet. He and Hutch are deep diving into the dark web searching for clues as to how people are recruited into this organization, or cult, and who is doing the tattoos.”

The tea took effect, and Mallory yawned. “The tattoo angle is a good one.”

Luca rose from his chair. “Time to rest, sweetheart.” He helped Mallory to her feet, and she swayed against him. “You’re still shaky.”

He lifted her into his arms and carried her into one of the bedrooms. Her duffel bag sat on the bed, and he shoved it aside. Luca threw back the linens and laid Mallory on the mattress. He palmed her cheek and brushed a thumb across her lips. She brought his head down to meet her hungry mouth in a searing kiss. Luca half-covered her body, bracing himself with his arms as he accepted her invitation. The kiss deepened, tongues swirling and clashing.

Mallory emitted a soft sigh of pleasure. She and Luca had avoided meeting each other for months unless in a professional capacity when they were surrounded by others. Bentley had embarrassed her once before by dragging her out of the Laguna Beach Police Department, and neither she nor Luca wanted a repeat of that situation.

Now, there weren’t any obstacles between them, and she wanted to surrender to her passion at last. Mallory arched her back and moaned low in her throat. “Luca.”

He let out a growl of frustration before tearing his mouth away from hers. “I want you, Mallory. But it’s not the right time.”

She cupped his face covered in a light scruff and pressed her mouth against his for a moment. “Will you hold me until I fall asleep?”

“Of course.” Luca settled next to her and guided her head onto his broad, muscular chest. “Close your eyes, my love. You’re safe in my arms.”

* * *

While Mallory napped, Luca booby-trapped the perimeter of the cabin. Though they intended to leave the next morning, he suspected they might be attacked before then. He strung wire outside the front door and attached it to a nail gun he’d found in the shed. Tripping on the wire should release the trigger on the nail gun. He greased the steps on the front and back porch with cooking oil. In the shed he pounded nails into pieces of wood to use as weapons. Luca also placed them beneath the windows to slow down their attackers, if nothing else. He found a container filled with gas in the shed and a lighter that he slipped into his pants pocket. He searched for empty glass bottles he could stuff with old rags soaked in gas but no luck. It didn’t matter. The gas-soaked rags would come in handy. Before Luca returned to the cabin to check on Mallory, he made sure the ATV worked in case they needed to use it to escape. He pocketed the keys and exited the shed.

Hunger pains shot through Luca when he stepped into the kitchen and smelled something spicy. Mallory stood at the stove and stirred whatever simmered in a skillet. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. She leaned into him as he nuzzled the enticing space between her shoulder and neck.

“Mmm, what are you cooking?”

“Nothing too fancy. Just some ground beef, elbow macaroni, and um, canned spaghetti sauce.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief.

Luca covered his heart as though struck by an arrow. “Mamma would be horrified if she were alive.”

“I miss your mother so much. She was always so loving and kind to me. Her spaghetti and meatballs were divine.” Mallory scooped some of the mixture onto a pair of plates and Luca carried them to the kitchen table.

“I know all her secrets. When we’re out of this mess, I’ll teach you how to prepare a real Italian feast.”

Mallory’s face clouded with uncertainty. “There’s no determining when that will be.” She swallowed a forkful of meat and pasta. “What were you doing outside?”

“Ensuring we have better odds of escaping if necessary.”

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