Target: A Circle of Justice Novel Read online

  With short, gentle strokes, I glided up and down, until his grip tightened on my hips and he growled. “You’re playing with fire.”

  Giggling, I lowered down inch by inch until he was completely inside of me.

  “You feel so fucking good. I can’t believe how wet you are for me.” With one hand tugging on my hair, he grabbed a breast with the other. His grip on my hair tightened and I arched my back, still moving my hips as he ravished my nipples. “Jesus. If you don’t stop, I’m going to come.” Picking me up by the hips, we staid connected as he flipped us around and collapsed on top of me.

  I wrapped my legs around his waist and held on tight as he thrusted his hips deep and hard. Faster and faster he pumped, his lips still suckling on one of my nipples. The harder he sucked and pushed, the closer I came to losing myself; we were both almost to the edge.

  “Wade,” I cried out.

  He growled low in his chest and held on tighter, grunting with his forceful thrusts. “Fuck, you’re getting so tight.”

  Digging my nails into his back, I screamed out my release, and at the same time I could feel him spasm, cock throbbing as it filled me with his desire. Breathing hard, his body continued to jerk over me with aftershocks and I watched him come undone.

  Completely spent, Wade kissed my neck and rested his forehead to mine. “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”

  “That’s a good problem to have.”

  Wade

  Josh and Trinity were in the car behind us, following us to the small, private airfield not far from my ranch. Ian and my brothers were already there waiting for us. Before leaving the ranch, I’d had Brina occupy Trinity’s time, so I could tell Josh everything. I needed his full trust and it was the only way to ensure that. There were times I could tell he thought I was overstepping my boundaries. At least, now, he knew the truth and we could work together.

  “You’ve surprised me, peanut,” my father said to Brina over the car speaker.

  Brina pursed her lips. “And you lied to me.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said with a sigh. “I didn’t want it to affect the way you feel about my son. He’s a good man.”

  She reached for my hand, her lips pulling back in a small smile. “Yes, he is.”

  I drove up to the airfield gate and typed in the access code. Josh and Trinity followed us through, when the gate opened. “All right, we’re at the airport,” I announced. “I’ll call you when we land in Charlotte.”

  “Sounds good. Be safe,” he said before hanging up the phone.

  I located our Cessna Citation X jet and headed toward it. “Is that it?” Brina pointed to it, her eyes twinkling.

  “I know, it’s not Air Force One, but it gets the job done.”

  She smacked my arm. “I love it.” We hopped out of the car and grabbed our bags.

  Ian stuck his head out the door and waved us over with a wide grin on his face.

  I looked at Brina and laughed. “You might be taking that back, once you meet my brothers again . . . especially, Ian. He’s the one who not only destroyed your sandcastles, but also loved to pull your hair.”

  “Ah, I see.” She giggled. “I don’t remember the hair pulling.”

  I scoffed. “Oh yeah, he loved to make you cry. He can be a complete pain in the ass. Bryce is more like me, and my younger brother, Reed, is a mixture of us all.”

  She pointed toward the plane. “Is that him?”

  Reed climbed down the stairs and walked toward us. His dark hair was the same color as mine but he looked a lot like our mother. He’d changed a lot in the last year. He wasn’t a skinny runt anymore.

  “That’s him,” I said. Reed walked right over to me and I hugged him. “Damn, little brother. I barely recognize you.”

  Chuckling, he slapped me on the back. “Been working hard. It’s good to see you.”

  “Same to you.” I let him go. “I’d like you to meet Brina. She’s an old family friend.”

  Grinning wide, Brina held out her hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  Reed shook her hand. “Likewise. My father has told me a lot about you.”

  I pointed to Trinity and Josh. “And this is her niece, Trinity, and her bodyguard, Josh.”

  He shook both of their hands. “Nice to meet the both of you. I’ll help load up the bags.”

  Once we all boarded the plane, Ian was right there to greet everyone. He shook Trinity and Josh’s hands and introduced himself, but it was Brina who caught his undivided attention. “Good morning, Brina. Happy to see you after all these years.”

  With an evil grin on her face, she shook his hand, her knuckles turning white as she squeezed as hard as she could. “Same to you. But if you try to pull my hair or make me cry, I’ll kick your ass.”

  Ian burst out laughing. “I knew I was gonna like you,” he said, as Bryce waved at us from the cockpit.

  “And that’s Bryce,” I said to Brina. She waved back and said hello before finding a seat.

  Ian rubbed his hand. “Holy shit, she’s strong.”

  I patted his back. “You have no idea.”

  “Sure you’re not tired of her yet? I’d be happy to take her off your hands.”

  “Try it and you’re dead.”

  He held up his hands. “Just thought I’d ask.”

  Reed shut and locked the cabin door. “All set. We’re ready for takeoff.”

  Ian nodded toward the seats. “Once you’re settled, we’ll get going.”

  There were eight seats in the cabin, all extra wide and built for comfort. I took the seat across from Brina, while Trinity and Josh sat beside us, facing each other.

  “Good morning, everyone, this is your pilot speaking,” Ian announced, trying his best to sound professional. “It’s a beautiful day here in Malibu, but we’re expected to hit some high winds on the way to Charlotte. During that time, I’d like for you to keep your seatbelts on because it’s probably going to get a little rough. So, no sexy time in the bathroom, folks. My insurance doesn’t cover broken appendages.”

  Trinity’s mouth gaped. “Did he just say that?”

  Josh tried to hide his smile and failed. “I think he did.”

  “Now I can see why he doesn’t work for Chandler Enterprises.” Brina laughed.

  Sighing, I leaned my head back. “He has no filter.”

  Once the plane took off down the runway and we leveled off in the air, I turned to speak to the group. “Have you thought about where you’re going to stay when we get to Charlotte?”

  They all looked at each other. “I figured we’d stay at the lake house,” Brina suggested with furrowed brows. “Is there somewhere else you have in mind?”

  “Actually, there is. What do you say about staying at my house? It’s protected, just like my ranch. It would be much more difficult to get to you there.”

  Josh leaned toward Trinity and clasped her hands. “I’m down for it. Having the extra protection will be good.”

  Trinity nodded. “Okay.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. Even though Brina could take care of herself, I wanted her safe with me. She leaned forward, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth. “Is this your way of keeping me all to yourself?” she asked, voice low so the others couldn’t hear.

  “Maybe.” I looked at her sideways. “Something wrong with that?”

  A seductive grin lit up her face. “No. I just don’t want you feeling like you have to take on all this responsibility. You know Josh and I can keep her safe.”

  “I know. But it’ll guarantee me seeing you every day,” I murmured low.

  She leaned forward and kissed me. “That was going to happen no matter what. However, if you want us to stay there, we will. I just hate leaving the lake house empty. I enjoyed the boat.”

  “Then use it. I don’t expect you to stay at my house twenty-four-seven.”

  “Deal,” she agreed, sneaking a glance over at Trinity. “Our family’s been through so much. The last thing I want is for her to
feel trapped. I just hope my brother can figure out who’s after him.”

  My first thought went to Peter, the leader of the Circle of Justice. “I think I know of someone who can help. He knows how to think outside the box.”

  Her face flashed with determination. “Let’s talk to him.”

  Brina

  Before settling into Wade’s house, we picked up my car from the lake, so I’d have it on hand. Wade’s house was one of the most beautiful places I’d ever seen; I couldn’t stop myself from looking around. He didn’t live in the big city of Charlotte, but on the outskirts, in the small town of Belmont. It was the kind of place where you could raise a family and know the people walking down the streets. I’d always wondered what it’d be like to live in a small town.

  There were pictures of his family on the mantle. The one that caught my attention was of his mother, sitting in a rocking chair with a little boy on her lap.

  “She was a beautiful woman,” Wade murmured, coming up behind me. He picked up the picture and I could see the pain in his eyes. “This was taken in Wyoming. My mom always told me how much she loved it there.”

  “My mom used to say the same thing. I hate that she lives out there on her own. It’s been nice having her in Charleston.”

  He carefully set the picture back on the mantle. “Why doesn’t she move closer to you?”

  The muscles in my chest tightened. “She loved my father too much, I guess. It’s been thirteen years and she still misses him terribly. You don’t see that kind of love these days.”

  “My parents had it,” he murmured.

  That brought a smile to my face. “How could anyone not love your father? The man protected me from who knows what, and I never had a clue.”

  Wade cupped my face in his hands. “Deep down, I think he always wanted a little girl. You were the closest thing he had to it.” I’d had my father for the first half of my life, and Glenn for the rest of it. Tilting my face up, he kissed me, grazing his tongue across mine. “I want to show you something.”

  He took my hand and I followed him out the back door. The exterior was made of stone and the house was surrounded by gorgeous meadows and trees; the perfect place for cows and horses. There was even a large pond with a dock that led out into the water, where Josh and Trinity now sat.

  “Your home is amazing.” I was in awe.

  “Is it not what you expected?” he asked, clearly amused.

  “It’s so much more,” I confessed. “I’m learning something new about you every day.”

  “Do you want to know something else about me?”

  I looked up at him, seeing his face was serious. “Of course, I want to know everything about you.”

  “Then follow me.” We walked to the barn and stopped just outside the doors. Taking a deep breath, he stared up at it. “My brothers and I built this barn by hand. We nailed every single board together.”

  Mouth gaping, I stood there in shock. “Wow. You guys did a fantastic job. What made you want to build a barn?” I looked around at the meadow, surrounded by a wooden fence. “I don’t see any animals around.”

  He shrugged. “I’ll have some one day. With everything going on, I don’t have the time to properly care for them.”

  “It’s funny. I always had you pegged for a city boy. Goes to show how much the media can impact a person’s image.”

  His expression darkened. “It’s no one’s business what I’m like.”

  “Yeah, but being the broody, mysterious bachelor only feeds the minds of women everywhere. The media’s probably chomping at the bit to get an inside scoop on how we click. To them, we’re complete opposites.”

  “Are you trying to say I need to be more outgoing?” he asked, smirking slyly.

  “No. I like being the only one who sees that side of you.”

  Chuckling, he opened the barn doors. We walked inside and I froze, gazing in wonder. One entire side of the barn was filled with bundles of wood, and the other was taken up by table saws and other machinery. However, that wasn’t what caught my attention. “Did you make this?” I asked, running my finger over a smooth, wooden coffee table. The edges were carved in intricate designs that could only be achieved by hand.

  Wade beamed. “When I need time to think, I come in here and work. It keeps me grounded. Usually, after I eliminate a target, I need something to remind me of who I am.” He walked over and knelt at his table, gaze narrowed as he surveyed his work.

  “How many people have you killed?” I asked, whispering the words.

  Releasing a heavy sigh, he looked up at me and turned his head. “Too many to count, sunshine. For a while, I had the highest kill rate.”

  “If you had to guess, how many would you say?”

  He shrugged. “Four hundred, give or take a dozen.”

  A gasp escaped my lips and I sucked in a breath, shocked to the core. “Holy shit, that’s a lot. I’ve only gotten rid of eight.”

  “That’s still a high number,” he said in all seriousness. “Speaking of which, you need to train with me. It’ll help you.”

  “Let’s get started then.” I glanced out the door where Trinity and Josh still sat on the dock. “Doesn’t look like they’re moving anytime soon.”

  His gaze narrowed. “You sound awfully excited about it. Is that your way of saying you want to try to kick my ass?”

  “Judging by the bruise on your cheek, I’d say I did a little more than try.”

  With a mischievous grin, his blue eyes bored into mine. “That was nothing, sunshine. You don’t know what all I can do.” Taking my hand, he led me back up to the house and to his bedroom so we could change clothes.

  The walls in his room were a dark gray and his bedspread was white and silver, on top of a dark wood headboard. Very masculine, yet sensual with the different shades. Wade changed into a pair of gym shorts and T-shirt while I did the same.

  “Were all the men rapists that you killed?”

  “Not all of them,” he said with a shake of his head. “Do you remember a few weeks ago, when Allie Fairchild was kidnapped?”

  I grabbed my stomach. “The governor’s daughter. I’d have given anything to get a few minutes alone with the bastard who took her.” His name was Grady Wilburn and he’d planned to sell her in Mexico to the highest bidder.

  “I killed him,” Wade admitted. “It took me a couple of days to make the hit, but I pulled it off, and just in time.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I wanted to make him suffer, but I couldn’t, not in front of Allie. My only concern was getting her to safety.”

  He reminded me of his father. “And you did. She’s safe because of you. My niece is safe because of you. I owe you a lot.”

  His arms wrapped around my waist and he kissed my neck, the stubble on his chin rubbing across my skin. Everything inside of me tightened. “I can think of a few ways you could work off the debt. But first, we need to work.”

  I blew out a shaky breath. “You’re evil.”

  Chuckling, he opened the door and I followed him down to his basement, where he had everything you could ever need to train – weights, treadmill, benches, a punching bag, and a large mat in the center of the room in front of a set of mirrors. I sat down on the mat and stretched, feeling the pull as my muscles lengthened. Wade joined me on the floor.

  “What all did Josh and Emmitt teach you as far as physical fighting?” he asked.

  I shrugged. “A good bit. Why?” I’d gotten into the boxing ring with them many times. I knew how to deliver a punch with maximum force.

  Wade stared at me, his brows furrowed. “You’re fast, I’ll give you that. And you have the strength to knock anyone on their ass.”

  “However . . .” I stated, waiting for the blow. I got to my feet and he joined me.

  “I’m concerned about your floor game. You can kill someone on your feet with a gun, but I want to make sure you can protect yourself using hand to hand combat.” With a wolfish grin, he circled around me like a lion hunting i
ts prey. “Nothing against Josh and Emmitt, but we all fight differently. I think you could benefit from learning as many styles as possible, starting with mine.”

  “I’m quite happy with my own,” I said, slowly getting into a stance. My body tingled in anticipation.

  “Yeah, but I could have taken you out that night at my house.” He was dead serious. “If my moves could help save your life, you need to learn them.”

  My chest rose and fell as my body went on hyper alert. Wade was stronger than any man I’d had to fight. If he took me down to the mat, I wouldn’t have the strength to fight him off. Instead of waiting for him to strike, I swung and he blocked me, smiling as he deflected every jab.

  “You are such an asshole,” I snapped. “You played around with me, didn’t you?”

  His smile faded. “I didn’t want to hurt you. That’s why I’m trying to help you now.” The muscles in his thighs twitched and I knew he was about to charge. I jumped out of the way in time. “Very good,” he remarked.

  “What can I say? I’m quick on my feet.” He deflected every swing and kick I managed to throw his way, which pissed me off. It made me realize how inexperienced I was. But I had my ways. They might be dirty, but I could put them to good use.

  Straightening my stance, I sauntered over to him, smiling lazily. He lifted his brows and placed his hands on his hips, never once taking his eyes off me. “What are you doing?”

  My smile grew wider and once I got close enough, I swiped my leg behind his and used the force of my body to make him fall back. We both fell to the mat, and I landed on top of him. Before I could shout out my triumph, he quickly wrapped his arms around my waist and tumbled me over. Now his body was on top of mine.

  “Dammit,” I hissed, my head slamming down on the mat. “I thought I had you.”

  His face was close to mine, lips almost touching. The weight of his body pressed into mine, and I could feel the weight of his growing cock making its own room between us. I couldn’t move because he had taken my wrists and held my arms above my head, pinning me to the floor. Welcoming his touch, I pushed my hips into him, and grew wet just having him against me.