She removed a stun gun and flashed it at him. He held his tongue. That pee-wee might take out a single mugger, but not a group of trained men like those they were dealing with. She was right, though—it seemed whoever attacked them wasn’t after her. “Even if no one from the Quattro Gang or those douchbags from last night are looking for you, the press may be. You still need to lay low and keep off the grid.”
Her defiant chin lifted as she returned the weapon to her pocket. The sash of her robe fell loose to reveal creamy skin peeking from a crop top and a pair of flowery shorts. “Granted, you may be right, but even if Sue figured out who I am, she’s not going to go blabbing it around. We’re friends. Sort of.”
Ladybug made her way over to Malachi. He scooped her up. He had multiple texts from Harris, Sam, and Caleb, but he hadn’t taken time to read them in his haste to search for Mia. He hoped at least one was good news. “These better be worth exposing yourself for.”
A genuine grin lit her face. “You do like chocolate, right?”
Of course they wouldn’t be anything healthy. Unless the Taskforce wrapped up this hostage situation in a few days, his goal of being ready for the triathlon was slim. If they got Amber back unharmed, he’d trade it with no regrets. “I’m not big on sweets, honestly.” He directed her to the rear entrance. “But chocolate has been known to pass my lips.”
She hiked up her robe to step over some ground cover that had long ago turned wild and waved around their knees in the breeze. “Well, you’re in for a treat.”
The amount of stunning cleavage on display certainly was a treat. Along with those legs, he was right back to where he’d been a few hours ago, mental fantasies running crazy. He forced his eyes away, but that image was burned in his mind, right along with her smile.
“Malachi?”
He’d frozen with his hand on the knob. Glancing up, he kept his gaze on her face. “Yes?”
“You okay?”
I haven’t been awestruck by breasts since high school.“Sure.” He nodded profusely, pinning his eyes on the far wall as he held the door open for her. “Let’s get you upstairs.”
Back in her apartment, he replied to the messages while Mia dug out two plates and started coffee. None of them provided the information he’d been hoping for.
He tried not to watch as Mia fed the animals and gave Ladybug her medication, the silk robe tantalizing him, and that damned sash refusing to stay tied as she bent to take care of them. Once they were set, she stretched to grab two mugs, and it came loose again. Even when she re-tied it, cutting off the view, the material flowed over her curves, like warm syrup, outlining her butt, those generous breasts.
Cooper’s text directed him not to bother bringing Mia to the office at eight. No real progress had been made on tracking her sister. Along with a city-wide manhunt by law enforcement, Thomas had been calling on his snitches to find info on the underground grapevine. No one was talking—either because they didn’t know any details, or were too scared to cough them up.
Sam had narrowed a search parameter to five possibilities for Marcher’s disposal place. Dupé was putting in orders for SWAT teams to check them out later that day.
Caleb’s message was two words:call me.
“Ready?” Mia stood at the table with two mugs of the steaming brew in hand.
“Sorry I fell asleep on you.” He covertly scanned her hair, her face, her hands as he casually walked to one of the chairs. She had bedhead and her skin was bare of makeup. Dark circles were under her eyes and the strain showed in the tiny crease between her brows. She had delicate fingers, like a pianist. He took a seat, then raised an eyebrow. “Is this yours?”
It took her half a second to get the joke, and she stuck out her tongue. Ladybug barked, as if laughing. “No, smartass.” She set the mug in front of his plate, then took the chair opposite. “You got it right this time.”
He gave her a big grin and dug in. As they ate, he brought her up to date on what Coop and Sam had reported. Her good mood vanished as she toyed with her breakfast. “I want to go with the SWAT team.”
“Can’t. Dupé will never allow it.”
Her eyes pleaded with him across the table. “What if they find her? I have to be there for her.”
There was no way the Feds would permit a civilian to attend a raid. Plus, Malachi had no idea which was the most likely of the five locations the teams were being dispatched to. “I’m hoping my brother has a lead,” he told her in an effort to distract her. “I also need him to bring me a set of fresh clothes.”
Her face fell, but she tried to cover her disappointment by teasing him. “No judgment, but you are a bit ripe. I can wash your things, you know. There’s a laundry facility downstairs, and you’re welcome to use my shower.”
The muffin was definitely worth the sugar and calories. He finished off a bite and appreciated the fact she would do that for him. “Let’s see what Caleb has for information. Then we can fix my smelly situation.”
She sipped her coffee, then picked at her food. “The two of you are a lot alike in appearance, but you seem…more mature. I mean, I really don’t know either of you that well, but I can tell he looks up to you. They all do. You and Caleb are very different people.”
Thank god for that. “Our parents raised us to be individuals, and we really are.”
A ringing sounded from her robe, and Mia startled. Setting down the cup, she drew her phone from her pocket. “It’s Professor G. Crud, I have to tell him I can’t get his work done. He’ll want to know why. What should I say?”
Malachi shook his head. “Let it go to voicemail for now. We’ll figure out what to tell him shortly and you can call back.”
She sank into the chair, pushing the cell away. “This could ruin my reputation as a research admin.”
