Tragic Desires by A.M. Hargrove Page A

because that’s a damn fact. That’s unusual because even though I can be a softie when it comes to helping people, getting involved with the opposite sex is not something I ever do on the job.
    But when I look at her, it’s not just my dick that reacts. My whole body wants her. On me, around me, I want her every-fucking-where. She’s unlike anything I could conjure in my wildest fantasies. But she’s a total fucked-up piece of work. And that’s the last thing I need. And Aali Imaam is after her. Doesn’t that make for the perfect girlfriend? What the hell am I thinking? Girlfriend? Where the hell did that come from?
    “Is everything okay over there?” she asks.
    “Yeah, why?”
    “Because you’re squeezing the crap out of my hand.”
    “Shit. Sorry.” I let go.
    “That’s not what I wanted. I just wanted you to ease up a bit. I like it when you hold my hand.”
    “Well, don’t get too used to it. We have a job to do.” That was harsh. I rub my face and try to figure out what the hell I’m doing here.
    “Okay. I t was just …” She stops.
    “What?”
    “Nothing.”
    We’re both quiet for a while. I look over and she has her head back , eyes closed. Maybe she’s sleeping. She’ll need it. We have a long night ahead of us.
     
     
    We pull into San Angelo around nine o’clock. She directs me to her house. It’s a small bungalow in a quiet neighborhood. Since I want to make sure there aren’t any people watching, I drive around the block. She’s hunched down on the floor so no one can see her. There aren’t any other cars on the street, but I won’t take chances.
    “ Give me the neighborhood layout. Are there any alleys?”
    “No. There’s a street behind ours and then a school. There’s a park two blocks to the east and a church two blocks to the west.”
    “Is your backyard fenced in?”
    “No.”
    “What about your neighbors’ yards?”
    “They weren’t when I lived here, but they might be now.”
    “Let’s find a place with Wi-Fi and check out Google Earth. It’s updated fairly frequently but may not give us the most recent images. We can look and see anyway. It’s the best we have right now. I should’ve called my office. I’m usually much better than this.” Jesus, if I keep fucking up, I’m going to end up losing everything, including her.
    It doesn’t take long to locate a coffee shop and luckily, none of her neighbors have fences, so that cements my plans.
    “We’ll park in the church lot. Then we’ll go in on foot and enter through the back. Have you ever worn night-vision goggles?” I ask.
    “ Sure. I wear them all the time.”
    “Okay , smart-ass.”
    “Seriously? Drexel, where in the world would I wear night-vision goggles?”
    “I don’t know. Hunting?”
    She shakes her head. “Yeah, my mom and I used to hunt big game in our backyard when I was a kid. Lions and tigers. Once I even shot a wildebeest.”
    “ Okay, enough. You’ll be wearing them tonight. No lights allowed. Got that?”
    “Yes , SIR!”
    “Cut the crap, Gemini.”
    “I’m not your subordinate.”
    “You are tonight. You’ll do as I say. Understand?” She salutes me. I say, “You’re not doing it correctly.”
    “God, you’re such a douche.”
    Then I laugh. Really hard. Soon after, she joins in. She has such a beautiful smile and I want to get lost in it. Well, that and in her pants. But I know we have to get this job done.
    Her next question throws me for a loop. “Do you do that thing with your eyes on purpose?”
    “What thing?” I’m puzzled.
    “The way you look at me with your eyes half closed.”
    “I don’t know what you mean.” I honestly haven’t the slightest idea.
    Her cheeks pink . They look amazing. It’s the first time I’ve seen any color in them. She bows her head so I prod her. “Tell me, Gemini.”
    Her voice is a whisper. “Your eyes. Sometimes when you look at me. They’re … um … well, they’re sexy.”
    She takes me by surprise and I