Stranded (Boys Behaving Badly Book 4) Read online

  “Do you have anything to say for yourselves?” Jax demanded.

  Kalem was still fixed to the screen.

  “We had no idea what was happening,” I got out.

  “Why the hell did the two of you run like that?”

  “We had no clue what was going on,” I said, keeping my tone even. “Plus, we weren’t equipped or manned to take on an incursion like that.”

  Kalem let out a breath that was half a sigh of relief. I looked back at him, and his face had relaxed. I looked to the screen. The officer was rolling and sitting up. He pulled off a shirt and revealed the POLICE vest that should’ve been on the outside the entire time.

  “Well, then answer me this,” Jax started. His voice had dropped. He wasn’t yelling anymore. “How did the cops find out?”

  I couldn’t find any words. I had no clue how the cops found out. And I should’ve known because I should’ve been the one to tell them. I’d been trying to for two weeks. But Frank had been shot and killed, so I couldn’t.

  “I don’t know, sir,” Kalem answered, his words measured.

  “I do,” Jax responded, his lips lifting in an ugly snarl. “We have a mole. Nobody’s leaving tonight. We’re locked down.” Jax turned around and faced the screen. He raised his left arm, his hand pointing to the door. “Now, get the fuck out until I call you back in.”

  On the second floor, Kalem gripped my right wrist. “Come with me.”

  I pulled my arm back, but his grip was unyielding. He opened a door to a side room he knew would be empty with everyone strapped and at the windows. He tossed me in, closed the door, and flipped a switch. When the light came on, his gaze drilled into me. “I know it was you.”

  I blinked. “What are you talking about?”

  “I know you’re the mole,” he said, is voice dead even. “I know you’re the one who tipped off the cops.”

  “Screw you,” I said as I moved to walk out. I had to get away. Had to think. Fuck, he knew. And I wasn’t sure what freaked me out most, the fact I was made or the coldness in his eyes.

  His hands clenched my arms, and he gave me a little shake. “I know you’re the one who tipped off the cops,” he repeated. “Why’d you do it? Why’d you turn on us?”

  “I didn’t turn on anybody.”

  Kalem pushed me back, reached into his coat pocket, and pulled out the burner.

  Shock shivered through me, but I crossed my arms and raised my eyebrows as if to ask for an explanation.

  “You’ve been acting weird the last couple weeks. More on edge. So, when you took off today, I followed you. I saw you buy this burner and go to a park and make calls for an hour. When we got the text to meet up, you took the battery out and threw it away. I retrieved it and caught back up with you, just in time to see you toss the phone in the dumpster. So, I got that, too.”

  I didn’t budge, although my heart rate had sped up.

  “When I caught a cab to the warehouse, I plugged the battery in. Your call history and browser history still came up. You called some number that’s unlisted. But the first three numbers are the same as the general number to the police department. Most phones in an office use the same first three numbers, just the last four change. So, you called a cop.”

  “That’s it?” I responded, lifting my chin. But it was going to be enough for Jax.

  His lips were a thin, angry line. “I looked through your browser history. You read an article about some dead cop. Was that who you were trying to call?”

  “I don’t even know what you’re talking about—”

  He gave a sharp shake of his head. “Then you called the local Bureau number.”

  “You don’t have any—”

  “Don’t lie to me,” Kalem roared. He snatched my right arm and pulled me close. His eyes blazed with fury and rage. At this moment, he was the hunter, I was the prey.

  But dealing with gang members was like facing down large cats. You can’t show weakness. I met his stare with all the strength I could muster.

  “Fine,” he growled. He turned and hauled me behind him.

  “Okay, okay, okay,” I rebelled, pulling at my wrist.

  Kalem stopped and turned but held my wrist like a vice. “Speak.”

  “You’re right, but you’re also wrong.” I sucked in a breath, taking a chance on this man. “I am a cop, but I didn’t sell us out. The two numbers I called were for my contacts. One of them died, that was what the article was about. The other one was with the Bureau, but he apparently left. I haven’t been in touch with either of them for three weeks.”

  His gaze narrowed. “And you expect me to believe that?”

  “Believe what you want; it’s the truth. I wouldn’t have had the cops raid this delivery anyway. We could’ve tracked all the weapons that went out, arrested the buyers, and put the squeeze on them to sell out Jax.”

  Kalem glared at me as he thought. I could see it made sense to him. “Okay, let’s say you didn’t sell us out on this one. Jax still needs to know you’re a cop.”

  I was afraid of that. “I can see where you’re coming from,” I stalled. “Look, I can help you out. You don’t want to be in this life. I know that. I can help you get out.”

  His eyes hardened. “I told you. I made my decisions. You did, too. And your decision was to snitch on us.”

  I scrambled for a new tack. “You did say that. And if you want to stay here, that’s fine. I can help with that, too.”

  Kalem’s brows furrowed. “How’s that?”

  “I can help you advance.”

  “Advance? There’s only one spot to advance to. What are you going to help me do? Kill Jax? I think he’d love to hear that. That’ll help me advance.”

  “I didn’t mean that.” I didn’t know what I meant at this point. “Just let me know what you want. I’ll do my best to make it happen.”

  Kalem’s stare bored into me. Then his eyes softened. His shoulders tightened then fell. “You can’t help because what I want is for my friend to not be a turncoat.”

  He released my hand, turned around, and walked toward the door. I took three quick steps to catch him by the arm. He looked down, and I could see the pain, the betrayal he felt.

  I looked up into his eyes. “I will do whatever I can to keep you out of this.”

  “I’m not expecting any favors,” he muttered.

  He’d already steeled himself. I reached my arms around his waist and felt his chest expand and fall as he slowed his breathing to choke back his feelings.

  I felt…unmoored. Alone as never before.

  “You get out tomorrow, okay?”

  He was still trying to protect me. I nodded my agreement.

  “Boss wants you.”

  I was sitting in the dining room at a hideous black and gold table.

  I walked up the two flights to Jax’s room. He’d been running interrogations the last three hours. I knocked. Kalem opened the door and nodded me in. What was he doing here already?

  Bridges was duct-taped to a metal chair, his face pulped and bloody.

  Jax stood in front of Bridges, four men behind him. In Jax’s right hand was a Colt 1911 with a mother of pearl handle. Blood covered the gun and spattered up Jax’s dragon robe. “Take him the fuck out of here,” he said, pointing the gun at Bridges. The four men jumped into action and dragged Bridges out.

  I watched as they struggled with Bridges and closed the door. “So was Bridges the—”

  “No,” Jax answered. “That was for ineptitude.” Jax focused his gaze on me and sauntered in my direction.

  I looked around. Nobody else was in the room but Kalem.

  Jax held his gun up to emphasize the dramatic moment he was creating. “I know you’re the mole.”

  He said it so casually I almost missed it. “Me?” I said, my heart slowing to a loud, dread-filled thud.

  “Yeah. I had a suspicion, but then it was confirmed. I just had to make sure nobody else was working with you. And make sure Bridges doesn’t fuck up
like that again in the future. I told him to keep you in line, but when the cops came today, I knew he screwed this whole deal.” A sneer spread across his face. “Now I just have to deal with you.”

  I looked at Kalem. He didn’t look back.

  “Hey, look here.” Jax gestured with the gun to point at himself. “He’s not going to help you. Nobody’s going to help you.”

  I couldn’t believe it. I thought Kalem and I had reached an understanding. I thought he wanted to protect me, not betray me like this.

  In that moment, I knew Jax was going to kill me. I swung a wild haymaker with my left hand at Kalem, but he grabbed me first. I struggled and swung and kicked and bit, but nothing broke his iron grasp.

  “Sit her down,” Jax ordered.

  Kalem pulled me to a wooden chair just around the corner, taped my arms behind my back, took my gun, and moved behind Jax.

  “I don’t get it, Katie-cat. Why are you swinging out at Kalem? Did—” Jax was piecing it together. “Did Kalem know?” He turned to Kalem. “Did you know she was a cop?”

  “I didn’t know anything,” Kalem answered, his jaw tightening.

  Jax turned back to me and pressed the gun to my right temple. “I found out from one of my sources at the police department three weeks ago. He said you were undercover and working with some old-timer Captain. Well, I couldn’t have that, so I had the Captain put down.”

  Rage narrowed my vision. I struggled against the tape, trying to free myself so I could get revenge for Frank.

  “But I wanted to keep you as leverage. Bridges was supposed to make sure nothing happened. Cops came, so he got beat. But when I told you I know you’re a cop,” Jax said as he pointed the Colt at me, “you attacked Kalem. Interesting.” Jax thumbed the hammer back and moved the nozzle to my forehead. “Well, only one way out now.”

  One shot rang out.

  I froze.

  Jax stood still but a part of his forehead was missing. His right leg gave in, and he crumpled to the floor. Kalem still had my gun leveled when three of the men rushed in and aimed their guns at him.

  Kalem turned his head. He pointed down at Jax’s body with my Glock. “This piece of shit didn’t know how to run this business. As a result, we got hit by cops tonight. I’ve put too much work into this organization—we all have—to tolerate this sort of failure.” Kalem’s voice raised to a roar. “I’m the reason we’ve had success. I’m in charge now.”

  Kalem stood staring down three rifles, king of this jungle. He’d taken command.

  The three men lowered their weapons.

  “Get him out of here and take care of the body,” Kalem ordered.

  The three men did as they were told. Kalem never budged.

  When the door closed, Kalem put the gun down and cut me free. As I rose from the chair, Kalem stood taller than usual. His shoulders broader. His muscles tense and ready.

  In one swoop, he dipped down and pushed his lips to mine. His hands framed my face, and his fingers combed into my hair. Relief that wasn’t just about the fact I was alive filled me as I reached my arms around him and squeezed as hard as I could. He’d gone against everything he’d known to save me.

  He bit my lower lip and pulled. The pressure shot straight down my body, and I whined my response. He unlatched and pulled away.

  “Tomorrow, you can do whatever you want,” he growled. “Tonight, you’ve made your decision, and you’re here.”

  I nodded and rubbed my lips back against his.

  His hands dropped from my face and grasped my shoulders. He spun me so we were facing the same direction and pressed into me from behind. I felt his cock stiffening against my lower back. His lips dotted kisses down my neck as his hands spread over my breasts. When his lips reached the meat of my neck, he sunk his teeth in while squeezing my mounds. I moaned as pain shot from three points.

  He reached down and lifted my shirt over my head. He followed, taking his shirt off and wrapping his arms around me, again. His skin slid against mine. He tugged at my right bra strap and pulled the cup down. My nipple was already sprung and quivering. His right hand cupped under my breast and squeezed my nipple. It was a light, pulling pressure as he unclasped my bra and it fell to the floor.

  I reached behind me, gripped his back, and ground my ass against his hardening cock. My pussy ached. I needed to be filled. To be taken.

  Kalem spun me again and pressed his lips to mine.

  Desperate for him, I groped down to his pants, found the outline of his cock from the outside, and rubbed it. God, I wanted his cock in my mouth. I wanted to feel him pulsing between my lips. I undid his pants and slipped both hands inside at his hips.

  I crouched as I pulled down his pants. His cock sprang out and pointed straight at me. My eyes widened and my mouth fell open as I saw it, thick and strong. I stuck out my tongue and, with just a light touch, grazed the underside of his dick. It jumped as I worked my way up to the tip. I repeated my stroke with more pressure, and it did the same thing. After a third, I was ready. I licked my lips and looked upward.

  Kalem looked down, his stare hard and dominating. His muscles were taut and glistening from the stress of the day that culminated in this moment.

  Holding his gaze, I opened my mouth and took his rigid member into my mouth. First, I could only fit about a quarter of it inside. On the second stroke, I got half in. On the third, I had to break eye contact because his tool was hitting my throat. I reached with my right hand to cradle his smooth balls, took a deep breath, and went back down. I got closer, but not all the way.

  I felt Kalem’s hands grab my head—one bundling my hair, one stabilizing my side. He pulled my head down and started pumping his cock in and out of my mouth. As he pumped, drool dripped down my chin to his nuts and onto my bare tits.

  Kalem pulled my head back, and a strand of saliva spread from my mouth to his cock. He leaned down and kissed me. His tongue flicked my upper lip, and he pulled away. “Good little slut,” he growled in encouragement.

  Keeping his right hand behind my head, tangled in my hair, he straightened and gripped his dick with his left hand and fed it to me. I took as much as I could, fighting back gags with each stroke. He thrust into my throat deeper and deeper until I took his entire length in my mouth.

  He pulled out his cock and directed me back up with his fist tugging my hair. He turned me around, released my hair, and dropped his hands to my pants. After he undid them, he pushed them down, leaving them around my ankles. He crouched behind me and kissed and licked my cheeks as I fought to keep my balance.

  Kalem stood and wrapped his left arm around my shoulders. His firm, tensed muscles held me in place as his right hand rubbed the right cheek he’d just moistened with kisses. I felt his hand leave and held my breath, anticipating its swift return.

  I whimpered when he smacked my cheek hard. He went back to rubbing, soothing the pain he’d just caused. When he pulled his hand away again, I bit my lip. His hand cracked my ass again, and I mewed.

  Kalem whispered in my ear, “You like that?”

  I nodded my head.

  “What’s that? Do you like it?”

  “Yes,” I answered, my voice higher than normal.

  “You like being spanked?” he asked, accentuating the last word with his hand.

  “Yes.” God did I ever.

  “You like being my little slut?” he asked, again using his hand to make his point.

  “Yes.” I didn’t just like it. I needed to be a slut. His slut.

  He reached his right hand around and pressed his fingers into my slit. I was so wet he slipped right in. “Fuck, you’re wet.”

  “Uh-huh,” was all I could manage as he slid over my clit.

  He held his fingers up to my mouth, and I opened immediately. His fingers entered, and I sucked of my sweet juices.

  “You like that?”

  “Y-e-es,” I whimpered in multiple syllables.

  “Go to the bed,” he ordered.

  I moved wit
hout thought. At the bed, he bent me over. My ass, hot on one side, stuck up. His hand pushed down on the middle of my back. I felt him grasp his cock and position it at my entrance. He pressed. The tip of his cock pushed my lips apart.

  Without warning, he pounded his cock all the way in. I was so wet I accepted him without resistance. He withdrew and pounded again. My legs pressed into the edge of the bed hard. He stroked again. And again. My entire body shook as he took my pussy with power and strength.

  As he pounded in and out, the pressure pressing against my inner walls built. My tunnel constricted bit by bit. Gripping his cock. Needing it. Devouring it.

  My pussy clamped down and held. Tension spread out to my legs, my stomach, my back. When Kalem grabbed my hair with his free hand, my body went stiff.

  Starting from the back of my cunt, small swells of heat travelled through me. The waves grew more powerful as my body clenched in rhythm.

  Kalem urged the waves on as he continued to pound from behind.

  I gulped air and involuntarily held it until the waves crested and I went over. I trembled as the waves shook me from within. My legs weakened, and I dropped to the bed. Kalem’s rhythm remained unfazed.

  A second rush picked up, and I felt my pussy swell and contract so hard I was shocked his dick stayed inside. I screamed until my voice was hoarse as each of his thrusts let the shockwaves crest over and over.

  As my orgasm subsided, Kalem’s hand tightened in my hair, and his hips thrust harder. With a grunt, he slammed his hips into my ass, and I felt him release deep inside.

  His throbbing cock pushed me over again. Each pulse sent an electric current through my body. My pussy flexed and gripped his shaft as I balled the sheets into my fists and clenched my jaw. I moaned and let the air out of my lungs.

  When we both stopped twitching and pulsing, Kalem leaned down and kissed me.

  Later that night, I rested on his chest. His arm wrapped around me, pulled me close, protected me.

  He was right.

  I wasn’t stranded. I’d made my decision. Nobody forced me to be here.