Birds of Prey (14 page)

Instead of answering, Cody pulled her tight to him and gave her a much better kiss than when he’d entered.

Aubrey grabbed his shoulders while he plundered her mouth. The smooth slide of his tongue over hers felt amazing.

Cody backed up slightly then looked down at her. “I’ve needed that all day.”

Humming, Aubrey grabbed him for another deeper kiss.

Satisfied, for the minute anyway, she released him. “I just made coffee. Come into the kitchen and tell me what you have.”

Cody groaned. “God, yes, I would love some coffee.”

She took his hand and drew him deeper into the house.

Just outside the kitchen, the aroma of the strong brew had her mouth watering.

“Oh, God,” Cody said appreciatively.

Amused, Aubrey went to the cabinet to take down two large mugs. She poured the coffee then handed Cody his.

He took the cup before strolling over to take a seat on one of the chairs at the table. Aubrey poured her own cup then joined him.

“I had my team check with the neighbourhood businesses,” Cody informed her.

She’d already spoken to the locals and suspected his team hadn’t got anything there either.

“We didn’t get anyone to say they saw him. However, Ryder noticed that there were a couple places with security cameras.”

“Cameras!” Aubrey exclaimed. “You got him on video?”

Cody nodded.

That was the best news she’d heard in days.

“We have his vehicle, Aubrey,” Cody stated proudly. “We’ve put out a BOLO—be on the lookout—for it. Every cop in the city knows what he drives. We’re going to get him.”

Aubrey was up and out of her chair fast. She grasped Cody’s face and planted a loud, wet kiss on his mouth.

It was almost over. The man who had killed Gregory would pay!

Cody seized her around her waist and drew her onto his lap. “I know you’re excited, but we still have a lot of work in front of us. We have to find this guy and prove he’s the one responsible.”

Aubrey nodded.

“I also understand you’re going to have Gregory’s memorial tomorrow?”

“Yes, Adrian finished all the preparations.”

Cody stiffened.

“What’s wrong?”

“Adrian.”

Aubrey waited for him to explain. When he didn’t, she moved off him.

“What about him?” she asked.

He picked his coffee up and took another sip. Aubrey didn’t take her eyes off him. He finished his coffee, keeping her on edge.

“Cody?”

“You never answered my question about you and Adrian,” he said, his voice soft.

“Oh,” she responded. He was right. She hadn’t. At first it had been because he’d irritated her. The subject hadn’t come up after that. “It’s a long story.”

He pressed his lips together.

“How about another cup and I’ll tell you,” she suggested.

“Answer one question first.”

“Okay,” she agreed tensely.

“Are you together now?”

She couldn’t control the jolt of her body. Had he actually asked that?

Irritated, she snatched his mug and stomped back to the coffeepot. She heard him move, so she didn’t jerk when his hands gripped her hips.

She let him pull her back against his body.

“I didn’t ask that to piss you off. It’s just everyone in the Cast told me about the two of you. I have to ask.” He urged her to turn. “I don’t share.”

“And you think I would have slept with you if I was with Adrian?” she asked in outrage. “I don’t share either!”

Cody bumped her chin with his nose. “Tell me?”

She sighed. Who could resist that plea?

“Okay, yeah.”

She handed him his refill before following him back to the table. She started at the beginning. Told him everything. She rose once to top off her own drink before continuing her story. She knew that he understood when his face softened and he held out his hand.

She intertwined her fingers with his as she finished.

“I’m sorry you had to go through all that,” Cody said.

“Thanks. It wasn’t all bad. And Adrian is going to make a good Cast leader. He’s already been doing a great job.”

“Okay, enough about him, then. We do have some work to do.” Cody grew serious.

Aubrey wanted to pout. But she knew that the sooner they got started, the quicker she could talk Cody into some real fun.

“Let me grab my bag. I made copies,” she replied.

“Okay, we need to compare notes. And I’ll tell you the rest of what we found out.”

Aubrey hurried into the entranceway where she’d left her bag. Visions of getting Cody naked still danced around in her head.

Chapter Eleven

Cody ran his hand down Aubrey’s side while he nuzzled the back of her neck. She tilted her head, giving him better access as he mouthed lower.

This was the second morning he’d woken beside her, and he was truly happy.

He wasn’t ready to dig too deeply into how they had fallen right back into where their relationship had been before. But it felt natural, just like it always had with her.

When she reached her hand back to grip his thigh and push her ass into him, he groaned.

By the time they’d made it to bed the night before it had been going on one a.m. They’d both been too tired to do more than just collapse into bed in a tangle of arms and legs.

But the morning was looking better.

He brushed the back of her ear. “Did I wake you?” he asked.

She laughed. “Yes, but I don’t mind.”

He let her roll onto her back and covered her body with his. She licked a line up his neck while twining her legs with his.

His hard cock brushed against her and he whimpered in need.

“You wanting something?” she teased as she reached down to stroke him.

He bucked his hips. “Please.”

“Please what?” she taunted, before nipping his shoulder.

The bite of pain rushed through him and he had to hold back a whimper.

“I know what you like,” she goaded.

He started to answer, but, as she rolled him over, he soon found himself flat on his back.

She grinned down at him, straddling his waist.

“What do you have planned for me?” he asked, amused.

“Well,” she responded, as she ran a finger down his chest. “I haven’t tasted you yet.”

He was pretty sure his eyes crossed with that announcement. He wanted that. Craved the feel of her lips around him.

She winked before sliding down his body. She held his shaft. He couldn’t hold down his hips. When she swiped her tongue over his slit, he had to grip the sheets to stop himself from grabbing her head and forcing her to take him deeper.

Aubrey rubbed him just right, still teasing him with her tongue.

“Please,” he begged.

She lifted her eyes and their gazes locked as she slowly engulfed him.

Tight, moist heat surrounded him. His legs shook with the effort it took to hold back. She slid off with a pop.

“Is that what you want?” she inquired, stroking him a few times.

“Aubrey, baby, don’t tease.”

She smirked, but finally lowered herself again and sucked him.

He resisted plunging into her for as long as he could. With a cry, he had to let himself go, and pushed his hips up.

She relaxed her throat and allowed him to thrust. It wouldn’t take him long, he knew that. She was too perfect for him.

He cupped the back of her head while he continued thrusting.

Aubrey’s teeth scraped the bottom of his cock and he crashed over the edge. She pulled back and stroked him through his climax.

Cody blinked his eyes open to see her sitting up with a smirk on her face.

“Proud of yourself?”

She hummed. “I’ve missed your taste.”

“Uh-huh.” He lifted off the bed and pushed her back. “Let’s find out if you taste the same.”

* * * *

The atmosphere at the Cast residence was sorrowful and quiet. Aubrey greeted the members with hugs and encouragement.

It was going to be a rough day. She was glad that she’d started the morning with Cody to have something to get her through it.

The first part of the memorial would be a gathering of all members, their close friends and family. This custom was to bring the mourners together.

This would take hours, which was why it started first thing in the morning. The large meeting room had been turned into a memorial for Gregory.

At the front of the room, dozens of photographs boasted Gregory in all the stages of his life. There were so many captured moments that she remembered well. Aubrey thought it was beautiful and knew her mother had been involved in setting up this phase of the funeral.

Aubrey strolled up beside Mike and leant back against the wall, crossing her arms. Mike was scanning the room as people entered and visited.

“Expecting trouble?” she asked him softly.

He nodded. “I wish I could say no, but I just have a bad feeling about today.”

She pressed her lips together, holding in questions. It would be horrible for the Cast if anything disturbed the wake.

Adrian walked into the room and complete silence descended around them.

He moved to the altar and bowed his head. As one, the entire Cast followed behind him and did the same. Aubrey took her place according to the rank of the Cast.

When he bent to one knee, everyone followed suit.

There was a moment of silence until Adrian straightened and stood once again. He went to the front of the room and turned to face them.

“Thank you, friends and family, for coming today to celebrate the life of Gregory Stevens. Gregory was a very great man…”

Aubrey let Adrian’s words flow over her. They didn’t matter, not really. Her uncle was gone. He had been a great leader but a better man.

The last few days had been so busy that she hadn’t really processed everything.

At that moment, it hit her. Her shoulders shook as tears fell from her eyes. All the memories surged up and swamped her.

Gregory had always been there for her. He’d driven three hours one night to rescue her when her car had broken down. He’d opened his arms to her and brought her home when she’d got homesick and decided that she hated living in the city.

He was gone now.

She would never be able to pick up the phone in the middle of the night and call him, knowing that he’d be awake.

Aubrey wiped frantically at the tears, trying to get herself under control.

An arm came around her and she turned into Mike’s embrace. She buried her head against his chest and wept.

Singing started up around her, but she ignored it. It took several moments until she finally had control again. She lifted her head and patted Mike’s chest.

“It’s about time you started to grieve,” he told her softly.

She nodded.

The mourners began to group together again and Aubrey saw her family heading towards her.

She looked up at Mike and tried to smile. “I guess I’ve been trying to push it all to the side.”

“I know,” he said.

Her mom embraced her, and Aubrey held her tightly. She was happy to see that her brother had returned home. Adam, five years older than her, took both her and their mother into his hold and rocked them.

His familiar scent calmed her further and she was grateful for her loved ones. They would get through this. Cody would find the person responsible and this entire ordeal would be over soon.

It had been almost a year since she’d seen her brother. As her mother released her, Adam lifted her chin and placed a kiss on her forehead.

While Adam was still a member of the Cast, he’d not actually lived there for over ten years. He was an attorney in Southern California. He’d followed their uncle’s footsteps in his career, although he had wanted distance from the family.

Since Aubrey had tried the same thing, she understood. But unlike her, Adam actually enjoyed being on his own. He thrived at his job and enjoyed his freedom.

“I’m sorry,” he told her, pushing her back so that he could get a good look at her.

She nodded. “I’m glad you made it back.”

“Of course,” he responded. “Mom said you were looking into what happened?”

“Yeah.” She knew she could tell Adam about the investigation, but she didn’t want to do it where everyone could hear.

She gestured to the door. “Let’s take a walk.”

Adam wrapped his arm around her shoulder and led the way out.

She waited until they were down the hallway and through the study reaching the balcony before she told him. She looked out onto the large property as she spoke. Adam stood behind her, listening intently.

He waited until she had finished before sighing.

She turned and leant back against the rail. She saw the anger clearly in his eyes, knowing exactly how he felt.

“What in the hell are you thinking?” Adam yelled.

Aubrey jerked back. “What?”

“This guy has killed three people, including our leader, and you’re going after him?”

She was so shocked, she just gaped at him.

“I mean, I’ve always known you were stubborn, but I thought you had more sense than this!”

“Hey!” Okay, she hadn’t expected this. She wasn’t sure how she’d thought Adam would react. Well, she could admit that she had wanted him to be proud of her. It hurt that he was just furious.

“Don’t ‘hey’ me,” he said, pointing a finger at her. “And I can’t believe Mom approves of this.”

She wasn’t going to point out that she was pretty sure their mother had no idea how involved she was.

“What does Dad think?”

“I haven’t spoken to him.” Aubrey shifted her feet. “I’ve sort of been avoiding his calls.” Her father wouldn’t want her involved any more than Adam did.

Adam snorted. “Yeah.”

Aubrey tried to think of what to say. She decided to do her best to keep the irritation out of her voice and get Adam to understand.

“What would you have me do? Just sit aside and let someone else handle this?”

“Yes! That is what the Coalition was established for.”

Now he sounded like Cody. “Well, I was the one that found the last victim, which led us to this guy’s vehicle.”

“Which also led you to finding a dead body. Aubrey, there is a killer out there. You need to let the agents handle this. They’re used to dealing with scum. You’re not.”