Cuffed & Claimed Read online

  He made it sound like her driving was not up to par, which was absurd. The thought that someone had tampered with her Ducati had her hurrying up the hill.

  “Slow down, and check your surroundings. Dammit, Hellion, you trying to get yourself killed, or what?” Maddox’s fingers bit into her arm.

  Taking a deep breath, she ignored his touch and what it did to her body. “Fine, I’m slowing down, but I want to test your theory.” Plus, her backpack and gun had fallen when she’d literally been knocked off her feet as the shooting had begun.

  A quick sweep of the area near her bike showed they were alone. She could hear Maddox cursing beneath his breath, but she walked a few more feet toward the sleek bike. Not ten feet away from her Ducati, an explosion knocked her off her feet, sending her flying backward. Again she found herself being covered by Maddox as motorcycle parts flew by them.

  “Sonofafuckingbitch,” Maddox bit out.

  She held onto his shirt with both hands, rolling with him as he took them further away from the fire. Hailey didn’t feel any pain until their bodies stopped rolling. A trickle of wetness dripped into her eye. “Oh, god. I never cry, yet I’ve done it twice today,” she whimpered.

  Maddox brushed the hair away from her face. “You’re going to be okay. Stay calm, Hellion.”

  Her teeth began to chatter and her body shook. “My bike is gone.”

  He repeated the same words again as a wave of pain washed over her.

  “Don’t go to sleep on me, Hales.”

  “I told the guys you were not into guys. Tired, Mad.” Her eyes felt too heavy to keep open, and even though she wanted to stare into his gorgeous face, she let them close having memorized every facet of the man in the last year they’d worked together. JoJo and Blake had teased her mercilessly, saying they were sure he played for their team.

  “I most definitely don’t swing that way, Hellion,” Maddox murmured.

  Hailey tried to smile, but the last thought she had was she wished she’d had a chance to find out for sure which team Maddox Lopez played for.

  * * *

  Maddox swore in several languages as Hailey went limp beneath him. The cut above her brow gushed too much blood, making him worry she was going to bleed out on him.

  “I need a medic here, stat,” he yelled through the line in his ear.

  “Man, you’re undercover.” Mike Royce’s voice held a tinge of humor.

  “Hailey is fucking bleeding out, man. Cut the fucking jokes and get me some help.” Maddox gave him their location while he put pressure against the wound. Protocol be damned, he wasn’t going to let the woman who had come to mean more to him than she should die on his watch, and politics be damned.

  “Shit, man, you need to keep calm. Where is the Ice Man?” The tone of Royce’s voice had dropped to monotone. Not one Maddox liked to hear aimed at him.

  Throwing caution to the wind, he asked again. “You making the call or am I?”

  “Two minutes out. What’s the story?” All business, Royce didn’t say another word.

  Staring down, Maddox made up his mind quickly. “Everything stays the same. Whoever blew her bike up was probably working with the ones we are after. If Dex is still alive, he’s our line to the assholes. I’m sure they think Hailey and I are weak links since we worked closely with the fuck. More so Hailey since I’m new to the team. We got eyes on Blake and JoJo?” He kept his eyes and ears trained on the road, knowing the assassins could come back at any time. Hell, if it were him, he’d already have come back on foot and have a bead on both their heads.

  Royce grunted, which was saying a lot for the other operative. The sound of sirens getting louder pulled his attention away from what he’d do, and on what he needed to do. He could no longer afford to keep hiding behind a façade of SEAL when the threat was now moved up. Maddox wouldn’t allow another woman he cared about to be killed in the line of duty when he could prevent it. “I’m taking Hailey and myself out of the Steinem Building.”

  He pulled the earpiece out and stuffed it into his pocket before the ambulance came to a stop followed by the firetruck. A plausible excuse for a perfectly good motorcycle blowing up didn’t come readily to his mind, making him realize he was in too deep with the woman.

  “What’s going on?” the first responder asked, taking in the scene.

  Maddox didn’t move away as the man and a woman approached with medical equipment. “My fiancée and I stopped here to take in the view, when a vehicle roared past. She and I were walking back toward her bike when I dropped my phone. I stopped to pick it up, but Hailey kept walking. The next thing I know I hear an explosion. Hailey screamed, and I ran to where she landed, throwing my body over hers and rolled to get us away from the falling debris.” Maddox took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.

  “Sir, we need you to move so we can check her out.” The female medic edged around him. “Do you need medical assistance as well?” she asked.

  The woman would probably freak if she saw how many scars he had. Instead of answering he shook his head, moving back a little to give them room.

  Hailey moaned. “Maddox?”

  “I’m here, Hellion.” He grabbed her hand as she lifted it in the air, moving into her line of sight. “Lay still while the good medical peeps take a look at you.”

  “Medical Peeps?” Hailey snorted. “I thought I was the one who hit their head.”

  Maddox relaxed once he heard Hailey talking and watched as she was strapped onto a stretcher. They stopped the blood flowing from her head, and began the walk back to the ambulance. He glanced at what was left of her Ducati, and warred with going with Hailey and staying to collect evidence.

  “You coming with us to get checked out?” The female asked.

  Shit! “I’ll follow.” He pointed at his vehicle. “Don’t want to leave my truck on the side of the road.” Half-truths were his specialty. Hell, he was CIA; they practically trained you in the art of telling what the person wanted or needed to be told, spinning it to where it was believable. His job was to protect the country from terrorists, and the latest threat was from someone on the inside.

  “We’ll let the ER know to expect you.”

  He met the too-wise gaze of Hailey Ashley, and gave a slight nod of his head. If the cops showed up, one with any sort of training, they would probably find a few stray bullets that would be unexplained, but Maddox wouldn’t own up to any of them.

  He made sure he had Hailey’s bag and gun secured in his possession, before following the flashing lights of the ambulance. The small device was literally burning a hole in his pocket. Shifting his leg, he pulled it out and put it back into his ear. “I’m en route to the hospital to get checked out, and make sure Hales is okay. You want to hack the computers and clear the way for me. Also, see if there are any hits on the attempt on us today.”

  Silence met his demands, but he didn’t have to wait long before Royce would give him feedback. The ride to the hospital wouldn’t take too long, and he hoped like hell the other man at least worked his computer skills to smooth over parts for him.

  “Your cover is solid for the medical shit. As for any hits on the girl, or you the SEAL, there’s some chatter, but nothing too firm. I’ll keep my ears open. You do the same, dick,” Royce growled.

  “Yeah, I know you love me. Didn’t mean to shut you out, but couldn’t have you bitching in my ear like an ex-wife or anything.” Maddox signaled to follow the ambulance, noticing a familiar vehicle a few cars back. “I got me a tail. Charcoal Tahoe with smoked-out windows. I don’t see a license plate. He’s at the corner of Grant and Ackerman. Can you pull up any cameras in the area?”

  The sound of Royce’s fingers flying over the keyboard filled the air.

  “Got ‘em. Looks like three men inside. Or at least three large figures. One looks like your friend Dex, from what I can tell through the camera at the stop light. Dumbasses don’t know who they’re fucking with,” Royce laughed.

  Maddox came to a stop near
the ER opening, looking behind him. “Are they still following me?”

  Royce chuckled. “The light is frozen on red. You got a few extra minutes.”

  Shaking his head, Maddox parked in the first open spot he could find, then hurried to the bay area he’d seen the ambulance go in, not caring that civilians weren’t allowed. He had a badge, one he would pull out if the need arose.

  “I owe you one, man,” he muttered.

  “I’d say your first born, but if they’re anything like you, forget it. Alright, they are on the move. I’ll watch them through cameras as long as I can, and let you know if there’s anything you need to know. Keep me abreast on Hailey’s condition,” Royce said with a touch of warmth.

  His appearance had several paramedics looking his way, but none tried to stop him, making him shake his head. At six foot tall, over two hundred and twenty pounds of solid muscle, most people found him a bit intimidating, especially with his dark looks and bald head.

  “Figured you’d be right behind us, but not right behind us.” The male paramedic who’d shown up on the scene raised his brows as they lifted Hailey down from the back of the ambulance.

  Maddox shrugged. “What can I say? I couldn’t stand the thought of my girl hurt.”

  Hailey’s eyes widened. “I’m glad you’re here, Mad.”

  “His name is Mad?” The woman asked, pushing the gurney with Hailey on it.

  “Maddox Lopez, but my friends call me Mad.” He grinned as she looked down at Hailey and winked.

  “Well, that is a much better reason than what I was thinking.”

  “Your friends are circling the hospital,” Royce spoke into his ear.

  Maddox was used to multitasking. His eyes took in the somewhat busy ER, while he listened to Royce keep him up-to-date on the men following him and Hailey.

  Damn! He might need backup. He also should maybe ask for the people’s name who’d come to Hailey’s rescue, then shook his head. They were probably used to small talk. Maddox ignored the pang of doubt and kept the smile on his face.

  Once Hailey was pushed inside the small triage room, he went along and kept a close watch. He’d fucked up by not anticipating the attack earlier, which could have cost him and Hailey their lives. Maddox didn’t make the same mistake twice.

  “You’ve got that look I’ve seen before. Right before someone is about to go down.” Hailey raised her hand up and mimicked shooting a gun.

  The nurse working on getting her vitals laughed, thinking Hailey was making a joke, but Maddox and Hailey knew she was telling the truth.

  “Hmm, I can think of all kinds of things I could say, but I don’t want to make you blush.” His words had the desired effect: Easing the tension from Hailey’s body, and making the nurse in the room laugh.

  2

  Hailey nearly groaned out loud at Maddox’s words. He’d turned what she’d said into something dirty, and damned if all her female parts didn’t stand up and say hallelujah. The man was sex on two thick legs, with what she was sure was an impressive package in between. However, not once in the last year and a half had he so much as made a comment that he was interested in her. For fucksake, she’d begun to think he was gay. Not that she had anything against gay men. Her two best friends, JoJo and Blake, were in a very committed relationship. They were also Navy SEALs; while she was Navy, she wasn’t part of the elite group. Not because she couldn’t hang with the big boys, but because they didn’t allow women in. Instead, she was in Navy Intelligence, and was damn good at her job.

  “If you could just sew me up, I’d like to get out of here.” Hailey blew out a breath.

  The nurse snorted. “Hun, I’m afraid it don’t work like that. The doctor will have to look you over, and then make his decisions. More than likely, you’ll be staying the night. You took a pretty nasty hit, and may have a concussion.”

  Well, duh, Hailey could’ve told her that. “I’ve had a concussion before. I know what to do and what not to do. Believe me, I will be fine.”

  Maddox and the pretty nurse shared a look. In that instance, she wanted to rip the blonde woman’s tits off. Yep, she was so screwed.

  “Listen, Hellion, we will wait for the doc, and then make some decisions.” Maddox’s big palm settled on her thigh.

  Her mouth went dry, but she found herself agreeing to his words. The nurse, whose name she couldn’t remember, nodded then left them.

  “I can’t stay the night in the hospital, Mad. I’ll be a sitting duck for whoever tried to kill me. I need to call my superior…JoJo and Blake need to be told,” she began, only to stop as his head descended, blocking out the overhead light.

  “Stop worrying. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

  She opened her mouth to protest, then sucked in a stunned breath when he covered it with his. The ease with which he took control, making her forget where they were, was crazy and wonderful. She’d never had anyone kiss her the way Maddox did. He didn’t just move his lips over hers, but nibbled on each one of her lips, then licked along the roof of her mouth, slid his tongue along hers, dueling for supremacy. The act of kissing became a form of lovemaking, and Hailey knew the man would be just as good, if not better when it came down to sex.

  Her fingers clutched at his shirt, holding him close. All thoughts of danger, and men out to kill her, flew from her mind.

  The sound of the door opening had Maddox pulling from her, and facing the door, putting his body between the bed and the intruder.

  “Hello, my name is Dr. Mills.” The doctor came in, holding an electronic pad, followed by the nurse.

  Hailey licked her lips, still tasting Maddox on them. She couldn’t seem to get any words to form. Luckily, Maddox was able to regroup. His warm palm reached for her hand.

  “My name is Maddox Lopez, and this is my fiancée Hailey Ashley.” As Maddox recited his story of what happened, she was able to collect her thoughts. Hearing him call her his fiancée stunned her. She knew it was only so he could get into her room, but her treacherous heart beat faster. In the last eighteen months, she’d fallen a little in love with the man.

  “Well, let me take a look, and we’ll go from there.”

  Dr. Mills came over, his cool hands assessing. Once he finished, he looked down and smiled. “Well, I will agree that you probably do have a concussion, although your eyes are dilating better than one would think for someone who was knocked unconscious. Let’s get your cut glued up, and if you have someone who can stay with you, then I’ll agree to allow you to go home. I have a feeling you’d prefer that, or you’d leave against medical advice anyhow.” White/gray eyebrows raised in question.

  Hailey gave a half laugh. “I would prefer to go home.”

  “I’ll be there, and can guarantee she won’t be left alone,” Maddox promised.

  Her heart began to beat faster for a whole new reason. In all the time she’d known the man, they’d never been alone without one of the others.

  Dr. Mills took care of the gash, then asked a few more questions, made some notes, and then left. As they waited for her discharge papers, Hailey wondered what they were going to tell their superior. Heck, she wasn’t sure what they could say.

  “We need to call this in. Blake and JoJo need to be on the lookout.” Blake had already been injured and almost killed. She knew without a doubt, JoJo would be devastated if he lost his lover, or vice versa.

  “I’ve already taken care of it.” Maddox waved away her concern.

  Angry at his easy dismissal and heavy-handedness, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. A slight feeling of nausea had her gripping the edge like a life preserver in the middle of an ocean. She fought the sickness down, hoping he didn’t notice. Her wish was futile as he bent, coming up close and personal, his midnight dark eyes taking in everything about her at once.

  “Don’t be so damn stubborn, Hales. You and I both know whoever is out to kill you is probably after the entire team. I made the call on the way here while I followed the ambulance. You’d have
done the same if roles were reversed.” He ran the back of his fingers down her cheek, making it hard for her to stay mad.

  She swallowed, happy the contents of her stomach no longer threatened to come back up. “You’re right,” she agreed grudgingly.

  “That hurt, didn’t it?” he asked with a grin.

  The bright white teeth and full upper lip on his handsome face should have looked feminine, but nothing on Maddox Lopez was girlie. “Only a little.”

  They were interrupted before she could do something stupid, like lean forward and reassure herself his lips were as soft as they looked, by the nurse with her discharge papers. Maddox stood up, and the large bulge in the front of his jeans caught her eyes. He winked when she met his gaze, a knowing gleam lit his features, making her blush. Damn the man, and his ability to make her feel like a teenage girl.

  Two could play that game. When she got him on her home turf, Hailey planned to see just how much Maddox Lopez was able to take before he cried mercy. Either that, or did what they truly wanted, and that was break his iron control.

  * * *

  Maddox watched Hailey’s entire demeanor change, and without a doubt, knew he was in for a wild ride. He’d known within twenty-four hours of meeting the woman she was trouble, in a good way. It had taken his complete focus to resist the urge to fuck her on any and all available surfaces. Hell, who was he kidding, he didn’t need a surface to do the deed. Not with her. His mind had conjured up scenarios where he’d strip her of all her clothes, or to just the bare necessities. Free his cock, and pound into her. With her lean, muscular build, she would be a perfect partner to help him lift and slam her back down on him, over and over again, without the need for any type of place to lay down, or lean against. Yeah, he was a total pervert, and he didn’t mind admitting it. His right hand had become his best friend since he’d met one Hailey Ashley. Stroking himself to images of her was like second nature.