Page 25 of Deadly Scandals

Mitch

Iglanced back and mentally undressed Ashley. I had memorized every curve of that slamming body hidden under her demure business suit. Incredible breasts that I couldn’t wait to titty fuck and a plump ass I was dying to bend over when I took her from behind.

And I knew that behind the good-girl business exterior, Ashley was a dirty girl.

And every dirty girl needed a bad boy. I was the man for the job.

But Ash was definitely a challenge, even though I could tell she wanted me. Every time she looked at me, her pupils dilated with desire, her cheeks flushed, and her body angled toward mine.

I’d had no idea that she’d gone to Harvard, though I knew she was smart. Some guys would be intimidated by her education, but not me.

My ex, April, had no goals in life except to make my life miserable. When I’d been deployed, she’d cheated, excusing her actions by saying she’d been lonely. I’d get so mad and vengeful, I’d cheat to get back at her. I wasn’t proud of myself, but it had been what it was. I wasn’t perfect. I had major flaws. But I owned them. But those other women had meant nothing to me. I had loved April more than the moon that guided my missions.

It would be refreshing to date someone who had a career she could immerse herself in when I was fighting a war a world away.

My thoughts turned away from Ashley and back to Paul. He’d had it coming. It looked like his shady cover-up of the bad antics of the guys on the Team most definitely had come back to bite him on his ass. Even though he had saved my career a few times, I refused to pound my trident into his coffin. He deserved no respect, even if he was a SEAL.

But honestly, I didn’t have a clue who had murdered him. Or why.

I climbed on my motorcycle and headed off base to my place in Imperial Beach. It was a dump, but at least it was close to the ocean and my work. After my divorce from April, I’d been wiped out financially and emotionally. Despite the prestige of being a SEAL, it didn’t pay worth shit. Thirty-two thousand dollars plus housing and benefits didn’t seem to be nearly enough compensation for a job that sent me to assassinate terrorists, kill pirates, and save hostages, especially since this career had been responsible for the demise of my marriage and the blackening of my soul. At least Ashley didn’t seem like a gold-digger.

I pulled into the parking lot, parked my bike, and took a moment to stare at the sunset. I was only in town for a few more months before I deployed. I’d love to spend the time I had stateside with someone special. Someone who would miss me when I was gone. Despite my deep protests, April had moved back home to Las Vegas after we’d split. I didn’t give a fuck where she went, but I’d wanted our kids nearby so I could see them. And, just like I’d feared, she rarely let the kids come visit me. But while I was in town, maybe I could convince her to let me take the kids to Disneyland.

I opened my apartment and grabbed a cold beer from the fridge. I took a moment to let the liquid soothe my soul, forget my day, wash away the picture in my head of Paul’s brains splattered on the concrete floor of the grinder. It definitely wasn’t the first time I’d seen a dead man, and I could guarantee it wouldn’t be the last.

My phone beeped. April. Five missed calls. And a text.

What the fuck? She never blew up my phone like this.

April: 911! Please call.

Fuck. I prayed my kids were okay and called her back.

“What’s up? Are the kids okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah. They’re fine.”

I didn’t have time for her drama. Unless it was about our kids, I didn’t want to talk to her. She’d told me once that she wanted to be “friends” with me still. What kind of bullshit was that?

“What do you want?”

Her voice sounded breathless and emotional. Like she had been crying. “Paul. What happened to Paul? I talked to Dara and she’s hysterical. Were you there? What happened?”

Unbelievable. “Yeah, I was fucking there. I work there, remember? I’m the one who found him. Suicide. Or maybe someone offed him. I don’t care. You can tell Dara her husband was a prick and she’s better off. Anything else, or can I go drink my beer?”

She exhaled. Why was she so upset? She hadn’t sounded this distraught when she’d left me. “Who would kill him? He didn’t seem suicidal…I mean, Dara said he was acting normal yesterday.”

“Yeah, well, now he’s dead. They didn’t have any kids. We do, so pull yourself together.” I wanted something from her, so I forced myself to play nice. “Hey, can you bring them out? I miss them.”

I waited for her answer. I’d fought so hard for joint custody, but because I was always deployed, I’d had no chance of getting it. I was regulated to holidays and a week during the summer. At least I could visit them on my frequent trips to Las Vegas. I was a regular at the Crazy Horse, numbing my mind with women and whiskey.

“Sure. Yes, actually. I was planning on driving out. In fact, I need a break. Can you take them for a bit? I can leave tomorrow. Make that tonight.”

What the fuck was wrong with her? She never offered me the kids without a fight. Never. But I didn’t want to question it and have her change her mind. “Yeah. I’d love that. I can work something out for daycare while I’m at work. Maybe Mia can watch them. Can I talk to them?” I’m not sure why I even asked, because I already knew the answer.

“No. They’re playing upstairs, but I’m going to get them ready. Okay, Mitch. I’ll text you. And let me know if you find out anything about what happened to Paul. I just can’t believe he’s gone.”

“Whatever. Bye.”