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“Promise?” Rebecca murmured as she felt herself slipping away.

“With all my heart.”

• 119 •

RADclY fFe

v

Sloan didn’t remember falling asleep. She remembered undressing Michael by the side of the bed. She remembered sitting on the edge, still fully clothed, and Michael, nude, standing between her thighs. She’d caressed Michael’s breasts, her abdomen, her hips, the insides of her thighs while watching her face in the moonlight. After a while Michael had braced her hands on Sloan’s shoulders because her legs trembled.

Sloan hadn’t wanted to stop. She wanted to touch her everywhere, inside and out. She wanted to affirm that Michael was hers, and always would be. She slid her fingers between Michael’s thighs, stroking through her wetness, refusing to stop even when Michael warned her of what would happen, teasing relentlessly until Michael climaxed in her hand. She caught Michael as she collapsed and guided her into bed, cradling her until she fell asleep.

She hadn’t meant to sleep, but she must have, because now she was waking up. And Michael was touching her. Sloan sucked in a breath and opened her eyes. Michael was leaning over her, her blue eyes bright, her lips parted in an expression of anticipation. Groaning at the surge of pressure in the pit of her stomach, Sloan raised her head enough to see Michael’s hand moving between her legs. She had a grip on her clitoris and was slowly massaging her.

“Uh…Jesus.” Sloan collapsed back on the bed.

“Good morning,” Michael said, her voice silky and deep. She slid her fingers up and down a little faster.

Sloan made an unintelligible sound, and her eyes rolled back in her head.

Michael laughed softly. “I was going to tease you until you got all excited and woke up, but you were already hard when I touched you.”

Sloan panted, feeling the orgasm swirl along her spine and coalesce beneath Michael’s fingers.

“You didn’t finish last night, did you?” Michael squeezed and pulled until Sloan’s shoulders came off the bed again, and then she abruptly released her.

“Baby.” Sloan stared at Michael, her gaze pleading. “I need—”

Michael kissed her, plunging her tongue into Sloan’s mouth while

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she caressed her breasts and stomach. When Sloan’s hips bucked into empty air, Michael quickly pushed down on the bed between her legs.

“Watch me.”

Sloan braced herself on her elbows and watched Michael lick her.

The first warm, wet caress brought her right to the edge. It was so good, and she needed to come so much. “Suck it?”

“Mmm,” Michael murmured, circling with her tongue. “I will. In a little while.”

“Feels so good.”

“You taste so good.” Michael sucked light and fast, a flutter of teeth and tongue.

“I’m going to come,” Sloan blurted.

Michael backed off and went back to licking. Every now and then, in no particular pattern, she drew Sloan completely into her mouth.

Each time she did, Sloan felt herself starting to come. And each time Michael would relax and let her slip out again.

Sloan tugged at the sheets, pulling them loose until they were bunched up around her body. The muscles in her legs clenched so tightly they started to go numb. She felt the faint scrape of teeth and then Michael was sucking her again, faster now. She clamped one hand on the back of Michael’s head and pushed herself deeper between Michael’s lips.

“Harder,” she gasped. “I’m close, baby.”

Michael’s eyes, brilliant with power and pleasure, found hers as she worked her just the way she needed to finish.

“Coming,” Sloan shouted hoarsely, bending forward to cradle Michael’s shoulders, climaxing wildly in her mouth. Michael didn’t let up and the pressure doubled, tripled, until Sloan was writhing and sweating and coming again. She fell onto her side, shuddering, struggling for breath, tears leaking from her eyes.

Michael quickly rose up beside her and pulled her into her arms.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” she murmured, wiping the moisture from Sloan’s face. She cradled her head and kissed her forehead, her eyes, her mouth.

“I love you. I love you completely.”

Sloan turned her face to Michael’s breasts, clinging to the sound of her voice and the strong steady beat of her heart. “I’d do anything to keep you safe.”

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“I know. But the only thing that could ever hurt me is losing you.”

“I love you,” Sloan whispered, wishing that were really enough.

v

Sandy, in one of Dell’s T-shirts and nothing else, curled up in the corner of the disheveled sofa bed with a cup of coffee and watched Dell get dressed. She loved the way Dell did everything with precision and care, smoothing out the wrinkles in her T-shirt as she tucked the bottom tightly into her jeans, placing her wallet squarely in her back pocket, clipping her holster in just the right position on her hip. She could picture Dell in a uniform like her sister Erica had worn, all bright and shiny and flawless. Dell was like one of those poster soldiers, representing everything that was good and brave and true. Except she was real.

“You’re not going to do anything stupid, are you?”

Dell looked over, frowning. “Huh?”

“You know, like trying to save Irina and all those other girls and getting yourself killed?”

“Jesus, babe. Where is this coming from?”

“You,” Sandy said softly, staring into the empty cup. “You forget you’re not indestructible.”

Dell knelt down in front of Sandy, put the cup on the coffee table behind her, and took both of Sandy’s hands. “I don’t forget. I’m a good cop, San, and I’m not going to do anything reckless. I promise.”

She leaned forward and kissed Sandy on the mouth. “And look who’s talking. Where did you go last night?”

Sandy shrugged. “Around.”

“Around where?”

“A couple places to meet up with some friends.”

“Uh-huh. Strip clubs down on the avenue, right?”

Sandy shrugged again.

“I carry a gun, babe. I’ve got backup. I know how to fight.” Dell rested her forehead on Sandy’s knee, sliding her arms around Sandy’s waist. “Jesus Christ. You’re out there all alone.”

Sandy grabbed a fistful of Dell’s hair and pulled her head up. She

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stared fiercely into her face. “I’m not stupid, either. I carry a phone, I watch where I’m going. I have friends out there who watch out for me.

I want to come home to you too.”

“I wish you weren’t doing what you’re doing for Frye.”

Sandy blinked. Dell hadn’t said to stop, she’d just said she wished she wouldn’t. Dell was scared. Her brave, steady cop was scared. “I know, baby. And I’ll be careful.”

“Fuck, this is hard,” Dell muttered.

“Yeah.” Sandy tugged on Dell’s hair. “I want to know what happens with Irina.”

“Aw, babe—”

“I mean it, rookie. Because if you don’t tell me, I’m just going to make things up in my head. And they’ll probably be a lot worse.”

“Hell.”

“Uh-huh.” Sandy smoothed Dell’s hair back and kissed her. She played with Dell’s tongue and nudged her knee into Dell’s crotch until Dell made a hungry sound. Then she pulled back. “I guess we’re just going to have to trust each other.”

Dell smiled crookedly. “I guess so.”

“Call me later?”

“I will. Go back to bed. I’ve got to meet with the team.” Dell took a long breath. “After I get some coffee and stuff for Irina.”

Sandy’s eyes flashed, but she just nodded. “Okay.” She brushed her hand over Dell’s chest. “Just remember where you belong.”

Dell grinned. “I got it. No problem.”

Sandy curled up on the couch and willed herself back to sleep. She didn’t want to hear Dell’s footsteps going down the hall toward Irina.

v

Dell unlocked the apartment door, knocked softly, and let herself in—holding her breath until she saw Irina perched on the front windowsill, watching the street. Her wavy dark hair was wet and she wore a pair of Dell’s jeans and a button-down-collar cotton shirt that was tight across her breasts.

“I guess you found the shower.” Dell handed her a cup of coffee and a muffin from Dunkin’ Donuts.

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RADclY fFe

“Yes. And the clothes.” Irina nodded toward the bag she’d taken from her house the night before. “I borrowed yours. I need to wash mine. They have footprints on them.”

“There’s a place around the corner.” Dell took her wallet out and handed Irina a twenty. “It takes quarters, so you’ll have to stop at one of the bodegas to get change.”

Irina stared at the money.

“You know how to make change, and everything, right?”

“I know the money.” She looked at Dell. “But no one has ever given me any before.”

“What about—” Dell flushed, about to ask her about the johns.

Jesus, could she be any more of an ass?

“None of us got to keep anything we…earned. The enforcers…

they gave us everything. Food. Clothes. Medicine.”

“They kept you dependent,” Dell said. “It’s hard to run away, to fight back, when you have nothing and nowhere to go.”

Irina turned quickly to the window.

Dell put her hands in her pockets, feeling more like a fool. “I’m sorry.”

“No. I…the coffee is good. Thank you.”

“I have to go out for a while,” Dell said to Irina’s back. “Like I said, you’re not a prisoner, but you should be careful if you go anywhere.

People are probably looking for you.”

Irina turned around. “What is your real name?”

Dell tried not to fidget when Irina’s stare drifted from her breasts to her crotch and lingered. She wondered if Irina liked women, then wondered why she cared. “Dell.”

“Do you mind if I just call you Mitch?”

“No, I don’t mind at all.”

Irina nodded. “I will wait here. After the clothes washing, I will wait here.”

“Good. Thanks.” Dell walked to the door. “I’ll be back.”

When Irina said nothing, she slipped out and closed the door.

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Justice for All

ChAPTER TwELvE

She’s got a picture of her sister,” Dell said to the others gathered around the conference table at Sloan’s. “But she won’t let me see it. She doesn’t trust me, and I guess I don’t blame her.”

“If she won’t give it to you,” Watts said, slurping his coffee, “then take it. She doesn’t have a lot of choice in this game.”

Dell shook her head, biting back a retort. “I’m not going to force her to do anything. That’s not the way to get her to cooperate.” When Watts raised his eyebrows, she hastily added, “Detective.”

“So what are you gonna do, big man,” Watts goaded. “Fuck her until she’s brainless and begs to give you anything you want?”

“Watts,” Rebecca said in a steely voice.

“Well, for Christ’s sakes, Loo,” Watts snapped. “The girl’s a criminal, but instead of getting her sweet little ass shipped back to Mother Russia, she’s walking around here free as a bird. Telling us what she’ll do and what she won’t.”

“She’s scared,” Dell said.

Watts muttered something about bleeding hearts.

“What do you suggest, Detective,” Rebecca said, giving Mitchell her head. Mitchell was the one closest to Irina, and it was her ass on the line. They had to trust Mitchell’s take on the situation. Rebecca didn’t like it, not because she didn’t trust Mitchell, but because she was never comfortable being forced to make decisions based on other people’s judgments.

“If we’re going to get her to cooperate, I think we have to help her find her sister. And the only way we’re going to do that is to promise her sister will be safe.”

• 125 •

RADclY fFe

“Promise her Witsec, for both of them.” Sloan stood, coffee cup in hand. “Anybody need a refill?”

“I’ll get it,” Jason said, rising as well. “And I agree. Offer her protection—for both of them. Offer them a new life. It might buy Mitch a safety net.”

Dell looked at Frye. “Can we?”

“I don’t know. Technically, she belongs to Clark.”

“Fucking Clark,” Watts muttered. “I say we do it.”

Rebecca swiveled on her chair and regarded him sharply. “Why the sudden change?”

Watts shrugged. “Because it will burn Clark’s ass.” He shot a look at Jason and Sloan. “And because it’s more likely to put Irina firmly on our side, and that’s good for Mitch.”

“She might not be an easy sell,” Sloan said. “I’ve seen plenty of girls sold into the sex trade in Southeast Asia. All they know is lies and abuse. How much do you think she trusts you, Dell?”

“I don’t know. Some.”

“Are you banging her?” Watts asked.

Rebecca said, “Jesus, Watts.”

“No, I’m not,” Dell said stiffly.

“Well maybe you should. Then, when she’s all softened up, you can—”

Dell shot to her feet and strode out of the room.

Rebecca rubbed her eyes. She’d slept soundly, but only for a few hours. Her head throbbed dully. Better than the day before, but still there. She pushed away from the table and stood. “Watts, go down to the port with Jason. Then see if you can get a line on the Zamoras’

lieutenants from OC. They’re probably the ones playing messenger with the Russians. Somebody get me some names.”

Watts looked in the direction Mitchell had gone, his expression confused. “I was just saying—”

“Dell likes her,” Jason said softly to Watts. “And when Dell likes a woman, she wants her treated right.”

“Oh. Well hell, that complicates things.”

Jason laughed. “So what else is new?”

v

• 126 •

Justice for All

“Sloan. Talk to you a minute?” Rebecca said as the conference room began to clear.

“Sure.” Sloan hiked a hip onto the edge of the conference table.

When they were alone, she asked, “How are you feeling?”

“A little rough around the edges, but I’m getting there.”

“You and Watts can’t cover Mitch every night. I can take some shifts. I’ve got a badge again, remember?” Sloan still couldn’t believe Clark had given her official agent status when she began working with Rebecca’s team. She wasn’t exactly a fed again, because she answered to Rebecca, which suited her just fine. Rebecca she trusted.

“I can’t get departmental authorization for the manpower to cover him twenty-four/seven,” Rebecca said. “No undercover agent gets that kind of backup.”

“I’m not asking to get paid,” Sloan said.

“I appreciate your volunteering. I can use you.” Rebecca shrugged into her wool blazer, as close as she ever came to a winter coat. “I want to cover the two of them as tightly as we can for the first week or so, until we get a feel for how things are working out with Irina. Then, other than critical meets, we’ll have to rely on Mitch to call for backup if he gets in a tight position.

“I’m good for it any time.”