Lei'd With Cupcakes Read online

  The position made my grip a little awkward, but I held on as best as I could when Cade began thrusting his hips.

  His hand left my breast and began to move up, while his other hand slid up my shorts and between my legs from behind.

  “So fuckin’ wet for me,” Cade growled in my ear, causing me to get wetter.

  And when his hand stopped on my throat, claiming me as he held me in place, I began rocking back against him fast, eager to have him inside of me. I didn’t care what came first, his fingers or his cock, but I needed to be filled.

  “Cade,” I whimpered, squeezing his dick in my hand as delirium hit.

  “Right here, baby,” he replied gruffly, then pushed my shorts and underwear to the side and slowly began to ease himself inside of me.

  “Yes,” I moaned, and when his hand around my throat tightened a fraction, I bucked back again in response.

  “You like that,” Cade stated, flexing his fingers against my neck again, groaning when my body responded.

  I braced my hand against the bed to try and keep still, but it was hard to keep steady, and the next thing I knew I was on my stomach, hips pulled up in the air, and Cade was thrusting into me from behind.

  “Hand,” I urged. Understanding what I wanted, Cade put one hand to my hip, and the other back around my throat.

  I reared back into his thrusts, reveling in the sound of skin slapping against skin. I closed my eyes, focusing on the feel of him inside of me, the pressure of his hand on my neck, and the smell of our sex in the air.

  It was a heady combination, all of my senses were engaged, and within moments, I was coming harder than I’d ever come before.

  “Lila,” I heard Cade say with a moan as my body convulsed around him. “Fuck, yeah.”

  He bent forward and came with his lips on my shoulder, moving inside of me until he had nothing left.

  Spent, we both fell to the bed. As we were lying there, chests heaving and breaths coming in pants, I remembered two things. First, I’d put a ban on having sex in his parents’ house, and we’d just had sex in his parents’ house. And second, I was still pissed at him for telling me to stand down in the bar the night before.

  My euphoric sex haze fled way too soon, and I turned and narrowed my eyes at Cade.

  He was looking at me, a sexy, sated smile on his face, and I realized if I wanted to hold on to my anger, I needed to look away, because damn … he looked fine.

  I swung my head back and looked up at the ceiling, then scowled when Cade started chuckling next to me.

  “Darlin’,” he prodded. Then, when I ignored him he tried, “Lila.”

  I flattened my lips and said nothing.

  “Delila, my love.”

  My breath caught and I turned my head toward him. I liked the way that sounded on his lips too much to ignore him.

  Cade grinned.

  “There she is…”

  “I’m mad at you,” I managed, although my heart was still stuttering over him calling me Delila, my love.

  “I know you are, darlin’, but you have to know, I only said what I did because I’m worried as hell over what’s going on here. It’s bad enough that Ni Ni and her friend have been in contact with this asshole … The thought of you anywhere near him makes my blood boil.”

  I turned onto my side and said, “I understand that, Cade, I do, but you know me, and you know what I do. I can’t stand the thought of that monster harming girls, and I hate that he’s laid his disgusting eyes on your beautiful sister’s face. I can’t just sit back and do nothing.”

  Cade closed his eyes, and lost his smile.

  “Yeah, I pretty much figured that two seconds after I told you to back down.”

  That made me smile. I lifted my hand and ran my finger along the tip of his nose. When his beautiful, dark eyes opened back up, I leaned forward and gave him a soft kiss.

  “I’ll be careful, I promise,” I said, and he just sighed. Then I frowned at him and added, “Now, about you waking me up like that, even though you knew I didn’t want to have sex in this bed with your family right down the hall…”

  That got me a smile, and a chuckle, before Cade responded with, “Sorry, not sorry.”

  Jeez, he’s been hanging out with my kids too long.

  “Everything looks great, Mama,” I said as I settled into my chair, my eyes wide on the plate in front of me. I’d been unsure of what to call Cade’s mom, and when I’d finally worked up the courage to ask, she’d insisted I call her Mama.

  “You’re a part of the family now,” she’d said simply, and I’d been so unbelievably touched by the sentiment, I’d agreed. Elin and Elena were already calling them Tutu and Pops, so I figured I may as well join in on the love.

  Still, it scared me a bit. Made me worry that I was jinxing things between Cade and me. Everything seemed to be moving so quickly … our relationship, the ease at which his family accepted us. I didn’t want the kids and I to get attached, then have something happen between Cade and me, and have them not only lose Cade, but the family that they’d learned to love so quickly.

  After about three seconds of those negative thoughts, I’d kicked myself in the ass to give a reminder that I was no longer living my life afraid. I was taking chances, and willing to take risks for my, and the twins’, happiness.

  Mama beamed at me, obviously pleased that I was calling her that.

  “What is this dish called?” I asked, because it totally looked like I was about to eat Salisbury steak for breakfast, and I was completely on board with it.

  “Loco Moco,” she replied, smiling at Elin, who was tearing into his breakfast like a dog with some table scraps.

  “Easy, buddy,” I chided with a laugh.

  “So good,” he replied, his mouth full of food.

  “Is it like Salisbury steak, or meatloaf?” I asked cautiously. I was curious, but didn’t want to come off offensive with my ignorance.

  “Kind of. It’s a hamburger patty on rice, smothered with brown gravy and topped with a fried egg.”

  “It smells amazing,” I said, because it totally did.

  Cade’s mom looked pleased and nodded, indicating that I should dig in.

  My eyes were rolling back after my first bite when Cade walked in, fresh from the shower, and said, “Loco Moco; thanks, Mama.” He stopped to give her a kiss on the cheek, then served himself a heaping plate, sat next to me, and promptly shoveled it in his face.

  I looked from him to Elin, shaking my head briefly, before tucking in and doing the same.

  It was seriously delicious.

  “Morning,” Elena greeted sleepily as she walked in the room, then headed straight to Cade’s mom and gave her a side hug.

  My heart would have gotten squishy, but I was too busy satisfying my stomach. I tilted my head up in greeting, not willing to be like Elin and Cade, who returned her greeting with their mouths full of tantalizing beef and gravy.

  “Tutu, the phone’s for you,” Elena said as she bit back a yawn.

  “Oh, thanks, Lena. I didn’t even hear it.”

  Cade’s mom left to get the phone, so I stood up and offered to make Lena a plate.

  Elena looked at our plates and scrunched up her nose. “I think I’ll just have some toast with peanut butter.”

  “Missing out,” Cade said.

  “For real,” Elin added.

  I popped her toast in the toaster, then poured myself a glass of water. I was yearning for coffee, but I didn’t think coffee would complement my breakfast, so I decided to grab a cup later. Once her toast was slathered with peanut butter, Elena and I joined the guys at the table.

  “Where’s Pops?” Elena asked.

  Cade lifted his chin toward the back, indicating his dad was already out on the beach.

  “Can I take this outside?” Elena asked, lifting her plate.

  “Go ahead,” I replied, smiling after my daughter as she rushed to join Cade’s dad in hopes of getting in some surfing. I turned to Cade and said,
“She’s really going to miss him when we go home.”

  Cade was about to reply, but was cut off when his mom came rushing back into the room and said, “That was Hannah’s parents. Hannah didn’t come home last night.”

  Cade’s face hardened. He pushed his plate away as he stood up, the chair screeching on the tile, then he strode out.

  My stomach clenched, and I lost my appetite, as I also stood from the table.

  “They were hoping she was here?” I guessed.

  Mama nodded.

  “What did Alani say?”

  “She’s not in her room,” Cade’s mom replied, and my heart dropped.

  Before I could go in search of Cade, he stormed back in.

  “Alani’s car is gone. Did she say anything to you?” he asked his mother.

  “No,” she replied.

  “Go ask Lena if Ni Ni said anything to her this morning, then call me on my cell,” he told me, then spun on his heel.

  “Where are you going?” I asked his retreating back, but he was already gone. “Shit,” I muttered as I went out the back door.

  “Lena,” I called as soon as my feet hit the sand.

  She turned from talking to Pops and asked, “Yeah?”

  “Did you see Alani this morning?”

  “No,” she replied with a shake of her head. “She was gone when I woke up.”

  I started to go back inside, then heard the familiar sound of pipes and went running around the house in time to see Cade flying up the hill on a motorcycle.

  “Where did that come from?” I asked out loud, jumping when Cade’s mom replied from behind me.

  “Cade and his dad built that bike together when Cade was sixteen. He tinkers with it every time he comes home.”

  “Oh,” I said softly. “I didn’t realize he had a bike here.”

  “He keeps it in the garage,” she replied, pointing to the detached building that I’d had no reason to enter during our stay here.

  Even though I knew Cade would want me to stay put until he contacted me, I also knew that I couldn’t stand around and do nothing until I knew that Alani and her friend were safe. So, I turned to Cade’s mom and asked, “Can I borrow the keys to the 4Runner?”

  She put out her hand and turned it over, revealing the keys in her palm.

  “I trust in my son and his abilities, and he’s told me how good you are at your job. Bring my babies home,” she said, and my eyes filled.

  I grabbed the keys, then, on impulse, leaned in and gave her a quick hug.

  “I will,” I promised, just before hopped in the 4Runner and took off.

  It didn’t take long for me to realize the error of my ways. Sure, back home I could hop in my car and take off after the bad guys, no problem. I knew where things were, I knew where to go to get leads, etc … Here, in Hawaii, I didn’t know shit.

  Since Cade was already long gone by the time I braved the hill and got onto the main road, I couldn’t follow him, and I had no idea where he was going. To the MC? Chris’s bar? Who knew … not me.

  I also had no idea where Alani was. It’s not like she’d go to Hannah’s house if Hannah was missing, not that I knew where Hannah lived anyway.

  The only thing I could do was go back to where it all began, again, and hope to find another clue, or Alani, once I got there.

  I parked in what was becoming my regular spot, threw one quick, longing glance at the bakery, and headed to the back stairs. Alani’s car wasn’t in the parking lot, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t there. For all I knew there was an underground parking garage, or back lot that I wasn’t aware of.

  That’s what I was hoping, anyway.

  I made my way quickly up the stairs and opened the door into the hallway, which was once again empty. I tried the handle of the door we’d entered through last time, and swore under my breath when it didn’t give.

  Sighing, I turned my head, right, then left, ensuring I was still alone, then walked quietly down to the door where we’d found the back office, and tried it. When it turned, I mentally shouted with glee, even as my stomach dipped in anticipation.

  Will I find someone inside this time?

  I bit back the fear that question arose and slowly opened the door to reveal the still-empty room. With one last look over my shoulder, I entered the space and closed the door behind me. Keeping my ears tuned for any semblance of sound, I strode quickly across the room and down the small hallway, past the bathroom, to the office space.

  When I was satisfied it was empty, I stepped to the desk and opened the drawer that held the journals.

  It was empty.

  “Fuck,” I muttered, then nearly crapped my pants when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

  I turned with a screech, hand raised in a karate chop motion, then stomped my foot when I saw Alani standing behind me.

  “You scared the shit out of me,” I chastised, then smiled when I saw the journals in her hand.

  “What were you doing?” she asked, somehow managing to still sound sarcastic in the way only teenagers can, even though we were in the midst of a crisis.

  “Looking for those,” I replied, gesturing to the books.

  “No, with your hand…” she said, raising her hand to mimic my karate chop.

  “Shut up,” I said, choosing to ignore the fact that in the face of danger, I’d obviously forgotten everything Bran had taught me in self-defense class. Then I changed the subject and asked, “Where were you, anyway? I didn’t see you when I came in.”

  “Hiding in the bathroom.”

  Note to self, check the bathroom next time…

  “Give me those,” I said, taking the one I remembered finding the number in last time and flipping through it. “Have you heard from Hannah?”

  Alani’s face crumbled and she shook her head.

  “No, I haven’t talked to her since the other day. I tried to get a hold of her last night, then this morning. One of our friends who lives next door to Hannah, called and told me her parents were looking for her. That she hadn’t come home. I’m scared, Lila,” Alani said, looking like the frightened young girl that she was. “What if Yusuf took her?”

  “We’re going to find her,” I said as an answer. I was afraid that Yusuf had taken Hannah, but I didn’t want to worry Alani more than she already was, so I skirted around the question. “Cade is out doing his thing, talking to people, and putting ears to the ground. And I came here hoping to find these, which we have.”

  “What’s in ‘em?” Alani asked with a sniffle as she pushed her hair behind her ear.

  I turned the book so she could see what was written on the page.

  “I think this is today’s date,” I explained as I pointed. “And, your brother said this is the name of one of the commercial ports. He has this on his phone, so I’m sure either he, or some of his guys, are heading there. I think it’s best if we go meet them. We’ll take this and look through it on the way, see if there’s anything else that will help us find Yusuf.”

  Once I was sure nothing was out of place except the journals, which were in our hands, I led Alani out of the office, then out of the building.

  “Where are you parked?” I asked once we were on the street.

  “I ran out of gas and walked the rest of the way. I figured Cade could help me with it later, I didn’t want to wait and have something happen to Hannah,” Alani said.

  “You’re right about not having the time… But there’s no way in hell I’m taking you with me. What if you drop me off and go back to the house to let everyone know what’s going on. I’ll survey the situation and get with Cade,” I suggested, trying to sound nonchalant. I didn’t want her anywhere near those docks, but I also didn’t want to leave her on her own.

  “Okay, but…”

  “What’s up?”

  “Do we have a minute to grab a snack?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at the bakery. “I didn’t eat breakfast.”

  The thought of a cupcake had me nodding. As we walked over I s
aid, “We have to be quick though. And, I hate to say it, but you missed a kick-ass Loco Moco breakfast.”

  “Shoot, really?”

  “Yeah, sorry, kid,” I replied, then suggested hopefully, “Maybe if you ask your mom, she’ll make it again tomorrow.”

  I found a place to park on the street, but realized I had no idea where to go from there, so I agreed to let Alani show me the way, before splitting up.

  We headed into the port, or was it a shipyard? Whatever … We got to the place with all of the big boats, and started snooping around in vain. The place was huge. I mean, absolutely freaking massive, with big ships everywhere.

  Alani had been to the port before and pointed me away from the cruise terminal and toward the freights. From what Cade had said, I was assuming the place we were looking for was not on a cruise ship, but on a shipping freight of some sort. Something big enough to host a party, and illegally smuggle human beings out of Hawaii.

  We wandered around for an embarrassingly long time, before I finally saw a sign with numbers that matched what was in the book. We followed the signs until we reached the docking station we were looking for.

  “This is it?” I asked Alani, knowing what I wanted to do, but wanting to make sure I was in the right place before going off half-cocked.

  “Yeah, this is it…”

  “Okay, great,” I said, grabbing her for a quick hug before saying, “Now get out of here. Tell your mom and dad what’s going on, and keep trying Hannah’s phone, yeah?”

  Although the thought of getting on the ship, which is a thousand times bigger than any dolphin-watching boat, scared the shit out of me, I needed to snoop around and see what I could find. But, I needed to keep Alani safe, so I wanted her to get going so I could do what I needed to do.

  Luckily, she said, “Yeah, I’ll go. Be careful.”

  “I will,” I said, feeling momentary relief, then said, “Oh, crap,” when I realized I was supposed to call Cade, and I never had. I patted my pockets only to find them empty. “Shoot, I think I left my phone in the car. Can you also call Cade and give him an update?”

  “Yup,” Alani replied, then started jogging back out the way we’d come.