Chapter Nineteen

O ne thing about Kado is he is a quick learner. When he becomes confident in whatever skill, well, he becomes a master.

Ever since we had sex for the first time several days ago, we haven't been able to keep our hands off of each other. Being naked with him pumping his fingers or his cock into me has become a favorite pastime of mine, and I love it.

When we aren't naked and exploring each other's bodies, we've been busy working. The only time he's left my side since we electrocuted that man together is when he has Yakuza business with the family. He told me that he didn't want the foot soldiers to see what was his, not yet, and wanted to keep me to himself.

While that should have pissed me off, for some reason I found it endearing. Who would have thought that the quiet man, who had never been in a relationship, would be the jealous type? I sure didn't. Again, I'm not mad about it.

The man has me so dickmatized that I'm not even trying new crafts anymore, and I've ditched the ones I was working on. Our place is filled to the brim with half-complete projects, but I can't bring myself to finish one when I would rather be with him, hunting down the worst of the worst. I've found my purpose next to him, and I love it. Which surprised the both of us I think.

Tapping on my leg pulls me out of my thoughts, and I look over at Kado.

He tilts his head to the side, silently asking me if I'm okay.

"I'm good," I say quietly.

Looking forward, I scan the warehouse that we're sitting on. Our crispy little friend gave us the address to this place before he became extra fried. Kado's hoping that it holds the answers he desperately needs.

"Tell me more about this ring."

Kado looks at me to make sure I'm watching the building before reaching for his phone. He types away for what feels like hours when it only takes him a few minutes before he hands it over to me.

He takes watch while I read.

A while back, the Irish and Italian families in NYC reached out to us and another syndicate. They had been monitoring a situation for a while, and they uncovered that it involved all of our cities. What they found is that on a rotation, each of our cities would be hit, the missing persons reports would skyrocket for a week or two and then die down before it happened in another city.

None of us like outsiders fucking with our people, so we banded together to try and take them down. It's been a challenge, to say the least. While we've saved a lot of adults and children, it hasn't been nearly enough. We need a big fish to bust this thing wide open. I'm hoping that whatever's supposed to happen here will do that.

Quickly, I clear the screen as I digest what he just told me. I knew it was bad and that it involved sex trafficking, but I didn't realize how severe the situation was.

I look over at Kado. "Children?"

He nods.

My mind thinks about a chubby-faced little kid playing outside. They would be riding their bike or sitting in their yard, and then BAM. They are gone. Taken to be sold for horrors one can never even imagine. It's truly terrible.

"I-I don't even have words for that, but you've saved some?"

He takes his phone back.

Yes, Declan's best friend, who's part of the Catalini family in NYC, had his woman taken, and we managed to save her here in Chicago along with several others.

My eyes widen. "They were dumb enough to take a Mafia man's woman?"

I think back to Declan. He was a funny guy. He joked around a lot and had us all laughing at the dinner. I wonder if his friend is anything like him. I can't fathom how he felt knowing his woman was kidnapped.

The corners of Kado's lips tip up.

Well, according to them, they weren't dating, and she was just a police officer, but yes, she was taken.

I shake my head. "I have so many questions, but I don't know where to start."

Now you understand the urgency to wrap this up. We're sick of the games.

"We will get them. We have to," I say as I drop his phone back into the cupholder.

My mind races with what he just told me. How was this happening in my city and I never heard about it? Chicago is a large city and people go missing every day, which isn't surprising, but for there to be a big enough uptick that the Mafia in another city notices is insane.

Do the cops even care? Surely if they did, they would be doing press conferences and warning people, right?

Then how in the hell does a cop end up with a guy who works for a criminal organization? That has to be a conflict of interest, if I've ever heard one. Who knows, though? Maybe she switched sides.

Kado's hand moves from my leg to my hand, making me look back over at him. He grabs my hand and brings it to his lips, kissing it. I don't even think he realized that he did it, because he's still staring straight ahead. Smiling, I squeeze my fingers in his and sigh.

Time starts to blend together, the night sky getting lighter and lighter as morning approaches. Kado makes a growling sound in the back of his throat as he turns on the car. I want to scold him for making that sound because I know it must have hurt, but at the same time, I know he's frustrated, and I can't blame him. Hell, I'm annoyed, and I've only been on this for a minute compared to him.

"Are we going home?"

Kado jerkily dips his chin toward his chest as he drives.

Reaching over, I run my hand up and down his thigh. When we pull up next to a stoplight, I look over at him and smile. "Do you know what I'm looking forward to?"

He tilts his head to the side, giving me his attention.

"Crawling into bed with you and passing out. I'm fucking tired."

Kado's shoulders rise and fall as he silently laughs.

Mission accomplished. I managed to distract him.

The light turns green, and some asshole behind us honks, making Kado's eyes narrow as he glares at them through the rearview mirror.

Or not, but you know what? The dickhead deserves Kado's mental wrath. Who the fuck honks at someone as the sun starts to come up?

Standing in the shower, annoyance courses through me. Last night was supposed to change things. We were supposed to get a lead, but instead it turned out to be a dead end.

Or it feels like a dead end.

I hit my head against the tiles as water runs down my back. I feel as if I'm failing. Usually, when Kai puts me on a job, I get it done in no time, only with every step forward, we are forced to take ten steps back, never gaining real ground.

Cool hands wrap around my waist to my chest as her front presses against my back.

"You okay?" she murmurs against my back.

Slowly, I shake my head no, water dripping into my eyes.

Lucy moves around me, making me take a step back as she places herself between the shower wall and me, her hands resting on my hips.

"Is it bothering you that last night didn't pan out?"

How is it that she understands me so well? I don't think anyone has ever understood me the way she does.

I tip my head toward my chest, running my nose against hers.

Lucy sighs and brushes my hair out of my face so she can stare me in the eyes.

"I can't imagine how hard this is for you. You've been working on this for so long and you haven't found what you need yet, but if there is one thing I've learned about you since I've been with you, it's that you don't give up. You're like a dog with a bone, and you won't stop until you have all the information. You will get the answers you need and take these guys down, Kado. I can feel it in my bones. You just have to hold on for a little longer and have some faith."

My heart feels like it's going to beat out of my chest. How did she know what I needed to hear most?

Leaning forward, I brush my lips against her, silently thanking her. When I pull back, she has a small smile playing on her lips.

Fuck me, she's so beautiful.

And all mine.

Lucy giggles as my cock twitches against her. "We're not having sex tonight."

I purse my lips, letting my displeasure known, making her roll her eyes.

"Don't look at me like that. While I love having sex with you," she says, making my cock twitch again. "That's not what our entire relationship is going to be based on. Emotional intimacy is just as important as physical intimacy. I want to be there for you in every way possible. So no sex."

I open my mouth to protest, but before I can, her little hand is covering my lips.

Lucy's eyes narrow. "No talking. You know that."

I draw a question mark on her stomach, asking her what we're supposed to do since we're both naked if she won't let me please her.

Lucy reaches to the side and picks up a bottle of shampoo that I bought for her. She pours some into her palm and places the bottle back on the shelf.

"Shut your eyes and bend down a little."

I do as she says while she rubs her palms together. My shoulders relax as she starts to run her hands through my hair, massaging my scalp with her fingers.

I rest my forehead against her shoulder as I lean into her touch.

Why does her washing my hair feel so much better than when I do it to myself?

"Head back," she tells me all too soon.

Not wanting to let her down, I do what she says. While I rinse my hair out, she puts soap on a loofa and begins to run it across my body. She starts at my neck and slowly works her way down my body.

When she gets to my hardened cock, she pumps me a few times, spreading soap along my shaft. Her hands on my body are driving me crazy.

All too soon, she moves south, making me whimper in protest. Lucy shoots me a fake glare through her eyelashes. She works her way down my legs, but when she moves to my feet, I stop her with a hand on her shoulder.

She looks up at me and tilts her head to the side. "What's wrong?"

I take the loofa from her and step away.

Lucy stands as she watches me with a smile on her face. "You didn't want me to wash your feet?"

I shake my head no.

"Are you ticklish, Kado?" she teases.

I shrug my shoulders. I don't know if I really am, but I don't like the idea of her touching my feet while on her knees. It doesn't sit well with me.

When I'm done rinsing off my body, I move to her and clean her just like she did me. By the end, her eyes grow heavy, and she's barely staying awake while propped against the wall. I move her under the water and rinse her off before shutting off the water.

I get out of the shower and grab a towel. Lucy watches me with sleepy eyes and a smile as I dry her off before doing the same to myself. After hanging the towel back up on the hook, I take her hand in mine and pull her into our bedroom. Pulling back the covers, she gets in first, and I'm quick to follow behind. With the blanket over us, I move her to where I want her most, safely tucked against my body. Leaning forward, I kiss the top of her head, her breathing already slowed down, sleep pulling her under.

As my breathing slows down, thoughts of how perfect she is for me flow through my mind. She was made just for me, and you'll never be able to convince me otherwise. Even if we never figure out this sex trafficking ring, with her at my side, I think I'll be able to live with that.