Whistleblower (PALADIN Book 1)

I don’t like Callen in my home. Right now, I don’t want anyone in my home. And I certainly don’t want anyone within a stone’s throw of my girlfriend.

Callen’s watching the surveillance footage on my laptop at my kitchen counter while I glare at him as if he’s culpable. He shares the same badge as that piece of shit, so right now, in my mind—he is.

I sip the neat whiskey in my hand. A slight buzz has been the only thing keeping me somewhat calm over the past few days. My head hurts from all the unwelcome emotions flooding my body, and the thoughts bouncing around in my head.

I’m mad at myself that I wasn’t there and Cricket and Lance had to rescue my girl.

I’m frustrated that I was so busy chasing some thug that I left her vulnerable. I wanted the kill, and therefore I nearly got her killed.

I’m seething to the point I want to rip that fucker’s heart out and feed it to him. I saw what was in that bag. He was going to torture her.

I’m so angry, but I’m also confused.

Eden is…fine. Cheery. Chirpy as usual. No tears. No trauma. Nothing. Lance said she passed out when they rescued her three days ago. I drove one hundred and twenty miles an hour home while Vesper hung on to the passenger handle for her dear life. But she knew better than to protest. I expected to come home to a fear-stricken Eden who’d be clinging on to me, begging me never to leave her again.

Not even close.

She didn’t argue when I told her she’d be staying with me, she wouldn’t be returning to work for a while, and I wouldn’t be letting her out of my sight. She told me if it made me feel better, she understood. Only Eden. Only this unicorn of a woman could go through a violent hostage situation and be concerned about what makes me feel safe.

“Christ,” Callen grumbles. “He slipped in literally the moment she left to meet me.”

“Meet you? On a Saturday? For what?”

“May I have one of those?” He nods toward the drink in my hand.

I fetch a crystal glass and pour him a generous drink. When he reaches for the cup, I pull back my hand. “Met you for what?”

“Breakfast,” he snaps and snatches the glass from my hand before taking a hearty sip. “Will you please stop treating me like the enemy? I am just as disturbed by this as you are.”

Not likely. Are you fantasizing about ripping his limbs off one by one until he’s just a torso I can use as a punching bag?

“Did you find out who he is?” I try to warm up my icy demeanor. Everyone has been tiptoeing around me lately. Even Cricket has been jumpy when she’s come by to check on Eden. My moodiness may be a little out of control.

“He’s ex-FBI, but the badge is legitimate. I’m thinking he brought it in case he could use it to coax her into a confession, or information, or whatever it is he wanted. He still won’t talk. Have you asked her what he was after?”

“I have. She doesn’t know. She said it’s related to her old boss. If you would just let me—”

“No.”

I’m not allowed to know where they are holding the intruder. I had Lance check the compound for me. He’s not there, or Lance was instructed to lie to me. I can’t check myself because I refuse to leave Eden’s side, and she’s not leaving my home until this is sorted out. It’s probably best. If I saw him, I don’t know if I could control my outrage, and dead men can’t give up information.

Callen takes another swig of his whiskey. “That’s the thing. This Porky guy—Pierre Corky—he was the CEO of Empress. He’s in a minimum-security prison.”

“You think he could’ve slipped out?”

“No.” Callen shakes his head, looking at me like I’m missing something. “I’ve already had local law enforcement check into it. He’s a textbook prisoner. Compliant. He works in the chapel for god sake. They are able to account for every single one of his eye blinks over the past year. He didn’t send any notes, he didn’t make any calls, his only visitors are his wife and daughter, who are both squeaky clean. His name is being used, but he didn’t do this.”

Tipping my glass to the ceiling, I debate another round that will surely push my buzz to drunkenness. I hold my empty cup out at Callen. “Callen, get to the point. What are you saying?”

“You don’t see it?”

“See what?”

Callen scoffs and I’m tempted to smack the smug look off his stubbled face. He looks tired. We all look tired. We’re all angry for Eden. We’re all worried for her, too. “Linc you’re unrivaled as an operative, but you don’t think like a detective.”

“Because I’m not one.”

He taps his temple twice. “Why, oh why is a man, who was accused of intentionally inciting terrorism and trying to provoke a civil war, serving out a life sentence in a cushy minimum-security prison?”

“It’s still a life sentence, isn’t it?”

“He’s at Hanesville. They don’t even have guards at the front doors. Everyone there has less than ten years, and most get out on parole within a fraction of their sentence. He’ll be back in his McMansion with his Barbie doll wife in less than a year, I guarantee you.”

“So what, Callen?” I bite out. “What the hell does this have to do with Eden? You think worse is coming for her? Because I won’t work another fucking job for you until I’m sure she’s safe. If my entire life purpose is to lock her behind a door and gun down anyone who approaches it, so be it. This won’t happen to her again, mark my words.”

“Linc!” Callen thunders. “Think. About. It. Pierre’s sentence isn’t just leniency, it’s a cover-up. Look at all the pieces. Eden went to the FBI about Empress. The FBI gives her a job. An FBI agent attacks her. Are you seeing a trend?”

I let his words sink in as I finish debating and pour another drink. “Well, wouldn’t you know what’s going on then?”

“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” he responds distractedly, “but I have to be careful about who I ask. I don’t want to flip on the wrong switch and put her in danger. Just because I’m not sleeping with Eden doesn’t mean I don’t care about her. I care about all of you guys. You’re my team now.”

Ah, fuck. All this camaraderie bullshit Vesper’s been preaching about… It’s kind of nice. I haven’t been scared of anything since I was a teenager, but then again, I didn’t have anything to lose, until now.

When the alarm went off letting me know Eden pushed the panic button, the world stopped spinning. I froze. My instincts, my reflexes, and my quick reaction is everything when it comes to my job… And I fucking froze. It was jarring to realize my life’s not my own anymore. Eden has quickly become the nucleus of everything important to me, and I almost lost her. I almost lost everything. I can’t let that happen again, and I’m desperate enough to accept all the help I can get. Even if it’s from Callen.

“I know you’re not sleeping with her, Callen,” I say with a dark chuckle. “Because you’d be dead.” He rolls his eyes as he lets out an awkward forced chuckle. “But thank you,” I add, trying to remedy my threatening joke. “I only want to help.”

“Then be patient, sit tight, and don’t do anything stupid. I will figure this out. I’m going to—”

“Ahem.” Callen and I both whip around to see Eden standing behind us with her arms crossed. She wrinkles her nose as she laughs lightly. “It’s a little concerning how unobservant you both are.”

Callen laughs and hastily shuts the laptop.

Eden throws her hands up and scoffs. “No need to tiptoe around me, I’ve already seen it.” She makes her way past us and over to the coffee maker, then spins around to watch us both staring at her. She’s in sweatpants and a loose t-shirt, but her hair is curled and her makeup is done. The light scent of her sweet-smelling perfume lingers as she walks by. She’s making a point.

“I’m fine,” she insists.

“Eden,” Callen says, hopping off his seat at the island. “I didn’t get a chance to tell you that you did really well. You stayed calm, you kept your head. I am incredibly impressed with how you handled that situation. And I’m also very sorry.”

“Thank you. And, for what?” she asks over her shoulder, filling a coffee mug.

Callen rubs the back of his neck awkwardly. “I should’ve walked you home after breakfast. I just… I was trying to be respectful of…” he trails off after glancing my way. You were trying not to get your ass kicked by me.

Eden breathes out heavily. “All right, I’m just going to say it for the record. I was held at gunpoint, and it’s not your fault”—she points at Callen—“for not walking me home after a breakfast meeting. And it’s not your fault”—she points right at my chest—“for being away on a job. And someone please tell Lance to stop texting me and apologizing for the fact that he was so late. It was less than ten minutes from when I pushed the button to when they showed up. It was well before he would’ve…”

For the tiniest moment, she trips up. Her whole façade is nearly over as her eyes grow wide and almost fill with tears. But she recovers so quickly.

Eden continues. “The only person at fault is the man who broke into my home and threatened me. And he’s gone now. Everything is okay. So, everyone stop apologizing. I’m grateful for you all.”

She flashes us both an overenthusiastic smile as she disappears into my walk-in pantry. Callen raises his shoulders at me and I shrug mine in response. I don’t know. I can’t figure out why she’s acting so nonchalant.

Eden reappears with a box of cereal in her hand and a pout on her face. “I’m so sick of cereal.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“Can we go out? To a restaurant. I want to speak to other human beings even if it’s just to order something.”

Closing the space between us, I pull her into my arms and rub her back sweetly, like it can soften the blow. “No.”

“Linc—”

“Eden, in time. Right now, it’s safer to keep a low profile. I don’t know who’s watching you. We can order something. Callen will go pick it up, right?” I glance his way and he nods in agreement.

“Sure. Happy to.”

Eden nuzzles into me and puckers her bottom lip out even further. “I’m tired of being your prisoner. I’m bored.” She pops her lips, emphasizing the b of her last word.

I whisper in her ear, “There are things we can do to pass the time.” I’m mostly kidding. Sex has been the last thing on my mind over the past few days, but Eden enthusiastically tugs on my belt.

“Interesting,” she mumbles with a seductive undertone. I feel the familiar stirring in my pants.

“Callen, leave my home. Now,” I bark.

“Roger that,” he says, basically flying out of the room. “I’ll call with developments,” he shouts from down the hall. I wait until the front door slams and the security system beeps before I slide my hand down Eden’s stretchy pants. I feel the heat before I stroke the damp cotton of her panties.

“You get ready fast, don’t you?”

She bats at me with her thick eyelashes. “I’ve been ready. You haven’t touched me in days. I’ve been really patient…like a good girl.” She clicks her jaw as she winks.

Chuckling, I run my finger over the left side of her face where that fucker struck her. My stomach twists when I think of what I saw on the surveillance tapes. “I didn’t want to rush you if you needed time to process—”

“Liiinc,” she pleads. “I’m fine. Let’s forget about it, just for an hour. Please.” She unbuckles my belt and pops my pants button free. “I’m due for a reward.”

“That you are.” I follow her to the bedroom. I expect her to get naked and crawl on to my bed, but instead she disappears into the en suite bathroom and returns with a little bottle of lubricant.

“Look what I found in your bathroom while I was snooping.” Fuck. My stomach sinks and I’m hoping she doesn’t ask me why I have that.

“You were snooping in my bathroom? I thought you were sleeping while you were alone in here.”

“You have hidden surveillance cameras in my apartment. Pot…kettle? Plus, I told you, I’m bored.”

“It was from a long time ago—”

She holds up her palm to interrupt me. “No, no. I don’t want to hear about your past women.” She dangles the little bottle playfully in the air, as she bites her bottom lip. “I want you to take my ass.”

Every single alarm in my mind is going off. This can’t be good. Eden just had her life threatened, she’s acting unfazed, and now she’s begging me for anal sex. This is a downward spiral if I’ve ever seen one.

She sinks to her knees and unzips me, pulling my pants and briefs to the ground. She tickles my hard tip gently with her teeth before engulfing as much of my cock as she can.

“Oooh, fuck, baby,” I groan.

“Please?” she begs when she comes back up for air. Eden’s so strategic. All the blood in my brain has flooded South, and all I can think about now is giving her exactly what she wants.

“Get yourself comfortable on the bed,” I command before I pick up the lube she set on the nightstand. “We’re going to go really slow.”