Victim (Damaged Devils #16)

Chapter Thirteen

A knock landed on Cannon’s office door. A smile that felt evil stretched Cannon’s lips. There were some perks to power. Cannon wasn’t ashamed to enjoy them.

“Come.”

Two men shuffled in, looking as worried as they should.

“You wanted to see us, Director?”

Cannon worked at keeping his emotions off his face. “Detectives Vaughn and Jones, have a seat.”

The pair exchanged nervous glances and moved to fill the chairs across from Cannon’s desk. They were night and day. One was fair in every way: light hair and eyes. The other was dark hair and eyes. Cannon picked a file from the stack on his desk. He moved as if to hand it to them before pulling back again. “Which of you stabbed my husband?”

The men visibly turned twice as anxious. Cannon practically felt them fighting not to look each other’s way again.

Detective Vaughn swallowed. “Neither. It was Andy.” He made a gesture as if searching for a way to continue. “You know, one of the guys who went missing a few months back.”

The room fell silent as he eyed the pair. No one pointed out the obvious. Cannon was the one who made him disappear.

“We were following orders,” Jones piped in, showing a lack of good sense. “At the time, we didn’t know who we were taking. We were just told to take him to the warehouse and work him over before a team arrived to rescue Xan.” He cleared his throat. “I mean, Special Agent Akim. We thought maybe it was some sort of loyalty test or training assignment.”

Cannon nodded. Mindless drones. They might be useful someday. He held the file out. “I have a case for you two. A plane is already waiting. ”

Vaughn opened the file. His chin shot up. “Alaska?”

Cannon kept his expression clear. “Yes. Alaska.”

“It’s January.”

Cannon didn’t bat an eyelash. “People are murdered in January too. Are you refusing the case? I don’t have a place for people who don’t want to work.”

The pair lost the battle against casting each other defeated looks. “No, Sir. Alaska is fine. I’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights.”

“Now is your chance to do it on the government’s dime. The faster you go, the quicker you can get back.” Cannon had more nightmare cases for the pair. He wouldn’t fire them or kill them. If they lasted another year, maybe he would forgive them.

With their heads down, the pair headed for the door. When it opened, Xan stood on the other side. He moved aside and let them pass before stepping inside and closing the door.

Xan met his stare. “Oh, boy. Those were some defeated men. Did you fire them?”

Cannon chuckled. “Why would I do that when I can torture them instead? Legally, that is.”

A sexy laugh fell from Xan’s lips as he crossed the room. Cannon pushed his chair back enough to give Xan room to sit on the edge of his desk between Cannon’s knees. “I think you’re enjoying this position more than you thought. ”

Cannon ran his hands up Xan’s thighs. “It definitely has its perks.” He rolled closer. Cannon bit his bottom lip as he stared up at his sexy husband.

Xan groaned. “Don’t give me that look. We have to meet your parents for lunch.”

Cannon held Xan’s stare as he worked on Xan’s belt. “How much time do we have?”

A flush rose on Xan’s cheeks. “Not enough.”

“Doubting your ability, are you?”

Xan’s expression turned sultry. “Do you really want your parents to walk in and see you getting railed?”

A laugh burst from Cannon. He was so in love with this man. There was no such thing as having him enough. Cannon ached for him every second of the day. He popped the button on Xan’s pants. “The door has a lock.”

Xan jumped up and rushed to the door, turning the lock before returning to Cannon. Cannon laughed as Xan worked at getting him out of the bare minimum of clothing to get fucked. Even to his ears, he heard the happiness. A year ago, he had been fired and rehired. His life had been in shambles. He thought he had lost the love of his life, when really fate had been clearing the way for Cannon to find his soulmate. Cannon savored every kiss and touch they had shared. Every moan. Xan had enraged him and made him crazy. Yet Xan also completed him and gave him a life he hadn’t dared to dream could be his. A year had changed everything for him. He couldn’t wait to see what the rest of their life together had in store for him.

Gable's book will be the first in a new series, Atlantic City's Most Wanted, Ruined .