Circle of Deception (28 page)

“Sal. Remember he had the tall Mohawk, skinny kid who worked in IS?” When she turned her head and frowned, he added, “He’s gained some weight, works out, and now reports to Jack.”

She looked toward the other end of the alley. Sal looked better without the foot-high Mohawk. The lanky fellow waved stiffly but remained several feet away. Rex had probably told him to wait at that spot, and few people dared to ignore his orders.

“Geez,” she murmured, and turned her attention to the street. Jack probably arranged it so he could spy on Rex. She’d seen the second explosion, and that time it had been between the brothers. Obviously, their unresolved past had caught up with them. Nic’s death surely didn’t help matters. It was later when Charlie called with the details that Abby’s name had been part of the blowup.

She wanted to tell him she was sorry about Nic’s death, but the moment didn’t feel right.

“Listen, you’re not alone in trying to find your brother.”

His warm breath tickled her neck. Every inch of her back soaked up the heat from his body. The drizzling rain had stopped a few minutes earlier, and she hadn’t realized how chilled she’d become since then.

“I’m really not sure how Ryker managed it. He convinced them Edward was still alive, and the chief investigator has given us to the end of the week. If Edward doesn’t show up by then, they’re reporting it to the FBI. They haven’t found anything to indicate foul play. The Davison cousins are still in jail; otherwise, we would have the feds all over us.”

“Forty-eight more hours.”

“Yeah.”

A white SUV stopped in front of the metal gate. A guard came out and spoke with the driver, and with a wave of his hand, the SUV drove through the opening. The gate closed as soon the bumper made it inside.

“Who do you think that was?”

“I couldn’t see the driver from here. That’s the third vehicle to go into the facility.”

“Brody’s ammunitions plant?”

“We’re not sure. I’m the third shift to watch from this side. Liam’s on the other gate. During his time undercover at Brody’s farm, he overheard that Greta was obsessed with a Victoria’s Secret store in a local shopping mall. Yesterday, Ryker sent one of the operatives to wait for her to show up. She did at lunchtime yesterday. They said she returned here and hasn’t left.”

“Jack assigned you?”

She hesitated. Since Rex was second-in-command of The Circle, technically higher rank than Jack, would he countermand the orders?

“Listen, I’m just surprised that he has you doing grunt work when your talents are better suited for more.” He stepped back.

That helped. Her mind had become foggy with the need for his touch. She felt like it had been weeks from the last time
she’d
made love to
him
. There was no
they
. He enjoyed their time together but she refused to kid herself that he thought it was any more than a way to pass the time and maintain their cover.

“We’re shorthanded.” She stopped from saying more. They’d lost several operatives from The Circle’s general population and the OS, including Nic. He acted like he was handling the loss.

He grimaced.

“Are you hurting?” she asked. What was he doing here? “Go back to the hotel and get some rest. If we hear anything, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

“How much longer are you going to be here?”

“Probably another hour. Charlie should be relieving me soon.”

“I thought she was a mechanic.”

Abby looked away and rolled her eyes. “Everyone is pitching in,” she said without explaining the shortage again.

“I’ll hang around until she gets here and then you can drive me back to the hotel.”

“What’s wrong with Sal?” She kept her gaze on the fence and the movement she could see between the sheets of metal.

“He can drive your car. We have some unfinished business.”

That pulled her attention back to him. “What’s that?”

“Not here. We’ll talk about it at the hotel.” He grinned and leaned back against the wall. The graffiti behind him rose and fell in black paint. The top portion of an
M
just visible above his head gave him horns.

She sniggered.

“What’s so funny?” His dark eyebrows dropped into a vee and with the scar on his cheek, he certainly looked like a fiend from hell. Damn, he was a handsome devil.

She bit her lip to stop from laughing out loud. All she needed was to reveal her hiding spot to the people across the street.

“About time you got here,” Rex said as Charlie walked up, and the rain started falling again.

“I’m not late. Hell, I’m early.” Charlie was only a few inches shorter than Rex. So when she rose on her tiptoes and glared, she looked straight into Rex’s eyes.

Abby grinned. “You’re way early.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like Abby to drive me back to the hotel,” Rex said. The tone he used clearly said he would do whatever he wanted, that he only told her to waylay a fight.

“That’s between you and Abby. I’m here now, so obviously I don’t have a problem with it.” Charlie raised her eyebrows and chuckled.

Abby looked at Rex and then back at Charlie. What did they understand that she wasn’t getting? It didn’t matter. She was ready to get out of the rain.

After they convinced Sal to take her sedan, they returned to the Birmingham hotel in the truck. Though Rex didn’t like it, she drove. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but he was acting strange. She wondered if he was popping pain pills. That would explain some of his behavior and was enough of a reason for her to insist on driving.

The suite was just as beautiful as she remembered.

“I expected Jack and Ice to be here,” she said.

“Ice is handling the transport of the bodies, and Jack is setting the attack on the facility you were watching. They’ll pick us up in the morning and fill us in then.”

She had a feeling he’d set this all up for them to be alone together.

“You want a drink?” Rex limped over to the cabinet with the liquor lined up on top.

“I’ll pass. Are you sure it’s okay for you to drink?”

“Why not?”

“Well, pain pills and alcohol can be a deadly combination.”

He poured a drink and watched her over the rim as his masculine throat moved up and down with each swallow. How could a man’s throat be so sexy while doing something so simple?

“I’m not taking anything. Seen too many people become addicted. I take a couple strong ibuprofens every few hours.”

Eyeing him with distrust—men do like to act tough—she pulled out the ponytail holder and fluffed out her hair in an attempt to dry it. She hated to think how bad she looked. Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself he was an adult and she wasn’t responsible for his stupidity.

“Listen. I’m going to take a shower. If you could order me a hamburger, I would appreciate it.” As soon as she said
shower
she regretted it. It brought back memories of the last time they had been alone in the suite together.

When she glanced his way, he was pouring another drink. She bit her lip, picked up her suitcase near the door, and trudged up the steps to the master suite. He held the glass in his hand and watched her walk up the staircase.

What had he wanted to talk about? Jerking her attention away, she hurried into the bathroom. On seeing the huge glass enclosure, the memories of her last shower there drove the breath out of her lungs. She locked the door. She needed to regain a little control, and besides, she needed that shower.

Then she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. Whoa! Wet hair framed her face, highlighting her slightly pink, prominent cheekbones. Her lips appeared full and soft, and her skin glowed. That was a surprise. Not that she was beautiful, but she didn’t look like the drowned rat she’d expected. Then she looked down at her T-shirt. The soaked thin cotton had become see-through and the dark outlines of her nipples were visible beneath a plain white bra. That all at least explained the heated looks Rex had given her.

She turned on the faucet and started the shower to allow the water to warm. Then she opened her suitcase. Nothing screamed sexy. Remembering the satin slip she’d worn underneath her wedding dress, she pulled it out of a side pocket. A little wrinkled, but maybe the steam from the shower would help.

Within thirty minutes she’d finished, leaving her hair partially dried. She felt so much better and more in control. After a light coating of makeup, she headed toward the stairs.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

E
XCITED BEYOND BELIEF
from the thought of having the evening alone with Rex, Abby had missed him so much that she didn’t care whatever he had to say to her. She rushed down the stairs and came to a stop. A tray with a covered dish sat in the middle of the table, but no Rex. She checked the bedroom, carefully opening the door. No sign of him or his suitcase.

Tears welled in her eyes for a few seconds and then she shook her head. The last few days had been stressful and so uncertain. Maybe she needed a change in her life. Glancing over to the bedroom again, she narrowed her eyes. He’d never acted like a coward before, but for the moment she would enjoy her meal and relax. Being alone wasn’t as exciting as making love to Rex, but she would enjoy her solitude.

She returned to the dining room and lifted the cover to find a hamburger with fries still steaming beneath it. Within minutes she’d devoured every bite and decided a glass of wine would be a perfect ending. Then she snickered. Not exactly the ending she’d hoped for that evening.

The twinkling light beyond the balcony drew her attention and she decided to enjoy her glass there. Memories of how close they’d come to making love out there shot warmth through her body.

He didn’t give her a warning, but she felt his presence and her heart picked up speed. The temperature on the balcony changed abruptly and a sensation of no longer being alone kicked her senses into high gear. The wind died down but her nipples remained hard as if they knew who stood behind her.

“A beautiful night. Unseasonably warm.” She inhaled deeply and caught that special clean male scent of Rex.

“Hand me your glass.” The deep tone brooked no argument. She turned and held out the glass. His eyes glimmered even in the darkness. A chill traveled down her spine. He looked stern, almost foreboding.

With slow precision, he slid the glass onto a small table and returned his attention to her.

“What are you wearing underneath that scrap of material?”

Looking forward to seeing his reaction, she said, “Nothing.”

His snarl of a grin took her breath away. The Rex standing in front of her was the dangerous arms dealer Rurik, ready to take what he wanted.

Tingles shot straight to her clit.

“Face the city.”

She hesitated. “What happened to us talking?” she teased.

“Now.”

Was this what she wanted? Yes. The forceful, confident Rex excited her. She turned.

His heat covered her back and then strong hands rested on her hips, slid across the silky material, and stopped over her pelvis. Bunching the material, he lifted it until he slipped his fingers over her mons and farther.

“You’re so slick and wet.”

One thick finger divided her moist folds and stroked over the knot wanting his attention, but he continued until he thrust into her. Instead of withdrawing and thrusting again, he hooked his finger into her and lifted—placing tight pressure to the perfect spot needing his attention. His hand hauled her body up, lifting her feet off the floor, pressing her back against his clothed chest.

“I want in you. I want my cock in you with your body trembling, holding, squeezing.” Every word he said caused her thighs to clench.

She gasped and held on to his arm with both hands. It was times like these that she realized how strong he was and how easily he could hurt a person. But the strange sensation of being a puppet in his hands didn’t bother her. In fact, she liked the way he controlled his brute strength. Ripples of muscle moved wherever his body touched hers. A second finger hooked into her and his thumb rubbed and rolled her clit as his other hand matched the movements on a breast. She was his personal sex toy. And she liked it a lot.

“Yeah? You like that, don’t you?”

She nodded, unable to make a coherent sound.

“Keep making those sweet sounds.” His deep voice wove a spell around her.

The stone wall in front of her, protecting them from the edge of the balcony, stood waist-high to her. He leaned over her back, holding her tight. She released his arm and with palms flat braced her upper torso on the ledge. Her feet landed back on the balcony’s floor. His hands grabbed the straps of the slip and jerked it down past her hips to pool around her ankles. Her ballet-style shoes remained on her feet.

“Don’t move,” he commanded.

If not for being so ready, she would’ve protested his tone, but instead she closed her eyes and sank into all of the sensations surrounding her. His warmth behind her, the light warm breeze caressing her skin, the distant sounds of automobiles and the world moving while she waited for what the man behind her did next.

He caressed her buttocks, and goose bumps popped over her skin from the anticipation. His warm hands clasped the inside of her thighs and spread her apart. The sound of a zipper being lowered and clothing moved caused her to shift with need.

A burning slap to her ass brought her straight up to glare over her shoulder. His face was in the shadows and with his dark shirt on, his belt still clasped, and his hard, thick cock in his hand, he looked scary sexy. She had to admit she liked knowing she was naked in front of him, ready for his instructions.

“Turn back around and don’t move until I tell you.”

Both hands gripped her hips, thumbs pulled her apart, and he eased into her up until the last couple inches. Then he thrust hard. Her body jerked forward and she barely caught herself from hitting the stone ledge. Facing forward, looking over the city beyond, she inhaled the fresh air as he began moving. She loved how full he made her feel. Though her knees were locked, the push and pull of his body rocked hers. Her naked breasts swayed and the tips brushed the sleek stone. The mixed sensations had her mouth open for extra air. Each pant matched his thrust.