Desire & Deception (Entangled Ignite) (7 page)

Heat rolled up her chest and covered her cheeks. She hadn’t exactly fought him off.

“Only this time, you actually connected,” he added, deadpan. His comment was the reality check she needed. Her lips thinned. “Here.” His bicep shifted when he pointed below his right eye. “Try and put some power into the move.”

“I’m a righty,” she informed him.

“I know.” His mocking chuckle rubbed her wrong. “That’s the only reason you might get past me with a left.”

Son of a…
She squared her jaw. Talk about being high-handed.

“Come on, tiger, do I really need to drag your sweet ass around by the—” The open palm punch hit with a resounding smack. “Good girl.” He winked. “Now get under the covers.”

Tessa jerked away. She’d been played—again.

He moved to the doorway. She couldn’t help glancing over. The bare bulb cast harsh shadows over the angles of his face and chest. He was half golden-haired angel, half dark, intense temptation.

“Ready?” He pulled the cord, plunging them into semi-darkness. The street light down the block served to illuminate part of the room.

She scooted to the end of the pillow and flipped toward the wall, pressing her thighs together.

He padded back and started moving about. The buckle jingled. A muted
zzzt
of the belt pulling through the loops made her breath catch.

Don’t take that off.

The sheet pulled up to accommodate him. A light breeze whooshed under her shirttails, fluttering across her bare bottom. She swallowed. Denim brushed against her heel, tensing all the muscles in her body. Good. He’d left his jeans on.

A lull in the music allowed male voices to filter up from downstairs. “Naked?”

“Naw, man.” The country lilt was unmistakable. “But he let Cruz watch while he fucked her.”

“Bet the fat bastard was yankin’—”

“Tessa,” Kris’s clipped voice interrupted her eavesdropping on the men’s crude comments. “Move up.”

She snapped back to reality. “T-the pillow’s too high.”

His hand landed on her arm. “Move. Up.”

Tessa balanced on her elbow, pounding a niche between the hills and valleys under the new pillowcase, muttering about the damn pillow. The voices outside went on.

“
Hacha.
You’re a sick son of a bitch.”

“Whaaaat?” the second voice said with disdain. “Your hillbilly ass has a lanyard on a keychain. I gotta believe you wouldn’t a left her tied up? Shiiit.” Laughter rang out. “Move some clothes around and boom—
all
the pussy you want.”

Tessa laid down, her movements jerky, her heartbeat echoing in her ears. Images of the man’s gut-wrenching suggestions flipped through her head like an X-rated movie. A cavern opened in her throat, moved down her esophagus, and threatened to hollow out her chest.

Kris shifted behind her, his breath fanning across her cheek. A thick knot expanded in her stomach. The dinner she’d enjoyed so much lurched about.

“You have lousy luck, little Tessa,” he whispered in her ear. A strong arm pulled her against the heat of his body, holding her tight. “I’ll do my best to keep you safe.”

The conversation faded out after the next song started. The morbid urge to listen in was overwhelming.

“You weren’t supposed to be here. But we’ll work with the hand we were dealt. Keep a low profile and you’ll pull through.”

Between his continued monologue and the heavy pounding of her heartbeat, she wrenched her mind from the perverse conversation outside. She was grateful for every syllable Kris uttered. He switched from Jekyll to Hyde with little effort. Moments ago, he’d been shooting off questions faster than she could think up answers, now he played the champion. Which was real?

Was she indebted to a man or monster?

…

Long after things quieted down and Tessa fell into fitful sleep, Kris lay awake. The harsh soap she used battered his nostrils. He frowned. Earlier, she’d smelled soft, but he’d been more interested in having her clean and checking her for injuries. Now he was acutely aware of the smell and almost regretted his decision to toss her into the shower.

Well, at least this way he’d get some sleep—if she ever stopped fidgeting.

Tessa intrigued him. From the time he’d laid eyes on her, he’d known she didn’t belong here. But innocent? He winced, testing his bruised eye. Good thing he was ready for her punch, otherwise, his head would have snapped back, inflating her ego.

Once he’d figured out how to push her buttons, getting her to do what he needed took a matter of seconds. Keeping her off balance had its rewards. Her expressions were priceless. More important, she’d inadvertently given him insight into her life.

The courage the little powerhouse displayed didn’t seem right. She refused to reach out to a friend who could easily buy her freedom. Why? Most people lost their moral compass when their lives were at risk. Why the secrecy? Who was she protecting? Or what?

He had too many lingering doubts about her and this possible facade of innocence. Surviving in the cartel meant doubting everything he was told and double-checking facts. Everyone had something to hide. It was in his best interest to find out what, then decide what to do with the information. Unfortunately, he’d have to wait until tomorrow. Going to bed so early meant he’d miss Ida’s call.

CHAPTER SIX

Tessa peeled open one eyelid at a time. Her body begged her to drift back to sleep while her brain tried to concentrate on the unfamiliar wall she faced. Layers of ache overlapped each other. Her hip and left arm were asleep, her right arm was bruised, her ribs hurt, and her head pounded. With a groan, she scrunched her face and fell back on the pillow. Her right shoulder was wedged against something solid. She cracked open an eye to find herself directly beneath the handsomest man she’d ever seen.

“Oh God. I didn’t dream you up.” Thank goodness he didn’t understand English.

“Good morning.” His low, intimate tone could melt the polar ice caps.

Her senses zeroed in on the warm skin next to hers. She pulled back, trying to put some space between them before the pins and needles got worse. His knee trapped hers while he reached across her, helping her despite her mewing protests. Strong fingers ran along her lifeless arm to get her circulation going. Dropping her hand on his waist, he proceeded down her body, trying to offer relief.

“I won’t ask how you slept.” His voice was a husky rumble at her temple.

She opened her eyes inches from his muscled chest. His clean scent filled her nostrils, flaying every hormone. Pain, pleasure, frustration, and desire crowded in on her at the same time. She fought back a moan as he worked her hip and the side of her butt. Her toes curled as frustration ran through her, unchecked. “Please.” Her voice was barely audible. “Don’t.”

He tucked his head into his shoulder, his throat inches from her lips, to hear what she mumbled. She dragged her fingers up his warm skin and pushed against an enticing spot on his chest. She stifled a moan. Just yesterday that spot had been pressed against her aching breasts.

“Please stop.” She swallowed, trying to ignore her racing heart. “Let me wake up…get my bearings.”

It had to be an ungodly hour, yet he’d come awake in an instant, something she’d never been able to do. In her opinion, the snooze button was the best of man’s creation.

His breath fanned above her, threatening to send shivers down her body. She ducked, biting her lip, unwilling to show that kind of vulnerability again, especially to him.

…

Kris straightened, settling his hand over the curve of her waist. The warmth of her skin burned through the sheet to sear his palm. The shirt had likely twisted around her while she turned, leaving her bare…from the waist down.

An eternity went by as they remained in the same spot, impossibly close, fueling urges at all the wrong places. His fingers itched to curl around her waist, pull her against him until the thigh he had between her knees was up against—

Time to get up
. He opened his mouth to tell her, but he couldn’t string together the words. Tessa’s gaze was centered on his chest, where her fingers tapped his sensitized skin. Her front teeth bit her bottom lip until she flattened the center. She’d have perfect little indentions. He’d like to run his tongue across the spot, kiss each little section of the seam she created.

Keeping the carnal thoughts to himself, he eased out of bed, giving her his back. If she looked up and her expression was all soft and alluring, he wouldn’t give a damn about keeping his hands off of her.

He shook his left arm, letting blood flow freely. The bed had done a number on him, also, though not all the stiffness in his body was due to the bed.

First things first, he had to get Tessa taken care of, then he had to get going. “I’ll get your meds.”

She pushed herself up on her right arm and jerked back, hissing. Kris put the water bottle down by her lap and slipped his arm behind her to provide support. He tucked a few hair strands behind her ear. Damn Oscar for his impulsive attack.

“Thank you,” she mumbled, cradling her arm to her chest.

He handed her two pills then reached for the water, twisting off the top. She took the container and downed the pills, still looking skittish. “Do you need to get up?” She shook her head. He set her back and reached around for the tin. Popping it open, he ran his middle finger across the smooth top, bringing a layer of salve to her wrist. He set his jaw, making sure to cover every red loop. “Sleep for a while, it’s still early.” He tucked the sheet around her. “I’ll bring breakfast in a while.”

…

Bastard tricked me.

Felipe stood against the block fence, lit cigarette in hand. He exhaled, glowering at the upstairs room through the cloud of smoke. That hot, little piece was sitting up there all alone, for the time being. Fuckin’ Kris. How the hell did he manage to end up with the girl? What gave him the right to keep her from anyone else?

Cruz came through the kitchen door and ambled over. “Who pissed in your corn flakes?”

“Mind your fuckin’ business, fat man.”

Cruz chuckled, his crooked nose making the sidelong smirk that much more irritating. “I know what you’re thinking.” Felipe snorted. “Don’t do it.” Cruz took a drink from his beer.

“You don’t know shit.” Unease settled over him. Cruz had a way of looking through someone and figuring out their next move. His ability to read people and his ruthless nature made him a top notch enforcer. Hell, he’d had nightmares about hearing labored breathing coming from a dark corner of his bedroom.

Cruz ran his wrist over his lips, catching a dribble of liquid that slid across his mouth. “I been doing this a long time. I know you’re pissed, and I know you’re wanting to get you some.” He held up the beer, pointing at the window to Tessa’s room. “But you go there and you can kiss your ass good-bye.”

Felipe’s throat closed. Who’d ever have to know? The door wasn’t locked up right and she made a run for it. Nobody noticed—since Mister High and Mighty didn’t want anyone going near her.

“I di—” Cruz hissed out a burp. “I didn’t get any either, but you don’t see me whining about it.”

“I don’t see why we can’t have some fun. Not like anyone will come sniffing around for her.”

Cruz scoffed. “He was fucking her, dude. She had her legs wrapped around him, begging for more. Saw it with my own eyes.” Felipe’s fingers tightened against the cigarette filter. “You touch her, and Kris will pull your guts out that fancy nose you spent so much money on.” Felipe’s lips thinned. “If you go after Kris, the big boss isn’t gonna like it.” He took another drink. “He’ll take his money-man over your sorry ass any day.”

Money-man. Bah! He flicked the cigarette down, crushing it under the tip of his snakeskin boot until the paper disintegrated. A little voice echoed in his head.
I make the boss plenty of money.
Countless shipments came through the Monterrey area every year. They were his responsibility. His.
Kris doesn’t deserve all the recognition. Why should everyone be accountable to him? The boss’s friggin’ golden boy.

“Don’t go down over this shit,
pendejo
,” Cruz said, reading his mind.

The hair on the back of Felipe’s neck stood on end. Even though they’d shared a tenuous friendship for years, Cruz wouldn’t hesitate to take him out. If he was lucky, the fat man would do it quick. If he wasn’t…

He looked up at the second floor window. He wasn’t going to piss away his life over a piece of ass. Getting to this point had taken a lot of careful planning and a few strategic moves. Hell, the custom boots he wore had cost more than what his sisters made in a year. His life was good. Better than he’d expected after growing up in a household full of women. Much better than what they’d all wanted for him.
Screw them
. No way he’d kill himself all day for what fell off someone else’s plate—no matter how good the scraps were, they were still just scraps.

…

“You awake?” Kris set a bag on the dresser.

Yawning, Tessa stretched and cringed. This felt like the day after the workout from hell. Every muscle cried out, begging for mercy.

“Need some help getting up?”

She blinked, trying to focus properly. “No, thank you.” She reached under the cover to straighten the shirttails before venturing onto the cold floor for a quick trip to the bathroom.

Without a brush, the best she could do was run her fingers through her hair. She cringed. One shower with the yucky soap and her mind flashed back to being a kid. She’d had to use bath soap on her hair because mom couldn’t afford the extra dollar for cheap shampoo. Washing her clothes in the sink, then having to dry them on a clothesline over the tub, so they felt stiff and brittle. Going to school early to take advantage of free meals, otherwise she’d go hungry.

She shook the memory away and folded her hair into a quick braid. After splashing her face, she returned to the room, drying her cheeks on the sleeves.

“Morning.” The croak she’d developed from screaming had subsided.

“You’re looking better.”

She rubbed her bruised arm. “I’m sore, mostly.”

“Didn’t find bacon and eggs, but you won’t go hungry.” He handed her a small brown baggie containing a foil package.

She caught herself before she made a face. How many kidnap victims had a man providing medical care, food, and comfort? “Thank you, but I’m not hungry,” she said.

“What’s wrong?” Concern marred his forehead. “Should I get the doctor?”

She stifled a yawn. “No, nothing like that, I’m all right.” With a knuckle to the eye, she clarified, “Just not a morning person.”

He nodded. “Coffee?”

She perked up.

He smiled, handing her a disposable cup.

Eyes closed, she savored the heavenly scent. The bold flavor assaulted her taste buds, warming her mouth, dragging her awake. “Thank you.”

He ignored her as he finished his breakfast. “I’ll be away all day,” he said without looking at her. “Make sure you eat.”

She sipped, hiding her pinched expression behind the disposable cup.
Like any prisoner, she’d be afforded a last meal.

“I won’t come back until late tonight. I left plenty of water and your pills.” He tossed the scrunched up foil into the baggie and headed to the door. “Don’t cause any trouble while I’m gone, Tessa.”

This time she grimaced.

“And don’t try to run.”

…

Kris went downstairs to see what the guys had to say about their other guest.

Cruz sat at the table with a mountain of food in front of him. He chewed, oblivious to the bits that flew everywhere.

Kris grabbed a soda from the fridge. “What’s the latest on Heather?”

“She never shuts up.” Cruz exhaled in a rush. “Complains about the heat, the cold, the music, and anything else she can think of.” He slurped up a piece of egg that had landed on the front of his shirt.

Kris shut his eyes, sympathizing with Tessa. Could the guy be more disgusting? “Get to the point.”

“She’s shoveling a load of bullshit.” He dropped his fork, a sure sign he was upset. “I asked what she was doing here and she said she’d never partied in Mexico.”

“Great. The product is still missing and we haven’t figured out her plan.”

“I got skills,
jefe
. Just say the word.”

Kris was well aware of Cruz’s sociopathic tendencies. He wasn’t about to unleash him on either one of the girls. “I don’t think this particular guest requires your skill set.” He called for Felipe. “Besides, she’s supposed to be handed over
intact
.”

Cruz shoveled more food into his mouth.

Felipe came in, tucking in his shirt as he reached the kitchen. He pointedly faced away from Cruz, giving his full attention to Kris.

“I want both of you talking to Heather together. Felipe takes the lead.” He gave them a hard stare. “While she’s hands-off, nobody says you can’t paint her a picture. See what happens then.”

“So you think Tessa has people?” asked Cruz.

Kris would be a fool to overlook the possibility. Tessa had secrets she wasn’t sharing. Part of him wanted to turn her over to Juarez and wash his hands of the hiccup in his plan. But the other part of him, the one that wanted to figure her out, pushed to gather whatever information came his way. Not in an official capacity, but more out of curiosity. Either way, he only had to deal with her until the meeting on Thursday. Then she’d be off his hands.

He checked the old clock above the refrigerator. “I won’t rule out the possibility until I have more information.” Not like he’d be the first guy taken in by a pretty face. “If she does, she should get an award for Best Actress.”

“Bah!” spat Cruz. “This would be easier with some incentive.”

“If she goes in bloody,” Kris replied through stiff lips, “you’ll have to account to the boss in Juarez. He wants to get his pound of flesh his own way.”

…

An hour later, Felipe pulled into the driveway of another safe house on the other side of the city. The place wasn’t anywhere near being a compound. More of a nondescript home like every other dwelling in the thirty-year-old, middle-class neighborhood—at least from the outside.

The SUV shifted as Cruz got out and slammed the door. “Hey,” Felipe barked out. “You trying to break the glass or what?” He stalked inside, the vein in his temple ticking in time with his annoyance.