Forever Entangled (5 page)

CHAPTER FIVE

A ringing phone at three in the morning was never good news. Ryan was awake instantly and already reaching for the phone before the second ring. He saw
Dad
show up on the caller identification and worried something bad had happened to his mom, brother, or sister. Jackson was his twenty-five-year-old brother and was training to become a member of the FBI Hostage Rescue Team. His twenty-year-old sister, Greer, was in college. If some jackass hurt his sister, he was going to pay.

“What is it, Dad?” Ryan didn’t bother to say hello.

“Sienna’s in trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?” Ryan asked. Sienna had been his ideal woman for a long time. He had loved her since they were kids. But that was the trouble. Sienna only saw him as a child, and he’d gotten sick of it. Suddenly, eight years ago she became interested. Women . . . she had only become interested because he wasn’t. Ryan had pushed aside the nagging thought that maybe, just maybe, it could be more than that.

Ryan heard his father sigh. If it was three in the morning in California, it was six in the morning in Keeneston. “She heard a murder over the phone. The killer picked up the phone and heard her tell him she wouldn’t rest until he was caught. The phone had her full name on it. He knows who she is.”

Ryan cursed and then cursed again for good measure. “What do you need me to do?”

“I need you to come home,” his father told him in his “I’m a higher-ranked FBI agent than you, and this is an order”
voice.

“I can’t just leave—”

“Yes, you can,” his father cut in. “I’ve already talked to Arnie.”

“And if I don’t?” Ryan didn’t appreciate being the last to know his assignments and liked it even less that his father wasn’t asking.

“I’ll tell your mother you were shot again.”

“Damn, Dad. That’s below the belt.”

“Sienna needs someone to watch out for her. The detective and I feel she needs someone out of uniform to do it. The person who killed Malik—”

“Malik? Malik Coleman?” Ryan asked in surprise.

“Yes. He knew the person who killed him. He and Sienna work with all the same people. If it’s someone in the organization . . .”

Ryan didn’t need his father to continue. If it was someone inside the Thoroughbreds, Sienna had no hope of being safe. “All right. I’ll be on the next flight out. I’ll see you this evening. Is she at her parents’ house?”

“Um,” her father stuttered, “not exactly.”

“What do you mean, not exactly?” Ryan pushed.

“She made us swear not to tell her parents. She said they would freak out and give away that she’s being watched. She, um, didn’t say not to tell you, though.”

“Does she know I’m coming to watch her?”

“Yeah, about that,” his father hedged, sounding rather guilty. “I haven’t found time to tell her yet. She’s still talking with the detective.”

“Coward.”

“I’m not the man who ran across the country to hide from love,” his father simply stated.

“I’m not hiding from love,” Ryan protested.

His dad made a grunt of disbelief. “I’ll see you later today. And thanks, son.” His father paused for a second. “It’ll be good to see you again. It’s been too long. I understand how undercover assignments work. Your mom, on the other hand, may be a little peeved she hasn’t gotten to talk to you in so long. Now, come home.”

The line went dead and Ryan pulled his laptop onto the bed, made a reservation for the five-thirty flight to Lexington, and rented an SUV for the week. He shoved the sheets from his naked body and strode to the bathroom for a quick shower and to pack. As the water washed over his body, he shook his head. Love? What was his father thinking? He didn’t love Sienna Ashton. Infatuation maybe. But one night in the sack would cure of him that. After all, she was sexy, and he was just a man. What better way to guard her and prove to her once and for all he was a red-blooded male?

*     *     *

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Detective Braxton asked as Sienna pressed the elevator button.

“I’m positive. This is my job. These players trust me. I should be the one to tell them Malik was murdered,” Sienna said as they headed to the team meeting room inside the Thoroughbreds’ stadium.

Detective Braxton and her team were on hand to interview Malik’s teammates and coaches after they had broken the news. Sienna and the group walked into the auditorium-style meeting room, resembling a college lecture hall more than a conference room. She made her way to the front table and got the team’s attention.

“Thank you for meeting me so early,” Sienna said as calmly as she could. She took a breath and tried to remember what Detective Braxton had wanted her to say. The team continued to talk and Sienna fought the urge to scream at them. Their friend was dead and one of them could be the murderer.

“Yo! Listen up, the doc has something to say,” Jaylen hollered before sending her a wink of support. Jaylen’s voice had boomed across the room, and people turned to stare at her.

Sienna clasped her hands in front of her and looked into the sea of men. “I’m sorry to tell you that last night a burglar broke into Malik’s house.” Sienna had to blink her eyes to clear the tears. “It appears he caught the intruder unaware. He fought the intruder, but he didn’t make it. Malik is dead.”

No one said a thing. They were too surprised. Tears started to stream down Jaylen’s cheek, and Zack buried his head in his hands.

“This is Detective Braxton and her team for the case. They’re going to be meeting with you all to talk about Malik, in order to find who did this. They want to start with the offense. If you all could go to the other conference room, they will call you when they’re ready for you. For the defense and coaches, I will be in conference room C holding a group support meeting for those of you who want to remember Malik and share stories. I’m also here if you feel you need individual grief counseling. Please, if you have any information that you feel could help us, see one of the officers or myself immediately.”

Jaylen stood before his teammates. “Before we go, let us offer a moment of silence for our brother, the best damn receiver we’ll ever have had the pleasure of playing with. We’ll miss you, Malik.”

The team all bowed their head and a minute later the coaches started organizing meetings with the police. Sienna was overrun with people wanting to share stories of Malik, wondering how to deal with the loss, and talking about how to celebrate his life. For now, her own grief was put aside. She had a job to do.

*     *     *

Ryan tossed his bag into the back of the black Ford Explorer and took a deep breath. Home. He smelled the freshly cut grass at Keeneland racetrack across the street from the airport and enjoyed the distinct lack of smog in the air.

He started the car and headed through the outskirts of Lexington. It still was a shock to see the Thoroughbreds’ stadium in the middle of what had been an old worn-down industrial area. The employee parking lot was full and Ryan decided to take a chance that Sienna was still there. He turned into the stadium, flashed his badge to the security officer, and drove toward the employee lot.

Sienna had never been more exhausted than she was right at that moment. She didn’t sleep the previous night and when she’d tried to take a nap, she heard the sound of Malik’s life being choked from him and the sound of the murderer breathing deeply as he hung up the phone.

“Thanks for helping us out today,” Detective Braxton said and gave Sienna’s shoulder a pat.

“Did you learn anything?” Sienna asked as they made their way toward the parking lot.

“I’ve got a list of people I still need to talk to—his agent, a cousin, a sister, and some friends who aren’t on the team. But no solid leads yet. Don’t worry, Dr. Ashton, we’ll find him.”

Sienna pushed open the door to the parking lot and froze. Ryan Parker was leaning against Detective Braxton’s car with his arms crossed over his muscled chest and his hip resting on the hood.

“Who’s he?” Detective Braxton asked quietly as she took him in. “Cop?”

“FBI. That’s Ryan Parker, Cole’s son.”

Detective Braxton shook her head. “I joined the wrong law enforcement group,” she whispered. “I guess that answers my question on if you need a ride back to Keeneston. Or maybe you could drive my cruiser and I’ll go with him?”

Sienna chuckled for the first time that day. “You can have him.”

Detective Braxton looked between Sienna and Ryan. “It’s a shame, but I think his interest is already taken by someone else.”

“Don’t count on it,” Sienna whispered back before stopping in front of Ryan.

Ryan waited for Sienna to make her way to him. The attractive woman walking with her screamed
cop
, and it was probably her car he was leaning against. But it was Sienna who drew his attention. She had always been impeccably dressed with flawless makeup and perfect hair. But not today. She was in business slacks and a blouse, but her hair was pulled back into a quick ponytail, she wore no makeup to hide the beginning of dark circles under her eyes, and Ryan thought she’d never been more beautiful.

It took all his determination not to leap forward and wrap her in his arms. The instinct to protect her and take care of her hit him hard. The cop whispered something to Sienna, and Sienna’s eyes shot to his before whispering something back. Ryan sent her a cocky grin and saw Sienna’s eyes travel his length.

“Ryan, what are you doing here?” Sienna asked as the two women stopped in front of him.

“I’m on temporary assignment to the Lexington office. I think Dad wants me around to help him wrap things up for his retirement at the end of the month. They’re just trying to find someone to fill the vacancy, and then he’s done.”

“Oh. I forgot he was retiring. But what are you doing
here
?” Sienna pointed to the ground at her feet.

“I was driving into Keeneston and saw this place and the cars and thought you might be here. Now, don’t be rude. Introduce me to your friend,” Ryan smiled and looked at Detective Braxton.

“Ryan, this is Detective Andrea Braxton. Detective, Agent Ryan Parker.” Sienna introduced the two reluctantly.

“Nice to meet you,” the cute detective said and shook his hand. “Since you don’t seem surprised to see Sienna with me, I guess that means you talked to your father.”

Cute and smart. Detective Braxton was just Ryan's type of woman. It was too bad his eyes kept wandering to the woman who had spurned him his whole life.

“Your dad called you? This wasn’t a scheduled transfer?” Sienna asked with underlying anger. That’s his girl. She always did have a bit of that redheaded temperament.

Ryan tried to stay focused on her question, but when Sienna got angry she did the sexiest nose wrinkle, and her green eyes reminded him of a tropical jungle fraught with danger. “What does that matter?”

“It matters because I told him not to tell anyone. He told you about the phone call, didn’t he?” Sienna asked as she dropped her voice and looked around.

“Making sure Daddy doesn’t hear?” Ryan asked, knowing he was pushing her buttons. But he couldn’t help himself. He wanted to see her riled up. He wanted to see her get so mad she’d push him away because right now he wanted to pull her toward him.

“Exactly. You know my parents would flip out, and that is not what I need right now,” Sienna hissed.

Ryan just smiled. “Then you better hurry and get into my SUV because I just saw your dad pass by the third-story stairwell window. He’ll be down here in seconds.”

“Crap. Call me with updates, Detective.” Sienna turned to the SUV next to the cop car and dove into the front seat. “Hurry up!”

Ryan chuckled and pushed himself off the car. “Detective,” he said with a nod of his head.

“Here’s my card. I have a feeling I know why you’re here. Call me if anything unusual happens. Right now there’s no reason to think the killer would need to come after her, but it certainly wouldn’t surprise me either.”

Damn. Cute and smart, just like he thought. Ryan took the card and really wished his body would respond to the woman standing in front of him, but he couldn’t wait to get into his own car. The flash of Will Ashton’s profile as he rounded the final landing in the stairwell caught his attention. He sent Andrea a wink and jogged around the front of the SUV.

“Hurry up,” Sienna practically yelled from where she was bent over in the front seat.

“Want me all to yourself so soon?” Ryan grinned as he tore out of the parking lot.

“Grow up,” Sienna shot back as she sat up.

He came all this way to protect her and she still thought he was a child. He was fuming by the time he made it to the security gate. He slammed on the brakes, causing Sienna’s eyes to go round. In one quick motion he unbuckled her seatbelt and dragged her across the console and into his lap. His lips were hard and demanding as they came down onto hers. His tongue pushed against her mouth until she opened for him on a moan. Domination was the only thing on his mind as he plundered her mouth. But soon she was plundering back and when her fingers speared his hair and pulled him closer, it was his turn to moan.