Sea Panther (Crimson Storm) (16 page)

W
illy cupped a hand
over his eyes to block the glare from the late afternoon sun. Perspiration
dripped along the side of his face and down the back of his neck. It might be
late January, but it was hot as hell in this godforsaken swamp. He smacked at a
mosquito that landed on his arm. Damn. Missed. With folded arms, he leaned
against the rented jeep and waited for the other man to limp over.

Dino Rizzetti, the hit man from New York, was after the
Panther and his whore too. The man’s rifle sure looked efficient. Willy patted
the satchel he carried. His weapons were more potent. It would take a special
silver stake through the heart to kill Captain MacLachlan.

“You the kid JR sent?” Rizzetti asked.

“Yeah.” Willy popped a clove of raw garlic into his mouth.
The pungent flavor had become tolerable.

Rizzetti shook his head as if Willy were crazy. Maybe it was
true. Willy frowned.

“You know anything about hunting? I’m out to kill a
panther.” Rizzetti smiled cruelly.

“I’m after the woman.”

“Looking for a piece, are you?”

“JR wants me to take care of her.” Thinking about what he
planned gave Willy a major hard-on.

“Can’t understand why JR sent you. He hired me to kill her.
I can take out the woman and bag myself a big cat.” The hit man caressed the
rifle as a horny man might stroke a willing woman.

Willy certainly wasn’t foolish enough to taunt a hired
killer with the fact he already missed twice. The man thought the big cat a
mere pet. The idiot didn’t understand what he was up against. And Willy didn’t
intend to explain the truth of the situation to him either.

“JR thinks she has incriminating evidence that could land
him in jail. He doesn’t want her dead until I get the information.”

“That sucks. I’m tired of this job. I want it over.”
Rizzetti spit on the ground near Willy’s booted foot. “I searched her room and
car in New Jersey. She doesn’t have the fucking papers.”

“Might be electronic.”

The hit man scowled and raised the gun toward Willy.

“Watch where you’re pointing that damn thing.”

Rizzetti stared at him hard then lowered the business end of
the gun.

“The panther do that to you?” Willy motioned toward the
man’s bum leg.

Hatred burned in Rizzetti’s eyes. He rubbed his thigh.
“Yeah. The big cat’s good as dead.”

Willy no longer cared what kind of death befell the
Panther—man or beast—as long as Willy controlled the woman.

* * *

Kimberly walked through the garden to the house. She hadn’t
learned much from Davey beyond what she already knew. Maybe he wasn’t telling
her everything. Although she supposed it was unfair to suspect him. She had no
reason to doubt him.

So what did she know? Robert had an obscure blood disease he
might not survive. She swallowed hard. Kimberly didn’t want to consider he
might die. She jammed her hands into the pockets of her shorts. Okay. What
else? In addition to the veterinarians who cared for the panthers, the research
facility employed doctors who attended to Robert’s health and scientists who
attempted to discover a cure or at least a drug to extend his life.

That meant he at least had a fighting chance.

Dr. Knight was one of the specialists hired to make Robert’s
painful life tolerable. A good thing. Right? Then why did Kimberly feel jealous
of the bitchy blonde? Other than the woman’s obvious desire for Robert, the
fact she was built like a pin-up model from the forties didn’t help. Next to
the voluptuous Patrice…

Kimberly cringed. Well shit, she was physically inferior.
She was too thin and had tiny breasts. Not much to attract a virile man like
Robert.

Yet he seemed more than satisfied with her body on the
cruise south. Had he merely been temporarily sating lust? No. He claimed to
love her. If she loved him, she needed to trust in his love.

* * *

Robert set Tom Sloan’s letter aside and studied the
blueprints. The refits for
Sea Panther
would take nine months. Too long
for the planned trip to Jamaica.

He hadn’t returned to the island in over two hundred years.
Not since he gave up pirating. He’d never wanted to go back before. Too much
pain. Too much hate. Too much regret. After the session with Patrice today, he
was determined to return and try to jar his memory.

Jagger would certainly lend him
Night Thrill
. That
would work out well. He could take Kimberly along. Keep her safe while enjoying
time alone with her without censure. Robert smiled, looking forward to the trip
for a change.

A knuckle knock pounded on the door. He raised his gaze
expectantly. “Enter.”

The door swung open and Colin approached the desk.

“Have a seat, my friend.” Robert handed over the blueprints.
“What do you think?”

Colin perused the plans, taking his time. Robert leaned back
in the chair and waited, knowing his first mate would approve. Colin handed the
prints back. “Sweet.”

Robert shook his head. “You have spent too much time with
the lads.”

“What?” Colin grinned and raised his arms.

Robert rolled his eyes. Bloody hell, maybe he’d been
spending too much time around them too. He set the papers aside along with the
letter from Tom. “It will be months before she’s ready to sail. Ask Jagger if
Night
Thrill
is available for me to sail to the Caribbean.”

Colin’s jaw tightened. “What do you have planned?”

“A trip to Jamaica.”

“Do you intend to take Kimberly with you?”

“I do.”

“I don’t think it’s wise—”

Robert raised a hand to stop the lecture. “I promise to be
careful with her.” Colin sighed and nodded. Too easy, Robert thought. He was
bound to get a good dose of Colin’s mind before they set sail. “I need you to
look into something for me.”

“Of course.”

“While out prowling last night, I came across a male
panther’s scrape on a game trail in Raccoon Swamp. Can you find out if any of
the state collared cats are in my territory?”

“Sure. I’ll make a few calls,” Colin said. “Anything else?”

“Aye, but I dinnae ken what to do about it. My powers are
diminished. Those remaining to me are oddly different. I can now maintain my
own thoughts when within the panther’s body, but have minimal control over the
beast’s actions. ’Tis why I prowled the swamp last night instead of staying
with Kimberly.”

The few moments he spent near her had almost proved disastrous.
Could he trust himself as they sailed to Jamaica? Robert hardened his resolve.
He would dominate the beasts, dammit. He had to make it work. He wanted
Kimberly with him.

“And the vampire?” Colin asked, cutting through his
thoughts.

“He has receded into a shadowy place.” Robert exhaled
sharply. “I can nae longer track Willy. The bond is broken.”

“Shit!” Colin spat a few more, choice swear words. “Where’s
Raven?”

“She has not returned to the mansion since we arrived and I
can nae longer merge with her mind.”

“Robert, the situation is becoming critical. Consider
leaving Kimberly here. We’ll see to her safety.”

“I can’t. I need her with me.”

* * *

Patrice gathered the notes and files and shoved them into
her briefcase. It was after five. Her sex throbbed and her breasts were aching
to be touched. She wanted to scream. Have a hissy fit. She was so hot and so
wet for Robert, and he…he barely noticed her. She’d practically offered herself
to him on the desk and he hadn’t responded. Damn the man.

Who was this bitch Kimberly? The slut obviously meant more
to Robert than merely one of the crew would. She slept at the mansion, dammit.
That gave her better access to Robert. That wouldn’t do. Patrice stamped a
foot. She was tired of playing nice while trying to gain his adoration. The
gloves were coming off.

She stepped into the corridor and nearly collided with
Raven.

“Don’t fuck with my brother. You won’t enjoy the byplay.”

“What?” Patrice took a step back, spine tingling with alarm.
“I don’t know what you mean.”

Robert’s sister moved closer. Patrice winced. She hated
Raven, but knew enough to fear the vampire bitch. Scanning the corridor, she
sought an escape. There would be no running. Patrice stiffened her spine. As
long as she worked for Robert, she was safe. Since she intended to become his
wife once she found a way to cure him, there was no need to worry about Raven
for much longer.

When Patrice thought of Robert shackled to her bed and all
his delicious money in her control, fear morphed into an aphrodisiac. She got
even hornier. Her sex oozed, and in a panic, she squeezed her thighs together,
hoping to hide the scent of arousal from Raven.

It didn’t work. The female vampire’s nostrils flared. “You
know exactly what I mean.” She pressed forward, hissing, revealing fully
extended fangs. “Keep your tacky fingers off my brother.”

Noise from a nearby conference room flooded the hall as
several doctors exited and walked into the passageway. Patrice took advantage
of the diversion to brush past Raven. “Dr. Lang, may I speak to you about doing
blood tests on Robert’s crewmember, Kimberly Scot?”

“Sure.” The older man stopped as the others filed past, they
shifted position until the hematologist had his back to Raven, partially
shielding Patrice from the vampire’s view. “I’ve been meaning to call you, Dr.
Knight. We need to discuss…”

The boring doctor rambled on in a monotone, but she didn’t
bother to listen. She glanced over his shoulder. Raven watched them. Patrice
tossed her hair and slowly smiled. She would figure out a way to remove the
competition and have Robert.

Raven’s red eyes narrowed before she strode off.

* * *

Kimberly relaxed in a comfortable chair in Robert’s cozy
sitting room. She raised her gaze from the fading page of a Scottish historical
time-travel romance novel to the view of the tropical garden through the
floor-to-ceiling windows. Elegant white flowers dominated over other receding
colors. While she’d been engrossed in the story, afternoon turned into evening.
No wonder her eyes burned.

She twisted the switch on the table lamp and froze.

Robert’s sister leaned against the doorframe, watching her.
The tall woman’s eyes flashed red and her skin held a ghostly pallor.

Wait a minute. Her eyes were usually green. Kimberly
mentally shrugged. Raven must wear tinted contacts to appear more Goth. In her
tight black leather outfit, and with crimson painted lips and nails, Raven
exuded pure sex. Kimberly glanced down at her own sage tank top, khaki shorts,
and boat shoes. Her sporty appearance was less jarring against the casual
mission-styled furnishings.

Raven’s eyes flared as if she knew Kimberly’s thoughts. “I
owe you an apology.”

“I can’t imagine why.” When the woman glided into the room,
Kimberly shifted on the plump cushion suddenly uncomfortable.

Raven slid into a chair. When she glanced at Kimberly, her
eyes were green. Weird. Very weird. The fine hair on the back of Kimberly’s
neck tingled, and she wrapped her arms over her chest to shake off the chill.
Her tired eyes must be playing tricks.

“I have treated you badly since we met,” Raven said. “Given
that my brother believes he is in love with you, and I care for him deeply, I
would like to rectify the situation.”

“There’s no need.” Kimberly inwardly smiled. Had Robert told
Raven of his feelings?

“I believe there is.” Raven ran one long enameled nail over
the golden oak armrest of the chair. Her stare penetrated. “I would give you a
bit of advice.”

Kimberly placed the book on the side table and braced
herself.

“Be wary of Dr. Patrice Knight. She has been dying…” Raven
grinned wickedly and with an arched brow glanced up at the ceiling. “Not a bad
idea.”

“What?” Kimberly asked in confusion.

“Pardon me.” Raven laughed. “The pleasant thought of Patrice
dying in agonizing pain distracted me.” Raven’s gaze settled on Kimberly.

She shivered. The woman was frightening to the extreme.

“What I mean to say in the way of warning is Patrice has
wanted to sink her claws into my brother ever since he hired her. She will stop
at nothing to own him and his money.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“Watch your back and trust in my brother,” Raven whispered.

“Ladies?”

Kimberly startled. Robert stood in the doorway. Dressed in
black slacks and a white open throated dress shirt, he looked too handsome to
be real. She felt a pinch near her heart when their gazes met. As he walked
into the room, Raven leapt from her chair.

“Remember what I said, Kimberly.” She sauntered past her
brother and left.

Robert’s gaze followed her and his brow furrowed. “If you
dinnae mind my asking, what were the two of you discussing?” He shifted
attention to Kimberly.

“Your sister felt she owed me an apology for her previous
poor treatment of me.”

Robert’s eyebrows shot up. Kimberly chuckled. “Can you
believe it?”

“Hardly.” He reached for her hand and pulled her from the
chair. “I have missed you.”

A now-familiar electric current flashed through Kimberly.
“It’s only been a few hours.”

Tucking her close to his body, Robert lowered his head and
stole her breath with his sinfully scrumptious mouth. When they stopped kissing
her legs wobbled.

“I have a favor to ask of you,” he said.

“What is it?”

“The doctors wish to test your blood to see if you are a
match for me.” He held himself stiffly, as if she’d refuse.

Foolish man
. “Of course, whatever I can do to help.”

His arms were around her again. He kissed her…sweetly,
lovingly. They slid to the floor. Buttons popped. Seams ripped. Clothing flew
across the room. She lost herself to the magic spelled by his lips.