The Last Detail (9 page)

“Something happened.”

It wasn’t a question but a statement.

Jared rose and walked to the window to look out on the night. “Yeah, something. She got a john one night who thought he didn’t have to pay. When she started to raise a fuss, the bastard beat the living hell out of her. Jesus, I’ll never forget going there, finding her in that fucking alley.”

He closed his eyes, and for that moment, Sam felt for the guy. Ten years ago, he had been barely twenty when it happened. In this sector, a forty-year-old arriving on Arcadia would feel like a virgin. He could imagine Jared showing up running away from his privileged life and being jolted by what life had to offer here.

“What was she, fifteen?”

Jared nodded. “Just. And she wasn’t close to the weight she is now. At that point, she probably weighed all of one hundred pounds.”

“The scars on her chest?”

Jared nodded.

“The welts on her back? They’re kind of faint…”

“No. Those she has had as long as I’ve known her.”

He stared at Jared, realizing the woman he had been falling for over the last couple of days was more than he ever thought. She might come off as some kind of hard ass, but beneath he sensed a sweet woman, one who was afraid to need anyone but herself.

“The guy?”

“A petrol executive.”

“Name?”

“Doesn’t matter anymore.”

“It might not to you but to me, it does.”

“He’s dead.”

Of course, he was dead. Jared wouldn’t let him live after doing that to Lou.

“Took her three months to recover. She died a couple of times on the table.” The quiet words were filled with anguish. “It took over a year before she could actually be out on her own.”

Just thinking about it made everything in his body want to do harm to someone. She didn’t ever let her guard down, except in bed. In that one place she had allowed both he and Jared to see the softness beneath.

Jared yawned.

“Why don’t you get some sleep? You had a longer trip here than I did.”

“I need to get into the corporation to find out who is selling the secrets. I linked it to three people, but I can’t figure out just how the hell they did it.”

“I can do that.”

Jared snorted. “Really?”

“Shit, Jared, back off. You had the damned thing locked down tighter than a virgin. I’ll let you know if I need help.”

Jared sighed. “I would argue with you more, but the truth is, I really don’t have the energy. I have an alarm that will sound the moment they start tracing you. If they do, make sure you shut it down. I have it scrambling the outgoing signal but they probably have a lot of shit I don’t even know about.”

Jared walked toward the door but paused. “I’m sorry for breaking your nose.”

Sam waved it off as if it were nothing.

“You never said why you left. I mean, I know why you understand why I ran from that insane family of mine. But you, why did you leave?”

Sam knew he could go into all the ideas of why he’d done what he did. There was more than he could ever tell anyone, or even understand himself. “My father wanted another leader in the family. I just wanted to serve. It was as simple as that.”

Jared nodded and said nothing as he left him alone with the computer.

Sam sat down in the chair Jared had been in and got down to work. The sooner he figured what the hell was going on, the sooner they’d deal with what the hell was happening between the three of them.

Jared tried to be quiet when he slipped into the room, but as usual, Lou heard him.

“You could never be a stalker, ya know?” she asked, her voice filled with soft amusement.

“How did you know it was me?”

She rolled over to face him as he pulled off his shirt. “You sound different to Sam. Your walk is different. And he is kind of quiet. You’re not.”

He frowned and she laughed.

“No, it isn’t bad. Sam and I have been out in the field a little more than you.”

Disgust and embarrassment filled him. “I used to be able to sneak up on anyone when I picked pockets.”

She sighed. “But you know, that was a really,
really
long time ago.”

Her playful tone took him by surprise. This wasn’t the woman he had known. Hell, it wasn’t even the girl he’d known when they first met on the streets. But she was here beneath, waiting to be turned away. He realized now that all these years he’d held back had been a mistake. Of course, that meant he had time to make up.

He shucked off his pants and walked toward the bed. Her eyes widened when she saw his erection.

“Are you trying to be bad, Louella?”

She frowned at him, but the mean look was ruined by the fact she looked so damned sweet. Her honey-blonde hair was dripping over her shoulders in disarray, her face flush with excitement, and her eyes were sparkling with mischief.

“What do you mean by that?”

He stood by the bed for a moment, watching her, and then he pounced, grabbing her legs and pulling her to the edge. She squealed, the sound filled with horror and delight. Happiness filled him first until he pulled her legs apart and saw her wet need already coating her pussy lips. He groaned as lust rushed through his veins and his cock twitched. All these years he hadn’t known she would be so sensual. It seemed that he and Sam brought it out in her.

For a second, the thought distracted him. It wasn’t just him who did this to her, but Sam also. Was there something wrong with him that he didn’t seem to mind having Sam in the bed with them? There was something about seeing her pleasured by Sam that made him harder than a fucking pike. And she seemed to need it.

“Jared?”

He heard the worry in her voice and focused on her again. He got down on his knees on the floor. He gave her no time to adjust. Slipping his hands beneath that full round ass, he lifted her to feast. Damn, she was sweet and sassy, an aphrodisiac for his senses. She moaned his name as he slipped his tongue into her pussy and fingered her ass. She squirmed and then relaxed against him. Her moans grew as he added another finger.

Then, without warning, she came. He raised his head and watched as she allowed the orgasm to take control. She bowed off the bed, her head back, exposing the column of her neck. Before she had completely settled down, he was rising to his feet, pulling her legs up and over his shoulders and taking her hips into his hands.

“Open your eyes, Lou.”

She did, barely.

“Know that it’s me, tell me.”

“Jared.” Her voice came out as a sigh, one filled with need and affection. It twisted his heart. He couldn’t hold back anymore. He thrust into her, loving the way she clamped down on him, feeling the way her body clung to his cock as he began to move. She couldn’t move, could only lie there as he moved in and out of her. She arched off the bed, and he could feel her slickness against his cock, the tight clasp of her muscles each time he thrust into her.

Then she opened her eyes and looked at him. “Come for me, Jared.”

In that moment, she took back control, asked for something from him she hadn’t before. He couldn’t hold back anymore. He didn’t want to. He wanted to give this to her, wanted her to know that he would never deny her anything. He slipped a finger down to where their bodies joined and pressed against her clit. She started to convulse against him again, pulling him deeper into her body. In that instant, he let go, allowed himself to pour his seed into her.

Moments later, he dragged them both up on the bed.

“Please tell me I don’t have to go anywhere.”

He laughed at her request. “We are pretty safe here. No one but you knows about the safe house. Plus, I made sure I wasn’t followed. The sensors are fully operational, so if anyone approaches, we’ll know.”

She rose to her elbow and looked at him. “What do you mean?”

“What?”

“You didn’t tell any of the other agents about this place?”

He shook his head. “Of course not.”

“But…why not?”

“Because you aren’t an average agent. I made sure that no one but you knew about it. In this sector, you never know when you need protection.”

She frowned.

“You didn’t tell anyone, did you?”

She shook her head. “You know I don’t talk much to the other agents. I don’t always play well with others.”

“They were jealous.”

“Of me?”

He shook his head. “Of my feelings for you. You are my best agent, but didn’t you wonder why you always got the best assignments?”

“But…Jared.”

“I guess there’s no reason to try and hide it. I’ve loved you since I met you, Lou. I know that you are about the only person in the sector who doesn’t know, but I do.”

“Even when I was…” She swallowed. He knew she didn’t like saying the words, hated to even think about what she had to do to survive.

“Even then. I didn’t know what the hell it was, seriously. But when you were hurt, I…well, if you hadn’t made it, I’m not sure if I would have either.”

For the first time since that night long ago, he saw tears shimmer in her eyes. He cupped her face with his hand. “Don’t cry, baby.”

Just saying those words had fresh tears pouring over onto her face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cry all over you.”

She tried to turn away from him, but he wouldn’t allow it. “No. Don’t turn away from me, never again.”

She stopped and watched him warily.

“Don’t ever be ashamed to show what you are feeling to me. Never. I don’t expect you not to be human.” He couldn’t stop the anger that welled up inside him. “I don’t love you because you’re a tough agent. I love that despite everything, the way you had to survive on the street, the way you had to fight to live all those years ago, you are a tough agent. It isn’t because of what you are, but how you became that way.”

Her eyes softened even more as she leaned forward to brush her mouth over his. “I never knew.”

“You didn’t want to know.”

She smiled. “But I do now.”

“Yeah, I’d worry if you didn’t figure it out after today.”

Her smile faded. “Do you have a problem with Sam?”

He knew what she was asking and he should have an issue with it, but for some reason he didn’t. When they were together just that one time felt more special than all the women who had come before.

“No. Do you have an issue with us?”

The tension drained from her features as she shook her head. “No. Truthfully, I find it kind of hot.”

“Yeah?”

She nodded. “Where’s he at?”

“He was doing some research.”

“Why don’t we get something to eat? I am starving.”

The moment that she stepped into the hallway, it felt wrong. She didn’t know exactly what it was, but there was something that gnawed at her stomach. Her instinct had kept her alive more than once. She stopped and grabbed a weapon.

“What?”

“There’s something wrong. It’s really quiet.”

Jared nodded. “Yeah.” They both walked down the hallway keeping their backs against the wall. She was sure no one was in the house. They wouldn’t have left the two of them alone. The other possibility had her heart hurting. They crept up the stairs, trying their best not to allow any sound to carry. When they stepped into the office, her worst fears were confirmed. The office was empty, but there was a note on the desk. Jared walked over and held it up.

“I’ll fix everything, S.”

Then she saw the screen. The picture was a leader in the Zenich Industries. He was standing next to one of the two women who had been at the bar with Sam.

“Who is that?”

Jared read the name. “Dennis Ventor. His brother.”

She read the passage. “He’s a vice president at the corporation? And wait, Sam Dawson isn’t a Dawson right?”

Jared nodded. “Fuck. We’re going to have to go after the ass. He can’t go in there alone. His brother set this up to get back at him.”

“Why?”

Jared looked at her. “For being the one who walked away. Dennis never had the balls to do it. Sam did, made his own way. His brothers blew the fortune, and had to go out and work. It would make sense Dennis would start selling secrets. He’s used to a lot of money. And it sounds like him to set Sam up to take the fall. He’s always been like that.”

Anger boiled in her gut. “The woman. She was with him in the bar. He said she was an agent.”

He slipped into the chair and widened the screen for them both to read. “And here it seems like she works for Dennis. Shit.”

She huffed out a breath. “He went to confront them.”

“Yeah, of course he did. I shouldn’t have told him there was a hit put out on us.”

She stared at Jared. “Why did you do that?”

He grimaced. “Because I was pissed at him. He put you in danger.”

She rolled her eyes, agitation filling her stomach. She didn’t have time for precious male egos. “Yeah, and you helped by putting me on his trail. You both suck.”

He didn’t say anything and she looked over to find him staring at her with a small smile playing about his lips.

“What?”

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

It settled her nerves just a bit. She knew Sam had walked into the den of the lion ready to sacrifice himself. She might have just met him, but it was something he would do. “You know, when we find him, I’m going to kill him.”

Chapter Nine

Sam crept down the hallway to his brother’s office, ever vigilant for any followers. He should have known that his family would come back to bite him in the ass later in life. Seriously, they had never been much to be happy about. They had money and they felt the world owed them everything. Dennis was even worse than the father who was probably responsible for more deaths than even the most proficient assassin.

It was his fault Jared and Lou were all in the situation. His fault by association. Damned family would be the death of him. But if he had his choice, he would take his bastard brother down with him.

With surprising ease, he worked out the code to his brother’s office. He knew it was too easy, but it didn’t seem he had a choice but to walk through the door.

He stepped into the plush well-appointed room and found his brother looking out on the night.