Dangerous to Know (28 page)

“No,” she insisted, clamping her thighs around him. “Not this time.”

He bared his teeth at her, his breathing rough. She could see the desire to take command brightening his dark eyes. It was a fascinating view, the savage impulse mixing with the man who had decided to trust her.

Their gazes remained locked as she started to climax. It was gripping, pounding through her deepest core. Mercer had been waiting for it. He surged upward, flipping her onto her back as he pistoned her through the waves of delight. His cock felt larger, harder. He arched back as he started coming. Hot spurts of cum hit her insides, setting off another ripple of enjoyment, deep inside her.

No condom.

She should have been able to dwell on that thought but she had no strength left. Mercer ground himself into her, his cock jerking a final time before the bed rocked violently when he collapsed beside her. She was too spent to move. But she didn't have to. He scooped her up, rolling her onto his chest as she surrendered to oblivion.

For just a moment, everything was perfect. She soaked it up, willingly ignoring everything else but the man holding her.

His heart rate had slowed down by the time she came back to her senses, but he was still stroking her back. She must have drifted off to sleep, lulled by the sound of his heart. A faint rapping on the wall woke her.

“Hummm?”

Zoe blinked as she tried to clear her head. Her brain was moving slowly, her thoughts fuzzy.

“Got to get back to work.” Mercer rolled over and off the bed. He rubbed a hand over his face before beginning to dress.

Her thoughts crystalized with shocking clarity. She felt her cheeks catch fire as she realized that the other team members likely knew what was going on behind the closed door of the bedroom.

She witnessed a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. “Maybe I'm being a little bit of a dick, baby, but I want them to know that you're mine.”

“Wait a second—”

He ducked out of the room while she was still formulating her argument, leaving her to struggle against the surge of enjoyment that washed through her in response. Really, she should be more … well … more something. More modern. More sophisticated than enjoying knowing a man was making a public declaration concerning her.

But she wasn't. In fact, she ended up hugging a pillow and hiding her smile against it.

*   *   *

“Been a long time,” Kagan said.

Vitus only offered him a bland look in response.

Kagan slowly grinned. “Always did like the way you get straight to the point.”

“Part of my charm.”

Kagan sipped at his coffee, looking around the java joint. There were college kids in flip-flops and torn jeans and preppy moms sporting manicures. A few adults intent on being thrifty and using the free Internet offered by the café were dug in at various tables with their laptops. Vitus scrunched low in his seat, just a momentary flicker of annoyance with the poor posture making it into his eyes. Kagan propped an elbow on the bistro table in an effort to blend into their civilian setting.

“Don't you mean, part of your retaliation plan?” Kagan asked bluntly.

Vitus bared his teeth. “Tyler has it coming.”

“You've been watching him for the last three years and there still isn't more than suspicion to support your opinion.” Kagan was tapping his fingertips against the table.

“He was going to show his true colors at some point. Today is that day.” Vitus flipped his tablet onto the table. The call record from Tim to Tyler was highlighted. Kagan stared at it for a moment.

“Bugging that party rental office was child's play,” Vitus explained. “They used a burner phone but I've got both sides of the conversation. Tyler's gone soft, tossing in with someone like Tim.”

Kagan nodded in agreement. “Tyler is just going to play the game. Tell us he was setting up the buyer.”

“Fine.” Vitus said. “Let's move forward. Let's see what Tyler does when that money hits his hand. I'm betting it's going to land somewhere with Saxon's name attached to it.”

Kagan lifted his coffee cup and drew off a sip. “That's a stretch.”

“Not when you and I both know Tyler has ties to Jeb Ryland. And Jeb Ryland is still screaming for vengeance. The man isn't even wise enough to do it quietly. He forgets that I have friends in Washington, too. Friends watching his ass, so they're stuck to it and hear a whole lot.”

Kagan was sipping his coffee again. “You know I disagreed with Tyler taking your shield. But you stepped over a line, son. The kind of line you need to think twice about stepping over again.”

“I didn't step over it alone. I completed my mission by bringing that girl back in one piece. The rest of it is none of your fucking business.”

Kagan raised an eyebrow at the profanity but Vitus didn't give a damn. His superior ended up chuckling. It was darn near silent and his lips barely curved but on the face of his boss, it was like a crack in bulletproof glass. “Another thing I like about you, no shame.” Kagan looked at the tablet again. “Your plan?”

“Put the pressure on,” Vitus answered.

Kagan raised an eyebrow.

“Tim wants that hard drive,” Vitus said. “Tell Tyler it's coming in.”

“He might just wait for it to arrive.”

Vitus shook his head. “Loosen the chain on the mule. My bet is, he'll try to force her into bringing him the goods. Once she moves, Tyler will have to choose a course of action.”

“That's mighty risky.”

“Whole operation is. Saxon's ass is hanging out in the wind. One breath of a rumor on where he is and you're going to need a mop-up team and four flags, along with a mighty good explanation to Colonel Magnus about how his daughter ended up dead while in protective custody. Since she made that call out, we've lost the edge. Either we move or we run a high risk of getting blindsided.”

Kagan was silent for a long moment, weighing the odds.

“I doubt your brother will agree to letting the civilian back into the line of fire.”

Vitus drew in a deep breath. “Leave that part to me.”

Kagan slowly smiled. “You're not planning on telling him.”

Vitus shook his head. “I'm always on the level with Saxon. She's still a target. The mission needs to proceed. His life could depend on knowing if Tyler is a rat.”

Kagan's expression grew pensive. “In that case, good luck. I think you're going to need it.”

“Keep an eye on Tyler.”

Kagan nodded before pushing his chair back and tossing his cup into a nearby trash can. He winked at a college student on his way out the door and disappeared into the pedestrian foot traffic. A couple of moms with strollers eyed his table. Vitus shook his frame out before leaving it to them. Conversation flowed around him. He hid his emotions behind a practiced expression.

There was nothing about life that a man should ever turn his back on.

That was a one-way ticket to hell.

He knew the ride well.

*   *   *

“Ready for bed?” Mercer asked from the doorway.

The question caught her off guard. But then, so did the sight of him. He was once more the confident agent, watching her from behind an unreadable expression.

“Zoe?”

“Sure.” She realized she'd been staring at him dumbfounded. “I mean, yes. I'm going to turn in.”

“Got your teeth brushed?”

She curled her lips back, because one absurd question deserved an equally ridiculous answer. Maybe it was just her. She was still reeling from their encounter. The fact was, she had no idea how to feel.

He nodded, sweeping the room before coming through the doorway.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

He didn't answer her but made his way across the room to the other side of the bed. She heard his boots hit the floor before he swung his legs up and settled in beside her.

“Excuse me?” she asked. “Did I miss something?”

He settled back against the pillows, his expression cracking momentarily and turning sensuous. “You remember the whole thing, baby, but deny it all you like. I'll be happy to give a repeat performance. Are you saying you'll share your body with me but not your bed?”

Her cheeks heated. She looked away as she struggled to keep a grip on her composure.

Mercer struck in that moment, capturing her wrist. She felt the cold touch of metal and heard the handcuff click. She jerked her hand away but there was another click as he secured the second one to his own wrist.

“What do you think you're doing?” she demanded.

“Dealing with you.” There was a soft whistle in the doorway. Saxon stood there, taking in the scene.

Her cheeks caught fire. Okay, so she'd accepted the fact that everyone in the house knew what she and Mercer were about when they were in the bedroom together, but that didn't mean she was ready to have the team leader watching them in bed. Even if their clothes were still on.

Saxon dangled a set of keys before dropping them into the breast pocket of his shirt. “Sleep tight.”

“What is going on?” She pulled on their joined wrists but only ended up with Mercer's arm across her chest. “Unlock these.”

He shook his head and settled back against the pillows. “Not a chance. I want to know exactly where you are for the next few hours.”

She sent him a scathing look. “What are you trying to prove?”

“That it's time you started working with us.” He rolled over onto his side and pegged her with a hard look. “You threw Greer under the bus today with that phone call. He was responsible for you at the time.”

“I don't owe him anything. Or any of you.”

“Really?” One dark eyebrow rose. “There are only the four of us. We're all taking turns pulling duty. Someone wants you dead, Zoe. That's why we're off grid. Greer didn't appreciate being shown up in front of his boss. So tonight, you're mine and I need some sleep. Cuffing you to the headboard leaves you slim opportunity to escape.” His eyes glittered with determination. “Not on my watch.”

Guilt stabbed into her. Mercer watched her face for a moment before he settled back against the pillows and closed his eyes.

“It isn't any easier for me, Zoe.”

His voice was so low she blinked, thinking she'd imagined the words. But he opened his eyes a crack and shot her a look that was full of uncertainty.

“Both of us have to make a choice to trust each other.”

“So when are you going to start sharing information?” she asked. “None of you would just sit around, waiting in the dark while everything you held dear was on the line.”

He reached over and clasped her hand, the cuffs shifting and making a soft clinking sound. “I'm working on it.”

He meant it. She heard the sincerity in his voice. It didn't cut through her frustration completely, but it made a good dent. Which left her settling back and closing her eyes.

Enough for one day.

 

CHAPTER SEVEN

Tim was nervous.

Bram knew the guy well enough to spot his habits. He tightened his grip on the binoculars he was watching his father's longtime friend through.

That was a big point of contention.

Friend.

Tim was a traitor.

Servat strolled up to the meeting place that Tim had changed three times in the last hour. This time, it was a jogging trail that stretched for twenty long miles along a flood-control channel. Servat lifted one of his feet and started retying his shoe. Bram switched from the binoculars to a camera with a telephoto lens on it. He started recording video as Servat offered Tim a small flash drive. Tim tucked it into his pocket as he pulled out a water bottle and unscrewed the cap. Tim got up and walked away. Servat collected the flash drive he'd left on the bench before jogging off in the opposite direction.

Bram itched to drag Tim off the trail.

But that wasn't going to happen.

At least not yet.

*   *   *

“You win.”

Zoe looked up, but Mercer was hiding behind sunglasses. If that wasn't suspicious enough he tossed her cell phone onto the bed next to her. She had to scoop it up fast before Harley got ahold of it. The parrot squawked at her. Mercer held out his arm. Harley stepped up without hesitation.

“I don't get it,” Zoe said as she stared at the cell phone. What had always been such a part of her life was now revealed in a new light.

Privilege. An everyday right that she'd taken for granted.

Mercer put Harley in his cage and checked the door lock twice before he turned back to face her.

“We want cooperation. You need to feel like a member of the team.”

“All right. Makes sense.”

He'd crossed his arms over his chest “Does it, Zoe?”

Her pride started to rear its head. She fought to contain it, craving information more than the need to blow off steam. She swallowed her temper.

“Explain.” It was only a single word, but it was better than taking a dig at him.

“Explain what?”

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and faced him. Sensation rippled down her skin. She really sort of hated the reaction but the bed held too many fresh memories to ignore.

“What … you want me to do.” She held the cell phone up. “I don't understand the rules. Explain them.”

“The intel is set to be exchanged. It will be a hard hand turnover. We need that transaction to happen while you are in custody.”

Understanding dawned instantly. “Got it.”

“So … keep your head down.”

“Why give this back to me?” she asked. “Sounds to me like you don't want me to use it.”

“That's right. Maybe I'm giving you what you say you want, to see if you start whining about something else instead of accepting the facts.” He grunted. “Maybe I'm just tired of sleeping handcuffed to you.” He turned around and disappeared down the hallway.