Desire & Deception (Entangled Ignite) (9 page)

Helplessness reached across the years. In a matter of hours, she’d trampled every accomplishment she’d strived for. She’d buried her mother and graduated high school within months of each other. Then struggled to work while trying to earn her degree. It took her three jobs and a lot of sacrifice to buy her house. But she finally had everything she’d dreamed of as a kid. Now she was starting over, completely dependent on Kris for shelter, safety, food, water, medication, warmth, and companionship. Pretty soon she’d be out of bath tissue, just one more thing he’d have to provide for her.

Dealing with him plucked every raw nerve. She flat out didn’t get him. He jumped from feeling sorry for her to intimidating her to looking like he wanted to drag her to bed. Instinct warned her he was dangerous. Big, scary thugs backing off from him confirmed it. She was better off with him being a thug. Those men never failed to meet her expectations. They just took what they wanted and left, a lesson she’d learned with the only boy she’d ever believed in.

It was the Kris she’d woken up with this morning that gave her cause for alarm. Soft, warm, gentle, and caring wasn’t as easy to sidestep. She’d dreaded what would happen last night, especially with him staying. But he’d held her, reassuring her when the conversations she’d overheard had brought her close to panic. Was it all an act? Could a man like that really exist?

I give up.

With little else to do, she finally unwrapped the cold burger and dined by streetlight. A ping echoed off the door. Tessa put down a half-eaten fry. Metal screeched as the slide lock moved. Fear widened her eyes. She swallowed the mouthful she was chewing. The door rattled against the metal frame, tapping out a wild beat.

She scampered off the bed, looking for anything she could use as a weapon. The room had been stripped. Even the toilet had no seat, tank cover, or flush handle.

Who’d be trying to get in? Cruz? Oscar? Her knowledge of self-defense wouldn’t get her far. Not without the element of surprise.

Her gaze swept the room once more. There was nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

She was out of options.

A shower of light pings battered the door. The knot at her shoulders eased and she exhaled, glad to discover it was nothing more treacherous than a strong wind.

Relieved, she turned to the window, pulling it closed just as a dust devil flung a curtain of dirt straight into her face.

…

Kris nudged open the lock to let himself in.
Damn. She can’t reach the cord.
He undressed in the muted darkness, peering at the bed. Something was off. The bundle on the mattress wasn’t Tessa. He went still, listening to the surroundings, preparing for an assault.

Even breathing cut into his conscious. He stepped closer, drawing back the sheet. Tessa groaned, wedging herself further between the oversized pillow and mattress. Kris exhaled, his shoulders sagging. “
Shhh,
it’s me.”

She curled her legs under her and tried to burrow deeper.

Kris pried her arm from around the pillow, despite another groan, then tossed it against the headboard before settling in. She twitched. She moved. She shifted. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“Getting under the shirt.”

Jesus, woman.
His cock tightened against his zipper. Just what he needed, an image of her nude under the sheet.

She whimpered.

He sobered, focusing on her weak complaint. “What’s wrong?”

“My ribs.”

He locked his jaw, cursing Oscar all over again. “Turn over.”

She stalled. “I sleep on my right side.”

“You’re also hurt on this side,” he reasoned.

She scoffed at his suggestion and dragged the sheet around her.

“Fine. Suffer.” He relaxed. Hopefully, he’d get more than a couple hours sleep tonight.

“How can you not be cold?”

Or not.

Personally, he preferred the cool night air, but she didn’t have much protection against the chill. Resigned, his eyelids slid open to stare at the ceiling. “Turn over and move up.”

“The damn pillow’s too high. My neck hurt all day.”

He followed the outline to her shoulder, working the tense muscles. At the base of her skull, he switched to small circles. His index and middle finger kept firm pressure, moving up into damp locks. “You showered?”

“I rinsed off.”

“That’s why you’re cold.”

“A windstorm kicked up earlier, covering everything in dirt, including me. I got a face-full when I went to close the window.”

He moved past her neck, draping his arm over her shoulder while working the stiffness out of her spine. He studied her shadowed features as she lay next to him in silent resignation. She looked innocent and fragile in the dark. Part of him wanted to set her at ease, but he wasn’t about to jeopardize the mission he’d been working on for years. They’d just have to deal with the situation for a couple more days.

“That’s good. Thanks.”

“Go on,” he coaxed. “Turn around.”

“Oh Lord,” she mumbled in English. He grinned. She was slow to move, but she complied. He scooted closer, tucking in behind her. Guilt nagged at him when her cold back touched
his chest. She shivered against him.
Maybe I shouldn’t have thrown out the bedspread
. He tossed her hair over the pillow. “Put your feet between my legs and cross your arms.” She shivered again. His arm went around her, settling over hers to bring her close.

Now he had to convince his cock this was nothing more than sharing body heat.

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Fuck.”

Kris sat downstairs in the vault, a windowless room where they stored anything of value. He stared at the stacks in front of him and slouched, tired after yet another sleepless night.

Twice now he’d tried counting the money from last night’s deal. Both times his mind wandered to Tessa and the fact she lay upstairs wearing nothing but his shirt and a smile. Well, not quite a smile. This morning, her sleepy eyes held a hint of sorrow. Her mood tugged at something deep inside him.
Why do I care?

Last night he’d stood by Oscar, knowing the guy was a ball of nerves. Ida’s call couldn’t have been timed better. Oscar heard the exchange, enough to avoid any suspicion of deception. To them, Tessa would continue to be the plaything hidden away for his exclusive pleasure.

He could only wish.

Hours had dragged by as he thought of the half-empty bed awaiting him, and the woman who occupied it. She shouldn’t spend so much time in his head. And his cock shouldn’t jump to attention every time he thought about her. Somewhere along the way, being with her had turned intimate. And damned if he didn’t like it. He kept reminding himself she could easily be another double-crossing drug dealer, not that his gut would accept that.

Again, his mind shifted to the hours she spent locked in, waiting. He’d check the convenience store for a book or a crossword puzzle. Hmm, considering her mastery of the language, a Sudoku tablet would probably be the best the place could do.

Giving up, he stuffed the money in the duffle bags.

Pancakes might cheer her up.
He went to a drawer and withdrew enough money to pick up food for everyone.

“Be back later with breakfast.”

Felipe sat back, brow furrowed. Kris turned away and grinned. Nothing could have cheered him up more than making Felipe wonder what he was up to.

…

Kris grabbed one of the soft, oversized towels provided by the hotel. He ran it across his hair then down his torso before wrapping it around his hips. Padding across the room, he picked up this month’s burner phone and entered the code to unlock the screen. The message was quick and to the point. “I need you. M.”

He’d expected to hear from her, but he’d hoped Ida would come through first. There’d be no putting off the call, better to take care of it now or he’d never hear the end of it. Monica, his cousin, could be relentless, so he had to keep control of the conversation.

The phone only rang for a fraction of a second. “Hello?” Monica’s anxious voice came across the line, muffled with congestion.

“Good morning,
prima,
” he greeted her with a cheerful tone. “How a—”

“Thank St. Anthony!” She mumbled the Stations of the Cross, oblivious to the fact that she’d just cut him off. “I’m so sorry to call you, but I
desperately
need your help.” She rushed through the words then came to an abrupt stop. “I’m sorry,
primo
, good morning.”

“What do you need, Moni? Is everyone alright?” he asked with concern.

“The family is ok, but I have a friend that I can’t find.” She quickly went on to give him details from Saturday night. Thinking back on her timeline, they’d missed each other at the club by less than an hour.

“Moni, it’s been three days and you just noticed these people are missing?” he chastised.

“Noooo!” Exasperated, she corrected the timeline. “It was late Saturday night, or I guess it was early Sunday morning.”

Instead of diminishing any possible scolding, Kris piled on additional censure to keep her from gaining the upper hand. “Why would you leave two Americans on their own in the middle of the night? Can they make themselves understood? Maybe they’re just lost somewhere.”

“Tessa insisted I shouldn’t wait. She was tired and ready to call it night. We’ve already checked every hospital and clinic in the area, in case she fell asleep at the wheel and had an accident—God forbid.” Monica finally burst into tears. Kris’s grip tightened on the phone. He’d expected concern or anxiety from his level-headed cousin, but not this. “I’m such an idiot,” she said between sobs. “
Pap
á
has been yelling at me since yesterday about leaving her, but Tessa knew where we were. She was only going to give Heather until two and go back to the hotel.” She took a deep breath. “But they never made it.”

Kris exhaled loudly. Guilt hammered on him every time she said Tessa’s name. Knowing Moni, she felt responsible for everything that had gone wrong. He could easily end this now and tell her the truth. But his assignment kept him from disclosing any details. Hell, he shouldn’t even be talking to her.

Feeling like the worst ass in creation, he steered the conversation in a different direction. “You know, some of the women that come to enjoy our country tend to let their hair down. Maybe your friend picked up a handsome devil somewhere, and she’s tangled up in the sheets with him. It’s been known to happen.”

“Tessa isn’t like that.” She gave a teary sniff. “Heather’s like that, but not Tessa.” She blew her nose. “When she didn’t show for lunch, I just knew something was terribly wrong. She’s not answering the phone. They aren’t at the hotel, the hospitals, or any police station.” The sobs returned, tugging at his conscience. “She’s my closest friend. I told her to keep her eyes open, but what if someone took her? Heather’s got a big mouth. What if she pissed off the wrong people? Please, if you hear anything, will you let me know? I don’t care what time it is,
please
. You’re my only chance to find the girls if they were taken.”

The muscle in his cheek twitched. He never could say no to Monica. Though in reality, he still didn’t know what Tessa and Heather were up to. If they were involved in buying drugs, he’d have to leave them to the local authorities. They’d end up rotting in a Mexican jail, living in squalor, or negotiating with depraved guards just to stay alive.
And if I’m wrong?
His instincts had never failed him, but he’d had trouble reading Tessa since the beginning. “I can make a few calls tonight,” he grudgingly agreed. “Do you have a way to reach their families? If the cartel has them, it may take some money to get them home.”

“I’ll talk to the hotel concierge, see if they have an emergency contact number for Heather.
Pap
á
closed the office. He’s at the bank now getting money in case you find Tessa.” Kris stood frozen while she sped through her explanation, hoping he wouldn’t change his mind. “He didn’t like Heather, but if push comes to shove, I’m sure he’ll go back.”

Shit just got serious. A maelstrom of disbelief, anger, and concern engulfed him. His uncle was a dedicated physician who’d closed the office exactly twice. Once to collect him at the hospital and deal with his parents’ funerals. The second time to fly to the U.S. and get him back on track after he’d floundered dangerously close to dropping out. Both times were serious
family
issues.
Shit
. Who exactly was Tessa Marshal? What made her so important? Every new piece of information added more puzzle pieces to the table. Most of them leading back to Moni and the family. Doubt pushed to the forefront. Moni wasn’t a fool, neither were his aunt and uncle.
I hope to God you aren’t being taken for a ride
. Years dealing with lowlife individuals made him doubt Tessa would risk her life to keep the cartel from tracking Monica. Could it really be that simple? She was protecting someone she cared about? But then what about the stolen shipment?

“What else can I do?”

He swallowed hard. “Get hold of their families and explain what happened. Have them report the girls missing. Call the embassy and do the same. Go back and retrace their steps. Maybe somebody saw something. Make sure to take copies of pictures you can leave wherever you go. If you have any pictures from the night they disappeared, those would be best. Are you getting this?”

“Yes! Of course,” she said breathlessly. “I’m writing it all down.”

“Get a new number, one that can’t be traced back to you. Write it down on the back of the picture along with the name of the girls, their description, and whatever they were wearing that night.” He waited while she finished jotting that down. Hopefully, the task list would keep her busy. “You want people to contact you, but you’re better off if they don’t have your personal information. You’ll have to toss the phone once this is over. And if you hear from anyone, you call me to follow up.” The last thing he needed was for her to follow a lead on her own.

“I understand,” she said.

His heart went out to her. Moni was the one kink in his armor. He felt like an ass letting her worry when he should be there for support, if not to safely deliver Tessa. Ugh. He could almost picture walking Tessa into his aunt’s house, wearing nothing but his shirt. Then having to explain how he had to treat her in front of the crew. Yeah, that’d go over real well.

Shuffling pans in the background caught his attention. The unaccustomed longing for his childhood home hit him out of nowhere. “You’re in the kitchen.” He smiled, imagining her in the spacious kitchen with their long-time cook at the stove. “Soledad is fixing breakfast.”

“Yes,” Moni sniffed. “She’s trying to kill me.”

Kris raised a brow, knowing she’d have some quirky explanation.

“I haven’t slept the last two nights, my nerves are stretched thin, my stomach is in knots, and she makes chorizo and egg for breakfast,” she lamented and Kris grinned. “I’m actually hoping for a bad case of heartburn instead of having my stomach explode.”

An image of her exaggerated facial expressions flashed through his mind. Too much time had gone by since he’d spent time with his favorite cousin. He’d come to town Saturday, two days ahead of schedule, so he could slip into her graduation long enough to see her and a few others become doctors. If he hadn’t been keeping tabs, he wouldn’t have ended up at the club trying to round up Heather.

“I feel so guilty. She was here to spend time with me and I left her alone.” She started sobbing all over again. “I was going to get up early Sunday so I could see you…”

Kris closed his eyes, mouthing an obscenity. “I’m sorry I had to cancel.” Somehow, everything to do with Tessa Marshal landed at his feet.

The dark comforter caught his attention, reminding him of the bed he’d slept in last night and the perplexing woman he’d shared it with. She’d gravitated toward him in her sleep. As much as he wanted to touch her, he wouldn’t do it while she was being held. While he doubted they’d ever end up together, she was the first one in a long time he’d considered bringing to his bed.

His body reacted to the image in its usual manner. He frowned, stuck between wanting to roll around in bed with her and throttling her for messing with his family.
I need facts.
Where the hell was Ida? He couldn’t break protocol and reach out to Ida for personal gain. The call would bring questions and complicate an already difficult situation.

“You know, you might be able to get the U.S. interested. One of their political big wigs is coming in for a visit next week. If you make enough noise, the press will be all over two missing Americans. That will pressure the authorities to move on this.”

“I hope so. I’ll never forgive myself if anything happened to her.”

And she might never forgive him if she found out what he was keeping from her. “This will at least get things started,” he assured her. “Call me if you hear from them first.”

“Okay,” she sniffed. “Anything else I should do?”

“Yeah,” he said, trying to make her understand the gravity of the situation, “Pray.”

…

“Hope you’re hungry,” he said coming into the bedroom. A sudden gust sent the door crashing against the wall behind him.

Tessa’s heart fluttered. The yard was a few feet away, unguarded. The rental sat just beyond the stairs. Freedom.

Her eyes met his. He waited, tracking her movements.

Knee. Groin. Neck. A dozen ways to attack. She took a step. He took another. Her pulse hammered against her throat. All the scenarios from yesterday flashed through her mind—as well as the endings.

She stopped, fighting every instinct yelling to escape. Instead, she reached for one of the bags he carried and shuffled away, toward the dresser. The lock clicked behind her. She squeezed her eyes shut, swallowing a trace of regret before she turned, bumping straight into his chest.

Kris wrapped his hand around her arm to steady her. She sidestepped to avoid his boots and ended up cradled against him by a scalding hand at the middle of her back. They were pressed together from the inside of her knee to her flattened breasts. On hand landed at his belt, fingers spread down toward his pocket. Her eyes flitted across the broad expanse of his chest, then up to his face.

Desire, heady and intoxicating, met her gaze. She went weak.
Holy mother
. Every inch of her body was acutely aware of him. Her nostrils filled with his scent, clean male with a hint of subtle cologne. She parted her lips, barely able to breathe. The last time they’d kissed, he’d stared down at her, desire glimmering in those blue eyes, his body naked and aroused, poised to continue what they’d started as a farce.

A shiver ran through her, rousing a mass of wicked sensations. After a long moment of soul-stealing silence, she retrieved her hand and stepped back, swallowing hard. Somehow, she’d managed not to stretch far enough to taste those lips.