Stripped Defenseless (15 page)

Jarred
was quicker than she’d anticipated. He grabbed her arm and flung her around.

“Let
go!”

“Give
me my goddamn gun, you bitch.” His free hand swung up and made potent contact
with her cheek.

This
is what Ava had warned her about.

Poppy
brought the gun up and pulled back on the trigger. “Do you want to die today?”
she asked him with all the authority she could muster.

He
dropped her arm. “Pop, that’s not funny. Give me that thing.”

“No.
I’m in charge now. Get over there by the desk.” She clasped the gun with both
hands and aimed at his head.

Slowly,
he backed up, and she felt more powerful than ever.
This
is what it felt
like to be in control.

“Throw
me your jacket.”

He
shrugged off the leather coat and reluctantly tossed it at her feet. “You going
to pull this shit after all I’ve done for you?”

“Sorry.”
She shrugged and picked the jacket off the floor. “I want more than a job at a
strip joint.” She walked backward. “See ya,” she whispered and left him there.

Stumbling
only once on her spiked heels, she raced back across the club. She slipped the
oversized jacket on, grasping tightly to the heavy weapon in her hands that hid
underneath the long sleeve.

But
she stopped in her tracks when she saw the backroom door wide open with Zack no
where in sight. Dean, one of the bouncers, stood by with a grin on his face.
“Sorry, Pop. It’s goes against the fire codes to block these doors.”

“Fuck
you, Dean.” She brought the gun out and waved it at him.

He
jumped back, and Poppy laughed. She liked being in charge. Too bad she didn’t
have the time to stick around and have some fun.

Zack
with his shiny, black leather case was getting away.

* * * * *

Ava
held her breath, expecting to see Zack walk in Kade’s front door. Instead, it
was a tall, thin brunette with big, beautiful brown eyes and deep red lips. She
wore a short red leather mini skirt with black thigh-high boots, a
charcoal-colored stretchy turtleneck. And in her arms was a sleek black cat.

She
looked angry as she stomped in the door and held Kade’s stare. “You know what
I’m going to say.”

“Yes,
I know,” Kade answered. “I couldn’t help it.” He nodded toward Ava, and the
woman turned her head and gave Ava the once over.

“Who’s
that?” she asked Kade as if Ava wasn’t in the same room.

“It’s
a long story.”

“Is
that your target, Kade? Did you bring her home with you?” The woman let the cat
drop to the floor, bending over to showcase her long legs.

Ava
felt smaller and less visible with every word they spoke. She wasn’t a target.
She was a human being. “Who are you?” she asked the woman.

“This
is Lucy,” Kade answered but didn’t meet either of their eyes. “Lucy, this is
Ava.”

“I’m
his girlfriend,” Lucy said, sticking her chin out. “And his overworked
cat-sitter. Which, by the way,” she shot back to Kade, “I’m not doing anymore.
I’m just as busy with missions as you are.”

A
rush of heat crawled up into Ava’s cheeks. He had a girlfriend. What a great
way to top off the day. Suddenly, the threat of seeing Zack was becoming less
and less of an issue as her mind clouded with both anger and unwanted jealousy.

“She’s
not my girlfriend,” Kade mumbled while looking at Ava. He shook his head and
turned toward the kitchen.

“Oh,
excuse me. I’m his lover.” Lucy threw a grin Ava’s way. “From the expression on
your face, I’d guess you are, too.”

“No.”
Ava pushed a lock of her mussed hair behind her ear. “I’m nothing to him. I
just want to leave. He kidnapped me.” She thought maybe this woman could help
her escape, but by the way Lucy rolled her eyes, it didn’t look like she cared
much. But what the hell? Ava gave it one more try. “He kidnapped me against my
will and brought me here. You have to help me.”

Ava
watched as Kade pulled a box of cat food from the cupboard and poured some into
a dish that rested against the wall. He didn’t seem concerned at all.

Lucy
winked at Ava, walked up behind Kade, and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Why
don’t you let her go, honey?”

He
peeled the woman’s hands from him and forced them back to her side. “You know
why, Luce. Don’t play stupid.”

She
laughed and swerved toward Ava. “Did you give him that nice little cut on his
lip? I bet he deserved it.”

“Time
for you to leave, Luce. You’ve had your fun.”

“Not
nearly enough.” She walked over to Ava and swept her hand across her slightly
bruised cheek. “Did he do this to you?”

Ava
didn’t answer. Lucy’s up-close beauty was breathtaking, and her scent was heady
and sexy. Her skin and makeup were flawless.

She
was the perfect woman. And she was Kade’s. Ava fought the unwanted jealousy
burning inside of her, attempting to turn it to anger. Kade was a deceiving,
manipulative asshole.

Lucy
smiled at her, emphasizing her blushed cheeks and full, crimson lips.

Ava
was speechless and fully aware of her own lack of makeup. She felt like a
complete and utter mess. And she was sure anything she said at that moment
wouldn’t be enough to make up for it.

“Kade?”
Lucy said, not taking her eyes off Ava. “I thought you were against striking
women? I mean with what happened with your mother and—”

“I
didn’t hit her.” He strode across the room with heavy footsteps, stopping in
front of the two women. “You need to leave.”

“Why?”
Lucy’s smirk was pure evil. “Want to beat her again? Like father, like—”

“Shut
up.” Kade’s jaw visibly tightened. “I’d never hurt Ava. I’m in love with her.”

“What?”
both woman said in unison.

Ava
felt the blood rush from her face as she grew faint. She stared up at the
distraught expression Kade held as he closed his eyes and shook his head.

“Never
mind.” He shoved his hand through his hair. “Luce, you need to go. Okay?”

Ava
took a step away from them. Clearly, he hadn’t meant to say he was in love with
her. And if he had, it was just another deception. He wanted to get this woman,
who was causing him obvious grief out of his home, and his bungling words were
simply a tactic.

“Are
you kidding me?” Lucy narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re in love with her? She’s
your target, Kade.”

“I
said never mind. Just go. I won’t bother you with the cat anymore.”

“Fuck
the cat. You’ve known this woman for how long?”

Ava
needed to lie down, scream into a pillow, splash cold water on her
face...something. Anything as long as she wasn’t there next to Kade.

Of
course he didn’t love her. It wasn’t possible. He had abducted her so he could
collect money, for God’s sake. How could that ever be confused with love?

As
the pair continued to argue, Ava slipped away into the bathroom. She clicked
the door shut behind her but was frustrated to see there wasn’t a lock on it.
There was just no getting away from that man.

And
everything he represented. Someone she fantasized she could have fallen in love
with. Someone she could have woken up next to every morning for the rest of her
life. Someone who could have saved her from Zack and her past.

But
no. Within the past few hours, Kade had become the exact opposite, and Ava
hated him for deceiving her and for getting her hopes up.

A
surge of loneliness fell like dead weight in the pit of her stomach, and she
tried to shake off the feeling by taking in the room around her. Everything
appeared to be remodeled, contrasting with the rest of the house. Dark blue and
rust-colored slate covered the floor and ran up half the wall where a brownish
tone of paint took over. The bathtub was new, but it looked like a vintage
clawfoot tub. Its delicacy and elegance drew her near. Kade didn’t seem like a
man who bothered with baths but rather used the standup shower in the corner of
the room.

Feeling
the urge to pee, Ava pulled her pants down, sat on the toilet, and listened to
the raised voices in the other room.

The
mystery woman was obviously upset over Ava’s presence, and Kade wasn’t backing
down or giving in. He must have really wanted to get paid. He was going through
a lot of trouble for Zack Moreno, making Ava wonder exactly what amount had
been put on her head. And why Kade had brought her to his home rather than
deliver her to Zack’s front door.

She
washed up and turned on the hot water in the tub. The rushing sound was what
she needed to drown out the voices and calm her nerves. As she waited for the
bath to fill, curiosity led her to the mirrored cabinet above the pedestal
sink. It wouldn’t hurt to find out a little more about the man who held her
hostage.

The
two shelves contained the usual hygienic products, but right behind the
deodorant was a familiar brown prescription bottle. She opened it and spilled
out four pills onto her hand. They were the exact same pink and white capsules
Kade had fed to her.

These
might come in handy.

She
stashed them in her jean pocket and hid the bottle behind a full bottle of hair
gel. Maybe she’d get through this after all now that she had ammunition.

With
new confidence, she undressed and slid into the warm bath.

* * * * *

Kade
drew in a deep breath after Lucy slammed the door behind her. She was pissed
off, of course, but he knew she’d get over it. She was a strong woman and their
relationship had been based only on sex. He’d made that clear from the
beginning, and she never questioned it until tonight.

His
only regret was telling her about his parents after a few too many beers. How
his father had beaten his mother until her last breath. How Kade wished every
day of his life to have been able to protect her from his father’s unforgivable
sins. Little had he known Lucy would slap him in the face with his drunken
confessions, making him admit his love for Ava.

The
look on Ava’s face had been horrifying, to say the least. Pale, frightened. As
if it was her against the world and Kade was just another obstacle to overcome.

Damn
it. He didn’t want to be her enemy. He wanted more. He wanted her to forgive
him.

Raven,
his ten-year-old cat, purred at his feet, wrapping her body around his ankle,
so Kade reached down to pick her up. The cat had belonged to his mother before
she died. It was the only living link he had to hold on to.

His
attention went to the steam rolling out from under the bathroom door. The woman
liked her baths hot.

So
did Kade. Well, he’d get used to the heat if it meant being entangled with her
naked body. The image had him taking steps toward the bathroom. He couldn’t
resist her, although every sensible bone in his body told him to stop and leave
her alone. She deserved better than him or any other asshole who desired her.

If
only he had the power to erase her from his thoughts, but it was useless. He
wanted her. Every part of her, not just a piece. And after the way she’d taken
him in her mouth and so eagerly made him come, there had to be some part of her
that wanted him, too.

Lord,
he hoped so because at that moment nothing was more important than the sight of
her wet, bare body in his tub. He turned the handle and eased the door open.

Chapter Eight

Ava
grabbed the washcloth draped over the towel rack and covered her sensitive
breasts. Damn her body for wanting something it couldn’t have. She cupped her
hand over her mound to both hide and to tame the pulses that were growing
stronger as the door knob turned.

Kade’s
large body entered the room and seemed to take up all the space. The cat was in
his arms, but he gently let it drop to the floor as he sat down at the edge of
the tub. His eyes swept over her body and met her stare.

“Shouldn’t
you be watching the surveillance?” she asked, hoping he’d take the hint and
leave.

“I
set it for the alarm to go off.” He pointed to a speaker near the ceiling.

“Your
girlfriend leave?” Her voice sounded bitter even to her own ears.

He
grinned at her. “She’s not my girlfriend, Ava. She’s nothing to me.” His hand
dropped and landed on her bent knee where his fingers lightly circled. “Can I
join you?”

She
tried to force herself to say no but, “What do you think?” was all that came
out, and her voice wasn’t at all as harsh as she wanted it to be.

He
leaned over and began untying his boots.

“It’s...it’s
not a good idea, Kade,” she managed to say.

He
slipped off his boots, and they thunked to the floor. Then he stood and removed
his shirt, showing her his broad chest, his lean, ribbed stomach. Two cabled
muscles arrowed down into his pants. Ava knew too well where they led.