Chapter Two
Eric Spartan reviewed the latest intel he’d received on the young lady he had been trying to find for fourteen years. At first, he hadn’t been sure she even existed or that their initial findings hadn’t been flawed since there had been no trace of her. He had been patient, however, and looked out for any trace that someone else had discovered his prize. Over the years there had not even been a whisper of her or the product.
It was her talent that had drawn his interest first. There wasn’t a secret in the world he couldn’t uncover or didn’t have access to. And after reading this last report, he was more certain than ever that he had finally found what his men had missed years before. Imani St. John had been originally known as Imani Thomas.
He deserved this victory after being cheated so soundly by the man he’d thought was his friend, a man closer to him than his own brother. But that bastard had cheated him with lies and withholding information that had rightfully been his. He had had the nerve to pass judgment on him, to tell him that he wasn’t worthy to have access to such powerful data. Eric was elated to have finally found John’s protégé and daughter.
Now the wait was over. Some would say that the young lady was innocent of all crimes. However, Eric knew better. No one emerging from that litter box was innocent. And by her very actions, she had proven yet again that these people could not be trusted. Their guileless features hid a dark soul, souls even darker than his own. They knew things, made things, and hid things that were powerful weapons. It was them who were not worthy to have this data. Who gave her the right to decide who was worthy? Her father had done the same, and look where he ended up. She was due some comeuppance.
Eric wasn’t worried about his ability to take back what was his. Unlike the last time, when he’d become impatient and played his hand too violently. Regrettably, he’d killed his target before retrieving the relevant information, but this time he would use leverage to bring the young lady to him. It was quite a pity that he would have to get his hands dirty this time though. No way could he trust this precious cargo to hired guns. This time he had the power to enforce his will. It helped greatly that he had secured support necessary to not only fund his project, but he now also had resources to impose his will. No, this time he would show the world his dominance, and she was going to return what was rightfully his.
His name was announced, and he walked out to greet the thousands of people that had come to hear him. The screams of excitement and roars of approval were like shots of adrenaline. This was the kind of adulation that was his due.
***
Imani knew she shouldn’t have contacted Sarah’s guardian, but she hated seeing Sarah so upset. When Sarah told her that her guardian had gotten shot in an ambush in Afghanistan, she had been pissed on Sarah’s behalf. Apparently, he’d tried to save his men and had taken six bullets for his efforts. However, while he’d walked out of there, with mortal injuries that would’ve brought any other man down, the terrorists who had come after them hadn’t been so lucky. He’d fought like his Viking warriors before him, saved most of his men that day, killed the terrorists, and had passed out as soon as they’d reached the US Army base.
Imani had met him one time before, and she hadn’t been ready for the maelstrom of emotions he’d invoked in her. With his dirty blond hair, turquoise jewel-color eyes, olive skin from his hours in the harsh sun, and a rugged square jaw that fit perfectly with his brooding demeanor, she’d been hooked on sight. The harsh scar on his face had done nothing to deter her. He was a big man, big like his Viking ancestors, with a massive muscular upper body and trunk-like thighs that made all of her feminine bits electrify and ignite. And then she’d heard his sexy southern drawl, and the fight, if you could’ve called it that, had gone out of her. She was crushin’ big time.
Imani had no time for a love life. She had been too busy fighting her entire life to succeed and be better than everyone in her field. This attraction to the colonel completely blindsided her.
As a woman, she’d had to work extra hard as a mechanical and aerospace engineer to be taken seriously and advance in her career. And being a black woman had made it even more difficult. Her parents, who were both Islanders, her mom from Jamaica and her dad from Trinidad, had met at university and had migrated to the United States upon graduation. Her mom had risen through the ranks of her law firm to become a professor at Harvard Law. And her dad had been a physicist, who worked for the US government in a top-secret capacity. He’d never spoken about his work when he was at home. However, they had all known that their dad did some important research.
With six children, their household had been loud, boisterous, and happy. Imani had been the youngest of her siblings and the fourth girl. She thought about that now and smiled at how much she’d hated sleeping with her sisters. She quickly sobered on the realization that her irritation at having to sleep with her older sister had probably saved her life that night. She fingered the locket her father had given her as her heart clenched with the pain of her loss.
Given that no one from her mother’s or father’s sides of the family had come forward to take her in out of fear of the unknown assailants, the government, on the insistence of her father’s best friend, had placed her in boarding schools under a new identity. Imani was the name her parents had given her, but St. John was a play on her father’s first name, John. She’d grown up with no one to spend her birthdays, Christmases, or any holidays with.
Imani had thought that if she excelled in school that somehow she’d escape the horrors of her memories, or at least make her parents proud. However, although she had performed at near genius status, it didn’t help in the least; she remembered that night as if it had happened yesterday. Imani doubled her efforts. And while it resulted in her graduating college by the age of eighteen, being headhunted by an aviation company with a lucrative contract with the US government, and then getting a masters and doctorate two and a half years later, she had had no time for a man in her life. Her infatuation with Colt had come as a shock, and it had been at first difficult for her to be restrained in her response to him. She’d lost everyone she’d loved. There was no way she’d lose him too.
To deal with her fear of him being hurt in combat, she’d built him the one and only weapon she’d ever made. The gun was engineered to be a cross between his favorite SIG assault rifle and a hand-held Glock. She had made special bullets for the gun and had added a laser capability. The gun was as badass as its owner, Imani had thought at the time. She also made a bulletproof jacket for him. She had had the package, which was addressed to him, included in one of the many shipments her company made to the Pentagon. Every time she saw him on TV, he always had the gun on him. It made her feel close to him.
The communication between them had started as a letter she’d sent to explain his gift, and he’d replied in a letter thanking her for the weapon and jacket. Imani had replied to that letter, and they’d never stopped writing each other until six months ago. Right from the start, their letters had seemed private, and she hadn’t told Sarah about them. She told herself many times that her fascination with him had to be “daddy issues.” She didn’t dare let herself think there was a chance in hell of her feelings being taken seriously or that they would be reciprocated. Not likely to happen once he realized who she was. She wasn’t his type. He only dated white women. She’d never heard of him with any woman outside of his race. Sarah would have said so. She seemed to know every woman Colt had ever dated. If she wasn’t so desperate for the information herself, Imani would have thought Sarah’s knowledge of her ward’s sex life creepy.
Now sitting next to her friend in the Italian restaurant, after Colt insisted she come to celebrate his ward’s achievement, felt like a betrayal.
Knowing how protective Sarah was about her guardian, Imani knew that Sarah wouldn’t appreciate Imani’s not-so innocent feelings for him. The car ride over had been the fulfillment of one of her most frequent fantasies to
simply be close to him. The combination of the leather interior, the close confines that forced them to be inches apart, and his male scent permeating the air made her feel as though she was in a sensual orgy of all things Colt. She loved it and once again ignored the voice of reason that told her he was not for her.
“Imani, why were you trying to drive up to Chicago tonight?” Justin asked from the other side of the table. “What’s in Chicago?”
Even though it had been Justin who asked the question, it seemed that everyone at the table had stopped speaking to hear her response.
“My home and job are in Chicago,” Imani said quietly.
“Wow, congratulations!” Justin’s wife exclaimed. “Smart girl. You’re all set right out of college. That’s amazing.”
Everyone around the table congratulated her as well.
Colt simply stared at her with the same hooded silent regard he’d been giving her ever since they sat at the table about an hour before. No matter who he was speaking to or what was happening around them, he seemed to always keep her in his sights. That alone had her in a constant state of hyperawareness of him.
Imani laughed hesitantly. “I think there has been some misunderstanding.”
“I thought your home was in Jamaica,” Colt murmured.
“Jamaica has never been my home. My mother was Jamaican, and my father, Trinidadian. We used to visit Jamaica and Trinidad every year until I was eight years old,” Imani told him. “However, I have been living and working in Chicago for the past two years. I work for a small up-and-coming aerospace company as a mechanical and aerospace engineer.”
“What?” Colt stared at her with a puzzled expression on his face.
Imani hoped like hell that he didn’t make the connection, but she knew she was pressing her luck.
“Imani was here at Cornell doing her doctorate, Colt. She has been commuting back and forth to Chicago during the four years it took to get her second undergrad degree in physics and masters and doctorate in engineering.”
Imani wanted to smile at her friend’s unwavering pride in her accomplishments. Sarah was probably the only one besides herself who cared.
“That’s impressive, Imani.” Justin smiled.
Colt looked as though he was proud of her as well.
“Don’t admire me too much. I did it mainly because I had nothing better to do with my time.” Imani smiled to appear nonchalant. All her life people had treated her like she was a freak of nature when she’d only tried to honor her parents’ legacy. They’d both been brilliant individuals in their chosen professions.
“Colt has a weapon that came from a small aerospace company in Chicago. You said your company works for the government. Which company do you work for? Could it have been someone from your company?” Justin asked suddenly.
Imani was stunned that he’d made such a huge leap. “Our company makes weapons, but that’s not my area. You’d have to ask someone from the weapons department. I build engines and some interesting machines, but no weapons.”
“There are many at the Pentagon still hoping to find the artisan who made my gun and jacket,” Colt said quietly.
“Someone made a weapon for you?” Sarah asked in surprise.
“Someone made me a weapon and bulletproof jacket.” Colt shrugged. “And I have no idea why I was the recipient of such a gift. It was tailor-made for me, fingerprint identification and all. I have no idea how that’s possible without me ever meeting the person.”
“You take too much risk, man,” Matthew complained. “That’s why they made your ass a colonel in the first place so you didn’t have to do that shit anymore. Thank God someone made you a bulletproof vest. You don’t know how to stay behind protective guards.”
Colt shrugged.
Imani wasn’t going to admit to Colt or his family or to anyone that she’d made his weapon and jacket. To do that would reveal her infatuation with him and the reason for creating his gifts. No way was she going to tell them that she’d made those items to protect the man she loved. Concentrating on finishing the filet mignon on her plate, Imani listened as Colt explained to his family the unique features of the gun. The men were awed by the concept of a custom-made gun that could transform into a tactical Glock, an AR-15 assault weapon, a laser, and a double-barrel shotgun.
The car ride over had only made her infatuation deeper. Neither of them had voiced their thoughts about the intensity of their attraction. The air was thick with sexual tension, but they both pretended not to be aware of it. She couldn’t understand it and was terrified to find out what he thought, given his aversion to the age gap between them. So, they’d sat in silence during the drive to the restaurant. He kept her close with a palm at the small of her back as they walked into the restaurant and then made his family shift around the seating until he had her seated on his right side and Sarah on his left.
Imani had no idea what his family thought of his behavior, but it seemed that nothing she said or did dissuaded him in the least. She attempted to exchange her seat with his mother, and even his mother didn’t try to go against his wishes. Throughout the night, he touched her frequently, the back of her hand, her shoulder, and sometimes even her hair. He seemed fascinated by the curly dark locks.
Imani wondered if he realized his effect on her or even what he was doing. Did he know that he was doing nothing to defuse her simmering desire? Instead, his every touch, his soft words when he spoke to her directly, and his continuous heated looks only stoked her awareness of him further. If she’d been crushing on just a photo and things Sarah had told her about him, after having met him, kissed him, and touched him, Imani knew there wasn’t a hope in hell she’d get over her desire for him any time soon. Daddy issues or not.
“Colt…” Sarah swallowed nervously and brought everyone’s attention to her. “This may be a good time to tell you that I am moving to Chicago with Imani.”
Colt stilled, and Imani was almost afraid he would yell at Sarah right there in front of everyone. However, he surprised her with his soft reply. “No.” His voice was soft, but final.
“Colt? I’m an—”
Colt interrupted her as though she hadn’t spoken. “You’re workin’ in the family law firm, and you begin there on Mondee.”
“I’m an adult, Colt. I think I can make my own decisions on what is best for my future.”
“An adult usually pays their own damn bills. An adult woulda discussed this with her guardian and not dumped it on ‘em in the middle of a fuckin’ restaurant.” He spoke in a slow southern accent.
However, Sarah was not immune to the forcefulness of his words.
And Imani was not immune to Colt’s sexy Southern drawl.
“Colt…” Sarah tried again.
“Not another fuckin’ word about this tonight. I’ll speak to both y’all”—he indicated both Sarah and Imani—“in the mornin’.”
Imani raised an eyebrow at his demand. She didn’t bother correcting his assumption that she’d still be in town by morning. Her trip to Chicago may have been delayed, but she had every intention of leaving tonight. She looked across the table to Sarah, who was trying to capture her eyes. Sarah wanted her to challenge her guardian for her. Ah hell!
“Colonel, Sarah and I—”
“We’re not talkin’ about this tonight, Imani,” Colt gritted out.
“But you said you admired Imani’s independence and the fact that she’s done so much on her own. I am independent too. I can do this!” Sarah hissed when it appeared that no one would come to her rescue.
“What I think about what Imani does has nothin’ to do with you. Not another word,” Colt said harshly as Sarah started to speak again.
Imani sat quietly for a few minutes as they all dug into their food, no one daring to challenge Colt. Her compliance wasn’t long though. Following his orders blindly went against every independent and feminist bone in her body. It’s best he learned now that I don’t do blind obedience
or accept any man speaking to me as though I don’t have a brain.
“Sarah, I think you need to have a conversation with your guardian.” Imani stood. “Thank you all for dinner and for helping us celebrate. Thank you. Now I need to collect my car.”
“I’ll take you to your car tomorrow,” Colt dismissed. “Finish your dinner.”
Imani moved around the table and gave Sarah a hug goodbye. “Thanks again,” she murmured before turning to leave.
Colt grabbed her hand.
That stopped her in her tracks. She turned a cool gaze on him. “Do you really want to have a tug-o-war in the middle of this restaurant, when you know damn well you have no right to stop me?”
“Since your parents aren’t here to talk some sense into you, I think it’s my duty to do so.”
“That’s noble of you. Misguided, but noble. If it was possible for my parents to be here, they would have been here.” Imani smiled to lessen the sting of her words, as she wanted desperately to tell him that the last thing she needed from him was to be thought of as his daughter. “I appreciate your concern, Colonel, but I have to go.” She pulled her hand from his.
He seemed stunned by her resistance to his authority, and it gave her just enough time to make her escape.
Everyone at the table stared at her in astonished silence as she left.
Imani was feeling very proud of herself. She was walking away without falling on her face and not spazzing out over Colt. As she started to climb into the waiting taxi that would take her back to her car, Colt suddenly came out of nowhere, grabbed her arm, and spun her around.
Secret Obsession Page 3