Pursuit of the Truth

by K. D. Richards

  A thin chuckle burst from Nadia, her eyes darting between the two men. “This must be a joke.”

  Ryan kept his eyes glued to Parsmons. The set of Parsmons’s jaw left no doubt that his words were no joke.

  “Who am I accused of assaulting?” he asked, even though he was sure he already knew the answer.

  “Michael Dexter. You have the right to remain silent...”

  He didn’t listen to the rest of the Miranda warning. He didn’t need to. He’d have liked to say this was the first time he’d been arrested, but that was far from the case.

  “I’ll hold off handcuffing you until we get outside in deference to Miss Shelton.”

  Nadia, who seemed to have been in a trance since Parsmons started reciting the Miranda warning, came alive. “This isn’t right. Mike assaulted me. Ryan was just defending me.”

  Parsmons’s eyes narrowed. “That’s not how Mr. Dexter tells it. In any case, he filed assault charges, so my hands are tied.”

  “I’ll be okay,” Ryan said. “Call Shawn and tell him what’s happened, please.”

  He wasn’t even sure Nadia heard him.

  Nadia’s nostrils flared as she faced off with Parsmons. “Your hands may be tied, Detective Parsmons, but mine aren’t.”

  * * *

  NADIA MET SHAWN and another West brother, Brandon, at the police station. Brandon noted that having eschewed the security business in favor of the law had come in handy on multiple occasions. A few hours after he’d been arrested, Ryan had been arraigned and released on minimal bail.

  Shawn gave them a ride back to Ryan’s apartment and helped them carry in their bags before leaving them.

  Nadia helped Ryan lower himself slowly onto the sofa, a groan slipping from his lips.

  “How are you feeling? Should I get you a painkiller?”

  “No, I’m fine.”

  “I can’t believe Mike filed charges against you,” Nadia called over her shoulder as she walked into the kitchen. She filled a glass with water and crossed back to Ryan. “I’m so sorry. You’re in this mess because of me.”

  Ryan took the glass. “Don’t apologize to me. I shouldn’t have lost my temper. I embarrassed him, and guys like him lash out whatever way they can when they’re embarrassed.” He took a drink.

  “Well, I won’t let Mike get away with this.”

  He reached for her hand, pulling her down beside him. “Let’s not discuss this right now.”

  She sat beside him and let her head fall to his shoulder. He reached his arm around her and pulled her closer. They’d discussed keeping things on a professional level just yesterday, but right now she didn’t care. Life seemed to be lobbing hand grenades at her at every turn, and she needed to feel his warmth and ensure he knew she was there for him. And if they were truly being honest with themselves, they’d passed professional days ago. She was practically living with him, for goodness’ sake. You couldn’t get more unprofessional than that.

  “You must be tired. You should go rest.” Ryan ran his hand along her arm.

  She laid her hand on his hard chest and felt the beat of his heart. She should be tired, but exhaustion was the furthest thing from her mind. Hyperaware of him next to her, arousal swept through her body.

  “I’m not sure I can,” she said.

  “None of this is your fault,” he replied, misunderstanding her comment.

  “No, but in the last two days you’ve been hospitalized and arrested, all because you’re helping me.”

  He pulled her closer. “You can’t think like that. We’ll figure this out soon. I promise.”

  “It’s hard to think at all right now. Not when all I want to do is this.”

  She ran her hand over his stubbled jaw and covered his mouth with hers.

  Heat crackled between them. She wanted more than just kisses. More than just making out like crazed sixteen-year-olds in his parents’ basement. She wanted him, and his body hardening against her right now proved he wanted her just as much.

  Ryan pulled away, but the lust in his eyes was clear.

  “I want you. I know you’re attracted to me.” She wasn’t usually this forward with a man, but she was tired of holding back.

  “Of course, I am, but I don’t want you to regret anything. Right now your emotions are heightened because of the situation, but when it’s over, I’ll still be a glorified security guard and you’ll still be a hotel heiress.”

  “I’ve wanted you for six quarters.”

  “What?”

  “Our first quarterly meeting about hotel security was six quarters ago. I knew I wanted you that first day. This drama I’m embroiled with now has only made me see how short life is and that I should go for what I want.”

  “And what do you want?”

  “You.”

  She couldn’t remember ever feeling more vulnerable. For a brief moment, she thought he’d pull away again. Then his hand curled around the back of her neck, and his mouth closed over hers.

  The spicy scent of his cologne mingled with the minty taste of his mouth, igniting a passion inside her she’d never experienced before. She wanted to touch every inch of him. She threw one leg over his body, straddling him.

  She wasn’t usually the aggressor when it came to sex, but she wanted to leave no doubt in Ryan’s mind that she wanted to be with him in this way, at this moment.

  She tore at the buttons on his shirt, her mouth never leaving his. He met her urgent fumbling with equal desperation, dragging her shirt over her head.

  There’ll be time for a slower exploration later.

  That this was just the first time of many they’d be together excited her even more. When he closed his mouth over one hard nipple, his hand skimming under the lace edges of her panties, she moaned her encouragement.

  “You are so perfect.” He trailed kisses across her chest, lavishing her second breast with the same attention he’d paid to the first. “You don’t know how many nights I’ve dreamed of doing this. Of touching you. Making love to you.”

  “As many nights as I’ve dreamed of being with you.”

  He slid a finger inside her, and she lost the ability to say anything further. Lost the ability to think about anything other than wanting him inside of her.

  She drew him into a long, deep kiss that sent them both into overdrive.

  She rose to chuck off her jeans and underwear, and he did the same, pulling protection from his wallet before letting his pants fall to the floor. She took the condom from him, rolling it over his arousal slowly before straddling him again.

  He took her face between his hands. “Are you sure?”

  She lowered herself in answer, taking him inside, bearing down until he was completely within her.

  He moaned, bringing a smile to her face. She rotated, and he grasped her hips, thrusting upward. She set the pace, slowing things down with long, slow movements. He skimmed his lips over her neck, to her jaw and back, sending her arousal soaring. Her back arched with the pleasure, and he used the opportunity to capture a nipple between his teeth, stroking it with his tongue.

  “Ryan,” she cried out as raging hot need exploded within her. She moved her hips faster, frantically racing toward the release they both craved.

  Ryan pulled her closer, even as his thrusts grew more hurried, uncontrollable. He claimed her mouth as they climaxed together.

  They stayed locked that way for several minutes, coming down from their explosive lovemaking. It wasn’t until she finally rolled away that she remembered the gash on his side.

  “Oh, I forgot about your injury. I didn’t hurt you, did I?” She ran her hand over his bandage.

  He caught her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed her palm. “Baby, nothing about what we just did hurt.”

  She felt her cheeks heat.

  Ryan pulled her back into hi
s side but angled them so they could look at each other. “Are you okay?”

  She knew what he really asked. Did she regret what they’d done?

  She pressed her body closer to his, her bare breasts pressing against his chest. His arousal swelled, and she fought the desire to touch him.

  “I am so much better than okay.” She smiled a flirty smile. “Want me to show you?”

  His smile was laced with desire. “How about I show you a thing or two,” he said, rising over her and forcing her to lie back on the couch.

  She laughed, then lay back and enjoyed the show.

  Chapter Twelve

  Nadia awoke with a start. It took her a moment to place where she was. Ryan’s bedroom. They’d retreated to his bed after ordering in dinner from the Chinese restaurant on the corner. They made love twice more, exploring each other more fully each time before falling into a sated sleep. But he wasn’t in bed beside her now.

  Shadows danced over the room. She wasn’t sure what had awoken her, but a creak from outside the bedroom set her heart pounding. Something was very wrong.

  A shadow moved at the side of the bed. A hand came down over her mouth before she could scream.

  Her eyes adjusted to the darkness in the room, and Ryan’s face came into focus hovering over the bed.

  “Shh. Roll off the bed, and stay down.”

  She did as he said, her heart thumping in her chest. She wedged herself into the space between the bed and night table.

  Ryan rose and put his back to the wall. She caught a flash of silver in his hand. A gun.

  She barely had time to process what was happening before the door to the bedroom swung open slowly.

  Ryan raised his gun. “Freeze.”

  The figure at the door swung toward Ryan, his gun outstretched.

  Two pops sounded in quick succession.

  She did scream this time, unable to stop the sound from bursting from her throat.

  The man at the door swore. His gun clattered to the floor, and his right hand flew to his left shoulder. He ran from the room.

  Ryan sprinted for the bedroom door. “Don’t move.”

  She didn’t know if she could move even if she’d wanted to. Fear paralyzed her.

  A crash sounded from the other room.

  She couldn’t stay cowering in the corner. Ryan could need help.

  Nadia eyed the gun the intruder had dropped. She didn’t know the first thing about guns—she’d never even touched one before the previous day—but she couldn’t leave Ryan to fend for himself. She grabbed the gun from the floor and raced from the room.

  Ryan and the intruder grappled in the living room. The intruder landed a punch to Ryan’s stomach, sending him doubling over. The man grabbed the Guggenheim book from the table next to the sofa and swung it at Ryan, catching him on the side of the head. Ryan fell onto the sofa, stunned.

  “Stop!” She pointed the gun at the intruder.

  Blue eyes held her in a sinister gaze. The man took a step in her direction.

  She kept the gun outstretched, but the quiver in her hands increased to a tremor.

  The intruder paused, his gaze traveling to her shaky hands. That he questioned the wisdom of attempting to take the gun from her was written all over his face.

  Ryan pushed up from the sofa, and the intruder turned, dashing toward the apartment entrance. He was out the door before Ryan made it onto steady feet.

  Ryan’s eyes landed on her. “Are you okay?”

  “I think so. Yes.”

  Ryan stepped next to her, wrapping his steady hands around hers and taking the gun from her. He set it on a nearby table and guided her to the sofa. “Sit. I’ve got to secure the apartment and call the cops.”

  She grasped Ryan’s arm before he could walk away. “Why is this happening?”

  His eyes flashed in anger, but his touch was gentle as he ran his thumb over her cheek. “I don’t know, honey. But I promise you, I will find out and make it stop.”

  * * *

  DETECTIVE PARSMONS WAS not happy that Nadia and Ryan were involved in yet another incident, as he referred to it. He’d declared Ryan’s apartment a crime scene.

  They were quickly running out of places to stay, but Ryan ensconced them in one of West Security’s safe houses about an hour outside the city.

  Numb from exhaustion, Nadia barely made it through her nighttime routine before falling into bed.

  Morning came sooner than she’d have liked. Ryan tried to talk her into taking the day off. Hanging around the safe house wondering what would happen next held no appeal, and as long as Ryan was by her side there didn’t seem to be any reason to avoid going to work.

  Ryan kept a go bag in his car for himself, but they headed to Nadia’s apartment so she could change before heading to the hotel.

  Just as before, Gideon met them at the apartment, but this time Shawn was with him. Gideon again stood guard in the hall while Shawn stayed in the lobby keeping an eye out for trouble. Nadia had no idea what her neighbors thought about the cadre of big scary men traipsing through the building the last several days, but since they were New Yorkers it may not have raised any eyebrows at all.

  Ryan followed Nadia into the apartment, but he remained just outside her bedroom when she went in to change. Taking a breath, she yelled through the door, “It’s obvious the guy that broke into your apartment last night is connected to the dead guy we found in Nate’s apartment.”

  She grabbed her favorite blush-red suit, tossing it on her bed before diving back into her closet for the black silk blouse she always wore with it. Her power suit, she thought, because she never lacked for confidence when she rocked it.

  They’d kept the conversation light and to a minimum on the drive into the city from the safe house. But with the closed door between them, she felt more comfortable broaching the subject.

  “I think that’s a safe bet,” Ryan answered.

  She pulled the blouse over her head before speaking again. “Since all the other attacks were clearly aimed at me, it’s also safe to assume that the guy last night was coming after me too.”

  The thought of what could have happened if Ryan hadn’t been there sent a shiver down her spine.

  Wiggling the skirt over her hips, she zipped it in the front before spinning it around her hips.

  “Also a safe bet.”

  She could hear the tension in Ryan’s tone.

  She grabbed her black kitten heels and suit jacket.

  “So how did he know I was at your place?” Nadia said, pulling the door open simultaneously.

  Ryan leaned against the door frame, his arms crossed over his chest, his biceps bulging.

  She pulled up short, just inches from smacking into his hard body.

  He didn’t flinch. Ryan had several inches on her. His head dipped in a slow, appreciative gaze that heated every inch of her as it passed over her body.

  “I like the suit,” he said, his voice husky.

  Nadia wasn’t sure she could breathe, much less speak. After a too-long moment, she swallowed hard and forced words from her throat. “Thank you.”

  Ryan’s mouth turned up in a sexy smile, and he took a step back.

  Nadia slid past him, her eyes cast down at her feet.

  She made it to the couch and sat, putting on her shoes.

  “To answer your question, it wouldn’t have been that hard to figure out you were staying at my place.”

  It took a moment for her to remember she’d asked a question.

  “If they’ve monitored your apartment, they know you aren’t staying there. And I’ve been sticking to you like...” Ryan’s eyes flashed with an emotion she couldn’t name but that sent a zing of excitement through her. “Well, I’ve been staying close. I never thought anyone would be stupid or reckless enough to breach my home. Thes
e guys are more desperate than I thought.”

  “Desperate isn’t good, is it?” Nadia stood, donning her suit jacket.

  “No, it isn’t. Which is why I don’t want to stay here any longer than necessary.” Ryan grabbed the handle of the bag she’d packed before changing and led her to the door.

  Having completed their duty, Gideon and Shawn headed back to West’s headquarters while Ryan drove Nadia to the hotel. It was after ten when they arrived, and although check-out wasn’t for another hour and Olivia was helping the clerk, there was a line at the reception desk.

  Nadia hurried through the lobby to the door leading to her offices, Ryan on her heels.

  As a boutique chain, they didn’t have the same hiring luxury as larger hotel chains. Calvin Shelton had been adamant that employees of his hotels knew how to do more than one job, and it was a rule that applied doubly to his kids. Pitching in as a desk clerk for a few hours was just part of the job, even for the CEO.

  Nadia unlocked the door to her office, intending to drop her briefcase and purse on her desk before heading back out.

  The man sitting behind her desk brought that plan to a sudden halt.

  In one swift motion, Ryan shifted Nadia behind him and reached for the gun under his shirt.

  “I’d rather you not.” The man nodded toward the door Nadia and Ryan had just entered through, and they turned.

  A second man, almost as wide as the door frame, stood gun in hand.

  “I would just like a few moments of Miss Shelton’s valuable time. Of course, I expect you want to stay, Mr. West. Please have a seat,” the man directed with an authoritarian benevolence.

  They sat in the chairs facing her desk.

  “Do you know who I am?” the man asked.

  Ryan answered, “The authorities haven’t been able to get many pictures, but I’m guessing you are Lincoln Smith.”

  Smith bowed his head. “A pleasure to meet you both.”

  Ryan seemed to know who Lincoln Smith was, but the man in front of her was a complete stranger to Nadia.

  “I apologize, but your name doesn’t ring any bells for me.”