The Veiled Cage (Lady Lawyer Series Romantic Suspense Novels Book 1)

by Johansen, Rita

  “Yes, and it’s a win for all except the killers. We’ll get a vindicated client, and the deadly duo will get a one-way shuttle trip to Mardova, and the feds will get to dismantle another drug operation.”

  “I’m hesitant to ask how.”Justin swept his hand over his face.

  “First thing tomorrow morning, Mr. County Attorney and I are having a little chat—here, alone. Or so he’ll think. I’ll get him comfortable, get him pissed, and get his confession.”

  “Right before he attempts to eliminate you. Let’s see, I vote no.”Colin looked up and contributed before once again tapping on his PSC.

  “Using yourself as bait. Brilliant. Let’s add another kill to their list. Use me, Ruby. I’m an ex-cop.”

  “Sorry, Kottke. He won’t be as furious about a male foiling his plan as a lowly female. Not that you can’t get the pain-in-the-ass o’meter right up there.”

  “Seriously, Ruby. Your life for Susan’s freedom isn’t an exchange we’re willing to make.”

  “I don’t plan on it. We don’t know how far Johnston has infiltrated his office. We’ll have backup, and it’ll be federal. We’ll apprise your bureau buddy of the evidence we’ve collected.”

  “What will the feds think of your plan?”

  “They’ll love it as much as my team. But they’ll realize they have no one imbedded, and no way to work someone in without sending up flares. I’ll assure Agent Mitzu I’m confronting the county attorney with or without the agency’s participation.”She grinned.“But I can’t do it without yours.”

  “You’re insane, ace.”Justin slugged her on the shoulder.

  “I suspect they’ll offer to outfit me with a wire, and monitor the meeting—ready to intervene. A generous offer, but I trust this team more. Kottke, you’re in charge of security for this op. Would you like to bring Agent Mitzu into the loop, or should I?”

  “I’ll do it. You’ll walk out unharmed, Ruby. You can count on us.”

  “I don’t mind a few knocks. Just keep me alive.”

  “I have a few prototypes in development that could be of assistance,”Emilio said.

  “Great, team with Kottke.”She saw Colin’s eyes light up.

  So did Emilio.“I’ll require Colin’s assistance.”

  “He’s all yours,”she said.

  ✧

  As the trio walked toward the tech center, Emilio turned to Kottke, heated.“I hope you don’t plan on her walking in there unarmed.”

  “Listen, pal. She’s the driving force behind this whole operation. Everything you see here, all the progress we’ve made on this case—she’s spearheaded it.”

  “Yes, yes. I know she’s capable.”

  “She’s capable, and not stupid. And she’s a hell of a lot stronger than she looks. She could toss you on your techie ass. She trusts us to keep her safe, and I’m going to do just that.”

  “So that’s the plan? Have firepower ready to extract her if necessary? There may not be time for that.”

  “What do you have in mind?”

  “She insists on using herself as bait,”Emilio said.“I have a workaround. We’ll have to head to my uptown lab for supplies.”

  “Sublime. I’d love to see your lab.”Colin said.

  “Real nice,”Justin said.“Get cryptic as we’re planning how to save Ruby’s life.”

  “Trust me,”Emilio said.“Besides, you’ll have to see it to believe it.”

  They headed to the elevators.

  “She’s getting under your skin, isn’t she?” asked Justin.

  “I’m not sure what she’s doing, but it’s very important to me that she’s unharmed.”

  Justin studied him as he would a suspect in interrogation. With a brisk nod, he said,“You and Colin go ahead. I’ll start rigging this place with eyes and ears.”

  “Yes, throughout the building.”

  “It’s his,”Colin added.

  “I’ll arrange complete access for our team. Its tenants will be perturbed when the building is closed Monday morning for security upgrades, but safety comes first.”

  “I like your style, buddy.”

  ✧

  Ruby looked up and gave Amy an absent smile when she entered her office.

  “Where did Jasmine go?”Amy asked.

  “Jazz is in the meeting room.”

  “She’s a wonderful addition to the team.”

  “Yes, we’ve caught many lucky breaks in this case. She’s one of them.”

  “‘Diligence is the mother of good luck,’Ruby.”

  “Yes, good old Ben’s words still ring true.”

  “And it seems we have an inventor of Franklin’s caliber in our ranks. Another fortunate development.”

  “Yes, Emilio is . . .”

  “Yes?”

  “He’s . . . not what I expected.”

  “The neurosurgeon certainly didn’t have this affect on you.”She said.

  “It’s bad enough Alfred is meddling. You can both do me a favor and take off your matchmaker hats. I need you to don your psychologist one at the moment.”

  “You can’t ignore a man like that forever.”

  “No, I already tried.”

  “And where did it get you?”

  “It landed me in a castle chopping veggies and chatting with his mother.”She held up her hands in dismay.“She’s wonderful. You’d like her. It’s all spun out of control. And the worst part is he’s not pretentious and materialist. He makes up bedtime stories.”She ended with her hands in her hair and a look of distress on her face.“What am I supposed to do with a man like that?”

  “I have a few ideas, my dear.”

  “Never mind. You’re not helping at all.”She finger-combed her choppy hair, and drew in a steadying breath.“I’d like you to write up a report. Profile the escalation of an abuser with his history. Document the relevant evidence of past conduct. I’ll need it ready for court on Monday.”

  “Certainly. I’ll see to it right away.”

  “First, do you mind walking through the best approach for tomorrow? I have one shot at eliciting a confession. I need to hit the bull’s-eye.”

  “He enjoys recognition. Give him a chance to brag. Goad him into it. He’ll need to feel he’s in control of the situation. You’re a snag in his plans that he can remedy—silence you and he’ll bury the truth.”Resolute, Amy stepped forward.“I’d like to be in the room with you.”

  “The best shot we have is if I go in alone. You know that.”

  “Yes, but I had to try.”

  “The three muske-techies will keep me safe.”

  “I admire your bravery, Ruby, to be willing to face a killer alone.”

  “I’ll be fine. I know karate.”

  “A small comfort.”

  “I have to do this—for Susan.”

  “And Tara, I suspect. It won’t bring her back, you know.”

  “I know.”

  “You were just a law student back then. You did all you could have done.”

  “No, I could have pushed the prosecutor harder.”Ruby rose and went to the window. She braced her hands on the sill.“I need to know I did everything in my power to stop this bastard from ruining Susan’s life.”

  “Will it be enough?

  “No.”Ruby spun, eyes tormented.“But maybe then I’ll get some damn sleep.”

  “It might help if you didn’t sleep alone. I’d sleep awfully well if I had a gorgeous Spaniard telling me a bedtime story in that irresistible accent.”

  “Find someone else to set up. Jazz is right down the hall.”

  “I’ll stop in and see her on my way out.”Amy stopped in the doorway, and gave Ruby a serious look.“Consider me on-call.”

  “Thanks. When you’re done finding Jazz the love of her life, please send her in.”

  Chapter 22

  “So this is how you operate,”Emilio said.“You tell your team that they can leave—the plan is in place, the parts are set. And then you proceed to stay.”

  “Som
ething like that,”Ruby said. “And yet you’re still here.”

  “I’m accustomed to being the last one at my office.”

  “This isn’t your office.”

  “No, this one isn’t. Mine is down the hall.”Emilio flashed her a grin.

  Ruby chucked a memo cube at him.

  He caught it.

  “I’m working. Don’t you have your tech empire to deal with?”

  “I can do my work from anywhere with the right equipment.”

  “And even without it.”

  He tossed the memo cube in his hand.

  She held up her hands as if in surrender.“I admit it. Your hodgepodge set-up is effective.”

  “It appears you’re defenseless, Rubina.”

  “I most certainly am not.”She dropped her hands and her eyes flared.

  “I wonder—do you see me as a threat?”

  “I don’t.”

  “Good.”

  “You’re a harmless e-nerd,”she taunted, crossing her arms in challenge.

  “Am I?”He had her up and out of her chair before she could counter. He shut and locked her office door as he pressed her against it, ravaging her mouth with his.

  “I don’t take what isn’t freely given.”He released her and stayed a breath away.

  Acting on a force as great as thought, she moved into him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.

  He held back, offering softness.

  She wanted heat.

  She grabbed his generous bottom lip in her teeth. He responded by flicking his tongue over her lips and then plunging between them, clouding her senses with his flavor.

  Pulling her mouth from his, her chest heaved with the effort.“This isn’t going to happen,”she managed.“Not here.”

  He spun with her, and set her on her desk. Hands on either side of her, he clutched the overhang until she thought it’d break. Pushing away, he moved to the window and rested his forehead on the cool glass.

  Hesitant, she approached and placed her hand on his shoulder.“Are you upset?”

  “Of course not. You may want to stand back a bit. I can still see quite vividly what I’d like to do to you on that desk.”

  “I’ve, I’ve never done anything like this.”

  He turned in surprise. “Oh?”

  “I don’t mean sex. There’s been sex. But never in my office. I keep my lives separate—the professional and the personal.”

  He smiled.“I’d like to see where you live, Rubina.”He linked their fingers.“Now seems like wonderful timing.”

  She held back.“It’s not. It’s terrible. I have work.”

  “Our plans are solid. All that’s left is their implementation. That’s not set to happen until nine.”He caressed her cheek, and she stayed still, gazing up at him—a frightened doe with a steel spine. Was it any wonder he found himself falling for this fascinating, shifting blend of contradicting layers? Knowing his thoughts would send her darting, he said, instead,“We can figure out what’s between us, or ignore it. Either way, it’s there. What are you going to do about it, Rubina?”

  ✧

  “It’s not much.”She shrugged as she led him into her apartment. After toeing off her shoes, she sank her bare feet into carpet, an indulgence for home or the beach.“Colin says the color scheme is—”

  He cut her off by spinning her around, yanking her in, and taking her mouth—hot, lusty, and lightly edged with humor. He broke the contact.“We can discuss your décor later, if you’d like.”

  He gripped her hips and boosted her up, tipped so he fell with her pinned underneath him onto her bed. His mouth claimed hers.

  She grabbed his exceptional ass and gave it a hard squeeze.

  She slid her hand around, between them, and found him. The next hard squeeze brought a moan, had him shifting his mouth to her throat.

  She met every demand, and made her own. He discovered the rhythms of her body, the secret places to exploit and seduce, inflame.

  He found her a fascination and a glorious surprise.

  Her hands gripped his hair. She arched her back, trembling, urging him to join them.

  He traced the firm curve of her breast, and tasted her silky skin, surrounding himself with her scent. The catch of her breath and her hand around him drove him to a keen and lusty ledge.

  Lithe, ready, she slid her body to meet him. She felt his heartbeat pounding, matching the drumbeat of her own.

  Her mouth clung to his, fever hot, scrambling his senses beyond reason.

  He reached for her mound and dipped his finger inside her.

  Wet and hot, she cried in release and still he drove her higher. Her eyes fluttered shut.

  “Let me see what I do to you, Querida.”

  “Now, Milo.”

  She bowed up, shivering with desire. He thrust inside her, hard and deep.

  Gasping, her fingers gripped his muscled shoulders. Quaking shook her to her core. The seismic strength of their passion shuddered toward her heart as they rode each other.

  In the aftershocks, they lay facing each other. He brushed his lips over her shoulder.

  Sex had been basic—an uncomplicated release. This casual intimacy shook her. Her heart tripped. She wasn’t ready to know what it meant.

  “Rubina, I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say.”

  “You’re . . . sorry?”Her heart dropped. She covered herself with a sheet.“I think it’s time for you to go.”She managed over the lump of tears threatening to choke her, refusing to let him see his effect on her.

  “As you wish. You must know . . . I’ve never lost control like that.”

  She studied him.“What, exactly, are you apologizing for?”

  “I didn’t treat you with the proper care.”He raised his hand to brush her cheek, lowered it and his head. I was practically—”

  “A sex maniac?”

  He sat and held his head in his hands.

  “Who’s the prude now?”

  “I have the blood of Diego Ramirez coursing through my veins. You can’t know what that means, Rubina. I should have told you.”

  “I think I have a good idea. But why don’t you tell me?”

  “He’s more beast than man. I’ve prided myself on being nothing like him. And I’ve succeeded—until tonight.”He held her gaze as sadness crested into sorrow.“I failed you, Rubina.”

  She let out a long sigh.“I’m no good at this, Milo. All I can think to tell you is that you’re being awfully moronic for a genius.”

  “Excuse me.”He lifted his head.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be a ladies’man? Honestly, Emilio. You send orgasms ripping through me. I’m ready to blast to Venus. We’re talking cosmic-grade explosions, and then you apologize. Apologize.”She emphasized.

  “I didn’t frighten you?”

  “You’re impressive, but I think I proved I could hold my own.”She gave him a smug smile.

  “I meant to make love with you, Rubina.”

  “I told you. Mission accomplished. We’ve rearranged the cosmos.”She grinned, and her breath caught when she saw his tender look.

  “No, Querida. Let me show you.”He eased her back against the pillows and captured her mouth in kisses as delicate as butterfly wings. His hand traveled down her, molding her shape as an artist caresses clay. Slowly, he trailed his mouth down to her breast, tasting her, teasing her until she went wild at his tongue flicking her nipple, stoking a fire burning hot at her center.

  “Milo.”She whispered.

  He gripped her ass with his strong hands and kneaded as he sent sparks shooting with his tongue. He traveled down, murmuring his musical language as she fell beyond reason, spellbound. His whispers warmed the trail down as his hand moved around to cup her center, flicking her higher and higher. She heard a feral cry, too swept away to recognize it as her own. She lost sight to pleasure so intense it shifted her senses. It robbed her of sight and heightened the sensation in every synapse, as every fiber of her nervo
us system enlivened at his touch.

  “Again, Querida.”

  Her vision filled with him. She saw what she’d hoped for long ago in his dark, decadent eyes. Terrified and thrilled, she pulled him up and shifted her hips, cradling him. She cupped his face and nodded, readying herself to take the plunge.“Together, Milo.”

  He slid inside of her and filled her to bursting. She arched, vibrating, as he slid into her, over and over, tantalizing her with the delicious friction of their union. He emptied himself into her and captured her mouth in a lingering kiss. He kissed her temple and watched her.

  A tear escaped from her eye. Shocked, she shifted to swipe it away but he beat her to it, gently sweeping it with his thumb.“What’s this?”

  “I have no idea. All I know is I can’t move. You’ve electrified me. I’ll die a happy woman. If that was heaven, I’ll go back. All it was missing was donuts.”

  “You have a one-track mind.”

  “Two-track.”

  He lowered his head to her hair, breathing in her scent.

  “Stay,”she heard herself say, and realized she didn’t want to retract the invite.

  “It would take superhuman strength to leave you. I’m only a man, Rubina.”

  She ran her hand across his muscled back.“Yes, you certainly are.”She peered into his face.“Though that could be the face of a Grecian god.”

  “You needn’t talk me into bed. You’ve already had your way with me.”

  “Maybe my aim is to do so again.”She laughed, and caught her breath as he drew her close and trailed kisses along her neck.“Milo?”

  He lifted his head and grinned at her.“Yes, Querida?”

  “What are we doing?”

  “We’re having a romance.”

  “I was afraid you’d say that. Are you sure it can’t just be sex?”she asked hopefully.

  “Is that what you want? Casual sex between consenting adults? No strings, leaving me free to chase one of those heiresses you’re so fond of tossing me in with?”

  “Do you?”she asked, eyes narrowed.

  “She would wrinkle her surgically-shaped nose and swoon over me. She’d be into the latest health food craze. That is, if she ate at all. She might subsist on smoothies and Botox.”

  “I could snap her like a twig. But if that’s what you want, be my guest.”