She snorted softly. “Problem was, they were greedy but stupid. Their plan had been to take me out the window … my bedroom was on the second floor. One man was going to drop me and the other was supposed to catch me. They were both idiots. When the guy dropped me, the one that was supposed to catch me missed. I was much smaller then … weighed just a little over a hundred pounds. The doctors said being unconscious probably saved my life, though I still ended up with a broken arm.”
“Did they just leave you there and run?”
She shook her head. “They had what they came for.”
“How long did they keep you?”
“Five days. I woke up in the trunk of a car, but my arms and legs were tied together and I had duct tape over my mouth. I don’t know how long they traveled that first day. Finally the car stopped and the trunk opened. That was when I realized who’d taken me.”
“You knew them?”
“I knew one of them. A low-level embassy employee. Apparently, he got one of his buddies to help him out. They saw me as a meal ticket to a better life.”
“What happened?”
“I stayed in a closet while they negotiated my ransom with the FBI. The arguments between the two started almost immediately. The embassy employee wanted to take the money and run. The other guy wanted the money and me, too. I knew their anger was escalating, but there wasn’t anything I could do. The only time I was allowed out was to go to the bathroom. And occasionally they’d remember to give me some water.”
She blew out a shaky breath. “Anyway, the FBI found them and surrounded the building. That’s when things got crazy. The really mean one grabbed me from the closet, and the other one pulled me away. I was trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey and couldn’t do a damn thing. Then the creep who wanted me for other things shot the embassy guy. Problem was, the bullet hit me instead.”
“My God,” Jared whispered.
Suddenly drained, Mia did what felt like the most natural thing in the world. She lay down and put her head in Jared’s lap. Looking up at him, she continued: “I was unconscious and only learned how the rest played out much later. When the FBI heard the shot, they determined that they needed to go in. Both men were dead in seconds. And I was close to it. I stayed in a coma for almost two weeks. When I regained consciousness, I was completely bald and had already undergone two brain surgeries.”
A large hand brushed strands of hair from her face and then almost absently caressed her head. She wondered if he even knew he was petting her. Whether he knew it or not, she loved the tenderness in his touch and hoped he wouldn’t stop.
“What happened next?”
“A whole lot of nothing. I had some brain damage, so I spent most of my eighteenth year in rehab, relearning motor skills and regaining my strength. I tried to go back to my old life, but it was never the same. My parents treated me like I was some sort of fragile being, and I even got along with Nadia for a while. I got engaged, too, but that was a disaster.”
“Who were you engaged to?”
“The son of one of my dad’s friends. Lewis had political aspirations and thought I’d be the perfect complement to his career. I shouldn’t have agreed to marry him and was trying to figure a way out of it when Nadia came to my rescue.”
“The sister you didn’t get along with?”
She grimaced a smile; Nadia and a real smile just didn’t belong together. “I walked in on Nadia and my fiancé having sex on our bed.”
“Shit,” Jared whispered. “I hope you kicked his balls in and tore your sister’s hair out.”
Laughter bubbled at that thought. Lewis had been so very proud of his sexual prowess, and Nadia loved her long blond locks. That would have been just deserts for both of them.
“No, it was all very civilized. I coolly told them not to mind me. I grabbed my suitcase, threw in the things I wanted, and left. Lewis was still sitting on the bed with his mouth gaping open when I walked out the door.”
A bark of laughter burst from Jared, and Mia cherished the sound, knowing that it didn’t happen often.
“And that’s when you came to LCR?”
“Not immediately. I went back to school for a few more semesters. And then, I just left.”
It sounded more simplistic than it actually was. She’d gone from making the dean’s list to almost flunking out. Everything that had once interested her seemed lame and boring. She had begun to question everything about her life. In the middle of her last year, she’d dropped out.
Her parents had been livid.
“So McCall trained you?”
“Yes. By then, I’d taken some self-defense courses, but Noah was quick to tell me that I had a long way to go.”
The atmosphere had changed from light to somber and grim. Even though his hand still caressed her in that absentminded yet gentle way, his expression was bleak and unyielding once more. Wanting to see the darkness lift, she said, “So, you want to show me some more of your equipment?”
The double entendre did its trick. His eyes glinting with amusement, he stood and then pulled her up. In a wickedly hot sweeping gaze, his eyes roamed over her. “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”
She winked. “You first.”
For the next half hour, that’s exactly what he did. By the time he’d finished, Mia was excited by all the different and new gadgets she was going to get to try out. Hopefully, they would help trap an evil man who might have done more than kidnap and sell babies.
“I forgot to tell you an idea I had today.”
As Mia proceeded to relate the conversation she’d overheard, Jared couldn’t help but be impressed with her instincts. She might be an overemotional, incredibly sweet person, but she was also smart and perceptive.
“So do you think it’s possible he was involved in their deaths?”
“Yeah, actually talked to McCall about that very idea today. And the girl, Josette. You overheard them saying the gift was for doing a good job at work. That seems pretty damn convenient.”
Mia nodded. “That’s what I’m thinking.”
“Okay, here’s what I’m thinking. If this bastard is responsible for all of this shit, then we’re going to need to be extra diligent.” He stared at her hard. “You’re good at improvisation, which can save your ass. But when it comes to something like this, I want you to promise me you’ll follow my orders.”
She looked like she was about to speak, probably to protest. Jared placed his fingers on her lips. “My op, my orders. If you don’t like that, then we’ll drop the whole scheme.”
He knew he was taking a chance here, because Mia could just tell him she wasn’t going to play by his rules and then run the op on her own. She was the one with the way inside, not him. What he was banking on was the trust and camaraderie they’d developed over the last few days.
Jared eased out a silent sigh of relief when she smiled up at him and said, “Your orders, our op. Deal?”
Leaning down, he captured that smile with his mouth and whispered, “Deal.”
eighteen
Mia was even more beautiful than he remembered. The last time Philippe had seen her, she’d been an attractive young woman on the cusp of something more. Philippe was gratified to see that she had achieved her potential.
Years ago, when they’d had their brief, uneventful fling, she’d been in college and he had still been working for his mother, learning the intricacies of running a large, multilayered corporation and charitable foundation. From what he remembered, they’d had little in common. However, both of them had matured, and he found it difficult to believe that the same problems would hamper their relationship as before. This time, he knew what he was looking for: a woman of good breeding, beauty, and grace—an asset and a beautiful accessory. The lovely and graceful Mia Maxwell had all of those qualities.
The silk and lace dress she wore was the color of expensive champagne and clung to her body in a way that made him want to take it off her immediately. It was high-necked and
not too short—elegant yet simple. The perfect attire for their first date.
He took her hands in his and pulled her to him for a kiss on her cheek. “You’re lovelier than I remember, Mia.”
Her smile was one he remembered, but a calm maturity had added a cool sophistication. He liked that as well. “It’s good to see you, Philippe. And you’re as handsome as ever.”
Pleased that she had noticed, he escorted her to the limo and settled across from her. “I thought dinner at Le Prince, followed by coffee at Marcelle’s.”
“That sounds perfect. I can’t wait to learn as much as I can from you. Your foundation has done such wonderful work.”
Just for a moment, Philippe was flustered. Learn as much as she could from him? What was she talking …? And then he remembered. She had used wanting to learn about running a large charity as a ruse to see him again. He hadn’t given it another thought, because not for a moment had he believed her. Nothing in her background indicated that she had any interest in such a venture. She might keep a lower profile than her flamboyant sister, but the thought of the exquisite and oh-so-proper Mia involving herself in caring about others was laughable. She was a pretty bauble with little substance, and he wouldn’t want her any other way.
No, he knew exactly why she wanted to renew their acquaintance. And it was exactly why he wanted to see her again. They’d both reached an age and a level of maturity when it was time to think about the future. When one got to a certain age without a romantic commitment of some sort, one became fodder for unsavory jokes and anecdotes. The time had come to settle down. He and Mia were of the same social class. No scandals tainted either of their backgrounds. Her sister, Nadia, had occasionally caused heads to turn with her antics. Mia not so. That was one of the many reasons he intended to court Mia Maxwell openly. And if things turned out as he believed they would, he and Mia would become engaged and then marry.
Philippe was certain she felt the same way. Or if not now, she would soon. He would make sure of it. To ensure that this happened as quickly as possible, Philippe gave her the highlights of his endeavors and accomplishments. Once she realized he’d achieved even more than the press deigned to print about him, fascination and awe would replace the small teasing light he saw in her eyes.
The smile felt frozen on Mia’s face, and they’d only been together for twenty minutes. How could she have forgotten that though Philippe had always been the perfect gentleman with her, he was also the perfect bore?
Years ago, his high opinion of himself had been tempered with a youthful charm. Now the charm had disappeared, and what was left was an arrogant ass so full of his own self-importance, he was completely unaware of how pretentious and obnoxious he sounded.
She took a deep inner breath, reminding herself that she’d had tougher assignments than to listen to an obnoxious prig brag about himself. Besides, having him want to discuss nothing but his own achievements worked in her favor. A man so full of himself would have to, at some point, spill something he didn’t intend to.
“But enough about me,” Philippe said. “Let’s talk about you.”
Mia swallowed a giggle. Would he think she was lying if she told him she found him so fascinating, she wanted to continue listening to him preen? Probably not, but she had a cover, and she needed to make use of it. It was important that he believe she was completely and totally serious about learning as much as she could from him.
“There’s nothing new, really. I spent a lot of time in Munich and Zurich the last few years.” She lowered her eyes shyly. “You know I’m not one who seeks the spotlight.”
His laughter was warm, almost intimate, as he patted her hand, then caressed it gently. Mia raised her eyes to look at him and felt the bottom fall out of her plans. How stupid had she become? Philippe hadn’t agreed to see her because of her interest in his foundation. He wanted to date her. This time, seriously. She’d been so focused on her own goals, she’d completely missed this.
She needed to regroup. The idea of approaching him to learn about his charity had seemed the best bet. Their chemistry before had given her no indication that he’d be remotely interested in her romantically. Now that had changed. So how should she handle this new situation?
This was an opportunity she couldn’t ignore. Getting inside his organization and snooping to find something incriminating could takes months, if not longer. Not following this avenue that had been opened for her would be ridiculous. She considered how much more information a girlfriend could learn than a newbie wannabe at his foundation. If she pursued the charity angle, Philippe would most likely pass her off to one of his assistants and she’d never see him again.
Jared wasn’t going to like this new direction. She had agreed to him making the calls on this op, but he had to see that this opportunity was unique. A few kisses and inappropriate comments would be worth it if she learned what she needed to. This avenue could well get them what they required so much quicker.
With that in mind, aware that Jared could hear every little thing that was going on, she turned her hand over and grasped Philippe’s. “I’m so going to enjoy spending time with you.”
Though her words were not that different than before, Mia made sure her voice was as warmly intimate as Philippe’s had been, and the expression she allowed into her face one of a shy flirtatiousness. The beaming smile he gave her told her she had played it right.
“We are here, my dear. Let’s have a lovely dinner, and then we’ll get to know each other even better.”
Mia’s feeling of dread increased. Oh hell.
“Just what the fuck are you doing, Mia?” Jared muttered the words at the radio receiver recording the conversation. Everything had been going fine. Ricard had jabbered on about himself until he’d literally run out of breath. And Mia had established herself as interested in his foundation. Now, all of the sudden, they’d moved on to something else entirely.
Yes, he’d heard the interest in Philippe’s voice. Big damn deal. Any man with eyes would find Mia attractive. And those who didn’t have eyes would be charmed by her husky, feminine voice or the grace that just seemed to be a natural part of her. Philippe Ricard, baby seller and possible murderer or not, would be no different.
Pacing up and down Mia’s living room, Jared tried to come to grips with this new direction she’d obviously decided to take. It was out there; there was no withdrawing her intentions now. A rational part of his brain, so small at this point in his anger, told him it was the right path to take. Being intimate would open up doors they hadn’t thought to get through. Problem was, it might well open up a bedroom door. Would Mia pursue it that far?
No. He wouldn’t let her. Forget the fact that he had no claim to her and couldn’t tell her who she could and couldn’t sleep with; he was in charge of this op. If he told her she couldn’t do it, she damn well better listen or she was out. He’d made that clear the other night. Follow my orders.
The coffee in his mug had grown cold; he dumped it into the sink and poured himself another large dose. He swallowed more of the bitter brew and paced as he continued to listen to the crap Philippe fed Mia—and her seemingly awed interest in every boring bit of minutiae he spouted. The rational voice whispered again that this wasn’t any easier for Mia. She was the one having to listen to this shit; he was just a bystander until the time came for action.
He fell back into his chair, took another slug of coffee, and then sprang to his feet again. What would he do if Philippe tried to take it further tonight? Was he going to stand here and listen to her being pawed and kissed by this narcissistic creep?
And then the voice of reason punched him hard—a voice that sounded surprisingly like Mia’s. She was a trained professional, and she was his partner. He had to trust her. She would know how far to push Philippe, and she could handle herself.
Jared set the still-full coffee mug on the kitchen counter; the caffeine was only making it worse. He returned to the living room and the chair he’d sprung from.
Clenching his teeth with an unnamed fury, he listened … he waited. He endured.
The restaurant was a new one and apparently very exclusive. There were only five tables, and each elegantly set table had three attendants. Mia knew that if she dropped the slightest crumb, one of the three men standing close to their table would be on it in a flash. Eating in a fishbowl was not her idea of an entertaining evening.
Philippe seemed to see nothing wrong with either the service or the extraordinary deference being paid to him. The man who’d shown them to their table had practically drooled, and as crazy as it seemed, Mia wouldn’t have been completely surprised if the guy had kissed Philippe’s hand when he left them there.
Each course placed before her fit the restaurant perfectly: small, elegant, and pretentious. Mia took the second and last bite of her chateaubriand and wished she were sitting across from Jared at a fast food restaurant, eating a cheeseburger and greasy fries.
“You know it takes up to a year, sometimes longer, to get reservations at this restaurant.”
Philippe’s need to awe her was wearing thin. Yes, she knew he had money up the wazoo and that he wielded immense influence. But his hammering it into her with every other sentence had given her a pain in her head and her neck.
With a smile indicating nothing of her thoughts, she said, “And I only called to meet you a few days ago. You have amazing influence.” She thought about adding an eye flutter too, but she was willing to spew only so much syrup at one time.
If he puffed out his chest any farther, she figured his shirt buttons would pop. She knew she was taking a risk bringing up a serious subject when he seemed so intent on wooing her, but maybe he would look at it as a way to impress her with his kind heart for those less fortunate. She’d set up this scenario to get information. It was time to see what could be gleaned.
“I was so sorry to hear about the death of your employees. What a blow that must be for your foundation.”
As she had hoped, Philippe latched onto the opportunity. “We’re devastated, of course. Every employee at the Ricard Foundation is so important. Their deaths left us with not only a hole in the running of the foundation’s daily endeavors but also a hole in our hearts. Losing one employee is painful, but three so close together …” He trailed off, obviously overcome with his fake grief.
Sweet Reward: A Last Chance Rescue Novel Page 19