“Yes, you will. You’ll do as ordered. I don’t care what just happened in this room between me and you.”
Her face didn’t fall. Thank fuck. What he’d said was habit, but what he felt… that said he should’ve toned it down.
She nodded. “Got it.”
If that reaction didn’t make his heart pound a little stronger. “Sugar—”
“I won’t sit long,” she said through closed teeth. “Do your job, Jared. And when the time comes, I expect you to turn me loose.”
He gave his word. Now for showtime. Parker could find Buck anywhere in the world, but chances were, he was sitting on his pompous ass in a fancy chair. The prick. The call to Parker rang once before he answered.
“Yo, Boss.” Parker was obviously expecting him. His team ran liked a well-oiled machine. Smooth and deadly, each part did what it was supposed to. “Feeding the surveillance video to Rocco now. Brock’s already been in touch.”
“Get Buck Baer on my television screen. Now.”
“Yes, sir. Give me five.”
The line disconnected. No pause. No doubt. That was a good employee.
Jared snagged a shirt. Stalking to the living room, he pulled it on. Buck Baer was a piece of shit on the lowest of levels. After that night’s disaster, Jared would tear him apart. Piece by piece.
He paced in front of the television, mentally counting down the five minutes he’d promised Parker. The screen flipped on to a gray, static-showered picture. It blinked.
Once.
Then twice.
Finally, Buck Baer appeared.
“Jared Westin. To what do I owe this unceremonious request to chat face-to-face? An emergency, as I understand it?” The ruddy-faced jerk smirked. The audio was clear enough to make Ma Bell proud.
Restraining his inner grizzly, Jared took a breath. “I want the girl.”
“To the point. I always liked that about you, Jared. Oh, wait. I meant to say, whatever do you mean?”
“Your team’s here. You went after my mark. You took a kid. Very far outside our rules of engagement, Baer.”
“I don’t play by rules.”
“Fuck your games. I don’t give a shit what you siphon from the government, foreign nationals, or the damn Taliban. I’m giving you one chance to produce the child. One hour, or I promise you, GSI will collapse. You’ll deal with me. A fate far worse than going to Leavenworth.”
“Don’t know—”
“Fifty-nine minutes.” The poise in his voice surprised even him. Jared would take out Baer and GSI anyway, even if Asal showed up bearing Girl Scout cookies. “Clock’s ticking. Don’t sign your death warrant.”
“Goodbye, Jared.” And the connection was cut.
What the hell? No ransom? No request for Sugar? His phone rang a split second after the screen turned off. He grabbed it. Parker. “Speak.”
“Not good.”
“No goddamn commentary. Update me, now.”
The mechanical locks on his door began to wind. Very few people had the ability to enter his suite, but he didn’t care. Given the three-second window of security enhancements, Jared readied for a kill. He leaned under the couch, removing a stashed 9mm, and leveled it at the door. It cracked. Slowly. Brock.
“Announce yourself next time.” Jared stashed the weapon back in place and made a mental note to tag all the guns hidden around his suite once Asal was safely in his custody.
He pointed down the hall. “Sugar’s in the back room. Eyes on her at all times.” Bringing the phone back to his ear, he paused. “Wait. Knock first.”
Brock laughed but kept moving.
“Parker. Intel?”
“Surveillance feeds were scrambled. Working on that. No eyes on GSI, though. Don’t know who or how many we’re looking for.”
Damn it, Parker. “You aren’t earning your paycheck.”
“But I can tell you that I’ve identified every vehicle in the parking garage, with exception of two Range Rovers. I’d say we’re looking at a team of no more than eight. Ballpark, three below your elevator, three above. Leaves two to man the security station and handle hiccups.”
That sounded about right. “What else?”
“Nicola processed the UN scene. Got no clue how they knew about the kid.”
“I want that intel breach figured out—”
The television screened blipped back on. All static. Parker whispered in his ear as if someone might overhear. “GSI’s trying for a connection. I can block it.”
“Let it through.”
Beep. Buck Baer appeared, and Jared almost ripped the screen from the wall. “What the fuck do you want, Baer?”
“Turns out, I know where your girl is. Imagine that.”
“I’m not playing games with you.”
Buck laughed, leaning back in his chair. “Sure you are.”
“He’s not, but I will,” Sugar said as she stepped into the room.
Goddamn it! He turned on his heels to see her. Gorgeous and insubordinate. “Sugar, stand down.”
Buck’s laughter poured through the sound system. Jared turned back to the monitor, wishing he could strangle a man through the television screen.
“No.” Buck pressed his fingertips together. “This is perfect. Just the lady I want.”
Brock stepped in front of Sugar. Brock had better have a damn good excuse as to how she got around him, otherwise he’s benched. Indefinitely.
“Simple offer. A trade. Lilly Chase for the girl.”
“No.” The word roared from deep in Jared’s chest. “I don’t negotiate with imbeciles.”
“Fine,” Sugar said. “Not a problem. When and where, Buck-o? I have some choice words for you.”
Sugar’s propensity for not following rules was legendary. The spectacle shouldn’t have been a surprise to Jared.
Buck Baer clapped. “Nicely done, Jared. Gorgeous girl, just fucked hair, wearing your clothes. I’d heard you kept your team and your jobs close, but I can tell you take serious care when showing your appreciation.”
“Watch your ass, Baer.”
“Of course. The kid’s already on the way to me. Bring Miss Chase back to the States. I’ll give you further instructions later.” The screen went black.
Jared spun to Sugar and Brock. “What the hell was that?”
Brock shifted blame while rubbing his jaw. “She’s got a good sucker punch and knee action.”
“I forgot you asked me to behave.” She shrugged one shoulder and gave a half-cocked grin.
“Goddamn it, Sugar. We plan and concur. Not react and show our weaknesses.” He scrubbed his hands through his hair. “Find a way to confirm Asal is with GSI, heading to Baer. Airport security or something. And have Parker track that plane. If all looks good, we’re heading home within the hour. I want to take down GSI from the inside, hand Asal to Sugar, and tie up this ridiculous op with a damn bow.”
Brock didn’t miss a beat and walked to the door. “I’ll round everyone up.”
Sugar started in the same direction. “I’m headed to my room.”
“Like hell. Stay put.”
She waved a hand down to the curve of her hip and back up. “I’m in your jammies, big boy. No way am I jumping on a jet with Team Titan until I get my own clothes. So escort me there, or turn me loose. Preferably with a loaded weapon.”
Holy mother of… What the hell am I going to do with her? Jared snagged her hand and tugged her to the couch. “Here, nine millimeter. Give me a minute. I need to grab my shit, then I’m coming with you.”
Twenty seconds later, he had his go-bag and returned to an empty living room. Sugar would be the death of him, and it had nothing to do with guns and ammo.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Distrustful of the elevators, Sugar hit the stairs. The dirty tile was cold on her bare feet. The walls were generic and whitewashed, which was surprising for a place so plush.
After everything that had happened in the hotel over the last few hours, she’d expected people
to be running for their lives and armed guards on every floor, at every door. But nope. Nothing.
Black letters painted across the wall read sixty-third floor. Her floor. She shoved open the door and peered around the corner, looking for anyone else with a gun. Or a bomb. Or some other way to kill her.
All clear and so quiet. Almost too quiet. She shook her head. Her mind was playing tricks. But still, her hand wrapped the 9mm in a death grip. Normally, she was calm under pressure, but given the last few hours, a stranglehold on her piece could be forgiven.
She padded down the hall. Her room had been checked for whatever GSI might’ve rung up. She had no reason for nerves, but the jitterbug act was still swirling in her stomach.
GSI wasn’t there. Asal wasn’t there. There was a better chance that Jared would come flying down the hall, ticked because she’d left without a goodbye. Sometimes, she couldn’t help but want to piss the guy off. It was so much fun—even when someone could fall from the rafters and take her out.
Her lips curled into a smile. Jared was cute when he was mad. Now there’s a word for Jared—cute. She laughed. He wasn’t in a million years, yet somehow it so fit. She loved the way his lips got all pouty and his brow furrowed. He did that Mr. Clean-arms-across-his-chest thing that made every muscle flex. Well, that wasn’t cute. That was downright smoking. But the cute thing would be her secret.
Fast footsteps tickled her hearing. She spun, flicking the safety off, and smacked into a man. “Jesus Christ, Brock.”
He took a step back, ignoring the gun. “You know how mad Boss Man is?”
“Don’t care. Couldn’t be too mad if you showed up and not him.” Flipping the safety back on, she dropped the 9mm to her side.
Brock rubbed his eyes. “I was closer.”
“I hate waiting and didn’t need a babysitter.”
“You’re just as ornery as he is.”
Her lips twitched into a proud smile. “Maybe more so.”
“Look.” Brock took a step forward. “You gotta come with me. We need to go.”
She turned on a bare heel. “I just need a few things out of my room. Give me a minute.”
“Sugar, let’s go.”
His hand landed on her bicep, and she spun back.
“Get your paws off me, big guy.”
His fingers tightened.
“Seriously, Brock. I won’t take it from Jared, and I won’t take it from you.”
“I don’t want to—”
“Then don’t. Tell him you didn’t find me. Tell him you found me after I changed my clothes.” Pissed his fingers might leave a bruise, she shrugged out of his tight grip. “It’s like you guys just expect us to handle everything that comes with Titan. Rules and orders and edicts. Well, newsflash, Brock. I want my own damn clothes.”
“The rules are there for a reason.” He took another step forward, sounding angry that she was pushing him. “If you listened, if everyone just listened, nothing would be so damn complicated right now.”
“Thirty more feet. You’re fighting with me about thirty flipping feet.” She started walking. “I’m almost to my room. If you’re going to force me back to Jared, do it now. Otherwise, I’m changing.”
He started after her, rumbling, “Do you have any idea what kind of danger you’re in, Sugar? I could’ve been GSI. I could be—”
“But you weren’t. You’re the second in command at Titan. The number two to Mr. Loyalty himself.” She stopped at her door. “Just like I know this room is safe, just like I know you won’t hurt me. Nothing will happen to me right now. Not with you standing there. Come in or stay out. I need to change.”
His phone rang once, and he cursed before answering. Great, Jared’s checking on me. Just what I need.
Brock ran a hand over his face. “Nope. Nothing on the target.” He clicked off the phone. “Change. Make it fast.”
“That Jared asking about me?” She put the keycard in the slot, and it unlocked.
“No.”
She laughed. “Damn, Brock. How many projects do you guys work on?”
He dropped his head back and stared at the ceiling as she held open the door. “One too many.”
“You coming in?” Why the seconds with him took forever, she didn’t know. He was slowing them down. “Brock? You coming in, or you have some target to take care of?”
Stepping through the threshold, he straightened his shoulders. He let the door close behind him. “Yes. To both.”
***
Every pair of Titan eyes were on Sugar for the duration of the flight home. She could feel them. Well, less on her and more on Jared’s iron grip on her hand. His team watched, no one saying a word. And that said more than anything. Seriously, when was the last time any of the Titan boys could keep their mouths shut? Never.
Too bad his death grip had zip to do with anything hearts-a-flutter. He was pissed. In a major way. The handholding was no claim on her as a woman. He was simply a free agent holding an assignment in place.
Tsk, tsk, J-dawg. Should’ve known I’d have something to say to Buck Baer. Controlling her attitude wasn’t a talent she could boast. Neither was staying put. He shouldn’t have been too surprised that she’d walked out of his suite.
The wheels hit the runway, and the jet flaps went up, relieving some of the tension in the cabin. The braking engines roared until the jet made a turn and stopped.
Almost free.
“Think she’s safe now, Boss Man.” Cash laughed. “You can let go of her.”
“Shut it, cowboy,” Sugar snapped.
Jared squeezed her hand, and she didn’t know if he was telling her to be quiet or if the motion was a testosterone-heavy version of, “I can fight my own battles.”
One by one, the rest of the team disembarked the plane as Sugar and Jared sat in place. Jared didn’t move and didn’t seem to notice they were alone.
Enough. “All right. This was fun. You gonna give me a ride to GUNS, or do I need to get a taxi?” She looked out the window, at the private airstrip. No taxis. Of course.
“Let’s head to Titan.” Jared stood and tugged her behind, the handhold firmly in place.
She pulled back. “Cash was right, ya know. I’m fine. Safe and on my home turf.” Almost. “We’ll do our dance with Buck and kick his ass later. For now, I want to go home.”
“GUNS and home are two separate places.”
She shrugged as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight. “Might as well be the same. I feel more at home at GUNS.”
“Not sure I should drop you off at a weapons depot.”
“Nobody’s coming after me. Not yet, anyway. I’m not going to grab my guns and knock on GSI’s door.”
“No one’s coming after you?” He stopped midway down the airplane stairs, glaring. “I know you’re not that stupid.”
“And I know you can’t drag me everywhere, acting like my personal bodyguard.”
They started walking again. He kept a secure grip on her as they crossed the empty runway. “There’s a hit out on you. You need me.”
“Wrong, Jared. I need no one. Never have and never will. But I do like you, so this whole white knight act isn’t unbearable. The handholding thing, kinda cute in a grumpy-bastard kinda way—”
He pulled her tight, his lips finding hers. A rough, needy kiss silenced her mind, her mouth, and her comebacks. The crush of their lips and tongues brought everything to a stuttered stop. Everything except the wild beat of her heart.
Jared growled against her lips. “You make me so fuckin’ hard, I can’t think straight.”
Holy hell. Tummy flip, meet brain freeze.
His mouth devoured hers, nipping at her tongue and stroking it with his. Dying. She was dying for him to touch her. Have her. She would settle for on the tarmac if they couldn’t make it anywhere. “Please. Let’s do something about it.” Despite his attitude, she hadn’t forgotten what he did to her. How her body moaned and craved every inch of him.
“My truck. Let’s go.”
/>
Hell yes. She nodded, her body plastering to him as he moved them quickly toward the parking lot. His fingers flexed into her flesh and kneaded. Zips of fire burned from her lips, spiraling to her toes and washing away jet lag and their quarrels.
A lone Expedition waited in an otherwise-empty parking lot. No crew. No airport staff to be seen. They were there in a second, falling against the SUV, which was cold and hard against her back. Bracing his hands on either side of her head, he trailed kisses down her neck. Rough. Teeth scratching. An impressive bulge in his pants nudged the soft spot between her legs.
Beep, beep. The doors unlocked.
“You want me, baby cakes?”
“Absolutely.” Maybe more than ever.
He grasped the backdoor handle, opened it up, and lifted her inside. In such a tight space, Jared loomed over her, somehow closing the door behind them. She wasn’t sure his hands had ever left her body. A million sensations covered her body, but she couldn’t tell what he was doing or where he was. It was just hot and needy. Uncontrollable. Unstoppable. Just like the man.
His eyes burned black. “You know what you do to me?”
“This.” She palmed him, stroking over the zipper. He was hard and on a mission.
“Not sure I’ll ever get enough of you, Sugar.”
“That’s my problem.” Her breath was ragged. Her chest arched into him as if he’d commanded it. “Find your own.”
“I need more of you than a quickie in my truck.”
“Amen to that.” She clasped his buckle. “But it’ll do for now.”
He popped the button on her jeans with nimble fingers, then tugged her pants and thong down her hips. “For now—”
A loud knock stunned her into stillness. For all his concern over her safety, neither of them had been watching for trouble. Fury crossed Jared’s face as he un-holstered his sidearm and turned to look out the tinted window.
“Mr. Westin, you okay in there?” a voice called from the outside. “Saw your car. Everyone else left.”
Jared’s dropped his head, chuckling. “Security. Cock-blockin’ security.”
Sugar pulled herself upright, adjusting her shirt. Jared holstered his weapon and opened the door. Blushing, she followed his lead and opened the opposite door. They’d been caught making out by an oblivious man wearing a reflector vest.
The Titan Series 1-3 Boxed Set Page 64