by Cynthia Eden
He moved, blocking her path. “What happened?”
She lifted her chin and stared into his eyes. “You’ve met Luther, haven’t you? Stared at him, face to face?”
Yes.
“I told him that he had to stop. That he couldn’t keep doing those terrible things.” Her breath whispered out. “At first, he laughed at me.”
“Zoe…”
“And then he hit me so hard that I flew across the room.”
Fucking hell. Victor’s hands fisted.
“I got a concussion. Six stitches in the back of my head.” She shrugged. “Apparently, no one questions Luther Bates, not even his daughter.”
He wanted to touch her. So badly. He also wanted to beat the ever loving hell out of her father.
“My mother saw what he’d done. She’d always been there for him, smiling so brightly when he appeared at the door, only waiting to cry when he left. But that day, when she picked me up from the floor and my blood was on her hands, she stopped smiling for him.” Her voice lowered with each word she spoke. “She told him to leave. Not to come back.” Her lashes fell, shielding her eyes. “Luther Bates doesn’t like to be told no.”
He thought of Zoe’s file. Fifteen. She’d been fifteen and—
Hell.
“If you read my file, you’ll know that my mother…she was…killed in a home invasion. That attack happened just a few days after she told Luther to stay away from us.”
Had Luther ordered the attack? Paid for it to look like—
“Two months after her death, Luther shipped my ass off to boarding school. Some fancy ass place where I didn’t belong. But at least I wasn’t with him anymore.”
Holy fucking hell. Just what had happened during those two months that she spent with her father? He sucked in a deep breath and tried to figure out where he should push the hardest. The mother. Start there. “You had to know your mother’s death was suspicious.”
She gave a broken laugh. “Trust me, I knew plenty.”
Tell me plenty, sweetheart. Tell me. “Did he ever admit it to you? Did he ever tell you—”
“That he had my mother killed?” Her voice was just a rasp now. Her lashes lifted. She gazed up at him, and there was so much pain in her eyes. “There was no need to tell me. The police report said it was a home invasion. But I was there.”
Tell me. It was his job to get the truth from her. His hands were still fisted at his sides. Fisted so hard they hurt. Touch her. Hold her. Take away her fucking pain. Only right then, he was the one putting her in pain as he made her dig up her bloody past.
“My mother was one of the only people who actually loved him.” A tear slipped from her eye.
Oh, hell, I cannot handle her tears. “Zoe…”
“I need to shower,” she said again, voice tight. “Please, I-I need to shower.”
You need to tell me. Give me nails to shove in Luther’s coffin.
She pushed past him and ran into the bathroom. She shoved that door closed—as much as it would shut.
Victor stared at that white door and its peeling paint. He knew he couldn’t press her anymore, not right then. He had a job to do—one he didn’t like. One Zoe didn’t fully understand. Getting her to trust him, getting her to confide all in him—yeah, that was the plan. The big order from up top at the Bureau.
But right then, Zoe had been through enough. She’d nearly died—right beside him—that night. Fear was still present, curling like a snake in his gut. He wasn’t used to fear. There were only two people in the world he cared about. Two people that weren’t family, not really, but fate and circumstance had bonded them so that they were better than family. Saxon Black and Jasmine Bennett. Though Bennett wasn’t the name she used any longer…Long ago, he, Saxon and Jasmine had forged a life together on the streets. Helped each other. Supported one another.
Kept each other’s secrets.
He’d feared for them before. Been worried as all hell about their survival. But Saxon and Jasmine had beaten the threats they faced.
And his fear had faded.
Until Zoe. Until beautiful Zoe Peters had come into his life. Until she’d been threatened. When he’d thought she might be dead in that SUV with him, something had changed. The fear had come barreling back, only it had been so much worse than any terror he’d ever experienced before.
The fear hadn’t faded, not completely, and he knew it was because Zoe still wasn’t safe.
Zoe was getting under his skin. The plan had been for her to connect with him. Not for him to feel this stupid fucking tie with her. But…
It’s there. Her pain hurts me.
He headed toward the bathroom door. He could hear the roar of the shower inside. He put his hand on the door. “Zoe, do you need anything?”
There was no response. His hand moved to the doorknob. Was she crying in there? Was she—
“Just leave me alone, Victor.” Her voice was soft and so very sad.
His hand stilled on the knob. I wish I could, baby. I wish I could…but that isn’t going to happen.
***
Zoe needed clothes. When she’d been fleeing to the bus station, she hadn’t exactly stopped to pack an extra bag. Her priority had been to get away from the FBI agent, Russell Aiker, who’d been guarding her. So she’d pretty much vanished with the clothes on her back. Now Zoe stood in the middle of the bathroom, her hair wet and a towel wrapped around her body. The mirror in front of her was too fogged up for Zoe to see her own reflection. That last bit was probably a good thing—she didn’t want to look at herself right then.
After all this time, and, yes, looking in my own eyes is still too hard. Because she didn’t like what she saw in the mirror. Didn’t like it at all.
Luther’s daughter.
Maybe she’d just put back on the clothes she’d worn before. She could do that. The long sleeved t-shirt and jeans would be fine for now. Far better to wear them than to prance around in front of Victor just wearing a towel.
That would be such a bad idea. As bad as sharing a motel room with him tonight? Because Victor had only booked one room. One room with one bed.
As if her night had not been bad enough.
She heard a sharp knock—one that had her head jerking to the right. Only the knock wasn’t on the bathroom door. The sound had been too distant. Someone is outside of our motel room.
“Relax, Zoe,” Victor called out. As if he’d known she’d just gotten scared as all hell. “It’s my team.”
Good. Fabulous. His team. Not the current killer on her trail. And with more FBI agents there—their presence definitely meant it was time to put her clothes back on. She dressed as quickly as she could, not bothering with her shoes, but wearing her underwear, jeans and that t-shirt. Then she yanked open the bathroom door.
The group was waiting near the bed. Victor, looking confident and grim—his usual style. Victor’s dark hair wasn’t even tousled. His blue eyes glinted, and his broad shoulders were set with determination. Russell—he wore his suit, unwrinkled, his usual perfect style. Russell Aiker was a tall, handsome, African American in his early thirties. She actually liked Russell. And he seemed to like her, too. That was how she’d been able to give him the slip before. Don’t make the mistake of being kind to me. I use kindness.
“Hi, Zoe,” Russell murmured, his mouth lifting in a half-smile. “Glad to see you’re still alive.”
“Glad to still be alive.” Her gaze slid to the right. Ah, a new agent. A woman with blonde hair that fell to her chin and brown eyes that were assessing as they slid over Zoe, lingering just for a moment on…
My bare toes.
Zoe wiggled her toes. Then she nodded toward the woman. “Hello.” Hello, fresh meat.
The woman nodded briskly in response. “I’m Agent Lauren McDaniel.” Lauren straightened her shoulders. “I believe I’m here to take over watch duty.” Her gaze slid to Victor. “I’ll make sure she doesn’t leave tonight.”
Agent Lauren McDaniel was there
to do what now? Zoe marched right into that circle of agents. “Sorry, but there is a huge mistake happening here.” She took up a position near Victor. She knew he was the lead agent in that room. And he was the one who’d made a deal with her. She wasn’t going with Agent Fresh Meat anywhere. The woman sure wasn’t about to become her bunkmate for the night. “I’m not in the market for a new guard.”
Russell winced a bit. Right, sorry. I ran out on him last night. She cast a quick, apologetic glance his way.
“Do you have a death wish, ma’am?” Lauren asked her, voice tight.
Zoe’s eyes widened.
“I warned her,” Russell muttered.
“Because I have read your file,” Lauren continued doggedly, “and I know all about the risks you have taken. You keep running from us, when all we want to do is keep you safe. But how are we supposed to adequately do our jobs when you fight us every step of the way?” Lauren nodded toward Zoe. “You should be grateful for our assistance. You should be—”
Zoe held up her hand. “I love it when people tell me what I should be. Truly, one of my favorite things in life.” She was not liking Fresh Meat. Zoe turned to face Victor. “I thought we had an agreement.” A very recent agreement. “What happened to that deal? Are you seriously turning me over to blondie there?”
His gaze was guarded. She hated that. Why was he always hiding his emotions from her?
“That’s your usual MO,” Zoe threw at him, growing angrier with every second that passed. “Stop me from fleeing—like I want—stop me from getting on with my life. Bring me back to some safe house. Hand me off to another agent. Then vanish…”
“And your MO is to start the cycle all over,” Victor responded. “To lull the new agent into a false sense of security. To act like you’re following the rules. Then as soon as the agent’s attention shifts away, you run.”
Her shoulders lifted, then fell. “A girl has to do what a girl has to do.” She wasn’t apologizing. She’d told him exactly why she’d been at the bus station. Michelle. Michelle was still missing.
Even before the FBI had pulled Zoe into their web, she and Michelle had been using a secret way of staying in contact with one another. They’d set up calls—once a month. Check-in calls. She’d snuck away from her FBI guards a few times to make those calls. And at first, everything had been fine…
Then Michelle stopped answering. When Michelle hadn’t responded for two months, Zoe had become desperate. She’d started reaching out to old contacts. Only…the word from my contacts in Vegas is that no one knows where Michelle went. She vanished…
I have to find her.
“There isn’t any more running,” Victor said, his voice gruff. Then he looked over her shoulder, focusing on the two watching agents. “Zoe and I have a new deal. For the foreseeable future, I’ll be the agent on Zoe’s guard duty.”
“You?” Lauren sounded as if she were choking. “But sir—”
Zoe turned back to look at her, frowning. “But what? You don’t think he can watch me? That’s just insulting to the man.”
“Zoe…” Victor whispered.
“Well, it is.” She lifted her chin. “Victor is on guard duty with me. You heard him. He’ll be my twenty-four, seven companion. So just rest easy on that one, okay?”
Lauren’s gaze jerked to Victor’s face.
“I want you and Russell finding the driver of that truck. I know he’s still in the area,” Victor said grimly. “You need to find him and bring the guy in ASAP because he’s not going to stop. He will just keep hunting Zoe until he can claim the bounty on her.”
“Him and plenty of others,” Russell said.
Russell, that is not helpful.
“Sorry, Zoe,” Russell added. Such a nice guy. “But you know it’s true. The bounty on your head doubled in the last week.”
It had—doubled? She took a quick step back and her shoulders hit Victor’s chest. His arm came up—instantly—and curled around her.
“Thought you’d already told her.” Russell’s lips curled down. “Hell.”
No, Victor hadn’t told her that the price was double. “That’s two million dollars.” Breathing was hard. “Two million dollars for my life?”
“Two million dollars to end your life,” Lauren corrected.
Her knees were shaking.
“It’s not going to happen,” Victor whispered in her ear. “I will keep you safe.”
Her head turned toward him. She stared up at him. Their pose was intimate, she knew it, and she didn’t care what the other agents thought. “That bullet missed me by inches tonight.”
A muscle jerked in his locked jaw.
“How long do I get to keep cheating death?” Sooner or later, she’d be paying…for the crimes my father committed.
“Zoe…”
“How does it end?” Because she saw only one way to stop the hitmen on her trail…one of them takes me out.
“I will keep you safe. I did a fucking poor job tonight, but I will lay down my life for you.”
Her heart nearly shot out of her chest. “Is that what you think I want? You dying for me?”
“It’s—”
“It’s not. I don’t want you dying. I don’t want Russell dying or even Fresh Meat over there dying. I want you all safe. I don’t want this danger put on anyone else. I want it all—I just want it to stop. I want my life to be normal.”
Only her life had never been normal.
His arm was still around her. Their bodies were touching. His mouth was close. If she stood on her tip-toes, she’d be kissing him. He was tall, muscled. So sexy to her. And those lips of his…
I want to kiss him. I want him to need me. I want to go wild with Victor and forget everything else.
Only that wasn’t happening, either. “I think I’ll go to bed.” Maybe things would look like less of a nightmare in the morning.
Maybe.
Probably not.
His arm slid away from her.
“Good night, Russell,” Zoe murmured. “Good night…um, Agent McDaniel.” She quickly made her way to the bed. She heard the floor squeak behind her, and then hinges creak as the door opened.
Their footsteps padded to the door. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Victor, standing in the doorway. The other two agents had already gone out. “I’ll just be right outside,” he told her. His gaze was still guarded.
One day, I’ll get past his guard.
She nodded and he shut the door.
***
Victor stood just outside of the motel room.
Russell gave a low whistle. “You sure this is the path you want to take?”
“I’m sure this is the next step.” He’d worked with Russell on plenty of other cases. The guy was a good agent. Sure, Zoe had given him the slip, but she’d managed to sneak away while under the watch of other well-trained agents, too.
The woman was good at escaping. I’ll have to ask her…did she stay in that boarding school until she hit eighteen? Or did she escape from there, too?
“You’re getting involved very…closely with her,” Russell added, his voice low, concerned.
The new agent just watched them, her body tense.
“That’s the point, isn’t it?” Victor gave him a tired smile. Russell knew the score on this case—the real agenda. Hell, it was why the guy had been so affable with Zoe.
Get her trust. Get her to reveal everything that she knows.
Zoe’s case was a very, very unusual beast.
Luther Bates thought he’d blackmailed Victor into watching out for Zoe, keeping her alive, but the truth was…
The FBI planned to use Zoe in order to take down Luther and his empire completely. Luther Bates still had plenty of power, even though he was behind bars. His minions were only too happy to keep carrying out their boss’s dirty work. And with that massive team of lawyers that Luther had on call…the bastard is actually working to get out of prison.
The FBI couldn’t, wouldn’t, let that h
appen.
Word had recently reached them that one lawyer in particular was meeting far too frequently with Victor. The crime boss thought he had a way to get out of prison. To get back on the streets.
“Be careful,” Russell warned him. “Sometimes, you can lose your soul in this job. You don’t want that to happen.”
Victor laughed. “Don’t worry about that. I lost my soul years ago.” When he’d nearly beat a man to death in a fight that shouldn’t have happened.
Another life.
Another time.
He looked down at his hands. Still fucking me. “Use that truck to track down the shooter. Maybe the guy left fingerprints, DNA, something in there…”
“We already have our crime scene techs on the job,” Lauren said quickly.
Yeah, he’d figured they’d be busy. “Report to me as soon as you have any news.”
Lauren shifted her stance. “If you give me the chance, I can prove myself.” Determination flowed in her voice. “I can guard her. Zoe won’t be hurt on my watch.”
Victor focused on Lauren. “Lauren McDaniel.” He said her name thoughtfully. “Do you know that I handpicked you to join the team handling Zoe’s case?”
“Ah, no, no, I didn’t know that.”
“You don’t have to prove yourself. Not to me or anyone else. You have the badge. You’re in the Bureau. I know you can do the job.”
“Then why—”
“Plans have changed,” he said before she could ask why he was taking over guard duty—because he knew that had been her question. “I plan to stay personally involved in this case for the foreseeable future. Too much attention is focused on Zoe right now. Until the sharks stop circling in…” Sharks, hitmen—same damn thing. “I’ll be at her side.”
“Good luck,” Russell told him.
Oh, he’d need more than luck.
Because his boss at the Bureau—the fucking assistant director—had told Victor he had to come back with results. Actionable intel from Zoe that they could use against her father.
And the assistant director had also told him that if he didn’t get what they needed, Victor was supposed to play hardball with Zoe. Supposed to tell her that the FBI would walk away—and leave her ass on her own.