Redeeming

by Calle J. Brookes

  The dog ignored him. Payton smiled at his obvious irritation. “Going to blackmail the dog next to get what you want?”

  Another explosion above them had the lights going out. Payton screamed. Smoke and pitch black brought back way too many memories. The dogs growled and pressed against her. She covered her head, unsure if the dogs would be attacking or if the world was going to cave down around her.

  A backup light flicked on.

  The dogs were between her and him.

  Chapter Six

  He hadn’t expected that. Just a pat and a hug? Was that all it took from a woman like her to have two monsters falling for her? He gave the hand signal to desist and the dogs obeyed immediately.

  At least they remembered their training.

  She was still terrified, and her hands were over her ears. There were tears on her cheeks. What had the girl gone through in that lab? Yes, what was happening above them was bad—any explosion had the potential to be, and combined with Mother Nature’s bitchfest it could shape up to be a bad night all around—but there wasn’t nearly as much of a threat to her as she apparently thought. Poor kid. This wasn’t exactly her safe little world, was it?

  He remembered how he’d felt when Manny had pulled him off the streets and into his world of privilege—and love. Sometimes he still felt like that confused kid, afraid to make a wrong step somewhere.

  He stepped around Ren and Rath, thankful the beasts allowed it. What would it say if his own guard dogs tried to guard against him? Loyalty, he definitely did not believe in. Not truly.

  He wrapped his hands around her wrists. There was a definite scar on one, and it wasn’t that old. Where she’d broken her arm? He knew the man responsible for the lab explosion had been killed back in September. If he hadn’t, Luc couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t have arranged for the man to be dealt with himself. Not after seeing the fear in those pretty blue eyes now. He pulled her hands away from her ears. “It’s almost over, sweetheart. I can hear sirens in the distance. They’ll put out the flames and we can come out. Or I can. We don’t have to let anyone know you were here. Or we can just wait and let my security team deal with all of it. We can pretend I was out of town and you were never here. How does that sound?”

  “My car. My car is out there.”

  “About that…Not any longer.” Not exactly how he’d wanted her to find out. “I’ll have you a new one before you need to go to work. What did you have in it that will need replaced?”

  “My car is gone?”

  That had been the biggest explosion, the one that rocked the bunker around them. She had parked next to the front entry of his home, near the glass. The explosive devices had been close enough to his front door to completely engulf her little car. Or whoever had bombed the place had decided to use the fuel in her car to enhance their dirty work and had planted the second explosive either in or under her car. Either way, her car was toast. That had been perfectly clear to see on the security monitor. He looked again, checking each monitor to verify that all of his men were safe. Eight were visible on the screens. And none appeared injured. Who—and how—had it happened? They were all experienced men, former military turned mercenary every one of them. And they were all loyal to him. No one should have been able to get past any of them. “I doubt there’s even enough to get a VIN off of, Payton. No one will know you’re here.”

  Unless the bastards who’d bombed his home had taken down her license plate number before they’d torched it. Whoever the hell they were. Would that draw her into their line of fire when it came out that he’d survived the attack on his home?

  He would have to consider that very carefully.

  He would not have this woman targeted because of him. “Your car is gone. I will get you a new one.”

  “I have insurance.”

  “Not for explosives, I bet. And I have the money to buy you a hundred cars without blinking. Without questions.” He couldn’t help himself; he had to touch the blonde hair. He tugged the ponytail, just a quick brush of his fingers through the silk.

  Her eyes cleared of some of the fear. She pushed against his chest. When had he gotten that close to her? He didn’t remember.

  “But at what cost to me? I don’t want your car. I’ll take the bus.”

  He smiled. She did amuse him so. And she was finally starting to understand him, wasn’t she? “Suit yourself.” He’d have her car replaced in the morning, with a fictional license plate and reinforced glass and every safety measure he could purchase. Whether she liked it or not. She’d be safe. No matter what he had to do. “You’ll have a new car. I’ll see to that.”

  ***

  Payton curled up on the corner of the big bed and tried to somehow forget the fact that the world above them was a fiery, windy apocalypse and that the man trapped with her wasn’t a blackmailing madman at heart. She’d had her fill of madmen lately.

  She rubbed the scar on her arm; she’d required surgery to set the break after the lab had been attacked. The man responsible for the explosion had been angry at Cody and Marianna and the rest of the team for her moving to St. Louis. For her not realizing he’d developed feelings for her. Someone had died because of that, and so many others had been injured. It was hard not to feel guilty about that, though she’d had counseling. She’d probably always feel that guilt. The guy had been a true madman, cold and sociopathic in a way she had never suspected. No one had.

  And she’d always feel guilty about the people who had been hurt because of her. In spite of what the counselors had said, there would always be that responsibility. If she had just put things together sooner…

  Was the man trapped in there with her just as crazy as Hugh? How was she supposed to know? The bigger dog—Ren, the one with more brown in his coat—rolled on his side against her. Payton ran her fingers through his fur, trying to think. Had he meant it? Would he really hurt Cody just because of her?

  Cody had nearly died because of her. Payton would never forget that. Hugh had targeted Cody for the most personal attack because he’d thought that as Payton’s closest friend Cody had convinced Payton to move. He had stopped her car and beaten Cody until she’d been nearly unrecognizable. Cody had fought back hard, but Hugh had been so much bigger, and trained in martial arts. She’d been in a coma for several days.

  Payton would never forget how Cody had looked that night in the hospital after Luc had found her. No matter how despicable she found him, she’d always be grateful for him helping Cody that night. He could have driven right by.

  “You can quit staring at me.” He said it so mildly, like she was amusing him. Was that all this was to him, something fun or a diversion from whatever kind of life he had?

  The kind of life where people blew up his home and he barely blinked. She didn’t understand it. There was no way she’d ever be able to live like that. How did he do it?

  By blackmailing people?

  “I’m not staring. When can we get out of here?”

  “Not for a while. Why don’t you lay back and try to get some sleep? It’s after three.”

  “So when can I leave?” When could she get home, take a shower, and scrub this night off her skin somehow? “I need to get home.”

  “In the morning.”

  “It’s morning now.” She wanted out of there, wanted to get far away from this guy and this surreal world.

  He stalked across the small room and settled on the bed beside her. So big, so overwhelming, so male. “Here’s how this is going to work. The sun will be up, and we’re still going to stay in here. Until I see exactly how much damage has been done and see who shows up. And until my security people give the signal. They’re up there and they’re watching to keep us safe. I’m trusting them to do that to the best of their training and abilities. Then we’re going to take the second way out of here. To the car I have waiting. I’ll drive you home. Then I’ll come back here, shocked at the damage done to my home while I was away. No word or mention of you will appear connected to
this anywhere.”

  “You think people will believe that? What about my car? And the guy you have at the gate?”

  “There is nothing left of your car. And my people are loyal to me. They won’t talk.”

  Why did the matter-of-fact way he said it bother her almost more than the knowledge that her car was gone? Because he didn’t seem to care? She’d bought that car by herself, and had scrimped in the early months to make the payments. It was her car. And now it was gone. What was she supposed to do, just forget about it? There wasn’t anything else she could do, was there? “And what about Cody and Lucy?”

  “What about them?”

  “You’re not going to do anything to get Cody in trouble?”

  Chapter Seven

  Luc studied her. Did she know how sweet she looked? Her hair was messed up; the ponytail band had slipped a bit. Her hair was long, and had curl in it. He wanted to touch it again—now that he knew just how soft it was. “I don’t plan to do anything to jeopardize Cody or Lucy. But it depends on you. If you agree to keep this quiet, then everything will proceed as planned. Cody and Lucy will be together, and Lucy will be safe. And you’ll have a brand new car out of the deal. I don’t understand why you would have a problem with that.”

  “I don’t! I just don’t want Cody to get in trouble. Legal trouble. And I don’t want your car.”

  He had her, he knew it. He stood over the bed and crossed his arms, staring down at her. So open, wasn’t she? He could see practically every thought that was crossing her mind. “Then you agree to keep your mouth shut? That’s all it will take.”

  She didn’t like it, but he knew she’d cooperate. He surprised himself by pressing a kiss to her forehead. He’d never done that to a woman before. She jumped, then stared up at him, wide-eyed. So innocent. He wanted to laugh—and then gobble her up. “Good girl.”

  ***

  It was one of the longest nights of her life. Payton sat curled in the corner of the bed and thought, the dogs both snuggled against her. And between her and him. She drifted off once or twice—it had been a long work day, and she’d been up since five, doing her best to help find her missing colleagues and friends—but she never forgot the fact that there was a fire above them, and she was trapped inside a bunker. It was a large one, but it was still a bunker. Trapped with a madman. The whole idea was insane. No one would believe her, even if she did tell them. The crazy rich guy dragged me to his underground bunker while the world exploded above us. Yeah. They’d believe that, especially without proof. Other than her exploded car—which may or may not be identifiable. And how much damage was there to his home? They were shipping containers! Weren’t they supposed to be impenetrable? Would an explosive device even make a dent in his home? Other than to the glass of the main entryway, which had stretched at least forty feet.

  When she was feeling ridiculous, it was his lair. And he was a monster. She didn’t doubt that. As soon as she was out of this place she was getting far away from him. She didn’t know what she’d do about her car, but she had some savings built up. It had been intended for a down payment on a house. She’d been saving for several years; buying a new car would set her back in her plans for a few years, but she could still manage. She needed a car.

  Should she take him up on his offer to replace it? Shouldn’t she hold him responsible for what had happened to her car? She was just lucky she’d gotten out of the car before someone attacked him! He should be responsible, shouldn’t he? But then again, he wasn’t the one who’d done it. Should she hold him responsible for someone else’s actions?

  Like Cody had been held for hers by Hugh? She wasn’t like that. She wasn’t. But…

  “I need a car.” She said it more to herself than to him, but he heard her.

  He barely looked at her. “Of course you do. You’ll have a new one by this afternoon. Which color would you prefer? Are you partial to foreign or domestic?”

  He was absolutely serious, wasn’t he? He was just going to go out and buy her a car, just like that? Or order someone else to buy it for her. Some lackey, or someone like that. “I…you can’t just…”

  “Would you like one just like the one you had?”

  She nodded. She didn’t know what else to do, to say. She’d never really known anyone who could just so casually talk about buying a complete stranger a car without hesitation. Why did the idea of him buying her one bother her so much? Because it was almost as if he was trying to buy her silence? Was that it? “When? I need to work tonight. Earlier.” She didn’t know when she’d be called in, and with Carrie and Al still missing, everyone was being kept on call.

  “You’ll have a ride to work this evening. What time?”

  “I have to be there by three.” She’d volunteered to work her department—Questionable Documents—as long as needed. Normally Payton worked nine to six each weekday. “I like to get there early.”

  “I’ll probably be tied up with the fire department for several hours. I’ll have your car sent to your home address. I’ll take care of plating and insurance, as well. I do apologize for involving you in this matter.”

  “Who did it?” Why had it just now occurred to her to ask who had attacked his home so violently? Shouldn’t that have been one of her first questions? “Why would they blow up your house?”

  “They didn’t. They blew up the front entry of my house. Mostly they made a big mess of glass. I’ve pissed someone off, apparently.” He grinned at her, completely unrepentant. “Who knows?”

  “But how and why?”

  “By being me, apparently. It happens. One reason my house is made out of steel. People get stupid when other people have more money than they do, and I’ve had my fair share of stalkers. Probably more than my fair share, to be honest. I’m not telling you anything else. After this afternoon you won’t have any connection to me at all. And I suggest you stay far away from me. For your own protection, of course. Think you can do that? I know how magnetic I can be.”

  “Absolutely. I doubt it will be a hardship.” And she’d be warning Cody to stay away from him.

  But…she would have to tell Cody why she should stay away from him. And that meant telling Cody what Payton had learned, didn’t it? Cody wouldn’t appreciate Payton’s interference. Not at all. Cody didn’t like people in her business; her friend was fiercely independent.

  And if she told Cody that meant telling her friend everything. Like the fact that she had been with this guy when his house was bombed. That would just make Cody worry more than she wanted. Cody sometimes took being overprotective with Payton too far. Hugh attacking them hadn’t helped matters in that regard. “I won’t go to the police or the FBI about this, or about what I found, if you promise me something.”

  She’d surprised him—it was in his eyes. “What?”

  She stared right at him, knowing that she couldn’t back up her words. “Promise me that Cody will be ok. No matter what. She’s my best friend, and she’s been through enough because of me. Promise me. If you don’t…the first person I am telling all about you will be my boss. And I’ll keep digging until I have even more to tell him. Everything you’ve ever done. I won’t have Cody hurt. No matter what.”

  ***

  Trying to beat him at his own game, was she? She didn’t stand a chance, even if he believed her. Which he didn’t. How could he? But it might be fun to let her get away with thinking she had him by the balls. That thought his attention going in a direction he knew she wouldn’t appreciate. She could get him by the balls, if she really wanted to. With just a smile and a tilt of her head. With just a touch.

  He was too damned horny for his own good, wasn’t he?

  She was fast becoming very amusing. “Do you really think that is going to happen?”

  She lifted her chin, and he couldn’t help noticing again how wholesome she looked, with her university sweatshirt, faded jeans, and hair in such a girlish style. Did she realize how vulnerable she was?

  He could capitalize on th
at vulnerability. It would be mildly amusing, wouldn’t it?

  If he was any other kind of man, he’d have her naked beneath him exploring that vulnerability. Beasts always hungered for the beauties. Why should he be any exception.

  But even if the rest of the world doubted him, he knew the truth, knew the kind of man Manny had raised him to be. One with honor. One with a damned conscience.

  This Beast would leave the girl alone. Pity.

  At least he could fantasize.

  Chapter Eight

  Every family had the one. The one member who just didn’t understand the dichotomy of the family, who was always just one step behind the rest. Her stepson was their one. She’d given him a position within her organization four years ago, when he’d stumbled into her records after the death of her husband. And she had made a vow to the man she’d married twenty-plus years ago to take care of and guide the son he’d had with his first wife.

  Surprisingly, he’d had a bit of aptitude for procuring merchandise, and at first it had bemused her. Until she realized it was because he was drawn to the end result of her work, to the girls who were his for the picking. A year earlier she’d allowed him to assume a good portion of the supply chain. He’d surprised her with how well he’d handled the business end of things.

  He was no businessman, and they both pretended he was. A year now, and this was his first serious fuck up. But she wasn’t a fool; she’d prepared for him to mess up, and had put safeguards in place. She knew men well enough to know that the little head would guide him into trouble eventually. She had walls in place.

  Walls to keep his name and dirty work from even coming close to touching her side of things. Still, she did not want his carelessness with the merchandise to become a habit. This was the second time in two months he’d had to clean up after himself…