by Becca Van
“Okay, thanks. I would feel a lot better having some company. Especially after those two women went missing.”
“What women?” Linton asked.
Codi figured he wanted to know how she knew about the missing women since the news wasn’t supposed to have been released to the media yet.
Nyssa told them about the phone call from the reporter and then the visit from the sheriff and his deputy.
“I feel so sorry for them, but mostly for their families. It would be hell not knowing what’s happened to a member of your family.”
“Do you remember them at all, Nyssa?” Bryden asked.
“Yes. That’s the worst part. Knowing that I was one of the last people to see them before they disappeared kind of makes me feel sick to my stomach.”
“Don’t worry too much, honey.” Linton rose and walked toward her. He placed a hand on her back and rubbed in a soothing manner. “I’m sure everything is being done to find those women.”
“I hope so. The sheriff and his deputy came to see me today, but the women have been missing for three days. Thank you for dinner and the coffee.” Nyssa gave a small wave to Bryden and Linton.
“You’re welcome, honey. See you soon.”
“Bye, Nyssa, sleep well.” Bryden smiled.
Codi led Nyssa out the door and down the drive. He cursed the fact it wouldn’t take him long to walk her home. Although he was glad she lived behind them, he would have liked to have spent more time with her. But there was always tomorrow. He didn’t want to like her, but he did. He was fighting an inner battle which could go either way. She got to him on an emotional level as well as a physical one. His cock had been hard since the first moment he had set eyes on her, but after the Katlynn incident he didn’t really want to feel such an attraction. Plus he and his brothers had a job to do.
The first one was breaking into the clinic tonight to set up surveillance equipment and the next was to run a check on the local sheriff and deputy. They also needed to travel the streets of Butte to see if they could get a reading on the missing women. The longer they were gone, the more likely they would die, and that was something he didn’t think he could live with.
“Why did you and your brothers take me out?” Nyssa asked out of the blue and caught him off guard with her blunt question.
“Um, well, Linton told us that he was attracted to you as soon as he saw you.”
“Okay.” Nyssa drew out that word and then looked up at him as they walked. “If he’s attracted to me, then why did you and Bryden come on our date?”
“We have a very close relationship.” Codi stopped walking and turned to face her. “We are always attracted to the same women and Linton wanted us to meet you, too.”
Nyssa just stared up at him and blinked a few times, her mouth straightening into a tight line. Then she turned and began to walk again.
Codi knew he had screwed up when she stomped off. He wanted to elaborate on how he and his brothers wanted to share a woman between them, but it was too early for him to tell her that. He could feel the anger emanating from her, but until they all decided to pursue her he didn’t want to reveal too much about him and his brothers.
He stood on her front porch as she rifled in her purse for her keys and then unlocked her door. She turned back to face him, and although he could still feel anger radiating off of her, he could also feel sexual attraction.
Codi wanted to wrap her in his arms and kiss her until they were both senseless, and by the way her eyes had dilated, she wouldn’t be averse to him making a move on her, but he was too uncertain of his instincts since Katlynn and wasn’t sure he wanted to start something with her. They had a job to do, and being distracted by her wasn’t necessarily a good thing as far as he was concerned. He swayed toward her, and when he realized what he was doing he took a step back.
“Go inside and lock up,” Codi ordered. “I want to be certain you’re safe before I leave.”
Nyssa sighed and then entered her house and slammed the door closed behind her. When he heard the lock click into place he headed back to their temporary home, trying to push Nyssa from his mind.
They had a job to do.
* * * *
As the door closed behind Nyssa and Codi, Bryden let out a breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding.
“I told you so,” Linton said smugly from the couch.
Bryden put his hands on his hips and began to pace. “You didn’t say she was beautiful.”
“Do you think she’s interested?”
“I don’t know.” Bryden knew he was, though. He felt a connection to her that he hadn’t felt with another woman, Katlynn included. “I could feel that she was attracted to us, but we don’t know how she is going to react once she knows all three of us want her. She may not want to have anything to do with us once she finds out we want to share her.”
He stopped pacing. “What about Codi?”
The smirk faded from Linton’s face. “You think he’s still hung up on Katlynn?”
“It may take him time.” He and Linton had been worried about Codi since the Katlynn episode. Although when working he was full of confidence and a real badass, ever since they had found out that bitch had been a criminal, his brother seemed to doubt his instincts where women were concerned.
But Bryden didn’t think his dominant brother would be able to resist such a sexy, sweet woman for long.
“Whatever Codi decides,” Linton said, “I’m going to do everything I can to get closer to her.”
“And get her into your bed,” Bryden added skeptically.
“Into our bed. She’s perfect for us.”
Bryden agreed. He had privately resigned himself to returning to the stud and settling down without a woman in their lives. All three of them wanted to return to the stud farm, their teammates, and the other women, but doing so with the woman they loved would make it a perfect homecoming.
They’d have to wait and see, though. Knowing this wasn’t Linton’s strong suit, Bryden warned, “Don’t pressure Codi.”
Linton held up his hands. “Don’t look at me, bro. He’s the one who volunteered to take her home.”
“Good point.” Still, he and Linton would have to somehow convince Nyssa and Codi that this could work. Keeping Nyssa safe from Marcus Keaton seemed more important than ever, too. His determination bolstered, Bryden prepared for the night’s mission. By the time Codi returned, he had all their equipment prepared.
“We’re ready to go,” Bryden said as soon as Codi walked in the front door.
“Good. Did either of you get any strong emotions of fear while walking through town?”
Linton began to pace. “I felt fear close to the back of the clinic. I wanted to check it out, but the window in the doctor’s office faced that way and there was no way in hell I was going to blow our cover by looking around in broad daylight.”
“That doesn’t make sense, Lint. The women were seen leaving the doctor’s office.”
“Who’s to say they weren’t abducted and taken back there after hours?” Bryden hypothesized.
“Then that means they may still be close. We’ll have to look around.” Codi loaded up with weapons and pulled on his Kevlar vest. “Okay, let’s head on out.”
At the clinic, Codi parked the truck on a side street away from prying eyes, and they easily jumped the fence into the backyard.
There was what looked like a small garden shed in the rear corner of the yard, but the door was gaping open. Bryden headed straight for it and swung his flashlight around the interior, but there was nothing to indicate the women had been there. He headed toward the clinic building.
It took Linton all of three seconds to pick the lock on the back door, and then they were inside. After they searched the building to make sure it was empty, Bryden got to work. He placed the smallest cameras in the doctor’s rooms and tapped the phones while Codi booted up the computer and began to search its contents.
They worked with their shields
down so they could pick up any emotions close by, and by the time Bryden had finished placing all his devices he was beginning to feel the effects. Although it had only been three days since they had left home, walking around town with his shields down throughout the day was taking its toll. He wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and sleep. He just hoped that “Dr. Jones” said or did something to lead them to the missing women, because at the moment he and his brothers didn’t know where to start looking.
“Anything?” Bryden asked Codi in a near whisper when his brother leaned back in the office chair.
Codi shook his head.
“Shit. Okay, get out of the way and let me at the computer. I’m going to run a program that will let me see whatever he does on this machine.”
“What about the one in reception?” Linton questioned.
“That’s Nyssa’s computer. You don’t honestly think she’s involved, do you?”
“No but ‘Jones’ may be using her machine after hours.”
Bryden ran his hand over his face in frustration. Glancing at his watch, he saw that it was already after two a.m. It took time to set up the computer program. They would be lucky to get out of there before four. Biting back a curse, he headed out to the reception area and got to work.
After he grabbed a couple of hours’ sleep he and his brothers would be back out on the streets. It had been over seventy-two hours since the two women had gone missing. For all he knew, they weren’t even in the area anymore. And if he and his brothers failed, if they couldn’t keep these women safe, maybe they didn’t deserve a woman of their own.
Chapter Five
As Nyssa worked she thought about the date she’d had last night. All three of the brothers had been attentive, helping her in and out of the truck and guiding her into the restaurant, and Linton had held her hand the whole way home. Are they all interested in me? Or are they playing some sort of game?
She didn’t like the fact that they could be playing with her emotions. That was another reason why she never dated anymore. Her last boyfriend had only gone out with her until she’d put out. Once they’d had sex, he had dumped her. Never again, she vowed. Been there, done that, and she had the T-shirt. Nyssa had thought she was in love with Tony when she’d been intimate with him. Looking back, she realized that she had been in love with the idea of being in love. She’d liked feeling infatuated.
She had decided since then that she wasn’t going to date unless she was sure of her feelings, and if she did then she would have to be very sure of the man’s feelings, too. Well, if Linton or one of the other Wade brothers asked her out, she would refuse.
Pushing her thoughts aside she glanced at the clock when the phone rang. Thank God. Only two hours until she could go home. Picking up the phone she held it to her ear.
“Dr. Jones’s office, Nyssa speaking.”
“Hi, sweetheart, how’s your day going?”
“Linton?”
“You got it in one. Do you finish at 5:30 today?”
“Yes,” she replied tentatively.
“Good, I’ll pick you up.”
“No.”
“What?”
“I said no. I don’t know what kind of game you and your brothers are playing, but I want no part of it.”
There was a stunned silence on the other end of the line. Bet he’s not used to women saying no to him.
He finally said, “Nyssa, we aren’t playing any games.”
“Yeah right.”
“It’s true, baby. We are all very attracted to you.”
“Sorry, I have to go.” Nyssa hung up and noticed her hand was shaking as she replaced the receiver on the hook.
Shit! Why do I have to attract the assholes?
With a sigh she pushed her thoughts of the three men aside and got back to work. By the time she was due to quit, Nyssa felt emotionally exhausted. It was one thing to deal with an asshole of a boss, quite another to deal with men who were playing with her emotions. Why couldn’t they just come out and explain what they wanted from her? The only thing that made her feel more exhausted was trying to figure out why she liked all three of them.
Having made sure everything was closed and off, Nyssa went to let Dr. Jones know she was leaving. She was about to knock on his door when she heard her name.
“Nyssa Mathis is an innocent little thing, very naïve but dedicated to her work…Yes, I have her medical report with me. She’s just what we’re looking for…Not yet but soon, very soon.”
Nyssa smiled at the praise. Never would she have thought to hear him extolling her hard work. She worked hard because she hated being idle, and if there was something that needed to be done, she got right in there and did it.
With a knock on the door, she called out, “I’m leaving now, Dr. Jones.”
“Fine. Make sure the front door is locked when you leave,” he barked out.
“Will do.” Nyssa grabbed her purse and headed out. If he likes me so much and thinks I do a good job, why does he have to be such a prick? Maybe he was one of those people who didn’t like to show any emotion.
With a shrug, she locked the door and began to walk. When she reached the corner she noticed the black truck with tinted windows. The driver’s door opened and Codi scowled at her.
“What the hell was that all about, Nyssa?”
“I don’t know why you’re here. I told Linton I don’t want to go out with you or your brothers, Mr. Wade.” Nyssa began walking again. She only took two steps before Codi grasped her arm and stopped her.
“Get in the truck.”
“Who do you think you are?”
He frowned and released her, though Nyssa didn’t think he was going to let her off that easy. Through gritted teeth, he said, “You live behind us, for God’s sake. I’m here now, so you may as well come with me.”
Nyssa decided not to reply at all.
Before she had even finished turning away, Codi’s hand was on her arm. Wow, he moves fast.
“There are some things you need to know, Nyssa.” He spoke softly and right in her ear. The hairs on her neck prickled both at his proximity and at his words. “Your life could be in danger.”
“What are you talking about?” She didn’t try to pull her arm away, and when he guided her to the truck, she let him.
“I’ll tell you when we get back to our place.”
Nyssa just stared at Codi and wondered if this was another game he was playing. He opened the door and looked at her as if waiting for her answer.
“You have to trust me, Nyssa,” he said in the same low voice. His gaze seemed to be burning into her. She couldn’t look away.
Do I trust him? Though she wondered if they were playing with her emotions, she didn’t think they would risk her safety. Codi seemed utterly serious.
“Okay,” she said. The word was barely out of her mouth before he had her in the passenger seat and buckled up. Instead of looking at him she looked out the side window and kept silent. She was going to be mad as hell if this was a trick, but judging by his white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel and the ticking muscle in his clenched jaw, she didn’t think so.
If it was the last thing she did today, she would damn well find out what was going on.
* * * *
Bryden heard the truck pull into the driveway and walked to the window to peek out around the curtains. Nyssa was in the passenger seat. He was glad she was here, but she didn’t look happy about it. He hurried back to the living room and prepared the recording his laptop had taken when he’d been on the phone not long ago. His gut had roiled when he’d heard that conversation. Jones gave little away, but Bryden knew without a doubt that Nyssa was in danger.
Codi opened the door, giving Nyssa a gentle push to get her to enter the house. She glared at him and Linton, who was sitting on the sofa watching her, and then turned her glare to Codi. Bryden lowered his shields so he could get a read on her. Even if he hadn’t it wouldn’t have taken a genius to figure out that she was m
ad as hell.
She stomped across the timber floor and sank down into the armchair away from them. Clutching her purse to her chest, she gave them all a scowl.
“Start talking.”
Bryden leaned forward with his arms resting on his knees. “Before we explain, I have something I want you to listen to.”
At Nyssa’s nod, he started the recording on his laptop and watched her intently.
“Is our package still safe?”
“Yes, Doctor,” the man on the other end of the line answered in a smooth, cultured voice. “We’ll be moving it in about seven weeks. How secure are you?”
“Oh, I’m quite comfortable and I have a great receptionist.”
“Tell me about her.”
“Nyssa Mathis is an innocent little thing, very naïve but dedicated to her work.”
“Do you have any information on her?”
“Yes, I have her medical report with me. She’s just what we’re looking for…”
“Do you think we could…get her to work for us?”
“Not yet but soon, very soon.”
“Keep in touch, Doctor.”
“Oh yes. You know I will.”
“Why do you have a recording of my boss?” Nyssa frowned.
“I need you to listen to what I have to say without interruption,” Codi said. “When I’ve finished you can ask your questions. Okay?”
Nyssa gulped but nodded, indicating that she was nervous but willing to hear them out.
Bryden began explaining about the black-market organ-smuggling ring and how they had rescued numerous women from certain death. He told her they were part of an elite black operatives team trying to crack the ring. Linton and Codi interjected now and then, but not once did they tell her of their enhanced abilities. That would have to wait until they were sure she was the right woman for them. He felt her shock and then her fear, but he’d wanted to make sure she had nothing to do with her boss and his criminal activity. The deception didn’t sit well with him and he felt guilty over reading her emotions since now he was sure she was totally innocent.