Night Intrigue [Night 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Leah Brooke

  Ian landed hard on the other side of her, wrapping himself around her from behind. “Baby, are you hurt anywhere?”

  She gripped Alastair’s jacket, her breathing ragged. “N-no. I just can’t c-catch my b-breath.”

  Ian ran his hand over her back. “He stopped shooting and went back inside. Easy, baby.”

  Alastair gathered her against him, exchanging a look with his brother. That son of a bitch.

  Ian’s anger equaled his, the underlying rage in the voice he used to calm Serena unmistakable. I’m going after him. Get Serena the hell out of here. Jumping to his feet, he raced toward DuBois’s house.

  Be careful. He’s out of control. Alastair wrapped his arms around Serena, got to his feet, and started running, her light weight once again reminding him just how delicate she was. “Come on, Rip. You did good. Just calm down, honey, and get your breath back.”

  Serena fisted a hand in his jacket. “You can’t b-be seen t-together.”

  “Ian’s already gone, honey. You did good, baby. Real good.”

  “So did Rip.”

  “There’s a difference. Rip did what he was told to do. You blocked us out because you were scared.” Running hard, he held her close, making his way to the tree-lined street.

  “You two look scary as hell in those masks.” Serena finally caught her breath and pushed against him. “Put me down.”

  “In a minute.”

  “How did you know that I was scared? I didn’t reach out to you.”

  “Yeah. I know.” He placed her in the passenger seat of the car before running around the hood, stripping his facemask off as he slid into the driver’s seat, and started the engine. Sparing her a glance, he shifting into gear. “It’s something we’re going to discuss—at length—when we get home. I’m sure Ian’s going to have quite a bit to say about it, too.”

  Chapter Nine

  Alastair’s hands still shook as he led Serena into the living room, the thought of how close she’d come to being shot twisting his stomach into knots.

  Dropping onto the sofa, he pulled her down with him, yanking her onto his lap and burying his face in her jet-black hair, breathing in the clean, feminine scent of her. “Christ, you scared the hell out of me.”

  Taking a shuddering breath, she lifted a hand to his hair. “There was no need. I knew it would be all right.”

  Holding her close, he rocked her, breathing in the scent of her. Love for her gripped him by the throat, threatening to choke him. Fisting a hand in her hair to keep her in place, he leaned over her, the thought of how close he’d come to losing her infuriating him.

  One look into her violet eyes and the apprehension in them cooled some of his temper, but her reaction kept the rest of it very much alive. “Are you telling me that you saw it before you even went in there?”

  * * * *

  Ian walked through the door just in time to hear Alastair’s curt question.

  Going after DuBois hadn’t given him much satisfaction.

  One punch to the face and the other man had gone down without any fight at all, and Ian’s temper remained at fever pitch.

  Biting her lip, Serena nodded. “It was the dream that Ian woke me from.” She went readily into Ian’s arms when he lifted her from his brother’s lap, but she continued to look at Alastair. “I warned Rip. I swear. I wouldn’t have let him get hurt. He did good, didn’t he?”

  Ian fought back another surge of anger. Gritting his teeth, he lifted her face to his, forcing her to look at him. “You knew that he was going to shoot at you?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “And you told Rip but didn’t tell us?”

  Lifting her chin, Serena tried to pull out of his hold, her eyes going wide when she couldn’t. “If I’d told you, you wouldn’t have let me go.”

  Satisfied that his mood unnerved her, he pushed his advantage. “That’s right, and it’s my decision to make. We work together, or not at all, Serena.”

  Gripping his jacket, she pulled herself up, her lips enticingly close to his. “I’m sorry, Ian, but I knew that you wouldn’t have let me meet Jean Paul alone if you’d known he would shoot at me. I knew it would be all right.”

  Ian stared into her eyes, seeing the lie in the way she kept averting her gaze. “Oh, yeah? How?”

  Serena gulped, not liking the hard glint in Ian’s eyes. She would have given a lot to know his thoughts at that moment. “What do you mean, how?”

  His icy smile sent a chill down her spine, the sense of foreboding making her shiver. His touch was gentle as he ran his fingertips down her cheek, but his eyes remained hard and cold. “How did you know that everything would be all right when I woke you up before the dream had finished?”

  Serena gulped again and lifted her chin. “I knew.”

  “Liar.” Smoothing a hand over her cheek, he bent low and nipped her bottom lip, making it sting. “I’ve given you a lot of leeway because I know that being able to read minds hasn’t been easy on you.” Bending to touch his lips to her, he ran his tongue over her bottom lip, easing the sting. “I know you’re not used to relationships of any kind, and having two lovers has been a hell of an adjustment.”

  Hoping he’d begun to soften, she reached up to cup his cheek, smiling up at him. “Living with me must be a hell of an adjustment for you and Alastair, too.”

  “Oh, believe me. It is.” His grip tightened, a telling sign that he was still angrier than she’d suspected. Lifting his head slightly, he looked down at her, his gaze hooded. “I make a lot of allowances for you, Serena. I understand your need to get involved and test your wings, but in return, I expect you to understand that I’m worried about your safety. You have no experience in this sort of thing, and I expect you to respect our worry for you and to defer to our experience.”

  His hand slid over her ass, the quick slap making her jolt. “I’ll put up with a lot from you, but I won’t tolerate being lied to.”

  Humbled and embarrassed at the knowledge that she’d worried them so much, Serena nodded. “You’re right. Things could have gone much worse.”

  A muscle worked in Ian’s jaw. “As if your being shot at wasn’t bad enough.”

  With what could have only been described as a snarl, Ian set her on the sofa and got to his feet, every line of his body tense with fury. “I can’t go through this again, Serena, and I’ll be damned if I’ll put up with you not only putting yourself in danger but potentially jeopardizing our assignment and our covers. I have to be able to trust you to be completely honest, and tonight you’ve shown me that I can’t.”

  Watching him storm out of the room, Serena sighed, feeling even worse.

  Lifting her gaze to Alastair’s, she found him watching her steadily. “I know. I was wrong to keep the truth from you.”

  Leaning back against the corner of the sofa, Alastair just stared at her, his hand fisted against his jaw.

  Squirming, she shrugged. “I wanted to help, and you and Ian wouldn’t have let me.”

  When Alastair remained silent, she bent to remove her boots before settling back again. “I like being useful. I like being part of something. I like belonging. I never have before.”

  Alastair’s brow went up. “We have to be able to trust each other, Serena, and not only when it comes to our relationship. You get upset when we wonder if you can read our thoughts, but then you turn around and don’t tell us that DuBois would shoot at you. How are we supposed to trust you?”

  Nodding, she blinked back tears and stood before he could see them. “I was wrong. I messed up. I thought about it all the way home. So many things could have gone wrong. I’ve just been so excited that I finally found a purpose for my gift that I wasn’t thinking.”

  “And you didn’t trust us enough to tell us this?”

  “I was afraid that you wouldn’t understand. You’re both too protective.”

  “As your lovers, that’s our responsibility, and our right.” With a sigh, he got to his feet. “Ian’s right. We’ve given
you a lot of leeway. You’re going to have to learn to start giving us some.”

  With a heavy heart, Serena watched him go.

  She hated that she’d disappointed both of them.

  She’d messed up, and it was up to her to make things right.

  Getting to her feet, she went in search of Ian.

  * * * *

  Bench pressing, Ian had worked up a healthy sweat, but he knew it would be a while before the anger inside him cooled. He’d changed into shorts and a T-shirt to work out, and sweat poured off of him.

  He knew he would live the scene outside DuBois’s house over and over, the sound of gunshots, and the horror of running toward Serena in the dark, but not being able to see her.

  Not knowing if she already lay on the ground. Dead.

  He continued to do reps, fueled by anger to do more than he usually did.

  Loving her made him extremely vulnerable, more vulnerable than he’d ever felt in his life.

  She didn’t seem to realize how much danger they faced and tended to walk into situations with excitement and curiosity, with little regard to her safety.

  Something had to be done, and he’d done it.

  Although she didn’t make a sound coming down the basement stairs, he felt her presence behind him.

  “Ian, can we talk?”

  Gritting his teeth, he continued his workout. “I’ve said all I have to say on the subject.”

  Moving into his line of vision, Serena smiled. “I doubt that.” She moved closer until she stood right beside him, chewing her lower lip the way she did when she was nervous about something. “I have some things to say.” Running a finger over his sweaty thigh, she eyed him steadily. “Will you listen to me?”

  He racked the weights to give her his undivided attention. “I always do, don’t I?” Sitting up, he stripped off his shirt and wiped his face and chest with it before tossing it aside. “I’m listening.”

  Crossing her arms over her chest, Serena eyed him coolly, but the shadow of fear in her eyes struck Ian hard.

  “I love you. I know I didn’t tell you everything, and I’m sorry.” A choked sob erupted. “I don’t want to lose you.”

  Knowing that appeasing her wouldn’t solve anything, Ian rose, fighting the urge to take her in his arms and give her whatever she wanted.

  He couldn’t risk her safety—not even for her.

  Keeping her in his line of sight, he went to the refrigerator. “I love you, Serena. Being mad at you doesn’t change that.” He opened the refrigerator and retrieved two bottles of water, closing it again before turning back to her. “Our personal lives and professional lives should never have mixed. They won’t anymore.”

  Serena sighed and lowered herself to his weight bench. “I deserved that.”

  Ian moved closer to her, opening a bottle of water before handing it to her. “I’m not punishing you, Serena.”

  “Yes, you are. You’re shutting me out.”

  “You shut us out. You kept something very important from us, something that could have changed everything. I’m not asking you to tell me about every dream you have. I’m sure some are personal, but this one was directly connected to our assignment. It showed a threat toward you that you didn’t tell us about. You want to use your gift for good? How about letting us know when there’s a possibility that you’ll be in danger?”

  “I know. You’re right. I kept it from you.” She closed both hands over the bottle, staring down at it. “You have to admit, though, that if I’d told you that Jean Paul would shoot at me, you never would have let me go.”

  “Not a chance in hell.”

  “I can help, you know.”

  Ian inclined his head. “You could have been a great help.”

  “But you won’t let me.”

  Cracking open his water, Ian shook his head. “No.” Gulping down about half of the bottle, he watched her fidget out of the corner of his eye, hoping that he’d finally gotten through to her. After lowering the bottle again, he gestured toward the stairs. “If that’s it, I’m gonna go take a shower.”

  “No. That’s not it. You and I have to come to some sort of understanding.”

  Ian shrugged. “I think we understand each other perfectly well. You keep things hidden so you don’t worry us, right?”

  “Well, yes, but—”

  “And I’m not willing to risk your life for an assignment, especially when you know that you’re going to be in danger and don’t tell us. So, baby, you’re out.”

  “Damn it, Ian!” Serena jumped to her feet and began pacing across the mats.

  Sounds like she’s furious. Do you want me to leave the two of you alone?

  No. You’re part of this, too. Grab the lube and the condoms. Watching her ass sway back and forth on those tight pants has me riled up to fuck her ass good.

  On my way.

  Serena moved closer, looking up at him through her lashes. “Can’t we work this out? I really want to help you.”

  Ian allowed a small smile, wondering what would happen if she ever realized what that beseeching look in her stunning eyes did to him. Fighting the urge to crush her against him, Ian lifted his bottle again and finished the water.

  Tossing the bottle aside, he crossed his arms over his chest, knowing that he had to get the upper hand—and keep it—to keep her safe, as her confidence and daring continued to grow on a daily basis. “You like the excitement, and you like outmaneuvering our suspects. You constantly try to outmaneuver me. Not gonna happen, baby.”

  * * * *

  Serena laid a hand on his chest, hiding a smile at his sharp intake of breath. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll promise to tell you whatever I dream or see or find out by reading someone’s thoughts, if you promise to try to let me help regardless.” Shaking her head when he opened his mouth to speak, she stepped closer. “I mean it, Ian. You have to try to promise to find a way to let me help, even if we have to make some adjustments to the plan.”

  Ian’s lips twitched, a cold calculating glitter in his eyes. “And if I don’t? You gonna run out on us?”

  “Good question.” Alastair came down the stairs with a glass of wine in his hand, his feet silent on the hardwood stairs.

  “Of course not!” Serena stepped back from Ian to face both of them. “I’m not making any ultimatums. I’m asking. I need this, damn it!”

  Ian lifted a brow. “And I need you to be safe and to know that I have every bit of information available. It appears we’re both destined for disappointment.” He reached into the refrigerator again to retrieve another bottle of water. “If we’re done with that subject, I’m really looking forward to stripping you out of those clothes.”

  Amused that, even in the middle of a disagreement, one look from him had her blood pumping, she took a step back, hiding a smile. “Ian, we have to work this out.”

  After finishing his second bottle of water, he took a step closer, and then another, his eyes raking over her, sending little shivers of delight from head to toe. “I can do two things at once.”

  Holding out a hand, she blew out a breath. “Okay. There’s something else.”

  Alastair shared a look with his brother before stepping closer. “Something else you haven’t told us about?”

  Nodding, Serena blew out a breath and dropped to the weight bench again. “I’m afraid to change things.”

  Alastair frowned and moved closer to kneel beside her. “What are you saying? Change what?”

  Lifting her gaze, she met his, inadvertently squeezing the water bottle so tightly that water shot out of the top. “My dreams. If I try to change them, something bad happens.”

  Taking the bottle from her, Alastair took her hand in his, the concern in his eyes bringing tears to hers. “Like what? Talk to us.”

  Restless, Serena pulled away from him and got to her feet. “When I was a little girl, I had a favorite teacher. I dreamed that she was going to die in a car accident. By then, I didn’t have any friends because I used to
tell people about my dreams, and they all thought I was some sort of freak. No one wanted to be around me because they were afraid I would see something bad about them. It was like being a leper.”

  Moving to the rack of weights, she ran her fingers over them, immediately getting several mental pictures of Ian and Alastair using them. Jerking her hand back, she turned to them again. “Mrs. Emery wasn’t like them. It was obvious that I made her nervous, but at least she was nice to me. I told her what I saw. She was out alone at night, and a drunk driver hit her car. I told her where it would be, but I didn’t know when. My dreams are much clearer now than they were then. She turned white and got this strange look on her face and told me that she would be taking that road the next night.”

  Wrapping her arms around herself, she blew out a breath, irritated that she trembled. “She must have believed me because when she went out that night, she had her husband with her. They were both killed.”

  Ian took a step toward her, but she backed away, knowing that if he took her in his arms, she’d fall apart. “No. Let me finish.”

  Alastair shared another look with Ian and lowered himself to the weight bench where she’d sat before. “Go ahead, honey.”

  Serena nodded and kept moving, slowly strolling to the other side of the room. “It happened again when I saw my mother’s death. I dreamed that we were in the hospital, in a room that had Christmas decorations hung on the wall. I was holding her hand, and the doctor came in to tell me that she only had a few months left.” Turning, she looked at each of them, unsurprised to find both men watched her intently. “I woke one morning to find my mother unconscious and had to call the ambulance. Imagine my horror when we went to the hospital, and she was given a room decorated the same way I’d seen in my dream. I tore them down and threw them in the trash. The doctor came in just as she had a heart attack. They couldn’t revive her.”

  Alastair rushed to her side, gathering her against him. “Oh, honey.”

  “If I’d left things alone, I could have had a few more precious months with her.”