by Leslie North
Frustrated, Spencer sat back in his seat and watched her. He was a careful guy, especially when it came to emotions, but maybe Kyle was right. Maybe Toni was lying to them all. Maybe she was feeding information to her father. And if that was the case, then he’d just played right into her hand today.
And playing the fool didn’t sit well with him. Not at all.
Back at the hotel, Toni threw herself into contacting everyone she knew in the relief aid community to help out with the attack victims. The way she saw it, people were hurt and scared and she had the capacity to help them. To do nothing would be unforgiveable. Never mind the fact she’d outright lied to Spencer in the limo, about the message she’d received from her father.
She sighed hard and rubbed her aching stomach.
Lying to the man sworn to protect her wasn’t exactly a great idea and one that made her nauseous. She didn’t like not telling him the truth, especially after they’d been intimate, but her father had asked her not to say anything to anyone and, well, she’d known her father all her life. She’d known Spencer Nixon a total of a week. Loyalty took time.
“Mind telling me what the hell you’re doing?” Spencer asked from the doorway to the dining room. Since their return, she’d turned the space into a makeshift staging area, storing the many donations of bottled water, medicine and blankets people had sent to the hotel, per her request, until the delivery truck came to take it all to the village.
“I’m having a party,” she said, her tone snarky. “What do you think I’m doing? I’m helping.”
“They have a plan for these kinds of things.” He walked over and inspected a pile of first aid kits. “Pretty sure they can handle it.”
“That means you’re just going to sit around and do nothing, huh? Admirable.”
Several emotions flashed through his eyes—pain, anger, defiance—in quick order, his expression hard. “I am not doing nothing.”
There was too much vehemence in his tone to ignore. “That’s what that phone call was about, wasn’t it?” she said. “You, doing nothing?” She took no pleasure in the answering flash in his eyes, no pleasure in the fact that what he’d been doing when all those children had died was her. He opened his mouth to speak, but she beat him to it. “Forget it. Just stay out of my way.”
“I hope you don’t think you’re taking this stuff out to the village yourself,” he said, moving in beside her when she refused to look at him. “They won’t let you in.”
“Like hell they won’t.” She pushed past him to grab another box to fill with supplies. “I’m Coran Williams’ daughter.”
“Which is exactly why you won’t be leaving this hotel room until the area is secure.”
“And you’re going to stop me?” she snorted. “I’d like to see that.”
“Be careful what you wish for.”
“Excuse me, ma’am,” Ayaan said from the doorway. “The delivery drivers are downstairs at the staging area.”
Shaking her head, Toni walked over to him. “Thank you. Please let them know I’ll be down momentarily to supervise.”
“Wrong.” Spencer walked over to join them. “Tell the delivery drivers to wait by the freight elevator. I’ll be down to take care of it. No one comes or goes here without my express approval. Got it?”
The butler looked from Spencer to Toni then back again. Finally, the man bowed and backed away. “As you wish, sir.”
“Perfect.” She gave Spencer an exasperated look. “Do you even know anything about coordinating a disaster relief effort? I’ve volunteered during Hurricane Katrina and the earthquakes in Haiti and Chili. I know exactly what needs to be done and when. You don’t have a clue.”
“Oh, I’ve got a clue all right.” He leaned closer and for a moment she thought he might kiss her again, but then he gave her a determined stare, a small muscle ticking near his tense jaw. “I’ve helped out in more war-torn areas than you could ever dream of, partner. Now sit down and make yourself comfy because you won’t be leaving here again until I say so. Understand? And stay the hell away from the windows.”
With that he walked out, steam practically rising from his furious expression.
Much as she hated to admit it, it was impressive—and more than a little bit of a turn-on—seeing him in full-on, alpha-male guardian mode, even if his overbearing ways chafed. And yeah, maybe he was right about her safety and security. Didn’t mean she had to like being a prisoner in her own suite.
She spent the next few hours trying to stay busy and not go stir crazy, busying herself with finalizing the inventory rosters for the disaster-relief drivers before they left. Keeping a record of the aid dispersed could be important later for those who had donated, as she knew from her own foundation. Then there was the final run-through for her speech at the PR even the next day.
By the time all of it was done, evening had fallen. While Spencer took a shower, she went over her presentation several times then ordered room service dinner for them before changing into her PJs for the night. After shoving her feet into her fuzzy pink slippers, she plugged her phone in on her nightstand, and jumped a little when the device buzzed unexpectedly in her hand. Onscreen appeared a text from none other than her illustrious father himself. Her heart fluttered, then pinched at his rare show of concern.
Be careful
Two words. Nothing more. Toni blinked away the sudden sting of tears and shut off the device. Honestly, she had no reason to get emotional about anything from her father. Knowing him, there was an ulterior motive to his concern anyway. The guy never did anything without some kind of expected return on his investment. Most likely he meant for her to be careful with his jet or his precious e-readers or some other such nonsense. The sentiment wasn’t about her. With her father, his interest was never about her.
She sniffled and went to hit Delete, then hesitated as a noise sounded from across the room. Spencer watched her from the doorway to her bedroom. Toni didn’t meet his eyes as she shut off her phone, sidled around him, and went back out into the hallway. “I ordered dinner while you were in the shower,” she said. “Should be here soon.”
“Are you sure everything’s all right?” he asked, walking beside her. He smelled of soap and clean, warm male and she wanted nothing more than to snuggle against him and have him tell her that everything would be okay. He took her arm and forced her to stop. “I can’t protect you if you don’t tell me the truth, Toni.”
“I’m fine. Everything’s fine.” She pulled free and went into the sitting room where she flopped down onto the pillow-covered gold velvet sofa. “Don’t worry about me.”
“It’s my job to worry about you.” His green eyes narrowed. “I don’t want things to be weird between us because of what happened earlier.”
Her stubborn mind flooded with images of them making love before she shoved them away. “No.” She scoffed, focusing on the throw pillow on her lap and not him. Definitely not him. “Of course not. We’re good.”
“Really?” He moved closer, his warmth intoxicating as he took a seat beside her, far too close for her comfort. “I think you’re lying.”
Flustered and more drawn to him than she cared to admit, Toni pushed as far back into the corner of the sofa as possible, hoping to put some distance between herself and temptation. “That’s the second time you’ve accused me of that today.”
“Toni, I—”
The ding of the elevator had her jumping off the couch before he could finish whatever he’d been about to say. “That’s our food. I’ll get it.”
She was nearly out of the room when he called out from behind her. “Toni?”
“Yes?” She halted, not turning around.
“We will finish this conversation.”
She didn’t respond, just headed for the elevators.
Chapter 8
The dress rehearsal was more crowded than Toni had anticipated. Sheik Saaed had apparently told all of his contacts who hadn’t been lucky enough to score tickets to the main eve
nt to come today. Plus, there was an influx of interest from the press due to relief efforts at the attacked village. She couldn’t be upset though. The citizens of Jubail were showing their gratitude, and though she hadn’t been looking for praise or recognition, that’s exactly what she got. In fact, the response of the people attending had been so overwhelming, it had taken over a half hour just to make it from the entrance to the ballroom back to the stage where her table and podium were set up, what with all the handshakes and hugs and gifts.
Spencer had thankfully kept the crowds at bay for the last twenty minutes or so, giving her a chance to go over her speech again and to make sure all the technology was working properly for her slideshow. He’d even insisted on running to the A/V booth in the corner to double check her USB connections for her so she could stay on stage and completely focus on her upcoming speech. She was just about to check the microphone at the podium, when someone grabbed her arm from behind.
“Where is your father, Toni?”
She whirled around to find a man she’d not expected to see again.
Miles Arrieta had attended several of her father’s functions a few years earlier for Williams Publishing. He’d introduced them, stating Arrieta was working on several projects for him. Miles had seemed polite enough, but there was always something about him that she didn’t trust. Maybe it was his shifty eyes or his unsettled manner. Or maybe, it was his tendency to bulldoze his way over whatever stood in the path of what he wanted and his misogynistic, superior attitude. That had certainly been on display at her father’s functions too, the first time they’d met. He’d spent the entire night either talking over her or mansplaining the simplest things to her like she was an idiot or something. Her father had tried to keep him in check, at least when he’d been around, but now, the media was rife with rumors about Arrieta’s ties to known enemies of the US. Even more reason to stay away from the man, especially here.
Deliberately, Toni pulled free from his grasp, then stepped away, forcing a polite smile she didn’t feel. She scanned the nearby crowds again for Spencer but didn’t see him. What was taking him so long? He should’ve been back at her side by now. She leaned this way and that, and finally spotted him bent over, speaking to an elderly, stooped woman who appeared to be having some difficulty with her walker. Toni waved, trying to alert him that she needed help, but to no avail. “Nice to see you again, Miles. I didn’t know you were in Jubail.”
“I have business in the area.” His gaze darted over the crowd as if scanning for trouble. “I need to speak with Coran.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t know where my father is.”
“I don’t believe you.” He moved closer to her, his black gaze angry. “I think you know exactly where I can find him and I think you’re going to tell me. Right now.”
Before she could react, he grabbed her again and hauled her off the stage and out of a back exit from the room into the kitchen service area. She struggled, screamed, but the sound didn’t register in all the pre-conference noise and his grip was too strong as he dragged her down several hallways then outside into a deserted employee parking lot at the rear of the hotel.
Well, deserted except for the local mercenaries who approached them—all dressed in black robes, mirrored sunglasses, and armed to the teeth with assault weapons and extra ammo. Stunned and scared, Toni attempted to hide behind Miles, but he stepped aside as the men approached, flashing her a sinister smile as one of the thugs pulled his gun and cocked the trigger, aiming the barrel right between her eyes. “Your father’s location, Toni. Now, before my man’s finger slips. It would be a shame to put a bullet in such a lovely brain.”
“Y-your m-man?” she stuttered, swallowing hard against the tremble in her voice. “W-what’s going on here, Miles?”
“I lost three of my best soldiers yesterday in your father’s little attack, that’s what’s going on. He owes me.”
Her thoughts whirling with adrenaline, Toni’s mind snagged on his words. “You think my father had something to do with what happened in the village?”
“I don’t think. I know,” he growled.
Bile rose in her throat and it took all of her effort to remain upright. All those people dead, all those innocent lives lost. Sure she’d had moments, her fleeting thoughts and doubts about what her father might be up to since Spencer had made his accusations, but if her own flesh and blood had any involvement in such heinous acts, no matter how indirect…
“Now tell me where the hell he is,” Miles barked. He was only a year older than her, but today they seemed light years apart.
“I honestly have no idea, Miles.” Her knees went weak and the earth seemed to tilt on its axis around her. “If I knew, I’d—”
Her words were cut off by the ominous snap of bones and the pained cries of the thugs as they started dropping one by one.
“What the—?” Miles pulled Toni in tighter against him his own pistol drawn now and pressed to her temple as he backed slowly away from the melee. Through a fog of horrified fear, Toni saw Spencer twisting the neck of one man from behind, instantly killing him, before throat punching another man while avoiding the direct fire of the thug who’d had his sights on Toni earlier.
She sagged against Miles, her knees buckling entirely, as the coppery stench of blood and the sharp sting of gunpowder filled the air. The hard thud of fists against flesh reverberated off the brick wall of the hotel. Her vision tunneled and Toni wanted nothing more than to slip into oblivion, to go to a safe place with no fear, no violence, no senseless death and destruction.
From somewhere in the distance, the screaming sirens grew louder, mixed with the loud rasp of Miles breath in her ear. “We’ll see each other again, Toni. Bank on it.”
With that, he thrust her to the ground then ran around the corner of the building.
Barely aware of the sting of the concrete biting into her skin or the ragged sounds of her own sobs, Toni looked up in time to see Spencer land a hard right to a mercenary’s jaw then pick up the guy’s weapon and aim for his head. She squeezed her eyes shut, but that didn’t stop the sound. And then, as if she’d been shot herself, the world was completely, suddenly gone.
Cursing, Spencer tossed his assailant’s gun away then rushed to where Toni lay in a heap on the sidewalk. Heart thundering in his chest, he knelt beside her and prayed she was still alive. Slowly, he turned her over onto her back and and felt for a pulse. Fast, but strong. “Thank God.”
Tires squealed, followed by the shouts of the local police. He needed to get Toni out of here before the cops saw them. With seconds to spare, he gathered her limp body into his arms then fled around the same corner where Arrieta had disappeared moments before.
He’d give everything he had for just one goddamned minute alone with that asshole.
Toni moaned in his arms and his breath caught painfully in his chest.
Okay, maybe not everything.
After a quick check to make sure he hadn’t been followed, Spencer hit speed dial on his phone and had Ayaan meet him down at the locked side service entrance to the hotel then hurried toward the freight elevator he’d used earlier. Once inside, he tightened his hold on Toni and dropped a kiss onto the top of her head.
How the hell had Miles Arrieta gained entry into Toni’s dress rehearsal? He’d had Kyle run background security checks on all the attendees and staff. Worse, how could he have been such a idiot and left her alone and vulnerable? Jesus Christ. He’d only wanted to help her, to make things a little easier and stress-free on one of the most important days of her life, and look where it had gotten him. And when that old lady had asked for his assistance, what was he supposed to say? No? He’d been a frigging Boy Scout for fuck’s sake. Not to mention the fact she’d reminded him of his own dear grandmother.
The freight elevator dinged and the heavy metal doors clanked open. Spencer charged out into the back hallway of the top floor then barged into their suite through the kitchen area amidst a cloud of regrets a
nd self-recriminations, Toni still clutched tight in his arms.
Ayaan walked beside him into the kitchen then turned, eyeing Toni’s unconscious form with trepidation as he bowed, his eyes wide. “Sir. Is everything all right?”
“We need water and blankets and a first aid kit, if you have one,” Spencer said as he rushed by, heading straight for the hallway. “Bring them in when you get them.”
“Yes, sir,” the butler called from behind him.
Once inside her bedroom, he laid Toni gently on the bed then shut the door and locked it. He needed to make sure she was all right and he needed to alert his team to what had happened. Killing those men downstairs didn’t bother him. They were the enemy, ruthless criminals who lived and died by violence. It was him or them and he made damned sure he won. No. What bothered him was seeing Toni hurt by a man who he’d let escape. A man who should be six feet under, who would’ve been six feet under if he’d followed Kyle’s orders.
With her out cold, he glanced over at her nightstand and her phone laying there. One quick peek, just one, and he’d know for certain. She’d said her father hadn’t contacted her and he desperately wanted to believe her, but the analytical part of him demanded proof.
Chances were it would be locked anyway, right?
He punched the small button at the bottom of the screen and the screen brightened. There was a photo of Toni, hugging a small, tattered child, both of them smiling brightly. Her pretty face practically glowed with happiness and kindness. His heart squeezed tighter in his chest. She’d looked at him that way too, back at the oasis. A man could wake up to that look every day and never grow tired of it.