EDGE OF TEMPTATION

by Gennita Low

  “Twins, right? My man was completely fooled.”

  “Not really,” Sugar said, coming to Walker’s defense. “Rookie actually called us because he thought something was wrong, remember? That fuck-me leather. He had a feeling, he said.”

  True. That was why he’d hired Walker Stillings. Walker was an experienced undercover agent. He’d been walking a sharp edge for years and had probably honed his skill to keep an eye for anything unusual. Probably saved his ass a dozen times that way while in the Middle East.

  “Yes, we’re twins. She sometimes becomes me while in town. That’s her idea of taking a few days off. Being me.” Nadine huffed. “It’s a twin thing, I guess, although getting kidnapped as me is taking it a bit far.”

  Jared agreed. Nadia Kincaid sounded more and more intriguing by the minute. COS Command, huh? It’d been a while since he contacted Jed McNeil. That SOB liked to have his fingers in everything. He was an elusive man, though, and tough to get hold of, but maybe one or two of the old numbers might get him through. Questioning Jed McNeil was another matter entirely. Like pulling teeth. Jared would have to work his negotiation skills to get information on Nadia K.

  So far, she appeared to be a capable operative, a bit on the independent side. She also seemed a handful. He hoped Walker had the situation under control.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The situation was totally getting out-of-hand and Walker didn’t like it one bit.

  He carefully wiped Nadine’s face with a wet paper towel. Her face felt hot to the touch, her eyes looked back blankly at him, as if she barely recognized him, and she moaned. A lot.

  What the hell did she do to make herself this sick? The Russians had gone through her purse again and other than the usual womanly stuff, had found nothing—no medications, suspicious-looking powder, nothing he could see, anyway. Besides, this was fucking serious sickness. The fever was real. Even he was beginning to feel worried she didn’t do this on purpose.

  Sergei was speaking in Russian fast and furious on the phone again, reporting to this Vadim fellow about Nadine’s condition. The fever was getting worse, he said. The scientist was belligerent. She vomited a lot. He’d glanced back when Nadine emitted a particularly loud groan.

  “Yes, that’s her doing that. I think she’s going to vomit again. This looks really serious, Vadim, not a pretense. What do you want me to do? Take her to a clinic? We think it’s food poisoning.” There was some yelling coming from the other end of the phone call. Sergei frowned. “I’m not an idiot. It was just some food from the convenience store. What did you want me to do, taste-test everything she ate first? Do not threaten me. You aren’t Petrovich.”

  Walker mulled over all that he knew. This Petrovich guy had been mentioned several times. He must be their boss or higher-up. Vadim? Maybe the second? Sergei didn’t seem to be too subservient to him, although he was following orders.

  Why were they kidnapping scientists? Moreover, why were the Feds not contacting the other agencies about this? DARPA scientists did cutting-edge experimentation for the DOD, so it was logical to assume the scientists being taken had some kind of connection to a project in which the Russian was interested. He glanced down at his charge.

  What did Nadine do, besides what her file said? And as the Feds deemed her “lower” priority, why exactly did the Russian pick her? Sure, she conveyed earlier she’d sent out some signal on a black market site that she had something to sell. Would someone like Nadine Kincaid know how to go about doing that? An ordinary person just didn’t pick up the phone or type in a site address on her laptop and go about selling on black market channels.

  His fiancée just stared back up him, almost doll-like, her wide dark eyes hardly blinking. Her mouth was slightly open, her lips relaxed in a soft curve that made him want to...what the hell was wrong with him? He wanted to kiss a stranger who called him ‘Honey Bun Bun.’

  But there was something about her....He just hadn’t had time to process it yet, but one thing was for sure. She—he looked down hard at her—was responsible for this situation being out-of-hand. She had kept it that way. She seemed to revel in it. And therefore, as illogical as it sounded, as out of it as she looked, she somehow really wasn’t. The somehow part was the thing bothering him. If she managed to have done all this herself, what was her final plan? She couldn’t just remain sick and hope to...hope to what?

  This delay tactic meant she had plans. Someone else was tracking them, besides his own Titan operatives. Which meant Nadine was working with another agency besides the Feds. She sure had been taking charge of this situation like a pro, though, which made him frown harder down at her.

  “Relax,” the Russian sitting by them said. “We aren’t going to let our beautiful scientist die. She’s too important.”

  Walker nodded. “I just don’t know why she did what she did.”

  He knew his words would be wrongly interpreted, but when going undercover, honesty was the best policy. That way, he didn’t have to try to remember too many lies. He found his method a good way to dredge information.

  “I love her so much,” he continued, “but this is foolhardy. This is just totally unplanned.”

  “She wanted a nice honeymoon with her Honey Bun Bun,” the Russian joked and then laughed. “I don’t know many woman who would sell secret documents to do that, but hey, more power to you. You must be doing something right in bed.”

  “I bet she’s the wild one,” the driver chimed in. “Walker here looks like he likes to just lie there and let her take charge.”

  “Who wouldn’t? Who would think a scientist would have a body like hers? That ass....”

  “That’s my fiancée you’re talking about,” Walker interrupted. “She might be doing shady business but there’s no reason to talk about her that way.”

  “Oh, fuck off,” the Russian in the back with them sneered. “Once Vadim is done with her, I’ll be the first she—”

  “Ivan,” Sergei cut in. “That’s enough. She’s a scientist and will be on the ship to Russia with the others. You aren’t touching her any time soon.”

  “That’s too bad because she’s going to miss her Honey Bun Bun.”

  “Eh. Maybe Vadim has something else in mind.”

  The others laughed. Walker kept quiet. He got the relevant information he wanted. The scientists were being shipped to Russia.

  He shifted about, as if he was trying to get comfortable. Despite feeling and looking sick, the darn woman still managed to have one hand under his shirt. He carefully disentangled her hand from his belt, casually readjusting it without bringing any unnecessary attention. He had delay tactics himself.

  * * *

  Nadia took a swallow of water from Walker. He really was taking care of her like a lover. She felt like shit. She was going to have to complain to T to get extra pay for...oh wait, this wasn’t a job. She was doing this for her sister. Shit. Well, Dina better pay up something.

  She stared up at Walker, knowing she probably looked glassy-eyed and slightly crazy. The drug was experimental—DARPA’s newest, in fact—but it was doing its job. She was acting sick, felt like she was running a fever, and yet her brain was functioning fine. She could see and think quite clearly. Even while puking. So weird. It felt, like most drugs, as if she were watching herself doing these things, but unlike hallucinogens, she was aware of everything happening, even her darling fiancé’s conversations with the kidnappers. It was comparable to being drunk, at that point when one started thinking and talking about two or three different subjects at the same time.

  So, she was still perfectly coherent in her head about what she needed to do, the different ways she could tackle any problems that might come up. But also, at the same time, a part of her was thinking about Mr. Walker Stilling’s rock hard abs and tummy and what he looked like under that shirt. Yeah, if he were really Dina’s guy, she would totally steal him from her.

  It had been fun teasing him, particularly because he had been so cool about every
thing she’d thrown at him. Quite an implacable operative, determined to protect Dr. Nadine Kincaid, no matter how foolhardy she was. Of course, if he really knew Nadine, the cool and collected half of the egg, as she liked to tell exasperated friends and family of theirs, he’d know by now there was no way in hell the person next to him could be him.

  She just loved the way he looked at her, those blue eyes attentive and assessing. She had a feeling not much escaped them. He played the upset fiancé very well. It made her wonder what kind of operative he was because she could usually spot any undercover Fed Boy. She was impressed by how easily and smoothly he slipped into this skin.

  Those little personal touches. The way he held her hair up when she heaved and gagged. She had exaggerated a bit, but the puking was real. Emptying one’s guts wasn’t exactly a pleasant thing but she was prepared to go through it, even without Walker by her side. It was just pleasant, though, to have a partner. Usually, she worked alone until her team took over, at the end of the assignment, to “clean up,” as they called it in the business.

  It had been so difficult not to laugh at that first time she called him ‘Honey Bun Bun,’ though. She wanted to test him and yeah, he was so indeed a macho alpha male itching to take over the whole operation. He wasn’t liking a woman taking charge, doing all the heavy lifting, but too bad, so sad. This was her party and he was the crasher.

  There was no other way to penetrate this scientist-kidnapping scheme. She could imagine the Feds just sitting around waiting for the kidnappers to jump on their victim and then the usual shoot-out or chase. Yawn, bleagh, boo. She had just shook her head when Nadine had told her what was happening. Hadn’t they noticed the scientists had disappeared with the most remarkable ease, as if they had been lured by someone they trusted?

  In her world, it was better to insert oneself into the arena. One had to play the kidnappers’ game and also still be in control. Granted, some of GEM’s operandi modus could be a little bit unusual to outside operatives, but their agency was mostly female agents, and Nadia liked to add, with much more creative minds. In many situations, the usual male set-ups offered very few opportunities, other than the unsavory act of being a girl toy for groping hands. GEM operatives had been known to work around a tough problem as old women acting as pimps, art delivery agents, interpreters, and from a few years back, one of her sister operatives became famous for being a goat herder mounting a SEAL attack on a convoy carrying kidnapped young girls crossing a border in South East Asia, saving dozens of lives from becoming victims of the meat market in that country. Good old Vivi. She was her hero.

  Nadia peeked up at Walker. He was wetting down more napkins to wipe her face and neck. This man had his own different way of operating an assignment too. She was very sure he was armed. The lining of his jacket had a hidden pocket. She just hadn’t figured out what was with that belt. Yeah, a partner like him was something different.

  As if he was aware of her watching him, he turned his head, his gaze catching hers. That look again. So deep. So assessing. And a little bit moody, as if he was getting mad at her. It sent little shivers up her spine.

  “Are you cold?” He asked. “Would you like another sip of water?”

  She shook her head and let tears well up in her eyes. “I’m going to die.”

  “Of course not.”

  “But what if I am?”

  “I won’t let you,” he assured her. “I’ll make them get you help somehow.”

  Her tears were flowing and it was obviously making him very uncomfortable. She sniffed.

  “I’m so sad,” she said.

  “Please don’t cry.”

  Movement from the Russians.

  “Jesus, she’s crying,” Sergei said. “I hate crying women. Look, it’s probably morning sickness. You aren’t going to die. Your Baby Bun Bun is just acting up.”

  “Christ, you just said Baby Bun Bun,” the driver muttered.

  Sergei threw his arms up in the air. “She has made us all crazy idiots with her jabbering. How can she be a fucking scientist?”

  Nadia cried harder. “Honey Bun Bun, I’m afraid for Ba...baby B-Bun B-B-Bun,” she sobbed softly. “Everything is so fuzzy. I can’t see you!”

  “Walker, do something!” Ivan ordered. “Make her stop or she’ll start vomiting again. She’s acting delirious. Comfort her with some loving phrases so she’ll quiet down, man.”

  Walker just blinked at her. Hesitated. He looked like a man who was going to hate himself. She looked up piteously.

  “It’ll be okay.” He paused. “My darling Kissy Kibble. I’m right here, my Kissy Kibble Love Puddle.”

  Nadia closed her eyes and pretended she fainted. She had to. There was no way she could look back at him after being called that. There was complete silence in the car.

  “Is that really what Americans say to each other in bed?” Ivan asked, sounding disgusted.

  He won this round, Nadia admitted, her eyes still closed. She was beginning to think he did have a sense of humor after all. She kept quiet as she listened in to the conversation going on.

  “We’ll be at the place in ten minutes or so,” she heard Sergei say. “Walker I hope you can carry her up the stairs to your room. Vadim said she can rest tonight.”

  “It’s the honeymoon suite,” Ivan commented, with more sneer than laughter, “for the Honey Bun Bun and his Love Puddle.”

  “Who is Vadim?” Walker asked. “I thought Nadine said she was meeting with Dr. Kantor? Is that the same person? Why isn’t he getting a doctor to take care of my Nadine?”

  “Vadim’s the one who gave you your life, so you’d better watch your mouth,” Sergei replied. “If she isn’t better when he arrives tomorrow, he may just decide to kill you after all.”

  “So you better enjoy your honeymoon tonight,” Ivan said, with a laugh. “Hey, she would be lying in bed anyway. If I were Vadim, I’d have her on her back instead of working in a lab on a fucking ship.”

  Nadia felt the slight tension in Walker’s arm against which she was resting. She was impressed with how good he was at getting information. Now they know there was a ship somewhere with a lab in it.

  She felt the car slowing down. The road was bumpy and jostled them about. Letting out a soft moan, she opened her eyes. Straightening up was a bit more difficult. Her head was swimming, like car-sickness. She put her hand against her chest.

  “Shit, not again! Hold it in!” The stupid Russian beside yelled at her. “We’re here and you can vomit all night when we get out of the car.”

  Nadine peered out of the window. Ahead looked like a huge farm house of some sort. It looked scenic outside, with miles of country and nothing in sight. Sergei turned around from the front seat.

  “It looks nice, but in case you’re thinking of escaping, the place is heavily guarded. The housekeeper and everybody here are under our employ. Vadim will be here later tonight but said you can rest until morning before showing him what you have. He’s especially interested in your work in the suit for injured soldiers. Dr. Kantor will be present to confirm what you’re showing.” His gaze hardened. “You better work on feeling better. Vadim doesn’t sound happy with how things have been turning out recently.”

  Sergei turned back and ordered the driver in Russian, “Guard them. I’ll go check on the status of the ship. Contact me if the woman gets any sicker. If I have to get a doctor, I will. According to Vadim, she’s essential.”

  Nadine noted there was no mention about what to do with Walker. She must make contingency plans to save his ass if she had to leave him by himself. She sniffed the air outside.

  “The smell of horse manure is making me sick,” she announced.

  * * *

  “Baby Cakes, I’ve left a message for Jed McNeil. If he calls back, patch him through to me. I’ll just have to get to Walker’s position and play this by ear.”

  Jared would prefer his other operatives to do the job because this was his vacation time after all, but they were hours away
from the location where the tracker was indicating and as luck would have it, his and Sugar’s love nest was just under an hour away. Why were these guys in a vacation spot?

  He hadn’t quite knitted out the big picture of what exactly was happening, but something certainly stinks. If McNeil was in it, it usually involved international espionage. Yet the Feds were determined to keep it zipped. That the man would know anyway wasn’t exactly a surprise. He and Jed went way back and there wasn’t a more capable fighting machine he’d trained than the young McNeil.

  “Parker,” Jared said to the open link in his laptop, “can you patch the zoomed up pics to the number I gave you? It’ll let McNeil know exactly what info I’m after.”

  “Doing it right now.”

  He remembered how Jed liked to work. The man was an intuitive operative. He had been trained to dissect information quickly and one of his most interesting traits was the ability to pare down the most complicated topics to just the relevant bullets. Not to mention, a very useful skill to have as the assassin of his group of commandos. A fucking efficient commander and killer. Yeah, he’d had a part in training that SOB.

  “Everything you need is in the back seat,” Sugar said. “You’ll have back up coming and will be on standby for further instructions.”

  Jared nodded. “Keep watch on the satellite feed and keep updating me. I’ll let you know my plans when I get to the target area.”

  “Will do,” Sugar said, shaking a baby bottle at him. “The things you do to get away from diaper changes.”

  Parker and Lexi’s chuckles were heard through the link.

  Jared smiled. “I’m great at changing diapers and you know it.”

  “A video or there ain’t no truth in that boast,” Lexi quipped.

  “And here I thought our gift to you guys was some sexy times together,” Parker chimed in.

  “What, did you think the baby was going to clean herself?” Lexi asked.

  “You tell him, girlfriend,” Sugar said, with a grin. “Men and their tunnel vision.” She handed Jared the car keys and added, “After your fun with guns, bring back more food for your patiently waiting wife. And if you talk to that GEM operative, ask her where she bought her fuck-me shoes.”