by Donna Grant
“The Russian consulate? Are you sure?”
Owen nodded. “Without a doubt. I believe that’s who Irina was suggesting in her remarks.”
“Well, it makes sense. He would be able to track what I did on my computer at the embassy. Connections, power, and authority. All the right ingredients.”
“He would also have the contacts to run a team of Russian military here.”
“Let’s not forget diplomatic immunity,” she added. “How do you know him?”
“Because of the talks he’s had with the White House.”
“I know of him but haven’t had any dealings with him. The man gives me the creeps, though.”
“The involvement of Dvorak changes everything.”
She frowned at him. “How? We knew someone was managing the team of men. Why should Dvorak be any different than Irina?”
“Dvorak was a general in the Russian army. His reputation for rooting out insurgents and getting whoever he’s hunting is well known. He was also the FSB’s go-to man when they had a difficult time finding people, because he always finds what he’s sent for.”
“Great. Right now he’s using his men to find me. How long before he comes after me himself?”
“That’s not going to happen.”
She sighed and shook her head. “I can’t hide forever.”
“Nor should you have to.”
“What are you thinking, then?”
Owen ran a hand down his face as he pulled onto the interstate and headed back to the ranch. “I’m still putting it together in my head.”
“Could Dvorak be working for the FSB?”
“It’s likely.”
She dropped her head back on the seat. “And I went searching the computer for anything on Ragnarok.”
“Don’t beat yourself up about it,” he said, glancing at her. “They were probably monitoring your home computer, as well.”
Her eyes went wide. “What?”
“Nat, don’t tell me you’re that naïve to believe that they would hire an American and trust you with classified information.”
Well, when he put it that way, she did sound naïve. “They approached me.”
“It doesn’t matter. You believed that by living and working in Russia, you would fit in.”
So she had. Regrettably. It was why she’d returned home in the first place.
“It was different at the embassy. There were other Americans working there.”
“How many?” he asked.
She hesitated. “Three.”
“Did they have your level of clearance?”
“No.”
“There you go.”
As if that said it all. And, she supposed it did. She felt like such a fool.
“Had none of this happened, you’d never have known,” Owen added.
“That doesn’t make me feel any better.” She didn’t pull away when his hand rested atop hers. In fact, she liked it.
“I know Dvorak from a different angle than you. Tell me all you know of him,” Owen urged.
She thought about Egor Dvorak. “For a man in his late fifties, he has the face and body of a man much younger. He takes great pride in keeping fit. Women flock to him, not just because of who he is and his wealth, but also because he’s considered handsome.”
“But he gives you the creeps?” Owen asked with a grin.
She laughed as she lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “He just seems fake to me. But he loves women. All women.”
“Men like him always do.”
“What’s today?” she asked and grabbed his phone to check the date. “It’s tomorrow.”
Owen raised a dark brow at her, his chocolate eyes curious. “What’s tomorrow?”
“The gala showcasing some of the artifacts Russia is loaning the museum for a few months.”
“Interesting.”
“We could go after Dvorak there.”
“He’s much different than Irina, Nat. He’ll be surrounded by security. Not to mention, everyone will know your face.”
Damn. She had forgotten that for a moment.
She could see Owen was working things out in his head, so she looked out the window, letting the rhythm of the road lull her to sleep.
* * *
Owen was exhausted both mentally and emotionally. Natalie had come too close to being discovered by the Russians. She’d been terrified, and that was something that had struck him particularly hard.
He could still feel the way her body had shaken when she’d thrown her arms around him. And yet, she was talking about confronting Dvorak now.
Natalie was a walking contradiction. Then again, she always had been. It was one of the things that had attracted him to her to begin with.
When he turned onto the ranch property, he missed the activity of all the ranch hands. Callie had notified them as soon as Virgil and Charlotte were killed that they’d been given some time off.
It didn’t seem right to drive up with no one there. Leaving Nat asleep in the truck, he did a quick check of the house and the barns. When he saw that it was safe, he turned off the truck and woke her.
Natalie sat up, blinking. “We’re home?”
It warmed his heart to hear her say that. It was probably just a slip of the tongue, but he hoped that, deep down, she meant it.
“Let’s get inside the base,” he said and grabbed the duffle.
Once ensconced in the base, Natalie let out a loud sigh. “It’s good to be back.”
He smiled and dropped the duffle near the armory. “I need to call my brothers and update them. Feel free to listen in.”
“Really?”
She seemed surprised by his offer. “Of course. Today was your idea. You’ve had another that I want to talk over with them. The more brains, the better.”
“Count me in, then.”
He walked into the conference room with her on his heels. He dialed Wyatt first before attempting to connect with Cullen. Worry began to set in that he still couldn’t get ahold of his younger brother. “Wyatt? Callie?”
“Yes, if Wyatt will move his big ass over,” Callie grumbled.
Natalie chuckled. “All right, you two.”
“I still can’t reach Cullen,” Owen said. He hadn’t worried about Cullen in a long time, but that concern was back—tenfold.
Wyatt released a loud sigh. “Us either. Let’s give him a little more time.”
“Agreed. Any progress?”
“We still haven’t been able to locate where Orrin might’ve sent the formula. How about you?”
Owen exchanged a look with Natalie. “It started out fine. Nat spoke with Irina, who told us she wasn’t controlling the Russian military here, but that we were on the right track.”
“Did she say who that right track was?” Callie asked.
“I saw him.” Owen dropped down into a chair. “Egor Dvorak.”
Wyatt was suspiciously quiet.
Owen knew how he felt. “There were three men there. I killed one, and another got entirely too close to finding Nat.”
“Is she okay?” Callie asked.
Natalie was smiling as she leaned toward the speaker. “I’m in one piece.”
“Nice to hear,” Callie replied, a smile in her voice.
“You obviously called for more than an update,” Wyatt said to Owen.
Before he could respond, Natalie said, “There’s a gala tomorrow night in Dallas, and I know Dvorak will be in attendance.”
“Nat wants to confront him,” Owen explained.
“Because Irina led me to believe Egor is controlling the assassins.”
“On the off chance it isn’t Egor running things, I’ll bet he knows who is,” Wyatt stated.
Callie made a sound. “A man like Egor likes to keep connected to everything. He’ll know one way or another. Nat’s idea is good.”
“But I also know why Owen is hesitating,” Wyatt added.
Natalie held Owen’s gaze. “Me.”
“Yeah, it
’s you.” There was no use denying it. He wanted her to know how much he cared—how much he loved her.
“This could save your father,” she said.
“Or kill you.”
She shrugged, grinning. “It could save the world.”
He rose and raked a hand through his hair as he turned away. Natalie didn’t understand. He would die if something happened to her. His father knew the chances of getting caught. Every military member did.
It didn’t mean he wanted to leave Orrin behind, but Natalie wasn’t in the military. She was a civilian caught in the middle of a war that had already come too close to her multiple times.
“Owen,” Wyatt called. “You might also want to think about how many times you’ve been gone from the ranch.”
He halted and turned back to the table. “I’ve checked every camera. No one has come on the ranch.”
“They don’t have to.”
“I’ve taken precautions in hiding the truck.” Except for today. It still sat outside. “You think the group might raid the ranch again?”
Wyatt blew out a breath. “It’s what I’d do.”
“I know some men who could come to the ranch and watch it,” Callie offered. “They’ve worked with Orrin before.”
“What if one of them is in with the Russians,” Natalie asked. “Y’all did say someone betrayed Orrin.”
Owen drummed his fingers on the table. “She’s got a point. If those men worked with Orrin, they know about the base. Continuing to leave the vial would be pointless.”
“Dammit,” Callie said. “I swore to your father that as long as he was alive, I wouldn’t reveal this to you, but he has a secret safe in the base. Put the bioweapon there. Until now, only me and Virgil knew of it.”
Owen wondered why he was so surprised. If he’d built a base like this, he’d make damned sure to have multiple spots no one knew about.
“Where is it?” he asked.
“The bunk room.”
Now that came as a shock. “Seriously? Not Dad’s office?”
There was a smile in Callie’s voice when she said, “I asked him the same thing. His response was that everyone would look in his office. No one would look where the bunks are.”
“Where exactly?”
“Third bunk to the left,” Callie said. “Lift the right side of the footboard three times.”
Owen waited for her to finish. When she said no more, he asked, “Is that all?”
“That’s all. I hope y’all get the significance of the threes.”
He did, but he wasn’t going to get into that now. “If we go, we’ve got the ranch and Ragnarok covered. It still doesn’t change the fact that everyone will know Natalie’s face.”
Natalie shot him a wide smile. “It’s perfect actually. They’ll never expect me to be there.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Natalie left Owen alone for a while after the phone call. She knew he wasn’t keen on confronting Dvorak, even though it was a solid plan. It was because she was involved. Perhaps she should stay behind.
She found Owen feeding the horses. For long minutes, she watched him interacting with the animals. How could she have forgotten how they gravitated to him?
They loved the sound of his voice. The filly she’d worked so hard to coax just to sniff her hand walked right up to Owen and let him stroke her back.
Then again, she didn’t know many females who could refuse Owen Loughman and that seductive voice of his.
She leaned against the side of the barn as the light began to fade. Owen’s love of the outdoors, of the ranch, showed in the way he treated the animals and tended to the land.
He belonged on that ranch.
Where did she belong?
At one time, she thought it was by his side. Then she thought in Russia. Then at the embassy. Now? She wasn’t sure.
Her life had circled back around to the very place it had all begun. Was fate trying to tell her something? Did she continue to lock him out?
Did she dare to open her heart again?
It had been mended so many times, she wasn’t sure it could be put back together properly.
As if he knew she was thinking of him, Owen looked up from the horses. He gave her a smile and finished pouring the last of the feed.
Before she knew it, he stood in front of her. “You look pensive.”
“Did life turn out like you wanted?”
He kicked at the dirt. “Does life turn out like anyone wants?”
“Please answer the question.”
“Yes and no. I’m a SEAL, just as I always wanted. I’ve saved lives and kicked terrorist ass.”
She swallowed. “But.”
“I don’t have you.”
Was that what she wanted to hear? Because it sounded pretty damn good. The way her heart fluttered, told her it was exactly what she needed to hear.
“And you? Has life turned out like you wanted?” he asked in a low, husky voice as he closed the distance between them.
“Yes and no. I left here and saw part of the world.”
He took another step, his body pressed against hers. “But?”
The words wouldn’t come. She opened her mouth, but they locked in her throat.
The disappointment that flashed in Owen’s dark eyes was like a kick in the stomach. He didn’t press her. Instead, he slowly lowered his head.
Her eyes slid shut as she eagerly awaited his kiss. Just before their lips touched, he pulled back. Her eyes snapped opened to find him holding his hand out to her.
“I want you,” he said. “I want you so bad it hurts. But I’ll not force you to say anything you aren’t ready for.”
She looked down at his hand. “And this?”
“Come with me and find out.”
She didn’t hesitate to place her hand in his. He took her down to the base, locking the door behind them. Then he continued on to the bunk room—or so she thought. He walked past them to a room behind them that must be Orrin’s.
She thought of earlier that day when the assassin had almost found her. All she’d wanted was Owen. And when he had arrived, she’d clung to him as if he were the only thing that could save her.
No longer did she know for sure what to do. The one thing she did know was that she wanted Owen.
Natalie walked to him, sliding her arm around his neck. In the next instant, their lips were locked as the fires of their desire soared.
Clothes were ripped in an effort to get naked. He lifted her so that her legs wrapped around his waist. Her breaths came faster, her hands clawing to get him closer.
His kiss was savage, and yet tender at the same time. He held her tightly, yet gently.
There was something different about this time. It wasn’t desperation but … the frantic and very real need to come together.
To become whole. One.
Owen ended the kiss, his breaths harsh and loud. “I need inside you.”
“Yes. Now,” she gasped.
She felt his thick head against her sex. Then he slid inside. She screamed his name as he filled her fully.
And then he was pumping fast and hard. All she could do was hold on as he took her on a wild ride of rapture as only he could.
In his arms, the world made sense. She wasn’t searching for anything, because she had her arms locked around him. There was no need for lies or half-truths—because her heart knew what it wanted.
A tear slipped from Natalie’s eye as the truth unfolded before her. A truth she wasn’t prepared for.
Those thoughts melted away as her body tightened and the climax neared. As she hurtled into ecstasy, she heard him shout her name as he joined her.
For long moments after, they remained locked together, unmoving. His head was buried in her neck as she smoothed her hand down his hair.
“Take me to bed,” she whispered.
He leaned back to look at her. Then he turned and carried her to the bed. They crawled beneath the covers together, and when she was
wrapped in his arms, she closed her eyes, content.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Owen wasn’t sure what would happen when Natalie woke. He was loath to leave her, because the woman in his arms was the Natalie of old.
He smiled as he thought of their lovemaking. No way could she deny the passion between them or how much she enjoyed it. But that’s not how he would have to get through to her heart.
His smile dropped. How did he get to her heart? At one time, he knew everything there was to know about her. Now, he couldn’t say that.
A glance at the clock showed it was just after four in the morning. After several bouts of lovemaking, she slept like the dead.
The SEAL in him wanted to get up to see if Callie had worked her magic and gotten him and Natalie an invite to the gala, albeit with a name change for both of them.
Instead, he remained in bed, holding his woman.
He thought of the previous day. As dangerous as that had been, the gala had the potential to be even more so. That’s where Callie and Wyatt would come in with the Ritz-Carlton’s floor plans.
It would give him time to look over exits and where to hide guns. Callie was also booking a room at a nearby hotel for them under another name so they couldn’t be easily traced.
Owen wasn’t worried about the ranch. The six men Callie had spoken about would be there long before he and Natalie left. Two were snipers and would set up long distance. The remaining four would be scattered about.
“I swear I can hear you thinking,” Natalie said sleepily. She sighed and lifted her head to look at him.
He gave her a grin. “Habit.”
“I’m starving anyway. Come on,” she said as she threw off the covers and pulled on his t-shirt.
Owen held back a groan as she walked in front of him with her breasts swinging and the barest glimpse of her ass peeking out. He rose and yanked on his pants, not bothering to button them as he followed her.
While she went to the kitchen for food, he checked email. The invitation for the gala would be delivered by courier to their hotel. Though Owen wasn’t surprised. Callie was a true genius when it came to working computers.
“Anything new?”
He glanced at Natalie as she walked in with a large glass of milk and a bag of Oreo minis. She held the bag out to him, and he took a handful.