by Taylor Lee
As she limped to the door, she was surprised to feel Ryker reach for her arm. She’d known at some level that he was following behind her, but she was too shattered to acknowledge it. She would have given her left testicle, if she’d had one, to have had him pick her up in his arms and hold her when he had finished assaulting her, convincing her that what she had done was okay. That she hadn’t made a complete fool of herself literally coming apart at his command. But he hadn’t. Instead, he had told her that she was a fraud and until she came clean with her fiancé and, more important, with herself, he wasn’t interested.
Given that he’d made her feel things that she didn’t know human beings, much less she could feel, his admonitions were doubly painful. What hurt more than his harsh indictment of her veracity was when he’d shot her heady passion to shit by declaring that what she’d felt didn’t come close to what she could feel if only she wasn’t a fraud and earned the right to be truly fucked by him.
As he pulled her next to him, he chuckled softly. “Wait up, Deputy. Given that at some level I’m a gentleman, the least I can do is see you to the door.” As if he hadn’t just run her to ground and ripped her heart out of her very being, he added casually, “I don’t know if your father told you, but we’re going to meet with my contact tomorrow. The sheriff indicated that you needed to be there. I told him I agreed. In fact, I insisted on it.”
Infuriated at his casual dismissal of their unspeakable rendezvous and knowing she would slit her wrists if she had to spend ten seconds more with the arrogant man who’d torn her spirit to shreds, she shook off his grip. Making a dash for the door, she had almost made it inside when he caught her and tugged her into his firm embrace.
His voice was a low, sexy drawl. “C’mere, you.”
When she shook her head fiercely and tried to push him away, he captured her in his strong arms and wouldn’t let go, no matter how hard she struggled against him. When she gave in to his superior strength and buried her head against his chest with a broken sob, he murmured, “Oh no you don’t.” Grasping her chin, he forced her to meet his hard, azure gaze. “Sorry, sweetheart, you don’t get to rewrite what happened tonight.”
She twisted her chin free and said with a bitter sneer, “Why would I want to? You’ve made it clear. I’m a fraud.”
He smiled at her but his grin didn’t reach his blazing eyes. “Yeah, we’re agreed on that point.” Insisting that she look at him, he murmured, “I also hope you know you are the sexiest fucking woman I’ve ever lusted after. And, sweetheart, we are far from calling this game.”
Swiping at the tear on her cheek with his thumb, he leaned down and kissed her. Holding her chin, he said softly, “Good night, feisty woman. Sleep well, sweetheart, and sweet dreams.”
With that, he turned and ambled back to his Ram.
****
Barrett Meier held up a bottle of 50th Anniversary Four Roses to Sheriff Trouble. “How about it, Titus? Can I tempt you away from that Jameson you and your deputy are fond of?” Inclining his head to Ryker, he said with a wry grin, “Our young upstart here ingratiated himself into my good graces by having the good sense to recognize a classic libation when he tasted it. I have to believe that is what has precipitated his return.” He winked at Ryker as he poured generous portions of the amber liquid into three glasses. “Or at least I hope so. It would be a tragedy to waste this rare alcohol on a security discussion.”
Titus nodded to their host as if in agreement, then put down his marker. “I should be so lucky that this confab was called for the occasion of enjoying fine whiskey with excellent company. But as I’m sure as my deputy would say, if she were here, when we lowly local law enforcement types are summoned by not one, but two national leaders, an FBI hotshot and an ICE agent, no less, we could hardly refuse.” Allowing a smile to curve his lips, he softened his gibe somewhat by adding, “However, Barrett, since you and I have spent a number of pleasant evenings over the years without annoying one another to the extreme, I am confident we can at least aim for collegiality tonight. “ He quirked a brow at Ryker and nodded. “And I’m pleased to say that at least the one evening I’ve spent with this upstart, as you labeled him, was for the most part pleasant. Notwithstanding my plebian Jameson.”
Ryker took in each of older men with a narrow-lidded gaze. It was clear they were accustomed to the high-stakes chess game they played with one another. From watching them, he’d ascertained that theirs was a fairly even competition. Likely the winner for each of the matches they played depended on who could manage their queen most skillfully for that particular operation. Understanding that each of the older men had tossed a marker of sorts not only for each other but also him, he decided he would enter the fray. Why not? He had nothing to lose and everything to gain. They thought he was a young upstart? So be it. It also happened that he was here because both astute men had fallen down on the job, allowing a significant crime to flourish under their noses—make that up their asses. It was a point he intended to make emphatically, but he had a more pressing issue to address first. Which was where the fuck was Tanya?
He’d spent most of the day and what there was of the previous night reliving his remarkable experience with the young deputy. The only way he’d managed to contain the hard-on that kept reasserting itself throughout the night and day was to remind himself that as shortsighted and self-serving as his abstinence had been, he’d had an important point to make. Granted, he was hungrier for her than he’d ever been in his life for a woman. But like the self-righteous asshole that he was, he insisted that she be honest with her prick of a fiancé, with herself, and with him or clearly she wasn’t worthy of him. Seeing the anguished expression on her tortured face when he’d deposited her at her door, it had been all he could to do not to take her in his arms and carry her into her house. He could have spent the night loving her the way she deserved to be loved.
Instead, he’d turned on his heel and left her at the door, making it clear that his threats were not empty ones. With an effort, he’d managed to convince himself that it wasn’t just that he wanted her to ditch the insipid doctor. No, it was the fact that the guy clearly didn’t value the astonishing woman he was engaged to. Jesus fucking Christ. How could anyone be so incredibly off base? To suggest that the most gorgeous woman Ryker had known chop off her glorious breasts was a level of imperious idiocy that Ryker couldn’t fathom. But what alarmed him more was that the supposedly brazen woman didn’t throw the insulting doc out on his skinny ass for even suggesting such an insulting action. But she hadn’t and, fuck it, she was still wearing the four thousand-dollar diamond ring. He should have been embarrassed that he had ordered one of his PIs to get the exact price of the offending ring. But he wasn’t. He’d decided he needed to know what he was up against.
The problem was that the outrageous bauble could have cost ten times or one hundredth as much. Clearly, Tanya didn’t care. It wasn’t the ring she valued, it was the message it sent. The sparkling stop sign flashing on her finger declared that she was taken, not on the market, and that any interested parties should accept that fact and get the hell out of her life. The only problem for the feisty woman was that while her disdain for other men might be genuine, he had concrete evidence that it didn’t apply to him. All he had to do was relive her stunning climax, the one he’d wrought from her passionate body, the magnitude of which had surprised even him. What it confirmed was that Bramford Courtland or any other guy who thought he could capture the feisty woman was a day late and a dollar short. Unless of course the arrogant card he’d played boomeranged. Even Ryker admitted that telling her in actions as well as words that she wouldn’t have the pleasure, hell, make that the privilege of being truly fucked by him unless that ring went back to its insufferable owner was a tad risky. Particularly knowing whom he’d been arrogant enough to threaten. Glancing at his male companions and acknowledging the fact that the audacious woman had chosen to skip what had been a command performance confirmed the discomfort he was feel
ing was the aforementioned boomerang smacking him in the ass.
“Tell me, Titus, should I pour another glass of this liquid nirvana for that rapscallion of a daughter of yours? I understood from our Washington-based interloper that you both would be joining us.”
While Ryker couldn’t be sure that the twinkle in Meier’s eye indicated that he was aware the deputy had declined his invitation, the sheriff’s response to his host’s query left nothing to conjecture.
“Unfortunately, Barrett, Deputy Trouble was unable to join us. It appears that she had a previous commitment. One that I was unaware of until this morning when she informed me that she and her fiancé had plans.”
“Hmm, I see,” Barrett mused. “Well, I will miss her. I know she has as little use for me as I’m sure she has for our compelling agent, but I’ll admit that little scamp is entertaining as hell. It’s not often that I participate in a meeting in which I spend half my time plucking the arrows out of my back that she’s flung my way and still leave feeling that I’d been in the company of an engaging professional. She is quite a little firecracker, Titus. Not to mention a hell of a law enforcement officer.”
Titus nodded in agreement. “Yes, Barrett, she is all of those things and more. Unfortunately, most people only see her outrageousness, which is definitely a major component of her personality. It helps to make her the formidable deputy sheriff that she is. On the other hand, I have the privilege of seeing her softer side. The less confrontational, more vulnerable side of her that only her sisters and I are privy to. It is a gift that I don’t take lightly.”
Knowing instinctively that the sheriff’s admonishment was directed toward him, Ryker wondered if the astute man was aware of what had happened in a certain gully last evening. He knew that was a long shot at best. Tanya was much too proud to admit, even to her beloved father, that an arrogant man had tripped her fuse. But Ryker wasn’t insensate enough not to know that the sheriff was aware of the conflagrations between himself and his challenging daughter. And that the impressive lawman wasn’t pleased.
After taking a hearty draft of the potent alcohol, Ryker communicated his pleasure to his discerning host with a nod, then turned to the sheriff. Pinning him with a narrowed gaze, he said coolly, “I regret that Deputy Trouble was unable to join us. Having watched her in action with Sledge Perkins’s gang, she clearly doesn’t suffer fools gladly. Her instincts could be valuable as we construct our operation going forward. Which I plan to do now with your help.” Glancing from one to the other of the older, impressive men, he threw down the gauntlet. “After all, it is on your watch that the most comprehensive border corruption scheme the FBI has seen to date has flourished. Given that, gentlemen shall we now get to work and figure out how the hell we are going to turn the biggest pile of chicken shit I’ve seen into chicken salad? A task that will require the best that we all have to offer.”
Chapter 15
Ryker stood at the front of Meier’s well-equipped office, using a remote to click through the mass of evidence he had accumulated that documented the level of the criminal activity he was investigating. Moving from one image to the next, he described just how comprehensive the border crossing scam had become.
“As you can see, the loads of drugs, other contraband, and illegal aliens that have passed through the Douglas checkpoint are astonishing. Please note that I’m at the point in my investigation where I can safely say that the ‘other’ contraband not only includes truckloads of illegal drugs but shipments of illegal weapons as well. Finally, I’m now convinced human trafficking is also involved, although I don’t have hard evidence of that yet.” Glancing from Meier to Sheriff Trouble, Ryker was gratified to see from their frowning attention that neither man was prepared for the level of illegal activity he was documenting. He wasn’t surprised when Sheriff Trouble asked the most important question.
“Please, Agent Thompson, forgive me if the answer to my question is patently obvious. If the activity on our border comes close to the level you are describing, it clearly indicates that we are dealing with the cartels.”
Ryker nodded in appreciation. “Yes, Sheriff Trouble, that is precisely who we are dealing with. At least on the macro level. Trafficking illegal drugs is the cartel’s lifeblood. However, smaller players, like the coyotes smuggling illegals across, often do double duty. They turn their human cargo into temporary mules, making their illegal journey across the border doubly dangerous. Obviously, the fact that we are seeing evidence of human trafficking and arms shipments making their way through has ratcheted our concern dramatically.”
“As it should,” Titus said drily. “But how does that affect us? Specifically, local law enforcement in Cochise County? Christ, man, we’re already up to our asses dealing with the border crossings and the response of our native, make that our angry, white population to the flood of illegals. Are you now saying that we have to join the fight against the cartels?”
“In fact, Sheriff, you’re already in that fight. I’m convinced that the level of illegal contraband, particularly drugs and now the emergence of illegal arms and human trafficking rings that we are seeing across the length of the border are finding their way to the Douglas Agua Prieta border crossing station. What was always considered to be a quiet, relatively out of the mainstream crossing has become much more interesting to me and my team. Let me be clear, while the cartels are definitely moving into your jurisdiction, do know that my concern is border corruption. By that I mean corrupt government and law enforcement officials. These are the officials who accept bribes and gratuities in return for allowing loads of drugs, aliens, and other contraband to pass through ports of entry or checkpoints. More dangerous is their collusion with illegal entities such as the cartels to avoid the necessity of going through the checkpoints.”
Barrett Meier had been unusually quiet—in fact, he had not spoken during Ryker’s more than fifteen-minute presentation. At this point, he cleared his throat and said stiffly, “My sense, Agent Thompson, is that while a renegade officer or two in Sheriff Trouble’s bailiwick might be guilty of occasionally looking the other way in return for a chance to grease their palms, surely what you are describing involves corruption at a much higher level.”
Ignoring Titus’s deep frown, Ryker answered Barrett’s on-target observation. “You are correct. Early on, I absolved Sheriff Trouble’s office of complicity in the crimes we are investigating. As you will recall, you vouched for the sheriff and his team in no uncertain terms. My investigation to date has convinced me that you are correct.” Turning to the frowning sheriff, Ryker said, “Which is a relief, sir, because I need your help. You see, while I’m convinced that you are as honorable as your reputation, I’m also convinced that the operational head of the border corruption scheme I’m describing resides in your county. In fact, they are likely an integral part of the community.”
Turning back to Barrett Meier, he quirked an inquisitive brow and allowed a smile to cross his lips. He was confident that both Meier and the sheriff saw that his humor was contained, at best. Confirming that he was taking on the ICE agent, he said, “As opposed to my absolution of the sheriff’s office, I’m not as sanguine about the entity you run, Agent Meier.”
Meier shrugged and then blew out an audible sigh. “And you think that I’m unaware of your suspicions, my young friend?”
Ryker allowed Meier’s obvious disdain to color his own response. “No, sir, I’m confident that you are well aware of my concerns and that of my institution. I’m also aware that you have many more years in law enforcement than I do. And while your organization is charged with immigration and customs enforcement, my organization is charged with investigating crimes and ensuring that lawbreakers, whomever they are, are captured and punished to the full extent of the law. I might also note that while I have only been with the bureau for ten years, I have attained the G-15 level while staying blessedly free of supervisory duties. To the contrary, I’ve been allowed to continue to do what I do best. That is to run
undercover investigations particularly those relating to interstate criminal activity, international espionage, and potential terrorist threats.” Ryker allowed a genuine smile to cross his face. “While I no doubt sound as if I’m bragging—and I am—I also know that the reason I’ve shot my way up in the ranks is that, at base, I’m as ornery a son of a bitch as you’ll meet. Unlike many of my cohorts, I abhor rules and rarely follow them. Which makes me an inveterate troublemaker and an outcast among my rule-bound brethren and, thankfully, a natural for undercover work. Indeed, my aghast supervisors have often noted that they have a hard time differentiating me from the vermin I’m chasing. It won’t surprise you that’s a reputation I cultivate.”
Ryker rose to his feet and walked over to the conference table. Reaching for the bottle of Four Roses, he topped off his glass, then held up the bottle to the two frowning men studying him. “May I refresh your drinks, gentlemen?”
After a testy conversation primarily between Ryker and Meier that outlined possible strategies to identify the particular border agents and their accomplices involved in the corruption, Ryker walked Sheriff Trouble out to his cruiser. Stopping at the side of his squad car, the sheriff pinned Ryker with a narrow-eyed gaze. “Tell me, Agent Thompson, why did you choose to go undercover at Sledge Perkins’s spread? Is that racist rabble-rouser in your cross hairs?”