Tempting Marcus

by Jan Graham

  “So, if someone tries to take one of these girls, we what?” Hex asked. “And the correct answer for me would be take the kidnapper down and play hero to my sexy damsel in potential distress.”

  This was where things could get messy. Once he identified Beth as his first choice, Marcus hoped none of the other girls became targets for collection although he knew the chances of that were slim. The traffickers would have chosen easy targets to catch—single women, living alone, in transient or low paying jobs, without family in the area.

  It was exactly how he’d set up Beth’s cover. She worked, went home, didn’t socialize much, and had no visible family or protection within the city. If the cover was real, the chances of anyone missing her after the kidnapping were slim. She’d be just another staff member who decided not to show for work one day in the inner city’s club scene. By the time anyone noticed her absence and reported the incident to police, the traffickers would have her loaded and shipped overseas—wherever they believed she’d fetch the highest price.

  “Thwart any attempts by non-violent means. I doubt the collection guys will want to draw attention to their activity. Run interference between the girl and the collectors. If you need to intervene at any stage, then contact a fellow operative and swap targets. The last thing I want is the same guy showing up more than once at a snatch attempt for the same girl. We’ll get made that way for sure.”

  Nods of agreement greeted his instructions. Not that he expected anything less. His team rarely disagreed with the plans Marcus put into place.

  “Now onto you, baby girl.” Marcus met Beth’s steely gaze, yep she’d pulled it together, and her focus was now all about the mission, just like he expected. “Ash is on duty with you when you’re not at the club. Zane has your back while you’re on club premises. Not that I think they’ll take you during work hours.”

  “Can I protect myself with violent means when they grab me? I’d like to give someone a black eye or sore set of balls during my capture.” The grin accompanying her statement was devilishly wicked.

  Marcus knew, if she chose to, Beth could take down an assailant, inflicting enough damage to disable them, so she could escape. He’d trained her himself before allowing her to engage in field missions. She wasn’t deadly, but Beth had become a formidable fighter, she could handle herself if need be.

  “I suggest realistic resistance. If a stray knee collides with a set of balls, so be it. I do not, however, want you to do anything that will cause them to retaliate against you with excess physical force. If you show up at the collection point bruised or battered, I may just kill everyone and to hell with securing a legitimate conviction for the feds.” Marcus used his don’t-fuck-with-me tone which elicited a salute and cheeky “Yes, Sir” from Beth. The thought of Bethany sustaining an injury, even a slight one, saw him suppressing a surge of rage.

  If there had been an option not to use her as bait, he would have taken that route. Necessity, however, dictated if he wanted to get enough evidence and build a case against an organization of sleaze-balls—luring women in, then kidnapping them to sell on the international sex slave market—he needed an undercover female involved. At least he was the client purchasing Bethany. That meant she’d only be in the hands of the traffickers for a brief time, maybe a day or three, a week at the most, and he’d placed an operative inside the organization. After her kidnapping, she’d be with Nik who’d be involved in her transport to Tokyo. Once there, Marcus would buy her back. At least, that was the plan.

  “I do hope you realize, Marcus, this purchase is final, there aren’t any refunds,” Beth’s voice held a breathy seductive tone that made everyone in the room focus on her. “Once you buy me, sexy man, you own me for life, and I’ll be the very best sex slave you’ve ever had.”

  An explosion of applause and wolf whistles filled the room in response to Beth’s statement. In usual form, Marcus chose not to respond, assuming she was attempting a little payback for the earlier rejection. He needed to talk to her alone, but that wasn’t going to happen for a while yet. Once everyone was sorted and briefed, they’d talk, and it was a discussion he wasn’t looking forward to.

  “My other concern is what do we do if collection has already started?” Marcus attempted to focus the team back on the task at hand.

  “Since this is a specific request, surely, they’d wait until you notified them of your choices and collection wouldn’t start till after that,” Ash stated.

  “We aren’t the smugglers only customers, a fact I shouldn’t have to remind you of. They may not take all the girls, but, unfortunately, some will end up in this net. I need to choose three, remember, so unless we can successfully thwart attempts on Miss Two and Three, we may have them to monitor and retrieve as well. If not more.”

  At times, Marcus hated being a mercenary. The bad guys were becoming more insidious as the years went on, and it was harder than ever to minimize civilian casualties. Not that these girls would end up dead, at least he hoped not, but, as Adrian inferred the night before, the sex slave industry wasn’t a consensual arrangement. Women weren’t putting up their hands, yelling pick me, pick me. Beth knew they’d kidnap her, the other two didn’t, and that would be traumatizing enough for anyone to deal with.

  “Once they have Beth on her way to the cattle sale yard and the traders are looking at their big payday, they won’t risk exposure by taking anyone they aren’t going to make an instant profit from. Besides, seven girls going missing in a matter of days won’t just call attention to what they’re doing, it would be a logistical nightmare to get them out of the country unnoticed.” Jed made an excellent point, they wouldn’t risk exposing the smuggling ring by collecting so many girls at once.

  “Good point, but greed makes men push the limits, so let’s err on the side of caution and assume you’re not right on this one, Jed.” Despite the statement, Marcus hoped Jedidiah Blackwood, a member of the team for over ten years, summed the situation up correctly.

  “Hey, hang on a minute, there’s not enough of us to cover everyone, well, not in this room anyway,” Hex pointed out. “But if you’d like to clone me, so you have an extra awesome pair of hands, I’m in.”

  Marcus’ immediate team of mercenaries numbered thirteen. Then there were the fringe-dwellers. Bodies that he kept on the outer edge of his organization, most having worked with him at some point and who understood once you were a part of the mercenary business, you never really retired. He called on them for low-level spying gigs, housing people he needed to hide before relocating them, or running missions out of legitimate business holdings. Like the club where Bethany currently worked—The Dungeon, a prominent BDSM club in the city’s red-light district—was owned by Ash’s brother, Zane.

  “Well, there’s the five of us,” Red joined the discussion. “If we delay Clay’s departure that makes six. Ash stays on Beth’s tail, and we’re covered. Seven hot guys for seven sexy targets.”

  “No, Clay and the cargo left this morning,” Marcus replied. “And we all know the cargo can’t be left unaccompanied.”

  “Big tip Boss, we know the ‘cargo’,” Syn emphasized the last word while making inverted comma signs with his fingers, “is Adrian, so stop talking about him like he’s a shipping container.”

  Marcus glared over at Ash, supposedly the only member of the team to know Adrian was in the country. Ash shook his head, indicating the leak hadn’t been from him.

  “I saw a bottle of Kilian’s Straight to Heaven in the trash. Adrian’s the only person I know who wears it,” Bethany stated.

  “You asked me to get the guest room ready on level two, the room Adrian always uses, plus, you put chocolate, cake, and ice-cream on the shopping list,” Sasha smiled. “Gotta learn to cover those tracks better, Boss.”

  “Well…whatever. The point is Clay is not available,” Marcus snapped.

  His crew was too nosy for their own good. Another reason why nothing could happen between Beth and him. They’d all have an opini
on on it.

  “So, we’re one man down for the number of women identified unless you’d like me to get Sterling on a plane from Europe ASAP,” Ash grinned. “I’m sure he’d appreciate a break from the cat-and-mouse chase he’s got going on with that heiress. Last report, she’d given him the slip in no less than five European countries to date.”

  “Hunter Sterling stays put,” Marcus stated emphatically. “Besides, hearing about how our elusive heiress is giving him the runaround provides me with unending amusement. His calls are the highlight of my day. Particularly the ones that start with ‘Do you know what that spoiled brat has done now?’”

  Marcus almost laughed, the rest of his crew did. It wasn’t the ideal use of Hunter’s time to be keeping a princess out of trouble while her father found the young woman a husband, but it paid well. And Hunter, given his background, was the only operative for the job. British heritage, aristocratic, and able to fit into any noble environment made him the perfect choice for the task. Of course, the reason Hunter worked for Marcus was so he didn’t have to endure what he referred to as the pomp-and-ceremony of well-to-do Britain. That fact made the assignment he’d given Hunter even more of an amusement for Marcus.

  “While we’re discussing the team and possible helpers to babysit our lucky seven are you ever going to tell us where Mac is? Will he be returning to the fold anytime soon?” Ash was the only man who’d dare ask that question, but Marcus wasn’t ready to disclose Mac’s situation just yet.

  Marcus felt his stomach churn with worry. Kirk McAllister wasn’t on a mission, but he no doubt was living one of the hardest roles he’d ever taken on. Mac had flown back to Scotland to nurse his adoptive mother to her grave. The woman was expected to live only a few more months as the cancer raging through her body refused to respond to treatment. The hospital was sending her home to die. Just as it should be, Mac refused to leave her side.

  “He’s on a vital mission which I’m unable to discuss. He’ll be back at some stage.” Marcus ensured his tone left the team in no doubt the discussion about Mac was over. At least for the moment.

  “We’re still one man down,” Billy pointed out. “Unless we eliminate one of the women.”

  Marcus watched as everyone turned to face his eccentric technology wiz who rarely spoke during planning meetings like this one. The fact she bought into this conversation meant only one thing. Willamina Cain or Billy, her preferred name, had found something important.

  “Tell me,” Marcus stated.

  Billy pointed to the screen, isolating one of the photos on display. Marcus didn’t see the relevance of one woman compared to the next. It wasn’t like they could disqualify her from the group in any way, they all needed protection.

  “This young lady is twenty-six years old which doesn’t fit the brief, anyway. Nor does the fact she’s a blonde, so the dark hair in this shot is either a dye job or a wig. She hails from Rockdale in Southern Sydney, is single after divorcing her loser husband, and I’m fairly certain would be easy to lure away from danger if she knew what we all know.” Billy sat, grinning from ear-to-ear.

  Marcus assumed she was pausing for dramatic effect rather than trying to piss him off. He fixed a curt gaze on her, the silent get-on-with-it made perfectly clear. She got the hint. Clearing her throat, she continued.

  “This is Ebony Rosewood, youngest child of the deceased crime lord Adrian Hastings now reborn as Adrian Belvoir. I’m sure if we told her Daddy was still alive, she’d be happy to hop a plane and go for a visit, keeping her safe from the sex traffickers and in the capable hands of Clay and her poppa.”

  “Yeah, but would Adrian be safe from her once she found out he was still alive? I mean we are supposed to be keeping the dude safe,” Red chuckled.

  Marcus didn’t think twice. It was the only solution to their predicament and an immediate one at that. Adrian and she would have to sort out whatever shit might arise from the situation, but at least she’d be safe.

  “Billy, call Clay and get them back here ASAP. I’ll need their ETA, so we can meet them. Hex, get Ebony’s address from Billy as well as the known hangouts and go get her tonight. Do not mention anything about Adrian or the sex traffickers. You can use discreet force if necessary, but do it nicely, we don’t want to scare her. I want her here by the time Adrian and Clay arrive back.”

  “So, what you’re telling me is to go and kidnap the potential kidnap victim without terrifying the poor woman.” Hex appeared bemused by the request.

  “Exactly. Better to be with the nice kidnappers than the evil ones. In the fullness of time, she’ll understand and will probably want to give you a big, sloppy, thank you kiss,” Marcus replied. “Now, Billy has all the information for each of the other women. You’ll take who you’re assigned, not the woman you fancy shagging the most, am I understood?”

  Marcus’ final statement elicited discontented grumbles from his men and an approving burst of laughter from Bethany and the other women on the team. Eventually, the men all voiced a begrudging Yes, Boss, letting him know they understood.

  “Finally, my last communication from our man on the inside, Nik—who’s currently off-grid until further notice—stated he’d been told by his Boss to ready himself for a trip to Sydney, so he could accompany a shipment back to Tokyo. That was a few days ago, so I expect he’ll arrive soon, then communications should resume. Hopefully, he’ll give us more intel on any other girls pinpointed to be taken.” Marcus ended the meeting in his typical manner. “Any questions?”

  “Yeah, how am I expected to kidnap someone and stop someone being kidnapped at the same time?” Hex held up two florescent folders, one hot pink, the other iridescent yellow.

  Marcus decided he really needed to talk to Billy about her choice of office supplies.

  “I don’t expect movement on the abductions until I make my call tomorrow, but just in case… Ash, I want you on Hex’s woman until he’s free to take over. Bethany can stay here with me tonight. The two of us need to get a few things straight.” Still not happy with her earlier good little sex slave statement during the meeting, Marcus attempted to give Beth a censorious glare.

  The fact she was jumping up and down clapping her hands with a look of glee on her face meant all he could do was smile and shake his head in amusement.

  What am I going to do with you, girl?

  Chapter Three

  Beth walked up the stairs behind Marcus. There was something about a six-foot-three man in a snug fitting pair of Wrangler jeans a woman couldn’t help but admire. Not that admiring any part of Marcus did any good. He’d made it perfectly clear she didn’t have a hope in hell of ending up with him. Which made Beth wonder, what was the point in trying?

  The meeting couldn’t have come at a worse time. Yes, she’d gathered herself together even managed to throw in a few teasing jibes and flirtations along the way. The last thing she wanted was for the team to get a sniff of something being wrong with her. Showing hurt feelings in a room full of hard-ass, macho men was out of the question. At least, from her point of view. Instead, she’d suppressed the hurt and anger at his actions, buried it for a more appropriate time, one that quickly approached.

  “I’m making coffee if you’d like one.” Marcus strode toward the kitchen, obviously assuming Beth was still following him.

  She was, but the assumption she merrily tagged along after him like some trained puppy started her blood boiling. Half tempted to tell him to shove his mission up that too gorgeous bum and storm out, she tried to rein in her simmering emotions. Beth could do this, calmly and rationally. Why give him the satisfaction of being able to say, ‘I made the right choice in rejecting her, she’s just a child’—which Beth was sure he’d been telling himself for the last four years. No, she’d listen to whatever it was he wanted to say, then leave with her professionalism, dignity, and pride intact.

  “No to the coffee, thanks all the same.” If he said anything to rile her up even further, he’d more than likely wear it. “So, i
s this a reprimand or an apology?”

  Bethany leaned on the frame of the kitchen door, waiting for his reply. He faced away from her, so she could only read a few physical reactions. Shoulders tense, but not overly, the rest of his stance appeared relaxed. He momentarily stopped what he was doing when she mentioned the word apology but appeared to regroup quickly. He didn’t turn around immediately after flicking off the coffee machine, so she assumed he was deciding how to formulate his reply. Yep, he definitely had something on his mind.

  “Neither at this stage.” When he turned around, she met his steady gaze. “When was the picture of you they sent me taken?”

  It wasn’t what she’d expected him to say, and honestly, Beth could only surmise when they’d taken it. She was wearing one of her work outfits—black leather halter top, underbust corset, leather mini, fishnets, and knee-high platform boots—when you worked at a BDSM club you needed to look the part.

  “I can’t honestly say when it was, I always walk to the club, and given the outfit I’m wearing, I’m on my way to work. I must have been waiting to cross the road because I was standing near the traffic lights at Taylor Square.”

  “I’m perfectly aware you don’t know when it was because you would have alerted me to the fact that you were under surveillance. What I want to know is why you don’t know when it was taken.” Beth found it hard to maintain eye contact now, his annoyance with her clear, given his harsh tone and penetrating stare.

  She should have realized someone was tailing her and taking photos, but she’d missed it. In Marcus’ eyes that would equal a major stuff up. The reason he employed her was she observed things others missed, she read people and situations clearly, and until now, she’d never missed anything important like this. After all, he’d made it obvious tonight he wasn’t interested in anything else from her.

  “I messed up,” Bethany retorted, “but I’d just like to point out a couple of things if I may.”