Savage Rising

by Katie Reus

  “Which means he must have an inside guy at the backup security place. It’s the only way he would have this,” Gage said.

  “He planned this. How the hell did I not see this?” Savage rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. He should have seen this. Or at least thought of it.

  “I didn’t either.”

  Out of the corner of his eye Zac saw Olivia stand. When he looked at her, she frowned.

  “What is it?” She crossed the living room and was in the kitchen in seconds.

  He turned the laptop toward her. “Looks like we’re still on the job.”

  She paled as she watched the video. “How did he get this? I thought…” She looked up at Zac then, confusion and fear in her dark eyes.

  Gage responded before Zac could. “He must have an inside guy at the backup place where the security feeds go. We’d planned to get in there and erase all the files tonight.”

  “I’m sorry,” Zac said, his gaze still pinned to hers.

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “I should have thought of this. Neely seemed frustrated that we wanted to go in disguise. I should have—”

  “Stop. You’re not omniscient. And you’ve gone above and beyond what I ever could have expected when I went to Skye.” She closed her eyes for a long moment. “Martina’s safe now. Maybe I should just turn myself in and—”

  “No,” Zac said at the same time Gage did. Good. Glad his friend was on the same page. They were going to fix this for her. She wasn’t going to jail and losing her daughter.

  “Now that Martina is safe we’ve got a little breathing room. Because no way is he going to turn this over to anyone before he gets what he needs from you,” Zac said.

  “What about when the job is over? He’ll have no reason to keep that video to himself.”

  “Maybe. But in the meantime, we’ll find dirt on him. If we get blackmail on him, he won’t turn on you.”

  She slowly nodded. “Mutually assured survival. And he won’t want to go to jail. No way. Okay.” She pushed out a long breath, her expression still pinched. “I want to get Martina out of here and back to Redemption Harbor.”

  “We’ll get her on a flight out tonight—on the private plane,” Gage said.

  “Where am I going now?” Martina joined them, hands on her hips.

  Olivia reached out and gently placed her hands on Martina’s shoulders. “It turns out things aren’t quite over with Kyle. So you’re going to fly out tonight and be with Valencia. She needs you and I need you both safe.”

  “Who will keep you safe?”

  “I will,” Zac said automatically.

  Martina looked at him then, her dark eyes narrowing as she sized him up. Then she nodded once and turned back to Olivia to pull her into a tight hug. “I don’t want to go, but I’ll take care of our little one.”

  “I know you will,” Olivia rasped out as she hugged her friend back.

  Zac looked away to give them the semblance of privacy but was already thinking of the next step. They had to figure out what this job was before it happened. And if they couldn’t, they’d have to go through with it. No matter what, Neely was going down and Olivia was walking away from all this.

  “I’m responding to him,” Gage said, his fingers flying over the keyboard.

  Seconds later they got a response from Neely. Be at the penthouse tomorrow by nine. Come alone.

  Zac snorted as he read the message. That definitely wasn’t happening.

  * * *

  Zac knocked softly on the door to Olivia’s room. When she didn’t answer, he opened the door. Which, okay, was rude, but he didn’t care. She’d been completely silent on the way back from the private airport where they’d dropped off Martina. When they got back she’d said she was coming upstairs to Skype with Valencia but something about her tone was off.

  When he stepped inside he saw a small bag open on the bed, including climbing and rappelling gear next to it. Before he’d moved farther into the room she stepped out of the bathroom, a small toiletry bag in her hand.

  She jerked to a halt, her eyes widening as she set the bag down. “What—” She cleared her throat, her cheeks flushing a sexy pink as she glanced at the stuff on the bed. “Um…”

  “Planning on going somewhere?” He shut the door behind him and strode into the room until he stood next to the bed.

  “He told me to come alone tomorrow.” Her voice was small, quiet, and the stress lines bracketing her mouth made him want to punch Neely again.

  “Well you’re not.” He shoved the bag and gear to the side and climbed onto her bed, stretching out with his hands propped behind his head as if he had every right to be there.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Hands on her hips, anger suffusing her cheeks now instead of guilt, she looked even sexier. Her dark hair was down around her shoulders and her eyes flashed with fury.

  “What’s it look like? I’ll be your shadow until we leave in the morning. In case you try to do something stupid.”

  “I… You…” She let out a frustrated growl and stood there for a few long moments before setting the bag and other things on the ground with a sigh.

  Then to his surprise she climbed on the king-sized bed and lay next to him. There was a foot of space between them and her head was on the other pillow, but he could reach out and touch her if he wanted. Which he did want, but touching her was off-limits. She was part of the job. Nothing more. How many times was he going to tell himself that? Maybe if he said it enough, he’d believe it.

  Sighing, she closed her eyes. “I feel like everything in my life is a giant mess.”

  “Did you really Skype with Valencia earlier?” He wasn’t sure if that had been a lie so she could try to sneak out.

  “Yeah. She’s excited Martina is coming to see her, and I can tell she misses me…but she seems okay. I’ve just never been separated from her before. She’s only ever had sleepovers at Martina’s. I don’t know, maybe it’s harder on me than her,” she murmured.

  “Kids are resilient, which is good for you and her. And it’s barely been a day, even if it feels like longer.”

  “You’re right.” Her voice was still soft, a little tired, and she hadn’t opened her eyes yet.

  He couldn’t stop looking at her. “I’m always right.”

  She snorted, the sound making him smile, especially since she still hadn’t opened her eyes. “You really are a bossypants.”

  He laughed, something strange happening in his chest. “I’ve never been called that before. Not that politely anyway.”

  “Well my daughter is a bossypants—or so she’s been told by her friends at school. Which, she most definitely is.” She laughed lightly and opened her eyes, looking right at him. “My strong-willed, sweet girl has no problem taking charge.”

  He swallowed hard, feeling out of his depth with this woman. His only plan had been to do this job, keep her safe and go home. Do the job. That was almost always his motto. Or it had been before he’d met Olivia. “I’m sure she got that from you,” he murmured. Olivia was so close he could just lean over, brush his lips over hers. But he didn’t.

  Not yet. Maybe never. God, Gage was right. He couldn’t do anything with her. She was friends with Skye and he didn’t relish hurting a woman anyway. And he didn’t think he was capable of more than one-night stands.

  “Yeah, maybe. Martina too.”

  “Tell me about her.” Because he wanted to know every facet of Olivia’s life. How she’d become who she was. “She’s a lot younger than I imagined.”

  “Yeah, she started watching me when she was about twenty. My mom had gone through a bunch of nannies over the years. Finally when we got to Martina I knew I was never letting her go. I was five at the time and man, I just fell in love with her. There was a realness to her, like she actually wanted to be there with me. After I was too old to need a nanny her position in the house shifted and she pretty much took care of my parents’ home when they were out of the country—whi
ch was often.”

  “Your parents trusted her.”

  “They did. And in her own way, I think my mother liked Martina. She was grateful to her at least for all she did.” Her head fell back against the pillow. “Martina always said my mother was a complex woman, but honestly, I think she was just a selfish woman who didn’t have time for me. The only good thing she ever did was make Martina a full-time employee which meant she got health care and had stability.”

  “What about Martina’s family?” He tried to order himself to stop asking questions. The more he learned about her, the deeper he fell.

  “She had terrible taste in men.” Olivia grinned, the action fleeting. “One of the things we have in common. Her ex was a deadbeat and split as soon as Martina’s son was born.”

  “She has a son?”

  “Did. He died. Car accident, from a drunk driver.”

  “Damn.”

  “Yeah. I don’t know how she held up so well. Once when I was much older and about to become a new mom myself, she told me that I was the only reason she held on. Because she still had a daughter.” Olivia’s voice cracked once. She swallowed hard and continued. “I don’t care what anyone says. Blood isn’t what makes you family.”

  “Agreed.” Brooks, Colt, Gage—all of them, they were his family now. Skye too, even though he hadn’t known her as long.

  “So what’s the deal with you? I’ve pretty much spilled my life story to you.”

  “I told you stuff before.”

  Her lips quirked up. “Stuff?”

  He rolled onto his back, looking at the ceiling. “About my past.”

  “Hmm.” She scooted a little closer so they were almost touching.

  He froze for a moment, not even breathing. That move was definitely intentional but he had no idea what it meant.

  His heart rate was completely jacked up, something he wasn’t used to. Not in the field when he’d been in the Corps, not on the job when he’d done contract work, and not usually with women. Sex had always been take it or leave it. If he’d had a scratch, he’d gotten it itched with a willing partner who understood that he was only interested in sex.

  This…whatever this thing was with Olivia felt different. It was different. He didn’t know if he was ready for that. Or would ever be ready for that. “Fine. What do you want to know?”

  “Tell me what you did before working with Skye.”

  He cleared his throat. “I’m not a good person, Olivia.” Something she needed to understand. He didn’t want her to think he was in any way a white knight or a good person.

  “I don’t think there is good or bad or black and white. Not always. People are too complicated for that.”

  “I’ve killed people.” He tightened his jaw, not able to say more than that. But she needed to know what kind of man he was. She might have made stupid mistakes when she was younger, and maybe some of them weren’t mistakes but conscious wrong choices. But she’d changed her life, was a different person now. And she’d certainly never killed anyone. What he’d done—no, he wasn’t sure he deserved to even be lying next to her.

  She scooted a little closer until her head was resting on his shoulder. “If that’s supposed to shock me, it doesn’t.”

  Well she’d sure as hell shocked him. And when she curled up against him, he wasn’t sure what the hell was going on. So he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer. With his free hand, he reached out and clicked off the lamp on the nightstand and she didn’t protest.

  He could tell himself that he was staying here because he didn’t trust her not to try and leave to meet with Neely. But the truth was he was staying because there was nowhere else he wanted to be.

  Chapter 11

  —So…that happened.—

  Olivia cracked her eyes open and realized that yep, she was curled up against Savage as if she had every right to do so. She wasn’t sure what had possessed her earlier—maybe the thought of going to jail if things went south—but when he’d stretched out on her bed as if he belonged there, she’d lost her mind and decided to snuggle up with a tiger. And that was exactly what Savage was. A sexy, muscular predator. Who was surprisingly sweet. She wanted nothing more than to get naked with him.

  His chest rose and fell steadily, the solid strength of him comforting. Moonlight streamed in from one of the big windows. A cluster of palm tree branches swayed in a slight wind and she could hear a dog barking in the distance. Everything about this moment was surreal. Being here at all was just too weird.

  When she looked up she found Savage watching her, wide awake, his eyes piercing in the dim light. She sucked in a breath, startled. Moonlight played off the hard angles of his strong face. He was so hard to read.

  “How long have you been awake?” she whispered, because talking any louder somehow felt wrong.

  In response, his gaze dipped to her mouth. That single, blatantly hungry look sent a ribbon of heat curling through her.

  Even though she knew it was like teasing a wild animal, she reached up and traced her finger over his bottom lip. Because apparently she’d lost her damn mind.

  His eyes went heavy-lidded but he didn’t pull away. Part of her had hoped he would. Then she wouldn’t be making what was most likely a mistake. But thoughts of the two of them, naked, entangled together…she really wanted that.

  Instead, he nipped her finger—and heat pooled between her legs. God, this man. This whole situation was insane. And she wanted him completely in a way she’d never experienced with anyone before.

  She hadn’t been with anyone since before Valencia was born. In fact, she was pretty sure she’d forgotten everything to do with sex. Or…maybe not. She let out another little moan as he slowly bit down on her finger.

  “I’m not a good man,” he growled, before moving lightning fast and pinning her underneath him.

  All the air whooshed from her lungs as she stared up at him, her heart beating out of control. His green eyes looked darker in the muted light of the room, but the hunger in his expression was clear. And she desperately wanted to peel off all his layers of clothing so she could finally see what he was hiding. “Okay.”

  “I can’t offer you what you deserve,” he continued, the hard length of his covered erection pressing against her lower abdomen.

  She spread her legs wider, simultaneously glad and annoyed she had clothes on too. Why was her mind immediately going to full-blown sex? “I’m not asking for anything. Except maybe an orgasm—or three.”

  He blinked once at her boldness, then made this sexy, growling sound before slowly lowering his head to hers. He was clearly giving her time to put the brakes on, to stop things. Yeah, not happening. Right now she had no clue what the future held and she wanted to experience all Savage had to offer.

  Somehow this dark, sexy man had gotten under her skin. She’d never seen him coming. She’d never even imagined a man like him in her fantasies. Which probably said more about the sad state of her fantasies.

  When his mouth brushed against hers, it was like something electric passed between them, wild and out of control. She felt the soft touch of his lips straight to all her nerve endings and wanted more. So much more. They might have kissed before, but this was different.

  She was on her back. In a bed. And they weren’t doing this for any other reason than they wanted to. And she really, really wanted to be naked soon. More than that, she wanted him naked. What she felt under her fingertips—the hardness of his chest and shoulders—she wanted to feel all of that bare. She wanted to wrap her fingers around his hard length, to stroke him until he came.

  He groaned into her mouth as she clutched onto his shoulders. Then she wrapped her legs around him, arching into him. She was like a cat in heat, wanting to curl her entire body around him and not let go.

  When he pulled back, his mouth leaving hers, she blinked up at him. “You’re stopping?” Why did she have to sound all panicked? That was not a woman in control. And she felt like she’d been in control, o
r attempted to be, the last six years.

  Until Savage.

  “I’m going to strip you. Then you’re going to come against my mouth.” Harsh, guttural, set-her-panties-on-fire words.

  Her brain short-circuited and all she could manage was a nod as another rush of heat flooded between her legs. Had anyone ever said anything so sexy to her? She was pretty sure no.

  Her nod was all he needed as he reached for the clasp of her jeans and oh so slowly, intentionally and torturously tugged them down her legs. After changing out of her getup from this morning, she’d also changed out of the sexy panties into plain black cotton bikini briefs. Which she was most definitely regretting. From now on she vowed to only wear sexy lingerie—or nothing at all.

  Savage didn’t seem to care as he stared up at her from the foot of the bed where he knelt between her spread legs. Watching her closely, he tossed her jeans to the side and climbed back up the few feet, his movements slow, deliberate and setting all her nerve endings on fire.

  She wanted him to touch her anywhere, everywhere, right now. It was as if he was moving in slow motion, deliberately trying to make her crazy with need. Or more likely it had just been so long since she’d been naked with a man that she was feeling anxious and needy.

  Of course the fact that this was happening with Savage, a man who defined sexiness, was what made all the difference.

  “Faster,” she whispered before she realized she’d meant to speak.

  He paused, his hands poised under the material of her panties. “Now I’m going to go even slower.” A dark, sensual promise.

  She swallowed hard as he did just that, tugging the material down her legs so damn slowly she could hardly stand it. The only thing that made her feel better was that he was so very clearly affected by her too. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his breathing increasing as her pussy was exposed to him.

  He actually paused again, staring, transfixed at the juncture between her thighs before he tossed the scrap of material to the ground.