The Mercenary And The Marriage Vow

by Doreen Roberts

  His fingers brushed the curve of her breast, then stilled. She remembered the microphone. He lifted his head and looked deep into her eyes.

  “I don’t know what it is about you that makes me forget what I’m supposed to be doing,” he muttered, his voice husky with emotion. “We don’t have time for this now, but one thing I can promise you. When this is over, I’m going to finish what we started here tonight. Count on it. Now let’s get this thing switched on.”

  He kissed her once more, a hard, swift pressure on her lips, then he let her go.

  Her fingers shook as she rebuttoned her blouse and combed her hair. So it wasn’t over yet. She might have known that a day of reckoning would have to come. They’d been through too much together, started too many fires to walk away without some kind of resolution.

  Her body ached for what he promised. But she knew she would only disappoint him. And herself. If the time came...when the time came...she would have to tell him the truth. She owed him that much. She would have to tell him that no matter how much she loved him, she could not respond to him physically. She would have to admit that she was frigid.

  It was probably just as well, she told herself as the truck roared along the last few yards of road to Sabhad’s mansion. Because even if lovemaking could be good between them, it wouldn’t make any difference. This was Nat’s life—he lived for the thrill of danger. He couldn’t be happy doing anything else.

  Either way, she was going to lose him. And it hurt like hell.

  The truck was still a few yards away from the mansion when the searchlights sprang on at the gates. The beams swept back and forth across the road, picking them up in a blinding light as they approached the gate. Two guards appeared wearing army fatigues and carrying shotguns.

  “Don’t forget,” Nat muttered, “you hate me. No matter what they do to me. You forget that and we’re dead.”

  Now she was sick with fear. All her newfound bravado had vanished at the sight of those murderous-looking guns. Remembering her father’s account of how he’d climbed over the gate with the guard shooting at him, she felt faint.

  She sat as if carved from stone while Nat stuck his head out the window. “Nathan Thorne,” he said harshly. “I’m bringing back Sabhad’s wife.”

  The guards hesitated, looked at each other, and then one of them went back inside the guardhouse, apparently to call the main house. Seconds later the gates swung open and one of the guards beckoned them inside.

  “Here we go,” Nat muttered. “Just keep your head and we’ll be fine.”

  Right then, all she could think about was running away. She couldn’t do this. She couldn’t act as if she hated Nat, not when she loved him....

  The passenger door opened abruptly, and a rough hand grabbed her arm. She didn’t have to fake her terror. She looked into the cruel face of the guard who stood there, his teeth bared in an evil grin.

  “Allow me to assist you,” he said unpleasantly.

  Her flash of anger chased away the fear. “I can manage myself, thank you.” She snatched her arm away from him, and his eyes darkened.

  “Why you—”

  “I’ll take care of Mrs. Sabhad,” Nat said, appearing at the guard’s side. He shoved the man out of the way and grabbed hold of Valeri’s arm. “Come on, lady, you’re home.”

  Valeri flashed him a look of gratitude, and was rewarded by a fierce frown. “Give me any more trouble,” he said in a low harsh voice, “and I’ll give you a few more bruises.”

  The guard stepped back, scowling heavily.

  Taking her cue from Nat, Valeri lifted her chin. “You touch me again, you disgusting barbarian, and you’ll be singing tenor.”

  “Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it all before.”

  He dragged her out of the truck, and she stumbled. His hand came out to steady her and she slapped it away. “Keep your filthy hands to yourself.”

  The guard began to smile again, obviously enjoying the byplay.

  “Look, lady,” Nat said with just the right amount of threat in his voice, “either you walk on your own two feet or I sling you over my shoulder. Take your choice.”

  “I’ll walk.” He was so realistic that he was making her nervous. She stalked off in front of him, but he caught up with her and kept her pressed to his side as they went through the door with the guards following close behind.

  Valeri gaped at the sumptuous interior of the mansion. The marble entranceway was lit by an enormous crystal chandelier, and thick red carpet covered the wide curving stairway with its gold-tinted banisters. Obviously priceless paintings hung on the walls, and silk brocades and thick velvet drapes covered the windows in the sunken living room where Nat guided her toward a long, low cream couch decorated with gold tassels.

  She had barely recovered from her amazement over the opulence of her surroundings when someone loudly clapped his hands. The guards stood at attention as a man entered the room, followed by a smaller man with bowed shoulders and a bald head.

  Valeri’s attention was riveted by the man who’d entered first. He looked magnificent in white robes caught at the waist by a wide, gold sash. He wore a white turban, and beneath it his eyes flashed dark and malevolent.

  His swarthy face was dominated by a hooked nose, and his thick, cruel lips stretched in a smile over even white teeth. He fitted perfectly the western woman’s idea of a sheik, and would have been devastating in a desert movie. Right now, though, standing in front of him in his own living room, Valeri felt nothing but loathing for the man who had killed, and would kill again no doubt, simply for greed.

  “I wish I could say it’s a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Thorne,” he said in a thick guttural accent, “but after the trouble you have cost me, I would not be telling the truth.”

  All the time he spoke, his eyes never left Valeri’s face. The queazy feeling in her stomach intensified as his gaze dropped to her feet, then slowly moved up her body with an insolence that made her cringe.

  Remembering Nat’s reaction when the man in the restaurant did the same thing, Valeri hoped he wouldn’t make the wrong move. She didn’t dare look at him, but kept her gaze on Sabhad.

  She needn’t have worried. Nat’s voice sounded almost bored when he spoke. “I’ve brought your wife back, Sabhad. I believe you owe me some money.”

  Sabhad’s gaze remained fixed on Valeri’s face. “Really. May I ask what changed your mind? The last time my men saw you, you were racing in the opposite direction across the mountains with my wife.”

  “I am not your wife!” Valeri snapped. “I demand that you let me go at once.”

  “In my country,” Sabhad said, a little too softly, “women do not speak unless commanded to do so.”

  “Well, you’re not in your country now, Buster, you’re in mine. And I speak when I damn well decide to.”

  She was unnerved to see a flash of amusement in his black eyes. “She is spirited, this one. She must have given you a great deal of trouble, I imagine, Mr. Thorne.”

  “You don’t know the half of it,” Nat said feelingly.

  Valeri glared at him. “You can shut up, too, you ugly bastard.”

  Sabhad clapped his hands. “Enough! I would like to know why you left so abruptly, Mr. Thorne, and why you decided to come back, after all.”

  “I was getting to that.” Nat’s look of contempt was so real that Valeri had a moment of uneasiness. “She kept insisting she wasn’t your wife, and at first she was so damn convincing. Then the guard didn’t recognize her when I brought her to the gate...I guess I just panicked. After all, I could have been sent down for life if I’d grabbed the wrong person.”

  “But then she convinced you she was my wife, is that it?”

  Valeri’s heart thumped even harder. He wasn’t buying it. She could see it in his eyes.

  “She couldn’t convince me she wasn’t. I don’t know why she’s so damn determined not to come back here, but I figure it’s none of my business. She’s your wife—you fight it out with he
r. All I want is my money.”

  Sabhad nodded slowly. Valeri squirmed under that intense gaze. He reminded her of a hawk watching its prey for the right moment to swoop and strike. Any minute now he was going to deny everything. She had to get him to mention the disks. Anything that would incriminate him and bring the police in.

  “You know very well why I don’t want to be here,” she said bitterly. “I’m not your wife. You tried to kill my father to get your hands on the fuel project. You’ve already killed one man for it. That’s why you want me, isn’t it? You think my father will trade the disks for me. Why don’t you just admit it, you blackhearted murderer?”

  Nat sent her a quick glance. “I don’t know what she keeps jabbering about. I don’t want to know. All I want is what you owe me, and I’ll get out of here.”

  “I owe you nothing!” Sabhad roared, finally turning to look at Nat. “You think I’m stupid? You think I don’t know when you’re trying to double-cross me? You’ll take the money and the woman, is that it? Well, you might be clever, Mr. Thorne, but you’re not that clever. You try to take her out of here now and you’ll both die.”

  “Now wait a minute—”

  Sabhad stepped forward and swiped Nat across the face with the back of his hand. The vicious blow caught him by surprise and he staggered back before regaining his balance. The look on his face gave Valeri chills.

  “You do that again,” he snarled, “and you’re dead.”

  At his words, both guards brought their shotguns up and aimed the barrels at his head.

  “No!” She screamed the word before the thought was fully formed in her mind. The instant it was out, she realized what she’d done. She could see it in Nat’s eyes. Desperately she tried to recover. “I won’t see any man killed in front of me,” she said quickly. “Not even a bastard like him.”

  “Save your breath, Ms. Richmond,” Sabhad said slyly. “Or may I call you Valeri? Believe me, this desperado isn’t worth your pity. He’d sell his mother’s soul to the devil if the price was right. I have met his type before.”

  Valeri bit back the hot retort. She stared stone-faced at Sabhad, and prayed for a miracle.

  Nat wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. It came away with a bright red streak across it, and he gave Sabhad a murderous look. “Keep your goddamn money. And the woman. I’m sick of her anyway.”

  He turned on his heel as if to go, but Sabhad raised his hand. “Not so fast, Mr. Thorne.”

  The two guards crossed their guns in front of Nat, preventing him from leaving.

  “Search him,” Sabhad ordered.

  Valeri closed her eyes as one of the guards patted Nat down thoroughly. Thank heaven she was the one wearing the wire. When she opened her eyes again, the guard was handing a gun over to Sabhad.

  “I didn’t think you’d come in here unarmed,” Sabhad said, tucking the gun in his robe.

  So he’d kept the gun with him all the time, Valeri thought, wondering where he’d hidden it. She felt sick, wondering what Sabhad might do to him. All this was her fault. If he hurt Nat, she’d kill the bastard somehow.

  “Mr. Thorne, I think it’s safe to say that you know about the disks that Dr. Forrester stole from my office. I would hazard a guess that you also know where they are. I suggest that you go back to Dr. Forrester and tell him that I have his daughter in my custody, and that she will come to no harm as long as he is cooperative. He is to give the disks to you, and you will bring them back to me. Once I have them, Ms. Richmond will be free to leave.”

  Nat scowled. “And what if I can’t find Dr. Forrester?”

  Sabhad smiled his evil smile. “Oh, I think you’ll find him, Mr. Thorne. You see, if you’re not back here with the disks within twenty-four hours, then Ms. Richmond will meet with an unfortunate accident. I trust I make myself clear?”

  “Very clear,” Nat said grimly.

  “Oh, and I suggest you don’t contact the police. After all, there’s that little matter of Paul Simpson’s murder. I’m sure the police would be happy to know of Dr. Forrester’s whereabouts.”

  “My father didn’t kill anyone,” Valeri said hotly.

  “Maybe,” Sabhad said smugly, “but the police are convinced your father shot Mr. Simpson. It might take him a while to explain how he came to be in possession of the gun. Very stupid of him to throw it in a trash bin. But very convenient for me, of course.”

  “How did you know—” Valeri began, but Nat silenced her with a warning look.

  “I’ll get the disks for you, and I’ll bring them back,” he said harshly to Sabhad. “Not for the woman, but for the money. You pay me double when I deliver or I hand them over to the police.”

  Sabhad stared at him a long time, but Nat refused to look away. Finally Sabhad said softly, “You drive a hard bargain, Mr. Thorne. You shall have your money.” His gaze returned to Valeri. “Meanwhile, I’ll keep Valeri entertained until you return.” Once more he raked her up and down with his hot gaze. He didn’t exactly lick his lips, but the greedy expression on his face left no doubt what was on his mind.

  Valeri swallowed. She glanced at Nat, but his expression was hard as he stared at Sabhad. “I’ll be back,” he said, the threat in his voice evident to everyone in the room.

  “I’m sure you will,” Sabhad said smoothly. “But just to make sure, I’ll send an escort along with you.” He clapped his hands three times and a door opened across the room to reveal two husky, dark-skinned men in business suits. They marched across the room and stood one on either side of Nat.

  “I wouldn’t try anything stupid, Mr. Thorne.” Sabhad smiled. “My men are heavily armed and very quick on their feet. One wrong move, and I promise you, they will hurt you.”

  Valeri’s heart filled with terror. Her mind buzzed with anxious questions. Had the police heard the broadcast? How long would it take them to get there if they did? What would happen to Nat once the men found out they’d been tricked? And what was going to happen to her without Nat to protect her?

  The fear rose up to choke her. She looked desperately across the room at Nat. He sent her one hard look, as if to reassure her, then strode across the room to the entranceway with Sabhad’s henchmen hot on his heels.

  The heavy door closed behind them with a thud, and the sound of it echoed in Valeri’s heart like a death knell. She looked back at Sabhad, and cold hands of fear clawed at her heart when she saw the lust in his eyes.

  “Now, my dear,” he said softly, “I have you all to myself.”

  Chapter 13

  The door closed behind Nat with a loud thud, and his blood ran cold. He’d been shut off from Valeri, unable to lift a finger to help her. And he knew what Sabhad had in mind. He couldn’t mistake that look in his eyes, those soft innuendos.

  The thought of what the man might do to her drove Nat crazy. She wouldn’t stand a chance against him. He knew what men like Sabhad were capable of, and it didn’t bear thinking about.

  Not only that, but if the bastard tried to rip her clothes off, he’d find the wire. Nat didn’t like to think how Sabhad would react to that. Valeri’s life could be in danger.

  He strode across to his truck and opened the door. He couldn’t afford to waste much time. He certainly couldn’t take the chance of waiting for the cops to turn up. If they turned up at all. He had to do something, and fast. But not here.

  He’d wait until they were outside the gates, out of sight of the ever-vigilant cameras. He didn’t need Sabhad’s entire entourage down on his head. As it was, he was in for a tough time.

  Nat settled down behind the wheel and waited for the two henchmen to squeeze in beside him. Their breath smelled of garlic, and their clothes stank of nicotine and a spicy odor he couldn’t identify. The man closest to him shoved his elbow viciously into his side, and Nat’s skin crawled. It was going to be a pleasure taking care of these two.

  He drove out through the gates, and watched in the rearview mirror to see them close behind him. His mind worked feverishly. Ho
w best to do this? Overturning the truck seemed like a good start. They were armed, and Sabhad had his weapon. It seemed as if they had all the advantage, but Nat had learned a long time ago never to leave anything to chance. He still had a few surprises up his sleeve, and he was well aware that he would need every one of them if he was going to survive.

  He waited until the first sharp turn in the road. The men were staring ahead, suspecting nothing. He could almost feel the adrenaline pumping into his veins, increasing his heartbeat, his blood pressure, his metabolism. These were the moments he lived for: the seconds before he put his life on the line.

  He felt as if he were soaring like an eagle, power flooding his body and his mind. This was life; this was living it to the hilt. He was invincible. He was unbeatable. He was Nathan Thorne.

  With those thoughts pounding in his brain, he gave the wheel a vicious twist. The tires shrieked in protest and the truck bucked, fighting the momentum that kept it going one way while the wheels took it another.

  The two men let out a startled oath and a gun appeared in Nat’s face. He ducked, jerked the wheel again, then curled his body in a ball as the truck became airborne, then crashed back to earth and slowly toppled over the edge of the steep incline.

  Valeri looked around the room to which she’d been escorted by a silent woman with a black veil hiding her face. It was a bedroom even more luxuriant than the lavish reception room she’d just left.

  The bed was a four-poster, draped in blue-and-gold chiffon, and covered with a gleaming silver-blue spread and white satin pillows. Low armchairs in blue and gold rested beside tall, floor-to-ceiling windows draped in the same silver-blue as the spread.

  Swirls of pale turquoise and salmon pink decorated the plush gold carpet. An ottoman sat at the foot of the bed, and Valeri perched gingerly on the edge of it.

  She’d been surprised when Sabhad had dismissed her. Surprised and immensely relieved. She’d imagined all kinds of horrible situations, but it seemed as if he wasn’t interested in her the way she’d feared.

  She crossed her ankles and stared down at her scuffed and worn shoes. They looked out of place resting on that luxurious carpet. She wondered what Nat was doing, and how long he’d keep the men driving around before he admitted he wasn’t going to take them to her father.