by Anna Hackett
She made a small sound. “Lucky I always carry a backup, then.”
Alastair froze. “In that dress?”
“I’m hiding a few things under here.”
The sultry tone made his cock rock hard and he swallowed a groan. He couldn’t believe he was getting turned on in a situation like this. Still, this was Darcy they were talking about.
She shifted in his lap, and he heard the slide of silky fabric. He realized she was pushing the hem of her dress up.
“Darcy—”
“Stay focused, Alastair.”
“You’re killing me.”
“We have bad guys out there and people who need our help.”
He moved his hand and encountered smooth skin. He gripped her knee. She was reaching for something near her inner thigh. His cock throbbed and he bit back a groan. Unable to stop himself, he stroked the back of her knee.
Air puffed from her lips. “Hey, focus, remember? Gosh, no wonder you haven’t caught Silk Road, yet. You’re easily distracted.”
“Only by you.”
She stilled. “Don’t be sweet when we’re in a bad situation and I can’t see you.” She held something up and a light flicked on. He saw she was holding some sort of slim device. He realized it was a mini-tablet the size of a credit card. He watched her expand the device and tap on the screen.
“Okay, I’m sending a message to Dec,” she said. “Where are we, exactly?”
“Janitor’s closet near the information desk.”
She tapped again. “Done.”
“Where the hell were you hiding that? How were you hiding it under that dress?”
In the faint light, he saw her saucy wink. “One of my many secrets, Agent Burke.”
Alastair suddenly wanted to know all her secrets. He wanted to know everything about this woman—her dreams, her wants, what made her laugh, what made her sigh.
“Now, how about we get out of here?” She stood, her dress swishing back down to her ankles. She moved over to the electronic door lock panel, plugged her tablet in, and set to work.
“You can get the locks back online?” He rose.
She didn’t look up. “Probably not all of them from here, but I should be able to hack this one.”
When he’d first seen Darcy tonight, he’d been knocked senseless by her beauty.
But seeing her like this, eyes alight with concentration and that fierce intelligence, it turned him on just as much.
“Got it!” She looked up and smiled.
There was a click and the door opened.
Alastair grabbed her and pressed a hard kiss to her lips. When he pulled back, he was pleased to see she looked dazed. “Stay behind me.”
“Sure thing,” she said.
He paused. “You’re not lying, are you?”
Her pretty features smoothed out. “Who me? Of course not.”
He shook his head. “Liar.”
“You’re such a smooth-talker, Agent Burke.”
They cautiously moved back into the lobby and chaos. It was still dark, and smoke from the grenades hung in the air. There were pockets of fighting, and he knew his agents and THS were working to contain the situation.
He felt Darcy’s fingers slip into the belt loops on his pants. They moved forward. He needed to find Thom and his agents.
Suddenly, Darcy jerked on his waist. “Alastair.” Her tone was urgent.
“What?”
She reached around him and tilted her mini-tablet so he could see.
What he saw made his body lock. The three glowing dots were moving.
“The diamonds,” she hissed.
Fuck. “Come on.”
Darcy followed Alastair as he pushed through the crowd. All around, guests were crouched and hiding. Some were silent and others were sobbing.
Well, this gala was going to be front page news.
More gunfire came from somewhere and she ducked. Alastair gripped her arm. God, Darcy hoped all the guests were okay. They’d known Silk Road would make a play for the diamonds, but not like this.
She looked back at her mini-tablet and saw the diamonds moving upstairs. “Diamonds are heading up to the mezzanine.”
Alastair swiveled. In the faint emergency lighting, she saw the shadow of a big man jogging up the stairs.
Then Alastair sprinted forward. He took the stairs two at a time.
Dammit. Darcy hurried to follow after him. She just made out Cal and Logan in the shadows, fighting with some Silk Road men.
She knew the rest of the THS team would be spread throughout the room, fighting to bring Silk Road under control. She sent a silent prayer that they were all okay.
She was halfway up the stairs, when she saw Alastair reach the top. He tackled the man with the diamonds and she lost sight of them.
Lifting her skirt, she moved faster, and made it to the mezzanine. Ahead, Alastair and the man were circling each other. They charged, fists flying.
The blows were hard and powerful. A glancing hit caught Alastair on the chin and she winced. He dodged another punch, then rammed one into the Silk Road man’s gut. The man doubled over, and Alastair kicked him.
Then she saw the glint of something in the man’s hand. Her pulse went haywire.
“Alastair! He has a knife.”
The man slashed out. Alastair leaped back, but he wasn’t quite fast enough. There was enough light for her to see the huge tear across Alastair’s shirt.
God, no. Darcy grabbed a nearby chair and charged.
“What the fuck?” The man turned, just as she rammed the chair into him.
“Darcy, back,” Alastair bit out.
Momentum carried her forward. She ran the Silk Road man into the mezzanine railing.
He grunted, then gripped the chair and tore it away from her. He tossed it and it hit Alastair, who staggered back.
Darcy kept her gaze on the man. He was little more than a shadow. She saw the flash of the small metal case bulging in the inside pocket of his jacket. The diamonds.
She darted forward and grabbed the case.
A hard hand clamped onto her wrist and she grimaced. She could almost feel the delicate bones grinding together.
The man shoved hard and they lurched. She tried to pull the case closer, but he pulled back, pain flaring in her wrist.
“You’re not stealing these,” she snapped.
“I already have.” He had a deep Southern twang.
He shoved harder, and they twirled like dancers. Her hip hit the railing. Hard.
“Where’s the Collector?” she said.
“Waiting for me to deliver these.”
She refused to let go of the case and they spun in another unwieldy circle. Annoyed, Darcy shoved the man and he leaped up onto a chair, towering over her.
“Darcy.” Alastair rushed forward, grabbed a fistful of her dress, and yanked her back. Her fingers slipped off the case.
When she lifted her head, she watched the Silk Road man lift a gun. He pointed it straight at Alastair.
Her chest locked.
The man fired.
“No!” Darcy screamed. She watched as Alastair staggered back and fell to the floor.
Anger exploded through her and her vision turned red. Silk Road had already taken too many lives. They’d already taken Alastair’s mother, they weren’t taking him as well.
Without thinking, she shoved the Silk Road man in the gut with all her weight behind her.
He tipped backward and hit the railing.
Then he stared straight at Darcy, his face going lax. “Need to jump. We need to jump.”
Her pulse leaped. “What?” His voice had lost its accent and sounded monotone.
He let himself fall back over the railing.
Oh, crap. Darcy leaned out, reaching for the case of diamonds.
The man grabbed a handful of her dress. Shit. He yanked her over the railing with him.
Shock blasted through her.
“Darcy!” Alastair’s shout.
She threw her hands out. When her fingers brushed fabric, she clenched her hands closed.
It was one of the banners announcing the exhibit. She yanked on it, gripping hard. Her weight made it swing out from the side of the mezzanine.
Hell. She flew through the air and held on, sliding down the silky fabric.
The next second, her heels hit the tile floor and she bent her knees. She didn’t even fall over. She stood there, her heart hammering like an out-of-control drum.
Oh, God. She’d made it. She hadn’t smashed into a thousand pieces on the tiles.
She looked over, and her gaze fell on the Silk Road man. Her belly turned over, nausea rising in her throat. He hadn’t been so lucky.
In the emergency lighting, she could see him, lying flat on his back, his limbs bent at odd angles. She sucked in some breaths, trying not to be sick.
Then, a shadow swooped in. The newcomer leaned over the dead man and grabbed the case of diamonds from the man’s pocket. His blond hair glinted as he turned and ran.
Shit. “Hey!”
Chapter Eleven
Ignoring his burning shoulder, Alastair leaped down the stairs.
Darcy had fallen off the fucking mezzanine. His heart was lodged in his throat. Fear pounded through him, leaving his mouth dry.
“Burke.”
Declan was standing in the shadows at the base of the stairs. Alastair shouldered past him. He had to get to Darcy.
Suddenly, the lights clicked on.
All around, guests rose, blinking and clutching each other.
But his gaze was drawn to Darcy.
The air rushed out of him, leaving him lightheaded. She stood there in her beautiful dress. A little rumpled, but perfectly fine.
She wasn’t lying on the ground, broken, like he’d imagined in his head. Like the Silk Road fucker just behind her.
Her gaze moved to his torn shirt and shoulder. “Are you okay? That asshole shot you!”
“Just a graze.”
She released a breath and smiled. “You should have seen my landing.” She pointed to the banner that was lying on the ground, and he realized she must have used it to break her fall.
“Alastair.” Thom appeared out of the crowd, gun drawn.
Alastair ignored him and strode toward Darcy. Fuck. Fuck. As he got closer, her eyes widened.
He pulled her into his arms, swept her back, and slammed his mouth down on hers.
She was frozen for a beat, then her hands clutched his shoulders and she kissed him back.
More than desire pounded through him. His need was stronger than just sex or attraction. He didn’t know how long he kissed her, absorbing the warmth and life of her, but then he heard the sound of someone clearing their throat.
Reluctantly, he raised his head. He looked at her flushed face and swollen lips before lifting his gaze. He saw not just one, but two angry brothers pinning him with furious stares.
Great. But Alastair didn’t give a fuck. Darcy was alive. That was all he cared about.
The Wards were standing behind their sons. Oliver’s face was impassive, but Persephone was grinning.
“Well, this party has been way more interesting than I anticipated,” the treasure hunter said.
Agents and security guards swarmed around. Nearby, Thom was yelling out orders as they rounded up the last of the Silk Road attackers. Others were helping the guests and shepherding in the paramedics and police.
Alastair tucked Darcy close to his side. “Thom, sitrep?”
“Thankfully, no casualties,” his partner said. “A few injuries.”
“Diamonds?”
“Someone grabbed them off him.” Darcy nodded at the dead man on the floor without looking at him. “It was the weirdest thing, but he…wanted to jump.”
Alastair couldn’t care less about the man who’d pulled her over the edge. “Did you see the person who took the diamonds?”
“I didn’t get a clear look, but he had blond hair. He ran.” She held up her mini-tablet. “The trackers are active.”
“Let’s take this to the security room,” Alastair suggested.
Dec stepped in front of him. “We’re going to have a discussion.” The man’s eyes slid to his sister then back to Alastair. Beside Dec, Cal crossed his arms over his chest.
“Hello?” Darcy said. “Stolen priceless diamonds and black-market bad guys to sort out.” She shot her brothers a glare, then turned to Alastair. “I’m sorry about the diamonds, Alastair.”
“Don’t be. This was the plan.”
She stiffened, her head tilting slowly. “Excuse me?”
“I want the Collector. To do that, I need him out in the open.”
Dec nodded. “And the only way to do that was to let them take the diamonds.”
Darcy pressed her hands to her hips. “You wanted Silk Road to steal the diamonds?”
Alastair nodded. “And take them to the Collector.”
She moved, pressing her hands to his chest and shoving him. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she yelled.
“I couldn’t risk any leaks—”
She hissed. “I’ve been working on this project for days! You really thought I’d blab about this?”
He grabbed her wrists gently. “No. I didn’t tell anyone.”
“Including me,” a scowling Thom added.
Darcy wagged a finger at Alastair. “You and I are going to discuss this habit of keeping secrets.”
“All right, let’s get to the security room,” Thom said.
“In a second.” Alastair pulled Darcy closer. “First, I want Darcy to get checked out by the paramedics.”
Her gaze fell to his shoulder. “I’m not the one who’s bleeding.”
“Flesh wound. You fell over a balcony.” He managed to keep his voice relatively calm. “You’ll get checked out.”
Her eyes flashed. “Try that again, Agent Burke.”
He leaned closer. “Darcy, will you please get checked out by the paramedics, since those Silk Road bastards hit a pressure point on your neck and you lost consciousness. Then one of them pulled you off the mezzanine, and took a fucking decade off my life.”
All around, people were watching their conversation. Dec and Cal’s expressions had darkened even more.
“Darcy, honey.” Her father’s tone was completely unruffled, like this happened all the time. “Please get checked out.”
“Get checked, darling,” Persephone added. “Your hot guy did ask very nicely.”
“He did pretty well.” Darcy tossed her head, her glossy hair swinging. “Fine.”
Alastair smiled at her. Finally, he’d gotten his way.
They were all crammed into the Dashwood security room, staring at the big screens on the wall.
The paramedics had given Darcy a clean bill of health, and she’d then demanded they clean the flesh wound on Alastair’s shoulder and check where he’d been attacked with the knife. Thankfully, while the knife had slashed his shirt, it hadn’t reached his skin.
The panicked museum director was standing nearby, looking ill. Thom had re-acquired Alastair’s phone and Glock, and Darcy’s tablet from the now-arrested Silk Road thugs.
“The diamonds have stopped moving,” Thom said.
Darcy leaned forward. Alastair was right behind her—big and protective.
“The Adana Tower,” Alastair said.
Thom whistled. “Fancy. Exclusive residences for the rich and the ultrarich.”
“What floor?” Alastair asked.
“Penthouse.”
“Owner?”
Darcy tapped on her tablet, running a search. “Corporation called Elettaria, Inc.”
“I haven’t seen that one among Silk Road’s long list of dummy companies. Track it down, and confirm it’s them. I want a name.” Alastair speared Thom with a look. “Get a judge out of bed. We nee
d a search warrant.”
His partner nodded. “It’ll take time. It’s midnight. By the time we get them up and put everything together—”
“Just do it.”
“I doubt we’ll have anything before morning, you know grumpy judges don’t lose too much sleep over stolen relics.”
“Silk Road is made up of murderers and thieves.”
“I’m on it,” Thom said.
Darcy frowned, staring at the image of the Adana Tower. She wanted to get in there now. The Collector was in there and they all knew it.
“I want all entrances and exits to the tower monitored,” Alastair ordered. “And get a team into a neighboring building. I want full surveillance set up.”
Thom nodded again.
“My team will work with your people on site,” Dec said.
Alastair nodded, scowling at the screen. “Darcy, make sure the teams have access to the diamond trackers.”
She nodded. “Done. What now?”
“Now you get some sleep,” he answered.
She made a scoffing sound. “There is no way I could sleep.”
“You want to help bring them down, you need some rest.” He looked around. “Everybody does. I want a fresh team on the night watch, and everyone else rested so once we get the warrant, we’re ready to go in.”
As people shuffled out, Darcy crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re resting too, right?”
“I need to check with the onsite team—”
She lifted her chin. “Then I’m coming, too. I’ll rest when you rest.”
His eyes flared and he looked at the ceiling. Then he met her gaze. “Please.”
“This is one of those times where this is an order, Alastair.”
She could tell he was gritting his teeth. His gaze ran over her, and then his face softened a little. “Deal.”
Huh, she’d won for once. But watching him, heat flared to life inside her. She got the feeling he wasn’t thinking about actually resting.
Darcy said good night to her family, hugging her parents and sisters-in-law. Her bossy brothers got scowls.
Alastair was quiet on the drive back to his place, except to take several calls updating him on the teams setting up at the Adana Tower. Once they were inside his condo, she sauntered across the living room, more than ready to kick off her heels.