“You show me enough appreciation, Jabir.”
Jabir wagged his cigar under Killam’s nose again. “I know what you’d like.”
He groaned inwardly. Jabir was always pushing stuff on Killam he most definitely did not want. “It’s really not necessary.”
“The blonde,” Jabir said.
Killam clenched his jaw and his stomach immediately knotted up.
There were lots of blondes in Jabir’s employ, but only one that got under Killam’s skin.
Jabir grinned and pounded on Killam’s back. “I’ll give her to you tonight.”
His stomach clenched and he tasted bile on the back of his throat.
Give a woman to him.
It wasn’t the first time Jabir had tried doing this, but it was different this time. It was Ivy. Despite her bravado, she wasn’t ready for this.
There wasn’t anything Killam could do but go along with it.
He took in a deep breath.
They didn’t have to do anything.
Jabir swayed toward him.
Killam held onto the man’s shoulder, keeping in at arm’s length. “You’re too kind.”
“Nonsense. You deserve it.” Jabir pushed to his feet.
Yousef stepped through the open doors, his cool gaze taking in everything before announcing, “Dinner is served, sir.”
Killam could only pray Jabir would forget and that Ivy was banned from the party.
The cousins came up and began talking to Jabir, distracting him.
Killam hung back once more to catch his breath and check his phone. He hadn’t gotten much time to work on his contact, but so far things were going well. Some people were always up for a little chaos.
He brought up the rear of the small party, but instead of squeezing onto the elevator, opted to take the stairs down.
Below, those who hadn’t made the cut were milling about with drinks in hand. Jabir’s women weren’t around, but some companions who’d come with other guests were.
The vibe was the same here. Charged. Barreling out of control.
He didn’t like it.
Jabir appeared to a chorus of cheers. He stepped into the atrium space with his arms open wide.
“Dinner is served,” Jabir announced.
Again the room whooped and hollered their approval.
Jabir turned and snapped. His words were lost amidst the people moving toward the hall and the large event room where dinner would more than likely be served. Killam slowed his step and watched Yousef step to Jabir’s side.
Shit.
Sure enough, Yousef’s gaze went to Killam on the stairs.
He blew out a breath. It was just dinner. He’d eat, offer Ivy anything she wanted. They’d stay close, hang around and observe the party for a bit. And then he’d take her upstairs like Jabir wanted, where nothing would happen.
This wasn’t the first time Killam had gone through this song and dance. Why was he nervous?
As he reached the ground floor, the parade of women entered the grand room. There were familiar faces who seemed to be wearing less than normal, no doubt in a bid to keep Jabir’s eye. Too bad for them Jabir was hooked on the new girl. London was what Ivy had called her. Killam pitied the woman.
Jabir and an entourage of his guests broke ranks to watch the sensual display of women, like so many brightly colored birds vying for the attention of a mate. Only in this scenario they were competing for the same man.
Killam’s gaze skipped over them, not finding Ivy in their ranks.
He was relieved.
And yet he wasn’t.
This attraction to Ivy was strange and concerning. He’d wanted women in the past, but this was different.
Why? What was it about her?
It certainly wasn’t her attitude. She could be rash and impatient at times. He still got the feeling she didn’t entirely like or trust him. But that didn’t seem to matter in the grand scheme of things.
If he could just wrap this up and get her out of here, he’d figure it out then. Later. He wouldn’t touch her until this was over. The kiss had shown him that.
One last figure emerged from the hall.
Maybe it was Killam’s imagination, but the room seemed to hush. He swallowed and turned his head. He couldn’t stop himself from looking.
The moment his eyes landed on her, he felt as though he’d been turned to stone. The next second he was hot all over and his skin was too tight.
She was turning his world upside down, and all she’d done was walk into a room.
Ivy wore some sort of two-piece, gauzy blue dress that fastened around her neck. The top didn’t show off an inch of cleavage, just her toned arms and midriff, while the skirt went all the way to the floor, swirling around her ankles, making her look like she was floating.
Like a damn angel.
Fuck him.
He had to get a grip on himself. Who thought like this? An angel? Seriously?
If he could have kicked his own ass in that moment, he would have.
She turned her head, taking in the room, no doubt assessing it like a soldier would a battle ground. She had good instincts. Her body tensed. Tensed wasn’t really the right word. She leaned back on her heels as though bracing for something. One slight nod of her head and began walking across the room.
Straight to Yousef.
Damn it.
Killam turned, needing an escape. He could not be around her tonight, no matter what Jabir said. Killam joined the crowds, heading toward the tantalizing smells of dinner.
The staff had transformed the room into a nightclub. The walls were swathed in white fabric with lights fading through blues and greens. There were tables and sofas for lounging. Eventually they’d clear the buffet away and likely open the doors leading out onto the patio. And then the dancing would start. If one could call it dancing. That was generally around the time Killam tried to leave.
Music played at a decent enough level and cutlery clinked as the guests made their way down a buffet line.
He’d been starving earlier. He wasn’t anymore. Maybe he needed a drink instead? Hell, he didn’t know what he wanted.
Out of here, that was for sure.
But not without Ivy.
“Mr. Killam?” Yousef said directly behind him.
Killam closed his eyes. His whole body tensed as if to run. Only where would he go? What the hell would he say when Jabby asked him?
No, he had to do this. He had to get his shit together so they could do this job and get out of here. That was the only way this ended.
He took a breath and then turned.
He still wasn’t prepared.
Yousef stood there, though Killam’s gaze went past him to Ivy. He swallowed for the hundredth time.
Ivy looked back at Killam doing a far better job holding it all together. Her outward calm felt as though it extended around him, allowing him to breathe.
“Miss. Ivy,” Yousef said in a monotone voice.
“Nice to see you again,” Killam managed in his normal voice.
Ivy gave him a head to toe look and a slow smile. “Nice to see you, too.”
She was playing the role. Doing what they’d talked about. Using that kiss to their advantage.
Yousef glanced at Killam then without another word turned and strode back to handle whatever it was he needed to, likely herding a very high Jabby to a table to actually eat something.
Ivy took a step toward Killam and slid her arm through his.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
He had to say something. The truth would complicate matters too much.
“Jabir is high as a kite. I think the water delivery was just his dealer.” He headed for the buffet. The food was always good here.
“Damn,” she muttered. “Anything else happen?”
“The usual.”
She tilted her head, that flirty smile stirring up thoughts better left alone. “What’s the usual?”
“Drugs, booze, and i
diots,” he muttered back.
She reached out and took a plate from the stack and held it for him as though she’d done this a hundred times.
“They tell you to do these things?” Killam asked.
“There’s a handbook.”
“Seriously?” He began filling the plate with a little of everything.
She snorted. “There are rules about everything.”
His curiosity was piqued, but he didn’t ask further questions. Instead they finished at the buffet and he got them both drinks while she found them an empty table to sit at on the far side of the room with a view of the entire space and an exit close at hand.
He’d have picked the table one over. It wasn’t as good in terms of visibility, but they’d blend into the fringes of the party better.
Ivy accepted the drink and looked at it for a long, hard moment.
“Something wrong?” He studied the frozen beverage.
“I can trust you,” she said and set it down.
Killam sank into the empty seat next to her.
She tilted her head to the side. “I haven’t drank anything I didn’t see poured.”
“Smart girl. If it makes you feel any better, I watched him make that for the exact same reasons.”
She nodded. “How many people do you think get slipped something here?”
He considered the question. “Jabir wouldn’t. The house staff, I don’t think so. But some of these other people? I wouldn’t be surprised.”
“I’ve chatted with the other girls who were on the plane. Well, most of them. Almost all of them admitted they felt off and sluggish the first day here. The rest aren’t good liars,” Ivy said.
“You, too?”
“Yeah.”
The cousins had been on the plane, but they hadn’t served the women. There wouldn’t have been any point to it. And it was likely too late to test to see if Ivy had been exposed to something. Not to mention he had no idea how he’d get a blood sample out of here without raising some serious questions.
He picked up his fork. “I want to tell you I’ll handle it, but—”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s too late to do anything, and besides, as far as I can tell nothing happened to any of us besides getting a solid night’s sleep. We have bigger problems to worry about.”
He glanced at her, fairly surprised at her words. If she’d been drugged, she had a right to be upset. He’d be pissed, but she was cool as a cucumber.
“Talk about that later. Not here,” he said.
She nodded her head and picked up the drink with one hand while tracing the lines of his striped shirt on his shoulder with the other.
“What’s happening later?” she purred.
It was an act, and she was very good at what she was doing.
How many hearts had she broken in her life?
He was willing to bet it was a lot.
“Later we’ll talk in my room,” he said.
“Will we now?” Her glossy lips quirked up.
Killam was going to have dreams about that mouth. He’d already had one. He didn’t need more.
He stabbed a bite and thrust the fork at her face. Her eyes widened and she bit the morsel before he got it on her.
Jabby entered with Nor and the London girl on either arm. It looked like the ladies were supporting him. In his wake came Yousef with the cousins. For guys who’d been high and practically giggling twenty minutes ago, they looked awfully sober talking to Yousef.
Were they in trouble? Or was something else going on?
Always more questions.
Ivy continued to run her fingertips up and down his back, never letting him forget that she was right there.
What the hell was he going to do with her?
At a barked order from Jabby, the music was turned up to the point that there was no use in talking. A few others joined their table out of the blast zone of the speakers, but for the most part they were left alone.
If only he could say Ivy left him alone.
Her fingers never stopped moving. Over his shoulder. Down his back. To his wrist.
The touches weren’t that suggestive, but they never stopped. His mind couldn’t get away from her.
By the time he was done eating, he was also done with the party.
Nor and London were still holding Jabby up and making sure he got some food in him. He spared a pitying thought for them. It was all he could spare from himself.
Abruptly, he stood. He needed out of this charade before he bought into it, and the only place that was happening was upstairs.
Killam grabbed Ivy’s hand and pulled her to her feet. She looked at him with wide eyes that only served to irritate him. How was it she was doing just fine and he was the one losing his shit?
He stalked toward the door with her barely keeping up with him. Thankfully, the elevators were right across the hall.
“Piers? Piers,” Ivy muttered under her breath.
He ignored her and jabbed at the button to take them upstairs. He stared at it so hard he almost thought it would break, but soon enough the elevator dinged and the doors open.
The cousins stood inside with two bleary-eyed women who had an arm slung around the men.
At a glance Killam couldn’t tell if the women were drunk, high or drugged.
“Hey man.” Zak held up his hand and grinned.
Killam slapped the man’s hand as the four people got out.
“Have a good night,” Miran called after them.
He dropped Ivy’s hand the moment the doors shut.
She didn’t seem to notice. She was staring at the doors.
“What?” he asked, his tone rougher than it should be.
“Those two girls. There’s four of them. Every time I see them they’re drunker than the last time.” Ivy shook her head and sighed. “Well, the one is out for the night thanks to her concussion.”
“Think they’ll be okay?” he asked.
“I think they want a party that doesn’t end.” She glanced at him. “If I tried to help them, would they even want it?”
God, she was remarkable. Even amidst all of this, she was worried about other people. And he was worried about his dick.
The doors opened, saving him from having to come up with an answer.
Killam let Ivy into the room. He’d hoped that some of the tension riding him would vanish behind closed doors.
It didn’t.
Ivy, however, kicked out of her shoes and moaned in pleasure. The sound had blood rushing to his dick.
This was going to be the longest night of his life.
MONDAY. JABIR AL SAUD’S Home. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ivy could hardly breathe. His smell was everywhere and it made it hard to think.
Infuriating man. Why did he have to smell so yummy and have such good lashes? One of the dozen or so lash extensions had fallen off that morning while she tried to take care of them. If it weren’t for London taking pity on her, she might have ripped them all out.
Ivy grabbed a handful of her skirt and draped it over one arm so she could at least walk without tripping over it. She’d nearly fallen on her face when they’d fled the hall. With the way Killam was now, he’d probably have dragged her out.
“What’s going on? Why did we run out of there?” She went to the modern, narrow sofa by the windows and sat down, curling one leg under her. It was just as uncomfortable as it looked, but she was off her feet.
Killam didn’t answer her at first. He took his wristwatch off, checked the night stand drawer, then paced to the windows and peered down at the courtyard. Whatever he saw must not have concerned him because he hit a switch and blackout curtains lowered to block out the rest of the world.
Only then did he turn toward her.
She was never going to be fully prepared for him to look at her with his complete attention. For half a second everything in her seemed to freeze, holding still, a slave to his will. And then she’d remember she was her own woman and had
decided that she wouldn’t be attracted to this man. Not that it did her much good. But she couldn’t forget that he’d shaken her.
“That friend I told you about?”
She glanced around. “We can talk?”
“I cleared the room for bugs when I arrived and my monitor doesn’t record anyone coming in or out that wasn’t us.”
She chuckled. “I need your gadgets.”
“He’s in,” Killam said, continuing.
“That’s good, right?”
“It might be. He doesn’t exactly work on anyone’s timeframe except his own. So we need to be ready.”
Work.
They were going to talk work.
Right.
Tonight had almost been normal. Not that she was much of a club girl, but for half an hour they’d been a couple out for the evening. She just had to ignore the whole part where she’d eaten separately and carried his plate around.
Ivy managed to wrestle her thoughts back to the point. “Okay. What does that mean?”
“At some point in the next week, hopefully, the power’s going to go out. When it does, we have to act instantly. We need to set a place to meet, go down, hit the server room and get out before the back-up generators come on-line.”
“Wow. Okay. How long do you think that gives us?”
“Five, ten minutes tops. Jabir’s set-up is good, but it’s also ten years old by now.”
Her eyes widened.
He was serious.
“Yikes. That’s a lot to do,” she said.
“Which is why we also need to be ready if this burns us and we have to make a run for it.”
“Shit,” she muttered. “Yousef has my passport.”
Killam shook his head. “You aren’t getting that back from him. Was it your real one?”
She snorted. “No. And I tried to keep it, but that was a fight I wasn’t winning.”
“You never would win that. Besides, if we got burned here we’d be on the country’s most wanted list, anyway. I’ve got to work on a back-up exit strategy. Your people didn’t set that up, did they?”
“We didn’t know how long this would take.”
His gaze narrowed. “How long were you planning on being here?”
She shrugged. “However long I needed to be.”
“Jesus.” He closed his eyes and shook his head.
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