Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Her deep, dark eyes blinked at him. A brown so dark that it almost appeared black. But, wait, were those small flecks of gold in her eyes? Yes, if you looked deeply enough, there was gold buried in the darkness. The glaring lights in the interrogation room let him see the gold. It had been too dark at the mansion. All that soft lighting bullshit. But now, he could see clearly.
And he caught the shock that came and went on her face. “You want me to marry you?” Her lush lips pursed. “It’s rather sudden, isn’t it? I mean, I get it. You met me. You fell instantly in love. You want to run away and live happily ever after with me. It happens.”
He shook his head. “No.”
“No to which part? The instant love? The running away? The marrying?”
“It’s a fake marriage.”
“Oh.” Her hands still pressed to his chest. “Well, that’s disappointing.”
What?
“But I suppose it makes more sense.” She licked her lips .
Shit. Do not focus on her mouth. Do not.
“Will that be our glorious cover? Pretending to be man and wife? A fake marriage will certainly explain why you have to stick so closely to me. And why we just can’t keep our hands off each other.”
“I’m not touching you.”
“Alas. You are not. Buzzkill.” Her hands dropped.
And he wished that she was still touching him. Dammit. What was wrong with him? This was not how he operated. Maybe the fact that he hadn’t slept in twenty-four hours? Was that impacting his judgment? Wrecking his control? Maybe he needed to crash so he could think clearly and do the job appropriately. And stop lusting after Esme.
He would crash, eventually, but now was the time to go over his rules. “ My non-negotiables.”
“ Excusez-moi?”
“I have a list of non-negotiables. Before I agree to the job, you will agree to my terms.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders slumped. “I’d rather thought we were already a done deal.”
Not even close, sweetheart. “You want me on the job? Then you follow my rules.”
A little shiver seemed to dart over her. Tyler immediately frowned. Was it too cold in the room for her? Hell, she didn’t have sleeves on her dress. He didn’t have a coat to give her. Maybe he could go find one. Take it from some Fed who didn’t need the thing.
“You sound all dominating and controlling.” Esme cocked her head to the side. “Do you always have to get your way?”
His gaze sharpened on her. “You’re the one who wanted me.”
“Yes. ”
He inhaled. Absolutely delicious. Was that perfume? Body lotion? Tyler shook his head. “Rules.”
“Right. I am waiting eagerly to hear them.” She motioned with one hand as if to say, bring them on.
And he was leaning far too close to her. As if he might kiss her. So Tyler jerked back. “You follow my orders. If danger is closing in, I won’t have time to explain myself. You’ll need to do what I say without any hesitation.”
“Done.”
Had that been too easy? Her response felt too easy. “I’m picking the location that we will use. While Gray and his team are trying to contain the people after you, I’ll hide you. I’ll give you a new identity. I’ll make sure you keep breathing.”
“I do like to breathe. One of my very favorite things.”
His jaw clenched. She was screwing with him. Tyler was certain of that fact. “ You will play the role of my wife. In public, we’ll need to touch each other. To act like we’re in love.”
“Just in public?” A little pout pulled down her lips.
He was not going to let her derail him and his list of rules. “In private, I am your guard. I am the person in charge. You will take no risks that make you vulnerable. You will leave your phone behind. You will not contact any friends or family unless I tell you it is safe to do so. I’m sure the Feds will handle things with your father.” He took a step back. “Is there a boyfriend who will cause problems when you suddenly vanish?” And why had his voice just gone harder?
She shook her head. “No one will care when I vanish. You and I can ride off into the sunset right now and no one will miss me.”
He doubted that. A woman like Esme would always be missed. For clarity, though, he stated, “We’re not riding off. We’re doing a job.” And speaking of the job... “You have to cooperate with Gray and his team. You don’t hold back with them. You tell the Feds and the CIA what they need to know. Cooperation is the price of my protection.”
A small click reached him as she swallowed. “Then, of course, I am only too happy to cooperate. But, my protection detail has to begin first. Protection, then full cooperation. Seeing as how the charming Feds and CIA have leaked my location and proclaimed to some very bad people that I’m the Fox, it stands to reason that I need to get out of this station immediately.” Her right foot tapped on the floor. “So, new husband, when does your job begin? When will you be rushing me to safety?”
His hand extended and closed around her wrist. “Right the hell now.” Because she was right, and he knew it. The location was compromised. She was compromised. He had to get her the hell out of there.
Before killers came straight to the door.
He turned for the door.
And it flew open.
A man in a crisp, white shirt and a blue suit stood on the threshold. A shining badge was pinned to his hip, and the bulk of his holster was clear to see beneath his left arm. The overhead light hit the lenses of his glasses as the guy lifted his chin. “I’m here for prisoner transport.”
“Uh, Tyler?” Esme bumped into him. Tyler still clasped her right hand. Her left rose to press against his back. “What’s he talking about? I’m not going to be transported anywhere without you, right? Seeing as how you’re my new ride or die buddy?”
He didn’t answer her. He was too busy evaluating the man in front of him. “Who the fuck are you?” Tyler demanded of the guy blocking his path.
“FBI Special Agent Patrick O’Donnell. And I’m here to transport the prisoner.” His jaw hardened. “I was told that she was in here alone. Exactly who the hell are you ?”
Tyler ignored the question. “You’re not transporting her anywhere.”
“Yes, I am.” The man advanced into the interrogation room. “Direct orders.” His eyes narrowed on Tyler. “You’re no Fed.”
Was that a guess? “Is it the t-shirt? Is that what is giving me away?” Tyler shook his head as he raked the other man’s attire with a disdainful glance. “Feds always wear such boringly predictable suits.”
Patrick’s eyes narrowed behind his glasses. “I’m moving the prisoner. Got transport instructions from Grayson Stone. Now get out of the way and let me do my job.”
“Tyler?” A nervous squeak from Esme.
“Would a hitman really be such a dumbass as to walk straight into an FBI office?” Tyler wondered. He let go of Esme’s hand. Moved his body slightly so that he was fully in front of her. With his build, he could shield her completely.
Patrick swallowed. His hand also inched toward the bulk of his holster. “That’s why she’s being moved. This location is no longer secure enough for her. Anyone could try to bust in and get her.”
Not just anyone. Not in an FBI office. It would take quite the professional to gain entrance and to get say…all the way into the interrogation room with Esme. It would certainly take someone who was very good at faking being an FBI agent. Someone who knew all the right things to say and exactly how to blend in with the Feds. Someone who wa s skilled at being a chameleon. A real professional. “Gray didn’t give you any transport instructions.”
“Look, I get that you’re probably on the task force, but what we’ve discovered about the woman behind you? That puts her way above your pay grade.” A trickle of sweat slid down Patrick’s cheek. “Get out of the way and let me have the woman.”
“No, no.” From Esme. “Do not let him have me.”
He’ll have you over my dead body.
“ Out of the way,” Patrick snapped. “That’s an order.”
Tyler could feel Esme twisting the back of his t-shirt with her grip. “Make me.”
Patrick’s eyes bulged. “What?”
Tyler took an aggressive step toward him. Then another. “I said, make me get out of your way.”
Esme had released Tyler’s shirt.
Patrick’s mouth opened and closed. And then those twitchy fingers of his did exactly what Tyler had expected. They went for the gun.
FBI agent, my ass.
Tyler leapt for him. Even as Patrick hauled out the weapon, Tyler grabbed his hand. He shoved Patrick back, and he rammed Patrick’s hand against the side of the open door. Once. Twice. The gun clattered to the floor on the third hit. It also fired off a shot before it dropped.
Esme screamed.
Tyler’s blood iced. He knew the bullet had missed her. It had blasted out and slammed into the wall. But what if it had hit her? What if Tyler hadn’t come back into interrogation to go over his rules? What if she’d been in there alone when this jerk arrived?
Dammit, a real Fed should have been guarding the door to interrogation. Patrick—or whoever the hell he was—should not have gotten inside to Esme.
Tyler drew back his fist, and he plowed it hard into the face of the bastard who’d thought he would just waltz in and take Esme. “Over my dead body,” Tyler rasped.
Pounding footsteps rushed toward him. Tyler hit the pretend agent a second time. The prick slumped bonelessly and slid down to the floor. Blood trickled from his nose and busted lip. His glasses sat askew on his face.
“ What in the hell is happening here?” Gray bellowed.
Tyler looked over at him. Gray’s gun was out and currently aimed at the man sprawled on the floor. “He said you gave him orders to transport Esme.” Tyler’s head whipped around so that he could find Esme.
She’d pressed her back to the mirror. Her skin had gone too pale, and her eyes were way too wide. He didn’t like the look of fear on her face. Not at all.
“You’re the only one with orders to transport her.” Gray crouched next to the beaten man even as the jerk’s eyes blearily blinked open. “Who are you?” Gray demanded.
“F-FBI—” the man began.
“Fuck that shit,” Tyler snarled. “He pulled his gun on me. He came to take her. He knew your name, Gray. This whole place is compromised.” He marched for Esme. Held out his hand.
She stared at his fingers. Then Esme put her hand over his palm.
“I’m getting you the hell out of here.”
“He’s not FBI.” Gray sounded adamant.
“No shit,” Tyler returned. His stare bored into Esme’s. “You’re coming with me.”
A nod. “I am so glad I married you,” she whispered.
His fingers closed around hers. Carefully, though, so he didn’t hurt her. He spun back for the door. Saw that a swarm of agents were behind Gray. And the man on the floor? He’d already been cuffed. Gray had the guy’s badge in his hand and a look of disgust on his face.
“Real ballsy to just waltz into a Fed’s office,” Gray announced. Not an admiring tone. A pissed one. “You seriously thought you’d get away with that shit?”
“I-I’m so sorry, Agent Stone,” a fresh-faced agent with blood-red cheeks stammered. “He said you wanted me to come into the conference room for a meeting, so I left my post. H-he said he was supposed to take over guard duty here. I saw his badge and he looked legit, and I?—”
Tyler’s growl cut through the apologizing agent’s words. He was the one who should have been watching the interrogation room. Tyler recognized the green agent. He’d walked past him a few times earlier.
So much for top-of-the-line security. The place felt more like a joke than anything else. There was a reason why he hadn’t become a Fed. Two reasons, actually. Too much red tape. Too much bullshit. “Clear a path,” Tyler barked. “ Now. ”
The man in cuffs laughed. “Five million.” He smiled, revealing the blood on his teeth from his busted lip. “Like I’ll be the only one who comes for her with that much cash on the table.”
A path had been cleared. But Tyler stopped in front of the grinning jackass. He kept his grip on Esme’s hand. “Hey, dumbass,” Tyler said to him. “You just confessed to being a hitman. A confession you made in front of at least five agents. You attempted to assault a U.S. Marshal. Just when do you think you’ll be able to see the light of day again?”
That wiped the smile off the creep’s face .
“Someone did not think this through,” Tyler noted. “Your mistake.”
But five million dollars could just be too tempting to pass up. The hitman must have been close by, and he’d seized his opportunity when he’d received word about the five-million-dollar pay day. And the damn thing was…
What if I hadn’t been in the room with her? Shit. In a freaking FBI office, this prick could have killed Esme.
Enough of this crap. His path was clear. And he was taking his charge the hell out of there. He strode forward. Esme’s heels hurriedly tapped as she followed him.
“Uh, Tyler?” Gray cleared his throat. “We need to talk more. I need?—”
“ I need to get her the hell away. That’s a hitman cuffed near you. And that’s a bullet hole in the wall.” He threw a glare at his friend. “She’s mine to protect, so let me do my damn job.”
A grudging nod from Gray. “Fine, but first…” His stare darted to Esme. “I’m gonna need some intel from her.”
“I want to see her.”
Grayson glanced up from the paperwork on his desk. A freaking mound of paperwork. Because a sonofabitch hitman had stormed into the FBI field office and nearly taken their prime witness in an international criminal investigation. That attack had led to hours of a paperwork nightmare.
And now…
Grayson sighed.
Now he had Jorlan Rodgers in his space. The man had lawyers on either side of him. Expensive ones that Grayson recognized from their billboards and commercials.
“Hello, Jorlan.” Grayson kept his tone civil. “Just who is it that you want to see?” As if he didn’t know.
“Esme Laurent.” Bitten off with fury. “Right now.”
Grayson glanced around his office. “I don’t think she’s here.”
“Don’t give me that bullshit!” Jorlan lunged forward. One of the lawyers grabbed his arm. Jorlan heaved out a breath. “I know you arrested her. She attempted to steal from me, and I want to confront her. I want to know how the hell she thought she could get away with taking what’s mine. ”
Grayson closed the file he’d been studying. Then he slowly rose to his feet. “There’s been a mistake.”
“Hell, yes, there has been.” Jorlan’s nostrils flared. “No one steals from me and walks away.”
“I’m not sure where you are getting your intel.” Again, Grayson kept his voice civil. “But Esme Laurent has not been charged with any crimes. The scene at your home was very chaotic and confusing so I’m afraid some details may have been erroneously spread.”
“Bullshit.”
“Esme did assist in recovering your diamonds.” Because they were strapped to her thigh and their recovery was made by Tyler Barrett right in front of me.
“What?” Jorlan’s jaw nearly hit the floor. “Recovering them?”
The lawyer on his right—an older male with carefully styled, silver hair—leaned forward and whispered in Jorlan’s ear.
“Fuck that,” Jorlan blasted back at what had obviously been an attempt by the other man to calm his client. “I want to see Esme, right the hell now!”
“I wish I could help you.” Grayson lifted his hands and then let them fall back to his sides in one of those so-sorry gestures. “But Esme left hours ago. Her father is the French Ambassador, you know. He wanted his daughter away from the spotlight. Perhaps you could try calling her?”
Rage flashed on Jorlan’s face. A savage, chilling rage.
His lawyer whispered to him again.
Jorlan’s chin notched up. “I will absolutely call her.” A cold promise. “Thank you for letting me know about the confusion.” He turned on his heel and marched for the door.
Grayson waited until the guy was almost out of his office and then, acting on a hunch, he asked, “Was there anything else of value in your safe?”
Jorlan stilled.
“Anything else taken that you would like to report to the Feds?”
Jorlan turned. Stared at him. “Esme Laurent is not here.”
“Yes, that’s what I said.” She’s flying away as we speak.
“I believe that I will be handling my own affairs from here on out. It’s so hard to find good help in order to get a job done.”
There was something about those low words…
Good help. Fuck. Grayson was around his desk in an instant. “Did you send that sonofabitch?”
Both suit-clad lawyers jumped between Grayson and Jorlan.
Over their shoulders, Jorlan gave a little wave. “See you soon, Agent Stone.”
And he walked right the hell out, whistling as he left.
Jorlan climbed into the back of his limo. The fool lawyers tried to climb in with him, but he waved them away. “Shut the damn door!” he ordered his driver.
The door shut.
A few moments later, the limo was shooting down the road and leaving the lawyers in his dust. Jorlan’s right hand fisted.
The bitch thinks she’s getting away from me? Rage churned in his gut. Oh, hell, no. No one played him for a fool. No one screwed with his business. No one touched what belonged to him.
Esme Laurent wasn’t just going to disappear into the sunset.
He’d hunt her down. He’d rip apart her world.
And then she would be very, very sorry that she’d ever tried to play games with him.
Too bad the hitman he’d tipped off with Esme’s location at the FBI office hadn’t gotten the job done properly. Jorlan yanked his phone from his pocket. He made a fast call because loose ends truly were a pain in his ass. The call was answered on the first ring.
He appreciated promptness in a business associate.
“What can I do for you?” No other greeting. Just that.
“Snip the loose end.”
“Done.”
He hung up. The failed hitman would be eliminated soon enough. No ties back to him. And now Jorlan could focus once more on the beautiful Esme.
His thumb scrolled across the pictures on his phone. Stopped when he came to her. Her dimpled smile stared back at him. So deceptively beautiful. And with just the right hint of evil inside. He’d thought they might be a perfect match.
Too bad she’d screwed him over.
Too bad he’d have to make her pay.
Too bad he’d have to kill her.
But…
No one steals from me. You were warned, Esme. You should have listened to my warning.
He’d find her. No matter where she went, there would be no escape. Not with his money and his reach. The authorities could be bought. More hunters and hitmen brought in to track her. She’d be hunted down like the prey she was.
In the end, she’d beg his forgiveness.
Too bad for Esme that he never forgave anyone.