T
icked didn’t quite describe how she felt at the moment. After the little episode in the interrogation room and the sequential hot moment in his bathroom, he’d barely said a word to her. After thirty minutes of driving she’d insisted on knowing where they were going.
“Shut up and relax” was all he said in the most blasé way.
She sat across from him in the limo and raised her eyebrows. One red stiletto encased foot traveled up his leg and then toed him between his thighs until her heel rested against his crotch.
“Excuse me?” she asked, her tone threatening and reminding him of his manners.
His hand circled her ankle and lifted, taking her shoe off. He kissed the bottom of her foot and blew on the instep before he played Prince Charming and slipped her shoe back where it belonged. Then he placed her foot beside him, his hand still around her ankle. Smart man. Otherwise, her heel would find itself in his groin.
“Please be patient,” he said, his voice husky and low.
Though she wanted to move a few inches away from his warm touch, she remained still. She’d already tested his temper by wearing black pants with a beautiful frilly white blouse instead of the requested dress. She hated wearing dresses. They made her feel helpless. She despised that feeling and he knew it. If not for his sexy grin, she’d have slapped him.
His amber eyes glittered with humor as if he knew what she was thinking. Unable to move her gaze from his, he lifted one dark eyebrow. His look turned her common sense into ash. Nothing else could explain how she’d fallen, even partially, in love with him. The possibility scared her. She might as well stab herself in the heart and be done with it. Frustrated with her unwanted feelings, she stared off at the passing streetlights, determined to appear unaffected by his machinations.
A couple times she tried to ease from his grip but his long fingers held on. She’d almost reached the limit of her temper and told him to go to hell when the limo pulled up to her favorite restaurant. How could she not forgive him? When it came to dining, the man knew how to treat a lady.
Well, that was what she thought until after they’d eaten and he decided to take a little walk in the park. She’d sensed he was up to no good at the restaurant. He’d acted as if they were a normal couple. Who in their right mind would believe that?
“Tell me again why we’re out here?” Olivia swiped at a bug trying to nest in her hair as they waited near the reflecting pool in the Centennial Olympic Park. She squirmed on the metal bench. The thing was hard and colder than a dead frog.
Collin reached over and flicked another bug off her blouse. “We’re meeting my contact out here. He claims to have more information about the sword.”
She crossed her arms and watched the water bubbling up next to the pool.
The wind had picked up, mussing Collin’s hair. He looked younger with it falling in his eyes. She fisted her hands. The urge to touch his silky, thick hair ate at her.
“When is your freaking contact going to show up?” She swatted at a mosquito.
C
ollin’s gaze moved to the woman standing nearby. Though she tried to hide her excitement in being with him, her flushed cheeks and shining eyes gave her away. She was unlike any woman he’d ever met. No way could he say his life was boring, especially the past month. Nothing about Olivia was dull. She fascinated him. Like a snake charmer fascinated a cobra. Now the question was, was he the snake charmer or the cobra?
“As always trouble follows you wherever you go.” Jason stepped out of the shadows, nodded at Collin and took a furtive look at Olivia.
Collin found Olivia’s reaction to Jason’s presence and her realization he was their contact most interesting. Eyebrows raised, she crossed her arms, bending a knee and resting on one hip as her mouth stretched in a bitter line.
“It’s good to see Collin didn’t kill you.” Jason stepped a little nearer.
“Jason, you might want to refrain from getting any closer.” Collin rubbed his chin, trying not to grin when Olivia dropped her arms and straightened.
“Olivia understands. Don’t you, sweetheart.” The tall man moved within a yard of her.
“I wondered how they could’ve known where to find me in Seattle and how they knew about the orphanage. I told you about the orphanage in a moment of weakness. You used me. You betrayed me, you lying filthy cock-sucking asshole!” Her kick shot out and barely missed as he leaned back, his long hair almost touching the ground. Collin was happy to see the man’s illness hadn’t hampered his ability to defend himself. In an unexpected move, she twisted and her fist came down on his hip. Jason was faster, luckily for him; otherwise, he’d be on the ground in a fetal position, crying.
“Damn it, Olivia! That wasn’t fair. It could’ve killed me.” Jason limped a few feet from her, eyeing her with hurt. “I take back that I was happy to see you alive.”
“Reunions are such magical times,” Collin murmured. “Olivia, sit over there and wait if you cannot play nice.”
His stomach and groin tightened. He liked the look she gave him. For the next day or two he’d better watch his back. In fact, for the last three days he’d expected her to find a way to make him pay for not fucking her in Phoenix and now he added the more recent rendezvous in his bedroom. The woman’s hormones were her weakness. For now he was a challenge to her.
Though he’d noticed her watching him with a look of puzzlement, as if he didn’t fall in a mold she was familiar with, other times her gaze would soften and a dreamy look would come to her face. Those times bothered him. He didn’t need her in love with him. From what he’d heard and learned of her, he’d never guessed she would be susceptible to such a useless emotion. Surprisingly, she followed his orders and gracefully sat on the bench, turning her back to them.
“You asked for this meeting. We need to leave before someone wonders what we’re doing out here.” When he noticed Jason staring at Olivia, Collin gritted his teeth. His jaw popped as he brought his need to hit his old friend under control. “Jason,” he bit off.
“She’s never minded anyone like that. Everyone’s scared of Theo’s temper, but that had never stopped her from smarting off to him. How did you do it? I thought no one could tame her.” His blond head shook in disbelief as he waited for Collin’s answer.
His friend truly didn’t mean anything by his comments but the thought of anyone trying to tame Olivia was laughable. That wildness and her constant unpredictability was what he loved about her. Love? Maybe too strong of a word. He shut away that crazy thought and pointed a finger at Jason. “You’re stalling.”
“Sorry, man. I hate to tell you but the sword is back in Theo’s possession.” His tone said it all. No way would they reach it now.
“We have Mason. So how did he find out where it was?”
“It appears two of his cohorts decided they wanted the money for themselves and not the cause. They sold it back to Theo. Their bodies washed up on the beach in Pensacola this morning.”
“Theo doesn’t play around.” Collin clenched his fists. “Did he take it back to the Main Sector?”
His friend nodded.
“Do you know if he put it in the safe in his rooms or the main vault?” Collin asked.
“I’m not sure about his personal safe, but it’s not in the organization’s vault. It would be recorded if he’d locked it up there. Probably his rooms then.” Jason pursed his lips and looked down. “I’m not sure if I can help you. The vault, I might have, but his rooms are too secure. He won’t allow anyone but his current mistress in there, and she’s too scared of him to try anything. Only Olivia’s been in his bedroom and come out alive.”
“Yeah.” He hated to imagine Olivia catering to that psycho.
Collin had heard Theo bought his latest mistress when she turned nine from her drug-addicted parents. The man didn’t deserve to live.
Theo had been unstable for years and continued to grow more so each day, so his fixation on the sword would be useful. Certainly the weapon was old and priceless, but Theo was convinced that if he lost possession of the sword The Circle would be destroyed. He considered himself to be a modern-day King Arthur and the sword his Excalibur. The sword was the thread in releasing Theo from his uncertain grip of reality. His weakness would provide the perfect opportunity for Collin to take over The Circle.
The sword might be the final thread, but Olivia was the scissors.
He glanced her way. Would she be willing to break into the Main Sector and steal the sword from underneath Theo’s nose for the OS?
O
livia hit the bag with her foot again but harder. Imagining Collin’s face on it helped tremendously with her focus. She’d been with the OS for five months and gone on one and a half missions. The walk in the park to meet Jason couldn’t be counted as a full mission. What was the purpose for the OS to bring her in if they didn’t need her? The role of arm-candy for Collin could be filled by any number of OS operatives she’d seen. Her talents were being wasted. For that matter, he’d been scarce and she hated how she missed his company.
She slammed her foot into the dangling bag one more time before switching to the other.
“How about a partner?”
Well, if it wasn’t the man himself. She leaned over and pulled a towel from the handlebars of a nearby stationary bike. Wiping at the sweat on her forehead and neck, she eyed the head of OS.
Collin wore sweatpants as he had the last time he’d practiced with her, but these clung a little tighter, possibly an older pair. Instead of a sleeveless sweatshirt, he wore a black T-shirt. The cotton material stretched across his pecs in a way that made her mouth water. She could imagine running her hands over the broad cliff of his chest to the rippled abs she knew were below.
“Sure, if you think you’re up to it.” She tossed the towel back onto the handlebars.
“If I remember from last time, you were the one having trouble keeping face-first off the floor.” He lifted one eyebrow as his lips fought a grin.
“Oh, it’s going to be like that. Talking all that smack. Let’s see if you like the smell of mat sweat.” Her heartbeat picked up speed. Having him touch her even in mock fighting was better than the nothing she’d gotten for so long.
They moved into their fighting stances and Collin struck first. Hands and feet shot out in quick succession as grunts marked each hit. Minutes passed and she held her own as determination guided every movement until he pushed her to retaliate in the same fury. She wanted to show him a little of why she’d been so valuable to The Circle.
“Collin, I need to talk you now,” Rex’s deep voice came from the side.
Just as Collin turned his head to look at his second in command, Olivia, already in the midst of a punch, thrust the heel of her palm into the middle of his sternum.
Collin staggered back, wheezing from the unexpected hit.
“Bitch!” Rex bellowed and lunged for her.
With a twirl and side kick, she swiped his hands away before he could touch her. She stepped off the mat. Hands on hips, chest heaving, she grimaced.
“You know, you’ve got a nasty habit of interrupting us whenever we’re practicing!” She sneered, making it obvious she wanted him to try something.
Hand held out, Collin moved between them, his face pale and drawn tight. “No! I knew better than to let myself get distracted.”
With concern, she watched Collin rub his chest. “Are you okay?”
“I’m good.” He took a deep breath and flinched.
“Get Dr. Shelton!” she said to a nearby attendant.
“No! I’m okay.” Collin shook his head. “What’s up, Rex?”
Knowing she probably should leave them alone but worried about his condition, she stayed and offered him a bottle of water. He unconsciously grinned and thanked her for it as he listened to Rex.
“Let’s go in your office.” Rex gave Olivia an angry look. “She’d better come too. She’s part of it.”
Unsure what set off Big Foot again, she waited to see if Collin agreed. This was too much like the last time they had exercised and Rex had interrupted. Was it finally a new mission? She could use a break in the monotony of her new life at the OS.
He stared at Rex for a few seconds. “Okay. Let’s go.” Then they headed down the hallway to his office. Collin hadn’t looked her way. Her gut said it wasn’t a mission. To think of it, Rex appeared too satisfied about something.
Olivia didn’t move. She hated the thought of just following them without protest. Nothing in Collin’s attitude encouraged her to believe he would protect her from Rex and whatever the man had on his mind. But if she didn’t follow, he could accuse her of anything and she would never have a chance to take up for herself. Rex had said it concerned her.
She jogged to catch up with them.
No sooner than they walked into Collin’s office, Collin faced Rex, eyes narrowed. “What have you heard?”
Olivia remained standing, forcing her fingers to relax their grip on the sides of her sweatpants.
“We’ve gotten news that The Circle will hand over two of our operatives if we release her.” Rex jerked his head toward Olivia.
She cut her eyes over to Big Foot and sighed. “The Circle doesn’t take operatives captive.” There had to be a misunderstanding. The Circle always released the operatives after taking their weapons. Then again, her former organization had told her the OS murdered many of the operatives she’d seen walking around breathing and living in the OS headquarters, like Lucian. The look she received from the men warned her she was in for a long night. She flopped into a chair and her muscles eased up, thanking her for the relief.
“Yeah. I know. They usually kill them.” Rex stood, arms crossed, next to the desk as Collin sat in the large black leather chair behind it.
“We don’t take them captive or kill them. We let them go.” We? Old habits were hard to break. Anyway, what were they trying to pull? Collin’s grave face showed he didn’t believe what she was saying. While Rex’s became redder with each word as she defended her former employer, “I’ve never killed an OS operative.”
Before all the words were out of her mouth, Rex roared and lunged for her. Collin dived over the desk, paper and file folders flew everywhere, knocking them all onto the floor before Rex’s hands grabbed her. She scuttled out of the way until her back hit the wall. Deep inside she knew she’d just missed dying.
“S
top it, Rex.” Collin straddled the big man, holding him down by his arms.
“What the hell is wrong with him?” she asked.
Collin wasn’t sure how long he could hold Rex back. Seeing so much white of his friend’s eyes demonstrated how crazed he was to wrap his hands around Olivia’s pretty neck and twist.
Centering his attention on the man beneath him, he leaned in close to Rex’s ear. “This is not the way to question her about Abby’s death or your brother’s betrayal.” He didn’t want to hurt Rex unless he was pushed. Collin had been aware of the man’s pain in losing two people he loved, but he’d never realized how it had eaten away at his sanity. Though it had happened five years ago, Rex still refused to come to terms with it.
“She’s lying,” Rex said between gritted teeth.
“We don’t know that. It’s all speculation.” Collin sensed Olivia’s impatience behind him. If she heard what they were saying, she was keeping quiet. “You’d promised to keep your cool around her.”
“It’s true. Fuck it! Another operative died bringing the information to us.” Tears filled the big man’s gray eyes.
“We’ll find out the truth. Give me time.” He wished he could wipe away Rex’s pain, but the man would have to work it out on his own. The decision was made. He would send Rex on a mission, while Olivia remained at headquarters.
“But will you be able to follow through with the decree? Will you kill her?” Rex grabbed the front of Collin’s shirt with trembling fingers.
He wanted to mash Rex’s face in and tell him no, but his friend was right. As head of OS, following through with decrees of termination were his responsibility and the only way to control many of the more dangerous operatives working for his organization. No matter how much he hated it all. Only how could he tell his friend he hadn’t decided to kill Olivia? She was the key to reaching Theo, to pushing the crazy man over the edge.
Clasping his friend’s fingers, he pried them from their grip. “I’ll do what’s needed.” He stood and held his hand out to Rex. “Now tell us what you found out.” He moved behind his desk and watched Olivia’s face as he ordered Rex, “Tell her everything; include what we believe The Circle’s new objective has been for the past five years.” He wanted to see if any emotions were revealed on that serene countenance of hers.
Rex’s face turned red. “The bitch knows—”
Holding his hand up, Collin said in a level, firm voice, “Humor me. Tell her. No accusations. Just facts.”
Like a soldier recounting a battle lost, Rex pulled his shoulders back. “Five years ago, Abigail Rodriguez and Jack Drago—”
“Drago? Boy, I’ve heard of that name. He’s absolutely insane,” Olivia interrupted. She stood but quickly placed a chair between her and Rex.
“Olivia.” Collin shook his head, frowning. He noticed she kept wiping her hands on her sweats as if she was trying to clean them without success. “Jack’s Rex’s brother.”
“Rex Drago?” Her face paled. “I never put . . . I remember hearing about you. I don’t know why I didn’t put two and two together. Rex. OS. Not many people have your name and size and the scar . . . you wiped out an entire Circle team singlehandedly.”
Collin raised his hand to stop her babbling. It disturbed him more than he imagined; Olivia never babbled. From Rex’s stance, he guessed he needed to help his friend continue the account or Rex might lunge for her again. Before he could say anything, Rex started talking.
“She’d gone to New York City to shop. She’d been so excited.” Rex’s deep voice brought their attention back to him, his gaze staring off in the distance as if he could see the past.
“Abby was captured by The Circle,” Collin said as sadness pulled at his face.
“I wasn’t there for her. I was on assignment in the mountains of Peru and couldn’t get back in time. Jack—” He swallowed deep; his eyes searched the ceiling as he regained his composure. “Jack went after her.” His horror was reflected in his eyes. “He disappeared. Not too long after that we received her burnt corpse with a note. Jack had been too late to save her. Instead we received a note saying he wasn’t coming back but staying with the OS. He’d fallen in love with one of Theo’s whores.” The big man shot a murderous look at Olivia, making it clear he referred to her.
By the way Olivia inhaled and her expression cleared of emotion, he believed she remembered. When her gaze jumped to his and stayed, she confirmed it.
“Rex,” Collin warned. He waited until pain-ridden gray eyes turned to him. “Stick to the facts we know.” He picked up the report off the floor, thumbing through it as he waited for Rex to continue.
“It’s a fact. She fucks everything that moves if it will benefit The Circle and—”
“Enough!” Collin pointed to the door. “Leave. I’ll tell her the rest.”
He was surprised by Rex’s outbursts. Until Olivia came on the scene, Collin would swear his second in command had nerves of steel and nothing fazed him.
Even days after returning from Peru—a mere week following the news of Abby’s death—and later when his brother disappeared, Rex had handled his work professionally and his temper stayed steady. He guessed Olivia’s presence brought it all back to his friend.
Of course, there was the one blip on the screen—The Circle team Rex came across on the way back to finish his assignment in Peru. Although Rex hadn’t killed the team as Olivia had accused, he did cause a lot of damage, sending two of them to the hospital in critical condition.
Yeah, obviously, having Olivia under their roof was becoming too much, especially after they received the newest report.
Not until the door slammed shut behind Rex’s back did Collin return to his seat and relax. He looked at the woman who remained quiet during most of Rex’s tirade as she brought her chair upright and eased into it.
She leaned an elbow against the armrest as if she needed support and placed a fist beneath her chin. “The woman, Abby? How special was she to him? Or is all his angst about his brother?”
Again, she wasn’t acting like herself. Why was she trying so hard to be casual about the requested information? Or was he reading too much into her body language?
“They were lovers.”
Her forehead wrinkled. “And?”
She wasn’t kidding. She really thought there had to be more. Wasn’t being lovers enough? Why was he surprised? During the years when most children learned compassion and love, she’d spent them in an overcrowded orphanage, later in an abusive home, and then who really knew how long on the streets? When she was still vulnerable, The Circle had picked her up. They probably appeared to be her salvation.
“They were getting married. She was shopping for her wedding dress.” Collin’s eyes felt gritty. Rubbing them, he almost missed her flinch. So she finally understood what was eating at Rex.
“As I’ve been trying to tell your friend, I never met his brother and I haven’t killed a woman. I wasn’t much for socializing with the other operatives, and they always sent me after men.” She crossed her arms, rubbing her upper biceps as if she was chilled. “So. Are you sending me back?”