Deadly Target [IAD Agency 3] (Siren Publishing Classic) (3 page)

“Thanks,” she called out. “If this is how you treat your women, no wonder you guys are still single.”

“We treat our women like queens and you know it. We stay away from fucking stubborn women like you because you’d drive us bat-shit,” Rock replied, making her laugh.

“Or give us a heart attack,” Adrian muttered as he came through the door with another gust of swirling snow.

Rock moved to the doorway, calling over his shoulder. “Your leg better not be bleeding when I get back, or I’m gonna be pissed.”

Adrian came into the room, dropped the bags down on the floor and turned on the lights. The cabin was large, with an enormous open living room with a high vaulted ceiling. An army could have fit on its three humongous couches centered around a gigantic fireplace and matching flat screen TV over the mantel. Across the room was a massive dining room table that could easily seat twenty. There were no animal heads or kitschy country style décor to the place. It was a sophisticated hideaway, with modern comforts and a kick-ass feel. The problem was it was too damn big and fucking cold at the moment.

Mikayla had looked down at her leg and saw a patch of blood seeping through her jeans. Well, hell… She guessed when the doctor said light activity he really did mean it. “Awesome.”

Adrian blew out a breath and shook his head in disbelief. “We can’t leave you here. You’ll be dead in a week on your own.”

She rolled her eyes at that. “I’ll be fine. I just have to rest my leg.” She started to get up, but Adrian strolled forward and put a hand on her forehead and pushed her back into her seat.

“Stay.”

“Boy, when I get up you’re gonna want to run,” Mikayla hissed at him. She did not take orders well at all and had very little patience when people spoke to her with a lack of civility.

Adrian shook his head again as Rock came back into the cabin and set down two more bags. He shut the door and came back into the room, scowling at her. “You’re bleeding,” he accused.

“And she was just trying to get up again,” Adrian added.

“Tattletale.” Mikayla let out an exaggerated sigh. “I just wanted to start a fire.”

“I’ll do it,” Adrian said, pulling off his coat.

Rock put his hands on his hips. “How the hell are we supposed to leave you here tomorrow if you won’t take care of yourself?”

“I’ll be fine. I’ll take it easy, I promise. Trust me, what trouble can I get into out here in bumblefuck by myself?”

At their incredulous stares, Mikayla sighed again.

Yeah, vacation my ass.

Oh, come on!

Mikayla lay on her back staring up at the dark-gray sky, thinking about how fickle luck was. Here she was, minding her own business, even using the cane that everyone kept insisting she use…and
splat
! She was taken down in the parking lot of a bar by a dog.

Really, it just wasn’t fair.

Two days indoors had Mikayla experiencing cabin fever in the worst way. The snow had cleared yesterday, allowing the twins to head back to the city where they would be doing their security consult. Mikayla spent most of the last two days back in bed, sleeping off the travel and just allowing her body to heal naturally.

When she next woke it was to watch the day fading to dark gray in the cloud-covered sky. Mikayla had thrown on some black yoga pants and a matching long sleeve T-shirt with a winter-white fleece vest over it as she decided to break out of her solitude to go explore the town of Serenity for something to eat that she didn’t have to make herself.

She was pleased to find a large black all-terrain vehicle in the garage just waiting to be taken out for a ride. Mikayla smiled as the big engine quietly purred to life and she pulled out of the garage to head to town. She made her way through a small residential area and was disheartened to see that she hadn’t missed much of the town the other night in the snow. The town was so small she was afraid she’d miss it if she blinked.

Mikayla had noticed a faint glow of a sign on an adjacent road. She had never been happier to see the neon glow of a Miller sign before, as a bar meant alcohol and the promise of food. The vehicle slowly continued forward, tires crunching over the snow piles blowing onto the road. She took the turn and was pleased that the monster car continued rolling forward easily into the snow-covered crowded lot.

She had just gotten out and closed the driver’s side door when she heard a happy bark. Mikayla had just enough time to turn and brace herself before she was hit with a ton of bricks. Now the large wolfhound sat politely at her side with its tongue hanging out of the side of its mouth, wearing what could only be described as a canine apology grin. Its tail hit her leg every few seconds telling her that it was just happy to see her and not in attack mode.

“Oh my god! I’m so sorry!”

A young woman rushed up to where Mikayla was lying and fell to her knees beside her, trying to push the big dog away. The woman had her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail and her face had a natural beauty to it even without a speck of makeup. Her breath puffed out in a white cloud as she spoke. “Oh please, please be okay. Please tell me Wulf didn’t hurt you.”

Mikayla let a small, laughing groan escape. “You named your wolfhound ‘Wolf?’”

The woman grinned down at her. “It’s spelled with a
U.
It wasn’t my idea. Wulf belongs to my brother, but I took him to the vet earlier and was supposed to take him straight home, but I wanted to come visit my friend Roz, who owns the bar and thought I could bring him with and stick him in her apartment over the bar for a little while so I could have a drink.”

Mikayla blinked as the young woman paused in her rambling explanation. She took a mental rundown of her body’s aches and pains and decided that overall she was unharmed. Holding back another groan, she sat up. Wulf pressed closer to her, as if trying to help her as he propped his big body by her side.

“Wulf, stop that! I’m so sorry. He’s never like this. I don’t know what’s gotten into him. Here, let me help you up.”

“I’m okay. Just give me a minute.” Mikayla reached down and grabbed her cane.

The woman gasped then let out a loud groan. “Oh no, you’re injured. I just let our stupid dog jump on an injured woman! This is horrible! I’m a horrible person! I’m so sorry, but Wulf really doesn’t listen to me.”

The young woman’s worry was so earnest that Mikayla couldn’t help but smile. “I’m fine, really.” With the help of her cane, and to her surprise, the help of the dog, she gained her feet. The dog had placed himself under her hand as soon as she had gotten up on her left knee with her right leg straight and had all but pushed under her hand to help give her a boost up.

Mikayla smiled down at the dog and patted his head. She was rewarded with a quick lick to her fingers with its tail thumping away against her leg as if on jet fuel.

“Seriously, he is never like this. He usually hates people…well, not hates them but is pretty standoffish. He really likes you.”

“He’s beautiful.” Mikayla patted the dog’s head again then held out her hand. “I’m Mikayla.”

“Oh! I’m Katie. Katie Stark. It’s nice to meet you. Are you visiting? I ask ‘cause I pretty much know everyone in town.”

Mikayla took a quick assessment of the young woman and deemed her relatively harmless. Unless she counted being talked to death a viable threat. She let herself smile as she answered. “Yeah, I’m staying at a friend’s place, not far from here.”

Katie’s pretty hazel eyes grew wide. “Are you talking about Brett Michaels’ place?”

Mikayla froze.

“Ooooh, you are! We’re neighbors! I mean, my brothers and I own the ranch next door to Brett’s place. I absolutely love that cabin! I’ve never seen the inside though, is it nice?”

“Ah…”

“I bet it’s really nice. And Brett is sooo yummy! Is he your boyfriend? Oh lord, you must be freezing. We should go inside. I’m going to drop Wulf off in Roz’s place then I’ll meet you by the bar. We can get a drink together.”

The hopeful look on Katie’s face had Mikayla saying, “Sure.”

“Great! See you inside!” Katie started away then had to turn and call the dog twice before he left Mikayla’s side. The dog whined and Mikayla used a small hand gesture to motion him forward. The dog walked a few feet then turned back and gave Mikayla a sorrow-filled look before following Katie around the corner where they both disappeared.

Mikayla shook her head in amusement as she made the slow walk over the well-salted pavement to the front door of the bar. Pushing at the heavy wooden door, music and warmth slapped her in the face as she made her way into the bar. She took in the scene at a glance. No stranger to the seedy side of life that could exist in small-town bars, she was pleasantly surprised by what she saw.

The Twisted Tap was an upscale version of what Mikayla liked to think of as a biker bar. Dark wood gleamed under the dim lights, showing that the place was well taken care of even though the floors were littered with peanut shells and other assorted materials making the place a casual resting stop which looked to be filled with regulars at almost every table or playing pool in the back.

She looked at the roomful of eye candy with an appreciative sigh. Well, well, it seemed as though being stuck in the small town of Serenity wasn’t going to be as difficult as she thought. At least she hoped their beer was cold and the food was edible. Then this would be her new home away from home during her stay at the cabin.

Conversations stalled as the locals took in the newcomer. Well aware that all eyes were on her, Mikayla made her way slowly across the room to the bar. She could sense the curious glances cast her way as she used her cane to walk to an open seat. She chose a seat at the far end so her back was to the wall and she could see the entrance. She might be on the disabled list, but she wasn’t dead. Training was ingrained in her and would be until she took her last breath.

Even so, no one knew about the razor-sharp stiletto encased inside the wood of the cane she used. With one twist of the handle, the sharp blade would be free to be used in close-quarter combat and the staff of the cane could be used in similar fashion. The cane had been a present from her uncle Ethan, to make sure she used it while she was recovering. Knowing her well, at first she had refused, until he had twisted off the handle to show her the wicked blade hidden inside.

Damn, she loved her toys.

The buzz of conversation around the room started up again as she settled into her seat. She hooked the cane with her good leg, propping it between her thighs, leaving it easily accessible if needed.

A beautiful woman with short blonde spiky hair and a long sweep of bangs came over to where Mikayla was sitting. She had a no-nonsense attitude and an easy smile that made Mikayla like her instantly. “Hi, welcome to the Twisted Tap. I’m Roz Bowers and this is my place. What can I getcha?”

“Mikayla. Please tell me you have food.”

Roz’s laughter was throaty and raw. “We sure do, Mikayla. We make a mean cheeseburger.”

“Load me up then. And I’ll take a light on tap.”

“Got it. I’ll put your order in right away.”

Roz moved down the bar to put the order into the computer while Mikayla took a good look around the bar. The crowd gathered inside the cozy interior was eclectic. A smile played over her lips as she saw a table of old men off to the sides, playing a game of poker. There were several younger women sitting together near the front of the bar. There was something in the back of the room that had their attention even though they tried to pretend they weren’t looking. Curiosity had her head turning to the left so she could see the rest of the room.

Her eyes were immediately caught by a man playing pool at the far end. She felt a quick blast of heat sear through her as their eyes met.

His face was of a fallen angel or that of a damned god, forced to live amongst mortals. It was a carved masterpiece with a strong, chiseled jaw, high cheekbones and an arrogant brow. He had dark-black hair that fell haphazardly around his face and full, sensual lips that were made to kiss a woman’s body.

He was cast partially in shadows. Turned away from her, he held his body so the left side of him was concealed in darkness. Even so, Mikayla could see faint burn scars on the left side of his cheek, down his neck that disappeared into the collar of his T-shirt. To her, the scars did nothing to quash the sudden hunger that had her pussy growing wet at the sight of him.

At the quick scan, she put him at around six foot four with a body heavy with muscle. The thick black sweater he wore would have been average on any other body, but on him it simply molded over his large chest like second skin. Long legs were encased in jeans worn white with wear at the knees and she saw a glimpse of what looked like cowboy boots on his feet under the table.

In the dim light she could barely make out the long, thick lashes that were hooded over sharp green eyes. His piercing eyes never left hers as she took in his every feature and met her gaze with equal intensity.

Damn, he was hot.

Something about this man had Mikayla’s internal radar pinging
danger
. Years of training had her summing up a person with nothing more than a glance and she could tell that this man was trouble with a capital T. No, he wasn’t an enemy combatant, but she felt
something
that made her instantly wary.