Unleashed (24 page)

Read Unleashed Online

Authors: Crystal Jordan

She frowned. “You only had two.”
Shrugging, he slid a hand into his pocket. “I had to add another when some of my focus was taken up by tracking down a certain cheetah.”
“Ah.”
He pressed his free hand to the middle of her back and urged her away from the questionable delicacies the Duke of Gemini was offering. “They're making sure my board of directors doesn't stage a coup while I'm on . . . vacation.”
“Some vacation.” Her glance was dubious.
He met her gaze squarely. “I'm exactly where I'd like to be, with who I want to be with, and I'm not working. That's a vacation.”
Clearing her throat, she made her tone light and teasing. “You should really try somewhere warmer next time. Get a little sun.”
“Only if you plan to join me.” He drew her fingers to his lips, kissing them. “I'm sure Sophie would love a trip to the beach.”
Her dark gaze softened. “My sister is invited, hm?”
“She's family, isn't she?” He pressed his lips to the middle of her palm. “My family always vacationed together, even after I reached adulthood. Before my parents passed, that is.”
“I'm sorry.” Her fingers tightened around his, sympathy in her gaze.
“It was a long time ago, but thank you.” He cleared his throat and glanced away. It was probably one of the reasons he wanted her with him so badly. He wanted the connections he'd lost when his parents died. Their transport had collided with another and no one had survived the accident. Most of the people in his life now were there because of his work, but not Tam. He wanted that closeness, people who mattered to him. In his life, in his home. Sophie was part of that image now, too; because she was someone Tam loved, he automatically widened his circle of family to include the girl.
The belly dancers came near, pulling his thoughts back to the present. He realized that they were naked except for the huge albino pythons wrapped around their bodies. The pythons shifted into naked women and the two original dancers quickly shifted into massive black anaconda snakes, twining themselves around the paler dancers.
Breck's eyebrows arched. “Maybe there's something to be said for Gemini's parties. Should we have them perform at—”
His breath whooshed out when Tam elbowed him in the ribs.
Tam slept fitfully in the transport back the next day. She hadn't slept much at all since leaving London. Breck had been insatiable, reaching for her again and again during the night. She hadn't complained. She wanted him every bit as much as he wanted her. It would scare her less if it was just the sex she wanted, but she stuffed that thought down to the deepest, darkest corner of her soul. She was just using him. That was what she did with men. And that was what men did with her. It was a lesson Stefan had taught her well.
It stung her to think of Breck in those terms, but she was brutally honest with herself. If she didn't expect this to last, then she was using him to help get Sophie away from Stefan. Forcing Breck into the same category with all the other men she'd ever known felt wrong, but she couldn't deny it was true.
She just hated that it was true. There was nothing she could do about it, but that was her life.
Turning her thoughts away from her pathetic excuse for a love life, she reviewed the weekend. Stefan probably wasn't going to be pleased they hadn't secured the invitation to the Abernathys' ball, but Tam thought this might be even better. It would give her the opportunity to study them more and perhaps uncover what it was about them that interested Stefan. Anything to get some kind of advantage. Did they have something valuable to steal? An ancient artifact, encrypted information, a vault filled with cred chips? None of the research she, Breck, or his hired investigators had done had turned up anything that was particularly unusual about Lord Abernathy or his wife.
Tam and Breck had left for London after another mind-numbing day of horse races, but they'd again managed to mingle with the Abernathys. Good, but best not to press too fast. She sensed the couple was used to people trying to leech from them. Drusilla had casually mentioned that Abernathy was the queen's cousin—a by-blow of some affair her uncle had had with his interior designer. Hardly the first royal bastard, but it seemed Abernathy was quite close to the queen, which meant he had influence. It was the most interesting thing about the man, which wasn't very. He was probably used to pandering sycophants who hoped he'd drop a word to his cousin for them.
The Averys were as close to royalty as Americans claimed, so having them at the party was imperative. In the Abernathys' minds, it would put Breck and Tam into the same category as they were in—able to bend the ear of one of the most powerful people on the planet. Of course, the English would never consider upstart Americans in quite the same class, but Hunter Avery was the wealthiest man alive. Money talked.
“We're here.” When they rocked to a stop in front of the Royale, Breck exited their private transport and helped her out. “I'll have them send our bags up.”
“Good.” She brushed a kiss over his cheek. “I'm going to speak to the concierge and catering staff about our little soiree.”
When she turned to do just that, he caught her arm and spun her around, jerking her into his arms. His lips covered hers, and he licked his way into her mouth. Molding herself against him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and rose on tiptoe. His teeth scraped her lower lip, making her shudder. Her tongue twined with his, and his flavor burst over her taste buds. Her body reacted as it always did whenever he was near. Her nipples tightened, her pussy dampened, and the cheetah within her writhed in feral need.
He groaned, his hands coasting down her sides to cup her hips. The tips of his fingers almost brushed her ass, but not quite. They managed to keep it mostly civilized in public.
This time.
When he lifted his head, they were both panting for breath. She could see the sharp look of the eagle in his eyes, saw how he wrestled with control as much as she did. A wry smile curled her lips. She let herself drop back down, enjoying the slide of their bodies together, the feel of his erection prodding her. Laying her cheek on his shoulder, she let herself lean on him for just a moment. His solid, steady strength was such a balm right now. She shouldn't let herself rely on it, but for just a few more seconds she let herself cling.
His palm cupped the back of her head. “It's going to be all right.”
“You can't know that.” She swallowed hard, battling back the emotion that threatened to drag her under.
“No, you're right. I can't know it.” He kissed her forehead, then released her to step back. His blue eyes met hers. “But I can believe it. Someone has to.”
“Such an optimist.” She tsked. “Who'd have ever thought it of Constantine Breckenridge?”
He winked, turned to speak to the bellman, and she took the opportunity to slip away to speak to the Royale staff as she'd promised.
It took an hour of persuading, but she got her way. The party would be in two days. Three days before the Abernathy ball. Perfect. The menu, the waitstaff, and all the other major details had been negotiated. She was certain they'd come up with more that needed deciding, but the important arrangements were finalized. Good.
She would have heaved a sigh of relief, but that was only the first step of many to make sure everything went according to Stefan's master plan.
Pulling out her palmtop, she stepped into a private alcove outside the staff offices and called Delilah. Almost immediately, the woman's face appeared on the vidscreen, her spiky blond hair a bit mussed on one side. No doubt Hunter was to blame there. Curiosity sparkled in Delilah's green eyes. “What did you need, Tam?”
Of course Tam wouldn't be calling unless she wanted something. She would have assumed the same if Delilah ever called her. “A very small thing, actually.”
The blonde smirked. “You can't have my kidneys.”
Tam snorted. “I haven't taken to human organ trafficking, but I wouldn't start with Hunter Avery's mate if I were getting into that business.”
Delilah tilted her head. “Well, since you know I'm not into shady business anymore, then I'm guessing this
does
have to do with being Hunter Avery's mate.”
“You always were a smart one.”
“Thank you,” she demurred. “What did you need?”
“Breck and I are hosting a small event in his penthouse the day after tomorrow.” Tam flashed her most charming smile. “I'd like you to attend.”
Delilah's nose wrinkled. “And bring my mate, right?”
“Right.”
“He'd hate that. He hates nobbing with the rich and pretentious. What makes you think we'd go for something like that?”
Trepidation flooded Tam, and she tried to keep the desperation out of her expression and voice. She widened her smile. “Because I asked you?”
Delilah's brows contracted. “Do I owe you a favor I'm forgetting about?”
“No, but I have a feeling I'm about to owe you one,” Tam returned wryly.
The blond woman's grin made her look every millimeter the lynx she was. “I'm not in the business of needing favors anymore, Tam.”
“I know.” Tam took a breath. “You have a sister you love. What would you be willing to do if she were in danger?”
The lynx-shifter's eyes narrowed to dangerous slits. “Is that a threat? Is my sister in danger?”
“No,
your
sister isn't in danger.”
She blinked, her eyebrows rising until they almost met her hairline. “I didn't know you had any family.”
“In this business, it's safer that way if they aren't in the game.” Tam let her shoulder dip into a shrug. It was as true as possible. Sophie wasn't in the game, and Stefan wasn't someone she really considered family.
“Yeah, I could see that.” Delilah snorted. “My sister's reputation is far more notorious than mine. Legalized, but still.” She shrugged. “I'm glad this wasn't a threat, Tam. That's never been your style. I'd like to think you wouldn't stoop so low.”
“I'd like to think so, too. We all have the lines we won't cross, no matter what profession we're in.” And they all had things that would break them, make them cross every line they'd ever had. Tam had once told herself she would
never
work with Stefan again. She knew the smile she offered Delilah was crooked. “I'm not asking your mate or you to get involved in anything south of legal, but your presence would certainly make my mark more willing to attend.” She swallowed, let her tone go soft and pleading. “I don't want to bring anyone I don't have to in on this, but for my family . . .”
“Breck seemed pretty involved when we saw you together the other day.”
She huffed out a breath. “His choice and his stubborn persistence. I tried to keep him out of it.”
“Men.”
“Rich, powerful men used to getting everything they want,” she agreed.
“Exactly when they want it, yeah.” Delilah sighed. “We'll be there. I can't promise how long I can get Hunter to stay, but we'll be there.”
“Make a fashionably late entrance, then.” She let her relief and gratitude show. “I appreciate it.”
“You owe me one.”
“I understand.” And she did. If Delilah ever needed anything, Tam would pay up. She might be a despicable human being in a lot of respects, but she honored her obligations, and if this got her one step closer to getting Sophie out of her father's clutches, then there weren't a lot of limits Tam would place on repaying such a favor. “I'll send you details in the morning.”
She ended the call and closed her eyes, dragging in a deep breath that almost turned into a sob. The strain was getting to her, ruffling her normal calm when she was on a job. But this wasn't a
job,
this was her sister's life they were talking about. The job usually came with the thrill of the chase, the anticipation of her mark's next move, outwitting everyone and overcoming obstacles. There was none of that this time. She hadn't even felt that thrill for the job in a long time, if she were honest with herself. She was exhausted, she was spent, and she just wanted out. She wanted her sister out of this and wanted to make sure she was never threatened again.

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