From Sanctum With Love (Masters and Mercenaries Book 10)

by Lexi Blake

  “You don’t call them?”

  “I don’t want to pressure anyone. I’m also not real great about using my damn phone, okay? One of the guys programs it. It’s easier to give them my number.”

  “You honestly believe that you’ve had sex with a bunch of women who don’t want to have sex with you again? Because I’ve heard some of the stories. Hey, my fiancée left me because apparently you’re better in bed.”

  Jared stood, his shoulders squaring. “She left you because she was a bitch and you didn’t see it. She left you because she couldn’t stand to have you walk away from her. She left you because just like the rest of us mere fucking mortals, she couldn’t quite live up to your standards.”

  Shit. He did not want to do this here. “Fine. All I’m saying is I find it highly unlikely that none of those women called you back.”

  “Seriously? This is what you want to talk about? Are you trying to solve a murder or fix my love life?”

  The door slammed open and Kai was surprised to see Erin Argent standing there. She was dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, her face makeup free and her wild red hair up in a messy bun, as though she’d rolled out of bed to come here. “Is Case with Mitch?”

  “Yes. They called him out a while ago. He’s not in trouble or anything,” Kai explained. “He was there when we found a body.”

  Erin’s left brow rose, a queenly gesture. “So it was a fun night. Big Tag wasn’t answering his cell so Case called me and told me to get the lawyers down here pronto. Then he told me to go back to bed and not worry. Yeah, like that was going to happen. I called Mitch, who called the subby boy, and then I got Hutch on the case. He was on guard duty.”

  “Guard duty?” Jared asked, looking Erin over as though trying to figure out if she was a threat.

  She was. Erin was deadly when she wanted to be. Years in the Army and then private training with Big Tag had turned her into a deadly weapon, but she wasn’t a threat to them. “A couple of months ago an op went wrong and Big Tag is simply making sure Erin’s safe.”

  “He’s making sure crazy pants Doctor Evil doesn’t come back for seconds.” Erin rolled her green eyes. “Which she won’t since she’s off happily fucking around with unsuspecting victims somewhere that’s not here. But Big Tag, Little Tag, and Should Have Covered His Tracks Better Tag decided I should have protection, at least at night, so they all take turns sleeping in my guest room. I swear I’m going to be pissed if someone breaks in and I don’t get to kill someone. No one ever lets me have fun anymore.”

  Erin’s idea of fun could get grisly. And Big Tag had been worried about more than Hope McDonald. He’d been worried about her being alone, worried she might hurt herself or run away. So far she’d been pretty solid. Tonight she even sounded like the old Erin. She was apparently seriously amused that Case had gotten caught. “You didn’t have to come down here. We’re not in any real trouble.”

  She gave him a sour grin. “Maybe not with the police, but I’m intrigued. You see, Hutch is a very smart hacker and he works for candy. I wanted to know what had gone down here that would require not one but two lawyers for our boys. So I shoved a bag of gummy bears his way and he managed to find some very interesting video of the hall outside the private lounge.”

  “What?” Kai moved in close. What the hell was Erin thinking? “This is a police investigation.”

  She shook her head. “I’m sure the murder is. I’m not concerned about some Hollywood chick. I’m concerned about what the hell you handed Case and why he’s running an op that isn’t on the books. Don’t tell me it wasn’t an op. Case had his op face on. It’s a little like his I-ate-too-many-fries face but with a hint of his vicious-badger face. I love my broth…I like the guy, but he’s pure muscle. He can’t play a role to save his life.”

  It wasn’t inaccurate. Of the two, Theo had been the better operative while Case could kick ass and take names all day. “You should take it up with Case.”

  “What does she mean about an op?” Jared asked, looking between the two of them. “And why would she hack into the video feed from the club? Is the hacker five? Who else eats gummy bears?”

  Naturally that was what Jared would hit on. “Don’t worry about it. We need to worry about making a statement and getting the hell out of here. We can talk more when we get home.” He frowned Erin’s way. “You do realize someone is likely taping us even as we speak.”

  “Fine, I’ll drop it for now, but why does Kori look like she lost her best friend?” Erin asked. “We’ll get back to Case later, but Kori’s sitting out in the station waiting for a ride. Shouldn’t you take her home, Doc? Or is this part of the sadist stuff?”

  If they’d been at Sanctum, he would have called her on that. Erin had played before. Hell, Erin had played with him. Erin was one of the few women who could handle his form of play, but it had been apparent even in the beginning that she’d had a connection to Theo. Once the youngest Taggart had come on the scene, Erin hadn’t been interested in play anymore. Not with him. So he found it very annoying that she was accusing him of neglecting his sub.

  Except Kori wasn’t his sub anymore. She never had been since he hadn’t managed to find a good time to talk about contracts with her.

  “She’s not going anywhere.” It didn’t matter that she was pissed at him. All that mattered was taking care of her. “You go out there right now and tell her she’s not to leave this building. I will be very angry if she tries to go home without an escort.”

  Jared stood up beside him, a stubborn look crossing his face. “And Sarah isn’t an escort. She’s not going anywhere either.”

  Erin looked between the two of them. “Wow, for a minute there you two actually looked like brothers. Tell me something, Jared. How did you get the masculine name and Kai here got the hippy name?”

  “My mom simply liked it.” Let it stay there. Please.

  A slow smile split Jared’s face. “He hasn’t told anyone, has he? Kai is short for Kaiser. Kaiser Ferguson. And before you think maybe we had a German relative in our background, you’re wrong.”

  “Jared,” he began.

  Jared didn’t skip a beat. “When he was born, the doctor handed him over and the blanket slipped off his butt and Mom said his backside looked like two perfect Kaiser rolls. And that’s what she named him.”

  Erin burst into laughter, her whole body moving.

  Damn but it was good to hear her laugh. He shot his brother the finger, but Jared smiled as though he’d known the woman in front of him needed a reason to momentarily let go.

  Before Erin could finish laughing, the door came open and Special Agent Rush strode in. He was followed by two uniformed officers, and there was no way to miss the handcuffs in his hands. The metal glinted in the stark light of the room.

  “Jared John Ferguson,” Rush began. “You’re under arrest for the murder of Lena Klein. You have the right to remain silent.”

  Jared went pale as Rush continued to Mirandize him. As they hauled him out, he looked back Kai’s way, his eyes wide. It was the same damn look he’d had on his face the day Kai had driven away and not looked back.

  Desperation and then acceptance. Jared’s face went blank as though he knew Kai wouldn’t help him and he was alone.

  Fuck. Kai strode out the door. “Don’t you say a fucking word, Jared. I’ll have a lawyer here as soon as I can. Not a word to them. Do you understand me?”

  He didn’t respond, but suddenly his brother’s spine straightened and his head came back up.

  “I’m going to need to talk to Harrison.” He had no idea who had said what or why the police thought his brother had done this, but he knew one thing. He wasn’t walking away this time.

  “He’s still here,” Erin said. “I talked to him on my way in. He was planning on talking to you. He isn’t only here for Case. I sent him for all of you. It’s what Big Tag would want, if he wasn’t busy fucking his wife. He’ll likely get my texts soon and he’ll be in here like an angry bull, so enjo
y the calm now.”

  Two things. He knew two things. He was going to save his brother and he was going to take care of Kori. No matter what. “Will you take Kori back to your place? I fucked up with her, Erin. You have to talk to Case about what we were doing, but Kori overheard something I said and now she thinks our entire relationship was about an op.”

  “Girls get pissy about that. It’s why honesty is always best.”

  “I couldn’t.” He couldn’t say anything. His hands were tied. “Please take care of her.”

  Erin nodded. “All right, but only because I’m tired and I can get a couple of tacos on the way home. I throw up all day and I’m hungry all night. Pregnancy sucks.” She stepped out into the hall. “And tell Case that we’re not through. I’ll figure it out in the end.”

  Erin walked away and Kai started looking for the lawyer. It looked like they were definitely going to need him tonight.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “So, I’m betting I get the couch.” Hutch frowned as he locked the door behind them.

  “I think one of the girls is taking the couch,” Erin said, pressing the buttons on the control pad for her home security system. “You should feel free to sleep in a corner, or you could go home, buddy.”

  Kori watched them, taking in the byplay as she set her purse down on the table while Mia and Sarah did the same. Kori had tried to argue for going home, but Erin had stood pretty firm. Erin could be scary when she stood firm.

  Apparently they weren’t allowed to be murdered by a serial killer. No one cared that the cops were looking into it so any serial killer with sense likely would be laying low. That bit of reason hadn’t worked. And it didn’t matter that Hutch was going to lose his bed.

  Hutch shook his head and yawned. “No way, sister. My spinal column will fare better against your floor than it would Big Tag’s hands. I think he could do that Predator thing where he pulls it right out and hoists it over his head like a trophy. I’ll grab one of the sleeping bags I saw in the hall closet. Thank god Theo liked to camp.” He stopped and went still. “I’m sorry.”

  Erin stared at him, arms crossed over her chest. “That Theo liked to camp? Or that he liked to collect piles and piles of crap that I now have to deal with?”

  Hutch sighed. “Night, Erin. Yell if you need me.”

  From what Kori could tell, Erin hadn’t dealt with anything of Theo’s. Theo’s clothes were still hanging next to Erin’s, his shoes on the floor, his toothbrush still in a cup in the bathroom.

  Kai had brought a toothbrush over the second night he’d stayed at her place. Before they’d left, he’d run upstairs while she talked to Jared. Kai had come down with an overnight bag and not even a good-bye for his brother.

  Had he been acting the whole time?

  One thing was for sure, his toothbrush would not be staying at her place. She would toss it and everything he’d left right in his face when she quit. Without notice. He could keep his own appointments and stock his own groceries and shove all his Zen and calmness right up his muscled ass.

  “I still don’t understand anything,” Sarah complained. “I don’t understand why we can’t go home.”

  Erin shrugged as though it was none of her concern. “Because you all signed contracts with Sanctum that state plainly any of the Master Doms can be overprotective dicks about you. The overprotective dick award goes to Kai ‘Hot Buns’ Ferguson this evening. So take it up with him. I’m merely the girl who happened to be there. The guest bedroom is back there. The couch folds out and I would bet Hutch is already asleep in my office. You would think all that sugar would keep him awake, but his body doesn’t work that way. So everyone get some sleep. Except you, blondie. You and me, we’re going to have a talk.”

  Mia’s eyes widened. “I think I’m going to break my Sanctum contract. After what happened tonight, I won’t be going anymore.”

  What the hell was going on? She’d been a little confused from the moment Erin and Hutch had shown up and hustled them all out of the police station and into Hutch’s SUV. They’d been told they weren’t going home. They needed to stay with Erin because the men had decided they were still in danger.

  From a serial killer. That was what Special Agent Rush had described, what he thought Jared Johns was. According to the FBI agent, Jared had killed all across the globe. He’d been vivid in his description.

  Kori still hadn’t explained things to Sarah. Mia and Sarah had been sitting on a bench in the station house when Kori had been released by Rush. He’d explained that he had other witnesses to talk to before he made a decision, and he might need to meet with her again tomorrow. She’d slumped down next to her friends and wondered what fresh hell tomorrow would bring.

  Obviously tonight wasn’t quite over. Erin could be like a dog with a bone. Kori was done pretending. After what had happened with Lena, it would all come out anyway. “Mia is a reporter. Case was investigating her. I don’t think it’s safe for her to go home since she’s been tracking a serial killer and he struck tonight.”

  Sarah gasped. “I heard that rumor but I didn’t think it was true.” She shook her head. “It’s not him. It’s not. I’m going to bed because I’m not going to listen to anyone say he’s a killer. He might be an asshole, but he wouldn’t hurt me.”

  Sarah turned and walked toward the guest bedroom.

  “Well, I’ve lost enough friends tonight. I’ll call a cab. You won’t see me again,” Mia promised. “I’ll go home and help the police from there. I’m sorry I hurt you, Kori. I never meant to do that. I only meant to honor my friend.”

  “Wow, that’s some girl drama there.” Erin stepped in front of the door. “You’ll go and sit down and we’ll work this out like two grown-ass females because the men have fucked up everything, it seems to me. The minute he found out you lied on your application, Case should have sat you down and had a conversation. You’ll have to forgive him. He often thinks with his dick, and his dick is not smart.”

  Mia tensed, her body stiffening, and Kori hoped she hadn’t managed to fit her gun in that tiny bag. “I don’t think that’s necessary. I have what I needed. At least the police know what’s going on.”

  “Yes, they arrested Jared while I was there,” Erin said calmly. “Did you convince them? I take it this is all about your friend. The one who died in Canada.”

  Kori felt her stomach flip. They’d arrested Kai’s brother? Had Kai known what was going on with Jared? According to Rush he’d been involved in this sting operation, but it was hard to believe. If he could give up his brother like that, why did she think for a second he would give a shit about her?

  “How did you know?” Mia moved back in the living room.

  Erin followed her. “Because I don’t have a dumb dick that makes decisions for me. Case and Kai ran an op tonight. I figured that out because Hutch is the one who programmed that device that downloaded your phone. The minute I told him Case and Kai were at the police station, he gave himself away. That boy can’t play poker to save his life. When he’s trying to lie he frowns and looks totally ridiculous. Lying or subterfuge is the only time that boy gets serious. So when he reacted to Case and Kai getting hauled in for questioning, I knew I was on to something. It was a short hop and a few threats and Hutch was telling me everything. Your brother is Andrew Lawless. He’s the CEO of a company called 4L Software. I think Hutch got a little horny when he said your brother’s name.”

  So Kai had definitely been working for Case and McKay-Taggart to figure out what Mia had been up to. Why all the subterfuge? Kori sank down on Erin’s couch. She’d been over here a couple of times, but only once when Theo had been with her. They’d only lived here together a week or so before they’d gone on the op that led to Theo’s death. The way she understood it, Theo had surprised Erin with the house after they’d returned from working in Africa. Kori remembered the night she’d come out with some of the guys who’d installed Theo and Erin’s fire pit. They’d made margaritas and ordered pizza and toasted th
e new house around the fire they’d lit. Those same guys she’d sat with that night had been in on the plot. They hadn’t thought twice about Kai using her. She’d been a pawn.

  One more memory ruined.

  How many holes could a person have before they weren’t really there anymore? How many pieces could she lose before she simply stopped trying?

  “You should know that if anything happens to me, my brother will move heaven and earth to find me.” Mia was still standing like a trapped animal ready to run at the first opportunity.

  “Sit down, Mia. She’s not going to hurt you.” Kori was so tired of all the lies.

  Erin sat down across from the couch, leaning back. “I wouldn’t say that. If I don’t find out what I want, I might cut a bitch.”

  “She doesn’t mean that.” Kori patted the seat beside her. Sometimes she thought Erin had been born to be a Taggart wife. Sarcasm and a little streak of violence had been bred into her DNA.

  Mia ignored the couch and stepped up to Erin. Her voice went low. “Don’t let the blonde hair fool you. I’m not about to back off a fight. You want to come at me, we’ll see who wins. My brother might have all the money in the world now, but I didn’t grow up that way. I fought for everything I have and I’ll fucking fight you too, if I have to. I won’t pull hair or try to bitch slap you. I’ll go for the kill and I’ll do it quick.”

  “She’s pregnant, Mia.” Kori thought that should be put out there before Erin and Mia started throwing punches. Or stabbing each other. Jeez, she didn’t want to get in between a couple of alpha females. All they needed was Charlotte Taggart to show up and they could start their own wrestling crew.

  Mia took a deep breath. “Damn it.” She sat down on the couch. “I could use a good fight after tonight.”