Bait & Switch

by Kendall Ryan

  Barton probably had his reasons for playing it cool, but why hadn’t I heard any of this from Lacey? She’d never mentioned that she was in deep shit with organized crime. Or the fact that her dad happened to be my boss.

  She’d hidden this information from me. I didn’t know why. But I knew she had lied to me. Enough to start a shadow of doubt creeping over our whole relationship.

  If there was one thing I couldn’t stomach, it was a liar. My entire life was devoted to control, exposing corruption and bringing order to the world. She’d brought all this to my doorstep with an innocent smile and those come-hither eyes.

  Anger burned like molten lead in my veins. But I beat it back again; I still had business to take care of here.

  “Looks like your lucky day,” I announced to the two men with a bravado I didn’t feel. “I’m not going to blow your fucking brains out. And if you want things to stay that way, you’ll leave this girl alone for good. She’s not involved with whatever sick shit you’re up to.”

  Part of me wondered whether that was true. After what had just come to light, how could I be sure of anything? For all I knew, maybe Lacey had played a part in Troy’s business.

  I shook my head, forcing myself to stop spinning in her secrets. We needed to get the hell out of here. There would be time for answers later.

  Without taking my eyes off the two men, I said, “Cover me, Grey.”

  Greyson kept his pistol pointed at them while I adjusted my hold on the limp body over my shoulder. I backed out of the kitchen and toward the front door . . . until I felt a light tap on my back.

  “I have to, um, pee,” she whispered, her voice hoarse.

  My eyes locked with Grey’s. “She has to pee,” I repeated like a dipshit.

  Grey’s eyes widened and he shot me a look that said, Seriously? And if she had to take her tampon out, would you help with that too?

  The sad thing was, yeah, I probably would. I carried her straight into the crappy little bathroom and tugged down her leggings and panties. A bit unsteady, she sat down and relieved herself, her posture slumped in defeat. I averted my gaze, keeping it locked on the doorway, both to give her some privacy and to make sure we were still alone.

  When she was done, I scooped her up in my arms and walked out of that foul, run-down house, secure in the knowledge that Greyson was covering me all the way to my truck.

  He started the engine as I laid her gently across the backseat and got in, scooting so my lap supported her head. She couldn’t sit up by herself, and to be honest, as mad as I was, I needed to hold her.

  As Greyson sped toward the highway, I pulled out my phone and dialed the Dallas PD’s narcotics division. The bored-sounding officer who answered perked right up when I delivered my tip about a certain drug operation. Those bastards would be going to jail for a long, long time.

  When I hung up, Greyson’s gaze flicked to the backseat. “Is that really Lacey?”

  I grunted an affirmative, in no mood to discuss this with him. I couldn’t even wrap my brain around this fucked-up situation yet, let alone put words to it. Trying to make sense of things, I turned and stared out the window.

  He blew out a loud breath, nonplussed. “So you’ve been dating the boss’s daughter this whole time? Damn. I don’t want to be around when that hits the fan.”

  He probably couldn’t see it, but I grimaced at him anyway. “Is that really what you’re focused on right now? Jeez, dude, unfuck your priorities.”

  Although there might have been a tiny part of me that agreed with him. It wasn’t enough that she was a drug lord’s ex—she had to be the boss’s daughter too? That was just icing on the goddamn cake. I’d gotten us away from Troy’s old buddies, but would I be so lucky with Barton?

  “Drop us off at my place,” I instructed Grey.

  Barton had said no hospitals unless his daughter was in need of immediate medical care. He said he didn’t know how big this thing was, or who he could trust yet. Still in DC when he got the news about the kidnapping, he couldn’t have been here quickly enough, so he was counting on me alone to keep her safe. I was only thirty minutes from her, and he trusted me implicitly.

  Too bad he had no clue that I’d been eating his daughter’s pussy and lusting after her so badly I ached. God damn it.

  “No . . . Lan . . .”

  I startled when a slim hand brushed mine. I looked down to see Lacey gripping my fingers weakly. Her blue eyes were still heavy-lidded, but much brighter than before.

  “You really came . . . for me?”

  “Of course I did.”

  She trailed off into a blurry mumble. It might have been my imagination, but I thought she said I’m sorry.

  “Shhh.” I stroked her tangled hair. “It’s okay. Just rest.”

  It wasn’t fucking okay, not at all. My doubt was still growing, and with it, my angry sense of betrayal. But for now, I let Lacey sleep—and I let myself enjoy her warm weight, knowing how soon I might have to push it away.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Lacey

  Only once we were inside Nolan’s house, with the door bolted, could I finally relax enough to draw a deep breath. He sat me down on the soft leather sofa and my entire body sagged in relief. The fear and adrenaline from the last several hours drained away; I knew I was safe. Thank God. What I didn’t know is where I stood with Nolan.

  Turning to face him, I opened my mouth to say something, to thank him for saving my life. But the words died in my throat. He was fuming mad, stalking around the living room with a grimace, double-checking his gun before placing it on the dining table.

  “You lied to me.” His voice was hollow and broken, and I hated the look that I saw in his eyes. I hated myself even more for putting it there.

  “I w-wanted to tell you. I wanted to tell you a hundred times . . .” My voice cracked on a sob.

  He placed a blanket around my shoulders. But I knew I couldn’t read too much into his tenderness; it was only his training kicking in.

  “Then why didn’t you?” He stood before me, his fists clenched at his sides, a vein throbbing in his neck.

  “Because I couldn’t. Would you really have been okay with me telling you I was Jerry Barton’s daughter?”

  He looked down at the floor.

  “I didn’t think so.” I swallowed. “And even without the romantic connection we had, if I’d told you that I was in trouble, told you everything like I wanted to that first night . . . the first phone call you would have made would have been to my dad.”

  “Damn right I would have. It would have been the smartest thing to do to keep you safe.” He stalked closer. “Do you know what those men could have done to you? Do you have any idea how bad this could have been for you?”

  I shuddered. “I know.”

  “So how about you try explaining this to me again. What in the fuck was going on inside that pretty head of yours?”

  “That I was tired of being my father’s prisoner. I was twenty-three, and barely allowed to date. Especially not Troy. Dad hated Troy. Never wanted him in my life. He kept saying, ‘I can tell that boy’s a bad egg, young lady, mark my words.’ Of course, being forbidden just made me run to Troy faster.”

  I let out a short, bitter chuckle. “And then it turned out Dad’s hunches were right all along. I discovered Troy’s secret. He was deep into some crazy shit. But if I’d admitted that to Dad, that would have been the end of it. I probably wouldn’t have been allowed to date or do pretty much anything until I was thirty-five. There was no way I was going to let that happen.”

  “You were going to fix things with your own two hands,” Nolan said. Was that a hint of respect in his voice?

  “Yes.” I nodded fervently. If I could just make him understand . . .

  “And I was your backup plan.”

  My mouth dried up. “Only at first. You became so much more than that. Once I got to know you . . .”

  “Was it all fake?” he asked, his tone soft and sad.


  “No, Nolan. Of course not.”

  “Stay put,” he muttered.

  Turning away from me, he stalked into the bathroom at the end of the hall. I heard cabinets open and jars clinking around. I wondered if his hands were shaking as badly as mine were.

  The tears swimming in my eyes threatened to fall. I needed to hold it together long enough to make him understand what he meant to me. To make him see that this was real. I prayed for the right words to come.

  Seconds later, he returned carrying a first aid kit. He stopped in the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and a sleeve of crackers from the cupboard before stomping back into the living room. He tossed everything onto the couch cushion beside me.

  “Eat. Drink,” he commanded, his voice rough.

  “Nolan, please talk to me. I’m sorry. I’m so very, very sorry.”

  He blew out a frustrated breath and grabbed the water bottle to unscrew the cap. “Drink,” he said again, thrusting it at me.

  Trying to please him, I took a small sip. My parched throat thanked me, and I took a longer swig.

  “Did they touch you?”

  His voice had softened. As mad as he was, he still cared. Of that I was certain. My heart squeezed in my chest.

  I handed him back the water. “No, not like that. They were rough, shoved me around, but I’m okay.”

  Those two idiots were part of Troy’s old crew. I had no idea why they thought I’d have his money or drugs since I was never involved in any of it, but that hadn’t stopped them from taking me and demanding to know where his stash was. My fingers went to the bump at the back of my head again. It was still throbbing.

  “Let me see,” Nolan said, dropping down to kneel before me. Tenderly, he lifted the hair off the back of my neck, and felt the hard knot with careful fingertips. “Let me tend to this.” He opened the first aid kit that sat beside me and began removing items. Gauze. Antiseptic.

  “Can I take a shower first?” I was desperate to get the stink of that house and those men off my skin.

  “Will you be okay alone in there?” He studied me with sharp eyes.

  Was he offering to help me shower? No, he’d probably ask Daniella to do it—a thought I couldn’t stomach.

  “Yes, I’ll be fine.”

  He nodded once. “There are towels under the cabinet. Leave the door unlocked in case you need anything.” In case you collapse, I suspected he meant.

  “Okay.” I rose on shaky legs and started toward the bathroom.

  “Lacey?” he called out from the living room, where he still knelt on the floor.

  “Yes?”

  “When you’re done in there, we need to talk.” His tone left no room for negotiation.

  I nodded, my throat tightening. “Just so you know, I was going to tell you everything. I wanted you to come over so we could not only talk about our relationship, but so that I could tell you the truth about my past, who my dad was, everything.”

  He made a grunted sound that I couldn’t distinguish.

  Walking slowly and carefully, I paused at the door to Daniella’s room on my way. Everything I’d seen in this room that night came rushing back. Her naked body shaking with need. The red welts painted across her skin. The primal look in Nolan’s eyes.

  Blinking away the memory, I realized that her room was devoid of all personal effects. The dresser and desk were bare; the mattress had been stripped. The closet doors were open, and only a few empty hangers remained.

  I heard his footsteps behind me and turned to face him, confused.

  “What’s going on here?” The place was deserted, as if her intrusion into my life had never happened at all. But of course, my heart still knew it did. “Where’s Daniella?” I asked.

  “You owe me some answers before we discuss anything.” His voice was a rough growl and his fists were still clenched at his sides. He looked broken and sad like I’d never seen him. Fear tightened in my gut, even worse than when that man first grabbed me.

  Nolan was right, of course. I owed him the truth. Not to mention the world’s biggest apology.

  Tears spilled from my eyes. I couldn’t control them any more than I could control the rush of words falling from my mouth.

  “When I met you that night, I acted like it was all by chance. A single twenty-something woman new in town and enjoying a drink at the local bar. That couldn’t have been further from the truth.”

  I hung my head, my eyes trained on the floor at his feet as I spoke. “Everything about running into you that night had been calculated. I already knew I could rely on you, because my father had told me some of the moments that had defined your life . . . private, painful things. But you didn’t know anything about me. That’s what made my plan perfect. It would never have worked if you’d recognized me. You just would’ve sent me back to Oklahoma City, or worse, called my father.”

  “This wasn’t some fucking game, Lacey. Your life was in danger.” The low growl vibrating in his throat sent my pulse skittering.

  “Of course it wasn’t a game. It was my life, my freedom. We all have things in our past we’re not proud of. Maybe I was too bull-headed; maybe it was foolish to think I could outrun my mistakes. But you don’t know what my life was like before. My father can be . . .” Tears slipped from my eyes, and I took a moment to compose myself.

  My only form of rebellion had been dating Troy. When I’d discovered he was running a high-profile executive drug ring, I’d dumped him and moved out. But then two of his “friends” raided my new apartment, looking for the money he owed them—or anything they could pawn to make up the difference. My ex was in some big trouble that wasn’t likely to blow over anytime soon.

  But since Dad had never approved of him anyway, I wasn’t about to go running to him for help. What I needed was a do-over, far away from Oklahoma City, and a good guy on my side, especially when I heard on the news that Troy had been found dead. And according to Dad’s stories, there was no better man than Nolan.

  I told him everything, starting with the night we’d first met at the bar. God, I’d been so scared, so sure he’d see right through me. Every detail of our time together rushed back with resounding clarity.

  “I might have come here for a calculated reason,” I finished, “but trust me when I say . . . that changed. The way I feel about you is real.”

  His face, his kiss, his generous soul, even his maimed heart—everything about Nolan made my skin tingle and my heart race. None of that had been fake.

  He gave a disparaging grunt. “How do I know you’re telling the truth right now?”

  But he was still listening, so I kept rattling on. “I figured that if I could befriend you, win your trust, I could call on you in case my trouble followed me to Texas. I knew your instincts and training would kick in. You wouldn’t let anything happen to the vulnerable single woman you’d befriended.”

  He grunted, acknowledging that was probably true.

  “I’m sorry . . . so sorry, for everything.” I sobbed, repeating the words over and over again.

  Nolan didn’t say anything. He just stood there, listening, watching me.

  “Go shower,” he finally said. “I’m sure you’re exhausted. We’ll talk more in the morning.”

  He was right; I was exhausted, even if the clock on the wall only read eight o’clock. But as badly as I wanted sleep, I needed to know where I stood with him. Where we stood.

  “Why didn’t you ever sleep with me?” I wiped the tears from my cheeks, my eyes pleading with his for answers of my own.

  Confusion drew a line between his dark brows. “What do you mean?”

  “Daniella said that if you hadn’t slept with me yet, it meant you had real feelings for me.” Please, God, let it be true.

  “Daniella doesn’t . . . ,” he started to argue, then stopped. His teeth sank into his lower lip and his tortured gaze met mine. “It never seemed right. You weren’t the kind of girl I was used to. I couldn’t imagine using you that way . . . holding you down . .
. fucking you hard until you screamed. Is that what you wanted?”

  My heart thumping in my chest, I stepped closer. “You won’t break me, Nolan.”

  His chin cut to the side as he studied me, not missing a thing. My dilated pupils, my nipples forming hard points in my bra.

  “This isn’t going to end well,” he said.

  “You don’t know that.” My voice was firm, drawing on an inner strength I didn’t know I had.

  “Go shower,” he commanded again.

  Balling my fists at my sides, I stood as tall as I could. “I needed protection. Falling in love with you was never part of the plan.”

  I could have sworn I saw a flash of emotion in his eyes. Sympathy? Relief? I wasn’t sure, because as quickly as it had appeared, he’d blinked and it was gone. Replaced by that vacant mask he so often wore.

  Before I broke down in tears again, I hurried into the bathroom and undressed. Then I stood under the steaming hot water and cried myself sick.

  I’d fallen in love with Nolan . . . just as I’d made sure that he would never be able to love me back.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Nolan

  I watched the bathroom door swing shut. As soon as I heard Lacey turn on the shower, I stomped into the kitchen and poured myself a shot of whiskey. I wanted to punch the wall until my knuckles bled . . . or maybe just sleep for a week. But for now, a stiff drink would have to do. With Lacey safe and temporarily occupied, I finally had time to process everything that had happened tonight. All the secrets that had come to light.

  It was in the silence of my kitchen that everything crashed around me. I was in love with Lacey. I couldn’t fight or deny the feelings soaring through me. Yet the woman I loved had used me.

  Why hadn’t she just told me she was in trouble? If she had been honest with me up front—like I’d been with her—I probably would have helped her out. But she hadn’t even given me the chance to decide. We had dated for weeks, growing closer by the day, and she somehow never found a good time to air out her past? Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention my ex ran a drug ring and now his goons are tailing me, and my overbearing father is your boss.