Red Hot Dragons Steamy 10 Book Collection

by Lisa Daniels

“We can set up anywhere,” Alex replied tersely. “We don’t need to commit a robbery for that.”

  “But think of how much easier it will be with a nest egg to start,” Andrew cajoled.

  “No!” Alex had protested. “If we get caught—”

  “If we get caught, what? We’re dragons, Al. No cage can keep us.”

  “Your solution to being imprisoned is breaking out of prison? You know what will happen to you if you’re caught doing that?”

  Alex would have much rather dealt with the time than the repercussions of outing themselves to the public. The Weyr Congress would never forgive them for such an atrocity.

  And time we have plenty of. A banishment or death sentence are a little harder to overcome.

  “Davis and I take all the risk and no one will get hurt,” Andrew insisted. “You won’t get caught, I promise. Then you can take your money and do whatever you want. You’ve always wanted to start your own company, haven’t you?”

  It had been the first and only time that Alex had agreed to help his brother in such a way, but the reward was too good to pass up.

  Still, Alex knew it had less to do with the money and more to do with keeping an eye on his twin.

  Something I failed at miserably.

  Over the years, Alex had watched his brother become rougher and angrier, knowing that the heist had been for nothing. Alex knew Andrew was lucky he had not been charged with first-degree murder of the cop and security guard, but it was easy to see that the older twin was festering in a sea of resentment toward his former partner.

  Alex had lied when he told Andrew he had searched for Davis. He had wanted nothing more than to forget that episode in his life, but fourteen years had flown by as if the robbery had occurred the previous week and Alex was sure that he would forever be haunted by the role he had played in the deaths of the cop and security guard.

  “You should name the shooter,” he had told his brother. “You shouldn’t be rotting in here alone.”

  Andrew had snorted contemptuously.

  “So the cops can confiscate the money? No way. We’re not going anywhere, Al. Time is something we have enough of. When I get out, we’ll get our due as we planned it. Just keep your mouth shut. My time will be over before you know it and we will hunt down Davis and get our due.”

  Of course, Andrew had been right; he had served his time, but Davis was long gone, leaving behind his girlfriend and son.

  And Alex no longer cared about the money because in the end, as his brother sat in the cell, he had learned to fend for himself for once, without the umbra of his twin dragging him down.

  He had started his own company without the blood money that Davis had taken, and over time, he had thought less and less about the event.

  But now Andrew was out of the joint and Alex was tangled up in his brother’s affairs, as if they’d picked up precisely where they’d left off.

  Alex steered his truck into the parking lot adjacent to Dr. Margolis’ downtown office and removed the keys from the ignition, pausing to catch his breath.

  There has to be a way to get Andrew to forget about Davis. Nothing good will come from his obsession with finding the money—assuming there’s any even left now.

  After fifteen years, Alex found it hard to believe that Davis hadn’t spent it all.

  As he climbed out of the old Chevy, he reasoned that it was the only thing which had kept Andrew going for all those years, kept him sane inside the confines of his cell.

  He's not going to give up so easily. He sacrificed a lot for his share, his sanity among them.

  Sauntering into the modest building, Alex glanced at Callie, who was on the phone. She shot him a warning look and he pressed his finger to his lips as if he were sworn to secrecy, sitting on the same chair he had claimed his last visit.

  Suddenly, Maria Margolis appeared in the lobby, her blue-grey eyes distracted. Her gaze widened in shock when she saw him sitting there.

  “Oh,” she muttered. “I had forgotten you were coming here today.”

  He was surprised by her tone but also disappointed that she had forgotten about him.

  “I can make another appointment,” Alex replied quickly. “If you want me to come back another day.”

  She gave him a look which he couldn’t decipher and shook her head after a long moment.

  “No,” she said slowly. “I mean that I forgot you were coming here today. I was just on my way to the house to meet you. Come in.”

  Alex ambled to his feet and followed her into the back, closing the door behind him.

  “Is something wrong?” he asked finally when a heavy silence lingered much longer than usual.

  “No. Yes. Andrew, I can’t see you anymore. I will arrange for another therapist for your weekly appointments and you should continue them at the house, not at the office. For your own protection.”

  He blinked at the unexpected confession, a pang of panic surging through him.

  Has she figured out our ruse? Is that what’s happening? I should have been more of a jerk. I screwed up.

  He wasn’t sure if the idea that his brother was going back to prison was good or bad.

  “Why can’t you see me anymore?” he demanded. “I thought we made progress in our last session.”

  She shook her head but Alex noticed she did not meet his eye.

  “Yes, we did,” she agreed. “But it’s not about that. It—it’s something else. Please don’t take this personally.”

  He waited for her to elaborate, but she did not and Alex approached the desk where she leaned against it, her arms folded across her full bosom.

  “Why are you so stressed? Did something happen?” he asked gently. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  She stared at him in disbelief, like she couldn’t believe that he was speaking to her as if he were the therapist.

  “No.” Her tone was short and final.

  He paused before her, tentatively reaching out to touch her arm.

  “Obviously something happened. I don’t think it’s fair that you cut me out without a reason, do you? I thought the entire point of therapy was to build a rapport with the patient. This isn’t good for my trust issues.” He shot her a wry grin to show her that he was joking, but she didn’t return his smile.

  Her eyes seemed to have lost their intelligent gleam as she met his gaze and for the first time, Alex noticed she was much paler than he remembered.

  “I can’t tell you,” she told him dully. “But this isn’t your fault. It’s mine. I’m sorry, Andrew.”

  Alex felt his heart begin to pick up speed slightly. His mind began to wander, considering the reasons that she might be dismissing him so abruptly and without explanation.

  He needed to know.

  “I don’t want to force you to tell me, Dr. Margolis, but I want you to know that I feel like you and I really connected. I don’t know if I will find that with someone else,” Alex said, grasping at something to keep her talking.

  “You will,” she replied nervously. “I am referring you to Dr.—”

  “You’re not listening to me,” he told her insistently. “I have never wanted to open up to anyone before you. The fact that we talked about my family last time was a huge step for me.”

  She stared at him and Alex could see her inner struggle.

  “I breached my ethics with you, Andrew,” she told him, her voice so low, he almost didn’t hear the words.

  His brow furrowed and he stared at her, a wave of anxiety shooting up through his throat.

  Dammit. What did she do?

  “How?” he asked quietly. “What did you do?”

  She sighed and turned away from him, but he maintained his grip on her arm.

  “Please, Dr. Margolis, tell me what you’re fighting with. It’s probably not even that big a deal.”

  Gods, I hope I’m right.

  “It is,” she whispered. “It is and I could lose my licence.”

  She stared at him with humiliated eye
s, tears filling her lovely blue-grey eyes.

  “Try me,” he urged. “I swear whatever you tell me will never leave this room.”

  The psychologist’s head jerked up and she gazed into his earnest orbs. He could read the desire to trust him, but she was leery.

  And rightfully so. Alex wasn’t even sure what he was going to do with the information he was gathering.

  “There is a cop who is looking for your accomplice, Andrew. I told him I would help him find out who shot his partner.”

  “Luke Rivers,” Alex sighed, remembering the burly, no-nonsense detective. He thought of Andrew thinking that someone was following him and he wondered if it could have been Rivers after all.

  We’ll have to do something about Rivers, Alex thought, gritting his teeth, but he didn’t like the thought.

  Dr. Margolis nodded, confirming his suspicion.

  “What have you told him?” Alex asked, releasing her arm and exhaling.

  Andrew wouldn’t have said anything to her and I certainly didn’t. What could she possibly have told Rivers that would worry her so much?

  “Nothing of substance,” Margolis said quickly. “But he wants to wire Con Lair.”

  Suddenly, Alex was filled with a surge of interest.

  If there is a bug in Andrew’s house and he finds Davis, he won’t be able to leave me high and dry because I’ll have ears to find him, too. On the other hand, if he mentions my part in it, I will be going to Perryville with Andrew.

  It was a risk, a gamble that Alex wasn’t sure would pay off. There was only one thing he could think to do.

  He smiled at Dr. Margolis, who stared at him dubiously.

  “What are you smiling at?” she demanded. “Did you hear what I just said?”

  “I did,” Alex conceded. “But I don’t think it’s that big a deal.”

  Her mouth parted in shock.

  “How can you say that? My oath is to my patients, but this show and this cop…” she trailed off and grunted as if she were overwhelmed. Sympathy struck Alex’s heart and he peered at her face intently.

  “The wire can be arranged,” he told her softly. “And I will help you find the accomplice, but it has to be on my terms.”

  Maria’s eyes narrowed. “What do you mean?” she whispered. “Why would you agree to bug the house? That doesn’t make any sense.”

  “Do want the name of the man who shot Sam Curry or not?”

  Maria nodded, visibly swallowing, her eyes wide.

  “Yes,” she breathed. “Are you going to tell me who he is?”

  “His name is Davis Alonzo, but he’s been missing since the heist. He took all the money and disappeared. He was the one who shot Sam Curry and the security guard.”

  Maria was frozen in silence and Alex could see her desperately trying to process all she’d been told. Finally, she asked the question he had been expecting when she found her voice.

  “Why are you telling me this, Andrew? I just told you I was working to turn you in, behind your back and against my ethics.”

  Alex grinned broadly but he didn’t answer her question.

  “Here are my terms, Doctor,” he said instead and she gaped dubiously at him. “You cannot bring Detective Rivers into this until the money is recovered. Afterward, you call tell him who shot his partner. Is it a deal?”

  Consternation and confusion lit through her eyes.

  “No,” she snapped indignantly. “Why would I agree to that? I don’t understand. What’s the point of placing a wire in your place if you know it’s there?”

  “I have my reasons,” Alex assured her, his grin widening as the plan came together in his mind. “Do we have a deal?”

  But the look on her face told him that she wasn’t on board.

  “Is this a game to you?” Maria hissed. “And what makes you think I would help you collect on this stolen money—assuming it hasn’t all been spent already?”

  “We won’t know it’s gone until we find Davis,” Alex told her excitedly. “And you won’t be wire tapping me. You’ll be tapping Andrew.”

  Dr. Margolis’ mouth became a line of anger.

  “I really don’t have time for your games, Andrew,” she said shortly. “I shouldn’t have told you anything.”

  “It’s not a game and I’m not Andrew,” he told her, grabbing a slender hand and squeezing it gently. “I’m Andrew’s twin, Alexander.”

  Chapter Ten

  What’s the Prognosis?

  It’s a snowball, a snowball of lies, and I’m the one who started packing it.

  Maria was a bundle of taut nerves as she paced around her backyard, her fingers trembling against the rock tumbler in her fingers.

  She eyed Alex Blaise out of the corner of her eye in disbelief, wondering again if she had lost her mind by inviting him to her home, but she couldn’t think of a safer place to meet. The office was too risky now and they still had matters to discuss.

  How did I not see this? You knew he did a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree shift overnight and you should have suspected something. You should have gone back over his file and you would have realized that Andrew Blaise had an identical twin. You have become sloppy and there is no excuse for this.

  There were a million excuses filtering in and out of her mind as she thought about the mess she was in.

  It was the reality show. It was Luke Rivers. It was that she had bitten off more than she could chew at work.

  But in the end, there was no one to blame but herself for what had happened and she knew it. Maria knew that she had been willfully blind, choosing to only see the goodness in the man she had seen as Andrew.

  You were so clouded by Luke Rivers that you didn’t bother looking a gift horse in the mouth. You have no right practicing psychotherapy. You’re a disgrace from all sides.

  “Dr. Margolis, everything will be fine,” Alex told her gently, but she could not bring herself to look at him.

  It had gone so far, too far, and she had no idea how to get out of the mess she had created.

  “Why are you selling out your brother?” she asked, whirling to look at him, her bourbon sloshing over her hand.

  Alex’s bright green eyes flared. “I am not selling out Andrew,” he told her and Maria could hear the clipped tone in his voice. “I am trying to help him, just like I always have.”

  She cocked her head to the side and peered at him pensively. “How is this helping him?” she asked, wondering if he genuinely believed what he was saying.

  God, they’re identical, right down to the intensity in their eyes. But he’s the good twin… isn’t he?

  Maria wondered if there were any good guys in this situation or if they were all damned.

  Alex exhaled slowly and sat back, meeting her inquisitive but accusing stare.

  “Andrew wasn’t always like the man you met,” Alex told her seriously. “He didn’t have a good life.”

  Maria tried not to snort in derision but she was finding it harder and harder to contain her true feelings.

  “I guess the bad childhood defense prevails again,” she said sarcastically.

  Alex’s irises blazed with ire but he held his temper.

  “Not everyone was born with a silver spoon in their mouths, Dr. Margolis.”

  She bristled. “You don’t know anything about me,” she retorted. “I worked very hard to get where I am.”

  Alex raised a dark eyebrow. “I don’t think you become a doctor without working hard,” he conceded. “But I think you had some benefits that weren’t afforded to Andrew and me.”

  “Monetary benefits?” she shot back. “That gives you the right to ruin people’s lives? Because you’re broke?”

  A small smile toyed on Alex’s lips and he took a sip of his own bourbon.

  “I never understood how people could be so judgmental when they have never walked a single step in someone else’s shoes.”

  Maria ground her teeth together with so much intensity, she heard a crunch. She was not abou
t to indulge in an existential discussion with the man who held her life by the balls.

  “I am not your enemy, Doctor,” Alex told her softly. “If anything, I think we’re on the same side.”

  “What side is that?” Maria sighed. She could not understand why she was so angry with Alex Blaise. He had deceived her, she had deceived his brother, and Detective Rivers had deceived her.

  I am furious because I got the short end of the stick, she realized. Playing double agent is not working out to my advantage.

  “We’re both only trying to do the right thing. You thought by telling Detective Rivers what he wanted to hear, you would be finding justice for Sam Curry. I thought by covering for my brother, I would help him lead a normal life finally. We were both wrong and here we are, trying to rectify the messes we made.”

  Maria glared at him. “And I guess you’re not at all interested in getting your cut?” she shot back.

  Alex laughed. “You don’t have a file on me, Dr. Margolis, but I do just fine. I own my own construction company and I make a good living. I never went along with Andrew to make millions. I was trying to keep my big brother out of trouble. Again.”

  She caught the wistful note in his voice, but she wasn’t entirely ready to let go of her resolve to remain defensive. She’d endured too much over the past weeks to just trust Alex at his word.

  “So, you’re just going to thumb your nose at the money if it happens to materialize?” she insisted, her brows arched as she stared at him.

  “Doctor, my concern is keeping my brother safe. If he finds Davis Alonzo after all this time, there is a good chance he will be walking into a trap. Between you and me, I don’t think that Davis ever had any intention of sharing the money. Andrew was never really good at looking at things logically. He won’t rest until he finds Davis and it’s my duty as his brother to help him.”

  Maria begrudgingly admitted that Alex’s reasoning was sound, but her trust in others had completely run dry.

  “Do you really think you’re helping Andrew?”

  Alex blinked at the question.

  “What?” he asked in confusion. “What do you mean?”

  “Do you believe enabling him to cash in on his crime is helping him?”