by Susan Stoker, Cristin Harber, Cora Seton, Lynn Raye Harris, Kaylea Cross, Katie Reus, Tessa Layne
Nodding, she drifted alone in a world of darkness. “I created… something awful.” Which she really, truly loved. Monarch was a gorgeous program. She’d worked those lines of code as if they were clay forming a sculpture. The end result had been breathtaking. Until it wasn’t.
“No, sweetheart. Just like guns for protection aren’t bad, but in the wrong hands, bad things happen.”
“Yeah.” She sniffled. “True.”
“I think you’re brilliant, and you were robbed. What you made was terrific, and in the right hands, it could help people, could ensure the safety of millions of families…”
“But it ended with the bad guys.” She shook her spinning head.
“You can’t do this to yourself. I won’t let you.”
She scoffed. “You’re going to fix this too, huh? Just go back to work and take out a terror organization like magic?” Though she had seen him do some crazy shit, and that was just what he’d needed help on occasionally.
“Yes.” Parker’s face grew solemn as though he was selling his soul. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
They rode in silence in Parker’s Range Rover as Lexi remained lost in her thoughts, still dealing with the sadness of losing Shadow in such a violent way. She wouldn’t get over it for a long time. Maybe never. Because as she sat there, trying to hide from the world with the help of Parker’s tinted windows and the Rover’s seat warmers, she was painfully aware that sadness hurt. It ached in a way that made her head pound, her jaw lock, her limbs limp, and her stomach sick.
As they coasted down Interstate 95, Parker took her hand. When his long fingers gripped her balled fist, warmth bled from her heart, trying to fight away the darkness and threatening a chokehold. They drove the remainder of the way, still in silence, with him holding her hand. They pulled up to a nondescript building and slowed down the steep driveway to an underground parking garage. Along the way, Parker swiped a badge and entered codes. Twice.
They pulled into a parking spot, and all she could think was the office building had a custom parking garage. The ceiling was high, the spaces were wide, and she could see why. The trucks and cars in there were larger than life. She saw a couple military-looking vehicles and a few other cars that looked like throwaways. Normal cars that would blend into a crowd, and she was certain they were for just that. Over the years, she’d met a few friends of Matt’s. Parker and his buddies, she had noticed, didn’t blend into the crowd—even if they were driving something nondescript.
“This is where you work, huh?”
“Yup.” He opened his door. “In we go.”
Lexi’s nerves kicked up, and she quickly got out also.
He took her hand again. “Look, whatever happens in there, whatever we learn and do, it’s going to be overwhelming, but it’ll also be fine.”
“Okay.”
“You might even see some familiar faces.”
Groaning, she bit her lip. Even though she’d had a chance to shower before they left his house, she was still in the same clothes she’d been in for the past day, and she didn’t want his co-workers thinking whatever people thought when they saw her looking like a two-day-old walk of shame.
He acted as though he sensed her unease. “You’ve met most of the guys before, right?”
She nodded as if that would make things better. “In passing.”
“So that was them relaxed.” They approached a door, and Parker pushed his face to it, letting the retina scanner identify him. “But here, they’re more intense.”
They were pretty damn intense to begin with. “Sweet.”
“But it won’t be a problem.”
He guided her through more security hoops, and with each passing layer of safekeeping, she became more and more certain that they were walking into some kind of spy headquarters. Finally they came up an elevator, walked through solid, masculine-looking doors that were more utilitarian than for showing off, and passed a simple but strong block letter sign that read Titan Group.
She felt eyes watching her from somewhere, and her sixth sense kicked into overdrive. Power and danger hung in the air and permeated the walls, and with each passing step, she understood Parker Black and BlackDawn better than ever. “Titan must be way more than I’ve comprehended.”
“Titan is—” He squeezed her close. “The most effective, efficient private security force in the world.”
Private security force. “Badass.”
“Generally.” His smile reached his eyes. “Titan jumps in when the best of the best need a hand.”
“Oh.” Her lips rounded and stayed that way as he guided her to a door. “Fancy.”
He laughed. “Here we go.”
Pushing the door open, he led her into what had to be the nerve center. It was sick. She’d never been surrounded by so much state-of-the-art technology. It was enough to make that safe house look like computer day at a dollar store.
“Holy crap.” Her eyes went wide, and curiosity exploded within her, dulling the hurt she’d been suffocated by for hours. Right now, all she wanted to do was fan-girl Parker’s office. “This shiz is crazy.”
“Decent setup, right?”
“I’ve never seen anything like it before. Ever.”
He dropped into a chair, letting her wander and stare around the room. Besides the equipment, there were flat screens with what looked like live feed thermal imaging, live feeds into offices, foreign-looking cities and streets, and empty meeting rooms that looked to be no more than desert-sand camouflaged tents. Watching him on his home turf was incredible. Smart was sexy, and with his genius put to good use, that made her both impressed and proud.
“If I’ve never told you before, you, BlackDawn, are really talented.”
“Thanks.” He looked pleased, but his brow was creased, and worry painted his eyes.
Going back to his keyboard, he looked as though he was pulling data and reading quickly. Not that she wanted to look over his shoulder, that’d be rude—whatever, it was about her. Screw protocol and manners.
“Tell me what the problem is,” she said.
“I’m just tapping in, trying to catch up. But—” He rubbed his hands over his face, more stress showing as he turned away. “It looks like a play’s in action. The ARO is in over their heads, trying to run the Monarch patch. Intel reads they probably expected to be unable to execute your program, which is why they’re after you. But it’s actually good news, confirmation they can’t run it.”
She could see on his body that he had more he hadn’t shared. “Might as well tell me everything, Parker. It can’t be worse than what I already know.”
His head dropped.
“It’s worse?”
His head waffled from side to side. “Yeah.”
“Please tell me. I have to know, or I’ll go nuts trying to figure it out.”
He stared forever at her before nudging his chin toward a chair. “Sit.”
She grabbed the rolling chair and slid it closer. “Tell me. Is it about Shadow?”
“Intelligence reports indicate his death was… not an easy one.”
She choked on the bile that sloshed into the back of her throat as nausea hit her. “Excuse me?”
“You don’t want the details, but he went down fighting. Because the program hasn’t been executed yet, I’d say he took his secrets to the grave. Chalk him up as a hero.”
The room spun, and without thinking, she crumbled in half. Everywhere she looked, technology blinked and whirred at her. This world, these things that she loved creating, had fucked her. They were just a big middle finger pointed straight at her.
“I need to get out of here.” She stood, rushing for the door, needing an escape.
“Lex—”
“Go away, please.”
“You can’t run around in here. There’s no place to go.”
“Then take me out of here! I don’t want to see any of this!” She spun around, pointing at servers
and mainframes and wires and everything she’d found comfort in her entire life.
Parker pulled her tight, stroking her hair, her back. “Take a breath, it’ll be okay.”
“He was in pain. He died because of me,” she sobbed into his chest. “And I hate myself for that.”
“No, sweetheart. He died protecting the only girl he ever called family.”
She sucked a breath, tears streaming down her face. “He was my family. I have nothing. No one. I’ve never been so alone and hurting in my life.”
He directed her chin up, forcing her eyes to his. “Not true. You have me.” Then he wrapped her back into his arms and held her until the tears dried away.
CHAPTER FORTY
Sometimes a girl just had to cry it out. So Lexi did. Then she ate a protein bar that Parker had stashed away—it was disgusting. She could feel strength recirculating in her bones, her attitude renewed. Somehow she was starting to understand Shadow’s death and how he’d want her to live and laugh. Shadow had constantly pushed her to not be so serious. He’d want her to joke with Parker, which was what she’d been doing, slowly coming around.
She played on the internet while Parker took a few phone calls, updating whomever about what he knew or assumed, and he spent a lot of time listening, only to offer simple, confident, generally one-syllable answers.
Yes. No. No. Yes.
He rolled his chair back. “Hey, did you… want something to change into? I hadn’t thought about that.” He gestured with his hand. “You look great. I’m not saying that. It was just suggested that you might want to change.”
She grinned, watching him squirm, but then squashed the amusement off her face. She glanced at her days-worn leather pants and tight T-shirt. “You think I need to change?” Inside, she laughed all over again at his expression of pure male panic. “Really?”
“No. Um, well, see—” He scowled at the phone he had on mute. “Like I said, someone thought you might want to change.”
“So it came up in conversation that—” Her lips faltered, the corners dying to tug up in hysterics. “I needed different clothes?”
“No.”
“Do these pants make my butt look flat?”
“What!” His brows shot up. “No.”
“So it’s the shirt. What, too tight?”
His eyes dropped to her chest, and she almost died laughing. “No, Lex.” Then he could tell he’d been caught looking at her boobs. His gaze narrowed. “Are you fucking with me?”
“Maybe.” But she fell apart in her chair, laughing with her head tossed back. It felt amazing to let go and just have fun.
Parker stood, grumbling but laughing, and bent over her to press his lips to hers. “Coloring outside the damn lines.”
“What?”
“Nothing. Just something someone smart promised me I’d enjoy if I tried.”
She kissed him back, forgetting even the laughter for a minute as everything heated. “Alright, get back to your important phone call about my clothes.”
He smirked playfully, gave her another kiss, and said, “I’ll have the last laugh. Have you met Sugar? She’s pregnant, hormonal, and dead set on playing dress-up with you.”
Lexi had met Sugar. The woman was actually the closest Lexi had ever come to seeing someone dress the way she did pre-Matt, minus the vampy-sexiness that Sugar rolled around with as though it were everyday casual wear. But they did share a common theme: leather pants and sexy boots. That was something she could totally work with.
Bring on the hormones—Lexi wasn’t concerned in the least. “Have her call me.”
* * *
Stomach grumbling, Parker wondered how long Lexi would be gone with Sugar. They seemed to hit it off. He wasn’t sure why he’d had some initial nerves about siccing Sugar on Lex. Except the fact that he cared what Lexi thought about his friends, and he cared that Sugar had the easy ability to offend just about everyone on earth.
So… he was on edge and ready for dinner. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw two women strolling down a hall on the security feed. Parker pushed his chair over to get a better look. They passed from the frame and were gone from sight until Lexi and Sugar walked into Titan’s war room. They both had extra-large smoothies, and Parker was lust drunk over his girl as she toyed with the straw. Blood rushing in his ears, he needed in that room.
Sugar tossed a couple of magazines on the table and gave Lexi a hug before it looked as though she left her all alone. In that sinful outfit with her lips wrapped around that damn straw.
“What the fuck is wrong with me?” Feeling like a voyeur, he shook his head.
He couldn’t rid himself of the image of Lexi kicked back in a skirt, crossing one dark-covered leg over the other, propping her boots on an opposite chair. She sipped her smoothie, her cheeks hollowing, as she paged through a magazine with a big-ass gun on the cover. Christ, he’d never seen anything sexier.
His phone rang, and the screen showed Sugar’s name and face. Swiping to answer, he couldn’t even manage hello for all of his distracted thoughts. “That’s what you brought her as a change of clothes?”
Sugar laughed her ass off. “The girl’s, like, five inches shorter than me, like a buck ten. We don’t wear the same size. We went shopping.”
“Where, Biker Bitches Depot?” But wherever that store was, he was getting a line of credit.
“Turns out we like the same stores.”
“Imagine that. And you, what, suggested that skirt?” Or rather the scrap that was crawling up Lexi’s legs every time she fidgeted. Really, he should thank Sugar. But hell, God only knew how many red-blooded, unattached men roamed this building—actually none, now that he thought about it. Some had cleared out for training, and some had just gone home. He was supposed to mine some more intel, yet he really wanted to stake claim on Lexi at that moment.
“No, boy genius.” She laughed again. “The skirt was all her. My contribution would be the garters holding up that hose.”
Holy. Fuck.
“You’re welcome. I’m on my way out. Have her call if she needs anything.”
“See ya, Sugar.” Parker hung up the phone, grabbed a couple things, and headed to what was his.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
After the tenth page of guns and knives and things that caused mass destruction, Lexi realized there were many things in the world that she didn’t have experience with or even thought existed. Assault rifle upgrades? Who knew those bad boys needed modifications. And all these charts for velocity and accuracy? Guess it wasn’t as easy as “point and shoot.” Guns had specs like computers did, which logically made sense. But she’d never bothered thinking it over. She knew phishing, phreaking, spoofing, and spyware. Parker, it seemed, knew both.
Her mind slid back to him. She wondered what he’d found or where he was. Sugar had said she’d find him, but he was working. The door shot open, and Lexi jumped.
Parker.
That honey-warm feeling she now expected when she saw him rushed through her veins, making her legs and arms feel heavy. But it also reminded her that she had dressed for her, for him, to be noticed, and be her own person.
“Hi.” She unfolded her legs from the chair she’d perched against.
“Hey.” His eyes raked down her.
She’d taken time to brush her hair with a real brush, not just Parker’s comb. They’d grabbed her new makeup, and she swore there was confidence in wearing new, sexy lingerie. Sugar had sworn it was true, and she’d been right. Though sliding back into a style Lexi loved had also been a boost.
His dark-blue eyes smoldered as he stalked to her, and her eyes dropped to his hands—a roll of duct tape? Oh shit. Her stomach dropped. What the hell was that all about?
The scratching crack of the tape being unrolled in his hands made her eyes go wide, but he quickly bypassed her. A breeze settled over her, and she watched in complete confusion, spinning in the chair. Parker took one piece of dark tape and secured it over the wall. Stretch, te
ar. He and another piece of tape moved across the room, where he did the same. One more time, Parker repeated the action then turned to her.
The heat burning between them was enough to singe her clothes, make them turn to dust and blow away. The thickness of his erection bulged in his pants, and the sight of him hungry for her, the realization that he’d just covered every camera in the room, consumed her.
Instantaneously, she was aroused. “Parker—”
He grabbed her hips and lifted her onto the table. His full lips took hers, her tongue hungrily seeking out his. With her thighs clenched to his hips, she moaned into his mouth, needing what only he could make her feel. The impossible. Loved without fear of abandonment.
His large hands cupped her legs, running high until his touch moved above the garter-supported stockings. “Fucking hell, you are the sexiest thing.”
She refused to let him stop kissing her, and her mind wouldn’t compose a response for her to speak. Instead, she reached for his zipper as he ran a hand over the tops of her legs.
“Damn.”
Damn because she was soaking her panties? Damn because she’d found the silkiest things they sold? Didn’t matter—the reaction was what she wanted. He slid the fabric aside, and she pressed herself against his fingers.
“Yes,” she hissed. “Please.”
Without a second’s hesitation, Parker speared her with two fingers. She cried out, stifling herself with a bite to his shoulder. Their arms tangled, the masculine hair on his arm rubbing against her forearms as she unbuckled his pants. It was wild and rushed and absurd how they couldn’t keep their hands to themselves in the middle of this… war room.
She freed him. His erection bobbed heavy, and Parker wasted no time. One deep thrust, and she bit his shoulder again. Have mercy, this was incredible.
“Fuck, Lex,” he growled.
“You’re telling me. God.” She wrapped her legs around him. Everything before had been sweet and deep, but this was a carnal drug addiction.
