Black List

by Lynn Raye Harris

  “I’m not staying. I’m coming back here until we get your alarm set up.”

  She shrugged. “Whatever.”

  He wanted to shake her. Or kiss her. He did neither. “Lock up behind me and don’t open the door for anyone but me.”

  “It’s broad daylight, Jace. And you’re going across the street. I think I’ll be fine by myself for a few minutes.”

  He gave in to the urge to touch her. Ran his fingers down her cheek while she trembled. But at least she didn’t pull away. “Lock the door, Maddy. Stop arguing with me.”

  “Fine,” she whispered.

  He stepped outside and listened for the locks turning. Then he walked across the street. He should be relieved there was apparently nothing sinister to the attempted break in, but the whole thing left him vaguely uneasy. He’d feel a lot better once they got her set up with an alarm system and placed more cameras on the back of the house. Some lowlife casing the neighborhood, jiggling locks and trying windows in an attempt to get prescription drugs made sense.

  But he didn’t like it. And he didn’t trust that’s all it was. The camera dying was too a strange coincidence for him to accept. But if the break-in was tied to Russia and Calypso, why wasn’t there more to it? Calypso was a professional. If she’d killed a camera and opened a window, why didn’t she wait to eliminate the target before disappearing again?

  It didn’t make sense. Nothing did. But sometimes the simplest explanation was the correct one. So a drug addict—or someone who wanted to sell to drug addicts—was stealing prescription drugs from easy targets. If Maddy had left the window unlocked, then the thief could have been surprised by something and left before going inside.

  Colt and Ty were waiting for him when he walked in, both looking a little surprised and a lot concerned.

  “What did Ian say?” he asked.

  “You mean after he stopped swearing? Or did you want all the swear words too?”

  Jace sucked in a breath. Yeah, well, he hadn’t expected Ian to be happy, had he? He’d call Ian himself just as soon as he got a minute. “I can imagine those for myself.”

  Colt rubbed the back of his neck. “He said you’d better fucking hope you know what you’re doing. There’s a lot at stake if this goes wrong. If she talks to the wrong people about any of this.”

  Did he know what he was doing? He wasn’t so sure anymore. He knew how to kill people. How to hide in plain sight. How to get the goods and protect the innocent. But did he know how to handle Maddy Cole?

  “She won’t talk to the wrong people. I’ll make sure she doesn’t. Besides, she’s smart—and she already knows about Calypso and the fact they resemble each other. How much worse could it be?”

  “It can always be worse, brother. You know that.” Colt looked grim and Jace knew he was thinking of other missions, other civilians. Things went wrong sometimes. Terribly wrong. They’d seen it. Been involved in it. Would always be scarred by it.

  “Yeah, but I’m not letting it happen to her.”

  “Careful, Jace. You’re letting your emotions get the best of you.”

  Jace clenched a fist. He was. First rule of covert ops was not to get involved. He’d left that one behind miles ago. “Maybe so, but you ever think that sometimes you can’t stay uninvolved? That some people get to you in ways you don’t expect and you can’t ignore the feeling?”

  “We both know that happens. We also know that we’re supposed to squash it out of existence. She’s not an operative. You can’t drag her into this world and expect everything to come out fine. She’ll get burned if she stays. And you’ll blame yourself for it.”

  Jace glanced at Ty. He was new to BDI, but he wasn’t stupid. He didn’t say anything. So Jace tipped his chin at him. “What do you think?”

  Ty shoved his hands in his pockets. Shrugged. “Man, I think if you care about this girl, you have to do what’s best for her. Right now that’s protecting her. But later? You’ll have to ask yourself what that is.”

  Yeah, he would. But for now he was jumping in all the way. He already felt responsible, for fuck’s sake. If he hadn’t tackled her and dragged her onto that plane, maybe she’d still be living her life untouched by any of this.

  Except she wouldn’t. Calypso and the Syndicate knew she’d be there. They knew who she was.

  And that was why he couldn’t stay uninvolved. There was more to come. He knew it. Felt it.

  Colt shook his head and rolled his neck to pop out the kinks. “Look, she’s in now and we’re going to do everything we can to keep her safe. You know that.”

  “I do.”

  “Ian’s sending over a team with the equipment. They’ll be in a security company van so it looks legit. Better go tell her they’re coming.”

  “I’m staying with her until we’re sure she’s not in danger.”

  Ty snorted. Colt did too. “Man, you tell her that yet? Because she didn’t seem too pleased with your ass when you left outta here.”

  Jace grinned. “Nope, didn’t tell her. Feel free to listen in while I do. But then I expect you mofos to give us some privacy, you copy?”

  “Whatever you say, dude. Better not get your hopes up though. That was an angry woman.”

  He’d dealt with angry women before. But he’d never really cared if they stayed angry. This time he did. “I can handle her.”

  He hoped.

  Colt shook his head. “Dunno, man. Better watch your balls.”

  Ian Black stared at the report that had just come across his desk. He didn’t like what it contained, but that didn’t change the facts. He kicked back in his seat, put his hands behind his head, and stared at the television above. It was muted, but he could read the news crawl. Always some shit going on in the world. Always people who didn’t have a problem with rape or murder or mass destruction. Sometimes he wondered why he didn’t just get a bunker of his own, fortify it against disaster, and sit it out for a while.

  Except he wasn’t wired that way. Goddamn hero complex always had him riding out to save the day—or die trying.

  There was a knock at the door and he looked over. Brett Wheeler leaned sideways to peer through the glass. Ian motioned. The door swung open and Brett strode in.

  “You sent for me, boss?”

  Ian sat up straight and turned his chair around to the desk. He hated desk work. What he really needed was to get back in the field for a few weeks. “Yeah.” He picked up the folder and handed it to Brett. “Better sit down.”

  Brett sat and opened it up. It only took a few seconds. “Shit.”

  “Yep.”

  “You planning to tell Jace?”

  “Nah, not yet. He’s got enough going on right now.”

  “What do you need me to do?”

  “Watch him. He’s not thinking clearly at the moment. I don’t want him getting into trouble because his dick’s leading the charge.”

  “You don’t have any doubts about him—?”

  “No,” Ian cut in. “None at all.”

  Brett nodded. “Neither do I. But I had to ask.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Ian jerked his head toward the door. “Get over to Maddy Cole’s place and help them secure it. Let me know what Jace is up to.”

  Brett stood and dropped the folder on the desk. “I’m on it.”

  Brett walked out and Ian turned his attention back to other things. A few minutes later, his phone rang. It was one of the techies in the IT department. “We finally got the recordings from Sokolov’s house, boss,” he said. “You’re going to want to see this.”

  Ian was already in motion. “Be right there.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Maddy was watching out the window when Jace emerged from the house across the street. She thought about not unlocking the door, but that would be a childish thing to do. And idiotic, considering that he and Ian had thought it dangerous enough to spy on her in the first place. But if her attempted break-in was only someone looking for drugs, why was Jace still here? Why the cameras
and security?

  She didn’t know, but she wasn’t stupid and she wasn’t demanding he go away just yet. As if she could ever demand such a thing of a man like that. He’d do what he wanted to do, regardless of what she thought about it. It made her mad, but it was also a little bit thrilling. God, she hated admitting that to herself.

  No bossy men.

  It was bad enough being a professional woman in a world where her male colleagues got more credibility than she did, even though her skills were equal or better in some cases, yet here she was thrilling to the alpha male take-charge attitude Jace Kaiser wore like a second skin.

  Maddy unlocked the door and opened it before he got up the sidewalk. His gaze met hers, looking all growly and sexy, and her belly twisted into a knot as she remembered kissing him not that long ago. Telling him she wanted him.

  Before she knew he’d been spying on her. A pang of sadness pierced her. It had been easier when she’d thought he’d been interested in her just because he liked her. Now she knew differently, and it hurt more than it should. She gritted her teeth and prepared to be as cool to him as she could.

  He came up the steps and through the storm door and she stepped back. He closed both doors behind him and locked them. Then he turned to face her.

  “Now what?” she asked.

  “Now we wait for the security system to be installed.”

  “And then what? You and Ian and your friends disappear in a few days and call it a parting gift? Or will you be taking it all back when this is over?”

  “We’re not taking it back. And I’m not disappearing.”

  “But that’s what you do, isn’t it? Swoop in, do the job, and disappear again? Why should I believe you’ll still be around in a month? You said this was a seduction—well, once you’ve got what you want, you’ll be gone again, right?”

  Oh God, could she sound any bitchier?

  He was frowning. Hard. “I have a job to do, Maddy. But I also have a life. And right now, I want you in my life.”

  Her throat grew tight. “You’d say anything to get me to believe you.”

  “Are you fucking kidding me right now? I told you my name, Maddy. My name. Do you have any idea how dangerous that could be for me—for both of us?”

  She sniffed. “You said it wasn’t your real name either.”

  “I said it wasn’t the name I was born with.”

  “Is there a difference?”

  “Yes, there’s a difference. For me, it’s a huge difference. And don’t ask me what my birth name is. I can’t tell you.”

  She swallowed. “Okay. But why not?”

  He shook his head. “It’s dangerous. For you. For me. That person is dead, and he needs to stay that way.”

  She didn’t understand. But she also knew he wasn’t going to tell her any more than he already had. He looked troubled and she suddenly felt bad for pushing him. What right did she have to demand more than he’d already given her? They weren’t a couple, even if she felt drawn to him in ways she hadn’t with anyone else. They were two strangers who’d almost gone to bed together. That was it, really.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”

  “I don’t blame you for wanting to know more. I get why you don’t want to trust me. I’d be stupid if I didn’t understand that. But what you need to know is this—I’m committed to protecting you. To making sure none of the ugly stuff that’s out there—the ugly people—touch you. I won’t let them hurt you. I gave you my word on that, and I meant it.”

  Her heart throbbed. “I believe you, Jace. I really do. I know you aren’t here to hurt me, no matter what the bigger picture might be. And though I’m really bothered that you were across the street the whole time, spying on me, I also know you wouldn’t be there without a reason. So thank you—thank you all—for not just dumping me the second you knew I wasn’t who you wanted me to be.” A little shiver slid over her. Maybe it was the damp weather, but more likely it was the idea that the danger wasn’t over. That a shadowy person was waiting to strike her dead for reasons she didn’t know. “Do you have any idea where she is?”

  “At this moment, no.”

  “So your plan is to stay across the street until she’s found?”

  “I don’t intend to stay across the street, Maddy.”

  Disappointment pricked her but she lifted her chin and pretended not to be bothered by it. It was impractical to expect him to stay over there indefinitely. “When are you leaving?”

  He arched an eyebrow. “I’m not leaving. I’m staying here. With you.”

  He waited for the inevitable explosion. Maddy’s eyebrows climbed her forehead. Then she thrust out her jaw and folded her arms over her chest. “No way are you staying here when you have the house across the street.”

  He advanced on her. She didn’t back down, though he thought she might want to. He stopped a foot away. Definitely in her space. Close enough to smell her sweet vanilla and peaches scent. Close enough to kiss her if he just leaned down and did it.

  Not that she’d take that very well. But God how he wanted it. Then he wanted to slide that sweet dress up her thighs and bury his face in the warm paradise between her legs. If this shit hadn’t happened, he’d be well on his way to doing it.

  “Sorry, babe, but a line’s been crossed. Someone tried to break into your house.”

  “And you’re putting in an alarm and cameras. You’ll be across the street. There’s no reason for you to stay.”

  There were plenty of reasons, but he wasn’t telling her that. Most of them were personal. Like he wanted to be with her. Needed to be with her. Needed to make sure nothing happened to her. What if Calypso came for her and he didn’t get there in time?

  “Think of me like a very mean guard dog. I’ll be by your side, ready to bite someone’s head off. Can’t do that from across the street.”

  Her eyes glistened. It threw him for a moment. But he wasn’t backing down.

  “Jace, I don’t—. I can’t—.” She sucked in a breath and he knew she was trying not to get emotional. “Look, this might just be a job to you, but this is my home. And having you in it when you’ve been spying on me and not just asking me on dates because you’re attracted to me—well, I just don’t know if it’s something I want to do.”

  He put his hands on her shoulders. Gently. “Honey, I’m sorry, but I need to be here. And I am attracted to you. I want to be deep inside you right this minute, and if you give me half a reason to do it, I’m going to strip you naked and make you come.”

  Her gaze dropped. Her chin quivered. “I want that, Jace. I really do. But I can’t. Not after—” She waved her hand in the vague direction of the street. “I need time.”

  He gave in to the desire to press a chaste kiss to her forehead. “Yeah, I get that. But honey, I still have to be here with you. If not me—if you’re too pissed off at me—then Colt or Ty. Your choice.”

  She looked up at him. Sniffed. “Were you supposed to do that?”

  “Supposed to do what?”

  “Their names. If those really are their names.”

  “They are. And yeah, you’re part of this now so you can know their names. It’s your life we’re protecting first and foremost. But of course we want to capture Calypso. And while it’s probably not likely she’s coming here, we’re prepared for it anyway.”

  His phone buzzed and he dropped his hands from her shoulders to slide it from his pocket.

  Ian. Great. “I have to get this. Are you okay?”

  “I’ll be fine,” she said.

  He tapped the answer icon. “Hey, boss, what’s up?”

  Ian snorted. “Man, you’re killing me with all this protectiveness toward Dr. Cole. You know that?”

  Jace watched her turn and walk away. He didn’t know if she was giving him privacy for the call or if she just wanted to get away from him. That thought banged up against old hurts he’d thought he’d buried. He didn’t like needing people. He’d learned long ago not to let it happen
. Yet here he was, getting twisted up because Maddy was upset with him.

  “You said to listen to my instincts. I’m doing that.”

  “You sure it’s your instincts and not your dick?”

  A tiny blue flame flared inside him. Much more of that and it would turn into an inferno. Not because he was insulted by the idea of his dick making decisions—dicks did that for most men at one time or another—but because of what it suggested about his intentions toward Maddy. That she was somehow only a potential lay and he’d be done with her as soon as he’d fucked her.

  “I’m sure.”

  “Yeah, well if it’s any help, I think you might be right.”

  Jace blinked as he processed that bit of information. “I’m listening.”

  “Need you to bring her in. I’ve got something for her to look at.”

  “When?”

  “Immediately.”

  Shit. He knew better than to ask for more on the phone. “I’ll tell her.”

  “Tell her it’s important, Jace. No time to waste.”

  “Yeah, got it, boss.”

  Maddy came sauntering out of her bedroom as he ended the call. She’d changed into jeans and a baggy rose-colored top that made her so achingly pretty it hurt. She stooped to pick up her cat. And then she took one look at him and groaned. Was he getting that bad at maintaining a poker face?

  “What now?”

  “Need to go to HQ.”

  “So go. I won’t open any doors for anyone. Except Angie. And take-out.”

  “Need you to come with me.”

  “What? Why?” She hugged the cat, whose tail flicked at the sudden squeeze. “I can’t leave Kitty here alone after today.”

  “I’ll get one of the guys to come over.”

  “Jace, seriously? I still have a job, you know. And I have files to go over this afternoon. Barrington’s is going to fire me if you people keep interfering in my life.”

  “I’m sorry, babe, but it’s important. It shouldn’t take too long. Colt can stay with Kitty. I’ve watched him feed stray cats in Rome and Greece, and on the kind of shit details in remote villages that you wouldn’t believe. He likes cats and they like him.”