Ticket to Temptation

by Lilith Darville

  Cliff’s entry stunned me like thrusting a bleeding hand in cold water, shocking me out my trance and plummeting me back to reality.

  “We’re done,” Cliff said. “Good job, Jack.”

  “Did you get what we need?” Jack asked.

  “Like a lamb being led,” Cliff said. “We found his hidey hole.”

  “Let me guess, a safe deposit box.” Jack rolled his shoulders. “Nah, we’d have found it.”

  “Nope.” Cliff reminded me of a boxer getting ready for a fight, all pent-up energy and tension dancing through his feet. “He’s got a hidden panel in his office behind the vanity in his private washroom.”

  “Huh. Clever. I’ll go get the car.” Jack slung his jacket over one shoulder and strolled out with the file.

  “He told you that?” I narrowed my eyes at Cliff.

  “Not intentionally, but that man just can’t help himself. Jack will get the rest out of him when the time comes.”

  Of that, I had no doubt.

  “Meanwhile, Dan my man, we need your help. We need to get into the safe in Greg’s office.”

  I lifted an eyebrow. Cliff grinned back.

  “Yes, we have a search warrant.” He took a sheaf of papers from his pocket. “And the combination.”

  “How the fuck did you get that?”

  “Tricks of the trade, my man.”

  “What happens next?”

  “Now we wait until Greg makes his next move. We want to catch him in a transaction. He’s a desperate man. He’ll do something soon.”

  “What he’s desperate for is money.”

  “That he is. The hounds are sniffing at his ass.”

  “And for that he needs Logan.”

  Cliff’s grin took on an almost maniacal glare. “Exactly.”

  I had to figure out how to stop them all.

  Chapter 23

  Logan

  The briefing went well; actually, it was kind of exciting. Cliff’s secret service guys were very thorough. I entered the coffee shop and made my way through the sea of suits bathed in the scent called shyster. Greg chose a booth at the back, probably thinking it was romantic or some such. As I approached, the smell of his cologne made me as queasy as his cheesy grin. He’d dolled himself up just like he would for one of his little chippies, wearing the preppy look as if it were his key to the fountain of youth. Completely oblivious. He leaped up when he saw me.

  “Darling.” His attempt to kiss me assaulted my senses. I deftly moved out of his way, so his lips grazed my cheek. Even that minimal touch made my skin crawl. I shuddered. He grabbed my elbow and tried to usher me into the seat beside him. I sidestepped and slid in opposite him. He pushed a mug of hot tea toward me.

  “I got you your tea, just the way you like it.”

  Give the man a fucking medal.

  “What can I do for you?” I was determined to keep control of this meeting and get what I needed first—signed divorce papers.

  He reached across to grab my hands. I pulled them out of reach.

  “Come on, don’t be like that. Not after all we’ve shared.”

  “What exactly have we shared in the past ten years? I can’t think of a thing other than our ongoing discussion about your dalliances with your chippies.”

  “I want you to give us another chance, baby. You know how much I love you.” Greg leaned forward with a look plastered on his face that only he could think was endearing. For a split second, I wondered what I’d ever seen in this man. No time to dwell on that now.

  “You’ve run out of chances. I told you that the last time I caught you in flagrante delicto. What part of ‘one more chance’ didn’t you understand?” I hoped my face looked just as stern and rigid as I felt. I wanted to leave no room for speculation.

  Greg’s nostrils flared, and a slow smile washed over his face in rapid succession. “So that’s what this is all about. You’ve found someone else. What? You didn’t think I’d find out? I can smell his stink all over you.”

  Don’t react. He’s fishing. I smiled sweetly at him. Why hadn’t I seen through his act before now?

  “Your little lawyer tricks don’t work with me anymore. Whether or not there is someone else is none of your business, but just so we’re clear, I was faithful to you for our entire marriage. Now that marriage has ended, and I’m here for the papers.”

  Greg sat back and drew his finger around the rim of his coffee cup. “Oh, and what papers would that be, Logan?”

  I wanted to wipe that smug smile off his face. Soon enough, Logan. Soon enough.

  “Enough with the games. Give me the signed divorce papers or I’m out of here right now.” I scooted to the edge of the booth. Greg grabbed my left wrist. Hard. Ow. I stared at him without flinching. I’d be damned if I’d let him get the upper hand.

  “I suggest you let go unless you want to add assault to the mix.”

  Greg snarled as he pulled a huge sheaf of papers from the seat beside him and slammed them on the table. “Sign these now.”

  Since Greg still had a death grip on my wrist, I left the papers on the table.

  “Let. Go. Of. Me.” I let ice drop from my voice making each word penetrate with the force of a stalactite breaking loose from its dark prison. He let go. I kept my spine rigid to stop from sagging in relief. A death grip on the mug kept my hands from shaking.

  “I don’t want to fight with you, Logan. I love you, and I want you back. You took your little holiday and had your fling. Now it’s time to come back to the real world.” Greg flashed his seductive smile, the one that made me wet when I was twenty. Now, it just made me cringe. I pulled my tea closer and took a sip.

  “That’s not happening. In fact, my little holiday, as you call it, made me realize just how much I don’t want to be living this charade with you anymore. I agreed to meet you because you said you had the divorce papers. Where are they?”

  Greg had the good grace to look sheepish. “Actually, I left them at home, sweetheart. Why don’t we get this business out of the way so I can show you how much I love you?” He reached across and stroked my hair. I now knew what Judy meant when she said she threw up a little in her mouth.

  I removed his hand from my hair and let it drop to the table. “I’m not signing anything without having my lawyer look at it first. I’m not going anywhere with someone who brought me here under false pretenses. Send the signed papers to my attorney.” I reached for my purse.

  “I’ve had enough of your fun and games. You’re coming home with me right now.” He pulled on my arm. Using as much force as I could put behind it, I slapped his face with my right hand. He was so fixated on playing almighty God, he didn’t see it coming.

  “Fuck.” He let go of my arm and grabbed his cheek. I slid out of the booth and marched out of the restaurant. Greg caught me as I went through the door and grabbed my arm yet again. This guy didn’t learn.

  “Logan—”

  “Greg, if you don’t let go of me right this instant, I’m going to scream bloody murder and charge you with—”

  “Did you get it?”

  I turned my head toward the sound of the very deep voice, Darth Vadar on steroids. In my fury with Greg, I hadn’t noticed that several men—enormous men—surrounded us. One of them wore a very expensive suit that looked custom made. He was the picture of elegance, right down to his Ferragamo shoes, but there was something very chilling about his eyes. The others looked like the epitome of bodyguards, two hundred and eighty pounds of muscle-bound gun-packing ferocity. Blood bounded to my head.

  “I’m still working on it,” Greg said. “Give me another minute.” He turned to me. “Logan—”

  “Time’s up,” the voice said. Unyielding arms wrapped around me making it virtually impossible for me to move. A hand clapped over my mouth. They covered my eyes with something dark and tied it tight…very tight. Panic surged through me.

  “Get her in the car,” Darth Vadar said. Strong arms picked me up and threw me in the car. I punched and
kicked as soon as Strong let go.

  “Settle her down. Get in, Greg.” Darth sounded impatient.

  Strong and the other guy pinned me down. A tight band wrapped around my arm. I struggled to move. “Go ahead, lady. Keep it up, and you’ll tear your arm apart.” Strong or the other guy?

  “Logan, keep still. It’s for your own good.” Greg sounded all confident and arrogant. Bastard. Like he cared about my well-being.

  A sharp pinch hit my arm. Onions?

  I woke thrashing. Someone was holding me down. My eyelids felt like lead. An anvil pounded in my temples. I struggled to sit up.

  “I’m going to be sick.” Each word felt like a frog leaping out of my throat.

  “Oh, my God. Um. Um.” Greg’s voice with an edge of panic. He couldn’t stand bodily functions. “Here.” He shoved a garbage can under my chin. I heaved and hurled until my stomach turned itself inside out. I lay back breathing heavily. Someone took the garbage pail, presumably Greg. I didn’t even care.

  “Goddammit, that stinks.” I heard a door open. “Would someone take this mess?” Greg bellowed.

  The door closed, and the mattress depressed next to me. “Feeling better?”

  Like you care. I reigned in the retort. It wouldn’t be the smartest thing to antagonize my captor. “Where am I?”

  “You’re on the big man’s yacht. You should see it. We’re going to get ourselves one of these.” Greg clapped his hands. He actually believed this was possible. A yacht? My heart did a bit of a foxtrot. Would the secret service be able to track me on a yacht? I sat bolt upright.

  “Where’s my purse?”

  “It’s right here. What’s the panic?” Greg narrowed his eyes and squinted at me. “Why, what’s in your purse?”

  Shit. I sighed as dramatically as I could. “Really, Greg? If you must know, I need a tampon.”

  Greg’s nose wrinkled a bit. He handed me my purse. I scooched off the bed and slid shut the pocket door of the en suite. I slipped the lock, sat on the toilet, and breathed. Marble, oak, and mirrored opulence surrounded me. Not that I knew much about yachts, but I did know from book research that this was over the top. And this was a guest bathroom.

  Pounding on the door. “You all right in there?”

  Shit. “Yes, I’m fine. Just give me a minute, would you? I need to clean up a bit.” That ought to keep him quiet for a few moments.

  I hung on to Cliff’s instructions like a lifeline, praying I remembered them all. Go with them if need be. Activate the homing device as soon as you arrive. We’ll be with you every step of the way. I closed my eyes and sent a silent prayer to the heavens.

  I slid open my purse and pressed on the “super” tampon they’d given me, praying I was doing it right. The button clicked, and I prayed it worked. I took out a regular tampon, putting the wrapper in the garbage. I was about to dump the remains in the bowl. Stooooop! Judy’s voice screamed in my brain. Yachts used a septic system. They might be able to see that I’d flushed an unused tampon. I sighed and inserted. Then I wrapped the tube in TP and threw it in with the wrapper. I took a beat and cast my eyes heavenward. I went back into the lion’s den.

  Greg patted beside him on the bed. He held those damned papers. When I hesitated, he yanked me down beside him. Ouch. That would bruise.

  “It’s time we got serious. We have no more time to waste. I tried to give you a chance. You could have let this go and just signed the papers like you always have, but no. After twenty years, you decided to take a stand. Now look where you’ve got us.”

  Cliff had been very clear: Don’t ask a lot of questions. Do whatever he asks. We need the property and money transferred.

  “What do you want from me, Greg?”

  “Ah, so now you ask. I need you to sign those papers while I close the net around Daniel. Once that’s done, we’ll head home and put this nonsense behind us.

  Daniel? My heart hurtled out of my chest. Cliff hadn’t said a word about Daniel being part of the plan.

  “Your partner, Daniel? What’s he got to do with this?” I kept my voice quiet and measured.

  The only shot we have at clearing Daniel is to follow the money trail.

  “My partner and your lover.”

  Shock must have shown on my face because he said, “That’s right, I know all about your little tryst with Daniel. Oh, we lost track of him for about ten days, but when he surfaced, guess who he was with.” Greg smirked and winked. “I didn’t know you had it in you, Logan. Now you have nothing to say about me. When we’re done with all this, you’ll tell me all about it.”

  I straightened up. Do whatever it takes. Cliff’s voice continued to echo through my brain. I thinned my lips over my teeth in what I hoped resembled a smile. “There’s not much to tell. He’s nothing compared to you.”

  Greg puffed up like the howler monkey he resembled. I made a conscious effort not to roll my eyes. I seethed with rage. I wanted him to get what he deserved so badly I could almost wrap my hands around it. Do not try to take him on, leave that to us. Saving Daniel was my priority.

  “I’d have been shocked to hear otherwise. Too bad I wasn’t there to watch. I can’t wait to hear all about what it was like to have another man’s cock invade my territory. Of course, I might nail the fucker just for nailing my wife.” Greg lay back on the bed and laughed until he wheezed.

  Pamper his ego. You know what to do.

  “I love your humor. Being with Daniel made me realize how much I missed you.” Not one itsy bitsy tiny bit.

  “Humph. Be that as it may, if you want to save your paramour, you’d better sign those papers. They’re waiting for me in the salon. If those papers aren’t signed when I get back, your boy’s dead meat.” He left chuckling at what I could only assume he thought was his great sense of humor.

  I looked over the papers briefly, careful not to seem too interested in case they were watching. They looked like purchase agreements for a couple of vast real estate properties. Holy shit, someone had money. But then again, laundering money was what this whole game was about according to Cliff. I signed the papers, threw them on the foot of the bed, and rested against the headboard. They’d taken my phone, so I picked up the People magazine resting on the bedside table. Boring. Minutes later, Greg came back, snatched the paperwork, and left again.

  When Greg returned, he wore a huge grin and puffed out his chest like he was some kind of male bird in heat.

  “Come on, sweetie. Time to go and renew our loving.” He did what he thought approximated a wink but in reality resulted in a kind of wrinkling as he shut both eyes.

  When Antares explodes in a supernova.

  “Not so fast. We have a lot of talking to do before I agree to go back to you.”

  I stood and grabbed my purse. Greg pulled me into his arms and shoved his tongue down my throat. I tried not to gag and pushed him away.

  “What’s wrong with you? I thought we were good?”

  More bile rose in my throat at the high-pitched, doleful sound he managed to make. I let Greg drone on and on about the big plans he had, even greater than the last time he’d pontificated about them. The guy really did remind me of that blowhard narcissistic megalomaniac who ruled the free world. I tuned him out and thought about how many different ways Daniel would jump my bones in just a few short hours.

  Daniel’s Aston Martin idled in the drive as we pulled in. Shit!

  “Well, look who’s here.” Greg grabbed my arm in an iron grip.

  “Ouch. Let go, you’re hurting me.”

  “Now you listen to me,” Greg hissed. “Either you get rid of him, or he’s a dead man. We’re not done yet, and I’m sure you’d rather he rot in prison for a few years instead of the alternative.”

  Even the brief glimpse I’d had of the men on the yacht convinced me that truer words were never spoken.

  “Let. Go. Of. Me.” I stared him down until he let go of my arm. Daniel knocked on my window. I took a deep breath as I pressed the button to lower the glass.
I had to make this good. Darth’s goons had eyes everywhere.

  “I’ve been looking all over for you. Where have you been?” Layers of fear, relief, rage, and love flashed over Daniel’s face in rapid succession. Oh, how I loved this man.

  Greg leaned across me. “She’s been with me, where she belongs. Shouldn’t you be more concerned about finding yourself a good lawyer instead of badgering a transient piece of ass?”

  I flinched at the crass reference to what Daniel and I had shared. Greg grabbed the back of my neck, just a little too hard.

  “Piece of ass? I will not—” Rage flared in Daniel’s eyes.

  “Don’t even try to deny it. I’ve got the pictures to prove it.” It was hard to believe, but Greg puffed up even more. What an arrogant son of a bitch he was. Thought he had the world by the ass.

  I could feel the heat of Daniel’s gaze burn the side of my face. “Logan?” That beautiful baritone sent shock waves straight through my core.

  I quashed the quiver of anticipation running along my spine and moving downward in response to his voice and forced my eyes to meet his. Do this right. Greg’s hand tightened every more around my neck.

  “This is a surprise.” I kept my tone quiet, neutral. His eyebrow crooked, and he rested his forearm on the door. He looked concerned, alarmed, uncertain. I wanted to feel the tickle of those hairs as I ran my finger along it.

  “You okay?” He would have to think of me first.

  Greg let go of my neck and started to open the door... “I’m going to leave you two alone to say your goodbyes. Don’t be long, sweetheart. I’m waiting.”

  I got out of the car and stood awkwardly facing this man I now knew I loved. This man I had to hurt to save. This man I hoped would not be destroyed by what I had to do. I cleared my throat.