by Ravenna Tate
The words she uttered came out incoherently because he had his hand clamped too tightly over her mouth.
“Are you going to scream again?”
She shook her head. He moved his hand away, but not entirely off her mouth.
“This is kidnapping. You can’t get away with it.”
Hot breath caressed her skin, but instead of frightening her, Carolyn realized with growing horror that she was aroused. There was suddenly something familiar about this, but that made no sense at all. She didn’t know this man. What the fuck was wrong with her?
“Your word against mine, sweetie. I’ve paid for my crimes, and I have an alibi for the other night. You have a record and are still on parole. Which one of us do you think will come out the winner in that scenario?”
“Wait … you have an alibi?” Carolyn’s pulse raced. Did Uncle Tony know that?
“Yes.”
That would explain why the police hadn’t kept him.
“Do you really think I’d risk robbing a collection like that a second time, and then walk into the fucking police station two days later? For fuck’s sake, woman. Think about it.”
****
Damn, she was fucking gorgeous. Jagger’s dick was rock hard from holding onto this woman and inhaling her scent. Those big green eyes were so expressive. He’d seen eyes that green only once before, and they had captivated him on that occasion, as well.
And her tits were fucking perfect. He couldn’t help wondering if they were real. Good thing Tony was dead because if he ever found out Jagger was dogging his niece this way, he’d cut off Jagger’s balls and make him eat them.
Looking at her up close now, he realized she was even prettier than he’d noted in the police station, but he’d be damned if she wasn’t also conflicted as hell. It had to be one of the others who had told her to do this, but why? Revenge for what they believed he had done to them? What else could be their motive?
Threats hadn’t been the intention tonight, but the scenario where he’d envisioned having a cordial talk had taken an ugly turn. He had no choice now but to see this through to the end. If he didn’t, he’d never find out what the hell was going on.
“You’re right,” she said, her voice soft and filled with resignation. “You wouldn’t do that. It would be insane.”
Because his hormones were winning the battle, he eased back a bit on how tightly he held her. He still expected her to run, and really hoped he wouldn’t have to make good on his threat. She was obviously scared shitless right now, and he sure as hell didn’t want to add an assault allegation to his rap sheet. “I’m glad you finally figured that out.”
“You wouldn’t have gone there today if you’d taken part in the job.”
“Bingo. Now tell me who told you to do that, and afterward I’ll walk you home.”
“I can’t.” Her voice shook. Jagger realized she was more afraid of who had made her do this than she was of him. Fuck. That meant someone had threatened her.
This might have nothing to do with the others. It might be a copycat crime. But if that was true, why would they try to frame him? Whoever had done this had to know him. Would they try to frame the others next, or were the bastards only out to ruin him?
“Why not? Why can’t you tell me?” He’d already asked it, but he had to try again. He wouldn’t likely get another chance to be alone with her. “Are you being threatened?”
“Y-yes. Yes. The same threats you said earlier. He said if I didn’t do it, he’d set me up for another bust and my parole would be violated.”
The light was almost gone, and the streetlights in the park weren’t close enough to shed a great deal of illumination, but he had to know if she was lying. Jagger released her, but only to turn her around and hold her facing him so he could look into her eyes. “Say it again.”
“What?”
“What you just told me.”
“You don’t believe me.”
“Let’s just say I’m skeptical and need convincing.”
“The person who told me to tell the police it was you in the photo said if I didn’t do it, he would make sure I was busted and my parole would be violated.”
It was too dark. Jagger couldn’t tell. And she was likely a gifted actress in that department, given her history. “Okay, but why? Who is this person to you? Why did he target you, specifically? How did you meet?”
That story had more holes in it than Swiss cheese, and he could tell she realized that. Which meant she had lied. So who was she protecting, and why?
“I’ve told you all I can.”
Shit. Fuck. He had no other choice. “It’s not enough.” He grabbed her arm. “Let’s go.”
“Go where? You said if I told you, you’d take me home.”
“You haven’t told me shit, Carolyn.”
“But I can’t say anything else!” Her voice was filled with desperation and fear. Whoever had made her do this held a lot of power over her. Who needed more protection here? Him, or this very pretty girl?
A cell phone rang. She reached into her pocket and pulled hers out, but Jagger was faster. He snatched it up and glanced at the caller ID, but it only said Private.
“Hey! Give me that back!”
“Expecting a call from him?”
“Yes. Give me my damn phone. You have no fucking right to take it.”
“Do you email with him as well?”
“No. Give it back to me.”
The call went to voice mail. Jagger started to call the number back, but she grabbed the phone. He tried to pry it from her hands again, but it slipped free and landed on the ground. They both went down for it, but Jagger snatched it up first. He put it into his pocket and grabbed her arm again. “Let’s go. You lied to me, and I intend to find out why.”
Tears ran down her face and he felt like shit, but he also had a feeling he was protecting her as well as himself. “You can’t do this. I’ll scream for help as soon as we see people.”
Jagger pulled her close so her face was up against his. “I’m not fucking around here, Carolyn. If you scream for help or make a scene, I will tell the police you filed a false report, and I will give them your phone. I will call your PO. Go ahead and call my bluff if you don’t believe me.”
The fear emanating from her was palpable now. Her eyes widened. “Please … please don’t give them my phone.”
“What the fuck is going on? You’re afraid of this person. Why won’t you let me help you?”
“You’re not trying to help me.”
“Yes, I am. Can’t you see that?”
Confusion filled her pretty face, so he pushed on. “Whoever did this has you running scared. He’s trying to frame me, and he has you doing his dirty work for him. He’s made credible threats against you. I did not do that museum job. We both are victims here. Work with me, not against me. Let me help you.”
Those beautiful green eyes filled with conflict. Her warm body was pressed up against his, and Jagger fought his hormones along with the certainty that if he forced her to come with him, it was kidnapping. In reality, his insistence he was actually protecting her wouldn’t stack up against that allegation in court. But what other choice had she given him?
Finally, her body relaxed a bit. “All right. I’ll come with you, but I don’t know what good it will do. I’ve told you everything I can.”
There was plenty to say about that, but Jagger kept silent. He’d won, at least for now. “You’re staying with me. I’ll walk you home, and you will go up to your apartment and pack a bag.”
“How long do I have to stay with you?”
“As long as it takes for us to uncover the truth.”
“I can do that from my own place.”
“Carolyn, do you trust me?”
“Seriously? Of course not.”
“Touché.” He grinned. “I don’t trust you either. That’s why you’re staying with me. Let’s go.”
Chapter Five
Carolyn was so emotionally wor
n out that she only wanted to crawl into bed and sleep. Uncle Tony had finally called back, only she’d been arguing with Jagger in the park at the time! She’d known it was him calling, and now she couldn’t do anything about it until she had her phone.
Even if it didn’t identify him by name, she’d have to retrieve it and delete Uncle Tony’s number. Jagger and her uncle had been friends for a long time. He would recognize her uncle’s voice if he heard it.
None of the text messages or voice mails were saved, but now she wondered if it wouldn’t be better if she had done so? Maybe letting Jagger or the police find out Uncle Tony was still alive wasn’t the most horrible thing that could happen?
Had Uncle Tony been mistaken about the man in the picture being Jagger, or had he lied? That was the central question. Without knowing the answer, she was in the dark. She was protecting a man who was supposed to be dead, but who also might have committed the perfect crime two nights ago.
There was no doubt in her mind that Jagger would make good on his threats. That was the only reason she’d agreed to come with him. That, and the realization she could use him to find out the truth about Uncle Tony. He wanted the same information she did, when it came right down to it. They could use each other, and in doing so they’d both get what they wanted.
And God help her uncle if he had lied to her, and if he was involved in this heist but hadn’t told her that directly. She wouldn’t let that go. No one used her like that, family or not. She’d helped him pull small jobs in the past. She’d covered for him and lied for him countless times. If he had done this to her, she would go to the FBI herself and tell them a tale that would land her uncle in prison for the rest of his life.
They stopped in front of her apartment building. “How do you know where I live?”
“Seriously?” He gave her a droll look. “Go and pack a bag. If you’re not back down here in ten minutes, I’m taking your phone to the police.”
If he scrolled through the phone while she was up there, she’d never have the chance to get to the truth. Didn’t he realize she wanted to do that as much as he did? She had no idea how Jagger would react if he found out that Uncle Tony was alive. “Give me back my phone. I’ll be down in less than ten minutes with it. I promise.”
“Why? So you can call him back? So you can call the police yourself? Or the FBI? We’re doing this my way, Carolyn. Deal with it.” He pointed toward the front door. “Go. Now. Clock’s ticking.”
“You’re a real asshole, you know that?”
“Wow. No one’s ever called me that before. You now have only nine minutes.”
To keep from smiling, she bit the inside of her cheek, as she sprinted into her building before he could spot her reaction to his comment. Men with a sarcastic sense of humor had always been her downfall. And she had a serious thing for blue eyes.
As she tossed shampoo and body wash into a duffel, along with enough clothes for a week, Carolyn pushed away thoughts of Jagger’s looks and his caustic, humorous personality. Next she grabbed her laptop, her MiFi device, plus the chargers for all her gadgets.
If he didn’t go through the bag, she’d use her laptop to do a bit of digging on her own, using what she gleaned from him. She didn’t have an email address for her uncle, but maybe she could sneak her phone away from Jagger once he fell asleep?
Either way, she was going to get to the bottom of this, and if this gorgeous guy wanted to help her, she was fine with that. She had no qualms about using him, or about the lies she’d told him in the park about being threatened. He was using her for his own purposes, after all. And although she’d gone with him willingly, what he’d done to get her to that point was coercion at best.
But if the end result was the same, what did it matter how she reached it? If he double crossed her, she’d go to the police anyway. Sure, she had a record and was on parole, but Jagger Tyrell had spent time in prison, too. He was famous for that heist he’d pulled along with Uncle Tony and the others.
Uncle Tony had sworn he was the man in that photo. The police believed he was the man in that photo. Just because Jagger wasn’t behind bars right now didn’t mean they weren’t watching him.
But why didn’t they know he had an alibi? Had he told them that? She’d assumed the police hadn’t kept him because of that, but why would he still be so worried about the robbery if the police or the FBI believed he couldn’t have been there two nights ago?
Nothing added up here, and that made Carolyn nervous. She didn’t like loose ends, and she didn’t like suspecting someone she trusted had lied to her. She had to figure this out. And she had to stay out of jail while she did it.
****
As soon as she was inside the building, Jagger checked her phone. There was no voice mail, only that mysterious call. He scrolled through the contacts, but the one marked Private didn’t give him any other information than a cell number with an area code in Chicago. That didn’t mean the mystery man lived here. People didn’t change cell phone numbers these days when they moved.
There were no voice mails or text messages saved from anyone. How odd. Now he definitely believed she was protecting this man, whoever he was. But why?
Movement caught his eye from inside the building’s entrance. He put the phone back into his pocket to watch her walk outside. A large duffel was thrown over her shoulder, and she looked calm. Did that mean she’d come to terms with her immediate choices, or did it mean the police were on their way?
What if she had a land line, or had made a call from a pay phone in that building? He was flying by the seat of his pants here, which wasn’t like him. How the fuck had he gotten mixed up in this shit? When he found the man trying to frame him, he’d fucking kill him for all the trouble his shit brought with him.
“There’s a security camera at the entrance to my building,” he said, “and one in the lobby. When we get inside, keep your head down unless you want the police or FBI to be able to ID you walking in with me tonight.”
“Why would it matter if they did?”
“Because if they arrest me for this robbery, thanks to your friend’s bullshit information, do you want them thinking you were in on it, too?”
“You said you had an alibi.”
“I do, but they take time to check out. They could still bring me in for questions, given my history and the tat in that photo.”
“Sounds like you’re taking a big chance bringing me into your home at all, Jagger.”
“How much would it be worth to you if the tables were turned? What chances would you take to clear your name and find out who was framing you, and why?”
When she nodded, relief flooded through him. At least she understood the stakes. She definitely wasn’t stupid, and Tony had trained her well. When they reached his building, he placed his arm around her as if they were together as a couple. It would look more legit that way.
“Keep your head down and act like you’re with me.”
“Do you bring women carrying luggage here often?”
As he swiped his card key, he chuckled softly. “You’re interested in my sex life now?”
“Not particularly.”
“Isn’t that why you asked the question?”
No answer, which had Jagger grinning once more. His cock was hard again, no doubt helped along by having his arm around Carolyn as he steered her toward the elevator. “There’s a camera in there, too.”
Once the car began to move, he pulled her closer and nuzzled her neck. “Just making it look good.”
“A bit too convincing.”
A deep inhale brought the scents of outdoors and honeysuckle into his nose. Was the honeysuckle from her shampoo? “Why? Aren’t you enjoying it?”
“If there was no camera in here, would you still be doing this?”
Oh, he liked that. She questioned everything, the same way he did. “Maybe.”
“Why?”
“Are you fishing for compliments, Carolyn?”
“No, but I am c
urious.”
“You’re a beautiful woman with a hot body and very pretty eyes. What other reason do I need?”
He felt her shiver, and couldn’t help grinning again.
“Is that why you really brought me here, Jagger? To seduce me?”
They were almost to his floor. “No. I didn’t lie about that. Although now that you put the thought out there…” The doors opened, and Jagger was grateful no one was in the hallway.
“Now that I put the thought out there what?”
“Do you want me to seduce you, Carolyn?”
Again, she didn’t answer, but he hadn’t really expected her to. He ushered her to the end of the corridor and opened the door to his apartment. Once inside, he point toward the duffel. “Open your bag.”
“Why?”
“So I can make sure you didn’t bring another phone or a recording device.”
A murderous glare crept into her eyes, but he didn’t care. Muttering in Italian under her breath, she plopped the bag on the hall table and unzipped it. “Look for yourself.”
“A laptop? Really?” He held it up.
“I told you I don’t have his email, but I do have bills to pay and personal shit to take care of. I need my computer to do that.”
There was no password lock on the screen once he lifted the lid, and that surprised him. Obviously she didn’t have people looking at it very often. There were two browsers, and both were set to a Gmail account as her home page. “What other email accounts do you have?”
“None. That’s the only one.”
There was nothing in her apps to make him think she was lying. Next, he brought up her list of contacts in the email program. Her PO, Tony’s sister-in-law Rosa, and customer service email addresses for various utility companies. “Do you still keep in touch with Rosa?”
“Yes.”
A search of the Sent Items, Trash, and All Mail for Rosa’s name only contained emails about Rosa’s kids, and Rosa asking Carolyn if she had a job yet. The last email she’d sent to her PO was to let him know she’d be late to her appointment last month because she had a job interview.
