Elite Ops Complete Series

by Lora Leigh

  Love.

  “I’ll finish dressing, then,” she told him quietly as she glanced at the clock. “We should have just enough time for your preferred arrival.”

  He frowned back at her suspiciously. “It doesn’t take an hour to put a dress on, Tey.”

  She almost smiled at the doubt in his tone, and in his face.

  “True,” she agreed. “But it often takes longer than that to finish the look, Jordan. Stockings can’t have runs, the skirt has to lay just right, my makeup will have to be adjusted for the color because I didn’t expect the depth of the shimmer once the gown was completed.”

  She was trying desperately to maintain her control, and Jordan had no idea how to ease the pain in her eyes. That left him with the only option at hand. A strategic retreat until she needed him to hold her, to assure her once again that there was no reason why she shouldn’t be loved.

  “Enough said.” He lifted his hand to halt the subtly mocking explanation. “I’ll leave you to dressing while I discuss the security layout and the guests with the others.” He indicated the door to the rest of the suite with a sharp turn of his head. “Just let me know when you’re ready.”

  “I’ll be sure to do that,” she promised as she moved to the head of the bed and loosened the material from the padded hanger it was secured to. “As I said, an hour, perhaps a bit more.”

  For just as long as she could draw it out.

  For some reason, Jordan seemed determined to bring her face-to-face with her family, and she had a feeling it had more to do with his belief that she should align herself with them than the belief that being there would allow him to identify who gave the orders to the men threatening her.

  As much as she craved family and connections, she knew that connection had been broken with her grandparents’ deaths. All the wishing, all the tears, or all the regrets in the world couldn’t change that.

  “Just be yourself, Tehya,” he reminded her again, suddenly behind her when she had expected him to leave the room.

  One hand gripped her hip for a second as his head lowered and he placed a soft kiss at the curve of her shoulder. “I promise, no one could help but to love the person you are.”

  Everyone but him.

  “Of course.” She tried to convince him she believed it, though they both knew otherwise. “I would just prefer that it hadn’t come to this.”

  He nipped her flesh, causing her to jerk and turn her head to stare back at him in surprise.

  “I wouldn’t have missed this for the world.” He grinned. “We’re just getting ready to have some fun, baby. Where’s your sense of adventure?”

  Before she could answer him he was drawing away from her and moving from the room. The bedroom door opened and he disappeared through it, closing it behind him with a decisive snap.

  There was definitely something to be said for the days when he spent more time trying to ignore her than to seduce her, she thought with a sigh.

  At least then the knowledge of her future hadn’t been so clear-cut.

  Now, she was certain, no other man but Jordan would do, which meant that after he was gone, she was looking at a very lonely existence.

  But she wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

  *

  “There you are.” Travis Caine was preparing to knock on the bedroom door when it opened.

  Stepping through, he was ready to close the door when Travis stopped him and handed him a small cellophane pack.

  “Flash bandages,” he informed Jordan. “Covers the wound and hides it. Lilly thought she might need it with the strapless gown. And there’s enough for several uses there.”

  Jordan frowned back at him. “Those are damned hard to come by, Travis.” And he knew they were; they were items he’d had problems acquiring even during his time as Elite Ops commander. He was right though, Tehya would more than appreciate it.

  “Thanks, Travis.” He nodded back to him. “I appreciate it.”

  “Eh, thank Lilly, she thought of it.” He inclined his head back toward his wife.

  “I should have known that,” Jordan quipped before crossing the room to where the others were waiting.

  Jordan faced the men awaiting him in the parlor of the suite, his gaze narrowed, any amusement or sense of fun that he may have given Tehya evaporating.

  Getting the team back together hadn’t been hard. The moment they had known Tehya was in danger they had come running, several of them with their very dangerous wives in tow. Those wives were there now, in full party dress, like goddesses of beauty sent to tempt mortal men.

  “What do we have?” He glanced at his nephew, his unofficial second in command.

  “Everyone has received their guest lists and everyone’s buzzing. Hell, Jordan, maybe we should socialize more,” Noah reported, his darker eyes amused at the knowledge that others were excited at the prospect of a Malone being in town. A testament to Riordan Malone Sr.’s popularity when he was younger. “The Taites are fairly quiet, though Lauren, Stephen’s wife, has extended a lunch invitation to the Malone party.” His lips quirked mockingly. “Speculation is going wild over the identity of your guest, Teylor Johnson, though. Even the Taites are making inquiries. Within hours, they were aware of the fact that you were indeed the same Jordan Malone that refuses to sell the Malone property in Ireland, that they’re so desperate to acquire.”

  Jordan had been aware of that for years. Unfortunately for them, he had no intentions of selling the Malone family properties. Not in Ireland, nor in America.

  “And they’re normally the ones to care the least,” Lilly Harrington Caine, the daughter of an English lord spoke up. “The Taites abstain from gossip mongering and concentrate instead on their various charities and on family. To have them asking anything about anyone is a major coup.” There was no sarcasm in the words, simply a statement of fact.

  “It’s Jordan’s charm.” Noah grinned. “They simply crave having Jordan tell them ‘No’.”

  Jordan almost grinned. The Taites were persistent if nothing else. A trait Tehya had definitely inherited.

  “We’ll see if they bring it up face-to-face,” Jordan said. “Perhaps they’ll believe me when I say it isn’t for sale this time.”

  “Stephen Taite believes everything is for sale,” Lilly cut in at that point. “He’s quite determined to own that castle, Jordan. He learned Travis perhaps knew you, within hours of his arrival in the states this week. He’s already contacted us again this morning, wondering if we could arrange a meeting for him. We’ve declined, by the way.”

  Jordan snorted at her cheeky grin.

  “He only wants it because it’s something he’s been refused,” he growled as he moved across the room to the bar.

  “You’ve picked up tails here at the hotel.” Nik changed the direction of the conversation. “Tenneyson and Arthur and their backup team are dividing their time between here and the Taites’. We believe they have the Taites’ rented estate bugged, but we’re not certain yet.”

  “Of course it’s bugged.” Jordan knew he would have had it bugged if he were Tenneyson and Arthurs. The electronic listening devices would allow the team to easily split their time while still being assured no potential players slipped past them.

  “We haven’t learned who’s hired them yet,” Noah said. “We’re still working on it.”

  Nodding, Jordan poured himself a stiff drink before knocking it back and relishing the burn in the pit of his stomach. Nothing could sear away the disgust eating at him, though, or the restless anger at the game he was playing with Tehya’s emotions. The excuse that it was for her own good wasn’t helping in the least.

  “Find out who these bastards are.” Jordan diluted the furious snap in his voice for the women’s sake.

  There was no sense in pissing their husbands off because he knew he was getting in over his head with a woman.

  Still, they stared back at him, uncertain why this mission suddenly counted so much more than all the others befor
e it.

  “We’re searching, boss.” Micah was the only one brave enough to answer. “Until then, we have Tenneyson and Arthurs covered.”

  “Something else seems to have come up, though.” John Vincent had sat silently at the conference table until now. “We have a new player.”

  Jordan turned to him with a heavy sigh. “And who might that be?”

  “Journey Taite’s boyfriend arrived,” he drawled. “Several years older than she. Beauregard Grant. He’s a third cousin to Andrew and Melissa Grant.”

  “And fifth cousin to England’s Lord Lowden Grant,” Lilly added. “He’s considered a black sheep, though. Dropped out of college, joined the military for a while. He was discharged for unsatisfactory performance of duty and conduct unbecoming.”

  “I’m surprised Taite is allowing him anywhere near his daughter,” Jordan murmured.

  Lilly’s smile was all teeth and disgust. “He’s still royalty, my dear Mr. Malone. As fifth cousin to Lord Grant, he’s also somewhere around twelfth cousin to the Queen Mother.”

  Jordan’s brow arched. “Lineage, huh?’

  “Lineage.” Lilly rolled her eyes. Anyone related to the Queen Mother placed a stamp on that kinship and proclaimed it far and wide.

  “Beauregard won’t be a problem,” Jordan said. “Journey knows Tehya’s identity as Teylor Johnson and nothing more.” He looked at each man in turn. “Don’t take your eyes off her. Tehya is of primary importance, and tracking down whoever gave the order to attack her home is imperative. I want it over.” His voice hardened. “I want her safe.”

  And as each man stared back at him he knew they understood, and they agreed.

  Nothing mattered more to them than the protection of their wives, just as nothing mattered more to him than the protection of his … He gave himself a mental shake. Nothing mattered more than protecting Tehya and returning her to the life she had chosen for herself.

  Because any life she chose would be far better than that of a life with a man who had learned long, long ago the perils of believing in love, and in happily ever-afters.

  Nothing lasted forever.

  CHAPTER 11

  Tehya could think of far better things to do than to make an entrance at a party of politicians and their supporters. A root canal. A broken bone. Hell, being in the middle of a violent conflict in the most dense of jungles. And she hated the jungle. She hated it almost as much as the political parties.

  But she had to admit there was a sense of excitement, a flare of pure feminine pride as all eyes turned to view their entrance, especially those of the women.

  Like Tehya, they couldn’t take their eyes off Jordan.

  Savage and dangerous, a sleek mature male animal, confident and primal, he was an instinctive draw to any female with hormones. And the women here seemed to have plenty of hormones if their sudden interest was anything to go by.

  Walking down the short flight of steps, her hand placed comfortably in the crook of Jordan’s arm, she let herself pretend for the moment that they were a true couple. They were simply there to support a friend. There was no danger, no haunting past. There was nothing to worry about, no reason to be concerned or frightened.

  He had asked her earlier to trust him. What he didn’t know, what he didn’t understand, was that she had always trusted him.

  “Jordan Malone.” Senator Richard Stanton stepped forward, a warm smile on his face as his blue eyes twinkled merrily. Hand outstretched, he welcomed Jordan’s handshake with obvious familiarity before clapping him on the back and turning to Tehya. “Teylor Johnson, you’re as completely gorgeous as ever.”

  “Senator.” Face uplifted, she accepted the brush of his lips against her cheek as a real smile tugged at her lips.

  She had always enjoyed the meetings she attended where the senator was in attendance. As Jordan’s personal assistant for the past six years, she had had the pleasure of working with the older man often in his capacity of a committee member of the Elite Ops Command.

  “You’ve met my daughter and son-in-law?” The senator turned to Kell and Emily Krieger.

  “Hello, Tey.” Emily greeted her cheekily, her blue eyes sparkling merrily at the obvious knowledge that Teylor wasnt her real name.

  Kell’s welcome was just as warm, his dark green gaze amused as he observed the interest they were drawing.

  “It’s wonderful to see you again, Jordan,” the senator declared with robust friendliness. “Come to the bar with me, we’ll get a drink and see a few people I know are eager to meet with you.”

  As the senator accompanied them across the room, Tehya watched as the crowd parted, as avid gazes locked on to them. And she saw the two young women standing together. One fiery haired, the other blond. One familiar yet confused, the other coolly composed, her expression arrogant.

  Journey and her sister Alexa. They were as different as night and day. Journey with her red-gold hair, and Alexa looking like an ice princess. Next to them was their handsome brother Royce, his hair and eyes dark, his expression cold. His gaze was harder, almost dead. It wasn’t even icy. It was just empty as he watched. There was no interest, no curiosity, and no boredom. They were simply dead.

  As the senator led them to the bar, Tehya watched from the corner of her eye as Stephen and Craig Taite moved casually in a parallel line to meet them.

  Both men had their gazes on Jordan, eyes narrowed, their arrogant, thin faces drawn into similar lines of predatory intent.

  The castle Jordan owned in Ireland had been a bone of contention for years. The Taites seemed especially determined to possess it, claiming it had once been a part of their lineage as well. They had tried to meet with Grandpop Rory, with Jordan’s brother Grant, and once they had even flown to Texas in an attempt to meet with Jordan.

  Now, they were pressing Jordan at every opportunity to sell the property via both e-mail and snail mail. And Jordan flatly refused, if he deigned to answer at all.

  “What can I get you?” The senator turned back to them as they reach the long, dark-wood bar.

  Jordan ordered for himself as well as for her before she politely rolled her eyes and turned to the bartender. She ordered her favorite whisky. Turning back to Jordan, she toasted him with the shot glass. Tipping it back and finishing it with a single swallow.

  Heated, she felt a surge of bravado as fear receded at the whisky’s warmth. When her eyes opened, she found herself staring directly into the disapproving gazes of the great-uncle and the cousin she had never known.

  The smile she flashed them was patently false. She didn’t dare show the hurt she felt at the disapproval her cousin showed, or the sudden flash of disgust in her uncle’s eyes.

  “Stephen,” Stanton murmured. “I’m glad you could make it tonight.”

  Stephen inclined his head regally before turning to Jordan. “I thought it time I met my adversary,” he said cordially. “We seem to still be locked in a silent duel over a piece of property he’s in possession of.”

  “A piece of property I own,” Jordan reminded him as he moved closer to Tehya, his arm going around her waist to pull her closer to her side. “And it’s still not for sale.”

  “Of course it isn’t,” Craig’s tone was just arrogantly superior enough to grate on the nerves.

  The younger Taite’s blue-green eyes were chilly while the elder’s darker, moss-green eyes were frankly curious.

  “It amazes me that you’re so determined to hold on to such barren property.” Stephen finally smiled back at them, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

  This was her family?

  “And it amazes me that you would want to buy such barren property,” Jordan pointed out, his tone definitely more cordial and less confrontational.

  Suddenly, Tehya was seeing the Taites without the rose-colored glasses of nonassociation. She had never imagined such snide prejudice, such superior arrogance. How much worse would it be if they knew the truth of her?

  “Jordan, excuse me, darling.”
She turned to him smoothly, her smile all teeth. “I’m feeling a bit unsettled. Perhaps it’s something in the air. I’ll just step into the ladies’ room to clear my head, if you don’t mind?”

  “Of course, love.” Chiding, knowing, his tone was still warm and caring. “I’ll be right here.”

  He lifted his hand and gave a subtle signal to Travis and Lilly Caine. The two came instantly, following Tehya as she moved for the hall that led to the ladies’ room.

  Jordan turned back to Stephen and Craig, allowing the anger surging inside him to ice his gaze as he flicked a glance over them before turning back to the senator. “Breeding leaves something to be desired in the manners department,” he commented.

  Craig Taite straightened his bony shoulders beneath the silk evening jacket he wore. “Was that an insult, Malone?”

  “Why, yes, I believe it was,” Jordan said, his tone low, careful to keep their conversation where it was, just among them. “You’ve insulted Teylor, Taite. That could end up being a very bad mistake on your part.”

  Craig sniffed delicately. “Her manners are atrocious, Mr. Malone. A lady doesn’t swig whisky in public.”

  “Only in private to endure the ass she’s with, huh?” he taunted the other man, well aware of Craig’s wife’s inability to attend many social functions with him because of her love for the inebriated state.

  It was said in such a way that Craig couldn’t be certain of the insult.

  “It seems we were perhaps faulty in believing a meeting would help in building an intelligent discourse for the future,” Stephen Taite sighed regretfully. “We have many business interests that coincide. I had hoped we could work together.”

  “As far as I know, we have no such business interests,” Jordan pointed out. “The only thing we have in common is your determination to acquire that which doesn’t belong to you.”

  And would never belong to them.

  Stephen Taite had sold the estate to Joseph Fitzhugh just before his niece was kidnapped more than thirty years before. He hadn’t cared enough to hold on to the once crumbling castle until Jordan had come along and restored it to the savage beauty it now possessed.