Nate's Naughty Nymph [The Doms of Club Mystique 5] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Mardi Maxwell

  Cade adjusted his pack. “Where you going?”

  “I want to see this guy’s weapon and meet the second shooter.”

  Cade nodded. “Make it quick.”

  Nate knew there was no stopping this guy, so he moved back a couple feet until his face was in deep shadow.

  Nymph poked him in the back. “You’re squashing me against the tree and there are bugs.”

  “Be quiet.” Nate double-checked the cover on his weapon then looked up.

  “Hey, I’m Ben. Mind if I see your weapon?”

  “Sorry, can’t show it to you.”

  Ben nodded. “Those were two amazing shots, man. My shot hit the guy on the roof a split second after yours. I only caught a glimpse of Mendez as he fell.”

  While he spoke, Nate saw him trying to get a glimpse of his weapon. He remembered being this eager to see the newest big secret in weaponry. He shrugged, and the wound in his shoulder gave a little twinge. That was something else that had changed. Ten, even five, years ago the injury wouldn’t have slowed him down. Now, he wanted to sit down and let Nymph do her mothering-smothering thing.

  “You’re bleeding,” Ben said.

  “It’s nothing. A bullet grazed me.”

  Ben nodded. “Our medic could take a look at it.”

  “Our guy will do it.”

  Behind them, Cade said, “Playtime’s over.”

  Nymph poked him in the back, startling him. Before he could block him, Ben stepped to the side and looked behind him at Nymph.

  “Hey, hi, I didn’t see you there,” Ben said. “You’re the other shooter?”

  “Yes,” Nymph said.

  “Shit, you’re a girl. Now I really feel bad.”

  Nymph growled. “Boy, who you calling a girl? Me? I ought to shoot your ass.”

  Ben laughed then backed away. “No, ma’am, not calling you a girl.” He chuckled low, saluted, and hurried away.

  Cade signaled his men. “Just whistle if you get lost, grandpa, and we’ll come running.”

  Orin stepped aside and waved his hand as he cleared a path for Cade and his men. “Women and children first, boy.”

  Cade grunted then he and his men disappeared into the jungle, going east. Nate admired the silent way they moved until he heard Ben say, “Shit, you should see their sniper. Big-ass scary guy. Reminds me of someone.”

  * * * *

  Eighteen months later

  Nate pulled the last box from the back of the truck and carried it into the apartment. They’d scaled down their possessions to the bare minimum, six boxes of clothes and household goods, plus a small armory of weapons.

  Rolando Mendez‘s son Carlos had taken over the cartel. His other son Roberto had been taken out by Cade during a mission to rescue a kidnapped billionaire’s daughter. Within weeks he and Nymph were told that Carlos was after Cade. They’d handed in their resignations with the intention of moving to Rendezvous to protect his sons. Dirk and Sabre had torn the papers up then assigned them to Rendezvous. When they’d protested, the McCabes had insisted that it was a righteous mission, as their main goal had always been to shut down Mendez’s cartel.

  Nate set the box down and looked around, trying to remember if this was the fifth or sixth apartment they’d rented since the house had burned down. They’d looked but they’d never found that house in the country they wanted. One thing for sure, this apartment would be the last one before they settled down for good.

  Nymph walked out of the kitchen, drying her hands on an old towel. She hugged him and looked around. “At least it’s clean. Now.”

  Nate looked at the worn carpet and cheap furniture. “God, I’m sorry, Nymph. I’ve put you through hell.”

  She leaned against him, planted her chin on his chest, and looked up. “Are you sure I haven’t put you through hell? Seems to me I’m the one who talked you into working with me.”

  “That’s right.” He lifted her until their eyes were level. “I think you need a spanking for all the trouble you’ve caused me.”

  Nymph laughed. “I’ll look forward to it—later. Right now I have to go pretend I’ve never been in Luc and Logan’s house before while they show me around.”

  Nate laughed. “So, you just ran into them at Harry’s Truck Stop, huh?”

  “Yes. I told them I’d heard some kids talking about partying in their empty house and that they should hire me to be their live-in housekeeper.”

  “Amazing.” Nate chuckled.

  Nymph laughed. “Logan grabbed onto the idea right away, but Luc held back. It wasn’t until I told them I was a Marine that he agreed.”

  “Oorah.” Nate hugged her. “I’m glad you’re on my side.” He touched the charm around her neck. “Want to marry me yet?”

  “Maybe.”

  Nate’s battle cry of victory echoed off the walls as he picked her up, swung her around, and dropped onto the couch with her beneath him. A cloud of dust rose from the couch and they both sneezed.

  Nate jumped up and pulled her up beside him. “We need new furniture.”

  She shook her head. “Nope. As soon as I’m settled in the twins’ house we’ll have Hugh make a few adjustments to their security system and you’ll move in with me.”

  “That’s a risky move.”

  “Not really. Luc and Logan never stay at the house, and if they stop by we’ll have plenty of warning. Besides if you’re not there to cook for me I’ll starve to death.”

  “That’s true.” Nate brushed his lips over hers. “Better get going or you’ll be late. We’re having dinner at the truck stop tonight. All the gossip in Rendezvous filters through there sooner or later.”

  “And, even bad guys like pie.” Nymph laughed when Nate swatted her bottom. “Don’t forget you promised me more.”

  “Topping from the bottom, pet?”

  “No, Sir. Never.” She kissed him them grabbed her tote.

  * * * *

  Six months later

  Nate slid deeper into the shadows as Luc and Logan’s sub, Cassie Edwards, ran toward the back of Harry’s Truck Stop. He’d been cooking at the restaurant for six months while they got to know the area. It had also turned out to be a great place to gather Intel. Sooner or later everyone who had business in Rendezvous ended up there.

  An hour earlier Nymph had called to let him know that Cassie, who’d been locked up in Luc and Logan’s house, had finally made a break for it. Nymph had managed to hide several small bugs in her belongings so they’d been able to track her. He nearly gave himself away when Cassie stopped, laid a false trail, and then turned and ran back the way she’d come.

  According to Nymph the young woman had been running circles around Luc and Logan since the day they’d met her. They’d moved her into their home to protect her from the men hunting her. Then, the two young idiots had decided she was an accomplice and they’d locked her up in their playroom. Apparently they’d forgotten who her father was, but Nate hadn’t. He’d worked with Ryan Edwards on several missions and he’d been one of the best. Locking Cassie up without putting a guard on her was as good as leaving the door open.

  Nymph’s voice came over his earpiece. “We’ve got a problem. Three men just saw Cassie and they’re running for their car. They’ll be passing by you any second now.”

  “I’ve got them,” Nate said. “Bring the van. Dirk will want to talk to these guys.”

  Nate stood in the shadows until the men walked by him. He slipped up behind them, grabbed the two guys nearest to him, and knocked their heads together. They went down just as the third man realized something was wrong and reached for his gun. Nate slugged him, doubling him over, before slamming his knee into his face. Nymph pulled up in the van up just as he finished fastening the last zip tie on the third man. He dug through their pockets, found the key to their car, and handed it to Nymph. He loaded them into the van while Nymph located their vehicle and moved it up behind the van. Nate slid into the van and took off with her behind him.

  * * * *


  Nate grimaced when a rock dug into his hip and moved a couple inches to the side. It didn’t matter how many stakeouts he went on, there was always a rock or a stick or, in Nymph’s case, a bug. At fifty-two, he’d decided he was getting too old for this kind of work. There’d been too many jungles and too many bad guys and too many people he cared about lost.

  He glassed the area around him while he thought about how he and Nymph had ended up in the Ramsey ranch house with his five sons and their women. They’d known something was up when Luc and Logan had moved Cassie to the main house. Then Thor had shown up with Marisol Rios and Zane’s woman, Ravyn Templeton. Zane had shown up a few hours later, chasing after Ravyn as usual.

  While he and Nymph had been making plans to monitor the security system, Addison had contacted Nymph with a request to cook and clean for them. The ranch housekeeper, Jane Marshall, had been sent to stay with Addison’s old nanny, Maggie Lamont, who’d fallen and sprained her ankle. The chance to get into the main house had been too good to pass up and that’s what worried him. His research on the little Irish redhead Cade had married told him she was up to something.

  Next to him, Thor Larkin scanned the area around the derelict house where they believed Ravyn was being held hostage by Carlos Mendez. She’d been taken from a secure location the previous night. “Any movement?”

  “No, but my gut says she’s in there.”

  “You always trust your gut?” Nate asked.

  “Most of the time, although I just lost a thousand dollars to those fuckers, Ben and Mac. I was sure Zane would keep it together and pick a woman who wasn’t being hunted by a crazed killer or drug lord.”

  Nate grinned. “You know there’s a betting pool that you’ll end up with Marisol?”

  Thor nodded. “Addison talked Ben and Mac into starting it. Cade and I are working on winning it.”

  “So, you’re not going to keep Marisol?”

  “You looking for another woman, Nate?”

  “Nope. Just trying to figure out where to place my money.”

  Thor snorted. “I haven’t figured out why she’s here yet. When I do, I’ll decide if I’m going to play with her and how long I’ll keep her.”

  “Marisol’s been in your house all this time and you haven’t touched her? How the hell have you managed that?”

  “Nights at Club Elysium and Club Mystique with a few lovely subs.” Thor went back to scanning the area. “I caught her and my crazy housekeeper researching herbs that would incapacitate Little Thor. I haven’t eaten at home in weeks.”

  Nate chuckled then quieted when his earpiece clicked.

  “We’ve got movement on the east side of the house,” Jackson said.

  Nate saw Ravyn running across the yard away from the house. He winced when she ran into the barb wire fence. That had to have hurt! A few seconds later, she climbed through the strands and took off across the field, right toward the area where Zane was hidden. One moment she was running, and the next a dark figure rose up, grabbed her, and pulled her out of sight.

  “Zane has her,” Thor said. “Let’s go.”

  It only took them a couple minutes to reach them. They arrived in time to hear Zane and Ravyn arguing. Zane told her he was there to rescue her, and she insisted he couldn’t rescue someone who’d just escaped. Thor put up with the bickering for a minute or two then had Nate grab Ravyn and fit her with a mic and earpiece. When he placed the night vision goggles on her, she winced and he realized she was injured. “Sorry. How badly are you injured?”

  “I can manage,” Ravyn said.

  “If that changes, let me know.” He turned on the goggles. “How’s that?”

  Ravyn looked around. “Wow, I want to keep these.”

  “Zane, come with me,” Thor said. “We’re going to go get the bad guy now, if you have the time to spare.”

  Zane rose into a crouch. “Fuck off, Thor.” He disappeared over the edge of the ditch.

  Thor chuckled. “I love fucking with these Ramsey’s in love.” He chuckled again. “‘The fool who persists in his folly will become wise.’”

  “William Blake,” said Addison on the radio, followed by, “Uh-oh.”

  “Addison, how the hell did you get your hands on a radio?” Cade asked on the radio where he was monitoring the mission from his den.

  “Uh, uh, I can explain,” Addison said.

  “Turn it off and get down here to my den right now,” Cade said.

  Thor snorted then followed Zane.

  Ravyn tried to move farther to her right, but Nate blocked her. “Keep your head down.”

  “Can they hear us?” Ravyn asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Stop the chatter,” Thor said.

  “Okay, I’m on the front porch,” Zane said.

  “I’m outside the bedroom window,” Thor said. “This guy’s still snoring.”

  “Mac and I are right behind you, Zane,” Ben said.

  “Wait. There’s something wrong,” Ravyn said.

  “Everyone freeze,” Nate said.

  “What is it, Ravyn?” Zane asked.

  “Thor, hold your mic up to the window.” He did, and Ravyn listened for a moment. “I think it’s a recording. It’s the same snores over and over.”

  “Are you sure?” Zane asked.

  “Yes. Get out of there, Zane,” Ravyn said. “One of you look through the window I used to climb out of the house.”

  A few minutes later, Thor cursed. “Get the hell out of there. The bedroom door is rigged. Ravyn, didn’t you even try the door?”

  “No, I figured it was locked or they were on the other side of it. Either way, I wasn’t leaving that way.”

  “We can’t just leave the house like this,” Zane said.

  “They’ve probably rigged the entire thing to blow,” Thor said. “The window Ravyn used is too damn small for any of us to get through.”

  “I could go back in and you could tell me what to do,” Ravyn said.

  “Hell no,” Zane said. “I figure they’ve got someone close by waiting to see if the house blows.”

  “Let’s find the son of a bitch, then,” Thor said.

  “Nate, take care of Ravyn,” Zane said.

  “No,” Nate said. “You come get your woman and take her home. I’m in the mood to go hunting.”

  “Get your ass in gear, Ramsey,” Thor said. “We’ll get this guy and meet you back at the house. Luc and Jackson, you’ve got our backs.”

  A moment later Zane showed up. He nodded at Nate before he told Ravyn, “Let’s go. Stay low and if I tell you to stop, you stop. Understand?”

  “Stay low and stop if you say to,” Ravyn said. “I think I can manage that.”

  “That’s five more, pet,” Zane said and Ravyn snorted.

  Nate joined Thor and they moved toward the trees in the distance. It was one of the only places that a person could watch the house while not being seen. They’d made it halfway when Ravyn’s voice came over his earpiece.

  “Zane’s been shot or stabbed. I need help now.”

  “We’re on our way,” Nate told her. “Find the wound and put pressure on it.”

  “Okay, but come quick.” A minute later she added, “He’s been shot in the leg about a foot above his knee. There’s a lot of blood.”

  “Right or left leg?” Nate asked.

  “Left,” Ravyn said. “I’ve used my belt as a tourniquet.”

  “Good girl,” Nate said. “I’ll be with you in just a minute.” Nate moved in her direction while Thor went for their SUV. “I’m approaching you, Ravyn.”

  “Please hurry. This bastard Dolor is waking up.”

  Nate dropped down next to her and she jumped. “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” Nate pulled a combat tourniquet from his pack and placed it around Zane’s leg, then tightened it. “You can remove the belt now, Ravyn.”

  “Are you sure?” Ravyn asked.

  “I’ve put a combat tourniquet on him,” Nate said. “It will control the bleeding
and you don’t have to hold it. Did you check his head and torso?”

  “Oh, no, I didn’t check his head.” She reached for Zane and Nate grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

  “Stay calm, Ravyn, and let me check him. Okay?”

  She nodded. “He has a cut on his arm, but it’s shallow.”

  After a few seconds, Nate leaned back. “He has a knot on the back of his head. He must have hit it when he fell.” He moved to Dolar and secured him. "Someone needs to get this guy before you leave the area." Two clicks came over the radio letting him know it would be taken care of by one of the other men.

  Thor’s voice came over the earpiece. “I’m in the SUV and I’m on my way.”

  “Luc and I have you covered,” Jackson said, followed by two clicks.

  The sound of a vehicle approaching reached them. A door slammed, and Thor joined them. They picked Zane up, carried him to the SUV, and laid him on the backseat. Ravyn climbed in beside him as Thor climbed behind the wheel and Nate slid into the passenger seat.

  “How’s he doing?” Thor asked.

  “He took a bullet to the leg and he’s going to need surgery to remove it, but he’ll live,” Nate said.

  “I’ve called the hospital and they’re waiting for him to arrive,” Cade said on the radio. “We’ll meet you there.”

  The SUV bounced up and down every time they hit a rut in the field. After several minutes, they turned onto a road and Thor sped toward the lights in the distance. Several miles later, he and Thor removed their night vision goggles and Thor turned on the headlights.

  “Shouldn’t he wake up?” Ravyn asked.

  “No,” Nate said. “It’s better if he stays out and stays still.” The belt Ravyn had used had slowed the bleeding until he’d gotten their and used the combat tourniquet. If she hadn’t acted so quickly though they would have lost Zane. He wasn’t going to tell her that, though. Over his earpiece he heard her telling Zane that he was going to be okay and that she loved him. He smiled. There were going to be a lot of weddings on the ranch, hopefully followed by a lot of births. He was ready to settle down and be a grandfather. In fact, he was looking forward to it.