by james
had mentioned marriage. Why?
He knew Pete was with his second wife. They’d been married for … six years?
Wasn’t it? At the time, back in Pete’s office, Ian had assumed his boss had merely been
trying to change the topic.
But something….
Unless….
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 204
No. Surely not.
Ian shook off the thoughts and stepped into the darkened hallway.
Forget it. He was tired. Pete said he’d call. Pete would call.
Ian on the other hand, hadn’t called Rori, and maybe he should have, but he
wanted to surprise her too.
The house was dark and quiet.
“They turned in early tonight,” Ian muttered, figuring someone would still be up.
“Did you let Roth know we were coming?” John asked him.
“No,” said a voice from the shadows. Roth stepped out and reholstered his gun.
“Idiots. I could have shot you.”
Ian smiled. “You wouldn’t have. You don’t shoot first and ask questions later
unless the situation entitles that. And this didn’t.”
Roth grunted. “Lucky for you.”
“Where is everyone?”
Roth glared at him. “Trying to get some sleep.”
“Why, what’s been going on?”
Roth said, “First off, your brother and sister-in-law had their baby. Girl, get the
details from your mother. Or your dad.” Roth shook his head. “Never seen such a camera
happy man. Secondly, Darya’s usually up several times a night screaming.”
Ian didn’t wait for the rest, but hurried up the stairs, the bag in one hand, the
flowers in the other. At the top, he walked quickly down the hallway to his daughter’s
door. Pushing it gently open, he saw the soft glow the lamp on the dresser cast on the
room. Rori slept in a chair beside the bed, half lying on the bed, her hand on Darya’s
chest. On the nightstand stood bottles of medicine and tissues. A thermometer. Quietly,
he set the bag down by the door, laid the flowers on top of it. He walked across the room
and stood beside the bed looking down at his daughter, covered with the blue comforter.
Her cheeks were flushed and in her hand, a top the cover, was clasped the photo
he’d given her. From the crinkled edges, it appeared she’d never let go of the thing. He
reached out and put his hand to her forehead. She was burning up. Worry thrummed
through him.
Rori jerked.
“Easy,” he whispered, laying his hand atop hers.
Rori’s eyes opened and she sat up, stretching. “You’re home.”
Home….
He looked at her, sitting here exhausted beside their sick daughter.
He nodded. “Yeah, I’m home.”
“Thank God. Everything went all right, then?” she asked, putting her hand to
Rori’s forehead and then checking her watch. “Another hour and we can give her
something else.”
“What the hell is going on?” he asked quietly, sitting on Darya’s other side.
“Well, your daughter hasn’t eaten a single bite since you left. We’ve managed to
get some water in her and now meds, but she wouldn’t eat. Hardly slept. Just kept
watching for you.”
He ran his hand over Darya’s dark curls scattered over the white pillowcase. His
daughter….
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 205
“I’ve been gone for over forty-eight hours. She was that sick?”
Rori chuckled. “We don’t know if she was already coming down with something
or if the combination of stress, her not eating, and not sleeping triggered the illness.” She
shrugged and brushed her hand down Darya’s flannel clad arm. “Your mother mentioned
it could have been anything.”
He frowned and felt Darya’s face again. “She’s too hot.”
Rori nodded. “Yeah, goes up and down. Anywhere from ninety-nine to one-ohfour
or five.”
“What?” the worry turned to fear. “Did you take her to the doctor?”
Both her brows rose. “I called your mother, who did her doctor thing, called some
antibiotics in this afternoon and who told me what to do.”
His mother. He relaxed slightly.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered, worry still winding through his blood.
“S’all right. I just didn’t know what the hell to do. Asked Becky, called your
mom. Vented to Nikko and then to Roth.” Her hands rubbed her short hair. “I didn’t
know what the bloody hell to do. I mean, she’s so little and what do I know of kids?”
He reached across the bed and pulled her to him, kissing her softly on the mouth.
“You did fine. Go get some sleep. I’ll watch her for awhile.”
Rori frowned. “You’re jet lagged. I can see it.” She shook her head. “You rest. I’ll
give her the grape medicine in another forty-five minutes and then when it goes back
down, I’ll catch a few ‘z’s.”
Ian just watched her, noted her eyes were shadowed, the skin on her own cheeks a
bit pale. “I slept on the plane. Fourteen hours and I was tired. I got at least six which
looks like more than you.”
She looked exhausted, disgruntled and adoring. He smiled.
“What?” she snapped, frowning.
“You look wonderful.” And she did. “And I missed you.”
Shaking her head, she stood, then walked around the bed, leaned down and kissed
his cheek. “Wake me in four hours.”
He nodded. “I will.”
“Night.”
“Night.”
He looked at his daughter. Sitting on the bed, he pulled her into his lap and held
her. Her hot face and head heated his neck and collarbone. He kissed the curls atop her
head.
It was good to be home. And he’d make certain she got better as soon as possible.
“Hey sweetie, Daddy’s home.”
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 206
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
November 20; 7:29 a.m.
The next morning after breakfast, his phone rang. Ian answered.
“Hello?”
“You wanted an update,” Pete’s voice, always devoid of emotion seemed hollow,
even for him.
“Just a minute.” He nodded to Rori and walked out the double doors leading
outside. “Okay.”
“That loose end we discussed has just been cut.”
Just like that. Anger and the fact he was denied justice licked through him, quick
as a rattler. “You promised me a name.” He raked his hands through his hair. “Damn it,
Pete. I had a right to know.”
“Yes you did. And so did others.”
“Pete.”
“Ian.”
“What?”
For a moment, the man didn’t answer him, then he said, “I don’t have time for
this. I have a funeral to plan.”
Ian blinked, shook his head. “What? I mean. Hell, I’m sorry, Pete. For wh-who?”
Strange they’d worked so long together, knew such dark things about the other and yet
knew so little.
Again the silence.
“The woman I trusted … my wife.”
Ian frowned, then pulled back. The loose end…. Pete’s wife? Ian wasn’t exactly
surprised. Sometimes it was those closest, but still…
“Uh--Pete. I’m sorry.”
“So am I.”
“I would have.…” helped seemed the wrong word. Damn.
Pete cleared his throat
. “It was a matter I had to see to personally.”
With that the man hung up.
Ian took a deep breath, a chill dancing down his back.
Just when he thought he was as far into the darkness as he could go, he was
reminded there were shadows he still hadn’t journeyed.
It was a matter I had to see to personally.…
And those shadows Ian didn’t want to visit. Ever.
Turning back around, he looked through the doors at Darya wrapped in a quilt on
the couch, leaning against Rori.
Maybe, just maybe their lives could get on the right track now.
Whatever that track was. He didn’t want to push it. Didn’t know, suddenly what
the hell to do. What did he do?
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 207
About anything?
He had no orders. No one that needed to be found right this moment…
Rori looked up at him and smiled.
And then he knew. Ian opened the door and walked into the living room just as his
parents came in.
“You two simply have to go to the hospital,” his mother said. “Have you gotten
your brother and Taylor anything?” she asked.
Ian shook his head and shut the door behind him. “I thought I was supposed to get
the baby something.”
Rori didn’t turn to look, but he caught her grin as she watched the television and
stroked her hand over Darya’s head.
His mother handed him a piece of paper. “Go take a shower, take your wife out.
We’ll watch Darya.”
He looked at the paper and saw it was a list. “What is this?”
His mother shrugged. “Things Darya needs.”
Doll house. Barbies. Books. Several stuffed animals. Bedding. (something pink or
purple--though blue or silver would work)
His mother tapped the bottom of the list. “If you don’t want to pick out the
bedding, that’s fine. Rori and I can go sometime next week.”
Ian shook his head. Rori jerked around and met his gaze. He caught the plea in her
eyes.
He wiggled a brow at her and turned to his mother. “Well you know us men.
We’re sure to choose the wrong fabric or color or something.”
She nodded. “I know.” His mother glanced over at the couch. “Rori and I will get
what we need Monday or something.” She put her hand on his arm. “Now go and get
ready. I’d also like you to pick up some nice flowers before dinner tonight.”
“We need more fever reducer medicine … whatever it’s called,” Rori said
standing.Darya was asleep on the couch. Ian shook his head. “I just got back. I don’t want
to go out again, Mother.”
“Bah. Go see your brother and the baby. Aiden and Jesslyn went by, but
Brayden’s in Louisanna and you just got home.”
“Quinlan?” he ventured. “You should let him know --”
Her green eyes narrowed on him. “He’s been by. Last night. Promised to come
tonight to dinner. He called earlier and said he was bringing a date.”
Jock muttered something that sounded vaguely like a hired woman.
Ian hid his grin, leaned over and said, “Mother, I love you, but --”
“No buts, go see your brother. If you leave now,” she glanced over her shoulder at
Darya and then said back to him, “she’ll be asleep most of the time you’re gone.” Her
eyebrow rose. “You worried I can’t take care of a sick child?”
He knew better than to argue that one. “I couldn’t trust anyone more with her
health, Mom.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Some mothers might take issue with that wording.
Considering the goings on of late, I’ll just leave it alone.”
He laughed and pulled her close, kissing her on her forehead. “Well, I just learned
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 208
the leak was found and taken care of, so the guards will be leaving.”
“Thank God,” his mother said, patting his chest, and taking a deep breath.
“Who?” his father asked.
Ian looked at Rori as he said, “I don’t know. They just let me know the matter was
taken care of.” Squeezing his mother he added, “I decided to leave that alone and take it
at face value.”
No one said anything for a moment. Then his mother said, “So Roth will be
leaving?”
He chuckled. “Not just yet.”
Jock asked, “Why not? You said guards.”
“Not my men.”
At his parent’s confused looks he added. “Tanner, Roth, and several others work
for John and I. Or they do now.”
“What?” his father asked.
Ian shook his head. “Never mind. Just know, Roth will be here a bit more. Tanner
is staying with Brayden, Snake with Gav, and Gar with Quinlan.”
“Why?” his mother asked.
He looked at Rori. “We should get going if we’re going to go to town and get
back before dinner.”
They quickly walked out of the room before his parents bombarded them with
more questions. To save time, they shared the shower, their bodies melding, sliding,
holding, and reaching until both moaned, both peaked and both shuddered in aftermath.
Ian stood in the bedroom, tucking his shirt in and watched Rori--his wife--put
lotion on. A simple thing that. Over the counter white lotion. She sat on the bed, her
hands rubbing down her leg, gliding her knee, sliding her thigh, grazing her belly before
she squirted more and then rubbed it into one arm, then the other.
She glanced at him. “What?”
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
She grinned. “Too bad we don’t have all afternoon to ourselves.”
He laughed and pulled her to him, kissing her again, feeling the cool lotion, her
hot body molding against his.
“We don’t have time,” she pushed against him and he let her go.
“Tonight.”
She grinned over her shoulder, her naked back long and lean, graceful as a
dancer’s. Her back side and thighs as tight as a Vegas line girl. Damn.
* * * *
5:06 p.m.
Quinlan Kinncaid drove the car. He kept rubbing his head. She watched him.
“Headache?” she asked, sliding her hand over the console and touching his arm.
He nodded. “Yeah, again.” He blinked and shook his head.
“Why don’t you let me drive?” she tried. This would be all she fucking needed.
This damn close and he wreck the car all because he was a male and thus had to drive.
“We’re almost there,” he said, shaking his head again.
Alla shrugged and looked out the window. At least she’d taken care of the guard,
Gar, while Quinlan had dressed for the evening. If anyone found the man, he might live,
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 209
but the sedative dose had been high She’d stuffed him in the spare room in Quinlan’s
penthouse.
Reaching down for her purse, she opened it part way, saw the 9 mm Glock inside
and smiled. Reaching past it, she pulled out her pill bottle. “I’ve got some aspirin. Would
you like some?”
The man was so predictable. He shook his head.
Taking the female approach, she said. “Please, for me. I don’t want to meet your
family practically alone and if you’re nursing a killer headache, you’ll look like you hired
me to come along. I don’t want your parents thinking I’m a whore.” She held the white
pil
ls aloft in her hand.
They looked like aspirin She had wanted them to. With the same initial coating so
that they tasted the same--or rather had no taste at all.
But the ingredients were very different and practically tasteless, an
accomplishment for her lab techs. Something the drug market and vice scene would love.
Ecstasy plus roofies. Basically. The chemical make up had to be altered a bit. But
the feel good of X with the disinhibiter of roofies left with a wondrous little pill.
She could fuck someone all night long, and they wanted it. And the poor souls
didn’t really remember all the details the next morning.
The bright side? Supposedly, the downer wasn’t as bad as X. She should make a
killing off this little creation.
But then her techs were still trying to perfect it. She wanted buyers not diers.
He finally took the pills, glanced her with a narrowed gaze as if trying to decide,
then tossed them back.
He’d already had two others half an hour ago in his coffee. Hopefully he wouldn’t
have a reaction. But if he did.… Then she’d deal with it.
She smiled at him and leaned over, the shoulder harness pulling on her, and kissed
his cheek, wiping her lipstick off. “Hope they help.”
He nodded and stared at the road as he turned off. He shook his head again.
“Quinlan, quit being a man and just let me drive. You don’t feel well and if you
pass out, we could both be injured.” He nodded, slowed and put the car in park.
“Poor baby.” She glanced either way down the driveway. A house sat back beyond
the trees and no one was behind them.
She climbed out of the car and walked around. By the time she opened the
driver’s door, he was already half unconscious. Smiling, she leaned into the back seat and
grabbed her shoulder bag with the lovely little bomb in it. Time to get to work before
meeting the family….
* * * *
Ian held onto the ‘oh-shit’ bar as Rori took another curve. “Damn it, slow down.”
She laughed. “God, I miss driving. And I just have to say, this right side of the
road, is really off. You Yanks should have stayed with the left.”
He shook his head.
She rounded another curve and the lights cut across the road.
“Oh shit!” She swerved to miss the little eyes in the road and Ian felt the tires
