Circle of Deception

by Carla Swafford

  With sure, quick movements, he thrust his legs into jeans and yanked on a black T-shirt. After tugging on his boots, he strapped a small pistol at his ankle. With his patch in place, using his fingers he combed hair over the strap securing its position. Hell, he needed a haircut again. Maybe he’d shave his head like Jack. A simple enough solution. If only the rest of his problems could be so easily solved.

  “She’s in trouble,” Jack said in an even tone as if his voice could defuse a bad situation.

  Ryker’s stomach and chest tightened as if he’d been hit. He knew who Jack referred to without adding a name. She happened to be part of why his life was so complicated.

  “Did you hear me?” Jack straightened his stance.

  “Yeah.” Desire to break someone’s neck raced through his body. “Where is she? What happened?”

  With a sharp snap, he inserted a snub-nose into the shoulder holster hanging at his side and jerked on his leather jacket. He gritted his teeth for a few seconds to regain his composure. Then he took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and exhaled.

  “Last time Bryan heard from her, she’d entered the target’s house in Chattanooga and was downloading information off a laptop. He lost communication with her.” Jack quickly stepped out of the way for Ryker to move into the dark hallway. “They believe she’s still in the house. If the Wizard sticks to his MO, we’ll have about three hours before he takes her away or kills her.”

  Ryker wasted no time in reaching a massive room with mirrors from ceiling to floor. When the mansion was built in the eighteen hundreds, the room was used as a ballroom. It was empty now, except for a Steinway covered with a white sheet, and the high-sheen hardwood floor sounded hollow as he tramped across it. He used the room for one purpose only—to reach the stairwell hidden behind one of the mirrors.

  “Took you long enough to spit it out.” Ryker glanced at his second-in-command.

  Jack remained quiet, staring straight ahead. Ryker didn’t really expect an excuse. The man knew how he felt about that. No excuse for failure, especially when it came to protecting Marie.

  Four months earlier, Ryker had moved The Circle compound from the suburbs of Atlanta to an area near the Smoky Mountains. The mansion was situated in the middle of almost ten thousand acres, which included a large mountain filled with a network of tunnels and bunkers perfect to house the facility he needed. Last year, the final phase of the project was completed and now they were training new recruits in the underground Sector. The nearly fifteen square miles provided the privacy he needed. In a world filled with evil people, his covert organization of assassins came in handy.

  Their footsteps echoed in the long, well-lit tunnel. A semi could pass through the passageway without scraping the side mirrors or the tips of muffler stacks.

  “Who was her backup?” Ryker asked.

  When a few seconds passed without an answer, Ryker stopped and faced Jack.

  “They’re handling it.”

  Ryker continued to stare.

  His second-in-command sighed. “She went in without a backup.”

  Jaw clenched, Ryker strode to the iris scan next to a large metal door. A buzz sounded and he slammed the door against the inner wall.

  The gripping pain in his belly grew and reminded him of the fear he lived with for years before he took over control of The Circle. She could not keep doing this to him. He refused to allow anything more to happen to her. She knew this and still didn’t listen.

  The noise level in the basketball court–sized room almost broke the sound barrier with printers running and people shouting or talking to those sitting next to them—or to others on the Internet or satellite phones—along with the clicking of keyboards. Each wall covered with large screens captured a different scene of people living their lives in various parts of the world. In the center of the room, faces bleached white by the monitors in front of them, the supervisors and handlers communicated with their operatives.

  Ryker stopped in the middle of the bullpen, searching for his prey.

  The balding, whipcord-thin Bryan Tilton stood over a handler shouting instructions and pointing at the screen. Maybe a sixth sense alerted Bryan. He looked up and his eyes widened.

  Ryker charged toward him, ignoring the people ducking for cover behind partitions and beneath desks.

  “You son of a bitch!”

  His fist clipped Bryan on the chin, sending the man sliding across the floor. Desire to flatten the asshole’s pointy nose almost overrode all of Ryker’s control. Good thing Bryan remained sprawled out on the linoleum.

  Standing over the man, Ryker opened and closed his fists. The temptation to punish him further for his stupidity warred with the fear of jabbing the cartilage of the idiot’s nose into his brain.

  “I swear, sir, I told her to wait until I could get backup in place, but she wouldn’t listen.” Bryan cupped his jaw and shifted it from side to side. “Two of our operatives are held up in a traffic accident about twenty-five miles from her last location.”

  “Last location?” Ryker gritted his teeth.

  “The target’s house, off Riverview Road.” Bryan scooted back when Ryker took a step. The man’s head bobbled on his skinny neck. “As soon as Phil and Harry reach it, they’ll extract her.”

  Afraid he would crack the man’s chicken neck, Ryker turned away and pointed at the nearest handler.

  “You! Sal?” Mohawk trembling, the pale man nodded. Ryker said, “Tell Phil and Harry to call me on my cell as soon as they reach the house. Do not go inside! Jack and I will be there in twenty minutes. Have them wait for us.” He turned back to Bryan. “Have the Spirit ready in five minutes.” His helicopter could cover the miles quickly and land almost anywhere.

  MARIE BELTANE STRUGGLED against the chains restraining her on a cot that reeked of sex and urine. She stifled a groan. No, no, no. Nausea travelled up her throat.

  All the beams and pipes overhead felt like they were squeezing the air out of the room. Basements were never among her favorite rooms. The dampness and creepy-crawly things always gave her the willies.

  She still couldn’t believe she’d been caught. Bryan had sworn it would be an easy gig. Prior surveillance had revealed the man worked each evening at a massive bank of computers. Go in and download a flash drive–load of info and get out. The target always left his house at nine in the morning and didn’t return until nine that evening. Breaking into the house when most people ate dinner in the surrounding homes had sounded so easy. Few would look out their windows as they settled down in front of their plates or televisions or both. Hours would pass before he returned home. But he came back early.

  Oh, God, she’d screwed up big time!

  He looked like a fourteen-year-old with his cartoon-themed T-shirt and his mop of hair, but she knew from his file he was between twenty-six and twenty-eight. During their surveillance, they never got a clear photograph of him. Whenever he entered or exited his house, he did so through his garage. His SUV had tinted windows, preventing anyone from seeing inside.

  The man standing with his back to her had outmaneuvered every defensive tactic she’d been taught. He didn’t fight like a kid. Jack was right. She needed to work harder on her moves. If she had, she wouldn’t be in this predicament. The nerd had surprised her, taking her down with unexpected ease.

  She refused to cry even though she couldn’t stop the trembling in her body. Every inch ached from his battery of hits and kicks. For a scrawny man, he’d moved fast and hit hard.

  Her head hurt from holding back tears. She’d hoped to never be in this position again, to be under someone’s control. No matter how many times she reminded herself this was different from before, the horror of repeating history pushed her to keep her eyes open. Staying aware of her enemy helped to keep her calm.

  “You’re not very smart. I’m efficient in seven different types of martial arts.” His stiff words failed to impress her. He moved, revealing what he held in his hand. The huge syringe with a sh
iny green substance in the barrel had a needle longer than her forefinger. “Just because I’m a geek doesn’t mean I’m unacquainted with ways to defend myself.”

  Marie stared at the needle. The duct tape covering her mouth muffled her scream. Ever since he jumped her, she’d tried to see a way to escape, while keeping calm.

  She tried to be brave. She kept telling herself, screaming would only be a waste of energy. Stifling the panic engulfing her would keep her alive.

  “Wait until this stuff hits your bloodstream. I’m told the sensation is similar to that last second before reaching an orgasm. In other words, you’ll do anything to get off.” He chuckled and lifted her shirt. He tugged at the waistband of her jeans.

  She flinched when the needle slid into the soft skin near her hip.

  “Perfect for where I’m sending you.” He jerked on the jeans until the tips of his fingers brushed her pubic hair. “White American women—especially petite, natural blondes like you—are quite popular in parts of the Middle East and Asia. Virgins are preferred but rare here unless we go much younger.” He shrugged. “Then you get into AMBER Alerts and they’re too much trouble. Anyway, bitches like you are plentiful and disposable.”

  He pulled harder at her jeans, taking her panties down.

  She froze. Her stomached churned with the thought of what he might do next. Then he pushed the needle deeper. The liquid burned, becoming hotter as he eased the plunger down. The pain took her mind off her fear for only a second. When she tried to move away, the rattling chains reminded her she wasn’t going anywhere. Tears pooled at the corner of her eyes and she turned her head, refusing to let him see her cry.

  “A formula created by . . . a fucking genius! Especially created to use on sneaky sluts like you. The Wizard is a god!” He laughed. The back of his hand grazed her cheek. “I know it stings, baby. Sorry . . . no. I’m not sorry. You have the look of an ice princess. I love seeing an uptight cunt like you suffer. You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into. This wonder drug is highly addictive and from what I’m told, it has long-lasting effects. You’ll grow to love it.”

  The grin on his smooth face terrified her more than anything else he’d done. Her vision blurred. The man leaned over her, his brown eyes dark and merciless. She whimpered. Every cell of her body tingled.

  “Do you feel it? It takes a little while to set in. The Wizard said it tingles all over and next, for a small time, you’ll feel like you’re floating on water. Then you’ll get sleepy and then—bam!—you’ll be like a bitch in heat.” He cackled and thrust his groin several times against her leg and the side of the cot. He punched the air with his fist and did a little dance. When he turned his back, he reached for something on a table nearby. “Now let’s see what all of you looks like.”

  Light glinted off the scalpel. He swiped at the air above her as if he wielded a sword. No matter how brave she tried to be earlier, she couldn’t stop her limbs from shaking harder and her stomach from twisting. She squealed behind the tape.

  The sound of slicing material had her arching away from his touch. Please don’t cut me. Oh, please, God, help. In seconds, he peeled away her clothes. He rubbed his groin and a lascivious grin marred his youthful face.

  “Not bad, though I find the scars a shame, yet rather interesting. It looks like someone used a belt or whip on you. Have you been a bad girl?” He slid his hand down her bare thigh and over a long, thin white scar. “There are clients who would love to add to them.”

  She turned her head. Swallowing several times to keep from choking on vomit, she concentrated on the number of blocks in the basement wall. She could get through this. It wouldn’t be the first time her body had been used. Eventually, she’d find a way out.

  Just as she heard his zipper go down, a loud blast shook the walls. Dust sprinkled onto her face. She blinked her eyes. The room looked smoky, choked with plaster powder.

  “What the hell?” The man ran toward the stairs as he struggled to pull up his pants. One foot on the bottom step, he stopped, staring at the door.

  A smaller blast was followed by shouting and heavy footsteps running across the floor above. Whoever had come a-knocking were making their way through the house.

  “Well, babe, you’re on your own. I hope they appreciate the gift I’m leaving them.” He laughed and disappeared beneath the stairs into a black void.

  Her eyelids felt so heavy. Tingling travelling across her torso rushed down her legs and arms, and then a feeling of lightness and floating followed. A strong breeze brushed her naked body. Someone had found the basement. A wave of dizziness pushed her under and she closed her eyes, unable to lift them even when she felt someone fighting with the chains holding her down.

  “Damn it, Marie. You better be alive,” a deep voice growled.

  She smiled. Deep inside, she knew he’d come for her.

  About the Author

  * * *

  CARLA SWAFFORD lives in Alabama and is married to her high school sweetheart. A third-generation storyteller, she loves every shade of romance and the many paths taken to find that happily ever after.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins authors.

  By Carla Swafford

  Circle of Desire

  Circle of Danger

  Circle of Deception

  Give in to your impulses . . .

  Read on for a sneak peek at five brand-new

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  Available now wherever e-books are sold.

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  By Nico Rosso

  ALICE’S WONDERLAND

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  ONE FINE FIREMAN

  A BACHELOR FIREMEN NOVELLA

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  THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT LADY MARY

  A SUMMERSBY TALE

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  THE SECRET LIFE OF LADY LUCINDA

  A SUMMERSBY TALE

  By Sophie Barnes

  An Excerpt from

  NIGHTS OF STEEL

  THE ETHER CHRONICLES

  by Nico Rosso

  Return to The Ether Chronicles, where rival bounty hunters Anna Blue and Jack Hawkins join forces to find a mysterious fugitive, only to get so much more than they bargained for. The skies above the American West are about to get wilder than ever . . .

  Take his hand? Or walk down the broken stairs to chase a cold trail. Anna’s body was still buffeted by waves of sensation. The meal was an adventure she shared with Jack. Nearly falling from the stairs, only to be brought close to his body, had been a rush. The hissing of the lodge was the last bit of danger, but it had passed.

  The wet heat of that simple room was inviting. Her joints and bones ached for comfort. Deeper down, she yearned for Jack. They’d been circling each other for years. The closer she got—hearing his voice, touching his skin, learning his history—the more the hunger increased. She didn’t know where it would lead her, but she had to find out. All she had to do was take his hand.

  Anna slid her palm against his. Curled her fingers around him. He held her hand, staring into her eyes. She’d thought she knew the man behind the legend and the metal and the guns, yet now she understood there were miles of territory within him she had yet to discover.

  Their grips tightened. They drew closer. He leaned down to her. She pressed against his chest. In the sunlight, they kissed. Neither hid their hunger. She understood his need. His lips on hers were strong, devouring. And she understood her yearning. Probing forward with her tongue, she led him into her.

  And it wasn’t enough. Their first kiss could’ve taken them too far and she’d had to stop. Now, with Jack pressed against her, his arm wrapped around her shoulders and his lips against hers, too far seemed like the perfect place to go.

  They pulled apart and, each still gripping the other’s hand, walked back into the lodge room. Sheets of steam curled up the
walls and filled the space, bringing out the scent of the redwood paneling. The room seemed alive, breathing with her.

  Jack cracked a small smile. “This guy, Song, I like his style. Lot of inventors are drunk on tetrol. Half-baked ideas that don’t work right.” He held up his half-mechanical hand. “People wind up getting hurt.”

  “Song knows his business,” she agreed. “So why the bounty?”

  He leveled his gaze at her. It seemed the steam came from him, his intensity. “You want a cold trail or a hot bath?”

  She took off her hat, holding his look and not backing down. “Hot. Bath.”

  Burbling invitingly like a secluded brook, the tub waited in the corner. The steam softened its edges and obscured the walls around it. As if the room went on forever.

  With the toe of his boot, Jack swung the front door closed. Only the small lights in the ceiling glowed. Warm night clouds now surrounded her. A gentle storm. And Jack was the lightning. Still gripping her hand, he walked her toward the tub, chuckling a little to himself.

  “My last bath was at a lonely little stage stop hotel in Camarillo.”

  The buckle on her gun belt was hot from the steam. “I’m overdue.” She undid it and held the rig in her hand.

  “I’m guessing you picked up Malone’s trail sometime after the Sierras, so it’s been a few hundred miles for you, too.”

  It took her a second to track her path backward. “Beatty, Nevada.”

  “Rough town.” He let go of her hand so he could undo the straps and belts that held his own weapons.