“Isaac.” Her tone was cool and professional.
“Now’s not the best time.”
“Doesn’t matter. We just got the demands from Rathe.”
A heavy ball of dread began to form in the pit of his stomach. “So why are you calling me?”
“Isaac, don’t play dumb. It’s unbecoming. There’d only be one reason I’d call you with Rathe’s demands, now, isn’t there?”
“And you thought I’d go along with it?” Anger filled him and was echoed in his harsh laughter as he walked down the hall. “Now who’s playing dumb?”
“Isaac…”
No, she wasn’t Isaacing him out of this one. “We’ve already had this discussion.”
“It’s the only way to get Molly back.”
His anger only grew as he thought about his sister. She wouldn’t want him to do this. She wanted Rathe brought down at any cost. “She’d never agree to it and you know it.” No, he wouldn’t have Rathe’s ink in his blood. If he did, he wouldn’t be able to use his magic against the man. And Isaac’s magic was the only thing that could stop Rathe. “But, fortunately for all of us, I’ve come up with another way.”
“Really?” She paused for a second. “I’m listening.”
“What if we were to get Nikki to help us?” His heart beat faster as he said Nikki’s name. Everything depended on her. The woman who wanted to tear his heart out and, most likely, feed it to him.
“We’ve tried that before. She won’t.”
His mother’s blanket dismissal bothered him. She wouldn’t even consider it as a possibility. “How long has it been since you asked? Maybe she’s changed her mind.”
“Why are you bringing this up now? Have you approached her?” Her voice was sharp as she asked the question.
“Yes.” There was no point in lying. The woman had ways of finding out information that were downright scary.
She sighed into the phone. “Even if she has changed her mind, we can’t trust her. She is, after all, her father’s daughter. I think it’s best if we just meet the demands and then find another way to deal with Rathe.”
That was unacceptable. “We’ve been looking for another way to deal with him for the last fifteen years. If there was one, don’t you think we would’ve found it by now?” He paused for a minute to give her the opportunity to state her argument, knowing full well she didn’t have one. “Nikki is the way. The only way.”
“And what does she say about this?”
He shifted from one foot to the other. “I haven’t had the chance to discuss it with her yet.”
“Is she there now?”
“She’s asleep in a guest room.”
“Are you insane? Do you have any idea what she could do to you?”
Oh yeah, he knew what the seductress could do to him. He mentally kicked himself as the unbidden images filled his head. He had to get a grip on himself.
“She can’t do anything if she’s blood bound to me,” he said with more confidence than he felt.
The silence was palpable. He could hear her swallow on the other end of the call. “Please, tell me that’s not true.”
“Sorry, but it is.”
“What were you thinking? Placing an involuntary bond is a serious offense. The Council will strip you of your enforcer status. And that’s the best-case scenario.” Her voice was a soft whisper of disbelief.
“What makes you think it was involuntary? She had to offer me her blood freely for the bond to be placed,” he argued.
“She’s a Rathe. Being held captive in any form will be unbearable for her. The Council isn’t comprised of idiots.” She paused to take a deep breath but then continued, “This will cost you everything you’ve worked for.”
“The only thing I’ve ever worked for is to see that bastard rotting behind bars. If I can get Molly back at the same time, that’d be everything I want. The Council could do whatever they want to me after.”
“But what if it doesn’t work?” She’d just touched on his worst fear. He really was willing to lose everything if it meant bringing Rathe down and getting Molly back, but what if he was wrong? What if he’d done all this and the man slipped through his fingers—again?
He took a deep breath and pushed the doubt from his mind. It had to work. He had to make it work. “It will. Rathe’s time is done.” He hit the end button on the cell phone.
There. The truth was out. Now she’d have to decide whether to tell the Council or let this play out. Not that he thought the Council could do much about it. Sure, they could strip him of his title, but he’d still have Nikki. They’d have to kill him to break the bond. And they wouldn’t do that. He may not be important to the Council, but his magic was.
Walking into the kitchen, he turned on the oven before going to the freezer. His housekeeper, Lesli, always left several nights worth of dinners and casseroles ready to heat. Somewhere along the line she’d decided it was her job to make sure he didn’t starve to death. He’d insisted he could take care of himself, but she’d argued that she’d be making meals for her kids anyway and that a couple more weren’t any bother. Who could argue with that? Especially given how great her food was.
He spotted the lasagna and smiled. Maybe tonight wasn’t going to be all bad after all. The house was quiet. Nikki was resting. And he had food. Good food at that.
But, even as the thought flickered through his head, he realized he didn’t actually trust the peace. It was too much to hope he’d seen the worst that the night was going to deal him. And the waiting made him edgy. Not even acknowledging the calm was temporary helped him embrace it. The other shoe was going to drop. And it was going to land hard when it did. Every creak of the house made him twitch. And every noise from outside was amplified, demanding his complete attention. Even the clock conspired against him, marking each minute as it passed, reminding him that even sleeping beauty hadn’t slept forever.
Finally, when the scent of the cooking cheese and tomato sauce filled the house, the doorbell chime broke the insidious silence. Looking at the clock, he smiled to himself. It was too late for visitors. At least, visitors unrelated to his current houseguest. Good. Maybe he’d be able to work off a little of his tension before he had to face Nikki again. The doorbell chimed a second time and he rushed to the door before it could wake up his guest. Nothing could be worse than dealing with her right now.
Then again, he could be wrong. He swore softly when he opened the door and saw Nikki’s Uncle Gus standing next to a man he didn’t recognize. A man who was wearing a business suit. Who wore a business suit this time of night?
He didn’t even bother with pleasantries as he kept the door open just wide enough for him to see them. “What?”
“Isaac Marrow, I’m Agent Jacob Phinney.” The man in the business suit offered him his hand as Gus decided to study an invisible speck on his shoe.
“And?” Isaac ignored the hand, choosing to keep his grip firmly on the door instead. The agent didn’t look like the rushing type, but he wasn’t going to take the chance.
“And your momma called and asked us to come fetch Nikki.” Gus’ voice drew his attention away from the agent.
“I’m not going to just hand her over.”
“Then you’ll be charged with kidnapping,” Jacob said sternly.
“Which agency is it that you work for, Agent Phinney?”
The man pulled a badge from his pocket and flashed it at him.
“I didn’t think kidnapping fell under the DEA’s jurisdiction,” Isaac challenged.
“I didn’t say I would be the one pressing the charges. I have friends I could call at the FBI, but I was hoping to resolve this quietly. Out of respect for the family.”
“And which family is it you’re respecting?” Isaac wasn’t handing Nikki over to anyone connected to her father.
“Nikki’s.”
Well now, that didn’t exactly clarify anything. “And how are you connected to Nikki’s family?” Isaac asked. He didn’t know w
ho this Phinney was, but he wouldn’t put it past Rathe to have connections in the DEA. That would explain why, even though Rathe didn’t bother hide how deep in the drug trade he was, the agency was always coming up empty.
“I’m her brother-in-law. And right now, my darling wife is demanding your blood. It’d go a lot better for you if you’d just give Nikki up.”
Izzy was married to a human? And a DEA agent as well? With her past, it appeared opposites really did attract.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
He turned at the soft voice behind him. He’d almost forgotten about his intense attraction to her when she’d been asleep and out of sight, but now that Nikki was standing in front of him, the hunger returned. His blood warmed at just the sight of her. Her hair was rumpled with sleep and her soft curves were an alluring contradiction to the masculine shirt that hid them. It was a fashion statement that would have brought him to his knees under any other circumstances. But he only had time to skim her attire before focusing on the heated anger that still shimmered in her eyes.
“Why can’t you let me go?”
At her voice the two men pushed past him and he could do nothing but watch as the agent brother-in-law pulled her close to him in a relieved hug. “Izzy is worried sick.”
Nikki brushed off the other man’s attention, though, and stayed focused on Isaac. It was a look that flayed him to the core. “I’m fine.”
But her voice was rough and her eyes were red like she’d been crying. The thought sent a wave of pain through him like a punch to his chest.
“She’ll be happy to see that herself. We’re here to take you home,” Jacob said, his voice ringing with authority.
“You will not leave this house without my permission, Nicola.” Isaac made sure his direct command left no room for interpretation.
Jacob, human as he was, had no idea what he was stepping into, though. “Look, I don’t know what you think—”
Gus’ hand on Jacob’s arm stopped the man’s speech. “She’s bound. If he says she stays then she can’t leave.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Isaac’s smile was forced and cold. “She’s here voluntarily. Tell them you don’t want to leave.”
She was going to kill him. The glare she leveled at him was a promise of that. It’d be slow and painful. “I don’t want to leave.” He wasn’t surprised that the words were forced through her clenched jaw. He could make her say them, but he couldn’t make her mean them. He was surprised, however, by what she did next. Instead of scurrying away from him, she took the two steps that separated them and wrapped an arm suggestively around his waist. “The fun’s just starting, isn’t it, sweetheart?”
This development couldn’t be good. Still, if it would help get the other men out of his house…
“See.” His voice was steady despite his inner turmoil. “Now, I’m sure you two can find your own way out before I call the authorities.”
Gus looked at Nikki as he held a finger up to Isaac, requesting silence. “Should we leave?”
Damn if she didn’t purr as she rose to her tiptoes in order to run her tongue down the side of Isaac’s throat. There was no stopping his reaction to her. Even trying to fight it was useless. His body still remembered her magic—still craved it, and it relished the attention she was lavishing on him, regardless of motivation. He groaned deep in his throat and, needing her closer, he pulled her against him as his cock hardened. God, she felt so good. Pure hell wrapped in a delicious slice of heaven.
She leaned away from him, but even the inch was too much space between them. He had to have her next to him. “Yes.” Her smile was evil as she turned her attention to her uncle. “I think I’ve got things under control here.”
Gus nodded slowly but then turned to him again. “Tell her she can call us if she needs anything.”
Was that all it would take to get them to leave? “You can call them anytime you wish.”
She took a step away from him and it was all he could do to let her go. His hands shook with the need to reach out to her and he longed for the smell of clove and cinnamon that clung to her hair. “What a gentleman you are.”
“I honestly want to make this as easy on you as possible.”
She laughed harshly. “You’ll have to forgive my cynicism.”
Jacob was watching their conversation carefully, judging each word. “I don’t like this, Nic. If you want me to stay, just say the word.”
“No. You should go. Tell Izzy I’m fine.” Then her attention went to Gus. “I can take care of myself.”
He could certainly attest to that. What had she done to him? She shouldn’t have been able to use her magic against him. That was one of the many benefits to having someone bound. “I won’t let anything hurt her, I promise.” His voice was raw, wild, but the promise was for him. He didn’t really care if they believed him.
The two men looked at her uncomfortably but didn’t say anything. “You should go now,” Nikki continued. “He’s not going to tell me why I’m his guest in front of you.”
They were reluctant, but they did finally leave. Not that that made things better for Isaac. Now he was alone with a nearly naked seductress who wanted him dead. And damn if he still didn’t want to rip that shirt off and fuck her against the wall.
Chapter Three
Fury burned in the pit of her stomach. And she welcomed it. Its heat dulled the sharp hunger that’d been buried deep in her core since she’d woken up. How could she still want him? He’d specifically put her into a vulnerable state just to betray her. That wasn’t the kind of guy a girl wastes fantasies over.
And yet, she was.
It only pissed her off more. But if she had to be pissed off and sexually frustrated, the least she could do was share the misery. And if the look on his face was anything to go by, she was succeeding marvelously.
“What’s happened to me?” he asked as soon as the door closed.
She probably should feel some guilt at the sound of confusion mixed with pain in his voice. Should, but didn’t. “You drank seductress blood,” she answered simply. “How does it feel?” Stepping close to him once more, she ran the tip of one finger down the front of his chest. “Is it a roaring fire burning what little is left of your soul to ash, or is it an icy dullness reminding you that you’ll never be whole if I’m not there?” For her, it was ice. She needed the warmth of his body on her, against her, in her so badly she hurt with it.
“Fire. God, how do I make it stop?” Turning his back to the wall, he leaned against its strength as if his whole world had just been shaken.
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve had the stuff running through my veins longer than I can remember.”
“But you shouldn’t be able to use your magic against me. The bond—”
“This has nothing to do with the bond and I’m not using my magic against you.” Needing the space as much as he did, she took a step away from him. He reached out to her but quickly caught himself, snatching his hand back to his side. “You drank my blood. I’m a seductress, what did you think my magic would feel like? Rainbows, unicorns and fairy dust?”
He slid down the wall and then wiped a hand over his face. “What now?”
She took a deep breath and counted to ten before opening her mouth. He wasn’t the only one struggling to control his emotions. “Its hold will lessen—with time and space. It would help if we talked about something else.”
“Distraction. That’s a good idea. Know much about football, baseball, middle-aged college coaches who are losing their hair and have a beer gut that enters rooms before they do?”
She laughed at the image. He may very well be an ass, but at least he had a sense of humor.
She rolled her eyes at the thought. He was not a likeable person, not while he held her against her will, and she refused to see him as one. “You could tell me what this is all about. Something tells me it’s a mood-killer.” She braced a hand on
her hip as she stood waiting for an answer.
“Okay.” He looked up at her then shook his head like he was trying to clear it. “Do you remember Molly Marrow?” The name was familiar. “You used to play at her house—when you were young.” He was staring at her intently. This was important. He expected her to remember. “She had brown hair, brown eyes, was shy.”
Suddenly the memory slammed into place. “She loved to have tea parties and her dolls always had new dresses.” They had been friends. But it’d been Molly’s mom that’d… “No.” She was ashamed at how weak the word sounded, like a whispered plea. She wasn’t weak. Looking him in the eye, she forced strength back into her voice. “You don’t enslave someone over a friendship they had two decades ago.”
He smirked cynically. “Friendship?”
“Yes. Friendship.”
“Good. Then knowing your father has her should motivate you to help.”
Her father had Molly? Little, sweet Molly? Why? Nikki hadn’t been lying, or even exaggerating, when she’d said Molly had been her friend. They’d been best friends a lifetime ago. Nikki had actually sworn she’d protect the weaker girl back when they were young. She’d still do anything she could to help Molly. But her father couldn’t possibly know that, which meant he couldn’t be holding Molly in the hopes of getting Nikki. And Nikki couldn’t imagine Molly’s magic being anything her father would need badly enough to risk pissing off the all-powerful Marrow family. Molly was cool. She was a good person. But the rest of the family was power-obsessed and ruthless. Even as strong as her father was, the Marrows would prove a challenge.
“My father may be evil.” She raised a hand to stop Isaac as he opened his mouth to say something. “Okay, so maybe he’s worse than evil. Evil would probably look all cute and fluffy standing next to him. But he’s not an idiot. Taking a Marrow would be bad for business. Why would he—” Her question stopped suddenly when the lights went out and blackness crashed around them. The panic she’d been ignoring since she’d awoken in a strange bed resurfaced in full force and cooled both the anger and hunger eating at her control. “I take it your electric bill is paid up?” She hoped her voice was steady. She was strong, a survivor. She could deal with anything.
Bond Betrayed Page 3
