by Carla Cassidy, Evelyn Vaughn, Harper Allen, Ruth Wind, Cindy Dees
Up until now Nick had had very little interaction with her. A pleasant nod, a brief hello was all they’d shared in the past. But the game was about to change. She might be the key to bringing down Jonas.
He stared at the photo. It had been taken with a long lens from quite a distance away, but the lab had worked its magic to give him a photo that appeared to have been taken mere feet from her.
She’d been captured just before getting into her car after one of her classes at the nearby college. Her shoulder-length chestnut-colored hair framed her pretty features and her green eyes sparkled with life. She was slender, but not without feminine curves.
The picture had been taken by another agent during the ordinary course of building an up-to-date dossier on Jonas. In truth Nick knew little about her other than she had been sheltered most of her life and was now a grad student in computer science at Florida International University.
He touched her face with the tip of his index finger, a flash of adrenaline spiking through him.
Even though Nick felt that he was on the verge of being invited into Jonas’s confidence, he’d known his superiors were getting tired of waiting for something to happen where Nick’s undercover job was concerned. He wasn’t surprised that they wanted Nick to turn up the heat by targeting Lynn.
Yes, she just might be the ticket to the arrest and conviction of Jonas. All Nick had to do was seduce her—become her lover and her confidant. Not exactly the worst assignment he could draw.
He knew that part of the reason he’d been tapped for this particular job was because he was young and was considered to be handsome and charming, when he wanted to be. He had a reputation for being a ladies’ man. A reputation built on the fact that Nick had enjoyed the company of a variety of women.
He slid the photo back in the folder, finished his coffee, then reluctantly went inside and prepared to leave his little sanctuary. There wasn’t much to do in preparation for leaving. He only managed to spend time here briefly and only when Jonas was out of town.
Officially Nick lived in a luxury apartment with closets filled with silk suits and Italian-leather shoes, all bought and paid for by Jonas, who was a generous employer.
Seducing the lovely Lynnette wouldn’t be easy. Jonas guarded her as if she were a precious artifact that might shatter if out of his control. But Nick didn’t get his reputation as a superagent by backing away from difficult situations.
The other thing Nick had to consider was that if he struck up a relationship with Lynn and it went bad, then it was quite possible Jonas would fire him to get him out of her life.
Nick assumed his superiors had considered this risk and were willing that he take it in an effort to move the investigation forward more quickly.
It was early evening when he changed out of his jeans and T-shirt and into a gray suit and black dress shirt and headed for Jonas’s place. He had a tidbit of information he knew would only serve to ingratiate him further into Jonas’s confidence.
By this time Jonas should be settled in and they should already have eaten the evening meal. Hopefully it was a perfect time to drop in.
As he drove toward the luxury mansion, he thought again of his new directive. Time to play Post Office. He’d kissed the prettiest girl in the sixth grade in a game of Post Office at a birthday party when he’d been eleven years old.
This game of Post Office wouldn’t be as innocent. Nick wasn’t particularly thrilled at the prospect of using any woman as a tool, but Lynnette might be the only way to get to her godfather. The stakes were too high, and Jonas White had to be brought down.
Jonas and his goddaughter lived like royalty. The mansion they called home was a self-sustaining compound complete with backup generators, intensive security and luxuries most people only dreamed about.
Although Nick had been in the house on occasion, there were many of the thirty rooms that he’d not been in, rooms that he knew contained the heart of Jonas’s illegal operations. Hopefully Lynnette White would be his key into those rooms.
He pulled up before the heavy iron gate and punched in the security code that would allow him entry. When his car went through, the gates closed behind him and he pulled around the circular driveway and stopped before the front door of the house.
He was aware of the fact that his approach had been watched by dozens of guards. As head of security, Nick had hired the men who were responsible for the safety of Jonas and the members of the household.
He also couldn’t help but notice another car in the driveway, one he recognized as belonging to Richard Dunst. Nick grimaced with distaste. Dunst had also been on the FBI radar for years. He was another man who needed to be brought down and put behind bars for the rest of his life.
Nick’s knock on the front door was answered by Rita Batista, the housekeeper. Her broad face lit with a smile as she ushered him inside the foyer. “Good to see you, Mr. Nick. I’ll tell Mr. Jonas that you wish to speak with him,” she said. Even though she’d been in the United States for years, her voice still held the heavy accent of her Cuban roots. “He and Mr. Richard and Miss Lynn are in the family room.”
She disappeared, leaving Nick to cool his heels in the foyer. Although Nick knew what he had to do where Lynnette was concerned, he also knew that particular directive would take time and finesse and would best be accomplished when Jonas left town once again and Miss Lynn would be more vulnerable.
He smiled as Jonas approached him, a hand stretched out in greeting. “Nick…how are you?”
Nick grabbed his hand in a firm handshake. “I’m fine, sir. And welcome home.”
“Thank you. I love traveling, but it’s always good to come home and touch base.” At sixty-three years old and standing over six feet tall, Jonas was a daunting figure in spite of the fact that his black hair had become more sparse in recent years. His dark eyes held not only a keen intelligence, but also a soulless quality that could chill to the bone.
He was dressed in a pair of tan dress slacks and beige-and-white shirt that probably cost as much as Nick’s little cottage.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your homecoming celebration, but I have a bit of information I thought might interest you.” Just as Nick suspected, Jonas’s dark eyes lit in anticipation.
“Come into the study,” he said, and led Nick toward the room that was most familiar. It was in the impressive study that Nick usually met with Jonas for security updates and other business.
Jonas gestured Nick into a chair in front of the ornate mahogany desk, but remained standing himself. He looked at Nick expectantly.
“It’s come to my attention through certain contacts that the Marconi family is about to splinter into two warring factions,” Nick said. He knew Jonas wouldn’t ask about his source of the information, knew that Jonas was aware of Nick’s background as the youngest son of a powerful organized-crime family in Miami.
Although Jonas had no specific ties to any organized-crime faction, he liked having an inside source inform him about what was going on and who was in power. Jonas was always looking for a way to exploit or gain strength in the underworld where he functioned.
Jonas’s dark eyebrows pulled together in a speculative frown. “Interesting.”
“My sources tell me Marconi’s right-hand man, Ricky Sanford, is disgruntled and overly ambitious and is about to set up business on his own. I’d say within the next week he’ll either be dead or in control.”
“And if you were a betting man?”
“I’d bet that he’ll take control,” Nick said.
Jonas nodded. “I appreciate you bringing this to me, Nick,” he said as Nick got up from the chair.
Jonas clapped him on the back as the two of them walked out of the study. “Why don’t you go on inside the family room and keep Lynn company for a few minutes while I have a little chat with Richard.”
Nick was surprised by the suggestion. Normally Jonas would have thanked him and walked him to the front door. He realized that his information h
ad done just what he’d hoped it would do…move him further into Jonas’s confidence.
They walked together to the family room where Lynn sat on one end of a deep burgundy leather sofa and Dunst sat on the other end.
Lynn looked distinctly uncomfortable. It was difficult to discern whether Dunst was uncomfortable or not. Nick had never seen his facial features display any kind of emotion at all.
“Richard…we need to talk,” Jonas said and indicated the bald man should follow him back to the study. “Nick, say hello to Lynnette.”
“Hello, Lynnette,” Nick said and smiled at the beautiful young woman he hoped to seduce and use to bring down the empire of the man who had raised her.
Chapter 2
“Lynn, honey, keep Nick company while Richard and I talk in the study.”
Lynn watched in panic as Jonas and Richard left the room. She stood, a ripple of nervous energy making it impossible for her to remain seated. “Good evening, Mr. Barnes,” she forced out the words. “Would you care for a drink?”
“Sure, a scotch on the rocks would be great, and, please, make it Nick.” He smiled, a lazy, sexy smile, and Lynn felt a curl of heat unfurl in her stomach. He had the nicest voice, deep and smooth.
She moved to the wet bar in the corner of the room, grateful to have something to do. She’d never spent any real time with Nick, had only seen him on brief occasions over the two years he’d worked for Jonas. But something about him always made her nervous.
Maybe it was because the man was far too good-looking, with his thick, dark hair and brooding, dark eyes. He wore a suit better than any man she’d ever seen and the first time she’d seen him in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, her heart had stutter-stepped at the vision.
It wasn’t just his physical appearance she found appealing. Self-confidence oozed from him, and she had the feeling that he was a man who never suffered shyness or any feeling of inadequacy. Her natural shyness kicked into high gear.
She poured his drink, then walked back to where he still stood, his dark eyes watching her intently. “Please, sit down,” she said as she handed him the drink.
“After you.” He swept his hand toward the sofa where she’d been sitting before he’d arrived.
She sank down on the buttery-soft leather couch and tried to ignore the flutter in her stomach as he sat next to her, too close for comfort. The familiar shyness built to tormenting proportions as they sat for a moment in uncomfortable silence.
“How’s grad school? Jonas says you’re doing very well.”
A shaft of surprise swept through her. Jonas talked about her to Nick? For the first time she realized Nick’s position with her godfather was apparently closer than she had thought. “It’s good. I enjoy it.”
“Computer science, right?”
“Right.” She didn’t look at him, but could feel his gaze on her face. The scent of his cologne whispered in the air from his direction, an intensely pleasant scent.
She was vaguely surprised that Jonas had invited Nick to stay, definitely surprised that he’d left her in charge of entertaining him. It was a break from routine that was both unexpected and more than a little bit exhilarating.
“What else do you like to do, Lynnette, besides school?”
She forced herself to turn her head and look at him in an attempt to overcome her shyness.
She couldn’t very well tell him she loved breaking into museums and homes and eluding security guards. She certainly couldn’t tell him that she loved to run faster than the wind with a prized treasure tucked in her pocket.
“I don’t know. I enjoy meeting at the Coffee Cloister with my friends. I like designing video games on the computer. I like going for drives in my car.” He had the darkest eyes and the longest eyelashes. She averted her gaze and stared at the pattern of the Oriental rug on the floor.
“Late-night drives,” he said softly.
She jerked her head up to look at him once again. Did he know? Had he somehow figured out what she did on those nights she left the house in the dark? As head of security he would know that she occasionally sneaked out of the house when Arturo and Rita were sound asleep.
He smiled at her obvious look of panic. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. Is it a guy? Are you dating somebody Jonas wouldn’t approve of?”
Her panic subsided as quickly as it had risen. “No, it’s nothing like that,” she said in relief. She felt the blush that swept over her cheeks. “I just like to take long drives at night. I have insomnia, and a drive in the car always relaxes me. Jonas is so overly protective. If he knew, he’d worry.” That wasn’t exactly true. Of course Jonas knew she left the house at night to conduct the work that was so important.
“So, no boyfriend?”
“No…there’s nobody special.”
His gaze swept over her slowly, languidly. “That’s surprising. I’d think somebody like you would have dozens of men knocking down your door. No boyfriend.” He smiled once again, that sexy smile of his. “I guess that’s good news for me.”
He had a nice smile, one that involved all his features. The center of his dark eyes sparkled, and the chiseled lines of his face softened with the gesture. Once again she looked down at the rug as his words caused her heart to beat a strange, new rhythm.
“Ah, good. I see Lynn got you a drink,” Jonas said as he returned to the room with Richard Dunst trailing behind him. “Lynn, honey, why don’t you make me another one. Richard?”
“Nothing for me.”
As the men settled into chairs, Lynn returned to the bar. What she’d like to do was escape to her room and think about how Nick’s gaze had caused her to feel momentarily naked…and excited.
She’d like to think about what Nick had meant by his words. That’s good news for me. The words played and replayed in her mind as she fixed Jonas his usual gin and tonic.
Minutes later they sat and listened as Jonas regaled them with his latest escapades from his travels. Jonas loved an audience, but Lynn had heard most of his stories a hundred times before.
It was easy for her to tune him out and instead focus her attention on Nick. With the simple words he had spoken, he had captured her attention as he never had before. She knew he’d worked for Jonas for a couple of years, knew that Jonas seemed to be depending on Nick more and more, but that was all she knew about him.
There was a part of Lynn that knew she’d be smart to be wary of him. When it came time for somebody to take over Jonas’s defense contracting work and import/export business interests, she didn’t intend for that person to be anyone but herself.
Maybe he’d just been brown-nosing her, sucking up to the boss’s daughter. All her life Jonas had warned her about people taking advantage of her. He’d ingrained in her the fact that her position as his goddaughter and her unusual special talents put her at risk.
Still, whether Nick was sucking up to her or not, she couldn’t control the slight shivery warmth he created inside her when he looked at her with those dark brown eyes of his.
In truth, she was tired of being wary, of not having a life. She knew Jonas wanted only the best for her, but lately she’d been chafing at her confines, hungry for new experiences and to get a taste of real life.
“I’ll be flying out again first thing in the morning.”
Lynn focused back on the conversation in time to hear Jonas. “So soon?” she asked in dismay. He’d only just gotten home. They’d hardly had an opportunity to talk to each other.
“Sorry, honey. You know the state of world affairs. My work is more important than ever right now.” Jonas finished his drink and set his glass on the marble-topped table next to his chair.
“Where are you off to?” Nick asked.
“Here and there.” Jonas smiled enigmatically. “I’m afraid I can’t be more specific than that.”
“Are you traveling with him?” Nick asked of Richard.
“No. I’ll be taking care of things here while Jonas is away.” Although not a mus
cle in Richard’s face moved, his hazel eyes were cold…reptilian as he stared at Nick.
Richard gave Lynn the creeps. He’d worked for Jonas for as long as Lynn could remember and he’d always given her the creeps. She’d often wondered why he shaved his head, and she thought he wore colored contacts, although she couldn’t be sure.
She was grateful when Jonas called an end to the evening and both Nick and Richard departed, leaving her and her godfather alone.
“I wish you didn’t have to leave so soon,” she said. She loved it when Jonas was in the house. He breathed life into the otherwise silent tomb they called home.
“You know I hate it when I have to leave you, baby.” Jonas gazed at her affectionately. “But duty calls and you know how important my work is. Not just to me, but to our country.”
“I know. I’m just so lonely when you’re away.”
Jonas got up from his chair and joined her on the sofa. He placed an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into an embrace. “I know you get lonely, and I wish I could do something to help ease that loneliness. But you also know how dangerous it is for you to get too close to anyone. Casual friends are fine, but anything else is dangerous for you.”
Yes, she knew. She’d cut her teeth on the fear that Jonas had instilled in her for as long as she could remember. Closeness bred familiarity, and familiarity bred the sharing of secrets. Jonas had warned her that telling her secrets could get her in trouble. She sighed and felt the familiar restlessness ripple through her.
“We’ve talked about this many times,” Jonas said.
“You’re special and the very things that make you special also put you at risk to be kidnapped or worse.” He tightened his arm around her. “If anything ever happened to you, I’d be lost. You must be careful, Lynn, and you should trust nobody.”
“I know…I know.”
“I have a little news that might cheer you up.” He released her and stood once again. “I’ve been in touch with our contact, who has been in touch with the Egyptian government concerning a certain artifact that needs to be recovered.”
