Hitting The Mark

by Jill Monroe

  He was way past irritation now. Anger suffused his body, chasing away the last vestiges of desire. He made the mistake of meeting her eyes again. Apparently he’d made a lot of mistakes. Apparently something she witnessed in his eyes made her nervous. He saw her blanch and take a step back. He didn’t need a woman with punishment on her mind nervous. She reached for a roll of duct tape as she made her way back to the bed. “What are you planning to do with that?”

  Danni held her shoulders stiff with each step toward him. Good. He could still talk to her. Try to calm her down. Get out of these damn ropes.

  Once at the bed, Danni unrolled a long strip of tape.

  “Danni, stop this. You’re making a mistake,” he pleaded.

  Danni shook her head. “I doubt it. You picked the wrong mark, ace.”

  “Mark? What are you talking about?”

  “Someone has to save my father.”

  Alarm raced through his body. She knew. Or at least she thought she knew. He shoved against the rope, he had to make her understand.

  Then he saw the hurt in her eyes. He was such an idiot. He should have gone with his instinct to tell her the truth when they first entered this room. The last thing he’d wanted to do was to hurt her.

  “Danni, whatever it is you think you know, you’re wrong. Let me expl—”

  “Save your explanation. It will all just be more lies.” She held the tape only inches from his mouth.

  He searched for something, anything that could help him. And he spotted the loosened knot around his left wrist. He stopped his struggles. He didn’t want to give her any reason to examine his bonds again.

  But he felt a fear like he’d never felt before in his life. Knew in his gut something was about to go down with Daniel Flynn. The man he’d spotted following Daniel Flynn two days ago was the type of criminal best left locked behind bars. Not near Danni.

  He’d kept her safe by keeping her by his side. But now she could walk into something dangerous, something he did not want her involved in if she left here and tried to warn her father.

  He’d trail her. See where she led him. Then take her to safety. Force her if he had to. First, he’d have to suffer her sticking tape over his mouth. He made a mental note never to get Danni mad at him after this.

  She loomed above him. Anger in her eyes, and just a little sadness. “What is it you once told me, Eric? You didn’t believe in chance. Well, you made a convert. I don’t believe in chance either. Only making my own opportunities. And I’m making one now. You seduced me to get to my father, and now you’re going to pay.”

  He’d cling to the sadness. Maybe after this was all over he could convince her he really loved her.

  Eric couldn’t accept the thought that Danni’s anger would keep her from him forever.

  DANNI SLIPPED OUT of Eric’s hotel room and leaned against the door, sucking in huge gulps of air. She’d done it. She’d semi-seduced Eric and left him tied up. So much for being on the straight and narrow.

  Without a backward glance, she made a run for it. Her father was going to meet Eric, probably here at the casino. No telling what kind of trap he’d laid out for her dad. She had to cut him off before he arrived.

  But where? In the past, before a big con, her father had liked to take a few moments to himself, and get into character. Get into the mark’s head. So where would he go to get into Eric’s head. She’d only provided a few sketchy details of her dates with Eric.

  The Laundromat? No. Then suddenly she realized where her father would be. It all made sense. She flagged a taxi, giving directions to the Reno arch. Reno prided itself on being the biggest little city in the world. If Daniel Flynn pulled this con off, Reno really would be his gateway to the future.

  ERIC COUNTED TO SIXTY before he began working on the weak knot. He didn’t need Danni catching him in the act of escaping. He wiggled his left hand, loosening the knot further. Within minutes, he had the rope off and was working on the others.

  He should be angry. Getting a guy all primed and ready, then leaving him tied up to be found by housekeeping—not a nice thing to do. But then he had to admire a woman who turned the tables on him.

  A shaft of fear spiked through him as he thought of the danger Danni could be putting herself in by trying to save her father. The thugs could be on to her now.

  The last knot undone, he shifted off the bed to retrieve his clothes. Thankfully he’d insisted no surveillance cameras in his suite. Even if he brought Daniel Flynn and the rest of the gang to justice, he’d never be able to live down being tied to a bed and left by an asset.

  Oh, but Danni was way more than an asset. She was his, and he protected what was his. He raced for his cell phone, pressing the speed dial number for his men.

  “Are you tracking her?” he asked without preamble.

  “Yeah, she just got into a cab.”

  “One of ours?” After the hotel’s surveillance cameras spotted her getting into a taxi earlier rather than taking her car, Eric had arranged for one to always be available. Complete with geo-positioning trackers and awaiting only one passenger: Danni Flynn.

  “I need her exact location now. And a car.”

  He slapped the cell shut, and slammed it into his pocket. His job had finally begun.

  DANNI SPOTTED HER FATHER leaning against a building. The flickering lights from Reno’s famous arch reflected off the windshields of nearby cars.

  Daniel opened his eyes when he sensed her approach. “Danni-bear, what are you doing here?” A touch of alarm in his voice.

  She’d never seen her happy-go-lucky father the least bit concerned. Not even when he’d been sentenced to five years in prison. However, she remembered the one time she’d seen him worried. When he’d come to bail her out of jail.

  “I’m trying to stop you.”

  “Now why would you want to do that?” he asked, smiling, his accent turning European. French. His gaze shifted downward. “It’s way too late for that anyway. I’m in too deep.”

  Danni stared her father in the eyes. “You promised.” She spoke quietly, her voice revealing all the pain and disillusionment she’d experienced in the last twenty-four hours.

  Her father’s face turned serious and he reached for her hand. “I know I did. But just think…this is it. This is my chance. I’ve finally hit the long con. No more waitress job for you. I’ll buy you a house, a car. Whatever you need. Hell, whatever you want. Take care of you the way I could never take care of your mother.”

  “I don’t want any of those things. I’m just like Mom—all I ever wanted was just my dad. And to be normal.”

  He shook his head. “We’re Flynns. We’ll never be normal. Why would you even want to be?”

  “Yes, we can. Walk away, Dad. That’s it. Walk away. We have everything we need. Don’t you remember what you’ve always taught me? Cons are only successful because they exploit the victim’s greed. It’s only when we get greedy…that’s when the con goes south.”

  She squeezed her father’s hand. “Let’s just go. Get some coffee or something.”

  Her father took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Relief filled her. Yes. She’d convinced him.

  When he opened his eyes, his expression turned cheeky. “No can do. You don’t even like coffee.”

  Danni bit back at the frustration. “Then let me tell you, Eric’s on to you. He’s a fed. I saw his badge.”

  Instead of her father looking shocked, he simply smiled. “Knew there was something I didn’t trust about that boy.”

  Yeah, Danni remembered Dad’s first warning about Eric, teasing her that he was a con man.

  “It was a setup all along. He used me to get to you.”

  “Sorry about that, Danni-bear. Never practiced a romance con myself. No honor in it. You’re mad?”

  “Hell yes, I’m mad.” She’d keep the whole tying up Eric incident to herself.

  “Good. Then use that anger to your advantage.” He gave her a tight hug. “Join me,” he whispered.
“We can take that casino for all we need. I’m sure you found plenty of spots we can exploit. Just tell them all to Papa.”

  As angry as she was at Eric, she wasn’t even tempted. Something hard rammed into the middle of her back, propelling her into her father’s arms.

  “Sounds like a good idea to me,” said a cold, angry voice behind her.

  “Don’t turn around.” Her father spoke softly into her ear. With a squeeze to her hands, Daniel Flynn looked over her head to address the person. “Parton. Fancy meeting you here,” her father drawled.

  “Cut your act, Flynn. I have a gun aimed at your daughter’s spine. And you know I don’t have a problem with using a gun. Now, this is a touching reunion that I’ve been looking forward to seeing, but you have my money, Flynn, and I’m ready for you to hand it over.”

  Her father smiled, only she could see the effort it was taking him to force that grin. “Sure. Let her go, though, you don’t need her.”

  The man behind her jammed the barrel of the gun into her again. She stifled a gasp. Don’t panic.

  “Let her go? But it’s taken so long to finally find something you care about, Flynn. So not on your life. Or hers.” The man laughed at his own joke. “She goes nowhere.”

  Her father patted her on the cheek. “It’s okay, Danni. Just a little business,” he said, his voice unworried and reassuring.

  She looked into his eyes and saw the truth there. Yeah. They were both going to die.

  Daniel returned his attention to the man with the gun. “Told you before. The money is in Switzerland. You’re welcome to join me to get it. You’ll have to spot me the cash to retrieve it. Just take that out of my share.”

  “Ahhh, Flynn, you’re funny. Not necessary. Found a banker offshore who’ll work the transfer. Let’s go.”

  “Lead the way,” her father invited.

  “No, you in front, so turn around. I’ll give directions.” The man her father called Parton pushed the gun into her back to make her walk. Why, oh why, did her father tell her not to turn around so she could see this man? This unknown, hearing only the chill of his voice was way more intimidating.

  But then, by not knowing his identity, it could be the one small token that could save her life. Cons were funny like that. Life was funny like that.

  Danni worked on swallowing back her fear so she could think.

  Keep a clear head. You’ve been in sticky situations before. Sure, none with a gun at your back, but focus, and do it fast. Once you’re off this street, you’re dead.

  That’s when she saw him. Eric. He lurked in the shadow of a closed storefront, and she almost called out to him. Seeing him untied and dressed and a few feet away from her was almost as satisfying as seeing him naked and tied to the bed.

  Oh, more satisfying. Danni could admit that. Just knowing he was nearby made her feel safer. She should focus on being honest.

  Calmer now, the irony of the situation hit her. This was just great. Now Eric was in a position to save her. She ground her back teeth together. Danni didn’t want him fixing this. She might have to forgive him. She could do her own saving.

  What are you, nuts? It was the adrenaline. Adrenaline rushes always made her thinking turn a tad on the tipsy side. If Eric got her out of this situation, she’d thank him without entertaining the notion of kneeing him in the groin. And then she’d leave him again.

  Tourists and gamblers milled around them, and she lost sight of Eric. Her would-be kidnapper kept himself and his gun plastered to her back. She felt the panic rise within her again, and her gaze buzzed along wildly until she settled on Eric once more.

  Eric pointed to his chest.

  What was he trying to tell her? He mouthed something to her as she and her father slowly walked down the sidewalk. Passersby were oblivious to the scenario surrounding them.

  Big rack?

  It looked as if he was trying to mouth those words. Her mind frantically tried to translate what Eric was trying to tell her. When had they ever discussed the size of her breasts? Or lack thereof?

  Distractions. It hit her. Big racks created distractions. He wanted her to create a distraction. But what kind? Something surprising? Like reaching back and grabbing his package?

  Her heartbeat actually kicked up a notch in fear. She swallowed back the inner giggle of hysteria. Get it together. The package grab was right out. Too sudden. No quick movements with a gun into her back. She didn’t need this slimeball firing the gun into her in shock. Danni’s mind raced through a dozen possible scenarios.

  She could scream. No, same problem applied.

  The begging whimper? Even if her acting skills were up to snuff, she knew in her gut the man behind her had no mercy.

  The flop. The oldest hustle in the book. A quick sinking fall to her knees. That’s all it would take. If the gun went off, the bullet would maybe hit her shoulder. The only scenario she could imagine. So there’d be no spaghetti straps in her future, at least she’d be alive. She knew it had to be done. Her stomach cramped.

  Do it.

  Her mind told her to collapse. Her legs weren’t ready. Her shoulder kept envisioning the burning, tearing sensation she was sure a bullet would cause.

  Eric stood very close to her now, behaving like a guy intent on his cell phone. The man behind her urged her to continue down the busy sidewalk. They were nearing a parking lot. Low lights. Few people.

  It had to be now.

  Her gaze met Eric’s. His brown eyes encouraged her. He believed she could do this. She gave him an almost imperceptible nod, letting him know she was ready.

  Then she fell, pushing her father as she went. The rough pavement of the sidewalk cut into her knees.

  The man behind her swore, then grunted as a large body swiftly took him to the ground. A shot rang out, and her ears burned from the noise.

  Danni braced herself to feel the pain. But nothing came. She turned, wildly searching, only to see Eric grab her attacker’s hand and force the gun to clatter to the sidewalk.

  She crawled toward it. Soon her fingers wrapped around the hot metal. Parton yelped as Eric’s knee jammed into the middle of his back. “You’re under arrest,” he said, his voice forceful and commanding. And every bit the lawman. Two other men raced toward them. Despite their plain clothing, they smelled like cops.

  “Drop the weapon, ma’am,” said the stocky one near her. His gun aimed at her head. If she never saw or felt another gun pointed in her general direction, it would be too soon.

  She gently set the gun on the cement and slid it toward the officer. He tucked it into the back of his waistband, all the while keeping the gun trained on her. “Against the wall.”

  Where had her silent vow of never being handcuffed again gone? With a sigh, she stood and braced herself against the rough brick of the building. She positioned her arms and legs in a V. Yeah, she knew the drill.

  She glanced over to see her father in much the same stance.

  “You did great, Danielle.”

  She rubbed her face against the scratchiness of the brick, trying to hide the evidence of her tears. The officer grabbed her arm, and “escorted” her to the back of the police car. She scanned the faces around her, but she never saw Eric.

  More sirens. Followed by flashing lights, gawkers. The police radio was really hopping so it wouldn’t be long before reporters made their appearance. How long she sat there feeling numb and tired and stupid she didn’t know, but she knew it was Eric when the passenger’s door opened and someone crouched inside to face her.

  Somehow it seemed fitting that she’d be across from him in the back seat of a police car.

  “You’re not under arrest. But you will need to make a statement at the station,” he said gently and sounding very, very tired.

  She bit her lip to keep from sighing in relief. The man had saved her life, but she was hanging on here to her inner control by a thinning thread. For some reason, not letting this man, who’d used her to get this bust, see any emotion from he
r felt important.

  Danni nodded, and looked outside her window. “I understand.”

  “Danni, I—”

  “Great work, Agent Reed,” someone said, slapping him on the back.

  So Reynolds wasn’t his name. Made sense since she had googled him. Using his real name would have tipped her off. She turned her back from the congratulatory scene playing in front of her eyes. All these officers must know how she’d been duped. Duped into falling in love. Duped into sleeping with Eric. Duped into leading him right to her father.

  Now her father would be going to jail. Again, because of her.

  A uniformed cop slid behind the wheel of the squad car. “Agent Reed, the Captain has a few questions.”

  Eric glanced in her direction, his dark eyes probing.

  “Not now,” she said softly, then tilted her head to look outside the window once more. Not now. Not here. Not ever.

  Eric made a noise in the back of his throat as if he wanted to argue with her. But with a nod he left, slamming the car door. She smiled a bitter smile, reveling in the knowledge that if she couldn’t make him love her, she could at least make him mad.

  And she planned to share every detail of that rope-tying scene in her statement to the police.

  15

  “I FOUND HIM.”

  Dirk’s three words were like music to Cassie’s ears. She gripped the phone tighter, thankful she was between patients. “He’s working in a video store at Lake Tahoe. It is Kenny. My old roommate.”

  “Let’s go.” For canceling, she’d give each patient a free session.

  “Cassie, why don’t you let me handle this,” he told her, his voice laced with caution.

  “Not on your life. I want to rip his Internet connection from the wall, then do evil things to him with it a few dozen times. So give me his address.”

  Cassie made the drive to Lake Tahoe in record time, passing and weaving through traffic that would gain even an Indy driver’s respect.

  “Damn,” she said when she turned on to Kenny’s street and found Dirk had already arrived at the home of the man who’d stolen and broadcast some of the most intimate moments of her life. Spite. Greed. She didn’t care. This was all about payback, and screw emotional growth. Hell, this would be spiritual growth.