Under Pressure

by Lori Foster

  Wearing an evil smile, Sahara paced the room. “You should know, Catalina. I am a mean, mercenary bitch.”

  Intrigued by that, Justice leaned forward. “Really?”

  “No, she’s not,” Leese stated. “Sahara, take a breath.”

  “Mean,” Sahara insisted, still moving angrily around the room. “Mercenary. Bitch.” She strode over to stand facing Cat. “And you need to understand that I will use this to my advantage.”

  Again, Cat glanced at Leese. When he shrugged, she turned back to Sahara. “How?”

  “I’ll ensure that you’re protected,” she promised. “And I’ll do everything I can to see that Georgia Bell gets justice.” On those insane heels, she crouched down beside Cat. “But that also means exposing every bastard involved, including, if necessary, your stepfather. The entire world will know what happened, the men—their livelihoods, their businesses—will likely be destroyed in the process. And this agency will take full credit for bringing them down. I will scrape up every bit of promotion I can to further our reputation as the best.”

  The overwhelming possibilities left Cat wide-eyed and shaken, but she didn’t falter. She accepted that Georgia deserved retribution.

  But Cat didn’t yet realize that she did too.

  “Anyone and everyone involved in hurting that girl needs to pay the consequences,” Cat whispered. “Whatever they are.”

  “Excellent! Then we’re in agreement.” Rising gracefully again, Sahara smiled. “Now share the other names.”

  Pale, Cat shook her head. “I...I don’t remember.”

  Sahara gave it quick thought, then shrugged. “Fine. I can start with your father.”

  “Stepfather.” Appearing both fearful and guilty, Cat nodded. “And...okay.”

  Sahara turned her flinty blue eyes on Leese, taking note of the way he continued to hold Cat’s shoulders. “Is there anything you’d like to tell me?”

  He shrugged. “You’re astute, Sahara. Do I really need to spell it out?”

  She sighed. “And if I had a problem with this—”

  “Then I’d understand and move on.” But he wouldn’t abandon Catalina.

  “Don’t be so dramatic. I have big plans for you.” With a look of acceptance, she warned, “I’ll want a full report. Soon.”

  To keep the peace, Leese nodded. But before he verbally made promises, he’d see what Catalina had to share. She knew the other men, he was sure of it. Would she trust him enough to tell him everything? And once she did, what then?

  No idea. He knew what Sahara wanted, but he’d do whatever was best for Cat.

  “They know you’re here. Both of you. That much was clear.” Sahara paced away, a vibrating bundle of energy. “Even though it’s secure, we’ll want to throw them off to give you a little breathing room. So I have an idea.”

  Very unsure of any plan she might contrive, Leese said, “Care to share with the class?”

  “We’re going to get each female employee to hide behind a scarf and glasses, then scatter in different directions—” she fluttered her fingers “—to all corners of the city and beyond. How fun will that be?”

  “Fun?” Cat twisted her hands together. “Not fun at all. More than anything it sounds dangerous. I don’t want to risk anyone else.”

  “We’ll take care. Don’t worry. And unless they have a lot of people out there watching us, they won’t be able to follow everyone.”

  Cat asked, “How many female employees do you have here?”

  “Counting me?” Sahara grinned. “Ten. But currently in the building? Only seven. It’ll have to do, even though they’re not all bodyguards. For a case like this, we need everyone on deck.” Before anyone could question her participation, she went to the door and summoned Enoch. “Could I beg an enormous favor from you?”

  Already to his feet, Enoch said, “Of course. What is it?”

  “I need you to round up all the ladies, and then you’ll need to run across the street to that decadent little boutique and do some fast shopping.”

  * * *

  TWO HOURS LATER, Enoch escorted them to the penthouse apartment. Leese wasn’t sure what to expect, but he could tell that Cat was at the end of her rope. She needed some downtime, so the accommodations no longer mattered.

  Trembling from head to toe, Cat entered the private elevator. “You’re sure she’ll be okay?”

  Enoch looked as worried as Cat, so Leese reassured them both. “She has Justice with her.”

  Using an exclusive keycard, Enoch pressed the button to access the penthouse. “You said he’s new.”

  Enoch stood a foot shorter than Leese, and probably didn’t weigh a whole lot more than Catalina. But he had a keen intelligence, an aptitude for fast learning, was loyal to the core and often seemed to know what needed to be done long before being told. Leese liked him, and better than that, he trusted him.

  “Justice is new to being a bodyguard, but he’s a veteran at kicking ass. He can handle things, believe me.” Justice might not have been refined enough to win a title belt, but few could ever reach that elite status. Match him up to any four or five street fighters, and he’d annihilate them.

  “They’re in your car.” Cat stood in the corner, her gaze on the elevator numbers, her face set. “They’re going to be the obvious ones to follow. Tesh and his crew will—”

  “Scatter to cover their bases in case we’re pulling a fast one, just as Sahara said. They won’t take chances. But Sahara took the car on purpose,” he reminded them, “because Justice can damn well handle himself. Now stop fretting, both of you.”

  At the uppermost floor, the elevator stopped and the doors opened directly into a secure vestibule with yet another locked door. On one of the walls, a sconce lit the area. On the other wall, a heavy door opened to private stairs.

  Seeing the direction of his gaze, Enoch said, “The stairs are necessary in case of a fire.”

  Leese valued the multiple barriers.

  Enoch removed an actual key and opened two different locks, one in the doorknob, the other a dead bolt. “I have duplicate keys for you,” he said to Leese while avoiding Cat’s gaze. “And you should know there are around-the-clock guards at the elevator and stairs on the lobby level. They protect Sahara from anyone reaching her office on the floor below.”

  He’d already been aware of that, but appreciated the reminder for Cat’s benefit.

  Opening the door, Enoch added, “I’ve been in charge of the upkeep here. No one has been here unescorted, not even the monthly cleaning crew. I’m always here if anyone needs to get in the suite, and I can promise you it’s safe.” He stepped back and allowed Cat and Leese to enter.

  Wow. Cat, who was used to such decadence, only said, “This is very nice.”

  Leese didn’t know what the hell to think. Towering ceilings with massive hanging lights, floor-to-ceiling windows with an astounding view, open spaces, a central fireplace... He looked around, taking it in.

  “The kitchen has everything you need, pots and pans, dishes, canned goods...everything except for perishables. If you’d like to make up a grocery list, I can take care of that for you.” He strode to an elaborate bar. “The liquor is stocked, so please help yourself.”

  Cat dropped her purse and coat on a massive contemporary couch overloaded with pillows, then wandered to the expanse of windows to look out at the city. “I bet this is stunning at night.”

  “It is,” Enoch confirmed. “Would you like to see the bedrooms?”

  Multiple rooms? Leese immediately wondered if Cat would prefer to sleep with him again.

  Insane as he knew it to be, he hoped so.

  Following behind the two of them, he lost track of the penthouse layout because his attention zeroed in on Cat’s small but perfect ass. As they stepped into one room, he manag
ed to concentrate.

  “This is the master suite.”

  The enormous room boasted more floor-to-ceiling windows, a sitting area, a flat screen TV and an oversize bed with decadent bedding. Leese barely resisted the urge to whistle.

  “There’s a bathroom through that door.” Enoch opened another door to show off a walk-in closet big enough to be a room of its own. “Clothes are still in the closet, including some things for a female. As Sahara said, help yourself, although there are more things in the guest bedroom.”

  “If this was her brother’s room,” Cat whispered, “maybe we shouldn’t use it.”

  “Sahara isn’t shy. If that had been her preference, she’d have said so.” Enoch lifted a remote from the nightstand and closed the drapes, then opened them again. “Mr. Silver worked hard at making this space exactly as he liked it. It has all the bells and whistles you could imagine. I think in some ways, Sahara enjoys the idea of it being used again. She just can’t bear to be the one doing so.” He turned and headed out, so Cat and Leese followed.

  “This room is a library-slash-television-slash-gaming room. The Wi-Fi is secure, so feel free. Every television in every room is connected to the satellite for the building, so you’ll have plenty of choices on what to watch. This television, of course, is set up for theater-style viewing. And if you open the cabinet under the TV in here, you’ll find some gaming systems and the most popular games.” Again walking, he led them to another room. “This is the guest suite.”

  Leese peeked inside. This bedroom had more padded furniture instead of the heavy wood. No seating area, but a cushioned window seat.

  Enoch smiled gently at Cat. “There’s another connecting bathroom, and inside you’ll find makeup, nail polish...a plethora of toiletries preferred by ladies. Again, please help yourself.”

  “I couldn’t,” Catalina said. “If they belonged to her brother’s girlfriend—”

  “No one special,” Enoch assured her. “Mr. Silver had many girlfriends, and he was far from ready to settle down. Sahara would have thrown everything away, except she seldom comes in here because of the memories.”

  Ill at ease, Cat nodded. “Thank you.” She sat on the edge of the full-size bed, stroking one hand over the plush comforter. “It’s very nice.”

  So she’d be choosing the guest room? Looked like. Leese didn’t like it, but he wouldn’t protest. More than anything, he wanted her to be comfortable. She’d earned herself a break from worry.

  “Please,” Enoch said, “use whatever you like. Sahara will like it if you do.”

  Catalina bit her lip, then reluctantly agreed. “All right then. I’d actually love to.”

  “Wonderful.” Enoch looked genuinely pleased. “Any questions, don’t hesitate to let me know.”

  “I have a few.” Leese glanced at Cat. “Why don’t you get settled while Enoch and I talk? I’ll be back in a minute.”

  “You’re leaving?”

  The pitch of her voice gave her away—and broke his heart. To reassure her, he stared into her eyes. “Just going into the other room with Enoch.”

  “Oh.” She let out a nervous breath and nodded. “Okay.”

  “Cat? I won’t make any plans without telling you. If I do have to step out, it won’t be for long, and you’ll know beforehand.”

  “Sounds good.” Trying to appear unconcerned, she smiled. “Thanks.”

  Giving up, Leese stepped out and closed the door. Sooner or later she’d stop doubting him.

  “Something private?” Enoch asked.

  “A favor, really. Can you find out for me the nearest place to get a couple of burner phones?”

  Enoch lifted his brows. “Your company phone isn’t working?”

  “It is, but I’d like some prepaids,” Leese explained. “Disposable phones.”

  With no further questions, Enoch explained, “Actually a phone store right across the street offers them. Would you like me to run the errand for you?”

  He shook his head. Leese preferred to do some things himself. “I’ll take care of it, but could you come back in about an hour? Maybe keep Cat company while I’m gone?”

  He flashed a grin. “You mean you want me to ensure she doesn’t budge?”

  “That too.” If need be, Enoch could reinforce Cat’s cooperation by alerting the guards. Or calling Sahara.

  Leese wanted to trust Cat, but she’d already made so many references to booking it, to thinking her best option was to run, that he—

  Peering around the hall, Cat said, “I wouldn’t sneak off.”

  After a roll of his eyes, Leese turned to fully face her. “Eavesdropping?”

  “Yes.” She came out the rest of the way. “And good thing. Enoch doesn’t need more duties piled on him. Seems to me he already has a full plate.”

  Protesting that, Enoch said, “Believe me, Sahara makes it more than worth my while.”

  “I hope so. The scope of your job seems to cover...everything. I don’t want to add to it.”

  “Sahara is the very best boss I’ve ever had. Always polite and caring. She gives me requests, but if I said no, she’d be okay with it. She wouldn’t fire me. So far, though, I’ve never even considered saying no to her. I love this job too much.”

  With fresh curiosity, Leese asked, “Was her brother the same?” Of course he’d known about Scott Silver. The man wasn’t a secret. But Sahara had never really discussed him much.

  “Scott was very similar. They were close and shared a lot of personality traits. Smart, motivated, considerate... Sahara, though, is far more driven, personally and in business. Around her, there’s never a dull moment.” He opened the main door, but hesitated. “She normally doesn’t talk about him at all. She keeps everything inside—she’s super private that way. If you don’t mind, it’d be better if you don’t ask her anything about him.”

  Since Leese was the same, he understood. “Sure.”

  “Thanks.” He stepped out. “I’ll be back in one hour.”

  Soon as he left, Leese turned to Cat. She’d removed her sweater and now wore only jeans, socks and a pullover long-sleeved T-shirt that hugged her modest curves. Somehow, on her, at this particular moment, it looked like the sexiest outfit ever.

  “You doing okay?”

  She nodded, but it was a lie. He saw it on her face, in the darkness of her eyes and the pallor of her skin.

  Taking both her hands in his, he pulled her closer. “Fibber.”

  “I’m here,” she countered. “Safe. I’d call that okay.”

  “You’re chilled.” Her fingers felt like ice. “Want me to adjust the temp?”

  “Did you see that thermostat? It’d take a mathematical genius to figure it out.” She tipped her head back to look up at him. “Besides, my hands and feet are always cold this time of year.”

  Damn, but it was tempting to kiss her, especially since she looked to be waiting on it. Instead he took a step back. “Since we’re going to be playing house, why don’t we go through the kitchen and see what groceries we’ll need? I’ll pick them up while I’m out getting us phones.”

  In silent agreement, she headed that way. “Why do you need the phones? You don’t trust the landlines here?”

  “They’re secure. Sahara would have seen to that.” But trust that no one in the building would listen in? There were a lot of people in an agency this size—too many to vet them all, too many that he didn’t know well. “But I’d still rather you not make any calls. If there’s anyone you want to talk to, let me know.”

  As she stepped into the kitchen she trailed her fingers over the polished granite bar. “You called them burners.”

  “Usually burners mean a phone you use once and toss. I won’t do that, but I will use different phones in different locations so I can mix it up, and once one runs out
of minutes, I’ll be done with it. It’s just a way to up our chances of dodging them. That’s all.”

  “I’m glad you’re more serious about this than Sahara.” She knelt to look in a cabinet, found big bowls and stood again. “I can use one of the phones?”

  “Yes.” He watched her go on tiptoe to open another cabinet. Her body was slim but supple, looking leaner as she stretched.

  This cabinet held staples like salt, flour, sugar and spices. None of that interested her though.

  Curious, Leese folded his arms and asked, “Who do you want to call?”

  She rolled one shoulder. “My brothers first. I don’t know if they’re worried or not, but just in case...” She opened a drawer and found a pen and paper. Drawing them out, she asked, “Can you cook?”

  “Sure. You?”

  “Pretty much.” She wrote on the paper, then went back to checking cabinets.

  Leese stepped closer to read: cereal, milk, cookies, cola... He shook his head. “You’re going to kill yourself eating that—”

  “Shush it.” After glancing in the freezer, she said, “Put ice cream on there too, will you? And maybe chocolate sauce. Or ooh, whipped cream.”

  No, he wouldn’t. “Why don’t you let me take over meals?”

  With an exaggerated shudder, she said, “Because you’ll have me eating tofu or something nauseating like that.”

  “I promise that’s not true.”

  She closed the freezer and opened the fridge. “I need my junk food in times of stress, and Leese?” Glancing over her shoulder, she emphasized, “This is definitely a time of stress.”

  Gently, he wrestled the refrigerator door from her and closed it, then with his hands on her shoulders, he turned her to face him. “Who else will you want to call?”

  On a groan, she said, “So many people.”

  “Let’s hear it.”

  “People at the school. The boy who usually shovels my walk and driveway. I have a neighbor who probably wonders what happened to me. At least he’ll be able to tell me if my house is okay.”

  Every possessive instinct came to attention. Leese tried to ignore the unruly urges, even as he repeated, “He?”