Tangled Redemption

by Tina Christopher

  “Excellent. Is there anything else or are we good?”

  Miguel scanned his notes. “We’re good right now. I will work through some of the kinks and present you with solutions tomorrow.”

  “Good.” Nasir smiled. “I’m suddenly famished. I’ll grab a late snack and see you for our next briefing.”

  Miguel stored his comp, gave Nasir a short nod and strode out of the room.

  He needed fresh air, needed to breathe without being surrounded by monsters. He marched outside and climbed the narrow steps to one of the smaller defense towers. It gave him an incredible view with no interruptions and the digital surveillance wouldn’t bother him with stupid questions or anything else.

  He sat there and studied the night sky while attempting to find a way to kill an immortal monster.

  * * * * *

  Jayden struggled to push away his guilt as he strode through the metal hallways in search of Nasir. He hadn’t found him in his office and he wasn’t in any of the intel rooms. He pulled out his comp and tagged him.

  “What?”

  “Nasir, I have your delivery.”

  The other Vampire’s face brightened on the screen. “What great timing. I was just about to grab a snack from the pen. Your Naema’s blood will be far more satisfying. Meet me in my quarters.” He disconnected.

  Jayden nearly put his tongue out to the blank screen. “In my quarters—what kind of dickhead says that? Everyone else has a room, but he has quarters,” he muttered under his breath as he turned left and marched up to the private elevator.

  Nasir’s quarters were beside his office, but he was the only one who could access both. Everyone else had to use two separate elevators. Jayden had never been to Nasir’s personal living space.

  For a second he wondered if this was his chance to take him out, but then he pushed that thought aside. He needed to do more scouting. He never went anywhere without his gun nor his knife, but he had no idea how the rooms were laid out. And then there was the fact that for some reason Nasir appeared to be unkillable.

  Until he had more of an idea why, Jayden wasn’t going to risk his cover on a slim chance.

  The elevator doors opened and he stepped into a surprisingly bright open space. The color schemes were neutral and the furnishings appeared comfortable. Everything was still expensive looking, but it appeared to be actually usable.

  Nasir lounged on a chaise, a paper book in his hands. “Why thank you, Jayden.” He nodded to a tray of glasses set out on the coffee table. “Please pour for me, would you?”

  Jayden balled his fist around the cartouche of blood but widened his grin. “Sure thing, man.” He unscrewed the top and poured Sydney’s blood into one of the glasses. The smell filled his senses. He swallowed the saliva pooling in his mouth. Her blood smelled better than anything he had ever had before him.

  “Jayden!”

  Nasir’s sharp bark pulled him back from the brink. He carried the glass to the other man and set it at his side. “Anything else?”

  Nasir smiled. “Not right now. You may want to track down Miguel. We had a lovely conversation about the attack we’re launching day after tomorrow and I believe it would be beneficial if you’re part of the planning.”

  Jayden kept his smile in place and nodded. “Sounds good. I’m sure I’ll see him in a bit anyway, but I’ll check if he needs me right now.”

  Nasir lifted the glass of blood and had his first sip. “Hm, this is good.” He turned the page in the book and appeared busy reading.

  Jayden stopped himself from rolling his eyes, turned around and left the quarters.

  The news about the attack was worrisome. The fact Nasir mentioned it meant it wasn’t one of their usual hauls. There had been rumors among the lieutenants that they were about to take their operation out into the open. If this were indeed the case, it would give him a very, very short window to contact his team and try to stop or at least lessen the slaughter.

  He opened and closed his right hand as he strode through the compound. This could be very bad or the opportunity he needed. Jade only knew which one it would be.

  Chapter Nine

  Sydney woke with a start. She sat up, careful not to disturb the large body sleeping beside her. Miguel lay on his back mostly dressed, his eyes closed. He was breathing deeply, but he did not look as if he were having a peaceful rest. Part of her wanted to reach out and caress him. She was amazed that he had allowed himself to be vulnerable in her presence, but for once she managed to keep a clear head.

  She leaned over without taking her eyes off him. He didn’t move.

  With gentle fingers she lifted the corner of his jacket and a few quick checks confirmed his comp was in the pocket. Glancing between his face and the pocket, she managed to withdraw the comp without waking him.

  Sydney sank back onto her knees, worried about waking him. Her fingers raced across the screen. She’d try reaching Duncan first. If she couldn’t get through to him, she’d contact Malachy. There was little she could say about where she was, but she could share what she knew.

  She typed the command for a StarNet connection three times but couldn’t get through. With a muttered curse she used every trick she knew to circumvent the barricade he’d put up.

  Nothing worked.

  For a moment she didn’t see her hands and the comp but herself, kneeling on the bed glaring at the screen as if that could make it work.

  He was awake.

  Sydney looked up and met his gaze. His black eye held her captive.

  “I have added a type three aura lock,” said Miguel.

  “Onto your comp?” She couldn’t believe he would go to that much effort. The type three meant the comp had internally shut down as soon as her Naema DNA touched the case. She’d never stood a chance.

  “I am aware how skilled you are. I couldn’t risk you getting through.”

  Her shoulders slumped and the comp slid out of her hands. She had been so sure she would get at least some of her data through. In a fit of anger she picked up the comp and hurled it across the room. It slammed into the wall and dropped to the floor.

  Miguel raised his brows.

  “How are you planning to punish me?” she asked.

  He studied her for a moment. Her inability to remain in her body meant she caught glimpses of how he saw her. She had always thought of herself as average, but the sensations coming from him put her in a very different category. The connection wasn’t stable enough for her to identify very much, but he thought of her as beautiful and strong.

  And worthy.

  “I don’t.” His words dropped into the silence of the room like stones.

  Sydney gaped at him. “But I tried to circumvent your security. I went against your orders.”

  He rolled onto his side and came up on his elbow. “You are a warrior. There is no way you’d pass up an opportunity like this and it would be hypocritical of me to punish you for being who you are.”

  Deep inside her something cracked. Her whole life she’d felt like there was something wrong with her. She loved her parents and her three older brothers, but they had never quite known what to do with her when she wandered off and disappeared into her world of numbers. Her relationships tended to be on the short side and usually broke once she stopped holding back and allowed her gift to color her daily life. Marius hadn’t seemed to mind, had appeared as if he found it cute and loveable.

  Yeah, that hadn’t worked out as she had planned or hoped for.

  But Miguel’s admiration and calm acceptance filled parts of her that had always been hollow and brittle. She had no idea how he could believe in her or why his belief filled her like it did. But something inside her didn’t care and pulled her away from her worries and concerns about what she was doing. Chances were she would die very soon. She wanted no regrets.

  Miguel sat up, his eyes never letting go of her, his expression fierce and predatory.

  Her core heated and her nipples hardened. He pulled her close. His l
ips covered hers in a kiss that devastated her senses and turned her world upside down. They came up for breath intermittently but continued to sink deeper and deeper into their exchange.

  He covered her, pushing her back onto the bed, the thin sheet and his clothes between them. Sydney needed to feel him. She pushed and tugged at his shirt until he shrugged out of it, barely halting their kiss. They rolled until she was on top, the sheet tangled between them.

  With a curse she tore it away and straddled him. He grabbed her hips. The sensations of his touch ripped through her senses. Her hands shook as she undid his trousers and freed him from his confinement.

  He cupped her breasts, his thumbs drawing circles around her nipples. Sensations raced through her. She tightened her grip around his cock. They both moaned. He pulled her forward, forcing her to release him, and sucked one nipple into the blazing heat of his mouth. He rolled his tongue over her nipple, pushing her higher and higher.

  Miguel moved over to her other breast. The cool air in the room teased her wet nipple as he sucked and licked her other tip. Her center had turned into a supernova and she didn’t have much time. With a groan she pushed back from him and yanked his trousers down. He lifted his hips, giving her the room she needed to free his dick completely.

  Their gazes met. For a second she thought she captured an agony so deep it took her breath away, but then it was gone. He lifted her hips. She took the hint and clasped the base of his member and lined them up.

  The whole time his deep black eyes held her captive.

  Then he thrust up.

  Part of her wanted to laugh with delight. She might be in the more dominant position, but he had no plans to allow her to control their encounter. He held her hips and plunged deep and hard, hitting her clit with every move. Her pussy squeezed him in a tight grip, forcing him to put more strength into his thrusts.

  But Sydney didn’t laugh, because his lovemaking—and that was what it was, no matter what she tried to tell herself—was no laughing matter. The darkness, the shadows that lived inside him and always surrounded him now extended to her. But she wasn’t afraid. Instead she savored this part he shared with her, no matter what it was.

  Miguel clasped her butt and rolled over, putting her beneath him. He didn’t miss a beat, but continued his slow deep plunges. She wrapped her legs around his waist. Pleasure coursed through every part of her body, starting at the tips of her toes all the way to the ends of her fingers and everything in between.

  She wanted him to speed up, to catapult them into the abyss, but he would have none of it.

  The fire inside her reached another plateau. Breathing became difficult and all that held her together were the black eyes that never let go.

  He leaned down and captured her breast. His tongue circled the oversensitive peak, driving her higher and higher. He kissed his way up her chest to her neck. Just when she thought she couldn’t stand it any longer he bit the base of her neck. No fangs, but the sharp pain, unexpected, but oh so powerful, launched her into her orgasm.

  She clung to him, hung on so she wouldn’t break apart. Moments later he followed her with a roar. He kissed her and for one insane, ridiculous moment she closed her eyes, pushed everything aside and poured herself into the kiss. Everything she was and everything she felt.

  And he responded in kind. At least until he began to rebuild his walls.

  She kept her eyes closed, not wanting her stupid tears to escape.

  He nuzzled her chin, her neck, her ear, but bit by bit the shining link between them dimmed again as he closed the door and shut her out. She loosened her grip. Her arms and legs slid away. He turned to his back and lay beside her. The few inches of space between them might as well have been the galaxy.

  Sydney gathered her composure and opened her eyes. The white ceiling above her had fourteen individual spotlights. Each of them made up of millions and millions of barillium spheres, bouncing off each other and creating light. If she could get close enough she could—

  She pinched herself. The pain helped her to come back to the here and now. It wasn’t one she wanted to be in, but fate had not given her any say in the matter. She cleared her throat. “What are we going to do?”

  She kept her gaze trained on the spotlight, but even without visual confirmation she felt him pull back. She knew his answer before he gave it. “Nothing.”

  Anguish roared through her and she mentally kicked herself. So much for thinking he believed in and wanted her. “You sure that is the road you want to go down, fine. Jayden mentioned that a lifemate is pretty special, but obviously not for you.”

  He climbed out of the bed and did up his trousers. “If we both agree and allow the bond to manifest fully we will be connected. We would not have any secrets from each other. You would see and know everything I have done and I would do the same to you. Do you really want me in your head?”

  She studied him. Would she want him to see all of her? Unvarnished, with no way to hide?

  “There is also the fact that if we take the bond and one of us dies the other will follow.”

  Her brows shot up.

  He nodded. “Exactly.” He handed her another black uniform. “Get dressed. I need to work and you could use a walk.”

  The drastic change of subject, Jade, the subject itself made her feel a little dizzy, so she took the clothes and hurried into the bathroom to clean up and get dressed. In front of the mirror she touched the mark he had left on her neck. Torn between agony and ecstasy she just stood there until he called her name. She finished getting ready.

  She overheard him contacting Jayden and telling him to meet them in his office. Sydney slipped into her shoes and stood at attention.

  This would be her first opportunity to see more of the compound, to discover more about the layout. See if there was a way out. Not every comp in the Jade-forsaken place would have a type three lock.

  Miguel studied her and she knew he’d caught her last thought, but he didn’t say anything.

  She followed him out of the room and down the long corridor. Everything looked the same. The walls, the floorboards, the ceiling tiles, the doors. Nothing stood out to be used as landmarks. Windows were only very intermittent and all showed the same lush and thick forest she already knew. She’d counted her steps as she walked and converted that to distance to orient herself. They walked up four flights of stairs.

  Sydney was glad she was as fit as she was. He didn’t slow down and never used the lift. She kept up with him. Finally they stopped in front of yet another nondescript door.

  Miguel swiped his fingers over a DNA scanner and leaned forward for an iris scanner. “Miguel Calatrave,” he said.

  “Voice print confirmed. Access granted,” the computer replied.

  That’s a lot of security, she thought as they stepped into the room. What the Jade does he have in here?

  I have access to a lot of confidential and highly classified information.

  A shiver went down her back as his deep voice shimmered through her head. It was like a touch. She coughed and rubbed slightly moist palms on her legs. “Then why would you bring me here?”

  “Who are you going to tell?”

  She pinched her lips at the reminder and worked on strengthening her shields. As exciting as his voice in her head was she didn’t want to give him unlimited access to her thoughts.

  Anger flashed in his black eyes.

  That was the second time she caught him having an emotional reaction. Either she had gotten better at reading him or he had gotten worse at controlling his feelings. She wasn’t certain which option she preferred.

  She looked around the room. It had the same Spartan décor as his bedroom, but his electronics were a comp geek’s wet dream. In the center of the room the ceiling curved into a dome shape.

  Before she could ask why, a three-tone chime sounded.

  Miguel checked a screen showing Jayden and flipped a switch. The door slid open and Jayden strode into the room followed by a t
ray filled with food. A smile lit up his face as he met Sydney’s gaze. He blew her a kiss and kicked the wall with the tip of his foot. It formed the shape of a table. He set down the tray and pulled her into his arms. “Hello, gorgeous. Did you sleep well?” His eyes heated when he noticed the mark Miguel had left on her neck. “Or should I ask if you had fun?”

  Something inside her relaxed at his response. She saw no anger or disappointment in his eyes, only genuine interest. She laid her concerns completely to rest when he kissed her. She sank into his touch and allowed it to fill her up. Heat spread through her. He pulled back and smiled at her. “This is a welcome I can get used to.”

  She couldn’t stop herself from returning his smile. She cupped his cheek and pressed a quick kiss against his lips. “Thank you for the food. I just realized how starved I am.”

  He tapped the wall again until it created a chair to go with the table. She sat and lifted the lids off the plates. Steam and delicious scents of spices filled the air. She hummed with delight and picked up the utensils.

  Jayden leaned down and kissed the top of her head before turning to Miguel, who’d watched their exchange without comment. “What’s the plan?”

  The other Vampire flicked another switch and the light in the room dimmed. A holographic projection of a star system appeared in the domed part of the ceiling.

  That explains it, she thought.

  Sydney worked through the constellations and searched for identifiers. She only recognized one planet at the edge of the holo image and extrapolated from there. The small moon at the center of the image belonged to a system halfway between the core planets and the outer planets. But was that the planet she was on?

  Miguel met her gaze for a moment. Jayden’s jumped between the two of them and narrowed. His smile dimmed and disappeared.

  “This is Baikal. It is a small moon with a five major towns on it. Nasir plans to attack Kajaani.” He zoomed into the planet and showed a mid-sized town surrounded by mountains. “The day after tomorrow.”

  Sydney’s heart nearly stopped. Why would Miguel share this information with her? The comps in the room had aura locks, meaning they were tuned to Vampires, but there were ways to circumvent them as long as they weren’t type three. He had to know she’d do everything in her power to get those details out. What the Jade was he up to?