Ladies of the Night OMNIBUS Collection: Sizzling Romantic Suspense

by Taylor Lee

  McIntyre burst out, “Delicate, my ass. We do what we would to any other nigger or white man sent in by the Feds to take us down. We crucify him, kill him in the most vicious way we can and send a message. Fuck it, Clay. Do you have any idea the press we would get if Senator Walker’s son was killed in Cochise-fucking-County? We’d be heroes to every red-blooded American who’s tired of a government that’s determined to make the darkies the ruling race in the country.”

  Drechsler heaved a loud sigh and shook his head.

  “I’ll grant you, Logan, that we would start a forest fire that would make Yellowstone’s “Summer of Fire” look like a fucking campfire if we chose to kill Agent Walker. Know that I’m not opposed to doing that. BUT, we need to do it wisely. I agree, the erudite Agent Noah Walker most certainly needs to die. And, yes, in the most egregious way possible—a way that befits his race. Hanging is the means that comes first to mind, but I’m sure we can improve on that image.”

  The intense man leaned forward and encompassed all of the men at the table in his fierce gaze.

  “We need to accomplish our task wisely. As the great prince of deception, Machiavelli said, ‘No enterprise is more likely to succeed than one concealed from the enemy until it is ripe for execution.’ It is essential that, at least at face value, we must not be perceived of executing the murder and, more importantly, that Walker is convinced that we would never be stupid enough to kill him.”

  Logan McIntyre grimaced.

  “I don’t get you, Clay. Are you suggesting that we should kill the black bastard, but then make it look like someone else did it?” He growled, “Goddammit, Clay, how does that make us anything but yellow-bellied cowards and the sap we blame it on a hero?”

  “That is precisely what I’m suggesting, Logan. We find the ‘poor sap,’ the avowed perpetrator, and then engineer the killing. However, we will arrange the murder in such a way that the case is iron clad against our chosen perpetrator. However, anyone and everyone in the know will understand that we were the geniuses behind the plan. In the circles we care about, we will be revered as heroes. Particularly when all the agencies who despise us will be left tugging at their pricks in despair, unable to pin the murder on us.”

  Before McIntyre could protest further, Drechsler added, “Our young friend indicated that he is an admirer of Sun Tsu, as am I. In this case one of the Master’s of the Art of War’s most clever admonitions is: ‘The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.’” He added with a chuckle, “We will be perceived of not ‘fighting’—or in this case, of not killing the young superstar, when everyone will know that is precisely what we did.”

  Chapter 20

  Ruby listened to the evil mastermind gleefully articulate how the FAN planned to murder Noah. She managed not to share a glance with either Ned or Gray. It was hard enough to keep her expression placid. As she pretended to be infatuated with Jennifer Aniston’s devastation at once more being dumped, she focused on the enormous progress they’d made—thanks in most part to Grayson. Her partner had manipulated Drechsler beautifully. Not only had he convinced the arms dealer that he—or in this case, John Stapleton—could supply FAN with the world’s most dangerous, in-demand weapons, but that he would sell them to the FAN for a decent price. Achieving that result was one of the essential cornerstones of their mission plan. Thanks to Grayson’s skill, they had accomplished their goal in three days, well ahead of schedule.

  She reminded herself that she had also accomplished her preliminary tasks. Her first objective was to worm her way into Drechsler’s inner circle in any devious ways she could. Relying on her sexy appearance, her outrageous costumes and her equally outrageously smart mouth, it had taken her all of ten minutes to get Drechsler’s attention. The next day she had an invitation from the big boss to join him at his magnificent complex hidden in the Greenfield Mountains twenty miles from Cedartown. What had become her hardest task was to hold Drechsler’s amorous overtures at bay. Relying on the age old ruse that women had relied on for centuries, if not since the Garden of Eden, she used her purported menstrual period as an excuse to delay their coupling. She wasn’t sure how long she could stave him off, which made her even more grateful for Gray’s rapid progress.

  Listening to McIntyre and the others call Noah hideous, racial slurs, Ruby was struck by Drechsler’s mixed reactions. Clearly he perceived Noah as a potent enemy and was as racist as his followers were, but, in a strange way, he seemed to admire Noah. If nothing else, as a man skilled at charming friend and foe alike, Drechsler was apparently impressed to see his own talents reflected in his enemy.

  Ruby hadn’t been with Noah in person since their fateful encounter three nights ago. Along with the rest of the undercover team, their untraceable conference calls were their sole means of communication. It was the only way she could hear his voice, the only contact she had with him. As much as she missed him, she admitted that the urgent, professional nature of the calls helped. The fact that Ned and Gray were always present, as well as Ian and Diamond on occasion, kept the calls impersonal. Ruby acknowledged that she actually dreaded seeing Noah, not knowing how he or she would react. It was hard enough not to repeatedly replay in her mind the night they’d spent together. She knew what would happen if she let herself dwell on the event and was determined to keep the memories from stealing her consciousness. That had worked reasonably well during the day when she had a tight rein on her emotions, but her determination was shot to hell the minute she drifted off to sleep. The problem was that her dreams were g-rated compared to the reality of their passionate night. Unfortunately, when she gave in to the need to relive the precious experience, she vacillated between lust and despair.

  Continually cautioning herself not to read anything into their passionate night, by the third day Ruby had convinced herself that the most erotic night of her life had been a mere fuck to her lover. How could it be anything else? After they’d made love at least three times—although it could have been more, she was in such a sensual haze—Noah had carried her back to her modest hotel room and deposited her in the empty bed. Tucking her in like a small child, he’d kissed her cheek and then left. Remembering the click of the motel room door, an icy cold dread swept over her. If only Noah had said something, anything, to put the experience in context. To let her know what it had meant to him. Without that input, she was left with her life-long insecurities fed by the ugly demon inside her head that had always been able to convince her that she wasn’t worthy of true happiness. Or, in this case, worthy of being loved by an exceptional man like Noah.

  Spiraling down to despair she forced herself to acknowledge that both she and Noah were essentially engaged to other people. It was one thing to think about Stuart, it was quite another to think about the gorgeous, socially acceptable, Natalia. Aching with the reality of the situation, Ruby took the step of ending her engagement. It was bad enough that she had most assuredly cheated on Stuart. What she couldn’t live with was the fact that she was engaged to a man she didn’t love. A man she’d essentially used to prove to herself that like everyone else she could have a normal life. She spit out a harsh groan at the ludicrousness. So much for that little experiment gone awry.

  Surprisingly, Stuart had been shocked, and more than a little angry, when she called to say that she was mailing him her engagement ring. In his ringing tirade, he raged how like her it was to do something as inappropriate as end an engagement over the telephone. In contrast, apparently there were things he had liked about her—he had just never bothered to tell her about them. Most surprising was his angry assertion that there must be “someone else,” likely one of those “hulking gym rats” she admired. The crowning touch was when he added, “By the way, I saw the way you were looking at Noah Walker. It was written all over your face. You looked like a teenybopper meeting a rock star hero in person, and thrilled just to get his autograph.”

  True to form, he ended with a knife to her heart. “In case you are naive enough to t
hink that you could interest a man like Walker, all you need to do is remember the woman he is going to marry. Not to belabor the obvious, Chloe, but the comparison between you and Natalia Jameson doesn’t do you any favors.” Hanging up the telephone, Ruby had bitterly noted that if anyone had looked like an eager teenybopper panting at Noah, it had been Stuart. But she had to admit that as hurtful as his observation had been, Stuart’s read on the comparison between her and Natalia was dead on.

  “That magazine as interesting as it seems, Red?”

  Grayson’s seemingly casual interruption was belied by the intensity in his eyes. Unwinding herself from her relaxed pose on the sofa, Ruby pretended annoyance.

  “Let me put it this way, hotshot. It’s a hell of a lot more interesting than all of you men, and your ongoing dick contests. I get bored just listening to you trying to one-up or one-inch each other. I swear, proving who has the biggest dick makes me think I need to keep a ruler in my back pocket. Only I’d have to get one that is labeled in ‘dick inches’ or better yet millimeters instead of inches.”

  Logan McIntyre pressed up beside Gray and glared at Ruby.

  “You always had such a smart mouth, chippy?”

  Ruby tossed her head and returned his glare with an impudent smile.

  “Pretty much, big guy. I take it you like your women more docile? More admiring of your ‘big boy badness’?”

  Logan’s expression darkened but before answering he looked over to see where his boss was. Seeing Drechsler engaged in a serious discussion with Ned, Logan grabbed Ruby’s arm tightly and pulled her up next to him. The threat in his low response was apparent.

  “I like women who know their place. Which is on their knees.” Focusing on her mouth, he grinned salaciously, “And, if they know what’s good for them, they learn early on that a smart mouth is the one that knows how to suck a guy off when and how he likes it.”

  Ruby gave a brazen snort and jerked her arm loose from his grip. Tipping up her chin, she said sassily, “Well, in that case, big guy, you might want to consider bathing every other week or so. Not to be disrespectful, man, but you reek. And, uh, not in a good way.”

  Grayson intervened before Logan could make good on the clear threat in his gaze.

  “C’mon, Logan. Ignore the little smartass. We both know how to handle women like her and your remedy is just the start. But, man, you and I have work to do.” He lowered his voice confidentially. “My read, from that last conversation, is that you have the same view of what’s wrong with this country as I do. And that the last thing you’re willing to do is turn it over to a rich, black bastard like Noah Walker. How about you give me a look at the weapons you guys have stockpiled while we get to know each other better. Maybe discuss possible side ventures that would put a few uppity fuckers in their proper place?”

  McIntyre grunted in agreement and, with a menacing glare at Ruby, followed Grayson out the side door. Ruby watched them leave then saw Drechsler approaching. Pretending not to see him, she gave a bored sigh, picked up her magazine and sank back down on the sofa.

  “I couldn’t help but overhear some of what my cohorts said to you, Ruby. Please accept my apology for their uncouth remarks.”

  Drechsler’s expression as he gazed at her thoughtfully was appropriately sincere. Knowing the evil he was capable of, Ruby was struck once again by what a chameleon he was. Which she knew made him all the more dangerous.

  Ruby shrugged and put up her hands in boredom.

  “Honestly, Clay, couth or no couth, I stopped paying attention to anything men said to me when my boobs went from a manageable C cup to a double D. That was when I was thirteen years old and by the time I’d left 7th grade I’d heard everything men had to say to me for the rest of my life.”

  She added with a saucy grin, “Trust me, while each of them may think they are original, the remarks are as tiresome as they are repetitive—not to mention crude.”

  Drechsler appeared to be considering her flippant response then said carefully, “Given your truly remarkable body, I’m not surprised that that has been your experience, Ruby. However I do hope that you make the occasional exception, my dear, and give some of us less uncouth men a chance to surprise you.”

  Ruby pretended to consider his reply, then shook her head.

  “I’m open to giving a gentleman a chance if he proves worthy of it, and if he has the standing and wherewithal to make me believe that he can come through on his promises.”

  When she said it, Ruby deliberately pinned a naughty smirk on her face and studied his crotch. She wasn’t surprised that Clay’s flush confirmed that he’d picked up on her double entendre.

  “Hmm, that is an interesting response, my dear. It indicates that you haven’t necessarily relegated all men to the ‘asshole bin.’ Which makes me curious. What standing would this gentleman need to have to interest you, Ms. Ruby? And if I may be so bold, which promises would he need to live up to?”

  Ruby shrugged. “As for the standing, that’s easy. The gentleman would need to have money, and, frankly, a lot of it. Admittedly, I’m a high-maintenance woman. I like nice things and I definitely like being spoiled. I decided a long time ago that if I’m going to be a kept woman, I insist on being kept in style.”

  She hesitated for a moment. “As for coming through on his promises, that’s a tricky one.” Ruby gave Clay a narrowed appraising glance as if considering whether she would explain. Shrugging again, she said with a flirtatious smile, “I’ll admit that I’m high-maintenance in other ways. I like wealthy men because their money gives them power, authority. Unfortunately, when it comes to women, too many wealthy men don’t make use of their power. For a woman wired the way that I am, power is a heady aphrodisiac—especially if the man isn’t afraid to make good on that… authority.”

  Drechsler moved closer to her, his eyes narrowed and gleaming with interest. Reaching for her arm, he pulled her up next to him and said in a low voice tight with innuendo, “That is an extremely interesting analysis, Ruby. I agree. I’m always surprised that many of my wealthy, powerful friends seem to wither in the company of strong women. Like you, it has been my experience that strong women like strong men. The question is: how do those women like the man to show his power, his authority?”

  Ruby smiled and met his gaze. “Ah, Clay, that is what I mean by making good on his promise. If a man implies that he isn’t afraid to use his power, his authority, that he knows how to handle a strong woman, he sure better be able to come through.”

  By this time, Drechsler’s face was a ruddy red and moisture gleamed on his lips and his firm grip on her arm promised bruises in the morning.

  “Not to press the point, but what if a man has certain proclivities that may not appeal to many women, indeed may turn them off, not on. Should he forego those needs?”

  Ruby carefully removed his hand from her arm one finger at a time, and then met his intense gaze head on.

  “Not if he is truly powerful. Rather, he’ll find a woman who is not only turned on by his standing and his power, but who is thrilled when he isn’t afraid to make good on his proclivities.”

  Ruby tossed her head as she walked away and then said over her shoulder, “Who knows, Mr. Drechsler, the woman might have a few kinks of her own that no one has yet been able to satisfy.”

  Chapter 21

  “Holy Christ, Ruby. If Ned hadn’t recorded your conversation with Drechsler, I wouldn’t have believed it!” Gray’s voice over the ether was incredulous. “Holy hell, spitfire, talk about poking the tiger with a stick, or to be more specific, poking him with the hottest little ass our man Clay has seen in a lifetime chasing hot women.”

  Ned’s tone was only somewhat less disbelieving than Gray’s.

  “I have to admit, Ruby, that I was surprised that you baited him so directly. I’m not being critical. It’s just that I know the guy, and, even though he seems smooth as silk on the surface, he has a hot fuse and you really don’t want to get him mad. At least unless o
ne of us is around to protect you.”

  Ruby had been biting her lip to keep from responding but Ned’s inflammatory comment was too much.

  “That won’t be necessary, Ned. We haven’t worked together before, so, unlike the other agents, you aren’t aware that I’m perfectly capable of protecting myself. I’ve been doing it on missions more dangerous than this and none of the little Boy Scout wannabe agents have had to rush in to help me.”

  Ian broke in as he often did when calls got testy. It was a role that Noah typically played as well, but he was ominously quiet during this conversation.

  “Ruby is right, Ned. She is more than capable of protecting herself. I do have a question however, for you, Ruby. At least in this last recording you are taunting Drechsler openly—essentially throwing down a marker. We all know that he is likely to call in that marker at any time. I’m confident you have considered that—”

  Ruby interrupted. “Thank you, Ian. And, yes, I am intentionally baiting him and, yes, I do have a plan in place. At least for now he thinks I have my period. Knowing Drechsler’s likely ‘proclivities’ I’m reasonably confident that gives me a few days before he ‘calls in my marker.’ In my experience, men like Drechsler prefer that they cause the woman to bleed, rather than deal with anything as unattractive as a menstrual period.”

  Ian chuckled softly. “An astute observation, Ruby. And, Ned, because you haven’t worked with Ruby before and don’t know what a pro she is, let me explain. In virtually all of the missions in which we include one of the LOTN operatives, their task is to use their astonishing beauty and sexuality to incite our target. The objective is to get as ‘close’ to him as she can without giving into his certain advances. That balancing act requires a great deal of skill. I also don’t have to tell you that it is as dangerous as it is challenging.”