by Taylor Lee
After he’d showered and dressed, he sat on the edge of the bed and nudged her gently.
Like all trained warriors, Nicki woke immediately, coming to full attention in seconds. Her eyes widened at the sight of him fully dressed, and then she flushed, grabbing the sheet to cover her naked body.
He chuckled and grinned at her as he pried her fingers off the sheet, pulling it down to her waist.
“Little late to be modest, Princess.”
At her embarrassed groan, he laughed and hauled her across his lap with surprising ease. Holding her fragrant body close to his, he nuzzled his lips against her ear. His voice was a husky drawl.
“You better get used to waking up naked in my bed, Nicki, because that’s where you are going to be. Except when I am in yours.”
Nicki gasped then snuggled in closer.
For a long moment they clung to each other, their mutual wonder too intense for words.
It took everything Rafe had to loosen his hold and unwind her fingers from around his neck.
“We’ve got the location, Nicki. Jeff has the details.”
He reluctantly sat her back on the bed, resting her against the pillows. Gazing at her flushed face, her lips, swollen puffy from his raging kisses, he stood, knowing how little it would take to strip off his clothes and climb back in beside her.
Clasping the sheet up under her chin, Nicki smiled shyly, her eyes wide, shining.
“Go Rafe. I’m okay. I’ll get dressed in my room and be there quick as I can.”
“There’s a robe in my bathroom, Princess. You can shower there. We’re all meeting in the Cave. I’ll wait for you there.”
At the doorway, he turned back. A wicked grin stole across his face.
“That’s quite a snake you’ve got there, Princess. I’ll confess. I’ve never seen or felt anything like it in my life. And just so you know, there’s some parts of me that plan to get a helluva lot more acquainted with it. Up close and personal, if you know what I mean.”
~~~
Nicki swept her damp hair up in a ponytail on the top of her head, but not even trying to capture the tendrils that sprung free. She hoped that her cammo pants, boots, and long-sleeved black t-shirt would counteract the glow on her cheeks. At least the shirt would hide the marks on her neck and arms. Thank goodness, no one could see the abrasions on her thighs. Glancing in the mirror, she laughed out loud at the flush on her face. As Rafe had said, it was a little late to be modest. Had she really done and said all of those things? Begged him to come inside of her? Not to hold back? And then, dear God, he had. Never in her life could she have imagined what it would feel like to have Rafe make love to her the way that he did. Just the memory sent a streak of heat over her sensitized flesh. Good God, how could she sit with him in a meeting and act as though her life hadn’t changed forever?
She remembered with a groan that everyone who’d be there probably knew what had happened. Nothing like shouting it from the roof top! She grimaced, then laughed. Maybe she should do like the knights of old did and hang her bloodied sheets in the doorway signifying that she was no longer a maiden. Glancing in the reflection at her shining eyes, flushed face and huge smile, she chuckled. Nope. That wouldn’t be necessary.
~~~
Not trusting herself to meet Rafe’s eyes, Nicki slipped into her seat at the table as quietly as she could. Jeff was talking, referring to the text message spread across the big screens in the front of the room. Andre came up behind her, carrying a platter of fresh crepes and sausages. She nodded eagerly, as he piled more food on her plate than she’d eaten in two days. Tony came from the other side and handed her a cup of her special latte, overflowing with aromas of cinnamon and hazelnut.
Caleb nudged a basket of croissants over to her and leaned down to whisper in her ear.
“Been working up an appetite, hotstuff?”
Nicki felt the heat flood her cheeks and shoved a sharp elbow in his ribs.
Caleb chuckled and then outrageous as ever, whispered loud enough for everyone to hear, “Stop hitting on me, hotstuff, or everyone is going to think that it’s me that put that sparkle in your eyes.”
A chorus of groans greeted his remark, but palpable relief spread around the table breaking the tension that blanketed the room when Nicki entered.
Rafe shot Caleb an annoyed glare but his eyes were twinkling.
“Someday, Caleb, you’re going to go too far, even for me.”
Caleb grinned.
“And then what, Boss? You gonna fight me for hotstuff? Maybe we should just flip a coin. Heads I win, tails you lose. Whadda you say, hotstuff? You want a nice well-behaved gentleman like me or you want that bad tempered, Hollywood alpha dog up there that has the rest of us cowering in our boots?”
Nicki gave him a sweet smile and patted him on the head.
“Sorry, Caleb. I’m afraid I’m more attracted to badass alpha dogs than to sweet annoying pussy cats. But don’t think for a moment that I don’t love you.”
Amidst the hoots and meows from the delighted men around the table, Nicki reached up and gave Caleb a big kiss full on his lips.
She whispered, “Thank you. I really do love you, you know.”
He grinned. “Yeah, hotstuff, I know you do.”
Nicki chanced a glance to see how Rafe was responding to their banter. She was relieved to see the twinkle in his eyes. If anything, he looked more relaxed than he had in weeks. She quickly looked down. There was no way she could hide the emotions flooding her if she had to see the wicked gleam in his eyes, and remember the feel of his lips on hers just before he showed her what a badass alpha dog he really was.
Chapter 26
“The most we know is that they want Mindy to fly into New York City tomorrow morning. They’ll pick her up at the airport and take her to the party.”
Jeff scrolled through the text messages on the big screens.
“As expected, there is nothing in these messages that hints at the location for the actual event. Just that they will meet her at the airport and that she is bring a party dress and casual ‘pool clothes’ for the rest of the weekend. Apparently, they’ve decided to forego the treasure hunt aspects of their former events. Either they are over eager or getting more brazen.”
Rafe broke in, his expression telegraphing unwelcome news.
“Unfortunately, I think it is neither. I had a message early this morning from Abdullah. For those who don’t know, Abdullah is our code name for an Afghani team member in deep cover. At this moment he’s in D.C. and called to alert me to an ‘auction’ that is planned for this weekend somewhere on the East Coast. As you might guess, the goods being auctioned are not material, they are human. In this case, young women. They are being advertised as ‘premium’ stock, certain to satisfy the most exacting tastes. Abdullah is invaluable: He has infiltrated an unusual cadre of infamous leaders who thrive on anonymity. They are the international uber-wealthy. From Chinese entrepreneurs to Saudi princes to gang lords of every stripe. They all share a consistent attribute. They’re as well protected as they are rich.”
He paused for effect and then continued.
“While we can’t be sure, I don’t believe in coincidences. My sense from talking to Abdullah is that chances are excellent that ‘our’ kidnapped girls are about to be sold at a high level auction. To a group of very wealthy, very well-connected men.”
Grayson broke the troubled silence that followed Rafe’s chilling announcement.
“That would explain why we’ve heard so little from the kidnappers. They seem as though they don’t much care if they get the ransoms.”
Rafe agreed.
“Correct, Gray. It’s one of the elements of this case that’s been eating at me. To this point the scoundrels seem more interested in harassing the girls’ parents, than they are in raking in the ransoms. They haven’t even given us an ultimatum. Nothing that will help us get a stronger bead on them. They know that the parents won’t contact the FBI if they think there is s
till hope. Unfortunately hope became an even scarcer resource with Abdullah’s announcement.”
Caleb spoke for the group.
“Dammit, Rafe. Crashing a party and returning a bunch of good looking chicks to Mommy and Daddy seemed doable. Dealing with the assholes who protect Abdullah’s buddies? Hell, man, that’s a wee bit more of a challenge.”
Jeff guffawed. “Hell, Caleb, that may be the understatement of the century.”
Nicki stole a glance at Katya. Nicki knew it was challenging enough for Katya to work on the case. When Nicki had pressed, concerned about how it must hurt her, Katya assured her that this was one way that she could make up for what had happened to her. She prayed she could help save these girls, the way that Rafe and Vlad had saved her. But this! An auction? How could it help but be a crushing reminder of how Katya’s father had sold her and held out for an extra pig when he did it! When Katya met her gaze, the hurt in her eyes was painful for Nicki to see.
As concerned as she was about Katya, Nicki knew they had a bigger issue. Up to this point she’d avoided confronting Rafe on what was now the most critical component of the rescue effort. They’d agreed that they would replace Mindy with a decoy—an undercover agent. Mindy had never met the men who kidnapped Sophie and they didn’t know what she looked like. Fortunately she never remembered to send them the picture she’d promised. However, Sophie had reported that Mindy was beautiful, rich, and daring. And that she had dark hair, was twenty-one and was voluptuous.
When Nicki asked Rafe who he intended to send, he’d been curt and brushed aside her question, indicating that he had several contacts he was pursuing. According to Grayson, they both knew a couple of female FBI agents who might work, but as far as Grayson knew, Rafe hadn’t settled in on any one person.
Taking a deep breath, Nicki decided to hit the issue head on.
“This changes everything.”
When the men all turned to her, she waited until she was sure they were paying attention and then waded in.
“Clearly, we need to go to rethink our strategy for Mindy’s decoy.”
Ignoring Rafe, Nicki looked from person to person as she spoke, hoping to find at least one or two of the men who would support her proposal.
“First, the ‘decoy’s’ mission has changed. We assumed that she would simply be the bait leading us all to the party. We would follow her, swoop in, capture the bad guys, persuade them to talk, and voilà, go get the kidnapped girls.”
Rafe held up his hand.
“You are oversimplifying, Nicki, but I presume you have a larger point to make.”
“Yes, I am oversimplifying. We have always known that crashing the party was only the first step to finding ‘our’ girls. But the auction has changed everything.”
Rafe’s voice was icy cold. Nicki knew he could see where she was leading… and silently warning her to back off. The tangible tension in the room, confirmed that everyone else knew what she was about to suggest.
“And that larger point you want to make is….?”
Nicki continued, forcing herself to speak calmly, professionally.
“I am one of the best trained fighters on our team and I’m confident I’m more qualified than any woman among your contacts. Moreover, I know the milieu. Tell me a single FBI agent who knows the difference between a Jimmy Choo shoe and a Manolo Blahnik. The decoy needs to be as sophisticated as the girls who have been kidnapped. Especially if we can get the villains to kidnap our decoy so that she can lead the team to the auction. My proposal is simple and compelling: I need to be the decoy.”
Rafe’s voice was soft.
“That is not an option.”
Nicki tried to control her response.
“Why, because I am older than the other girls? You’d be surprised, Rafe, how old those girls make themselves out to be. Besides, I can do the reverse. Make myself look younger.”
“You know that is not what I am talking about, Nicki. Besides you don’t have dark hair.”
Nicki’s temper was rising but that she fought to control it knowing she’d lose the battle if she didn’t.
“I can dye my hair, Rafe.”
Everyone at the table had stepped back from the brewing argument. It was clear the discussion was solely between Rafe and Nicki. From the way they were studying the table or their notes, none of the men wanted to get between them as they squared off.
Katya broke the mold.
“I have dark hair. I will go.”
Nicki shook her head violently.
“No, Katya. Absolutely not. I can’t let you do that. I know this environment like the back of my hand. Besides I have years of training that qualify me for this very job. There is no question but that I should and will go.”
Katya frowned.
“What if we both go? There’s safety in numbers. We can have Jeff ask if ‘my sexy red-haired cousin’ can come with me. We would have each other’s backs and although I’m not the fighter you are, I know how to use the element of surprise.…”
Caleb joined the discussion. Like Nicki, he avoided looking at Rafe.
“You might be on to something, girls. I’d feel a hell of a lot better knowing that you two were holding off the bad guys than I would sending in a decoy we don’t know. And damn, let’s face it. You’re right, Nicki. I’ve never seen a woman fight like you do. And hell babe, I’ve told you before. You can have my back anytime as long as I get your knives first.”
A round of muffled laughter greeted Caleb’s remarks but was cut short by Rafe’s harsh interjection.
“That’s enough. Neither of you are going, and that is final.”
The silence in the room was deafening.
Nicki took three deep breaths and then stood up. She placed both her hands on the edge of the table for support and leaned in facing Rafe. She managed to keep her voice cool, controlled.
“Why is it final, Rafe? Because you said so?”
“Essentially.”
He shrugged and added, “Yes, because I said so.”
Nicki’s voice shook, betraying her rising anger.
“Even though you know that I am the single best person to do this job, Rafe? And that Katya is second only to me? You know how dangerous this mission is, Rafe.”
The lines on his face hardened. His glare was implacable.
“Yes, Nicki. I do know how dangerous this mission is. And that is why neither one of you is going in. This organization is about much more than one single operation—however important this particular operation may be. And I want you two on this team for a long time.”
Nicki leaned in closer. She was now close enough that she could feel the intense anger radiating off of him but she refused to back down.
“That’s not right, Rafe. And you know it. Those girls and their parents deserve ISA’s best. If men could do the job, there would be no question. You could send any one of your men. But this job requires women. Katya and I are the best you have. Far better than any women you can dredge up from your ‘contacts’.”
Rafe’s voice was quiet, controlled. He held her gaze. She knew he had to be considering what she was saying. He had no rational answer. His response was purely a personal one. As if he was making her point, Rafe exclaimed.
“Look, Nicki, even if I agreed with you and I don’t, your father and Vlad would both kill me before the two of you got out the door.”
This time, Nicki held up her hand to stop him.
“That’s not fair, Rafe. You don’t ask Danny’s wife’s permission or Jeff’s or Sam’s wife, before you send them on a mission. The only requirement I have seen is that you chose the best man for the job. In this case, the best man is me and the second best is Katya. Together we are the best team you could possibly have.”
Nicki realized how angry she was when her legs began to shake from the adrenalin rush. She knew if she didn’t sit down, she’d fall down. With as much dignity as she could find, she lowered herself back into her chair—never taking her gaze off Rafe. To h
er surprise, Grayson stepped in.
“Much as it pains me to say this, Rafe, Nicki is correct. She is the single best person we have—indeed that anyone has for this mission. I would not let Katya do this by herself, but together with Nicki they’re a tough team. It’s a hard decision, Bro. But you’ve never backed away from hard decisions in the past. Knowing that Nicki and Katya are inside, we have a 99 % chance of bringing those girls back alive.”
Rafe’s voice was caustic; to hear his best friend publicly challenge him was just too much. For the first time he let his anger flare, spewing it full force at Grayson.
“And that other one percent, Gray? Tell me, Bro. How you would like to live with that other one percent.”
Rafe stood. His expression was grim, beyond anger. His voice was contained, casual as if the fire burning in his eyes was an aberration. Nodding to the group in general, he turned to the door.
“Please excuse me. I’ll be back in a moment.”
Fifteen challenging minutes passed before he returned. No one had spoken; rather, each of them had found something to do that required them to go back to their computers or find some other way to avoid speaking to one another.
When Rafe returned, he sat down at the head of the table and looked over at Katya.
“Against his better judgment, Vlad agrees that you should go, Katya—as long as Nicki goes.”
At a weak attempt at humor he added, “Vlad says you are hard enough to live with when he does everything you tell him to. He can only imagine the hell his life would be if he tried to prevent you from doing what you want to do.”
Uneasy laughter circled the table.
Rafe continued, focusing a hard stare on Nicki.
“However, the issue is not Vlad. Your father is adamant, Nicki. He refuses to allow you to go. Without you, Katya cannot go. I’m sorry. But that is your father’s final decision.”
Nicki rose unsteadily to her feet. Her heart was pounding and it was difficult to catch her breath. She felt as though she’d run five miles at a seven-minute-mile pace. She rounded her chair so that she could brace herself against the back to keep from falling. She met Rafe’s gaze and held it.
