He stomped over to the bag and grabbed the phone.
“No screaming, please,” he said, looking back over his shoulder as he left the room. “I have a bull whip in the bag and I won’t hesitate to use it for disciplinary purposes.”
Katy waited until she heard his hello and then she screamed. Nothing to lose.
Steven poked his head around the corner and gave her a cold smile. He stared pointedly at the bag and then stalked into the bathroom and slammed the door.
Violent shudders wracked her body. She breathed slow and deep and tested the restraints. No give. She tightened her stomach and tried to pull up her legs. Her muscles protested fiercely and her legs dropped. Again. She pushed off the ground and pulled up her knees. It might be enough. But if it wasn’t, she would have hell to pay.
Steven returned with a crooked smile on his face. “They don’t think they can manage without me, but I told them I have something important to do this weekend that takes priority over work. You, Kate. Do you see how important you are to me?” He stroked her face with a long, elegant finger. A surgeon’s finger.
Katy shuddered and drew back.
Steven frowned. “Is that what you do when he touches you? Richards? I don’t think so. I think the only reason you’re with him is because you didn’t know I can give you what you need. Me. Your husband. But now you know and you won’t be seeing him again. Ever.”
“You don’t understand. I don’t want this. I don’t…consent.”
Steven laughed. “I don’t need explicit consent from my wife.” He stroked the whip. “But we’ve delayed too long and I’m dying to have some fun.”
“Kiss me.” She forced the words out through gritted teeth.
His eyes widened. “What?”
“Kiss me before you start. Aren’t we rediscovering our relationship? What is the pain without the pleasure?”
His eyes softened. “Of course. You’re right. But that is the last time you will be allowed to speak without my permission. Hereafter, any breach of that rule will be met with swift and severe punishment.”
He sighed and walked toward her. “You were so beautiful at eighteen. Young, innocent, desperate to please and so trusting. You looked at me like I was a god. We can have that again. I promise.”
“Close your eyes. Pretend I’m eighteen again,” she whispered.
“Ah ah. I see our first punishment coming up. Looks like we’ll get to use the bullwhip early. But first…” He closed his eyes and leaned toward her, lips puckered in a tight kiss.
In one swift movement, Katy pulled herself up on the chain and pushed off the floor. Her knees shot up and she smashed her feet as hard as she could into Steven’s groin.
With a strangled cry he staggered backward, his hands between his thighs, his face a mask of rage and pain. “Oh, Kate. You’re going to be sorry. So very, very sorry.”
Blood hammered in her ears. She opened her mouth and screamed.
The door burst open.
Mark. James behind him. And Police. Lots of them.
James grabbed Steven mid-stagger and threw him to the ground.
Mark raced to her side. “Easy, sugar,” he murmured. He reached up and unclipped the cuffs, catching her when she tumbled, trembling, to the ground.
She buried her head in his chest and sobbed, oblivious to everything but his warm arms, his deep, rich voice, and the scent of soap and sandalwood.
“Keegan.”
“Hunter.”
“What are you doing here? Don’t you have a fancy dinner planned at the Harbor Centre tonight?”
“I had a craving for Chinese food. Nowhere better than here in Mount Pleasant.”
James laughed. “What a coincidence. There might be a story here for you.”
Keegan pulled out a small plastic tube of toothpicks. “It’s a busy night for stories. I’ve just been over at Hi-Tech’s office. Apparently shots were fired, a security guard was injured and the police took the CEO and a lawyer away in handcuffs. Thought I saw your car there. Gray Crown Victoria. So distinctive.”
“No comment.”
Keegan put a toothpick in his mouth and chewed it with vigor.
“No cigarettes?”
“Decided to quit. Filthy habit. I went to a lecture the other day. I discovered nicotine is a drug. Addictive. Like, say, coke or heroin. Amazing how those drugs are smuggled into the country. Do you want to hear a story about drug smuggling?”
James raised an eyebrow. “Do you want to hear the epilogue to your story about the big bad pharmaceutical company?
Keegan tossed his toothpick on the ground. “Same time. Same place?”
James spotted Lana across the street, giving her statement to a policeman. “Let’s try something different. How about science instead of art?”
“Science World it is.” Keegan pulled out another toothpick. “I hear they have a good cafeteria. Maybe I’ll buy you lunch. It’s not the Harbor Centre, but we’ll get there one day.”
“See you around, old friend.” James gave him a wave and crossed the street toward Lana.
“Red is a good color on you,” Keegan called out.
James spun around. “Keegan?”
Keegan raised an eyebrow.
“Thanks.”
“Anytime you’ve got an itch.”
Lana watched the police haul the ex out of the apartment and into a waiting police van. Mark had already whisked Katy away to his vehicle as if she weighed nothing. Maybe this time they would have their happily ever after.
I wish I weighed nothing. She took a quick glance behind her and caught sight of a familiar, rugged face.
“You checking out your own ass?” James rasped.
Darn. Caught in the act. She wasn’t sure whether to smile or pout so she did a bit of both. “I wanted to make sure it was still there after I had to run two blocks looking for a damn phone.”
James walked a slow circle around her. “Pretty fine.”
Lana put her hands on her hips. “You checking out my ass?”
“You giving me an invitation?” His blue eyes captured hers and she drank him in.
“Hell, yes,” she whispered.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Katy!”
Trixie wrapped her arms around Katy and squeezed her in an enormous bear hug. “I didn’t think you’d ever come back. How long has it been?”
“Only about three months, but if feels like forever.”
Trixie released her and took a step back, her eyes widening as she took in Katy’s outfit. “Holy crap. Where did you find that? I didn’t think you would ever wear latex.”
Katy ran her hands down the skin-tight, black dress with its death-defying neckline. “Neither did I, but I couldn’t resist. Steven transferred his share of the house to me to try and make up for what he had done and I used some of the money to take Mom and the kids on a little holiday to London. Given everything that happened, the school was actually quite supportive. We went to Covent Garden and when I saw this dress, I couldn’t resist.”
“I wouldn’t have been able to resist either.” Trixie grinned. “Of course, I would have gone for a brighter color. And tassels. Maybe some sequins. Tony likes sequins. Mark…not so much.”
Mark.
It had been three months since they had last spoken. Would he be happy to see her or had she lost him forever?
“Why wouldn’t you call him?” Trixie waggled an admonishing finger. “He’s been moping around here making everyone’s life hell.”
Katy shrugged. “I had some things to figure out. Trust issues to deal with.” And she had needed some time to understand and forgive.
Trixie patted her arm. “Love isn’t an easy road.”
“You don’t have to tell me.” Katy’s gaze fixed on the red door in front of them, and she bit her lip. “He might not even want to see me.”
“Uh…right.” Trixie snorted a sarcastic laugh. “So what else have you been up to while you’ve been tormenting Mark with your
silence?”
Katy grinned, unable to hide her excitement. “I’m setting up my own law firm. The Law Society cleared us both of conflicts, although I had to be embarrassingly candid with them. I’ve even got some new clients—the families of the four men who went through the clinical trials.”
“Good for you. That story sure got a lot of press.” Trixie gave her a warm smile. “What about your other client, the one who started the case against Hi-Tech? Did she win?”
Katy studied her for a moment, mulling over her words. Should she admit Martha had duped her? She still found it hard to believe the confidences they had shared in her car had been part of a set-up to ensure Hi-Tech’s product never made it to market. And it had worked. Once the regulators got their hands on Martin’s lab books, Hi-Tech had been shut down indefinitely.
“Steele was right about her. She was a corporate spy. Another pharmaceutical company launched a similar drug shortly after Steele was arrested. Detective Hunter came to my office last week and gave me the whole story. Apparently she goes from company to company, stealing secrets and selling them to the highest bidder. Then she changes her identity and moves on. He hasn’t found her yet but I have no doubt he will. She fooled him as well, and from what I’ve seen of him, he’s not the kind of man to let something like that go.”
“Understatement of the year.” Trixie checked her appearance in the mirror and adjusted the top of her purple and black corset. Katy looked away in case Trixie’s vigorous manhandling of her girls resulted in unintentional overexposure.
“So why did your client file a lawsuit?” Trixie fluffed her hair and air kissed the mirror. “Once she was caught, she could have just moved on.”
“Detective Hunter thinks she was using the case to get access to Hi-Tech’s documents. But I think there is more to it than that. She had a relationship with Jimmy Rider. I think she loved him.”
Trixie’s eyes widened. “Jimmy? What was it with that guy? He was such a scumbag and yet women were constantly throwing themselves at his feet. I don’t get it.”
Katy swallowed, remembering his hand around her throat. “Neither do I. James thinks Jimmy found the drugs she had smuggled out of Hi-Tech and then blackmailed her for more. Once the drugs hit the street the bigger, badder drug dealers wanted a piece of the action and when Jimmy lost the stash he left at Valerie’s house and couldn’t deliver—”
Trixie made a slicing motion across her neck. “Time to pay the piper.”
Katy cocked an eyebrow and laughed. She had missed Trixie’s sense of humor.
“What about Steele?” Trixie motioned Katy toward the door. “His face was all over the news. Evil bastard.”
“He’s going to be tried for the murder of Mark’s old girlfriend, but the case doesn’t look good. She was cremated, so there’s no body, and the evidence linking him to her death is circumstantial at best. He hired the best criminal lawyer in the country, and they’ve already had the wiretap evidence thrown out on a technicality.”
Trixie shook her head. “That’s just wrong. He can’t get off with nothing more than a slap on the wrist.”
Katy snorted a laugh. “Don’t worry. He also faces conspiracy charges for murder and attempted murder—Martin, the cleaners, Jimmy, me and Martha. James found evidence Steele intended to kill her too. Steele’s in-house lawyer, Stanton, might do a deal and testify against him for a reduced sentence, although that seems unlikely since Stanton is facing several life sentences. And after all that, Steele still has to deal with the regulators about the clinical trials, bribing officials, and the stuff he did overseas…”
“I heard Mark really did a number on Steele.” Trixie giggled. “I told you he could take care of himself.”
Katy gave her a half smile. “Steele was in the hospital for almost two weeks.” She hesitated. “Is Mark still with his firm?”
Trixie giggled. “Of course he is. Those guys come as a package. Sure their feathers were ruffled, but in the end, they look after each other. Tony said they never seriously considered throwing him out. Plus they need him. The firm just won a tender for some high-profile electric company case and Mark is running the show. Tony was so happy; he gave me a little bonus.” She adjusted the gold ribbons on her corset. “I’m wearing it. He won’t be able to help but notice me today.”
“You’ll have to take me shopping some time.” Katy laughed. “I’ve thrown out everything in my house that reminded me of Steven, and that included most of my suits.”
“What happened to him?”
Katy winced. “He’s out on bail awaiting his trial. He’s only allowed supervised access with the kids and there’s a protection order keeping him away from me. He’s going to plead temporary insanity on the basis of overwork. I talked to him when he was in jail. He was genuinely contrite. He couldn’t believe how far he went. For the sake of the kids, I hope the judge isn’t too hard on him.”
Trixie pushed open the door. “I hope the judge sends him back to jail for a very long time,” she muttered. “People like him give fetish clubs a bad name.”
Katy paused in the doorway and her breath hitched. Only four months ago she had stood here, trembling with anxiety and afraid to go inside. This time, her only fear was that Mark wouldn’t want to see her.
Her latex dress rustled when she took a step forward, a contrast to the stiff black suit she had worn that first night. She spotted Detective Hunter weaving his way through the crowd, drink in hand. He nodded and smiled.
“He’s got a new girlfriend,” Trixie whispered. “He never brings her here so he thinks no one knows, but we all do. Mark let it slip on one of the many nights he sat here drowning his sorrows until the wee hours of the morning. Of course it spread through the club like wildfire. No one ever thought he would find someone strong enough to pierce his armor. But he did and you know her.”
“Who?” Katy couldn’t imagine anyone she knew with James.
“Lana. The private investigator your ex had hired to follow you. The one who saved you. James caught her snooping around the club and hauled her into an empty room for questioning. I knew right then they were meant to be together. You should have seen the sparks fly. She sassed him like there was no tomorrow and he ate it up like a Thanksgiving dinner.”
There’s no accounting for taste. Katy bit back the words before they slipped off her tongue. After the way she had treated Mark, she likely wasn’t anyone’s taste either.
Tony waved to them from across the dance floor and Trixie sighed. “I think he dresses like that to drive me crazy. Look at those tight leather pants. Nothing left to the imagination. Well actually I can imagine a lot. And that vest—it’s like a big tease.” She stiffened her spine. “I can’t help myself. I’m a masochist at heart. I’m going over.”
She gave Katy’s arm a quick squeeze. “Mark’s at the bar. He’s waiting for you. He hasn’t taken his eyes off you since we walked in.”
Katy watched Trixie go and then steeled herself for the meeting she had been both dreading and anticipating for the last three months. Her boots clicked lightly across the tiles as she walked toward the bar. She couldn’t help but remember the pain on Mark’s face after she had sent him home the morning after her abduction. Although she had been grateful for his comfort, she needed time. To heal. To trust. Asking him to go had been the hardest thing she had ever done.
She kept her eyes down until the bar stools came into view, afraid to find out too early that she was too late. Her stomach fluttered as she lifted her gaze.
“What can I get for you?” He set a wine glass in front of her.
Her heart sank at his formal tone. “White wine, please.”
“Anything in particular?”
She was all too aware of the counter separating them. His cool, detached manner. His impassive face. She bit her lip to stop the tears. She shouldn’t be surprised. She had hurt him and sent him away after he had opened up his heart.
“I don’t suppose you have any Meursault?” Her bottom li
p quivered.
A hint of a smile played on his lips. “I might have a bottle down in the wine cellar.”
Hope bloomed in her chest. She rounded the counter, stopping only a foot away from him. She looked up, trying to tell him with her eyes the words her constricted throat would not say. For an agonizingly long moment, they just stared at each other, and she saw her own conflicted emotions reflected in his warm, brown eyes. Her heart pounded as she silently pleaded for the tiniest sign that it wasn’t all over.
“Mark.” Her voice came out in hoarse whisper.
And then he pulled her into his arms, crushing her against his chest in a fierce embrace. “God, I missed you, Katy.” He buried his face in her hair and his arms tightened even more around her.
Hot, soft tears spilled over her cheeks, staining his T-shirt. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I needed time.”
“Don’t be.” He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “I love you, Katy. I would have waited forever.”
She leaned up to brush her lips over his, but Mark drew back.
“No more conflict?” A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
She laughed softly. “No more conflict. Of any kind.”
His finger brushed the bloom of her cheek. “No psychotic ex-husbands, calculating managing partners, corporate conspiracies, deceitful clients or armed villains?”
“All gone,” she whispered, breathing in his scent of soap and sandalwood. Comforting. Arousing. Achingly familiar.
“Any doubts?” He threaded his hand through her hair and gently tugged her head to the side, exposing her neck to his heated lips. Everything inside her warmed then flamed.
“None. This is where I want to be. With you. Forever.”
He kissed her, a long, deep kiss that said more than words.
Katy melted into him, needing him so badly she could barely breathe. She returned the kiss, then pulled away and opened the door to the wine cellar.
Legal Heat Page 31
