* * * *
Noah turned to see what was inside the box and frowned at the thick, expensive gold necklace spilled onto the floor. A gold necklace. He glanced at Attie, who looked terrified, and then to Santiago, who was smiling.
“You remember,” Santiago murmured.
“Damn right I remember and you will never get that thing around my neck again.”
“You can’t stop me, Atalanta.”
No, but Noah could.
“You’ll have to catch me first.”
“Where will you go? There is no way out of this room unless I let you out.”
“I am not your toy to play with any longer, Carlos.”
“Ah, but you are.”
What was it about a gold necklace that scared the hell out of her? One thing was for sure, Noah wasn’t going to let Santiago put it on her.
“No.”
Carlos stood, pushed his chair back and walked over to where the necklace lay. He picked it up and snaked it along his hand.
“It’s quite lovely, like you,” he said, walking toward her with slow, deliberate steps.
Attie stood her ground, hands clenched at her sides.
Noah pushed his chair back.
Carlos held the necklace out to her, nodding to two of his guards, who moved behind Attie.
No way would he sit here and let this happen.
Santiago lifted the chain toward Attie’s neck.
“May I see it?” Noah asked, pretending to be very interested in the necklace. “Pure gold?”
Santiago paused and Attie sent Noah a look he would never forget. Her eyes were full of gratitude and relief and he knew he’d done the right thing. Attie usually didn’t like his interference, but in this case he couldn’t resist. For some reason that necklace scared the hell out of her so he’d do whatever it took to keep it off her.
The necklace was handed to him over the table. Noah took it and pretended to feel the weight as he examined it for anything out of the ordinary, but found nothing.
“Very nice,” he commented, looking up.
“A lovely compliment to Atalanta’s gown, wouldn’t you agree?”
Noah shook his head. “I think it would be a shame to cover a neck as elegant as hers with a chain so heavy.”
Santiago seemed to consider this. “You prefer something more…delicate?”
Attie was still watching him, her eyes wary. Noah nodded to Santiago.
“I’m afraid you don’t understand the meaning of my gift, Noah.”
Oh, he understood enough. It terrified Attie and that was all he needed to know.
“Why don’t you explain it to me.”
Santiago nodded to the guard standing behind Attie. He stood down. “Another time, perhaps. I think you’re right. This is too heavy for Atalanta’s slender neck.” He held out his hand for the necklace, which Noah reluctantly gave him. Attie visibly tensed and Noah cursed silently.
“Maybe I have another laying around here somewhere,” Santiago said, drawing the necklace over Attie’s bare shoulder. It sparkled against her tanned skin like liquid gold. Every muscle in Attie’s body went taut as she boldly withstood the repulsive act.
Santiago leaned in close to whisper in Attie’s ear. Noah couldn’t hear what he said.
Attie’s reaction was so swift it stunned all of them. The palm of her hand cracked against Santiago’s cheek, twisting his head sideways from the force of it.
“I am not yours, Carlos. I never was,” she hissed.
Santiago turned slowly to look at her and Noah almost stood, but the look on the drug lord’s face stopped him. A mixture of disbelief and pleasure. A smile curled his lips. He didn’t look angry, merely amused. Noah suspected he had underestimated Attie until now. She wasn’t going to roll over for him anymore and he’d just realized it.
Santiago reached out a hand to clasp her chin. “I love your spirit, Atalanta. It’s going to make things very exciting.”
But Santiago wasn’t finished with her. The necklace circled her neck as he held her still by applying pressure to her chin, his fingers digging into her skin. Noah neared the breaking point. A look of panic seeped into Attie’s eyes, her bravado fleeing. She went still as a statue and Noah knew she could no longer handle Santiago alone.
Sitting back in his chair, Noah said casually, critically, “As I said, wrong fit.”
That snapped her out of her catatonic state. Attie blinked, jumped, and tore the necklace out of Santiago’s hand. She threw it into his wine glass, where it landed with a loud splash before tipping over the glass.
“If you like it so much, you wear it.” She twisted out of his grasp.
Santiago laughed, but no one else joined in.
Noah recognized the signs of a person dangerously close to the edge. Attie trembled, her control hanging by a thread, and he knew he had to get her out of there before Santiago sent her over. He didn’t want her to be alone tonight. Until Santiago revealed what he had planned, he needed to keep Attie close to his side. He hadn’t liked being separated earlier and he was determined not to let it happen again.
“I think I’ve changed my mind,” he said, standing.
Santiago looked at him. “About what?”
“Your offer for a woman.”
Attie glanced at him with a mixture of emotions swirling in her eyes.
Santiago frowned slightly. “Ah, a man of simple pleasures. I’m pleased to hear you’ve changed your mind. I’ll have Lolita sent to your room.”
“Actually, I have another in mind.”
That earned a raised brow and a wary look from Attie.
“I have an array of women—”
Knowing he would lose the ground he had just gained by preventing Santiago from placing that necklace on Attie, Noah plunged ahead.
“I want Atalanta.”
* * * *
What?
Attie gaped at Noah, then snapped her mouth shut. If he continued to knock her off balance she was going to go crazy. Every time she thought she knew him he did something to surprise her.
“You want…Atalanta? I’m afraid she’s not on the menu.”
Attie shuddered, remembering her first night on the estate and Carlos’s promise to do with her as he pleased. Which included giving her to anyone he wished. He hadn’t, but he held the power over her. Carlos hadn’t wanted her. He’d only wanted to possess her. Control her. Keep her constantly guessing.
“Seems to me she’s the main course.”
The two men stared each other.
“I have other redheads here who would be more than eager to spend the night in your bed, Noah.”
Noah shook his head.
“Atalanta is mine.”
Attie held her temper in check at the arrogant statement. In truth she was too shaken to do anything but stand there. Seeing that necklace again had thrown her for a loop. The feel of it against her flesh, cold, heavy and achingly familiar had brought back too many memories that she had tried to forget over the past six months. God, how she hated that thing.
“I don’t want to keep her, just…borrow her. I’ve been three days on the trail with her, unable to get close. Help me out here. One night to scratch an itch. We both know I’ll never get another chance. Not with her stubbornness.”
Attie was no fool. She knew Noah wasn’t requesting her services for the night, but it infuriated her anyhow. She didn’t want to spend the night in close quarters with him. The last time had been a nightmare. She walked a fine line where Noah was concerned and alone with him all night didn’t sound like the safest place for her to be. She had proven she had no self-control when it came to him. If she hadn’t come to her senses when she did last night, she would have let Noah take her in the rain against a tree and she would have been in heaven.
But, the alternative was spending the night alone waiting to see if Carlos would visit her, and she wasn’t sure she could handle that. Her nerves were shot after seeing Carlos and the necklace and darn it, she didn’t w
ant to be alone. As much as she hated to admit it, Noah’s presence comforted her. He made her feel safe, and right now she needed that security.
To her surprise, Carlos nodded. “How can I blame you? She is exquisite. You are too much of a gentleman, Noah. You should have taken her when you had the chance.”
Noah cracked a smile and Attie felt its pull deep inside. She rarely witnessed Noah Kincaid’s smile, since he rarely allowed it, and the force of it was like sunlight after a storm.
“Little slow on the draw is all. Lesson learned. May I indulge this one time?”
She had to give him credit, he knew how to play Carlos. By letting the decision be his and not offending him or his territory he would probably succeed. Carlos needed to be in control and if he felt threatened in any way he would lash out, but Noah handled him like a pro.
Carlos stroked his jaw. Finally, he nodded. “You can have her tonight. Should be an interesting night for you. Something tells me she won’t come willingly.”
Noah and Carlos shared a strictly male moment at her expense and she ached to wipe the smug grins off both their faces.
Noah came around the table and took her elbow in a firm grip. He steered her toward the door with guards in tow. As they were about to leave, Carlos said, “And Noah?”
They paused.
“Remember my generosity in the future.”
Chapter 8
Carlos watched the couple leave the room, eyes narrowed. Did they believe him a fool? The man who called himself Noah had no intentions of sleeping with Atalanta. He was her white knight protecting her.
Interesting that she had disobeyed his orders. Even more interesting that she seemed hostile toward this man. Clearly, he was a fellow agent. So what caused the animosity between them?
Atalanta was here. Did the rest really matter? Noah’s presence only added to the excitement of the game by throwing his deceptive little agent off hers. Yes, Noah’s presence suited him fine. As long as the man kept to himself and didn’t tread on Carlos’ territory, things would go as planned.
Tonight, he would monitor them. Find out what role Noah played. See if this was a ruse or if they were more than teammates. Once he got his answer, he would handle Noah.
His dear Atalanta had to be punished for what she’d done. Her betrayal couldn’t go unpunished. She had played him for a fool and he had no choice but to redeem himself or lose the respect of those around him. An anonymous tip had put him on her trail after they destroyed his estate and sent him underground. Juan was working on finding out who had left the tip, but had come up with nothing. Carlos didn’t like being in debt to anyone and would find out what game this mystery man played.
Seeing her again only made him more intrigued. Why did that small part of him want her to succeed and become his once and for all? Was it possible he still loved her? Even after all she’d done to him? He’d tried to tell himself over the months that she meant nothing to him, that her betrayal far outweighed her deception, but his heart just wouldn’t jump on board.
She wasn’t the first to be brought here and put to the test for their deceptions, but she may be the first to survive the maze. She certainly had the spunk. Somehow she’d hidden it during her stay with him. His Atalanta was very good at her job.
He was anxious to see her in action. To see if she would succeed. The rest of his life balanced on her success or failure.
Sipping his wine, Carlos settled into his chair. Soon, the games would begin.
* * * *
The second the door to his room slid closed, Attie turned on him. She began to speak, but he held a finger to his lips and shook his head, moving to the lamp on his nightstand. Attie glared at him but remained silent.
Noah removed the bugs that had been replaced while he was gone. He found seven this time and flushed them the same as the last.
Attie watched in furious silence.
Reentering the room from the bathroom, he saw Attie slip. She set the first shoe beside the bed just as calm as you please. Noah paused, eyes narrowed. He didn’t believe this for a minute. She looked almost…serene.
A shoe flew past his head and hit the bathroom wall with a thud.
That was more like it. He wanted her to get it out of her system so they could talk. There was plenty he needed to know, wanted to know, but there were probably still bugs in the room that he’d missed and possibly a camera, which meant they couldn’t talk here.
“You—” Attie began, but he crossed the room in two strides and drew her into his arms tight enough to press her face into his shoulder and cut her off.
Lowering his head, he whispered in her ear, “We can’t talk here. More bugs. Possible camera. Shower.”
Attie pulled back to glare at him, shaking her head firmly.
“It’s the only way,” he whispered.
She clearly wasn’t happy about it but she knew he was right and stalked into the bathroom. If Santiago watched he would think he’d been right about Attie not coming easily.
Noah followed her into the bathroom and saw her standing inside the shower with the water on. Fully dressed.
He hoped there wasn’t a camera in the shower because this would look awfully suspicious. Or maybe be written off as her being very, very stubborn. That wouldn’t be too far from the truth.
Slipping out of his shoes and socks, Noah opened the glass door and stepped inside, adjusting the water so that it sprayed at his feet instead of his back. Attie glared at him from the corner of the shower.
“You don’t get to rescue me, Kincaid. I can take care of myself.”
“Are you calling me a white knight?” he asked mildly. He knew she wasn’t, but he wanted her to relax. Tonight was about her. They didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, so they needed to make the most of now. She’d been thrown for a loop over the necklace, and though he still didn’t understand it, she needed to get it out of her mind.
She crossed her arms over her chest.
“I didn’t think so.” Serious now, Noah studied her closely and asked, “Are you okay?”
Attie wilted in front of him and suddenly he saw the toll this was taking on her. The bruise on her jaw seemed more pronounced and the circles under her eyes stood out more against her pale skin. God knew what she must be feeling, seeing Santiago again. He reached for her.
She straightened, lifted her chin and held up a hand to stop him. “Please,” she said. “Don’t. I can’t. Just…don’t. What are we going to do?”
“We play by Santiago’s rules for now until opportunity arises for us to find Brendan and get the hell out of here.”
Attie had begun to shiver. She wrapped her arms around her waist and huddled in the corner.
“Trade places with me,” he suggested. “I’m cooking in all these clothes.” He wasn’t, but he couldn’t tell her that. She’d never agree otherwise.
She hesitated, searched his face warily, and then nodded.
The task should have been an easy one, but given his size and the close confines of the tub it proved to be a difficult maneuver. Especially with Attie trying not to touch him. They met in the middle, bodies pressed together, and froze at the same time. He looked down as she looked up, putting their mouths very close together. Noah stared at the bruise on her jaw, the water drops clinging to her hair, the tense set of her chin. Without thinking, he lifted a hand and traced the shadow along her jaw, wishing he could erase it.
“Damn your temper,” he murmured.
* * * *
Attie couldn’t move. She felt the spray of warm water on her arm and leg but barely gave it a thought as Noah’s hand caressed her jaw. The heat of his body warmed her better than the shower. She could feel every inch of him where he pressed against her, the mixture of hard planes and thick muscle. His scent filled her lungs with each breath, creating an answering response in her belly. He was all male, potent and invasive. He stormed her senses, making her forget what he had done and why she couldn’t do this.
His fingers
trailed along her neck to rest on her collarbone and she shivered. This time not because she was cold.
He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She shouldn’t allow him to do it, but he felt too good for her to pull away. Her eyes closed and she let herself sink into his warmth, momentarily taking what he offered, doing her best to convince herself she did it for Carlos’s sake in case they were being watched. She ignored the part of her that knew better.
God help her, she wanted Noah to make her feel safe and protected. Dangerous? Yes. Went against everything she prided herself in? Yes. Her independence had always been important. Making her own way was her top priority. She wasn’t ready to give that up. Not to this man. Not after what he’d done.
“Why don’t you finish the shower and then get some rest,” Noah suggested, stroking her back in a slow caress. “You’re going to need it.”
“But—”
“There’s nothing we can do tonight, Attie. Take your time.” He let her go and stepped out of the shower, closing the curtain for her privacy.
More tired than she thought, she quickly slipped out of her clothes, tossed them out and let the water wash away her tension. Her weakness with Noah concerned her. Could she forget the past so easily?
Not seeing him in six months had kept things in perspective. It had been easy to be angry at him and harbor those feelings of resentment for what he did, but now, not so much. In fact, it was getting damn difficult. How did she let go of her resentment? It was as familiar to her as her own hand and the thought of losing it made her feel vulnerable and scared.
Attie scowled. She didn’t like where her thoughts were going. Melodrama wasn’t her thing. She must be more tired than she thought, which presented problem number two: one bed. She wouldn’t be able to sleep in the same bed as Noah. For two reasons. One: the kiss. Two: the nightmares.
Carlos attacked in the night. In six months she hadn’t had a night when she didn’t have a nightmare that had her waking up in a cold sweat. She slept with a light on. The dark terrified her now. Evil things lingered in the dark. She didn’t want Noah to see her like that. She didn’t let anyone see her like that. Not even Uncle Jed and Brendan. Noah knew her as an agent and she wanted to keep it that way. All business. Professional. Just like before.
The Maze (ATCOM) Page 8
