by Linzi Basset
“I’m glad you find it amusing. I assure you it was anything but at the time.”
“Yes, I know,” she sighed dramatically. “Especially since he dumped me after that. Something about my family being too intense.”
“Don’t give me that woebegone expression, young lady. You weren’t all that into him to begin with. You only used him to irritate your father.” Jack glanced at her. “Good riddance if you ask me. He was nothing but a wimp.”
Jordan was enraptured by the camaraderie between Jack and Dixon. They were relaxed with obvious mutual affection for each other.
Over the next couple of hours, she came to meet a different side of Jack: that of a caring, protective, and fatherly man. The way he treated Dixon was wonderful to watch. It caused Jordan’s heart to flutter as she envisioned watching him holding his own tiny, little baby in his hands.
Her breath caught in her chest. The longing it loosened inside her own heart was unexpected as much as it was a shock to realize that she wanted to be the mother of the baby he gazed at in her mind’s eye.
“Jordan Clark, you have finally lost all your marbles,” she mumbled as she watched Jack and Dixon skate past. That had been the biggest surprise. Jack had readily agreed to take Dixon to the ice skating rink after lunch. She was even more shocked at how agile he was on the ice. Of course, she hadn’t known that he’d played ice hockey in college, as he very succinctly informed her when he’d noticed her expression.
Jordan was contemplative on the way home after they’d dropped off Dixon. Jack Blackmore was a special man. It was useless to deny it any longer. In the short time she’d come to know him, he’d unlocked her heart and stole inside without her knowing. It warmed her insides, and a sense of completion filled her soul for the first time in years. However much it confused her, Jordan realized that the emotions swirling inside her for this hardened man was love.
Her mind froze at the thought. It wasn’t possible. They hardly knew one another and she, for one, didn’t believe in instalove. And yet, she couldn’t shake the overwhelming excitement that filled her heart. She glanced at him. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe that he had feelings for her. To be honest, she had no idea what he thought of her, let alone if he felt anything for her. She did know the powerful Master Black had kept his distance from women for a reason. It was going to take a hell of a lot of work to make Jack to fall in love―with her.
For that to happen, the lies had to stop. She looked at him. This is it. I can’t do this. Not to him. Not if I … Jordan became lost in the sudden desire to see love flash in the dark eyes that shot in her direction.
“What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” His deep voice shook her from her musings.
“I can’t do this, Jack. I’m not … you’re not … we’re not …” She dragged in a deep breath as she came to a decision. “Take the next left. There’s someone I need you to meet.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed as she used her cell phone to open the electronic gate leading to an impressive two-story, Southern-style mansion a couple of miles from his house.
“Who lives here, Jordan?” he asked as he killed the engine.
“That’s why we’re here. Come, let’s go inside.” She evaded his dark look by jumping from the truck and walking briskly toward the front door. He followed her inside, in time to witness a tall man grasp her in a bear hug from behind.
“Hey! What the fuck!” Gideon cried in surprise. “Ugh!” His breath wheezed from his chest as Jack yanked Jordan from his grasp and slammed him against the wall. He held him in place with a huge arm under his chin.
“Don’t fight it, buddy. It’s a big arm,” he growled in warning as he began to struggle.
“Jack, are you crazy?” Jordan pulled on his arm.
“Let me go, you fucker,” Gideon gasped.
“Tell him,” Jack sneered through thin lips.
“Tell him what?” Jordan looked at him in confusion.
“My rule, Jordan.”
Her eyes went wide. “You’re not serious?”
Jack pushed harder. Gideon choked.
“Okay!” Jordan shrieked as she caught Gideon’s pleading gaze. “No man is allowed to touch me without his permission.”
Gideon stopped struggling. “Seriously? Even outside of the club?”
Jordan rolled her eyes. “Apparently.”
“You’re trying my patience, Jordan,” Jack warned with a black look.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Jack. He’s going blue in the face. Let him go!”
“Not until you make sure he understands that my rule doesn’t bend—ever.”
Jordan was enraptured by the roughness in his voice and the possessive look in his black as tar eyes that he made no effort to hide.
“Je-sus, Jay!” Gideon croaked as Jack applied more pressure.
“Jack, it’s my brother, Gideon! Let him go.”
His head turned slowly in her direction. For once, she managed to surprise him. His voice lowered dangerously.
“Your brother?”
“Twin, actually,” Gideon brayed. He yanked on Jack’s arm. “Let go, for fuck’s sake!”
Jack took back a step. He watched dispassionately as Jordan rushed to Gideon to examine his throat. He noticed the similarities between their features now that he was paying attention.
“Enough, Jay, I’m fine.” Gideon glowered at her as he slapped her hands away. “What the fuck were you thinking to bring him here? Now you’ve ruined everything.”
Jordan glanced furtively at Jack and mumbled, “Things have changed.”
Gideon snorted. He threw his hands in the air. “How?” He pinned her down with an acerbic look. “You know how important this is Jay. What changed overnight?” His eyes caught Jack’s dark look over her head. “It’s him, isn’t it? Jesus, Jordan, how fucking stupid can you be?”
“Gideon, you know that—”
“Yes, I do but you’re clearly allowing your libido to do your thinking for—”
“Enough!” Jack’s voice boomed through the spacious foyer. He took a menacing step closer to Gideon. “I don’t care that you’re her brother but she’s my sub and under my care and protection. You will not insult her again. In fact, you’ll treat her with respect. Is that understood?”
Gideon lost the stare down within seconds. He cursed and muttering under his breath, pivoted on his heel to walk toward the living room. “I need a fucking drink.”
“Gideon, be reasonable. We need help,” Jordan implored as she followed him.
“Reasonable? You know as well as I do how important it is to keep our identities secret, Jay. I told you we can handle this ourselves.” He swallowed down the bourbon in one gulp and immediately filled the glass again.
“I don’t believe we can. We’re in over our heads, Gideon. If you’re honest with yourself, you’ll admit it as well,” she countered in a quiet voice.
“Your sister is right.” Jack drawled from where he leaned with negligent elegance against the doorway.
“Look, Mr. Blackmore, with all due respect, you have no idea what we’re—”
“With all due respect to you, Gideon, you’re the one who has no idea who or what, for that matter, you’re dealing with.”
Jordan blinked. Her eyes went wide as she stared at him.
“Jack, what do you …” She dragged in a deep breath at the dark look in his eyes. “You know, don’t you?”
“Yes, Peyton, I know everything.”
Jack didn’t miss the concerned glance between the two at the mention of her real name.
“Jordan,” she said in a resigned tone. “My full name is Peyton Jordan Clark but I’ve always preferred to be called Jordan.”
“I guess I should thank you for not lying about that at least.” Jack’s voice chipped as cold and sharp as a shard of ice.
A red blush spread over her cheeks.
“What exactly do you know, Mr. Blackmore?” Gideon stood as straight as an iron board with his eyes on
Jack.
“My father is Mr. Blackmore. My name is Jack.” He looked between them. “I daresay I know a hell of a lot more than you do.” He tapped his fingers on the bar. “Pass me one of those, Gideon. It seems we have a lot to discuss.”
Chapter Eleven
“Blackmore,” Jack barked in answer to his cell phone ringing as he eased the big truck into the underground parking structure at the Precision Secure offices.
“Tonight, at eight,” Sean’s voice drawled in his ear. “Tasha Alenichev will be dining at the Tortino Restaurant on 11th Street in DC. It seems she prefers Italian food.”
“Ah, so I’m about to come face to face with the Ice Princess.” Jack killed the engine but didn’t leave the truck. He leaned back as he glanced around the dimly lit parking garage. He was late, which was unusual for Jack, but then again, he couldn’t resist the temptation his sub had offered when she’d sassed him in her naked glory. The smile on his face widened. He had a very satisfying release but made sure she didn’t. He could still hear her curses follow him down the stairs as he left. She wasn’t happy with the butterfly vibrator he’d strapped on her clit with the clear instruction that it remained until he removed it when he got home and to make sure she refrained from climaxing.
“You should’ve given me more warning, mate. At least to grow a bushy beard or something to put her off rather than attract her,” he chuckled.
“Yeah, yeah, I bow to your magnetic effect on women,” Sean laughed. “However, in this case, I depend on your acting ability to disguise your natural charm behind a façade of lewdness. Your aim is to put her off, not get her to drop her pants at first sight of you. That will be my pleasure.”
“Tsk-tsk, what we wouldn’t do for our country, right?”
“At least this is one time my mission will offer some pleasure,” Sean quipped.
“But not any less dangerous. I hope you realize that, Sean.” Jack knew all too well how harrowing deep undercover covert ops could be.
“I’m aware of that, Jack. If this goes south …”
“It won’t. You have the Precision Secure Team to support you, remember that. No matter that your instructions say otherwise, be sure to keep a backdoor open. I’ve been deep undercover many times and if I hadn’t done that, I would’ve eaten dirt long ago.”
Sean was silent for a long while. “I don’t want to involve Ethan. He’s too important to Paige. Would you be my backdoor, Jack? Governor White and my handler … I can’t talk to them. You know it’s not allowed.”
“I know, Sean and yes, it’ll be an honor to back you.”
He didn’t respond immediately. Jack didn’t push, he waited patiently.
“Covert ops is a lonely life, Jack. I don’t know how much longer I can do this.”
“It’s not a long-term career, Sean. Take it from someone who has been there. The moment you start questioning why you’re still doing it, is the time to step out. Don’t wait too long, mate. Get out before a black void takes the place of your heart.”
“Sometimes I think it’s already too late.”
“Not for you. If it was, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
“Thanks, Jack. I needed to hear that.” He took a heavy breath. “Back to tonight. You do know what Tasha looks like, right?”
“Yes, I’ve done some research since our meeting.”
“I booked a table under the name David Cook, at nine, right next to Tasha’s. She’ll already be there, so she will notice your arrival. I have to warn you. She has a liking for big, brawny Americans.”
“Ah, fuck, come on! Does she have to dislike me on sight? How about after a quickie in the alley?” Jack’s laughter merged with Sean’s.
“Down big man! Besides, she’s way too young for you.”
“Are you saying I’m old?”
“Well, if the shoe fits,” Sean teased which drew a deep rumble from Jack’s chest. “I’ll be at a table in the corner, ready to come to her rescue. Be careful not to overplay your hand, Jack. She might be young but she’s as sharp as a knife point.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’m an expert at pissing off women … when I want to.”
“This stays between us, Jack. No one must know that the ball has been set to roll. The fewer people who know what I’m doing, the better. If the Bratva suspects I’m a spy, I’m a dead man.”
“My lips are sealed.”
Jack contemplated his strategy as he took the stairs to the fourth floor. His stomach rumbled to announce his entrance when he pushed open the door to the boardroom.
“It’s about time. I was just planning to send out a search party for you,” Max said. “Wanna cup?” He was already in the process of filling one with the heady aroma of brewed coffee. He handed it to Jack, shaking his head as he watched him chomp down his second chocolate croissant.
“Didn’t you have breakfast?” Keon asked with a smile.
“Yeah, but that was an hour ago already.” He patted his flat stomach. “I have a very healthy appetite, mate. You should know that by now.”
“Let’s get going,” Rhone said decisively. He looked at his team. “Alex indicated that Sean would drive the op to recover the encrypted files on the MOKV, which I can appreciate, but at the same time, I don’t like to be kept in the dark. We need to do our own homework so that we are prepared when the time comes. Have you been able to find the address where the Russian’s are staying, Richard?”
“Yes. As Alex indicated, they leased a property in Fort Washington on Broad Creek, which made it easier to find. I’ve managed to hack into the GeoEye satellites systems and have set up a twenty-four-hour surveillance over the house. I’m recording all movement in and around the house. So far, they’ve been keeping to themselves. They’ve developed a routine. Jogging, going to the shops, and generally just blending in with the neighborhood. Tasha is the only one who goes out to dinner at least four nights of the week by herself. She seems to prefer Italian restaurants.”
“Good work. Keep it up and give us feedback every week, except if anything changes, then I want to know immediately.”
“Roger that. We’re still trying to find a connection between them and the Sixth Order. If only we fucking knew who else was involved with that damn Syndicate, but since Flint’s death, we’re searching in the dark. They’re running so deep under the radar we can’t find anything, or anyone, connected to them. At this stage, it looks like the Sixth Order is a ghost operation.” The frustration was clear in Max’s voice.
“Brad Flint fucked up and so will someone else,” Rhone speculated. “We’ll find them, Max. No one can keep crime and violence contained. Have you found out anything more about the man who killed Lillian Dunn?”
“No. We’ve scoured the traffic and bank cams in the vicinity of the building to see if we could get a better angle of him with no luck. He disappeared into the crowd as soon as he exited the building.”
“You have something on your mind, Jack?” Rhone asked, watching him closely.
“Jordan took me to meet her brother yesterday. It seems they had suspicions that their father’s company was in some way involved with the crime syndicate. They were trying to find out which one.”
“A dangerous game,” Lance interjected.
“Jordan realized it, which is why she decided to play open cards with me. According to Gideon, her brother, there are some funds in a hedge account that no one can explain.”
“So, you were right. The Syndicate is after that money,” Ethan mused. “And now that they know who they are, they’ll be after them as well.”
“We need to make our interest in Crown International and the twins known. The Syndicate has to know they’re under our protection.”
“You’re right, Jack,” Rhone agreed. “It might not stop them from pursuing them, but it might keep them safe from a direct attack. I’ve looked into Gideon Clark’s background. He’s a highly respected businessman, not only in London but throughout Europe. Has he looked into the board memb
er’s backgrounds?”
“Not yet. I told them to keep a low profile from this point forward and that we’ll do all the digging. If anything comes to the Sixth Order’s attention, it will be through us.”
“Good thinking, Jack. Max, Richard, I want you to do in-depth background checks of all members on the CI board as well as every employee from mid-level management and up.”
“Will start on it today,” Richard said.
“Where are they?” Keon leaned back in the chair.
“Jordan’s at my place. Her brother leased a house not too far from me. I’ve already set up a security detail on him as well.” Jack frowned. “They have no idea what they’re involved in or how dangerous it is.”
“Luckily she had enough sense to ask for your help.” Lance got up to fill his cup and glanced at Jack. “I suppose the trial is over. I mean now that she’s come out with the truth—”
“Oh, hell no. I’m having too much fun. We agreed to four weeks and she’ll honor it. Even if I have to tie her to the bed for the remainder of the time.”
Everyone stared at Jack in wonder. His face turned thunderous. “It’s not what you think. For fuck sake, can’t a man just enjoy having a sub on hand to fuck until she passes out?”
“Not a man like you, no,” Max muttered under his breath, but secretly, he was elated. Jack had taken Selina’s betrayal hard and it was time he got a second chance at love. From what he’d witnessed when he and Joanne had gone for a visit, the feisty Jordan Clark was right up Jack’s alley.
The air was so brittle it could snap, and if it didn’t, Jordan might. Her gaze moved to the counter where she stood in the kitchen after popping a shepherd’s pie into the oven. Water sat in the glass before her, condensation beading on the outside. She ran her finger around it as if slicing the top off and watched the transparent ‘blood’ drip to the marble top below. That’s what she felt like doing to Jack Blackmore.
The fiend! The goddamned bastard!
Leaving her with a strap-on vibrator for the entire day—and just to be clear—it had been a full seven hours and counting!
