Criminal Alliance

by Angi Morgan

  “Why’s that?”

  “Maybe he’s hoping I’ll hang myself and he won’t have to give the order to get rid of me. Like other people I won’t name...” Therese reached over the tray and brushed crumbs from the corner of his mouth, seductively raising an eyebrow in his direction “...he’s sort of sweet on me.”

  Man alive, he no longer wanted to talk about Rushdan Reval or the FBI or algorithms that could bring down cities or countries. At her touch, he just wanted to pull her to the bed and finish a different discussion.

  “You know, it’s not too late for you to go back to your regular duties as a Texas Ranger. I can clean this up.”

  “No. We talked about this.” He stood, removing the remnants of dinner to the desk. “I’m going with you and we’ll find the threat. I’ve spoken with Jack. I’ll call back. Who should he speak with at the FBI to confirm my involvement?”

  “Steve Woods. He’s the only person I can trust there who knows about the threat. He’s working with Homeland and only providing ‘as needed’ info to them.”

  “You don’t trust very easily, do you?”

  “No,” she answered with a whisper. “Rushdan will have a hard time believing a big ol’ Texas Ranger is willing to get his hands dirty. Why is that exactly?”

  “Money. It’s always about money.”

  “We’ll have to convince him you need a lot...and fast.”

  “Right. Heath will be set before Reval looks into my background.” He pushed down the old feelings from his youth. Fright had no place here. He needed confidence and arrogance. “Think I have time for a shower before our location is discovered?”

  “Probably. I think I’ll try to catch some sleep. After they get here, it might be rough.” She draped the robe across the end of the bed, then pulled back the covers. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” he asked from the bathroom door.

  The urge to bring her close was overwhelming. His knuckles turned white as he gripped the door trim and tried to keep himself there instead of at her side. She smiled—completely sexy in his blue shirt that looked better on her than him. That was all she did, but he understood.

  He took a quick shower, thinking about the impossible situation the FBI and Homeland had placed on her shoulders. Therese needed help whether anyone admitted it or not.

  Her eyes were closed when he locked his phone, gun and creds inside the safe. He called Jack from the hotel line—not only to check in, but to tell him the combination so he could send one of the guys to grab his things.

  He scrambled back into his jeans since he knew that at some point a gun would be aimed and they’d be taken to Reval’s headquarters. Therese shivered in her sleep. He smoothed the covers and she backed her body close to his. They lay in each other’s arms, fitfully resting. He woke with every movement and could tell that she hadn’t fallen into a deep sleep, either. He kept her close, whispering again what he would eventually do.

  Around four in the morning, Reval’s men arrived for the next phase of their undertaking. It was going to be a very long day.

  Chapter Six

  Rushdan’s men used a key to enter the hotel room. Wade covered Therese with the robe as the door burst open, so he hadn’t been taken by surprise.

  He’d held on to her body until they were yanked apart and his hands tied behind his back, angled to grab her robe before she was shoved through the door.

  Therese had never worked with a partner and oddly enjoyed the thought of her first being this tall Texas Ranger. She liked him. A lot.

  All those sexy words he’d whispered in her ear as she’d tried to go to sleep still had her body burning. She hadn’t dare tell him she wanted the same. She wouldn’t have held back. If they survived, being with Wade would be a genuine pleasure.

  But one that would wait.

  It was infuriating not to be tied up like Wade, not to be considered a threat. But she’d worked hard over the last years not to reveal her strength or quickness to these men. She walked freely as they were taken down the service elevator and escorted into the back of an SUV.

  Once they were at Rushdan’s new office, one of his hired goons punched Wade hard enough to make him lose his breath. “That was for the six months I served in the county jail.”

  What had she done by involving Wade? How could she have let her judgment lapse so badly not once but several times? She’d completely lost her mind and would probably lose her job for disclosing everything about her undercover assignment.

  But worse...if they beat Wade or tortured him? Would she be able to hold her tongue?

  “Just take us to Rushdan,” she instructed, stepping in front of Wade. “If you touch my boyfriend again, I guarantee you won’t be around tomorrow to regret it.”

  Therese held her breath, preparing for the punch that never came—not to her and not a second one to Wade, either. Both of them knew the risks. Talking his way into the Reval organization was a long shot. They were both flanked by two men who yanked them through rooms and eventually stood them in front of Rushdan Reval.

  “Therese, my darling. Come, let me see you. Untie our guest.” Reval instructed his men. “Are you barbarians or something just as awful?”

  The goons released her arms when she gave them a shrug. She approached Reval’s desk wearing the robe over Wade’s shirt, which covered her skimpy underwear.

  “Come closer. You know what I want.” The pig tugged at the belt at her waist, inching her closer to his chair. She could see his hope of anticipation that she’d let the robe fall open. She dug her fingers into the cotton sides, barely keeping it closed.

  Somehow she managed to get into character, the part she played of a dingy woman who was slightly incompetent. The character that all these men thought so little about that they didn’t bother to tie her hands.

  Tonight was different. Wade watched, as well. His strength could be felt across the room. She saw the worry on the men’s faces. Gritting her teeth, she forced herself to tolerate Rushdan as he unbuttoned the top two buttons of the dark blue dress shirt. He skimmed the back of his fingers against her cleavage to cop a filthy feel. She desperately wanted to slap his hands away from her, but she took it.

  Just like always.

  The men gripping Wade attempted to hold him, but he broke free. He yanked her back to his arms just before the robe fell open.

  “So it’s true. Our ranger friend has a thing for you. After all this time of you saying no to me, you said yes to someone who can put you behind bars? Do you think he really cares for you?”

  “He got me out of jail last year.”

  “So you finally admit that you had someone with pull to help you. Why not just tell me the multiple times I’ve asked?”

  “He said it was a secret, Rushy, baby. And you told me secrets were important,” she sounded more like the confused ditz they were used to. “I told you I was meeting someone last night and you had me followed. I don’t understand what I did wrong.”

  “They ran.” The bigger-than-big man tsked at them.

  “Only after they began shooting at us,” Wade threw out.

  “I didn’t ask you, ranger boy.” Rushdan dug his fingernail into his mouth, picking food from his teeth, then gestured as if shooing a fly. “Take him from my sight while I decide what to do with him. Did you think to bring their clothes?”

  “Rushdan, baby.” Therese turned and took steps back to her “boss,” letting the robe fall open, and purposely tugging the shirt to where it left little to the pig’s imagination. “I’ve been working on this guy for months. I thought you could use his help.”

  All the men in the room could barely raise their eyes. She had them mesmerized and hoping the shirt would fall completely open. Rushdan had the best seat.

  The pig.

  “I spent nearly six months in that filthy cell, wearing orange.” He shuddered. “Wh
y would you think you could bring your pet in here for me to adopt? I have no use for a Texas Ranger. He can’t do anything for me. Even if I thought he really would.” Rushdan tried for a whimsical, light voice, but it was countered by the evil in his eyes.

  “You’re right. I didn’t believe Wade at first, either. Now I mainly want the money he owes me.” She leaned forward to whisper. Rushdan bent to look down her shirt. “He has a gambling problem, baby. You can use that against him,” she suggested.

  “Therese.” Once again Wade tugged on her arm to pull her to his side. “I can speak for myself.”

  “Not if he won’t listen, sugar.”

  “Aww, how sweet. The two lovebirds are fighting,” Rushdan said.

  “We aren’t fighting.” Wade buttoned the shirt to cover her cleavage. She spun around while he kept his hands on her shoulders.

  “I do so enjoy your little shows, Therese. Too bad it seems your champion has ended this one.” He nodded to his men. “I’m busy. Go put them somewhere until I’m not.”

  “But,” she began again.

  “By the way, I love the boots. Sal, remind me I need to get me some real Texas boots.” He pointed at Wade’s Western footwear.

  “Yes, sir.” Sal pushed at them with a gun.

  Rushdan looked at the men in the room. “I said put them somewhere until I can think up an appropriate punishment.”

  Therese forced Wade to let go of her. “Really, Rushdan. I do a good job for you. Even while you were gone I ran the San Antonio clubs like you wanted. Wade is a fun time, but you know I’m loyal to you. I really thought we could use his connections to widen our prospects.”

  “Why would you think that?” Rushdan said, smacking his lips after another bite of breakfast. “Or should I ask why you try to think at all?”

  “I thought I could help.”

  “Therese, you are such a nice-looking broad. But why do you bother?” Rushdan backhanded her, sending her stumbling barefoot against Wade.

  She quickly turned around and stopped the ranger from roaring forward. “I warned you about this, Wade,” she whispered. “Rushdan is always right and never wrong.”

  “I can’t let him—”

  She locked both his hands with hers. But he still managed to swoosh her around and protect her, absorbing Rushdan’s next blow across his back.

  “I need the money,” Wade managed after a couple of seconds. “I admit that. Thing is, Texas Rangers are squeaky clean, man. No one thinks of us as being dishonest. It doesn’t happen. You’re throwing something special away here, Reval. I’m a one-of-a kind opportunity. Whatever you think up, I can do.”

  “Wait, wait, wait,” Therese said as Sal began pushing them from the room. “Please listen. He can get inside places even the cops you own can’t get into. Wade literally works with every agency. Right?”

  “All right. Wait. Can you really get inside every building or restricted area?”

  Yes! They’d found a reason Wade was unique.

  “Sure. No problem.” Wade shrugged.

  “How do I know this isn’t just a very good acting job?” Rushdan swiveled his huge body to sit in his chair. His house slippers slid across the marble floor.

  Only the best for Rushdan Reval.

  Wade slipped his arm around her waist. “I can’t help it. No way can I walk away from this lady. I’m crazy about her. Thing is, she doesn’t come cheap. I need money, Reval. If I don’t work for you, I’ll be working for someone else to get it.”

  Oh, God, he was about to kiss her. She recognized that smoldering longing in his eyes. How in the world could he do that with threats and guns hanging over them?

  “This just might work, but what type of collateral can you give me?” Her enemy interrupted.

  “Collateral, sir?”

  “Aren’t you quaint. Sir?” Rushdan looked around at his men. “Listen to that, he called me sir and actually means it. Yes, collateral. You don’t think I’m going to invest in you so you can steal from me when you’re entrusted with something valuable, do you? I don’t work that way.”

  “Me,” she answered for Wade. “I’ll be his collateral.”

  “Isn’t that sweet.” Rushdan used his pinky to pick something from his teeth again, making the nice words turn sour. “Unfortunately Therese, you’re already mine. Neither important nor valuable.”

  “She is to me. I love her.”

  The words struck something deep inside her. Even knowing they were said in order to save their lives. Coming from his lips after the beautiful night in the hotel...she realized just how much she wanted them to be true.

  Chapter Seven

  “Take them somewhere.” Rushdan shooed his crew away like they were flies. The thud of someone being shoved reminded him to say, “And no punching. At least not yet. Pretty boy might have a job to do.”

  He caught Sal’s look, which certainly questioned his temporary decision. He hated anyone questioning him. What was the harm of considering the ranger’s proposition? If he didn’t, he’d lose Therese, too.

  One person could give him the confirmation he needed. Andrew was faster with a computer than Rushdan was at making money. He silently laughed at his own joke and picked up his normal phone. Then dialed the number on the hidden cell phone in his desk.

  The key to everything was right there in plain sight for anyone who wanted to see it. But they wouldn’t know what it was and they wouldn’t know what to say even if they found a reason to search.

  “Money is a pitiless master but a zealous servant.” The code quote seemed both stupid and cryptic.

  “P.T. Barnum,” the voice answered. “Andrew, it’s for you,” the voice called from a distance a few seconds later.

  He looked around the new office, so close in style to his last. A shame he’d blown up the previous one. All because that badass ranger had brought others to try and take him down. Perhaps this was a mistake and he should just kill him and be done with it.

  Therese would need to die, too.

  He tapped on the fish tank full of smaller versions of the inhabitants of the one he’d had last year. They’d gain in size, just like his bank roll would after this deal was brokered. The biggest deal of his life.

  “Yeah?” Andrew finally said.

  “This is Rushdan Reval. I need information on Wade Hamilton. He’s a Texas Ranger in Dallas.” Rushdan waited for some type of acknowledgment.

  “Who is this? JK, I mean...just kidding, Reval. What did you want?” Andrew asked.

  “I need information. Today.”

  “Yeah, on a Texas Ranger. You said that. Why are you bothering, Reval? Does it have anything to do with our deal?”

  “As a matter of fact, I either need to kill him or I can use him to help facilitate the exchange.”

  “I’ll get back to you.”

  The phone went dead. “Thank you, I look forward to hearing from you,” he said into the phone, refusing to let anyone working for him know that someone had hung up on him.

  Andrew was a rude young man who continued to call him by his last name. No matter how many times he insisted on being called Rushdan.

  “What now?” Sal asked. “I locked them in the sixth-floor storage room.”

  “Do you have surveillance in that room?”

  “That’s not up and running yet, boss.”

  “Dammit, Sal, make that a priority. I want to know if anyone is following our two guests or approaching our building.”

  “You got it, boss.”

  “Did anyone pick up his vehicle?”

  “Nope.”

  Rushdan tapped on the glass. He didn’t allow anyone else to bother his fish that way, but he loved it. They all swam toward him, expecting food.

  “I guess a little more won’t hurt you,” he said to his fish. “Did you keep someone at the hotel room?”
/>
  “No. Want me to send someone back?”

  “Why do I surround myself with idiots?”

  The exception was Therese. Smart. Competent. Reliable. Even though she pretended to be all too stupid around his men. She had all the qualities that made him question why she worked for him. Even if she did try to hide behind the dumb broad persona she portrayed. He didn’t understand why she played that part. It didn’t make sense. And that was exactly the reason his men had been following her tonight.

  He had suspicions. Too many coincidences for his peace of mind.

  If he dwelled on it or questioned her motives too much, he might let his paranoia get rid of her. But he wanted her in every way.

  He should kill the ranger and be done with that specific problem. Sal and others had wanted him to deal with Therese after the Public Exposure episode but he’d ignored them.

  The problem with Therese... She was good with the details. He needed her back in the fold and she might leave if anything happened to her “boyfriend.”

  “Oh, well,” he mumbled to the blue fish with dots. “I shall call you Dotty.”

  If Wade Hamilton hadn’t stuck his nose where it didn’t belong last year, Rushdan would have his lovely office building, and the program would be complete for the new buyers. The money he would rake in from this deal would easily make up for the past six months of being shut down.

  If he had a way to keep the ranger under his control, to assure that he’d behave, then he’d control Therese at the same time.

  He tapped on the fish tank glass again. A beautiful blue-and-pink wrasse came to his finger. The blue reminded him of Therese’s eyes. He’d have to ask her to streak that dark brown hair of hers pink. That would be interesting...very interesting.

  Perhaps keeping the ranger alive could get him benefits of a different, more intimate nature with the smart beauty. Even if it didn’t, having someone to offer his new clients assistance with their government endeavors would only help the real operation get up and running again. An inside man always paid off.