Bond Betrayed Read online

  “Yep.”

  “Awfully convenient.”

  “Not for him.” She looked up to see Isaac standing in the doorway. He looked really good leaning up against the doorframe. He looked even better walking across the room to stand next to her, though. “Are we finished? My food’s getting cold.”

  The younger officer looked through his notes and then nodded stiffly. “I’ve got everything I need. You good, McPatrick?”

  “Yeah, we’ll let you get back to your evening.” He stood and then turned to leave but stopped abruptly. “I’m not saying I’m surprised at your choice in company, Marrow, but I had thought better of your judgment. Bringing a Rathe into your home? A seductress, no less. I’d have thought your momma would’ve taught you better.”

  Nikki’s body stiffened with a combination of indignant anger and shame. It was mostly anger, and she took some comfort in that. But still, the shame was there. No matter what she did she’d always be a Rathe first, a seductress second, and a person third. A distant third at that.

  “My mother taught me many things, McPatrick.” The smile Isaac shot at the other man was menacing. “But no. Avoiding Rathes didn’t make the list. She was too busy brokering alliances, I guess.” He wrapped a protective arm around Nikki’s shoulders. “I could probably learn a thing or two about it from your department, though. Nobody’s better at avoiding a Rathe than your men. Especially if said Rathe has outstanding warrants. I’d even go so far as to say it’s becoming a fucking art form.”

  “That’s not true,” Officer McRatrick insisted. “My men are doing everything they can—”

  “To stay alive,” Isaac finished. “I know.”

  “Don’t you see what’s happening?” McRatrick asked. “That bitch has already started working on you.”

  “If you’re referring to my mom, she’s been working on me from day one. If you mean Nikki, however, well…” He gaze worked its way down her body, setting each inch of her on fire with its open appreciation. “I could only be so lucky.”

  “Officer Marrow—”

  But whatever the man was about to say was lost as Isaac put his hand on McRatrick’s back and escorted him out of the room. “You’ve overstayed your welcome, Officer McPatrick, and you’re dangerously close to insulting an honored guest in my house.”

  The laugh escaped Nikki’s lips before she even realized she found the situation amusing. “You have to value someone’s opinion of you before you can find it insulting,” she said to the closed door. “He was nowhere near insulting me.”

  Great. Now she was talking to empty rooms. This evening just kept getting better and better. Wine. What she needed was a glass or two—or four—of good wine. And, seeing as there was a beautiful wine fridge in the kitchen, it appeared pretty easy to come by in this house.

  Acquiring a glass, however, proved more difficult. They were at the top of one of the tall cabinets. Who would put glasses that high? A freaking giant of a man who didn’t have to worry about something as insignificant as arm span, that’s who.

  She sighed to herself as she leaned against the countertop so she could stretch out another inch. Still, her fingertips barely brushed against the edge of the shelf she sought.

  “Can I help?”

  Warmth encapsulated her as she was trapped between the countertop at her front and the strong wall of Isaac’s chest at her back. For one moment, she allowed the sensation to bring her comfort. But then the moment was over. Turning in the prison of his strong arms, she faced his chest before hopping onto the countertop and spreading her thighs so he’d fall naturally between them.

  Things were about to get interesting. “Not sure, what’d you have in mind?”

  His gaze immediately fell to her naked thighs but he then shook his head and took a step away from her. “Not going to work, Nikki.”

  She blinked in mock innocence. “I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about.” His gaze followed her thighs until it reached the hem of his shirt. “You’re barely dressed, in my shirt I might add, which is sexy as hell. And, though I usually don’t mind having a bewitching woman straddling me at the kitchen counter, given our current relationship it does make me rather vulnerable.”

  “I just wanted to say thank you for defending me against that horrible Officer McRatrick.” She puckered her bottom lip in a pout before shimmying off the countertop. When he took another step away from her, she shrugged and turned back toward the cabinet. “You think I’d take advantage of you when you’re in a vulnerable state?”

  He chuckled softly behind her. “In a heartbeat. And do you actually call him McRatrick?”

  “Only in my head, but it still counts.” She sighed as she tried, and failed, to reach the glasses again. “And I have to say, your lack of trust stings. I haven’t done anything to warrant it.” A glance over her shoulder told her he was staring at the rounded curve of her ass that the stretch had exposed.

  Good.

  “You’re right. And I’m not going to allow that to change. Too much is at stake for me to risk being manipulated. Even by such a beautiful and, I’m certain, pleasurable temptation.” He cleared his throat and then brought his gaze up to meet hers. “But I am willing to offer you a mutually beneficial truce.”

  “Excellent idea. You’re quite the diplomat.” She paused as if actually thinking up the terms to a truce then said, “You release me and I’ll stop tormenting you.”

  He leaned in again, this time grabbing two glasses from the cabinet before quickly stepping away from her.

  “I’m being serious, Nikki. The least you could do is return the courtesy.”

  She smiled seductively as she unbuttoned one of the buttons that hid her body from him. “Oh, I was being serious. Would you like me show you playful? Just so you have something to compare against, of course.”

  His face paled as his gaze remained locked on the new bit of skin she’d revealed. But as her fingers tugged at the next button, he seemed to remember himself. “No.” His gaze shot up to her face. “I’ll take your word for it.”

  “See, already trusting me more. I like that.” She let go of the button, but leaned forward so the shirt would pucker slightly. “So, what terms were you thinking of for our little truce?”

  “You stop tormenting me and I let your sister come and go as she pleases for the duration of your stay?”

  It was a good counter but she thought she could get a better deal.

  “I can’t stop tormenting you completely. It’d go against my nature.” Her nature up to that evening had been steady and cautious but she found she was delighted by the amount of havoc she was causing him. Apparently he brought out the worst in her—or possibly the best. She wasn’t sure which was true just yet. “But I tell you what, you let Izzy come and go as she pleases and I’ll stop traipsing around here half naked.”

  “You honestly expect me to believe you’d wear nothing but my shirts and panties for the next week?”

  So he expected her to be here for a week. That was a handy piece of information. She’d have to call her firm in the morning to tell them she was on vacation. She had the time and she wasn’t currently in the middle of any critical cases, so it shouldn’t be a problem. But, if she was going to give him a week of her life, she was going to do what she could to make sure it was on her terms. “Sweetheart, I’d walk around here naked for months on end if I thought that’s what it’d take to break you.”

  His gaze swept down her body and she could just imagine him picturing her naked.

  “Now that I’ve said that out loud, it kind of sounds like fun,” she said as she jumped up to sit the countertop again. “What do ya think?”

  Chapter Four

  What did he think, indeed.

  When he’d walked into the kitchen and seen those fantastic black lace panties peeking out from underneath his shirt, he hadn’t thought twice about snuggling up behind her under the guise of being helpful. It’d s
eemed like a good idea. Why it seemed like a great idea, he still wasn’t sure. Maybe he’d let the mock flirting in front of the other men lull him into stupidity? Regardless, it turned out to be a phenomenally bad one. Nicola Rathe was his captive and, as much as he hated admitting his mother was ever right, this time she was. Nikki would do whatever it took to free herself.

  And that included driving him insane. Cradled between her smooth thighs, all he could think of was leaning forward—taking her mouth with his and sliding his hand under that damn shirt. Even now, standing across the room from her, he still wanted her more than he’d ever wanted any other woman.

  The thought of her picking one of his shirts and a pair of lacy panties as a permanent wardrobe? Yeah, that wasn’t going to work for him.

  “Agreed. Izzy can come and go and you’ll wear clothes.”

  “Aw. Too bad.” She made a show of closing the button she’d just undone. “Guess it’s time we moved on to bigger issues, then.”

  Bigger issues? What could possibly be a bigger issue? “Like?”

  “Like what is it, exactly, that you want from me?” The wink she threw at the end of the statement made his heart stutter. Needing some sort of distraction, he turned away from her and focused on opening and then pouring the wine for them.

  “Specifically, how do you expect me to help free Molly?”

  Thank god. They were back on safe ground. Relatively safe, that is. He doubted any topic would be completely safe with her. Wineglasses in hand, he turned once more to face her. “You, my dear, are going to be the bait we need to lure your father out into the open. Once you get him out of the hole he’s been hiding in, I’ll take care of the rest.”

  All trace of teasing flirtation disappeared. “You’re going to take my father on, face-to-face? That’s the big plan?” She hopped down from the counter and braced her arms across her chest.

  “Is that concern I’m seeing on that beautiful face of yours?” He hoped it was anything but. He could deal with angry. Hell, he actually liked angry. He was even okay with her manipulative side. Granted, the manner in which she tried to manipulate him was difficult for him, but he was managing. He wasn’t sure how genuine concern from her would affect him, though. She was already throwing him off balance. If he weakened at all—

  “He’s a dangerous man.”

  Fuck. She was concerned. There was no reason for her to give a damn about his well-being, but there was no mistaking the worry in her eyes. And there was nothing for him to do about it but reassure her. “As am I.”

  She glared at him before snatching one of the glasses of wine from him and then walking over to the table.

  “He’s strong, but I’m stronger. I will win, Nikki.”

  She drank the entire glass in one smooth drink before looking back up at him. “Is she that important? You would sacrifice yourself for her?”

  His life was a small price to pay, especially if saving Molly meant bringing down Rathe. “Yes.”

  “Who is Molly to you?”

  He was older than his sister by eight years, and that was a lifetime ago when she was eight and he was sixteen, but still, he was a little disappointed he hadn’t made a lasting impression on Nikki. “You don’t know me?”

  “Isaac…” She tapped a delicate fingertip against her lip as she thought. “Wait,” she whispered softly. “Once, when I was at Molly’s there was a man—” She stopped suddenly and shook her head. “A boy. Must have been sixteen or seventeen. He was fighting with Molly’s parents. And she was so scared.” Nikki looked up into his eyes, her own expression speculative. “But not of him, she was afraid for him. I followed her downstairs, but he’d already left. She ran outside and called his name—your name,” she corrected. “And you turned.” She paused and closed her eyes as if she wanted to relive the memory before saying it out loud. “You gave her a hug and then you looked me in the eye and nodded. Told me to take care of your baby sister and then left.”

  He sucked in a shaky breath at the painful memory. “I’d forgotten you were there that day. It was the first of many times my parents kicked me out.” They were fighting that day because his parents had demanded he get his first ink. He was so young. He had no idea why they pushed so hard. But it hadn’t taken long for him to discover the truth.

  She opened her eyes slowly as if she didn’t want to let the memory go. She positively glowed as if she’d found some forgotten treasure. But then she sighed and the glow disappeared as she held up her glass for him to refill. It was as if nothing had happened, that he’d imagined the change. But, as he walked over to the table, he was certain he’d seen it. The air around her had been charged before she’d opened her eyes. If only he could make her sparkle like that again. He’d be willing to relive all his most painful memories.

  “So you were a bad boy?” she asked as he refilled her wineglass.

  The soft, sultry way she said it made him sound like every girl’s wet dream—which was a hell of a lot better than the truth. Rebels were sexy. Troubled youths? They were just an inconvenience. “Depends on who you talk to.”

  “I don’t listen to gossip.” She studied him closely for a moment and then nodded decisively. “And you are definitely a bad boy.” She lifted the glass to her lips, this time making a show of savoring the drink. But to be that glass cradled between her lips…

  His whole body tightened at the wayward thought. Fuck! He was seriously losing it.

  “So I’m to be bait. How are you going to get close enough to capture him and yet keep me far enough away to make sure I’m safe?”

  Good question. “I’m working on that. Now that I know you’ve agreed to help, I’ll be able to come up with a more detailed plan.”

  “Be careful with those details, I hear that’s where the devil likes to hide.” She took another sip of the wine, this time humming her satisfaction as her throat moved to swallow it. “This is very good wine, by the way. Not that I expected anything less than the best in a Marrow home.”

  “So glad our hospitality is living up to your expectations.”

  “I didn’t say that exactly.” She laughed and set the glass on the table. “So, when you have him—my father, that is—are you going to kill him?”

  His chest filled with pride at the certainty in her statement. She believed he could—would capture her father. “Do you want him to live?” He had no plans on killing Rathe, but if she wanted the monster kept alive he needed to find out why.

  “No. There’s no jail that can hold him. Even if there was, there isn’t a court that would convict him. I don’t want to be doing this again in another two years.”

  Her lack of faith in their justice system was understandable. “What do you want to be doing in two years?”

  “Lying on a beach as far away from this fucked-up little world as geographically possible.” She didn’t know where the idea had come from. She hadn’t taken a true vacation in years. But, now that it was out there, she had to admit it had some appeal. Not as a lifestyle—she craved the chaos and fast pace of her career too much to be happy relaxing on a day-to-day basis—but definitely as a vacation option. There was nothing like the sun, sand and drinks with little umbrellas to make your problems melt away.

  “What, you don’t want to spend more time with me? That hurts.” He clutched his heart in mock pain. “And here I thought we were getting along so well.”

  “You’re a good temporary distraction, but I plan on being a distant memory in two years time.”

  “Don’t worry. When I get my hands on him, it’ll be finished. You’ll never have to deal with your father again. But something tells me you’ll never be a distant memory. Not to any of us.”

  She finished the wine and then stood to stretch. Every muscle from her arms to her calves tensed for a second and, with his shirt riding up an inch or two with the movement, it painted the image of womanly perfection.

  “I hope you’re wrong about that,” she said when she relaxed. “You seem like a good guy, but
I meant what I said. I’m not looking for family or alliances.”

  She took a step away from him, but he couldn’t let her go. Not yet. “And what is it, exactly, that makes me seem like a good guy? The bonding you or the using you to presumably kill your father? I’m a little confused.”

  She didn’t bring her gaze up to his, but her lack of immediate answer made him believe she was giving his question some real thought. “Does it matter?”

  “Yes, it matters. Why don’t you hate me? Why aren’t you angry?” God, what he’d give to have her angry with him. That’d be so much easier to deal with. With her smart, sultry attitude and intelligent questions, he could already feel the desire to trust her—to treat her as a partner in this instead of his pawn. And if that happened, it spelled disaster. Say what she might about Molly or her father, the only thing she wanted was to be free of him. He had to remember that.

  “Maybe I do. And maybe I am. I might be manipulating you to get what I want just as you’re manipulating me.” She took another step, but paused as she rested her hip against the table. “On the other hand, I might understand why you bound me. Like you, I’d do anything for my sister. And I might really want to help Molly. She stood by me when nobody else would.”

  “And you have no plans on telling me which one it is, do you?”

  She turned to look at him and smiled. “Now why would I do that? It would spoil all the fun of this game we’re playing.”

  He sank into a chair as he tried to figure out where their conversation had taken such a wrong turn. “You think you’re playing with me?”

  “I know, you think you hold all the cards in this game. It hasn’t once occurred to you that you wouldn’t be able to keep me if that wasn’t what I wanted.”

  She waved flirtatiously at him, just a flick of her delicate fingers, and then walked out of the room.

  What the hell was he going to do now? His captive seductress seemed convinced she was playing him, and he wasn’t entirely convinced she was wrong at this point. And if that wasn’t bad enough, she seemed to be enjoying the game far more than he. Even with all the scenarios and contingencies he’d come up with while planning this, he’d never even come close to dreaming up something this crazy.