Love & Deception (Agents in Love - Book 1) (45 page)

Empty air came over the phone and Nick
stuffed it in his pocket. He had to wonder now if bringing the feds
in was a good idea. Not that he expected Paul to honor his promise
of letting them go free, but he was sure to bring a lot of
firepower to the rendezvous area. Nick didn’t want to be
responsible for getting the FBI agents killed.

On the pretense of smoothing his hair, he
talked directly into the watchband. “Another man is driving me to a
meeting point where Paul said we’ll exchange Carlie for the
bracelet. Expect him to have a lot of guns there. Be careful.”

A muscular man approached Nick’s car from
the gas pumps. He wore ripped up Levi’s and a blue muscle shirt. A
hawk tattoo graced his right arm and a tribal band circled the
other. Dark sunglasses obscured his face.

“Put your keys inside your car,” the man
said. “Get the item the boss needs. We’re taking my truck.”

Uncomfortable, Nick pulled back his suit
jacket slightly, showing the man his gun. “I don’t know what the
boss told you about me, but you have no chance of outdrawing me and
living if you decide to steal the jewelry and dump me
somewhere.”

The man pushed his sunglasses on top of his
head. “I’m not the criminal here, you are. I don’t kill people
unless I have to, but Paul warned me you weren’t above that.” He
spit on the ground. “Nothing worse than a bad agent. You disgust
me.”

Disgusted or not, Paul must have warned him
about Nick’s skills. Grabbing his bag from inside the car, Nick
left the keys in the visor. He hoped if Muscle Man checked his bag
before driving away, he wouldn’t realize the bracelet inside wasn’t
the correct one. Nick wasn’t stupid enough to bring it along. The
man could just kill him and take it if he did.

After following his captor to a truck, he
climbed in and fastened his seat belt.

“For the record,” Nick said, “I’m not a
criminal. I always thought Paul was a good guy, too, but a real
leader doesn’t kidnap an innocent woman or kill people for monetary
gain. You don’t know the man you’re working for.”

Muscle Man grunted and put the key in the
ignition. “He said you’d tell me that. Shut your mouth the rest of
the trip, unless you want to find out which of us is really better
with a gun.”

***

As soon as Paul left the room, Carlie
struggled against the zip tie binding her hands. Pain flared along
her left arm, though she bit down on the inside of her lip and
didn’t cry out.

“Good girl,” Ryan said. “I knew you’d
cooperate and tell Nick everything was fine. I’ll have my men hold
off on the killings. Pity, too. They were looking forward to one
woman they have captive. Maybe I’ll let them have their way with
her anyway. I try to be a good leader.”

“You’re sick.” She pulled her right hand
further inside the opening of the zip tie.

Ryan must have taken her grimace of pain for
distaste of his words, because he laughed. “I really don’t think
the guards here should be deprived either. That one at the door
told me how much he wants a few minutes alone with you.”

As Carlie’s hand slipped closer to the top
of the binding, Shelley didn’t call out a warning or stop her from
freeing herself. Either she was still in shock at Ryan’s monstrous
personality or she decided to do the right thing.

“I can tell by the eager look on your face
you like the idea of the guard,” Ryan said. “Since you’re still my
wife and property, I think I’ll give him alone time with you before
sending you back to your cell. As long as you’re alive when good
ol’ Nick gets here, it doesn’t matter if you’ve been violated.”

Fear clutched Carlie and it was all she
could do to not fight the bindings harder and draw attention to her
actions. If Shelley really wasn’t on her side and just didn’t
notice, Carlie couldn’t blow this. The thought of being trapped in
the room with Stephen nearly brought her to tears. She knew what
Stephen was capable of and what he wanted.

Ryan gave him permission to rape her. She
was sure Stephen would love combining rape with his love of beating
a woman. She glanced over her shoulder, praying she’d see some
indication from Shelley that she’d help her avoid that.

Shelley stared at Ryan, seeming horrified,
but also not making any move to come to Carlie’s rescue.
Apparently, she didn’t realize Carlie worked to free herself.
Looked like she had to save herself...somehow.

Ryan glanced at Shelley and jerked his head
to the doorway. “You can leave. If the guard can’t handle her bound
and waiting for him, he’s got a problem.”

Taking a deep breath, Carlie went back to
work on the bindings while Shelley walked to the door.

She turned, just before opening it and met
Carlie’s eyes. “I’m so sorry. I really didn’t know.”

“And yet,” Carlie replied, “you’ll let
Stephen rape me. I misjudged you. You really do belong with this
group of criminals, Shelley. I’m sorry I ever considered you a
friend.”

That provoked a laugh from Ryan. “You’ve
gotten feistier than that sad, pudgy girl from college. Short hair,
trim body, and an attitude.” He shook his head. “You look good,
Stephanie. Never thought I’d think that.”

Knowing that Ryan wasn’t trained in karate,
in fact had no fighting skills, Carlie wondered if she could
convince him to stay for a little fun. Once she got her hands free,
she’d be able to take him down. With him under her power, she’d
have a lot more leverage to get herself out of here.

“I’m a lot different than I was before,
Ryan. Why don’t you stay? I’ve learned a few things since our
marriage.”

“As interesting as this new confidence is,
you always were a lousy lay. I doubt that’s changed.” He walked to
the door, whistling to himself as he and Shelley exited. “Hey,
stud.” He turned to Stephen. “You’re on. Have a good time. Don’t
kill her, but as long as she can talk, I’m okay with whatever you
do.”

Over Ryan’s shoulder, Shelley stared at
Carlie, obviously blinking back tears, but not doing anything to
stop the men around her.

Looked like she was on her own. Carlie
fought against the tie, crying out with pain as the hard plastic
scraped her skin. She couldn’t quite get it over the bulge of her
thumb, and panic set it when Stephen walked into the room.

He shut the door and faced her, cracking his
knuckles. “I knew I’d get my way with you eventually. Sex and a
beating, all with your hands tied. My idea of a great time.” He ran
his tongue across his lips. “You aren’t breaking my balls, Carlie,
but we will enjoy them.”

“I’m not enjoying your balls. You wish.”
Carlie whimpered as a particularly vigorous jerk on her hand shot
pain all the way up her arm.

Stephen obviously thought the whimper was
for him and chuckled, running his fingers through his sandy hair.
“You’ve been trying to fight this since we met. You don’t have to
pretend to be a nice girl anymore, love. This could be enjoyable. I
don’t have specific orders to hurt you, after all, and can do
whatever I want. Why don’t you hop on the edge of the table here?
Cooperate. Make me feel nice.”

She narrowed her eyes, a thrill of victory
running through her as she squeezed her thumb toward her pinky and
the hard plastic fell across the knuckle. Jerking her hand back and
forth, she didn’t care if Stephen realized she tried to free
herself. “I don’t need my hands free to break your balls.”

He rushed to her, gripping the front of her
shirt and pulling her upright. “Guess I have to beat you into
submission first. That’s okay with me.”

He slammed her back against the wall,
sending shockwaves of pain skittering up Carlie’s arms and into her
shoulders. Too many hits like that and even if she got free, she
wouldn’t have any feeling in her fingers to execute attacks.

Carlie tried to clear her mind. Nick trained
her well. She could fend Stephen off, even with her hands
bound.

He gripped her neck in a vice-like grasp and
slammed her head into the wall. “How exciting.” Stephen ran his
tongue down her face. “Remind you of the last time we were
together, love? I’ve spent every night dreaming of what would have
happened if Nick hadn’t interrupted us.”

He loosened his hand and Carlie took a deep
breath. All the defenses against choking assumed she’d be able to
strike her attacker. She’d have to improvise.

“Not worried about your balls being broken
because they’re so small?” She asked, smiling sweetly. “A real man
wouldn’t have to abuse a woman to get off.”

He pressed his hand against her windpipe a
little tighter. “Not smart, bitch.”

So much for all the annoying ‘love’ talk.
“Bite me.” She smirked. “I don’t care what you think.”

Even though Stephen scared her, she hoped
rage would make him lose focus. If he started reacting, not
thinking, she might be able to outsmart him.

“Bite you? Oh, I’ll bite you.” He loosened
his hold again, shoving her head sideways and biting her neck full
force, his teeth deeply piercing her skin.

Carlie struggled, still pulling at the zip
tie. Even though her neck hurt horribly, she had to throw him off
track. “Wow, Stephen. That feels good. I didn’t know you could be
so exciting.”

He looked up, his face mere inches from
hers. “You...like that?”

The bite throbbed, but she smiled. “It
thrills me,” she whispered huskily. “Now, what can those lips do
against mine?” Anxiety filled her at what she was about to do, but
it was the only weapon she had available.

Stephen grinned and leaned into her, lips
puckered.

Lurching forward suddenly with as much force
as she could, Carlie smashed the top of her forehead into his nose,
jerking on her zip tie again.

Stephen crashed to the floor just as her
hands popped loose. She raced for the doorway, not knowing if she
knocked him out. If not, he’d be so angry that her chances were
better with the man in the hallway than in here.

She reached the door and tugged on the
handle, but it didn’t budge. Fear clutched her and she turned to
face Stephen, pressing her back into the door.

He stood, blood trickling down his face. He
shook his head, as though to clear it. “That was a mistake. No
matter how nice I am, you want to fight. There’s nowhere to run,
love.” He grinned. “Let’s have some fun.”

***

Nick sat nervously watching the desert and
cactus speed past as Muscle Man drove in stony silence next to him.
They were far from Phoenix and traveled on remote back roads.
Though he’d tried to watch the side mirror without being noticed,
Nick hadn’t spotted any vehicle behind them. He could only hope the
tracking device worked properly and the feds were on the way.

He swung wildly between thinking they would
help, and fearing they would get Carlie killed. At least Carlie was
alive. She sounded okay, though stressed, on the phone. He knew she
might be angry at his deception, but if he could just get her
safely away from Paul, nothing else mattered.

He loved her. Perhaps they could work things
out and be together, or maybe she’d hate him and tell him to get
out of her life forever. Either way, he had to save her or he knew
what his future held. Nothing good.

“How much longer?” he asked.

Muscle Man grunted. “We’ll get there when we
get there.”

Nick went back to counting cacti. At least
Carlie had training to protect herself. He had to take solace from
that. She was better off now than when they first met. Everything
would be okay.

Nick leaned his head against the seat,
biting back a curse. Carlie was in grave danger and unfortunately,
he still didn’t believe in fairytales.

***

Carlie screamed as Stephen punched her face
again. He had her trapped against the floor, pinning her arms to
her sides while sitting on her chest. He periodically rubbed his
groin against her, just as he had in karate class the last time
they sparred.

“Your screams are arousing,” he laughed,
punching her again before nuzzling into her neck. “Your husband’s a
real standup guy, letting me have time with you.”

Carlie screamed again, struggling to free
her hands like Nick taught her, but Stephen’s strength was wearing
her down.

Out in the hall someone shouted, and Stephen
lost focus for a moment when he glanced at the doorway.

Not wasting the opportunity, Carlie twisted
with all the force she could muster, managing to free her left arm.
Ignoring the zaps of nerve pain, she drove her elbow into his
crotch.

As he let out his own scream of pain, the
door burst open and Shelley rushed in. “Get off her, you asshole!”
She launched across the room, piling into Stephen, driving him off
Carlie and into the wall. She gave him a chop to his neck and then
another kick between the legs.

Screaming, Stephen rolled into a ball,
clutching his groin.

Shelley held her hand out to Carlie. “Hurry.
We have to run. I took care of the guard in the hall, but there’s
more where he came from.”

Carlie accepted her help in standing, pain
throbbing in her head to rival the ache in her arms. “Why are you
helping me?”

Wrapping her in a fierce hug, Shelley let
out a soft sob. “Please forgive me. They showed me pictures and
changed my mind. I was sure you were innocent after Stephen’s first
attack, but Paul...” She stepped back, shaking her head. “You
are
like a sister to me, and I’m getting you out of here. I
really didn’t know about Ryan.”

“I believe you.” Carlie glanced to where
Stephen still rolled on the ground, moaning in pain. “What’s our
plan?”

Shelley walked to the open doorway. “Let’s
drag this guy inside and lock them in. That’ll give us a little
more time. We’re on the fourth floor, and we have to sneak down. I
don’t know what all goes on here, but there are a lot of
guards.”