Take Me Deeper (18 page)

Duchess stared at him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then she said, “Nice strategy. But where do we come in?”

“Why?” This time it was Zane who raised a brow. “You want in?”

Her blue eyes narrowed and a very surprised silence settled in the room.

“Think he got you, Duchess,” West pointed out, sounding pleased.

“Be quiet, West.” Duchess's icy gaze didn't waver from Zane's. “For argument's sake, let's say I do. What do you want from us?”

“Backup. We could use some more fire power, and you look like you could provide some.”

“We'll want credit with the sheriff's department if we do,” she said without hesitation. “This will be a joint operation, not purely Lone Star's.”

Interesting. Why would she want that? Did her company need it?

Again, he glanced at Quinn, who gave him an imperceptible shrug. Yeah, this was his show all right.

Thought you were done playing the hero?

He was, very definitely. Just this one time, for Iris, he'd do it. And the more people he had on his side helping him, the better.

“I don't see why not,” he said slowly, looking at Duchess.

But she hadn't finished. “You'll also owe us a favor.”

“No,” Quinn said before Zane could say anything. He'd shoved himself out of his chair, advancing on the desk where she was leaning. “No fucking way.”

“Here we go again,” Nora muttered.

“I tell a lie,” West said. “
This
is better than fucking
Cats
.”

“Since when did you see
Cats
?” Rhys finally spoke, his voice dark, cold.

“Since Rose made me take her,” the other man replied.

Zane leaned against the wall, watching his brother glower at the immaculate woman on the desk, who looked not one whit intimidated by the six foot four of angry, muscle-bound male staring at her like he wanted to strangle her.

“That's my condition for Duchess's involvement,” she said, staring right back. “Take it or leave it.”

“Over my dead fucking—”

“We'll take it,” Zane said calmly, earning him a furious glance from his brother. “As long as the favor won't involve acting against Lone Star's best interests, I'm sure we can handle it.” He paused, staring hard at Quinn. “Can't we?”

Quinn muttered something vile, then said grudgingly, “Yeah, I guess so.”

Duchess smiled and there was a definite air of smugness about her that Zane knew was going to make Quinn impossible afterward. He had no idea what his brother's problem was with the woman, but whatever it was, it sure as hell wasn't going to get in the way of making sure Iris was safe. “Excellent, gentlemen. I think we have a deal in that case.”

“What about the rest of your team?” Zane glanced at the others. “You're all okay with this?”

“Oh, we're always okay with whatever Duchess decides,” West said with a grin. “Nothing like a showdown with drug dealers to make you really feel alive.”

“Hell, yeah.” Nora's fingers brushed the gun at her hip. “My baby here needs an outing.”

Rhys snorted. “As long as I get paid, I don't give a shit.”

“Well, after that rousing show of support,” Duchess said dryly, “shall we get to planning how to take these bastards down?”

Iris roamed restlessly around the hotel suite, feeling penned in and not quite sure what to do with herself. Zane had sent her a text telling her he wouldn't be long, but it had been a couple of hours since he'd left and she was starting to feel anxious. For no obvious reason. Oh, there was the cartel to worry about, but the anxiety didn't seem to be about them. It seemed to be centered on Zane, and she didn't really understand why because he obviously could take care of himself. The whole thing was pretty damn unwelcome since having another person to worry about was the last thing she needed. Jamie took up all her emotional energy for a start, and she really shouldn't have any left for some guy she'd had sex with and barely knew.

Sure. Some guy you barely know who you told your secrets to and who held you in his arms while you sobbed like a little girl.

Stopping by the windows of the hotel suite, Iris glared out of them at the lake glittering in the hot Texan sun.

She didn't want to think about what had happened the night before. Or this morning. She didn't want to think about how safe she'd felt with his arms around her, or how good it felt to share a piece of herself with someone else. About the light feeling in her chest, as if a heavy stone had been sitting there and was now gone. No, shit, she didn't want to think about any of that.

She'd had sex with Zane and it had been great, but now it was over. She had to keep looking forward, keep aiming for getting out of this mess and for getting Jamie back. That's all that mattered. That's all that had
ever
mattered.

The suite door opened just then, admitting Zane, and despite everything she'd been telling herself, her heart gave one hard beat, then seemed to slow and stop, quivering in her chest like a frightened bird.

She was ridiculous. Why the hell was she feeling this way about him? She'd never felt this for any other man she'd slept with apart from Dylan, and look how that had ended. Zane was bad news, she knew it deep in that poor, trembling heart of hers. And yet she couldn't seem to stop the feeling racing through her veins, the intense rush of adrenaline that had her moving toward him like an iron filing to a magnet. She stopped herself before she reached him, and thank God, because she had no idea what she would have done if she hadn't. Thrown herself into his arms or done something else hideously embarrassing.

It was bad enough just standing there, unable to tear her gaze from him, his leanly muscled form showcased perfectly in that beautiful tailored suit, his dark blue shirt deepening the electric color of his eyes.

“So,” she said, since clearly speaking was better than the direction her thoughts were taking, “what happened?”

Zane didn't answer immediately, scanning the room in that quick, focused way of his. “You got room service?” he said, noting the tray on the table.

“Yeah. Hope you don't mind. I was hungry.”

“No, of course I don't mind. You need to eat.” He glanced back at her, his gaze sharpening. “Anyone come to the door?”

She shook her head. “Only the guy who delivered room service.”

“And you let him in—”

“No,” she interrupted. “I told him to leave the tray outside, then I collected it myself.”

The expression on Zane's face eased, approval warming the cool blue of his gaze, and, fool that she was, she felt the glow of it like he'd switched on a light inside her. “Well done,” he said. “You need to be careful when I'm not here.”

She tried for her old snark. “Hey, I know how to protect myself. I'm not a complete idiot.”

He stared at her a second, his eyes narrowing. Then he crossed over to where she stood, reaching up to take her face between his large, warm palms before she could move. “No,” he said quietly and with absolute authority. “There'll be no more of that. I'm the one person you
don't
have to protect yourself against, understand?”

She flushed, part of her embarrassed that he should see through her so easily, yet another part oddly thrilled at being so well understood. Her usual response would have been to deny it, to fight him or at least protest in some way, but instead she found herself relaxing against him, her arms sliding around his lean waist. She felt an intense urge to put her head on his powerful chest and rest there a moment, to savor the feeling of being protected and cared for. It was a dangerous feeling and one she knew she shouldn't indulge, but hell, why not? He wasn't going to be here long, so she may as well make the most of the opportunity.

Sighing, she gave in and leaned her head against that wall of hard, hot muscle. His heart beat in her ear, strong and steady and certain. All the things she'd been missing in her life. All the things she'd been craving.

His hand touched her hair, stroking. “Duchess will speak to the agency in Dallas about your bond. She knows the people up there and should be able to get them to hold off long enough so we can get the situation with the cartel dealt with. She and her people are also going to act as backup when we draw these bastards out.”

Iris didn't move, a deep feeling of contentment uncurling inside her. It was unfamiliar and at first she didn't recognize it. Then, when she did, she nearly pushed herself away from him, because contentment wasn't something she allowed herself. At least, she never had before.

“We're also going to work on getting a deal with the DA about your charges.” His hand moved gently in her hair. “See if we can't get them dropped so you can get Jamie back.”

Her throat closed up and she had to force herself to speak. “Thank you. I know it's not much, not given all you're doing for me, risking for me, but just…thank you.”

Perhaps he heard the cracks in her voice, because she felt a gentle finger beneath her chin, urging her head back so her gaze met his. “Hey, it's no big deal, okay?”

“Yes, it is.” She wanted to look away, but didn't. Because suddenly it felt important that he know how much this mattered to her. “It's a massive deal. You're risking your life. Hell, all of you are risking your lives. For me.”

His black brows drew down and he stroked a finger along her jaw, raising goosebumps everywhere. “You don't think you're worth it, do you?”

She swallowed, remembering the question he'd asked her the day before, and how she hadn't answered it. “No.” Her voice was still cracked, still hollow. “No, I'm not.” She didn't want to say it, hadn't meant to, and yet it came out anyway. “Dylan didn't give a shit about me, he only wanted a mule for his drugs. And after I was arrested, I never saw him again. And Mom…shit, she just walked away and never came back. She never even called. It was like I didn't exist, like she didn't even care—” She broke off, swallowing hard again. “No one came back for me, Zane. No one ever cared enough.”

A shadow passed over his face and she knew she shouldn't have said it, knew it was a mistake, that she'd revealed far too much. But it was too late, it was out now. And hell, after last night, what more did she have to lose?

Only your heart.

Except she wasn't going to risk losing that again. And certainly not for one blue-eyed soldier, no matter how safe he made her feel.

“I care,” Zane said quietly. “And so does the Duchess team.”

She didn't want to ask why he cared, not when she wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer, so all she asked was, “Why? They don't even know me.”

“They don't know me either. But Quinn does, so we managed to work out a deal.”

She sighed. “Why would he? He's got no stake in this.”

“He's a Redmond. And Redmonds look out for each other.”

Zane's voice was a deep, comforting rumble, but there was a note in it that made her look up into his leanly handsome face. His gaze was directed out the windows instead, his expression unreadable.

“What's up with you and him?” she asked, needing a change of subject, curiosity biting deep. “Why did you agree to stay here another six months?”

Zane glanced down at her, the look in his eyes guarded. “The business is important to him and he seems to think I have a responsibility to it.”

“And you don't?”

“Hell no. It was always my dad's baby. And Quinn's. It wasn't mine. In fact I couldn't wait to get away from the damn thing.”

“So that's why you joined the army? To get away?”

He wound his fingers in her hair, the little tugs making her scalp prickle pleasantly. “Yeah, plus army life suits me. I like the rules and regulations, and knowing that what I'm doing is protecting people. You don't get that with fugitive recovery.”

She studied him, trying to see what lay beyond the cool stare, but it was like looking in a mirror; all she could see was her own reflection looking back at her. Difficult damn man. She suspected he was the kind of guy who only let people see what he wanted them to see and nothing more. Unfair of him, especially considering all she'd revealed.

“What's so important about protecting people?” she asked, keeping her voice casual, yet watching him carefully.

One black brow rose. “Seriously? Do I need to have a reason?”

“Plenty of people couldn't give a shit about helping others, Zane. They're only out for themselves and anyone else can go to hell.”

The look in his eyes changed, the hard edges softening. “I know. Believe me, I know. But not everyone is like that, Iris.”

“Well, you're not. Which is why I want to know why.”

“Why? Because it's the right thing to do.”

It sounded rote, as if he'd said this very same thing thousands of times. As if it was something he told himself.

“Technically the right thing to do would have been to hand me in to the police,” she said quietly. “But you didn't.”

“No, because that wouldn't have protected you.” He frowned, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear and making her shiver as his fingers brushed her skin. “What's with the questions all of a sudden?”

“I just wondered. You know all about me and yet I know nothing about you.”

“There's nothing you need to know about me. I'm a soldier. That's all.”

“It's not all,” she persisted, not really sure why she was pushing him, only that she couldn't stop herself. “I mean, why were you in the army? Why weren't you here with your brothers? Why did Quinn have to make you stay for six months? And who the hell is Charlie?”

Something crossed his face then, a flash of intense emotion bright as a lightning strike. But it was gone too fast for her to read, and then he was gently pushing her away. “Later. After I've told you the plan.”

The refusal hurt, she couldn't deny it, and this time she knew exactly why too. It was because he expected her to trust him and yet wouldn't return the favor. Which begged the question as to why she wanted him to trust her, why it mattered that he did. She had no answer to that, or at least one she didn't want to admit to herself. But that didn't change the fact she wanted it and it hurt her that he didn't.

She swallowed the dull ache, trying not to react to the implicit rejection. “What plan?”

He must have noticed, since it was hard to hide her emotions from him, and yet all he said was, “Quinn and Duchess and I worked it out. Apparently the cartel has a contact at the Waterwheel.” He paused. “You know it?”

“No. Is it a bar or something?”

“It's a barbecue restaurant out on the highway. Famous apparently. Anyway, according to a contact of Rush's, the cartel makes pickups there from time to time.”

“So that's where we're going?”

“Yeah. I've booked us a table for two tonight for the purposes of a cover. But Rush's contact is going to let them know that what I actually want is to make a deal.”

She ignored the instinctive clutch of fear. This was what they wanted, what would enable her to get Jamie back, and this was no time to get scared. “A deal? What kind of deal?”

“That I'll hand you over in return for money. What I'm hoping they'll think is that I've gone rogue, that I'm on my own and want to use you for some easy cash.” He smiled and there was a dangerous, wicked edge to it that had her heart doing that quivering thing again. “Except there'll be no deal, just for the Duchess team, Quinn, Rush, and the entire fucking Austin police force.”

Jesus Christ. All those people helping her and all because of this man. And now her heart wasn't quivering, it was swelling up like a balloon, becoming full and tight, pressing hard against the cage of her ribs.

He'd only known her a couple of days and here he was, essentially putting his life and the lives of his brothers and his friends at risk. And all for her. God, she'd asked him why so many times and even though he'd given her some answers, she still didn't really understand what drove him. But she needed to, she realized. She needed to know for herself, for the strange, tight feeling inside her.

Maybe that was why he didn't want to stay here with his brothers, why he was wanting to reenlist. So he could avoid having to deal with whatever it was he didn't want to tell her.

And there
was
something he didn't want to tell her, that much was obvious.

Iris slid her hands into the back pockets of her jeans and tilted her head, studying the man standing not far from her. It was midday, the sun streaming through the windows, and no doubt it was already pushing ninety. A terrible time of the day to be going out. Which meant that if their booking at the restaurant wasn't until that evening, they'd have an entire afternoon to fill in the hotel suite. Plenty of time to conduct a little bit of research into the mysteries of Zane Redmond.

“Well, that sounds great,” she said. “So, dinner tonight with you, some bounty hunters, the police, and a bunch of drug dealers. How romantic.”

He had that stern look on his face again, the one that made her want to push him, get under his skin, rile him up. “It's not a date, Iris. It's a trap.”