The Devil's Game (3 page)

Lying to her parents had been harder. If they wouldn’t have thought it odd not to see her for a whole month, she might not have said anything and just claimed to be busy whenever they tried to plan anything. In the end, she told them that the coffee shop was opening a new store in Miami and they had asked her to go down and help get it going. She figured that way they would know where to go looking for the body if she never came home. Not that Karina really expected it to come to that. Damien had left his fingerprints everywhere.

Her dad seemed a little suspicious, but Karina’s mom was excited for her—she thought it was an honor for Karina to be asked and the perfect opportunity to escape the dreary spring they were having.

Karina was exhausted when she climbed into bed that night, but sleep eluded her just as much as the night before. She tried not to, but she kept glancing at the clock, counting down. Ten hours until Damien came for her. Nine…eight…seven….

Karina woke early the next morning despite the few hours she had managed to sleep, and she showered and dressed before moving her bags out to the living room, leaving them ready by the door. She made a cup of coffee and then sat by the window, staring out at the gray drizzle covering the streets. As she pulled the blanket from the couch to wrap around her shoulders, Karina wondered what the weather was like in Miami right now. Was it really as hot as they showed in the movies? It occurred to her that this would be the first time Karina had ventured beyond the neighboring states. If only she could get excited about the idea.

At half past ten, Ginny wandered out of her bedroom. She poured the last of the coffee into a mug and came to stand by Karina.

“Did you tell your parents?” she asked before taking a sip.

Karina shook her head. “They know I’m going to be in Miami, but they couldn’t bear this.”

“I’m sorry I acted so heartless yesterday,” Ginny said, putting an arm around Karina.

“It’s okay,” Karina. “I realize it probably sounds like a fairy tale, it’s just that—”

“I know.”

They stood for a while in silence, enjoying the warmth of the coffee.

“Call me every day,” Ginny finally said. “Let me know that you’re okay.”

Karina nodded, fighting back tears. What had she done?

A black sedan came gliding down the street and double parked right in front of their building.

“Is that him?” Ginny asked.

“It must be,” Karina choked out.

They watched a man in slacks and a sweater climb out of the driver’s side and head for the front entrance.

“Good luck,” Ginny said, giving Karina one last hug.

“Thanks.” Karina slung her purse across her chest and opened the door just as the driver came up the steps.

“Karina Watson?” he asked.

She nodded and started to roll out the suitcase, but he stopped her.

“I’ve got it,” he said. “I can take care of that as well.” He pointed to the small duffle bag on the floor next to it.

Karina stepped aside and let him pick it up.

“Is there anything else?” he asked, and she shook her head.

He headed back down the stairs. She turned to Ginny, not really sure what to say.

“I guess I’ll talk to you later,” Karina told her and followed after the driver, leaving Ginny to close the door behind her. It wasn’t until she was halfway down the steps that she finally heard it shut, and Karina swallowed hard.

Outside, the driver set the bags down before opening the passenger door for her. She held her breath as she looked into the car and was shocked to find it empty.

“Where’s Damien?” she asked.

“Mr. Bishop will be meeting us at the plane, Ma’am.”

Karina looked up at the window where she knew Ginny would be watching, gave a wave, and then climbed into the back seat.

Not a word was spoken the entire trip; the driver didn’t even attempt to make small talk. Karina stared out the tinted windows the whole time and was surprised when they pulled into a small, private airfield.

Of course, Damien Bishop had his own jet. The thought made Karina even more nervous. She had imagined them flying down to Miami with a hundred other passengers and some flight attendants who would distract her from what she was really doing on that plane. Instead, she was going to be stuck in a confined space with only her and Damien. She wondered if he would expect anything from her so soon.

The car stopped near the door to the plane. The driver was quick to let her out, then immediately started unloading her bags along with others that must have already been packed before she’d been picked up. He didn’t give any direction, and Karina assumed she was supposed to board the plane.

Slowly, cautiously, she climbed each step and discovered she was wrong about her and Damien being the only ones on the plane.

A man close to her age, maybe a year or two older, greeted her the second she set foot in the cabin, and another one—definitely older and more somber-looking—was seated nearby.

“You must be Karina Watson,” the younger one said with a cheerful smile.

Karina gave a single, slow nod.

“My name is Tom. Damien had hoped to be here to greet you personally, but it seems he’s been delayed slightly. He should be here any minute though,” he said hurriedly, as though reassuring her. “He’s asked that I help you get settled and make sure you’re comfortable. May I show you to your seat?”

“Um, okay.”

The interior of the plane was the most luxurious thing Karina had ever seen. Warm beiges and sleek wood paneling made it feel inviting to her. There was only a single row of seats along each side of the plane, but each one was roomy and plush with padded armrests and high backs. As she sat in the one she was led to, Karina suspected it even reclined.

“Can I get you anything?” Tom asked as she sat down. “Coffee? Sparkling water? Champagne, perhaps?”

“Just water is fine,” she said. “Plain water. Not sparkling.”

“Very well, then,” he said and disappeared into the back of the plane only to quickly reappear with a glass of ice and a bottle of water.

Tom placed them both on a flat, recessed area of the paneling beneath the window.

“Will that be all?” he asked, and Karina nodded. “Damien should be back any minute,” he repeated just as something out the window seemed to catch his eye. “Oh look, there he is now.”

Tom rushed to wait by the door, and Karina looked out the window to see a black limousine parked outside. A man climbed out of the passenger side front and opened the rear door. Karina inhaled sharply as Damien emerged. He was laughing and appeared to be talking to someone still in the limo. He nodded to whoever it was and walked away, letting the other man close the door before following Damien to the plane.

Tom greeted Damien just as exuberantly, but Karina could only stare at the empty seat facing her, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.

“Is everything ready?” she heard him ask Tom.

“Yes, sir,” Tom replied. “Jim is just waiting for your word, and Miss Watson has arrived and is seated.”

“Good. Tell him to take off. And bring me a glass of scotch as soon as we’re in the air.”

“Of course.”

Karina heard the soft footsteps coming her way and thought for sure that her heart would burst, it was beating so furiously.

Damien sat down opposite her, facing her, and Karina couldn’t
not
look him in the eye. It was the same intense look he had given her at the coffee shop. Good god, was that really only three days ago?

“Karina,” Damien said in that sensuous voice of his.

It was hunger, she realized. The look in his eyes was hunger. For her. And Karina feared she wouldn’t survive it.

“Damien,” she said, fighting to keep her voice even.

The plane started to roll forward, and Karina found herself gripping the arm rests.

“Everything okay?” he asked, tilting his head.

“It’s fine,” she said a bit harshly.

“Have you ever flown before?”

“Don’t you already know the answer to that?” she asked, and he frowned. “You seem to know everything else about me.”

He sighed. “I only gathered the info that I needed to help you.”

“That’s what this is? Helping me?”

“You’re here, aren’t you? Of your own accord, I might add.”

The engines started to roar, and Karina felt herself sink deeper into the chair as the plane accelerated. She closed her eyes, waiting for it to be over with, and felt something on her knee.

She opened her eyes to see Damien leaning forward with his hand on her.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of,” Damien told her.

Karina wondered if he meant the plane ride or him.

“How long until we land?” she asked.

He leaned back in his seat. “It’s about a three-hour flight depending on the wind.”

Karina dared a look back at the other three passengers. “So who are they?” she asked.

“Tom is my personal assistant. The other two men are part of my security team. You’ll undoubtedly see a lot of them, but they don’t talk much.”

“Do you always travel with bodyguards?”

“I do.”

“I see,” she said when he didn’t elaborate. “How did the expo go?” Karina finally asked, not sure what else to talk about.

“Not as well as I’d hoped, but I found a couple of promising candidates I’d like to look into more.”

Just then, Tom appeared.

“Thank you,” Damien said as Tom handed him a glass of something gold.

“Are you two hungry?” Tom asked. “Should I bring out lunch?”

Damien looked at her. “Are you ready to eat?”

The mention of food reminded Karina how long it had been since her last meal, and she nodded.

“Then yes please,” Damien said. “And bring a bottle of Viognier with it.”

Karina waited for Tom to disappear before she leaned forward and asked, “What is vee-oh-nee-a?”

Damien leaned forward until he was only inches from her face, and she could smell his subtle yet intoxicating aftershave. “It’s a white wine,” he whispered.

She sat back in her chair feeling embarrassed.

“Are you a wine drinker?” he asked. “I could request something else.”

“No, it’s fine,” she said. “Yes, I drink wine. It’s just—it’s just that my exposure is generally limited to whatever my roommate brings home.”

“I see,” he said. “Well, perhaps we can remedy that during your time with me.”

Karina looked at him, so many questions running through her head. What exactly were his expectations of her during that time? She was afraid to know the answer.

A phone started ringing, and Damien fished it out of his suit pocket. He frowned as he looked at it.

“I apologize,” he said, standing, “but I have to take this.” He moved to a seat at the back of the cabin, taking his scotch with him, and Karina turned her attention to the clouds outside her window. When did they get this high? She had been so distracted with Damien she hadn’t noticed anything beyond the take-off.

Tom arrived to pull a tabletop from the panel beneath the window and brought a tray of salads and the wine shortly after. Karina glanced back at Damien as Tom filled her glass.

“It might be a while,” Tom said with a small frown. “I wouldn’t wait. Just in case.”

“Thank you,” she said and Tom left.

Karina waited a couple minutes and then started on her spicy Thai salad. She was just about to take the last bite when Tom delivered a thin slice of cheesecake topped with dark cherries. She wondered if he was always this efficient.

The plates were cleared, including Damien’s, and Tom refilled her glass and set it on the side before putting the table away, but Damien was still on the phone. Karina found the button to pull the footrest out and enjoyed the wine in silence. With a little bit of alcohol and some food in her, the last few nights were finally catching up to her. She didn’t know she had fallen asleep until a harsh jolt woke her up. Damien was sitting across from her again, and she was wrapped up in a blanket.

“We’re here,” he said.

The First Night

Karina looked out the window to see them speeding along the runway, but the plane was slowing quickly. Just the bright sunshine would have been enough to let Karina know she wasn’t home anymore, but the palm trees and vividly colored buildings felt like an entirely different world.

The plane came to a complete stop at the end of the runway, where a black SUV was parked, and Damien stood and waited for Karina. She pushed the blanket to one side and followed him to the exit. The door opened, and Karina was hit by a blast of warm, humid air.

“
Bienvenido a Miami
,” Damien said from her side.

The Spanish from his lips only made his voice that much more seductive, and she resisted the urge to look at his mouth.