Chapter One
Erika Lancaster caressed the ruby choker with her fingers, and the jewel sparkled in response. Sighing, she clasped it. It felt cool and heavy against her skin. She gave herself a once-over in the full-length mirror, admiring the long, dramatic train of her forest-green dress. Then she let go of the breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding and made a face at her reflection. Why did her father do this to her?
Seriously. She could be doing way better things than receiving his Business Man of the Year award. Why wasn’t he here? What was so important that he’d asked her to go in his place the day before the event?
Whatever. Being the chairman of the Amelia Lancaster Charity meant having to do this once in a while, and if that also meant helping those in need, that was fine with her. She glanced down at the ring on her index finger.
Too bad Mom isn’t here to see all this. That’s why I have to keep her spirit alive.
What better way to honor her amazing mother than to make the charity that carried her name successful?
A knock yanked her from her thoughts.
She walked to the door, took a deep breath, and opened it. “Yes?”
“Ms. Lancaster, are you ready to go?” A man impeccably dressed in a black suit with a tiny earpiece wire trailing from his ear was standing before her along with two other guys dressed the same. Her father had insisted she used the services of a security firm to attend the event, which was ridiculous. Who could want to harm her?
She grabbed her purse from the console table. “Yes.”
“This way, please,” he said, gesturing with his hand. There was something oddly familiar about him. Could it be his tall, broad-shouldered figure? Or maybe the way his alluring hazel eyes merely spared her a glance? Her stomach clenched. When they reached the hotel elevator, she was about to touch the lobby button when he outmaneuvered her and leaned next to her, quick to punch the button for parking lot.
His scent found its way to her nostrils. Vibrant notes of bamboo, rum, and spice teased her. She squared her shoulders instantly as if there was a way she could fight this strange reaction to a man who was simply doing his job.
“Do I know you? You seem familiar.” She glanced at him then glanced away.
The other two guards took a step back in the elevator, their posture stiff and focused like Buckingham Palace guards.
The hint of a smile curled his lips, as if she had just asked him if they’d slept together before, but the idiot said nothing.
Heat flushed her cheeks. Did he misinterpret her? “I mean, have you worked for my father before?” she asked, tilting her head.
A whitened scar started on the side of his neck and narrowed down toward his crisp collar. His nose wasn’t exactly perfect; it seemed a tad crooked, although not ugly. Her blood thrummed in her veins. No. Mr. Security Guy was anything but unattractive.
His brown hair was military style short. The planes of his face were strong and decisive. She had met her share of VIPs, including powerful men with regal postures. If she hadn’t known the hottie next to her worked in security, she would have pegged him for a more influential occupation. Maybe he owned the firm.
“Yes, I worked for your father a few times in the past,” he said with a heavily accented South American drawl—deep, masculine, and sexy.
Adrenaline surged in her bloodstream. She shook her head. What the hell was she doing? She had met the guy a second ago, and her ovaries were about to combust.
I really need to date again.
Over two and a half years ago she had fallen for the wrong man and in an effort to get over him, ended up getting engaged to Bruno Duarte, a Brazilian tycoon. But thankfully she had been smart enough to call that off. Ever since, she’d dedicated her time and efforts to the charity she ran in her mother’s name. People and places that actually needed her, unlike her personal trainer Randall, who just bolted when things got too complicated. And broke her heart.
“I’ve never watched you,” he said. “I would have remembered.”
She parted her mouth, desperate to find something to say, but moisture evaporated from her throat, and she clamped her lips. I would have remembered. The way the words left his sexy lips was promising. Intriguing. Even a bit…threatening?
Her heart raced like she’d just tumbled out of a Zumba class.
Maybe he was good at what he did. Really good. Her father only hired the best—even the personal chef he’d stolen from an up-and-coming restaurant. Well, good or not, she had gotten involved with an employee once and certainly wouldn’t do it again. She was the chairperson of a well-known charity, for crying out loud. What if this guy slept with her and created a scandal?
He may not even want to sleep with me. Old insecurities lurked around her like some evil black smoke from a sci-fi movie.
“This way,” he said.
She blinked and followed him out of the hotel. The other two bodyguards surrounded them and whispered into their mics. A black limo parked at the curb as the evening stars descended upon the Boston skyline. Mr. Security Guy opened the door for her.
She grabbed the hem of her dress, but the rich silk seemed to spill out of her fingers. Without a word, he held the end of her train, and she ducked into the vehicle, carefully. The two bodyguards nodded and joined the driver at front.
“Is there a briefing?” she asked as the car merged into traffic. “Something I should know about?”
He looked straight ahead. “What do you know?”
“I usually have one bodyguard to escort me to this kind of event, just, as you know, routine security.” Her father had taught her from an early age that wealth didn’t come without sacrifices, and some business partners couldn’t be trusted. Even though she never viewed property development as a mafia generic, she preferred to be safe than sorry. “But tonight there are three of you,” she said, and couldn’t suppress a nervous laugh. Not even in her hometown of New York did she have to worry about her safety to the extent of needing extra security for an event.
“Don’t worry, Ms. Lancaster.” She didn’t miss the hint of disgust when he pronounced her surname, like he was cussing her out. “You’re in good hands.”
Instinctively, her gaze dropped to his large, tanned hands. His long fingers rested on the side of his leg while his index finger tapped on his knee. To pull herself out of that reverie, she looked out the window. Droplets of water started to descend against the glass, and she noticed the car moved away from the twinkling city lights. “Does the driver know the way to the convention center?”
“Yes.”
“Hhhmmm…” she cleared her throat. Something wasn’t right. She shifted in her seat and watched him in silence. His eyes turned challenging, the gold flecks gleaming. He scratched his square chin and didn’t flinch. It was like a conversation without words. She reached for the door handle, and her hand sat there, gently, as a chilly sensation shot up her arm. She glanced outside the glass one more time. Her blood froze. “Hey, wait a minute. This isn’t the right way.”
He didn’t stutter. “No. It’s not.”
Bastard.
She tried to open the door, pulling the handle in a frantic motion, but no such luck. “I want out!” she shouted, her heart racing for an entirely different reason than a few minutes ago. What the hell was happening?
He shook his head, the flicker in his eyes defying her. “You’re coming with me.”
“What? W-who are you?” she asked, and slapped on the window, hoping someone would notice her. But the glass was tinted, and the rain didn’t help. Besides…the vehicle picked up speed as they exited downtown. When she stopped, she shook her hands and noticed her palms were clammy. Fear brewed inside her belly.
“Call me Emanuel.”
“Emanuel,” she repeated more to herself than to him. She’d heard that name before, but where? And that face. She must have seen it before. She was usually good with faces, and especially someone as striking as him. She chewed on her lower lip. Oh shit. He’d told her his name, and she obviously saw his face. If he had any intention of asking for ransom, he wouldn’t have done those things. Yep. She had watched her share of Liam Neeson movies to know how these situations worked. I’m dead. He’s going to kill me.
“What have I ever done to you?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“Nothing.”
“Then why are you kidnapping me?”
“Because you mean a lot to your father, and unless he plays by my rules, he’s not ever seeing you again,” he said, his voice more menacing than if he’d held a knife at her throat.
…
“Of course. You want money. How much?” she asked, with a trace of sadness in her voice.
Emanuel stared into Erika’s beautiful cocoa eyes. Pine-green specks twinkled deep into the irises, adding more allure. Was she scared? Yes. She leaned all the way back into the seat, her posture stiff. Her fingers trembled when she folded her arms. A pang of guilt stabbed at him, and he almost reached out to her and told her everything would be okay. But lying wasn’t in his plans.
Obviously he would never hurt her in any way, but that didn’t mean things would be easy. Silas Lancaster would go ballistic when he found out his only daughter had gone missing. Then the negotiations would take place. Would family finally mean more than money to Silas?
“How much do you think you’re worth?” he asked, to entertain her capitalistic train of thought and buy time distracting her. He glanced at his watch. They would have to be fast, so the real security team wouldn’t figure out she was gone and trail behind them. But he had worked it out carefully. For months, ever since he’d stepped into the role of president of a nonprofit organization to help his sister-in-law Addie, he’d seen Silas Lancaster’s smart moves to embezzle money. He could think he fooled the world, but not him. Not Emanuel. He wanted the man to pay for those families whose homes had collapsed and killed innocent women and children. Because, even though he had been advised by his engineer that the construction material was expired and outdated, Silas still went ahead and used it. And for the past three weeks, that chief engineer and the only witness to Silas’s crime had gone missing.
She shrugged, making him wonder if she was more at ease discussing money than real problems. How much was she like her father? “I… I don’t know. I’m sure you have some number in mind, otherwise we wouldn’t be here.”
“Maybe I have something in mind, something that’s not money.” He didn’t need money. As a successful financial investor he had more cash than he could spend. That was why he used some of it to help find resources for the ones without a voice. He had been working with Brazilian Native Indians, a cause that was dear to Addie, when he’d visited the rainforest and learned about Silas’s wrongdoing. He had already known enough about Silas to despise him, but as he started to pay close attention, Emanuel decided he couldn’t just ignore that type of injustice.
“Well, then. What is it?” she asked, her face pale.
He popped his knuckles, unsure if he should tell her. What if she shouted something about his plan while they got her in the private jet waiting for them at the airfield? Best to wait until everything was certain—until they were both inside the plane to Brazil.
He gazed at her as she hid in the corner of the car. The smoothness of her skin…earlier he’d been tantalized by the sweet sway of her curvaceous hips. Now her chestnut hair fell in waves onto her bare shoulders, and a need to stroke the softness surged into his fingertips, making his palm itch.
There was no doubt if Erika Lancaster had a different surname, he would be asking her out for dinner and more. But those nine little letters drew a line between them. “What can you offer me?” he asked, his voice coarser than intended.
“I can’t believe this.” She massaged her temples and closed her eyes.
The slight raise of her breasts against the fabric was distracting. From the waist down, her dress was flowing and soft. From the waist up, it was more form fitting, outlining her amazing shape. Her breasts strained against the corset and, if he were a less determined man, he would love to trace his tongue over her.
Her eyes opened with a start, and she pointed at him. “Wait a minute. I do know you. You’re Bruno Duarte’s younger brother, aren’t you?”
Emanuel smirked. He had supposed at some point she would recognize him. Even though he had never met her in person, she had briefly dated his brother a couple years ago, before Bruno met Addie. Perhaps she’d seen a picture of him.
“Yes.”
She blinked and rubbed her forehead. “This makes zero sense. I ended on good terms with Bruno. I heard he’s happily married. Does he know you’re doing this? Did he put you up to this?”
“No and no.” His older brother would give him some serious shit for jeopardizing the organization. Although, Emanuel’s plans were clear—kidnap Silas’s daughter and use her as leverage in exchange for Raul, the chief engineer.
“Then why?”
“Because your father has something—someone—in his possession I want. Since you’re his darling daughter, I’m sure he’ll come running when he finds out you’re gone. And the exchange will take place. Then you can go back to your frivolous little life like none of this ever happened.”
“You’re a jackass.”
He chuckled. “I’ve been called worse.”
“I bet it was all true.”
Emanuel pondered. He guessed growing up dirt poor, then dealing with the aftermath of the scandal when his older brother Bruno left for the States hadn’t been easy. His other brother Leonardo tried to shield him from the disgrace that had fallen upon his family, but the neighbors and kids from the street and school wouldn’t let him forget. He’d gotten beaten more than he could count.
“Call my father now. I’ll talk to him, and we’ll straighten this out.” She looked for the clutch that she had placed next to her when she sat.
“No.” He lifted her clutch, the same one he’d slipped from her when she’d been looking out the window. “Not yet.” There was no way she’d run the show and call Daddy so he’d come rescue her. The plan was clear—Emanuel would take her out of Boston, hell, out of the U.S. for a while, and then contact her father.
“Give me my purse,” she said, and before he could deny her, she launched onto him, her warm, soft body colliding with his. She raised the hem of her dress to give her a clear advantage and reached for his hand. Playfully, he passed it from one hand to the other, and she followed his movements, until he placed it behind his back, and she straddled him.
He swallowed, inwardly cursing his cock for responding too quickly. So, so eagerly. He placed his hands on her hips, bringing them into a perfect position to ride him. She gulped, her eyes widening. “Careful,” he said. “You make me think of other things I’d like to give you. And maybe you wouldn’t oppose given your current position.”
Even under the dim lighting of the limo, the pink staining her cheeks was visible. “What? You wouldn’t dare.”
He shouldn’t, for sure. Would he? The thought played in his head like a lazy, melodious Bossa Nova song. “I would never take a lady against her will,” he said, but couldn’t help the smile spreading across his face. “Although in your case maybe it would be mutual.”
She lifted her hand and slapped his face. The sound of her palm hitting his cheek sliced the air. An annoying sting burned his flesh. “You’re…crazy. To think I would ever…”
Instead of scowling at her for the smack, he stroked her buttocks, making invisible circles and watching her blush deepen. “Sleep with the enemy? Don’t they say love and hate walk together? Lust and repugnance aren’t far behind,” he said, and leaned into her, the fresh scent of daisies filling his head.
She widened her eyes and jerked away from him. He could have grasped her if he had wanted to emphasize his point, but she seemed scared enough. Or was it fear of her reaction to him?
“Well, in this case lust is about three hundred miles behind. I guarantee you. So you’re not going to let me call my father. Who is this person you think my dad has in his possession?” She crossed her legs and smoothed her hand over her dress.
“Someone who knows the truth your father doesn’t want exposed,” he said, hoping that much would be enough for now.
She frowned. “What truth?”
“All in good time, Erika.”
“That’s too vague. I’m free right now.”
You are anything but free. He’d never imagined he’d keep someone against her will, but the stakes were too high. He had to find Raul and bring justice to those affected by Silas’s mistake. The limo rolled to a stop, and he glanced at the window. “As it happens, we’ve arrived.” The driver opened the door for her, and she rushed to get out, but Emanuel clasped her elbow. “No one is going to hurt you, Erika. All you have to do is keep calm.”
“Keep calm? Are you quoting those internet memes that turned into coffee mugs? I can’t,” she said, and jerked away from him, but he caught her and clasped her elbow before she could move far.
She had smacked him in the limo and was glancing around, skimming the surroundings, no doubt planning an escape. Acting fast, he retrieved the handcuffs from his pocket, slid one onto his wrist, then slapped the cuff around her wrist.
“Hey.” She motioned to disengage from him, but when she glanced down at the cuffs linking them together, her eyes widened. “What are you doing?” she asked, and shook the short chain.
“We’re staying together. I can’t trust you.”
“You gotta be kidding me. This is insane. Let me go. Do you have any idea the kind of problem you’re creating for yourself? When I’m out of here, I’ll call the police and throw your ass in jail.”
“Ass? Hhhmm. Didn’t know a socialite like you used such lowly words,” he said, and waved at the pilot.
“You don’t know me. And you will be sorry you did this,” she said, tears bordering the corners of her eyes.
His blood cooled for a moment. She had a point, didn’t she? From what he’d researched about Silas, his daughter was his only weakness.
Carly, the flight attendant, walked up to him. “We’re all ready for you, Mr. Duarte.”
“Help me,” Erika said. He tugged at the cuff, hoping she’d shut up. He’d pay the team enough money not to question his reasoning, but the last thing he needed was for her to draw any unwanted attention. “He’s taking me against my will.”
Carly offered her a professional smile, gesturing at the short ladder leading up to the jet. “Don’t worry. We’ll take good care of you.”
Erika balked, refusing to walk. “No.”
He sighed. “Don’t you want to make that phone call to your father? If you cooperate, I’ll let you do it.”
“When?”
A part of him admired her determination, even though she was a lot more of a pain in the ass than he thought she’d be. When he’d asked Bruno about her temperament, his brother had said Erika was mild mannered, agreeable, and easy to get along with. Yeah, right. Maybe she was all of those things when she wasn’t being kidnapped.
“When we’re somewhere safe.”
She frowned.
“Enough questions. Come,” he said, and pulled the cuff. “It’s time to take off.”