Chapter Four
Ursula’s head felt like it was filled with lead as she struggled to lift it from the hot leather upholstery. The squeal of tires rang through her ears as the force of a turn threw her body against the seat. How’d she end up in a vehicle? Her head throbbed as she tried to recall what had happened after she left the marina on foot. Her apartment was only about a mile away and she needed time to think so she welcomed the walk. She remembered falling as she jumped out of the way after a black Jaguar skidded to a stop in front of her. She must’ve been knocked out. She rolled to her side and tried to use her hands to sit up, but they wouldn’t budge from her back. They were bound, as were her feet, leaving her helpless. She blinked, trying to clear her blurry vision, as what felt like a knife stabbed her forehead. She narrowed her eyes and focused on the back of the bald-headed driver. “Who are you?” she croaked.
His head turned slightly, but he didn’t respond.
“Hey, I’m talking to you.”
He tipped his head and dark glasses appeared in the rearview mirror. “I’m aware of that.”
She spat a slew of questions peppered with swear words which were all met with silence. The car veered into a turn and stopped suddenly. Wordlessly, the man got out, opened the back door, and yanked her to her feet in front of a small house a few feet away. Her eyes widened as he pulled a blade from his pocket, bent down, and cut the rope binding her feet. “Don’t do anything stupid,” he said and gave her a shove toward the front door.
Ursula took a step forward, pivoted on the ball of her foot and twisted her body, launching her foot directly to his groin. Without the use of her arms for balance, she stumbled backward. He hooked his hand under her knee and pulled upward, sending her flat on her ass. He chuckled, cupped her chin in his hand, and yanked her back to her feet. “That was stupid.” A gun appeared in his hand and he poked the barrel into her ribs. “I’m beginning to rethink my proposition.”
She raised her brows. “Proposition?” If he thought she’d screw him he’d better be prepared for more than a swift foot to his nuts.
He unlocked the door and waved her inside. “You don’t recognize me, do you?” he asked as he closed the door.
“Should I?” Ursula answered as she scanned the dimly lit room.
“I’d think you’d remember the man you killed yesterday.” He pulled off his sunglasses and met her stare.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. You were an accomplice to Max Chantal’s assassination yesterday. Only the poor bastard lying on a cold slab with a toe tag isn’t Max.”
A cold rush raced through her body. “What makes you so sure of that?”
He lifted his hands and wiggled his fingers. “Because I’m Max and I’m very much alive.”
“If that’s true, who’s the dead guy?”
Max cast his gaze to the floor for a moment. “He was one of my soldiers. Looked just like me except for the hair. Nothing a wig couldn’t fix. He played the part of my double.”
“And he had no problem walking into his own execution?” she asked, unsure if she believed any of it.
“He didn’t know about the hit. He thought I was throwing him a bone in the form of you. He was there to fuck your brains out.”
“But instead, you fucked his.”
“Not me. I only sent him to the party. You and your friend finished him off.”
“How do I know you’re not lying?” She hoped he was, but as the pain in her head subsided, everything started to make sense.
“Think about it. You noticed his hair. I watched the whole thing. You gave him a look when he grabbed your hand away from his head.”
Shit, he was right. She even mentioned it to Jace. Why hadn’t they picked up on it? She narrowed her eyes. “You ordered the hit to fake your death and sent in a sacrificial lamb in your place. Very manly of you.” Ursula said with a snort. “But it doesn’t explain why I’m here.”
“You and I are very much the same.”
“I highly doubt that. You don’t know anything about me.”
He lifted his brows. “No? I know your name is Ursula Rose Lyons. Up ’til three years ago, you made a living picking pockets and scamming men into giving you anything you wanted. You could charm the pants off most and did so at a price.” She cringed inward at the memories she’d stuffed away. She wasn’t proud of her past, but it was just that, her past. She wondered again what type of proposition he had in mind. Ursula wasn’t about to give her body to this guy. She’d fight to her death before allowing a man to take advantage of her. “I watched you seduce the man you thought was me last night. You’re a master. Or should I say, a mistress.” He stepped behind her and tugged one of her curls. “I like your own hair better than the black wig. But the wig is all part of the illusion, a prop for the seduction act, isn’t it, Black Widow? You’re the best. It’s why you’re here.”
He’d done his homework and there was no sense in denying the facts. She shook her head. “Bravo. You found me. Now what do you want?”
“What do you think I want, Ursula?”
She twisted her throbbing wrists. “If you want to have a proper conversation, the least you can do is untie my hands.”
Max hesitated, seemingly considering her request before he moved to her side and cut her free. “Don’t do anything stupid or you’ll be in the morgue alongside the poor bastard they think is me,” he said, gesturing to one of the two chairs in the sparsely furnished room.
She rubbed her wrists and wiggled her fingers as she lowered herself to the chair and looked for an escape. A couple windows flanked the back of the room but she’d have little chance of going anywhere while he held the gun. She had to keep him talking so she could piece together some sort of plan. “So what do I think you want? You want Jace and me to come work for you. Is that it? If that’s the case, you’re out of luck. We parted ways. He’s probably looking for someone to take my place already.” Or taking her to bed, she figured.
“This isn’t a package deal. I want to hire you.”
“Me? To do what?”
“The same thing you did for Jace. I want you to be my Black Widow. I need an expert seducer who can lure men into her web and get them where I need them. I’ll tell you who and where, you’ll get them there, I’ll do the rest.”
“What’s in it for me?”
“Other than your life?” He chuckled. “You’ll get a penthouse in Manhattan, an expense account, and a generous salary. Basically, everything you’ve ever wanted.”
She shook her head. Three years ago, maybe. Now, the only thing she wanted was what she couldn’t have. “And if I don’t take the deal?”
Max’s fingers traced the barrel of his gun. “I think you know the answer. I can’t just let you walk.” He tilted his head. “You or your boyfriend.”
“Who? Jace? What does he have to do with it?”
“He knows too much. Whether you take the job or not, Jace has to go. Once he figures out the man he shot wasn’t me and I’m still alive, he’ll want to settle the score. When he finds out I have you, nothing will stop him. That’s how men like Jace work.”
A shiver ran up her spine. If Jace doesn’t realize she’s gone—and why would he, she ended their relationship—Max would take him by surprise. Her mind raced. “Why kill him? He’s the best hitman out there. Why not offer him the deal, too?”
“Men like Jace don’t follow the pack. They’re too smart. He’s a lone wolf. I can’t trust him.”
He was correct about Jace. She still needed to come up with another plan to protect him. Ursula’s gaze tipped from Max’s eyes to the gun resting in his lap as an idea formed. It was risky, but she had no choice. “You have a deal. Under one condition.”
Max chuckled. “You’re not exactly in the position to demand conditions, but humor me anyway.”
She leaned forward. “I want Jace to be my first assignment.”
“I don’t think so,” he answered evenly.
“The way I see it, you don’t have a choice. When he discovers I’m missing and you’re alive, you’ll never find him. But guess what? He’ll find you. And when he does you’re as good as dead, Max.” She caught a flicker of fear in his eyes. “You need me to bring him to you.”
Max was silent for a long moment. “Why do you want to do this?” he finally asked.
She lifted her brows. “Revenge. He broke my heart—this is my chance to settle the score.”