TWENTY-SEVEN
“If the Laird was here, he’d order you flogged.”
The deep voice came from within Shea’s dark motel room. Though the unexpected sound startled her, it wasn’t frightening because she quickly identified who it belonged to.
A lamp went on in the corner. Feelings of betrayal and anger surged through her. Subduing them to blink at the man in the chair beside the light, she tried to keep a tight rein on her cool.
“Isn’t this an unexpected reunion,” she drawled and folded her arms. “I’d say it’s good to see you, Diego, except, if I did, I would be lying.”
“Why the hell are we getting reports of you working for Zogden?”
Seemed to her that should be self-explanatory. “Because I work for Zogden,” she said. Diego rose from the chair. “I’m glad to hear those security agents I’m not supposed to know about are so good at doing their jobs.”
Diego came toward her. Keeping her guard high, Shea stayed rigid. Her mood was so volatile that she had no idea what she’d do if she let herself relax. Infuriation and disappointment churned her guts. This man had been her friend, she’d trusted him, and now she could only view him as an enemy.
“Is that what you’re trying to do?” he asked. “Get his attention? It worked; he’s livid.”
That almost made her laugh. It was typical that Raid should think everything was about him. “He’s not here,” she said. “And I don’t give a fuck how he feels about anything.”
Diego came to a stop in front of her, but it had been a long time since she’d been intimidated by his size. She might not trust him, but she didn’t fear him either. “This is me you’re talking to, Pest,” he said like he knew she was lying. His presumption just pissed her off more. Making a sound of disgust, she started past him. He grabbed her to haul her in front of him again. “Just what is it you do in there for him?”
Satisfaction made her breathe out a smile. “Oh, that’s right, you can’t get inside and I am inside.”
Shea didn’t even pretend not to be smug when she cocked a hip. Diego peered at her. “Are you going to let us use that to our advantage?”
Her next laugh got so close to her lips that they curled in a smile. “You’re kidding, right? You want to use me? You want me to take advantage of my position to—”
“Cut the crap, She. You know what this bastard is capable of. You can’t enjoy going in there every day.”
“How do you know?” she snapped, snatching her arm from his grip. “I have a thing for heartless, sadistic men or did you forget?”
Diego shook his head. “I told him this would happen. I told him you’d be out for blood.”
“Aren’t you the clever little lackey,” she said. “Guess you don’t have the influence you thought you did, because he went and did it anyway.”
“Shea,” he said, grabbing her when she tried to pass again. “Shit, Pest, this is me. Would you stop talking to me like I’m your enemy?”
Raid must have assumed that her love for Diego would outweigh her hatred for their Laird. Diego was implying that he was her ally, but she couldn’t forget what had happened so easily.
“Is that why he sent you instead of coming himself?” she sneered. “Because he thought I’d still think of you as a friend?”
“Yes,” he said. Shea hadn’t expected such an honest answer. “You know that he doesn’t like to leave the compound at the best of times. But, since you left…”
It had been a month since she’d woken up in that motel room, back in civilization. Cultivating her place in Zogden’s household staff hadn’t been simple. The bastard didn’t trust quickly. His male members of staff had each been with him for years, some through friendship, others through fear. But, one thing she had learned was they were all bonded in their secret.
“I’m not interested,” she said. “You were the one who told me to give him another chance. I did, that’s it. All his chances.”
It seemed rich that Diego was pissed and impatient. As far as Shea was concerned, he and Raid had brought this response on themselves. They couldn’t expect her to be the happy, trusting person she’d once been with them when they had been so callous in discarding her.
“You don’t understand the risk I took coming here,” Diego said. “The risk he took by sending me.”
“I don’t care.”
He hauled her back when she tried again to move away. This time, he bowed lower to get in her face. “The weather is closing in. Chances of me being able to get back are minimal. We have a week, maybe two at most before they’ll be cut off out there and I’ll be stranded out here. He sent me here alone. We’ve never sent anyone into the field alone.”
“Why do you think—”
“He sent me here to support you,” he said. “Whatever the hell it is you think you’re doing, you shouldn’t be doing it alone. So, whether it takes a day or a season, I’m here to back you up… Lady.”
Spitting the last word with a tone of irony, she could tell he wasn’t happy about his assignment.
Pulling away, she struggled to free her arm; he kept grabbing her and yanking her back.
Shea screamed. “God damn you, Diego! Let me go!”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” he argued. “Didn’t you hear me? I’m here to help you!”
“I don’t want your goddamn help!” Shea yanked her arm so hard that he was forced to let go or break it. But, that was a risk she’d been willing to take. Tears burned her eyes. As the first streaked her face, she landed both hands on his chest and shoved him hard. “I’d rather be dead than accept anything from you or from him! All that time I lived under scrutiny! None of you trusted me! I was treated like a threat and I took it! From all of you! I worked hard to gain your trust and I never betrayed one of you! Never! I never broke my word or deceived any of you! You betrayed me! I trusted you! I should never have trusted you!” He tried to put his arms around her, but she shoved again and backed away. “Get out of here, Diego or I will call the cops.” Her chest heaved up and down as she panted through her anger. “I’ll call them on you, on him, on every damn detail. Then, I’ll tell every media outlet in the country exactly what happened to me.”
Surprise and confusion spread on his face. “Shea—”
“I don’t want to see you again,” she said, wiping her cheeks. “None of you and I want you to call the dogs off. If I even think for a second that your men are still following me, his men, I won’t call the cops, I’ll tell Zogden about your lair and where his accomplice is.”
Anger set his jaw. His lips thinned. Diego wasn’t used to being told what to do by an underling, as she’d once been. He wasn’t used to being unable to remedy a situation either.
Shea was resolved and pushed her shoulders back. “Tell your boss that the next time he thinks to send someone to help me, he should remember I know his secrets and I know exactly how to broadcast them to the world… He should be grateful I have kept my mouth shut. Don’t forget that my decision to be discreet could change on a whim… You have three seconds to get out of here, Diego,” she said, but he didn’t move. “Get out of here! Go!”
He started for the door and as he reached it, she spoke again. “Oh, and tell him I’m grateful he ended our relationship. I wouldn’t want to be with a coward who sends another man to do his dirty work.”
Diego left the room, slamming the door hard. Her heart pounded. It took her a second to absorb that he was gone… or that he’d actually been here at all. Even after she did, Shea couldn’t make herself relax. She tried to slow her breathing, tried to stem her tears, but neither worked.
Falling onto the bed, she let the tears come and cursed the world she didn’t know how to exist in anymore.