Chapter Two
Miracle didn’t sleep all night. Tex had called to reassure her that they would get to the bottom of whatever was going on. Miracle still didn’t think it was all that serious. But, there was no way of talking Tex down.
She remained awake with Liane’s words surging through her head. She couldn’t believe someone was trying to kill her because of some man who was most likely long dead.
No, it had to be something else.
But, they’d waited for her, like they thought she was dumb enough to pull back on the road so they could finish the job. Obviously, they did it all on purpose, because the moment they saw Sabine’s car, they left like their pants were on fire.
Tex had been right. There was some next level crap happening and she might just be in the middle of it all.
Long after she heard Liane wake up and began moving about the apartment, Miracle remained still. Her friend had been upset the night before, downright pissed off, and Miracle couldn’t blame her. If it weren’t for those bikers and Tex, Miracle would mostly have been road kill on the Autobahn.
But she couldn’t spend the rest of her life hiding out in her room. She’d travelled from Norfolk to Canada to Poland to Germany so she could finish her research and she wasn’t about to let one near death experience stop her progress.
Grunting, she shoved her feet out of bed and willed herself upright. When she was certain she wouldn’t fall over, Miracle wandered into her private bathroom, used the facilities, showered then brushed her teeth. Once she was dressed in a pair of jeans and a graphic t-shirt, with Hip Hip Hooray on the front, she walked into the kitchen.
“I made some breakfast,” Liane said without facing her.
“You’re still mad at me.” Miracle ignored the plate and reached for the coffeepot instead. Her instinct was to turn the damn thing to her head but third degree burns would not be cool. After finding a mug, she filled it and climbed onto one of the stools.
“I’m not mad—just—well, irritated. I’ll wait a little while longer then I’m heading back to Norfolk.”
“I’ll be more careful.” Miracle promised. “But it’s a little late to change my thesis now. Maybe I should just stick with books. If I hadn’t started calling people none of this would have happened.”
Liane sighed. “What are we doing about tonight?”
“Tonight?” Miracle asked.
“Gieren Nach.”
Miracle had forgotten. She frowned. “Weren’t you the one just saying how I could become road kill?”
Liane tilted her head. “Yeah. If you don’t leave things alone. Not if you’re out living your own damn life.”
“I’m not…” With all the excitement from last night, going to a strip club was the absolute last thing on her mind. She didn’t want to go see some half naked men prance around, but Tex had said to keep things as normal as possible. He went on about letting the bad guys think she didn’t have a care in the world but Miracle had drowned him out with her mental screaming.
Then to add to the whole issue, if she’d changed her mind about going, Liane would have more questions and worry. She sighed mentally and nodded. “We’re still on, of course.”
“Woo!” Liane cheered before darting across the small space to hug her. “It’ll take our minds off this whole sordid mess.”
“That is true.” Miracle reached for her plate and popped a piece of egg into her mouth. “We’ll make a night of it—get all dolled up and go watch half naked men wiggle their boo-thangs.”
Liane blinked at Miracle. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Oh nothing.”
Liane giggled. “I’m gonna go call my mom. You know how she gets if I go a week without a chat.”
“Yup.”
Miracle watched her friend leave then finished eating and set up the dishwasher. While it ran, she headed into their office and paid all the bills. She then passed the rest of the day peering out the window, looking up and down the street, half expecting the car from the night before to be parked out there—waiting.
The day shimmered by and soon Miracle was forced to get up and dressed for their night out. It took longer than she thought it would but soon she was standing before the full length mirror in a black dress that hugged her curves, her dark hair tied back in a simple, high ponytail then carried off the whole thing with ruby stud earrings and red lips.
The outfit was Liane’s idea.
Liane walked into the room, dressed in a skin tight, blue dress that had more material on the sleeve than in the length. There was no way she would be able to sit in that thing. Miracle said nothing—with her own curves, she wouldn’t be able to pull that off. Hell, a dress like that would be a t-shirt on her.
“We look hot.” Liane grinned.
“There’s that ego again.” Miracle laughed.
“It’s healthy. Now grab your purse and let’s go.”
“I’m driving.”
Liane groaned but handed over her keys. “The one time I forgot and got wasted. You’re never going to let me live it down.”
They exited the apartment and hurried along the hall to the steps. The elevator was never working so of late, they women didn’t bother even checking. Since they were on the second floor, it wasn’t a bad walk. “I don’t feel like drinking tonight,” Miracle said. “I figured if I’m driving, I’d have a stronger incentive not to drink.”
“Um—not even one drink?” Liane asked.
They turned the corner and descended the last set of steps. “Why?”
“Because I kinda—sorta—bought you a private dance.”
“You did what?” Miracle exclaimed, glaring at Liane.
So that’s why Liane was so insistent on them going to the strip club even after the road incident.
“I said, I bought you a private dance. You know? A—”
“I know what that means!” Miracle snapped. “I can’t believe you did that!”
“Listen, you haven’t been laid since—since—Tutankhamun ruled Egypt so I figured it’s time you have some sexy stud shaking his thang in your lap. You can’t blame a girl for trying.”
They climbed into the car and Miracle started the engine then reached for her seatbelt. “It hasn’t been that long.”
“Oh yeah?” Liane pushed. “When was the last time you got laid?”
“I got laid in….” Miracle blinked. “Well, it was only a few—shit—”
“Like I said—18th dynasty.”
Miracle groaned as she eased the car from the spot and drove out of the underground. She hadn’t even gone to look at her vehicle in the light. It would bring back too many bad memories and tonight was for girls’ night. She would pretend the world was perfect so Liane wouldn’t worry. “Why would you do a thing like that? You know how I feel about...”
“It’s only a private dance.” Liane continued. “And this place is upscale, so no weird freaky dude with BO and rotted teeth.”
Miracle made a face, and though she wanted to protest, she knew she’d never win. When it came to having a good time, Laine was the queen. She worked hard and believed in equalizing everything by partying just as hard. Half the time Miracle couldn’t keep up and would stay home. Clubbing had never been her thing. Other times she shut up and went along with it.
The strip club was high end. The bouncer wore a suit. He checked their identifications quite thoroughly. But nothing prepared Miracle for what she stepped into. The place was massive with a giant stage, plush chairs, elegant bar, and an all male staff, all dressed to impress.
As the night rolled on, one stage appearance was replaced by another. Liane seemed to be having a wonderful time but the crowd made Miracle nervous. Add to that the idea she was about to have some strange man grinding on her, made her head throb. Sure, she could decline but that would only cause another migraine inducing lecture about her need to live a little.
“Okay,” Liane finally said. “Follow the hottie in the bowtie.”
Miracle groaned and followed the shirtless man along a path into a separate room. She never understood the reason men wore just jeans with a bowtie but no shirt. She had to admit, he wasn’t bad on the eyes, though.
“Enjoy,” he said.
“Um…” But he was gone before she could say anything else.
“Ooo—kay?” Miracle muttered, pushing air out her mouth causing her lips to flutter.
Since she’d never had a private dance before, Miracle wasn’t sure what she should do. Miracle wasn’t blind to the awkwardness of the whole situation. In fact, her heart hammered and her palms sweat. She could pace, but then she’d just look like a rabbit in a pit of snakes. Instead, she sat in one of the beautifully decorated chairs.
A door to her left opened and a man stepped through. There was no way on God’s green earth a man had a right to be that sexy. He was massive—but not in the body builder kind of way. If she had been standing, Miracle knew he’d tower over her with his tall frame and sleek muscles. This dancer had the body of a man who knew precisely how to handle his woman in bed.
Chewing on the inside of her left jaw, Miracle tried not staring but failed—miserably. His face was perfect with a proud nose, sensuous mouth and silver-blue eyes. She was pretty certain if he tried, her dancer could see clean through to her soul.
Miracle blinked and shifted in her seat, trying desperately not to stare. She was already turned on and he hadn’t taken a stitch of clothing off yet.
He watched her with a slow stare that she was pretty sure burned her panties off. Instead of checking, Miracle pressed her legs together.
“Hi,” she said, pushing back deeper into the chair as he stepped up, and began swaying from side to side.
Oh damn!
Her mother was a good woman but had a very old fashioned way of thinking. Elizabeth Jones had taught Miracle that having unclean thoughts of a man was a sin. Elizabeth was always going to church, preaching of God’s mercies and that the only man a woman should see without his clothing should be her husband. She also took it a step further—the vagina was not to be talked about. The nipples, not to be talked about and a woman’s orgasm wasn’t important as long as the man was taken care of.
But Miracle couldn’t help herself. Having this man so close was enough to make every unholy part of her pulse. Miracle caught her bottom lip between her teeth and braced herself for what was to come.
Perhaps it was because she hadn’t been with a man in—well, over four years. It wasn’t like they were knocking down her door. That could be the reason she had such a strong reaction to him. It had nothing to do with the fact he’d ripped his shirt open exposing abs so tight, she was pretty sure she could do her laundry on them.
She gasped, wanting to lean forward and drag her tongue against them.
Her gaze passed over the tattoo of a rose above his heart, then a coiled snake against his left ribs. His tattoos didn’t end there for around his right forearm were black bands.
Sweet Jesus how am I supposed to resist all of that?
“Don’t speak English?” She asked.
He stepped away, then backed into her
“My English is actually very good,” he said, his voice husky. “I’m not supposed to talk to you.” He gyrated into her before stepping back to trap her in her seat by gripping the arms of it.
“Do you always do as you’re told?” she asked.
That got a smirk from him. “I figured you’d much rather see me take my clothes off.”
“It’s kind of weird having someone naked for you and you don’t know their name.” Miracle eyed him. “Don’t you think?”
“We’ve all had nights where we were with someone because—there was a little too much drinking.” The dancer moved against her, slowly, sensually. “You don’t know each other’s name. I’ve heard it makes things more exciting.”
Miracle decided if they were to have a fling without introductions she would feel no bad ways about it.
“It’s still weird. We’re not drunk.”
He quirked a brow. “They call me, Beast.”
Yes you are, baby.
She was about to say something else when he pressed a finger to her lips. His grey eyes met hers and she swore he was trying to tell her something. Miracle sat on her hands. That way she wouldn’t be tempted to touch him back. He danced around her chair, behind her then came to stand before her again, his fingers on his belt.
“Tex told me you needed help,” he said. With a flick of his wrist, the belt was undone and hanging before his groin. “Sorry I wasn’t available last night. But Sabine is as good as they come.”
“Hold up, you know Tex?”
Beast nodded.
“And he knows I need help. Serious help and he sends me Magic Mike?”
Beast smiled, a look that tugged the right corner of his mouth upward and flashed something dangerous through his thigh spreading eyes. “I couldn’t just knock on your front door.”
She frowned. Huffing, Miracle folded her arms.
“At least pretend you’re enjoying this,” he said. “There are cameras in here and I need to get a few things straight with you first.”
“What should I do? Shove money into your undies?”
He tilted his head as he slowly pulled the belt from the loop and discarded it carelessly on the floor. Reaching forward, he took her hands and pressed her palms to his abs. “I saw you looking at them earlier.” Beast leaned in and spoke against her ear. “It’s alright to touch—for now anyway.”
Miracle wanted to draw her hand back. To tell this schmuck he could go to hell. But every time she tried, her body rebelled until she dragged her fingers downward. They rippled over his hardened flesh. His pants got in the way of her exploring hands but she had to behave. That didn’t stop her from wishing he’d just undo that zipper and pushed those pants off. Instead, Beast stepped away and lifted both hands to drag his fingers through his hair.
“You have a cell phone?” He asked, shaking his hips.
She couldn’t think.
“Fleur?”
“My name is…”
He smirked.
“Yes, I have a phone.” She sighed. “Look, there is no need to go Liam Neeson on anyone. I’m very sure there isn’t some force out there trying to get me. I mean, how bad could it be?”
“Tex believes something isn’t right and I agree with him. And until he calls off the hounds, you’re stuck with me.”
Miracle made a mental note to have a word with John Keegan when she could and she was going to give him a piece of her mind—a profanity laced piece.
“So, phone?”
“Yes.”
“Good, when I come close again, I want you to shove it into my right pocket,” Beast explained. “Then reach into my left pocket for the one there.”
“I’m not giving you my phone!”
“Fleur, your phone can be tracked. You’re not making this easy.”
“This is ridiculous! There’s no one tracking my phone.”
“Please don’t fight me on this,” Beast said. “Until we can figure out what happened last night...”
She sighed but nodded. When he danced over to her, she pretended to be caressing him and did as he asked. With the new phone, she quickly placed it into her bra and rested back in the chair, pretending she wasn’t a million miles away, her fingers wrapped around Heinrik Loft’s throat—if he was still alive and had something to do with all this.
It wasn’t entirely his fault—if she was one of those people who gave in at a roadblock, her life wouldn’t have been in danger and Tex wouldn’t have felt the need to send her German Thunder who was now thrusting his hips toward her.
“There is an address programmed into it. Tomorrow at four thirty, I want you to meet me there,” Beast said. “Don’t be late.”
“You think I’m in danger and you’re going to leave me?” she asked. For the first time since she entered that room Miracle was terrified. “I thought you were here to protect.”
“You’re going to have to trust me, Fleur.” Beast leaned in to drag his mouth from the corner of her lips up to her left ear. “If Tex is correct and something is going on, they won’t stop. We end them before they end you. Meet me tomorrow. And don’t worry. You’ll be safe. By the way, there’s a phone number on it as well—it comes directly to me if you need anything.”
With that said, Beast gathered his things and exited just as silently as he’d entered. Miracle was now left with two problems—one, someone wanted to kill her and two, she was soaking wet and Beast wasn’t even gentleman enough to help her with that issue.