CHAPTER SEVEN
Jake drove fast, weaving in and out of the late morning traffic on 93 as they approached the turn-off for Boston and talking through his headset to his boss.
“Just keep him awake until I get there. Don’t—I repeat—don’t touch him,” Drayton said.
He flicked a glance over at Isabella to find her huge emerald eyes watching him. The vivid green shade captivated and drew you in with one glance. He couldn’t stop staring at her. Shifting his focus back to the road, he swerved to avoid a car he was dangerously close to.
“Shit,” he cursed.
“That about sums up your driving skills. Keep your eyes on the road, Jake. I want to see what this scumbag doctor has to say,” Isabella said, her voice clipped and brusque.
Jake wanted to steal another look at her, but feared to do so would risk them not arriving at the warehouse at all. Since he had picked the gorgeous and sexy Isabella up, she had been as prickly as a cactus. Immediately, she launched into his beaten-up appearance, to which he shrugged and said it came with the job.
God, he would never understand women. Did she believe wars were avoided without a fight? In his experience, wars were avoided when the perceived threat was greater than the gain; that took action, sometimes deadly. Shit, working for Orion was the same. There was always a threat out there. Was she ready to fight, if she needed to? Damn it, he should know this before hopping in a truck on a mission with such an angel-faced innocent. He shook his head to concentrate. Like Drayton, he didn’t have relationships and didn’t discuss his feelings with anyone. He had sex, and rarely with the same woman twice. He didn’t believe he was as bad as Drayton, who had been a cold bastard before Ella. With Isabella, even though he knew he shouldn’t go there, something about her snared him like a rabbit in a trap. He couldn’t break free of the sensation that she had control over him, as if under a magical spell all the time. Those damn eyes.
“Jake, you missed the turn. For God’s sake, do you want me to drive?”
He cursed under his breath again. She also didn’t give an inch. For all her soft curves, she had a bite, and sooner or later he was going to sink his teeth in and taste her. He set his mind on it. Swiping a sideways glance at her gorgeous face and flame-red hair, he navigated the Jeep in the correct direction as the GPS rerouted them toward Boston Street. He closed off his thoughts to the beautiful Isabella, determined to gain some information from the butcher who had tortured one of their own. He ground his teeth together. Focus.
Ten minutes later, reaching the location, he pulled up into the barren parking lot, noticing only one other vehicle tucked in the corner—the team’s. As he exited the Jeep, the heat of the city caught him and he removed his jacket, stashing it in the car. The busy traffic swooshed past and horns blared from the traffic. The hum of the city beat down upon him. Giving a quick sweep around the beaten and derelict brick buildings, and happy that they were clear, he strode forward into the deserted warehouse. Steel had contacts in the city. The doctor had seen Ella’s picture on the local television channel and, shocked that she was alive, felt compelled to talk. The man walked into the local police station and when Ella’s name was pulled up, a flag was set, leading directly to Steel. This was the place for some plain talking. Jake talked through his headset to the rest of his team, who were already in position.
“Bear, we’re a minute away. Where the hell are you? This is a big fucking warehouse. Too many windows. Lots of overlooking buildings—this isn’t a secure location by a long shot.”
He pushed the enormous metal sliding door aside and let Isabella step in. He slammed the lock behind them and pushed her to the side as he observed the enclosed and sprawling vicinity, aware of their lack of protection. A sudden fear for her safety knocked him off-balance. Shit, he didn’t even know whether she had a gun or could shoot. He stopped and pulled her roughly to his chest.
“Are you armed?” he whispered against her cheek, sniffing the peach scent in her hair.
“Jake, you’re hurting me. Of course, I’m armed. I’m not fucking arm candy. I’m part of the team. I would never head into a risky situation without a weapon.”
He flicked his gaze over her pouty mouth and over her face, resting on her eyes that sparkled like emeralds. A corner of his mouth lifted at her spunk. God, he couldn’t control the desire and need to take her to bed, where she could bring whatever weapons she wanted.
“Music to my ears, sweetness. I’m not into babysitting.”
He lay an innocent kiss on the tip of her nose and she shoved his chest away.
“Stop that, and I don’t need to be looked after.”
Good, he thought. But even so, with her here, he wouldn’t be able to stop watching her to ensure she was safe. That was asking for trouble. She was driving him toward the brink, but he nodded at her and touched his headset as one of his teammates yelled in his ear.
“Where the fuck are you, asshole?”
“Shadow, we’re right outside.”
He eased his hold of Isabella, but caught her elbow and pushed her ahead while he skimmed the perimeter. The old warehouse was the size of a small mall. The ceilings were high, and the walls faded brick. Huge windows ran the length of the one-hundred-foot building with multiple broken panels but most were covered in thick dust. There was grime everywhere, as well as discarded crates, broken furniture, huge pieces of ancient machinery, and a long conveyor belt winding around and looping into another room.
Wanting to get this over and done with, he headed toward the main office to the left, where he could see his team through the clear paneled window. Jake pushed the office door wide and stepped inside. The room looked cleaner than the rest of the building. There was a long wooden desk and behind it a swivel chair, with filing cabinets along the side wall. The walls contained myriad naked women in suggestive poses and worksheets. Invoices and order sheets were pinned on boards. It looked in recent use.
“Where’s the butcher?” Jake glanced at Bear, who sat in the chair with his feet propped up on the table. Jake pushed his feet down and leaned over him.
“That weasel is in the back room. I couldn’t take his tears, man.”
Bear was a huge man in width and height. It was all muscle too. No one messed with him. Ever.
Jake swept his glance over at Shadow. “Any intel from him about the professor?”
Shadow was checking the load in his weapon and watching out through the window, always ready and waiting.
“Not a fucking word—just shaking in his boots. Hey, Isabella, you have the hots for our homeboy here? ’Cos he sure has the hots for you. If you don’t already know, that is.”
Jake launched himself at Shadow, thumping his chest, but he shoved him hard.
“Asshole, your woman has already gone.”
Hearing that Isabella had left the room in search of the butcher brought him back to his senses. He released Shadow, shook his head and darted after the bloody woman who was going to get a piece of his mind—as well as other parts of his anatomy soon. Through the office was a short hallway with a door at the end. He could hear Isabella’s voice. He raced toward the door, pushing it open and shutting it behind him. In a wooden chair in the center of the badly lit room was a man of medium build, blindfolded, with his hands strapped behind him. His feet were secured with plastic tags, and his shirt was bloodstained in the front.
“What the fuck, Isabella? You. Do. Not. Leave. My. Side. Understood?”
Isabella glared back at him with her red hair pulled back into a tight ponytail. She was dressed in a sleeveless tank that outlined her ample breasts and soft-brown cargo pants. To complete the outfit, she wore a pair of black military-styled boots that came to her knees. She was not your soft feminine type and that was mighty fine with him. Even so, she needed to know who was the boss, but for now, he would let her play. Watching her, all five foot six inches, turned him on. She was slim but had curves in all the right places. He ran his eyes slowly over every delectable inch that he intended to explore and conquer soon.
She leaned over the man and lifted his blindfold to rest on his forehead. “There you go. All the better to see you now.”
Jake watched as she strolled around him, stalking the man like prey. Although he was the senior in command here, the one with experience, he let her carry on, wanting to see what she was capable of. Her taking charge made his mouth water. As she walked around in a circle, the man twisted his head to keep an eye on her.
Jake studied the man’s baby-blue eyes and neat features; even his nails were trimmed short. He bet the slimy man never did a real day’s labor in his privileged life. Isabella held pictures of Ella in front of the man, discussing the condition she was found in. She explained about the nightmares, the pain, and the burial of the baby.
Walking around and around made him dizzy.
“We want all the details, Doctor. How are you connected to the Elusti? Who is the leader? Where are the headquarters? We need names and locations.”
The man dipped his head and pulled on his restraints, attempting to dislodge himself.
“Look, like I told Hercules out there, I’m not saying a word until I see her.”
Isabella whisked around and crouched down right in front of the man, her sweet full lips pressed into a tight line.
“And do you think the lady you left for dead would be as eager to see you? The man who savagely cut her open and killed her baby?”
The man flinched before he pressed his eyelids closed for a second. There was obviously some remorse there but not enough for his liking. Jake leaned against the wall with his arms folded to stop himself from grabbing this asshole by the scruff of his neck and shaking the information they needed out of him. He would give Isabella two minutes and if the man didn’t cough up the information they needed, he would make him.
“Look at me, Doctor Adams. Look at me.”
Geez, the sound of her raspy voice had him willing to do anything. She was a siren. A witch.
Adams lifted his head and met her gaze. He stared into her eyes and for a moment, the air crackled and held still. “I-I-I—don’t know who contracted me. I’m a doctor for hire. I normally work for the local crime syndicate. I never meet the clients beforehand. I’m paid in cash upon completion. Usually, it’s to fix a bullet wound and stitch someone up. I have performed surgery before but not like this. There are no questions. No details. I’m never supplied with names. This was the first time—dealing with the man who was there. It was rushed and he left, but I need to speak with the woman.”
Doctor Adams dropped his head down and swore, flicking his gaze up at Isabella. “What are you? I knew I should never have tried to find her. You’re going to get me killed. I will not say another word, no matter what you do. I must see her.”
Jake kept his eyes glued on Isabella as she stepped away and sucked in the air around her. She wrapped her arms around her waist and glanced over at Jake. Studying her delicate bone structure, he observed her pale skin and wondered what the hell she was himself. How did she get him to talk by looking into his eyes? Sure, she was sexy as hell but to divulge information at the drop of a hat? He had never seen that. True, the man wasn’t trained to keep secrets, but he opened his mouth and the information poured out. Jake pushed away from the wall, reluctant to vocalize his thoughts in front of this man.
“Well, asshole, it’s no good blaming anyone else for the shit you’re in because let’s be frank, Doctor Adams, you chose to be a criminal. That’s what you are when you aid and abet drug lords and crime bosses. You chose this fucking slippery path and sooner or later you were going to get caught because you’re not that smart. Now, I can help you if you are prepared to give us the details. We need the names of everyone involved. The location of the hospital. Everything, asshole. You belong to us now!”
The doctor studied Jake, who spat his words over him, and dipped his head low as he shook it back and forth. “I don’t care if you kill me. I won’t say another word until I speak with her. I have something she would want you to let me explain. It’s worth more than my fucking life and I won’t share it with anyone other than her. So, save all the threats. I’m done.” He closed his eyes and kept his head down.
Isabella stepped up close and lifted his head. “That’s not going to work for us. Open your eyes,” she screamed at him. When that didn’t work, she pressed her hands on either side of his head. Jake watched, unable to tear his eyes from this woman as she whispered under her breath words in an ancient language he didn’t understand. The doctor lifted his head but kept his eyes closed. Isabella pressed harder, bringing the man’s head up farther as she continued to incant her ancient mumbo jumbo. The man shook his head, as if to free himself from her grasp, and blood trickled down from his nose.
“Get out of my head,” he snarled.
At that, Jake stepped between him and Isabella, pushing her shoulder back to break the connection she held over the doctor. He bent his head next to her ear and his gaze wandered down her slim neck, resting at the black opal that lay in the dip between her collarbones. He whispered, “I don’t know what you’re up to, but killing him isn’t our goal.”
She flicked her head. Their lips were inches apart as he stared down at her.
“I saw a brick building. It’s derelict, but I recognize it. I also know he’s terrified. He’s consumed with guilt over Ella and her baby.”
Hearing her words, Jake swiveled around and backhanded the man across his face, unable to contain his rage. Blood and spit flew across the room and dropped to the ground, but the man didn’t open his eyes or say anything. He just flopped forward in the chair.
“Damn it.” Jake rubbed his face with his hands and glared over at Isabella, who didn’t say a word at his actions. “I’m going to make a quick call. You do not touch him. Understand?”
He watched as Isabella widened her eyes and raised her eyebrows, nodding at him with a knowing smile littered across her pretty face. Yeah, who was he to tell her not to touch him? Just the thought of this man hurting Ella made his blood burn. It was good that Marcus wasn’t here as there would be no stopping him.
“I can make him talk if you let me continue.”
Jake scratched the side of his head while he studied her. Maybe she could, but as he glanced back at Doctor Adams, whose head lolled in front of him, he couldn’t risk anything happening to the man. Drayton would kill him instead.
“You wait.”
He exited the room and pulled out his cell phone. As he re-entered the office, he glanced at Bear and Shadow. Everything looked calm.
“Marcus, to cut right to the chase, the doctor will not give us any more information until he has spoken with Ella. He says it’s vital they speak. I don’t know about what.”
Jake nodded and listened to Marcus as he yelled in the phone. “I’m not letting that asshole anywhere near Ella, but he doesn’t have to know that. Tell him yes. Is the location secure?” Marcus answered.
Again, Jake lifted his gaze and examined the surrounding building as he walked outside the office to study the deserted space, pinching his nose between his fingers. “As much as it can be, boss.”
“Bring him here and make sure you’re not followed. We’ll see what he knows once I get our doctor to loosen his tongue.”
The phone clicked off and Jake marched back to the interrogation room. Once inside, he briefly glanced at Isabella, who leaned against the farthest wall.
“We’re moving. Doc, it’s your lucky day. Your wish has been granted.”
Doctor Adams’s head bobbed to attention and Jake cut the plastic ties that secured him to the chair and hoisted him up. He pulled, and half dragged the man outside.
“We’re returning to base. Now.”
Bear and Shadow jumped to attention and grabbed their weapons. They took front position. Jake followed. Isabella was in the rear. Jake made it to the exit and stepped outside into the daylight. He pulled the doctor alongside him. Satisfied it was clear, he took a step toward the black Jeep. He felt the doctor jerk back, as if caught on something, and then he dropped like a lead weight to the ground. He ducked, as did Isabella, but he pushed her back inside as he crouched with his gun pointed up at the roof of the buildings facing him and where the bullet must have been fired. Bear and Shadow crowded around, studying the immediate area too, but Jake couldn’t see the hitman. He swept his gaze back over the doctor, who lay still on the ground, with his eyes open staring blankly at him. A single shot penetrated his temple.
****
Marcus picked up Ella’s favorite bottle of perfume, Chanel No. 5, and threw it at the wall, smashing it. Damn her to hell. She hadn’t felt it necessary to discuss her change of address. Not a fucking word. He was her husband. Her mate. Didn’t that count for anything? He marched toward the window, leaving the liquid to drip down the pale wall, and studied Steel’s mansion. He had tolerated, even admired, his boss over the years. His professionalism and conduct was never questioned by the team, his men, because they respected him. Respect was earned and Steel deserved that, but this was something else.
Lately, everything about Ella had Steel interfering.
If it was any other man, he would have suspected an ulterior motive, but he knew Steel wasn’t a man to take what belonged to another. There was a code that existed among the SEALs and this wasn’t debated over. It went without saying. When it came to the team, they looked out for each other, and that included the wives. But it hurt his pride, that rather than discuss the move with him, Ella chose Steel.
His eyes left the mansion and drifted to the gray ocean as the volatile waves rolled to the shore. Ella was moving into his fucking house. How could she? Hearing Steel inform him of this piece of news twisted his gut. Knowing they had discussed this together without him made his anger implode. He promised himself he would never trust a woman. With Ella, seeing her vulnerability, it melted his cold heart. In ways, she was unlike any woman he had ever been with and then, like now, she was the same.
However, as his mind scrambled over the news, he knew he hadn’t helped her in the way he should have. The guilt he lay at her feet only compounded her own and drove her away. After the mating, he believed they would be closer and she would be unable to bear being apart. How wrong had he been? Whereas her scent drove him wild, he wasn’t even sure of her feelings for him anymore. The idea of her being anywhere except in his bed made the beast inside him roar.
The smell of her lingered around the house, and even though he had cleaned the rooms multiple times, the fragrance remained everywhere. As he searched around the nursery, his heart lurched as his eyes rested on the discarded black bag of clothes and toys. He charged at it, grabbed the edges to make a knot and carried it with him to the basement. He hadn’t thrown any of the baby’s equipment away. He simply couldn’t face it any longer and stored it away. Every time he walked into the nursery, it was a reminder of what they had lost. He believed removing it would help them both get over the pain and heal.
The truth was he didn’t know whether there was a future anymore with Ella. She shut him out. He couldn’t break through her armor. Not that he had tried.
His cell vibrated.
“Jake, how far away are you? I’m heading back to Steel’s now.”
There was interference and crackles in the background. Jake was talking on the move. “He’s dead, boss. Single shot. To the temple.”
Marcus could hear the agitated conversation between Shadow and Bear in the background. The only lead gone. Shit!
“No sign of the shooter. We checked the building across the way and the rooftop. No sign. Nothing. What do you want us to do?”
Marcus charged downstairs and stopped in the middle of his living room. Why had the man insisted on seeing Ella? He swore out loud to the empty room and walked out of the house, slamming the door behind him. “Clean up as best you can. Leave him, and get out of there. Report back for a full debriefing, all of you.”
“Yes, boss.”