Harlequin Intrigue January 2015 - Box Set 1 of 2: Midnight Rider\The Sheriff\The Marshal by Joanna Wayne

Author:Joanna Wayne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

The operation had lost one helicopter and five men. Patrice would be upset. More accurately, her employer would be angry. Indeed, she was due here any moment. He uncorked her favorite California wine to let it breathe.

Homeland Security’s spy had stolen from him and had the power to bring down more than what Patrice had lost. He was certain Andrea Allen had been given information at her car in the desert—whether she knew it or not.

Tomas had been too inquisitive. His intelligence should have given him away immediately as an undercover agent. But to his credit, he’d kept himself in the background operations for months. Unfortunately, their methods hadn’t been able to obtain how he was making contact with DHS to pass any information back to his superiors.

If they hadn’t learned of Miss Allen’s importance, they might never have ferreted out the spy. He still wanted the young woman. Having her in his control was key to the next phase of operations.

It had been highly improbable Patrice’s men would succeed in the abduction but well worth the try. The benefits far outweighed the losses. He heard the front door open.

“Miss Orlando, please come in.”

“I told you it wouldn’t work, Mr. Rook.” She dropped her purse on the floor and stripped off her jacket, tossing it haphazardly across a brocade chair. She saw the wine, tilted some into a glass and gulped the fine red elixir too fast.

“Yes, you did.” He bit his tongue to remain pleasant. “But I also informed you that it didn’t matter to me what the cost was to you. The trucks made it into Manuel Ojinaga and we’re on schedule.”

“I’ll need compensation for the men I’ve lost. Replacing them will cost me a bundle. I don’t want to dip into my reserve, drawing attention to myself.”

“Naturally. These men will be worth the higher price. Unless you’d like to reconsider?”

His fingers caught her exposed throat as she tossed back the last of the wine in the glass. She choked—partly on the wine, partly from the pressure of his grasp. The fragile handblown wineglass shattered on the floor. He should have waited until she’d set it on the table. Her fingers curled around his own, attempting to pry them away from her skin.

As her oxygen waned, her eyes grew enormous as she realized he controlled whether she lived or died. He saw the acknowledgment in her face, in the desperation of her clawing hands and kicking feet. Her dress rose to show the tops of her stockings.

Had she worn them for him today? Sex with her might be a satisfying distraction while he waited. He released his grip, immediately turning his back to give her a moment to recover.

As he was concentrating on board three, his next move presented itself. “Aw, thank you, Patrice. Nc6 is a very nice move.”

She coughed and sputtered behind him, then began tugging on her dress. Yes, it was time to remind her who was in control. He gathered her things and offered his hand to help her stand.

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