Circle of Danger (6 page)

“That's all up to you. You're in charge here while I'm gone.”

“What the hell?” Jack shot to his feet and kicked the chair, sliding it across the floor. “You're going to track down that bastard and leave me here?”

Ryker stepped up, nearly nose to nose. “Yeah. When you learn to stay out of
my
personal business, then we'll talk about your place in
my
organization.” He waited to see if Jack dared to challenge him.

“I don't like it.” Jack turned away.

“Get over it,” Ryker bit off. He looked over at Marie. Her paleness revealed how much their arguing bothered her. “Jack, go. Now,” he said without taking his attention off her. Time for them to talk. Plus she needed to rest.

Then he'd get with Liam to plan how they'd rescue the women and get an antidote from the Wizard for Marie. His men better think up a good plan as they were headed for Gatlinburg in forty-eight hours.

Before he left, he'd make sure she was well taken care of. If successful, he would return from the mission before she realized he'd been gone. His absence should give her time to rest.

But he knew there was no way he would. Not after tasting her.

 

C
HAPTER
S
IX

M
arie moved to the sofa. The way Ryker's gaze tracked her every movement gave her the jitters. She needed to be as far away from the bed as possible in the suddenly small room. Sure, she wanted to touch him again. But the drug had already dirtied what she'd dreamed of having from him for so long—the closeness brought on by lovemaking. Yet, what they'd shared couldn't be considered lovemaking. Not when he hated every minute of it.

It was a given. If he'd enjoyed being with her, he'd have climaxed. Their past be damned. That was it. She knew how his mind worked. Having sex with her had been a duty. A way to protect her as he always had—no matter the cost to him personally. He'd helped her and nothing else. No different than he had when Theo had been alive and demanded payment for leaving Marie alone.

She had to quit harping on it. Just erase it from her memory. She could manage for the next few weeks on her own. She owned some battery-operated friends. They would do. They would have to.

“No matter how far you try to get away from me, I'm not letting you out of my sight tonight. Not until I know you have it under control.” Ryker walked behind the sofa. She felt him lift a lock of her hair. “I'm the only one who can help you.”

She twisted around. “I'll be okay without your help.” He dropped her hair as if guilty of something. What had he been doing? Smelling her hair?

“I don't think you understand. Jack won't be helping you.” Ryker leaned over the back of the sofa, cupped her face, and kissed her. His tongue stroked hers. The moist caress heated her blood. Her thighs clenched.

Was the drug amplifying her reaction to his touch?

The tingle of a million ants crawling over her skin gave her the first clue. She whimpered. Then her first flashback washed over her, building a need larger than any other.

She climbed the back of the sofa and wrapped her arms around his neck. He grunted when he lifted her and she squeezed. Without thought or care, she crossed her ankles at the small of his back. Using all her strength, she held on.

“I don't want Jack or you.” The words came out of her mouth but they both knew one was a lie. Her fingers dug into his shoulder blades. She couldn't get close enough to Ryker. Her heartbeat sped up and felt like it would burst. “What are you waitin' for?” From the moment she understood what it meant to be with a man, she'd wanted Ryker and only Ryker.

He carried her to the bed and leaned over. Her arms and legs remained tight around him.

“Honey, you need to release me.”

She hesitated for only a second. His hard, warm body felt so good pressed against her hers, but she wanted more, wanted to show what she could do for him.

“Oh. Okay. You're the boss.” In a smooth move, she dropped to the bed and slipped her hand behind his waistband as she unsnapped and unzipped his pants with the other. Using both hands, she double-fisted his cock and worked a few strokes. Then her mouth covered the moist tip and enveloped him in one long, strong draw.

“Christ, Marie.” The long groan signaled his pleasure.

His fingers gripped her head as he pulled out of her mouth. Once he released his hold, she returned to lick her way to his balls and suck in one tight orb.

“No!”

He clasped two handfuls of hair next to her scalp and dragged her up his body without hurting her. Maybe the sensation of her body rubbing along his rock-hard one masked any pain, but she liked how his hands then cupped her ass and maneuvered her across the bed.

He pushed her jeans and panties to her ankles. His mouth covered her where she throbbed. His tongue showed a talent she never imagined. Each lick drew a moan from her. Electricity tingled and danced from his expert finesse and shot through the bundle of nerves he played with.

She lifted her knees to dig her heels into the mattress as she arched her back, rhythmically thrusting her groin against his mouth. Tiny shudders travelled up her torso and down her legs with each tug of his lips and teeth. Her hands gripped and released the covers beneath her.

He appeared to be enjoying every texture and taste he pulled from her. Long and short strokes built higher flames until he jammed two fingers into her wet heat. She screamed as she shook the bed with her release.

Her hands stilled. When she reached for him again, he stopped her by clasping her wrists in one hand.

“Don't.” His voice sounded strained as he wiped his chin on his sleeve. “Do you feel better?”

To call her confused would be an understatement. He refused her touch. She wanted to help him find release too. What was he trying to prove?

R
yker wanted to sink into her again. His body shook from the need to climax. He couldn't resist looking at her. Her flushed face and wanton position with legs spread wide and the apex moist from his attention tempted him to return. If not for the feeling he was using her for his own perverted reasons, he'd sink back into her. He never wanted to take advantage of her.

Instead, he pushed away and stood as he tossed the comforter over her. After a deep breath and with as much dignity as he could muster, he shoved his stiff cock back into his pants and tenderly zipped up.

“If you need me again tonight, dial one on the phone next to the bed—it'll ring in my room.”

He reached the door and stopped when she said, “I remember my first night at Main Sector. I saw what Master made you do in front of him and the thing he made you do to him. What we just did tonight and the other night has nothing to do with him. Nothing to do with the past. It's time we moved on, Ryker.”

She needed to forget that part of their lives. He sure as hell wanted to forget. So why couldn't he? That young man no longer existed. He looked over his shoulder, unable to resist drinking in every beautiful inch of her one more time. Too bad. She'd wrapped the comforter around her and sat up.

“You don't know what you're talking about,” he said.

“Keep telling yourself that. I know you better than anyone. Maybe even yourself. Drug or no drug, I still want you.” The material dropped, and he caught a flash of the soft flesh he already wanted to run his tongue across again as she moved underneath the sheets. “I'll accept your help in keeping the drug under control, but I won't accept you treating me as if I'm part of a job.” She turned over, giving him her delicate, scarred back.

His eyes stung. She'd been so helpless against Theo's sick games. At twenty-three, he'd been confused by the strong emotions of hate and by a perverse desire to receive his childhood idol's approval. He didn't deserve her trust. Protecting her from Theo at the time had been his intent, but he'd wondered often if there had been another way. Had there been a well of dark, bubbling evil waiting for the opportunity to return to Theo's
good graces,
and he'd only used Marie to return there? He wanted to scream at her that she was wrong. Instead, he eased open the door and shut it behind him.

He never thought of himself as a coward.

R
yker hated to sleep. Even in his dreams, he was always aware of what was happening, but he still couldn't stop it. No matter how he exercised or worked, the damn nightmare returned. Each minute of it moved vivid and clear behind his closed eyelids. He relived every aspect of
that
night though it played out like any crazy dream. That same night his life changed into a living hell. Over the years, his dream, his nightmare, became twisted and transformed into a marathon of allegories. The type he refused to dwell on. The nightmare remained the same.

Eyes forward and heart pounding, Ryker lifted his knees higher and pumped his arms, running full force in the middle of the deserted Atlanta street. The echo of his bare feet smacking the wet pavement bounced off the dark buildings and cut through the silence.

Would he be late again? Even without a wristwatch he knew time was about to bite him in the ass. He swallowed and grimaced. A sour taste filled his mouth. Fear. God, he hated it.

Humidity covered every inch of his bare skin, giving him no relief from the heat even moments before the sun rose. He inhaled the damp air and took three more strides before releasing a long breath, hollowing his stomach. Sweat dripped into his eyes as he continued his fast pace. He blinked several times and rubbed at the sting, and then shook his head to clear his vision.

The street lamps glowed like white dandelion balls. The traffic lights swayed in a nonexistent wind. A rumble of thunder caused him to falter. He knew that sound, lived with it every moment of his life. The ground trembled but a split second after the explosion. Dread weighed him down, pulling at his need to stop and give up.

He shook his head again. Moisture sprinkled his shoulders.

Doubt ate at him as he propelled his body into another burst of speed. His heart pulsated in double time. He leaned into the run and the calves of his legs tightened, threatening to cramp. Every inch of his body tensed. He struggled for a little more speed. With each teeth-jarring step, his cock slapped his inner thighs.

This time he would find a way to save them.

The oily smell of burning rubber mixed with the pungent bitterness of scorched skin and hair warned him he was almost there. His subconscious warned him to stop. Yet he refused to give up.

This time they could be alive.

The glow like the rising sun drew him closer. First, he felt the heat.

Engulfed in flames, the limo showed no signs of life. The bomb had done its job. Two bodies in the back and one behind the steering wheel were nearly unrecognizable as humans in the midst of fire and smoke and twisted metal. People stood near the buildings, fear and shock frozen on their faces.

Then he heard the screaming.

“Someone's alive!” he shouted as he scrambled for the passenger door handle. “Help them!”

The metal burned into his hand but he didn't let go. Pain shot up his arm, numbing his fingers, as every muscle stiffened from the shock of the red-hot handle. Blood flowed from his fingers and sizzled on the metal. The windows shattered.

He flung up his arm, protecting his eyes. Glass stung his skin. Then he screamed as flames sucked him into the car. Fire surrounded him, and he opened his mouth to scream again but no sound came out. All of the air in his lungs evaporated. He couldn't breathe but the screaming in his head continued.

Ryker shot out of bed, his hands in the chunbi stance, standing at attention, hand holding fist. He shivered. Wide-eyed, he looked at his surroundings. A stark room and bare walls so much like his life.

The chill from sweat pouring off his body felt ten times better than the lick of flames. He no longer wondered when he would forget that night or when the mad caricature of it would stop. After the burns healed, he had small stretches of the day when he believed it was possible not to think about the explosion. That was, until he caught his reflection in a stray mirror or darkened window. The scars never lied.

Because of him, his parents died in that fiery explosion.

“Y
o, boss.”

Ryker stepped away from the large screen he and Jack had been staring at for over three hours. He took a long sip of his coffee. Last night, the dream had been harder on him than usual. He forced himself to pay attention. His eyes stung as he examined the map of Gatlinburg and several other towns nearby.

The map, broken down by areas of Blossom Flower activity reported by the authorities, showed splatters of bright colors. Each color indicated where they suspected the Wizard's people played a part. The vicinity of the large cabin had the heavier shades. They intended to block every route to ensure no one escaped this time while they saved the women held inside.

Sal shifted on stick-thin legs encased in black jeans, his hands stuffed beneath his arms. He looked nervous and guilty.

“What's going on?” Ryker wondered if the guy had ever put an eye out with his foot-high mohawk.

“Liam said to tell you that an OS operative is asking for you.” He swallowed, causing his Adam's apple to bob along with his hair. “He claims your brother sent him. I placed him in conference room two.”

So Collin had heard about their trouble. Ryker glanced over at Jack.

His second-in-command gave him a blank look before moving his attention to Sal and then back to the map.

Ryker had suspected for a while that Jack spied for The Circle. Yet how he felt about the Onyx Scepter's operative showing up at this time wasn't enough evidence to question Jack's loyalty to The Circle. But each day Ryker waited for him to screw up. Then he would take great pleasure in returning the man to his brother, piece by piece.

“Okay. Go back to your station.”

Once Sal rounded the corner, Ryker stepped over to the screen. The OS operative could wait until hell froze over. He didn't like the idea of his brother sticking his nose in The Circle's business.

“What did he want?” Jack asked without taking his gaze off the screen.

“Some jibber-jabber computer stuff.” Ryker ignored the sideways look he received. He hoped the man dared to question him further. Any excuse to send him packing would relieve some of the tension mounting with this mission.

Instead Jack nodded and pointed at a location on the map.

A couple hours later, they had a plan.

Marie would hate it.

“N
o fucking way!”

Marie's eyebrow rose at Ryker's outburst. She wanted to laugh at the mixture of anger and surprise on his face but she preferred choking him. He truly thought he could leave her at Sector while he gallivanted off to save the day.

The room became quiet. Jack and Bryan turned away and stared at the computer screen, pretending to give them some privacy.

Ryker crossed his arms and looked down at her. No matter what he planned, she owed the Wizard a little lesson on how to treat women.