Escaping Vegas (The Inheritance Book 1) (19 page)

“Does that make you a
spy
, then?” she asked, surprised.

“No.
I’m
not a spy,” he replied, giving her a specific look that suggested there were other employees in the company that
were
. “I go in after the documents, objects, whatever it is that he gets a contract for. I also accept contracts on the side, on my own—which is where the collector who wanted the Treasure Dragon comes in.”

Madalina thought she understood. “I see. It sounds dangerous. If your contracts are anything like what we’ve had to deal with over the last few days.”

“It can be. I won’t deny that. Sometimes we find people or caches of weapons or top-secret documents, and it can be tricky to extract them.”

“Are all your brothers involved with your father’s company, too?”

“Yes. We help each other out if we’re working on private cases—”

“Like the dragon.”

“Like the dragon,” he confirmed.

Madalina fell silent for several minutes, contemplating everything she’d just learned. She surveyed the area, not so distracted that she’d forgotten to keep an eye out for unwanted company. When she glanced back at Cole, she found him studying her like she’d been studying him. She said, “So you’re still searching for the other three dragons, right?”

“It’s a standing offer, Madalina. The collector knows that these things are all but impossible to find. So I keep an eye out, wait for hits through the Internet or contacts of my own. The Treasure Dragon is the first one I’ve heard anything about in the three years I’ve been looking.
If
I can finagle a dragon into my possession, then I can take it to the collector and get paid. They’re very hard to find, like I said, but two million per dragon is a pretty lucrative offer.”

Two million was a
lot
of money. Madalina couldn’t fathom that kind of a payday. It all made more sense now, and Cole’s decision to give the dragon back to the Chinese agents solidified in her mind that he was doing so on her behalf, rather than his own. Despite herself, she
did
wonder how her grandfather had gotten his hands on the dragon and whether he had information about the location of the others. Not because of the money, but because it gave her insight into parts of his life she’d never known anything about.

“What’s on your mind?” Cole asked.

“Just thinking about my grandpa and the dragon and the agents. Wondering if I would find any more information if I had access to some of his belongings. Anything he has isn’t in this country, though. It would have to be in Rio, or some other place he might have that I don’t know about.”

“It
is
curious how the dragon came to be in his possession. For now, I just want to get this one back to the agents and get them off your back. They’ve been even more tenacious than I thought they would be. They took chances I didn’t expect. I knew they were desperate, but the agents managed to surprise me. It’s better to end it, to take the risk away.”

Madalina could tell by Cole’s intent, expectant gaze that he wanted to know if she felt the same. If she understood now why he’d taken matters into his own hands. “After everything that’s happened, especially tonight, I agree. I don’t want to have to be afraid every second that someone will sneak up behind me and that I’ll wake up somewhere strange. That doesn’t mean I’m happy about their determination or you taking the dragon without telling me . . . but I’m with you. Let’s put an end to this once and for all.”

Cole heaved an inward sigh of relief. He knew the moment Madalina capitulated, recognized acquiescence in her gaze. She hadn’t completely forgiven him for his actions, but at least they were now on the right path to overcoming the most major obstacle: the return of the dragon. He believed that a terrible fate awaited her if she didn’t part ways with the artifact. If there wasn’t a faction of men willing to do whatever it took to retrieve the damned thing, Cole would have easily relinquished control back to Madalina. That she wanted to keep the dragon, felt so protective over it, suggested a deep loyalty to those she loved, loyalty of a magnitude he understood because he felt the same about his own family. Cole would—and had—taken bullets for his brothers. The difference here was that he’d had nothing to lose except his own life. If she went down, then he would lose
her
. Cole didn’t appreciate the thought. Although he couldn’t put a name to whatever this feeling was, it was strong enough to make him take extraordinary steps to keep her safe. That was
his
commitment to her,
his
version of loyalty.

“I’m really glad you’re on board. It’s important to me that you approve of returning the dragon,” he said. After a moment, he added, “Here, let’s switch seats,” and opened the car door.

Madalina didn’t argue. She got out of the Jaguar and circled behind the vehicle, shoulder brushing his in passing. He slanted a look down at her, holding her gaze until the moment was past. Heat stirred in his loins, which he repressed out of necessity. Now wasn’t the time. He dropped into the driver’s seat.

Ensconced in the opposite seat, Madalina said, “You didn’t like my driving ability?”

“In regular traffic, your driving is fine. I’d rather not find out how you’d match up against a driver experienced in running people off the road.” Cole shut the door and clicked the button to engage the locks.

“What are we going to do now, Cole?” she asked.

“What would you like to do?” He had several suggestions, but wanted to hear what she had to say, wanted to find out what was on her mind.

“We can’t go to Lianne’s, or to my parents’ house. Not until after the exchange.”

“No, we can’t.” He steered the Jaguar away from the park and onto regular roads, heading for the nearest commercial district. “We have two days until then.”

“Should we get a hotel? Take cover there until you make the trade?” she asked.

“That was my plan.
Only
if you’re comfortable with it.”

“To be honest, I wouldn’t want to go anywhere else.”

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY
-S
EVEN

T
he complexity of the situation left Madalina temporary silent as Cole drove them toward the brighter lights of the city. What did she feel for him? She couldn’t pin her emotions down. Lacing and unlacing her fingers in her lap, watching Cole rather than the road, Madalina decided that it was a combination of things. More than simple attraction and lust, there was a burgeoning affection that overtook the previous frustration and anger. Watching him deal with the agents in the warehouse had been an eye-opener on more than one level. He’d come for her, intervened on her behalf. His fierceness and protectiveness made her feel wanted, made her feel safe. She had no doubt that the agents wouldn’t get their hands on her again without a major fight.

More than anything, she wanted a chance to get to know Cole better. To work past their divisions and differences to see what might lie beneath. Just because he’d planned to use her in the beginning didn’t mean he would continue to use her now.
I don’t have a reason to be here any longer, Madalina. Ask yourself why I am, why I’ve come back, and why I put my own life at risk when I’ve already got what I came for.
His words echoed in her ears. He was trying to tell her that something had changed for him somewhere along the line. She’d gotten under his skin in ways he hadn’t expected. Just like he’d gotten under hers.

“Can I ask you a question, Cole?” she asked.

“Sure.”

“Don’t get mad, but this is important to me,” she said, prefacing her question with a disclaimer. “Do you often get involved with women connected to cases like this?”

He glanced across the car, a brief meeting of eyes. “No. In fact, I don’t usually get deeply involved with women at all. On any level. I’ve never thought it fair, considering how much I travel and how dangerous my work can sometimes be.”

“I wondered that about you when we were driving back from Vegas. A few things you said made me think you weren’t the type to get deep.” And
she
liked to get deep. Madalina preferred solid relationships to one-night stands. She’d had her share of ships that passed in the night, and she would flirt along with the best of them. But for the most part, she was looking for that particular one who wanted to stay.

“I’m not.”

“What’s changed, then? You had your one night with me.”

“I told you. This is different. I’m not sure how. I’ve found myself curious about your life up till now, and I keep imagining what you’d think of my brothers, my parents. What you’d think of life in Rhode Island. It’s the first time I’ve ever wanted to share the more intimate parts of me with anyone.”

Cole’s confession rocked Madalina. Most of the men she’d been in a relationship with were tentative and hesitant when it came to family matters. She thought it was ironic that Cole wasn’t the deep type, yet he’d considered her meeting his family, while the men in Madalina’s life who’d been willing to commit had done so regarding
her
, but not their families. And she wanted to know Cole’s life. Wanted to meet his parents and siblings. Eventually. More than anything, she wanted to get back to the feeling she’d had the morning she woke up
before
realizing that Cole had deceived her. She wanted that warm, cozy place after a long night spent in his arms. That initial buzz of excitement when someone is on the verge of a new, thrilling relationship.

“I’ve got the most mundane life story—up until I met you. I’m the only child of parents who are probably best described as hippies. Really, they just have a serious love of the outdoors. Summer vacations consisted of camping trips all over the US and visits to every museum known to man. The best friends I grew up with have moved off to other cities or states—the farthest I’ve moved is to Whittier from Chino, although I
was
trying to reach the beach. Santa Monica or thereabouts. Just didn’t have the cash at the time for the higher rent. Took some college classes not long out of high school, and in my second year, I met Lianne. We stayed in college another year, worked part-time, and plotted to open a boutique as soon as we saved the money. It took a while.” After a brief pause, she added, “Like I said. Nothing glamorous. We’ve had the shop a little over a year now.” Although she hadn’t meant to spill her life story—what there was of it—Madalina couldn’t stop once she’d started. She studied Cole’s expression, trying to get a bead on his thoughts. He seemed intrigued, if the quick glances he shot her way were any indication.

“Your life doesn’t sound mundane to me. It seems you did what you set out to do—open a shop—and I’m sure it took a lot of work and perseverance. Besides that, I get the impression that you love it, which is all anyone can ask from a job. Or life, for that matter.” He pulled into the parking lot of a hotel—one with classy lines, pretty arches, and tall palms flanking the building.

“I do love it. Although I have to say, I’m very intrigued by what you do and how you do it,” she said. After he parked and shut off the engine, he draped an arm along the back of her seat, fingers playing in the ends of her hair.

“Sometimes it’s tedious. Other times it’s dangerous. What I love most is figuring out the mysteries and unraveling the puzzles. Your particular case came with an added bonus—
you
.” After a slight hesitation, he reached across; curled an arm around her shoulders; and pulled her into a hot, languid kiss.

Madalina gave herself over to the pleasure, to the expert glide of his tongue. He stoked fires with the kiss, easily amping the level of desire to greater heights. And she let him. Sifting her fingers through his hair at the temple, she gave in to the pressure of his mouth on hers, inviting him to explore as deeply and thoroughly as he wanted to. There was passion in his kiss, but also tenderness. When he broke away, he did so with two smaller kisses to her lips and a brush of his whiskered jaw against her cheek.

“Ready to go inside?”

“Yes. I’m ready for some serious downtime. I hope the agents leave us alone until the transfer.” Madalina didn’t think she could handle being on the run any longer.

Cole’s expression turned grave. “You won’t have to worry about anything. They didn’t follow us from the building, and I’m pretty sure my threat will force them to keep a distance. All right?”

“All right.” Madalina was surprised by how easy she found it to put her trust in him. Earlier, she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to fully trust him again. The selfless way he’d extracted her and his honest conversation had gone a long way in beginning to heal her doubts and fears.

It wasn’t an immediate, permanent fix, but it was a start.

Inside the hotel room, which turned out to be elegant and tasteful, if not as lavish as the last suite, Madalina listened to Cole close the door and engage both locks. She studied the quaint living area, the little writing desk, and the small kitchenette without really seeing any details. Her mind was on the man behind her, who stepped past while watching her sidelong.

Madalina met Cole’s gaze, then followed
him
deeper into the suite, through a doorway into a separate bedroom. He turned to walk backward, one brow arched up, as if to say,
This is new
. And it was. Madalina took the initiative, closing the distance when the back of his knees hit the bed, and peeled his shirt up over his head. There wasn’t any reason to try and pretend like they didn’t both want this—she knew better. Their scorching glances, hot kisses, and simmering passion were only precursors to what came next.

Branding his chest with nips and suckling kisses, she mapped the topography of his skin with her palms, sliding over sinewy muscle and the hard ridge of his hips. When her hands skimmed around back, she encountered the cold steel of a gun in his waistband. It was a reminder of how deadly he
could
be. Slipping it from its hiding place, Cole set the weapon on the nightstand without a shift in attention and allowed her to explore at her leisure. As thoroughly as they’d loved each other before, there were still countless places on his body to discover. When he skimmed both hands into her hair, tipping her head back away from his chest, Madalina met his eyes. She got lost in the intensity of his gaze, the way he let her know with just one look how much she affected him.

“I’m glad you’re here. I want you to know that this is all of me. I don’t have anything else to hide, nothing else I’m not telling you,” he said in a quiet voice.

After a moment she said, “I believe you.”