Raines, Elizabeth - Wanted [Wicked Missions 5] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (11 page)

Perhaps if she sat and watched the approaching confrontation, she could figure a way out of this mess. They seemed so occupied with each other, she might as well have disappeared. Sure, she was the topic of conversation, but these two obviously had more conflict than Achchim taking a hostage without telling Izzie. Maybe she could use that to her benefit.
Somehow
.

“Reward, I think! Followed her I did from the ship.” Achchim folded his heavy arms over his chest. “The good graces of Carlos Pontierri we’ll be.”

“Are you fucking crazy? You really think a guy like Carlos Pontierri will just let us walk in, drop her off, grab a shitload of unis, and then leave?”

He tossed her a curt nod.

“Then you’re dumber than I thought. The guy’s got a reputation for welshing on any promise he makes, you dumbass! I don’t want to deal with him—except to move cargo.” She gave her head a shake. “No, we can’t give her to Carlos.”

“Fine! The reward I could claim without you. Not a part you must be.” His six-fingered hand started inching toward his pistol, making Callie ease a little closer, looking for a chance to help Izzie if things got ugly. If nothing else, she could hang on to the Dracorian’s arm while Izzie had a chance to get to her weapon.

“We’re
supposed
to be partners, Achchim. You’d collect a reward like that and leave me out of it?” Her hand also began to move, drifting closer and closer to the pistol holstered on her slim hip.

Great.
A showdown.
Two pissed-off people, both ready to pull their guns to see who could kill the other first. Her hopes were pinned on Izzie. The surprising part was that the feisty redhead obviously intimidated the Dracorian because he slowly backed away from her until his thighs pressed against the bunk Callie now knelt on.

“Partners no more we be?” Achchim asked. “Fine! Like you not, anyway. Pain in the ass you are.”

“Yeah? Well, you’re a dick. Know what? I’ll just go find Spencer and partner with him and Hammond. They’ve got more connections than you anyway.”

Achchim made a noise much like a hiss. “They dead be when hands on them Carlos gets. Tell him where they be, will I. What think you of that?”

“I think you’re not only ugly, but you’re stupid, too.”

Callie watched the heightening exchange, her head moving back and forth often enough to make her a bit dizzy. When Spencer and Hammond’s names came into the conversation, she knew this could end badly, not just for her but for the men she loved. Not only would Achchim turn her in for the reward, he’d probably find the men to cash in on them as well. And
that
, she couldn’t allow.

Achchim shifted as he put his hand on his pistol, leaving the butt of his stun-stick pointing right at Callie. Seizing the golden opportunity, she snatched the weapon, switched it on, and zapped Achchim between the shoulder blades. He let out a pitiful wail before his knees buckled and he sank to the floor in a heap.

“Well, well.” Izzie walked over to stare down at the unconscious Dracorian, nudging him with the toe of her boot. She leaned down to snatch his pistol. “The little lady has some guts after all. Should’ve known. No way Spence would settle for a weakling.”

“Achchim’s lucky I couldn’t reach his pistol.” Callie threw the stun-stick on the bed. It would need several minutes to recharge. Besides, Izzie was smart enough that she’d never allow enough time for Callie to use it against her. Callie stood on shaky legs and skirted her way around the Dracorian to face the shorter woman. “Now what happens?”

Tilting her head, Izzie looked confused. “Excuse me?”

“Stop playing dumb. Are you planning turn me in to Carlos Pontierri?”

Izzie’s green eyes flashed fire. “You don’t think much of me, do you?”

Callie shrugged. “I don’t even know you—but I heard what all of you had planned for me.”

“Heard what
who
had planned?”

“You, Hammond, and Spencer. I heard your conversation back on the docking platform. Didn’t know I could hear you all talking about giving me over for the bounty, did you?”

Izzie didn’t immediately reply, seeming to turn things over in her mind. Then a knowing grin bowed her lips. “You obviously didn’t hear anything we said after Achchim left. Did you?”

“Well, no…but trust me, I heard more than enough to know the score.”

“You heard what Spence, Hammond, and I wanted
Achchim
to hear. Nothing more.”

Callie had no idea what the redhead was talking about, but she decided to play along. “So what didn’t I hear? How the three of you could split the bounty if you cut Achchim out of the process? Divide it three ways instead of four?”

“If you hadn’t run away, you wouldn’t be asking me something stupid like that.”

That statement made no sense. “Why? Because the three of you would’ve already cashed in if I hadn’t escaped? I heard what Hammond and Spencer said to you, that they were thinking about giving me over for the unis. I’m not letting that happen.”

“You really think they’d give you up?”

Callie didn’t want to believe it, not in her heart. But she wasn’t willing to tell Izzie just how much she loved Hammond and Spencer. Instead, she shrugged, fighting back the tears stinging her eyes at the thought of her guys never loving her half as much as she loved them.

Izzie’s laughter rang through the room. “Man, oh man, chickie. Are you in for a helluva surprise!” She took the communicator off her belt and punched some buttons.

“We were just about to call you.” Spencer’s voice flowed through the tiny speaker. “Did you hear something, Izzie?”

“You could say that,” Izzie replied, giving Callie a crooked smile.

“Is Achchim back with you?” he asked.

The redhead glanced down at the stunned Dracorian, her grin growing. “Um…you could say that, too.”

“Quit fencing with me. I don’t have a sense of humor today.”

“Today?” Izzie snorted a laugh. “You’ve
never
had a sense of humor.”

“Izzie…” he said with a growl. “We thought we’d found Callie. We finally located her sister’s place, but Achchim must’ve followed her when she left the
Ecstasy
. He got to her first. We need to come to your ship, ’cause he’ll be heading there with her to give her to Carlos Pontierri.”

“He won’t give her to Carlos now,” Izzie insisted.

“Damn it, Izzie.” This time Hammond’s voice buzzed through the air as if he’d grabbed Spencer’s communicator. “What in the fuck are you talking about? We’re worried sick! If Achchim hurts one hair on her head—”

Izzie was clearly enjoying this, but Callie’s stomach was churning with anticipation as she took in the concern in both men’s voices. “You know,” Izzie said, “for a couple of guys who were only with her a few days, sounds like your feelings run awfully deep. Why do you care what happens to her anyway?”

“Izzie! So help me God, if you know anything about where Callie is and don’t tell us, I’ll—”

His tirade was cut short when she said, “I’ll make you a deal, Hammond.”

“Fine. What?”

Her green eyes twinkled with devilment. “You be honest with me about how you and Spence feel about Callie, and I’ll tell you what I know about her. Deal?”

A few seconds ticked by, making Callie fear Izzie had been wrong when she said the guys had deep feelings. Then Hammond bellowed, “Fine! We love her! We both
love
her! Happy now? God, we’re wasting precious time! Where in the fuck is she?”

“I’m right here,” Callie replied, her voice a whisper as his words still made her head spin. They loved her! She could hear it in the fear in their voices every bit as much as in Hammond’s words. It wasn’t a romantic declaration of feelings, but she believed his angry words more than any offered with flattery or poetry.

They really loved her.

“Callie?” Hammond’s voice had turned hoarse. He cleared his throat a few times, making her believe he’d become emotional about her safety. Her heart soared out of the atmosphere to reach the stars. “Jesus Christ!” he shouted. “You’re really there? But…but where’s Achchim?”

With an I-told-you-so smile, Izzie handed Callie the communicator. “I’m tying Achchim up. You make arrangements for when and where we meet your guys.”

Your guys
. Damn, but Callie loved the sound of that.

* * * *

Spencer couldn’t get out of the
Ecstasy
fast enough. Seemed like the ramp was taking forever to lower, so he finally ducked, shoved his way through the half-opened hatch, and jumped to the ground. Hammond was hot on his heels.

Callie waited on the tarmac just outside the Dracorian ship. She was wearing a loose T-shirt and a pair of khaki shorts. They might as well have been made of spun gold because she looked beautiful in them. As they ran to her, she held her arms wide, her face lit by a smile that made his heart skip a beat before it started slamming in his chest. He had to keep reminding himself she was safe, that she wasn’t lost to them. By the time he gathered her into his arms, he was laughing aloud.

Spencer lifted her off her feet, swinging her in a circle that almost made her kick Hammond as her legs flew out behind her. As he set her back down, the men cocooned her between their taller bodies, squeezing her tight as their eyes locked over her head. The happiness he saw in Hammond’s eyes was vivid enough for Spencer to feel as if his partner had reached out to caress him.

“God, Callie,” Spencer said, holding her against him and vowing to never let go, “I was so scared we’d lost you.” He placed his palms against her cheeks and brushed his lips over hers. “Did you miss us?”

Tears filled her eyes, and she swallowed hard as she nodded.

Hammond brushed her long braid over her shoulder to let rest on her breasts, and then he pressed his lips against the back of her neck before murmuring, “We missed you, wildcat. You okay?”

She nodded again before she reached up to frame Spencer’s face in her slender hands. Her soft lips covered his again before she pulled away. Then she looked over her shoulder at Hammond and smiled. He leaned in to kiss her, and she practically purred in response.

Callie finally turned back to Spencer. “Can we go to the
Ecstasy
now? I…I need you two. Please.”

Her honesty pleased him so much, he didn’t even bother to answer, simply lifted her into his arms and started marching toward their ship. Izzie must have just been coming down the ramp, because her chuckle echoed behind them. “How about I see you all for supper later tonight?” she called. “Maybe in two hours?”

“Whatever,” Hammond replied. Although Spencer had Callie cradled in his arms, Hammond couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her—stroking her arm, touching her braid, placing a palm on her shoulder.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Izzie shouted, her voice full of laughter, as Spencer hurried up the ramp into the
Ecstasy
with his precious cargo.

He didn’t even break stride to close the hatch since he heard Hammond entering the code. By the time he got to the bed, all he could think about was getting skin to skin with the woman he loved. While she’d yet to tell the men she loved them in return, that love was in her every caress, her every glance. The whole way to the ship, she’d brushed soft kisses over his face and neck while she threw inviting smiles over his shoulder at Hammond or put her hand over his where he’d reached out to touch her. No, she hadn’t given them the words.
Yet
. But she would. Spencer vowed that Callie wasn’t leaving that bed until she’d told him and Hammond what was in her heart.

She reached for the waistband of his pants as he tried to drag her shirt up her body. All they ended up doing was getting in each other’s way. With exchanged smiles, all three saw to undressing themselves. Hammond won the race, so while Spencer finished tugging off his pants, Hammond turned Callie to face him and pulled her into a hot kiss that made Spencer’s hard cock twitch. He quickly joined them by wrapping his arms around Callie’s waist and pulling her back against his chest. Her soft ass rubbed against his erection, making him groan. “Fuck, I want you, baby.”

Wiggling her bottom against him, she reached around to palm his ass and pull him closer. “I want you too.” She smiled up at Hammond. “Both of you.” When Hammond reached for her, she sidestepped them both. “But I promised you both a surprise. Right?”

Since the blood sure wasn’t anywhere near his brain, it took Spencer a moment to remember exactly what she was talking about. “Surprise? Oh, yeah. I remember. But, baby, I want you. Now.”