Free Hot Rebel by Lynn Raye Harris Page B
Authors: Lynn Raye Harris
the one standing beside somebody when he went down.
Then she thought of the moment those men had poured from the van and she’d thought she’d gone from one hell to the next. But it was Nick. She’d been so relieved because she knew that whatever else was going on, he wasn’t there to kill her.
And now she was supposed to bring Nick into Ian’s private security firm and let him spy for his colonel. And the United States Army. Ian, who’d given her a job and given her the promise of finding Emily. Ian, who’d seemed thoroughly unaware of bin Yusuf’s attempt on her life and angry that she’d think he had anything to do with it.
But, dammit, Ian wasn’t her brother. He wasn’t her lover. He was a man with an agenda of his own, and for all she knew he was a pretty terrific liar. He could be on the phone with Zaran bin Yusuf right now, arranging for her death.
Not that this Colonel Mendez was any better. Just because he had the backing of the Army didn’t mean he wasn’t dirty. He’d targeted Ian, and she’d agreed to help because he’d promised to get Emily for her and transport her back to the States.
Emily might not have a clean record once it was done, but she’d at least be safe and out of an evil man’s control. Victoria would spend every moment she had making sure that Emily got the life she deserved.
Victoria balled her fist and thumped it on her thigh. If only Emily was still alive. That was the thing that worried her in the middle of the night. She’d gone over and over that last conversation, Emily’s statement that she missed their mom, and she wondered. Why had Emily said it? What did it mean? Was she ready to leave this place? Was she afraid of Zaran?
Why hadn’t she called in six months? She hadn’t been allowed to call, obviously. But what if it was something worse? What if she was unable to call?
Victoria closed her eyes and sucked in a breath. And then she reached for her phone on the nightstand. She’d tried calling Emily before, but there was nothing except endless ringing. Even the voice mail didn’t work anymore. She got the same result this time.
She ended the call and scrolled through her contacts until she found Nick’s name. He’d said he’d be nearby if she needed him. She’d wondered what that meant, but she’d decided it was best if she didn’t know. Now she clicked on his name and called up text messaging. She hesitated for a moment before typing.
You there?
She pressed Send before she could change her mind. It took only seconds before she had an answer.
Yes. You okay?
Fine. Just checking.
Thinking about me, weren’t you?
She could feel his smirk through the phone. Her cheeks heated. Two could play this game.
Oh yeah. Touching myself too.
Jesus, don’t say that.
Why not?
There was no reply for the longest time. Her heart sank a little as her phone remained silent. And then it buzzed.
Because I want to touch you, V. Everywhere. Until you scream my name.
Her breath shortened. And her pussy tingled with heat. She knew how to take care of herself—hell, it was how she got off when she needed to—but she found herself wishing he could touch her.
We barely know each other, PB.
We know each other enough.
Her skin was so hot. The fan didn’t help, and she wanted to go kick the AC unit. But it wouldn’t do a damn bit of good.
Best we don’t go there. Work and play don’t mix.
Maybe not, but we won’t always be working.
She sucked in a breath. Her nipples tightened against her tank top, the fabric almost torture against her sensitive flesh. She pushed that thought away and typed.
What were you doing when I texted?
Sleeping.
Sorry I woke you.
I told you to let me know if you needed me.
She stared at the screen, her heart thumping, wondering what to say in reply. She’d needed someone just now, someone to answer her in the middle of the night when she was lonely and scared for her sister. But she couldn’t say any of that to
Then she thought of the moment those men had poured from the van and she’d thought she’d gone from one hell to the next. But it was Nick. She’d been so relieved because she knew that whatever else was going on, he wasn’t there to kill her.
And now she was supposed to bring Nick into Ian’s private security firm and let him spy for his colonel. And the United States Army. Ian, who’d given her a job and given her the promise of finding Emily. Ian, who’d seemed thoroughly unaware of bin Yusuf’s attempt on her life and angry that she’d think he had anything to do with it.
But, dammit, Ian wasn’t her brother. He wasn’t her lover. He was a man with an agenda of his own, and for all she knew he was a pretty terrific liar. He could be on the phone with Zaran bin Yusuf right now, arranging for her death.
Not that this Colonel Mendez was any better. Just because he had the backing of the Army didn’t mean he wasn’t dirty. He’d targeted Ian, and she’d agreed to help because he’d promised to get Emily for her and transport her back to the States.
Emily might not have a clean record once it was done, but she’d at least be safe and out of an evil man’s control. Victoria would spend every moment she had making sure that Emily got the life she deserved.
Victoria balled her fist and thumped it on her thigh. If only Emily was still alive. That was the thing that worried her in the middle of the night. She’d gone over and over that last conversation, Emily’s statement that she missed their mom, and she wondered. Why had Emily said it? What did it mean? Was she ready to leave this place? Was she afraid of Zaran?
Why hadn’t she called in six months? She hadn’t been allowed to call, obviously. But what if it was something worse? What if she was unable to call?
Victoria closed her eyes and sucked in a breath. And then she reached for her phone on the nightstand. She’d tried calling Emily before, but there was nothing except endless ringing. Even the voice mail didn’t work anymore. She got the same result this time.
She ended the call and scrolled through her contacts until she found Nick’s name. He’d said he’d be nearby if she needed him. She’d wondered what that meant, but she’d decided it was best if she didn’t know. Now she clicked on his name and called up text messaging. She hesitated for a moment before typing.
You there?
She pressed Send before she could change her mind. It took only seconds before she had an answer.
Yes. You okay?
Fine. Just checking.
Thinking about me, weren’t you?
She could feel his smirk through the phone. Her cheeks heated. Two could play this game.
Oh yeah. Touching myself too.
Jesus, don’t say that.
Why not?
There was no reply for the longest time. Her heart sank a little as her phone remained silent. And then it buzzed.
Because I want to touch you, V. Everywhere. Until you scream my name.
Her breath shortened. And her pussy tingled with heat. She knew how to take care of herself—hell, it was how she got off when she needed to—but she found herself wishing he could touch her.
We barely know each other, PB.
We know each other enough.
Her skin was so hot. The fan didn’t help, and she wanted to go kick the AC unit. But it wouldn’t do a damn bit of good.
Best we don’t go there. Work and play don’t mix.
Maybe not, but we won’t always be working.
She sucked in a breath. Her nipples tightened against her tank top, the fabric almost torture against her sensitive flesh. She pushed that thought away and typed.
What were you doing when I texted?
Sleeping.
Sorry I woke you.
I told you to let me know if you needed me.
She stared at the screen, her heart thumping, wondering what to say in reply. She’d needed someone just now, someone to answer her in the middle of the night when she was lonely and scared for her sister. But she couldn’t say any of that to