The Charmer’s Gambit Read online

  “No,” I whispered.

  This time I anticipated his foot and moved away from him to put my back to the wall and curl my knees into my chest.

  I narrowed my eyes at him when he stood. “Go ahead, Ryan. Do your worst.”

  He had likely already given me a concussion if the throbbing at the back of my head was anything to go by, and my throat would have a hand print around it in the morning, just like the last time he choked me, but my heart would be free. My mind, too. And that’s what mattered.

  His gaze ran over me as he set his cigar aside and stood. I expected to see anger darken his features, but instead, they brightened with lust. My throat convulsed at the sight of it. Furious Ryan I could handle, but not this. It froze me in place, so much so that I couldn’t even breathe. He must have sensed my overwhelming fear, because he smiled.

  “Oh, Rachel. I’ve always enjoyed whores with attitudes.” He grabbed a fistful of my hair again and forced me to my knees. “It’s so fun to fuck their mouths into submission.” His free hand was on his zipper when the door flew open.

  One minute my skull was on fire from his grip, and the next, Ryan was on the floor beside me, cradling his jaw. A livid Will Mershano loomed over us, his gaze on my neck. His jaw clenched at the sight, but he said nothing as he held a hand out to help me up from the floor. I managed to stand with a wince, and he immediately pulled me to his side with an arm around my shoulders.

  “If you ever touch her again, I will end you.” No hesitation, no anger, just an unerring threat delivered in the calmest tone I’d ever heard from Will.

  Ryan spat out a mouthful of blood and stood to take his opponent’s measure. They stood at an equal height, both broad-shouldered and athletic, but the man beside me had more muscle on him. My ex’s lithe form was crafted from an expensive personal trainer, while Will earned his doing manual labor.

  I half expected Ryan to try something stupid, like punch Will, but he was too suave for that. Instead, he smiled that damn charming smile and shrugged. “What happened to your security detail, Mershano? They seem to have dropped the ball.” He fixed his tie and smoothed it with a hand. “You might want to check on that.”

  Will grinned. “Your connections don’t scare me, Albertson. But thanks for the not-so-subtle warning.” I had no idea what he was talking about but sensed something bad had happened to Beau and Sam. Ryan wouldn’t kill anyone, would he?

  “Well, you can’t say I didn’t try.” My ex put his hands in his pockets, the picture of nonchalance. “Last chance, Mershano.”

  “As previously stated, you don’t scare me. Now get the fuck out of my family’s hotel.”

  Ryan nodded once in acquiescence, then caught my gaze for a long moment and held it. “See you soon, baby girl.”

  28

  All the Feels

  Will rolled a block of ice in a towel and handed it to me. “You’re sure you don’t want to get checked out?” he asked, eyeing my throat.

  I shook my head. “No, the ice and painkillers are fine.” The hospital would be more uncomfortable than this couch, not to mention more invasive. What I needed right now was to breathe and to relax.

  I’m safe.

  For now.

  I pressed the cool pack to the back of my head with a grimace. It hurt a lot more now that the adrenaline was no longer flooding my veins.

  “But are you okay?” Will’s soft tone did not match the faint flush of his cheeks or the fury blackening his gaze. “Sorry, that’s a stupid question. Of course you’re not.” He ran his fingers through his hair and paced the living area. “Fuck, if I’d answered my phone sooner . . . But I kept ignoring it . . .” He shook his head and went to his knees before me. When his head fell to my lap, my heart broke a little. He evidently blamed himself. “I’m so sorry, Rachel.”

  “Don’t,” I whispered. “Don’t apologize for him.” It was reminiscent of what he had said to me after I’d told him about Ryan . . . Don’t apologize on his behalf ever again. Will’s nod said he understood, but his eyes still grieved.

  If he hadn’t shown up when he did, who knew what would have happened. My body had frozen when Ryan started to unzip his pants, and all the fight inside of me fled. He’d reduced me to my most vulnerable state with a simple act. I’d managed to stand up to him in person for the first time in years, but one flip of a switch sent me back to my knees. Literally.

  “I hate him,” I seethed. “I fucking hate him.”

  Will’s arms came around my middle as he hugged me awkwardly from the floor. We stayed like that, holding each other, without speaking, for countless minutes until a buzzing interrupted the moment. He pulled the phone from his pocket, took one look at the number, and handed it to me. “This will be for you.”

  “Just put it on speaker.” I didn’t have the energy to move, and everything hurt.

  “She’s okay,” Will said by way of answering.

  “That remains to be seen.” My brother’s voice knocked my brain into motion. I’d completely forgotten that he called before Ryan arrived.

  “Caleb?”

  “Hi, little sis.” The affection in his tone floored me. He never cooed at me, not like this. “Kincaid will be there in about three hours, so just hang tight, okay? I would come myself, but he was closer.”

  I gaped at the phone as my mouth filled with questions. “What are you talking about? And how did you get Will’s number? No, scratch that, how did you know about Ryan? And what number are you using? Where—”

  “Whoa, whoa, don’t go all lawyer on my ass, Rach. Look, all you need to know is Kincaid is on his way to you. He’ll explain as much as he can. Until then, stay put and I’ll handle things from here. Oh, and don’t worry about Albertson either. I should have handled him years ago, but I didn’t want to intervene. Now he’s left me no choice.”

  “I’m going to need more answers than that, Caleb.” I told him flatly, my fire slowly returning. “How do you even know about Ryan? You weren’t there the one year I brought him home for the holidays, and Lord knows we hardly talk.”

  The sigh that came over the line was trademark Caleb. Always brooding, always tired. I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d seen my brother smile.

  “We may not see each other or talk very often, but I’m always there, Rach. And I’ll always be there.”

  The line went dead.

  Will pocketed the phone and arched a blond brow. “What did you say your brother does for a living?”

  “He has some desk job with the government.” Whenever someone brought it up, he would shrug, spout something about it being boring, and change the subject.

  “Right,” Will replied with a snort. “He’s the reason I found you. Not only did he figure out my private phone number and call me to say Albertson was in the hotel, but he knew what room the bastard had dragged you to. That requires a level of security access that goes well beyond the typical ‘desk job.’ ”

  “Caleb called you too?” Obviously, he did. Will just said that, and he recognized the number when my brother called him back again. Stupid question. “I wonder how he knew.”

  “I’m guessing he hacked into the hotel’s security cameras, which, again, implies skills beyond that of a clerk. Not to mention, I don’t think it’s necessarily legal either.”

  “You think he works with Mark, then?” I’d never thought about it before, but it would make sense. As far as I knew, they were still best friends despite working in different cities and rarely seeing each other. Was it all a cover?

  “Absolutely, and no way they’re FBI either. From my understanding, federal agents operate inside the United States, not outside of it.”

  His assessment matched mine, but I didn’t have the energy left to ponder it. I exhaled heavily and winced. My shoulder felt stiff from holding my hand up, which was sad considering it’d only been about ten minutes.

  “Here, let me.” Will slipped onto the couch beside me and took control of the ice pack. My arm fell limp to my si
de, thankful for the break. Everything ached. My feet, my throat, my stomach, my ego . . .

  I relaxed into the strong man beside me and fought the urge to cry. This emotional roller-coaster ride we were on needed to end, and there was only one way to do it. But it would require all the strength I had left, and then some.

  “He’ll never stop,” I whispered. “He’ll consider this a setback and come after me again later when we least expect it.”

  “And I’ll kick his ass.” So certain, but it wouldn’t solve anything. Knowing Ryan, he would frame it in a way to make Will look bad or ruin his reputation somehow. My ex held an advanced degree in manipulation and never hesitated to use it when he wanted something.

  I shook my head but stopped when the room started to spin. “No, we have to beat him at his own game. It’s the only way.” A restraining order would just make him laugh, as would increased security or bodyguards. Which reminded me . . . “What happened to Sam and Beau?”

  “According to your brother, Ryan fucked with their water upstairs and knocked them out cold. I don’t know if he did it himself or hired someone, but either way, it shows he had access to their rooms and the bottles in their fridge.”

  Because that wasn’t terrifying. “I warned you. He knows people, Will. It’s always been this way with him.” I shivered and folded myself into his warmth. “He was talking about his friends with the TTB.” I knew Will would recognize the abbreviation, as his company would have filed several documents with them over the years.

  Will chuckled. “He wants to come after Mershano Vineyards, does he? I’d love to see him try. He seems to be under the impression that I don’t have access to similar resources, which is a fault on his part. And you call me arrogant.”

  “This isn’t a joke, Will. He could hurt you.”

  He set the ice off to the side and pulled me into his lap. “Darlin’, you let me worry about me, okay? I grew up with men like Albertson. He’s nothing new, and he sure as fuck doesn’t scare me. What does scare me is how close he came to hurting you. It was purely a power play on his part to grab you and hurt you within arm’s reach of me. He knew I would find you, but probably hoped it would be a bit later. He wanted to deliver a message, and he succeeded. Except I’m not backing off. If it’s a fight he wants, he better fucking bring it.”

  Promise and certainty underlined each word, and I could see the determination in his eyes. Ryan’s warning had backfired. He expected Will to tuck tail and run, but the strong man holding me had no intention of taking the bait.

  “You’re amazing,” I said, awed. Most men would walk away from my baggage with a muttered “Good luck,” but not Will. He sat beside me, radiating strength and fury on my behalf, and knew all the words to put me at ease. I should have been a quivering mess of tears right now, but instead, I felt safe. My body ached all over, and I’d definitely be covered in bruises tomorrow, but inside, I knew nothing could harm me. Relying on another person went against the grain, and yet, that’s what relationships were all about.

  Trust.

  Security.

  Understanding.

  Love.

  I smiled at that last thought and let out a little laugh. Because it rang true. I loved Will. This man, this impossible, stubborn, trying man, had bulldozed over all my barriers and plowed into my heart with the speed of a freight train. I never thought it possible to grant anyone such intimate access again, but nothing about this man met normal standards. When he wanted something, he took it all, and I was no exception.

  His brow crumpled as he studied me. My giggle must have confused him. Talk about the wrong time to realize how I felt. But to hell with it. He had to know, and if Ryan’s threat wasn’t going to make him run, neither were a few harmless words.

  “Will Mershano, I’ve just realized I love you.” There. Done. No taking it back, no running away, no hiding. He wanted me to fight, and this was it. I, too, could go after what I desired, and I craved him. Always, and forever.

  His forehead smoothed as his lips curled into a breathtaking smile. “Oh, darlin’, if you’re just realizing that, then I have more work to do.”

  I slapped his chest playfully. “Always arrogant.”

  Those dimples deepened. “I’ve earned it.”

  “You have,” I conceded and curled back into his chest. Content. My eyes fell closed on a yawn. All the commotion from this evening had exhausted me, and I knew that with Mark coming, we were in for a long night.

  “Rachel?”

  “Hmm?” I murmured, groggy.

  “I love you too.”

  29

  Mark Kincaid

  Will called Janet from his phone since mine was destroyed in the hallway, and gave her an update. She seemed pleased with the results, then asked for our weekend plans. The way she said it confirmed Will’s comments about the conflict of interest form. I’d never noticed it before, but the curiosity was always there. Now I knew why.

  “So what are we going to do after this trip?” I asked as he pocketed his phone.

  He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear and cupped my cheek. “My answer is the same from the other day. We go home together as a couple.”

  “Right, but you live in North Carolina. And I don’t.” The idea of going back to Chicago didn’t appeal to me like it once did, mostly because of Ryan, but also because I liked Will’s country home. It was peaceful, and safe.

  A knock at the door cut off his response. “That must be Mark,” he said as he walked over to check the peephole. “Tall, dark hair, and bearded?”

  I snorted. “The beard would be new, but sounds right.”

  Will turned the handle, and Mark strolled in wearing jeans and a white shirt. And sure enough, Mark Kincaid had let his facial hair grow. It was well groomed, though, and kind of sexy on him. It lent to the whole badass appeal he had going for him already. He walked over and scooped me off the couch into a hug without saying a greeting or even acknowledging the man who opened the door. When he pressed a kiss to my temple, Will cleared his throat.

  “Relax, Mershano. She’s like a sister to me,” Mark replied. And it was true. I’d known the man for half my life. Dating him would be weird.

  “That thing on your face is tickling me,” I murmured, squirming.

  He let me go with a chuckle. “Glad to see your sense of humor is still in play.”

  “There’s nothing funny about it,” I said, gesturing to his square chin.

  His near-black eyes narrowed. “You sound just like Caleb.”

  I shrugged. “We both understand how to use a razor.”

  “Do you see what I put up with?” he asked, his gaze on Will. “I drop what I’m doing in Dubai and catch the next flight out, just to be harassed.” He shook his head and sobered. His stance changed as he crossed his arms over his broad chest, shifting his persona from big brother to bad man in charge. “I’ve already met with Hernandez’s men. They’re awake and packing, and they’re aware of their dismissal.”

  Both of Will’s eyebrows shot up. “Excuse me?”

  “They’ve been compromised. Why would you keep them on staff? Besides, I’m here and I actually know what the fuck I’m doing.” Mark settled into the armchair beside the couch and placed one jean-clad ankle over his opposite knee.

  I took that as a cue to sit as well and folded myself back into my seat, and Will slid into the open space beside me. His leg pressed against mine as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders and stared Mark down. My brother’s best friend didn’t flinch; he held the gaze with an assertiveness that rivaled the man beside me.

  All the hairs on my arms danced as testosterone thickened the air. Neither one of them would ever bow to the other, which made this battle of wills a waste of time.

  “So.” I cleared my throat. “Mark, this is Will. Will, this is Mark.”

  I’d forgotten to properly introduce them earlier, not that either of them seemed to care. They were too busy trying to win Alpha Male of the Room.

  S
ilence.

  I bounced my foot in irritation and winced. It was already bruising from my trip down the stairs. Will’s warm hand brushed my leg on his way to my ankle. “Do you want more ice?” he asked.

  “You might as well fill the bathtub at this rate,” I remarked, annoyed not at him but at the situation. “I’ll be fine. I just might need more painkillers soon.” He’d already given me more than the recommended dose for my headache.

  “Look at me.” Mark’s command caught me off guard. He squatted in front of me without touching me. I met his serious gaze and held it. “Food,” was all he said as he stood and wandered over to the balcony door.

  Will tilted my chin toward him and held my stare with an intense look. I swallowed, unnerved by having two very dominant men in one room. Then Mark started speaking in fluent French, ordering what sounded like dinner from a local restaurant, and broke the moment.

  “Since when do you speak French?” Although it was whispered, he heard me just fine and winked at me before continuing the conversation.

  “FBI, my ass.” I shook my head and rested against the strong man beside me. His natural heat blanketed me in the comfort I needed. I hadn’t realized my eyes were closed until Mark sighed. He was back in the chair by the couch with an ankle on his knee. His chin was propped on his fist, watching me.

  “You’ll feel better after you eat something,” he said.

  “I’ll feel better when you tell me how to handle Ryan, because I assume that’s why you’re here.” My voice was stronger than I expected. Every other part of me ached with exhaustion, but not my heart or my mind. “He’s not going to go away unless I do something drastic.”

  “Yes, and his coming here shows escalation,” Mark replied.

  “It was a message,” Will cut in. “He never wanted to take her; he just wanted to mark his territory so I would back off.”