Elite Metal-ARE-epub (70 page)

This was the cockroach who’d been tormenting Roni? Hell, Sterling could squash him without a thought.

“Okay, Ant, we’re in position.” Steele’s voice, as it crackled over his earpiece, snapped him out of his bug-squashing fantasy. There was an echo because Steele was right next to him with his camera whirring.

“Roger that,” Ant responded.

Sterling watched the office with an eagle eye, ignoring the tick in his left lid.

Morrow continued to talk on the phone but after a while, his secretary opened his door and said something to him. Morrow ended the call and stood. Sterling’s nerves leaped as Roni and Ant entered the room. He tapped his earpiece and it crackled. Panic flared. Was it not working?

He tapped it again and her voice came in loud and clear.

“You wanted to see me?”

Morrow propped his fists on his hips. “Where the hell have you been?”

Roni tipped her head. “What do you mean?”

“You disappeared from that Podunk bar…”

Her brows rippled. Sterling found himself fascinated with her face. But then, he always was. “How do you know that?”

“Did you think I wouldn’t have someone watching you?”

“You put a tail on me?” she spat.

He chuckled. “Of course I did. When you didn’t show up for work, he reported in. So what happened?”

Roni shrugged. “I met a guy.”

Ant draped an arm over her shoulder and pulled her close. Sterling tried not to snarl.

“Seriously?” Morrow studied Ant, who did his best to look like a douche nozzle. It wasn’t hard.

He waved at Roni’s boss. “Howdy, sir. It’s nice to meet Roni’s pappy.”

Morrow snorted at him.

“So why did you want to see me?” Roni asked. “In person? Surely a phone call would have done.”

Morrow flicked a look at Ant. “Can we talk in private?”

“Why? What do you have to say to me that Ant can’t hear?”

“It’s about Annabelle.”

Roni frowned. She glanced at Ant. “Do you mind if I chat with him in private, honey?” Damn, her acting skills were good. Too good. They pissed Sterling off. She was definitely getting a spanking tonight. Definitely.

“Go right ahead, darlin’.” Ant threw himself onto the leather couch and propped his dirty boots on the coffee table—Morrow flinched—and then Ant pulled out his cell phone, swiping through his messages. “Don’t be too long, though.” He grinned at Morrow. “I’ve never seen the ocean before. I have a beach towel and a bottle of sunscreen with our names all over ’em.”

It was clear Morrow was bemused. His lips flapped. “All right. Um… Let’s talk in the conference room.” He took Roni by the arm, which pissed Sterling off too, and led her back into the hall. As soon as the door closed, Ant shot into action. He whipped across the room and quickly set the bug into Morrow’s phone. Then he pulled a screwdriver from his impossibly tight jeans—yeah, Sterling didn’t even want to imagine how that was possible—and opened Morrow’s computer with practiced moves.

As Ant worked, Sterling focused on the conversation between Roni and Morrow in the conference room. It bugged him that he didn’t have line of sight, but at least he could hear.

His nerves sizzled and every bit of his attention was on point. It killed him to be so far away. Out of the action. But he knew, if she needed him, he’d be there for her at the drop of a hat.

Or die trying.

And fuck, yeah. He would.

Die trying.

If she needed him.

The thought should have scared him, but it didn’t.

It didn’t.

Chapter Ten

“So,” Roni gusted as Marcus closed the door behind him with a click. She tried not to feel like he was locking her in. But with him, it somehow always felt that way. “What was so important that you had to talk to me alone?”

He frowned. “Two things. First of all, you never gave me a report of your investigation about those bikers.”

Her gut rippled. She shrugged. “There was nothing to report. Deep Ellum was a dead end.”

“What do you mean?” His tone sharpened.

“I mean dead. There was a report filed with the Dallas PD that two bikers with the descriptions you gave me were sideswiped on the freeway and splattered.”

“Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure. I thought it was kind of odd. One biker sideswiped. Sure. But two? And guys with such distinctive tats?” She gored him with her best
reporter glare
. “Where did you get that lead?”

He shifted uncomfortably. “Never mind.”

“Just seems weird, is all.”

“It’s not weird.”

“Seems weird.”

He frowned at her. “Forget about that story.”

She forced a blasé expression. “Okay, fine. Is that all you wanted to talk about?”

“No.”

Crap.
“Then what?”

“I had a visit.”

Roni’s muscles clenched. She didn’t like the change in his tone. It was harsher, vicious. Predatory.

“A visit?” She tried to keep her tone light, though her nerves were humming. How was Ant doing? She wished someone would tell her, but the bud in her ear was silent.

“From a lawyer.” Marcus spat the word.

It was tough to keep the smile from her face. Clearly, the lawyer had ticked him off. “Do tell.”

He rounded on her. “Who the fuck do you think you are, to demand custody of Annabelle?”

Roni gaped at him. “Um, her only blood relative?”

“I
told
you I would give you custody.”

“It’s been six years.”

Marcus’ fierce expression devolved to a pout. “There was no need to hire a piranha.”

“Is he? A piranha?”

“You know damn well what he is.” Marcus blew out a harsh breath. “The man threatened to break my kneecaps.”

Roni quit trying to hold back her smile and glanced meaningfully at his kneecaps. “I want my sister back.”

He crossed his arms. “You owe me stories.”

“I owe you nothing. And if you think I’m just going to sit back and let you raise my sister, or keep her from me, you’re crazy. I will do whatever it takes to get her back. Do you understand? Whatever it takes.” She glanced meaningfully at his knees again.

“What about our deal? That you would work for me?”

“You don’t need me.”

“Your family name opens doors and you know it.”

“All right. Fine. If you play nice and give me what I want, I’d be more than happy to keep slipping you juicy leads.”

He studied her, his gaze far too sharp. “I thought you wanted out.”

“I want my sister out. I like my job.” God. It galled her, the lie. But it was necessary. He needed to believe she still wanted to work for his sorry ass, if she would be of any use to Sterling and his team.

Marcus was silent for a long while. Then he tapped his lip and said, in a cloying tone, “We might be able to work something out. Call off your dog.”

“No chance.” No fucking way. “I’ve had it with your promises. I want Annabelle and I want her now.” And, frankly, she’d had enough of him.

Apparently, he’d had enough of her as well. He swung for the door and she followed. She could only hope she’d bought Ant enough time to bug Marcus’ cell phone and drop the clone into his laptop.

God help them if she hadn’t…

The change in the tenor of their conversation indicated Roni and Morrow were heading back to the office. Sterling’s nape prickled as he stared at Ant still struggling with the computer.

“Finish it, buddy,” he muttered. “They’re coming back.”

“Hold your horses, I’m nearly there…nearly there…”

Just as the door to the office opened, he snapped the laptop closed and lunged back onto the sofa, snagging his cell phone.

When Morrow and Roni entered the room, he was just where he had been, flicking through his emails. He glanced up and gave a goofy grin. “All done?” he chirped.

“All done,” she said.

“Excellent. There are some epic waves over in Malibu. Is that how you say it, sugar pie?” He shot a look at Morrow. “Dude. Ya surf?”

Morrow, middle aged, dumpy and wheezing from the walk to the conference room across the hall, shook his head.

“Aw, bummer. I hear it’s awesome.” Ant stood and draped his arm around Roni’s shoulders. “Ready, babe?”

Sterling closed his eyes as smooching sounds rattled his nerves.

“All ready.” Roni fixed her attention on Morrow. “I’ll expect to see those papers signed,” she said.

“I’ll expect those juicy stories to come rolling in.”

She frowned. “I’m working on it. I have some good stuff coming down the pipe.”

Morrow lifted a brow. “Do tell.”

“Not yet. I need to firm up some…details first.”

“Don’t take too long.” The fucker smirked. “Your sister isn’t getting any younger.”

Sterling’s gut began to unclench as Roni and Ant headed for the door and Morrow turned back to his desk. But the guy stopped. Frowned.

Fuck.
Everything clenched back up.

“Get out of there,” he hissed into the mic.

“Oh, and one more thing, Roni…” Morrow said.

Roni stilled. Glanced over her shoulder. Sterling’s heart pounded in his temple. “Yeah?”

“Don’t ever go dark on me again.”

Shit.
Sterling blew out a breath.

Roni shrugged. “I do what I need to do, Marcus. Don’t ever forget that.”

His bushy brow wrinkled. “Where are you heading now?”

She glanced at Ant. Stroked his cheek. Then she sent a cocky smirk at Morrow. “Like, Malibu?” And then, without another word, without even responding to Morrow’s bellow, she swept from the room, with Ant in her wake.

Sterling and Steele remained where they were, though Sterling wanted to rush downstairs and across the street and grab her and hold her. But they needed to make sure Morrow wasn’t planning to follow. He didn’t. He sat at his desk and scrubbed his face, then picked up his phone once more.

They listened to the conversation—over the freshly placed bug—until they realized Morrow was talking to his mistress. Then they packed up their gear and made their way from the office and back to the van.

Roni was there. A little shaky and wide-eyed and perhaps a little too full of herself. The second the door slid shut, Sterling yanked her into his arms and kissed her. Hard. Hot. Filled with relief and release.

They’d made it. Done it. She was safe.

And he ignored Ant when he said in a pouty voice, “Dude. You’re like, totally kissing my girlfriend.”

Roni sighed as she curled up next to Sterling. Damn, he’d been wild. All the way to the airport, the whole flight back to the Deep Ellum air base, he’d stared at her with a simmering, possessive air. And then when they’d finally arrived home, he’d scuttled her back to his place and…
daham
.

It had been phenomenal.

But then, it always was with him.

Now that the passion had been exhausted, now that they’d both worked off the sizzling energy of the mission, she was boneless, replete. As was he.

They’d collapsed into each other’s arms and just lain there. Panting.

“Are you okay?” he asked after a while, his voice a low thrum.

She peeped up at him. “My ass hurts.”

For some reason this made him smile. “I thought you were too friendly to Ant.”

“Hey.” She smacked him. “It was my mission to be friendly.” And was it wrong that the whole operation had been a thrill to her? She grinned. “I really enjoyed that. I can’t wait to do another mission.”

He bristled. “No. No more missions for you.”

She tried not to pout.

“You can leak stories to him, but only through email. I don’t want you ever
seeing
that guy again.”

“I have to see him…if I want to see Annabelle.” The jerk always insisted on supervised visits. Probably because he knew, given half a chance, Roni would take Annabelle and run.

“Then we’ll just have to get Annabelle back ASAP.”

God, she liked that. The
we
part.

“Do you think it will take long?”

“Not with the lawyer Warbucks sent. You heard what Morrow said. He threatened to break his kneecaps.”

She went up on her elbow and gazed down at him. “Would he? Really?”

Sterling snorted. “If he’s lucky. If I know Warbucks, that would be foreplay.”

“Yikes.”

Silence settled between them and Roni toyed with his chest hair. She really liked a man with chest hair. But hell, she’d like Sterling if he were shaved bald. One thing bothered her though…

“Sterling?”

“Mmm hmm?”

“Who’s…Dancer?”

She hated that he stiffened the way he did. Hated the pain that flashed through his eyes. “Where did you hear that name?”

She shrugged. “I’m a reporter. I eavesdrop.”

He laced his fingers in her hair and held her still, frowning at her. “Baby. You can’t eavesdrop here. You might hear something that would put you at risk.”

“I thought I was part of the team. That’s what Steele said.” She tried not to sound petulant. But seriously.

“You are. You are. But…it could still be dangerous.”

She tipped her head to the side and studied him. “Are you trying to change the subject?”

He flushed. “Kinda.”

She huffed out a breath. “If you don’t want to tell me who Dancer is, that’s fine. Don’t.” But damn, it hurt. She didn’t know why.

She turned away but he pulled her back. Pulled her back into his arms and tucked her head beneath his chin. “No, baby. It’s just painful, is all.” He sighed. “She was my…”

She?
Hell. “Your what?”

“My girlfriend, I suppose.”

“You suppose?”

He chuckled at her tone. “We met in basic. Went into Special Forces together, though she was on another team. We hooked up when we could. We…played together. But there was never anything serious between us.”

“What happened to her?” She knew from his tone, just knew, something had. Something bad.

His arms closed around her. “We were on a mission. A joint-forces op. It…went squirrely. Lots of people… Well, they didn’t make it. Dancer died right before my eyes. Caught in an explosion.” He shuddered. “I always felt guilty.”

“Was it your fault?”