Page 15 of The Captive
The little voice spoke in a flat, unyielding tone.It was a conclusion he’d reached years ago, after spending too many nights lying in bed and wondering how on earth he’d gotten to this point.He supposed he could always quit.But then what?He’d spent too many years living dangerously, often on the wrong side of the law—no way could he quit now and live as a respectable citizen.
This attraction for Lana was going to get him in trouble, he knew that.Yet he couldn’t stop it.Couldn’t control the ripples of desire that shook his body each time he was in the same room as her, or the way his palms tingled, begging him to touch her.Or how every cell in his body screamed for him to whisk her away from all this.To keep her safe and protected and…happy.He wanted to make her happy.
God help him.
“How’s the girl?”Le Clair demanded when Deacon stepped into the living room.
Echo and Kilo were sprawled on the two couches, catching some shut-eye before they relieved the others, who were patrolling the perimeter.Le Clair ran a tight ship, and his men were nothing if not efficient.Trip wire had been laid around the cabin, which would go kaboom if anyone tried to get near it.Motion sensors were installed on every window, and the entire interior was rigged with explosives, too, designed to eliminate evidence in case they needed to get out in a hurry.They hadn’t bothered with cameras, since thearea was so deserted they’d easily see or hear anyone approaching.
Tango and Charlie were stationed up in the hills, sniper rifles at hand and eyes on the clearing below, while Yankee and Oscar walked the perimeter, armed to the teeth.The sleeping beauties, Echo and Kilo, would man the next shift, and Le Clair had taken up residence on the front porch, muttering into his cell phone for most of the evening.
Deacon, of course, was on babysitting duty, though he was secretly grateful for the task.For some reason, he didn’t want any of the other men around Lana.
“She’s getting ready to go to sleep,” Deacon informed the boss.“I’ll stand guard outside the door for the night.”
Le Clair looked pleased.“Good.”
“I’ll just use the john and then—”
“First we need to talk,” the boss cut in.
Le Clair gestured for Deacon to follow him out on the rickety old porch.They stepped outside, and the wood beneath Deacon’s feet creaked in protest from the weight of his black boots.
“You came highly recommended, Holt,” Le Clair began, sounding wary.“But that stunt you pulled at the airstrip… I won’t tolerate that insubordination, understand?”
Deacon gave a humble nod.“I know.I was completely out of line, and I promise you, boss, it won’t happen again.”
Those silver eyes fixed Deacon with a deadly look.“You have the hots for her, don’t you?”
Deacon’s head snapped up in surprise.“What?Of course not.”
Le Clair chuckled.“Don’t apologize for it.Even I’ve noticed she’s a sweet piece of ass.And if this were any other job, I might even be lenient about it, let you have some fun with the girl.”
Deacon swallowed down the bile suddenly coating histhroat.Fun?Was he actually hearing this?Though he couldn’t say it surprised him that Le Clair had given his men free rein with the targets in the past.He was simply that sadistic.
“But this one’s different.”Le Clair’s face went grave.“She’s high-profile, and we can’t bring her back to her daddy carrying some bastard child because you knocked her up while taking your jollies.You hear me?”
“I hear you,” Deacon muttered.
“So keep your hands off her, and don’t give me any more trouble, all right?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good.Now get back inside and man the door.”Le Clair suddenly let out a laugh and glanced at Deacon with surprising sympathy.“Not your ideal assignment, is it, Holt?”
“What do you mean?”Deacon asked, wary.
“I know you’d rather be out with the other men, walking the perimeter, instead of hand-holding a rich princess.I admit, I gave you the job to punish you for your earlier outburst, but it seems like our sweet Miss Kelley responds well to you.”
If you only knew…
“She hasn’t caused any trouble thus far, so I’m inclined to keep her under your watch.”Le Clair’s eyes narrowed.“You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”
“Not at all, sir,” Deacon said quickly.
“Good.”Le Clair pulled his cell phone from the back pocket of his black pants, and with that, the conversation was over.
With a nod, Deacon headed back inside, where he leaned against the door for a moment, collecting his composure.He knew Le Clair didn’t suspect a thing, but the man’s taunt about Deacon having the “hots” for Lana Kelley had hitthe mark.Hotwas precisely how he felt toward the woman.Just the sight of her made his groin tighten.
