Page 42 of Killer Secrets (Tempting SEALs 5)

"It can wait—"

"This cannot wait." Diego overrode Ian's objections. "I will meet you in my study in twenty minutes. This will give you time to escort your friend to your room or wherever you intend for her to spend her nights and to meet me in my study. I will be awaiting you there."

Diego turned on his heel and stalked through the foyer to the back hall, leaving Kira and Ian standing just inside, surrounded by the bodyguards.

This was a mess. How in the world did Ian survive the daily tension that she could sense between him and his father?

She looked around the opulent entrance, glimpsing the high-ceilinged main room to the right and the dining area that opened behind it.

"It's a very nice villa." It was one step down from an elaborate mansion. The Fuenteses definitely lived well.

"It's something," Ian muttered. "Come on, I'll show you to my room and then go see what the old man wants."

The shadow of bitterness in his voice wasn't lost on her, though she doubted anyone could have caught it unless they had studied the shades of his voice as she had each time she heard him speak. A mix of regret, sadness, and fury. It gave his voice a grating edge, deepened it. And broke her heart.

He led her across the foyer to the curved wooden staircase. With his hand firmly at her back, his fingers rubbing almost imperceptibly against the silk of her dress, he led her up the stairs.

Along the hall, double doors were opened by a housemaid with a shy smile before she retreated in the opposite direction. Behind them, the three remaining bodyguards trailed like ghosts.

He pushed open the doors into a wide sitting area complete with a wide-screen television, a wet bar, and a wide, comfortable couch. "The bedroom is in here." He led her across the room to another set of doors. Pushing them open, he stood back and allowed her to step into the room. She almost wished she had stayed in the sitting room.

The huge, larger-than-king-sized bed dominated the room. It was surrounded with shimmering panels of

netting, and the massive posts and thick mattress were intimidating. But the metal rings set in the corners and the middle of the headboard and footboard had her swallowing tightly. She knew what those rings were for. She had been in the fringe clubs and on the periphery of the BDSM clubs long enough to know how easily those rings would hold the slender chains attached to wrist and ankle cuffs.

Across from the bed was a heavy mirrored chest, a dresser off to another side of the room. There were metal rings set in one wall as well.

"Interesting." She tried for nonchalant as she murmured the word. "Did you decorate it yourself?"

A sharp laugh left his throat. "Not hardly. It came this way. Make yourself at home, I shouldn't be long. One of my men will bring your things when Daniel arrives with them."

"Daniel is staying close by, Ian." She turned as he moved to leave the room. "Make certain he's given a room."

"We'll discuss this when I return." His expression hardened. "And before you argue, hold the thought. We can fight it out after I get finished with Diego. Just try to stay out of trouble until then."

She gave him a brief, quick nod, even as her teeth clenched to hold back the very argument he was talking about. Daniel was nonnegotiable though. He and Jason both would likely have a stroke if he wasn't close enough to keep an eye on her. It had been bad enough when she worked the Atlanta mission and ended up shot. Damn, it had taken her months before she was allowed to go to the bathroom without one of them standing outside the door.

"I'll see you in a bit," he said, and before she could react, he cupped her neck in his hand, jerked her to him for a brief, hard kiss, then turned and left the suite.

Kira lifted her fingers to her lips, an involuntary smile touching them at the tingling feel of that forceful kiss. She wondered if he was aware of the expression on his face when he had delivered it. It wasn't just sexual. Something else had been brewing in his eyes, almost a promise.

She turned, stared at the bed again, and let her eyes drift closed in regret.

Betraying him was going to kill her. Because she knew that once she did, it was going to destroy that fragile hint of emotion she had just glimpsed. And when that happened, she didn't want to think of the well of emptiness she would feel.

In saving him, she just might end up destroying both of them. Because she couldn't allow him to kill his father. That was her mission. If Ian was running an operation here, then her job was to keep Diego Fuentes alive.

* * *

Twelve

IAN DIDN'T BOTHER KNOCKING ON Diego's study door. He was tired, pissed, and the adrenaline high had him on edge. He was more than aware of the mistake he had made at Coronado's where Kira was concerned. What he had done had placed her smack in the middle of the war getting ready to be waged between the cartel and Sorrell's terrorist network. As well as brought her to Diego's attention. There wasn't a doubt in Ian's mind just how ugly and how bloody it could become.

"Do not berate me!" Diego was waiting for him. He stood behind his desk, glowering as he stared back at Ian.

Ian paused, lifted his brow mockingly, and pulled back the caustic insults he had been ready to deliver. Daddy dearest was in a mood tonight, it seemed.

"I had no intention of berating you," he lied as he closed the doors behind him, barely glimpsing the surprise that came and went on Diego's face when he turned back to him. "I was curious as to what was so important that you had to call me in here like a child who had missed curfew." Ian forced a vein of teasing mockery into his voice.

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