Page 14 of Dirty Gambit

“Don’t do anything stupid,” she warned, taking several steps back. “Come on.”

He squinted at her, fingers rubbing at the raw skin of his wrists. “Where are we going?”

“Do you want to use the bathroom or not?” She jerked with the barrel of the gun towards the open doorway. “Let’s go.”

He rose quietly and edged around the bed. His pale eyes never left her, not even when he stepped into the miniature-sized space and started to close the door.

“No!” She slapped her free palm against the cool surface, stopping it. “Keep it open.”

Jaxon scoffed as if she were foul, but didn’t fight her; his need to go no doubt stronger than his need to fight her.

Lena stepped back as he unfastened his pants and fished himself out. Lena lowered her gaze to his feet, all the privacy she would allow him while he did his business. She didn’t stop him when he washed his hands and used the running water to rinse out his mouth.

When there was nothing left for him to do but face her once more, it was with the reluctance of someone facing a mass murderer. She tried not to take offense to that as she led him back to the bed and hooked him to the headboard once more. His green eyes never left hers, thin with his impatience. But whatever was churning around in that head of his, he thankfully, kept it to himself.

Leaving him glowering at her back, Lena went to where Jessie slept, a tiny angel oblivious to the horrors of the world. Her hands crossed the distance, fingers extended. The tips brushed the downy blanket tucked securely across Jessie’s tiny chest, and stopped.

She pulled back and faced the man still watching her as if attempting to read her soul. She wondered if she should tell him she didn’t have one while she dragged the chair away from the window and set it next to his bed.

“We should clarify a few things.” She lowered herself onto the stiff bit of wood and steeled herself for whatever he would hurl at her once she was finished. “I’m not going to hurt you, or Jessie,” she paused, waiting for the snark. Maybe even an eye roll. When neither came, she continued, “In three days, we will arrive at our destination. From there, we will go our separate ways. You will get a plane ticket and will be home within the hour. By the end of the week, this will just be a bad story you can tell your friends during your next vacation to Aspen.”

“That simple, huh?” He shifted higher on the mattress. “Just roll over, play dead, and let you tear my family apart, but not to worry, because this will be a great story one day.”

“I don’t expect your cooperation—”

He barked a laugh. “Oh, well, now that we’ve clarified that, I can sleep easy.”

Lena ignored the sarcasm and pushed on. “But it would be in your best interest.”

“Why is that, because it makes your job easier?”

“No.” She pushed to her feet, never taking her eyes off him. “Because it’ll be easier for you. I’m not a monster.”

The brittle grin remained, but the fire in his eyes turned frigid. Ice glinted across the emerald surface, transforming his entire feature.

“You brought a criminal into my home who put a gun to mybabysister’s face. You scared the shit out of my parents. You upset my mother. Forgive me if I’m having a hard time believing your saintly intentions.”

“Fine.” Lena pushed to her feet. The abruptness momentarily sent the room spinning wildly. The violent tilt had her reaching for the back of the chair. Tears blistered behind the eyes that twisted closed while she willed the room to settle. “I won’t try again.” She forced her eyes opened and glowered at him. “Be difficult. See for yourself what that will get you.”

Jaw clenched tight, Lena dragged the chair back to its proper place and made her way to where Jessie lay.

“Ay, mi nina.”She softened the hardness in her voice and scooped up the baby. The tiny bundle barely weighed anything as Lena tucked Jessie to her chest and nuzzled her warm cheek.“Hora de despertar, hermosa.”

Being told it was time to wake up bunched Jessie’s little face up into one of annoyance. Her bottom lip puckered even as it opened into a yawn. Her body went rigid and trembled with her stretching.

Lena smiled and pressed her closer just a second longer before setting her down gently. She murmured to her quietly while working quickly to change and dress her in a fresh diaper and the dress.

Jessie watched her from beneath a furrowed brow, her big eyes curious. The familiarity of it wrenched Lena’s heart.

“Yo soy tu tia,”she introduced herself, scooping the baby up. “Lena.”

The baby said nothing but continued to eye Lena skeptically.

Ignoring the stab of hurt, Lena reminded herself that this was the first time the girl had ever met her. It was natural to be confused.

Forcing another smile, she padded to the baby bag she’d meticulously packed and dug out a box of dry baby cereal and a bottle of milk. She chatted on while she prepared the breakfast, random little bits of nonsense the girl did not understand, in a language, she would never have been taught otherwise.

That knowledge broke Lena’s heart. Her own parents may not have amounted to much, but they had been ruthless when it came to traditions and their heritage.

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