Payback Read online

  Mark snorted in disbelief. “Right.”

  She raised her brows. “Looks can be deceiving, as I’m sure you know.” At first glance, Mark could be a model out of Town and Country. Only once you moved close enough to see the hard look in his eyes would you understand he was a tough, dangerous man.

  “I used to be a damn good investigative journalist,” she said. “Our team even won a Pulitzer.” Not that they’d been after the prize during their investigation. No, all they’d wanted was to expose the truth. But mentioning the award did have a way of garnering instant respect.

  “I know how to gather information without being discovered,” she continued. “Jamieson isn’t the first highly guarded target I’ve followed. I make sure that when his bodyguards do spot me, they see a completely harmless woman.”

  “Now that I can believe,” Mark muttered.

  “Yes, you’ve already expressed how threatening you find me.” She’d often used her appearance to put people off guard. Her curly blonde hair, short and curvy stature, and big blue eyes often lulled subjects into thinking she was a ditzy blonde. Only later, when her story ran, did they realize they’d given away more than they’d intended.

  However, in the eighteen months since she’d given up her career, she’d made an effort to be a strong role model for the female high school and college girls she taught. To her surprise, it annoyed her that Mark had bought into the ditzy female routine, even though that had been her goal. Her pride wanted him to recognize her intelligence. See her more as an equal than a person to be ignored.

  Squelching those thoughts, she said firmly, “Your opinion of me doesn’t matter.”

  Liar. You want him to like you. Respect you.

  Desire you.

  Faith ignored the voice in her head. “I want to find the place where Kerberos keeps the personnel they’ve kidnapped. Because I’m convinced Toby isn’t dead. I’m afraid they took him to wherever it is that they create their enhanced soldiers.” She didn’t think they would have put Toby into their program yet. They’d need him to confirm all the locations where he’d stored his research and every person who’d received copies of his notes. Even then, she wasn’t certain if they’d put Toby into the program, or just kill him.

  Mark’s lips thinned and a muscle next to his left eye started twitching, setting all her instincts into high alert. “What do you know about Kerberos?” she asked.

  At the same instant, Mark snapped, “Tell me everything you’ve learned about the enhanced soldiers.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest and stared him down. “No. You first. Prove you really want to help me. Otherwise, I’m out of here.”

  He raised an eyebrow.

  “What? You don’t think I could escape from you?” she asked.

  The corner of his mouth lifted in disdain.

  “You caught me unawares before. So what? I’m prepared now.”

  “I’d like to see you try.”

  There was something sensual beneath the threat that held Faith immobile. Then she shook her head. “Don’t worry, I’m not leaving until you give me the information I need. So talk.”

  After a long, probing look that made her want to squirm in her seat, Mark turned his attention back to the ocean. Finally, he spoke. “Kerberos is Wayne Jamieson’s private black ops group.” When he glanced over at her to check that she understood, Faith nodded.

  “Kerberos specializes in assassinations and other actions the government can’t publicly take credit for.”

  “But…I thought Kerberos ran teams of enhanced soldiers.”

  Mark looked away, but not before Faith saw the bleakness in his eyes. “Yes, now it does. But Kerberos initially started out with squads of normal men. Men who’d met strict physical and mental requirements and believed wholeheartedly in the organization’s mission. A few years ago, Kerberos started funding a lab doing research to create a superhuman soldier. The methods used to transform the men are quite…painful…and ultimately fatal.”

  No. Oh, no. “What do you mean, fatal?” Toby’s notes had mentioned that the escapees had all died, but that seemed to be a result of confrontations with law enforcement. He hadn’t mentioned anything about the long-term effects of the program beyond the insane rages.

  “The drugs involved eventually cause madness and death by massive organ failure.”

  Remnants of her nightmares beat against her mind. Pictures of Toby bleeding to death. Screaming in pain. She sucked in a sharp breath and dug her nails into her palms, focusing on the small pain to force back the images. “How long—” Her voice broke and she had to clear her throat or risk crying. “How long until the subjects die?”

  “A few months after treatment is started.”

  Faith’s stomach unknotted itself. “Toby has been missing only a little over a month. Even if…” She cleared her throat. “Even if they break from their established criteria and put Toby in the program, he still has time.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. There are rumors of a new, accelerated program in progress,” Mark added. “With perhaps a quicker rise to standards and then a quicker decline.”

  She bit her lip and crossed her arms over her chest as her stomach took a nosedive.

  “Of course, you don’t know that Jamieson ordered your brother kidnapped. He might not be in danger of becoming one of the altered soldiers.”

  Was that actually sympathy she heard in his voice? The chill that had settled over her at the thought of Toby becoming a victim of the program slowly thawed.

  “What do you know about the selection process?” Mark asked.

  Faith shrugged. “Toby had a list of criteria for subjects.” She explained about the different parameters and why she believed her independent brother didn’t fit their need for subservient men. “Do you think they’d break precedent and add Toby to their roster?”

  “I don’t know. I’m not privy to that side of the program.” He stared out the window and Faith couldn’t read his mood. Was he processing what she’d said? Planning to kill her?

  “Where are you staying?” He made it more of a demand than a question.

  She blinked at the abrupt change of subject. “That’s none of your business.”

  “Yes, it is. I’ve been working to take down Kerberos and Jamieson from the inside. Your brother’s information will help me achieve that. I need to keep you safe from Jamieson in the meantime.”

  “I can take care of myself.”

  He gave her a condescending little smile. “Not good enough. You’ll stay at my safe house.”

  “Excuse me? I may have confided in you, but that doesn’t put you in charge of my personal safety. You’re still a stranger and I don’t fully trust you. I’m safer on my own.”

  “No, you are not. I can’t guarantee that Jamieson’s guards didn’t get a good look at you back at the restaurant.”

  She shrugged. When he frowned over her lack of concern, she bit back a smug smile.

  Mark’s eyes narrowed and he studied her with new intensity.

  “Is that your real hair?”

  He reached out to touch it, but she knocked his hand away. He let his hand drop, and she wondered if she imagined the flare of disappointment in his eyes. She hoped he hadn’t been able to read on her face the anticipation she’d felt as his hand moved toward her. The longing to feel his touch had been so powerful, it had scared her common sense into reasserting itself.

  “Again. None of your business.”

  “Faith, Jamieson would kill you just for knowing about Kerberos. Kill you twice for knowing he’s the force behind the program. The best way to bring him down is to work together. In order to do that, I need to make sure you’re staying where he can’t find you. I have a safe house you can use.”

  “You have a safe house? Not the CIA?”

  He tapped his fingers against the steering wheel. “Should something happen to turn my colleagues against me, I want someplace to hide that they don’t know about.”

  “Hmm…”
The similarity to her brother’s thinking regarding the need for an escape plan made her trust Mark a little more. Still, she had no intention of staying where he could find her. For all she knew, as soon as she was out of sight he’d call up Jamieson and order her killed. “My answer is still no.”

  He glared at her, but she was beginning to think he was all bluster. Or maybe she just wanted to believe that what she saw behind his eyes was concern. Totally unrealistic given the fact that she’d barely known him—she glanced at the dashboard clock—more than an hour. Yet her instincts said she could push him on this.

  So she simply stared back at him, brows lifted to let him know she wasn’t giving in.

  His mouth flattened, but he broke the stare first and looked toward the ocean. Faith waited while he worked his jaw side to side, struggling with some emotion.

  “Did your brother leave you proof?”

  It wasn’t the response she’d expected. “Proof of what?” she asked carefully.

  “Of Jamieson’s connection to Kerberos and the missing men.”

  “He has copies of e-mails from a couple of people inside the DOD giving Jamieson a list of suitable men, but without any mention of what the list is for. There’s no mention of Kerberos. He also has recent autopsy and police reports on military and law enforcement men who had supposedly died months earlier. Plus statements connecting a few of the missing men to ‘freaky’ teams of soldiers running exercises on some of the military bases. A lot of circumstantial stuff. Enough to cause trouble and maybe spark further investigation if I sent it to my media contacts. But that’s not what I want.”

  Mark turned and speared her with a look. “What do you want?”

  You. Ugh. Why did her libido have to choose tonight to come roaring back? Was her sudden desire to kiss him a result of adrenaline? A desperate attempt to find a point of security in this dangerous situation?

  Maybe it’s just chemistry.

  Uh-huh. Right.

  She cleared her throat. “To find Toby and bring him home. Will you help me?”

  “If you want me to save your brother, I’ll need to see his notes.”

  Faith shook her head. “No way. I don’t trust you that far.”

  Mark looked down his nose at her. He honest-to-God pulled the aristocratic, arrogant expression off. And looked sexy doing it.

  But he didn’t sway her. For all she knew, he was just gathering as much information as he could before turning her over to Jamieson.

  “I promise you. Work with me to bring down Jamieson and Kerberos and I will help you find your brother. Just give me a copy of the damn notes.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  After so many days of hiding, trusting no one except Siobahn as she moved closer to Jamieson, Mark’s cooperation seemed too good a shot of luck to believe.

  Toby’s notes were someplace safe. Some places safe, that is. She’d left copies with a variety of friends around the world, all with different instructions on what to do with them if she died. That didn’t mean she wasn’t going to protect her own copy. Limited trust was the plan until she figured out his true intentions.

  She smiled at him and tried not to freak out that she was on a deserted beach with no way to get back to civilization on her own without walking.

  As if reading her thoughts, he said, “You still consider me a threat? After all I’ve told you?” He sounded offended, which only made her smile grow.

  “Yep.”

  “You are the most infuriating woman.” Before Faith had any clue regarding his intention, he twisted in his seat, grabbed her head, and kissed her.

  Instant heat spread through her body, but before Faith could pull him closer, he lifted his head and sat back in his seat. Arousal warred with disappointment and confusion as she watched him start the car.

  “I have no plans to harm you or to bring you to Jamieson’s attention,” Mark snapped as he drove back toward the center of the small town. “For some reason I find myself extremely attracted to you and feeling strongly possessive.” He shot her an annoyed glance, as if she’d done something to ensnare him against his will. “I’d rather take you home with me, but I’ll settle for taking you to the safe house.”

  “No.”

  Being alone with him had now become dangerous on an entirely new level. She wanted another taste of him. Wanted to touch him and feel his hands on her naked flesh. But it was too much. Too soon.

  Damn him, she didn’t have time to be attracted to him.

  When he started to protest, she put a hand on his thigh. “Mark, I have a safe place to stay tonight.” She suspected he wouldn’t approve of the beachside hostel and its young, hippy clientele. But she’d fit right in. And she doubted Jamieson or Mark would look for her in such a public place.

  “Just drop me anywhere on Main Street and I’ll be fine.”

  “I—”

  “And don’t try to follow me.”

  He glared at her again. For some reason, that only made her hot.

  “It’s dangerous for me to be seen with you,” she reminded him. “Give me a secure way to contact you. After you give me some sort of a sign that you’re actually working toward finding Toby, we can arrange a time to meet later in the week.”

  His fingers tensed on the steering wheel. “If you feel any sense of threat,” he snapped as he pulled alongside the sidewalk, “you call me immediately.”

  “Agreed.” Plenty of people were still milling about, enjoying the balmy evening. They’d give her cover and help her disappear faster.

  To her surprise, he leaned over and gave her another hard, possessive kiss. Then, just as abruptly, he sat back. “Go. Before I decide to keep you here whether you want it or not.”

  Blinking in surprise, Faith let herself out of the car. Still reeling from the impact of the kiss, she watched him drive away. Then she shook her head and vanished into the crowd.

  Two and a half hours later, Mark let himself into his apartment. So much for being clever. He’d been so proud of himself for slipping a tiny tracking device into Faith’s sweater pocket when he’d kissed her. After dropping her at an all night coffee shop in the center of the small bayside town, he’d quickly found a place to park, then followed her on foot.

  But within half an hour not only had he lost visual on her, he’d lost the signal. She must have found the device and destroyed it. Making him wonder just what kind of training she’d had.

  He tossed his keys into the ebony bowl sitting on the teak side table, then turned and looked at his reflection in the gold and black inlaid mirror.

  Hmm. He still looked the same. Brown hair, brown eyes. Aristocratic face showing no more than mild puzzlement. Shaking his head, he walked toward the living room, examining his hands as he went. He desperately needed a drink, but even his hands showed nothing of his inner turmoil. There wasn’t a tremor to be found.

  He poured himself a shot of vodka and threw it back.

  The burn down his throat made him feel more like himself, instead of the aroused, possessive stranger he’d turned into the second he’d laid eyes on Miss Faith Andrews. For God’s sake, she possessed information that might help him nail Jamieson, and all he could think of was how soon he could get her into bed.

  This wasn’t him. He didn’t let his emotions dictate to him. He was civilized. Logical. Controlled.

  Of course you are. That’s why you planned to kidnap Susana Dias last month. You were dreaming of a life with her at your side. You were star-struck.

  Mark frowned and poured another shot. Jamieson had ordered him to kidnap former supermodel Susana Dias because, during an appendectomy, a microchip containing critical research had been implanted into her stomach. But the moment Mark had met Susana, he’d felt like an awkward teenager. He’d been so overcome by her vibrant beauty that all he could think of was making her his own.

  In hindsight, what he’d felt had been the need to possess a pretty object, thus improving his status.

  With Faith, however, h
e’d been someone else entirely. Someone he didn’t know. She brought him to full arousal just being near her, making him want to taste her again and again until she became a part of him. But it went beyond physical need. He wanted to get to know her better. To listen to her talk and to touch her skin and see how soft it might be. He wanted to protect her.

  All that and he’d scarcely known the woman more than a couple of hours.

  He’d heard of men falling in love at first sight. Was that what had happened to him? God, he hoped not. This was the worst possible time for him to become distracted. If he was going to be successful in bringing Jamieson down, he had to use all his wits and tread with extreme caution.

  He glanced down and realized that he didn’t know if this was his third or fourth glass of vodka. When had he stopped counting?

  Not really caring, he shrugged and threw back what was in his glass. Then he set the glass aside and headed upstairs to his bedroom before he did something really stupid, like get drunk.

  Although how there could be anything stupider than falling for an unknown like Faith Andrews, he didn’t know.

  She could be a plant from Jamieson, meant to trick him into betraying his true agenda.

  Mark considered that a moment, then tossed the idea aside along with his necktie. His years as a street kid in Moscow and his eventual move into the upper levels of the intelligence community had taught him how to read people.

  Every instinct told him Faith was telling the truth. And that she was equally attracted to him. The beginnings of a smug smile teased at his lips as he finished stripping.

  The game he was playing with Jamieson had him riding an adrenaline high. He felt more alive than he had in years. But after meeting Faith, he realized that part of him had still been sleeping.

  He wondered idly if this newfound sense of power and freedom was how addicts felt during a high. Had heroic knights experienced this delicious anticipation when tasked with quests from their ladies?

  And Faith had given him a task, hadn’t she? Still suspicious, she’d refused to turn over her notes until he gave her proof that he was searching for Toby. Which meant he needed deeper access to Kerberos’s files.