Dark Warrior Untamed (16 page)

“Failure is not an option, because that means he’ll have succeeded in hurting someone in this household. That’s not acceptable. The bastard’s already crossed the line. When I find him, he
will
die. Our job as Talions is to carry out the Dame’s justice. The only question is if I will make it quick and easy, or if we’ll have to pick up the pieces with a sponge.”

He gave Sean a sideways glance. It hadn’t been all
that long ago that the teenager had been subject to a death sentence under Kyth law himself. Sean looked a bit pale, but he was nodding.

“Now, back to these e-mails.”

B
y now that Ryan woman should have found the message she’d left. It had been tempting to use her own voice to record it, but that would have revealed far too much. Grey Danby was no fool. He would have recognized her voice.

Besides, as long as he didn’t know Adele was the one behind the attacks, he’d still be focusing on her father and his friends as possible culprits. It was always satisfying when plans came together so well. Harcourt deserved to take the fall for her. If he’d been doing his job, the old Dame would have kept Adele at her side to finish training her as ruler. Instead, she’d been too far from the center of the action, leaving the door wide open for that upstart American.

That was all right. Kerry Thorsen—she couldn’t bear to think of the woman as Dame—wouldn’t hold on to the throne for long. Adele would see to it personally. In fact, she’d already purchased her airline ticket. Soon she’d be off to the wilds of the Pacific Northwest. She wanted a front row seat when the walls came tumbling down.

Everyone in Seattle was running in circles trying to figure out who had sent that nasty little bomb to the imposter’s house. Adele had really hoped for far more
bloodshed, but that was all right. She could always have another special gift delivered whenever the mood hit.

Right now, though, she had to get to class. No telling what useful bit of information she’d pick up. So far all that advanced computer training had been most helpful. She had a real talent for it.

A worried-looking Sandor hustled into Grey’s office. He stopped short as soon as he spotted Sean and Grey sitting shoulder-to-shoulder and staring at the computer. Clearly puzzled by the change in their relationship, Sandor parked himself on the edge of Piper’s desk.

“What’s up, guys?”

Grey nudged Sean’s arm. The teenager looked over at his mentor. “We’re going through Piper’s e-mails looking for more of the weird shit she’s been getting.”

Grey added, “That woman gets more e-mails than any one person should have to wade through.”

Grey was getting tired of reading them, too, and it was unlikely he’d pick up anything useful by going through all of the new ones. He logged off.

“Any luck with the jacket?”

Sandor nodded. “The lab guys say we just need to send them a small swatch. Then we can call Detective Byrne and turn the jacket over to him. Think he’ll put up much of a fuss over the delay?”

“Don’t know. Don’t care. But I’ll call him.” The cop was lucky they were giving it to him at all.

“Good.” Sandor looked as if he’d had a long night, too. He pushed himself to his feet. “Can we check the answering machine later? I forgot Ranulf was waiting to beat on us with his blades some more.”

“Sure, no problem. Go ahead and go, Sean.”

“That sounds like fun—
not
. See you later, Grey.” The teenager was off and running, clearly excited about another chance to play with weapons.

Sandor stared after him before turning to Grey. “You two seem to have buried the hatchet. How’d that happen?”

“We found some common ground. Now get lost so I can get some work done.”

“Okay, but you’re welcome to join us. I’m always glad to have someone else for Ranulf to use as a target.”

“I’ll think about it.”

When Sandor was gone, Grey pulled out the detective’s card and punched the number into his cell phone. The call went to voicemail, so he left a message for Byrne to contact him as soon as possible.

The moment he disconnected, his phone rang. Without looking at the caller ID, he said, “Well, that was quick.”

A familiar feminine voice answered him. “And here I thought you’d rip into me for not calling sooner,” Piper said with a giggle.

“It was next on my to-do list.” Smiling, he leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on the desk. “No mishaps?”

“Nope, but I barely got here before my first class started. I had to wait until it was over to call. I’ve only
got ten minutes before the next one.”

“I’ve got a lot on my agenda, too, but I can spare a couple of minutes. Let me tell you my plans for tonight.”

Piper walked into her last class only to find the room empty and a message scrawled on the board that the professor had been called away on a family emergency. Class was cancelled. What a relief. She wouldn’t have been able to concentrate anyway, not with Grey’s voice still whispering in the back of her head about his plans for the night. His plans
for her.

She had to give the man credit. He had quite an imagination. She wasn’t sure some of what he had in mind was even physically possible, but she was willing to give it a shot.

Back out in the hall, she considered her options. She could go back to her apartment and—what? Stare at the door and wait for Grey? She sure wasn’t in the mood for studying.

Since she had to take a cab anyway, she could just as easily check in at the office. There were a few things she’d let slide during the past couple of days that could use her attention.

Right. And the fact that Grey will be sitting only a few feet away the whole time is the icing on the cake,
she told herself.

Her mind made up, she called a cab and went to the door to wait. And if she smiled all the way to the Dame’s house, well, she had a good reason for it.

Unfortunately, Grey was nowhere to be found when Piper reached their office. His jacket and cell phone were thrown on his desk, so he was around somewhere. Odd, though, because the house felt empty. Kerry was likely in her private quarters, but the men were definitely MIA.

She settled at her desk and got to work. A few minutes later, Grey’s phone rang. Should she answer it or let it go to voicemail? One peek at the caller ID made her decision for her. She had no desire to talk to Detective Byrne unless she absolutely had to. She picked up Grey’s cell and went hunting for its owner. The phone finally went silent, but Grey could return the man’s call when she found him.

There was no sign of anyone in the dining room or living room, so she headed for the kitchen hoping to find Hughes. He always knew what was going on.

The butler stopped what he was doing to answer her. “Dame Kerry is in her quarters doing a video conference with board members from the foundation in New York. Ms. Wilson took Tara and Kenny to run some errands. And I believe the gentlemen are in the basement gym.”

“Thanks, Hughes.”

She opened the door and listened to the sound of clanging metal and heavy breathing. What were they
up to down there? Lifting weights? Maybe, but she didn’t think so. She sidled down the stairs, moving quietly so as not to startle anyone.

When the stairs turned at the bottom, she couldn’t believe her eyes. She sank down on the bottom step and drank in the sight. Sandor and Sean were banging blades in the far corner, but that wasn’t what had her hormones taking notice.

Grey and Ranulf were both stripped down to sweatpants and nothing else. Both were barefoot, bare chested, and dripping sweat as they maneuvered around one another. They both charged, grinning like loons as they grappled and beat the stuffing out of each other. Grey wasn’t nearly as big as Ranulf, but he made up for it in speed and just plain sneakiness.

When the Viking hit the mat with a teeth-jarring thud, Sean and Sandor quit sparring long enough to hoot and holler at the other two Talions. Piper couldn’t resist joining in. Unfortunately, the sound of her voice distracted Grey long enough for Ranulf to get his revenge. Grey hit the floor, but came up fighting.

She was mesmorized by the two men moving with such grace and speed. Ranulf was a wonder to behold, but Grey stole her breath. He was all sleek muscle and power, bouncing on the balls of his feet, fists at the ready. The image was a far cry from his usual conservative appearance.

If they’d let her sell tickets to her female acquaintances, she’d make a ton of money. She couldn’t wait to see the look on their faces when she suggested it.

Finally, Sandor called time and the two men broke
off and shook hands. Sean tossed each of them a towel.

“Thanks, kid.” Grey wiped down his face and chest on his way to join her by the steps. “Hey there. I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

“My class was cancelled.” She gestured toward the mats. “I’m glad, too, or I would have missed all the action.”

“Liked that, did you?”

She wiggled her eyebrows at him in a playful leer. Careful to pitch her voice so that only Grey would hear her, she teased him a bit more. “I know a lot of women who’d pay good money to watch something that hot. If you didn’t make a habit of hiding all that prime muscle behind those button down collars and silk ties, you’d be tripping over women whenever you set foot out in public. Mind you, I’d rather have you all to myself.”

After a quick glance to see where his sparring partners were, he gave her a heated look. “I promise to show you a few moves I’d never use on these fellows.”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

He nodded toward the phone in her hand. “Were you looking for me for a reason other than to watch me sweat?”

“Oh, yeah, I was.” She held out the phone. “I was in the office when your phone rang. When I saw the call was from Detective Byrne, I thought it might be important.”

“We need to give him my jacket. I’ll go shower and then call him back.”

She was hoping he’d kiss her, but he started to walk away. Okay, maybe their relationship was too new. She
understood that. On the other hand, there was no time like the present.

“Hey, Grey, isn’t there something you’re forgetting?”

He turned back to face her. “What’s that?”

“This.”

She captured his lips with hers and gave him a kiss intended to boil his blood. God, he tasted so fine as he returned her kiss with hot enthusiasm. By the time they finally separated, both were having a hard time drawing a full breath.

Grey grinned at her. “My memory must be slipping. I don’t know how I could have forgotten something that important. I’ll certainly try to do better in the future.”

“See that you do,” she said with an impudent grin as she stepped back out of his way. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, Mr. Danby, I’ve got places to go and people to see.”

Her mood vastly improved, she headed back upstairs. Time to get some work done.

“Detective, come in.” Piper held the door open. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to Grey’s office. He and Sandor are waiting for you there.”

“Thank you, Miss Ryan.” Byrne walked beside her. “I don’t suppose you’ve remembered anything else from the other day.”

“Sorry, no. It all happened so fast, and I told you everything I can.” She stopped to let him go ahead. “I apologize about the crowded conditions. The Thorsens are remodeling,
so I’m sharing Grey’s office temporarily.”

“Not a problem.”

Piper sat down at her desk and did her best to ignore the three men. It wasn’t easy, especially once the detective found out about Grey’s jacket. She didn’t understand what the big deal was. So what if Byrne got it a day or two late? He ought to cut Grey some slack considering the blast had landed the man in the hospital.

She gave up all pretense of working and turned to face the ongoing discussion. She could almost hear Grey’s teeth grinding as he fought to contain his anger.

“As I said, Detective, the hospital threw away the rest of my clothes after they cut them off in the emergency room. If you have a problem with that, take it up with them. My jacket was shoved in a bag and stuffed in a drawer in my hospital room. Forgive me for having other things on my mind other than rushing over to your office to deliver it.”

The detective had his own fair share of temper. “You had the jacket when I was here before. Why didn’t you give it to me then?”

Piper held her breath, wondering what logical reason they’d come up with. They could hardly tell him the truth, that they were holding on to it to aid their own investigation into the bombing. The detective wouldn’t have much use for civilians invading his territory.

Grey met Byrne glare for glare. “When Sandor brought me back to my hotel room from the hospital, he set the bag aside. It wasn’t until earlier today that
I pulled the jacket out of the bag, planning on throwing it away. But when it reeked of smoke and what I can only assume is the explosive, it occurred to me that it might be helpful to your investigation. I regret the delay, but it wasn’t intentional.”

Okay, that was a lie, but at least the detective looked mollified by Grey’s explanation.

When he held the jacket out, the detective put on gloves before he took it. “Who all has touched the jacket?”

Grey looked to Piper for help. She held up her hand and ticked the names off on her fingers. “The EMTs, nurses in the ER, probably a doctor or two, Grey, Sandor, and me.”

“Just great.” He started roll the jacket up, but stopped half way. “What this?”

He reached into the pocket and pulled out a wadded up piece of brown paper. If Piper hadn’t glanced at Grey at that moment, she would have missed seeing the quick flash of flames in his eyes before he looked down and away, clearly not wanting the detective to see what was happening.

When Grey looked up again, he was back in control. “I don’t know. Let me see it.”

She wasn’t sure how she knew he was lying again, but he was. He’d recognized that paper instantly and didn’t want the detective to see it. Then it hit her. She’d seen him peel it off the bomb right before it exploded. How had he and Sandor missed finding it before now?

Ignoring Grey’s request, the detective put the jacket
in an evidence bag and set it aside. Still wearing protective gloves, he carefully spread out the brown paper on top of Grey’s desk. They all gathered closer, looking over the policeman’s shoulder as he read the words written in black.