Fatal Pursuit (The Aegis Series) (25 page)

Hedley turned for his truck. “Eight o’clock. If you’re not there by eight, I’m coming after you. And trust me, you do not want me dragging your ass there by the scruff of the neck.”

Jake climbed into his vehicle, closed the door, and just sat behind the wheel in silence as he stared out at the melting patches of snow and thought of Marley.

The cell in his pocket buzzed before he could decide what to do, and he pulled it out and hit Answer without looking at the caller ID. “What?”

“Hey, it’s Bentley. I checked into that text you sent me. I can’t find a death certificate on Sanders. I’ve got a buddy in Colombia, though, who thinks he might have come across the guy in the last year or two.”

Jake sat up straighter. That meant Sanders could still be alive and might know what had really happened on that raid. “Fucking find him.”

“Are you authorizing travel to Colombia?”

“You bet your ass I am. Take my plane.”

“All right. Ridin’ in style. You got it, boss. I’ll call when I know more.”

Jake clicked off his phone. Thought of Marley again and frowned. Sonofabitch. He did not want to go to any stupid party, least of all one for McKnight.

M
arley swallowed the last sip of champagne in her glass and noticed the waiter walking by with a fresh tray. “Oh. Wait.” The waiter turned her way. “I’ll have another one.”

She placed her empty glass on the tray, grabbed a fresh one, and took a large sip of the bubbly liquid.

At her side, Gray muttered, “You might want to go easy on that. You haven’t eaten much today.”

Irritation pulsed through her. She hadn’t eaten much in several days, but she wasn’t about to confess that. And she didn’t like his telling her what to do.

“I’m fine.” Sipping again, she glanced around the ballroom of her father’s stuffy country club and tried to settle her frazzled nerves.

Tables and chairs were set up around a dance floor. A three-piece orchestra played a depressing tune in the corner, and food was laid out on a giant table along one wall. Several double doors opened to an enormous deck that ran around the clubhouse, and twinkle lights in the potted plants and trees and space heaters outside shone through the glass.

Several couples danced in the middle of the room, and clusters of her father’s friends chatted and sipped their drinks. Before Marley could take another sip, Gray plucked the flute from her hand and set it on a passing waiter’s tray. “Come on. I’ve been dying to dance with you all night, and your father’s buddies have finally left us alone.”

He grasped her hand and dragged her out onto the dance floor. Not wanting to make a scene, she let him pull her into his arms and rested her hand on his shoulder while his slid around her lower back.

He tugged her in tighter than she liked, turned their clasped hands in close to his chest, and hummed along to the tune.

It was too close. Too romantic. And she hated that her mind drifted to Jake.

She hadn’t seen him in four days. Not since the emergency room. He hadn’t texted, hadn’t called, hadn’t once tried to reach out to her, and though part of her wanted him to, another part didn’t even know what she could say in response. She’d let her emotions get the best of her in the ER, and now that her temper had cooled, she felt wretched about that scene and especially about how they’d ended things. Worse even than the morning after their crazy night at his place. Because then she’d just been heartbroken. Now she felt as if she’d lost her best friend.

“It’s nice of your father to host this party,” Gray said softly in her ear. “He didn’t have to.”

She tried not to think about the reason for this party. Tried not to remember those steamy days and nights in the jungle with Jake and how much she’d enjoyed them even though she’d acted like she hadn’t. “He’s glad you’re back.”

“I know. But the big question is, are you?” Gray leaned away and looked down, his green eyes brimming with emotion—an emotion that hit Marley hard in the belly. “Are you glad I’m back?”

He wanted an answer, wanted to know how she felt about him, and the truth was that she didn’t have a clue. Yes, she was glad he was back, and yes she wanted him to be happy, but she just wasn’t convinced that happiness would ever happen with her. And she didn’t want to hurt him when he’d already been through so much. He hadn’t said a word about their conversation over dinner Sunday night, but the way he kept doting on her, the way he wouldn’t leave her side, the fact he was looking at her now as if she was his everything, it made her hands grow sweaty and that panic re-form beneath her ribs.

“Gray, I—”

“You know, before I left on that mission, I bought you a ring. I didn’t buy it for the right reasons, but I put it in a safety deposit box, and I still have it. I can’t make up for the past, but I can promise you that the future will be very different. And I want to give that ring to you now because this is all that matters.” His hand tightened around hers against his chest. “You are all that matters. I want you to be my wife, Marley.”

The blood rushed out of her cheeks. Her feet stilled, and she stared up at him, unable to believe he’d just said those words. One phrase echoed in her head—
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God
—but she couldn’t make her lips and vocal cords work to get it out.

“I know it’s sudden,” he said, pulling her against him once more so her chin rested against his shoulder, “but we’re going to be happy together. I promise. You’ll see. We’ll be so very happy together.”

She was completely speechless. Didn’t know what the hell to do or say. Her wide eyes scanned the ballroom over his shoulder. She caught her father’s eye across the room where he was standing next to his new assistant or girlfriend or whatever the hell she was. He smiled and winked at her in approval. And right then Marley knew she was in deep shit.

She had to put a stop to this. She had to set Gray straight, set her father straight, stop letting them manipulate her into something she wasn’t ready for. They’d both done that to her once before—in very different ways—but she wasn’t that person anymore, and she wasn’t going to fall back into old patterns.

She let go of his hand and pushed against his shoulder. “Gray, I—”

“Hm,” Gray said into her hair. “Looks like your friends from Aegis finally showed up.”

Hope bloomed in Marley’s chest, pushing aside every other thought and worry. She swiveled her head and watched as Eve and Zane stepped into the room, Eve decked out in a sparkly black cocktail dress that showed off her curves, and Zane wearing smart back slacks, a white dress shirt, and a black tie that made his hair look even darker. Behind them, Mick Hedley and Raleigh Stone were dressed in much the same way, while Landon and Olivia Miller followed hand in hand. But there was no sign of Jake. And though Marley had tried not to expect too much, her spirits dropped lower than they’d been before.

She swallowed back the disappointment, told herself she was being foolish—again. She didn’t even know what she’d say to Jake if he did show up. But she knew she had to get away from Gray right this minute before she had a mental breakdown.

She pushed out of his arms. “I-I need to go say hello.”

“Sure.” He released his hold on her, but before she could get a step away, he caught her by the hand and drew her back. Then he leaned close and slowly brushed his lips over hers in a move that was every bit possessive and made the hairs on her nape stand straight, especially as it was the first time he’d kissed her since being home. “Don’t be gone long. I can’t live without you, you know.”

Her stomach rolled. She wanted to jerk back and say hell no, she didn’t know that, but restrained herself. After the party, when everyone was gone, then she’d set him straight. Right now she didn’t want to ruin her father’s night and draw unwanted attention, especially when what she really wanted to do was scream.

Carefully, she eased away from him and headed across the ballroom toward Eve and the others. But her legs felt like gelatin, and by the time she reached the group, she was shocked she hadn’t melted into a puddle right in the middle of the room.

“Hey. You all made it.” She shored up her strength, hugged Eve and Zane, Raleigh, Mick, Landon, and finally Olivia. “I wasn’t sure if any of you were going to come.”

“Are you kidding?” Mick slipped an arm around Marley’s waist and drew her to his side. “Free grog and tucker? Don’t have to twist my arm.”

The group laughed. Eve rolled her eyes. “Jesus, Hedley. Speak English. We’re in America, not the land down under.”

“Leave the poor guy alone,” Olivia said, brushing her blonde hair to the side. “I think he’s cute.”

Mick placed a hand over his heart and smiled. “Someone loves me.” He winked at Marley, then angled his thumb toward Landon. “That’s because I taught her a few moves for when this guy gets out of line.”

“Don’t get any ideas, idiot.” Landon glared at Mick. Then to his wife at his side, he said, “Hedley is not cute. Annoying as hell. But definitely not cute.”

Olivia slid her fingers over Landon’s cheek. “Don’t be jealous, sweetie. I know a little secret. I’m going home with you, and I’m a sure thing.”

He leaned down and kissed her. Mick made gagging noises, and the rest of the group laughed.

Unable to stand too much happiness, Marley focused on Eve. “Is anyone else coming?”

“Walker’s in Nashville with Grace,” Zane said, sliding an arm around his fiancée’s waist. “Tierney’s still in Europe on assignment, Bentley’s—hell, I can’t remember where he went—and Blackwell’s at a premiere for his wife. Lucky sonofabitch gets to walk the red carpet with Angeline Jolie.”

“Hey.” Eve elbowed Zane in the ribs. “Stop fantasizing about Hollywood celebrities. I’m standing right here.”

Zane grinned and rubbed the spot, but didn’t loosen his hold on Eve. “Trust me, I know. I have the bruises to prove it.”

The group laughed again, and Hedley—already eyeing the buffet table—released Marley. “I see some ribs with my name on them.” He smacked Raleigh in the stomach with the back of his hand. “Come on, mate.”

Raleigh shook his head and glanced toward Marley before stepping away from the group. “He ate before he got here. The guy’s like a bottomless pit.”

Marley smiled. She knew full well how much Mick could eat. “Luckily, my father can afford it.”

As soon as the two men moved away, Eve’s smile faded. “I haven’t heard from Jake. I don’t know if he’s coming.”

“Hedley said he talked to him,” Landon added at Marley’s side. “Reminded him about tonight.”

“Yeah, well.” Marley tried not to be disappointed again as she crossed her arms over her chest. She shouldn’t have let her father talk her into wearing the tight green satin dress. She’d have been much more comfortable in black, like Eve. But she’d wanted to please him—something else she was going to stop doing. “Jake does what he wants, when he wants. That’s no surprise.”

“Holy crap, you don’t even know the half of it,” Eve said. “He’s been a complete nightmare the last week. Seriously, Marley. You
have
to come back. If he makes me work in the office one more day,
I
might try to blow him up.”

Landon chuckled. Zane grinned. But Marley didn’t share in their humor. Not a bit. Because just the thought of the way Jake had looked in the ER made her pulse skip up and nausea roll through her belly.

“What’s happening with that, by the way? Did you figure out who did it?”

“No,” Landon said. “Investigators said the bomb was attached to the ignition. They don’t have any leads yet, but whoever placed it obviously didn’t expect Ryder to use a remote starter. Which is pretty freakin’ stupid if you ask me because most cars these days have those. Ryder got lucky.”

Very lucky. Marley had a memory flash of the panic she’d experienced when she’d heard he’d been injured, felt it echo in her chest. But her mind drifted toward what Landon had just said. “Maybe they weren’t trying to kill him, just warn him.”

“About what?” Zane asked. “Whoever it was hasn’t made any kind of demand. If it was a warning, none of us know what it was for, even Ryder.”

Marley chewed on the inside of her lip. She knew full well there were plenty of people who disliked Jake Ryder. He’d been a hard-ass in the navy. And an even harder-ass since opening Aegis. And recently, she could think of a number of individuals who wouldn’t bat an eyelash at killing him in retaliation for messing up their plans, including one well-known terrorist group based in Europe and another CIA mole Jake had helped expose.

“Speak of the devil,” Olivia murmured. “I guess he decided to show after all.”

Marley’s heart jerked, and she glanced toward the ballroom doors. Jake stepped into the room wearing a crisp black suit and a pale-blue tie against a white shirt. His shoes were shiny, his hair was perfectly combed, and though Marley saw him in slacks and a dress shirt every day at work, something about this outfit—not just the clothes but the way he wore them—ignited a burn low in her stomach.

He scanned the room, then his eyes locked on hers, and her pulse shot up even higher. He didn’t smile, but he didn’t glance away. And as he headed for their group, her pulse turned to a roar in her ears.

He stopped between the two couples, shook hands with the men and nodded at Eve and Olivia, then slipped his hands into his pockets. “Where are the other yahoos?”

The question was directed at the group, but his dark gaze was locked solidly on Marley, and she felt the heat of his stare across the distance. Felt the electricity sizzling between them. Felt the same fire sparking that had consumed her not once, but twice before.

“Already raiding the buffet,” Zane answered. He glanced down at Eve. “Which is where I think we ought to be.”

Eve looked at Marley, then at Jake. “Um, yeah. Definitely. Olivia? Landon? Want to join us?”

“Absolutely,” Olivia said, already stepping away and dragging Landon with her. “Catch you both later.”

Marley watched them go and knew they were all cutting and running from what they thought might be an explosive confrontation. She couldn’t blame them, but she didn’t particularly like the guys at Aegis knowing her business. And she liked even less that this was happening in the center of the ballroom.

Okay, say something. Anything
. She swallowed once. “I, uh, wasn’t sure you’d come.”