Mine Until Dawn (22 page)

“Jade.”

“No, don’t Jade me in that condescending tone. I’m sure the thought has crossed your mind.” Her stomach clenched in rejection even as the next words left her lips. “What if he’s decided you’re expendable, Vince? What then?”

CHAPTER 16

Renard Bouchard settled in the back seat of his limo and waited for the guard to close the door. Once alone, his fingers curled into a fist, the urge to smash something shooting through him.

Delays. One problem after another.
 
Rage burned his chest. How could he have missed Abe Dixon’s only child? Vince Knight might be illegitimate, but he was still the direct descendant of the General, the one true heir to the Descartes’ legacy.

Abe Dixon wasn’t worthy of such an inheritance. He was weak, easily influenced. Boy scout Knight might not be as easily dismissed or manipulated.
The only solution is to make sure the General doesn’t discover Knight’s existence. Nothing and no one will stop him from fulfilling his destiny.

Bouchard took a deep breath. There was no time to lose control or focus. He’d sacrificed too much to see it all disappear because of an unexpected glitch. No more playing cat-and-mouse games with Vince Knight. Killing Knight was no longer a sport, but a matter of survival. His survival.

The limo door opened, interrupting his thoughts. Yannick Dupree in black slacks, a black turtle neck under a white silk blouse with ruffles and a black lapel vest flopped on the opposite seat and shot him an angry look.

“The door,” Bouchard reminded him.

Yannick waved at a guard to close the limo door, then crossed his arms over his chest, deliberately flattening the fake breasts. Despite the dark-tinted windows, Bouchard could still see the angry man’s flawless face, the stylish brunette wig with blonde high-lights, and the diamond studs on his ears. Yannick looked beautiful as a woman.

When he reached up to touch his missing moustache, Bouchard snapped, “Stop it. It’s only temporary.”

The younger man’s green eyes flashed. “I have never had to resort to
this
to accomplish a job.”

Bouchard ignored the outburst as the driver gunned the engines and the limo started to move. His Bel Air residence was a five-minute drive from the Carrere Club, enough time to make Yannick understand he wouldn’t put up with his foolishness. Too much was at stake.

Yannick was efficient, methodical, and had never been caught in the ten years he’d been an assassin-for-hire. With his pretty face and innocent smile, he could charm his way in and out of any situation. His slender build, smooth olive complexion and refined features made it difficult to guess his age or nationality. His arrogance, however, seemed to have grown since their last venture three years ago in Costa Rica. Bouchard meant to fix that. There must be no question as to who was in charge tonight.

Bouchard fixed his gaze on the younger man. “I want you to listen carefully, Yannick, because I do not intend to repeat myself. Montague found out the person catering tonight’s events, the company supplying them with temporary waiters and waitresses, and took out one of their temps for a reason—so you could replace her. You
are
going in as a woman.”

“It’s humiliating for a man with my credentials to—”

Bouchard whipped out his right hand and grabbed Yannick’s neck, cutting off his words. He remained unmoved as the younger man struggled to pry his hand lose.

“You know how this goes, don’t you?” he said with a bored voice. “The slightest pressure on your carotid artery will render you unconscious. A jab in a precise area of your ribcage will rupture your spleen. By the time the local law enforcement finds your body, you will be dead from internal hemorrhaging. They won’t even be able to I.D. you because everything about you is false, including your passport.”

Under the turtleneck, Yannick’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. His eyes indicated he understood his precarious position only too well. Bouchard eased the pressure and let him go. Yannick scooted as far from him as possible while rubbing his neck, his gaze furious. Good. Let him take out all his anger and frustrations on Knight.

“Now, where were you? Oh, yes, your disguise. Knight saw your face after you hit his car. Considering what you have to do tonight, you don’t want him to recognize you before you’re ready for him. The man is not a fool.” As soon as Knight had given out his name to his people, his assistant had researched it and came up with every article the man had ever written. Thorough and meticulous, Knight was like a bloodhound when he went after a person, which meant he might dig up things better left buried. “I want him dead.”

“It will be my pleasure.” Yannick’s deep voice was devoid of emotion, but his eyes flashed with anticipation.

“Good.” The limo slowed. Bouchard lifted a woman’s fur coat from his seat and passed it to Yannick. “Put it on, we’re about to enter the club.” If people caught sight of them, he wanted to make sure they saw him and a female companion.

The younger man quickly covered his uniform as the limo stopped briefly, then took off, again. “When do I get out?”

“When Javier parks the limo after dropping me off. Don’t forget to speak in a high-pitched voice when addressing anyone. You’re a woman now.” Only the slight tightening of Yannick’s painted lips indicated he resented the reminder. When the limo stopped, the guard opened the door and Bouchard stepped out without a backward glance. He knew his commands would be obeyed.

***

Vince didn’t know what else to say to ease Jade’s worries. For thirty minutes straight, she’d come up with the most outlandish reasons why he shouldn’t meet with Bouchard, supporting them with stories from her past and her cousins’ recent misadventures. It was enough to drive a man insane.

Yet the more she fretted over him, the more warmth spread in his chest. Every look, touch, or smile from her drilled yet another hole through the armor he’d built to contain his feelings. At the back of his head, he was aware she was a fuss-pot by nature, yet he couldn’t ignore how she made him feel. Outside Uncle Remus and his aunt, no one had ever cared one way or another if anything happened to him.

Before he could stop, Vince lifted Jade’s hand to his lips and pressed a kiss on her knuckles. “I appreciate your concern, baby, but—”

She snatched her hand away from his. “You’re not taking me seriously, Vince. I hate that. Just…quit with the one-man army routine. You’re not invincible.”

“Can’t argue with you on that.” His tone came out lighthearted, but dang it, he didn’t want to fight with her. Truth be known, he’d much rather discuss their plans for later this evening. Lustful thoughts and sexual banter he could handle, this never-ending ache gnawing his insides just messed with his head. “But what I am is insulted. You don’t believe I can take care of myself or you.”

“We’re not talking about trust and you know it,” she shot back. “Jeez, haven’t you listened to anything I’ve said?”

“In this confined space? I could hardly miss a word.”

She made a sound that sounded too much like a frustrated growl.

He shot her a side glance, but her face was in the shadows. “Of course I listened. It’s Bouchard you don’t trust. You think he might turn out to be like the couple who tried to discredit you after you caught them selling fake artifacts. Or the psycho who tried to kill your cousin Ashley when—”

“Okay, okay, so you did listen.”

She didn’t sound that disgruntled anymore, thank goodness. When he glanced at her, she wrinkled her nose at him. She looked so adorable he fought the urge to pull the car over and kiss her senseless.

“But unlike those other thugs, Bouchard can hide behind diplomatic immunity,” Jade added. “Maybe I should ask my brothers or cousins to watch your back tonight.”

“No way.”

“Why? They’re honest, reliable, and—”

“Royal pain in the ass,” he finished without thinking and heard her indrawn breath.
Oh, smart move, Knight. Really smooth.
At this rate, he would be spending another sleepless night in the room next to hers, instead of with her. He’d better to say something in his defense. “You know what I mean, Jade. Your cousin Eddie is one prickly cop. He lit into me all but good. Your brother Baron is not far down the ladder. I just don’t want them in my business.”

She snickered. “You need to lighten up. Seriously. My brothers would never force their opinion on you or betray your confidence.”

But he’d be obliged to have some sort of a relationship with them. Sit down to discuss what needed to be done. Trust them with personal information and to watch his back. Only a fool would be sucked into believing people were dependable or that they’d always be there when you needed them. His father had taught him way too well for him to be played.

“I’m sure they wouldn’t,” Vince said, choosing his words carefully, “but I don’t operate that way. I prefer to do things my way.”

“So I’ve noticed.” Jade’s tone was disapproving. “Has it ever occurred to you that you’d gain a lot more by letting people in than pushing them away?”

“Once. I didn’t gain a thing.” Just lost his innocence. Wanting validation from his father was the dumbest think he’d ever done. But then again, he’d been naïve and desperate. Grieving for his mother and lost. The experience had taught him to let go of such foolishness. That it was safer to fly solo. No relationship to hold him down unless he set the boundaries. Just like he’d done with her.

Or attempted to do, he corrected. With Jade, his past modus operandi wasn’t worth a thing. The thought was disconcerting.

“Then how can you expect me to trust you when you aren’t willing to do the same? Like love, you’ve got to be receptive in order to receive it.”

Trust? Love? Why did women always complicate things with labels? When did the conversation shift from Bouchard to them?
   

Vince was saved from responding when he slowed down to stop in front of the Carrere Country Club’s steel gate. Several guards with headset walkie-talkies eyed them with the thorough scrutiny of trained agents. Probably ex-military or law enforcement. He picked up the invitation card from the coffee tray where Jade had dropped it, rolled down his window, and held it out to them.

Once they were waved through, silence filled the car, Jade’s words weighing heavy on him. Vince took his time taking in the rolling green turf, mature trees, a sand pit here and a man-made lake there as he drove toward the club house. He raked his brain for something to say. Anything to ease the sudden tension between them.

“I trust you, Jade.”

Silence followed.

“Do you?” Jade’s voice was low and serious.

He’d said the first thing that popped in his head. Unplanned or not, it was the truth. It wasn’t because he wanted to get in her pants either. He did trust Jade.

“Do you really, Vince?”

He pulled up at the club house’s porte-cochere and shot her a glance. Her eyes were a little wary and bright with curiosity or maybe hope, he couldn’t tell. It amazed him how she could shift from being tough and in-your-face to fragile and vulnerable in an instant. She looked as though one wrong word from him and she would fall apart.

Oh, forget it. He might as well dive into the hole he’d created. Sometimes a man had to step forward and do the right thing.

“You’re right. I’m not big in the trust department, but you,” he cupped her cheek and gently stroked it, “You, I’d trust with anything.”

A smile illuminated her pretty face. “I trust you, too. So, you know,” a laugh escaped her, “if you must talk to Bouchard tonight, go right ahead. I’ll be there if you need me.”

Her confession, spoken in a shaking voice, completely flattened the protective walls he’d erected around his heart. Vince didn’t know what would be next for them, but he was sure it would be alright.

He planted a brief kiss on her lips, grinning. “Wouldn’t have it any other way, baby.”

“Aah.” She pointed at his window. “The valets are waiting to park the car.”

He turned his attention to the parking attendants. All were young, probably college students, unlike the buffed men in dark suits with headset walkie-talkies in the background, keeping an eyes on things. “I’ll park it myself, guys, if you don’t mind.”

The young men shrugged, but a tall, lanky one blurted, “We get tips for each car we park, sir.”

“Is that so?” Vince liked the guy’s spunk. He signaled to him to step closer. “Tell me. If I’m planning a quick getaway, say, in about thirty minutes, where’s the best place to park?”

The young man pointed to the left side of the two-story Georgian-style clubhouse. “By Number One tee.”

“I guess you’ve earned your tip.” Vince pulled out a ten-dollar bill from his wallet and handed it to him, then drove along the drive parallel to the house. Even in the dusk, he could see the sand molded brick used to construct the lower level of the building. He parked right beside the staging area for golfers waiting to tee off.

Light spilled out from several oversized second story windows onto the parking area. Combined with the security lights, they illuminated the inside of his car. He turned his attention to his lovely companion.

Now that they’d arrived, he wasn’t in a hurry to share her. Vince curved one arm along her seat, and traced the strap of Jade’s dress through the shear wrap. She was so breathtakingly beautiful. His gaze followed the slope of her smooth cheek and moved lower to her luscious cleavage. It was going to be hard to watch men ogle her. But then again, tweaking some rich prick’s nose might just make the evening bearable.