Sapphire (3 page)

“Not so fast, Lt. Shaw. I think it is safe to say that Col. Davis and I wouldn’t have invited you here if we didn’t have something to say to you. Now if you would be so kind, will you please join us?”

Gabriella forced herself to look at the handsome commander who was regarding her solemnly. She noted that he was pointing to the chair across from the dark haired man who had yet to speak. Forcing her shaking legs to carry her over to the chair, Gabriella plopped down, not knowing how she could stand upright another second. Deciding that Ian Ross was unexpectedly the least frightening of the inquisitor trio, she met his gaze. To her surprise, his lips were curled up at the edges in the slightest of smiles.

Instead of addressing her, Ross spoke to the man Gabriella still had not looked at.

“What to do you think, Jase? Think this feisty young woman can be brought to heel enough to trust her on the mission?”

The eye candy came to life and drawled, “Well, Ian, I guess that depends on who’s in charge of the ‘heeling’ process.”

Chapter 3

G
abriella gasped at the insolent assertion by the heretofore silent man across from her. For the first time Gabriella allowed herself to look directly at him. Infuriated at his arrogance and intending to tell him so, she wished that she’d continued looking at the floor. It would have been much safer. Swallowing her astonishment she forced herself to meet his eyes and then wished to God that she hadn’t. Gabriella knew handsome men. She’d even met a couple who were as good looking as the man she’d dubbed “eye candy.” But “eye candy” didn’t begin to describe the dark-haired man sitting across from her.

Leaning back in his chair studying her, his easy posture spoke to his confidence, his assurance, that he was as powerful as he knew himself to be. She’d met any number of men in the Special Forces who had that easy arrogance. They were hot shit and they knew it. His body didn’t surprise her. For most of the last six years, she’d bunked with units of superstars who paid as much attention to their bodies as they did their weapons—as they should. After all, their ultimate weapons
were
their bodies. That, and their brains that were as strong and impressive as their eight-pack abs and bulging biceps.

The seated man was at least six feet tall, more likely six two or three. He was lean, hard, not muscle bound. His body was one thing but it was his eyes that had Gabriella struggling to breathe. It was bad enough that his dark, almost black hair hung to his collar and curled rakishly over his forehead. Coupled with the black beard shadow, he looked for all the world like a pirate. Full, sensuous lips, a strong jaw and molded cheekbones created a stunningly handsome man.

Gabriella had grown up close to Hell’s Kitchen in New York City. That gave her the advantage of knowing the man’s heritage. It was why his emerald green eyes, the color of storm crossed seas, set off by arched black brows and sinfully long eyelashes, didn’t shock her as they might others. There was a name for these men. They were called Black Irish, and were among the most beautiful men and women the Emerald Isle had spawned. The man sitting across from her was one of them. As much as she was angered by his arrogance, she was positively undone by his sensuous beauty.

Ian broke into her jumbled thoughts. It took her a moment to realize he’d been speaking to her.

“Gabriella, I would like to introduce my colleague, Colonel Jase Malone.”

Nodding to the man, he said, “Jase has worked for over ten years in more hellholes than I knew existed. He is one of my most able men and commands the most important and, I might add, dangerous missions.”

Ian’s lip quirked up as he turned to Jase.

“Jase, meet Gabriella Shaw, known by her
Ladies of the Night
code name as Sapphire.”

During Ian’s introduction, Jase hadn’t taken his eyes off of her. Gabriella forced herself to hold his gaze, not look away. She’d die before she let him intimidate her further. She could have told Ian that introductions weren’t necessary. In a sense she already knew this man. Not Jase in particular. But he clearly was part of the breed that she had been fighting for most of her adult life. He had all the telltale signs of a manipulative asshole, the kind of man she’d learned to avoid. Their charming manners and drop dead looks masked a powerful, controlling dominance that she ducked at all costs. His next words confirmed her expectations and sent a shiver of unease flickering across her overwrought nerves. His voice was pleasant, with a trace of humor. Glancing up at the video screen he arched a brow.

“I feel as though I already know you, Gabriella. But I’m pleased to meet you in person.”

Gabriella admitted this man might be even more dangerous to her psyche than the usual bad boy. She redoubled her efforts to harden her shell and met his insouciant gaze head on. Struggling to be as nonchalant as he was, she dug her fingernails into her palms and pressed her curled fists into her lap. Taking a deep breath, she managed to control her voice.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Col. Malone.”

When he merely nodded, Gabriella was infuriated that she had inadvertently addressed him formally when he had chosen to call her by her first nam
e
. Intentionally, she was sure. She chided herself. Good God Almighty, in one sentence she had ceded control of the situation to him. Determined to retrieve the ground she’d granted to him, she added with an indifferent shrug, “But since we apparently are on a first-name basis, let me add that I, too feel as though I know you, Jase. That I’ve met you many times before.”

To her horror, he actually laughed at her intended slight. As did Ian. The only thing that kept Gabriella from being thoroughly mortified that they saw through her bravado, was the annoyance that crossed Diamond’s face.

Before Diamond could break in or Gabriella could come up with an appropriate rejoinder, Jase undercut her intended rebuke.

“Touché, Gabriella. And, yes, given that we are likely to be working together, first names
are
in order.” His eyes danced with humor, but she didn’t miss the edge in his next words.

“As for
knowing
me, Gabriella, I trust you agree that first impressions can be misleading. They don’t begin to reveal the totality of the man—or in your case, the woman. May I suggest that we allow one another time before we write each other off? I believe it could be to our mutual benefit.”

Gabriella shrugged again as if her stomach wasn’t churning with a sensation that bordered on nausea. How in hell could she deal with
this
, with
him
? She was already at a huge disadvantage. Clearly the three of them had been viewing the devastating videotape and been discussing her. Deciding if they could trust her on the op they were considering. It was professionally painful. Even though she wasn’t sure that she could work with this man, Gabriella wasn’t stupid. It looked as though Diamond might actually be considering her for the job. The fact that Ian was present confirmed that it was an important mission. Knowing the importance of her response, she managed to curb her annoyance. But, she refused to let him gain the upper hand.

Swallowing her pride and her angst, she nodded. “Fortunately, working together, if that is what we’re going to do, doesn’t require any further knowledge about either of us. All we need is the assurance that each of us will do what we are intended to do and not get in the way of the other. In my view, that is the essence of professionalism and a requirement for a successful mission.”

Not giving him a chance to respond, Gabriella turned to Diamond.

“Diamond…I mean, ah, Riley, I know that you were annoyed with the way I handled the Diablos. I—”

Diamond broke in before she could finish her sentence.

“Please, Gabriella, don’t minimize what happened by mischaracterizing my reaction as ‘annoyance.’ I was not annoyed with the way that you handled the Diablos goons. It was brilliant and as accomplished a take-down as I have seen.”

Diamond’s expression hardened more, if possible, sending a surge of bile coursing through Gabriella’s throat. Dear God, don’t tell me that Riley is going to take this moment to chastise me? In front of Ian Ross and, even worse, in front of Jase Malone?

“No, Gabriella, let me be crystal clear. I was not
annoyed
, I was angry that you not only disobeyed my direct orders but also had the audacity to ignore Ian Ross. You could have been killed. Moreover, if you had been, you could’ve blown the entire operation.”

Something in Gabriella’s expression must have stopped Diamond’s intent to reprimand her more. She took a visible breath and continued in a more conciliatory tone.

“Ordinarily I should be having this discussion with you in private, Gabriella. In a conversation where we would decide if you have a future at LOTN. But Ian came to me with an important mission that you may be particularly suited for. That’s the reason I asked Col. Malone to be in this meeting and why I showed him the video. To help him decide if he thought you were right for the op and if he thought that he could work with you.”

Gabriella wanted to get up and walk out the door, to make as dignified an exit as she could. But not before she told them all to go to hell, and, in the process, that they could shove the mission up their collective asses. But she wasn’t totally self-destructive. As good as it would feel, she knew that it would be impossible to saunter out of the room and slam the door behind her. God, she was shaking so hard she could barely sit, much less stand. Instead of responding she bit down hard on the inside of her cheek determined to keep her humiliated tears at bay. She chose to ravage her cheek rather than her bottom lip as she usually did when she was upset. At least now they wouldn’t see the blood.

Not content to give her a graceful exit, Diamond continued pouring acid on her already ravished spirit.

“Against my better judgment, I agreed, with Col. Ross, to give you another chance. We felt it was only fair to let Jase know what he was likely in for.” She glanced at Jase but Gabriella couldn’t follow her gaze; she couldn’t bear to see the victory on his face. Her humiliation was complete. She didn’t need to see his amusement at her dressing down to feel worse. Diamond ensured that she would when she added, “But, Col. Malone seems to think that he can keep you on task.”

Intentionally or not, Diamond’s insulting words goaded Gabriella to action. She sat up straighter and glared at her boss. Her fury calmed her, added strength to her cutting response.

“That won’t be necessary, Riley. You can ask any of the LOTN agents that I have worked with. I’ve never let any of them down. I am perfectly capable of keeping myself,
and
the rest of the team, on
task.”

“I agree, Gabriella. The reports from the teams you’ve worked with have been exemplary. However, in all of those missions you were in charge, you led the op. In this case your role is different. This is an ongoing mission that Jase has been working for some time. He and Ian needed a female agent and asked me if LOTN had anyone who could play the role.”

Ian broke in.

“Perhaps it will be useful for Gabriella to know the nature of the mission before she decides if she wants to participate. Jase, how about you fill her in?”

“Certainly, Ian, I’m pleased to do so.”

Gabriella forced herself to meet her new nemesis’s gaze. She gripped the arms of the chair knowing that if she did decide to flounce out of the room in a temper she would need to be able to rise gracefully. Hanging onto the chair was the only way she could ensure that she wouldn’t crumple to the floor. Fortunately, Jase was regarding her carefully, as if he was testing her, deciding if she was up to the mission—whatever the hell it was.

Jase rose to his feet confirming that Gabriella’s estimate had been off. He definitely was taller than six feet and even more impressive standing than he was sitting. He directed his remarks to her giving her an excuse to stare at him.

“Here’s the ten-cent version, we’ll go over the details later. Essentially, an important government leader was convinced that his daughter had been kidnapped. I traced her whereabouts to a ‘Gentleman’s Club’ and was able to confirm that she was there at her own volition. Unfortunately, the more I investigated the Club, the more I came to believe that it is a front for an international human trafficking ring. My concerns were confirmed two days ago when our client’s daughter disappeared. At this point our goal, mine and Ian’s, is to not only find our client’s daughter, but also shut down the Club and by extension make a dent in the trafficking ring.

Gabriella was shocked. Long gone was her incipient anger at Jase. Rather she was impressed. Apparently the eye candy was not only an impressive man, he was a stellar agent. Ian confirmed her assessment.

“Jase is being modest. He has managed to insert himself directly into the operation of none other than Roberto Ventrilo.”

Gabriella couldn’t hold back her gasp. Roberto Ventrilo was on virtually every off-the-grid top ten wanted list of international criminals. She knew of no fewer than six alphabet soup agencies who had their sights on him. To date he’d managed to evade capture. Having government officials at every level, local, state and national, in his pocket didn’t hurt. Neither did having an impenetrable security apparatus known for its viciousness to deter anyone foolish enough to think they could invade it. If Jase had gotten inside the highly secret lair, he was set to make a crucial killing. Forgetting her anger and determination to get away from him, Gabriella’s competitive gut clicked in. Was it possible that she could be part of a mission to take down the scourge of the Southwest arm of this hideous worldwide enterprise? Just the thought of it sent torrents of excitement racing through her.

Working hard not to betray her enthusiasm, she managed to ask relatively calmly,

“How do I fit in?”

Jase nodded, a slight frown knitting his brow and gazed at her thoughtfully.

“Among your other attributes, Gabriella, it just so happens you’re an almost exact replica of the woman who is missing. In addition, if my information is correct, you could be a sister to any of the others that we now believe were sold to the trafficking ring.”