Secret Obsession (11 page)

She sat at their usual corner table, staring down at the tablecloth. Demure, controllable.

Just as he preferred.

Her chin rose and his step faltered. Gone was the typical smile of welcome. She frowned at him, a vertical wrinkle creasing her forehead.

When he reached her, she jumped out of the chair and flung herself into his arms.

Archimedes congratulated himself on the discipline not to toss her away from him. Instead, he awkwardly patted her back.

Not removing his gloves, of course.

“What’s the matter, my dear?”

“My boss is still in the coma.” Her voice choked. “They don’t know if he’ll ever wake up.”

With a concerned expression—one Archimedes had fine-tuned from years of looking in a mirror—he forced his lips to touch her temple.

He’d have to disinfect himself when he returned home.

Rose nestled against him, rubbing at him. His body shuddered, not from desire, from disgust.

“Will he recover?”

Not that Archimedes cared. The point had been for a message to be delivered. And that had been accomplished.

She clung even tighter to him. “Now, dear, everyone is watching.”

At the soft admonition, she flushed. Such a good girl. If he hadn’t known Lyssa was his, he might have trained Rose properly, but she wasn’t smart enough, not poised enough, not perfect enough. No match for him.

“I’m sorry.” She stepped away from him and turned to the table. Quickly, she adjusted his silverware, placed the breadbasket in the precise center of the table, then wiped down his chair and waited for him to sit before seating herself.

Her fingers folded and refolded the napkin on the table. He sent her a pointed glance. She sighed and placed her hands in her lap.

“You don’t understand,” she whispered. “They still can’t find his most important
client.
The one I told you about. They’re desperate.”

“I haven’t seen anything on the news,” he commented, motioning for the waiter. When the man hurried over, he didn’t glance at Rose. “We’ll have the salmon. See that it’s not overcooked. Two garden salads. No tomatoes. No cheese. No croutons. Dressing on the side. Three tablespoons exactly.”

The waiter skittered away.

“The authorities have no idea where she is?” he asked, tugging his tracking monitor into view. Still at the UN. Inside he smiled. He relished the image of the WitSec authorities scrambling.

“No idea. They had me go through Marshal Nichols’s computer and desk.” She leaned forward. “I found a hidden drawer. It’s locked. And there are files on his computer I can’t decrypt. Tomorrow I have to call his boss. They’re going to think I’m too stupid to know what Mr. Nichols was doing.” A tear slid down her cheek. “What if they fire me?”

Her watery blue eyes gazed up at him. Archimedes smiled gently when all he wanted to do was stop her from speaking, giving away her weakness. “I helped you fix the computer a few weeks ago,” he said softly.

The hope on her face widened his grin. “Would you like my assistance again?”

“You’d come with me?” She bit her lip. “We could get into trouble.”

“We know how to get in without anyone knowing, don’t we, Rose?”

She flushed. “You kissed me for the first time in my office after you sneaked in after hours.”

“This time, we may do even more,” he said, lowering his voice to a tempting whisper.

The waiter returned, placing the plate three inches from the edge of the table. Rose hurriedly adjusted the salad to precisely two inches.

“Well done, my dear.” He glanced at his watch. “Let’s finish our meal. By this time tomorrow, you will be able to share the information and be a hero.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said quietly.

“No, Rose. Thank you. You’ve given me more than you realize. I cannot wait to show my appreciation in a way you deserve.”

* * *

J
ACK
’
S
HOUSE
HADN
’
T
changed—except for the mess. Noah had only been here a few times. It was a family house, an old restored farmhouse. His friend could have made a good life here with Lyssa. He should have.

Noah took in her stiff posture as she stared into the cupboard above the refrigerator. “You sure there’s nothing up there?”

She stepped off the stool, her expression wistful, but only for an instant. “Nothing but memories. Nothing I need.”

She lied.

He said nothing, but the recognition she still held back tore at him. He wanted to either kiss her or shake her, to force her to reveal the truth, but now wasn’t the time. Or the place.

“I want to scope out the house before we set the trap,” he said. “Are you ready to go into the living room?”

She nodded and he pushed through the archway.

He remembered the scene all too well. The fine black powder of fingerprint dust clung to the furniture, covered by a light layer of regular dust. A large area of the carpet had been cut out, but the rust of bloodstains still remained, surrounding the empty square.

He shot a glance at Lyssa. She didn’t say anything but hugged her arms around her body and stared at the spot where Jack had died. She paused at the dinner table, still set in the corner, though a glass had broken and silverware had scattered, candles turned over.

Her tortured gaze met Noah’s. “We were planning a special night,” she said softly.

“I know,” he said, his voice full of regret.

“We’re going to get him, Jack,” she whispered into the empty room. “I promise you.”

“Just bedrooms upstairs?” Noah asked. “If I remember right.”

With a curt nod, she padded toward the stairs.

“The master bedroom?” he asked.

“Down that hallway. This floor.”

“A second entrance?”

“French doors in the master.”

“We need to make sure we have an escape route we can use, but that he can’t sneak in,” Noah said. “Let’s take a look there first.”

Lyssa paused.

Noah clasped her by the shoulders. “Only a few more minutes, Lyssa. Keep your eye on the goal.”

She led him to a closed door. Noah stepped in front of her. He used the scanner on the doorway. “Just checking,” he said.

Carefully, he turned the knob and eased open the bedroom door.

He stilled.

Lyssa leaned around him. “Oh, my God!”

“Out,” he shouted. “Now.”

A pair of severed feet sat in the center of the bed with one message painted on the wall. In blood.

You’re getting warmer.

* * *

A
RCHIMEDES
SPOONED
A
last bit of lemon gelato to cleanse his palate.

A small alarm sounded on his phone. He paused. That shouldn’t have happened.

He pulled out his tracking device. Alessandra was still near the UN.

He typed in a code on his phone. An image flashed on the screen.

Alessandra. Sitting by yet another man.

In the house.

He panned the camera. Noah Bradford stood nearby.

“I-is something wrong, sir?” Rose asked quietly.

With everything inside him, Archimedes struggled not to toss the table. He picked up a wineglass. The crystal shattered in his hand, slicing his finger.

She leaped from her chair, but he waved her off.

“We’re leaving,” he said, standing, throwing down two hundred-dollar bills. He escorted Rose out of the restaurant.

Noah Bradford had done this. He had no doubt.

The man wanted to
try
to outsmart him. They were in for a very rude awakening.

* * *

I
F
ANYTHING
ABOUT
this situation were normal, the house would have been swarming with cops. As it was, after scanning the perimeter, Noah had called in Zane. Rafe had made it back from New York in record time.

They were all inside, the gruesome evidence still sitting in the bedroom.

“I wish Elijah were here,” Zane said. “From what I can tell, it looks like the feet were severed while the poor guy was still alive.” He glanced at Noah. “Archimedes is a serious pycho.”

“He’s playing us,” Noah said, his jaw tight.

“Finish the photographs,” Noah ordered. “We’ll send them to Elijah. I need to check something out, then we’re out of here.”

Noah sent Rafe a telling look. One thing about working with a man for a long time, they could almost read each other’s minds. His friend distracted Lyssa and Noah eased past them, silently. He wanted a look in that cabinet.

He climbed the stool and opened the door.

A cookie jar. A couple of vases. One porcelain base was slightly off the circle of wood surrounded by dust. She’d moved it aside.

Noah shifted the piece, revealing two silhouettes surrounded by a thick layer of dust.

The print of a small shoe—a baby’s shoe, and right next to it the outline of a rattle. He stilled, his mind whirling.

She didn’t have a child. Not that he knew of.

He knew she and Jack had wanted kids. It was one reason his friend had put in for a transfer to a desk job.

But why remove them now?

Noah stepped to the ground. His phone rang and he glanced at the screen. His brother.

His gut sank. He had a bad feeling.

“What’s up, Chase?”

“Noah, Sierra’s missing.”

Chapter Ten

“Rafe, get in here!”

Lyssa jerked at the panic in Noah’s voice. She’d never heard that tone before.

Obviously Rafe and Zane never had either. They raced into the kitchen. One look at Noah’s face, expression frozen, but eyes...oh, God, his eyes. The pain hurt her.

He flicked on the speakerphone. “Say that again, Chase. I’ve got Rafe with me.”

“Our sister sneaked out and went to your place, Noah. W-we found her Jeep, but she’s...she’s just gone.”

Noah paced back and forth, and Lyssa could nearly feel his panic.

“Get away from there, Chase. Now.”

“I’m calling the police,” Chase said.

A beep sounded through Noah’s speaker. His hand tensed round the phone. “I’ll call you right back. Just don’t go into the house. Get the hell away from there.” He flicked the flash button. “Bradford.”

“This is Archimedes. You’re playing a dangerous game, Mr. Bradford. You’ve changed the rules.”

Noah’s knuckles whitened. “Maybe.” He motioned to Zane, but the computer tech was already at his laptop furiously typing away.

Lyssa clutched at the phone, but Noah placed his finger on his lips. She wanted to scream and yell, but Noah held on to his emotions with a strength she couldn’t fathom. His eyes had turned icy, though.

“You’re probably a good liar most of the time, Mr. Bradford. You can’t fool me.” Archimedes paused, dragging out every second of torture. “I know you. Your family is your weakness.”

Noah didn’t say a word.

“You have discipline. Well, so do I, but I won’t keep you in suspense. Tell me, Mr. Bradford, did you love your sister?”

Lyssa couldn’t stop the gasp from escaping her mouth. Noah quickly pressed the mute button, but not quick enough.

“Alessandra, my love. At last we speak in person again.” The man’s voice purred through the phone. “I’ve sent you messages. All you have to do is decipher them and you’ll find me.”

“Don’t say a word,” Noah hissed.

Lyssa chewed on her lower lip and nodded.

Noah unmuted the phone. “Where’s Sierra?” he said quietly.

Lyssa could tell he wanted to reach through the phone and strangle the man.

“Oh, she’s not dead yet. You have a chance to save her.”

“What do you want?” Noah bit the words out.

“Simple for a man of your intelligence. All you have to do, Mr. Bradford, is leave Connecticut. Go back to Denver. Once I know you’re in Colorado and away from Alessandra, I’ll contact you with your sister’s location. But let me be clear. Your sister doesn’t have a lot of time left. You should hurry.”

Noah’s expression grew fierce. He looked at Zane. The man shook his head.
Keep him talking,
he mouthed.

“I need a guarantee,” Noah said. “How do I know—?”

“Don’t insult my intelligence, Mr. Bradford. Your clumsy efforts to trace the signal won’t get you anywhere. And Alessandra, I expect you to behave from now on. Haven’t you learned yet that you
will
be mine?”

Lyssa couldn’t speak. The man on the phone chuckled. “By the way, you might want to check the location where your friends left the tracking device. I’ve provided you another clue. We will meet soon, Alessandra. I’ll be disappointed if you aren’t smart enough to decipher it. Very disappointed.”

The phone went silent. Noah stared down at Lyssa. She wanted to throw up. All of this was because of her. And she had no idea what to do about it. She backed away from him. “Go, Noah. Go home.”

“I don’t have a choice,” Noah said aloud, then his narrowed gaze met Rafe’s. The man smiled, but his eyes were deadly.

She didn’t know what the look meant, but Rafe immediately walked out of the room. He returned with a suitcase in hand. Lyssa noticed Rafe’s hand subtly signaling Noah.

“I’m sorry, Lyssa. Family comes first.”

She understood, but a chill swept through her. He clasped her hand and met her gaze. He didn’t say a word. She simply nodded.

“He’s won then, hasn’t he? I guess it’s back to plan A. I find him.”

She walked out the back door.

Noah, Rafe and Zane followed. Noah didn’t speak until they reached the vehicle. Rafe scanned the interior. They piled in and Rafe turned to Noah. “He had the place bugged. I didn’t take it out.”

“Did you see a camera?”

Rafe shook his head. “Zane’s better at spotting the electronics, but it wouldn’t surprise me.”

“Zane, get to the UN. Find out what Archimedes has left us. Rafe, in the meantime, you and I are switching places.”

Lyssa stared at them. “What are you talking about?”

“Archimedes isn’t dictating this investigation. Rafe’s going to find Sierra—as me. I’m staying with you and we’ll make this guy regret the day he ever came after you.”

* * *

T
HE
OUT
-
OF
-
THE
-
WAY
motel wasn’t Noah’s normal style, but Rafe...well, Rafe stayed anyplace that no one would expect. His friend had lost so much, Noah got it. Rafe didn’t have a home base or a permanent address—except for CTC.

For now, Noah would behave exactly like his friend. Except he had Lyssa with him.

She hovered by the door while he swept the room for surveillance.

“We’re safe.”

“For the moment,” she said. “Noah—”

He looked over at her, knowing what she saw, the fake beard, the eye patch. He and Rafe had switched places. They’d done it before. With similar sizes and builds the misdirection had come in handy more than once. It hadn’t taken long to get Rafe on the next flight to Denver, looking more like Noah than Noah himself. Clean-shaven, sunglasses to conceal the small patch he’d rigged over his eye.

“We’re here for the night, Lyssa.” Noah sat on the bed. “Why don’t you take a shower. I need to call my family.”

She hesitated for a moment, picked up her duffel and nodded. “I understand.”

She disappeared into the bathroom. Noah rubbed the bridge of his nose. A text came through. From Zane. He’d been using highly illegal means to track unknown queries about Rafe’s flight.

Sure enough, a sophisticated request had just come through. Zane hadn’t been able to trace the originating computer—no surprise there—but they knew Archimedes was following them.

For now, they’d succeeded.

Zane had headed to the UN, Elijah was in D.C. following up on leads, and Noah and Alessandra were alone.

In a motel room.

Spraying water sounded from the bathroom. His gut twisting with trepidation, Noah picked up the new prepaid cell phone and dialed a number.

“Chase Bradford,” his brother said, voice raspy with fatigue and worry.

“It’s Noah.”

“Where the hell have you been?” Chase shouted. “Sierra needs you. We need you. Are you on your way?”

Noah closed his eyes. “Archimedes took Sierra.”

For a long moment, Chase said nothing. “The serial killer? Oh, God, no.” Chase lowered his voice. “Is she...?”

“Listen carefully, Chase. This is about me. Archimedes wants me off the case I’m involved with. He’s using Sierra as leverage.”

“So, when you come home, he’ll let her go?”

Noah gripped the phone hard. “I don’t know.”

His brother didn’t say a word.

“Look, there’s a chance,” Noah said. “He told me she’s alive. If we can find her first—”

“So, when will you get here?” Chase interrupted. “We’ll pick you up. You obviously know this guy’s methods.”

Noah rubbed the back of his neck, the pain eating away at him. “I can’t come home, Chase. Lyssa, the woman I’m protecting, needs me, too. The only way to stop this is to catch Archimedes, and he wants Lyssa.”

“You’re choosing some woman over our sister? Do I even know you? Are you part of this family or not?”

The words cut through his core.

“I’m sending Rafe Vargas. Look for me when the flight lands. He’s in disguise, and Archimedes has to believe it.” Noah rattled off the details. “Treat him like family. He knows as much as I do about Archimedes.”

“Oh, so I just substitute some guy I don’t know for my brother and that makes it okay? Are you out of your mind?”

“The killer promised that if I left Lyssa, he’d tell us where Sierra is. I’m giving him what he wants and hoping I can save Lyssa’s life in the process. She’s lost everything, Chase.”

“You’re playing with Sierra’s life, Noah.”

Noah rose from the bed and paced the floor. “It’ll work. He’s trying to set a trap for Lyssa. I need to be here for her, Chase. I have to.

He had to give them the truth. How was he supposed to choose between his sister and the woman he...damn, the woman he
loved.

“Chase, this is what I do. It’s the job I’ve never told you about. And Lyssa, she’s...she’s important to me. I can’t explain more now, but I will. I promise.”

“Noah, it’s Mitch. I hear you. We’ll find her, but Dad’s going out of his mind. We can’t put him off. What do we say?”

“The truth. I’ve learned the hard way that anything less gets you nowhere.”

“Truth, then. What are Sierra’s chances?”

The water from the shower stopped, but Noah didn’t turn around. “I don’t know. I think she’s alive because he wanted me away from Lyssa. As long as we can keep the pretense going, we have a chance.” Noah peered out the motel room window, then closed the curtains. “Sierra’s smart. And resourceful. Check her phone, check anything she might have with her. She’ll signal you if she can.” Noah gripped the phone. “I want to be there,” he said. “Believe that.”

“Come home soon, Noah,” Mitch said. “If the worst happens...we’ll need you.”

His brother hung up. With a low curse, Noah tossed the phone on the bedside table. The motel room was silent. The bathroom door snicked. Noah stiffened then looked over his shoulder.

Lyssa stood just inside the bedroom, hair wet, wearing a large T-shirt that left little to the imagination. Her eyes glistened with emotion. She took two steps toward him and launched herself into his arms. “I’m so sorry. There’s nothing I can say but I’m incredibly sorry I ever involved you.”

Like he’d had a choice. He wrapped his arms around her. God, he needed her. Noah buried his head into her shoulder. He’d tried to keep his emotions under control, but the thought of his baby sister at the hands of that madman...The big brother in him wanted to sob, the Falcon wanted to kill Archimedes with his bare hands, the man in him wanted to forget.

The man won.

He clutched her, lifted his head and fastened his lips to hers. She didn’t whimper or pull away. She held him tight against her.

With a desperation that had been building over days, if not years, Noah’s mouth explored hers, not tentatively, but taking her sweetness with a fierceness he didn’t recognize. He’d imagined his first time loving her gentle and reverent, but he needed more from her.

He needed everything.

He raised his head, his heart racing, his breathing quick and shallow. “If you don’t want this, tell me now, Lyssa. I won’t be able to stop.”

She placed her hands on the sides of his face, her lips already swollen from his kiss. She pressed her mouth to his then didn’t say a word. She simply pulled the T-shirt over her head and dropped it to the floor.

His body leaped in response. Her skin still damp and warm, the smooth silkiness beckoned him. He couldn’t wait. Noah lifted her into his arms and strode over to the bed, throwing down the spread and laying her gently on the sheets. Quickly, he stripped off his clothes and settled his hard, urgent body on top of her.

With emotions quivering at the surface, Noah lowered his head to her breast and tasted her curves, his hands exploring every inch of skin.

Lyssa arched against him, her hands tugging his head closer, massaging his scalp and moving down to his shoulders. With a low groan, he teased her nipple, the taut bud responding beautifully to his caress. With a small nip, a low moan escaped from her.

“More,” she breathed against him.

He eased down her body, his desire flaring out of control. He scraped his teeth across her belly and eased her legs apart. She didn’t resist. With a low growl he tasted her, relishing her response to him.

The reality of Lyssa in his arms was better than any fantasy or dream.

“Please,” her voice shook. She tugged him back up then hooked her heels around his hips, arching against him, begging for his possession.

Slowly, tenderly, he entered her, using every ounce of willpower not to slam into her and lose himself. He stilled, watching her hooded lids blink, her lips part, her back arch.

“More,” she ordered.

That one word eradicated his control. Passion took over, taking them on a ride where the world vanished. She wrapped her arms and legs around him and buried her face into his shoulder, meeting him thrust for thrust, touch for touch.

The friction erupted into flames, engulfing them, taking them higher and higher until the world exploded between them.

Noah collapsed on top of Lyssa, his body spent, his breathing unsteady. Her heart raced and she stroked his hair as they came down to earth.

He could barely move, she felt so good beneath him, but he would crush her. He shifted his weight off her and she groaned.

“Did I hurt you?” he asked, pushing strands of damp hair away from her face.

She shook her head and moved, rolling him onto his back, setting her body over his.

Oh, yeah, this was much better.

He searched her face for a hint of regret. He might have been dreaming of this for years, but it had happened fast. He couldn’t be sorry, but...

“Oh no you don’t,” Lyssa said, leaning over him, pressing her naked breasts against his chest, grinding her hips against his. “I can see those analytical gears grinding. Don’t think for a minute I didn’t want this as much as you did.”

“You’re too perceptive for your own good,” Noah muttered, but still he looked away.

She caught his chin in her fingertips and forced him to meet her gaze. “What are you thinking?”

Should he tell her the truth, what he truly feared? He caressed the silkiness of her hair and hugged her closer, partly so he didn’t have to look into her eyes.