Secure Desire Page 7

  "It's good to see you, Cass." Garett rubbed his thumb over the top of her hand as they danced. "I didn't realize until tonight how much I miss you." He pulled her into a soft embrace. "You look beautiful. How are you?"

  Cassie placed her palm against his chest to create distance. "I don't think you have the right to ask me anymore, Garett."

  "I'm sorry. I guess I don't. Cass, I never wanted to hurt you."

  Her steps faltered. "But you did."

  When Garett kissed her cheek, Ian stiffened, watching and trying to read his lips. The way they were angled made it difficult. He missed some of the conversation.

  "I did it to protect you. You have to believe me, baby. I care about you. God, Cass, I still love you. I'm sorry I wasn't brave enough. Did you keep it?"

  "No."

  Ian saw the tension building across Cassie's back. He saw Garett say, "I still love you."

  Her trembling hands pushed Garett away. "I'm sorry. Have a good life, Garett. Enjoy your babies." Cassie looked down, and they headed back to the table. When Hector and Quinn moved toward her, she shrugged, mouthed a quick apology, and adjusted her com.

  As soon as they sat, Cheyenne Whitman glared at her husband and patted her pregnant belly. In a sugar-sweet Texas accent, she said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I apologize, but Garett and I must head home. Our little girl has a temperature, and she wants her mommy and daddy."

  Garett seemed startled by his wife's words. They said quick goodbyes, and she dragged her husband from the ballroom.

  Chapter Nine

  In between another dance with the senator and the judge, Bradford took Cassie for a spin. "You're looking mighty fine, Cassiopeia. Too bad you just weren't suitable wife material for Garett. That Cheyenne, she's perfect for him. Meets his every need—a real babymaker too. Poor thing lost the first one, but this one will be my third grandbaby—and it's a boy."

  She gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Mr. Whitman, I'm glad things worked out for the best. I hope you all are happy."

  Wilds said, "Modine, I want the whole story. Your dating habits are a big problem. I was told you were a society girl. I didn't realize you were the whore of the political elite."

  All she heard over and over was the word "whore."

  "Hey, Cass. Company approaching on your left. Villanueva, cover the senator." Preston Galloway's kind voice dueled with Wilds' cruelty through her earwig.

  Cassie's body sensed where Ian was before she saw him, her heart rate and breathing amplified. She reminded herself Ian Chase was dangerous. She couldn't allow herself to have feelings for him. She didn't deserve any man, much less a man like him.

  "May I have this dance?" Ian tapped the elder Whitman's shoulder. His large hand opened for hers.

  Wilds' voice echoed in her com, "Here comes the big, rich Navy SEAL to save the day. I bet he wants to peel you out of that dress." Her boss seemed not to care if her colleagues heard his harassing comments.

  Whitman bowed to Ian. "If Ms. Ellis is willing." Cassie accepted Ian's hand. "Enjoy the dance, Mr. Chase. Cassiopeia, it's good to see you." Bradford kissed her cheek and then returned to his wife. She buffed the kiss away with her thumb.

  Monique was alluring. Patrons reached out to her as she crossed the large ballroom. Standing beside Jason and Colby, she observed Ian and Cassie dancing while chatting with Kieran on her cell. "I'm not having as much fun as your brother. He's dancing with a beautiful woman. If you ask me, he's smitten."

  Kieran chuckled. "What's her name? Get pictures and video. I'll believe it when I see it." He paused. "Are you sure you're talking about my dear brother?"

  Monique shot a photo and forwarded it to her husband. "Her name is Cassie Ellis. I'll see you soon, love."

  Kieran texted Tiki. He wanted to see that file.

  Cassie placed her damp palm in Ian's. Despite her heels, he towered over her. When he put his hand against the small of her back, she flinched. "Hey." As he took her other hand, his pinkie depressed the button in her ear, switching her com to push-to-talk. She eyed him but did not change the setting. "Are you all right?"

  Cassie pushed out a laugh. "Peachy."

  Ian raised a knowing brow. "I've got you, sweetheart." Cassie closed her eyes to take a stabilizing breath. "I get the feeling you're not okay."

  He calmed her, placing his hand against the nape of her neck. The emotional tone in his voice, coupled with his warm touch, eased her anxiety. Soon, at the continued caress of his hands, her body softened. "Cassie, I'm happy to have this chance to see you again. I didn't like how things ended between us. I'm sorry I spooked you."

  "You did nothing wrong. Thank you for the flowers. They're beautiful." She looked up at him. "I don't want to hurt you. I'm trying to be honest and upfront. I don't date. You will be so much better off without me. I'm not worth the effort."

  Cassie's eyes closed again, and a single tear escaped. He swiped it away with the pad of his thumb.

  "I don't know why you feel this way, but I shouldn't press you while you're working. I would like to take you to lunch tomorrow. We can talk more about why you feel this way then."

  Cassie exhaled and stared at his face. She saw a softness urging her to try. "I'll think about it. I have to be at work at eight. We can talk around seven?"

  Ian watched Cassie leave for the restroom, catching up to her in time to see a heated discussion with Greg Wilds end and leave Cassie alone, her chest heaving in anger, her com on the carpet at her feet. As she bent to pick it up, she looked up at him with a quizzical smile. "Are you following me?"

  "I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't. I needed to say one more thing." He whispered, "Cassie, I will never hurt you. You are so worth the effort."

  "Thank you for your kind words, but I can't do this to you."

  Ian reached for her hand. "If you're ever ready to take a chance on us, I'll be waiting."

  "Chances and wishes are fairytales. They'll never come true for me." Cassie stepped back.

  Before he could say more, Quinn Marcus approached with a worried expression.

  Cassie nodded and turned to her teammate. "Thank you, Mr. Chase."

  Traffic whizzed by. Bradford stood with Sebastian in the warm Washington night. "Your behavior, young man, is not what I expect from the soon-to-be aide to the President of the United States. Ms. Ellis is not a problem. Do not poke the bear. She's not a toy."

  Sebastian looked at the older gentleman. "What do you want me to do?" He looked like a little boy about to be punished.

  "Nothing. Let her be. Pretend you never met her. She has no idea who you are. Keep it that way. Discretion is of the utmost importance."

  Sebastian scowled. "Yes, sir."

  "That a boy." The two men returned to the table.

  While engaged in a debate with the men, Cassie's ear buzzed. Galloway said, "Clear channel. White male, brown on brown, on a mission." She looked up to see a huge drunk man with wild brown hair and raging brown eyes moving toward the grouping of tables with a head of steam. She followed his sightline to an adjoining table, which led to one of the women who'd spoken about how the charity benefitted her.

  "Charlotte, you lying witch," the drunk man yelled.

  The woman at the table cowered and began to flee. He was close enough for Cassie to make out the nine-millimeter double-tap gun in his left hand. House security was approaching too slowly to help the frightened woman.

  "Do not engage. Let house handle," Wilds ordered.

  "Excuse me, Senator," Cassie said. She whispered, "Double tap left hand." Ian began to stand.

  Cassie approached the angry man, putting herself between the gun and the intended target. "Hey, big boy. It's been a long time." She shimmied against his body, grasping his sweaty face between her hands.

  "Damn, Modine," Wilds cursed.

  Preston had a different perspective. "Gun left hand."

  Wilds understood the seriousness of the situation. "Walton, Villanueva, approach from his left. Galloway, on me. Marcus and Cruz, watch the
package." Three agents moved in Cassie's direction.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ian sit back down, his hand moving in a discreet signal. Two tuxedoed men walked to approach him and Monique. She knew their safety was their priority.

  "What are you doing, bitch?" The intoxicated giant tried to shove Cassie away.

  She climbed him like a ladder, her leg rubbing across his upper thighs. "Baby, you don't remember me?" She did not want to set off a panic in the room. She compressed his carotid arteries with the heels of her hands. "FBI. There are four men around you with guns. Be a good boy now. Hand me yours—and we can walk out of here peacefully."

  The goliath swayed as she deprived his brain of oxygen. He turned to either side, noting the four large tuxedoed men with menacing expressions. Cassie kissed him on the cheek and opened her bag. He dropped the weapon inside. She slid down his body, a supporting arm slipped under his elbow. She laughed, joining Greg, Hector, Preston, and Brice to walk him out without any further disruption.

  In the quiet of the empty hallway, Greg Wilds said, "Modine, your ass is mine."

  She turned to face him. "You do what you have to. Exigent circumstances. This sorry excuse had a gun that somehow got through the security checks. I think you have a lot more to worry about than me doing a job I am trained to do. No one was wiser." Except maybe Ian.

  "Do you know what a direct order is? You were told to stand down. Get your ass back into that room and act like a socialite. See if you can do your job for another hour without blowing your cover. I knew you were trouble the minute I set eyes on you. I expect you in my office with your completed after-action report at 0700. I will be happy to send you back to Paul Yates ASAP. Though how he puts up with your antics, I will never understand." His face was red with anger. "This is far from over. You will pay for your insubordination."

  Cassie tapped two fingers against his chest. "Greg, I would be cautious if I were you."

  Chapter Ten

  "Baby, what was that about?" Sebastian asked, holding Cassie's chair.

  Cassie couldn't suppress her irritation. "Don't call me, baby." Her voice was icy, the volume louder than she intended.

  Sebastian placed a possessive arm around her shoulders. Thirsty, Cassie drank from her water glass, her cheeks flushed pink from the rush of the takedown. She slammed her empty water glass on the table. "Stop touching me." Her tablemates stilled to watch. She turned hard in her chair to get him to remove his hand. "Not that you deserve an explanation, but he's an old friend. I guess I was happier to see him than he was to see me." She shifted her position again and tamped down the urge to punch Sebastian.

  "Well, well, Ms. Ellis," Senator Bynum said. "You seem popular with a lot of folks tonight."

  Cassie flashed him her plastic smile. "Side effect of growing up in this town, Senator. They do call it a fishbowl."

  The senator added gasoline to the fire. "You and Mr. Chase made quite a couple on the dance floor. Maybe he will make you a new takeover for his firm.

  Cassie's cheeks flamed crimson as her trademark poise faded. "Thank you, Senator, but with all due respect to Mr. Chase, it was just a dance. "

  Ian cringed at the finality of her words while Sebastian watched her with growing hostility.

  Sebastian brooded as he tossed back another drink. His brief discussion with Bradford made him feel impotent. The liquid courage helped a night from six years ago, flash in his mind.

  He observed Cassie with a combined look of lust and hatred. He wasn't going to take a chance; he didn't care what the others thought. She might stand in the way of the plan.

  Robby didn't answer his calls, so the problem was his to fix. All would soon know he could do more than just follow orders. Assured no one could see, he slid his fingers between Cassie's thighs. She flinched, thrusting his hand away so fiercely, his wrist hit the underside of the table with a bang. The tiny pill he dropped into her water would be taking effect at any moment.

  Cassie pushed up to her feet, her green eyes blazing. "Pardon me."

  "Is everything all right?" Ian asked. Cassie nodded.

  Sebastian leered at the full sway of her hips as she walked away.

  "What did you do to her, Ames?" Ian asked.

  "Not a thing, yet, Chase." Contempt dripped from Sebastian's lips while Ian's eyes followed Cassie's hasty retreat.

  "I need some air." Sebastian threw his napkin across his place setting.

  Ian reached across the table and grabbed his wrist. "Stay clear of her."

  Sebastian yanked his arm free. "Who made you my boss, Chase?" He stalked off toward the bar at the other side of the ballroom.

  Senator Bynum leaned toward Ian. "I'm sorry, Mr. Chase. You understand matters of the heart. Rejection is tough at any age."

  "Your aide is not making friends, Senator."

  The statesman nodded. Ian ignored the warning tingle in the back of his neck and the burn in his gut. When his phone vibrated again, he excused himself to return the call.

  "I'm going to the can," Cassie huffed in an aggravated tone.

  "Roger that. Hope everything comes out all right," Wilds said.

  Hector, Preston, and Brice were speaking with the local police and hotel security about the weapon breach. Quinn, Vincent, and Wilds remained to watch the senator.

  The restroom was empty except for the attendant. Cassie smiled at the nice woman, then latched the stall door closed, barely making it inside to throw up. Wiping her lips with paper, she turned and sat. Cassie raised her dress to expose Sebastian's finger marks on her inner left thigh. "Bastard."

  Her wrists rested on her knees, and she closed her eyes, shutting out the world around her. Her mind cleared as calming breaths filled her lungs. Her body came back under her control. "Almost home free."

  Standing, a wave of dizziness hit her. She rested her hand on the stall door, hoping for it to pass. Feeling steadier, she straightened her dress.

  Sebastian loomed over her as she opened the door, his face contorted with rage. The attendant lay on the floor in her peripheral vision. She had nowhere to run. "Sebastian, what are you doing here?"

  She tapped her earwig, but there was only static. Her only escape route was through him.

  "It's good to see you again, Cassiopeia. Are you sure you don't remember me?"

  She remained calm. "I'm sorry, I don't."

  He backed her up until the toilet hit the back of her knees, and she was forced to sit. "You disappoint me. We spent some quality time together six years ago. I guess I should cut you some slack—we gave you a lot of drugs. You should be feeling the same effects soon."

  Sebastian threw a handful of pepper in her face. Cassie's hands flew up to wipe the sting away. With a cruel smile, he lunged, lifting her off her feet by her throat. Her screams were stifled by his fingers closing.

  "Help!" Tears spilled down her cheeks as his long, strong fingers pressed deeply into her fair skin, raising angry red welts. Black dots from lack of oxygen and the drugs formed in front of her eyes.

  "We had a lot of fun with you." Sebastian's free hand tore at her dress's neckline, mashing her breast. Teeth gnashed her neck, breaking the fragile skin. His tongue lapped at the drop of blood. "I love the taste of you. You haven't changed a bit."

  Cassie crammed down the revulsion and dug her fingers into the pressure points on his arm. Her nails clawed his flesh as she kicked at his shins.

  "Damn you," he yelled, throwing her hard against the far wall. Cassie sucked in much-needed air. "You were always a bitch. Thought you were better than everyone else. Wouldn't give someone like me the time of day. Not then. Not now."

  Her vision was blurring. As she attempted to flee, Sebastian grabbed her around her waist. "You're not going anywhere. I'll take what's mine—and then you will fetch an excellent price."

  Cassie punched at him, but he managed to snag her wrists in one hand. She strained hard against him, but he held her in a way that eliminated her leverage. Without mercy, he slammed her head
into the mirror. The silver glass cracked in a spiral, the shards cutting into her scalp. Dizzy and choking, a whole different type of panic, started to set in.

  Panic gets you killed. A pool exercise from Quantico popped into her head. Fight, Cassie. She urged herself from the approaching darkness. Focus. Her heels dug into his thighs with vicious kicks. Gun. Get your gun.

  "Sebastian, let me go. I'm not who you think I am. I'm a special agent with the FBI. My team knows where I am. You won't get away with this."

  Still holding her around her waist, he dropped her wrists and pulled a sizeable serrated carving knife from his jacket. "Well, then, time to die. Whore."

  Cassie tried to roll away from the impending blow and grab his forearm, but her body didn't comply. He raised the weapon and plunged the blade into her right shoulder, separating it like a chef carves a chicken. She cried out in agony. Blood trickled down her arm. Closing her mind to the searing ache, her left hand reached to free her Glock from its holster. Everything was moving in slow motion.

  Without letting her go, Sebastian hacked at her left leg and fingers to stop her from reaching for anything. "Die, bitch!"

  Blood spurted from the leg wounds. The fingers on her left hand burned. Her battle to live continued in an adrenaline and drug-filled haze. Cassie's fight was growing weaker. "Why are you doing this? Sebastian, stop!"

  Laughter fell from his lips. "You pathetic, frigid bitch. You know too much. I can't let you destroy the plan." He took a half step back but did not lower the knife, his brown eyes turning black with pure evil.

  Cassie's sight fish-eyed. She clutched her weapon with her left hand, then fumbled for the safety with blood-slicked fingers and fired a shot. The sound reverberated in the marble room. Cassie, calm down. Try to breathe.