Beneath the Secrets Read online

  Beneath the Secrets

  Part 4

  By Lisa Renee Jones

  Part of the Tall, Dark, and Deadly Series

  Copyright 2013

  Includes:

  Sample excerpt from IF I WERE YOU, now optioned to STARZ for TV with Suzanne Todd producing (Alice in Wonderland, Austin Powers, Must Love Dogs and much more!)

  Read about the TV show HERE

  Books in the series:

  Secrets Exposed

  Hot Secrets

  Dangerous Secrets

  Beneath the Secrets Serial:

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to the supplier and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. To obtain permission to excerpt portions of the text, please contact the author at [email protected]

  All characters in this book are fiction and figments of the author’s imagination. www.lisareneejones.com.

  Table of Contents

  Titlepage

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Bonus Book - Prologue

  Bonus Book - Excerpt

  Beneath the Secrets

  PART 4:

  ***Begins EXACTLY where Part 3 leaves off***

  Chapter One

  “Where’s your innocent little secretary who isn’t a secretary at all—or she wouldn’t handle a gun so well?” Ignacio demanded.

  Standing on the dock, the cold night wind whipping around him, Blake wanted to do some whipping of his own. On Ignacio. But since the asshole was his ticket to Alvarez right now, he’d refrain until a later date. “That’s like saying a lawyer can’t bake a cake,” Blake observed. “But then your brain seems to operate like a mud pie.”

  Ignacio’s face reddened under the too-dim lighting along the wooden walkway to their right. “Where is she, asshole?”

  “Kara’s…tied up,” he replied. “She couldn’t make it.”

  “My uncle specifically said I was to transport you both. I’ll have to call him.”

  Blake yanked his phone from his belt. “I’ll do it for you.”

  “I’m here!”

  Blake froze at the sound of Kara’s voice, every muscle in his body turning to ice and then heating with anger. How the fuck was she here, and why hadn’t he tied her up? And while he wasn’t on mic with his brothers, he was sure they were nearby and cursing, too. They all knew how dangerous this meeting could get and Kara had no business being involved. He’d flipping warned Kyle she was skilled and she’d proven it, clearly outsmarting him.

  At the sound of Kara’s heels clattering over the wooden dock, Blake turned to stare at her, watching her hair and the red silk of her dress flutter around her. She looked sexy and feminine and a ripe target for a human-trafficking operation. What part of that didn’t she understand? Blake ground his teeth at the sight of two goons stepping behind her and stopping to guard the walkway, their weapons glinting in their shoulder holsters like shined silver despite the barely there light. There was no way he could get her out of this trip. She was here. It wouldn’t be easy, but he was damn sure going to try.

  “I made it after all.” She stopped between him and Ignacio and shivered, hugging herself. “I forgot my jacket. I’m freezing.”

  Blake almost laughed at her obvious attempt at playing the innocent little secretary after she’d clearly just outwitted one of the best damn men Walker Security had on their team. Innocent, and held a gun at one of the cartel member’s heads only hours before.

  “Where exactly were you?” Ignacio demanded.

  Blake grimaced and before Kara could reply, answered for her. “What the hell business is it of yours?”

  Ignacio cut him a hard look, his gaze flicking over Blake’s jeans and leather jacket, before raking an obscene path down Kara’s body and back up. “She’s late, but at least she’s dressed for a meeting with Alvarez.”

  Blake curled his fingers into his palms and told himself not to punch the living crap out of the man. He’d had a lot of urges to pummel people since meeting Kara, it seemed. Pulling her to his side and under his arm, he would keep her close. He didn’t give a damn how tough she thought she was—she didn’t belong here. If there was any way he could get her out of here, he would. He lifted his chin at Ignacio. “Just get us to Alvarez.”

  “Gladly.” Ignacio’s lips twisted. “I’m going to enjoy how much he won’t like you and how much he will like her.” He glanced at Kara. “Give me your purse.”

  Kara didn’t hesitate, handing it over to him. Of course, she was prepared. She’d been prepared for Kyle. She’d be prepared for Ignacio. “Ignore the lipstick,” Blake said dryly. “It’s not your shade.”

  Ignacio grimaced. “I wouldn’t be surprised if it was yours.”

  “It is,” he said, unable to stop himself from staking his claim on Kara every chance he could find. “Every time I kiss it off her lips.”

  Ignacio did a search and handed Kara back her purse. “Hold your hands to your sides.”

  Blake pulled her tighter against him. “If you so much as think about touching her, that lipstick will be up your ass.”

  “Better her lipstick than Alvarez’s foot. She has to be searched.”

  “We’ll see about that.” Blake grabbed his phone and punched in Mendez’s number. It started to ring.

  “What the fuck are you doing?” Ignacio demanded.

  “Calling your uncle.”

  “Wait,” Ignacio bit out. “Hang up.”

  Blake let the phone ring. “Why?”

  “There’s a metal detector at the destination. We’ll use it.”

  “You better be on your way to meet Alvarez,” Mendez barked into the phone, answering the call.

  Blake eyed Ignacio. “Since your nephew and I just worked out our travel arrangements, we’re headed to see him.”

  “Make sure you are,” Mendez spat, and the line went dead.

  “Now what?” Blake asked, shoving his phone back onto his belt. He’d bet one of his balls, and he was as attached to both of them as he was to breathing, Kara had used that same drug she’d zapped him with on Kyle. He hoped like hell that she had some of it with her now. What he’d packed himself wasn’t going to make it through the detector.

  Ignacio motioned toward the boat. “All aboard.”

  Blake turned Kara toward the boat, keeping her so close her hip was pressed to his. “If you had any idea what I was thinking right now…” he murmured.

  “If you had any idea what I’m thinking right now…” she countered.

  “Where’s Kyle?”

  “Asleep.”

  Blake grunted. “Well, at least I won’t get shit from him about you pulling that crap on me anymore.”

  She laughed; a soft, delicate sound that reminded him how female and how breakable she really could be. How much she didn’t belong here. “He gave you a hard time?”

  “You have no idea,” Blake assured her as they stopped at the edge of the boat and he glanced behind him to find Ignacio talking to the goons. He eyed yet another goon on the deck and all but growled at Kara. “I should throw you in the water and make you swim for it.”

  “If I go, you’re going with me.”

  “Only because I’d be afraid you’d drown.”

  She turned into him, pressing to her toes, her soft curves molded to his, her lips teasing h
is ear. “I won’t drown. I promise.”

  His chest tightened at a promise that had nothing to do with his promise to throw her overboard. He wrapped an arm around her and buried his face in her neck. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” Ignacio’s heavy steps warned of his approach. “And neither will I.” If they survived this, he’d be damn sure to tie her up and keep her safe, and that was a promise she could bank on.

  He pulled back and motioned her forward. She glared at him, obviously reading between the lines, but Ignacio, with his men behind him, successfully ended their banter, stopping beside them. Kara stepped onto the boat, where another goon waited for them.

  Blake followed Kara on board with Ignacio on his heels and things went downhill from there. “You two go into the cabin below,” Ignacio ordered, stepping to Blake’s side.

  “Not a chance,” Blake said, all kinds of alarm bells going off.

  Blake could feel movement behind him, more people joining them on the boat. Ignacio crossed his arms in front of his chest. “You won’t be allowed to see your destination, plain and simple.”

  Going below deck with Ignacio above was beyond foolish. “We’ll ride on top.”

  He flicked a look at Kara. “She’s freezing and topside isn’t an option.”

  Blake was all about giving Kara his coat, but it was huge and heavy and he wasn’t so sure he wasn’t going to have her running here in a minute. “I’m claustrophobic,” she offered. “I’d rather be cold and topside.”

  “We have a schedule,” Ignacio said, his tone clipped. “Inside the cabin, both of you.”

  “Then Kara isn’t going,” Blake said, no compromise in his voice.

  Kara opened her mouth to insert what was sure to be an objection, but was silenced by the sound of several guns being cocked from behind them. A gun pressed to the back of Blake’s head. “She stays,” Ignacio said, evil satisfaction in his eyes. “And while I’d hate to have to deliver you to Alvarez bleeding from a leg or shoulder, don’t think I won’t.”

  Blake ground his teeth. Beneath the deck, they were blind. They wouldn’t know if they’d traveled a mile up the bay or headed out to sea, and the tracking device in his boot was short range at best.

  “I’d like you to make my day special,” Ignacio added. “Stay where you are for another sixty seconds and give me a reason to put a bullet in you.”

  Blake accepted the inevitable. He was going into that cabin and, damn it to hell, so was Kara.

  Chapter Two

  Talk about being locked up with a tiger who considered you prey. That was exactly how Kara felt with Blake on her heels as she headed down the stairs and into the small cabin. Instinctively she scanned the windowless space, taking in the mini kitchen, a couch attached to the wall, and a door to a bathroom before she whirled around to face her wild beast. And Blake was definitely a wild beast.

  He stalked down the stairs toward her, anger etched in his handsome face. Unsurprisingly, the door slammed and locked behind him. They were officially caged, prisoners who could very well be headed to their death. Right now, though, Blake was headed for her. He didn’t stop until he stood toe to toe with her, but she didn’t back away. Not that there was anywhere to go.

  His hands came down on her shoulders, the touch solid, the impact sending spirals of heat through her body. “You and I are going to have a talk.”

  “Oh yes,” she assured him, biting back what she really wanted to say, all too aware they were likely being recorded, maybe even videotaped. “We will.”

  “What you’re going to do is exactly what the fuck I tell you to do.” He eased closer, whispering in her ear. “They cannot know you matter to me.” He leaned back and glared at her. “You’re here to do paperwork and fuck me. Nothing more. Understand?”

  She knew his crudeness was an act. She knew he was trying to send a message to whoever was listening that he owned her that she wasn’t emotionally important, but she couldn’t completely keep it from cutting. “You know I do,” she bit out.

  His gaze pierced hers for several more seconds, his handsome faced etched in anger, strands of dark hair falling loose from the tie at his nape, before he dropped his hands away from her. He turned away and Kara hugged herself, watching him shrug out of his jacket, forcing herself to inhale, trying to catch her breath. Why did this man always steal her breath?

  Tossing the jacket onto the couch, he sank down on a cushion and patted the one on his other side. “Come sit. It won’t matter if we’re going a mile up the way or ten, they’ll make this a long ride to keep us disoriented.”

  Kara told herself to do as he said, to play her role, but her feet didn’t seem to move. The truth was, she wanted to smack him for talking to her like she was his property. She shouldn’t, though—not when they were undercover—but beneath the facade of his being master and her his damnable puppy dog slave, was true anger. Both his and hers. He’d tried to shut her down tonight, to leave her behind when her sister was in trouble. He was pissed it didn’t work. She was pissed he’d pull such a thing.

  “Kara,” he said softly, his tone a low command, a warning telling her to stay professional.

  He wanted her to come to him. Fine. She’d be right there. Kara stalked toward him as he had her, and took pleasure in the flash of surprise in his face at her determined approach. She halted in front of him, this time her hands settled on his shoulders, and did her best to ignore the instant zip of heat through her body when she did.

  Leaning closer, she pressed her lips to his ear, the spicy male scent of him teasing her nostrils and stirring a cluster of butterflies in her stomach. “You’ll survive this night because I won’t let anyone hurt you but me. That’s my privilege.”

  His fingers laced into her hair and he gently, but insistently, tugged—forcing her to look at him. “And this is mine,” he declared a moment before his mouth covered hers, his tongue pressing past her lips, hot with demand, and he tasted hunger, passion, and possession. He was claiming her, and it wasn’t for the camera. She could feel the raw need in him, the near desperatation in each lush stroke of his tongue. Kara had no clue if that need was really for her or for an escape from the emotions this trip to meet Alvarez had stirred in him. It didn’t seem to matter. A mix of desire and attachment to this man rushed over her, through her. Whatever he needed, she wanted to give it to him.

  Kara sank into the kiss, clinging to him, holding him close, silently telling him she wanted him, she needed him, and in that moment she admitted to herself what that truly meant. Needing him reached beyond this kiss, this trip. In such a short window of time, he’d climbed into her soul and become a part of her. She couldn’t lose him and her sister. She couldn’t lose either of them.

  Kara shoved at his chest, tearing her mouth away from his, her chest heaving. “Damn you, Blake.” Again, her lips found his ear, a firestorm of emotions balling in her chest. “You made me feel what I’m feeling right now, and damn it, you aren’t quitting on me. Damn it, you will stay alive. For me. I need you to do it for me.”

  “What are you feeling, Kara?” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

  “Like I can’t lose you.”

  He stiffened, not moving, not responding, and then, suddenly, his arms wrapped around her and he buried his face in her neck. “I promise to stay alive on one condition.”

  Relief washed over her with his response, at the possibility he might actually try to survive what she knew he saw as a death mission. Moving to look up at him, she searched his face, looking for a sign he needed her, too. “What? What is it?”

  Several heavy seconds thick with tension ticked by, his expression unreadable until a slow smile transformed his features. “You have to let me spank you.”

  She barely contained a flinch at the unexpected question. She’d been hoping for an emotional connection, and he’d dodged it completely. His warning that he wasn’t the guy for her to count on replayed in her mind. Kara shoved away from him and when he let her, a chill raced do
wn her spine and spread to her heart. He didn’t plan on staying around. She didn’t mean to him what he did to her. Damn it, why had she picked Blake to finally let her guard down with? Why?

  Snatching up his jacket, she leaned against the wall at the end of the couch, and pulled her knees under the heavy weight of the leather. Physically distancing herself from Blake, as he’d emotionally distanced himself from her. Trying to survive herself now, when everything inside her felt like metal shards and broken glass.

  Now in profile, Blake just sat there. She sat there. Seconds became minutes before he sank lower into the cushion, stretching his legs in front of him. Kara let her lashes lower, feeling the tension between them like a thick, icy blanket that only chilled her further. Helplessness filled her. All she could do now was sit and wonder if they would both share a destiny, if not a life, and end up as Blake had suggested—sinking in the bay in concrete blocks.

  ***

  For an hour, Blake didn’t look or talk to Kara. He couldn’t look at her. If he did, he’d want to touch her and if he touched her, he’d make promises he couldn’t keep. Okay, he still wanted to touch her, but at least he wasn’t spilling out things he’d regret later. He wasn’t promising her either of them would survive this night. He wasn’t sure they would. All he could promise was his willingness to die to protect her. But promise to be there for her tomorrow? He couldn’t do it. Not this night. But for the first time in years, he did want to survive. He wanted to survive with Kara.

  Slumped down on the couch of the godforsaken deathtrap of a boat cabin, with the soft, sweet scent of her teasing his nostrils, his fear for her safety was shredding his insides. It didn’t help that he’d created at least one hundred ways the rest of this evening could go wrong, and he could come up with a counter-move for only about twenty-five of them.

  Abruptly, the doors to the cabin opened, and Blake cut Kara a quick look, taking in her long brown hair, her pale skin, her delicate features. Fear punched him in the chest. Damn it, she couldn’t die. “Don’t move or speak unless you have to,” he ordered her.