Wicked Games Read online

  Noah sped to the location Brianna’s phone showed and saw the SUV turning into a long, gravel driveway. The house couldn’t be seen from the road, and there was a row of trees on either side of the driveway, running parallel with the road. He pulled over and told the guys to make their way to the house. He was told to show up alone, and he would, but they would be close behind him.

  They quickly disappeared into the night, and Noah drove on alone. He carefully took the scenery in, as his SUV crawled along the gravel drive. He was looking for any signs of traps. He knew what to look for, since he had set and been in enough of them in his military career. Just like riding a bike. Some training never really leaves you.

  A single light was on in the house up ahead. He knew better than to think this would be that easy. He caught a glimpse of movement on the other side of the house and knew it wasn’t any of his men. They would be approaching from the other direction, and they couldn’t have beaten him here. Stevens was lying in wait for him, and he would be damn sure Stevens was disappointed.

  He stopped the car in the gravel driveway, far enough away from the house to not be seen and blocking the exit. He turned the dome light of the SUV off and silently slipped out the door. He crouched down beside the wheel, as he searched the perimeter of the house. Gun drawn at his side, he ran towards the house, stopping to look in Stevens’ empty car, before crouching beside the front of the house.

  He raised his head slightly to look in the window, where the light was on, and saw Brianna sitting in the floor. His eyes took in the room and when his mind registered what he was seeing, his heart stopped.

  That bastard is dead. He just doesn’t know it yet.

  Chapter 23

  Stevens felt very confident in his plans. He was gloating at how he had beaten Richard, after he had tried to screw Stevens out of his cut. While they’re busy arresting and trying everyone else, I can clean out the bank accounts and never be found again. Yes, he was sure this plan would work for him. He only had a couple of minor details to take care of first.

  He laughed to himself at the thought of how lovesick Noah would come barging in to rescue his damsel in distress, only to find out what true distress really was. He had planned every detail of this scenario in his head, over and over for the past three years. He knew Brianna would eventually run back to Noah and back to the evidence. He didn’t know where the stupid bitch had hidden the documents, but he knew she didn’t have them on her. He had searched her townhouse plenty of times while she was out on her runs.

  She didn’t even know he was the one who convinced Richard’s buyers there was a “new weapon” in the making. His brilliant scheming surprised even him sometimes. That thought brought a real smile to his face. Richard was arrested, that Alexa Pope bitch was dead, her old man was arrested, and every day he heard of someone else in the circle had been caught red handed. Maybe Richard’s cutting him out of the money actually did him a favor, he mused, since now everyone’s money would be his. And as Brianna had pointed out, no one even suspected he was part of it.

  In a few minutes, the only two people who could delay my departure from the country will be dead.

  He had secured Brianna to a wooden post in the old farmhouse that had belonged to his grandmother. It had long since been condemned, and she was moved to a nursing home, but he’d held on to the property, hoping it would be worth something one day. He laughed at his own witty self again. Tonight, it will be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The house was made of wood – old, rotten wood – and it would burn to the ground with a single spark. And it would spark, all right.

  All around the room, he had set trip wires, so no matter which way Noah rushed in, he would set off the small bombs he had crafted. His time spent on the LAPD bomb squad really paid off in the end. He learned how to dismantle bombs, but in doing so, he also learned how to build them.

  The ones he set here were little more than Molotov cocktails and didn’t take any real genius to rig. The trip wire would ignite the flare sitting under the rag leading to the gasoline bombs. It was a short rag, so it would be a short fuse. Once one went off, the whole house would catch fire, automatically igniting the others. With a fire burning that hot, everything should burn away without a trace. And there’s no way Noah would leave Brianna in there to die alone.

  Stevens crouched beside the house, waiting for Noah to run in and start the chain reaction. Then he would simply drive away and never be seen again. Such a perfect plan.

  ***************

  Noah knew his men were within radio range and as quietly as possible whispered, “He’s mine.” He moved silently along the front of the house towards the direction he saw Stevens going. As he turned the corner of the back of the house, he saw a dark figure crouched by a large bush in the backyard. His eyes scanned the area around Stevens, looking for anything out of the ordinary. He caught a movement in his peripheral vision. His men were setting up for an ambush.

  Noah stole up behind Stevens, as silent and deadly as the Grim Reaper himself, caught him in a headlock with his left arm and the barrel of his Glock against his right temple. “Make a move, asshole. I dare you.”

  Stevens went rigid and stilled his movements. Noah had hoped for more of a fight than this. He didn’t like to kill anyone in cold blood, if he didn’t have to. But this one time he might make an exception. He might just like it. Stevens’ hand shot back and a brief flint of moonlight reflected off his Bowie knife.

  Noah was too close to completely avoid the nine and a half inch knife. He jumped back and to the side, but the knife sliced Noah’s side, leaving a gaping wound. Burning pain tore through him, his left arm dropped to hold his injured side, and Stevens whirled around to face him. Charging, Stevens extended his arm, stabbing the knife at Noah again. Noah’s powerful roundhouse kick knocked the knife out of Stevens’ hand. As he dove for it, Noah shot at him. The bullet hit him in the side of his chest and this time Stevens didn’t get up.

  Noah gave him a hard kick in the side, and Stevens didn’t move or even groan in pain. If he were still alive, he wouldn’t have been able to take that kick. Especially since Noah strategically placed it right at the bullet’s entry wound. Walking away from Stevens and still holding his wounded side, Noah went to get Brianna out of the house before it went up in flames.

  The other men watched the interaction between Reaper and Stevens, but none interfered. They understood Reaper’s innate need to handle Stevens on his own. Reaper briefed the men on what he’d seen in the house, and even though he didn’t need to, he stressed to every man to be careful inside the house. They carefully made their way into the dilapidated house, stepping over numerous trip wires. Blake and Roman worked on removing as much of the threat as possible while the others helped free Brianna.

  Once outside the house, Brianna finally saw Noah’s blood soaked shirt. She looked up at him with fear in her eyes. Not for her own safety, but fear of losing him. “Oh my God, Noah! You’re hurt!”

  Trying to relieve her fears, he gave his best smile and said, “It’s nothing. I’ve had worse.” She knew better than to believe the wound was nothing. One of the guys gave her his shirt. She folded it and held it firmly against Noah’s side, putting pressure on the wound to help stop the blood loss as much as possible. She wrapped her arm around his waist to help him to the car.

  A noise behind them startled her, and she saw Stevens lunging at Noah with a large knife. With one hand, she grabbed the gun from Noah’s holster, turned on a dime and fired at Stevens, hitting him right between the eyes. She felt Noah take the gun from her hand, as she stood staring at Stevens’ dead body. Bull walked up beside her, put his arm around her shoulders, and quipped, “Our little sister doesn’t miss when she aims her gun.”

  “My brothers trained me well.” She smiled up at Bull and leaned into him briefly before returning to help Noah to the SUV and then to the hospital.

  Chapter 24

  “I don’t know…I’m sure going to miss him being
in the CIA,” Brianna teased in her southern drawl, as she curled another strand of hair.

  Noah had just told her that Shadow was turning in his notice at the CIA and coming to work for Steele Security. He half-jokingly told her that Shadow saw more action in the time that Brianna was up to no good than in all his years with the company combined. The truth was Shadow said he was going to be an uncle soon, and he wanted to be with his family. Noah was thrilled to have him join his security firm.

  Brianna was getting ready for their date night, standing in the bathroom and wearing her camisole and matching lacy panties. Noah walked to her, rubbed his hand across the little bump on her stomach, kissed her, then gave the baby a kiss. She loved when he did that, and it had quickly become a daily ritual.

  ****************

  She said she would be right down. Noah called up the stairs from the foyer, where he’d been waiting for the last fifteen minutes, “Brianna! Don’t make me come up there and get you!”

  She appeared on the second floor landing, looking down at him, “Oh, and just what do you plan to do with me?”

  He flashed his wicked, half-grin at her. Oh, how that made her blood boil in the best way possible.

  Finally dressed and ready to go, she walked down the stairs, and he never took his eyes off her. Her baby bump had made most of her clothes a little too tight for comfort. She went shopping for their date night, but at Noah’s insistence, she had someone from Steele Security close on her heels at all times. There were still people who wouldn’t be happy with being implicated from her investigative reporting, and Noah refused to take any chances.

  She picked an elegant aqua blue dress. The straps made a V from the center of her chest up around her neck. It was gathered and belted below her breasts, drawing the eye to them, and the flowing material hung down over her bump, stopping at mid-thigh. She wore her long hair pulled up in an elegant ponytail, with small wisps of curls strategically hanging down around her face. Her white-gold bracelets adorned her arms and matching earrings twinkled when she walked. Her sling back silver heels matched her silver purse that hung over her shoulder.

  “Wow. Maybe we should just stay home after all.” He was only half serious, but if she agreed to it, he wouldn’t argue. His eyes moved slowly up and down her body, and she could feel him undressing her with them, as she moved down the staircase towards him.

  “Not a chance, Mr. Steele. You are taking me out tonight!” Brianna smiled as she moved to him, put her hands on his chest, and lovingly stroked the hard muscles underneath. “You look very handsome yourself, Noah.”

  Noah had made reservations at the most romantic spot he could think of for her. Knowing her love of the water, any kind of water, he had arranged for a four-course dinner on a private yacht. A small band would be onboard to supply the romantic music. She took his arm, and he led her out to the waiting limo.

  He watched her face as they headed toward the marina. Confused, she looked at him, but he just shrugged his shoulders. She knew she wouldn’t get any information out of him, so she snuggled up to him and enjoyed the ride. She really didn’t care where they went, as long as she was with him. Anywhere was better with him by her side.

  She looked even more puzzled when they boarded a small boat and headed out into the dark ocean, but she complied. His pride swelled when he realized she didn’t question him at all, she just completely trusted him. When they approached the yacht anchored just off shore, her eyes grew big, and she looked at him so lovingly and with the biggest smile on her face. Oh yeah, score one for Reaper!

  He helped her board the large vessel, and the crewman led them up the stairs to the top deck. The table was set with white linens, china plates, and crystal champagne flutes, no alcohol for her, though, and the staff brought out one delicious dish after another. The band played slow, romantic songs, and just before dessert, Noah stood and asked her to dance with him.

  On the dance floor, she wrapped her arms around his neck, as he wrapped his around her waist, pulling her close to him. He whispered in her ear, “You are so beautiful.” He kissed ear and along her jaw until he reached her mouth. “I love you, Bri.”

  Looking up into his eyes, she said, “I love you, Noah. This is all such a wonderful surprise. Thank you.” He leaned down and kissed her tenderly, loving the feel of her fingers playing with the hair at the back of his neck. Noah thought about how right it felt to hold her again. He knew he was the luckiest man in the world to have a second chance at having a life with her.

  The staff brought out their dessert plates and he led her back to the table. Under the lid, a small black velvet box sat propped open on her plate. It held a 3-carat round-cut diamond solitaire, set in a white-gold band, with 14 diamond side-stones wrapping around the band. She gasped and her hand flew to her mouth.

  She looked up to find Noah down on one knee beside her. He picked up the box and held up the ring.

  “Brianna, I can’t spend one more day without you by my side. I’ve loved you from the moment I met you. Will you give me the great pleasure of going to sleep in my arms every night and waking up in them every morning, of having my children, and taking my name?”

  With tears streaming down her face and smiling from ear to ear, she jumped in his arms, yelling, “Yes! Yes! Of course, yes!”

  Chapter 25

  Brianna and her sister, Missy, had a girl’s day out shopping. Missy was as excited about the wedding as Brianna was, and they finally had a chance to spend the day as sisters and enjoy each other’s company. Missy insisted Brianna try on every wedding dress she could find until they found the perfect one. Then the perfect veil. The perfect shoes. The perfect jewelry. And too many bridal magazines. By the time Brianna got home, she was exhausted.

  “Have fun with your sister today, baby?” Noah greeted her, as she walked in.

  “Yeah, I really did. I’ve missed her. She’s so excited about the wedding!” Brianna’s face lit up when she saw Noah. He was barefoot, and his jeans hung low on his hips. He wore no shirt, showing off his sculpted chest, arms, and abs. She would never get tired of looking at him. He held his arms open, and she walked straight into them.

  She had dropped all her bags, except one long garment bag. “Is that what I think it is, Brianna?” Noah asked, as he took the bag from her hand.

  “Yes, that’s my wedding dress,” she beamed, but then her smile fell.

  “Hey, what’s wrong, Bri?”

  She let out a small chuckle and said, “I look fat. In every dress I tried on, I looked fat! It’s a girl thing, I guess.”

  After hanging the garment bag on the coat rack, Noah knelt in front of her, lifted her shirt, and splayed his hands across her belly.

  “I think this is so sexy, Brianna. I love that my baby is growing inside you.”

  She ran her fingers through his hair, as he was knelt in front of her. He looked up at her with intense desire in his eyes, and she felt her knees go weak.

  As Noah rose to stand, his hands rose, and he pulled her shirt up over her head and tossed it aside. He gently stroked her cheek before his fingers lightly brushed down both sides of her neck to her collarbones. His big hands flowed over her skin, leaving goose bumps in their wake until they reach her bra. He quickly unhooked the front clasp and let out a guttural growl, as her growing breasts sprang free. He rubbed his thumbs over her sensitive nipples before leaning in to take one in his mouth.

  She gasped as he sucked and pulled on her, and her back instinctively arched into him. One hand continued to rub the other breast while his other hand left a heated path across her stomach to the button of her shorts. He swiftly unbuttoned them and pushed them down to her ankles, and she easily stepped out of them. He moved to take her other breast in his mouth, as she pulled him closer to her, demanding he take more.

  His hand continued its exploration over her lacy panties to the heated pool of liquid between her legs. He could feel her wetness through them, and his already full-grown erection throbbed painfully. />
  “Damn, Bri, I will never get enough of you.” His voice was husky and so sexy. Before she could respond, he had removed her panties, and his finger was exploring her sensitive folds before finding her small nub of pleasure nerves.

  She dug her fingers in his shoulder and moaned in pleasure. He increased the pressure with his thumb, as his fingers plunged deep inside her. With a sharp intake of breath, she cried out, “Oh, Noah!” He felt her inner walls quiver, as he increased his speed. He knew she was close to climaxing, her breath was increasing into pants, and her hips were moving in time with his fingers.

  “Ummm, don’t stop!” Her raspy voice was pleading with him.

  “Come for me, baby. Let me feel you come.” She felt his hot breath in her ear, as his deep voice whispered, urging her on. He felt her entire body tense, as her head dropped back. She gripped his shoulders harder, and he felt the ripples roll through her, clenching around his fingers, and drenching them, as she cried out his name, “Noah!”

  As she raised her head and opened her eyes, she saw the smug, sexy smile on his face, just before his mouth covered hers. His tongue pushed into her mouth, slowly and tenderly caressing her tongue. She raked her fingernails over his chest, down his abdominal muscles to the top of his jeans.

  She slipped one finger under his waistband and lightly rubbed across the hypersensitive skin, and just skimming across the top of his erection. He groaned into her mouth, and she quickly unbuttoned his jeans, and slid her entire hand in to grasp him.