Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Praise for
Laid Bare
“It’s impossible not to love this story. The sex is sizzling, the emotions are raw. Lauren Dane has done it again. Laid Bare, quite simply, rocks!”
—Megan Hart, author of No Greater Pleasure
Relentless
“Relentless will sweep you away.”
—Anya Bast, national bestselling author of Witch Fury
“Exceptional . . . an intriguing alternative world.”
—Joey W. Hill, author of Vampire Mistress
“Hot romance, detailed world-building and a plot focusing on righting injustice make Relentless a page-turner. With passion and politics, Dane delivers again!”
—Megan Hart
“Spectacular . . . absolutely brilliantly written.”
—Manic Readers, 4 ½ stars
“Pulled in from page one, readers will enjoy the delicious sensuality.”
—Romantic Times, 4½ stars
“Emotionally charged, passionate and at times volatile, Relentless once again proves that Ms. Dane is a first-class author who is fully capable of delivering exactly the sorts of story lines that readers crave.”
—Romance Junkies, 5 Blue Ribbons
“Filled with heat and erotic passion . . . Relentless is a do-not-miss.”
—Joyfully Reviewed
“This terrific science fiction erotic romance is fast-paced and filled with action in and out of the bedroom.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Fiery, erotic and rich with plot, this book is definitely a keeper on my shelf.”
—Night Owl Romance
Undercover
“Delicious eroticism . . . a toe-curling erotic romance sure to keep you reading late into the night.”
—Anya Bast
“Sexy, pulse-pounding adventure . . . that’ll leave you weak in the knees. Dane delivers!”
—Jaci Burton, author of Bound, Branded, & Brazen
“Exciting, emotional and arousing . . . a ride well worth taking.”
—Sasha White, author of My Prerogative
“Fast-paced action, steamy romance.”
—Megan Hart
“A roller coaster of emotion, intrigue and sensual delights.”
—Vivi Anna, author of Dark Lies
“Hot, sexy and action-packed . . . A fabulous read!”
—Fresh Fiction
“Wow! This book rocks!”
—Romance Junkies
“It’s one of those rare books that will stay with you for a long time.”
—Love Romances & More
“Undercover is a compelling and wild read.”
—Manic Readers
Berkley Heat titles by Lauren Dane
INSATIABLE
COMING UNDONE
LAID BARE
RELENTLESS
UNDERCOVER
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
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This book is an original publication of The Berkley Publishing Group.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
Copyright © 2010 by Lauren Dane.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions. HEAT and the HEAT design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
PRINTING HISTORY
Heat trade paperback edition / July 2010
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Dane, Lauren.
Insatiable / Lauren Dane.—Heat trade pbk. ed. p. cm.
eISBN : 978-1-101-45617-0
I. Title.
PS3604.A5I67 2010
813’.6—dc22
2010006712
http://us.penguingroup.com
This one is for Renee, Mary and Fatin—
thank you for all you do
Acknowledgments
Thank you first and foremost to Leis Pederson, who took a chance on Undercover and has enabled me to write these Federation novels at Berkley. Futuristics are a big love, so thank you for giving me a place to draw the world of the Known Universes.
Thank you always to my husband, Ray, who, despite his own stressful and busy job, always finds a way to give me the time I need to work and deals with the chaos of deadline house.
Laura Bradford, thank you for your unending support and for all the work you do on my behalf.
Frauke at Croco Designs, you have done so much for me, created so many beautiful ads, bookmarks and websites, and you always find a way to squeeze me into your busy schedule. Thank you so very much.
Once when I was in high school, they had this career day thing where all the juniors had to go through cards to pick what they wanted to be. They had no card for writer. Probably still don’t. This is something I dreamed of but figured would never happen. I want to thank my parents, who raised me to believe I could be whatever I wanted to be. Because here I am, with my unruly grammar, writing an acknowledgment in my novel. Dave and Linda, thank you for teaching me that everything worth having is worth working your butt off for. I love you.
Chapter 1
There was no sound other than heavy breathing and then an in-drawn breath gone liquid. Normally, the sound would have fallen on deaf ears as he simply did his job and walked away. Then again, normally, it would have been quicker, anonymous, so the target wouldn’t know what hit them, even as their life ended.
Today Daniel broke the rules and took a step closer to the ever-looming darknes
s. He wanted Saul Kerrigan to see his face, to know he was dying because Daniel made it so. To know he was dying because of what he’d done. Not just to the citizens of the Federation but to Daniel’s sister as well.
Saul Kerrigan was a traitor.
The knife did its work as it always did. Deadly sharp, it slid between the ribs, moving unerringly toward the target. It was then Daniel paused to pull his mask away from his face. Saul’s eyes widened with recognition and then fear. Good, even if too late.
Daniel put fingers over Saul’s lips. “Shh. You don’t have much time left.” Those fear-filled eyes widened. “I know you’re surprised, Saul. You thought you could evade House Lyons forever? Consort with the Imperium and not get caught? Thought you could torture and abuse my sister without consequences?” Daniel’s voice was flat, emotionless, even as the rage painted his vision, the rage that this man had harmed the person he loved most in all the ’Verses.
He shook his head as Saul dropped to his knees, his life with the pulse of his slowing heart. His blood slid through his fingers, spilling on the hungry, dry ground at his feet.
Mockingly, Daniel sighed, squatting and resting on his heels. “Right now you’re asking how I found you. How I could be allowed to harm you. You’re outraged. After all, I’m unranked filth.” Daniel laughed without mirth. “Just like you!”
Daniel wanted to remind Kerrigan he’d pushed Roman too far and had been stripped of his Rank. Saul was even lower on the chain than Daniel, as Daniel was a commissioned officer in the military corps.
“How far you’ve fallen. Since it’s just you and me here, Saul, let me tell you a secret. It took me longer than my usual jobs do, but still not longer than a month standard. I knew you’d run. I told Roman that you’d never be satisfied with a simple life. I figured you’d have waited longer than this, though. Tsk. But find you I did. And now my job is done. The ’Verses will be cleaner for your stain having been removed.”
Daniel wiped the blade clean on Saul’s back. Saul squirmed ineffectively.
“Don’t struggle so. It just speeds the bleeding. You’re dying, Saul, you’d best really live these last moments. Back to what I was saying. I found you because one of your people betrayed you. Credits do a lot of work in my business. Ah yes, my business, Saul. I’m not that powerless kid who nearly went to lockup because I defended my sister from your compatriots as they raped her. I’m something you can’t imagine, even though you’re a cruel brute and a craven liar. This is my job, Saul Kerrigan. You and your family made me this way. My sister would say that this is a classic case of irony. But I think it’s fate. Here we are full circle. Not that it matters. You have less than one minute to live, so enjoy it while you can. I know I’ll cherish this moment for the rest of my days. Which are, I’m pleased to remind you, far longer than yours.”
He stood. He’d lured Saul out there to the middle of nowhere, deep into the deserts of the Edge, and here is where he’d be left. A sandstorm was due to kick up shortly, cleaning the body down to the bone.
It was over for that moment in time. There were more people like Saul. Men and women of Family and Rank who’d sold information to the Imperialists. That information had been used to kill their own people, innocent people at work or at play. Saul wasn’t the first, nor would he be the last. But Daniel had felt pleasure, a sense of well-being and accomplishment as he’d killed. Normally, he’d be alarmed. Killing wasn’t something he ever did for pleasure. This time it meant something personal. Yes, he’d done his job and made the Federation safer, but more than that, he’d erased a bad memory for Abbie, eradicated a threat to one of Daniel’s loved ones.
After bending to be sure the job was done, Daniel tugged his mask back into place and headed away, up toward the dunes where he’d left the pack animal he’d arrived on. The conveyance Saul arrived in was already gone, disposed of by one of Daniel’s people.
He’d be off ’Verse by the end of the hour, and Saul Kerrigan wouldn’t be selling secrets anymore.
But someone was. Daniel’s job was not over.
“Ah, yes, do come in, Daniel. Are you looking for Abbie? She’s resting upstairs. I know she’ll be pleased to see you.” Roman Lyons answered his own door, and it still surprised Daniel. The most powerful man in the Known Universes had nearly given it all away to marry Daniel’s sister Abbie less than a year before. In Daniel’s book, this made him almost good enough for Abbie. There was no doubt Roman was a great leader, a man Daniel would follow without question. And no doubt he was also a friend.
And now Abbie was in the early days of her first pregnancy, and Roman, though he already had two grown sons, doted on her totally. Daniel couldn’t talk, really, he doted on her, too. Abbie was his best friend, the person he’d always been able to count on. In ’Verse after ’Verse of fuckups and selfish traitors, that meant something.
“Roman, good afternoon.” He stepped into the grand entry, handing his coat off to Roman, who’d no doubt hand it off to some servant or other. “Before I go check on Abbie, I was just with Wilhelm, and he thought I should brief you.”
Roman’s gaze went hooded at the mention of his top military man. “Good. Why don’t you come on through into my office. Once my lovely bride hears you’re here, I’ll have to fight her off for five minutes alone with you.” He paused on his way through the conservatory, finally laughing with Daniel. “Yes, okay, that did sound dirty. But you know what I mean. I’ve been with your sister too long. I’m starting to see everything as dirty or funny. A rather amusing new way to see the world.”
“She’s a bad influence on all of us, Roman. Thank the gods,” Daniel said dryly as they entered Roman’s home office, and Roman set the security locks behind them.
Once he was back behind his desk, Roman spread his hands out, searching for words. “I’ve gone through this before. The pregnancy thing. It’s not like I think she’s weak. She’s not. It’s just . . .”
Ah, personal first. Daniel nodded. He knew of Roman’s past and realized this was difficult for him on multiple levels. “I know childbirth contributed to your first wife’s decline in health. You don’t have to be The Lyon here with me, with her and your boys. I worry about her, too.” He shrugged. “She will be fine. There’s nothing else that would dare to light upon her. She’s practically indestructible.”
Roman lost some of the fear on his features and then sighed. “Yes. Yes. I know. She’s just so small and fragile. But you’re right, of course. She may be small, but she’s mighty, and frankly, I can’t imagine a more fortunate baby than the one she’s carrying.” And just as quickly, he was business again. “Tell me, then.”
“It’s done. I tracked him to Asphodel, though why he was there is a mystery. Some of our people are looking into it. There’s something going on out there on the Edge. I won’t bore you with details; Ellis says he’ll be speaking to you about it when you two have your regular meeting.”
“Things are in flux. I have come to believe our situation will only get much darker. I regret that I will ask you to do things, ask all my people to do things they’ll be hard-pressed to get over. I regret it, but it remains true, and it remains necessary.” Roman sat back and studied Daniel for long moments without speaking.
Daniel stayed quiet, letting Roman process whatever in hells he wanted to order him to do. He preferred action. Regrets never saved anyone. Then again, he didn’t have the pressure Roman had.
“Because of this new challenge facing us, we’re going to need new approaches and new leadership. I’ve let Wilhelm know you can give me my briefings in the future. He laughed and laughed and said I’d have to propose it to you since it was—in his words, mind you—a shitty deal because Roman Lyons is a pain in the ass.”
Daniel had no problem imagining Wilhelm Ellis saying just that. He was honored and proud of what he’d accomplished, even as he, too, felt the onset of something truly ominous. “Thank you, Roman, I’m honored. Is this because of my sister?” he joked, hoping to lessen the tension just a l
ittle bit.
Roman simply stared at him, one brow raised. “Your sister is on me all the time about sending you away from danger. It’s a good thing your job is secret, or she’d bite my ass over this move.” He grinned quickly before sobering again. “No, I think you’re an incredibly qualified person. You’re already Wilhelm’s right hand, and your group is integral to what we do. Right now, with things so dire, we need you on the ground, and I want to hear from you directly about what Phantom Corps is doing. Our focus must shift to defense and planning for an offense. The special teams are more important now than ever.”
He was undeniably pleased and flattered at such a rise in position. “Yes, sir. Of course. My schedule, as you know, can be erratic, but I expect we can work around that.”
“We can. I’m quite happy to be a pain in Wilhelm’s ass when you’re off ’Verse.”
Daniel wondered what it was between the two powerful men that had bonded them so deeply. He had his own twisty, complex and no less deep bond with Wilhelm Ellis, wasn’t sure Ellis had anything but complex relationships with people. “Anything else?”
“I’m concerned about developments on the Edge. Keep me apprised of things as they happen. I want to know why that piece of garbage was out that far.”
“As you’re no doubt aware already, there’s been a marked increase in the gun for hire biz on the Edge. More weapons violations every day. More arrests. We’re watching and listening, calling in favors and trying to work it out. We agree that something is brewing, and we’ve got all available resources on it. I assume Ellis has his other teams on this as well.”
Daniel knew there were things he wasn’t told. That was how it went in their business. Though he had excellent clearance, it wasn’t as high as Ellis. Still, he’d like to know what the big picture held, and he hoped this new rise in responsibilities and position would enable him to finally know more about what the hells was going on.