It was dead calm beneath the canopy, but in the utter darkness he could still make out the shapes of the leaves, feel the heat seeping into his pores, squeezing his heart like a vise. He was going to seduce another woman. Look at her. Touch her. Draw her to him. Betray Isabeau one more time. It was another sin among so many.
"Can you do it?" Rio asked, evidently following his train of thought.
Conner turned his head, a slow animal-like motion. His eyes held distance. Self-loathing. "I was born for the job." He couldn't quite cover the bitterness in his voice.
Rio inhaled sharply. He couldn't imagine betraying Rachel. "One of the others can try it. You can teach them."
Felipe and Leonardo looked at one another. How did one learn charisma? Conner had an animal quality about him that they all shared, but his was predominant, inherent, something he was born with and wore on the outside as well as the inside. He walked into a room and everyone was instantly aware of him. They didn't try to hide Conner, rather used his presence to their advantage. He could look bored, amused and indifferent all at the same time.
For the first time Elijah stirred, drawing attention to himself. He had a past in the drug industry and knew most of those involved by reputation. He was also a very dangerous, charismatic man. "I might be able to help with this matter. I have a past. This woman, Imelda Cortez, she will recognize my name if I use it. Just my presence alone will cast a taint on Santos." He cast a quick glance at Felipe and Leonardo. "I'm sorry, but you know it is the truth. She will have all of us checked out and my name is known to every law enforcement agency around the world. She might be interested enough to invite us because I'm there as well. I can try seduction."
Rio studied him. Elijah was his brother-in-law. He had inherited the drug throne his father and uncle had created. When his father had tried to go legitimate, his uncle had killed him and taken Elijah and Rachel in, raising them under his rule. Life and death was all Elijah had ever known. He wasn't ready yet for such a key position on a mission. There was no doubt his looks and magnetism would draw Imelda to him, but he didn't have the charm yet that Conner possessed. The four scars from a leopard's claw on the side of Conner's face only added to his mystique.
Rio let himself look at Conner. He'd been the one who'd selected Conner to seduce Isabeau Chandler. And in the end, Rio had been the one to kill her father. Conner had tried to save him, but Chandler had pulled a gun and tried to protect the leader of a terrorist camp. He'd given Rio no choice. Conner was in the line of fire, trying to talk the man down, but the doctor refused to take the out. Rio had pulled the trigger and saved Conner's life, but there'd been no way to save his soul.
Isabeau had been so shocked. Rio would never forget the look on her face when she realized Conner had used her to gain entrance to the camp. He cringed every time he thought of it and now he was asking Conner to do the same thing again to another woman. Imelda was no innocent like Isabeau, but it was still a lousy job anyway he looked at it.
Conner shrugged. "I appreciate the offer, Elijah, but there's no use in both of us losing out. You still have a chance. I lost mine a long time ago. You can't go to your mate with dirt all over you. It just doesn't work out."
"I'm pretty covered in it already," Elijah pointed out. "I've done things I'm not proud of."
"All of us have," Conner said, "but that's not what I'm trying to tell you. This is a different situation, and Imelda Cortez is the scum of the earth, but if you seduce her and sleep with her, when you do find your mate, you won't be able to look her in the eye."
Rio opened his mouth, but there was nothing to say. He could never have gone back to face Rachel with that kind of sin coating his soul black, yet he was asking Conner to once again bear that responsibility. What he was asking was wrong, but there was no way into the Cortez fortress without an invitation.
"You've been there once," Elijah pointed out. "It isn't fair to have you put in that position again."
"I know who my mate is," Conner said. "Isabeau Chandler belongs to me. I won't have a second chance with her, not after what I did. I would never take another woman and ruin her chances at her own happiness. I know all too well how that turns out." His voice had gone bitter and he made an effort to change his tone, shrugging casually. "I have nothing to lose, Elijah, and you have everything to lose. I'll do this one last time and then if you still want the job and it needs doing, you can make up your mind then."
"If you're sure."
"It's my mess. The man my father accuses of killing my mother is working for Imelda Cortez. His name, along with his partner's, is on that hit list. I'm going after both of them. Imelda wouldn't tell anyone about the leopard people. She'd use the information to her advantage, so right now we've got the opportunity to contain this."
Rio nodded. "She'll be looking for more leopard recruits."
"She won't find them in our village," Conner assured. "Raul moved the village deeper into the forest and the two rogues, Martin Suma and Ottila Zorba, are the other two names on the hit list. I recognize the name Suma from my village, but don't remember him. He didn't live with us. His parents took him out of the rain forest. He must have returned after I left. Even though Suma killed my mother, he wouldn't have a way of putting us together. Zorba isn't one of ours."
"Eventually," Rio said, "Imelda will send them to the leopard village to recruit for her if they don't find recruits elsewhere. She's got money. Most of those living within the forest don't give a damn, but some of the younger ones will want the adventure."
"If I don't get them first, the elders will have them quietly killed before they ever have the chance to speak to the young ones." Conner looked around at the team. "If you're all certain it's a go, then let's get it done. Do we know what the children look like? How many females? How many males? And be prepared. Imelda likes to use children to guard her compound. She often takes young ones, and puts guns in their hands as her first line of defense. She knows it's difficult for government officials to kill the children."
"You think she'll have children guarding the hostages?" Felipe asked.
"I'm just saying we could run into them and we have to be prepared, that's all."
Rio handed Conner a bottle of water and tapped the tabletop with his finger, a slight frown on his face. "Elijah, is it known that most of your operations are now legitimate?"
Elijah shook his head. "No. When my uncle was killed, it was assumed I had him killed to take over the entire operation for myself. I've been slowly selling off everything I can that was tainted. I did get out of the drug and gun business. We were never into human trafficking. There are rumors, but I'm considered ruthless."
"Then rather than change your name and pass you off as security, let's use your reputation. You'll have to be there as a friend of Santos," Rio said. "That will only make her more inclined to think Santos is a big fish."
"That leaves three of us for security detail," Conner said. "Will a man like Santos have more?"
"As a rule he has a four-man team and two dogs," Felipe said. "I didn't want to put any of his regular team in danger. We wouldn't be able to let them in on what was going on."
"And your uncle has agreed to this?" Conner asked. "Does he have any idea who he's dealing with?"
Felipe nodded. "He knows. And he knows she's a threat to our people."
"So who exactly is our client, Rio?" Conner asked. "You say Adan Carpio initiated contact. His tribe wouldn't know of us. My father wouldn't ask for our help. So who knew about us and how? I'd like to have all the cards on the table before we go any further."
2
THERE was a long silence. The men exchanged long glances. Tension stretched taut in the room. Conner broke the hush first. "You don't know who hired us? You didn't check them out before bringing us together in unfamiliar territory? At least unfamiliar to all of you."
Rio sighed. "Adan Carpio has given his word that he stands behind the client, Conner. You said his word was gold."
"Wait a m
inute, Rio," Elijah said. "You didn't investigate our client at all? You took this mission on faith?"
Rio shrugged and poured himself a cup of coffee. "Carpio contacted me, bringing me half the payment for the rescue along with the things from Conner's father and specific instructions. I checked out every detail and everything he told me was legitimate, so I went ahead and I contacted the team members."
"Tell me we weren't asked for specifically," Conner said.
"Only the two of us, Conner. They used an old code to find us, but still they knew it." Rio spun around, leaning one hip against the makeshift counter, and regarded Conner over the steaming cup. "Carpio said the client knew you and knew you did this kind of work."
The men looked at one another. Conner shook his head. "That's impossible. No one knows who we are. They asked for me by name?"
"Not exactly. The client described you in detail. Even had a sketch of your face. Of course, Carpio recognized you. Carpio went to your father to try to contact you, and as you gave your father my address for emergencies, he gave it to Carpio."
"But you don't know who the client is?" Conner insisted
Rio shook his head. "Carpio didn't want to identify him."
"I don't like this," Felipe said, clearly uneasy. "We should walk."
"I thought that at first," Rio said, "but Carpio appeared to be a man of his word, and he vouched for the client. I investigated everything he said before I called in the team, and Imelda Cortez's men did in fact kidnap seven children. Your father sent you your mother's pelt. I agree we have to be careful. Carpio is supposed to bring the client to us here. They should be here soon. Felipe and Leonardo, you can wait outside. Elijah, to the back. Let them through and then check the back trail to make certain they weren't followed or haven't left anyone waiting to ambush us."
Conner shook his head. "We've made it a policy to know who we're working with. No exceptions. Why all the secrecy?"
"Adan said the client wanted to talk to us in person. If at that point we aren't satisfied, then we can give back the retainer minus our expenses and walk."
"And you believed him?" Felipe said. "It's a setup. It has to be. They have a description of Conner, but not his identity? Come on, Rio, someone's looking to kill him. They drew him out and you're hanging him out on the line for them to do their best."
"I don't think so," Rio disagreed. "Adan Carpio was not lying to me. I can smell lies."
"Then they're using him. Whoever it is, the client found the connection between Carpio and Conner and used it to draw him out." Felipe sounded disgusted. "We need to get him under cover. Now."
Rio glanced at his watch. "They'll be here soon, Conner. All of you can stay out of sight while I interview them."
Conner shook his head. "I'll stay with you. If it's just two of them, we can kill them if we have to. Anyone following in the forest the others can handle. I'm not leaving you exposed with no backup. Someone wants me, let them come for me."
Felipe shook his head. "I'll stay with Rio, Conner."
Conner pinned him with a steady, focused gaze. "My leopard is close to the surface, Felipe. I'm edgy anyway. My reflexes are going to be fast and instinctive. I appreciate that you'd take the risk for me, but it's my risk and my cat's ready for a fight."
Felipe shrugged. "We'll let you know if there's anyone on the back trail."
Conner waited until the three men left before turning to Rio. "What's going on?"
Rio pushed a cup of coffee across the table toward Conner. "I don't honestly know. I know what Carpio told me was true, but some of the things he said . . ." Rio toed a chair around and dropped into it. "The description of you was less than flattering and didn't mention the scars. Carpio didn't mention the scars either."
"He hasn't seen me in a few years. What description?" A faint grin tugged at Conner's mouth but didn't quite make it. "I thought I was considered a handsome sort."
Rio snorted. "Despicable was a word used. I kid you not. A ruthless bastard who can get the job done. The sketch of your face bothered me. It was good enough, apparently, that Carpio recognized you, so whoever our client is, they've seen you and can identify you."
"At least they know I'm a ruthless bastard and one wrong move is going to get them killed," Conner said, standing still at the open window, staring out with more than a little longing.
The wind shifted slightly, barely able to penetrate the stillness of the forest floor. A few leaves fluttered gently. Somewhere birds called. Monkeys shrieked. They weren't alone in their part of the forest. A faint rumbling started in his throat and he picked up his coffee cup with one hand, taking a small swallow. The coffee was hot and gave him a much-needed jolt. His leopard was roaring again, moody and edgy without his mate, and returning to the wild haven only added to his primitive feelings of need. He wanted rough. Hard. Deep. He wanted claws raking him, branding him. He rubbed a hand over his face, wiping off the sweat.
"You all right?"
What the hell did one answer to that? His leopard was clawing deep, raging for release when he needed to be at the top of his game. "I'm all right enough to back your play, Rio."
He kept his eyes on the forest, staring out the window. He heard the low chuff of a leopard. Another answered. Felipe and Leonardo warning them they had two guests. Rio moved into place to one side of the door. Conner stayed where he was, his back to the door, depending on Rio while he quartered the area surrounding the house, looking for possible ghosts--men sliding in under cover while the front person distracted them.
The door opened behind him. He knew from the sudden draft. A scent filled his lungs. Rich. Potent. Wild. Her. He inhaled instinctively. His leopard leapt and raked. His mate. His woman. He would know that scent anywhere. His body reacted instantly, flooding his veins in a rush of heat, engorging his cock, sending his pulse rocketing so that it thundered in his ears.
Rio kicked the door closed with the toe of his boot, and jammed the barrel of his gun against Adan Carpio's temple. He knew better than to threaten the life of a leopard's mate. "If she moves, you die."
Conner half turned. He could barely move, his body trembling, the shock registering along with her absolute loathing.
Liar. The word lived and breathed between them.
Conner inhaled and took her loathing into his lungs. Her eyes never left his face. Burned over him, over the four scars there, branding him all over again.
Betrayer.
Time slowed down. Tunneled. He was aware of every detail of her. Her face. That beautiful, oval face with nearly luminescent skin, so soft a man wanted to touch her the moment he saw her. Her large eyes. Golden sometimes. Amber really. Or green. Emerald. Depending on how close her cat was to the surface. Her lashes, so long and curly, a sweep of fringe that accented her catlike eyes.
Isabeau Chandler.
She'd haunted him on the nights he managed to get a few hours' sleep. That long, sleek tawny hair, so thick. His fingers remembered tunneling through it. Her mouth, full lips, soft beyond anything he'd ever known. Talented. Inviting. A fantasy mouth. He could feel her lips on him, moving over his body, bringing him paradise. Completion. Peace. Her body. All feminine curves, every bit as alluring as her face. His.
Damn her to hell. She belonged to him. Not to the son of a bitch standing beside her with his cocky arrogance. Her body was his, her smile, all of her, every damn inch belonged to him alone. The man with her hadn't moved a muscle. Conner didn't really look at him, didn't care who he was. After all, he was already a dead man, and she should have known it. The law of the jungle. Higher law. Their law.
Conner felt every muscle lock into place. His head turned slowly, inch by slow inch in the stalking freeze-frame motion of a large jungle cat. He held himself still, his leopard barely held in check, dwelling on the strong fingers wrapped around hers. He shifted his gaze, a single sound escaping--rumbling up from inside his raging leopard, into his chest to come pouring out his throat. It was low. Chilling. There was nothing human in that s
ound. An animal's hatred. A leopard's challenge. One male to another. The low growl carried through the room, cut through the conversation and music so that all conversation ceased.
"Don't do it," Rio warned. "Step back while you have the chance," he cautioned the man.
Conner heard him as if from a great distance. His world had narrowed to one woman. No one, nothing could stop him, not even Rio. His cat was too fast. He knew it--they knew it. He'd have the throat ripped out in seconds. The growl persisted, a rumble never rising above a soft carrying note that raised the hair on the backs of necks. He knew killing the man was unacceptable in the civilized world, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered but to remove the other male from the side of his mate.
Isabeau let go of her companion's hand and Rio jerked him back, away from her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name," she said softly.
Taunting him. Daring him to lie to her again. Her voice was low. Sexy. Sliding over his skin, teasing his body with memories of the way her mouth had moved over him. He clenched his teeth, grateful she'd at least stopped the body contact with another male in his presence. His leopard clawed for supremacy.
"Why did you bring me here?"
Her eyes slid over him, holding contempt and pure loathing. "Because you're the only person I know who is bastard enough, deceptive enough, who might be able to get those children back. You're very good at what you do. I'm only asking for a few minutes of your time to hear me out and I think you owe me that."
Conner stared her down for several long moments before gesturing toward the door. Rio hesitated. The only person who had a chance of killing Conner Vega was Isabeau Chandler. He wouldn't fight her. The last thing Rio wanted to do was leave and Conner could sense his reluctance.
"She deserves her five minutes," Conner said.
Rio gestured for Carpio to walk in front of him. Conner waited for the door to close before he turned fully toward Isabeau and allowed himself to breathe again. Her scent was potent, surrounding him, invading, swamping him. He could hear the insects in the forest, the hum of life buzzing in his veins. The rich sap running in the trees and the constant movement in the canopy overhead thrummed through his body, a thick, potent mixture of heat and desire. The drum of water, constant and steady, beat in rhythm with his heart. He was home--in the forest--and his mate was caged in the same room with him.