Colby Core - Debra Webb Mills & Boon Intrigue

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they carried the tracking device. Nothing he could do about that.

      The hawk-nosed guy headed back to the SUV. He opened the rear passenger door. “Slide over.” He gestured toward the other side of the seat with his weapon.

      Riley scooted over and the other man climbed in next to him. “Let’s get out of here,” he said to his buddy.

      The driver started the engine. “I guess you’re gonna get your wish, Mr. Smith. There’s someone who wants to talk to you after all.”

      “As long as he’s higher up the food chain,” Riley said.

      Hawk-nose rammed the muzzle of his handgun into Riley’s temple. “Your mouth is going to get you killed. You should keep it closed for now if you want to keep breathing, pal.”

      Riley turned his face toward the man next to him, ignoring the business end of the gun. “I’m not your pal. I’m the guy who’s going to provide you and your partner here with a little more job security.”

      Fury detonated in the man’s eyes as the interior light faded to black. “I don’t know why we can’t kill him right now,” he snarled.

      “You make a mess in my SUV,” the driver warned as the vehicle rolled out onto the deserted street, “and I’ll kill you.”

      Hawk-nose wasn’t put off by his colleague’s threat. “I think he’s bluffing,” he mused. “Probably working with the cops.”

      Riley didn’t flinch, didn’t take his fierce glare off the man with the gun. The streetlights provided enough illumination for him to see that his scare tactics weren’t working.

      “He don’t know nothing,” Hawk-nose suggested.

      “If he’s not working with the cops, he’s just trying to get a promotion.”

      “The boss’ll be the judge of that,” the driver reminded his colleague.

      That piece of news was what he had wanted to hear. Riley relaxed into the seat, directed his attention straight ahead.

      He was in … at least far enough to get a face-to-face with the boss.

      The first step. If he could convince the boss of his own usefulness, maybe—just maybe—he could get all the way into the organization.

      It was the only way to dismantle an operation this large and this sophisticated.

      From the inside.

      He would, as quickly as possible, learn the key players and then he would move on to step two. That was the most time sensitive and crucial step: take out one or more pivotal pieces of the foundation. Then the entire network collapsed.

      Step two would be easy as long as he stayed alive.

      Chapter Two

       11:05 p.m.

      The cold wind whistled through the cracks in the window frame. Tessa touched the wood frame, registering the roughness of the peeling paint that had once been white and the chunks of missing caulk that allowed the frigid air to seep into the room.

      Her gaze drifted past the wavy glass of the century-old window, past the intimidating black iron bars, to the snow that remained on the ground. She couldn’t remember the last time it had snowed for Christmas. Her lips ached with the need to smile. But smiling was forbidden.

      The Master did not allow his family to smile or to laugh.

      Holidays were difficult sometimes. Memories crept in … reminding her of how it used to be.

      Before …

      “Tessa.”

      A tremble slid through her, shaking her bones. She turned to face him. “Yes?”

      “Ensure the children and the patients remain in their rooms.”

      For a long moment she simply stared in response. Taller than most men, six-three or -four. He worked out religiously to keep his muscles big and hard. Used steroids liberally to be sure they stayed that way well after his youth had become a distant memory. Always dressed in elegant attire. Everything about him, except his skin, was black. Hair, eyes, clothing. He used his coloring, his size and even his clothes to inspire fear.

      It always worked.

      No one dared cross him.

       “Tessa?”

      The warning in his tone trapped the oxygen beneath her sternum for a moment more. “Yes.” She blinked, forced away all other thought save his order. “I’ll make sure.”

      He surveyed her room, no doubt noting that the covers of her bed had not as of yet been turned down. “I believe it’s past your bedtime, is it not?”

      Tessa nodded. She smoothed a hand over the pink flannel of her gown. The metal key in the pocket pressed reassuringly against her hip. “I was about to lie down, but I thought I heard something outside.”

      “That would be security’s concern.”

      “Of course.”

      She held her breath until he’d gone. As long as she obeyed, she could take care of the children and the patients. More caution was necessary. She couldn’t make a mistake. For years she had watched the unthinkable treatment of those confined … she had worked diligently to reach a position of some authority so that she could change that sadness. So that she could devise a plan.

      No matter the cost to her, she could not lose that small power.

      In spite of that need, she still longed for freedom … escape. There had been opportunities … few and rare, but opportunities nonetheless. She would not take advantage of the chance to escape without being able to take the others with her.

      To take the child.

      An ache rose in her throat.

       No matter the cost.

      Pay attention. She squared her shoulders. Something was happening tonight. There was an unusual tension in the air. A sense of anticipation.

      For the past hour or so she had seen the seemingly frantic coming and going of the others assigned to the house. There were no other deliveries or pick-ups on the schedule for the next eight days.

      Fear trickled into her veins. If he had increased his schedule … No. She shook her head. It was too risky. He wouldn’t do that. She would know if changes had been set in motion.

      Taking a deep, steadying breath, Tessa turned away from the window and moved toward the door, her bare feet soundless on the frigid floor.

      She couldn’t think about the deliveries or the pickups. Taking care of the children and the patients was all that mattered. That was her life now.

      At least until the time was right. The opportunity was close … so very close.

      A shiver rumbled through her body as defeat weighed heavily down upon her. Stop. Nothing would stop her … she would find a way, no matter the obstacles that arose. Her plan was solid … but the timing had to be perfect.

      Outside her door, along the dark, silent corridor were two large rooms besides her own. Tessa removed the key from her pocket and unlocked the first door.

      She didn’t turn on the light for fear of waking the sleeping children. Whatever was happening, it could be dangerous. The children would be safest if they were asleep. Noise—not even a whimper—was allowed past eight in the evening.

      Tessa crouched down next to the first bed. She pinched her lips together to prevent the forbidden. The urge to sweep soft blond hair back from the little girl’s forehead forced her to clench her fingers. She drew the fist to her lips and resisted the new urge to cry.

      She had to protect the child.

      She

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