Chapter 20
Fear crept inside every pore as hot breath assaulted her cheek. But the breath was minty fresh and familiar. As was the scent of sawdust and musk. Jack? What was he doing here?
Relaxing her shoulders, she leaned back. The arm around her tightened as he pressed a kiss to her neck. “Shhh,” hissed in her ear and he loosened his hand on her mouth.
Turning, she stared into the gray eyes of the man she couldn’t live without. But had for too long.
“Jack. What are you doing here?” Could he hear the desperation and longing in her tone?
“Had to hold you again, Calico,” he whispered, kissing her once more. Giving in to his lips, she shivered as his hand caressed the bare skin of her back.
“Great dress. Victor buy this for you? Is he arranging a nice marriage of convenience for you with one of his cronies?”
“Are you jealous?” He sounded it. Like he’d been of all the time she’d spent with Angelo even though he knew the truth about the man.
“Maybe I am. I know I don’t have any right to be but…I still hate the thought of any other man appreciating how you look in this dress.”
She frowned. “Most of the guys out there are old enough to be my father or have wives practically attached to their hips.” Her lips twitched as she glanced away. “Although there was that one bodyguard who seemed quite interested.”
Jack kissed her hard, a punishment? Not from her point of view. When he skimmed his hands over her back, she moved closer, wanting to feel his hard chest against her. Running her fingers through his hair she pushed aside a stray lock from his forehead.
“What are you doing here?” she asked again. “Pretty sure you didn’t get an invitation.”
“No, it must have gotten lost in the mail. Thought I’d simply crash the party. It looked deadly dull in the other room so I decided to check out this one. See what interesting tidbits I could find. Hopefully on that computer.”
She glanced at the desk. He couldn’t have gotten far as the machine wasn’t turned on. “Do you know how to hack a computer?”
“Not really, but I can navigate through one well enough. I’m hoping Victor, not growing up in the computer age, might not have as many safeguards on there. He’s arrogant enough to think no one could get inside this fortress so he wouldn’t need much protection on it. And I don’t think he trusts too many people to have access to his computer.”
Hmm, was he right? Victor wasn’t a computer genius though he did know how to use one. “How did you get in by the way? Victor’s got some serious security going on around here.”
He pointed to the wall behind the desk. Part of the paneling looked like it had come undone. “That’s a secret entrance to Victor’s wine cellar. It exits out past the western gate. Victor had it built so he could escape if any of his mob friends decided to rub him out.”
“How did you know about it? I can’t imagine Victor told you.”
“Angelo mentioned it once when he was stinkin’ drunk. He’d had a little threesome with two pro football players in the back of the limo. He was supposed to beheredoing some work for his father so he had me sneak him in that way. Showed me the codes and everything. I’m sure he had no recollection of telling me the next day.”
“But you’ve never used it before.”
Sighing, he said, “I’ve either been miles away or haven’t had any opportunity. Usually the whole grounds are secured, even right near the entrance. But tonight they’re focusing on the house and immediate grounds. It was perfect.”
“Then let me help you. I know my way around a computer pretty well. And I might be able to guess some of Victor’s possible passwords.”
They moved to the desk, Callie silently appreciating the way Jack’s jeans hugged his hips and butt.Focus. Don’t think about sex right now.They needed to get information against Victor.
She reached for the switch to turn it on and Jack pressed his lips to her neck once more. Butterflies stormed through her stomach and her back arched subconsciously. Leaning down, he placed his hand on the desk then stopped as voices sounded outside the door.
Her heart skipped a beat. Were they coming in here? Damn, they couldn’t get caught here together. Could they get through the wine cellar door in time?
“The information is on my computer. It won’t take more than a few minutes…” Victor’s voice rang out as he walked in with two other men in tuxedos.
“Stay back or I slice open her neck,” Jack threatened loud enough for the men to hear, one arm snaking around her waist.
She cried out in surprise. What was he doing? Lifting her hands to her neck she felt a knife, but it was turned sideways. It couldn’t do any damage unless she moved around too much. Luckily it was dark enough not to notice.
“Waters!” Victor cried, anger radiating off him. He was more concerned about the man with the knife than her?
“Victor, please,” she sobbed. The mobster couldn’t know she and Jack were in on this together. Hence the knife. But how would he get away? If Victor got him, he was dead. Tears pooled in her eyes, real tears. She couldn’t lose him. Not when they were getting closer to having a life together.
