Circle of Danger by Carla Swafford Page B

but she placed her hand on his chest and pushed. “What are you up to?”
    Guilt flitted across his face. He stepped back and looked out the French doors.
    â€œRyker, answer me please.” She shivered again.
    â€œI know the drug makes you . . .” He waved a finger toward her and then jammed his hands on his hips as he glared at the floor. After a heavy sigh, he added, “I wanted to make it easier for you to ask for my help.”
    â€œQuit pitying me.” She squared her shoulders and glared back at him. So that was it. He thought he was helping by romancing her. She resented how it took her being drugged to get his attention and the reaction she’d always wanted from him.
    â€œDamn it! I’m not,” he said.
    He turned toward her as someone rapped on the door.
    â€œFuck off,” he snapped. Without pausing he reached for her.
    â€œRyker!” She crossed her arms, not caring for his attitude.
    The door opened. He turned toward the intruder and growled, “I said—”
    â€œWe found the Wizard,” Jack cut him off. Marie watched with amazement as the man calmly entered and sat in Ryker’s vacant chair. Not many people would brave his temper.
    â€œWhere?” Ryker asked.
    â€œIn Gatlinburg. He’s staying in a rented chalet with twenty of his closest friends,” Jack said. “And he’s put out a contract for the return of the woman who broke into his house. We believe they have two other women drugged and ready for the market.”
    Ice ran down her spine. Why would the guy want her? He obviously could get any woman he wanted. How could she say that? She didn’t wish the drug on anyone.
    But why go to the small town nestled next to the Great Smoky Mountains? Maybe by being a well-loved tourist location, it was a perfect place to hide as thousands of strangers rent cabins of all sizes everywhere on the mountains. Anyone could easily blend in.
    R yker looked at Marie. She appeared slightly disturbed by the interruption and his display of temper. Then again, she knew him better than anyone. It amazed him how innocent she could still look after the years of neglect from her parents and the abuse by Theo. Even in her frustration with him, she allowed him to see how much she trusted him. A trust he hoped never to betray. If she ever grew to hate him, it would kill him. What little soul he had left would shrivel and evaporate.
    He pulled his gaze from her and looked at his second-in-command. He didn’t care for how Jack thought he could barge in whenever he wished. He needed to teach him some boundaries.
    â€œHe didn’t go far,” Ryker said.
    â€œNo. For an intelligent man who developed such a powerful drug, he’s doing some stupid things,” Jack said.
    Ryker caught the man cutting his eyes over at Marie, examining her as if he expected to find her abused and defeated. Yep. It was time to teach him some hard lessons.
    â€œTell Bryan to send the details to Liam.” He knew Jack hated Liam’s guts as much as Liam did Jack’s. No one knew the reason for their animosity. There were rumors of Liam’s ex-wife being involved. Ryker couldn’t help but wonder if Jack had a thing for unavailable women. From what he’d heard, Jack had a hard-on for Olivia, Ryker’s brother’s wife, and rumor was he’d slept with his own brother’s fiancé.
    â€œLiam?” Jack said the name as if he had a bad taste in his mouth.
    â€œHe’ll be working lead on this one.” Ryker turned and faced Marie. Her confused expression said she understood what he’d done but not why. Just as well. He had a hard time explaining it to himself. His distrust of Jack played only a small part. That much he was certain.
    Jack gripped the arm of the chair, his knuckles turned white as his lips pressed together. Ryker had to admire the man’s control.
    â€œWhat’s my role in all of this?” Jack