Master of Her Heart (Sons of Amber Book 2) by Bianca D'Arc Page B

purpose?”
    “There’s Smithson. She’s got jurisdiction. We could always do an inspection tour. It wouldn’t raise many eyebrows after her latest snafu.”
    “Good thinking.” Damn, he loved this woman’s quick mind and capable intellect. “Set the wheels in motion, Leah, but I want you to stay here.”
    “Like hell.”
    “Leah, I don’t want to put you in danger. If Smithson or one of her people is in on this plot, they may try something.”
    “All the more reason for me to come along and watch your back. They’ll be gunning for you, if anyone. Not me, Michael. You know that’s the truth. And I can talk to the other women. They won’t talk freely around you, but they’ll do so around me.”
    He hated that she was right.
    “If I allow this, we’ll have to be all business once we hit Smithson’s domain. I don’t want her to know I’ve broken my famous rule for you, Leah.” He stood and reached out to stroke her hair back from her face. “Smithson already hates me, and all my staff by association. If she makes a move against me I don’t want to give her any added reason to target you specifically.”
    “Do you really expect she’ll make a grab for power? I don’t think she has the nerve.”
    “She acts stupid, but I’m convinced that’s all it is—an act. That woman has ambition and I’m the one standing in her way. If she sees an opportunity to discredit me or take me out completely, she’ll pounce on it.”
    Leah came to him, hugging him close. Mike was astounded and very moved that she would show such open affection. It was one of the few times in his life a woman had sought to comfort him, to hug him in reassurance with nothing sexual about it. It was beautiful. No, she was beautiful. This woman was so incredibly special.
    “Then we won’t give her an opportunity, Michael.” She snuggled her head into his chest as if it belonged there. Mike brought his hand up and stroked her hair, her back, emotion crowding his senses along with her delicate fragrance. “That woman is a viper.”
    “I couldn’t agree more.”
    Mike just held her for long moments, enjoying the sensation of her in his arms. He’d never forget this moment.
     
    *
     
    A day and a half later, they were underway. The trip was relatively short, though Mike didn’t like being out of touch with Ty while he was undercover. Who knew what the crazy Risker would get up to?
    They arrived with little fanfare, an unannounced inspection tour taking Smithson and her entire staff by surprise. Just the way he wanted it.
    They were given the best suite the small station had to offer and Mike installed Leah in one of the two bedrooms. He knew they were under surveillance, so he kept Leah close, but not too close. He wouldn’t put Leah in even more danger should this mission go wrong by letting Smithson know just how deeply they were involved personally.
    When Mike switched on the jamming devices he did it in private, smiling sinisterly at Smithson’s badly hidden cameras in the moment before killing them all with the pulse of interfering frequencies. She had to know now that he was on to her surveillance. It was a dare of a kind, but he didn’t expect her to do much about it, and Mike needed the privacy to contact Ty.
    “Brother?” Michael was careful of his wording lest others somehow tap into the secure signal.
    “What took you so long, Mik?” Ty’s use of the slightly different name alerted Mike to the fact that Ty thought others might be listening. It also spoke of just whom he thought could be monitoring the conversation. Jits, no doubt. The crazy Risker had gone deep undercover and was probably up to his ears in pirates.
    “You know how it is. When can we meet up?”
    “I’m with some friends right now. How about I comm back when I know what my schedule will be like? Say in about two standards?”
    “I’ll be here. Don’t be late.”
    “Wouldn’t dream of it. Take care, brother.”
    Leah was with Michael two