Читать книгу Protective Custody - Debra Webb - Страница 9

“Absolute trust is essential.” Nicole Reed’s solemn gaze settled heavily onto Victoria’s. “Both our lives will depend on my being able to trust your investigator completely. I know Ian Michaels. I can trust him.”

Victoria Colby considered that last statement for a time before she spoke. Not a single doubt existed in her mind that Ian would be the wisest choice. He was not only the Colby Agency’s most experienced investigator, he was a man of his word. With Nick Foster’s retirement, Ian had transitioned into the position of second-in-command. Victoria employed only the finest in their fields at the Colby Agency, and Ian had proven no exception during his three years of service.

“Miss Reed, I understand your need for a civilian investigator. Obviously, you can’t trust anyone in your own organization.”

“I can’t trust anyone even remotely connected to the bureau or the Witness Security Program.” Nicole sighed. “I wish that weren’t the case, but it is. There have been two attempts on my life already. My director is dead, as well as another agent I’ve worked closely with in the past. Until I get to the bottom of what’s going on, I need someone I can trust to watch my back. Your agency has an impeccable reputation, Mrs. Colby, and I trust Ian Michaels.”

Victoria relaxed into the soft leather of her chair and studied the client seated across the wide expanse of her oak desk. The woman’s features were striking. She looked as if she had just stepped off the pages of Vogue. A navy silk jacket and trousers lent an air of professionalism as well as elegance to her image. Blond hair fell around her shoulders. Wide, assessing blue eyes highlighted a face that could only be called beautiful. So, Victoria noted, this woman was the reason Ian Michaels had walked away from a promising career as a U.S. Marshal.

Victoria arched a speculative brow. “Your history with Ian may be a problem, Miss Reed.”

Nicole frowned. “I don’t understand.”

Victoria almost smiled at the look of innocence Nicole Reed could adopt. “Before I employ anyone at this agency, I research their background thoroughly. I evaluate their strong points as well as their weak points, and I familiarize myself with their past mistakes. You worked with Ian Michaels on a high-profile case just over three years ago. The Solomon case, I believe.”

Nicole’s expression grew guarded. “That’s right.”

“I’m aware of your personal involvement with Ian, and the subsequent outcome of that involvement,” Victoria added, leaving no question as to the point she intended.

“Raymond Solomon died, Mrs. Colby. We did our best to protect him, but he died anyway. End of story.”

Between the suddenly blank look in the other woman’s eyes and the emotionless tone of her voice, Victoria had her doubts as to whether the story had ended. But that wasn’t the issue here. Nicole Reed needed help, and the Colby Agency had made its reputation by providing the kind of help she required. Victoria straightened, then pressed the intercom button. “Mildred, ask Ian if he’s free. I’d like him to join this meeting.”

Nicole blinked, then looked away. Asking for Ian’s help couldn’t be easy, Victoria imagined. After all, it was Nicole who had helped end his former career. And if Victoria had Ian pegged right, which she likely did, Miss Nicole Reed had probably broken his fiercely guarded heart as well.

“You need help,” Victoria told her finally. “And I believe this agency can help you, Miss Reed.” Nicole relaxed visibly. “However, I don’t feel Ian is the proper choice considering your shared history.” Their gazes locked, Victoria’s firm, Nicole’s hesitant. “But I will allow him to make the final decision.”

Nicole lifted one shoulder in a semblance of a shrug. “Fair enough.”

The moment Ian entered the room Nicole knew she had seriously overestimated the healing value of time. His stance stiffened and those silver eyes frosted with indifference when his gaze collided with hers. His expression was exactly the same as it had been the last time Nicole had seen him, filled with unmasked contempt. No matter, he was the one person she could trust. She might be a fool for even asking for his help, but it was worth a shot. Besides, that’s the way their relationship had been from the beginning, overpowering attraction, yet bordering on enmity.

“Ian, I’m sure you remember Miss Reed,” Victoria announced, breaking the awkward silence.

His icy gaze never left Nicole’s. She didn’t miss the slight hesitation before he spoke. “Yes. Of course.”

Nicole steeled herself against the shiver generated by the low, raspy sound of his voice. Deep, sexy as hell, and laced with a hint of European flavor. Ian Michaels had the kind of voice erotic dreams were made of. Tangled sheets and long, hot nights immediately leapt to mind. From the moment they had first met, the man’s tone and speech pattern had tripped some sort of desire trigger deep inside Nicole. He only had to look into her eyes, speak, and she melted. Despite what had happened between them and the passage of three years, his effect on her remained unchanged. But she couldn’t let him get to her this time. This time she had to maintain strict control.

Nicole swallowed, then stood. She extended her hand and produced a smile. “It’s good to see you again, Ian.”

Ian’s gaze traced her body with painstaking slowness, making Nicole too warm despite her determination not to react. Then he stared, long and hard, at her hand before taking it in his own. Long, tanned fingers wrapped around hers and she fought the added reaction his touch evoked. She could not allow this. Too much depended on the next few minutes and this one man to permit emotion to override reason.

Ian acknowledged her greeting with nothing more than a ghost of a nod, then released her hand and turned to Victoria. “You wanted to see me.”

“Yes. Please, have a seat.” Victoria indicated the remaining chair in front of her desk.

Seemingly from some faraway place, Nicole listened as Victoria recounted their earlier discussion, the words barely registering. Nicole could not take her eyes off the man now seated next to her. Still tall and amazingly handsome. Still a commanding presence that stole her breath. He wore his hair longer now, she noted with reluctant admiration, its dark length curling at his nape. Nicole almost smiled as her greedy gaze swept over his body. Though the suit was more elegant now, probably Armani, the color was the same. Black. Ian always wore black. And he would certainly be as good at his job today as he had been three years ago. No fugitive ever eluded him for long. No witness ever failed to make it to court or to safety when Ian was assigned the case.

Ian Michaels never failed. That’s why he had been assigned to the Solomon case three years ago.

And that’s the reason Nicole had received her assignment as well. To see that Ian failed in his.

Now, with the memory of betrayal still screaming between them, she had come to ask Ian for help. There was no one else she could trust. Nicole held her breath as she waited for him to respond to the request that he handle her case personally.

“I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the investigator Victoria assigns to your case,” he said coolly, his icy gaze once more connecting with Nicole’s. “But it won’t be me.”

“YOU’RE COMFORTABLE with your decision then?”

“Yes.” Ian didn’t turn around. He knew Victoria was disappointed in him, but right now he didn’t care. All he wanted to do was watch Nicole storm across the parking lot four stories below. She had left Victoria’s office as if his refusal to help her didn’t matter, but he knew better. He had seen the uncertainty, then the defeat flicker in her blue eyes. Whatever her current situation, she considered Ian’s refusal to help her a significant loss. Ian almost smiled. However, it didn’t come close to evening the score.

“You’re not concerned with her refusal to work with Alex?” Victoria again interrupted his moment of savoring victory with another dig at his already chafed conscience.

“Why should I be?” Ian clenched his jaw at the denial that crowded his throat. He no longer gave one damn about Nicole Reed. No matter that his traitorous body had reacted as if three years had not passed…as if Nicole had not already cost him dearly. Had she really despised him enough to purposely get in the way of his work? Had her own ambition meant more to her than a man’s life? Ian would likely never know the answers to those questions. Did it even matter? No. He couldn’t change the past. It was over, done with. Solomon was dead.

“Nicole can take care of herself,” he said in answer to Victoria’s question. His voice sounded harsh to his own ears. Reacting on emotion was not something Ian allowed, but he hadn’t been able to help himself today.

The squeak of leather alerted Ian when Victoria stood. She had more to say on the issue, of that he felt certain. Three near-silent steps later and she was at his side watching Nicole’s determined march toward whatever vehicle she had arrived in.

“I know very little about what happened between the two of you, but I do know a woman in trouble when I see one.”

Ian kept his gaze glued to that mane of long blond hair fluttering in the September breeze behind Nicole. How could the mere sight of her still make him ache with need? Even knowing what he knew. Why in hell would Nicole come to him for help? She had to know he would refuse. She had to be desperate.

Victoria had made the decision his, and he had decided. Nicole’s subsequent refusal to work with another investigator was not his problem, Ian reminded himself as that annoyingly restless sensation twisted inside him. The feeling was all too familiar, but he intended to ignore his instincts this time. Nicole was on her own.

“Perhaps she’ll change her mind,” Victoria suggested.

“She won’t,” he murmured. A thought spoken. Nicole had entirely too much pride. The fact that she had come to him at all spoke volumes about her proximity to the edge. But she definitely would not come crawling back for what she would consider second best, and begging had never been her style. Remorse trickled through him before he could stop it. He knew her too well.

“Well, then, I hope you’re right.” Victoria folded her arms over her chest. “I hope she can take care of herself.”

“I stopped caring one way or another a long time ago,” he affirmed aloud. Who was he trying to convince? he wondered with self-disgust. Victoria or himself?

As if to refute his words an earthshaking explosion rattled the glass in front of his face. Debris from what used to be an automobile flew in a dozen directions. Black smoke mushroomed skyward as flames licked the remaining, mutilated frame. Ian’s heart lurched. He frantically scanned the parking lot. Panicked pedestrians rushed toward the building for cover. He clutched the edge of the windowsill as his heart stilled in his chest.

Nicole! Where was Nicole?