“Someone is on the ball then. ”
“So it would appear,” he muttered thoughtfully.
Scheme ignored him. As the news stories flashed across the screen, she settled back and watched intently. She knew of several missions her father was putting together to go into the Middle East and help heat up yet another conflict there. The more politicians were concerned with the terrorists reaching out from the desert states, the less focus they put on racial issues flaring up at home. Specifically, the Breed issues.
As world news shifted from overseas to the States, the story of the general’s missing daughter flashed across the screen.
Scheme tensed as her father’s expression, lined with supposed grief, filled the screen.
“Whatever Scheme has done, she doesn’t deserve to die,” he was saying in response to the reporter’s claim that she might have been kidnapped in retaliation for the attack against the Breed base, Sanctuary, several months before. “If she’s used my contacts and my resources to inflict more pain on the Breeds, then it should be dealt with through the proper channels. Justice will not be served by hurting her or, God forbid, killing her. ”
Her lip curled as the screen blackened.
Her gaze swung to Tanner and the remote he was lowering to the couch beside him.
“Turn it back on,” she snapped. “I want to hear it. ”
“Your half hour is over. Actually, it turned into close to forty minutes. You owe me for the extra time. ”
“Like hell. Turn it back on. ”
The lying bastard. She knew her father was a monster; she had known it for years, for most of her life, but she had never realized what a consummate actor he truly was.
Tanner stared back at her, unconcerned. “No. ”
Her fists clenched at her sides. “Why?” she snapped. “Afraid I might actually believe his lies? That I might cause you more trouble to return to his loving arms?” she sneered.
“No,” he said softly. “I’m more worried that if I have to smell the scent of your pain much longer, I’ll end up losing control and go after his throat myself. Which would do nothing to help you. ”
She sneered hatefully. “Of course it would bother you that he beat me,” she snarled. “Now, why didn’t I think of that? A Breed would, of course, be concerned for a Tallant’s welfare. ”
Not.
She knew better than that.
“You didn’t rescue me from Chaz, Tanner—you kidnapped me for your own ends and you’re keeping me here for the same reason. Is it all about fucking me?” she bit out sarcastically. “Oh, yeah, I can just see that one. You’re just dying to fuck the daughter of the man who tortured your entire fucking family. ” Cold, hard mockery finished the sentence. She knew better. “Just tell me what you want, Tanner. What is the cost of my freedom?”
“Your safety. ”
She glared back at him, her expression twisted with disbelief. Only her father’s spy would care how she intended to cover her own ass.
“My safety,” she repeated chillingly. “Tell you what. Release me, give me a secured cell phone, and within hours, I’ll be safe. I promise you that. All you have to do is let me go. ”
“Tell me who you would call first. ” He rose from the couch with a smooth flex of muscle. “The same bastard who stole that information in New Mexico last month?”
“I could only get so lucky,” she snapped. “No, Tanner, my contact isn’t your unknown thief. And who it is is none of your business. Now let me go. ”
She stood in place as he stalked closer to her, his body rippling with tension, his eyes swirling with it. Like this, he reminded her more of the animal than the man. He had the same controlled, graceful movements of the Bengal. Almost lazy, calculating, every bone and muscle flexing with an innate animal grace.
She couldn’t control the shiver when he touched her though. When his hands settled on the thin silk covering her hips and his chest brushed against her suddenly distended nipples.
“I can’t let you go,” he said softly, his head lowering until her vision was filled with the sexual intensity in his gaze.
“Why?” Her hands settled on his chest, not to push him away, not to pull him closer. Just to touch him, to feel the warmth of him. “You’ve had me. It’s time to end this game now. ”
One hand moved from her waist to cup the side of her face, his thumb brushing over her lips as they parted helplessly. Anger was melting beneath pleasure despite her attempts to hold on to it. She needed to stay angry with him. She needed a defense against his touch other than the suspicion that he could be her father’s spy.
“I don’t know. ” His brow gathered into a frown. “Maybe because I don’t trust you. Because too many people are out to kill you. And maybe because I need more of this. ”