Undetected (Treasure Hunter Security Book 8) Read online

  Darcy heard something in his voice and studied him. He was filled with a fine tension, visible in the line of his shoulders and his posture.

  She knew he’d been in contact with the onsite teams during the night and morning. “The diamonds haven’t moved, and no one’s been in or out of the penthouse.”

  “Correct.”

  God, she hoped no one had cut the diamonds up overnight. The Louvre and the Dashwood would be beyond pissed.

  “And you really think the Collector will be there?” she asked.

  “Yeah. I’m guessing they’re waiting for the Collector to arrive today.”

  She lifted her chin. “We’re going to get them.”

  Intense green eyes met hers. “We are.”

  They finished up their breakfast and got ready. Darcy swiped on some lipstick. She was wearing black, fitted trousers, and a white shirt. She added a chunky green bangle at her wrist. Just because they were taking down international black-market thieves didn’t mean she couldn’t look good while they did it.

  She glanced at Alastair’s phone. It hadn’t rung yet.

  Then she started pacing. The minutes ticked by, and still no call about the search warrant.

  “Waiting sucks.”

  Alastair opened his laptop, leaning against the counter as he touched the keyboard. “When you work for the government, you learn to have some patience.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I prefer action.”

  He snorted. “I’d noticed. And caffeine.”

  She smiled at him. He really did look too damn handsome. Even though he was obviously on edge and alert waiting for the search warrant, for the first time since she’d known him, his face didn’t have its usual harsh intensity. It looked relaxed. She guessed that out-of-this-world, wild sex would probably do that.

  “What’s that smile for?” He was staring at her face.

  “Oh, just thinking about how good you are in bed.”

  He cocked his head.

  She lifted a hand, rubbing her thumb over her lips. “How good you are with your hands and mouth. How impressive your—” when he raised a brow at her, she grinned “—stamina is.”

  Suddenly, he pushed away from the counter and stalked toward her.

  The intensity was back in his green eyes. Excitement shivered through her, and she backed up until she hit the back of the couch.

  “Alastair—” God, that look in his eyes…

  He reached her, gripped her hips, and spun her around. Her hips hit the back of the couch.

  Then he leaned down, his lips teasing her ear. “I’m going to fuck you, Darcy. Right here.”

  All the air shuddered out of her. He bent her over the couch, his fingers working the zipper of her trousers. A second later, he pushed them down, along with her panties.

  Then his fingers were between her legs, stroking. She bit down to stifle a moan.

  “Wet for me already, Ms. Ward. Naughty.”

  “I’m always ready for you.” She rode his hand, needing him to touch her.

  “All those times we talked, fought, argued…were you wet for me?” His fingers thrust deep.

  She cried out, pleasure spiraling through her.

  “Answer me,” he growled.

  “Yes. God, yes.”

  Then she heard the sound of a zipper lowering, the crinkle of foil, and then he thrust forward, filling her.

  Darcy moaned.

  “Tilt your hips, baby. Take more.”

  She did and he pumped deep. She gripped the couch for dear life and bit her lip. Sensations rocketed through her.

  “God, Darcy—” His voice was a growl.

  She could hear his control breaking. Watching, listening, and feeling Alastair Burke lose control was her new favorite thing.

  “More, Alastair. Don’t stop.”

  “I never want to stop. I want to stay right here inside you forever.”

  His hand slid around and cupped her chin, tilting her head to the side. Their gazes met, and his mouth covered hers—the kiss hard and demanding, like the way he was taking her body.

  Then his other hand slipped down over her belly. His fingers found her clit and rolled it.

  “Come.” He thrust hard inside her.

  It was an order and she wasn’t going to disobey it. Her release exploded through her and she screamed.

  Alastair pumped again—once, twice, three times. He lodged his cock deep and groaned through his own orgasm.

  When Darcy blinked her eyes open, all she could hear was their harsh breathing.

  “Wow,” she murmured.

  He leaned down and kissed her shoulder. Then, there was the sudden ringing of a phone. She waited for Alastair to pull away, but instead, she felt him reach into his pocket. Darcy went to move, but he pressed his other hand between her shoulder blades, holding her in place.

  “Thom?”

  Oh, God. He was talking to Thom while he was still inside her. She shoved back, but Alastair kept her pinned in place.

  “Got it. Yeah, Darcy’s right here.” The hand on her back slid down and around, then between her legs. He tweaked her swollen clit again. She glared at him over her shoulder, but as pleasure hit her, she bit her lip.

  “You tracked down Elettaria Inc.” He made a humming sound. “A bunch of dummy corporations.” His gaze met Darcy’s. “But elettaria is a genus of plant. Elettaria cardamomum is the true name for cardamom.”

  Darcy gasped. “And cardamom was one of the main spices sold along the historical Silk Road.”

  “Yeah, we’re on our way.” Alastair shifted his hips, his fingers rubbing her clit.

  The move sent a wave of latent pleasure through her and she moaned.

  “See you soon, Thom.”

  “You are incorrigible.” She shoved against Alastair.

  He kept working her clit.

  “Alastair!” The sensations were building again, her belly on fire.

  He didn’t let up. Not until she moaned his name through another short, sharp orgasm. Then he pulled out of her, and pressed a hard kiss to her lips.

  “We got the warrant.”

  Excitement shivered through her. “Luckily I’m feeling too good to be angry with you about that stunt. Let me clean up and then let’s go.”

  He nodded. “It’s time to end this, and take down the Collector.”

  “Then let’s do it.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Alastair pulled his car to a stop at the Adana Tower and climbed out.

  Darcy leaped out of the car, bursting with energy. As they headed toward the group of agents and the THS gang waiting near the entrance, he wanted to grab her hand, but he restrained himself. Barely.

  After touching her all night, he wanted to keep doing it. He didn’t want to stop.

  She looked at him and clearly read him like an open book. A sexy smile curved her lips. “Behave.”

  As they neared the group, Thom, Dec, and Cal looked up.

  “No one came out of the penthouse all night.” Thom handed over some paperwork.

  Alastair scanned the warrant.

  “Someone did enter this morning,” Thom said.

  Alastair lifted his head.

  “Older gentleman. He’s one of the founding members of Cochran, Dean, and Porter.”

  “Lawyer,” Alastair said.

  Darcy leaned forward. “You think he’s the Collector?”

  “Let’s find out,” Alastair said. “Time to pay a visit.”

  “We’re having that discussion about my sister,” Dec said. “Soon.”

  Cal’s gaze narrowed, his voice was low. “I say we just beat him up.”

  “I can’t hear everything you’re saying,” Darcy said, from the other side of Alastair. “But I’m pretty sure I don’t like it.”

  “You see that freaking hickey on your neck?” Dec growled.

  Darcy’s gaze narrowed. “Do I ask you about your sex life?”

  Cal groaned. “Don’t use the word sex. Sisters are not allowed t
o say it to their brothers.”

  Darcy rounded on her brother.

  Alastair gripped her arm. “Can we take down Silk Road first, then continue this?”

  Dec and Cal both straightened. Darcy nodded. Once again, Alastair was glad he was an only child.

  Alastair waved at the group of armed agents. As they moved toward the front doors of the Adana Tower, Darcy did as well.

  He scowled at her and opened his mouth.

  “I’ve earned this.” Her gaze narrowed. “And you know it.”

  Alastair sucked in a breath. “Fine. But you stay back.”

  They headed through the lobby and over to the elevators. Thom had already briefed the building’s security. It was a tense ride up to the penthouse level.

  The elevator opened into a small lobby covered in expensive marble and a large, carved wooden door. He nodded at Thom, and his partner knocked on the door.

  It opened, and a handsome young man stood there, wearing a tailored suit. His tousled blond hair was styled, and he was cradling a mug of coffee like he didn’t have a care in the world.

  “We have a warrant to search the premises.” Alastair held out the paperwork.

  The man’s face moved into a concerned look. “I see, Mr.…?”

  “Special Agent Burke. FBI.”

  “Ah.”

  An older man appeared at the man’s back. The young man turned and handed the paperwork over to him.

  “I’ll let my lawyer take a look at it.”

  Smug bastard. He reeked of privilege and superiority. Alastair had met many wealthy people in his career. Most of them were damn hard-working business owners and philanthropists. But there was always an elite asshole lurking around a corner in DC.

  The younger man smiled and it rubbed Alastair the wrong way.

  Suddenly, Darcy pushed forward, and Alastair barely resisted rolling his eyes. He threw out an arm to stop her.

  “Wait,” she said. “I know you.”

  The man tilted his head, and his smile widened, showing lots of perfect teeth. “I’m sure I’d remember a woman as lovely as you.”

  Alastair scowled and stepped closer to her.

  “You were in the Dashwood. The morning we stopped those kids trying to steal the sculpture.”

  The man gave a negligent shrug. “I often visit all of DC’s venerable institutions.”

  “Name,” Alastair demanded.

  That smug smile stayed in place. “William Henry Acton.”

  Now it was Declan who muscled forward. Darcy gasped.

  Alastair frowned at the siblings. He was missing something. “That mean something to you?”

  “Back in the seventies,” Dec said. “In Ecuador, when our parents first met—”

  “There was an English treasure hunter named Henry Acton.” Darcy glared at the blond man. “He tried to steal a priceless Incan emerald my parents were searching for. He tried to murder them.”

  William just smiled. “My grandfather was a true adventurer and visionary.”

  “He didn’t die in Ecuador?” Darcy asked.

  William continued smiling, but something nasty moved through his blue gaze. “Your parents pushed him off a cliff into a caiman-infested river.”

  “To save their own lives,” Darcy spat.

  Suddenly, the lawyer stepped back into view. He gave William a small nod. Alastair waved to his team and they moved forward to begin searching the penthouse.

  Alastair strode past Acton, keeping Darcy close. As his agents spread out, he watched Darcy lift her tablet.

  Then she gasped.

  “What?” he asked.

  “The diamonds are moving. Downward.”

  William Acton’s smile slipped. Clearly no one had found the trackers. Surprise, asshole.

  “Thom!” Alastair followed Darcy.

  She swiveled, moving through the penthouse. She burst through a door and into a study. It was done in dark wood, burgundy leather, and covered in bookshelves. She stopped in front of one of the fully-loaded shelves.

  “Here,” she said.

  Alastair reached out, moving his hands over the shelves.

  “There must be something behind it,” she said. “We need to find the mechanism to open it.”

  Darcy and Thom joined him, all of them looking. Suddenly, Darcy touched something, and Alastair heard a click.

  Part of the bookshelf opened, moving away from the wall. Alastair gripped it and swung it wide.

  The silver doors of an elevator were behind it.

  “It wasn’t on any schematics,” Thom said.

  Alastair cursed and strode out of the study. He looked at Acton, and the young man was smirking again.

  Alastair didn’t waste any time with the asshole. “Someone arrest him!”

  He strode out, barking orders as they all entered the main elevator.

  “Someone contact the agents on the street. No vehicles leave here. No one leaves the building. I want every door, window, and trash chute secured.”

  Darcy tapped on her tablet. “Diamonds are still moving. They’re outside! North side.”

  The elevator slowed and the doors opened. They jogged through the lobby and out into the sunshine.

  Agents swarmed them. “No one’s left, Agent Burke.”

  “The diamonds are outside. Find them!”

  They circled around the building and Thom suddenly pointed upward. “Look.”

  Alastair spotted a broken window on the second level.

  A second later, there was a squeal of tires. They all turned, and down the street, a black Mercedes peeled away from the curb.

  “Fuck!” he roared.

  All of a sudden, a car screeched to a halt beside him. His car. The door opened and he saw Darcy behind the wheel.

  “Get in.”

  He leaped into the passenger seat, and before he’d even closed the door, she careened out onto the road. He quickly pulled on his seatbelt.

  “Here.” She shoved her tablet at him.

  Darcy followed the Mercedes, driving like a race car driver hyped up on caffeine. A few times, he had to brace his hand on the roof.

  “Darcy—”

  “Don’t worry, Dec and Cal taught me to drive.”

  “Fuck,” he muttered.

  She smiled at him, and despite the circumstances, he was struck by how beautiful she was. Suddenly, it hit him that he was falling for her. All the way, completely. His chest contracted.

  He knew that it hurt to care, to love, and then to lose. He’d avoided it ever since he’d lost his mom. He’d probably be terrible at it since his experience was limited.

  Darcy spun the wheel, taking a corner way too fast.

  “Don’t kill us,” he said.

  “I’ll do my best.”

  He growled. “I want you safe.”

  “And I’m never going to follow your orders, Alastair.”

  That was probably the truth. “Except in bed.”

  She winked at him. “When it suits me.”

  God, she was something. The Mercedes had pulled ahead, and Alastair could just see it in the distance. Then he checked the side mirror and tensed.

  “Darcy.”

  “Yeah.”

  “There’s a sedan coming up behind us. Coming in fast.”

  She looked in the rearview mirror, her eyes widening. “He’s speeding up. He’s going to—”

  The sedan rammed into the back of them with a crunch of metal. Darcy clamped her hands on the wheel, trying to keep hold of it.

  “Hang on!” She pressed her foot down.

  Their vehicle shot forward and Alastair gripped the door handle. She fish-tailed across the thankfully empty road, took a corner way too fast, but she managed to put some distance between them and the sedan.

  She looked in the mirror. “They’re still coming!”

  Alastair pulled his Glock out and lowered the window. He unclipped his belt.

  “Alastair, no—”

  He reached out the window, aimed, and
took the shot. An answering hail of bullets hit the back window, shattering it.

  Darcy ducked down with a short scream. “Shit. Shit.”

  “Hold us steady.” Alastair pulled himself half out of the window and fired again.

  “Alastair! Get back in here.”

  He hit one of the approaching car’s tires, sending the vehicle careening out of control. It went up on the sidewalk and hit a fire hydrant.

  He slid back into his seat.

  “I want you safe, too.” She slapped at his chest. “Don’t do that again.”

  “I’m fine.”

  Ahead, the Potomac appeared in their field of view. In the distance, the Mercedes turned.

  “There.” Alastair pointed. “He’s headed for that marina.”

  Darcy slowed. “It’s a yacht club.”

  The river was wider here, and several docks poked out toward the middle of the river. They were lined with yachts of all different sizes.

  When she pulled into the parking lot, Alastair spotted the abandoned Mercedes.

  “What now?” she asked.

  “Wait for backup, and then we search the marina.” He tapped the tablet. “I’ve sent Thom our location.”

  Darcy peered out the windshield. Then she tensed. “Alastair, look.”

  A large superyacht was docked at the end of one of the rows. Several uniformed crewmembers were scrambling about the deck, pulling in ropes.

  Readying the ship to leave.

  Dammit. That had to belong to the Collector.

  Alastair opened the glove compartment and pulled out spare ammunition. “You wait here for our backup. Tell Thom where I am.” Then he leaned across the car, slid a hand behind Darcy’s head, and pressed a hard kiss to her lips.

  “No.” She gripped his wrist. “You should wait.”

  “I’m not going to let them get away.” He opened his door.

  “The Collector has to be Henry Acton. Dad was sure he died in Ecuador, but he must have survived.”

  “I’m going in to find him, get the diamonds, and end this.”

  Fear skittered over her face. “Please wait.”

  Alastair wavered. He wanted to ease her fear…but he’d started this journey a long time ago. He had to finish it. He straightened. For his mom.

  “Tell Thom, and stay safe.”

  Something flickered in Darcy’s gaze, something that made his gut churn.