Gregory opened his eyes wide. He knew better than to challenge me at this point. It never turned out well. “I’ll pull a few strings, but she might be forced to wear an ankle bracelet.”

  “Over my dead body.” I kept my pointed gaze on him until he gathered his things, a pained look on his face.

  “I’m posting bail now but remember the authorities will be all over the company. You need to keep a firm hand on the accounts and for the love of God, don’t start a freaking war.” Gregory’s last words left a bitter taste in my mouth.

  After he walked out, I slowly turned my head toward my lieutenant. “Answer my question. Did you find what I asked?”

  “I searched every avenue I could think of,” Jonas said, grinning.

  “What do you have?”

  He crossed the room, handing me a file. “He tried to hide it, but he does have a family, quite a lovely creature I might add.”

  As soon as I opened the file, I started laughing even as my cock twitched from the sight of her. “A daughter.”

  “There’s a strong possibility she’s estranged.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  Jonas shrugged. “That was the single picture I found in his house, but I did find a note he was in the process of writing to her. It’s in the file.”

  I was still mesmerized by the photograph, even if it had been taken years before. She had hair the color of burnished cinnamon, long curls framing a heart-shaped face. Unlike her rail-thin father, she was voluptuous, the jeans and baggy shirt unable to hide her hourglass figure. Her skin was glowing, her large hazel eyes dancing with happiness.

  As I pulled out the note, it was easy to sense Theodore suspected he would be dead within days if not hours. He was pouring his heart out to her. I wondered why they’d become estranged in the first place.

  Not that it mattered.

  “What do you want to do? I tried searching for Whitney Canfield, but no one with the same name could possibly be the girl.”

  “The funeral is tomorrow?” With the level of remorse it was obvious Theodore was experiencing, it was entirely possible that his guilt would lead him to doing something foolish.

  Sending her the evidence.

  “Yeah, eleven in the morning.”

  “Then it would appear we have a funeral to go to tomorrow, Jonas.”

  “Why?”

  “Because blood is thicker than water. With no other family, he’d leave his entire estate to his only beloved daughter. That could include the evidence Gregory suspects exists. There’s a very good possibility that she’ll attend his funeral even if she only wants to spit on his grave.”

  He grinned. “You’re a savage man, Phoenix.”

  “Yes, I am.” As I gazed at the picture again, my cock stirred more that it had in years. “Do a deep dive on Theodore. He was in significant emotional anguish when he wrote the note. That means he’s tried to get in touch with her before.”

  “I’ll see what I can find.”

  “Then you’re going to escort Elena back to Philly.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “What are you doing, Phoenix?”

  I thought about his question. “I’m going hunting. I will find Theodore’s daughter. She must hold the key to locating what was stolen from us.”

  “You’re worried she’ll try and use it against us.”

  Nodding, I thought about the entire scenario. I’d learned many things in my life, even if patience wasn’t one of them. There were usually two sides to most stories, not all, but in this case, I’d need to proceed with caution. Did I care what happened to her? No, but she could be an easy mark if Theodore had sold his soul to another devil. “Perhaps.”

  Jonas grimaced as he did when he wanted to say something.

  “Say it, Jonas.”

  “Is this about the woman? She’s beautiful, and your type, but I don’t think you should be away from the organization right now. Let me track her down. I’ll bring her to you.”

  “What’s wrong, Jonas? Are you afraid of losing your job?”

  He huffed. “Maybe.”

  “You forget I know how the Armenians act. They issued a threat. They think we’ll retaliate. That would give them a door opening to starting the war on their terms. That’s not going to happen.”

  Not unless absolutely necessary.

  “You protect my sister. I’ll track down the lovely Whitney Canfield.”

  “Okay, boss.”

  The beautiful woman didn’t know it yet, but she’d fallen into the dark lair of a predator with long, sharp teeth.

  Betrayal couldn’t be taken lightly.

  I’d hunt her.

  Capture her.

  Use her.

  Fuck her.

  And after that? I held up my drink, the ice cubes clinking the glass as I swirled the liquid.

  If she was very, very good, then I’d keep her as my beautiful little pet.

  But only after doling out required punishment.

  CHAPTER 3

  Whitney

  Death was a horrible mistress.

  The blackness of a soul leaving this earth took a toll on everyone involved, especially the family members left to pick up the pieces.

  Sadly, I felt nothing but a huge hole that had been with me since I could remember. My father had just died. I’d attended his funeral. There’d been two people other than me standing at his gravesite, but I’d noticed men in dark suits standing on the knoll above the six-foot opening in the ground, vultures coming to collect what was owed to them. I had no doubt my father had squandered every cent he’d owned, the small house where he lived a reflection of his true love in life

  Booze.

  Liquor bottles littered every room, several trashcans filled. His other vice had been gambling, something I’d learned early in my life. The number of bills unopened on his kitchen table reflected his sordid life. The house had been left to me, but I wanted nothing to do with his belongings. I’d hired a real estate agent on short notice, his instructions to dump the house at any price. After securing a private contractor to have his belongings taken to the dump, I’d done something else on a whim, making a decision I was already regretting. I’d purchased tickets for a luxury train ride across the country, several stops in between. It would take me the better part of a week to reach Orlando.

  So far, I’d spent hours in my room catching up on emails and other items of business, barely noticing the gorgeous scenery while leaving Napa. At least I’d finally ventured out to the diner car, determined to read a novel, enjoy some delicious red wine, and pretend I was on a fabulous vacation.

  All alone.

  As I tried to concentrate on the heavy sex scene between the uber alpha male and some flighty female, my thoughts drifted away from the fabulous feasting scene. Who wouldn’t be aroused by a man taking thirty minutes feasting on the heroine’s pussy while she writhed in his firm hold?

  I certainly was.

  As I took another sip of wine, I still wasn’t certain why I’d felt compelled to attend the service at all. We’d never had a relationship of any kind, but the last few years had left me empty inside. I was no fool. My father had tossed away his dignity and his honor, becoming nothing better than a common criminal. He’d done so without reservation, lured by power and greed.

  I’d wanted no part of it for years and I still didn’t.

  However, I felt guilty and there was no decent reason why. He’d never been a part of my life, leaving my mother when I was barely two years old. There’d been no birthday cards, no holiday presents. He hadn’t attended my high school or college graduations. By the time he’d started writing letters, I couldn’t care less about why he’d left us. I’d returned them unopened. In my mind, he’d been dead a long time.

  But reality was entirely different than I’d expected.

  Exhaling, I glanced out the window, watching as the serene beauty of the countryside rolled by in glorious shades of forest green and cerulean blue, the train rolling across a dazzling river as the sun began to dip below the horizon. Even the stunning colors of tangerine and fuchsia didn’t seem to put a smile on my face. I’d hoped the time spent by myself would ease the pain, but after a few hours, I was beginning to wonder if anything could erase the ugliness of the past few days. The ache of remorse was more intense than I’d suspected.

  As the last conversation I’d had with him filtered into my mind, I’d already begun to question my coldness, the hatred I’d exhibited.

  “I’m not going to come see you, Theodore. You don’t exist to me,” I had snarled, ready to end the call. How he’d gotten my number in the first place I didn’t know, nor did I care. Somehow, he’d known I was on a business trip to LA.

  “I’m still your father!” His voice had been strained but I hadn’t cared. He was still dead to me.

  “No, you stopped being my father a long time ago. Please don’t call me again.”

  “Wait!” He’d issued the single word with such urgency that I’d hesitated instead of hanging up on him.

  “What?”

  “You need to know I have some things for you.”

  “I don’t want your money. It’s blood money.”

  He’d moaned, which wasn’t like him. “Please listen to me. I sent you something. You’ll know what to do with it.”

  “Did you not hear me? I don’t want to have anything to do with you.”

  “There are some irreputable people hunting for me. Be careful with the information I sent you. But you’re a smart girl. You’re my beautiful daughter and I love you.”

  I’d ended the call after that, refusing to listen to his ramblings.

  Less than two days later, I’d gotten the call he was dead. Sighing, I closed my eyes briefly, allowing the lull of the train to remind me that I’d given myself a gift after the wretched week I’d had. A vacation. I was sitting on a luxury train headed for Florida while my father was already rotting in his grave.

  Did that make me a terrible person?

  I forced myself to return to my iPad, reading another page then laughing when I couldn’t remember a thing. Had he thrust his cock inside her wet pussy yet? Oh, who cared? My attention was caught when a man walked in through the door on the opposite side, sweeping his gaze across the crowded train car.

  Something dark and dangerously close to arousal sparked every synapse, my panties instantly damp. I’d never had such a strong reaction to a man before. Maybe it was the wine. Or perhaps the loneliness of the past few years had finally filtered into my conscious mind.

  It was difficult not to stare at him as he spoke with one of the conductors. His shoulders were broad, so wide they filled the doorway. His hair was obsidian black, so thick all I could think about was running my fingers through the long, wavy strands. As the train rolled over a rough patch of tracks, the deep rumble in my stomach was followed by it taking a deep dive, dozens of butterflies swarming.

  The man had a formidable presence about him even from this distance, his massive frame intimidating. I had a sense he commanded any room he walked into without uttering a word. I shifted in my seat, suddenly more uncomfortable than I’d been in a long time. It was hard not to chastise my ridiculous, filthy thoughts. I’d fallen hard only once in my life, promising never to do so again. When he placed his hands on his hips, looking in my direction, I felt pinned to the chair.

  Electricity crackled in the dense space as he dragged his eyes over me in a long, sweeping move. I could swear his eyes were glistening but that was impossible from such a distance. And if I didn’t know better, I’d say his thoughts mirrored mine, ones of unbridled lust mixed with a hint of danger. Swallowing the lump in my throat, I purposely returned my eyes to the book, holding my breath even as I sensed him walking in my direction.

  “Is this seat taken?” The voice was dark, a deep baritone that managed to send butterflies swarming into my stomach.

  As I lifted my gaze, I was taken aback by his seductive prowess. The man oozed of power and control as well as a dangerous volatility that momentarily stole my breath. He was insanely gorgeous, more so up close. He offered a smile that screamed of passion and romance, a hint of salacious darkness.

  A tall, dark, and extremely handsome stranger. No, he wasn’t just handsome. He was beautiful in a way that immediately sent a tremor of heat between my legs. The sensation was unusual, creating a slight wash of embarrassment tickling my cheeks.

  “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

  Heat curled through my senses as he lowered his voracious eyes, lingering on my breasts before dragging them from one side of my jaw to the other. When he finally returned them to my eyes, I realized my hands were trembling. The experience was both scintillating and for a brief few seconds utterly terrifying.

  Then he chuckled, a deep rumble soaring through me as he nodded to the seat across the table from me. “I don’t mean to interfere, but it would seem the diner car is full this evening. I was wondering if I could join you for a drink? That is unless your husband will attempt to tear my head off.”

  I lifted my left hand, moving my fingers, my other gripping the iPad with white-knuckled force. I wasn’t certain why I allowed a perfect stranger to know I was unmarried. Maybe because with my father’s death, I suddenly realized I was all alone in the world. I had a few amazing friends, most of whom were either married or had a partner in their lives, but only one I considered close. I hadn’t been on a date in over a year, my career taking precedence over everything else.

  Including passion.

  While I already knew the car was crammed full, I swept my eyes from one side to the other, refusing to allow him to sense I’d been watching. The action made me feel silly, slightly giddy inside.

  “Please. Feel free,” I said, purposely keeping all inflections from my voice.

  As he unbuttoned his jacket, I noticed he scanned the entire train car, as if ascertaining if anyone would challenge him. I’d been right in that he had a commanding way about him that demanded full attention. While I’d never been prone to fantasies about men in general, with his rugged good looks and muscular physique, I could easily entertain lurid visions. It would be magnificent to gaze upon his naked, sculpted body.

  I lifted my glass of wine, doing my best to keep from uttering a mindless sound that he’d mistake for a moan.

  “A lovely woman such as yourself should never enjoy a glass of wine alone.”

  “Often the taste is enhanced by the lack of useless banter.”

  His amusement was heightened but he wasn’t offput in the least at my backhanded criticism. Perhaps I’d spent too much time alone.

  As he sat down, I took a few seconds to study him. He was well dressed, his dark gray trousers accentuating long, muscular legs. He wore a black shirt, the fabric and fit indicating it had been tailored for him specifically. On his wrist he wore an Italian watch, one that cost more than my first home. He was unreasonably desirable, his expensive attire unable to hide arms and legs that were undoubtedly carved to perfection. While he could easily pass as a model with his thick, curly hair, he was rugged like an athlete, enough so that a single gaze took my breath away. There was also a sense of danger about him, his squared-off jaw as sharp as his cheekbones accentuating his persona.

  While there wasn’t an inch of him that wasn’t attractive, his eyes drew me in, smoky and deep green like fresh moss in the spring. Gold flecks surrounded his irises, the accent adding to his dark and dangerous allure. I’d always had a thing for bad boys, but I had a feeling he used the power of a weapon instead of his hands when inflicting pain. If I had to guess, I’d say he was used to getting what he wanted at all times, accepting nothing less than the best. I’d also bet a significant amount of money on the notion that he had no difficulties using violence if necessary.

  “You look at me as if dissecting every inch,” he said casually before lifting the bottle of wine I’d selected. When I noticed a look of surprise, I pushed the second wineglass closer.

  “It’s a habit of mine. I apologize if I offended you.”

  “Nonsense,” he said as he poured a glass for himself. “It’s rare that a woman gives me anything more than a second glance. I feel honored.”

  Laughing, I looked out the window, shaking my head. He was also self-absorbed and arrogant. Perhaps he’d make for a pleasant single conversation before I tossed him aside.

  “I’m curious. What do you find so funny?”

  I couldn’t quite place his accent, although it was subtle. “Please don’t insult my intelligence. You know without a doubt that you’re extremely good looking.”

  “Do I now?” His eyes twinkled in defiance.

  As soon as I cocked my head, he lifted his glass in acquiescence. “Look around you. There isn’t a single woman who hasn’t glanced in our table’s direction at least twice, their heated gazes confirming what I just said. I also happen to be a mind reader. If you could hear the filthy thoughts they’re thinking, even you might blush.”

  “And what are they thinking?” he asked as he leaned further across the small table, close enough I gathered a whiff of his sandalwood and citrus cologne, an impossibly sensual aroma that ignited my core.

  “They’ve already compared you to the alpha bad boy in the romance they read late into the night, hoping when they awaken, the man lying next to them will look just like you.”

  “Touché,” he said quietly, amusement forming across his strong jaw. “Perhaps we have something in common.”

  “And what would that be?”

  “I happen to be a mind reader as well. You’re thinking that an arrogant, wealthy asshole decided on his dessert before ordering dinner.”

  I lifted my glass in response, almost bursting into laughter. “Touché as well.”

  His attention dipped to my lips then to the piece of electronics in my hand. When he tugged the iPad from my fingers, I didn’t attempt to stop him. That wasn’t like my personality at all. However, I was curious as to what he’d do.