Master No (Masters and Mercenaries, #9)(84)

He had to walk out of here. They would almost surely kill him as soon as they were out of range. He might have a shot at getting away because they wouldn’t want Faith to see his murder. He would walk out and the senator would show her his trumped up evidence and Faith McDonald would hate him.

But she would be alive. She would be in the world even if he wasn’t.

He turned back to the senator. “Do you have a car ready for me or am I walking to the airport?”

The senator met his eyes and for a brief moment there was a silent understanding between them. The senator nodded. “I’ve got a plane ready for you. You can leave tonight.”

He would be in a shallow grave before dawn.

“He’s not going anywhere. Not until I understand what the hell is going on.” There was a fine sheen of tears in Faith’s eyes as she put her hands on his arms, keeping him close. “Ten, what is happening? What do you mean by job?”

He had to sell this because if she believed for a moment that her lover was in the right, she would back him. She would go up against her father and she would pay the price. “Your father had me burned. I was a career CIA agent and he cost me everything. I intended to give him payback. I know he’ll have plenty of evidence against me and he’ll be more than happy to show you, but I need you to hold on to one thing. I love you.”

Maybe he should have pretended to not care, but loving Faith might be the one good thing he’d done in his miserable life. He couldn’t. He couldn’t die lying to her, couldn’t leave her thinking she hadn’t touched his soul.

“You were the best thing that ever happened to me, Faith McDonald, and I would give a whole lot to go back and be a better man for you.”

“I don’t understand any of this.”

He leaned over and kissed her forehead, likely the last sweet moment of his life. He prayed Theo would watch out for her. Erin liked Faith. Theo would do anything for Erin. Theo would make sure she didn’t get hurt. “You will and I hope you can forgive me. Have a good life, Faith.” He turned back to her father, his enemy. This was the man who had killed Jamie and as he stood there in front of the bastard, all he could feel was a sense of panic that he might hurt Faith. “I’ll leave quietly, McDonald.”

“If you do, then we won’t have a problem.” McDonald nodded to one of his goons, who moved behind Ten. “You’ll understand if I have one of my men escort you.”

Because he wasn’t leaving this island alive. It was him or Faith. There was no choice. “Of course. Luckily I hadn’t unpacked.”

He grabbed his bag. He wouldn’t need it, but he had to make it look good.

“Ten, tell me what’s happening. Please tell me this isn’t true.” Faith was clutching her robe around her body. This was the bad kind of vulnerable, and he was so sorry he’d made her feel it.

“This started out as a job, Faith. I intended to use you to take your father down. I sent Theo and Erin to soften you up. They herded you to me. There were no other Doms who would have been options at Sanctum. Only me because it was all a setup to get close to you.”

Tears rolled down her cheeks, causing his heart to crack. Fuck, he hadn’t realized it could do that. He started to reach for her.

She stepped back. “You didn’t want me.”

“I wanted you the moment I saw you.” He wasn’t going to lie to her about that. Never. “I fell in love with you, but I have to leave.”

She nodded. “Yeah, you have to leave. Do you honestly think I’ll believe a word you say? How could you? How could you use me like that?”

“It’s my job,” he said. He had a shitty job.

“Go. I can’t…I can’t look at you.” Her jaw firmed and it was obvious she was trying to hold it together.

But he could look at her. So pretty. Someday a man who was worthy would come along and take care of her. She glowed when she was well taken care of. He could see her on her knees, submitting with that sweet passion of hers, giving him everything she had.

He would hold on to that.

He felt a hand on his arm and then the hard shove of metal to his spine.

McDonald stopped him before he made it out the door with his “escort.”

“This is far from over, Smith,” the senator said under his breath.

A thrill went through his system. He nodded, saying nothing, and then he was in the hallway. Far from over? Did the senator have plans? Some torture, perhaps? He could handle it. Time was what he needed. The longer he had before they put a bullet in his brain, the more time his team had to find him. Theo would call in Ian and Ian would take over. Eventually, if he stayed alive, Big Tag would ride in and save the day.

If Ian found him, he could find her. He could explain. He could protect her.

God, all he f*cking cared about was Faith.

They pushed him along and Ten got ready for the fight of his life.





Faith stared at the door where Tennessee had been. One moment she’d been safe and happy and in his arms, and the next there had been guns and accusations, and how the hell had he lied to her?

Hollow. She felt hollow.

“Baby girl, I need to talk to you.” Her father was the last one left in the room. His guards were gone, likely shoving her lover on a plane that would take him back to Dallas.