Bound By Desire Read online

  "Team members don't spy on conversations."

  "Yes, sir.” She lowered her head slightly feeling a warm heat touch her cheeks. Her behavior was disgraceful. She had not done anything like that ever, and this was her first day on the job. Not a good way to make a good impression.

  "Something else you are going to have to learn is to stick up for yourself, Denise. I am afraid you aren't going to find any knights in shining armor here to protect you. In fact you may well find the complete opposite with me. Behaving badly will get you disciplined.” He turned on his heel and left her standing there staring at his back, mouth agape. That kind of open threat should have left her chilled, why then did she feel a thrill race through her blood?

  Chapter Two

  Very few lights were still on in the sleek, modern FBI office building. Denise worked late into the night typing up her reports on the day. Her eyes were tired and she could hardly see straight when her boss came into her office. Victor looked damned good at any hour. His jacket was off and his white starched shirt conformed to his chiseled chest, suggesting at the thick muscles that lay just below the thin material. He may have spent the majority of his time behind a desk, but his body was in shape, and as ready for action as any other agent on the force.

  Absolutely confident and self-assured he was the embodiment of an alpha male. Why couldn't she ever find a man like that? With her own nature being so bold, she never got any men that were anything but inhibited, reserved and quiet. Not that she would ever act on anything with her boss. He was her boss, for heaven's sake. It was bad enough to think about dating a coworker, but her boss?

  It was just unprofessional, and Denise never did anything so unprofessional and stupid as that. It was also bad the way they started things off. He made it perfectly clear, that he had no feelings for her when he said he had no intention of being her knight in shining armor.

  "Hey, Victor,” she said casually, greeting him warmly. She may have felt wary of him, but she didn't have to show that nervousness to him. That earlier conversation had put her on edge.

  "Hey yourself.” His voice was deep and sultry; Denise couldn't help blushing at her thoughts when she heard his sexy voice answer hers. He smiled when she blushed, and she quickly lowered her eyes to the reports she had been working on.

  Damn! How did he do that to her with just his voice?

  It shouldn't make her feel this way being so close to him. It's not like she was some blushing schoolgirl. She was around enough testosterone every day that anything feminine in her should be completely numb to its effects.

  "Good job today on the Brock Hall case."

  "Thanks. I just wish I could do more.” Denise looked up at him to find his eyes had not left her face, boldly staring into hers. His arms folded over his chest comfortably in a dominating and authoritarian position. It was no wonder he was in a position of power. His body language showed how collected and composed he was, even under pressure.

  "Any word on finding the man yet?” she asked.

  "No, but there are search teams combing the area now. I am sure it won't be long before we catch up with him."

  "Well, no one is going to find him in the dark."

  "Probably not and you aren't going to do any good for anyone tomorrow without any sleep."

  "Ha—That is part of the academy's training. Sleep Deprivation 101. I can go a couple of days without sleep. Sleep is for wimps."

  He chuckled at that comment. “No one works well without sleep. You get tired eventually and you make more mistakes. You are not helping anyone when you don't take care of yourself. I don't even think I have seen you take a lunch break today."

  "That is because I haven't."

  "You haven't eaten all day?” He shook his head at her like a parent disappointed at a child. “That is it. Pack up your reports so I can take you to dinner."

  "But—” Her mouth opened and closed like a fish as she just stared at him incredulously.

  "No buts, that's an order. I expect you to be packed up and ready to go in five minutes. Its ten o'clock at night, Denise. And after dinner, I expect you to go home and get some sleep.” His dictatorial tone didn't leave much room for argument, and from the way he left abruptly, he didn't expect her to disagree. Hell, it didn't give her the chance to disagree. She was both excited and irritated with the man. It was awfully presumptuous of him to just assume that she would go to dinner with him.

  Denise's stomach fluttered with nervous butterflies. Dinner could mean so many things, it gave her hope for more and yet, she really didn't think he had any interest in her. No man that strong and that powerfully male was ever attracted to her. She assured herself this was just on a friend level. It could not possibly be anything else.

  Oh well, even if it meant nothing else, Victor meant well. The way he was looking after her like this, said he was a caring and considerate friend as well as a boss, even if he would never admit it. It would be nice to have a friend in the office for once.

  * * * *

  Just a few other couples dotted the tables in the small dining room of Red's Barbeque. They sat down and the waitress took their order for their drinks and their food.

  "Is the food any good here?” Denise asked Victor politely.

  "Best in town."

  "Well thanks for inviting me out, Victor. I probably wouldn't have bothered eating if you had not done this."

  "Everyone needs to eat. It so happens that I have not had a chance to eat anything since this morning either. It's been one crazy day."

  "No argument there."

  When Denise asked the question she was just trying to make conversation and break the awkward silence. “So when did you first decide to work in this line of work, Victor?"

  The waitress came back and set the drinks on the table. Denise took a long sip, knowing the soda would help boost her blood sugar and perk her spirits up. It really had been a long, exhausting day.

  She was immediately jerked back to her present by Victor's disarming smile.

  "I think initially it was because of what I saw on TV. You know, the old Dragnet shows and Starsky and Hutch."

  "I remember those shows, my dad loved that show,” she responded.

  "I hope you aren't making fun of my age,” he chided playfully.

  "No. Not at all."

  "Good. Because I am not that old."

  "Oh yeah? Just how old are you?"

  "Thirty-eight."

  "I'm twenty-eight.” That made him ten years older than her, Denise wasn't the youngest agent, but she was young for the field. “Have you been working for the FBI long?"

  "I spent six years in the military police and went straight to work for the FBI after I got out of the military. It seemed a logical choice. I already knew the work and had the training. It was just a matter of getting through the Academy and I have been through boot camp, so I knew there wasn't anything they could throw at me that I couldn't handle."

  "So you were an MP guy, huh? How long did it take you to realize that law enforcement wasn't all the glamour and explosions and chasing bad guys you see on TV?"

  He smiled at that comment. “Not long, but I love my job and I wouldn't trade it for the world. It's not everyday you feel great about what you are doing, and there are days that are slower than others, but I don't think I could get as much job satisfaction anywhere else. Or doing anything else."

  Denise felt the same way. It was too bad he was her boss. She would have attempted to flirt with him if she had met him on the street. He was good looking, sweet and loved the same type of work she did for the same reasons. Exactly the type of man she had always wanted. A man like Victor would settle for nothing less than complete control and domination in the bedroom. “I feel exactly the same way, Victor."

  The waitress arrived with their food and Denise dug in, she had not realized how hungry she was. She had allowed herself to forget her basic needs, worrying about that little girl. But with the delicious aroma of the barbeque ribs and mashed potatoes in front of her, her mouth was watering in anticipation. The first bite was heaven and melted into her mouth.

  Denise had to admit to herself that it was probably a good thing that Victor had talked her into going out to dinner. If she had not gone out, she would have gone straight home and slipped into bed forgetting all about eating. And she always skipped breakfast, too, so she would have been a mess in no time. Tomorrow promised to be just as stressful and busy a day as today.

  "So how about you? What made you decide to get into this line of work?"

  "I guess you could say it was in my blood. My father and my grandfather were both policemen. I never thought about doing anything else. I just wanted to be a cop."

  "Mmm-hmmm, go on.” He said, giving her his complete attention.

  "So I knew what I wanted to do and majored in Criminal Justice in college. I worked as a lifeguard until I could apply to be a police officer. I never dreamed that I would be an agent for the FBI, but here I am, and I love it. I love the adrenaline and the rush I get. I love the way your day changes everyday and some days you can really make a difference in someone's life."

  "That's true."

  "Not to mention that there is nothing more satisfying than taking a jerk to jail that needs to go."

  "I like how you think, Denise.” His laughter spilled out and warmed her from the inside out. Why was his smile so irresistible? When he smiled at her like that, it felt like he melted her insides. She loved his laugh, and the way it tickled her own stomach with a warm fluttering.

  "Thank you, Victor.” She didn't say just how much she liked him back, but her wide smile and the shameful flush to her cheeks probably gave away her impetuously shocking thoughts.

  Chapter Three

  The call came in the middle
of the night, 3:36 A.M. A vehicle and a man matching the suspect's description had come by earlier that evening and stopped for gas. The gas attendant saw the news and recognized the man.

  He had already been questioned and the videotape was examined. Denise spent the morning on the road with no shower, she was barely awake enough to throw on her clothes and begin the drive out to Big Pine National Forest. Victor had her called and her hostage negotiation skills were an added benefit. No one knew where or when they would find this man, volunteers were combing the area, but when they did, they hoped they would find Elizabeth alive and healthy. That hope had never died for Denise.

  Denise arranged to have a private plane fly up to the Big Pine area, saving her the driving time. There would be a rental car waiting for her when she got there. The noise of the engine nearly drowned out her thoughts. She sipped on the cup of coffee she managed to grab before leaving Cincinnati. Praising the coffee gods for her steaming hot cup of coffee, she reviewed what she knew about Brock Hall mentally. He had spent time in jail, being evaluated by psychologists and counselors.

  He was considered dangerous, and a pathological liar. Outside of prison, he had been a regular drug user with cocaine but preferred meth when he could get it. He drank alcohol regularly. The man couldn't be trusted. He would be desperate and was likely to do something stupid.

  In fact, she fully expected him to be drunk and wallowing in his own self pity, justifying his actions and working his courage up to a point with the alcohol where he could kill the girl. The knowledge did nothing to ease her fears.

  The sun was rising, spreading a warm glow of colors over the land, by the time the land was dominated by pine trees. The mountains were looming in the distance. Ordinarily, Denise would enjoy a flight like this, paying more attention to the beauty of the world than the dark thoughts that dominated her mind.

  But today all she could do was concentrate on Elizabeth and hope they wouldn't be digging her up out of a shallow grave, when they finally found her.

  * * * *

  The emergency command post seemed disorganized and thrown together haphazardly. It felt uncontrolled with various people wandering through it, ranging from civilian search and rescue volunteers to the local police force. The sheriff, FBI agents, and the detective that had been assigned to the case originally in Virginia were also there. It was a jumble of people and equipment, but it would do in a pinch and the press had yet to find it. Yet they would be here soon enough.

  Denise honed in on her boss right away. After telling her to go home and get some sleep, the man was here before she was, and unlike her, he looked like he had slept. She was disheveled and looked like she just woke up. Some stray brown hairs slipped out of her ponytail and curled onto the nape of her neck.

  Denise gave him a mock salute before saying, “Reporting for duty, sir."

  "Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I see?” he said, shading his eyes from the afternoon sun.

  "Hey, don't make fun of the bushy hair. I am here, aren't I? I have had my coffee. I will be fine.” Truth was with the adrenaline she was feeling, it would be a while before she could wind down enough to sleep again. They were close to wrapping this up. They knew the suspect was here in the area. All they needed was a break.

  She waited patiently as he filled her in on the day's agenda, what had happened so far and what would hopefully transpire. Three people were trained in hostage negotiations. It was whoever was closest that would be dealing with Brock Hall. She could very well be in on that, and it gave her satisfaction to feel needed in that way.

  The forest rangers were going over maps with the search team, to spend today searching the campgrounds and the less public areas, following the dirt roads that wove through the mountain.

  A helicopter drowned out all conversation as its blades cut through the air, louder and louder until it suddenly rose into the air. The passengers were part of the search and rescue team, dressed in climbing gear, and ready for any possible situation. Now that it was daylight, the odds of spotting the kidnapper or his car were much higher.

  Denise watched the helicopter take off. Her hand covered her eyes as she watched it move out of sight into the afternoon sun. It cut across low disappearing into the horizon and finally behind a hill.

  Suddenly she jumped as she felt Victor's hand intimately on the small of her back. He removed it immediately as she spun around to face him. “I really need your whole attention here, Denise."

  So he had not just made a move on her? Why was she so jumpy around him? Quickly, she attempted to calm herself. Nervously she cupped her hands and returned her attention to the map of the mountain that he had just opened. “Yes, sir."

  * * * *

  The whirling of the blades was deafening as the helicopter hovered above the dirt road. Following the winding trail until it came upon a dusty vehicle, matching the suspect's description.

  The pilot adjusted his microphone before speaking to the co-pilot. “I think we got him."

  "Yeah, that's probably him,” the copilot answered, using his binoculars to get a better look. The driver was male, but he couldn't see anyone else in the van. There was no way to tell if little Elizabeth was alive or dead.

  The pilot brought the police walkie-talkie to his mouth to let the other people on the search and rescue team know. “Eagle One to command post. Do you copy?"

  He waited a moment to be acknowledged. Victor answered, his voice mixed with static. “This is base. Go ahead."

  The pilot smiled wide under his black sunglasses. Everyone was going to be happy to hear this good news. “We found a vehicle matching the suspect's description, following him Northbound on a dirt trail, about twenty miles from the command post. I'll give you the GPS coordinates when you are ready."

  * * * *

  Victor was admiring Denise's ass as she bent over the hood of his car examining a map of the area. She had a round, plump ass that he would enjoy fucking. Sexy legs that were nicely accentuated by her heels. The kind of woman you would enjoy watching as you came into the back of her. Sometimes he had feelings about people, and he felt she would love to be bound by him.

  She should be wearing sensible clothes, but Denise always the professional, wore her business suit, her skin tight skirt hugging her hips. Denise was exactly the kind of girl he would love to tie up sometime and do nothing but play with one weekend. She was the type of girl that hid that secret part of her away. The type of girl you just wanted to tie up and spank. But now was not the time or the place. Regretfully, he shook his head to clear his thoughts and waited for the approaching vehicle.

  Victor took his place next to Denise, aiming his handgun at the approaching vehicle. Denise took her cue from Victor and did the same, preparing for the worst. The van was bearing down on the roadblock. A trail of dust marking his path behind him. Any normal person would have given up, or turned around, but with the chasing cop cars and the helicopter overhead, the van sped up even faster barreling into the one car that wasn't government owned. Denise's rental car.

  The sound of twisting metal and breaking glass filled the air on impact. The van lodged against some rocks and between the cars. Its wheels spinning faster as the man hit the accelerator. Dirt and small rocks flew up into the air and hit the body of the van.

  "Get out of the car and put your hands in the air now!” one of the officers commanded using a bullhorn.

  The dark-haired man in the minivan answered by raising a handgun and pointing it back at the police barricade. Shots fired on the van, killing the man before he had a chance to return fire. The man slumped against the steering wheel motionless, the gun dropped from his hands. The police and the FBI swarmed the vehicle, keeping their guns pointed on the man who had just tried to kill them. One of the men opened the front door. When the suspect still didn't move he felt for a pulse.

  "He's dead."

  An officer opened the sliding door of the van and cursed when he saw the little girl's body tied up on the floor. They opened fire when he still had the girl? They could have killed her. He felt a rush of adrenaline as he heard the girl whimper, tears falling down her cheeks.

  He picked her up, cradling her in his arms. She was trembling, unable to stop her body from shaking. Slowly he removed the duct tape on her mouth. He didn't want to cause her anymore pain than he had to. Elizabeth had been through enough of an ordeal over the last few days.