Part 24 (1/2)

With a relieved sigh, Audra slid from the geek's lap. His hands still tied in front of him, Dave glared at them. So glad to have Jesse there, and safe, Audra just winked back. Dave's glare turned to acid, then he got a rat-like look on his face.

”I don't know where you get off, buddy, but we're busy here. We don't need an audience, so you can get lost.”

”Pink's a good color on you, dude. You always let yourself be tied up for public s.e.x?” Jesse asked snidely.

”Hey, she likes it kinky, if you know what I mean.”

”Right,” Jesse said with a roll of his eyes. He reached behind him and pulled a set of handcuffs from a tiny leather pouch on his belt. ”You'll have plenty of time to imagine kinky s.e.x in jail, I'm thinking. Although they might restrict your access to p.o.r.n, Davey boy. Bet that'll be rough.”

The geek stiffened. His eyes narrowed, first on the handcuffs, then on Jesse's face.

”Jail? You can't lock me up for dirty s.e.x, dude. This one,” he pointed to Audra with his chin, ”will vouch for me. We're doing the s.e.x thing. She seduced me, tied me up and now we're going to play with feathers. It's a two-person game, so you're not welcome.”

”Actually,” Audra said, gesturing toward Jesse with a sigh of relief, ”I'd much rather do s.e.x things with him. I've had him already and he's-” she gave Dave a wicked look and a slight shudder of delight ”-incredible.”

Dave narrowed his eyes, then his face tightened in fury.

”You wanted me. You were so hot, you couldn't stop yourself from climbing all over my body. h.e.l.l, you even came up with the kinky idea to tie me up...” As his words trailed off as he caught a clue. As he realized just how well she'd played him, his anger was a visible thing.

Now that Jesse was here, though, it didn't scare Audra in the least. She wiggled her brows and flicked the pink bow at Dave's wrists.

”To be honest,” she told him, ”you're really not my type. I'm not much into criminal lowlifes with teensy little...knives.”

Dave lunged for her, ripping one of his hands free of the scarf. Audra skipped back a few steps.

”You go ahead and say that for your boyfriend, here,” Dave said with a sneer. ”But you're the one that came on to me, remember? You are the one who wanted me so bad in the club that you were practically in my lap begging.”

Audra rolled her eyes. What an idiot. ”All three of us were in the club that night, dude. dude. And two of us watched you run like a scared little virgin when I flirted with you.” And two of us watched you run like a scared little virgin when I flirted with you.”

”Regardless,” Jesse said, obviously fighting a laugh, ”your s.e.xual prowess-or lack thereof-isn't the issue here, Larson. You're under arrest for ident.i.ty theft, conspiring with known criminals and breaking and entering. And that's just the appetizer.”

Obviously realizing this was bigger than he'd thought, Larson turned pale. He shook his head, then got a crafty look in his eye.

”You won't make it stick,” he claimed. ”Besides, what kind of guy arrests his own girlfriend?”

Audra gasped.

”What are you talking about?” Jesse asked.

”You take me down for this, you're gonna have to take this little b.i.t.c.h, too. She's in as deep as I am. As a matter of fact, she was my handoff that night. She's a smart one, though. She bypa.s.sed the local triad and hooked herself up with the big boys in China.”

Audra growled low in her throat at the blatant lies. She'd been plenty bad in her time and had no problem owning up to her naughty ways. But she'd be d.a.m.ned if she'd have some geek wrapped in a pink ribbon spout lies about her.

Before she could call him on it, though, Jesse made a low humming sound.

”She's dirty, is she? Want to give me a few details?”

Eyes huge, she stared. Jesse didn't meet her eyes, focusing solely on Dave as the guy babbled details that meant nothing to Audra.

Her breath hitched, her stomach was tied in knots. What was Jesse thinking? Did he actually believe the jerk? She couldn't tell from the bland look on his face. Was her trust misplaced? Was all that stuff he'd said about level nine needing an emotional connection just fluffy emotional c.r.a.p?

Or did he actually care, but he'd arrest her anyway?

Because, as any bad girl knew, the naughtier she looked, the naughtier she was. And Audra was one of the naughtiest.

”So you're telling me Audra was your handoff to the Du Bing Li Du Bing Li triad? And that tie you gave her had a chip, right? But she didn't give it to the locals, she sent it direct to the Chinese contingent?” triad? And that tie you gave her had a chip, right? But she didn't give it to the locals, she sent it direct to the Chinese contingent?”

”Yup,” Dave said, leaning back against the velvet cus.h.i.+on with a look of smug satisfaction. He obviously didn't mind going down as long as he took someone else with him. ”She's the handoff. She's got ties with both triads.”

Jesse gave a slow nod. He didn't even glance at her. The room was silent. Audra wondered if her brother would be willing to s.h.i.+ft his funding from her new lingerie line to her criminal defense. Obviously, there was enough circ.u.mstantial evidence here to make Dave's claims believable.

Most people would accept them as true. The question was...what did Jesse think? She tucked her hand into her pocket, fingering the tiny chip. She could hand it over now, prove Dave wrong. But she needed to see what Jesse did. What he said.

After years of people believing the worst about her, she had to know what he believed.

He pursed his lips, then smiled.

”Dude, you just admitted to your crimes. Thanks, you made my job a little easier.”

”I didn't...I mean, I...Sure, I was involved, but just on the very outermost circle. This b.i.t.c.h is guiltier than I am. h.e.l.l, she's probably cheating on you, going down on the leaders. Look, you want dirt, I'll give it to you. You give me a deal, I'll give you enough evidence to nail this double-crossing b.i.t.c.h to the wall, along with the triad.”

Anger flamed on Jesse's face. He reached down, grabbed Dave by the pink sash still tying one hand to the chair, and yanked. The cloth ripped free as Dave flew to his feet. ”I think you might want to apologize to the lady, Larson. On top of everything else, you probably don't want her to press charges, do you?”

”Screw her. She's guilty and she knows it.”

Jesse's face darkened with a rage like Audra had never seen. She hurried to his side and placed a hand on his shoulder.

”He's not worth the trouble,” she murmured. ”Besides, I have something for you.”

Jesse held Dave's frightened gaze for another solid ten seconds before slowly sliding a look toward Audra. She held the chip between her fingers, the metal catching the gleam of the overhead lights.

Jesse reached out and took the chip without comment. Then, for the first time since he'd busted in, his gaze met Audra's. There in those chocolate-brown depths, she saw love. And complete acceptance.

Audra couldn't hold back her relieved grin. ”You're not buying his claim?”

”That you're involved? Nah. I told you already, I knew you were innocent.” At her raised brow, he laughed and corrected, ”Innocent of any crime.”

Like a warm blanket on a chilly day, his love settled around her. Unlike their s.e.xual games, this wasn't edgy and wild. Rather, it was both empowering and comforting at the same time.

Audra realized then Jesse knew her to the depths of her soul. And he not only accepted all of her, he appreciated her.

It was enough to turn a girl to mush.