Playing for Keeps Read Online Free

head just enough to let his hair fall forward then shift back neatly into place when he straightened. Conceited dick. “Anytime you like.”
    The guy was blowing smoke up his ass. It had taken Raven hours to get past the security at the gate, and he normally he could talk a mink out of her coat. “Get that doctor back here. Now. And while you’re at it, my bag’s in the rental out there. Get someone to bring it up while I’m waiting.”
    Black brows rose. “Pardon me?”
    “My bag. In the rental car. I’ll be staying with my wife until we leave.” And not letting her out of his sight for one second. Raven’s bullshit antenna was up. Way up. This situation was all wrong. For whatever reason, these people were lying. They had drugged Dani. After he found out with what, he wanted to know why.
    Villalba-Vera shot a brief, speaking glance at him, hesitated a moment, then nodded to one of his men. “You are of course most welcome. I shall have a room prepare—”
    “I’ll sleep right here beside my wife.” Where I belong, he added silently. Of course, when Danica woke to find him back in her bed she might have a thing to two to say about it, but until then he was staying put. “Right now, I want some private time with her. You can take Nurse Ratched with you. Have the doctor knock when he gets back.”
    The minute the room cleared, Raven stood, stripped off his jacket, and walked around to sit down on the bed where he could see her face. “I’m here, sweetheart. Open your beautiful eyes and tell me how you feel.”
    Her lashes fluttered. “Me—”
    Frowning, he bent closer. “What, honey?”
    “dica—”
    Ah, hell, what was she trying to tell him?
    “—ted.”
    Me-dica-ted?
    “Medicated? They’re keeping you doped up?”
    “Mmm. . .”
    Exactly as he thought. “Damn it to hell.” Scooping her up, he carried his wife to a nearby chair then sat down, cradling her on his lap. Had she always felt this light? This insubstantial? Her head flopped to his chest. “Stay with me, honey. Just stay with me. I’m here and I’m not leaving your side. Ever again.”
    She moaned and her lashes fluttered, showing a glimpse of her pretty blue eyes. Yeah, thought that would get your attention. “Rise and shine so you can tell me to go to hell. Followed by clueing me in on what the hell’s going on around here.”
    She tried. He could see the struggle to swim through the drug-induced fog. Raven stroked her cheek then gave it a few sharp taps with his fingertips. Hated to do it but damn it, she had to wake up long enough to give him a hint or something so he could help her.
    Her lashes fluttered, lifted a little, and then fluttered some more as she struggled valiantly to open her eyes.
    “You’re doing it. Keep going.” While she swam up to him, Raven slid his hand down her arm, turning her cool skin up so he could check for needle marks. Nothing on the left arm, other than dozens of bug bites. He checked the right. Same deal. Of course, there were other, less conspicuous places they could’ve— He felt sick to his stomach. They were in South America; hell, they could’ve pumped her full of anything. . . Question was, were the drugs something she actually required? Was she injured more than he’d been led to believe? Or had she been given some sort of illegal crap?
    Because-why?
    Because why, damn it?
    Didn’t make sense. None of this made any kind of sense.
    “P-p—”
    “Pills?”
    “Mmm. Sleep. . .”
    Pills. Keeping her sedated. Again—why?
    Her head nestled against his chest, silky black hair brushing his chin. The smell of her stirred his senses despite his concerns. Essence of Dani. The most powerful aphrodisiac in the world.
    Having her nestled against him like this felt so familiar, so right, so much a part of him. He held her tighter, folding her limp, pliant body into his. What was the deal? Saving the son of the president of this godforsaken country bought a Good Samaritan a body full of