Dangerous Illusions (Steel Hawk Book 3) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  About the Author

  Look for these titles by Sarah Ballance

  Keep your lovers close, your enemies closer. Especially if they’re one and the same.

  Steel Hawk, Book 3

  With Steel Hawk still reeling from explosions at Zarrenburg Castle and at its own headquarters, company lawyer Edward Long’s legendary stoicism has been severely tested. It’s clearly an inside job, and no one is deeper inside than Edward—which leaves him squarely in the center of a frame.

  Someone is using him to bring down the company he loves. Worse, the PI that Adam Hawk sends to investigate…there’s something off about her. And something that seriously turns him on.

  Operating under an assumed name, Sophie Hawk aims to dig deeper into the company’s systems than any other investigator would dare. Especially with the prime suspect’s hot-chocolate gaze tracking her every move.

  As their dueling intellects strike sparks, the rising heat threatens the trip wires Edward has set up around his heart—and the secret that ties him to a man who’ll stop at nothing to claim his right to rule the house of Zarrenburg. Or, if he can’t have it, destroy it—and everyone connected to it.

  Warning: Contains agonizingly sweet kisses, dirty thoughts, dirtier talk, mutual trust stretched to the limit, and criminal abuse of a thousand-dollar suit jacket.

  Dangerous Illusions

  Sarah Ballance

  Dedication

  For Eve and Jane. It’s been a pleasure.

  Chapter One

  Sophie Hawk smoothed her dark hair and flashed a practice smile at her reflection in the sleek wall of Steel Hawk’s atrium. The wobbly, distorted image that returned did not inspire confidence, nor did the towering Steel Hawk sculpture holding court in the center of the room. Though it was a symbol of the company’s strength, it also served as a reminder of what was at stake.

  Everything.

  Someone was sabotaging Steel Hawk, and it looked like an inside job…deep inside. And Sophie—both as a member of the Hawk family and as a private investigator—was determined to find out who…and why. She had every advantage. Her business had kept her away from Steel Hawk headquarters, so she had the benefit of anonymity alongside open access to every nook and cranny of the company, and moreover, she had a target.

  Edward Long.

  Steel Hawk’s full-time attorney had worked exclusively with the company for years, but any points he might earn for loyalty were threatened by his stoicism—a demeanor that had shifted in the past few months to downright surly. Clearly something was bothering him, but was the shift a result of what was happening to Steel Hawk, or was Edward the cause of it?

  Whatever his issue, she’d figure it out. And if he was working against Steel Hawk, heaven help the man, because nothing else would.

  She made a point of showing up at the San Francisco headquarters unannounced, wanting to catch him off guard. A man who was never happy about anything—as was Edward’s reputation—surely wouldn’t welcome her interruption. Though she expected as much, his reaction would still be telling.

  A young woman with straight blonde hair pulled into a neat ponytail greeted Sophie warmly. “Welcome to Steel Hawk,” she said. “What can I do for you today?”

  “Sophie Garza,” she said smoothly, using the pseudonym she’d adopted for the job. “I’m here to see Edward Long.”

  The woman tapped her keyboard and scanned the screen. “Do you have an appointment?”

  “In a manner of speaking. Adam Steel arranged for the meeting,” she said, a little uneasy about using his name, fearing the connection getting out there. But if she wanted to drop in on Edward she needed clout, and clout’s first name was Adam, who was a co-owner of Steel Hawk, as well as the head of Research and Development. He and Sophie’s sister, Honeysuckle—Adam’s assistant and significant other—were still in Zarrenburg working on damage control after a fiasco with the royal coronation, but if the receptionist needed confirmation, it was just a phone call away.

  She nodded on cue, light glinting off her earrings with the movement. “Ah, I see. There’s a note in here. You’re to be allowed full access, which means I’m going to need your fingerprints.” The receptionist pushed a small square device across the countertop toward Sophie, then gestured toward her right hand. “First your thumb, then your forefinger.”

  “You guys are high-tech,” Sophie mused. Though she was far more familiar with the business than she let on, she was genuinely impressed with the simple, effective organization of on-site security. She positioned her thumb on the scanner and waited for the beep before switching to her finger and repeating the process.

  The receptionist grinned. “We specialize in security, so it comes with the territory. Most of the doors require a fingerprint scan to open.”

  “And if the door doesn’t open?”

  “Simply put, if the scan doesn’t work, you’re not allowed inside. Mr. Steel programs every access point himself, and your movements throughout the building are automatically entered into a database.”

  “So there will be a record of where I go and when?”

  A few taps later, the receptionist looked up. “Exactly. And you’re all set.”

  Sophie cast a wary glance at the old cage-style elevator. “And if Mr. Long lives up to his reputation and eats me alive, you will know I disappeared in his office somewhere?”

  The receptionist laughed. “Not if he holds the door open for you.”

  Sophie gave a self-deprecating laugh, though the ease of circumventing the security gnawed at her. “Wish me luck, then.”

  “You’re already in luck,” the receptionist replied, her voice lowered. “The man might be abrasive, but he couldn’t be any hotter if you set him on fire.”

  “Really?” Sophie had seen photographs. She shared the woman’s opinion, but she didn’t claim familiarity with the dour attorney. She flashed a knowing smile. “When you put it like that, I can’t wait to meet him.”

  “Top floor, corner office suite. And if you can get him to smile, look out. Amazing.”

  Sophie hid a grin. She doubted she’d ever be the recipient of one of Edward’s smiles, but it was good to know the man might be human after all. “Does the elevator require a fingerprint?”

  “Not to operate, but if you’re in the system it takes notes.”

  Sophie nodded and pressed the button for the third floor. The technology impressed her, but moreover, it would make her job easier. If the offices and work spaces were secured by fingerprint technology, there would be a record of who had been where…and when. It was becoming more and more evident the trouble at Steel Hawk came from within, but with that acknowledgment came the first inkling of doubt as to Edward’s guilt. The man might not be known for his winning personality, but by all accounts he was a brilliant attorney. Why would he leave such a clear, incriminating trail of evidence?

  The elevator landed with a view of a sprawling space that was reminiscent of the building’s roots as a factory warehouse. The loft ceiling soared overhead, and large windows filled the area with light. But something loomed even larger still.

&
nbsp; Edward Long.

  She recognized him from his picture, but no two-dimensional scrap of paper could touch this man. He was tall—over six feet—with broad shoulders and a suit that had to have been tailored for him stitch by stitch. For one brief moment Sophie envied that tailor, but then her attention traveled from the breadth of his chest to the storm blazing in his dark eyes. He radiated power…power and something dangerously close to fury, the latter snapping from his countenance like static electricity in a dry summer heat. But that heat had nothing on the chills that raced the length of her spine when his gaze touched hers.

  “You have access to this floor.” Not a greeting or a statement, but an accusation. “Who are you?”

  “Sophie…Garza.” The name tumbled unnaturally from her lips. So much for playing it cool—he already had her on the defensive. “Adam Steel will verify my identity as well as my right to be here.”

  The slight lift of his brow suggested he’d caught her misstep, but he was an attorney. The fact he made a living in the area of corporate law did nothing to dissuade her general impression…especially in light of why she was there. Someone was trying to bring down Steel Hawk—someone with access to confidential information. Only one person uniquely fit the bill, and that person was Edward Long.

  If Edward was being framed, someone was doing a hell of a job. Being in the right place at the right time was one thing. Doing so on two continents took skill when you were the mastermind. But for a victim? Sophie wasn’t buying it. In her capacity as a private investigator, she was ready to nail him to the wall, and if he was indeed guilty of trying to destroy her family’s company, she’d rip into him with her bare hands.

  “Don’t think for a moment I won’t make that call,” Edward said, his tone thick with restraint. “In the meantime, Ms. Garza, why don’t you tell me what you’re doing here?”

  Sophie lifted her chin a notch, but the defiant front didn’t stop her from wondering why there wasn’t a receptionist nearby. The sprawling open floor plan revealed absolutely no sign of life—only the silent crawl of San Francisco far below and beyond the glass. “I’m looking into some recent security breaches.”

  “So you’re a security expert?” His skepticism came as a direct challenge, and she didn’t blame him. Steel Hawk was the world leader in security, and she was an unknown. When he researched her—and she knew he would—he’d find a phony history that would look legit, and part of that was not overselling herself. He would want to verify her credentials, and she needed to make sure she’d survive his scrutiny. As such, her résumé was neither outrageous nor impressive, but it would have to do.

  The lines on his face hardened, his cold stare marking her limbs and torso with long, hot trails. His silent assessment left her unsteady, but she steeled her spine against him. He could dredge all he wanted, as long as he kept those hard edges in his expression. The receptionist hadn’t been kidding—if that man exuded the slightest trace of warmth, he truly would be devastating, and that was the last thing Sophie needed. Fortunately, she didn’t look to be in any danger of bearing witness to his softer side. “Actually,” she said, enjoying the chance to correct his assumption, “I’m an investigator.”

  A corner of his mouth quirked humorlessly. “You’re an investigator?”

  “I am,” she shot back, bristling under his acrid tone.

  “And you have business with me?”

  She glanced around. As far as she could tell, they were alone, but that didn’t mean someone didn’t lurk out of sight. She took a step closer and, with her voice low, said, “You of all people should understand why Mr. Steel would bring in an investigator.”

  She’d pushed into his space, but he didn’t give an inch. Too late, she realized just how close she’d gotten. His clean, soapy scent was like a drug. Heat emanated from his form, leaving her flushed despite the chill of the air conditioner. The weight of his attention was crushing. Primal. Something animalistic stirred in his eyes.

  “Is that a threat, Ms. Sophie Garza?” The words left his lips with practiced ease, but that didn’t mean anything. Not for a lawyer.

  She met his punishing stare, determined not to back down. If he wanted a pissing contest, he’d better be prepared to lose. She’d been up against worse and won.

  He was the first to break eye contact. His gaze flickered to her lips, dwelling there. The barest hint of amusement softened his features, and in that moment, she saw a hint of the man beneath the demeanor.

  “I suppose, Mr. Long, that depends on whether or not you feel threatened.” She didn’t bother to quash the hint of sarcasm that wedged itself in her voice.

  Her words drew his attention. He straightened, and rather than take a step back, he moved toward her, causing her an involuntary retreat. The predatory gleam in his eyes revealed nothing, but the hint of a smile teasing his lips spoke far more than words ever could.

  Threatened, hell. He was toying with her.

  His dark gaze left her swimming in uncharted waters, her body humming with a frightfully unfamiliar awareness. Startled, she swallowed. Twenty-nine years old, and never before had she experienced such a visceral response to anyone—a fact that could only mean one thing.

  Guilty or innocent, Edward Long was a dangerous man.

  Chapter Two

  Edward led Sophie into his office. The glass walls offered little privacy, but with her in his space, the effect was as striking as if they’d crawled into a cardboard box. The normally generous room was too small, the abundance of natural light not enough to break through darkening shadows of the accusations against him.

  The moment he laid eyes on Sophie, he’d known she was a threat. When she stated her purpose, that feeling sawed through him in triplicate. And now, with her scent wrapped around him and her eyes blazing trails of distrust over the fabric of his being, he was nearly buried in the weight of her purpose.

  But another feeling bled through…one he seldom entertained. Respect. Very few people earned his, but this woman had done what few others would, and that was stand up to him. Oh, she’d blinked, but she’d come back from it handily. It was a far cry from what people usually did under his scrutiny, which was scatter.

  “Sit.” He gestured toward the chair across from his desk.

  She did as he ordered, and she did it so damn casually he almost grinned. Her dress slacks hugged her curves, but not inappropriately. The charcoal-gray lengthened legs that were plenty long to begin with, and ended with heels he figured to be the type women called sensible—not too high or too narrow, but still sexy as hell. Unusually pale green eyes matched the color of her blouse, the effect tantalizing against the dark, reddish color of her hair. She was tall—even negating the heels, only a few inches shorter than his six foot two—and he’d almost peg her for one of those model types if not for her figure. She was no rail-thin waif. She had curves.

  Dangerous ones.

  Edward realized he was staring and cleared his throat. “Why don’t you tell me a little more about why you’re here.”

  He half expected her to straighten with self-importance. Maybe indignation. But no, she simply settled farther into the chair and met his gaze head-on. “What happened to your phone call?” she asked.

  “I’d like to hear your own words.”

  She didn’t miss a beat. “As you well know, there have been some inconsistencies of late with Steel Hawk.”

  Inconsistencies? If she could affix that label with a straight face, either the woman had a future in politics or she didn’t know the whole story. “And?”

  She leveled her gaze on him. “For starters, the contracts the company lost.”

  He tensed before he caught himself. Steel Hawk had lost two lucrative contracts they were expected to win handily. In both cases, confidential details had been leaked—details to which only he and Adam Steel had access.

  “And then, of course, the Pasha Star debacle.”

  Steel Hawk had installed a prototype clear glass security case at the roy
al coronation of Prince Zoltan of Zarrenburg. The built-in cameras were undetectable to the unknowing eye, which should have made the security flawless. Only it wasn’t. The royal jewels had been stolen, and only Edward and Adam knew the case’s secrets. Adam because he designed it, and Edward because he’d personally handled the patent. And that wasn’t the worst of it.

  Sophie shifted slightly, leaning toward him, and he got the distinct impression she was bracing for some kind of reaction from him. “As I understand it, Mr. Long, the royal jewels were found in your possession.”

  That had been the worst of it. Son of a bitch. She hadn’t missed an inch.

  “And let’s not forget that little exposé on Steel Hawk.” She sat back, her attention never wavering.

  Edward’s field of vision narrowed. Penned anonymously, its author subsequently outed, the recently released book to which she referred had turned the company on its ear. It was, at best, a blatant attempt to destroy one hundred and fifty years of integrity—and, as such, the very fabric of Steel Hawk. Edward might not carry the blood of either founding family, but they were family to him all the same.

  Family who thought him guilty.

  She’d stopped talking, and he let the silence hold. He knew the trick—it was an old, proven method of interrogation. Ruffle a few feathers, then let the suspect dig his own hole. He still wasn’t entirely convinced of her story, but there was no denying she knew plenty about his employer’s recent troubles. Far too much.

  He leaned back in his chair, mirroring her relaxed posture. Faking it. Far from Zen, he was on the edge of an explosion, but he tempered his voice and addressed her coolly. “Surely you aren’t suggesting I had anything to do with that book.”

  One of her sculpted eyebrows lifted. “Of course not, Mr. Long. But what I find interesting is that I never said you had anything to do with any of it, yet you feel prompted to deny authoring the book while leaving the rest on the table.”

  Damn this woman. Something inside him shifted. Darkened. Glowered. Knowing all too well he was stepping with both feet into that hole she’d let him dig, he stood and rounded his desk. He leaned down, putting one hand on each plush Italian leather arm of her chair, and pressed so close he could see the darker green flecks interspersed in those impossibly light eyes. If she was the least bit ruffled by his proximity, she didn’t let on. She held her ground—didn’t even blink—while he stood there, months of frustration boiling dangerously close to an uncertain surface.