do with the girl if there was no one for her?
One of his brothers? They were all married and had families. Aiden or Brayden
would probably take her in. Then again, with Ryan’s history of abuse, Gavin and Taylor
might understand how to better handle her.
Rori leaned up in the back seat. “You and I are going to have one long chat when I
get you alone.”
Roth grinned.
“You promise?” Ian asked her.
She glared at him. “Why the hotel?” she asked him.
He sighed and pulled into the line that was driving up under the portico of the
hotel. “Because I can check on what I need to without being readily seen. And I like my
family’s hotels”
“Why aren’t you seeing your family? Why in the hell did I have to learn all their
names and occupations if we’re not going to see them?”
Another point of her aggravation it seemed. “To avoid complications.”
One perfect brow arched at him. The car slowly moved up. He turned in the seat
to look at her.
“I don’t want to draw attention to my family.”
“In regards to you, yes. I remember saying the same damn thing.” Her eyes
narrowed. “Then why the bloody hell did you come here? And as Ian Kinncaid?”
He stared at her for a moment. Saw the confusion on her face. “As far as Ian
Kinncaid? I used it because as far as anyone running a check is concerned, Mr. Ian
Kinncaid is a businessman who has played the markets and recently opened a growing
security firm. He resides in Scotland and is a rather quiet soul. I know all my other covers
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were blown. But only one man, well, a few more I trust know that I am … well … me.
Ian Kinncaid. Technically, for you and Darya, it’s the safest identity I can use. Because
that is the one name they may actually not have.” He checked the mirrors. “As for the
other part of your question, as to why I had to come, do you have any family?”
Something shifted in her eyes. “Why?”
So distrustful. A feeling he was rather familiar with. “You’d understand if you
did.”
She shrugged. “I suppose there is someone I’d risk it all to see safe.”
Really? He’d love to know who that was. Instead he grinned and said. “Why,
thank you wife. Nice to know you love me that much.”
Her look could have frozen hell.
“Won’t someone recognize you?” she asked, her voice irritable as they waited on
the line of cars.
“Maybe.”
“Well, you’re traveling as Ian Kinncaid, don’t you think someone will alert
someone in your family that you’re here? None of this makes any sense.”
“Probably, then again, the staff is known for its discretion.”
“Of course they are.” She shifted, her clothing hushing over the leather seats.
“Until someone offers them enough money.”
He ignored her. She was right … probably. Except for those that had been there so
long they knew what to do and what not to do. Loyalty was of top priority. This allowed
him to be close enough to check on his family without lots of undo travel between places
that wasted time. He’d stayed here before, and it was time he came out as himself.
“What I don’t understand,” she said, from the back seat, “is why you’d use your
own name.”
He drove up behind another car, only one more left before they could get out. He
scanned the crowd, the cars, the motorcycle over to the right.
“Rori, I’ve been over this. Seeing as how I didn’t know which aliases were blown,
I figured why the hell not,” he lied.
“Of course,” she said.
Truth was, he wanted to use his real name. For Ian Kinncaid, the businessman to
be seen as Ian Kinncaid, the businessman with a group of his own security men would
only validate who he claimed to be. Of course there was the issue of why they were with
him. Which he would explain if the need arose.
“What if your family is here?” Roth asked.
Hell. “Then I’ll deal with it. They probably won’t recognize me anyway. It’s been
years since I’ve been home.”
“Looking like that? And as Ian Kinncaid? Yeah,” Roth said. “They’d never know
who Douglas McGregor was or Marque. But you, well, look … like you.”
He only shot Roth a look and pulled the black car up to the curb, noting the young
faces of the valets. Two, blond headed.
“I want the names of all the valets and garage attendants,” he said getting out.
The blue coated valet ran around the edge of the hood. “Welcome to The
Highland Hotel”
Ian ignored him and waited for Rori and Darya as Roth scanned the traffic and
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waited for them.
To the valet he said, “Don’t move the vehicle until I let you know.”
“But it’s against….”
Ian only looked at him.
His Adam’s apple bobbed. Kid could only be maybe twenty. “Y-ye-yes, sir.”
Ian picked Darya up, smelling her fruity shampoo when her hair tickled his jaw as
she laid her head on his shoulder. He scanned the crowd, and held his hand out to Rori.
* * * *
Jock Kinncaid looked across the conference table to his sons. Aiden and Quinlan
were silent, but then they always were.
Gavin paced. Brayden lounged back in his chair tapping on one of those hand
gadget things everyone seemed to have these days.
A phone rang and Quinlan pulled it from his from his breast pocket.
“Dad, we’ve acquired the castle, there’s nothing left to say about it,” Aiden said
calmly.
“We don’t need another location in Europe.”
His oldest son didn’t say a thing to him. Damn kids. He had retired, but that didn’t
mean he didn’t have a blasted opinion on things.
The women were all in one of the ballrooms at Taylor’s baby shower. She was
due any day. Gavin was worse than Aiden had been when Jesslyn was pregnant. One
would think their wives were the first women ever pregnant.
The men read books, for the love of God, on how to raise kids, and how to deal
with babies. Had there been any books when he and Kaitie were having their sons? Hell
no. And they’d turned out all right.
Quinlan told whoever was on the phone to hang on and reached for the landline
phone there in the conference room. Well, there was still time for that one.
At least the others were all settled with their own families.
He looked away towards the windows that bordered the street and watched the
cars pulling into the hotel. Not even eleven in the morning and already they were seeing
traffic. Some probably for the luncheon crowd, others as early arrivals, others meetings.
Who the hell knew, it was all profit.
He took a deep breath and looked back at his oldest son. “Why did we purchase
it?” He leaned up onto the table. “Just because I’m not in the office doesn’t mean I don’t
want to know what the hell is going on with the company, damn it.”
He might be getting older, but he wasn’t in the grave yet.
Aiden closed his eyes.
Gavin turned. “Dad, would you relax. They’ll make a profit. They always do.
Even I, who have nothing to do with Kinncaid En
terprises, know that. That’s why I trust
them. And so do you. You’re so worried about the latest purchase, go see the thing. Take
Mom on vacation. Just quit griping about it.”
He sat back. “Excuse me?”
“You’ll get yourself worked up then Mom will have our asses.” Gavin frowned.
Brayden said, “Gav, sit down and quit your pacing. You’re making me twitchy.”
“Sounds like a medical problem to me,” Gavin answered.
“Dad, Gavin’s right,” Aiden interjected. “It’s fine. The castle needs very little
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 98
work, a facelift on the interiors and we’ve already contacted the contractors for that.
We’ll be open in two months and we’re already booked three weeks past opening.”
Jock sat back. No one told him that. He humphed. “I should have been told.”
Aiden gave him a dubious look “I thought you retired.”
“I did, doesn’t mean I don’t want to know what the hell you boys are doing.”
“Afraid we’re going to --” Aiden frowned, looking out the window.
Jock turned, saw three black SUV’s pull up. “Huh. We have any dignitaries
staying with us?”
Gavin turned. “Probably a politician and some friends coming for lunch.”
“Anything on the books?” Quinlan asked, already dialing his damn phone.
Brayden shook his head and rose. “It’s a wonder you don’t all have high blood
pressure. Who the hell cares who it is? Can we order now? The shower will be over and
then the women will want to oooo and ahhh over every little thing. Discuss birthing
horrors and what all not.”
Aiden laughed, his attention turned. “Like that would matter to you. Christian
pregnant yet?”
Jock watched Brayden out of the corner of his eyes. The door slammed open and
Ryan, ten, and Tori, nine, came hurtling into the room.
“I still don’t understand why we had to leave,” Tori was saying, her voice
reminding Jock of his wife’s. That little girl was going to slay some men when she was
older. And if she didn’t, he had the impression that Ryan sure as hell would for her if any
of them didn’t treat her right.
“I said I’d explain later,” Ryan said, a serious expression on his face. The door
shut behind them and they hurried over to the built in television, turning it on, the two of
their heads together as they usually were.
Aiden was still grinning, “I can’t help but notice you didn’t answer, Brayden.”
No commit from Brayden who only glanced at Tori.
“Bray?” Gavin asked
“Our table’s ready,” Quinlan said, hanging up the phone.
“You need a woman, son,” he said to Quinlan, still watching Brayden who hadn’t
answered.
“Don’t have time for one,” Quinlan said.
Boy would never learn.
“Bray?” Gavin said.
Brayden sighed. “She wanted to wait until after the shower to say anything. We
didn’t want to take away from your and Taylor’s day. And it’s still early yet--”
Jock leaned back in his chair laughing.
“Daddy,” Tori said, turning. “You weren’t supposed to say anything. You
promised Mom.”
Ryan shook his head. “You think he could keep quiet about something like a
baby? My dad couldn’t.”
“True,” she answered turning back to the television.
“You kids hungry?” Jock asked. Damn right. What man wouldn’t want to shout to
the world when learning he was a father?
He frowned a memory, long buried, flinting through his mind.
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Well, most of his family was happy. If he just had the chance to…
No point in that. He was happy with God had blessed him. Four grandkids and
two more on the way.
He smiled. He and Kaitie had succeeded with their kids.
All but one.
He rubbed a hand over his heart, feeling the tightening.
“Dad?” Aiden asked, concern etched in his face.
He shook him off and stood. “Let’s go to Heather’s. Quin just said they had our
table ready. I hope Andre isn’t cooking today, I really don’t care for some of his dishes.”
“Yeah!” Tori jumped up. “I want a burger with --” she stopped, watching Ryan.
Ryan watched someone outside “He’s here.” He turned and hurried from room, all
but running out the door.
Tori hurried after him.
“Now where are they off to?” Gavin said following. “Swear keeping up with those
two is like keeping up with pet monkeys.”
They all walked out of the conference room and he saw Tori catch up with Ryan
at the end of the hallway.
It never failed. Every time he saw those two together something around his heart
squeezed. They all walked into the lobby and saw Ryan standing by a large potted palm
near one of the seating areas. Tori was shaking her head and pulling on his arm.
Ryan jerked away and Tori turned to look at them, her face pale and worried.
Brayden hurried over and asked, “Honey what is it?”
She only shook her head.
Ryan was looking towards a group of men at the front desk.
Jock scanned the crowd. Maybe he’d get the soup and salad. Kaitie would be
proud of him and his aging body just didn’t do food as well as it used to. He’d love a filet
mignon and some potatoes, but he could just hear everyone if he ordered that.
“Ryan?” Gavin asked.
“It’s him, isn’t it?” Tori was asking.
What were they talking about?
“I’ll be damned,” Aiden muttered.
Jock looked up. Ryan was pointing. “Dad,” Ryan said to Gavin, “That’s the man
we told you about. The man who got us away from Nina.”
“Where?” Jock asked, scanning the crowd, interested in seeing the man who saved
his grandkids.
“There, Pops.”
All he saw was the back of a man holding a little girl, standing next to an
exotically beautiful woman with light green eyes and a Mediterranean complexion.
“Are you certain?” Gavin asked.
Ryan nodded. “Yep, that’s him. That’s Rob Roy.”
The man turned and Jock looked, studied him. Something….
His pulse slowed, then sped.
Could it be? No. No, it wasn’t. Or was it?
But then those eyes slammed into him, like fist to his gut and he knew. Jock
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 100
stumbled back.
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 101
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Ian turned from the front desk, wishing the older man behind the desk hadn’t
recognized him, but that’s what life was about, he supposed. And, he had used his name
and come to the family hotel. He could have very well stayed at the Four Seasons down
the road, but didn’t. He always stayed in Kinncaid hotels if he could.
It had been so long since it mattered whether or not any recognized him, he wasn’t
certain what to do about it.
Ian Kinncaid. What kind of man was he that his own name took him a moment to
recognize himself?
They had two adjoining suites. When the concierge had recognized him, old
Thomas had tried to give Ian his penthouse apartment, but Ian had declined. It was one
thing to be recognized. One thing
to stay in the family hotel. Another to walk in and
assume you were home.
He had no home.
Not any more. He’d done too many things, been gone too long to ever feel at
home anywhere this normal. Place smelled like it always did. Not like many hotels he’d
been in--that fake floral scent hiding the smell of bleach and disinfectant.
No, The Highland had always smelled like the outdoors to him. Somehow.
“Here are your rooms, Mr. Kinncaid. Though I still believe you’d much prefer the
penthouse,” Thomas said, sliding over the plastic cards.
“Thank you, Thomas, and one more thing. This is a quiet trip. I expect the same
amount of discretion as any other guest.”
The old man’s gray brows beetled on a frown. “But you’re not just any other
guest, Mr. Kinncaid. You’re a … well. You’re a Kinncaid.”
“Does the word mistake float through that brain of yours now, boyo?” Rori asked
to the side of him. He ignored her.
A tug on his leg had him glancing down. Ryan Kinncaid stood there in khaki
pants, navy pullover with a tentative smile “Hi, Mr. Roy.”
Bloody hell.
Mistake.
Ian ignored Rori’s cough and mutter. He couldn’t help it, he grinned into that
freckled face and summer blue eyes. “Hello, Ryan.”
Ryan frowned. “I heard Mr. Thomas. You’re a Kinncaid. I thought you were Mr.
Roy.”
Wonderful, just bloody marvelous. He glanced over his shoulder and saw his
brothers and damn it all… Jock. He took a deep breath. Those dark eyes more lined, the
face more haggard than he remembered, but still hard and fierce.
“I’m any number of things and people, kid.”
Yes, this had been a mistake. But mistake or no, he could see they were all well
and fine. He could let them know to be careful if nothing else. He glanced back at Ryan
DEADLY GAMES Jaycee Clark 102
standing to his side. He hefted Darya up and turned, passing one of the keys to John and
another Rori.
“You have a penthouse apartment here?” she said with a raise of brow. “Wonders
never cease. Mr. Rich boy turned --”
He merely held her stare, his own anger at the fact this was not going as planned--
hell the plan was shot out of the water--until she shook her head.
Her eyes moved slowly from him to his side. “Hello. Ryan isn’t it?” She looked