“I am your friend.”
“And because you’re my friend, I can’t let you go on thinking that Cameron is totally ruthless. It’s not true.”
“I saw those wounds on your body. He could have stepped in and stopped it.”
“He told me when he gave me the necklace that he couldn’t help me if I didn’t do what he told me.” She went on in a rush, “He’s not what you think. Oh, yes, he’s tough, and maybe he wants his own way. But if you could have seen him the way I did at the earthquake site at Qinghai, you’d know how wonderful he is.”
“He was at Qinghai?”
“Yes,” she said. “I was there with the monks trying to rescue the people buried under the ruins of the villages. We had little help from the Chinese soldiers because they had developed altitude sickness. The second day, we had to make our way down a trail that was almost nonexistent to reach a buried school. When we finally made it, I saw that a man was already there working with a pick to clear the rubble. I was stunned. I couldn’t imagine how he had gotten down there. But the monks weren’t surprised. It was Cameron, and they knew him. And during the next twelve hours, I got to know him, too. Though he never told me his name. It didn’t bother me, it wasn’t a time for names. It was a time to get those kids out. And I didn’t get over being stunned for that entire twelve hours. He started giving orders, telling us exactly where to dig. I knew later that he was mentally communicating with the children buried beneath that rubble. At the time, I thought he was either a domineering bastard or maybe that he was some kind of earthquake-retrieval specialist. But every time we dug where he told us to dig, we found a child. We kept digging. There were two dead in that school, but we were able to save eleven. Eleven who would have probably died if left much longer to the elements. We had to bring three up to the top on stretchers. Cameron worked as hard as we did to get those kids up that trail. No, harder. His energy was amazing. But when we got near the top, he stopped and said for us to go ahead and that he’d go back down and check out the school for any more survivors. That was the last I saw of him. We worked at that earthquake site for another three days, and I never ran into him.” She fell silent. “But I already knew the kind of man he was. During that time, he was tireless and smart and gentle with the children. He was larger-than-life, and that’s what we needed at Qinghai.”
“You must have impressed him, too.” She paused. “Because he looked you up and came after you, didn’t he?”
She didn’t speak for a moment. “Yes.”
The answer was so brief that Catherine knew there would be no elaboration. She had told her story about Cameron because she wanted Catherine to stop condemning him. But what had transpired later was too private for her to divulge. “I worked very hard trying to put the puzzle together. Will you tell me if I came close?”
Another silence. “You’re very clever, Catherine.” She turned over on her side. “Good night.”
“Good night.”
It was answer enough. Erin wasn’t about to go any further. So at least the bare bones of the answers she’d drawn had come close to the truth.
Maybe.
But she thought Erin was done with deception. She’d done all she could to protect Cameron and the people he represented, but she wouldn’t lie to Catherine. Complete disclosure was something else. She was still stubbornly silent.
Because Erin had been caught up in a dream, a beautiful dream …
* * *
“I need to know where Jack Sen is, Catherine.”
Cameron, she realized drowsily.
Then she came wide-awake. “I thought you were only to come visiting by invitation only, Cameron. You woke me.”
“I’ll make sure you go back to sleep. And I’m suspending that promise for the duration. Things are going to get very edgy during the next few days. Where is Jack Sen?”
“At St. James Hospital. Why didn’t you link with Hu Chang as you did before? He could have told you.”
“Because I wanted to be with you. And I’ve decided that it’s time I did what I wanted to do. I tried to get through to Sen, but they must have drugged him. I just knew he was hurt.”
“And he’s in trouble. I don’t know when the police will transfer him to county facilities.”
“I’ll take care of him. I just had to know his location.”
“What are you going to do?”
“At the moment, nothing except make a few plans and preparations. I’m in a jet over the Pacific and won’t arrive in San Francisco for another six hours.”
“You took a jet? I’m surprised you just don’t don your Superman cape and zoom faster than a speeding bullet. And what will you do when you finally arrive here?”
“I won’t let Jack Sen be punished anymore for doing a service for me. He’s already suffered enough.”
“I was going to ask Venable to do—”
“That’s not the way I operate. Keep Venable out of it. I’ll handle it.”
She stiffened. “I’ll do what I think best.”
He was silent. “I know you will. But don’t start a chain of actions I’ll have to dodge around.”
“You mean don’t get in your way.”
“That’s another way of putting it.” He smiled. “Any other time, I’d be delighted to have you in my way. It would be pure pleasure having to deal with you.”
“Deal? In what way?”
“Mentally or physically or both.” His voice was soft, infinitely sensual. “I’ve had quite a few hours on this plane to think about all the things I want to do to you. Would you like to see a few?”
Heat.
Her stomach clenched, and she found it hard to breathe.
“No.”
“I believe I’ll show you just a glimpse. I owe you for that Superman crack.”
“You should be used to it. I’m sure other people resent the—”
He was over her, his hand parting her thighs, his lips on her nipple. Then, with one plunge, he was inside, huge in her tightness, hot, moving, lifting her with each thrust.
Madness. Frantic need. Every nerve and muscle in her body convulsing as he moved.
The scene changed.
He was still inside her, but her wrists were cuffed above her head. She couldn’t move, but the erotic need was now even more intense. He was moving slowly, his fingers plucking, teasing, doing things to her that were indescribable. The muscles of her stomach were tensing, convulsing. Her very helplessness made the acts even more arousing. She wanted to move, take him, all of him. Draw him into her make him—
He was gone from her body.
And she was left panting and frustrated and wanting to kill him.
“You son of a bitch.”
“Which one did you like better?” He was smiling. “I was wondering about that exotic variation, but your response was pretty close to equal. Which makes me think that you’re going to be a magnificently diverse lover.”
“Not your lover.”
“You’re angry and indignant at the moment, but did I do anything you didn’t want, except stop? You’re still wanting it, and that isn’t me, it’s you.” He added, “And that was very close to how it’s going to feel, only better. I took as much of your physical sensory potential as I could gather to make it absolutely real and good for you.”
“Real? You said you were doing it to punish me.”
“I lied. I did it because I had to have you. I’ve wanted you from the beginning, and I had to show you what we’re like together.” He added softly, “I can’t wait to taste your breasts, to get inside you. You want that, too. We’re both hungry and a little wild with it. It has to happen soon, Catherine.” His eyes were glittering with that wildness, and she could feel the hot, sweeping lust melt deep within her. He saw it, felt it, and his voice hoarsened. “No force. No games. Your rules.”
She swallowed hard. Her heart was beating so hard, she couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t even argue that what he’d said wasn’t true. She was hot, shaking, her bre
asts still taut and aching.
She wanted him.
“Then that’s all I needed for now,” he said. “I want you to remember that I’ve never wanted a woman the way I want you. I think about you all the time. I don’t think it’s going to go away even after we have sex. It’s like a crazy, aching fever and not like me at all.” He leaned back in the chair, and his beautifully shaped, sensual lips were curved in a rueful half smile. “That’s a big admission for me. I regard it as a weakness. Enjoy it. I’ll see you soon.”
He was no longer with her.
And she wanted him back.
She wanted him in her body, she wanted his hands touching her, bringing her to the point of climax and past it. She wanted to stare at that beautiful, sensual face and watch his mouth, listen to the deep masculinity of his voice. Feel him, see him, taste him.
She drew a deep, uneven breath and forced her clenched hands to relax.
Block it. Block him. Though she didn’t believe that he had anything directly to do with what she was feeling at this moment. He had left her, dammit. It was a lingering aftereffect from that searing explosion of carnal need.
She tried to relax her muscles, but it wasn’t easy. Her entire body was ready for sex. She wanted to blame it on Cameron, but she knew it wasn’t entirely his fault. This had been coming from the moment she had seen him in that cozy library he had mentally created for her, looking so damn sexy that she had been immediately turned on. Which was completely uncharacteristic of her. He had said what he felt for her wasn’t at all like him. Well, this wasn’t like her either. She didn’t like it. She wouldn’t have it.
Only what could she do about it when she was unable to fight it? She didn’t even want the desire to go away, she just wanted it satisfied. Celia had said something like that, and she hadn’t understood.
Now she understood. Only Celia was enamored with the act itself, and Catherine was lost in a barbaric sexual fascination for one damnably difficult man.
Work on it. Take apart the physical response and try to make sense of it and then downplay it. Or go back to sleep and push it away. That would probably be the best solution. Then when she woke, she would be busy and not thinking of Cameron.
But he was on his way. He would be here soon. She would see him.
She felt an aching burning start between her thighs at the thought.
But she’d be surrounded by people, there would be a job to do. Neither of them would be concerned with anything but Kadmus and keeping Erin safe. It would be okay.
If she could just get to sleep. If she could keep her heart from beating so hard. If she could make her tense muscles relax. If she could forget the feel of him in her body.
It was going to be a long night.
CHAPTER
13
“You don’t look as if you’ve slept well.” Hu Chang’s eyes were narrowed on Catherine’s face as she came into the dining room for breakfast the next morning. “Sit down and have a cup of tea.” He poured her tea and handed it to her. “Was something bothering you?”
“You mean besides Kadmus breathing down our necks and Venable dragging his heels about giving Erin protection?” She picked up her cup. “Do you blame me for lying awake and trying to find a way out?”
“I never blame you for anything. I was just inquiring.”
Catherine turned to Erin. “It’s going to be all right. I’ll handle Venable. I didn’t really lie awake fretting about it.”
“I wasn’t worried. I don’t have as much confidence in Venable as you do. If he bowed out, it wouldn’t mean that much to me.” She smiled. “Besides, Cameron is coming.”
“Yes, he is.” She looked down into the tea in her cup. “He should be here anytime now.”
“You’re very certain,” Hu Chang said. “Is there reason for that certainty?”
She looked up and met his gaze. She knew that Hu Chang had been aware that Cameron could reach out to her when he wished. Why try to hide this last invasion? Perhaps because it had been so intensely personal. “He was six hours away last night. He wanted to know where Jack Sen was. He couldn’t reach him.”
“And Cameron wanted you to tell him where he could find Sen,” Hu Chang said. “Interesting.”
She didn’t answer. “Where’s Luke?” she asked instead. “He usually doesn’t sleep this late.”
“He didn’t this morning either,” Erin said. “He was going out in the garden with Celia when I came down. He was telling her all about some new fertilizer he and Hu Chang had concocted.” She smiled. “She acted totally fascinated.”
“No act,” Hu Chang said. “She has a great zest for living, and she likes Luke. Her garden is a postage stamp compared to Chen Lu’s, but she’s a very enthusiastic gardener.” He lifted his own cup to his lips. “She’s very enthusiastic about everything that interests her.”
“I’ve noticed that tendency to—”
The doorbell rang, and Hu Chang quickly rose to his feet. “If you’re not mistaken, that may be Cameron. I’ll let him in.”
“You know the code?” Catherine answered her own question. “That’s right, you said you did. What was I thinking? No one is closer to Celia than—”
“You all look very comfortable.” Cameron was standing in the arched doorway of the dining room. “It’s a shame to disturb you, but we’ve got to get moving.” He reminded Catherine of a storm wind as he came into the room. “There were only two men at the airport last night, but Kadmus will have half a dozen more searching for you by now.”
“I gave the taxi driver an address on Clement Street, several blocks from here. With all its alleys and byways, Chinatown can be a very confusing place,” Hu Chang said. “It will take him time.”
“And how do you know how many men Kadmus can muster here in San Francisco, Cameron?” Catherine asked.
“Kadmus has an entire West Coast operation here that handles art artifacts and drugs he channels through here. Mark Nagle usually works out of L.A., but he’s on tap for any job Kadmus orders him to do. He has a sizable team and enough corrupt influence in city government to be troublesome. It was Nagle who ordered those scumbags to grab you at the airport.” He turned to Catherine. “Where’s the boy?”
“In the garden.”
“I don’t want him to go anywhere alone, even in this house. I don’t want Kadmus to have any chance of getting his hands on him. He’s your Achilles’ heel.” He met her gaze and added curtly, “Which makes him my Achilles’ heel.”
She stiffened. He had been so sharp and businesslike since he’d appeared that she’d thought it was going to be okay. But the electricity between them was suddenly tangible. “I’ll take care of my son.”
“We’ll all keep an eye on him, Cameron,” Erin said quietly. “Though he takes pretty good care of himself.”
“Don’t rely on it.” For the first time since he’d entered the room, he smiled. “How are you, Erin?”
“Better in some ways. Not so good in others. I want the killing to stop.”
“It will. Give me a little while.”
She nodded. “I know you’re doing your best.”
He turned back to Hu Chang. “I figure that you’ll be safe here for perhaps another twenty-four hours. That should give us enough time. I have to take care of Jack Sen, but then I’ll be able to concentrate on Kadmus.”
Catherine said dryly, “Meanwhile, as you said, he’ll be concentrating extremely hard on us. He’ll be very glad that you’re planning a diversion.”
“Twenty-four hours,” he repeated.
“And how are you going to ‘take care’ of Jack Sen?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Oh, that’s right, Hu Chang said that you have teams all over the world just waiting to obey your every word.” Her voice was faintly mocking. “Are they better than this Nagle Kadmus turned loose on us?”
“John Blake is a good man,” Cameron said quietly. “And the people he uses to help me are also very good.” He met her eyes. “Would you rather I go up agai
nst Kadmus’s pet snake, Nagle, by myself?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Good, because it wouldn’t happen. Blake’s men will go into the hospital and get him at lunchtime when the staff is busiest. He’ll be taken down to the morgue and put in an ambulance to be driven off the property. I’ll have him on a private jet back to Hong Kong an hour later. He’ll be taken to a private hospital in Tibet to recover.”
“You make it sound easy,” Catherine said. “There will be police guards and security and nursing staff at that hospital. It’s not going to be so simple.”
“Money makes everything simple. The guard at the door will be suddenly taken deathly ill and rush to the bathroom to throw up. He’s already been furnished with a pill to make sure that happens and protect him from sellout accusations after the fact. The head nurse will keep everyone away from the area by slowing paperwork at the desk and keeping the nurses on duty busy down the hall, helping with the meal distribution. It will take three minutes to disconnect Sen’s tubes and get him out of the room, down the hall and into the elevator. One minute to get him to the garage level. Another minute to transfer him to the ambulance. By that time, there will be a ruckus when they discover Sen’s gone. But the ambulance will be out of the garage and driving down the street while they’re still scrambling.”
“Bribes,” Catherine said. “No violence?”
“That wouldn’t be efficient. I always prefer money whenever possible.”
“How much money?”
“Substantial. Some would say astonishing. Enough to sway anyone to take a chance if they thought they could get away with it. It was particularly important in this case because the time factor was so short. I didn’t know exactly what method I’d be using to extract Sen before I found out he was in the hospital. I had to notify Blake, the head of the team here, that a fix had to be made immediately. But he made it happen.”
Live to See Tomorrow Page 23