~~~
Tessa never got used to the way Chase could be charming and sexy one minute then transform into Attila the Hun the next. On those occasions, she found herself stepping back from hero worship to embrace a sense of caution with her admiration. She’d learned early on in working with him, mercy wasn’t part of his vocabulary if double-crossed, disobeyed, or jeopardized in a key component to a mission. She’d done all those things at one time or another and paid dearly for the lesson.
Enigma agents were tough, mean, and unforgiving when it came to national security. He’d protected her in those early days because she was innocent of the ways of the world. Her mistakes were from a civilian, not as an agent. She’d come a long way since then. The expectations reminded her, some decisions could put you in the crosshairs of dangerous people, and some of those people worked for Enigma.
“You aren’t going to leave him in the trunk!” she complained as Chase took the porch steps two at a time. “He’s FBI and has helped us in the past. Chase, stop,” she demanded.
He halted on the top step and pivoted to glower at her. “You do know he’s the one who interviewed your husband, pretended Reeva was dead, and appears to be playing both sides of the fence.”
“Yes.” She whirled around and trudged through the snow toward the car. “Which is what we do all the time,” she called over her shoulder. “Hear him out, Chase. He’ll freeze in the car. He’s hurt.”
By the time she’d reached the open trunk, Agent Martin shivered violently. Chase disappeared inside the cabin and quickly returned, carrying a butcher knife, a murderous scowl on his face.
She placed herself between him and Agent Martin. “What are you going to do?”
“Get out of my way,” he growled. When she folded her arms across her chest, he reached out and easily pushed her aside.
Agent Martin’s eyes widened as Chase focused on him then raised the knife. In one swift movement, he sliced through the bindings on his wrists and feet.
Tessa released a heavy sigh. He swung the knife behind him so she could take it. Next, he reached down and ripped the tape covering the agent’s mouth off so roughly, Tessa wondered if he’d taken skin with the action. A number of colorful adjectives spewed out of the man as he struggled to get out of the trunk. When Chase didn’t bother to assist, Tessa stepped up, returning the knife back to him and adding a disgruntled glare.
“Thanks, Tessa.” Agent Martin threw a leg out then eased out into the snow.
She suddenly realized how cold she was, having run out without a coat. Chase, on the other hand, stood like a statue, eyeing Agent Martin like it might be a summer day. She put her arm around the agent, who leaned into her. Chase pushed past them, offering no support.
“He’s fine. Don’t baby him.” He headed for the porch.
After Tessa helped Martin up the steps, he moved away from her and walked into the cabin on his own. His extended hand drew a smirk from Chase.
“Shame on you, Chase.” Tessa followed Martin inside and pointed to the chair near the fire. “Bring in another log and build this fire up for Agent Martin.”
She watched him chew his bottom lip for a second before deciding to get more wood. She cleaned the agent’s face, even though he protested the effort.
“I got it.” Martin grabbed the wet washcloth from her and finished the job himself, keeping a vigilant watch on Chase.
Chase stoked the fire in a methodical fashion before dragging a metal chair into the living room from the kitchen area. Flipping it around, he straddled it and folded his arms on the back.
“Spill it,” Chase demanded then pulled the chair closer. Tessa could feel the testosterone battle begin as tempers flared.
“Pretty please,” Martin offered sarcastically.
“Pretty. Please.” Chase spoke out of the corner of his mouth with a guttural sound that reminded her of a wolf before it took an innocent animal for a snack. Goose bumps formed on her arms.
“One thing we know for sure is Handsome probably saved our lives a few minutes ago with his lies.” Tessa slapped her hands together and smiled hoping the standoff would evaporate into a feeling of goodwill.
Chase shifted his gaze to her, making her shiver. Could a stab wound feel like his impatient attitude? “Considering he told her how to get here, I wouldn’t say he did us any favors.”
Agent Martin explained how the FBI had been investigating money laundering by some South African mining companies. They dealt in conflict diamonds in troubled areas. Profits skyrocketed in their risky business venture. Keep in mind they didn’t care about anyone’s political cause. It was all about the money. But the money was dirty so they needed overseas markets to clean it up for them. The biggest abusers came from Botswana.
“Black diamonds are pretty rare, so they hold them back to drive the prices up. The lower grade ones, the white ones like we buy in rings, etc., go various places. Some of them are lab-changed into chocolate diamonds. Big market here in the States. But then there are the others, which are more valuable and fetch a profit. They follow the Kimberly Accord to all appearances, but, as you know, there are ways around it. Only about 80 percent of the mined diamonds filter through to be legit.”
“You staged Reeva’s death,” Chase growled.
“You think I was going to let all my work go down the drain because you walked in on Robert Scott having a tryst?” He immediately glanced at Tessa and ran his hand over the lower part of his face. “Sorry. That came out wrong.”
Listening to this might not be good for her marriage. Problems already brewed between her and Robert.
Agent Martin’s attention returned to Chase. “Why the hell were you there in the first place? You never said.”
“No. I never did.”
“I have a right to know. I did what you asked and still kept an eye on Robert. I believe two US Marshals lost their lives today because of Reeva and Handsome.”
“You do have a right to know. Although, keep in mind, you screwed up with Enigma. I won’t forget it.”
Agent Martin twisted his mouth into a frown. “Our benefactors at Enigma saw Reeva Kaplan as an agent of an unhealthy change brewing in Botswana. Currently, it is the only stable country in Southern Africa in spite of a dictator who lines his pockets with money that should be going to improve the lives of his people.”
Tessa chimed in to fill in some gaps maybe even Chase didn’t know. “These mining companies are running out of diamonds, and before long they’ll be left with no other revenue. Plans are in the works for building a dam on the Okavango River. Angola tried this years ago but was shut down by international pressure and their own wars. There is another factor, too.”
“I guess Handsome filled your head with more nonsense.” Chase sounded skeptical.
“Yes. He knows who can make real change in the country. They are scrambling to find out who has the Kifaru diamond.”
“Why?” Agent Martin asked.
“With the diamond, the real leader will step forward, and there isn’t anyone who will be able to stop him.”
The popping of the fire sounded like sparklers on the fourth of July. Both men remained silent for a few minutes. Tessa guessed they were weighing the information she’d given them.
“Do you know who it is?” Agent Martin asked after pushing up off the chaise.
“He wouldn’t tell me, but he knows.”
“And the diamond?” Tessa knew Chase scrutinized her when he lifted his eyebrow and glared at her. Sometimes such an expressed withered her resolve to be obstinate. “Where is it? You said earlier he had it. I’m assuming when he mentioned it at dinner last night, you thought you could manage all this.”
She nodded rapidly. “Which is why I decided to go with him. I knew if the Kifaru really had that much power, we needed to retrieve it for further examination. At that point we could decide if his story had any merit.”
“Great.” Agent Martin tried to stretch out his stiffness. “So, he leaves with Reeva and
the diamond. She will certainly take it and negotiate herself into a position of power. I bet there are factions forming who would promise her anything to be able to present the diamond to someone who discovers which way the winds of change are blowing.”
Tessa crossed her arms and couldn’t keep from batting her eyes while nodding in agreement. Alluding to the fact that she now possessed the diamond didn’t seem to be relevant at this point. Something inside her wanted to protect Handsome’s wishes.
Chase surveyed the room. “Sounds like a wild-goose chase coming up here?” He held her gaze, making her squirm a little.
“We were getting ready to go find it when the avalanche occurred. Honestly, I forgot about it after everything that happened afterward. Didn’t seem nearly as important. If you know what I mean?” Tessa swallowed hard then hustled into the kitchen. “I’ll make some coffee.”
“I’ll help you.” Chase followed on her heels then lowered his voice as Martin faced the fireplace to warm his hands. “You saw the diamond.”
“Weren’t you listening to me?” Tessa threw the old coffee grounds away while Chase replaced the paper filter.
“After all this time, Tess, I can tell when you are lying.”
“I didn’t lie,” she mumbled, stealing a glance into the living room. “With you undressing me, climbing into bed and holding me, my mind and heart raced. I’m not proud of those thoughts, but it is what it is.”
Chase raised his chin and glared down his nose, narrowing his eyes. An amused grin nearly let his wolfish laughter erupt, but he fought to return to sour faced. “If only you were telling truth,” he mused. “I swear to all that is holy, one of these days I’m going to pull you across my knee and spank you for these childish pranks.”
“Promises. Promises.” She didn’t want to give up flirting yet. Maybe he would believe her.
He tilted his head and watched her pour in the water. With a new sensual tone in his voice, he continued. “As a side note about spanking you—”
“All right!” She sighed. “I know you’re trying to make me uncomfortable. Congratulations. You win. Yes. I saw the Kifaru.”
“As usual, you shut me down when it starts to get interesting.” He smiled as he flipped the coffee switch. “Where is it?” When she didn’t answer, Chase stepped in front of her, so close there was little hope of escape. “And spanking is back on the table. I’m beginning to think you’re looking for an excuse. And thanks for the comment about ‘heart racing.’ My ego is restored. I was beginning to think I’d lost my touch.”
She stared up into his dark eyes and realized for the millionth time she didn’t care what he did for a living. “I seriously doubt you have an ego problem considering what the brainy bimbos say about you at the university,” she hissed. “Get us out of here. I have it.”
“Is that why you went back into the Scout?”
“Yes. I was trying…”
“To do a good thing,” he said rolling his eyes to the ceiling. “You always do.” Stepping back, he stared at her. “Tessa, you shaved ten years off my life when you went into the water. You’ll be the death of me.”
For the first time since they’d met, she didn’t feel nervous about revealing her feelings. “I can’t imagine life without you in it.”
Chapter 25
“W hat the hell is that?” Agent Martin moved toward the front window, only to have Chase rush to cut him off.
“I’d say it’s a drone.” He smiled and waved Tessa forward. “Think there’s any paper to write a message? I’m pretty sure Carter sent his toy for us. We can let him know we need help.” She returned with a paper towel and a black crayon she’d found earlier while searching the drawers for a coffee filter. Chase gave her the message to write then went outside and held it up over his head. The white drone circled several times and returned before hovering about twelve feet above him. Thirty seconds later, the drone disappeared over the trees.
Tessa stood in the doorway with Martin. “I hear something else. Do you?”
Chase stopped in the front yard and then scrutinized where the avalanche occurred down the road from the cabin. He then spun around to inspect where he’d parked his truck at the entrance. “Get inside!” he yelled as he scampered onto the porch and barreled into the two blocking the doorway.
In seconds, Chase had dragged Tessa into the windowless bathroom, with Agent Martin on their heels. Pushing Tessa into the shower stall, he jumped in after her and used his body to shield hers as he felt Martin squeeze in behind him. The agent had grabbed a couple of crocheted afghans off the chairs on his way in and threw them over the three of them. The rumble grew to a roar as the house shifted and glass shattered outside their protected area. The house rocked a bit then felt as if it dropped slightly. In seconds, quiet returned.
Chase could feel Tessa’s arms around his waist. She molded her body to his with her heart pounding and face buried against his chest. He realized his fingers were tangled in her curls and wondered how she could breathe with the pressure he continued to hold her in place. There was a slight tremble in her limbs as he stepped her back enough to gaze down at her face.
“Okay?”
She nodded and met his concern with a timid smile.
“Martin?”
“Yeah. I’m good.”
Agent Martin backed out and tried to open the door, which appeared to be jammed. The men put their shoulders to the surface and managed to open it only to find snow, rocks, and pine boughs strewn through the cabin. Snow had poured in through the side windows, and the front porch had collapsed forward when the cabin dropped off its foundation.
“Seems we got the edge of the slide. A few feet closer and we’d be in Lake Tahoe,” Chase surmised. He moved about the cabin as Tessa emerged. She frantically searched for something, tossing things in the air or digging through snow. Maybe she’s in shock, he thought as he tried to stop her. “Tessa. What are you doing? We’ve got to get out of this place. The roof may cave in any minute.”
“No. The Kifaru. I’ve got to find it.”
The roof sagged with a creaking sound. “What am I looking for?”
“A doll. Please. Find the doll.”
“You heard the lady. She wants her doll.”
“Are you two crazy?” Agent Martin yelled whirling around despite his protest.
“There.” Tessa moved toward the kitchen but felt Chase jerk her back. He raced to grab a doll poking out of a pile of snow. He tossed it to her then snatched a backpack someone had brought in earlier off the lopsided table. He pointed to the door to get Tessa moving.
Agent Martin still carried the afghans and lifted a wet down jacket off one of the chairs that had been flipped on its side. They plowed through the front door and climbed over several fallen tree trunks. Chase boosted Tessa up to Martin before attempting to escape himself. Tessa screamed his name as the cabin roof collapsed, throwing what remained of the porch roof at him and burying him under debris.
Martin yanked some two-by-fours off Chase’s leg and pulled him out. He helped Chase limp on his gashed leg to the top of the debris pile where they joined Tessa. Agent Martin helped her into her coat, and the three walked across a rocky snowbank leading uphill toward where the road had once been. They managed to ease themselves down to road level but had to maneuver over twisted tree branches cluttering their progress.
Chase heard an engine. “Listen,” he said limping up next to Tessa who immediately placed her arm around him on one side. “Snowplow.”
In seconds, a large snowplow moved like a determined mammoth, pushing everything in its path to the side. A flashing yellow light swirled on the top of the cab, and a loud honking followed. The snowplow came up within twenty feet of them and opened the door. The driver stepped out on the running board and waved.
“That you, Chase?”
It was the driver who had assisted him out of the ditch. “Sure is. Guess you’re going to rescue me one more time.” Chase felt Martin wrap a helpful arm around hi
s other side. “By the way, so you guys know…Tessa, you are my wife and very pregnant. I’ll explain later.”
They didn’t ask questions as they stumbled up to the snowplow. Tessa stuffed the doll under her coat to give her a more pregnant appearance. Knowing they weren’t going to freeze to death was worth a little more lying. The passenger door swung open, and Martin climbed up then assisted Chase who reached down for Tessa.
“For a momma-to-be, you’re pretty gazelle-like.” The driver grinned as she positioned herself in Chase’s lap then slipped her arm around his neck. “And who are you?” he asked Martin.
“Park ranger. Heard there might be someone back here and came to check.”
“Pretty fancy clothes for a park ranger.” The driver backed the truck down the rest of the road.
“Yeah. Borrowed some of this guy’s after I got caught in the first slide.” Martin didn’t seem to have any problem spinning a lie. Maybe he would be okay after all.
“Good thing I came along. Got a call from dispatch. Some of your friends said they sent a drone in earlier to find you and noticed a problem. Since I already knew about where you were, I volunteered. They sent the rest of the directions. Said they’d be waiting for you at a closed gas station about five miles from here. I’ll swing you by.”
“Much appreciated.”
“Better get that leg looked at.”
“Thanks. I will.” Chase tried to be pleasant even though Tessa stared at him inches away from his face. She rubbed the back of his neck then snuggled in as his arm tightened around her. The temptation to kiss her overwhelmed him so much, he caved and pressed his lips against her temple. “We’re going home,” he whispered.
The Enigma Series Boxed Set Page 121