Clearing her throat, she leaned forward and touched Cody’s wrist. “I’m sorry. I didn’t tell you everything last night. I-I left out a few important parts.” She averted her gaze when he stared straight at her as if dissecting her. “I’m not Lisa Woods. I’m Melissa Vanderbilt-Smythe, as I’m sure you’ve surmised by now.” Squirming under his scrutiny, she was unable to sit still another moment. Jumping to her feet, she paced the floor, her hands linked behind her back. The threadbare carpet underfoot scraped the pads of her feet.
Long, tousled hair, unlike the elegant poufed style in the picture, curtained her cheeks, hiding her face as she studied her toes rather than meet his most assuredly accusatory gaze.
Cody leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. His towel shifted, baring a generous amount of leg, casting intriguing shadows. “So I surmised.” Unnamed emotions flickered across his eyes. “Was what you told me true? Did Alexander abuse you? Threaten you?”
Eager to set things straight, she crossed back to him and knelt before him, taking his hands in hers. The shifting of that barely-there towel made it so tempting to peek inside the shadowy crevice, but what she had to say was too important to ruin with illegal glances. “Every word. And more.”
More visions haunted her, making her tremble all over. “He’s crazy. He’s always on the brink of explosion. Any little thing I did infuriated him. I was afraid to breathe, to move. He was insanely jealous of any man that so much as looked at me. He’d have killed me if I’d stayed. And now my little sister’s in his clutches.” She swallowed hard, making a decision. “I can’t let him hurt her.” Quaking inside, she leaned her head on Cody’s knees, seeking solace in his warmth and strength.
With the most gentle fingers imaginable, he stroked her hair away from her face. “How are you going to stop him?” Alarm, barely veiled, rang in his voice.
“I’ll have to go back. I can’t let him hurt her.” Only she could pay for her mistakes.
“Can’t you just go to the police and let them handle it?”
Was he crazy? Or had he come from some idyll police force without corruption? But even without corruption, Nathan had convinced everyone that she was insane, even her family. She lifted her head and sought his gaze. “Who would you believe? The upstanding revered Senator of California? Or the crazy runaway heiress?” Melissa laughed without a trace of humor. “They’d lock me in a mental ward and not even listen to a word I said.”
“How will crashing the wedding help?”
“Who said I was crashing the wedding?” She dragged in a huge breath and closed her eyes wondering who was crazier--her or Nathan? Her dream returned to taunt her. She could barely expel the stale air in her lungs. “I’ll offer him a trade. Me for her. That’s what he wants. He did this to smoke me out.” Her heart plummeted to her knees. “It worked. He knows I won’t let her suffer because of me. I can’t sacrifice any more innocent people. It’s time for me to slay my own dragon.”
Nathan Alexander wouldn’t destroy all she held dear. She wouldn’t let him. Finality and promise rang in her voice. “He stole Jesse from me. I won’t let him take Christina, too.” Or this grizzled ex-cop, who had wriggled his way into her heart.
Cody stood, towering over her. “What if I refuse to let you commit suicide?”
“You can’t do that.” Fervor rang in her voice and she faced off against him, her jaw set firmly. “Besides, short of tying me up, you can’t stop me.”
“Then I’m coming with you. No way are you handing yourself over to Alexander. I still have a few connections. I’ll call in some favors.”
She wasn’t going to hold her breath. Nathan’s tentacles ran long and deep, deeper than any ex-cop’s.
Her mind raced on, picturing the low flying small planes from the previous evening as she’d floated on her back. “Didn’t I see small planes flying low? There must be an air strip nearby.”
“I don’t think our measly stash of cash will buy tickets to the West Coast.” He turned away from her and dropped the towel as if it were a normal occurrence for him to strip in front of a woman.
She gulped. It had been forever since she’d seen naked man close up. Since she could smell his tantalizing, musky scent. Since she could reach out and touch his extremely fine gluteus and his....
God, but she’d been celibate way too long.
She should turn away modestly and stop ogling the man, but those very broad shoulders that tapered down to his tight behind absolutely fascinated her. Salivating, her gaze devoured his every sexy movement. Every time he flexed those gluteus muscles and hamstrings, she longed to reach out and touch. If he didn’t get covered up in two seconds, she was not going to be held responsible for her actions. Healthy young females should not be tempted by the devil himself.
Dragging her thoughts forcibly back to rescuing her sister, she said on a quavering voice, “Who mentioned buying anything?”
He hopped around to face her, one leg half in his slacks, the bulge in his underwear too mouth-watering for a mere mortal to withstand. He quirked his brow at her, following her hungry gaze with a twinkle in his eye. “You’re going to stow away or hitch a ride?”
Stowing away wasn’t exactly what she had in mind. Small planes didn’t leave much room to hide. “I was thinking more along the lines of borrowing a plane.”
“Borrowing? You mean stealing?”
Cody scowled at her. “No, not stealing. I have connections. While you were sleeping, I contacted one of my ex-cop buddies who is now a Federal FBI agent. He’s bringing a plane to us.”
She wet her lips and it was everything she could do to stop herself from making the sign of the cross over her chest and praying to the Blessed Mother. “Are you sure he can be trusted? The FBI never believed me before.”
“Chet’s different. He’s a good guy. I’d stake my life on him.”
Call her skeptical.... “You’re staking our lives on him. I hope to God you’re right.”
Chapter Seven
Finally, Chet arrived in his helicopter, not a plane as Cody had led her to believe, at the predestinated meeting place. It blew her hair wildly about her face so she put her hand over her eyes to watch the descent as Cody stood tall and confident by her side.
A tall debonair man alighted from the helicopter. His twill slacks and white dress shirt were totally incongruous with the forest surrounding them.
She slid a glance to her companion. “Is that the infamous Chet?” As the man was closing in on them fast with his long stride, she kept her voice low.
“You’re the infamous one, sweetheart.” An enigmatic smile tugged at Cody’s lips as he stuck out his hand to pump Chet’s. “Man, are you a sight for sore eyes. I thought you’d never get here.”
“I thought you didn’t know who I was?” she challenged, butterflies swarming in her chest.
Cody’s gaze became inscrutable. “That’s what you told me. And I saw that news report.”
“Oh.” That made sense. She returned her attention to the new arrival, sizing him up. He certainly fit the role of FBI agent.
Cody parted from her and strode up to his old friend and shook his hand warmly. “Thanks for coming to the rescue so quickly. It’s imperative we reach California in time to stop that wedding.”
Chet pulled him close and hugged him, eliciting a small moan from Cody. Pulling back, concern clouded the agent’s hazel eyes and he asked, “You okay, pal?”
Taking charge, she stepped between the men. “Hi. Excuse me.” Turning her complete attention to the ex-cop, she ordered, “Sit!” She nudged the big lug to the ground and opened his shirt so she could inspect Cody’s wound.
Chet whistled long and low behind her, his shadow falling over both of them. “What happened to you?”
“What hasn’t happened?” she muttered under her breath as she unbuttoned Cody’s shirt and slid it off his shoulder.
“Snake bite.” Cody glowered down at his chest, his fingers getting in her way as she tried t
o examine his shoulder. “It’s a long story.” Cody’s chuckle held little mirth. He fidgeted as she pried a bandage loose to peek underneath and ensure he hadn’t started bleeding again.
She sucked her teeth when she saw that pus oozed from his wound. Half twisting, looking up and over her shoulder at the tall man towering above her, she asked, “Do you have a first aid kit? He needs a fresh dressing. Then he needs to get to a hospital.”
Cody’s hand clamped down on her wrist, stilling her ministrations. “No time. Your sister.” His labored breathing alarmed her. Looking up at his friend, he half-smiled, half-grimaced. “How long will it take to get to the Vanderbilt-Smythe estate in that contraption?”
Chet glanced at the helicopter and circled his finger at the pilot, who at once restarted the engine. The propeller spun slowly at first then gained momentum, drowning out sound.
The men’s lips moved but only gurgled voices emerged. But it was unmistakable when Cody grabbed her elbow and pointed at the chopper that it was time to go. One part of her wanted to shout hallelujah that this ordeal was almost at an end. Another part was worried sick about the ex-cop. He was deathly pale and trembling. A hand to his forehead had told her he was burning up with fever.
The sun inched higher in the sky, ticking away precious time. The wedding drew ever nearer and with it, her sister’s fate loomed darker. But she wanted Cody to see another doctor, get some quality in depth medical treatment. She was torn which way to proceed.
“Duck!” Chet yelled when they approached the vehicle. Dust, leaves, and dirt hurled through the air, smacking Melissa in the face. Too late she shielded her head with her arm to prevent dust from flying in to her eyes. Blinking rapidly, tears cleansed them but couldn’t prevent the acidic stinging sensation.
Finally, Chet and the pilot grabbed her under her armpits and hoisted her inside the cab as she struggled to climb aboard. The noise was deafening until they slammed the door behind Cody who was last to climb in.
The burly ex-cop squeezed his bulk beside her and leaned his head against the cushions, catching his breath. His legs were so long he couldn’t stretch them out in the cramped quarters, but had to scrunch into the tiny space.
Bile rose in her throat and her nerves screamed as the bird lifted off the ground. The last time she had allowed her feet to leave Mother Earth had been deadly.... She trembled until Cody whispered in her ear, his breath hot and ticklish, “It’s all right. The pilot knows how to fly this chopper. This thing is almost finished.”
Cody’s arm crept around her shoulders and drew her against his warmth.
Snuggling against him, she encircled his waist with her arms. They seemed to skim the treetops and for the most part held a steady course. But when the craft dipped and swerved, her heart stopped and she burrowed closer against the man … if that were possible.
Chet turned in his seat. “So you’re Melissa Vanderbilt-Smythe? I didn’t buy your death. The pieces didn’t add up.”
“I’m Mrs. Dalton now.” She left the sanctuary of Cody’s arms long enough to shake Chet’s hand.
Chet’s eyebrow rose a couple of notches as his gaze fell on Cody’s arm still lying loosely around her. He cleared his throat gruffly and looked uneasy. “Jesse Dalton was that bloke that kidnapped you, wasn’t he?”
“Jesse didn’t kidnap anyone, least of all me.” Her anger snapped and the hair on the back of her neck prickled. “He saved me. We were on the run from danger. We fell in love and married. I thought Cody filled you in on all this?” She tented her brows and out of long habit, leaned forward, ready to do battle.
Cody tried to pull her back by her shoulders but she was just getting started. “Daddy and Nathan, my fiancé.” She spat the word fiancé with venom. “Told everyone who would listen that Jesse kidnapped me or brainwashed me....”
Chet’s eyes narrowed. “California Senator, Nathan Alexander, right?”
“God help the people of California! He bullies defenseless women and he murdered his own father.” Her chest heaved and her heart hammered against her ribs so hard it was a wonder they didn’t crack. She dreaded seeing Nathan even as she chafed at the time it took them to get to the wedding.
“He’d better pray I don’t get my hands around his neck.” Cody tensed beside her, his thighs straining, the muscles in his arms cording. His hands clenched and unclenched, his knuckles whitening.
Alarmed, she laid her hands over his. “No, Cody. He’s not worth it.”
Cody’s gaze sizzled on her. Menace underlined his every word. “I won’t let him touch you again. If he tries, I swear I’ll kill him.”
Chet exchanged glances with his pilot, his expression masked. The helicopter circled over a small clearing that boasted a couple of isolated buildings, but no city, no mansion.
This was a few million dwellings short of the L.A. skyscape. This wasn’t her home. Her blood turned icy as the chopper descended. Her hands tightened on Cody’s and she whispered in his ear. “What’s going on? This isn’t Daddy’s estate. I thought you could trust your friend Chet with our lives?”
Cody scowled, his eyes darkening. He whispered back, “Shush. I don’t like this. Follow my lead.”
Chet looked at them. “We’re having to check out a funny noise the pilot thought he heard in the engine. It’ll just take a few moments.” Although his lips curved into a smile, his gaze remained veiled. His frame held a rigidity that belied his easy words.
She felt a trap and there wasn’t a blessed thing she could do to escape it. Not as long as they were airborne, anyway. Was the agent trying to cash in on the reward on her head? Or seeking promotion?
Neither possibility endeared him to her.
When she spied the familiar man on the ground, she sucked in her breath. Her stomached churned. Oh no! The Cro-Magnon who had tried to kidnap her at the carnival. What was he doing here? She didn’t realize that her nails dug into Cody’s hands until he unlatched her from him and she saw the angry red welts she’d left. As if the man didn’t have enough scars caused by her. But she hadn’t time to worry over minor abrasions. Their very lives were at stake.
Chet’s grin widened, showing his teeth. She wasn’t surprised when he leveled a pistol on them, aimed square between Cody’s eyes.
Chapter Eight
“What’s going on, Chet?” Cody’s voice had never sounded deadlier.
Chills scraped down her spine as acid burned her throat.
“You’re working for Nathan, aren’t you?” She glared at the FBI agent, wondering if he were really an agent. The pieces were falling together. “How’d he buy you?” A snarl decorated her words. “With money? Or promises of power?”
Cody nudged her in the ribs with his elbow, a mouthed a silent “ixnay on the ordsway.”
But she intended to have her say; even if they were the last words she ever spoke. “You know he’s broke, don’t you? His family fortune’s gone. Why else do you think he wants to marry into my family so badly? It takes a hell of a lot of funding to run a successful presidential campaign.”
The gun moved so that it faced her squarely and she could stare straight down the scarred gray barrel where ridges were emblazoned. Obviously, it had been used before.
The helicopter bounced a couple of times when it landed, jarring her teeth and she bit her tongue. Salty blood trickled down her throat, churning her stomach. But it didn’t make her nearly so nauseated as did the site of the glib Nathan Alexander, surrounded by his rabidly loyal henchmen. They looked so mismatched, Nathan in his crisp white shirt and tie, and his men in black monk-type robes. They weren’t his normal entourage that usually accompanied him. At least she’d never seen them in this bizarre garb.
These were the monsters in her dream. She didn’t believe in mystical new age stuff or ESP, but this was freaking her out.
“Stay by me,” Cody said between clenched teeth, his thigh twitching against hers.
Chet clucked his tongue. “You’d do best to remember, old friend, to mind you
r own business and forget any ideas you might have about this pretty lady. She’s been long spoken for.”
“What’s in this for you?” His nostrils flaring widely, Cody lifted his chin and glared down his nose at the turncoat.
“I’m just doing my patriotic duty, bringing in two criminals. You should never have kidnapped her or bought into her stop the evil Senator routine. You’re looking at a long stay in the Federal pen.”
Enraged, Melissa gasped. “Cody didn’t kidnap me and you know it! He rescued me.”
“It’s your word against mine. Who do you think they’ll believe? The FBI agent with the flawless record? Or the infamous runaway heiress who shacks up with her abductors? Tell me, which one of us sounds crazy?” His glare unflinching, he cocked the gun.
His logic sounded terminally flawed but she didn’t have time to reason it out. Not when the Cro-Magnon man wrenched open the door and Chet ushered them out at gunpoint. “Follow me, Brother Larry.”
“So we meet again, princess. This time, I don’t think you’ll have the guts to thwart me again.” Brother Larry folded his hands in front of him and he bowed sardonically.
Brother Larry’s smirk disgusted her; his teeth were brown and filthy from chewing tobacco. The memory of his assault made her ill. The only thing that kept her from vomiting all over his feet at the vile memories was the cold steel poking her in the back.
“But you have the guts to don religious garb? Heaven should strike you down.”
The rabid man lunged for her, his hands aimed for her throat.
“Back off, Brother Larry. I’ll take it from here.”
The voice from hell grated on her ears even though it was cultured and polished, that of a true politician’s. “Well, well, at last I catch up with our infamous runaway; and I have the privilege of introducing the Lions of Judah to you.”
“Lions of Judah?” she and Cody mouthed simultaneously, glancing at one another surreptitiously. Extrapolating from everything she’d gleaned over the past few years, she dared ask with a sarcastic lilt to her voice, “Like the Branch Davidian?”
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