Operation: Midnight Escape

by Linda Castillo

  She eyed him as if she didn’t know whether to believe him. “Did you have a nightmare?”

  “It was just a stupid dream.” He scraped a hand over his face, wished he hadn’t when he noticed it was shaking.

  “What was it about?”

  He didn’t want to talk about the dream. He could recall the stark terror he’d felt when Rasmussen shot her down. He could still see her face, the shock in her eyes, and feel the horror in his heart. Standing there close enough to touch her, all he could do was pray to God he would never have to face what he’d faced in that nightmare.

  Shaken by the thought, torn because he wanted to be with her in ways that would only complicate a situation that was already too complex, he shoved past her and walked into the living room. The fire in the hearth had burned down to embers. Because he needed something to do, he put two more logs on the grate.

  “You were in bad shape when I walked into the bedroom.”

  He turned to find her standing directly behind him. “It was just a bad dream, Leigh. Let it go.”

  “A bad dream that had you sweating and shaking as if you were deathly ill. For God’s sake, you’re still shaking.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s freaking cold in here.”

  “Sometimes it helps to talk things out.”

  He wished she would stop looking at him like that. As if he was the only man in the world and all the things that had happened six years ago no longer mattered.

  Then he noticed she was only wearing a T-shirt and a pair of socks. Her legs were bare, and he couldn’t take his eyes off that tantalizing stretch of skin. Then he remembered he was wearing only his boxer shorts and a T-shirt and if he didn’t get the hell out of there pronto she was going to know exactly how much he liked looking at her.

  “Go back to bed,” he said gruffly.

  Neither of them moved, and Jake knew his fate was sealed. He went to her in two resolute strides. She took a single step back. A gasp escaped her when his fingers closed around her arms. Then his mouth came down on hers and he couldn’t think of anything except the pleasure raging through his body.

  “I can’t bear the thought of you getting hurt,” he whispered.

  “I’m not going to get hurt.”

  “I’m not going to let him hurt you.”

  He knew he was reacting to the nightmare. But there were other emotions involved. His attraction to her was tearing at his judgment, making him want her when he knew it would be smarter for him to walk away before the situation got too hot.

  But the situation was already too hot. Jake felt every sizzling degree. He knew he was going to get burned. But the pleasure of this precious moment would be worth every hour of pain he suffered later.

  She tasted as rich and forbidden as sin, and he fed on her like a man deprived. Jake figured that wasn’t far from the truth. He’d been deprived since she’d walked out of his life six years ago.

  He kissed her until his head spun and his body felt as if it would explode. Pulling away slightly, he looked into her eyes. “I’ve been wanting to do that to you every single day for six long years.”

  Her nostrils flared with each labored breath. “We can’t go back to the way it was.”

  “No, but we can move forward.” He kissed her again. “The way I see it, I figure we’ve got some time to make up for.”

  LEIGH HAD KNOWN this moment would come. She’d thought she’d been prepared for the onslaught of sensation, but nothing could have prepared her for the rush of sheer pleasure she felt when Jake kissed her.

  He was the only man in the world who could sweep her away. Make her forget about right and wrong and consequences. The same thing had happened six years ago when they’d been holed up in that safe house. One touch had led to a kiss. One kiss had ignited a fire that had burned out of control for five days. Five days that had been imprinted on her mind, branded onto her heart, burned into her very soul.

  She knew that it was dangerous opening her heart to Jake again, but Leigh was not strong enough to pull away. How could something that felt so right be wrong?

  Behind her the fire crackled and popped. Leigh could hear the wind whipping around the cabin. Ice hitting the skylight in the kitchen. She was aware of the warmth of the fire on her back; the hard length of Jake pressed against her; his mouth on hers. One of his hands was at the small of her back, the other cupped the side of her face.

  He lifted her up into his arms. She thought he was going to carry her to the bedroom, but instead he lowered her onto the plush rug in front of the fire, then lay down beside her.

  Leigh was not totally inexperienced when it came to lovemaking. But Jake wasn’t just any man, and she invariably felt overwhelmed when she was with him. He was sure of himself, made no pretenses when it came to taking what he wanted.

  She moaned when his hands closed over her breasts and rubbed his thumbs over her sensitized nipples. Need curled low in her pelvis as her body responded.

  “I’ve missed being with you like this,” he said. “All those months of not knowing where you were. It damn near killed me, Leigh.”

  “You kept an eye on me through your resources at MIDNIGHT.”

  “I knew you were alive. But that didn’t make it any easier. It didn’t make me worry any less.”

  He took her mouth in a kiss that was sexual and raw.

  Leigh kissed him back with equal ferocity. Every emotion that had been locked inside her for the past six years came pouring out. The force of her passion for Jake stunned her. Made her realize that she was in over her head. Again.

  But Leigh couldn’t deny there was something different about Jake tonight—an intensity of emotion that hadn’t been there before. In the way he touched her. In the way he looked at her. As if he were trying to keep her from slipping away.

  He pulled back so he could look into her eyes. “Leigh, promise me you’ll stay with me until this is over. Promise me you’ll listen to me.”

  “I will.”

  “Promise me you’ll trust my judgment,” he said. “That you won’t take any chances—”

  “Jake, you’re shaking. What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t want you getting hurt.”

  “Jake, you’re frightening me.”

  “A little fear is probably a good thing right now,” he said. “It’ll keep you on your toes. Keep you cautious.”

  Remembering the dream he’d had, Leigh asked, “Is this about the dream? Is that what has you so spooked?”

  “This is about Rasmussen.” He scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “I don’t believe in premonitions.”

  The uneasiness in his voice told her otherwise. “What premonition? Jake, talk to me.”

  He was silent for so long that for a moment she thought he wouldn’t respond. Sighing, he put his arm around her and held her tightly against him. “We were in blizzard conditions. You were running through the woods. I could see that you were terrified, but I couldn’t get to you. Then Rasmussen appeared. He was carrying a rifle. I knew he was going to shoot, but I couldn’t move. It was as if I were paralyzed. He raised the rifle.” He blew out a breath. “He shot you. I saw you fall.”

  His gaze was tortured when it met hers. “When I looked down at my hands, they were covered with your blood.”

  Leigh didn’t believe in premonitions, either, but a chill passed through her at his words. “I’m sorry about the nightmare, but I can tell you nothing like that is going to happen.”

  “You have nothing to be sorry for.” His jaw flexed. “But I do.”

  She didn’t want him to say it. An apology now would bring an element to the moment that she wasn’t quite ready to handle. Up until now, Leigh had used the past as an excuse. She’d clung to it as a means with which to protect herself from getting too close to Jake.

  Looking into his eyes, she knew the past was no longer an issue between them. The realization that her heart was at risk of breaking again made her feel frighteningly vulnerable.

  Then Jake skimmed his han
ds over her body, and Leigh, for the first time in what seemed like forever, lived only in the moment.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Leigh woke to the smell of coffee. She reached for Jake, the memory of everything that had happened between them the night before flooding back.

  Sitting up, she looked around. The small bedroom was very rustic. The bed was constructed of heavy pine. She smiled when she saw the heavy robe and thick wool socks draped across the foot of the bed. They hadn’t been there the night before. Jake had done that for her….

  She snuggled into the robe, slipped on the socks and padded from the room. She found Jake in the kitchen, his big hands wrapped around a mug of steaming coffee. He smiled when he saw her, and she didn’t miss the flash of heat in his eyes.

  “Morning.”

  She smiled back, hating it that she was feeling a little embarrassed. “Hi.”

  Rising, he went to the coffeemaker and poured. “No cream.”

  “Black’s fine. Smells fabulous.”

  Instead of handing her the mug, he bent and kissed her. A possessive kiss that told her in no uncertain terms that she was his. “You smell fabulous,” he said.

  She kissed him back, her pulse spiking.

  He deepened the kiss. “You taste even better.”

  Oh the counter, a portable fax machine began to hum. Groaning, Jake drew away. Looking into her eyes, he traced a finger down her cheek. “Hold that thought,” he said and went to the fax.

  “All the comforts of home.” Shaking from the power of the kiss, Leigh trailed him to the counter and looked over his shoulder.

  The fax was a draft of the story that would appear in the Investigator. The afterglow of last night melted away as she began to read.

  A King’s Fall from Grace

  Six years ago Ian Rasmussen was a successful North Michigan Avenue restaurateur. One of the Windy City’s most eligible bachelors, he owned a four-thousand-square-feet penthouse on Lakeshore Drive. He drove a cherry-red Ferrari and wore five-thousand-dollar Italian suits. He vacationed in the south of France and owned a villa in Monaco.

  Then his girlfriend, Kelsey James, discovered he was selling illegal arms to terrorists. She took the information to the police. Several law enforcement agencies worked together and, using Ms. James as bait, initiated an operation that ultimately brought the Rasmussen empire to its knees. Five months later the thirty-two-year-old billionaire was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole. Kelsey James went into hiding.

  It should have been the end of a long and sordid story. But three days ago, with the help of Derrick LeValley, a former U.S. Marshal, Rasmussen walked away from the Terre Haute Federal Prison. The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service has refused to comment on the case. Some speculate Rasmussen used his vast monetary resources to flee the country. The Investigator, however, has learned otherwise from Ms. James, who is staying at an undisclosed location. She has agreed to a series of exclusive interviews with the Investigator…

  The story went on to detail Rasmussen’s crimes, including comments from some of his cell mates about his six-year stint in prison.

  Leigh shook her head. “How is this going to help us? It doesn’t disclose my location.”

  “If it were that easy he wouldn’t bite,” Jake said.

  “Then how are you going to lure him to the cabin?”

  “We know Rasmussen has the ability to tap phone lines.” Jake set his finger against the byline at the end of the story. “We’re counting on him to do just that.”

  “You’re going to use his own technology and resources against him.”

  He nodded. “Read on.”

  If you have any information about Ian Rasmussen or his whereabouts, please contact the Investigator at 312-555-1234.

  Jake continued. “Every hour or so, Ronald will have a scripted conversation with his editor in which one of them will reveal the location of the cabin. The second the phone line is tapped, Waite will get an alarm. At that point, we’ll know Rasmussen is on his way.”

  “You’re counting on something that may not happen.”

  “You’re forgetting I saw Rasmussen’s psychological profile. He’s got an obsessive personality. Believe me, he’ll bite on this.”

  “And if he’s in Canada, like you said he might be?”

  Jake’s eyes glittered with an unsettling emotion she couldn’t quite identify. “There’s no way he’s not going to go after you. He’s too driven by jealousy and hatred.”

  That wasn’t what Leigh wanted to hear.

  “I hate this,” she said, so tired of being afraid.

  “So do I, but it’s our best bet. And remember, I’m not going to be alone. Rick Monteith is going to meet me here. He’s going to bring a second agent here to stay with you. Unofficially.”

  Unofficially meant the two men were working without the blessing of the MIDNIGHT Agency. “Why can’t you call the agency and get them involved?”

  Jake’s jaw flexed. “I walked away from the agency, Leigh.”

  “You’re a good agent, Jake. The best, in fact. You know Sean Cutter will take you back.”

  “Cutter thinks I’m a loose cannon. He’d never condone this. If I try to do this officially, I lose control of the operation.” His gaze burned into hers. “I’m not going to give control to someone else. Not when your life is at stake.”

  Leigh couldn’t shake the feeling that something terrible was going to happen. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

  “Rasmussen is a bad man. Comes with the territory.”

  “It’s not too late to call it off.”

  He shook his head. “Sooner or later he’ll find you, Leigh. I can’t let that happen.”

  “So you’re going to risk your own life?”

  “You did it for me six years ago.”

  “That was different.”

  “He could have found the wire. If he had, we both know he would have killed you.”

  Shivering, Leigh turned away from him. “I know this sounds crazy, but in his own twisted way, Rasmussen cared for me. But he hates you, Jake.”

  “I can handle Rasmussen.”

  She spun to face him. “He’ll kill you. I can’t bear the thought, Jake. I can’t let you do this.”

  JAKE HATED SEEING HER so afraid. But he had to do this. This was their only chance of stopping Rasmussen. “If we let Rasmussen get away, both of us will be looking over our shoulders for the rest of our lives.”

  “So we go into hiding.”

  He grasped her arms. “He’ll find you, Leigh. He’ll kill you. He’ll kill your friends and family and anyone else who gets in his way. I don’t like it any more than you do, but I’m going to do this.”

  She stared at him, her eyes wide. He could feel her trembling and he hated it. But to give up now would mean she would have to be afraid for the rest of her life. She would be in danger the rest of her life. He knew Rasmussen would eventually find her and win.

  The nightmare he’d had the night before drifted through his mind. He had to protect her, even if it meant putting himself on the line to do it.

  He didn’t intend to kiss her, but one minute he was looking into her frightened eyes, the next, his mouth was on hers and all he could think about was how good she felt against him.

  She melted in his arms. He marveled in the feel of her body against his. The softness of her curves. The sweet scent of her hair against his cheek. The heady taste of her mouth. The electrical current of arousal burning hot in his veins.

  Blood pounded in his groin. They’d made love twice the night before, but already he was hard and wanting her again. His need for her was insane. With the feel of her body branded into his mind, he knew he would never get enough.

  Backing her against the counter, he kissed her long and hard and deep. Her arms went around his shoulders. He loosened the knot of her robe and slipped his hands inside reveling in the warm softness of her skin. He brushed his fingertips against the hardened peaks of her nipples, and she shu
ddered in response.

  In the back of his mind he heard a low humming, but he was too intent on kissing Leigh to pay much attention.

  A hard knock at the door sent his hand to the pistol at the small of his back. He scrambled away, put his finger to his lips. “Go to the bedroom and wait for me,” he whispered.

  “Be careful,” she whispered and slipped from the room.

  Jake went to the door and checked the peephole. He swung open the door, his gaze skimming over Rick Monteith and landing on Mike Madrid.

  “What the hell is he doing here?” he asked, referring to Madrid.

  “He’s going to stay here with Leigh while you and I nab Rasmussen.” He sniffed. “You got coffee?”

  Leave it to Monteith to tick him off even more than he’d been before opening the door. “What I got is a big problem with him.” Jake punctuated the last word with a rude point at the dark haired man standing a few feet away.

  Face dark with anger, Mike Madrid stepped forward. “You got something on your mind, Vanderpol, maybe you ought to lay it out.”

  Jake didn’t hesitate. “As far as I know you gave up our location to Rasmussen.”

  “Son of a—” Madrid lunged at Jake.

  Rick caught his arm and hauled him back before either man could throw a punch. “Knock it off.” He jammed a finger at Jake. “Madrid didn’t give you up any more than I did.”

  Muttering a profanity, Madrid shook off Rick’s hands. “I’m out of here.” Turning on his heel, he started for the SUV parked in the driveway with a brisk stride.

  “Madrid!” Rick called out.

  But Madrid didn’t slow down. He didn’t even look back.

  “Damn it, Vanderpol.”

  “Screw him,” Jake said.

  “Bull.” Rick poked a finger into his chest. “You have about two seconds to call him back.”

  “We don’t need him.”

  “Madrid is going to keep an eye on your woman, my man. If you want to keep her safe, I suggest you get your head out of your ass and get him back here.”

  “How do I know he didn’t give us up?” Jake asked.

  “Because I trust him with my life,” Rick said. “That’s going to have to be good enough for you.”