Raw Talent

by Debra Webb

  “You scared the hell out of me,” Gabrielle snapped.

  “But I also saved your life,” he reminded, his voice weak but rich with a sense of humor.

  Again, she added silently. He’d saved her life again.

  But she had saved his, as well.

  “I guess we’re even,” she offered as she helped him to his feet.

  “We will be as soon as you get me out of here.”

  Amy moved into place to help him to his feet. She handed the gun back to Gabrielle without saying anything. Gabrielle understood that she was hinging on the verge of shock. Who wouldn’t be after what she’d been through?

  When they reached the end of the building, Gabrielle checked the area once more. Clear.

  In the distance the wail of sirens had begun.

  She wasn’t sure how their participation would look to the police or how long it would take to sort through this mess, but she figured it would be best not to get caught anywhere near this chaos.

  Braddock stumbled twice before they reached the side gate. Amy rushed ahead and slipped into the guard shack and opened the gate. The three of them made it across the street into the narrow alleyway where Gabrielle had hidden with only seconds to spare before the local authorities descended upon the Fuentes compound.

  As badly as she wanted to stop and allow Braddock to rest, she knew they had to put some distance between them and the scene that now looked exactly like a war zone.

  The struggle to the far end of the alley was long and arduous. Braddock hadn’t spoken since that remark about saving her life and he was leaning more heavily than ever on Gabrielle.

  “How you doing, Braddock?” she asked when she could bear the silence no longer.

  “Get me to a hospital and I might just live.”

  As if it had taken his last ounce of strength to answer her question, he fell forward, lugging Amy and Gabrielle down with him.

  Gabrielle’s heart launched into her throat.

  Was he breathing? Had he been shot during that last struggle and she just didn’t know it?

  Frantic, she surveyed his motionless body. Bruises, scrapes. Dammit. A definite bullet hole.

  “I’ll stay with him. Go get help,” Amy said, her tone flat with exhaustion.

  Gabrielle nodded. As she scrambled to her feet, her gaze locked with the other woman’s. “Don’t let him die.”

  Amy didn’t have to answer, the response was in her eyes. She would try her best.

  Traffic moved slowly on the street beyond the end of the alleyway.

  Gabrielle burst out of the alley with the intention of stopping a vehicle—any vehicle—at gunpoint.

  A Jeep skidded to a stop right in front of her.

  Her gaze lit on the driver.

  Sloan.

  “What took you so long? I’ve driven around this block twice already.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  Gabrielle sat in the small waiting room without moving or speaking, as she had for the past two hours. Maybe three. She couldn’t even guess anymore.

  She was too exhausted and too afraid that if she moved or talked or even looked the wrong way that the news would be bad.

  Ian Michaels and Ric Martinez had waited in this same room for a while, then when Amy was moved to a room, they apparently both decided to keep her company. They were the people who had arrived at the private airfield and were the reason she’d gotten that ride to where Braddock was being tortured. Thank God they’d come.

  That they’d left her here alone was fine with Gabrielle. She had nothing to say to either man. She didn’t need Ian to tell her she was fired. She knew she was. Ric had smiled at her, but he was that friendly with everyone. He probably felt sorry for her.

  She didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for her.

  She just wanted Braddock to be okay.

  Todd Thompson had called her on the stolen cell phone. She’d almost forgotten she had it. She’d told him she survived and then she’d called numbers in the cell phone’s directory until she’d gotten the owner’s wife. The phone would be at the hospital’s information desk waiting to be picked up. She hadn’t wanted to steal it, she’d only needed to borrow it. Kind of like in the movies when a cop or FBI agent confiscated a car for official use.

  She doubted the owners of the cell phone would have believed that story, so she hadn’t given her name, just the location of the phone.

  She hadn’t seen Sloan since he’d helped drag Braddock through the ER doors.

  Gabrielle was glad Amy was okay. She was banged and bruised, dehydrated and physically exhausted, but otherwise she was holding up. Gabrielle imagined John Calhoun was here by now. From what she’d heard about him, he’d probably started a search party the moment he couldn’t get his wife on her cell phone.

  If Braddock would just pull through, Gabrielle might have to admit that there was something to this prayer business after all. She’d sure done enough of it in the past two hours. Funny thing, she’d prayed more in the past two or three days than she had in her whole life.

  Her whole life.

  She was twenty-two, what constituted her entire existence thus far wasn’t a hell of a lot.

  Most of that time had been less than memorable. She tried to remember back to that time when her mother didn’t drink, but she’d been a really little kid and she couldn’t recall it that well.

  School hadn’t been all bad for a girl who was never a cheerleader or team sports participant. She’d never been voted best or favorite anything and she sure hadn’t been Miss Popular, but she’d loved learning. Might even have made something of herself if college had worked out.

  Sloan was the major reason her adult life had derailed.

  That old anger started to churn in her belly. No matter that he’d saved her life, as well as Braddock’s and Amy’s. The idea that she’d worked with him in any way was just too bizarre.

  She closed her eyes and cleared her mind. She was too tired to worry about any of that. Right now her only concern was Braddock.

  If he didn’t make it…

  “Señora.”

  Gabrielle’s eyes flew open. A nurse hovered over her.

  “Yes?” Gabrielle was on her feet, her heart pounding, before the woman could blink. “Is he okay?”

  The nurse nodded then said in stiff English, “The doctor will explain.”

  Gabrielle stopped her when she would have gone on her way. “Can I see him?”

  “After the doctor explains.”

  A new wave of worry flooded her. Why would the nurse tell her he was okay and then not allow her to see him until after the doctor explained? Explained what?

  The nurse left, probably recognized the signs of the coming meltdown and didn’t want to hang around and risk getting caught up in it.

  Gabrielle paced. She wore the same clothes she’d had on when she arrived in this country. They were seriously dirty, bloody, as well. She was exhausted and hungry, too, but she didn’t care about any of that.

  Her weapon had been taken away from her in the ER, as well as her shoulder bag. She was surprised the police hadn’t come looking for her considering there had been a small portion of C-4 left in there. Maybe the hospital staff hadn’t recognized what it was. The gun they knew.

  The door opened again and Gabrielle’s heart started racing once more as the doctor appeared.

  “Mr. Braddock is doing quite well,” he said in perfect English.

  Gabrielle glanced at his badge. Dr. Cortez. Maybe he’d gone to school in the States.

  “Can I see him?” She needed to see with her own eyes that Braddock was doing well. There were things she wanted to say to him.

  “You may see him, but he will be unconscious for some time still.”

  That was all she needed to hear. “Thanks.”

  “One moment, Miss Jordan.”

  She stalled before reaching the door, turned back to the doctor. She hadn’t noticed until then just how weary he looked. There was more. She could see
it in his eyes.

  “Mr. Braddock has four fractured ribs, many, many lacerations and bruises. But the injury that concerned us most was the damaged spleen. We removed the spleen and his condition is finally stable now.”

  All that she understood. The damaged spleen was serious business but he was okay now. She got it. Her patience was at an end.

  “However, his preexisting condition may hinder his recovery somewhat. It is far too early to be certain.”

  She frowned. Now she was really confused. “I don’t understand.”

  “A copy of Mr. Braddock’s medical history was faxed to the hospital by his employer. I’m afraid you will need to ask Mr. Braddock for the details, Miss Jordan.”

  “I just want to see him.” Nothing else mattered right now.

  The doctor nodded. “But only briefly. He must rest.”

  He said nothing more as he escorted her to Braddock’s room. A nurse was in the process of checking the barrage of equipment attached to him.

  “Five minutes,” the doctor said before leaving the room.

  The nurse left within seconds of the doctor, leaving Gabrielle alone with Braddock.

  She clasped her hands together and approached his bed. He looked even worse now. His face was still swollen and discoloration had set in. But the part that bothered her most was the utter stillness about him.

  Her hand trembling, she lay it against his left arm. His skin felt cool. She wondered if she should request a blanket since nothing but a thin sheet covered him from the waist down. An IV was hooked to his right arm while an intimidating-looking monitor tracked his vitals, including his heartbeat, which looked strong and steady.

  Tears welled in her throat and it was all Gabrielle could do to hold them back.

  This man had reached her on a level she’d thought no one could penetrate. Damn him. He’d touched that place and now she was at a loss as to what to do.

  “Idiot,” she muttered. One kiss and she was a goner.

  What had happened to that tough girl who didn’t let anything get to her? How had she lost so much of herself in the past three days without realizing it?

  It was all because of him. Her heart squeezed painfully as she stared down at him. Why hadn’t he told her about this preexisting health thing? He’d sure as hell known everything about her.

  She glanced around the tiny room. White walls and tiled floor. No window. Just a wall of equipment and this bed.

  Braddock was one of the good guys. She’d known that all along. He would, without thought or hesitation, sacrifice himself for others. He’d done that on that mountain and in the compound, even with fractured ribs and a damaged spleen.

  Guys like him didn’t come along every day.

  He was a rare breed. A true hero.

  He deserved a hell of a lot better than her.

  Her life was way too screwed up for him to salvage.

  She imagined going back to jail was on the agenda for her immediate future.

  Victoria Colby-Camp would press charges and that would be that.

  Not that Gabrielle was feeling sorry for herself or anything. No way. She just understood where her place was in the grand scheme of things, and falling for a man like A.J. Braddock didn’t fit.

  He deserved better.

  “Look, Braddock, I have to go. It’s nothing personal,” she said, her voice cracking slightly. “But just because you saved my butt a couple of times doesn’t mean we have a future. You’ll get better.” She had to squeeze her eyes shut a moment to hold back the flood of tears brimming behind her lashes.

  “You’ll go back to the Colby Agency and you won’t even miss me.”

  But I’ll sure as hell miss you, she didn’t say.

  She leaned down and kissed his forehead. It was all she could do to back away.

  “So long, Braddock.”

  She left the room without looking back. She wanted all of this over. Today.

  Starting with her business with Sloan.

  Gabrielle needn’t have worried. The Colby Agency had no intention of letting her forget why she’d come to Mexico in the first place.

  Ian Michaels waited outside Braddock’s room.

  “Martinez will stay here just in case there is any change in his condition,” he said. “I’ll take you to Victoria.”

  “Victoria?” She was here? In Mexico?

  “She’s waiting to talk to you.”

  As usual, Ian didn’t allow his expression or his tone to give away whatever he was thinking. He said what he had to say then turned to lead the way to whatever means of transportation they would be utilizing.

  Gabrielle saw no point in asking questions.

  He’d already told her what he wanted her to know. And that was that.

  IAN DROVE THE SUV and it wasn’t until they’d started down that long stretch of desert road that Gabrielle recognized their destination.

  Sloan’s place.

  She noticed the time on the dash and recognized they’d been on the road far longer than she’d realized. She should have anticipated that this was the plan, but she’d been too caught up in worrying about Braddock. Had she done the right thing leaving him that way? Would he really be okay?

  Ian didn’t speak as he entered a security code at the main gate to Sloan’s property and then, using his thumbprint, completed the requirements for entrance.

  Gabrielle’s emotions whipped into a frenzy as images and sounds of her first visit here tumbled one after the other through her mind.

  She got out of the SUV and followed Ian to the door. When it opened, a woman—very attractive, dark hair and eyes—greeted them.

  Ian called her Rachel, gave her one of those cheeky hugs, before turning to Gabrielle.

  “This is Gabrielle Jordan,” he said.

  Rachel gifted her with a smile though Gabrielle couldn’t tell if it was sincere or not. “Come in, Gabrielle. We’ve been waiting for you.”

  As they moved into the house Ian and Rachel discussed how happy they were that A.J. and Amy were both doing well. Rachel assured him that she had gotten an excellent report from her visit to the hospital in the States. On some level Gabrielle followed the conversation, remembering what Mark and Josh had said about Rachel being pregnant, yet she felt oddly detached from the moment. For the first time Gabrielle really looked at the home that belonged to Sloan.

  Large but comfortable.

  Not cold as she’d expected.

  “Gabrielle.”

  She turned to Rachel. Shook herself back to the present. “Yes?”

  “We know you’re exhausted and hungry. Come this way and you can relax a bit before meeting with my husband.”

  Meeting with her husband? Gabrielle thought she was here to see Victoria. She glanced around the entry hall. Ian was already gone. Her gaze landed back on Rachel. Now she was really confused. And why was she being so nice? Didn’t she know who Gabrielle was?

  “Come.”

  Rachel ushered her down a long hallway and into a bedroom. “I think you’ll find everything you need here. Have a long soak in the tub or take a shower.” She gestured to the bed. “I hope these fit.” She looked Gabrielle up and down then. “I think you’re about the same size as me.”

  A pair of black slacks and a gray blouse lay on the bed, along with undergarments and even a pair of shoes.

  “Seven and a half?” she asked when she noticed Gabrielle’s attention on the shoes.

  “Seven,” Gabrielle allowed, her head spinning with confusion.

  “Perhaps they’ll do.” Rachel smiled again.

  Gabrielle hadn’t noticed until then that she didn’t actually look pregnant. Too early, she supposed.

  “I’ll check on you again in a bit.”

  Gabrielle watched her go, still stunned at this turn of events. She looked down at herself and admitted that a shower would definitely be a vast improvement. Fresh clothes would be nice, as well.

  For the next half hour she stood under the spray of the hot water. She�
�d had no idea how badly she needed this until then. When the water started to cool, she reluctantly shut it off and climbed out.

  She took her time drying her skin and then her hair. It felt good to be clean. As if she’d washed away a lifetime of dust. And yet some part of her still felt trapped in that past.

  The clothes fit a little loosely, but not enough to matter. She’d just closed the last button of the cool silk blouse when a knock on the door interrupted her respite.

  Gabrielle opened the door expecting to see Sloan or Victoria and was startled to find Mark, the older of the two boys, standing there holding a tray laden with something that smelled wonderful. Her stomach rumbled.

  “May I come in?”

  She’d been so taken with the delicious scent she’d forgotten to step back and allow him in. “Sure.”

  Mark entered, kicked the door closed behind him and walked over to the bed. He set the tray there then perched beside it on the edge of the mattress.

  “Do you mind if we talk while you eat?”

  Gabrielle shrugged. “It’s your house.” What could she say? No, you have to go? Besides, she kind of liked the kid. And she could use some company, otherwise she’d start thinking about Braddock again and get all teary-eyed.

  Mark let her eat for a while before he said anything, and she deeply appreciated it. The food was amazing. Mixed fruit, spiced rice and something cheesy wrapped in tortillas. And water. Cool, refreshing water.

  “I know why you came here.”

  Her eyes met Mark’s. That extraordinary blue color startled her all over again.

  “Is that a fact?” she said offhandedly. If Sloan had sent his son in here in an attempt to change her mind about him, he’d wasted his time.

  “He wasn’t who you think,” Mark said without using his name.

  He didn’t have to. Gabrielle understood who he meant.

  “I suppose you speak from personal experience,” she countered. In spite of her best intentions, her pulse rate had accelerated.

  “Yes.” He dropped his head, stared at his hands. “The woman who raised me—his sister—wouldn’t allow him to see me. She was afraid of what he might do after I got older.