Scorch

by Liliana Hart

“I can’t tell you how much I love this,” Kane said. “I know you’re hurt, baby,” he called out in a mocking voice. “Yeah, cunt. Walk back into the arms of the man who’s only keeping you around for the half-a-billion dollars he wants to get his hands on. Can you really be that stupid? How many times has this man betrayed you over the years, yet you always roll over and spread your legs. You must have a magical cock, my friend,” Kane sneered. “Of course, I’ve heard dozens of women over the years say it’s true. Remember those whores we shared in Cartagena?”

  “I remember the whores you paid for in Cartagena, while you broke your marriage vows night after night.” Dec shook his head. “Sophia,” he said again. “Come here.”

  “So modest, Dec. You’ve probably got as many bastards running around the world as I do.”

  Sophia raised her head and looked at him out of shattered eyes. Kane had played with her mind for years, and he knew that training was hard to overcome, but he also hoped she realized by now that he would rather die than ever hurt her again. It would be her choice whether she trusted him enough to take what he offered, but even if she didn’t he wanted her out of the way.

  She pushed herself up off the ground until she stood shakily on her feet. And then she took a step toward him. And then another. Relief at her ability to trust him after everything they’d been through sank into his bones, and he realized how undeserving he was of this woman’s love. But he was grateful, just the same.

  “This is all very sweet,” Kane said. “I think it’s going to be very damaging for her to watch me kill you. It’s all very exciting.”

  They both ignored Kane as Sophia managed to stumble toward him. He watched Kane closely and kept his hand free so he could reach his extra gun if he saw him making a move.

  “Thank you,” he whispered once Sophia reached him. “Thank you for loving me.”

  “I don’t believe him,” she panted, tears dripping down her cheeks. “My faith is in you, and I wanted you to know that if anything hap—”

  He put his finger over her lips to keep her from saying the words. Kane wouldn’t give them much time. He wasn’t worried about the soldiers Kane had brought with him. Dec would put his men and their experience up against triple the men Kane had brought onto his land.

  “We’re going to be just fine, babe.” He slipped the cell phone he’d been palming into the front pocket of her shorts. “I need you to go to Shane now. Text Thomas and tell him to get here as fast as possible and to arrange for a helicopter to be standing by so we can transport him.”

  She nodded once and wavered on her feet as she moved back. “I’m going to be really pissed if you die. I just thought you should know.” And then she did as he asked and headed toward Shane, kneeling down beside him and taking his limp hand in her own.

  Declan didn’t waste any time. He and Kane ran for each other and met mid-air, bodies clashing in a tangle of limbs and grunts and groans. His knee made contact with Kane’s stomach and the other man let out a howl of pain even as his fist connected with Declan’s ribs. Kane outweighed him by several pounds, so their momentum sent Dec crashing backward toward the ground. His back scraped across rock and gravel, and he air left his lungs as Kane’s full weight landed on top of him. They rolled several times, taking turns dealing blow after blow.

  Adrenaline pumped high and Dec felt satisfaction as the flat of his palm came up and slammed into Kane’s face, breaking his nose with a crunch of cartilage and bone. Grunts and muttered curses filled the air as they fought viciously, each one knowing death would come to the loser.

  They rolled again and Declan ended up on his back with Kane’s weight pinning him down. The prick of a knife against his throat had him stilling and looking into the eyes of a man he’d once called friend. Blood dripped down Kane’s face, the steady drops landing on Declan’s chin and running down his neck. Their chests heaved as they both sucked in air and not even the wind dared to move the tree limbs as they waited to see what would happen.

  “You forgot one thing, brother,” Kane spat, his knife cutting into the skin of Declan’s neck.

  “What’s that?” Declan said, ignoring Sophia’s quiet sobs in the background.

  “I like to cheat.”

  Kane’s smile froze in place as Declan put a knife in his back, slipping it between the ribs to pierce his black heart.

  “I remember,” Dec said, pushing Kane off of him and rolling to his knees to suck in a deep breath. “Second best, Kane. Just like always.”

  Hatred filled Kane’s eyes as they clouded over in death, but Declan was already on his feet and headed to Sophia and his brother.

  “You scared the hell out of me,” she said, wiping the tears off her face. “I’ve never felt so useless in my life. Don’t you ever do that again, Declan MacKenzie. If my head didn’t hurt so bad I’d punch you in the face.” A sob tore from her throat and she turned on unsteady legs to kneel next to Shane again. He helped her before she fell on her face.

  “Sit down, babe.”

  “I don’t know what else to do for him,” she whispered. “He’s in shock and not very responsive. God, there’s so much blood.”

  Dec noticed for the first time that she sat there in only her bra. She’d used her shirt as a tourniquet just below Shane’s knee. He whipped off his own shirt and handed it to her to put on, but she quickly used it to staunch the flow of blood at Shane’s side. He’d never felt so helpless in his life, and he dropped down beside his brother to see if there was anything he could do but watch him die.

  He’d been in the same situation several times before. Sometimes he could save them, and sometimes he couldn’t. All he could do in that case was be there until the end. But it was different staring at his brother, whose face was so similar to his own.

  Dec jumped as Shane’s hand came up and gripped his arm. Hard.

  “It’s bad,” Shane said. His teeth chattered, and tears ran unchecked from the corners of his eyes.

  Sophia had been right, shock had settled in and it didn’t look good. Fear clawed at Dec’s insides. He’d seen too many men who looked as Shane did just before they died from their wounds.

  Dec kept his face emotionless and his voice firm. “You’re all good, Shane. It’s just a scratch or two. You’re going to be just fine.”

  “Liar,” he said, his breath hitching as pain wracked his body. “Don’t let—” He licked his lips before trying to get the words out again. “Don’t let them take anything from me. I’d rather die. If I’m not whole, promise me you’ll let me die.” His fingers pressed so hard into Dec’s arms he knew there’d be bruises. “I mean it, Dec. Don’t let them take them. They’ll relieve me of my command. I’m not meant…not meant to sit at a desk.”

  Declan took hold of Shane’s hand and squeezed it hard. “Save your breath. You’re too stubborn to die. And you’ll be commanding people long after the rest of us retire. You’re bossy as hell. Hold tight. The cavalry is almost here.”

  The familiar sounds of a helicopter flying low and nearby had Declan looking up just as Thomas came running with his bag, his cousins and brothers close behind him.

  Thomas knelt down beside them and Sophia scooted back out of the way. The other MacKenzies gathered around, talking in low voices, and she noticed Cade and Cooper were barking orders into headsets to the men they still had out rounding up Kane’s mercenaries.

  Thomas was already busy running an IV and getting things set up so Shane could get a transfusion once he was airborne, but Shane’s next words stopped everyone cold and silence descended in the small clearing.

  “Can’t feel anything now,” Shane said, smiling softly. “I’m glad you finally got the girl, Dec. You deserve it.” And then Shane closed his eyes.

  Declan bowed his head over his brother and let the tears fall unchecked.

  Chapter 7

  Boston, Massachusetts

  Maxim Petrovich turned his back on the Navy SEAL standing at attention in front of his desk.

  The roses
in his garden were in full bloom, blood red and brilliant against the greenery. The silence lay heavy in the room, and he could feel their nervousness at his reaction to the news.

  “Why have you come to me without the information I’ve asked for?” he said.

  “I apologize, sir,” the SEAL said. “The woman is not as attainable as it would seem. Her security is excellent, and her schedule is erratic.”

  “You assured me you’d be able to get her quickly once you returned from this latest mission.”

  “I have connections with the MacKenzies, sir. Declan MacKenzie has an open invitation for all the SEALs who do contract work for MacKenzie Security to stay at the compound while on leave. It will be simple enough to get inside the secured areas. It’ll give me a better opportunity to watch the woman.”

  “Hmmph,” Maxim said, turning to face the soldier. “My father and grandfather both stood in this very spot. They learned important lessons when they came to America. The first was this: To have money was to have power. Do you know what the second thing was?”

  “No, sir,” the soldier answered.

  Maxim opened his desk drawer and pulled out the black pistol he kept there. His arm came up and he didn’t blink as he aimed it just to the right of the soldier and pulled the trigger. The guard who stood behind the soldier dropped to the ground, a bullet in his heart.

  “The second lesson was that fear breeds more power.” He put the gun away calmly and closed the door. No one moved. The guard was dead, and someone would be in to remove him and clean up the mess later.

  “Let me put this in simple terms,” Maxim said. “Don’t be fooled into thinking your country will save you. Russia is alive and well here in the United States. I own members of your congress and give money to your president. Money, power, fear,” he said, checking off each word on his fingers. “MacKenzie Security is feared by your government and powers around the world. How long do you think they will let that stand? They hold classified information that no private company should own. They have the most brilliant minds locked up behind steel walls and armed guards.

  “Inside those steel walls is a tool that will create the most superior army the world has ever seen. Fear, power, money,” he repeated again, but this time in the opposite order. “There will be days for you to play hero and pretend you love your country as I love mine. But today is not that day. You will take the money and you will get the information from the woman and get her to hand over the suit. And you will bring her to me. Alive. Her brain is much too valuable to put a hole in.”

  “Yes, sir,” the soldier said, still unmoving.

  “You will do as I say or you won’t be the only one to pay the consequences of your failure. You have family, yes? A brother and sister? Nieces and nephews? Parents? Is there a woman you love who would scream for you as my blade took pieces of her flesh?”

  Maxim found satisfaction in the way the soldier paled. Sweat beaded on his face and he swallowed hard.

  “I’ll bring you the woman and the suit,” he said.

  “Good,” Maxim said. “Dispose of Gregor on your way out. If I find blood in my hallways I’ll slice open your testicles and let my cats feed off you.”

  “Yes, sir,” the soldier said, weaker this time.

  He watched as the man hoisted Gregor over his shoulder and took him from the room.

  “Ivan and Michel,” he said. “You will follow him to Surrender, Montana. I don’t trust our American spy. Once he’s done the job, kill him and bring the girl and the suit to me.”

  Chapter 8

  Doctor Lacey Shaw had a feeling she was going to remember this particular date forever.

  Every June twenty-second from here to her final breath would be met with a deep sigh and a slight mortification. It wasn’t often she felt like an idiot. Or foolish, for that matter. But in this particular moment she felt both.

  She’d walked in from her shift at the hospital just after five. She’d been tired and a headache had been brewing, so she’d stripped off her clothes and fallen into bed. And now she was stuck in a very awkward situation that was bound to get more awkward before it was through.

  She and Michael’s schedules rarely lined up. She was always swamped at the hospital. It was her life. And she’d done with it exactly what Declan MacKenzie had asked of her so many years before. Her fingerprints were on every inch of that hospital, in every department. But time and again she remembered that there were certain things work couldn’t do for her, and physical intimacy and companionship was one of those things.

  She’d never had a serious long-term relationship in the past eight years. Michael was the longest at six months. But they saw each other rarely, and though he’d moved some things into her home and he had a key, saying they were living together was stretching the truth a bit. In fact, she’d been planning to break things off, but she hadn’t had the time, and something like that needed to be done face to face.

  Maybe it had been the long works hours or the need for sexual companionship that had made her unable to stop things before they’d gone too far. But all she knew was she’d been sound asleep when Michael had crawled into bed beside her. But she hadn’t stayed asleep long. Her heart still thudded in her chest as he lay one top of her, the sweat cooling on their skin.

  “Mmm, I missed you,” he said, kissing the side of her neck.

  She winced, because she hadn’t missed him at all. When she was working, he never even crossed her mind. That was probably a sign they weren’t meant to be together forever. Not that she was looking for someone to fill that role permanently. She had more than enough on her plate.

  “Next time we do that I promise to take my time. It’s just been so long I could hardly wait.”

  She hmmmed noncommittally, since she’d basically decided in the last couple of minutes since they’d climaxed that there wasn’t going to be another time. He lifted up on his arms and the rolled to the side, pulling her with him to cuddle. Lacey glanced at her watch discretely, thinking she could head back to the hospital and get a couple more hours of paperwork done that she’d neglected.

  “I think we should get married,” Michael said, nibbling her ear.

  She almost hmmmed again, then his words finally penetrated and she froze. That was not what she’d been expecting. At all. They hardly knew each other.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said, after several awkward moments of silence passed.

  “Why?” he said nonplussed. “It makes perfect sense. We’re both intelligent adults with solid careers. We have similar tastes in music and art and wine. We have the things that are necessary to a solid foundational marriage.”

  Now he was starting to sound like her father, and that just pissed her off. They had nothing in common other than being intelligent adults with solid careers. They’d met at a function, where everyone had been dressed to impress and expensive wines were poured liberally. Where a string quartet played in the corner and had made her want to fall asleep. Where people like her parents were revered.

  Michael didn’t know the real her. He knew the Lacey Shaw that had grown up under the thumb of her wealthy parents. Not the Lacey Shaw that liked cheap beer and classic country music.

  “I don’t think we have enough in common to base a marriage on. We barely know each other and hardly get to see each other. What we have is a mutual respect for each other and our careers. There’s not anything more.”

  “I beg to differ,” he said stiffly. “I believe you just experienced a little something more.”

  “Now, don’t get your feelings hurt. I care for you, Michael. You know I do. But neither of us really wants marriage. I like being married to my job. And you need a wife that isn’t going to work a minimum of one hundred hours a week. I think it’s best we just go our separate ways.”

  The house phone and the cell on her bedside table started ringing in tandem, and she’d never been so grateful to get a call from the hospital before.

  “I’ve got to t
ake this,” she said, grabbing her cell.

  “By all means,” Michael said, sitting up on the side of the bed and grabbing his pants.

  Yep, just as she thought. More awkward with every passing second.

  She wasn’t expecting the news that came over the line. And she and her staff were always prepared for anything. But losing one of the MacKenzies would be a blow to them all. She’d never seen a family quite like theirs before.

  “I’ve got to go to the hospital,” she said, throwing her legs over the side of the bed and grabbing her clothes up off the floor. “Feel free to stay as long as you’d like. And what we’ve had between us these last months has been really nice.”

  “Nice,” he said flatly. “Not exactly the word I’d use to describe it.”

  “Michael, do you love me?”

  He hesitated and said, “You and I both know love is a chemical reaction induced by lust and several other qualifying factors. What I have for you is respect and a mutual appreciation. Those are the things that build solid marriages. Not romantic notions that only leave the other partner disappointed when the expectations aren’t fulfilled.

  “That’s where I have to disagree with you. I figure if two people are going to commit to a lifetime with each other, there should be a hell of a lot more between them than mutual respect and appreciation. You can have mutual respect and appreciation for a colleague or a stranger you meet at a conference.”

  “You’re being ridiculous. You’re not a romantic. You’re a realist like me.”

  “Maybe you don’t know me as well as you thought you did. Let’s just call this what it is, and end things before either of us says something regrettable.”

  She figured it would probably all go downhill from there if she kept speaking, so she ran into the bathroom so she could grab a quick shower. She’d remind him to leave his key on the table on her way out.

  Fifteen hours later, she faced a room of people she respected immensely, and wondered how to give them devastating news. Speaking with the families of victims was something she’d always done herself. She never passed it on to other doctors or nurses.