Taste of Danger

by Alexa Verde

  “Well, well, well, what do we have here? Glad you came to your senses, James.” The voice, easy to recognize, held a tint of mockery to it.

  “Brian?” His own voice was hoarse, and anger at himself boiled inside him. How could he be so blind? He should’ve seen his old buddy had his own agenda.

  “The one and only.”

  “So you were pretending to help me. Instead, you hoped I’d lead you to the Fabergé egg.” James pushed down the bile rising inside him.

  “Hey, you contacted me first. And all the information I’ve given you was truth. You didn’t give me any info in return. So technically, I’m the offended party. Anyway, there’s no time for this. You have several seconds to make a decision. I’ll let you escape, but only if you get out right now. I know what I owe you, and I always pay my debts. Who said there’s no honor among thieves?” Brian chuckled without mirth. “My friend here will drive you to some remote location, blindfolded, of course. Maybe drugged, too. But you’ll be alive.”

  There was a curt nod from the other shadowy figure.

  “Aren’t you afraid I’d turn you in?” James stood up slowly, leaning heavily on the wall behind him, his ribs protesting every movement.

  “You wouldn’t do that to an old friend, would you? Besides, nobody would believe you. Your credibility was ruined years ago. Don’t you realize it?”

  Brian obviously didn’t know about James’s friendship with Logan Powers, a detective at the Austin Police Department, and that was a good thing. “I’m not leaving without Soledad and Sergey.” He slid along the wall in Soledad’s direction.

  James said a silent prayer.

  “Always trying to be a hero, aren’t you?” Brian’s voice had an unexpected tinge of sadness to it. “Come on, this was never your mess to start with. We only need the professor and his daughter. But others won’t think that way. You’re a witness now. And witnesses have to be eliminated. In fact, if not for me, you’d already be shot.”

  “You should go,” Soledad whispered. “Please.”

  “She’s right,” Sergey said quietly.

  “I can’t leave you.”

  “We’re running out of time.” Brian stepped closer. “You know another reason I don’t want you to die? You did what I always wanted to do but never could. You turned your life around.”

  “Let’s escape together, Brian,” James pleaded. “Let Soledad and Sergey go, too. There should still be something good in you. I’ll help you start a new life.”

  Brian laughed. “You can’t be serious. There’s no new life for me. Well, suit yourself. It’s too late now. But don’t try anything stupid. You make a move, and all of you die.”

  His mind whirled as he shifted closer to Soledad, desperate to find a way out. A way that would keep both her and Sergey alive. But his mind was fuzzy, and nothing useful had come up so far. He could try to disarm Brian, but then his “friend” would most likely fire his weapon.

  “The treasure doesn’t exist.” Sergey’s voice was weak but firm. He had a split lip and a black eye, and still somehow his mouth formed a mocking smile. James admired his spirit in spite of the grave situation.

  “What?” An unhealthy gleam appeared in Brian’s eyes. “What did you say?”

  “It was all just a game I came up with for my daughter.”

  “Don’t tell me you sent me on a wild goose chase!” Brian’s hands fisted. “I know about the authentication.”

  Again, James moved closer to Soledad. He needed to get her out, though he had a feeling she wouldn’t leave without her father. But at least, so far, Sergey was doing a good job of stalling the criminals.

  Sergey flinched as if he expected a hit, and a strange sparkle appeared in the eye that wasn’t swollen to a slit. “You have it wrong. I set up something like a scavenger hunt for my daughter, with clues hidden in three fairy tales I sent her. But there’s no real Fabergé egg at the end of the hunt.”

  Brian leaped toward Sergey and smashed him across the face. Blood ran from Sergey’s nose down to his shirt, adding crimson to the dark splotches.

  “You’re lying! That can’t be true,” Brian snarled.

  “Stop it!” Soledad jerked toward her father, dragging her chair with her.

  “Stay where you are, Miss Sokolova.” Brian turned to her, his voice full of authority.

  Hurried footsteps outside were followed by a click of the lock and the squeak of the door opening.

  A tall, bulky man entered the room. “Enough talk.” He had his gun trained at Soledad, and James’s heart sank. The stakes had just increased. “Professor, your time ran out. If you don’t give us the location of the Fabergé egg now, your daughter will die. Your friend James, as well. I know your life isn’t worth much to you, but what about theirs? One, two…”

  “It’s in the deposit box at the bank. I’ll give you the address and the key.” Sergey’s voice was void of any emotion.

  A shot thundered in the air. With a surprised look in his eyes, the newcomer slumped to the floor, a red spot spreading on his chest.

  “What are you doing?” Brian screamed at the other man in the shadows.

  The guy stepped forward. “We don’t need him anymore. He’s done his job. The fewer people we have to divide the treasure among, the better for us.”

  A shot rang out again. The other man fell to the ground.

  “Good idea,” Brian said calmly.

  James tensed, knowing this was his only chance. He or Soledad would be the next target. Brian would probably leave Sergey for last, considering how weak the latter was.

  But nobody should underestimate the love of a father for his daughter, or the strength that it could give. James caught determination in Sergey’s eyes, and an almost imperceptible nod. He gathered whatever strength was left in him.

  Brian turned to Soledad. “You’ll go with me, Miss Sokolova. If your father lied…”

  Still tied to the chair, Sergey charged at Brian. Brian shifted and fired again. Soledad cried out in pain and slumped helplessly in her chair.

  “No!” Sergey landed on the floor, tears running down his cheeks.

  James’s heart broke, but he had to act. His swift kick at Brian’s hand sent the gun flying. James lunged after it, ignoring the pain. As he grabbed the weapon, he pointed it at Brian.

  “Don’t move,” James growled.

  “You wouldn’t kill an old friend, would you? You’re not a murderer.” Brian took a step forward.

  “Don’t. Move.” James’s finger tightened on the trigger. Sergey and Soledad needed his immediate help. If Soledad was still breathing…

  “Dear Lord, please forgive me,” James whispered.

  He pulled the trigger, aiming at Brian’s right shoulder, but the latter moved to the right just as the shot thundered. Brian slid to the floor.

  Battling down despair, James found Brian’s phone and called 911. Then he rushed to Soledad, praying for her to be alive. He ripped off his T-shirt and pressed it to her wound in a desperate attempt to stop the blood flow.

  “How is she?” Sergey’s voice was low.

  “She’s bleeding. That means that she’s still alive. But if she loses too much blood…” James’s voice trailed off.

  He couldn’t let her die.

  Dear Lord, please save Soledad. Please, please, please save her. Amen.

  And that was when James knew, at the moment when he was about to lose her, that he loved her.

  He would always love her.

  * * *

  Soledad opened her eyes and blinked. The scent of disinfectants, the white walls of an unfamiliar room, a strange feeling of loss…

  “Soledad! I’m so glad you’re okay!” The voice coming from somewhere to her left was vaguely familiar, but she couldn’t place it right away.

  Struggling to concentrate, she turned her heavy head. Probably, pain medications made her drowsy. “Where… am I?” she croaked.

  “In a hospital.” The person leaned closer to her. “You had surgery,
but you’re going to be fine. The bullet didn’t nick any organs or important arteries.”

  “Thank God,” she whispered.

  The events of the past days came flooding through her mind, and she finally recognized the figure near her. She felt a sting of disappointment that it wasn’t James. Had he already left, not wasting any time after the job had been done?

  But she couldn’t complain. She was alive, and she had the opportunity to get to know the man she’d wanted to find so badly.

  “How are you, Professor Eliseev?” She pushed the words past her parched throat.

  “Healing. I wouldn’t recommend it, but all the beating and stress seemed to work better than hospital treatments. Doctors give me more than several weeks to live now.” His voice softened with the notes of uncertainty. “But please don’t call me Professor Eliseev. I’d rather you call me Dad. I know it’s going to be difficult to adjust. But I’ll do everything to make up for what I haven’t done before.”

  “It wasn’t… your fault.” Every word took a gigantic effort on her part. She wanted to ask about James, but the words stuck in her throat.

  She studied the stranger by her side. But somehow, thanks to James, she felt as if she knew her father, or at least some things about him. Her dad’s face was bruised, and a scar marred his forehead. He still looked gaunt, and his clothes hung on him. But he was in her life, and she was grateful.

  She said a silent prayer of gratitude.

  On the other hand, James seemed to have walked out of her life. Her throat constricted. Just like he used to walk out of the lives of other women, quickly and easily.

  Her eyes started burning, and she blinked furiously. What was wrong with her? Both she and her father had survived. So why was she crying just because James had left without even saying good-bye? How had she managed in such a short time period to fall for him?

  “You did a great job searching for the Fabergé egg,” her father said.

  She sighed. “We didn’t find it.”

  “You came close. When you get better, I’ll take you to the deposit box. If I died, you’d get the Fabergé egg anyway. Before setting up the hunt, I drew up a will. I left a copy of it and a duplicate key with an attorney.”

  “I don’t want you to die,” she whispered. “I’ll be praying for you.”

  She was interested in a different kind of heritage. She wanted to know about her ancestors, to find out more about her own identity. But then, thanks to James, she’d already found out many things about herself.

  “I had a feeling you wouldn’t want to worry your mother. But Mari, Luke, and Lydia are driving up to Austin and should be here any moment. And there’s someone else very eager to see you. He’s been at the hospital since you were brought in. Didn’t leave even for a moment. The hospital staff let me see you first because I’m a family member. But I’m sure your next visitor will cheer you up more than I did.” He smiled.

  “Thank you… Dad.”

  His face lit up. “I’m so happy you’re alive and will be on the mend soon.” He disappeared behind the white door. The door squeaked open again.

  James.

  Her heart leaped into her throat. If she’d had a sliver of doubt before, it was gone now. She loved this man. She took in the worried expression in his green eyes, the stubble on his chin, the wrinkles on his slacks. His usually impeccable look was gone, but he’d never been so endearing to her as in that moment. Circles around his eyes showed he’d slept very little lately, if at all. Her heart fluttered with hope. Did he care about her that much?

  James reached her bed in several powerful strides. “Soledad… I was so scared for you.”

  “I’ll be fine.” She did her best to infuse her voice with strength she didn’t feel.

  He sat down near her and took her hand. The warm tingles coming from his touch couldn’t be suppressed even by the ache in her head.

  She wanted to tell him so much and still she couldn’t find words. “How’s Brian?”

  “He’s in this hospital, as well, just on a different floor. Police are guarding his room. He’s stable, but it will take him a while to heal. I only meant to nick his shoulder…” He looked away.

  She wanted to comfort him, but as soon as she lifted her head, weakness made her slump back. “Don’t blame yourself. You saved my father and me.”

  She said a quick prayer for Brian, and James joined her.

  “I almost lost you, Soledad,” he whispered. “You’re beautiful, courageous, and kind. I haven’t known you for long, but it’s easy to see what an amazing gem you are. I love you.”

  Her breath caught in her throat. But as soon as her heart started to sing, the haunted look in his eyes told her it was too early for joy.

  He let her hand go. “You deserve better than me. I almost got you killed. You deserve a lifetime of happiness with a forever kind of guy. A great husband. A great father to your future children. And O’Hara men aren’t good at relationships.”

  She opened her mouth to say something, but he got up from his chair.

  He leaned to her. “You don’t need me anymore. You have your father back now, and your friends are on the way. I heard Aidan is making his way here, too. A man like him would be better for you.” Pain flashed in his eyes.

  With all her being, she wanted to stop him. “James…”

  A knock on the door interrupted her words. A policeman walked inside. “Ma’am, I need to talk to you. Preferably alone.”

  With a sad smile, James lifted an imaginary hat and turned around. Helplessly, she watched him walk to the door, his dark figure a sharp contrast against white walls. She winced when the door closed behind him.

  For several moments, she was unable to feel anything except for overwhelming pain. She fought to concentrate on the policeman’s questions but failed miserably. She told him her lack of attention was due to the wound.

  But it was going to take much longer for her heart to heal than for her wound.

  * * *

  “You’re a fool.” Sergey’s angry voice stopped James’s pacing along the hospital hall.

  “Excuse me?” James stared at his friend. Too many nights spent in the hospital were probably playing tricks on his hearing.

  Sergey leaned against the back of the plastic chair, a tired look on his face. How his friend was holding up for this long was beyond comprehension. A father’s love — and taking breaks to eat and go home to sleep — were probably the only explanations. “You’re a fool for leaving Soledad. Do you really think you can find someone better than my daughter?”

  “I second that. You’re a fool, and you’re not going to find someone better than Soledad.” A tall, lanky woman with short-cropped dark hair strode toward them, her cowboy boots clanking against the tile floor. James’s friend Luke Goodman walked by her side, his hand wrapped protectively around his wife’s slim shoulders. The adoring glances Luke was sending Mari’s way could melt the heart of even a bigger skeptic than James.

  His friend deserved all the happiness he had with one of the Danger Girls.

  “Nice to see you, too, Mari.” James waved at the woman. “Hi, Luke.” He made quick introductions between Sergey and Mari and Luke Goodman.

  “I agree with my wife.” Luke placed a kiss on Mari’s cheek, making her eyes light up. “You’re my friend. So it’s my duty to tell you that you’re making the biggest mistake of your life.”

  Maybe pouring his heart out to Luke the night before hadn’t been a great idea.

  “Three against one, huh? You don’t understand.” James slumped into a seat near Sergey. “I love Soledad.”

  Mari claimed the chair near him, her eyes throwing daggers. “Then what happened? I talked to Soledad on the phone right before I got here. She was crying. I know you helped me stay alive a year ago. But if you break her heart, I don’t know what I’m going to do to you.”

  “I second her,” Sergey chimed in.

  James groaned inwardly. How could he make them understand? “She
can find someone better than me. You know about my past.” He turned to Sergey.

  “You’re a different man now. Besides, I’m sure Soledad doesn’t care about your past.”

  “What past?” Mari asked.

  “Long story,” Sergey and James said in unison.

  A door opened, and a nurse pushed a wheelchair with Soledad toward them. “She had trouble getting out of bed, but she wouldn’t take no for an answer,” the nurse said.

  “They are right, you know.” Soledad frowned. “I don’t care about your past. And don’t give me that nonsense about not being a family man or not being a good father. You’ll be a great father if you give yourself that chance. I want to move to Austin to be closer to my dad. Or we can try a long-distance relationship.”

  “I’ll be happy to move to Austin, but…”

  She raised her chin, her eyes sparkling in defiance. “I used to think myself worthless and plain.”

  “No, you’re God’s perfect creation.”

  “You made me see that. God gave me so many gifts, but instead of sharing them with the world, I was hiding from it. That way, I wouldn’t have to face rejection again. To fight ridicule. To challenge myself.” She drew a deep breath. “You called me courageous. But I never knew I had it in me before you came along. You helped me discover myself. You made me want to discover myself.”

  Could he dare to hope that he could make a woman like Soledad happy?

  Dear Lord, please help me make the right decision.

  “You helped me discover myself, too,” he said. He couldn’t walk away from her. He simply couldn’t.

  In spite of the hospital gown and her disheveled appearance, she looked gorgeous to him.

  “You taught me to follow my dreams and enjoy every moment of the journey,” she said. “Because it’s not about the destination. It’s about the joy and lessons of getting there. But why don’t you follow your own advice? If you truly love me…”

  “I do.” He knew it in his heart that he’d love her forever.

  “Then why are you walking away from me? Make a step toward me, toward us. Just one step.” She sighed, and her eyes dimmed. “But if you’re still afraid of commitment, you should just say so.”