Chapter One

by Judith Rochelle

  “Should you be out of bed? You had a lot of excitement today.”

  “I’m fine. Truly. Getting stronger every minute.” She swallowed the tremor in her voice. “Where’s Nolan?”

  “Outside, checking out the area.”

  “Listen, I love this medical outfit du jour,” she gestured at herself, still in the hospital gown. “But do you think we could find some real clothes for me? Even a big T-shirt will do.”

  Quinn reached behind him to the kitchen counter and grabbed a Wal-Mart sack. “Already taken care of. Sweats and a loose shirt. I figured those would be the easiest for you to manage. There’re a few other things in there, too. I, um, guessed at the sizes.”

  “Please don’t tell me Nolan went shopping for my clothes.” She felt heat rise in her cheeks.

  Quinn pulled out his little-used grin. “Nah. Nick sent his secretary out. You’re safe. Bathroom’s right there.” He indicated a door to the right. “And there’s a toothbrush and toothpaste lying on the sink for you. I think you’ll find some other things you need in here, too.” He handed her the sack. “Here, let me help you.”

  “I can navigate by myself. Really. I promise I’ll ask for help if I need it.” She lifted her face and brushed her lips against his. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

  She couldn’t believe the difference a change of clothes and brushing her teeth made. “I feel almost human again,” she told Quinn when she walked back into the main room.

  “Looks like I guessed right on the sizes. So. What can I get you?”

  “Some coffee. It smells divine.”

  “How about something to eat? We’re pretty well stocked. Maybe some soup?”

  “In a minute. Coffee to start would be great.” And it would help clear her head of any leftover cobwebs. She was so tired of feeling fuzzy, even if it did take the edge off the pain.

  “DeWitt said you’d been doing well,” Quinn told her while he poured, “but just so you know, Nolan was a field medic in another life. Just in case we need help from him.”

  “I think getting out of that hospital will help me more than anything.” She sipped at the hot liquid in the mug he handed her. “Tell me about the man who helped us. He must be a very good friend to do this.”

  Quinn gave her the short version of his relationship with Nick. “He and Jake are about the only people I’m close to. The only ones I really trust.”

  “He stuck his neck out for you on this one, didn’t he?”

  “Yeah, but Nick covers himself well. He’ll be all right.”

  “What about Jake and the others? They’ll have a fit when they find out I’m gone.”

  He shrugged. “Let them. They’ll get over it. But I wasn’t about to let you be used for bait or put through any more interrogation.” He rubbed his hand against her arm, his fingers warming her skin. “Nolan and I will take turns on watch. Your job is to get better. Got it?”

  “I’ll work on it,” she smiled. “And I think maybe now I could eat some soup.”

  Please, God, just let this be over soon and all of us be safe.

  Hungrier than she thought, Kate finished the soup in record time.

  Quinn made himself a thick sandwich and kept her company while she ate.

  “Your appetite’s getting better,” he remarked, clearing away his dishes and Kate’s.

  “I’ll look like a blimp if you keep feeding me like this.” She patted her stomach.

  “Not with a bowl of soup. And you could stand to add a few pounds, anyway.”

  “Are you complaining about my figure?” she joked.

  “Not for a minute.” He planted a soft kiss on her lips. “In fact, I can’t wait until it’s in fighting form again.”

  Kate’s heart thudded and warmth filled her. She wished her body wasn’t in such a damaged condition at the moment. That it was in better shape for what she really wanted to do. Despite her injuries, she still felt heat consume her whenever Quinn touched her.

  He straightened up. “Okay. If you’re sure you’re all right, I think I’ll go outside and check the area with Nolan.”

  “I don’t think a snake could get through with you two on alert, but go ahead.”

  ****

  Eva picked up the phone on the first ring, tension in every line of her body. The caller spoke briefly, the message short and to the point. When she put down the phone she turned to her brothers who were standing near her.

  “The girl will be ours before long,” she told them, “and I believe Peter is finished.”

  “How long before we have her? And can we afford to wait any longer?”

  “Soon,” she assured them. “The wait is almost over. Esai, you need to contact our dealers one more time, then have everyone dispose of their phones. Miguel, make sure our supply route is re-established, then do the same. And be ready to leave when I give the word.”

  ****

  Nolan was sitting on a tree stump, smoking one of the thin cigars he enjoyed so much.

  “What’s up?” Quinn still worried that someone might have found them out.

  “I called Nick.” Nolan blew a smoke ring. “Lots of noise and activity going on out there.”

  “And?” Quinn figured there had to be something or Nolan wouldn’t have been anxious to talk to him.

  Nolan’s lips curved in a tight grin. “They’ve got everyone except the National Guard out looking for you and Kate.”

  “Figures. What else?”

  “Not much. Nick’s watching the situation closely. He’s got his sources, you know.”

  Quinn gave a humorless laugh. “It sure isn’t Lane Barton. He’d probably like to slice and dice Nick right about now.”

  Nolan shrugged. “He’ll get over it. The DOJ needs a good relationship with Guardian.”

  At the moment, that was their saving grace. In the dark silence of the night he cursed himself for allowing this to happen. For his stupidity, his cocksure attitude that he had everything well in hand. He did something he hadn’t done for a long time. He prayed. He promised anything if only Kate would be safe.

  “You have to keep it together,” Nolan told him. “Kate’s depending on you.”

  “I know. I know.”

  He thought about calling Jake, but didn’t relish getting his ass reamed out. He also felt somewhat bad about deceiving his good friend, but sometimes in life you just had to make hard choices.

  Quinn was already antsy. His original plan was to keep Kate hidden until the feds made their move and the Osunas were out of commission. The DOJ was still carefully pulling in every last piece they needed, but he was too impatient to wait for them to finally move. And too much had to be done in secrecy now that they knew about the payoff list.

  But he needed to do something himself. He knew from experience how slippery these people could be and the Osunas had more weapons than most. He didn’t want to take the chance of them getting to Kate. He’d waited long enough. It was time to put Part B of his plan in motion.

  He was positive all his old sources were still in place. Well, most of them, anyway. It wouldn’t be that hard to find out where they were, make contact, get information. Then he could take care of this mess himself and be done with it once and for all. And Kate would be safe. He’d nearly lost her with his stupidity. He wasn’t about to let it happen again.

  When he slipped into the bedroom, Kate was lying down, still wearing her comfortable sweats. The soft material outlined her body and round contours of her breasts. Quinn had lain beside her the past two nights, cradling her body against him, watching for signs of pain or discomfort and fighting his growing hunger. In just a few minutes he was going to slip away, hoping to put this nightmare to rest once and for all, and he needed just a taste of her to take with him.

  He stretched out beside her, studying her eyes, her face, whatever part of her body he could see.

  “How are you feeling, darlin’?” He stroked her cheeks and the slope of her neck. “We walked longer than usual today and you were kee
ping up pretty good.”

  “Good. Getting better every day.” She turned her face up for his kiss.

  His lips brushed lightly against hers, a mere feather touch. But he was so hungry for her it was only seconds before the kiss became more urgent, his tongue pressing into her mouth and tangling with hers.

  Kate lifted her hands and twisted her fingers in his hair, holding him to her. “More,” she said against his mouth.

  “I’m almost afraid to touch you,” he told her when he lifted his head. “Although I’m so hard I think I might be in more pain than you are. God.” He sucked in his breath. “I can’t believe I almost lost you.”

  “You didn’t do anything,” she insisted. “I knew we were taking a chance going into town and I agreed to it anyway.”

  “With me pushing you,” he reminded her.

  She frowned at him. “Listen. Neither of us expected anything to happen in the garage of the federal building. The attack was totally unexpected.”

  He ran his fingers over her face, loving the soft feel of her. “I feel like such a shit. I swore nothing like this would happen.”

  “Stop it,” she commanded, and lifted her hand to his cheek.

  He kissed her and caressed her with gentleness, knowing she was still in pain, still healing, but having a difficult time holding back from doing all the things he wanted to do to her.

  He cupped his hand over her mound.

  “One of these days, darlin’, I’m going to stretch you out on my big bed and shave this thing so it’s totally naked. Then I’m going to run my tongue over every bare inch of it and drive you crazy.”

  “You already do that.” Her voice was unsteady. “You are now.”

  She was his. He’d told her that and he meant it. No matter what happened. He bent his head and kissed her.

  “Just remember,” he whispered. “You’re mine.” He rolled off the bed and pulled the covers back up, rearranging her gown again. “You should get some rest.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Outside. Try to go to sleep, okay?”

  He closed the door quietly as he left the room. He had things to do. Lane Barton and Dean Morgan and everyone else on their stupid task force were following the rules, trying to get warrants, putting their plan in place. Quinn wasn’t bound by those rules anymore and he was tired of waiting around. Every minute these people were still at large Kate’s life was in grave danger. It was time for him to move.

  In the kitchen he pulled the keys to his borrowed SUV from his pocket and checked to make sure he had some of the disposable cell phones with him. Then he went to find Nolan, who was doing his regular check of the perimeter.

  “I need to ask a favor of you.”

  Nolan looked at him, his face expressionless. “What kind of favor?”

  “I need to be gone for a while. Maybe overnight.” Probably longer. “I want to make sure Kate isn’t alone for a minute. Maybe Nick can send another man to work with you.”

  Nolan studied him for a long time. “Does Kate know you’re leaving? What am I supposed to tell her? And Nick?”

  “Nick will know what I’m doing. Right now Kate’s asleep. When she wakes up, tell her...tell her I just had a couple of things to do to insure her safety. I’ll be back before she even has time to worry. And I’ve got the number of the satellite phone you’re using, just in case.”

  “I hope you know what you’re doing. Otherwise, you’ll be the one in the slicing machine.”

  “Just cover for me, okay?”

  “All right. Whatever. I’ll keep an eye on the lady. No worry there. Just be careful.”

  “I will.”

  Not wanting to alert Kate he was leaving, Quinn pushed the truck part way down the drive before cranking the ignition key and turning on the lights.

  ****

  Nolan stood just outside the cabin, the sat phone pressed to his ear. He’d dialed the number as soon as the tail lights from Quinn’s vehicle disappeared from sight.

  “This is the first chance I’ve had to move but I’m ready. Yes. Right now. Okay. On my way.”

  Nolan clicked off on the satellite phone and walked into the cabin just as Kate emerged from the bedroom.

  “Where’s Quinn? He said he was just going outside.” Kate looked around as if he might materialize.

  “He left to do a couple of quick errands.”

  Kate frowned. “At night?”

  “He said he’d be back right quick. Listen, we’ve got a problem.”

  “A problem?”

  “Yeah. I just got off the phone with Nick. He’s trying to get hold of Quinn on one of those throwaways he gave you guys and I was just coming in to wake you. This place has somehow been compromised and I need to get you out of here.”

  “What?” Kate raked her hair back from her face. “But I thought no one knew about it. That was the point. Can you get hold of Quinn? I want to talk to him.”

  “Calm down,” Nolan soothed. “Nick will find him and let him know what’s happening. But I have a new place to move you to. Come on. We have to get going.”

  Kate wished her brain was sharper. Or that she could speak to Quinn. But this was Nick’s man, Quinn trusted Nick, so she needed to do what he said.

  “I don’t know...I mean, is it a long drive? I’m not in very good shape.”

  “I’ll take it real easy,” he assured her.

  “All right. Just let me change, make a pit stop, and get my purse.”

  “Okay. But we need to hurry.”

  In the bathroom, Kate took care of business and changed into her sweats. She stuck her toothpaste and toothbrush in her purse, along with the vial of her pills. She saw her little gun nestled in the bottom of the purse and took it out and stuck it in the small of her back. She didn’t know why. She was in a secure situation. But if she got separated from her purse for any reason...

  She splashed cold water on her face and hands, dried off with one of the towels, and opened the door. “I’m ready,” she told Nolan.

  “Okay. Let’s go.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Vanetta.”

  “I know you helped your good friend, Quinn, hide our witness,” Lane Barton said, “and I hope to God wherever she is, it isn’t with Nolan Hanks.”

  Nick’s grip on his cell phone tightened. He was already edgy, wondering why when he called the cabin no one had answered. He’d tried both Quinn’s cell phone and Nolan’s and gotten nothing. Knowing he couldn’t ignore a hunch, he was already on his way to the little out-of-the-way place.

  “You want to tell me why?” he kept his voice as even as possible, giving away nothing of his anxiety.

  “If you’re involved in this, you know Kate Griffin gave us a flash drive which we decoded. On the drive was a list of people on the payroll of the Osuna cartel. We’ve been going down the list, checking out the day jobs of the ones we weren’t familiar with.”

  “You aren’t going to tell me Nolan’s name is on there.” Jesus, God, no.

  “In bold letters.”

  “Damn it, Lane. We vetted him completely when he came on board.”

  Lane Barton grunted. “Doesn’t matter. They’ve got their contacts buried so deep, without this list, we still wouldn’t know who they are. So you want to tell me where the spider took the fly?”

  Nick felt sick to his stomach. “A cabin near Austin. I’m on my way there now. I couldn’t raise anyone, not Nolan, not Quinn.”

  “I’ve got a very bad feeling about this, Vanetta. Call me as soon as you get there.”

  Nick disconnected the call, his hand shaking slightly. What had he done? What the hell had he done?

  ****

  Kate hated to do it, but the jouncing in the SUV was exacerbating the pain. She popped two pain pills into her mouth and took a swallow of water from the bottle she’d snagged off the kitchen counter.

  “Exactly where are we going?” she asked for the tenth time. “The signs say we’re in San Antonio.”

>   “That’s right,” Nolan told her. “There’s a condo on the far north side where arrangements have been made.”

  “And Nick and Quinn know about this?” she asked nervously.

  “Nick’s the one who called me, remember? He’ll get hold of Quinn and they’ll meet us there.”

  “But how did the cartel find out where we were?” she persisted. “I thought the place was so secret.”

  Nolan slid a glance at her. “Secrets slip out sometimes. Ah, here we are.”

  Kate sighed with relief as a huge, gated compound came into view. She could see low buildings rising behind a brick wall.

  Nolan wheeled the big SUV up to the guard house and gave his name to the man on duty. “We’re expected.”

  “Yes, sir. You know which building it is, right?”

  “Yes. Thanks.”

  “Pretty fancy surroundings for a safe house,” Kate commented.

  “We like to take good care of the people we’re responsible for,” Nolan assured her, a funny smile playing across his mouth. He opened the passenger door and held out his hand. “All set?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  She let him help her down from the big SUV, leaning on him as he guided her into the building.

  The security officer behind the reception desk nodded to Nolan. “Go right on up, Mr. Hanks. They’re expecting you.”

  Kate frowned. “They? Who are ‘they’?”

  “Just a few more people involved in this. We don’t want any slip ups. Come on. Here’s the elevator.”

  The elevator rose smoothly, hissed to a stop, and the doors slid open. Kate stared at the woman she hadn’t seen in ten years, not since her uncle had died and she’d disappeared like smoke in the wind. But she’d never forget what Eva Holt looked like. The woman who came out of nowhere and swept Roger off his feet. She’d heard that tale often enough. The black-hearted witch, her mother had called her.

  And how strange it had been that no one seemed to know a thing about her. The story was she was an only child and both her parents were dead. Then she’d just disappeared from their lives.