by Allie Adams
The look he gave her sizzled between them. He walked over to the front door, pulled her hand off the doorknob, and curled her fingers with his. “Stay with me tonight.”
“Why?”
“So we can find the middle ground and make this work. It's already getting dark. Stay here.”
She shook her head and lowered her eyes. If he couldn't give her what she wanted, what she knew they both needed, then staying would only prolong the pain. “I can't.”
Lights came up outside, shining through the windows. “What—”
“Get back,” he ordered abruptly and pushed her behind him, moving them both away from the windows. Before her eyes, he transformed into TREX Special Agent Spencer Allen. He narrowed his eyes as did a quick scan of the house. “Panic room. Now.”
She ran to the other side of the living room, stopping in front of the false bookcase. Tilting the green book as he taught her triggered the bookcase to slide to the right, revealing a steel door. She punched in the code and the door slowly slid open.
A screeching alarm sounded, sending her into a panic. She grabbed the door and tried to move it faster. When that didn't work, she tried to squeeze through the six-inch opening.
The power went out and it went dark. The alarm silenced.
“Kathryn?”
“Spencer!” She couldn't breathe, she was that close to passing out.
“Let's go.” He grabbed her hand and dragged her toward the sliding door facing the water. “There's enough food in the boat for a few days. Just take it out until I radio the all clear.”
“You want me to go on that boat? Alone?” Her voice jumped at octave. As if she didn't have enough to panic about. Why not add water?
“You have to. It's the only way I can keep you safe now. The panic room is on a generator. It didn't kick on, which means they are close enough to cut the line. The boat is going to have to serve as the panic room now. There are life jackets under the seats if you would feel more comfortable.”
“I would feel more comfortable if you were there with me,” she whimpered. Abruptly it became crystal clear why he was so adamant at staying by her side. And now she didn't want him anywhere else.
He pulled her out of the house and down to the dock so fast her lungs burned by the time he helped her onto the boat. “As much as I'd like to go with you, I need to track this guy down. I won't let you live in fear, and I won't let this guy get to you. I'm going to find him and when I do, I'll show him fear.”
“But out here I'm a sitting duck!”
“In the house you're an easy target. I'm sorry, baby. I know you hate the water. This is the best I can do right now. Without power, the panic room is useless.”
She nodded, accepting her fate. Even though she had a bad feeling about this—how could she not—she would show him her strength. She would not let him see her fear despite the fact that little spots invaded her vision due to her shallow breathing. “Give me the crash course on how to run this thing.”
He kissed her. “That's my girl.”
He showed her how to work the controls. The wheel steered it and the gas pedal looked like a joystick. Other than that the rest sped by in a blur.
She shuddered. This was such a bad idea.
He turned and started down the ladder. “The radio is on so just listen for me.”
“Aren't you going to call for back up or something?”
He met her eyes. “I will the minute I get back up to the house.”
He tried to step off the ladder, but she grabbed his arm. “I won't let you do this.” He tried again and she grabbed his other arm. “Please, Spencer. Don't do this, not alone. I don't want to lose you. Couldn't we just both jump in the boat and float away? We could go to Mexico. Canada. Japan. I don't care. Just—” she cried openly, realizing what a fool she'd been. She didn't need to be a wife. She just needed him. “Please don't leave me.”
“Don't cry.” He wiped a tear away and pulled her to him, kissing her with such emotion she choked on her own tears. He met her eyes. “No matter what happens, baby, please know everything I did, that I'm doing, is for you.” His intense gaze pierced hers. He jumped off the ladder onto the dock then pushed the boat away. “I'll radio when it's over.”
He ran back up to the house and disappeared inside.
Kat's heart jumped into her throat and she panted in an attempt to keep herself from totally losing it. She studied the steering wheel. Her hands shook so badly as she cranked the key to start the engine she almost broke it off in the ignition.
The boat growled to life and she shook harder. She looked around to collect her bearings. Everything was so dark. The clouds had moved in and covered the moon. There wasn't a sliver of light to be had on the inlet and she shuddered again. She placed her hand on the joystick thing and pushed it forward. The boat lurched and she let out a yelp.
She gripped the wheel so tight her knuckles turned white, but she didn't stop the boat until it was damn near on the other side of the inlet, grateful she didn't run into anything along the way. Not really sure how to stop, she shut the engine off and let it drift to a halt.
Kat glanced back to the house and waved, but he was nowhere in sight. The lights were all off and she couldn't see a damn thing. Frustrated and cold, she went below deck to the living quarters. One thought kept creeping into her mind, no matter how hard she fought it down.
What if she never saw Spencer again?
THIRTY-TWO
Spencer paced the house as apprehension kept his movements tense and jerky. He'd checked the windows three times now. How in the hell did these fuckers breach the perimeter enough to set off his motion sensors? To set off his alarm? To fucking cut his power?
He thought of Kathryn out there alone in the boat. He knew she hated the water, but it was the only way he could ensure her safety while he waited for this son of a bitch to make his move. In the heat of the moment, it was the only thing he had close enough to an isolated panic room. Jesus, he hoped he did the right thing.
After checking the house again, he sat on his couch and listened. Not a noise out of place. The dull roar of boats filled the silence as they came in and out of the inlet. He watched each one to make sure they didn't come anywhere near Kathryn. The ticking of the wall clock and the occasional clunk when the furnace kicked on and off echoed into the night.
Why set them both into a panic and then stand down? These guys were in a hurry to send them running, but then didn't try and take them out as they ran down to the boat. Or take him out as he ran back up. None of this made any sense.
His cell phone rang, jolting him. He grabbed it and lifted it to his ear. “Allen.”
“What the fuck?” It was Rand, his accent in full bloom. “Why did I just get an alarm page for your address?”
“They're here.”
“Who?”
“Whoever the fuck it is after Kathryn. They're here, Rand.”
“Orders?” Gone was the playful demeanor. Walter Randall became the ex-SEAL turned TREX agent in a heartbeat.
“Rally my team. Put them on standby. I don't know what's happening here, but when I find out, I want my boys with me.”
“You got it.” Rand hung up.
Spencer's sigh broke through the darkness. At least he'd have TREX Team Two with him when whatever this turned into broke out. That brought him comfort.
It wouldn't be light again for several hours. Exhaustion from the constant bickering with Kathryn had him fighting to stay awake. Sitting here in the peaceful silence his eyes grew heavy.
He jumped up and moved around to keep his blood pumping and his mind on Kathryn. Not knowing if he'd ever see her again ate at him and he debated whether to call her back in. He could have them in international waters before morning. If Salazar, or whoever the son of a bitch was behind these threats, tried anything, Spencer would make sure no one ever found the body.
He couldn't shake the image of her on the boat, terror shining in her wide eyes. It nearly destroyed h
im seeing her so frightened and he couldn't do a goddamn thing to fix it. He couldn't do a goddamn thing to fix anything that had happened over this past year.
Seeing Kathryn again at the Miller search had forced him to face a cold, hard reality. He'd been miserable without her. He'd continue to be miserable if he didn't have her by his side. Losing Gabriel Lyons had him reevaluating his priorities.
Did he want to spend the rest of his life alone? Gabe had a family and never once regretted it. Now that Spencer was no longer a TREX agent, what was stopping him from taking that step with Kathryn?
Shit. Why did it take until now for him to get that through his thick skull? He loved Kathryn, more than anything. He'd been a fucking selfish ass. She wasn't asking for a kidney. She simply wanted him. If she wanted marriage, he'd give that to her. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her anyway, so why not make it legal? Why deny her this? If he died tomorrow, regardless whether they were married or not, it would have the same effect on her. A marriage certificate didn't change a person's feelings.
How could he have been so fucking stupid to not see that?
After this all ended, and if they both lived through it, he'd fall on bended knee and ask her to marry him. He was an idiot to wait this long. And if his life was cut short, at least he spent the remainder of his days with the woman he loved. That hope kept him going.
And he wanted kids, damn it. Tons of them. He wanted little boys who loved the water like their daddy and little girls who could break hearts with their smile. Just like their mommy. He wanted the fairytale, just like Kathryn.
Why the hell had it taken him this long to realize that?
* * * *
Kat paced the living quarters of the boat and blew out a long breath. The constant rocking made her queasy. Maybe she should eat something.
Of all the times for her appetite to kick in. Still, she had nothing else to do. She was bored, and when she got bored, her mind raced. She didn't want her mind doing a damn thing right now.
She peeked into the small refrigerator and pulled out a summer sausage and cuts of cheese. Suddenly famished, she ate everything already cut and worked on cutting more.
A terrifying thought entered her mind. What if something did happen to Spencer? She would never see him again. With all the emotions stirring inside her, her fear of losing him far outweighed anything else.
Kat wanted to see him, to hear him, just to know he was okay. She wanted to touch him again, to love him. Above all, she wanted to tell him she loved him. It didn't matter if he married her or not. She loved the stubborn man and always would. Nothing else mattered. She would take him in any way she could.
It all made sense as her fear made everything clear. She didn't hate him. She pushed him away so he would hate her. Then she could go back to her miserable existence of blaming him for everything that had ever gone wrong in her life. But the fact she may never see him again forced her to realize what her heart had been trying to convince her of all along.
She was in love with a man just as stubborn as she was. The only way to be truly happy would be by his side for the rest of her days, regardless of whether they had matching rings. She brushed her fingers across the compass. Her epiphany made her warm all over and she couldn't wait to see Spencer again, just to tell him how she felt. Marriage or not, she planned to spend the rest of her life with the stubborn ass. She couldn't imagine another day without him.
The sound of boats slowly moving past kept Kat on constant alert. What if one of them stopped next to hers? She wouldn't know what to do. Then again, if it was the police, she run into their arms and hug them before begging them to help Spencer.
The last of the boats passing moved out of range and it grew quiet. Too quiet. The gentle lapping of the water on the side of the boat wasn't enough. She needed something more to fill the air.
She went to the radio. Spencer had had it playing music when they made their trips to the market. There had to be a simple button to activate it. She spotted a square silver button with the word 'tuner' over the top and pushed it. The room filled with the sound of a radio station and her nerves eased.
She settled on her favorite smooth jazz station. Magazines sat in a rack against the wall and she grabbed one. After flipping through it, she grabbed another and flipped through that one. The gentle rocking of the boat relaxed her. The jazz filling the room oozed into her senses, releasing some of the tension. She let out a deep breath and closed her eyes, wishing she could call Spencer and check on him.
This was pointless. And boring. She bundled up and went above deck. The wind whipped at her, nipping at her ears and nose. As she approached the back of the boat, a light brighter than the sun appeared and blinded her, preventing her from seeing the boat it belonged to or any of its occupants. She lifted a hand to shield her eyes and swallowed hard, her heart now in her throat.
“Ma'am? Capital PD. Are you all right?”
Oh, thank God. The police. She waved. “Yes.”
“You do realize it's not only illegal but very dangerous to be out here without your navigation light.”
“I'm sorry. I don't even know what that is.”
“Are you going to be out here long?” The voice sounded strange. Oddly mechanical.
And oddly familiar.
“I, uh…”
“Would you like me to help you out?”
Kat smiled and it eased some of her angst. “That would be great.”
The Capital PD boat edged to the side of Spencer's and Kat's instincts went into high alert. Something didn't look right. Police boats weren't speedboats. When a man jumped onto the deck, a startled cry escaped her lips as her blood cooled. He shouldn't be here. He didn't even know where she was. Every alarm in her brain blared.
Run!
Taking a hurried step back, she asked, “What are you doing here?”
The man answered her by forcing a foul smelling rag over her nose and mouth. Kat screamed and took a breath to scream again. Instead, her world collapsed into darkness as consciousness drained from her.
THIRTY-THREE
Spencer did another perimeter sweep before checking every room inside—again. Still nothing.
Fuck it. He could keep Kathryn safer by his side than have her out alone on that water. What a dumb fucking idea using the boat as a panic room. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
He marched over to the radio, then he brought it up to his mouth. “Kathryn?”
No answer.
His heart sank. He tried again, this time a little louder. “Kathryn?”
Still no answer. Dread twisted his guts to the point that he almost doubled over. He ran over to the window and narrowed his eyes. Was that another boat against his?
“Kathryn!” He tried to keep his control, but fear and anger knotted inside him as the images built in his mind. He'd never forgive himself if something happened to her.
Just then her cell phone rang and a deep foreboding settled over him. Where the fuck was it? It rang again and he raced over to the kitchen counter, and lifted it to his ear. “Hello?”
“So good to hear your voice again,” a voice sang over the line, sending the hairs on the back of Spencer's neck on end.
“Salazar.” Holy shit. He knew it, that bastard had to be involved somehow. He could hardly lift his voice above a whisper. “Where is she?”
“Ah, right to the point. You see, that's why I like you. Anyone else would have asked too many questions, but not a TREX agent like you.”
He fought the urge to squeeze the phone until it shattered. “If you hurt her—”
“Let's cut to the chase, shall we? You want to get her back, I want you to come and try.”
“This isn't some fucking game. What are you trying to prove?”
“You need to pay attention. Now try to keep up. Let me know if I'm losing you.”
“You son of a bitch,” Spencer seethed, almost choking on his own words. “Where is she?” It took every last fiber of his be
ing to keep his emotions in check. He wasn't doing a very good job at it.
“You're growing impatient. Why don't we continue this conversation at a later time? Perhaps at her funeral?”
The thought of Kathryn being taken away from him permanently gripped his insides. He gritted his teeth and closed his eyes, swallowing down the howl of rage he wanted to let loose. “Continue,” he said on the back of a growl.
“Thank you. Now, where was I? Oh yes, I was about to tell you what you need to do to see her again.” He cleared his throat. Spencer could almost hear him smile.
“There is a cabin in the Black Hills. I think you know the one I'm referring to. Up until recently you were a frequent visitor. Go to the cabin. You'll receive further instructions once you arrive. And Spence? Come alone or she dies. Call in TREX and she dies. Basically, if you don't do exactly as I say, she dies.”
“Fuck!” Spencer shoved the phone deep in his pocket and ran into his room to grab another handgun. He strapped it to his calf and threw on his some extra clothes, then ran out to the bike he kept parked in his garage. After putting on his helmet, he fired off the engine and sped off.
How could he have been so fucking stupid? By sending Kathryn out there alone, Spencer played right into this asshole's game. Salazar had been playing everyone all along.
The bike slipped on a patch of black ice and his heart lurched, clearing his mind of everything but making it to the cabin. He'd be no good to Kathryn lying in a ditch.
Fuck it. He had to get to her. He kept the bike at a dangerous speed. The higher he went in elevation, the more treacherous the driving became. It started to rain as soon as he left his house and the precipitation froze to every already cold surface. The rain and the wind were needles piercing into any part of him not adequately covered. He crouched behind the shield but didn't slow his speed.
By the time he reached the cabin, his entire body ached from the cold and the way it stiffened his joints. He jumped off his bike and dropped his helmet as he raced to the cabin door. “Kathryn!”