by Lara Lacombe
If they could only get the man to shift a little, Fiona could hit him with the car door and throw him off balance. That would give Nate and his friend a chance to move in and gain the upper hand. But she couldn’t waste the opportunity. If she tried that stunt now, the door would completely miss him. No, he had to change his position first.
She silently willed Nate to press onward, hoping that if he took a step forward, her assailant would take a step back. Just a little bit farther, that’s all she needed to help turn this around!
She was focusing so hard on getting the bad guy to move that she’d stopped paying attention to his speech. But the word kill broke through her concentration, and she realized with a sudden, icy shock that he was talking about her.
Of course, she thought wryly. Nate’s appearance had made her forget she was still in danger. After all, normal people didn’t try to continue committing their crime when they were faced with two armed police officers. She’d assumed that Nate’s presence guaranteed her safety and all that was left was to work out the formalities of surrender.
That probably would have been the case, too, had the man who’d taken her not been a fanatic. It was clear he was willing to die here, in this dirty police parking garage, as long as he took her down with him.
Anger swelled in her chest, burning away the pain of her injured ribs. She would not die in the backseat of an unmarked car, only a few steps away from the man she cared about! It simply wasn’t an option.
Make him move! She silently shouted the thought in Nate’s direction, repeating it over and over again as if that would somehow make a difference.
“I won’t let you hurt her any more.” Nate’s voice drifted in, muffled but determined. She smiled, despite her concentration. His protective claim made her feel cherished, and for a split second, she had the urge to cry. Not now, she told herself, blinking hard to dispel the prickling sensation of tears forming in her eyes. If she started crying now, she’d miss her chance.
“You act as if you have a choice,” the man said. His voice was louder, but he hadn’t moved closer. Not yet...
“What’s to stop me from shooting you now?” Nate asked. He sounded calm, but Fiona could detect the note of strain in his voice.
No, Nate. Don’t do it. Fiona’s heart beat hard against her chest, and she held her breath. She didn’t particularly care about her abductor, but she did care about Nate. Deeply so. And she knew that if he shot a man who wasn’t posing an immediate threat, he’d never forgive himself. While Nate’s concern for her safety was touching, she didn’t want to be the reason he punished himself for the rest of his life.
“You can’t.” The man’s voice was openly mocking now, and Fiona bit down hard on her lip to keep from screaming. “If you shoot me now, you will lose your career. I know all about the rules you must abide by in order to do your job. I have no such hindrances.”
“You might want to brush up on your reading,” a second voice piped up. Was that Owen? It had to be. “You’re threatening two officers with a weapon. We are well within our rights to defend ourselves, using deadly force if necessary.”
“Then why don’t you? Go ahead, pull your triggers. End this now.” He sounded cajoling, even a little persuasive.
Fiona frowned. Why was he goading them?
“I know why you hesitate,” the man continued. “You want to take me alive. You hope to question me, to find out how I am connected to the cartel, what else I have done for them.” He made a clucking sound with his tongue. “I won’t tell you.”
There was a beat of silence, and then Nate spoke again. “Well, if you’re sure about that...” She heard a shuffling sound and imagined Nate stepping forward. The man moved back reflexively, into her line of sight. It was now or never!
Fiona drew back her legs, reached for the door handle and pulled. Then she kicked out with all her might, sending the door flying open. There was a satisfying thud of resistance as the door met flesh, and the man let out a startled “oof!” as the breath was knocked out of his body. Fiona allowed herself a split second of satisfaction and grinned fiercely.
Then all hell broke loose around her.
Chapter 16
What on earth?
Nate barely had time to register the sudden movement of the car door before it made contact with the perp’s body, slamming into him and sending him careening to the side to crash into the car next to him.
Fiona, he thought, pride filling him at the fact that she’d waited until the guy was within range to make her move. She was clearly trying to help, and while he appreciated her efforts, he really wished she’d stayed out of it. Her actions had introduced another element of unpredictability into the equation, and she’d made herself a target again.
The man realized it, too. He pushed against the car to right himself, then turned to point his guns at Fiona.
“Don’t shoot!” Nate yelled, rushing forward to disarm the man.
For a terrible second, it seemed the man hadn’t heard him. He remained focused on Fiona, anger tightening his jaw as he stared down at her. Time seemed to slow as Nate lunged for him, desperate to deflect his aim so he couldn’t hurt her. At this range, the guy couldn’t miss.
At the last second, the perp pivoted on his heel, turning to face Nate. He brought his guns up, now training them on Nate’s body. A satisfied gleam lit his dark eyes, and Nate realized he’d been played. But he couldn’t stop now. His forward momentum had taken over, and he was going to run into the man, like it or not.
Nate braced himself, tensing his muscles as he prepared for the shots he knew were coming. And the bad guy didn’t disappoint. He fired, the sound of his guns echoing in the garage like cannon fire. Nate closed his eyes as he plowed through twin plumes of smoke, and the sharp tang of cordite filled his sinuses.
He heard a second barrage of shots coming from somewhere behind and off to the side. Owen. His partner was trying to cover him.
Feeling no pain, Nate opened his eyes and saw a look of panic cross the perp’s face. Evidently, he’d expected his shots to stop Nate, and the fact that they hadn’t scared him. Had they the time, Nate could have explained it to him—he was protecting his woman, and nothing and no one was going to stand in his way.
He tackled the man with all the force of a pro linebacker, driving him to the ground in a tangle of limbs. The back of the man’s head hit the concrete hard, bouncing off with a painful-sounding thud that made Nate’s skin crawl. He went limp for a moment, clearly dazed. Seeing his chance, Nate quickly flipped the man over onto his stomach, and, keeping his knee pressed into the bad guy’s back, he made quick work of disarming and cuffing him. Only when he was satisfied the man was no longer a threat did he stand and allow Owen to take over watching him.
He turned to the car to find Fiona peering out, her eyes wide and her face pale. Her hair was a tangled mess on top of her head thanks to the perp’s manhandling, and there was a dark pink mark on her left cheek where the man had obviously hit her. She clutched her side, plainly feeling the effects of her rude treatment, and he could tell by the way she pressed her lips together that she was in pain.
Despite all that, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.
She met his gaze, and he saw the reflection of his relief and something more in her eyes. He started toward her and she climbed out of the car, moving to meet him halfway. He wanted to pull her into his arms, press her against his chest and never let her go. He reached for her, but remembered her ribs just in time and stopped himself from grabbing her.
Heedless of her own injuries, Fiona practically threw herself at him, her arms wrapping around his neck and squeezing so tightly that he had trouble breathing. It was worth it, though, to feel her solid and warm against him again.
“You scared ten years off my life,” he murmured into her ear, her hair tickling his lips.
She let out a weak laugh. “That makes two of us.”
“What happened?”
She relaxed
her grip and leaned back slightly so she could make eye contact again. “He came into the bathroom and pointed a gun at me.”
“Why didn’t you yell for help?”
Her brow lifted. “And risk having him shoot anyone who came to help? I don’t think so.”
Nate nodded in acknowledgment of her point. “Fair enough.”
She snuggled back into his embrace. “It doesn’t matter now. You’re here.”
“I am.” And he was never letting her go again.
“What happens now?”
He sighed, knowing reality was about to intrude on their moment. He glanced over her head and met Owen’s eye, and his partner gave him a meaningful nod. “You have to give your statement,” Nate said, knowing he sounded unenthusiastic about it. “And we should probably get you checked out at the hospital again, to make sure you didn’t exacerbate your injury.”
“Okay.” She nodded, the gesture rubbing her head against his chest. “But after that, we can leave?” She sounded so hopeful, he couldn’t help but smile.
“Absolutely.” He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. “After that, I’ll take you anywhere you want to go.”
* * *
Fiona stepped into her house with a sigh, feeling her muscles relax as the familiar, comforting scents of home enveloped her. Nate quietly shut the door behind her, then moved and put his hands on her shoulders. She leaned back against his chest, drawing comfort from his solid strength and warmth.
“Better?” he asked, his voice a low rumble in her ear.
She smiled. “Much.”
He wrapped his arms around her in a loose embrace, and they stood there for a moment, simply enjoying each other’s touch. She could have stayed like that forever, but Slinky chose that moment to let out an indignant howl.
Nate laughed softly, his chest vibrating against her back. “Sounds like someone else is happy to be home.”
“I’m sure he is.” Fiona put the gym bag on the floor and unzipped it. Slinky poked his head out and sniffed, then jumped free of the bag in one elegant motion. He immediately set about investigating the room, rubbing his cheeks up against the furniture to renew his claim on everything.
She heard the smile in Nate’s voice when he spoke again. “He’s a resilient little guy.”
Fiona laughed. “Little? Are you sure we’re talking about the same cat?”
“Okay, you have a point. Still, I can see why you love him so much.”
She rested the back of her head against Nate’s shoulder, taking comfort from the simple touch. “He’s my baby. For the past several years, it’s just been the two of us.” A lump formed in her throat, and she swallowed hard to push it down. Now was not the time to feel sorry for herself.
“You’ve been lonely.” It wasn’t a question—Nate stated it as a simple fact. But there was no judgment or pity in his voice. He seemed to understand how difficult it had been for her, how hard it was to feel truly alone in the world. Probably because, for so long, he’d felt the same. Even though their circumstances were different—she’d lost her family, while he’d pulled away from his—the end result was the same.
But they didn’t have to be alone anymore.
“Yes,” she said quietly. She took a deep breath, gathering her courage. “You have, too.”
He was silent for a moment, but he tightened his arms around her stomach, letting her know he’d heard her. “That’s true,” he admitted finally.
“Nate?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m tired of being alone.”
She felt the change in his body the moment he realized what she was really saying. His muscles tensed and he grew unnaturally still behind her, his breathing going from a deep, regular rhythm to shallow, rapid breaths, almost as if he was afraid any extraneous movement would scare her away. She could feel his heart beating against her shoulder blades, quick, hard thumps that betrayed his reaction.
“Are you sure?” His voice had changed to a deep, gravelly rumble that caused the fine hairs on the back of her neck to stand up. She fought the urge to shiver, not wanting Nate to interpret the gesture the wrong way.
Fiona nodded firmly, then twisted in his embrace until she faced him. His eyes were the deep, vibrant green of a forest after the rain, and as she met his gaze, she saw a mixture of hope and concern warring in their depths.
“I’m sure,” she told him with a smile. “I’ve felt a connection to you from the moment I saw you, and after the events of the past few days, I’m tired of waiting for the ‘right’ time. Life is too uncertain for that.”
“But your injuries,” he protested, gently touching her side.
She shrugged. “I’m fine.” It was true. The doctor hadn’t been thrilled to find out she’d aggravated the injury, although to her surprise, another round of X-rays had shown no additional ribs were broken. He’d loaded her up on pain medication and told her to take it easy, and Nate had quickly promised he would take care of her. Normally, Fiona would have been annoyed at the idea that she needed a babysitter, but she knew Nate spoke up because he cared and was worried about her. Besides, the thought of him taking care of her was rather appealing.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he hedged.
If she hadn’t known better, she’d think Nate was stalling because he wasn’t interested in her. But she could feel the evidence of his desire pressed against her hip. He was genuinely concerned and wanted to do the right thing, a fact that made her love him all the more.
The realization drew her up short. Love? Could she really say that, after knowing him for only a few days? Her rational mind whirled, searching for a reason to scale back her emotions. But her heart piped up, taking control. Yes, she really did mean love. They hadn’t known each other long according to the calendar, but the experiences they’d shared had been intense and emotional. She’d seen Nate at his best and his worst, and he’d shown his true colors. He was a kind, decent, thoughtful man with a great sense of humor and a strong sense of honor and duty. Love was the perfect word to describe how she felt about him, and she refused to stress about the implications of that powerful word.
Her emotions must have shown on her face, because Nate’s expression changed to one of awareness. His features softened, his concerned frown relaxing as his brows rose slightly and his lips formed a small O of surprise.
“Oh,” he said, his tone reverent.
Fiona smiled and he swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing under the golden skin of his throat. She lifted her finger and traced the line of his neck with the edge of her nail, pleased to see goose bumps pop up on his skin in the wake of her touch. It was a heady sensation, the realization that she affected Nate so strongly. He projected such a powerful physical presence, it was easy for her to assume he had no weaknesses, that nothing could break through his armor.
Except, it seemed, for her.
Nate closed his eyes and inhaled deeply through his nose, causing his chest to rise and connect with hers. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close, until their bodies were flush against each other. Heat poured off his body, seeping into hers. The combination of her desire and his warmth caused her muscles to melt, and she clutched his shoulders for support.
His eyes searched her face, as if looking for any sign that she had changed her mind. Fiona reached up and cupped his cheek with her hand. His rough stubble tickled her palm, sending tingles of sensation up her arm. She nodded ever so slightly and saw an answering heat flare in his eyes.
He dipped his head, his lips brushing over hers in a gentle caress. Then he let out a sigh that might have been her name, and his mouth took full possession of hers.
He kissed her as if he was staking a claim, branding her as his own. Not that she was interested in going anywhere—she had no desire to be anyplace but in Nate’s arms.
Did he realize what he was telling her, that his lips and teeth and tongue communicated his feelings better than any words? She marveled at the intensity of his emot
ions, amazed that he had managed to contain such fiery passion behind a calm exterior. What other hidden depths did Nate possess? It was a puzzle she had to solve, and the thought of getting to know him, the real him, filled her with a delicious sense of anticipation.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned his kiss, putting all the joy and enthusiasm she felt into it. Communication went both ways, and if Nate could share his feelings, she could share hers back.
She didn’t know how long the kiss went on. It could have been minutes, it could have been hours—it was hard to keep track of time when her whole focus was on the man in front of her and the feelings she could finally express.
After spending so much time on her own, devoting herself first to taking care of her mother and then to her graduate program, there was something almost intoxicating about allowing herself to feel again. Her emotions were a dizzying concoction of sensations that set her blood on fire and rushed to her head, clearing it of all logical thought. She was reduced to a mass of nerve endings, each one exquisitely sensitive to the touch of Nate’s hands, his mouth, the solid lines of his body against hers.
She clung to his shoulders for dear life, loving every minute of the experience and praying it would never end.
Chapter 17
Nate could hardly believe his luck.
Fiona was here, in his arms, kissing him back with all the enthusiasm and eagerness he’d only dreamed about.
Seeing her being dragged through the parking garage by that cartel hit man had nearly made his heart stop. For the first time in his life, he’d felt genuine fear.
Oh, he’d been scared before, of course. As a police officer, he’d faced his share of dangerous situations. But even when he’d been shot as a rookie, he’d never actually thought about his own death. Maybe he’d just been naive, or maybe he’d been lucky. Either way, he usually didn’t stop to think about the potential consequences of his job.