Exasperation crossed his rugged features. “Yes, dammit. Especially after everything you just mentioned.” He moved an arm’s length away from her, slapped the water between them. “I’m supposed to be keeping you safe, not . . .”
“Not what?”
His jaw clenched. “Not fucking you against a rock like an animal, hurting you in the process and putting you in more jeopardy than you were before.”
A space in her chest eased. He wasn’t rejecting her. Not yet.
“Finn, do I look hurt?” When his skeptical gaze swept over her, she added, “Seriously, do I sound like I’m complaining over here?”
He stared at her, the wrinkle between his brows so damn cute, she ached to kiss it from his forehead. “Why aren’t you?”
“Because that was hot. You wanted me so badyou didn’t stop to think. That’s what every woman wants.”
“She does?”
“God, yes.” Her lips curled. “To be desired that much? It’s the sexiest thing ever.”
She moved into him, her breasts grazing his chest, her arms wrapping around his shoulders so he couldn’t get away. “And before you go getting all bent out of shape on me, remember this. I happen to know you’d never put me in danger, consciously or subconsciously, whether you agree or not. If I had said no, I know you would have stopped. I trust you, Finn. With my safety, with my body. With every part of me.”
He didn’t answer. Simply stared at her again, this time like she’d sprouted horns to go with those wings. In the silence her anxiety peaked, and she wondered if he was going to push back. She couldn’t read his mind, but she knew what was in hers. She was falling for him, and she had no idea if he felt the same, or if this thing between them was nothing more than sex. If it was only sex . . .
She swallowed hard, hating the thought. And just when she was sure he was going to move away, he sighed and closed his eyes. His arms came around her, drawing her tighter into his embrace and holding her close, as if she was the only thing that mattered.
“Yer gonna be the death of me, you know that?”
“I hope not,” she said against his neck, loving the feel of him, the scent of him, loving everything about him. “I kinda like you, Tierney.”
Something in her chest squeezed tight as he cradled her in the water, ran his fingertips up and down her spine. She didn’t want to push things, didn’t want to do anything to scare him away. But their time was ticking down. In a matter of hours, it could be over. If she didn’t go after what she wanted now, she might never have the chance. And what she wanted most, she’d realized, was him.
Now or never . . .
She eased back, stared at his tanned face, ran her finger over the scar near his left eyebrow. And swallowed back the fear. The fear that had kept her single for way too long. “Finn, I—”
The wind kicked up, whipped past their faces, ruffled the palms and foliage around them. Lauren’s words died as they both looked toward the trees along the edge of the pool. A low rumble sounded above the jungle, growing progressively louder.
“Oh, shit,” Finn mumbled.
Lauren’s eyes narrowed as she tried to see past the thrashing tree branches. “What is that?”
Before he could answer, the helicopter appeared above the parted canopy. Rushing right toward them.
Finn let go of her, hollered something Lauren couldn’t hear over the whir of the blades. The door of the big bird opened, and a man leaned out of the chopper.
They’d been found. Lauren’s eyes flew wide. Oh, God . . . they’d been found.
Finn slapped one big hand on her head and pushed. She went down with a gasp. Water filled her mouth and lungs. But the only thing she could focus on was the image she’d seen before plunging beneath the surface. An image she would take to her grave.
The barrel of a machine gun trained on her heart.
CHAPTER 8
Finn wrapped his hand around Lauren’s wrist and pulled hard. A muffled grunt came o whir of t her under the water, followed by the slurping thump of bullets cutting through the liquid toward them.
He kicked harder, cursed himself for leaving his gun yards away on the rocks, for putting her in danger like this. Ahead he spotted the cave he’d noticed earlier, the one that started at the waterfall and ran back deep into the limestone rocks.
The water curved in under the protection of an arching ceiling of stone. He pulled Lauren in after him, made sure she was out of sight of that chopper and pushed her up onto the rocky ledge. She gasped for air.
“Are you okay?” he asked. “Are you hit?”
“No.” She coughed, braced her hands on the rocks and pushed herself out of the water. “No, I’m”—she hacked up a lungful of water—“I’m okay.”
Thank God.
“Stay here, don’t move. I’ll be back.”
She scrambled to grasp his wrist. “You’re not going back out there.”
“I’ve gotta get my gun if we’re going to have any kind of chance.”
Her grip tightened. “Finn. Please don’t go out there. Please?”
The fear in her voice cut at him. He put his free hand over hers, tried to reassure her. “I’m like a bad penny, Lauren. I always turn up.” He glanced around the dark cave, spotted a ray of light way in the back. “If I’m not back in twenty minutes, look for a way out back there.”
“Finn—”
“Archer’s ranch is a half mile due east of here. Did you hear that? If I’m not back, Lauren. If something happens . . . get to Archer for help.”
She swallowed hard. Squeezed his hand tighter. The intensity of her gaze held his until his chest pinched. “You’d better come back, Tierney. You still owe me those shoes, you know. I’m holding you to that.”
She let go of him, moved farther into the shadows until her back was pressed up against the slick rock wall. She drew her knees up to her chest, wrapped her arms around her legs and stared at him.
He’d never thought her vulnerable. Not until this minute. Even before, when they’d been on the run, when these whackos had been chasing them, she’d always seemed able to deal with anything they threw her way. Which had made all of this easier on him, he realized. Now though? Now she looked . . . almost lost.
It wasn’t because of him, he told himself. It wasn’t because she’d fallen for him. It wasn’t because the thought of something happening to him was the one thing that could break that iron strength he’d so come to admire.
He took a deep breath, turned and dove deep. But as he swam, he knew he was feeding himself a line of shit from here to the States. Because if something happened to her now . . . God help him, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to handle it.
He kicked hard, pulled with his arms. The thump of bullets hitting the water echoed to his left. His lungs burned as he swam back toward the rocks where he’d left his clothes. A prayer whipped through his mind that he’d be able to reach his gun and that he hadn’t just flat-out lied to Lauren right to her face.
His lungs filled with sweet air as soon as he broke the surface. He grasped the rocks and pulled himself out of the water without looking back. Darting behind the waterfall, he peered around the side of the rocks and spotted his clothes lying ten feet away.
His adrenaline surged. The handle of his Beretta stuck out from beneath his black shirt. He ganced up toward the black-and-white striped Huey circling the trees, the gunman leaning out over the open door, searching.
There wasn’t time to plan. If they changed their angle, they’d be able to see Lauren in the cave. The Huey circled back around, headed Finn’s way. His muscles coiled and he sprang toward his gun. Rocks tore into the skin of his leg as he skidded to a stop, gripped the weapon with both hands and aimed.
His vision zeroed in on the pilot. All he needed was one well-placed shot. The white of the man’s helmet was like a blinking target as he unloaded into the cockpit. Glass shattered. Bells and beeping filled the early morning air. The Huey tipped to the side, the gunman hollered, lost his b
alance. The machine gun fell into the lagoon with a splash. Finn fired again and again until the pilot’s head slumped forward and the nose of the bird went down.
Oh, fuck.
Too late he realized the Huey was coming straight for him. His heart lurched into his throat. He grabbed his pants and shirt from the rocks and sprinted into the trees. The chopper struck the rocks feet from where he’d been sitting, nose first, crushing the pilot in a crash that sounded like a detonated bomb. The force knocked Finn off his feet. The blades of the chopper hit the rocks, shattering with deafening thwacks. Shards of metal flew in every direction. The fuel tank shot forward and slammed into the cockpit with a boom.
Finn twisted, covered his head with his hands. Sound died down as the back of the big bird settled against the shore of the lagoon with a crunch. Pulse racing, Finn scrambled from the ground, dragged on his pants and stuffed his shirt in his back pocket. Gun gripped in both hands, he inched forward, half expecting a survivor to pop out of the Huey and start firing.
Steam rose from the wreckage. Nothing moved. He hesitated. Sniffed. Caught the unmistakable scent of gasoline.
Fuck. Fuck!
Instinct kicked in. He turned and ran. Was fifteen feet back in the trees when the gasoline reached the smoldering motor, igniting the fumes in an explosion that rocked the world right out from under his feet.
His body sailed through the air, crashed into the base of a palm. Pain exploded behind his eyes, raced down his spine. Groaning, he rolled to the side and pushed himself up. His gun was five feet away, lying on a palm frond. The hair on his arms was singed.
Holy shit.
Grabbing his gun, he hobbled toward the lagoon and the cave where he’d left Lauren. He cringed at the pain exploding like fireworks in his head.
When he reached the edge of the water, breath heavy from exertion, he realized the wreckage blocked his path behind the waterfall. That left swimming to reach her. Which could fuck up his gun. He wasn’t chancing leaving it on the shore this time. He didn’t know who else was out here in this jungle.
He leaned forward to rest his hands against his thighs, sucked in air. Crimson droplets dripped down onto his hands. Swiping a hand across his brow, he realized he was bleeding.
Screw it.
He thought about yelling for Lauren, but didn’t want to tip off any other terrorists hiding in the jungle. Then he remembered the light he’d seen in the cave. Moving around the far side of the lagoon, he climbed the hillside until he found what he’d been hoping for. An opening in the rocks. A tunnel that looked like it went through on this side.
He tucked the gun his pants, braced his hands on the rock walls and picked his way across jagged stones that bit into his bare feet. The tunnel was narrow, but tall enough so he could stand. The rich scents of earth and decay met his nose as he moved. Ahead, the tunnel curved to the left, and the echo of water slapping rocks drifted in.
Relief pulsed through him as he stepped down onto the flat shelf of limestone near the water’s edge and saw Lauren standing in the light, staring out at the water. She was nothing but a dark silhouette against the brightness of the morning behind her, but from where he stood she looked like an angel. A sultry, sexy, gorgeous angel who’d been sent from above to watch over his ass.
He breathed deep. “Told ya I always turn up.”
She whipped around. Froze. But even in the darkness of the cave he saw her eyes fly wide open. “Finn!”
He caught her in both arms before she knocked him back against the wall. Warmth spread through his chest, condensed around his heart as she grabbed on tight. He pushed the pain in his head to the back of his mind. Her naked skin filled his hands, pressed up against his body, reminding him just what they’d done only minutes ago in that water. What he desperately wanted to do with her again. As soon as they were out of this mess and he could get her alone.
“You son of a bitch!” She smacked his shoulder hard. Then she cringed as if she’d hurt her hand. “I thought you were . . . When I heard the gunfire and that explosion . . .” Her voice hitched. “Dammit, Tierney. You scared the shit out of me.”
She eased back but he caught her arms before she could pull away, rubbed the sting from her hand. Her eyes filled with worry as she focused on his face. “You’re bleeding.” Her hands flew up to touch his forehead. “You’re hurt.”
He pulled her arms down. “I’m fine. Just a scratch.”
“But—”
“I’m okay, Lauren. Trust me. I’ve been through a lot worse.”
Her mouth slid closed but the fear remained. And he knew what she was feeling because he was feeling it, too. He wasn’t ready to leave her. He’d thought he would be, thought he could walk away from her when all was said and done, but knew now he couldn’t.
“Yer not getting rid of me that easy,” he said softly.
Her gaze held his, and tears filled her brilliant eyes.
“You’re toying with me, Tierney. I may be tough, but I don’t know how much more I can take.”
He didn’t know how much he could take either. His chest was strung tight as a drum as he stood staring at her, but it was nothing compared to what he’d experienced when he’d thought he might lose her.
“Come here.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. She answered by wrapping her arms around his neck and holding on as if she never wanted to let go.
And he knew in that moment he could easily spend the next hour—the next year if she let him—wrapped in her embrace. But the rational side of his brain said he needed to get her out of here ASAP.
He eased back from her mouth, rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip, marveled at how she’d turned his life on its axis in a mere matter of days. Forget rescuing hostages from South American gangs or protecting presidents. Right here, right now, this woman . . . this was the most important assignment of his life.
Reluctantly, he let her go, pulled the shirt from his back pocket, then shot her a half-smile he hoet,lped calm her nerves and his as well. “I didn’t have a chance to grab yer orange flip-flops. This’ll have to do.”
She took the black buttondown from his hands, and looked at the dirt-strewn rayon. “Now you owe me new clothes on top of the shoes? Oh, I sense a whole shopping spree in my near future.”
He sensed a lot more in her near future. A lot more of him. If she’d have him. As she tugged his shirt on and buttoned it, he realized the idea sounded good. It felt right. And though the realization still scared the shit out of him . . . it didn’t make him want to run screaming for the hills.
He grasped her hand and pulled her away from the water toward the back of the cave. “Come on. Let’s get the hell out of here.”
He led her out the tunnel, careful to go slow over the sharp rocks so she didn’t re-injure the bottom of her foot. When they reached the sunlight, she squinted at the brightness, glanced around the jungle with a wrinkled brow. “Half a mile? That’s it?”
“At the most.” He just hoped like hell there weren’t any more surprises along the way.
They headed east. Found what appeared to be a seldom used road. The jungle pushed in from both sides but didn’t hide the path. They made it a quarter of a mile before they heard the whine of an engine somewhere close.
“Finn?”
Finn’s adrenaline surged all over again. He pulled his gun, shoved Lauren into the foliage, far enough back to hide them both from view. Against his back where she huddled close, her pulse picked up speed to match his own.
He held his breath. Tried not to think about how many could be out there, what could happen next. He wasn’t about to lose her, not now. . . .
As the rumble of the vehicle drew close, he trained his gun on the road and reminded himself that all he needed was one well-placed shot.
“Tierney, you dickhead! If you’re out here you’d better fucking answer. I’m not in the mood for a rabbit hunt today!”
In front of her, Finn expelled a long breath. He clicked the safety on his gun, sh
oved it in the waistband at his lower back and turned Lauren’s way. “Thank God for the cavalry.”
He grasped her hand and pulled her out of the foliage. On the path he let go of her and looked toward the four-wheeler being swallowed up by the jungle as it headed away from them. “Archer!”
Finn waved his arms. Relief pulsed through Lauren when the four-wheeler skidded to a stop and the man at the controls turned to look their way.
They’d been found. They weren’t going to die out here. And yet . . . she glanced around the silent jungle . . . she couldn’t shake the strange feeling they were being watched. The same feeling she’d had as soon as they’d come out of that cave.
Finn pulled her toward the four-wheeler. Archer climbed off the machine, tugged off his Ranger ball cap and frowned. “You’re missing a few eyebrows there, Tierney. Better be careful or I’ll start to believe all that shit about your luck being worse than mine.”
The sunlight filtering through the canopy picked out the highlights in Zane Archer’s dark blond hair. He was roughly the same size as Finn, but his accent pinned him as a Southern boy. “Saw that ball of fire and just knew it was you. Shit, man. You don’t do anything easy, do ya?”
Finn shook Zane’s hand. “You know me. Always gotta end things with a ban. Though I’m still not sure how they found us so fast.”
“You’re in Mexico, Ireland.” Archer rested his hands on his hips. “Everybody knows everybody around here and a few pesos grease all the right wheels. The Cárdenas Cartel’s got eyes all over this region. Don’t you know that?”
“I do now.” Finn turned her way. “Archer, this is Lauren Kauffman.”
Archer didn’t reach out to greet her, but his gaze swept her body from head to toe. His deep blue eyes held a haunted look and told Lauren he’d seen things she couldn’t begin to imagine. “She’s prettier than the last one.”
Okay, she should be ticked the man was talking about her like she wasn’t even there, but a small part of her couldn’t help being pleased by his comment. She cut him some slack because—obviously—his people skills were lacking from his time away from civilization.
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