The Fifth Season

by Korzenko, Julie

  “Yes,” Rex said. He leaned forward and spread out several papers that when connected displayed a map of the Congo-Uganda border. “Adams contacted the ALiR five years ago when the US-UK alliance began supporting the Rwanda government. He sent funding to the Laurent Kibala regime in the Congo for training, arms, and supplies of ALiR. In return, ALiR provided jails for the bodies Seamus Adams no longer wanted around.”

  “ALiR,” Stone allowed the name to roll around his mind for a moment. “Army for the Liberation of Rwanda. My favorite jungle jerks. Why would Adams expose himself like this? Why not just dispose of the men permanently.”

  “Who understands the inner workings of a mad man? My guess would be that they were still politically powerful and might become useful in the future.”

  “Hugh Gallagher?”

  “He’s there. Kuffuor’s got him.”

  Stone felt a cold wash of hatred run through his veins. Asense Kuffuor ran the group of Rwandan terrorists responsible for the massacre of his men. “I see.” He pinched the bridge of his brow in an attempt to hold off the impending headache. “This all seems a bit contrived to me.”

  Rex lifted his brows and grinned. “That’s because it is. Hugh Gallagher arrived in Kuffuor’s camp two weeks ago. Me thinks Mr. Adams has done his homework.”

  Stone nodded. “He’s picked the wrong man to bait.”

  “Honestly, I don’t think he expects you to go after Kuffuor. Apparently, when Laurent Kabila died in 2001, Kuffuor stepped into his place. He’s more powerful now than on your last little visit to the jungle. I believe Adams moved Gallagher there to keep him away from you.”

  “How long will it take for you set this operation up?”

  “About eight weeks. Are you sure about this?”

  “Positive.” The burning sensation in his gut screamed loudly against returning to the Congo. The screams of dying men intertwined with high-pitched squeals of monkeys disturbed by gunfire sang to him every night in an orchestra of horror. “But there’s a condition.”

  “Other than rescuing Gallagher?”

  “Adams needs to go down.”

  Rex stared long and hard at Stone. “We’ll find a way of publicizing his connection with the IRA and ALiR. That’ll be enough to damage his political career.”

  Stone shook his head. “No. He needs to be taken out.”

  Rex sucked in a deep breath. “He’s a huge political figure in Northern Ireland. How do you propose we accomplish that?”

  “I don’t care.” Stone stared hard at his old friend. “You know he won’t stop until he’s exacted his revenge…on Emily, on River Run. Whatever he chooses. This will all be gone.” He inhaled a deep breath. “Besides, I’m owed.”

  Stone knew that the political miscommunication of his mission into the Congo two years ago resulted in the blood bath. It didn’t stave off the guilt, but it allowed him to direct his anger somewhere. If he finally delivered Kuffuor’s head, it’d certainly help heal some old wounds.

  Rex nodded. Rising from the table, the government front man frowned as snow poured from the sky. “I guess flying out tonight is out of the question.”

  “Stay,” Stone said. “We’re having a party.”

  Rex laughed. “A party? Man, I can’t wait to meet the woman who’s finally whipped you into a human being.”

  Stone smiled then held up a hand in warning. “She’s not to know anything about this.”

  “Is that wise?”

  “It’s top secret isn’t it?”

  “You know what I mean. She should know her father’s still alive.”

  “No.” Stone stood and moved next to Rex. He towered above him by more than several inches. “What if I fail?”

  “You won’t,” Rex answered quietly. “Not this time.”

  ***

  Stone stood within a quiet alcove, silently watching people arrive and converse with one another. Emma moved among the crowd with the grace of a feline, soothing egos, creating conversation, catching every man’s eye with her dress. He wanted to hide her from everyone.

  She’d be furious to discover how deeply he’d meddled in her affairs. It hadn’t taken long to trace Clover’s investigations in Ireland. His father had been right, Hugh Gallagher lived. Damn his old man. He hated thinking he’d almost ruined Emma’s life. It made him wonder what other decisions she was making in order to appease him.

  “You’ve got it bad.” Rex Lazarus said, sidling up to stand beside him.

  Stone snorted. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “The way you’re staring at the man talking to Emma, it looks like he’s at the top of your hit list.”

  “He’s my cousin.” Stone bristled as Seth Connor placed a large beefy paw on Emma’s arm. “If you’ll excuse me.”

  ***

  Emma watched Stone cross the main living room. Death in his eyes. She smiled nervously, wondering what could make him so angry.

  “Stone, I’ve been looking for you,” she said, her stomach tightening at the heat in his gaze.

  He eyed her then turned to the man on her right.

  “Seth.”

  “Stone.”

  Emma’s eyes widened as Stone glared fiercely at the hand Seth had resting on her arm. She’d grown up with Stone’s cousin and loved him like a brother. Seth tossed his head back and laughed loudly, then clapped a glowering Stone on the shoulder.

  “I didn’t know, man. I’m sorry.” He walked away and began a lively conversation with Tilly.

  “What on earth…”

  Stone grabbed her around the waist and held her tightly against his chest. She didn’t know what to say. He dipped his head and assaulted her mouth, demanding surrender, sparking a fiery passion that flushed her face and left her knees trembling. “Stone,” she said, trying to control her breathing. “What’re you doing?”

  “Marking my territory.” Releasing her, he stepped back, flourished a bow to the gaping guests and exited onto the back deck.

  A round of light applause began followed by howls of laughter and wolf whistles. Emma couldn’t prevent the mortified blush marring her face. “He doesn’t like parties,” she explained. “I think he’s a bit uptight.” Alexa Connor, Seth’s sister, stood beside her shaking her head.

  “You’ve done it.”

  “Done what?” Emma straightened her dress, her hands still shaking from Stone’s assault.

  “Wrangled the best looking Connor in Jackson Hole. He’s a tough one, our Stone, but when he loves…it’s with all his heart.”

  “And when he hates,” Emma said softly.

  Alexa nodded. “He’ll never forgive Nate.”

  “Why? What happened the year before I arrived?”

  “No one really knows. All I can say is whatever Stone’s feeling, he’s probably got the right. Nate was a mean SOB, and that’s putting it lightly.”

  Alexa’s words pulled a few more threads from Emma’s already unraveling heart. Nate needed her, she couldn’t forsake him, but she feared that if things continued the way they were, someday she’d be forced into a choice.

  Laughter rang from every corner of River Run. Despite her troubled thoughts she smiled, and focused back on the progression of the party. She made certain the buffet was being met be hungry partiers then stepped outside in search of Stone.

  He leaned against the side of the house, encased in shadows. Emma stepped close, and he opened his arms for her.

  “I’m sorry,” he said softly, stroking her curls and tracing them down her back.

  “No need. It’s not every day a woman can claim to be ravished before a houseful of guests.”

  “I’m no good at socializing.”

  She laughed. “Now that’s an understatement if ever I heard one.”

  “Are you mad?”

  “No. Are you?”

  “Maybe at the world, but not at you. Never at you.” He tilted her chin up and kissed her lips gently. She leaned into his warmth, deepening the kiss and twining her arms tightly arou
nd his neck.

  Stone pulled her closer, teasing her lips with his tongue. She wished everyone would go home. He’d been right, the party was a bad idea.

  “I’ve a present for you,” Stone said.

  “It’s not even Christmas yet.”

  “Close enough.” He pushed her away a little, then reached into his pocket and handed her a small brown envelope. She frowned and looked at him. “Open it.”

  Stepping into the light glowing through the French doors, she split the lip of the envelope. A passport fell into her hands, along with a social security card and birth certificate. Emma couldn’t prevent the slight trembling of her fingers as she cracked open the stiff blue booklet to see her name and picture scrawled across the inside.

  “What’s all this?”

  “Your freedom.”

  Tears welled, and she struggled against allowing them to flow. He’d handed her something she never knew she coveted until this very second. Always accepting her fate of being unknown, in hiding, beyond the simple privilege of ever attaining a driver’s license, finding a job, and buying her own home.

  Somewhere deep inside, Emma must’ve dreamed about this day because a rainbow of happiness flooded her soul, making her lightheaded. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Don’t say anything. The look on your face will carry me for a long time.”

  “How did you know?”

  “That you didn’t have any of this? It wasn’t too hard to figure out.”

  “No.” She shook her head, trying to put all her emotions into the right category. “How’d you know to do this? How’d you know I needed these?” She grinned and moved her shoulders suggestively then slipped the treasure into the bodice of her dress. “Safe.”

  He gathered her close, crushing her treasures between their bodies. “I wanted to show you that you’re a separate entity from River Run, that you’re Emma O’Malley…period. And that this is only a job.”

  Something about the way he said that sunk a hook of doubt into her heart. What exactly did he mean?

  Before she could question him, the decking shook and a deep rumble reverberated from the bottom of River Run. A loud explosion filled the air, followed by a blast of searing heat. She felt herself sliding, away from Stone and into a fiery blaze.

  Chapter Twelve

  Stone watched in horror as Emma’s dress caught on the collapsing deck, pulling her away and down into the burning hell below. Gripping the edge of the house, he leaned forward, reaching for her outstretched hand. His feet balancing precariously on the skirting board that wrapped the edge of the house he stretched as far as possible, grabbing her wrist before the planks beneath her feet shattered to the earth in a loud clap of thunder.

  Eyes wide with fear, she grasped his hand and held tight. He heard Lazarus yelling from the open French doors. Sweat poured from his face and he yanked with all his might, swinging Emma to the right where Rex grabbed at the folds of her tattered dress, reeling her in.

  “Take Rex’s hand.” He yelled over the din of screaming guests and burning house. Emma nodded, twisted her body toward the French doors and released her grip on his hand. Rex gathered her close and pulled her into the house. Stone gripped the edge of the window frame and inched his way toward the door. Once inside, he wrapped an arm around a disheveled and frightened Emma.

  He’d almost lost her.

  His heart thudded against his chest, and for the first time he could remember, his hands trembled uncontrollably. Pulling her tight against his chest, Stone kissed the top of her head.

  The center of the house sounded like bedlam. With a shaky sigh, he maneuvered them between the confused crowd. With shouted commands, he quickly began orchestrating everyone’s exit from the resort.

  “I’ll take her,” Seth said, appearing at his side.

  Reluctantly, he relinquished his hold and allowed his cousin to escort the only person that mattered to him outside. The resort remained in an uproar.

  He pushed everyone out through the front door, trying to take some sort of head count. Smoke quickly filled the main level, pluming in gray clouds of sinister waves from the basement.

  Sirens could be heard in the distance, and Stone silently thanked whoever used their sense and called 911. The floor shook beneath his feet and after one last glance around, he hurried from the burning building.

  Emma sat huddled against a tree. Seth soothed her but it appeared she wouldn’t listen and continued curling tighter into a ball.

  Stone strode over, yanked her to her feet and stared into her eyes. Fear swam in the emerald depths, and he shook her gently.

  “Snap out of it, Emma. We’ve a flock of guests who’re cold and scared.” He couldn’t take her desperation, it tore at his soul like nothing he’d ever experienced.

  “I ca…ca…ca…can’t.”

  “You’re stronger than this, better than this.”

  “You do…do…do…don’t understand,” she said, her voice thin and pathetic.

  “Then explain it to me, baby.”

  She clutched at his shoulders and pulled him close to her. The fierceness behind her fear burned his face with its intensity. “You could’ve died.”

  “I…?”

  “It was Adams, I know it. And I could’ve killed you.”

  “Hush, sweetheart. You’re not making any sense. I was safe, remember? You were the one about to plummet ten feet onto hard concrete.” She shook her head, and he pulled her tight to his chest. He didn’t have time for this. The fire trucks were pulling up the drive, and he needed to investigate the source of the explosion.

  “Can’t think. Go help the others,” she said.

  “I’d rather stay here, but I have to go.”

  “I know.” Her hand snaked up to caress his cheek. He bent and placed a tender kiss on her forehead. She stood on her tiptoes, twined her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear. “I love you.”

  He swallowed his throat thick with emotion. With a nod, Stone left her warm embrace and headed into the disorganized fray of human fear and burning house.

  ***

  Emma battled back her tears. She watched as Stone moved with panther like grace through the crowd of people, comforting, directing and solving their problems.

  Only one fire truck had arrived, and the men were busy around the back of the house fighting the fire. In such a remote area of town, it would take time for all the engines to arrive. Until then, she watched Stone organize.

  It wasn’t long before he’d spread open the barn doors and directed everyone into its interior. She couldn’t move.

  A high pitched squeal hit the already noisy evening and to her horror Stone raced from the milling crowd and through the front door of the burning house, his head bent against the angry smoke pouring from inside. She ran after him, screaming his name.

  “Stone,” Emma clutched the edge of the front door, choking on the heavy air. “Stone!”

  She listened and above the crackling flames that licked up from the basement a muffled grunt and loud curse reached her ears. She ran toward them and smacked hard into a body of unmoving rock.

  An arm reached out and wrapped around her neck, strangling the air from her throat. She kicked and pulled forward in an attempt to knock the stranger off balance. Gasping, her lungs burning from the smoke, she hoarsely shouted for Stone.

  “No one to save you now, ducky.” A voice thick with Irish brogue hissed against her ear.

  “Stone.” She closed her eyes and struggled fiercely. Her vision dimmed, and she fought against the pin pricks of light that preceded oblivion. A loud grunt and sudden release of pressure on her neck forced her forward, staggering toward the front door.

  Emma’s head connected painfully with the brass door knob. A brutal shove pushed her down, to her knees. She felt a body pass by her. Her eyes stung from the smoke, watering in rivers of frustration. She couldn’t see the perpetrator, but she could feel hands…loving hands, wrap around her and pull her outside where t
he cool temperatures eased her burning face.

  “Stone.” She inhaled and exhaled, attempting to figure everything out. “What happened?”

  “I went inside for Porkie, heard you scream and came running.” Her eyes focused and she looked into his concerned face.

  “A man attacked me.”

  “I know. The police are chasing him. He won’t get far.”

  “Pocahontas?”

  “Right here.” Stone moved to the side so she could see the pig nervously stomping around. Reaching out, she tickled the snotty snout and sighed when Pocahontas nuzzled her hand.

  Emma took a moment to think about the past thirty minutes and the fear and panic returned, knotting into a ball that lodged beneath her heart. She’d done this. She’d endangered Stone. His life could’ve been lost today because of her.

  She sniffed and stood up, ignoring Stone’s protests. Biting her lip, Emma turned and gazed at the man who encompassed her world, held her heart, owned her soul. “You have to go,” she said. Pain struck in ravaging splinters of broken dreams and dead happily-ever-afters. This man, this gorgeous beautiful soul, couldn’t be here. She’d not damage him anymore. He’d faced a lifetime of hurt and pain and deserved a future full of happiness and love.

  “What’re you talking about?”

  “Now, Stone, right now. You have to go.” Emma gripped his arms and stared into his face, burning every wonderful inch into her memory.

  “I’m not going anywhere.”

  “Yes you are. You can’t stay here. It’s too dangerous.” She dropped her head and leaned against his chest, whispering softly. “I’m too dangerous.”

  Stone gently tipped her chin up and forced her to meet his gaze. “Yes,” he said with a grin. “You are dangerous.” He bent and placed a tender kiss on her lips. “But I can’t leave, it’s against the rules.” Her smile froze and the warmth his kiss ignited chilled suddenly as her mind absorbed his words.

  “River Run?”

  “Yes. But you can leave,” he said, lifting his hand and signaling for Seth. “I want you to go back to Seth’s ranch.”