Looking up at Tessa, Joshua said, “He’s dead.”
She walked forward until she stood next to him. “Sorry, I know you wanted to take him alive, but I wasn’t sure how long Rain could hold him off.”
Joshua looked over at Rain, whose dark skin was pale from exertion. She cradled Jess in her arms and he was already looking much better. “We’ll find out who he was working for in Washington some other way.”
Wanda and the other Psi Agents from Key West filed out and hovered around Trip’s body. Joshua had no idea what had possessed his friend to take such a risk, but he also accepted that if Banta hadn’t been weakened by taking Trip’s aura they might never have defeated him. Trip was not a stupid man. He and Jess knew the risk and they also knew they would likely be killed.
If Tessa hadn’t let her walls down Jess might have died too.
“You took a big risk to save Jess,” Joshua said.
“I was too late for Trip. It happened too fast. Banta had him drained in an instant. I wanted to save them both.”
“Trip’s most prevalent psi power was telekinesis. Banta already possessed that. It was a familiar vibration and must have been easier to absorb.”
She looked over at Trip’s body. “Do you think he gets his aura back now that Banta’s dead?”
Joshua’s chest tightened. “I don’t know, beautiful. I sure hope so.”
Kane limped out from the hallway where they had entered. Blood darkened the right side of his uniform. The bullet must have clipped him just under the Kevlar vest. “The police have arrived.”
As if on cue sirens howled from outside.
Blake moved in from the opposite side of the piazza. “I’ve called for an ambulance.”
Kane dropped into a chair. “That would be nice.”
Joshua and Tessa walked to the bridge that crossed the canal on the far side of the piazza. They made their way over to Kane.
Kneeling down to get a better look at the wound, Joshua confirmed it was a deep gash and would require a few stitches, but other than the loss of blood his bother would be all right. “I hate to say it, but I’m glad it’s the kind of wound a hospital can handle and we’re not flying you back into the desert.”
Kane laughed shortly and then gripped his side in pain. “Me too.”
“I’ll call Lena and tell her we’ll be home tomorrow morning,” Joshua said.
“Thanks.” Kane took his brother’s hand in a tight grip.
Their eyes locked for a moment. No words or telepathy was needed between the brothers.
Blake made his way over to the chair just as the police rushed in. The FBI men held the SWAT team at bay while the EMTs were allowed access to Kane, Jess and the dead.
Taking a few steps away, Joshua said, “Well Agent-in-Charge Blake, what are you going to tell these fine law enforcement agents?”
Blake shrugged. “That a madman and his hired army opened fire on the piazza. I’ll tell them the FBI had been investigating Troth Banta and it was a miracle only one good man died.”
“I suppose that’s the truth in a manner of speaking.”
“I heard a rumor you’re going private sector, Lakeland.”
“Good news travels fast.”
“The government still needs your talents.” It might have been the closest thing to a compliment Joshua had ever received from the FBI agent.
“My abilities will still be available to the United States but on my own terms. Now that I know there are people within the government who would condone what Banta was doing I can’t risk getting orders from nameless, faceless people. And if you want my advice, Blake, you’ll be careful too.”
“Can I assume, Ms. Clark, you will be leaving the agency as well?”
“That’s a fair assumption, Agent Blake.” Tessa never blinked an eye.
He couldn’t help the spark of joy that came from knowing she would come with him. She could get her old job back. She’d probably get a medal for killing Banta, who would no doubt be dubbed a traitor. Still, she chose a path that kept her close to him.
“You know, Blake, you might think about moving into the private sector yourself. It might be time to stop following orders blindly.”
The agent’s eyes opened wide for a moment. “Are you offering me a job, Lakeland?”
Joshua almost laughed. “I guess I am.”
Blake looked at the floor for a minute and shook his head. Then he looked back at Joshua. “I’m no psi.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“I’ll give it some thought.”
Tessa turned toward Joshua. “I thought you didn’t like Blake.”
“I don’t much, but he did save our lives on more than one occasion. I thought he deserved an offer.”
She shrugged. “He’s got some skills and since I’m assuming you’re also going to invite Will, this company of yours will not be strictly psi.”
“Ours, Tessa. It will be ours if you’re interested.”
“Are you getting sentimental, Lakeland?”
“Maybe I am,” he admitted.
“I’m with you, Joshua.” She leaned in and kissed him full on the mouth. His hand automatically went to her waist. “But you already knew that.”
“Even so, it’s nice to hear it.”
Her smile melted something inside him. “I guess we have a lot of planning to do.”
“If we learned anything from this mess with Banta it’s being able to read minds can be a hindrance in certain situations. I don’t know about you but I felt as if someone had lopped off my right arm when I couldn’t use my psi abilities. It might be a good idea to hone some of our other skills for the future.”
“More hand-to-hand combat in the dojo?” Her eyes were bright with passion and mischief.
“I’m being serious.” His tone and stiffening cock belied his words. In fact he was actually enjoying the direction of their conversation.
She pulled herself closer so her pelvis ground tight against him. “So am I.”
“I feel as if I’ve created a monster. Didn’t you tell me you never hook up?”
“I think I said rarely and besides you didn’t create me, you may have just woken me up.”
Kane cleared his throat. “If you two can tear yourselves apart they’re carting me off the some hospital now.”
Joshua laughed. “We’re right behind you.”
Most women would have blushed, but Tessa just grinned and they followed the gurney out to the ambulance.
* * * * *
Tessa and Joshua didn’t go directly from the hospital to Kane’s home in Pennsylvania. Will flew Kane home in the jet and then stayed behind at the reservation. With Blake’s help they were able to take Trip’s body back to Adianca.
Wanda and Jess remained behind as well. Tessa was surprised it was Rain who conducted a ceremony to ensure Trip’s soul made its way to the afterlife. She’d only known him a short while, but she thought he would enjoy all the effort going into his burial on sacred ground.
Joshua and Tessa were forbidden from staying in the fire circle during the ceremony. Adianca said it would be too painful for them to go beyond the veil of life so soon after their experience.
Neither one made any argument. Hand in hand they walked into the dark desert away from the ceremonial fire and the log cabin.
“Trip was one of my closest friends. He’d certainly known me the longest. I should feel guilty walking away from his ceremony, but I can’t say I disagree with the shaman.”
“If we will be a distraction then we’re better off staying away.” She shuddered. “I don’t ever want to go back to the spirit world while I’m alive.”
He pulled her into a warm embrace. “It’s not usually as terrifying as what you experienced. Though it is always traumatic. I only go on a vision quest when the human world becomes unbearable.”
She touched his cheek. “Does this happen often?”
“Not as often as it used to. Adianca taught me to block much of the intensity of ot
her people’s emotions. She also taught me to control my own.”
“Sometimes it’s good to lose control, Joshua.” Her heart was racing.
“I lost control when you were dying. Now Will has to replace half the lights on his airfield.”
She rested her cheek against his throat, and his arms tightened around her. “Perhaps a bit of control is not such a bad thing.”
His lips pressed against the top of her head. “Look.”
She turned her head toward the distant fire and saw the flames flickering higher. They could barely hear the chanting, low and steady as if it were the heartbeat of the desert.
They continued watching as the flames towered even higher and then subsided to a low flicker. The voices stopped as well.
“It’s over,” he said.
Tessa took a deep breath and looked up at the sharp planes of his face illuminated only by the moon and stars. Her body fit against his perfectly, curves and planes linked as if they were puzzle pieces.
Closing her eyes, she let his lips find hers, first sucking gently on the lower and then the upper until she opened her mouth and gave him full access. One of his hands curved into the small of her back and the other gripped the nape of her neck. He deepened the kiss on a moan that came from deep in her chest.
He broke the kiss, leaving them both gasping for breath and longing for more. “I don’t know how you can forgive me for letting him tear you apart. Do you think I can make up for my mistakes?”
“I never blamed you. The only person you need to find forgiveness from, Joshua, is yourself. Some people will say saving me in New Jersey was your first mistake. You could have walked away and gone back to your unblemished career.”
His gaze drifted off into the darkness. A coyote howled somewhere in the distance. “Best mistake I ever made.”
About A.S. Fenichel
A.S. Fenichel adores writing stories filled with love, passion, desire, magic and maybe a little mayhem tossed in for good measure. Books have always been her perfect escape and she still relishes diving into one and staying up all night to finish a good story. Originally from New York, she grew up in New Jersey. She now lives in the southwest with her real life hero, her wonderful husband. When she is not reading or writing she enjoys cooking, travel, history and puttering in her garden.
A.S. welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by A.S. Fenichel
Alaskan Exposure
Christmas Bliss
Kane’s Bounty
Mayan Destiny 1: Mayan Afterglow
Mayan Destiny 2: Mayan Craving
Mayan Destiny 3: Mayan Inferno
Revving Up the Holidays
Wishing Game
Print books by A.S. Fenichel
Mayan Destiny 1 & 2: Mayan Saviors
Mayan Destiny 3: Mayan Inferno
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
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Joshua’s Mistake
ISBN 9781419991042
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Joshua’s Mistake Copyright © 2014 A.S. Fenichel
Edited by Whitney Mae
Cover design by Kelly Martin
Cover photography by Zurijeta/Shutterstock, Roman Tsubin/Shutterstock, Yuliya Yafimik/Shutterstock, Galyna Andrushko/Shutterstock, Bas Rabeling/Shutterstock
Electronic book publication March 2014
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