Dangerous Embrace

by Nora Roberts

  The anger drained from him degree by degree. It would have been so like Jerry, Jonas thought. An adventure, the excitement, the impulsiveness. “Go on.”

  “Orders came down to put the pressure on Liz.” Scott gave a half laugh that had nothing to do with humor. “Orders from both sides. It wasn’t until after your trip to Acapulco that we were sure you weren’t involved in the smuggling. You stopped being a suspect and became the decoy.”

  “I came to the police.” She looked at Moralas. “I came to you. You didn’t tell me.”

  “I wasn’t aware of Agent Scott’s identity until yesterday. I knew only that we had a man on the inside and that it was necessary to use you.”

  “You were protected,” Scott put in. “There wasn’t a day you weren’t guarded by Moralas’s men and by mine. Your being here complicated things,” he said to Jonas. “You were pushing too close to the bone. I guess you and Jerry had more in common than looks.”

  Jonas felt the weight on the chain around his neck. “Maybe we did.”

  “Well, we’d come to the point where we had to settle for Manchez and a few others or go for broke. We went for broke.”

  “The drop we made. It was a setup.”

  “Manchez had orders to do whatever he had to to get back the money Jerry had taken. They didn’t know about the safe-deposit box.” He blew out a stream of smoke. “I had to play it pretty fast and loose to keep that under wraps. But then we didn’t know about it either, until you led us to it. As far as Ambuckle was concerned, you had the money, and he was going to get it back. He wanted it to look as though you’d been running the smuggling operation together. When you were found dead, the heat would be off of him. He planned to lie low a while, then pick up business elsewhere. I had that from Manchez. You were set up,” he agreed. “So was he. I got to Merriworth, made enough noise about how Manchez was about to double-cross to set him off. When Manchez was snorkeling to your boat, I was on the phone with the man I knew as Clancy. I got a promotion, and Clancy came back to deal with you himself.”

  Liz tried to see it as he did, as a chess game, as any game with pawns. She couldn’t. “You knew who he was yesterday morning and you still had me get on that boat.”

  “There were a dozen sharpshooters in position. I had a gun, Ambuckle didn’t. We wanted him to order Liz’s murder, and we wanted him to tell her as much as possible. When this goes to court, we want it tidy. We want him put away for a long time. You’re a lawyer, Sharpe. You know how these things can go. We can make a clean collar, have a stack of evidence and lose. I’ve watched too many of these bastards walk.” He blew out smoke between set teeth. “This one’s not walking anywhere but into federal prison.”

  “There is still the question of whether these men will be tried in your country or mine.” Moralas spoke softly, and didn’t move when Scott whirled on him.

  “Look, Moralas—”

  “This will be discussed later. You have my thanks and my apologies,” he said to Jonas and Liz. “I regret we saw no other way.”

  “So do I,” Liz murmured, then turned to Scott. “Was it worth it?”

  “Ambuckle brought thousands of pounds of cocaine into the States. He’s responsible for more than fifteen murders in the U.S. and Mexico. Yeah, it was worth it.”

  She nodded. “I hope you understand that I never want to see you again.” After closing her hand around Jonas’s she managed a smile. “You were a lousy student.”

  “Sorry we never had that drink.” He looked back at Jonas. “Sorry about a lot of things.”

  “I appreciate what you told me about my brother. It makes a difference.”

  “I’m recommending him for a citation. They’ll send it to your parents.”

  “It’ll mean a great deal to them.” He offered his hand and meant it. “You were doing your job—I understand that. We all do what we have to do.”

  “That doesn’t mean I don’t regret it.”

  Jonas nodded. Something inside him was free, completely free. “As to putting Liz through hell for the past few weeks…” Very calmly, Jonas curled his hand into a fist and planted it solidly on Scott’s jaw. The thin man snapped a chair in half as he crashed into it on his way to the floor.

  “Jonas!” Stunned, Liz could do no more than stare. Then, incredibly, she felt the urge to giggle. With one hand over her mouth, she leaned into Jonas and let the laughter come. Moralas remained contentedly at his desk, sipping coffee.

  Scott rubbed his jaw gingerly. “We all do what we have to do,” he murmured.

  Jonas only turned his back. “Goodbye, Captain.”

  Moralas stayed where he was. “Goodbye, Mr. Sharpe.” He rose and, in a rare show of feeling, took Liz’s hand and kissed it. “Vaya con dios.”

  He waited until the door had shut behind them before he looked down at Scott again. “Your government will, of course, pay for the chair.”

  * * *

  He was gone. She’d sent him away. After nearly two weeks, Liz awoke every morning with the same thoughts. Jonas was gone. It was for the best. After nearly two weeks she awoke every morning struggling to convince herself. If she’d followed her heart, she would have said yes the moment he’d asked her to marry him. She would have left everything she’d built behind and gone with him. And ruined his life, perhaps her own.

  He was already back in his own world, poring through law books, facing juries, going to elegant dinner parties. By now, she was sure his time in Cozumel was becoming vague. After all, he hadn’t written. He hadn’t called. He’d left the day after Ambuckle had been taken into custody without another word about love. He’d conquered his ghosts when he’d faced Manchez and had walked away whole.

  He was gone, and she was once more standing on her own. As she was meant to, Liz thought. She’d have no regrets. That she’d promised herself. What she’d given to Jonas had been given without conditions or expectations. What he’d given to her she’d never lose.

  The sun was high and bright, she thought. The air was as mellow as quiet music. Her lover was gone, but she, too, was whole. A month of memories could be stretched to last a lifetime. And Faith was coming home.

  Liz pulled her bike into a parking space and listened to the thunder of a plane taking off. Even now Faith and her parents were crossing the Gulf. Liz left her bike and walked toward the terminal. It was ridiculous to feel nervous, she told herself, but she couldn’t prevent it. It was ridiculous to arrive at the airport nearly an hour early, but she’d have gone mad at home. She skirted around a bed of marigolds and geraniums. She’d buy flowers, she decided. Her mother loved flowers.

  Inside the terminal, the air was cool and full of noise. Tourists came and went but rarely passed the shops without a last-minute purchase. Liz started in the first store and worked her way down, buying consistently and strictly on impulse. By the time she arrived at the gate, she carried two shopping bags and an armful of dyed carnations.

  Any minute, she thought. She’d be here any minute. Liz shifted both bags to one hand and nervously brushed at her hair. Passengers waited for their flights by napping in the black plastic chairs or reading guidebooks. She watched a woman check her lipstick in a compact mirror and wondered if she had time to run into the ladies room to examine her own face. Gnawing on her lip, she decided she couldn’t leave, even for a moment. Neither could she sit, so she paced back and forth in front of the wide windows and watched the planes come and go. It was late. Planes were always late when you were waiting for them. The sky was clear and blue. She knew it was equally clear in Houston because she’d been checking the weather for days. But the plane was late. Impatient, she walked back to security to ask about the status. She should have known better.

  Liz got a shrug and the Mexican equivalent of It’ll be here when it comes. In another ten minutes, she was ready to scream. Then she saw it. She didn’t have to hear the flight announcement to know. With her heart thudding dully, she waited by the door.

  Faith wore blue striped pants an
d a white blouse. Her hair’s grown, Liz thought as she watched her daughter come down the steps. She’s grown—though she knew it would never do to tell Faith so. She’d just wrinkle her nose and roll her eyes. Her palms were wet. Don’t cry, don’t cry, Liz ordered herself. But the tears were already welling. Then Faith looked up and saw her. With a grin and a wave she was racing forward. Liz dropped her bags and reached out for her daughter.

  “Mom, I got to sit by the window, but I couldn’t see our house.” As she babbled, Faith held her mother’s neck in a stranglehold. “I brought you a present.”

  With her face buried against Faith’s throat, Liz drew in the scents—powder, soap and chocolate from the streak on the front of the white blouse. “Let me look at you.” Drawing her back, Liz soaked up the sight of her. She’s beautiful, Liz realized with a jolt. Not just cute or sweet or pretty any longer. Her daughter was beautiful.

  I can’t let her go again. It hit her like a wall. I’ll never be able to let her go again. “You’ve lost a tooth,” Liz managed as she brushed back her daughter’s hair.

  “Two.” Faith grinned to show the twin spaces. “Grandma said I could put them under my pillow, but I brought them with me so I can put them under my real pillow. Will I get pesos?”

  “Yes.” Liz kissed one cheek, then the other. “Welcome home.”

  With her hand firmly in Faith’s, Liz rose to greet her parents. For a moment she just looked at them, trying to see them as a stranger would. Her father was tall and still slim, though his hairline was creeping back. He was grinning at her the way he had whenever she’d done something particularly pleasing to him. Her mother stood beside him, lovely in her tidy way. She looked now, as she’d always looked to Liz, like a woman who’d never had to handle a crisis more stressful than a burned roast. Yet she’d been as solid and as sturdy as a rock. There were tears in her eyes. Liz wondered abruptly if the beginning of the summer left her mother as empty as the end of the summer left her.

  “Momma.” Liz reached out and was surrounded. “Oh, I’ve missed you. I’ve missed you all so much.” I want to go home. The thought surged up inside her and nearly poured out. She needed to go home.

  “Mom.” Faith tugged on the pocket of her jeans. “Mom.”

  Giddy, Liz turned and scooped her up. “Yes.” She covered her face with kisses until Faith giggled. “Yes, yes, yes!”

  Faith snuggled in. “You have to say hello to Jonas.”

  “What?”

  “He came with us. You have to say hi.”

  “I don’t—” Then she saw him, leaning against the window, watching—waiting patiently. The blood rushed out of her head to her heart until she was certain something would burst. Holding onto Faith, Liz stood where she was. Jonas walked to her, took her face in both hands and kissed her hard.

  “Nice to see you,” he murmured, then bent down to pick up the bags Liz had dropped. “I imagine these are for you,” he said as he handed Liz’s mother the flowers.

  “Yes.” Liz tried to gather the thoughts stumbling through her mind. “I forgot.”

  “They’re lovely.” She sent her daughter a smile. “Jonas is going to drive us to the hotel. I invited him to dinner tonight. I hope you don’t mind. You always make enough.”

  “No, I… Of course.”

  “We’ll see you then.” She gave Liz another brief kiss. “I know you want to get Faith home and have some time together. We’ll see you tonight.”

  “But I—”

  “Our bags are here. We’re going to deal with customs.”

  Before Liz could say another word, she was alone with her daughter.

  “Can we stop by and see Señor Pessado?”

  “Yes,” Liz said absently.

  “Can I have some candy?”

  Liz glanced down to the chocolate stain on Faith’s blouse. “You’ve already had some.”

  Faith just smiled. She knew she could depend on Señor Pessado. “Let’s go home now.”

  * * *

  Liz waited until Faith was unpacked, until the crystal bird Faith had bought her was hanging in the window and her daughter had consumed two tacos and a pint of milk.

  “Faith…” She wanted her voice to be casual. “When did you meet Mr. Sharpe?”

  “Jonas? He came to Grandma’s house.” Faith turned the doll Liz had brought her this way and that for inspection.

  “To Grandma’s? When?”

  “I don’t know.” She decided to call the doll Cassandra because it was pretty and had long hair. “Can I have my ice cream now?”

  “Oh—yes.” Liz walked over to get it out of the freezer. “Faith, do you know why he went to Grandma’s?”

  “He wanted to talk to her, I guess. To Grandpa, too. He stayed for dinner. I knew Grandma liked him because she made cherry pies. I liked him, too. He can play the piano really good.” Faith eyed the ice cream and was satisfied when her mother added another scoop. “He took me to the zoo.”

  “What?” The bowl nearly slipped out of Liz’s hand as she set it down. “Jonas took you to the zoo?”

  “Last Saturday. We fed popcorn to the monkeys, but mostly we ate it.” She giggled as she shoveled in ice cream. “He tells funny stories. I scraped my knee.” Remembering suddenly, Faith pulled up her slacks to show off her wound.

  “Oh, baby.” It was small and already scabbed over, but Liz brushed a kiss over it anyway. “How’d you do this?”

  “At the zoo. I was running. I can run really fast in my new sneakers, but I fell down. I didn’t cry.”

  Liz rolled the slacks down. “I’m sure you didn’t.”

  “Jonas didn’t get mad or anything. He cleaned it all up with his handkerchief. It was pretty messy. I bled a lot.” She smiled at that, pleased with herself. “He said I have pretty eyes just like you.”

  A little thrill of panic raced through her, but she couldn’t stop herself. “Did he? What else did he say?”

  “Oh, we talked about Mexico and about Houston. He wondered which I liked best.”

  Liz rested her hands on her daughter’s knees. This is what matters, she realized. This was all that really mattered. “What did you tell him?”

  “I like it best where you are.” She scraped the bottom of the bowl. “He said he liked it best there, too. Is he going to be your boyfriend?”

  “My—” Liz managed, just barely, to suppress the laugh. “No.”

  “Charlene’s mother has a boyfriend, but he isn’t as tall as Jonas and I don’t think he ever took Charlene to the zoo. Jonas said sometime maybe we could go see the Liberty Bell. Do you think we can?”

  Liz picked up the ice cream dish and began to wash it. “We’ll see,” she muttered.

  “Listen, someone’s coming.” Faith was up like a shot and dashing for the front door. “It’s Jonas!” With a whoop, she was out of the door and running full steam.

  “Faith!” Liz hurried from the kitchen and reached the porch in time to see Faith hurl herself at Jonas. With a laugh, he caught her, tossed her in the air then set her down again in a move so natural that it seemed he’d been doing so all his life. Liz knotted the dishcloth in her hands.

  “You came early.” Pleased, Faith hung on to his hand. “We were talking about you.”

  “Were you?” He tousled Faith’s hair but looked up at Liz. “That’s funny, because I was thinking about you.”

  “We’re going to make paella because that’s what Grandpa likes best. You can help.”

  “Faith—”

  “Love to,” Jonas interrupted. “After I talk to your mother.” At the foot of the stairs he crouched down to Faith’s level. “I’d really like to talk to your mom alone.”

  Faith’s mouth screwed up. “Why?”

  “I have to convince her to marry me.”

  He ignored Liz’s gasp and watched for Faith’s reaction. Her eyes narrowed and her mouth pursed. “She said you weren’t her boyfriend. I asked.”

  He grinned and leaned closer. “I just have to talk her into it.�
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  “Grandma says nobody can ever talk my mom into anything. She has a hard head.”

  “So do I, and I make a living talking people into things. But maybe you could put in a few good words for me later.”

  As Faith considered, her eyes brightened. “Okay. Mom, can I see if Roberto’s home? You said he had new puppies.”

  Liz stretched out the cloth then balled it again. “Go ahead, but just for a little while.”

  Jonas straightened as he watched Faith race toward the house across the street. “You’ve done an excellent job with your daughter, Elizabeth.”

  “She’s done a great deal of it herself.”

  He turned and saw the nerves on her face. It didn’t displease him. But he remembered the way she’d looked when she had opened her arms to Faith at the airport. He wanted, he would, see her look that way again. “Do you want to talk inside?” he began as he walked up the steps. “Or right here?”

  “Jonas, I don’t know why you’ve come back, but—”

  “Of course you know why I’ve come back. You’re not stupid.”

  “We don’t have anything to talk about.”

  “Fine.” He closed the distance quickly. She didn’t resist, though she told herself she would. When he dragged her against him, she went without hesitation. Her mouth locked hungrily to his, and for a moment, just for a moment, the world was right again. “If you don’t want to talk, we’ll go inside and make love until you see things a little more clearly.”

  “I see things clearly.” Liz put her hands on his arms and started to draw away.

  “I love you.”