by Diana Duncan
Panic shrieked through her. Had he spotted Aidan? Her covert glance darted around the area. No, Aidan hadn’t had nearly enough time to climb down. Relief made her weak when she needed strength, even as panic surged back. But what if he’d gotten low enough to be seen?
Zoe squared her chin. She couldn’t help Aidan if she freaked.
She could at least create a distraction to keep G-Rat from looking around. “You would’ve been disappointed if I hadn’t at least tried to escape.”
Her captor yanked her against him. His hand released her wrists to slither beneath the tuxedo jacket, grabbing her breast and squeezing hard. “Makes me want to keep you real close, babe.”
Bile surged into her throat. Apparently, it was okay to feel up the merchandise. She stomped his instep and when he yelped and let go, jerked away from him. “Get your hands off me while you still have enough fingers to count to ten.”
Lurching backward, she once more found herself standing in front of the ancient pine.
As G-Rat snorted another disgusting laugh, she clamped her knees together to hide their shaking. His amusement scared her more than rage would have. Psychos like him laughed while they tortured people to death.
“I totally get why the boss is eager to meet you,” he informed her. “He’s a big fan of your work.”
Verbal acuity was her biggest asset. Her only weapon. Keep talking, divert his interest. “Always great to have fans.” Her pulse thundered in her ears as she sidled away from the trunk, circled around. Would he guess her plan?
He turned, following her movements, which put his back toward the tree. Exactly where she wanted him. Watching her, not Aidan’s hiding place. She licked dry, trembling lips and tried to slow her breathing as she gathered her reserves for another escape attempt. “Have his people call my people. We’ll do lunch.”
G-Rat nodded. “Yeah, he’s gonna love you. And I’ll get the reward for hauling you in.” His square face split in a smile that made the back of her neck crawl. “Maybe he’ll even let me have you. If there’s anything left when he’s done. I’m okay with seconds.”
She’d throw herself off the cliff first.
“You have a date to keep.” He lunged at her. “Let’s go.”
She dodged beneath his arm and ran toward the woods.
And jolted to a halt when he grabbed the jacket tail. He swung her around to face him. His gun hand flew up and backhanded her across the face. Stars exploded in her vision, and the sharp, hot sting brought a rush of involuntary tears. The metallic taste of blood leached into her mouth.
“No more games, babe.”
An ear-splitting crash rang out from above, followed by a savage, hair-raising snarl. Her avenging angel hurtled out of the tree and dropped onto her captor.
G-Rat grunted and the two men went down in a tangle of vicious curses. Rolling, swearing, fighting. Fists pummeled flesh. Bones crunched. Blood spattered.
She stumbled back to make room. The last thing a martial arts expert needed was for her to get in his way. She tripped, fell hard. Still watching the men, she felt along her scraped calf ... and discovered the branch she’d flung earlier.
Supported by the branch, she struggled upright. The grappling men surged to their feet. G-Rat’s hands wrapped around Aidan’s throat and Aidan’s face mottled. G-Rat’s arms tensed, his fingers whitening.
Aidan thrust his forearms up between G-Rat’s wrists to break his hold, at the same time he rammed his forehead into the Neanderthal’s brow.
G-Rat reeled backward and Aidan swept his opponent’s feet from under him. Rat went down, groping for his gun. Zoe’s heart bucked as he raised the weapon. BOOM! BOOM!
Aidan leaped aside, smashing his shoulder into a huge limb. Bullets gashed bark beside his arm, and he jolted, staggering drunkenly. Zoe’s pulse roared in her ears. Had he been shot? Before he could recover his balance, G-Rat tackled him to the ground. Rat clambered to his knees. He whipped the pistol up, aiming at Aidan.
“No!” Zoe screamed. Raising the branch, she charged. As G-Rat half-turned toward her, the pistol swung off Aidan. She slammed Rat’s gun arm downward. BOOM! A bullet tore a furrow into the ground, dirt and pine needles spraying. The gun dropped from his hand.
Powered by the momentum, she whirled in a circle and swung with all her strength. The branch thwacked the side of his head, the blow vibrating up her arms. G-Rat dropped faster than the temperature at the top of the bluff.
Panting, she crouched next to him and thumbed up one of his eyelids. TKO. She grabbed the gun, her focus snapping to Aidan.
He knelt in the dirt, weaving, right arm hanging uselessly at his side. His face gleamed stark white in the moonlight, his bleached complexion sheened with perspiration. His breath sawed in ragged gasps.
She scrambled over to him. Dropping the gun, she fell to her knees. Grasped his shoulders. Her frantic gaze searched his bruised, dirty torso for blood. “Were you shot?”
He groaned. His eyes rolled back in his head, he slipped from her grip and crumpled onto the blanket of pine needles.
“Aidan!” Shaking uncontrollably, she leaned down, her ear near his mouth. Listened with every straining cell in her body. Please, oh please.
Yes! He was breathing. Her own breath hurtled out in a relieved rush. Starting at the top of his head, she examined him for wounds. No bullet holes. No blood. Okay. She blinked back a hot rush of tears.
She patted his bristly cheek, cool beneath her trembling palm. “Aidan! Wake up!”
He stirred, moaned.
“Come on, SWAT. I need you.” She patted more briskly. “Open those gorgeous brown eyes.”
Endless agonizing heartbeats dragged past. Finally, his dark lashes fluttered. His eyelids floated up. He frowned at her, his expression bewildered. “Zoe? What ... the hell?”
“Where are you hurt?”
His mouth slanted as those pain-clouded eyes blinked a couple times. “Dislocated shoulder. When I hit the limb.”
That explained why he’d passed out when she’d gripped his shoulders.
“I—” He struggled upright, groaned, then fell back again.
“Whoa.” She tugged off the tux jacket and covered him. “Easy there. Stay down for a few minutes.”
“Where’s ... UNSUB?”
“Perfecting his hockey puck imitation. He’s not going anywhere.”
“Gotta,” he gritted out. “Make sure. Restrain him.”
“Now that I know you’re okay, I’ll take care of it.”
“No! Too dangerous. I’ll ... do it.” He fought his way to a sitting position. Another groan escaped his too-pale lips, and he lost consciousness again.
She knelt beside him to press shaky fingers on his wrist. “Not this time, Tough Guy.” His skin was cooler than she’d like. But a strong pulse throbbed beneath her fingertips and his respiration sounded even.
As long as he didn’t go into shock, he was better off oblivious than suffering. For the moment. They’d have to move soon, in case the gunshots brought the other baddies to them.
“Everything will be fine,” she insisted. “I’ve got your back.” Okay, he couldn’t hear her, but she needed the reassurance.
Nerves fluttering, she crept toward the unconscious bad guy. She checked his vitals. His respiration and pulse were strong. Two for two.
After wrestling him out of his button-down shirt and binding his hands behind him with his belt, she cleaned the bloody lump on the side of his head with a wet wipe. Blood trickled steadily, but it didn’t look serious. She tore off a shirt cuff with help from her teeth and folded it into a pad, using both sleeves to fasten the makeshift bandage.
Blech, now she had to get up-close-and-personal and search his jeans pockets. Pay dirt in pocket one: Aidan’s wallet and confiscated Swiss Army knife, and the Celtic key chain that held his apartment and car keys! Continuing the search, she discovered a plastic lighter and four rolled joints. She took the lighter, left the weed. He didn’t have a phone on him. No ID either
. Quelle surprise.
Puffing and sweating, she wrestled the lug to a smaller tree. Geez, he weighed as much as an SUV. His sneakers had to go. If he escaped, being barefoot would hinder him somewhat. She propped him against the trunk, bound his ankles with his shoestrings and tied his forearms behind the tree with the rest of his shirt.
She thought about taking his shoes for herself, but they were as wide as pontoons and would only slow her down. Her nose wrinkled as she peeled off his sweaty, smelly socks. Ergh. G-Rat had obviously never heard of Odor-Eaters. She needed a gag, but talk about cruel and unusual punishment. She shrugged. Well, she didn’t have anything else. And the asswipe had tried to shoot Aidan. She crammed balled socks into his mouth, then hurried to the cliff’s edge and tossed over his shoes.
She ran back to Aidan. He’d come around while she was tying up G-Rat, but hadn’t tried to sit up. He was learning. “The UNSUB?”
“I tied him up with his belt and shoelaces.”
Pain pinched his colorless face and equally white lips. “Why didn’t you use the cuffs in my pocket?”
“Cuffs? Aw, crap, I forgot about them in all the confusion. Anyway, he’s secure. And gagged with his own uber disgusting socks. Karma, baby.”
He grinned faintly. “Gun?”
“I have it.” She knelt beside him and stuffed the gun in her bag. She smoothed his forehead. “How’re you feeling?”
A fierce scowl wiped out his grin. “You’re bleeding.” He reached up and gently touched the corner of her mouth.
In the midst of what had to be agony, he was thinking of her. “I am?” She swiped at her chin. In the melee, she’d also forgotten about her split lip. The moment she was reminded, she noticed the throbbing. The scrape on her calf also chose that time to clamor for attention. “No biggie.”
Dark anger smoldered in his eyes. “Fucker hit you. I hope he gives me another reason to rip him a new one.”
Though it was the middle of the night, radiance lit her up. For so long, she’d had no one but herself to rely on. Aidan’s staunch loyalty and anger on her behalf buoyed her with happiness ... and hope. “I’m all right. How’re you doing?”
“Fine.” His low declaration sounded anything but. “We have to move. The gunshots could lead the others to us.”
She fished in her bag and found acetaminophen and a water bottle. “These might help a little.”
She expected him to argue, but he let her support his head and silently swallowed a loading dose of three tablets. Her cop was nothing if not practical. He wiped his mouth with the back of his uninjured hand. “I’m useless like this. You have to put my shoulder back in.”
“I ... okay.” She gulped. “How?”
“Plant one foot on my chest, raise my arm and pull. Hard.”
Are you freaking insane? probably wasn’t the response he was looking for. “Is that really a good idea? I don’t have any medical training. What if I hurt you worse?”
“Zoe, I can’t keep passing out every time I try to stand.”
“Right. G-Rat has some weed, if you want extra pain relief before we do this.”
“Pass. My mental acuity’s already in the crapper.” Calm, confident eyes held hers. “C’mon. No time to waste.”
She had no choice. Aidan needed her.
Her insides quivered as she removed her right sandal. She wouldn’t get any leverage wearing one shoe, and took the other off as well. She planted her right foot on his chest and gripped his hand. “Ready?” He nodded. Her nerves shrieked. Maybe he was, but she wasn’t sure she’d ever be. Bracing herself, she pulled.
His tendons strained and joints popped. He hissed through clenched teeth as suffering etched every line of his face. “Harder, honey. Use all your body weight. You can’t hurt me any more than I already am.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” It hurts me as much as you. Cringing, sick to her stomach, she pulled with all her strength against his taut, pain-wracked muscles. More grinding, popping sounds from his joints, and he groaned.
She winced. Please let it have worked. “How’s that?”
“Better, but not completely in. My arm still isn’t functional.” He shook his head. “You’re not strong enough. That’s as good as we’re gonna get.”
“I’m sorry.” Failing him hurt more than causing him physical pain.
“Not your fault. I’ve seen it take two guys in the field. We need to go.” As he tried to shove upright, his face blanched impossibly paler.
“Slowly this time.” She helped him sit up, and the tux jacket crumpled into his lap. “A sling would ease the pain, right?”
“Somewhat. Carry one of those around, too?”
“No, but you do.” She fished the cummerbund and bow tie out of the tux pocket.
“Smart.” Though approval gleamed in his eyes, frustration roughened his voice. “At least one of us is firing on all cylinders.”
She strove to be careful while rigging the sling, but his warm, smooth skin jerked under her cautious ministrations and he bit back a grunt.
She winced. “Sorry. I’m trying not to hurt you.”
“I know. Stop apologizing, sweetheart. Just do what you have to.”
The cummerbund cradled his useless arm, the undone bow tie stretched across the opposite shoulder, and safety pins from her bag fastened the ends. “Perfect. Maybe when we get out of here, I’ll do a story demonstrating the survival applications of formal wear.” If they made it out alive. She shook her head. None of that. Together, they were unstoppable. They would make it.
He groaned again. “Gotta get up.”
She helped him to his feet and draped the jacket over his bare shoulders. She worriedly studied those drawn features. “Sure you should be doing this so soon?”
“Never better.” He wove in place, trying to gain his bearings. “Nice distraction while I was up the tree. You maneuvered Gym Rat under me like a pro. And ten points for the bullseye with the branch.
She scooped up her bag and sandals. She’d have to help him walk and bare feet would give her steadier balance. “I was once told by a pissed-off anchorman that I’m a master of distraction. Or would that be mistress?” She chuckled and picked up the fallen limb. The branch had come in handy. “Since you’re the master.”
A smile eased his set mouth. “Either way, glad you’re on my side.” He slung his good arm across her shoulders. With her supporting him, they wobbled toward the forest.
He stumbled and she caught him, nearly collapsing under his weight. “Goddammit! I can’t protect you when I’m compromised.”
Depending on her was probably aggravating her do-or-die tough-guy more than the pain. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re only human, Aidan. You’ve been through a fall out of a tree, a fight, and in and out of consciousness in the past half hour. I wish we could let you rest and recoup longer, but we need a place to hide.”
“I didn’t fall, I jumped.”
She led him farther into the woods, the ferns damp and cool beneath her sore feet. The forest smelled lush and green, with a musty undercurrent of danger. He stumbled again, and she stopped to let him regroup. Her instincts prickled. The urgent need to flee crawled over her scalp, and she shivered. Her nervous glance assessed their surroundings. They couldn’t go far until he was strong enough. “You jumped? From that far up? You could’ve broken something.”
“Think I’d sit there and watch that bastard hit you?” He cupped her cheek. “Maul you? March you into the woods at gunpoint before I could climb down, and—” He clenched his teeth, and a muscle ticked in his jaw. “Hell yes, I jumped.”
Suddenly, he stiffened. “Wait.”
She nervously glanced around. “What’s wrong?”
He inclined his head. “Before we bug out, you need to cover our tracks and hide Gym Rat from sight. Use boughs that broke off the pine. Try to make it look like natural windfall.”
“All right.” She did not want to leave him and walk back to the clearing alone. Her instincts sc
reamed alarm, alarm! She’d been stalked all her life, and knew the cold, smothering feeling when the enemy got close. She scanned the area, but saw nothing. Heard nothing. “Do you think the grizzly might’ve followed us?”
“Jesus, I hope not.”
“Makes two of us.” She eased Aidan down beside a huge fallen log, then dug in her bag and handed him the gun. “At least we have a weapon now.”
He popped the clip. “Dickhead, blasting up the woods, and he’s only got two rounds left.” Scowling, he slammed the magazine back into place. “You’ll have to search him for an extra clip.”
“He didn’t have one.” She stooped to slip into her shoes and got an unpleasant surprise. “My sandals don’t fit. My feet must’ve swollen after I took them off. They’re not used to three-inch heels.”
“Your poor feet have taken a beating tonight.”
She stroked his cheek. “Not compared to you.”
She started to leave, but he tugged her back. “Clean your face first. The scent of blood attracts predators.”
Super. Was the bear tracking her? Was that why her senses prickled with unease? She swabbed her mouth and chin, then her calf, ignoring the sting. She buried the wipe according to Aidan’s instructions. Barefoot, she hurried to the clearing.
G-Rat had regained consciousness. He glared at her and muttered angry, muffled sounds as she tented him with pine boughs. She didn’t stop to chat.
She finished clearing away signs of the fight before running back to Aidan. “Done.”
With her help, he struggled to his feet. “You’re doing a phenomenal job, Zoe. No whining, no hysterics, clear thinking despite being scared.” He smiled, his teeth white in the gloom. “You’ve got guts, in spades.”
His endorsement delighted her more than a Pulitzer. And she had whined a little, in the trunk and the dark cave under the creek bank. “Um ... thanks. But you haven’t seen my best work yet.”
“Uh-oh.” He grinned. “Now I’m worried.”
“You can depend on me.”
His steadfast gaze held hers in a warm embrace. “And you on me. I won’t let you down.”
Her chest clutched. When her cop gave her that fiercely determined, alpha male look, he melted her bones. Stole her heart. Owned her, body and soul. “A-all r-right. Since that’s settled, let’s go.”
