“Shhh,” he whispered. “If that’s what they’re after I have some money saved and…” He trailed off, not liking what he needed to say next. He’d never asked Wally for anything but to be good to his mother and he didn’t want to rely on him now, but he knew that if he needed it Wally would give it without question. It just wasn’t in Jack’s nature to ask for things.
“I can cover whatever demands they make, just leave it up to me, okay?”
“You’d do that for me?” She kept her voice a bare whisper. The guards behind them issued a warning.
Jack grinned. “In a heartbeat.”
Tears slid down her cheeks, yet she smiled.
“Do you always cry when you smile?” he teased.
She laughed quietly and he felt an odd pressure build inside his chest.
“I want to kiss you, Jack Taggart.” Her smile faded. Something passed between them and he knew his life would never be the same again. This stunning Celtic singer changed everything.
“How about over Braciole and the best cannoli you’ve ever tasted?”
“Are you asking me out on a date?”
He grinned. “As soon as I get us out of this I’m taking you to Demarco’s, the best Italian restaurant in the world, and treating you to the finest dinner you’ve had in your life. And I promise, I will get us out of here.”
****
Darci believed him. “It’s a date,” she whispered as the door opened and she caught a whiff of heavy cologne. Cologne that nauseated her and made her want to run far, far away. She knew exactly who had walked in.
“Jack?”
“Yeah?”
“I’m scared.”
His eyes softened to a caress as they held hers. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Stay strong, you’re doing great.”
“How do you do it? How do you shut it off?”
Something flickered across his face she couldn’t read. “It’s a survival mechanism. You have it too. You just have to learn how to use it.”
Darci wondered how a person would go about doing that but she didn’t get the chance to ask. “He’s here,” she whispered. “Heath.”
“Stay calm, he’s not the one in control. He won’t do anything without his sister’s approval.”
“Sister?”
“The blond woman.”
Darci felt the color drain from her face. “She’s going to come for us next.”
“Yes, but we won’t go down without a fight, will we?”
We. She liked the sound of that. It made her feel less alone. Right now she needed that, because she felt very cut off from the rest of the world. She missed her family more than ever and wished she had gotten home to see them more often. Now it may be too late.
But Jack was right. She wouldn’t give up. She’d do whatever it took to get home to her family. And when she did, she’d make some changes. The first being to spend a week with her parents, the next a week with each sister.
“Enough chit chat.” A voice from behind her caused her to flinch. She didn’t even like being close to this guy.
Two hands landed on her shoulders and began massaging the knots there. Darci tried to pull away but her restraints kept her in place.
“You’re all knotted up.” Heath’s fingers slid lower over her shoulder until they grazed the top of her breasts. Darci gritted her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut as the guards snickered behind them, obviously enjoying the show. “I can help you with that.”
Not in this lifetime, pal. No way she’d let him get his hands on the rest of her.
Heath leaned closer until his lips brushed her ear. “I can get rid of this tension for you if you give us what we want.”
Darci didn’t actually see, but sensed that Jack had grown very still and slipped into lethal mode again. She didn’t understand it, didn’t know how to describe it, but she knew Heath had sent him there. She didn’t want Jack getting hurt because of her again. Glancing at Jack, she stifled a gasp when she saw the way he stared at Heath. His jaw clenched so tight she could see a muscle twitching.
She willed Jack to look at her, but his eyes remained focused on Heath, and she knew if he hadn’t been tied to that chair he’d be leaping up in her defense. Clearly, he didn’t like Heath touching her.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“Besides you, your necklace. You already know that.”
****
Jack wanted to punch the guy in the face. He didn’t like seeing his hands on Darci. He hated seeing her flinch and wanted to grip Heath by his scrawny neck until he let go, but he was tied to this damn chair, which really ticked him off.
It would be over Jack’s dead body that this guy would get Darci. This bastard would have to get his jollies from someone else.
Time to tip the scale in his favor. He had two lives to save.
“Hey, Blondie, are you sure your sister doesn’t want her for herself?” Jack’s eyes dropped to the necklace hanging around Darci’s neck. Intricate, but it didn’t look worth dying over. All this over a necklace that looked older than all of them combined? But if they were after it then he’d do everything in his power to keep it safe.
Heath’s head lifted, his smile gone. His pale eyes flashed with anger. “What did you say?”
Jack scoffed. “You know as well as I do that your sister runs the show. You can’t have her.” He nudged his head toward Darci as if she were nothing more than a slab of meat. “Unless your sister gives you permission. Come on, we both know the score.”
His jibe had the desired effect, but backfired when Heath’s fingers dug into Darci’s shoulders and she winced, casting an uncertain glance at Jack. He didn’t look at her, though he wanted to, but he had to do this.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Heath snapped.
“You know I do. I see what’s going on here. She’s the leader of this operation and you’re her lapdog. It’s clear to see. She says jump, you say how high.”
Jack prepared for the blow that didn’t come. Instead, Heath turned to one of the guards and ordered him to cut the ropes securing him. Even better.
As the guard moved to Jack’s side to do his bidding, Heath said, “I’ll show you who’s in charge around here.”
Oh, yeah, eating right out of his hand. Jack couldn’t have planned this better if he tried. Cut those ropes, buddy, you’ll be the first to go down.
“Watch him,” Heath cautioned as the ropes fell off his ankles. The guard cast him a wary glance as he straightened and started on the ropes around his wrists. Jack sent him a careless grin and prepared to strike.
He waited until the ropes were cut before leaping into action, threw an arm around the guard’s neck and confiscated his weapon. Using the guard as a shield, he rose to his feet, a reckless grin on his face as he faced the other two.
“Well, well, looks like we’ve got ourselves a little situation here, don’t we?” he drawled. “If shots are fired it’ll bring Eva in here and your little lesson will be over before it even started, won’t it Blondie? Tell your dog to toss his weapons over here.”
Indecision warred in Heath’s eyes and Jack almost felt sorry for the poor sap. Then he remembered how he’d touched Darci and the feeling passed. A second later, Heath ordered the guard to do it and an AK-47, a blade and a pistol were tossed at his feet. Jack flexed his fingers around the AK-47 and almost groaned at how good it felt.
“Cut her loose, Blondie, and no funny stuff or I put a bullet in your brain.”
“How do I know you even know how to use that?” Heath nodded toward the weapon.
“Shall we find out? I’d be more than happy to demonstrate.”
He was smart, Jack would give him that. Instead of risking his sister’s wrath, he bent down, picked up the knife and cut Darci’s bonds.
Jack waited until she stood safely behind him. “You two, stand against the wall.”
Heath and the guard moved reluctantly to the wall while Darci pressed against Jack’s back. He
could feel her trembling.
“Pick up those weapons, sweetheart,” he instructed, hating to ask, but left without a choice.
She did as he asked, uncertainty in her eyes. She held the weapons as if they were poisonous snakes, but didn’t let go and stepped behind him again.
In one swift move Jack knocked the guard out and slid him down to the floor without taking his attention off the other two. He took the knife from Darci.
“Tell your sister it’s been fun but we had to go.” He grabbed Darci’s hand and hustled her out the door.
Of course it couldn’t be that easy. Jack managed to get to the first guard before he could get a shot off, but not the other. He knocked the weapon out of guard number one’s hand and slammed the butt of his AK-47 into his face before the other knew what was happening. They hadn’t been expecting the prisoners to walk through the door.
Darci picked up the slack. She raised her weapon and brought it down on the guy’s head with a loud crack that brought him to his knees, providing Jack with the time he needed to finish the first one off and move to number two.
He didn’t have time to shelter her from the two that came bounding through the door in pursuit. Heath hit Darci head-on and tackled her down to the ground, wrestling with her for the weapon while Jack defended himself.
To her credit, she didn’t give it up easily and fought like a mad woman to get free. Jack tried to keep an eye on her and take care of the guard at the same time, and received a painful blow to the chest for his efforts. He retaliated with an upper cut to the chin and heard Darci scream behind him. By the time he freed himself and turned, Heath had slung her over his shoulder and carried her away with Darci fighting the entire way.
****
Oh, Sweet Mary, someone pounded nails into her forehead and they were really good at it. Her head hurt worse than any hangover.
She was lying on a comfortable bed that much she knew.
She remembered being tackled and slung over Heath’s shoulder. A needle injected into her arm seconds later and everything going black. Whatever Heath shot into her had given her a splitting headache and made her limbs feel like wet noodles.
Jack. Oh, God, where was Jack? Darci’s eyes flew open and she looked around for him, but found the room empty. Fear shot through her when she saw she laid spread eagle on a full size bed with her hands and feet tied by ropes to the bedposts. Her dress had ridden up on her thighs, making her feel very exposed. She knew darn well who’d done it.
He probably liked it, seeing her tied up and helpless. She tugged on the bonds to no avail. They held tight, just as she knew they would, but she had to try anyway. Jack, where are you?
An image of him hanging from the ceiling, bruised and battered, ran through her head and she ruthlessly chased it away. Jack had proven to be one tough customer. Whatever they did to him, he would survive it. He didn’t give up and he didn’t give in. She’d never met a man like him before. He wasn’t like any of the men she’d dated.
Usually she chose men that were more like her, interested in music, liked to go to festivals and concerts and liked to have a beer, a good time, uninterested in anything serious. Her lifestyle embraced chaos and a busy schedule; she didn’t have time for a serious relationship. The band toured, especially in the summer, and she hadn’t worked the wanderlust out of her system. She didn’t want to give up her life for a man. She loved the traveling, the chaos. It kept life exciting, though this trip made her have second thoughts about traveling abroad.
Glancing down at the ropes circling her ankles, she let out a long sigh. Poor Grammy would roll over in her grave if she knew the trouble the heirloom was causing Darci.
The door handle rattled and she stiffened as Heath walked in, alone. Not a good sign. She didn’t want to be alone with him. His interest in her was obvious and she had no desire to see how far he would take it. If he decided to take advantage of her she would have to stop him, somehow, trussed up like this.
She needed a weapon. Something she could cut these ropes with so she could defend herself. As much as she wished for Jack she had to keep a clear head and find a way out.
Heath stood at the foot of the bed and stared down at her through eyes that gave her the creeps.
“What did you do with Jack?” She ignored the way he stared at her chest.
“You know, this would have been easier if you’d handed over the necklace before the authorities arrived.” Heath took no notice of her question and sat on the bed next to her. “I wouldn’t have had to tie you up if I thought you’d hand it over. Hold still, darling, and tell me how to get this off. Then we’ll have some fun.”
Not in this lifetime. “You kidnapped me for my necklace?” she asked. “Why? It isn’t worth anything.”
Heath scoffed, reaching for the sturdy silver chain. “Don’t insult me, darling. I’m a collector. This necklace dates back to the druids. It’s worth a fortune and you know it.”
His hands slid the necklace around so the clasp rested on her chest. He couldn’t be lying, because he was right. The necklace was worth a fortune, but it meant more to her than money and she refused to give it up.
After a couple minutes of fiddling with the clasp Heath sat back and let out an annoyed breath. “What kind of clasp is this?”
A special one her grandmother had made so that no one but the owner could get it off. It had a special hook inside that only she knew how to unlatch. An idea formed and with a seductive smile she said, “Untie me and I’ll show you.”
Heath’s eyes lit with desire as he untied the ropes. Her skin crawled, but she managed to hold her smile until he freed her. Then she made her move, gambling and praying she came out the winner.
Chapter Four
Heath pulled violently at the ropes binding him to the bed, slamming it against the wall. Shaking, Darci tore off a piece of the sheet and stuffed it into his mouth, then jumped back when he tried to lunge at her. She may not be as strong as him, but she could tie a good knot.
Her cheek bled from their struggle, but she’d had the element of surprise on her side and her self-defense knowledge put her on top. Literally. It had taken some doing but she’d managed to get Heath tied to the bed. At first he’d thought it a game but when he’d figured out what she was doing, he flew into a rage. Thankfully, she’d already had him secured.
On legs that shook, Darci ran to the door, leaving a furious Heath tied to the bed. She ran blindly down a long hallway and didn’t stop until she reached the end. She could only hope Jack had gotten out, because she couldn’t stand another minute in this house.
Head pounding, legs shaking, and heart racing, Darci rounded the corner and smacked into someone coming from the other way.
A hand clamped over her mouth, smothering her scream, and a strong arm locked around her waist, swinging her off the floor in a circle down another dark hallway. Darci struggled against her captor’s merciless grip.
No way she’d be taken by a guard after what she’d just endured with Heath. She opened her mouth and started to bite down when a hard body pressed her back against a wall.
Jack. She looked up to see the silhouette of his face in the darkness. Only he watched the hallway, his body rigid, prepared for a fight.
He must have sensed her relief because he slowly removed his hand from her mouth. His gaze remained on the two guards hurrying past them.
Her heart beat frantically in her chest. Jack must feel it. Her lungs started to burn and she had to take slow, deep breaths without making any noise. Protected in the form of Jack’s body helped ease her fears.
Two more guards ran past them and she knew exactly where they were going. She didn’t want to be anywhere near when they found Heath.
Remembering the rage in Heath’s eyes, she pressed closer to Jack and slid her arms around his waist. As her hands smoothed over his narrow waist she felt something warm and sticky slide through her fingers. A tiny gasp escaped her throat. She knew exactly what it was: blood.
&n
bsp; She looked up at the same time Jack looked down. He didn’t want her making a big deal over his wound and needed her to be quiet until the threat disappeared.
“You’re bleeding,” she whispered.
“Just a scratch.”
Darci didn’t believe him. Blood covered her hand. They kept hurting him and he kept going. He had a will of iron that came from deep within him, not smoke and mirrors. This man was the real McCoy. In that moment she knew she’d be in deep trouble if not careful. And she would be careful, because settling down wasn’t in her future plans.
The air changed around them. Time slowed down, as if they were caught in a bubble and nothing else mattered except them. Jack’s hand dropped to her waist as his hips pressed her against the wall. Her breath caught.
In the distance she could hear men’s boots pounding on the floor as they ran down the halls looking for them. She heard their shouts in the distance. She trusted Jack to keep her safe.
Every inch of him pressed against her. The blood raced through her veins. His hard, unyielding body aroused her. He was all male. Though she wasn’t accustomed to such blatant masculinity, she had no complaints.
“Jack…” She rested her other hand on his bicep. She couldn’t resist curling her fingers around it, and let her mind wander for a moment about the ways she could put that muscle to use.
Face flushed, she tilted her head back, wanting to feel his lips on hers. Would he be gentle and soft or would he take control and possess her? Sweet Mary, she wanted to find out more than she wanted off this island. Crazy, insane, and totally inappropriate behavior given the circumstances, but she didn’t care. She needed to feel more than Jack’s hands on her.
Jack’s hand flexed on her hip and she felt something hard against her skin. It threw her for a moment and she frowned, glancing down. In the shadows she saw Jack held a gun in his hand.
She’d seen the look in his eyes when he’d confiscated the guard’s weapons earlier, and noticed how comfortably he held a deadly weapon. She wouldn’t have a clue what to do with a gun if she had one in her hand. She drew the line at self-defense and pepper spray.
A SEAL's Song Page 4
