But he'd come to his senses in the nick of time and hurt her in the process. What excuse could he give? That they had an audience? They had, but that wasn't why he'd stopped. He wasn't a totally free man. He had a woman waiting on his return … counting on him to be faithful.
Since he'd been with Samara, he hadn't slept with another woman … hadn't even really wanted one, though he'd had many opportunities. Why was this different? Why was Eden different? Yes, she was a beautiful woman, but so was Samara.
It wasn't Eden's beauty, or her sexuality, which she wore as comfortably as a second skin, that made him want her. It was … hell, what did it matter the reason? He couldn't let what just happened ever happen again. When this project ended, he would return home. That was the way he wanted it. Though he longed to find Devon, he also longed to settle down with a nice, normal woman and have a simple, quiet life.
Damned if Eden was either nice or normal. Life with her would be an endless adventure. He'd had enough adventure to last several lifetimes.
Jordan turned to go back, his mind once again on the mission and his role. He ignored the ache in his groin and the even more painful one in his gut.
Eden held her head under the shower, her face down. It was the only place she could hide. They had no proof of cameras in the bathroom. Having decided early that to check for any kind of bug or camera would give them away, they lived as Maggie and Barry. Until today.
How had they allowed it to get so out of control? And where did we come from? She was the one who instigated that little drama. She'd kissed him, uncovered her breasts, taken his hand and put it on her chest. He just responded the way any normal man would … only he had stopped it. He'd been the one with control. If it had been up to Eden, they would have made love in the pool, within sight of who knows how many people.
How could she be so reckless? So abandoned? In the years since the attack, her training, her entire life had been built around control. It had been the only way she survived. Had it disappeared?
As Eden twisted the handle to turn the shower off, the answer resounded in her head. No, it hadn't disappeared. Her control was still in perfect working order … except with Jordan.
She toweled off, still keeping her head down, afraid what her expression might reveal as she contemplated what Jordan did to her. How could he have so much power over her … after all this time?
Wrapping her wet hair in a towel, she pulled on a short terry robe and headed back to the bedroom. She stopped at the door, startled to see him standing in the middle of the room. An expression she'd never seen before flickered in his eyes. Regret?
“You okay?” His voice sounded gruff, rougher than usual.
Eden flashed a girlish Maggie smile. “Of course, I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?”
Relief and admiration flashed in his expression as he made his way over to where she stood.
Eden held her ground, determined to react the way an adoring, young wife would.
Jordan pressed a soft kiss to her forehead and then her cheek. His voice, barely audible, sounded in her ear. “Sorry about that. It won't happen again.”
She ground her teeth to keep from retorting that she'd make sure it didn't, while another part of her wanted to scream at him, “Why not?” Pulling away slowly, Eden beamed up at him like the simpleton she was supposed to be. So what if her lips wobbled a little and her breath held tiny gasps; the camera couldn't pick them up.
Jordan's eyes narrowed slightly as if he realized how hard she was working at her control. He turned from her and headed toward the door, allowing her to regain the composure she'd once again come close to losing.
“I'm going to go talk with Peter to see how much longer our wait will be. I'll be back in a minute.”
“Barry … do you think that's a good idea … rushing him … I mean?”
“Don't you worry your pretty little head, sweetheart. Peter's a businessman.” With those vague words, Jordan walked out the door.
The tone had been Maggie's, but the words were Eden's. The last thing they wanted to do was rush this and make a mistake. She'd already made enough. If Peter Lawson took Jordan's words the wrong way, he might call off the exchange. They couldn't afford to let that happen. Being taken to the facility where the children were held hinged upon them being able to go as a couple and choose a child from their lineup.
If Lawson called it off, LCR would have to start all over again with another couple. That would take time—time those children didn't have.
Knowing she couldn't do anything to hurry it along—Jordan being the one Lawson would listen to—Eden turned back to the bathroom to finish getting ready.
Jordan was a professional. He knew how to deal with scum such as Lawson. There was no need for her to worry.
Jordan pressed his thumb against the other man's windpipe. Lawson's bright purple shade was the only thing that forced him to ease the stranglehold.
Lawson wheezed and squeaked, “You'll pay for that, Johnson. Nobody treats a—”
Jordan cut off his air again. He spoke in a slow, deliberate way so Lawson could understand him beneath the rushing roar in the choking man's ears. “I'm telling you for the last time. We came here for a child and by God, not you or anyone else is going to try to extort money from me. Do I make myself clear?”
Lawson's eyes were bugging out of his head, but he managed to give a jerky nod of understanding.
Jordan eased his grip again. “Now, when will we be going to choose our son?”
“I … I'll try to set it up for tomorrow, but I told you about the—” He closed his mouth as Jordan pressed again and then let up. His head jerking in a nervous nod, Lawson added, “I'll set it up for tomorrow.”
Releasing Lawson, he gave him a glare that might have some men questioning his sanity and stalked out of the room. He wanted—needed—to be by himself for a while, but he wouldn't leave Eden alone with these bastards. Besides, she had a right and a need to hear what had happened.
Just as he started up the stairs, Eden was descending.
“Everything okay, Barry? You look—”
He held out his hand and Eden took it. Pulling her along with him, he stalked out the front door and across the exquisitely manicured lawn. Not until they were standing in the middle of a large grassy area did he stop.
Eden tugged on his hand and whirled around to stare at him. “What's happened?”
Jordan ran his hand through his hair and turned away from her. The rigidity of his shoulders and the grim set of his mouth told her something catastrophic had occurred.
“Dammit, Jordan … tell me.”
“I approached Lawson about hurrying up the process. He hemmed and hawed for several minutes, then when he saw I was getting pissed, he admitted there had been what he called ‘a slight glitch.’”
“What kind of a glitch?”
When Jordan turned back to her, she was astounded to see sorrow in his expression.
“Talk to me, Jordan. What?”
“There was an unfortunate incident while they were trying to nab a baby… The mother was stabbed … killed.”
Eden closed her eyes. Dear God, what kind of world did they live in? Her eyes popped open as horror hit. “It's our fault.”
Jordan shook his head. “It was a baby girl. Though it could have been just as easily the boy we are supposed to buy.” His voice hardened. “Lawson now understands, in no uncertain terms, that we want to get this over with.”
“Uh-oh, what'd you do?”
“The fool had the audacity to ask for more money—called it the cost of doing business. Since there was a death, he feels the chances they're taking are worth more than the three hundred thousand we're paying.”
“Bastard.”
“I told him we wanted to go tomorrow. Can Noah get his teams ready that soon?”
“I think so. He's been waiting for us to give the go-ahead. Everyone else is pretty much in place.” She pulled the tiny transmitter off her wrist, then the small stick
from around her neck … an odd-looking piece of jewelry, but very useful when entering the information into the transmitter. Both items had gotten past the monitors and screening in the airport as well as the mansion.
Eden entered the information, trying to ignore the heat of the man standing beside her. They were getting ready to execute their mission; she couldn't allow herself the distraction he created. She refused to acknowledge the voice inside her telling her that once this was over, he'd leave. Now was not the time.
Within seconds, the tiny display screen revealed Noah's message. She shot a glance at Jordan. “Ten in the morning doable, do you think?”
Determination gleamed in his eyes. “We'll damn well make it doable.”
The squawk of a bird flying overhead caught her attention, making her abruptly aware they'd been talking freely, out in the open. Eden couldn't believe she'd forgotten. Finding out what was wrong with Jordan had been her primary concern. Now she couldn't help but wonder if their carelessness would cost them.
Guessing her concern, Jordan touched her arm in reassurance. “Don't worry about it. We're out in the middle of nothing.” He gestured around him. “See, not even a palm tree to hang a camera from.”
Eden flashed him a grateful smile, glad he'd been on the lookout, because she certainly hadn't. For the first time in her years with LCR, Eden began to question her abilities and focus. Admittedly, working with the man she'd once thought herself in love with might be one of the reasons, but was it the only one?
“Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah, just thinking about tomorrow.”
“Since we're out here, relatively alone, I want to apologize again for what happened in the pool. I was totally out of line.”
Eden couldn't believe he was taking the blame for something that was most definitely her fault. “Jordan, I'm the one who instigated it.”
“But I'm the one who—”
An unusual gurgle of laughter burst from her. “Let's just agree we were both less than discreet and leave it at that, shall we?”
He held out his hand and Eden placed hers in his, thinking he'd shake it and let her go. Instead he brought it to his mouth and pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. “You're a hell of a woman, Eden St. Claire.”
Resisting the urge to pull her hand away and the even greater urge to fling herself into his arms, Eden stayed put and forced a jaunty smile. “So I've been told.”
When her hand returned to her side, she breathed a little sigh and looked around again. “Are there any details we need to go over before tomorrow? Anything we need to change from our original plan?”
“No, we'll implement as planned. As soon as we're in, we separate. I'll take care of whoever is with us, while you make sure the rest of the team gets in.”
Eden nodded. Come what may, tomorrow at this time, Alfred Larue's business of abducting children and selling them off like cattle would be destroyed.
Jordan checked his watch. “I'll go back to Lawson. Make sure he understands the transaction will be made tomorrow morning.”
Eden watched him walk away. His body language switched with ease to the older, less fit Barry Johnson. What would tomorrow bring? And how long would it be before Jordan left her life forever?
As they pulled up in their limo, Lawson, his voice unusually gruff, said, “Take the blindfolds off. We're here.”
Eden smiled appreciatively as Jordan pulled the cloth from her eyes. Her demeanor of barely contained excitement wasn't an act. The time had come to rescue these children and put some very bad people where they couldn't hurt innocent people ever again.
They entered the large facility that from the outside looked like one of many vanilla-colored buildings lining the street. Eden was used to the façade of a building looking like one thing and being something different on the inside. However, a baby-selling building … She never would have been able to come up with what one would look like.
Jordan held her hand, both of them looking anxiously around as if they were excited parents eager to meet their child for the first time. Peter Lawson followed behind them. Eden politely ignored the bruises surrounding the man's neck, though more than anything, she would love to laugh at him and then knock the hell out of him. She reminded herself that either she or Jordan would get to do both, but all in good time.
Lawson led them into a small office, nothing attractive or even particularly clean-looking. Her stomach leaped and then took a queasy turn. This was the place of purchase, the place where human life was sold like … now she knew what this place reminded her of … a pet store. On the way to the office, she'd spotted a glass enclosure, similar to what a pet store would have so people could hold a puppy or kitten and play with it before deciding on the purchase. God, these people had to be stopped.
The cheap chair Lawson plopped into squeaked under his weight. A beat-up metal desk held a shiny, expensive computer. Lawson turned to the monitor, his fingers clicking quickly over the keyboard. His eyes on the screen in front of him, he growled, “You wired the money?” The oily, boyish charm Lawson met them with had disappeared. He was now a cold-minded businessman, making sure he was being paid for the service he was about to provide.
“Yes, all of it should be in the account, based upon the account number and name you gave me.”
Lawson stared at the screen for several seconds and then turned to them with a superficial smile. “Let's go meet your son.”
Eden and Jordan exchanged smiles and rose. Lawson strode to the door. Before he could put his hand on the doorknob, Jordan was there to stop him. Lawson turned with a frown. His eyes widened in comprehension just as Jordan's hand came down on the side of his head. Jordan caught him before he reached the floor.
“Open that door over there … looks like some kind of closet. We'll keep him there till we're through.”
Eden opened the door and watched while Jordan, using a phone cord, trussed him up like a Thanksgiving turkey and covered his mouth with duct tape he found in the desk. He then dragged Lawson's body, dumping him on the floor of the tiny closet. With a great sense of satisfaction, she closed the door.
Jordan handed her another roll of tape and winked. “Let's go kick some ass.”
Flashing him a delighted grin, she ran from the room to the front door and waved her arm. Six LCR operatives who had followed them from the mansion marched up the steps. Eyes glinting with anticipation, they wore bulletproof vests and carried just enough weapons to do the job. No way in hell were any kids getting hurt on her watch.
Baker, one of her favorite men to work with, handed her a gun. “You ready to play?” His rich Georgia drawl was laced with amusement.
“You bet.” Eden took the gun and whirled around. “I'll take the upstairs.” She glanced over at a tall, imposing man sporting a ponytail, earrings, and multiple tattoos. “Sam, find Jordan and give him some firepower. We've got one bastard locked up in a closet. Everybody else is still at large.”
Eden ran toward the stairs, Baker on her heels. Noah's people were the most highly trained in the world. They knew what to do.
At the top of the stairs, she turned right while Baker went left. Hearing voices, she made her way down the long landing, the worn carpet muffling her steps. Eden checked each door she passed. They were unlocked, and other than empty, unmade beds, they were vacant.
She stopped at the third door on her right and opened it a tiny crack. Amazement widened her eyes. The room looked just like a small hospital nursery, filled with cribs, baby beds, and, dear Lord, even an incubator. Three women stood in the middle of the room chatting. Two were frumpy and middle-aged, the other one looked to be in her late teens.
Easing the door open, Eden looked left and right to make sure they were the only adults in the room. Satisfied, she kept her voice low so she wouldn't wake any children. “Okay, ladies. Hands up, nice and easy.”
All three whirled around. One covered her mouth with a gasp, another squealed, while another reached into her pocket. Eden po
inted her gun at her. “I said hands up … not in your pocket.” Making the wise decision, the woman raised her hands along with her companions. “Good girl. Now, why don't you all have a seat?” Eden pointed toward three rocking chairs close to the wall. She waved her gun at them. “Ladies.”
The woman who'd gone for her pocket snarled, “You're making a mistake. We don't have any money.”
Eden pulled the duct tape from her pocket and motioned to the young girl, who seemed the most frightened. “Come here.”
With tentative steps, the terrified teen moved forward. Handing her the tape, Eden ordered, “Wrap this around their wrists and ankles.”
The girl turned and Eden instructed her as she wrapped the strong, gray tape around their wrists and ankles and then the legs of the chairs.
“Good job. Now, sit down.” Eden then proceeded to do the same to her. After they were secure, she pressed tape over their mouths.
After everyone was wrapped up tight, Eden went through the pockets of each. While they grunted and moaned as if they were being molested, she ignored them. Her discoveries were mostly harmless. A pack of cigarettes, some nasty-looking tissue, a piece of gum. The one who had put her hand in her pocket had the most interesting item: a tiny derringer.
Holding the small firearm up, she glared at the woman. “Don't you know better than to have a gun around children?”
Eyes flashing fire, the woman grunted what Eden figured was an obscenity. “You shouldn't swear around them, either. Did they not teach you that in baby kidnapping school?”
Eden double-checked to make sure the tape was secure on all three women and then turned to the cribs. Babies. Dear God, some of them were only a few weeks old. A couple of them looked to be almost one. They were still, thankfully, all sleeping. She hoped they continued to sleep for a little while longer. She didn't need six infants screaming, attracting attention.
Eden turned to the outraged women, whispered, “Don't go anywhere,” and scurried out the door.
Rescue Me: A Novel Page 18
