He tried to feel hope, encouraged by the progress. What if Jonas-
Swallowing around the panic stabbing his throat, he shoved the image from his head. Julie was alive.
He thought of Steve lying back on the pier, hovering between life and death— calling for his wife. Somewhere, Marie waited, unaware he wouldn't come home tonight.
At the entrance to the park, Matt turned into the first lot. They would work in a grid pattern. There was comfort knowing other teams were scrambling to set up.
The first round would consist of a perimeter check only— look for signs of life. It was too dark and too dangerous to thoroughly search each building. That would start at first light.
Matt grabbed the flashlight and checked his phone before jogging across the lot toward the first building. In the block backing up to the canal, he tried not to imagine the very real possibility Jonas had dumped her in the canal. His flashlight beam drifted over the broken windows and piles of industrial debris before logic kicked in. If Steve had hidden her, it wouldn't have been out front— where a passerby might hear.
Skidding around the corner, Matt entered the alley between the first two warehouses and ran his flashlight up the side of each structure. No windows on the ends. Not much to see in the alley, either. He ran the length of the building and turned left. Salty air hit him square in the face and he tensed. The canal was barely visible, yet it was only ten yards away. It wasn't hard to imagine someone stepping off the side as they staggered around in the dark.
Broken glass crunched under his shoes. He aimed his flashlight at the rear doors to the building. His stomach dropped when he realized how much ground there was to cover. Each building was easily an acre wide. Many had more than one level. His light caught a sign on the far end of the warehouse and he jogged down for a closer look. He had to strain to make out the letters 1D.
He sprinted to the next one. 1C appeared to be in the same state of disrepair and neglect. Matt did a quick perusal with his flashlight. No sign of life. Or struggle. No sign of anything.
"Maybe if I walk the length of the canal." His phone disrupted the wild restlessness of his thoughts. The what-ifs that would block his brain from thinking straight. "Yeah?"
"Any luck up that way?" Pop's gravelly voice broke the uneasy silence.
"Nothing yet. Did you notice how the buildings are numbered?"
"Yeah. We're down here in the sevens."
Conscious of water lapping the sea wall twenty feet away, Matt stuck close to the buildings. "Jonas gonna make it?"
"Don't know yet." Mullaney paused. "They're tryin' to contact his wife."
"To be Marie. What does that mean?"
"Who knows? Maybe a nickname."
Hearing his mother talking in the background, he skidded to a stop. He flashed his beam into the inky darkness of another abandoned ruin. "I'm at 1B. I'll check-"
Frozen, he stared at the sign. 1B. . . 2B.
To be Marie. To be. 2B. Jonas had revealed where he'd stashed her. His heart pumped with certainty. "Mullaney— get down here. It's building 2B."
***
Huddled on the unforgiving concrete, Julie groaned as pain crashed over her. Energy fading, she'd crawled as far as she could— until her knees had given up. But morning would eventually come— and she could start again.
If she were meant to die, then it would be while busting out— not awaiting rescue. Matt's face floated before her— eyes glinting with humor. Instead of sorrow, she laughed, her voice echoing in the murky stillness. "I love that smile."
Maybe— if they were ever in a normal situation, she'd see it more often. She envisioned them on a date. "I'd wear that new purple dress-" The one that made her boobs look amazing. Matt would be smiling his sexy smile. Sipping a beer. Chatting over something inconsequential. Hovering between them— the secret knowledge of how the night would end— charging the air like summer lightning. Julie frowned. Hell— would you bother dating someone you were already in love with?
She shoved the question aside. This was her fantasy. While his eyes undressed her, his beautiful mouth would be telling stories— about his family. About his work. And she would be trying to pay attention. But all the while, she'd be thinking about his mouth at the nape of her neck. She'd be remembering the reckless abandon she'd felt on that desk. Not caring whether they might get caught.
Though darkness surrounded her, Julie closed her eyes, preserving the memory. Holding it close to keep her warm. Memories of Matt would carry her through the long, terrifying night to come. And if they were incredibly lucky, he would hold her through the next several decades of moments, joyous and sad. Whatever issues remained would have to be worked out. Because she needed him.
"If you let me live, I swear I'll tell him." Perhaps she'd spend her remaining hours bargaining with God for another chance. With a groan, she pushed to her knees and began inching across the asphalt. Her hands were numb, almost beyond pain. But the rest of her hurt. No longer wondering how much she could endure, the pain cleared her head of everything except survival. Because she needed to tell Matt she loved him. And she needed to fix KTec. Whether she stayed or sold, it would be her vision guiding the decision.
When the door blew open a few minutes later, Julie didn't look up. At the scrape of movement, she groped in the dark for a weapon. She'd dealt with rats before— the human kind. She could certainly fight the rodent variety. Hands fisting around a chunk of concrete, she drew it into her body.
"Julie! Jules— are you here?"
Stunned into shock, her brain registered the familiar voice. Heard the frayed desperation when he called out again. A powerful beam of light sliced through the blinding darkness.
"Here." Her shoulders sagged with relief. She wouldn't have to fight, after all. He would do it for her. "I'm over here."
Crashing through the darkness, she felt him stagger down beside her and haul her into his arms.
"Are you hurt?" His hands shook as they ran over her, stilling when he found the ropes. His voice . . . angry as he shouted for more light.
"Baby— are you okay?" Intense blue eyes were grim with concern when Mullaney cut the bindings on her wrists and ankles.
"Super duper." Her gaze fixed on him, she drank in the worried, thankful, glistening eyes watching her. The relief in his half-hearted smile at her teasing answer. As blood flow returned to starved limbs, she winced. "Ouch— that hurts."
But she forgot the pain when Matt gathered her in his arms. Solid, dependable strength wrapped around her, warming her from the inside as he held her close. Every worry drifted away, leaving only the steady, true beat of his heart under her ear. She burrowed against him, knowing she'd found everything she needed. This was home.
"Whatever it takes, love. We'll get through this." His murmured words caressed her ear, reassuring her as he carried her out to the light.
***
"Jules— why don't you let me take you home?"
Stationed next to her hospital bed, everything about Matt's imposing presence read protector. Even his stance. The vibe of you'll-have-to-go-through-me-to-get-her. Except for his eyes. There, she read uncertainty. A desire for things to be right between them. An acknowledgment that they weren't.
She fiddled with the sheet, pretending to tuck the blanket in around her. Heart in her throat, Julie suddenly dreaded the conversation she knew they needed to have. Her promise to God and herself . . . hidden under the layer of hurt. The awkwardness in the light of day— of admitting Matt hadn't trusted her. Until it had become blatantly obvious she wasn't guilty.
"I . . . have a ride. I want to go home. My home. It's been two weeks." She needed to be alone. Lick her wounds. Regain a sense of herself. One where she wasn't the victim. Where she was strong. Decisive. And then— have a conversation with the man she'd fallen in love with. His agitated movement drew her gaze to the window where he'd paced. His back to her, she allowed herself the luxury of watching him. Absorbing the beauty of him. The strength and passion.
"We need to talk." Hands on his hips, his reflection in the glass was troubled.
"No— we really don't," she lied. "Not yet, anyway. We've said enough."
Her words drew a reaction. "We haven't said anything." He spun around. "All this time— I haven't been able to say how I really felt. I trusted you, Jules. No matter what I said-"
Her eyes widened. "You thought I was capable of . . . killing people."
"No." His stance resolute, his eyes flashed with something close to anger.
She shivered. "Of selling drugs. Of . . . being a terrible person." A hard knot of tears began forming in her throat.
"I knew you had to be innocent. My gut knew it," he insisted. "Nothing about you made sense." He took a step closer. "Nothing factual about this case— nothing I was supposed to believe— was true." Eyes imploring her to believe him, he raised a hand to his chest. "My heart knew it."
Anger heated her face. "If I hadn't been able to prove it— I'd be sitting in a jail cell."
"If that happened I would've spent every dime I had to get you out."
Heart sinking to her toes, she smirked. "Where does that leave us? You'd bail me out of jail?" She shook her head. "Relationships aren't supposed to start like this."
"It doesn't matter how it started." Closing the distance between them, he reached for her hand. "Only how it ends." Raising it to his lips, he kissed her hand. "I love you, Julie."
Heart fluttering in the vicinity of her knees, she wanted desperately to believe him. To skip over the ugly middle part . . . where hurt feelings made her deny how she felt. And Matt was left to defend himself. But— too much had happened to be glossed over. "I don't want a man who believes I'm weak. Or pathetic."
"Jules-"
She mowed over his words. "Or . . . or someone you think needs to be protected. I want a partner," she emphasized.
"You are the strongest woman I've ever met," he challenged, the flare in his eyes one of determination. "I am crazy mad in love with you."
Joy and pain still mingled. "I love you, too," she announced, ignoring her tripping pulse. "I swore if I made it, I'd tell you the first moment I could."
Matt paled, his eyes burning with intensity. Gently, he lifted a bandaged hand to his lips. "I trust you. Completely. Even when nothing made sense— I wanted to believe you."
"But— I don't think you believe in me."
I didn't believe in me," he emphasized. "Me. After what happened with Pam, I doubted— everything. His jaw tensed as his own words sunk in. "All I could think about was what could happen . . . I was terrified of making a mistake. About losing you."
"I'm not Pam." Conviction in every syllable, she stroked his hand. "I'm capable of taking care of myself."
"After two weeks with you . . . you don't think I believe that?" His eyes heated. "Hell, you're the most resilient woman I've ever met."
"Was it always in the plan to make me the target?" As soon as the words left her lips, Julie realized her heart wasn't in the question. She'd been desperate to return to work.
"Sending you in there was the last thing I wanted, but I was voted down. I'll apologize until the end of time if you'll let me-"
The anguish in his eyes lanced through her. "That was unfair. I wanted to go back."
"Whatever happens between us-" He sought her hand, squeezing it tight. "I've decided to resign-"
Floored by his casual announcement, she stared at him, searching for a clue to what was going on in his head. "Why?"
"There have been a lot of bad days . . . in this job." His mouth lifted in the ghost of a smile. "But the worst was the day I realized that protecting you was . . . secondary to the team." His eyes laden with guilt, he hesitated. "Before I met you, I was the same way. Willing to do anything— to take down the target."
"That's your job."
"But you . . . made me remember that we sometimes expose innocent people. Not deliberately. But . . . it happens. And I don't— I can't be part of that anymore."
"What will you do?" Her throat ached over his humbling words. Matt would always care too much. It was a part of him she didn't want to change. It would be her job to protect him. She stroked his unshaven cheek. When he turned to kiss her fingers she shivered at the tenderness of his gesture.
"I don't know. I think that might be a good thing." Frustration softened to misery in his eyes. "Jules— I did several stupid things . . . but I just wanted to keep you safe." Resignation in his stance, he took a step back. "And look where it got me-"
A swirling, laden silence fell between them. Julie didn't know how to close the distance yawning between them. "Where do we go from here?"
"How about we take it one day at a time? You haven't exactly seen me at my best."
Though she would probably disagree on that point, a desperate chuckle erupted from her throat.
"Let me take you home." His expression hopeful, Matt seized on the opportunity. "You need rest. Pampering. I'll cook you dinner . . ."
Despite her conviction that she could do it all, Julie felt fragile. Breakable. More than anything, she wanted to absorb some of his quiet strength. Lean on his solid, dependable integrity. She'd received her second chance. She wouldn't waste it. "Dinner sounds great."
"I can take the rest of the day off," he promised. "With Viper in custody-"
A sudden chill swept over her. "Viper? Is that . . . the dealer? His name is Viper?"
Matt's eyes registered confusion. "Yeah— the guy who's been trying to kill you these last few weeks-"
"You never-" She bolted up in the hospital bed. "Matt— you've never said that name before. At least . . . not around me."
"What's wrong? Are you alright?" He reached to steady her. "Dandridge is Viper. He's in custody. Remember?"
It wasn't possible she'd missed it. They'd missed it. "I remember . . . now," she choked out. The elusive clue. "What I saw in the warehouse."
He rounded the bed. "Babe, relax. Whatever it is . . . I can add to my report."
"No— you don't understand." She swung her legs over the side.
"Where are you going?"
"Get Mullaney and Finn. We only have a couple hours."
He blocked her when she would have moved "Jules . . . what are you talking about?"
"You don't have Viper in custody." Flattening a hand to her chest, she tried to calm her reverberating heart. "Viper is picking me up in two hours."
***
"I can't watch this." Matt paced the room, nearly claustrophobic in his skin. "If something happens-"
"Mattie . . . calm down. We're ten feet away. They've got signs up about metal detectors. Viper ain't gonna shoot her-"
Something inside him snapped. "You're not helping." How the hell had he let himself be talked into this? Jules . . . was in the next room. Waiting for Viper. Waiting for a vicious killer. To finish the job. And he'd let it happen. She'd used his words against him. If you trust me- Damn it to hell. If he lost her now-
"Viper's in the building." Finn passed along the information from his headset. "On the elevator now." He glanced up. "Leo confirmed the body scan says no weapons."
Several tense minutes passed before anyone spoke. "It'll be drugs," Mullaney suggested. "In her water or-"
"At the door." Finn's voice had dropped to a whisper. "Carrying the bag Julie captured on film in her warehouse."
Heart in his throat, Matt listened to the receiver, his brain frozen with an image of Julie. Lying in the hospital bed. Helpless. Alone. Twenty agents in the surrounding rooms. Hallways. Nursing stations. But not a frigging one of them in the room with her.
"Tori— hey . . . I tried to call you."
Julie's voice exploded over his nerve endings as he forced himself to breathe.
"I got dizzy when I tried to walk this morning . . . so they're keeping me another night."
"I heard." Her friend's voice wove through his head. Friend and enemy. "I just wanted to . . . make sure you're okay."
"I'm . . . fine
. The doctors are just being cautious."
Julie's voice sounded enthusiastic. How the hell was she doing this? With the woman who'd tried to destroy her? Who'd destroyed her father?
"For awhile there, I thought you might be dead."
Tori's muffled laughter sent warning strafing down his spine. "Mullaney-"
The old man jerked his arm. "Not yet."
"Still on an IV? That's surprising." On the monitor, Tori moved to the IV stand.
Finn's gaze locked with his. "She's going for it."
"I'm . . . still a little dehydrated." Julie's voice faltered . . . just as they'd practiced it. "Still . . . sorta . . . woozy."
Matt couldn't look at the monitor. Frozen where he stood, his fear consumed him. Why? Why had he let her talk him into this stunt?
"Well, I'll let you sleep then. Call me tomorrow? I can rearrange my schedule to pick you up."
"Tori, did you . . ." Jules muttered. "I feel . . . strange. Did you-"
"Sleep, Juju. Just take a nice, long nap. I've been trying to get you to do that for weeks. But you're a very stubborn girl." Tori's voice edged closer to the doorway.
"Not yet," Finn commanded the unseen cadre of agents. "Two more steps-"
"Victoria Viper. How many years has it been . . . since I've heard you called that?"
In the next room, Matt startled. What— was she doing? Provoking her? Terror gripped his throat, strangling him. What the hell was Julie thinking?
"Excuse me?" Tori's steps halted three feet from the door.
"Hyper Victoria Viper." Julie giggled. "The boyfriend stealer."
"What the hell is she doin'?" Mullaney hissed. "Get in there now."
A thunder of feet. Shouted commands. All of it blurred into slow motion as Matt flew to the door and rounded the corner. Disinterested in the commotion in the hallway, his peripheral vision caught the sight of Tori lying spread-eagled in the hallway . . . a dozen agents surrounding her. None of it mattered. Shoving his way into Julie's room, he locked eyes with her— sitting up in bed. IV already peeled back from her hand. Pole being dismantled for evidence. The bag— likely injected with a toxic dose of-
Out of the Mist (Can't Help Falling Book 1) Page 29
