“Always. I told you I never travel without cash.”
“How much?”
Kyle’s voice had dropped an octave. His gaze returned to her face. They stared at each other for a few tense minutes, and then made a concerted effort to shake off the sensual tension caused by his intimate perusal.
“A few hundred. Enough for a couple of days’ food and lodging.”
“So we don’t need what you mailed to yourself in Somerset?” he asked.
“It all depends on how long we have to keep running. My stash won’t stretch for transportation.”
“How much did you leave in Somerset?”
“Several thousand, plus another phony ID.”
He sighed. “Okay, I guess we go there next.”
Dusk had fallen by the time they’d showered, changed into the borrowed clothing and eaten a cold, canned meal. Rianna had rinsed the lake water from her bikini, but wore the swimsuit under the sweats. She didn’t want to be without her special storage pouch, and her hostess’s bras were too big.
She’d kept her back to the brick fireplace while Kyle redesigned her leather necklace. It was far from attractive, yet not awful enough to draw unwanted attention. By the time they left the cabin, they looked like an average married couple in slightly creased casual wear and running shoes.
The trek through the woods was slow going—progress was made a few cautious yards at a time. Once they reached the main road, they hailed a teenager in a battered pickup truck. He worked at the marina, but his shift had ended, so he happily accepted twenty dollars to drive them to Somerset.
Rianna spent the ride squeezed between the two of them. The truck’s gearshift was on the floor, so she had to lean against Kyle to avoid bumping it with her leg. He slid an arm across the back of the seat to give her room, but that made her feel more trapped. Every curve in the winding road had her pressing into him, and the feel of his hard body kept hers singing with excitement.
They reached the southern edge of town shortly before eleven. Kyle helped her from the truck, but she quickly withdrew her hand from his grasp. They thanked their new friend and bade him farewell, then Kyle reached for her again.
“We’d better keep our hands free for weapons,” she insisted, pulling from his grip.
A lift of his brow questioned her response and the evasive action. They’d swapped guns, wrapped them in towels and secured them around their waists. The sweats didn’t have pockets, but the belly pouches gave them a place to hide the weapons while adding a few inches to their waistlines. Kyle didn’t argue, he just placed his left hand to the back of her waist and guided her into the shadows.
“I’ve heard of rolling up the sidewalks at dark, but I think this town really does it,” said Rianna.
“It’s a work night for most people,” he added, leading her toward the post office. The occasional streetlight helped illuminate their path, yet left enough shadowy corners to make them wary.
“We’d better not go into the post office together,” she said as they drew closer to their destination.
Kyle agreed. “I’ll circle around back and come up the alley on the other side.”
Rianna watched him disappear, her stomach sinking in an indescribable fashion. She shook her head in amazement. When and how had she let herself get so attached to the man? It was stupid to feel bereft without him by her side.
Surveying the street, she didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary, so she made her way to the end of the block. The post office lobby was empty. She collected her package, and then returned the key through the drop slot. Tucking the envelope into her makeshift belly pack, she headed outside again.
After another quick glance up and down the street, she turned toward the shadowed alley. Suddenly, all the fine hairs on her arms and neck started tingling. Rianna tensed, deciding someone aside from Kyle was causing her alarm.
She didn’t react fast enough. A giant arm slammed her body against an equally solid chest. She felt the barrel of a gun pressing against her neck and immediately recognized her captor’s voice.
“Well, well, sweet Samantha. Nice to see you again.”
Rianna’s heart rammed against her ribs, and sweat dampened her skin. She went perfectly still, barely able to breathe as Rudy’s arm tightened around her arms and chest. He held her in a bruising grip—evidence that he was furious with her. She’d made a fool of him, and men in his position didn’t take that lightly.
Despite his size, he moved with the speed and agility of a martial arts expert. She’d seen him work out in the gym, and knew he wouldn’t be easily overpowered or outmaneuvered.
“Where’s lover boy, Tony?”
He slowly nudged her forward, and she saw a dark vehicle parked a few yards down the alley.
“We decided to split up.”
“Mr. Haroldson will be sorry to hear that. He was hopin’ to have you both back home real soon.”
An involuntary shiver raced through her at the thought. Rudy must have felt it, and he gave a bark of laughter. “You got that right, honey. You best be shakin’ in your shoes. Mr. Haroldson’s real upset.”
Rianna briefly wondered if Gregory had been arrested. It should have happened today, but they’d had no way to call and check. It didn’t seem likely, with Rudy still on the loose.
What could possibly have gone wrong? As far as she knew, Rudy was to be arrested along with several other members of Gregory’s staff.
They reached the car, a small Jeep, and he shoved her against the back door on the passenger side. He pressed himself against her in a deliberate attempt to humiliate. His laughter had a lewd edge as he breathed heavily in her ear.
“I sure hope the boss lets me have a go at you, little slut,” he said, thrusting his hips against her and grinding them in a disgusting attempt to demean her. “I always thought it was a waste to keep you in that big house with nobody gettin’ any of this sweet body.”
Another shudder of revulsion coursed through her. The touch of his body sickened her, but she forced herself not to panic. Rudy would never disobey orders, and she was relatively sure Gregory hadn’t given him permission to manhandle her.
At least, not yet.
Where the hell was Kyle? Would he be coming to her rescue? He could be trusted, she sincerely believed that, but she wasn’t used to depending on anyone. What if he’d been jumped by another of Gregory’s men?
“Open the door,” Rudy ordered.
He eased his grip on her enough to allow her to reach the handle. Then she heard the unmistakable sound of metal connecting with bone. Rudy grunted, his grip went slack, and she felt him falling to the ground.
“You okay?” asked Kyle.
She was trembling from head to foot, and leaned against the car for support. In the next instant, Kyle’s arms were pulling her close. Rianna didn’t resist the offer of comfort. She slid her hands around his waist and clung, feeling relieved, yet guilty for having doubted him again.
“Did he hurt you?” His tone sounded low and gruff in her ear.
She shivered again, but with a whole different emotion. Relief surged through her, accompanied by a needy, hopeful feeling that alarmed her. She eased from his grip.
“I’m okay,” she insisted, shaking off the momentary weakness. “It sounded like you cracked his skull.”
“Not that hard head. He’ll be awake and fighting mad in a few minutes. Let’s get him tied up.”
“With what?”
“Check the car.”
While Rianna searched the car, Kyle searched Rudy’s pockets. He found the car keys, a cell phone and the electronic tracking device Rudy had used to locate her.
“Nothing in the car.”
“He’s wearing high-top boots. We’ll use his bootlaces.”
They each grabbed a foot and began unlacing Rudy’s boots. Then they rolled him onto his stomach, tied his hands behind his back and secured his feet. Rudy groaned, prompting Kyle to check his head and his breathing.
�
��He’s not bleeding. He has a goose egg, and his breathing is fine. He’ll live.”
“What now? Leave him here? Take him to the police? The emergency room?”
“Help me roll him to the side of the alley so he won’t get run over,” he said. They half lifted, half dragged the big man off the concrete. “We’ll leave him and put some distance between us before we call the authorities. Then they can deal with him.”
“Maybe there’s a warrant out for his arrest,” added Rianna. “If Gregory’s been arrested, there should be warrants out for Rudy and Tabone, too.”
They moved back to the car. Kyle automatically headed for the driver’s side, so Rianna climbed into the passenger seat.
“Think it’s safe to take his car? It could be bugged,” she said.
“It’s got rental tags,” he reassured her as the engine roared to life. “They wouldn’t have had a reason to bug it.”
“Probably not.” She pulled her seat belt into place. “But Tabone and the others can recognize it, so we’ll have to find something else.”
“Later,” he insisted. “First thing we have to do is find a hospital and get that metal out of your neck. I’ve got Rudy’s tracking device, but there could be others.”
“There’s a regional hospital near here. As anxious as I am to have this thing removed, I’d feel more comfortable if we headed north a while before we stop.”
Kyle glanced toward her, then back to the road. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure I don’t want any more confrontations tonight.”
The brief brush with Rudy had made her physically ill. She’d never expected such a violent physical and emotional reaction. It still had her shaken, and that scared her senseless.
How could she bear to go back and face them? Even for a trial? She loathed everything and everybody associated with Gregory Haroldson. The loathing had deepened over the past few months. It wasn’t until she’d been free of it that she’d realized how profoundly the assignment had traumatized her.
“Lexington’s a couple of hours north,” said Kyle, glancing at her again. “You sure you’re okay?”
She sensed his concern, but couldn’t begin to explain her emotional turmoil. Hugging herself to ward off the deep-seated chill, she answered in what she hoped was a convincing tone.
“I’m fine.”
“You cold?”
“A little.”
He turned on the heat even though the temperature in the Jeep was plenty warm. The small, sensitive action made Rianna feel weepy and confused. She blinked back tears and stared out the windshield as they left the lights of town behind them.
Darkness settled around them as they hit the open highway. Her thoughts churned along with the echo of tires on the road. Memories of the months spent in Gregory’s home kept whirring through her mind like a movie reel, making her more and more agitated.
She’d taken on a phony identity for a noble cause. But no matter how she tried to rationalize her actions, she still felt cheapened by all the pretense and deceit. She’d become someone she neither knew nor liked. Somewhere along the path to justice, she’d lost herself, and it scared the hell out of her.
Despite the warmth of the car, she could quell neither the chills coursing through her nor the sick rolling in her stomach. Each passing mile brought a more frantic need to run and hide. Not just from Gregory, but from life and all the emotional upheaval that went with it.
She’d known going into the assignment that the risks amounted to a lot more than physical danger. She’d been repeatedly lectured by Donald and warned by the psychologists. She’d read all the data and known what to expect.
So why didn’t any of it comfort her now? Why were her hands as cold as ice? Why couldn’t she steady the shaky, queasy feeling of shock?
They’d been traveling for less than an hour when Kyle slowed the car, pulled to the side of the road and shut off the engine. The unexpected action jarred Rianna out of her silent misery. She glanced around them, seeing nothing but shadows beyond the highway, and then she turned to stare at Kyle.
He took a deep breath, his chest expanding and then relaxing. Next he unclipped his seat belt and hers, reaching to gather her into his arms. The instant she realized he was offering comfort, she launched herself at him. Wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, she clung to him as though her next breath depended on the contact.
His arms tightened in response. He pulled her across his lap as she pressed closer, burying her face in the curve of his shoulder. He felt hard and wonderfully solid, his sweatshirt damp from the excessive heat in the car. He’d sacrificed his comfort to try to soothe her, and that made her feel even more pathetic.
He hugged her tightly, his warmth permeating deep into her bones, chasing away the coldness. A sob clawed at her throat, and a tremor shook her as she battled her personal demons.
“I’m sorry,” he said roughly, rubbing his face against her hair. “I should have gotten to you sooner. I wanted to make sure none of the others were near, but I shouldn’t have let Rudy touch you.”
She shook her head in denial. “It’s not just Rudy,” she said, although his repulsive treatment had triggered her reactions. “It’s the whole dirty business.”
“Yeah, I know.”
His low, soothing tone seeped into her ear and her heart. She realized that he really did understand.
“It’s okay,” he added, pressing a kiss to her temple. “You’re just crashing a little. Don’t be scared.”
Rianna knew he’d experienced similar situations. Still, she tried to explain. “For a little while, on the boat,” she whispered roughly, “I felt so clean and normal.”
“I know.”
Suddenly, she needed to let it all out, to get the terrible secrets off her mind. “I loved the power and adrenaline of living the lie, but I hate myself for feeling anything but disgust. I want Gregory punished, yet I wonder if I’m any better than him with all the lies and deceit.”
“There’s no doubt about that,” he assured, gently stroking her back. “Bringing him down means avenging a lot of people and saving a lot more.”
“I know. I keep telling myself that, over and over again,” she whispered. “I know what I did was important, personally and professionally. It just makes me sick. All of it. The games, the deception, the running and hiding. I just want it to be done.”
Kyle nuzzled her neck, still speaking quietly and calmly in her ear. “The psychologists warned you, didn’t they?”
She nodded, rubbing her head against his, soothed by the contact. “I know all the psychological explanations. It’s just harder to deal with the reality of it.”
“Yeah,” he gruffly agreed. “It’s harder. Especially as deep as you infiltrated.”
Rianna felt the increased tension in his body and hugged him even harder. She stopped wallowing in self-pity long enough to wonder what he felt and thought about her assignment. She’d let him believe she’d slept with a murderer and thief.
A heavy dose of guilt assailed her. Kyle had done nothing but help and protect her, yet she’d constantly doubted him and his motives. She’d deceived him by letting him believe a lie, and she’d used that lie to protect her own cowardly fear of involvement. It was past time to level with him, and risk a deeper involvement.
“I was inside the operation, but not as deep as you think,” she confessed in a small voice. “Gregory and I were never lovers.”
Kyle stiffened, and then eased her away until they could see each other. Moonlight bathed his taut features.
“Explain.”
Rianna flattened her hands on his chest and dropped her gaze from the intensity of his. “Gregory’s main interest in me was social status. I made it clear from the beginning that I wouldn’t have sex until after we were married. He agreed, and kept his end of the bargain.”
“He just wanted a pretense of normalcy?”
“Yes.”
She dared a glance at him, but he looked even more fierce.
“So you didn’t actually prostitute yourself for the assignment?” he growled, lifting her off his lap and putting some space between them.
His words stung, and her breathing stilled. Her next words were hard to get past the dryness in her throat. “That’s what you think of me? That I’m some kind of whore who’d use my body to gather evidence?”
“You tell me what to think.”
Rianna felt a small surge of anger, but it was quickly squelched. Sadness and regret followed. As much as she wanted his unconditional respect, she couldn’t blame him for thinking the worst. She’d encouraged everyone to believe it.
“Gregory and I had a pact. He wanted a society wife, and I pretended to be penniless. That gained me entrance to his estate.”
Kyle’s gaze never wavered. He stared at her with unblinking intensity. “You’re saying you never slept with him?”
“Never.” The thought nauseated her. “He has a mistress. She’s just not suitable wife material.”
“Damn!”
His curse echoed loud and long as he continued to glare at her. She could almost feel him struggling with the truth. A myriad of expressions crossed his features—first shock and disbelief, then relief, and then renewed anger.
“We’ve been living in each other’s pockets for the past few days, and you knew it bugged the hell out of me,” he growled. “Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”
She was silent for a minute as she studied his tense expression. Then she warily made another confession. “I didn’t know if I could trust you.”
He rubbed his jaw and stared out the windshield. Rianna held her breath, wondering if she’d completely alienated him with her honesty. When moments passed without any comment, she settled back into her seat and fastened the seat belt.
Kyle fastened his seat belt and reached for Rudy’s cell phone. He handed it to her before starting the Jeep and pulling back onto the highway. His attitude didn’t invite further confidences.
“Better call directory assistance and get the number for the Somerset police,” he said. “Tell them where to find Rudy and that there might be a warrant for his arrest.”
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