"Trust me, E. I'm coming from the right place. Call me and give me an ETA for the money, okay? I better go.” He hung up and walked back to Jen.
"Lots of mysterious phone calls.” She smiled up at him.
He clipped the phone to his belt and lowered himself into the captain's chair across from her. Lines of strain were etched on her face and the look of fear was back in her eyes. He picked up both of her hands and closed his own around them.
"First of all,” he told her, “Deanne is fine so don't get it in your head that the calls had anything to do with her."
"Okay."
She curled her hands into his palms. Despite the heat of the sun he could feel how cold they were. He had a feeling the chill went all the way through to her soul.
"Jen, there's something unusual about the pieces John stole and none of us can figure out what it is. Would you have any idea? Did he say anything? Let something drop?"
"No. Dino, I've told you. I don't—"
"Okay, okay. But I'm getting feedback that puts this outside the realm of ordinary artifact theft and that's not good."
"I don't know what to say. I was shocked just to find out he did it at all.” She leaned forward, her eyes pleading. “You believe me, don't you?"
"I do. It isn't easy to fool me, Jen. I read people pretty well. I've had to for all these years."
"So what now?"
"Now we put away the wine and make a pot of coffee. We'll have some sandwiches after a while."
She wrinkled her brow. “We're not leaving?"
He shook his head. “We're meeting someone late tonight. Not far from here. Maybe we'll have some answers then. Meanwhile we don't need fuzzy thinking or low blood sugar. So. Coffee and sandwiches."
He stood and pulled her up with him. They were so close there was barely room for a sheet of paper between them. He was still holding her hands when he leaned forward a millimeter and touched his lips to hers. Her mouth was soft, her lips like brushed velvet. Intoxicating. He didn't need wine when Jen was around. He could have gone on kissing her forever.
But as quickly as the kiss began, he broke off, mentally kicking himself.
"Jen, I'm sorry. I—"
But anything else he might have said was lost as she reached her hands up and pulled his head back down to her, kissing him as if her life depended on it. The first thing he felt was shock, then heat followed by a healthy dose of lust. Stronger than he'd felt in years, if he stopped to think about it, which he didn't. He gripped Jen's head and took her mouth, devouring it like a starving man at a banquet.
His tongue pressed at the seam of her lips and when she opened for him he swept it inside, licking and tasting. Her own small tongue met his as she welcomed his intrusion. She wove her arms behind his neck and locked him against her. The heat from the kiss could have incinerated both of them. Dino felt himself harden behind the denim of his jeans just as her breasts pushed their hard tips against his chest.
They stopped only when they became oxygen-deprived, gulping in air, looking at each other. Dino saw his own stunned reflection mirrored in Jen's. His heart was knocking against his ribs and he saw her pulse beating erratically in the soft hollow of her throat.
"Jesus.” He drew in air again, let it out slowly.
She unwound her arms and would have taken a step away if he hadn't grabbed her.
"I-I'm sorry,” she stammered. “I don't know ... that was totally inappropriate of me."
"No, I was the inappropriate one. But Jen. My God."
"I know.” Her own breathing was still ragged. “What's going on here, Dino?"
"Something I think neither of us is sure we know what to do about.” He pulled her against him, loving the feel of her small body against his hard one.
"There are things about my life ... things you don't know..."
He moved one hand to cup her chin and tilt her face up. “I think we both come with a history. There are things I've done I'm not proud of, things I could probably never tell you about. But it doesn't matter. What matters is what happens from here on out."
"And what's that?"
"I'm going to get you out of this mess and then we're going to see if we can find the same happy ending Ethan and Lisa have."
She dropped her head and leaned it against his chest. He could feel tears soaking his shirt.
"If only,” she whispered.
"We'll make it happen, Jen. I promise. And I don't promise things lightly."
* * * *
Martin Van Dine had lived his entire life on the edge, making and losing more money than most people could even dream about by buying and selling information. Some countries called him traitor, others a hero. He was the consummate spy whose services were for sale to the highest bidder. The ultimate mercenary, only without the morals that so many of them had developed these days.
He was a fairly nondescript person, which worked well for his line of work. Five-ten, unremarkable brown hair and hazel eyes, no distinguishing features, he could pass for anyone or no one. Neither his American mother nor his German father had really wanted him but they'd tolerated him until he was old enough to set out on his own. He'd never seen either one of them since then.
In his younger days he was a wheeler dealer. A kingpin. A shadow figure who slid in and out of trouble like a greased cat. But now he was much older, time had caught up with him and he needed to find a comfortable place where he could tuck himself away and spend the rest of his life without looking over his shoulder. Too many people had a target on his back.
It was no coincidence that he happened to be within speeding distance of Dino Brancuzzi. The heat he'd felt first in Europe, then South America, then in Mexico, had nothing to do with the sun. Dino Brancuzzi had once told him he had twenty-nine lives, but it seemed he'd used up most of them.
Along the way, he'd picked up some very dicey information, hoarding it until the right buyer came along. This last little bit that should have resulted in a big payday had turned to shit because—and he hated to admit it—he wasn't as sharp on his game as he used to be. He'd had such an adrenaline rush from the news he'd picked up that he'd focused only on finding a way to trade it for a huge payday.
But someone knew he had discovered the nugget of information. Someone with a vested interest in not having that information passed along. Someone who made his living acting as the eyes and ears for a number of people. To let them know if somewhere in the information pipeline there was a leak. Enough people paid for his services that he lived very comfortably and he had no intention of screwing things up.
The man paying for his services at the moment was adamant that none of the information about his operation leak out to anyone. That no one get a whiff of anything. The people he represented were already distressed because a problem had come up that they were having trouble dealing with. It was only by the purest chance they'd discovered Van Dine had stumbled over the information and was getting ready to peddle it. Things were coming unraveled too fast. How the hell Van Dine found out who they were and what they were doing was a mystery when they'd been so careful. The stupid street dealer, no doubt. Shooting off his mouth at the wrong time and in the wrong place.
The sudden awareness of the man's presence had been a shock to Van Dine. Confident that he'd managed to evade anyone with an eye on him, he'd let the man come up on his blind side. He had to move fast, find the right buyer for his information quickly and get the hell out of the universe. Not only could this man cost him the pot of gold, he could also cost him his life. The people running this operation had more to lose than he did if the word got out.
Yes, that was the answer. Stay out of sight, get his buyer and disappear completely. Calling on the friends he could still rely on for help and secrecy, he'd worked his way up to Cancun, then, of all places, to the west coast of Florida. He had a new personality waiting for him, a whole new identity, in the one place no one would ever look for him. The country he'd screwed more times than a light bulb. The good old
U.S. of A. He'd kept his ear to the ground for a way out this mess. And here, out of the blue, was his old enemy Dino Brancuzzi, who'd called not once but three times.
The call from Dino Brancuzzi had been a gift from the gods. When Van Dine discovered that the information he'd been hoarding was what Dino wanted, he knew he'd hit the jackpot and found a way out of his situation. Luck was going to be with him one last time. Dino Brancuzzi was about to subsidize the Martin Van Dine retirement fund. Could life possibly be more ironic?
Smart enough not to reveal how close to Brancuzzi he was when he called him back, he set the coordinates for the meeting out on the water and made his plans. Brancuzzi would hand over the exorbitant sum he'd asked for—and hadn't even quibbled, Van Dine noted—Van Dine would give him the information, and they'd all live happily ever after. What could possibly go wrong?
Again, because he was sure he'd reached safety, he missed the eyes on him. No longer at the top of his game, he made trailing him an easy exercise, especially when he thought he'd arrived in a place where he could relax his guard.
But the man following him had his orders—fix the problem. His sophisticated electronic surveillance gear landed him the information that had arranged a meeting tonight on the open water. There he'd exchange his information for money to set himself up in a new life. The open water was a good place to get rid of someone and leave no traces. Best of all, no body. He watched while Van Dine arranged for a fast boat, then slipped quietly into the water to do what he needed to do. After that it was just a matter of waiting.
* * * *
Jen leaned back against Dino's chest, secure in the cradle of his arms, soothed by the gentle rocking motion of the boat. She had a slight caffeine buzz from all the coffee she drank but the sandwiches they'd eaten had taken some of the edge off. Dino had huddled in the cockpit making phone calls while she cleaned up the galley. Then they made themselves comfortable on deck, not speaking, just enjoying a closeness Jen had never felt with another living soul.
And something else. For the first time in her life she felt, if not safe, at least protected. Not that Ethan wouldn't have handled danger for her all those years ago. But that was mostly because Ethan was used to handling danger, not because of their relationship. John certainly wasn't someone who made her feel secure in the world, although at the very end he'd given his life to save hers and Deanne's.
But Dino Brancuzzi wove an invisible shield around her. He was a warrior who had her back and would keep the world at bay, without expecting anything in return, unlike most of the men in her life. That was the important thing. There was no bargain here.
The feel of his body reminded her of the threads of something creeping into their relationship, whatever that turned out to be. The incendiary kiss they'd shared promised so many things. Did she even dare to think of what they were? She couldn't remember the last time a man had affected her this way. This wasn't just the ‘let's have sex’ kind of feeling she'd had all those years ago. Or the ‘let's perform the marriage ritual’ that sex with John had been like.
No, if she wasn't careful this could burn her heart. She had to put it out of her mind. Despite what Dino said about ‘after this,’ she was still just a responsibility to him. Someone to protect, part of the puzzle he was solving. She wasn't sure happy endings were in her future. She'd been riding the merry-go-round too many times.
She tilted her head back against his shoulder just to absorb the feel of him and looked up at the night sky. It was so clear each star was plainly visible, a cluster of diamonds against black velvet. The moon was a perfectly drawn sliver hung against the dark backdrop of the night. The air was so quiet Jen could hear the soft lapping of the waves against the boat's hull, a comforting sound like a mermaid's kiss.
That silence was suddenly broken by the unmistakable whine of a helicopter. Jen looked up, startled, as Dino gently set her aside and picked up a large flashlight he'd placed on the deck close to him. He pointed it at the helicopter and flashed it twice, then directed a steady beam upwards.
"What's going on?” Jen asked, moving to stand next to him.
"Special delivery,” he told her. “Watch for a package on the end of a rope."
In seconds she spotted a rope being lowered from the open door of the chopper with something large and dark at its end. Dino handed the flashlight to Jen as he reached upwards.
"Turn the light off,” he said, and pulled the package toward him.
Now she could see it was a black duffel bag, tied to a hook on the end of the rope. Dino untied it, let it drop to the deck, then took the flashlight and blinked it twice again. The chopper lifted and took off into the darkness.
"What's in the bag?” she asked, her curiosity tickled. It wasn't every day she saw people get deliveries by helicopter.
He grinned at her, his face lit only by one lantern on the deck. “If I told you a million dollars would you believe me?"
"No, really. What could someone drop onto this deck from a helicopter at this time of night?"
Dino motioned for her to follow him as he carried the bag down the steps into the salon. Plunking it onto the table in the dining area, he unzipped it and held it open for her inspection.
Jen's jaw dropped. “My God. You weren't kidding, were you?"
"I never kid.” All humor had left his face. He zipped up the bag and took it into the bedroom. Jen followed behind him, watching as he opened the closet door, pushed clothes aside and pressed against the back wall of the closet. Immediately a panel slid sideways, revealing a three-foot square opening. Dino set the bag inside and slid the panel back in place.
"Let's go back topside,” he told her.
"Can you tell me what the money's for? And where it came from?"
He took her hand and led her up the steps back to the deck. When they were seated on the cushions again he kept her hand in his, playing with the fingers.
"Whose money is that?” she asked again. “Come on, Dino. It's all about me, so don't keep me in the dark."
"It's for the man who's coming to meet us. He has information we need."
"Information that's worth this much money?” She was still dealing with the amount, astounded that anyone would think her safety was worth such an astronomical sum.
Dino lifted her hand and kissed the knuckles. “How can you put a price on someone's life, cara?"
"B-but whose money is it? Where did it come from?"
"This particular batch came from Ethan since I couldn't exactly leave the boat and run to the bank. But as soon as we're back on shore I'll pay him back."
"A million dollars,” she repeated the number in a soft voice. “Man. Whatever you guys do must pay really well."
"Our fees are commensurate with the risk,” he told her. “Now. Enough about that. I need to turn off all the lights, even the small one here on deck.” He set her hand aside and rose from the bench. “But first I'm going to move the boat just a little bit."
"Why? This is where you told that man you'd be."
"Trust nothing,” he said, “and you'll live to make many more times that million dollars. Just sit still. I'll be right back."
He pressed the button to retract the anchor, then took the stairs to the cockpit two at a time. In seconds, she heard the dual Yamaha engines turn over with a smooth sound and the boat began to glide slowly through the water. Five minutes later, the engines were silenced and Dino was back on deck with her, lowering the anchor. He flipped more switches on a panel and just like that, the boat was shrouded in darkness.
When he sat down next to Jen again, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to his body. The feel of his hard, muscular frame not only made her feel secure but it sent her hormones into overdrive. If only she she could stay like this forever.
"Now what?” she asked.
"Now we wait."
Where before the night sounds had been soothing to her, now every noise made her nerves jump.
"Relax,” Dino murmured in her ear, alt
hough she could feel a tautness in his own body. “Everything's going to be fine."
A tiny shiver skittered over her. “I just wish I knew how I ended up here in this mess. I thought I was getting such a safe life for Deanne and me."
"Things aren't always what they seem, Jen."
"And you?” she asked. “Are you what you seem?"
"I don't know. How would you describe me?"
"You mean besides good looking and too sexy to be legal?"
He laughed softly. “I think you need your eyes checked."
"Besides that, I see a man who lives on adrenaline, loves the chase, and is confident in his own abilities to always win. And happy not to have any attachments."
He was silent for so long she didn't think he was going to say anything. When he did, his voice had a strange quality to it.
"You'd be right. At least about half of it. The other half might have been true, too, before...” He let his voice trail off.
"Before what?"
But whatever answer he might have given disappeared as the faint noise of a speedboat disturbed the velvet silence of the night. Dino tensed, and as the sound grew louder, he shifted Jen away from him and moved to the brow. The gun he wore at the small of his back suddenly appeared in his hand.
She wanted to ask if he greeted all his guests this way, but she didn't want to disturb his concentration.
With so little moonlight it was difficult to make out the shape of the boat as the hull cut through the water. It was little more than a dark blob against a darker background.
"Jen, go below.” Dino spoke without looking at her.
Jen knew enough not to ask questions. She scrambled down into the salon, stationing herself where she was out of sight but could still see what was happening on deck. The engine whine grew louder and louder and, like Dino, she tensed, awaiting its arrival.
The sound of the explosion burst in her ears, the sonic waves it caused rocking the boat back and forth.
Oh God. What now?
She peered up the stairs and saw giant flames leaping into the night and debris raining down on the water.
"Stay the hell down there,” Dino hollered.
Last Ride on the Merry-go-round Page 12
