Never Let Go

by Deborah Smith

  “Get out,” he growled at Jeopard and Drake. “I need to think a while.”

  “All right. Good enough. We’ll be around.”

  “Get out.”

  He heard the heavy thud of the door closing. Then he heard the creaking of a chair as someone settled into it. Rucker turned furious, dazed eyes toward a thronelike contraption in one corner. Drake Lancaster sat there, his hands crossed over his stomach, his legs stretched out in front of him.

  “I said I need to think, dammit.”

  Lancaster nodded companionably to him. “I like to watch people think. But don’t think too hard while you hold onto your blanket. You just ripped a big hole in it.”

  “The sun is hot these days. There are lots of reasons to watch the stars.”

  Her heart jumping, Dinah halted in the lobby of the New Orleans hotel and stared at the young woman who’d just spoken those words to her. The woman wore a sloppy brown dress suit. Her red hair spilled in fuzzy disarray to her shoulders. She carried a dingy leather purse and a handful of newspapers. Agents were hardly glamorous creatures.

  Dinah inhaled sharply. “Astrology could be the answer to our questions.”

  Nodding and smiling, the young woman handed her a copy of the daily paper. “Enjoy.” She left the lobby at a casual pace.

  Dinah located the lobby restroom and hid in a stall. There she opened the newspaper and found the note she expected. Valdivia’s dark, slanting script leaped out at her: Danger. Change of plans. Meet me here. He listed a street address and time.

  Her head ached from lack of sleep and long hours of driving. Nervousness made her hands shake as she disposed of the note. It could mean only one thing. They were being followed.

  Rucker had never seen Jeopard Surprise visibly angry. The fact that Jeopard was now pacing in front of Dr. Scarborough’s fireplace meant that the phone call he’d just received had brought extremely bad news.

  Drake lounged against a wall opposite the chair where Rucker sat. “Did somebody screw up in New Orleans?” he probed.

  Jeopard nodded. “We lost them both. Valdivia met Dinah in an abandoned warehouse. The two of them slipped out a hidden exit. They’ve left the country by now. Well pick the trail up in South America, but we won’t have the jurisdiction to arrest either of them.”

  “Just find out where they’re going,” Rucker told him in a flat, unemotional voice. “And tell me.”

  Jeopard stopped pacing and gazed at him sardonically. “So you can go down there and get killed? Hell, no.”

  “I’m going after my daughter. I don’t need your permission.”

  He watched Jeopard and Drake share a shrewd look. “You need our help, though,” Jeopard remarked. “Unofficially, of course. Hmmm. A domestic dispute. An upset husband wants to bring his wife and child back to the States. He resorts to kidnapping. Understandable.”

  Rucker felt his teeth grinding at the inside of his cheek. “I don’t want my wife back.”

  “Maybe not, but I have to insist. I want Sara Scarborough, too. Unfortunately, we can’t kidnap Valdivia along with them—the extradition legalities would ruin us, since he’s a Suradoran citizen. But bringing Dinah and Sara back is a good start.”

  Drake straightened and stretched languidly. “Give me a couple of days to get some surveillance reports on Valdivia’s location. Then we can move in. How many men do you want?”

  Jeopard smiled thinly. “Just the three of us. We’re simply overworked businessmen taking a few days off to visit Surador with a friend.”

  If Drake felt astonished or worried, he hid it well, Rucker noted. The huge man merely shrugged. “A nice way to spend a vacation. I’ll make the reservations.” He arched a black brow wryly. “I suppose we’re traveling tourist class?”

  Jeopard bowed toward Rucker. “Certainly. Our friend is paying the expenses. Wouldn’t want to take advantage of his hospitality.”

  Rucker shrugged. “We’ll go first class. If you two are gonna risk your lives, the least I can do is make it pleasant.”

  “You’ll be risking yours too,” Jeopard reminded him.

  Rucker looked at him wearily. “No problem. It’s not much of a life anymore.”

  The hot, green smell of the jungle would always mean fear and captivity to Dinah. She shut her eyes and recoiled inwardly as Valdivia’s armed driver opened the Mercedes’s passenger door.

  “Home sweet home,” Valdivia murmured slyly, as he got out of the car. He turned, a tall, imposing figure in an exquisite dark suit, and offered his hand. “Come now, querida. You always look so unhappy when we return to my plantation. But you’ll be with your daughter again, and I know you’ll enjoy seeing Sara.

  “You should go straight to your suite and rest. Your maid will run a cool bath for you. Then you and I will have a very pleasant dinner in my private courtyard.”

  Dinah let him help her from the car. She gazed up at the sprawling, white-washed hacienda surrounded by majestic trees. Despite its luxury and Spanish charm, it was a prison. Wrought-iron bars covered the windows of her suite.

  “I don’t have a maid,” she retorted. “I have a guard.”

  Valdivia slipped an arm around her waist as they walked to an arched entranceway draped in flowering vines. Servants in brightly colored clothes bustled ahead of them. “It need not be that way,” he insisted smoothly. “You and little Catalina could have a very fine life here. I have made offers—”

  “My daughter’s name is Katie. You have made a bargain. I expect you to keep it.”

  He sighed. “Allow me to examine the package from Dr. Scarborough, and then we’ll talk.”

  “The project is over, Diego. You have what you want. Now you have to let us go. And Sara.”

  There was a harsh edge to his voice. “I will examine the package,” he repeated. “This discussion is ended.” He paused. “Tonight at dinner you’ll wear the green dress with the emerald earrings. And wear your hair up.” He stroked her waist through the blue linen of her suit. “You must tell me how you lost your sable coat. I want to know everything about your adventures.”

  Dinah stiffened miserably. She’d have to spend the rest of the afternoon concocting a plausible story that would exclude any mention of Rucker. The pain that ran through her at the memory of his drugged, helpless body made her stomach churn.

  Believe, my darling. Believe.

  • • •

  Drake waved them to a stop. “We’re almost there. Let’s take a break and go over everything one more time.”

  Rucker ran a sweaty hand along the back of his neck then shrugged gear off his back. They’d spent hours in airplanes, then more in a rented truck, and now they’d hiked at least ten miles through a lush hell of jungle.

  But fatigue was no match for the emotions that drove him. He stood with his legs braced apart, staring into the forest ahead of them. Valdivia’s plantation was close.

  He’d steal his wife and daughter from the bastard, even if his wife didn’t want to be stolen. He’d take Katie to Mount Pleasant and together they’d create some semblance of a normal life. Dinah would go to prison, which was what she deserved.

  Rucker forced himself to listen as Drake went over the layout of the hacienda one more time. They’d all three memorized it from surveillance reports provided by a local informant.

  But he kept seeing Dinah’s face and hearing her words from the past week. How could he have mistaken deception for devotion? How could he drag her back to the States and let strangers lock her away?

  Damned fool, he called himself. Don’t think, just do it.

  He realized suddenly that Jeopard was speaking to him. Rucker turned toward him, frowning. “What? Say that again?”

  Jeopard clasped his shoulder. His face was stern, but his voice held gentleness. “I said, Don’t look in Dinah’s eyes. It’ll be easier that way.”

  Rucker felt as if he’d been punched in the stomach. He fought to subdue the emotions that suddenly wanted to take charge again. His jaw clenched, he fi
nally managed to nod in agreement.

  Don’t think. Just take revenge.

  • • •

  “Katie. Oh, Katie Ann. Your father already loves you, even though he hasn’t met you yet.”

  Dinah cradled their daughter’s soft, small body to her shoulder and brushed a kiss across her forehead. She cherished these private times when she was allowed to sit alone with Katie in the walled garden behind the hacienda. Trees broke the tropical sun into harmless dapples. Here it was safe for Katie to wear nothing but a diaper.

  Dinah stroked her fluffy hair. “Exactly the color of your father’s,” she crooned hoarsely, unable to hide the tearful undertone in her voice. Katie stirred. Her head wobbled up and Dinah studied the tiny frown between her eyebrows.

  Dinah forced a reassuring smile. “Sweetheart, I didn’t mean to upset you. There. That’s it, close your eyes. That’s my girl.”

  Moving slowly, Dinah put her down on a white blanket cushioned by the manicured lawn. Katie’s lips moved with contented nursing motions. Her tiny hands curled and uncurled. Delicate auburn eyelashes fluttered against her cheeks.

  Dinah swallowed a familiar knot of anxiety. She drew her knees up and rested her head on them, wrapping the skirt of her white, shirtwaist dress around her legs as she did. With one hand resting protectively on Katie’s leg, she allowed herself to slip into a daydream.

  When Valdivia let her leave, she’d take Katie straight to Mount Pleasant. Sara Scarborough would come with her. They’d explain everything to Rucker from start to finish and get Anna to add her part of the story.

  When Rucker heard, how could he not believe them? The story was too incredible to be a lie. He’d help them defend themselves.

  When the dust settled, she would surround herself with Rucker’s love and together they’d erase the heartache of the past ten months. She imagined all the things she’d do for him, and all the wonderful things he’d do in return. They’d be homebodies, playing with Katie, reading aloud to each other, working in the yard, making love in their king-size bed.…

  Sounds behind her made her grimace with dismay. Dinah raised her head and said in fluent Spanish, “Teodora, you promised me a full hour today. I have twenty minutes left.”

  A hot, strong hand clamped over her mouth. Dinah screamed uselessly against it. Other hands pulled her arms behind her and snapped cuffs on them. She tried to twist away, but the grip on her arms was unyielding.

  Dinah darted a frantic gaze toward Katie, whose eyes had opened wide at the frightening sounds of struggle. The hand moved from Dinah’s mouth but immediately a thick strip of adhesive tape took its place.

  She writhed wildly, elbowing the hard, muscled body behind her so that its owner grunted with discomfort. She drummed the grass with her heels. Suddenly a powerful arm snaked around her waist, pulling her against a sweaty chest.

  Dinah thought she must be losing her mind. Something in the scent and feel of the man was not only familiar, but reassuring. She made furious and despairing sounds that were muffled by the tape over her mouth. A thick mustache brushed her ear.

  “Shut up and be still,” an unmistakable voice whispered.

  Shock brought dizzy pinpoints of light into her vision. She froze, breathing harshly. Oh, God, no. Rucker had somehow managed to follow her to this hellhole.

  Dinah stared with dazed eyes as a gigantic man came around in front of her. He wore army fatigues and a deadly looking machine gun was slung over his back. His black hair was plastered to his head by sweat and his skin was ruddy from exertion, but his expression was utterly calm. He squatted beside her, grabbed her ankles, and cuffed them with bright silver links.

  Confusion stabbed her. Why were they treating her like this? She tried to call out to Rucker but the words were muffled. He scooped Katie and the blanket into his hands. A second later he left her limited range of vision and she realized that he was walking away. Incredulous, Dinah shoved the giant with both feet.

  He lost his balance, grunted in surprise, and fell out of his squat. Dinah rolled over on her stomach and watched anxiously as Rucker reached the garden’s tall, white-washed wall. He wore the same kind of combat gear as the giant.

  To her amazement, Jeopard Surprise was perched on top of the wall. Rucker handed Katie up to him. With the baby clasped in both arms, Jeopard dropped to the outside.

  Massive hands slipped under Dinah’s waist. She gasped as the giant picked her up and hung her facedown over his shoulder.

  In less than a minute she found herself outside the garden wall. Her stomach muscles protested painfully as the giant carried her into the jungle behind Rucker and Jeopard.

  When they were several hundred feet from the hacienda she heard Jeopard order softly, “Here.”

  She was lowered to the matted jungle floor. The giant rolled her onto her stomach and she awkwardly tried to keep her face out of the damp humus. Someone slipped a soft cloth beneath her head. Dinah rested her cheek against it and frowned in bewilderment as she realized that it was Katie’s blanket and that the kindness came from Rucker.

  Why didn’t he just turn her loose? Did he think she’d run or scream?

  “Drake and I’ll be back soon with the other one,” she heard Jeopard say. “Just keep Dinah still and quiet.”

  Drake? Dinah noted instantly. As in Drake Lancaster, the bearded mountain man? Rucker’s deep voice interrupted her bewilderment. It held a coldness that stunned her.

  “She won’t be any trouble anymore. I’m only worried about my daughter.” Dinah heard Katie’s soft coo. Rucker spoke again, his voice softer. “But this little lady’s a tough gal, I can tell already. She won’t make a peep.”

  After the other two men departed, Dinah heard only her own harsh breathing and the tentative sounds of birds and insects that had been startled into silence by the human activity. Then there was the rustling movement of Rucker’s army boots as he moved about. She heard him talking to Katie, but his voice was too low to understand.

  Suddenly his laced boot came down inches from her face. He was standing over her, his feet braced apart. She could almost feel his gaze. Dinah braced her shoulder into the ground and tried to roll over. To her amazement, he put a foot on her back and held her still.

  The careful force didn’t hurt, but her emotional distress burst into anguish that made her groan with grief and frustration. Immediately he removed his foot and sat down beside her. He gripped her shoulder firmly.

  “Don’t move,” he rasped in a low, fierce tone. “And get used to bein’ a prisoner.”

  Understanding finally sank into her stunned thoughts. Just as he’d warned, he would never forgive her for leaving him, no matter what loving message Anna had passed along. Trembling with despair, she clenched her hands against the thick steel cuffs.

  Abruptly Rucker reached for her right hand. “I kept warnin’ you not to cross me. I told you that I’m capable of bein’ cruel now.” He pried the fingers open. “Valdivia outfits you pretty well,” he noted, twisting the ring on her third finger. “Looks like a sapphire. You must have told him how much you like them.”

  He pulled the ring off. “Too bad.” She sensed the movement of his arm as he tossed the ring into the undergrowth. Next he removed the matching bracelet. “You won’t need this anymore.” She heard it strike the heavy frond of a plant nearby.

  His fingers fumbled at her sapphire earring. It suffered the same fate as the other pieces of jewelry. “Now the other side.” Lacing his fingers into her flowing hair, Rucker made her turn her head toward him.

  From her awkward position she could see him by straining her side vision. Katie lay on his lap, gazing up at him raptly and without fear. Dinah blinked swiftly but couldn’t control the burning in her eyes. Tears of bittersweet joy slipped across the bridge of her nose.

  “Damn you, don’t cry for sympathy,” Rucker growled. He pulled the other earring off and threw it viciously. “What you feel doesn’t make any difference to me. I won’t take the tape off your mouth
and risk havin’ you scream for help.”

  Dinah choked back sobs, knowing that she would hardly be able to breathe if she gave into them with her mouth taped shut. She turned her face away from him once more.

  “You had me hooked, lady,” he told her in a flat tone. “I started trusting you again. Congratulations. But you made a mistake when you drugged me like some sort of animal you wanted tamed.”

  Anna hadn’t given him the message. Dinah trembled in despair. Her throat strained with the need to explain to him. He couldn’t be in any more danger than he was already. There was no more need for secrecy. If he’d only give her a chance, she’d tell him everything.

  “Let’s see what else Valdivia likes,” Rucker said tautly. He repositioned himself by her legs. “An ankle chain, babe? That’s tacky—not your style.” He anchored several fingers under the slender thread of gold and broke it. He pulled one of the white flats from her feet. “Italian. Very freakin’ nice.” He pulled the other shoe off and flung them both away.

  “No hose. Well, it’s so hot here, and I always said you have great legs.” Dinah gave a muffled cry as Rucker flipped the long skirt of her dress up to her waist. She winced at his harsh intake of breath.

  Valdivia had refused to let her have any panties. It was one of the more ridiculous ways in which he could taunt her for resisting his advances.

  “Let’s see the rest.” This time Rucker’s voice quivered with controlled rage. He flung her skirt back over her bare hips and grasped her by one arm. “Roll over.”

  Tugging her quickly, he turned her onto her back. His fingers grasped the top button at the V-necked bodice and tore it off. He roughly shoved the material aside. She wore an ugly nursing bra with wide shoulder straps.

  “Hell. This must really put him off. I bet he can’t wait until you get rid of it.”

  For the first time Rucker’s eyes met hers. She looked at him with understanding and sadness. Her gentle gaze seemed to stun him; he cursed weakly and turned his head. “Jeopard warned me. He was right.”

  With a quick movement he rolled her onto her stomach again.