She slipped her arms around his neck. “Of course.”
Cursing himself for breaking his own heart, he hugged her to him, inhaling her scent, then covered her mouth with his, letting all the love he’d longed to give her show through.
She didn’t resist. She even kissed him back. But he could tell her heart wasn’t in it. And the flare of desire he’d hoped would erupt, didn’t. When he raised his head, she laid hers on his shoulder. Resigned, he pressed his cheek to her hair.
“I’ll miss you, Levi,” she murmured. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. If there was any way I could force my heart—”
“I know. You’re still in love with Max.”
“He touched something in me no one else ever has. I just can’t get past it. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m well aware that hearts won’t do what you tell them to. I’ve got that problem myself.”
Sliding a finger under her chin, he lifted it and kissed her one last time. When he broke off, there were tears on her cheeks.
“Don’t cry, luv,” he whispered, wiping them off with his thumbs. “Remember, I’m here if you ever need me.”
“Thank you.”
He released her and picked up her two duffel bags. “I see you’re traveling with more luggage this time.”
“Since I won’t have to run for my life with ten minutes warning anymore, I figured I could take a few more things.”
She grabbed her backpack and walked outside with him. He put her bags in the trunk of the cab, opened the door for her, and told the driver to take her to the airport. Tess wrapped her arms around him and hugged him once more. “I’ll miss you.” Then she slipped out of his arms and into the open door of the cab, closing it behind her.
He stared after her as the car drove away. He knew she wouldn’t come back to him. Time to get over her and move on. Kissing her had at least given him closure, and maybe now he could finally love someone else. There had to be someone out there meant for him.
He went back into the house to make plans. He had one more thing he needed to do for Tess.
***
Tess sat in the back of the cab, thinking about Levi. Kissing him had felt like kissing her brother. How could she care about him so much and feel absolutely no passion for him? She’d miss him. God, how she’d miss him. But he needed to move on.
At the airport she bought a ticket to La Paz. She was going back to the cottage and had spent the last month making plans. A new satellite phone resided in her backpack, along with enough cash to take care of her needs for months. Her money was in a savings account now, so when she needed it all she had to do was call the bank and have them wire the funds to her.
Maybe she’d buy a car, so she could go to La Paz or Cabo whenever she wanted. Now that Nick and Tony were dead, she had no more reason to hide. And even if she had, she wouldn’t run again. Ever.
The cottage would be vacant. It was so remote, the owner only managed to find renters a few weeks out of the year, if at all. So he’d be glad to have her back. And Griffin should still be around. She’d missed him. But he’d show up—all she had to do was set out some peanut butter. She smiled, remembering how much he loved it.
She’d promised Jonas she’d come back to Salt Lake City every so often. He’d begged her not to stay away too long, so she’d agreed to call once a week, write often, and visit whenever she could. After all he’d done for her, she owed him that.
They called her flight and she got in line to board the plane. Maybe once she got back to the cove in Baja, she’d find some peace of mind. Would an essence of Max be there, as she hoped? If not, she’d survive. A broken heart might feel terminal, but it wasn’t. It would heal. Eventually.
***
Monday June 9th, 9:16 a.m., the office of Max Maxwell, The Farm, near Williamsburg, Virginia:
Max had been staring at his notes since seven a.m., trying to prepare for his eleven o’clock class. But his thoughts kept diverting to a small, vacant store he passed on the way to work. It would’ve made a perfect location for Tess to put a costume shop.
If only.
“What is it, Leanne?” he asked when his secretary came in, her eyes wide, her face a classic mask of awe. “Something wrong?”
A strawberry blonde with emerald green eyes, Leanne was twenty-three, pretty, sexy, and unaware of the effect she had on men. She could have been a bitch, but instead was a surprisingly sweet kid.
“There’s the most gorgeous hunk in the outer office waiting to see you,” she moaned. “Says he’s a friend of yours.”
“You’re drooling, kid.” The longing in her voice made him chuckle. He’d never seen her like this. “Does this ‘hunk’ have a name?”
“I think he said it was Levi. I was too busy looking at his eyes—the most beautiful blue eyes I’ve ever seen.” She rolled her own. “And God, don’t you just love his British accent?”
“He’s not exactly my type.” What was Levi doing here? Max suppressed a bubble of fear. Had something happened to Tess? “Why don’t you wipe the slobber off your chin and show him in?”
“If he follows me home, can I keep him? Please, please, help me out here.”
He snorted. She made a face at him and hurried out. A few moments later she ushered Levi in. He came through the door, stopped, gazed into her eyes, and then shook his head as if trying to clear it. Leanne sighed, backed out, and closed the door.
Max felt a surge of relief. Interesting. I figured Levi and Tess would be an item by now. But from the way he just looked at Leanne, I guess not.
He got up to shake Levi’s hand. “Have a seat,” he said. “What brings you here? Has something happened to Tess?”
“No, she’s fine.” Levi closed his eyes a minute, as if he couldn’t quite remember why he’d come. “That’s a bloody cute secretary you’ve got there.”
“She’s a good kid.” Hell, Leanne had asked for help. “And I think she’s yours if you want her. She wanted to know if she could keep you if you followed her home.”
“Maybe I’ll take her up on it,” Levi said with a grin. “From what I gathered from talking with her, she’s got a good brain to go with those killer looks. Hard to beat a combo like that.”
“You could do a lot worse—and so could she.” Max leaned forward in his chair. “Now that you’re done stealing my secretary, care to tell me why you’re here? How’s Tess?”
Levi stared at him. “You don’t look so good.”
“I’m not sleeping all that well.” In fact, it was taking everything he had just to function. “Now, tell me about Tess.”
Levi let out his breath in a huff. “Look, Max, this is none of my business, but you’re my friend, and you know how much I care about her.”
“Yeah, and? Come on, Levi. Spit it out. What’s happened to her?”
“She’s all right. Don’t worry. I just want to know why you haven’t come after her and convinced her to marry you, now that you have a desk job.”
Max sighed and rested his head on the back of his chair. “You know why. You saw how much I hurt her. She thinks I betrayed her to save my job. And if that’s not bad enough, I nearly got her killed. She’s probably still angry about it.”
“You can hardly blame her for being pissed. Regardless of your motives, you lied to her.” Levi hesitated, his eyes hardening. “She’s had a rough life, Max. Her father died when she was nine. Mother abandoned her in the emergency room of a hospital six months later.”
“Abandoned her? Jesus. Why?”
“Turns out mom had a new boyfriend who didn’t like kids. Decided to keep the guy, ditch Tess. The State of Utah put her in foster care, but according to her, the homes were owned by Mormons. They didn’t want her if she wouldn’t convert, so she bounced from one to another.” He sighed. “You know how stubborn she is, Max. Pissed her off when they shoved religion down her throat. I think a year’s the longest she stayed in any one home. Poor kid’s never had a family.”
“Jesus
,” Max repeated. A stab of sympathy pierced him, so sharp and painful, he flinched.
“She met Nick when she was especially vulnerable,” Levi continued. “He wanted her—probably because he knew I loved her—and he could be very charming when it suited him. Tess never stood a chance.”
Max studied him a minute. “Why are you telling me all this?”
“She needs you.”
“I doubt that. She made it pretty clear she’ll never forgive me.”
“So, it’s not that you don’t love her?”
Max rubbed his temples, wishing he had some of Tess’s aspirin for his headache. “You know I do. But so what? It doesn’t change anything.”
“Then why did she almost get herself killed trying to save you when she thought you were in trouble?”
“What?”
“Tony came after her. Told her he’d kidnapped you and wanted to exchange your life for hers.”
As Levi explained what had happened, Max shook his head, unable to get his mind around what he was hearing. “Christ! Is she okay?”
“Yeah, she’s fine. In fact, Tony got a lot more than he bargained for. By the time I got there, she’d beaten him half to death.”
“Son of a bitch! But she’s really okay?” Max asked again, needing the reassurance. “He didn’t hurt her?”
“Nothing more than a few bruises.” A wicked grin flashed across Levi’s face. “I’d loved to have seen her going after him with that sock of coins.”
Max smiled as he remembered her attacking the guy in the cave. “She is pretty handy with it.”
“Apparently. And Tony won’t be coming after her again.” Levi’s smile faded and he ran his hands through his hair. “As much as it pains me, she loves you. She’s barely surviving without you. And from what I see, you’re in the same shape. If you’ve got an ounce of sense, you’ll get on a plane and go after her. She’s gone back to the cottage in Baja. Go find her, Max. And make her listen.” He stood up. “And now, I think I’ll see if your secretary will let me take her to dinner.”
“Wait,” Max said. “Give me Jonas’s phone number.” If Tess still loved him, he was damn sure going after her. He pocketed the number Levi scribbled on a Post-It and pressed the intercom. “Leanne, will you ask Ron to take my classes this week, starting with this morning at eleven? I know he’s available. Tell him I’ve got an emergency and have to go out of town.”
“Sure, Max, I hope everything’s okay. Do you want me to make some airline reservations for you?”
“No, I can do that.” He winked at Levi. “After you’ve confirmed with Ron, you can have the rest of the day off. I guess ‘the hunk’ wants to get to know you.”
The squeal of glee through the intercom made both men laugh.
CHAPTER 24
10:03 p.m., Baja California Sur:
Unable to sleep, Tess walked down to the beach. Barefoot, as usual, she kneaded the sand with her toes. A rainstorm in the distance caught her eye. Maybe that’s why I’m so restless.
Her stupid dreams hadn’t helped her edginess any, although she couldn’t see how the ones she’d had the last few days could possibly foretell the future. They all revolved around the same thing—Max saving her from some vague danger. But that couldn’t happen because Max was out of her life now. As she’d told Levi, sometimes a dream was just a dream. Still, that didn’t keep them from making her uneasy.
Or am I just lonely? She hadn’t expected to feel this alone. Not here in the cove. But even having Griffin back didn’t ease the ache inside her. She’d finally accepted that Levi was right. Max hadn’t really betrayed her. Not intentionally. It wasn’t his fault his attempt to protect her had backfired. And she’d even admit that, yes, she might be a bit too stubborn. On occasion. Maybe.
A drum roll of thunder echoed down the beach. Though still some distance away, the clouds were closing in, blocking the moonlight. She could smell the rain approaching but decided to stay on the beach. Heavy and warm, rainfall here often resembled a pissed-off water sprite throwing a temper tantrum. Fine with her. Maybe a good, angry storm would make her feel less heartsick.
The breeze picked up, ruffling the tattered old shirt she wore. It had been Max’s. Tess had found it in her duffel bag in Salt Lake City and couldn’t bear to throw it away. Now she was glad she’d kept it. It made him seem a little closer. Did he ever think about her? Miss her? God, she hoped he was suffering, too. At least a little.
She caught movement out of the corner of her eye and glanced down the beach. A man walked toward her. A surge of hope swamped her—the rush of emotion so severe, for a second, she couldn’t breathe. No, it’s not Max. Not his build or the way he walks. A wave of crushing disappointment swept away the hope. What’d you expect? Max is never coming back. Get over him.
Watching the man approach, she sensed something familiar about him. Just my traitorous heart looking for Max in every man I see.
Suddenly, her instincts shouted, Run! The order surprised her. She didn’t have to run anymore. And this man didn’t appear to be a threat. Dressed in jeans and a light jacket, with a floppy, big-brimmed hat on his head, he looked like a tourist. Probably just another poor slob who couldn’t sleep.
But the fear clawing its way up her throat didn’t subside. She wouldn’t run, she decided, but it was late at night, and the rain was heading this way. Nothing to stop her from going back to her cottage right now.
Turning for home, she forced herself to take calm, deliberate strides. If they were a bit longer and faster than normal, well, it was late. And she was alone and unarmed. Only common sense not to want to encounter a strange man on the beach. Run, damn it!
Breaking into a sprint, she threw a quick glance over her shoulder. Shit. He was chasing her. She’d never outrun him. Not barefoot. She heard him come behind her and dodged. No good. He snagged her arm, pulled her to a stop, and whirled her around.
His hat had come off in the chase and now she could see his face. “Tanner? Where the hell did you come from?”
“You don’t seem glad to see me.”
The sneer in his voice pissed her off, but the malice in his eyes sent a flock of razor-toed insects skittering through her gut.
“Why should I be?” She focused on her anger, rather than her fear, and jerked her arm out of his grasp. “How did you find me?”
He grabbed her again before she could flee. “I still have contacts. I’ve kept tabs on you, figured you’d have to leave Jonas’s protection eventually.”
“The contract’s been canceled. Tony’s dead. So’s Nick. It’s over, you bastard. Now. Let. Me. Go.” Trying to loosen his grip, she pried at his fingers.
He tightened his hold. “You owe me. Nick never paid me for turning you over.”
He wants money? The fear ebbed, leaving behind a disgusted amusement. “What is it with you pricks? You can’t seem to kill me, so everything’s my fault. How the hell does that work?”
“I’m not here to listen to your smartass comments.”
“What are you here for? I don’t have your damn money.”
“I didn’t come for the money, though there’s no denying you’ve cost me.”
“So sue me.”
He took a pistol from his pocket. “I had to go into hiding because of you, bitch. And without the half mil to make it worth the inconvenience.”
Her heart took a hard, fast leap into her throat. “Shooting me’s not going to help. Besides, I thought you didn’t want my blood on your hands.”
“I didn’t. But as you said, Nick and Tony are dead. You’re the only witness left. If you die, there’s no evidence against me.”
“Not true. Everyone knows what you are now. Nick confessed, and I gave a deposition.”
“So what? A good attorney can get those thrown out. Just need a bit of tampered evidence and a story of how I was abducted by Tony.” He shrugged. “I’ll get away with it.”
Thunder crashed. The storm clouds crawled closer.
Tanner gest
ured with the gun. “Move on down the beach.”
She didn’t budge. “Where to?”
Her thoughts flashed to Max. He’d never know she’d forgiven him, or how much she loved him. Or what had happened to her. A terrible sadness welled up inside her. After everything she’d been through, this was so unfair. Why the hell does this shit happen to me?
“I told you to head down the beach,” he said.
It wouldn’t do any good to run. He was stronger and faster. Still, she refused to make it easy for him. “And I asked where to.”
“See that area over there, sticking out into the water? With all those lovely rocks? You’re going to have a nice little accident.” He gave her a shove. “Now move.”
Her mind locked onto the outcrop. She knew it well. Many of those “lovely rocks” were bigger than her fist. They’d make good weapons. So she didn’t resist when he gave her another push. All she had to do was grab one and hit him with it. Of course, she had to do it before he shot her. Shit, shit, shit!
***
Max yawned as he parked the rented Jeep in Tess’s driveway. He’d caught six hours of sleep on the plane but figured he could do with another twenty-four straight. Maybe then he’d be back to normal.
The cottage was dark. He checked his watch. Ten minutes after ten. She’d probably gone to bed already. No problem. He’d just wake her up. He grinned in anticipation. Leaving his bag in the car, he headed for the front door. When knocking brought no response, he pounded on it. Nothing. He tried the knob. Unlocked. Stepping inside, he noticed she’d left the curtains open. Moonlight flooded the room, although the rumble of thunder advertised an approaching storm. Christ, I hope she doesn’t make me sleep in the car.
Griffin sauntered out of the bedroom and twisted himself around Max’s legs.
“Hey, little buddy. Glad to see she got you back.” He picked the animal up for a nuzzle. “Did you leave her sleeping all alone in there?”
Black Ops Chronicles: Dead Run Page 32
