by Debra Webb
“Doubtful,” Lucy said. “He really despises crowded areas.”
“Sure that’s not an act?” Rush asked. “He’s lived another man’s life all this time.”
“Necessity or nature, at this point it hardly matters,” Lucy said. “If his goal is to protect his grandson’s reputation and plans, he’s not going to take a chance of being caught with hostages in an urban area.”
“I agree.” Rush folded his arms over his chest while he reviewed the pictures. “We can run a cursory check on the city properties,” he added. “But you and I will head for the winery.” He reached for his cell phone.
Lucy turned to him. “We’re going now?”
He nodded to her while he gave instructions to whomever was on the other end of the call, presumably someone at an airfield.
She bit her lip and it felt like an eternity before Rush was off the phone. “When he learns I’ve left with you,” she warned, “that you’re helping me, he’ll ruin you. After he kills them.” She couldn’t live with that on her conscience—assuming she lived at all. Her stomach threatened to rebel again.
“Take it easy, Lucy. I can cover for you here,” Sam said. “We have ways to make it look like you’re both still working on this problem right here in the city.”
She didn’t bother asking how. Sam and Rush had amazing computer skills. She turned to Rush. “What about the spy he has tailing me?”
“The private cars and a lookalike team should keep him busy.”
She pressed her fingers to her mouth, wanting to believe. He wandered around like a normal guy most of the time and then called in his extensive resources and connections when the situation justified it. “And how are the two of us going to save my sister and her son? He has armed guards and I’m certainly not current on combat rescue training.” She’d wait until she and Rush were alone to make her argument that if they were wrong and Kathrein was using the winery as a decoy, storming the place would tip him off.
She could already hear him telling her to think positively and start envisioning scenarios with better endings.
“Do your part as planned,” Rush said to Sam, with a tip of his chin to Lucy. “I’ll handle this.”
Lucy waited until Sam was safely on his way back downstairs. “Now I’m a ‘this’ to be handled.”
“Yes,” he answered without the first sign of remorse. “Can’t you see how much I want to handle you?”
“Not funny.” His words sent some enticing scenarios through her mind, all with very satisfying endings.
“A man can dream,” he quipped. “Lucy, I’ll be honest, I’d rather you stayed out of harm’s way and let my friends handle the rescue.”
“Are you staying behind?”
“No. Someone who knows the tech gear we have in mind has to be on site.”
She really should ask what that meant. Standing there, his expression so earnest, she almost felt guilty for walking away from him a year ago. If she’d stayed in San Francisco, Kathrein would never have been able to use her this way. But if she’d stayed with Rush she would have settled for loving a man who didn’t want to love her back. It wouldn’t have been awful, but it wouldn’t have been right. “You found someone to double for me, too?”
“Yes.” He tucked his hands into his pockets, watching her. “I know you and your mannerisms. I know you’d rather be right there with me rather than somewhere safe, wringing your hands and worrying.”
The words sent a shiver down her spine and her heart did a silly flop in her chest. “Did you pack for me, too?”
He did a double take and then he laughed. “No. I hired that done. To an outsider, it looks like I moved back into the boathouse with you. In all the commotion, a packed suitcase wound up in the car that will soon take us to the airport.”
“You didn’t give me much to do besides hold a thumb drive we won’t deliver.”
“On the contrary.” He held out his hand. “You can hold on to me. We wouldn’t have made it this far without your insight and composure.”
His comments surprised her. “Then I guess I’ll be grateful you’ve thought of everything.”
“Smart lady.” He smoothed a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
Lucy managed not to shiver at the touch. While he called for the car, she wallowed in the compliment that chased away the dread that had been twisting in her gut since Sam’s presentation.
After today, they only had two days to either cooperate or outwit Kathrein. She felt a ray of hope that, with Rush’s resources and gear, they all might survive the coming finale.
Chapter Ten
Rush kept a close eye on Lucy as they left the office under cover and slipped into the backseat of a generic sedan with heavily tinted windows. She’d only said a few words since he’d set the plan in motion. The two of them would arrive first in France and would oversee the reconnaissance while Lawton pulled together a rescue squad.
Although Rush wanted to draw Lucy into conversation, he couldn’t bring himself to push her too hard. Knowing her as he did, he gave her time to process the swell of information and the space to mentally prepare for the flight.
She wouldn’t falter. Once Lucy made up her mind she didn’t waste time second-guessing. It was one of her finest traits, even though it had worked against him a year ago. He’d been startled and confused when she’d walked out. After the shock had worn off, the anger and hurt had settled in and stayed. It had taken him months to look past her hurried departure and realize, being Lucy, she would have given the decision plenty of thought.
He wondered if she wished they could talk about it as much as he did. Their past wasn’t the right discussion when she was so obviously frantic about her sister and nephew. Neither was it the right time to discuss their future, though he intended to clear the air on both topics soon.
She sat on the couch across from him in his jet, her face turned slightly to the window, but he knew she didn’t see anything. Heading east at this late hour at high altitude, there wasn’t much to see except clouds and the occasional patch of the Atlantic Ocean far below them. They had a few hours left and he’d encouraged her to lie down in the bedroom, but she’d been too restless.
In the silence, Rush’s mind churned through possibilities as updates came in from Sam and Lawton. During the refuel in New York, Lucy had reminded him that Kathrein maintained the loyalty of plenty of police and officials. It was an obstacle he had to take into consideration. They had surprise on their side, but Kathrein had a home-field advantage.
Rush had insisted she leave her phone at the office so Sam could use it as part of the game plan, forwarding any messages from Kathrein to a clean cell phone. The tactic also sheltered Lucy from any unnecessary angst from the old bastard. The pictures of Jackson had ceased and the messages had gone from aggressive to all-out menacing after the pictures of Lucy and Rush having coffee had been distributed over the internet.
His phone vibrated on the table and Lucy jerked upright. “An update from Sam,” he explained as he read the message. “Kathrein checked in again. Sam implied you’re making progress.”
“Did he back off or send a picture?” She came over to sit across from him at the table.
Rush swallowed a surge of fear as the rest of the exchange came through, including a series of pictures of Gwen. Her clothes were in shambles and she had a nasty black eye on her tear-stained face. He enlarged each picture, searching for a clue in the surroundings to no avail. Thankfully, Sam would break down each shot pixel by pixel.
“Rush.” She reached out and rubbed his hand. “You look ready to kill. What happened?”
He deleted the pictures so she wouldn’t see them. Brutalizing Gwen made no sense. Had she tried to escape or had one of the guards turned abusive?
Turning his hand, he laced his fingers through hers. “He’s the worst kind of bully,” he said. “I can’t help being furious.” During his time in juvie, he’d run up against boys who did terrible things to maintain their place at the top
of the heap.
“I should have known the offer was too good to be true.”
“Stop.” He held tight when she tried to tug her hand free. “You can’t take on any blame for Kathrein. He’s cornered and has been, one way or another, for seventy years.” And he was leading Lucy into the monster’s territory. “This is all on him, Lucy.”
“He’s trying to protect his family,” she countered.
“Now you’re playing devil’s advocate?”
“I’ve been wondering...”
He waited.
“How far will we go to rescue my family?”
“As far as necessary.”
“How does that make us any different from him?”
“Lucy.” He set the phone aside and stood up, rounding the table and tugging her with him to relax on the couch. “First, he started it by terrifying you and your family in order to use you. Finishing a fight, sending a Nazi to prison for present and past crimes puts us a world apart from him.”
“That’s logic and decency, I know.” She pulled her knees to her chest and curled herself into a tight ball of misery. “You have connections capable of lethal action?”
“Absolutely.” One perk of working with private security programs. “Does that bother you?”
“It should.” She bit her lip. “I don’t want to stoop to his level,” she whispered. “Promise me your connections won’t blindly attack the people following his orders.”
Leave it to Lucy to ask for something he couldn’t give. “We’ll have to agree to disagree on that.” He gently uncurled her body, and brought her to rest against him. With his legs framing hers, he stroked her silky hair while she stared out the window. “My goal is to get you and your family out of this alive. If—when—this becomes a tactical rescue, it’s better for everyone if we handle it swiftly and quietly.” As a friend, Lawton would go above and beyond to help, and Rush wouldn’t taint that effort by letting them land in political hot water. “The tactical team knows how to be discreet. A pile of bodies doesn’t meet that definition.”
“Okay.”
“I want him to pay for the hell he’s caused you, your family and who knows how many others,” he continued. “I’ll pass on the documentation from Garmeaux to the proper authorities about his real name. Believe me, if I thought we had the time I’d do that first.”
“Good.” Her cheek rubbed his chest as she nodded.
He wanted to pick her up and tuck her into bed. They had two more hours before landing and she needed the rest. If invited, he’d happily use that time to make her forget everything but the beautiful passion they’d shared.
In the year since she left he’d often tried to pinpoint the moment she became the woman he didn’t want to live without. Not the first kiss, though it had been electric. Nor was it the first time they’d made love. Both stand-out moments fueled his erotic fantasies, but neither was the moment.
He studied her profile as she studied the dark sky beyond the window. Her high cheekbones and stubborn jaw tempted him. He remembered how she melted when he kissed the smooth skin of her throat, now hidden from his view by her hair. Though he longed to kiss her again, he held back.
The moment abruptly popped to the front of his mind. It was the evening they’d invited Sam and Melva to dinner at the boathouse to celebrate an important contract. Everything clicked into place. Lucy completed the family he’d carefully chosen and trusted implicitly. She’d surpassed his calculated list of pros and cons that focused on business and sex.
He’d bought the ring a few days later and come up with the ideal proposal, but he’d put off asking her until it suddenly became too late. The belated self-awareness didn’t resolve anything if he didn’t understand her side of the story. “Lucy?” He kept stroking her hair, listening to her soft breath.
“Mmm?”
“Why did you leave me?”
“Oh, Rush.” She tilted her head back, her brown eyes full of regret. “This should wait.”
“Please, just say it.”
“I had to go.” Her smile was sad as she traced his lips with her fingertips. She lifted her gaze to him again and spoke clearly. “I’d committed the cardinal sin.”
He caught her chin, held her gaze. “You cheated?”
Humor lit her eyes and her lips twisted. “Of course not. I fell in love with you.”
“You left because you loved me?” Just using the L word backed up the air in his lungs. “You left—”
“The rules were always clear between us. I respect your boundaries.” She sat up a little. “I couldn’t hold back my feelings anymore and I refused to put that pressure on you.”
“What about the new guy in Chicago?”
“There was no new guy. I lied to drive you away.” Her cheeks turned pink while she traced the Gray Box logo on his shirt. “If we’re being honest, there hasn’t been anyone for me since you.”
He could hardly process her admission. “You’re serious.” She nodded. “God, you’re clever.” He cupped her head and brought her lips to his for a kiss designed to make up for lost time. Her hair sifted over his skin and his body clamored for more thorough action than he could hope for on this couch. Although the bedroom was a few paces away, he held himself in check. Again.
Slowly, he steered their deep, passionate kisses to a sweeter place.
“If you’re angry, remember you asked,” she said.
He caught her as she tried to get up. “I’m not angry.” Not even close. He cleared his throat and cuddled her close to his chest. “You should rest while we have the chance.” He rubbed her back, threading his fingers through her hair until her muscles relaxed again. Finally, her long, sooty eyelashes brushed her cheeks as sleep claimed her. Rush carefully extricated himself from under her and tucked a blanket over her so she wouldn’t wake up chilled.
She’d left because she loved him. Did she still? Did he want her, too? Hell, yes.
He pushed a hand through his hair and tried to breathe. Pouring a drink, he indulged in a vision of life surrounded with Lucy’s love. Days filled with her acceptance, laughter and intelligence had been pure bliss. How much better could it be if he gave her space to express her heart, as well? Unbidden, he saw himself walking to the park near the boathouse with a dark-haired little girl who had Lucy’s big brown eyes.
The image didn’t put panic in his chest, only a warm, easy joy. He waited for the noisy, wounding echoes from his broken childhood to erupt, and instead he heard Lucy’s voice showering him with I love yous.
Wow. How had he missed her feelings? How had he ever been so foolish as to let her get away?
They would get through this and then he’d give her everything he should have given her a year ago. They’d have a heartfelt talk about their future, together. Whatever she wanted, whatever she needed, he knew now he could be that man for her.
France, near Strasbourg
Saturday, December 19, 6:30 a.m.
JUST OVER TWO hours later the plane touched down on a private airstrip in northeastern France. Watching Lucy come awake always stirred him. Today was no different. As she stretched her luscious body, his responded instantly. Later, he promised himself.
“We’re here?”
“Yes. We’ll be at the villa I rented within the hour and should have our first views of the winery shortly thereafter.”
“Good.” She folded the blanket and slipped on her shoes. “How can I help?”
He grinned at her and held out his hand. “Just stick with me.” He managed to shut his mouth before he could modify that request to encompass the future. They left the plane and moved quickly to the waiting car. Although he’d given instructions for the gear and luggage, out of habit, he oversaw the transfer of the tech gear before joining Lucy in the back of the sedan.
“Do you have people standing by regional airfields all over the world?” she asked.
“No,” he admitted with a brief laugh. “I just know who to call to make it look that way.” She pulled bac
k and he missed the closeness all the more after talking and holding her on the plane. “My money never bothered you before.” She was one of the few people who’d never been cowed by his net worth or treated him like a walking wallet.
“It doesn’t bother me now,” she said, wiggling a bit in the seat. “You and Kathrein are so different.”
“How so?” he asked, giving in to curiosity.
“I’ve been around many wealthy people,” she began. “Kathrein generally uses his money as a weapon and a shield, leaving his daughters to serve as his public presence and run his charities. Do you think they know who he really is?”
“No. If they knew, they would have circled the wagons by now.” He wouldn’t let her dodge the question. “Other than being younger and far more handsome, how else am I different?”
She smiled bit and her voice was quiet when she spoke. “You’ve always splurged the most when you’re helping others.”
He thought of the extravagant diamond ring he’d bought for her. “You’re not a charity case, Lucy.”
“Hmm.” She slanted a dubious glance at him. “Without your resources and assistance, I would have been forced to cooperate with Kathrein to save Gwen and Jackson.”
If he dwelled on the likely outcome of that scenario, he’d break out in a cold sweat. Unable to resist, he pulled her close to his side. She leaned in, resting her hand on his thigh as she’d done countless times before.
“I did consider what a breach would do to your business and reputation.”
“But not the damage to our friendship if you’d blown in and out of my life again?”
She smoothed her palm over his knee. “I didn’t think we had any friendship left.”
That made him inexplicably sad. “Do you want to know how I got through?”
“Got through what?”
“Your move to Chicago,” he said with more edge than he’d intended.
She looked up at him. “How?”
“I told myself it was temporary, that you were scared. I convinced myself you needed to test your wings, in business and with men, so you could come back and be sure about us.” The car swayed along the winding road and her body leaned into his. “I will always be your friend,” he promised, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. He’d be her friend until she was ready to say those words again and trust him with her heart.
