Dangerous Embrace

by Nora Roberts

“Jonas, did something happen? Why—” She found herself looking down the barrel of a .22.

  “Señorita.” Manchez tossed his mask and snorkel onto a bench as he climbed over the side. “Buenas noches.”

  “What are you doing here?” She struggled to sound indignant as the blood rushed from her face. No, she wasn’t brave, she realized. She wasn’t brave at all. “We had a deal.”

  “You’re an amateur,” he told her. “Like Sharpe was an amateur. You think we’d just forget about the money?”

  “I don’t know anything about the money Jerry took.” She gripped the rail. “I’ve told you that all along.”

  “The boss decided you were a loose end, pretty lady. You do us a favor and make this delivery. We do you a favor. We kill you quickly.”

  She didn’t look at the gun again. She didn’t dare. “If you keep killing your divers, you’re going to be out of business.”

  “We’re finished in Cozumel. When your friend brings up the case, I take it and go to Merida. I live in style. You don’t live at all.”

  She wanted to sit because her knees were shaking. She stood because she thought she might never be able to again. “If you’re finished in Cozumel, why did you set up this drop?”

  “Clancy likes things tidy.”

  “Clancy?” The name David Merriworth had mentioned, Liz remembered, and strained to hear any sound from the water.

  “There’s a few thousand in cocaine down there, that’s all. A few thousand dollars in the case coming up. The boss figures it’s worth the investment to make it look like you were doing the dealing with Sharpe. Then you two have an argument and shoot each other. Case closed.”

  “You killed Erika too, didn’t you?”

  “She asked too many questions.” He lowered the gun. “You ask too many questions.”

  Light flooded the boat and the water so quickly that Liz’s first instinct was to freeze. Before the next reaction had fully registered, she was tumbling into the water and diving blind.

  How could she warn Jonas? Liz groped frantically in the water as lights played on the surface above her. She had no tanks, no mask, no protection. Any moment he’d be surfacing, unaware of any danger. He had no protection but her.

  Without equipment, she’d be helpless in a matter of moments. She fought to stay down, keeping as close to the ladder as she dared. Her lungs were ready to burst when she felt the movement in the water. Liz turned toward the beam of light.

  When he saw her, his heart nearly stopped. She looked like a ghost clinging to the hull of the boat. Her hair was pale and floating out in the current, her face was nearly as white as his light. Before his mind could begin to question, he was pushing his mouthpiece between her lips and giving her air. There could be no communication but emotion. He felt the fear. Jonas steadied the spear gun in his arm and surfaced.

  “Mr. Sharpe.” Moralas caught him in the beam of a spotlight. Liz rose up beside him. “We have everything under control.” On the deck of her boat, Liz saw Manchez handcuffed and flanked by two divers. “Perhaps you will give my men and their prisoner a ride back to Cozumel.”

  She felt Jonas tense. The spear gun was set and aimed. Even through the mask, she could see his eyes burning, burning as only ice can. “Jonas, please.” But he was already starting up the ladder. She hauled herself over the rail and tumbled onto the deck, cold and dripping. “Jonas, you can’t. Jonas, it’s over.”

  He barely heard her. All his emotion, all his concentration was on the man who stood only feet away. Their eyes were locked. It gave him no satisfaction to watch the blood drain from Manchez’s face, or the knowledge leap frantically into his eyes. It was what he’d come for, what he’d promised himself. The medallion on the edge of his chain dangled and reminded him of his brother. His brother was dead. No satisfaction. Jonas lowered the gun.

  Manchez tossed back his head. “I’ll get out,” he said quietly. The smile started to spread. “I’ll get out.”

  The spear shot out and plowed into the deck between Manchez’s feet. Liz saw the smile freeze on his face an instant before one formed on Jonas’s. “I’ll be waiting.”

  * * *

  Could it really be over? It was all Liz could think when she awoke, warm and dry, in her own bed. She was safe, Jonas was safe, and the smuggling ring on Cozumel was broken. Of course, Jonas had been furious. Manchez had been watched, they had been watched, but the police had made their presence known only after Liz had been held at gunpoint.

  But he’d gotten what he’d come for, she thought. His brother’s killer was behind bars. He’d face a trial and justice. She hoped it was enough for Jonas.

  The morning was enough for her. The normality of it. Happy, she rolled over and pressed her body against Jonas’s. He only drew her closer.

  “Let’s stay right here until noon.”

  She laughed and nuzzled against his throat. “I have—”

  “A business to run,” he finished.

  “Exactly. And for the first time in weeks I can run it without having this urge to look over my shoulder. I’m happy.” She looked at him, then tossed her arms around his neck and squeezed. “I’m so happy.”

  “Happy enough to marry me?”

  She went still as a stone, then slowly, very slowly drew away. “What?”

  “Marry me. Come home with me. Start a life with me.”

  She wanted to say yes. It shocked her that her heart burned to say yes. Pulling away from him was the hardest thing she’d ever done. “I can’t.”

  He stopped her before she could scramble out of bed. It hurt, he realized, more than he could possibly have anticipated. “Why?”

  “Jonas, we’re two different people with two totally separate lives.”

  “We stopped having separate lives weeks ago.” He took her hands. “They’re not ever going to be separate again.”

  “But they will.” She drew her hands away. “After you’re back in Philadelphia for a few weeks, you’ll barely remember what I look like.”

  He had her wrists handcuffed in his hands. The fury that surfaced so seldom in him seemed always on simmer when he was around her. “Why do you do that?” he demanded. “Why can’t you ever take what you’re given?” He swung her around until she was beneath him on the bed. “I love you.”

  “Don’t.” She closed her eyes as the wish nearly eclipsed the reason. “Don’t say that to me.”

  Shut out. She was shutting him out. Jonas felt the panic come first, then the anger. Then the determination. “I will say it. If I say it enough, sooner or later you’ll start to believe it. Do you think all these nights have been a game? Haven’t you felt it? Don’t you feel anything?”

  “I thought I felt something once before.”

  “You were a child.” When she started to shake her head, he gripped her tighter. “Yes, you were. In some ways you still are, but I know what goes through you when you’re with me. I know. I’m not a ghost, I’m not a memory. I’m real and I want you.”

  “I’m afraid of you,” she whispered. “I’m afraid because you make me want what I can’t have. I won’t marry you, Jonas, because I’m through taking chances with my life and I won’t take chances with my child’s life. Please let me go.”

  He released her, but when she stood, his arms went around her. “It isn’t over for us.”

  She dropped her head against his chest, pressed her cheek close. “Let me have the few days we have left. Please let me have them.”

  He lifted her chin. Everything he needed to know was in her eyes. A man who knew and who planned to win could afford to wait. “You haven’t dealt with anyone as stubborn as you are before this. And you haven’t nearly finished dealing with me.” Then his hand gentled as he stroked her hair. “Get dressed. I’ll take you to work.”

  Because he acted as though nothing had been said, Liz relaxed. It was impossible, and she knew it. They’d known each other only weeks, and under circumstances that were bound to intensify any feelings. He cared. She beli
eved that he cared, but love—the kind of love needed to build a marriage—was too much to risk.

  She loved. She loved so much that she pushed him away when she wanted to pull him closer. He needed to go back to his life, back to his world. After time had passed, if he thought of her he’d think with gratitude that she had closed a door he’d opened on impulse. She would think of him. Always.

  By the time Liz was walking toward the shop, she’d settled her mind. “What are you going to do today?”

  “Me?” Jonas, too, had settled his mind. “I’m going to sit in the sun and do nothing.”

  “Nothing?” Incredulous, Liz stared at him. “All day?”

  “It’s known as relaxing, or taking a day off. If you do it several days running, it’s called a vacation. I was supposed to have one in Paris.”

  Paris, she thought. It would suit him. She wondered briefly how the air smelled in Paris. “If you get bored, I’m sure one of the boats could use the extra crew.”

  “I’ve had enough diving for a few days, thanks.” Jonas plopped down on a chaise in front of the shop. It was the best place to keep an eye on her.

  “Miguel.” Liz automatically looked around for Luis. “You’re here early.”

  “I came with Luis. He’s checking out the dive boat—got an early tour.”

  “Yes, I know.” But she wouldn’t trust Miguel to run the shop alone for long. “Why don’t you help him? I’ll take care of the counter.”

  “Bueno. Oh, there were a couple of guys looking at the fishing boat. Maybe they want to rent.”

  “I’ll take a look. You go ahead.” Walking back, she crouched beside Jonas. “Keep an eye on the shop for me, will you? I’ve got a couple of customers over by the Expatriate.”

  Jonas adjusted his sunglasses. “What do you pay per hour?”

  Liz narrowed her eyes. “I might cook dinner tonight.”

  With a smile, he got up to go behind the counter. “Take all the time you need.”

  He made her laugh. Liz strolled down the walkway and to the pier, drinking up the morning. She could use a good fishing cruise. The aqua bikes had been ordered, but they still had to be paid for. Besides, she’d like the ride herself. It made her think of Jonas and his unwanted catch a few weeks before. Liz laughed again as she approached the men beside her boat.

  “Buenos días,” she began. “Mr. Ambuckle.” Beaming a smile, Liz held out a hand. “I didn’t know you were back. Is this one of your quick weekend trips?”

  “That’s right.” His almost bald head gleamed in the sun as he patted her hand. “When the mood strikes me I just gotta move.”

  “Thinking about some big-game fishing this time around?”

  “Funny you should mention it. I was just saying to my associate here that I only go for the big game.”

  “Only the big game.” Scott Trydent turned around and pushed back his straw hat. “That’s right, Clancy.”

  “Now don’t turn around, honey.” Ambuckle’s fingers clamped over hers before she could move. “You’re going to get on the boat, nice and quiet. We have some talking to do, then we might just take a little ride.”

  “How long have you been using my dive shop to smuggle?” Liz saw the gun under Scott’s jacket. She couldn’t signal to Jonas, didn’t dare.

  “For the past couple of years I’ve found your shop’s location unbeatable. You know, they ship that stuff up from Colombia and dump in Miami. The way the heat’s been on the past few years, you take a big chance using the regular routes. It takes longer this way, but I lose less merchandise.”

  “And you’re the organizer,” she murmured. “You’re the man the police want.”

  “I’m a businessman,” he said with a smile. “Let’s get on board, little lady.”

  “The police are watching,” Liz told him as she climbed on deck.

  “The police have Manchez. If he hadn’t tried to pull a double cross, the last shipment would have gone down smooth.”

  “A double cross?”

  “That’s right,” Scott put in as he flanked her. “Pablo decided he could make more free-lancing than by being a company man.”

  “And by reporting on his fellow employee, Mr. Trydent moves up in rank. I work my organization on the incentive program.”

  Scott grinned at Ambuckle. “Can’t beat the system.”

  “You had Jerry Sharpe killed.” Struggling to believe what was happening, Liz stared at the round little man who’d chatted with her and rented her tanks. “You had him shot.”

  “He stole a great deal of money from me.” Ambuckle’s face puckered as he thought of it. “A great deal. I had Manchez dispose of him. The truth is, I’d considered you as a liaison for some time. It seemed simpler, however, just to use your shop. My wife’s very fond of you.”

  “Your wife.” Liz thought of the neat, matronly woman in skirted bathing suits. “She knows you smuggle drugs, and she knows you kill people?”

  “She thinks we have a great stockbroker.” Ambuckle grinned. “I’ve been moving snow for ten years, and my wife wouldn’t know coke from powdered sugar. I like to keep business and family separate. The little woman’s going to be sick when she finds out you had an accident. Now we’re going to take a little ride. And we’re going to talk about the three hundred thousand our friend Jerry slipped out from under my nose. Cast off, Scott.”

  “No!” Thinking only of survival, Liz made a lunge toward the dock. Ambuckle had her on the deck with one shove. He shook his head, dusted his hands and turned to her. “I’d wanted to keep this from getting messy. You know, I switched gauges on your tanks, figuring you’d back off. Always had a soft spot for you, little lady. But business is business.” With a wheezy sigh, he turned to Scott. “Since you’ve taken over Pablo’s position, I assume you know how to deal with this.”

  “I certainly do.” He took out a revolver. His eyes locked on Liz’s. When she caught her breath, he turned the barrel toward Ambuckle. “You’re under arrest.” With his other hand, he pulled out a badge. “You have the right to remain silent…” It was the last thing Liz heard before she buried her face in her hands and wept.

  CHAPTER 12

  “I want to know what the hell’s been going on.” They were in Moralas’s office, but Jonas wouldn’t sit. He stood behind Liz’s chair, his fingers curled tight over the back rung. If anyone had approached her, he would have struck first and asked questions later. He’d already flattened the unfortunate detective who’d tried to hold him back when he’d seen Liz on the deck of the Expatriate with Scott.

  With his hands folded on his desk, Moralas gave Jonas a long, quiet look. “Perhaps the explanation should come from your countryman.”

  “Special Agent Donald Scott.” The man Liz had known as Scott Trydent sat on the corner of Moralas’s desk. “Sorry for the deception, Liz.” Though his voice was calm and matter-of-fact, it couldn’t mask the excitement that bubbled from him. As he sipped his coffee, he glanced up at Jonas. Explanations wouldn’t go over easily with this one, he thought. But he’d always believed the ends justified the means. “I’ve been after that son of a bitch for three years.” He drank again, savoring triumph. “It took us two before we could infiltrate the ring, and even then I couldn’t make contact with the head man. To get to him I had to go through more channels than you do with the Company. He’s been careful. For the past eight months I’ve been working with Manchez as Scott Trydent. He was the closest I could get to Ambuckle until two days ago.”

  “You used her.” Jonas’s hand went to Liz’s shoulder. “You put her right in the middle.”

  “Yeah. The problem was, for a long time we weren’t sure just how involved she was. We knew about your shop, Liz. We knew you were an experienced diver. In fact, there isn’t anything about you my organization didn’t know. For some time, you were our number-one suspect.”

  “Suspect?” She had her hands folded neatly in her lap, but the anger was boiling. “You suspected me.”

  “You left th
e U.S. over ten years ago. You’ve never been back. You have both the contacts and the means to have run the ring. You keep your daughter off the island for most of the year and in one of the best schools in Houston.”

  “That’s my business.”

  “Details like that become our business. When you took Jerry Sharpe in and gave him a job, we leaned even further toward you. He thought differently, but then we weren’t using him for his opinions.”

  She felt Jonas’s fingers tighten and reached up to them as she spoke. “Using him?”

  “I contacted Jerry Sharpe in New Orleans. He was someone else we knew everything about. He was a con, an operator, but he had style.” He took another swig of coffee as he studied Jonas. “We made him a deal. If he could get on the inside, feed us information, we’d forget about a few…indiscretions. I liked your brother,” Scott said to Jonas. “Really liked him. If he’d been able to settle a bit, he’d have made a hell of a cop. ‘Conning the bad guys,’ he called it.”

  “Are you saying Jerry was working for you?” Jonas felt his emotions race toward the surface. The portrait he’d barely been able to force himself to accept was changing.

  “That’s right.” Scott took out a cigarette and watched the match flare as he struck it. “I liked him—I mean that. He had a way of looking at things that made you forget they were so lousy.”

  That was Jerry, Jonas thought. To give himself a moment, he walked to the window. He could see the water lapping calmly against the hulls of boats. He could see the sun dancing down on it and children walking along the sea wall. The scene had been almost the same the day he’d arrived on Cozumel. Some things remained the same; others altered constantly. “What happened?”

  “He had a hard time following orders. He wanted to push them too fast too far. He told me once he had something to prove, to himself and to the other part of him. The better part of him.”

  Jonas turned slowly. The pain came again, an ache. Liz saw it in his eyes and went to stand with him. “Go on.”

  “He got the idea into his head to rip off the money from a shipment. I didn’t know about it until he called me from Acapulco. He figured he’d put the head man in a position where he’d have to deal personally. I told him to stay put, that we were scrubbing him. He’d have been taken back to the States and put somewhere safe until the job was over.” He tossed the match he’d been holding into an ashtray on Moralas’s desk. “He didn’t listen. He came back to Cozumel and tried to deal with Manchez himself. It was over before I knew. Even if I’d have known, I can’t be sure I could’ve stopped it. We don’t like to lose civilians, Mr. Sharpe. I don’t like to lose friends.”