by Lauren Bach
Within four years, he filed for bankruptcy and lost everything to repossession and foreclosure. One article blamed Willy's failure on economics. A lot of Midwesterners lost farms at the same time and felt stung by a government that had urged them into debt but did nothing to protect crop and livestock prices.
In retaliation, some displaced farmers joined antigovernment groups. Willy fell in with a paramilitary outfit whose leader touted a plan to take control away from the federal government and return it to the individual states. With his prior combat experience, Willy rapidly rose through the organization's ranks, simultaneously increasing his visibility within federal law enforcement circles.
Renata closed her eyes after reading about Willy's wife, who had died when two crooked policemen rigged a bomb at the McEdwin home—a bomb that had been meant for Willy. Their reason for targeting him was widely speculated but remained unclear as both officers died on a subsequent assignment.
Lyle, who had only been a few months old at thetime, had nearly been killed along with his mother. The report said she had literally tossed him out of harm's way seconds before the blast went off. A maternal aunt raised Lyle while Willy was wrongly imprisoned for his wife's murder.
The newspapers also covered each of the bombings attributed to the McEdwins. At first the explosions at various federal facilities appeared to be strikes against government in general: FBI, Department of Justice, U.S. Marshal. Until they noticed that many of the key people involved in Willy's trial had died. The judge, the federal prosecutors, the Marshal who arrested him. Even the warden. While they were the primary targets, a lot of innocent bystanders were killed as well.
Jim Acton had been one of the McEdwins' many victims.
She heard the cell phone ring in Lyle's room. Adam lowered the volume of the television and moved to sit beside her on the couch, shoving the papers to the floor to make room.
She knew he'd moved closer to eavesdrop, but still her pulse jumped. Then he threw an arm around her shoulder. Renata's first instinct was to move away. Then she recalled her resolve to soften Adam and forced herself to relax.
A few minutes later, Nevin walked out of the bedroom and dropped into the chair Adam had vacated.
"That was the old man. He's working on the transportation issue." He looked at Renata. "He also wants to know if you need any other supplies to care for my brother, princess."
She kept her features neutral, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing the endearment irritated her. That everything about him irritated her.
Adam hugged her, his arm uncomfortably close to her breast. Once again she struggled with the desire to shove him away, settled for shooting him a dirty look. His embrace was nothing more than a statement of ownership. Play along, she reminded herself.
"The supplies I have are adequate," she said. "If he doesn't respond to these antibiotics soon, he'll need to go to a hospital—"
Nevin's easy-going demeanor vanished, his voice cold and harsh. "Yeah, well, if he doesn't respond soon, he won't be the only one needing a hospital."
Chapter Thirteen
Adam stood, cutting Nevin off by tugging Renata to her feet. "We're going to bed."
But instead of going to the bedroom, he steered her toward the bathroom. "Do you need a minute before we take a shower?"
Her face grew warm at the word we. A vision of him naked flashed through her mind.
"Let me shower alone," she began.
"No way."
Before she could protest, he leaned close, snaking his arm behind her. Opening the door, he forced her inside.
She put her hands on her hips. "Look, you—"
"No, you look." He lowered his voice. "Don't push Nevin."
"How can telling him the truth about his brother be construed as pushing?"
"They've made it clear they have no intention of taking Lyle to a hospital. Repeatedly bringing the subject up just pisses them off."
"And you think that bothers me? Maybe I like pissing them off."
He edged closer. "It bothers me. But I suppose you like pissing me off, too."
She opened her mouth to say more, then closed it.
Which annoyed Adam even more. He preferred to know her thoughts. He understood her frustration at the McEdwins' refusal to heed her medical advice. It went against every tenet she held.
"Let me check your ankle." He indicated she should sit on the edge of the tub.
Instead of moving to the tub, Renata leaned against the counter.
Choose your battles. Adam dropped to one knee and picked up her foot. Removing the bandage, he examined it, cupping her heel in his hand before gently massaging the ball of her injured foot. "The swelling's gone down. How's it feel?"
"Better. But you don't have to do that."
"I know." He rubbed her foot a few more seconds then set it down and straightened. "After we shower, I'll wrap it again."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "I... can't do this."
"You already did once. And you're still safe, Renata. Trust me."
He grasped the bottom edge of her T-shirt. He could guess why she wore two shirts, and with the McEdwin brothers around, he didn't blame her.
But they were alone now and Adam had been looking forward to this moment all day: their shower . . . where he'd get a glimpse of her naked. And once they were in bed fully clothed he could hold her, under the guise of keeping her captive.
He didn't try to gloss it over. Forcing her to shower and sleep with him were guilty, wicked, pleasures. Like recalling what it had been like to kiss her. Or remembering the feel of her body when he'd searched her for weapons. Or held her in his arms as she slept. And dreamed about making love to her.
"Then just let me check your side. Make sure it's not getting infected" he whispered.
"It's not. It's fine."
"If that's true, then it won't hurt for me to look." He lifted her shirt a few inches. "Can you raise your arm a bit more so I can loosen the bandage?"
She let out a noisy sigh as she gave him freer access.
His fingers lightly pressed on her skin as he examined her scraped side. "Uh-oh. You better take a look."
Concerned, she straightened and turned toward the mirror. "Is it showing signs of infection?"
The second she moved, Adam tugged the shirts up and off her head.
She crisscrossed her arms over her breasts. "Trust you? Right! That was a dirty trick."
"But effective. We're going to take a shower. The only question is: Do I take your clothes off or do you?"
She raised her chin. "That's not a choice."
Adam nodded toward the living room. "I've already explained that it's important to keep up certain appearances in front of them. So let's get on with it."
Stepping back, he ignored her and stripped off his shirt, tossed it to the floor. He unfastened the top button of his jeans, then paused. "Do you need help?"
"No!" Renata squared her shoulders, told herself that showering with him would be easier since they'd already done it once. And he hadn't gawked or made any wrong advances the last time. Which made the process no easier to contemplate. Still, if she were going to end up naked regardless, she'd prefer it was by her own hand.
He turned away and adjusted the water, then finished removing his jeans. She stared at his buttocks for a long time before realizing he was trying to shield his groin from her. Her face flamed as she realized she had been trying hard to see it. What was wrong with her? Why was she so ... eager to see him again?
He half-turned lifting her into the tub before climbing in right behind her and promptly turning his back.
She grabbed the bottle of shampoo, squeezed it hard. She'd seen lots of naked men, viewed their bodies with clinical detachment. A detachment that was wholly absent right now.
She scrubbed her hair and rinsed before looking behind her. Adam patiently waited for a turn beneath the spray. Keeping her back to him, she traded places.
Twice, she peeked over
her shoulder. The first time was quick. He had his back to her as he soaped his arms. The second time he was shampooing his hair.
She stared as his long fingers worked through his thick, dark mane. Rivulets of soap ran from his nape, down the indentation of his spine to swirl near the two dimples just above his buttocks. The soapy line curled along the crevice between his cheeks before disappearing.
She blinked mesmerized.
Then Adam turned toward her. Fully. She gasped. But he didn't move.
Neither did she.
She let her eyes drift over him. Over his chest. His abs. And lower ... His erection was enormous, sticking straight out from his body, the head gleaming with water droplets. It was frightening and fascinating at the same time.
The man was pure temptation. A dark invitation to sin. Unable to resist, she brought her hand up, toward his penis and let two fingers glide over the tip. The heat surprised her. So too the hardness, the shimmering strength. The beauty.
His reaction was immediate.
With a groan, he captured both her wrists and pulled them up above her head pinning her ungently against the tiled wall. She panicked, expecting to feel him thrust roughly into her. Instead he lowered his head and took her mouth.
Sanity fled as his tongue swept forward. She opened her mouth, accepting him eagerly. His kiss was all heat, all passion. It tempted, promised, soothed, and teased, driving her mad for more. Thought and reason fled beneath the divine onslaught.
She struggled to free her hands, to draw him closer. For he not only controlled the kiss, he controlled the contact of their bodies. And right now only their mouths touched. It wasn't enough. She wanted to stroke, grasp, scratch. To take all he would give.
Her hips strained forward seeking to rub against his groin, seeking ease. But he denied her, continuing to hold her so that only her mouth was ravaged. She fought, whimpered. Begged.
And when she finally grew weak and surrendered totally, he broke the kiss. Her breath came out in long ragged gulps. Like she'd been held underwater, too long without oxygen.
His face was inches from hers. His eyes were dilated, fierce and dark with a stark hunger that scared her even as she recognized it. He found her desirable. And didn't want to.
"Don't start something you have no intention of finishing." He released her wrists so abruptly she nearly fell as he stepped out of the shower.
God what had she done?
The water was cold now. Trembling, she leaned into it welcoming the coolness, desperately needing time alone. But Adam flung the curtain open and shut off the water. Then he thrust a towel at her. He already had one wrapped low around his hips, the towel dipped V- like toward his groin.
There was no disguising the bulge that tented the front. He was still fully erect.
"If you're that interested, I can drop this." His hand moved to where the edge of the towel was tucked.
"Don't flatter yourself."
"Hurry up and get dressed. I'll be right outside."
She noticed that he left the door ajar about four inches, enough for privacy, but not enough to block sound. If she tried to open the window, he'd hear.
She caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her lips were red and puffy, her nipples erect and elongated. Her breasts felt tight, swollen. Needy.
This couldn't be happening. She wouldn't allow it.
She scrambled into the clean clothes he'd left, then looked up to find him leaning casually against the doorframe. He wore no shirt, no shoes, only jeans. A dark line of fine hair arrowed down from his navel drawing her eyes to the bulge at his crotch. He moved closer.
Feeling claustrophobic, she tried to push past him. He stopped her, swinging her into his arms as he carried her to the bedroom. She caught a glimpse of Nevin, watching them. Probably enjoying the show, the bastard!
When Adam closed the bedroom door, she cleared her throat. "I am not sleeping with you again!"
"Did I give you the impression you had a choice?" He strode to the bed and dumped her on the mattress. She scooted toward the end, but he blocked her. "Don't push your luck, Renata."
She could see by the glitter of banked emotion in his eyes that he was a hair's breadth from losing his temper. She backed away. "Can I sleep on the floor? Tie my hands and legs if you must."
Adam shook his head. "Move over."
With a groan that was part indignation, part resignation, Renata rolled onto her side and scooted to the far side of the bed.
For long moments Adam stared at the curving silhouette she presented. Her ribs tapered down to a dip at her waist. Her hips flared up in come-on curves. Did he dare climb into the same bed with her?
His thoughts flew back to their shower. When she'd touched him, he had nearly come on the spot. Her fingers brushing his cock had felt almost painful. He hadn't wanted to stop her. No, he'd wanted to take her hand and encourage her to touch more. To touch harder. To caress, squeeze, explore. And he had wanted to touch her in return.
Kissing her had been a huge mistake. When he thought it would quench his desire, it had fanned it. Had threatened to erode what precious little control remained. He closed his eyes.
He knew he couldn't have her. But that didn't stop him from wanting her. Nor would it stop him from imagining the deed in his dreams.
And if thinking about making love to her was a sin, he'd gladly pay his dues because he knew better than to think he'd stop.
It took Renata hours to fall asleep. Adam lay awake, content with her keeping a slight physical distance between them. But in sleep she had snuggled closer. He abandoned the bed prowled the room. The woman had to go.
A car door slammed outside. Alert, he moved silently to the living room, found it empty. Nevin wasn't on the couch. Adam lifted a blind on the front window, watched taillights speed away from the cabin. Who had left? Or was it simply a changing of the guard?
A dim light shone from Lyle's room where the television set was still on. He found the younger man agitated as he sat up in bed watching the news. When he saw Adam, he motioned him closer and boosted the volume.
"Customs confirmed that one hundred poundsof plastic explosives were seized today at a Texas seaport."
Adam's attention perked as he listened. This had to be the same shipment of C-4 that Stan had mentioned earlier.
The report had clearly hit a nerve with Lyle. "Fucking bastards."
"Who? Customs? Or the fool trying to smuggle it in?"
"Hey! Watch who you call fool."
Lyle's reaction confirmed the shipment had been for his father. And Adam would bet his pension that the kid knew exactly what the McEdwins had had planned for the C-4.
Adam pointed to the television. "It's damn near impossible to bring that stuff in through a port anymore."
"Versus what? Bringing it in on land?"
"That. Or getting it from a domestic source and avoiding borders all together."
"Right. The way they watch that stuff these days?" Lyle snorted. "And who, besides the military, has it in those quantities?" "Does it matter where it comes from?"
"Are you serious?" Lyle shut off the TV. "Damn, now I wish Nevin hadn't taken off so fast."
"He's gone?"
"Yeah. But they left a car for us. Keys are in the kitchen."
"Where to now?"
"Nowhere. We're supposed to wait here. Lay low." Lyle eyed the IV needle in his arm with distaste. "They're treating me like an invalid, you know. But I think I just figured out a way to get the old man's attention."
"How?"
"What you said about acquiring C-4 domestically. Can it really be done?"
Adam feigned indifference. "With the right connections, yes."
"And you still have these connections?"
"That depends. Let's cut the crap. It was obviously your father's stuff they seized. Now I know your family's got grudges, but a hundred pounds? That's a lot of damage."
"Only if used all at once."
Lyle was trying too hard to downplay
the potential. Which made Adam wonder what the hell they had planned. He recalled Lyle's prior contention that his father hadn't wanted him out of prison yet—because something was going on. Obviously that something required a hundred pounds of explosives. And if the McEdwins were searching for a new source of C-4, Adam damn sure wanted to be involved.
"It won't come cheap. Not in that quantity," Adam said.
"Money's not the problem. Time is. We need it within two weeks."
Adam shook his head. "You know what it would take to pull that off?"
"Name it. And before you say no, just put out a feeler. Check with your partner."
"Who says my partner would have anything to do with it?"
Lyle popped a couple of painkillers in his mouth and swallowed. "My pa's had your background checked. He knows you and your partner were brokering military arms."
"Knows? There was no proof, kid. No formal charges." Adam watched Lyle's gaze drop to his chest. The six notches. "No proof; no charges there either."
"Look, I saw that high-tech radio jammer. You can't tell me that wasn't military. To be honest, I think my old man's pretty impressed with you. I figure if I can locate another shipment of C-4, he'll be just as impressed with me."
And Lyle's reputation as the family fuck-up could be permanently retired. Adam realized now why the guards hadn't been able to break Lyle. Above all else, the kid wanted his father's approval.
"Let me do a little checking," Adam promised. But Lyle was already drifting off. "We'll talk in the morning."
He checked on Renata before slipping into the bathroom to call Stan. If Willy thought Adam could supply more plastic explosives, their rendezvous would undoubtedly be moved up. Especially if the old man needed it on such short notice.
"You were right," he said when Stan answered. "That C-4 was for Willy."
Stan whistled. "Any idea what they had planned for it?"
"Had? They're searching for a source to replace it, so whatever they planned, it's still a go." Adam repeated his conversation with Lyle.
