by Debra Webb
She cleared her throat and looked him dead in the eye. “I know why I’m here. You were the one who made the offer, but I was the one who made the decision to accept it.”
He shook his head. Despite everything, she found herself admiring his handsome face. Even now, little waves of completion still washed through her just looking at him.
“That’s not what I mean.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. Her nipples, still hard from his touch, rasped against the lace of her bra. “What is it that you mean then?”
He scrubbed a hand over his face and leveled his gaze on hers. “Mission Recovery set you up.”
She made a face. “Set me up? That’s impossible. You said—”
“I know what I said.” He swallowed, hard. She watched the smooth movement of muscle beneath tanned skin.
“You said that guy Sanchez killed your partner and that Mission Recovery needed me because I was a dead ringer for her.” No pun intended, she realized belatedly.
“That part’s all true.”
A tiny inkling of something cold stole into her, but she pushed it away—didn’t want to feel it. She flung her arms outward in exasperation, then braced them on her hips in surrender. “Okay, you’ve lost me here. What in the world are you trying to say?”
“There’s a group in Mission Recovery called Forward Research.” He shrugged halfheartedly or maybe disdainfully, she wasn’t sure which. “Their job is to find and recruit the right people for our organization.”
A recruitment branch. Even the Army had one. She didn’t see the problem.
“When they find a person with just the right skills they go after them,” he said. “You entered the prison system and your name was flagged, your skills noted.”
Made sense so far. She was very good at her job. Her only crime had been trusting Jeff. Though she still didn’t get the bottom line. Maybe Logan had a problem thinking clearly after sex. Her gaze raked his body. She sure did. She wanted more. And that was not the responsible way to feel. Getting too attached to this guy would be a big mistake.
Yeah, right.
Like she hadn’t already.
He matched her stance, bracing his hands on his hips. “Sometimes the new recruits need motivation. You know, incentive.”
Now he had her attention. That dread she’d felt earlier made an abrupt reappearance. “And? What would this have to do with me?”
“They knew you’d need incentive.”
She searched his face, his eyes. “Incentive for what?”
“To risk your life…to do something totally out of character.”
She laughed again, but it came out more like a choked sigh. “What kind of incentive? I mean I’d never heard of you people until that night when the guard roused me from my cell.”
“When Forward Research discovered you, they wanted you. Not necessarily at that moment, but at some point. You had the kind of advanced skills they look for. Jess’s unfortunate death just happened to make your name pop up on the wrong computer screen a little earlier than anticipated. You had the skills…you had the look…they had the mission.”
She waved him on. “I’m with you so far, but didn’t I know most of this already?”
He nodded. “Pretty much.”
She huffed a frustrated breath. “Okay, Logan, just spit it out. It’s not like we’ve got all year here. What is it that I don’t know? How was I set up?”
Logan didn’t want to tell her. He didn’t want to see that vulnerable innocence turn to hatred, to regret for what had just happened between them. He shouldn’t have made love to her with this lie standing between them. If he’d only told her before…but it was too late for “ifs” now.
“The guard, the inmate.” Her expression fell. His chest tightened. “That was Forward Research. They wanted you more receptive to any upcoming requirements. The fact that one came up when it did was just a coincidence. They discovered the evidence to clear you at the start, but they waited until you were needed. It was their ace in the hole.”
She gave her head a little shake of denial. “I don’t believe you.”
Her voice sounded hollow, thin. The hurt in her eyes was almost more than he could bear. “It’s true. It was the only way they could ensure you’d cooperate when the time came.”
Her hands began to tremble and he wanted desperately to reach out to her…but she’d only reject him. “They put me through weeks of hell. Of fear,” she said angrily. “Just to make sure I’d say yes when you asked for help?”
He nodded.
“And you!” She took a step toward him. “You’ve known all of this from the beginning?”
“That’s right.” He had to tell her every thing. “Even the handcuffs that night. That was my idea. I knew the cuffs would serve as another little prod of inducement.”
She trembled with fury…with hurt. Hurt that he had caused. “You couldn’t have told me?” She blinked furiously.
God, don’t let her cry, he prayed.
“It’s not like I was going anywhere.” She flung the words at him.
He tried to take a deep breath, it caught. “I made a mistake. I should have told you…before. I—”
She held up a hand to stop him. “I don’t want to talk anymore. Esteban’s waiting.” She turned her back on him and climbed into the waiting car.
She was right. Esteban was waiting. He would be outraged. But nothing he could say or do would get to Logan the way this had. Nothing.
THE FLIGHT BACK to Colombia was silent. Hector would only cross himself every time he looked at Logan. And Erin wasn’t speaking at all.
Logan tried to analyze his feelings. Some of them were alien to him. He’d dedicated most of his life to his career. He’d never considered that maybe he should take stock of what he might be missing. He was only thirty-five. A wife and kids could come later.
But he’d never thought about either of those things until Erin Bailey came into his life. He glanced at the woman sitting as far away from him as possible. She made him yearn for things he didn’t know how to describe. She made him want to come home to one woman when a mission was over. And that woman was her. But it would never work, even if he’d read correctly what he saw in her eyes when they made love. She would never understand or agree with his world. She was one of those regular people who preferred to believe that people like him only existed in the movies or in novels.
He wasn’t real to her. Just a passing nightmare, one, that if they were both lucky, would be over very soon.
Still, he’d seen a spark of emotion in her eyes when they made love that warmed him to the core of his being. Something that tugged at him like nothing else ever had before.
Though it was doubtful he would live to pursue it.
Esteban was waiting.
They arrived back at the compound just over one hour later than planned. Esteban would be simmering impatiently, ready to blow up and rain down that fury on someone.
And that someone was going to be Logan. Alone.
“Go to our quarters and wait,” he told Erin. He didn’t want her anywhere near when Esteban blew.
She shook her head. “This was my assignment, too.”
“I said—”
“I don’t care what you said.” She spun away from him and followed Hector who’d already headed for the house.
Logan swore hotly, repeatedly. She was too damned hardheaded for her own good.
As he’d expected, Esteban was pacing in anticipation of their return. He was not a happy camper.
“Where is my money?” he demanded.
Hector placed the two briefcases containing the cash on the floor next to Esteban’s desk.
His face was red with fury. “I will have a complete accounting of your time as to why you have arrived more than one hour late. Where are the Watterses?”
“Larry and Sheila are dead,” Logan said bluntly. “The four men who brought the money are dead.”
Esteban’s face went from red to a
stroke-level purple. “What is the meaning of this? What have you done?”
“We still have the coke in our possession. If your people in California want to set up another meet, I’ll personally escort it to them.”
Esteban took two slow, deep breaths. “You will tell me from the beginning how this happened.”
Logan held his ground. “There’s nothing to tell. The meet went sour. People are dead. It’s done. There isn’t anything else to tell.”
From the corner of his eye, Logan saw Hector cross himself again.
“Do you have a death wish, Mr. Logan Wilks?” Esteban demanded as he reached for the 9 mm he kept on his desk. “For I do not tolerate acts of insubordination.”
“One of the guys,” Erin said, her voice sounding small yet abrupt amid the harsh male voices still echoing in the room. “He tried to make a pass at me and I shot him. It went downhill from there. Sheila and Larry fought to the death to save your money.”
Logan wanted to reach out and snatch back those words. What the hell did she mean taking the blame away from him? Didn’t she know—?
Esteban’s savage gaze shifted to her. “You caused this unnecessary havoc?” Disbelief muscled its way to the surface of his expression.
She lifted her chin and glared right back at him. “A man grabs my ass and refuses to let go, he’s going to eat a bullet. Isn’t that what you taught me?”
“This is my—”
Esteban held up a hand and halted what Logan would have said. “This man, did you kill him with the first shot?”
Erin smiled. “Right between the eyes.”
Logan watched in morbid fascination as she put on an Academy Award winning performance. He didn’t know whether to kiss her or kill her.
Esteban uttered a strained laugh. Then laughed some more. He laughed until he had to stop and catch his breath. “This is a truly remarkable story!” He turned to Cortez. “Is this not remarkable, my loyal friend?”
Cortez nodded. “Most remarkable.”
Equal parts relief and irritation washed over Logan. When he got her outside…
“I shall call my friends in California and warn them that the next men they send to do business had better not be ass grabbers.”
Esteban and Cortez laughed. So did Hector. Logan simply couldn’t work up the enthusiasm. Erin only smiled, far too seductively. Was this payback? Didn’t she realize she was risking too much here?
“Logan, your wife is very good,” Esteban remarked. “Is she not?”
Logan managed a tight smile for Esteban, then for Erin. “Truer words have never been spoken, my friend.” He turned back to Esteban. “She’s amazing.”
Esteban’s smile vanished. “All of you, go. I will speak to this amazing woman alone.”
Cortez and Hector started for the door. Logan didn’t move.
Esteban arrowed a challenging gaze at him. “You have a problem, my friend Logan?”
“She’s my wife. I don’t want her punished for my failure to see that the mission was accomplished.”
Esteban laughed loudly again. “You have no worries, Logan. I have no plans to punish your lovely wife. I simply wish to convey private words to her.”
Fury roared inside Logan. He would not leave without Erin.
She turned to him. “Logan, go. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Logan sent one final look of warning in Esteban’s direction. “I’ll be waiting right outside.”
“As you wish,” Esteban said smugly.
When the door closed behind Logan, Erin steeled herself for whatever Esteban intended. She didn’t want to die. But she wanted even less to see Logan killed. If Esteban required services of her in exchange for going easy on Logan, she was prepared to perform. After all, would there be much difference between that and what she’d done with Logan just hours ago?
Tears threatened to well in her eyes at the thought. Yes, there was a monumental difference. Unfortunately. She was in love with Logan. This man—she stared directly at Esteban—was a menace to society. He didn’t deserve to live and if her body was the price of seeing that Logan got the goods to bring him down. So be it.
“Sit, please.” Esteban gestured to the leather-tufted wing chair before his desk. “Would you like something to drink? You must be thirsty after such an ordeal.”
She took the seat he offered. “Yes. Make it a double.” She’d always wanted to say that. God knew she probably wouldn’t ever have the chance again.
While she watched, Esteban poured her a drink and handed it to her. He settled in the adjacent chair. “My sister is very impressed with you, Sara.”
Erin gulped a big swallow of the liquor and grimaced as it flowed down her throat. “I’m very impressed with her as well,” she croaked, then cleared her throat.
Esteban chuckled. “She likes you. This is a rare phenomena when one considers the sort of friends I must keep for doing business.”
Erin nodded. “I can understand that.” Though she regretted Sheila was dead, there definitely was no love lost between them.
“Then you also understand how important it is to nurture this relationship.”
Another swallow slid down Erin’s throat. She didn’t grimace this time. The liquor went down considerably more smoothly. “I’m good with that. Maria’s terrific. Is there something in particular you want me to do?”
“You realize that you owe me a great debt now, do you not?”
Erin stilled, her pulse tripped as anxiety resurrected inside her. “Yes. I do.”
“In return for my overlooking today’s fiasco you will watch my sister for me.” He made a hopeful gesture. “Sometimes a member of one’s family can become a burden of sorts. You would keep me informed as to what she is doing at all times. Until I make my decision.”
Erin frowned. This whole conversation had her confused. “What decision?”
Esteban looked directly into her eyes. “On how you will kill her for me.”
HE WAS GOING IN.
Logan had waited outside long enough. He wouldn’t risk one more second. He strode toward the door, not caring what the guard said, his pace increasing the closer he got. Erin was in there, Logan was going after her. The SUV they had returned in still sat in front of the house, keys in the ignition. He knew what he had to do. But first he had to get her out of the house.
The front door suddenly opened and she stepped out into the dim glow spilling from the overhead terrace lights.
Logan double-timed it to her position and snagged her by the arm. He headed into the shadows made by the trees, out of sight, out of hearing distance of anyone who might be attempting to listen.
Though relieved to see her in one piece and apparently unharmed, he was beyond furious.
“I don’t know what made you do something so incredibly stupid,” he said from between clenched teeth, “but I’m taking you out of here tonight. Now.”
She tried to pull free of his grasp. “I won’t go.”
He glowered at her, for the good it did in the dark. “Are you completely crazy? What the hell kind of stunt was that?” His fingers tightened around her arms as renewed fury whipped through him at his next thought. “What did you have to promise him for getting me off the hook?”
“Let me go.”
He was hurting her. She didn’t have to say it…his fingers were closed around her arms like vises. Damn. He released her and exhaled a shaky breath.
“I have to get you out of here. It’s not safe for you anymore.”
“It was never safe,” she countered, her voice far too calm.
Something was very wrong. He could feel it.
“And that little stunt I pulled probably saved your life, thank you very much.”
“Don’t expect me to thank you,” he said tightly. “You took too great a risk. You—”
“Did what had to be done,” she cut in. “The mission above all else. Isn’t that what you taught me?”
He clenched his jaw hard and counted to three. When he
could speak in a reasonable tone again he went on, “I’m taking you out tonight. I’ll deal with Esteban. You’re out of this as of right now.”
“No.”
If he had to carry her out, he would. But that would draw attention, he didn’t want that. “Why in God’s name would you want to stay? I’m giving you a get-out-of-jail free card. You can leave now. You’re through, finito.”
“I have to find a way to save his sister.”
This just kept getting better and better. “What the hell does she have to do with any of this?”
“He’s going to have her murdered. I have to help her.”
Logan grappled for control of his runaway emotions. How did he get this through her head? “You have to go. Tonight. Besides, how do you know he’s going to kill his sister?”
The silence went on for what felt like an eternity.
“Because he wants me to do the job for him.”
Chapter Thirteen
Erin was awake before sunrise. She lay very still. She didn’t want to wake Logan, though she wasn’t sure he was actually asleep. His breathing was deep and even and he hadn’t moved a muscle, but she couldn’t be absolutely certain.
She wasn’t sure of anything anymore.
Logan’s people had set her up for this. Made her feel afraid and vulnerable, just so she’d do their bidding—had evidence that would absolve her. Anger unfurled inside her. Why would anyone purposely cause another human being to experience what she had those last few weeks in prison? It was just so unbelievable that the good guys would do such a thing. But they had.
She wanted to hate them for that.
She really did.
But somehow she couldn’t. Deep down she knew for certain that she would never have agreed to do this if she hadn’t had incentive. She almost laughed at how foolish she’d been back then. Just a few short weeks ago. Erin Bailey played by the rules. She never made trouble for anyone. She was a good girl.
Had life in prison been tolerable, she’d have done her time and never complained. Sure the idea of getting her life back and seeing Jeff pay for what he’d done would have been alluring, but not alluring enough. Erin had spent a lifetime being a by-the-book kind of person.
