by Aimée Thurlo
Nick pointed to Drew’s apartment, then climbed back up the metal stairs and went inside.
“Drew!” he called out. “We gotta go.”
She came out of the bedroom instantly, backpack and small suitcase in hand. “I’m ready.”
Somebody knocked, and Nick turned just as Koval entered the apartment, fumbling for the light switch. His clothing looked rumpled and he was sporting a day-old beard.
“What the hell happened here?” he asked, looking at the wooden door splintered by the shotgun blast.” The station called me immediately, thinking I’d want to know, since I live a few blocks away.”
“It was a hit team. The one who broke in carried a silenced pistol with a laser sight. Did Wagner make bail?” he asked.
“No. He’s still in lockup. I verified that on the way over.”
“So it looks like we are dealing with other parties,” Nick said. “A second shooter gave cover fire for the one with the silencer.”
“Yeah, genius, I get it,” Koval growled.
Nick knew precisely what was eating Koval. Had he followed Koval’s orders instead of questioning them, Drew would have been home alone—and either kidnapped or dead right now.
“We’re not up against amateurs,” Nick said. “Look at the time they chose, and their hardware. The whole thing was executed with care, skill and precision.”
“So what are you saying, that we’re dealing with military, or maybe an ex-cop with SWAT skills?” Koval asked.
“Yeah, or a mob hit team. This isn’t just a stalker.”
“Get her out of here, then,” Koval growled. “I’ll be in touch later.”
Drew was ready, so Nick grabbed his shotgun and gym bag and rushed her past her neighbors to his vehicle.
They were well underway when Nick glanced over and saw her trembling. “You’re okay now, Drew,” he said, placing his hand over hers. Her hand was soft, like everything about her.
“That’s my home, but I’ll never feel safe there again.”
“You’re safe with me,” Nick answered, his voice low. “No matter what they throw at us, they won’t get past me.”
“But how will you manage—with so little self-confidence?” she teased, her voice a bit steadier now.
He laughed. “I know my own capabilities, and this is what I’m trained to do.”
She took a deep breath. “What I hate the most about what’s happening is that sometimes I feel like the little girl I was once—at the mercy of whatever fate tosses my way.”
“Like the death of your father, you mean?” he asked, gently.
“Yeah, like that,” she whispered.
“I know about memories that keep replaying themselves long after the incident’s passed,” he answered, with a nod. “Some of the things I saw during combat still haunt me. My brother thinks that the chindi is responsible for wartime nightmares, but I think it’s all part of being human.”
Nick’s vulnerability, something she hadn’t seen before, drew her even more than the tough man she’d grown to know. “The chindi…it’s like an evil ghost?”
He considered it, then shook his head. “It’s more than that. It’s the evil in all of us that can’t join the Universal Good, so it remains earthbound. Traditionalist Navajos believe those spirits have nowhere to go, so they stick around and create problems for the living. Travis thinks that post-traumatic stress syndrome, the condition a lot of soldiers face after military combat, is all part of the problems the chindi create, and that an Enemy Way is needed to heal the symptoms.”
“What does the ceremony do?”
“It’s complicated, but basically it’s meant to restore the hózho—the balance that allows a Navajo to walk in beauty.”
A call on his cell phone interrupted them, and Nick answered, slowing the Jeep down.
“I got Koval’s report. The woman’s safe now?” Chief Franklin’s voice came through clearly.
“Yeah. She’s here with me.”
“Where are you headed?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“I understand wanting to play your cards close to your chest after what happened, Blacksheep, but keep me updated.”
“Roger that.”
“You told him that you didn’t know where we’d end up,” Drew said, “but we’re obviously going back to your place.”
“Yeah. I’m not giving out information unless I have no other choice.”
They continued down the road until they reached Nick’s driveway. Nick parked and, as they got out, Crusher ran up to greet them.
Drew bent down to pet him. “I’m surprised he’s so alert and excited this time of the morning—night.” She gave the dog a hug and got licked in response.
As they walked down the sandy path toward the house, Crusher, who’d been leading the way, stopped and sniffed the air. Nick grabbed Drew’s arm and pulled her behind him.
“Wh—?”
Nick held up his hand, signaling her to be still, and listened. There. It was nothing more than a whisper through the trees, but someone was out there in the dark.
Then Crusher began to wag his tail.
Nick muttered an oath. “Travis, you idiot, get out here before I break you in two.”
Travis stepped out behind a cluster of trees. “Ease up, bro. I just got off duty and was taking a look around the area, the dog leading the way.”
Drew’s knees buckled, and the next thing she knew, Nick was carrying her to the house.
“I’m fine,” she muttered. “Please put me down.”
“Not yet.”
Nick finally set her gently down on the sofa. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry I passed out. I was just so relieved to see that it was just Travis—”
“Just me?” Travis responded.
“I meant that in a good way. For a moment, I thought all the trouble had followed us here.” She forced herself to draw in a calming breath. “But we’re here and alive. We should be celebrating. We deserve it.” She sat up.
Travis glanced at his brother and grinned. “I like her style.”
“Too bad,” Nick growled. “Get out.”
Travis backed out of the room, his hands up in the air.
Nick held Drew’s gaze for a moment, then smiled at her slowly. “I can think of a great way for you and me to celebrate….”
If he was trying to distract her, he was doing an excellent job. A ribbon of pure heat flashed down her body, growing in intensity with each beat of her heart. “Thanks, but I’ve had more than I can handle tonight—today.”
“You’re all wound up.” He stepped in front of her, so close she could feel his heat. “If you’d let me, I could do things to you that would make you forget everything—except you and me,” he said, his voice deep and low.
A thrill coursed through her, but reaching down inside herself, she stepped back. “What you’re offering isn’t right for me. I’m not the casual sort, particularly when it comes to things that aren’t…casual.”
“Promises of forever don’t mean much these days,” he said, in a rich, low voice.
“Not from the wrong man. But coming from the right one, they make all the difference in the world. It means that love comes with commitment. I need both.”
“If you change your mind, I’ll be around,” he said, in a neutral tone, then walked out of the room.
She sighed softly and leaned back against the cushion. The longer she was around him, the more of a temptation he became. Nick was all wrong for her. She had no doubt about that. Yet, while her mind demanded caution, everything feminine in her continued to yearn for him.
Chapter Ten
The next morning, Drew sat at the table working on her laptop, but she wasn’t getting much done. “I can’t stand just sitting around waiting for something to happen.”
Nick’s sudden grin was one of pure contentment. “I was really hoping you’d say that.”
“Okay then. Where do we begin?”
<
br /> “Think back to the list you made. Is there anyone there you thought was just plain bad news?”
“Rich Beck, the fire marshal,” she answered, without hesitation. “As much as I respect the office he holds, the guy’s a cretin.”
He chuckled softly. “Rich is a real jerk, I’ll give you that. He and I have had some run-ins in the past.”
“What kind of run-ins?” she asked, curious.
“We were investigating a burglary where the crime had been covered up by arson, and Rich and I shared jurisdiction. He cut some corners, and that cost us the case.”
Nick went to his computer across the room. “Let me do a quick background check on Beck and see what else I can get.”
“What if Detective Koval discovers what we’re doing?” she asked.
“He won’t. Not for a while, anyway,” Nick answered. “Koval’s working the scene at your apartment complex. By the time he learns what we’ve been up to, we may be able to give him some information that’ll speed the investigation along.”
She waited as Nick logged into the system.
“Beck used to be a cop for the Holbrook, Arizona, PD,” he said. “If he’s one of the two who came after you, he’s definitely got the training aspect covered.”
“I’m sure he’s also got friends in the PD. That could explain how he always seems to know where to find me,” she said.
“But it doesn’t necessarily prove that the PD has a leak, or that we have a bad cop involved. It’s also possible he’s completely innocent,” Nick said. Then, looking at her, he added, “I say we pay him a visit and find out.”
AS THEY DROVE SOUTH ON the main highway leading into Three Rivers, she glanced over at him. “I envy you,” she said, softly.
He gave her a surprised look. “What’s to envy?”
“You’re never afraid.”
“You’re wrong about that,” he said.
“Are you afraid now?”
“Of Beck? The guy’s an idiot.” He shook his head. “No, that’s not it. What did you call him?” he asked, with a tiny grin.
“A cretin,” she said, using the stern, authoritative tone of a stereotypical school librarian. “But here’s a word of warning. With his ego, he’s not going to like seeing me with you, so be on your guard.”
“Just leave him to me.”
As he glanced over at her, he saw that Drew was sitting on her hands, her way of keeping them steady.
Nick took a side road and pulled over to the curb. Tilting her chin up with his hand, he forced her to look at him. “Are you afraid of Beck?”
“I used to consider him a nuisance. But after all that’s happened…”
Cursing himself for not having realized just how deeply the incidents had affected her, he reached for her hand and covered it with both of his. “Come on. Let’s you and I take a walk. There’s something we need to settle between us.”
He took her down into a small canyon where a creek flowed into the La Plata River. “Some in my tribe say this spot is a place of power. I don’t share my brother’s Traditionalist beliefs, but I do honor them. They’re part of me because I’m Navajo. So it’s here, in this sacred place, that I’ll make a vow to you. Your enemies are my enemies—your fight, my fight.” He reached into his pocket and brought out a small leather pouch. “My brother gave this to me after we became Marines. I now give it to you to seal the vow. Inside is a bear fetish made of jet. If something should happen to me, Black Bear will still be with you and keep you under its protection always.”
She brought out the small fetish. “This is a beautiful gift in every way possible,” she said. “Tell me more about Bear.”
“Bear is all about change and is a dependable ally in times of uncertainty.”
As she looked into Nick’s eyes, she felt the power that defined him. Nick was a vibrant combination of strength, courage, and the single-minded determination it took to lead a life of purpose. He was also far more complex than she’d realized. He didn’t follow traditionalist ways, but he hadn’t discarded those beliefs completely, either. She was starting to suspect that, although he wanted to be the type of man who only believed in what he could see and touch, there was another equally strong side of him that hoped there was more to life than that.
“Thank you,” she said, then impulsively threw her arms around Nick and hugged him.
She’d meant it only as an expression of gratitude, but the second his arms wrapped around her, she entered a new world—one of fire and longings too strong to resist. As she melted against him, he groaned, and the sound vibrated against her, awakening the woman within.
Nick cupped her face in his hands and lowered his mouth to hers. His kiss was gentle but insistent, coaxing and demanding at the same time. She parted her lips, offering more, and he took what she gave, his tongue mating with hers until the world spun and all she could do was cling to him. The strength of his arms and the hardness of his body filled her with a sweet, melting heat. The world ceased to exist. There was nothing but him.
At long last he eased his hold. “I’ll protect you from others, but who’ll protect you from me?” he whispered, darkly.
She suppressed the shiver that touched her spine, determined to pull herself together. Around him, she became someone she scarcely recognized. She’d always prized her ability to stay in control, yet, in his arms, all common sense vanished.
“Let’s go,” she said, refusing to look directly at him. “The men after me are about to find out I’m through running.” Except maybe from herself.
“Have you ever reported Beck to anyone—maybe a supervisor?” Nick asked, as he pulled back onto the road.
“No. He’s a nuisance, but he’s smart enough never to say anything when other people are around. So it would have been his word against mine.”
His grip tightened around the wheel. He really hoped that Beck would try to give Drew a hard time after they got there. The guy would be spitting out teeth for a week.
They arrived at Beck’s home sometime later. The two-car garage door was open, bathing the driveway in light despite the late afternoon shadows. Two men were inside, working on a car.
As they got out of the Jeep, Rich Beck looked up from beneath the hood. Seeing Drew, he grinned. “Hey, gorgeous, change your mind about hooking up?” His gaze then strayed to Nick, and he scowled. “Never mind. Guess you decided to settle for the minor leagues.”
“She’s with me. Show some respect,” Nick snapped. His eyes shifted toward Beck’s companion, who’d also looked up from his work.
Beck, a big man with a shaved head and the arms and torso of a bodybuilder, set down his wrench, then picked up a rag and began wiping grease from his hands. “Now that you’ve got a real close-up look at what you’re missing, you going to change your mind, baby?” he said, walking out of the garage.
Nick stepped in front of Drew and casually stared at Rich.
“Let me guess,” Beck said, tossing the oily rag onto the engine block. “You think that if you come across as the great protector, you’ll be able to get inside her pants? I’ve got news for you, Blacksheep. Her legs are locked so tight she can barely walk.”
“You’re such a pig,” Drew said.
Laughing, Beck reached around Nick to grab her, but Nick shoved the big man in the chest with the heel of his right hand. Beck staggered back and instantly threw up his fists.
“Drop him, Rich!” Beck’s buddy urged.
Drew glanced around for help, but there was no one around except Beck’s mechanic partner.
As Nick and Rich circled each other warily, she knew she had to put a stop to it before someone got hurt.
Spotting a garden hose coiled up by the faucet, she turned on the water full blast and aimed the spray at the interior of Beck’s car.
“No, stop! That’s real leather.” Beck ran to the faucet and turned it off, then raced to the car. “Larry, get some towels.”
“Answer two questions for us and we’ll leave,” Nick sai
d. “Where were you early this morning, say four a.m., then yesterday around six p.m?”
“I don’t answer to you, Blacksheep.” Beck looked over at Drew. “You’re wasting your time with him, sweetie. He’ll give you five minutes in bed, tops, then forget all about you.”
Nick took a step toward Beck, but Drew placed a hand on his arm. “Let’s just go.”
“Yeah, that’s a real good idea,” Beck said, crossing his tree-trunk arms across his chest. “You came to the wrong place for answers, Blacksheep.”
Nick held his gaze, then backed away, listening for any sign of movement behind him as they returned to his Jeep. Beck wasn’t above a sucker punch or two.
THEY WERE BACK ON THE road a few minutes later, driving west. “Thanks for not letting him grab me, Nick.”
“You never have to take crap from anyone when I’m around.”
His words resonated with conviction, and deep inside she knew she could trust him. It was her own heart that was turning traitor. If she followed her yearnings, she’d undermine everything she’d tried to do with her life. Yet, right now she would have traded nearly everything she had to lay quietly against his bare chest and allow herself to be held and protected. She sighed softly.
He heard her and smiled. “What’s on your mind?”
She felt her face flush and saw him grin even wider.
Scrambling for an answer, she blurted the first thing that came to her mind. “I was just thinking of how wonderful it would be to be able to curl up in front of a fireplace with a soft afghan wrapped all around me.”
“No you weren’t,” he said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Oh, do be quiet, will you?”
THEY COULDN’T ARRIVE AT Nick’s house soon enough.
“Are you hungry?” Nick asked her, going straight into the kitchen half of the big room.
“No, I’m still too wound up. How about letting me check my e-mail? That’ll help me relax.”
He considered it, then nodded. “Go ahead. It can’t hurt. No one knows where you’re at.”
