by Diana Duncan
Liam knelt and wrapped his arms around the dog. Murphy tucked his snout into Liam’s neck and snuffled his cold, wet nose. A weird sense of loss assaulted him ... as if he’d never see his best friend again. Don’t be asinine. Murph would be safer with Aidan than on top of the Stratosphere. He rose. Gestured again. Made his voice stern around the lump in his throat. “Go!”
Murphy heaved a sigh, and slowly walked to Aidan’s side, tail drooping. If you say so. But I don’t have to like it.
With one last, yearning look, Murphy followed Aidan out.
Kate’s slow exhale and dropped shoulders gave her away. She might be relieved, but he was charging into a firefight without his other half.
The elevator zoomed them up one hundred and thirteen flights in thirty seconds. His ears popped twice on the way.
Kate gasped. “I’ve never been up here before. You have an affinity for fast rides.”
The doors slid open and he winked at her. Teasing helped ease the pain of leaving Murph behind. “Say the word, sweetheart, and I’ll take you on a long, slow ride.”
Roses flushed her cheeks. She inclined her head at the two security guards. “Let’s pretend we’re actual professionals.”
Aidan’s Homeland Security ID, combined with a pitch loaded with cop jargon, convinced the guards he was there for an impromptu security drill. The FBI, in conjunction with SWAT, had been conducting them all week at tourist hot spots around town. Though the exercises were supposed to be a surprise, gossip had leaked among the casino personnel. Nobody wanted to flunk. The guards surrendered their keys and boarded the elevator.
Kate glanced around the deserted deck, where hot air balloons were featured in the Rio carnival wedding decor. Even the lamps on the tables were miniature hot air balloons. “What now?”
“Stalker Boy’s been putting the explosive devices in plain sight. To cause maximum destruction, the bomb would be on the roller coaster track.”
“Oh, goody.”
He chuckled. “I’ve ridden everything up here a bunch of times. You’ve lived here a lot longer. But you haven’t?”
“I don’t like thrill rides. My clothes and hair get all rumpled. I end up sweaty, hot, and sticky. Dizzy for fifteen minutes afterward.” She shook her head. “I hate being out of control ... up, down, in, out while hanging on for dear life. Not to mention the involuntary screaming.”
He arched a brow. “We still talking about roller coasters, babe?”
Instead of smiling, her expression went vulnerable and uncertain. She turned away. Okaay ... what was that?
He paced the deck, conducting a visual inspection. Floodlights illuminated the area. Good deal, since they’d lost their light at Treasure Island, along with the duct tape and his Glock. Brightly-colored flowers continued the wedding’s theme. A thick rope anchored a real hot air balloon to one side of the structure, festooned with a banner that read: Congrats, Howie and Laverne! The bride and groom had planned to depart in high style.
He studied each ride. He and Grady had braved them multiple times. The Big Shot catapulted riders straight up the tower’s mast with 4 g-force. X-Scream was a giant, open car teeter-totter. Insanity’s arched steel arm jutted individual swings over the edge and twirled hapless passengers facedown over the city. By comparison, the roller coaster seemed tame.
He led Kate to a control box, showed her how to operate it, then climbed into the front car of the roller coaster. “Move me slowly around the track until I tell you to stop.” He watched the track as he traveled the loop. When he reached the bend where the track arched out over the city right next to Insanity, he saw it. “Stop!”
Hanging out of the car, he studied the device wired to the track. Holy God Almighty.
The device at Treasure Island had been constructed from “Bomb Building for Dummies,” but this was a fucking masterpiece. The most sophisticated bomb he’d ever been pitted against. “Bring me back.”
He had sixty seconds to think as the coaster snaked around the bird’s-eye view of Vegas. But he’d made his decision the moment he’d assessed the bomb.
When the coaster lumbered to a halt, he jumped out. The confidence on Kate’s face killed him. Dammit, he hated to let her down. The bomb tech wanted to go for it. But the protector who would die to save her prevailed. “The trigger has an unbeatable fail-safe. No matter what I do, it’s gonna blow.” He shook his head. “A wise man knows when to cut his losses. We fold this hand.”
Her jaw dropped. “Okay, what did you do with Liam O’Rourke, and where’s the pod?”
He couldn’t believe it himself. He’d never backed down from a challenge. He clenched his jaw. Had he lost his nerve? Lost his edge? Before Kate, being cavalier was easy. He’d never had anything to really live for. Never had anything to lose. But he couldn’t bear the thought of Kate dying.
Even if she lived only to walk away from him.
He took her hand. “I’m pretty sure I can jam Psycho’s signal long enough for you to evac at least the upper floors. It’s a big charge, but the tower is built to withstand a magnitude eight earthquake. The lower half of the structure would survive the blast. Everyone on the upper floors would get out.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll make it at least halfway down the stairs before it blows.”
I hope.
If he could run that fast. If the electrical circuits didn’t shut down and leave him in the dark. If he didn’t take a direct blast concussion hit.
Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t like the odds, Gambler.”
“Only odds we have.”
Her mouth firmed in a stubborn line. He’d never seen her look that determined before. Two bombs ago, she’d been closed down and apprehensive. Now, her fierce warrior woman expression sent his insides into exultant cartwheels—a lot like a spin on Insanity. “Will the people inside be harmed if we try to disarm it instead?”
“No matter what I do, it’s gonna detonate. If I disengaged the device from the structure and tossed it over the edge, the blast would damage only the very top, where we are. But I can’t do that alone, and—”
“I’m staying with you.”
He dropped her hand, put distance between them. “This isn’t the same as the other two bombs. I’m not wagering your life.”
“You’re wagering yours.”
“That’s different.”
“Why?”
Fuck. Time to be a badass. “Because we’d have to play a deadly round of hot potato. After I jammed the signal, you’d have to catch the bomb and pitch it.” His voice was purposefully hard. “Your hands aren’t good enough for this.”
* * *
Hurt cannoned through Kate, stole her breath. Then anger obliterated hurt. For the third time that day, she looked into the spectral mirror of imminent death, sobered by the bleak reflection. She’d indulged in far too few pleasures since the attack. Had far too many regrets. Wasted so much precious time living in doubt and fear.
She was done with that bullshit. “This is my destiny. My decision. I am in charge of my life.”
His eyes were colder than twin glaciers. “Or death. You fumble ... you miss, and I might still make it. You wouldn’t. Not worth the risk.”
“How dare you send me away and endanger yourself!” Even if he successfully jammed the signal, no way would he get downstairs in time afterward. And because they hadn’t followed the rules, the stalker would destroy the photos. Aubrey wouldn’t get her transplant. Not only would Liam die, but his death would be wasted.
“Those photos are the only things left of my new life. They represent years of grueling work and sacrifice. The photos are all I have left of me. They’re my future. Aubrey’s future.”
“We’ll find another way to help Aubrey.”
“We? Do you think I’m naïve enough to believe you’re telling me the truth about your odds of living through this? Besides, do you know how much a transplant costs, plus tens of thousands for anti-rejection drugs she’ll have to take the rest
of her life? No way can we raise that much in forty-eight hours.” She grabbed his forearms. “We can do it, if we stick together. After all we’ve been through, I can’t believe you’re giving up. You’ll let him win?”
“Nobody wins this game. Playing I-have-bigger-balls-than-you with Stalker Boy has lost its appeal.” In contrast to his cold manner, he tenderly touched her cheek. “I don’t want to lose you, just when I’ve found you again.”
She firmed her chin when it wanted to tremble. Was it possible he wanted more than sex from her? In order to find out, she had to ensure they both survived. “What good is it for me to be selfish and save my own life if I lose everyone and everything that matters ... including my self-respect? I can’t live like that. Don’t want to live like that. And it’s wrong for you to expect me to.”
“Kate—”
“Nope.” She squared her shoulders, steeled her resolve. “I will not leave you to die.” She spoke softly now. “I can do this. Liam, you’re extremely intelligent and exceptionally skilled. I have more faith in you than fear of him.”
He inhaled sharply. His eyes closed briefly, opened again. His face was stricken, his irises blazed green fire. “What is it about you, and only you, that makes me lose all fucking reason? What the hell have you done to me?”
“Convinced you to allow me to help both you and my niece stay alive.”
His slow sigh was resigned. “Don’t rag me about the gift of blarney ever again.”
Her most terrifying victory, ever. “What’s the plan?”
“You’ll get in a swing on the Insanity, and I’ll put you over the edge. Then I’ll temporarily jam the device, detach it and throw it to you. You pitch it out as far as you can. Exploding way up here in midair, it won’t damage too much, except—” He faltered.
“Except maybe us.”
A muscle ticked in his taut jaw. “And you’ll be closest to the kill zone.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not that easy to kill, either.”
“Goddamn, Kate, I— Shit.” He exhaled hard. “I gotta get my head in the game here.”
They walked toward Insanity, positioned at the edge of the deck next to the roller coaster. “Too bad the tape sank. I need something to cap the wires so they don’t spark and accidentally fire.”
She felt her dress pocket. Aubrey’s bubble gum was still there. She pulled it out. Water hadn’t penetrated the foil package during either dunking. “What about a wad of gum?”
He grinned. “You are brilliant, w—”
“I swear, if you wench me one more time, I’m going to turn you over my knee.”
Evil laughter rumbled. “You’re incentivizing. Wench.”
Taking a leaf from Zoe’s notebook, she elbowed him in the ribs.
He tore the wrapper and stuck the gum in his mouth. “Mmm. My favorite. Grape Ape.”
The aptly named Insanity was a huge curved arm that supported a circle of swings. Each swing tipped and spun the rider facedown. The ride was enough to freak her, without the bomb. Her knees shook so badly he had to help her into the seat. “Good thing I’m not scared of heights.” She glanced waaay down at the lighted strip.
“You’ve got this.” His hands were steady as he buckled the harness, but his breathing was accelerated. He held up his left palm. “O’Rourke Family motto: Fortune Favors the Brave.”
Kate smacked him a left-handed high five. “After, we’ll drink a bottle of Dom.”
“We’ll drink a friggin’ case of Dom.” He yanked her to him, leaned in and kissed her. Hard, fast, and very thoroughly. Her brains were scrambled when he turned her loose. “Be smart. Be safe.”
“Ditto, Lucky Charmer.”
He strode to the control panel. “Ready?” he hollered.
“As I ever will be!”
Gears clashed, metal shrieked as she swung over the rim, dangling in space. Her seat jerked as he maneuvered her swing to the right of the coaster tracks. He wanted her strongest hand in the catching position. She gritted her teeth to keep from screaming. The good news? At least she didn’t have to spin.
“Okay?” Liam yelled.
Gripping the nylon harness, she stared down at the glittering city nearly a quarter of a mile below. The buildings and cars looked like dollhouse toys. “Never better,” she lied.
She glanced at the roller coaster to her left. Horrified, she watched Liam tightrope-walk the track, arms outstretched for balance. Her stomach jittered. Without anyone to man the controls, he couldn’t use the coaster.
And they called her ride the Insanity.
Strained minutes ticked past. She wiped sweaty palms on her dress. She couldn’t afford to slip.
“Kate!” Liam’s shout made her jerk her gaze to him. “Heads up!”
She braced herself. Wiped her palms again.
“On go!” He crouched on the tracks, body taut, dark hair blowing in the warm breeze. “Ready. Set ...”
She sucked in a deep breath.
“Go!” In one fluid movement, he surged upright and tossed the lethal bundle at her.
Chapter 13
12:00 Midnight
Kate tracked the live bomb hurtling toward her. Oh, God!
Time slowed.
A decade passed.
Liam had tossed the bomb high, in a perfect arc. It sailed up, up, before reaching its zenith, and then hurtled directly downward. Holding her breath, she locked her focus on the device.
The bomb finally zoomed into range. Her fingertips brushed metal and missed. She frantically juggled the slippery missile. For a terrified eternity, she fumbled, nearly dropping it into the seat with her. Then her sweaty fingers closed around the casing. Gotcha!
Liam yelled, “Pitch it!” She heaved the bomb into space. “Duck!” he shouted.
She looked at him, and her blood froze. He was running! On a narrow track one-hundred-thirteen stories above the ground! A puny metal railing was the only barrier between him and a thousand-foot plunge. Damn him! Instead of protecting himself, he was trying to reach the controls and yank her back.
“Crouch!” he yelled. “Cover your head!”
“You too!” She flung her arms over her head.
KABOOM!
She went deaf. A brilliant orange flash seared her vision through closed lids. Scalding heat boiled over her, and her seat rocked wildly. Shrapnel peppered the metal with loud clangs. She hunkered in the seat, forearms protecting her head. As a piercing sting hit her left shoulder, another her right thigh, she yelped.
Then everything went still and quiet.
Too quiet.
“Liam?” Her voice sounded muffled in her ringing ears. The track looked okay. But the concussion had collapsed the railing, the steel folded and bent like crumpled playing cards. “Liam?”
Then she saw him. Her heart stopped. He was clinging to a broken section of railing, dangling over the tower’s edge.
She clenched her teeth against a scream. God, oh God! Hanging in the seat, suspended in space, she had to watch, powerless, while he struggled to hold on. The damaged metal shrieked, threatening to break free.
Kate’s stomach flip-flopped as Liam froze.
He shifted gingerly. The broken railing screeched out death throes and dropped six inches. He stilled again. When it settled, he began to climb. Stressed muscles bunched as he laboriously pulled hand over hand.
Please ...
She didn’t dare speak and break his concentration. Each time the railing slid and screeched, he stopped. Agonizing minutes of slow progress later, he finally clambered onto the deck.
Kate went limp.
He didn’t even pause to catch a breath before he leapt to his feet and spun to check on her. “You all right?”
“Other than minor heart failure, just dandy. You?”
“Five-by-five. You did fantastic, Kate.” He sprinted to the control panel. “I’ll bring you back.”
She couldn’t wait to plant her feet on terra firma. Gears hummed. The gigantic arm holding her seat swung backward.
Backward ...
The machine emitted a loud bang. Abruptly halted. Her seat bucked and she clutched the harness.
“Shit!” Liam gritted. “Shrapnel in the gear mechanism. I have to move it in the opposite direction.” The ride reversed, swinging her farther over the city. The arm extended sixty-four feet before spinning the swings, but Liam hadn’t sent her that far over the edge earlier. She wouldn’t have been able to catch the bomb.
Clatter erupted, and she lurched to a stop. Her swing tilted downward and rotated to face the tower. Eek! If she started spinning facedown, she was gonna hurl all over the Strip.
Inventive swearing roiled from the control box. Bonus points for creativity. Liam appeared at the bent railing, his expression grim. “Fucker’s jammed with shrapnel. And the security doors automatically locked after the explosion. I can’t get downstairs.”
“My cell is in my purse on the deck. Phone for help.”
Liam stared above her head. He paled and got extra grim. “Don’t move, okay?”
She rolled her eyes upward ... and broke out in a cold sweat. A large metal shard had lodged in the harness link, nearly shearing it off. “Uhhh ...”
He stretched out his hand as if he could reach her. “Stay calm. I’ll get you down.”
Yeah, a screaming hissy fit probably wouldn’t help. She inhaled slow, deep breaths. “Unless you have a cape and pair of tights handy, I don’t see how. Call in the cavalry.”
“Don’t panic, babe. I’m coming for you.” He disappeared from sight.
Why didn’t he phone for help? A horrible suspicion assailed her. Unless he knew there was no time.
He was coming for her? How? He was a resourceful guy but didn’t have wings.
Suspended by rapidly fraying straps over the bustling city, she muffled her anxiety. Didn’t dare move. Barely breathed.
Aside from the breeze, the world from on high was eerily quiet. To keep her mind off plunging to her death, she studied the stars. As a girl, she stared out her window and dreamed of the future. Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might ...
