Enticed by the Operative (Doctors in Danger, Book 1) (20 page)

He glanced over at the guys who were talking quietly. Alan caught his eye and gave him a thumbs-up, and Logan nodded in return. They’d decided that since Logan lived next door to Olivia, he’d keep an eye on her until she met with Carlos. They didn’t want to risk putting her under surveillance and having her get suspicious, especially at such a critical juncture in the investigation. If she realized she was now under the microscope, she might warn off Carlos and they’d lose their chance to get him.

Logan had agreed to the plan but he still felt torn. Part of him saw it as a way to atone for the mistakes he’d made in Colombia. But another part of him still questioned Olivia’s role in this play. Was she really capable of such deception? They’d practically lived in each other’s pockets for the past few weeks, and he’d been by her side constantly. Hell, they’d even shared a bed. During all that time, he’d seen the compassion and skill she brought to her patients and her intense dedication to her job. There had been many days she’d seen patients from sunup to sundown and she hadn’t complained once about being tired or wanting a break. That wasn’t the kind of attitude a person could fake, at least not for so long. It seemed wrong to him that a genuinely dedicated physician like Olivia could also be working for the cartel.

But she does have a lot of debt.
Money was a powerful motivator, and she’d said herself she had loans to pay both from her education and her parents’ medical bills. It was possible she had been bought, but the more he thought about it, the more it just didn’t ring true.

He closed his eyes and feigned sleep, wanting more time to think. This whole situation seemed like a Gordian knot, impossible to understand. But Logan wasn’t going to give up so easily. If he kept at it, he’d find some way to untangle the problem, to separate the truth from the lies and misunderstandings.

The guys were closing in, getting ready to arrest Olivia and present their case in court. If she was guilty, then she deserved to go to prison. But if she was innocent...

He shook off the distraction. He would figure out what had really happened and who was truly to blame.

Before it was too late.

CHAPTER 21

“I
can’t believe you took some guy you barely know to Colombia! I wanted to go.”

Olivia smiled despite the disbelief in Avery’s voice. “You couldn’t get off of work,” she reminded her friend. It was such a relief to talk to her, to hear her voice and know that she was okay! Logan and his coworkers had assured her that Avery and Mallory were fine, but a small part of her had still worried about them. As soon as they’d given her the all clear, she’d called Avery to check on her. They hadn’t been talking long, but Olivia already felt so much better.

“How did you meet him anyway?”

Olivia bit her bottom lip. “His company was interested in investing in my trip and they wanted him to come along and see firsthand what I do there.” She hated lying to her friend, but it was for the best. She couldn’t risk tipping off Carlos before Logan and his men were able to arrest him.

She’d already called the man, and the memory of it made her shudder. Even though she’d only spoken to him long enough to set up their meeting, just hearing his voice in her ear had sent waves of revulsion through her body. It had taken all her self-control not to gag.

“Is he cute?”

Olivia laughed, thoughts of Carlos dimming as she called up Logan’s face. “No,” she said, warmth kindling to life in her belly as she pictured him. “He’s definitely not cute—that’s a description for a boy. Logan is all man, and he’s very handsome.”

“Ooh,” Avery squealed. “I want details! What happened? Are you two an item now? Start from the beginning!” Olivia heard the protest of springs and knew her friend had just plopped down on her ancient sofa. “Don’t leave anything out,” Avery commanded.

Olivia hesitated a moment, debating on what to say. Should she play it cool and pretend like nothing had happened? Or confess everything and get her friend’s take on things? Even though Logan claimed he was feeling better, he still seemed a little off and she couldn’t shake the impression that he’d taken a step back from her ever since his surgery in Bogotá. It reminded her of the way Scott had distanced himself before finally leaving her, and her stomach ached at the thought of Logan doing the same thing. Maybe talking it over with Avery would help her understand what was going on and if there was anything she could do to make him see that she still cared for him.

She opened her mouth, preparing to spill it all. But just then the doorbell rang, distracting her. “Hang on,” she told her friend.

Avery groaned in frustration. “Not fair! I haven’t been on a date in ages—I’m living vicariously through you!”

“What makes you think I have anything good to share?” Olivia teased as she made her way to the door.

“You said he was ‘all man’ and ‘very handsome,’” Avery reminded her. “Those aren’t the words of a woman who kept her professional distance.”

“Guilty as charged.” Olivia laughed. “Just let me get the door.”

She opened it to find Logan standing on the stoop, his hands in his pockets. “Hi,” she said, genuinely pleased to see him.

“Hello,” he replied. “Mind if I come in?”

“Of course not,” she said, stepping aside so he could enter. She caught a whiff of his soap as he passed by, and the now-familiar scent lit a spark of excitement in her chest. “Avery, I’m going to have to call you back.”

“That’s him, isn’t it?” her friend asked. “Never mind, I can tell it is. He sounds sexy.”

Olivia stifled a laugh. “I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Forget about me. I’m just the friend. Go be with your guy.”

“I will call you back,” Olivia promised, following Logan into the kitchen. “I still haven’t heard about your trip to Kansas.”

“There’s not much to tell,” Avery said. “I’ll talk to you later.”

Olivia hung up and gave Logan a smile. “Sorry about that—I was catching up with Avery.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yes. It’s so good to hear her voice.” She let out a sigh and set the phone on the kitchen counter. “I left a message with Mallory and I hope to hear back from her soon. I know the DEA is looking after them both, but I feel better after talking to Avery.”

Logan studied her for a moment and she fought the urge to blush. “You look better,” he commented. “You seem more relaxed now that you’re home.”

“I feel that way, too,” she said. “Want something to drink?”

He shook his head. “I’m just here for a quick visit.”

She tamped down a flare of disappointment. “That’s too bad. We haven’t seen much of each other lately.” She was surprised by how lonely she’d felt over the past few days. Did he feel the same way?

If he did, he didn’t show it. He looked amazing, especially for a man who’d recently had emergency surgery. His color was good and he didn’t appear to be in any pain. He seemed to be recovering quite nicely, and she knew most of that was due to his sheer determination to get well as soon as possible.

He gave her an apologetic smile that sent zings of sensation through her limbs. “They’re keeping me busy at the office,” he said. “But I wanted to stop by and make sure you’re all set for tomorrow’s meeting.”

The reminder chased away Olivia’s lingering enjoyment from her conversation with Avery. “I suppose,” she said. “There’s really nothing new to it, is there?”

Logan shook his head. “Not really. We’ll have the same setup—you in your office, surveillance teams on the street and in the waiting room. Only this time, once he’s inside your office, we’re going to move in.”

That was the part that made her nervous—she’d never been involved in something like this before. “Are you sure the other people in my office will be safe?” What if Carlos had a gun and started shooting? What if one of her coworkers or a patient was injured? She’d never forgive herself if more people were hurt because of her.

Logan dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand. “We’ve cleared your schedule. It won’t be an issue.”

“If you’re sure,” Olivia said. She crossed to the fridge and opened it to retrieve a bottle of water. “I don’t mean to question your plan. It just worries me, that’s all.”

Logan moved to stand next to her. “I understand. And it’s natural for you to feel anxious about it. But I told you once I’d keep you safe. I’ve kept my promise.”

She met his eyes, trapped by his deep green gaze. “Yes, you have,” she murmured.

“Trust me to see you through tomorrow safely, as well.”

“I do,” she said honestly. His proximity was almost intoxicating, and Olivia wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around him, bury her nose in the hollow of his throat and stay there for days. He had become her addiction, and she wanted more.

He nodded and glanced away, as if preparing to leave. She felt a sudden bolt of panic at the thought—he’d just arrived! Surely he could stay a little longer? Just a few more minutes, then she could let him go...

“Logan,” she blurted out. He turned back to give her a questioning look. “Ah, can you stay for a bit? Just to catch up?”

He lifted one brow in amusement. “It’s only been two days,” he pointed out.

“I know, but I miss you.” She bit her lip, wishing she had the gift of eloquence. Instead, she sounded like a desperate woman.

His eyes softened and he nodded his head. “All right. Just let me call the guys and tell them I’ll be late getting back.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. “Mind if I step into the other room for a moment?”

Olivia shook her head, unable to stop the smile from taking over her face. “No problem. Want me to make some coffee?”

“That sounds nice.” He ran his hand down her arm on his way out of the room, and her insides quivered in response to his touch. How long would he have this effect on her? Would she ever be able to see him and not want to be near him? Could they ever go back to being just neighbors again?

No, she decided. That wasn’t an option. Like it or not, she’d fallen for Logan Murray. Her heart saw him as her future. Now she just had to find out how he felt about her.

* * *

“She doesn’t suspect anything.” Logan ran a hand through his hair and started to pace, careful to stay on the rug so his steps would be muffled.

“Notice anything suspicious?” Alan asked. They had agreed to give Olivia details about the meeting tomorrow as a test—would she contact Carlos and warn him? Alan had asked for authorization to set up a wiretap, but the judge had said they didn’t have enough evidence to justify it. All they could do now was wait and watch...

“No. She seemed happy to see me.” His heart tightened a bit at the memory of her face when she’d opened the door and seen him standing there. She’d looked both thrilled and relieved, a combination that mirrored his own emotions. The more he thought about her and her actions in Colombia, the bigger his doubts grew. The Olivia he knew could not willingly be involved in this mess. He just had to figure out how to prove it.

“That’s good,” Alan said. “Hopefully she just thinks you’re there on a social call.”

“I’m staying for coffee.” He hoped Alan didn’t ask why. He didn’t want to explain his thoughts on the matter, or the way his heart rate had jumped when Olivia had confessed she missed him. He felt the same way, but he didn’t want to admit it just yet. There was still a vanishingly small chance things were not as they seemed, and he didn’t want to surrender to his feelings until he knew for sure Olivia was innocent. Bad enough that he’d fallen for her. If she was guilty, at least he’d still have his pride intact.

“Glad to hear it,” Alan replied. “Keep your eyes and ears open and let me know if you notice anything.”

The faint chime of the doorbell drifted into the room and he frowned. Was she expecting someone? “Will do,” he said distractedly. He hung up before Alan could reply and slipped the phone back into his pocket. Then he moved to the doorway and stood to the side, out of sight. He was being paranoid, he knew, but Olivia hadn’t mentioned another visitor.

He heard her steps as she walked to the door, and the click of the lock as she flipped it open. He was starting to feel a little foolish listening in, but something kept him glued in place...

She opened the door and gasped, then there was a solid thud as the door met something hard, probably a foot or a hand.

“Dr. Sandoval, is that any way to greet an old friend?”

“You are not my friend. What are you doing here?” Her voice was heavy with fear and Logan’s heart sank as he realized he’d been played for a fool.

Carlos was here, ahead of schedule and in the wrong location. Olivia must have been expecting him, but at a later time. No wonder she sounded scared—she’d just been caught in a lie.

Betrayal burned hot and bright in his chest, making it hard to breathe. Logan pushed aside the hurt and glanced around the room, looking for a way out. He could climb through the window and into her backyard, but then he’d miss hearing valuable information they needed to make the arrest.

In the end, his desire for justice trumped his concerns for his own safety.

He removed his phone and sent a quick text to Alan.
Carlos is here. Come now.
Then he slipped the phone back into his pocket and took a deep breath, focusing his thoughts on the job ahead. Later he’d take the time to agonize over his misplaced trust. Now he needed to block out his emotions and do what was necessary to end this once and for all.

CHAPTER 22

C
arlos waltzed into her home like he owned the place, trailed by his silent, menacing bodyguard. His smug confidence sucked up all the oxygen in the room—or at least it felt that way to Olivia. She put a hand to her chest, struggling to breathe in the wake of his appearance. Why was he here?

Her next thought was of Logan, still in the other room. Had he heard the doorbell?
Please stay away.
If he were to walk out now, there was no telling what Carlos or his henchman might do.

“Why are you here, Carlos?” she asked, a little loudly. Maybe Logan would hear her and could text for help before things got out of hand. The thought made her feel a little better and helped steady her nerves. Logan would do his job. She just had to distract Carlos until the DEA arrived.

“I’m here for my merchandise.” Carlos raised a brow, his expression clearly indicating that he found her question ridiculous. “Did you think I had forgotten?”

Olivia shook her head and fought the urge to look at the door of her study, where Logan had gone to make his call. “No. But we had agreed to meet tomorrow.”

Carlos smiled, a thin, cruel slant of his mouth. “We had. But I do not trust you.” He took a step forward, and his bodyguard followed suit. They were trying to intimidate her, and Olivia was ashamed to admit it was working.

She swallowed, trying to stall. “I’ve given you no reason to doubt me,” she said, her voice only a little shaky.

Carlos tilted his head to the side, studying her the way a cat might a mouse. The look in his dark eyes made her stomach twist and she felt the burn of bile in the back of her throat.

“Where is your friend?” he asked softly.

Olivia held her ground and met his gaze. “Which one?”

He snorted softly, apparently amused by her response. “Let us not play games. I know your potential financier is not who you claimed.”

His words made her blood run cold.
He knew.
Somehow, Carlos had discovered the truth about Logan’s identity.

Her denial was automatic. If she admitted the truth, Carlos would likely kill her on the spot. She thrust her chin up and took a step forward, determined to sell her bluff. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Now he laughed outright. “I don’t know if you’re brave or merely stupid.” When she didn’t respond, Carlos grabbed her arm and squeezed hard. Olivia tried to wriggle out of his grasp, but he pulled her up to him and shoved his face in hers.

“Logan Marshall is really Logan Murray, a DEA agent. Did you honestly think I would not discover your deception?” His breath was hot on her cheeks and Olivia closed her eyes, drawing deep for strength.

She had two choices: admit the truth and hope Carlos didn’t kill her outright, or continue to play dumb and pretend to be shocked.

Carlos gave her a little shake, apparently annoyed by her silence. In that moment, Olivia made up her mind. She was tired of letting this man terrorize her, tired of feeling at his mercy. He had hurt the man she loved, threatened her friends and almost ruined her life. She was done letting her fear of him rule her actions. It was time to take back her life.

Even if it only lasted a few moments longer.

She opened her eyes and glared at him. “I told you,” she said, her voice low and threatening. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She yanked hard against Carlos’s hold and took a step back. He released her but didn’t take his eyes off her face.

“You’re lying.” But there was a thread of doubt in his voice.

“Why would I lie? You threatened the lives of my friends, the people I love most in this world. Why would I do anything to jeopardize their safety?”

He studied her for a moment, clearly considering her words. She stared him down, knowing that if she looked away now he’d see through her bluff.

Finally, he nodded once. “Very well. We will move on. For now.”

Olivia sighed silently, some of the tension leaving her body. He had bought her story and hopefully the DEA would arrive before he figured out the truth.

“I’ll give you the drugs and then I want you to leave.”

Carlos’s eyes widened a bit, as if he was shocked by her boldness. “You dare to tell me what to do? You forget you have no power here. I am in control.”

A flash of movement caught Olivia’s attention and she saw Logan creeping out of the study. He moved silently, tracking Carlos’s bodyguard, clearly intending to take the man down. Her heart thumped double-time as a mixture of relief and fear swirled through her. She no longer had to face Carlos alone, but what if Logan got hurt again while attacking the other man?

She returned her focus to Carlos, hoping her temporary distraction hadn’t clued him in to what was happening behind him. “Forgive me,” she said, almost choking on the words. “I just want to conclude our business.”

“As do I.” He turned to gesture to his associate just as Logan reached the bodyguard. Carlos let out a cry of alarm, but it was too late. Logan hooked his arm around the man’s neck and pressed his gun to his temple. “Drop your weapon,” he instructed calmly.

The man did as he was told, but Olivia could tell by the flash of fire in his eyes that he hadn’t truly surrendered. If Logan gave even an inch, he would jump into action...

Logan eyed Carlos over his henchman’s shoulder. “Have a seat,” he said. “You might as well get comfortable while we wait for my friends to arrive.”

Carlos sighed and shook his head. “I think not.” Before Olivia realized what was happening, Carlos snaked his arm out and grabbed her, pulling her roughly to stand in front of him. She felt a sudden pressure on her neck, cold and flat. The detached part of her brain realized Carlos must have drawn his own gun, but before she had time to process what was happening, his voice filled her ear.

“Your move, Agent Murray,” he said coldly.

* * *

Logan cursed silently and tightened his grip on the man he held hostage. He should have gotten Olivia out of the way before making his move, but there hadn’t been time. He’d meant to take this guy out while Carlos had his back turned and then go after Carlos, but he’d been forced to act when Carlos had turned around. Now he was in a classic standoff, and his enemy wore the flat, calculating look of a man with nothing left to lose.

He shook his head slightly, trying to clear his mind. His emotions were all over the map, a maelstrom that threatened to drag him down. He’d gone from trusting Olivia to feeling betrayed so fast it had given him whiplash. After overhearing her conversation with Carlos, he realized she’d been innocent all along. She’d had several opportunities to sell him out in the last few minutes alone, and every time she’d protected him, buying him time to organize a response. A heavy surge of guilt washed over him—how could he have ever doubted her?

He met her eyes, wanting to apologize for this, for Colombia, for everything. He expected to see her brows drawn down in anger since he had failed to protect her from Carlos. Instead, she wore a look of total and absolute trust, her brown eyes steady and warm. Her faith in him shone brightly on her face, and it nearly brought him to his knees. After the way he’d questioned her integrity, the last thing he deserved was her unwavering loyalty. She was too good for the likes of him.

He was going to have to work hard to be a man worthy of her confidence.

“It doesn’t have to be like this,” he said, darting his eyes from Carlos to the door. The guys should be getting here any minute, and he didn’t want the surprise of their arrival to spook him into shooting Olivia. There had to be some way he could convince Carlos to let her go...

“You’re right,” Carlos said. “It doesn’t. Put down your gun.”

“Why do you care?” Logan asked. “The cartel has never been concerned with the lives of its underlings.”

A flash of anger sparked in Carlos’s eyes, and Logan realized with a shock that the man he held hostage was no ordinary cartel employee.

“Who is he to you? Your brother? Your son?”

Carlos didn’t respond, but Logan saw his jaw clench and knew he’d hit upon the truth.

In light of this information, Logan mentally reviewed his options. He could stand here and argue with Carlos, trying to stall the man until Alan and the rest of his backup arrived. It was the easy choice, but there was no guarantee Carlos would cooperate. He was a smart man and would probably see through the tactic. And Logan knew Carlos wouldn’t hesitate to shoot Olivia if he thought it would help him escape.

That left another option: he could surrender. Carlos wasn’t expecting him to give up so easily, but it was the only way he could see to protect Olivia. If Logan gave up his weapon and released Carlos’s relative, Carlos would have no reason to hold Olivia hostage. And if he let her go, she’d be out of danger when the guys arrived, which they were likely to do any minute.

Of course, there was nothing to stop Carlos from shooting him the moment he surrendered, but Logan would have to take that chance. Olivia’s safety was more important to him than anything else.

“If I drop my gun, will you let her go?”

He saw the flash of surprise in Carlos’s eyes. “Naturally.”

It was a lie and they both knew it, but Logan nodded, pretending to accept his word.

“Logan, don’t—” Carlos jerked his arm up, choking Olivia. She blinked hard, her eyes watering, and Logan felt his blood begin to boil. He tightened his grip on the man in front of him, digging his fingers into the side of the man’s neck. He felt the pulse of blood thrum under his fingers and squeezed, keeping his eyes locked on Carlos. The man began to go limp in his arms, and he loosened his grip just enough to keep him conscious.

“Play nice,” he warned Carlos. “If you hurt her, I hurt him.”

For a terrible moment, he thought Carlos was going to strangle Olivia in front of him. A calculating look flashed across the man’s face and his arm tightened around her neck. She emitted a soft choking sound but didn’t move, as if sensing any kind of struggle would give him the excuse he wanted to kill her. After what seemed like an eternity, he loosened his arm and Olivia drew in a full breath.

“Very well,” Carlos said. “We seem to have arrived at an understanding. I believe you were going to drop your gun?”

Logan tossed his weapon on the sofa but maintained his grip on the man in front of him. “Your turn.”

“I never said I’d drop my gun,” Carlos replied.

“No, but you did say you’d release her.”

Carlos cocked his head to the side. “True. But I neglected to mention what her condition would be.” His smile was pure evil as he cocked his gun and lifted it to Olivia’s temple.

Logan reacted on instinct. He shoved his hostage forward, ramming him into Olivia and knocking both her and Carlos off balance. The bodyguard rolled off his boss and lunged to the side, clearly going for Logan’s discarded gun. But Logan didn’t care. He pushed Olivia out of the way and threw himself on top of Carlos, scrabbling for the man’s hand before he could bring his gun up to fire.

Carlos was a lot stronger than he looked, and he put up a decent fight. He landed a glancing blow across Logan’s chin and a spike of pain radiated through his jaw, distracting him.

There were the sounds of a scuffle behind him, and Olivia let out a muffled cry. Then the sound of a gunshot ripped through the air, and both Logan and Carlos froze.

“Olivia?” Logan turned, half-afraid of what he might find. Had she been shot? Was she lying dead on the floor?
Please, no
...

She stood a few feet away wearing a shocked expression as she stared down at the body of Carlos’s relative. Logan saw at a glance that his gun was in her hand, and he felt a fierce surge of pride and relief at seeing she was safe.

He turned back to Carlos with renewed determination, but the other man had managed to regroup during the distraction. He swung for Logan’s head, and Logan realized too late that Carlos had picked up a bowl that had been knocked over during the scrimmage.

He heard a terrible crack as the bowl struck home, and his vision wavered as pain swamped his consciousness. He keeled over and curled up on the floor, clutching his head in a vain attempt to stop the ringing in his ears.

His brain cried for him to get up, some part of him knowing that Carlos must be rising to his feet, gun in hand to shoot him. But his body wouldn’t cooperate. He was as helpless as a newborn, and any second now, Carlos was going to kill him.

Logan managed to open his eyes. The room swam around him and black spots danced in his field of view. He squinted to try to clear them, but it didn’t work. No matter. As long as he could still see Olivia. He wanted to see her face one last time before he died.

He moved his head slightly and gagged as his stomach revolted. Blinking hard to clear the tears from his eyes, he saw her, still standing a few feet away. There were two of her now, and they both turned to face him.

He tried to speak, but his tongue was thick and heavy in his mouth. He wanted to tell her he was sorry for letting her down, for leaving her like this. He’d promised to protect her and he’d failed. Hopefully Alan and the rest of the team could make up for his shortcomings.

Olivia and her twin moved as one, lifting their arms in his direction. Two loud booms rang out, and a sudden, heavy weight fell on Logan. He struggled to breathe against the unexpected pressure and tried to move away, but he couldn’t coordinate his limbs and wound up flailing helplessly.

Then Olivia was there, her arms pulling him free and cradling his head in her lap. “Don’t move,” she said, her hands on either side of his face.

He stopped struggling and gazed up at her, trying to decide which one of her faces to focus on. They wore identical expressions of concern, but it was too difficult to tell which one was Olivia and which one was her twin. He gave up, closing his eyes to block out the confusing sight.

“Open your eyes,” she said urgently. “You can’t go to sleep here.”

“Wasn’t gonna,” he mumbled. But in truth, he was suddenly very tired. His body felt heavy and sluggish, and his brain struggled to process the reasons why he should stay awake. He’d just take a quick nap and when he woke up things would make more sense.