Harlequin Intrigue June 2015 - Box Set 1 of 2: To Honor and To Protect\Cornered\Untraceable (24 page)

The move had her jumping to make an introduction. She was half-surprised Cam hadn't done it himself. “This is Cameron Roth.”

The men shook hands as Sandy talked. “I assume you know something about the shooting.”

The need to protect and explain rushed up on her. “I was there. Men came in, threatened me, and Cam protected me.”

Still, Cam said nothing. He stood there, unmoving, with his hands linked behind his back. Maybe he thought Sandy would turn him in or was too stunned by the inside of the house. Sandy didn't exactly go for subtle. There were large-screen televisions everywhere and overstuffed sofas. The man lived in comfort.

“Well, then.” Sandy clapped his hands together. “That's certainly a different story from the one Kreider is telling.”

“You heard from him?” Cam asked, talking for the first time since they'd stepped inside.

“He called right before you came to the door. Told me this wild tale about a jailbreak.” Sandy shot Cam one of those man-to-man looks. “But instead of hauling you in, it sounds as if I should be thanking you for keeping her safe.”

Julia had no idea what was going through either man's head. Sandy looked impressed, though concerned. Cam's expression had gone blank, which was really not helpful or new.

She zipped right to the basics. “We need somewhere to stay until Cam can figure this out.”

“Maybe it's best if Cam explains to the police and you stay here.”

Cam nodded. “Maybe.”

“No.” She was not going down this road again. He'd tried to lose her at the police station by making things look even worse for him. She couldn't let that happen. Not after the insane time they'd been through.

Truth was, she felt safe with him. And the tiny voice in her head kept repeating that she really didn't want him to lose her.

That part she couldn't deal with or understand. The guy thrived on danger. He was everything she wasn't. Still, the one place she wanted to be was by his side.

She pushed the topic. “Someone is framing Cam for Rudy Bleesher's murder.”

“What?” Sandy's head snapped back. “Rudy is dead?”

“We found the body. That's where the police spotted us.” It all made sense in her head, but as the words spilled out she could hear the oddness of it all. No wonder Kreider had taken them both in. The only real question was why he hadn't thrown her in a cell, too.

Sandy looked over at Cam. “Seems death is following you.”

Cam nodded for a second time. “It does appear that way.”

The whole quiet act was working on her nerves. She needed Cam to stand up and defend himself. She planned to tell him that the second she got him alone.

First she had to make an ally out of Sandy, which shouldn't be hard with their history. “Sandy, please help. We need a few hours without questions or being chased.”

“I'm not sure what that last part means, but fine.” He held up one finger. “For one night only, and then Cam and I are going to have a serious talk in the morning about how to fix this and keep your name out of it.”

That was the last place her mind went at the moment. “I'm not worried about that.”

Cam shot her an are-you-crazy look. “I am.”

“And that answer just bought you twelve hours, even though I want to question you both right now.” Sandy let out a long exhale. “Take the two rooms down here. You can go wash up and I'll make something to eat.”

Relief swamped her, nearly knocking her down. “Thank you, and thanks for the reprieve.”

She sensed it wouldn't last.

Chapter Seven

No way was he staying. Cam didn't like the look of the place. From the outside it looked spacious and homey, all lit up with security lights as the night fell. And with a very impressive security system. Cam recognized the name and wondered what exactly he was walking into and if he'd be able to get out again.

Now he stood in a bedroom and watched Julia slump down on the bed. The wise thing would be to wait for her to fall asleep and then sneak away. But after all they'd been through and the way she'd stuck up for him, that seemed like a pretty jerky way to handle the situation.

Then there was the timing problem. The ticking at the back of his neck said he needed to move. Sandy might claim to give them twelve hours, but his loyalty was with Julia, not him. In Sandy's place, Cam would get her to safety and turn someone like him—with the questionable story and police on his tail—in.

She smiled up at him. “I told you it would be okay.”

Man, she actually believed it. That was why it was so hard to hit her with the truth. Well, part of the reason. The idea of leaving her made something inside him clench. He couldn't get wrapped up in her or her life. He should get her out of the trouble he'd created for her and move on...but the memory of that kiss kept smacking him.

He wanted her more with each passing second. The driving need threw him off. He didn't operate like this. He never got involved during a job. He met a woman, they went out, they had sex, it trickled to nothing and he moved on. Just the way he liked it.

But he knew forgetting her would not be that easy. Which was why he needed to get out now. Because of his attraction and the danger. Nothing pointed to a good reason for him to hang around.

He inhaled. “I'm not staying.”

“Why?” She shot the word back at him before he even finished the sentence.

“He can keep you safe.” Cam pointed out into the hall and the general direction of this Sandy guy's family room. “He'll turn me in.”

“But he said he'd help.”

Spoken like someone who never dealt in danger and lies. He liked that about her. The girl-next-door sensibility of living her life without fear. Family troubles or not, she was grounded and not looking for a fast fling. He got that.

“I don't trust easily, Julia. Don't ask me to trust this situation. Nothing feels right about any of this.” He sat down on the bed next to her when he should have been walking out the door.

“He helped raise me.”

Cam took her hand in his. Let his warmth seep into her cold fingers. “You, not me.”

She twisted on the mattress to face him. “You have to trust someone.”

“That's not an easy emotion for me.” In his whole life that sentiment had never really worked for him.

The first time he'd found a home was with the Corcoran Team. Joel was his best friend. They saw each other less now that Joel was back together with the woman who made him happy, but Cam still tagged along. And he hung out with Shane and, to a lesser extent, Holt. They were a team and he entrusted his life and safety to them, but those connections did not extend to people outside Corcoran. Not for him.

“You think it is for me? I grew up with a rageful alcoholic. I didn't exactly have friends over for playdates.” She shook her head as if trying to clear out all the old memories. “I don't want you to go.”

The pleas tugged at him, made him think about doing stupid things that didn't fit with his life or the need to keep her protected. “You'll be safe with Sandy.”

Her other hand went to his lap. Smoothed up and down his thigh. “You make me feel safe.”

The touching, the sound of her voice, the pleading in those big eyes. Cam was ten seconds from breaking. “Don't do this.”

She nuzzled her mouth against his neck. Blew warm breath over his skin. He fought it until he couldn't, and then he turned his head and kissed her. Right there in another man's house, in a place with security but no connection to Cam.

His mouth lingered over hers, caressing and coaxing, before he pressed deeper. The flash of heat hit him straight in the chest. The need churning inside him kicked up and his hands started to wander over her.

It took every ounce of his strength and self-control to pull back. When that didn't give him enough space, he stood up. Paced around and thought about airplanes. Anything to take his mind off her face and the touch of those lips.

“Then I'm going with you.” Her voice sounded shaky.

He knew that wasn't from fear. He felt the trembling inside him and tried to tamp it down.

“Fine.” But he didn't mean it.

He'd have to be that jerk. Walk away the second she wasn't looking. Leave her where it was safe and warm and hope that whatever connections Sandy had—and Cam assumed from the look of the place that he had some power—he'd use them to help her. If not, Cam would circle back and take responsibility so she could be free.

Her eyes narrowed as she stared at him. “Really?”

“Go wash up and then we'll find some food.”

“Was that so hard?” She got up and kissed him on the cheek.

He tried to smile and make it look genuine. “Nope.”

She went into the bathroom. He waited until he heard the water running, then constructed a floor plan of the house in his head. He tried to figure out the most logical ways in and out of the house by the layout of the rooms he'd seen and the look of the place from the outside.

The only question was the alarm system. Sandy hadn't reset it before he ushered them out of the foyer. Cam had to hope that was still the case.

Being careful as he placed his footsteps, Cam walked to the door and opened it. He could hear a television playing in another room and could smell food cooking in the kitchen. He ignored the growl of his stomach and slipped into the hall.

He stopped, trying to get his bearings. It was too risky to go out the front. And if the entry was that way, that meant a side or back door would be in another direction. He glanced to his right and saw what he suspected was a closet. A quick check confirmed the thought. His only solution then was a walk toward the noise.

Between the size of the house and the fact that it had sensor lights outside, this would not be an easy task. He tried to dream up an excuse in case he got caught. The need for fresh air. Probably as plausible as anything else.

The television grew louder as he reached the end of the hall. Sandy stood with his back to him as he used the remote to dial around the stations on the screen that seemed to take up a third of the wall in the massive family room.

At least that task had Sandy occupied. Cam didn't wait for another distraction. He slid along the counter and headed for the door on the side of the kitchen. The French doors by the dining room would take him too close to Sandy, but this one had possibilities. Cam just hoped it didn't lead to a pantry. Would be hard to explain why he was hanging out in there.

He waited to move until Sandy laughed at something on the screen. Cam placed each step carefully and didn't take his eyes off Sandy until he had the door open. Once inside, Cam smelled the faint scent of gasoline and spotted the two cars despite the dark. There was a wide-open bay and a door at the opposite side.

Getting over there took a few seconds. Checking for wires or any evidence of an alarm took another two. The alarm panel next to the door showed a green light. Cam hoped that meant go.

He turned the knob slowly at first, then yanked the door. Cold air and misty rain slapped his face. He glanced up and saw the searchlight aimed at the lawn beyond. Now he had to play the game of beat the sensor lights. Dodge and weave, keep low and not make noise.

He'd just picked a path when a figure appeared in front of him. Round face, backpack and ponytail...and a glare that could melt steel.

“Forget something?” Julia asked through clenched teeth.

“No.”

“If you had asked I would have told you there was a patio off the bathroom in my room.” She exhaled and it sounded harsh and ragged. “The bathroom is the size of most people's family rooms.”

That was a weird architectural choice and now he regretted not slipping in there to check it out. “Didn't expect that.”

“Obviously.” She tightened her hold on the strap of her pack. “This is where teamwork comes into play. We work together and you don't need to sneak around.”

It sounded good. Too good. “You need to stay here.”

“Not happening. See, I turned the alarm to pause. You have about five seconds to come with me before all these lights and bells come on again.” She leaned in closer. “And this time Sandy will call the police on you.”

Score one for Julia and her overwhelming hotness.

A smart man knew when he'd lost. “Let's go.”

* * *

R
AY
SAT
IN
the front of the van with Ned. They parked a good distance away, on the other side of a small hill. They could move in without thinking, but they waited. Watched the woman and the man run into the woods as the rain started to fall around them.

He was getting tired of following these two. From the ferry. The police station. This house. It was getting old.

Ned wiped a hand against the fog on the inside of the window. “Why are we letting them go?”

This was not Ray's decision. If he had a say, these two would be splattered all over the street by now. Hell, he'd only pulled out of the woman's house that first time because the boss tracked his movements and sent a message saying to let the woman go unharmed. Up until then Ray had had it handled and could have taken Roth without any trouble.

But he wasn't in charge...yet. “The boss wants us to follow. Watch from a safe distance.”

“Why?”

The questions skidded across Ray's nerves. It was bad enough he had to listen to directions from the boss. Hearing his inferior question every move just added to the frustration boiling in Ray's gut. “He thinks Roth is not alone.”

“You mean the woman.”

“He's convinced that kind of guy from that kind of team would come here with other men. If so, we need to find all of them. Round them all up.” Made sense to Ray. There was no reason to clamp down on only one problem when more scurried about. “The boss wants them all off the island.”

“Are we still supposed to save the woman?” Ned asked as he traced the rain down the window with his finger.

“If possible.”

“So, we're letting them go on purpose.”

Ray was not impressed with how long it took Ned to reason that out. Maybe he'd picked the wrong second in command. Problem was, his first choice was dead on the floor in the woman's house.

Not many people got the jump on Bob, but Roth had, which even Ray had to admit made the guy appear more skilled than they'd all hoped when they found out he was coming to Calapan to talk with a witness. Roth had fired one shot, a kill shot. Around the corner and in the middle of darkened chaos.

That one shot was the only reason Ray had held off on putting a bullet in Roth now. Sure, he had the boss's orders, but he really wanted Roth to suffer. See the life run out of him.

Ned looked over his shoulder. “Ray?”

“The boss always has a plan.” And so did Ray.