Love & Redemption (30 page)

“Give me your damn cell phone or I’ll shoot you in the head now and leave your corpse with Shelley. How well do you think she’ll handle that room with a dead man in it?”

Gavin reached into his pocket, pulling it out and tossing it from the room.

Stephen had retrieved his gun and the cool metal pressed into Shelley’s neck. “In you go. I’d love nothing more than to shoot you now, but I have orders.”

Resigned to their fate, she hopped painfully to the door, doing her best not to put pressure on her injured knee.

Terrance followed her inside, crowding the room even further. He snatched the lamp off the wall. “Since you wouldn’t cooperate, I don’t think I’ll make your life easier by having light.” He backed from the room. “Better hope Paul’s in a more generous mood than I am, or maybe we really will let you die down here. No one would ever find you.”

The door shut, encasing them in complete darkness. As the key rattled in the lock, Shelley sank to the cot. The walls closed in around her. Forcing in calming breaths, Shelley hoped Nick figured a way out of this for them.

She put her face in her hands, fighting back tears. “I should have listened to you, Gavin. You were right. This was a trap all along.”

***

Gavin perched next to Shelley, trying to ignore the pain pulsating through his face and chest. He put his arm around her, knowing she must be freaking out in the small space.

“I should have forced you to stay away like I planned,” she whispered. “Now we’re both trapped.”

Gavin wished she had listened to his concerns and warnings in the first place, but telling her that wouldn’t change what happened. “It’s okay. We’ll figure a way out of this.”

Shelley leaned into him. Her body trembled with reaction. “Nick will come for us. I’m sure he will.”

Gavin wished he felt as certain, but voicing those concerns would only panic her further. Whatever happened, Gavin didn’t believe Nick would turn over the diamonds in exchange for their lives. Not that S.A.T.O. would give them back even if he did. After all, they still had Emma and Rose somewhere. He rubbed Shelley’s back, trying to project a calm he didn’t feel. “Try not to worry. Everything will work out. Are you hurt?”

He felt her head shift against his shoulder. “Yeah, a bit. My knee and leg are sore as hell. How’s your face? It’s bleeding.”

Gavin rubbed at the stream of liquid on his face, hoping it would stop eventually. He knew the stitches busted when Terrance hit him, but the skin must have healed some in the time since it was first injured. “It’s fine. Don’t worry about me.”

“It’s cold in here,” she complained.

There was a chill in the air. Gavin had no idea what this room’s intended purpose was but being under the ground with no electricity, it now made him think of a coffin. Sadly, that could be what it wound up being.

He squeezed her fingers in his. “There are blankets underneath us on the cot. Think you can stand up so I can wrap them around us?”

“Yes.” Though she hissed in pain as she moved, her weight left the cot.

Gavin threw back the covers and climbed into the bed, pressing his back against the cold wall. “I’m lying down. Climb up here and I’ll keep you warm.”

When she settled in next to him, Gavin fanned the covers across them both, wrapping his arms around her and snuggling her close. “We’ll warm up in no time.”

She continued to shiver and burrowed her face into his chest. “Thank you, Gavin. I wish you weren’t here, and I’m sorry about everything, but having you with me makes this tolerable.”

Remembering how she talked about the cold lapping at her when she’d been stuck in the boat as a child, Gavin hoped the warmer he got her, the less she’d think about being trapped now. “Just focus on you and me, Shell. That’s all that matters right now. Being together.” He kissed her, managing to catch an eyelid beneath his lips. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Her hand slid from his hip, caressing his slacks and rubbing at his crotch. “I know what we could do to take our minds off things.”

Although he figured no one could get turned on in a situation like this, her hand worked its magic on the outside of his pants and changed that assumption when he grew hard. He found her chin, lifting her face toward him to take her mouth, kissing her deeply. “I do want you, honey, but maybe now’s not the best time.”

“Probably not,” she agreed, “but we might not get another chance. I’ve only made love once in my life. If something happens, I’d like to know I got to do it twice. It can’t happen with someone else for me.”

How could he refuse that? They both knew she would be the one likely to survive this situation, not him. She was pledging her eternal love, even if he died.

Feeling his way along her hairline, he released the bobby pins holding up her long tresses. “I love your hair in my face, just taking in your scent and having you surround me. I do want you.”

“You’ve given me something more precious than I ever imagined, true love.” The cot squeaked as Shelley moved, and then her hair draped over his face. “Make love to me, Gavin.”

“I don’t have a condom,” he warned.

Her hair tickled his nose as she shook her head. “That doesn’t matter.”

On the small cot, his face and ribs throbbing and her leg banged up, it would present many difficulties. However, Gavin was up to the challenge. Whispering words of love and encouragement to her while he peeled back her beggar’s clothes, they were able to pretend they weren’t in grave danger, at least for a while.

When they reached completion, Gavin held her close. Damp tears on her cheeks smeared against him, and he dried her face with gentle fingers. “Don’t cry, Shell. Everything will be okay.”

“I told you loving me might kill you.” She sniffled loudly. “I was right. This is my fault.”

“It’s not. Stop that. Besides, I meant what I said. I would rather die having been with you, than live a long life without you.”

She snuggled into him, her lips brushing his cheek. “I’m so lucky to have you. We’ll work our way out of this.” She kissed him again. “I won’t lose you.”

Chapter Thirty-One

The sound of a key in the lock woke Shelley. She had no clue how much time had passed. Thirst had eaten away at her for what seemed like forever, and her tummy had gone past being hungry to sick and nauseated a long time ago.

“Gavin,” she whispered, reaching behind her back to tap him. “Someone’s coming.”

“I’m awake.” His hand clenched down on her hip, pulling her back against his chest. “Should we stand?”

“No time.”

No sooner had she said that then the door swung open. A bright light blinded her, causing her eyes to water. Shelley squeezed them shut and shaded her face with her hand.

“I see you find the cot acceptable,” Paul’s jovial voice mocked. “I worried it would be cold, but you look cozy.”

“Did you bring water?” Shelley asked. “If you don’t plan to kill us, we need more than a cot and blankets.” Squinting as she opened her eyes again, they finally adjusted and she saw Paul standing outside with Terrance flanking him.

“Well,” he said, “if you’d come along willingly and not caused problems, they would have brought some down. Food too. Unfortunately, they didn’t tell me about your lack of provisions until after Nick refused my demands.” He shrugged. “Sorry. I didn’t expect you to be without for an entire day. Fortunately, you survived and we can try something different.”

Her heart sank. While she knew it wouldn’t work for Nick to give in to S.A.T.O., she had hoped he’d at least tell a good lie while he figured out how to rescue them.

“What are you going to do to us?” She wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

Paul shrugged, his blue eyes gleaming with malice despite the grin on his face. “I have plans to get what I want. First, I need to break up you little lovebirds.”

Gavin’s arm circled around her waist. “How do you mean?” he asked.

“I hear a quaver of fear in your voice. Are you afraid for your life?” Paul’s silvery eyebrows narrowed. “I’m sad that you think so poorly of me, Agent Hart. I’m quite a reasonable man, really.”

Until this point, none of them had known Gavin’s full name. Obviously, Ken had filled Paul in on everything. She’d been so sure he wasn’t the double agent, but Gavin told her what Terrance said before knocking him out. She wondered if Nick and Jenessa would be able to figure that out. Probably not. Whatever Nick planned, he would see Ken as a victim and work with him in the rescue efforts for them and Emma. That would be disaster.

Though Gavin’s body was rigid with tension, his voice was strong when he said, “It’s not that I think poorly of you, I just know how criminals operate.”

“Ah, yes.” Paul nodded. “Because in the not too distant past, you were one yourself.” He steepled his fingers across his mouth in his characteristic thinking pose. “Maybe you won’t be entirely stupid, then, because you do know how this works.”

Paul took the few steps into the room and yanked on Shelley’s arm, pulling her from Gavin grasp. “Get up, Shelley. We have some business to attend to, you and I.”

She shook her head. “You’ll have to kill me. I’m not taking orders from you anymore.”

“Shelley,” Gavin whispered, urgency clear in his voice, “don’t antagonize him.”

Witnessing the byplay between them, Paul laughed. “Oh, this is good. Gavin really
is
in love with you. That suits my purposes just fine.”

He yanked Shelley entirely off the bed. Though she did her best to scramble to her feet, her leg didn’t want to cooperate. She nearly fell before catching her balance. Shelley didn’t have much fight left in her even though she’d attempted a brave front. Now that her injury had time to stiffen, Paul had complete control of the situation.

“I hate to tell you this, young man,” Paul said, pulling Shelley against his side, “but love is the greatest weakness out there. Women destroy good, honest men and turn them into someone they never thought they’d be.”

Gavin sat up, challenge in his gaze. “Is that what happened to you?”

Paul sighed. “From the beginning, Eve tricked Adam into eating the forbidden fruit. Women love delivering men’s destruction. You can’t trust them.” Paul paused and everyone stared at Gavin. “Well, I see you don’t believe me. That’s unfortunate.”

From the slant of the conversation, Shelley was starting to feel as if she might be the one who was in more danger here. While she was glad it didn’t sound like Paul intended to kill Gavin, she wanted to live too.

Paul led her from the room and she hopped beside him, having little choice.

She looked over her shoulder, making eye contact with Gavin. She mouthed “I love you” before Paul forced her around the corner and propped her against the wall.

“Be a good girl and stay there.” He nodded at Terrance. “The MG-37, if you please, sir.”

Terrance pulled something from his pocket and stepped into the doorway of the room.

“No!” Shelley pushed herself away from the wall and took a step forward, knowing she had to help Gavin. Her leg crumbled beneath her and she went down.  “Fight him, Gavin. Don’t let him give you the drug!”

“If you wake up, Gavin,” Paul said, making little note of Shelley’s outburst, “take a message to Nick. He shouldn’t have crossed me. If I don’t get those diamonds back, I’ll destroy everything that means anything to him. He may have been like my son once, but he has started a war. I intend to win. I’ll be in touch with instructions. If he doesn’t follow them, I’ll come for his precious Carlie.”

“Please don’t use that on him,” Shelley yelled, not caring that she begged now. “Fight him, Gavin!”

A crash came from the room, but Shelley didn’t know if that meant Gavin had overpowered Terrance or fallen after being drugged.

A few seconds later, Terrance exited with a smile on his face. “I never get tired of that.”

Shelley’s heart dropped. Gavin had been drugged.

Paul laughed. “It’s good to enjoy your work.” He glanced at Shelley. “Get up. We have a long way to go.”

Though Shelley worried what the drug would do to Gavin, she had no way to help him and had to consider the danger she faced now. “I can’t walk anywhere. Your boy sprained my knee or something. It’s too swollen and painful to walk on.”

“We can’t keep our hands full carrying you. I don’t trust you to stay nice.” He jerked his chin toward Terrance. “Take her out. I didn’t want to risk it, but transport will be easier.”

Terrance walked toward her. “You’re right, boss. This is the only way.” He once again pulled something from his pocket.

Shelley shook her head, scrambling backward on her butt and pushing off with her good leg until she hit the wall. “Please, don’t. I’ll come willingly and won’t cause trouble. You can tie my hands up to make sure I can’t fight.”

MG-37 was highly unstable and killed many of the people during testing. While Terrance had made improvements, it still killed those children in the mall. In fact, he enjoyed killing people. Maybe the improvements he worked out actually made the drug more potent.

Terrance grimaced and shook his head. “You promised to cooperate before and lied.”

He leaned down, covering her mouth with the bit of fabric. Within seconds, Shelley knew nothing else.

***

“Mommy!” The little voice kept pricking at Shelley’s consciousness, urging her to wake up. “Don’t leave me alone anymore. I’m scared.”

Shelley tried to open her eyes, but they were so heavy.

“Mommy!”

Though she couldn’t figure out who was calling for their mother, Shelley knew she had to help. The girl sounded scared and frantic.

Suddenly, a thin trickle of water splashed over Shelley’s face, rousing her into more alertness. Her head pounded and her mouth tasted nasty, all side effects of MG-37. At least she was alive.

More water coated her mouth, and Shelley sputtered as it went down her throat and choked her. She pushed at the person next to her. “Stop.”

The downpour ended and the sound of clapping echoed in Shelley’s head. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me, Mommy. Rose said you’d come for me.”

Rose? That was the name of the nanny with Emma, and was the girl talking to her? Calling her mommy?