Run to Me (29 page)

“They’ll come back to you, just like your artistic abilities did.”

Before she could snap at him for his arrogance, someone knocked on the door. With a barely perceptible nod to Gabe, Ethan stood and looked down at Shea. “Follow our lead. If he doesn’t expose himself in half an hour or so, we’ll set a trap. Just go along with it.” He leaned down and planted a hard kiss on her lips. “You’ll be fine. I promise.”

Since she apparently had no choice but to play along, Shea nodded and shot a glance at Gabe. “So you trust me on this?”

Gabe had the grace to look slightly guilty. “Sorry I’ve given you such a hard time. I was just worried about how Ethan would—”

“We’ve got a skunk at the door,” Ethan growled. “Why don’t you let him in?”

Gabe shot Ethan a hard look before he turned and headed to the door.

“What was he talking about?”

“Nothing.” He held out his hand to her. “Let’s see what kind of fun we can stir up.”

Before taking his hand, Shea slid her gun into her waistband at the small of her back and covered it with her shirt. Despite Ethan and Gabe’s lackadaisical attitude, she would not be caught off guard. This man wanted to take her back to Rosemount? No way in hell.

Shea watched the young man enter the living room. To say he was beautiful would be an understatement. Only angels in heaven could compete with his physical beauty. A flash of knowledge hit her. If this man was indeed working for Rosemount, Shea knew without a doubt that he could very well end up like her. She remembered enough to know that Rosemount prized physical perfection over everything else.

“Jamie, what the hell are you doing here?”

Shea had to hand it to Gabe. He looked believably shocked to see the young man.

Jamie flashed an apologetic grin. “I followed you. I knew you wouldn’t want me to come, but I couldn’t resist.”

Ethan glared, looking thoroughly pissed. “Did anyone follow you?”

A petulant expression crossed the young man’s face. “Of course not. I was careful. I heard Gabe tell Noah he was coming here, and thought I’d come along and see if I could help out.”

“Help out with what?” Gabe asked.

“Whatever you might need.” His gaze swung over to Shea. “We’ve not met. James Jenson … Jamie to my friends.”

Something Shea didn’t expect came over her. A sense of completion and rightness, as if this was something she’d done many times before. She held out her hand and smiled with a gracious ease. “It’s nice to meet you, Jamie. Won’t you come in?”

She felt, rather than saw, Ethan throw her a look of appreciation.

As Jamie settled himself onto the sofa, Shea said, “I was just about to make a cup of cocoa. Would you care for one?”

Eyeing Shea strangely, as if she wasn’t what he’d expected, he nodded. “Sounds great.”

Pride filled Ethan as he watched Shea glide out of the room. She was acting as if she did this every day … and she used to. Shea was one of the best interrogators he’d ever seen. Most people were caught off guard by her delicate femininity, underestimating her steely determination to get to the truth. One of the reasons she was able to carry it off so well was because Shea acted like the person she really was. Sweet and unaffected, she had a genuine interest in people. By the time most people figured out what she was doing, they had spilled secrets and revealed information others might have had to torture from them. Shea could accomplish miracles with a smile.

“Tell me why you’re really here, Jamie. Did Noah tell you to follow me?” Gabe asked.

“Of course not. But I saw how pissed you were when you left. I figured whatever was going down, you could use the help.”

Gabe nodded. “Yeah, I was pissed. We got word that Rosemount could have discovered Ethan’s hiding place. Noah called Ethan to warn him, but I wanted to make sure he had help if things got bad.”

“Glad I came then. Sounds like you can use all the help you can get.” He glanced over at Ethan and then back at Gabe. “Why do you think the location’s been compromised?”

Gabe shrugged. “Been hearing some chatter back and forth for the last few days. Tennessee hills have been mentioned.”

Jamie had opened his mouth to say something when Shea came back into the room. Ethan jumped up and helped her set the tray filled with mugs of hot cocoa and a plate of sugar cookies on the coffee table.

Though she wore blue jeans and a Tennessee Volunteers T-shirt, no hostess could rival her for grace and elegance as she went about distributing the snack to each person. Cool and calm, she gave no indication that the man only a few feet away from her had come to take her back to hell.

After everyone had been served, Shea gracefully sat across from Jamie and gave him the disarming smile Ethan remembered so well.

“You have a bit of the South in your speech, Jamie,” Shea said.

For a brief second, confusion replaced the cocky expression on Jamie’s face. Had he expected Shea to be an emotional wreck? If so, he was about to get his socks knocked off.

He recovered quickly and offered her a charming smile. “I spent summers with my grandmother in Kentucky.”

“Oh, I love Kentucky. All those green hills and valleys. Did she have horses?”

“Actually, she did. That’s one of the reasons I loved going to visit her.”

“I haven’t ridden in years.” The look she cast Ethan showed only a slight flicker of surprise. “The last time was that trip to the Bahamas. Riding on the beach.”

Just like that, a new memory had emerged. A cold chill, having nothing to do with the traitor in their midst, rushed through Ethan. Another reminder. If he didn’t tell her soon, it was only a matter of time before she remembered on her own.

Jamie looked startled at Shea’s statement. Surprised she remembered her past?

As he listened to Shea’s gentle inquisition, Ethan felt the fracture in his heart widen. Shea had almost completely recovered. The woman sitting across from Jamie, leading him to the truth, without his knowledge, was the Shea he remembered. The calm, professional LCR operative.

The weight she’d gained looked good on her, the bloom in her cheeks an indication of good health. Since they’d become lovers again, she slept in his arms every night. The nightmares that had haunted her for so long had disappeared.

It was time to tell her everything. He should have done so already, but he kept telling himself she needed to be healthy before he sprang the truth on her. That was no longer an issue. Actually, it hadn’t been an issue for weeks, but he had relished being with Shea again. And the longer he waited, the more difficult it would be.

There was no future for them. Ethan knew that. Knew the inevitable would happen. And that he’d never be prepared for it. But Shea deserved the truth. She deserved to know about Cole. And she needed to know about Ethan. She would be hurt and angry, would most likely leave. If this interview with Jamie was successful, they would be able to get to Rosemount. Ethan would no longer be necessary in her life.

Ethan jerked his attention back to Shea’s questions, knowing he’d be needed once she finished.

“I was in foster care, too,” Shea said. “That was a particularly difficult time for me. How long were you in the system?”

As Shea gently prodded Jamie, gaining his trust, identifying with his difficulties, Ethan assessed him. Though he seemed relaxed, the white-knuckled grip on the mug he held belied his confidence. The man was on edge.

Ethan had worked with Jamie in the past. He’d assigned him low-level duties, mostly because despite the man’s toothpaste-ad smile, Ethan had sensed his egocentricity. LCR had no place for egos. When the most important person was the victim, operatives came in second. Jamie never seemed to be able to buy into that concept.

A couple of years ago, Jamie had been on his team. A rescue of four children from a small fake adoption center. Should have been an easy grab … only problem was, Jamie, in his eagerness to show off, jumped the gun and got sighted, giving the man and woman holding the kids time to arm themselves. An LCR operative had paid the price for Jamie’s arrogance and ego trip.

Ethan jerked back to the present to hear Jamie begin to question Shea.

“So your memories have returned?”

Shea lifted her shoulder in a delicate shrug. “For the most part. I remember enough to be able to go back to work soon.”

“That’s great. I hadn’t realized how far you’d progressed.”

His body showing none of his tension, Ethan allowed satisfaction and pride to enter his voice. “We haven’t told anyone how far along Shea’s come. We anticipate that she’ll be able to give us Rosemount’s location within the next week or so.”

“Then I guess it’s a good thing I came when I did.”

Shea’s heart lurched as Jamie stood, drew a gun, and pointed it toward Ethan, then Gabe.

“Now, that’s just damn stupid.” Ethan’s relaxed drawl was belied by the fury glinting in his eyes.

Jamie snorted. “Not near as stupid as you both are.”

Ethan shook his head, a little smile playing around his mouth. “If you think you’re going to take Shea out of here without a fight, you’re not just stupid, you’re crazy stupid.”

“Hard to fight when you’re dead.”

“So you think you’re just going to shoot Ethan and me?” Gabe sounded more insulted than angry.

Jamie shrugged. “I was supposed to bring Ethan, too, if I could. The amount Rosemount offered would be enough to buy my own island. Unfortunately, I’m not going to be able to do that, so I’ll just settle for the small fortune he’s offered for Shea. Sadly, you two won’t live to come after me.”

“Jamie, I hate to burst your bubble, but Rosemount has no intention of paying you,” Shea said.

His gaze never wavering from Ethan and Gabe, he snarled, “That’s what you’d like to think. I know better. He’s paid me some of it already. All I have to do is deliver you and I’ll—”

“You’ll be a drugged out zombie, just like I was.”

“I’m too useful to him.”

Ethan’s harsh chuckle sounded unusually loud. “Useful how? You can’t work for LCR anymore. Your usefulness will be at an end.” He flicked a glance at Gabe. “I know you told me he was stupid and arrogant, but man, he’s worse than that. He’s a damned fool.”

“Shut up!” Jamie screamed.

In seemingly synchronized and simultaneous movements, Ethan threw himself at Jamie while Gabe grabbed a lamp from the end table and swung, knocking the gun from Jamie’s hand.

Shea dropped to her knees, her gun in her hand before she’d even realized she’d grabbed it. Holding the gun steady, she watched Ethan’s fist slam into Jamie’s pretty face.

The front door exploded inward. Two men charged through.

“Hold your fire, Shea,” Gabe shouted.

Shea lowered her gun, recognizing one of the men as an LCR operative she’d met at the clinic. Gabe’s backup had been waiting for a signal to come charging in.

The sound of fists slamming into a face penetrated Shea’s shock. Ethan had Jamie on the floor, behind the couch, and was beating the man to a bloodied pulp.

“Hell, Ethan,” Gabe growled, pulling Ethan from Jamie’s unconscious body, “you’re going to kill him and we won’t be able to get any information.”

Chest heaving with exertion, Ethan stood and twisted his head to find Shea. “You all right?”

A deep breath shuddered through her as she nodded and stood.

His face taut with a myriad of powerful emotions, Ethan crossed the room and wrapped his arms around her. “That got a little more intense than I wanted.”

With Ethan’s arms around her as if he would never let her go, she watched Jamie being picked up and carried out by the two men. Gabe went to follow them, but stopped before he walked through the door. “I need to talk with both of you about something, but it can wait till morning.” He grinned. “I’ll be back for breakfast.”

“Bastard,” Ethan growled softly as Gabe sauntered out the door.

As the door clicked closed behind Gabe, Shea pulled away from Ethan’s arms. He resisted at first, and then, with a sigh, let her go. Her face pale but composed, she looked a hell of a lot better than he felt.

“Do you think he knows where Rosemount is?” Shea asked.

“Hard to say. Gabe will get it from him, if he does.”

“Should I try to talk to him again?”

“No, I don’t want you anywhere near him.”

“Shouldn’t that be my decision?”

Ethan blew out a ragged sigh. The bastard had come too close to getting what he wanted. What was supposed to be a controlled interrogation had almost flipped inside out on them. “Let’s see what Gabe gets first. Okay?”

She nodded. “I think I’ll go take a shower.”

His heart bled as he watched her climb the stairs. Why the hell had he become her lover again? He’d known where this was headed the moment he’d found her in Mexico.

As the bleakness of his future loomed before him, Ethan realized he couldn’t do this. If Shea was willing to put up with his shit, then he was damned well going to offer all he had to give. One day she’d probably leave him. Hell, not probably—definitely. Once she learned about Cole. Remembered how he’d treated her, what he’d done. Once she remembered how much she hated him. Hell yeah, she’d leave him. But until then, if she wanted him, he was hers.

Taking the stairs two at a time, Ethan ripped off his shirt. In the bedroom, he dropped his pants, then shoved open the door to the bathroom. Shea stood beneath the spray of the shower.

His heart in his throat, he approached her warily. She’d probably just as soon slug him as kiss him right now.

Even though the frosted glass blurred her face, he could see her mouth trembling. “Get out.” Her voice was thick with tears.

Ethan tugged the door open. “I can’t.”

She shook her head in disbelief. “What do you want from me, Ethan? You tell me there’s no future for us. That there’s nothing between us but sex and your protection from Rosemount. So what is it you want? Just another fuck?”

Ethan flinched. Shea never cursed unless she was building up her defenses to hide her hurt. He should know. How many times had he heard her curse him? Every damn time he’d hurt her.

Naked, with no defenses, he held his arms out. “You’ve got me, Shea, for however long you want me.”