Still Mine (24 page)

“You might notice, she kept my name.”

“But she slept alone with it.”

Jo choked on her meal as Paul glared at her boss. Her husband leaned across the table, his eyes flashing with fury. “That’s because I am irreplaceable.”

Ross laughed, snorting with amusement as he pinched the bridge of his nose. “Oh, that’s rich. Trust a young man to think he’s something special between the sheets.”

Paul hissed and Nolan dropped a tray on the table. It clattered, grabbing everyone’s attention. “Excuse me.” The major took his time sitting. He cast a long look at either side of the table before picking up his fork.

“Don’t let me interrupt.”

Paul glared at Ross and Jo stood. “I need some coffee.”

It was an excuse and she didn’t care if they both knew it. Moving off across the mess hall, she shook her head as she heard Paul and Ross start in on each other. The coffee was actually kept near the doorway along with other beverages. Ceramic mugs were neatly stacked up alongside the two percolators. There were two of the brewing machines and neither was decaf. Drawing a cupful, she turned to survey the room. Her two shadows were taking the chance to fill up trays while Nolan centered his attention on the tension between Ross and Paul.

“So, your husband’s alive.”

Jo turned to face Richard Tait, a tiny lament shooting along her thoughts as she stared at the perfection of his frame. The brawn didn’t do a thing for her. Paul drew her attention even with the option of Tait standing next to her. Love made a huge difference. Having tasted it, she was spoiled for anything less.

“Yeah, surprised me too.”

Tait crossed his arms over his chest. He considered her as anger tightened his features.

“I need to move. And we need to talk.”

There was no missing the frustration in his voice. His nostrils flared slightly as he ducked out the door. Following him, she took the lead. Out of habit she headed towards Ruby’s hanger as Richard set a quick pace.

“Are you going to divorce him?”

The question caused her to miss a step. Tait narrowed his eyes as he tossed his hands up. “I don’t get you, Jo. You’re worth better than a husband who deceives you like that.”

Tait’s attempt to champion her warmed her heart, but it also gave rise to a protective instinct. Besides, her letter being misdelivered bothered her too much to risk leaving the post.

“It’s complicated.”

Richard stopped and glared at her. “Bullshit, it is,” he hissed through clenched teeth. “Did you know? It that the reason you froze me out?”

The determination on his face was fierce. Jo felt the hard need of staying with Paul hit her. There was no mercy from the emotion as it tore through her, shredding every other detail. Richard wanted her but her heart was already taken.

“I didn’t know. Maybe…some part of me just knew.”

A light brightened his eyes as he hooked her arm and pulled her right into the hangar she’d led him to. It was so unexpected, she stumbled after him, not sure what he was about. The door shut out the light and Richard clamped an arm around her, tugging her up against his body.

“Whoa.” Slapping her hands down on his chest, she wiggled against his hold. The same zip of revulsion went through her as she tried to escape. “Let me loose, Richard.”

He remained steady, keeping her pressed against his body. There was envy glittering in his eyes and she was actually sorry she couldn’t love him. He deserved a woman who could give him her heart.

“Don’t lower yourself, Jo. You don’t have to accept being treated like that.” His eyes glowed with determination as his voice dipped. “I wouldn’t wipe my feet on you that way.”

He bent his head towards hers and she pressed her hand against his lips to keep him from completing the kiss. “Please, Richard, this isn’t going to change anything. I love Paul. I never stopped.”

She did too. So much it hurt. “I’m sorry that you were caught up in it, but you’re worth someone who isn’t still in love with another man.” She caught the shape of Ruby in the dark hangar and it reminded her of Paul so much she felt dirty against Tait. She stared into his eyes and she let him see the calm resolution in her gaze. “I can’t change it, Richard, it’s a part of me. I am a married woman in more ways than just a marriage license.”

His arms released her as he shook his head. “Love can grow, Jo.”

“Not with you, it can’t. You are worth more, Tait.”

Richard shook his head. “I wouldn’t lie to you.”

Paul appeared in the doorframe, his lips tightening with rage. Paul lunged across the floor towards Tait. Jo slammed into the wall when Richard shoved her back. Paul’s fist connected with Richard’s jaw. The two men lost their balance and grappled across the floor.

“She’s mine.”

Her husband’s voice was almost unrecognizable as he jumped to his feet, crouching low. Richard sneered and wiped a tinkle of blood off his lip. The deputy curled a finger towards Paul.

“Come and get me, you deceitful bastard.”

Paul snarled.

“Actually, you can both forgo killing each other because I will be happy to do the job myself.”

Horror flooded her as Jo turned to find Deputy Rutten emerging from the shadows. His hand held a polished black gun level with her chest.

“Move, and watch her die.”

Paul and Tait straightened up. She watched their bodies tighten as she swallowed her surprise. But Rutten knew exactly how to control them. He couldn’t shoot both of them before one of them made it to him but he could kill her with a single discharge.

Rats…

Nolan’s words echoed in her head as she thought about the transmitter on her ankle. It wouldn’t be much use if she was dead by the time his men got around to using the thing to find her. Men that she’d so idiotically left behind in the mess hall. Rutten had seized the opportunity perfectly.

But the gun tucked into her waistband was still solid, providing her with a means to deal with the threat herself. She had a shirt on over her short-sleeved tee shirt once again, the tail hanging free to cover the sidearm.

“I should have been assigned the task of obtaining you myself, but Andraluph didn’t want to expose my position just yet.” Rutten shifted his attention to Paul. “However, it appears that we can get everything we need without you. Dr. Benate, you will produce your security code now or I will kill your wife. Use the laptop.”

Motioning Paul towards the desk under Ruby’s wing, Rutten kept the gun trained on her chest. “You too, Tait. I’ll make sure to compose a eulogy befitting your service to the state.”

“You won’t get all three of us, Rutten.” Venom coated Tait’s voice as he hesitated.

Rutten never moved the gun muzzle. “Ah, but I can make very sure that you get to live to watch Deputy Benate’s flag being folded. Move or start thinking of what you’ll say at her funeral.”

They both moved, slowly, each step echoing between the metal sides of the hangar. Paul glared at Rutten. “I’m going to rip you apart for putting that slug through her shoulder.”

“I assure you, you’ll be dead before your wife is.” Rutten clicked his tongue. “Unless you’d like to hesitate any longer? Type the code, Doctor. I’m going to get a lot of money for your pet project.”

“You’ll never get off this post,” Jo hissed at her superior, furious at the part she’d unwittingly played in helping him.

He raised a mocking eyebrow at her. “Oh I assure you, I will. There’s a helicopter out there under my command. I took the liberty of placing a small explosive in the mess hall. Once I have the files I want, I’ll set it off. No one will think to look for the three of you for a good hour.”

With a helicopter, that would give him all the time he needed to disappear into the civilian air traffic. He could ditch the aircraft in a hundred different private airfields, toss a tarp over it and no one would find it for a decade.

“Rat.” She couldn’t resist spitting the label at him.

“I am a patriot, to a far nobler cause than someone like you can imagine.” His gaze swept her, disgust pulling his features tight. “The code, Doctor. Now.”

Rutten moved the gun, lining the red laser sight up on Paul. His finger was poised on the trigger as he watched her husband place his hands on the keyboard. Reaching behind her back, she came up with her gun. She fired the second she leveled the sights on Rutten. His head whipped around as the weapon fired, his body jerking backwards when the bullet hit him.

A second bullet tore though the hangar as Rutten pulled the trigger in shock. Time moved at a snail’s pace as that bullet cut through the air. Both men fell as Jo sent another round at Rutten’s flailing body. He fell to the concrete floor, lying still as his chest remained frozen. She stared down the barrel of her gun at the body, waiting for any sign of life but none appeared.

The hangar went deadly silent as she turned her attention towards the computer terminal.

“Paul!” He lay on the concrete, and she lunged towards him, her hands diving under his jacket, searching for the wet presence of blood.

Her hands came up dry.

She tried to see through the dim light, searching for a wound. Her fingers found his steady heartbeat as she caught a gleam in his eyes that looked suspicious.

With a muttered curse she sat back on her haunches. Paul rolled upwards without even a flinch. His lips curved up into a satisfied grin.

“Jerk.” Tightening her fingers into a fist she sent it into his shoulder. “God damn jerk!”

He captured the front of her shirt, gripping the fabric and pulling her towards him. His breath brushed her lips as his gaze flickered with heat.

“Yeah, I know I am, but you cared.”

And it meant something to him. The smug look on his face was tempered with deep appreciation. He needed her to care. Inside the man was someone who valued her love above all else.

“If you two aren’t too busy, I could use a hand.” Richard Tait’s voice was dry with sarcasm. “Be a pal, Jo, and call Locke. I don’t want to tell him that his boss is dead and he’s going to have to sit at the man’s desk. Seems fair, since you killed him.”

“Be happy to.”

Standing, Jo moved towards Rutten. His eyes were still open, staring into the night. Bending down, she tugged his badge out of his shirt pocket, unwilling to see it on a traitor. Even a dead one. No remorse rose inside her. Nolan’s words surfaced from her memory as she considered the body. Defending herself wasn’t a crime. She would never lament pulling the trigger, only that there were men on the face of the earth who valued money more than integrity. That made her sick.

“While you’re at it, call me a medic.”

Her attention flew to Tait. He offered her a sheepish smile, while leaning back against the wall. The meager light glistened off his thigh where it turned dark red, his weight on his good leg as he gripped the wound with one hand. Blood seeped through his fingers as he cussed low and deep.

Paul swore but Jo beat him to Tait. The deputy caught one of her hands before she touched him, carrying it to his lips. He pressed a light kiss on the back of her hand before shaking his head.

“Don’t worry about it, Benate. No one chooses who they love and I’m not the man for you.” His gaze shifted to a spot behind her. She turned to find Paul glaring at Tait with that silent male aggression. Tait released her hand as he looked back at her.

“Don’t hesitate in claming the lady, or I’ll feel the need to point out how stupid you are.” Tait clasped both hands back around his wound, sucking in a harsh breath as he applied pressure.

She laughed, a dry chuckle that fit the moment. “Thanks, Tait, appreciate that little shred of mercy.”

Turning to her husband, she propped her hands on her hips. Paul curled a finger at her, male satisfaction coating his face. Rolling her eyes, she stomped towards him.

“You are such a jerk.”

His arm caught her around the waist, pulling her against his body as he leaned down to whisper against her ear.

“But you love me.” He knelt at her feet, sending a hand towards her ankle. There was a chirp as he found the little monitor. He pushed back to his feet, clamping his arms around her. “That should get us some attention, as much as I like having you to myself.”

She snorted at him and his arm tightened.

“I love you, never doubt it, never forget it, or I’ll be happy to remind you.”

She groaned but couldn’t ignore the flare of happiness that filled her. Lifting her gaze, she found it mirrored in the dark gaze of her husband. So maybe it wasn’t as perfect as her dreams, but the hard arm around her waist was far more important than living in a fantasy world.

Lights hit them all as Nolan arrived. Men with high-powered rifles secured the scene and Locke considered his boss with a jaded expression. He turned to look at Jo and she offered him Rutten’s badge.

“Benate, did you disturb a crime scene?”

Locke raised an eyebrow at her and she heard Tait snicker behind them. “Actually, I
caused
the scene, and traitors don’t get to hold the same badge I do.”

Locke took the badge and nodded agreement. “I’m sure going to miss you, Benate.”

“Me too, boss.”

Chapter Thirteen

“I was a lot nicer to you when you took one in the shoulder.” Tait flashed her a grin that ruined his suffering image. The post medical team rolled their eyes, unimpressed with his words. Tait angled his head and looked at Paul.

“I sure was, tucked her into bed with my own hands.” Tait wiggled his fingers at her husband.

Her husband lifted a hand and offered the deputy a single-finger salute.

“Yeah, thought you’d appreciate that.” Richard turned his attention to her. “Come on, Jo, be a pal. Is there even one female nurse assigned to this base? Doctor claims I have to sleep here. I’m cold.”

“I’ll see what I can find.”

Her husband glared at her. Jo propped a hand on her hip and fluttered her eyelashes at him. “Okay, fine. I’ll just have to sit here tonight and pay my debt to this fine deputy who watched over me when I was down. It’s a team thing, Paul. I’m sure you can understand that.”

“I’ll find a damn nurse.” His attention shifted to Tait. “An ugly one.”