UNDER BY DURESS (12 page)

He lumbered to his feet, grabbed his pants up his legs and zipped them over his wilting cock. He glared at Rossini who was putting on a good show of cowering in the corner.

“Yellow-bellied pussy,” he snarled.

“Or hang around, Hank. Perhaps I should chain
you
up, whip your ass, too . . .”

He glowered at her, grabbed his rifle, and stalked out.

Tahima followed to make sure he left the area. She was relieved to see him heading north at a cracking pace. Satisfied Hank wouldn’t be coming back anytime soon she turned back to the cave then covered her burning cheeks with shaking hands. Her heart pounded so loudly she thought her chest would burst. Her legs felt like jelly.

Sakes alive!
What had she been thinking?

She should have secured Hank, got them both the hell out of there, and dealt with the fallout later. Well, there was nothing to be done now but face the music. Rossini was entitled to be furious after what she had just put him through. Taking a deep breath, Tahima pulled herself together, and walked back in, prepared for a roasting.

The aftermath exceeded her worst expectations.

Rossini wouldn’t look at her. Naked, one hand chained to the floor, he was kneeling, his ass probably too sore to sit on. Her heart clenched. He looked totally defeated—beaten—and the sight of him like that hit her like a punch to the stomach.

She had failed him. She could hardly bare to face him, but she owed him an apology and he needed to hear it. She walked over, knelt down beside him and put a hand on his thigh. He stiffened at her touch.

“God, Rossini, I’m so sorry.” Guilt clogged her throat. She needed to explain. “You were the only thing I could think of to distract him. Please try to understand—”

He jerked his leg out from under her hand. “What? Understand what, Tahima? That he was armed? That no one died? It wasn’t pretty but you pulled it off?
Fuck, Tahima
!”

The lump in her throat got bigger. Last night had been awesome. This morning she had wrecked everything. She should have stopped the moment she saw how much he was struggling. She should have found another way. She swallowed hard. “I let it go too far. I thought if I had some leverage over him, he would go quietly. And not come after me.” She put her hand back on his knee, praying he wouldn’t reject her a second time. “I am
so
sorry.”

He looked at her then, not trying to hold back how betrayed he was feeling.

Tahima struggled to hold back more tears.

Rossini groaned. “God, please don’t cry. I can’t bear it.”

“I’m sorry. I never used to be like this.”

“Yeah, I get that. And I also get what you were trying to do and why. . I just didn’t expect the beating. It was . . .  God, Tahima, it was beyond humiliating.”

“I know,” she croaked. “Please forgive me.”

He made a strangled noise in his throat then covered her hand with his. “I guess I’ll live—I mean, you flayed me worse yesterday—and I knew you had the stun gun, but
fuck
. . . for one moment there, I thought you were going to let him put his dick in my ass.”

She shook her head. “I wouldn’t have let it go that far. I just needed the photo.” Her tears spilled over. “I am so very sorry.”

Releasing her hand, Rossini wiped her cheeks dry with his thumb. When Tahima leaned into his touch, he let out a heavy sigh. His fingers crept into her hair. “Mannaggia, you really
do
have me whipped.” He straightened and there was strength in the movement. “Well, at least Hank doesn’t know who I am. Can’t believe he bought your story about a satellite.”

“Hank’s not one for technology.” She hesitated. “I
am
sorry, Rossini. I let you down. You were right, you know, back at the lodge—I put us in a dangerous situation. Got way out of my depth.”

He took her hand and squeezed it. “Well, you haven’t killed us yet. So apology accepted. But we should get going before Hank discovers his rifle is missing a vital part.” He rattled his chain pointedly. “Dress me, clap me in irons, and turn me in, Tahima, before anything else can go wrong—I’ve had enough humiliation to last me a lifetime. How far until we pick up a signal?”

“Three hours south of here.” Her voice was small.

When Rossini said humiliation, did he mean Hank? Or all of it?

*****

Tahima stood on a grass verge of a track that led straight into town, her finger on the call button of her cell phone. She felt cheated. It was ten in the morning, two hours south from the cave, and her phone had already found a signal. All she had to do was call Adam to turn Rossini in.

Except she didn’t want to.

She watched Rossini pace an impatient circle around her, his hands cuffed behind his back. His stride was long; Tahima had left off the leg irons. She couldn’t see much point in them. Rossini had meant what he’d said. He’d had enough and all he wanted was to get picked up.

As if to prove her point, Rossini turned in and marched right up to her. “You’re putting off the inevitable, Tahima. Make the goddamn call.”

She winced. There seemed little doubt about who was in charge now. Heart breaking, she pressed the button.

“Tahima!” Adam yelled in her ear before she could speak. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Where the blazes are you? Okay, I’ve got your cell phone on GPS. I’m not far from you. We’ve been looking for you since yesterday morning. There’s a murder suspect on the run, your radio is out of action—”

“He’s with me now, Adam.”

“And there are signs of a struggle.” He paused. “What did you say?”

“I said he’s with me now. He’s restrained and unarmed. The stun gun came in handy.”

“Crap, Tahima. I never meant—” He fell silent, obviously thinking. “Okay, look, there’s an FBI helicopter searching for Rossini west of your property. They spotted his plane. I’ll let them know. I’ll be with you in twenty.”

Rossini was waiting at her side when she spotted a helicopter in the sky.

“Sheriff’s arrived,” he said.

She turned to see Adam’s SUV trailed by a cloud of dust.

When his vehicle screeched to a halt, Rossini took her by surprise and brushed her lips with his. “I won’t forget you, bella donna,” he whispered in her ear. “Remember that. It’s been an education.” Then he dropped to his knees and flung himself face down on the grass.

It was a wise move for Adam jumped out with his weapon drawn and pointed at him. He ran over, threw Tahima a quick appraising glance, checked Rossini’s restraints then frisked him.

Satisfied, he stepped back. “Looks like you’ve had an adventure. Did he hurt you?”

Tahima shook her head. “Actually, he’s been a perfect gentleman.”

Adam’s eyebrows shot up into his hairline. “You got any idea who he is?”

“Yes.”

“
Crap
, Tahima, I don’t think you have any idea how lucky you are to be alive right now.”

She frowned and glanced at Rossini. He returned her look, a resigned expression on his face.

A whumping roar drew her attention to the landing helicopter. Two sharp-suited men and a woman jumped out. Bent low, they cleared the turning rotor blades before straightening. Unlike Adam, they walked over. The two men stopped by Rossini.

The woman joined Tahima and Adam. “Sheriff Hartley.” She shook his hand then turned to Tahima.

Adam made the introductions. “Agent Westley, this is Tahima Sheldon. She owns the lodge near where you found the Cessna. Seems she apprehended your man singlehanded.”

Agent Westley raised skeptical eyebrows. “Nice to meet you, Ma’am. Sheriff Hartley, if you and Miss Sheldon could give me a few moments with Mr. Rossini.” Behind her, Rossini had been lifted up and deposited on his feet.

“Of course,” Adam agreed.

He shepherded Tahima to his SUV, but she couldn’t take her eyes off Rossini. His back was turned to her. Agent Westley was asking him questions. At one point, she gestured to Tahima looking confused. Finally, she nodded and gestured her colleagues to escort their prisoner to the helicopter. Before he left, Rossini turned to look for her. The longing in his expression brought tears to her eyes.

Adam was watching her. “God, Tahima, I’ve never seen you like this before. What did he do to you?”

She shook her head and dried her eyes as Agent Westley rejoined them.

“Well, everything seems to be in order,” she said giving Tahima a strange look. “Sheriff Hartley, Miss Sheldon, we have an ongoing investigation with undercover informants whose lives will be endangered if word gets out that Mr. Rossini has been apprehended. We’ll be keeping his arrest out of the news. I have an injunction, signed by a judge, forbidding discussion of Mr. Rossini’s whereabouts or situation.”

She produced the legal paperwork. Adam cast his eyes over it and pursed his lips.

“Looks clear to me. Tahima?”

Tahima nodded wordlessly. “Will you need a statement from me or anything?”

“Only if you wish to press charges against Mr. Rossini, or if Mr. Rossini chooses to make a complaint about his arrest. He assures me he has no complaint, so you are free to go. Do you want to press charges?”

Tahima shook her head. She felt a little dazed. The idea that Rossini could make a complaint hadn’t occurred to her.

“Well then, I understand you have the key for Mr. Rossini’s restraints, Miss Sheldon.”

Tahima flushed under the federal agent’s steady gaze. She didn’t dare look at Adam. She lifted the chain from around her neck and dropped it and two keys into Westley’s outstretched palm.”

“Thank you. Have a nice day, Miss Sheldon. Sheriff Hartley, thank you for your assistance.”

Adam tipped his hat. “Always happy to help the FBI.”

They watched her walk back to the helicopter and climb in behind Rossini and the other agents.

“Well, that was unusual,” Adam commented as the helicopter lifted into the sky.

Tahima folded to the ground. Her friend dropped beside her, put his arms around her shoulders, and pulled her close.

“Hey, Tahima, you did good, girl. What’s the matter?”

“I think I fell in love, Adam.”

He drew in a sharp breath and leaned away. “With Gian Rossini? Are you kidding?”

“
No
,” she sobbed.

She didn’t think she had ever felt such pain before. Rossini had been nothing like she had first assumed. Now the thought of never seeing him again broke her heart in places Stephen had not touched. Watching the helicopter take him out of her life was too much. She turned into Adam’s broad chest and cried her heart out.

His hand patted her shoulder. “God, Tahima. I don’t know what to say. Except you sure know how to pick ‘em.”

~ Chapter Ten ~

“SIBLING FEUD KILLED CARLOS”

The blazing headline stopped Tahima in her tracks. She put coins into the slot and pulled the paper from the dispenser. Central Park was just around the corner. She ducked in, found an empty bench, and pored over the article.

Celso Rossini, younger brother to Carlos, was charged yesterday afternoon with hiring an assassin to murder the don of the Rossini family. Although police are not revealing full details, it is believed that Celso tried to frame his nephew, Gian Rossini, for the murder of his father. Gian Antonio Rossini is sole heir to his father’s extensive fortune. Mr. Rossini is a multi-millionaire in his own right. His successful business record is widely assumed to have been built on the profits of his father’s empire. However, attempts to prove illegal wrongdoing have been unsuccessful to date. It is anticipated that Gian Rossini will be ruthless in closing down unprofitable areas of the Rossini business empire. His extended family will be anxiously waiting to see where his axe falls.

There was no mention of Rossini’s arrest or whereabouts over the last few months, only a picture of his lawyer fielding questions from the media.

Tahima was exhilarated. She grinned like an idiot, prompting a couple of smiles and weird looks from passers-by. Rossini hadn’t killed his father, and she hadn’t turned him in to a life behind bars. The relief was incredible.

She checked her watch and gasped. Sakes alive! She was due to meet her boss in fifteen minutes. Folding the paper, she raced to her office and barged through the elevator doors a split second before they shut.

She checked her hair in the mirror, surprised to see a pair of sparkling, green eyes looking back at her. She grinned. He said he wouldn’t forget, and just as she’d finally believed he was innocent of his father’s murder, she also believed he would never harm her.

Which meant . . . what?

God, was she entertaining fantasies of a real relationship with a Rossini? Before she could pour cold water over such a foolish idea, the elevator doors opened. Stacey, her boss’ secretary and right-hand, was waiting to pounce on her as she stepped out.

“Tahima! Thank heavens. Bob’s expecting you. Go in, hon. Quick. No, wait! Give me your coat.”

Tahima dumped both coat and bag in Stacey’s arms, flashed the older woman a grateful smile, and hurried down the corridor.

Bob waved her into his office. “Ah, Tahima, how are you settling back in?”

“Good, thanks. I needed to get back to work. With the lodge finished I was getting bored.”

“It was lucky we could let you go for so long. The recession’s bitten hard,
but
you’ll be pleased to know something has come in that will be right up your street. I need a design for an eco-friendly vacation home, all mod cons, entertainment, in keeping with a mountain lodge—which is why I thought of you—ten-thousand square feet over three floors. Sketch some ideas. Make sure you love the design because you’re going to be pitching it to the partners, and if you don’t love it, they won’t. Any questions?”

“Budget?”

“Will two million be enough?”

Her eyes lit up. “Sounds like there might be more.”

Bob laughed. “Stick with the two million to be safe.”