He felt the antithesis of disconnected. Or clearheaded. He felt more connected to the woman standing across the roomâlooking to him with her eyes full of fearâthan he'd ever felt to anyone. He could feel her fear. Smell it. Taste it at the back of his throat. Or maybe that was his own fear he tasted, because this time, for the first time, he was the one who was afraid. He was the one who was desperate.
It took every ounce of training and self-control he possessed to force the fear back down and keep his hands from trembling as he held the gun pointed at Adam's head.
“Hello, Adam,” he said, managing to sound as if they'd just bumped into each other on the street. “How've you been?”
“Just fine and dandy, Wolf,” Adam replied. “You?”
“Never better. Now that the formalities are out of the way, why don't you let her go?”
Adam grinned at him, and a hundred reasons why Connor had never really liked the guy came back to him.
“Get real,” he said. “That isn't going to happen. Now let me make a counter suggestion, one that at least falls within the realm of possibility. Drop the gun and kick it over here to me.”
Connor glared at him without moving a muscle.
“Oh, that's good,” Adam said, laughing. “You've still got that cop look down perfect. I'll bet a lot of sixteen-year-old punks have wet their pants when you give them that look, right, Wolf? Only I'm not sixteen anymore. Still, if you want to play, we'll play, and we'll just see who blinks first. Who really has the nerves of steel around here.” He cocked his gun.
“Of course,” he continued, his eyes on Connor, “I've always thought the key to picking the winner in any game of chicken was to ask yourself who's got the most to lose.”
He yanked hard on Gaby's hair, forcing her head back even farther. Connor gritted his teeth against the small yelp of pain that the action wrung from her.
Adam's gaze never wavered, remaining as cool and steady as his tone. “Ask yourself that, Wolf,” he suggested. “Ask yourself who's got the most to lose here?”
“Seems to me you do,” Connor told him, willing to play any angle available to him. “After all, she's your fiancée.”
“Not anymore, I'm afraid. Gabrielle just gave me the bad news. The wedding is off permanently.”
“Is that what this is all about?”
“Is that what this is all about?” Adam mimicked, then laughed smoothly. “You mean, am I holding a gun to her head because she won't have me? Come on, Wolf, you're the crazy one here, not me.”
“Then what is it about?”
“I don't know. Exactly. I was trying to convince Gabrielle to tell me that very thing when you interrupted. All I know is my bride disappears from the steps of the church, and the next thing I know I've got state investigators crawling all over my life, checking into every move I've ever made...and every move Joel made, too, it seems. They're even tapping into the computers at that firm he worked for. Now I find all that is more than just a coincidence. I find it fascinating. Don't you, Wolf?”
He shrugged. “I guess I'm not as easily fascinated as you, Ressler.”
“Don't sell yourself short. I guarantee you that before this is over I will have captured your complete and undivided attention.”
The muscles in Connor's belly clenched at the panic that surged in Gaby's eyes. It was a struggle not to go to her in spite of Adam and his gun.
“Don't put yourself out on my account,” he told Adam with a laconic smile.
“I won't. It's Gabrielle who's going to provide the entertainment. Isn't that right, darling?” He caressed her cheek with the tip of the gun, and Connor tasted blood. “She's going to start by telling us who she was on the phone with when I walked in and what the important message she promised to give you right away might be.”
“Sounds good to me,” Connor responded. “Why don't we all go downstairs and sit down andâ”
“No,” Adam said, cutting him off, his smile gone. “Right here. Right now.”
“Tell him, Gaby,” Connor urged softly. “Tell him whatever he wants to know.”
Connor's sudden show of quiet cooperation drew a wary look from Adam.
“First the gun,” he ordered. “Now, Connor. Kick it over here, or I really will shoot her and turn this quaint, rustic setting into a scene from a Schwarzenegger movie.” He tilted his head close to Gaby's. “Tell me, Gabrielle, does Toby like action films?”
“No,” she whimpered. “Please don't do this, Adam.”
“I told you before. Don't beg. Talk. Tell me what I want to know...after I get the gun.”
Connor's gaze shifted from Adam to the silent plea in Gaby's eyes. She nodded, a slight, pitiful gesture that was all she could manage with Adam's hand wrapped tightly in her hair.
Please
, she seemed to be saying,
please do as he says
.
Never give up your gun. The words rang in Connor's head. It was a creed he'd lived by and had always been prepared to die by, as well. Always before, he had been able to rationalize his inflexibility on that issue by telling himself that a hostage's fate was directly linked to his own, and that they both stood a better chance of surviving if he remained armed.
Even now he had a perfect bead on Adam's temple. He was an excellent marksman, utterly nerveless. And experienced, which Adam wasn't. The odds were greater than fifty-fifty that he could take the other man out before he got a shot off. There was at least a fifty percent chance that Gaby would walk away unharmed and a lesser one that Adam would fire as he fell and inflict no more than a flesh wound, or a more serious but still nonlife-threatening injury. Or the bullet could strike her carotid artery on an upward trajectory, and she would be dead before she hit the ground.
He slowly bent his knees and lowered the gun to the floor at his feet, then kicked it across the room. It landed close to Gaby.
“Perfect,” Adam declared. “Now, Gabrielle, you and I are going to play a game of pick up the gun. We go down together, you pick it up and hand it back to me. Nicely, or else I see a trip to the orphanage in Toby's immediate future.”
“Do exactly as he says, Gaby,” Connor told her softly, torn apart inside by the sight of her trembling as she followed Adam's orders, bending her knees slowly, her fingers fumbling for the gun. When she finally got a grip on it, she slowly held it up for Adam to take.
Connor was encouraged by the indecision that caused Adam to frown as he tried to determine how to take possession of the second gun without putting down his own or relinquishing his hold on Gaby. He really was a novice, he thought contemptuously. Caught up in something way over his head. If not for Gaby and for Toby outside on the deck, Connor would tackle him right now. Years of instinct told him to do just that, that he could easily overpower Adam Ressler. It was something else, something brand-new and much more powerful that held him back, putting his concern for Gaby and Toby above all else, even his own pride.
“Don't hand it to me,” he snapped at Gaby finally. “Reach around and put it in my pocket.”
He thrust his right hip forward, indicating the pocket of the tan linen jacket he was wearing. Gaby hurriedly did as he directed, shoving the pistol into his pocket. Barrel first, Connor noted approvingly. It would be simple enough to grab if he could get close enough.
“Now we can go down,” Adam announced. “I don't want Toby to feel left out.”
“No, Adam, please,” Gabrielle said, trying to turn to him and being brought in line by another hard jerk on her hair. “Ohhh. Please. Leave Toby out of this. He has no idea that any of this is going on or why Connor even brought us here. I'll tell you what you want to know, but please leave Toby alone.”
“Where is he?” Adam demanded of Connor.
“He's still outside. On the deck. He's got some toys out there. The kid isn't going to cause you any trouble, Adam. Let him be.”
Adam thought it over.
Another mistake a pro would never make, thought Connor.
Then Adam shook his head, improving his score marginally. “No. I want everyone where I can see them. Now let's go. You first, Wolf...or would you prefer that I call you Connor, too?” he asked, giving the name a sarcastic emphasis.
“Suit yourself,” Connor replied.
“Trust me, I intend to,” said Adam. “Now move. Real slow. Downstairs.”
Chapter 13
C
onnor led the way down the stairs, following Adam's instructions to go on to the living room and have a seat on the sofa. Adam pushed Gaby down on the opposite end and stepped back so that he was standing midway in front of them, the gun still trained on Gaby.
“Now call Toby,” he told her. “Tell him you want him in here right away.”
She clasped her hands into a tight knot in her lap. “Adam, please...”
“Do it,” he snapped. He lifted the gun, his eyes darting back and forth nervously. between her and Connor. “Or I'll go get him myself.”
Yeah, do that, thought Connor, ready to pounce if Adam made the slightest misstep. He groaned inside as Gaby caved in to the ridiculous threat.
“No, I'll call him.” She swallowed hard and leaned forward on the sofa. “Toby,” she called, her voice strained and weak. “Toby,” she repeated, more loudly this time. “Come on in here, honey.”
The back door cracked open. “But, Mommy, Wolf said...”
“It's all right, partner,” Connor called to him. “Come on in.”
He ran into the room, trailing the towel behind him, and stopped short at the sight of Adam. He took in the gun in his hand with an aplomb unique to five-year-olds.
“Hi, Uncle Adam. Can I hold that?”
“Just sit down with your mother,” Adam told him. “And don't say a word.”
“But...”
“Shh,” Gaby said, gathering him to her and urging him down onto the sofa close beside her. “Do as he says, Toby, and everything will be fine.”
“But...”
“Toby, please,” she said, the desperation in her voice too obvious to be missed even by a child.
Toby scrunched himself deep into the seat and allowed his mother to wrap the towel around him.
“All right, let's hear it,” Adam barked impatiently. “And don't try and con me again, Gabrielle. I know it wasn't your mother you were talking to and I'm losing patience.”
Connor caught Gaby's quick glance in his direction and nodded. He had no idea what she was holding back. He wasn't even sure whom she had been talking to, whether she had made the call or simply answered a call for him. He only knew that he didn't want her taking any risks or trying to be a hero. They were going to play this straight until he had a chance to turn things around. The best way to buy time for him and get that chance was to keep Adam talking.
“You're right,” she said to Adam. “It wasn't my mother on the phone.”
“Nana?” Toby piped up. “Did Nana call?”
“Shut up,” ordered Adam.
Toby's eyes widened to circles, but he didn't cry. In fact, he looked mad as hell, Connor noted, his estimation of the kid going even higher.
“Toby, please,” Gaby said, “not another word.” She looked back at Adam. “It was someone from the state police,” she told him. “He wanted to talk with Connor, and I told him he was busy and couldn't come to the phone right then.”
“What was his name?” Adam asked her.
“I don't remember.”
He repositioned the gun on Toby. “Think.”
“My God, Adam, have you lost your mind?” she cried, hugging Toby against her.
Adam met her gaze and swung the gun back so it was aimed at her. “The man's name.”
“Marino,” she revealed. “Captain Marino.”
“And the message he gave you?”
She again looked at Connor.
“Forget him,” Adam shouted. “He's nothing to you. He can't get you out of this. He can't save your ass or your kid's, Gabrielle. Only I can do that, so you damn well better start looking at me and doing whatever the hell I tell you to do. Understand?”
“I understand,” she said, her voice shaking. “Marino told me that they found some information that suggests there might be a problem with the books at the Black Wolf and that they were planning to question you about it. He said he thought Connor might want to come down to headquarters so he could be there when they talked with you. Maybe they wanted to ask him about it, too, I really don't know.”
Adam looked very worried. “Where did they get this information? From the nosing around they did at Joel's old firm?”
“I don't know....”
“What did he tell you?” Adam demanded, shouting now.
Gaby nodded. “Yes, they found out about it at the firm.”
“Of course,” Adam muttered, evidently thinking out loud. “They had to get it there. We wipedâ” He halted, frowning.
“Tell me, Adam, how the hell did you know they were checking out Joel's old records?” Connor infused the question with a note of grudging admiration that Adam snapped at.
He smiled smugly. “What's the matter, Wolf? Surprised to learn that I'm good for something besides managing the Black Wolf's wine cellar and glad-handing the regulars? It's about time you gave me a little respect. About time you realize you're not the only one with guts.” His smile broadened into a grin. “About time you knew who's the real player here.”
“But I don't,” Connor countered. “Not really. I mean I still don't know how you got onto the investigation at Joel's firm. Did you have someone on the inside there? Was that it?”
Adam scoffed at that. “Didn't need to,” he declared. “I have something better, someone inside the state police.”
Connor made a show of looking stunned and trying to hide it. Adam's shoulders squared with delight.
“That's right,” he said, “one of your own is in my hip pocket. Has been all along. That's how we knew exactly how to set it up so that the explosion looked like it was intended for you.”
Gaby's soft gasp drew Adam's attention. “Oh, my God. Then it really is all true. I thought maybe there was some...oh, my God. How could you?” she demanded, her voice hardening. “Joel was your friend. He...”
Adam cut her off. “Joel was an idiot,” he shouted. “He wouldn't listen to reason. I tried to talk to him, to explain how it is, that to make a buck in this business you have to have an edge, a connection. I had that connection and I wanted to bring him in with me, but he wouldn't listen. He kept after me and after me and then told me he was going to let Wolf in on it, too. I couldn't let that happen.”
He glared at Gaby as tears flowed down her cheeks.
“You don't understand,” he went on. “You can't know what it was like. It was too late to stop it like he wanted me to do. I tried to tell Joel that. I tried to make him understand that there was no way they would let me just walk away. What was I supposed to say? âI'm sorry but my partner has decided this isn't a good idea?'” His laughter was short and ugly. “They don't play like that.”
“Who's they?” Connor asked.
Adam looked at him and shrugged. “It doesn't matter.”
“They're a drug cartel,” Gaby explained. “From somewhere in South America. Adam has been using the restaurant to launder money from their drug operation.”
Connor whistled through his teeth. “Oh, man, Adam, you really do have guts.”
“What's that supposed to mean?” Adam demanded, his eyes glittering with suspicion.
“I mean you wouldn't catch me messing with those guys. South American drug runners?” He shook his head and whistled again. “No way. Not me. I can almost understand why you had to do Joel the way you did.”
“I didn't do Joel,” he insisted, darting a glance at Gaby. “I didn't have anything to do with that. I just told them we were supposed to meet and where and they said stay away.”
From the other end of the sofa, he heard Gaby draw a shuddering breath. By now Toby was crying softly, too, though Connor doubted he understood half of what was happening. A blessing for sure.
“So you stayed away and saved your own skin.”
“Like you didn't save yours?” Adam countered.
Connor leaned back and hitched one foot onto the opposite knee. “That must have been a major disappointment, huh? My getting out alive.”
“Let's just say that your surviving wasn't the optimum result.”
“Of course not. With both Joel and me out of the way, you and Gaby could have exercised your option to buy out my share of the business. Then you marry her, knowing a wife can't be forced to testify against her husband, and your control of things is all sewn up.”
“Now, that result would have been optimum,” Adam agreed. “But life is full of compromises. We decided we could live with things as they were.”
“Sure, why not? I was as dumb as dirt about what was going on and then I helped out even more by leaving the country, giving you a free rein with the business.”
Adam shook his head. “The question is, why the hell did you have to come back?”
Connor smiled at him. “You know me. I never did like taking the easy way out. So what now, Adam? Are you supposed to kill us, too?”
“I told you I didn't kill Joel,” he snapped, sounding more and more tense. “I never bargained for any of this.”
“That's too bad,” Connor told him, “because you've bought it. I don't see any of your cutthroat pals standing there with a gun. I only see you. And from what I've seen of the evidence they've been stockpiling down at headquarters, that all points only to you, too.”
“That's bull,” Adam declared, his face flushed. “I'm just a damn middleman. The packages of money come in, and it goes right back out. I don't have anything to do with any drugs or with killing anyone. Nothing like that.”
Connor held out his hand. “If that's true, Adam, why not just hand me the gun and we'll work something out?”
Adam's chin went up, and his eyes narrowed. “Oh, no. Forget it, Wolf. I guess what I should have said is that I don't want to kill any of you, no more than I wanted to see Joel get hurt. But I come first. Then and now.”
“So what are you going to do?” Connor asked.
“Get away. I suggest you all do the same if you know what's good for you. But I go first.” He darted a quick glance around the room. “I need some rope. Do you know where there is some?”
Connor shook his head. “I haven't seen any around,” he said, suspecting what he wanted the rope for and knowing it would seriously interfere with any effort to wrestle the gun from him. There was no way he was going to submit to being tied up by Adam Ressler.
From her end of the sofa, Gaby watched Adam give another furtive look around the room. She glanced at the clock on a shelf behind him, wishing she knew exactly how long it had been since Captain Marino had called and how long it would take for the police car he was sending to get there. Until it arrived, all she could do was pray. And stall. Anything that would eat up some time was preferable to forcing Adam's hand.
“I know where there's some rope,” she said.
She could feel the sharply disapproving look her remark drew from Connor. She didn't look at him, instead keeping her gaze focused on Adam.
He eyed her suspiciously. “Where is it?”
“Over there.” She inclined her head toward the desk in the corner behind her. “Do you want me to get it?”
He thought for a few seconds before nodding. “Yeah. Go get it. And remember, one wrong moveâ”
“I know,” she said, cutting short his threat before he scared Toby even more than he already was. “I'll just get the rope and hand it to you.”
Adam followed her, stopping at the end of the sofa, keeping his eyes on Connor and the gun on her.
She took her time, dwelling on the comforting truth that every minute that passed brought them one minute closer to being rescued. She wished she could share the knowledge with Connor, knowing how hard this was for him. She could see that he was champing at the bit to lash out at Adam with everything that was in him, and she understood that it was concern for her and for Toby that held him back.
It was, she imagined, an entirely new twist on Connor's interpretation of self-sacrifice, and she loved him for it. She just hoped they made it through this so she could tell him so... and this time make him listen.
She'd seen the white, lightweight rope, the type used for clotheslines, when she returned the sewing kit to the desk drawer the other day. It was still there, tossed in a heap in the bottom, half-covered by the sewing basket. As she pulled the rope out, the basket tipped, spilling a pincushion and a few spools of thread. As she hurriedly tossed them back in, Gaby's gaze landed on the seam ripper that was also among the items in the basket.
Her grip on the rope tightened reflexively. The seam ripper was no more than three inches long, black plastic on the handle end and with a roughly U-shaped metal prong on the other that was used to rip out stitches. The prong, she knew from her limited sewing experience, was razor sharp.