Hide Away (15 page)

Eve nodded and started up the steps. “I'll see you upstairs.”

“Eve.”

She looked back at her.

“I'm glad you came to me. I'm glad you trusted me to help.” She smiled. “We'll get that little girl through this.”

“Yes, we will. We can get through anything together.” She blew her a kiss. “Family.”

*   *   *

Jane watched Eve disappear into the castle and close the front door.

She stayed there, her eyes on the door.

Waiting.

One minute passed.

Two minutes passed.

“Dammit, what are you doing, Caleb?” she said impatiently as she turned to glare at the shadows of the stable across the courtyard. “What game are you playing?”

“No game.” Seth Caleb strolled out of the shadows toward her. He was wearing a black turtleneck sweater and khakis, and the moonlight glimmered on the white thread in his dark hair and lit his high cheekbones, deep-set dark eyes, and full lips. “I was just admiring you in the moonlight. I don't often get a chance to observe you without your getting nervous. How long ago did you realize I was here?”

“I don't know. Not right away. Maybe I saw a movement.”

“Then why didn't you sound the alarm?”

“Because I knew it was you.”

“How?”

“You sent me a message you'd be coming tonight.”

“Yes, I did.” He stopped before her. “So it was entirely reasonable that you'd come to that conclusion.” He smiled. “But reason had nothing to do with it, did it? You
felt
me here.”

“Think what you like, Caleb.”

“Oh, I will. I just want you to admit it to yourself, if not to me. We have a connection. It's been there from the beginning. Electricity?” He tilted his head. “Yes, along with something, deeper, less civilized. I sense you all the time when you're anywhere around me.”

“I don't want to talk about this.”

“Then be honest, Jane.”

“It … might be possible. You gave me blood when I was hurt and you have that … thing with blood.”

His brows rose. “Thing?”

“Hell, what else can I call it? What are we supposed to call it? I'm sure it doesn't have any technical name. I don't know anyone else who's able to manipulate the blood flow of anyone he's close to. It's too weird.” And dangerous, she thought. It wasn't only healing that he could control if he chose to use that talent as a weapon. She had seen him do it, and that power frightened her. “And you have to admit it's hard to describe.”

He nodded. “Unique, as far as I can determine, outside my family. A small gift, but my own.”

“Well, it evidently worked for me at the time. And, since I don't have any idea how it works, I might still be subject to some kind of residual—but it doesn't mean anything.” She stared him in the eye. “Can we talk about something else? Like what you were doing lurking in the shadows while Cara was playing?”

“I wasn't lurking. Is it too much to believe that I didn't want her to stop when I arrived here tonight? I heard her playing while I was still driving down the road, and I parked outside the gate and walked up to the courtyard. I thought I'd take a few minutes for myself before I went in and became what you thought me to be.” His lips twisted. “Haven't you heard that music soothes the savage beast.”

“I believe the quote refers to ‘savage breast'.”

“I've always thought that my way was more appropriate. And you probably do, too. We've been together during many occasions when my true nature came to the forefront. Isn't that what you see when you look at me, Jane?”

It was true. They had known each other for a few years, and Caleb had seemed to appear whenever she was involved in a situation that was threatening. She had a sudden memory of a time when they had been together in the Alps and Caleb's throwing a body down before her like a savage giving a gift to his mate. The man he had killed had been attacking them, but all she had been able to remember was the savagery and pleasure in Caleb's face.

He laughed. “You're having to think about it. Are you afraid you're going to hurt my feelings? You're not usually so diplomatic.”

“You're not a beast. You do have your primitive side. I don't know what you are, Caleb. I don't believe you want me to know. I do know you're intelligent, complex, and can be amusing. I know I owe you my life when you came to me in the hospital.”

“And you may never forgive me for that.” His smile was gone, his tone fierce. “You wanted me to let you die so that you could join your lover in the great beyond? I wasn't about to let that happen. I won't let you go, Jane.”

“You gave me an invaluable gift. It doesn't matter whether I wanted it or not. I still have to be grateful for what you did.” She smiled faintly. “And I'm sure that you're arrogant enough to believe that you have control of my life, but forget that. I'll run my own life. I have no intention of dying. I was wrong. There are people who need me. And two of them are in that castle.” She got to her feet. “I didn't want you to come because you're always disturbing. But you're here, so make yourself useful. The only thing I want from you is for you to keep Eve and Cara safe.” She added deliberately, “And not to get in my way while I'm trying to do it. Do you understand?”

“Of course. You're always very clear with me. Much more clear than you are with anyone else. It's as if you think I'll step outside bounds if given the excuse.” He was smiling again. “I'll be very careful not to do that. I'll let you ignore me as much as you're capable. I'll be wonderfully helpful and make certain that all goes well with your world.”

“And what are you going to get out of all this, Caleb?”

“Opportunity.” He headed for the front door. “It's all I need…”

*   *   *

Eve had thought she would be tired enough to sleep, but she realized after an hour of tossing and turning that wasn't going to happen. Not surprising. She was still charged from the flight from Atlanta, and it seemed that every moment since then had been full of renewing relationships, making sure that Jane was okay with what was happening, and Cara was comfortable in this new environment. It was like a new and different life from the one she had left behind her in Atlanta.

And she should be grateful that life appeared to be so different. Talk of ancient ruins and treasures instead of bombs and threats of death at every turn. She
was
grateful. She just wanted to be back with Joe and working to have this nightmare over. It might be safer for her, but what about Joe?

Don't think about it. Do her job as Joe was doing his.

Cara.

She got out of the huge bed and padded across the room to the adjoining room, where Cara was sleeping. She quietly opened the door and peeked at the girl in the bed across the room.

She was fast asleep. It was clear Cara had not had the same problem as Eve. But then children usually slept well. She remembered Jane had no problems until she was in her teens, and Bonnie had been able to curl up anywhere and drop off. Eve had found her so many times in the hammock in the yard with her hand tucked beneath her cheek and her red curls mussed from play.

Bonnie …

Eve quietly closed the door and went over to the casement window that she had left thrown wide when she went to bed. She looked out at the forests and the hills beyond.

“I haven't heard from you, and it's beginning to scare me, Bonnie. You told me once that you might not be able to come to me anymore,” she whispered. “Is it because you don't think I'll need you? I'll always need you. I want this child. It's a miracle. But I can't let you go. We've been together too long. It would be like losing you all over again.”

Silence.

She touched her abdomen.

Hey, tell Bonnie we need her. I don't know if she had anything to do with making you come into our lives, but she might have. She's pretty special, and it wouldn't surprise me if she has influence. But we have to make sure that she sticks around for us, okay?

No answer there, either.

Of course not. What did she expect? The baby was trying to survive and become the child it was meant to be. It was Eve's job to handle everything else. She was being ridiculous, and she should go to bed and try to sleep.

She got as far as settling down in bed again. Then she was reaching for her phone and dialing.

Joe answered immediately. “What's wrong?”

“Nothing,” she said. “Everything. I just wanted to hear your voice and know that you were all right. We're going to start off tomorrow trekking through some castle in the Highlands. I feel a million miles away from you right now.”

“Me, too.” He paused. “You're feeling okay?”

“Strong. Very strong. I could lift mountains.”

“Exaggerating a bit?”

“A bit. But not that much. I remember I felt like this when I was pregnant with Bonnie. It was as if she was giving me her strength, too. The only problem was a few weeks when I couldn't keep anything down. So stop worrying. Everything's working out well with Manez?”

“Hell, yes. He's giving me more than I expected. Perhaps more than he expected. It may be a break for us.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just rumors right now. I'll let you know when I can confirm them.” He paused. “I got a call from Les Carmody at the Forensics Department a couple hours ago. They wanted to assure me that they were making progress and should be able to tell me something fairly soon.”

Not good. “I thought you said that it might be another day.”

“I'm a cop.” He grimaced. “They're trying their best to help me out. There's a good chance they're already suspecting the truth since they can't have recovered any trace of body parts yet. They just don't want to raise my hopes.”

“And Salazar will probably know almost as soon as you do that there was no one in that car.”

“I'd bet on it. And I'll be glad when you manage to lose yourself in those Highlands.” He changed the subject. “How is Jane doing?”

“Better. Not as good as I'd like to see her, but she's healing. We can't ask for more than that right now.”

“Does she know about the baby?”

“Not yet. I'm waiting. She's already trying to protect me. I don't want her worrying any more than she is already.” She added teasingly, “And have her ask every time she talks to me if I'm surviving this pregnancy.”

“Was that aimed at me?”

“Gently. Lovingly.”

“I'll accept both with thanks. On that note, I'll let you go so that you can get some sleep. Don't overdo it tomorrow while you're trekking over that ruin, even if you think you can lift mountains.”

“Joe.”

He laughed and hung up.

She was smiling as she put her phone on the nightstand and turned over in bed. The news had not been all good, but merely talking to Joe made her feel a sense that they were on the move … and together.

Don't think that any minute Salazar and Franco might find out that they had been fooled.

They would still have to find out where she and Cara had gone. That would take time.

Lord, she hoped it would take enough time.

*   *   *

Joe hung up from talking to Eve and stared down at his phone. She had sounded good, but she would not have phoned if she hadn't needed to touch base with him. Eve's career as a forensic sculptor dominated her life, and she was used to working nonstop. She would never have chosen to uproot herself and go on this outlandish treasure hunt in the wilds of Scotland.

But he had chosen for her, and she was trying to adjust and make it work for them.

At possibly one of the most crucial points of her life.

He wanted to be
with
her, dammit.

Calm down. They were already involved and had involved Jane and Cara. It had to work.

But push it along, make it happen sooner.

He picked up his phone again and quickly dialed Manez.

“Don't you ever sleep?” Manez asked sourly when he picked up the phone. “You may be driven, but I need my rest after a day of dealing with this scum.”

“You promised me an address.”

“That was less than twelve hours ago. Nothing moves fast down here unless you want to end up hanging from a bridge without a head.”

“Bullshit. You're just as driven as I am. I'd bet you dove into squeezing all available informants the minute you hung up from me.”

“That doesn't mean I was able to tap into information that was accurate.”

“Were you?”

“Maybe. I'm still exploring the—”

“Give me an address.”

“I'd prefer to verify first.”

“We may be running out of time. I need to get a handle on this.”

“I don't want you jetting down here and causing a blowup before I'm ready.”

“I need that address.”

Manez was silent. “Very well, but you don't move without me.”

“As long as you don't drag your feet.”

Manez sighed. “You're a very difficult man, Quinn. The address is one forty-five El Camino Road.”

GAELKAR CASTLE
SCOTLAND

“Good God, MacDuff. It's magnificent.” Eve was gazing out the window of the Land Rover at the staggering beauty of the amethyst-slate mountains in the distance as they neared the castle. The dramatic towering starkness of the peaks, the barrenness that was the vast glens took her breath away. The sun was shining, and yet these Highlands still retained their moody, almost stormy, grandeur. “You didn't tell me.”

“It's always best to be surprised.” He smiled at her. “You think Cira chose well for her new kingdom?”

“You'd have to ask Jane. I think it probably suited her. There's a wildness here that I can see her appreciating.”