Jordan Summers (18 page)

Twice the trolley almost rolled away from her, threatening to escape. She was convinced it would take a priest and an exorcism to fix it.
Not tonight, please.
Delaney muttered and kicked the wheel, stubbing her toe. She sucked in a pain-filled breath and hobbled on.

Somehow she’d managed to get her beverage service completed and returned to replenish the cart. Afterward, Delaney rounded the galley wall with a garbage bag in her hands prepared to pick up trash and nearly ran in to David Rico. He smiled and took a step forward. She stepped back.

Her gaze sought Jack, who was scowling in his seat. He kept glancing at his watch as if that would somehow make the plane fly faster.

“What do you want?” she asked Rico.

“To spend some time getting to know you.”

She stiffened. “I have to get back to work.” Delaney moved to go around him, but he blocked her escape.

“You can take a few minutes to talk to your business partner.”

Delaney lost her temper, angry that he’d tried and succeeded in scaring her. “I can’t believe you brought weapons on board. Are you insane?” she spluttered under her breath.

Rico backhanded her so fast that Delaney didn’t have time to duck. Hell, it had happened so fast that no one seemed to notice. That is, no one but Jack, who hadn’t taken his eyes off them. Delaney shook her head to clear it, and then stuttered to her feet in time to see Jack rise out of his seat.

She jerked her head in warning, sending pain screaming through her skull. Delaney didn’t want to draw the attention of the passengers, and if Jack came up here there’d be a brawl. The metallic tang of blood filled her mouth where Rico had split the inside of her lip. She glared, willing Jack to stay put.

Jack paused, his body twitching in impotent fury, then he sat once more. His hands clenched the top of the seat back until his knuckles turned white. His normally handsome features had hardened, sending a shiver of fear down her spine.

Delaney had never seen that expression on Jack’s face, not even when she’d told him the truth about her mission. He glared at David with hatred in his eyes. Her gaze left him to return to Rico. She leveled her attention on him and wiped away the blood with her fingertips, flicking it casually onto the galley floor.

Delaney lowered her voice so only he could hear her. “Anyone ever tell you that you hit like a girl?” she asked, goading him even when her mind railed against the act. She needed to keep him off balance, angry, but not homicidal.

David Rico raised his hand to hit her again, but stopped when he noticed passengers glancing their way. “You’re lucky we have an audience,” he said, lowering his hand to stroke her jaw.

No, you’re the lucky one,
Delaney thought.

“You have a smart mouth on you,” he said, touching her lip where it had split, sending pain shooting down her neck.

She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying out.

“We’ll finish this later when we have a little more—” he looked around “—privacy. I can think of much better ways to keep that mouth of yours busy.” His hand dropped lower, caressing her collarbone before releasing her.

Delaney’s mind screamed, demanding that she recoil. She didn’t. She refused to allow David Rico the satisfaction of seeing how much his touch repulsed her. If he thought she actually enjoyed his unwanted attention it may work to her benefit.

She looked past him down the aisle. Tony stood with his back to them, all his attention focused on Barbie. As if sensing that he was being watched, he turned and grinned, waggling his eyebrows like an idiot.

That didn’t bode well for Barbie or anyone else’s safety as long as these two were on this flight. Would Rico and Tony actually kill a planeload of innocent people over a weapons smuggling operation?

Even as Delaney asked herself the question, she already knew the answer. Yes, they would and not lose a night’s sleep over it.

J
ACK SAT IN
an aisle seat, rage swirling inside of him. His heart threatened to burst from his chest and he’d clenched his jaw so tight he’d actually heard a couple of teeth crack.

When Rico hit Delaney, Jack had come close to leaving his seat, so he could kill the man, even though it would’ve meant dying himself, since he had no doubt Rico was armed. For a split second, Jack hadn’t cared. How dare he touch her? He’d promised Delaney that he would protect her. The bastard would pay. The only thing that had kept him in his seat was the plea Jack saw in Delaney’s eyes. He couldn’t help her if he was dead.

Delaney must have said something strong to provoke the bastard into using violence. Knowing his woman, it could have been anything. Jack stilled as he considered what he’d just thought.
His woman.
He’d never considered anyone as
his
before. He mulled over that realization for a moment. Somehow with Delaney it just seemed right.

She was the first person who’d ever truly “needed” him, even if she didn’t fully see it yet. Delaney was stubborn to the point of mule-headed. Her mouth could wither a rose. She would fight him with her last breath before admitting that she cared or that she was wrong.

She was frustrating and delectable, infuriating and insatiable, a combustible combination that left him panting for more. Yet, even with all that, she brought a smile to his face and actually made him want to be a better man. All Jack knew for sure was that he wasn’t ready to let all that go. Not yet.

Maybe not ever.

He turned to locate Tony. The goon seemed glued into place and overly preoccupied with the blond looker in the back. That may be a good thing when Jack made his move.

He needed to wait until David Rico was closer. He didn’t want to take the chance of anyone being hurt, especially Delaney. Jack couldn’t lose her, not after all they’d been through.

His gaze returned to her. He could see that her lip had begun to swell. Blood still seeped from the wound, but Delaney ignored it, keeping her eyes on Rico instead. Her gaze was steady and her stance loose, but Jack could see that was for show. Delaney was ready to pounce when the opportunity presented itself. Pride swelled within him.

Good girl,
he thought.
Keep the bastard’s attention so that I can sneak up on him and bash his head in.
His hands fisted and knuckles popped. Jack wanted Rico to suffer and bleed.

He looked out the window at the dark ground below to see if he could determine their location. Jack searched for city lights. A bright glow burned in the distance. He’d bet his savings that it was Tucson, not Phoenix. Not that it mattered, they just needed a runway to land the plane.

Why had Rico changed their plans after seeking their help in the first place? Did he suspect a setup? He must have or else he would’ve filled them in. He’d watched in horror as the men on the ground loaded the volatile cargo. They were riding on enough explosives to blow this plane into orbit.

Fear settled into his gut, clutching it hard. He’d done several deals in his time with a lot of crazy people, but none as unpredictable as the one standing in the galley.

Rico was known for being unstable, but loading a plane with explosives was out-and-out insane. Maybe that accounted for his sudden deviation from the plan. Jack prayed the change wasn’t because Rico sensed deception. If that was the case, he and Delaney were both the walking dead.

He searched the faces around him as he attempted to come up with a plan. They needed something that would keep Rico busy, but not spook him into injuring passengers.

He had no doubt that the ATF had the Phoenix control tower following their progress, since the feds knew they were due in on this flight. The question was would they realize that Rico and Tony had boarded the aircraft in L.A., too?

“Rico,” Jack called out, not exactly sure what he’d say once the man walked over to where he sat. They’d deviated so far from the arrangement that he needed to get some idea of what was happening before he could proceed.

David Rico turned away from Delaney and strolled down the aisle toward him. “What?”

Jack’s nostrils flared as he reined in his temper. “I want to know what’s happening. I think I deserve that much consideration.”

Rico snorted. “You don’t deserve a thing. The only reason I allowed you to come along was because I needed little Miss Sunshine’s help procuring the vans.” He hooked a thumb in Delaney’s direction. “I didn’t think she’d cooperate without you.”

So he was going to cut him out of the deal. “Speaking of plans, why the change?” Jack asked, casually.

“I received word that the feds had all the roads out of town covered. You would’ve been able to get the vans in, but not back out. I found that unacceptable. By the way, you wouldn’t know how they found out there was a shipment leaving, would you?” His gaze narrowed.

Jack remained impassive. “I don’t like the direction this conversation is headed. If the feds are on your ass, then you’d better take a closer look at the people around you.”

“Oh, I am. You’d better hope I don’t find out that you’re the one behind the leak.”

“My people are reliable.” He glanced at Delaney for emphasis.

Rico followed his line of sight. “We’ll see. Once we get on the ground, my people will unload the merchandise.”

“What about us?” Jack asked, without inflection.

“The girl will come with me. We have unfinished business.” Rico grinned. “You get to stay and explain to the feds, who will receive an
anonymous
tip about how you helped transport contraband.”

Jack leveled his gaze on Rico. “What makes you think I’m going to sit here and allow you to hang me out to dry?”

Rico leaned in until their faces were mere inches apart. “Because if you don’t, I’ll kill her.”

Fear pummeled him. Jack opened his mouth to speak.

“Don’t bother,” Rico warned, cutting him off. “I’ve seen the way you look at her. There’s more than sex happening between you two. I knew it the day you gave me the boat.”

The bastard thought he had the whole thing figured out. He’d be in for one hell of a wake-up call when he discovered Delaney was an agent for the ATF. Of course, when Rico did, she’d be dead. Hell, if she went with him at all, she was as good as dead. Jack’s gut twisted. He couldn’t allow that to happen. There had to be a way to stop the bastard before they reached Phoenix and he planned to find it.

D
ELANEY PULLED HER
cart back out into the aisle. It worried her that she didn’t know what Jack and Rico had discussed. She prayed Jack had remained cool. She started down the aisle, handing out free drinks to distract the passengers.

Jeremy spotted her and got up from a seat to retrieve his cart. Tony looked at him, then at Rico, who scowled and approached her.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Rico asked. “We’re going to land soon.”

“I’m making sure the passengers are comfortable. That’s my job.”

He ran a hand through his hair and looked around. People watched their exchange. He turned back to her, anger simmering just below the surface. “Fine, but do it fast.”

Delaney nodded at Jeremy to continue.

Suddenly, Rico smiled. The act made Delaney’s skin crawl.

“What?” she asked.

He flicked his gaze over her. “I was thinking about how much I look forward to teaching you some manners after we land.”

She frowned. “What do you mean?”

Rico laughed. “Go ask your boyfriend.” He started to leave, but paused. “Oh, and while you’re at it, you may want to say goodbye.” With that he strolled down the aisle toward Tony.

Delaney’s chest constricted. Goodbye? What was Rico talking about? She shoved the cart temporarily in front of the forward entry door and walked to where Jack waited. Their eyes met, blue clashing with brown. Delaney saw fear, concern and an abundance of rage swirling in his depths. She also saw…love. Something inside her soared, before reality stomped it with its dirty feet. There’d be time later to explore those emotions…she hoped.

“Want to tell me what you and Rico talked about?” she asked, her stomach tying itself into a pretzel.

“Not really.”

“Jack?”

“He updated me on his schedule.”

Delaney’s interest perked. If they knew what he had in store, then it would be easier to stop him. “That’s good news, right?”

Jack grunted. “You’d think, but it’s not.”

She took a deep breath and absorbed the chiseled masculine beauty of his face, committing it to memory…just in case. “Tell me. I need to know everything.”

Rico and Tony were still too far away to overhear their conversation. Not that they seemed concerned one way or the other. The two men hadn’t bothered to keep them apart. They mustn’t care whether Jack told Delaney their idea. There could be only one reason for their cavalier attitude. Her blood chilled.

She considered the possibilities and didn’t like what she came up with. “I take it he has people on the ground prepared to unload the cargo.”

Jack nodded. “Yes, and I’m expendable. I have been since you announced that your
family
owned a van rental agency and you were taking the most risks. I can’t say that I’m surprised.”

“Expendable…” Delaney’s gut clenched as she recalled the same word bantered about in McMillan’s office. She looked at Jack and her heart actually ached with the thought of losing him.

“After he gets rid of me, I’m afraid you won’t be far behind.” Jack reached for her, his palm enveloping her hand. His thumb brushed her knuckles, soothing her nerves as no other balm could. “Listen, I won’t let him take you. I plan to jump him before we land. If anything happens to me, fight like hell to get away from this bastard.”

“Jack, don’t talk like that. Nothing is going to happen to you as long as you don’t do anything stupid.”

He squeezed her hand until it bordered on pain. “Promise me, Delaney. Promise me that you won’t let him touch you.”

She gulped, tears springing suddenly to her eyes. “I promise.” And she wouldn’t let anything happen to Jack, either.

“Good.” Jack gave her hand one final squeeze, then released her. “Now listen up. Here’s what I know. When we get to Phoenix, Rico is going to have his men unload the cargo. He plans to take you and the munitions with him when he leaves.”

“You said he considered you expendable. What does he plan to do to you?”

Jack laughed, the sound pain-filled. “I’m going to be here when the feds arrive. He thinks I’ll be booked for aiding and abetting.”

Delaney’s gaze moved to Rico, who actually had the gall to wave at her. “So he plans to feed you to the lions.”

“I’d say that about covers it. My guess is he’ll shoot me first.”

She glared at the gunrunner, imagining various scenarios that would allow her to unman him. “What does he intend to do with me after he gets the vans?”

Delaney looked at Jack and froze. The pain that was there in his face only moments ago had been replaced by rage. “I won’t let him have you.”

“Please, let me handle it. I mean it, Jack. We have people in place once we get to Phoenix. They were there to follow us and make sure the van pickup went smoothly. They may not be expecting Rico, but they won’t let him get away. I’m trying to formulate a way to contact them ahead of time.”

“Have you come up with anything yet?” Jack asked, knowing full well that she hadn’t.

“No, but I will. I always do.”

“Remember what I said, Delaney. I won’t let him take you. Not as long as I have breath left in my lungs.”

She sighed. “He won’t. Just don’t go getting yourself hurt or killed.”

“You know me,” he said, his lip curling in what she was sure was supposed to be a smile, but didn’t quite make it.

Delaney stood, their eyes met one last time. “Jack, one more thing.”

“Yes.”

“Do you think Rico was lying about loading the arsenal onto the plane?” Not that it mattered, because it wouldn’t change their current situation, but Delaney wanted to know their chances of making it onto the ground alive.

Jack washed a hand over his face. “I don’t know. I saw them load something, but Rico is a damn good liar. One of the best I’ve ever encountered. He’s also one of the most ruthless, but he doesn’t strike me as suicidal.”

“So I take it that’s a yes.”

He nodded. “Watch your back.”

“You, too.”

Rico came strolling up the aisle. “I trust you both have had time to say your goodbyes.”

Delaney smirked. “Now why would we do that?”

His gaze hardened as he looked at Jack. “You did tell her what I told you. Right?”

“Verbatim.”

“So why is she so chipper?”

Delaney chortled. “Haven’t you ever heard that all flight attendants are hired for their sunny dispositions?”

“No.” Rico jerked his head around. “And even if I had, I don’t think you’d fall in to that category.”

“Ouch! That hurts me here.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “Just goes to show what you know.” Delaney walked back to the galley to retrieve her cart for a final drink service. She shoved her hands into her pockets so Rico couldn’t see them tremble.

She had made it two rows into her service when Delaney saw Tony head to the back galley where Barbie worked. Delaney couldn’t seem to catch her breath as she watched Tony pull the curtain aside, exposing the back galley to everyone’s line of sight.

Her heart thudded in her chest as he loomed over the flight attendant. Delaney couldn’t hear what they were saying. Suddenly, Barbie grinned a “ya’ll come on in” kind of greeting. She glanced at Delaney and winked before pulling the curtain closed.

She’d lost it. There was no other explanation for Barbie’s bizarre behavior.

Delaney had to do something. She couldn’t allow Tony to possibly hurt one of her crew members. Jeremy was still serving drinks, blissfully unaware of the unfolding situation. She set the brake on her trolley and squeezed past it, determined to stop Tony by any means necessary.

Rico stepped out from a seat, stopping her short.

“Get out of my way,” Delaney warned, not bothering to consider the consequences.