Authors: Lisa Eugene
It was only when Gabe tugged at her arm and yelled at her to go, that she blinked rapidly and followed quickly into step beside him, weaving through a crowd running amuck with panic. They’d reached the outer door when he cursed vividly and spun around. She didn’t know what had drawn his attention, but he pushed her roughly towards the car and ordered her to run. She stumbled briefly, but managed to stay upright.
She saw him draw his gun just as she took off racing, pumping her numb legs as fast as they could propel her. The chaotic drum of her heart smashed against a chest gasping for a deep breath of air. Maggie reached the vehicle and collapsed to her knees beside the passenger door, finally letting in some much needed oxygen. Sirens rang in her ears while screams and wails could still be heard droning from the building in one long lamentable melody. She thought she heard shots fired but couldn’t be sure above the cacophony of sounds. She exhaled sharply when Gabe ran up beside her. His powerful arms lifted her upright, pulled the door open, and scooted her into the leather seat. Quickly he circled the car and jumped behind the wheel, and minutes later they were screeching past the large red exit sign of the Chester County Airport.
“They’re dead?” Maggie knew there was no question, but her brain still needed the confirmation. She watched Gabe’s tight profile as he focused on the road, trying to avoid the oncoming rush of emergency vehicles. Behind them the airport was starting their lock down procedures, assuming the worse. He gave her a quick glance then refocused his attention on traffic. His strong fingers reached out to softly squeeze her bare thigh, their warmth providing a mild comfort.
“I’m afraid so, Maggie.” His voice was gentler than she’d expected considering the harsh lines of his face. She nodded and blinked, feeling the tears gather on her lashes but would not allow them to fall. There was no doubt Cane Howard was behind this. Dr. Rollins. Those poor people. All dead. Blistering anger wove itself into her horror and grief. She needed to think. The man had to be stopped.
That evening back at the house, when Gabe told her of his plans to visit Cane Howard’s corporate headquarters just outside of the city, she voiced no objection. She would not allow herself to wallow in fear and inertia. The sooner they had proof of his criminal activities, the sooner they could stop the atrocities he perpetrated. It had taken a while for her to calm down. And, after much persuasion from Gabe, she decided not to go directly to the police with what they knew. She’d watched the news for a bit after they’d gotten back to the house. The cause of the crash was reported as unknown, but Maggie knew who was responsible. She wondered about the fate of the Sonic Scalpel, and all the people who would suffer from its loss. She knew the Rollinses had a team of scientist and doctors working under them. Perhaps they could somehow resume her research and fulfill her life’s dream. They were already so close. She felt like a live wire sparking with emotion, fervently needing somewhere to direct her restless energy.
“I’m coming with you,” she declared. This time she watched his jaw harden and his eyes immediately darkened in protest. They’d just finished an elaborate dinner that Cyril and Ronnie had surprised them with. Maggie’s conscience cringed because she’d hardly tasted it. Even now, with a stomach heavy with dread, the meal felt like an anchor had dropped into her gut. She sat across from Gabe at an absurdly long rectangular dinner table that had been formally set by Ronnie. A small candelabra sat lit between them, its glowing flames dancing in the air.
“Absolutely not. You can stay here with Cyril and Ronnie.” He shook his head, wiping his lips with his damask dinner napkin.
“I want to help.”
His gaze met hers across the table, his focus steady. “I don’t need help. It’s too dangerous for you.”
“Too dangerous?” Her voice rose in anger. “It can’t be any more dangerous than what I’ve already been through.”
She thought she saw him visibly wince, then something like guilt slid across his face, mellowing his steely expression.
“I can’t have you in harm’s way again, Maggie. You said it yourself. It’s like going into the lion’s den.”
She tossed down her napkin and folded her fingers on the table. She didn’t know how to make him understand. “I
need
to help. After what happened to Dr. Rollins, I feel like I can’t sit back and let Cane Howard do as he wishes. He’s an evil man. I want to take an active part in seeing that justice is served.”
He stared silently then rubbed the back of his neck. His words came slow and measured. “Justice. That’s an ambiguous term. But, I understand.”
“It’s such a tragedy what happened to Dr. Rollins. I feel like all of humanity suffered a great loss.” Her voice hitched with emotion. “I need to help rectify this in some way.”
A warning crept into his tone. “Okay.
But—”
He leveled a finger directly at her when she let out a breath of relief. “—you stay in the car. I don’t want you anywhere near his office.”
She nodded solemnly. Although she was glad he’d agreed to let her go, she was not deluding herself. She did not underestimate the danger of trying to break into Cane’s office. Gabe had told her of the men awaiting them at the airport today. The only thing that had saved them was the bedlam that had ensued after the crash. They’d been able to disappear in the melee. They were aggressively being sought after, and God knew what would happen if they were ever captured. The meager contents of her stomach threatened to spill at the thought.
“We go tomorrow.”
She sputtered in surprise. “Tomorrow? So soon?”
He nodded. “Yes. After what occurred today he’d expect us to go into hiding, to lay low for a while and figure out our next step. He wouldn’t be expecting anything so soon.”
She caught her bottom lip on the edge of her teeth then started tentatively. “Wh…what is our next step now that the Rollinses are dead?”
“Once we get proof of Cane’s clandestine activities, then we can turn him in.”
She gnawed gently on her captured lip then added softly, “Will you get arrested for stealing the data?”
He sighed. “My father had some contacts in the CIA that my family keeps in touch with from time to time. I think I can make a fair trade—my immunity for information about Cane Howard. They’ll be all over this.”
She felt the worry that had rooted in her belly finally wither away. She pushed around a piece of lettuce on her plate, curiosity taking the place of her worry.
CIA? Don’t ask. It’s none of your business. Not relevant. Nope. Couldn’t care less.
“How did your father know people in the CIA?”
Nosy witch! He’s gonna explode. Now you’ve done it. The man has a right to his privacy.
She hated when she had to explain herself to herself, but she mentally scoffed,
Just genuinely curious! Anyone would be.
Liar!
Her eyes engaged his, searching for anger, and expecting a rebuff. She felt she needed to explain to him too. “I’m not trying to get to know you or anything. I’m just curious.”
She was surprised when the corner of his lips turned up in a half smile.
“My family does some work for the military. My father often had to consult with some high ranking government officials.”
She dove in, ignoring the warning voice bellowing,
Mind your damn business!
“What kind of work does your family do?”
He gave a nonchalant shrug of his wide shoulders, but she noticed his gaze shift about the room. “This and that.”
Ha! Told you so!
She returned to the interesting lettuce on her plate. This man was such an enigma. He was a loner. She’d originally assumed he hadn’t had any family, but had started to wonder if he secluded himself by choice. There’d apparently been a time when they’d been very close, a time when they frequented this property. He never really spoke of his brother, but gave snatches of a relationship with his father. She wondered again at the circumstances surrounding his father’s death.
Don’t even go there!
She wouldn’t. She knew for sure that would set him off. The pain that she’d seen smoking his eyes yesterday had been staggering.
“Are you the only girl, Maggie? You only mentioned you had brothers.”
The sound of his deep baritone jerked her from her musings, but it was the question that creased her forehead with shock.
He smiled widely and the jarring affect had her toes curling. A wavy lock hung over his forehead. His dimpled chin gave his face a sexy ruggedness that was viscerally compelling.
So freaking hot
. She shook her head to settle her thoughts.
“I’m not trying to get to know you or anything. I’m just curious.” He winked, and they shared a grin.
“Glad you cleared that up.
You
asking me a personal question? I thought you might be catching a fever or something,” she droned caustically.
He chuckled, the sound vibrating down the length of her back. His dark eyes held hers. The orange flames from the candelabra flickered in their centers, casting a devilish glint. He leaned forward, his gaze slowly traveling to her unbound breasts then up to her face.
“But I do have a fever. It’s for you. You make my blood boil. Being inside you is fucking unbelievable.”
Oh. My. God…Had someone raised the temperature in the room?
She immediately broke out in a sweat, hot beads bubbling all over her skin. She groaned inwardly, desire flooding every pore in her body. Her empty womb contracted with need. Would it be bad dinner etiquette if she went over to him, pulled down his pants, exposed that gloriously curved cock, and rode him like a bronco in the chair? Maggie’s face flooded with color.
Where were these crazy thoughts coming from?
Must be a result of all the stress today.
Her mind needed a diversion, needed to escape to that wondrous oblivion of pleasure. She couldn’t see herself being that spontaneous though. Besides, the only way to get to him would be to crawl over this ridiculously long table because it would take, like, a half hour to walk around it. And she wasn’t the most agile individual. With her luck she’d probably slip and fall on the polished wood of the table top or have a piece of clothing catch fire from the candelabra.
Yup.
That would so not be sexy.
How had her thoughts turned so lascivious? Hadn’t he asked her a question before their conversation got derailed? Ah, yes.
“I have three brothers.” She smirked, thinking of them. “They are all crazy!” She looked up suddenly, daring him to speak his thoughts.
He laughed and raised both palms. “I didn’t say a word!”
She shot him a feigned look of annoyance, and then resumed her narrative. “William, Peter, and Frank. They’re all here in New York.”
“Are they in the medical field too?”
She nodded. “All gynecologists.”
A smile played on his lips, and he looked genuinely befuddled then amused. “Family dinners must be a riot at your house.”
She grinned. “You have no idea. They should have been comedians instead.”
Mirth danced in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, seeming to change his mind. “Where do you fall in birth order?” he asked at length.
“Youngest.”
“I see.” He nodded, and his teasing tone provoked a sharp glance.
“You see what?”
His palms again shot up defensively, but his eyes twinkled. He regarded her with boyish innocence. “I didn’t say anything. Mom and Dad? You seem close to them.” He motioned for her to continue when she stalled.
“Married forty years. Still live in Brooklyn. I visit about once a month.”
She continued enlightening him about her family and relating stories about growing up in Brooklyn. Every time she thought to stop, he’d nod for her to continue. Maggie didn’t know what to make of his sudden ‘curiosity’. But she did enjoy just speaking leisurely about her life and family, and she tried desperately not to read into his interest. It was a welcome distraction from the gloom and sense of hopelessness that had settled over her like a dingy coat since leaving the airport.
It was late when they finished dinner. Maggie took her second shower since getting home, hoping to wash away some of her tension. When done, she cleaned the bathroom to a sparkling perfection. If she could affect order in her environment, then she could affect order in her head. She could stop reliving the bright explosion of color from the crash. Her mind kept conjuring the orange-red flames and the billowing black clouds. The news reported that there’d been a total of ten people on the craft. She took a deep soundless breath, saying a silent prayer for the people who’d lost their lives, and mourning Victoria Rollins, a woman she hardly knew. She used the corner of the towel wrapped around her body to absorb the stubborn well of tears. Gabe was sitting on the bed, and upon seeing her enter the room, rose and enfolded her into his strong arms. His lips brushed across her forehead, and he cradled her head on his broad chest. A solitary lamp lit the large bedroom, challenging the darkness with its fledgling light, and the sorrow that filled the air seemed to coerce an eerie quiet.
When the steady beeping started on the computer, Maggie found herself pulling away and looking to Gabe for confirmation that she wasn’t hallucinating. She saw a similar sentiment expressed in his eyes. But when the intermittent bleeps continued, they both raced to the computer in the alcove.
IS ANYONE THERE? IS ANYONE THERE? IS ANYONE THERE? IS ANYONE THERE? IS ANYONE THERE? IS ANYONE THERE?
Gabe: WHO IS THIS?
IT’S ME, VICTORIA ROLLINS. THANK GOD I GOT YOU!!! SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAS HAPPENED!!!
Gabe: THE PLANE CRASHED. DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED?
Victoria: OH GOD, MY HUSBAND, PAUL. HE KNEW! HE KNEW SOMEHOW! HE KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO MEET ME AT THE AIRPORT AND RETURN THE DATA. HE DELIBERATELY LOCKED ME IN THE ROOM AND MADE ME MISS THE PLANE. HE PLANNED ON MEETING YOU BY HIMSELF.
Maggie’s eyes grew wide and round as she read the information Dr. Rollins conveyed. She couldn’t believe the woman was alive. A wave of elation rushed over her like a mighty squall crashing against stones. It appeared her husband, in his deceit, had unknowingly been her savior. She watched Gabe’s fingers attack the keyboard.