Read Stolen Vengeance: Slye Temp book 6 Online
Authors: Dianna Love
Chapter 50
Valene packed her T-bird trunk with a blanket, food, iPod and candles. The FBI had helped her get her car out of impoundment after she’d spent days giving them everything they asked for, right down to working with an artist on a rendering of Rikker’s face. She’d also agreed to be a witness for the trials of Navarro and Perdido.
Charlie had been found dead in his apartment.
A bullet in each eye.
She drove to El Matador beach and hiked down to the sand, loaded down with all she needed. Staying alone in her apartment had been difficult. She couldn’t sleep if it was noisy or if it was quiet. Nothing worked.
But she’d been sleeping soundly in their cove.
Her
cove.
No one had told her a word about Dingo. The FBI said it was confidential information. No one would give her a number for Nick, the Italian guy who was Dingo’s friend. The one who’d helped her get the scroll from its hiding place and into her purse.
That guy had asked a lot of questions before he got the scroll for her, but he’d given her no information.
Every door she tried to open slammed shut.
Her snooping too far had almost gotten Dingo killed in the past. Lesson learned. She would not even type his name into her laptop.
It was time to let it go. Navarro and his people were going away for a long time, as was Perdido.
She put out her spread and had some cheese and wine, but didn’t listen to the music this time. The ocean put her to sleep.
Until something–a sound–brought her awake so fast she jerked upright.
A dark figure stood down the beach, silhouetted by the early morning glow across the water. No sunshine yet.
This was usually her favorite time, but she was too shocked to appreciate the setting.
He stepped forward slowly and kept coming until he knelt and kissed her.
It wasn’t a dream. Dingo was here.
She hugged him to her and trembled. “I thought–”
“I know,” he said. “That you’d never see me again.”
Words took too much effort, so she let him hold her and kiss her until he was sitting and she was in his lap. They stayed that way for long quiet moments. She nuzzled his neck, kissing him everywhere she could reach without moving out of his arms.
Catching her chin with his fingers, he drew her face away just enough for them to see each other. He said, “I’m sorry I was so distant before and left without telling you.”
She started, “It’s okay–”
“No, it’s not. If you had done that to me, I’d have lost my mind. I had some time to think while I was gone.”
“Where’d you go?”
“I spent some of it locked up.”
“You’re kidding. They aren’t hanging that killing on you. I told the FBI–”
“I know, love. I heard about it.”
Her skin tingled. He called her love.
Being stupid again, Valene
?
Dingo was stroking her hair, studying her as if he needed to memorize her before he left again.
That took care of the stupids. She asked, “What happened?”
“The people I work for are my best friends and–”
“That woman you were talking to?”
“Yes. Sabrina.”
Her skin tingled more. Dingo had just shared the name of someone Valene doubted he would have normally told her. She was afraid to ask about it, so she said, “Uh huh.”
“Sabrina spent a lot of time getting into people’s faces and putting pressure in the right areas. She got me out yesterday.”
Valene smiled. “And you came to see me today. That’s so sweet.”
“Actually, I would have been here yesterday but I owed Sabrina a proper debriefing.” He raised one eyebrow. “Speaking of debriefings, you owe me one too. Nick said you returned the scroll to the pope. Why’d you let me think you gave Rikker the real one?”
Crap.
Did he think she’d held back on him again? “There were so many people around, I didn’t know who I could trust. By that time I was afraid the wrong person would overhear if I said I’d hidden the real one. To be honest, when Nick got me the meeting with the Pope, I’d gone there thinking I would offer him a trade if he could pull some strings to get you released.” She shook her head hard. “But when I sat down in front of him, I knew I couldn’t ask him to trade for something that was not mine to barter with, so ... I’m sorry, Dingo. Maybe you would have gotten out sooner and I swear I wasn’t trying to hide anything from you. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust you--”
“Hey, stop. I don’t think that.” He stroked her face. “I didn’t care about the scroll really, but I knew you did. I’d just been worried about making sure you would not be accused of any wrongdoing so you’d be free to take care of your dad. Which brings me back to the other reason I had to see Sabrina yesterday. I had to tell her I’m taking the time off she’s been harping at me to take.”
Valene fought to find the right words and finally gave up. Better to speak her mind. “What are you going to do with those days?”
“That depends.”
She would not allow him to back away from her again with the excuse that he put her at risk. “Argh! You have got to stop taking responsibility for everyone. I’m the reason I was in danger, not you.”
“Not true.”
She needed to convince him that he could be with her even if only on occasion. She’d suffer through the alone time if she knew he was coming back. “Okay, yes, your job is dangerous, but I’ve learned my lesson about being careful when I research and listening to my instincts when they try to tell me my client is not who he seems to be. I’ve also learned not to dig where I shouldn’t. I haven’t even typed your name into a computer. Honest. Please don’t let the past dictate the future.”
“You’re not the only who has to learn from the past. I made mistakes and–”
She shook her head. “This sounds like we’re back to maybe, possibly, don’t know, can’t tell you–”
He kissed her, tenderly at first, but then it turned hot with the promise of sex. When he pulled back, he said, “Give me a chance to explain. I’d planned to spend my time off here with you. And I’d like to meet your dad if he’s able to have visitors.”
“Really?” Could she sound any more like a pitiful little kid?
“As I said, all that
depends
on whether you really meant it when you said–”
“What? When I said what?” she demanded.
“You wanted to keep me.”
She hugged him. “I might not know you, but you should know
me
by now and that if I say I’m keeping you, I mean it. You’re mine, Dingo Paddock, forever. Do you hear me?” She unfolded herself from his lap and held his face so that she could let her forehead touch his. “Tell me you really mean this.”
He cupped her face. “I’ve never said this to any woman, but I love you, Valene. I love you so much it scares me, but if you’ll hold my hand I’m yours.”
“Good. Just don’t ever leave me without saying goodbye again.”
“Never. I’d rather cut off an arm than hurt you, and I’m sorry I did before. I just ... still have a hard time worrying about the danger I might bring to your door.”
“I’m in danger any time I walk outside that door, regardless. You know I’m trained, but you can teach me more about how to watch for threats, and you can teach me about the dangers inherent in my research. I’ll add security cameras and I’ll never blow you off again when you tell me there’s a problem. I’ll be
safer
with you in my life.”
“I’ll do everything I can to make sure you’re safe. And I’ll do my best to make you happy, but you should know up front, I have no idea how to be in a long-term relationship.”
She whispered, “I never realized what you went through as a kid.”
Dingo shrugged. “That’s life.”
That riled her up. She grabbed his cheeks. “That is
not
life. Not the way we’re going to live it. I will never let you go. So get used to belonging to me because I’m a possessive bitch who does not share. You’d better think twice about pissing me off if you expect to live in any kind of peace.” She stopped. “What are you smiling about?”
He started laughing and hugged her to him. “I don’t want to live in peace. I like how you destroyed my calm. The way you took my world and turned it upside down. And I love when you get pissed at me.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Absolutely. Crazy about you. The best part of pissing you off is makeup sex. You make love with as much passion as you fight.”
She smiled again. “I’ll make you pay.”
“I sure as hell hope so.” Then he kissed her and she felt his heart touch hers.
She couldn’t believe he was here with her. But she needed him to know he wasn’t going to be trapped. She said, “I know your work is in Atlanta, but just please call me sometimes while you’re gone so that I’ll know you’re okay.”
“Babe, you don’t understand. I’m moving in with you and it’s not going to be in that crummy apartment. I’ve never had a home, but we’ll make one and I’ll call you every day or you’ll know why I can’t. And you’re going to meet the people on my team, my best friends. I want you to go to a wedding with me in Miami next week.”
“Whose?”
“My friends Josh and Trish.” He kissed her cheeks and her lips. “That will be good practice.”
“For traveling together?” She smiled.
“For a wedding.” He stared at her with a hint of fear, but he added, “How much do you want to keep me?”
“If that’s a question, you’re going to have to do a better job.”
That threw him off for a moment, but Dingo had that look in his eye. The one she saw when he came for her when Rikker had her. He said, “Will you marry me?”
Telling her he loved her was enough. She didn’t need him to ask her to marry him. But now she understood that he needed to hear her answer. To know that he would always be loved and wanted.
“Yes, Dingo Paddock, I will marry you and love you forever.”
“I love you, babe.”
“I love you more.”
“Not possible.”
She started laughing. “We’ll see. I’m going to plan a wedding that’ll make you crazy.”
He sighed. “I was worried about that.”
She nipped his lips. “But look at all the makeup sex we’ll have while planning it.”
Flipping her onto her back, he said, “You should start paying now.”
The End.
FATAL PROMISE
Slye Temp Book 7
Sabrina and Gage’s story
Coming in 2016. Be sure to sign up for Dianna’s newsletter at her website –
www.AuthorDiannaLove.com
– to receive news of the release date for Fatal Promise, special book deals, events and…information on the new series that will spin off this one.
Yes, many of your favorite Slye Temp characters will be around in the new series. More on all of that coming soon.
Sign up for Dianna’s newsletter at
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Dear Reader,
Dingo has been with me for a long time. I had to really search to find a woman who deserved him and to show him that he was worth keeping. Valene is a woman inside many of us who is willing to take on the world for those she loves. She doesn’t love lightly and Dingo needed someone who wouldn’t let any flaw stop her from loving him.
I hope you enjoyed these two. You’ll see them again in the next story – FATAL PROMISE – which is Sabrina and Gage’s story.
Until then, thank you so much for reading my books and making my life brighter with the wonderful notes you send and the reviews you post.
Visit
http://www.AuthorDiannaLove.com
to find all my books. And please visit me on Facebook at Dianna Love Fan Page and on Dianna Love Street Team where I hope you’ll join the team! To collect free “signed” cover cards, visit
www.KeeperKase.com
If you have a moment to leave a review at the online bookstore, GoodReads, BookLikes, Shelfari or anywhere else I’d really appreciate it.
Dianna
Acknowledgements
Deep appreciation goes to my wonderful husband, Karl, who is my greatest fan, as I am his. In addition to teaching people how to be safe riding motorcycles and three-wheel vehicles, he handles everything imaginable around our home so that I can spend many hours in the cave writing. My world revolves around him.
Cassondra Murray is often my intrepid traveling companion, but she’s invaluable as my first reader. She’s been with me for so long I can’t imagine releasing a book without her input. She sees each story all the way to the end and does an outstanding job helping me keep continuity threads connected and corrected. I’m doubly blessed to have her husband, Steve Doyle, a former Special Forces soldier, who advises me on technical things from weapons selection to brainstorming operational parts of Slye Temp books, and catches important details when he reads the stories.
A special thanks to my long time friend,
USA Today
bestselling author Mary Buckham (
www.MaryBuckham.com
), who I meet with twice a year to brainstorm our books. When not plotting with me to destroy – and save – the world, Mary is hard at work on one of her new
Invisible Recruit
stories.
I would be nowhere without my terrific beta readers who give generously of their time to put fresh eyes on each story. One of my long time friends who became an early reader is Joyce Ann McLaughlin. She sees the books during their “not quite polished” stage and shares her valuable feedback. Her notes are detailed and she’s just as quick to tell me what she loves, which is as important as critiques. Thank fully, Manuella Robinson and Sharon Livingston Griffiths are also familiar with the entire Slye Temp series and step up to read whenever I need it.
Judy Carney is yet one more beta reader when she performs the first of two copy-edit reads, catching things that are hard for me to see after going through the book so many times. She’s made working together a real joy.
I’m always hearing how beautiful my covers are, and I have Kim Killion to thank for designing those, plus creating a wonderful brand! Once I turn the story file over to Jennifer Jakes, she drives out all the gremlins and hands me back my book professionally formatted.
Any mistakes made or adjustments for fiction are my own, because every one who helped me went above and beyond the call to give me the best information.
Thanks also to Leiha Mann, Su Walker and the RBLs for supporting all authors! Love and appreciation goes to my amazing
Dianna Love Street Team
who support me all through the year. If you’re interested in joining my team, just stop by my Facebook group page. If you’d like to contact me, email
cassondraATauthordiannalove.com
or snail mail to Dianna Love, 1029 N. Peachtree Pkwy, Suite 335, Peachtree City, GA 30269