16 Taking Eve (13 page)

“I’ll tell you what’s happening. We’re going to get you to that hospital in San Juan and have you examined and start having you treated. Then, if Eve hasn’t shown up, and Venable hasn’t got a clue, I’ll leave you and go find her.”

“Go now.” Her eyes flew open. “I’ll follow you as soon as I can. You know that’s what we both want you to do. She’s the only one who is important.”

“Not quite.” He held up his hand as she opened her lips to protest. “Though I may not show it all the time, you do have some importance to me.”

“I know you love me.” She added simply, “But I’m not Eve. It’s not your fault that you have problems seeing anyone but her in the scheme of things. I feel the same way.” She moistened her lips. “Look, I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll let you drop me off at that hospital in San Juan, but then you leave immediately, the minute they tell you that I’m not going to die or do anything else stupid.”

He smiled faintly. “Dying isn’t usually described as being stupid.”

“I won’t die.” Her hand clenched on the sheet. “But they may not let me out of that hospital as quickly as I’d like. So you’ve got to go on and see what happened to Eve. Tell me you’ll do it.”

He was silent a moment before he shrugged. “You know I‘ll do it. No one can accuse me of not being callous and self-centered.”

“You’re not callous.” She said quietly, “And if being self-centered means you’re focused on Eve, then I wouldn’t have you any other way. Now go away and see if you can find out anything about that air ambulance that’s supposed to take me out of here. I hate lying in this bed.”

“No, you want to jump up and run over all of us to get to Eve.” He bent down and brushed his lips on her forehead. “I’ll get you to San Juan as fast as I can. But I think after I check, I’ll go after Caleb and see if he’s found out anything.”

“I expected that.” She closed her eyes. “So much alike. You’re both warriors…”

“We’re nothing alike,” he said as he headed for the door. “There’s no one on earth like Seth Caleb. He’s a throwback.”

She couldn’t deny that when she had often seen that streak of barbarism in Caleb. “He’s also a hunter, and you wouldn’t be a cop if that weren’t in your makeup. And you’re not that tame yourself, Joe.”

He didn’t answer, and she realized that he had left the room.

Keep calm. Relax. She was so damn weak. Emotional and physical tension would make the healing process slower, and she must get well. She had to get to Eve.

Eve …

*   *   *

DAMMIT, THE BASTARD HAD GOTTEN
away.

Caleb felt the anger tear through him as he looked out to sea. It was too late. He probably hadn’t had a chance to get the son of a bitch. He’d made his choice to either go after the shooter or try to save Jane.

There hadn’t really been a choice. He would not give up Jane.

But it didn’t stop the rage. The blood was pounding through his body, and he could feel the throbbing of the vein in his temple.

Not good.

He had to regain control before he saw Jane again. She was wary of the savage thread that was an integral part of his character. Even if that savagery had been instigated by the attack on her.

Caleb lifted his head as he heard the sound of the plane coming in from the south.

The air ambulance, he thought as he whirled away from the small inlet. It was about time. It had been less than forty-five minutes since he’d left Jane, but it had seemed longer.

He started to run toward the airfield. No use going back to the animal hospital. He’d meet them at the airfield. Maybe by that time, he’d be under control.

Run.

Use every muscle, every breath.

Block out the bloodlust …

CHAPTER

6

THE SMALL AIR AMBULANCE WAS
taxiing toward the hangar when Caleb came over the hill.

No sign of a vehicle or van yet.

Good.

He was almost calm enough to act civilized. Just a little more time, and he would—

“Where have you been?”

Caleb stopped and slowly turned toward the man who had come out of the rain forest.

Quinn.

He stiffened and felt the familiar wariness sweep through him that any encounter with Joe Quinn ignited. Quinn was always a threat both because of his basic character and his position in Jane’s life. He drew a deep breath. “I’ve been looking for the shooter. What do you think I’ve been doing?”

“There’s never any way of knowing. And did you find him?”

“No.” He started down the road toward the aircraft. “He had a speedboat drawn up onshore in an inlet a couple miles from the airfield. I saw where he pushed off. He didn’t waste any time after he shot Jane.”

“How did you know about the inlet?”

He shrugged. “I went to the hangar where he took his shot and started tracking him.”

“On these hard dirt roads and the rain forest? Impressive.”

“Not really. But I am good at it.”

“I bet you are,” Joe murmured.

“Yes, you can bet on it.” He met Joe’s eyes. “Just as I can bet that you chose to come here for the same reason I did. You needed a start, and you thought that the hangar would furnish you with something to go on.”

“I was actually hoping to use your ‘talent’ to help me track him. I thought it would save time.”

“Use me?”

“You don’t like the word? Yes, I’ll use you, Caleb. I don’t like the idea of you with Jane. You’re not only unstable, you’re uncanny as hell. It’s her choice, but I might as well get something out of this.” He smiled without mirth. “Now, did you find anything at that inlet that I can use to get to the bottom of this?”

“No.”

“Are you lying to me?”

He glanced back over his shoulder. “It’s always a possibility, but as it happens I’m telling the truth.” He suddenly smiled. “But you made the question too specific. It gave me an out.”

“Specific.”

“I didn’t find anything at the inlet. But I found something at the hangar. They have security cameras, Quinn.”

“What?”

“I thought that would interest you.” He pulled out a security video disk from his jacket pocket. “We just might get a break.”

Joe took at step closer and held out his hand. “Give it to me.”

Caleb stepped back. “I don’t think so. You don’t like to share.”

“Give it to me, Caleb.” Joe’s voice was soft but laden with menace.

“Don’t push me, Quinn.” Caleb said. “You don’t want to do that.”

“The hell I don’t. I’m mad and I’m scared and the two women I love may be targets of some creep who doesn’t give a damn how wonderful they are. I’ll push the world off its axis if I need to do it.”

Caleb hadn’t expected Quinn to admit to that vulnerability. The bastard was tough as nails. But maybe he should have expected it. Every man had a weakness, and Eve and Jane were clearly Quinn’s. “I can see dire consequences if you interfere with gravity. Maybe we can work out a way to accommodate both of us.”

“I don’t want to accommodate you. You’re interfering with a police investigation.”

“That’s true, but I’m sure you don’t have jurisdiction down here.” He added recklessly, “And I think you know I don’t give a damn about your precious law if it gets in my way.”

“Give me that security disk.”

“I plan on doing that. You have the contacts to identify anyone the security camera picked up. I could do it eventually, but it would take me more time.”

Joe held out his hand again.

“No, a promise. You get in touch with me the minute you identify this bastard.”

“You’d trust me?”

“If you gave your word. You’re one of those rare individuals who actually value their word. Jane wouldn’t feel as she does about you if you weren’t straight.” He gazed directly into Joe’s eyes. “Promise me.”

Joe hesitated, then shrugged. “I promise. If you don’t try to kill him before I get to him.”

“I never ‘try’ to kill anyone.” He handed him the disk. “And I’m too irritated at what happened to Jane to not concentrate on finality. He shouldn’t have made that clumsy attempt on someone who is mine.”

“You arrogant son of a bitch. Jane doesn’t belong to anyone but herself.”

“Doesn’t she?” He pretended to think about it. “You might be right, but then you might not. You don’t really know, do you? Possession is so complicated. The nuances are—” He broke off as he saw the veterinary van come around the bend in the road. “At any rate, I won’t do any permanent damage to him until I find out all the answers. Is that good enough for you?” He didn’t wait for an answer as his pace increased as he walked toward the van. “But I warn you, I’m not going to wait around for you to make your move.”

He heard a muttered curse from behind him, but his attention was now focused on the van that had pulled up before the air ambulance.

He started running again as the van’s doors opened. Devon jumped down and headed for the plane. A moment later, the stretcher bearing Jane was being lifted from the vehicle.

He felt the rage that he’d managed to control once more stinging him as he was again reminded of her helplessness. That sniper might not have taken her life, but he had temporarily taken her strength. From the moment he had met Jane, he had been aware of her endurance and strength, and it had struck a chord in him that was almost as powerful as the basic sexual attraction that had drawn him. He had known she could fight him in any arena, and it had excited him. He had tried to keep himself from looking beyond that excitement and that strange sense of possession that it brought with it.

Or wondering if there was anything beyond it at all. He’d had many women, and none of them had stirred him the way Jane did. He had not been able either to walk away or let her go. What he was feeling now was confusing, and he had felt not only anger but something deeper, stranger, when he had thought she might be dying. He refused to examine that emotion more closely. It was foreign and far too dangerous.

Better to embrace the rage and the possessiveness.

Yes, he could deal with those emotions. Protectiveness was a natural result of thinking of Jane as belonging to him. And rage? Rage was his brother, the impetus that had driven him, saved him, defined him.

And might someday destroy him.

But not now. He could use it and let it use him to find the enemy.

Jane’s enemy. Caleb’s enemy. They had become one in his mind, as Jane was becoming inexorably interwoven with him in his thoughts.

He rejected the idea as soon as he recognized it. Too close. Veer away. Obey the boundaries.

*   *   *

“JANE.”

She opened her eyes to see Seth Caleb bending over the stretcher. “Hi,” she said drowsily. “I was wondering if you’d … get here.”

“You shouldn’t have wondered.” He was smiling. “Expect it.”

“Not … true. I can’t expect … anything of … you.” She tried to pull her thoughts together. “I’m blurry. Devon insisted on giving me another sedative to get me through the trip. Why weren’t—that’s right, you went after that sniper. Did you get him?”

“No, he had a boat hidden at an inlet near here.” He took her hand. “But don’t worry, I’ll find him.”

“I’m not worried. I think this drug is a mood elev … a happy pill. Even you’re looking completely unthreatening.”

“I’m not a threat to you.”

“Yes, you are.” Even now, through the warm haze, she could feel the swirling danger that was Seth Caleb. His hand holding her own was strong and could have been comforting, but it was not. She could feel the power and the magnetism drawing her, absorbing her. Ordinarily, she would have backed away or ignored it, but at this moment she was open, accepting … welcoming the invasion. “But that’s okay. It doesn’t matter.”

“How complacent. You must really be out of it.” His thumb was moving back and forth on her inner wrist. “I don’t know if I like not mattering.”

“Too bad.” She had a sudden thought. “Where’s Joe? He was going to find you.”

“He’s right behind me. I imagine he’s going with you on the air ambulance.”

“You’re not going?”

“I’m flying my own plane. You can’t get rid of me, Jane.”

“I don’t want to get rid of you. Or maybe I do. I’m confused right now.” She was staring dreamily at him. “You’re a truly beautiful man, Caleb. Do you know that? I’d like to paint you.”

“It can be arranged. But I’m not cheap.”

“You’re joking? I’m having trouble telling … It probably wouldn’t be a good idea anyway. I don’t know if anyone could manage to do … the fire.”

“What fire?”

“All around you … Flame and darkness. Mostly … flame.” She wanted to reach out and touch those flames, the urge was almost irresistible. How would it feel? How would
he
feel?

“I see.”

“But it doesn’t interfere with how beautiful…” She couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer. “Maybe I can … paint you…”

“If I don’t burn you.”

“Yes, but I don’t think you…”

She was asleep.

*   *   *

CALEB WATCHED THE AIR AMBULANCE
take off before he turned and headed toward the Gulfstream parked across the tarmac.

“Wait for me.”

He turned to see Margaret running toward him, her ponytail flying, her cheeks flushed, a knapsack on her back. She looked like a young girl running away from home, he thought.

His brows lifted in surprise. “I thought you were going with Jane on the air ambulance.”

“I opted out at the last minute before they took off.”

“Why?”

She fell into step with him. “I decided to go with you.”

“And may I ask why I’m so honored?”

“It will cause me less trouble.” She grinned. “And Devon less headaches. Puerto Rico has fairly strict immigration laws.”

“And?”

“I have no papers.” She corrected, “Well, that’s not true. I have papers, but they’re forged and won’t bear close scrutiny. Devon wasn’t about to look too closely, but I can’t count on anyone in a bureaucracy being as lenient. They’d probably turn me over to Homeland Security.”

“Why don’t you have papers?”

She shrugged. “I just don’t. You don’t really care, do you?”

“I’m curious.”

She just looked at him.

“And what makes you think I won’t turn you over to Homeland Security?”