Atomic Beauty (11 page)

Keeping low, she surveyed the area. It was a quiet morning on the island. An occasional boater passed by and waved. She returned the gestures as she pulled out a fishing pole and set up the line on the side of her boat that she'd tossed anchor on. There was no good place to hide, except around the corner from the boathouse.

Erika brushed her hair back from her face and stared for a long moment. It was cool and the water would be frigid. Her head throbbed from her last headache. A rock to her temples would've hurt less.

She hadn't expected Jace to be sitting out in the open waiting, but there was no hint he'd been there and no guarantee he'd show.

The spot where her mother's necklace usually rested itched. She missed the heavy metal chain around her neck, the weight of the locket nestled close to her heart.

She wiped down the boat for fingerprints just in case she didn't make it back. She slipped into her short-sleeved wetsuit, and pulled her facemask over her mouth. She repeated her mantra,
never let them see your weaknesses
, picturing what she'd be doing tonight. Sticking around the area might be interesting. There'd be plenty of fresh seafood and she could use a cold beer when this was done.

When she'd finished putting on her small tank, she slipped into the cold water.

The swim around the island shouldn't take more than ten minutes and would warm her cold limbs. She'd intentionally parked the boat nearby figuring she might need a quick getaway. By the time she swam to the boathouse, her headache began a light tap in her ears.

The last thing she could afford would be to drop again in front of Jace. She still hadn't figured out why he hadn't killed her when he'd the chance.

There was another thing bugging her. After Jace had figured her out, why had he kept on pretending not to know who she was? He'd played the part in that hallway so convincingly she'd almost doubted herself.

Or was this a simple game of cat and mouse? Moves and countermoves?

Erika broke the surface, climbed the post leading to the boathouse and surveyed the area.

No sign of Jace.

Jace had to know Erika would arrive at first light. She pulled her weapon, ready for action, ignoring the blinding pain stiffening her neck as she climbed into the boat house.

A creek sounded from her right. She spun around and saw a dark figure in the corner exactly Jace's build.

She readjusted her aim but said nothing.

“I have something that belongs to you.” He held the necklace into the light on the flat of his palm. His voice was a deep rumble in his chest. Damned if she could stop it from wrapping around her, warming her.

“Toss it over here.” She didn't want to acknowledge her heart's fluttery reaction at hearing his voice. Or how much she missed the feel of his arms around her.

“I know how important it is. I'm sorry I held on to it for so long, I guess it was my only piece of you.” He tossed the peace offering toward her.

She caught it effortlessly, ignoring the chills running up her arm. She didn't want to show her weakness. She didn't want Jace to see how much getting that necklace back meant to her. And maybe she didn't want to admit to herself how much it meant that he'd brought it back.

“Catching that condom so quickly was how I confirmed you weren't in Vancouver for my ability to make good coffee.” He motioned toward her hand. “It was the only crack in your facade.”

Jace would know better than anyone that officers were trained to notice subtlety in everyone around them and especially with their handlers. Catching nearly imperceptible static on a call or the slightest hesitation meant the difference between life and death. Their skills had been honed in the field and their refined instincts kept them in the game.

She held the necklace in her fist, keeping her gaze trained on him. “Now what?”

* * *

“That's up to you.” Jesus, she was a sight for sore eyes. He'd wanted to come clean before, to tell her everything. Once he'd realized who she was, who her father had been, he knew she'd bolt. Jace hadn't appreciated the pile of shit he'd stepped in when he'd accepted the assignment a year ago to terminate Sam Carter. Rogue agents, ruthless killers, millions of dollars at stake. And especially what would happen to the agency if the information leaked. It was a fucking nightmare and all trails led to his boss.

And Jace was about to see if Murdock was dirty.

Erika was skittish. Scare her again and she might disappear. He stabbed his fingers through his hair. How much could he tell her?

He'd been in hiding for a year when she'd waltzed in. So fucking beautiful, he couldn't turn away. He hadn't been completely sure of whom she was until the condom. But she hadn't tried to kill him so he'd danced, too.

Giving up his password had been meant to gain her trust. They could look at the picture files all fuckin' day and wouldn't find anything except the message he'd sent to Murdock. The one that said Jace knew what Jack Nile had done and had proof. All hell was about to break loose for Sanctuary.

“Who's the third partner of CorMeds?” she asked, impatience clipping her tone.

Jace took a step toward her, out of the shadows. “That the only reason you came? To talk about work?”

I'm not here to play games. Start talking or I'm out.”

He stood there staring at her for a long moment. God help him she was beautiful when she was being stubborn. He loved everything about her—especially her imperfections. The healed slashes marking her arms and legs made her even more real to him. She'd been in pain and hadn't been afraid to show it on the outside. Erika was the most real person he'd fuckin' ever met. And he'd been drawn to her the second she walked into that bar.

“The headaches. You've had more, haven't you? And they're getting worse.” She needed medical attention. She'd refused to let him take her to the hospital in Vancouver and he'd known why. She didn't want to leave a trail, not that she would've used her real name anyway.

She took a step back, watching him wearily, and that look of distrust nearly caved his chest. “I got what I came for.”

“No. Don't go.” His hands came up in surrender. “I need you. This meeting could go south any second and you're the only person I trust. We can help each other.”

“You no longer have anything I want.”

That comment scored a direct hit. It had the effect of a physical blow, even though he held his ground firmly.

“I need to know you're okay.”

“Talk to me about Sam Carter,” she countered.

“When this is over, I'll tell you everything I fuckin' know.”

Her gaze shifted from him to the water. All she had to do was pull her mask down and Jace figured she could disappear into its depths in two seconds.

“Time's up, Jace.”

“Don't do it. I'll tell you what you want to know.” He'd wanted to know how deep Murdock was involved before she told Erika everything.

“Then you need to talk. Who is Sam Carter?”

“He was one of three partners working together in a shell corporation funded by Exacto. The third partner was an officer.”

“I was able to figure that much out. Whatever was going on had to be a big fucking deal based on the collateral damage so far. And I knew there were military implications. Why don't you tell me the rest? Why don't you trust me?”

“Because I didn't want to scare you off. I knew you'd disappear and I'd never find you again. I couldn't let that happen.”

“Why?”

“I wanted to see you again.” He glanced from side to side. If Murdock wanted Jace dead, this would be the perfect time for the hit. Then again, maybe Erika was there to do the job herself.

“What does any of this have to do with my family?” She pushed on.

Lie to her and he'd be putting their relationship in greater danger. He already had to hold back too much information as it was. But he couldn't bring himself to rock her world when all he wanted to do was protect her from the truth. The fucking curse was that she would most likely hate him anyway.

So far, this meeting was a bust. Jace couldn't shake the bad feeling he'd had all morning. He figured it was time to abort, regroup, and come up with plan B.

She stood there, the end of her weapon pointed squarely in between his eyes, and she'd disappear forever if he didn't choose his words carefully. She'd already fallen off his radar for the past forty-eight hours, and he hadn't slept or eaten. Jace didn't like not knowing where she was more than he wanted to admit to himself. But telling her would rip her world apart. How the fuck was he supposed to do that?

His attraction was one thing. Erika Nile did things to his heart he'd believed to be long dead. She pumped fresh blood into his body again and brought him to life. Those weren't empty words when he'd told her she was his angel.

“We're out in the open here. It doesn't look like anyone is going to show but us. I think we should go somewhere safe. I have a place a couple of hours away. We can be there before dinner.”

She almost laughed out loud. Safe was the last word she would put in a sentence with the name
Jace Mitchell
. And going to a remote location would be perfect for him, wouldn't it? He could isolate her. “I don't think so.”

“Then you pick the spot. I don't care.”

Either way, disappearing with Jace Mitchell was a dangerous proposition. Yet, she was going to have to take a risk if she wanted to find out more.

“Tell me what you know about Sam Carter and I'll think about it.”

“Not a good idea here.” He glanced around, fists clenched. Standing there wearing jeans and a black V-neck T-shirt, he was even more gorgeous than before. She stared him down, looking for any signs of a weapon. There were a number of places he could hide one, and with his deadly reflexes she was still in danger.

“I'm not budging, Jace. Tell me something I don't already know.”

“Your father was killed because of CorMeds. These guys are relentless and I believe they're after you.” There was so much concern in his tone she stood rooted, just like in the hallway, waiting to hear what he said next. Maybe needing to hear it, too? It was all too easy to believe him. He had to know she wanted to believe him.

Before Erika could formulate a response, Jace flinched. His gaze focused on something behind her as he yelled, “Get down!”

In one fluid motion, he'd ducked, rolled and come up with a weapon pointed at her. She'd scarcely had time to register his command let alone the bomb he'd just dropped on her when he fired the first round.

A jolt of adrenaline blasted through her, powering her to leap forward. She went a little too high in the jump and the bullet grazed her right shoulder. Pain crawled up her arm but she ignored it. Adrenaline would take care of that for now. Later, she'd need antibiotic ointment and a pain pill.

Instinctively, she regained her bearings and spun around, crouching low in order to make herself a smaller target. The glint of metal across the bay, near Beer Sheva Park, gave away the shooter's location. She glanced at Jace, saw blood pooling at his feet. “Shit, Jace. You're hit?”

“It's not bad.” He looked at the shooter through special binoculars. “He's not either of my contacts.”

“Next time you shoot, hit him and not me,” she ground out. Her biting tone wasn't exactly fair. He'd rubbed salt in an open wound by bringing up her father.

“You didn't listen. I said get down.” His tone was sharp, frustrated.

Too freakin' bad.
Erika took aim and fired, blood spilling down her arm and dripping onto the wood, mingling with Jace's. Another round whizzed past her a second later, fired by Jace toward the sniper.

If she could trust him, they'd make a great team. Big fucking
if
.

For now, she had no choice. Besides, what he'd just told her ensured she'd trail him until she put the person who'd killed her father in the ground or in cuffs. She pulled her mask over her face and dove into the deep blue water. Popping up a few seconds later, she shouted. “Like I said, get him next time, okay? In the meantime, keep him busy. “By the time she reached the shore on the other side, everything had gone quiet. The sniper was most likely adjusting his position. He'd fire, move and wait.

If she wasn't careful, she'd end up in his scope and he'd gain tactical advantage.

One thing was certain, if she could get to the son of a bitch she'd force him to talk.

She listened for any clue as to the sniper's location. The fact he'd be distracted by bullets pinging past his head would help, if Jace was still shooting. She hadn't heard anything for the minute she'd been up. Her mind reeled with the new information but she didn't have time to process.

She didn't have long to get to the shooter. If a neighbor or boater hadn't called the cops by now, they would soon. Even with silencers, sound traveled over the water and it was only a matter of time before someone figured out what was going on.

That couldn't happen before she interviewed this guy. Questions mounted and she planned on getting answers.

She eased out of the water on the west side of the shooter, making sure she was clear before she moved. No way did he see her.

Tall spruce trees covered the area and were easy enough to slip in and out of quietly. She dropped to her stomach, and then monkey crawled through the foliage. That was when she heard it, a sharp crackle then a pop. She scanned her body for the hit, relieved to find blood oozing only from her arm wound. It was superficial. She could easily clean it up later.

The pressing problem she had was that her location was compromised. She needed to get out of there, like now.

Water was a good fifteen yards away. She lay flat, crossed her arms and death-rolled until she plunged into the cold. Water was everywhere, burning her nose, and she was disoriented.