KIDNAPPED, A Romantic Suspense Novel (12 page)

“Who’s Nicky?”

“The little Russian boy. Just listen to me, don’t ask questions, okay?”

“Okay.”

“I need you to get me some information. I need to know how much the government knows about some Russian immigrants called the Kreshnins.” She spelled the last name for him. “I also need to know if there are any records of money laundering or if the Kreshnins are under investigation by the feds. Also find out if the child protection agency is aware Nicky is an orphan. Got all that?”

“Sami?”

“What Luke?”

“Are you okay? Has this guy hurt you?”

“No, Luke. I’m okay. It’s just…really complicated. If you can give me that information, it might help.” Sami held the phone closer. “And Luke?”

“Yes?”

“Tell mom and dad that Jake’s with the FBI. He’s one of the good guys.”

“Sami, where are you?”

“Someplace I feel very safe, Luke. Don’t worry, okay?”

“You’re asking the impossible, sis.”

“I know. You guys always worry about me. But just this once, trust me to know what I’m doing, okay? ”

“Sami, if this guy has hurt you, in any way…” the unfinished threat hung in the air, as Sami quietly clicked the phone off.

For years, she’d listened to her big brothers, always headed their advice no matter how much she resented their interference in her life. This time she wanted to do what she thought was right. Helping Nicky was the right thing to do. She also had a feeling helping Jake would be, too.

Quietly, she returned the phone to its hiding place, being sure to turn off the ringer. Jake didn’t need to know about its existence yet. A day or two of rest would do both him and Nicky some good. She knew Jake would blow up when he found out she’d made that call. It was probably the coward’s way to keep from facing his wrath a little longer. Hopefully the information Luke gave them would be worth enduring Jake’s temper.

She bent over to set the bag down.

Behind her the door creaked

Sami froze.

Oh, God. She was dead in the water.

Think! Why would you be digging around in your backpack at this time of night? Something innocent. Musn’t let him search the bag.

Trying not to look panicked or suspicious, she stayed bent over, reaching her hand back in and feeling along the bottom of her bag with her fingers. They connected with something long and flat.

Thank, God. Gum
!

“Samantha?”

Slipping a piece of the gum from its wrapper, she stood, folding it into her mouth. She tried to act nervous when she turned around. The sight of him standing in just his jeans, the only thing on him above the waist was the white bandage she’d taped on his wound, sent her heart racing like a speedometer on a formula one car. Nervous wasn’t a difficult performance.

“Oh! You startled me.”

“Is everything okay?”

She sauntered over to stand in front of him, blocking his view of her bag. Clutching the afghan in one hand, she held the pack of gum. “I hate not having a toothbrush. Thought a piece of gum might take the stale taste out of my mouth.”

Jake smiled that killer smile again. His hand tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “You tasted just fine earlier.”

Great! Now her heart jumped into a hyper-drive even Han Solo would appreciate.

Looking at Nicky, curled like a ball in the center of the bed, Jake’s lips pressed into a thin line of worry. “Is he okay?”

“His fever is down for the moment. It will take another day of rest and antibiotics to really get control of the infection.” She touched his shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

His hand wrapped around hers, where it caressed his bandage. “It’s sore, but not too bad. Thanks for doing such a good job, fixing us both.”

“Are you sleeping okay?”

“I was until I heard voices. Thought maybe Nicky was dreaming.”

She gulped and thought fast. “He was awake for a few minutes. We talked about his grandmother.”

“He misses her. She was the only family he had.”

“I gathered that from our talk.”

Jake held her gaze captive, and she could only stare at him. “We should get you in bed.”

She blinked. Warmth surged through her body, settling low in her belly. Yes. Just what she wanted, him to take her to bed and let her snuggle against his body. She shivered more.

He pushed her toward the alcove. “You’re freezing. You should climb in with Nicky.”

“Oh. Yes. Bed. Nicky.” Great now she sounded like a parrot. Her embarrassment complete, she climbed over Nicky to lay near the wall. She couldn’t believe she thought he was suggesting she go to bed with him. God, how pathetic she must look!

Jake pulled the covers over them both. Leaning in, he rested one hand on the wall behind her. “Good night, Sami.”

Before she knew what he intended, his lips came down on hers once more, for the softest, sexiest of kisses she could remember.

As he stood, he grinned at her. “Good flavor to that gum.”

Sami watched him go into the bedroom, then wrapped her arms around Nicky. Something about that man made her want to throw all her natural caution to the wind. If he knew about her cell phone, he’d be angry. But knowing he wouldn’t trust her anymore scared her more than his wrath ever could.

CHAPTER SEVEN

The smell of baked cinnamon and coffee slowly penetrated the sleepy fog of Jake's brain. He’d been dreaming of being back at Bubushka Nana’s kitchen, sitting at the table while she made breakfast. He could hear his mother in the next room laughing, probably at something his dad or Joey had said.

It wasn’t just a dream, but a memory. One of the last Sunday mornings they’d all been together before his mother died.

Awake, Jake rolled over to stare out the cabin’s window at the winter scene before him. Snow laden fir trees stood among the bare deciduous trees like quiet sentinels. Better these silent guards than the ones in the prison he’d end up if he didn’t get out of the mess he’d managed to drag Nicky, Samantha and himself into. Assuming they all survived long enough for him to go to prison.

Thinking about Samantha, his mind and body flooded with memories from last night. What to do with her?

He gave a harsh laugh.

Oh, he
knew
what he wanted to do with her. His hand slipped down to cup his growing arousal. He wanted to be buried deep inside her softness. If he thought about it long enough, he could chalk last night’s instant combustion between them to nearly two years without a woman. Celibacy, even of his own making, could drive a guy to want sex with the closest female, he supposed.

He sat on the side of the bed and reached for his jeans, forcing his mind to be both honest and less carnal. He had to face facts. It wasn’t just Samantha’s hot soft body he lusted after.

Thrusting one leg, then the other into his jeans, he thought to himself, nope, he wanted the whole woman. Her raw courage, self-assuredness, efficient movements, logical thoughts, and her never panic attitude drew him as much as her round soft curves. Of course her sarcasm drove him a little bit over the edge.

He chuckled and shook his head. He suspected she used her sharp tongue as a way to push people away. Problem was, it had the opposite affect on him. All he wanted was to drag her close, kiss her into submission and show her he was stronger than even her anger.

Thinking about the power struggle pulling between him and her, he picked up his shirt and slipped it on. She wanted to use her words to sting him, he wanted to use his body to control her.

The smell of bacon wafted through the door. Apparently, Samantha planned on feeding them all a hearty breakfast. He grabbed the large gold envelope containing the files he’d secreted away on the Kreshnins. He might as well put his forced isolation to good use. Maybe somewhere in the papers he’d amassed would be a clue to who wanted them dead.

He’d better find the answer quick. The men hunting them had him in their cross hairs. It was part of his job and he’d been in this situation before. Only this time, Samantha and Nicky were targeted along with him. They’d both lost too much already in their lives. And he wasn’t about to let anything more happen to either one.

Today, he’d become the hunter.

A very domestic scene greeted him when he stepped through the door into the cabin’s main room. Sami stood at the stove, her back to him. Jake stopped and watched her as she cooked. He liked the way her faded blue jeans hugged her hips and thighs, not too tight, but enough to show her feminine curves. Today she had her dark hair pulled up in a ponytail. He’d love to taste the long column of her neck exposed beneath it.

That was just the kind of thought he shouldn’t be having—the kind that only led to trouble.

He shook his head and focused his attention on the table where Nicky sat, scarfing down what appeared to be cinnamon rolls. Sticky white icing covered his lips. The kid was in sugar heaven.

Jake set the evidence envelope on the table, poured himself a cup of coffee and leaned against the counter next to the stove. Watching Samantha turn the bacon and beat several eggs in a bowl, he admired her efficient movements as he took a long sip of the coffee. Rich, dark, kick-you-in-the-ass-wake-up-coffee rolled across his tongue. He smiled. No foo-foo coffee for Samantha.

“He seems better this morning,” he whispered, nodding toward Nicky.

Samantha cast a quick glance at Nicky. “I hope so. His fever broke in the middle of the night. Then he slept pretty sound, until about an hour ago.”

“The kid is amazing.”

“Yes, he’s pretty resilient for all he’s been through.”

Jake took another big swallow of coffee. “What all did he tell you?”

“Not too much. Mostly I’ve read between the lines.” She flipped the bacon slices one at a time with the fork. “He and his grandmother came here recently from Russia. Something happened to her, and Nicky ended up working for the Kreshnins, first in their restaurant, then running numbers. Something totally against the law, I might add.”

“I know that, Samantha.” Jake tried not to laugh. The mama lion in her was coming out full force. “I am not the one that forced the kid into working at his age.”

“No, but what have you done about it?” She pointed the grease-splattered fork at him with each word.

Angrily, Jake grasped her wrist to stop the fork. “I had a job to do. I got him out as fast as I could.”

“It wasn’t fast enough, was it?”

Sparks flew between them like a welding torch to steel. His grip loosened. She was right. He was the first to break the visual contact. Releasing her hand, he inched further back against the counter. They both knew he was as much to blame for Nicky’s poor treatment as the Kreshnins. Guilt gnawed at his nerves.

“No, it wasn’t fast enough.”

“Why?”

“Why did I let him stay in there one day longer than I should have?” Jake raked his hand through his hair. “Don’t you think I’ve asked myself that all night? I could’ve gotten him away to childrens services two days ago. But I needed an airtight case–-one that would keep them from ever hurting Nicky again. I should’ve taken him away the day I found him out huddling behind the garbage bin in the alley watching the money transfers into the limousine.”

“You should have gotten him to the Childrens Protective Agency the minute you met him.”

Her whispered words weighed heavily on Jake. Her aim was dead-on target this morning and it stung. His jaw clenched in an effort to control the anger surging through him. “You don’t pull any punches, do you?”

“Not usually. Right is right, wrong is wrong.”

Jake glanced at her to find her watching him. Even though her words were totalitarian, her face held little censure. “Not all things are so black and white. Sometimes there is a gray area, Samantha.”

“But in the case of the welfare of children, there shouldn’t be. Their lives are precious and we should protect them at all costs. Especially, if there is no one else to do it.”

“Are we talking about Nicky now, or your daughter?” The minute the question was out of his mouth, he wished he could take it back. The pain that flashed across her features tore at his conscience, adding to the guilt he already felt because of Nicky’s injuries. “Dammit, Samantha, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

She blinked a few times at the water gathering in her eyes, dropping her gaze to concentrate on removing the bacon from the pan. Jake refilled his coffee. Silence hung in the room, the sizzling of the grease in the pan and Nicky licking the sweet sugar from his fingers the only sounds.

“Eggs?” Her voice was shaky, but determined.

Apparently she didn’t plan to let his anger or her own pain get her down. Good. She was one tough cookie. Rather than embarrass her more, he’d follow her lead and change the subject.

“Sure. How about you, little partner?” he asked Nicky. “Want some eggs?”

“Yesh pweash,” he mumbled as he stuffed another piece of roll in his mouth.

Sami chuckled beside Jake. “Okay two orders of scrambled eggs coming up. Here take these.” She handed him the plate of bacon and one of homemade biscuits to carry to the table.

“You’ve been busy this morning. Did you sleep at all?”

“A little, then when Nicky’s fever finally broke, I decided just to get up.” A blush filled her cheeks. “I tend to bake when I worry.”

“Good thing Nicky and I are starving, huh, little partner?” he asked as he sat across the table from him.

Nicky nodded.

Jake put two biscuits and a roll on his plate. “Is all this sugar good for the kid?”

“Given all the energy that fever used yesterday, and all the healing he needs, one morning of sugar overload probably won’t hurt him. I just hope he doesn’t bounce off the walls from the sugar rush like my nephew does.”

Jake sampled the roll as he sipped his coffee. Better than any he’d eaten at any bakery. No wonder Nicky was pigging out on them.

Sami set a plate of soft fluffy eggs in front of Jake and one in front of Nicky. She brought her own to the table and sat next to Nicky, across the table from Jake. Right now she wanted to be as far away from him as possible. Since leaving wasn’t an option, she’d just keep as much distance as available between them.