Out of Character (33 page)

Paul let out a relieved breath. Ryan wouldn’t let him down. He flipped the intercom switch again. “Excuse me, Mr. Taurino? You wanted something?”

“I have a close friend of yours with me, Mr. Devlin,” Taurino said. “Dr. Jillian Rodgers.”

The smugness in Taurino’s voice, knowing he had his hands on Jillian, increased Paul’s determination to get her away from him ASAP. He opened his mouth.

“What I propose is a deal,” Taurino said. “I’ll trade the lady for you.”

Paul couldn’t have arranged this better if he’d sent Taurino a script. He didn’t want to seem too eager. “How do I know you really have her?”

“Check the monitors,” Sam said.

“It’s nice to know where you are, Sam,” Paul said. “I was wondering when you weren’t in the house.”

“I was busy tracking down Jillian. You should have been more careful when you checked out the cave the other day.”

Damn.
He’d brought some weapons to the cave while Jillian was with Ryan and had been too distracted by jealousy to be alert. “I’m in the house. No monitors here. Let me talk to Jillian.”

“Say hello, Dr. Rodgers,” Taurino said.

“Stay inside, Paul,” Jillian said. “They know Harry and Mac are dead and you’re alone. They’ll kill you if—”

Paul’s gut constricted as her voice broke off. “What did you do to her?”

“Put a hand over her mouth,” Taurino said.

“He didn’t hurt her,” Mac said over the radio.

Thank God. Count on Jillian to realize the importance of confirming that Taurino didn’t know Ryan was on the island.

“So can we deal?” Taurino asked. “You for the lady.”

Ryan had left only two minutes ago. He’d need more time. “What makes you think I care what happens to her?”

“Reports are you enjoy her in your bed.”

Paul managed a derisive laugh. “Would you make that kind of deal for every woman you’ve enjoyed?”

“True,” Taurino responded. “She reportedly isn’t your usual type either. But you must feel guilty about involving her in this.”

“I didn’t involve her. You went after her because she pointed at you at a gas station.”

“If she hadn’t been with you, we’d have left her alone after a perfunctory check.” Taurino chuckled. “How’s that for a coincidence, that with all the women you had to choose from in Colorado, you happen to pick the one who made me suspicious? Although I was surprised you risked any woman’s safety like that. Given your reputation.”

“Given your reputation, it’s likely you’d have killed her even if she hadn’t come near me,” Paul said, more to stall than because it made any difference now.

“I guess you’ll never know,” Taurino said. “Dr. Rodgers will definitely die unless you agree to my deal. Think about that.”

“You’ll release her if I surrender to you?” Paul asked.

“Correct.”

“To be blunt, even if I’d consider your deal, why the hell would I believe you’d honor it?”

“I’ll give you my word as a gentleman.”

Paul snorted. “You’re no gentleman, Taurino.”

“Actually I am,” Taurino said. “That’s something we have in common, even though I lack your pedigree and privileged upbringing. My sources told me all about your prominent family. When I remodeled my new house in—let’s say a hospitable foreign venue—I put in all your family’s appliances. The high-end models, of course. How’s that for another coincidence?”

“Life’s full of them,” Paul said. “Apparently your sources didn’t inform you I’m not a fool. You’ll never let Jillian go now that she knows you’re alive.”

“I doubt anyone will believe such a far-fetched story without your corroboration,” Taurino said. “Even if they do, they’ll never find me. If necessary, I’ll have a little plastic surgery. Do we have a deal?”

“I just got here,” Ryan said through the radio. “I need a couple minutes to brief Mac and get into position.”

“You’ve got it.”

“I asked you if we have a deal,” Taurino said.

Paul flipped the intercom back on. “I’ve never been big on suicide missions.”

“It’s your fault that poor Dr. Rodgers is in trouble. Now you’re the only one who can save her.”

“Give me a minute.” Paul paced, studying the intricate design some gifted Iranian had woven into the cream and gold carpet. When he’d delayed as long as he’d dared, he activated the intercom. “Okay. Come inside the fence so we can work out the details.”

“I’d prefer to have you come out here,” Taurino said.

“So you can shoot me the instant I step outside? If you come inside, I can stay in the house and keep an eye on you until we’ve finalized our deal.”

“You’ll shoot me when I step inside the fence,” Taurino said. “I’m no fool either.”

“I give you my word as a gentleman I won’t,” Paul said. “As a show of good faith, I’ll be honest here. I won’t dare shoot you as long as you have Jillian.”

“Why the hell should I believe that?”

Paul took a deep breath, slowly let it out. This could make or break his plan. “Because the truth is she wasn’t just a bed partner. I fell in love with her. I’ve never been in love before, not even with my wife. I didn’t think I had it in me until I met Jillian.” His laugh was tinged with bitterness. “Isn’t that a kick in the ass? I finally fall in love, and the only way I can keep her alive is by giving up my own life.”

“You love her?” Taurino sounded as skeptical as a parole board member.

“Why else would I have risked spending time with her? I couldn’t help myself. It was one of those irrational things, practically love at first sight. That’s why I’m willing to surrender to you if I can guarantee she’ll be safe. It’s also why I won’t shoot you as long as you have her.”

Paul held his breath, waiting while Taurino either thought or discussed things with his cohorts. Mac was too busy to give updates from the monitor.

Finally Taurino spoke. “Open the gate.”

* * * *

The heavy, iron gate clicked. Sam pushed it open, and they all walked into the yard.

Jillian’s heart was hammering triple time. Taurino had the gun pressed against her neck and was holding her so awkwardly with his other hand over her mouth that they could easily tangle their feet and trip, and he’d accidentally shoot her.

She was even more terrified that any second the shooting would start in earnest, since this had to be part of Paul’s plan to kill Taurino. Paul had told her he’d never love her. He’d only claimed he did so Taurino would come inside where Paul could shoot him. But Paul couldn’t do that and also save her, not with Taurino holding a gun at her neck. With Ryan to confirm he’d done everything possible to keep her alive, Paul wouldn’t look bad when she died. Maybe he even thought she was in this with Taurino, that Jack’s and Martin’s concerns about her were justified. She hadn’t shot Sam like she was supposed to.

Taurino stopped walking about a quarter of the way to the house, beside a cluster of deep purple flowers Jillian had thought coolly elegant. Now they looked more like a funeral arrangement.

The front door of the house opened a crack. “I want him out of here.” Paul had to yell since they could no longer use the intercom.

“Who?” Taurino yelled back.

“Your bearded friend. He nearly killed me in D.C. I don’t want him here.”

“You want to better your odds.” Taurino pressed the gun harder into Jillian’s neck.

Fear raised bile in her throat.

“It’s still two against one, and you have Jillian,” Paul said. “Your friend should get your boat ready since my people will be here shortly. If you’re going to escape, you won’t have much time.”

“You’ve called for help?” Taurino asked. “Why tell me? Why not wait until they arrive before you come out?”

“Because I’m afraid when you spot them, you’ll kill Jillian.”

Taurino thought for a moment. “Go ready the boat. This won’t take much longer.”

The bearded man raced across the yard and out the gate.

“Your turn, Devlin,” Taurino said. “Throw down your gun and come out.”

“I have one more thing to tell you first,” Paul said. “Sam was sloppy. He didn’t kill Mac. In fact, Mac’s got a gun on you at this moment.”

“That’s a lie,” Sam yelled. “I killed him.”

Mac’s voice came from the cover of the thick bushes near the front of the house. “You should make sure the guy’s dead before you leave.”

Jillian’s hammering heart slowed slightly. Mac was alive, so now it was three against two. Maybe she’d get out of this alive.

The disgusted look Taurino aimed at Sam spoke volumes. “So you intend to have Mac shoot me the instant I release Dr. Rodgers.”

“No,” Paul answered through the crack. “What I intend is for Mac to safeguard Jillian. This is how it will play. I’ll throw out my gun, and Sam will throw down his. Then I’ll come out and walk toward you. If you shoot me before we make the trade, Mac will kill you. When I reach you, you’ll exchange me for Jillian, who will run to Mac.”

“Who will shoot me,” Taurino said matter-of-factly.

“Not when you’ve got your gun aimed at me, since it might go off reflexively and kill me,” Paul said. “Mac’s orders are to get Jillian safely to the house and to shoot only if someone goes after her. Do you hear that, Mac?”

“I hear you,” Mac said.

“How do we know Mac won’t shoot me?” Sam asked. “Since I’ll be standing there without a gun.”

“I guess it would be understandable after you shot him,” Paul said. “All I can do is tell him to follow my orders. In any event you’re safe, Taurino, since you’ll have me.”

“You’ve got a deal,” Taurino said. “Throw down your gun, Devlin.”

“I want you to come forward first so you’re closer to Mac. I want him to be able to get Jillian into the house fast. The back door’s unlocked, Mac.”

Taurino nodded, and he, Jillian, and Sam trudged forward. They stopped a few yards from Mac. The door opened a little wider, and Paul tossed his gun out. It bounced on the blacktopped driveway then ricocheted into the grass about fifty yards to Taurino’s right.

“Have Sam throw his gun down. Far enough away that he can’t lean down and grab it.” They were close enough that Paul could speak at normal volume.

“Throw down your gun,” Taurino ordered.

Sam looked at him then tossed his gun yards away.

“Okay, Devlin, it’s your turn,” Taurino said. “Put your hands up and walk out real slow. Now.”

Icy panic clogged Jillian’s throat and lungs. This had to be it, when Ryan, Mac, and Paul started shooting. She wasn’t going to survive this after all. At least the angle of Taurino’s gun against her neck guaranteed she’d die immediately.

The front door opened. Paul walked out, his hands raised.

Paul strode toward Taurino, his bearing confident, his expression satisfied. As if everything were going exactly as he’d planned.

Which of course it was. Jillian’s breathing loosed, her fear lessening slightly. She wasn’t a guaranteed corpse. Paul had already made sure Mac and Ryan had one target each. He obviously had everything else planned, too. He’d never sacrifice himself knowing how much the government needed him, and if he’d planned to sacrifice her, he wouldn’t have come out of the house. Just because she couldn’t figure out how to save both of them didn’t mean he hadn’t. Paul probably had Plans B, C, and D in reserve in case his Plan A was a bust. She needed to stay alert so she didn’t miss her cue.

Paul approached, his focus on Taurino. “I’d appreciate giving her a last kiss.”

Taurino tightened his grip on Jillian. “I don’t think so. I don’t trust you.”

“You’ll have a gun on her, and Sam can hold my wrists behind my back. Just one kiss.” Paul raised an eyebrow. “Think of it like a last cigarette before the firing squad.”

“All right,” Taurino said. “But only because as an Italian, I’m a hopeless romantic. Sam, secure Devlin.”

Sam grasped Paul’s wrists. Taurino removed his hand from Jillian’s mouth and wrapped his arm around her midriff. His gun was now aimed at Paul.

This kiss had to be part of Paul’s plan. Otherwise, it didn’t make sense. Jillian stood there silently, her gaze on Paul’s, waiting for some indication of what she was supposed to do.

“I love you.” Paul smiled ruefully. “Naturally everything’s clear now that it’s too late.”

He must hope talking would lull Taurino into loosening his hold. Then Paul would yank her away, giving Ryan a clear shot.

Taurino’s arm tightened around her.

Paul’s eyes were calm but charcoal, the shade they got when he loved her. “Please don’t forget me.” He lowered his lips to hers.

This had to be it, how he planned to escape. Jillian braced herself, waiting for something to happen.

Taurino jerked her away from Paul and returned the gun to Jillian’s neck. “That’s enough. I’m only half Italian.”

Paul’s eyes were still calm and dark, but there was something more there now. Resignation. Exactly the way he’d look if he were facing a firing squad.

Jillian’s chest hurt, grief squeezing her heart. Paul was trying to save her, but he was planning to die. He was going with Taurino unarmed, knowing full well once Taurino no longer needed a hostage, he was a dead man. Assuming Taurino didn’t shoot Paul right away, since he didn’t know about Ryan and was no doubt cocky enough to think he also could take out Mac. Paul intended to sacrifice himself because she was his responsibility, which was as ridiculous as thinking she should donate one of her own vital organs if an ER patient happened to need a transplant.

“Any more conditions Devlin?” Taurino asked.

“Keep your word.”

“I always keep my word,” Taurino said.

Paul might be resigned to playing the martyr, but she wasn’t. She’d be damned if she’d let him roll over and let Taurino win, this monster who’d killed Kristen, who’d tried to kill her, and who planned to kill the only man she’d ever truly loved.

“I’ll release her on the count of three. If you try anything, she dies. One.” Taurino’s arm and the gun loosened.

She’d bet Paul had ordered Ryan to hold off shooting Taurino until she was safe. Praying Ryan would catch on, Jillian jerked forward as hard as she could. She freed an elbow and jabbed it into Taurino. His gun went off. Then her head exploded.