Bane (5 page)

Five

“I
was sorry to hear about your dad, Crystal,” Bane said, after easing the car onto the interstate. “Although the two of us never got along, he was still your father.”

He felt her gaze on him, and he wanted to take his eyes off the road and look at her but decided not to. She was gorgeous and every time he gazed at her he felt desire seep into his bones. He needed to keep his self-control so he could convince her that he was coming with her when she left town.

“Thanks. Sending me away to live with Aunt Rachel widened the chasm between us but we made amends before he died...as best we could, considering everything.” She was quiet for a moment before continuing, “He even told me he loved me, Bane. And I told him I loved him, as well. Dad leaving me the ranch was a shocker because he said he would be selling it to make sure I never had a reason to return to Denver. But after he died I found out he had left it to me. I wasn’t aware he still owned it and assumed he’d sold it like he said he would do.”

Bane had assumed Mr. Newsome had sold it, as well. Whenever he came home, Dillon had mentioned that the Newsome place was still deserted, but Bane had assumed the repairs needed around the place hadn’t made it an easy sale. But there was something else he’d wanted to tell her. “It’s admirable that you’re working on your PhD, Crystal. For someone who claimed they hated school, that’s quite an accomplishment.”

“No big deal. Since I didn’t have a life I decided to go to school full-time. All year-round. Nonstop. And when I took a placement test, there were classes I didn’t have to take. My parents were happy that I was focusing on my studies again.”

And not on him
, he thought, and then asked her the question that had nagged at him since he’d first seen her tonight. “How did you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Keep the guys away. You’re a very beautiful woman so I’m sure plenty tried hitting on you.”

He glanced over and saw the compliment had made her blush. He meant it. She had the kind of beauty he’d never been able to explain with words.

“The guys stayed away because they thought I was gay.”

Bane almost swerved into another lane. Placing a tight grip on the steering wheel, he glanced over at her again. “They thought what?”

“That I was gay. I didn’t have a boyfriend so what else were they to think? The rumor started in college when I refused all their advances, even the guys on the football team, who were in such high demand on campus. They figured if I wasn’t into them, then I must be into females.”

“Why didn’t you tell them you were a married woman?”

“What good would that have done with a husband who never came around?”

He could imagine how she’d felt knowing a rumor was circulating about her. One that was false.

“I thought about you every day, Crystal.”

“Did you?”

He heard the skepticism in her tone. Did she not believe him? He was about to question her when she said, “This isn’t the way to the airport, Bane.”

“We aren’t going to the airport.”

“Not going to the airport? And just when did you decide that?”

“When I noticed we were being followed.”

* * *

They were being followed
?

Crystal glanced over at Bane. “How do you know?”

“Because although the driver is trying to be inconspicuous, that blue car has been tailing us for a while.”

“Blue car?”

“Yes.”

Her muscles trembled. “The car that followed me earlier was blue. But how would he know to follow you when we’re not in my car?”

“Evidently someone saw us getting into mine.”

The feel of goose bumps moved up her neck. “If the person saw us leave that means he knows where I live.”

“Pretty much. But don’t worry about it.”

His calm unnerved her. How could he tell her not to worry? It was her home they were talking about. Whoever was after her would probably trash her house looking for something that wasn’t there.

As if Bane read her mind, he said, “The reason I told you not to worry is because Flip is watching your place for me.”

She stared over at him. “Someone you know is watching my house?”

He exited off the interstate. “Yes. David Holloway is one of my team members, who happens to live here in Dallas. His code name is Flipper because he’s the best diver on the team. I contacted him when my plane landed to let him know I was in town. I called him again when I took out your luggage. I noticed a strange car in the driveway across the street.”

Crystal was trying hard to keep up. He didn’t live in her neighborhood, so how could he tell when some car was out of place? “How did you know it was a strange car?”

“I sat in front of your place for two hours waiting for you to come home and it wasn’t parked there then,” he said, turning another corner.

She noticed they were driving in an area she wasn’t familiar with and wondered where in the heck they were going. “That’s it? You figured it was out of place because it hadn’t been there earlier?”

“That was enough. I’m trained to take stock of my surroundings.”

Evidently
, she thought. “And this Flipper guy went to my house after we left?”

“He got there just as we were leaving. Flip and his brothers will be keeping an eye on the place while you’re gone.”

She arched a brow. “Brothers?”

Bane looked over at her when he brought the car to a stop at a traffic light. “Yes, he has four. All SEALs. Your place is in good hands for now.”

She was glad to hear that, but she couldn’t help wishing the only hands her house was in were hers. Granted, she leased it rather than owned it, but it was the only house she’d lived in since moving to Dallas. When she noticed him glancing in the rearview mirror and grinning she asked, “What’s so funny?”

“Ambush. I deliberately had the driver of the blue car follow us here and Flip’s brothers were waiting.”

“How did they know?”

“When Flip’s brothers noticed I was being followed, they followed the blue car. Then one of Flip’s brothers passed the blue car and got in the front of us to lead me off the interstate. The others went ahead and were ready to stop the guy at that intersection back there.”

Nervousness danced around in her stomach. “So now we can continue to the airport?”

“No,” he said, pulling the car into what appeared to be the parking lot of an abandoned warehouse. After parking the car and turning off the lights, he grabbed the mobile phone he’d placed on the dashboard. He glanced down at it for a minute before looking back at her. “There might be others looking for us there.”

“Why would you think that?”

He pushed back in the seat to stretch out his legs. “Remember those two men who approached you about coming to work for Homeland Security?”

“Yes, what about them?”

“It seems
they
are the bad guys.”

* * *

Bane wished he could kiss the shocked look right off Crystal’s face, beginning at her eyes and moving slowly downward to her lips.

“That’s not possible,” she said. “I saw their credentials.”

“Whatever credentials they had were faked. The department they claimed to work for under Homeland Security doesn’t even exist.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive. I texted a copy of that business card to a friend at Homeland Security and a few minutes ago he verified what I’d suspected.”

He watched her nibble her bottom lip and wished seeing her do so didn’t have such an arousing effect on him. He had to stay focused. “The mystery of that note bothers me.”

“How so?”

“Did the person who wrote it have your best interest at heart, or did he or she advise you to disappear for a reason, hoping when you did it would make it easier for those guys to find you?”

She lifted a brow. “You think someone at Seton Industries, the person who put that note in my desk, is in cahoots with those two guys?”

“You have to admit that’s a strong possibility. You said someone broke into your locker. Who would have access to that area other than another employee?”

Bane didn’t like this. He and Crystal should be at her place talking about their future and how they would get beyond the five years they’d spent apart.

He started to say something else when his mobile phone rang with Flipper’s ringtone. He grabbed it off his dashboard. “What you got, Flip?”

“A bunch of crazies, man. No sooner than you and the blue car pull off, a black sedan pulled up and two goons got out. It was like watching a scene out of
Men in Black
with both of them dressed in black suits and all. Not sure how they planned to break into your wife’s place but there’s no doubt in my mind that was their intent. Until...”

Bane lifted a brow. “Until what?”

“Until they noticed the infrared beam Mark had leveled in the center of their chests. I guess knowing we could blow their guts out freaked them, especially since we could see them but they couldn’t see us. I’ve never seen two men run back to their car so fast.”

Bane shook his head. “You and your brothers are having fun with this, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I guess you can say that.”

Flip would. Although Bane hadn’t met any of Flipper’s brothers, he’d heard about them. They had inherited their thirst for excitement and danger from their father, who’d retired as a SEAL. “What about the driver of the blue car?”

“He got out and hauled ass. Left the car running. You said not to shoot anybody so my brothers let him go. Sure you don’t want to involve the cops?”

“Not yet.” Bane told Flipper about who he figured the men in black were.

“Impersonating government officials isn’t good,” Flipper said.

Bane had to agree. He glanced over at Crystal and saw she’d been trying to follow his conversation. “You’re right. But at least you put the fear of God in them. However, don’t be surprised if they come back.”

“We’ll be ready. Take care of yourself and your lady.”

Bane nodded. “I intend to.”

He had barely clicked off the phone when Crystal asked, “They broke into my house?”

Her shoulders sagged and he wished he had told Flipper it was okay for his brothers to shoot the bastards after all. He hated that she was going through this. “No, but that had been their intent. Flipper and his brother ran them off.” There was no need telling her the method they’d used to do so. “They’ll be back if they believe you have information or data stored somewhere in your house.”

“I don’t.”

“I doubt they know that, and the first place they’ll look is your computer.”

“So what now? Where do we go?”

He checked his watch. It was late. “Find a hotel.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Why?”

Not for the reason I want
, he thought, again remembering the last time he’d been in a hotel room with her. The memory of her naked on that bed and all they’d been doing before the sheriff had shown up was what had kept him sane during dangerous missions.

“We’re going to a hotel to sleep and put a plan of action in place, Crystal. As much as I want to make love to you, I’ve got a feeling the want isn’t mutual.”

Which meant it would be a long night.

Six

C
rystal broke eye contact with Bane to look out the car window. Of course going to a hotel made sense, but still...

She’d seen the way he’d looked tonight, and she knew that look. Had even fantasized about it a number of times over the years. The memories of what followed that look always made her hot inside. But she wasn’t sure she could trust herself alone with him. Her attraction to him was stronger than ever.

“Or we can stay here. Parked,” he said, interrupting her thoughts.

She looked over at him. “All night?”

He gave her a smile that had heat swirling in her stomach. “Won’t be anything new for us. In fact, it would be just like old times.”

Why did he have to go there? Being in a parked car with him would definitely be like old times, but she was no longer a teenager who thought she could never get enough of Bane Westmoreland. She was a woman on the run with a husband she no longer knew. “We’re too old for parked cars, Bane.”

“I know. That’s why I suggested a hotel.”

She turned toward him. It was time to burst his bubble. “If we go to a hotel we get separate rooms.”

“Why? We’re married.”

She tried to ignore the sexiness of his voice. And she definitely didn’t need to notice the electricity sizzling in the air between them. Yes, they were married, but hadn’t it already been established that things had changed? That
they
had changed? For starters, she was no longer a dreamer but a realist. And he was no longer the guy who claimed she would always be his love for life. Apparently the navy had booted her aside.

“Legally yes, we are married, but that’s about all. Five years is a long time. We’ve already established that we’re different people now. You may not like the new me, and for all I know I may not like the new you.”

“I don’t
like
you, Crystal. Never have. I fell in love with you the first time I saw you.”

Now, why would he go and say something like that? If he really felt that way, wouldn’t he have come back long before now? And why was she now remembering that day when she had been walking home from school, minding her own business, and he’d passed her on his motorcycle. He’d made a U-turn and the moment he’d stopped his bike, taken off his helmet and turned those hazel eyes on her, she’d been lost. So if he wanted to say that he’d fallen in love with her the moment he’d first seen her, she could certainly make that same claim about him.

But there were still those five years apart between them.

“Will it make you feel better if there were two beds in the room?”

Crystal took a breath.
Not really
. Even after being separated for five years she still found him captivating. Even now, tingles of awareness were invading her entire body. She couldn’t look at any part of him without getting naughty thoughts. Being in close quarters with him all night would only be asking for trouble. She shook her head. “Doubt that will work, Bane.”

He shrugged broad shoulders. “It will have to work, because I don’t plan on letting you out of my sight until we get to the bottom of what’s going on.”

Her gaze narrowed on him. She was about to tell him that when it came to her he didn’t make any decisions, when his cell phone went off again. He quickly reached for it. “Yes?”

Crystal studied his face. Whatever the caller was saying was making him angry. She could tell by the fire she saw forming in the depths of his eyes, the tightening of his jaw and the way his fingers gripped the phone. And she couldn’t miss the abrasive tone of his voice.

She was certain the call was about her, which was why his gaze flicked to her time and time again. Gone was that hot and steamy I-can’t-wait-to-get-some-of-you look in his eyes. It had been replaced with a look that clearly said that if pushed, Brisbane Westmoreland was liable to hurt somebody.

She pushed her hair back from her face and silently tapped her fingers on the car’s console. She couldn’t wait for the call to end so she could find out what was going on.

As soon as she heard him click off the phone she turned, ready to inquire, but he held up a finger to silence her. Already he had clicked someone else’s number. He then quickly barked the words into his phone. “Code purple. Will enlighten everyone in a few.”

As soon as he disconnected the call she asked, “What was that about?”

He didn’t say anything for a long moment. He just stared at her as if he was trying to make up his mind about something.

She frowned and said, “And don’t you dare think about not telling me what’s going on, Bane.”

* * *

Bane had contemplated doing just what she’d accused him of. But he knew he couldn’t. Crystal was too intelligent, too quick to figure out things. Besides, she needed to know what they were up against and the caution they would have to take.

But more than anything, he needed her to trust him and to believe that he would never let anyone touch a single hair on her head.

“Bane?”

He took a deep breath. “First, give me your cell phone.”

“My cell phone?”

“Yes.”

She stared at him for a second, then went into her purse to retrieve her phone. He took it and then got out of the car. Throwing the phone on the pavement and ignoring her shocked gasp, he used his foot to stomp it into pieces.

“Are you crazy? What do you think you’re doing?” she asked in outrage after getting out of the car to save her phone. Of course it was too late.

“I’m destroying your phone.”

She placed her hands on her hips and glared up at him. “I see that. What I want to know is why.”

“There’s a chance a tracking device is on it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Things are more serious than I thought or what you might know, Crystal.”

She stiffened her spine. “Well, I’ve got news for you. I don’t know anything other than what I received in that note today and that my locker was tampered with and a blue car has been following me.”

He glanced around. “Come on, let’s get back inside the car. I’ll tell you what I know.”

She looked down at her smashed phone in disgust before going around the front of the SUV to get back inside. As soon as they had gotten inside the car, she said, “Tell me.”

* * *

She touched his arm and a surge of desire rushed through him. Evidently it shone in his eyes because she quickly snatched her hand away. “Sorry.”

He grabbed her hand, entwined their fingers and met her gaze. “Don’t ever apologize for touching me.”

Instead of a response, she nervously swiped her tongue across her bottom lip and his own tongue tingled, dying to mate with hers. Since he figured he couldn’t kiss her anytime soon, he would tell her what she wanted to know. What she needed to know.

Ignoring the thud in his chest from holding her hand in his, he said, “My contact at Homeland Security did some more digging, even went so far as to tap into classified information. It seems you’ve been watched for a while.”

She lifted a brow. “By who?”

“Mainly the government. They are aware of the research you’re working on.”

She shrugged. “I figured they were. Seton sent periodic reports to them as part of national security. Besides, the funding for my research was a grant subsidized by the government.”

“Well, it seems the report got into the hands of someone it shouldn’t have. To make a long story short, a plan was devised to kidnap you and the two other biochemists working on similar projects. They were to take the three of you to a lab underground somewhere and force you to work together and perfect a formula they’d use to their advantage.”

Crystal shook her head. “That plan is preposterous.”

Bane wished she wouldn’t do that. Shake her head and make her hair fan across her face and place more emphasis on her dark eyes. Momentarily he lost his concentration. He couldn’t afford any distractions now. There was too much at stake. “Whoever came up with the idea evidently didn’t think so. And now you’re the missing link.”

She leaned back and frowned. “What do you mean I’m the missing link?”

His hand tightened on hers. “The other two chemists were abducted yesterday. One was leaving his home for work and the other chemist was leaving the gym around noon. The plan was to kidnap the three of you within hours of each other. However, their plan to grab you was foiled. But since they are determined to get their hands on the formula, they won’t give up.”

The spark in her eyes told him she clearly understood what he was saying. She was vital to these guys’ plans and they didn’t intend to fail. That spark also told him something else. She would like to see them try to grab her. He still had the ability to read her mind sometimes. She still had the spunk he’d always admired in her.

He swallowed hard when she eased her hand from his and broke eye contact to gaze out of the car’s windshield. She was thinking, trying to come up with her own plan. One that didn’t include him. More for his safety than anything else, he figured. And while she was spending that time thinking, he was spending his time feeling possessive, protective and proactive. If anyone thought they would grab her from him, then they didn’t know Bane Westmoreland.

She looked back at him and because he had a feeling he knew what she was about to say, he cut her off before she could start. “I won’t leave you unprotected, so forget it.”

When she just continued to look at him, he added, “I need you to trust my ability to keep us safe.”

A ripple of awareness floated between them and he tried to ignore it. Knowing he had her trust was more important at the moment.

“It’s going to be hard, Bane,” she said softly. “I’ve been on my own for a long time.”

Five years
. And not for the first time he wondered if he’d done the right thing in staying away. She had been his wife, yet he’d left her believing that living apart was the best thing for both of them. That they’d both needed to grow up and mature. Especially him. And he had. But what if he hadn’t shown up today? What if she’d gotten kidnapped like those other two chemists? What if—

“I will trust you in this, Bane.”

Her words intruded into his thoughts. He nodded. He was more than ready to be the husband she deserved, but he had to show her that she could trust him. Not just to keep her safe, but to build a life with her.

“So...” she said with a heavy sigh. “What now?”

A smile touched his lips. “Now we show them that together we’re a force to reckon with.”

* * *

A force to reckon with
.

Crystal couldn’t help but smile. That was how Sheriff Harper used to describe them. Nothing, not even the threat of jail time, could keep Bane from her or her from him. They’d been that fixated on each other.

Bane’s cell phone signaled a text massage had come through and he grabbed the phone off the dashboard. Out the car window she saw they were parked in an unlit area. The only illumination was from the stars and moon overhead. Bane read the text with his full attention while her full attention was on him. She couldn’t help but admire the way his wide shoulders fit his leather jacket and the casual way he sat in his seat. He had pushed the seat back to accommodate his long legs. And speaking of those long legs...

She loved how they looked bare, whenever he went swimming, and when they were covered in jeans, like they were now. Or when he rode his motorcycle or one of the horses from his family ranch. She’d known how to ride when she met him, but with his help, she had perfected the skill. He’d also taught her how to ride a motorcycle, shoot a gun and climb mountains. She had shared his love for the outdoors and they would spend time together outside whenever they could.

She swept her gaze over him from head to toe, thinking he was definitely sheer male perfection, the epitome of every woman’s fantasy. It was only when he’d cleared his throat that she realized he had finished reading the text and had caught her ogling him.

“Yes? Did you say something?”

He chuckled. “No. Just wanted you to know that our ride will be here in a few minutes.”

She lifted a brow. “Our ride?”

“Yes. We’re changing vehicles. Chances are the people looking for you have already ID’d this one, so we need to swap it out.”

“So who’s bringing us another vehicle?” she asked, glancing out the window. Other than a huge vacant building, the parking lot was empty.

“Flip’s dad.”

She frowned. “His dad?”

“Yes. He’s an ex-SEAL.”

Moments later Crystal heard the sound of another vehicle pull up and noted the driver had turned out the headlights. Bane looked over at her.

“That’s our ride.”