Come Hell or High Desire (24 page)

Suddenly bright green, purple, and yellow lights flooded the interior with an eerie
glow. He pushed the gear shaft forward and a series of belts and pulleys began to
turn the wheel.

Rapid footfalls sounded behind him.

The lieutenant yelled over the megaphone again, and he swung around to find himself
in a Mexican standoff with Morgan’s UZI aimed at his chest and the red dots of the
SWAT tactical team sights clustered on hers.

He looked into the barrel of Morgan’s gun, then up at her eyes.

She’d been crying.

And using.

Even in the darkened space around them, the haggard lines and pallor of her face told
the story of her pain and how she’d chosen to dull it. Regret and sadness pulled at
him. But he couldn’t take responsibility for her bad choices any more. “Put the gun
down, Morgan.”

The four SWAT officers were standing perpendicular to her under the second story overhang,
the aim of their semiautomatics steady. Another team had staged beyond them in the
shadows, motionless. Alert.

Please be the bomb techs
.

Behind him, the Ferris wheel slowly turned.

The skin on his palms itched. “You really don’t want another death on your conscience,
do you?”

Her lips tipped up for a moment, something wavering in her eyes. “We’re both warriors
who live best on the fringes. I wanted to protect you from all who would hurt you,
Zack.”

“That’s too much responsibility for one person.” He edged backward toward the wheel’s
controls. He had to stop it when Ann’s car was at the bottom.

“You’re worth it.”

“Yet you have an UZI on me?”

“If I can’t have you, she can’t either!” She gestured to Ann, whose car now dangled
ten feet above them, inching closer.

“You think I’m in love with
Ann
?”

“I think you feel guilty. You’re confused because John was so nice. You think you
need to be her man because of that.”

“I promise you we’ll talk about this when she’s down. Okay? That bomb’s gonna go off
and kill us all.”

The light snuffed from her eyes. “Always goes back to her, doesn’t it. Fine then.
See you on the other side.” She raised the gun to look through the scope, and his
blood ran cold.

Time slowed. A pop exploded in his eardrums. Someone screamed. A flash of blue clothing
blurred as he was tackled sideways.

More pops.

Gunfire.

The inertia of his fall barreled him to the ground, where his head bounced off the
concrete in an eruption of pain. His eyes opened to register Morgan crumpling to the
concrete with horrible, wet gurgling sounds. Nausea roiled through his gut, the floor
like ice against his stomach.

Something warm on his back. Metallic-tasting in his mouth. He gagged and spit blood.

Sloane, where are you?

C-cold.
His teeth clacked together. SWAT boots swam double, then triple, in his vision, swarming
Morgan’s inert form on the floor. More men in camouflage rushing the scene, surrounding
the Ferris wheel bucket that held Ann.

Someone yelled, “Clear the area!”

A liquid warmth seeped onto his back. Someone grabbed his boots, began dragging him.
His head swam. He blinked again and a ghastly apparition of Ross rose up, blood and
gore sliding down his face.

Zack struggled against the hands around his boots, twisting and bucking to get free
until he couldn’t breathe anymore through the fire in his chest and the jackhammer
splintering his skull.

“Easy, brother. Take it easy.” Then quieter, “I got his arms.”

The panther had said it.
Panther?
Goddamn, his head hurt. He struggled again until his shirt rode up, leaving his stomach
bare to suffer the concrete friction. He wanted to howl. Needed to clear his head.
Get his muscles to move.

Someone shifted near his line of vision.

“Don’t move her yet. We don’t know where she was hit.”

I’m not shot.
He tried to tell them. Tell the panther. But he couldn’t get the words to come out
right.
Hit my head. Must’ve.

The voice had said
her
.

What?

The blue flash before the tackle.

The heap beside him with the golden head wasn’t moving.
Golden head
.

“
Sloane!
” A spurt of adrenaline fired his blood, and his senses came back online. He kicked
once more at the hands that held his ankles and twisted an arm to grab her, lifting
her as he rolled over to accept her weight on the front of his body. Her mouth opened
slightly, and she blinked down at him, but didn’t recognize him. Hot fear lit up his
circuits. He hurried to sit up with her in his lap.

“Hold still! She’s been shot, you could make it worse. We need to move you as a unit
because that shit’s gonna blow.”

“Archie! Look at her. Look what she did!” He was babbling. He knew it, but the panic
over Sloane was gonna kill him. How bad was she hurt? Jesus, if she died, he’d go
mental.

Two more SWAT medics ran over to grab him under the arms, and together they got him
and Sloane behind a thick concrete wall on the mall’s first floor thoroughfare. Placing
him on the carpet, they set to work on her injury. Rolling out from under her, he
pushed to his feet, staggering slightly until Archie slipped an arm around his waist
to support him.

Zack watched the medics apply pressure to the bullet entrance wound with multiple
layers of gauze.
Can you die from a shot in the arm?
He pushed Archie away, moving toward Sloane. “You need to get her to the hospital.
Please.
”

The SWAT medics closed ranks around her, their broad shoulders and helmets shutting
him out. Another came up to him and shined a light in his eyes. “Local paramedics
are standing by outside.” He motioned to an officer just entering the scene and turned
to Archie. “The sergeant will have some questions for you so you need to go along,
too. No funny shit.” He glanced at Officer Blake and jerked his head at Archie. “Pat
’em down and get ’em outside.” Zack followed his gaze to Sloane. “She’s gotta go
now
, fellas. Hustle!”

He wanted to go with Sloane. Needed to reassure himself that she’d be okay. But how
could he leave John’s daughter here to die?

I can’t.

If Ann died here, how could he look himself in the mirror knowing the man who’d done
this to her had been under their roof for years?

He had promised to protect her.

“Ninety seconds! Fuller, clear out!” the commander snarled at one of the bomb techs.

The medics shifted into high gear, raising Sloane in the stretcher, running toward
the east mall entrance. As Zack broke away, he heard the medic yelling at him and
someone giving chase, but he kept going.

As he rounded the corner near the park entrance, his gaze went to the focused, bearded
tech.

“Cut the damn straps!”

One of the other techs passed a tool to Fuller. “Can’t. They’re booby trapped all
over her.”

“Ten more seconds is all you’ve got! Then I’m coming in to drag you out!”

“Yes, sir!” Fuller barked at his commander. Then, “Fuck, she’s waking up!”

Everyone froze.

Sweet Jesus.

Ann’s sudden scream echoed through the amusement park down into Zack’s soul where
he thought it would live forever.

He sprinted past one SWAT officer only to be cut short by two others. He pushed back,
a wild panic beating in his chest, a fountain of magma melting him from the inside
out.

Archie rushed him from behind to put him in a standing full nelson. He bent in half
to try to throw Archie over his head, but his friend planted his feet and counter-shifted
back.

Helpless rage pulsed through Zack. “Sonofa���! She’s terrified! Sedate…her!”

Lt. Carver got in his face and glared, the veins in his forehead standing out. “No
time!”

The bomb started beeping loud, continuous chirps. Archie released Zack and sprinted
toward cover.

“Fifteen seconds!” Blake or Jones yelled.

Carver swiped at the sweat running down his face. “Fuller, Blake, Jones, clear out
right now! Everybody! Move, move,
move
!”

Everyone cleared out except the techs.

Zack, come to me! Please.

He nearly stumbled to hear her voice, strong and passionate, in his head.
Goldie, I trust you. I believe in your gift. You can help us.

His feet tore across the concrete he’d helped pour, laughing and joking with one of
his crews as they’d smoothed and buffed the surface.The bomb bleeps shortened, their
piercing sound pouring through Zack as he looked at the wires coming out of the box.

The two techs tried to pull him along as they ran for cover. He shoved them away,
bolted toward Fuller, and pressed his palms to Ann’s icy cheeks, calling her name
until her eyes finally focused, and she blinked at him in stunned silence.

“Hold still, Ann.
Don’t. Move.
”

He looked at the bomb. Touched it.
Which wire, Goldie? Try to feel it!

The bomb bleeps faded into the background. Zack heard only his heartbeat as he looked
up to see the perfect concentration on Fuller’s grizzled face. In that quiet space,
John came to him.
Come hell or high water, hold tight to your beliefs. For every mountain there is a
miracle.

Zack’s pulse slowed, his vision tunneled. John had never lied to him before.

The bleeps became one steady, unrelenting pitch. The bomb’s final warning.

Five, four, three
…

Sloane!

Fuller’s fingers reached forward.

The green one!
her voice cried in his mind.

“Green! The green!” Zack yelled above the bomb’s blare.

Fuller jerked the green wire free.

The abrupt silence in the vacuous space was almost more terrifying than the bomb’s
imminent alarm. Fuller sat back on his heels and hung his head, shoulders slumped
as though all the air had spontaneously left his body.

A roll of thunder echoed the mottled emotion moving through Zack. Through his belly
and up his chest to lodge in his throat, a tight mass of feeling too big for words.
He squeezed Ann’s arm and laid a palm on Fuller’s back, who looked up to hoarsely
yell the all clear.

Then reality broke through, fast and loud.

SWAT flooded the area around Ann. The bomb unit cleared the device before the medics
attended her. Zack backed a few feet away, turning when he felt her.

Ah, Goldie.

He felt her tears bathing him in a communion of minds, hearts, souls.

He couldn’t wait to hold her. To lose himself in the fathomless brown of her eyes,
the exquisite touch of her fingertips reminding him how good it felt to
feel
.

She wasn’t speaking in his head, but it was all right.

Her—
safe—
was enough for now.

Words were for tomorrow.

Chapter Thirty-five

One Week Later

Sloane was watching Zack uncork a bottle of cabernet when the dogs bolted from their
spots on either side of her on the couch. They ran for the door, barking so relentlessly
that he threw a soft, mangled chew toy at them.

He came around the small kitchen island and handed her a wine glass before nudging
the dogs aside to turn on the outside light. She smiled at the trio until she saw
Zack’s shoulders tense.

Now what?
She couldn’t stop the negative thought, even though the past week had been a beautiful,
unexpected dream. Her arm was healing nicely since the bullet had only damaged muscle,
and she didn’t even care that she’d lost Benjamin’s support for her foundation. She
and Zack had a truckload of baggage, but they’d loved each other enough these past
seven days to help hasten the healing process.

Maybe they’d even loved enough to last a lifetime.

Don’t think like that
.

Zack ordered the dogs to sit before opening the door. She set her glass on the pile
of drafting books, then moved toward him, looking out into the night. When she touched
his back, his muscles relaxed a fraction.

“Who is—” The words died on her lips, and she ran out into the meager light cast by
the light fixture, straight into Ann’s open arms. Deep emotion put a choke hold on
her throat to feel Zack’s arms come around the two of them.

Ann brushed at her eyes and laughed shyly when Sloane’s mouth dropped open and her
fingers slid through Ann’s newly-shortened, glossy black strands.

“Dear Lord, I didn’t think you could get any more beautiful, but
look
at you. This style suits you perfectly.” She hugged Ann to her again, crying and
laughing at once. “You must have just cut it. Here, come in, come in!”

Zack held the door open for them, then closed it, stationing himself in front of it
like a guardian.
For goodness’ sake, stop glowering at her.
He glanced at Sloane quickly and his shoulders loosened up, but he didn’t move away
from the door. He looked back at Ann. “Why didn’t you call? I would have picked you
up from the hospital.”

Ann set her purse on the floor, sat down, and exhaled quietly. “I was actually released
yesterday, shortly after you guys left.” She shrugged when Zack opened his mouth to
speak. “It’s okay. I…I wanted time alone. To think.” The female dog laid her head
across Ann’s thighs. Her fingers stroked through the deep pile of her fur. “Anyway,
I’ve learned a lot…about myself.” She rubbed a hand against her belly, and Sloane’s
throat closed up again, thinking of all Ann had lost. Her father, a lover, a baby.

A silent communication passed between the two women before Ann nodded and closed her
eyes. When she opened them again, there was strength there. “Detective Barnaba came
to see me at home this morning.”

Zack’s arms dropped to his sides as he bit out, “Haven’t they bothered you enough
this week?”

“They tracked down Serena.”

Sloane pressed a hand to her chest. “Where is she?”

“He couldn’t say. She wants to remain hidden.”

Zack cursed and pushed away from the door.

A ghost of a smile played around Ann’s lips, and she shrugged. “It’s okay.
Really.
She would only be a disappointment after having a parent like Dad anyway.”

“Damn right. Barnaba tell you anything else about the case?” Zack asked.

“I can’t believe how Ross had it all planned out. He was just so…normal. And smart.
Barnaba said he had shrines to Serena all over his house. Part of his payoff was stringing
this out. He chose a career in tax law based on how he wanted to infiltrate Dad’s
life. The excitement of building his plan, evading detection, and putting each new
phase into play was what kept him going for more than two decades. We’re lucky his
goal wasn’t as well-executed as it was well-planned. He used a lot of people along
the way.”

Sloane’s eyes blurred. “Like Tori.” Zack sat down beside her and pulled her into the
crook of his shoulder. “He used her to keep tabs on you, and she told him about your
involvement with Dallan. Then he used Colette’s anger against Dallan to deliver you
to his front door.”

Ann frowned. “How’d you know all that?”

Heat rushed up Sloane’s neck to her cheeks. She looked down at her hands in her lap.
Pressed them flat against the tops of her thighs. What could she say?
Well, see now, I’m your regular psychic mutant.

You’re perfect
.

Her eyes widened, her gaze darting to Zack’s face. He was doing that soft smile thing
that made her insides go all shy and amazed and happy.

He squeezed her thigh, then looked back at Ann. “Morgan was a part of this.”

“It’s not your fault,” Ann said. “Ross was hell bent on destroying Dad because of
Serena, and then you and me due to his disappointment that I wasn’t his daughter.
It wouldn’t have made any difference if you weren’t involved. He tapped into a lot
of people’s motivations in order to achieve his goal.”

Zack stood and paced to the window, the darkness a profound backdrop against his body’s
strong lines.

Ann took a deep breath. “Look, I know there’s so much upheaval at Samuel’s Construction
right now with the building damage and the audits, but… I’m sorry, Zack, I won’t be
coming back to the office. I hope you’re not upset, but I’m going to go back to school.”

Zack turned back to face her and smiled. “Good.”

“That’s wonderful, Ann!” But a thread of sadness drifted through Sloane. “Does this
mean you won’t be at Skinny Dipping anymore?”

Ann rolled her eyes. “Goodness no! I don’t think you’ll ever get me away from that
store.”

“Oh, thank heavens! This calls for a celebration! I’ll get you a glass.”

Ann stopped her before she could leave the room. “Thanks, but I’ll take a rain check
on that, okay? I need to get home. Surry’s waiting for supper.” She smiled.

Zack frowned. “Who the hell’s Surry?”

“The tomcat. I named him Surry for survivor. We both are.”

Maybe we all are.
Sloane rubbed her arms, feeling chilled.

Ann put her purse over her shoulder, twisting the straps. “I don’t know how to thank
you both for…not giving up on me. I’d be dead if not for you.”

“I don’t want you to think about it anymore,” Zack said.

“Too bad.” Ann winked at Sloane and smiled at Zack’s raised eyebrow. “From now on
I’m going to be doing a lot of thinking.”

She’s really going to be okay
.

One side of Zack’s mouth lifted. He indicated the door with his head. “I’ll walk you
out.”

And that opened the floodgates.

Sloane was still wiping her eyes when Zack re-entered the house alone, the dogs bouncing
up and down like they hadn’t seen him in a year. He gave each a fierce pat, then moved
toward her, his gaze traveling over her face, down her neck, breasts, belly…
lower.

So possessive
.

She sniffed and became aware of her skin beneath her clothes. The slide of her tank
top as she shifted on the sofa. Her toes curling into the rug at her feet. When his
eyes returned to hers, they burned with an emerald fire that sucked the moisture from
her mouth. She reached for her wine, toppling the glass. “Darn it! Oh, I’m sorry!
Here let me—”

“Leave it.”

His secret smile, masculine bass, and sexy eyes jacked her pulse. Lord, why was she
so nervous? “No, really. I should clean this up before it ruins your lovely books.”
She tried to stand up from the sofa without touching him, but the way he braced his
legs apart made it pretty much impossible. She tried to move away to retrieve a towel,
catch her breath, pitch her head under a cold shower—
anything
—but he grasped her hand and led her through the house, grabbing a heavy blanket on
his way out the back door.

She pulled him back inside for a moment. “Keifer! Mya!” The dogs’ toenails
scritched
across the hardwood as they sprinted from the living room.

Zack squeezed her hand with a warm smile. “I’m glad you enjoy them, but I think we’ll
leave them in. Tonight I don’t want anyone licking you but me.”

Oh.

Oh
.

The cool night air helped settle her nerves. He walked her near the river’s edge to
the fire pit—where he’d obviously planned to be much earlier, by the looks of the
mature embers.

Spreading the blanket on the grass, he sat first, then motioned her to sit between
his outstretched legs. When she did, he brought her back against his chest, folding
his arms and the blanket around her, cocooning them in the quiet symphony of the night.

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness, then she looked up at the
thousands of stars that twinkled in their midnight palette. She inhaled slowly, the
crisp, clean scent of flowers and river vegetation flowing into her, a steadying influence.
But nothing would ever settle her, bring her peace, the way Zack did.

“I love being out here with you,” she said.

“You do?”

She also loved the way his voice rumbled against her back, his breath warm against
her ear. “
Mmm
. I could stay this way forever.”

He remained silent, but she could almost feel the synapses in his brain leaping. She
smiled, knowing he was open enough that she’d be able to read his thoughts, but also
knowing she wouldn’t do that.

“Then why don’t you?” he finally whispered.

Her smile slipped. A bell rang, the gates opened, and her heart was on the racetrack.
She crossed her legs and scooted around to face him. Firelight flickered on his face,
his eyes so soft they disarmed her. “What are you saying?”

He got up and arranged the blanket more snugly against her before moving toward the
fire. She watched the shadows play over his broad back as he added another log to
the pit. The pile shifted and fell in upon itself like old bones returning to dust.
He moved to the other side of the pit, staring at her over the flames. She felt the
deep stillness of him.

She waited, her breathing shallow.

She didn’t have long to wait.

“I’m saying I’ll never find another who moves me the way you do. I want you to stay
with me.
Forever.
”

A small cry escaped. She fought with the blanket to try to stand and go to him, but
he was by her side before she could get free. He ran his hands down the sides of her
head, then put his finger to her lips, his eyes luminous in the shadows.

“I
will
have your enthusiasm. But first, I need to say this.”

She could barely breathe. She wanted to rain kisses all over his body and make love
with him under the stars. But she nodded. There’d be time.

Forever
.

His teeth suddenly gleamed, the wicked smile heating her blood. She thought he’d reconsidered
talking. But he sat back on the grass, stretching his long legs out in front of him
like this was gonna take all night.
Hurry up, already. I can think of better things—

His laugh burst free, and hers nearly did, too. Luckily she quickly caught herself
and frowned at him. “Hey! You’re not supposed to do that!”

“How can I help it when you think so loudly?”

“Clod.”

“I like seismic jackass better.”

They smiled at each other as night bugs danced among the tiny embers that floated
high above the pit. He leaned forward and with the gentlest of touches, feathered
his lips against hers until she was breathless. His eyes promised secret pleasures.
“So I’ve been thinking a lot this week. Obviously with the bombing damage, I’ll be
relocating Samuel’s offices to another property downtown. A bigger property. I’m sure
you know it—the historic building across from the bank.”

“Are you serious? The brick four-story?”

He nodded.

“It’s gorgeous. You
own
that?”

Another nod with a smile. “Downtown, baby. We have a lot of other properties, too.
John loved real estate about as much as he enjoyed construction. Anyway, I figure
since I’m going to need the services of an interior designer, and you’re probably
going to be looking for another sponsor for the foundation…” His words trailed off
expectantly.

Hot tears welled in her eyes, overflowing faster than he could wipe them away.

“An organization like Project Broken Wings is essential for people of all ages and
walks of life. Let me help you with this.”

He’d told her about finding his father’s body. She bowed her head, trying to comprehend
his gift. His character in the wake of—
in spite of
—his broken childhood.

He raised her chin. “Before you get too excited, I want you to know that I have one
stipulation for this deal.”

She sniffed, trying to bring her emotions under control. He smiled lopsidedly and
pushed an errant strand of hair behind her ear. “God, I love you, Goldie.”

“I love you, too. More than anything,” she whispered.

“I’ll give you everything I have.
Marry me.
”

“Hell, yes!” She launched at him, toppling them both to the soft grass where the fire’s
warmth dried all her tears as they kissed. She shivered when he broke away, cool air
replacing the heat of his body. But only for a moment. He reached for the blanket,
then gathered her into his arms.

Where I belong.

Yes
.

He laid her back against the soft fabric, smiling into her eyes. The fire popped and
crackled in harmony with the cricket songs and the wind sifting through the trees.
He ran his hand down her flank, his broad palms stoking another fire within her. “Seems
to me you had some good ideas earlier. Something about making love under the stars?”

He got his answer when she stripped off his shirt.

Bodies entwined, his lips slanted across hers, his consuming hunger a welcome aggression.
Her last articulate thought was how she’d found peace on the banks of a timeless river.
In the arms of a man who saw all her shadows, and loved her just as timelessly.