Stalemate (17 page)

"I came for one reason and it wasn't to--"

"It's no use. He's turning a deaf ear." Galen appeared out of the darkness behind Joe. "Hello, Eve. Quinn's a bit upset. You really shouldn't have taken off like that."

"Shut up, Galen." Joe didn't look at him. "Go away. I don't need you."

"I was about to do that. I need to do a little reconnoitering to make sure that Montalvo's not planning a double-cross."

"I've already done that," Joe said impatiently.

"I believe I'll do a second round," Galen said. "I wouldn't want Quinn to be dead meat, Eve. I've grown accustomed to his endearing nastiness. I might miss it."

"Montalvo's not going to ambush him," Eve said.

"I'll just take a look...." Galen disappeared into the shrubbery.

Joe's hand closed on her wrist. "We're going."

"Let me go, Joe. I promised Montalvo I wouldn't run."

"And I didn't promise anything." He smiled recklessly. "So I clip you on the chin, just hard enough to put you out, and you've kept your word and I've gotten what I wanted."

"You wouldn't do that."

"Look at me. I'd do anything to keep you safe. Anything."

She was looking at him and she didn't like what she saw. His eyes were glittering with savagery in his taut face. "You're enjoying this," she whispered.

"No, I'd enjoy it if I could get my hands on Montalvo. Are the juices flowing? Hell, yes. Do I knock you out or do you come with me?"

"Neither." She looked down at her arm held by his hand. "Don't threaten me, Joe. And you're bruising me. Every time I look at my arm, I'll remember those bruises came from you."

"Better bruised than dead." But his grasp loosened on her arm. "And I don't care if you remember me as a brutal son of a bitch. Not if you're still alive to remember."

He was just as hard and angry as she'd known he'd be. Don't argue. It wouldn't work. She'd come here to explain. Do it. "I have to stay, Joe. It's my chance. Will you listen to me? Montalvo gave me a report. It was about Bonnie and I didn't..."

Galen slid silently through the shrubbery, his gaze raking the trees and palmettos on either side. He could hear Eve's voice but couldn't make out any words. Her tone was urgent, persuasive, almost pleading as she talked to Quinn. He doubted if it was going to do any good. Quinn was on the edge and ready to fall off.

What the hell? Wouldn't he feel the same if it were Elena in the same spot? He could tell Quinn that he should handle Eve with diplomacy instead of reaching out and grabbing, but Quinn was a desperate man and primitive instinct was paramount now. Galen could only strike a balance and hope that Quinn didn't--

Something was moving up ahead.

He froze, listening.

An animal?

If it was an animal, the sound of its passage through the shrubbery indicated it was as large as a man.

Shit, it probably was a man. The direction of the movement was changing, cutting toward the path where Quinn and Eve were talking.

Galen started forward, his ears straining to hear the slightest sound.

Move fast.

Move quiet.

He had a fix on the location.

But the rustling had stopped, he suddenly realized.

Christ.

Screw being quiet. He took off at a run.

"The report could have been an elaborate fake," Joe said.

"That's what you said about the Valdosta report on Marty," Eve said wearily. "It turned out to be authentic."

"You know the saying: when you're about to tell a big lie, you pad the way with small truths. This could be the big lie."

"And it could be the truth. It could be the break I've been looking for all these years."

"You have the names. Let me go after them. You don't need Montalvo."

"Montalvo didn't need to give me those names. He trusted me to keep my part of the bargain."

"And after he has what he wants, he won't care what happens to you. Don't be blind. If he doesn't kill you, Diaz will. Opt out now while you have--"

"Eve! Down!"

Galen!

She heard Joe muttering an oath and then he was jerking her toward the ground.

A shot.

Pain streaked through her temple.

Darkness all around her. Fight it. Keep it at bay.

She was on the ground and Joe was covering her body with his own.

Another shot.

Joe's muscles jerked as the bullet entered his body.

No. No. No.

Her arms tightened around him.

Help Joe. Help Joe.

Darkness smothering her.

Help Joe. He was a dead load on her.

Dead. Don't think dead.

Help Joe.

Darkness swimming, increasing with every panicky breath.

Help Joe.

Oh, God, she couldn't even help herself....

Chapter 8.

Music.

Chopin, she realized vaguely. Beautiful...She'd always loved it. More soothing than he usually--

Joe!

Her eyes flew open to see Montalvo sitting by her bed. She struggled to a sitting position. "Joe. Where's--"

Montalvo was spinning crazily, the room was whirling around her.

"Easy." Montalvo was there, gently pushing her back on the pillow. "Quinn's alive. Galen's alive. Everyone's being taken care of. Rest."

The twitch of Joe's body on top of her as a bullet entered him.

"How the hell can I rest?" Her voice was shaking. "You bastard, you shot him."

"I didn't shoot him."

"Then one of your men did it. You warned me that it might happen."

"Yes, I did. That's why I wanted to be the first one to talk to you when you woke." He stared her in the eye. "It wasn't me. It wasn't my men. I know that it's difficult for you to think right now but I'm asking you to try to use a little logic. The first bullet was aimed at you. Quinn pulled you down and sideways or it would have blown your head off. It was the second bullet that got Quinn. There's no way on this earth that I would have tried to kill you. Every effort I've made for the last year has been aimed at keeping you alive and able to work. Why would I want to blast all that work to kingdom come?"

"How do I know? I don't know anything about how you think."

"Yes, you do. You don't want to realize how close we already are." He handed her a glass of crushed ice with a straw. "Drink a little water. It will give you time to consider and ease that parched throat. You've been out for almost twenty-four hours. You had a hell of a concussion. I was getting worried when you didn't wake up."

She sipped the water. Her throat was dry and the cold water felt good as it went down. "Joe. Tell me about Joe."

"The bullet entered his back, hit a rib, and angled upward. It didn't strike a major organ but he did lose quite a bit of blood. He had to have a transfusion." He smiled. "I was the same blood type so Quinn is now cursed with a pint of my blood. I'm sure it will annoy him no end when he becomes aware of it."

"I'm sure too." Relief was flowing through her. "He's going to live. You're certain?"

"I'm certain. It will take him a couple weeks to get back to something like normal. But I've survived worse wounds than that and I'd bet Quinn is very tough."

"Yes. Yes, he is." She closed her eyes. Thank God. "When can I see him?"

"Right now he's pretty well out of it on pain medication. Probably tomorrow. Can you go back to sleep now? The doctor said that rest is the best medicine for--"

"No." Her eyes flew open. "Galen?"

"Galen is the one who saw the shooter and took him out. He wasn't hurt at all."

"Then I want to see him."

"I thought you would." He took the glass of water and put it on the nightstand. "I'll send him to you in three hours. No sooner. I want you to get that nap that Dr. Diego recommended."

"I want to see him now."

"Then you'll have to crawl out of that bed, search the house, and risk injuring yourself. In which case you'd be no good to Galen or your Joe." He started for the door. "We'll talk later after you finish being reassured by someone you trust." He glanced back over his shoulder as he opened the door. "Remember, the first bullet was for you."

"But it didn't kill me," she said bluntly. "And it took Joe out of the picture. That's what you wanted."

He shook his head. "I was hoping you wouldn't explore that path but I should have known you would, considering how clever you are. Ask Galen whether that bullet would have killed you if Quinn hadn't interfered."

"Don't worry. I will."

He smiled ruefully and inclined his head. "I expect nothing less of you, Eve."

He left the bedroom.

Damn him. She didn't want to lie here in this bed and be bombarded by worry about Joe. She wanted to see him. Galen would help her to see him. She lifted herself on her elbow and then fell back as pain shot through her head.

Maybe not now. Montalvo was right. She'd have to crawl out of this bed if she tried to get up.

Three hours. Montalvo had promised to send Galen in three hours....

Galen.

He smiled down at her as she opened her eyes. "It's about time, luv. I was just going to give you a good shake."

"You would not." She tried to smile. "Or I'd have a very firm word with you. My head is very fragile at the moment."

His smile faded. "I don't doubt it. You had me scared when I ran over there and saw the two of you drenched in blood."

"Drenched?"

"Well, perhaps not quite. But in my heightened state it appeared that way."

"I want to see Joe."

He nodded. "I suspected as much. He's better today. He's still going in and out of consciousness but he won't scare you like he would have yesterday when you first woke up."

She frowned. "Yesterday? I woke up three hours ago."

"I beg to disagree. Montalvo sent me in here yesterday but you weren't stirring. So I've been checking every few hours and waiting for you to wake up."

"It doesn't seem possible." But she did feel better. Her head was less painful, her thinking was sharper. "Did he drug me?"

"I wouldn't know. I wouldn't put it past him." He shrugged. "Or maybe it was just Mother Nature who put you out. You were pretty messed up." He gazed at her critically. "You still look weak as a kitten. Suppose I get Miguel to bring you some soup and then we'll make the attempt to see Joe. I have no desire to have you fainting and forcing me to lug you around."

"And I have no intention of--" But she still felt weak. "Okay, soup sounds fine. Thank you."

She watched him leave the room before she carefully sat up in bed. A little dizziness but it passed quickly and she swung her legs to the floor. Get to the bathroom, wash her face and brush her teeth.

Slowly.

Her legs felt like spaghetti.

But by the time she reached the bathroom she felt stronger. By the time she finished cleaning up she felt almost like a human being again.

"Eve?" Galen was knocking on the door.

"I'm okay." She threw open the door. "I feel better now."

"You look better." He handed her a pair of khakis, underwear, and a loose white shirt. "I rifled your suitcase. I'll help you dress when you finish your soup."

"That won't be necess--" Screw being independent. She had to get to Joe and she'd take any help that would be necessary. "We'll see." She dropped the clothes on the bottom of the bed and climbed back under the covers with a sigh of relief. She felt as tired as if she'd run the Boston Marathon. "For God's sake, it's only a glancing wound. But it doesn't feel that way."

"It's a head wound, and concussion isn't just a minor inconvenience." Galen tucked the covers around her. "And an inch to the left and we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"Could it have been a deliberate miss?"

"No, you were the target. And I hate to toot my own horn but if I hadn't tackled that son of a bitch at just that second you'd have been with the angels."

Or Bonnie. Her Bonnie.

"You don't look upset," Galen said. "It's the truth, Eve."

She shook her head to clear it. "I know, Galen. Tell me what happened."

"I was cruising around and I spotted someone moving toward the path where I'd left you and Quinn. He was kneeling and aiming his rifle, drawing a bead, when I got close enough to see him. I reached him in seconds but he got off two shots before I put him down."

"You weren't hurt at all?"

He shook his head. "But he wasn't easy and he was a professional. I might not have been able to save your necks if he hadn't been concentrating so completely on the shot."

"Montalvo's men are professionals."

He studied her expression. "You want that shooter to be one of Montalvo's men. Why?"

"It's not that I want it to be him. I have to question everything Montalvo does." Because too much was riding on whether she could trust Montalvo. "What happened after you spoiled that shot?"

"I broke the bastard's neck. Then I ran over to you to see if you were both still alive. By that time Soldono was there checking you out. He called Montalvo and got his guy, Miguel, and a team of men out there at top speed. They brought the two of you back to the compound and had their medics do emergency procedures. They sent for Dr. Diego, who lives in the village, and he was here within the hour."

"And the shooter?"

"Miguel thought he recognized him as one of Diaz's men. Paulo Duarte. Very lethal. Very nasty. Diaz saves him for special jobs that require--"

"How do you know Miguel is telling the truth?"

"A good question." Miguel was standing in the doorway with a smile on his face and a tray in his hands. "I would lie for the Colonel. There's no question about that being true." He came forward. "It's also true that I'm very happy that you're looking better. I was worried about you." He set the tray down on the bedside table. "So was the Colonel. He wouldn't leave your side until he was sure you were out of danger."

"I'm sure that wasn't entirely unbiased concern."

"No, of course not. But he does regard you highly. Even if you weren't useful I'm positive he wouldn't want you to be killed."

"How kind."

He chuckled as he handed her a napkin. "I've no way with words like the Colonel. He's always reproving me." He glanced at Galen. "You're going to take her to Quinn?"

"That's my intention. Any objections?"

"No, the Colonel said when I thought she was able that I shouldn't interfere." He headed for the door. "But I'd better check with the doctor. That would affect my decision."

"The hell it would," Eve said. "I'm seeing Joe."

"I have to ask the doctor," he repeated as he left the bedroom.

"Stubborn kid," Galen murmured. "But that kid commanded that troop of men who came after you like a seasoned veteran. Montalvo's lucky to have him."

"Not lucky for Miguel. He hero-worships Montalvo." She was eating the soup quickly. "And, as he said, he'd lie for him without a thought."

"He didn't lie about the shooter being Duarte. I rifled his pockets and didn't find any ID but I took a photo of him with my phone and sent it off to my contact in Bogota. The ID came back six hours later. Paulo Duarte. He's been working for Ramon Diaz for the last three years. One ugly customer."

"And Diaz sent him to kill me."

"Presumably. Montalvo told me the reason why he'd have a motive to do it. You do get yourself in tight corners, luv."

And she'd gotten Joe into that corner too. He was lying in another of these palatial rooms fighting to survive because she'd waded recklessly into this mess.

"No one had to follow you, Eve," Galen said quietly, his gaze on her face. "You told us to stay away. So stop blaming yourself. We came because we couldn't do anything else. You didn't know what you'd be up against."

"I knew it could be bad." She finished her soup and threw back the covers. "I need to see Joe. I'm still a little unsteady. Will you help me dress?"

"My pleasure." He smiled as he picked up the bra on the bed. "Turnabout is fair play. You've seen me naked."

Naked? Oh, yes, she'd almost forgotten that night in Louisiana. "Joe didn't get much pleasure when you told him, you devil."

"He needed stirring up." He helped her take off the nightshirt. "And I'm always willing to oblige...."

Montalvo met her at the door as she walked slowly down the hall toward Joe's bedroom. "It's good to see you on your feet." He nodded at Galen. "I'll take her in to see him."

Galen's brows raised. "Eve?"

She nodded curtly. "I don't care. I just want to see Joe."

"I'll deliver her safely back to her room, Galen." Montalvo opened the door for her. "She won't be long."

"Don't count on it." She went past him into the room that was dimly lit by a single lamp on the bedside table.

Joe was lying in the massive bed across the room. For a big man he looked...small. Small and oddly helpless. It shook her. She wasn't accustomed to Joe looking anything but tough and totally pulled together.

She sank down in the chair beside the bed.

"He's just had his medication," Montalvo said behind her. "He won't be awake again for another couple hours. That's why I thought you might want to go back to your room after you assured yourself that he wasn't any worse than I told you."

"For once you were wrong about me." She took Joe's hand in both of hers. "I won't go anywhere until he knows I'm alive and with him." She leaned back in the chair. "So you might as well run along, Montalvo."

"Soon." He sat down in a chair a short distance away. "I'll keep you company for a time."

"I don't need your company. I have Joe."

"Who's not with us at present."

"He's always with me."

He was silent a moment. "Your history with Quinn must be extraordinary."

Joe holding her through the night in the time after Bonnie had been taken. Joe talking to her, trying to make sense out of the madness. Joe giving, taking, beside her through a thousand dawns and sunsets.

"You have no idea," she said unsteadily.

"No, but I wish I did. I had Nalia for only three years. We had the joy. We had no real time to bond as you did with Quinn. We were cheated of that." He stared down at the carpet at his feet. "And she was cheated of so much more. There was a whole world I was going to show her. She grew up in the jungle and only knew struggle and war. Yet she became...a wonder. Do you believe people are born with souls?"

"Yes."

"I didn't. Not before I met her." He paused. "Your Joe will be fine. I promise you."

Her hand tightened on Joe's. "I know he will. I won't let it be any other way."

He got to his feet. "And I had no part in hurting him, Eve. I gave you your chance. I didn't betray you."

She didn't answer.

"I know you're confused and you don't want to waste any time thinking about anything but Quinn. That will pass. Truth is important. We both realize that in the end there's very little as vital."

"Except your revenge."

"And your revenge." He headed for the door. "I'll have Miguel check on you during the next few hours. He'll get you anything you need."

"I don't need revenge right now. I need Joe to get well."

"I believe that will also pass after he recovers. And you might consider what Quinn's reaction is going to be. Revenge is a very basic desire. How primitive is your Joe Quinn?"

She remembered the Joe who had met her that night in the jungle. Primitive? Hell, yes. "I don't want to think about that right now. Go away, Montalvo."