Your Next Breath

  “Yes, you will.” She looked her in the eye. “Because I can’t go after him, and neither can Joe. We have to be here for Jane. We have to try to find some way to keep her alive.” She swallowed. “And if we can’t, we want to be with her as long as we can. But Santos isn’t going to get away with doing this. You’re going to find him, you’re going to kill him.” She reached in her pocket and drew out the gold dog tag. “There’s still blood on it. Jane’s blood.” She lifted Catherine’s hand and put the chain into her palm. “When you kill him, you’re going to give him his damn chain back and tell him where it came from. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.” Her hand closed tightly on the chain. “I’ll do whatever you wish. I won’t fail you, Eve.”

  “I never thought I’d ask anyone to kill,” she said unevenly. “All my life, I’ve tried to fight those monsters who kill children and just throw them away. But Santos has to pay for what he did. I can’t take a chance on his disappearing before I’m able to leave my Jane.”

  She meant before she lost Jane MacGuire, the child she had chosen, the woman who had become her best friend.

  Catherine nodded. “I’ll find him. And I won’t let him disappear.”

  “Good. Thank you. Now I’ve got to go trade places with Joe.” She gave her a quick hug and rose to her feet. “Why are you still here? Get going. I don’t need you here. You know what you have to do.”

  “I want to see Jane.”

  Eve shook her head. “Relatives only in ICU. I’ll tell her you were here. They say that some people in comas understand. I’ve been talking to her since they brought her out of surgery.” She threw her empty coffee cup in the trash. “Reminding, pleading, challenging. You name it.”

  “Then tell her I’m sorry.”

  “And, if she could, she’d tell you what I did. But I’ll tell her.” She added grimly, “I’ll also tell her that you made me a promise. She knows you keep your word.”

  “Yes, I do.” Her gaze went to the door that led to ICU down the hall. “I see Joe arranged for a guard outside the unit.”

  “Of course, that’s Joe. We have all kinds of security. Both the police and those plainclothes private detectives you sent last night.”

  Catherine went still, alarmed. “I didn’t send anyone last night. Joe had better check—”

  “Well, not you. Someone named Richard Cameron. I didn’t see him. He told Joe that he was helping you with a few security matters, and we’d be completely safe. Joe checked the detectives out thoroughly. Their credentials were very impressive. They’ve been unobtrusive but are always there when any new nurse or doctor appears anywhere near Jane. They’ve even checked the IV meds.” Her eyes narrowed on Catherine’s face. “And Joe thought this Cameron could be trusted. Was Cameron telling the truth?”

  “Will you be safe? Yes. The men who work for Cameron are always experts at whatever they do. Did I know about them? No. Cameron doesn’t always tell me what he’s doing.” That was a massive understatement, but she didn’t need to worry Eve with her conflicted relationship with Cameron. “But I’m glad for all the security I can get. Aren’t you?”

  Eve nodded. “You just made me a little uneasy.” She moved down the hall toward ICU. “I’ll keep you informed about Jane’s condition. God help you, Catherine.”

  “No, God help Jane.”

  Eve looked over her shoulder, and her eyes were bright with moisture. “I hope she’s not already with him. Joe said she was smiling when we found her. I thought maybe … he was right.”

  * * *

  “You weren’t as long as I thought you’d be.” Cameron walked toward Catherine when she came out of the parking-lot exit of the hospital. “I hope that doesn’t mean your Jane MacGuire is worse.”

  “She’s not my Jane MacGuire,” Catherine said curtly. “She’s Eve’s Jane. Eve is the only one to whom Jane has ever allowed herself to be really close.”

  “Santos evidently believes she’s your Jane,” Cameron said. “Or she wouldn’t have been a target.”

  “I like her,” Catherine said. “I wanted to help her. Help her? Good God, look where she is now.”

  “Is she worse?” Cameron asked quietly.

  “No, but she’s no better.” She started for her car. “What are you doing here? Don’t you ever sleep? Eve said you were here in the middle of the night setting up security.”

  “I don’t need much sleep.” He fell into step with her. “I would have told you last night I was coming to Atlanta, but you were being a bit touchy about my interfering.”

  “But you did it anyway.”

  “Jane MacGuire wasn’t dead. I wanted to make sure that Santos didn’t arrange to complete the job.”

  “Joe had already set up guards.”

  “Good for him. But I prefer my people.”

  “You always prefer to run the show.” She turned to him as she reached her car. “Look, I’m not arguing about your sending extra security. Send an army if you want to do it. Anything to keep them alive.”

  He smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind. I don’t believe an army will be necessary.”

  “I’m not sure of that.” She opened the car door. “You didn’t answer me. Why are you here?”

  He was silent. “Jane was touch-and-go last night while I was setting up the security. I wanted to be here in case you needed someone.”

  “I told you I didn’t need you.”

  “I’m a slow learner.” He shrugged. “But since you don’t need a shoulder to cry on, I’ll offer you my services in another area.” His voice was crisp as he continued, “Since I’m not going to go away, you might as well use me to bring Santos down. You may not need me, but I guarantee it will make his demise a good deal faster. This isn’t the time for pride, Catherine.”

  “That’s not why I—” She stopped. She wasn’t going to tell him that it wasn’t pride but the fact that she always felt on the defensive with him. Together with that disturbing awareness that interfered with everything she thought and felt on other levels. She was experiencing that heated, vibrant awareness right now.

  “You know that what I’m saying is true,” Cameron said. “Let me go along for the ride, and we’ll wrap this up quickly.”

  “Who are you kidding? That sounds passive on your part, and we both know that you’re never passive.” She was staring at him, seeing the strength, the contained explosiveness. But that explosiveness needed only a breath to break free of all restraints. Hu Chang had once told her that Cameron was probably the most dangerous man either one of them would ever meet. From what she had seen in the past, that statement had proved true.

  So why not take what he offered? Anything that would keep Santos from any more killing was worth taking the risk of working with Cameron. She didn’t want to owe Cameron a debt of gratitude, but she would worry about that later. “As long as you work with me and not around or behind me.”

  He smiled, his light eyes suddenly gleaming with mischief. “What about ahead?” He quickly held up his hand to avoid her response. “Only joking. I’ll be very meek.”

  She made a rude sound. “That’s not going to happen.”

  “You’re probably right.” He went around to the passenger side of the car. “Now that we’ve come to an agreement, I’ll let you drive me back to Louisville. There’s no use us taking two cars. I’ll have one of my men drive my car back later.”

  “I’m surprised that you don’t want your own wheels,” she said as she slipped into the driver’s seat. “You do like control.”

  “I can always steal yours if it becomes necessary.” He got into the passenger seat. “And I’ve found there are some situations where submission can be pure pleasure. Haven’t you discovered that, Catherine?”

  She had a sudden searing memory of lying naked, Cameron over her, his hands moving in her with incredible erotic skill. Yes, she had been helpless, submissive then as she had never been before. And it had scared the hell out of her.

  “You’re not answering,” C
ameron said softly.

  “Because this isn’t about us or sex games,” she said. “If you can’t realize that, you can get out of my car right now.”

  “I realize all the nuances of our relationship, but one of those nuances is sex. It’s bound to pop up now and then.” He paused. “Now, what are you clenching so tightly in your hand?”

  She opened her palm. “A gift from Eve.”

  “Jane’s?” He took the dog tag and held it up to the sunlight. It glittered and turned in his grasp. “It has blood on it.”

  “Eve didn’t want to wipe it off. She wanted Santos to see it when I returned it to him.” She took the dog tag back from him. “When I killed the son of a bitch.”

  “I’d be delighted to do it for you.”

  “No.” She jammed the dog tag into her jacket pocket. “I made her a promise.” She started the car. “I’ll do it myself.”

  “As you wish.” He leaned back in the seat. “As long as Santos doesn’t annoy me any more than he’s doing right now. By the way, has Santos called you yet?”

  “No, why are you certain he will?”

  “Aren’t you? He enjoyed tormenting you before by outlining his agenda for you. It sounded to me like it was going to be an ongoing indulgence.”

  He was right. She had been half expecting that call from Santos. “Who knows what he’s waiting for? Maybe he’s setting up another kill.”

  “Then we’d better go on the offensive.” He took out his phone. “Now while you’re driving, and I’m being submissive, I’ll make a few phone calls that will push our agenda along a bit…”

  * * *

  The call from Santos came when she had reached Louisville and was pulling into her driveway.

  She looked down at the ID. “Speak of the devil.”

  “Wonderfully descriptive. Yes, I did. Do you suppose I’m psychic?”

  “Not funny.” She put on the brakes, accessed the call, and pressed the speaker button. “Santos, you son of a bitch.”

  “You sound stressed, Catherine,” Santos said. “Are you upset that I was able to fool you? I admit I enjoyed working out all the details. I suppose I can hardly blame you for being stressed after spending the morning with your friend Eve. Did she tell you that she hated you? I doubt that even the best friendships could withstand a daughter’s death.”

  “She doesn’t hate me. She hates you. And Jane isn’t dead. Neither is Kelly. You keep failing, Santos.”

  “Kelly Winters was not a designated target, she was merely a bonus I was going to allow myself. I just wanted to keep you busy and not thinking about other directions until I was certain that Jane MacGuire was a sure thing.”

  “She wasn’t a sure thing. She’s still alive.”

  “I knew that an hour after she was taken to St. Joseph’s. She must be remarkably strong. I heard that she should have died before she reached the hospital. I was upset that she didn’t die instantly, but that shot should have done the trick, so I can’t really fault my man.” He chuckled. “And perhaps it’s better that she takes a little time to die. That agony is greater for Eve, and that will hurt you. That’s why Jane MacGuire was my choice. It was a way to hurt you in a multitude of ways. I was going to send someone to dispense with her once and for all, but I decided to let her linger. I understand the doctors say she has no possible chance.”

  “She might surprise you.”

  “You don’t really believe that. You’re a realist. No, I did not fail with MacGuire. If I get impatient, I may decide to finish her off, but not before I wring every bit of pain out of your friend Eve Duncan.” He paused. “But at the moment, I’m busy planning on another gift to hand you. Who do you think will be next, Catherine?”

  “Why don’t you tell me?”

  “But then I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the scenario nearly as much. No suspense for you, no stabbing at the jugular for me. No, it’s much better the way I’m setting it up.”

  “You don’t know who you’ll be able to take from me. I have them all protected.”

  “Circumstances change. You can’t guard everyone all the time. Just when you think they’re safe, they’ll do something careless. Then I’ll have them.”

  “Not if I have you first.”

  “You won’t give up, will you?” He laughed. “But then I knew you wouldn’t. That’s what I told Delores. You’ll fight and fight until the minute I take you down.”

  She tensed with shock. “You told Delores? She’s dead, Santos.”

  “But she’s always with me. You couldn’t take her away. I wouldn’t let you.” His voice was suddenly harsh. “Delores is impatient, but I keep telling her the revenge must be complete. But I understand, I’ve only given her three souls to quench her need for blood. She’ll be glad to take Jane MacGuire. Perhaps I’ll reconsider waiting for the bitch to die on her own.” He hung up.

  “Quench her need for blood? He’s crazy.” She drew a deep breath before she hung up the phone. “I knew he was obsessed with his wife, but evidently, he’s talking to ghosts.”

  “It shouldn’t surprise you,” Cameron said. “Santos is laying sacrifices at his dead wife’s feet. Why not talk to her?”

  “Because he’s feeding his own desires and bloodlusts into what he imagines she’d say. That means he’s really gone off the deep end.” She opened the car door. “And there’s no reasoning with someone who’s schizoid.” She grimaced. “What am I saying? There’s no reasoning with Santos anyway. We just have to find him.” She got out of the car. “You heard him, he’s trying to make me frantic about who he’s going to kill next. He wants to keep on playing his ugly game.”

  “You handled him very well.”

  “It didn’t seem that way to me. He made me feel helpless. I didn’t have any ammunition.”

  “Then we’ll go after it and shoot him out of the water.”

  “Where? How? Have you found out anything about that Dr. Montez that Nagoles was hired to kill in Guatemala?”

  “A few very interesting things. I’ll tell you about them when I get a definite confirmation.” He got out of the car and took her arm as they went toward the front door. “And they might have a bearing on Santos’s ghost…”

  * * *

  “I was going to call you, Catherine.” Sam met them as soon as they walked into the foyer. “But then I decided I might as well wait until you got here. You’re not going to like this.”

  “Very true,” Hu Chang said as he walked out of the library. “And you’re very wise to let me take the brunt of it. Good afternoon, Catherine.” He nodded at Cameron. “I trust you were able to take care of the problem with Kelly Winters. I would have appreciated a different choice on your part as to which valuable target you were going to protect.”

  Cameron’s brows rose. “I was already on my way to Catherine. You didn’t object when I told you that was my intention.”

  “What the hell are you doing here, Hu Chang?” Catherine asked. “You’re supposed to be protecting Erin.”

  “And that’s why I’m objecting now, Cameron. Situations change.” Hu Chang spread his hands. “I failed the challenge, Catherine.”

  She stiffened. “Erin?”

  “Is upstairs talking to Luke and Kelly.”

  “I don’t want her here with me. Dammit, you were supposed to find a place to hide her.”

  “I’m tired of hiding.” Erin was coming down the stairs. “I told you that when I talked to you on the phone, Catherine. Why do you think I left Hong Kong?” She had reached the bottom of the stairs and gave Catherine a kiss on the cheek. “You and Cameron and Venable are always trying to keep me safe. No more. I’m responsible for my own safety from now on.”

  “Not when it’s me who put you behind the eight ball,” Catherine said curtly. “I just came from a hospital where Jane MacGuire is dying. I won’t risk having to go through that again with you.”

  Erin’s face clouded. “Sam told us about Jane. I’m so sorry, Catherine.”

  “Tell that to Eve.
She’s going through hell. If you’re sorry, you’ll let Hu Chang find a—”

  “Hole for me to crawl into?” Erin interrupted. “I’ve told you that I won’t do it. Drop it. And tell me how I can help you catch that bastard.”

  Catherine whirled on Cameron. “Do something. She’s not listening to me. You have that … connection. Talk her into being sensible.”

  Cameron shook his head. “She’s very stubborn. My dear Catherine, I wasn’t able to convince Erin that she should join in preparing this wicked old civilization for a brave new world. And she halfway believed I was right. Do you think I can convince her that she should just let you take your chances?”

  Catherine whirled back to Erin. “Look, Santos knows everything that I do. He’s researched every target and knows everything about them, too. Everyone is being watched, and Santos is just waiting to make his move. He missed with you. We had a chance of getting you to somewhere he couldn’t touch you.”

  “He missed with Kelly, too,” Erin said. “So he can’t be that good.”

  “She wasn’t the target. She was a distraction. He didn’t miss with Jane.”

  “Give it up, Catherine,” Hu Chang said quietly. “We will accept and just go in a different direction.”

  “Santos will know she’s here,” Catherine said in frustration. “He was sending Nagoles to Hong Kong to make another attempt on her. Do you think he won’t send someone here? This damn place is a treasure trove of the people I care about. Everyone here is a target.”

  “It’s true that she would be an additional lure. But Santos will not know she is here. I was most careful.” He smiled. “I slipped her in through the back and into the basement. You are right, this house is a treasure trove. Which is why the security is important.” He turned to Cameron. “Did I see some of your men out there?”

  “I thought it wouldn’t hurt. I’ve also made sure they’re supplied with detectors that will signal the presence of any explosive within a fifty-yard perimeter. My men will tour the neighborhood every hour and make sure that there is nothing new or threatening. The web is very tight, and there will be no possibility of a sniper infiltrating the area. The house will be as safe as a military bunker.”