Your Next Breath

  She felt a warm melting deep inside her.

  She still didn’t look at him. The moment was too fraught with raw emotion. “Then I appreciate the effort, but that’s what I should be doing.” She drew a deep breath. “Okay, it surprised me, too. Evidently, Santos’s revenge isn’t happening fast enough. He’s never been a patient man, and he hasn’t been able to move as quickly and efficiently as he’d like. His ego is probably hurt. That call might have been a sincere offer, or he might just have wanted to talk to me and vent his superiority.” She was trying to think clearly. “But there might be something that I can use, some way I can turn it against him.”

  “I’m not liking the way you’re thinking,” Cameron said slowly.

  “Why not?” She met his eyes. “That’s exactly how you think, Cameron.”

  “That’s different. Santos’s offer was very personal and very deadly.”

  “And depended on an emotional breakdown on my part to give him his chance to manipulate me and draw me into his lair.” She paused as possibilities began to occur to her. “Which could have a hell of a lot of advantages.”

  “Catherine.”

  “You know it could.” She held up her hand to stop him from speaking. “I have to take advantage of the fact that Santos is getting impatient. He’ll make mistakes.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Probably. He’s beginning to salivate at the thought of how he’s going to kill me. Couldn’t you tell?”

  Silence. “Yes.”

  “That was hard for you to admit.”

  “Because I don’t want you to use yourself as bait to reel him in.”

  “If I don’t, I’d have to use someone else I care about. In the end, this is all about me. Now it’s time I stepped up to the plate, as Santos said.” She was thinking. “And we’ll have Montez in place on the island. He might be able to help.”

  “He’s not been much help in the past.”

  “I told you, he’s changing.”

  “And you’re willing to clutch desperately at that chance, aren’t you?” He studied her expression. “Maybe ‘desperate’ isn’t the word. You’re excited. I can almost feel the vibes.”

  He was right; she could also feel the zing, the familiar breathlessness that always preceded action. “I won’t count on Montez, but he might be a plus.”

  “He will be a plus,” Cameron said crisply. “And I’ll see that you can count on him. Now tell me what else you need to come out of this fiasco alive.”

  “We’ve got to make sure it’s not a fiasco,” Catherine said. “Because if Santos suspects that he’s not in control, he’ll order a mass execution even if it’s a suicide mission. He can’t stand the thought that I might beat him.” She was nibbling at her lower lip. “And the only opportunity we’ll have is if Santos thinks he’s been able to force me to do what he wants me to do.”

  “You mean if someone dies,” he said baldly.

  “Oh, God, no.” She drew a shaky breath. “Look, I’ve got to think about this. Right now, let’s go rent a boat and locate that group of islands Luke and Kelly zeroed in on.”

  “You’ll get no argument from me,” Cameron said. “I like the idea of an attack by sea much better than having you deliver yourself to that butcher’s block.” He reached for his cell phone. “A small motorboat, scuba equipment … I’ll supply a few sophisticated pieces of electronic equipment myself.”

  “I almost forgot that your committee always keeps you supplied with the latest gadgets,” she said dryly. “Shades of 007.”

  “His stuff’s not nearly as high-tech as what our young scientists are bringing out these days.” He smiled. “Microscopic but very effective.” He gestured for her to precede him. “Doesn’t that make you feel safe?”

  “If your gadget can blow Santos to kingdom come before he can give the word to kill anyone else.”

  “Possible but not foolproof unless the explosion is set off within twenty feet of the bastard. I may have to smuggle a rifle onto the island and pick him off.”

  “Providing we find the island before Santos’s men find us.”

  “Oh ye of little faith…”

  * * *

  “What are you looking at?” Catherine asked, her eyes narrowed on Cameron’s face. He’d been very quiet for the last ten minutes as they’d cut the motor and rowed silently among the dense, green islands. Twice he’d lifted the binoculars to his eyes. This last time he’d taken a long time before he had lowered them.

  “Success,” Cameron murmured. “And it’s very sweet.” He pointed to a verdant jungle of palms and brush on a small, hilly island. “Too much brush and trees for a helicopter landing pad but that would also keep any houses or compounds from being seen from the air.” He paused. “Or any tombs that happened to be in the area.”

  “We’ve only been coasting along these islands for the last fifteen minutes. We can’t be that lucky. That’s not the only island with that much shrubbery.”

  “But it’s the right one.”

  “Why?”

  “Because Montez is there.”

  She went still. “What? How do you know? Are you guessing? Are you managing to hone in on his mind or something?”

  “I suppose I might try, but this seemed much easier.”

  “What seemed easier? What the hell are you up to?”

  “Nothing.” He smiled. “Montez is the one who’s doing it all. I’m just receiving.” He nodded down at the waterproof pocket of his scuba jacket. “And I’ve been receiving for the last five minutes.”

  “What’s happening, Cameron,” she said through her teeth. “Or so help me, I’ll hit you with this oar.”

  “So violent…” He raised the binoculars to his eyes again. “I planted a microchip GPS in Montez’s neck when I was examining him after you gave him that karate chop in the rain forest. It’s fairly powerful, and I knew I’d be able to detect his location from at least thirty miles.”

  Her eyes widened in shock. “You bastard. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I was feeling a little irritated about not being in control. I wasn’t entirely in agreement with your attitude with Montez, so I decided I’d do a little advance prep in case I decided to break free and go off on my own.” He lowered the binoculars again. “I almost did that a couple times, but I managed to be more patient than I thought I would.”

  “Patient? I never asked for your patience. I’ve just been trying to survive and keep people alive.”

  “I know that.” He tossed the binoculars aside. “And I left that part of it to you. I’ve been guarding and biding my time.” His eyes were glacier blue as they met her own. “But that’s all over. I know where you’re going with this, and I’m not trailing behind in your footsteps. We’re together; you’ll listen to me. If we argue, then I may go my own way, and you’ll have to adjust.”

  “And if I don’t?”

  “You will because I’m damn good, and you know it.” He slipped out of the boat and into the water. “Now stay here while I do a little reconnoitering on that island.”

  “Orders?”

  “You won’t argue about this one. If Santos caught you before you were ready to spring a trap, it would mean that he’d have Luke and the rest at his mercy.”

  He was right, she thought reluctantly. “And what about you?”

  “He doesn’t regard me as important in his plans.” He pushed away from the boat. “I’d deal with it. I’ll be back in forty-five minutes. If I’m not, go back to Port of Spain. I’ll join you there.”

  “How will you—”

  But he’d dove below the crystal aquamarine waters, and, minutes later, he was lost to view.

  * * *

  Thirty-five minutes.

  No shots.

  No sight of anyone on that strip of pristine beach.

  But that didn’t mean that Cameron hadn’t been captured.

  Anything could have happened to him on that island.

  But it wasn’t as if he were an amateur.
br />   He’s probably the most dangerous man either of us has ever seen, Hu Chang had said.

  But he wasn’t immortal, either.

  Get back here, damn you.

  Forty minutes.

  What if there were video cameras on those trees?

  It was possible.

  Forty-two minutes.

  Be safe, Cameron.

  Come back to me.

  How can I resist a touching invitation like that?

  Relief surged through her.

  You cut it close.

  Because I wanted to savor all that heartfelt feeling you’re broadcasting.

  You’ve savored it. Now get out of my mind.

  Just another minute. I’m enjoying it.

  Out.

  Laughter.

  And the next moment, he surfaced beside the boat.

  Blue eyes shining with mischief and recklessness.

  And life.

  Oh God, life.

  He hefted himself on board and settled on the seat across from her. “You’re being very revealing. I don’t even have to try to read you.” He reached for a towel and wiped drops of water from his face. “I … like it.”

  “Well, I don’t.” She picked up her oar. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Right.” He started rowing until it was safe to start the motor. “Though there’s not much chance of being seen from this side of the island. All the action is in the hills to the north.”

  “What action?”

  “A small palazzo structure tucked under all those palms. There’s a bunkhouse that would support maybe eight or ten men.” He paused. “And a granite tomb farther up on the hill. Still protected from view from the air.”

  “Like a cocoon ready to come alive.”

  “Neither Santos nor Delores are butterflies. But Santos is definitely there. I didn’t see him, but he’s there.”

  “Montez?”

  “He’s being kept in the bunkhouse, under guard.” He shot her a glance. “But I was able to inject a few words of wisdom to guide him in his dealings with Santos. I believe he’ll go along with them.”

  “What words of wisdom?”

  “Cooperation so that he’d have a certain amount of freedom. He already thought that you’d be coming for Santos, and I only told him to be ready.”

  “And he probably thought he was going crazy.”

  “No, but he might have believed he was hearing heavenly voices. Since I emphasized destruction of his archdemon, Santos, it was likely.”

  “All of that in forty-five minutes?”

  “I’m very efficient. And I didn’t want to be left behind,” he added slyly. “You can be very ruthless. I knew you’d hold me to my word and not give me one extra minute.”

  She wanted to push him overboard. “We’ve found Santos. We could notify Venable and have him ready for a strike.”

  “But you have no intention of doing that. You can’t control Venable’s actions, and you’d be afraid he’d move too soon and endanger Luke and the others.” He paused. “When we’re ready for a strike, it will be my men. We won’t have a problem of control with them.”

  “No, you’ve made it quite clear that you won’t give up control for any length of time.”

  “But I gave it up for quite a while for you,” he said quietly. “And I’ve never done that before for anyone.”

  And he’d done it because it was the only way that she’d accept his help. Which made it a gift all the more precious. Almost too precious for her to accept. “Should I believe you?”

  He nodded slowly. “Oh, yes, by all means, believe me, Catherine.”

  Maybe she would believe him. For now, for a little while. It would be … nice to have that feeling that she was special to a man as unique as Cameron. The world right now was frightening and uncertain. He might change overnight, and that safety net would be gone. She would probably soon realize that she had no need or right to link with Cameron in any way.

  But it wouldn’t hurt to listen, to watch, to let him a little closer.

  And hope the risk was worth it.

  She looked away from him. “So what are we going to do now?”

  “Over to you,” he said. “I wouldn’t presume to make a suggestion after taking over the action at the island. It’s your turn.”

  “How very kind.” She dipped her oar in the water. “Then we go back to Port of Spain, check into a hotel, you start getting your men down here and in position. We contact Dario and get his report on Dorgal’s destination and decide how we can use it. Then we talk about what comes next. Okay?”

  “Absolutely.”

  She smiled. “And you pretend that’s not exactly what you would have done anyway.”

  He smiled back at her. “That’s harder to do.”

  And in this moment, she didn’t care.

  It was enough to have him here beside her, smiling.

  It was enough that she wouldn’t be alone to face what was crashing toward her like a freight train.

  Santos only miles from her, waiting.

  Dorgal, who had to be stopped and eliminated before he could kill again.

  If it was not already too late.

  ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL

  ATLANTA, GEORGIA

  11:05 A.M.

  Move slowly, be casual, John Chalce told himself as he left the ICU. It was almost over, and everything had gone slick as glass. Now he had only to get down this hall to the elevator and take it to the parking deck.

  “Hey, John, you’re done a little early.” Nancy Rodham at the nurse’s station looked up from her computer. “How’s your dad doing?”

  “Great.” He grinned. “Thanks for asking. I’m taking him down to Florida this weekend and see if he can shake that cough.”

  “You’re a good guy.” Nancy looked back at her computer. “I see that Basle has changed MacGuire’s medication.”

  “Did he? I wouldn’t know. I’m just a humble orderly, and no one lets me even get close to meds. Fine with me. I’d hate the responsibility.” He punched the elevator button. Come quick, dammit. “She seemed a little groggy when I took the fresh blankets into her room.” And slipped the tasteless poison Dorgal had given him into the ice water that he’d helped her drink. It had worked as quickly as Dorgal had said it would.

  “She did?” Nancy frowned. “She’s been doing so well…”

  “Maybe it’s my imagination.” Eve Duncan and Joe Quinn were walking back from the waiting room toward the ICU. They were smiling. They wouldn’t be smiling for long. Where the hell was that elevator?

  At least that bastard Caleb wasn’t with them at the moment. The doctor had called him away as John had entered ICU. Seth Caleb gave him the creeps. He was always at his shoulder, staring at him with those piercing dark eyes.

  But not today. Today was John’s lucky day. Everything had gone just right.

  But it might all be going downhill. Eve Duncan and Joe Quinn had reached the door of the ICU. He could see Eve’s forehead wrinkle in a frown as she looked at Jane MacGuire, lying in the bed across the room.

  No. Too soon. Too soon.

  The doors of the elevator slid open.

  Yes.

  He jumped into the elevator and punched the button.

  As the doors started to close, he saw Eve Duncan stiffen. Her eyes widened. “Jane?”

  And then she screamed.

  * * *

  “Dead.” Eve ran across the room, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Joe…” Her arms went around Jane’s slack body. “No, it can’t be true.”

  “What’s wrong?” Nancy Rodham ran into the room. “The alarms just went off. Dead? You’ve got to be wrong. She was doing so well.” Her gaze went to the machine. “Shit.” She ran forward, picking up her phone she called the code. “You’ll have to leave,” she told Eve and Joe over her shoulder as she tore the cover off Jane. “We’ve got to try to save her.”

  “It’s too late,” Eve said, as the doctor ran into the room. Seth Caleb was righ
t behind him, his gaze on Jane’s face. “Leave her alone. Can’t you see? You can’t help her.” The tears were still flowing, and her voice broke. “My Jane’s dead.”

  CHAPTER

  14

  He still had time, John Chalce thought. It was going to be pure chaos in that ICU for the next five to ten minutes, and by that time, he’d be out of this parking garage and on his way to the airport.

  He unlocked his Ford Escort and threw open the driver’s side door.

  “Hello, Chalce.” Seth Caleb was suddenly beside the door. “In a hurry? Too bad. Because I don’t think you’re going anywhere.”

  “Oh, hi, Mr. Caleb. I’ve got to leave.” John moistened his lips. “I just received an emergency text from my dad. He’s not well, and he needs me.”

  “No, I need you more.” He stared him in the eye. “And I want you to stick around.”

  Those damn dark eyes were almost hypnotic, John thought. And with all the ferocity of a forest animal. He could feel the sweat begin to bead on the back of his neck. “Sorry.” He tried to get in the car. “Family, first.”

  Caleb slammed him against the car. “I’m sure Eve Duncan would agree with you. But not about your dear old dad. She’s very concerned about her daughter. There’s a big furor going on in ICU about Jane MacGuire. You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?”

  He shook his head.

  “I don’t believe you. You don’t know that they think she had a reaction to her medicine just when you left her room?” His eyes were blazing in his taut face. “She’s dead, Chalce.”

  “I’m sorry.” He tried to sound sincere. It was hard, with this beast looking at him as if he wanted to devour him. “She seemed like a nice lady. You seemed devoted to her.”

  “You have no idea.” His voice was soft, silky, but totally deadly. “I promised her that she wasn’t going to die, and here you come along and try to make a liar of me. That doesn’t please me, John Chalce.”

  “You think I had something to do with it? Why would I do that?”

  “Money. Drugs. A little of both? I don’t care about the reason. All I know is that Manuel Dorgal got to you.”

  “I don’t know any Manuel Dorgal.”

  “Yet I bet his name and number are on your cell phone.”