Chapter
16
Something was wrong.
Something was missing.
Cameron wasn’t with her.
Catherine’s eyes flew open.
No, he hadn’t left her. He was standing in front of the window staring out into the darkness.
Still naked, buttocks tight, shoulders back, and legs slightly parted.
“What are you looking at?” She raised herself on one arm. “Is it getting light?”
“No.” He looked over his shoulder. “Not for another hour or so.” He smiled. “I was just putting space between us, so that I could give you a little rest. But you didn’t doze long.”
Because she had grown so accustomed to his body next to her, in her, that it had disturbed her not to have him there. During those last hours, the sexual intensity had been unremitting, and they had not been able to get enough of each other. She had never known that animal wildness and mindless need. The various forms of exotic play he’d used to bring her to the edge of sexual madness had been fantastic and exhausting. She had never responded to anyone as she had Cameron. Even now, looking at him, she felt a heaviness and swelling in her breasts and a deep throbbing where his hands had brought her to climax so many times before he’d allowed himself to thrust inside her.
Madness, indeed. She drew a shaky breath and sat up on the couch. “I’ve got to get back to the house.”
“We have time.” He looked away from her again. “You didn’t let me share your mind. I wanted very badly to do that, Catherine. Were you that much afraid of me?”
“No, you were taking enough. You didn’t need to take that, too.”
“I would have given, not taken, Catherine. I could have taken anyway, but I didn’t want you to throw it back at me later. I’m trying hard. You don’t know how hard.” He turned and strolled toward her. “Let me show you that I can give. I want you again.”
She could see that. She looked away from him and got to her feet and turned to gather her clothes. “No, it’s over. I’m a woman with responsibilities. I don’t go creeping into a house at daybreak. Particularly not when my son is in that house.”
“I’ll be quick.” He was behind her and reached around to cup her breasts. “You want me, too.”
“Yes.” And if she stood here and let him touch and rub against her, she would give in to that need. She had been helpless before Cameron’s skill and her own sexual attraction toward him all night. It had to end. She stepped away from him. “But I don’t always do what I want.” She felt his gaze on her as she headed quickly toward the tiny bathroom at the back of the summerhouse. She closed the door and leaned against it. She’d give herself a few minutes before she washed and started to dress. God, she wanted to open the door and go out there and begin that sexual rhapsody all over again.
She wouldn’t do it.
Cameron was dangerous to her in too many ways.
She stepped to the vanity and began to run the water. It was over. Leave him and become Catherine Ling again.
Ten minutes later, she braced herself, opened the door, and came out of the bathroom. Cameron was sitting on the couch, still naked, gazing at her without expression.
“You’re still barefoot,” he said. “Your shoes are under the couch. I saw them a minute ago. You’d better put them on before you leave. Bare feet aren’t suitable for creeping into houses either. Much worse than the idea of coming in at the crack of dawn.”
“I was just coming out to get them.”
“I’ll do it.” He got up and picked up her shoes and brought them to her. “What sensible shoes.” He knelt down and picked up her foot and slipped them into the flat. “You have wonderful, shapely feet. I didn’t pay enough attention to them tonight. The feet have a number of pleasure zones.” His fingers moved teasingly on her instep as he put her other foot into the mate. “Next time.”
She didn’t answer as she turned toward the door. “You’ll let me know when you hear anything about Kadmus?”
“Of course; nothing has changed in that direction. I’ll do my job. You’ll do your job. Erin will be saved. Kadmus will die.” He was suddenly beside her and whirling her back against the door. His eyes were glittering, and he was no longer without expression. Anger. Frustration. Desire. Yes, definitely desire. “But everything has changed with us, hasn’t it, Catherine?” His voice was hoarse and clipped. “You can walk away, but you’re not going to forget me. You’re going to remember everything I did to you and with you. You’re going to know that every time I look at you, I’m going to remember the taste of your breasts and want to take them out and hold them. You’ll know that if I get a chance, no matter where we are, in a car or a room or even in a ditch, I’ll do what I did tonight. I knew I wasn’t going to have another chance for hours alone with you. But I’ll make do.” His lips covered her own, savage, open, taking, giving. “And you’ll want it and take me. Because neither one of us can help what we’re feeling.” He turned away. “Now go and be a good mother to Luke, a good friend to Hu Chang, Venable’s best agent. In the end, we’ll be together, and you’ll be just mine. I’ll try to stay away from you for a while so that I can look at you without showing how I’m feeling.” He added tightly, “Which probably won’t happen.”
“Cameron. I don’t—” There wasn’t anything to say, and the atmosphere was too charged. She had to get away from him. She turned, opened the door, and flew down the walk toward the house. She tried desperately to remember the code she’d been given for the back door.
Yes, that was it. She keyed in the numbers, and the door swung open.
She was inside in the darkness of the foyer.
She tried to catch her breath as she started for the staircase down the hall. She was passing the library, where she’d watched Luke and Hu Chang play chess all those hours ago. It seemed a century. She felt changed. Her body felt … riper. She had the odd sensation that Cameron was still with her, a part of her.
It would go away. It had to go away. She would wake in a few hours, and she would have a hell of a lot of erotic memories but not this feeling of being possessed.
But what if it didn’t go away?
* * *
Brasden received a phone call just as they were getting off the private jet at the airport in San Francisco. “Keep questioning him. He might have been paid to keep silent about Ling’s destination.” He hung up and turned to Kadmus. “Nagle found the taxi driver who picked up Sullivan, Ling, Hu Chang, and some kid at an airport north of the city. He took them to a destination in Chinatown. But he was told to let them out in front of a restaurant, and he saw them walking down the street as he was driving away.”
“No address?”
Brasden shook his head. “But a general location. Nagle is questioning everyone on the street and trying to pin it down. It’s reasonable that Ling would choose a safe house in an Asian neighborhood. She grew up in Hong Kong and must have local contacts.”
“Or maybe she’s trying to throw a red herring into the mix,” Kadmus said. “Who is to say she didn’t leave Chinatown after that taxi let them out?” He frowned. “A kid?”
“There was a kid that got on that helicopter on the mountain. There were several reports.”
“I thought maybe it was one of Erin’s village charity cases who she wanted to hide away from me. But she could have dropped him in Hong Kong. Why take him with her to the U.S.?”
Brasden was looking at the dossiers on his phone. “Catherine Ling has an eleven-year-old son, Luke.”
Kadmus chuckled. “And she would definitely take him out of my reach if she could. I’d gut the little son of a bitch. I’m just wondering why the hell he was with them on that mountain.” He shrugged. “But that doesn’t matter right now. He’s with her here in San Francisco, and that opens all kinds of possibilities. Erin Sullivan has a soft heart toward children. Maternal love would be a powerful weapon where Ling is concerned. I can use the kid.” He strode toward the car waiting by the hangar. “Find him.”
“I will.” Brasden strolled after him. “But there’s an order to these things. The kid will be with his mother, and we know she’s with Richard Cameron. After all, he’s your prime target. We’ll continue looking for the blue Mercedes Cameron used. When we find it, everything may come together. I would have thought you’d have learned that after all these years, Kadmus.”
“I’ve forgotten more than you’ve ever learned,” Kadmus said. “You’re going at it backwards. Find the kid. He was with Hu Chang and Sullivan in the taxi. Ling is going to have to leave him with someone if she’s not with him. If we grab the kid, Ling will hand us Cameron.”
Brasden was silent. “You may have a point. We’ll see how it goes.”
“It better go damn quick. Scour those streets in Chinatown and find someone who knows something.” Kadmus got in the passenger seat of the Cadillac. “And get me Ling’s cell-phone number. I want a way to contact her when I’m ready.”
“No problem.” Brasden got in the driver’s seat and started the car. “It will take a few hours, but I can get it.”
“You’re being very accommodating,” Kadmus said sarcastically. “What’s happening?”
“I don’t mind cooperating. I just had to make sure that you realized I had the upper hand. I told you, I want a percentage, not the entire pot. I’m willing to listen to you on occasion. I’d prefer to be the silent partner who skips away if the situation becomes too hot to handle.” He smiled maliciously. “And watches from a distance as they tear you limb from limb.”
Kadmus didn’t reply.
Smother the rage. It would only be for a little while. He would be able to deal with Brasden soon. He was getting closer all the time to the prize. They were in the same city as Cameron and Cameron could lead him to Shambhala.
And the key to Cameron was no longer Erin Sullivan, who had proved to be such a disappointment.
It was Catherine Ling and a boy named Luke.
* * *
“You slept later than I thought you would,” Hu Chang said when Catherine came into the dining room. “It’s nearly ten.”
“I was up late.” She sat down and poured herself a cup of tea. “Where’s Luke?”
“With Erin and Celia in the garden. He’s playing badminton with Celia.”
“What? Badminton? I can’t see him playing that. I always imagine women in old-fashioned long white gowns and big hats playing the game.”
“Badminton is an Olympic sport these days, and the play can become fairly intense. Not the way Celia plays it. She prefers it slow and easy. But she has a tiny garden, and badminton fits the area requirements. Besides, she likes the game.” He added dryly, “Of course, after playing with Luke, she may change her mind. He doesn’t know how to be slow and easy. And he can sometimes be overenthusiastic. He’s like that with every competition.”
“Did he beat you at chess last night?”
“No, but he came exceptionally close. He wanted to start playing after breakfast, but I told him to go outside and clear his mind.”
“I’ll take my tea and go out and join him.” She started to get up. “It may be the only time I get the chance before you take him back to that library.”
“Have your tea,” Hu Chang said. “You look like you need it.”
“Do I?” She smiled with an effort. “I’m fine.” It wasn’t the truth. She had woken an hour ago with a strange languor and a feeling of emptiness. It had filled her with panic. She did not want to have any lingering sensations from her time with Cameron. She wanted to be totally sharp and completely her own person. She had jumped out of bed, showered, dressed, and come down to face her world. “As I said, I had a late night. Cameron came to the house after I left you and Luke. He found the place he wants to set his trap for Kadmus.” She sat down again and lifted her cup to her lips. “It’s a fireworks factory on Clement Street. Moon, Stars, and Heavenly Wonders. Weird name, isn’t it? Three floors and shops on the street level. Cameron was already in the process of buying it from the owner, but wanted me to see it and make sure I was familiar with every floor.”
“Yes, very weird name. And did you examine it thoroughly?”
“Yes, of course. I won’t have any problems when the trap’s sprung.”
“No, I have the utmost confidence in you when it comes to overcoming problems of that sort.” He took a sip of his tea and leaned back in his chair. “But sometimes other problems of a more personal nature tend to challenge you. Did you face a few of those last night, Catherine?”
She met his eyes. Wise eyes, eyes that could see into her soul. She would not lie to him. “Yes.” She moistened her lips. “He makes me—I’ve never met anyone who—He’s different. I have to fight for control with him all the time. Sometimes I lose. I don’t like that, Hu Chang.”
“No, you wouldn’t.” He paused. “But evidently he sometimes loses, too. Can you imagine how difficult that must be for him? He’s the Guardian. He has to win. He was chosen and trained to win.”
“Then let him go and win with someone else.” She steadied her hand as she raised her cup to her lips. “I’m my own person. I can’t let him dominate me. I won’t let him take and take, no matter how I—” She stopped. “I don’t want to talk about him any longer. All I know is that we have to get Kadmus and make sure Erin is safe.” She got to her feet. “And we have to do it right away. I want to go home with Luke and be what I am and not what Cameron wants me to be.” She drank the last of her tea. She was already feeling better and more herself now that she had talked to Hu Chang and voiced her thoughts. “Now I’m going out to the garden and see my son. Do you want to come with me?”
“Delighted.” He rose to his feet and followed her toward the French doors. “I believe the sun is shining. We haven’t had much of that since we arrived. Celia always says this city is wonderful, but I could use less fog and more sun.”
The sun was shining. The brilliant rays were glinting on Luke’s dark hair as he leaped to hit the shuttlecock over the net at Celia. Catherine stood in the doorway, watching them for a minute.
Then Luke saw her and stopped. “Hi, Catherine. Want to play?”
She shook her head. “I’ve never played badminton.” She made a face. “I’ve never really learned to play any games. I didn’t have time when I was growing up.”
He grinned. “Neither did I. But I’ve been learning since you brought me home. Come and play. I’ll teach you.”
She stared at him in surprise.
“Yes, go on and play, Catherine,” Hu Chang murmured.
Come and play. I’ll teach you.
Was a door opening? She had been the one teaching Luke since they’d rescued him from Rakovac. She’d tried to supply all he needed and give him everything he’d missed. But he’d told her that she had to accept him for what he was.
Now he wanted to teach her.
Did he mean come and play, be my friend, not my mother, not my teacher? She didn’t care if she was overanalyzing it. She’d take it.
She smiled and started toward him. “You probably just want to have an easy mark. Celia looked like she was pretty good.”
“I’ve been savaged. Your son is a whirlwind.” Celia grimaced. “Please, take over for me.”
Catherine took the racquet Celia handed her. “Okay, Luke, show me how to play this game.”
* * *
“She’s not very good at this, is she?” Cameron asked Hu Chang from where he stood at the French doors. His gaze was on Catherine across the garden. She was laughing, her cheeks flushed, and she leaped forward, then sent the ball into the net. “I’m surprised. She’s always seemed so competent at everything.”
“She’s only been at this for a couple hours,” Hu Chang said quietly. “And she doesn’t care if she doesn’t win. She’s playing with her son. She figures she’s already won.”
“I can see that.” Cameron had never seen her like this. She looked almost as young as Luke. No wariness, no edge, just pleasure. He felt a surge of warmth that was rare for him. “I … like it.”
“She doesn’t care if you like it or not,” Hu Chang said. “And I like her like this, too. I don’t want her disturbed.”
Cameron’s glance shifted from Catherine to his face. “Do I detect antagonism?”
“I haven’t decided. I usually don’t interfere with Catherine’s choices. But you seem to have pulled out all the stops, and you’re very formidable.” He added thoughtfully, “Now, if you’d just walk away, it would solve a lot of confusion.”
“I’m not going to walk away.”
“Then I’ll just have to observe the situation and see if she regains her equilibrium. I believe that will be the way to handle it. Everything may resolve itself.”
“And if it doesn’t?”
“The usual conflict that occurs between men such as us.”
“I would regret that.” He meant it. Those months with Hu Chang had brought him both relief and camaraderie. “I’ve not met anyone in all my years as Guardian whom I respect as much as I do you.”
“And I also. I do not know whether you’re right or wrong, but there are few men in this weary world who would battle so hard for a cause. I found it refreshing. I would hate to remove you.” He smiled. “But we will not discuss this yet. Catherine is in no danger of hurt while she concentrates on saving Erin. I assume you came to talk to her about plans to do that?”
“Yes.” His gaze went back to Catherine, and he felt again that strange warmth. He wanted to keep her smiling with that childlike enthusiasm. “But I can tell you as well. She’s busy.”
Hu Chang’s brows rose. “Interesting. And unusual for you. I believe that’s a step back.”
“Perhaps you don’t read me as well as you think.” He turned to face him. “I’ve had a report from Blake. Kadmus and Brasden arrived here a few hours ago.”
“Kadmus. Then you did manage to draw him here. How did you know he’d arrived?”
“Blake bribed one of Nagle’s team to come over to his camp. He’ll be very useful.”
“Without question,” Hu Chang said. “What comes next?”
“We bait the trap. I’m moving Catherine, Erin, and you to the fireworks factory tomorrow night. She told you about it?”
“Yes. What about Luke?”
“He stays here with Celia, where I can surround him with protection. I’ll have Blake assign several of his best men to him.”
“You may have trouble with that plan. Luke will want to protect Catherine.”
“He’ll have to forget it. I’ll try to find something for him to do that will be safe. I gave her my word I’d take care of him.”
“Indeed? Then I’ll gladly leave that task to you. After all, you are the Guardian.” Hu Chang’s tone verged on mockery. “And I assume that the man you have in Nagle’s camp will be able to give us warning when Kadmus intends to attack.”
“Yes.” He paused. “And also give Kadmus any information I might want him to have.”
“What information?”
“I’ll have to see. No plan is foolproof, there’s always ebb and flow. Just when you think every detail is set, something comes along to blow it apart.” He gave one last look at Catherine and turned away. “Tell her I’ll get back to her with any new info.”
“Or you can let me know. I’m always here for you, Cameron.”
“Or for Catherine.” Cameron smiled recklessly over his shoulder. “Always for Catherine.” He strode through the hall toward the front door. “But I don’t like to take steps back. I believe next time, I’ll deal with the lady herself.”
* * *
“Thursday. Tomorrow night,” Erin repeated the words after Catherine. She shivered. “Tomorrow night, Kadmus will be dead. Tomorrow, I can go back to living a normal life. It doesn’t seem possible.”
“It’s possible.” She added firmly, “It’s going to happen, Erin. Cameron set it up, and he may be many things that irritate the hell out of me, but, according to Hu Chang, he doesn’t make mistakes. He’s a master manipulator.”
Erin smiled faintly. “I know. But he never tried to manipulate me, Catherine. You’ve always accused him of being responsible. How can I convince you that he only gave me a choice, a wonderful choice?”
“That caused you months of imprisonment and torture.” She held up her hand as Erin opened her lips to speak. “I believe you … sometimes. When I’m far away from Cameron and not exposed to all that power and charisma.”
“You keep struggling against him.” Erin shook her head. “Relax and trust him, Catherine. You’re a good deal alike. You could understand him if you gave him a chance.”
She only understood the power and the hypnotizing force of both his body and personality. There was no way she could relax or trust Cameron. Yes, they were alike, but there was a secret place within both of them that neither would surrender. “I trust that he’ll get the job done in setting the trap for Kadmus. That’s the only thing that’s important.” She turned and headed for the staircase. “Now I need to shower and change. That son of mine showed no mercy, and I feel like a wrung-out dishrag.”
“But you enjoyed it,” Erin said quietly. “And so did he. It was nice to watch the two of you.”
“Yes, I enjoyed it.” She had felt younger than Luke as she had played. “And maybe next time, I’ll be able to take that rascal.”
“I was so busy laughing at the two of you that I didn’t even notice Cameron talking to Hu Chang.”
“Neither did I.” She started up the stairs. She couldn’t decide if she was relieved or disappointed that Cameron had not waited and spoken to her.
Relieved, of course.
“Catherine.”
She looked down at Erin still standing in the hall.
“Trust him,” she urged softly. “I’m not blind. I’ve been trained to watch and listen and draw conclusions. Your relationship will never be the same as mine with Cameron. There’s nothing cerebral or spiritual in what you are together. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t give him what he needs.” She paused. “He’s very much alone, Catherine.”
“His choice. He’s the Guardian.” She turned and started climbing the steps again. “And I can’t imagine anything worse than giving up my life and career to trail behind him when I don’t even believe in what he’s doing.” She glanced down as she reached the top step. “And you evidently didn’t either. You refused him when he tried to recruit you for Shambhala.”
“I’m not sure I would now.” Erin smiled. “I’ve been thinking about it. I’m stronger than that day he gave me the choice.”
“Then you go and keep the arrogant bastard from being lonely.”
“That wouldn’t be my job. As he explained it, I would have my own duties and rewards.” She turned away. “It sounded … wonderful.”
Catherine shook her head as she opened the door to the bedroom. She could see how Erin would embrace a life of giving herself to the cause of peace. She was as much a peacemaker as Catherine was a warrior.
“Catherine.”
She turned to see Luke standing at his bedroom door. His hair was wet from the shower, and he was smiling. “You did good that last game.”
“Liar. But I’ll get better. When we get home to Louisville, I’ll start practicing.”
“It’s not really worth it. What about tennis?”
“What? I’m just learning badminton.”
“Sam has been teaching me tennis for the past couple months. I’ll show you what he’s taught me.”
“Whatever.” She smiled at him. “It will be fun. You’re opening new doors for me, Luke.”
“I … liked it. I’m glad we came here.” He moved past her and started down the steps. “I’ve got to go down to the library and meet Hu Chang. You’ve been pretty busy. Are you going to be here for dinner?”
“Yes, but you’ll be so absorbed, you won’t even know I’m here.”
He didn’t look back. “I’ll know, Catherine.”
She felt a warmth surge through her as she watched him go down the steps. He had said he was glad they had come here. He was so resilient that he was able to ignore the bad and embrace the good. It was a great gift. She couldn’t say that she was glad. Last night with Cameron had shaken her world, and the looming danger was terrifying.
But for these few hours with Luke, she had been so happy that all the tension and worry seemed worth it. It had brought them together and even cast a glow on the future.
So maybe it had been worthwhile coming to Celia’s house. But now she had to concentrate on getting out of this house and doing what she had come to this city to do. It would be—
Her cell phone rang, and she glanced at the ID. Venable. She punched the access. “No, I haven’t dropped Erin Sullivan, and I’m not going to do it. Have you changed your mind?”
“No, I’m right, and you’re wrong,” he said. “I called to tell you that your private access information has been breached. It was done by someone who was good and had contacts in the Agency.”
“Kadmus?”
“Possibly. Whoever it was wanted your telephone number very badly.”
“Evidently, I may be about to be contacted,” Catherine said. “I’m flattered. I’ve been pretty much ignored since I snatched Erin. I must have made more of an impression on the bastard than I thought.”
“Enough to be targeted. Be careful, Catherine.”
“My phone is blocked. He can’t track me unless I actually pick up. That means I won’t be able to pick up while I’m in this house with the others.” She was thinking quickly, sorting out options. “But he wants contact. I need to give him what he wants. Can you put a tracking device on my phone for the next twenty-four hours so that I can grab his signal?”
“I’ve already done it.”
“Thanks, Venable.” She hung up.
What did Kadmus want from her beside the obvious? Revenge? Information? She was clearly going to find out.
And what then?
Go after Kadmus herself? Or stick with Cameron’s plan for tomorrow night? Tomorrow night might be too late. She had an idea that Kadmus was impatient and hungry. Impatient men were prone to mistakes. Cameron has set up his scenario and just assumed she would go along with it. Maybe she would. But she would have to think about it and maybe do a little reconnoitering of her own.
Her phone rang. Private number.
Is that you, Kadmus? Probably. But you can’t have me. Not yet.
He was as impatient as she’d thought. But if he’d called once, he’d call again.
Soon.
And she’d be ready for him.
CHINATOWN
CLEMENT STREET
WEDNESDAY
9:35 P.M.
Call me, Kadmus.
She gazed at her reflection in a shop window that sold Chinese toys. Pretty, genteel toys. Nothing Luke would appreciate. She didn’t look very genteel herself. She had aimed at appearing to be a casual tourist. She wore a loose white blouse, had bound her hair up beneath a colorful scarf, and was wearing large tortoiseshell glasses.
Call me, Kadmus.
She’d been moving around Chinatown for the last hour, waiting for a call that had not come. Though she had stayed principally in the alleyways and away from anywhere that she might be recognized. It was irritating that Kadmus had not seen fit to call when she was perfectly placed now.
Four blocks from the fireworks factory.
A good sixteen blocks from Celia’s house.
If Kadmus tapped her phone, he would definitely trace her to this area, and it would be a smooth way to make a connection to the factory if they decided to use Cameron’s plan. It might be assumed she’d come from the factory safe house.
And the distance to Celia’s house should be safe for everyone there.
Just call and get this over with, Kadmus.
Five minutes later, the phone rang.
Private number.
Be cool. No eagerness.
She let it ring three times before she picked up. “Is that you, Kadmus? I hear you’ve been exceptionally inquisitive. I’m flattered you think that I’m worth all the money you must have spent.”
“I’m only going to talk for a few minutes,” Kadmus said. “I know you probably have a trace, bitch.”
“And you don’t? Talk, Kadmus.”
“I want Cameron. You’re going to give him to me.”
“He’s not mine to give. Find him yourself.”
“You were with him when you took that scumbag, Jack Sen, from the hospital. What did Cameron promise you to help him? Money? Treasure? Death to your enemies? He’s very good at promises. But don’t bank on his keeping them. I’ve already killed one man he promised to take under his wing.”
“Did you torture him as you did Erin?”
“Yes, the fool killed himself rather than betray Cameron.” He paused. “I should have gone another route and tortured his children. But I learn from my mistakes.”
She tensed. “What are you saying?”
“You have a son, and you have him with you. You apparently can’t bear to be parted from him. Give me Cameron or I’ll not only kill your boy, I’ll cut him into pieces … very slowly.”
She drew a deep breath, trying to suppress the anger … and fear. “You bastard. Luke has nothing to do with this.”
“I really don’t care,” Kadmus said. “I’ll take him, or Erin Sullivan, or your friend, Hu Chang. Anyone who stands in my way. You stand in my way, Ling.”
“You can’t touch him. You have no idea where he is now.”
“I’ll find out. I have photos of all of you. I have men searching the city. I’ll find your Luke, then you’ll come begging to trade Cameron. But it might be too late. If I find Cameron first, I won’t have a use for the boy. He’ll be in my way, and I’ll kill him.” He added persuasively, “What do you care about Cameron? Let me have him and keep your son. I’m hanging up now. I’ll call you tomorrow evening. By that time, I should have my sights on you. It might be your last chance to deal.” He hung up.
Move!
Three minutes would have been enough for him to get a fix on her location. There would be someone here within a few minutes or less.
She accessed the tracking device as she started trotting down the street, then ducked into the alley. It gave her a general location somewhere near the park but had not had time to pinpoint the exact location, dammit. She hadn’t really expected to get lucky. She ducked into an alley and ran toward the brightly lit street at the other end. Stay away from Celia’s and keep running until Kadmus’s men gave up the search.
Run.
Don’t get near Luke until it was safe.
Oh, God, when would it be safe for him?
That bastard, Kadmus. He had meant it when he’d said he’d chop him into pieces. Look what he’d done to Erin.
Watch.
Run.
She darted in and out of alleys and streets for the next ten minutes.
She finally stopped and drew a deep breath. She’d not seen any signs of pursuit, but that didn’t mean that she was free to go back to the house. Give it another ten minutes.
“Or fifteen.”
She whirled to see Cameron walking down the alley toward her.
She could only see him dimly, but his grim expression was not to be mistaken. She braced herself. “Ten should be enough. I haven’t seen any signs of Kadmus’s men.” She moistened her lips. “And I do have on a disguise.”
“Not much of one.” He stopped before her. “That scarf only makes you look more exotic.”
“I considered wearing a wig, but I decided the scarf looked more casual. I think it works.” Why was she standing here talking to him about wigs? she thought impatiently. “Why are you here?”
“Because you’re here,” he said roughly. “And because you didn’t see fit to tell me that you were playing Kadmus alone.”
“It was a recent development. I thought it had potential.” She paused. “I don’t have to ask how you knew about it.”
“It was too dangerous trusting you to be cool and reasonable after last night. I had to know what you were thinking.” He added, “And what you were doing.”
“And you found out. I’m sure you eavesdropped on my conversation with that bastard.” Her lips twisted. “Am I a threat to you, Cameron? Kadmus wants to use me as one, and he’s determined to find my Achilles’ heel. What do you generally do to threats?”
“That wouldn’t apply. It’s not the same.”
“You’d destroy them.”
“It’s not the same,” he repeated.
“No? Then what should I do if Kadmus does get his hands on Luke and wants me to hand you over to him?”
“Do as he said—betray me and save your son.”
“No!” Her eyes widened in stunned horror. She had not expected that answer. “That’s not acceptable either. You’re the Guardian and supposed to be able to solve all this kind of ugliness. What good are you?”
“Good enough to take on Kadmus. So betray me and let me do it. But that won’t happen. I promised you that I’d take care of your son.”
“Kadmus said that your promises aren’t worth a damn.”
“He lied.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I think I know, Cameron.”
“He shook you. He made you afraid,” Cameron said harshly. “I could feel him doing it. I wanted to kill him.”
“So did I.” She smiled with an effort. “I hate being afraid. I can usually control it. But there’s no rhyme or reason about any threat to Luke. I react instinctively.” She straightened her shoulders. “And I can take care of my own son, Cameron. You go take care of yourself. I was hoping against hope that I might be able to zero in on Kadmus’s location, but that didn’t happen. Which means we’ll have to go along with the plan for tomorrow night.” She started to turn away. “Now I’ll go back to Celia’s. I found a roundabout way to get there when I was wandering around waiting for Kadmus’s call that should be safer.” She looked back at him. “I suppose you were tuned in to that, too?”
He didn’t answer.
She shrugged. “It doesn’t matter.”
“Everything matters.” His hand was on her wrist, whirling her to face him. He tore the scarf from her hair and the glasses from her face and tossed them on the ground. Then she was in his arms, pressed against his body, his hand cupping the back of her head against his chest. “When it’s between us.”
Her heart leaped, and she went still. No, don’t touch me. Don’t let it be like last night. She was feeling vulnerable enough right now.
“Shh.” He was rocking her, his face buried against her temple. “I only want to hold you, help you. Don’t fight me.”
She couldn’t fight him. He had never been like this with her. He was showing her the same exquisite tenderness she had seen him show Erin that night at the hot springs. It was like being stroked with velvet, and that tenderness was flowing into her and taking out all the pain.
“If you’d just accept me, I’d never let you be hurt again,” he said thickly.
Just one more minute, then she’d step away from him. “Oh, yes, that would be just fine,” she said unevenly. “No responsibility for what I do or the safety of my son. All I have to do is act like a robot and permit you to run my life.”
“It’s not like that.”
“I think it is. It’s like your damn committee, who are trying to bring peace as they perceive it to the world. They do it by stealing brains and talent and cocooning the chosen to wait for the rest of us to destroy ourselves.” She moved away from him. “Only I wouldn’t be chosen, Cameron. I’d rather be in the trenches trying to keep the bombs from falling and the madmen from inheriting the Earth.”
“So did I at one time.” He didn’t try to touch her again, but she felt as if she could still feel his hands on her, hear his heart beneath her ear. His eyes were glittering, and the tenderness was no longer there. Intensity. Passion. Lust. This was the Cameron of last night, and she could feel her body begin to respond in the same way. He said recklessly, “And screw the committee, I choose you. No one would question me.”
“I’m sure they wouldn’t. You seem to be all-powerful in their eyes.” She turned away and grabbed her scarf and glasses from the ground where he’d thrown them. “Well, I don’t choose you.”
He wasn’t following her as she’d thought he might. He stood watching her as she hurried away from him.
“You will, Catherine,” he called softly. “You will.”