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.
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?”