Accidental Bodyguard (8 page)

Claudia looked down at the card, which contained Marsali's first name and a phone number in a lovely, flowing script. The same fragrance emanating from its owner floated up from the card.

“Thank you,” Claudia said.

“But of course,
cherie
. We women must stick together.”

Claudia glanced at Jack. He watched Marsali with hands on his hips and narrowed eyes.

“Now, I really must be off or risk being late,” Marsali said. “Do you require something else, Jackson?”

“Just your promise not to mention Louise.”

“Oui.”
Marsali placed an expertly manicured hand over her heart and said, “I promise to tell no one about Louise.”

Jack held up the fur, and Marsali slipped her arms into the sleeves.

“Thanks for coming, Marsali.”

“My pleasure.” She patted Jack's cheek with her long, graceful fingers, and exited in a sweep of expensive perfume.

Jack moved to the monitor, and Claudia followed him. Marsali appeared on the screen and gracefully entered a long, black limo just outside the gate. Of course she wouldn't drive around in a golf cart. Not Marsali. A uniformed chauffeur—complete with a hat—closed the door and disappeared.

When the limo drove out of sight, Jack relocked the gate and armed the security system.

“Don't worry about the chauffeur,” Jack said. “He's been with the Winthrops for years and is very well paid.”

Claudia nodded. “Do you believe her?”

“Yes,” Jack said. “She didn't mention you to anyone. And she wouldn't forget. She's not that kind of woman.”

“So you know her well?” Claudia couldn't resist asking.
Even I'm entranced by her, for heaven's sake. She's like a force of nature.

Jack smiled. “Let's just say I know what kind of woman she is.”

Part of Claudia longed to pursue that comment, but now was not the time to worry about Jack's relationship with the enigmatic Marsali. He wasn't her boyfriend. Just someone she hoped would help her. Would he?

“So how did they find me?”

Obviously deep in thought, Jack stared into the monitor, which now only showed the gate. “Could they have planted a tracking device somewhere?”

“I didn't take anything from my apartment. I even destroyed my old cell phone.”

“What about your car? I got the impression you've had that vehicle awhile.”

She nodded. “I can't afford a new one, but I looked for a bug if that's what you mean. I even crawled underneath with a flashlight.”

“Did you have the car swept?”

“Swept,” she whispered, horror dawning.
Oh, my God. The demon car.

“Electronically searched.” Jack shook his head. “Bugging your vehicle is the most obvious way to track your movements. Don't you read the paper?”

Claudia narrowed her eyes at his sarcastic tone, knowing he was parroting her words about the government. “I don't have a bug sweeper. I wouldn't even know where to get one.”

“Fortunately, I do. Where is the vehicle?”

“In Mr. Santaluce's garage.”

“This will take some time. I'll have to retrieve the device from the security office. Arm and rearm the security system each time I buzz.”

Clutching her elbows, Claudia nodded and resisted the urge to beg him not to go. Despite all her precautions, Carlos had found her. Terror clawed at her insides, and Jack's presence calmed her fear. Which made no sense.

At the monitor, she watched him exit the gate and immediately rearmed the system. She moved away and began to pace. Now that Jack was gone, she needed to think.

How could she trust a man she didn't know? Sure, he seemed honorable, had been nice to her, but she knew nothing about him. And why should he trust
her
? She'd lied her way onto the island, and he'd quickly sniffed out her deception. He'd seen right through her disguise and even the second lie, yet was still willing to help her.

Why? Carlos had taught her everyone had a motive for everything they did. What was Jack's?

Of course he didn't understand why she wasn't in protective custody, but Jack had no idea what life was like with Carlos. No one did. Her husband had warped her somehow, created an inability to trust. He'd taught her a lot—mainly to rely on nobody.
Nobody but myself.

Too bad her brilliant plan had put her in a corner with nowhere to go.

You are under my protection.
She remembered Jack's words, and they gave her hope. But the US Attorney had said the same thing, and his office had a leak.

So why did she believe in Jack and not the feds? Because he was all sexy and gorgeous? Was her lustful nature about to do her in again? She didn't dare trust herself when she'd made so many mistakes in the past. She had completely misjudged Carlos.

Was she misjudging Jack?

Right now she had no choice. She had to accept his help even if she didn't trust him.

And, yes, she wanted him to stay the night with her as Marsali had suggested he do...but only for protection. If he was with her, he couldn't report to Carlos.

She just needed to get over her attraction to Jack.

* * *

J
ACK
RAN
THE
sweeper wand around the body of Claudia's rusted car and got a hit almost immediately. No question, this was how the Warriors had tracked her to Collins Island.

He shook his head at Claudia's ineffective method of cleaning her car. A visual search? She wasn't a pro and wouldn't know what she was looking for.

Jack went through his options quickly. If he left the tracking device in place and got her off the island in a different vehicle, the Warriors would believe she remained here and still try to get to her. That solved nothing. If he destroyed the bug, they'd wonder why it had stopped transmitting and keep attempting to breach security.

The best way to protect both Collins Island and Claudia would be to drive the car off the island with the device in place and working. He'd abandon the vehicle and let the Warriors track it down. The safest plan would be to drive it into one of the many canals in south Miami-Dade County so they couldn't plant an explosive device that might injure some innocent citizen on detonation.

Another option would be to inform the US Attorney's Office and let them handle the mess they'd created. But how long would it take the feds to act? Would they require an act of Congress to amend the budget? He wanted that bug off his island ASAP and the Warriors looking elsewhere for a while.

At least until he could figure out what to do with Claudia.

His associates could destroy the car once off the island, but an explosion would attract too much attention, including law enforcement, and Claudia wanted to remain under their radar. He couldn't help but think that was a mistake; she should be in protective custody. But the most important thing right now was to relocate the bug and misdirect the attention of her ex's people. He'd tighten security and persuade Claudia to accept federal protection.

Jack placed a call to Lola and detailed the situation. “I want you to send two operatives,” he told her. “One to drive Claudia's vehicle off the island, get rid of it, and the other for transport back. Tell them to be ready for anything.”

“Excellent plan, Jack, but I'm short of people tonight. For God's sake, it's Saturday night in our busiest time of year. Everyone is on assignment.”

“What about you?” Jack asked. He waited through a long pause, wondering how she'd react to his suggestion. Lola didn't go into the field anymore. No one knew why, but in his analysis this scenario warranted an exception.

“Be on the eleven o'clock ferry with that damn car,” she said. “I'll be waiting on the Miami side to follow you.”

“Thanks, Lola.”

“This won't stop the Warriors,” Lola said. “They're crazy. And my sources tell me Carlos Romero is a certifiable psychopath.”

“Understood.”

“Could there already be a bomb in the vehicle?” Lola asked.

Jack stared at Claudia's demon car. “I've swept for explosives. It's clean but for the tracker.”

“We need to harden security on the ferry.”

“Handled. I'm confident they won't get on the ferry, but I want you to assign operatives to patrol the island 24/7 in our ocean cruiser until this situation is resolved. There's already been one landing on the beach. There could be another or an attempt to dock at the marina.”

“Done,” Lola said. “The boat patrol will start at daylight when I have people.”

“We probably have a day or two,” Jack said, moving out of the garage back to the cabana. “But when the Warriors realize what's happened, they'll come back here to pick up her trail.”

“The Warriors for Self Rule,” she said wonderingly. “Your instincts were right on, Jack, as usual.”

“I wish I'd been wrong.”

After a pause Lola said, “What are you going to do about Claudia Romero?”

“She's divorced,” Jack said. “Her name is Goodwin now, and I don't know what I'm going to do about her yet.”

“She's the feds' problem, Jack. You should turn her over to them.”

“Can't do that. She'll rabbit and get herself killed.”

“Why would she run?”

“She doesn't trust anyone to protect her,” Jack said.
Not even me.
“She believes the US Attorney's Office has a leak. That's why she came to Collins Island. She thought she'd be safe.”

Lola cursed.

“My priority is to get the Warriors' attention away from Collins Island for a while, redirect their focus,” Jack said. He'd arrived at Claudia's front door. “I'll decide about Ms. Goodwin later.”

“Don't take too long,” Lola said. “Or I'll make the decision for you.” She disconnected.

Jack took a deep breath. Would she do it? Lola had contacts everywhere. Would she alert the US Attorney's Office to where their witness was located? With Claudia in the wind, the prosecutors were likely frantic with worry.

Lola's warning sharpened his dilemma into focus. What the hell was he going to do about Claudia?

He definitely knew what he wanted to do with her lush body, but now wasn't the time to start extracurricular activities with her. He needed to stay alert to thwart the danger she posed to Collins Island.
That
was his job. And he didn't need any distractions.

He knew one thing. He wasn't going to abandon her to the Warriors. It took a lot of courage to step up and provide evidence to convict Romero. She was a good woman, doing the right thing to bring her murdering ex to justice.

But damn. He shook his head. How could she have married a psychopath like Romero? Maybe he had promised her a life of ease. Maybe she
had
been looking for a sugar daddy and picked the wrong one.

Her reasons weren't his problem. Protecting the residents of this island was, and Romero's dangerous followers had tracked her here. They wouldn't give up until they'd silenced Claudia, no matter how many innocent citizens they killed in the process.

He whirled at a rustling near the pool, going for his gun.

A tawny cat leaped from a lounge chair into the foliage, no doubt after a lizard. Jack relaxed.

This island had a lot of access points. He couldn't search each vehicle that boarded the ferry, demand the residents open their trunks, patrol every dock, control every inch of the beach. A skilled, motivated commando could slip onto the island and find Claudia.

No matter how good the security, he'd need an army to protect her.

CHAPTER SEVEN

C
LAUDIA
STARED
AT
the actors moving across the television screen, oblivious to the old sitcom jokes. She'd muted the sound, needing to remain alert to the slightest noise. Carlos's Warriors had found her. She couldn't stay here and put all the people on this island in danger.

What was taking Jack so long? Her Glock rested beside her on the sofa, cold and hard beneath her palm. The gun should make her feel secure, but she wanted to scream in frustration.
How could I have been so stupid to believe my car was safe?

At Jack's prearranged knock, Claudia grabbed the gun and hurried to the door to confirm the identity of her visitor.

By the grim set of Jack's mouth, he didn't bring good news.

She flung open the door, glad to see him no matter what the report.

“Tell me,” she demanded.

Jack entered quickly, repocketing a phone. “Just as I feared. They found you with a tracking device.”

“Did you get rid of it?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“They already know where you are. What good would that do?”

“Then what—”

“An associate of mine will arrive within the hour to help me take your car and its bug off the island. Hopefully, that will misdirect Romero's people for a while.”

“Where will you take it?”

“We'll dump it in a canal near Homestead.”

“What? No. That's my car. I
need
my car.”

His mouth quirked. “I thought you hated that car.”

“But I need to move. It's not fair to the residents to stay here. Can't you just remove the bug and let me—”

“Think about it, Claudia,” Jack interrupted. He placed his hands around her upper arms. “They know that vehicle. You can never use it again.”

She stared at him. How could he look so calm? But of course his life hadn't unraveled. He wasn't being stalked by terrorists. He didn't realize he was taking away her last link to freedom, to independence. Not only was she homeless, but now she didn't have transportation. She might find another junker with the small amount left in her savings, but that purchase would give away her location.

She didn't dare turn to anyone for help or she'd put them in danger, too.

With a sob, Claudia moved to the sofa. She felt empty, brittle, like she would break if she moved too fast. She sat down carefully. She couldn't think, but she needed to think.

“What am I going to do?”

“Didn't the US Attorney's Office offer you a safe house until the trial?”

“Yes,” she whispered, dread consuming her at the thought of putting herself under the control of the federal government.

“Why won't you accept that protection?”

Staring at the tile floor, she said, “I told you. Carlos has someone on the inside that feeds him information about the prosecutor's actions.”

Jack sat beside her, making the cushion dip. “You're sure the feds have a leak?”

“Even the prosecutor thinks so. Reese Beauchamps, the US Attorney, told me Carlos knew he was going to be arrested before the FBI came. He knew the time and the place.” Claudia raised her head and met Jack's gaze. He looked worried.
Welcome to my world.

“But Reese hasn't been able to find the leak,” she continued. “How do I know the person I contact isn't the traitor or won't tell the traitor? Or what if Reese tells the wrong person?”

He shook his head. “You don't trust anyone, do you?”

“I trust my family,” she said softly, moisture flooding her eyes at the thought of her mother.

“Do they know where you are?”

“No. I don't dare involve them. It's too dangerous.” Claudia tried to swallow away her tears, but she'd been holding them back for too long. “I know my mother is sick with worry. My dad, too.” Her voice broke, and she covered her face with her palms.

“Hey.”

“And now I'm putting the people on this island in jeopardy.”

“Come here.” Jack wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against him.

She went willingly, resting her cheek against his muscled warmth. She didn't have the strength to resist even if she wanted to. Closing her eyes, she wished she could stay snuggled in Jack's embrace forever and forget she'd ever agreed to testify against Carlos. But she couldn't. She had to get off this island before more people were murdered by her ex's terrorist friends.

She took a deep breath to regain control. This wasn't like her, weeping against the shoulder of a man she barely knew, a man she knew better than to put any faith in. She'd always prided herself on being the strong one, able to remain for hours by the bedside of a frightened, sick child to provide comfort.

Who would have ever guessed that a man built like Jack Richards would try to soothe anybody? His hands appeared too large, too powerful for tender movements, yet he stroked her head in gentle, if awkward, consolation.

“You're okay,” he murmured.

She didn't respond. She didn't want to admit to him or herself that being held in his arms did somehow reassure her. His heart beat steadily beneath her ear and his masculine aftershave enveloped her senses. Her sweet gladiator. How bizarre.

“I think you should call your folks,” he said.

Of all the things she'd expected to come out of his mouth next, that wasn't one of them.

“But what if they have a trace on my parents' phone?” she protested.

“They probably do, but the Warriors already know you're here, so you're not giving anything away. You can tell your folks you're alive, and that will be one worry off your mind.”

She opened her eyes. Yes, that would be one less thing to obsess about. “Okay,” she murmured, but not moving. “Good idea.”

“Also tell them that you're relocating, but don't say where.”

“So the Warriors won't be surprised when the bug moves,” she said, grasping his reasoning. “They'll be expecting it and leave this island alone for a while.”

“For a while,” Jack cautioned. “When they don't find you, they'll come back here to try to pick up your scent.”

“I know,” she whispered, her voice sounding bleak to her own ears.

“I'm not going to let anything happen to you,” Jack said, the certainty of his voice settling over her like a warm blanket, calming her.

She wanted to trust him. She wanted to just let him handle everything. But she couldn't.

She hadn't trusted anyone in a long time.

* * *

I'
M
NOT
GOING
to let anything happen to her? Have I lost my freaking mind?

Jack wondered what possessed him to make such a promise to this woman. Yeah, she was under his protection while on the island, but she obviously had to go. She knew it, and he knew it.

But he also knew he wouldn't—couldn't—send her off to face the Warriors without his help.

Was it her vulnerability, her earthy beauty? The silky softness of her hair beneath his hand? Her courage for agreeing to testify against a violent terrorist, a man she'd once been married to? Damned if he knew. The clients he protected paid good money to the Alliance. Up front. And the check had to clear first.

But something about this woman had gotten under his skin.

She raised her head and met his gaze. Jack's gut clenched at her tears, but she swiped them away impatiently.

“You don't know Carlos Romero,” she said, collapsing back against the cushions.

“I've known plenty of men like him,” Jack said. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. “Men who are mean and angry for no good reason.”

She took the hankie, dabbed at her eyes, then blew her nose. “Thanks,” she said.

“So a government safe house is definitely out?” Jack asked her.

“That's a death sentence,” she replied. “I might as well hand myself over to them right now.”

“Did you have a backup plan if your Collins Island experiment failed?”

“I'm still working on that,” she said, lifting her chin, a touch of humor now in her blue eyes. “But if you take my car, it kinda complicates any relocation idea.”

“Yeah, I see your problem.” Her small attempt to cut the tension made Jack even more determined to help her. She refused to stay down for long, and Claudia Goodwin Romero's spirit fascinated him. Her dark hair hung in a tangled mess around her face. He tucked a strand behind an ear, his fingers brushing her cheek.

Her eyes widened, and her full lips lifted into a hesitant, unsure smile.

Knowing it was a mistake, he captured those lips with his mouth.

He'd intended a light, friendly, reassuring kiss, but Claudia responded with a throaty moan that caught him off guard, had him pulling her closer. She opened her mouth and used her tongue to explore his. She slid her hands across his shoulders, probing his muscles as if testing their strength, then ran her fingers into his hair, bringing his face closer. He felt himself harden.

Not breaking the kiss, he lifted her so she straddled his lap.

She continued to make interesting sounds and rotated her hips against his straining erection. He placed his palms on her buttocks and guided her to just the right spot. She rocked against him with sensuous, encouraging movements.

He heard himself growl. What was happening?

Maybe he'd started this, but she seemed eager to finish it in a way that he hadn't anticipated. So be it. He'd wanted this woman since he'd laid eyes on her, when he assumed she was a rich man's mistress and off-limits. Her behavior left no question that she wanted him just as much.

Not enough room on this sofa for what was going to happen next.

With Claudia still in place, he rose to move into the bedroom. She wrapped her legs around his waist and deepened their kiss.

He felt a vibration in his pocket a second before his phone buzzed the emergency tone.

She pulled back, staring at him with wild, frightened eyes and swollen lips. Her hands remained behind his head.

She released her legs and stood before him, her palms sliding to his shoulders.

“I—I'm sorry,” she said. She dropped her hands to her sides.

“For what?” Jack asked, his voice husky, his thoughts clearing. He needed to attend to business, not to Claudia Goodwin.

She swallowed and broke her gaze from his. “For attacking you.”

“I didn't mind.”

“I noticed,” she said, her own voice a low, sexy whisper.

He smiled in acknowledgment of the obvious, and she grinned up at him, a pink blush staining her cheeks. This woman would be fun to play with, but now wasn't the time. He sobered and doubted there
would
be a right time.

Certainly not while she was under his protection. Not if he wanted to keep her—and himself—alive. She was just as much off-limits now as before.

More, in fact.

And he should be thinking about moving her to a safe location, not ripping off her clothes.

He removed his phone and read the text.

“I need to go,” he said. “My colleague has arrived at the ferry landing.”

“To take my car,” she said, her tone now serious.

“Yes. I'm sorry, but it's the only way, Claudia.”

“I understand,” she said. “I may not like it, but I get why you have to do it.”

“Do you need to get anything from it?”

“No.”

“Lock up and rearm the system after I leave.”

“Of course.”

“This could take a while, but I'll return as soon as I can.”

“Thanks.” She averted her gaze from his and whispered, “I guess.”

“What's wrong now?” he demanded.

She shrugged, staring at the floor.

“If you want my help, you need to communicate.”

She raised her troubled blue eyes to his. “How do I know for sure who the bad guys are?”

“You think I'm working with Carlos Romero?”

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “Maybe. I don't know.”

Jack watched Claudia wrestle with whether she could trust him. Oh, she wanted him all right, but that meant nothing. Desire came from a different part of the brain than trust. How could he convince this terrified woman that he was on her side?

“Think about it, Claudia.”

“I have. It's all I think about. The thing is history has proved I'm a terrible judge of character.”

“Just think about my actions, then. If I were a Warrior, wouldn't you already be dead?”

“Maybe. But why are you helping me?” she asked. “You know I've been lying since you met me.”

He sighed. He didn't have time for this right now, but she'd asked the very question he wondered about himself. She was beautiful, sure, no question. But he couldn't and wouldn't touch her. Was he really that bored with life on Collins Island?

“Maybe I'm a better judge of people than you are.”

A smile threatened her serious expression, but vanished as she looked away. “I'm so confused.”

He cupped her cheek and gently raised her gaze to his. “Are you lying to me about testifying against Carlos Romero?”

“I swear to you that's the truth. Believe me, I want that bastard rotting in prison for the rest of his miserable life.”

“Then accept that I'm helping you because I want the same thing. Any rational person would.”

She nodded, but remained silent.

He dropped his hand and grinned at her. “Or maybe you don't think I'm rational?”

This time her smile did form. “I think there's serious doubt about both of us.”

Jack laughed as he moved to the door. “I don't know how long this is going to take. Lock up, turn on the alarm and stay inside.”

“Check,” Claudia said. “On the bright side, I'm finally getting rid of that demon car.”