Countdown (24 page)

“It won’t.” His face was pale and he was no more than a step away from her. “It won’t happen.”

“It will. Unless you help him.”

Pain twisted his face. “I can’t,” he whispered. “He’s . . . always there, talking to me. I can’t shut him out.”

“Try.” She took a step toward him and put her hand gently on his arm. “Just try, Jock.”

He shook her off, his expression panicked. “Shut up. I can’t listen to you.”

“Because Reilly told you not to do it? Because he told you to kill anyone who asked you about him?” she called after him as he almost ran away from her toward the stable. “Don’t you see how wrong it is to let him get away with that?”

He didn’t answer as he disappeared into the stable.

She drew a long shaky breath as she gazed after him. Close. She didn’t know how near she’d come to having that garrote around her neck, but she didn’t want to think about it. Had it been worth it? Had she made him think or would he just block her words out? Only time would tell.

Maybe she shouldn’t have rushed him. It hadn’t been her intention, but the words had tumbled out. She was getting increasingly panicky about finding a way to stop this horror. And Jock was the only game in town right now.

“My God, what were you trying to do, get yourself killed?”

She turned to see Trevor coming toward her across the courtyard. “Not much chance. You were keeping guard, and I’m sure MacDuff would have sprung out of that stable like Superman if Jock had touched me.”

“We might not have been in time,” he said grimly. “I saw him in action with one of my men when we first came here, and he was fast, very fast.”

“Well, nothing happened.” She passed him and hurried toward the steps. “With the emphasis on
nothing
. I’m not sure he’ll even remember talking to me. Reilly still has him under his thumb.”

“Then you won’t mind not talking to him again.”

“I would mind. I have to keep chipping away at him.”

His hands clenched into fists. “The hell you do. I want to shake some sense into you.”

“Then you’d better work on that control. You lay a hand on me and I’ll deck you. I’ll do what I think is right.” She slammed the front door behind her. She was in no mood to argue with him. She was still a little shaken from her encounter with Jock. It had taken all her stamina to stand there and confront him. It had been hard for her to believe the stories about his deadliness when MacDuff told her about the boy. But the lethal vibes Jock had been sending out in those last few minutes had been unmistakable. He might be as beautiful as Lucifer before the fall, but he was every bit as tormented and dangerous.

But there was no question she’d try again. Jock was unstable, but he was vulnerable. And he hadn’t hurt her. He’d been close but he hadn’t taken that final step. Who knows how hard that restraint might have been for him? Reilly had done terrible things to his mind that were still lingering.

The fear was fading and she felt a sudden surge of heady optimism as she started up the staircase. She’d been dragging around, almost as afraid of Grozak and Reilly as Jock. It wasn’t as if the situation couldn’t be turned around. Eve and Joe were going to help. She’d made a little progress with Jock. They weren’t standing still and waiting for the worst to happen.

She’d take a shower and then work on the background of the sketch of Jock. Then maybe she’d go and check on Mario.

I’m going to the Run. I want you there.

She’d backed away from Trevor when he asked her to come. Why? She prided herself on her confidence and boldness. Yet ever since she’d come to this place she’d been a complete wimp. It was time she took herself in hand and started behaving normally. The decision sent a tingle of excitement through her. The memory of Trevor standing there in the moonlight, the breeze lifting his hair, and the slight smile that had made her compare him to those wild, ancient Scots was filling her with a mixture of tension and anticipation.

I want you there. . . .

14
                                                                                          

I
was wondering if you’d come.” Trevor stood up from the rock on which he’d been sitting. “I was betting you wouldn’t.”

“It was fifty-fifty.” Jane came toward him. He was dressed in jeans and a dark sweatshirt that appeared black in the moonlight. He looked younger, less hard, more vulnerable. Yet when was Trevor ever vulnerable? “I didn’t like the fact that you didn’t tell me about Reilly’s offer. And I’ve been pretty mixed up.”

“And you’re not now?”

“It’s getting more clear.” She looked around the craggy rocks that bordered the Run. “Why did you want to come here this evening?”

He smiled. “Not because I wanted to be soothed. You want to know the truth? This place is atmospheric as hell. You can almost see Angus and Fiona and their Scottish cronies. I’m a manipulative bastard, and I could see that you responded to the vibes here. I need all the help I can get where you’re concerned.”

She felt the heat tingle through her. “Do you?”

His smile faded as his gaze searched her face. “Don’t I?”

“It’s not like you to be uncertain about anything.” She took a step closer to him. “And when you come right down to the basics, atmosphere doesn’t mean a damn.”

He tensed. “And what are the basics?”

“That life can be very short. That there’s death all around and you never know when—” She looked him straight in the eye. “I’m not going to let any pleasure go by because I don’t believe it’s the right time. There’s no right time except now.”

“Right time for what?”

“Do you want me to say it?” She took another step forward, until she was only a scant foot from him. She could feel the heat emanating from his body and it sent a ripple of heat through her. “I wanted to go to bed with you when I was seventeen. You were stupid and noble and you left me frustrated and empty for those four years. Heaven help me, I still want to go to bed with you, and it’s going to happen, dammit.” She laid her hand on his chest. A shudder went through him and she felt a heady sense of power. “Isn’t it?”

“Hell, yes.” His hand covered hers and he rubbed it slowly over his chest. “I told you I wouldn’t send you away if you touched me.”

She could feel his heartbeat beneath her palm and it was quickening, pounding. Jesus, she could feel that pounding in her own body. It seemed as if they were joined already. She leaned against him until their joined hands pressed against her breast. Dear God, she was melting. “Where?”

“Here,” he muttered as his lips buried themselves in her neck. “Behind the rocks. I don’t care.” His tongue was warm on the pulse in the hollow of her throat. “Anywhere.”

She was burning up. She wanted to jerk him down on the hard earth, pull him in and move against him, take all of him. Her arms slid around his shoulders. “Here,” she murmured. “You’re right, it doesn’t matter.”

He went rigid and he pushed her back. “Yes, it does.” He was breathing heavily, his eyes glittering wildly in his taut face. “I don’t want MacDuff or one of the guards stumbling over us. I’ve waited this long. I can wait another ten minutes. Get the hell back to your room. I’ll be right behind you.”

She stood there, staring dazedly at him. “What?”

“Don’t just stand there. I promise this is my last act of nobility. After this, all bets are off.” His lips tightened. “And if you change your mind and lock your door on me, I’m going to break it down.”

She didn’t move. She didn’t know if she could wait ten minutes, and she knew it would only take one touch to send him over the edge.

“I want to do it right,” he said harshly. “Move!”

What the devil. Just give in and give him what he wanted. Anything he wanted. Maybe he was right. At the moment her body wasn’t letting her mind reason any too well. She turned and streaked toward the path around the castle.

J
ock watched the light go on in Jane’s room. He had seen her run through the gates and in the front door only a few moments ago and had been wondering if he should go after her.

Then he had seen Trevor stride across the courtyard, and his every sense had gone on alert. Trevor’s expression was intent, hard. Was he going to hurt her? Jock took out his garrote and started across the courtyard.

“Come back, Jock.”

He turned to see the laird standing in the stable doorway. “He’s going to hurt her.”

“No. Or if he does, it’s because she wants it.” He smiled. “And I don’t think she will.”

“His face . . .”

“I saw his face. It’s not what you thought. Life isn’t always about death and hurting. Don’t you remember that?”

Jock thought about it and then nodded. “Sex?”

“By all means, sex.”

Yes, Jock remembered that wild, joyous coupling. Megan in the village and then later other girls as he’d traveled from place to place around the world.

And then Kim Chan at Reilly’s place.

He shied quickly away from the thought of her. “And Jane wants it?”

“He won’t force her, Jock.” MacDuff paused. “Do you mind?”

“Not if he doesn’t hurt her.” He tilted his head. “Did you think I would?”

“You’re attached to her. I just wondered.”

“I . . . like her.” He frowned. “But sometimes she makes me feel . . . It hurts. She keeps talking and prodding and I want to put a gag on her mouth.”

“But not a garrote around her throat.”

He shook his head. “I wouldn’t do that. But even after I left her, I kept hearing what she said. I’m still hearing it.”

“Then maybe your mind is telling you it’s time to listen.”

“You want me to remember too.”

“Deep down, isn’t that what you want?”

Four eight two. Four eight two.

Not now. Block it out. Block it out. The laird would see his suffering and be upset.

But the laird didn’t understand, Jock thought in agony. He didn’t understand the chains or the pain that he fought every night. He didn’t want him to know. “She said . . . you wouldn’t wait. That you’d go after Reilly without my help.”

“If I have to do it.”

“Don’t,” he whispered. “Please.”

MacDuff turned away. “Come and help me clean up the supper dishes. I have work to do.”

“Reilly will—”

“Unless you can tell me what I want, I don’t want to hear any arguments about Reilly, Jock.”

Despair tore through Jock as he watched MacDuff go into the stable. Memories of death and guilt and pain swirled around him, tearing through the web of scar tissue that had formed since MacDuff brought him back from Colorado.

Four eight two. Four eight two.

Hurt. Hurt. Hurt.

T
revor stood framed in the doorway of Jane’s bedroom. “You left the door open.”

“I didn’t want there to be any mistake about my intentions.” Jane could hear the trembling in her voice and tried to steady it. “No locks. No closed doors. Now take your clothes off and get over here. I don’t want to be the only one naked. It makes me feel vulnerable.” She suddenly tossed the cover aside. “Hell, I am vulnerable. I’m not going to lie about it.”

“Give me one minute.” He closed the door and pulled the sweatshirt over his head. “Less.”

His body was as beautiful as she’d known it would be. Narrow waist, powerful legs, and wide shoulders that made her want to dig her nails into them. She wanted to sketch him. No, the hell she did. She wanted only one thing from him at this moment. “You’re too slow.”

“Tell me that after I get in that bed.” He was coming toward her. “I’ll try to be slow then, but I don’t promise.”

She held out her hand and pulled him down. “I don’t want promises.” She wrapped her legs around him. She arched upward as she felt him. “I want you to—”

His mouth covered hers to smother her cry as he started to move. “This? And this?” His breath was coming harshly. “Tell me. I want it to be good for you. God, do I want it to be good. . . .”

J
ane’s lips brushed Trevor’s shoulder before she nestled closer. “Are you tired? I’m going to want to do it again.”

“Tired?” He chuckled. “Are you impugning my stamina? I believe I can keep up with you.” He licked delicately at the tip of her breast. “Now?”

“Pretty soon. When I catch my breath.” She stared into the darkness. “It was good, wasn’t it?”

“Superb. Wild. Mind-blowing.”

“I was afraid I’d be disappointed. Sometimes anticipation spoils the real thing.”

“And did you anticipate?”

“Sure.” She lifted herself on one elbow to look down at him. “I tried not to, but when you’re denied a candy bar, that’s the only thing you want to eat. Now I’m getting my fill of you.”

“You’d better not. I’ll make damn sure I’m much more appetizing than a candy bar.” He smiled up at her. “And what did you anticipate?”

“
The
Joy of Sex
, the Kama Sutra.”

“Good God, what a challenge.”

“Can you meet it?”

“Oh, yes.” He moved over her, his eyes gleaming down at her. “Can you?”

I
t wasn’t Julius barring the way, Cira saw as she neared the end of the tunnel. Thank the gods, it was her servant, Dominic.

“Dominic, what are you doing here? I told you to leave the city.”

“The Lady Pia sent me.” He looked beyond her at Antonio and stiffened. “Do you wish him dead?”

“I told you I didn’t betray you, Cira.” Antonio was beside her, taking his sword from her hand. “Now let’s get out of here.”

Dominic took a step toward Antonio. “He made you unhappy. Shall I kill him?”

A low rumble shook the floor of the tunnel.

“Out,” Antonio said. “I’m not going to let us all die to satisfy Dominic’s bloodlust.” He grabbed Cira’s arm and pulled her toward the tunnel opening. “Or yours.”

Dominic took a step toward him.

“No, it’s all right,” Cira said as they burst out into daylight that was like night. Smoke. She could scarcely breathe. She stopped in horror, staring at the mountain burning like a flaming sword, fingers of lava streaming down its side. “Later, Dominic. We have to get to the city. Pia—”

“That’s why she sent me,” Dominic said as he ran after them down the hill. “The Lady Pia was afraid Julius had found out about her. She thought someone had been following her since yesterday. She told me to tell you she’d meet you at the ship.”

“What ship?” Antonio asked.

“It’s moored down the coast,” Cira said. “I paid Demonidas for passage away from here.”

“You did?”

“Why are you surprised? I’m no fool. Julius will never rest when he finds me gone. I have to get far away from Herculaneum.”

“I’m only surprised that you were able to get anyone to help you. Julius is very powerful.”

“I managed. Pia helped. Demonidas is waiting for me.”

“Perhaps,” Antonio said, gazing at lava running down the volcano. “Or maybe he sailed when the mountain exploded.”

That had been one of Cira’s fears as she ran through the tunnel. “He’s a greedy man and I paid him only half. He’ll take his chances. The lava flow doesn’t seem to be going in that direction. It’s heading straight toward—” She stopped in horror. “Toward the city.” She gazed at Dominic over her shoulder. “How long ago did the Lady Pia send you?”

“An hour.”

“And she was leaving right away for the ship?”

Dominic nodded, his gaze on the lava. “She said to tell you that she’d be waiting for you.”

And it seemed as if the mountain had erupted a century ago, but it couldn’t have been very long. Surely Pia was out of the city.

“Do you wish me to go and make sure?” Dominic asked.

Send him into that fiery trap? That deadly lava was flowing faster every second. But what if Pia . . .

She forced herself to look away. “If someone is going to go, it will be me.”

“No!” Antonio said. “It would be insane. You wouldn’t even be able to reach the outskirts before—”

“This isn’t your concern.”

“By the gods, it couldn’t be more my concern.” His expression was grim. “What have I been trying to tell you? Do you want me to go after this Pia? I’m mad enough to do even that for you.” He stared directly into her eyes. “Tell me and I’ll go.”

She believed him. He would go rather than let her risk her life.

Another rumble shook the earth.

She tore her eyes away from Antonio’s and asked Dominic, “Is Leo with her?”

“No, she told me to take him to the ship last night. He’s with Demonidas.”

And Demonidas would be only as compassionate with the boy as his payment dictated. She couldn’t risk leaving him alone and unprotected. She had to assume and pray that Pia left the city as she’d told Dominic she’d do. “Then we go to the ship.” She turned away from the city and started to run. “Hurry.”

“I left two horses at the bottom of the hill.” Antonio passed her. “Dominic?”

“I also brought a horse for her,” Dominic said. “I did not expect you to return. You betray—” He stopped, his gaze on the mountain, and muttered an oath. “It’s coming this way.”

He was right, Cira realized.

Though the main flow was heading for the city, a rivulet of molten lava was making a path toward Julius’s villa, coming directly toward them.

“We still have time to reach the horses.” Antonio’s hand tightened around Cira’s. “We’ll go north and skirt the flow.”

If they could. Smoke and lava seemed to be attacking, smothering, surrounding them on all sides.