Enticed by the Operative (Doctors in Danger, Book 1) (15 page)

Juan Pablo studied her intently for a moment and she had to force herself to stand still under his scrutiny. Finally, he let out a disappointed sigh. “I will take your word for it. For now. But please, if you should change your mind...” He took another step forward, invading her personal space. Olivia leaned back, hitting one of the shelves. “I hope you know I am here for you. I care about you. Very much.”

His eyelids lowered and he tilted his head. Olivia felt a brief surge of panic as she realized his intention, but she was trapped against the shelves, unable to move in the small space. She opened her mouth to tell him to stop, but his lips crashed down on hers and her protest came out as a muffled squeak.

CHAPTER 14

L
ogan stepped into the hospital and took the stairs on autopilot, his mind a million miles away. It had been good to talk to the guys back home—it always helped to bounce ideas off them and to find out if they’d heard anything through the usual channels. Unfortunately, they had no new information for him and were just as mystified as he was regarding the disappearance of the drugs. It didn’t make sense for Fantasmas to steal them back, since they were counting on Olivia to bring them into the States. The most logical explanation was a rival organization making a play, but their intelligence had no news of any groups operating in this area.

There was also a third possibility, one that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. Someone may have deliberately targeted Olivia in an effort to sabotage her mission here. If she didn’t make it back with the drugs, the cartel would kill her almost immediately. Whoever had stolen them had to know that, and perhaps that was their end goal. But who would want Olivia dead? And why?

From what he’d seen, the staff here loved her. They were friendly and respectful and seemed to genuinely like her and enjoy her company. But appearances could be deceiving, as he’d learned once the hard way. Maybe it was time he took a closer look at some of the hospital employees...

The door to Olivia’s exam room was closed, meaning she was either with a patient or had stepped away. He pressed his ear to the door but heard nothing inside.
Where is she?
She wouldn’t go far—they had agreed to meet here after his call, and he knew she was anxious to hear about it.

The soft susurrus of voices drifted down the hall, so he set off to see if anyone had seen Olivia. Maybe she was in the bathroom or had been called away to consult on a patient. The door to the supply room was open—hopefully he’d get lucky and would find her there.

A moment later, he had his answer. She was there, all right, along with Juan Pablo. Logan’s hands bunched into fists at his side as he watched the man kiss her, anger flowing over him like hot lava.

Idiot!
How could he have been fooled again? He’d thought Olivia was different, that what they had shared actually meant something to her. But it seemed she was no better than Emma. His stomach dropped as pain chased away his anger. At least he’d found out now, before truly losing his heart to her.

He turned to leave, not wanting to interrupt their moment. It wasn’t his place—clearly, Olivia had made her choice and he was too proud to beg. But just as he moved, she made a faint sound of protest.

Logan turned back immediately and saw the situation with new eyes. Olivia had her hand on Juan Pablo’s shoulder, her grip tight. But not with passion, he realized. She was trying to push him away.

Before he could think twice, Logan grabbed Juan Pablo by the nape of the neck and squeezed hard, tearing him away from Olivia. The man let out a startled cry and flung his arm out, trying to defend himself. Logan dragged him out of the supply room and pressed him against the wall of the hallway, the urge to do violence rising in him with a fierce intensity that nearly took his breath away.

“Logan!” Olivia stepped out and laid her hand on his shoulder.

“Are you okay?” he asked, keeping his gaze on Juan Pablo. The other man’s anger was palpable, and Logan hoped he would lash out and give him an excuse to pound him into the ground.

“I’m fine. It was nothing. Just a misunderstanding.”

“Did you ask him to kiss you?”

“No, of course not!”

“Then it seems to me like he was forcing himself on you.” He punctuated this observation with a little shove that made Juan Pablo narrow his eyes.

“It’s not like that—” Olivia began, but Juan Pablo cut her off.

“Who are you to interrupt us like this? We were having a private conversation.”

Logan tilted his head to the side. “That didn’t look like talking.”

“What would you know about it?” Juan Pablo sneered.

Logan’s fingers tightened on the man’s shirt, but he willed himself to remain calm. “I think it’s time for you to leave.” He dropped his hand, and Juan Pablo made a show of straightening his shoulders and smoothing his shirt, removing the wrinkled evidence of Logan’s grip. Then he looked up, defiance glittering brightly in his eyes.

“No.”

Before Logan could respond, Olivia stepped in front of him. “Yes.” Her voice was quiet but determined.

Juan Pablo’s bluster slipped for a second, and Logan could tell Olivia’s response had surprised him.

“But, Olivia—”

“You presume too much, Juan Pablo,” she said, her voice cold. “We are friends, nothing more. You know this, and yet you tried to force affection from me.”

He drew himself up, rebuilding his confident facade in the space between breaths. “I merely wanted to show you what you’re missing.” He flicked a dismissive glance at Logan, who didn’t give him the satisfaction of a response. This was Olivia’s show now, and he was content to let her run it.

Faster than a thought, Olivia slapped him. The loud smack seemed to echo through the empty hall, and all three of them sucked in a stunned breath. Juan Pablo paled considerably, making the red imprint of Olivia’s hand stand out like a brand on his cheek.

Olivia was shaking with emotion, and Logan reached out and put his hand on her shoulder. He wanted to steady her, to let her know she wasn’t alone. Her reaction was shocking in its intensity, and he began to wonder what else had happened before he’d come upon them...

She ignored his touch and leaned forward, unleashing a torrent of words in rapid-fire Spanish. Logan couldn’t hear everything, nor could he keep up, but Juan Pablo visibly crumpled at the onslaught. Whatever she was saying definitely hit its mark.

“Go,” she finished, the word low and lethal-sounding. “We are done here.”

Juan Pablo straightened, hesitating a moment. It was clear his pride called for him to respond in some way, but evidently his common sense kicked in. He cast a final, hateful look at Logan and then started off down the hall, his steps measured and his pace regular.

Logan waited until Juan Pablo was out of sight before gently turning Olivia to face him. She seemed calmer—he no longer felt the fine tremblings of her muscles under his hand, and her features had relaxed somewhat. But her eyes turned to the empty hall and it was clear she was still upset.

“Want to tell me what that was about?” he asked quietly.

She didn’t answer right away. Her chest rose as she took a deep breath, then she let it out, deflating before his eyes. She glanced up, looking so small and defeated that he was struck with the urge to gather her in his arms and wrap his body around her. His hands twitched, moving of their own volition to do just that. But he stopped himself in the nick of time. She’d just been pawed by one man. She didn’t need another offering of unwanted physical contact, even if his intentions were good.

“I snapped,” she said simply. Her voice was flat, as if she was too exhausted to express any emotion. “It was wrong of me, I know. But in that moment, I couldn’t stop myself.” She shook her head and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I am just so tired of feeling out of control. With everything going on—” She stopped and glanced around, then took a step closer and lowered her voice. “With all that’s happening, I feel like I no longer have any say in my own life. And when he forced himself on me like that...” She shuddered, and Logan felt a renewed surge of anger. “I took all my frustrations out on him.”

“Understandable,” he said. His throat was still tight with emotion and he tried to relax his jaw before speaking again. “I’m sorry I didn’t get here sooner.”

“I’m just glad you got here when you did.” She was quiet for a moment, then shook her head. “Why did he do it?”

Logan opened his mouth to respond, but it was clear she wasn’t looking for an answer. She lifted her hand to cut him off. “We’ve always been friends. Why did he have to go and ruin that now?”

“I don’t know,” Logan said. It was poor comfort, but it was all he could offer her at this point. “Maybe he didn’t think your friendship was enough.”

“Maybe not,” she said, her voice low. “But that’s all I can give him.”

And what about me?
The question was on the tip of his tongue, but he didn’t say it. Olivia had been through enough already—she didn’t need him trying to define what was between them, especially not now. Better to focus on getting home. The rest could wait.

“Dr. Sandoval?”

They both turned to see Daniela standing at the end of the hall. She held up a paper bag with a smile. “Ready for lunch?”

Olivia smiled and nodded. “We’ll be right there. Thank you.”

She turned and met his eyes, determination settling over her face. “Let’s go get something to eat. You can tell me about your conversation later. I could use a distraction now.”

* * *

A few days later, Olivia and Logan shared a meal at a small restaurant. Olivia took a bite of fish and glanced around, checking to make sure no one was eavesdropping. Then she leaned forward and caught Logan’s eye.

“Do you think we should tell Carlos the drugs were stolen?”

He lifted one brow and took a sip of
guarapo
, a ubiquitous fruit juice concoction served with most meals. He appeared to consider the question. “Why would you want to do that?”

She shrugged. “I just thought if they knew about the theft, they might have some of their people look into it. I can’t imagine they’d take too kindly to the loss of their property.”

“They don’t,” he confirmed, cutting off another bite of tamale. “But you have to remember, the only thing keeping you and your friends alive right now is the fact they think you have their merchandise. If you let them know that’s no longer the case, they won’t hesitate to kill the three of you as they’re tying up loose ends.”

Olivia’s shoulders slumped. “I suspected as much. But I had hoped they’d be so busy trying to track down their stuff they would forget all about me.”

Logan gave her a sympathetic smile. “I’m afraid it doesn’t work that way.”

She took another bite, but the meal had lost its flavor. “What are our options now? I don’t have their stuff, which they will discover as soon as we get home. How am I going to get them away from Avery and Mallory when I can’t deliver on the one thing they wanted?”

Logan polished off his tamale and eyed her plate. She shoved it forward without a word, and he shot her a grateful smile.

“We’re going to do a little switcheroo,” he said, digging into the remains of her dinner. “My colleagues and I have access to a lot of product, given the nature of our work.”

“And you’re going to give me some of it, to deliver as promised,” she finished, nodding as the pieces fell into place.

“Basically,” Logan confirmed. “This fish is fantastic,” he said, closing his eyes in pleasure.

Olivia couldn’t help but smile. “I’m glad you like it,” she murmured. “But back to the matter at hand. Is that even legal?”

He dismissed this concern with a wave of his hand. “We do it all the time. Besides, we’re going to take it back right after the exchange when we move in to arrest everyone.”

“I see.” It was a straightforward plan, one that should be easy enough to execute. The knots that had been in her stomach ever since they’d discovered the drugs were gone started to unravel, and for the first time in days she felt like she could breathe easier.

“So we just have to pretend like everything is fine until we get back?”

Logan nodded, scraping the plate with the edge of his fork. “Exactly. So try to relax and enjoy the last few days you have here.”

She laughed softly. “I’d love to, but I still can’t figure out who broke into the apartment.”

Logan’s eyes narrowed briefly. “You let me worry about that.” He stretched his arm across the table, palm up in invitation. She slid her hand into his and was rewarded by a gentle squeeze. “I said I’d keep you safe, remember?”

She nodded. “I do.”

“I meant it.”

Her stomach fluttered at his words and a warm pulse spread from their joined hands, flowing up her arm and settling in her chest. “I know.”

CHAPTER 15

T
he next few days seemed almost normal as Olivia settled back into a routine of seeing patients and conducting surgeries. Logan walked her to the hospital every morning in time for her first appointment of the day and was waiting for her when she wrapped things up for lunch. According to Daniela, while Olivia conducted surgery, Logan hadn’t hesitated to step up and volunteer for all the small, menial tasks that mounted up in the department, earning him the admiration and gratitude of the nursing staff.

“He is quite nice to have around,” Daniela confessed one morning during surgical prep. “He doesn’t mind changing sheets, taking out the trash or cleaning. It’s remarkable!”

Olivia smiled, happy to hear that Logan had fit in so well with the rest of the team. His willingness to help with the traditionally “female” chores had earned him a place in Daniela’s good books, which was a coveted spot. “I’m glad he’s making himself useful.”

“Oh, yes,” Daniela said. “We will be sad to see him go.”

“I’ll miss you, too,” Olivia teased.

Daniela laughed. “You know what I mean. I had my doubts about him when you first arrived, but I am glad to be proven wrong.”

“I understand.” And she did. There was something about Logan that made the people around him feel comfortable. She had felt her own resistance start to crumble as she spent more time with him, and she was beginning to question all her reasons for keeping him at arm’s length. Maybe he was worth the risk to her heart after all...

She pulled off her scrub cap and stepped into the hall, glancing around for Logan. She had finished up surgery a little early today, so he might not be here yet... No, there he was, standing at the end of the hall. She started for him, anticipation building as she approached. Spending time with him was the best part of her day, and she intended to enjoy it as long as she could.

She opened her mouth to call out to him, but before she could say anything, his whole body stiffened in shock. That was odd. Maybe he’d been stung by something? She didn’t see any bugs, but the hospital had its fair share of insects, being so close to the forest.

In the next instant, Logan started walking, his steps jerky and reluctant. He glanced down the hall and his eyes widened when he saw her. His expression shifted to one of horror, and he mouthed the word
No!

Olivia froze, her stomach cramping as she realized that something was terribly wrong. She ducked into a doorway and waited a beat, then poked her head out in time to see Logan disappear, a shorter dark-haired man close on his heels. It looked like Juan Pablo, but why would he be going anywhere with Logan?

She stood there for a few seconds, indecision paralyzing her muscles. Whatever was going on, Logan plainly wanted her to stay out of it. But if he was in danger, could she really leave him to face it alone?

No, she decided firmly. After all he’d done for her, she wasn’t about to turn her head and hope for the best. He wasn’t going to like it, but she was going after him.

Her mind made up, she slipped out of the doorway and moved down the hall, then turned and followed the men.

* * *

Logan gritted his teeth as Juan Pablo herded him out of the hospital and down the sidewalk, keeping the gun pressed to his side. They made it to the end of the block before Logan decided to try to get some answers. There was more going on here than Juan Pablo’s bruised pride, and he wanted to know what he was up against.

“What’s your plan?” Logan kept his voice level and his movements easy, tamping down the urge to fight back. He didn’t want to startle Juan Pablo, not while the man was pointing a gun at him. It was clear from the way Juan Pablo held the weapon that he wasn’t comfortable with it, and the last thing Logan wanted was to get shot by accident.

“I’m getting rid of you,” Juan Pablo said, his voice oozing with satisfaction.

“How do you figure that? Are you just going to take me into the forest and shoot me?” They were approaching the entrance to the trail he and Olivia had used earlier, and his brain came up with a hastily concocted plan: he’d wait until they were a few feet into the forest, away from innocent bystanders, and then he’d take Juan Pablo down. His muscles tensed in anticipation as they got closer to the tree line. Just a few more steps...

Juan Pablo let out a short laugh. “Nothing so predictable. Violence is not my specialty.”

“I suppose you prefer forcing yourself on unwilling women?”

That earned him a sharp poke in the back with the muzzle of the gun. The unexpected pain caught Logan off guard and he let out a grunt, which made Juan Pablo laugh again.

“Bastard,” Logan muttered. He was going to enjoy turning the tables on this guy.

They entered the forest, stepping into the shade of the canopy. Logan stopped walking and set his feet, preparing himself to attack. He left his arms loose at his sides, not wanting to telegraph his intentions. He was confident he could handle Juan Pablo, but he didn’t want to give the other man any advantage.

Juan Pablo moved to stand next to him, but remained just out of arm’s reach. No matter. Logan would have the gun out of the other man’s hand and slam him on the forest floor before he knew what hit him.

Logan braced himself, adrenaline flooding his system. It was now or never. He started forward...

“Here he is. As promised.”

A sound from the undergrowth drew his attention and Logan converted his movement toward Juan Pablo, twisting to the side so he could see this new threat.

Three men appeared on the path, their faces grim and their hands gripping guns. Logan realized with a small shock they were part of the group that had met Olivia before to hand over the drugs. Had Juan Pablo been the thief all along? But why?

“Excellent.” The leader eyed him with undisguised malice. “We will have some fun with this one.”

“No, you won’t,” Logan muttered. It was clear these men wanted to kill him, but he wasn’t going down without a fight. Better to die on his feet here than at the hands of these men.

Before anyone could make a move, Logan darted to the side and grabbed Juan Pablo. He shoved the other man in front of him and wrenched the gun from his hand, then pressed it to his temple.

“Stay back,” he said, keeping his arm around Juan Pablo’s neck to lock him in place. Juan Pablo clawed at his arm, his nails raking into Logan’s skin in painful drags. Ignoring this, Logan took a step back, pulling his human shield along with him.

The leader’s mouth curved up in a cruel smile. “Do you really think he will protect you?”

“Maybe. Or maybe the threat of Fantasmas will. I work for them. If you kill me, you will face their wrath.”

To his surprise, the leader laughed. “I doubt it, since they’re the ones who want you dead. Mr. DEA Agent,” he finished, his eyes lighting with glee.

Logan’s mind went blank as the man’s taunt registered. His cover had been blown. But how? They’d been so careful...

In the next instant, his questions were dwarfed by a sudden, horrible realization: Olivia. If they knew he was a DEA agent, she was in danger. He had to get back to her before it was too late.

“You’re not even going to deny it?”

“Would you believe me if I did?” he replied, taking another step back. Three against one wasn’t great odds, but if he could increase the distance between them, he might have a chance. He could squeeze off a few shots, then duck into the forest and lose them in the vegetation.

The leader shrugged. “Not really. Besides, Fantasmas wants you dead. That’s good enough for us.”

Logan tightened his grip on Juan Pablo. “You’ll have to go through him first.”

“Very well.” The leader made a quick gesture with his hand, and one of the men shot Juan Pablo. The man crumpled in his arms just as Logan felt a searing flash along his ribs.

Logan dropped Juan Pablo and fired in the direction of the men, not taking the time to aim. There was a split second of stunned silence, as if the men couldn’t believe he’d shot at them. A short, sharp cry told him at least one of his bullets had found its mark, but he didn’t stick around to view the damage.

The men opened fire, but Logan had already ducked into the forest, and the dense growth shielded him from view. He kept his head down and moved quickly, trying to get out of the path of the bullets. Loud, solid thunks sounded as nearby tree trunks were hit, and the near misses spurred him on. He ignored the burning pain in his side—if he stopped now, he was as good as dead.

Someone barked out a loud command and the shooting stopped. The sudden silence was almost as deafening as the gunshots and Logan slowed his pace. If he went crashing through the jungle, he’d lead them right to him, something he figured the men were counting on. His body screamed at him to go faster, to run, but he forced himself to creep along, trying to keep his sounds to a minimum. He had a head start and a few bullets left, but he wasn’t naive. The men who were chasing him knew this forest, probably lived in it. It was only a matter of time until they found him.

But maybe, just maybe, he could get back to the village before that happened. They weren’t that deep in the forest—at least, they hadn’t been when they’d stood on the path. Now that he’d wandered off, though, who could say? There were no landmarks here, no helpful signs to point him in the right direction. He was lost.

Or was he? He glanced up at the sky, searching for the position of the sun. He knew the village was to the east of the forest. If he could find the sun, he could orient himself and start heading in the right direction.

Dappled light shone all around him, but it was almost impossible to see the sky, thanks to the thick canopy of branches that loomed overhead. Panic knotted his lungs as he searched for a break in the cover, to no avail. Dammit, now what?

He started moving again, careful to keep his steps soft. The spongy forest floor helped absorb sounds, but he didn’t want to give the men chasing him any clues. He had to find some way to get back to the village. He stepped over an old, rotten tree trunk, slippery with moss. The sight of it tugged at something in his memory, and he frowned.

Moss on tree trunks... He closed his eyes briefly, trying to grab hold of the memory. Camping with his dad and grandpa, lying out under the stars...

“You can always tell direction by looking at the trees,” his grandpa had said. “Moss usually grows on the north side of the trunk.”

Logan opened his eyes and stared at the tree.
Moss usually grows on the north side
... Was that true here, as well? Or was it the opposite, since he was below the equator?

“I’ve got a fifty-fifty shot of getting this right,” he muttered. He did a mental coin-flip and made his choice, then turned and set off again. His side protested every step, but he ignored the pain. If the wound was really serious, he’d be dead by now. Since he wasn’t, it could obviously wait.

He had to get to Olivia.