Holdin' On for a Hero (17 page)

There was a distinct possibility that he would have to be sacrificed in order to see her scheme to completion. She hoped it would work out so that she could keep him, but if it didn’t, she could bear the loss. Nothing could stand in the way of her getting what she wanted most. Revenge.

“Let’s just hope you make it through,” she said to the picture. “Then I’ll show you all kinds of new tricks.”

Thoughts of what she would do with him make her pulse race. She smiled and blew the picture a kiss just before she returned the file to her briefcase and locked it. With cosmetics case in hand she returned to the bathroom.

As she was putting the finishing touches on her hair, a knock sounded at the door. Wearing only a towel, she answered it.

Greg Holling smiled licentiously as he saw her and she returned the smile, stepping to one side. “Come in,” she invited in a seductive tone.

He stepped inside the room, pushing the door closed with one hand as he reached for her with the other. Iris chuckled and let him pull the towel away. His hands roamed over her body and she felt him harden against her as they embraced. “God, I’ve missed you,” he murmured against the side of her neck.

“Ummm,” she purred, slithering against him and imagining him to be the man in the picture. “Me, too.”

He steered her toward the bed, fumbling with the buttons on his shirt at the same time. Iris let him push her back on the bed and looked up at him slyly. She knew him well. If she let him have what he wanted now she would be giving up her advantage.

Just as he reached for the button of his slacks she sat up, moving his hands away and tracing her fingers across his stomach. “Slow down, lover. We have all night.”

Greg moaned as she leaned forward and licked his stomach but didn’t argue. Iris smiled and pulled him down beside her. “What have you been doing, darling?”

He shrugged and reached for her breasts. She let him fondle her without protest but lightly pushed him away when he tried to roll over on her. “Come on, baby. I’ve been thinking about your pussy all day.”

“Slow down, stud,” she teased him. “I need a little time to warm up. Let’s talk. You know how excited it makes me to hear about your little adventures.”

Greg smiled and lay back, putting his hands behind his head. Iris unfastened his slacks and eased them down around his knees, then climbed on top of him, straddling his body so that her wet sex rubbed against his erection. “Now, tell me absolutely everything,” she cooed.

He reached up and squeezed her breasts, toying with them as he talked. Iris listening attentively, filing away every detail in her mind. By the time Greg finished she was filled with excitement. He was doing exactly what she wanted him to do.

“Darling, I’m so proud of you,” she cooed as she reached down to stroke him. “You see how right I was now, don’t you?”

“Yes,” he groaned, pressing up against her.

“And you will continue to do as I ask, won’t you?” she asked, evading his attempt to penetrate her.

“Yes!” he rasped in frustration. “Baby, I need it now!”

Iris smiled and rubbed his engorged staff against her. “Darling, listen to me. This is important. Everything is in place now. All we have to do is follow the plan and soon we will have everything we ever dreamed of.”

“Everything?” He looked up at her. “Are you forgetting about my father?”

Iris laughed. “Lover, your father is nothing. Leave that to me. When the dust settles you’ll be in control of the Holling empire and Winston will be worm food.”

Greg smiled excitedly. “How?” he asked. “How are you going to do it?”

“Leave everything to me, honey.” She leaned down to lick his lips. “I have everything under control. Just do as I tell you and I promise you’ll find yourself one of the most powerful and influential men in this country.”

“And you’ll be by my side,” he rasped, grabbing her hips and trying to ram inside her.

Iris smiled and sat up, running her hands down her own body and sighing in pleasure. “Oh, Greg, it will be perfect. Just perfect.”

She rose up enough to guide his erection inside her. He groaned as she slid down the length of him and she smiled.
Oh
,
yes
, she thought triumphantly,
everything
’
s perfect
.
Soon I
’
ll have it all
—
very soon
.

* * * * *

Chance closed her briefcase and looked around the room. All of her bags were packed and ready. She picked up a couple and carried them into the living area. Wyatt was standing in front of the window with his hands jammed in his pockets.

“Everything okay?” she asked as she put the bags down.

He turned and looked at her. “Fine. Need some help?”

“I can manage,” she replied and walked over to him. “We still have a little time before our flight. Want something to eat?”

He shook his head. “No, thanks. So, when is this lawyer supposed to show up?”

“Mr. Horton, my attorney, contacted her and she said she’d be there tomorrow,” Chance answered. “He paid her base fee and gave her some background information. She’s supposed to call when she gets in. He gave her your number and your father’s. She’ll probably want to meet with you before she speaks to the council.”

“And will you be there?”

“Probably not. I want to get up with Greg Holling and see what I can get going. I have to find out as much as I can, as quick as I can because we need evidence if we’re going to take this thing to court. Besides, as far as she knows she was hired by someone named Daven Porter. I don’t want her to find out who I am until I’m sure Maurice isn’t involved.”

Wyatt nodded and made no comment. Chance was quiet for a moment then touched his arm. “What’s wrong?”

“I still don’t like the idea of you being around Holling. You don’t know what he’s like.”

She blew out her breath and looked up at him. “Nothing’s going to happen. Besides, we’ve been over and over this and you agreed.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

She smiled and looped her arms around his neck. “I’m kind of glad you don’t, to tell you the truth.”

His eyes widened slightly. “You’re glad?”

“Yes. It shows you care.”

Wyatt took her chin in his fingers and tilted her head back. “You know I do.”

“I guess I’m still a little unsure,” she said softly as she searched his eyes. “I still feel like I’m going to wake up and find out this is all a dream and that you still think I’m the rich witch of the west.”

Wyatt’s face hardened and his hands moved to grip her arms. “I meant what I said—and I don’t lie.”

“I know.” She winced at the strength of his grip. “That hurts.”

He loosened his hold on her and rubbed her arms lightly. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” She reached up and stroked her hand through his long hair. “I do believe you. I just feel like it’s too good to be true, that’s all. It’s kind of hard to accept when the one thing you’ve wish for all your life suddenly comes true.”

“You might not think that after a little while. I’m not the easiest person to live with.”

Chance laughed and hugged him. “You never were. But I think I’ll manage.”

“There won’t be any fancy cars or trips to the Bahamas or catered meals. I’m not rich and I don’t want your money.”

“Neither do I. Look, I told you, I don’t care about the money. The people on the reservation can have all of my trust for all I care. I don’t need it. All I want is you.”

Wyatt held her tightly, burying his face in her hair. “I want this to work, Chance.”

“It will,” she whispered determinedly. “I promise.”

“Is that a guarantee?” he asked as he pulled back and looked down at her.

“Yes, it is,” she said adamantly. “Don’t you remember? I believe in fairy tales and happily ever after—and that’s what we’re going to have.”

Wyatt smiled at her lovingly. “Well, let’s just hope there are no dragons or monsters in this fairy tale of yours.”

She laughed and hugged him. “Nope, just a big bad wolf.”

* * * * *

Wyatt pulled up in front of his father’s house and parked the Jeep. John Wolfe walked out on the porch as Wyatt got out. “That attorney called,” he said as Wyatt walked up to the front steps. “Said she’d appreciate if someone picked her up at her hotel since she doesn’t know her way around.”

“What time?”

John held the door open for him. “In an hour or so. She said she had some calls to make first. You want some dinner?”

“I’ve eaten, thanks.” Wyatt walked into the kitchen. “But a cup of coffee would be good.”

John poured two cups and put them down on the table. “So, what happened in Atlanta?”

Wyatt filled his father in on everything, including Chance’s plans. John listened without interruption then shook his head. “I don’t know about this, son. Getting mixed up with the Holling boy could be dangerous. To begin with he’s liable to recognize the name. Davenport’s not exactly common.”

“Yeah, I know. But she’s not going to be using her real name. And she’s determined to get the goods on him and his father.”

“She is a determined woman.” John looked at Wyatt for a few moments. “So tell me, what’s going on inside you?”

Wyatt set his cup down and raked his hands back through his hair. “A tornado.”

“That have anything to do with what happened at the cave?”

Wyatt looked at him suddenly, wondering just how much he knew about what had gone on.

“Tsa’li and I had a talk. I’d just like to know where things stand. You and Chance really come to terms with this?”

“I love her, Dad. Guess I always have. But the anger was always in the way. I thought she betrayed me and I let that rage blind me. Knowing the truth makes everything different.”

“Different enough that you and she can make a life together? She’s still white, Wyatt, and used to being rich. You think she can adapt to another kind of life?”

“I want to think so. And she believes it can work. Besides, she’s really not what people think.”

“Well, you’d know that better than anyone, I guess, so I’ll trust your judgment. There is something else, though. Tsa’li seems to think that your past is becoming a little clearer.”

“Some. But it’s not exactly pleasant. In fact some of the things I’ve remembered scare the hell outta me. Like, for instance, what made you and Mom choose my name?”

John got up abruptly and walked to the back door. He stared outside for a few moments. “We gave you the name Wyatt because Sarah liked it. Tsa’li chose your middle name.”

“Why? Why not John or William? What made him choose Une’ga-dihi?”

For a few moments John didn’t move or speak, then he turned and looked at Wyatt. “I don’t know how to explain it to you, son. Besides being Sarah’s father, Tsa’li is also…different—set apart. He sees things the rest of us can’t. When he told us what your name was we just accepted it.”

Wyatt put his head in his hands and stared down at the tabletop. “He wants me to follow him, doesn’t he?”

“You know he does.” John walked over and sat down beside him. “There isn’t anyone else. Sarah was his only child and she’s gone. You’re all that’s left. Wyatt, I know this is an old sore and I don’t want to reopen it, but I do think you should give it some thought.”

“I know.” Wyatt looked up at him. “And I will. I just can’t make any promises. Right now, I just need to find out who I am for myself. I need to know if I’m the monster I’m afraid I am, Dad.”

John put his hand on Wyatt’s shoulder. “You’re not a monster, son. I can guarantee that. You’re just a man who’s had a lot of trouble in his life. But you can overcome anything. I know that and I have faith in you.”

Wyatt smiled. “Thanks.”

John removed his hand. “Why don’t you run over and pick up Miss Waters for me.”

“Sure.” Wyatt stood up. “Be back soon.”

As he started down the road his mind turned to thoughts of Chance.
Please don
’
t do anything stupid
, he thought.
If you get caught
—

A cold sweat broke out over his body at the thought of Holling doing something to Chance, and his hands tightened on the steering wheel. A sudden rage took control of him and bloody visions of what he would do to Holling if he hurt Chance filled his mind. Trying to dispel the images, he turned on the radio. Music blared from the speakers, but the pounding beat only seemed to fuel the fury inside him. He looked up in the rearview mirror and froze. The face that looked back was that of a stranger. A stranger with his face.

The black eyes seemed to blaze as if lit by some internal fire and the face itself seemed to be carved from living stone—there was a sense of power and unbridled menace in the expression.

Jerking the steering wheel to one side, he pulled off the side of the road and stomped on the brake. He looked into the mirror again and panic seized him.  He covered his face with his hands and for a few minutes he sat still with his hands over his face.