Living on the Edge (11 page)

“You wouldn't dare.”

Tanner straightened. His expression turned serious, his body stiffened. “Try me.”

Madison heard her ex's sharp intake of air before he hung up. Tanner set his phone back on the receiver and Madison pulled off the headset.

“That went well,” she said, trying for a cheerfulness she didn't feel. “I'm sure you scared him.”

“That was the point. I want to make him nervous. That's the quickest way to make him screw up.” He looked at her. “You okay?”

“Fine. I didn't like hearing his voice, but I survived.”

He stood and walked over to the desk where she sat. “We could take it off,” he said, lightly touching the band around her wrist. “It's your call.”

“Really?” He trusted her that much? “You're making it my choice. That means there's a reason for keeping it on.”

“If the unlikely happens and he does find you and grab you, the alarm would go off. It's not only loud enough to wake the dead, it pages me wherever I am. I would know instantly.”

“But he won't find us.”

“No.”

“But it's not impossible that he could.”

“Few things are impossible.”

She stared at the metal bracelet. “I'll keep it on for now.”

“Okay.”

T
anner continued his research into Hilliard's life while asking one of his team members to check out the security system at Hilliard's house. Even if it was state-of-the-art, there was a way around it. The question was, how difficult would the break-in be? Tanner wanted a look at that computer.

Whatever the other man was up to was tied in with Madison's kidnapping. She'd said it was all about the money and he, Tanner, believed her. But why did Hilliard need so much cash? Not for his gambling debts. So what did he want to buy and from whom? If Tanner could get even one of those questions answered, he could solve the whole mystery.

In time, he told himself. He was patient and thorough. That meant he would win.

“Knock, knock.” Madison stood at the entrance to the control room. “I made lunch. Chicken-salad sandwiches with an avocado-and-tomato salad. Want some?”

As a guy who frequently lived on convenience food, he didn't have to be asked twice.

“Sure. Thanks. You don't have to cook.”

She nodded. “I know, but you've made the last couple of meals and I actually like cooking. As long as there's no pressure. I could never stand those fifteen-course dinners Christopher was so fond of giving. Fortunately I was only responsible for finding the caterer. He didn't want me to prepare anything myself.”

Tanner followed her into the kitchen, where he washed his hands at the sink before taking a seat at the table. “Why not?”

“He didn't believe that I could.”

Tanner glanced from her to the artfully arranged sandwiches, the salad made with several kinds of lettuce and an obviously homemade vinaigrette. “You're kidding.”

“He didn't think I was capable of very much.” She stirred the dressing, then handed it to him. “My special blend.”

“So you were completely invisible to the guy,” he said as he took it and sprinkled a large spoonful onto his salad.

“He preferred it that way. To him I was like the furniture. There to be of service and look good. You don't expect your sofa to have an opinion and you sure wouldn't listen if it did.”

“You're not a sofa.”

“I was to him.”

She spoke with the acceptance of someone long used to the reality, however unpleasant.

“You got away,” he pointed out.

“Yes, I did, and I'm going to stay away. I'm lucky—I was never dependent on him financially. We didn't have children, so I shouldn't have to have anything to do with him. That's my plan. A Christopher-free life.”

“I'm going to make that happen.”

“I appreciate it.”

She bit into her sandwich and chewed. He did the same. The chicken mixture had a spice he couldn't place and the bread had been lightly toasted. Sunlight spilled into the kitchen and touched the right side of her face. With the scar in shadow, she was perfect. Even with it, she was pretty damn spectacular.

“What happens after you get rid of your ex?” he asked.

“I return to my life. Work, mostly. I have a few friends who are very supportive.”

“What about kids of your own?”

She smiled. “I'd like that. I always thought I'd be a mom. Christopher wanted me to wait, and now I'm so grateful I did. I wouldn't want any child going through this.”

“Is there a Mr. Madison on the horizon?”

He braced himself for the answer. She was the type of woman who had to fight men off. No doubt there were dozens waiting in the wings.

“I gave up on the whole boy-girl thing,” she said to him. “Christopher was enough to cure me.”

“Not forever.”

“Pretty much. I now have serious trust issues.
Plus—” she leaned toward him and smiled “—I don't have to be married to have a baby.”

“I know that. But it's hard to picture you living alone.”

“Why?”

“You're social.”

She laughed. “Maybe compared to someone like you, but to the rest of the world I'm the quiet type.”

“What do you mean someone like me?”

“You're solitary. The literary lone wolf. Besides, who are you to be asking questions? I don't see a wife around here.”

“Not good for business.”

“Meaning?”

“I'm gone too much.” There was more to it than that. “I don't want the distraction.”

She shook her head. “All crap, Tanner. You have trust issues, too.”

“Maybe.”

“There's no maybe. It's true. But somehow I don't think that means you lack for female companionship.”

He didn't want to be having this conversation. “Can we talk about something else?”

“Of course not. This is wildly interesting. So do you spell out the rules ahead of time?”

He shifted in his chair. “What rules?”

“Sex only, don't expect me to call afterward, forget my name. Those rules.”

“I'm not a jerk about it.”

She smiled again. “But I'm close on the rules, huh?”

“You did okay.”

They ate in silence. Tanner found himself enjoying the company even when they weren't talking. Madison was restful. Damn smart, too. Had she been someone else—someone less high-profile and without so much to lose—he would have considered recruiting her. Not that she would be interested. Her world was her kids.

But he wouldn't mind her sticking around.

As soon as the thought formed, he squashed it. She was exactly what he'd been talking about a minute ago—a distraction. And distractions got a man killed.

 

When Madison finished with her e-mail and notes, she logged on to her favorite shopping Web site. While she had no intention of actually
buying
shoes, it never hurt to look.

She flipped through several pages before pausing to salivate over a pair of strappy sandals she had absolutely no use for.

“But they're so cute,” she murmured. And a really pale green. She didn't have any shoes that color—or any clothes, which meant the possibility of having to get a new outfit to go with her shoes. Which was just plain dumb but very tempting.

She moved the cursor to the size selection, but before she could click on it, an instant message popped up in the center of her screen.

The rectangle contained exactly two words: Hello, Madison.

She scrambled off the bed and ran out of the room.

“Tanner!” she screamed. “Tanner, he found me! He found me!”

Tanner was already halfway up the hall. She barreled into him, barely able to think or breathe or believe it was real.

He grabbed her and held her. “What are you talking about? How did Hilliard find you?”

“I don't know. He's right there.” She pointed back at her room.

Tanner glanced from her to the doorway. “Get in the control room and push the red button by the door. It'll activate a security alert.”

His words didn't make any sense. She forced herself to breathe in and out as she tried to figure them out. When the meaning sank in, she sagged against him.

“He's on my computer.”

Tanner's expression didn't change, nor did he push her away or tell her she was crazy. Instead he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and drew her against him.

“It's okay,” he said quietly. “Finding you online isn't the same as finding you here.”

“But he can trace my connection.”

Tanner smiled. “No, he can't.”

She bit her lower lip. “Swear?”

He made an X over his heart. “Come on. Let's see what he has to say.”

She allowed him to lead her back to her bedroom. She hesitated at the threshold, afraid to cross into the room. It was as if Christopher was really here, that he wanted to kidnap her again.

Tanner settled a reassuring hand on her waist. She covered his fingers with hers and led the way in. The
computer sat on her bed, the cursor blinking. Now there was a second message.

 

Madison? Are you there?

 

She looked at Tanner. “Should I answer him?”

“Why not? You're safe. Maybe you can make him sweat a little. Or we could play a game.”

She liked the idea of that. “What kind of game?”

“One where you make him believe he has a chance of winning you over. That could work in our favor.”

“Okay. Yeah, that's good.” She sat on the bed and pulled the computer onto her lap. “What should I say back?”

“That you're surprised to hear from him.”

She typed the sentence, then waited. Tanner settled next to her. The mattress dipped and she found herself sliding toward him. Their hips and thighs pressed together in a way that made her aware of his physical power. Right now it was very reassuring.

I'm sorry about everything that happened, Christopher typed. You must be terrified.

Madison's chest tightened. “He doesn't know,” she whispered. “He has no idea that I know he kidnapped me. That lying bastard.”

“Hey, I'm the only bastard here,” Tanner said.

She flashed him a smile. “Only in the technical sense. In spirit, Christopher has you beat.” She thought for a second, then typed, A lot of strange stuff has been happening. I don't know what to think.

That makes sense, he responded. Madison, I'm worried about you. Please come home to me.

She shuddered. “Not for the world,” she said aloud.

I want to start over with you, he added.

I don't trust you, she answered, then looked at Tanner. “He'll believe that.”

Sure enough, the reply came seconds later. I'm willing to do whatever I have to in order to earn your trust.

“Can I tell him to drop dead?” she asked.

“How about saying you have to think about it.”

“Okay.” She typed that.

“Now disconnect,” he said. “Better to leave him hanging.”

She was happy to do just that. When she'd shut down her system, she set the computer on the nightstand and shifted so she faced Tanner.

“How did he know I was online?” she asked.

“It's not that hard for him to track. But knowing you're using the computer is very different from knowing where you live.”

“It's still creepy.”

“I know.”

He touched her cheek as he spoke. At the warm brush of his fingers, she realized that she'd run to him when she'd panicked and she was okay with that. More than okay.

Heat from his body seemed to spread over her skin, making her want to sway toward him. Her gaze settled on his mouth. What was Tanner like when he was with a woman? Tough? Tender? Very intent on the details?

He stood suddenly and shoved his hands into his pockets. “I want to break into his house tomorrow night.”

Her brain had to bend around the quick change in subject. “Will you have all the information you need?”

“Yeah. The last of it is due in tomorrow morning. We'll have all the details on the security system, including how to defeat it.”

“I'm going to go with you.”

“No.”

She stood. “I know the house and the room the safe is kept in and the exact location of the cabinet. I'm a logical member of the team. Plus this is my life we're talking about.”

“You're an amateur and the target. You stay where it's safe. That means in this house.” His gaze turned steely. “I mean it, Madison.”

“It's not your decision,” she said. “I'm going.”

“You think you can make me?”

She refused to back away and tried to look as mean and stern as he did. “You owe me, Tanner.”

Nothing about his body changed, yet she felt a subtle shift. She knew in that moment she'd won.

“I don't want you dead,” he said flatly.

“I don't want that either. But I'm still going.”

He shook his head as if regretting the decision. “Okay.”