No One to Trust (10 page)

Galen’s hands clenched at his sides.

Christ.

Forbes’s head was almost blown off by the barrage of bullets.

My God.

Elena quickly buried Barry’s head in her shoulder and looked at Dominic. “Did he see it?” she asked unevenly.

“I don’t think so.” Dominic’s lips tightened. “I wish I hadn’t.”

She wished she hadn’t seen it either. She felt sick.

“Let’s get the hell out of here.” Galen was suddenly beside them. “Gomez will be at the house any second and it won’t be long until they start searching the fields. My car is parked over that hill, in the trees.”

“Forbes—”

“Move.”

She was already moving, keeping low and pushing Barry ahead of her.

And trying to forget the sight of Forbes’s head exploding.

Galen didn’t speak again until they were in his car and driving down the road that led to the highway. “How’s Barry?”

“Scared.” Her arms tightened around the little boy on her lap. “But he’s being very good, aren’t you, baby? He’ll be fine.”

Barry didn’t speak, only nestled closer in her arms.

God, she hoped she was telling the truth. Ever since his birth she’d protected him from the violence she had lived with all her life, and now in one night he had been exposed to this horror. “Where are we going?”

“I’m taking you to a friend’s apartment in the city for the night. He lends it to me when I come to town. We’ll make a decision once we’ve had time to think.”

“Forbes,” she whispered.

“I couldn’t stop him. He wanted to make sure his men were okay.”

She glanced down at Barry. He seemed to be too stunned to pay attention, but she still kept her voice down to a whisper. “It was one of his own agents. It was Wilder. I didn’t see any of the other men, but I saw Wilder raise his gun.”

“And I’m sure he’ll be well paid.”

“I … liked Forbes.”

Galen’s lips tightened. “So did I.”

“No pursuit yet,” Dominic said from the backseat as he looked through the rear window.

“We’ll be on the freeway in a minute,” Galen reassured the priest. “I think we’re okay.”

She didn’t feel okay. She felt scared for Barry and Dominic and, yes, for herself. It was a terrifying world where a decent man like Forbes could be butchered by those he trusted. Why
am I even surprised? she wondered wearily. It was no different from the world she had known all her life.

But it was different. During these few short weeks she’d begun to believe they could have a better life. Maybe it was still possible.

A hope that shone that bright was hard to surrender.

The apartment was a penthouse that overlooked the bay, and it was the most luxurious place Elena had ever seen. The living room was exceptional: beige velvet couches, deep burgundy carpets, and one wall that was all window.

“Several bedrooms with baths.” Galen gestured to the south wing. “Why don’t you find a cozy place for the three of you while I make a pot of coffee?”

Cozy? That was the last term she’d use for this place, Elena thought wearily. Barry’s grasp was tight on her hand and his eyes were wide with wonder. He’d been through too much tonight. So had they all. “I’ll be back to talk to you after I put Barry to bed.”

“I thought you would. This place is kind of big. I’ll leave a trail of bread crumbs to the kitchen.”

“I’ll find you.” She moved down the hall. “Come on, Barry. Time to get to bed.”

“This is a strange place.” Barry’s eyes were big as he gazed over his shoulder at the glass wall. “Can you see the whole world from here?”

“No, only the city and the bay.”

“Does Galen own the city?”

“Nobody owns it. Or maybe everyone does.”

“Oh.”

He didn’t speak again while she got him undressed and tucked into a king-size bed in one of the guest rooms. He was too quiet, she thought worriedly. She sat down beside him on the bed. “Okay?”

He nodded and closed his eyes.

It wasn’t okay. “Barry, bad things happened tonight, but we’re all safe now. Nothing can hurt you.”

His eyes opened. “Who did it, Mama?”

“Bad men.”

“Why?”

“It’s hard to explain. Bad men do bad things.”

“It was burning.…”

“I know.” What could she say when he was almost in shock? “But we’re safe now.”

“You’re sure?”

“I’m sure.” She pressed a kiss on his forehead. “I’d never let anything happen to you. Don’t you know that?”

He didn’t answer for a moment. “This was an adventure, wasn’t it?”

“I guess some people would call it that.”

“I didn’t like this adventure, Mama.”

“Neither did I. Sometimes adventures aren’t very much fun.”

“I didn’t know that.”

She could feel the tears stinging her eyes. He was already absorbing lessons she had wanted him never to learn. “There are wonderful adventures too.”

“I guess so.” He turned over and closed his eyes. “Mr. Forbes wasn’t in that fire, was he?”

“No.”

“Good. I was worried. He’s a nice man.”

“Yes. Go to sleep, love.”

“I will. I don’t want to be awake right now.”

Because being awake was more frightening than the oblivion of sleep. “And in the morning everything will be bright and beautiful and all the adventures will be happy ones.”

“I hope so.…”

He dropped off to sleep five minutes later, and Elena carefully covered him with the sheet and rose to her feet.

Dominic was waiting in the hall. “I’ll sit with him for a little while. He may not stay asleep. He’s had a rough night.”

“So have you.”

“Well, I admit that it’s not every man who’s burned out of two houses in the space of a month.” He smiled. “Go on and talk to Galen. I’ll take good care of Barry.”

“You always have. Better than I’ve done. Maybe I should have—”

“Go.” He gave her a push down the hall. “You must be upset if you’re dealing in should-haves.”

She took a deep breath. He was right. It was no time to be looking back when she had to find a way for them all to survive. “Watch him. He may have nightmares. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“How’s the boy?” Galen asked as she came into the kitchen.

“Not good.” She sat down at the granite-topped table. “But he didn’t see Forbes killed. I was afraid he had.”

“He saw enough to disturb most kids.” He poured her a cup of coffee and sat down across from her. “Don’t try to smooth things over. You need to be up front with him.”

“He’s five years old.”

“And you want to protect him. But you may not be able to do it. It’s better if he knows that you’ll always tell him the truth. Truth is important to kids.”

“And you’re an expert?” she asked sarcastically.

“At most things. Drink your coffee.”

She lifted her cup to her lips. “Why did you come to the vineyard tonight? I thought you were going fishing.”

“So did I. I’ve always had problems with letting go. At first, I was only going to keep a watch on Chavez and see if he made any moves.”

“Why would you do that?”

He looked down into his coffee. “Ben Forbes and I go back a long way. I liked him. I thought it wouldn’t hurt to keep an eye on things. Then, when Gomez went incommunicado, I decided to go up to the valley and see if there was a stakeout.”

“Why?”

“I had a hunch. I believe in hunches.”

So did Elena. “And then you came to the house to warn us.”

“But I got there when things were already starting to happen. Carbonari had evidently found a way to let some of Gomez’s men into the fermenting shed and didn’t like the idea of you getting in the way.”

“I wouldn’t have suspected anything if they hadn’t left the ladder propped against the vat. It was stupid of Carbonari not to put the ladder away and then put it up again later.”

“I wonder if the fermenting shed caught fire.” Galen tilted his head. “It would be pleasant to think of Gomez’s men in that vat, slowly roasting.”

“You’d like to kill them?”

“Oh, yes.” His gaze narrowed on her face. “And you’re studying me, analyzing my responses, looking for an edge. That’s fairly amazing after what you’ve gone through tonight.”

“It’s because of what I’ve gone through tonight.” Her hand tightened on her cup. “I have to find a way to keep Barry and Dominic safe. They won’t be safe for long in this place.”

“Don’t be so scornful of Logan’s pad. It has top-notch security. Billionaires are prime targets for kidnappers and terrorists, and he’s very careful of his family.” He added, “But I
agree that penthouses aren’t the best safe houses. There’s only one way out and that’s down.”

“You could always arrange another helicopter pickup.”

“You almost smiled then.”

“Did I?”

“Yes, but it’s gone again.” He leaned back. “Go ahead. Ask me.”

“Ask you what?”

“I’m not going to make this easy for you. You’ve already been a pot of trouble for me. I want the words.”

She was silent for a moment. “I’m alone here. I need help.”

“You could call the DEA.”

“Forbes tried that. I won’t make that mistake again.” She paused. “I need your help. You have contacts and experience. You could keep Barry safe—if you wanted to do it.”

“And what do I get out of it?”

She met his gaze. “Anything you want. Tell me and I’ll find a way to get it for you.”

He said nothing for a time, then, “How can I resist an offer like that?”

Galen was angry. His expression hadn’t changed and his tone was as mocking as ever, but she sensed the anger was there. “You’re not supposed to resist it. You want to be paid; you’ll be paid. You’re not being reasonable.”

“I’m not, am I? I’m glad you called that to my attention.”

“So what do you want?”

“I’ll decide later. Maybe I’ll run across some old enemy you can knock off for me. You wouldn’t mind doing that, would you?”

“I’d mind.”

“But you’d do it.”

“It wouldn’t come to that. You’d want to make your own kill.” Her lips tightened. “What do you want to know? Could I do it? Of course I could do it. My father used to send me out to clear the way before the troops moved out.”

“Clear the way?”

“Find and kill any snipers or sentries who might be waiting. He taught me well. I was very good at it.”

“Bully for him.” He got to his feet. “You know, I don’t think I would have liked your father.”

“I loved him.”

“That makes it worse. Go to bed. I have some phoning to do.”

“You’re going to help us?”

“I thought we’d already established that fact. Yes, I’m going to help you. I have a ranch in southern Oregon that should fit the bill as far as security is concerned. I buried the paperwork on the place and it should be extremely difficult for anyone to find out I own it.”

“But not impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible. It only gives us an edge and a little time to make plans. I have a contact who can probably tell me when Chavez is getting close.” He stared her in the eye. “And you’re going to do everything I tell you to do. That’s the only way I play the game.”

“If I think what you’re doing is right for us.”

He shook his head.

She bit her lower lip. “All right. If you don’t do anything stupid.”

“It will be difficult, but I’ll try to restrain myself.” He added, “And for your cooperation, I’m going to give you a bonus.”

“A bonus?”

“Chavez. I’m going to give you Chavez’s head on a platter.”

“Why?”

“I’m very irritated with him. A few years ago he killed two of my men, and I didn’t like that. But that was business and they knew the risk they were taking. Forbes was different. Forbes was more … personal. I think it’s time Chavez took the fall.”

“You may be disappointed. Chavez didn’t come after Barry himself as I thought he would.”

“I’m not surprised. Barry may be important to Chavez, but Chavez is smart and wouldn’t risk his neck if he could risk someone else’s. But Gomez failed. It’s not likely Chavez will trust anyone else again. I think he’ll come this time.” He smiled grimly. “And Forbes would be disappointed: Chavez is not going to survive to spill his guts to the DEA.” He paused. “Not that he probably would have anyway.”