Pure Dynamite (48 page)

Tristin was at the door, breathing heavy. "We need the doc. Fast!"

Zach lowered his gun, motioning for Renata to precede him. But the moment she stepped out the door, a man grabbed her and pressed a gun to her throat.

"Throw down your weapon. Or watch her die."

Zach dropped his gun.

Another man stepped forward. He wore a suit and tie, and looked completely out of place. "I take it you're Jake's brother, Zachary. I know some people at Interpol who'd like to talk with you."

"You must be Ethan Falco," Zach said.

Tristin had retrieved Zach's gun and now pointed it at him. "I can't wait to show you how the McEdwins deal with traitors."

Ethan held up a hand. "Not yet. He has something of mine—Stan Beckwith's computer. Search this place."

Ethan's man kept a gun on Renata, while Tristin kept his weapon trained on Zach. They found the laptop hidden in the bedroom.

"That's not Beckwith's," Ethan's man said. "Wrong brand."

"Come on," Ethan said. "We'll continue this at the house."

When they reached the main house, Willy was waiting.

"We don't have a lot of time," Ethan said to Zach. "So I'll cut to the point: Where's Stan's laptop?"

"In a safe place. Where's my brother?"

A helicopter circled overhead. "That's probably him now." Ethan turned to Willy. "As soon as I get the computer, you can dispose of them. I'll throw the woman in for free."

Zach looked at Willy, all pretense dropped. "You're working together? I thought you wanted him dead?"

"I do." Willy scowled clearly unhappy. "But we've struck a deal. He did me a favor, tipping me off that your brother is an FBI agent. I'm ashamed to admit he fooled us. As soon as Nevin and Burt get in, we're taking off." Willy tipped his head toward Ethan. "He gets what he wants and the McEdwins live to fight another day. Too bad I can't say the same for you."

Footsteps sounded on the porch. Tristin checked the front door, opening it to admit two more of Ethan's men. They dragged Adam between them. He appeared unconscious, blood dripping down from his scalp.

Renata tried to rise, but Ethan kept a hand on her shoulder.

"He's hurt," she said. "Let me check him."

"He tried to jump the pilot," one of the men explained to Ethan. "Had to cold-cock him."

"Where are Burt and Nevin?" Willy asked.

The two men dropped Adam. "There was a problem—"

"They killed your sons, Willy." Adam's voice was raspy. "Executed both of them. Head shots."

Behind Willy, Tristin let out an anguished cry. "You motherfucking bastards!"

Tristin started firing, catching everyone off guard. He shot the two men standing over Adam. Both men fell, dead, as pandemonium broke loose.

Adam grabbed one of the men
's
guns and rolled behind a chair. He struggled to sit up, his head throbbing.
Renata.
He had to save her.

Almost as quickly as it began, the shots ceased. Easing forward, Adam peered around the chair. On the floor, in pools of blood, were the bodies of Ethan's other man and Tristin McEdwin. Willy had disappeared. So had Zach.

Ethan stood in the center of the room, one arm around Renata's neck, his gun pointed at her. "Throw your gun out, or she gets it."

Adam complied. "Let her go."

"Stand up where I can see you," Ethan ordered.

"You mean shoot me?"

"The choice is yours. I can shoot
you ...
or her."

Adam stood. Now he saw Zach, sprawled on the ground, his blood staining the floor red. "You'll never get away with this."

"Wanna bet? I'll be a hero," Ethan laughed. "I killed all the McEdwins—"

A shot rang out. Renata screamed as Ethan staggered forward.

"Not all of them," Tristin rasped.

"Renata, drop!" Adam shouted, but she'd already moved away, giving Adam a clear view of Tristin.

He was propped on his elbow, his gun now pointed at Adam. Blood oozed from his shoulder. "That was for Burt. This is for Nevin."

Tristin swung his gun toward Renata.

Adam lunged toward her, pulling her down, shielding her. Behind him another shot rang out. He braced.

"I got him." It was Zach's voice. He sounded weak.

Adam tugged Renata to her feet and rushed to his brother's side.

Zach waved him back. "Go after Willy. He went upstairs."

"I'll help him." Renata was already ripping open Zach's shirt. Adam could see his brother had been shot in the side.

Pausing just long enough make certain all the others were indeed dead, Adam raced up the stairs. He heard voices coming from Lyle's room and eased up to the door.

"It's over, Willy," Adam shouted. "Give up peacefully."

"You can come on in," Willy replied.

Cautious, Adam stayed behind the wall, and shoved the door open. Angling slightly, he saw Willy standing next to Lyle's bed.

"Lay down your weapon and put your hands where I can see them," Adam ordered.

Willy nodded, but didn't move. "Where's Tristin?"

"He's been shot, too."

Willy's shoulders dropped, shook with noiseless sobs. Moving slowly, he stepped away from the bed. Then he put his gun on the dresser and raised his hands. "Were you telling me the truth down there? Nevin and
Burt...
they're really gone?"

"Yes."

Now Willy's voice cracked. "They were good boys. They kept their word."

Behind him, Lyle moaned. "That. . . fucking . . . oath. McEdwins ... never get taken alive."

Adam watched in surprise as Lyle drew a gun from beneath the sheet.

"Drop it, Lyle!" Adam quickly took cover. But instead of pointing the gun at him, Lyle had pointed it toward his father.

Willy's mouth gaped. "What are you doing?"

"Helping you keep your word, too." Lyle fired once and dropped the gun. It slid to the floor.

Clutching his chest, Willy fell.

Cursing, Adam moved quickly, kicking the gun away before kneeling beside Willy. The old man gasped, then closed his eyes and simply quit breathing.

Lyle had passed out. Checking him for more weapons, Adam collected the firearms and raced back downstairs. Zach was propped up, Renata beside him talking quietly into a cell phone.

"She called 911," Zach groaned. "I heard a shot. You get Willy?"

"Lyle did. You okay?"

"Okay? I was shot. That's never okay."

"He'll survive. I've stopped the bleeding." Renata hurried to Adam's side. "Your head is bleeding, too."

"Lucky I've got a thick skull."

"The police are on the way," she said. "I told them we need ambulances, preferably medivac helicopters.
Is ...
Lyle dead?"

"No. But he needs immediate transport."

"So it's over?" she asked. "And you'll tell me everything?"

"Everything." Including how much he loved her.

Epilogue

Six months later

"I... can't...
breathe." Renata's ribcage felt dangerously compressed.

"Don't use your diaphragm; inhale through your nose," Janet advised.

"But my liver—"

"You know, I never took you for such a whiner. And
I'm
almost finished. There. Now turn around and look."

Renata gasped. The woman in the mirror looked like she'd just stepped out of an X-rated magazine. The black lace corset, with its lace-up boning, had her waist cinched tight, which in turn thrust her breasts up and out at an unnatural angle. Beribboned straps of satin snaked down her thighs to grasp silk stockings. And the four- inch stilettos ... hurt.

"I can't do this," Renata began. "It's too out of character for me."

"Duh! That's the whole point of role playing, girlfriend. And there's no time for second thoughts. We have five minutes. Hold still!" Janet fastened an elaborate jet and black crystal choker around Renata's neck, then handed her matching dangling earrings. "Put these on and do your lipstick. I'll finish lighting candles on my way out."

"Wait! Tell me again what Zach said." Adam's—
Jake's
brother had called while Renata was in the shower and left a cryptic message with Janet.

"He said your package would be delivered at seven," Janet said. "Which means now you've only got four minutes."

Renata panicked. What had seemed like a wonderful idea a week ago now seemed harebrained.