The survivor, p.7
The Survivor, page 7
“But it was true.”
“Was it?”
She made a dismissive gesture. “What we have to be concerned with is when Maya is going to get here. Did she give you any idea?”
“I didn’t leave the departure time entirely up to her. I sent Kirby to fly down to Palandan Island and pick her up. I thought it safer to slip her discreetly away from there if we can manage it. I did promise you that. He should arrive at the island in another hour and thirty minutes. He’ll let us know when they have an ETA here.”
“Or when Maya decides to come,” she said dryly. “I told you that she writes her own rules.”
“You did. Which both intrigues and disturbs me. I can’t wait to see what Kirby has to report about her.” He turned and headed for the stairs. “But rules can be adjusted. I’d better get busy and see what I can do to make this entire area welcoming and safe for her. I’ll see you later, Riley.”
PALANDAN ISLAND
“We have to get out of here, Ms. Fallon,” Kirby said impatiently as he strode into Maya’s office, where the blasted woman was on another phone call. “I have my orders, and Cade isn’t the most patient man even when he’s not dealing with a bastard like Nadim. I’ll give you another ten minutes.”
“You don’t understand,” Maya said coolly. “I don’t obey your orders. You’ll give me as long as I need to get my people safely away.” She ended the call she was on and turned to Tashi. “I’ve given the guards and the workers in the groves their orders. I want you to leave the main house and go deep into the island. I’ve already said goodbye to Bailey. Take her to the mountain and keep her there until I get back. If there’s any sign of Nadim, send her to the temple under guard.”
“You’ve told me that before,” Tashi said. “Do you think I’m deaf or just a fool?”
“Neither.” Maya wearily shook her head. “Perhaps I’m afraid I’m the fool for being drawn away from here. It may be for nothing.”
“It won’t be,” Tashi said. “You will speak, and he will listen. Riley would not have chosen anyone so stupid as to ignore you. And I don’t like you worrying about such nonsense.”
“Then of course I won’t.” She smiled faintly. “Since I’m sure you will handle everything splendidly. I will call you when I reach Atlanta. Goodbye, my friend.”
“Farewell.” Tashi inclined her head. “All will go well, and I promise nothing will happen to the child.” She swept out of the room.
Maya turned immediately to Kirby. “And now we’ll leave. I’ve done what I can here. It might be enough since I was able to find you a safe landing field away from the coast.” She got to her feet. “Get me out of here quickly, Kirby. I don’t want Nadim to know I’m gone. I’ve arranged a diversion if he finds out, but I don’t want to use it.”
“Then you should have put on a little more speed,” he said flatly. “You’ve kept me waiting over two hours.”
“It was the best I could manage. You can’t imagine how complicated it was to coordinate. But you will, because it’s a long flight and I’ll explain it to you. In return, I’d appreciate it if you tell me what I need to know about Cade so I make no mistakes with him. I think underneath that gruffness you must be an intelligent man or Cade wouldn’t have sent you. Therefore, it’s important we learn to know and cooperate with each other.”
“It’s only important that I get you safely to Atlanta. You can be assured I’ll do that.”
She shook her head. “You’ll change your mind. I think it’s necessary we be good friends.” As she headed for the door, she glanced over her shoulder and her face lit with possibly the most beautiful and charismatic smile Kirby had ever seen. “Now, don’t you think you should stop complaining and do what you came here to do?”
CHAPTER 4
LAKE COTTAGE
9:40 A.M.
Riley and Cade were having coffee on the sunporch the next day when he received a call from Kirby. “We’re approaching Nassau and I have to stop for fuel,” Kirby told him. “After takeoff I’m estimating arrival in Atlanta in about two hours. Will it be safe for Maya?”
“No problem. Loring’s crew are proving very efficient. I’m trusting Riley and Eve Duncan with them.”
“Well, you won’t have to include Maya in any calculations for long,” Kirby said flatly. “She’s already told me she can’t waste more than twenty-four hours checking on Riley before she starts back for her island.”
“I’m sorry she regards it as a waste of her time,” Cade said caustically. “Particularly since Riley would never have been injured if Maya Fallon hadn’t contacted her. Too bad. I won’t let you take her back until we’re finished with her.”
“I’m not sure that will make much difference,” Kirby said quietly. “Though it may delay her a little. She’ll find a way to do what she wants to do.” He paused. “And I could tell she realized she put Riley at risk or she would never have left Palandan Island. It was a big deal to her and those people on the island when she decided she had to come.”
“Really?” Cade said. “That wasn’t the impression you gave me when you called me before you left the island. You were more than a little annoyed with her.”
“I wasn’t getting my way,” he said. “And Maya was acting like a general commanding her troops when I wanted to get out of there.” He suddenly chuckled. “And I didn’t like being ignored. No one gave a damn what I said as long as Maya was busy issuing orders to everyone on the island. But she was much easier to deal with when she changed her persona from Mr. Hyde to Dr. Jekyll when we boarded the plane. She told me that it would be better if we were good friends, then set out to prove it to me.”
“And did she do it?”
He didn’t answer for an instant. “Yeah, I think she did. She’s exceptionally complicated. I found her to be sharp, able to make decisions in a heartbeat, able to handle those villagers faultlessly. Yet she changed in the blink of an eye when she decided that we had to become buddies. She was amusing, inquisitive, and totally charismatic. By the time we were halfway here, she had me.”
“You?” Cade echoed skeptically. “That’s hard to believe.”
“Why? I may be a cynic, but I recognize honesty when I see it. She’s… genuine. I couldn’t help but like her.”
“Riley agrees with you,” Cade said mockingly as he met Riley’s gaze across the porch. “But you’ll pardon me if I judge for myself. I don’t like the fact that Maya obviously wanted to use her.”
“If she did, she wouldn’t have tried to trick her into it. Everything would have been clean and aboveboard.” Kirby chuckled again. “But while you’re being suspicious, you might as well include yourself in the equation. I told you that Maya was inquisitive. Quite a few of her questions were about you.”
“And you obliged her?”
“I didn’t see why not. The questions were bold and principally aimed at getting to know how you think and react. I decided that we all need a little help analyzing you now and then. It will be interesting seeing if she manages to manipulate you.”
“Are you taking bets?”
“I’m thinking about it,” Kirby said. “I’ll make up my mind before I get to Atlanta. I’ll switch to a helicopter once I land at the airport and I’ll see you at that Lake Cottage in a few hours, Cade.” He cut the connection.
Cade turned to Riley. “You heard him. Another few hours.”
She nodded. “And he was right about Maya. If she was trying to use me, she’d make sure to do it in a way that wouldn’t hurt me.”
“She’s already hurt you,” Cade said curtly. “And I’ll tell her that when she gets here.”
She shook her head. “She saved both my father’s and my life. She’s come halfway around the world to see me, and I don’t want you to do that. You’ll be charming and courteous, and we’ll listen to what she says… and maybe try to help her.”
He didn’t speak for a moment. “We’ll listen to her.”
She made a face. “You’re impossible. It’s not like you to be so hardheaded. Even Kirby could see that Maya is exceptional.”
“Which only means that she could be more dangerous than I thought. Kirby isn’t easily fooled, and a woman that persuasive might be an expert con artist.”
“Cade.”
“Okay.” He suddenly smiled and then was across the porch and taking her in his arms. “I’ll try not to be rude to her.” He kissed her. “I can’t promise I’ll be warm and welcoming. I’m still mad as hell that she was the reason you ended up in that hospital.” He kissed her again. “And I don’t like the fact that we’re stuck here waiting for her and constantly surrounded. I’m always trying to forget that I haven’t been able to make love to you for nearly a week.”
And that had been far too long, she agreed. He felt so hard and good against her. She pressed closer to him. She could feel her body readying. “Your fault,” she whispered. “You’re the one who’s always off saving the world. Want to go for a walk in the woods? We still have a few hours before you have to face being warm and welcoming. I’m beginning to feel very warm and welcoming myself at the moment.”
He sighed. “No, I’ve made sure the sentries know everything that goes on in those woods. I don’t want any of them to know you that well.” His lips brushed the hollow of her throat. “I’ll find a place.” He pushed her away. “Soon.”
Not soon enough for her, she thought. But then the sex had been this intense with them since the very first time. She took a deep breath and moved over to the front door. “Then I’d better go interrupt Eve’s work and tell her that Maya is going to be here soon. She might want to discuss it.” She winked at him over her shoulder. “And I find I’m suddenly in need of a distraction.”
Riley and Cade were waiting at the helicopter pad in the woods when the chopper landed several hours later. Maya jumped out and strode toward them, smiling tentatively at Riley. “I’d like to give you a hug, but I figure since I evidently screwed up, I should restrain myself and all overtures should come from you. You look well, better than I deserve.” She turned to Cade. “You must be Cade. You frightened me when you told me she was in the hospital. I think you probably meant to do it because you were angry with me. After I hung up, I called and checked her condition with the hospital. I was relieved that the wounds were minor, and she wasn’t lying at death’s door.”
“But could have been much worse,” Cade said coolly. “Yet you still came. Did you have a reason?”
She smiled faintly. “I always have a reason. She was hurt because I wasn’t careful enough. That was enough of a reason this time.” She looked at Riley. “And I was desperate enough to want to finish what I started with you, even though I’d obviously irritated Cade. But in the past you usually walked your own path, and I thought you still might.” She shrugged. “It was worth a shot. Should I get back on the helicopter?”
Riley was gazing at her searchingly. “Desperate. How desperate?”
“I told you, it’s the endgame.” She added, “But I don’t cheat, and you’ll all get your share if you help me. I thought long and hard before I decided to call you, Riley.” She smiled crookedly. “Though I had a hunch about you even back when we first met. But after you left the island, I watched and waited to see what you were going to do with all that enthusiasm and talent. You were amazing, and it seemed as if you were meant to help me.” She glanced at Cade. “Even when you chose the most difficult people, I realized I could work with them.”
Cade made a rude sound. “You’re not really telling us anything. Talk to us.”
“She’s trying,” Riley said as her gaze raked Maya’s expression. “And she’s the same person I knew five years ago. I think she does feel desperate.” She frowned at Maya. “But he’s right, you’re not being clear, and Cade always needs everything crystal clear.” She took a step forward and embraced her. “There’s no reason to feel desperate. See, I’m making the first move. We just need to straighten everything out.”
“Oh, shit,” Cade said.
And Maya started to laugh. “I don’t blame you, Cade. She’s just as affectionate and curious and impulsive as she always was.” She returned Riley’s embrace. “I promise I’ll make everything crystal clear. But I assume we’re on our way for me to meet Eve Duncan, so shouldn’t I wait until you can all hurl questions at me?”
“Excellent idea,” Cade growled as he turned back and called to Kirby, who was still at the helicopter. “Go find Loring and get something to eat. I don’t know how long we’ll be up at the cottage before this is over.”
“Hmm…” Kirby was grinning. “Maybe I should have set up that bet.”
“Nah,” Cade said as he started toward the cottage. “Because in the end, Riley is holding all the cards.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure,” Maya murmured as she fell into step with Cade. “I don’t know the stakes, but you might all be able to win if we play it right. For instance, we can’t omit sweeping up anyone we even suspect of working with Nadim.”
“Is this a teaser?” Cade asked.
“No. I’m trying to hold off until we get to the cottage. But I will tell you that Nadim isn’t the only bad guy in the mix. The reason he knew I’d contacted Riley was that Charles Bevan must have bugged my office and sold the info to Nadim. He might have even made a deal with him. But Nadim has been bracing himself to attack the island, and he probably wouldn’t have wanted Bevan’s interference unless Bevan proved valuable to him. The bug could have been the opening negotiation. As soon as Nadim knew Riley’s destination, all he had to do was send a couple of his snipers here in time for her arrival at the Lake Cottage.”
“You’re certain?” Cade asked.
“Close enough. After you told me about the attack on Riley, I searched my office. I found the bug and got rid of it. The only person who had been in my office anywhere near that time was Bevan.” She added, “I wouldn’t play ball with him, so he went to Nadim. He also probably knows more than I’d like about the island. We can’t trust him.”
“‘We’? I have no idea yet if we’re going to be involved in your schemes.”
“You’ll probably be working against Nadim regardless. You won’t like the way he operates.”
“How do you know?”
“Nadim is involved in a number of ugly criminal activities, but one of his most profitable is poaching. He’d have to know you’re famous for hunting down men of his profession and putting them permanently out of business. One of the reasons that he was so upset that I was calling on Riley for help had to be that your relationship with her is all over the media. He wouldn’t have wanted you to stick your nose in his business.”
“And you’re saying it’s my fault he went after Riley?”
“No, I’m saying it’s entirely my fault, but you should know that Nadim will always be a threat to you now. He failed and he’ll hate it. You should be ready for him. Though he doesn’t operate anywhere near the places you usually target. Call Kirby and tell him to look him up for you. Try India.”
His brows rose. “Are you giving me instructions?”
“I’m trying to keep you alive. I don’t think Riley would forgive me if I didn’t.” They had reached the cottage and Maya was looking up at the staircase. “I’m a little nervous. I’ve heard a lot about her.”
“Do you need her to like you?”
Maya lifted her chin. “I don’t need anyone to like me.” Then she added, “But I respect her, and it would be nice.” She quickened her pace and caught up with Riley. “Will you introduce me, Riley? I saw a photo of the sculpture of Helen she did for you. Wonderful…”
“It appears Maya has a crush on our Eve,” Cade said to Riley as he watched Maya helping Eve place cups and saucers on a tray at the bar. “At least she’s not telling her what to do as she did me.”
“Did she really?” She looked at him skeptically. “No one orders you around. You probably misunderstood.”
“I believe I got all the nuances,” he said dryly. “She’s obviously accustomed to being in charge. But she did make it clear that she didn’t think I was at fault for almost getting you killed. She took sole responsibility.”
“Because you had nothing to do with it.” Her eyes widened. “Neither did she. It was Nadim and those snipers. Of course she wouldn’t blame you.”
“No?” His lips twisted sardonically. “I found it very logical since it was my first thought when I found out what had happened to you.”
She frowned. “Then you’re an idiot. You didn’t even know why I was going to see Eve.”
“But maybe if you’d felt you could tell me, I would have been able to stop it.”
“I told you why I didn’t tell you.”
“I was busy?” He shook his head. “Doesn’t hold water.”
“Yes, it does.” She was genuinely upset. “It’s not as if I wasn’t going to tell you. We need to talk about this.”
“And we will.” His gaze was on Eve, who was carrying the tea tray into the living room. “As soon as I finish deciding why I felt that Maya might have been wrong. Right now, we have a few more decisions to make.” He was moving across the room and taking the tray from Eve. “Sit down and make yourself comfortable,” he told her. “Tea can wait. We’ve all imposed enough on you. We’re here for a purpose and not a social occasion.” He turned to Maya. “And you’re that purpose, Maya. You’ve caused us a great deal of trouble, and Riley could have been killed. I believe it’s time that you tell us why we shouldn’t return the favor.”
“You’ll have to do what you think best,” Maya said quietly. “But I doubt if you’ll try to punish me when you realize I’m only offering you a proposition and not trying to harm you.” She glanced at Riley. “You felt you had a debt to me, and I used that to get your attention. I had no intention when I helped you of ever doing that.” She shrugged. “But times change and so does the world. I’d gotten information that Nadim was closing in on me, and I had to find a way of fighting him.”
