Taking It All

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Taking It All ISBN # 1-4199-0561-9 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Taking It All Copyright© 2006 Lorie O’Clare Edited by Sue-Ellen Gower. Cover art by Syneca. Electronic book Publication: March 2006

This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 443103502. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

Warning: The following material contains graphic sexual content meant for mature readers. This book has been rated E–rotic by a minimum of three independent reviewers. Ellora’s Cave Publishing offers three levels of Romantica™ reading entertainment: S (S-ensuous), E (Erotic), and X (X-treme). S-ensuous love scenes are explicit and leave nothing to the imagination. E-rotic love scenes are explicit, leave nothing to the imagination, and are high in volume per the overall word count. In addition, some E-rated titles might contain fantasy material that some readers find objectionable, such as bondage, submission, same sex encounters, forced seductions, and so forth. E-rated titles are the most graphic titles we carry; it is common, for instance, for an author to use words such as “fucking”, “cock”, “pussy”, and such within their work of literature. X-treme titles differ from E-rated titles only in plot premise and storyline execution. Unlike E-rated titles, stories designated with the letter X tend to contain controversial subject matter not for the faint of heart.

TAKING IT ALL Lorie O’Clare

Trademarks Acknowledgement The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Dodge Ram: Chrysler Corporation Jaguar: Jaguar Cars Limited Jeep Cherokee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation Mazda RX-7: Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd

Taking It All

Chapter One Jonathan Hunter squinted against the morning sunlight. Muscles he hadn’t used in ages slowly woke up with him, throbbing, pulsing. He’d be a sore son of a bitch today. Tension had clamped down on him for months now. Last night caused the tightness to dissipate some. The fight wasn’t over yet—but it had come to a head. Having Joanna, the only woman he’d ever loved, had taken such a load from his shoulders. He’d spent years following her, making sure trouble stayed out of her path. It had been exhausting. Keeping one step ahead of the many hired killers who would take her out just to get a promotion, had been his preoccupation for years. Now she was with him—her and her son, Alex. Their son. His boy. Joanna’s slow, deep breathing, while she lay sprawled over his chest, was all the blanket he needed. There was a peacefulness in her expression, half masked by several strands of hair that fell across her face. She looked more relaxed than she had since she’d moved here to Valley View, Colorado. There was a reason for that. Finally, she was right where she was supposed to be. With him. In his bed. And she would stay with him. The phone rang. Her lashes fluttered. He grabbed it before it rang twice, hoping she’d continue to sleep. After all she’d been through the night before, she deserved it. “Hunter!” The excited voice on the other end of the line caused an unfamiliar swelling in his chest. The pressure turned warm and spread through him. He smiled. “Morning, champ,” he said, his voice scratchy. He lived for the day when Alex would call him Dad. Joanna opened her eyes, moving slowly over him. His dick stirred between them, oblivious to the amount of lovemaking they’d done the night before, and more than ready for more. “Is Mom going to take me to school this morning?” She rolled off him, sitting and stretching, then scratching her head. Long brown hair fell past her shoulders, tousled, looking absolutely adorable. “How about if we both take you to school. Would you like that?” “Sure. Can I talk to Mom?” “You bet. We’ll be there in thirty minutes.” Joanna took the phone from him, and he heard Alex speak when she put it to her ear. “Mama, is everything okay?” 5

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She closed her eyes, nodding, still looking half asleep. “Yes, Alex. I think things might be better than they’ve ever been before.” He’d succeeded in reassuring her fears. Joanna didn’t need to know the horror was just beginning. One of the deadliest covert agencies on the planet stalked both of them. Wanted dead or alive, neither of them would know freedom and true peace until Alpha Corp was completely destroyed. Steam rolled through the bathroom once he turned on the shower, letting the hot water run for a few minutes before climbing into the large tub with Joanna. She arched her body into the shower, her brown hair clinging to her back while she poured shampoo on her head. “You asked me to marry you last night,” she said, and hesitated. He watched droplets of water stream off her beautiful ass. “We’ll make it a quiet ceremony. Jimmy will marry us.” He wouldn’t trust anyone else to do it. The announcement of their marriage needed to be handled just right. “I never answered you,” she added quietly. He turned her around. Her lashes clung together when she blinked, her pretty green eyes the only part of her face not altered by surgery. When she took off her contact lenses that made her eyes look blue, she reminded him of the teenager he’d met so many years ago. “If you want wining and dining, you might have to wait a while.” Her small smile was full of sad understanding. “I’d probably drop dead in shock if you ever asked me out on a real date.” He brushed his thumb over her nipple, guessing she would be more than a bit tender after hours of hot sex the night before. Her body tensed and she sucked in her breath. All blood drained straight to his dick. Telling her that maybe someday they could go out like normal people would make her the happiest woman on the planet. He knew that about Joanna—knew she craved a life like everyone else. Thanks to Alpha Corp, that life didn’t exist for them. And it would never exist for Alex. He wouldn’t lie to her. No one controlled him anymore— nor would they ever again. Nonetheless, their path in life would vary from that of others. “Last night was a real date.” And having a night alone with her in his home appealed to him a hell of a lot more than seeking out the nightlife. Not that the small town of Valley View, buried in the Rockies, had a lot to offer when it came to nightlife. “I need some time to think about this.” She took the bottle of liquid soap from the tray on the shower wall and poured it over his chest. Her hands worked magic on him. Gently stroking his flesh, her attention on his body, she outlined his muscles, caressing him while cleaning him with great detail.

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“That’s fine.” Joanna had lived in fear for years now, fighting for her life daily, and doing an incredible job of raising their son under horrendous circumstances. The peaceful existence they had in Valley View showed when he saw the glow in her face. Joanna was happy, content with her life, and he’d see to it that lasted if he had to personally kill every bastard in Alpha Corp single-handedly. She turned him so the shower pounded his muscles, rinsing the soap from his front while she pressed her hands into his back, giving it the same intimate attention. He allowed her to move him under the shower, so that she faced him again. He captured her breasts, water pooling over them while her nipples hardened. She’d had her breasts enlarged, another ploy to alter her appearance to prevent her capture. Her new face and those large breasts had distracted him the moment he’d laid eyes on her when she’d come to town. Her disguise had been ineffective though—at least on him. His heart saw through all the surgery and recognized his Joanna immediately. The change in her physical appearance would throw any agent briefed on her existing profile though. “We’d be happier if we took time to get to know each other again.” She knelt before him, deciding his cock must be exceptionally dirty as she stroked it with her lathered hand. “Take all the time you want getting to know me again,” he growled, his muscles hardening while blood pumped into his dick. She hummed, running her tongue over the tip of him. Instantly the pressure built to a breaking point. In spite of everything they’d done the night before she had him ready to come with a mere touch. “I plan to,” she murmured and sucked him into her mouth. His heart pounded in his ears. Already she had his balls tingling, the urge to explode overwhelming him. “That’s a damned good idea.” He stroked her wet hair, which clung to her head and her shoulders. Her lips stretched over him, her eyes closing while she sucked him deep into her heat. Steam clung to the air around him, making it too hard to breathe. Suddenly lightheaded, her hot little mouth was the worst torture, and the best damned thing he’d experienced in years. A perilous and deadly future waited around the corner for them. It had been this way for years. Alpha Corp pulled its agents in at an early age, trained them to kill, to run missions against hostile enemies. He and Joanna had given over half of their lives to Alpha. Quitting hadn’t been an option. Leaving Alpha was a guaranteed death sentence. No agent left the agency and lived through the night. Joanna had run with her son six years ago. He’d managed to keep her alive through that time. He’d left Alpha five years ago, an unheard of occurrence. Having the rank of general, the power of God in his hands, the knowledge in his head made him a more risky liability than any other member of the covert organization. Staying alive had been 7

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his top focus every hour he’d been free. That and capturing Joanna and their son, returning them to his side where they belonged. Her tongue swirled around his shaft. His muscles turned to rock, constricting throughout his body. Tangling his fingers through her wet hair, he held on while she sucked all the life right out of him. “Damn it, woman,” he howled, feeling the pressure reach its climax. Her lips glided off him, and she smiled against his cock. “Give it to me,” she ordered with a husky whisper. And he did. A dull roar wrenched through him while he released his come. The white cream hit her face, instantly washing down her with the shower water. She rose slowly, leaning against him, her large breasts a soft torture against his oversensitive skin. Her mouth was hot, salty from his come. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Holding her to him, he knew there would be no limits, no end to what he would do to ensure she stayed with him—forever. She and Alex. They were his. No one would take them away from him.

***** Jonathan watched Joanna walk Alex up the shoveled sidewalk toward the small brick school. Valley View Grade School was the only grade school in town. Dropping children off in the morning allowed a person to see almost everyone in town. This small town had been his sanctuary for two and a half years, a peaceful existence that had been a godsend after years of dodging bullets and fighting for his life. More than one curious glance turned his way, and watched Joanna and Alex. No matter how small the community, not rating even a speck of attention on any printed map, the gossip flying about him and Joanna was risky. He prayed he’d timed everything right. Alex walked alongside his mother, his backpack bobbing against his back. Dark curls covered his head and his caramel-colored skin made him the spitting image of Jonathan. He’d never experienced emotions so raw and deep as he did when he first saw that boy, a mirror image of himself. Love deeper and more intense than even his feelings for Joanna rushed through him every time he saw the child. Seeing to his protection was at the top of his list of priorities. The product of years of laboratory research in Alpha Corp, Jonathan and Joanna had been used to create and birth Alpha’s first super-genius. A new breed, a new warrior, incredibly intelligent, Alpha had high hopes for their procreation project. And Joanna had run with the results of their experiments—her son—their son. “Alex has a lot of questions,” Joanna said when she adjusted the seat belt over her chest in the passenger seat of her Dodge Ram truck. “I’m sure.” He pulled away from the school, heading back into the mountains. “He needs to be pulled from that school.”

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Joanna looked at him, her expression hardening. “He has the right to grow up normally.” The three of them would never experience normal like the rest of the world did. Telling her the obvious wouldn’t get him anywhere. That school didn’t have the means to offer an education to a child who was more intelligent than anyone in this town. “Many children are home schooled,” he told her, knowing the sooner he got Alex out of that school, the safer the boy would be. She didn’t say anything while he drove through the small town and then headed up the road that twisted around the mountain where both of them lived. “What are we doing here?” she asked when they pulled up in front of the Morris home a few minutes later. “I need to talk to Jimmy.” He parked her truck, climbing out on his side while Joanna stuffed her hands in her coat pocket and walked to the front of the truck. “I’m sure Susie is inside if you want to visit.” Snow had been cleared from the driveway, creating a natural wall on either side. Jimmy Morris had his garage door open and held a large box in his hands when Jonathan walked up. “I’m heading down to the station here in a few,” Jimmy said in form of greeting. He handed the box to Jonathan without further comment and then pulled another box from the wall and moved it to shelves on the other side. Jimmy Morris dressed in his usual attire, a sheriff’s uniform with gray slacks and matching shirt. The guy had saved Jonathan’s life three years ago, and was the first person Jonathan ever really trusted. A native of Colorado, he’d always reminded Jonathan of the old-school lumberjack, stronger than a pack mule, with equally strong convictions about what was right and how things should be done. A good man to have around. “There’s two days left on the program before it will launch.” Jonathan handed the box to Jimmy, who stacked it with the other boxes. “So everything went okay last night, I take it?” Jimmy wasn’t asking if Jonathan got laid. The seriousness in his expression when he ran his fingers over his straw-like blond hair showed he worried about the success of this mission as much as Jonathan did. “I told her what I should have told her when she first came to town.” “If you would have told her who you were when she first saw you, she would have bolted out of here faster than a scared rabbit.” Jonathan shrugged. “And I would have gone after her. Allowing several months to pass, and letting her believe I was someone I wasn’t, destroyed her trust in me. She wants time now to let our relationship grow. And we don’t have time.” “Women are romantics. Trust me on this one. They prefer a pretty picture than the truth. She fell hard for you and now that you have her, the trust will come.”

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“I showed her the program we have running.” Jonathan didn’t feel a need to comment on Jimmy’s philosophy on women. Understanding how they ticked never had been one of his strong points. “She knows our plan to destroy Alpha Corp?” Jimmy had been the only one Jonathan had trusted with the knowledge of his plan to take out the covert agency. Trying to destroy a government agency so powerful, so deadly that it was a law unto itself, was a tougher challenge than trying to destroy God. And he had the program running that would do the job. Every time he thought about it, hard tingles rushed over his skin. He would pull off the impossible, and it would happen within days. “Does she know that Alex helped you write the program?” Jimmy was as proud of that child as Jonathan was. He nodded. “I mentioned it. It’s fitting when you think about it. They created the perfect human. And that human helped perfect the virus that will wipe them out.” “Maybe you should let him read Frankenstein.” Jimmy put his weight against a cabinet and shoved it down the wall. “I told Susie she could buy a freezer—trying to make room for it here. Give me a hand with this. You might as well get accustomed to what it’s like having a family.” “He’s on a Stephen King kick right now.” It was hard to believe some days that Alex was almost six. He read better than Jonathan did. “There’s something I need you to do for me when you get down to the station.” “What’s that?” “File a marriage license for me.” Jimmy raised an eyebrow but knew him well enough not to ask questions. “What names should I put on it?” “Jonathan Hunter and Joanna Hopkins.” “You’re going to use your real names?” “Yup. And I want it filed tomorrow. I’ll give Alpha Corp a day to find it. Let them see it before they are destroyed.” “You sure this program will do the trick?” “I wasn’t completely convinced until Alex stumbled onto it. He helped me perfect it. Blows me out of the water what that kid is capable of.” Jonathan stood back and surveyed the space the two of them had created for the freezer. “The program is completely undetectable right now. It’s slowly loading into Alpha Corp’s main computer system. Once it’s completely uploaded, a virus will launch into their system. When they detect it and try to clean house, then it’s designed to create a new virus, with new firewalls. That was Alex’s contribution. Their entire computer system, all files, all backup, all archives around the world, will be destroyed before the day is out.” Jimmy shook his head. “I don’t even understand what you just said.” “It will work.” 10

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“So you’re going to let them see you, let them know you two have married and are together and make them privy to your location, right before you destroy them.” Jonathan couldn’t wait for the new general to be given the information as to their whereabouts hours before they were taken down. Jimmy shook his head. “You’re a mean son of a bitch.” “Yup. Paybacks are hell.”

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Chapter Two Jonathan stuffed the marriage license in his pocket. “I’ll get her signature on it.” Jimmy nodded, focusing on his computer screen. The one large room that made up the sheriff’s office for Valley View was a joke for security. Jimmy enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere though. Hunter didn’t blame him a bit. Both had seen their fair share of violence for a lifetime. “We’re getting more snow tonight.” Jimmy moved his mouse, clicking on screens. “Reckon I’ll call the boys and give them a heads-up that we’ll be clearing roads again.” Jonathan grunted. Staring out the large window that looked out onto the quiet downtown, the thought of spending the evening freezing in a tractor didn’t have half the appeal that spending it cuddled with Joanna in front of a fire did. He would have that to look forward to once he was done. That in itself was an incredible improvement in life. Over two years in this town had changed him. He saw that now with Joanna back at his side. The urge to look over his shoulder, always know exactly what everyone was doing—what Joanna was doing—didn’t overshadow his thoughts as much today. He’d relaxed, cleared his head. Things like running the town, ensuring everyone’s safety, still played foremost in his mind. But in all honesty, life was good today. He didn’t wake up wondering if today would be the day someone bested him. “Wait a minute,” Jimmy grumbled. Jimmy glanced around the room, then toward the street before giving Jonathan a worried look. “Am I reading this right?” He leaned back in his office chair, nodding to his computer screen. Jonathan walked around the desk. Jimmy got up, immediately turning the helm over to Jonathan. They’d programmed Jimmy’s computer at work to monitor Alpha Corp activity. Neither one of them worried too much about Susie’s or Heidi’s computer skills, but keeping information about the agency out of Jimmy’s home had been an unspoken understanding. The city didn’t have the budget to provide the sheriff’s office with an elaborate computer system. No one who stopped in questioned the equipment here. Jonathan had put up for the upgraded system shortly after he and Jimmy managed to take over the town. Not one shred of regret ran through his veins that he’d loaded his bank accounts before leaving Alpha Corp. Mayor Mooney was a good old boy, who enjoyed his plush position and did a good job of kissing babies. He didn’t question Jimmy and Jonathan calling the shots.

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Not that there were a lot of shots to call in a small community like this one. “This is interesting.” The minute he started dwelling on the good life he’d secured, he was reminded that Alpha Corp could wipe that away with a moment’s notice. “Looks like we’ve got agents entering Colorado.” Wiping the damned agency off the face of the Earth couldn’t happen soon enough. Every time they monitored their movement, Jonathan risked being discovered. Staying in the dark wouldn’t protect him though. With Joanna and Alex under his wing, there was even more reason to keep an eye on the agency. Anger hardened throughout his body. Forcing his hands not to clench into fists, he started searching for profiles on whatever mission brought agents too close for comfort. “You realize once that virus infects their system, we’ll have agents running amok that we won’t be able to monitor.” Jimmy paced behind him. “I have no problem taking them on one by one under my terms.” “I won’t have this town disrupted with violence.” “Agreed.” Jonathan wouldn’t have anyone affiliated with Alpha Corp even know where Valley View was. He’d damned well see to it. “I have a feeling once they lose contact with their commander, most agents will run.” Once they took out the agency, as soon as he was assured there was no way anyone in Alpha Corp could harm them, he’d announce their presence. Hell, he’d scream it from the mountaintop—which was exactly what he planned on doing with that marriage license. Announcing their presence before Alpha Corp went down would be their death sentences though. “You think there is that little loyalty?” “Henry oversees the missions now. He doesn’t know how to instill that kind of loyalty in his men.” “You know him well?” “I’ve known him all my life,” Jonathan admitted, images of the boy who always managed to get into fights when they were children popping into his head. He pushed the unwelcome thoughts away quickly. “He thinks he can pull off what I accomplished, but he doesn’t have a clue.” “You’re making this too personal.” Jimmy moved toward the large window overlooking downtown. He stood with his back to Jonathan, a large man, usually quiet, but definitely sharp as a tack. His advice more than once helped keep Jonathan grounded. “Staying alive is personal.” And keeping Joanna and Alex safe made it even more so. “You let it get emotional, and you’ll fuck something up.” “Nothing will get fucked up.” Raising his voice didn’t get a rise out of Jimmy. The man didn’t so much as turn around. “Twelve years of my life have been stolen by

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Alpha Corp. There will be no peace until they are destroyed. You don’t have that weighing down your shoulders.” “Like hell I don’t.” Jimmy turned around, glaring at Jonathan like he would lunge. He was a large man, stronger than a pack mule. He walked slowly toward his desk, his blue eyes burning with energy that Jonathan didn’t doubt the man could contain. “You think I don’t know that a military, no matter what the hell they call themselves, will take out anyone affiliated with whoever it is they’re after? I’m in this as much as you are. You want to feel sorry for yourself, go do it on your own time.” Jonathan turned his attention back to the screen, switching sites so he could dig a bit deeper and learn why the bastards had entered Colorado. “Pity gets a man nowhere.” His jaw was tight, his fingers cramped while he typed. Jimmy was right. The man usually was. Getting emotional over this would create mistakes. “The facts are clear though. Once they lose their computer, their control over all of their agents, over their missions, over their ability to keep their hands so tightly in world affairs, the rest will be simple.” “They won’t go down without a fight.” It had been Jimmy’s argument from the beginning. “From what I see they are too huge, and have too much of a hold on the world not to go out without one hell of an explosion.” “There will be a fight.” Jonathan dreamed of this nightly, or at least he had until Joanna had walked back into his life. “They will fight among themselves until the last of them is wiped out.” The slow smile that crossed his face didn’t warm his heart. Too much anger flooded his system. The damage Alpha Corp had done to his soul, to Joanna, might not be repairable. But getting on with their lives, with the love they had for each other, wouldn’t happen until they were completely free. He wouldn’t have a life of looking over his shoulder for him, or for Joanna. Not to mention Alex. His son’s future relied on Jonathan pulling off his plan. Alex would rule nations, but not as Alpha Corp’s puppet—which was exactly what they wanted him for. His son deserved a better life than that.

***** Jonathan walked along Joanna’s shoveled drive after Jimmy dropped him off. Even though it wasn’t quite suppertime, overcast skies made it seem later. Evergreens heavy with snow gave the place a secluded look. The small cabin that Joanna rented from Jimmy and Susie was barely noticeable from the road—a road seldom traveled by anyone other than folks who lived on this mountain. No matter how perfect the place was for Joanna to live, to ensure her privacy wouldn’t be violated she would be better off with him. Now that she knew he was back in her life, it was time to move them in with him.

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He turned the doorknob on her front door, entering without knocking for the first time since she’d moved there. After the other night, revealing to her who he was, confirming what she’d guessed already—that he was Jonathan, the man she’d loved since she was a teenager—he’d be damned if he wouldn’t enter freely anywhere where she was. Joanna looked up startled from her kitchen table, visible through the living room. The blue contacts she wore to disguise her natural eye color made her eyes look larger when she visibly jumped as he entered the cabin. “I live for the day when someone walking through your front door only makes you smile,” he said quietly, willing the frown she wore to disappear. “I thought I’d come pretty far not to have three deadbolts secured on my front door.” Her frown faded slightly while her gaze dropped down him. The flush in her cheeks gave him a clue where her thoughts went. There was a fading scent of roses, or something sweet, when he moved to stand over her. Possibly a perfume she’d applied earlier that day. Her soft brown hair fell around her face when she returned to something she sewed on a white canvas. She punctured the material with a thick long needle and pulled glossy red thread through it. “What are you doing?” Keeping his hands off her wasn’t something he had any intention of doing. Her hair was like silk. Heat rushed through him and it had nothing to do with the fire that crackled behind them in the fireplace. He glanced around the orderly kitchen. “Where’s Alex?” “In my bedroom on the computer,” she said, again glancing up at him. “I put some money in an online account for him. He said he wanted to order Christmas presents, and that I was to stay out here.” He pulled the chair out from under the table and turned it around, straddling it then sitting next to her. She pulled the thread tightly through the canvas, glancing down to survey her work. “Susie convinced me to give cross-stitch a try. It’s actually kind of fun.” She gave him a sheepish grin. “Hard to believe I’m sitting here doing this kind of thing, isn’t it?” “I’m thrilled you are able to.” And he meant it, more than he would express to her. She looked so at ease, so relaxed. The small cabin was quiet, a peaceful sensation making it easy to relax next to her. Taking in her snug-fitting dark blue sweater that brought out the blue in her contact lenses, he enjoyed the shape of her large breasts. She hadn’t been small before, and whoever did surgery on her face and breasts had wonderfully enhanced the beauty she already possessed. “Hi, Hunter.” Alex walked around the corner, pulling Jonathan’s attention from Joanna’s breasts. Joanna gave her son an appraising look. “Are you through with the computer?”

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Alex had none of his mother’s features. He brushed dark curls from his forehead, pursing his lips together—a look Jonathan was quickly learning meant he was chewing on something in his mind. It was as if he could see his brain churning, deciphering something. Physically, he very much was an almost six-year-old. But his expression didn’t match his body. It was obvious something plagued his thoughts, thoughts no child his age would have—unless they possessed the mind of a genius. “I heard Hunter out here. I thought I’d ask your advice on something.” Alex’s dark eyes focused on him, communicating to him without words. “You want to ask him about Christmas presents?” Joanna sounded suspicious. Alex’s crooked smile proved to Jonathan the boy was up to something. He squeezed his son’s shoulder. “Show me what it is.” Joanna put her sewing down. “Alex,” she said, a warning sound in her tone. “I’m not doing anything wrong, Mom.” Again he graced her with his small smile that had her narrowing her eyebrows. “Keep on sewing. It’s relaxing you.” She frowned, glancing up at him before looking at her son. Jonathan guided Alex down the hallway. “Don’t underestimate your mother, Alex,” he said so that Joanna could hear him. “She’ll never relax if she thinks you’re up to something you shouldn’t be.” He shut the bedroom door behind them, and Alex hurried over to the computer. Jonathan froze in mid-step when he saw the screen. “What the hell are you doing?” he whispered, stunned at the open channel Alex had managed with Alpha Corp. “You aren’t supposed to use profanity in front of children.” Alex beamed at him, plopping down in the chair in front of the screen and reaching for the mouse. “Did you know there are agents here in Colorado? I’m sending them on wild-goose chases.” He giggled as if he’d just discovered coveted cheats for some game. The bedroom door opened and Alex quickly minimized the screen. “Jonathan.” Joanna sounded pissed. She crossed her arms over her chest, pressing her large breasts together. She scowled at him then honored her son with the same look. “Look at me and tell me he’s searching for Christmas presents.” “I don’t know what he’s doing yet.” Jonathan gave her his full attention, telling her the truth, although not answering her. “You walked in before he could show me.” “Are you messing with that virus program?” The relaxed expression he’d seen on her face when he’d first walked in on her was gone. Worry outlined her pretty face. “I swear I’m not, Mom. I’m done with that. It needs time to upload. Alpha Corp has a very large computer system.” She sucked in a breath, turning her attention back to Jonathan. He walked over to her, blocking her view of her son and the computer. Stroking her hair, and then her shoulders, he leaned forward and kissed her pursed lips.

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“I thought I’d take you two home with me for supper. Gather some things so you two can stay the night and give me a minute to see what he’s up to. If he’s doing something he shouldn’t be doing, I’ll stop him.” He whispered the words over her mouth, her long lashes fluttering over her eyes before she looked up at him. “I’m not sure if we should…” He stopped her refusal with another kiss. “Go get his pajamas ready. I pulled several steaks out to thaw this morning. I’ll be out in a minute.” She looked ready to refuse him again. There would be no more prolonging them being a family. The sooner he had them under his roof, the faster they would all adjust to their new life together. He turned her around, guiding her out of the bedroom. “Alex has known you are his father for one day,” she said quietly, the instant they were alone in the hallway. “I don’t know if we should stay the night at your place yet.” “Shall we ask him if he wants to?” Jonathan had no doubts that Alex would jump at the idea. His son loved an adventure as much as he did. She shook her head, her expression relaxing a bit, but she didn’t look pleased. Her hesitation burned at him. “I’m not going to sleep tonight without you next to me,” he informed her. “We’re a family, and we’re going to start acting like one.” She bit her lip and when she met his gaze a new emotion had triggered inside her. He saw passion brewing even through those tinted contact lenses she wore. “You’re going to have to learn not to scream when I fuck the shit out of you,” he added, and loved the beautiful flush that spread over her cheeks. He cupped her breast, her nipple hardening instantly against his palm. “Get Alex’s things together. We’ll be out in a second.” When he shut the bedroom door behind him a second time, Alex grinned broadly at him. “You’re going to have to learn to not so obviously boss her around. She’ll do what you want better if you make her think it’s her idea.” Jonathan simply stared at the small child in front of him. “Is that so?” was all he could think to say. Not once in his life had a small boy enlightened him on how to handle women. “Now, do you want to see this?” Alex turned again toward the monitor, bringing the screen back up that Jonathan had seen when he first walked into the room. Walking around Joanna’s bed, he leaned over his son and studied the commands that had been issued to the agents in the area in the past few hours. “Damn it. They’re closer than I realized.” Agents were less than a couple of hours away. He scanned the correspondence exchanged between members of Alpha, gathering they were assigned to find some spy who apparently was trying to dodge them. According to what he read, they were closing in on him. “I told you not to cuss in front of me.” 17

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Jonathan picked Alex up, taking his seat and putting his son on his lap. “I tell you what,” he said. “I’d appreciate it if you started calling me Dad. And know this now, telling me what to do, or not to do, will never get you anywhere.” Alex stilled and for a moment Jonathan thought the child would start crying. Instead he surprised Jonathan by wrapping his small arms around Jonathan’s neck. “All my life I’ve wanted a dad,” he said into Jonathan’s chest. “You’ve always had a dad.” Jonathan pulled the boy closer, continuing to stare at the screen while he held his son. “You know that.” Alex looked up at him. There were no tears in his eyes, which Jonathan worried might be there. Instead Alex’s look was shrewd. Jonathan fought a smile. Damn it if the boy wasn’t sharper than anyone he’d ever met, and a bit manipulative too. Qualities he respected and would have no problem nurturing. Alex was just like him. “I’ll do my best not to cuss around you. And you do your best to remember you’re the son and I’m the father.” “Deal.” Alex looked satisfied that he’d avoided being scolded for doing something on the computer he shouldn’t have been doing. Jonathan would have to stay on his toes with Alex. “Would you like me to explain what I was doing here?” “Talk quickly. Your mother will be back in here soon.” Alex obviously agreed with him. “They are searching for this guy believed to have laundered money through several state governments. There are ten agents in Colorado right now. Henry Estevez is overseeing the mission. Are you related to him?” “Yes. He’s your uncle.” Jonathan wouldn’t lie to his son, although he could count on one hand how many times he’d admitted Henry was his brother. “Go on.” “I’ve done some tracking on my own, learned where the guy is that they were looking for, intercepted their orders, and told them where to find him. I made it look like I was their intel guy.” Jonathan couldn’t believe it. He read over the transmissions that confirmed what Alex had just told him. “I figured the sooner they found him, the faster they would go away.” “When will they find him?” “Considering traveling time, within the hour.” Alex hadn’t taken his focus off Jonathan’s face. “Did I do a good job?” Alex wanted his approval. He wanted to know he’d pleased his father. Jonathan ran his hands over Alex’s thick curls, his heart warming at how much it mattered to his son what Jonathan thought of him. Barely able to conceive an image of the man who might have had a hand in giving Alex life, all he had to rely on was the glow in his son’s eyes when he stared at him. That look of pure pleasure when he explained his actions to Jonathan showed him how he warmed his son’s heart. It was all new to him, but something he would love time to explore—quality father-son time. He liked the idea. 18

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“You sure did,” he said honestly. “Now shut this thing down and let’s head over to my house. We’ll check on them once we get over there.”

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Chapter Three Steak and potatoes had never tasted so good. They ate in the living room, sitting on the floor, with his fire roaring in the fireplace. For the first time in years, Jonathan laughed until his sides hurt. The three of them shared stories, Joanna and Alex continually interrupting him while sharing events that had happened to them over the years. Conversation was light, and more than once he noted Joanna steering Alex from topics that would show Jonathan how many hard times the two of them endured. Pretending not to notice, he didn’t let them know how he compared their stories to the facts he already knew. They’d never been far from his sight. The clock on the wall ticked quietly. It was hard to believe it was almost midnight when he noticed Alex starting to nod off. Sometimes he needed to kick himself and remember his son was a small boy. He chatted with his parents like another adult. Joanna talked to him like an equal, making it easy for Jonathan to do the same. “Let’s head upstairs,” he said when the conversation had slowed. He stood, scooping Alex into his arms. “You’re going to love your new bedroom, champ,” he whispered into his son’s hair. Alex barely managed a smile, going limp against Jonathan’s chest while he led the way up the stairs. Joanna oversaw putting Alex to bed, and when she closed his door quietly and then hesitated at his bedroom door, all he could do was stare at her. Her hair was slightly tousled, she wore no makeup, and had on fuzzy socks, one pulled over her leggings, the other pushed down to her ankle. She was the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes on. He’d had time to shed his shirt, which he dropped in the clothes basket outside the adjoining bathroom to his room. Alex’s bedroom opened into the same bathroom. The door to his son’s room was closed on the other side of the bathroom, and he closed his door. “I honestly wasn’t sure you could pull it off.” She didn’t enter his bedroom, but stood in the doorway. Turning, he took in how her leggings made her legs look thin, shapely. The sweater she’d worn all evening hugged her breasts. He’d noticed most of her wardrobe showed off her new breasts. She had to be proud of them. And he sure as hell didn’t mind the view. “Pull what off?” “Being a family man.” She smiled. “Come here.”

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The peaceful expression on her face was priceless. There hadn’t been an opportunity to check on the Alpha Corp agents throughout the evening. The way she looked right now, he was glad he hadn’t made the effort to leave them alone for any amount of time to go to his computer. “Alex was out before he hit the pillow. We’ve both had a really good evening.” She limped slightly, a reminder that he needed to get her in to a specialist. Once he knew their future was secure, that would take top priority. She’d lived with that old injury, a wound he had a feeling he knew when and where she got it, and unfortunately had to be one of the last things they dealt with, completely freeing them of their past. If he could take her to a doctor now, damn it, he’d do it. But risking public record of any kind prior to the virus uploading might ruin everything. “Your evening isn’t done yet.” He pulled her to him. “Tell me you’ve longed for this as much as I have.” “You know I have.” She fit into his arms so perfectly. Looking up at him, her soft breasts brushing over his chest, she ran her hands over him until she wrapped them around his neck. “I still get scared sometimes, you know? Like all of this is too good to be true and something will crash around us to bring us back to our reality.” “This is our reality.” And he’d see to it personally that nothing would keep them apart again. “You and me, Juana. We’re meant for each other.” “Yes. We are.” She leaned into him, stretching so she could offer her mouth to him. Swooping her into his arms, he moved first to the door and shut it, then carried her to his bed. Laying her down, he took his time removing her socks. Then crawling over her, he pulled on her leggings, sliding them down her legs. The purple scar on her inner thigh tugged at his conscience. There was still so much for them to talk about, to share. He’d have to swallow a lot of pride to bring up how she got that scar. Right now, the last thing he wanted to focus on was the night she ran from him, ran from Alpha Corp, disappeared in the middle of the night—disappeared from his life. Letting his gaze travel away from that part of her quickly, he wouldn’t give her cause to worry, to wonder if the scar bothered him. It did. It tore at him painfully. For now, with their relationship needing time once again to blossom, he wouldn’t mention it to her. “You’re absolutely fucking perfect.” He pushed her sweater over her breasts, and immediately shoved her silk bra over her full breasts. “I’m not as fine-tuned as I once was. Don’t lie to me.” But the smile on her face broadened. She loved the praise, loved how he touched her. She arched into his touch, sucking in her breath when he knelt over her and cupped her breasts. “I’m not lying.” She cried out when he nipped at her nipple, taking her full round breast in his hand and squeezing.

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“Maybe the surgery did more than protect me then.” She teased him, knowing he loved her larger breasts. Her hands wrapped around his neck and she held his face to her chest with all her strength. He enjoyed burying his face in the soft flesh, that faint smell of roses naturally arousing. Whatever perfume she used, he’d have to see she got more of it. Grabbing her wrists, he pulled her hands from him and pinned them above her. Then pulling her sweater off her, he flipped her over. Her brown hair fanned over her back, and her tattoo on her shoulder grabbed his attention. He outlined it with his finger. She opened her eyes, straining to look up at him. “You had yours removed,” she whispered. “And you didn’t.” She was damned lucky it hadn’t identified her over the years. “When I saw the vague outline of it on your back the first time I came over here, that’s how I knew for sure you were you.” “Don’t move.” He pressed on her back, giving action to his order, then straightened, quickly removing his pants. He knew she’d suspected his true identity when she first moved to town in spite of his cosmetic surgery and fake driver’s license. Her alterations and new name hadn’t worked on him. Staring down at the sweet curve of her ass, his cock hardened painfully while he slipped out of his remaining clothes. She stayed put, lying facedown on his bed, her hair partially hiding her face. The way she lay there, her narrow waist, the curve of her hips, her hair draping down her back, and her slender legs slightly spread so he got a glimpse of her freshly shaven pussy, had all blood draining from his head. All thoughts and worries drained from him just as quickly. Nothing mattered right now other than getting inside her, feeling that tight heat wrapped around him. She turned when he climbed over her. “Do I need to tie you down?” He grabbed her arm when she reached for him. “I told you not to move.” Her mouth twitched as she fought a smile. “You can’t get that kinky with Alex in the next room. What would he think if he walked in on us?” “I think he wouldn’t walk in on us twice.” It was a point he wouldn’t argue though. If he wanted to have some serious fun with Joanna, they would need to find a sitter. Hauling her to the head of the bed, he plopped her down so her head sank into his pillows. She stared up at him, lust clouding her gaze, while she ran her tongue over her lips. “More than likely he wouldn’t let us sleep alone together again,” she countered. “Alex will learn who’s in charge here.” She’d given the boy a lot of power, whether she realized it or not.

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Her mouth closed. She would argue with him over this, he saw it coming. Right now they weren’t going to discuss a damned thing. He wanted to fuck her. They had a lifetime to agree on how best to raise their son. Capturing her mouth, he held her wrists on either side of her head, devouring her until she relaxed underneath him. Keeping himself propped above her, depriving himself of feeling those nipples harden against his chest, he dipped his tongue inside her. She made a purring sound into his mouth, squirming underneath him. His cock suddenly seemed to weigh a hundred pounds. Swollen and throbbing, pressure tearing through him until his balls tingled, she could make him crazy when all that touched were their mouths. That and her wrists clasped in his hands. Her pulse pounded solidly in his palms, beating through him, matching the heavy pumping of his own heart. She was his—body and soul. “Te amo, Juana,” he whispered into the shallow part of her neck, working his way down her while holding her so she couldn’t touch him. She could move though, and she wiggled underneath him, turning her head from side to side while she moaned in delight. “Yes. I love you,” she cried, struggling under his grasp so that she could move her arms. He let her go as he slid down the bed and gripped her legs, spreading them. She bucked against him when he ran his tongue over her already soaked pussy. “Hold still,” he growled, then sucked her small clit into his mouth. “Oh God.” Her fingers tangled in his curls. He lifted her legs, keeping them spread and pushing them up into the air. Exposing her pussy and ass, he made a feast of her, sucking and licking while she clawed at him. “Jonathan. Please,” she begged, her come flowing freely, filling his mouth, tasting better than he remembered in the years of dreams he’d had about her. “Please what?” “Damn it. Fuck me.” Pushing her over the edge had never been so easy to do. “Oh, I will.” “Now,” she begged. He tortured her flesh around her ass, then moved back to her pussy, keeping her legs spread wide, pushing against them until she grabbed her legs and held herself open for him. “Juana,” he said, breathing in the rich smell of her come, growing intoxicated on her. His cock throbbed so hard he could barely stand it. “What?” She tossed her head from side to side.

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He straightened slowly, kneeling before her while he raised her off the bed. The heat between her legs was like fire against his dick. He pressed into her fiery moisture. “You are mine, Juana,” he told her, and buried himself deep inside her. She cried out, then put her hand over her mouth as if suddenly worried they might wake Alex. Jonathan wasn’t too worried about their son. The child had a better grasp on things than most adults. He doubted seriously that they’d be interrupted. “Yes.” She gulped in air, her body constricting around him, suffocating him. “And you’re mine.” Every little muscle inside her vibrated against his shaft. He wouldn’t allow this to end too soon and forced himself to move slowly. Come soaked him, tickling his balls, torturing his senses. It was all he could do to keep his entire body from trembling. Pressure built so hard that he gritted his teeth, fighting to keep control of the situation while her hot little body threatened to torture him into exploding. “You’re killing me,” she pleaded. “God. Fuck me harder.” And she was killing him. But words escaped him and all he managed to do was growl. She bucked upward, trying desperately to take control with her legs spread wide open in the air. He held her ankles tightly, barely maintaining control while he dared pick up the momentum. Fire rushed over him. His cock seemed like it had swelled to twice its normal size. Managing to keep his wits about him, and not spill everything he had inside her, he moved faster. The friction almost did him in. “My baby still likes it rough.” And damn it he ached to give it to her. “It feels so good.” Her hands brushed over her breasts, fondling them, pinching her nipples. Every muscle in her body tightened, her toned tummy hardening when her pussy clamped around him and she came. There wasn’t a more beautiful sight. Pumping into her, driving his cock hard and fast over her pulsating muscles, her breasts rocked up and down while he impaled her repeatedly. Although they’d fucked each other several times since she’d moved here, tonight was different. They would consummate the rest of their life together. By the time he was done with her, she’d promise to be his for life. She already held his heart. Watching her cheeks flush, her long hair cling to her face while her lashes fluttered over her eyes, he held her gaze, letting her see what he couldn’t put into words at the moment. And she showed him her soul as well. No matter that she still wore her tinted contact lenses, the look she gave him while he took her over the edge again and again, showed him what he’d always known was true. They were bonded, life partners. However he wasn’t as young as he’d once been. Slowing so he could catch his breath, allow a bit of oxygen back into his brain, he fought to keep his vision clear. His

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cock burned and the fire swept throughout his body. Every muscle inside him constricted painfully but he fought the urge still. “I want to fuck your ass.” Just thinking about it made it almost impossible to breathe. His words came out sounding almost choked. “Okay.” She noticeably relaxed, preparing herself, her legs resting in his hands. When they’d been much younger, he’d taught her to love anal sex, crave it in fact. The way she’d cry out his name, her body convulsing with her orgasm had proven to him that she didn’t give her ass to him just to please him. Joanna loved sex, every form of it. Her willing response to his suggestion showed him she hadn’t changed. He pulled out of her, the fire from her pussy remaining wrapped around his cock even when he was no longer in her. Nerve endings exploded throughout him. It was almost too much effort just to move. He’d endured torture a lot less than this under worse circumstances. It took a moment to focus when he gazed down between them. Her shaven skin glowed from their lovemaking and glistened with come. He lifted her slightly, stroking her smooth flesh. Come clung to his fingers and he applied the moisture to her tight ass. She jerked. He slid one finger into her tight hole. So much moisture made it easy to glide inside her. “Breathe,” he whispered. She obeyed, inhaling slowly and relaxing underneath him. His cock was already soaked with her thick white cream. The scent from their sex wrapped around him. His heart pounded, throbbing clear to the tip of his dick. “You’re so damned wet. I’ll slide in easily.” She didn’t answer, her mouth a small circle while she waited, ready and willing to give him every bit of her. Positioning his cock against the puckered tight hole, heat wrapped around him before he pushed his way inside her. Her tight flesh stretched, then constricted over his shaft. He pushed deeper. “Jonathan,” she cried, reaching for him, pulling him down over her. Her ass was so tight that for a moment he couldn’t breathe. Hardly able to move, but coming down over her until she wrapped her arms around him, holding him, he needed a minute. “God, woman,” he managed to utter, realizing he’d begun fucking her before he knew he began moving again. She suffocated him. Her ass was so damned tight. There was no way he could handle this. Giving in, conceding to her overpowering heat, he began moving faster. No way would he be able to keep control. Thousands of little muscles stroked his shaft, constricting around him, pulling all he had and demanding he give more. “Juana,” he cried, nerve endings exploding like thousands of flashing lights before his eyes. 25

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“Yes, Jonathan, now.” She held him tightly, her body moist underneath his. Pumping all he had, he exploded, the dam rupturing inside him with so much force he almost blacked out. For a moment, he wasn’t sure he would be able to move again. She’d drained him hard, leaving him so limp he pulled out of her easily and then collapsed on the bed next to her. Her flushed expression and soaked body were enough to show him he’d more than satisfied her. “I can’t live without you, lady,” he confessed, barely managing to lift his hand and wipe a strand of hair from her face. “You don’t have to, not anymore.” She turned to look at him, her face glowing, and smiled. “Then marry me.” He needed her to agree. Waiting and dating would make him crazy. They would walk side by side the rest of their lives. It mattered that they had that bond between them. That, and the ultimate satisfaction of proving to Alpha Corp that he’d won, that they’d won, ate at him. He and Joanna would show that damned agency that they’d won with the quiet statement of a marriage license. Alpha Corp would go down, and the last thing they’d see before they died was the uniting of the only two agents who’d managed to escape their claws. She turned to look at him, searching his face, taking her time without answering. “Do you have doubts about us?” He needed to know if she did. “No.” She answered quickly enough, although he’d never imagined that she had. “But I do have doubts about Alpha Corp. I don’t want them to find us.” “Trust me.” He stroked her cheek and she closed her eyes, pressing her face against his touch. “No one will ever separate us again.” “Okay.” She met his gaze. “I’ll marry you.”

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Chapter Four “She fucking went where?” Jonathan pounded the wall in the sheriff’s office before turning to glare at Jimmy. Jimmy annoyed him even more when he appeared undaunted by Jonathan’s outburst. “I just called Susie. They didn’t tell me they were leaving town.” Jimmy returned his attention to his computer screen. “I saw Joanna less than an hour ago.” Jonathan ran his hands through his hair, unable to accept the fact that Joanna would leave town. “We parted ways after she dropped Alex off at school. Why did they go to Montrose?” It had crossed his mind more than once to tell Joanna there were Alpha Corp agents in the state. Whenever he thought of it, they started talking about something else. Now she was gone. Every muscle inside him hardened with anger. He didn’t want to put a leash on her. Hell, he wasn’t sure he had it in him anymore to be so possessive. Their relaxed relationship appealed to him. With no stipulations, no domination or head games, they were slowly becoming best friends. That was more than they’d had as kids when he had tried controlling her every move. “To pick up that damn freezer. Susie couldn’t wait for me to go with her.” There was strain in Jimmy’s tone. “She called me on the road after the two of them had left.” Jonathan pulled out his cell phone, quickly punching in Joanna’s number. It went straight to voice mail. He fought the urge to send the thing flying up against the wall. “How long ago did they leave?” “Thirty minutes at the most.” Jimmy looked up from his computer screen. “They probably won’t have a signal through most of the drive to Montrose. You’re going to have to wait a couple hours for them to get there.” It made no sense that Joanna wouldn’t tell him if she planned on being gone all day. “How is Joanna supposed to get Alex?” Jimmy looked up from his computer. “That’s why Susie called. They want us to get Alex. Apparently the two of them decided you needed to learn how to play daddy.” Jimmy barely gave him a glance, returning his attention to his computer screen. He might have imagined a small smile twist across the man’s face. Glaring at him, his mind raced to put reason to this ridiculous stunt. He’d told Joanna to trust him. Did her leaving town mean that she believed him capable of defending her no matter where she went?

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Maybe he should be flattered, relieved, that she wanted to give him more time with Alex. He and his son definitely needed that. If it weren’t for fucking Alpha Corp pushing so close, he’d be thrilled to get the day with Alex. “What are you doing?” he asked when silence had crept by for several minutes. “What the hell do you think I’m doing?” It was the first sign Jimmy gave him that the situation pissed him off too. Fair-complexioned, blond and green eyes—it was hard for the bastard to look too mean. He pulled off a fairly decent scowl when he glared at Jonathan though. “I’m trying to figure out where Alpha Corp is right now.” “Alex had them lined up and following his orders last night.” “Well, excuse me for not being some fucking super-genius.” Jimmy slapped the side of the monitor, swearing under his breath. “You better keep an eye on that boy. He’ll get too cocky and get us all caught.” “No one is going to get caught.” “You going to show me where that boy gets his cockiness from now?” Jonathan fought the urge to leap. Any other time he might agree that Alex needed structure. But the child hadn’t been in his life that long. With just a few words the night before he’d curbed Alex’s actions. He took a step forward, reaching the edge of Jimmy’s desk. Jimmy didn’t move a muscle, gave no indication that Jonathan towering over him fazed him in the least. “Don’t push me, Jimmy.” He’d never had reason to take the guy on before. The two of them had handled a few criminals together in the time they’d known each other and Jimmy could hold his own. Granted Jimmy hadn’t grown up fighting on the streets. He hadn’t been thrown into a world that viewed him as Hispanic and therefore dangerous. Right now, Jonathan could be real fucking dangerous. “Man. I don’t like it any more than you do that the women took off without saying something before they left town.” Jimmy leaned back in his chair, directing his scowl at his computer. “Susie doesn’t think sometimes.” Susie didn’t think most of the time, but Jonathan wouldn’t get into the qualities, or lack of them, that Jimmy’s wife possessed. Standing here arguing with him wouldn’t accomplish a damned thing either. “We had the program running on this computer yesterday.” Jonathan took his gaze off Jimmy and focused on the back of the monitor. “Well, it’s not running today,” Jimmy snapped. “I’m heading up to the cabin. Alex had the screen pulled up last night that showed where all agents were in Colorado. Maybe I can find it in his history.” It didn’t surprise him that Jimmy followed him out the door. Downtown was quiet this early in the day and little traffic passed them as they headed up the mountain. Joanna had changed the locks shortly after moving in, but Jonathan had managed to get a copy shortly thereafter. The gullibility of the townspeople in Valley View 28

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sometimes terrified him. Using his key to unlock the place, the two of them headed back to her bedroom, making themselves at home while Jonathan booted up the computer. Less than an hour later he knew little more than he had at the station. “I’ve got to head into town,” Jimmy said, entering Joanna’s bedroom but standing in the doorway while putting his cell phone away. “There’s been a fender bender. You coming?” “No.” He didn’t like what he saw on the computer. “Alpha Corp is way too fucking close.” “Call me if you hear from the women.” Jimmy left him without further comment. Sitting around and waiting for trouble to come wasn’t his style. But damn it, taking any action right now might very well bring trouble none of them could afford. Grabbing his cell phone, he tried reaching Joanna for about the tenth time since she’d left. Nothing. The fact that they couldn’t access the information they’d managed to see yesterday had him about at boiling point. The fuckers had scrambled something and he couldn’t get through. No matter that three years had passed since he’d been a general. It wouldn’t make him soft. Leaning back in the office chair, he clasped his hands behind his head and stared at the computer screen. “I bet you’re real damned proud to hit rank of general,” he said under his breath, picturing Henry while anger once again pulsed through him. The general in South America oversaw all activity on the South and North American continents. It was the most powerful and coveted position in Alpha Corp. And one that Jonathan had captured at an earlier age than any other general before him. What his older brother wouldn’t do to stumble upon Joanna. They would know they were just a breath away from capturing him—and Alex. “Which will never fucking happen.”

***** “How was school, champ?” Jonathan stood in front of his Jaguar, a car he didn’t often drive when snow began piling up. “What’s wrong? Where’s Mom?” Alex frowned, looking around the parking lot searching for his mom. “She thought you and I might like to spend the day together. You cool with that?” More than one curious stare turned their way. Jonathan wasn’t stupid enough to think the mothers picking up their children were curious about his car. Granted, usually he ran with Jimmy, but he’d driven his car into town a fair bit over the years. No. The

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women scurried their children into cars and vans, glancing his way while he held his passenger door open for the boy who was the spitting image of him. Ever since Joanna and Alex had arrived, gossip flew while everyone speculated if Jonathan was the boy’s father. Picking him up from school was proof enough for most of them. He didn’t return any of the friendly smiles more than one mother offered him. “So what are we going to do?” Alex dumped his backpack at his feet and fumbled with his seat belt. Then he reached for his cell phone attached between the seats. “Is it okay if I call Mom?” “Sure. Let me talk to her if you reach her.” Alex pushed the buttons then reclined in the seat, crossing one leg over the other, and looking very content and pleased in the high-dollar car talking on the phone. “Hi, Mom. Dad picked me up from school.” Jonathan fought the sudden impulse to grab the phone from Alex. Tightening his grip on the steering wheel, he turned and headed up the mountain. “Don’t worry about me. You be careful. Hunter, I mean Dad, wants to talk to you.” Alex grinned broadly and handed the phone over to Jonathan. “Juana,” he said, furiously working to control anger that swept through him. “I take it you had no problems picking up Alex? What are you two going to do?” Her voice brushed over him, happy and content. What he wouldn’t do to be able to reach through that phone and pull her to his side. The protector in him screamed for release. “Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving town?” He stopped his car in front of her cabin, his body too stiff with pent-up aggravation. Alex hopped out, his backpack flopping against his back as he bopped up and down through the snow toward the cabin. “I didn’t know we were heading this way until we were on the road. Then we didn’t have a signal.” Joanna reassured Susie when she commented in the background. “We were just running errands in town when Susie got the phone call to come get the freezer. Since we were already in the truck, we just headed out. Susie’s afraid that you’re mad. We’re in Montrose now and going over to get the freezer. As soon as we have it in the back of the truck, we’ll head home.” “That’s exactly what you’ll do. Get that freezer and get back here. Don’t even stop for a bathroom break. Is that clear?” He knew he sounded harsh, but damn it, he’d rather have her alive and pissed at him, than stolen by Alpha Corp—and only God knew what they’d do to her. And mad? Susie was a damned ditz. Outraged was more like it. There was a pause, a brief lapse of silence that let him know she understood all too clearly what he meant. “That sounds fine,” she said, a bit too cheery sounding. “Miss you too.”

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“Come home to me,” he growled, fearful he showed more emotion in his words than he wanted her to hear. She giggled, but he’d made her nervous. “You know I will.” Fear was an emotion he’d only recently learned how to handle. A stupid punk kid on the streets, he’d embraced all danger, indifferent to whether he lived or died. In Alpha Corp, he rose in rank so quickly, mastering the art of killing in style, and defeating any enemy whose profile was sent his way, that again, he never mastered fear. But over the past few months, with Joanna reentering his life, and then finally acknowledging who he was, he knew fear more raw and terrifying than he’d ever known in his life. And he didn’t like it. Fear meant he wasn’t in control. It meant someone might overpower him. None of that sat well with him. Today though, he knew that acknowledging his fear, taking it on, showed him where the weaknesses were, and what needed to be done to overcome them. Right now, he needed to know exactly where Henry and his men were. God help all of them if they got anywhere near Joanna. “What are you doing?” Alex reappeared in the open doorway to the cabin, staring out at him. Jonathan realized he still sat in his car and got out. “Just talking to your mom, champ.” Alex disappeared down the hallway and Jonathan shut the door to the cabin, locking it. “I know why you were sitting out there.” Alex sounded quieter than usual. “You’re scared, aren’t you?” When he looked up, Alex stood at the end of the hallway, outside his mother’s bedroom. He seemed smaller than usual, a tiny child, staring up at him with large dark eyes. His black curls bordered his oval-shaped face, highlighting his caramel-colored skin. The blue jeans and red sweater he wore made him look like any middle-class American child. He was well-dressed, well-groomed, well-fed—a perfect child. The look in his eyes at the moment, though, wasn’t a look a child should bear. Knowledge and understanding swam in those dark eyes. His expression remained relaxed, but as Jonathan studied him, Alex pursed his lips, straightening, as if, just like Jonathan, he didn’t want to cave in to the fear that coursed through him. “Why would I be scared?” He had a feeling Alex knew more than he did, and moved toward him. Alex led the way into his mother’s bedroom, stopping at the edge of the bed instead of jumping in front of the computer like he usually did. He didn’t say anything when Jonathan sat down in front of the computer. And at that moment, he wouldn’t pick his son’s brain to learn how he’d managed to get past the firewalls Alpha Corp had put up around their program. Whatever Alex had done, once again they now had access to where the agents were—and what they were communicating to each other. 31

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There was sweat on his palms when he pulled his cell phone from his pocket and dialed Jimmy. “You know anyone in Montrose?” he asked when Jimmy answered. “I might,” he hesitated. “What’s wrong?” “Alpha Corp is in Montrose.” “Shit.” “Yeah.” Jonathan stared at the computer screen, everything around him blurring while fury burned inside him. Nothing tore at him worse than feeling helpless. Two hours away and no way could he get to Joanna fast enough. “Where are you?” “At the cabin.” “I’ll be there in thirty minutes.” Alex slid off the bed and stood next to him, frowning at the computer. “Will they kill her?” “Your mom has a lot of training. Just because she hasn’t used it over the past years doesn’t mean it’s gone away. She’ll be okay.” He sure as hell didn’t know what to say. Alex studied him for a minute, his thick dark lashes blinking slowly over his eyes, somehow managing to make him look even wiser as he studied Jonathan’s face. “You underestimate her. You really need to quit doing that. Now don’t worry about her. She’s used all the training she got from you every day that I’ve been alive. It’s how she’s kept us both alive.” He wanted to pull Alex into his arms, hug him—thank him—and he didn’t understand why. The last time he’d been exposed to children, he’d been one. Standing there with this boy, with his son, was new ground for him. Yet there Alex stood, reassuring him, correcting him, yet at the same time looking very scared. A genius’s brain in a small boy’s body. God, he was fucking proud of him. “Let’s call her and tell her to get home.” Jonathan pushed the buttons on his cell while he spoke. It rang once and went to voice mail. He almost crushed the damned phone in his hand. “The mountains are blocking the signal,” Alex said unnecessarily. “I didn’t read far enough to find out why the agents were in Montrose. Maybe we can send them away from her.” “From what I see, their leader is giving them a bit of down time. It’s a common practice after a successful mission, keeps the agents content.” Jonathan had discovered if he allowed his people a bit of playtime, they returned for debriefing with higher spirits. Their minds were clearer, they offered information more readily, and took on their next assignment with more enthusiasm. It didn’t surprise him that Henry mimicked his leadership tactics. If he had time, he bet he’d find out that his older brother researched Jonathan’s methods, memorized them, and implemented them to the T. His brother had always copied everything Jonathan did. 32

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“They haven’t transmitted anything in the past hour.” Alex leaned over Jonathan, his small body warm against his hand, as he controlled the mouse and scanned the last few pages of communications between agents and Alpha Corp. “I doubt they will until they leave Montrose.” Not knowing where they were exactly, or what they were doing, bit at him. They didn’t have the proper surveillance equipment to determine where the main transmitting equipment was. With the amount of agents in Colorado, somewhere a van existed. It would house the computer, all networking devices that Henry used to communicate with his home base. Jonathan didn’t have the resources to track where it would be. Again an angry bile rose through him. In three years, Alpha Corp hadn’t gotten the better of him. Lack of personal equipment had been to his advantage. Keeping away from complicated computers, not spending a lot of time on the Internet, had kept him alive. If they captured Joanna—and they would if any one of those ten agents spotted her in the small town of Montrose—he would have to seriously upgrade in order to get her back. Especially once they took out Alpha Corp’s computer system. Someone pounded on the cabin door, and Alex noticeably jumped next to him. Jonathan got up, reluctantly leaving the computer, and headed toward the living room. Jimmy strolled in without comment when he unlocked the cabin door. “Do you have the address of where those two went to pick up that freezer?” Jonathan asked him. “I stopped by the house and grabbed it.” He handed Jonathan half a piece of notebook paper, handwritten notes about the size and price of the freezer, along with a phone number, written on it. “And I’ve called the number. It’s a landline. The lady who answered said that Susie and Joanna were just there, but that her husband isn’t home yet to help them lift the freezer into the back of Joanna’s truck. The women are supposed to go back there in an hour.” “An hour?” Jonathan combed his fingers through his hair, frustration tearing at him. “What the hell are they supposed to do for an hour?” “Hell if I know.” Jimmy held his cell phone up, punching another number. “I’ve got a couple high school buddies who live out that way. One of them I would trust to do a favor without asking too many questions.” “Good.” Jonathan paced toward the kitchen. “I told Joanna not to stop anywhere, not even to go to the bathroom.” “Susie is hell-bent on getting that freezer.” Jimmy paused, holding his phone to his ear while listening for a minute. “Paul, this is Jimmy Morris. If you get this message in the next hour, I need a big favor.” He pulled the phone away, turning it off. Shaking his head, he punched more numbers on the phone and listened again, then slammed it against his leg. “Susie’s phone keeps going to voice mail.” “So does Joanna’s. If they have an hour to kill, your wife is going to convince Joanna to go somewhere to wait.” 33

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Jimmy nodded once. His expression hardened before looking away. “Maybe they won’t notice her,” he said quietly. Jonathan glanced down the hallway. Alex still sat in his mother’s room and he knew the boy experienced a panic he probably hadn’t known yet in his young life. He’d give Joanna that, she’d managed to raise their son in a life where he hadn’t been aware of how often she looked over her shoulder. “The plastic surgery will be a damn good deterrent if it’s an agent who didn’t know her, but if she panics, does anything to draw attention to herself if she spots them,” he whispered under his breath. “She would mean instant promotion to any agent in Alpha Corp. We all would.” His cell phone rang and he dug it out of his pocket quickly. Joanna’s number appeared on the small screen and his heart leapt, every muscle in his body clamping down hard on his bones while he stabbed at the answer button. “Where are you?” he demanded the second he had it to his ear. Alex hurried down the hall, his eyes wide and moist. Damn it. He’d been crying. Jonathan turned his back on his son, needing to concentrate. There was static on the line and her voice cracked through it when she spoke. “I just saw one of the Alpha Corp agents, Bosner.” “Where?” His voice echoed back at him, annoying him further. “I think he just entered the bar we’re in.” Her voice was just above a whisper. “What are you doing in a bar?” he yelled and Alex ran around him so that he faced him. “We have to wait an hour before the guy will be able to lift the freezer into the truck,” she said simply. “We decided to get some lunch.” There was silence and for a moment he worried he’d lost her. “I saw a gray van when we pulled in but dismissed it as paranoia. But just now, I saw him out front. He saw me too and I think he recognized me. There’s someone else with him but I don’t know who he is.” She stopped talking and her heavy breathing came through the static. “What’s the other guy look like?” “He’s a good-looking black guy, tall, well-built.” She paused then cursed under her breath. “God. Susie’s out there talking to them. I can hear her. I came into the bathroom and thankfully have a signal. But I can barely hear you.” “Henry.” Damn it to hell and back. He knew the motherfucker would find her. “He’s the North American general.” “God, what do I do? They’ve never been this close before. I’m not going to be able to get away.”

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“I know you’re not.” He closed his eyes, not able to look at his son at the moment. He needed to think, to remain focused. Emotions stormed through him but they would only fog his ability to help Joanna through this. Alpha Corp had her. If they were in the other room talking to Susie, it would be minutes before they had all the information they needed to take Joanna. Shutting down inside, hardening so that he could take control, he focused on one thing—what it would take to keep Joanna alive once they captured her. If she stayed alive for just a few days, he would have her back again. Quickly plotting her next few moves in his head, he knew he’d have to be tough, get mean, play the part of the general he’d mastered so well for so many years. “What? What about—” “Shut up!” His voice bellowed through the room and silence surrounded him. Even the static on the line seemed to disappear. The lines weren’t that secure. No way would she mention Alex’s name. “Now, listen to me. Once again you’re an agent. Think like one. Act like one. Get out of that building now.” “Okay.” She sounded weak. Possibly it was the connection. “You can do this,” he reassured her. “I’m peeking out of the bathroom door now,” she whispered. Again static made it hard to hear her. Her voice cracked in and out on the line. “Bosner and the guy you say is Henry are talking to Susie at the bar.” “Is there a back door? Find a way out of there even if it’s a window.” “I can’t leave Susie,” she began. “What would they do to her?” “Get out of there now!” They wouldn’t do a damned thing to Susie. She wasn’t worth their time of day and they more than likely were coming to that conclusion as they spoke to her. “They’re still talking to her.” Her breathing grew heavier. “I’m at the back door. Okay. I’m out.” “Now run!” Her breathing grew heavier through the phone. Gasps and small cries tore through his senses as he visualized her running down some alley or street in the snow. “Listen to me. They will probably capture you. Are you armed?” “I have my handgun.” “Good. No matter what, do not shoot Henry. They’ll kill you right away. Take out as many others as you can. Go down fighting. You need to show them you haven’t lost your skills. It will keep you alive longer.” He paused and there was dead silence on the line. God, what he wouldn’t do to be able to reach through the phone and yank her to his side. Jimmy was right. He was a cocky son of a bitch. To think he could have kept the three of them safe with Alpha Corp so near. No matter how close they were to taking out their computer system. With Henry within hand’s reach of Joanna, they weren’t 35

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safe. If he hadn’t been so damned arrogant, he should have taken his family and run in the night. “Are you still there?” he asked, hating the emotions he couldn’t keep from ripping through him. “I’m here,” she said quietly, her tone sounding so helpless he ached to send his fist through something. “Don’t you think they’re working on tapping this line?” she asked, her breathing once again growing louder and raspier. “Not yet.” But he wouldn’t doubt they’d be doing their damnedest to close in on her within the next few minutes. “Juana, this is important. They’ll assume you know where I am and do everything they can to find me.” He wouldn’t say anything about Alex. No one had proof of their son’s existence. It had to stay that way. “When they capture you, it will be imperative that you make them believe you’re losing nothing other than your freedom. Don’t let them know you have any loved ones out in the world.” “Oh God, here they come. It’s one of those long dark gray vans. It’s coming toward me down the alley. God. No!” “Shoot out a tire,” he instructed. An explosion, followed by screeching tires, echoed through the phone. Jonathan jumped, visualizing what she went through while he gripped the phone so hard to his ears that his fingers cramped. “Now run—if you can.” Heavy breathing sounded in his ear for only a moment. A terrible scream pierced his eardrums. Jonathan looked around the living room quickly, seeing the terror on his son’s face, the outrage on Jimmy’s. “What’s your location?” he asked. “I don’t know.” She paused. “I think the sign says Second Street. We were in a bar and grill called Gold Dust.” “Call the local police in Montrose,” he barked at Jimmy. “Get them over to some bar called Gold Dust. Tell them you heard gunfire behind the bar in an alley by Second Street.” Jimmy didn’t ask any questions as he quickly pulled out his phone. Alex ran into the other room. “I’ll get the number for you,” he yelled. Jonathan turned his back to them once again, pacing toward her back door. He had to keep them closed out, just long enough to get Joanna through the beginning of the hell that she was about to endure. “My leg,” she cried. Jonathan cursed.

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“I’m trapped, Jonathan,” she said, and he realized she’d said his name. “They’re running toward me. I can’t get up. God. Help me!” she screamed into the phone. “Get tough, soldier,” he barked, squeezing his eyes shut so hard that it hurt. “Remember your orders. Nothing matters to you. Fire at will and take out as many of them as you can.” She grunted loudly in his ear. “Okay. Okay. I can do this.” Gunfire exploded through his brain but he didn’t dare pull the phone away from his ear. Her breathing swept through him, her pain, her fear. Every emotion she experienced carried through the phone line and tore through him. The heavy breathing, the scuffling noises, it was all like a bad movie, coming through in bits and pieces through a terrible transmission. He’d give his right eye to be there right now protecting her, taking them all out. It needed to be him Henry saw first, not Joanna. He swore again, fighting the anger he couldn’t keep at bay while listening to her cries through the phone. “They’ve got me,” she said with a defeated tone. “Surrender and remember, you don’t care if they take you back in. Toss your gun out and approach them with your hands up. Don’t let them see your fear. And Juana, te amo.” “I love you, too.”

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Chapter Five “No!” Alex ran down the hall, tears staining his face. “I’ve got the number. You can call the police.” He looked frantically from Jonathan to Jimmy. “Don’t look at me like that,” he screamed, stamping his foot on the floor. “Don’t just stand there. Do something!” The last thing he could handle right now was a child’s temper tantrum. But he needed to learn how to handle it quickly. His son had just lost his mother. “Alex,” he said calmly. “Do something!” Alex repeated, fresh tears streaming over his cheeks. “You’re both standing there like idiots. Mama doesn’t want to be with Alpha Corp.” His Celtic accent thickened with every word. Jonathan moved when his son grabbed Joanna’s sewing project off the coffee table and hurled the bag at him. He swept his son into his arms, pulling him into a tight embrace. Alex fought him, hitting him as hard as his small fists could. “You let them take her. You don’t care about her. I hate you. I hate you!” Tears choked his words and he started coughing, and crying hysterically. “You said you were this great general. But you’re nothing. Nothing!” Jonathan held him tighter, enduring the punches until his son collapsed against him, crying loudly. “Call the Montrose police,” he instructed Jimmy. “Come up with some reason and get them to follow that van. We need to slow them down a bit while we figure out a way to keep them from leaving the state with her.” Leading the way to the bedroom, he stood to the side when Jimmy read the number off the computer screen and placed the call. Alex slid down him, edging his way into the computer chair and then began tapping his finger on the edge of the mouse. His brain churned just like Jonathan’s. Only difference was that Jonathan had experience on his side. He pinched his chin, scowling at the screen and half-listened to Jimmy talk on the phone. “One of the guys I know down at the station in Montrose is out looking for the van.” Jimmy ran his hands through his hair, giving Alex a worried look. “We’ll find your mom, Alex. I promise you that.” “Mama never mentioned Alpha Corp to me.” His Celtic accent had returned and he twisted to look up at his dad. “The night you told her who you were, I saw the files that she loaded on your computer. That gave me an idea of what the agency is like. But I want to know everything—everything.” 38

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His look challenged Jonathan, that all too wise expression on the face of a small boy. “Writing that virus was a game. I wanted to impress you.” He turned away, once again tapping his finger on the mouse. “But this isn’t a game anymore. They’ve got Mama. Tell me everything about them so I can figure out what to do.” There was no way he could tell Alex everything there was to know about Alpha Corp in a day. It would take months—years—and on the job training—to learn what Alpha Corp was all about. Educating Alex on the matters of saving the world through the eyes of Alpha Corp wasn’t a top priority on his list. Getting Joanna back, out of their clutches, was. Jimmy watched him, but Jonathan focused on his son. “Your mom didn’t tell you about Alpha Corp to protect you.” “Well, she didn’t work hard enough to protect herself. Why did she have to go get that stupid freezer anyway?” “Speaking of which, what are we going to tell Susie?” Jimmy interrupted. “It’s probably best to allow her to draw her own conclusions. It wouldn’t make sense if we had explanations for her when she was the one with Joanna when she disappeared.” “Will they come looking for us too?” Alex asked. “No,” Jonathan said firmly. “Joanna wouldn’t tell them where we are. I have no doubts there.” He knew her training was intact. He wouldn’t tell Alex he ached for her to tell Alpha where they were, wished to hell they’d come after him. It would save him the time and energy of stalking them, chasing after the bastards. Because the moment he laid eyes on Henry, the motherfucker would regret laying a finger on Joanna. But she wouldn’t utter a word to any agent about them—no matter what they did to her. God help her. They would torture her to get that information. His muscles hardened, a rage attacking that he’d managed to keep at bay for too long. Blind fury at its worst. And if it seeped through him, took over, he wouldn’t be able to think straight. Right now he needed to think real fucking straight. God—he needed to get her back. “Here’s what we’re going to do right now.” He began pacing, movement somehow allowing the anger to dissipate enough so he could form a quick plan. “Everything needs to be moved from this cabin to my house. If they do come here, I won’t have them destroying your property.” He turned, held a hand up, when Jimmy would have interrupted. “Alex and I are leaving. I’ll contact his school from the road.” “Where are you going?” Jimmy managed to get in. “I can’t tell you that.”

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Jimmy crossed his arms over his thick chest. “I’m not pulling in manpower to move your shit. Too many questions will be asked. I’ll help you two move. You leave in the morning. We’ll use our manpower to track your mom.” He rested his hand on top of Alex’s head, glancing down at the boy briefly before giving Jonathan a hard stare. Jimmy had a good head on his shoulders. As desperately as he wanted to chase after Joanna himself, he had to agree it was sound advice. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d sent agents out to do a job he ached to do himself. “I want everyone in Valley View kept as ignorant of this as possible.” Again he began pacing. If any agents stumbled into town, anyone who lived here would willingly give them any information they could think of about him and the young woman and boy who’d just arrived a few months ago. “Everyone here knows you as Hunter, and Jennifer and Alex.” Jimmy stared down at the computer screen. Alex had started surfing but Jonathan didn’t pay attention to him. “Any Alpha agent would assume we used aliases. Call only the buddies you’d trust with your life around the state.” Jimmy nodded. “I’ll have to head home to get numbers. We’ll need some boxes for this place too.” Jonathan glanced around the room, taking an inventory. “Mom put a lot of boxes in the shed out back. We weren’t sure how long we’d be here.” Alex didn’t know a life where he settled in for a long period of time. He’d change that for his son. They would all live through the final blowout of taking Alpha Corp down, but then life would change for the three of them. He’d see to it.

***** Darkness spread over the mountains when Jonathan hauled the last of the boxes from Joanna’s truck. Susie stood with her arms crossed next to Jimmy, the two of them tired and watching him. Both displayed strong emotions on their faces, and both for very different reasons. “Appreciate the help.” He shook Jimmy’s hand, knowing his buddy would probably prefer hanging there than going home to face the questions of his wife. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” “None of this makes any sense.” Susie threw her hands up in the air, her voice shrill with emotion. Jimmy pushed his hand on her back, escorting her out Jonathan’s front door. “Don’t you dare make a scene where Alex can hear you,” he hissed, walking her quickly toward the Jeep.

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Jonathan followed them out the door, taking in the star-filled sky and the rich smell of evergreen around him. Hours had passed since Joanna’s abduction. They didn’t have word back from all of the men Jimmy had called out. Once Jimmy and Susie left he’d do some personal tracking online. Susie turned around when they reached the car and glared at him. “You know, Jennifer told me the truth when we went to Montrose. I know you’re Alex’s father. Why she took off without Alex, I don’t know. But you better believe when she calls me, you’ll be the last to know.” Jimmy almost shoved her into the passenger seat and closed the door behind her. The two of them didn’t say a word to each other as he walked around the front of the car and got in on the driver’s side. Susie gave Jonathan a scornful look through the window. She’d aged a lot since he’d arrived here. As a result, she wore even more makeup to hide the growing wrinkles around her eyes. It didn’t look good on her. He knew over the years since he first arrived, she’d given him longing looks. The man she’d had once and could never have again. She’d caught him at one of the lowest times in his life, having just arrived at Valley View and convinced he’d lost Joanna and Alex forever. He hadn’t known she was Jimmy’s wife at the time. Having met her at the Goldpan, the only bar Valley View had, and after a few drinks, she’d taken him to a local motel. At the time, he hadn’t given a thought to her waiting in the car while he’d gotten a room. She’d been a good fuck, attentive and willing. When he’d discovered the next day that she was Jimmy’s wife, he’d been pissed. More than once when they’d been alone she’d implied they could fuck again if he’d stay quiet about it. He respected Jimmy too much for that. And had little respect for her. He returned her look with a hard gaze and she turned away quickly. She’d been a distraction for Joanna, a glimpse into a simple life Joanna craved having. And for those reasons, he’d encouraged the friendship. His personal opinions of Susie were just that. But he didn’t trust her. He watched the Jeep Cherokee pull out of his drive and then turned to his house. It would be a long night. “What are you doing?” Jonathan reached the bottom of his stairs and walked over to his computer desk where Alex sat. “They’re trying to stop the virus.” Alex scowled at the large screen in front of him that glowed against his face. His tongue stuck out between his teeth while he focused. “All I can find out is that missions are failing around the world. I can’t figure out where Mom is though.” Jonathan walked around the desk and placed his hands on the back of the chair where Alex sat. “She’ll be wherever Henry is.” “Well, he’s in Bogotá,” Alex said, looking up at him. Jonathan nodded. Enough time had passed that they’d be able to fly there. It had been knowledge he’d been fighting to accept all day. Henry took her so far away from him, and he’d sat here allowing others to do work he should be doing. Although he was 41

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sore after moving everything out of the cabin, he’d been grateful for the physical work to allow the aggressive energy that coursed through him an outlet. When he got his hands on Henry, he’d have the man’s head. “Their computers will be completely useless soon. It’s time to go after her.” “We’re going to Bogotá?” He wouldn’t tell his son that they’d have no way of tracking Joanna once Alpha Corp’s system crashed. Best to head out after her while they still knew where she was. He wouldn’t allow her to be in their claws any longer than she had to be. Even one day with Henry’s agents interrogating her would be a nightmare that would take time to get over. Joanna had never experienced the full wrath of Alpha Corp. He’d never allowed it. Without him near her to protect her—God help the asshole who laid a hand on her. “I’ll book our flight. Let’s get some things packed and then we’ll head out.” He needed time to sort through the boxes they’d brought over from Joanna’s. While packing her things up, he and Jimmy ran across a few weapons and some surveillance equipment. He wouldn’t leave them behind. He would be an army of one when he went after Joanna. Best to be well protected and armed. Alex continued staring at him. “We’re leaving now? But you told Jimmy we’d leave in the morning.” “It’s best this way.” No one would know their plans, or where they headed. “Tomorrow I’ll call your school and we’ll let the Morrises know that we’re with Joanna and taking a small vacation.” “They won’t believe you,” Alex argued. “We won’t be here for them to question it.” Alex made an unpleasant sound in his throat and looked toward the computer. “Fine. Bogotá, huh? There isn’t a lot of computer activity that makes sense down there. The virus tore through their system, most they’re doing is fighting to save their files.” “While they’re working internally, we can grab your mom.” It wouldn’t be a safe mission. In fact, breaking into the main headquarters down there would be close to impossible. “We better get packed.” Alex headed for the stairs. “Don’t forget to pack some of Mom’s things. She can’t stand wearing the same clothes two days in a row.” Joanna had done a damn good job with him. He was a boy to be proud of. She took on his intelligence, dealt with his spiraling back and forth from little boy to incredible genius. That wasn’t an easy task. Alex would challenge anyone. With a mind that never stopped churning, yet a craving to fit in, be one of the boys, Jonathan had never met anyone like him. Not that he’d known many children. Joanna sure hadn’t had a lot of experience with them prior to getting pregnant. Yet through Alex, he saw how incredible a mother she’d been. Yet another quality about her that impressed the shit out of him.

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Obviously Alex had packed quickly many times in his short life. Less than an hour later he lay on the couch, pretty much asleep, with a suitcase on the floor next to him. It would be a long night. If Alex slept through most of it, things would go easier. The last thing he wanted to deal with was an exhausted, grouchy child. Alex would be great company if he were well rested. While packing, he made a few phone calls and managed to get boarding on a small commuter plane to Denver. Their flight left in two hours. Barely enough time to load up what they would take with them, and drive to the small airport outside Telluride. Using his cell phone, and blocking his number, he managed to book a flight for them to Bogotá. It left an hour after they arrived in Denver. They’d be in Columbia by midafternoon tomorrow. The virus they’d launched would have peaked. They would be there just in time for the fireworks. If only he had a reliable nanny for Alex. The boy didn’t need to witness what they might see when they reached Alpha Corp’s headquarters. But there was no one. Next to Joanna, Alex meant the world to him. His son would stay by his side. Wondering for the hundredth time what might be happening to Joanna right now, he carefully packed two suitcases. They had to travel light. After carrying them to his car, he paused in his drive, listening to the quiet evening. Someone stepped out of the shadows. “What are you doing here?” he asked Susie. Her pouting expression didn’t impress him. “Jimmy and I had a fight.” “Shouldn’t you be with your daughter?” She crossed her arms over her full breasts. Her pouting look turned defiant. “She’s staying the night at a girlfriend’s house.” She paused for a moment, licking her lips. Finally she looked away from him, staring at the ground. “I told him that I slept with you,” she said quietly. “He kicked me out.” Well hell. “Why would you tell him that?” He could imagine the tirade Jimmy would be in right now. This was the last thing he needed. “He made me mad.” She still didn’t look at him, but seemed intent on focusing on everything in his yard instead. “Something is going on and I know it. Jennifer wouldn’t just walk away from Alex. Her son meant everything to her. And I know she loves you. But you two keep me in the dark like I’m some kind of idiot.” “Your words. Not mine.” He really didn’t have time to argue with her. “If you just told Jimmy that you and I had sex almost three years ago, coming here wasn’t your smartest move. I don’t need him showing up with you here right now.” He didn’t need either of them here. He and Alex needed to get to their plane. “I walked up here, Hunter. I don’t have a car.” Again the pouting look returned. Jonathan let out a breath, exasperated. There was no time for this. 43

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“Here,” he said, reaching into his jeans pocket. “Here’s the key to Jennifer’s truck. Go to your mother’s. Go home and make up with your husband. But leave. You don’t belong here, Susie.” She took the key, fingering it for a moment. “Why did Jennifer disappear? I mean, how could she just go somewhere and not even take her truck?” “Susie. Jennifer is fine. Trust me. Okay?” He gave silent thanks that Susie didn’t know Joanna’s real name. The woman would babble any information to anyone who asked. She nodded, not looking up at him. “Have you talked to her?” “Yes,” he lied. “Now Alex is inside asleep. I need to get inside too. Take the truck.” He headed for the door, turning in time to see her walking down the narrow road, her footsteps crunching in the snow. Alex talked his ear off during the time it took to get out of Valley View. No sooner were they on the highway than his son fell asleep. Jonathan made sure the car doors were locked with Alex leaning against the passenger door, then set the cruise and focused on the length of his headlights in front of him. His Jaguar didn’t have a lot of space in it. He’d managed to get their three suitcases in the trunk, leaving the backseat free. His Jag XK model was one of the priciest cars on the market. It wasn’t pretentious, yet made one hell of a statement. He might have been smarter with a more conservative vehicle, but damn it, he’d loved how the slick car purred down the road. Who would have thought that a homeless kid from Brooklyn would end up paying cash for such a sports car? Red lights started flashing in his rearview and side mirror. Glancing down at his speedometer, he knew he wasn’t speeding. Growling under his breath, he contemplated outrunning the law who demanded he pull over. But he had a feeling he knew why he was being pursued, and it didn’t have a damn thing to do with how he drove. As soon as he stopped, he jumped out of the car, not wanting Alex to hear any of this. “Not bothering to say goodbye?” Jimmy was more than pissed. Jonathan met his friend’s irate glare head-on. Best to save them both a lot of time. It was a cold night, and they had a plane to catch. “Susie stopped by before we left,” he said instead of answering the question. Jimmy didn’t react to the comment. He stood a few feet from Jonathan, his straw hair sticking out from under his hat. Dressed like the mountain man he was, he gave no indication of being the law. He controlled the county though—they both had. Jonathan would miss the guy. Staring into his friend’s light green eyes, he’d give him a minute to say his peace. Jimmy deserved that much. “How many times did you fuck her?” he asked, his mouth barely moving. “Once.” 44

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“When?” “The day I arrived in Valley View.” This line of questioning would take forever. Jimmy needed closure on the subject, and satisfaction that what he knew was the truth. “I didn’t know she was your wife, Jimmy. That’s the truth of it. From the moment I knew, I never laid a hand on her.” Jimmy nodded once. He looked like he was wound tighter than a tight wire. Jonathan didn’t doubt that his friend might take a swing at him. He prepared himself for any action. It was hard to say when he’d see the man again, and he really didn’t feel like parting with the guy right after getting into a brawl. “Has she offered herself to you since?” Jonathan stared at him, thinking of the many times Susie had given him suggestive looks, or commented on his appearance, or that she was lonely, bored, in need of a distraction. “No,” he said. If Jimmy doubted him, that was too damned bad. It was a stupid question. The man turned away from him, breaking eye contact for the first time. He fisted his hands against his hips, pacing the car length before turning around, giving the running vehicle his attention for the first time. “Where are you going?” he asked. He had no problem changing the subject. “We pick up a flight out of Telluride to Denver. And from there we head to Bogotá. We’ll be there by tomorrow afternoon.” “I’d do anything to go with you, man.” Jimmy’s expression changed for the first time. The fire that always burned deep inside the guy, his taste for adventure, surfaced quickly. He held out his hand. “Be safe, my friend.” Jonathan shook his hand, knowing he stared at possibly his only true friend on the planet. “I’ll be in touch.” He wouldn’t have minded having Jimmy at his side through this ordeal. He took on a hell of a battle all by himself. But Jimmy couldn’t walk out on his job as sheriff. Unlike Jonathan, Jimmy didn’t lead an invisible life. Very few people did.

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Chapter Six Jonathan’s worst fears were confirmed when he stared at the large board in front of him listing flights delayed due to snow. He’d had to pay the guy extra in Telluride to get him to agree to take off when snow started falling rather heavily. Then after listening to the guy curse all the way to Denver, he’d given him extra to get a room so he wouldn’t risk crashing as the snow turned into a blizzard. “What do we do now?” Alex looked beyond exhausted. It was well after midnight, and the best information he got from any of the airport employees was that the flight to Bogotá probably wouldn’t leave until morning. “Ever stay in a five-star hotel?” He attempted a smile for his son, when all he really wanted to do was punch the indifferent employee in the nose when he’d told them there were no other flights. Alex shrugged. “Impress me after I’ve slept. Any bed will do right now.” Another two hours passed before the bellboy took their luggage off the gold luggage rack and placed the bags inside their hotel room door. Jonathan dismissed him quickly, shoving a ten in the young man’s hand. The only successful thing they’d managed to do that night was to pick up a laptop at a discount center that the taxi had passed on the way to the hotel. After getting Alex to bed, Jonathan settled into the living room of their suite, and booted the thing up. He pulled a small flat container that looked like a cigarette lighter—his flash drive—from the inner pocket of his suitcase, and plugged it into the laptop. Within minutes, all programs loaded that had been on his home computer. Shortly after that he accessed the Internet through the hotel room’s connection, and then downed half a bottle of cold water out of the small refrigerator in the kitchenette behind him. Staring at his surroundings, he couldn’t count the many times he’d been in a room just like this, loading programs, gathering data. Only difference was that almost always before, Joanna was by his side. On or off the field, they were one hell of a team. Frustration tore at him, hardening like a rock in his gut, that he wasn’t on his way to her now. Anything could happen in twenty-four hours. And it would take that long now before he could get to her. Bogotá was an eleven-hour flight at best. And thanks to the fucking weather, they sat like lumps doing nothing. Whatever Alpha Corp dished out to her, Joanna would take in stride. That would piss Henry off, but his brother had to know that no matter how long Joanna had been AWOL she wouldn’t break. What he wouldn’t do to know she was okay right now. God, if they tortured her, abused her, medicated her to learn what she knew, he’d never

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forgive himself for letting her get away. Already the pain of her being gone made it hard as hell to concentrate. Anger tore through him. This was worse than being caged like an animal. Jumping up, he paced the length of the room, clenching and unclenching his fists. He needed to get a grip, control his emotions. He’d done it for years. Now wouldn’t be any different. But now was different. He had Joanna back. He had their son. Henry would die for taking her from him. Alpha Corp would go down. What he wouldn’t do to blow the bloody place up himself—right now. “Shit,” he grumbled. Like he’d be able to sleep tonight. Jonathan checked on Alex, knowing this was something Joanna would do. He stood in the doorway that separated the large bedroom from the living area of their suite, his son’s small body nestled under thick covers with his black curls barely visible. But he knew his son was out like a light. Would Joanna kiss him? Adjust his blankets? He’d never paid too much attention to how she treated Alex, knowing she did a good job, and that being enough knowledge. He silently promised his son he’d have his mother back soon, and then backed away from the double glass doors, pulling them almost closed. His phone rang when he reached the computer desk. The clock on his table by his bed said it was almost three in the morning. Only bad news came at this hour. He grabbed it on the second ring. The number was blocked. “Yes.” “Jonathan. It’s Joanna.” The heaviness around his heart exploded. Every muscle in his body spasmed. Fighting too many emotions that plunged through him, he clamped down on them, quickly organizing his thoughts. “Where are you?” he asked. “Bogotá.” And then added quickly, “Henry made me call you.” The hardness that spread through him came from years of brutal training. The call had been placed so Henry could gloat. A stupid stunt on his brother’s part, and one he would take advantage of. Suddenly he was so lightheaded he had to sit down. This was a break he wouldn’t have dreamed of praying for. Time to get all the information he could gather in the short amount of time he knew he’d be allowed. “Did you go through debrief?” “Nothing,” she said quickly. Relief hit him hard. Henry probably stood close by, maybe even monitoring the call. Joanna would keep her answers simple. Knowing they hadn’t tortured her for information took a hell of a load off his mind. He wanted her back intact. “Are you okay?” “I’m still alive.” A silence passed, words she wanted to say held back. “They only took me to try to get to you, Jonathan. Henry thinks…”

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A scuffling sound grabbed his attention and he stood quickly, pressing the phone to his ear harder. “Henry can speak for himself,” a deep voice said into Jonathan’s ear. “Why did you take her?” Jonathan growled, sounding fierce and not caring if Henry noticed. “Is that any way to say hello to your older brother?” “I’d never claim you as a brother.” Jonathan forced his grip to relax on the phone, fearful he’d crush it. More than anything he wanted to wrap his fingers around Henry’s neck, watch his eyes bulge, witness pain in his face until satisfied he knew what suffering he’d put Jonathan through. “However you wish it. No one could prove it but they said we were brothers on the street. I took care of you…” “Why did you take her?” Jonathan almost yelled then glanced at the glass doors. The last thing he wanted to do was wake Alex. “You just can’t admit I pulled one over on you.” Henry’s tone made it sound like he smiled with pure enjoyment. “You think you’re so omnipotent.” “You don’t have me.” And he never would. “I know, but I have something that belongs to you and that gives me the upper hand, now doesn’t it?” Henry sounded a bit too pleased with himself. “She’s not a negotiating tool,” Jonathan said flatly. “But I needed her in order to talk to you. And besides, she is so beautiful.” Any reaction Henry may have wanted from his last statement, he didn’t get. Jonathan was silent. Henry’s silence indicated he wanted a response, a reaction of some kind. Jonathan was too smart for that—Henry hadn’t changed a bit over the years. Always after his approval, ever since they were kids, Henry would stand in Jonathan’s face, repeating whatever act he’d just done, over and over again, until Jonathan told him he’d done a good job. Henry broke the silence. “Jonathan, you are trying to wipe out Alpha Corp and you can’t do that.” “Trying?” Jonathan couldn’t help but laugh. Joanna was alive. Henry had been stupid enough to place the call. The ball was now back in his court. “How many of your programs are working? And my reports show you’re losing agents at a remarkable speed. Your printouts don’t seem too reliable.” “Damn it, Jonathan!” There was a sound like someone hitting the wall. Obviously Henry’s temper tantrums still existed too. “You left Alpha Corp. You did it. You’re free. Why can’t you leave us alone? I never would have taken her if you hadn’t pulled a stunt like this. I’m General now. They just gave me your old office.”

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“Congratulations.” The dryness in Jonathan’s voice took all meaning out of the one word. “Juan, mi hermano,” Henry said and let out a sigh of exasperation. “You may not have wanted this life but I love it. You’re going to destroy me and I can’t let you do that. Stop the program and I’ll give you Joanna.” “You can’t give me what’s already mine.” Jonathan spoke with the confidence Henry lacked. “Bring her to me and I’ll show you how to stop the program.” Henry was silent. He seemed to be considering Jonathan’s words. Jonathan didn’t doubt that this phone call was off the record, undetectable by Alpha Corp. “You would kill me on sight,” Henry finally said slowly. “How dare you call me hermano.” Jonathan leaned back in the desk chair, staring at the laptop screen. “You call me asking for help after stealing Joanna. Henry, you are pathetic as you’ve always been. I can’t keep bailing you out. Don’t make a bigger mess for yourself than you already have. I’m watching you and your every move. How do you plan on explaining keeping Joanna alive?” “Her first assignment is tonight,” Henry said smoothly and Jonathan straightened quickly. “You’re a fool,” he hissed. “She can’t run missions anymore.” “Why can’t she run missions?” Henry sounded sincerely curious. “She has a bad leg. Keep her out of the field. Put her through an intense workout program and possibly some acupuncture. You might be able to bring her up to ninety percent efficiency in a few weeks.” And as long as he kept her there, it would be easier to get her back. “Still giving me orders, are you?” Henry sounded irritated. “If you had the brains to see yourself through this you wouldn’t have called me,” Jonathan barked. “You brought her in for no reason. You kept her alive against direct orders. Hell yes, I can see all the reports. You’ve fucked yourself into a hole. Shit man, I don’t need to take you down, you’re doing it all by yourself.” “You can’t talk to me like that anymore.” “Do as I say.” Jonathan ignored Henry’s comment. “And if you keep your hands off her, I might see that you live through Alpha Corp’s demise.” “Ah, hermano,” Henry said wickedly. “I don’t know if I have the strength to promise you that.” There was a scuffling sound and he heard Joanna cry out. “Don’t touch me,” she yelled. Jonathan gripped the arm of his chair so hard his fingers burned. The urge to throw something, break something, anything to release the rage that burned inside him, made it impossible to organize his thoughts. “You’re writing your own death sentence,” he said through clenched teeth.

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“Jonathan, you don’t have the entire picture.” Henry sounded too calm. “I do have justification for bringing your beautiful woman in. The two of you have stolen something from Alpha Corp and they want it back. If anything, after seeing the results of this program that you’ve infiltrated through our computer system, they will accept any action on my part to return what is rightfully theirs to them.” There was silence. Jonathan knew Joanna was thinking exactly what he thought. His stomach twisted into an angry knot. Alex. “Alpha Procreation must be returned. I have permission to use any means to see to the success of its mission.” Henry’s words were cold. “You are such an incompetent fool.” Jonathan laughed. “Don’t worry, Joanna, Henry won’t hurt you. He doesn’t dare.” And with that, Jonathan hung up. He tossed the phone on the couch on the other side of the desk then stood quickly. The phone rang again. He grabbed it on the first ring. “He’s gone,” Joanna said quickly, her voice too breathy. “I don’t know if he can tap this line or not. But I know for right now it’s scrambled and it will take him a few minutes to get to his car.” “Everything will be fine.” He didn’t trust the line. God, he needed to reassure her though. Her breathing was heavy into the phone, tickling his ear. The rage continued pumping through him, but something else hardened inside him. Need, a carnal predator’s urge to protect. “Jonathan, I don’t have what it takes to do this anymore.” She hiccupped. Sobs followed—soft and tearing through him harder than anything Henry said. “Hang in there, baby.” “What are you going to do?” He glanced at the clock on the corner of the screen of his laptop. Maybe they had another couple of minutes. Joanna ran high on emotion right now. Sharing anything with her would put her at risk. If they detected this call, they’d interrogate her just to learn every word said. He wouldn’t put any additional knowledge in her head. “I’m going to get off here, hit the shower, and stroke my cock while I imagine it’s your pussy instead of my hand.” There was silence on the other end for a moment, not even breathing. Then Joanna inhaled, a deep sultry sound that hardened him instantly. She understood. “Hmm,” she purred into the phone. “I don’t have any toys here. But I could use my fingers.” “They’re incredibly talented fingers. What would you do with them?” He adjusted himself in his seat, his shaft tightening, swelling. Allowing an image of her fingerfucking herself made him hard as a rock instantly.

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“My fingers sure aren’t as big as your cock.” She paused, her breathing heavier. “Is your cock hard right now, baby?” “Hard as a rock, amor.” “Just how I like it. My nipples are just as hard. God, I wish your mouth was on them right now.” He glanced at the glass doors, Alex hopefully sound asleep on the other side of them. It wouldn’t hurt to get out of his jeans. He slept in boxers usually anyway. Quickly unzipping them, he shed them, his cock thanking him when it was no longer smashed against tight denim. “What are you wearing, Juana?” “The same thing I had on when I left,” she muttered, his question obviously killing her sexual desires. “There’s clothes for me in this apartment Henry’s put me in. But I haven’t tried any of them on yet.” He didn’t want her focusing on her surroundings. She lived in a nightmare right now. For at least another minute, he’d give her a small distraction. “Remember France? I’m picturing you in that silver thing I bought you while we were there.” He forced the image, her slender tanned body with a slinky silver negligee that hugged her, barely covering her. “I remember.” She laughed softly. “You tore that outfit off me that night. You ruined it.” “It served its purpose.” He hated getting off the phone with her, these few precious minutes the most happiness he’d experienced since she’d been abducted. “If you had it on now, I’d rip it off you all over again.” “You’re such a brute,” she said, giggling. It was a musical sound. Inhaling deeply, she said on a breath, “I’ve unzipped my pants. I’m playing with myself.” He growled, his cock jerking hard as all blood drained from his brain. “Fuck your pussy for me, sweetheart. Use more than one finger.” She moaned and he almost came. “What are you wearing?” she whispered. “Just my boxers and a T-shirt.” “If I were there I’d be on my knees in front of you. The boxers would have to go.” “You’ll be with me soon. And I’ll hold you to that promise.” “My pussy is so wet. You better make that real soon.” Goddamn. The pain in his cock swelled through him. Breathing suddenly became a chore. Talking, forming a single fucking word, took almost too much effort. “Juana,” he growled. “Te amo.” “I love you, too.” They’d been on the phone for five minutes. He wouldn’t put her in further jeopardy by allowing Henry to tap into the call. The pervert would probably enjoy it too much.

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Gritting his teeth until it hurt, he straightened, doing his damnedest to make his cock soften. The thing had a mind of its own. A soft cry uttered from her lips. She’d come for him, masturbated while he listened. Her breathing tortured his senses, thick and raspy. He grabbed his cock, afraid he’d spill everything he had right there. “Next time you do that, I get to watch.” He could barely speak. “Deal,” she breathed. “Be good, amante.” He licked his lips, closing his eyes. “Always.” “Hasta pronto.” He pulled the phone from his ear, unwilling to hear her say goodbye, and pushed the button to end the call. Sleep wouldn’t come anytime soon. Although now for different reasons. His cock throbbed when he stood, her breathy voice still lingering in his mind. He stripped out of his clothes, heading into the bathroom. It was the middle of the night in Bogotá too. Joanna would go to bed after getting off the phone. All muscles hardened as he climbed into the shower, hating the amount of distance between them. The feeling of no control, not knowing if she’d be left alone through the night—it pissed him off. Just knowing she hadn’t been hurt helped though. She was alive and unharmed. Henry needed her. She was the best fighting tool he had right now. And he’d keep her real close. Tomorrow they’d be in Bogotá too. With their computers down, Henry wouldn’t be able to call in his agents. More than likely a skeleton crew stayed at headquarters right now. More manpower than Jonathan wanted to take on, but he’d take on their entire fucking army to get Joanna back. Hot water poured over him. He stood there, paying little attention to the steam rising around him. Joanna’s last words, her voice through the phone, plagued his thoughts. Her soft cry, her body spasming while she came for him. Leaning, with his hand against the shower wall, he lowered his head into the flow of water, allowing it to soak his hair. Bathing wasn’t a top concern though. A good scrubbing would do him good. It would be a long day tomorrow, and he’d do everything on little sleep. Headquarters would need to be scoped out, strategies planned. His cock throbbed too hard to focus on any of that at the moment. Slowly he began stroking, swearing he smelled the tangy scent of Joanna’s come filling the shower. It hung heavily in the steam, growing stronger as he inhaled. She’d finger-fucked herself over the phone for him, giving him a bit of peace. He’d ached to give her a distraction, yet she’d reached out and soothed him. His cock pulsed so hard it throbbed in his fingers. His fingers were rough, but her mouth would be soft and hot. Water pounded his skin while he stroked harder, gripping his shaft and rubbing the soft flesh that moved

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loosely over hard muscle. His heart pounded against his fingers, the same pulse throbbing through his entire body. Joanna had become his life, everything he did, all decisions he made were with her in mind. The heaviness grew in his chest, blood draining to his cock as he hardened, grew longer. For most of his life he’d told anyone who asked that he’d never experienced love, found no use for it. It made a man soft, disabled his ability to think clearly. That had been one fucked-up way of thinking. Without Joanna he was disabled. With her gone he couldn’t think clearly. He needed her more than he needed to breathe. Stroking faster, teasing the soft flesh that sheathed his hard muscle, his insides tightened. He imagined her pussy, wet and hot, molding around his cock. The way she looked up at him when he entered her, her mouth forming a small perfect circle. He tightened his grip, his hand a poor substitute for her tantalizing muscles, which clung to him when he fucked her. Squeezing his eyes shut, her full large breasts bounced before his eyes, the way they had when he’d fucked her not so long ago. She’d had them enlarged to change her appearance, but damn if he didn’t like how they looked. He wanted a lifetime to enjoy them, and every inch of her perfect body. Fire built inside him. Hard currents, like electricity, shot down his legs. Muscles clenched, the water tingling over him while he stroked, moving his hand faster. The small release he offered himself wouldn’t take away his need. It wouldn’t quench the fires burning hard throughout him. Nothing would stop the heavy pressure growing around his heart. Nothing but Joanna. If only he could simply rush out the door, not stop running until she was in his arms. But moving too quickly, racing into the fire, would only get them both burned. He squeezed his eyes shut, feeling come build inside him. The tingling in his balls flooded into his shaft. A low growl coursed over his throat. He spilled white cream into the shower, not bothering to watch the water rinse it down the drain. Joanna wasn’t happy, nor was he. But they were alive. And he knew without a doubt that Henry wouldn’t kill her. More than likely he wouldn’t lay a hand on her, although his idle threats would scare her. “Hold on, Juana,” he whispered, straightening slowly so that the water hit his face. “I’ll get you out of there. I promise.” The small relief he’d given himself did little to take the longing away. Energy still pulsed through him. He’d use that energy to fight for Joanna, to take Alpha Corp apart brick by brick if need be. Climbing into his boxers, he peeked in on his son, asleep in the oversized bed. For whatever reasons, sleeping with the boy didn’t sit right with him. There was a spare blanket folded on the top shelf of the empty closet outside the bathroom, and he unfolded it. The couch would suit him fine. There was only time for a few hours of sleep before they’d head back to the airport. 53

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Stretching out on the firm couch, his eyes suddenly burned terribly. No matter that his mind churned with possibilities of how he’d enter Alpha Corp, his body needed rest. As his thoughts fogged quickly with pending sleep, he reached for his phone and set the alarm for a few hours from now. Morning would be here quickly. The adventure of his lifetime, the mission more perilous than any he’d ever endured, waited for him, just several hours away. If only Alex didn’t have to witness what he feared might take place the next day.

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Chapter Seven Jonathan stared at the television in their hotel room in Bogotá, his eyes burning against the glare from the screen. No matter the exhaustion that settled around his brain like a thick, damp fog, his body tensed, adrenaline keeping him going as he listened to the reporter’s obvious confusion while she reported the latest breaking news. “Investigators aren’t clear what started the fire,” the reporter said into the camera, her quick Spanish forcing him to pay closer attention so he wouldn’t miss what she said. “What confuses fire team experts further is that the fire is spreading quickly due to many chemicals obviously housed in this apparently abandoned facility. There are no reports right now of any casualties, or how these chemicals came to be there.” “No one is dead? Is that what she said?” Alex sat cross-legged on the bed, flipping through a Spanish/English dictionary he’d insisted Jonathan buy for him at the airport. Jonathan glanced his way. Alex turned pages in the thick paperback quickly, more than likely putting each page to memory as he scanned it. “I’m sure Henry evacuated headquarters, and then blew the place up.” It was what he would have done if their location had been breached. But their location hadn’t been breached. Jonathan had run Alpha Corp long before Henry ever set foot in this country. Their computers had been destroyed. Henry took out all physical evidence once they lost the ability to track their missions. Pretty damn impressive except for one thing. Where the hell was Joanna? Tuning out the rambling of the commentary on the television, Jonathan ran his hands through his hair, needing to think. His head was so buried in a fog. Lack of sleep, worrying about Joanna, the long flight there—it was all taking its toll. Alex mumbled on the bed, repeating what the reporters said, furiously flipping through the dictionary. It wouldn’t surprise Jonathan a bit if within the hour his son were as prolific with the Spanish language as he was. For now, it kept Alex busy. Jonathan would glory in his son’s incredible intelligence later. He’d grown accustomed to it during the past couple months and knew not making a big deal out of it was best. Not to mention, without his son asking tons of questions, Jonathan could think. Although the only thing on his mind at the moment was Joanna. Where would Henry have taken her? He left the television and Alex in the bedroom, walking into the living area of their suite—the rooms not so different from the hotel room they’d had in Denver the night before. A wild-fucking-goose chase. That’s what they were doing here. Racing to Bogotá while Henry had managed to slip through his fingers, probably passing him in the air

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on a fucking private plane while he flew commercial, heading toward destinations unknown. Somehow he needed to figure out where the bastard had gone. Trying to think like Henry had never been easy for him. For the most part, he usually did his best to ignore his older brother. Over the years, especially after Alpha Corp snagged them both off the streets, seeing their fighting abilities and deciding they were both perfect candidates to help “save the world”, Jonathan managed to keep Henry alive, give him the easier missions. Taking out Alpha Corp right after Henry made general was a strike his brother would fight hard to get him back for. And at the moment, with Joanna in Henry’s hands, he worried his brother would go to any extreme to get even. Where would he take her? The same fear that wrapped around him six years ago clouded his ability to think clearly now. Jonathan knew he was a stronger protector than most. Alpha Corp had encouraged that trait in him, given it room to grow. Joanna had always been well under his care. When she’d escaped the first time from Alpha, it had boggled his brain that she would leave him—that she would want to take on the outside world without him by her side. The years without her by his side had helped him grow up. He’d realized he wasn’t invincible, and that he couldn’t do anything he wanted. He had learned that impregnating Joanna, without discussing it with her before she realized she’d conceived, had pushed her too far. He thought he’d learned from his mistakes. Staring out at the endless spread of city through the large window in his hotel room, it dawned on him that he’d done it again. He’d never told Joanna about Henry. If she’d known about him, knew what Jonathan knew about his brother, right now it would help her more in escaping his grasp. Once again, he’d let her down. God help him if anything happened to her now. He wouldn’t be able to make it another six years without her. Hell, he wouldn’t make it six days. The pain in his heart seemed to pulse over every inch of him. It didn’t matter how focused he tried to be, an ache coursed through him. Without Joanna he wouldn’t make it. “Dad. Come here,” Alex called from the bedroom. He closed his eyes, pinching his nose as a pending headache was his payment for indulging in his pity party. He would make it. He had to. The reason sat on the bed in the other room. “What, champ?” he asked, fighting to keep his tone light for his son. “I know where Mom is.” Bright chocolate eyes, and a face that was the spitting image of him, grinned up at him triumphantly. Jonathan looked at the television, a commercial rattling on in Spanish too quickly for him to catch what was being said. It took a moment for Alex’s words to sink in.

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“Where? How do you know?” He frowned at his son’s growing grin. “I just called her.” “You did what?” Jonathan stared at the boy, the child genius Alpha Corp spent so much time and energy creating, and trying to get back. “What did you just do?” It took more strength than he knew to keep his hands from balling into fists. Not that hitting his son crossed his mind, but hitting a wall sounded real damn good at the moment. His brow narrowed hard enough to hurt. Alex looked undaunted, and slid off the bed, grinning at his dad and then walking past him toward the living room. “I called her cell phone. I had to know she wasn’t part of that fire. The call lasted five seconds, and she’s in Brooklyn.” Jonathan grabbed the doorframe, needing something to ground himself while he watched Alex almost strut over toward their suitcases, still packed and just inside the doorway. “Tell me exactly what was said.” He didn’t know whether to strangle the boy, or hug him. His mind seemed to go blank as he stared at the omnipotent smile on Alex’s face. “Okay. I sat there watching the news. The reporters don’t know squat. They just kept repeating themselves so it didn’t take long to understand everything they were saying.” He spoke about learning a foreign language as if anyone could learn one in a matter of minutes. Beyond amazing. “Go on,” Jonathan prompted. “Well, it was obvious that if anyone was in any of those buildings that were burning that they were no longer alive.” Alex held his hand up, as if he were ready for a reprimand. “And before you start telling me how stupid it was to call her, I used your cell phone. You talked to her on it already. All they can do is trace it to you, and it’s a Colorado number. She answered on the first ring.” “And?” “I asked her where she was. She told me Brooklyn. I told her we loved her and hung up.” Alex grinned. Jonathan shook his head. Moving over to his son, he scooped him into his arms and realized he was shaking. This wasn’t his style. Too many emotions crushed his ability to think clearly. No wonder he hadn’t been able to manage a plan, or complete a mental profile on what to do next. The people he cared about more than he cared about himself were in incredible danger. And he was only one man, damn it. “Looks like we need to book a flight,” he managed to say into his son’s strawberrysmelling coarse black hair. “Yup.” Alex wrapped his arms around his dad’s neck, and started to cry. “She’s alive, Dad. We know she’s alive.” 57

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***** Several days seemed rolled into one incredibly long day. Jonathan could wait forever to enter another airport, and it would be too soon. Fresh snow had fallen since they’d been gone, and his Jaguar wasn’t too sure it wanted to handle the freshly plowed mountain road. He glanced at the clock on his dash when he finally managed to pull the car into his garage. Almost eleven. It would be one in the morning in New York. Alex had cried for almost an hour, transforming from super-genius into small boy within seconds, when he realized Jonathan didn’t plan on taking them to New York. He’d managed a few decent hours of sleep on the flight, and one thing he knew he wasn’t making a mistake about. He wouldn’t chase Joanna around the world with Alex in tow. It wasn’t right for his son, and it wasn’t safe. Taking him to Bogotá had been an incredible risk. Jonathan wouldn’t leave the country without him though. But Joanna was in the States, and something told him she’d be here for a while. Henry hadn’t been out of the country prior to his assignment in Bogotá. In spite of what his older brother thought of their relationship, Jonathan had kept an eye on him over the years too. Alpha Corp never found proof stating whether they were truly brothers or not. Jonathan’s earliest memories were with Henry by his side. They’d locked horns, clashed in many decisions and actions. Regardless, Jonathan watched Henry progress through Alpha Corp. He’d advanced in ranks slowly, unlike Jonathan. Henry had told him on the phone that he loved his life with Alpha Corp. But it was the life of general he loved. The power that came with the position was addictive. But it would bring him down. It had brought Jonathan down. Running from the agency, fighting to get back what he’d lost because of them, he knew today Alpha Corp was their true nemesis. Its demise was imperative. Jonathan managed to get his Jaguar up his drive after the second attempt, noting someone had shoveled it for him. He pushed the button to open his garage, sure that Henry would be more comfortable trying to salvage his rank as general in the States. It made sense that he went to Brooklyn. They’d grown up there. What a perfect location for Henry to fight to regain power. It would be a battle Henry would lose. And he’d be a bitter loser. It wouldn’t surprise him a bit if Henry tried seeking Jonathan out. He would need an outlet, someone to take his anger out on when he finally realized he couldn’t put Alpha Corp back together again. And Henry knew Jonathan’s last location had been Colorado. He scooped his sleeping son out of the car and trudged through his house, not bothering with any lights. The alarm didn’t appear tampered with, and he’d allow that to be assurance enough for the moment that they were alone. The place had been empty for three days, and on the side of this mountain, there was little traffic. Jimmy would have come up with convenient excuses why Jonathan hadn’t been seen in town. Within an hour he had their things unpacked. A good night’s sleep would help put everything into perspective. Damn. He hated sleeping alone. Crawling under his

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covers, he stared at the familiar ceiling while the heater hummed quietly. Just a few days ago now seemed like an eternity. And that was how long it had been since he’d had Joanna here in bed with him. He closed his eyes, almost able to feel her soft breath torturing his bare chest. Her scent, her silky hair, her long slender legs had tortured every inch of him. His cock perked to life just thinking about fucking her. “You’re going to be with me soon,” he mouthed, the silence of his dark bedroom seeming to close in around him as he focused on his mental picture of her. “And you’ll never leave me again.” He gripped his blankets, their lumpiness nothing like the fullness of her soft breasts. What he wouldn’t do to slide his cock between them right now, toy with her wet pussy, watch her face flush with pleasure. If he closed his eyes, her soft moans tortured his senses. He squeezed a corner of his blanket, twisting it between his fingers. Just like her nipple, eager and hard. Reaching for his cock, he stroked himself to life. She would arch into him, crying out softly while he tortured her nipple. She’d always been extremely sensitive there, just playing with those hard brown nubs would be enough to soak her, make her beg for him to do anything he wanted to do to her. Her breathing would grow heavier. She’d gasp. Cry out his name. He gripped his cock harder, pulling and caressing while he imagined her body jerk while he played with her. Naked and ready, she’d pull up her legs, spreading them and filling the air between them with her rich scent. “Anything. I’ll do anything.” She would toss her head from side to side, her long brown hair fanning around her. “Yes. You will.” He loved bringing her to the edge, controlling her actions while getting her off. Blood drained into his cock, his heart throbbing there instead of in his chest. The pulsing grew painful. He needed a hot wet pussy, soft lips wrapped around his cock. It would take little effort to find someone to take the pressure away. The thought turned his stomach though. Less than six months ago he’d accepted Joanna being out of his life. He’d found what it took to seek out other women. It had been nothing more than a physical release for him though, necessary to keep his head on straight. His sex drive was as strong as ever, in spite of the nightmare that swarmed around him. Any woman would no longer do, though. It was Joanna or nothing. Which right now meant he’d get nothing. Letting go of his cock, he kicked the covers off him, moving to the edge of the bed. Sitting there, his bare feet on his cold floor, naked in the dark, he pondered his options in getting her back. Basically, they were simple. Go after her again, or wait and see who came to him. His cell phone rang, suddenly glowing in the dark on his nightstand. He reached for it staring at the number. The 215 area code didn’t ring a bell. With a rush, the heartbeat that had throbbed in his cock returned to his chest. Hard and steady, the 59

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pounding reverberated throughout him. He glanced at his clock—almost one in the morning. Pushing the button before the second ring finished, he held it to his ear for a second before speaking. There was no sound on the other end. “Yes,” he said quietly. “Jonathan?” Joanna’s voice came through with a rush of static. “Where are you?” Relief broke through a dam of nerves that had built so quickly. He ran his hands through his hair, squeezing his eyes shut. Thank God! She was still alive. “In Pennsylvania, close to I-70,” she said quickly. “I escaped.” “Fuck.” He stood so quickly, oxygen rushed from his brain. “Whose phone is this? Are you alone? What happened? You escaped?” Glancing at the door that led to his bathroom, he lowered his voice. Alex would never go back to sleep if he knew his mother was on the phone. He would wake him once he had more details. But for now he listened, barely able to hear her soft breathing on the other end of the line. “It’s a pay phone. I dumped more quarters than I can count into it. Where are you?” “I’m in my bedroom. Juana, tell me you’re okay.” Her laugh was musical. But exhaustion rang through in her words. “I’m filthy. I just spent way too much money on a cab. And I’ll have to give you the details later. But I’m okay.” “Can you get to an airport? I’ll have a ticket waiting, just tell me where.” Grabbing his bathrobe off the end of his bed, he slid his arm into it while heading out of his room. It wouldn’t take any time at all to get her a flight home online. He hurried to his basement. “Jonathan. Alpha Corp is still active. They aren’t using the same programs, but they are rebuilding. I’ve got to stay low. And so do you.” He reached the bottom of his basement stairs and hurried to his computer in the dark. Reaching for the button on his tower, he booted the thing up. “Tell me everything you know. If your time runs out, call me collect.” He sat facing his screen, watching while his desktop began loading. “Henry is running missions. They’re recruiting new agents from rehab centers. I was sent out with a handful of other agents who came with us from Bogotá. I don’t know how many people he has under him right now. But his plan is to rebuild. Their location right now is in Brooklyn, a rundown house, very low profile.” “Tell me about this new program,” he said, moving the mouse around on the mouse pad while he contemplated his best next move. Bringing her home was imperative. But if Henry was already live online, he’d be tracking every major means of transportation, looking for her.

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“I don’t know anything about it. There were a couple guys installing hardware, and loading information onto the computer while I was at the house. We weren’t there long before we headed out to the rehab center. The place was a front, already up and running and a few of us pulled several kids off the streets. After we brought them in, there was enough commotion going on that I managed to slip out the back door. I’ve been running for the past few hours and took a cab over the Hudson.” She spoke quickly, rattling off all the information in one breath. “I had to pay the toll, and the cabbie wouldn’t take me any further than here.” “At least you’re alive,” he whispered, clicking on the icon that took him to the now defunct program that Alpha Corp had once used. It was a dead site. “Yes,” she said, her voice fading. He pictured her exhausted, needing a shower, and very much alone in an unfamiliar town. Hardly safe, she reached out through the night, needing him more right now than she probably had in years. Jonathan’s mind raced, staring into the darkness past his computer while he ached to pull her to him, have her in his arms where she belonged. “How much money do you have?” he asked. “I have some. But it won’t last me more than a few days.” He thought about her small lockbox he’d found when they’d packed her cabin. She’d cleaned out his accounts after leaving Alpha Corp the first time, setting her and Alex up with a rather hefty nest egg. He doubted Henry had access to the amount of cash Jonathan had been able to obtain. “Did you undergo any kind of physical while you were with Henry?” “The other day he gave me a routine examination—before we left Bogotá. It was in their clinic. Why?” “Did they do any kind of surgery on you? Anything that might imply that Henry put a tracer under your skin?” “I don’t think so,” she answered slowly. Abrupt static interrupted her, coursing over the line annoyingly. Jonathan pinched his nose, wondering how much time she had left before the quarters on her pay phone ran out. She said something he didn’t catch and followed it up with, “and it’s starting to sleet.” Goddammit. She stood out in the cold, talking to him, needing him, and he ached to be with her. “Find a place to sleep. Get a shower. And call me as soon as you get there.” He wanted to fly her straight to him. As desperately as he needed her, the smarter move might be the three of them meeting somewhere, escaping from Alpha Corp yet once again. “I will.”

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“Te amo.” “Yes. God. I love you, too.” And the phone went dead. Jonathan woke up still clutching his cell phone. He blinked, realizing the morning sun glared through his basement window and that he’d fallen asleep on the couch. Shit. What time was it? Goddammit. It was morning, barely after seven, but morning still. Joanna hadn’t called him back. Where the hell was she? Somewhere in the 215 area code of Pennsylvania didn’t narrow it down enough. A quick shower didn’t clear the worry out of his mind. Coffee was in order. “I’m bored,” Alex said in greeting. His son sat at a stool facing the island in his kitchen. An empty cereal bowl and half drunk cup of juice had been pushed to the side. He’d taken the liberty of unpacking the laptop they’d bought and had it open in front of him. Black curls wrapped around his head, desperately needing some attention. Jonathan imagined he didn’t look much better. “Why don’t you search for possible new programs Alpha Corp might be running?” He headed for the coffeemaker and went through the motions of making coffee. “Okay. What do you know? Did you talk to Mom?” Jonathan had pondered his answer earlier. He’d been ready to tell Alex that he’d talked to Joanna until she didn’t call back. The sick feeling in his gut grew while he played out possibilities why she wouldn’t have called him once she’d reached a motel room. The obvious reason being she’d never made it to a motel. “No. But it makes sense they would try to rebuild.” “Yeah, it does.” Alex got excited and started punching away at the keys in front of him. That had been a good call. Alex would be crushed if he knew his mom had called, but then not called back. It was a worry Jonathan would shoulder for the both of them. A dull throb began in his temples and he ran his hand through his damp hair that he’d yet to comb. His phone hung heavily on his belt. It grew annoying, ever so conscious of it, waiting with every breath for the fucking thing to ring. He yanked it from his belt, staring at the coffee, which also seemed to be taking its sweet ass time dripping into the pot. Even Alex pecking away at the keyboard behind him grated on his nerves. Punching in Jimmy’s number—he’d never bothered storing any number on his phone—address books could only be held against him—he waited through a few rings. “Where are you?” Jimmy answered. “Home.” “On my way.” The phone went dead.

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Jonathan pulled a mug down, pouring half a cup then stuffing the pot back under the drip. He turned to stare at his son’s backside. Damn it, if only there was someone to look after Alex. Hauling him around with him all day wouldn’t do either of them any good. Sending him back to school didn’t sit well with him either. The alarm beeped when Jimmy entered through the front door. He was the only man on the planet Jonathan would allow to have a key to his home. Jimmy sauntered into the kitchen, dressed in his sheriff’s uniform, and headed for the coffeepot. “How’s it going?” he asked, messing up Alex’s hair further with a friendly pat as he passed the boy. “Someone needs a bath.” “Are you my mother all of a sudden?” Alex snapped. “Alex,” Jonathan growled. He’d never taken a harsh tone with his son before. Alex turned, looking at him wide-eyed before slumping on his stool. Even without all the information, Alex suffered as badly as Jonathan did. “Sorry,” he muttered. Jimmy took it in stride. “Silly question, boy. Do I look like I could be anyone’s mom?” He held his hands out, his large broad chest stretching his uniform shirt. “But I do have a nose.” “Fine. But I want to take a bath.” Alex jumped off the stool, facing Jonathan but not looking at him. “I need my toys.” He needed a hell of a lot of training before he’d come close to qualifying for Father of the Year. “We’ll work on getting your bedroom better arranged this evening. Go see what you can find, and holler when you want me to help you with your bath water.” “I can give myself a bath.” Alex did look at him then, a challenging glare, and then headed out of the room and upstairs. “Things not going well?” Jimmy poured himself coffee. “They were fine until you showed up.” Jonathan waited his turn and then refilled his cup. Listening as his son moved around upstairs, he lowered his voice even though he was pretty sure Alex couldn’t hear them. “Joanna’s managed to escape.” Jimmy raised an eyebrow, meeting Jonathan’s gaze over his mug. He listened attentively while Jonathan filled him in on the events over the past few days. Jonathan had a few concerns that he didn’t mind sharing with the man. Jimmy would be needed over the next few days. Hell, he’d never had a better right-hand man. “They’re going to come seek me out,” he added. “They?” “Agents. Alpha Corp is dismantled. They’re going to be lost sheep. You bet your ass they’re going to come seeking me out. If any of them learn where Joanna was picked up, they’ll have a good running chance at finding me.” Jimmy nodded. “I won’t have any trouble.”

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“Agreed. But I bet you, we’ll be seeing some of them.” Jonathan decided to hang around the house, help his son get adjusted to the place, and then run with Jimmy after his daughter, Heidi, got out of school. “She’s watched Alex before, and if we have her keep an eye on him at my place, it will keep him further protected.” Jimmy’s argument was a valid one. “He’s still a hot commodity and you don’t know how disassembled the higher ranks of Alpha Corp are.” “The main headquarters are in Switzerland. But I’m sure word is out to them that Joanna’s been brought in—and that she’s escaped.” “Have you considered relocating?” Jimmy asked. “Yup. More than likely we’ll have to. I just want Joanna back first. If she’s running blindly right now, I don’t want to disappear on her.” Gray skies threatened snow when Jonathan headed out with Jimmy from his house. Alex didn’t seem too put out to be left with Jimmy’s teenage daughter. And Heidi, who was her usual sullen self, perked up a bit when she learned she’d be paid to watch Alex. “Susie was here last night, but she left again this morning. Her coming and going is really messing with Heidi’s head,” Jimmy told him as they worked their way down the mountain and into town. “We discussed divorce last night.” Jonathan wasn’t too surprised. “I briefed Alex before coming over that he shouldn’t talk about anything concerning Joanna with Heidi. Our story is basically we were out of town with Joanna, and that she’s staying with her sick mom.” Any story would do. They both knew that. The town would draw their own conclusions no matter what excuse they offered to explain Joanna’s disappearance. Heidi gossiped as bad as her mother did. If the teenager got her hands on any hot gossip, she’d pass it on to Susie. Alex agreed with Jonathan that Heidi had a big mouth. He didn’t want his mother talked about. That was enough for Jonathan to know the boy would keep his mouth shut. They pulled behind a silver Mazda RX-7 parked in front of the sheriff’s office. Jimmy grunted, staring at the car with New York tags parked in the place where he usually parked his Jeep. No one ever parked in his spot. Jonathan glanced at the car, the tags, the dirt on the vehicle indicating it had been on the road for a while, and then hopped out on his side. He patted his waist, quickly unclipping the safety that made his gun easy to access. There better not be trouble in the middle of town during the day. Jimmy was out on his side just as quickly. Conversation wasn’t necessary. Jonathan didn’t doubt the same thoughts tore through Jimmy’s mind that coursed through his. A slender lady in a fluffy sweater and skirt that was tight even on her petite frame straightened when she saw the two of them. Running her hands over her rear end, which she’d just had on the hood of her car, she glanced at Jimmy and his uniform, but then her gaze rested on him.

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Long shiny black hair fell past her shoulders, and shiny black eyes didn’t blink when she stared at him, searching his face, letting her gaze drop over him and then looking him in the eye. The woman could be off the cover of a magazine—fucking sexy as hell. Immediately he didn’t trust her. “Jonathan Hunter?” she asked, almost whispering. “Inside,” Jimmy barked before anyone could say another word. Which was fucking all right with him. He knew they’d start to show up. He just had no clue they would look like this.

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Chapter Eight “Who are you?” Jonathan asked as he shut the door behind him. Jimmy walked past the two of them, moving around his desk but not sitting. He scowled at the young woman who appeared undaunted that she was suddenly in the hot seat. She’d walked in with her hands clasped behind her back, but now moved them, brushing black silky hair over her shoulder and causing the fluffy material of her sweater to stretch over incredibly large breasts. Definitely fake. Too round. Too large. Too full. And he doubted as soft as Joanna’s were. This woman was as artificial as they came. But then he noticed her other hand. Something like a T-shirt was wrapped around it, and it was covered in blood. Since her first question hadn’t been asking for help, he didn’t comment, but crossed his arms over his chest, ignoring her obvious injury and waited for her answer. “I’m Malia Hunter, your sister-in-law.” She smiled, showing perfect white teeth that almost glowed against her tan Asian skin. If she thought shock treatment would work on either one of them, he wouldn’t give her the honor of seeing that it did. Every inch of him hardened. The fucking coward wouldn’t show his face to Jonathan but sent his wife? Like an act such as this would faze him in the least. Anger—outrage—coursed through him. It took more effort to keep his expression neutral, keep his reaction under lock and key. Her smile faded when she didn’t get the rise out of him she’d obviously expected. Finally she pulled a worried, almost tortured gaze from his and looked over at Jimmy. Jonathan did the same when her back was turned. Jimmy continued to scowl at her. Malia gave them both a very disapproving grunt and helped herself to the chair in front of Jimmy’s desk. “Fine,” she said, suddenly looking like she was pouting. What a class act. “I helped your woman escape from Alpha Corp. They were beating her. And I got shot. You’re family. You need to help me.” Jonathan walked over to her and grabbed her injured hand roughly enough that she yelped. He pulled the cloth from it, revealing a recent gunshot wound, possibly a day old at the most, that looked like it would leave a nasty scar. Her expression paled. She gritted her teeth, her mouth forming a thin line, while she looked wide-eyed at him. He’d give her two minutes at the most before she started babbling her life story, and anything else he wanted to know. Again, one of Henry’s

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oversights. If this was his woman, he’d never bothered to train her how to endure interrogation. “Jimmy. Call in the tags on that car out there. If it’s stolen, call the State Police.” He never took his gaze off hers. Her hand began trembling in his. She bit her lip and he was sure he’d see blood start trickling down her chin any second. He turned her injured hand over in his, inspecting her palm. The gunshot had nicked the soft flesh between her thumb and index finger, as if she’d held up her hand in surrender and had been shot for her efforts. Either someone was a bad shot, or they hadn’t planned on doing much more than scare her. Jimmy grabbed a yellow pad and pen from his desk and headed toward the door. “No. Please.” She yanked her hand from his, and he let go willingly. “I’ll tell you the truth. She shot me, okay? I go to help her, and she shot me.” “Who shot you?” Jonathan asked. Malia wasn’t looking at him now, but at her lap where she nursed her injured hand. “Joanna did, okay?” she hissed, the venom in her tone giving her a hard edge she’d managed to hide from them a moment before. She stood quickly, gripping the back of her chair. By the looks of the material that had wrapped her hand, she’d lost some blood. But she managed to drive herself there. Already he’d deem her quite the little actress. Jonathan didn’t flinch when she appeared shaky. Jimmy stood at the door, his hand resting on the doorknob. More than likely to prevent anyone from walking in on them. He frowned at Malia’s backside, his gaze appearing to rest on her firm, round ass. Jonathan would give Henry this. His woman was pure slut wrapped up in a perfect seductive package. “Did she shoot you before, or after you helped her escape?” he asked. She looked up at him, her expression hard and hateful. But it transformed while he watched, and suddenly she looked hurt. “After.” Her tone softened, changing right along with the expression on her face. “And I didn’t know where to go. I have no idea where Henry is, and I need help.” “You found me. I’m sure you could find Henry.” “Like he would help me.” She cradled her hand to her breasts, clutching the bloodstained T-shirt to it but still giving him a decent view of the large amount of cleavage that would show if her blouse would allow it. More than likely the act was intentional. It wouldn’t surprise him a bit if she’d spread her legs and allow the two of them to take turns fucking her. She’d use every inch of that hot little body to get what she wanted. She glanced up at him, her long thick black lashes fluttering over her dark eyes. When she realized he wasn’t focused on her breasts, she dropped her hand. He’d been right. She’d seduce him if he gave her half a chance.

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“He’s in such a tirade since you’ve destroyed him,” she said, her tone turning into a husky whisper. “And now with Joanna gone—he would blame me.” She let her voice trail off, lowering her gaze. “Jimmy, lock the door.” Jonathan moved in on her, pushing down on her shoulder until she fell into the chair. She collapsed onto it, turned her head quickly at the sound of the lock clicking into place, and then looked up at him wide-eyed. The sultry temptress disappeared and she looked more like a frightened child. He doubted he’d seen her true colors yet. Jonathan grabbed her injured hand at the wrist, applying enough pressure that the throbbing in her injury would start hurting quickly. She opened her mouth, the pain obvious in her expression, while her gaze shot from her hand to his face. He doubted this would take long. “You’re going to tell me the fucking truth right now or I’ll shoot your other hand.” She stared at him, her large black eyes welling with tears. When she closed her mouth he released her hand, and pulled his gun while grabbing her other hand. He pressed her hand on the arm of the chair, putting the nose of his gun against the soft flesh between her thumb and forefinger. “It will bleed like crazy, hurt like hell, but won’t kill you,” he whispered. Her pulse went off a mile a minute through her veins. A single tear traced a line down her cheek and her lower lip started quivering. “Henry promised you wouldn’t hurt me,” she whimpered. “He lied,” he told her. “I don’t know anything.” Her begging tone, and the way her entire body suddenly started shaking told him another story. Jonathan tightened his grip on her wrist, more than willing to pull the trigger if it would help him learn where Joanna was last seen. “Search her purse, Jimmy. Find me a cell phone. Let’s let Henry hear his little slut suffer.” “You bastard,” she hissed. “Start talking.” Jimmy didn’t hesitate. Her purse still hung on her shoulder, and he didn’t try releasing it from her but simply lifted it upside down and dropped its contents onto the floor. A wallet, several makeup items, a small gun, several pieces of paper, and a cell phone clattered to the ground. Jimmy picked up the phone, leaving everything else on the floor. He began pushing buttons on it and Jonathan had to give it to the guy for displaying a rather sinister smile.

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“You really should learn that keeping an address book on your cell phone can be most incriminating. I assume you only know one Henry?” He pushed a few more buttons and then held the phone to his ear. “It’s ringing,” he announced. Jonathan heard a man’s voice answer and Jimmy pushed the phone up against Malia’s face, kneeling next to her so that she turned her attention to him. “Henry?” she said, her voice cracking. “Jonathan captured me.” Jimmy laughed, and Jonathan couldn’t help but smile too. “Does she lie about everything?” Jonathan asked, knowing Henry would hear him. “I’m shot, and I’m scared,” she whimpered into the phone. She didn’t tell him that Joanna had shot her—interesting. Jonathan had heard enough. He pulled the phone away from her, ending the call and then dropping it to the floor with the rest of her stuff. “Good girl,” he said. Malia looked immediately confused. “When he comes after you, I’ll kill him.” “You’d kill your own brother?” She seriously sounded like she doubted him. “Would you like to watch?” Tears streamed down her face. “You’re positively evil.” “Thank you. Now start talking. Let’s see if you even know how to tell the truth.” He pushed the gun deeper into her flesh. “One more lie and I pull the trigger.” “Don’t kill him,” she sobbed. “That’s up to you.” “Okay. Okay. Joanna escaped.” She looked down at her hand. “Please don’t hurt me. I hate pain. God. Please.” “Keep talking,” he told her, keeping the gun pressed against her hand. “The mission we were on collapsed. Everyone took off and Henry couldn’t control where any of them went, or force them to stay. I don’t know where he went. But I was alone and scared. I took off in one of his cars. I really have no idea if it’s stolen or not. But when I hit the interstate I saw Joanna hitchhiking.” She said all of this in one breath and paused, inhaling deeply, her attention riveted on her hand, and the gun. Hitchhiking? God. What the hell had happened? He fought not to show any emotion. If Malia was telling the truth this time, something went terribly wrong after Joanna got off the phone with him. Hitchhiking could get her into worse trouble with complete strangers. And there would be no way of knowing if she were safe or not. The pain settling in around his heart made it hard to breathe. He glared at Malia, fighting not to take his frustration out on her. For now, he needed her. She quite possibly was the last person to see Joanna. His silence seemed enough to keep her talking.

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“I stopped to pick her up,” she continued, “and I know she didn’t know it was me because she sounded really happy that I’d stopped for her until she started climbing in and I pulled a gun on her. She got in and I took off driving. I was so proud of myself for picking up the only agent who’d successfully escaped from you and from Henry. I thought she’d bring me to you, that I would be protected.” Malia swallowed, looking down at the gun he pressed into her hand. His grip on her hand had turned her flesh a darker shade than her arm. Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks. “She moved so quickly, I still don’t know how she did it. I was driving and God…my gun was between my legs. I never even felt her touch me. But she took my gun from me. Hell, I never was good at the killing part of things. I can talk a good con.” She paused, cleared her throat, stared at the gun and let out a sigh. “But I suck with a gun, I really do. She made me pull over and we walked a ways. God, I thought for sure she would kill me. No one has a higher profile than she does. Henry says she’s never missed a target. When I started babbling to her, telling her how proud Henry was of you, and of her, all she did was yell at me to shut up. I swear I thought I was dead.” She hiccupped, and then coughed. “I still can’t believe she didn’t even know who Henry was. I told her that Henry talked about you all the time, how you’d approve of this, or approve of that, but she acted like she didn’t care.” That was because Joanna was a thousand times the better woman than Malia. And Jonathan didn’t look to anyone for approval. Joanna didn’t either. But this wasn’t what Jonathan expected to hear from Malia. He let go of her wrist, turning his back on both of them and walking the length of the room. Turning, he had the attention of both of them—Malia’s tear-stained face showing her fear and worry, and Jimmy’s guarded expression. “Then what happened?” He held his gun in his hand, pointed toward the floor, knowing he’d probably be smart to put the damn thing down. His anger clouded his thoughts. Joanna was running and he had no fucking idea where. Possibly Malia sensed that she might be in more danger with the gun no longer touching her. Her breasts bobbed up and down as she gulped in air. She brushed her hair over her shoulder, an unconscious act more than likely, but Jonathan saw how badly she trembled. She began talking faster. “I kept begging her not to kill me. I told her I would take her to you, drive her anywhere she wanted to go. I told her I knew you could protect us. I’ve heard so much about you over the years from Henry I swore I knew you. I told her that. I told her when she asked that I was headed to you, that I knew you’d protect me, take care of me until we could find Henry. God,” she started crying harder, “that’s when she shot me. I thought I was dead. And she just stood there, with no feelings. Her stare was blank, cold. Shit. I could never do that. She stood there and told me I wouldn’t die.” “Sounds like she was right.”

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Joanna was a survivor. She’d proven over the years she didn’t need anyone’s help to do it either. There were days when he wished she needed him more. But Jonathan realized with what Malia just told him that Joanna was also a protector. Joanna shot Malia to keep her from coming to him. For whatever reasons, reasons he planned on learning real damned soon, it hadn’t worked. “I thought she would leave me there on the side of the Interstate. We’d walked far enough from the road that no one would see me. Damn it. I thought I’d bleed to death or freeze. And she just left me there.” “Where did she go?” Jonathan asked. Malia shrugged then turned her head back and forth slowly. “I have no idea. It took me a while to get up. The pain was so bad I couldn’t see. When I made it to the road my car was still there. I started driving again, figuring I’d see her walking along the road, but I never saw her. I guess someone else picked her up.” Jonathan cursed and Jimmy stood, his shoulders squaring as he faced him. Malia started crying harder. “I’m telling you the truth, I swear,” she babbled. “I believe you.” He walked into the small bathroom and grabbed an unused roll of toilet paper and brought it to her. He’d put her through enough misery, and doubted seriously she would bring them much trouble. “How long ago did this happen?” “I drove all night. I’m not sure.” “Where were you when you picked her up?” She scrubbed her hair with her fingers, her expression defeated and exhausted. “Just outside Indianapolis, I think.” He looked at Jimmy, who nodded. “There’s a lot missing from this picture.” That was an understatement. Joanna had told him she was in Pennsylvania. Unless one of the women was lying, that would mean that after she got off the phone with him, she’d kept moving. What he didn’t know, or understand, was why she hadn’t found a room, called him, and let him get a flight home for her the next day. “Where’s Henry?” he asked Malia. She shook her head. “Possibly still in Brooklyn. I don’t know.” She then looked up at him, trying to look hateful, but he saw that he’d depleted what little energy she’d had left. Her caramel-colored skin looked very ashen. “But I’m sure he’s making plans to come your way now,” she added. That was fine with him. He’d be able to keep a better eye on the asshole if he had him under his thumb. “What should we do with her?” He looked at Jimmy. “If I take her to my house, I’ll never see Heidi again.” Jonathan nodded. His friend’s willingness to be part of this, to stand by his side, wouldn’t be pushed to the point where he would lose his daughter.

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“I’ll keep her at my place. She’s right about one thing. I’m sure Henry will show up. Then he can take care of her.” He looked down at her, studying her Asian appearance. It would be hard passing her off as family. The community had accepted him, in spite of the fact that there weren’t many minorities settled in this small corner of the world. Possibly he could get the town to accept her too, if he had to answer for her at all. “I guess if we do get any questions, we’ll tell them the truth. She’s my sister-inlaw.” God, he was going to kick Henry’s ass when he saw him. When would that man stop giving him grief?

***** Two days passed without a word from Joanna. Having Malia in the house grated on his nerves. If Henry didn’t show up for her soon, he was about ready to throw her out into the snow. And there was enough of it to lose her in it. He lay on his bed, laptop on his lap, deciding to search for someone other than Joanna for a change. Everything had him on edge. Something new to focus on might help. He browsed for tutors for Alex. The floor creaked at his door, and the door glided open. He stared at Malia, standing at the entrance of his bedroom wearing a long white robe. She’d undone the tie at her waist so the material parted down her front. The terrycloth of her robe contrasted with her olive skin. A flat tummy and the swell of two oversized breasts, full and round, like they’d been applied to her body in stone, were visible. His gaze traveled down her. A shaved smooth pussy, and slender legs finished the display she offered him. His laptop rested over his cock. It remained relaxed. Good boy. “It’s cold in my room,” she purred, moving toward him. Her robe parted as she walked, small perky dark nipples now being offered as part of the show. “Put some clothes on.” He forced his attention back to the screen on his laptop. All too aware of her presence, and pissed as hell that she had the nerve to approach him like this, there was no way he could focus on the screen. He wasn’t too surprised. Women had approached him daily while he held rank of general. In Malia’s eyes, he still had that rank, that authority. She viewed him as the man who’d brought down Alpha Corp. And he had. But there was nothing he could give her now. Well, maybe a roof over her head and three square meals. “Is there anything else you’d rather me do?” she suggested, getting close enough that she ran her finger over his bare shoulder. The act tickled, giving him a chill. But his cock stayed placid. Nothing about her impressed him.

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“Alex is in the next room. Go to bed, Malia.” “Then come with me to my room. You’ve got to let me show you some gratitude.” “Gratitude?” He looked up at her. Her pouty lips parted slightly, full seductress mode in effect. “Seems to me the other day you told me I owed you protection.” She brushed her fingers down the back of his shoulder. A slight smile tugged at her lips. “You’ve given me a place to stay, taken care of me. Now it’s my turn to take care of you.” He let his gaze stroll down her exposed body, taking his time. “There is nothing you can offer me,” he drawled. “Go to your room, Malia.” “You don’t have to worry about Henry,” she whispered, her finger now doing a circular pattern on his shoulder. “I’ve never worried about Henry.” Not at least that he’d let her know. She blinked. He wasn’t sure if his comment offended her, or surprised her. But she recovered quickly, whatever emotion hitting her was hidden quickly. “What I meant was I won’t tell him if you fuck me.” Jonathan slid his laptop to the side, getting off the bed slowly. Malia took a step backward when he towered over her. Instinctively she grabbed her bathrobe, and then as if it took some effort, didn’t completely cover herself. She was up to some game, but he really didn’t feel like exerting effort to discover what it was. “I’m sure you’ll tell Henry whatever suits your purpose at the time,” he told her, moving closer when she took another step backwards. “Now get the hell out of my bedroom before I throw you out.”

***** Jonathan heaved a shovelful of snow over his shoulder, unburying his deck after several more inches had fallen during the night. It was the first time he’d had alone to think, and none of the thoughts creeping through his mind settled well with him at all. Alex hadn’t been able to find any new program Alpha Corp could be running. Malia’s attempts to contact Henry, or any of the other agents whose numbers she had, had failed. It was as if Alpha Corp, and everyone associated with them, had simply disappeared. Losing Joanna wouldn’t happen—it couldn’t. She’d been gone a week now and with every minute he was sure he wouldn’t be able to endure the pain any longer. He was slowly dying inside without her. Unable to sleep, not eating, none of that would get him anywhere. He had a son, a boy who needed him. He needed to see about Alex’s education, decide if they were staying here or moving, start looking for a qualified tutor to teach Alex. The only damned thing he had no doubts about right now was that the school in Valley View had nothing to offer Alex. “Dad. You missed a call.” Alex stepped out onto the shoveled part of the deck, holding his phone. 73

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Shit. This had to stop. His mind was so scattered he’d forgotten to clip his phone to his belt before coming outside. “Who was it?” He stabbed the shovel into a waist-high mound of snow and crunched over the shoveled area to take his phone. “I don’t recognize the number.” Jonathan stared at the number, not recognizing the area code. “Can we trace the number?” “I’ll try.” Alex shrugged, taking his dad’s phone and turning to go inside. He glanced over his shoulder. “Do you celebrate Thanksgiving?” Jonathan kicked the snow off his boots at the door a little harder than necessary. Damn it. There were major holidays right around the corner, and it would mean everything in the world to Joanna that their son experience them like a normal American boy should. “I guess we should buy a turkey.” He tousled Alex’s hair as they entered the warmth in his basement. “I just wondered. There are lots of commercials about it on TV.” Alex slipped out of his shoes and headed toward Jonathan’s desk. “Mom would probably want manicotti.” Jonathan grinned, his face muscles tightening. It had been a while since he smiled. Making sure the glass doors were securely locked, he secured the bar at the bottom. “You’re probably right there.” Alex was barely visible sitting at Jonathan’s desk, pecking away at the keys with the large monitor hiding his face. He stoked the fire, the gravity of the fact that he needed to keep life going for his son weighing heavily on him. With or without Joanna, Alex deserved to be brought up right. He certainly had the means to give his son the best of lives. Existing in limbo, spending his every waking moment searching for Joanna, was causing him to ignore his son. “It’s a number from Black Hills, South Dakota,” Alex called out from behind the computer. “I can’t find out whose name it’s registered under.” The front door buzzed upstairs and Jonathan looked at the ceiling. “Come upstairs with me,” he said. Ever since Malia’s arrival, he’d beefed up security around his house. That meant keeping his son closer. It was hard telling who might show up next, or what agenda they might have. Alex didn’t question his actions. The child had never lived his life any other way. He bounded up the stairs in front of Jonathan. The two of them had installed the increased security together, and Alex reached the small screen installed in the wall by the front door and pushed the button so they could see who was outside. “It’s Jimmy,” Alex said, hurrying to the front door. Malia looked over at them from the couch, where she lounged watching soap operas. The woman was lazy, and ate him out of house and home. He didn’t trust her 74

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for a minute. She wouldn’t cross him—not and live through it. He’d give her credit for knowing that. She watched Alex curiously when he opened the front door. Jonathan didn’t doubt his son impressed the hell out of her. If he could trust any of her answers, he’d question her about what she might have heard about him. But sorting through her lies was more energy than he cared to exert on the woman. She shifted her gaze to him and then turned her attention to the television. Jimmy didn’t bother to come inside. “I need to speak to you—alone.” Jimmy looked angry, real angry. “Come outside with me.” Jonathan glanced at his son, who instantly looked worried. “I’ll be right back,” he told him. Pulling his front door closed behind him, a cold wind twisted furiously in the confines of his small front porch. He followed Jimmy toward his Jeep, watching as his friend clenched and unclenched his fists. “Susie was just at the house. We got into another fight.” When Jimmy turned around, outrage made his green eyes almost demonic. “She showed up to gather more of her stuff and after a few words announced she’s filing for divorce.” He wouldn’t comment on Jimmy’s life. Jimmy glared at him, his anger close to the breaking point. Jonathan gave him time to sort whatever demons coursed through him. “While she was there the phone rang and she got to it before I even realized it had rung.” Jimmy ran his hand through his hair, exhaling a cold cloud that swelled in front of his face. “Apparently it was Joanna on the line.” “What?” Jonathan almost yelled. “Where is she? What phone did she call from?” The number on his phone, that could have been her calling. When he’d first looked at it, he wasn’t sure if someone with Alpha Corp, or possibly Joanna, had placed the call. He reached for his belt, ready to grab his phone when Jimmy continued. “I was upstairs when I heard her yelling into the phone.” “Why was she yelling?” Everything inside Jonathan hardened. Too many people who knew them couldn’t handle the current circumstances they were forced to live through. He wouldn’t allow more trouble to hit his small family. He held his breath waiting for Jimmy to continue. “More than likely looking for a way to strike out at me. But she took it out on Joanna. I heard most of what she said before I could get to her and yank the phone from her. But by then the line was dead.” “What the hell did she say?” “She told Joanna that she talked to the men in Montrose the day Joanna disappeared, that she knew the man she talked to was Alex’s real dad. I heard her say she’d told him that, although I’ll be damned if Susie had mentioned that before.”

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“Sounds like something Henry would say if he thought he was closing in.” Jonathan’s world was closing in around him. Attacking Joanna while she was running, already too vulnerable, could send her flying to God only knew what corners of the world. But what the hell was she doing in South Dakota? “She told Joanna she couldn’t believe she would make you think Alex was your son, and then ditch out on the two of you. She said you knew the truth and never wanted to talk to her again.” “Damn it.” He yanked his phone from his belt and punched numbers until he brought up the missed call. “Was that the number?” Jimmy pulled a crumpled piece of paper from his jeans pocket and straightened it. There was a number scrawled on the paper. It matched the number on Jonathan’s phone. Jonathan redialed the number. It rang a handful of times and then went to something that sounded like a fax machine. He dialed it again. A cold wind bit at his face. He dialed the number a third time. The wind sent snow from the trees around them falling down. There was no answer, just the high buzz of a fax or something like that. “Goddammit,” he swore, needing to hit something—hard. “Susie and I fought worse than we have so far.” Jimmy walked away from him, swiping snow off the hood of his car. “She believes you and I are plotting something, and that Joanna found out and ran. She was pissed Joanna didn’t confide in her. God, she went on and on about what kind of mother would run out on her son?” Jonathan hated that Jimmy had to defend Joanna to Susie. It made sense that she’d see it as Joanna leaving Alex. There wasn’t a damn thing either of them could do to appease Susie though. Nonetheless, it pissed him off that her opinion of Joanna had dropped so low. “It’s not right that all of this is affecting your family life.” Jonathan hoped the weather would hold out for them if they headed north toward South Dakota. How big could Black Hills be? “Man, you know our marriage hasn’t been the best. She’s using this crap to make matters worse. She wants out—she can leave.” Jimmy cared about Susie. Jonathan knew that. But hell, the last thing he’d do was advise anyone on marriage. “The number is in Black Hills, South Dakota. But all it’s doing is going to some fax.” “Possibly. Sometimes pay phones do that when you try to call them.” Snow crunched behind them and Jonathan turned when a large black truck pulled into his drive. The windows were tinted and he couldn’t see who drove. He reached for his belt, realizing he wasn’t armed. Warning lights exploded inside him. “You got your gun?” he asked quietly.

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“Yup.” Jonathan stared at the truck as the driver’s door slowly opened.

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Chapter Nine Jonathan had missed an opportunity to talk to Joanna. Susie filled Joanna’s head with a bunch of bullshit. His son was a genius who needed his intelligence nurtured, and not left sitting stagnant. His family was crumbling around him. Action needed to be taken. And right now, a hell of a lot of fury burned through him. Beating the shit out of someone sounded real damn good. Taking his older brother down sounded even better. Clearing the distance between him and the black truck in a few long strides, he met Henry as he closed the door to the truck. “Long time no see, big brother,” he sneered, raising his fist at the same time. Warped satisfaction never felt better when he connected with hard bone and flesh, sending Henry sprawling into the snow. In spite of being taken off guard, Henry responded quickly, jumping to his feet and lunging at Jonathan. “You son of a bitch,” he yelled, hitting Jonathan with all of his weight, and sending both of them flying backward. “You’ve ruined everything!” Jonathan took a hard blow to the side of his face, stars filling his vision, or was it snow? His back burned as ice-cold snow soaked under his shirt. “You fucking took Joanna!” And that alone was the crime that could never be forgiven. No punishment, no amount of pounding, would ever pay for stealing his woman. Jonathan threw Henry off him, briefly noting the muscle Henry had put on since he’d seen him last. The man was big, solid, and possibly an even match. Like any of that mattered. The bastard had shown up at Jonathan’s home, driven into his domain. And they had a score to even. He brought his fist back, releasing all his outrage on Henry. “You’re a fucking fool,” he hissed. Henry’s head snapped to the side. He endured Jonathan’s blow to the chin and returned it with a sneer, blood staining the top of his teeth. “Not me, hermano,” he said, and then successfully got a blow to Jonathan’s jaw. Pain coursed along his face, his teeth scraping against each other and then clamping down on his tongue. The taste of blood filled his mouth and he spat, releasing more anger as he tore into his brother. “You couldn’t accept defeat,” Jonathan bellowed, the world around him and Henry nothing more than clouds of glistening snow. “So you had to try and destroy me.”

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The snow was blinding. But Henry’s black skin glowed against it. Jonathan glared into his brother’s black eyes, hating him for stealing Joanna—and then losing her. “You knew I had to do it. You took out the entire fucking place!” Henry was on his back now, glaring up at him with wide glowing eyes. Half of his mouth swelled grotesquely and a nasty purple bruise lined the side of his face. “But they know, Jonathan, they know!” His words didn’t register. Their meaning lost to him. Jonathan’s hands went around his brother’s neck, Henry’s choking sound still not enough satisfaction for all the pain he’d endured since Joanna had disappeared. “Dad!” Alex screamed from the door. Henry struggled to turn his head in the snow, and Jonathan tightened his grip. His vision blurred as he stared at his son. Malia pushed him out the front door, holding him by the back of the neck while she held a gun in her other hand. Where the hell had she gotten the gun? “That’s enough,” Jimmy barked and at the same time a clicking sounded next to Jonathan’s ear. Jimmy held his gun pointed down, next to his body. “Get up, Jonathan. No one’s killing anyone in my town.” Killing Henry wouldn’t satisfy him enough. Everything he’d fought so hard for— freedom from Alpha Corp, having Joanna with him—Henry had stuck his nose where it didn’t belong. And all because the motherfucker was jealous of him. He jumped off Henry, grabbing him by the shirt and yanking him to his feet as well. There was a small amount of enjoyment in sending him flying across the yard. Henry stumbled over his feet, going down in the snow. Blood splattered over drifting snow, red droplets creating a haphazard pattern over the shiny white blanket. “Tell the bimbo to let me go,” Alex yelled, squirming under Malia’s grip. “Alex,” Jonathan snarled, but then turned his attention on Malia. “Let him go.” She didn’t seem to even need that much prompting. Releasing Alex before the words were even out of his mouth, she hurried over to Henry, ignoring the deep snow as she lunged through it, lifting her legs high. Jonathan intercepted, grabbing her arm and taking the gun from her hand. She pulled from him and he let her go willingly. She hurried to his brother. “Bimbo?” Henry hissed. “That’s what my dad calls her,” Alex said defensively. Stuffing the gun into his back pocket, he rubbed his chin, feeling the swelling there as well as a few other bruises that appeared to be sprouting over his body. He wasn’t as young as he’d once been. He scowled at Alex but then turned his attention to Henry when he rolled to his side. “Hell of a welcome,” Henry muttered, working slowly to his feet, and looking a little worse for wear than Jonathan.

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Henry had filled out, and pulled his sweater over his broad torso, for a moment revealing hard flat abs. He stood about as tall as Jonathan, and in the years since he’d seen Henry, a few white hairs spread over his greased back black hair. Small tight cornrows, the look of the day, were in neat rows over his head, with tiny braids falling to his shoulders. Being general would give any man a few gray hairs. His legs were thick, the jeans he wore now damp with snow. An impressive-looking black man, dangerous-looking, but still his dorky-looking big brother. “I don’t remember inviting you,” Jonathan grumbled, although he wasn’t a bit surprised to see him. For the first time, he glanced at the truck. “You come alone?” “You think I’d bring anyone else here with me?” Henry looked insulted. “Regardless of what you think of me, I’ve always had more respect for you than that. We are blood, whether you admit it or not.” “There’s no proof.” He didn’t want to fight the stubborn streak that coursed through him. They’d been brothers as long as he could remember, living on the streets together. Neither one of them could produce a legal birth certificate though. “How about we move this party inside?” Jimmy suggested, gesturing with his gun. He glanced around them. Jonathan did the same. Jimmy’s house was down the road, the abandoned cabin where Joanna had lived up until recently not too far on the other side of the road, and a few more houses closer toward town. There was little doubt in his mind that his showdown with Henry had no witnesses. His yard on the other hand, might be harder to explain if he had any other visitors. Once buried high with several feet of glistening soft packed snow, it now looked like a wild bunch of lunatics had attempted making snow angels, and failed. So much for shoveling his drive and walk. Like he cared about that right now. “Inside,” he ordered everyone, echoing Jimmy. Patting his belt, he reached for his phone and groaned. It wasn’t attached to his belt. “Hell,” he muttered. “What is it?” Jimmy gestured with his gun, watching Henry and Malia head toward the front door. “My phone is missing.” Everyone turned and looked at him, then in unison, the lot of them looked at the front yard. “If it’s in that snow then it got wet.” Jimmy let his thoughts trail off. He turned and looked at the small group staring at the snow. “Inside everyone.” He looked at Jonathan. “Search for it if you want. Maybe the SIM card is still good at least.” Jonathan trudged back into the snow, his head pulsing from the blows he’d taken. His eyes burned against the glare of the snow. More than a few muscles protested when he bent over and waved his hands through the snow that looked like some fucked-up people had tried making snow angels, and failed miserably.

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Joanna might try to call him again. He wouldn’t be able to answer. That phone was his only connection with her. Shit. Goddammit. He didn’t see the phone anywhere. How long would it take to order a new phone? Another ten minutes or so of searching produced nothing. There was enough snow in his yard to bury a few bodies. At the moment, putting his brother a few feet under sounded damned good. He knew he was a bit too grouchy, but he wouldn’t have lost his phone if Henry hadn’t shown up. Scowling, even more pissed off now, he headed toward the front door. Once inside the front door, he stopped Henry, and thoroughly frisked him. “I can unarm myself, damn it,” Henry complained. He shoved Jonathan away then removed a gun from his back pocket. Jimmy stepped in and took it from him. Henry reached down and pulled up his jeans, then pulled another gun loose that was strapped around his boot. Jonathan looked at Alex. “Go get the metal detector.” “I’ll be damned. He looks just like you,” Henry said under his breath. “You going to strip-search me?” he asked, changing the subject quickly as if talking about Alex was something he wasn’t comfortable doing. “If I have to.” Jonathan stood on one side of Henry with Jimmy on the other side of him. The guy wasn’t going to move if he tried. Malia chewed on a fingernail nervously, staring at the ground behind Jimmy. Whatever thoughts were on his mind weren’t apparent. It wouldn’t have surprised him a bit if she’d given Henry directions to their house. She’d had more than one opportunity to place a phone call without being noticed. And he hadn’t checked his dialed numbers on his phone recently. Like he could do that now. Jonathan looked at Henry, and his brother met his gaze quickly. “I’m not your enemy,” he said quietly, under his breath. Jonathan nodded. Henry couldn’t afford to be at this point. He probably showed up as a last resort, but Jonathan suspected he’d offer no resistance now that he was here. Nonetheless, he’d ensure the safety of his house. Alex hurried back into the room, holding out the handheld metal detector, very similar to the ones used in airports. He turned it on and held it in both hands. “Want me to do it, Dad?” Alex grinned, excitement glowing in his expression. He wanted to impress them, he wanted his uncle to see what he knew. In spite of how desperately Jonathan wanted to lock his son away, not give Henry any clue how intelligent and quick his son actually was, he knew even suggesting the thought at the moment would cause an outburst

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from Alex. He understood not wanting to be left out. But damn it, he wished his son was just a bit more shy. “Absolutely fucking amazing,” Henry whispered, staring in awe at Alex. “Watch your mouth,” Jonathan hissed. Alex rolled his eyes but Henry didn’t notice. His brother looked at Jonathan quickly, apologetically. “Sorry,” he said. “You going to introduce me?” “He knows who you are.” Being chivalrous didn’t sound too appealing at the moment. This was no family reunion. “Go ahead and run it over him slowly,” he instructed Alex. The metal detector beeped instantly and Jimmy stepped in. “Take off your coat,” he instructed. Henry gave him a pensive look. “Who are you?” “Do as you’re told.” Jimmy glared at Henry until he obeyed with a loud sigh. After Henry had stripped down to jeans, standing in the middle of the living room, bare-chested, bare feet, and they’d removed several bugs, Jimmy inspected the small flat devices, with Alex on tiptoe, looking like he wanted to grab them out of Jimmy’s hand. “They’re connected to a recorder out in the truck. Go inspect it if you like. I wasn’t sure how long I’d be here, or what would be said.” He offered Jonathan a lame smile. “Short term memory and all. It’s nice to play back conversations later.” “We’ll inspect the truck in a bit,” he told him. Walking over and turning off the television, he nodded toward his couch. “Have a seat.” “Do you want me to take the metal detector outside and look for the phone?” Alex asked. “No!” Jonathan said at the same time Jimmy did. He looked over at Jimmy. “Sheez. Just trying to help,” Alex muttered. “I know, champ,” Jonathan said, letting out a sigh. “Let’s make sure everything is secure first, and then you can search.” “Better do it before it gets dark.” Alex wandered out of the room, returning shortly with a few action figures and getting comfortable on the floor. Jimmy found baggies in the kitchen and sealed the listening devices, two guns, and pocket knife, as well as wallet and keys that they’d found on Henry, each in their own bag. Henry watched him, appearing a bit nervous by his actions. Either the sheriff’s uniform, or his meticulous ways of bagging evidence might have done the trick. Jonathan didn’t stop Malia from cuddling in next to Henry on the couch. It was easier to keep an eye on her with the two of them close.

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“We’ll start at the beginning,” Jonathan began, making himself comfortable in one of his upright chairs across from the couch. “What are you doing here?” “Not going to ask me how I found your place?” Henry asked, grinning. He stretched, and put his arm around Malia, pulling her closer. “Your wife—is she your wife?—had a school newsletter in her purse.” He grinned at Alex, who ignored him and played close to Jonathan’s feet. “It had the name of the school on it—Valley View Grade School. Of course she left her purse in the bar where we met her girlfriend. Friendly lady—friend of yours?” “Why are you here?” Jonathan hardened his tone, not wanting to hear any more about Susie at the moment. She’d hung Joanna’s neck without knowing it. He wouldn’t kick himself in the ass for allowing the two women to become friends. Locking Joanna up without a life would have killed her spirit. Although allowing her that life almost got her killed too. He shook the morbid thoughts from his mind. Stay focused and learn what you can. Henry shrugged. “My wife is here. You’ve taken my life. Where did you expect me to go?” Simple as the answer was, Jonathan bought it. Henry had always run to him when he needed help. It was still a possibility that Malia told him where Jonathan lived. It was a small fact, and neither here nor there at the moment. Henry was here. What did matter was how many other people knew where he lived. “So there are no missions running?” he asked. “Hell if I know.” Henry’s expression hardened. “I tried to get us going. My orders were to recruit new agents. Kind of hard to do when I couldn’t keep a handle on the ones I had. They ran—so did I.” Jonathan studied him for a moment. Henry just said he’d bailed on Alpha Corp. Yet he was bugged. He needed to inspect the truck. Jimmy stood guard just inside the doorway leading to the dining room. Although he doubted Henry would start trouble right now, he would wait until later before one of them went outside. He had no doubts he could take on Henry and Malia if they started something and he was alone with them. He knew Jimmy wanted to hear what was being said though. “Why didn’t you go after Joanna?” he asked. “Surely keeping her under your wing would give you points with Alpha Corp in spite of losing agents.” Henry shook his head. “Man, I swear to you, I have no idea where she is. Within an hour of her getting out, all hell broke loose on that mission.” That jived with what Malia had told him. “And you didn’t put any tracking device on her?” “I didn’t have the means. I’m sure you know the Bogotá headquarters was destroyed. Orders came through within hours of our arrival there. We were ordered to

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the States. If I’d had time, I would have put her in surgery to clean up that little bit of artwork you left on her inner thigh when she escaped the first time.” Alex looked up at him, dropping his toys on the floor. “You’re the one who shot her, Dad?” he asked in disbelief. The pain that ransacked his son’s face made him want to leap out of his chair and pound Henry until he couldn’t talk anymore. If it weren’t for the fact that he needed to know everything Henry knew, he might easily give in to the tempting thought. “Maybe you should go in the other room,” he said quietly. “I’m not going anywhere,” Alex retorted, his voice growing shrill quickly. He blushed deeply, his defiance and embarrassment reminding Jonathan of Joanna. “You’re going to talk about me too. I know you are. And I want to hear it.” The instant pain that tortured his heart as he stared at his son and saw the boy’s mother in him, made it hard to breathe. More than anything right now he needed to stay focused. The sooner he got some answers, hopefully, God willing, he’d be a step closer to getting Joanna back. Ignoring everyone else in the room, the intensely curious look on Henry’s face, knowing his brother had a thousand questions about Alex, he focused on his son, keeping his tone calm, but authoritative. Damn it, he needed to stay focused, thinking about Joanna right now would fog his mind. She’d raised Alex to speak his mind. She’d treated the small child like an adult. Nonetheless, he was a small child, and one who would learn to respect and obey his father. “You may stay. But you’ll remain quiet. Do you understand?” Alex stared at him, looking for a moment like he’d protest and offer all of them a show of the wonderful temper he’d inherited from his father. But instead he nodded, then looked down, picking up one of his action figures and then throwing it on the ground in front of him. For now, Jonathan accepted that as answer enough. He would have been happy for neither Alex nor Joanna to know he’d been the one to fire at Joanna. That had been one hell of an ugly night, a mission gone bad. But Joanna running on him, leaving him when he’d been sure she’d love him forever, had been more than his young ego could handle. It was a move he’d regret the rest of his life. “You’re right, Alex,” Henry said, and Alex looked up at him quickly. “That is your name, isn’t it?” Alex nodded, chewing his lip and looking very much like the six-year-old that he was as he studied his uncle. “We are going to talk about you. That’s another reason that I came here.” He looked at Jonathan, pursing his lips, which as swollen as his mouth was, made them look even bigger. “They know about him. If I found you, they will too. When I pulled Joanna in, I documented everything I found on her. The computers crashed within hours of my report. But everything that was in her purse, including that school newsletter, was

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included in my report. You better believe that they probably have all that information in Amsterdam.” “Amsterdam?” Jimmy asked. “Alpha Corp’s main headquarters is in Amsterdam,” Jonathan told him. He looked at Henry. “Probably? You didn’t get a return receipt?” “An hour or so later, I got orders to evacuate and destroy all evidence of Alpha Corp in Bogotá,” he said. “If they were able to send that order through, it’s safe to say they got the report.” “How do I know you weren’t sent to find us?” Henry shrugged. “No way I can prove that to you.” He rubbed his finger over Malia’s shoulder. “Malia and I were in contact for about an hour after she took off. We agreed she’d seek you out. I knew she’d be safe with you. I told her I’d follow as soon as I could. After that, it wasn’t safe to talk to her anymore.” “So for a week headquarters has known where we were,” Jonathan said, quickly formulating a plan of action. It surprised the hell out of him that if this were true, they hadn’t seen more strangers in town at this point. No matter that Alpha Corp had been seriously disabled, possibly damaged beyond repair, the higher powers in Amsterdam would kill to get their hands on Alex. Of that he had no doubts. They needed to get the hell out of there. “They know where we picked up Joanna. And they know the boy exists.” Henry returned his attention to Alex. “He looks like you did at that age.” Alex ignored him and shuffled closer to Jonathan. There was fear in his expression that he hadn’t seen before. Through most of this, Alex had been one hell of a trooper, showing anger faster than he’d shown fear when Joanna first disappeared. But all signs of his temper were gone. He put his hand on Jonathan’s knee, standing slowly. For a moment, Jonathan thought he might crawl on to his lap. “Don’t let them take me away, Dad,” he whispered, his voice cracking. Jonathan pulled his son into his arms, seeing the tears that Alex fought not to show. He stood quickly, lifting the boy into his arms. Alex wrapped his arms around him and buried his face in Jonathan’s neck. “No one is going to take you away. You’ve got my promise.” Alex nodded and the dull thud in Jonathan’s chest grew more painful with each beat. He looked over at Jimmy and fought the thickness in his throat when he spoke. Every minute of his adult life everyone had looked to him for answers, for protection, for assurance that everything would be taken care of. And up until recently, he’d had the power to make sure matters always went smoothly. That power had been stripped from him when he’d left Alpha Corp. He hadn’t admitted it to himself over the years, but still played God, fucking with Alpha Corp’s computers, and chasing after Joanna with a determination that had blinded him.

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Now he’d lost Joanna, and if he weren’t real damn careful, he’d lose his son too. There wasn’t anything in his world without them. Reality hit him harder than a brick wall. His resources were tapped. He and Alex would have to run for their lives. And all he had was a prayer that they’d make it through this alive.

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Chapter Ten “I’m going with you.” Jimmy walked toward Jonathan, snow crunching under his feet. “Make room for my bags.” Jonathan straightened, having just finished packing what he and Alex would take in the trunk of his Jaguar. He glanced down at the two suitcases that Jimmy dropped at his feet, then met his friend’s gaze. “What about Susie and Heidi?” Jimmy gave him a hard look. “Susie took Heidi to Colorado Springs this morning. They’re getting an apartment there. She wants a fresh start.” Jonathan nodded. His friend didn’t want sympathy. Henry crossed his arms against the early morning briskness. They’d waited two days, while Jonathan had a new phone overnighted to him, and brainstormed a plan of action with Jimmy, while searching the Internet, and watching to see if anyone new came into town. Jimmy picked up his bags and adjusted things in the trunk so his stuff would fit. “What about your sheriff’s position?” Jonathon asked. “You can’t walk out on this town.” “Actually I can.” Jimmy nodded toward Henry. “This brother of yours isn’t the dimwit you’ve claimed he was over all these years. He and I did some talking last night. We went over the city’s bylaws. Now he’s black—looks a lot more black than you do. Some of the folk around here are set in their ways, but most are open-minded and not prejudiced. If I appoint him as acting sheriff in my absence, the job is his until elections.” Jonathan knew damned good and well he’d never once mentioned Henry to Jimmy before Joanna disappeared. But Henry grinned, looking at him for his reaction to what Jimmy had just said. “I’ll have a straight-up for real job,” he said. “Yeah. One where you got to play by the rules.” Jonathan saw that Henry wanted the chance. And he understood the glow of excitement he saw in his brother’s face. There was no life for any of them after Alpha Corp. They’d all lived outside the law, following a code, and living an existence that no one in the real world could comprehend. Trying a normal life was a challenge—a challenge his brother wanted as badly as he did. “I can do it,” Henry told him, as always, seeking his approval.

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Jonathan worried over what Henry might do. The man would stab his own brother in the back to better himself—and had when he took Joanna. At least with him accepting the job as sheriff here, Jonathan would know where Henry was. If Henry acted up, he’d have the real law on his back. “Valley View is a quiet, peaceful town. Keep it that way.” Jonathan glanced past him at the house he’d called home for the past few years. Something told him he wouldn’t be back. “And don’t trash my house.” Henry sobered. “Go find your woman. Anyone shows up here, they’ll leave thinking you’re dead.” That much they had discussed. Jonathan wouldn’t announce to any of them where he and Alex were going—and now apparently Jimmy too—but he had laid out a detailed plan with Henry after he’d agreed to let him and Malia stay at the house. They’d done a lot of talking over the past couple of days. Once he knew that Henry hadn’t been sent after him, that he’d sincerely run to his brother for protection—and to be with Malia—it had been easier to format a strategy. “Just don’t let anyone dig up that grave.” He nodded toward the freshly cleared plot of ground. It had been a bitch digging up frozen ground, especially with several feet of snow covering it. But it had been a necessary task. Anyone who showed up would be told that Jonathan was dead, and buried on the mountain. The smaller plot next to it was Alex’s. It had made him sick to his stomach even pretending to dig a grave for his son, but it was the cover they needed to escape without being followed. Henry looked toward the freshly dug dirt. “May you rest in peace,” he said.

***** Alex stretched out in the small backseat and Jimmy sat in the passenger seat. The Jaguar was a bit cramped, but for now, it would get them out of the state. Although after they spent half the day winding through mountains and driving way under the speed limit over snow and ice-covered roads before they hit I-70, he’d started wondering if they wouldn’t do better with a larger SUV-type vehicle. Once Alex woke up, he grew restless. They made more pit stops than Jonathan cared to. The eleven-hour drive to Hill City, South Dakota, turned into more like a twenty-hour drive. His nerves were pushed to the limit long before the journey ended. He hadn’t talked his plan over with anyone. It was best that way. Joanna had last called from the small town in South Dakota. It was an out-of-the-way place, although a touristy area. A haven to campers and adventure seekers. He had to believe Joanna had called to let him know she was there. Something made her believe she couldn’t come back to him. Well, he could damn well go to her. And what would they find?

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His new phone gave no indication of any calls missed. Joanna might have tried for two days to reach him, and he wouldn’t have known. Her last known destination was this small tourist community, not so unlike Valley View. Darkness shrouded the Black Hills, although at the moment they were all covered with white snow, when they weaved through them later that evening. “What do you think our chances are of getting a room?” Jimmy asked, staring out his window at the small town. Jonathan slowed to the speed limit, his legs cramped and his back killing him. For a luxury car, after driving all day, he’d give it a thumbs-down on its comfort level. At the moment any bed, anywhere, would suit him just fine. After convincing the bored-looking college-age kid behind the counter to allow him to pay cash for a room, Jonathan filled out the paperwork for the room, and got two cards to unlock the door to the room. He and Jimmy hauled their suitcases to the dark motel room and then Jonathan carried Alex inside.

***** “Did you know you got a room with no Internet access?” Alex’s voice sounded faraway. Jonathan blinked against the brightness, rolled over, experienced way too many sore muscles, and then peeked out from under his blanket. “What time is it?” he asked. “Almost eight. We can’t get online, Dad.” Alex sat on the edge of the bed, his curls on one side of his head smashed flat. “And I’m hungry.” The motel room door opened and Jonathan jumped to his feet. Grabbing Alex, he couldn’t remember where he’d put his gun. He shoved his son behind his back. “You always wake up so jumpy?” Jimmy teased, shutting the door behind him and once again shrouding them in semi-darkness. “Beautiful countryside in these parts. Get a shower and I’ll show you our new wheels.” “What?” Jonathan combed his hair with his fingers and trudged over to the window in his boxers. “What new wheels?” “It’s amazing how easy it is to sell someone else’s car.” Jimmy didn’t look a bit daunted. He tossed a pair of keys down on the circular table in front of the windows. “How the hell you sell my car?” “Paperwork was in it.” Jimmy walked over to the small coffeemaker and started coffee. “Get a shower, man. You don’t plan on going out in public looking like that, do you?” “I got to admit it. You did a good thing here.” Jonathan walked through the large mobile home, complete with wet bar and a garden tub. What he wouldn’t do to see

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Joanna soaking in that thing, bubbles partially covering her naked body while she beckoned to him. “I got to looking around this town. We’d stick out like sore thumbs in that Jag of yours. With one of these, we’ll look like everyone else.” Jimmy ran his hands over kitchen cabinets, all made of solid oak. “Got a damn good deal on it, too.” “You better have, trading in an eighty-thousand-dollar car,” Jonathan muttered. “Guess what!” Alex shouted, barging through the door and slamming the thin screen door behind him. “There’s a place to hook up a satellite on this thing. We can set up shop right here in this mobile home.” Jimmy grinned at the boy’s enthusiasm. His expression sobered when he looked at Jonathan. “People come and go in this town. Chatting with some of the locals this morning didn’t do me a lot of good. They see new faces every day. But it’s not everyday they get foreigners around here.” He leaned against the counter, crossing his broad arms across his chest. “Foreigners?” Jonathan asked. Jimmy shrugged. “The guy down at the gas station told me about a couple men here from Amsterdam. He said usually foreigners were a pain in the ass because he couldn’t understand them, but these two hardly had any accents at all.” Jonathan sat on the couch, stretching his arms along the back. Damn comfortable. He’d never guess one of these things could be so classy. Only time he’d ever been in an RV before, it was full of computers and weapons, and used simply to help house security onsite during a mission. “It may or may not mean a thing that there are folks here from Amsterdam. It’s a huge city.” “Seven hundred and thirty-eight thousand,” Alex said, plopping down on the couch next to his dad. “Seven hundred and thirty-eight thousand what?” Jonathan fought a grin when his son smiled a toothy smile. “That’s how many people live in Amsterdam. I read about the place when we went to Holland. Mom didn’t take me there though.” “Amazing,” he whispered. Who would have thought he’d have the smartest son on the planet? “What’s amazing is that one of these men is the new sheriff in town. The old sheriff died suddenly—shocked everyone. I guess he wasn’t that old.” “Did you catch his name?” “Dustin MacDonald.” Someone tapped on the door and Jonathan jumped to his feet. Alex pulled his legs quickly onto the couch, and wrapped his arms around them. There wasn’t time to

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console his son, instead he stood in front of him, blocking anyone from seeing him. He reached for his gun, housed in its leather holder attached to his belt. Jimmy grabbed his arm. “You two don’t move. I’ll answer it. I’m the least recognizable if there are agents in the area.” He didn’t wait for an answer but moved in front of Jonathan and pulled open the door. “You are checked into room 117?” a man on the other side of the door asked. “Yup.” Jimmy didn’t open the screen and stood so that it would be hard for anyone outside to see inside. “Checkout is at eleven.” “We’ll be checked out.” When he closed the door, Jonathan was the only one in the room not to noticeably exhale. “Dustin MacDonald was one of the founders of Alpha Corp,” he announced. Jimmy’s jaw fell, meeting his gaze and looking more than stunned. “What the hell would he be doing here?” “I doubt he is. He was an older man. If memory serves though, he had a son.” And three days ago, Joanna had called from a number in this town. “Let’s get our stuff out of the room.” Jonathan glanced down at Alex. His son looked almost sad, staring at the ground. His thoughts were masked, and Jonathan knew the wheels were turning in his son’s head. Alex simply nodded, standing slowly, and followed them out of the mobile home. By late afternoon they were settled in one of the larger parks in Hill City. The Black Hills sparkled with snow in all their glory. The countryside was breathtaking. Nothing matched the beauty of the Rockies but the Black Hills were gorgeous. Camping facilities were a dime a dozen in the area, but Jonathan had to admit they’d gotten lucky in choosing such an incredible location. The ruggedness of the area appealed to him the most. After a brief argument, Jimmy and Alex agreed to stay at the campsite, while Jonathan took a short walk. He wanted a feel for the place, to see how many people were here camping. And yes, he searched for Joanna. Every time he saw someone, any time a woman stepped out of a camper or a tent, every movement around him. His entire body was on red alert. A narrow road created an oblong circle with camping areas lining both sides of the road. They’d picked a site at the extreme end of the circle, opposite the entrance. When he left their mobile home, he could walk either direction on the road, and he’d end up at the same place. Twilight had set in when he’d finished walking the complete circle.

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He worked his way back toward the entrance of the park to a rugged-looking cabin, with a wide and long front porch wrapping around both sides of it. A wooden sign with the word “office” burned on it, hung from a pole out front. Another log structure, longer and flat-roofed had a sign that said “Cindy’s Bar and Grill”. Tall trees surrounded the buildings and jagged rocks stuck out of the ground. The gravel road from the highway entered into a large gravel parking lot. The sound of rushing water through the dense trees indicated a fast moving creek, if not a waterfall, was nearby. Vehicles crawled by at the posted ten miles an hour—cars, trucks, motor homes. The place did a fair bit of business. When a couple with small children pushed the door open and left the bar and grill, the faint smell of onions and burgers grilling filled the air. Several other people passed him, walking toward the establishment. His stomach growled. In spite of how tempting the place looked, he’d need a hell of a lot more convincing that the area was secure before taking his son there to eat. Heading back around for the second time, following the curve in the road, a particular couple caught his eye. Apparently there was a back deck to the bar and grill too. Folks could come and go from either entrance, and a man and a woman descended from the wooden stairs off the deck and began strolling at an almost lazy pace ahead of him—as if they didn’t have a care in the world. Stopping before he realized it, Jonathan focused on the soft sway of hips, on long hair that fanned over her shoulders, down her narrow back. Dressed in jeans and a heavy sweater, black boots and gloves, with a scarf wrapped around her neck, Joanna stole his breath. Joanna! God! She was alive! Breathing. Beautiful! He barely saw her face, her hair shrouding it while she focused on the road in front of her. Her arms crossed her chest, keeping herself warm, and she took long strides to keep in pace with the man next to her. Every muscle inside him twitched with the urge to leap forward. Grab her and run! His cock stirred to life, eager to reclaim what was already his. He clenched his hands into fists, curling and uncurling his fingers while he took in the situation. They should have looked over their shoulders, searched the people around them. It was the existence they lived in. Always surveying who and what was where. The simple fact that they didn’t grabbed his attention as quickly as her presence did. Cutting across the road, moving between cars, he hurried toward the deck they’d just descended, and then beyond it, toward the trees. No one gave him much thought, especially the couple who continued to walk away from him, not once looking back to see who might be behind them. Being a large man never made it easy to simply disappear in a hectic area. Jonathan made it look like he walked toward one of the campsites before heading toward trees. Snow crunched under his boots while he picked up his pace, lifting his feet higher as he 92

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trudged through uncleared areas. Barely giving the snow thought while it clung to his jeans, slowly soaked through them, he pushed forward into the natural setting of the wilderness surrounding the campsites. Twilight faded into darkness. He watched his path in front of him as much as he watched the couple, using the coming night as much as the dense foliage around him to hide his existence as he paced Joanna and the man with her. His mind twisted around possibilities here. Joanna had tried calling him several days ago. She was still here. The man with her—he diverted his attention to the guy for the first time—stood at least as tall as Jonathan. He had a thick body, muscular, with dark red hair. Ugly son of a bitch actually. Joanna didn’t look up at him, but at the ground as she walked companionably alongside the guy. But the motherfucker smiled down at her, his face turned Jonathan’s direction, but his gaze on Joanna. He put the face to memory, his fist itching to rearrange the secure smile the guy had on his face. Thick undergrowth and trees hindered his path. Joanna and the guy walked along the cleared road, seemingly in some deep conversation. Campsites blocked his view occasionally, as well as made it harder to hear him trudging through the mass of snow and branches and brush. Twigs stabbed at his face. Snow soaked through his jeans and long underwear. Pushing branches out of his way, he lifted his legs high through the snow, never taking his attention from the two for longer than a second. A branch slapped at his face, the quick slice of pain making his eyes water. His cheeks already burned from the cold. He gritted his teeth together. “Damn it,” he muttered, pressing his cold fingers to the narrow pin-line slice that instantly throbbed painfully. His vision blurred and he fought to clear it quickly, scared if he took his attention from Joanna, lost her behind trailers and tents, that she’d disappear again. He had to know where she was going. She needed to get away from that jerk who continued talking to her. Halfway down the row of campsites, almost all of them full, Joanna said something to the man, and he squeezed her shoulder. The biting sting of the razor-thin cut on his cheek no longer burned as anger took over. The son of a bitch touched his woman! Even more grounds to pound him into the snow. Joanna turned toward him, not seeing him but watching her footing while she walked toward a large trailer. Quickly he scanned the long cream-colored mobile home, noting the brand, the dark blue stripe that went down the middle of it. She disappeared from his view, and he could only assume she’d entered it. Waiting only a moment, he fumbled through the darkness, pushing more branches out of his way, and stepped onto the backside of the lot. He walked as quietly as possible through deep snow until he reached the stump at the road that told him her trailer was parked on campsite number fifty-three. He searched the road, looking for the man who had accompanied her.

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Tall with dark red hair, wearing a heavy fatigue coat. Jonathan spotted him a few lots down. Heading away from him with a brisk pace, the man pulled something from his pocket, or maybe his belt. It was a phone. Jonathan stuffed his hands in his pockets, following the asshole until he reached the curve in the road. They passed Jonathan’s trailer and he glanced toward it, noting the lights on inside. All looked quiet there. The man didn’t give his trailer a glance. When the man cut off the road, heading for a smaller mobile home that appeared to be brand-new—or that was his guess from what he could tell in the dark—Jonathan cut off the road as well, turning the opposite direction. “You need something?” an older man said in the darkness. Jonathan looked up, startled. Light from a cigarette burned brightly for a moment, and then the smell of tobacco filled the air. “Sorry. They look the same in the dark.” Jonathan nodded to the old guy. “Not a problem.” The guy chuckled, returning to his evening smoke. Jonathan hit the road, no longer seeing the man he’d just trailed. Well hell. Doing an about-face, he’d worry about the son of a bitch later. Right now Joanna took precedence. A hell of a lot of precedence.

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Chapter Eleven Jonathan reached number fifty-three with every intention of marching straight up to the door. He slowed his pace when the mobile home came into sight. “What the hell?” Wishing he had a heavier coat, he rubbed his gloved hands together, blowing air into them while staring at the two women walking out of the RV. Neither one of them were Joanna. The ladies chatted quietly, while wrapping their coats around them and hurrying toward the road. He moved closer, trying to get good descriptions of both of them. For once, the darkness was against him. They wore hats and thick coats, making it impossible to know if they were heavy or thin. By their brisk walk, he guessed they weren’t old. But he couldn’t see hair color. His guess was they were both Caucasian. What were they doing in the trailer Joanna had just entered? Who the hell were they? He waited until they were well down the road and then cut off toward the RV. Joanna seemed to have several people she’d become at least acquaintanced with. Ten days had passed since she left—ten miserable days. Unless she’d left in the short time since he’d seen her walk into the RV, she was in there right now. And their separation was about to end. The lots each mobile home was assigned offered small yards. Although right now each was covered with snow, they probably would be gravel with grass surrounding them. Similar to most camping sites. The RV Joanna had entered took up most of the lot space. There wasn’t a lot of room, maybe a dozen or so feet, before the next RV. Small pines, laid heavy with snow, offered the only boundary line between the campers’ “homes”. There were slots where cars could be parked in front of each mobile home, but this one, like the one Jimmy purchased with the trade-in of his Jag, didn’t need to be hauled by a truck. There were no signs a car had been parked here anytime recently. Therefore, the only way she could leave was by walking, or taking off in the RV. Moving close to the trees, careful not to let them brush up against him—his cheek still stung—he walked toward the back of the RV. His boots crunched through the snow as he got a closer look at the home on wheels. All windows had blinds over them, and all blinds were closed. Lights were on in several rooms. He moved as quietly as possible, each footstep seeming to make much more noise than he wished. Once he reached the middle of the back, he moved closer, straining to see through the sides of the blinds. Was she alone inside? Was she still in there?

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Instinctively he patted his belt, his sweater barely covering his gun. The weapon was cold even through his gloves. Cold and hard—ready to take out anyone who got in his way of getting to Joanna. A different jurisdiction wouldn’t be as kind to him. He didn’t manipulate or walk alongside the law in this place. Jimmy said there was a new sheriff in town. That he had come from Amsterdam. Running his teeth over his lower lip, he stared at the closed blind, knowing they needed to research this new sheriff in depth. And he’d do that, as soon as he had Joanna in his arms. The lights inside the RV went out. One at a time. He jerked his head, looking quickly from the window he’d been staring at to the others down toward the end of the RV as one at a time, someone shut off all the lights inside the trailer. Kind of early for someone to be turning in for the night. He moved along the edge of the RV, aware of snow crunching under his boots. It was damned impossible to move silently through such deep, hard-packed snow. The other side of the RV was the driver’s side. He tested the passenger door handle, not surprised to find it locked. Moving to the other side, he did the same to the driver’s side door. Again—locked. It would take nothing to break through the door to the RV. It would make a bit of noise though. He glanced around him, up and down the narrow road. Most campsites were full—most lights were on. There were streetlights along the road as well, spilling puddles of brightness over the glistening snow. Bashing the door to the RV down wasn’t an option. Which left one alternative. He opened the screen door and rapped on the front door to the RV. Muscles hardened throughout him. She was in there. On the other side of the door. Damn it. He knew she was right there. That damned fucking door wouldn’t keep him from her. He knocked again. His Joanna. His life. The only woman who’d ever meant anything to him. She wanted him. He knew she did. The time they’d been together before Alpha Corp stole her from him had shown both of them what life would be like. Life together—normal. He rapped again, harder. No one stood outside. The road was quiet in both directions. Evening had settled in—and it was a cold fucking night. He hit the door with the side of his fist a third time. “Open the door, Joanna,” he said, the screen blocking him, but doing nothing to keep the cold from wrapping around him. Something moved on the other side of the door. He stilled, not even breathing, listening, his senses acute to the slightest sound. The door handle turned. He dropped his gaze to it, his heart pumping almost too loud to hear the lock click. He grabbed the doorknob and turned it the second it had been unlocked, pushing his way into the dark RV.

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“Who the fuck are you?” Joanna whispered and at the same time shoved a gun into his nose. His eyes adjusted quickly as he stared into those sultry pale green eyes. For a moment he forgot to breathe. God damn. Even with a gun shoved in his face she stole his breath away. “Juana,” he managed to say. Emotions hit him all at once. She was here, in front of him—alive. Very much alive. “You’re dead.” She blinked, her lips parting, and then she simply stared up at him. Jonathan crossed his eyes to focus on the gun then took a step backward, pushing the door closed. They stood facing each other in the darkness. “Not yet,” he said, placing his hand over hers and lowering the gun. She continued staring at him and the more his eyes adjusted he realized her eyes were bloodshot. There were dark circles under her eyes. She didn’t look like she’d showered today. Her brown hair hung in strings around her face. She’d never looked more beautiful than she did right now. “Oh my God, but they said…” Her voice wavered off. She raised her fingers to her mouth, and they trembled slightly when she touched her lips. For a moment he swore there was fear. There would be time for answers in a minute. Reaching behind him, he twisted the lock on the doorknob, noting how flimsy a security it was. But all of that was just a brief passing thought, barely registering when he turned his attention back to Joanna. “God. Joanna.” There was more, so much more he wanted to say. But instead he pulled her to him, slipping the gun from her hand and tossing it to the couch next to them. She seemed in a trance, staring at him, but his touch brought her to life. Instantly she smiled, and then almost leapt at him. Going up on tiptoes, she wrapped her arms around his neck and crushed herself to him. Her lips were dry, but she opened to him, stretching against him and almost crying into his mouth. He pulled her to him, aching to feel all of her at once. Dressed in jeans and a bulky sweater, there was too much material between them. He devoured her mouth, demanding she open further as he thrust his tongue into her moist heat. He reached under her shirt—God he needed to feel her everywhere—he ran his hands up her bare back. She wasn’t wearing a bra! She was warm and, it seemed, a bit thinner. Hell they’d only been apart a week and a half but it seemed a lifetime. He cupped her breasts, squeezed her nipples between his thumb and finger, and she groaned. “Jonathan,” she cried, and then pushed her hands against his chest. “Jonathan.” He pulled her to him with more force. No way would she get away. Just a few inches between them were too much. He needed her against him, needed her touching him, hell, he needed inside her. And soon!

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“Thank God I’ve fucking found you.” He brushed the back of his hand down her cheek. In the darkness he hadn’t realized she had cried. But her damp cheeks gave it away. He cupped her chin, lifting her face to his. “I don’t understand.” She shook her head slightly in his palm. Her gaze never left his. Glassy, almost glowing, she blinked several times, staring up at him. “They told me…they told me you were dead.” Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks. “No way, darling. We’re alive and here for you.” “We?” Her voice cracked. “Alex?” He nodded. “Get your things. Let’s get out of here.” “Oh my God. You and Alex are here?” She started trembling and broke off her gaze, searching everything around him frantically. “You can’t be. Oh God. They’ll kill you. They’ll kill Alex.” Suddenly she babbled, making no sense. But he knew panic when he saw it coming on. “No one is going to die.” He gripped her shoulders, shaking her slightly. “You can explain everything to me later. Right now, you’ll be safer once we’re out of here.” “Jonathan.” She threw her arms around him, kissing him fiercely. Her nipples were hard as rocks through her sweatshirt. He pulled her to him, tangling his fingers in her hair. She was definitely thinner. Possibly stress had made it impossible to eat. That he’d understand. It had been ten days of hell for him too. He cupped her ass, lifting her against him, his cock hardening fiercely. She tasted so damned good. Never had it been so wonderful having her in his arms. Sliding his hands inside her jeans, he slid his fingers over her ass, spreading her soft flesh. Moisture immediately coated his fingertips. A soft growth of hair brushed against his fingers. She hadn’t shaved in a while. Like he thought for a moment that she’d willingly be doing anyone else. “Damn, I’ve missed you,” he whispered against her cheek, kissing her jaw, her neck, nibbling on her ear. “I swear this nightmare will end.” He scraped his teeth over her earlobe, then ran his tongue over the edge of her ear. The chill from outside lingered on her flesh. She shivered, and scraped her nails over his shoulders. “I’ve missed you too. You and Alex. I couldn’t bear it.” Her words came out on a breath, while her head tilted back. She offered her neck and he took it, running his tongue down her, feeling her pulse beat solidly against his mouth.

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He would learn everything that happened to her while she was gone. Every detail would be discussed. Then they would put it all behind them. Alpha Corp would never bother them again. But for now, for this moment, all that mattered was her in his arms. Feeling her soft ass against his palms, caressing her, spreading her damp flesh between her legs, he would have this time with her. She tasted so good, smelled even better. Holding her like this outdid any dream. He pulled his hands out of her jeans and reached for the button at her waist. “I need you,” he whispered into the nape of her neck. His cock throbbed harder than his heart. All blood had rushed to his groin. His body demanded relief. With Joanna right here, breathing hard against his chest, he’d explode if he waited much longer. He yanked her top button, releasing it. There was no thought to the action. He pulled down her zipper and yanked at her jeans, ready to push them down her legs. She clung to him, breathing hard, her hair falling over her face while she collapsed into him. Her fingers dug through his shirt. He needed her touching him, her hands on him, her mouth tasting him. “Yes,” she breathed. “Not here.” A fog of lust hung heavily over his thoughts. Nothing mattered but fucking her. Her words drifted toward him slowly, taking their time sinking in, and even longer registering. He grabbed her shirt, shoving it over her breasts, cupping her soft flesh. Silk and warm skin tortured his palms. He closed his eyes, forcing what she said to make sense. “Not here,” he repeated. “Right.” She was right. This trailer wasn’t secure. He had no idea who those women were who left. His thoughts were muddled, trapped in a fog of lust. “Get your things.” He didn’t know if she had anything she needed to grab or not. God, he needed to be inside her. His cock stretched against his jeans. Pain shot through him while pressure built with more intensity than he could stand. Her shirt fell over his hands, blocking his view of her breasts. But her flushed expression, her soft strands of hair that partially covered her face as she looked down, the way she almost panted—God, she was fucking beautiful. “Where are we going?” she asked. Her hands spread over his chest, stroking him. She touched him like she needed reassurance he stood before her. She stretched her fingers over his flesh, caressing him as they lowered to his belt. If she reached any lower, he’d come right there on the spot. He couldn’t stop her. Couldn’t move. “Let’s go.” “I can’t leave.” She looked up at him, running her hands back up his chest.

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“Like hell.” He stared into her glazed green eyes, seeing her lust, and something else. It took a moment to fight the heavy fog that kept his thoughts from focusing. “What do you mean you can’t leave?” Cupping her breasts made it damned hard to think straight, but he’d be damned if he let go. He squeezed the plump flesh, pushed her shirt higher with his wrists and focused on incredible cleavage. Her nipples puckered against his palms. “God. Jonathan. I thought you were dead.” He looked into her eyes, realizing that emotion other than lust had been worry— panic. “Why would you think I’m dead?” “I read it in the news on the Internet.” “You read what in the news?” He searched her face, digesting what she’d just said. “I used the computer that Roberta and Alice have.” “You told me that part.” “There wasn’t much I could do with it. But I managed to pull up Telluride news. Valley View’s newspaper doesn’t have a website.” He nodded, so far not learning anything he didn’t already know. Other than one thing. Dustin MacDonald was the sheriff in these parts. Interesting. Very fucking interesting. And Jimmy overheard a new sheriff had just taken over. Damn odd coincidence that Joanna was in the same small town as the head guy of Alpha Corp. He’d research all of this—confirm it wasn’t some huge fucking coincidence that the brand-new sheriff, who according to the local gossip was from Amsterdam, just happened to have the same name as the head guy with Alpha Corp. Not good. “What did you read in the news?” A lone tear fell down her cheek. She sucked in her breath, stroking his chest with her hands. “This morning’s news said that you and Alex were killed while climbing a mountain. The article said it was a terrible accident, that the funeral was private, and you were buried on your land.” Well hell. Henry sure as hell worked fast. “Interesting,” he murmured. “And it’s not true.” Another tear fell down her cheek. “I couldn’t think after I read that. Nothing mattered anymore. They almost had to carry me back up here. And now—here you are. Damn it, Jonathan. What happened?” “We’re not dead.” There wasn’t time to go into details. And he didn’t have all the answers. He’d find them—soon. “Now let’s go.” “You don’t understand. Roberta and Alice will be back soon. They just went to the bar and grill for coffee.” She wrapped her arms around him, resting her cheek against his chest. “I just can’t believe you’re standing right here.”

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“Who the hell are Roberta and Alice?” He let go of her breasts, pulling her to him. Planting a kiss on top of her head, he inhaled her scent. “You knew I’d come for you,” he whispered, stroking her hair while holding her close. “I thought you were dead,” she whispered, and hiccupped. “Roberta and Alice own this RV. They picked me up on the highway. I was a wreck when they found me.” “Was this right after you shot Malia?” he asked. She pulled away quickly. “How do you know about that?” He barely heard the small clicking sound behind him. Joanna spoke at the same time. “Have you seen Malia?” She looked up at him, frowning. He didn’t answer but pulled them away from the door, turning around quickly. No one was behind them. Then he heard it again. A key, going in the doorknob. Someone was unlocking the door. “Shit,” Joanna hissed, suddenly pulling him down the hallway. “This way. Hurry. They can’t see you here. Not yet. I need answers.” He allowed her to yank him into a small dark bedroom at the same time the front door opened. He heard two women talking quietly, whispering to each other. There was no way to tell what they said. “Here.” Joanna let go of him, moving through the dark room and pulling on a side door that led outside. “You’re going with me.” He took her arm, pulling her up against him. In the dark, her green eyes glowed. She touched his cheek, her hand cool and shaky. “I can’t. Not yet.” She shook her head then glanced quickly over her shoulder. Looking back at him, she searched his face, trying to make him understand something without taking time to explain herself. She barely whispered, her expression frantic. “These women saved my life. I can’t just disappear on them. I need to go talk to them.” “I’m not leaving,” he insisted, needing her closer, pulling her so that she went on tiptoe crushed against his body. “Go talk to them. But then we leave—together.” She nodded, stretching against him. Her lips were moist, burning his mouth when she kissed him. Crushing her against him, he dove into what she offered. A groan escaped her, longing and painful. His heart swelled, a throbbing ache that hardened every inch of him. Tasting her, stroking her tongue, her teeth, being inside her if only like this, made it damned hard to let her go. “Jonathan,” she whispered, breaking the kiss but then planting kisses down his neck. He heard women whispering in the living room, moving around quietly. “Don’t leave this trailer—unless it’s with me.”

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She nodded and he brushed her cheek, watching while she backed away from him and then turned and walked out of the small bedroom. Glancing at the contents of the small room, he noted it was meagerly furnished. A spare room for the most part. Several suitcases, some boxes, a few pieces of clothing folded neatly on the floor—and a makeshift bed made of blankets and pillows assembled in the corner. Was this where Joanna had been sleeping? “We thought you were asleep.” An older woman spoke in the other room. There wasn’t really anywhere to hide in the small room, not even a closet. At least there was a door leading outside. Although he’d be damned if he’d take off without Joanna. He stood perfectly still, listening while people moved around in the other room. Lights turned on, sending a glowing path down the hallway outside the bedroom door. His heart thudded in his chest. He was unsure what to expect, but ready for anything. “It’s just as well that you’re awake. We met the owner of the bar and grill down the road. Her name is Cindy.” The older woman spoke in a hushed, conspiratorial tone. “You are really good at guessing about people’s natures, you know that?” “Why do you say that?” Joanna asked. She sounded closer than the other woman. “That sheriff who’s been flirting with you. You said he seemed too friendly and you couldn’t place why. Cindy told us he just moved here. And get this, he’s not even from this country. Well, I guess he’s American and all. But he’s been out of the country for a long time—in Amsterdam.” “Cindy said he asked all kinds of questions about you.” Another woman spoke, her voice quiet and deep. “And she didn’t know anything about that contest either. I still can’t believe we won something that we don’t even remember entering.” The older woman who’d done most of the talking had a deep throaty chuckle. “Did she say what he asked about me?” Joanna asked. He didn’t have to see her to know her expression. Jonathan stood in the darkness, aware of the slightest of sounds around him, and listened to the three women talk. Joanna would be relaxed, appearing tired, probably exhausted. Her tone implied as much. And truth be told, she would be exhausted. Thinking he and Alex were dead, and just discovering the truth, probably pulled a hell of a lot of pain from her shoulders. Although none of this would be detectable by looking at her, he guessed she carried a mixture of excitement and trepidation while she stood and carried out the quiet conversation. She kept the conversation on the sheriff, which was a good thing. He’d place his life savings on the fact that this Dustin MacDonald was the same man who’d run Alpha Corp since he’d taken over his father’s position. A hard-ass, cold-blooded motherfucker, from what Jonathan had heard of the man. And now he snooped around Joanna. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out why. Joanna was hot as fucking hell. Easily the sexiest woman Jonathan had ever laid eyes on. If MacDonald knew the lies of his and Alex’s death, and he was certain the 102

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man did, he’d know Joanna would be vulnerable right now. More than likely she’d do anything the man wished, no longer caring what happened to her. Damn it. They’d shown up just in time. Now, to get her the hell out of there. “Well, of course he’d ask what any young man would ask.” Again the woman let out a deep chuckle. Jonathan imagined her being bosomy, possibly heavy, skin bouncing when she laughed as if she hadn’t a worry in her head. He listened, pushing visuals out of his mind. A quick plan to learn more about MacDonald was in order. Once he had Joanna secure by his side, they’d probably have to kill the bastard before getting the hell out of Dodge. “I told Cindy what we agreed to say, that you were my daughter, traveling with us, and that your husband was military.” “That’s what I told Dustin earlier,” Joanna said. “He’s really rather pushy. Asked me his name, what branch, rank—I’m surprised he didn’t want his social security number.” The other women laughed, but Jonathan understood. Joanna shared this information with him, not having time in the minutes they were alone to give him all the facts. Someone was on her ass, and she let him know now that she was suspicious. He doubted Joanna knew who he was—or more than likely was. But her guard was up. As it should be. “You’ll have to go down with us for breakfast and meet Cindy,” the older woman told her, changing the subject. “She’s a sweetheart. When we told her we’d won a week’s paid vacation here at this park, she called over to the office for us. For some reason she didn’t think the contest was legitimate. In the morning we’ll find out if we’re actually staying here for free or not.” “You printed the e-mail that said you won, right?” Joanna asked. “I saved it,” the quietly spoken woman told her. “The return path doesn’t offer a lot of information, and there’s no phone number to contact the prize department headquarters. If you ask me, it’s a scam.” “Alice is the expert here,” the older woman said. “Either way, this is a beautiful spot. I’m glad we came.” “Roberta, Alice, I need to get some sleep. I’ll try and make breakfast with you.” Joanna stepped into the hallway when she spoke. Her voice sounded clearer and her shadow stretched past the doorway. Jonathan looked around the small room again. Whoever Roberta and Alice were, he’d learned they’d arrived here, with Joanna in tow, after being told they’d won a paid vacation at this spot. Joanna called him from here three days ago, before they’d planned out his and Alex’s death. If she’d been with these two women, picked up somehow after escaping Alpha Corp, someone possibly sent the e-mail as a lure to bring her here.

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He moved quietly away from the door, staring at the makeshift bedding in the corner of the room. It was time for the two of them to make a silent exit, and he wanted to be quick about it. If Joanna had anything with her, she’d keep it in the safest spot she had. He knelt, running his hands over the blankets. Sure enough, a hard object was covered by the bedding. Joanna walked down the hall, her footsteps nearing him while he knelt, quickly uncovering a gun and a cell phone. It wasn’t a phone he’d seen before. He glanced over his shoulder, dropping the phone into his shirt pocket and checking to see if the gun was loaded. It was. He pressed it to his side, shifting so he watched the doorway. The partially closed door allowed him only a view of the narrow hallway. “Joanna,” the older woman said quietly, sounding like she stood just outside the door. “Alice and I want you to know you’re welcome to stay with us as long as you like. We know…well, we know you’re going through a hard time right now. Maybe calling you a daughter this past week is doing something to me. Just know we don’t mind you being here with us. I think going to breakfast together will do you good.” “You’re very kind, and thank you.” There weren’t many older agents in Alpha Corp. It was a rough life. Jonathan couldn’t guess at an accurate count of how many people had died that he’d sent out on missions over the years. The names Roberta and Alice meant nothing to him. But it was hard saying if they were their real names or not. Whoever they were, Joanna had given them her real name, and they knew enough to know she was in trouble. Well, obviously they knew that if they’d picked her up on the side of the road somewhere. They’d research the two women as well once they were back at his trailer. Silence lasted only a few moments before Joanna appeared in the doorway, pushing the door open and entering, then shutting it and enclosing the two of them in darkness. She didn’t say anything but instead turned a lock on the doorknob, and went down on her knees next to him. He placed his fingers to her lips, reminding her to stay quiet, and she nodded. Walls inside this thing would be thin. They didn’t need to talk right now anyway. Her green eyes were wide and glowed as she stared at him then glanced at her gun, which he held in his hand. She pulled the gun that she’d dropped on the couch earlier, out of her pocket and held it so he could see. There wasn’t a coat in the small room. More than likely she’d left it out in the living room and grabbing it might have raised suspicion with the two women. Her shirt and jeans would keep her from freezing while they walked across the campground, but he still pulled her top blanket from her bedding and wrapped it around her shoulders. She adjusted the blanket and then pointed to the bedding. He patted his pocket, showing her where the phone was and she nodded. Her small smile made him lightheaded and he stood slowly, pulling her up with him. His cock hardened, sending blood rushing inside his veins fast enough to make his ears ring. Holding her in his arms, it took a hell of a lot of effort to focus on their surroundings. He was too aware of

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her body touching his, her leg brushing against his thigh, her hand resting on his arm. A fading scent of shampoo smelled better than anything he ever remembered her wearing. More than anything he wanted to pull her closer, feel her large breasts against his chest. He forced himself to listen, fought with everything he had to pay attention to the sounds around them. All he wanted to do was push her down on her bed and fuck her until the two of them no longer cared about anything around them. That would have to wait. He wouldn’t wait long, damn it. But until they were safe, back at the RV where Jimmy and Alex more than likely worried about him, he had to keep his thoughts clear. Somewhere in the RV water started running. That was enough sound to muffle their escape, and he jumped on the opportunity. “Let’s go,” he mouthed silently. She nodded and moved to the narrow side door, stuffing her gun in her back pocket. The door opened silently, crisp cold air outside immediately wrapping around them. Jumping to the ground, he turned and reached for her. She landed next to him, quickly adjusting her blanket against the cold. “Come on,” he whispered, as he reached to shut the door as quietly as possible. He led the way behind the campsites, taking her hand while they trudged through deep snow that paralleled the clean road on the other side of RVs. It would be faster to walk the road, but he wouldn’t risk anyone seeing them. Not now—not when they were seconds from safety.

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Chapter Twelve “Mom! Mama!” Alex leapt off the couch, almost tripping over his feet when the two of them walked through the door. “Oh my God, Mama!” “Alex,” Joanna shrieked, falling to her knees as mother and child embraced and practically fell to the floor. Jimmy stood, wearing only sweatpants, and grinned, looking like he might almost cry himself. Jonathan felt a strange sensation warm through him, watching Joanna wrap her arms around her son, as she wailed loudly. He squinted, fighting the sudden burning in his eyes and managed to focus before looking at Jimmy’s shit-eating grin. “Dustin MacDonald is here,” he said, and watched Jimmy’s smile fade. “And it’s the same guy?” Jimmy asked. Joanna stood, her face stained with tears. Alex clung to her and she stroked his hair, while looking from one man to the other. Jimmy gave her a small smile. “Good to see you again,” he said and she smiled. Turning to Jonathan, her arms still wrapped around her son, her smile faded. “Who is he?” she asked. “Dustin MacDonald founded Alpha Corp.” “Oh God.” She paled and for a moment looked like she might fall over. “The man who is the new sheriff here probably is his son.” Jonathan pulled her to him, squishing Alex between them as he kissed her hair. “You were with the guy who is in charge of Alpha Corp?” Alex asked, pushing against both of them while he looked up between them. “No, honey.” She smiled down at him, stroking his tear-stained cheek. “I’ve been with two wonderful ladies who saved my life and have protected me. I know they’d love to meet you.” She let out a loud sigh and then almost choked on a laugh. “God. You two are alive. When I thought you were dead…” “We thought you were dead too,” Alex said, hugging her so hard he looked like he’d squeeze the life out of her. Again emotions tugged at Jonathan that he didn’t feel too often. Joanna’s damp cheeks glowed with happiness. Her green eyes glistened from tears, making them look like deep sultry pools. Her eyelashes clumped together and her hair was a bit tousled. Even though her sweater was loose on her, those large breasts pressed against the fabric. He ached to caress them, bury his face in between them.

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“No one is dead.” He cleared his throat, fighting to clear his thoughts too. “And we’re going to keep it that way.” “Something is up with this Dustin MacDonald though. I knew it since we first arrived here and he immediately started giving me all this attention.” She pressed her hand over his heart, caressing him through his shirt. “What kind of attention?” He stiffened, in spite of the heat from her touch. They’d been apart for eleven days, and he’d be surprised if at least one man hadn’t come on to her in their absence. No matter that every male with Alpha Corp knew Joanna belonged to him, they would take their chance—try to sway her. The way she looked at him, raising her face so their gazes met, he knew he didn’t have a damned thing to worry about. He held her heart, her body…her soul. Nonetheless, he’d kill another man for trying to touch her. “The other day he took me to see Mount Rushmore. Roberta and Alice insisted I go with him,” she added quickly. “And I admit, he had me curious. We barely had the RV parked on the site when he stopped by, and seemed just a bit too friendly. He told me he was born here, and seemed to know a fair bit about the area.” “We’ve heard he’s just arrived in town,” Jimmy offered. “We can do a search on him. The computer is up and running.” Alex pulled away from his mom for the first time since she walked in the door and hurried to the kitchen table where the laptop sat. “Might not be a bad idea.” Something told Jonathan they wouldn’t find anything on Dustin MacDonald on any computer. A man with his profile would be nonexistent, untraceable, no matter how good the investigator. “A little hands-on investigating wouldn’t hurt either.” “I wouldn’t mind getting out for a bit.” Jimmy stretched then scratched his bare chest. “Maybe I’ll head down to that bar and grill and see what they have on the menu.” Jonathan wanted to know everything that had happened to Joanna since she’d left. Henry had filled in a few of the blanks when he’d arrived, and Malia as well. But he ached to hear what Joanna had seen, what she’d experienced. More than that, he needed to fuck her. She was with him, back by his side, and they had lost time to make up for. She moved to the kitchen table, her tight ass looking too damned good in her jeans, and leaned over her son, rubbing his back while he sat at the computer. Jonathan accepted that he wasn’t the only one she’d missed. Alex had been her life up until less than a year ago. Mother and son would need time together. In spite of the pain settling in his cock, the pressure building while he watched her bend over Alex, cuddle into him, he’d give her that time. His time would come later. And he’d enjoy every inch of that sweet body once he had his hands on her. “Don’t be surprised if they already have a profile on you,” Jonathan said quietly, stealing his gaze away from Joanna and following Jimmy into the living room.

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“We’ve known each other for three years.” Jimmy turned before reaching the hallway, his expression hardening and his tone just above a whisper. He glanced over Jonathan’s shoulder at the two in the kitchen and then returned his attention to him. “They’d be fools not to.” “Dustin MacDonald is no fool.” “Never said he was.” Jimmy headed down the hallway toward the bedroom in the middle of the trailer. Another room at the end of the trailer served as a larger bedroom, or possibly a family room. It had more windows, although wooden blinds were fastened over them at the moment. Jonathan glanced at the room while Jimmy fished through luggage for clothes. He hadn’t had time to really explore this new RV that he now owned. For a mobile home, it was a good size. It would get small pretty damned quickly if the four of them stayed there together very long. “I think we need to assume MacDonald will connect you to me.” “Gotcha.” Jimmy adjusted a flannel shirt over long underwear. He’d fit into this part of the country as easily as he did Colorado. The man was a native mountain man, no matter where the mountains were. “How long do we want to maintain a low profile?” “We need to find out who he has here, and if we indeed have the right man. MacDonald might have seen something he liked in Joanna and gone after it.” “Is that what you think?” “Nope. I think he’s trying to pull her under his wing.” “Good thing we got here when we did.” Jonathan nodded, completely in agreement. “Go see what you can find out.” “Oh, and…” Jimmy had started toward the door but looked over his shoulder at Jonathan. “Put Alex in the side room. I’ll take the couch.” He grinned at Jonathan. The man understood Jonathan’s need to be alone with Joanna as soon as possible. “Works for me.” Hours passed uneventfully. There wasn’t a lot in the RV to use to create bedrooms. Jonathan managed bedrolls on the floor for Alex and for them. It wasn’t hard for them to believe they were the only three in the world, as quiet and uninterrupted as their evening was. Joanna and Alex huddled in front of the computer, never far from each other. Jonathan busied himself trying to make their makeshift RV a home. Joanna made it across the living area with Alex collapsed in her arms when he’d walked out of the small room. “Be ready for him to crawl into bed with you sometime during the night,” she whispered.

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He took his son from her and carried him to his bed. Alex was out like a light. “He hasn’t while you were gone.” He waited to answer until they’d backed out of the room, and then guided her to the small room at the end of the RV. “And what do you mean crawl into bed with me? Where do you think you’re sleeping?” “I can’t stay the night here, Jonathan.” She stood in front of him on top of the bedding he’d arranged and searched his face while she spoke. “Roberta and Alice will go nuts if I’m not in my room in the morning. I can’t worry them like that. They’ve been too good to me.” He pulled her to him, grabbing her hair and tugging so her head fell back. Devouring her mouth, he parted her lips with his tongue. The heat from her mouth washed over him, while all blood drained to his cock. Hard instantly, he gripped her ass, shoving her against him. She cried into his mouth, surrendering willingly as her tongue swirled around his. Grabbing the bottom of her shirt, he pulled it over her breasts, breaking their kiss. “I won’t let go of you,” he growled, unwilling to consider anything that might happen if he let her out of his sight. She raised her arms and he pulled her shirt from her, tossing it to the side of the blankets. There was no bra confining her full breasts. They bounced in front of him, her nipples hardening quickly. Even in the dark room the sight of them brought his insides to a boil. A strand of hair brushed over her face when she reached for his shirt. Her fingers brushed over his bare chest, her gaze lowered watching her actions. Long lashes hooded her gaze while she pushed his shirt up his chest. She blinked several times. He watched the small movement, mesmerized while her fingers stroked his chest. He lifted his arms, allowing her to remove his shirt, blinded for a moment. When she pulled his shirt over his head, he caught her gazing up at him. “We’re in this together,” she whispered. “I’m not letting go of you either. But we’re a team, right?” “We’ve always been a team.” She’d put herself in the line of fire for him. He knew that. But the line of fire still might be damned dangerous. He didn’t want her out of his sight. Not for a minute—not until he knew they were all safe. Joanna smiled and wrapped her fingers around the top of his jeans while leaning into him. “Yes. We have,” she whispered against his lips and then brushed her mouth over his. He nipped at her lip, cupping her large breasts. Such an incredible handful. Soft and full, he squeezed her plump flesh, stroking and pulling. She gasped, opening her mouth to him, and he fed on her moist heat. “Undo my pants.” He barely had what it took to speak.

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She made a sound like acknowledgment, her finger fumbling over his jeans. She struggled with the zipper, her knuckles continuously brushing against his shaft. If the damn thing got any harder he’d do serious damage to himself. Tugging her breasts, kneading and caressing, her nipples poked into his palms, torturing him further. “I can’t…get the zipper.” Her breathing came hard, hot and heavy against his neck when she lowered her head, struggling to complete her task. He took a step backward, giving her space to focus in the dark room. She lowered her head, her hair falling around her face. She brushed it over her shoulders. Blood boiled through his veins. He swore every inch of him was on fire. Movement was damn near impossible. And seeing, hell, he did good just to breathe. “Damn. Jonathan.” She brushed her fingertips over his cock when it finally sprang free. The pressure in him about exploded, taking every inch of him with it. He clenched his teeth, unwilling to give in to the overwhelming need to come. “Take your clothes off.” He spoke without moving his mouth. His words came out a bit garbled. Joanna didn’t question his tone, but let go of his cock. He didn’t know whether to be relieved or disappointed. Instantly he wanted the warmth of her fingers back. But the torture had ended, at least for a moment. She stepped back, glancing at the floor although there was nothing other than blankets—nothing to block her path. Then with little ceremony, she slid her jeans down her legs, stepping out of them and then tossing her hair over her shoulders. The woman standing before him made it impossible to breathe. There were so many things he wanted to do to her. And just as many that he wanted her to do to him. With Alex so close, and Jimmy more than likely coming back any time, their privacy was limited. Something needed to be done about that. He’d given his home to his brother, although returning there wouldn’t have been safe anyway. They would have to settle somewhere soon though, and it needed to be a damned big house. “I do believe you’re drooling.” She stepped closer, her large breasts brushing against his chest. Every nerve ending in his body went on red alert. Her nipples tortured his flesh. His body hair stood at attention. Apparently she liked the sensation. She rubbed her breasts against him, and for a moment he couldn’t see. “I’ve missed you so bad,” she whispered, wrapping her fingers around his cock and then stroking gently. Now not only could he not see, all blood drained from his brain. If he spoke, he’d be a babbling idiot. Once he’d been known as the man in control. Amazing how Joanna turned his mind to mush, completely unable to utter a word, simply by stripping in front of him.

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It was more than her incredible body. More than her large breasts brushing against his chest. And it wasn’t just the way she moved her hands back and forth over his dick. He’d missed her—the way she understood him, stood up to him when he was bullheaded, and took care of him. Joanna was his other half, his better half. “I missed you too,” he managed to mutter. He moved his hands between them, stroking her breasts. So soft, her skin was like silk. And full. Round and plump—nothing ever felt better. She raised her head, her green eyes milky with lust as she stared at him. But then she slid down him, going down on her knees while her fingers traced torturous paths down his body. Joanna continued focusing on him until she knelt before him, then glanced at his dick while stroking it. He sucked in a breath. It seemed her face glowed, her green eyes orbs that managed to glow in the darkness. Her tongue darted out between her lips and she licked the tip of his cock. “Damn it. Juana,” he growled, grabbing her hair and thrusting his cock toward her mouth. Just thinking about her mouth wrapped around him, that moist heat torturing him while she stroked him with her tongue had his blood boiling. No one had a mouth like hers. She made a grunting sound when she sucked him into her mouth—something that he guessed was approval. Holding her head, keeping her where he wanted her, he moved slowly in and out of her heat, closing his eyes while sensations rushed through him. Every night while she’d been gone he’d imagined being inside her. Nothing he’d conjured in his mind, jacked off to while fantasizing about her, came close to how she felt right now. His fingers tangled in her hair, the soft strands feeling so good against his hands. Holding her head in place, he forced his eyes open, barely able to focus on her mouth as it moved over his cock with a skill he doubted anyone could match. Her lips stretched over his shaft, taking all of him in and then sliding over him until just her tongue lapped at the tip of him. The heat from her mouth, wet and smoldering, passed through his shaft, tightening every muscle inside him. He fought the pressure that built. Nothing had ever felt better. He damned sure wouldn’t come without being able to return the favor. She worshipped him, stroked and fondled him, and he would give her the same in return. In just a few minutes. As soon as he remembered how to move. Cold air rushed around him when she leaned back. Her mouth still open, she gazed up at him and then her tongue darted over the edge of his cock. “This could be considered one of the worst torture methods,” he grunted, grabbing her hair and pulling her up to him.

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She grinned, looking more than satisfied with herself. He hadn’t seen such sincere happiness on her face since he’d found her. In spite of aching to have his cock buried deep in her heat again, a warmth traveled inside him quickly. A rush that had nothing to do with any sex act. “Think I could make you tell me whatever I want?” she teased, her sultry whisper adding to the sensations rushing inside him. “Absolutely anything.” She had skills that would make a mute talk. He took his time kissing her, brushing his mouth over hers, sucking slowly on first her top lip then her bottom one. She sighed into him, relaxing, giving herself to him once again. Tasting himself on her tongue, on her lips, added to the heat of the moment. His cock flared between them, dancing along with their tongues. It ached to feel her, stroke her insides. And there was no way he could think straight until he had that. “I want to enjoy you all night.” He traced a path down her neck, wrapping his arms around her and lifting her then cradling her while he went down on his knees. “I wish we could,” she whispered, sudden sadness in her tone. Gently he placed her on the blankets on the floor. Her hair fanned around her. She stroked his chest with her fingers, her eyes glowing in the darkness. She deserved to have every inch of her adored, brought to a height of passion she hadn’t experienced in ages. Joanna had been through hell, been stolen from him and Alex, taken back to the hell she’d fought to be free of for years. All he wanted was to keep that look of pleasure, of happiness, on her face forever. “We call the shots.” He didn’t want her worrying, didn’t want her afraid ever again. Her smile was slight, just a turn of her lips, but he swore there was hope. They would make it. Together they would survive. She arched into him when he cupped her breasts, twisting her nipples between his fingers and thumbs. The way her mouth formed a perfect little circle, her long lashes fluttering down over her eyes, had him almost drooling. He watched her, caressing and tugging her breasts while adjusting himself between her legs. Lowering his mouth to her nipple, he nipped at it, tugging with his teeth. Keeping his attention on her face, blood rushed through him way too quickly when she cried out, immediately shoving her fist in her mouth. She ran her fingers over her hair, grabbing locks of it. Writhing underneath him, she struggled to bring her pussy closer to his cock. Her heat wrapped around him, building the pressure that already threatened to tear at his insides, closer to a breaking point. But for her, for his Juana, he’d endure the pain. She may want him inside her now, but she’d experience more pleasure before he gave them both the satisfaction they craved. “Be patient, mi amor,” he whispered, and then ran his tongue down her belly.

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She shivered underneath him, grabbing his shoulders, digging her fingernails into his flesh. “God. Jonathan. Please,” she begged, pushing down on his shoulders. She hadn’t shaved between her legs recently. That actually pleased him. She’d made no effort to make herself tempting for anyone else. The stubbles of hair tickled his chin. He parted her soft flesh, and ran his tongue past her clit and into her heat. Thick creamy come filled his mouth, rich and intoxicating. “You’re soaked, baby,” he whispered against her pussy. “Uh-huh. Don’t stop.” He grinned, more than willing to take her over the edge, give her what she deserved. Thrusting his tongue deep inside her, he lapped at her come, drinking from her while she clung to his shoulders, holding on as if she’d slip away if she let go. Every inch of her hardened. She wrapped her legs around him, clinging to him. Thrusting her pussy into his face, she began riding him while holding on with everything she had. He stroked her pussy walls with his tongue, then pulled out and circled her clit, pushing down on it gently, but enough to make her almost leap off the floor. She began shaking her head from side to side, her hair tumbling over her face. Her silent cries were enough to tell him he’d brought her to the edge. With just a little effort, he’d send her tumbling over, give her an orgasm that would make her ready for his cock. Sucking her clit into his mouth, he rubbed it between his lips, watching the convulsions rush over her body. A cry escaped her, and she bit at her lip, lifting her head to look down at him. Hair clung to her cheeks, strands of it hanging over her face. She looked like a wild woman, taken hard and aching for more. “God. Jonathan.” Her head dropped to the floor while she slowly relaxed underneath him. Teasing her with his tongue, her come clinging to his face, her inner thighs, her pussy, pleasure throbbed inside him when she jerked against him. She’d soaked them both with her orgasm. And the air around him filled with her rich, sweet scent. Coming over her, his cock weighed a thousand pounds. It throbbed, swollen and hard between his legs. Movement wasn’t easy. He wanted to ram himself deep into her heat, satisfy himself and take her with him. She reached between them, lifting her legs and wrapping them around his waist. Her fingers laced over his cock, stroking him and tugging to bring him closer to her. “Now, Jonathan. I’m not waiting any longer.” “Getting demanding, are you?” He chuckled, loving the defiant look she suddenly gave him. “Fuck me now, damn it.” She widened her eyes, doing her best to look threatening. He knew she was on the verge of going nuts if she didn’t have it. And he was right there with her. “You know I’ll always take care of you.” And with that he slid into her heat. 113

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She about ate him alive. Her muscles clamped down on him, pulling him in deeper, while he buried himself into her scalding heat. He gritted his teeth, fighting to maintain his sanity. He slowed the pace, her pussy trembling around him, soaking his cock. Come dripped over his balls, driving him crazy. There was no way he could take this sweet torture. “Not slow. Fast. Hard,” she whimpered underneath him. Joanna needed this desperately. He needed to give it to her. Impaling her, he filled her with his cock then pulled out just far enough before diving into her again. Heat tore at him. He was on fire, burning from the inside out. Building the momentum, bracing his fists on the floor on either side of her, he pressed into her. She raised her legs, resting them on his shoulders, and covered her mouth with both hands while staring at him wide-eyed. His fists and knees dug into the floor, every muscle in his body contracting while he sank into her again. She spasmed against his shaft, thousands of drenched muscles clinging to him while she exploded, coming so hard her face turned red. Her balled fists reached for him, a whimper tearing from her lips. A pressure that had filled him, making it impossible to focus clearly since he’d seen her, tore through him. Like a waterfall crashing down a mountain, building speed as it fell, until it crashed, flowing freely like a river, he came with an equal vengeance. Releasing all he had deep inside her, spasms shot through him. He growled, barely able to move but managing to capture her mouth and kiss her as her pussy burnt him. “Te amo.” “I love you, too.” She brushed hair from his face, her cheeks flushed. Relaxing underneath him, she slid her legs down his body. He rolled over, taking her with him, managing to stay inside her while she relaxed on top of him. “You’re mine, Juana.” “Forever. Body and soul,” she finished for him, her smile genuine while her green eyes glowed like emeralds. “Now I need to sneak out of here. You need to make sure Alex understands.” “No.” He tightened his grip around her. “You’re not leaving.” “Jonathan,” she whispered, lifting herself off his body so that her large breasts displayed nicely pressed against his chest. “If I don’t wake up in that room over at Roberta and Alice’s, they will panic. I’ve…umm…told them a few things.” “What kind of things?” He knew nothing about these women. As much as he trusted Joanna with his life, she’d been under so much stress over the past week and a half. He prayed she hadn’t put a hitch in their ability to quietly disappear. Slowly she moved off him, his cock sliding out of her wet pussy. She brushed her hair over her shoulder, studying him for a minute.

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“When you thought you’d lost me, when you hit your bottom, you confided in Jimmy. You told me that.” She moved around on her hands and knees searching for her clothes. Jonathan watched her, seeing determination take over her expression. She wanted to get out of there, and he’d be damned if she went anywhere until he learned why. “You haven’t shared with me what kind of time frame we’re on, when we need to get back to Colorado,” she continued, gathering her clothes and struggling to straighten them before putting them on. “We aren’t going back. Henry has my house now.” “And what about Jimmy?” “He left Susie.” She stared at him for a minute then nodded slowly. Later he imagined she’d have more questions. She’d liked Susie. But right now, the subject would stay on her desire to leave him again. “What is it that you’ve told these ladies?” “I’ve been with them constantly since I escaped from Henry. I tried calling you several times. The first time Susie told me some pretty terrible things. Then you wouldn’t answer my calls.” “I lost my phone in the snow the day Henry showed up. We had a bit of a scrimmage.” She chewed her lip. When he didn’t elaborate, knowing if he did he wouldn’t get the entire story, she let out a sigh and continued. “I thought I was alone, Jonathan. You two were gone. There was no one. They took me in, took care of me…and were good listeners. I’ve told them about you and about Alex—and about Alpha Corp.” Jonathan nodded, pushing himself to a sitting position and grabbing his pants. “And this is why you have such an urgent need to get back to them?” “No. And it’s just for tonight. In the morning, I’ll be back. They have a right to know, Jonathan. They are good women. I just don’t want them panicking if I just disappear. It’s what any normal person would do.” “I’ll be over there early in the morning to get you.” She nodded and then leaned forward, kissing him. “Then we leave here?” “Yes. Then we leave.”

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Chapter Thirteen A commercial advertising turkeys on sale until Thanksgiving played on the TV while Jonathan glared at his son. More than likely his son’s expression matched his own. Alex sat at the kitchen table, scowling over the laptop at him. “I can’t believe you let her go,” he hissed, showing no compassion or understanding after Jonathan explained to him why he’d walked Joanna back to the other RV the night before. “We’re not going to argue about this. I’m heading out and bringing her back.” He turned to grab his coat. Alex jumped up from the table just as Jimmy appeared in the hallway, scratching his tousled hair while looking from father to son. Alex ignored him. “I’m going with you,” he announced. “No.” Jonathan sliced his hand through the air. “I won’t have you seen in public until I’m more certain about Dustin MacDonald.” “And what about you?” Alex didn’t back down. “Like he’s not going to recognize you if he’s this big shot Alpha Corp person.” Jonathan wouldn’t point out that he could defend himself. He wasn’t a child—a very opinionated child. “From what I learned last night, it sounds like he is.” Jimmy walked between the two of them, heading toward the coffeepot in the kitchen. “He’s just entered town. No one knows that much about him, other than he took over the sheriff position after the old sheriff died unexpectedly in a car accident. Word is out he’s arrived in town with a few other men and they were in Amsterdam before this. According to what Cindy told me, he grew up here but spent time overseas recently.” Jonathan slipped into his coat and headed toward the door. “Cindy?” His friend gave him a quick glance before returning to his coffee. “Yup. She owns the bar and grill when you enter the campgrounds. Talkative sort.” “Might not be a bad idea to see what other information she might have.” Jonathan raised an eyebrow when Jimmy smiled. Obviously the idea appealed to the man. “She told me they had carryout. Maybe I’ll have her round us up some breakfast.” “Yeah. I’m hungry,” Alex piped up. “Order four meals. Two orders of pancakes, extra syrup,” Jonathan decided. “And whatever you two want. I’ll be right back.” He took advantage of Alex being distracted by food and hurried out the door. A heavy fog lay around the campground and although it was almost eight in the morning,

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it was still rather dark. Most of the surrounding trailers were dark, vacationers not worrying about when they woke up. That worked out just fine. Less people seeing either him or Joanna would make things a lot easier. Moving quickly along the road, he cut between two RVs as headlights approached from the entrance of the campgrounds. For a moment, the deer in the headlight sensation tripped him. His gut clenched. No one would stop him from getting to Joanna. It wouldn’t be long before danger didn’t lurk around them. He lived for that day—lived to see the peaceful expression on Joanna’s face daily like he had last night when they’d made love. If he had to take the whole world out, damn it, he’d fucking do it. She had a right to live the life of her dreams. Snow crunched under his boots and he tightened the hood of his coat, keeping the chill of the morning out as much as possible. He had to keep an eye on his footing, the uneven ground and deep snow making it a challenge walking off the beaten trail. But he glanced toward the road, watching the car approach slowly, its headlights two unblinking eyes that cast light halfway down the road lined with campers. Fog hung heavily in the air, trapped in the light, giving the morning a surreal look. Almost spooky, if he let things like that get to him. Traipsing behind an RV, darkness engulfed him, the air suddenly much colder. He had to walk past four more RVs and then he’d be behind the one Joanna was in. He wondered if she were awake yet, if their lovemaking had exhausted her and she slept cuddled under blankets while he worked his way in the snow to get her. Her body would be warm, her skin soft, the lingering scent of sex still on her. He pictured her with her hand next to her mouth, sleeping on her side, her hair falling over part of her face. She’d have her knees pulled up, making it so easy to cuddle in behind her and feel that soft round ass of hers. His cock hardened. Exhaling, he picked up his pace. Trudging through deep snow with a hard-on was a bitch. He hesitated when he entered the gap between two campsites. Small junipers offered some protection, keeping him invisible from the road. It bothered him how slowly the car moved toward him—too slowly. In the darkness, and with campers blocking his view, all he saw through the dense fog was that it was a sedan. A sedan with damned annoying headlights. Coming up behind Joanna’s RV, he paused, his heart thudding heavily from the intense walk in the snow and cold. And possibly from nerves. Later today they would pick up a car. Getting around on foot, with the RV stationary for the time being, sucked. Again he’d have to rely on Jimmy to head into town and pick something out. Neither he nor Joanna could risk any public attention. It rubbed wrong sending someone else out to do his work. He’d done it for years as general of Alpha Corp, but that had been different, that had been handling missions transferred down to him. Today matters pertained to his personal life. A few more days, and he’d be his own master, handle things without the aid of others. Jimmy didn’t need to be baby-sitting them.

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He stopped alongside the RV when he realized the car he’d noticed no longer moved. It too had stopped just in front of the RV. Its engine idled while two streams of light bored through the quiet dark road. It was the law—a sheriff’s car. Three guesses which bastard drove it. In spite of the cold, a thin line of sweat spread over his forehead. His coat itched, hanging heavily over the thick sweater he wore underneath. He wrapped his gloved hand around his gun, attached at his waist, hidden underneath the lining of his coat. Anger surged through him. Dustin MacDonald sniffed too close to Jonathan’s woman. That shit didn’t fly. Blinds were closed over the large windshield at the front of the RV. He moved toward the front, searching for any sign of anyone around him. Light filtered through the blinds as he moved toward the front of the RV. Obviously someone was awake. When he reached the front of the RV he almost tripped over his boots. Standing at the front door, a very tall man, wearing a sheriff’s uniform, spoke quietly with someone on the other side of the door. Dressed in dark blue, his heavy down coat possibly adding to his size, thick red hair curled around the collar of his jacket. The man didn’t look his way but instead reached for the door handle, almost whispering to whoever stood on the other side. It had been years since Jonathan had read the bio for Dustin MacDonald. Leader of High Command based out of Amsterdam, he’d taken over after his father of the same name had retired. Young and with too many opinions on how matters should be handled, he hadn’t impressed Jonathan then. One thing did stick out in his memory— the photograph he’d seen of the man while reading his bio. Dustin MacDonald, rank of High Command, had bushy dark red hair. There was no doubts he’d accurately ID’d the man. This was going to get fucking ugly. Hugging the side of the RV, his leather gloves didn’t block the feel of the cold siding. Thankfully, the heavily overcast sky and still lingering fog draped around him, shielding him. What the hell was that son of a bitch doing here? It was one thing that he knew Joanna was here, that he’d talked to her, that he’d obviously been the man Jonathan had seen the other day walking her to this RV. But to show up this early in the morning, knocking on the door, showed way too much interest for his liking. Alpha Corp wouldn’t reassemble in a day. Any intelligent man knew recreating an entity like the agency would take hundreds of new recruits. People not familiar with the previous organization would be best—they wouldn’t have the knowledge that its strength wasn’t invincible. No. There was another reason why Dustin MacDonald was here. Jonathan glanced behind him, and then up and down the road. He searched the other side of the narrow street, at the long line of campsites shadowed still by darkness. There didn’t appear to 118

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be anyone else around. Squinting at the running car stopped in front of her trailer, it didn’t look like anyone else was inside. Dustin MacDonald wouldn’t work alone. A man in his position would have his cronies nearby. Unless…he didn’t view there was any threat at hand. “Mac. She’s not awake yet. I don’t think she’s sleeping well and I would like her to be able to rest.” A woman chuckled softly. Jonathan could have ripped the siding off the RV. Every muscle inside him hardened. More than anything he wanted to storm right over to the motherfucker, tell him to get the hell away from Joanna. He pressed his fist into the cold side of the trailer, forcing himself not to move. It wasn’t time yet. “I’m worried about her too, Roberta.” MacDonald pulled the screen door open a bit more, leaning on it with his hand. “She’s troubled and needs me. You’re sure she’s here?” “Of course she’s here. Where else would she be?” “Have you checked on her?” “Mac. I’ll have her call you.” Roberta sounded firm. If that man entered the RV, Jonathan would plow him down. His legs cramped from forcing them to maintain his position and not leap on the bastard right now. “It’s a beautiful sight to see a mother and daughter as close as you two are.” MacDonald’s tone dripped with false sincerity. The asshole would make one lousy agent. If he fooled that woman for one moment then Joanna had put her trust in an idiot. “There are circumstances that I know about—as the law around here. It’s important that I know she’s safe.” “Sheriff, Joanna is safer here than anywhere else.” Roberta suddenly sounded like she spoke to a child. “She’s asleep, and that’s where she’s staying. When she wakes up, I’ll let her know you were here.” Jonathan wanted to laugh out loud. The woman yanked the screen door from MacDonald’s grip and closed it with a slight bang. He stood staring up at her for a moment, as if trying to decide whether to pursue the argument or not. Someone across the street opened their front door, and then sludged through the snow toward their car. They seemed oblivious to the conversation transpiring out front of the RV facing them. The heavy fog had lifted somewhat in the past few minutes, although dark gray clouds loomed too close above them. Darkness faded into a dimly lit surrounding. Jonathan moved silently backward, ensuring that he wasn’t seen. He didn’t hear any parting words but saw MacDonald head back to his running vehicle. The man climbed in, closing his door, and took off without looking his way. Jonathan didn’t breathe until he was sure the man had rounded the corner in the campgrounds. Then slowly, he walked around the side of the RV toward the front door. He stepped into MacDonald’s footprints as he reached for the screen door and opened it, then rapped on the door with his gloved hands. Glancing up and down the

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street quickly, he prayed the man wouldn’t drive back around. There was movement inside and muffled voices, before the door opened again. A woman possibly in her mid-fifties with a silver braid that fell over one ample breast wore a housecoat and stared down at him. Her face was smooth, showing signs of having been tanned. He guessed she spent a fair amount of time outside. Her expression was wary, although she didn’t look mean. Actually he’d guess she probably had a fairly decent life. There were no worry lines, although crow’s feet appeared when she narrowed her gaze on him. The woman rested her hand on the doorknob, blocking the view into the room behind her with her stout figure. “Yes?” she asked. “Please tell Joanna I’m here,” he said quietly. He fought the urge not to glance around him once again. It also took a bit of effort not to push himself into the RV. If he stood out there much longer he seriously risked exposing them to MacDonald. It wouldn’t surprise him a bit if the asshole drove through the campsite once again before leaving. “And you are?” She proved a better bodyguard than some professionals he’d dealt with in the past. “Jonathan.” The woman looked as though she’d fall forward for a minute. Her jaw fell, giving her a double chin. He watched her hand turn white as she gripped the doorknob and then slowly her other hand fluttered toward her mouth. Finally she took a small step backward and almost tripped over her feet. When she didn’t move out of the way, or utter a word, he decided to push the issue slightly. Joanna told him she’d confided in the women who took her in. He now saw how much she’d actually shared with them. A mixture of shock and fear crossed over her face. “Tell her I’m here,” he directed the woman. She’d either move or she wouldn’t. Standing out in the cold didn’t appeal to him. One, he was freezing. But more important than that, headlights appeared at the end of the road. Morning had broken through. The darkness would no longer conceal him. He stepped up onto the metal stair attached to the RV and put his hand over hers on the doorknob. That did the trick. She backed away quickly, still gawking at him, and ripping her hand out from underneath his as if he’d just burned her. The woman’s hand went to her heart. Now he worried he might have to put his CPR skills to use. “What is it?” another woman spoke. He stepped into the doorway and quietly pulled the screen door closed behind him. Before moving to close the front door, he glanced again down the road. Sure enough, in the morning light he recognized the sheriff’s car that had just been in front of the RV. He moved closer to the women and shut the door behind him.

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“Oh Lord,” the other woman spoke again. “Good morning, ladies.” He decided chivalry might do best under the circumstances. Both women looked like they could lose it at any moment. “I’m Jonathan Hunter.” “Well, I’ll be damned.” The other woman, a small petite thing with black hair cropped short around her face, put her hand on the stout woman’s arm. “Would you please let Joanna know I’m here?” “You were right.” The stout woman regained her composure and color slowly returned to her face. The petite woman nodded without pulling her gaze from his. “I’m Roberta Lawson and this is my partner, Alice Stephenson,” the stout woman continued. “Alice told Joanna just yesterday she didn’t believe you were dead. Look at you. Here you are.” “I’m here for Joanna,” he prompted the two women. Neither one of them moved, or quit staring at him. “She’s asleep,” Roberta told him. “Why the hell didn’t you answer her calls?” “My phone was destroyed,” he said, watching Roberta transform from her state of shock. She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him the once-over. If she approved of what she saw or not, it wasn’t clear. “We picked Joanna up off the side of the highway over a week ago, and during the time she’s spent with us we’ve watched her slowly give up on life. We weren’t sure she’d make it when she discovered on the Internet that you and the boy were dead. Is the boy here too?” “Yes.” His cell phone vibrated against his jeans and he reached inside his coat to grab it. Both women’s gazes darted to the action and once again Alice grabbed Roberta’s arm. He hid a smile when he pulled out the phone and they both exhaled with relief. “Hello,” he said, recognizing Jimmy’s number. “Jonathan.” It was Joanna. Jonathan looked quickly in the direction of the bedroom where he’d assumed Joanna was. He then glanced at the two women who studied him curiously before focusing on his wet boots, which slowly dripped melting snow onto the carpet. “I’m down at your trailer,” she added quickly. “How the hell did you get there?” He rubbed his hand through his hair, frustration mounting while he worked to envision when she would have left this RV for his. Her soft, sultry voice made the hair on his body stand on end. “When Dustin came to the door. I freaked out that he would force his way in and knew I needed to get the hell out of there. I saw you standing alongside the RV but wouldn’t risk drawing attention to both of us by trying to get to you.” She paused and then added in a teasing tone, “Your breakfast is ready.”

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Jonathan growled and there was silence on the other end of the line. She’d defend herself if he lectured her for her actions. Shaking his head, he glanced again at Roberta and Alice who now both looked rather confused. Alice left Roberta’s side and walked down the length of the RV and glanced in the small room where Joanna had been. “I’ll be there in a minute,” he said. “Jonathan. Please be careful. We’ve been watching Dustin circle the campsite. He’s gone around twice now, as though he’s looking for something.” “Or someone.” He heard Alex say something in the background and Joanna told him that she knew. He didn’t hear what his son said. “I apologize for intruding on your morning,” he told the women after assuring Joanna he’d be careful. MacDonald might know more than he’d first guessed. Best thing for them to do would be to pack up and head out. They’d have to be careful not to draw attention to themselves. As much as he ached to simply disappear with his family, learning what MacDonald was about would help ensure their safety. He pondered leaving quickly, or roughing it out for the day to see what he might learn, as he turned for the door. Alice moved back to Roberta’s side and whispered something to her about a car. “Good idea,” Roberta said. “Jonathan, we’d talked with Joanna about getting a car so we could see some of the sights easier while we were here.” “Sounds like a wonderful idea.” He nodded his goodbyes and opened the front door. “You’d be less detected if, once we have our car, we drove you into town so you could get a car.” Jonathan paused, turning to study the two women who looked at him anxiously. Trusting people he didn’t know had never come easily. It didn’t matter that they realized he needed a low profile, their understanding of it couldn’t be determined. And relying on the kindness of strangers wasn’t something he’d ever done. Roberta nodded as if he’d just confirmed this idea pleased him. “We’ll be by to pick you up in about an hour. We have Joanna’s cell phone number so we’ll call when we’re ready.” Letting it go at that, he slipped out of the RV into the cold. Joanna eagerly persuaded him to take the ladies up on their offer, and several hours later, after taking care of paperwork, Jonathan drove into the campground in the first family vehicle he’d ever owned in his life. He’d opted for four-wheel drive, but otherwise, the SUV would serve nicely to haul his small family where they needed to go. With a trailer hitch thrown into the deal, they were set to head out, towing his new vehicle behind the RV. Jimmy stepped out of the bar and grill when Jonathan slowed to the speed limit in front of it. Rolling down his window, he grabbed his friend’s attention. “Nice wheels,” Jimmy said, stopping to glance up and down the black SUV. “You missed lunch.”

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“Hop in. You can wear off your lunch later when we load this thing.” Jonathan waited while Jimmy headed to the passenger side. Cars pulled in and out around him, trucks hauling trailers, larger RVs—the campsite did some decent business. Running a place like this would put a person up close with many walks of life. This time of year probably brought many out as well. With the holidays practically on top of them, this park would be more than crowded very soon. An older couple held hands while walking along the road and then cutting off toward the large wooden porch that was the front of the bar and grill. Would that ever be him and Joanna? He couldn’t imagine either of them leading such a docile life. That sunk an unpleasant lump deep in his gut. Reality hit him harder than a fist. Both of them were adventure seekers. They’d been brought up by Alpha Corp and knew only one way of life. What if they wouldn’t be able to settle into the mundane routine called life? Going to bed at the same time every night, getting up at the same time every morning, having sex on the same days every week—God, the thought made him sick. “It appears the town’s already a little put out with the lack of cooperation they’re getting from their new sheriff,” Jimmy said, climbing in on the passenger side. He adjusted his long legs in front of him and closed the door. Jonathan waited for another couple to walk by in front of them before pulling out. He shook free the morbid direction his thoughts were headed—there was no way they’d end up idling the rest of their lives away. There would always be an adventure— the two of them would see to it. Just in the future they would control the destiny. He glanced at the oversized RV behind him and headed down the snow-packed road toward their campsite. Turning, he glanced at Jimmy’s smug expression. “What do you mean, lack of cooperation?” he asked. Jimmy picked some food loose from his teeth, speaking at the same time. “Apparently town council met last night and he didn’t show. Cindy says he came with outstanding credentials but now she’s wondering.” “Your girl is on town council?” Jimmy gave him a shrewd look. “She’s not my girl. Just gathering information.” “She good-looking?” The corner of Jimmy’s mouth turned. “Not bad,” he said, and then cupped his hands out in front of him. “Got some nice tits.” Jonathan snorted. “We used to call that horizontal interrogation.” “I haven’t fucked her.” “It’s your life. What else did she have to say about our sheriff?” “Not much. But I did find out some more information about the two women Joanna was with.” “Oh yeah?” 123

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Jimmy nodded, looking ahead when Jonathan slowed when an RV blocked the road ahead of them. Whoever drove it was having a bitch of a time getting it onto the assigned plot for their campsite. “They won some contest. Got an e-mail telling them they had a week’s paid vacation here at the campgrounds. That’s why they came here. Apparently, no one here knows anything about the contest.” “But they said they picked Joanna up on the highway on their way here. How would someone know to target those two women and bring them here to this campground with Joanna in tow?” It didn’t add up. Jonathan scowled at the RV as it slowly backed off the road. “You think the women aren’t who they say they are?” “They told Cindy they were headed to Yellowstone, but came here instead after discovering they had a week’s paid vacation at this campground.” Jimmy met his gaze, his look intent. “Only way MacDonald could have intentionally brought them here was if somehow he learned that Joanna was with them.” “Somehow though, Joanna arrived at the same town where Dustin MacDonald just happened to have set up shop. I don’t buy that it’s a coincidence.” “This morning the women discussed the possibility that MacDonald could have a program running that tracks anyone who seeks out information on Alpha Corp on the Internet. He might not have known where Joanna was, but knew how to contact her through spyware that narrowed her down online.” “Now you sound like Alex.” But it was a possibility. Tracking devices could easily narrow down who was searching for what. If MacDonald had that kind of technology running, he’d be able to track down Alex too. He white-knuckled the steering wheel as he parked in front of their RV. “Well hell,” he said. “Shit,” Jimmy said at the same time, focusing on his side mirror. “You armed?” he asked, staring through his rearview mirror at the sheriff’s car, which pulled in directly behind him. “Yup.” “Let’s go.” Jonathan pushed open his driver’s side door, deciding at that moment it was just as well he face the choir now as later. Jimmy got out at the same time. Both of them turned toward the sheriff’s car at the same time that a tall man with dark red hair climbed out. He stared at Jonathan with cold green eyes that swarmed with hatred. Three other men got out of the sheriff’s car at the same time. Four to two—not too grossly outnumbered. Jonathan didn’t hesitate but walked up to MacDonald until he stood mere feet in front of him. “Is there something you want?” he growled, quickly sizing up the man who stood eye to eye with him.

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“Nothing that I don’t already have.” MacDonald sneered at him. “We meet at last, Jonathan.” Jonathan liked him even less for displaying such raw confidence. Knocking him down to size would be a fucking pleasure. He smiled easily at the bastard. “You don’t have shit,” he whispered. Was that fear that rushed over the man’s expression? No matter that he’d run the most covert agency in the world, he didn’t have a fraction of Jonathan’s skills. It showed when MacDonald looked away first, glancing at the men around them. “Shall we take this party inside?” He sounded relaxed, almost chivalrous. Gesturing toward the RV, he nodded gallantly at Jonathan that he should lead the way. When Jonathan didn’t move, and Jimmy held his ground—the guy had been with him long enough to follow his lead without a glance—MacDonald unclipped his gun from his belt and pressed it into Jonathan’s gut. “Inside,” he hissed. Jonathan raised an eyebrow, wondering if the bastard would actually shoot. For Alex’s sake, for Joanna’s sake, he wouldn’t push the matter. Turning, he led the small party into his RV. Two other men greeted them in the living room. “There’s no one here,” one of them said. “What?” MacDonald obviously hadn’t expected that from his man. He turned on Jonathan the second they were all in and the door shut. “Your woman has a nasty habit of disappearing.” Jonathan stared at the two men who’d been inside his RV, wondering how the fuck they’d managed to get inside. That thought lingered only for a moment. Where in the hell were Alex and Joanna?

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Chapter Fourteen Large snowflakes floated to the ground, dampening any noise. Jonathan walked alongside Jimmy, twisting his wrists against the handcuffs MacDonald’s men had slapped on them once they’d left through the side door of the RV. His mind raced with options as to where Joanna and Alex might be. There was no way he could warn them if they came home, or give them any indication that he and Jimmy were being led God only knows where by MacDonald and his men. They trudged over rocky, uneven ground packed with snow. MacDonald’s men acted like they knew where they were going. No one led the way, or offered directions. They’d headed out away from the campsite, pushing through trees and moving around rocky areas. Once or twice Jonathan almost stumbled, his balance offset by the handcuffs binding his wrists behind him, but he held his footing. He’d be damned if any of these buffoons would see him stumble. His breath clouded in front of him when they stopped, having reached a small ledge that dropped several feet. “Think you can make the jump?” MacDonald raised an eyebrow as if Jonathan’s answer really mattered to him. Snow fell harder now, muffling most sounds around them. Other than the other guys shuffling around as they inched closer to the ledge, he didn’t even hear a bird. He didn’t bother answering MacDonald. The man insulted him. Either that, or he truly had no clue how to comprehend a profile on a person. Like fucking handcuffs would immobilize him. No one stopped him when he moved around two of MacDonald’s cronies and then jumped off the ledge. He landed on uneven ground, not quite as gracefully as he would have liked. But he didn’t fall on his face. The others followed suit but Jonathan didn’t pay attention. Ahead of them junipers had blocked his view of the van he now saw clearly. An extended tan-colored van with no windows parked out in the middle of bum fuck Egypt. Jonathan’s heart lodged in his throat. Cold sweat trickled down his spine, like bony fingers barely touching him, antagonizing and taunting. He balled his hands into fists, twisting his wrists until the cuffs rubbed against his flesh painfully. Someone nudged him from behind, and apparently Jimmy was shoved too because he stepped forward before turning quickly, looking like he’d love nothing more than punching the asshole’s face in for touching him. Jonathan intentionally stepped sideways, knocking into the man who’d tried to get him moving, and forcing the guy to jump out of the way. “Move,” MacDonald ordered from behind him.

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Apparently there wasn’t much concern about anyone hearing them. The snow wasn’t as deep with the junipers blocking drifts, and their boots crunched over dried out twigs and packed snow. Flakes blew around him, blinding him, as a breeze picked up, stinging his cheeks. He took in a quick survey of their surroundings. Although barely an inch of snow had fallen, he didn’t see any visible tracks. There hadn’t been fresh snowfall since they’d arrived in Hill City, so he guessed the van had been there for a while. There were chains on the tires, which would have left more visible imprints in the ground. If there was a path from the other side of the van leading toward it, there was no way to tell. Trees were fairly dense through the open area, but he’d be able to navigate a vehicle through there if needed. The windshield and front passenger door windows, which were all the windows the van had, were recently cleared. No frost covered them. From where he stood along with the others, there was no way to know if anyone was inside it or not. Apparently MacDonald didn’t think anyone was inside either. When the side door of the van slid open, he stopped in his tracks alongside Jonathan. His jaw dropped as he reached for his gun. He barely had time to register on the slim figure wearing a large bulletproof vest over her coat, jumping out of the van. Long brown hair blew around her face, but that didn’t hinder her aim. Joanna started firing immediately. There wasn’t time to react, let alone think. If anyone doubted her skills, if they wondered for a second if she still had what it took to defend herself, or manage an attack, all questions were put to rest in the next moment. If he’d had time to think, he probably would have ducked, hit the ground, run to the side, done something. Gunshots exploded repeatedly. Bullets screamed through the air. All gunfire was aimed in one direction. Every target was made. Joanna took out every man around him, shy of Jimmy and MacDonald, within seconds. “Fuck!” MacDonald screamed. Several howls filled the air. Men around him crashed to the ground. White snow smeared with blood while its iron smell hung heavily in the air. His stomach turned, but he didn’t dare move a muscle. No way in hell would he offer any reaction until he knew her plan. Joanna’s confident expression was like a flashback to too many missions in their past. He focused on her eyes, seeing her strength and willingness to shoot again if needed. A thought hit him. He saw no worry in her face. Her top priority would be keeping Alex safe. So where was he? She wouldn’t have him here with her, would she? Joanna wouldn’t leave him with strangers. He didn’t know Roberta and Alice, and Joanna had only known the women a little over a week. No matter that she’d trusted them with her own life. Jonathan knew she wouldn’t trust them with Alex’s. And she sure as hell wouldn’t leave Alex alone. Taking only a moment to look past her, he noticed there wasn’t any movement in the darkness of the van.

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Joanna didn’t look worried. She didn’t hesitate. There was no fear in her expression. If anything, she looked outraged. Angry and very sure of herself. And with her skills that could prove a dangerous combination. “Son of a bitch!” the man on the other side of him screamed. “The bitch shot me. It fucking hurts.” She fired again and the guy fell face forward into the snow. He wasn’t feeling any pain now. Within seconds, an eerie silence fell around the area. Snow continued falling. A cold breeze worked its way under his clothing. She’d wiped out every single one of MacDonald’s cronies before they’d had a chance to pull their weapons. Jimmy exhaled next to him. The man had heard enough of their adventures over the years but had never seen either one of them in action. Handcuffed and completely vulnerable to gunfire would have many men crying on their knees. Jonathan’s hat was off to Jimmy for managing to keep his cool. MacDonald’s hand moved slowly away from his gun at his waist when she quit firing and he still stood. She walked up to him and shoved her gun in his face. “I have just about had it,” she hissed through clenched teeth. “When is it going to end? Are we going to chase each other around this planet until we’ve succeeded in wiping every last one of us out?” “It can end right now, Joanna. Just put down the gun.” MacDonald’s rough authoritative tone had disappeared. Jonathan curled his lip at the deep smooth baritone MacDonald used on Joanna. “Dustin, I could put these guns behind my back and you couldn’t move fast enough to stop me from killing you.” She sighed, looking more saddened by this fact rather than bragging about it. “But please, tell me how we end this.” Snowflakes hung in her hair, dampening it. Long strands flowed around her face, catching in the collar of her coat. The large bulletproof vest she wore hung to her thighs. Dark blue jeans hugged her slender legs. She wore hiking boots, leading him to believe she’d planned on coming out this way. But why? And where was Alex? Jonathan watched her, focusing on her profile, the intent look on her face, her slow steady breathing. Sexy and in control, not to mention deadly as hell—his perfect match. Not once did she falter, or show any signs of what was in her head. So fucking beautiful. With him and Jimmy still cuffed, the show was all hers. MacDonald would be a damned fool to try anything on her though. Jonathan would enjoy kicking the motherfucker’s ass with both hands tied behind his back. For the first time, she pulled her gaze from MacDonald, giving Jonathan her attention. A snowflake landed on her lashes and she blinked. Her aim didn’t falter. She kept one gun pointed at Dustin MacDonald’s face while her other hand remained at her side, her finger on the trigger of that gun as well.

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“You’ve never had the opportunity to control your own destiny.” MacDonald continued using that too deep baritone. “Here is your first chance to do what you want with your life. Not one muscle twitched on her face, her expression blank, although her green eyes were pools of emotion. What MacDonald didn’t see, Jonathan read clearly. Confusion and fear, hidden well behind her warrior persona. She didn’t want to be here, didn’t want the gun she held, hated that once again lives were lost at her hand. He saw what no one would ever notice, her heart was as big as she was sexy. They were trained killers, but she’d meant what she’d said after she came out shooting, more than Dustin MacDonald would ever realize. She’d had enough of this bullshit. She would fight—and kill—to protect her family. MacDonald would never know, or appreciate, how incredibly good she was. Slowly she turned her attention back to MacDonald, as if she’d just heard his words. In spite of her relaxed expression, Jonathan saw she was ready to pounce at the slightest movement. She was wound almost too tight. Twisting his wrists against cold metal, the cuffs rubbed hard against his skin. But damn it if he wouldn’t tear flesh to free himself and take over this situation. Joanna didn’t want this—she didn’t need it. It was his place to be there for her, take care of her. Yet she made no attempt to free him, her attention again focused on MacDonald. “Joanna, this man has ruled you, controlled and manipulated you. You’ve never known it any other way.” MacDonald smiled at her, taking a step closer, but then freezing when she shoved the gun into his neck. He inhaled harshly, straining his eyes to see the gun while his smile quickly disappeared. “Baby. Here’s your chance to end it. No one will ever control you again. Jonathan misled you over the years. You see that, don’t you? Someone who really loved you would have told you that you were going to be pregnant, would have done anything to warn you.” “Who really loved me?” she whispered, glancing down at the gun she pointed at MacDonald’s neck. Slowly she lowered the gun, her movements and expression suddenly looking distracted, as if some forgotten memory had surfaced and plagued her. This time, MacDonald adjusted his stance, moving further away from her. “Think about it,” MacDonald encouraged. “Jonathan is nothing now. There will be no repercussions. Everything ends today. You can start your future—with your son— right now.” Joanna continued looking down, lowering the gun she had pointed at his neck, but keeping her finger on the trigger. She walked away from MacDonald, moving around Jonathan until he no longer saw her. Snow crunched as she stepped behind him but he didn’t turn his back on MacDonald. The asshole met him with a cold glare, something close to triumph twisting his lips into a mean sneer.

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“You must think me a stupid fool if you think I’d believe you—or trust anyone with Alpha Corp. You’re the liar, Dustin. Or you would have made it clear who you were the moment we met.” With that she pulled the trigger. The loud explosion behind Jonathan made him jump in spite of himself. For a second, he wasn’t sure whom she’d shot. There was no pain, although she wouldn’t shoot him. Dustin’s eyes opened wide, but he didn’t appear shot. Cold metal pulled hard against his sore wrists before he realized what she’d done. Moving his hands slowly, he held them out where he could see them, half a handcuff hanging from his wrists. He stared at his gloved hands momentarily, moving his fingers to regain circulation. Then slowly he lifted his gaze to MacDonald. Another shot exploded and Jonathan and Dustin both looked as Joanna shot through the metal of Jimmy’s cuffs. MacDonald reached for his gun but Joanna jumped around Jonathan, aiming her gun at his face. “Your performance is outstanding, Joanna,” MacDonald said, ignoring the gun pointing at his nose and focusing his attention on her. “You’re right. My performance is outstanding.” She kept her aim on him while Jonathan quickly disarmed the guy, yanking his coat off and thoroughly patting him down. “I’m surprised you know that about me but don’t see that it’s not just loyalty Jonathan and I share.” “Doesn’t surprise me.” Jonathan handed one of the two guns he pulled off MacDonald to Jimmy. He glared at MacDonald. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you had no understanding at all of the meaning of love.” Joanna’s expression relaxed, as she gazed up at him. The glow in her eyes filled with the love he’d just mentioned. She shoved one of the guns into her coat pocket and then reached for him. Snowflakes swirled in circles between them, a bitter breeze lifting her hair as she ran her fingers down his arm. His sweater and coat made it impossible to feel her touch, but heat rushed through him in spite of the nasty weather. He needed her in his arms, ached to touch her, to feel her, to be inside her. They couldn’t finish this nasty business soon enough. “Our love is strong enough to conquer anything,” she whispered, her breath clouding from the cold in front of her face. Dustin jumped on the moment. Joanna focused on Jonathan, her attention no longer on the man she held at gunpoint. He leapt at her, catching Jonathan with his guard momentarily lowered. Joanna screamed when Dustin grabbed her wrist and twisted it while he landed on the snow on top of her. Jonathan jumped at him but wasn’t as quick as Jimmy, who hadn’t been distracted at that moment. Grabbing Dustin, he lifted him into the air, twisting his arms behind his back while Dustin howled a list of profanities. “You ever had a belt used on your wrists instead of handcuffs?” Jimmy hissed, giving Dustin a hard shake. “Believe me, you’d pray for handcuffs.”

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Dustin realized quickly he was no match for the lumberjack of a man, and quit fighting. Joanna collapsed into Jonathan’s arms. “I just looked away for a minute,” she whispered. “You saved our lives,” he told her, smiling down at her worried expression. He kissed her cold forehead and she wrapped her arms around him, suddenly trembling, either from a release of adrenaline, or the cold, or both. “Mom?” Alex called from the van. Jonathan looked through the heavily falling snow at his son who, peeked out from the side door. His dark curly hair quickly covered with snowflakes as he stared at the dead men lying in the snow around his parents. Joanna pushed against Jonathan’s chest, turning at the same time that Dustin bucked against Jimmy. “Let me see him,” Dustin howled. “At least grant me that. Damn it. He’s my creation.” “Like hell he’s yours,” Jonathan growled. “Jonathan,” Joanna whispered, her hand pressing flat against his chest. Anger boiled through him while he glared at the man Jimmy had shoved into the snow. He’d followed orders when aiding in impregnating Joanna, but they’d used his sperm, altered his biochemical makeup along with Joanna’s in order to conceive Alex. No one would say he belonged to anyone other than the two of them. “Jonathan,” Joanna said with a slightly harsher tone. He looked down at her as her lips formed a thin line. “Alex has seen enough,” she stated. “Mom,” Alex yelled again. “I think I found the keys to this van, and its cold out here.” “I’m coming,” she told him, and patted Jonathan’s chest. “Do what you need to do and then come to me.” She walked away from him toward her son, her hair blowing off her back as the wind circled around them. Snow fell hard enough now that it limited his vision beyond the van. If they stayed out here much longer, it could prove dangerous in finding their way back to the campsite. All footprints would be erased with fresh snow. There was unfinished business though. They’d wrap matters up here quickly, and put an end to this nightmare once and for all.

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Chapter Fifteen Jonathan pulled the sliding glass doors open and led the small group out onto the brick patio. “Oh my, what a view!” Roberta grinned broadly, nodding at Alice as if the quiet woman had just said something, and then turned her attention to Joanna. “You’ve got a beautiful home here.” Joanna walked over to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “Jonathan found the house, but when we walked through it together for the first time, we both knew we’d come home.” After disposing of Dustin MacDonald and his men, Jonathan knew some much needed downtime was in order for his family. Taking Joanna house shopping put the glow back in her eyes that he hoped would remain there for the rest of her life. “Even after we learned the contest we’d supposedly won was a scam, we didn’t regret coming here,” Roberta said. “And since it brought you back together with Jonathan, it was all worth it.” “Joanna tells me that you two haven’t decided where to head from here.” He’d agreed with Joanna that they’d tell the two women a very edited version of what happened with MacDonald. After tearing into the computers in the van parked behind the campsite they’d learned that Dustin had sent the e-mail to Roberta and Alice telling them they’d won a vacation in Hill City once he’d discovered they’d picked up Joanna. Malia had been followed but after she lost Joanna, they no longer trailed Malia. He’d apparently bought the story that Jonathan and Alex were dead, but believed Joanna still possessed the ability to create more genius babies. He’d planned to test Joanna’s blood at some point to see if it carried a certain level of Biorgasate, the drug Alpha Corp had used on him and Joanna so they’d produce children with advanced intelligence. His goal hadn’t been to recreate Alpha Corp, but breed more geniuses. He’d planned to make Joanna the mother of his new race. “We aren’t in any hurry to go anywhere,” Roberta said and touched Alice’s arm. “With me retired, and Alice free now since she’s no longer at the school…” “I’m really sorry, Alice, that they called you informing you that they wouldn’t renew your contract,” Joanna said, reaching out to squeeze Alice’s hand. “But Jonathan and I were talking about it, and if you’d be willing to consider the idea, we need a tutor for Alex.” Roberta and Alice looked at each other, Roberta instantly smiling. Joanna had told him Alice had been crushed when the private school she taught at notified her that due

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to her marriage to another woman, and her unwillingness to keep a low profile about it, they were forced to let her go. The school didn’t want scandal. Although Alice had the right to sue them for discrimination, she knew it wouldn’t get her job back. Neither woman was in any hurry to return to their hometown. Alice looked at him for a moment, blushing, and then focused on Joanna. “I’d love to tutor Alex. It would be an honor.” “Then it’s settled.” Jonathan wrapped his arm around Joanna, guiding the women back through the sliding glass doors and into the large family room of their new home. Although it had snowed for the past couple days while he and Jimmy wrapped up affairs and worked until they were satisfied there would be no more Alpha Corp, the sun that shone brightly today flooded light through all the windows in their new home. The large family room that opened into the kitchen beyond it was sparsely furnished, but nonetheless the place had a good feeling to it. Secluded and spacious, something told him they would have a good life there. “I’ll call you in the morning then.” Joanna walked with the women to the front door, her snug jeans hugging her adorable ass. “You can start with Alex tomorrow if that works for you. We’d like him to have daily lessons.” After saying their goodbyes, and the women all hugging each other, Joanna watched at the door until Roberta and Alice climbed into their car. She shut the door and turned around, leaning against it while she smiled at him. “How long will Alex be with Jimmy?” she asked. “Jimmy found out this morning that he got the sheriff’s position. He took Alex for a tour of the city buildings and then something about them grabbing lunch.” “More than likely at Cindy’s Bar and Grill.” Joanna had also noticed that Jimmy seemed to spend a lot of time at the bar and grill. One of these days Jonathan would have to meet this woman who his friend swore was no more than a friend. Maybe one night he’d take his family to have dinner there. Family—he sure liked the sound of that word. Yet there was one thing he needed to do to officially make them just that. “Come with me,” he told her, holding his hand out for her to take. “There’s something I want to show you.” She raised an eyebrow, pushing herself away from the front door and strolling over to him like a cat, her walk sultry and damned enticing. “And what might that be?” she purred, rubbing her hand up his chest. He took it in his, knowing if she touched him for too long he’d be showing her his cock right there on the family room floor. Granted until they bought some furniture, they’d be doing just about everything on the floor, but he wanted her to see what he’d done while they were alone. “I’ll show you,” he said, holding her hand and again guiding her out back through the sliding glass doors.

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He led the way across the shoveled walk toward the RV that he’d parked alongside their new home. She stopped when she noticed the wooden sign he’d hung next to the door of the trailer. “What’s this?” “I’m a family man now. I should have a job.” He admitted he was proud of the wooden sign that said, Jonathan Hunter, Private Investigator. “Alex helped me burn the letters into the wood. Do you like it?” “When did you decide to do this?” she asked and then followed him inside the RV. He closed the door and locked it, then made sure they had a good view of their drive so they’d know when Jimmy and Alex returned. He’d told Jimmy they would need a few hours. His friend understood. And Alex was in good hands. Now his plan was to get his hands on Joanna, and discuss something with her that had been burning inside him over the past few days. “Would you rather me be a grade school teacher?” He pulled her coat off her shoulders and tossed it on the couch by the door. “No. That wouldn’t be your forte.” “Nope.” He grabbed her, sliding his fingers along her warm skin and holding on to the top of her jeans. Undoing the top button, he pulled her to him, working her zipper down until his fingers almost reached her hot pussy. “A little adventure is good for a man’s soul.” “And where do you plan on getting your clients?” He knew she didn’t worry about their finances. MacDonald hadn’t found his accounts. There was money enough to take care of them for the rest of their lives. Pulling his hand out of her jeans, he slid her sweater over her breasts, revealing a hot pink lace bra. His breath caught in his throat while he stared at the cleavage that almost fell out of the enticing piece of lingerie. His mouth went dry and his cock throbbed as he pulled her sweater over her head. “Jimmy will be the new sheriff. I’m sure the clients will come my way.” She held her hands over her head until he had her sweater off and tossed to the couch with her coat. Hair streamed over her face and she brushed it to the side, blinking a few times. “You two going to take over this town too?” She ran her tongue over her top lip, smiling slightly while she ran her hands over her breasts. Jonathan shrugged. Being in charge came naturally to him, and it was a position he was comfortable with. This was new territory, a challenge he looked forward to. But now the adventure would be more rounded, more complete. He’d have Joanna by his side. And although for some reason the thought made his stomach twist in knots, marrying her would make the future even more secure. She cupped her breasts, squeezing them. He swallowed, almost drooling as her thin fingers spread over the swollen flesh. He’d made up his mind, knew today, right now,

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was the perfect time to talk to her about marriage. Before she’d been taken from him, he’d told her he would marry her. She hadn’t said no. The way she looked at him right now, lust mixed with love in her gaze, there was no way she’d tell him no. “We’re going to settle down here, be known in the community. It’s best they know that I’m employed so questions aren’t asked about where our money comes from.” “I like the sound of that.” She quit playing with herself and reached for his sweater. Her hands burned his flesh when she ran her fingernails underneath his shirt and created a path of fire up his chest. Hard shivers tore over his skin, and he gritted his teeth at the small amount of torture she applied. “We are bonded together, Juana.” He had to say this now. It wasn’t a normal feeling to hesitate about what was on his mind. The twisted sensation he’d sensed before in his gut returned. Nothing would stop him from having what he wanted though. Closing his eyes allowed the nerves in his gut to rise to his head. Hesitation made a man weak. He pulled his sweater over his head, mentally throwing the unfamiliar emotions off along with his clothing. She opened her mouth to speak and he pressed his finger over her lip, and then ran it over her chin, down her neck and to her breasts. Reaching for them, her warm ample flesh feeling so fucking good in his hands, he momentarily had a void of thoughts. Licking his lips, he fought to concentrate, while squeezing her breasts, the softness of skin and roughness of lace tearing at his senses. “Life put us together, forced us to be a couple. But we grew with each other, and became one.” “Yes,” she answered, the one word coming out on a sigh as she let her head fall back, covering his hands with hers. God, she was fucking beautiful. Her hair streamed over her shoulders, falling down her back while a few strands brushed over their hands. She arched into his touch, squeezing his hands with her own, encouraging him to caress, stroke, and adore her breasts. Her breathing grew heavier. “Juana. We’re starting a new life together now, the life we’ve both ached for all of our lives. We need to start it out right.” She raised her head slowly, her gaze clouded with lust and her lips parted. Her breathing came hard and she reached for his jeans, unfastening them. His cock raged with a fierce hardness that threatened his ability to speak, to get out what needed to be said. “You aren’t usually so long-winded when you have something to say,” she whispered, leaning into him and brushing kisses across his chest. Her breasts pressed against his flesh. Damn it. She was right. Procrastination wasn’t his style. When he wanted something, he took it. When something needed to be done, he did it. Life was there for the taking. He saw opportunities and jumped on them. Joanna had been his woman for years. Making it official wasn’t a big deal—nothing

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more than a piece of paper. Simply putting in writing what had existed for quite a long time wasn’t that big of a deal. He gripped her shoulders, sliding the straps to her bra over her slender arms. The way the thin pieces of hot pink material glided over her flesh brought his blood to a boil. Maybe they’d finish this conversation later. She unzipped his jeans and shoved his pants down. Barely managing to push them down far enough to free his cock, she stuffed her hands into his pants and squeezed his shaft. “Shit,” he hissed, fighting to remember what he needed to say to her. She ran her tongue over his skin then nibbled at his flesh. With such little effort she could take over the situation, turn him into mush completely unable to manage a thought, let alone a sentence. But this had to be said. Marrying her meant binding them together officially for life. No more saying it and then believing it to be true. It would be legal, known to the world. They’d pretended their way through most of life, sidestepping the rules and laws of normal society. Neither of them knew it any other way. But the first step of their new life would be walking the path that every other person walked, living as others did. Taking a step back, needing not to touch her for just a moment, he bent down and undid his boots. Stepping out of them he then pushed his jeans down, climbing out of them too. He stood before her naked, his cock thrust forward, dying to be inside her. She appeared before him in a fog of lust, his willing seductress, staring at him while she nibbled her lower lip. Damn it if she didn’t look starved for him. “Get out of your clothes.” He growled the order a bit harsher than he’d intended. Joanna grinned, knowing him better than possibly he knew himself. His blunt demand didn’t offend her, but turned her on. “You better watch my every move,” she whispered, shaking her hips back and forth slowly while gliding her fingers underneath her jeans. She wore loafers that she slid off her feet without bothering to look down. They were off her feet as her hands slid over her hips, taking her jeans with them. She grinned, having fun with him, captivating him and again controlling the moment as she slid her jeans down her legs. Then turning around, she bent over and pushed them down her legs, giving him a view that would kill many men. Her sweet pussy and ass were exposed to him, freshly shaved and already glistening with her come. Hot and wet, he couldn’t look away. His fucking cock pulsed as every drop of blood in his body sunk into his shaft. The swelling pain built inside him, taking over all thoughts of discussing marriage with her. He grabbed his cock, fighting to hold the pressure back.

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“Damn it, woman. You better believe I’m watching.” And dying as she continued slowly torturing him, swaying her ass back and forth with a tempting invitation he couldn’t ignore. “Good thing.” She remained bent over, looking over her shoulder at him with a wicked grin. “See how wet I am?” She reached between her legs, rubbing her pussy and ass with her fingers. He’d explode if he stood there a minute longer. Grabbing her, she squealed when he lifted her and turned her around then dropped her not too gently on to the kitchen table. He’d spend his time at this table learning the city, organizing files on his computer. Might as well consecrate his workspace properly. Her ass and hands slapped the tabletop and she leaned back slightly, spreading her legs and scooting toward him. The little lace bra she still wore barely held her ample breasts. Flesh bulged over the pink lace, blinding him with an incredibly erotic view. Parting her thin legs, exposing her pussy to him, she licked her lips, and sucked in a long breath. He lifted her legs, bringing her closer to him, and positioned his cock at the entrance of her pussy. “We’re going to be together for life, Joanna.” “Yes. We are.” Her breathing came in pants and she looked down at his cock. Her hard flat tummy rose and fell quickly. He focused on her long lashes, hooding her green eyes. She closed them briefly, sucking in air. “Please,” she said quietly. He moved his hips forward, slowly entering her. Heat so deadly it washed over him fast and hard, greeted him while he glided deeper into her soaked cunt. “Juana,” he growled, unable to breathe for a moment when her muscles constricted around him. So much moisture soaked him. She came so fucking hard when he filled her. The scent of her need filled the air around them, an intoxicating rich smell that quickly guided his actions. No matter how much he fooled himself into believing he was in charge here, Joanna controlled his actions, his heart, his soul. She was his life source, the better half of their whole. He pulled out of her soaked heat and then impaled her, moving quickly this time. “Oh God,” she screamed, falling back on the table. Her hands went to her face, covering her mouth, nose, eyes, while she ran her palms over her cheeks and then sucked on her fingers. He hit the spot inside her that would make her break, take her over the edge. The tip of his cock buried deep inside tight, shivering muscle, his shaft swelled with an eagerness to take her even further. This had to be his show. Giving her what she needed, while making it clear what had to be his to make them whole, he pounded into her again, loving her cries as her eyes opened wide and she made a small circle with her mouth. 137

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She was his, body and soul. Now he’d make it official. They already had a union that no one could destroy. His perfect match, his lover, his best friend. Friction created enough heat that sweat beaded over his flesh. He gripped her ankles, lifting and spreading her open further. As damned good as it felt, he forced himself to slow. There wasn’t a better sight in the world than watching his cock disappear inside her. Her pussy clung to him, and when he managed to bring his speed to a slow dull roar, he watched his come-soaked cock move in and out of her. Again she cried out, falling back onto her elbows. Her head fell back, her long hair fanning around her over the table. “Damn it, Jonathan, you’re torturing me.” “Want me to stop?” Like there was any way in hell he’d be able to do that. “Hell no. Fuck me harder.” “You want it hard?” Her breasts had worked their way over the bra that had confined them. Brown nipples puckered to life, enjoying their freedom. Blood pumped through him so hard a ringing sounded in his ears. She blurred before him and he fought to focus. She made him feel so damned good he’d do anything to see to her pleasure. Any request that sprang from her lips, he’d give it to her. “Does my baby like it rough?” he asked, imagining what she might ask of him. “Anything. Fuck me. Please.” She spoke through pants, managing to lift her head long enough to stare at him with deep emerald pools of desire. Her muscles tightened around him, making him ache for it to be tight, hot and suffocating. “Anything?” he asked, looking down at the come that soaked his cock. “Anything you want.” His blood boiled when he pulled his cock from her pussy. She convulsed when he brushed his fingers over her soaked flesh, covering himself with her come and then brushing it over her tight ass. “I want more than just this,” he told her, lubricating her tight puckered hole. She flinched against the touch, sucking in a hard breath. He continued coating her ass, loosening the tight little hole. Anticipating how he’d feel in her ass made it hard to breathe. “Damn it, Jonathan. What?” Her head moved slowly from side to side. He loved how her hair drifted over her shoulders, her bra straps pushed down over her arms, and her breasts falling over the hot pink lace. Moving his finger slowly back and forth, lubricating her ass with her own come, he fought to organize words in his head. The view before him was fucking hot. But he was a man of unbreakable self-control. No matter how fucking hot, how unbelievably irresistible she was, he should be able to say whatever the hell needed saying.

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His cock throbbed too hard. Blood flew inside his veins at a painful speed. He grabbed his cock, feeling her ankles press against his shoulders. She watched him, breathing deeply, working to relax herself. “Your ass is so wet,” he breathed, positioning himself outside the puckered hole. “Are you ready for me?” She nodded, licking her lower lip and then looking down between them. Anticipation flushed her cheeks. She’d give him anything but he needed to know it was what she wanted too. He had to know the life they would have together meant everything to her that it meant to him. “This is what you want?” he managed to ask, holding on to his cock for dear life before he slipped into the tight little hole. Her gaze met his and she searched his face, seeming to find something he hadn’t been able to put into words. Her smile about undid him. “Yes, Jonathan. Give me what I want.” He couldn’t speak, could barely think. The master of control, known worldwide as one who could plot, make decisions, hold lives in his hands, and she made him crumble into a babbling idiot with a small smile. No one had more power than she did. Not a soul on this planet moved him, took care of him, loved him, like his Joanna. He pressed into her flesh, feeling her tightness wrap around him before he glided into her tight, hot ass. “God. Oh Jonathan,” she cried out, reaching for him, digging her nails into his arms as she pulled him to her. Leaning over her, he buried himself in her ass and for a moment couldn’t move. “So fucking hot,” he murmured, her face a blur of passion before his eyes. “Fuck me,” she begged. Again he was no more than a slave to her desires. Moving his cock, he closed his eyes and endured the thousands of tiny muscles that vibrated against his shaft. She suffocated him. Her ass squeezed so hard against his shaft that he barely managed to breathe. Joanna scraped her nails down his arm, digging her heels into his shoulders and bucking against him as he built momentum. “Yes. Oh Jonathan. Yes.” Muscles hardened throughout him and he swore blood vessels popped. He moved with so much speed the heat burned him alive inside. Her smooth ass constricted around him, taking all he had. He exploded, feeling the pressure break like a dam no longer able to control the tidal wave that demanded freedom. It took a moment before he could move. Even opening his eyes took more effort than he was capable of. After seconds, her warm hands caressed his arms, moving slightly against his still too tight muscles. “Are you okay?” she whispered. 139

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He pulled out of her, which caused blood to once again flow inside him at a normal rate. He was lightheaded when he focused on her searching expression. “You amaze me, you know that?” He straightened. Holding her legs, he lowered them until they hung from the side of the table. Then lifting her into his arms, he moved naked through the trailer toward the bathroom. “How do I amaze you?” she asked. “I mean other than my damn good looks and charming personality.” She giggled. He knew she was happy. There weren’t many people who’d seen the lighter side of her, the teasing side. For the most part, the world had known them as fierce warriors, more than human, dangerous enough to be trailed and captured. But here was his Joanna, lighthearted and happy. Again the fluttering in his gut reminded him of what he needed to say to her. “Because you love me,” he told her, turning her and cupping her face in his hands. “You amaze me with all that you give me.” She didn’t say anything, her smile fading for a moment and then returning. She didn’t try to pull her head from his hands, but raised her face and stroked damp hair from his forehead. “We’re amazing together,” she told him. “Promise me we’ll stay that way.” “Juana. Marry me, please.” The words just fell out. All this planning of what he would say, how he would present the conversation, and the simple words tumbled off his tongue. She blinked and a lone tear strolled down her cheek. This wasn’t supposed to upset her. There wasn’t any doubt in his mind that she’d have him. Crying wasn’t what he’d thought she’d do when he informed her that he wanted to make their life official. “The last time you mentioned marriage you informed me that I would marry you,” she whispered. Reaching behind her, she undid her bra that now twisted around her body. “But this…Oh, Jonathan…hell yes, I’ll marry you.” The bra fell to the floor and she grinned broadly, her eyes dancing as she gazed up to him. “Our bodies and souls are one.” “And they will be always,” she whispered, and leaned in to him for a kiss.

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About the Author All my life, I’ve wondered at how people fall into the routines of life. The paths we travel seemed to be well-trodden by society. We go to school, fall in love, find a line of work (and hope and pray it is one we like), have children and do our best to mold them into good people who will travel the same path. This is the path so commonly referred to as the “real world”. The characters in my books are destined to stray down a different path other than the one society suggests. Each story leads the reader into a world altered slightly from the one they know. For me, this is what good fiction is about, an opportunity to escape from the daily grind and wander down someone else’s path. Lorie O’Clare lives in Kansas with her three sons. Lorie welcomes mail from readers. You can write to her c/o Ellora’s Cave Publishing at 1056 Home Avenue, Akron, OH 44310-3502.

Also by Lorie O’Clare Cariboo Lunewulf 1: Taming Heather Cariboo Lunewulf 2: Pursuit Cariboo Lunewulf 3: Challenged Dead World Fallen Gods: Jaded Prey Fallen Gods: Lotus Blooming Fallen Gods: Tainted Purity Fallen Gods: Embracing Temptation Full Moon Rising Issue of Trust Lunewulf 1: Pack Law Lunewulf 2: In Her Blood Lunewulf 3: In Her Dreams Lunewulf 4: In Her Nature Lunewulf 5: In Her Soul Sex Slaves 1: Sex Traders Sex Slaves 2: Waiting For Yesterday Sex Slaves 3: Waiting For Dawn Things That Go Bump in the Night 2004 anthology Torrid Love: After Dusk Torrid Love: Caught! Torrid Love: The First Time

Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.

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