Falling for a Stranger (26 page)

"He was afraid Megan would tell people that he killed her parents."

"Would they have believed her?"

"I don't know. Even if they did, they probably wouldn't have acted. The whole family lived in fear of Enrique."

"So there has to be something more to his motivation."

"It might be her money. She comes into an inheritance when she's twenty-five. Until then Enrique controls the money that's allegedly used for her support."

"So if he thought Megan was dead, what would happen to the money?"

"I assume the next person in line, which would have been Enrique, would get it all."

That was interesting. "Maybe Enrique is just as happy that Megan is dead then," he mused.

"I was thinking that might be a possibility," Ria agreed. "But if he finds out she's not dead, he may have to kill her in order to keep using her money. And he'll have to kill me, too, because I'll fight him til my last breath."

He heard the defiance and determination in her voice and knew she would do exactly what she'd said.

"You won't fight him alone," he promised. "Don't argue with me," he said as she opened her mouth. "You may not want me in this, but I'm in. I'm all in. I'm not leaving. I'm not turning away. I'm not pretending you're dead. So you're going to have to deal with that."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah."

Tension flared between them.

"Then you're going to have to deal with this," she said. She threw her arms around his neck and planted her mouth on his.

And as he met her desperate, passion-filled kisses with his own, he knew that every word he'd just spoken was true. This woman was his woman. And he'd protect her with every last breath that he took. He just hoped it wouldn't come to that.

Chapter Nineteen

Late Monday afternoon, Drew got a call from Max just as he was getting off work, so Drew headed over to the police station. He found Max in the Investigations Unit. He was on the phone but waved Drew into the chair by his desk. A moment later, he ended his call and leaned back in his chair.

"You got here fast."

"I'm curious to hear what you learned."

"Well, Enrique Valdez is one bad ass. His official residence is in Spain, but he's wanted in three countries, including the United States, for racketeering, drug smuggling, murder and extortion."

"Then why is he free?" Drew demanded.

"He's smart, and he runs a loyal organization. A lot of men have taken the fall for him. He's also used his wealth to buy off local police in the countries where he has homes, including the island you mentioned."

"Isla de los Sueños," he said. "Island of Dreams."

"That's the one. Unfortunately, while some of his addresses are known, Valdez moves around a lot. He has private planes and luxury yachts at his disposal. He travels with bodyguards, and on one occasion he managed to escape a sting operation by using a body double."

"That's crazy," Drew said in amazement. Ria hadn't been exaggerating when she'd said Valdez was extremely dangerous.

"What's crazy is you being involved with this guy," Max said tersely. "I did what you asked. Now I need information. What is your connection to Valdez? Or what is your girlfriend's connection?"

"I can't tell you."

"And I can't accept your answer," Max said.

"You're going to have to."

"You Callaways are so damn stubborn. You think you can handle everything on your own. Look, Drew, I'm sure you're a hell of a pilot, but chasing down criminals is not your area; it's mine."

"I made a promise."

"And I made a promise to your sister that I wouldn't let you go off half-cocked against a super criminal. Do you think I want to sleep on the couch?"

Drew let out a sigh. "As concerned as I am about your sex life, I still can't tell you the whole story. It's too dangerous."

"You have to give me something."

He hesitated, knowing he was about to cross that line Ria was so worried about. But while he knew more about Valdez now, he still knew nothing about Kate except what Ria had told him. "I've heard that Enrique had his brother and sister-in-law killed," he said slowly. "Did that come up in your notes? The brother's name was Reynoldo."

"It's my understanding the couple was killed in a car accident."

"The brakes were tampered with."

"Not according to the police report."

"Which could have been wrong if Enrique had the police department under his thumb."

Max nodded. "True. I'm assuming your girlfriend is connected to Valdez in some way. Why doesn't she want my help?"

"I can't answer that, either."

"Then let me take a guess." He leaned back in his chair, giving Drew a thoughtful look. "She's done something that could get her into trouble. You don't have to answer. I have a pretty good idea of what's going on."

"She's not a criminal, Max. She's one of Enrique's victims."

"Does she know where he is?"

"No, and she's hoping he doesn't know where she is."

"You should tell her to consider coming clean with us or the feds. If we give her protection, she'll be safer, and we might have a shot at catching him."

"Why? Because you would use her like bait?" He couldn't stand the thought of Ria and Megan being some kind of a lure.

"I never said that," Max replied. "I don't use civilians as bait."

"Maybe you don't, but I imagine others would see the situation differently."

"So what are you going to do? Be your own one-man army?"

"Believe me, I'd love to have a few more troops," he said dryly. "But I'm lucky Ria let me in at all. She doesn’t trust anyone. And she'll hate that I've told you this much."

"What did she do, Drew?"

He stared back at Max. "I really can't tell you."

Max rubbed his jaw. "Did she take something or someone that belongs to Valdez? Emma told me she had her niece with her at your parents' house."

His pulse pounded at Max's sharp question. Harrison was a smart detective. He was already putting the puzzle together with the limited information that he had.

When Drew remained quiet, Max added. "If she did, Valdez won't stop at anything to get that something or that person back."

"Ria knows that," he said heavily.

"You have to let me help you, Drew. Talk to Ria. Convince her to at least speak to me. I'll do everything in my power to make sure she's safe and that the right people go to jail."

He nodded, then got to his feet. "I'll tell her. Thanks, Max."

"I wish I could do more."

"Maybe you can. I'll see what she has to say. I appreciate your discretion."

"We're going to be brothers," Max said with a smile. "Emma has been very explicit in explaining to me what Callaway family loyalty entails. You can trust me."

"I do, but I have to get Ria to trust you, too, and that will be more difficult."

"Maybe bring her by the house one day. She can talk to Emma and me in a non-threatening situation."

"That’s a good idea. I'll see if I can make that happen."

"In the meantime," Max said. "Watch your back."

It wasn't his back he was concerned with; it was Ria's.

* * *

Ria worked in the yacht club office on Monday. She didn't enjoy office work usually, but she was happy to have something to take her mind off of Drew. She couldn't stop wondering what he was doing, because she was fairly certain he wasn't at all done interfering in her life. Part of her was touched that he cared enough to be that concerned about her. But the other part of her wondered if he wasn't just getting caught up in the challenge.

Drew was a rescue operative. It's what he did every day, and now he had a chance to save someone he knew, someone who wasn't a stranger, and he wanted to be successful. He wanted to pull her and Megan out of Enrique's clutches. But Drew was not used to battling someone like Valdez. She just had to convince of that fact, which would not be an easy feat. But there was nothing she could do about it at the moment.

Megan came by the office a little before five. She'd had Lindsay's mom drop her off at the club after the school play rehearsal. Megan had won a small part in the production and was excited about being on the stage. And that school play was another reminder of how entrenched Megan was getting into life in San Francisco.

"Can we eat here?" Megan asked as Ria locked up the office. "I really like their club sandwiches."

"Sure," she said. She wasn't really in the mood to shop for groceries or to cook.

They grabbed a table in the restaurant and while they waited for their food, Megan filled her in on all the prom gossip. Ria didn't have to say much. In fact, just a nod now and then seemed to be all Megan needed to continue on to the next story, which was fine. Ria wasn't in the mood to talk anyway, and she liked the fact that Megan felt comfortable enough to confide in her.

She couldn't remember having such conversations with her mother, and Kate had been long gone by the time she was in high school.

While Ria held herself responsible for Megan's well-being, in many ways Megan felt more like a sister than a niece.

Megan paused as their food was set down before then. Then she jumped back into conversation.

"So is Drew coming over tonight?" she asked.

"I haven't spoken to him," Ria replied.

"How was your walk last night?"

"It was fine."

Megan shot her a quick look. "You seemed kind of upset when you got back."

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Did you guys have a fight?"

She sighed. "Megan. I said I don't want to talk about it."

"Well, I do. I like Drew."

"You've made that abundantly clear."

"And I think he's good for you," Megan continued. "He makes you relax. You smile when he's around. You even laugh. For a long time I thought you'd forgotten how to do that."

"Not a lot to laugh about the past few years."

"I know. And when you first took me off the island, I was really depressed and scared at first, because I didn't know what was going to happen to us. But you were so confident that we were going to be okay that I started to believe you. And you know what, Ria? We are okay."

She didn't want to take away Megan's sense of security, so she just nodded. "Yeah, we're doing good."

"But I'm not stupid, and I know that my uncle could still come after us. I just don't want to think about him every single day. I don't want to feel trapped in his prison when we're so far away from him. And I don't want you to feel that way, either."

"Thanks, Megan," she said with a soft smile. "I'll try not to be such a downer."

"Well, you're never a downer when Drew is around."

"Let it go," she said with exasperation.

Megan smiled. "I'm just looking out for you."

"Eat your dinner," she said firmly.

Thankfully, Megan picked up her sandwich and began to eat. Their conversation turned to easier topics, including which bachelor Megan thought was going to win the bachelorette's heart on her favorite television show.

Ria could barely stand to watch the show, but Megan and her friends were addicted. There was something about all those handsome men after one woman's heart that really appealed to them. She couldn't imagine trying to find love on a television show. Then again, finding love was the least of her worries right now.

When they finished eating, Megan said, "Before we go, I was wondering if you could show me Drew's boat."

Ria nodded. "I guess I could do that. It's not far." She paid the check and they headed out of the yacht club. It was past six now, and the sun was going down in the west, casting an orange pink glow over the horizon. The marina was quiet; most of the boats were packed up for the night. Mondays were usually slow days at the club.

She took Megan out to see Drew's boat, which was in a slip at the far end of the harbor.

"Who's Eleanor?" Megan asked as she looked at the sailboat.

"Drew's grandmother. It's his grandfather's boat."

"It's big," Megan said.

"Yes, it is."

As Ria looked at the deck of the boat, she couldn't help remembering the night she and Drew had made love under the stars. Drew had planned the perfect evening for her, giving her everything she loved. He knew her pretty well, which was both wonderful and terrifying.

"Are you okay?" Megan asked, giving her a thoughtful look.

"We should get home," she said briskly.

"You're thinking about Drew."

"No, I'm thinking that you're driving me crazy."

"That's because I speak the truth. But we can go home. I have homework to do."

As Megan started walking down the dock, Ria's phone rang. She paused, wondering if it was Drew, but it her mother's number. "Mom?" she asked. "Is something wrong?"

"I wonder if we'll ever be able to have a conversation without starting with that question," her mother said with a sigh.

"Then I'm guessing nothing is wrong."

"No. I just wanted to let you know that the car I saw in the neighborhood belonged to a realtor. There was nothing going on, no one was spying on us."

"I'm extremely relieved."

"How was Megan's prom?"

"It was good."

"That's all?"

"I can't talk right now."

"I wish we could have a real conversation," her mother complained.

"We will—someday. But I do have to go."

"Take care of yourself then and Megan, too. I love you," her mother said.

It was the first time in a very long time that her mother had ever said the words, and Ria was a bit taken aback. Before she could reply, the dial tone sounded in her ear. It was just as well. She'd forgiven her mother for a lot, but telling her she loved her wasn't going to come that easily.

As she closed her phone, she heard a scream. Her head jerked up.

Shocked, she looked down the dock and saw a man forcing Megan into a speedboat. She broke into a run as the boat started to back out of the slip.

"No," she screamed. She glanced around, but they were completely alone in the marina. There was no one to call for help. And in a few minutes, Megan would be out to sea.

She did the only thing she could think of. She took a running leap and jumped into the boat.