Ride the Fire (25 page)

God, he was ready to collapse. He hurt all over, was so feverish he was surprised the water wasn’t boiling at his feet. Just a little longer, and this would all be over.

Splashing sounded. Someone approaching. From the noise it sounded like more than one person. If Eve had gotten help, it could be the police or FBI.

Flattening himself against the wall, he waited. As the figures drew closer, the bottom fell out of his stomach. Eve. And Jesse was behind her, forcing her to walk.

Quietly he knelt, scooped a glob of the gunk he’d been using to draw the arrows on the wall—he hoped to God it was mud—and palmed it, holding it at his side. Steeling himself, he moved away from the wall and stood in the middle of the tunnel. Eve’s eyes met his, frightened, but also determined. He read the unspoken message there—she would be ready, whatever he had to do.

Jesse stopped them a few feet from Sean, his sneering, hateful voice echoing in the gloom. “You lose, old friend. I get the girl, again. But this time you won’t live long enough for regrets.”

“Oh, I plan to live a long time after you’re dead, fucker.”

With that, he charged forward, drawing back his arm as Eve dove to the side, landing in the water. Jesse, who must have thought he held a plastic explosive, shouted and threw a hand up in reflex. The mud hit the side of his face with a splat, messy but harmless. As Sean closed the distance, Jesse raised his other hand and something black and shiny glinted there.

There was a pop, a sting in his side, but his momentum carried him into his enemy in a full tackle. They went over together, and the fight for survival was on— and he had to fare a hell of a lot better than when they’d fought in the parking lot.

Because this time, one of them would not walk away.

Sean rolled in the water and muck, struggled to grab Jesse’s gun arm. They were both slippery, but he managed to grab the other man’s wrist. Slammed it against the concrete wall until Jesse lost his grip and the weapon plopped harmlessly into the murk.

Jesse brought his knee up and pushed Sean’s chest, throwing him onto his back. The bastard got the upper hand, sat on his chest, grabbed his hair, and forced his head under the water. Sean heard Eve scream, willed her to run and get help. He held his breath, bucking, grasping at Jesse’s arms. Anything to dislodge him.

Nothing worked.

His lungs were going to explode. His brain began to grow fuzzy.

Suddenly Jesse’s body was knocked off balance and Sean was able to throw him to the side. He bolted upright, gasping for air. Wiped his eyes. And stared in amazement.

Jesse was on his hands and knees, Eve standing over him brandishing a broken piece of scrap wood. From the looks of things, she’d clocked him on the head, and she was ready to deliver another blow.

Which she did, swinging like Babe Ruth for the bleachers. Jesse went down and didn’t move again.

Sean pushed to his feet with an effort and staggered to her, pulled her into his arms. “That’s my girl,” he whispered, holding her tight.

“God, I thought he was going to kill you.”

“Me, too. Guess I’m not the fighter I used to be.”

“That’s why you’ve got me to watch your back.” She shuddered, peering around him at Jesse. “What are we going to do with him? We can’t leave him here or he might get away.”

“Oh, he’s not going anywhere. I’ve got plans for him.” Walking over to a drainpipe near the alcove where he’d been hiding, he fetched the rope he’d hooked over it. “This is what he used on us. Figure we’ll return the favor.”

“Then what?”

“And then I’m going to finish this for good.”

“Soon.”

“What are you doing now?”

“Giving him a choice, which is more than he gave my family. I doubt Jesse will survive in prison, and despite everything that’s gone down between us—or maybe because I remember the friend he used to be—I want to give him an honorable way out.”

“I get that,” she said slowly. “But, Sean—”

“That’s not the only reason, though. His trial will go on for years. Years while we’re beginning our lives together, maybe even starting a family. And even if he
does
survive in prison, what do you think Jesse will use all that time to do?”

Her eyes widened in understanding. “He’ll be plotting how to get us, perhaps even our children.”

“Exactly.” He paused, took her by the shoulders. “You’re going to go back now. Just follow the arrows the way you came, let the agents know where to find us. This once, do as I ask and don’t argue with me. Please.”

She had been gearing up for an argument, but after a few moments of inner turmoil, she nodded. “This once. Please, don’t do anything that you’ll regret.”

“I won’t be the one with regrets this time.” Never again. Kissing her soundly, he reluctantly let her go and pushed her away. “Go, bring the cavalry.”

Though it might not make a difference to his enemy.

He set to his grim task and, after he finished, stood back to survey his handiwork. Fighting might not be in his repertoire of skills these days, but he hadn’t forgotten everything he knew about explosives.

Jesse stirred with a groan, coming around. Sean moved next to him and murmured in his ear. “Don’t move.”

Even while he was semiconscious, the other man’s instincts were honed for danger. He froze, blinked his eyes open. Visibly fought to clear his head.

“What the fuck?”

“Oh, it looks to me like you’re fucked, all right. How does it feel to be helpless, Jesse? To know your minutes are numbered?”

Moving as little as possible, the man took stock of the ropes binding him. The wires threaded through the ropes. The C-4 attached to his middle, the wires ending there. Raising his head, he stared into Sean’s eyes, a spark of something human that used to be Jesse flaring in the depths of his.

“You don’t have it in you,” he said evenly. “You’re not a killer.”

“No, but you are. You killed my family that night, didn’t you? Ran them off the road.” Cold fury temporarily took the place of fatigue. He would have this settled before the night was done.

Jesse licked his lips, a hint of fear breaking his icy calm. “I didn’t do shit to them. I was following Blair’s car, yes. I’d planned to meet your slutty wife later, get a little snatch. The accident was just that, and I pulled over, took a photo. Figured it would come in handy later as something to torture you with.”

“I don’t believe you,” Sean hissed. “You caused the accident, even if it turned out much worse than you planned. Admit it.”

“Believe what you want. I didn’t do it.” The other man was beginning to sound afraid. “Tormenting you after the fact was just a bonus.”

In that moment, Sean realized he couldn’t trust Jesse’s word. Though he believed Jesse had a role in his family’s death, he’d never know for sure whether or not the man was telling the truth.

That chapter was written. Done.

And it no longer mattered, because they were just as gone.

Jesse’s pleading voice intruded into his thoughts. “We were friends, once. The best of friends. Let me go, for old times’ sake. I’ll disappear and never bother you again. I’ll leave the country and—”

“Can’t do that, Jesse. You’re a thief, an arsonist. A murderer.” More than ever, he was resolved to see this through to the end. “You took the lives of innocent people like the ones in the restaurant. You cut the hoses on our tanks, nearly got me killed. One of my men could’ve been hurt. I can only imagine how many people you’ve terrorized and killed over the years. It stops, here. Now.”

Jesse swallowed hard. Sean saw the moment he realized there was no recourse. No way out.

“You’re going down, one way or the other. What’s it going to be? You have maybe another five minutes to decide. Then the FBI will be here to take you away. Know what they’ll do? Send you to death row, where you’ll spend long lonely years fighting the charges, only to wind up with a needle in your arm. Zero tolerance against terrorists, you understand.” His voice was nearly gone now, and so was his strength.

“And don’t even think of waiting until they arrive to detonate the C-4, because I plan to warn them, and there’s hardly enough there to do damage to anyone but you. So I’ll ask you again—what’s it going to be?” As he started to turn away, Jesse’s voice halted him.

“I’ll see you in hell.”

He looked into Jesse’s eyes, saw genuine regret there. At last. That was something, at least. “I’ve already been there,
old friend
. Good-bye, Jesse.”

Walking away wasn’t as difficult as he’d imagined. It was Jesse’s choice to make, and he
had
a choice, unlike all his victims.

Sean staggered down the tunnel the way he’d come before, using the wall as support. Twenty yards. Fifty. Each second echoed with the heavy beat of his heart. Waiting.

A loud rumble from behind him told him of Jesse’s choice.

It was over.

But not for him. He had to get to civilization before he passed out. Warm wetness seeped down his side. Leaning against the wall, he pulled up his shirt, inspected the wound. Appeared the bullet had simply taken out a chunk of flesh, but it hurt like the devil.

One last scar courtesy of Jesse Rose.

He wasn’t sure how long he’d walked when he heard voices calling his name. His answering shout came out a croak and he pushed on.

And was suddenly surrounded by federal agents and detectives. The tunnel was also filled with bomb squad guys, a couple commenting on the fact that the disarming had already been successfully completed. Two men put his arms around their shoulders, supporting his weight.

“Jesus, you look like something the cat barfed up. Let’s get him to the paramedics!”

“Wait.” Agent Westfall’s face floated in front of Sean’s. “Where’s Rose?”

Sean hitched a thumb the direction from which he’d come. “Back there. What’s left of him.”

“Shit. What happened?”

“Must’ve tripped over his own bomb, Agent,” he said quietly. “Wouldn’t you say?”

After a moment, Westfall nodded, lips quirking into grim parody of a smile. “Yeah, you must be right. Shit like that happens when a dumbass plays with explosives.”

Sean sagged in relief as Westfall and his partner moved past him to do whatever agents did when they had to scrape up a dead terrorist. God.

The cops got him to the ladder, where he somehow climbed to street level. Vision blurry, he scanned the faces for the one he most wanted, needed, to see.

“Sean!”

He found her. She broke away from a group of uniformed cops and ran to him, nearly toppling him over in her enthusiasm. A man in love could do worse than to have this sort of reception waiting for him at the end of the day.

“God, I was so scared!” Kisses peppered his face.

“Baby, as much as I love your kisses, I stink, and I need a shower.”

“Hospital first, shower, and then sleep. In that order,” she said, hands roaming every inch of him she could check. “You’re bleeding.”

“Missing some skin, that’s all.”

“What happened with Jesse?”

“He’s dead, baby. He’ll never hurt anyone again.”

Her eyes widened in alarm. “You didn’t . . .”

“Kill him myself? No. Just gave him the option like we discussed. You really don’t want to know more.”

Falling silent, she helped a cop get him to an ambulance parked at the end of the street. The team jumped into action, taking his vitals, starting an IV.

“You’ll be okay, Captain Tanner,” one reassured him. “We’re going to transport you to the ER, where they’ll clean and stitch that wound in your side, check the rest of your injuries, and probably get you on some strong antibiotics. They may not even keep you.”

“Would suit me fine. I want to sleep in my . . .” Well, fuck. His house was gone.

“You’ll stay with me.” Eve smiled, stroking his hair. “We’ll start over, together, like we’d planned.”

The ambulance doors closed and he smiled back. Or thought he did. Things got fuzzy after that and he let himself drift to sleep, the rocking of the ambulance and the touch of Eve’s fingers soothing the hurt.

Good-bye, Jesse. You’ll never know how sorry I am that it had to end this way.

Me, too, old friend. Me, too.

Green eyes blinked open, regarded her lazily for a few minutes. Then the corners crinkled as he smiled at her, stretched like a big cat. “Mornin’, beautiful.”

“That certainly sounds more promising than the last few days.” She cupped his bristly jaw, admiring the shadow. Made him look a bit dangerous, which he was. And all hers.

“Sorry I’ve been out of it. Make it up to you?” Those eyes glinted with promise.

She stroked his bare chest. “Mmm. Someone’s feeling better.”

“Much. The miracle of antibiotics. Amazing.” He scooted closer, nibbling at her lips.

“Oh, yes. Very amazing, and I don’t mean the drugs. Are you sure you’re up to fooling around, handsome?”

“Does it feel like I’m ‘up’ to you?” Taking her hand, he moved it to his erection, standing hard and ready.

“Why, I believe it does.”

Pushing her gently to her back, he covered her, skin against skin. Slid their bodies together, creating wonderful friction as he parted her lips with his tongue. Played, teased, and tasted, cock rubbing against her belly. Thumbed her nipples, bringing them to attention.

Nibbling his way down her body, he parted her legs and bent. Tongued her slit and chuckled darkly when she whimpered, raising her hips.

“Patience, baby.”

“All out. Please, I need you.”

His mouth was glorious, suckling her sex, flicking her clit until she pulled at his hair, urging him. “Inside me.”

“With pleasure.” He paused, a strange light on his face. “Condom?”

“Does that mean you’d be willing to stop using them?”

“That’s what it means, baby,” he whispered, brushing his fingers through her hair. “Let’s stop using precautions, let nature take its course. If you’re ready.”

“Oh, yes.” Tears filled her eyes. “Make love to me.”

He entered her slowly, gaze locked with hers. Pushed inside, filling her, completing them both. She’d never felt anything so right as this man making love to her, no barriers between them. Their bond, already strong, glowed as the final piece clicked into place.

Trust. Love. Hope.

They were together and this love was it for them.

Moving his hips, he thrust steadily, stroking the fires. They rode the flames together, to the edge, surging. Clinging to each other, they shattered and he poured into her, hot and sweet. Sealed their love, never to be broken. Always cherished.

“Thank you for loving me,” he murmured.

“I always have.”

“That makes me the luckiest man in the world.”