Savor the Danger (27 page)

“For you to trust me now.”

He heard her draw a deep breath, then another—and finally she smoothed her hand down his back. “I do.”

One day, she'd be saying that in front of a preacher. “Thanks, babe.” Smiling in satisfaction, Jackson stepped forward, more than ready to get the show on the road.

 

T
AKING
A
RIZONA'S HAND
, Alani hunkered down behind the car. Her heart beat so fast that she thought she might pass out.

It was Arizona who whispered, “Breathe. I'm strong, but I'm not sure I can carry you if we need to run.”

Under less dire circumstances, Alani might have laughed. “I won't faint, I promise.”

“Glad to hear it.”

God, she sounded like Jackson. In some ways, they were so much alike that it made perfect sense for them to be pseudosiblings. Alani was very glad that they'd had each other.

She peeked around to see what was happening.

As the BMW's doors opened and people stepped out, Jackson stood beside the driver's door, the epitome of confidence. Three men…and one woman.

Lousy odds, but when it came to handling bad situations, she'd put her money, and her heart, on Jackson.
Please, please, please don't let him be hurt.

The woman held a gun loosely in her hand, her arm down at her side. And she smiled.

“That's her,” Alani whispered to Arizona. “That's the woman who drugged Jackson.”

“Chandra.” Arizona stared at her with a laser beam of red-hot hatred. “If ever a person needed killing, she's it.”

Smug, the woman—Chandra—stepped toward Jackson. “I wouldn't suggest you try anything.”

Behind her, arms crossed, the musclemen waited.

“No?” As if bored, Jackson stepped away from the car—moving the danger farther away. “Why not?”

“Your backup is done for. They think they've solved everything.” She shrugged. “Of course, that was just part of my plan.”

“Yeah?” He took another step away. “What plan is that?”

“The plan to keep them preoccupied with others. The plan to set up all of you.” Her eyes glittered. “The plan to get even, of course.”

“Huh.” With a lack of concern, Jackson said, “I'm surprised you came yourself. Even a complete psycho has to realize that's a risky move. Or is it just that you couldn't afford any more henchmen?”

“I wanted to see you die!” The outburst left her flustered, and she quickly collected herself again. And then, on a tittering laugh that sent goose bumps down Alani's spine, she purred, “You don't recognize me, do you?”

“Sure I do. You're Chandra Silverman.”

Her expression hardened.

“They were good drugs, but they didn't stop my brain from working. You had to know I'd figure it all out.”

“All of it? I doubt that.” Chandra moved closer to him while the men held guns and watched. “I've always enjoyed an…elaborate revenge.”

“How elaborate?”

The sinister smile widened. “For starters, I had decided to have you. Did you know that?”

“Damn, lady, that is cruel and unusual punishment.”

“Shut up!” Again, she collected herself. Breathing deep, she looked him over, then cocked out a hip. “I would have had you, and then rendered you useless. For a man like you, that'd be the best revenge.”

Quietly, Jackson said, “Even drugged, that never would have happened.”

“Ha! You wouldn't have had a choice. Believe me, it would have been a done deal if that prissy little bitch hadn't showed up.” Looking beyond Jackson, she murmured, “But she did show up, didn't she? She threw off my plans, so now she has to pay, too.”

Hearing such a direct threat made Alani's throat go tight. Without saying a word, Arizona leaned into her, bolstering her.

Chandra continued to smile. “Tell her to come out from behind the car.”

Succinct, Jackson said, “Dream on.”

“There's nowhere for her to go. You realize that, right?”

“I realize a whole lot of things. Now you should realize how bad your planning ability is.”

Chandra shook her head on a laugh. “I'm excellent at what I do.”

“Yeah?” Jackson moved slightly closer to her. “That's why Marc Tobin is safe? That's why I took your men out of commission so easily? That's why you got busted that first day at my apartment?” He snorted. “Doesn't sound like good planning to me.”

For a second, Chandra showed her anger, but then she merely laughed again. “Get her out here, or I'll shoot you.”

As if he had all the control, Jackson said, “Why don't you tell me first what this is all about? Why me?”

“You stole from me.” She shrugged. “One of my favorite girls, too.”

Jackson's entire demeanor changed. Voice filled with deadly menace, he said, “You threw her away.”

Pleased to get a rise from him, Chandra curled her mouth. “No, I tried to
kill
her. Those are two very different things.” She waved the gun barrel at him. “You robbed me of my satisfaction, and you demolished my men.”

“I've demolished a lot of your men. So what? They sucked anyway.”

The guys watching took exception to that, and reached for their guns. Chandra raised a hand. “Not yet,” she said. She looked beyond Jackson, and made brief eye contact with Alani. “She's back there with your girlfriend, isn't she? I followed her here, so don't bother denying it.”

“She's no concern of yours.”

“There's where you're wrong. I'm thorough. You said so yourself, if you recall. I destroy those who cross me. And that means I'll have them both, and you'll watch as they die.” Keeping the gun on Jackson, she spoke toward the car. “Now, girls, why don't you come on out before I let my men dissect him?”

Knowing what she would do, Alani grabbed Arizona's arm.
“No.”

Undecided, Arizona chewed her bottom lip. “I have to.”

Panic beat in Alani's heart. “Absolutely not.”

Chandra heard their exchange, and laughed. “Step out or he's dead. The choice is yours.”

Swallowing back a groan, Alani grabbed on to Arizona, but that only got her half dragged along when Arizona did as ordered.

“I'm sorry,” Alani said to Jackson.

“That's all right, doll. No harm.” He kept his back to
her, his posture relaxed—and despite facing the armed lunatics, that helped Alani to be brave, too.

“Loyal little thing, aren't you?” Chandra said to Arizona.

Arizona smirked. “I'm surprised you can even say the word. Usually dead women can't talk. And you
are
dead—whether you realize it yet or not.”

Oh God, oh God. Alani tried to think what to do.

“Still as mouthy as ever, I see.” Chandra tipped her head. “Arms out.”

Staring straight at Chandra, Arizona lifted her arms.

Chandra tsked in mock disappointment. “Weaponless? You're slipping. And here my men were so looking forward to disarming you.”

“They won't touch her,” Jackson promised.

“They will get their fill,” Chandra countered.

“No.” And he approached Chandra.

Stunned by the bold move, she ordered, “Stop right there.”

“I don't think so.”

Her jaw clenched, and she turned to aim the gun at Alani.

Heart stuttering, Alani shrank back—until Jackson moved into the line of fire. That scared her even more. But he stopped before Chandra fired, and now he stood oh so much closer to her.

Alani fixated on that gun. She hated guns, all of them, but to see one aimed at Jackson amplified everything tenfold.

“Let's get it all said, lady. Why did you drug me in the first place?”

“For one thing, I needed to search your place.” She lifted a slender shoulder. “I figured you had to have a clue around somewhere that'd tell me where to find my
property. Yes, I knew you took her. You didn't see me that night on the bridge. You never suspected that a woman could be involved, did you?”

He laughed. “I've known plenty of sick females. There's nothing unique about you.”

“Think again.” She stepped up to him, the gun held tight in her hand. Jackson just stared down at her, insolent, unmoved, showing not one iota of fear. “Most people would have gone after their property and been satisfied. But not me. I tracked you that night, and you've been a project of mine ever since. I have detailed plans for you.”

“Works for me, 'cuz I hate unfinished business.”

Hearing Jackson taunt a madwoman, Alani had to shove a fist against her mouth to stay quiet.

“Me, too,” Arizona said. “And since the business is mostly between us, why don't you leave him out of it?” Pale, cold, in some way deadly, Arizona started forward.

“Don't you dare,”
Alani told her. When Chandra and her men eyed her with varying degrees of surprise, Alani forced herself to stop cowering. The nearly hysterical laugh almost escaped, but she managed to quell it. Hoping to infuse some confidence into her tone, she said to Arizona, “He has it under control. Can't you see that?”

Arizona waffled…and held back.

Jackson regained Chandra's attention by asking, “How'd you get in, anyway? I hate to think I let every crazy broad past the door.”

Chandra trailed the knuckles of her gun hand down his body and over his fly. “Still don't remember? My, those were good drugs.”

She caressed him—and Alani wanted to take her apart. She surprised herself with the ferocious inclination.

But it helped her to remember that she had Arizona's gun in her purse.

Oh. Did she dare? Would she be able to withdraw it without anyone noticing?

Holding her breath, she slipped her hand into the purse and easily located the heavy gun. The men had all their attention on Jackson, almost as if they feared him.

But they didn't see her as a threat.

Alani's knees felt weak, her stomach sick.

Chandra continued talking. “I knocked, and when you answered, I turned on the tears. It was an award-winning act, if I say so myself.”

Arizona scoffed. “Men are so damn stupid about that stuff.”

Chandra ignored her. “I told you that I'd been in a wreck and I felt sick and I'd lost my phone. You were so sweet, so gallant.”

“I'm gagging here,” Arizona said.

Expression unchanged, Chandra said to her men, “If she speaks again, shoot her.”

Bravado in place, Arizona pretended to lock her lips and throw away the key.

Alani admired her so much, especially knowing how Arizona felt about Chandra. Was she the only one to note the pallor of Arizona's skin?

Hugging the purse, Alani slipped her finger around the trigger. Keeping the gun concealed, she turned it on Chandra and swallowed hard. Aiming at a target was one thing.

Shooting at a human being, even a truly vile person, was something altogether different.

“You went to get me a drink,” Chandra said, “but you'd left a cola sitting there on a table in front of the television, so I dosed it.” She shrugged. “Easier than I'd ever
expected, given the way you shredded my men that night on the bridge. I'd watched from a safe distance away, you know. Even as I detested you for interfering, I admired your ability.”

Again, she pawed his crotch. By the second, the idea of shooting her seemed less repulsive to Alani.

“After a couple of sips, you suspected something wasn't right, but—” Chandra smiled “—it was already too late for you.”

“Not buying it.” Jackson shook his head. “Two sips wouldn't have done me in.”

“No, but it dazed you enough that I could get you with a hypodermic.”

“Ah. Now, that I believe.” He tilted his head to study her. “So you have a big operation?”

“Big enough.” She did more stroking, then made a sound of pleasure. “Sort of like you.”

Arizona snapped. “Oh my God, that is so freaking pathetic, you lecherous bitch! Can you only get near a man by raping him at gunpoint?”

Everything seemed to happen at once.

Chandra screamed, “Shoot her!”

In an incredibly fast move, Jackson sent the switchblade through the air to embed in one guard's shoulder, and almost at the same time he locked Chandra in front of him, her own gun now turned on the other guard, his finger covering the trigger.

Too late to pull back, Alani fired.

Multiple gun blasts sounded, so loud that they made her yelp and nearly stopped her heart. A window on the BMW shattered.

Her shot.

Chandra slumped in Jackson's arms—not her shot.

Even with the knife in his shoulder, the panicked guard
reached for his gun, but didn't make it. He screamed as something hit his hand, sending blood spewing and making his gun drop. The other guard took one bullet to the shoulder, another to his thigh.

And just like that, the strained confrontation ended. The two goons and Chandra were no longer a threat to anyone.

Heart still hammering, Alani struggled to make sense of what transpired. Jackson stood as upright, as strong and confident as ever. Arizona, while dazed and panting, appeared uninjured.

What had happened?

Gun drawn, Spencer materialized from behind the BMW. So he had circled around and was behind them the whole time? Alani knew by his fierce expression and rock-hard jaw that he was the one who'd shot Chandra. He paused to remove weapons from the fallen guards, then strode right past Jackson on his way to Arizona.

Shaking so badly she could barely stay on her feet, Alani looked around in relieved amazement. Bodies were down. Blood had splattered. Glass shattered.

She shivered…and her gaze came right back to Jackson.

He wasn't hurt, thank God. He didn't even look upset. The explosion of gunfire hadn't fazed him at all.

Gaze locked, he stared at Alani while lowering Chandra to the ground.