Hostage to Love (Entangled Suspense), page 17
“What if I hadn’t turned up? Have you stopped to think what would’ve happened if I hadn’t come when I did?” He gave her a small shake—a token, controlled outlet of the leashed anger that went along with the fierce emotion blazing from his eyes.
A shudder ripped through her and like a limp rag, the fight left her. “Every day, Nick. I’ve thought about it every single day since,” she admitted in a hoarse whisper.
Uttering a harsh Greek oath, he gathered her to him, his hands gentling. One hand cradled the back of her head against his shoulder as she broke down completely.
The cathartic release, which had been so long in coming, broke through with the force of a tidal wave, and her sobs shook both of them as they stood on the blanket, clutching each other desperately.
She wasn’t aware how long she wept, but when she finally stopped, it was because she didn’t have a single teardrop left to cry. Her sobs subsided into hiccups, but she just stayed where she was, clinging to the lifeline that was Nick, the soporific stroke of his hand down her back a balm to her ragged emotions.
He held her for a while longer, then, bending down, picked her up and walked to the edge of the pool. He lowered them into the pool and washed her face free of tears before letting the soothing waters work their magic to completely calm her.
After a few minutes, he took her by the hand, led her out of the water, and silently undressed her once more before making love to her with a gentle affirmation of life that brought fresh tears to her eyes.
Afterward, her heart sang with feelings she didn’t dare name. Nick leaned over her, his gentle fingers brushing away the tears from her cheeks.
“No more tears. That’s an order.”
She smiled around the sadness that marred the joy of being with him. “I can’t help them. You make love to me as if I’m the most precious thing in your life.”
“You are.”
“And yet you never say you love me. Why, Nick?” He tensed. Before he could withdraw, she put her hand to his cheek, forced him to look at her. “Please, tell me why you can’t love me. I promise I can live with whatever answer you give me.”
He sucked in a deep breath. “It’s very simple, matia mou. I don’t know what love is. Not with enough accuracy to say words I don’t mean. I’ve never been loved. My parents had their own agenda. When I returned from the Marines, my grandfather was too busy wondering what the hell had happened to his son and grooming me to take over the family business to bother with much else.”
“What about Alex? He loves you.”
“He’s a year older and sometimes thinks it’s his responsibility to look out for me but, yes, I suppose that is a version of love. Thing is, I don’t have a measuring stick for those feelings, and while I know saying the words would please you, I can’t say them without feeling like I’m being disingenuous. Do you get that?”
Did she? His past had shaped him into a man who couldn’t trust his own feelings or those close to him. She nodded slowly. Her heart wept for him.
She leaned up and kissed him. “I don’t like it, but I understand. In my head, anyway. And I’m sorry for what you went through, Nick.”
“It was nothing compared to what I experienced when you were in danger, baby. Promise me you’ll never put yourself in harm’s way like that again.” His words were soft, but the intent in his eyes told her he was dead serious.
Overcome with the turbulent emotion she’d experienced over the last few hours, she wanted more than anything to be done with this conversation. But she’d given in far too many times where Nick was concerned.
“I helped people in Nawaka, Nick. Throwing money at charities from the safety of your corner office is fine, and I’m not condemning anyone who does that. But I saw with my own eyes the difference I made to those children. So I don’t regret going. And given the opportunity, I’d do it again.”
He froze. “Even at the risk of attracting a madman? One who’s become so obsessed with you he’s relentlessly tracking you down on a whole other continent? What the hell happened with him, Tinkerbelle?” Nick’s regard was laser-sharp.
She thinned her lips at the memory of their conversation. “He accused me, all Westerners, of taking an interest in his country just for the sake of alleviating our boredom. I told him the same thing I’ve just told you—that I went to make a difference.” She eased out a breath. “I think in the end he believed me.”
“Clearly he did. Which is why he told you of his plans for Nawaka,” Nick ground out. “Do you know what that means? You’re now a liability to him.”
Consternation flooded through her, and she squeezed her eyes shut. “God!”
His strong hands gripped her arms tighter, and he helped her up to sit with her back against his chest. “He probably also thinks you’ve hindered his chance to seize power, given that we got rid of several of his best men.”
She suddenly remembered the silent phone call a few days ago. Sucking in a breath, she told Nick.
“Thee mou, and you didn’t think to tell me?” he demanded. “I could’ve had the number traced.”
“I thought it was nothing…a wrong number.” She licked dry lips. “Do you really think he’s going to keep coming for me?”
Nick’s jaw tightened, and his face hardened into tough, granite-like implacability. “I’d like to think he won’t try anything again. Not if he wants to keep breathing. Unfortunately, he’s unhinged, so his focus is now solely on getting you back. But there’s no way in hell I’m letting that happen.”
The fierce certainty in his voice soothed her jangled nerves.
“Is there anything else you want to tell me?” he asked.
She thought of confessing Mwana’s sexual fascination with her and decided against it. There was nothing to be gained there.
She shook her head.
Nick placed a finger under her chin and forced her gaze to his troubled one. “You want me to meet you halfway. So this is me doing that, against every instinct. I won’t stop you if you decide to go on a mission like that in the future. But damn it, first we must discuss it, weigh the risks, and take the necessary precautions. Together. Agreed?”
The compromise obviously did go against his every instinct, judging by his reluctant expression. But he’d done it anyway. Happiness burst from her very soul at his effort to let go and stop trying to control her. Maybe he really could change.
“Agreed.” She smiled.
A fire lit in his eyes. Leaning down, he kissed her with a depth of passion that nearly undid her. When the need for air forced them apart, he tugged her closer still and folded his arms around her.
They stayed like that for a long time, the peaceful silence disturbed only by the chirping of the birds and the gurgling waterfall. Then, after divesting her of her suit and him of his, they took a quick swim, after which he laid her down, tucked her to his side, and soothed caresses over her body until she drifted off to sleep.
She wasn’t sure how long they slept, but ever attuned to Nick’s antenna, she came awake the instant he tensed at her side.
Raising her head, she saw him reach for the gun. “What’s wrong?”
He didn’t need to answer. She heard the electronic whine of the cart as it approached from the other side of the hill.
“You might want to get dressed.”
With a yelp, she jumped up and scrambled to find her suit. Behind her she heard Nick’s tense chuckle.
She rounded on him. “I don’t know what you’re laughing at. You don’t know who’s coming, and you’re as naked as I am.”
He remained where he was, his focus on the hill, his finger tapping the barrel of the gun. “There’s no time. Besides, I’m not as uptight about being naked as you.”
Deciding to get dressed first then kill him, she closed grateful hands on the discarded suit lying half-hidden under the basket and hurried into it.
But she was all thumbs, her efforts worsening by the ever-growing whine of the cart.
“Here, let me help,” Nick offered magnanimously. With lithe grace, he rose and helped her into her suit, adjusting the straps with quick efficiency before giving in and climbing into his shorts.
Then, his eyes roving her flushed face and body, he murmured wickedly, “We really need to find a way to loosen you up a bit. Anyone would think you were ashamed of that magnificent body of yours.”
She was still sputtering her way to an appropriate response when a golf cart appeared at the top of the hill and parked next to theirs.
Yannis lifted his hand in greeting. Belle turned to Nick. “You knew it was Yannis?”
“I suspected. There are security and police crawling all over the island. Not even a crazy asshole like Mwana would attempt anything here.” He put the safety back on the gun and reached for the rest of his clothes.
By the time Yannis reached them, Nick was fully dressed.
At his first words, Nick froze.
Chapter Twelve
“What did he say?” Trepidation twisted through Belle as she tugged her dress over her swimsuit.
“We need to get back to the villa,” Nick said. “Spiros just called. Mwana has sent the second package.” He grabbed her elbow and propelled her toward the steps. Behind them, Yannis gathered the remains of their picnic and followed.
Negotiating the rocky steps didn’t give her a chance to speak, but at the summit she turned to Nick. “Has he opened it? Do we know what’s in it?”
“No. But that’s not all.”
Face set in stone, he placed her in the seat before starting the cart. “News of your capture and rescue has been released to the press. TV stations, both national and international, are leading with the news. The phone’s been ringing non-stop for the last hour,” he delivered in a clipped tone. “I supposed it was inevitable.”
Anxiety rippled through her. “God— Nick, my parents!”
“We’ll call them as soon as we get back,” he said.
Having cleared an outcrop of rocks, she was thrown back into her seat when he floored the accelerator, wringing every single horsepower from the battery-powered engine.
“I should’ve told them. They don’t deserve to hear it on the news.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. You were trying to protect them. They’ll understand. Let’s just get back to the house, okay?” He took one hand off the steering wheel to squeeze hers, a fleeting reassurance, which, although welcome, was gone before she could take comfort in it.
When he brought the golf cart to an abrupt halt in front of the villa and sprinted up the steps, she scrambled after him, almost running to keep up with his long strides. She tried to smile reassuringly at an anxious Demetra, who stood just inside the door wringing her hands, but she only managed a tight-lipped grimace as she dashed after Nick.
He entered his study, ushered her in, and shut the door behind them.
“We’ll call your parents first, then I’ll speak to Spiros—”
They both froze as the phone rang. With quick strides, he walked over to his desk and snatched it up.
“Andreakos.” The greeting sounded like a swear word, and she winced with sympathy for the caller. “Yes, she’s right here,” his voice softened. “Hold on.”
Nick lowered the phone. “He beat us to it. It’s your father. He wants to speak to both of us,” he said, taking her arm when she reached the desk. He sat down and then settled her into his lap.
“Go ahead, Jon, you’re on speaker.” His warm breath brushed her ear, causing a frisson of awareness to tingle down her spine. She started guiltily when her father spoke.
“Belle, are you there? Have you seen the news? Is what they’re saying true?” The shock and worry in his voice cut straight to her heart.
Nick’s hand flexed at her waist, and she had to clear her throat before she could speak. “Yes, Dad, I’m here. I’m sorry you had to find out that way, but yes…it’s true.”
“What? Dear girl, when Nick told us he was bringing you home, we thought you’d been unwell on your holiday. We had no idea this was what had happened. Why didn’t you tell us? Either of you?” His voice was gruff. Her heart sank, and she wished for the umpteenth time she had the power to turn back the clock two weeks—no, six months.
“I’m sorry, Dad, I…”
“It was my fault, Jon. I didn’t want to worry you and Annette,” Nick slid in smoothly, his hand tightening around her.
“Be that as it may, we would’ve preferred to have been told. We’re not children to be cosseted! Is what they’re saying true, Belle? That you were tortured?”
She heard a break in his voice. A muffled sound, much like a sob, came through the speaker, she guessed from her mother.
“Listen to me, Dad, Mum. Yes, I was captured, but I was absolutely not tortured, I promise you that. As I told you when we spoke yesterday, I’m fine. The papers are grossly exaggerating.” She tried to project as much reassurance into her voice as possible.
“But how can it be exaggeration?” he asked, perplexed. “According to the Dutch couple on the TV now, you were held for almost a week.”
Her eyes widened. She glanced at Nick and found the same surprise reflected on his face. Grabbing the remote control on his desk, he turned on the TV.
And there on the screen, on channel after channel, were the images of Hendrik and Edda, the Dutch couple, sobbing as they told the story of their capture. Too shocked to speak, she just stared at the screen.
“Hello, are you still there?” her father asked.
“We’re here, Jon,” Nick replied. “But can we call you back?”
“Well, Annette and I were hoping to find out more—”
“We’ll fill you in, later. But in the meantime please, rest assured, whatever happened, Belle’s fine now, okay?”
“Okay, son. But before you go, can either of you tell me if you know a man named Richard Francis?”
They both tensed. “Why do you ask?” Nick asked.
“Well, he’s been calling incessantly, wanting to know your whereabouts, Belle—”
“When was the last time he called?” Nick cut across him.
There was a muffled sound as Jon spoke to his wife. “About an hour ago.”
Belle gasped, but Nick shot her a warning glance. She tried to breathe evenly as her father continued. “He won’t tell me what it’s about, but he claims to be from the Daily Bugle. What surprises me is how he got our unlisted number. Only a handful of people have it.”
Nick exchanged glances with her, his face hard and resolute. “It’s probably nothing, but I’m going to get my security chief to give you a call. The authorities will probably want to talk to this man, find out why he wants to contact Belle. And, we may also need for you to agree to have your phone calls traced. Are you okay with that?”
“I—yes, I suppose. Look, tell me straight, son. Is my girl in danger?”
Belle’s heart squeezed at the pain in her father’s voice. “Not if I can help it, Jon. I’d die before I let anything happen to her.” Nick answered, his gaze holding hers in a solemn promise.
Tears welled up in her eyes. She bit her lip hard when Nick leaned forward to softly kiss her temple.
“Okay, thank you, son.” Her father sounded a little less worried. “Bye, then.”
The moment they rang off, Nick put the call through to Jameson with the instructions. Then he tugged her to the TV.
“Why would Richard Francis risk being exposed like that when he knows the authorities are after him?” she asked the question uppermost in her mind.
Nick shrugged. “If he’s been calling your parents, then he probably guessed they didn’t know you’d been captured. He was hoping to trip them up into revealing where you are in case you’d left the island after what happened last night. That’s the move of a desperate man.”
“You sound pleased about that.”
His smile was hypnotically menacing. “Desperate means they’re likely to make mistakes, show their hand.”
He moved closer to the TV and turned up the volume.
She raised her voice to be heard. “How are we going to deal with this?” She indicated the press conference with Edda and Hendrick.
His jaw clenched for a split second. “I know how much press intrusion upsets you, but we may have to deal with this head on, sweetheart. It may also serve to draw out Mwana and Francis once and for all.”
They listened for a moment. The news anchor traced a brief history of the unrest in Nawaka, then reeled back to the conference with the Morgensens.
Nick turned off the TV and threw the control on the table with more force than necessary. “At least we know how the news got out, and to some extent why,” he said forcefully.
She sank onto a sofa by the window. “And I can’t really say I blame the Morgensens. I think the world needs to know what’s going on in countries like Nawaka. Maybe if enough light is shed on the situation there, something will be done to ease the suffering, especially for those poor children.”
Nick frowned. “Personally, I have my doubt as to the impact of five minutes on the news. By tomorrow, another bigger story will take its place, and this circus will be forgotten. But I would’ve liked a heads up before the Morgensens went ahead with their interview.” He waved his hand at the now blank screen, pacing the room like a prowling tiger. With every step, his anger grew more apparent.
“What now?”
“Now we see what Mwana has to say.” He went to his desk and hit the speed dial. Spiros came on the line and connected to the videoconference seconds later.
This time he was alone. “Security has checked the package. This one, too, is clean.”
Nick nodded. Spiros opened the package. Another photo of Belle fell out, this one taken as she helped to string lights around a tree in front of the mission. She was laughing with a couple of kids, her face alight with joy.
The image tugged at Nick, robbing him of breath for a few seconds. When he glanced at her, her face was riveted to the screen, a small, sad smile lifting her lips. Nick had to dig deep to tear his gaze away, to focus on Spiros.
