All or Nothing: A Trust No One Novel (34 page)

In her room again, she found the book she’d started reading three weeks ago and took it with her to lie down. Dillon pulled himself onto the bed and curled up beside her. Within five minutes, they were both asleep.

Wednesday, 7:30 pm

I
T WAS A
presence in her room that woke her. When she opened her eyes and glimpsed the male form looming at the foot of her bed, terror spiked her heart rate and constricted her chest. She tried to roll off the bed, poised to stand and fight, but she couldn’t get her injured arm to move with her. In her panic, she thought she heard the clink of handcuffs against a wrought-iron headboard. She screamed. As the figure moved closer, she drew in more air and screamed again, kicking out at the intruder. Hands gripped her arms. She clawed viciously at them until the hands caught hers, pinned them against her stomach, pushed her back down on the bed, and sat on her. A hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her screams. The other reached to turn on her bedside lamp. Pale light chased the shadows into the corners of the room.

Joe stared down at her.

When she stopped fighting, Joe let her go, stood, and backed away. Dillon lay at the foot of the bed, his big tail slapping the covers, obviously the most fun he’d had all day. Cara couldn’t catch her breath and curled into a ball, gasping for air. Joe stepped toward the bed again, yanked her up by her elbow, and steered her toward the open balcony doors. As the chill evening air hit her in the face, she breathed in desperately and air finally filled her lungs. She stumbled to the railing and leaned against it for support until her trembling subsided.

She sensed him still standing behind her. “What do you want?”

“Irene found your comforter and robe outside. She washed them and I thought you might want them tonight.” He paused. “I also brought up your new itinerary. Murphy was sorry he missed you.”

His voice was soft. No trace of last night’s anger. Cara longed for him to hold her, but it was better this way. She straightened and turned to face him.

“Thank you, but I can take care of myself. Please tell Irene I’m sorry for the extra work.” Her voice held more strength than she felt.

He studied her with sad eyes. “I know you can. I only wanted to help.” His last words were wistful, as though he referred to more than just bringing back her things. Tears filled her eyes as he turned to leave. At the door he stopped.

“Don’t leave before I tell you to, Cara.” His voice was granite-hard and cold.

The door closed firmly behind him and left her struggling to breathe again.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Thursday, 9:12 am

C
ARA LET
S
AM
in the front door, his blue bag slung over one shoulder, and led the way to the great room where Rayna waited.

“Running gear,” Sam told Rayna as she eyed his bag.

The young girl’s gaze strayed frequently out the window to where Joe’s team worked through their drills. Sam glanced their way occasionally too. Apparently, Cara was the only one who didn’t care to watch, and it probably had something to do with the pang of conscience she suffered every time she saw Joe.

“I take it Joe is going to be gone for a while,” Sam said. “How will that affect our physical therapy sessions? Will you be going with him?”

Rayna snorted and rolled her eyes. “Cara and I aren’t going anywhere, so business as usual.”

Sam caught Rayna’s eye. “Uh-oh. I sense some hard feelings. Why can’t you go?”

“Cara will be safer here in case something goes wrong in Portland.” Rayna’s eyes widened and she clammed up immediately.

Cara would have grinned at Rayna’s lack of discretion, but she was more interested in why Sam asked the question. He was part of the plan that would remove her from Joe’s premises by the weekend, so he was fully aware there would be no more physical therapy sessions. Maybe he was trying to get on Rayna’s good side. Cara could have told him he was wasting his time.

Finished with the massage and exercises, Sam excused himself to change into his running clothes, and Rayna left to change at the same time. Cara traded bags with him when he returned, hiding his behind the sofa. Rayna joined them shortly and hurried them through their stretching routine.

On the lake trail, Cara fell behind again, and Sam hung back to jog alongside her. When she dropped to a walk, Sam matched her pace while Rayna went on ahead. Once again, Sanchez trailed them.

“Where will you go once you get away from here?” Sam asked.

“There’s something I need to do. I don’t know where I’ll go when it’s all done.”

He stopped suddenly, gripped her elbow, and turned her toward him. “Come with me. I’ll take care of you.”

Surprise knocked the breath from her. She managed a smile. “Oh Sam. I’m so grateful for your help, but my life’s sort of complicated right now. You wouldn’t be safe if you were with me.”

He stepped closer. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.” He placed a finger under her chin and lifted so she was forced to look at him.

Oh God! He was going to kiss her. Lust darkened his blue eyes, and she felt slightly queasy. Fear flickered to life as his head bent toward hers. At the last second, she twisted from his grasp and let his kiss land on her cheek.

She shook her head. “You’re a good friend, and I appreciate what you’re doing. I don’t want to hurt you, but I can’t think about the future right now.” She touched his arm, hoping he’d understand.

He straightened and his smile appeared strained. “Never let it be said Sam Garrett didn’t try.”

They walked the rest of the way back in uncomfortable silence. Cara half-expected him to back out of his agreement to help, but inside the house, he hefted her bag onto his shoulder. “I’ll have a boat waiting at the lake at six tomorrow morning,” he whispered as he hurried out the door.

Thursday, 11:39 pm

C
ARA’S HEART ACHED.
Tears soaked her pillow, and for once, she didn’t try to stop them. Tomorrow morning when she woke, Joe would be gone. So would Walker and Tyler. She’d never see them again. David would make sure she didn’t. Joe would be furious when he found out what she planned, and she knew it would hurt him, but she had to go through with it.

She hurt Sam today too. He scared her with his advance, but she didn’t mean to hurt him. It seemed that was all she did these days. Thankfully, he still agreed to help her. All she had to do was get through the gate alone tomorrow, and he’d pick her up by boat where the trail ran closest to the water. With any luck, she’d be halfway across the lake before the sun came up.

There was a sound. She froze. A movement on the balcony caught her eye. Near the railing, a shadow lingered and was silhouetted against the night sky. Joe. She held her breath as he walked toward her door. Would he forgive her? Or was the love he professed shattered by her betrayal? With his hand on the doorknob, he paused long enough for her to think he might come in. Then he turned and walked away.

A fresh wave of pain washed over her, followed quickly by anger—at Joe for being so quick to judge, and at herself for keeping David’s threat a secret.

She should have trusted Joe to understand her fears. As he prepared to wage war on the Dennelli family, she should be supporting him instead of planning to deceive him further. Emptiness ate away at her resolve, sending more tears spilling onto her pillow. He was the best thing that had ever happened in her life, and she drove him away because she was too stubborn to admit she couldn’t fight David by herself. That she needed Joe’s help.

With sudden determination, Cara rose, shrugged into her clean robe that no longer smelled of his leather and spice, and padded softly out onto the balcony to his door. It might be too late to save their relationship, but she could still apologize. She tapped softly and then louder. When he didn’t answer, she turned the handle and pushed the door open. She glided through the darkness toward the bed, only to find it empty. He must be gone already.

Desolation wrenched a sob from her as the disappointment became real. She whirled to leave when his arm caught her around the waist. His steel-like grip tugged her backward against his hard, unyielding chest. A cry escaped her.

“Shhh, it’s me. Don’t be afraid,” Joe whispered close to her ear.

“I’m not.” Once she caught her breath, she laid her head back against his shoulder and pressed her body into his, pulling his arms tighter about her waist.

He groaned when she rubbed against him. He nipped her neck then gently kissed her ear. “You better stop, unless you’re serious. You’re driving me crazy, and I have very little control tonight.”

She continued to sway gently in his arms. When he groaned again, she smiled. Abruptly, he released her and stepped away.

Turning toward him, she tried to focus on his face in the darkness. His expression hidden in the shadows, his distance told her what she needed to know. He was still angry and disgusted with her. He didn’t even want her body anymore. She deserved that and probably worse, but she’d come here to apologize, and she wasn’t leaving until she was finished.

“You were right. I should have trusted you. I should have told you David called and threatened everyone here if I didn’t go back. I should have told him to go to hell because he wasn’t going to win this time. I was afraid for you. You wanted me to trust you, and I couldn’t do it. I let you down. I’m sorry, Joe. I realize now, if I’d asked for your help…”

“You need my help? That’s why you’re here?” His voice was light, almost teasing.

“Yes… but it’s complicated.”

“Why don’t you lay it out for me? Let’s get it out in the open.”

His soft, controlled voice held no anger and gave her the courage to speak.

“I’ve never felt like I belonged anywhere before you brought me here. It’s a good feeling, and I don’t want to lose that. When I think about leaving, I feel empty and lost… like those strays we talked about. I’d like to stay… if you’ll still have me.”

“Why?”

“Why?” Cara laughed nervously.

“As you pointed out, I’ve got enough strays around here, and you needing my help isn’t quite good enough. I want more.”

“Like what?”

“If you don’t know by now, we probably don’t have anything more to discuss,” he gently mocked her.

“My undying gratitude isn’t enough?”

“No.”

“How about a lifetime of servitude?”

“Interesting… but no.”

“You drive a hard bargain.”

“I can be quite demanding.”

“Really?” She stepped forward and placed her hand on his bare chest. He grabbed it off as though she’d burned him.

“No touching until you say it.”

She could hear the smile in his voice. He held her firmly when she tried to pull her hand from his.

“Say it, Cara.”

“I love you, Joe.”

In one motion, he pulled her against him, swept her up in his arms, and carried her to the edge of the bed before he set her back on her feet. His lips descended to cover her mouth with controlled urgency, his tongue exploring within, claiming, branding, possessing. Cara lost track of her uncertainty in the shelter of his arms. A flick of his hand untied the belt of her robe and he spread it open, pushing it off her shoulders and down her arms. She barely noticed the T-shirt as he whisked it over her head. He lifted her again and gently laid her on the bed. When he covered her body with his, he was already naked, and his arousal burned against her skin.

He chuckled at her intake of air. “See what you do to me?”

His hands caressed her with the same urgency with which he’d taken her lips, exploring, probing, assaulting her with sensual pleasures, while his gentleness and whispered assurances made her feel safe, protected, and treasured. When her frenzy was almost more than she could stand, he came into her, driving, pulsing. He swept her up in a maelstrom of sensations, spiraling out of control, with the knowledge she refused to put into words—that this could be the last time.

Their releases came within seconds of each other, hers with such force and emotion, tears ran down her cheeks, and Joe kissed them tenderly away.

Afterward, she lay in the protective circle of his arms. For a few minutes, joy and contentment crowded out the plans for tomorrow, and she thought only of him and the life they could have had.

Friday, 12:17 am

J
OE LAY WIDE
awake, holding her. Tomorrow would be a long day, and he’d be sorry he didn’t sleep. However, tonight he couldn’t stand the thought of closing his eyes and possibly losing her again.

“I’ve been going crazy, wondering if you were planning something rash,” he said.

She dropped her gaze and turned her back to him.

He caught her around the waist and held her firmly against him. “Cara?”

“Define rash.”

“Anything you don’t talk to me about first.” He rose up on one elbow and leaned over her. “Let’s have it.”

“It might have been a little rash.”

“Damn it!” He pulled himself up against the pillows and reached to turn the light on. “Come here.” She snuggled in the crook of his arm, leaning into him in a manner that almost made him forget what he was after. “Tell me.”

“He said he’d take Rayna. I know what he’d do to her, and I couldn’t let that happen. He said he knew where you were staying that night in Portland, and he could have you killed while you slept.” She stopped, out of breath and close to tears. He pulled her tighter.

“Unless you went back to him?”

“He’ll do it, Joe. You don’t know him the way I do.”

“I’m starting to. He knows the only way he can get to you is through the people you care about. You weren’t seriously thinking of giving him what he wanted, were you?”

“I wasn’t going back to be victimized—I was planning to kill him.”

Her words were spoken so matter-of-factly, he couldn’t help chuckling. She tried to pull away from him, but he held her securely.

“Don’t laugh at me.” Anger flashed in her eyes.

“I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing because three weeks ago, the mention of his name put you in a panic. Now, you know exactly what needs to be done, and you’re not afraid to see it through. I’m proud of you.” He kissed her forehead. “I know firsthand you’re totally capable of getting the job done and, under different circumstances, I’d put you in a position where you could pull the trigger. In this case, though, I don’t want you anywhere near him. I need you to trust me to take care of this. Promise me.”