Dead Reckoning (34 page)

His heart tripped over the next few beats. “When it's safe.”

“Then we can go in and stop this. Put the men who killed Khalid and his father behind bars.” Shiloh's voice edged with a fierceness he hadn’t heard before.

Part of him wished he could hammer the stuffing out of Khalid Khan. He’d knowingly put her in danger with his connections to Allah's Sword. And because of that, Reece had to take extreme measures to protect her.

Same thing with Chloe. She had felt abandoned. Her brokenness turned to rage and a dangerous determination that got her killed. He had to stop Shiloh from taking that same path. There was only one way to protect her. That conviction cemented his plans as they finished off their desserts.

Shiloh would hate him to the end of her days.

Sacrifice always has a cost.

“Why don’t you two go in the living room and relax?” Kit stood and retrieved their bowls of custard. “I’m going to clean up in here.”

Suspicion crept into Reece's mind. Kit seemed too anxious to move them out of the room. What was she up to?

Shiloh rose. “The custard was wonderful. Thank you for the food, the clothes.” She smoothed a hand over the pale
pink sweater. The tiny fibers seemed to tickle her face. Stunning. Beautiful.

A tiny sliver of doubt cracked his resolve.
God forgive me if I ’m wrong.

“I haven’t had guests in a while. It's nice to do something for friends.” Kit waved them out. “Now go on you two. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Reece hung back, scowling at the woman he’d trusted with their lives. Why was she so anxious to see them out of the kitchen? If she was double crossing them …

“Don’t give me that look when I know full well what you’re planning.”

He drew himself straight, his hands itching to rout out what she was up to. “I’d kill anyone who tried to hurt her.”

Kit's eyes twinkled, tears forming in the corners. “I know.” She sniffled and rolled her eyes to blink away the tears. “And I’m so glad, Reece. So glad you’ve found someone to love and who loves you back.” A tear dashed down her cheek. “I just hope you aren’t royally screwing this up.”

Love me back?
“Just stick to the plan. Let me worry about the rest.” He stomped out of the kitchen, his conscience agitating her words. Shiloh might hate his guts for the rest of her life, but at least she would be alive to do it. He couldn’t say that for Chloe.

“Every man I’ve trusted has betrayed me.” Shiloh saw the startled look on Reece's face and smiled as they sat in the living room. “Except you.”

He moved to the window, nudged aside the curtain, and peeked out at the street below.

Shiloh tensed, anxious to smooth the ripple that had entered their relationship. “Reece, I don’t know what I did, but want to apologize—”

He held up a hand. “Don’t.” A hazy blue light outlined his face, an echo of the streetlight. His jaw muscle bounced. “It's not necessary.” He said one thing, but the cool distance between them said another.

“I see.” A strange feeling surged through her chest. Jealousy?

He let go of the curtain and met her gaze. “What does that mean?”

The back of her neck heated. “Nothing. It's just been a long day.” She brushed the hair from her face, determined not to be catty. “I’ll go upstairs so you and Kit can be alone.”

As she crossed the room, Reece hooked her arm.

Shiloh closed her eyes, knowing she’d crumble in a flash if she had to face him.

“Look at me.” Emotion kneaded his husky words.

She braved the stormy blue eyes that had always left her weak in the knees.

Desperation tore into his rugged face. “I wish I could make you understand …” Something ominous haunted his words.

A strange, sinking feeling pushed against her waning courage. “What's wrong?” The way he stared scared her. It wasn’t the confident, powerful man she admired.

“They’re here!” Kit hurried toward the door, swinging a coat over her shoulders. “Come, Shiloh. We’re short on time.”

Reece cupped her face. “I
don’t
hate you.”

Her chin trembled as she melted at his reassurance.

His brow knotted. He hesitated, then pressed his lips to hers. Just as quick, he drew back. “I love you, Shiloh. Don’t forget that. No matter what happens.”

Stunned, she stared after him as he jogged to the back of the house. Out the rear door.

I love you.
Had he really said that?

“Shiloh, please,” Kit prompted, her eyes glassy, her voice cracked.

Something niggled at the back of her mind as she rushed into the back seat of the sedan out front. Shrouded in ebony, they spirited through the night toward the airstrip. The whishing of the tires against wet pavement lulled her senses. Had Reece really said he loved her?

She glanced over her shoulder, hoping to see a car pull in behind them. “Where did he go?”

A wistful expression took root in Kit's face. “Always it's the mission with him.”

Mission. Right. Get on a plane. “I don’t know what to do when I get there.” Her imagination leapt to life. “I mean, the media has my picture all over the news because of what happened at the train station. How will I get back into Mumbai without tipping my hand?”

Kit covered her hand. “Trust him.”

I love you, Shiloh. The
words bobbed on the stormy sea of her life like a beacon. She knew he meant those precious words. In a different way and on a different level than Khalid. Or maybe it was that she returned Reece's love.

The thought stalled her mind and body. Did she? Did she really … ? She closed her eyes.
Oh, yes. I do love him!
And she didn’t tell him before he left. Is that why he tore out of the house like an arctic wind? Because she hadn’t confirmed her feelings for him? An ache wove around her chest, tightening.

“We’re here.” Kit turned to her and handed her a passport. “The plane is waiting to taxi.” She indicated toward a small jet looming off to the side, wing lights blinking back at
her. “Climb aboard, present your ticket and passport. They’ll clear it. Speak to no one until you land.”

Shiloh nodded.

“And don’t worry. You’ll be fine.”

The wake and roar of the plane's engines stirred the cool Parisian air. Shiloh tucked her chin against the wind as she shut the door.

“Shiloh?”

She pivoted.

Kit stared at her over the hood of the car. The woman hesitated, looked at the plane, then down at the car.

“Yes?” Shiloh asked, suddenly feeling very off -center.

“Just remember, sometimes he does stupid things believing they’re for the best.”

“What?”

A howl kicked up in the wind. Shiloh glanced toward the jet, surprised to find a flight attendant approaching. “Ma’am, we need to get under way.”

Shiloh met her, handing off the ticket and passport, remembering the instructions not to say anything. The flight attendant stomped back to the plane, ripping the ticket and checking the passport. She then escorted Shiloh to a seat near the door.

No doubt the setup on the plane was intended to bypass security cameras and normal security checkpoints. Still, she wondered in a day and age like this how Kit and the others had managed to get her on a plane so easily.

Once the plane leveled off high above France ten minutes later, Shiloh settled into the cozy leather seat. Cozy? No, cozy had been on the rooftop as she lay in Reece's arms.

She missed him already. But at least she had his words to keep her company. I love you. Words she never thought would carry the weight his had. Weight that anchored them
in her heart and soul. They were on separate paths right now, if only for a moment.

The cabin steward delivered her a glass of water with a snack. Still full from Kit's custard, Shiloh didn’t eat the snack. The water, however, she guzzled, surprised at how thirsty she felt.

As she recapped the bottle her head swam. She blinked, overcome by sleepiness. It was nighttime. Being sleepy would be normal. But why did she feel as if she hadn’t slept in days? Why was her vision swimming? She blinked again. The water bottle caught her eye. Oh no.

Her head bobbed.

Darkness.

Arms and legs weighted, Shiloh struggled to break the fog of sleep. She moaned and rolled her head, willing her eyes to open. Bright light smacked into her vision. She clenched her eyes and groaned.

“Miss?” Someone nudged her shoulder. “We’re landing. You’ll need to set your chair upright.”

Shiloh shook her head and tried to lift it. Finally able to move, she pulled herself up and propped her elbows on her knees and cradled her head in her hands.

“You okay?”

She jerked toward the masculine voice. Pain shot through her temples.

A grey-haired man smiled at her. “Probably shouldn’t take more than the prescribed dosage of Dramamine.”

“I didn’t.” Again, she shook her head, this time feeling more focused.

“I am a doctor, and I know when someone is coming out of a drug fog.”

Shiloh stared at him, understanding lighting across her brain. Drugged? Why would she be drugged? Her gaze snapped to the window. Lush green acreage spread out below the belly of the plane. Green. Too green.

Panic shot through her. “Where are we?”

The doctor chuckled. “Landing at Heathrow in another minute or two.” He patted her hand. “Don’t worry. Most crashes happen on takeoff .”

“Heathrow?” Shiloh squeaked. “I’m on the wrong plane.”

He taunted her with his laugh. “A little late to figure that out, love.”

She looked out the window again. He had to be wrong. “No,” she whimpered. She’d be spotted right out of the gate. They’d arrest her and slam her in prison. How would she get back to India? She’d be of no help to … Reece.

Her heart rate climbed. “No.” He couldn’t have … wouldn’t have …

Sometimes he does stupid things believing they’re for the best.

Reece did this. He put her on the wrong plane. The revelation jolted her as hard as the wheels scorching on the blackened runway. She jerked with the violent impact.

Anger replaced panic. Anger at him. Anger at herself.
You idiot! This
is why he’d said he loved her. To set her off kilter, to get her mind scrambled so she wouldn’t notice … She gritted her teeth. Dug her fingernails into the flesh of her palms.

The devastation worked through her system like a fast-acting poison.

“Miss?”

Why would he do this? Why hadn’t she expected this?
Because I trusted him!

“Miss!”

Shiloh whipped her head toward the flight attendant and scowled.

The woman handed her an envelope. “I was asked to give this to you when we touched down.”

Shiloh trembled as she accepted it. She let it drop into her lap, then buried her face in her hands, fighting the tears.
Why?
Why would he abandon her? Betray her? She pounded a fist against the arm rest.

The plane slowed drastically, then veered toward the terminal. The authorities were probably waiting. She’d be extradited … imprisoned.

A phone rang somewhere.

Defeated, she hung her gaze out the window. Trapped in a plane. Trapped in a nightmare Reece had set up. How could he do this? Tears slipped down her face.
I loved him and this is what I get?
A cold pang smothered her.

The phone's cheery melody stamped out continuously.

Why wouldn’t the person answer the stupid phone?

“I think your envelope is ringing,” the doctor said, pointing to her lap.

Shiloh glanced down, numb. Her senses realigned, and she realized he was right. She snatched up the brown paper and ripped open the flap. Eyeing the contents, she spotted a black phone. Ringing blared against her hurting ears. Reece had given her a phone in Mumbai. What if it was him?

She pressed TALK. “Hello.”

“Take the blue attendant jacket on the rack inside the galley,” a strange voice ordered. “Disembark. Exit and use the first door on your right. Down the stairs. I will be waiting.”

The call ended as the plane taxied up to the terminal. As the other passengers disembarked, Shiloh sat staring at the phone. Who had called her? How had he known she’d be on the plane? The only way was through Reece or
Kit. If one of them had told this person, then he was most likely an operative-friend.