Taking Aim (12 page)

Zach drew his attention away from Jacie’s profile and back to the road before answering, “Yes.”

“Then why didn’t you make him tell us who it was?”

“I’ve seen what these cartels do to the people they deem traitors or informers. Juan did what we asked of him today. We put him in enough danger just associating with us. Besides, I don’t think he’s involved in what’s going on with your sister.”

“If he knows who we can ask...”

“He’d be dead by morning if we moved on his information.”

“What about Los Lobos? Won’t they be after Juan?”

“Maybe, but they didn’t see me with him in the canyon. Not where they would recognize him.”

Deep in thought, Zach didn’t see the other vehicle until it broadsided his truck, metal slamming into metal, forcing him to swerve and bump through the gravel on the roadside. “Hold on!” He gripped the steering wheel with both hands and fought to get it back up on the road.

Jacie grabbed for the handle beside the door and held on, the seat belt tightening, bracing her against the rough terrain.

Zach veered back up onto the road, only to be hit again. This time the truck careened off the road and down the embankment into the ditch and back up on the other side.

The vehicle on the road slowed and the window slid downward.

“Duck!” Zach cried, hitting the accelerator, sending the truck back down into the ditch and up onto the road.

At the same time, the dark older-model SUV shot forward, catching Zach’s truck bed.

The back end swung around, but Zach corrected and hit the gas again, propelling the truck forward.

The vehicle behind him raced to catch up.

In the rearview mirror, all Zach could see was the dark silhouette of the vehicle whose headlights were blacked out.

Something rose above the top of the vehicle behind him, and dread filled his gut. Zach jerked the steering wheel with one hand as he shoved Jacie’s head down with the other.

The back windshield exploded inward with a spray of bullets. One zipped all the way through and smashed into the front glass, sending out a spider web of fissures, making it difficult to see.

Zach couldn’t outrun the SUV, and the turnoff to the Big Elk Ranch was still several miles away. “Jacie, you’re going to have to return fire.”

“Are you kidding?”

“It’s that or one of us isn’t going to make it to tomorrow, maybe both. Use my rifle.”

“I’d rather use mine.”

She grabbed her rifle from where it rested on the floorboard, removed her safety belt and turned in the seat, steadying the gun’s barrel on the back of the headrest.

“What do you want me to aim at?”

“Start with the shooter on top. Hell, just shoot at the whole damn vehicle. It’ll be hard enough to hit anything on these bumpy roads.”

She fired once.

The vehicle behind them swerved, then straightened.

The next round caused the man on top to duck inside.

Her third round forced the driver to drop back.

“That’s my girl.” Zach grinned. “You’re pretty good riding shotgun.”

Still sitting backward in her seat, Jacie smiled. “Knowing how to handle a weapon comes in handy sometimes, besides on the hunt.”

The vehicle behind them dropped back farther until it spun around and headed in the opposite direction.

“Thank God.” Jacie turned and settled back down in her seat and took stock of the truck. “I’m sorry your truck took the worst of that. And you kept it so nice and shiny.”

Zach could have laughed. “To hell with the truck. You could have been hurt.”

She glanced his way, one hand clasping her left shoulder. “Uh, actually...” Jacie moved her hand.

Because Jacie had been wearing a dark shirt, Zach hadn’t noticed the blood until the light from the dash glanced off the liquid.

“Damn. We’re going straight to the doctor.” He slowed, ready to do a U-turn in the middle of the highway.

“It’s only a flesh wound and I have no desire to enter into another game of chicken with the SUV that attacked us back there.” She pointed to the road ahead. “I have a first aid kit in my cabin. A little disinfectant and a bandage ought to fix me right up.”

Zach’s foot hovered over the accelerator. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve lived on a ranch long enough to know a serious wound from a not-so-serious wound. I just want to go home. Please.”

Still not fully convinced, Zach gave in and hit the gas, sending the truck shooting forward. He pulled onto the dusty road into the Big Elk Ranch, anxious to get there and assess the damage himself.

The trailer from the Raging Bull was parked beside the barn, empty. Apparently Richard had arrived earlier, taken care of the horses and called it a night.

If need be, he’d take Jacie to the lodge and call an ambulance if her wound was more than just torn flesh.

After parking in front of Jacie’s cabin, Zach leaped down and rounded the truck in a jog.

Jacie had the door open and was stepping down.

He grabbed her around the middle and eased her the rest of the way down to the ground.

For a moment he stared down at her, appreciating that she wasn’t crying. She hadn’t burst into hysterics at the sight of her own blood, and she was staring back up at him, the moon reflected in her eyes.

“Anyone ever tell you that you’re an amazing woman?” Zach said.

“No, but you can say it again. It sounds nice.” She smiled, and then grimaced. “I’d better get this cleaned up. And you need a bandage on your face.”

“We’re a pair. We look like we lost the fight.”

“The hell we did. We’ve only just begun.” She led the way up the steps to her cabin and fumbled in her pocket for the key.

Before she could find it, Zach pushed the door and it swung open. “Did you lock this door?”

Jacie frowned. “Yes, I did.”

When he moved to enter, Jacie held out a hand to stop him.

“Wait,” she whispered. “What if someone’s inside?”

Zach pulled her to the side and lifted the rifle to his shoulder. “Stay here.” He gave her a steady, stern look.

She nodded.

Zach stood to one side of the door, edged it open wider with the barrel of the rifle and peered inside.

Furniture had been upended and papers and clothes scattered across the floor. “I think whoever did this is gone,” he said, his voice so low only Jacie would be able to hear him.

Ducking low, he entered the cabin, keeping out of the moonlight streaming through the windows. He worked his way around the cramped interior, checking in the bathroom and closet before he was satisfied that it was no longer occupied.

“It’s clear,” he called out.

Jacie came inside, closed the door behind her and flipped on the light. The tears welling in her eyes, which she’d refuse to let fall, were Zach’s undoing.

He crossed the room and opened his arms. Jacie fell into them, wrapping hers around his waist. “I’m just too tired to deal with this.”

“Then don’t. All we need is that first aid kit, and we’re out of here.”

“It was in the bathroom.” She leaned away from him and he slipped into the bathroom. “And we don’t have to leave. I’m okay.”

He stayed in the bathroom longer than necessary to retrieve the kit under normal circumstances.

“Find it?” Jacie asked.

“Most of it.” Zach emerged with the kit, stuffing bandages and tubes of ointment into the plastic container. “I have enough to work with.” He glanced around the bedroom. “Was your sister staying with you?”

“Yes.”

“Did she leave anything here that might explain why she came? Maybe something that would be worth ransacking this place for?”

“I went through her suitcase and discovered her cell phone and FBI credentials. I hid them before I left to find you.”

Zach frowned. “Why did you hide them?”

Jacie looked away. “Someone tried to get into the cabin while I was in the bath.”

Zach blew out a long breath. “Not good news.”

“You’re telling me.” She stared at the mattress, recalling the cold chill of dread she’d had as she sat on the floor, her gun trained on the door.

“Where did you hide the cell phone and credentials?”

Jacie’s lips quirked upward. “In the fridge beneath the rotting bag of tomatoes.”

Zach’s mouth quirked. “Smart move. Let’s hope the intruder didn’t figure it out.” He picked his way across the floor to the refrigerator, pulled it open and rummaged around inside. He came out with the cell phone, credentials and a tight smile. “You could have been an agent, Jacie Kosart.”

She shrugged and grimaced. “Not my calling.”

“Come on, we’re going to my cabin. Hopefully it’s still intact. We can figure out the rest of this mess in the morning.” Zach shoved Tracie’s phone and wallet inside his back pocket.

“Come closer to the door. I’m going to turn out the lights.”

Jacie stood against the wall beside the door, aware of Zach’s warmth next to her.

Zach switched the overhead light off, plunging them into darkness. “I’m going out first,” he whispered against her cheek.

The warm draft of his breath made gooseflesh rise on her arms. He was close enough to kiss.

“Wait until I tell you to come.” He touched her hand and then slipped out the door into the night.

Jacie’s heart fluttered and she held her breath for what felt like a very long time. Then the door nudged open.

“It’s okay, my cabin’s untouched.” Zach was there again. He captured her hand in his and led her across to his cabin.

Once inside, Zach closed the shades and pulled the curtains over the windows. Then he switched on the light. “Now let’s take care of that wound.”

“Earlier...” Jacie stiffened when Zach’s fingers reached for the buttons on her blouse. “I can do it.” Jacie wasn’t sure she could resist him at such close quarters. He drew her like a fly to honey and she was too tired to resist.

He shook his head, his lips firm. “Let me do this. I’m trained in first aid and buddy care.”

“My mother taught me enough that I haven’t died yet,” she argued halfheartedly. Her arm stung and she didn’t have the strength to argue. Jacie sighed. “Fine.”

He sat on the edge of the bed.

Jacie drew in a deep breath. This was not a good idea. Not when her defenses were down.

Zach stood in front of her and reached for the top button on her shirt. He pushed the button through the hole, then the others, all the way down to where the shirt disappeared into the waistband of her jeans. He tugged the tails free and slid the blouse over her shoulders, easing the fabric over her injured arm.

A quiver of awareness rippled across her skin, and her breasts tightened. Jacie closed her eyes and sucked in a long, steadying breath.

Footsteps sounded, leading into the bathroom. Water ran in the sink and the footsteps returned.

Every one of her senses lit up. With her eyes still closed, she inhaled the scent of Zach, letting it wash away the fear of seeing him fighting two men at once, not being able to help for fear of shooting the wrong man. The way he’d held her the night before, the way she hoped he’d hold her again.

“I’ll try to be gentle.”

“Just do it,” she whispered, praying he would.

Chapter Twelve

Zach was in over his head on this one, with no way to swim to the top.

Jacie sat with her eyes closed, her hair spilling down her back, the light shining down over her face, neck and breasts, giving her a golden glow.

God, she was beautiful.

His hand shook as he smoothed the damp cloth over her wound.

He would never have suspected her skin would be so soft and silky beneath her tough-gal exterior. She smelled like the Texas wind and herbal shampoo as she sat with her eyes closed, her head tilted back slightly, her breathing shallow, the rise of her chest captivating.

Tempted to steal a kiss from those full, luscious lips, he dragged his focus back to the task at hand, shifting uncomfortably as his groin tightened.

After cleaning the wound, he opened the tube of antiseptic, hoping it would bring him back to his senses with its acrid scent. It didn’t.

He applied the cream, his gaze slipping to the swells of her breasts, peeking out from the top of a lacy black bra. Who’d have thought the hunting guide would have such a sexy piece of lingerie in her wardrobe? His thoughts shifted farther south. Did she wear matching panties?

Zach fought the urge to slip the strap over her shoulder and bare one of those delicious orbs. He peeled the backing off a large adhesive bandage and taped it to her skin over the injury. “There—” He cleared his throat. “All done.”

She turned to him, her eyes opening, the hunger in them hard to miss. “Now your turn,” she said, her voice husky and so sexy Zach thought he might lose control.

Holy cow, how was he supposed to sit while she administered first aid to him? He could barely move, he was so hard.

She rose from the bed and walked toward the bathroom, wearing her bra and her jeans, her hips swaying with every step. Perhaps she’d be appalled at how sexy she looked.

Not Zach. He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her rounded bottom. A groan rose up his throat.

Jacie was the job. Making love to her wasn’t part of the contract. But when she emerged from the bathroom with a damp cloth, all good intentions flew out the window.

She came to a stop in front of him, hesitated a moment, then straddled his legs and bent down to apply the cloth to the wound on his cheek. Jacie leaned close enough Zach could easily have reached out and touched one of those lace-clad breasts with his lips.

After cleaning the wound, she applied the antiseptic and the bandage, then sighed, straightening. “Am I that homely?” she whispered, then started to step away from him, a frown wrinkling her forehead.

Zach grasped her hips. “What did you say?”

Her cheeks suffused with a pretty pink and she glanced away from him. “Nothing.”

“Wrong.” He tugged her hips, forcing her to sit on his legs. “Do you know how hard it is to be a gentleman when you’re wearing only a bra?” His hands slipped up to the catch at the middle of her back. “When all I want to do is this....” He flicked the hooks open and slipped the straps over her shoulders—gently around her wound. “I just didn’t want to cross the line.”

She laughed softly, letting the bra fall to the floor. “Don’t tell me you’re a rule follower. I can’t picture you as one.”

“Never.” He looked up at her, his gaze capturing hers. “You’ve been through a lot today. Are you sure this is what you want?”

Jacie smoothed a hand over his hair. “I not only want this, I need it.” She tugged his ears, dragging him within range of one full, rosy-tipped breast. “Please, don’t make me beg.”

He couldn’t resist the temptation. He sucked her nipple into his mouth, his other hand rising to capture the other breast. His tongue swirled around the tip until it puckered into a tight little bud. He nibbled it and then switched to the other, giving it equal attention.

Jacie’s back arched, her bottom squirming against his thighs. They still wore jeans and Zach wanted nothing more than to lie naked beside her and feel all of her against him.

He stood her on her feet and rose from the bed.

She frowned. “Is that it?”

“Not unless you want it to be.” He shrugged out of his shirt and slung it to the corner.

“No. I want it all.” She grasped the top button of his jeans and forced it through the opening. Then she worked the zipper down until his engorged member sprang free.

Zach let out the breath he’d been holding, the relief only temporary. He pulled his wallet from his back pocket, tossed it onto a pillow, then shucked his jeans.

Her gaze followed the path of the descending denim, her tongue sliding across her lips when he stood naked before her. Fire burned through his veins at the hunger in her expression. Past rational thought, he reached for her waistband, ripped the button open and shoved her jeans down her legs until she could kick free of them.

He scooped her up in his arms and laid her across the comforter and then crawled into the bed over her. “We should be sleeping,” he said, pressing a kiss to her lips—sleep the furthest thing from his mind.

Her hands laced around his neck, her mouth turning up in a smile. “Sleep is overrated.” She pulled him close, capturing his lips, her tongue slipping between his teeth. For every thrust of that magic tongue, an answering tug hit him low in the groin. If he didn’t concentrate, it would be over before he had a chance to pleasure her.

He slid his mouth over her chin and down the long line of her throat to the base, where her pulse beat a ragged staccato against her skin. He tapped his tongue to the tip of one breast and captured the other, pulling it fully into his mouth, where he suckled until her back arched off the mattress.

Jacie’s fingers wove through his hair and she tugged, urging him lower still. Her thighs parted, allowing him to lie between them on his journey down to her nether regions.

His fingers led the way, parting her folds buried beneath a light smattering of fluffy dark curls. He slid his tongue across the special bundle of nerves packed into a simple nubbin of flesh.

Jacie bucked beneath him, “Oh, Zach!” She dug her heels into the bed and rose to meet his tongue’s every stroke, her fingers digging into his scalp. Her body grew rigid, her thighs tight, her face pinched as she catapulted over the edge.

Zach climbed up her body, rolled to the side and grabbed his wallet from the other pillow, tearing through the contents until his fingers closed around a foil packet. He ripped it open with his teeth.

Jacie pulled the condom free and rolled it down over his swollen member. “Now. Please.”

He leveraged himself between her legs and slipped into her warm, wet channel, sliding all the way in. Her muscles contracted around him and he fought for control.

Soon he was thrusting in and out of her, his pace increasing with the intensity of sensations filling his body. The tingling ripped through him from his toes to the tip of his shaft. He rammed home one last time and collapsed on top of her, buried deep inside Jacie’s warmth.

Her legs wrapped around his middle, her arms around his neck.

For a long time, he pulsed inside her, the troubles of the world so far away they could have been on an entirely different planet for all he knew.

When his senses finally calmed and he returned to the present, he rolled to his side, taking her with him, their connection unbroken.

She lay with her head pillowed on his arm, her eyelids drifting to half-mast. “Are you always this intense?” She touched a finger to his lip.

He kissed the tip, giving her the hint of a smile. “Only when it counts.”

“Um. I’d say it counted.” She draped a leg over his, sliding her calf across his thigh.

“To answer your earlier question, no, you’re not homely. You’re beautiful.” He brushed a kiss across her lips and pulled her closer, resting his chin on the top of her head.

Within seconds, Jacie’s breathing slowed and her body relaxed against his as she fell asleep.

Zach lay awake for a long time, sanity crowding in on him with each passing minute.

He’d done exactly what he’d sworn he’d never do again. He’d slept with a woman whom he could very easily fall for. Hell, he was already halfway there.

Jacie was everything he could possibly want in a woman. Tall, gorgeous, open, honest and tough enough to set him in his place. She was loyal and loving and deserved a man who could give her all of himself.

Zach just wasn’t that man. After what had happened to his partner, he vowed never to become so emotionally committed to any woman. It hurt too badly when you lost her and he knew his heart wouldn’t survive another blow that deep.

An hour later, Zach slid his arm from beneath Jacie’s neck and climbed out of the bed. He pulled on a pair of jeans, grabbed his cell phone and let himself out of the cabin.

Clouds had moved in to block the moon. Except for the porch lights on the tiny cabins and the security lights on the lodge, everything was shrouded in inky, black darkness.

Zach sat on the porch steps and checked his phone. He’d been so wrapped up in everything that had happened since he’d gone into the canyon to find Los Lobos hideout, then Jacie...he hadn’t checked his calls and messages. Only one call had come in. It was from his friend James Coslowski, and he’d left a message.

Zach’s heartbeat picked up as he hit the play button.

“Dude, what the hell have you gotten into? Apparently this Kosart woman was working without authority on a case that wasn’t assigned to her. The whole bureau is in an uproar and the big bosses are threatening to roll a few heads. Call me when you get this message and I’ll fill you in.”

Zach dialed James.

“Do you know any other time of the day than middle of the night?” James answered in a whisper. “Let me get somewhere that I won’t wake my pregnant wife so I can talk.”

A moment later, he spoke in a normal tone. “So you got my message.”

“I did. Why is the bureau all up in arms?”

“Classic case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand was doing. DEA supposedly was working the Big Bend area when your Tracie Kosart wandered in and got herself kidnapped and the agents killed. Any luck finding her?”

“None so far.”

“It’s a shame. I didn’t find anything on Tracie. She checks out as a good agent, follows the rules—until now—and keeps her nose clean. Have it on file that she and Agent Bruce Masterson are in a relationship. I’m guessing you already know that since he’s been assigned to the team responsible for finding Agent Kosart.”

“He’s here.”

“One of the FBI big dogs, Grant Lehmann, has also assigned himself as overseer of the operation to retrieve the Kosart woman.”

“I guess with the two agencies involved, they felt it necessary to have adult supervision?”

“Probably. I found it interesting that one of Bruce Masterson’s past assignments was to infiltrate a drug ring in the San Antonio area. He pulled in a pretty major leader on that case and got all kinds of kudos and awards for his work.”

“Seems like he needed to be a little farther west.”

“Yeah, but the ringleader has connections to people in your area.”

Zach sat up straighter. “Names?”

“Let me find my notes.” The sound of papers being turned crackled in Zach’s ear before James said, “Here it is. The file only listed one, Enrique Sanchez. Lives in a trailer six miles south of Wild Oak Canyon. The notes in the file indicate he makes frequent trips to Mexico and has been seen with members of La Familia Diablos on the Mexican side of the border.”

“Anything else?”

“That’s all so far. I’ll let you know as soon as I dig up anything else.”

“Thanks, cos.”

“Keep your head down, buddy. It’s likely to blow up even bigger than you think. What with two agencies fighting over jurisdiction and blaming each other for everything that’s gone wrong.”

“Trust me, I’m here. I know.” Zach clicked off his cell phone, his heart pumping, sleep so far from his mind he couldn’t stay still.

He had to get to Enrique Sanchez. If he was a member of La Familia, he might know what happened to Tracie. Trouble was that he couldn’t leave Jacie alone. Not after her cabin had been ransacked. Since whoever had tossed her home had tried to break in while she was there, they weren’t concerned about being seen by her. Meaning they would have either taken her or killed her.

Zach would have to wait until Jacie awoke. He’d get the cell phone to Hank’s team and let them hack into it for any information they might find. For safekeeping, he’d leave Jacie with Hank and check out Sanchez.

From that point on, Zach spent time cleaning and checking his weapons. He couldn’t afford to have one jam on him when he needed it most. And if Sanchez proved to be a member of La Familia, it wouldn’t be an easy task to convince him to talk.

* * *

S
OMETHING
BRUSHED
J
ACIE
’
S
lips, tickling her awake in the predawn of morning. She rolled onto her back and blinked open her eyes.

Zach leaned over her, dressed only in jeans and looking so handsome he hurt her eyes.

“Go away,” she grumbled, slinging an arm over her face. She probably looked like hell.

“We have work to do. I got a lead.”

Jacie sat up straight, forgetting for a moment that she was completely naked. Her face heated and she grabbed the sheet, dragging it up to her chin. “What lead?”

Zach’s lips quirked upward, his gaze traveling over her. “The name of a man who could be connected to La Familia.”

Jacie flung the sheet back and leaped out of the bed, all sleepiness forgotten. “Where are my jeans? I need a shirt. Why didn’t you wake me earlier? Why are you just standing there?”

He shook his head, unable to hide his smile. “You’re beautiful.” Zach stepped up to her and finger-combed her hair back off her forehead, his brown eyes darkening to near black.

Jacie’s body responded to his light touch. “Not fair. You have all your clothes on.”

“I can fix that.”

“What about the man from La Familia?”

“It’s still dark outside. It can wait until light.” Zach wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her against him, the hardness of his erection pressing into her belly, telling the truth. He wanted her as much as she wanted him.