Because you’d been the most dangerous, go to hell-looking man in the room. “I needed you.”
“You didn’t know me.”
And that had been one of the reasons why. Someone who didn’t know her. Didn’t know her past.
“You were running scared,” he said, voice deeper, “and you ran to me.”
Then. She didn’t deny his words. Maybe that was answer enough for him.
“Why now, baby? I know your secrets.” A rough smile twisted his lips. “Is it the case? Because Hyde orders you to—”
She wrenched away from him. “Hyde doesn’t order me to screw anyone.” Stay close to him.
“He said to stay close though, right? Dante gave that order to you the first day in my house. And you’ve been staying close… because you want to show ’em you can handle the job? Handle anything that comes at you when—”
“No, dammit!” Her voice tore across his. “I’ve been staying because I wanted to be with you!”
Time to stop being afraid. “Max, I’m not with you because of the case. I’m with you because you’re the only man I want.” A stranger to satisfy the dark need—at first. But then he’d become so much more.
“You know me,” Sam told him. “Inside and out, you know me, like no one else ever has before.” All the dark places, the fears. He knew it all, and still wanted her.
Not a victim. Not with him. And she’d be damned if she’d be one ever again.
His phone rang then, a low vibration. She wet her lips. “Max, I just…”
He yanked the phone out of his back pocket and glanced down at the screen. “Donnelley.”
CHAPTER Seventeen
Do you want to see your brother again?” The voice was a rasp, surrounded by a crackle of static.
“Donnelley, you bastard, what do you want?” Max’s fingers tightened around the phone.
A laugh. “Everything.”
Samantha had her phone out. She’d moved away from him, and he heard her whispering urgently to someone.
“Where’s Quinlan?”
Another husky laugh. “Your agents think he’s a killer, don’t they?”
Isn’t he? “The two of you drugged me.”
“Did we?”
“The FBI is after you, and you’d better pray they find you first!” Because Max wanted to rip the ass**le’s head off. Rage had his whole body tightening.
“If they find me, I promise…” still that low, rough whisper, “they’ll never find Quinlan. Not until it’s too late.”
Another game. “Quinlan’s been killing with you.” That was what Samantha thought and what he feared. How? How had things gone so wrong? Could I have stopped this? Saved him?
His mother’s image flashed before him. W-Watch him.
Max’s teeth clenched. Dammit. To just go back—
“I went to Quinlan’s room before I dosed you…” Whispered. “And you don’t remember me dragging him out, do you? The cameras saw what I wanted them to see… and no one saw him.”
Samantha was back. She’d grabbed her gun and holstered it at her side.
“How much is he worth?” The voice taunted. “How much will you pay? What will you do? After all, you’re the one who ruined everything—you and your whore.”
“Don’t you say—”
“You want to be the hero? The one who saves Quinlan? Then you’ll f**king do exactly what I tell you to do.”
Sonofabitch.
“Bring the bitch with you, get in the car, and I’ll tell you where to go.” A rush of static on the line. “You can trade your life for his. Quinlan can walk away.”
Fucking liar.
“You’re dead,” Max said and meant it.
“One of us will be.” More static crackled. “Now move. If you let that bitch bring in the Feds, Quinlan will be the one who is dead. I’ll slice him apart, and his death will be on you, big brother.”
“Sam called.” Kim announced as she rushed into Hyde’s office. “Donnelley’s cell number just popped up on Max’s phone. She said it sounded like he was making a demand, something about Quinlan.”
Hyde leapt to his feet. Monica had been sitting across from him, but she jumped up too.
“Did you order a trace lock on Donnelley’s phone?” Hyde asked.
“Yeah, we’re triangulating the signal now. We should have the doctor’s general location in just a few more minutes.”
Monica fired a hard stare at Hyde. “If the doctor’s on the line, then where’s Quinlan?”
She’d just gone through her entire profile with Hyde. As far as Monica was concerned, Donnelley wasn’t the key player. Too weak. Too disorganized.
Hyde’s jaw clenched. “We’re going to damn well find out.”
The call ended with a soft click. Max swore and raced for the door, wrenching the knob.
“Max?”
Max didn’t look back. “Don’t come with me, baby.”
But her steps hurried after him. Then her hand was on his arm as she tried to turn him back to face her. “What did he say? What’s happening?”
Your life for his.
“I have to go alone.” He shook his head. “He could be watching. I have to go alone.” Because he wasn’t going to risk her.
“No, you can’t.” Snapped out.
He faced her and saw the tears glistening in her eyes.
Samantha shook her head. “No, do you hear me? This is some kind of setup. You can’t—”
“Give me your gun.”
Her eyes widened. “I-I can’t. You know I can’t!”
He held out his hand. “How much is family worth?”
She flinched at that. “You know… you know what’s going to happen.”
He grabbed her and kissed her with the desperate rage that pumped through his veins. He kissed her even as his hands swept down her body and took her gun.
No, he took the gun because she let him have it. Max’s head lifted, and he stepped back.
Sam stood before him, her lips trembling, red and swollen from his kiss. “Max, what did he say?”
“He wants me to come to him.”
“Where? Just tell me—”
“I don’t know.” But the bastard wanted her. Max had put Samantha in his sights. He won’t touch her. “He hasn’t told me yet.” Hurry; no time to waste. “Remember,” he said, “he always knew every move we made.” Just as he’d know now, because he was close.