Irresistible Forces

Charlie.

Margo crept up beside Jared, whose hands were still in the air. 'Get back,' he whispered.

'Whatcha mean they aren't coming back?' Millman asked, narrowing his eyes. 'What'd you do to 'em?'

Raquel gave a throaty laugh. 'Wouldn't you like to know?'

'She's bluffing.' Charlie swallowed so hard his Adam's apple climbed the length of his throat and back.

The door to the outside rattled. Millman glanced at his watch.' 'Bout time. The show's over and the club closes in six minutes. Now we have three mouths to shut up permanently.'

The door burst open, but no one was there. Jared managed to shove Margo behind a stack of boxes, then dove in with her. He peered around the corner, readying his aim.

Charlie grabbed Raquel, who didn't put up any fight at all. 'Watch the hands, Curly,' she said, her tone sultry as ever.

That woman had grit or she was insane. Either way, she was now a hostage, and that presented a brand- new set of problems.

'Come out with your hands up,' a voice called from outside.

By now, Gary probably had enough firepower to blow the Studfinder to Mars. All Jared wanted was Margo out of here safely.

'Drop it, Fritz.' Jared took aim on Millman and stepped from behind the box. 'Tell your partner to let the woman go.'

'Oh, let him shoot me, Jar-O,' Raquel said.

Jared swallowed hard, resisting the compulsion to look at Raquel just now. He had to watch Millman for any sudden moves.

'Drop your weapon,' Gary called from the open doorway, his gun pointed at Charlie and Raquel.

'Dammit, Charlie, they got us. Let the bitch go.' Sweat poured down Millman's face, and his cigar hit the floor.

'Don't move or she's dead.'

'I'm already dead. Go ahead, make my day.'

Something that sounded like a sob erupted from Margo. He couldn't comfort her now, but he understood her concern about Raquel. Jared had seen some agents with death wishes in his day, but Raquel Eastwood was either the bravest person he'd ever met or else certifiable.

The door leading into the club swung open behind them, and Charlie started shooting. Gary took him out in one shot. Jared had Millman pinned against the wall before they even knew who'd opened the door.

And Raquel Eastwood was lying in a pool of her own blood.

Margo bolted out of her hiding place and dropped down beside Raquel. Jared still had his gun on a cowering Millman. Until someone relieved him, he couldn't help Raquel or hold Margo.

'Oh, my God!' an elderly woman wielding a bathroom plunger like a sword said from the open doorway. Steph Knutsen, armed with a mop, stepped in beside her.

'Paramedics are on the way,' Gary said. Two other agents entered the storage room and cuffed Millman, then dragged him outside. Gary inclined his head toward Charlie's body. 'That one's dead.'

The moment Millman was out of there, Jared dropped to his knees beside Margo. Don't let me be too late. Raquel had risked her life to save him. He had absolutely no doubts about that. God only knew why.

'Don't go yet,' Margo said.

Don't go? Jared supposed she meant don't die.

Steph stooped on the opposite side of Raquel and helped Margo and Jared apply pressure to the gaping wound in the woman's chest. At such close range, it was a miracle she'd survived this long. It didn't look good.

'Is she… going to make it?' the elderly woman asked, parting with her plunger.

'I'm afraid…' Raquel opened her eyes. 'It isn't PMS now.'

'Don't go. Not yet. Please?' Margo left the first aid to the others and grabbed Raquel's limp hand.

'Who all is here?' Raquel's smile was weak.

'Jared, Steph, Mrs. Brown, me.'

'That's all?'

Jared looked around. Gary stood right outside the door, talking with other agents. What the hell was taking the paramedics so damned long?

'They won't get here in time, Jar-O.' Raquel turned her gaze on him. 'I have that on the highest authority.'

Margo gasped. 'I'm so sorry.'

'Don't be.' Raquel grinned again. 'I'm really not in any pain, you know. This is my Oscar-winning performance. Besides… somehow, you know. Don't you?'

Margo nodded, tears streaming down her face. To Jared's amazement, Raquel winked.

'What the hell?'

'Seamus, since she's on to me anyway…?' After a moment, a solemn expression crossed Raquel's face. 'Hey, Jar-O, wanna see something really scary?'

Jared watched Raquel's flaming red hair fade to blond. Her face changed from soft and feminine to hard and masculine. Blood stopped pumping from her wound, and her breasts became flat.

He jerked his hands away, meeting Steph's gaze for a brief instant as they both realized there was no longer a wound to tend. He looked at Raquel's new face again, and recognition made him sway.

'Nick?'

'In the flesh, so to speak.'

Jared couldn't speak. A dead man was talking to him.

'Margo,' Nick said, 'Mr. Honest-to-a-Fault here didn't cheat on you back at the university. I set him up.' He sighed, remorse evident in his eyes. 'I'm sorry for that.'

Margo remained silent, still holding Nick's hand.

After a moment, Jared realized there was something he needed to say — something Nick needed to hear, though he never would have believed the need was there before this. 'I… I forgive you. After all, who wouldn't love Margo?'

Nick smiled. For a moment, he reminded Jared of the smart-assed kid who'd given Jared hell most of his life.

'Not much time.' Nick patted Margo's hand and looked at her. 'I love you, but not the way he does. But if he screws up, I'm going to find a way to come back down here and kick his ass.'

Margo nodded. 'You know I didn't buy into that affair garbage.'

'Ah, well…' Nick shrugged. 'Thanks for that.'

Jared shook himself. I'm losing my mind.

Steph took Nick's free hand and kissed the back of his knuckles. 'I've missed you.'

'Ah, I've missed you, too, but don't be sad.' Nick placed Margo's hand in Jared's. 'You'll get to break in another brother-in-law. Make him suffer just a little, though. Will ya?'

'You bet I will.' Steph sniffled and smiled at the same time.

'How about you, Mrs. Brown?' Nick looked at the older woman. 'Have you missed me, too?'

'I… I bought you tampons and evening primrose.'

Steph leapt to her feet to catch Mrs. Brown, but the woman shook her head and righted herself.

Nick managed a weak smile. 'And I'll never forget it either.'

'And you…' Nick turned his gaze on Jared, his expression solemn. 'There's a letter for you in my desk. You won't like it.'

'What?'

Nick blinked. 'Our father should've told you, but I figure he's living his own kind of hell now.'

The air whooshed out of Jared's lungs. 'We're…'

'Brothers.' He took Jared's hand and gave it a firm shake. Their gazes met and held. After a moment, he looked upward. 'I hear you, Seamus.' Nick looked at Margo again. 'Name your first daughter Raquel. Okay? Hey, if it's a boy, name him after his uncle Nick.'