No One Heard Her Scream

your part. Now answer the question.'

'I'll answer your question if you tell me why you were crying the other night, by the window.' When she wavered, Diego flashed a lazy smile. 'You see? It's hard to take that first step, isn't it? The trust factor.' His amusement faded, replaced by his intense stare. 'Then I will go first.'

It took him a moment to find the words. He knew how he felt, but saying such things aloud did not come easy.

'Sometimes it feels like I've lived my whole life doing things for someone else. Meeting you? That was for me. I didn't want Cavanaugh to share any piece of that. It meant too much.'

He stepped closer and brushed back a strand of her hair. Graced by moonlight, the magic of this woman touched him, more than he wanted to admit.

'You have an undeniable strength in you, Rebecca. I can see it in your eyes. But it's the complete vulnerability I find most intriguing. And that, you cannot hide. Not from me.'

The urge to kiss her took hold. More powerful this time.

Diego pulled her toward him, cradling the bad of her head in his hand, his fingers laced througl her hair. Without hesitation, he pressed his lips to hers, taking what he had no right to take. At first, she flinched in resistance. But when Rebecca's arms reached for him, her hands found the skin under his sweater, and his belly grew taut. Blood jolted through his system, on fire, fueling his arousal. He parted her lips with his tongue, and she returned his hunger, her fingers clutching his back. The sounds of the city faded—replaced by their breathless urgency. He wanted her . . . needed her.

'Oh, God, please. I can't do this,' she gasped. 'I'm so sorry.'

She pulled her lips from his, but collapsed against his body, clinging to him. With his chest heaving, he held her in his arms, his eyes shut tight.

'No, it's me. I should be the one to apologize.'

Regret filled him. He had pushed too hard, expected too much. Eyes still closed, he lowered his forehead to hers, breathing in her scent. Heat radiated off his skin. Not even the night air tempered the rush. She backed away, unable to look him in the eye. Rebecca turned her back on him, letting the clamor of the city build a wall between them.

'If you want me to go . . .' he offered.

'No. Please . . . stay.' Rebecca faced him now, standing in a murky fringe of light. 'Before I say what's on my mind, I do want to answer your question, about why I was crying the other night. Trust doesn't come easy for me either.'

She sat on the brick ledge, staring down river. Diego edged closer, standing at a respectful distance.

'Not too long ago, I lost someone. Someone I loved very much.' Rebecca's voice sounded hollow and distant. 'I'd been so focused on my career, I let what was really important slip through my fingers. And now, I can't get those precious moments back with her. She's dead, and there's nothing I can do to change it.'

Her words resonated with him. His personal life had taken a backseat all too often. And there were days when the bitterness of regret was all he tasted. He knelt by her side, not taking his eyes from her.

'Is that why this case is so important to you? The young girl discovered at the theater?'

'I'm sure that's part of it.' She fell silent for a long moment and fixed her gaze on him. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. 'I never mentioned the age of this person. Why is it you know so much about me, Diego? Are you telling me you know about my sister, Danielle?'

He stood and shook his head. 'Your sister?'

'Don't play dumb, Galvan. It doesn't suit you.' She rose to her feet and handed him the jacket he had loaned her, a stern expression on her face. 'Well, you've made this easier than I thought it would be.'

She stood toe-to-toe with him, hands on her hips.

'I had an interesting conversation with the FBI today. They seem to be reading my mail.'

He raised his chin and narrowed his eyes. 'Well, you know what they say. Big Brother is watching.'

'It's more than that, Slick. The feds are calling the fire at the Imperial arson even before the official report, kind of like you did the first day we met.' She cocked her head. 'And they knew about my interview with Cavanaugh right after I left the estate when I hadn't told anyone about it. But I've got a theory on all this.'

'Oh?' He turned his back on her, avoiding her glare.

'I think the feds have someone on the inside of Cavanaugh's organization. Maybe someone under deep cover.'

He clenched his jaw and shut his eyes for an instant, then turned to face her.

'I don't see how that's possible. Cavanaugh wouldn't take anyone into his confidence without a background check with references. He's known for that. No way someone in law enforcement could get inside. I know the man.'

'Not unless this person had connections with someone Cavanaugh respected ... or feared. Rivera got you inside, didn't he?'

'You don't know what you're talking about. You're fishing.' He stared at the moon and took a deep breath.

'Maybe. But I think I've got the right bait.' She tugged at the sleeve of his sweater and stroked his arm, forcing him to look at her again. Her voice softened. 'Come on, Diego. Why else would you be here, connected to Cavanaugh? You're not like him or Brogan. I can feel it. Please tell me the truth.'

Diego didn't want any secrets between them, but he had no choice. The FBI had taken away his options and suspended his life for their own agenda. The bastards. For all intents and purposes, Draper held a gun to his head, and Joseph Rivera would pay the price if Diego reneged on his end of the bargain. He wouldn't risk it, not even if his stonewalling cost him Rebecca's trust.

'Don't kid yourself about who I am. I understand men like Cavanaugh and Brogan. You don't know anything about me.'

'Well, you're right about that. Why is it when I run a background check on you, I get nothing? Casper the Ghost has more substance than you, my friend.'

'I have my reasons, none of which concern you.'

'Yeah, but you're making it my business. You keep turning up when I least expect you. One way or another, you're plugged in to the FBI, and you're an insider to Cavanaugh. I don't have to understand why. All I need is for you to take on a partner. The way I see it, you don't have a choice.'

'You don't know what you're asking. Stay out of this, Rebecca.'

'You want to push me? Call my bluff. See what happens.'

'Is that a threat?'

'Take it anyway you want, Diego, if that's your real name. If you don't play by my rules, I'll expose you to Cavanaugh. At this point, I have nothing to lose.'

'You would do that? Risk my life, maybe others?' She couldn't look him in the eye and gave no indication she would answer, so he added, 'From where I stand, you're not much better than Cavanaugh. You have no idea what you're doing.'

'Then explain it to me,' she shrugged. When he kept his silence, she went on, 'Thought so. To hell with mutual trust, huh? Look, all you have to do is keep me in the loop. And I may need you to do things for me, without a big debate.'

'If Cavanaugh thinks I'm working with the SAPD, that loop you talk about will be around my neck.'

'Then you'll have to keep your guard up. That should be second nature to a guy like you.'

A guy like me? She definitely had him pegged. And he couldn't exactly belabor the point. He was the one with a membership card to two criminal organizations, secret handshake and all.

'Nice to see you hold me in such high regard.'

He had warned Draper not to pull Rebecca off the case, but Diego was in no position to take on the FBI. He had no clout. Now the egotistical fed would get her fired if the man knew she was trying to blackmail his prize informant into cooperating. Diego wouldn't let it happen. Rebecca was a good detective and didn't deserve the added grief.

But he wouldn't let Joseph Rivera down either. The way he looked at it, one more secret to keep wouldn't break the bank. So he had a new partner, one he had to protect from Cavanaugh and the FBI.