Dark Summer

Her lids flew open as the terrifying thought sank home. He sounded so certain. And what was she doing still talking to him? Maybe he could trace this call. She hung up.

Stop shaking. Start moving. She ran toward the bathroom. Get dressed. Get out of here. Get far away from Marrok. Find a place to hide until she could figure out what to do. How was she going to do it?

As Lester had said, everyone was eager to help a cop find the bad guys. She would be vulnerable on her own. Oh, my God, she had never thought Lester would go so far as to kill. She had never questioned that Garrett's death was an accident. She had known Lester was cruel and malicious, but murder…

Stop dithering and accept it. And accept that he would try to kill Marrok if he found her with him.

She wouldn't be with him. Marrok had enough problems without having to shoulder Devon's. But it might be as difficult to get away from Marrok as it would be to find a safe place.

Or maybe not, he hadn't been with her when she woke this morning. He might be relieved.

She knew someone else who would be relieved to see the last of her.

She pulled out her phone again and called the bunkhouse to talk to Bridget.

'SATISFIED?' ENRIGHT TURNED TO DANNER as he hung up the phone. 'Did you get the trace?'

Danner frowned. 'No, it was a cell, and she hung up too soon. We may have gotten the nearest tower.'

Enright frowned. 'That's not my fault. I kept her on the line long enough.'

Danner smothered his irritation. He was becoming increasingly annoyed with the arrogant bastard. But Enright might still prove useful. 'Yes, you were quite lengthy and vicious. I was impressed. It takes a certain determined mind-set for murder. Were you telling the truth about Garrett?'

Enright didn't answer.

'Ah, I think you were. You're going to get along very well in Nigeria.'

'Even if you didn't get the trace, I sent her running. I know her. She might not bolt if it was just her safety involved, but she won't risk other people. And she said she was going to throw the phone away, but she won't do it. If I call her again, maybe we can get a trace and pick her up.'

'And then what would you do?'

'Whatever you want me to do.'

Danner gave him a shrewd glance. 'I'm not sure that's true. You're practically salivating about all the foul acts you want to inflict on the lady.'

'She deserves it.'

'And I'm perfectly willing for you to have your way. I believe you're the perfect person to persuade her to tell us where Marrok is right now. I'm looking forward to it.' It was the truth. He had been imagining Enright with the woman and it would be almost like having his hands on her himself. 'I've always found there's something wildly exhilarating about inflicting pain. Male victims are interesting, but women's bodies are so soft, and there so many ways to hurt them. You don't mind if I watch?'

'No.' Enright's cheeks were flushed, his eyes glittering. 'I believe I'd like it. Shall I call her?'

It was certainly tempting, but Danner still had another option, and it might be a safer one than the one Enright was offering. Though not nearly as exciting. 'Not yet.' Danner smiled. 'Give her a little time. Anticipation can be so delicious.'

'I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS,' BRIDGET said slowly. 'Does Marrok know about this slimeball of a husband of yours?'

'Yes. Didn't you?' Devon asked. 'You seem to know everything that goes on around here.' Devon fastened her duffel and lifted it off the bed. 'You and Lincoln.'

'There were a few other things of importance going on. I knew Enright existed. I didn't know he'd cause problems.'

'He's causing problems,' Devon said flatly. 'I have to get away from here. It's what you've been wanting since I came. Now's your big chance to get rid of me. Will you help me leave?'

Bridget didn't answer. 'You're afraid of him? He sounds pretty much like scum, but nothing that Marrok couldn't handle.'

'He's not going to get the chance. It's my problem. I made a bad mistake when I married Lester, and I know one man has already died because I made that mistake. Marrok's not going to die. And Marrok's not going to kill because of me.'

'And he knew about Marrok and Santa Marina. He must have really wanted to find you.'

'He's always been able to track me down. He digs until he finds out anything he wants to know. Now are you going to help me or not?'

'I'm thinking about it.' Bridget was staring at her. 'I'm surprised you trust me.'

'I don't trust you. Not worth a damn. But I'm giving you what you want, so there's no reason not to trust you about this. Do you know a place I can stay until I can make plans?'

She nodded. 'There's an old vacant winery in the Napa Valley. That should be safe enough for you.'

Devon's lips twisted. 'According to you, I'm not safe anywhere. No deadly forebodings lately?'

'Mock all you please. I only told you what I felt. But if it makes you feel any better, so far it's only a feeling. No visions. I've never had a vision that didn't come true.'

Devon felt that familiar chill. 'Then I'm evidently a lucky woman.'

'It depends on what you call lucky. If you think talking me into helping you is lucky, then you struck it rich.' Bridget turned toward the door. 'Let's go. We'll take the jeep.'

'We won't run into Marrok? Where is he?'

'He and Walt went to pick up Addie from Sarah Logan's. He said he wants to have all the dogs in one place.'

'You already saw him this morning?'

She nodded. 'Evidently this was my morning for getting calls to come up to the house.'

'Why did he want you?'

She shrugged. 'He said he needed me to take over guarding you. I guess that was the gist of it. He was a little reserved.'

Reserved. It wasn't a word Devon would ever have connected with Marrok. Yet his response last night hadn't been what she'd expected either. There had been passion close to desperation toward the end, but before that she had sensed a multitude of other emotions so elusive that she had been left bewildered and uncertain.

And he hadn't stayed with her after she had fallen asleep. He had gotten up and called Bridget and told her to take Devon off his hands. Perhaps not that brutally, but that didn't ease the hurt she was feeling.

What was she thinking? she wondered in self-disgust. None of that was important any longer.

Keeping Marrok alive was important.

Making sure Lester never found her was important.

She had to survive and make sure of both. But she'd need one more thing if she was to do that. 'Can you get me a gun, Bridget?'

'No problem.' Bridget gave her a glance over her shoulder. 'I'll give you one before I leave you at the winery.'

'THE WINERY HAS BEEN VACANT for the last ten years. It's in pretty bad disrepair.' Bridget parked in front of the old Spanish-style hacienda. 'And I don't know if there's any food in the pantry. We'll have to see.'

'I won't need much food. I'm only going to stay here until I get my head on straight about what's best to do.' Devon got out of the car and grabbed her duffel from the backseat. 'Is there a town close by where I can rent a car?'

'About fifteen miles west.' Bridget got out of the car 'You could probably call and have them bring one out.' She strode toward the door. 'Come on. I want to get going. I brought you here. Now it's up to you.'

'That's fine with me,' Devon said. 'I don't want you to-'

'God in heaven, I'm sick and tired of all this damn phoniness,' Bridget interrupted curtly as she threw open the door. 'Dammit, get out here,' she yelled. 'I've served her up to you. Now take her off my hands.'

'Don't be impatient, Bridget.' Chad Lincoln strolled into the foyer from the back of the house. 'That's always