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He was thankful for Jake and Coop. “How the hell did you find me?”
Coop loped easily beside him. “I had a hunch Brody might lead me to you, so I took a chance and followed him. I didn’t expect the kitten to be here, though, since Roberts supposedly sent her someplace safe.”
“Roberts doesn’t know Carmen is also on Halstead’s payroll, and he arranged for her to bring Jordan here so he could wrap up loose ends. Jake had Carmen figured, though, and never took his eyes off the woman.”
“Aw, hell. I knew something was off about that woman, but I trusted Roberts and made Jordan leave with her anyway. She wanted to go after you in the worst way, and I almost got her killed.” Guilt edged Coop’s voice.
“That didn’t happen, and there’s no way you could have known. If Roberts had faith in her, why wouldn’t you?” Travis was all too familiar with the nagging intuitions that sometimes warned him something was wrong. He and his SEAL brothers were extremely good at reading body language and recognizing tells. However, it wasn’t an exact science by any means. It was a good day when you got it right. Unfortunately, sometimes you missed all the signals. When that happened, the guilt would kill you if you let it. “If it makes you feel any better, you can cuff her when we find them.”
“Count on it.”
“Kitten?” Travis raised an eyebrow as he changed the subject.
A grin curved Coop’s mouth. “She was the kitten, wasn’t she? In your note?”
*****
IT SEEMED LIKE THEY’Dbeen walking for hours, and Jordan was dead tired. Her throat rasped with each breath. She tripped every few minutes, and Brody jerked her back to her feet. Sweat rolled down her back and between her breasts despite the frosty air that burned her fingers and toes. She’d given up any effort to keep track of where they were going, concentrating instead on putting one foot in front of the other.
Carmen had fallen back. Jordan could hear her stumbling behind them, but Brody didn’t seem to notice or care. If only she could get close enough, she’d tell Carmen to run and not look back. If Brody didn’t backtrack to find her, Jordan would only have to worry about herself.
She tripped again, but Brody released his grip on her arm, and she fell, throwing up her arms just in time to protect her head and face. She lay still, too exhausted to move, when Brody took a few steps away. A moment later, Carmen slumped to the ground nearby, a weary sigh escaping her.
“Okay, darlin’. You take a breather while I have a look up ahead.” Brody walked around her and stopped in front of Carmen. “Stay here.”
Was he leaving them alone? Did he expect her to stay because he so ordered? Jordan pushed to her feet as soon as he disappeared. With revived energy, she hurried to Carmen. “Let’s get out of here. Now’s our chance.”
The blank stare from the woman’s glazed eyes made Jordan’s breath catch in her throat. Moonlight reflected off a gun in Carmen’s hand and captured Jordan’s gaze. Understanding collided with her fight-or-flight reaction, almost making her physically ill.
“Carmen, where did you get the gun?” Brody must have given it to her. That was the only possibility.
The woman glanced at the weapon as though she had just realized she held it pointed at Jordan. Then she smiled faintly, and her grip tightened. “Brody said to stay here.”
Jordan stared, finally closing her mouth as anger raced through her blood. “Brody is going to kill us too, Carmen. You saw what he did back there.”
Confusion swirled in her eyes, and her gaze slid away from Jordan’s face. She rubbed her forehead. The gun went lax in her grip, but only for a moment. When she looked at Jordan again, a serene smile curved her lips. Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “I have to do what Brody wants. He works for my Joe.”
“Joe Halstead?” Jordan spat the name.
Carmen’s smile widened. “I’m going to marry Joe. I told you he’s my fiancé.”
Jordan backed up a couple of steps, her thoughts spinning. The house where she was supposed to be safe belonged to Carmen’s fiancé—Halstead? This woman had intended to deliver her into the hands of the man who wanted to kill her. If Travis hadn’t interfered with their plans, Jordan would undoubtedly be dead now instead of Halstead. Again, Travis had tried to warn her, and she hadn’t listened.
Her surprise gave way to anger, and she wanted to lash out at the woman. One thorough examination of Carmen’s eyes stopped her. The woman was undoubtedly in shock and had evidently chosen withdrawal over sanity. Pity replaced Jordan’s anger. Carmen’s life must have revolved around Halstead; she’d lost everything of consequence with his passing. Self-preservation demanded she deny his death, locking away the memory that was too painful to bear. Could Jordan still reach the woman trapped inside?
“Carmen.” Jordan kept her voice low and authoritative. “Brody shot Joe, and he’s hurt badly. Remember?” She hated lying to the woman, but Jordan feared making Carmen realize Halstead had died would only send her deeper into denial.
Carmen gave no indication she’d heard. “Everything will be okay once Joe gets here. You’ll see.”
Jordan shook her head. “Joe can’t come right now, Carmen. He needs a doctor. You saw what Brody did to him. You could go with him. Don't you want to be there when he wakes up in the hospital?”
Carmen lowered the gun as bewilderment and pain cascaded through her expression. Jordan was running out of time, and she might not get another chance. She took one step forward, jolting Carmen from her stupor.
“No. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Carmen gripped the gun tighter and brought it to bear on Jordan’s chest. “You’re lying.”
“You know the truth, Carmen.” Jordan glanced toward the trees where Brody had disappeared, expecting his return any second. What would Carmen do if Jordan told her that Joe was dead? She couldn’t take the chance that Carmen would react with anger and start shouting. Could she tackle the woman, overpower her, and take away the gun? Something held her back. “Carmen, did you know Brody was upstairs?”
“No.” She shook her head, her voice cracking.
