Santerra's Sin: A Loveswept Classic Romance Read online

  Diego had the penlight and, from his seated position, was scoping the immediate area for a clear spot. He eventually found one about a hundred feet away. He half crawled, half dragged himself over there. His shoulder was a mess, the sling long gone. His thigh throbbed but was otherwise okay. His left foot was sore and badly bruised, but it was his right foot and ankle that kept him on the ground. He’d definitely broken some bones and twisted up his ankle to the point that standing upright wasn’t going to happen anytime soon.

  Blue made her way over to him. “Are you okay?” She dropped the last of his gear next to him. “What about your feet?”

  “I’ll live.”

  Even in the dark he could see her roll her eyes. “Men. We have to get you out of here. How far from the Jeep do we need to be to blow it up? Just tell me how to do it.”

  Diego shook his head. “I’d say you were just in shock, but you really are something else, Blue Delgado.” It was on the tip of his tongue to say her father would be proud to know she had his instincts and strong center.

  She turned her attention from the Jeep to him. “I will probably go into a coma as soon as this is all over. It just seems like a waste of time to get hysterical now.”

  He had no idea where the laughter came from, but it felt good. Too good to stop.

  She looked at him, but her mouth twitched and then she was sitting next to him laughing. He knew it was a release of the fear and tension of the last couple of hours as well as a diversion from the pain he was in, but it felt good.

  “You don’t laugh much, do you, Diego?” she said as their laughter finally died away.

  That sobered him. “Never had much cause to.”

  “I’m not sure, but I think there is a compliment in there somewhere.”

  Their eyes met and she placed her palm against his chest. He caught her hand, covering it with his own, and pressed harder.

  After a long moment he moved his hand away and she stood. “Tell me what to do.”

  He didn’t say anything for a moment, then cleared his throat. “We have to move farther away. Find another rock or boulder to get behind for protection. I’ll take care of the blast.”

  Blue groped around and found the penlight. “I’ll see what I can find.”

  He was already sliding his gear closer to his hip. “Be careful, the ground is very uneven.”

  She smiled in the darkness. “I’ve spent a lot of time climbing around these hills. I’ll be okay.” She almost laughed at the irony. She’d just spent the last couple of hours charting completely unknown territory. She’d never felt less sure of herself.

  It took surprisingly little time to get everything set up. Still, Blue knew it had to be getting close to dawn.

  “Hasn’t it been too long since we wrecked?” she asked as she crouched behind the boulder next to him. “For the explosion, I mean? Won’t Jacounda’s men know we had time to get out?”

  It had taken them some time getting him away from the Jeep. Even though his injuries were far from life-threatening, Blue knew he was in pretty bad shape. She was amazed he’d held up as well as he had. Her cheeks heated. His stamina, especially considering their brief but passionate encounter earlier in the cabin, had to be almost depleted.

  “That is a chance we have to take. It’s a miracle we survived in the first place. The explosion will still make them wonder. Our best chance is to alert T.J. and the rest of the team.” He shifted a bit, making more room for her. “Get down and cover your ears.”

  She did. Seconds later a huge explosion rocked the night, vibrating the ground and showering the entire area with debris. They’d discussed the possibility of starting a forest fire with the blast, but a quick survey of the area showed they were on a mostly rocky slope. The trees that had stopped their descent were part of a very small, solitary stand. If they burned, which they probably would, the fire would likely go no farther. Diego said the beacon would help them too.

  When the smoke cleared and debris stopped raining down on them, they both lifted their heads and watched the Jeep, or what was left of it, burn.

  “How long do you think it will take for your guys to show?”

  “Under an hour if we’re lucky.”

  Neither of them had to ask what would happen if they weren’t.

  Blue turned away from the burning wreckage and looked at Diego. Highlighted by the flames, his face was more austere and remote than ever. Her hand was on his cheek before she’d even realized her need to connect with him.

  He immediately turned his cheek into her hand, the movement so instinctive, it made her throat ache.

  “Diego,” she whispered. I don’t want to walk away from you.

  He looked her directly into the eyes, as if he’d heard her thoughts. She started to pull her hand away, but he caught it and pressed it to his cheek.

  “I’ve never known what it was like to be touched. Not like this.”

  She was stunned by the stark honesty in his voice, the immensity of need she heard in his quietly spoken admission.

  “I do need you, Blue.”

  “I’m right here.”

  He shook his head. “No, really need. When they popped us and I lost control of the Jeep, I—” He broke off on a harsh breath and swore.

  “It’s okay, Diego. We’ll be okay.”

  “No!” he said with surprising vehemence. “No, it’s not okay. You might have been killed. It’s a miracle that neither of us was badly hurt. You were right. I shouldn’t have been behind the wheel. My reflexes—”

  “Shh, stop that,” she ordered. “You were right. There was no other way. I would have most likely lost control of the Jeep the first time we were hit. At best I would have at least gotten a flat tire.” He didn’t say anything. “That was a joke.”

  “I thought you might be dead, Blue. It scared me. The thought of losing you terrifies me.”

  “Oh, Diego.” She traced trembling fingers across his lips. He kissed them gently.

  “I’ve never been scared before. I always figured the worst that could happen was that I’d die. And death didn’t bother me.”

  “Diego, I—”

  “It bothers me now. And that terrifies me too. I have no idea how to handle this, Blue. I don’t want to be robbed of any chance I have to know you.”

  “Then I guess we’d better find a way to get us both out of here.”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “Nothing worth having is.”

  “But—”

  “But nothing.” She cupped his face. “I feel the same way. I don’t want to miss out on the opportunity of knowing you either.”

  “Blue—”

  “There has only been one other man in my life I have ever truly cared for. And I swore I would never put myself in the position of being that open and vulnerable again.”

  “Anthony?”

  “Hardly,” she said. “No, he was a mistake all the way around. Not only did I not choose wisely, but I was with him for all the wrong reasons. I was trying to do what I thought I should do. For my family. For me.”

  “Is that why you gave up the academy?”

  “Yes.”

  “You still want to be a cop?”

  She stroked his face. He’d been holding his bad shoulder with his free hand, but he let it go to touch her hair and neck.

  Blue felt the connection between them like an electrical current making a full circuit.

  “You’d make a good one, Blue. You have the instincts.”

  A soft smile curved her mouth. “It’s in my blood. My father was in law enforcement. Of a kind anyway.” She looked him directly in the eyes. “He was a man like you. A man whose principles wouldn’t let him compromise. He gave up his family to keep us safe. And when that didn’t work, he ended up giving his life.”

  “I’m not sure I’m worth that honor, Blue. But thank you.”

  “That’s who I meant. He’s the other man. My mom closed off a part of herself when they divorced. She loved me, but
we never … connected. But my father … I was fifteen when he came back to us. He was everything to me. I loved him, idolized him. I gave him everything I had to give. When they died … when he was truly gone—” She broke off and looked away for a moment. “I lost a connection I never thought I’d feel again. You can’t describe it, but I feel that with you, Diego.”

  “That’s the difference between us, Blue. I’ve never known what connection feels like. It was never a part of my life growing up. And when it could have been, later, as an adult, I didn’t dare even try. I don’t think I’d have known how anyway.”

  “Do you still feel that way?”

  He brushed his fingers over her cheek. “No. You … understand me. You don’t look at me. You look into me.”

  “And I like what I see, Diego. You should be proud of the man you’ve become.”

  “I want to be worthy of that, Blue. I don’t know if I can be.”

  “What do you want, Diego? Is your life enough for you now?”

  “I’m not sure anymore. I’ve never really let myself want more than I’ve got. I’m not sure I’m ready to now. Are you?”

  “I don’t know what I want either, Diego,” she answered honestly. “I do know that what I’ve settled for in the past is not enough.” She turned her head and pressed her lips against his forearm, feeling his pulse against her mouth. Then she lifted her head and looked at him. “I do know I want you.”

  “Oh, Blue. I want you too.” He pulled her toward him. “Come here.”

  She kissed him.

  He gentled it when she would have pushed harder. “Your lip,” he said.

  “Kiss me, Diego.”

  He did. And it was the most profound moment of her life. To be wanted and to want in equal measure.

  “Yes, Blue, I do want you,” Diego said against her mouth as he released her.

  She reached her hand up to his face, stopping just short of touching him.

  “Don’t stop,” he said, his voice rough with both pain and need. “Touch me, Blue.” Heal me.

  He felt the pressure of her palm on his face and neck all the way to the core of his soul. A deep sigh welled up inside him and eased out on a long slow breath. He leaned back against the rock, cradling his bad arm, his legs relaxed, his ankle propped against one of his gear bags. His entire body was throbbing, and his head pounded as if he had a jackhammer for a pulse. And he didn’t care. “How is it your touch makes everything else disappear?” he said, not even realizing he’d spoken aloud until she moved.

  She rolled onto her knees, positioning herself between his thighs. She cupped his face, looking past any barriers he might have raised. He no longer tried. He didn’t want to, not with her. Never with her.

  “The same reason that I trust you without knowing exactly why. You understand me like no one ever has.”

  Before Diego could respond, all hell broke loose.

  ELEVEN

  Blue scrambled away from Diego and they both peered over the boulder.

  Four men had entered the area between them and the Jeep, sending a stream of rock debris tumbling as they slid down the steep terrain.

  Diego whipped up his hand so fast, Blue didn’t see the lethal black blade he held poised between his fingers until it was eye level.

  Her fingers gripped his good shoulder, but the wicked curving edge of the blade didn’t move so much as a hair.

  “Your guys?” She already knew the answer.

  “No.”

  In the next instant he pressed a .40-caliber Glock into her hand.

  “Can you shoot this?”

  “Yes,” she answered, automatically flipping the safety and checking the clip.

  Before she could get her next question out, the scene in front of them distracted her. There was a pop, then one of the men stumbled, grabbing his chest as he fell to the ground less than fifty feet from their hiding place. Even in the dark Blue saw the dark pool spreading out beneath him.

  The other three men immediately dove for cover or assumed defensive positions. Guns were suddenly in their hands, and an instant later bullets flew fast and furious.

  Blue felt Diego’s attention shift and she followed his gaze. A dark shadow emerged from the shadowed downslope to their right, but movement from one of the men in front of her snagged at her peripheral vision. She turned just in time to see the man sight down on Diego. Blue didn’t think. She just took aim and fired. The man’s gun went flying from his hand, which he was now grasping, obviously in pain.

  Diego looked at her, and in that split instant she’d never felt so deeply connected to another human being. No words were spoken. None needed to be. They were a team in every way possible, in ways she’d never known existed.

  Their attention returned immediately to their attackers. Blue’s shot hadn’t taken the man out, but the remaining two men had retreated into the shadows. She knew she’d blown their location, but no more bullets were fired.

  “How many of your guys are out there?”

  “Don’t know.” His voice was right in her ear.

  “Well, the odds are in our favor.”

  “I don’t know how many more are on the upside of the hill either.” Diego shifted closer to her, tucking himself farther behind the rock. “Cover my back.”

  “What are you going to do? Don’t you—”

  “It’s still over an hour till full light. I want you out of here before then.”

  She opened her mouth to argue, but a small rock clicked off the boulder in front of her. She braced her back against the rock and leveled the gun with both hands in one smooth move.

  “Don’t shoot, I’m the good guy.”

  McShane. Too much adrenaline combined with an overwhelming rush of relief made her snap, “You were almost a good dead guy.”

  John slid in behind Blue and Diego so silently, Blue wondered if he wasn’t a ghost after all.

  He spoke to Diego. “You okay?”

  “About seventy-five percent.”

  “You toasted Del’s Jeep.” He smiled, looking at Blue, then back at Diego. “Guess he won’t mind.”

  “What happened?” Diego asked.

  John sobered. “The cabin is toast too.”

  Blue swallowed hard, but Diego just said, “You okay?”

  “One hundred percent. I always was faster than you.”

  “What do we do now?” she asked.

  John looked at her. “We take a little trip. You’re going to Florida.”

  Diego’s sharp, “What?” made her flinch.

  John turned to him. “Orders came down just before I had to close up shop. Scottie and T.J. are out there. Two o’clock and four o’clock, following Code C. Downslope is clear.”

  “I want her out before daylight,” Diego said.

  “That’s the plan. I called in for special transport for you.”

  “No. I’ll make it out of here on my own.”

  John didn’t argue the point.

  There was a brief silence, then Diego asked, “What’s the deal with Rico?”

  John glanced at Blue, then back to Diego. “I guess she’ll know all of this soon enough. He’s back in Miami, being interrogated.”

  Diego swore under his breath. “Why?”

  Blue could only imagine the trust his teammates must require in order to do their job. “How could he do that?” she demanded, her temper sorely tried. “How could he put his own men out there—”

  “It’s more complicated than you think.” John paused, then sighed. “We found out he met a woman on a mission about twenty months ago. She got pregnant. He’s been supporting her and the child.”

  “Jacounda found out about the child,” Diego said.

  John nodded at the same time Blue gasped. “Are they okay?”

  McShane nodded again. “We’ve got her and their son in protective custody.” He and Diego looked at each other for a long silent moment, then John moved back on his haunches. “It will all get squared away later.” He turned to Blue, the subje
ct obviously closed. “Same as before, you stay behind me, stop when I stop, move when I move. Do what I say when I say it. Let’s go.” He turned to Diego. “See you in Miami.”

  “Wait a minute, you can’t just leave—” Blue’s protest was cut off by Diego’s hand on her arm.

  “I have to finish here.”

  “You aren’t in any shape to—”

  “Go with him.” She would have continued to argue, but the look in his eyes stopped her. She felt John retreat into the shadows behind her, but she didn’t look away from Diego.

  His voice dropped so only she could hear him. “It’s important, Blue. More than you know.” He loosened his grip on her arm, caressing the spot gently before letting her go. “Just remember, I wanted to tell you.”

  She felt suddenly cold and fought a shiver. “Tell me what?”

  He just shook his head. “You’re an incredible woman, Blue. I’ve never met anyone like you.”

  “Diego, I—”

  “Will you make me one promise?”

  “What?”

  “Do what is in your heart. It’s not too late, Blue. It’s never too late. You’re the one who taught me that.”

  A deep ache took hold of her heart and began to squeeze. “Will I see you again?”

  He never got the chance to answer. The area between them and the Jeep exploded into sudden action.

  “This is the diversion,” John said tersely. “Let’s move.”

  Diego had already turned away, tensed and alert to the renewed battle at hand.

  She saw his blade hand come up. One instant the wicked black dagger was in his hand, the next instant his hand was empty.

  McShane pulled her arm. “Now!”

  She whispered, “I love you, Diego Santerra,” but knew he hadn’t heard her. Less than ten yards down the scrabbled slope, she stopped and yanked once on John’s arm.

  He turned back to face her, frustration screaming from every tendon in his face and neck. “What?”

  “Why Miami?” He started to drag her with him, but she yanked again. “Tell me or I walk as soon as I’m off this mountain. And to hell with your secret mission.”

  “The trial is in Miami.”

  “I figured that. Who wants me there?”