Colorado Abduction - By Cassie Miles & Marie Ferrarella Page 0,58

she still hadn’t told her mother about the kidnapping. She needed to do that, but ten o’clock in Colorado was midnight in New York. Too late to call?

But this was important—one of the few times in her life when she needed her mother’s advice. Not only about the kidnapping. She wanted to talk about Burke. Her feelings for him were a jagged chart of highs and lows. The way he needed to always be in charge—their constant competition—irked her. But when he touched her, she soared to a high that was unlike anything she’d felt before. Was it love?

She needed her mother, and she needed to make that very private call on a phone that wasn’t tied to the system being monitored by Corelli.

Leaving her bedroom, she went downstairs. In the dining room, Corelli—who never seemed to sleep—was still monitoring his computers. Dylan had zonked out in the easy chair. She didn’t want to wake her brother by talking to Corelli. Nor did she want Dylan to know that she was calling Mom.

Instead, she went through the kitchen and out the back door where she sat on the step. With the Longbridge Security men and other patrolling cowboys around, she felt safe.

The night chill soothed her. Finally, the weather was beginning to feel more like December. She zipped up her sweatshirt. When this ordeal was over, she’d need a vacation. Maybe she should spend Christmas in New York with Mom. All the decorated store windows were spectacular, and she’d love to see the giant tree in Rockefeller Center. Maybe Burke would come with her. They could get a room in a plush hotel, eat fabulous sushi or take in a play. Would he like theater? He’d been a cop in Chicago. He must be okay with big cities.

She spotted someone heading toward the house. Even in the dim light of the cloud-covered moon, she recognized the bowlegged gait of Lucas Mann.

She waved to him, and he ambled toward her.

“It’s late,” she said. “What are you doing awake?”

“Can’t sleep. That’s one of them things about being an old codger. You get up during the night.”

She didn’t want to think he was sleepless because he was haunted by guilt or that he was awake because he was spying for Logan. “Do you ever think about retirement? Buying a little spread of your own?”

“Matter of fact, I do. A quiet spot with a couple of horses.”

Had Logan bribed him? Offered him enough cash to make his dream come true? “We’d hate to lose you.”

“A man gets old.” His eyes were shaded and unreadable under his cowboy hat. “You know how people talk about a slippery slope? How you take one wrong step and the whole mountain slides out from under you?”

What wrong step had he taken? “Is there something you need to tell me?”

With a gloved hand, he patted her shoulder. “Don’t you worry none. Nicole’s coming back. Then everything’s going to get back to normal.”

“I hope so.”

He touched the brim of his hat and walked away. She cared about this old cowboy. He was like part of the family. But if he’d been involved in Nicole’s kidnapping, in any way, she could never forgive him.

Before she could make her call, she heard vans pulling up at the front of the house. Burke was back. She rushed inside just as he came through the front door. In his full body armor, he was as impressive as an ancient warrior.

“It’s done,” he said.

“You found the body?”

He gave a somber nod.

In the back of her mind, she’d been hoping that the grave would be empty. Now there was evidence. One of the men in the SOF was a killer. That didn’t bode well for Nicole.

She watched and listened while Burke debriefed Corelli and Dylan. At the same time, he peeled off his armor and returned to the shape of a mere mortal—a shape she found incredibly attractive.

They moved on to discuss other plans. Tomorrow night was when everything was going down. In less than twenty-four hours, the ransom was due. And the SOF would be accepting their big delivery.

Neither Carolyn nor Dylan would participate in the hostage rescue. Their job was to stay here by the phone, waiting for the kidnappers to call.

The tactical support team circled the table. None of these men asked for her opinion, much less her approval of their plan. She’d become a tiny, insignificant speck of female energy, silently worrying that someone would be hurt, fearing for the safety of