The Survivor (Eve Duncan #30)

“Extremely. But you should have more faith in me. There are always ways to get around difficulties if you’re motivated.” He smiled. “And believe me, I’m motivated.”

She could see it in his expression. The knife-hard edge was more clearly defined than she’d ever seen it. “I don’t remember much of it, but Eve said that Loring’s team seemed very efficient and did their job. You shouldn’t blame them.”

“I’ve had similar reports, and he’s off the hook as far as I’m concerned.” He paused. “Except that he should have known those snipers were on the property sooner.”

“I’m just glad he and his men were there to save the day when they did.” Riley ruefully shook her head. “I realize I’ve given you a hard time about all the security you’ve been throwing at me lately. I can’t promise that it will stop entirely. But I’ll chalk this episode up as a lesson learned.”

“That’s valuable in itself, but it might not be enough.” His smile suddenly held a hint of recklessness. “I’ve learned a few lessons myself from this experience. I’ve decided that I won’t be able to risk losing you again. I might have to take steps.”

“Steps,” she repeated warily. “I don’t like the sound of that, Cade.”

“Neither do I. So we’d better make adjustments to mitigate the results.” He suddenly leaned forward, and his smile lit his face with warmth. “It’s going to be okay, Riley. I’m not going to do anything you wouldn’t like. I just have to be certain that we don’t go through this again. I promise I’ll get it all to work.”

She frowned. “Get what to work? Stop patting me on the head, Cade. You’re confusing me. I’m not sure what you mean, but it sounds like a project for both of us.”

“And it will be, I swear. We’ll discuss it later. In the meantime, why don’t we get you out of here? Eve was telling me that you couldn’t wait to get out of this hospital.”

That brought her wide awake. “Yes.” She sat up in bed and was suddenly grinning. “Why am I worrying about your Arabs? Or all that weird ‘steps’ business? Eve said it was probably your fault that the specialist you brought in wouldn’t let her take me back to the Lake Cottage. I really feel entirely fine, Cade.”

“You don’t look entirely fine. But you’re on your way.” He bent over and gave her a quick, hard kiss. “I’ll go get the nurse to help you dress. I need to make a few calls and then I’ll whisk you out of here.”

“For Pete’s sake, I don’t need help dressing, Cade.”

“It will be quicker.” He smiled. “Just being obliging.” He left the room.

No, he was being Cade at his most controlling, she thought as she saw the nurse coming into her room a couple of minutes later. Just accept it now and deal with it after she was out of the hospital, and he had no reason to be this upset. They just needed to talk this out.

It wasn’t until she saw Pete Loring drive up in the hospital driveway in a Mercedes limousine that she began to have serious doubts again.

“Hi, it’s good to see you looking so well.” Loring had instantly exited the car and was now helping her out of the wheelchair into the backseat. “For a little while I was worried. The last thing I wanted was to get on Cade’s bad side.” He grimaced. “I’ve heard it can be fatal.”

“Only if you deserve it. What are you doing here, Loring?”

“Obeying orders. I’m supposed to drive the two of you to Eve Duncan’s Lake Cottage. Then my guys will make certain nothing happens to you until Cade gets you on that plane heading back to London. Okay?”

“Yes, okay?” Cade asked as he slid into the seat next to her and motioned for Loring to start the car. “The cottage is just a short drive. We have a few things to do and discuss, and I thought you’d like to see Eve before you left Atlanta. Was I wrong?”

“No, of course not.” She was frowning. “But I would have liked to have set up any visit myself. We’ve been through a hell of a lot and I’m very grateful to her.”

“So am I,” he said quietly. “But you’ll forgive me if I’m eager to express my gratitude in the quickest and safest way possible. You scared the hell out of me.”

“And I’m sorry, but it’s not as if I did anything to cause it.”

“No. But I’d like to do a little more investigating about the circumstances so that it won’t happen again. That’s fair, isn’t it?”

She nodded. “Circumstances? What circumstances? All we did was go to the boathouse.”

“Like I said, a little more investigation. I had Loring send me a few photos while I was on the plane.” As they got off the freeway on the exit for the Lake Cottage, he added, “The cottage is a few miles down the road. But Loring said the boathouse is the first turn. Let’s take a look at it first.”

“Whatever. I don’t know why we should—”

And then she saw the boathouse. No longer the neatly painted white and blue-trimmed little building. It was burnt and blackened, the windows broken, the deck left with huge gaping holes.

“What happened?” she whispered.

“Loring said that they weren’t only firing bullets,” Cade said. “When they thought they’d missed both of you, they shot a couple rockets at the boathouse. Loring was lucky to have managed to get you out of the water and away from the deck before the rockets hit.”

“I didn’t know.” Riley felt sick. “All that damage…”