Escape Out of Darkness (Maggie Bennett 1)

“I’ll be sure to.”

“You won’t get the chance,” Mack said when Willis and Consuela disappeared up the narrow stairs to the upper floor. “We’re not going to Switzerland.”

“What are our alternatives? Go back to the U.S. and wait for someone to gun you down?”

“What about the Bay Islands?”

“I’m not about to spend the rest of my life hiding out, and neither are you. And I’m not about to let that bastard Van Zandt get away with it. I never trusted him, I should have followed my instincts. But Peter was so damned sure, and look where it got him.”

“I don’t want you to wind up in the same place, Maggie.”

“I won’t. I’m smart and cynical and tough, and I’m not about to turn my back on him. You can wait it out on the islands and I’ll come back and get you when it’s over. But I’ve got to see this through to the end.”

He sat there, staring at her, frustration and something else warring in his hazel eyes. He sighed in capitulation. “I guess we go to Switzerland.”

“No, Mack. I’d do better alone.”

“Stuff it, Superwoman. We go together or not at all,” he demanded.

“Don’t call me that,” she said automatically. “Which reminds me. Why the hell did you jump Willis? Didn’t you realize how dangerous he is?”

Mack just looked at her. “I really can take care of myself, Maggie,” he said. It was a gentle reproof, but Maggie still didn’t like it. “Besides, I had the sudden, overwhelming need to kick some ass.”

“Great. Pick someone a little more innocuous next time, will you? Or at least do it when I’m not around.”

Mack smiled. “I’m afraid your presence had a lot to do with it. My long-dormant machismo reasserting itself, I guess. Sorry about that, boss. It won’t happen again.”

“Christ, I let you drive,” she said, flustered.

“So you did. In return I’ll let you be on top tonight.”

“Mack.” Her voice carried a very definite warning.

“Maggie,” he mimicked her, rising with one fluid gesture and reaching out a hand to pull her up. “Let’s go check out our sleeping quarters.”

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She looked up at his hand. She didn’t need his help, she could stand on her own, and she opened her mouth to tell him just that. He knew what she was thinking, she could tell by the half-amused look on his face. But he still held out his hand, waiting.

“You think you’ve got me psyched out, don’t you?” she muttered.

“Do I?” Mack asked.

She sat there for another long, stubborn moment. And then she reached up and placed her hand in his. “You do, damn you,” she said as he pulled her up and into his arms.

It was a relief to be there, to feel the strong, steady thud of his heartbeat against her breasts, to revel in the warmth of his arms around her. She wanted to lean her head against his shoulder and close her eyes to the latest impossible development, and it took all her pride and energy to give a gentle push.

He released her readily enough, and she knew with a sudden flash of understanding that he always would. He’d never tie her down, force her to do things his way, keep her a prisoner when she needed to be free. The only thing that would keep her chained to him would be her own needs. It was a frightening thought.

“You’re right, we ought to check out where we’re sleeping, and make sure Willis didn’t stuff the mattress with tarantulas,” she said, her voice just slightly shaken.

The back room contained a narrow, stained mattress on the stone floor, a threadbare blanket, and a window that wouldn’t close, letting in all sorts of bugs. There was no moon that night, and the kerosene lamp Willis had left them made little dent in the darkness. Maggie controlled the shiver that crept across her backbone.

Mack put out a gentle hand, brushing her tangled hair away from her flushed face. “I think this is a night for sleeping with our clothes on. What do you think?”

She went back into his arms of her own accord this time, holding him tight, resting her face against his muscled shoulder. “I think you’re right. At least they won’t have mosquitoes in Switzerland.”

“Small comfort,” he said, sinking down on the hard mattress with his arms still around her. “The beds will be better too.”