She ran forward, kicked the ladder, and brought it crashing to the ground. She raced for the door.

A noise behind her, inside the vat.

She was outside, running for the house.

"Carbonari! Call Forbes-"

Carbonari was lying on the ground and a man was standing over him.

He whirled and blocked the blow she aimed at his head. "Dammit, stop trying to murder me. I'm here to help you."

Galen.

"By killing Carbonari?"

"All I know is that when I came on the scene, I saw him draw his gun and head for the shed right after you went inside. He didn't appear to be looking for wine."

"Someone's in the vat. I knocked down the ladder but they'll-"

"Hurry. Get the kid." He grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the house. "I'll bet Gomez will be driving up with reinforcements any time now."

"Gomez?"

"He's been camping out in the hills." He was climbing the steps two at a time. "I checked out all the nearby hotels and then went scouting for the last few days. I ran across them- surprise, surprise. Where's Forbes?"

"Second door on your right."

"And Dominic?"

"With Barry."

"Then get them out of the house and down to the vineyard. Avoid any of Forbes's men. I don't know if anyone besides Carbonari is on the take. Hide beyond the first rise of the hill until I come."

"What are you going to do?"

But he was gone, disappearing into Forbes's room.

She wasn't about to follow him. She had to get Dominic and Barry out of the house.

"I promised her they'd be safe, Galen," Forbes said dully.

"She will be safe, if we get out of here before Gomez shows up."

"I checked out Carbonari. I thought he was the best of the lot. What the hell are you doing?"

Galen was setting fire to the velvet draperies. "We need a distraction when Gomez shows up. You do the same in the kitchen. I want this whole place blazing."

"Why?"

"Would you want to face Chavez if you were responsible for letting his kid burn up? Gomez will have to try to get inside and make sure Barry isn't here." He glanced out the window. "Here they come. about three miles away. Move it, Forbes."

"It's burning, Mama," Barry whispered, his eyes fastened on the hacienda. "The house is burning."

"Shh, I'll explain later, baby. You just have to be very quiet. Okay?"

Where was Galen?

She would give him a few minutes more and then she would have to start moving Barry and Dominic out of this field and toward the road.

No, not the road. She could see the headlights of a car racing toward the house.

Gomez.

"Come on, Forbes." Galen turned toward the door. "Time to get out of here."

"I can't leave my agents. They may be wounded and unable to respond." He thrust the phone into his pocket. "I've notified San Francisco to send backup, but there's no way they'll get here in time. I have to check on my men."

"Listen, why didn't they come running in here when they saw the fire?"

"It's heen only a few minutes. They can't all belong to Chavez. I won't believe that."

"I'm not saying they do. But there could have been another agent on the take, and it's easy to surprise someone if you work side by side with him every day."

"I know that."

"Then let's get the hell out of here. Or do you want Elena to be caught by that son of a bitch?"

Forbes hesitated and then headed for the back door. "Let's go."

"Good. We go alongside the house and then head for the vineyard."

The thick smoke poured out of the house. Galen's eyes stung as they raked the area and then the road.

The headlights were closer, but they still had time.

"If I'm not there in a few minutes, get Elena out of here," Forbes said.

Galen turned to see that he had stopped at the corner of the house. Shit. "Don't be an idiot."

"The smoke will cover me, and I know exactly where they're stationed. I have to make sure. I won't leave them for Gomez. They're my responsibility."

"It's your responsibility to stay alive," Galen said roughly. "Don't be a fool. Don't take the risk."

"I'll be careful."

"For God's sake, it's not even Chavez."

"Get Elena out." Forbes darted around the side of the house.

Galen started to go after him and then stopped with a muttered curse. No time.

The lights of the oncoming car were closer. Too close.

Galen took off at a run for the vineyard.

Shots. Behind him.

Galen's hands clenched at his sides.

Christ.

Forbes's head was almost blown off by the barrage of bullets.

My God.

Elena quickly buried Barry's head in her shoulder and looked at Dominic. "Did he see it?" she asked unevenly.

"I don't think so." Dominic's lips tightened. "I wish I hadn't."

She wished she hadn't seen it either. She felt sick.

"Let's get the hell out of here." Galen was suddenly beside them. "Gomez will be at the house any second and it won't be long until they start searching the fields. My car is parked over that hill, in the trees."

"Forbes-"

"Move."

She was already moving, keeping low and pushing Barry ahead of her.

And trying to forget the sight of Forbes's head exploding.

Galen didn't speak again until they were in his car and driving down the road that led to the highway. "How's Barry?"

"Scared." Her arms tightened around the little boy on her lap. "But he's being very good, aren't you, baby? He'll be fine."

Barry didn't speak, only nestled closer in her arms.

God, she hoped she was telling the truth. Ever since his birth she'd protected him from the violence she had lived with all her life, and now in one night he had been exposed to this horror. "Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you to a friend's apartment in the city for the night. He lends it to me when I come to town. We'll make a decision once we've had time to think."

"Forbes," she whispered.

"I couldn't stop him. He wanted to make sure his men were okay."

She glanced down at Barry. He seemed to be too stunned to pay attention, but she still kept her voice down to a whisper. "It was one of his own agents. It was Wilder. I didn't see any of the other men, but I saw Wilder raise his gun."

"And I'm sure he'll be well paid."

"I. liked Forbes."

Galen's lips tightened. "So did I."

"No pursuit yet," Dominic said from the backseat as he looked through the rear window.

"We'll be on the freeway in a minute," Galen reassured the priest. "I think we're okay."

She didn't feel okay. She felt scared for Barry and Dominic and, yes, for herself. It was a terrifying world where a decent man like Forbes could be butchered by those he trusted. Why am I even surprised? she wondered wearily. It was no different from the world she had known all her life.

But it was different. During these few short weeks she'd begun to believe they could have a better life. Maybe it was still possible.

A hope that shone that bright was hard to surrender.

The apartment was a penthouse that overlooked the bay, and it was the most luxurious place Elena had ever seen. The living room was exceptional: beige velvet couches, deep burgundy carpets, and one wall that was all window.