“Maybe. He appears not to hesitate when it comes down to pulling the trigger.”

“Literally and figuratively.” He studied her. “But what is this kinship bullshit?”

“Nothing.” She made a face. “He says I remind him of his mother.”

“What?” He smiled. “If I didn’t know who Dario’s mother was, I’d think that was a very tired line.”

“He said she fought with the rebels in Colombia.”

He nodded. “Elena Dario. Very smart, very dedicated, very tough. Rafael Dario grew up in the jungles while they were dodging and raiding both the cartels and the government forces.”

“But they finally killed her? He said it took twelve men to take her down.”

“Yes. He was fourteen at the time, and he found out names and went after each one of those men. It took him three years, but he killed every one of them. After that, he left Colombia and surfaced in Peru. He was a mercenary for a few years, then formed a unit of his own in Guatemala. Since then, he’s struck a balance between working for the local police and private organizations that aren’t necessarily on the right side of the law.”

“Like you.”

“Like me. Do you expect me to deny it? What a waste of time. Law is defined by the particular country or party that’s in control at a given time. It’s much more sensible to embrace your own code and forget the rest of that nonsense.”

“Venable would not agree.”

“But you do,” he said softly. “Deep in your heart, you know that I’m right. You walk your own path.”

“Not as long as I’m CIA.”

“Yes, we do have to get you over that hurdle.”

“It’s not a hurdle, it’s a vocation.” She changed the subject. “It’s fairly clear that your probing around the Montez killing got a quick and explosive response. Santos may not have wanted Eduardo Montez dead, but he didn’t want us to find him, either. You told me that Nagoles said his brother’s death was an example killing. That meant it was to warn Eduardo Montez in the most terrifying way possible that he wasn’t to talk or he’d be next in line.” She frowned. “But he wasn’t next in line. He’s still out there, and Santos is being very careful to keep him alive. Why?”

“Information. Blackmail. Or he may possess a treasure Santos wants to get his hands on.”

“But he didn’t go after Montez for the past two years. Santos wasn’t that eager.”

“Not until he thought he might lose Montez. He wasn’t going to tolerate you scooping him up. Interesting…”

“But you’re the one who hired Dario. No hint of CIA this time. Now he’s going to find out that you’re the one interfering in his plans. Which means you’re a target, too.”

“My, my, how unfortunate. Remind me to worry about that.”

“Well, I’ll worry about it,” she said sharply. “Maybe I shouldn’t. It was bound to happen. But it’s just one more—” She broke off. “I told Hu Chang that there was no reason for you to be a target and, if you were, that you could take care of yourself. But now there is a reason. I gave it to you.”

“And you were also right. I can take care of myself.”

She nodded. “Correct. I’m being foolish. You would have dove into this mess anyway the minute it was clear Erin was a target.”

“Very foolish,” he said. “But you persist in thinking that Erin was the primary reason. Not true, Catherine.”

She wasn’t going there. “Close enough. You were outraged that anyone would threaten her.” She suddenly remembered something. “You even used the same word Dario used. Mine. One of mine. Good God, you’re as possessive as he is. No wonder you hired him. You’re just like him.”

“Wrong.” His face was suddenly alight with humor. “We have several serious differences in viewpoint.”

“Such as?” she asked warily.

“On no account in this world would you ever remind me of my mother, Catherine.”

CHAPTER

8

ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

“Where is she?”

Eve straightened to attention in her chair as Seth Caleb blew into the waiting room like a category five hurricane. “Where do you think she is?” She got to her feet. “I told you that she was in a coma. She’s down the hall in ICU.”

“She’s still alive?”

“Yes, same condition.”

“Then I’ll talk to you later, Eve.” He turned on his heel. “I’ve got to see her.”

“No.” She stepped in front of him. “One: The doctors and nurses get touchy about having someone examine one of their patients. Particularly if they have no credentials. I’ve arranged to have the staff permit you visiting privileges at ICU, but do not step on toes. Two: Her security is so tight, one of the guards might take you down if you get too close to her. They even look at me and Joe suspiciously. You can’t just blunder in there without advance preparation.”

“I never blunder. I’ll take care of the hospital personnel.” He tried to go around her. “And no security guard is going to keep me away from her.”

She reached out and grabbed his arm. “And is that supposed to help? By all means, let’s cause a ruckus that will make—” She stopped as she felt the tension, the suppressed energy that was almost electrifying in the arm she was holding to restrain him. His dark eyes were glowing, flickering wildly in his taut face. It was an extraordinary face, surrounded by close-cut, dark hair; high cheekbones; full, sensual lips; and those eyes that were totally riveting and dominating and had always intrigued her. He was somewhere in his thirties, tall, muscular, with an almost catlike grace. She had never been able to decide if he was good-looking or not because the sheer power and fascination he projected was the only thing that mattered when Caleb was confronting you. As he was confronting her in this moment. Caleb was never cool or tame, but his fierceness was nearly tangible in this moment. She had told Joe she would handle him, but this was not a good start. Try to calm him.

Oh, to hell with it. She wasn’t about to deal with Caleb’s problems. They had enough problems of their own. “I’m not about to let you go into that ICU and cause Joe any more upset than he’s going through right now. You know Joe. Face him with the kind of vibes you’re broadcasting, and he’d automatically go into defense mode. We’re both in a superprotective state about Jane now anyway.”

“You phoned me. You wanted me here,” he said harshly. “Now take me as you find me.”

“No, I won’t do it. Why should I?” She gestured to the chair next to her. “Now sit down, and we’ll talk, then I’ll let you go and see Jane. But not until I think you’re ready.”

“That decision was out of your hands the minute you told me she was dying.”

“Not unless you want to knock me down to get past me. And neither one of us thinks that Jane would want you to do that.”

His hands were clenched into fists at his sides. “I need to get to her.”

“And you will.” My God, she had been aware of his savage anger and determination, but now she was seeing much deeper. Wild despair, hurt, incredible disbelief that this could happen to Jane, that he couldn’t have somehow prevented it. “Now sit down and you’ll be able to break free of me that much sooner.”

He didn’t move for an instant, then dropped down in the chair. “Talk to me. Get it over with.”

“Okay, first I’ll tell you why it happened and what we’re up against. Because even if you manage to save her, the fight won’t be over. You didn’t ask me any questions, and I didn’t tell you anything but the bare minimum to get you here.”

“I didn’t care. I still don’t care. I just need to keep her alive.”

“I’ll be as brief as I can. But you will listen, Caleb.” She quickly and concisely filled him in on the details that had brought Jane to this state. “That’s why the security is so tight. Santos could decide to send someone to finish the job at any time.”