Iris Johansen - Dark Summer

Nick sighed. "I assumed since the donkey was gone that I might have-Oh, never mind."

Devon stepped back and motioned for Walt to start the he li copter. "Marrok's people will take good care of the other animals, Janet. I'll try to call you both every night to make sure everything is okay."

"You do that," Janet said as she leaned back in her seat. Her gaze went to Marrok, who was standing on the porch watching them. "And you watch out for him, too. I don't like the look of him. He looks… foreign."

Devon smiled. "He's half-Spanish and half-Apache. One bloodline might be described as foreign, but the Apaches were here before Plymouth Rock."

"That's not what I mean. He doesn't look safe."

No, Marrok definitely wasn't safe, Devon thought. He was exotic and dangerous and unpredictable. "I can handle him."

"If you can't, call me," Janet said. "I'll take care of him."

"I'll sing out loud and clear." Devon stepped back away as Walt started the rotors. "Bye. Keep safe."

She couldn't make out their response through the noise as the helicopter lifted off.

She stood watching as the helicopter rose, then turned and headed west. She felt suddenly hollow, lonely. This had been the right thing to do, but it didn't change the fact that it was her family that was flying away from her.

"I can get Walt on the phone and bring him back. You can go with them," Marrok called from the porch. "Just say the word."

"You won't hear it." She turned and walked across the paddock toward the porch. "I haven't changed my mind. But there's nothing wrong with accepting that I care about those people and am sorry to see them go. You may have had trouble all your life expressing affection, but I don't. If I'd had a Paco in my life, he'd have known how I felt about him."

He was silent. "Yes, and he would have been a hell of a lot luckier than he was with me."

She felt an instant of compunction before dismissing it. She had to be totally honest with Marrok, or her decision to stay might be a disaster. "I don't think so. He seems to have been pretty happy with you. You understood each other." She smiled. "And I have a very tame nature. I can't see myself brewing potions over a fire and seeing visions in smoke."

"I can. I can see you doing anything you want to do."

There was a note in his voice that caused her to glance at his face. She looked away quickly. "What I want to do. That's the key word." She changed the subject. "Nick and Janet will be safe with Sarah. They don't need me there."

" I need you to be there."

"Too bad."

"One more time. Let me talk you out of staying."

"No."

"You're sure?"

"Marrok, drop it."

"It's dropped." His dark eyes were suddenly glittering, and his smile held the recklessness she was beginning to know so well. "I gave you your chance. I did everything I could. It's not my fault."

"What's not your fault? Danner's hurting me?"

"Anything. Everything." He opened the screen door. "Step into my parlor. I'll make you a cup of coffee."

She was studying him warily. "You seem very happy."

"Not happy. But being responsible and serious hasn't done me any good, so I'll revert to my natural character. That's always more fun."

"You don't give the impression of ever being either serious or responsible." She amended, "Except about the dogs."

"I was trying." He filled the carafe of the coffee. "But I think your Janet saw through me. She was staring daggers at me."

"She doesn't think you're safe."

"And did you defend me?"

"No. I said I could handle you,"

"Oh, you can," he said softly. "Any time, any way."

A wave of tingling heat went through her. Don't let it pass. Put him straight. "I didn't stay here to go to bed with you, Marrok."

"No, that will be a plus for both of us." He pressed the switch on the coffeemaker. "Because it will happen, Devon. I can't tell you how I'm looking forward to it. I'm regarding it as my reward for my noble attempt at being something I'm not." He got two cups from the cabinet. "Stop tensing. It will come when it comes. Just don't expect me to hold back. It's not my nature."

"I don't expect anything of you." She sat down at the table. "Except a place to stay and information that may help me. I haven't seen Lincoln today. Where is he?"

"He left midday. I'm sure he'll be back either today or tomorrow."

"What's he doing?"

"I've no idea. Probably trying to find a way to plant bugs all over the house."

"You believe that? How can you stand having him here?"

"If it wasn't Lincoln, it would be someone else. I had to have money to keep the dogs safe and undercover. I didn't have a dime and was on the run after Paco was killed." He poured coffee into the cups. "So I took the money, and I took the crap that went along with it."

"Until Ethiopia."

He shrugged. "It choked me. So I had to teach Lincoln a lesson." He sat down in the chair opposite her and lifted his cup to his lips. "It made him hate my guts, but he would have gotten to that point anyway. I held the power. Lincoln doesn't think anyone like me should be in control."

"He's wrong."

He raised his brows.

"You're the man who should be in control of shi'i'go . You love the dogs, you're smart, you have determination and passion. Even though you won't let the dogs be victimized, you're trying to guide them to benefit the sick. None of this is easy, but you're doing the very best you can. That says a lot." She lifted her cup to her lips. "I can't think of anyone else I'd choose to do the job."

"My, my. I didn't know you thought so well of me. What about my violent nature and my lack of Lincoln's precious civilized code?"

"Deplorable." She took another drink. "But it doesn't change my opinion. However, it might make me pause if I was working on the same team."

"But we are." He smiled. "As I told you, I'm the only game in town. At least where Danner's concerned."

"The hell you are. You haven't done so well in getting rid of him since Paco's death. Maybe you need a fresh viewpoint."

"I'm glad you didn't say fresh blood. That's exactly where you stepping in could lead."

"And it could throw Danner off-balance and get us close enough to get the bastard." Her hands clenched around the cup. "I don't want to wait and see if Danner comes looking for us. I want to go after him. Can't we do that? Where does he live?"

"He has a place on the coast near Portland, Oregon. He has more guards around him than the president. Do you think I wouldn't have tried to get to him?"

"Of course, you would." She frowned, thinking. "You said they'd come after Addie. Could we set a trap?"

"We could. Providing we could locate them before they flitted off. With that many guards around Sarah's place, they're not going to attack. They'll wait and see if they can gather us in."

"And who is the next dog they'll be targeting?"

"Wiley. His location was next on the list."

The German shepherd. "Is he secure?"

"Not as secure as Addie, but his guardian should be tough enough to protect him until I'm ready to move." He was silent a moment. "Okay, I wasn't going to wait for trouble. I'm not as complacent as you seem to think. I'm going to bring the other dogs here and bait the trap."

Her eyes widened. "All of them?"

"I'm going back and forth on Addie. But it would be irresistible for Danner if he could gather all the dogs up at one time."

"It would be risky."

"Do you think I don't know that?" he asked roughly. "I've kept those dogs separate for one reason and one reason only. Now I'm throwing safety down the toilet and risking everything I've fought for."

She frowned thoughtfully. "We'd have to be certain that we could keep the dogs from-"

"Listen to you," he said through his teeth. "You're not invited to this party, Devon."