A Dangerous Tryst (The Inheritance Book 3) Page 19

  “You’ve come a long way,” Damon said near her ear. He passed her to take the lead through the forest toward the airstrip.

  “Thanks,” she said, falling in behind Damon. At the end of the day, he had better, faster reflexes. She didn’t mind him taking the lead.

  There was also a very good chance he’d seen her shaking hands and knew she was suffering a bit of aftershock from the altercation. One face-to-face shooting match was all she could handle for one day.

  The soothing, dark abyss he’d been floating in reminded Cole of an endless, starless universe. Here in the cool comfort of nothingness, he had no worries, no fears. It came to his attention, like an afterthought, that he shouldn’t be noticing the abyss at all. That appealing black place should have smothered all thought, all sense of self. A searing pain in his shoulder made itself known next, indicating what had slowly drawn him up from the dregs to begin with. Pain exploded down his arm into his hand and radiated around to his spine, his back.

  Coming awake when a sharp smell passed beneath his nose, he struck out with his good hand and turned his head the other way.

  “Come on, old man. You’re taking way too long to come around. Don’t make me get the nipple pinchers out.” Brandon waved the smelling salts under Cole’s nose again.

  Someone, Damon he thought, laughed.

  “Yeah. Yuk it up at my expense,” Cole muttered. The combativeness went out of him when he recognized his brothers’ voices. “Where’s Madalina? Is she safe?”

  “You’re slurring like a drunk sailor,” Brandon added.

  “I’m right here, Cole, and I’m fine,” Madalina said. She was somewhere to his right. He reached over and groped for her hand until she clasped his.

  “Your old lady kicked some ass today, Cole,” Brandon said.

  “Shh. Don’t talk about that now,” Madalina said, chiding Brandon. She squeezed Cole’s hand and added, “How are you feeling, Cole?”

  “Don’t talk about what?” His vision cleared; he discovered Brandon and Damon were standing to the side of his seat, staring down at him like a bug under a pin. Madalina was in the seat to his right, next to the window of the plane. Belatedly, he heard the steady hum of the jet engine and realized they were in the air. Maybe that had contributed to the floating feeling of his dark dream.

  “Nothing,” Madalina said. “The doctor checked and rebandaged your wound before takeoff and said it’s looking decent enough to get us into China. Thaddeus has arranged for aid once we land, before our meeting with the agents.”

  Shifting in the chair, he stifled a wince as a fresh burst of pain shot down his arm, and glanced from Madalina to his brothers. If she wouldn’t tell him what he wanted to know, his brothers would. He’d have to ask about the doctor later. “What did she do?”

  “Cole, stop being stubborn—”

  “She totally stalked Lance and his crew into the ground, that’s what. And she blew out Lance’s knee. Went all stealth slayer into the bush,” Brandon retorted.

  Cole looked aside at Madalina in time to see her scowl at Brandon. So it must be true. “You blew out Lance’s knee? Where did you get the gun?”

  “You’d know where if your brain wasn’t so muddled,” Brandon interjected. “She took yours and the pilot’s emergency weapon, too. Loaded for bear, I’m telling you.”

  “I had to do something,” Madalina said in her own defense.

  “So . . . wait. I’m confused.” Cole couldn’t follow the events for the life of him. All he knew was that the people he loved most were here, whole, and alive.

  “She took the guns and charged into the forest,” Brandon said, putting it plainly and bluntly. “You know. Hunting Lance’s men down. She didn’t want to leave us behind and didn’t want to send the plane on without you having medical treatment. So she armed herself and stalked Lance like a lioness on the prowl.”

  Madalina laughed, an abashed sound Cole had come to adore.

  “You’re so dramatic, Brandon. It wasn’t like that at all,” she said.

  “Then what was it? Because when we found you, you were all spinning and shooting and ready to take on the world,” Brandon said.

  Cole suspected most of Brandon’s version was pretty much correct, and glanced at Madalina again. The blush on her cheeks was proof enough that she’d definitely taken guns into the forest to root Lance and his men out. She lifted a shoulder as if to say, I did what I had to.

  “I guess some of that training paid off, huh?” he asked.

  “Mostly. I could have done a few things better,” she said with a telling glance at Brandon.

  “Did you almost get shot?” Cole asked, interpreting her look. He tried not to scowl.

  “Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades,” she said.

  “Which means yes, you almost did get shot.” He didn’t have the energy to be angry, although a sliver of relief worked its way in past the pain. Speaking of pain. “What’s this about a doctor?”

  “Thaddeus called someone in to check you and treat you, at least until we could get into China. He said you should be fine until we land,” Damon replied.

  Cole refused to ask for pain medication. But liquor wasn’t off the table. “What about whiskey? Is there any hanging around?”

  “Right here, brother.” Brandon reached down into the seat in front of Cole and produced two small travel-size bottles of whiskey. “There’s more where this came from, too.”

  Cole reached for both and downed the contents while the others looked on. The sting and heat spread quickly through his body, promising to numb some of the ache. “We’re still meeting the agents, yes?”

  “Yes. Damon and I can make the transfer of the dragons, though. No need to take any risks. Thaddeus set up a meeting in the open, near a very public place. He said that the Chinese agents were so shocked at our offer to return the dragons that they offered us hotels and other accommodations,” Brandon said. “Thaddeus secured the services of their finest doctors, so while we’re making the exchange, you’ll be getting treated at a hospital.”

  “I’d rather be there. I want to make sure—” Cole paused when Damon interrupted.

  “We know what you want. This way just makes more sense. Kill two birds with one stone, so to speak, and then head out for home.”

  Cole set the empty whiskey bottles aside, coughed once, then shook his head. “No. I’m coming with you.”

  And that was the end of that. Injured or not, he wouldn’t pass up the last chance to meet with the Chinese agents. He had a thing or two to get off his chest.

  “I’m going, too,” Madalina said.

  “That’s not—”

  “You should stay here—”

  “I don’t think so—” Cole talked over his brothers and then got cut off by Madalina.

  “You don’t get to make the rules. My dragons, my choice.” She lifted her chin and stared him down in a way that he knew meant business.

  “Brandon, more whiskey.” He was going to need it.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  The skyline of Chengdu, China, in midafternoon reminded Madalina of most other major metropolises. Tall buildings with thousands of windows glittered in the sunlight, while a snaking river wound through the heart of the city. From her vantage point at the edge of a bustling park, she could see manicured hedges and trees positioned perfectly to enhance the structures, and any other time, she would have loved to branch out and explore a little more.

  For now she waited next to a bench with the three West brothers, keeping an eye on Cole, who refused to sit down. His pallor was still off, lips pinched into a tight line. She knew he was in pain, although he declined more liquor than the four bottles he’d consumed and didn’t want to deviate from the plan they’d set forth. Children ran and screamed on the playground a short distance away, engaging other kids or their parents in the typical games little ones liked to play.

  There was something reassuring about the mundane activities of life happening forty or s
o yards behind her as she waited for the Chinese agents to arrive. Perhaps it was a state of mind, or a misconception on her part, but she felt safe here, as if the agents wouldn’t pull a dastardly trick in front of so many witnesses.

  Damon’s phone chimed. He answered, keeping his voice low. Madalina glanced across to see his expression, to gauge whether Thaddeus had news about their upcoming meeting. So far, she couldn’t discern a thing. Like Cole, Damon had the ability to completely hide what he was thinking, to school his features in a way that gave no clues to his emotions.

  Ending the call some minutes later, he said, “Thaddeus found out what happened back in Pokhara. Long story short—Lance and his men got control of the police station not long after they arrived. Part of his group stayed behind to restrain the officers while Lance and the others came after us. Anyway, the officers finally managed to get free and got into a shootout with Lance’s men. One was seriously injured. Thanks to Thaddeus’s phone call, they went after Lance and the others that we left tied up, and now Lance, along with his cohorts, is in Nepalese custody. After attacking the officers and the station, they’re facing separate charges and won’t be seeing the outside of a cell for a while.”

  “What about the Vietnamese interests that hired Lance to begin with? Do you think they’ll stop coming after us? How will they know that I don’t have the dragons anymore?” Madalina asked. Above all, she needed to know that she wouldn’t have to look over her shoulder any longer. The whole point of giving up the dragons was to assure that the madness would cease. Permanently.

  “I’m going to request that they—wait. Here they come.” Cole squared his shoulders and shifted his body so that he partially obscured Madalina.

  This was not a new tactic on his part, she knew, and did nothing to prevent him from trying to protect her. The agents hadn’t earned enough of Cole’s trust to warrant anything less than wariness from him.

  Past Cole’s arm, she caught a glimpse of the agents. They’d parked their sleek car in the available parking lot and had walked across the grass as if this were an everyday meeting. Madalina took note of the expensive suits, shoes, and watches the agents wore. These men presented themselves as upscale businessmen or government assets who were used to boardrooms rather than clandestine transactions. The man in the lead bowed his head as he came to a stop before Cole, Damon, and Brandon. He flicked a glance her way, a knowing gleam in his dark eyes, then focused on Cole once more. As if he instinctively knew that was the man he needed to deal with.

  “Your brother Thaddeus has been in contact with our coworkers, and says that you have something to give us. My name is Mr. Lin, and I know you must be Cole West.” Lin extended his manicured hand to Cole for a shake.

  Too curious to have her view obscured, even partly, Madalina inched to the side. Slowly, nothing more than a shift of weight on her feet.

  Cole shook the man’s hand but remained stoic, alert. “Mr. Lin. Yes, I know Thaddeus explained why we’re here and what we have to give you.”

  “I must say—we were surprised to get the call,” Lin said.

  “I expect so, considering the violent way you’ve attempted to get your hands on the dragons in the past,” Cole retorted.

  Lin lifted his chin. “Regrettable, although I did not oversee those transactions myself. Do you have the dragons with you?”

  “First things first. You’re likely unaware that a certain few Vietnamese higher-ups wanted to get their hands on the dragons to force your troops out of the Spratly Island conflicts—”

  Lin stiffened and did not hide his surprise.

  Cole continued. “It nearly cost us our lives while we were there. And that doesn’t include the following situation that happened in Nepal, which resulted in an exchange of gunfire and bombing. As you can see by our clothing, we’ve been through the thick of it—haven’t stopped to change or otherwise recover from the attack. I want something from you in return for the dragons, and this time, I expect you to keep your word. The last time I asked for that from your people, they reneged on the deal. So I’m holding you personally responsible for my terms, Mr. Lin.”

  Lin contemplated Cole for a long moment, then said, “What is it you require in exchange for the artifacts? You’re dealing with me now, and I have a longer reach politically than the men you dealt with before.”

  “I’ve given you something already—the news that certain Vietnamese combatants are searching for ways other than the skirmishes to oust you from the territory they want to claim as their own. That’s invaluable information in battle. I want your word, Mr. Lin, that the Chinese are whole and fully done with Miss Maitland. No more midnight raids, no more attacks. The dragons we have, as you know, are the final two. There are no more—therefore, I want all surveillance and threat of kidnapping stopped. On your honor,” Cole repeated.

  Madalina noted the way Lin stiffened again, the way his cheek twitched at Cole’s insistence that Lin’s honor would be in question if any agents came after her again.

  “Your candor is appreciated, despite my countrymen’s past differences with Miss Maitland. You have my personal guarantee that our interaction and interest in her is done,” Lin said. “I am also prepared to provide accommodations for your stay and the medical care that Thaddeus said you needed.”

  It piqued Madalina that the men spoke about her like she wasn’t present and listening to every word. Lin glanced at her only once, but she couldn’t decide what the look meant. She had no gauge for deceit or betrayal. What Cole said was true: she had nothing more the agents should want. With the return of the last two dragons, Madalina’s involvement in the artifacts was done.

  “We appreciate your offer of hospitality, but we have to decline,” Cole said. “We’ll be on our way shortly.”

  Madalina had the urge to elbow Cole in the ribs. What was he thinking? He needed to have his wound looked at again, needed to see a doctor in a hospital setting. Never mind that she could use a shower, a real meal, and a change of clothes. Damon and Brandon didn’t argue Cole’s point, didn’t insist that he stay to have his shoulder looked at. She decided there were still trust issues despite the fact that Lin assured them that the agents’ interaction with her was at an end. If Cole felt that strongly about not remaining in the country, she wouldn’t interrupt and insist that he see a physician before flying home.

  Cole liberated the dragons from his pockets and handed them, one at a time, to Lin. Lin yanked a pristine white handkerchief from his pocket, snapped it open, and accepted one dragon, then the next, handing each off to his companions, who treated the artifacts with as much care as one might a stick of dynamite.

  After a brief but thorough check of the dragons, Lin faced Cole with what appeared to be pride and a hint of relief. “If you’re sure . . .”

  “We’re sure,” Cole said, once more declining the offer of aid. “I want to suggest that your country makes a worldwide announcement that all of the dragons have been found and returned to the collection as well.”

  “So that you and Miss Maitland will not have to deal with any more intrusions by other . . . factions,” Lin said, obviously guessing Cole’s intent.

  “Exactly.”

  “You have my word, Cole West, that Miss Maitland will not be bothered by our agents again. Before, there were too many loose ends, too many unanswered questions, but this brings an end to our search. As soon as tomorrow we will make a public announcement that the collection is complete and intact. We thank you for the return of our national treasures.” Lin nodded once, then retreated with his companions.

  Madalina turned to Cole once the expensive sedan ferried the men away from the park. “Do you think it’s really over?”

  Cole dragged the tip of his tongue across the edge of his teeth, then met her eyes. “I do, yeah. Last time we did this, there were still dragons missing. There was still a question of whether your grandfather knew more than he was letting on. Like Lin said, the collection is now complete. I think they’re relieved to have
the last two artifacts back, so they’ll probably cooperate and do what we ask. No one brought guns to this shindig, and no one tried to take you away for questioning. I’m inclined to believe we’ve seen the last of the agents.”

  Madalina exhaled a pent-up breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. It felt like more than just relief; a great weight seemed to lift from her shoulders, put there during the initial attack in Las Vegas. They’d come full circle, she and Cole. From strangers meeting in a most unusual way to globe-hopping while following what amounted to an inherited treasure map. Despite the danger, she’d come a long way in understanding aspects about herself she hadn’t known existed before now. She was more self-reliant, better able to deal with emergencies, and cooler under pressure.

  Best of all, she’d met the love of her life. She couldn’t put a price on the dangers she’d faced or the sacrifices she’d made to be here. And, she decided, she would do it all over again if it meant she got to be with Cole. His love, affection, dedication, and loyalty were worth more to her than anything.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to stay the night here?” she asked, dragging herself out of her reverie. “And get seen by a doctor?”

  “I’ll be all right until we arrive back in the States. The other doctor patched me up good enough for the flight. We’ll sleep on the plane and be home before you know it,” he said. After another glance at the park, Cole reached for her hand.

  Madalina gave it to him willingly. Feeling lighter than she had in months, she fell into step at his side.

  “What’s that old saying?” Brandon said as he and Damon paced Cole through the park. “All’s well that ends well.”

  Just then, Damon’s phone rang. Pulling it from a pocket, he glanced at the screen and said, “911 from Thaddeus.”