Page 70 of Green Beret Bodyguard

Lola gasped. "And you attempted to abduct me?"

"That's when I still thought I had a chance to get the formula." He sighed. "Enough of the reminiscing. You for the boy, Coburn. That's the deal."

"Tell me where and when. I'll be there. But don't kid yourself that it's going to be easy to take me."

Farouk hesitated and Jack could almost feel the fear coming off the phone in waves. Then he cleared his throat. "It's over, Jack. And the rest of the Prospero team isn't here to stage a rescue."

"Where and when, Farouk?"

"Bayside Marina, slip twenty-six. Lola comes with you. I give her the boy, and I take you. A fair exchange. Meet me there at two o'clock. If the cops are there, the boy dies."

A whisper of fear traveled up Jack's spine. "No. I'm not bringing Lola."

Lola's eyes widened and she choked. "What are you talking about? What about Eddie?"

"What about Eddie, Jack?" Farouk's mocking voice made Jack want to smash the phone to pieces.

"Eddie's no fool. He's a street-smart kid. We can have him wait at the slip for Lola or in a nearby shop. Lola is not going to be in the vicinity when we make the swap." Jack held up his hand to Lola, who was about to make another appeal. If he knew anything about Farouk, the man wouldn't hesitate to harm Lola if it meant getting at Jack.

"Suit yourself, Jack. There's a bait shop at the end of the pier. The kid can wait there."

"It's a deal, then."

Farouk ended the call, and Lola folded her arms across her stomach. "I should be there for Eddie."

"Eddie will be fine. You can be close by, and I'll have Farouk call you to pick him up."

"Do you think Farouk would try something?"

"I'm sure of it."

She rubbed her arms. "So did any plan come to you while you were on the phone with Farouk?"

Jack shrugged. "I'll come packing. I'll fight him off. My guess is he's going to take me out on a boat. Can't just up and leave a dead body at a marina."

"You can't go with him, Jack." Lola reached out to him and he clasped her hand.

"Eddie will be safe with you, and I can handle Farouk."

"That doesn't sound like much of a plan."

"The best plans come from spontaneity." He brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss on her cool palm. "Haven't we managed up until now?"

"If it's spontaneous, it's not a plan." She cupped his jaw. "I suppose it's too late for the rest of Prospero, isn't it? Even if Raven responds this afternoon, they won't be able to get here in time."

The disappointment that had settled in his belly had hardened into a solid, sour lump. "I can handle it on my own."

"You're not alone. I'm in this, too, Jack. What do you want me to do once I collect Eddie? Call the Coast Guard? The police?"

"You can try. Drop me off at the marina, locate the bait shop and then get out of there. When I leave with Farouk, I'll have him give you a call and you can come back for Eddie."

"And then I'll come back for you." She wrapped her arms around his middle, pressing her cheek against his heart.

"I'll never forget you, Lola." He wedged a finger beneath her chin, tilted her head up and kissed her long and hard.

TWO O'CLOCK CAME AROUND way too soon. Lola ran her fingers along the fragrant pine needles of the sad Christmas tree and brushed the back of her hand across her tingling nose. "We'll have to decorate this thing when we have Eddie here for Christmas. It won't look half bad then."

Jack stepped behind her, pulling her back against his chest and resting his chin on the top of her head. "I have faith that you can make anything look better."

She turned in his arms, the tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. "Jack, be careful. Come back to me."

"From the day I saw you leaving the money at the bus depot, I've wanted nothing more than to come back to you."

Her heart flip-flopped. "You saw me that day?"

"I watched you. I wanted to make sure you dropped off the cash and left."

"And I did. Your instructions were specific." She'd wanted to catch a glimpse of the man whose voice had insinuated itself in her dreams. But she'd been afraid of ruining the deal.

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