Dark Summer

CHAPTER 20

DEVON STARED INTO THE darkness of Bridget's hospital room. The atmosphere was so different than it had been only hours ago. Then fear, dread, and guilt had been present every minute. Now there was only infinite gratitude and relief.

"You're smiling." Bridget had opened her eyes. "I'm glad someone is happy. Why didn't you or Marrok keep those doctors from giving me a shot? I didn't want to go to sleep."

"They did it before they let us back in." Devon handed her a cup of crushed ice with a straw. "And a little more sleep didn't hurt you."

"Turn on the light." She took a sip. "How much sleep?"

"About six hours."

"Where's Marrok?"

"He was with you until about fifteen minutes ago. He had to take the dogs for a walk. He should be back soon." She tilted her head. "I can't believe you're looking this well. It's incredible."

Bridget shook her head. "I told you I had a chance. I just had to have help."

Devon was silent a moment. "There's no way to thank you. But I'm going to say it anyway."

"I didn't do it for you. I did it for me. I had to prove that I could change what was going to happen, that I could make a difference. But everything seemed to be going wrong. I was going to give you a gun. I stood beside you so that would be different, too. But in the last minute I knew that there was only one way to stop it from happening."

"You were very brave. And I don't believe you did it entirely for yourself."

"Well, maybe I did it a little bit for you." She paused. "And for Marrok. If Danner had killed you, it would have destroyed everything I've tried to do here. He would have gone berserk."

"Berserk is a strong word."

"He used the word first," Bridget said. "But it's okay now that Danner's dead. No, not okay. There are still so many problems. But we can work it out." She closed her eyes. "Let me rest for a few minutes. When Jordan gets here, I'm going to have to run interference between him and Marrok. It may be a strain, and I'm not in as good shape as I'd like to be. I thought I'd bounce back quicker."

"You're recovering at an amazing rate. And your friend Jordan isn't going to come back until morning."

"He'll be here soon. He knows I want him."

"You're that… close?"

"Are you asking if he can read my mind? Sometimes. Probably more than he lets me know."

Would Radkin come? Devon wondered. It wouldn't surprise her. Mind reading, visions, things that went bump in the night. She'd become exposed to all of them lately.

"He's coming." Bridget's lids opened. "He just got off the elevator."

A moment later Jordan Radkin came into the room. "Really, Bridget, you're most impatient."

"We have to take care of Marrok and the dogs."

"Danner is out of the picture. We have a little time."

"We have to move."

His smile suddenly lit his face with surprising warmth. "This is upsetting you. Very well, I'll take care of it. You're a very stubborn-"

"What are you doing here?" Marrok had walked into the room with Ned and Wiley. His gaze went to Bridget. "You're awake. How do you feel?"

"I'll feel better after we finish with this," Bridget said. "What do you intend to do with the dogs now, Marrok?"

"I've made emergency arrangements. I have a place to take them to in Montana until I can work out a better way to protect them. I'm going to tap Sarah Logan and her husband and see if they can find a safe way to work out the problems." He glanced at Radkin. "And he has no need to know anything more about any plans I have."

"Jordan probably knows the exact location of your hideaway and how much you paid for it," Bridget said. "And we have a better idea. Tell him, Jordan."

"Bridget and I could see this day coming, and we made some advance preparations," Radkin said. "I purchased a large piece of property for you on an island in the Ca rib be an. It will be a perfect place for the dogs…" He glanced at Devon. "And there's a small town on the north end of the island that would make living there not totally uncivilized. You could work. I know that's important to you. It will give you both time to catch your breath, and I'll make sure the property is well guarded."

Marrok's gaze narrowed on his face. "Why would you do all that?"

"It's our turn." Radkin smiled. "We've been waiting since you made your deal with MI6 to step in. You weren't ready for us. Bridget says you are now."

"And where is the money coming from?"

"Bridget and I belong to a very old family that has acquired a substantial number of assets over the years. We occasionally invest in projects we consider worthwhile. Your dogs of summer have the potential of meeting that criterion."

"And have enough mystique and hocuspocus connected to them to make the public friendlier to people like you who aren't exactly normal?" Devon asked.

"Actually, they generally refer to us as freaks when we come to public attention. That's why we try to keep our people beneath the radar."

"I can see that would be more comfortable," Marrok said. "Your offer is a little too generous. What do you want out of this?"

"There's a hospital on Antigua that's only a few hours away. Naturally I'd expect visits there several times a week."

Marrok's lips twisted. "And nothing else?"

"Dammit, we don't want to use you like Lincoln did," Bridget said. "No scumbag missions. We just have to get you far away from here. It's only a matter of time until MI6 is going to rally and send someone else to try to replace Lincoln. And Danner's men knew about the dogs. Someone else may try to make a move. The more people that know, the more dangerous it is."

"And you're doing this out of the goodness of your heart?"

Bridget's hands tightened on the sheet. "No, not me. Purely selfish. I found out that you were making a difference with the dogs. There's not much worthwhile in the world, but that is. I wanted to share in it. I still want to do that. Will you go?"

"Probably not." Marrok looked at Radkin. "I don't like the idea of being your guest."

Devon had heard enough. "Let's get out of here, Marrok. They're going to keep on pushing, and you're going to keep on finding reasons not to do it because you're wary of not being totally in control." She stood up. "You should have known better than to handle it like this, Bridget."

Bridget blinked, then smiled. "Can't you see? I'm in a hospital. I'm sick and not myself."

"We'll talk to you later." Devon headed for the door. "Marrok?"

"Coming." He snapped his fingers for the dogs to come. "At least you didn't snap your fingers for me."

"I got tired of listening to all you high-powered people arguing with each other," she said, as they walked down the hall. "It's all up to you, and no argument is going to make you do something you don't want to do. Where can we go to talk?"

"The park across the street. Ned and Wiley are beginning to think of it as home." He entered the elevator and pressed the button. "And you don't consider yourself high-powered?"

"Maybe. But I'm the only one who doesn't think that they know what's best. I don't know what the heck is right or wrong. I just want you and the dogs to be safe." They were at the front entrance and, a moment later, started across the street. "For the first time since Paco died, you have a chance for a fresh start. But it shouldn't be Bridget's way or Jordan's way, or even Sarah's way. It should be your way."

He smiled faintly. "You seem to be very passionate about this."

"I am passionate. About you, for you. I can't be any other way."

"And I thank God for it." His voice was soft as he took her hand. "Every day, every minute."

"What do you expect? I told you once that I couldn't choose anyone more suitable to take care of the shi'i'go. You gave up years of your life, you risked death, you cared for those dogs with love. You're pretty damn perfect for the job. So no one is going to tell you what to do." She sat down on a park bench beneath a streetlight. "You tell us."

"You don't have to be so fierce. I wasn't being intimidated by Bridget and Radkin."

"But they were talking about how good it would be for me. I don't enter into this, Marrok."

"You enter into it. You tend to dominate it." He sat down beside her and Ned and Wiley curled up at his feet. He bent down and stroked Ned's head. "But you'd tar and feather me if I made the wrong decision for these guys."

"You're damn right I would." She leaned back on the bench. "So don't think of a cozy little town in the Ca rib be an for me. Think what would be best."

"I've been thinking since you whisked me out of that hospital room."

"Is it that you don't trust Bridget and Radkin?"

"I have to trust Bridget. She almost gave her life for you. I'm a little suspicious of this family business that's feeling so generous to me." He shrugged. "Radkin? Why should I trust him? But I dealt with Lincoln for years and didn't trust him."

"And rightly so. Then it's a possible lack of control?"

"Yes. But I could probably get around that. The first thing I'd do would be to jettison Radkin's guards and bring my own people."

She smiled. "And build a stockade as strong as the ranch."

"Stronger. And if it's an island, there would have to be sea and air escape routes."

He was already planning, thinking, working out the details. "What about Montana? How does that compare?"

"Closer. Familiar. I'm better able to negotiate the system. But I'd have to either let MI6 in again for funding or seek other help. But I could probably still keep the dogs safe."

"Then make your decision."

"What a pushy broad you are." He gazed at her. "It really doesn't matter to you, does it?"

"I'll go with you anywhere, anytime." She smiled. "I like the snow. I like the sun. Wherever you decide, we'll make it good."

"What a remarkably lucky man I am." He cupped her face in his two hands. "Have I told you that I love you?"

"No, but I knew it. You talked around it a lot, and I knew it was hard for you to come right out and say it." She gave him a quick kiss. "More of that later. Now you have to concentrate on more important things."

"There's nothing more important, just more urgent." He kissed her again and pulled her to her feet. "Come on, let's get back to Bridget. I wouldn't want her to have a relapse."

She fell into step with him. "She's still strong enough to nag you."

"But you'll be there to ward them both off and protect me. You can't imagine how secure that makes me feel."

"Sarcastic bastard." She punched him in the arm. "You don't deserve me."

"I know," he said soberly. "That's why I have to joke about it."

She could feel her throat tighten with emotion. She reached down and patted Wiley's head. "And do you have something to tell Bridget?"

"Yes."

"Which is it? Snow or sun?"

"I grew up in the desert." He smiled. "What do you suppose? It has to be the sun."