He'd get off, free and clear. And he'd be able to use her system as he pleased. She wouldn't let this happen, she vowed. She'd stop him somehow, and she'd gladly die to do it. "Why are you doing this?"
"Greed," he said simply. "Pure greed. You were the head of my team. The smartest and the best. Certainly the only one capable of creating a system to predict earthquakes and volcanoes that any first-class government would pay an arm and a leg for. I'd much rather use you than kill you, Haley, but I'll do what I have to."
She could hear the hissing of his breath over the wire, could see again in her mind the dead bodies of Frederick and Danyella as they lay covered in blood. Could imagine Bob's and Alda's death. He'd do the same to everyone here without a qualm.
"Haley?" It was Zach now, standing in the kitchen, looking down at her strangely. "You okay?"
She stared up at him from the floor, the receiver still against her ear. She could see his lips moving, but couldn't make out the words over the roaring in her head.
"Don't screw this up, Haley. You'll be very sorry if you do," Branson said in her ear. "The airport. Seven o'clock." He hung up.
Haley lowered her gaze from Zach to stare dully at the receiver in her hand. What the hell was she going to do? Then she dropped the phone as though it could burn her hand.
Zach bent and took her hands in his. "Haley? Look at me." When she did, he frowned. "Are you sick?"
Branson would kill them, she thought, fear skittering up her spine. If she didn't do exactly as he said, he'd kill them all. She blinked away the haze of panic and straightened, then forced herself to smile at Zach. "I'm fine. Just got dizzy for a minute there, that's all."
"The cleaner's pretty strong stuff. You shouldn't use so much of it." He reached for her, helped her to her feet, his gaze never leaving her face. "You don't look good. Let me help you into the living room."
She was too weak to protest.
"Wait here," he said, when she'd slumped into a chair. "I'm going to get you some water."
When he left, she dropped her face into her hands.
She'd have to go back. Back to hell. How would she survive it? Would she even be allowed to?
"Here." Zach was back, pressing a glass of water into her hands. He sat on the coffee table before her. "Are you sure-"
"I'm fine now." Sheer strength of will had her lying more fluently than she'd ever done before. Smiling and even laughing a little, she stood. "But you're right about the fumes. I think I'll go lie down for a little while." She had to lock her knees together to keep them from giving out.
Zach nodded slowly, carefully examining her face. "That sounds like a good idea." He patted her hand. "Don't worry about lunch or dinner, okay? We'll be fine."
She smiled again and just managed to walk from the room without falling into a heaping, sobbing mess.
She couldn't call the police; they'd take her away, leaving the Reeveses vulnerable and unprotected for when Branson came for his revenge.
She would have to leave the world she'd come to love beyond her wildest dreams. She had to. Then she could call the police, if she got the chance before Branson killed her.
But first, she had to make her fantasy come true. She deserved that much, at least. She had to get Cam to make love with her. She couldn't face her death without that.
Cam sanded the oak rocking chair with loving hands that soothed and coaxed the best from the wood. He'd never made a rocker before, but he'd wanted to give Nellie and Jason's unborn baby a special gift.
And someday, he wanted his own baby to be rocked in this chair.
That thought startled him enough to straighten and stare into space with a dreamy expression on his face.
A baby. His baby.
He'd thought he'd never want another, not after having lost his son before he'd even gotten to hold him. But oh, he did, and he wanted one with Haley.
Haley.
He'd stayed up until dawn trying to figure out what to do. There was simply no way to keep her safe and hidden for the rest of her life. It wasn't right. She had to turn herself in and fight. He'd he at her side, of course. His entire family would. But coming to that decision and convincing Haley of it were two different things. She had to go willingly, for he simply couldn't handle the thought of calling the authorities behind her back. He had to make her see reason, and he had to do it today, before it was too late.
He looked up as the barn doors opened, letting in the sunlight and the scent of late autumn. Wind and leaves twirled through the opening as Haley stepped inside.
A greeting died on his tongue at the look of immeasurable sorrow on her face. But the moment she saw him, her expression was transformed. The promise of passion took his breath. He dropped the sandpaper and went to her, reaching for her hands.
"Haley?"
She managed a smile, but it seemed too bright, and Cam felt the first inkling of dread. "It's freezing outside and you're not wearing a coat."
She gave a little laugh, completely without mirth.
He tightened his grip on her fingers. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she said quickly-too quickly, which did nothing to relieve the pit in his stomach. "I just… have something I want to do."
She reached up on tiptoe to set her lips on his. He jolted in surprise, and would have pulled back, but she threw her arms around his neck to hold him still and teased the corner of his mouth with a flirty pass of her tongue. Instantly, his heart drummed hard and fast against hers as she pressed her body to his. Wait, he tried to say. He wanted to look at her, assure himself she was okay. He could feel her tremble, could feel how cold and clammy she was, and he couldn't shake the sense that something was terribly, horribly wrong. He thought he could taste her desperation and fear, her needs and doubts…
"You're thinking too much," she said.
And then he couldn't think at all because she'd slipped her hands up beneath his T-shirt to streak over his bare, heated skin.
"I want you," she whispered huskily.
His hands, which he'd lifted to her waist, froze. "You- Now?"
She let out a sound that might have been a laugh. She tipped her head back, and he could see the shadow of fear in her eyes, though she kept her gaze steady and level on his. "Yes, now."
"Are you sure?"
Her lips curved. "Are you going to turn me down, Cam?"
It was easy to ignore the soft sarcasm when he still couldn't get past the feeling that something wasn't right. "You've waited a long time for this, Haley. I just don't want you to regret it. I don't think I could stand it if you did."
"You are going to turn me down." With a sound of impatience, she moved away from him. "I'm really not very good at this, I knew that." She let out a little laugh. "I actually thought… Oh, never mind." Stumbling, she went for the door.
His heart broke at the rejection he'd seen flash on her face. "Wait." He reached for her and gently turned her back to look at him. "You thought what?"
Face reddening, she leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes. "I thought I could seduce you. Silly, huh?"
The yearning grew and spread until his body ached with it. How could she not know what she did to him? "No, it's not silly." He traced her jaw with his fingers. Her skin felt so silky, so soft. She wore the peek-a-boo blouse tucked into a long skirt that brushed against his thighs. He'd never seen anyone look so beautiful or desirable. "You've been seducing me for weeks with little to no effort from you at all."
She gripped the front of his shirt with tight fists. "Then make love with me. Now."
Need and longing swirled inside him, so deep and so strong it was amazing to him that he could remain on his feet. The cold, crisp air blowing in the door did nothing to cool him down. She wanted him, and yet… the absolute sense of urgency, the desperate look in her eyes told him that something was wrong.