Formula for Danger Read online

“D-did the cabin explode?” JL wanted to know, shivering against him.

  “That’s my guess, sugar.” He stroked a hand down her cheek. “Hold on. I want to get us as far away as possible. Then I’ll be happy to hold you as long as you want.”

  Finally, they reached the place they’d left their trucks and horse trailers. He pulled his horse to a halt, took out his cell phone again, and dialed Jed Mitchell.

  “We’ve got her, Jed, and I’m bringing her home.” He tightened the arm he had banded around JL’s body.

  “I owe you big-time, Cole.” The man was nearly in tears. “Anything you ever want, you only have to ask.”

  “Just getting her back is enough for me. You know that. I’ll bring her by to see you, but then I’m taking her home with me.”

  “You can protect her better there,” Jed Mitchell agreed.

  “I’m going to find out who the bastard is behind this. You can bet the farm on that.”

  “I know you will,” the older man said. “Well, I’ve got a good shot of whiskey waiting for you. And tell your men, anything they ever need from me, they’ve got it.”

  JL shifted in front of him.

  “I think my heart’s about to beat out of my chest.” She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “God, Cole. I should have listened to you more. I’m so sorry.” She pressed her head into his shoulder. “I was terrified.” One corner of her mouth tipped up. “And mad as hell.”

  “Not surprised. I was afraid you’d piss them off, though, and they’d decide the whole thing wasn’t worth the effort.”

  “Do you know that they broke into the lab and stole my computer? The stand-alone one?”

  He was glad to hear the edge of anger creeping into her voice.

  Cole ground his teeth, reaching for control. It wouldn’t do her any good for him to let his rage take over now. “Dan told me, right after I called him about you. He got the alarm five minutes after I contacted him.”

  “They planned to make me unlock the hard drive and pull up everything in my files.”

  “That figures. Fuck.” He spat the word out. “That means all your work is lost, right?”

  She gave a breathy little laugh. “No, thank God. Last week, I also started saving everything to a mini external hard drive I carried back and forth with me. It’s still in my tote in the car the guard was driving.”

  “Then Sheriff Davis has it. I’ll get it for you the minute we’re out of here.” He cupped her head to turn it up to him, gave her one a brief, hard kiss, then looked at the others. “Thanks for everything, guys. Go home, get some rest, and we’ll meet back at my place in six hours. I’m going to tap one or two of my partners to join Greg and me at the hangar and see what we can pull out of that work we took. We need to get to the root of this. Now.”

  The men murmured their answers, then dismounted and trailered their horses. Greg had stuffed the lab assistant in his truck and threatened him within an inch of his life if he tried to get away.

  Cole swung down from the saddle and helped JL to the ground. He saw the strain on her face and in her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her still trembling body, all too aware of how easily it all could have turned to shit and he would have lost her.

  “Are you okay?” he asked. “I know that’s a stupid question, but they didn’t hurt you, did they?”

  She let out a shaky breath. “No. But the men had their orders. If the person behind this didn’t get what he or she wanted from me, they’d have had no hesitation about killing me. I guess if whoever it is didn’t get the formula, no one else would have it, either.”

  “Not gonna happen,” he assured her. “But whoever this is, he or she is still out there, probably waiting for another chance.”

  She shuddered against his body. “I’m trying not to think about it.”

  “I’m going to wring some answers out of that guy we grabbed. Then I’m gluing myself to your side until we wrap this up. And we’ll double the guards again if we have to. Someone spent a lot of money and took a big chance to get you and that formula.”

  “Cole, that’s a big demand on everyone’s time,” she protested. “And it costs money.”

  “It would be a lot worse if anything happened to you. I’m heading this branch of the agency, so I can call the shots.”

  “My dad will want to help.”

  “We’ll see. I’ll talk to Dan, and we can discuss it later.”

  With his free hand, he lifted his hat, wiped his forehead with his arm, and settled the hat back on his thick head of black hair. Cupping her jaw, he tilted her face up so his mouth could claim hers again. This time, the kiss was a lot slower. As always, she tasted like seventeen kinds of heaven, sweet and spicy and all manner of sin. And all woman.

  His woman.

  A woman he could have lost. No matter what situations came up, he wasn’t letting her out of his sight until they found whoever was behind this.

  She kissed him back, her tongue tangling with his as he licked and tasted her.

  They drew apart, both breathless.

  “I need to get you back so your daddy can lay eyes on you himself.” He pulled her into his arms. “Then I’m taking you home to my place, and I might not let you out for a week.”

  Even though strain still lined her face, she smiled at him. “I hear riding a cowboy is a good cure for a case of nerves.”

  “As soon as we wrap this up, you can have the ride of your life.”

  He’s still out there, though, whoever the bastard is. We’ll identify him, however we have to do it. Then I’ll destroy him.

  Chapter One

  Three months earlier

  J. L. Mitchell took a nervous sip of her drink and looked around at the people relaxing on the large patio. This dinner at Dan and Mia Romeo’s house in San Antonio was to celebrate Cole’s agreement to join the Phoenix Agency as a partner. Rarely were all the original partners available in one place at the same time, unless on a critical mission. But tonight they had gathered to meet him and JL. Five archetypal alpha males—the partners in the Phoenix Agency—and their extraordinary wives. She was impressed with the effort the women as well as the men made to make them feel comfortable and part of the group.

  Cole had given her the whole scoop on the agency. After building their reputation slowly, Phoenix was now known for providing security and training in the private sector, and for executing ops for the government that had to fly way, way below the radar. JL had heard the details of their hostage rescue of Kat D’Antoni’s sister and the people she worked for from a Mexican drug cartel. Of Summer Arsenault’s rescue from an insane billionaire who wanted to sell her psychic healing services. Of Phoenix’s capture of the men behind the theft of a huge shipment of arms to a private corporate contractor in Iraq.

  They were men of honor, of integrity, who believed without reservation in what they did. Their invitation for Cole to join them as a partner was a testament to their high opinion of him. When he’d asked JL what she thought, she couldn’t in good conscience do anything but urge him to accept. If only she could get rid of the tiny thread of fear that kept wiggling through her, choke it back, and give him her full support.

  We are defined by our past.

  One of her university professors had been fond of saying that, and she couldn’t agree with him more. If only the defining moment in her own past had been a positive one. Then she wouldn’t feel the need to rein in her feelings for Cole, to hold back from making a stronger commitment.

  He had been low-key but at the same time more insistent lately about wanting her to move in with him permanently. To stop running back and forth between the ranch where she’d grown up and his place. She did spend a lot of nights with him. God knew she hadn’t been able to keep from falling hopelessly in love with him. And now she’d shared this important step with him. Which in itself brought back memories she did her best to keep buried. Memories she worked very hard to put behind her, as well as the fear keeping her from making a permanent commitment to him. She didn’t know whether she could handle the pain of loss twice in her life.

  On the ride to San Antonio, she’d tried to hide a growing case of nerves. She was okay with meeting new people, and she certainly felt at ease with the Romeos after their visits to Clayton to see Cole. But she worried how the rest of them would accept her and what they’d think if they knew about her so-called special gift. She was getting better at putting up shields, especially since . . .

  She took another sip of her drink, steadying herself. Not so much because as she’d met each of the men their aura had jumped out at her. She had expected that, and after Seattle, actually wanted it. Had needed to satisfy herself that Cole wasn’t walking into a situation that would be dangerous from the start. She hadn’t put up her shields, wanting to see their energy so she’d know Cole was doing the right thing. The air around them had shimmered with mixtures of red and pink, indicating strong-willed and highly disciplined people. They would expect the same high standards from others as they did from themselves, and they seldom deviated from their values and morals. She saw the same aura surrounding Cole. It gave JL a good feeling about his decision to join them.

  What she hadn’t expected—and what shocked her—was the tinge of purple dancing around each of the women. Purple indicated psychic ability. Could these women have gifts? All five of them? And, around Mia, she saw a tinge of blue. Clairvoyance. Summer’s aura held a hint of turquoise, the sign of a healer.

  No. Hardly possible. I must be reading them wrong.

  For the most part, she did her best to hide what some people called a gift. When she’d discovered her ability to read auras, she’d tried to shy away from it. Set up a mental block. Wipe it from her brain. But then she began to research it and discovered whether you
wanted it or not, it was there. A part of you. As a scientist, it had taken a lot of getting used to. Then she had to learn how to control it.

  She never discussed it with anyone, certainly not with Cole. Not anyone since Seattle. Not since—

  Don’t go there.

  But maybe, she thought, if these women also had psychic abilities, it would be okay to bring it up. She blinked and tried to pull up her shields before everyone at the table invaded her senses. She listened quietly as the discussion flitted from one subject to another, a lot of it dealing with what the different wives were doing. They were all so fascinating, just like their husbands. They had careers covering every field from famous author to art historian to dog trainer. Yet, despite being part of a high-energy operation, they all seemed very laid-back and at ease. JL guessed that was important when the situations they went into were no doubt very tense.

  “So tell us a little more about your work, JL,” Dan said. “It sounds very interesting.”

  She blushed at their enormous praise when Cole gave them a thumbnail description.

  “I’m only a lab rat,” she said, trying to deflect the accolades. “Nothing special.”

  “Hell, no,” Cole objected. “JL was working in a lab in Seattle when she decided she liked Texas better after all, packed up, and came home. The ranchers were all worrying about growing seasons during droughts and asked her if she might want to work on improving the quality of the grains they raise.”

  “Wow,” Kelly Latrobe said. “It’s impressive you know how to do that.”

  JL shrugged. “It’s what I do. Like each of you is an expert in a particular field.” Then she blushed again. “Not that I’m saying I’m any kind of expert or anything.”

  “Don’t hide your light, darlin’,” Cole urged and looked at everyone. “The local branch of the Cattlemen’s Association came to her with the idea after I moved back home. Everyone was excited about it, so they reached out to the national organization, too. And they bought into it, since drought hits every state at some time or other. Grant Summerfield, the president of the Texas association, came up with a building to use, and they raised enough to fund the lab she needed.”

  “Expensive proposition, I’d think,” Troy Arsenault commented.

  JL nodded, her discomfort easing a little. “Because of the importance of the project, though, each state group provided funds and committed to more as we go along.” She rubbed her cheek. “My dad almost lost the ranch a few years ago because of drought. No rain, not enough grain. He had to sell off a lot of the herd at a loss. It’s taken a while, but he’s back on his feet. I’d like to make sure he stays that way.”

  “So it’s personal for you,” Faith remarked.

  “It is. And we don’t have a lot of staff—me and one lab assistant is all. Most of the money has gone for the equipment and materials.”

  “I’m sure if you’re successful the ranchers will all be very grateful,” Mark Halloran put in. “Some of our clients who own ranches say a drought-resistant grain would revolutionize cattle ranching.”

  “The best part,” JL went on, “is if it works, we’re going to patent it and then lease the patent around the world. And in Third World countries, we’ll make it royalty-free.”

  “I’d imagine you have a lot of private interests sniffing around, offering you big bucks to develop it for them,” Mark commented.

  “You don’t know the half of it,” Cole told him. “Some of those offers have sounded damn near like threats. I finally convinced Miss Independence here to let me put a guard at the lab 24-7. She tells me I’m overreacting.”

  “And you are,” JL insisted. “These people are a lot of bluster. I know their type. They think if they throw enough money at something, it’s theirs. They’ll get tired of hitting the wall with me and go away.”

  “We hope.”

  “You must be so excited to be part of something like this,” Summer Arsenault said.

  “I am.” JL frowned. “I hope like hell I can come up with the correct formula. I’d hate for this to be a bust.”

  Cole gave her a quick hug. “My money’s on you, darlin’.”

  “Okay, folks.” Mia Romeo rose from her seat. “It’s almost time for the bugs to come out for their evening parade. I think we’ll have dessert inside.”

  “They’re pulling out all the stops for you,” JL whispered to Cole as they helped carry dishes inside.

  “You think I’m doing the right thing?” he asked.

  She hesitated for only a brief moment. This was so right for him. Her feelings about his safety couldn’t come into play. She’d have to deal with them, somehow. Folding the shawl she’d borrowed from Mia, she set it on the counter and smiled at him. “Absolutely.”

  After moving back from Seattle, it had been a natural decision for her to stay at the ranch with her dad. Then she’d run into Cole, and now, two months later, their relationship had grown into something serious. She wished she could wipe Seattle out of her mind and give him the commitment he wanted. He was being very patient with her, giving her the time and space she needed. Even including her in this process.

  Dan was his longtime friend from the marines, and his offer of the position as the head of the new Phoenix branch they wanted to open had flattered Cole, no doubt about it. But he’d insisted on discussing it with JL.

  “It’s a major change in my life,” he’d told her. “I’m hoping you’ll be part of everything going forward, so your opinion counts here.”

  Dan had been persistent, calling Cole several times and making trips to Clayton to discuss the offer in person. Twice, he’d brought his wife, Mia, with him, and each time Cole made sure to include JL. She really liked the couple and the obvious affection they had for each other. The tall, compelling, olive-skinned man with the muscular body had a don’t-mess-with-me look in his obsidian eyes, except when he watched his wife. A petite woman with a fall of sun-streaked brown hair and eyes the most vivid green JL had ever seen, Mia’s adoration of her husband was equally as obvious. JL tried hard not to envy their connection, wondering whether such a thing was possible for herself and Cole.

  “We all agreed we need to expand our operation to serve our clients in the West and the Far East,” Dan had explained during those visits. “Three of us have homes here because we managed to marry hometown girls, but the main office is still in Maryland. Kat and Mike have their home there, as do Rick and Kelly. And we all still operate out of that location.”

  “Doesn’t that make it hard on your wives?” JL had asked. “Mia and the others who live here?”

  “We all adapt.” Then he’d grinned. “And when we’re back from a mission or a meeting, the homecomings are off the charts.” He’d turned serious again. “That’s why we’d like you to head that operation, Cole. Base it at your ranch. You’re exactly who and what we need. You’ve got the military experience, and you know this area of the country. And you’re damn smart. If you agree to join us, we’d call this part of the agency Lone Star Phoenix.”

  “What about your partners?” Cole had asked. “Don’t they want to meet me first? Check me out?”

  Dan had laughed. “They know what a hard-ass I am. If I want you this badly, that’s good enough for them.”

  After the last meeting, Cole had gone over everything with JL, asking her opinion and telling her how important her input was. “You’re going to be a part of whatever happens next to me, right?” he’d asked when he told her about it.

  “Of course.” She’d wanted that more than anything, even if a part of her had warned her to be careful of history repeating itself.

  The fact he’d wanted her involvement in this offered proof of his feelings.

  What more do I need? Is anything ever guaranteed?

  Even as the ever-present tiny thread of unease wiggled through her, she reminded him he had an excellent foreman and ranch manager.

  “Remember,” he cautioned, “Abe’s retiring, and Hardy Rogers is taking over.”

  “But Hardy’s worked for you for more than ten years. Abe himself recommended moving him up.”

  “You’re right,” he agreed. “I have to keep that in mind. Besides, I may be setting Abe up to be the security at LSP, like Harry Monroe is in Maryland, but I’m pretty sure if I’m gone he’ll be peering over Hardy’s shoulder, too.”