His bedroom was enormous, the four-poster bed dominating the room. It was low, custom built to make it easy for him to lock his chair and slide into the bed without help. The room was always surprisingly neat. Jess tended to toss his clothes over the backs of chairs or onto the nightstand, but everything else was in place.

“I’ve always been intimidated by that bed,” Saber said, stopping just inside the doorway. “It’s huge.”

“I won’t let you get lost. We just have to make certain Patsy doesn’t come barging in and find you here or we’ll be dragged to the nearest church and married before the day is out.”

“Don’t even say that. Patsy would be thrilled to catch me in your bedroom. She has visions of you producing like ten kids or something.”

He laughed. “My sister would make the best aunt in the world.”

“She needs to have children. You’d make a great uncle.”

The smile faded from his face. “She was so in love with David. I have no idea how to tell her David died because of me. I never thought my job or the choices I made would ever touch my family.”

“Oh, Jesse. Oh God.” Saber’s hand fluttered to her throat and then shot out to brace herself against the wall. “Patsy.”

He stiffened at her tone, pausing in the act of transferring to his bed. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

“We have to go to Patsy’s house right now.”

“Saber, it’s four o’clock in the morning. Why?”

She bit at her lip, frowning. “When Patsy was here earlier, I didn’t like the way her heart was acting.”

Jess straightened up immediately. “What do you mean, you didn’t like the way her heart was acting?”

“I don’t know. Her rhythm was off.”

He looked grim, fierce. “Something is wrong with my sister’s heart and you didn’t say anything?”

“I tried to get her to see a doctor. I didn’t think you knew about me. I was afraid to say anything, but I planned, when I left, to tell you in a letter to get her to the doctor.”

“Why did you check out her rhythm?”

His tone sent a chill down her spine. Saber gripped the doorjamb harder. “Someone had dropped a listening device in the pocket of her jacket. It was giving off a small energy field and I picked it up when I was close to her.”

“Let’s go then,” Jess said. “It will take a few minutes for me to get dressed.”

Saber hurried to drag on jeans and a T-shirt. Jess hadn’t been happy that she allowed Patsy to leave without saying anything, but he hadn’t condemned her for it. It seemed that she kept asking him to accept more and more from her. She would have warned Patsy, though. She liked her a great deal and she never would have left without first making certain Patsy knew she had something wrong with her heart.

Guilt didn’t ease up as she ran for the van. Jess was already in the garage, rolling his chair onto the lift to take him inside. He caught her outstretched hand as she leapt to join him.

“I’m sorry, Jesse. I honestly don’t know if it’s a minor thing that doesn’t really matter and will never harm her, but it’s just not right.”

“I understand.” He locked his chair into place and glanced over at her to make certain she was settled. “The thing is, baby, Patsy means the world to me. If anything happened to her…” His voice trailed off and the van engine started.

“I know. I’m sorry. I should have told you sooner.” She was miserable with shame and guilt weighing her down.

He lost them. Lost them. Everything was falling apart. He had to regroup. He could still save this. He went down the stairs to the basement and walked through the waiting room. Her room. Once he had her where she belonged, her voice would only be for him. She’d speak only when he allowed her, say only things meant for his ears.

Manacles hung from the ceiling and the wall. He had everything laid out for her-ready for her. She would come to love him in time, love the things he could do to her. And she’d know he was her master, the one she was born to please. She’d be what he wanted her to be, live only for him at his whim, at his pleasure. He sucked in his breath. He was so close. No one would ever find this place. Not the cripple, not the supersoldiers, and certainly not that bastard Whitney.

Chapter 13

Rain greeted them as they pulled out of the drive and headed for Patsy’s estate. Jesse and Patsy’s grandparents had left both of them well off, and Patsy lived only a few miles from her brother, the back of her property connecting to the same thick wooded area. A month after Jess’s legs had been damaged she had purchased the property next to his and bought into the radio station. It actually took longer to drive to her house than walk through the woods to it, as they had to circle around following the roads.

“What are we going to say to her?” Saber asked.

“I haven’t figured that out yet,” Jess snapped and then shot her a quick, apologetic look. “I don’t know, but I’ll think of something.”

Saber swallowed hard and stared out the window into the driving rain. The storm was moving in fast. The weatherman had been predicting a major storm for several days and it was finally here, the heavy layer of thick fog blotting out the stars and moon. Lightning veined the underside of the ominous dark clouds swirling overhead, and unease slid down her spine. “I’m sorry, Jess. I should have found a way to tell Patsy without giving away the fact that I’m a trained psychic.”

“I’m not upset with you, Saber, just the situation. And I have no idea what to tell Patsy at four in the morning, but I have to go. I feel a sense of urgency, which is silly I suppose, but I just can’t take chances with her life.”

“She’s your family. And I think it’s best to tell her immediately and get her to a hospital.” She yawned. “I’m actually tired. It’s still dark and I’m tired. Amazing.”

He reached over and ran his finger along the back of her hand. Her stomach clenched. It was the first gesture of affection or tenderness he’d shown her since she’d revealed she thought there might be something wrong with Patsy’s heart, and she instantly felt happy. It was odd caring about another human being. You sort of got sucked in whether you liked it or not, because her affection-and her need to protect-carried to his sister as well.

“I was looking forward to sleeping with you. I love the idea of waking up with you in my bed, wrapped in my arms, your face the first thing I see.”

It wasn’t fair that he could say things like that to her and make her body go into hyperdrive. But even more unfair was the way he made her heart and soul reach for him. Run to him. Need him. How ironic, considering she’d always been so independent, considering how she’d struggled for freedom. And now Jess was holding her as surely as if she were in a cage.

Lightning flashed across the sky and a few seconds later thunder boomed. The windshield wipers could barely keep up with the pouring rain. Ordinarily she enjoyed storms, but this time her heart pounded and her mouth went dry.

Jess drove down the winding road leading through the thick grove of trees that separated his estate from his sister’s. “Don’t regret loving me, Saber.”

She gave an exaggerated flinch. “Don’t be saying ‘love,’ dragon king. I’m not really used to that yet and I’m letting my mind go there slowly.”

“You’re crazy about me.”

“I’m crazy, that I’ll agree with. The rest of it…” She trailed off deliberately and waited for the sound of his laughter.

She loved the sound of his voice, the way it seemed to wash into her body and fill her with warmth and a sense of peace-and she needed peace right now. The storm seemed to be really affecting her, her body wound tighter and tighter, her breath coming in ragged little gasps and her pulse racing.

Jess sent a quick grin, but it didn’t ease the fear growing in her. She rolled down her window and inhaled sharply, waiting to feel the night around her. “Slow down.”

His smile faded and he did as she asked. “What’s wrong, baby?”

“I don’t know, but I think you should pull over.”

“We’re only a few yards before we hit the entrance to Patsy’s place,” Jess pointed out, but he slowed the van until they were barely moving.

Her heart was racing now and prickles raced across her skin. She tasted fear in her mouth. “Someone is broadcasting tremendous fear. I can hear the heartbeat thundering in my ears and it isn’t…right.”

Jess swore. “Patsy. It’s Patsy, isn’t it?” He accelerated. “She’s having a heart attack.”

Saber put her hand on his arm. “No, it isn’t that. Pull over and cut your lights. Did Ken and Mari follow us?” She swiveled around in her seat looking for headlights.

Jess did as she asked and rolled down his window as well, trying to feel the flare of energy that signaled something was wrong. Whatever it was, they were a distance away. Saber had to be very sensitive to feel it.

“I’m going in. Pull the van around to the back of Patsy’s property and leave the engine running and the doors open. We’ll make our way to you.”

“That’s bullshit, Saber. We don’t even know what’s going on. We’ll wait for Ken and Mari and go in at full strength.”

Saber swallowed the lump of fear in her throat. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. We need them here as soon as possible, but something’s not right and I have to try to get to Patsy now.” Her hand fluttered against her throat. It was getting harder to breathe. “I have to go now, Jess.”

He caught her wrist, his grip hard. “No, Saber.”

Her gaze locked with his. “I don’t think she’s alone.”

“We’ll wait for Ken and Mari.”

“We don’t have the time.” Her hands trembled. “She’s terrified, Jess. You have to trust me, trust in my abilities. I can get into and out of places without detection. I can do this.”

“It isn’t a matter of trust, Saber. I’m not risking you. I can’t risk you.”

She tilted her chin. “You wouldn’t say that to Ken or Mari. You can’t get into the house without being seen and you know it. I can. Patsy needs me and I’m going.” She tugged at her hand, trying to get free.

“I’m in a f**king wheelchair. What’s going to happen if you get caught?”

“The wheelchair has never mattered, Jess. If something happens, you’ll get us out. I know you will.” Her blue eyes met his. “I trust you completely.”

He swore, his gaze angry, furious even, but he nodded his head, jerking her close and catching the back of her head to hold her still while he kissed her. He ground his mouth hard against hers.

She tasted the potent mixture of fear and anger, a fierce need to protect, helplessness, but most of all a predator unleashed. She kissed him back, trying to convey confidence and love all wrapped together.

Jess rested his forehead against hers, his fingers shaping the nape of her neck. “Stay in communication with me. I’m a strong telepath. I’ll hear you.”

“I will.”

“No, Saber. Promise me. No matter what’s going on. Don’t let your fear or your need to protect me stop you from telling me what’s happening. I’ll need all the data in order to have a plan of action.”

“I promise.” And she meant it. Because no matter what, Jess Calhoun was lethal, and if she needed him, he would find a way to get to her.

Jess reached up and flicked the overhead light off. “I’ll pull around to the back of the house, but you need to make certain the way is clear. If they have a guard posted, once I turn onto the drive, lights or not, they’ll know I’m heading for Patsy’s house.”