Stone Barrington 06-11

related—not brothers, but certainly cousins.”
    Stone looked at Holly. “So you’re saying that the people who are trying to kill Holly and me are a family of Lebanese or Syrian assassins?”
    “You make it sound like something out of The Arabian Nights. More likely, the three cousins are members of the same terrorist cell, that’s all.”
    “What do you mean, that’s all? That’s more than enough. Why would a terrorist cell have an interest in Holly and me?”
    “I think it’s fairly obvious,” Lance said.
    “Well, you’re going to have to make it even more obvious if I’m going to get it.”
    “Think about it: Trini Rodriguez is dealing with an Arab group on this money-laundering thing, right?”
    “Right.”
    “So he tells his contacts that you and Holly are a threat to their transaction.”
    “Okay, now it’s obvious.”
    “What is also obvious is that by killing three of them, you’ve probably annoyed the other members of the group, so I think you and Holly should stay in Orchid Beach until the FBI has thrown a net over these people.”
    “Wait a minute. Why do you think we’re in Orchid Beach?”

    “Because you filed a flight plan for Vero Beach, which is the airport serving Holly’s hometown.”
    “You figured that out, huh?”
    “Yes, but I doubt if your Lebanese friends did. Anyway, I thought you’d like to know that I’m not trying to kill you.”
    “And do I know that? You could be making all this up.”
    “Stone, use your head. The reason you should know I’m not trying to kill you is that you’re still alive.” He hung up.
    Stone turned to Holly. “You’d better sit down,” he said.

33
    H OLLY LISTENED TO Stone’s report of his conversation with Lance. When he had finished she shook her head. “I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.”
    “Neither do I.”
    “I mean, the part about the Arab assassins would be funny if you and I hadn’t already killed three of them. I wouldn’t believe it, otherwise.”
    “Neither would I.”
    “And he said they wouldn’t know we’re in Orchid Beach?”
    “He said that he figured it out, but they wouldn’t.”
    “I hope to God he’s right.”
    “So do I.”
    “Still, I’m sleeping with a gun.”
    “Good idea.”
    “Speaking of sleeping…”
    “I’m right behind you.” Holly let Daisy in from her nightly run in the dunes, then led Stone upstairs. “Daisy, get in your bed,” she said, and the dog curled up where she had been told.
    “Good,” Stone said, stroking her hair, “I don’t want anybody between us tonight, and I’m glad Ham’s out of the house, too.”
    “I’m glad, if you’re glad,” she said, helping him shuck his shirt over his head.
    Stone worked on her buttons and unhooked her bra. “Alone is good,” he said, kissing her breasts.
    She pulled him to her and pushed down on his shoulders until he was on his knees, pulling off her clothing. “Ooooh, that’s the place,” she said, running her fingers through his hair.
    He pushed her onto the bed, and she opened her legs. For the next few minutes he concentrated on making her happy, and the noises she was making confirmed her feelings.
    She came with a series of cries and little convulsions, then she pulled Stone on top of her. “I want everything tonight,” she said.
    Stone slipped inside her. “The works,” he said, kissing her ear as he moved slowly in and out.
    “The works!” she cried and moved with him.
    For the better part of an hour they explored each other with fingers and tongues. They changed positions and laughed at the intensity of their pleasure. Then they took turns coming and collapsed in each other’s arms.
    “It occurs to me,” Stone panted, “that my heart must be in pretty good shape, because if it weren’t, I’d be dead right now. That’s the best stress test in the world.”
    Holly rested her head on his shoulder and threw a leg over his. “Okay, the Arab assassins can shoot me now.”
    “I hope not.”
    “If they showed up right now, I wouldn’t be able to hold a gun. I can’t make a fist.”
    “Then we’re both helpless.”
    “We could rely on Daisy.”
    “We’d have to.”
    Stone suddenly thought of something. “I just had a troubling thought.”
    “Not now, please.”
    “If they don’t know we’re here, who ransacked your house a few days ago?”
    “Don’t make me think about it now.” Her voice trailed off. “I’m going to sleep.”
    “Oh, no. You have to answer that question.