Covert Christmas by Marilyn Pappano Page B

think other people have suffered enough for you. It’s time to do your own suffering.”
    Seven heads swiveled in her direction. Josh took advantage ofthe moment to make a run for it, dashing across the pavement, crashing off into the trees. At the same time, Natalia dove, landing hard a dozen feet away, wriggling deeper into the darkness.
    â€œGet them both!” Sean roared, and a burst of gunshots strafed the hillside.
    Then bright lights hit the men. “Federal agents! Drop your weapons!” Scuffling sounds followed—guns hitting concrete, voices snapping orders, bodies shoved to the ground, handcuffs clicking.
    â€œSaldana, Parker, come on out,” Kramer called.
    Natalia lifted her head, then eased to her feet. She slipped and slid the rest of the way down the levee, reaching the walkway at the same time Josh emerged from the trees. She took a few halting steps toward him before breaking into a run. He met her halfway, wrapping his arms around her, holding her as tightly as she clung to him.
    â€œYou’re all right,” she whispered, pressing her face against his neck.
    â€œYou scared ten years off my freaking life! Why did you follow us? They would have killed you!”
    â€œFrom where I stood, it looked like they were about to kill you. ” She drew back, then touched his face. “I couldn’t let that happen. I—I—” Tears welled and a knot formed in her throat. She hadn’t said the words since she was eight years old, and they were tough. God, much tougher than she’d expected.
    Josh’s features softened, and he brushed her hair back before placing a kiss on her forehead. “I love you, Natalia. I always have. And you don’t have to say it back, because I know. I’ve always known.”
    She gazed at him a moment, overawed by the simple trust and faith in his words. “I love you, Josh.” She whispered it, then said it again louder. Surer. “I love you.”
    He lifted her off her feet, swung her around in a circle, then kissed her, hungry, greedy, stealing the few bits of words that escaped her lips. Love…love…I love…
    Heat spread through her, sweet, chasing away chills that hadhidden inside her forever. She felt freer, younger, lighter—the way she imagined a normal woman must feel. And hopeful. Oh, so hopeful. It was Christmas Eve. She loved Josh and he loved her back. Anything was possible.
    Kramer cleared his throat. “Come on, guys, we’ve got work to do here.”
    Reluctantly they broke off the kiss, but Josh didn’t let her go. He wrapped his arm around her waist and held her close to his side, and she held on to him, too.
    â€œYou might want to get hold of Thomas Smith,” Josh said. “He’s with the U.S. Attorney’s office in Chicago. Tell him Merry Christmas. I’m going to testify.”
    Natalia looked sharply at him. She had a pretty good idea when and why he’d come to that decision, but her decision trumped his. “Don’t bother. I’ve already offered the U.S. Attorney a deal that I’ll testify against the Mulroneys if they leave you alone.”
    He looked stunned. “You can’t do that.”
    â€œI can.”
    â€œYou don’t know the stuff I know.”
    â€œI know an awful lot that you don’t know.” She smiled hesitantly. “You were only one of the semi-bad guys, remember? I was one of the bad guys.”
    Kramer rubbed his temple as if his head hurt. “Look, I’d like to get home at least long enough to deliver my kids’ Santa gifts before they wake up tomorrow. Besides, it may be a moot point. These guys tried to murder both of you in front of a dozen federal and local authorities. They’re probably not going back to Chicago until they’ve been tried for tonight and for those attempted murders back in the summer. Depending on the sentences they get here, they may never get back to