The Deadly Match

by Kishan Paul

  Ally picked up the earpiece and handed it back to him. “I had no choice.”

  “You didn’t have a choice?” He laughed. “You’re the therapist. Isn’t the mantra of all therapists that ‘you always have a choice?’ And today you chose to ignore everything I told you to do, from my orders in Khalis’s office to my telling you to stay the hell away from my team.” His voice grew louder with every word.

  She jumped when the device flew across the room, slamming against a wall.

  “You’re right. I did have a choice. But you knew exactly why I made the decision I did.”

  “I do.” The ice in his voice was nothing compared to the frigidity in his gaze. “You decided you disagreed with my orders and ignored them.”

  “Because you lied and omitted so many things, Eddie. From the fact that Adil is working with Wassim to what would happen tomorrow. I am trying to do everything possible to help Jayden and the boys.”

  “The boys? You mean the same boys you’re putting in danger by coming here?”

  “It was not my intention to put any of you at risk. I followed the script you created.”

  His jaw flexed. His chest rose when he filled his lungs with air, and she watched as he blew it out. “The script required you to leave when I told you to fucking leave, and the script said you stay the hell away from here.”

  “The version of the script I got didn’t say anything about getting on a train and departing the city tonight either. So clearly, you didn’t give me the final draft.” She stared him down. “As far as not listening to you in Sanaa’s office. I did everything you told me to do. Yes, I was a little slow, but I was able to get her the information without running into him.”

  Eddie nodded. “Tell me, why?”

  “Why what?”

  He leaned in. “Why were you able to get out of there before Adil got a hold of you?”

  Understanding made her avert her gaze. “Because of you and the boys.”

  Again, a slight nod. “By staying in there and not exiting as directed, you turned it in to a rescue mission.” He waved his index finger behind him at the hallway. “In the process, you put the lives of every one of those men at risk.”

  The weight of his words stung, and the fact she was about to do it again choked her.

  He rested his elbows on his thighs and clenched his hands together. “What you did in that room, and by showing up here like this, indicates you believe you know better than the rest of us on how to run this operation. That you do not trust the team.”

  When she tried to argue his point, he talked over her. “You see me as an incompetent idiot who knows shit about shit about shit.” Eddie inched his face closer to hers. “And as far as saving Jayden, do you really think we don’t have the same goals?” He glared at her. “Why did I even allow this crazy mission if I wasn’t trying to save the kid’s life?”

  Anger knotted her stomach and made her fingers clench. “You lied to me, Eddie. About the team. The mission. You had no intention of sending me to the drive tomorrow. You knew—”

  He put his hand up. “You’re right, I did. I lied to you. If I thought you’d listen to me, I wouldn’t have had to.” He glanced over his shoulder down the hall at the brothers who had returned and watched their conversation. “I have no doubt your knowledge about multiple personality disorders and the emotional disturbances of the entire human race far exceeds my own. Hell, I’m sure you already have the diagnoses for all the crazy shit going on in my own head. If you told me what they are, I assure you, I won’t second-guess a word you say. Because I know if I’m ever in a situation where I have to deal with an individual with mental problems, you’re the boss and I will listen to every single thing you recommend. Understood?” His brows rose.

  Ally nodded. “Understood.”

  “Good. Now let me refresh your memory on what my specialty is. I know risk assessment, and I know covert operations.” He patted his chest. “I know how to protect people. How to keep them alive and get them out of dangerous situations. I also know today you disregarded my knowledge in all those areas and risked the lives of my six men. That you being in this apartment right now is once again risking those lives.”

  She stared at his palm that currently splayed against his chest, unable to meet his gaze.

  His hand waved behind him at the boys. “Their job was to protect you, and they would have done their job at all cost. Which is why Moose had a gun aimed at Sanaa Khalis’s head earlier today—a woman with a twelve-year-old child. A child who, because of your choices, he might have had to make an orphan. Why? To make sure no harm came to you. And there were two others ready to do the same with Adil and anyone else who chose to show up. Is that what you would have wanted?”

  Ally rested her head in her hands. “No, that’s not.”

  “Let’s consider what would have happened if either of those kills would have occurred. First, the donor drive for your son would have been canceled on account of the dead bodies and all. If the cops would have arrested any of our men, are you aware of what the punishment for murder in India is?”

  Ally didn’t respond.

  “Death by hanging.”

  She cringed.

  “Assuming the accused would have lived long enough to be arrested, survive having the shit beaten out of them, survive the trial, and then survive the jail time they’d get before their execution. How do any of those sound?”

  “Not good.”

  “Did I lie to you? Yes. Did I promise you I would never lie again and then turn around and lie? Guilty as charged. I’m not sorry I lied because it was to protect you, and I knew you wouldn’t listen. I know how important tomorrow is. Which is why we have someone posing as your double ready to go for tomorrow. A woman who, unlike you, is skilled at handling herself in situations like that. Had I told you all this, you’d never have allowed it and would have done what you wanted to do and risked all our lives in the process.”

  His motivation for his lies hit her hard because she was doing the same. Lying to protect. The one person who’d hate her for the betrayal was the same one angry with her now. And by the time it was done, he would also be the one who’d blame himself for the way it all turned out.

  “If you want to be a martyr, go ahead. But make sure you understand what the word means first,” Eddie continued as if reading her thoughts. “A martyr sacrifices her own life for others, not someone who sacrifices the lives of every fucking person in this room for no good reason.”

  “My life, and even Jayden’s”—her voice cracked—“is no more valuable than any of yours.”

  “And speaking of Jay, for the record, a martyr usually means you’re dead. A dead mother benefits her son how?”

  She stared at her hands, his truth cutting at her.

  “Maybe you’re an immortal martyr, but look around you.”

  Once again, she took in her boys.

  “Trust me, they aren’t immortal. And while we’re at it, why do you think they’re standing here watching us?” Eddie shook his head and leaned in. “I’ll give you a hint: it’s to protect one of us from the other. Here’s another hint. By one of us, I don’t mean me.” He rose to his feet and rested his hands on his hips. “Not only will they die for you, they’ll do it regardless of what I say or think.”

  Her chest tightened. One by one, his words were quieting her self-doubts about her decision.

  “So, I want you to think before you act, because if on the off chance what they give isn’t enough and your immortality streak runs dry, everyone in this room will spend the rest of their lives blaming themselves for choices you made.”

  “One more thing.” Eddie returned to his seat on the coffee table in front of her and leaned forward. His face was bright red, but he’d managed to lower his voice to a whisper. “These men call me Boss because it’s my job to keep them safe. They trust me to do that and respect my rules. Your disregard of my directives has now planted a seed of doubt in each and every one of them. They will question
my decisions. Pause, and have second thoughts about whether I am capable of leading them. In a situation where their lives are at stake, do you have any idea what such a slight moment of hesitation could mean?”

  She slammed her eyes shut and nodded.

  He chuckled. “Is there anyone out there that you listen to? I mean actually just stop and think ‘hey they’re right and they really might know what the fuck they’re talking about?’”

  The corner of her mouth lifted at the answer that popped up. “You.”

  Silence was her reward.

  Ally rested her hand on his knee, giving it a squeeze. “I. Trust. You. Eddie.”

  He didn’t blink. In fact, all emotion drained from his face. “Your actions today contradict your statement.”

  “They did.”

  “But?”

  She shook her head. “No buts. I’m truly sorry for not listening to you and for showing up here in this way.” She gazed upon each man in the room. “And I am sorry for putting you at risk in the process. Eddie has saved my life more than once. Trust goes both ways, and if you don’t trust me anymore—”

  “Then what?” He cut her off before she finished. “We can pack up and leave you out here? Alone?”

  She swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded.

  He stared at her in disbelief. “Did you hear her? She said we can leave. So team, tell me, if I said we’re leaving her here to clean up this mess by herself, which one of you would follow my command?”

  His question was met with silence. Eddie flashed her a look and rose to his feet. “I need a minute.” He ran a hand through his hair and headed down the hallway of the apartment. The walls shook when the door slammed behind him.

  Ally rose to her feet after Omar followed Eddie into the room, his accusations echoing in her head. Her boys stood around the room as if waiting to see if another threat against her would emerge. “I was only in your life for a small window of time, but if there was one thing you remember about our time together, I hope it was how much I cared about and valued you. That hasn’t changed. I will always see you as my boys.” She cleared her throat and eyed them.

  “As my boys, you need to understand what you do scares me. I don’t like the fact that you put your lives in danger on a daily basis. What I don’t like even more is today I am the reason you put yourselves in harm’s way and, if you vote to do so, you will risk your lives again tomorrow.” She sucked in a breath and continued, “Omar must have debriefed you on the purpose of this visit. So, understand that what I am doing tomorrow is my choice. Eddie is right, you should not have to suffer the consequences of my actions. You’ve suffered enough because of the actions of others.” Ally blinked to cool the burn in her eyes. “Your loyalty should not be with me. It should be with Eddie. He has shown you that he deserves your trust with his actions. He’s kept you safe when I couldn’t.”

  The door to his room opened, and Eddie entered the hallway. “I need my men in here now.”

  Ally watched as they left her alone in the living room while they convened in the back room to vote. A vote that would determine if they’d support her at the drive the next day. A vote they made without knowing all the facts about a drive that would not end the way they believed it would. Her stomach twisted at the decision she’d made and the impact it might have on the ones she’d leave behind. She pushed against the pressure building inside and said a silent prayer they’d understand.

  After a little while, she wandered the space. The kitchen was small with a full-size refrigerator packed with bread, take-out cartons, and alcohol. She wandered to the large corkboard beside the dining table. From newspaper clippings of various kidnappings to sports athletes, every inch of the surface was covered with items they found valuable. She stopped at one sheet pinned in the top corner. Omar had described the list to her on their drive to the apartment. She pressed her finger on the sheet and read through the descriptions of the lost loves they’d hoped to one day find. Ally stopped reading at the soft thud of slippers against the tiled floor.

  A hand rested on her shoulder. “That’s our wish list.”

  She pressed her finger on the top line. “Who’s Sam?”

  Saiyan laughed from behind her. “You. It’s our abbreviation of your name Sara Mommy. We decided we were a little too old to be walking around calling you that.”

  “I like Sam.” Ally put her hand on top of his. “Have you found any of the others?”

  “A few. Not all of them want to be found. They’re happy with the lives they have.”

  “Are you happy with the life you have?”

  “I am. Even happier now that you’re back in it.” He reached over, crossing Sam off the list. “The vote is over. Boss needs to talk to you. Alone.”

  Eddie poured himself a drink and stared at the floor plans of the nursing school. It hadn’t been just anger that inspired his outburst out there. Terror consumed him. The instant he saw her on the screen in the downstairs parking lot, the emotion rolled over him, the chill of it pulsing through his veins and welling up his chest because he knew what was about to happen. He swallowed a mouthful of the drink and tried to breathe through the tightness in his lungs. The feeling had evolved to a full boil by the end of the stupid vote.

  She hadn’t been in the city for a full twenty-four-hours, and they were already following her like she was the Pied Piper. A vote. He cursed under his breath. Om asked for a fucking vote. Said he disagreed with the plans for tomorrow and requested the team have a voice. Not only did they get their voice, in a matter of minutes, the safeguards he’d planned were tossed aside and his opinions and experience ignored.

  He stared at the drawings on the screen, and no matter how many ways he regarded it, one thing was crystal clear. Her being at the building tomorrow would put her life in danger.

  As much as it scared the shit out of him, what terrified him most was the fact the team not only believed they could protect her, but they could handle Wassim and his men. Their overconfidence would get them all killed.

  The knock on the door was soft. He stared at the one-inch thick wooden barrier, knowing exactly who it was. The Pied Piper herself entered and closed it behind her. Every atom in him wanted to pick her stubborn ass up and plant her on the late-night train out of Mumbai himself. As far as he was concerned, it was the only way he could ensure her heart would still be beating by the end of tomorrow.

  He raised his glass to her. “I told you, you had voodoo mind powers.”

  Her gaze fixed on him. “I take it they voted.”

  The question elicited a laugh from him. “It went as you expected.” He took another swallow of his drink, hoping it would shove down the lump in his throat. “Don’t do this.”

  The fire of her stubbornness flashed through her gaze, searing him. “My son needs my help.”

  Eddie put his glass down, left the safety of the desk, and approached her. When he was in front of her, he reached for her but stopped himself from touching. “What do you need?”

  Ally grabbed his hand, clutching it between both of hers. “Your help.”

  He stared at the connection, searching for the words to convince her, knowing they didn’t exist. “Don’t you want to live?”

  “I want to live, but I’m not scared of dying either.” Her chest rose when she filled it. “What scares me is watching the ones I love suffer and knowing I could have prevented it.”

  The bitter truth was he’d spent his career believing sacrifice an honor, an unselfish act to ensure a greater good. But now as he stared at her, he knew better. He understood how those acts impacted the ones left behind. The loved ones who’d spend a lifetime paying for the sacrifices made. The kind of sacrifice she’d decided to make.

  Ally’s eyes glistened. “What you said out there about the team blaming themselves if anything happens to me? You meant yourself, too, didn’t you?”

  He didn’t respond.

  “Eddie.” She pressed her hand on his chest as if aware of the pressur
e building within. “No matter what happens tomorrow, I need you to remember this was my decision. My life is not your responsibility.”

  He laughed at how wrong she was. She’d been his responsibility since their first meeting. With time, the responsibility became seared in his soul. He stepped away from her touch and inspected the drink he’d left behind on his desk. “There’s this brand of brandy I buy.” The confession sent heat blazing through his cheeks and made him question his sanity. “Expensive as hell, but you’ll always find a bottle of it in my house, here.” He raised the glass, to prove his point. “Anywhere I stay for longer than a few days, that brand turns up.” He took a sip, appreciating the burn flowing down his throat and chest. “I don’t even like brandy.”

  Ice laughed. “Then why?”

  He met her gaze. “It reminds me of you.”

  As soon as the admission left his lips, he lifted the glass to her face so she could have a better glimpse into his crazy. “It’s almost the same color brown as your eyes.”

  Ice took the drink from him. Eddie seated himself on the corner of the desk as she sipped his expensive habit. “Sometimes, I pour myself a little and just sit there staring at it. Don’t even drink it.” Her silence furthered his embarrassment.

  She followed him to the table and rested the contents next to him. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Her question made him laugh. “I figured your husband wouldn’t have appreciated if I showed up at his door all those years ago comparing his wife to a bottle of expensive alcohol.”

  She didn’t appear as amused by his joke as he was. “That’s a long time, Eddie.”

  He didn’t deny it. He’d spent too much of his life doing that already. “I was fine with that. I had my bottle, and you were alive, living your life.” He sucked in a breath, aware he didn’t make any sense but had said too much to stop now. “What I’m trying to say, but not doing a good job at, is I don’t need you to love me. Hell, I don’t even need you to like me. All I need is to know you’re alive and safe out there.”