by C. C. Gibbs
“Good to hear. Thanks for the help and thanks for calling. How’s Rafe?” Max had told him about the cargo box before they left for the compound.
“Right now he’s feeling no pain. Zou roughed him up a little, so he’s self-medicating,” Max explained. “But I don’t think it’s anything that’ll need surgery. He’ll mend.”
“He’s strong too. That helps.” The line went quiet for a moment, then Dominic said, “I don’t suppose you’re in any position to suggest he call Nicole.”
Max snorted. “No more than you. He’s in a great mood though. You could ask.”
“Yeah, right,” Dominic muttered. “Do you know anything about his plans?”
“Nada. How’s Isabelle doing?”
“She’s doing well—out of ICU and on a regular nursing floor. There’s talk of her leaving the hospital. She still has a lot of recuperating to do but the worst is over.”
“Nice. I’m going back to Hong Kong in about five minutes. I can’t be gone long with the new baby. Liv likes me home. I’ll see you in a month—just call me when you know where you’ll be.”
“Probably in San Francisco. The children’s school starts soon. How’s your little girl doing?”
“Great. Precious, beautiful, looks like her mum. You know how that goes.”
Dominic chuckled. “Yes, I do. Makes life worth living, right?”
“Absolutely. As for Rafe, if it helps…and I’m no authority when it comes to anyone’s love life—you and I both had to be hit over the head with a couple hammers before we figured it out. Anyway, if I had to guess, I’d say Rafe isn’t on the make. You said he and Gina had a thing going. Not here. He’s friendly to her but no more. For what it’s worth, that’s my opinion.”
“Jesus, I hate this shit,” Dominic grumbled. “Why do I have to worry about Nicole’s love life?”
“She’s family, that’s why. You want the best for her.”
“If I wanted the best, I wouldn’t put Rafe Contini on anyone’s list for fiancé of the year.”
“But then you’re not the one who’s thinking about marrying him, are you?”
Dominic sighed. “You’re right. Maybe when things settle down I’ll give Gora a call.”
“Talk about unintended consequences. When Gora was taking care of your factory in Bucharest, who would have thought you two might end up relatives?”
“Fuck. Don’t remind me.”
“The level of corruption in the area aside, Gora always dealt with us honestly. And the guy’s got balls. He walked into Zou’s office alone to save the kid, no questions asked. In my book that excuses a lot. Neither of us had a relative like that on our side.”
“True. My old man was more apt to fuck me over. The asshole’s still trying.”
“At least he noticed you. Mine never looked up from his bottle. I don’t think he even knew how many children he had.”
“You had a mother who cared. Count your blessings.”
“Believe me, I do.” As ADC to Dominic for ten years, Max knew of Dominic’s disastrous childhood. “Rafe has a loving mother too, and Gora will walk through hell for him. That’s not a bad family to marry into. Just saying. Neither of us can afford to be too righteous or judgmental with the lives we’ve led.”
“So I should stop my bitching.”
“Your call, but Rafe really was tortured by that fucking prick Zou. He didn’t fall apart. He didn’t whine. He wasn’t even vindictive. Gora left the kill shot for him and he walked away. The kid’s solid. You could do worse for your niece.”
Dominic laughed. “You’ll be coming to the wedding then?”
“Damn right. Liv loves weddings. Honestly, it was the best day of my life when Liv agreed to marry me.”
“Amen to that. Katherine’s given me everything I could ever want.” Dominic blew out a breath. “What the hell, I’ll call Rafe. Be polite. Ask him how he’s doing.”
Max chuckled. “Ask him when he’s getting married.”
“I’m pleased this amuses you,” Dominic drawled.
“You have to admit that you in the role of protector of young ladies is damned entertaining. I can hardly wait until Rosie grows up.”
“She won’t be dating until she’s out of college,” Dominic growled.
Max hooted. “That’ll be the day. She’s had you wrapped around her little finger from the day she was born.”
“You won’t find it so amusing when it happens to you. You have a daughter now too.”
“But then I’m not a complete control freak like you. I’m thinking Cressy can go on a date when she’s eighteen as long as I chaperone her.”
“Jesus, how did this happen to us?” Dominic muttered. “Here we were busy fucking our way through endless crowds of women and suddenly—pow.”
“Would you change it?”
There was a small pause, then Dominic spoke as softly as Max. “Not a chance.”
“Maybe Rafe’s smarter than us.” Max said, a new thoughtfulness in his tone. “Maybe he realized long before we ever did that you can be surrounded by people and still be lonely.”
“Or he got lucky like us…” Dominic’s voice gentled, the memory of Katherine sitting across his desk from him in Palo Alto unforgettable. “And the right woman walked into his life.”
“The bar at the Connaught.”
“My office in Palo Alto.”
“Rafe’s yacht in Monte Carlo,” Max said.
Dominic sighed. “Yeah.”
After the call ended, both men sat briefly silent in their respective cities, considering the impressive role chance and fate had played in their lives. How hollow the notion of practical, responsible choice. How happy they were to have escaped the sterile philosophy. How genuinely happy they were.
Chapter 29
After their return to Bangkok, Gora left directly from the airport. Camelia would worry if he was gone too long and he missed her terribly when they were apart.
“You’ll come see your mother soon now,” Gora urged, smiling at Rafe as they stood on the tarmac. He was the last to board his jet; the engines were powered up, belching a high-test vapor.
“I will.” Rafe shrugged, winced. “As soon as Ganz is stable enough.”
“And have your shoulders looked at. A specialist.”
Rafe smiled. “Yes, sir.”
“I can tell that means no,” Gora grumbled.
“If they don’t get better I will. How’s that?”
Gora sighed. “Fine.”
“Thank you for coming to my aid so quickly. I mean it sincerely. You’ve always been there for Mum and me. I owe you.” Rafe put out his hand and when Gora took it, Rafe pulled him close in a hug, then quickly stepped back.
“You don’t owe me,” Gora said smoothly, seeing that Rafe was embarrassed by his unprecedented embrace. “I’m glad I could help.” But he was deeply touched; he’d never held his son before. He’d almost told Rafe that he was his father a dozen times since finding him at the compound. The sight of Rafe hanging in that outbuilding had been horrifying, the possibility of losing him all too real. And if Zou had been even slightly more zealous, the box smaller, less air available, had Rafe been left hanging in the stable too long, he might have died. It would have broken his heart. But Gora had stifled the impulse to disclose the truth then as now; there was no upside to revealing his parentage. “So Ganz is about to begin a new life, or a different one at least,” Gora said with admirable control and an easy smile.
“That’s the plan,” Rafe said pleasantly, once again in command of his feelings. “We’re taking him back to the island. We’ll be there to help him. He’s never good around people he doesn’t know. And Alexei’s managing some of the detox symptoms through Ganz’s IVs, monitoring both the bullet wound and withdrawal with drugs.”
Gora nodded. “Sounds like he’s going to pull through. Once you’re back on the island though, think about flying up to Trieste for the day. Your mother would like that.”
“I will, I promise,
but my schedule depends on Ganz. There’s still bleeding in his liver and no one’s told Ganz we’re doing an intervention. All hell’s gonna break loose when he finds out.”
Gora sighed. “I don’t envy you. I’ll tell your mother you sent her a kiss. Call her when you can.”
Rafe grinned. “You deliver the kisses for me. Thanks again for coming to the rescue. And I’ll call Mum soon.”
By the time Gora’s jet had moved up the long line of planes on the runway waiting to takeoff and was finally airborne, Rafe was halfway to Dao’s house. Simon was driving. Carlos and all Rafe’s friends were already on his Airbus. Ganz, the few walking wounded, and the medical team were on the medevac plane traveling back to the island. Webster and Gina were on a chartered flight that would drop Gina in Paris, then fly on to England. Leo had flown out with Max; he’d catch a flight back to San Francisco from Hong Kong.
When they drove through the gates into Dao’s walled property, Rafe glanced at Simon. “You coming in? Feel free.”
“Nah.” Simon held up his phone. “If we’re heading back to the island, I’ll give Angelina a call. Her teaching job doesn’t start for another week.”
“Tell her we’ll be there by morning. And consider yourself off duty. Ganz will have enough babysitters.” Rafe had his car door open before Simon came to a complete stop. “Be back soon.”
A man with a briefcase chained to his wrist had been waiting at Rafe’s plane when he’d stopped there to freshen up. Simon had dealt with the messenger while Rafe had quickly showered and changed. But the stifling air hit him like a blast the moment he stepped out of the SUV and his T-shirt was sticking to him before he reached the front door.
The interior of Dao’s home was blessedly cool, and the houseboy, long in Dao’s employ, greeted Rafe like an old friend. And as he escorted Rafe up the stairs and down a long hallway, he took the liberties of friendship to chide Rafe for involving his mistress in such dangerous activities.
“I’ve said all that and more to myself already, Ayu,” Rafe noted. “I’m sorry as hell and I’ve come to apologize.” He held up the package in his hand. “My gift of atonement.”
Rafe received a brisk nod.
“Then you’re forgiven, or semi-forgiven.”
Rafe laughed. “By you or Dao?”
“By me. Remember you don’t get in the door if I don’t open it,” the slender man said without pretense or conceit.
“Then I’d better apologize to you as well,” Rafe said with a grin. Taking a large bill from the roll in his shorts pocket, he handed it over just as they reached the double doors to Dao’s sitting room.
Slipping the bill into his pocket, Ayu gave Rafe a graceful bow. “I’ll say a prayer for you at the temple. If anyone needs prayers, you do,” he said with a wink. Then he flung the doors open and announced, “Mr. Rafe Contini.”
Dao was sitting on a sea-green silk chaise near the windows, a light throw over her legs, a cup of tea at her elbow, looking bruised and battered.
“I’m so sorry,” Rafe said, walking across the pretty sun-filled room. “I never thought you’d be involved in this mess. I should have known better.”
“I should have known better. I’ve lived in this city most of my life. Everything and everyone’s for sale.”
“Still, I blame myself.” Leaning over, Rafe set his small package in her lap. “An apology gift. It’s not enough, of course, for all you went through.” He dipped his head. “A gesture only.”
“Thank you.” She waved at a chair. “Sit. Would you like tea or are you in a hurry?”
He was in a hurry. “Tea would be excellent,” he said, sitting gingerly on a small, puffy chair upholstered in white silk, while she poured him a cup and handed it over. “You’ve seen a doctor?”
She set the teapot down and nodded. “Nothing’s broken. The bruises will heal. I’m glad Zou’s dead or I’d have to send someone to kill him,” she said, beginning to unwrap Rafe’s gift.
“Gora emptied a clip in Zou’s head. He’s definitely dead.” Rafe drained his small cup of tea and set the cup aside.
“Did you kill—everyone? I’m only asking because Zou had a private hit squad who worked for him on personal matters.”
“We took care of everyone at the compound, but some of Zou’s troops were still in transit from Bangkok.” He held her gaze for a moment. “You think some of his private squad are still loyal even after he’s dead?”
She shrugged. “It’s just a thought. I might do some checking. For myself if no one else.”
“Would you like me to leave some troops behind for extra security? It’s easy enough to do.”
“No, I’m increasing my own team. I’ll deal with it. If I hear anything though, I’ll let you know. If one of Zou’s bodyguards decides to hold a grudge, you might be a target as well. You financed this whole mission for Ganz.”
“Crap.” Rafe exhaled softly. “Don’t tell me it’s not over.”
“I’m sure it is. I just want a little more certainty to put my nightmares to rest once and for all.”
“Jesus, Dao,” Rafe said softly, “I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”
“Zou’s to blame, not you. This isn’t your fault,” she said with a glance at her bruised arms. “Now, enough about vile men and their vile deeds.” She gave him a playful wink. “Let’s see your apology.” Casting the flowered paper aside, she opened the lid on a mother-of-pearl inlaid box. “Oh heavens!” She looked up, wide-eyed. “So many!” She held up a handful of sparkling rubies, then dipped in her other hand and pulled out more.
“It’s not nearly enough for all you endured.”
“Everything ended well, darling. That’s all that matters.” She smiled, letting the rubies pour through her fingers back into the box. “I’ll have an extravagant necklace made from these gorgeous gems. Thank you. You’ve always been a darling man. I hope your fiancée appreciates you.”
“You and me both.” Rafe held up crossed fingers. “I’m going to call her from the plane once we’re in the air.”
Dao’s brows rose. “You expect problems?”
He shook his head. He didn’t say Nicole was temperamental, he was temperamental, they hadn’t known each other more than a couple weeks, neither of them had ever been in anything resembling a relationship before, and other than being mad about her, he didn’t know her very well. “I have to tell her I can’t come to San Francisco until Ganz is better,” he said instead. “She might not like that.”
“I’m sure she’ll understand. Now you’re excused.” She smiled. “You remind me of Charlie when he’s at one of those dance classes where they teach you how to be polite to little girls. Well-behaved but fidgety. Go.” She waved her hand. “And if your fiancée approves—”
“Nicole.”
“If Nicole approves, Charlie and I will come to your wedding. If she doesn’t, I understand.”
“You’re a friend. Of course she’ll understand.”
“Darling, really, if all your former friends were invited, the wedding list would be predominantly female. I’m not sure even a saint would understand. So I won’t be offended if I don’t get an invitation. You have all my good wishes and you know it.”
“Thanks,” Rafe said, coming to his feet. “But plan on coming to the wedding. You aren’t like my other women friends.” Crossing the small distance between the chair and the chaise, he bent and kissed her cheek. “And bring Charlie’s papa if you like and if he’s available. I doubt anyone will know him. I don’t think I’ll know very many people. Nicole’s talking about an outdoor wedding somewhere. Hopefully, it won’t be in the middle of nowhere.”
She laughed. “And if it is?”
He grinned. “I’ll fucking be there.”
Chapter 30
Rafe had the newest Airbus A350 XWB for long-range flights. Built of lightweight material that allowed for better mileage, it was a practical purchase considering his heavy travel schedule for Contini Pharma. The wide body allowed for a great
er variety of room configurations and if he wanted to be purely selfish, he now had space for an armored SUV, a necessity in the outlands of the world.
He checked that everyone in the lounge was comfortable, explained the kitchen was manned and open for the entire flight, pointed out the well-stocked bar and wine cooler, and gave directions to the bedrooms. Then he held Carlos’s gaze for a moment in silent query but was waved off. Even Carlos was taking some downtime, socializing with several of his friends he’d recruited for the mission. After a last scan of the men relaxing with drinks in their hands, Rafe said, “If everyone’s settled in I have some work to do. See you all when we land.”
“Work my ass,” Henny shouted, raising his spliff. “Say hi to Nicole for me before you start your phone sex. Otherwise you’ll forget.”
“Shut the fuck up.”
Henny smiled. “I’m done. That’s all I had to say.”
“Sleep well,” Basil said, looking up from his phone call with a smile. Now that he was back with Claudine, he was always smiling.
Rafe stood in the doorway to the lounge for a moment after everyone went back to their conversations, watching the various groups disposed around the large area, grateful no one other than Ganz had been badly hurt, profoundly grateful Zou was dead, happy as hell that he’d soon see Nicole.
Life was fucking good.
And once Ganz was on the mend and drug-free, he was looking at clear sailing to the mythical island where dreams came true.
Jesus H.. Christ, what the hell had happened?
It was a rhetorical question; he knew the answer: he’d barreled head-on into happiness. And happiness had a name.
Walking to his bedroom, he shut and locked the door against his inebriated friends, who were likely to come knocking in the middle of the night. Being sober and listening to someone high or drunk wasn’t his idea of a good time.
Sitting down on the bed, he kicked off his sandals, pulled his T-shirt over his head with a small grunt of pain, dropped it on the carpet next to his shoes, lay back in a careful unrolling of bruised muscles, and exhaled a soft sigh. He needed another hit of Oxy, but it could wait until he was off the phone. Sliding his cell phone from his shorts pocket, he punched in a number.
