“Yes. And we have Chanler.”
“He’s alive, too.”
“Yes.”
This time Merrick turned to Stillman and pointed. “You’ve got more explaining to do.”
To Sly, he said, “So what’s the plan?”
“Plan? Ah, I haven’t got one yet. I was hoping I’d hear from Ash soon.”
“You think that’s going to happen?”
“I’m hopeful.”
“Now we’re working on hope. I’ll be sure to put that in my report. I think it’ll be a first.”
“At the moment, that’s the best I’ve got.”
“Well, your best sucks.”
“This is so screwed up it’s going to take a psychic to figure it out. Something else you should know. She identified the guy in the picture.”
“Who is it?”
“She called him Cyrus.”
Merrick’s stomach did a complete flip, and he swore his heart stopped for several seconds. “You’re sure she said Cyrus?”
“I’m sure. Chanler can’t identify him, so we have to go on her word.”
“A traitor’s word?”
“Ash thinks she’d been sucked in somehow. I think that’s why he took off with her. He’s not convinced this is just a case of an agent gone bad. You still there?”
Merrick’s world was still spinning after hearing the name. It couldn’t be his Cyrus. That was impossible.
“Merrick, are you there?”
“I’m here.”
“The name Cyrus…it sounds familiar. Wasn’t that the name of one of your old teammates years ago?”
“Yes. Someone else who is supposed to be dead.”
“Do you think she’s right?”
“Do I think Cyrus Krizova is alive? Yesterday I would have said no. Today I’m not sure of anything. When Ash makes contact with you tell him to call me.”
Merrick hung up the phone and turned to Stillman. “Chanler’s alive. How long have you known that?”
“He’s alive?”
“Cut the crap.”
“I’m as surprised by the news as you are. Where is he?”
“In Budapest with one of my men.”
“Then we go to Budapest.”
“No, not yet. We wait for—” Merrick’s phone went off again. Thinking it might be Ash, he answered quickly. “Merrick here.” He paused.
“What? When? How many dead?”
Merrick’s gut did another flip as he was relayed the information.
“They say it was a gas leak. That’s bull. I’ll be on the next flight.”
When he disconnected this time he sat down.
“What’s going on, Merrick?”
“My apartment building in Washington. Someone blew it up tonight.”
“I thought I heard ‘gas leak’?”
“It was no gas leak.”
The minute he said the words, he was punching in another set of numbers on his phone. Sarah. Oh, God. She would have gone to feed the cat after work.
Wanting to trust someone and being able to were two different things. But if Ash Kelly was right? Then she’d been a pawn in Cyrus’s plot to destroy the SDECE.
All the old loyalties were rushing back now. All Jaz’s memories of her life at the SDECE. How had she been so willing to forget them all, or had that been part of his plan?
You were chosen. The best of the best. It’s an honor, Nightingale.
Her greatest fear was not remembering what he had stolen from her. Everything was fragmented. And what if that was part of the beauty of it all, that she would never be able to fit the pieces together?
She heard the whirlpool start up and turned to see Ash Kelly squatting beside the sunken tub.
He looked up. “I’ve seen you naked, so you don’t have to be shy with me.”
“You have not seen me naked.”
He grinned. “It’s a little late to be modest, don’t you think?”
“That’s right, you’re not into skinny women.”
“Who told you that?”
“You didn’t like what you saw the last time, and nothing’s changed.”
He stood, and pulled off his sweater. He was all muscle, and she remembered what it felt like to touch him. It was crazy how he had slipped into her life so easily. She was no longer afraid to trust him.
Of all people, why would she trust a man who had two different names and carried explosives around like Life Savers?
Of all people, why would he trust a woman with two different names, and two faces?
“One thing we should clear up,” he said. “I liked what I saw the other night, make no mistake about that. But I’m a selfish guy. When I make love to a woman, I want her on the same page. I want her wanting what I want. You were in my room to make a phone call. If you hadn’t been caught, you wouldn’t have played the seduction card. You were very good at it, by the way.”
“Obviously not good enough. You left with a hard-on and I went to bed…” She stopped herself from giving away the disappointment she’d felt when he’d walked out that night.
“Finish it.” He came toward her. “You went to bed…”
“Alone,” she finished.
He walked around her and stopped behind her. His hands settled on her shoulders and then he slid the straps of gold down her arms, his fingers moving slowly, tugging the straps past her elbows.
“A seduction of your own, Ash Kelly?”
“That depends on what you want. If Toriago was here, he would take you in a second. Against the wall. On the floor. Standing right here. Ash Kelly…well, he’s…”
She turned around, her hands moving upward to rescue the bodice of her dress from falling away. “He’s what? Finish it,” she said, using his words.
“The man I was eight years ago retired. Those were wild days, and I was free to do and be whoever I wanted to be. Free until prison. That was a wake-up call. Since then, Ash Kelly has reformed a bit. He’s no slouch, and he doesn’t back down to anyone. And when he kills someone, it’s for a better reason than drugs or money. Would you like that glass of wine now? Or have you decided on the gin martini?”
“Wine.”
“Red or white?”
“White.” She watched him walk away. She’d studied him for days, but she realized tonight was the first time she was really seeing him for who he was. Partly because the game was over, she imagined, but as taken as she had been with Toriago, she suddenly found herself anxious to get to know Ash Kelly.
While his back was turned, she slipped out of the dress and let it fall to the floor. Stepping out of it, she slid the thong past her thighs, then walked down the steps into the whirlpool of warm, steamy water, removing the bracelet on her wrist, and setting it on the ledge, she relaxed back against the tiles and closed her eyes.
The water felt heavenly and her body began to relax. He was right, she needed this, needed this time to think back to those months with Cyrus.
She had to put the pieces together and remember how she could have been led astray by an imposter. A very good, very rich imposter—he’d had the means to convince her that everything he said was true. But how had he done that?
And where had he taken her? It reminded her of an old monastery. Somewhere not far from Athens, Greece. He’d told her it was one of many underground intelligence bases. How could she have been so gullible?”
Think.
Remember.
“Here.”
She opened her eyes and saw Ash crouching down with his hand extended.
“White wine.”
“Thank you.” She took the glass and said, “Are you going to join me?”
“I’ll pass on the drink, but the water looks inviting, and the company.”
“I’m not afraid to believe you anymore.”
“That’s a good start.”
He stepped out of his pants, leaving his tight-legged black briefs on. They accented his muscular thighs and…the rest of his perfection.
He came
into the water, sat down across from her, and relaxed against the wall.
Ash Kelly was gentler than Toriago. He’d said prison had been a wake-up call. That he no longer killed without reason. She wondered if he had to have a better reason for making love than just wanting to, because right now, that was all she wanted.
“So, Jaz, come up with any memories you’d like to share? Maybe you should start with the first time you disappeared from the SDECE.”
“I was in Munich when Cyrus first approached me. He told me that I had been cleared to go with him.”
“And so you went?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“To Athens.”
“Greece?”
“Yes. But from there I don’t know where he took me. He explained that I would be transported to the base in a cabin on a yacht.”
“And you agreed?”
“Yes.”
“And that’s where Jaz Grant died and Allegra Nightingale was born?”
“I know it sounds unreal. But it’s true.” Jaz looked away from him. “I can’t believe I never second-guessed his motives.”
“He’s very good. Don’t blame yourself.”
She looked at him. “Then who do I blame?”
“Bad luck. The weather. Whatever you want.”
“Why are you being so nice to me? Your friend thinks I’m a traitor. Why don’t you?”
“A few things don’t add up.”
“Just a few, and you’re willing to gamble on those odds?”
He shrugged. “What can I say, I’m a sucker for mystery women? I think it’s interesting that you can remember your childhood, but more current events are blurry.”
“It’s true, I remember my life in France with my mother. Bonnie has been with me.”
“Bonnie’s your mother?”
“Yes. Who I am is because of her. She taught me how to survive. Not to expect too much, and to take what I needed. There’s a balance, you know.”
“Yes, I learned that a little late. But I’ve got it now. So you were brought to this facility twice?”
“Yes. But I don’t remember much about the second time.”
“Drugged, you think.”
“Maybe.” Jaz took a sip of her wine, then set the glass on the ledge. She brought her hands to her face and then sent them up through her hair. She wished she could remember more to help him help her. “This isn’t going to work. I don’t remember enough. I know now that was his plan. He must have wiped out pieces of my memory with drugs or something else.”
“We’re going to get him. I promise you that.”
His voice had turned hard-edged. He meant what he said.
“I just don’t know why he picked me.”
“I do. He needed someone from the SDECE, and so he went to the top. Stillman says you’re the best, and I have to agree. I’ve seen your stats.”
“You know it’s very strange that I like you. I don’t like many men.”
His face softened. “I’m a lucky guy, then.”
“I don’t know about that. I’m worried that I won’t be able to help you stop whatever is about to happen.”
“What’s going to happen is that Filip is about to turn the city upside-down to find you.”
“And when he does?”
“Who says he’ll find you?”
“But if he does?”
“You let me worry about Filip.”
“What if I don’t remember what happened to the disk before we run out of time?”
When he didn’t answer, her heart sank.
“That bad.” She looked away from him, again. “I can’t live never remembering, and never knowing the extent of what I’ve done. If you know, why don’t you just tell me? Maybe it will open my eyes and jolt my memory.”
“I know you stole a disk, and that you’re no traitor. I just need to recover the data on that disk and…”
“And what?”
“Convince Stillman that you’re not a traitor. Now enough talk. Let the water relax you, and try to forget about it for a while.” He stood and walked toward her, sat down beside her. “We’ll sort it out later.”
“If you were in my shoes, could you live with it?”
“Live with what?”
“Everyone thinking you’re a traitor.”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, I know. I can’t.”
She stood up suddenly, forgetting she was naked. The minute the cool air touched her skin she realized her mistake. He had to be staring at her bare ass right now. She didn’t move, didn’t say anything.
After several seconds, he said, “Turn around.”
Slowly, she turned. “We’re not going to be able to fix this, are we?”
“Not right now. Come back and sit down.” He reached out and tugged her down onto the bench. “How are your ribs feeling?”
“Much better.”
“And the bruises on your stomach?”
She looked into his eyes. They were so easy to read just now. “Why do you care?”
“Maybe I like you, too.”
She smiled. “Maybe?”
“Okay, I like you. I guess the truth is I did the first day I saw you. But you already know that. There’s been something going on between us since you dove into my car head first. But don’t worry, I didn’t bring you here for selfish reasons. This is about you and getting you to feel better, not me.”
“What would make you feel better?”
He let out a long sigh. “I’m fine.”
“But you could be better, right?”
He reached out and traced her mouth with a wet finger, leaving water drops behind. “How did he explain the reason for giving you a new face?”
“When you’re under deep cover, you can’t have a past unless it’s useful. Mine wasn’t.”
“The changes are subtle, but they certainly altered your looks.”
“It took a while to believe it was me staring back in the mirror.”
He seemed to be dissecting her face. Finally, he said, “You were okay with the face change?”
“Cyrus said no sacrifice was too great. That when you’re chosen, sacrifices must be made. I admit I was nervous, but I…”
“You what?”
“I’m a natural brunette. For the SDECE, I bleached it blond as part of my look. My role as an agent was internal sabotage. The recovery operations involved a higher rate of men than women. As you know most people think blondes are a bit more daring and exciting. I was curvy back then, and I admit the look was…Well, I would have been able to support myself quite well as a stripper.”
She saw him grin, then look down.
“What is it? Did I say something funny?”
“It’s what I thought when I saw your picture.” He looked up. “No disrespect.”
“None taken. When my mother was alive she used to entertain men for money. The neighbors called her a whore, but she wasn’t. She didn’t have much education, but she was beautiful. I loved Bonnie, and with every year that passes I respect her sacrifices more and more. She was a good mother, and she never lied to me. She knew what was important, when and why to take a risk, and how far to go without losing yourself. The irony in that is, I lost control of that choice when Cyrus interrupted my life months ago.
“You know I joined the SDECE because I thought I could make a difference. I know that sounds a bit naive, but I knew I could do it. It wasn’t all glamorous and normal, and maybe that was the appeal. I’ve always enjoyed using my mind, and being athletic. Not that I haven’t used my body, too. I’ll admit it was a tool I relied on for certain missions. The old Jazmin Grant was a bold bitch, a blend of brains and curves, and she never gave up.”
“And Allegra Nightingale?”
“She’s twenty pounds thinner and a bit more reserved, but no less determined. I might not look the same, but there are a few of the old parts still hanging around. Sometimes when I look in the mirror I expect to see her looking back at
me. I’ve had a nose job, cheek implants and more collagen injected in my lips than a French model.”
“And your eyes?”
“Green contacts.”
“You weren’t afraid?”
“Cyrus sold me on his plan. What more can I say? He kept saying I was chosen. That being recruited into a deep cover agency was an honor. I bought it, as well as the need for reconstructive surgery.”
His hand touched her cheek. “I like how honest you are.”
“Then you really do believe me?”
“Yes.”
“And where does that leave us exactly, Ash Kelly?”
“I don’t know yet. At the moment, I’m doing the best I can to stay focused on the job, but…”
“And how is that working for you so far?”
His hand slid around the back of her neck, and he leaned in and kissed her gently. “It’s not working too well. It’s getting harder by the second.”
“Are we talking situation or anatomy now?”
He grinned. “Cute.”
She leaned her head against the rim of the tub and closed her eyes. She didn’t speak again, and neither did he. After a long minute, she opened one eye and found that he’d closed his eyes, too, and that his breathing was slow and deep.
She sat up and pushed herself away from the wall. Placing her hands on the tiled rim on either side of his head, she straddled him.
She had just begun to ease herself down onto his lap when he opened his eyes. “I was wondering what you were going to do to relieve the pain you’re in.”
“Did I say I was in pain?”
“Either that’s what I’m feeling, or we’ve been joined by a sea serpent.”
“The woman makes jokes while I’m suffering.”
“You said I had a sense of humor.”
“I did, didn’t I?” He sobered. “Here’s the deal. I didn’t bring you here to seduce you. You took a helluva beating from Petrov and you could use a night to rest and—”
“And remember the past few months.”
“That too.”
Jaz started to get off him. “All you had to say was that you weren’t interested. You didn’t need to list your reasons.”
His hands settled on her hips and kept her welded to his lap. “I’m interested. You can feel that I am. I just don’t want this to be about me.”
Undercover Nightingale Page 14
