by Wendy Rosnau
Another hug, this one with a bit more care, but longer. Then he kissed her cheek before heading off to join Pasha and Nicky.
“Wait a minute.”
He turned. “I’ve got to get back to the office. I’ll call you.”
The black-tinted window on the second car slid down. Inside she saw her mother’s face. She looked beautiful, as always. She noticed her hair was perfect, noticed she wasn’t smiling.
She should be smiling, Casmir thought. Why wasn’t she happy to see her?
She suddenly knew the answer. Polax had told Mama. He’d told her about Quest. He’d told her the truth about who she was and who she worked for.
Damn him, Cass thought. If she could move faster than a snail in a wind storm, she’d catch up to him and plant her foot in his flat ass.
She looked down at her shoes. Pasha had picked out a pair of conservative flats in an ugly brown to match the drab brown suit. They didn’t even have pointed toes. Little damage they would do.
Everything was going to hell in a hurry.
What to say? How to begin?
Casmir raised her chin and smiled at her mother. “Hi, Mama. You’re looking well.”
“You, on the other hand, look terrible. Get in the car.”
It wasn’t until Casmir got in the limo that she saw her grandmother seated across from Ruza.
This was just going from bad to worse, she thought. To explain the past five years to her mother would be bad enough, but with Grandma Dora in the wings…
She should have stayed in Italy. She would have lived longer.
“Hi, Grandma.” She turned and kissed her mother’s cheek, but when she attempted to lean forward to offer the same to her grandmother, a pain shot through her chest and she inhaled sharply.
“I’ll come to you, dear.” IsaDora slid forward and kissed Casmir’s cheek. Then, with her bone-handled cane, she rapped on the inside window and it buzzed down halfway.
“Charles Bridge, Miles. Take your time. We have plenty to talk about.” Her eyes back on Casmir, she smiled. “Now then, I—”
“Mother, I want to go first,” Ruza said.
“No, I think I should go first. After all, I’m the one to blame. I started this before you were born.”
“Started what?” Casmir looked from her mother to her grandmother. She had expected them to be angry, rifling questions at her right and left. But they looked more nervous than she did.
IsaDora looked at her watch. “I should go first. I have a meeting in an hour.”
“I should know better than to think I can ever win a round with you,” Ruza conceded.
IsaDora grinned. “Now then, dear. Before you say anything, let me explain.”
An hour later, when Miles dropped her grandmother off at Quest Headquarters and she slowly walked up the steps to the Vyehrad, Casmir looked on, completely speechless.
Her grandmother worked for Quest. No, her grandmother was Quest. She had created the agency. She turned back to her mother. Ruza hadn’t said a word for the past hour as the car had slowly cruised the city while IsaDora gave her a history lesson on Quest, and her years as a spy.
Grandma Dora a spy? And Polax…he was her uncle?
It was then she realized that Yurii had known the truth about her. He’d said, You are loyal to your family, as I am loyal to mine. You have no choice. It’s in your blood.
And if he knew the truth, so did Pierce. She would bet her favorite panties that he knew from the beginning every detail of who, what and why.
“I suppose it’s my turn.”
Casmir slipped across the seat so she could look straight at her mother. She said, “You and Grandma Dora have known what I do all along and you let me continue to deceive you. Do you know how hard it’s been to keep this lie going?”
“I imagine about as hard as it was for me.”
“But I was the one who—”
“Cassie, your grandmother didn’t tell you everything. I need to share something with you, too. Remember when I said I met your father on the stage? That he was also an actor?”
“Yes.”
“Well, he was a spy like me. Like all of us. While I worked for Quest, he was working for British Intelligence.”
Casmir sat frozen for a moment. “You work for Quest, too? You!”
“Don’t be angry, Cassie.”
“Angry is when you lose your favorite shoes, Mama. I’m past angry. I’m furious.”
“Let me explain.”
“Yes, I think you should.”
“It was only for a short time. A few years before you were born, and then a few years after. I’ve been retired for some time, but—”
“You lied to me all these years?”
“I wanted to tell you. I started to so many times.”
Casmir stared out the window. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Don’t be furious with me, darling. I wasn’t happy at all when Lev went behind my back and recruited you into Quest. I was determined that you wouldn’t follow in the family business. But Lev insisted that you had what it took to be a spy. I suppose he was right. You’ve proven that to all of us over the years.”
Casmir looked back. “Our lives have all been a lie, Mama.”
“No. Our lives have been about loyalty, and not hurting the ones we love. I forgave Lev a few years ago for recruiting you. I forgave him again yesterday for putting you in a very dangerous position. I forgave him because it has brought us here. Together, sharing the truth. We will be stronger for this.”
“My mother the spy.”
“My daughter the superspy. Lev told me how you saved Pierce Fourtier’s life. I’m very proud of you.”
“I’m going away for a while,” Casmir said. “I’m on sabbatical.”
“Lev mentioned that you could use a vacation. A real one.”
“A remote island sounds nice.”
Ruza patted Casmir’s hand. “Not too remote. It appears you need to do a bit of shopping. Moroccan brown looks dreadful on you, Cassie. And those shoes have got to go.”
Casmir laughed, then winced. “Ouch. I love you, Mama.”
“I love you, too, Cassie. I was terrified for you when I learned what part you were expected to play on this mission. Saber had to restrain me from taking Lev’s head off.”
“Saber?” Casmir arched an eyebrow.
“Don’t give me that look.”
“What look?”
“That look. He’s just a friend.”
“I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and I’ve seen the way you look at him.”
“For so long all I have ever wanted was to enjoy the memory of your father. Jacko was a wonderful man. He was smart and exciting and… Well, when you get back, we’ll sit down and I’ll tell you about your father. How we met and how he died. But right now you need some time.”
Time. Would time heal the hole she felt deep inside? Casmir wasn’t sure. “I have things to tell you, too.”
Casmir realized she was again stroking the ring on her finger.
“A spy’s life isn’t easy, Cassie. The good ones aren’t cold-feeling machines. And the criminals we encounter are human, too. They were born with hopes and dreams the same as us. There is strength in understanding. Give yourself permission to mourn your loss, and over time it will heal your sorrow.”
“He wasn’t all bad, Mama.”
“They never are, darling. When you’re ready, I’ll listen.”
“Thank you, Mama.”
“You’re welcome.” Ruza smiled. “Then it’s settled. We’ll take a trip, just the two of us, when you get back and I return from my cruise. We’ll talk and laugh, and…shop.”
“You’re taking a cruise? By yourself?”
“Saber is going to meet me in Florida.”
“You’re taking a cruise with Lazie?”
Ruza blushed. “He’s been a good friend to me. He has a son he hasn’t seen in years. He lives in Santo Domingo. I’ve convinced him they should reconn
ect. Call me and let me know where you are?”
“I’ll call.”
Casmir flew to Crete. Polax had told her to take all the time she needed. Someplace warm to recuperate.
She’d made peace with Uncle Lev. She still had a hard time seeing him as anything but her boss, but she understood things better now. Why he’d always been more indulgent with her moods and her tendency to speak her mind. Why he had wanted Pierce Fourtier to partner her.
I wanted one of the best in the business on our side. I wanted you safe and…I’m just damn glad it all worked out.
Pierce. She hadn’t heard from him, but she hadn’t expected to. It was back to business as usual for him, as it would be for her eventually. They’d shared a moment. A taste of something beautiful. Life was funny that way. Sometimes all you got was a taste. Enough to keep you going. A little hope until next time.
The Hotel Orion in Matala was modest but secluded. She would spend a few weeks here doing nothing. Regain her strength, and heal her scars.
And she would heal. After all, she had Ruza and IsaDora’s blood running through her veins.
Her hotel room was a pastel green, with a balcony overlooking the sand caves and pale cliffs that made the area so breathtaking. She slipped into a routine after two days—languished on the beach by day, and dined on Greek fare in the open dining room in the evening.
There were plenty of men who engaged her in conversation. One persistent tycoon who had a silver tongue sought her out on the fourth day. Dinner and dancing, a smiling face. The distraction was amusing at best.
She wondered who he was. The real man beneath the dark tan and too much gold jewelry. Did he have a secret? Was he here to play, or to forget? Or was he just a rich fool with too much ego and poor taste in cologne?
Whatever his agenda was, she had her own. She was here to get back on track, and to do that she’d taken Mama’s advice. She’d given herself permission to mourn Yurii. To come to terms with her part in his death and to celebrate the private man beneath his caustic reputation.
On the eighth day she decided to avoid the tycoon. He had become a constant shadow, and she knew what he was after. She had no wish to engage in an island affair with a Latin lover.
She made arrangements to leave Crete early the next morning. Enjoyed the day on her balcony, and by late afternoon she had decided to take a walk on the beach.
She ditched her shadow, easy enough to do when you were a spy. Some things just came naturally.
The warm breeze felt good on her face, and it played with the colorful green sarong she’d tied around her waist.
She arrived back in the hotel lobby just before dinner and spotted the tycoon at the lobby bar. She stepped into an alcove, then up the back stairs to her room. She slipped inside, noting a heady aroma as she locked the door behind her. She turned and promptly froze when she saw flowers everywhere.
Don’t be cheap. I want two dozen orchids at my funeral. Promise me.
On weak legs she walked to each vase, searching for a card. There were orchids in every bouquet, but there were also roses in every color imaginable, from yellow to red, peach and pink.
But no card.
She sat down on the bed overwhelmed.
One thing you should know about me is that I say what I mean. There’s no bullshit.
She laid back on the bed and revisited the first day she’d met Pierce in Austria, then the day he’d fought Parnel in the bowels of the Glitterbug, the night he’d planted the tracker in her neck. The morning after.
She glanced at the vase of flowers on the night stand and suddenly noticed a small white envelope tucked in between three pink roses. Sitting up, she reached for it and ripped it open.
Another perfect day for a stroll. Oui, the scenery here is outstanding, amant.
He was here. Pierce was in the hotel.
Cass was on her feet in an instant. She showered quickly, then went through her clothes, this time selecting something with more care than she’d done in days—a soft white silk shift and a sexy pair of strapped sandals.
She had completely forgotten about the tycoon when she entered the lobby. He came to his feet at the bar, and there was no avoiding him. She strolled toward him, searching her surroundings—looking for a tall, dark Frenchman with a cigarette in his hand.
“You’re beautiful this evening. Stunning. I’ve missed you today. Where have you been hiding? A drink, then dinner?”
She smiled. “I’m afraid tonight I have other plans. I’m—”
“With her boyfriend. A jealous badass, mon ami. Hit the road.”
The heavy voice came from behind her. Casmir’s heart skipped a beat. She turned and found Pierce at the end of the bar. He said to the bartender, “The lady will have a French Kiss.”
The tycoon looked at Pierce, took his measure. There was a moment of indecision, then he said, “You are a lucky man. I’ll say good-night.”
Casmir walked to the end of the bar and settled on the empty stool next to where Pierce stood. Yes, he was smoking, and yes, he was as handsome as she remembered.
“How long have you been here?” she asked.
“Are we talking the bar, or the hotel?”
“Hotel.”
“Two days.”
“And what have you been doing for two days?”
“Enjoying the scenery.”
“Have you always wanted to visit Crete?”
He grinned. “I like the weather, and the food.”
The bartender brought her drink. Pierce slid it toward her. “What should we drink to?”
She raised the glass. “To survival. There is no road to anything. One thing at a time, all things in—”
“Succession. That which grows fast withers as rapidly—that which grows slowly endures.”
“You surprise me. J. G. Holland, too?”
“I polished up on the flight.” He leaned in, sniffed her neck. “You smell good.”
“I smell like orchids and roses. My room is overflowing with them.”
“A secret admirer?”
Suddenly she felt like her life was about to change. Unsure she was ready, she stood. “I don’t know. Are you an admirer?”
“Oui. A big fan.”
“You’re a fan of mouthy bitches?”
His grin widened. “It appears so.”
She studied his face. He looked good. No, he looked exceptionally good. The man was a woman’s dream come true.
A dream that was suddenly real. He was wearing jeans and a white shirt, open at the neck. Normally she would have checked the weave of the cotton, and the fit of his jeans, but she was too busy trying to catch her breath, and settle her racing heart.
She’d been concentrating so hard on dealing with her guilt over Yurii that she hadn’t worked out a plan on how to deal with her feelings for Pierce. She’d been pushing them aside until she felt stronger. But he was here now, and he was sending her some very straightforward signals.
“Are you going to tuck tail and run, or see this thing through?” he asked.
“This thing?”
“Us.”
The word had her scrambling for a safety net. “Is there an us? I thought we were just two—”
“Don’t give me that two ships passing in the night crap. We’ve been set on this course since Austria.”
She took a step back. “I didn’t like you in Austria.”
He must have thought she was going to leave. He took hold of her hand and when he did, he noticed that she was no longer wearing Yurii’s ring.
He brushed his thumb over her naked finger. “It was a tough mission. Let’s get some air.”
It was all happening too fast. She pulled her hand free. “You get some air. I have to pack. I’m leaving in the morning.”
“It wasn’t just sex in New Orleans. We both know that. You might have loved the idea of Yurii’s devoted obsession with you, but that’s not what you’re here trying to forget.”
“You arrogant ass.” Cas
mir headed for the elevator.
“Now there’s the woman I know and love.”
She heard the words, but she refused to stop. She heard him swear, knew he was coming after her. She sprinted to the elevator and ducked inside and hit the button. It closed just as he reached it.
She had her key in her door when she saw him at the end of the hall. He’d had to take the stairs four at a time to get there so quickly.
She opened the door and scrambled inside. Before she could close it, he was pushing his way in.
He reached for her and pulled her against him.
“You’re hurting me. I was shot, remember?”
“I remember. You took that bullet for me.” He let her go. “Maybe I shouldn’t have come.”
He headed for the door.
“That’s right, walk away. Go home.”
He turned around. “I don’t have a home. Petrov burned it down.”
“I’m sorry about that. The cabin was starting to grow on me.”
“Like fungus, right?”
“You know me too well.”
“My point. I know you, and what you need. A man who really loves you. The spy as well as the woman with the silver lining.”
Casmir’s heart started to pound. “And you think you’re that man?”
“Oui. I know I’m that man.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“That would be a first.” He walked back to her and slipped his arm around her and drew her close. “But you don’t have to say anything. That look says it all. I’m your man, amant. Take whatever you need from me. You know I am.”
“You think I love you?”
“Do you?”
“Yes. Oh, God, what’s Mama going to say?”
“I stopped off in Santo Domingo on my way here. She told me to tell you to follow your heart and…”
“And?”
“And Lazie gave me a piece of advice, too.”
Casmir arched her eyebrows. “I can hardly wait to hear.”
“He told me not to let you out of bed for a week.”
“Are you planning on taking his advice?”
“Oui. Starting right now.”
“Before you do, I need to equal the playing field. If you remember, I owe you a kiss.”
She curled her arms around his neck, and pressed her lips against his. The kiss was long and deliberate, full of passion.
