by Cassie Miles
“We’ve been over this before,” she said. “I can’t think of anybody who wants to hurt me. Of course I have ex-boyfriends. What woman doesn’t? But none of them are psycho enough to try to abduct me. And none of them would have the financial means to set up a two-car chase.”
She couldn’t be sure of that. A two-car chase involving rental cars wasn’t that costly. “Any bad breakups?”
“There was a guy I lived with for three months, a ski instructor. He was angry when I kicked him out, but it was mostly because he didn’t want to look for another place to live rent-free. He wasn’t obsessed with me or anything.”
“A ski instructor might have come into contact with Clark. They might have met at his place in Aspen.”
“I never thought of that,” she said, “but it makes sense. It’s like that six degrees of separation thing. I might know somebody who knows somebody who knows Clark.”
Tracking that sort of tenuous connection was nearly impossible, but they had to try. “When we get back to your sister’s house, you can make a list of everybody you know. We’ll cross-reference with what we know of Clark.”
Their order came up, and he carried the heavy-laden tray to their table. Though Deli Dogs posted notes on their menu claiming to be nitrate-free and pure beef, this plate was a junk food bonanza, which didn’t seem to bother Olivia at all. She took giant bites. As she chewed, she made the kind of orgasmic groans he’d heard from her in bed. Her eyes rolled in sheer happiness.
Her guard was down, and he liked seeing her this way. When she didn’t have an agenda, she was vulnerable and quirky—fun to be around. The more time they spent together, the more he wanted to be with her.
“I love...” He stopped himself before he said the wrong thing and sent her running in the opposite direction. “I love watching you eat.”
She gave him a thumbs-up and pounced on her greasy fries.
* * *
AT HER SISTER’S house, Olivia felt safe—trapped but safe. Sitting around the table with her dad and Troy, she tried her best to follow the plan: listing everyone she knew who might also know Clark. The tally was surprisingly high. In her work, she came into contact with a number of doctors and hospital personnel who hobnobbed with the wealthy. Her clients came from all walks of life. Her friends were other people who engaged in outdoor sports or other midwives.
“Nobody stands out,” she said. “And none of these people have a motive to hurt me.”
“You’re doing very well,” her dad said. “If I had a more comprehensive list of Clark’s acquaintances, we might start seeing a pattern.”
Troy’s cell phone rang, and he excused himself to take the call from Sergeant Nelson. As he left the room, she turned to her father and asked, “Is this the kind of thing that spies do? Making lists and checking them twice?”
“Your mother and I usually pass our intelligence back to the analysts who use computers to make these connections. But ninety percent of our work isn’t the least bit exciting.”
“And the other ten percent?”
“The attack last night was more violence than I’ve seen in years,” he admitted. “I hated it. The senseless destruction reminded me of how very out of practice I am when it comes to fieldwork. I can’t tell you the last time I’ve taken target practice.”
His eyes were red-rimmed and tired. Though he was still a healthy man, her dad was in his sixties, no longer in the prime of his life when it came to fighting the kind of battles that Troy faced. “It could be time for you to retire.”
“CIA agents never really retire. The agency becomes part of our identity. But your mother and I will very likely become inactive, no longer taking on new assignments.”
“And what does that mean?”
“Maybe we’ll live in Paris. Your mother always liked France.”
“I like art,” her mom said as she came into the room. “But France will be too far away from my new grandson. I’m thinking of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Or Carmel in California.”
“Or Aspen,” her dad suggested.
“Or Baja.”
“Or all of the above.” Olivia didn’t see her globe-
trotting parents settling in one place for an extended period of time. “You’ll definitely be cool grandparents.”
Her mother gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I hate to think of you being in any sort of danger, but I’m so glad we’ve had this time together. Your father and I are delighted we can participate in the birthing process.”
“Not so fast,” Olivia said. “I’m not going to a hospital.”
“Whatever you say, dear. I’m sure your sister and I can handle the arrangements. We’ll do it right here.”
As if giving birth was a dinner party? That wasn’t what she wanted. Her time in labor shouldn’t be arranged for everyone’s convenience, and it shouldn’t be an instructional guide for her mother and sister. Olivia wanted it her way. At her home. With a midwife she knew and trusted.
Troy stepped into the room and signaled to her. “Can we talk for a minute?”
She hoisted herself from the table and went toward him. Taking her hand, he led her all the way upstairs to their bedroom where they would have privacy. He must have something serious to discuss.
When he closed the door behind her, she was curious but still focused on what her mother had said. “When I give birth, it’s not going to be here on twin beds that keep sliding apart. And I’m not going to a hospital.”
“Whatever you say.” He crossed to the window and looked down at the yard.
“I want to be at my cabin. I know it takes a village to raise a child, and I want everyone to share in this baby’s life. But the birth is mine. It needs to be natural. I need to be at peace. You’ll back me up on this, won’t you?”
“If I can.”
“What does that mean?” She studied his profile as he stared through the window at the afternoon sun. He seemed distracted. “Troy, what’s wrong?”
“I just got off the phone with Nelson. My team has become an integral part of the search for the terrorist cell.”
“Isn’t that what you expected?” she asked. “Your men speak Swahili. They have firsthand knowledge of Hatari in Rwanda. It makes sense that they’d take the lead.”
He pivoted and came toward her. The faint lines at the corners of his eyes deepened as he squinted. His mouth was a hard, stubborn line. “I want to be with them.”
And not with me. For the past couple of days she’d been chafing under the restrictions of being protected, but she didn’t want him to leave. “Tell me more.”
“Do you remember when we were talking about my work and I told you my proudest accomplishment?”
“That you’d never lost a man.”
“I trust my guys to do the right thing. They’re savvy, and they’re quick. But I need to be sure they’re following the best leader. I can’t let them risk their lives unless I’m there.”
His words embodied her worst fears about having a relationship with him. His job put him in danger. She couldn’t say goodbye with the knowledge that it might be for the last time. Damn it, she hadn’t wanted to care about him. She’d known that it would only bring hurt.
He continued, “According to current information, the terrorist cell is going to attack tomorrow. I want to be there with my men.”
“What about protecting me? You’re the one who keeps telling me that I’m in danger.”
“And you keep saying you aren’t. That there’s nobody who wants to hurt you. You believed Clark.”
“Just because I don’t wave my fear like a banner, it doesn’t mean I’m not scared.”
She turned away from him, hiding the tears that sprang to her eyes. Before she was pregnant, she never cried. Now, her eyes were a leaky faucet. Angrily, she dashed the moisture away. It was hard to admit that she wasn’t in control of her life. She hated asking for help.
“You’re right.” He rested his hands on her shoulders and lightly massaged. “I won�
�t leave. You’re my first priority. I need to be here with you.”
“Forget it.” She shrugged off his hands. “I can take care of myself. That’s who I am. An independent woman.”
“I’m staying.”
She whirled to face him. “Go. Get out of here. Do your damn job. That’s what you want, what you live for.”
“Nothing is more important to me than you and our son.”
“I won’t stand in your way or have you blaming me if—God forbid—something goes wrong in New York. You don’t have any obligation to me. I can handle this.”
He took a step back. “You’ve been pushing me away ever since you told me you were pregnant.”
“I don’t need you. I don’t need anyone.”
She saw the hurt in his eyes. An echo of his pain wrenched inside her, but she couldn’t stop herself. The engagement ring tightened on her finger. She yanked it off.
“This is yours.” She held out the diamond toward him. “I accepted it under false pretenses. Go ahead, take it.”
He turned and strode toward the door. Before opening it, he paused. “You’re wrong about not needing anyone. Any day now, you’re going to have a child. And you’ll never be alone again.”
He left her standing in the middle of the room with the diamond in her hand.
Chapter Sixteen
Olivia thought of herself as a calm, grounded person. A nurse. A midwife. Someone her patients could look to for guidance. But not anymore. Gone was the steady hand. Gone was the reassuring voice. Gone, gone, gone. She was out of control.
She’d been acting crazy with her weepy eyes and her demands for hot dogs and pickles, not to mention the unexpected waves of sensuality. Her hormones appeared to be in charge, and they weren’t very smart. She didn’t know if she wanted Troy to go or to stay or to take her with him.
Only one thing was clear in her mind. She didn’t want him to leave with her angry words ringing in his ears. Of course, she was irritated when he chose being with his team instead of staying with her. Losing him as a bodyguard didn’t really bother her. While she was staying in her sister’s secure house with both armed parents keeping watch, she felt safe enough. The real reason she wanted Troy to be here was because she could go into labor at any given moment. If he was in New York, he might miss the birth of their son.
She stood at the bedroom window, looking down on the front yard. Below her, Troy sat outside on the stoop, waiting for his brother to pick him up. Though it would have been expedient to return the rental vehicle at the airport, he left the Range Rover for her to drive. As if she had someplace to go? As if her parents would let her out of their sight?
If Troy stayed here, he could convince them to let her return to her home in the mountains with him. They trusted him more than they trusted her. If only he would stay...
Uncurling her fingers, she looked at the engagement ring nestled on her palm. He’d been proposing to her from the moment she told him she was going to have his baby. In spite of her constant rejections, he’d been undaunted. Now, when she finally wanted him, he was walking away.
His brother’s car pulled up to the curb.
“No,” she said.
In her less-than-graceful gait, she rushed from the bedroom and thudded down the staircase. Unmindful of the alarms, she opened the front door and charged down the sidewalk, catching up to Troy before he got into the car.
“Wait.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him hard on the lips. “Promise you’ll be back.”
“That was my intention.”
“I know it seems like I’m fighting you every step of the way.” As she looked into his dark and somewhat confused eyes, she realized how much she cared for him. The thought of never being held in his arms completely unnerved her. “I’m afraid.”
“Of what?”
I don’t want to lose you. But she couldn’t tell him. To admit how much she cared meant she needed him, and she couldn’t allow herself to go down that path.
He smoothed a wisp of hair off her forehead. “Keep your phone with you all the time, and I’ll call you every step of the way. You won’t even know that I’m gone.”
From the driver’s seat, Alex called out, “I’ve got to break this up. Troy needs to hurry if he’s going to make his flight.”
Her arms slipped off his shoulders. She held the engagement ring between them. “Take it. When you come back, ask me to marry you again.”
“And what will you say?”
“I promise that it’ll be the last time you make that proposal.”
He pocketed the ring, then leaned down and talked to her belly. “Hey, kid, don’t come out until I’m back.”
With a wave, he got into the passenger seat, headed into battle. Unable to stop him from being a hero, she watched the car pull away.
Her dad joined her at the curb and wrapped a comforting arm around her back. “Troy’s a good man. He won’t take unnecessary risks.”
It was the necessary risks that bothered her. He wasn’t going to New York for a stroll in Central Park. He and his team were facing a desperate terrorist cell.
She rested her head on her father’s shoulder. “You’re right. He is a good man, a really good man.”
“You should go inside.” He kissed her cheek. “Put your feet up and relax.”
“I want...” She exhaled a sigh. “I want a giant glass of straight whiskey.”
Knocking herself unconscious until Troy got back would have been a lovely solution. But she couldn’t indulge that whim.
“Would you settle for a cup of tea?” her dad asked.
“Don’t have another choice, do I? Did I set off the alarm when I ran out the door?”
“I caught it in time,” he said. “I was just getting ready to leave. I need to ask you for the keys for the Range Rover. You’re blocking my car.”
“They’re in my purse.” Along with the cell phone she had promised to keep with her at all times. “I’ll get them.”
Upstairs in the bedroom, she found her purse. Though she liked her oversize handbag for carrying lots of stuff, her purse wasn’t the best for handy access, and she needed to be able to grab her cell phone at any given moment. She slipped her phone into the pocket of her khaki-colored cargo shorts with the pregnant waistband that stretched to infinity.
Keys in hand, she went downstairs to where her father waited. Before she handed them over, she asked, “Where are you going?”
“This is business.”
Since his job was spying, that could mean anything. She gave him a grin. “No more secrets, remember?”
He cleared his throat. “It seems that Matthew Clark is angling for some kind of deal and wants to speak with me.”
If she could get Clark to tell her who was after her, the threat could be defused. She’d be free to return to the mountains to have her baby. “I’m coming with you.”
“Olivia, sweetheart, that isn’t necessary.”
But it was a risk she was willing to take.
Her mother came into the foyer from the kitchen. The worried expression on her face was a clear indication that she’d been eavesdropping. Once a spy, always a spy.
“It’s not safe,” her mother said. “Remember what happened last night when you followed Clark? You nearly got blown up.”
“This isn’t the same thing, Mom. The facility where Clark is being held is possibly the most secure site in Colorado. Armed guards all over the place. It’s really safe.”
She looked at her husband. “Is that right?”
Before her father could reply, Olivia was out the door with the car keys dangling from her fingers. “I’ll drive.”
Though her dad clearly wasn’t thrilled by her company, he didn’t comment as he climbed into the passenger seat and closed the door. She lowered the windows so they’d feel the breeze on this hot, summer afternoon. “Ready, Dad?”
“You’re just like your mother,” he mumbled. “Stubborn.”
“Isn’t that wha
t you love about us? Our determination.”
“Pig-headed, that’s what I call it. You, your sister and your mother. All the same.”
She pulled into the street and drove to the stop sign on the corner. From this vantage point, she could see the mountains west of town with the sun glistening on distant peaks while afternoon shadows glided over the foothills. A view so magnificent usually lifted her spirits, but she had too much on her plate, too much to worry about.
At the intersection, a van crossed in front of her Range Rover. Instead of proceeding forward, the van stopped. The driver turned toward them with an automatic pistol in his hand.
She ducked. Her dad did the same.
While her dad reached for the weapon in his ankle holster, a man wearing a balaclava appeared at the passenger side. He stuck his arm through the open window and fired a stun gun into her father.
Olivia screamed. She flipped into Reverse. But another car had pulled up behind them. No escape. There was no escape.
Her dad was hit. Thousands of volts of electricity charged through him. He shuddered violently and passed out in his seat.
She tried to help him, felt for his pulse at his throat. He was still alive. A shock like that could cause serious injury. He was older, susceptible to a heart attack.
Her door was ripped open. Instantly, she turned in her seat and held up her hands. “Don’t use the stun gun. I’m pregnant.”
“Get out of the car.”
“Whatever you say.”
Every fiber in her body wanted to fight, but she couldn’t risk it. She had to think of the baby.
The masked men whisked her toward the van that still blocked the path of the Range Rover. There wasn’t any way to stop them. She wasn’t even armed. All she had was the cell phone in her pocket.
They pushed her into the back of the van. She heard gunshots. As the van door closed, she glimpsed her mother down on one knee in the street with her handgun braced in front of her, firing repeatedly.
Olivia jolted as the van raced away from the intersection.
* * *
TROY CHECKED HIS wristwatch as his brother zipped onto the highway headed toward Denver International Airport.
