Compassion warmed his eyes. “I’ve seen people overcome great tragedies in their lives, Mallory. That’s only true if you make it true. I don’t think there’s any ugliness inside you.”
“Dante stripped away my dignity.” Her throat tightened at the words. She hadn’t believed them in a long time.
“Not all of it. I’m not a Christian, but I’ve heard you talk about it enough. I know your identity comes from Christ. That’s something that can’t be taken away.”
His words brought surprising comfort. “Thank you, Grant. I can tell you’re a good father. And if you need money for your daughter’s treatment, let me know. Please.”
“Thank you. I will.” He patted her knee.
Just then, a shadow appeared in the doorway. Tennyson.
Despite her desperate fight to stay in control, her heart raced.
“I’ll let you two talk.” Grant clamped down on Tennyson’s arm as he went past. “Take care of her.”
Tennyson nodded, the action tight, as he approached Mallory’s bed. As he stood over her, he actually seemed to have concern in his eyes. In a hazy whirlwind, memories of what had happened with Jason filled her thoughts. Grant had filled in some of the details, but not all of them.
“So Jason was behind all of this from the start, huh? The notes? The murders? Everything?” Talking about Jason was safer than talking about her heart.
Tennyson stood stiffly beside her bed, his eyes telling one story and his body language another. His gaze showed his inner turmoil, his regret, his guilt. Physically, he almost seemed to be bracing himself.
“We don’t know the extent of Jason’s involvement yet. He claims that someone blackmailed him to do everything—to threaten you. To abduct Trina. To go up to your room.”
“He abducted Trina?”
Tennyson nodded. “He told the FBI where he was keeping her. They sent a team out there and found her. She’s doing okay.”
“Thank goodness. Did you talk to Jason?”
Tennyson pressed his lips together. “I did.”
“And?”
“Maybe you should rest up a little more before I dive into those details.”
“I want to know.”
He assessed her with his gaze and finally nodded. He pulled a chair up and sat at her bedside. She carefully pushed herself up, mindful of her hospital gown. Tension stretched in her gut as she anticipated what he had to say.
CHAPTER 40
“Like I said, Jason claims he was being blackmailed. Someone has been holding this over his head for a long time and was able to pull a lot of strings as a result. The police and FBI are still investigating the extent of his involvement in the crimes committed in relation to you. Hopefully they’ll have some answers soon.”
“I realize I still need a security team since we don’t know who was behind the blackmailing,” Mallory said. “We’ll continue as we have been.”
“Okay.” Tennyson pressed his lips together like he wanted to say more, but didn’t.
Tennyson’s phone rang. Mallory listened closely, trying to determine what was making Tennyson tense even more. Finally, he hung up and turned to her.
“Who was that?”
“Agent Turner.”
“Did he say if my father was mixed up in Inferno somehow? Along with Walter?”
Tennyson shook his head. “They don’t think so. That was just a ploy to throw you off the trail of what was really going on. Everything the FBI has looked at indicates your dad—and Walter—were clear.”
“That’s good to know.”
“That’s right.” Tennyson shifted. “Agent Turner did say that they believe someone working for Dawson Electronics may have been behind the blackmailing of Jason.”
She froze. “Dawson Electronics? What sense does that make?”
“They’re the biggest competitor to Jason’s father’s company. Someone on staff discovered Jason’s philandering ways and began blackmailing him in an attempt to take the company—and the competition—down.”
“They went as far as to murder?” Mallory asked.
“We’re not sure.”
Mallory shook her head. “Besides, why would they involve me in that? That’s what doesn’t make sense. It would make sense for them to simply go public with the information.”
“Ultimately, it was a way to make more of a spectacle of Jason. Not only is he guilty of being highly unethical, but he is also guilty of taunting you. It makes him look crazy. And his excuses—true or not—only make him sound crazier.”
“I guess so.”
“The authorities are working on this now,” Tennyson said. “What Jason did was wrong. And involving you was heartless. But maybe we can finally put this behind us.”
She nodded, even though she felt a moment of grief. When all of this was over, would Tennyson return to his regular life? Wasn’t that what she wanted?
Her head said yes, but her heart said otherwise. She was determined not to let her heart win.
“One other thing,” Tennyson said.
“What’s that?”
“Jason said he’ll only talk further to me down at the FBI office. Kori is resting up so she can take the next shift, but Logan is at the door. Will you be okay?”
She nodded again. “Always.”
CHAPTER 41
Mallory stared at the window of her hospital room and let the tears roll down her face. She hated—hated—feeling so alone.
But she’d told herself from the start that being by herself was the way to go. Why had she dared to think differently? It always ended in heartache.
As someone knocked at her door, she quickly wiped away the tears and sat up straighter.
“Come in,” she called.
Ethan Stone stepped inside her hospital room, a bouquet of flowers in his hands.
“Hey there.” He handed her the flowers. “I just wanted to bring you a little something.”
“Thank you.” She eyed him curiously. “If you don’t mind me asking, what are you doing here?”
“I’m just checking on you. Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
He stared at her a minute. “Tennyson’s gone?”
“I’m surprised you didn’t pass him on your way in.”
He sighed, pulled up a chair, and straddled it. “Can I tell you something?”
“Do I have a choice?” She kept the words light.
“I know what happened between you. I know everything that went into the raid that night and how hard that must be on you.”
She bit down. “Tennyson knew I was there and didn’t rescue me. That’s hard to get over. He could have at least told me earlier.”
“It’s not something that comes up casually in conversation. ‘Hey, I could have saved you earlier, but I didn’t. I just thought you should know.’”
“There are ways.”
“You have to understand the scope of the mission. I know the phrase is overused, but we had to think about the greater good. It’s hard to sacrifice one life—anyone’s life.” He softened his voice. “But Torres was in the middle of a dangerous arms deal that would have put millions at risk. It’s a hard call, but it had to be made. With time, you’ll understand, and I hope you’ll give him another chance.”
“I might be able to see his viewpoint, but I’m not sure I can get over it.”
Ethan leaned closer. “Mallory, I haven’t seen Tennyson look at anyone like he looks at you since . . . since Claire.” His voice sounded surprisingly serious.
Her breath caught at his unexpected words. “Really?”
He nodded, almost sadly. “He really did care about her. And I can see that he really cares about you, too. That’s not easy for me to say.”
She stared at him, trying to find the right words. “You loved Claire also.”
His neck looked tight. “I did. But she chose him. I can’t blame her. I’m a little rough around the edges at times.”
“Yes, you are.”
He flinch
ed dramatically. “Ouch. At least you’re honest.”
“Honesty is important.” She let her words ring out.
His smile slipped. “Think about giving him another chance.”
“I need some time.” She stared at Ethan. “What are you doing now that this is over?”
He shrugged. “I’ll be around for a while. There are still some threads that need to be tied up.”
“Did you really think Dante was alive?”
“It was a possibility. It was hard to identify his remains, even for the most seasoned forensic anthropologist. You knew Torres just as well as anyone. You know he was brilliant and sneaky. He had to be in order to do what he did.”
Her stomach clenched again. She didn’t want to face the truth. Not that truth.
But right now she had no choice.
Tennyson stared at Jason as he sat across the table from him at the FBI office. “Why did you want to see me?”
“I’m in too deep, man.”
“And you wanted to tell me that, why?” Tension grew between his shoulders. Something about this conversation wasn’t right.
“I’ve been blackmailed.”
“I know.”
“I want to save face . . . but I can’t. There’s more to my story.”
“Tell me what it is, Jason.”
He dragged his gaze up to meet Tennyson’s. “Inferno hates you.”
“I’ve gathered that. But I thought this wasn’t about Inferno.”
“I lied. It is.”
Anger rushed through his veins. “So you’re saying Inferno was a part of this?”
He nodded.
Tennyson glanced at the two-way glass, knowing Agent Turner was there and listening to all this. “Why did you have to tell me in person, Jason?”
“You need to watch out for Mallory.”
“I’ve been trying to do that, but it seems like this is coming from you a little too late, all things considered.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “I know. It was complicated.”
“When you involve yourself with Inferno, it gets complicated fast.” He leaned toward him. “Did you ever see Torres?”
He shook his head. “No, not face-to-face.”
“What’s that mean?”
“I mean, he was referred to, but I never saw him with my own eyes.”
“So you don’t know if he’s alive?”
“I can’t confirm it.”
“Why does he want Mallory?”
“People didn’t like Mallory. Torres jeopardized missions so he could see Mallory and spend time with her. It was sick. And it caused resentment. Torres would want her alive. All of his men would want her dead. They’re not done yet.”
CHAPTER 42
Logan stepped into Mallory’s hospital room and smiled. “I just thought I’d check on you. How you doing?”
“I’m hanging in. Ready to leave this place.”
“Soon, I’m sure.”
He set a glass of water next to her on the bedside table. “The doctor said you need to drink plenty of fluids.”
She nodded. She’d heard the doctor say those very words, along with a list of other things, before he’d left.
Her arm ached as she reached toward the table to grab the drink. Her wound was minor, but it still left her feeling sore. The pain medication she was taking didn’t help.
“Can I get you anything else?” Logan asked.
“I think I’m okay,” she told him. “Thank you.”
She stared at the glass. She had to get over some of her bouts of paranoia. It was time for her to move on, to act like the grown woman she was.
She took a sip and let the cool liquid refresh her.
“I heard Jason was arrested,” Logan said, sitting down beside her.
“Thankfully.” She took another sip of her water.
“At least he won’t be able to do more damage.”
Her head began to swim. Was it the pain medication kicking in? She’d always been sensitive to medications.
Maybe she just needed to lie down.
“Are you okay?” Logan peered at her, lines of worry wrinkling his forehead.
She nodded, even though she felt anything but okay. “Maybe everything’s catching up with me.”
“Maybe you should just rest.”
“I probably should.” She lay back in the hospital bed as her limbs began feeling like Jell-O.
That’s when it hit her. This water had a strange metallic aftertaste. A taste she’d experienced before . . . when Dante had drugged her.
She dropped the glass. It shattered on the floor. Water sloshed everywhere.
Her gaze met Logan’s as facts collided in her mind. “You drugged me.”
Before her eyes, he transformed from the quiet guard Mallory had known into someone sinister.
Her breath caught as the implications of the moment washed over her.
“Logan . . .”
He grinned maliciously, all signs of his laid-back personality gone. “Sorry, love. You and I are going to take a trip down memory lane, though.”
She tried to stand up, to escape. But before she could, the world around her spun.
Then blackness descended.
Tennyson stood after questioning Jason and stepped into the hallway. He saw that he’d missed a call from Leigh.
He glanced at his text messages and saw that she’d sent one saying: Check your e-mail. He pulled his e-mail up on the screen and braced himself for what he might read.
It was about the bones that had been tested.
He scanned the words there.
Though Dante had grown up in Mexico, the mineral samples from the bones determined that this person had grown up in South America.
South America.
His heart pounded in his ears.
That body wasn’t Torres. This confirmed it.
That meant that Torres was still out there and most likely trying to get what he’d lost: Mallory.
Tennyson had to get back to the hospital.
He tried calling Logan. The man didn’t answer. That was strange. Why wouldn’t he answer his phone?
Unless something was wrong.
His adrenaline spiked.
At that moment, Tennyson’s phone rang. Logan. Was it Logan?
He didn’t recognize the number, but he answered anyway. It was Brian Mills, one of the men he’d called when checking Logan’s references. He was about a week too late in returning the call.
“Walker speaking.”
“I understand you were looking into Logan Hagen.”
“That’s right,” Tennyson said.
“I was on vacation and just returned back to the office. I called as soon as I got your message. There’s something you need to know.”
“What’s that?”
“Logan Hagen died two years ago in the line of duty. I don’t know who you’re talking to, but it’s not the man who once worked for me.”
Tennyson’s heart sank and facts began to click together in his mind. One thing was certain: Mallory was in trouble. Big trouble.
He reached the hospital and threw his car in park. Wasting no time, he rushed into the building. His adrenaline surged along with his heart rate as he ran up the stairs to the third floor.
He reached Mallory’s room. An empty chair sat out front. A chair Logan was supposed to be sitting on.
The door to the room was wide open.
Tennyson cautiously stepped inside.
But it was too late. Mallory was gone.
CHAPTER 43
When Mallory opened her eyes, darkness swallowed her. Complete and utter darkness that swirled like an abyss around her. Taunting despair. Hopelessness. Stark fear that invaded her soul so deeply that her muscles, her limbs, trembled uncontrollably.
She pushed herself up. Her arm ached in protest. Her head swam. But she had to push past that.
She reached forward and felt nothing but air.
She listened but heard nothing bu
t silence.
Use your senses, Mallory. You can figure this out. Stay logical.
She closed her eyes, trying not to let the fact that she could tell no difference between when her eyes were open or shut increase her panic.
She drew in a deep breath. The place smelled stuffy, hot and dusty. No real clues in that.
Metallic undertones of the drug she’d been given still lingered in her mouth.
Beneath her, she felt something rough. Wood, she realized with a small yelp as a splinter dug into her finger.
Despair tried to clutch her, but she pushed it away.
No, there had to be something here. She wasn’t suspended in space.
She just had to reach a little farther. Think a little harder.
She crawled, until finally her hands hit something cold. Something metallic.
A container, she realized. The blood drained from her face.
But where? What was beyond these walls?
Where had Logan taken her?
As if to answer her question, a loud creak cut through the air. Mallory jerked her head toward the sound. It was close. Incredibly close.
Acid spun in her stomach as she waited, anticipated what would happen next.
A sliver of light appeared.
A door was opening, she realized. Bright light flooded inside, blinding her.
Until a shadow covered it.
“Hello, my Alessandra.”
She knew that voice. Knew the name it belonged to.
Dante Torres.
The acid churned even harder, burning her stomach, climbing up her throat.
She wanted to scramble backward, to get far away from him. But she didn’t allow herself the opportunity.
She wasn’t who she used to be.
She could face her fears.
“I thought you were dead,” she said, still unable to see clearly as her eyes adjusted to the light. She protectively put her hand over her chest.
What was she wearing? An outfit that Dante liked. A lacy, beige sheath. Her hair had been fixed. She probably even had makeup on.
He chuckled and stepped closer. “I thought you knew me better than that.”
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