Chaos

by Iris Johansen

She had an idea it had never been measured.

  He upset you.

  She glanced at Chaos. His muscles were tight, and he was clearly on guard. He’d been overprotective about her and Nightshade since that hideous encounter with Reardon in the stable. She hurried to soothe him. Not in a bad way. You might like him. He’s not a king, but he acts like one. No, on second thought, you’d never understand him. Or maybe you might if we could get you hobnobbing with some of your Nisean brothers out in Colorado.

  He snorted. You’re talking foolish. I’m the only king of importance. All I wanted to know is if he might hurt you. And what is Colorado?

  She couldn’t take her gaze off the stable door. A place far, far away. That I believe we’re all going to see very soon…

  * * *

  Rissani Market, Morocco

  Sahara Desert

  Two Days Later

  “Thank you,” Alisa said in Arabic as she smiled at the young boy and tipped him generously. “You’ve been very helpful.” She put the case of water and supplies into the back of the jeep before she jumped into the driver’s seat. She had everything she needed, including information, and if she could get on the road quickly enough, she might be at that oasis by sunset.

  She started the car.

  But the boy was standing directly in front of the jeep, smiling at her. Maybe he thought the tip hadn’t been big enough. Then she realized he wasn’t smiling at her; his gaze was on the man opening her passenger door.

  Korgan dropped down in the seat next to her and reached out and turned off the engine. “You just can’t get reliable help these days. They’ve always got their hands out for a bigger score. But in this case, I called ahead and outbid you before you got here so you can’t really blame the kid. Maybe you should have offered him a yo-yo?”

  Don’t let him see the shock. If she handled it right, this would be over soon. “I don’t blame anyone but you. I should have known that you wouldn’t consider this finished until you tied up the final details. Did Margaret tell you that I was heading for this market?”

  “No, I was already checking it out. You’re right, final details are important to me. I promised to rescue all those girls from St. Eldon’s, and I didn’t do it. I remembered that Sasha had told you there were several girls who were no longer in Masenak’s camp because they’d been sold to desert tribes in the Sahara.”

  “You did what I asked,” she said curtly. “I couldn’t expect anything more of you. That’s why I’m here, doing it myself. I called Lakewood and gave him the names of the tribes Sasha had been able to find in Masenak’s records. He thought he’d have no trouble ransoming those girls back. But I’ll have to track down the other tribes myself. I got a tip from this kid’s father about one of the girls being seen with a tribe from Sudan heading toward an oasis near here.” She asked, “Lakewood told you I’d be here?”

  He nodded. “If I’d remembered, I knew you would. You’d want to find them quickly so that Sasha wouldn’t try to go after them herself. I’m a little surprised she’s not with you.”

  “Margaret told her that she should trust me to handle it. It took a little persuading, but she gave in eventually.” Her lips twisted. “Though Sasha was probably torn because you’d tossed all the magnificent possibilities of Chaos, Nightshade, and the Niseans at her and she was scrambling to prepare them for transport.”

  “Was there a hint of bitterness there? I was trying to make her happy.”

  “And you did. No one but you could have identified her dreams with such precision and then made them come true. No bitterness. I love her and I want whatever will make her happy.” She glanced away from him. “It’s not as if I won’t see her. But I’m CIA and my missions are almost always out of the country. It just won’t be as often.”

  “The hell it won’t,” he said softly. “Did you think I’d screw this up when it’s going to affect my entire life? It’s got to be just right. If you don’t like some of the pieces, then we’ll throw them out and start somewhere else. But there aren’t going to be any mistakes for either of us.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “Don’t turn your head. I love those cheekbones and I want to touch you. It’s been too long.” He moved his fingers, exploring the hollow. “I’ve thought it all out, and here’s how it’s going to work.”

  That touch was gentle and warm, yet she was already tingling. “Lord, you’re arrogant. I’m supposed to sit here and have you dictate to me when it’s my life and career on the line?”

  “You’re supposed to listen. First, I’ll go into that nonsense about you not being able to see Sasha as much as you want. The only reason I chose Colorado was that my headquarters are there, and I’ll be better able to control and take care of Sasha there. If it turns out that’s an inconvenience for you, then I’ll move her wherever it’s not. But if your job is the problem then we’ll find a way to get Langley to adjust—or if you choose, you might change careers. You’re brilliant, and I can open any number of doors where you can learn and experiment and grow in any direction you wish. We both know that you’d make a success of anything you touched.”

  She looked at him incredulously. “I don’t want you to make a job for me or take me to Colorado because you have headquarters there. I already have a career.”

  “Just giving you options. Would you like me to close my Colorado offices and follow you? It would be complicated, but I’d do it.”

  “Complicated? You’re joking. It would be a nightmare.”

  “Not if it was handled correctly.” He tilted his head. “But you’re making excuses, so I’d better skip practicalities and get to what’s important.” He went on quietly, “I’m positively insane about you. Call it love, obsession, sex, admiration, devotion. Anything you want. I don’t know where it came from, but I’m glad it’s here. You suit me in all the ways there are and some I believe we’ve invented for ourselves. You’re special for me in all those ways, and I find it totally bizarre that you’d think I’d change or become bored and want to walk away for another project. It’s not going to happen. If I walk away, you’ll be with me.” He stopped and then shook his head. “There. How is that for a confessional? I’ve left myself wide open. Now I’d appreciate it if you’d stop being so wary and be honest enough to admit that you’re close to feeling the same way.”

  She could only stare at him for a moment. His words had been so overwhelming, so generous, that she was having trouble answering him. And when she did speak, it came out wrong, “Don’t be ridiculous,” she said huskily. “You know how I feel. You’ve always been able to read me. And I’ve tried to be as honest as I could without making you feel you owed me anything.” She lifted her chin. “And you should think I’m special. I am. If I worked at it, I know I could make you so dizzy that you’d want to stay with me, and you’d enjoy every minute. But I’m a realist, and I can’t see it lasting. Wonderful things happen and you think they’ll be there forever and then all of a sudden, they’re gone. And the worst thing I can imagine is to cling so desperately that you end up destroying that wonderful thing. It’s better to let it go and not to risk—”

  “Stop.” He bent closer and kissed her, slowly, sensuously. “You don’t trust me. That’s okay. Hell, I know how you grew up. I knew it was going to take time. Why do you think I followed you into this damn desert? By the time we locate those girls and I manage to negotiate them away from the chiefs, you’ll feel differently.”

  She found she was holding him and forced herself to let him go. “You’re still thinking of me as that kid Zabron picked up out of the gutter, and I won’t have it. I’ve fought and slain all my dragons.”

  “Yes, you have. Except this last one. We’ll get rid of him together.”

  “You’re not listening to me. You’re not going with me. It’s my job. I can take care of any negotiations.” He was shaking his head and she said in exasperation, “Don’t be an idiot. You’d only be a burden. If one of those chiefs recognized you, he’d probably kidnap you and hold you for
ransom.”

  “Then you’d have to rescue me. I’m good with that. I trust you to protect me.” He leaned back on the seat. “But until you have to do it, I’ve brought a tent where we can watch the stars and talk and tell each other all the intimate details about ourselves, and you can learn to trust me.”

  “I do trust you.”

  “No, you don’t. You’ve only scratched the surface.” He smiled. “But you will, and we’ll both enjoy the learning process.”

  She knew that was true. And it meant she would be drawn even deeper, closer to him. What would that be like? she wondered. She’d always had a passion for learning, and learning Korgan could be the ultimate lesson. It would be difficult and challenging, but suddenly the thought was no longer intimidating. She made a last effort. “You shouldn’t go with me. You won’t change your mind?”

  He shook his head. “No way.”

  She drew a deep breath. Okay, roll the dice. Make the best of it. And it could be a very good best—if she could shrug off all the fear and accept that there was a chance, she might have been given a gift that could last forever. Forever? Totally unrealistic. What was forever? Yet that could be another lesson to analyze and probe to see what was out there.

  What she did know was that all gifts and lessons must be nurtured and explored and cared for, and she had learned how to do that. “Well, I won’t argue with you.” She leaned forward and turned the key to start the jeep. “But I wasn’t kidding about you not causing me trouble if anyone in those tribes recognizes you. I’m in charge, and I’ll take care of you and the entire situation from now on. Understand?”

  His eyes were twinkling, but his voice was soft and very tender. “Perfectly,” he said. “I understand absolutely perfectly, Alisa.”

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  About the Author

  Iris Johansen is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 30 consecutive bestsellers. Her series featuring forensic sculptor Eve Duncan has sold over 20 million copies and counting and was the subject of the acclaimed Lifetime movie The Killing Game. Along with her son, Roy, Iris has also co-authored the New York Times bestselling series featuring investigator Kendra Michaels. Johansen lives near Atlanta, Georgia. Learn more at:

  irisjohansen.com

  Twitter @Iris_Johansen

  Facebook.com/OfficialIrisJohansen

  Also by Iris Johansen

  (in order of publication)

  EVE DUNCAN SERIES

  The Face of Deception

  The Killing Game*

  The Search

  Body of Lies

  Blind Alley*

  Countdown*

  Stalemate

  Quicksand

  Blood Game*

  Eight Days to Live*

  Chasing the Night

  Eve

  Quinn

  Bonnie

  Sleep No More

  Taking Eve+

  Hunting Eve+

  Silencing Eve*+

  Shadow Play+

  Hide Away+

  Night and Day

  Mind Game*

  Shattered Mirror

  Dark Tribute

  Smokescreen

  The Persuasion*

  *Starring Jane MacGuire

  +Featuring Margaret Douglas

  KENDRA MICHAELS SERIES

  (written with Roy Johansen)

  “With Open Eyes” (short story)

  Close Your Eyes

  Sight Unseen

  The Naked Eye

  Night Watch

  Look Behind You

  Double Blind

  Hindsight

  CATHERINE LING SERIES

  Chasing the Night

  What Doesn’t Kill You

  Live to See Tomorrow

  Your Next Breath

  STANDALONES

  The Ugly Duckling

  Long After Midnight

  And Then You Die

  Final Target

  No One to Trust

  Dead Aim

  Fatal Tide

  Firestorm

  On the Run

  Killer Dreams

  Pandora’s Daughter

  Silent Thunder (Iris & Roy Johansen)

  Dark Summer

  Deadlock

  Storm Cycle (Iris & Roy Johansen)

  Shadow Zone (Iris & Roy Johansen)

  The Perfect Witness

  No Easy Target (featuring Margaret Douglas)

  Vendetta