The Enigma Series Boxed Set

by Tierney James

  As she slipped toward sleep, later in the evening, her cell phone dinged.

  “Chase? Where are you?” Tessa pushed herself up to a sitting position then adjusted her pillows to prop against her back.

  “Trying to get home. I’m hoping to be back in a couple of days if not sooner. I take it since you answered your phone you aren’t in Grass Valley.”

  “Robert is out of town and the kids had plans. The director wants me in first thing tomorrow morning.”

  The silence hung heavy for a few seconds. “Have you seen Darya?”

  Even over the phone, Tessa noted coldness. “Yes. He’s somewhere at Enigma tonight with the director.” She imagined the information he wanted to know would never be asked. “Chase?”

  “Yes.” He turned back into the distant warrior he could morph into when he hid his feelings.

  “It will be good to see you.” She scooted deeper under the covers. “Why is Darya here?”

  “We’ll talk when I get home.” He paused before he continued. “About Darya, Tessa, don’t do anything you’ll regret later. Can you sit tight until I get home?”

  She waited a few seconds, hoping he’d explain himself or declare his true feelings for her. The closest he’d ever come to a crumb of intimacy was telling her she saved him. It wasn’t enough.

  “Good-bye, Chase.” By the time she’d spoken his name, the line was dead.

  ~ ~ ~

  Waiting became an art form you learned living in the Wakhan Valley. The rooftop of the world with its brutal winters, nomadic herding, and lack of amenities for good health gave a man a great deal of time to ponder his position in the world. Time moved at a snail’s pace when time had no meaning; the shifting of the wind across mountains shrouded in clouds marked the minutes of each day.

  Darya backed himself into a corner and stood without comment as the director spoke in a hushed voice to Tessa. The outside noise, although buffered through thick glass, still distracted him from concentrating on this new life. Both the smells and sounds of a crowded civilization grated against his ability to be at peace.

  Watching the woman dressed in jeans and a white blouse helped him focus on his objective. Even from where he stood, her scent touched his nose, sweet but strangely different than the way she’d been in the Pamirs. He’d noticed it the day before when he’d taken her in his arms.

  The thought occurred to him maybe Chase might be remembering such a thought as he prepared to come home. Time remained an opponent. Once the captain returned, Darya knew they would be pitted against each other in more ways than one. Tessa caught his attention as he stood statue still and offered a warm gaze as the director continued to talk. The overpowering urge to grab her and run made him drop his hands to his side. It was difficult not to react to the joy on such a delicate face, but he remained outwardly unaffected as she turned back to the director.

  “And that’s it, Tessa.” The director stood, a sign of dismissal. “Darya leaves tomorrow morning on a flight at…” He lifted his watch. “Ten a.m. I’ll have my secretary make reservations at a hotel with shuttle service.” He turned his skeptical gaze on the former tribesman. “Mr. Petrov, I trust you’ll be on time and not deviate from the plan.”

  Darya pushed away from the corner, moving to Tessa who gathered up her purse and umbrella. “You can trust me, Director Clark.”

  The director’s frown deepened. “We’ll see. The only reason you made it this far had to do with Undersecretary Finley speaking to the president on your behalf.” He turned to Tessa. “And Tessa, of course.”

  “Nice to have friends who know people in high places.” His tone sounded flippant. “Can we go?”

  “Provided you don’t leave town.” Director Clark leveled a grimace at Tessa who continued to glow in Darya’s presence like he was some kind of rock star. “Tessa, do you want to babysit him the rest of the day or should I call someone else? You’ve been here all week. I’m sure you need a break.”

  “I’d love to.” Her blush failed to hide her excitement. “I mean, I’ve got nothing else to do. I’ll be fine.”

  Darya opened the door with a jerk.

  “Darya?” The director took a step closer.

  “Yes?”

  Director Clark narrowed his eyes a bit before lowering his head enough to stand as an eagle with a dangerous beak poised to rip open his dinner. “Do not mistake my generosity for weakness.”

  The former tribesman glared at the director. “Do not mistake my compliance for cooperation.” He ushered Tessa out into the hall.

  ~ ~ ~

  Walking arm and arm through Old Town with a steady drizzle falling against their umbrella, Tessa and Darya spoke in hushed tones through the darkness closing in around them. At first, Tessa worried someone from Grass Valley would recognize her on the arm of another man. But the weather kept people home. They were one of two couples in the restaurant lit by candles and a roaring fire in a stone fireplace. Soft jazz played in the background as the two devoured steaks, potatoes, and salad. They sat for several hours before deciding to brave the rain.

  The surprise of seeing him dressed in a nice shirt and sport coat when she picked him up earlier had made her wolf-whistle. His new black jeans had made her wonder if Vernon had taken pity on him and made a quick trip to a we-got-everything kind of store.

  She didn’t ask why he’d been detained the night before and he didn’t volunteer the information. She loved Vernon for showing Darya kindness but wondered if the director hadn’t put him up to keeping track of him.

  As she retrieved her messages, Darya buckled up in the passenger seat. Tessa froze at the text from her husband.

  “Problem?” His accent still came through, causing Tessa to touch his face.

  “Not sure. Maybe.” A little confused she shook her head. “Robert will be flying in tomorrow morning. Guess I’ll be staying over after all. The kids won’t be home until tomorrow evening, so…” Tessa knew she talked too fast.

  “It is late. Do you want me to take a cab to my hotel?” He reached out to her fumbling with the phone. “You are shaking. Why?”

  Tessa stared out the windshield. “I called your hotel to confirm while you paid the check. The reservation got canceled so I planned to take you to my apartment and let you stay there. It’s just an hour to my home, but in this rain, on mountain roads…”

  Darya slipped his hand to the back of her bare neck and massaged it with his thumb. “Stay with me, Tessa. Who knows when we will see each other again?”

  Tessa turned her body toward him. Imagining him in a tattered mask, leading his horse to water as he surveyed the vast land before them, a chill racked her body. “You are all that is left of my life in the Wakhan. I don’t want to waste another day or night without you.”

  She closed her eyes as his hand came to her cheek like he’d done so many times in captivity.

  Turning the key in the ignition, Tessa pulled away from the curb to rendezvous with a promise.

  Chapter 34

  D arya walked around the apartment with a kind of curiosity that reminded Tessa of how she felt when finding a new antique store to browse. He examined every surface, picture, and knickknack she’d accumulated in a short time.

  “What’s this?” He flung open the terrace doors and walked outside.

  The rain had stopped earlier and droplets falling into the gutters created a soft tapping sound. “This is my favorite spot. I love having coffee out here in the mornings.” Her words came out wistful.

  “How often do you stay here? Doesn’t Robert wonder why you have a place in the city?”

  Tessa took a deep breath before stepping up beside him. “He doesn’t know anything about Enigma, Darya. He thinks I’m working on my Ph.D. and doing a little goodwill work for the State Department. I never set out to be so deceptive. I’m in over my head now and addicted to the rush.”

  Darya accepted her answer as he stared up at the sky. “He doesn’t know about me, then.”

  “No. Eve
n the team I’m a part of doesn’t know much about you.” He turned to her in seriousness forcing her to wink mischievously. “You’re my best kept secret.”

  “Come with me tomorrow.” His speech turned to Pashto. “I will take care of you. Leave this pollution and noise behind. We’ll go into the mountains.”

  Tessa faced him. “You have no intention of getting on that plane, do you?” She swallowed hard. “You canceled the hotel reservation.”

  Darya searched her face as if seeing it for the first time. He put both his hands on each side of her cheeks. “Come with me, Tessa. We will start over.”

  “Darya, I have children. How can you ask such a thing?” She pushed him away.

  “We will take them, too. I would be a good father.”

  “I know. But I have a husband who needs me.”

  “You have two husbands.” He chuckled and circled her waist. “Have you returned to his bed?” He pulled her tighter against his chest. “You have not gone back to him because of me.”

  Tessa lowered her eyes. “He’s giving me some time.”

  “So this Robert is not very smart?”

  Tessa stepped out of his embrace, bristling. “Don’t be insulting. He is a good man. A good father.”

  A clap of thunder rolled across the sky, driving Tessa indoors. “Darya, it’s dangerous. Come inside.”

  The skies opened up, rain falling in sheets while Darya stood with outstretched arms, letting the rain pour into his mouth then down his body. He hollered what sounded like a war cry after defeating the enemy in a mythological movie about gods. He laughed.

  “Rain! Do you know how long it’s been since I could stand in the rain without fear of freezing to death?”

  Tessa ran to the bathroom, got several fluffy towels, and returned to the terrace doors. “Come here, Batman, before you catch cold.” She motioned for him with the towels.

  As she threw her jacket to the kitchen chair, to free up her arms, Darya ran inside, dripping all over her hardwood floors. He removed his sports jacket, leaving the wet shirt clinging to his body. When he stepped closer, he shook his head so the water splashed onto her bare shoulders. Her black dress with the oval neckline exposed a great deal of skin. When he shook his head again like a wet coon dog, Tessa squealed a protest.

  “Stop it!” But laughter erupted between them in spite of the mess. “Here. Let me help you out of this shirt.” Darya pulled it over his head. Once off, she threw it to the floor. “If you get sick, the director will blame me.”

  She dried his hair then his neck and dragged the towel slower across his chest before sliding it down to his exposed navel. Memories of how hard his body felt when she’d been under his protection came flooding back to her heightened senses. Every scar, muscle, and breath brought Tessa once again under the spell of her captor.

  Taking the towel from her hands, he dropped it to the floor on his clothes. With the care of a surgeon, he removed the clip holding up her hair, letting it cascade to her shoulders. She pressed her body against his chest. Tessa felt his hands run through her hair then down her back until they reached her buttocks. He kissed his way from her neck to her shoulders as his hands explored her body.

  “I remember what you like,” he whispered as he touched her lips with his.

  “Darya,” she managed to say as he captured her mouth with his, spilling his passion into her, blocking her ability to think. She felt dangerous and wild as he continued to kiss her almost desperately. He backed her toward the bed as Tessa felt his hands unzip her dress.

  Chapter 35

  I t might prove not to be the best idea he’d ever had, but Chase stopped at a convenience store to pick up some flowers. There were two bouquets left at the checkout counter: one with dried sunflowers and the other with half-opened pink roses. He chose the latter, knowing Tessa loved the color pink. He glanced at the clock over the door and wondered if 1:30 a.m. would be too late to stop at her apartment. He pictured her sound asleep or perhaps she might be doing lesson plans for the geography class she taught.

  Their relationship, Darya, and working at Enigma, needed to be addressed. Maybe they’d not get past the relationship part and the other two topics wouldn’t matter. Keeping work and his feelings for her separate had become impossible. Before he left for Afghanistan, he’d believed they were becoming closer. Neither of them wanted to delve into such tumultuous waters. Surprised to see her in Afghanistan, he might have seduced her if her escort had not met with an untimely death. Later, when he’d gone after her in the Pamirs his fears of never being able to tell her how he felt forced him to realize how much he needed her.

  Even when she’d been brought back, he knew their relationship had suffered because of the rogue agent. All the ground he’d gained in the last few months had been wiped out by the daring rescue of Tessa and a bunch of orphans by Darya Petrov. How could a man compete with a guy on a white horse?

  “Good, you’re still up,” he mumbled as he saw a light in her second-story window. He spotted her car in her usual parking place. The building had a secure lock system where you needed to swipe a card to gain access. She didn’t know Vernon made him one in case of emergency. He’d never used it until now.

  He took the steps two at a time and paused on the landing, wishing he’d shaved and cleaned up a little at the airport before catching a cab into the city. Dropping his backpack under one of the windows, he wondered if he still had time. The hall was filled with dappled light from fixtures installed during a bygone era, part of why Tessa loved the place. She didn’t care about the worn carpet or the large drafty windows in the hall.

  “I’m not going to be in the hall much, Chase. Besides, the inside has been completely re-done. It’ll be warm and toasty.”

  She’d been so proud of the place. As a gift, he’d bought her a full-size iron bed at a local antique store. He and Zoric put it together before she got home, while Vernon made sure security systems were in place. Remembering how she’d clapped her hands like a little kid still made him glad he’d spent the money.

  Two knocks on the door. Hearing footsteps draw near, his chest got the familiar achy feeling again. The doorknob turned and the door pulled open.

  “Bet you’re surprised to see me here?” Darya smirked, keeping the chain on the door. “What do you want?”

  Chase could see into the apartment all the way to the unmade bed and clothes on the floor. He recognized Tessa’s jacket and saw another piece of woman’s clothing.

  “Those flowers sure are pretty, Captain Hunter.”

  The sound of a shower being turned on in the bathroom drew Darya’s satisfied glance for only a second before he turned back to the captain. Chase’s temper boiled deep inside as the once tribesman continued to level his own dangerous challenge at him.

  “I’d invite you in, but it might be a little awkward.” Darya glanced toward the bathroom again. “I’ll be sure to let her know you dropped by. Good night, Captain.”

  He shut the door in Chase’s face with a deliberate, slow motion movement as if to prolong the agony.

  Staring at the door for a good thirty seconds before returning to pick up his backpack, Chase hurried down the stairs covered in faded blue carpet. Once out on the street, he headed toward his condo, a good mile away. The rain turned into a heavy mist as he stared straight ahead, trying to ignore the jabbing pain in his chest and the total humiliation welling up inside him. Somewhere along the way, he threw the roses into the street.

  The reason he stayed clear of romantic entanglements with married women and Enigma agents pounded his lapse of common sense back into his head. It had been clear in Afghanistan. The Kyrgyz tribesman had managed to captivate Tessa’s heart. Even though Dr. Wu said she suffered from Stockholm syndrome, the fact remained she’d chosen him to be her lover, long before tonight.

  Stopping in at a liquor store, he bought a bottle of Jack Daniels and wondered how much he’d have to drink before the numbness took over his thoughts. Enough room remained i
n his backpack for him to shove the bottle inside before crossing the street to his building. The night watchman at the desk never looked up from a rerun of Magnum P.I. as Chase slipped in without notice. He took the elevator to his sixth-floor condo as he let exhaustion finally touch his body.

  Entering his foyer, Chase noticed the disabled security system. The time flickered from 2:30 a.m. to the current date. Careful not to make any noise, he propped his backpack against the wall then pulled his gun from under his shirt. His inspection covered the entire room in one sweeping glance as the lights from the city poured in from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Nothing appeared disturbed at first glance. A night-light on the microwave over the stove glowed on high, a setting he never used.

  A scooting sound and a sniff came from the other side of the couch. Chase dropped into a crouch. He rushed, weapon held in both hands toward a body curled up on the couch, sound asleep. Returning his gun to his holster, he returned to the security system to watch the feed of the last few hours.

  Walking to the sofa, he squatted down next to her. “What the hell are you doing here, Tessa?” he whispered so low it surprised him.

  Tessa wore a black dress and pearls, and Chase noticed right off her legs were bare. Black heels lay sideways on the floor next to a file folder with contents half in and out. When he laid his hand on her ankle, the cold of her skin seeped into his fingers. Pulling off the plush white throw from the back of a nearby chair, he spread it across her body. She settled again with a sigh. Waiting for her to warm, he watched as she stretched out her legs then draped her arm down the side of the sofa.

  He stared up at the ceiling and took a deep breath. Dear God in Heaven. Thank you.

  ~ ~ ~

  The windows faced west, flooding the room with a cloudy kind of light brought on by more rain. Tessa lay still for a long time, listening to nothing, trying to evaluate again where she’d slept. When her hand touched something hard, her eyes popped open to see Chase sitting on the floor next to her, sound asleep. She wondered how long he’d been there and resisted the impulse to sneak away before he awoke. His unshaven chin down, arms folded across his midsection, and legs outstretched enhanced his statue like beauty which never failed to take her breath away.