Ryan fell back against his chair. “Why in the hell do you not get that I am not going to hurt either one of you?”
She swallowed hard and stood with her plate. In a stroke of immense folly, she replied, “Probably because I'm stupid.” She whispered, but it felt so damn good to throw his words back at him, even if she ended up paying for it.
“Yeah, okay, whatever. You go ahead and use my words to beat yourself up some more. You enjoy being a victim.”
She stared at the floor as tears filled her eyes. “You're a bastard. Just like he was.”
“I am, but that was established when I was born.” Ryan crossed his arms as he stared at her, still seated, with no indication he was moving any time soon.
She lifted her eyes and struggled to keep her gaze pinned on his. It was hard when you knew your words would be used to punish you, your actions would be evaluated, and retaliation would always follow. “You do not get to judge me. You have no idea what I've lived through,” she hissed.
“You're right, I don't. And here is a news blast for you, sweetheart, I'm not ever going to know unless you tell me. I admit I fucked up. I yelled at you. Get. Over. It. I also rescued your ass. I could have left you both out there to die, but I didn't. I am not your ex-husband. I am not going to hurt you, and I'm sure as fuck am not going to change who I am so you will stop walking around here like I'm going to backhand you for breathing.”
His words, delivered in a calm, even, no-nonsense tone deflated her offense like a pin pricking a balloon. The righteous indignation hissed out of her in a steady stream. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked up at the rock ceiling. The suspended lights bounced eerie shadows over the rock formations. “He wasn't my husband. He bought me from the people who stole me from my family.”
She couldn't look at him, but the words had started, and she was no more able to still them than she was able to stop breathing. “I was a sixteen-year-old, pristine, womb to provide him an heir. He didn't want Ethan until he turned twelve, but prior to that, he would allow me to raise him. He demanded Ethan possess impeccable manners and politesse so he could present Ethan to his contemporaries as an acceptable reflection of Harvey.” She’d memorized that statement because when Harvey had first said it, she’d had no idea what he meant.
“Please, come back and sit down.” Ryan's voice hadn't changed. His tone was still level and almost kind.
She swiped at her cheeks and dropped her chin. Her curls fell into her eyes. “Why?”
“Because I have a feeling you need to talk to someone.”
“No offense, but I don't need to talk to a stranger—especially one who thinks I’m stupid.”
“Sometimes talking to a stranger is the best course of action.” There was a pause, and he said more quietly, “I don’t think you are stupid.”
She shook her head and glanced toward the living area. “He doesn't need to hear this.”
“I'll know if he comes back. Right now, I can see the reflection of his DVD player against the wall. You can talk.” He stood up, took his plate to the counter, and set it down. He reached over her and grabbed two tumblers before he turned and reached to the cabinet over the refrigerator. He pulled down a bottle of dark, amber-colored liquid.
“Is that whiskey?” Harvey didn't allow her to drink, although she'd sipped alcohol at some events she and Ethan were allowed to attend.
“This is port wine. A... a friend of mine sometimes liked a glass when she’d had a stressful day. She's never been here, but I bought it in hopes she would show up.”
“A girlfriend?”
Ryan shrugged. “Not really, but someone in the same line of business as I am. She was easy to be with. No pretenses.”
“You don't see her anymore?” Bethanie accepted the tumbler and sniffed the contents. It wasn't acidic.
“No. She ended it. She, like you, didn't like my honesty.”
“Did you call her stupid, too?” Bethanie flashed him a quick smile.
He barked out a laugh. “Nah, I called her on a personal agenda that wasn't in line with the company's vision for our work. She disagreed, with prejudice, it would seem.” Ryan sat down at the table again and motioned toward the chair. “You said you were bought?”
Bethanie took a sip and nodded before she sat down. “I have memories of my parents and my sister, but I can't remember exactly how I was taken. I vividly remember some of the places we were held. The things that happened as I got older are crystal clear. Some of the girls were taken away immediately. They were the age I was when Harvey bought me. Those of us that were younger were moved around from place to place. You learned to keep quiet and do what you were told, when you were told.” She stared at the dark amber liquid and swirled it, noting how it stuck to the sides of the glass like a thinned-out version of syrup.
“You were sold to Harvey?”
“Hmmm… I'd just turned sixteen, and I was a virgin. I assume he paid for me. That is what the woman who held us talked about all the time. Don't damage the merchandise. We were the merchandise.”
She watched as Ryan stared down at his own tumbler. “This Harvey, was he... did he hurt you?”
Bethanie felt her face flush, but he was right, she'd never spoken of any of this before, and she found she wanted to let go of some of the weight that seemed to bury her. “Hurt is a relative term, Mr. Wolf. Considering my circumstances versus what our keepers said would happen if we weren't purchased? No, I wasn't hurt.”
“Why didn't you go to the police?”
She shook her head and took another sip of the port. “Because he would have killed me and then after Ethan was born, he threatened to kill both of us.”
“Did you think he'd actually do that?”
“I knew he would. Two weeks after giving birth to Ethan he summoned me from my room at his residence. I held Ethan in my arms as I entered his office. He told me to watch.” She looked away, her mouth a tight line as the contents in her stomach revolted. When she was certain she wouldn’t lose her dinner on Ryan Wolf’s kitchen floor, she turned back to him. “Some little kid knelt in front of Harvey’s desk, handcuffed and sobbing. ‘His father thought to cheat me. His wife and daughter are already dead.’ Harvey walked around behind the young man and...." She stopped and fought back the horror of that night. Clearing her throat she continued, "He turned to me and smiled. ‘And now his son. Cross me and this will be you and the brat.’ No, Mr. Wolf, I had no doubt Harvey would kill me and Ethan as quickly as he'd killed that child.”
“He would have killed his heir?”
“He said producing another wouldn't be a problem.” Bethanie took another sip. A warmth started to bloom in her stomach.
“And now his enemies are trying to find you?”
She sighed and drained the small portion of port from her glass. “That was a shock to hear. I came home from taking Ethan to school and these two women were in my front room. I was terrified, but Jewell King and the other one, the one who gave me the combination of the lock box, Joy—someone, I didn’t get her last name, were very convincing. They had enough evidence to suggest we could be in danger and arranged for us to come up here.”
“You just believed them?” Ryan tipped another small portion of port into her glass.
Bethanie lifted the tumbler and took a sip from her drink. “I’ve been living under Harvey’s threats for a very long time. I saw the way that man hurt people. It wasn’t much of a stretch to realize someone would want retribution. So, yes, Mr. Wolf, I absolutely believed those two women when they said Harvey’s enemies were a threat to me and Ethan.”
“It must have been hard to leave everything.”
“More so for Ethan. I just had my garden, my herbs and such, but he and his friend, James, were pretty much inseparable. James is the son of an associate of Harvey’s and goes to the same school. I’d always thought the two boys were ignorant of what their fathers did, but Ethan has made a couple comments lately that challenge that belief. I think he knows f
ar more than he’s ever let on, but I’d do anything to protect him. So, after my talk with those women, we made a plan. I didn't wait, I left that night, like they suggested. I woke Ethan up in the middle of the night, and we left, using the route they gave me. I drove through the night to get here. You scared me when you pulled up. I thought we’d been found by Harvey’s enemies. The supplies were nice, but I didn't realize we needed more than what we’d brought. I had hoped to be here a few days; at maximum, a couple of weeks.”
Ryan nodded and poured a small splash more into his glass. “When I checked in with Guardian, they were talking a couple months. From what I gathered, Harvey’s enemies have gone to ground, and Guardian is trying to figure out what the threat is.”
Bethanie understood that, to a degree. Emboldened by the port, because she could think of no other reason, she asked, “What do you do for Guardian? I mean, you live on a mountain, in a cave. You obviously have money; this is beautiful and secluded.”
He chuckled and shrugged. “I have nothing else to spend my money on, and yes, I do well. For the record, I take care of accidents for Guardian.”
“I'm sorry, but what does that mean?”
“They call on me when they need me. I have a specialized talent. I am able to determine ways accidents can occur and provide a solution to situations they have encountered with minimal disruption to the normal ebb and flow of... life.”
Her brain worked furiously to decipher his meaning. She frowned. “I think you just said you kill people and make it look like an accident.”
Ryan raised his glass to her in affirmation. “Like the way I phrased it better, but, yes.”
She stilled and stared at him. "You kill people for a living."
"I kill only those who have been targeted by my country and are a septic wound infecting humanity."
She glanced down at her hands. "You’re an assassin."
"I am. A highly skilled assassin. I am paid to make evil fucks like your Harvey go away."
Her head snapped up. Could that have happened to Harvey? “And Guardian needs this talent?”
“Indeed. I have worked for them for twenty-three years.”
“But you live here, alone.”
“Dog and I make out okay.”
“He's not really a dog, is he?”
“Hybrid, probably. Wolves in this region aren't as big as he is. I think he's got some Mastiff in him.”
They sat in silence for a moment. She glanced at the leftover roast and started to stand to clear the table and wash the dishes. Odd as it was for her to act so normal when she'd just found out her savior is actually a killer. No, he was an assassin. Harvey was a murderer, a killer. Vicious, horrible and unconscionable in every aspect of his life. She paused and took a breath to steady herself. "Do you ever say no to an assignment?"
"I have that ability, but I also have the background on each and every one of those bastards I put down. Animals, like your Harvey."
"Have you ever killed a child?"
"No. And if your Harvey wasn't dead already, I'd track him down and make him pay for what he did, to you, to that child, to other innocents."
"With Guardian's knowledge?"
"Absolutely. I do not work outside the lines."
Bethanie sat on the hard kitchen chair and carefully detailed her current situation. Fact, Ryan Wolf could have killed her and Ethan, but he'd done the exact opposite. He'd gone out of his way to protect them. Fact, he was abrasive, loud and rude, but he'd never lifted a hand against her or Ethan. Fact, he'd been honest with her. He didn't hide what he was or what he'd done.
She had only one option that she could see. She would trust the women of Guardian and Ryan Wolf to protect her and Ethan. Her hand shook a bit as she grabbed her dinner plate and stood.
He spoke, stilling her halfway out of the chair. “What did you do in New York besides raise Ethan?”
She took her plate to the sink. “Do? I was allowed to do very little. Harvey had us watched. He monitored everything. I was allowed to participate in all of Ethan's school functions, take him to the playground, and visit with the other mothers. Other than that, I had a garden and read about gardening. Harvey had to approve each of my Kindle purchases. He allowed me to purchase books about gardening.”
“You enjoy gardening?”
“I enjoy growing things and learning about the different qualities of plants. It is so interesting. Before all the pharmaceuticals we have now, people used herbs and plants as remedies for many ailments. You can produce or find remedies for so many things, naturally, without chemicals. Things like ginger, garlic, turmeric, feverfew, St. John’s wort… I could go on and on, are effective treatments for a variety of common complaints. I even started a small hydroponic garden in our spare room. It was a hot mess until I learned what nutrients to put in the water and the actual requirements of growing a plant’s root system without soil. But like I said, Harvey allowed me that liberty.” It had taken her a long two years to perfect her hydroponic system—two mind-numbing, soul-destroying years that she’d paid for with her body and her submission.
“I'm sorry.”
She turned on the tap and grabbed a sponge to rinse her plate. “For what? You already apologized.”
“No, I really didn't, but it's more than that. I'm sorry for what happened to you. Evil like that bastard shouldn't be allowed to exist in this world.”
Bethanie stared at him. She could see the sincerity in his eyes. “As sad as this sounds, it was my normal. He gave me limited freedom to raise Ethan. I pushed that boundary, and I learned everything I could about life, about my plants, and most importantly, being a good mom.”
“And... so you grew what in your hydroponic garden?”
She laughed. “Vegetables, mainly.”
“Ah. By the way, you are that you know—a good mother—but what happened to you... shouldn't have.”
Lifting a shoulder in a shrug, she returned for the platter on the table. “Thank you, but if I am completely honest, I wouldn't change a thing, Mr. Wolf. If I did, I might not have Ethan, and I could never picture my life without him.”
“Ryan. My name is Ryan.”
Bethanie nodded and worked beside him to clean the kitchen. For the first time since she'd realized they'd gotten lost, she could breathe.
Chapter 11
One glanced at the names on her monitor. Three's candidates were the same as hers, with one exception. The similarity of the names on their lists wasn't surprising. The overall goals of the Fates were the driving force of all decisions.
Her monitor chirped. She glanced at the clock in the upper right-hand corner and allowed a small smile. Three was prompt as usual. “Greetings, Three.”
“Your list is almost a mirror image of mine.”
One nodded. Three would never win any points for politeness. “My first candidate is also yours. Let's begin with her. What operations has she been involved in?”
“Many, as you can see from her resume. Currently, she is at the forefront in Venezuela. The OPEC mission she completed two years ago netted us over a hundred million in profits. That is when I started to take an interest in her abilities. She worked the Cuba situation.”
“Ah, yes, the dirty bombs. That isn't a mark in her favor.”
“It was handled so none of our primary assets were identified. Other than a few guards and two ignorant scientists, we lost nothing.”
The Cuba project had been one of Three's babies. She’d been volatile for weeks after it became obvious Stratus must abandon it.
“The CIA operative has taken the fall for everything?”
“Yes, as planned. He won't speak, or his family dies.”
“Hmmm... Your vision for the bombs is still on track even with Homeland and Guardian's interference?” There had been a setback in the manufacture of the weapons, but it had kept the investigating agencies busy which allowed the Fates, and through them, Stratus, to move in other directions unobserved.
“I have two bomb
s neither Guardian or Homeland discovered. When the time is right, we will utilize them.” A vicious and expected smile spread across Three's features.
“Indeed. Let's get back to the candidate. Her qualifications are beyond reproach. Oxford. Old money. Ties to the Royals through lineage and her uncle is a member of the House of Commons.” One ticked off the blocks that were advantageous to them.
“Acknowledged. There is one concern.”
One nodded. “Her involvement in the recent New York debacle.”
Three sighed and dropped back into her chair. One's attention followed the pen that dropped from her counterpart's fingers. Dropped, not thrown, which was an improvement for Three. “She wasn't up front; her connection was twelve years ago. The chances of her being remembered are negligible.”
One leaned forward. “I disagree. All ties, no matter how faint, must be eradicated. There can be nothing to connect her to any operation with which we have been involved. The fact I have to remind you of that edict is troublesome.”
“Twelve years, One. Twelve years since that woman has seen her if she saw her at all.”
“Have we interviewed the candidate to find out her exposure by other people?”
“She is being contacted. Venezuela is in chaos at the moment. She will call in as soon as word reaches her. The Simmons boy and his mother are on the list to be erased. This is a nonissue.” Three leaned forward at the same time as One. They both clicked the file that updated with each kill.
“They have not already been eliminated?” One shot Three a glance as she examined the list.
“As expected, the woman was not a priority, and her involvement wasn't a factor. Simmons was going to kill her eventually. They are on the list because the boy is Simmons' only living heir. With the child out of the way, we can assimilate his fortune using the same process we have in other American estate inheritance dealings. Easy money.”
“In order to elevate our candidate, they must be eliminated.”
Lycos (Guardian Security Shadow World Book 3) Page 10