by Laura Taylor
"You damn fool!" he muttered as he hurriedly dressed, then made his way into his office.
He controlled his first impulse, which was to go after her and tell her that he didn’t give a damn about her past. In truth, he didn’t. But the pragmatism and cold logic that guided his instincts when he was threatened with failure in a courtroom told him that he needed a more complete picture of Geneva and what she faced in the future before they spoke again.
Thomas loved her, but love wasn’t always enough between a man and a woman. He needed to be absolutely certain of his ability to protect her before he found her and persuaded her that her past counted as one thing—life experience. It had nothing whatsoever to do with his love for her, although he expected to have the devil’s own job persuading her of that fact.
Keeping Geneva out of harm’s way was his first priority, his only priority at the moment. If he couldn’t keep her safe, then he would fail them both. That sobering realization enabled him to contain some of his emotional turmoil. His memory of her shattered facial expression stayed with him, though, haunting him as he picked up the telephone and punched in a local number.
Nicholas Benteen answered on the second ring.
"This is Tom Coltrane. We need to talk. Now." He paused briefly, grabbing a blank notepad from a drawer in his desk. "Give me the directions."
He fell silent, listening to Nicholas, who spoke in a terse, unemotional voice. He didn’t bother to write down the directions once Benteen revealed that he lived high atop Eagle Ridge summit, a locale Thomas had often frequented as a boy in search of adventure in the mountains that surrounded Cedar Grove.
Putting on his coat and pocketing his keys, Thomas made his way downstairs to the parking lot behind the building and climbed into his car. As he drove through the darkness and the falling snow, he grappled with an array of emotions. One in particular, one that he hadn’t been forced to deal with in many years, emerged to dominate the others.
Fear.
His gut–wrenching fear that he might have already lost Geneva.
Gripping the steering wheel, Thomas promised himself that he would move heaven and earth before he allowed her to disappear from his life. No matter the cost, no matter the sacrifices required of him, she would be a part of his future. With or without Benteen’s cooperation.
** ** **
The two men faced off in the office that Nicholas kept in his home. Furnished with state–of–the art security equipment more suitable for a war room in the depths of the Pentagon than the office of a successful author, it served to reinforce Thomas’s concern over the jeopardy that Geneva and the others still lived with on a daily basis.
"You look like you could use a drink," Nicholas observed. "Help yourself." He gestured in the direction of the bar.
Thomas shook his head. "A drink is the last thing I want right now."
Nicholas sat down at his desk. He pressed a button on the console built into the desktop, then settled back in his chair, his expression speculative as met his guest’s gaze.
"What do you want?" Nicholas finally asked with his usual bluntness
"Facts. All of them." Thomas sank into a chair that offered him an unobstructed view of Benteen. "Start at the beginning. Start with Patrick Talmadge, and tell me why in hell he dragged his only child through the cesspools of the Middle East and then trained that little girl to follow in his footsteps as a bomb maker."
Nicholas pondered Thomas for several silent minutes. Then, he nodded and began to talk.
** ** **
In another wing of the house, Hannah Benteen closed the door to her infant daughter’s room and made her way down the hallway. She paused in the open doorway of a small sitting room.
Geneva looked up when she felt Hannah’s presence. "Is the baby alright?"
Smiling, Hannah entered the room and sat down. She signed, "Asleep for now, but that will end as soon as she’s hungry again." She studied Geneva for a long moment. "What about you? Are you feeling any better?"
Geneva shrugged. "I think I’m all cried out for the moment. I’m just tired. I should go home and leave the three of you in peace."
"Stay, why don’t you? Mom and Dad are spending the next few days with Sean, so you aren’t interrupting anything. Besides, we’ve missed you."
"I’m not much company for anyone, I’m afraid."
"You really love him, don’t you?"
Tears flooded her eyes yet again, and she swiped at them in irritation. But one slipped free and rolled down her cheek. Unable to speak, she nodded.
The compassion in Hannah’s face made her envy the life Hannah and Nicholas shared, although she didn’t begrudge them the happiness they’d found together. She simply longed for the same sense of belonging for herself, a sense of belonging that had eluded her since childhood.
"Thomas is here," Hannah told her. "He’s with Nicholas in his office."
"Probably trying to break the lease on the lodge."
Hannah frowned. "That snarky attitude isn’t like you."
Geneva paled. "I don’t want to see him."
"He has no idea you’re here. You parked in the garage, remember?"
"Thank God for small favors."
Hannah spoke with exaggerated patience. "And since he doesn’t know you’re here, he won’t be asking for you."
"Good. I don’t want to see him ever again."
"Wrong," Hannah said. "Quit lying. It’ll make your nose grow."
"Hannah…"
"Hush. I know you’re miserable right now, but I don’t think this thing between you and Thomas is over. Not quite yet and only if you’re both very stupid."
"It’s over," Geneva said, signing for emphasis.
Hannah smiled. "Thomas called a little while ago and told Nicholas he wanted to speak privately with him. Now does that really sound like a man who doesn’t give a damn about you?"
Geneva shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. "I don’t care, Hannah. Whatever we had, it’s done. End of story."
Wrapping her arms around her middle, she leaned back against the cushions of the couch and stared up at the ceiling. She ached so badly inside, she wanted to wail, but she bit back the impulse and kept herself under control.
Thomas might be physically close by, but he was a million miles away in terms of their relationship.
What relationship? she asked herself. Their short–lived affair was over, and she needed to adjust and get on with her life.
Hannah straightened in her chair, her gaze flying to the intercom on the wall by the door.
Geneva felt rather than saw her abrupt movement. "What? Is the baby crying?"
Hannah shook her head. "Nicholas just turned on the intercom in his office. The sound of his voice startled me."
"He must have bumped the switch by mistake. You’d better let him know. He’s such a privacy freak."
Hannah sank back in her chair. "I’ve discovered that my husband is a very devious creature. If the intercom is on, it’s because he wants it that way. According to those lights on the panel, we can listen, but they can’t hear us."
Geneva knew Nicholas too well not to figure out the method to his current madness. "Being deaf has an up–side," she remarked, aware that she probably sounded bitter.
She was glad, though, that she wouldn’t be able to hear a conversation between Thomas and Nicholas. What sane woman wanted to listen to an itemization of her deficiencies? Definitely not her since she carried around her own list.
"For heaven’s sake, Geneva, quit torturing yourself. You’re deaf, not stupid. Thomas Coltrane isn’t here on a casual matter. I’d bet my last dollar that I’m right."
"I am not torturing myself. No man’s worth that."
"Then quit acting like a martyr. You shocked the man, you gave him two or three minutes to react to a reality you’ve had years to come to terms with, and then you marched out his door, never to darken his doorstep again. Boohoo." Hannah looked annoyingly placid as she spoke and signed. "My God, I
would never have expected you to be such a drama queen. Suck it up, girl, and give the man half a chance. You love him. This is not rocket science."
"How does Nicholas handle you?"
Hannah laughed. "Very nicely, thank you very much."
Geneva ignored her double meaning. "Thomas is history."
"Right."
"I’m serious. This is about emotional survival… my emotional survival."
"And you’re not even curious why he’s here?" Hannah pressed her.
"The lease," she snapped before getting to her feet and pacing the room. She was curious, but despite her desire to know what the two men were saying to each other, she refused to ask Hannah to sign for her.
"We both know you are. Curious, I mean," remarked her hostess when Geneva glanced her way. "It’s a very interesting conversation, and I’m really starting to see why you’re so crazy about the guy. He’s a lot like my Nicholas. If you’d like, I can probably keep up with both of them."
She stopped pacing when Hannah began to sign. She failed to find the strength within herself to turn away. Instead, she watched the swiftly moving hands of Hannah Cassidy Benteen, who signed and finger–spelled with a deftness that spoke of her years as a teacher and an advocate for abused and handicapped children.
"Are there any more out there like Jamal who want her dead?" Thomas asked.
"She told you about Jamal?"
"Not specifically, but I overheard a good portion of a conversation you two had in the hallway behind her shop. I put the pieces together after the fact. Geneva simply confirmed my conclusions."
"What else have you done?"
"I called a friend at Langley yesterday. He’s an old buddy from my Army days."
"How much did you learn about us?"
"Not much in terms of real facts or specific missions. Your privacy is intact. It will remain that way. I’m not inclined to dig any deeper unless the need arises."
"How much?" Nicholas demanded.
Hannah smiled at her husband’s persistence, a character trait she often claimed made her a little crazy at times.
"Damn little, aside from the fact that most of you were mercenaries, available to the most financially solvent members of the Third World Thug Club until you hooked up with the CIA, courtesy of their Station Chief in Baghdad. Geneva’s already told me she did covert ops for the CIA for several years, and that you led those missions."
"She never worked for anyone but the company, Coltrane. Not ever. I made sure of it."
"For her sake, I’m relieved. She’s already hauling around enough guilt, and she doesn’t seem to believe she deserves to be happy or to be loved. It may sound like I’m splitting hairs, but there’s a huge difference between the world of sanctioned black ops and a mercenary’s world. I believe that distinction is important for Geneva’s peace of mind."
Nicholas briefly fell silent. "Having operated in both worlds, I can’t argue with you. Look, Patrick was brilliant, but he lacked the emotional stability a father needs. He loved Geneva, but he treated her like a buddy, not a daughter. The man was like a father to me and I loved him, but he made some serious mistakes where she was concerned. The good news is that she’s got a collection of big brothers who’ll walk through hell for her. We’ve always tried to watch out for her."
"That’s the only reason she’s still alive," Thomas said in a granite–hard voice.
"And I assume you plan on having her stay that way?"
"You’re damn right, I do."
Silence ensued between the two men.
Hannah sank back in her chair.
The two women looked at each other, both wide–eyed at the exchange.
Geneva’s heart raced. It was clear to her that Thomas was genuinely concerned about her safety and survival. And he hadn’t been judgmental, which surprised her. She’d expected outright condemnation. Still, she couldn’t forget the shock and distaste she’d seen in his eyes just a few short hours ago.
Hannah began to sign again.
Geneva paid close attention.
"You know exactly what she did back then, don’t you?" Nicholas asked.
"She filled me in on some of the facts."
"I have the distinct impression that conversation did not end well."
"You’ve spoken to her?" Thomas confirmed.
"Yes."
"She was upset with me when she left my office. You didn’t answer my question, by the way. Is she still in jeopardy even with Jamal out of the game?"
"It’s doubtful, but not totally out of the question. Most of the threats have been neutralized. Geneva has been away from the business for a lot of years. Living reclusively, which isn’t necessary any longer for most of us, is more of a habit for her than anything else."
"Revenge rarely has a time limit, Nick."
"A reasonable amount of concern is justified. Paranoia is not."
"I can protect her, but only if I know what she’s up against."
"You apparently rejected her, Tom. At least, that’s what she believes. I doubt she’ll give you another shot at doing it again."
"I did not reject her."
"Then what would you call what you did?"
"In a nutshell, I didn’t react one way or another. I was too stunned. Two minutes later, she was gone."
"Most people are stunned, which is one of the reasons why the family remains apart from most of the world."
"Hell of a way to live."
"It can be lonely, especially for a woman like Geneva. That’s why I encouraged her to start her own business. She needed to create a new identity, and she needed time to make peace with the past. Thanks to some friends who are still in the business, I’ve been able to track Jamal. I’ve known for a while that his days were numbered. My contacts also tell me that Geneva’s name has disappeared from the more dangerous hit lists. The only issue that remains is the possibility of kidnapping for the purpose of forcing her to create explosive devices, but there are too many other qualified people willing to do the job to make grabbing her a practical venture. I think she’s finally in the clear."
"Christ! I hope so, but if she’s not, I’ll deal with anyone who even looks sideways at her."
"I expect no less from you."
"She’s an amazing woman."
"Her friends know that. I had the idea that you did, too, but you’ve made me doubt my judgment."
"She’s mine, Nicholas, and I will protect her."
Geneva was too stunned to do anything but stare at Hannah.
"Now, I want to know more about Patrick Talmadge," Thomas said.
The two women winced simultaneously. Both knew that Nicholas had little tolerance for anyone who criticized his deceased comrade–in–arms. The bond between Nicholas and Patrick in particular had run very deep.
"Patrick was her father, and he loved her."
"You don’t mind if I have a hard time believing that."
"I don’t care what you believe, Coltrane. I knew Patrick Talmadge. He wasn’t a mean–spirited man, although he could be self–absorbed and self–indulgent at times."
"Why didn’t he let her stay with her grandparents after her mother died? It would have been a hell of a lot safer for her in Boston."
"He discovered their plans for her."
What plans? a surprised Geneva mouthed to Hannah in the sitting room.
Nicholas’s wife shrugged and continued to sign.
"What do you mean?" Thomas asked.
"Year–round boarding school. Erin’s parents didn’t intend to stop their lives for an adolescent girl who had just lost her mother. Patrick’s parents were killed in a car wreck when he was a kid, and he pretty much raised himself, so he knew what that would have been like for her. He loved Geneva in his own way, and he refused to abandon her, so he packed her up and the rest, as they say, is history."
"Sounds like there was no other choice."
"None. I agree that he never should have involved Geneva in our world, but he did. She’s dealt
with the results of the choices her father made with strength and courage. The past cannot be changed. Geneva knows that, and she’s accepted it. I suspect you’ve learned the same lesson, although you wore the uniform and knew the consequences before you went out into the field."
"You checked me out?" Thomas asked.
"Of course. She’s far too important to all of us to be placed at risk. And since you’re a former snake–eater, you know the score."
"Do your enemies know where you are?"
"The few who are still alive probably do, but they know that they expose themselves to a greater danger if they attempt to come after me or my people. Bottom line: the odds are stacked against them. I know, because I did the stacking."
"How do I protect her?"
"That’s not the issue right now. Why would you want to protect Geneva, especially now that you know the truth about her?"
"Not your business, Benteen. That’s between Geneva and me."
"Do you have more questions about her past?"
"If I do, I’ll ask the lady. But for the record, my only real concern is keeping her safe. I don’t want anything to happen to her, so I expect to be kept up to speed if threats of any kind emerge. Do we understand each other?"
"Sounds like you’re planning to hang around, which might be tough since she doesn’t want you within a hundred miles of her right now. How do you intend to handle the situation?"
"I’ll handle it, Nick."
"What are your feelings for her?"
"Again, not your business. I’ll let you know when it is."
A moment later, Hannah’s hands went still and she grinned.
"What?" asked Geneva.
"Nicholas is laughing."
Startled, Geneva asked, "Why?"
Instead of answering her question, Hannah said, "Men are so obvious, don’t you think?"
Not sure of her meaning, she said, "I’m going to speak with Thomas. Nicholas doesn’t belong in the middle of this mess any longer."
"I wish you would. Thomas is obviously worried about you."
"I can take care of myself."
"Of course you can, but do you want to have to all of the time?"