Backlash

by Traci Hunter Abramson

  “I don’t know what else there is to say,” Kel said, his expression unreadable.

  “There’s a lot to say,” Marilyn said, pushing forward. “We’ve both been keeping secrets from each other.” She hesitated briefly as she stepped farther into the room. “I don’t want it to be that way anymore.”

  Kel’s eyebrows lifted. “Does this mean you’re going to let me read what you write?”

  Marilyn struggled with that idea for a moment, her insecurities rushing through her. Slowly, she nodded. “As long as you let me edit my stuff first.” Then she tilted her head and ventured, “And as long as you stop hiding everything about your work from me.”

  “You do understand that I can’t tell you everything.” Kel’s voice was serious. “A lot of my work is classified, even now that I’m working a desk.”

  “I know, but I need you to share your life with me—more than you used to.”

  Kel nodded slowly. Then, before she could say anything else, he stood up and motioned to the stairs. “Come on. I want to show you something.”

  “What?”

  A smile crossed his face, giving Marilyn some hope that things were starting to settle down between them. “You’ll see.”

  Kel headed for the stairs and motioned for her to follow him. Curious, Marilyn followed him up the stairs and then into the hallway. Then she stopped when he put a hand on the doorknob to her favorite spare room.

  “What are you up to?”

  “I have a little present for you.” Kel pushed the door open and stepped inside.

  Marilyn took a step forward, and her jaw dropped open. The desk she had been eyeing at the furniture store was stretched out in front of the windows, exactly where she would have put it had she designed the room. A tall office chair faced the window, and her laptop was already on the desk, along with her printer. Two tall bookcases graced one wall, and on the opposite wall a loveseat was positioned beside an end table in the same maple as the desk. On top of the table were a white ceramic lamp and a candy dish filled with chocolate kisses.

  She moved farther into the room and turned in a complete circle before looking back at Kel. “I don’t understand. Where did all of this come from?”

  “Tristan and Seth helped me put it together.” Kel gave a little shrug as he attempted to look nonchalant, but Marilyn could see the eagerness on his face. “Do you like it?”

  “Do I like it?” Marilyn repeated, her eyes wide. Then she moved closer to him and threw her arms around his neck. “It’s perfect. It’s exactly what I wanted.”

  “Really?” Kel shifted so he could see her face.

  “Yeah.” Marilyn laughed now. “I imagined that desk right there, with bookcases and somewhere I could read.” She reached up and touched her lips to his. “I absolutely love it.”

  “Just make sure you still remember me when you’re a famous author.”

  Her eyes narrowed for a moment, and her voice grew serious. “I doubt that will ever happen, but even if it did, it would never change the fact that I love you.”

  Kel smiled now. “Good, because I love you, too.”

  * * *

  “Did you see this?” Seth dropped a file marked “Top Secret” on Brent’s desk.

  “Is that the report on Ramir?”

  “No.” Seth shook his head. “No one has gotten anything out of him so far, and I don’t know that they will be able to. Ramir isn’t ever going to admit that he was involved in anything here in the US.”

  Brent picked up the report. “Then what’s this?”

  “I wanted to see if I could track Kel’s location to see if he’s still vulnerable.”

  “Yeah?” Brent looked up at him. “Is there a problem?”

  Seth shrugged. “He had some credit card activity during the days before and after he moved into his new house.”

  “I know.” Brent nodded as he slid the papers out of the file. “He didn’t have enough cash on him when they started buying furniture, so he had to use credit.” Brent looked down at the top sheet in the file and noted that it was a list of Kel’s credit card activity. “I don’t think this should be much of a problem, though. The charges were pretty spread out, and none of them is close to where the new house is.”

  “No, but they do place him here in the Virginia Beach area.”

  “Halim Karel, or whoever is looking for him, already knows that Kel’s here.”

  “I guess.” Seth shook his head. “It still worries me, though.”

  “Are you worried that this Halim guy is going to find Kel or that Kel won’t be able to handle it if he does?”

  “Both,” Seth admitted. “And I’m worried that he might figure out where Vanessa and I are living. Halim isn’t someone I would want to meet in a dark alley, and that’s somewhere that I’d be prepared for someone to jump out at me. If he manages to track Kel to his new house, I don’t know if Kel will be ready for it.”

  “I think Kel was worried about the same thing. That’s why he put an alarm system in,” Brent said. “If it would make you feel better, though, we can tie into the security system’s readings. That way if there’s any sign of a breach, we’ll know as soon as the cops do.”

  Seth nodded, a little of the tension in his stomach easing. “Better safe than sorry.”

  “Go ahead and set it up then,” Brent said. He waited until Seth took a step toward the door before he added, “And, Seth, after you finish that, give all of the information to Tristan. It’s time you start shifting into vacation mode. You’re getting married in two days.”

  Seth managed a little grin. “I’ll try.”

  31

  “Are you really sure I need to come with you to the temple ceremony?” Marilyn asked as she watched Kel pack his suit in a hanging bag. The Whitmores had invited them, along with the rest of the Saint Squad, to stay the night at their house in northern Virginia so they wouldn’t have to get up at four in the morning to make it to the Washington D.C. Temple in time for Seth and Vanessa’s wedding.

  As much as Marilyn enjoyed her time staying with Jim and Katherine, she wasn’t sure she was ready to stay with them in a house with so many people there all at one time. She ventured, “I don’t know Seth that well. Maybe I should stay here and only go to the reception.”

  “Of course you should come.” Kel turned to look at her. “If you want, bring your laptop. You might find some time to write while we’re there.”

  “Maybe,” Marilyn said doubtfully.

  “Don’t you want to go?”

  She shrugged. “I just always feel out of place with your squad.”

  “Marilyn, right now they aren’t my squad,” Kel said softly, a touch of sadness in his eyes.

  A sigh escaped her. The familiar panic and nerves tangled in her stomach, feelings that she didn’t think she could ever explain to Kel, but now along with them was compassion and concern for his feelings and his needs.

  She was still wavering when he stepped closer and took her hand. “Please come with me.”

  Even though everything in her wanted to say no, she felt herself nodding. Before she could reconsider, he slipped his arms around her waist and drew her close. “Thank you. I really want to be there for Seth, but I don’t know if I could handle going on my own. Seth still feels responsible for my injury, and it can get awkward sometimes.”

  Marilyn let out a little sigh. “I guess I’d better go pack.”

  * * *

  “Are you all ready for the big day?” Kel asked as he sat beside Seth in the Whitmores’ living room.

  “More than ready,” Seth answered without hesitation. “When we first got engaged, we had planned to get married around Memorial Day. Waiting these extra few weeks has been tough.”

  Kel’s eyes narrowed. “You didn’t push off your wedding because of me, did you?”

  “No, it was her grandparents who threw the dates off. Neither one of us realized that they were going to be visiting some of their family in Morocco during the month of June,” Seth
told him. Then he grinned. “They only got back on Wednesday.”

  “As in two days ago?” Kel let out a little laugh. “They’re probably not even on our time zone yet.” He glanced over at the older couple who were currently talking to Brent in Arabic. “They speak English, don’t they?”

  Before Seth could answer, Vanessa plopped down beside Seth and answered for him. “Only when they absolutely have to.”

  “I assume you learned Arabic from them,” Kel said now.

  Vanessa nodded. “I never realized how useful that skill would be when I was younger. Then again, I hadn’t planned to work for the CIA back then, either.”

  “How is the new job going?”

  “So far, so good.” Vanessa smiled. “It’s hard being out of the loop on Ramir’s organization, but I can’t tell you how good it feels to go to sleep and know that I don’t need to keep a gun under my pillow.”

  Kel and Seth exchanged knowing glances, and Vanessa immediately sat a little straighter. “What’s going on?”

  “It’s nothing to worry about,” Seth said a little too quickly.

  Both elegant eyebrows lifted, but now instead of looking relaxed, Vanessa looked like she was poised for a fight. “Don’t give me that. What happened?”

  Seth glanced over at Kel, apparently considering how much to tell Vanessa. “We think Ramir still has someone in play here in the US.”

  She looked from Seth to Kel, concerned. “You think someone is still after you?”

  “Not me, exactly.” Kel looked at Seth apologetically.

  A myriad of emotions crossed Vanessa’s face, ranging from her initial surprise to understanding. “Halim is here, isn’t he?”

  “We think so.” Seth took her hand, lacing his fingers through hers.

  Understanding dawned in her eyes. “That’s why you didn’t want to put a picture in the newspaper with our wedding announcement.”

  Seth gave her a wry smile. “That and the fact that we both sometimes work undercover.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. “Look at this as the perfect time to go on a secluded vacation.”

  Vanessa rolled right over his suggestion, her posture still tense. “Seth, we know more about Halim than anyone. We should be involved.”

  “And Halim knows more about us than anyone. We need to lie low for a while and see what happens.”

  Before Vanessa could respond, Kel spoke, “I know how hard it is to be out of the loop, but I’m sure your friends at CIA will turn up something. Besides, you know the Saint Squad won’t stop digging for information until they find him.”

  “I hope they find him before he finds one of you,” Vanessa said, a combination of compassion and fear in her eyes. “He’s an evil man, one who doesn’t understand boundaries.”

  “Neither do Navy SEALs.” Kel used his cane to push to a stand. “I think I’d better go rescue my wife from kitchen duty.”

  Vanessa stood, as well. “And I’d better round up my family so we can get some rest.”

  “I’ll let Katherine know you’re leaving,” Kel said. He then headed for the kitchen, where Marilyn was helping Katherine wash the last of the dinner dishes. “You two should be out enjoying your guests, not doing dishes,” Kel told them. “I think Vanessa and her family are about to leave.”

  “I’d better go say good-bye,” Katherine said and closed the dishwasher. She glanced over at Marilyn and grinned. “Why don’t you go grab the Boggle game out of the closet, and we’ll challenge the men to a game.”

  “Wait a minute.” Kel held up a hand in protest. “If we’re playing on teams, I get Marilyn on mine.”

  “You sound like Brent when we play Pictionary.” Katherine laughed. “Come on. Let’s go say good-bye, and we’ll figure out the teams.”

  “As long as Marilyn is on mine,” Kel repeated as he took his wife’s hand. “I know where the talent lies in my family.”

  Marilyn glanced up at him, her cheeks reddening with pleasure. Then she gave him a little shrug and followed him in to talk to his friends.

  32

  The past few days had been like living in a fairy tale. Marilyn felt as if there were a huge weight off her shoulders, several weights, in fact. No longer did she have to hide why she wanted to spend time on her computer, and she was amazed at how supportive Kel was about her writing.

  Their time together at the temple for Seth and Vanessa’s wedding had been wonderful, and Marilyn had even surprised herself by having fun at the reception. She was awed by the friendships she was forging, especially with Tristan’s wife, Riley. Their time at the Whitmores’ home had been surprisingly comfortable, and for once, she hadn’t felt awkward with Kel’s friends.

  Kel’s physical therapy was progressing steadily, and other than carrying a cane with him in case he needed a little extra help going up and down stairs, he was able to get around well. He was even expecting the doctor to clear him to drive at his next appointment.

  The physical therapist seemed pleased with Kel’s progress, and Kel finally seemed to be overcoming the negative thoughts that had plagued him in the days before his surgery. Marilyn had fallen into a comfortable routine of using her laptop in the waiting room every day when Kel was in therapy. Today was no exception.

  She was deep into her story when Kel tapped her on the shoulder to let her know that he was finished. Marilyn quickly finished the sentence she was typing and then saved her file before closing the laptop. “Did we have any errands to run today, or are we going straight home?”

  “Actually, we need to stop at the bank.” Kel pushed the door open and led the way out to the car.

  As soon as they were both seated inside, Marilyn said, “I thought we weren’t closing on the house until next week.”

  “We aren’t, but I have a couple of things to take care of.”

  “Okay.” Marilyn put the car in gear and drove the few blocks to the bank. She pulled into the parking lot and then shifted to face him. “Did you want me to wait here?”

  “Actually, I need you to come inside with me,” Kel told her. “I thought it was about time to put you on all of my bank accounts. Maybe you’ll do a better job than I did of keeping track of how much we have.”

  Marilyn’s eyebrows lifted. “Are you sure?”

  Kel nodded. “I’ve always thought of it as our money.” His voice grew serious as he added, “Marilyn, this is something I should have done years ago when we were first married. I’m sorry I never got around to it before.”

  “You really trust me with all of that money?” Marilyn asked now, her eyes lighting with mischief.

  “I hope I can trust you.” Kel let out a soft laugh. “Besides, if you’re still willing to buy furniture at yard sales and thrift stores, I think it’s a safe bet that you won’t go blow it all in one place.”

  “You don’t mind that I like yard sales, do you?” Marilyn asked now, her face earnest.

  “Of course not.” Kel reached for her hand. “I don’t want you to change how you do things. I just want to change how we are. You said yourself that I need to trust you. I hope this shows that I do.”

  “Kel, it doesn’t matter if I’m on the accounts or not. I just don’t want us to have any more secrets between us, especially now that you know all of mine.”

  “I know.” Kel opened the car door and nodded toward the bank. “Come on. Let’s go take care of the paperwork for this, and then we’ll grab some lunch.”

  Marilyn smiled now. “Sounds good.”

  Together they walked inside and waited for one of the account managers to help them. Kel explained the changes they wanted to make, and then they signed in the necessary places. They stood to leave just as two men walked in the door—two men wearing ski masks and holding guns. Marilyn’s mind didn’t comprehend the reality at first. Then she gasped, and suddenly she could barely breathe.

  She couldn’t see the man holding the gun, but the gun itself filled her vision. The movement beside her didn’t register in her brain as Kel sh
ifted his cane so that he was no longer leaning on it but rather holding it as a weapon. She was blind to the energy pulsing through her husband as he analyzed and waited.

  The man by the door spoke, his voice strained and anxious. “Everybody on the floor! On your stomachs!” Marilyn and several others didn’t respond at first, still struggling through their shock. When he yelled, “Move!” they complied much more quickly. Except for Kel. He was moving more slowly. Much more slowly.

  After dropping onto the floor, Marilyn shifted her head to look at her husband, only to see him spring forward. The cane was extended out toward the man closest to them, and Kel succeeded in knocking him and his gun to the ground in one fluid movement. In a matter of seconds, Kel scooped the weapon up as the man across the room shifted his gun to aim at Kel.

  “No!” Marilyn heard herself scream, her single word interrupted by two quick gunshots. The man across the room dropped to the ground with a thud even as Marilyn tried to grasp the reality of it all. The reality that the man who had threatened her husband appeared to be dead and that his partner was now grappling with Kel.

  The gun was knocked to the floor once more, but this time neither man attempted to retrieve it. Marilyn sat up as the scuffle moved in her direction, her eyes widening at the scene before her. Her husband, her injured husband, was using his fists and elbows in rapid succession, and he didn’t even look like he was winded. The would-be bank robber made another aggressive move, but Kel swiftly moved out of the way and delivered a hard blow to the back of the man’s head. A split second later, the man was on the floor, unconscious, and Kel was at her side.

  “Are you okay?”

  Marilyn’s mouth dropped open. “Am I okay? You just . . . you just . . .” Marilyn pointed at the man in front of her with a helpless wave, her eyes filling with tears.

  “Come here.” Kel offered her a hand and pulled her up and into his arms. She trembled as she buried her face in his shoulder and the police burst through the door, only to find the two criminals sprawled out on the floor.