by Lisa Eugene
Assuring himself that it was still safely tucked away there, he took a deep breath, his mind turning to Maggie as it did so often. He’d been anxious and distressed about coming home, not sure about the reception he’d get from his family. The house was a painful reminder of his past. But she’d made it all bearable. She’d made him laugh again. Something he thought he’d never do again in that house, or out of it for that matter. She’d also allowed him to trust. He’d been alone for so many years that he’d grown to depend on only himself. It was time to let others in.
Once the CIA had the information on Cane it would take some time to gather the intel and assemble all the pieces, but it was only a matter of time before The Edge Corp came crashing down. Until then he and Maggie would still have to be wary and remain under tight security, but maybe they could spend the time really getting to know each other. He smiled, thinking of all the ways they could get to know each other.
Thomas cleared his throat next to him, and they exchanged a glance and shared a smile. He knew his brother saw the twinkle in his eyes and had guessed correctly that his thoughts were elsewhere. Gabe smiled again. Imagine that. He and his brother smiling…at each other. He wished that things would start to flow as easily with his mother. He could sense the depth of her anxiety and pain. Perhaps when he spoke with her later today, they could start slowly dealing with the past. The secretary turned down another hallway, pulling Gabe from his musings. She opened the door to a large room and ushered them into Director Miller’s office. She closed the door behind them.
“Good day, Mr. Masters.” Cane Howard sat behind a large desk, a casual smile on his lips. “I hope you won’t be too disappointed that Director Miller won’t be joining us.”
Before Gabe could react one of the two security guards in the room grabbed his arms and locked them cruelly behind his back, digging the barrel of a gun into the soft flesh at his temple. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw another man grab Thomas and do the same.
Thomas issued a startled yelp and bellowed. “What is the meaning of this?”
Gabe latched his dark gaze onto Cane Howard, forcing himself to take measured breaths as fury seethed inside. Every muscle in his body was clenched tight, almost bulging through his skin and suit fabric. Every nerve buzzed with electric adrenaline. Despite the present adverse circumstance, he promised himself that Cane Howard was a dead man.
Maggie raced down the curved stairs and practically overran the butler.
“Where’s Mrs. Masters?” she demanded, her voice loud and gruff.
The usually unflappable man’s face squeezed in obvious shock, and then he proceeded to escort her to the sitting room. Maggie pushed past him and ran ahead, decorum the last thing she was concerned about at the moment. She burst into the room, the French doors banging shut behind her. Startled, Mrs. Masters shot to her feet, causing the delicate chair she’d occupied to tip over with a thud onto the Aubusson rug. She tossed the letter opener she’d been holding onto the davenport that held a neat stack of mail and clasped her fingers in front of her. One thin brow rose into her forehead as her crisp blue gaze pinned Maggie.
“Just what do you think you’re about?”
Maggie folded her arms in front of her and met the icy gaze head on. “I want to know what the hell is going on,” she demanded, not tempering the uncompromising fury in her voice.
“Pardon me?” Kate bristled, obviously affronted by Maggie’s severe tone.
“What is your relationship with Cane Howard?”
The woman stared angrily at her, her delicate features rigid with hate.
“I know that Masters Communications has been sponsoring Dr. Rollins’ research and is in alliance with Cane Howard! Cane is an evil man! He’s been after Gabe, trying to kill him!” Maggie tried to control her voice, but it came out shrill and hysterical.
She watched Kate’s eyes grow unbelievably round and her lips part; Kate issued something that sounded like a breathy wail.
Maggie saw the woman’s knees almost buckle as she walked unsteadily to a couch. Her thin body sank into the seat, then she clapped her hands over her face and started to weep.
Maggie rushed over to the woman, sitting beside her.
“Please, please tell me what’s going on. Does Cane know where Gabe and Thomas are headed?” she beseeched the older woman. “Please tell me. There may still be time to warn them!”
Kate removed her palms from her face and regarded Maggie with red watery eyes. She shook her head gravely. “Someone’s trying to kill Gabriel?”
Maggie nodded, waiting anxiously for some explanation.
“Don’t you see? I’ve been so afraid. Afraid that something like this would happen. I saw them leave this morning, but…”
Maggie’s face wrinkled with confusion. “Afraid what would happen?” she almost yelled.
“Thomas. I was afraid that Thomas would go after him! Jack left everything to Gabriel. Gabriel took off after his death. He never knew, still doesn’t. I’m sure he assumed that they both inherited. But…you see, Gabriel always had a better head for business. Gabriel was Jack’s heart.”
“Oh my God…” Maggie whispered.
“Thomas and Jack never got along,” Kate continued. “Jack never trusted him to take care of the company. And he was right. Thomas has made such poor decisions! Our lawyers have been trying to get in touch with Gabriel, but he’s impossible to track down. Honestly, I don’t think the lawyers have tried very hard. Thomas certainly never made it a priority.” She looked directly into Maggie’s eyes, tears flowing down her face, dripping onto her mauve pastel suit. “Thomas only inherits upon Gabe’s death.”
Maggie’s jaw dropped. She was mute with shock. Fear and horror caused a cold chill to settle over her, erupting small quakes along her skin.
“What are you saying? What about Cane? What about your new boyfriend?” she asked, her mind trying to reject its conclusions.
“I don’t know who this Cane person is. I don’t have a boyfriend. I could never disrespect Jack’s memory,” Kate replied earnestly, her words spilling in a rush. “He might be a friend of Thomas’ perhaps. Thomas has been involved with the most unsavory company of late. He’s been making me very nervous. I’ve grown afraid of him. He warned me not to tell Gabe about the will. I was afraid Thomas would try to poison Gabe against me.”
Maggie shook her head, still confused, but then realization dawned on her. Every time she’d noticed Kate’s agitation it had been when Thomas was around as well. She’d assumed it was Victoria who’d been the source of her anxiety, but it had been Thomas all along.
Kate took a deep breath then tried to explain slowly. “I wanted to tell him about the will. That’s what I needed to talk to him about. He never cared, you see—not about the money. Gabe loved his father very much. He’d always blamed himself for Jack’s death. We were all in such grief…and that horrible trial. We were worried about scandal, and the company. We were not very supportive of him I’m afraid. We drove him away.” Her voice hiccupped with tears.
Maggie scrubbed her face with her palms, focusing on the current crises. “We have to find them. We have to warn him.”
Kate shrugged her narrow shoulders, her eyes wide. “But, what can we do?”
“We have to track them down somehow.” Maggie swiped at the moisture in her own eyes and almost bit through her lip. Her eyes focused with determination. Suddenly she remembered something Gabe had said to Victoria. Something about the cars and GPS.
“Do you know if they took Thomas’ car?” she asked sharply.
Kate looked flustered. “I—I don’t know.”
“Who would know?”
“The gate. The men at the security gate.” Kate suddenly looked hopeful. “They’d be able to track the car.”
“What is the meaning of this, Cane?” Thomas bellowed angrily. “I demand that you let me go at once!”
Cane stood with a smile and circled his desk. As usual he was dressed impeccably; this time in a
dark blue suit with a yellow and white striped tie. His hair was combed back and his blue eyes sparkled with triumph.
He stopped in front of Thomas and his smile widened.
Gabe looked on silently at the interaction between his brother and Cane and his head started to buzz. Thomas seemed appalled, affronted at being held by the guards. He wasn’t fearful or angry, but more testily annoyed and impatient. So it wasn’t shock that punched through Gabe’s heart when Cane nodded to his henchman to let Thomas go, it was simply a piercing sadness, and ironically, morbid fear for his brother. Thomas had no idea who he was dealing with. Cane Howard was evil.
Thomas straightened his bow tie and adjusted his glasses, sending Cane an imperious glare.
“How dare you!”
Cane stared at him silently, his eyes lethal, his smile gone. “Now I see the difference between the twins. It’s a shame that Gabriel inherited the brawn and the brains.”
Thomas glowed hot at the comment. His lips twisted tight. “I did not come here to trade insults with you, Cane Howard. You owe me for bringing him to you! This was my plan, remember! And executed brilliantly!”
Gabe stared silently, unblinking, trying to ignore the sting of Thomas’ betraying words. He’d watch and see how this scene played out. An engorged vein bulged in his brother’s forehead and he knew that Cane was aware of Thomas’ weakness and would use it to his full advantage. That was how this man operated.
“What was it like being the overlooked son? Hmm?” Cane walked back to the desk and leaned on it casually. “I can see why Jack Masters left everything to Gabriel. You, Thomas, are just not capable.” Cane said the last words slowly, letting them soak in. He leaned forward, angry now. “You were supposed to let me get my research data first, and then kill him, you idiot! I’m the one who found him. Instead you sent him on the run and left me to clean up your messes. You sent him right to Victoria and created even more problems for me. Your brother does not like to be crossed!” Cane turned to Gabriel and addressed him. “Am I right, Gabriel?”
Gabe did blink then, pieces of the puzzle sliding into place. It never truly made sense to him that Cane Howard would try to kill him before he’d turned over the data. Gabe had to slow his speeding heart when he realized that the voice from the cell phone in the alley had been Thomas’. He was the one inquiring if Gabe Masters was dead. He was the one who’d sent men to the hospital, to Maggie’s apartment. He’d sent the snipers. Had he killed Harry too? Shit. And Gabe had gone back home, walked right up to his doorstep. He’d put Maggie and Victoria in danger. Thomas had probably thanked his good fortune when Gabe called to use the plane.
Cane turned to Gabe and offered him a wide friendly smile. “You see, Gabriel. I told you I was not your enemy. I told you that you had bigger problems. Thomas here has become impatient, reckless even. He wants the inheritance.”
“Shut up, Cane!” Thomas was now growing furious. His blue eyes protruded behind his glasses, turning his face into a warped caricature.
Cane’s smile became malevolent. He peered at Gabe and Gabe steeled himself. Cane was now examining him for his weaknesses.
“Thomas failed eight years ago when he tried to blow up your father and you. He tampered with your race car. Another thing he only did half right. Then he let you take the blame.” Cane chuckled condescendingly then clucked his tongue.
“Shut up, Cane!” Thomas’ face suffused with color. His blonde hair became disheveled, falling on his forehead. For the first time since coming into the room he looked at his brother.
For all of his control and training, Gabe couldn’t suppress the cry of anguish that crawled from his throat. Oh, God, no! He looked into Thomas’ eyes, silently pleading for him to deny the awful accusation. But Thomas couldn’t. The truth was etched in the tight lines of his face and his wide, bitter blue eyes. The rage and pain that exploded inside Gabe was paralyzing, locking his limbs with brutal force, then causing them to slump limply with the knowledge that Thomas had killed his father. Gabe had shouldered the blame like a heavy wooden cross; he’d dragged the crippling weight around for years. He’d always worried that he’d done something wrong to the car when he’d worked on the engine. But the car had been demolished, consumed with flames, and the little evidence the prosecution had had been judged in the end inconclusive. Gabe gazed morosely at his brother. It had been Thomas all this time.
Thomas seemed to lose it then. His face contorted with blind fury and his mouth twisted into a snarl. His bottom lip vibrated like a plucked string.
“Don’t you look at me like that, Gabe! It was always you! Father never cared for me! I was invisible to him! Invisible! You always got everything! Even in the end!”
“Father loved you,” Gabe whispered hoarsely.
“Don’t you see, Thomas? It’s because you’re so inept! A bitter disappointment. You’ll never be Gabriel,” Cane drawled, inciting Thomas to mania.
Gabe jerked and issued a warning shout to Thomas, but enraged, Thomas lunged at Cane. Cane did a quick side step, then calmly pulled a gun from inside his jacket and exploded a bullet right through Thomas’s heart.
Gabe roared liked an animal in agony as he watched his brother stagger back and drop to the floor. A sea of expanding blood colored the front of his suit, and his jaw plummeted open, his misery silenced by death. Two men now struggled to hold Gabe. They tightened their iron grip, anticipating rightly that he’d go after Cane. A gun was still mashed to his skull. Sweat rolled off his forehead into his eyes, his body felt numb. He felt like he was poised at the edge of a dark cliff, about to dive off. It was only Maggie’s voice, her smile and bright pewter blue eyes that calmed him and prevented him from doing something stupid. Because from the look on Cane’s face he would relish putting a bullet straight through his heart as well.
Maggie swerved the sports car into the parking lot and plowed into a spot. She turned her head to see if there were other cars following her, but she was alone. She’d gotten there first. Probably because as soon as the security guard had triangulated the coordinates of Thomas’ vehicle she’d located Gabe’s car, made a quick stop back at the mansion, and peeled away. They’d had no choice but to open the gate, because she’d been determined to ram right through it. She had no time to wait for the police. Precious moments could be wasted while they waited.
Maggie swung her gaze around the nearly empty lot. She had no idea where she was. She’d just plugged in the address and blindly followed the GPS, committing several traffic violations in the process. A small measure of relief coursed through her when she spotted Thomas’ Bentley parked a few rows away. She remembered it from the night at the airport. At least she’d ended up in the right place.
She prayed that she was wrong, that they were indeed meeting with the CIA director, but her heart raced, and a cold dread quivered inside her. She could feel the danger Gabe was facing like a pulsating ache; she knew he was in trouble. In front of her was a small square white building. Three stories. Nondescript. He was in there somewhere. She said a quick desperate prayer for him, determined to keep her thoughts cohesive and focused. She tried not to think of how much she loved him or how important he’d become to her. Even though there were no promises shared between them, or even words of love, she couldn’t imagine a life without him. She picked up the items she’d grabbed from Gabe’s duffle bag and one other item she’d grabbed on a whim, taken from Victoria’s room, praying that the woman would forgive her.
From where she was parked she could see into the lobby of the building. Two men in black suits stood guard just inside the door. She sighed. She needed a plan. She gulped. She had no plan.
You ain’t got no plan? You crazy? You don’t know what’s going on in there!
She palmed the hand gun and began to load it, her fingers shaking in the process.
Twice she dropped the magazine and swore in frustration. She’d seen him do it a thousand times. He’d even talked her through the process once when she’d expressed some vague c
uriosity. Loathing guns, she hadn’t paid much attention. Now she wished she’d been more studious. But, satisfied now that she’d remembered all the steps, she inhaled deeply and exited the car, hunkering down to remain undetected. She pushed away the thoughts that tried to melt her resolve and germinate fear. She’d been on the run for weeks, surely she’d learned something! She scooted around another car, moving closer to the building. There must be a back door around somewhere!
Cane stepped in front of Gabe and faced him squarely. “No need to thank me for the favor. I was growing tired of his incessant whining. Consider it a trade.” A smile pulled the corners of his lips but failed to reach his eyes. They were deadly blue crystals.
Gabe locked his eyes on Cane’s face, his features eerily equitable. He numbed his body to emotion. One thing he’d learned as a SEAL was that emotion could be dangerous. Hard cold logic was what was required to overcome the worse adversity. Of course, a lead bullet didn’t give a whit about hard cold logic. If he expected to get out of there alive he had to forget about his dead brother on the floor, stay focused until he had an opportunity to strike, and there was nothing wrong with hoping for some small miracle.
“Now, my flash drives please,” Cane asked politely, nodding to one of the lackeys holding him. “Thomas assured me they haven’t been copied or adulterated.”
A meaty hand skimmed over his body, and finding the drive in his breast pocket, dropped it into Cane’s awaiting palm. Cane’s smug blue eyes grew hard when the man resumed his position.
“There should be two drives,” he stated gruffly to the guard who answered with a timid shake of his head.
He turned to Gabe and his blue eyes deepened in shade. He leveled the gun at him. “Where is the other flash drive?”