by Linda Verji
“Ah, yes. Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse us for a minute.” Archie doffed his cap to his friends before leading Damián further afield.
“So what do you have for me?” Damián asked once they were far enough that no one else could hear them.
Archie’s voice lowered perceptibly as he said, “What I’m about to tell you is classified. You can’t tell anyone. Not Aiko. Not Josiah. Not Lincoln.”
“Fine,” Damián agreed. “Classified. I get it.”
“Do you really?” His father’s eyes narrowed. “I’m serious, son. This is information that can’t be out in the public.”
“I got it,” Damián insisted.
Archie revealed, “Lincoln was part of a special ops unit that was sent out for an unsanctioned extraction in North Korea. The mission went sideways and only two members of the ten-man unit came back. Because the mission was unsanctioned, it and its failure had to be covered up otherwise we would’ve been in for an international incident of epic proportions.”
He paused to take a breath before continuing, “The records that show that Lincoln died earlier than he actually did are part of that cover up. At the time, everyone assumed that Lincoln died with the rest of his team and didn’t bother looking for him.”
Damián’s eyebrows shot up. “At the time?”
Archie nodded. “About two months after the botched mission, we received a ransom note. They had video of Lincoln but they were calling him Franklin. He was claiming to be a Liberian businessman – but they didn’t believe him. The bare bones of it was that they wanted us to release one of their compatriots being held in one of our black sites in exchange for ‘Franklin’.
Of course capitulating to their demands was not an option. It would’ve meant acknowledging that we were on their soil illegally on an unsanctioned mission and it would’ve been considered an act of war..”
“Please tell me that you didn’t just leave him there.” Damián couldn’t hide the horror in his voice. Suddenly he felt like an insensitive idiot for everything he’d said or thought about Lincoln.
“I wasn’t part of the group who made the decision to abandon him.” Archie paused before adding, “But I would have done the same thing. In every war there is collateral damage and sometimes you have to let some pawns go.”
“Are you listening to yourself?” Damián knew his father was many things, but he’d never thought of him as being this callous. “Lincoln is a human being, not a piece in your demented chess game.”
“It’s all a chess game, son.” Before Damián could berate him further, Archie continued, “Anyway, when they refused to acknowledge Lincoln as a US national, they assumed that the Koreans would get rid of him-”
“You mean kill him?” Damián cut in sharply.
Archie stared at him before nodding curtly. “Yes. Kill him.”
“Apparently they didn’t. Because he’s here alive and well.” Damián leveled a pointed glance at his father. “No thanks to your cronies.”
Archie shrugged. “I can see that you’re feeling sorry for the guy. But I wouldn’t be so quick to start picketing in his defense.”
“What does that mean?”
“That means that you should be asking yourself how he survived those five years.” Archie’s gaze hardened as he explained, “The North Koreans aren’t generous people and five years is a long time. You don’t stay alive in their internment camps for that long unless they’re getting something from you. So what did Lincoln give them? Also, let’s not forget that there were whispers that someone tipped the Koreans off in advance that’s why they reacted so fast.”
“Are you saying that Lincoln was that someone? Or are you saying that he gave them information afterwards to keep himself alive?” Damián asked.
His father considered the question briefly then said, “I’m just positing likely scenarios of how he managed to stay alive for so long. I’m also reminding you of the questions you should be asking yourself before you allow him to get close to you, Aiko and the kids.” He stared at Damián keenly as he reminded him, “You’re the one who told me that you didn’t trust him and the story he was spinning Aiko. Maybe there’s a reason your gut keeps telling you to protect your family from him.”
Archie’s words were enough to send Damián’s thoughts into a tailspin. Was Lincoln just a pawn sacrificed to protect his heartless masters? Or was he a spy who’d gotten caught up in his own web? Was he a danger to Aiko and Seraphina? And if he was, how was Damián going to protect his family from him? How was he supposed to tell Aiko that the heroic love of her life might be a traitor?
Feeling the beginnings of a headache, Damián asked, “Do you think all this might have something to do with why he’s disappeared?”
Archie gave a start. “What do you mean he’s disappeared?”
Damián briefed his father on Lincoln’s suspicious exit from Samuel’s home. “Aiko still can’t get a hold of him.”
“Shit!” Archie seemed seriously rattled as he ran his hand over his hair. “Look, I’ll see if I can find him and let you know.”
“Thanks.” Damián started to leave but Archie held him back with a hand on his shoulder.
“Be careful.”
As Damián drove out of the club, his thoughts were a jumbled mess; shifting between feeling sorry for Lincoln and wondering if his sympathy was wasted. After all, it was very possible that the man was a traitor. The only thing Damián knew for sure was that he and Aiko needed to talk about her relationship with Lincoln and the suspicions around him. It was the only way to make sure that she and Seraphina were safe. He just didn’t know how to start the conversation without looking like a jealous schmuck trying to get rid of the competition.
CHAPTER 19
Saturday dawned sunny and bright, but it did nothing to dispel the worry twisting Aiko’s insides in knots. Where was Lincoln? It was now three days since she’d last heard from him. He wasn’t picking her calls, or answering her texts. In fact, since the previous day all her calls had been going direct to voicemail as if his phone was off. Was that deliberate or was something wrong? Between her own questions and Brenda’s constant calls asking her if Lincoln was back, she was a mental mess.
All her instincts were screaming at her to find him but she didn’t even know where to begin. She was even considering asking Damián for help, which showed just how worried she was considering how irrationally her fiancé acted any time Lincoln’s name came up. But tonight, if she still hadn’t heard from Lincoln, she was going to ask for his help.
Meanwhile, life still had to go on.
Despite the problems with her relationship with Damián and her anxiety over Lincoln, Aiko decided to attend Caroline’s meeting. It was a few minutes to three p.m. on Saturday when she drove into Josiah and Caroline’s estate.
The couple’s home was even grander than Damián and Aiko’s home. The beautiful 1930s inspired brick mansion was set on a large estate complete with manicured grounds and a pond smack in the middle of the driveway. Several luxury cars were parked side by side around the driveway.
After exiting her BMW, Aiko made her way to the front door. The door swung open even before she reached it to reveal Caroline. As usual, the woman was the picture of stylishness. She was wearing a white, loose blouse hanging over beige form-fitting cigarette pants that stopped short of touching her peach pumps. Her golden tresses were knotted in a loose chignon at the base of her head with a few strands let loose to complete the picture of relaxed elegance.
“I’m so glad you decided to come.” The woman leaned forward to buss Aiko’s cheek. “Please, please come in.”
“Thank you.” Aiko stepped into the massive foyer. Taking it in, she said, “You have a lovely home. And the décor is just exquisite.”
“You like it? Renée Veras did it for me.” Caroline closed the door behind them. “You know Renée, right?”
“I haven’t heard of her.” Aiko shook her head.
“Renée is a man – and a very flam
boyant one at that.” Chuckling, Caroline the way into a grand den.
The den was filled with a dozen or so chattering women, some seated, some standing but all obviously wealthy. The chattering stumbled to screeching halt when the women noticed the new entrant and unease filtered into atmosphere. Each of them seemed to be assessing Aiko, taking her in, judging her and weighing if she was worth accepting into their group or not.
The silence and staring was so uncomfortable that Aiko considered beating a hasty retreat. Fortunately, Caroline broke the uneasy silence.
“Ladies, for those who don’t know who this is…” She set her hand on Aiko’s back. “This is Aiko, Damián Colter’s future wife, and my friend. She’ll be joining our little team.”
The unspoken message in Caroline’s firm words and hand on Aiko’s back was clear. Aiko was her friend, she was going to join their group. If anyone had a problem with that, they could go jump off a bridge. It was obvious that Caroline had a lot of clout in this group because despite a few twisted lips and sniffs no one offered a word of protest. In fact, two women shifted on a settee to make room for Aiko and drew her into their conversation.
The conversation was nothing to write home about – it just about someone who’d opened a baby jewelry shop or something – but it didn’t matter. Aiko was just glad to be included. Of course her scar became a conversation point, but those who asked were interested in how she’d acquired it rather than in how it made her look. Once they discovered that she was a veteran, the women became even friendlier.
The meeting was just as concise as Caroline had promised. Over tea and muffins, they decided on an official date for the funds-drive, came up with tentative suggestions for guest speakers, tossed around ideas about invitees and started on a budget. After they agreed on a date for the next meeting, they adjourned.
Aiko was feeling quite cheerful as she drove home. This day had gone much better than she expected. Not only had she made some new friends, but she’d also gathered one or two new clients for Heart Connections. She’d just parked her car in the driveway when her phone rang. A glance at the screen revealed that it was Carmen.
Aiko’s first instinct was to toss the phone into her handbag. Since the fake apology for talking behind her back, Carmen hadn’t called her or even come to the house. So why was she calling her now? If she wasn’t her mother-in-law…
Sighing internally, Aiko answered the phone. “Hi, Carmen.”
“Hi, cariño,” The older woman’s voice was filled with sugary sweetness. “How are you?”
“I’m fine. Thanks,” Aiko asked, “You?”
“Good. Good.” Carmen paused then asked, “I was speaking to a friend a few minutes ago, and she told me that you’re on Caroline Neal’s committee.”
Oh. So that’s why she’d called. Since Aiko was now in ‘Caroline’s committee’ she was suddenly worth calling? Aiko offered a curt, “Yes, I am.”
“Really? I’ve been trying to get on that committee for the longest time.” Carmen paused as if waiting for Aiko to offer to put in a good word for her. When Aiko offered no response, Carmen gave an uncomfortable titter. “Oh, well I just wanted to say congratulations.”
Aiko rolled her eyes. “Thank you.”
“We really should do that lunch soon,” Carmen said. “How is your Monday looking?”
“Very busy.” After a few more minutes of that awkward conversation with Carmen pressing for a firm lunch-date, Aiko ended the phone call with a promise that she’d arrange something.
Damián wasn’t home by the time Aiko got in, but Zoe had a few of her friends over by the pool. After checking on them to make sure they were being careful, Aiko cloistered herself in Damián’s study to work on some business reports. Unfortunately, she ended up brooding over Lincoln’s whereabouts. Where was he? Why wasn’t he picking up his phone? Was he in trouble or just ignoring her? She was lost in her thoughts when the sudden inward swing of the door startled her into awareness.
Damián walked into the room, but stopped cold when he saw her. “Oh. You’re here.”
Trying not to be offended by the deer-caught-in-the-headlights look in his eyes, she picked a sheaf of papers and waved them. “Yeah. Just working on some reports.”
“I see.”
He looked like he was thinking of backing out of the room so she stopped him with, “It’s good that you’re here. I need to talk to you.”
Immediate wariness leapt to his eyes but all he said was, “Oh.”
This wouldn’t do at all. She couldn’t ask for his help with Lincoln if he was this uncomfortable. So she rose from the seat and asked, “Let me get you a drink.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Is it that bad?”
“No, it’s not that bad.” Aiko chuckled. “What can I get you?”
He watched her for a long second before saying, “Bourbon.”
While she poured, he settled on an armchair on the far corner of the room. His full glass in her hand, she strolled toward him. Instead of just handing it to him, she settled on his knee. If she was going to do this then she needed to soften him up. What better way to soften her man than with TLC? Damián shot her a startled glance even as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
“It is bad.” This time he wasn’t asking, he was stating.
“I just need a favor,” she answered as she handed him the drink.
He took a few sips before saying, “Okay, hit me with it.”
She rifled through her thoughts looking for the best way to come out with what she wanted then decided to just be straightforward. “You remember when I told you that Lincoln wasn’t answering my calls?”
Damián perceptibly stiffened, and his gray eyes shadowed. “I remember.”
Though aware of his coldness, she continued, “Well, I still haven’t heard from him. I was wondering if… if maybe… maybe you could use your contacts to find him.”
Damián was quiet for a long time – an uncomfortably long time during which he just stared at her. His arm dropped from her waist and he set the still full glass on the side-table. When he spoke his voice was wintery cold. “Let me get this straight; you’ve been giving me the cold shoulder for the last three days. On the day you finally decide to talk to me it’s about Lincoln. Again.”
“That’s not how it is,” she protested. Even though she knew that’s exactly how it was.
“Isn’t it?” Damián stared at her for a long time before sighing. “Fine, I’ll ask around.” He set both his hands on her waist and lifted her off his knee and stood up. “Now, if you’ll excuse me-”
“Damián.” She grabbed his hand to keep him from leaving.
“What?” He spun around to face her.
She tried to think of something to say but the only words that came to mind were, “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Damián slanted her an impassive stare. “For caring about him more than you care about me?”
“You know that’s not true.” Trying to keep calm despite the irritation already rising within her, she said, “Lincoln is just a friend who needs me, but you’re the one who I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
“I wish your actions matched your words.” He started to leave, even got to the door, but then he turned back to her. “And while you’re taking care of your friend have you considered that you might be endangering your family?”
“Why would I be endangering my family?”
“I looked into Lincoln.” He folded his arms over his chest. “And I didn’t like what I saw.”
“What does that even mean? You looked and didn’t like what you saw?”
“I can’t say.”
“Can’t say what?” she prodded, her own temper beginning to rise.
Damián just stared at her silently. The longer the silence lasted, the angrier she became until she erupted, “Who even asked you to look into Lincoln?”
“Unlike you I wasn’t comfortable throwing the guy a party before I knew what he was about or where he cam
e from,” he countered. “I had to make sure you and Seraphina were safe with him so I asked my dad to look into him.”
“Oh, you had your dad look into him?” There was more than a hint of a sarcasm in her voice.
Damián didn’t miss it because his eyes narrowed into thin slits. “Yes, I had my dad look into him. And you know what? Apparently your precious Lincoln might be a traitor.”
“What?” Shock pulsed through Aiko as her mind went into immediate denial. “No, he isn’t?”
“Isn’t he? Did you know that Lincoln was part of a ten-man unit that was sent into North Korea? Did you know…” Damián’s tone was as cutting as his words as he briefed her on everything his father had told him. He finished with, “… Some people think that Lincoln was a double-agent. That the only reason he’s still alive is because he was an informant.”
“Some people who?” Aiko didn’t believe the accusations. She refused to believe them. The Lincoln she knew was a man of honor, someone who would have died rather than betray his family.
When Damián’s response to her question was a silent glare, she exploded, “This is a load of bullshit. You know damn well that this whole looking into Lincoln nonsense wasn’t about protecting us,” she shot back. “If it was, you would’ve told me what you were doing before you started doing it. This was about you being jealous and looking for dirt on Lincoln to justify it. As for your father’s information, I don’t trust it. That man spins the truth better than a weaver spins cloth.”
“Are you saying my father is a liar?”
“Are you saying he’s not?” she countered acerbically. “You’ve only chosen to believe him because his story fits in with your silly little vendetta against Lincoln. At first I could understand it, but it is getting so ridiculous you can’t even see past it.”
Anger glittered in Damián’s eyes as he sputtered, “I don’t have a vendetta against Lincoln.”
“Yes you do. If you didn’t you wouldn’t have-” She stopped speaking because if she kept on she’d end up saying something that she’d regret later. How this whole conversation had turned into an argument was beyond her. “Forget it. All I wanted was for you to help me find him. If you can’t get past your issues with him then fine, I’ll find him myself.”