“You’re aware that addictive personalities can be, at least in part, genetic. A lot of things that may have once been considered strictly behavioral, we’re finding, may be more nature than nurture.”
Aine nodded. “My degree is in neuroscience, Tabon.”
“I know it is. So, whether Striker is willing to admit it or not, you can understand where he’s coming from.”
Aine thought over what Tabon had just told her. Could that be what was behind their breakup? It didn’t make sense. He’d known about his family members’ addictions long before they’d started seeing each other. To say his sister’s death was the impetus that made him realize he was “predisposed” didn’t make sense. There had to be more to it.
“There’s something you’re not telling me.”
Tabon shook his head. “I can’t, Aine. It’s Striker’s story, not mine. I know your sister will disagree with me. She may even insist I tell you everything I know, but before we came out here, you told me not to tell you anything. Instead, I’ve told you as much as you could’ve figured out on your own.”
Aine put her hand on Tabon’s arm. “I meant what I said. I wouldn’t ask you to betray a confidence.”
“And I won’t ask you to lie to your sister.”
“I won’t. I’ll tell her what you told me, not what you didn’t.”
Tabon nodded. “Thanks.”
“We haven’t had a chance to talk about what Tabon told you,” said Ava a couple of days later, while looking over her shoulder as she watched her husband and Mercer go down the stairs to the office
“It wasn’t that interesting.”
“Well, what was it?” Ava pushed.
Aine sighed and looked between her sister and Quinn. “Striker’s sister was a drug addict. Although he didn’t say she died of an overdose, her death had something to do with her addiction.”
“Is he embarrassed?” Ava asked.
“I don’t think someone like Striker would be embarrassed about that, Ava,” Quinn answered for her.
“Both of his parents were addicts too.”
Ava looked lost, but Quinn looked thoughtful.
“Evidently, he’s concerned about genetic predisposition,” Aine shared her theory.
“Makes sense, but didn’t he know his parents were addicts long before you and he started seeing each other?”
“That’s exactly what I said, Quinn.”
“Huh.”
“I know.”
“There has to be more to it,” Ava chimed in. “Tabon didn’t know anything more?”
“Again, I said essentially the same thing.”
“But he didn’t tell you anything else?”
“That’s right.”
“If he suddenly became concerned about hereditary issues, he must’ve found something out about his sister that he wasn’t aware of when they were growing up.”
Aine looked up at Quinn. That made perfect sense. “But what?”
“That’s the unanswered question.”
“Is there any way for either of our husbands to find out more?” asked Ava.
“I’m not sure,” answered Quinn, “but the best person I can think of to talk to about it, isn’t either one of them.”
“Who?” Aine asked, hoping she wouldn’t say Striker.
“Merrigan.”
Aine looked at her watch. “I need to leave.”
“That’s right, the new beau is coming to visit. I can’t wait to meet him,” said Quinn, rubbing her hands together.
Ava smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “He’s a really nice guy.”
Aine inwardly groaned. Was that the best her sister could come up with?
“What’s wrong?” Quinn put her arm around Aine’s shoulders.
“Nothing. Frustrated. Trying to understand. But why? I’m with Stuart now.”
“Sweetie…”
“I know. It’s stupid.”
“I didn’t say that.”
She looked into Quinn’s eyes. “What should I do?”
“You know what to do. Follow your heart.”
Aine nodded. “I gotta go.”
Quinn winked. “Go on then, get outta here, girl.”
—:—
They hadn’t been on the ground an hour and were headed to the US embassy in Bogotá when Striker received a call from the ambassador.
“Juan Carlos is dead.”
“Goddammit,” Striker swore under his breath. “Sorry, sir.” He knew better than to use that kind of language with a high-ranking US diplomat.
“I understand and share your frustration. Details regarding your visit were kept on a need-to-know basis.”
“Which means either you have a mole or we do.”
“It’s more likely on our end.”
“Yes, sir,” Striker responded, relieved the ambassador said it, so he didn’t have to.
“I’m afraid you’ve made a wasted trip.”
“I realize you may not have time in your schedule to meet with us, but I’m asking anyway, sir.”
“Least I could do. What’s your ETA?”
“Less than five minutes.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Striker ended the call and told Ranger and Diesel what he and the ambassador had discussed.
“I’ll see what I can find out while you’re in the meeting,” offered Diesel.
“Ranger, you join me.”
“Roger that,” he answered.
Once they arrived, Striker would request their meeting be private. It would be up to Diesel to figure out who wouldn’t want it to be.
He wished Onyx and Corazón had come with them rather than stayed with the plane. He could’ve used two more sets of eyes to be on the lookout for the mole.
13
“I sense you have some discomfort over me staying with you,” Stuart said on the ride back from the airport.
Aine bit her lower lip. “The change in your attitude was just so…unexpected.”
“I’m sorry, Aine. I was…reacting.”
She kept both hands firmly on the steering wheel and didn’t turn her head to look at him. “To what?”
“The guy, the one you said works with your sister’s husband.”
“He does work with Tabon.”
“It’s obvious that he’s interested in you, Aine.”
She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “We dated, briefly. It ended a long time ago.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Aine saw Stuart nod.
“I figured it was something like that.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, but honestly, it’s old news.”
“Is it?”
Aine turned her head. “It is, Stuart.”
They were almost to the turnoff for Cambria before Stuart spoke again.
“I booked a place to stay.”
“Uh, okay. Where?”
“Someplace called Cambria Shores.”
Aine knew her cheeks were flaming red, but there was little she could do about it.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, just a little warm.” She fiddled with the air conditioner and turned the vents so they were pointed directly at her. “Do you want to come by the house first?”
“Either way. I guess we could stop so I can check in.”
“Sure.”
Instead of going left at the turnoff to the house, Aine turned right to go to Moonstone Beach. She pulled into the inn’s parking lot and went inside with Stuart.
“You look so familiar,” said the woman behind the desk.
“I get that a lot. I’m a twin.”
“I see,” said the woman, looking puzzled. “What is your name again?”
“Aine,” she answered.
“I remember you. You were here last year with—”
“My mom. She isn’t here this year, so I’m staying with my sister and her husband who have a home on Windsor.”
Stuart had finished filling out the paperwork and was st
aring at her. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yep,” she answered, doing her best not to roll her eyes. “Fine and dandy.” It could’ve been worse. At least the woman hadn’t mentioned Griffin.
“Oh, Mr. Ellis, you’re back sooner than you expected!” exclaimed the woman, looking beyond Aine and Stuart.
It couldn’t be. Could it? Aine turned around and came face to face with Striker.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“I could ask you the same thing.”
“Oh, um, Stuart is just checking in.”
Striker studied her but didn’t say another word.
“Ready?” asked Aine, seeing that Stuart had the room key in his hand. “Do you want to drop your bags off or do that later?”
“Now’s good.”
Aine almost offered to wait in the car, but if Stuart had something to say, now would be as good a time as any for her to listen.
“That was awkward,” he said after the office door closed behind them.
“He was supposed to be in South America,” she sighed, and then immediately wondered if she should’ve divulged that information. Would Stuart think she only invited him to visit because Striker should have been out of the country?
“It would’ve been less awkward if you’d introduced us.”
“Oh, God, I’m sorry. I forgot you hadn’t met before.”
“You seem flustered,” Stuart commented.
“What? No. Like I said before, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure you want me here?”
“Yes, Stuart. I want you here.” She folded her arms. “As I told you, Striker and I were together a while ago, and now we’re not. It’s not something I’m going to continue to apologize for.”
He held up both of his hands. “No apology necessary. I was merely wondering if there was unfinished business between the two of you.”
“There isn’t.”
She chose to ignore the doubtful expression on Stuart’s face. “Ready?” she asked for the second time once he’d put his bag inside the room.
“Sure.”
Aine watched Stuart, who was checking out the view from the deck.
“Doesn’t look much different than Yachats. Why does your brother-in-law own houses in two such similar places?”
“You know, that’s a good question. You should ask him.”
Stuart nodded.
“I was going to get a glass of wine. Can I get you anything?”
“A beer would be nice if they have it.”
“I’m sure they do. Be right back.”
“Everything okay?” asked Ava, who was in the kitchen with Tabon and Sam.
“No. Nothing is okay.”
“Anything I can do to help?” Tabon asked.
“Take Stuart a beer so I can have a couple of minutes to get my shit together.”
“Not a problem.” Tabon grabbed two bottles from the fridge and left her and Ava alone with the baby.
“What is going on?” her sister asked.
“Striker is back.”
“Already?”
“That’s what I said. Maybe I didn’t say that exactly. I think I ask him what he was doing at the inn.”
“Wait. What?”
“Stuart was checking into the inn on Moonstone Beach, and Striker walked into the office at the same time.”
“I’m so confused.” Ava buckled Sam into the high chair. “Why was Stuart checking into the inn?”
“We aren’t…we haven’t…you know.”
“You’re kidding.”
Aine shook her head. “I don’t think he believes in sex before marriage, or maybe it’s just sex before two people love each other that he’s against.”
“Wow.”
“It’s fine, Ava.”
“It’s weird is what it is.”
“I don’t have a problem with it.”
“That’s a problem in and of itself.”
Aine peered out to the deck. It looked like Stuart and Tabon were in the midst of a conversation. Thank God.
“Look, I don’t want to talk about it right now. We can talk more later after I take Stuart back. Who’s supposed to be here for dinner tonight?” Aine pulled out a chair and sat down. The stress from both Striker and Stuart being here—just being around Striker in general—was wreaking havoc on her stomach.
“You, Tabon, and me, and maybe Quinn and Mercer.” Ava pulled out the chair next to her. “Are you okay? You look kind of pale.”
“I think I’m giving myself an ulcer,” she said, rubbing her stomach.
Ava reached over and felt her forehead. “You might be getting sick. What are your symptoms?”
“My stomach hurts. Otherwise, I feel fine.”
“How long has it hurt?”
“I don’t know, Doctor Ava, maybe since Striker decided to show up.”
Her sister rolled her eyes. “You can’t let this make you sick, Aine. Maybe you should try meditating.”
“I meditate every time I go for a run.”
“I don’t think it’s helping.”
“Can we get back to what we were talking about before?”
“I don’t remember what that was.”
“I think I was about to say that maybe I’ll get lucky and I won’t run into Striker again before Stuart goes back to Yachats.”
“Uh oh,” said Ava, standing and looking out the window.
“What? Don’t tell me. He’s here, isn’t he?”
Her sister nodded.
“Why?”
Ava shrugged. “I don’t know. What are you going to do?”
“I can see if Stuart wants to go out for dinner tonight, you know, just the two of us.”
“If that’s your plan, you better get outside before my husband ruins it. You know how Tabon is. The more the merrier. He’s probably already asked him how he likes his steak.”
“You two eat an awful lot of steak.”
“Tabon eats a lot of steak. I fill up on the side dishes.”
“Why don’t you just tell him you don’t like to eat so much red meat?”
Ave rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Aine?”
“Right.”
“She goes for a run almost every day,” Aine heard Tabon say to Stuart as she joined them on the deck. “You should go with her tomorrow.”
“I’m not much of a runner.” Stuart rubbed his leg. “Plumber’s knee.”
Tabon turned when she closed the sliding door behind her. “I was just telling Stuart that it’s time for me to fire up the grill.”
“Oh, I was thinking we could go out tonight.”
“Friday night in Cambria? You’re kidding, right?”
Since Stuart wasn’t looking, Aine glared at Tabon.
“Sorry,” he mouthed.
“Saturday night is a better date night anyway,” said Stuart, turning around to look at her. “Come have a seat,” he added, motioning to the chair next to him.
“Where’s your wine?” he asked when she sat down.
“It’s right here,” said Striker, coming out the sliding door and setting a glass in front of her. “I’m Striker. We didn’t get a formal introduction earlier.” He held his hand out to Stuart.
“Stuart Anderson. Aine’s boyfriend.”
“Nice to meet you, Stu.”
Aine was ready to wipe the damn smirk right off Striker’s face. What was he trying to do, intentionally ruin her relationship with Stuart?
“Got a minute, Razor?” he asked.
“Sure thing. Excuse us.”
Aine waited until the two men were inside before she spoke. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather go out tonight?”
“That wouldn’t be very hospitable.” Stuart rubbed his chin. “If you’re worried about me and your ex, I can handle myself just fine, darlin’.”
“It isn’t you I’m worried about. I mean it is, but not because you can’t handle yourself.”
“Look, either you’re with me, or you’re not. Best you
let me know sooner rather than later if you’re not.”
“I’m with you, Stuart.”
“Let’s not worry about Striper, then.”
“It’s Striker.”
“I know.”
—:—
Striker had drawn out his conversation with the innkeeper long enough to see that the plumber had only carried one bag into his room, shut the door, and then left with Aine.
It was an interesting development. When he was in Yachats, the night he took a walk on the trail down to her house, the plumber hadn’t been there then either. Now, instead of staying with Aine, he was staying at the inn. And it didn’t appear that Aine was staying there with him. So what was the deal between them?
He hadn’t planned to go over to Razor and Ava’s this afternoon, but with that development, he wasn’t able to stay away.
“I didn’t think we’d see you until Monday. I thought you and the crew were taking the weekend off. Where’s everyone else?”
“They returned to the East Coast since there was nothing happening.”
Razor nodded. “And you?”
“I need to brief you on my meeting with the ambassador.”
“Right. That couldn’t have waited.”
“It couldn’t.”
“Uh huh. What’s your deal, Striker? Either you want to be with Aine or you don’t. Don’t mess this up for her.”
“I can leave—”
“I’ve told you before, don’t be like that. I just want to make sure you’re here for the right reason. If you believe I need to be briefed tonight, then let’s do it.”
“Will Mercer be here later?”
“Affirmative. Would you rather wait?”
Striker nodded.
“Then let’s have a beer.”
He followed Razor upstairs and into the kitchen. From where he stood, he could see the plumber take Aine’s hand and bring it to his lips. It was an intimate moment he wished he hadn’t watched.
14
Aine sat on the same side of the table as Ava, leaving one seat in between, and putting the farthest distance between Stuart and Striker she could manage. It wasn’t difficult since Mercer had called to say Quinn wasn’t feeling well and they wouldn’t be able to make it to dinner.
Fortunately, Tabon kept Striker engaged throughout dinner. Although, every time Aine looked, her ex-boyfriend was looking at her.
Striker (K19 Security Solutions Book 6) Page 9