Betrayal (6 page)

“
Yesli frantsuzy ne soglasiatsa
(If the French will not comply),” Viktor Ivanov answered.

“Enough, Viktor. Edmond will handle that situation. There has been enough bloodshed,” Jon Krause said.

“Do I sense hesitation, my friend?” the Russian answered.

“You sense caution, Viktor. Don’t be rash. This is not the time,” Krause responded. He held a large envelope in his hands, turning it endlessly. “Reaction is not the same as action.”

“Very well. You must understand what we…”

Krause studied the envelope in his hand. “I understand fully. We have already taken unnecessary risks.”

“You do not agree with the actions?” the Russian inquired.

“Whether or not I agree does not matter. It has opened a dangerous path that someone will want to follow.”

Viktor Ivanov considered the statement. “It is not the first time, Jonathan.”

“No. But it is a different time, Viktor. A very different time.” Krause began to unseal the large envelope. “I will see you tomorrow.”

“I don’t understand,” Claire Brackett raised her voice to the man across from her.

“What don’t you understand, Claire?” her father answered.

“You had John killed?”

“Claire, I am surprised at you.”

“Well?”

The admiral’s temple twitched. “You almost sound as if you had feelings for the man. Did you?”

The young redhead’s gaze blazed now. “What is your point?”

“Claire, what are you doing with O’Brien?”

“What do you think I am doing with the congressman?” she shot back.

“Be careful, Claire. O’Brien is hardly John Merrow.”

“Now who sounds like they had feelings for him?”

The admiral stood and straightened his posture. He looked out the large window at the side of his office and considered his words. With a lick of his lips and a heavy sigh he turned back to his daughter. “John Merrow was a man of integrity, Claire. He was a soldier and a leader and he, better than anyone, understood the risks of our work. None of us are indispensable. None of us. Men like O’Brien do not see that. Men like Strickland, now.”

“Well, then…you’ll forgive my confusion,” she said.

The admiral smiled. His daughter possessed many of the attributes that made for an excellent agent. She was highly intelligent, physically coordinated, and she was a master manipulator. The one thing that the admiral hated to admit, but was growing to understand more daily, was that his daughter did not feel a sense of commitment, but rather entitlement. That concerned him. For Claire, this was an elaborate game. Perhaps it was, but the stakes were nothing short of life and death and John Merrow was hardly the first casualty; nor would he be the last. The admiral took stock of the woman before
him. She was no simple child anymore. He deliberately walked toward her and stood just a pace away. “John Merrow was like a son to me, Claire.”

“Doesn’t say much for my future, does it Daddy,” was her acerbic reply.

“It says that we make choices, Claire. You keep an eye on O’Brien, but you keep your head where it belongs,” he ordered.

“Yes, sir.”

“Don’t be a smart ass. You opened this can of worms when you decided to keep playing with Fisher.”

“I thought you wanted things kept in the
family
,” she answered his accusation with a sarcastic confidence.

“You presume many things. Fisher was cut loose for a reason.”

“Well, than why get him FBI credentials?” The admiral smiled knowingly. “You set me up.” He shrugged. “Why would you do that?” she asked.

“It’s a reminder, Claire. You may be my daughter but you still have your orders and I have my reasons. Careful. Toles will be watching.”

“You son of a bitch.”

“Call it my insurance policy,” he said. “Stay in line. Taylor and Toles are a dangerous combination. You keep O’Brien away from her, understand?”

“That might not be as simple….”

His gaze narrowed. “Make it easy. Toles saw Merrow before he died.”

“So? Why not just take out….”

“Take out Agent Toles? Don’t think I haven’t thought of that. Not in our best interest. She is smarter than you think. And, there is more.”

“What more?” the young woman asked skeptically.

“I’m not convinced NSA took out Fisher.”

“Of course they did,” she said.

“Mm. Things are not always as they appear, Claire. I thought you were smarter than that. You watch O’Brien. Threaten him if you have to.”

“We did that.”

“No. Threaten
him
. Make him feel it…where it hurts.”

“You mean his career?”

“I mean you do whatever you have to so that he does not fire up Toles anymore than she already is.”

Alex walked out of Dylan’s room and shut the door quietly. It had been a long few days. Her nightmares were back and for the last few nights she had only been able to sleep when Cassidy would rock her. She felt like a helpless child, but she had no control over the way that the dreams would awaken her. Tomorrow they would need to leave for Washington. Dylan would need to be back Monday to start school and Alex hated to admit that she dreaded his absence during the days. She had hoped that her reinstatement to the bureau would happen quickly, but with the president gone things were more uncertain than ever. “Cass?” she called into the kitchen and heard a voice call back from below.

“Down here!”

Alex followed her lover’s voice down the stairs. She stopped halfway and a smile swept over her face. Cassidy was standing behind the pool table racking the balls, a familiar long denim shirt falling down her form. “What are you doing?” the agent asked.

The teacher shrugged. “I recall…You owe me a lesson.”

“Uh-huh. So you want me to teach you to play pool? Honestly?” Cassidy offered the agent a playful glance. Alex chuckled and shook her head. She needed some levity. She needed Cassidy, and somehow the woman across the room
seemed to understand that. She finished the short trek down the stairs and took the triangle from the teacher’s hands, allowing her hand to brush over her lover’s. “Okay, first; watch.” Cassidy complied happily, watching as Alex ordered the balls and shook the plastic triangle gently around them. “Now, you have to learn how to break.” Alex guided Cassidy to the other end of the table and took a place behind her. “You know, I think maybe you just want an excuse to get me to hold you,” Alex flirted.

“Oh? Is that what you think?” Cassidy could feel her heart beat beginning to race and she bit her lip gently to try and slow her breath. “You just get on with this lesson. I am tired of you and Dylan making fun of me,” Cassidy said.

Alex leaned into her lover and whispered her instructions, “then you promise me we finish this game.”

“Are you implying that I cannot resist you?” Cassidy asked keeping her eyes on the table.

“I might be implying that I can’t resist you,” Alex answered.

Cassidy closed her eyes. “We finish the game.”

“All right,” Alex smiled. “Then listen carefully. Feel that?” Alex lifted the cue in Cassidy’s grip and Cassidy nodded. “Okay, now look ahead.” The agent helped the smaller woman prepare, breathing each instruction into her ear. Cassidy was determined to remain focused; knowing that Alex intended to try and break her concentration any way that she could. The cue pulled back and the balls flew across the table with a loud ‘click’. Cassidy jumped up in excitement. “Pool it is,” Alex laughed.

The game continued and Alex settled into contentment teaching her lover. She reveled in the closeness of every instruction and could tell by the way Cassidy moved that she did as well. Watching her lover smile and cheer with excitement as she completed shots delighted the agent. In little time Cassidy was largely on her own and Alex’s eyes sparkled watching the woman she loved. She stood back now as Cassidy walked to
the table and lined up her shot. Alex enjoyed the competitive side she saw in her lover. Now it was the eight ball. Alex was certain that Cassidy suspected she was taking it easy on her. Nevertheless, the agent looked forward to her lover’s expression when she won. Alex leaned on her cue and marveled at the intensity in Cassidy’s eyes as the teacher gracefully moved the cue back and forth, just as she had been instructed. The ball flew across the table, effortlessly finding its way into the pocket. Cassidy jumped up and across the room directly into Alex’s arms. The agent erupted in genuine laughter. “Geez, Cass, I wish I got you that excited.” Cassidy giggled and looked into Alex’s eyes. “You are so beautiful,” Alex whispered.

“You let me win,” Cassidy admitted with a smile, wrapping her hands around Alex’s neck.

“Nah. You won fair and square. Fast learner,” Alex complimented.

“Is that right?” Cassidy lifted an eyebrow.

“Um-hum.”

“You’re a good teacher.”

“You think so?” Cassidy nodded. “I’ll take that as a compliment from the best teacher I know.”

“What are you sucking up for?” Cassidy flirted. Alex leaned in and kissed the woman in her arms. Hearing the sigh that escaped from her lover, Alex kissed Cassidy more deeply and lifted her onto the pool table. “You know this pool table wasn’t cheap,” Cassidy said with a smirk.

“Lesson two, it’s called running the table.”

“Really?” Cassidy questioned. Alex nodded. “Hum. Can’t say I’ve heard that,” Cassidy joked.

“Still a novice,” the agent grinned, her fingers now addressing the buttons on the denim shirt as Cassidy’s hands wrapped themselves gently in the agent’s falling hair. Alex pulled back and whispered softly in her lover’s ear, “I need you.”

“Show me,” Cassidy whispered back. Alex caught her breath and let her kisses trail along her lover’s neck. “Alex…”

“Shhh,” Alex caressed the soft cheek before her and drank in the desire she saw in Cassidy’s eyes. As always, Alex was mesmerized. Right now all she felt was this woman she loved so completely; there were no words. There was no pain in this moment, no fear, only Cassidy. “Cassidy,
je t’aime plus que je ne pourrais jamais te le montrer
(I love you more than I could ever show you).”

Cassidy held Alex’s face in her hands. “
Tu me le montre a chaque instant
(you show me every moment).” She felt Alex lean over her and closed her eyes. Whatever lay ahead, all that mattered was this moment. There was no choice but to surrender to the need and the desire that filled them both now. There was nothing to compare. It was not a typical moment. Nothing in their lives now was typical, and it only served to remind them that there remained one refuge; one another’s arms. “Alex,” Cassidy managed as Alex held her close though wave after wave of an ecstasy she once thought existed only in imagination.

“
Tu es mon monde
(you are my world),” Alex said as she felt her own body succumb. “I love you, Cass.”

“You ready?” Cassidy asked gently. “Alex?” The agent offered a halfhearted smile and the teacher sighed. They had shared an amazing night making love, holding each other, laughing, even crying. “Why don’t I go move Dylan along?”

Alex shook her head. “I’ll go.” Cassidy’s brow furrowed slightly. “It’s okay, Cass.” Alex started out of the room and then turned back to look at the teacher.

“What is it?” Cassidy asked.