Echoes at Dawn (35 page)

“Grace was never the target. She was just a means to an end.”

Rio’s lips tightened. “She wasn’t the target and yet you
damn near got her killed. Hell, you might
have
killed her.”

Hancock continued on in an emotionless tone. “Farnsworth was and always has been the primary objective. He was a slippery, cagey bastard who always had an eerie sixth sense when someone was closing in on him and he’d pull a disappearing act. It helped that he was one of the most paranoid bastards to ever live. He trusted no one. But he had a weakness.”

“His daughter,” Rio muttered.

Hancock nodded. “When she grew so ill, Farnsworth got sloppy. He would have done anything in the world to save her, and yet no one could give him what he most wanted. His contact in the government made sure he leaked information about Grace Peterson, whom the government also had a keen interest in.”

“So you dangled Grace in front of him like a fucking carrot.”

“Basically, yeah. The problem was that Farnsworth wouldn’t do face-to-face meetings. If he did, it would have been a simple matter when he hired Titan. I could have gotten to him then and Grace would never have been involved. But the only way we were going to get close to him was if we handed Grace over to him. And in order to do that, we had to have her.”

Rio shook his head. “Then why the fuck did you let us go that first time?”

Hancock looked away, toward the crucifix centered behind the small pulpit. “Because I owed you. You saved my life. I’m not completely without honor. I knew that Grace had been through hell. I knew she wouldn’t be worth a damn if I took her to Farnsworth in her present condition. I wanted to buy her time because I knew it would damn well kill her to heal his daughter, and if she failed, she’d be dead anyway because he’d kill her in his rage.”

“Who wanted Farnsworth?” Rio asked bluntly. “Who are you working for these days? Last I heard, Titan had ceased to exist even unofficially.”

A crooked grin lifted Hancock’s lips. “Don’t believe everything you’re told. I haven’t completely lost all my belief in my country or the principles that made it great. Farnsworth was an evil son of a bitch who deserved to die. He was responsible for a lot of American lives lost. Military lives. Men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. He had no honor. He had no principles. Some would say the same for you and me, and yet we know that to be an untruth. What we did and do isn’t always on the straight and narrow, but they are necessary things and they are for the greater good. The day I stop believing that is the day I die because I don’t want to live in a world where I believe that good has no place in it any longer.”

The quiet impassioned words cut straight to Rio’s soul. It was as if he’d been taken back in time, so many years before when he and Hancock had fought so hard. For a cause. Because they believed in what they were doing.

“What now?” Rio asked softly. “Does Titan exist? Are you your own entity now?”

“We’re there. We’re always there. Rarely seen. But always there. We’re a lot alike, you know. Titan. KGI. We see the world with different eyes. We fight for what we believe in. We do the jobs that no one else wants to do or has the means to. Some call us evil. Others call us heroes. But it’s what we call ourselves that matters, wouldn’t you say?”

In a completely twisted, ridiculous way, Hancock made perfect sense.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I never meant for you or Grace to get hurt. I didn’t fire the shot, but it came from one of my men. A man I trained. So it’s my responsibility. He reacted without thinking, a mistake that will get you killed every damn time. I made an example of him, but it doesn’t change the fact that the woman you love is fighting for her life because of a mistake made by one of my men.”

Rio nodded. There wasn’t much to say to that. The man had paid with his life. What else was there for Rio to do? Rage and hatred had no place in his heart right now. His
focus had to be on Grace. His love for Grace. And his absolute faith that she would win the fight for her life.

“And now?” Rio asked. “What happens now? Farnsworth is dead. Grace and Shea will both still be hunted. We can sit here and talk civilly all day long, but if I ever see you coming for what is mine, I’ll kill you without any regret.”

Hancock smiled. “I’d think less of you if you didn’t.” Then he sobered. “My report will contain the following information. That Farnsworth was eliminated. His assets will be seized by the government. Many will celebrate. Included in the report will be that, regrettably, Grace Peterson died as a result of her attempt to heal Elizabeth Farnsworth.”

Rio sucked in his breath and stared back at Hancock as he processed what it would mean for Grace to have “died” while trying to save Farnsworth’s daughter. Freedom.

“It means you’d have to make her someone else entirely and that you’d have to stay off the government’s radar. I’m sure you’d have no problem keeping her hidden in that damn jungle lair of yours. And I’m sure with the connections that KGI has, getting a new identity should be a simple matter.”

Hope started a vicious beat in Rio’s chest. A life. A normal life. All that Grace had dreamed of. Free of fear. Of always looking over her shoulder. She’d be dead to the rest of the world. Loved and forever cherished by him.

“What about her sister, Shea?”

“Without Grace, her value decreases. I’ll do my best to dim any enthusiasm for Shea, but I can’t guarantee anything. I have no doubt that KGI will keep her safe.”

“Thank you,” Rio said in a low voice.

It was hard to say to this man. But Hancock was trying to make amends. He’d tried to save Grace. He’d done what was necessary to accomplish the mission, and a lifetime ago, Rio would have applauded that drive and single-minded determination. He would have admired it. Would
have aspired to have been like that. Machine, not man. The greater good above all else.

Hancock stood and started to walk away, and Rio knew, without a doubt, he wouldn’t see Hancock again. Not unless Hancock wanted it. He’d fade back into the shadows. Back into a life steeped in gray. A gray world Rio himself had existed in before Grace had barged in with a burst of color, love and understanding.

“What about Elizabeth?” Rio called after him. “What will your report say about her?”

Hancock paused and turned around. “What would you like it to say?”

Rio hesitated and thought back to that innocent little girl who’d been so close to death before Grace had given her back her life. He lifted his gaze back to Hancock. “Tell them…Tell them that she died as well. That Grace was unable to save her.”

Hancock nodded. “Tell Grace…Tell her that she’s one hell of a woman. She had Farnsworth by the balls. Never quite seen anything like it. She’s pretty damn fierce.”

“I’ll tell her,” Rio said, feeling the first surge of hope creep over his shoulders.

“Safe journey,” Hancock said before disappearing from the doorway.

“Safe journey,” Rio murmured in the empty air.

Rio hurried back to the waiting room, anxious to know if there was any word on Grace. She’d been in surgery for three hours already and he had no idea how long to expect it to last.

As soon as he hit the doorway, he knew there was no word. Nathan looked up and silently shook his head. Rio bit back his frustration and blew out his breath, his shoulders sagging with fatigue and worry.

Elizabeth was sitting next to Terrence. The picture of the tiny little girl next to the mountain that was Terrence would be amusing in other circumstances. But then Elizabeth looked up and caught Rio’s gaze. Sorrow swamped her expressive brown eyes.

Then to Rio’s surprise, she pushed away the blanket Terrence had wrapped her in and got up. She walked to Rio, her face solemn, eyes sad. She stopped in front of him and looked up to meet his gaze.

“I know my father wasn’t a good man. I’m sorry for what he did to Grace. She’s such a good person. She’s like sunshine and love all wrapped up in one.”

Damn if tears didn’t burn Rio’s eyes all over again.

Gently he reached down and tucked her hand into his. “Come sit down and talk to me, Elizabeth.”

She followed him to the far corner, away from the others. He sat and she stood awkwardly as if she had no idea what to do or what she should do. His heart broke when he looked at her, because she was trying so hard to be brave when her entire world had shattered around her.

“Come here,” he said softly.

He held out his arms and she went willingly into his embrace. He hugged her to him and then lifted her onto his knee.

“You’re right. Your father wasn’t a very good man.” He wouldn’t lie to her. Elizabeth wasn’t stupid. She knew what her father was. “But he loved you very much. Love will make you do all manner of things. He would have done anything to save you because he loved you that much.”

She nodded solemnly. “I wished to be better so many times. I kept praying for a miracle because I wanted him to be good. I used to pray that God would make me well and that my father and I could go somewhere and start over. I—”

She bit her lip, but Rio could still see her entire mouth trembling.

“You what?” he gently prompted.

“I used to think that me being sick was his punishment for all the bad things he’d done,” she whispered.

Rio hugged her tightly, his heart breaking for the burden this child had carried for so long. She was just a baby. Old beyond her years.

“Oh, honey, no. That’s not how it works. Your father made choices. God doesn’t punish you for the choices he
made. You were a gift to your father. He loved you so very much. Bad things happen to good people all the time. It sucks. It doesn’t always make sense. But look at Grace. She’s been treated horrifically by people who want her for what she can do. She’s good through and through. But she’s suffered so much. It’s not fair but then much of life isn’t fair. It’s how you live that matters. It’s how you deal with the bumps in the road.”

“I don’t have anyone now,” she said quietly. “I never knew who my mother was. I think my father took me from her when I was a baby. What will happen to me, Rio?”

He smiled tenderly and wiped the hair from her forehead. “I have an idea that I’d very much like to get your input on.”

Her brow wrinkled and she stared questioningly up at him.

“What do you say, you and I go down and see if we can find something to eat and we’ll talk over the proposition I have for you.”

Her eyes lit up for a moment but then they dimmed, and she glanced toward the door as if expecting someone to walk through at any moment.

“What about Grace? I don’t want to leave her.”

“Terrence will call us the minute the doctor comes in if we’re not here. Then we’ll race back up as fast as we can so we can be there when she wakes up. Deal?”

Elizabeth smiled and bobbed her head up and down. “Deal.”

GRACE
struggled through an endless sea of murkiness, shadows that seemed to reach out and wrap around her like vines. She warded off the encroaching darkness, wanting instead to savor the warmth of the distant light that seemed to grow dimmer all the time.

She knew she wasn’t dead, but she also knew that she was dying. This was it. The epic battle between life and death. It all sounded so poetic but quite frankly it sucked and there was nothing particularly poetic about dying.

Rio?

It was a small whisper in her mind. She wasn’t sure she had the strength to push it out, but she desperately needed confirmation that he was alive and okay, that she hadn’t failed. And she needed the comfort of his presence because her mind was frighteningly blank. So dark and barren and
cold
.

I’m here, baby. Right here. With you always. Just open your eyes, Grace. I’m right here. Open your eyes and look at me.

Her brow furrowed and her nose scrunched up. He made
it sound so easy. She had no idea where she was. Somewhere between life and death, and yet he made it seem like all she had to do was open her eyes.

Her entire body was heavy. Understanding was slow to come, but with each passing moment, she became aware of more. She was cold because it was like a freaking icebox wherever she was. It was dark because she couldn’t seem to pry her eyes open.

There were lots of sounds, harsh in her silent, dark world. Strange beeps. A whooshing sound. Distant buzzing, like conversation but not close.

Grace, I’m right here. Come back to us. Just open your eyes. You’ve been sleeping too long. You’re safe now. You’re with people who love you.

Shea.

Warmth spread, replacing some of the bone-deep chill. Rio and Shea both held her lovingly in their grasp. She was cradled in their arms, supported. Loved.

She tried. She truly tried to open her eyes, but it was as if someone had cemented them shut. She allowed some of the frustration to spill down the pathway to Rio and Shea.

It’s okay, honey,
Rio soothed.
You’ll get there. Don’t overexert yourself. Relax. Think of the happiest thought you can imagine. Then open your eyes so you can see it.

That was easy. What she wanted most in the world was to see him. Know that he was alive. That he was here beside her.

She pushed everything away except the unerring desire to open her eyes. It was like rolling back a stone from a tomb. Heavy. Cumbersome. She’d never felt so weak in her life.

Her eyelashes fluttered.

Excitement coursed through her body, and she realized it was Rio’s excitement.

That’s it, Grace. You can do it. You
are
doing it. Just a little more.

It took every ounce of willpower she had to force her
eyelids open the rest of the way. For a moment all she could see was one huge blur.

But then her vision cleared and the first thing she saw was Rio leaning over her, his eyes filled with such joy. He was smiling so big that his cheeks dimpled. She’d never known he had dimples.

His hair hung limply over his shoulders, some of it falling forward into his face. Moisture welled in those deep brown eyes, and his hand shook as he lifted it to touch her forehead.