Sacrifice (33 page)

Emma walked into the New Mexico heat with a shredded heart, barely aware of the people she passed on the busy sidewalk. She refused to accept things as they were. So her father raised her to be strong and fight?

Too bad he didn’t see that she could also fight him.

There had to be a reason Aiden wanted Will to be gone. It couldn’t just be that she was distracted by him. There had to be something more to it.

Alex had expected Emma to arrive by noon at his fundraiser. It was only twelve-thirty. If she hurried, she might not be too late.

As Emma approached the doors to the grand ballroom that held the luncheon, she was suddenly aware of how out of place she would look in her cheap skirt and T-shirt, but quickly dismissed it. She didn’t give a rat’s ass how she looked. Her sole purpose of showing up was to fulfill her promise. If Alex didn’t like it, too bad. He’d never notified her of a dress code.

Two security officers flanked the door and one gave her a suspicious look. “I’m sorry, miss. This event is invitation-only.”

“My name’s on the list. Emma Thompson.”

The man scanned his paper then looked up in surprise. “I’m sorry, Miss Thompson. Mr. Warren is expecting you. His table is in the front.”

He opened the door and she walked in, standing in the back of a room filled with more circular tables than she could count. They were covered in white linens with red roses floating in silver bowls. The clink of silverware on fine china filled the air, hundreds of adoring constituents giving their rapt attention to the man in the front of the room.

Alex
.

His voice filled the room while the faces of the crowd hung on his every word.

He’d mesmerized them. Literally. No wonder everyone loved him.

“…and I
assure
you that your concerns are
not
taken lightly. My father, Phillip Warren, wants to be your advocate.”

Emma moved along the outer wall toward the front.

“Alex Warren should be president,” a wide-eyed woman said, clutching her hands on the table in front of her.

The man next to her nodded dumbly, his attention totally focused on Alex.

Emma’s stomach twisted. Will had been right. If Alex gained control of Aiden’s power, he’d be able to do anything.

Twenty feet from the front, she stopped. She could feel him now. Feel the slow roll of energy flowing off of him.

“Do you think Fred Dixon cares? No! While a senior senator, he voted that bill down not once, not twice, but three times, while Phillip Warren worked day and night to push for the right to quality health care. What type of leadership do you want? A man who ignores the will of the people or a man who works tirelessly to heed their needs?”

The crowd cheered and Alex paused, scanning the crowd for dramatic effect. His eyes rested on Emma, and a slow smile lit up his face.

Alex turned back to the crowd. “Send Phillip Warren to the White House! Phillip Warren hears the cries of the people in the land. His heart lies with the poor and the downtrodden. Phillip Warren wants to be your voice!”

The crowd stood and cheered while Alex beamed, raising his arms over his head in a triumphant manner. Emma shook her head in disgust. The crowd was clearly mesmerized. His crappy speech couldn’t have elicited this much enthusiasm.

Alex walked off the stage and whispered in the ear of one of his security detail. Holding out his hand, he motioned her toward him. “Don’t be shy, Emma. I admit I was worried that you’d stood me up, but better late than never.” He tilted his head toward the side door with a grin and a wink. “If you’ll follow me.”

She froze several feet in front of him. “Where are we going? You said I was supposed to attend the luncheon with you. The luncheon’s in here.”

He laughed and shook his head. “Paranoid, aren’t you. Yes, this is technically the luncheon, but part of the fundraiser is me dining privately with a supportive constituent who’s willing to pay for the privilege. Besides, what we’re about to discuss needs privacy and discretion.”

She scowled. “Won’t someone be upset that I took their place?”

“No, since I put your name on the list and donated your fee.”

“And how much did you pay for the pleasure of dining with yourself?” she asked as he ushered her through the door.

“More than I’m worth.” He laughed again, a self-deprecating tone that caught her by surprise.

The guards escorted them to a smaller room containing a table covered in food, then shut the door, leaving Alex and Emma alone. Alex unbuttoned his jacket as he sat at the table. “You really came.”

“I said I would.”

“So you did.” He waved to the chair next to him. “Please, have a seat.”

After her encounter with Aiden, she felt jumpy but sat anyway. “You’re lucky you’re able to mesmerize the crowd, otherwise you’d need a new speechwriter. That speech sucked.”

He raised his eyebrows in mock surprise. “Ouch, Emma. Who knew you had a vicious streak?”

“Oh, I’m just getting started.”

He laughed again and lifted the domes off of their plates. The smell of roasted chicken wafted to her nose. Her stomach audibly growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten since last night.

Alex grinned. “You might as well enjoy it. That dried-up chicken cost me two thousand dollars.”

“
Two thousand dollars
?”

He shrugged. “Small price to pay to gain the ear of the presidential candidate.”

“Someone forgot to tell them that you’re not running for president. Your father is.”

He shrugged again. “Same thing.”

“Why are you wasting your time doing this anyway? Shouldn’t you be preparing for the epic battle for control of the world?”

Alex cut a small piece of chicken and took a bite, releasing a satisfied sigh. “This is quite delicious.”

She raised her eyebrows.

He paused, fork in midair. “There’s nothing for me to prepare. I’ve done all I can do. The only variable at this point is you. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’m happy you showed up. I’m quite eager to hear about your progress and I hope that we can come to some kind of agreement.” Alex picked up her fork and put it in her hand. “Emma, eat for God’s sake.”

She held the fork over the chicken, hesitating. What if he’d drugged it?

He reached over with his own fork and tore off a piece and put it in his mouth. “There. Happy now? Eat.”

She took a bite and nearly groaned. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had something so good. “Why does Aiden want me to stay away from Will?”

“What makes you think Aiden wants you to stay away from Will?”

“No, don’t do that. No talking in riddles. Just answer my question.” She took another bite. “Did you know my father sent you to me knowing that you would probably rape me?”

The way the color drained from his face told her he didn’t. He took a deep breath, distrust in his eyes. “Why would he do that?”

“He said he needed Jake.”

He cocked his head. “You’ve talked to him since our last meeting?”

“I just left him to come here. He’s down at the Santa Maria Hotel.”

He turned his attention to his plate. “Ha. Ha. Very funny.”

“You think I’m kidding?”

His head slowly rose. “You’re serious?”

“Someone kidnapped Will and left a dead man who looked a lot like him in the front seat of my car with a note pinned to his shirt. It told me to go to the Santa Maria Hotel. And guess who was there, ready to chat.”

“I’ll be damned.” Alex put down his fork and pushed his plate away. “Let me guess. You want me to help you rescue your lad in distress again? Really, Emma. Surely, even you are getting tired of his helplessness.”

“No,” she said, irritation biting the word. “I’m getting him back on my own tonight. What I want to know is why Raphael and Aiden are so dead set that I get rid of Will, when you don’t seem to care.”

“Why
should
I care?”

“Then you don’t know why they do?”

Alex rolled his eyes as he picked up his crystal water glass. “Raphael is a no-brainer. You may not be the woman he loved, but he can’t let her go. You’re the next best thing. Plus the whole combining-power thing.” He took a sip of water and put the glass down. “Aiden, I’m not so sure about. How do you know that’s what he wants?”

“Because he told me to let Will go or he’d kill him.”

Alex shrugged with a sigh. “Who can figure out Aiden’s mind games?”

“What do you know about the joining words?”

He glanced up, surprised. “What is this? Twenty questions? I don’t have time to state the obvious. I’m a busy man.”

“Yeah, puppeteering crowds.”

He snatched the roll from her plate and tore off a piece. “I’m insulted by your insinuation. I’m a much-sought-after public speaker.”

“I bet you are. So what’s your plan? Win the battle of the millenniums and then rule the world?”

He pursed his lips with a grin. “It’s always good to have a plan. And yes, I’m prepping for my victory. You think I should be preparing my burial plot instead?”

“If Aiden has his way…”

Alex jerked upright. “What did Aiden say?”

“Answer my question first: Do you know the joining words?”

“Of course I do. They’re etched into my brain.”

“So what are they?”

“You still don’t know?”

“Would I be asking if I did?”

“Wow.” He ate a piece of the bread. “That’s interesting. You should know them by now. But then again, nothing is the same this go-round.”

“Could they be in the book we stole from the compound?” Even as the words tumbled out, she realized her mistake.

Alex’s eyes widened before he clouded them with nonchalance. “You have the book? Well, well. Look who has a devious streak. For shame, Emma Thompson. You led me to believe otherwise.”

“What if I told you that it was destroyed in a fire in Missouri?”

His shoulder lifted in a half shrug. “Oh, well.”

“For a politician, you’re a terrible liar.”

His laughter filled the room. “I wish we’d met under different circumstances. You’d keep me on my toes.”

“Yeah…not a chance. Why do you really want it?”

“Why do you?”

“Okay, we can play this back and forth all afternoon and never get anywhere. We wanted to see if the book had answers about who I am. Now your turn.”

“I want to see if it specified the new rules.” He looked into her eyes. “Did you find any answers?”

“No. But there are pages that aren’t translated. Will suspected that they held key information.”

“And did they?”

She scowled. “How would I know? I told you it wasn’t translated.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “For someone so bright, sometimes you are incredibly stupid.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“It means you’re more than capable of reading it if you just apply yourself.”

Her eyes lit up with understanding.

He eyed the backpack she’d set on the floor next to her chair. “Do you have it with you?”

She tried to keep her face neutral. “No.”

“Where is it?”

“Not here.”

“We’re talking in circles again.”

“Do you think you’re going to win?”

His face blanched. “Do you always say whatever pops into your head?”

“I don’t have time to dilly-dally around. Do you think you have a chance?”

“I refuse to consider the alternative. Which brings me to my previous proposition.”

“Joining with you?”

He stared at her, expressionless.

“Not a chance. But I’m not teaming up with Raphael either. Every man—or woman—for his or herself.” She wondered if she should share Aiden’s plan but decided to keep that information to herself. “You realize that you are unique in that you have ties to all three of my enemies.”

He chuckled. “Do tell.”

“Your father’s group. The Vinco Potentia.”

His lips pursed. “And mine. I belong to them too.”

“How can you belong to them and the Cavallo?”

He laughed and leaned back in his chair. “Ah, now there’s an interesting story. Take a wild guess at who’s behind the Cavallo?”

Her eyes sank closed. “Aiden.”

“See? I told you that you were intelligent. Yep, one and the same.”

She released a heavy sigh. “Why? What’s his purpose for that?”

“What’s Aiden’s purpose for anything? To confuse? To distract? He formed them about forty years ago, but he was a secret member, playing both sides. They never really did much. The supposed purpose for their split was so that the Cavallo could be more proactive. But the truth is that they never really did anything until five years ago. After I found out about Jake, through Aiden, of course, he suggested I form an allegiance with them. Aiden insisted that it was in everyone’s best interest to leave you and Jake alone and bide our time.”

“How long ago did you find out about Jake?”

“While you were pregnant.”

She chewed on that piece of information. She’d presumed it was later, although she wasn’t sure why.

“Three years ago, he approached the Cavallo with information he’d supposedly gleaned from the book. He’d found the whereabouts of the child in the prophecy. He told the group where to find him. They sent several men to bring him back, but of course, you got away.”

“And obviously, this kept happening.”

“Yeah. Aiden would announce he knew your location, they’d send men out to get Jake, and repeat. Until the end. When Will showed up at the Vinco Potentia compound and announced that Jake was dead, I was floored. Their goal all along was to capture him and use him, which meant he had to be alive. But I hadn’t been in contact with them in weeks so I couldn’t be sure until later.”

“But you knew he was in Arizona.”

“No, I knew the plan was to take him to a safe house in Arizona.”

“So when did you figure out who you really were?”

“After you and Will escaped. When I regained consciousness, it was all there in my head. Centuries’ worth of memories. I kind of lost it for a day or two, thinking I’d gone crazy. I told Kramer, but he didn’t believe me. He thought I’d gone off the deep end. By the time I came to my senses, I realized it was in everyone’s best interest to keep my true identity secret.”